My husband and I had such a great experience at AKA. The food was amazing! we ordered the filet mignon potstickers, the toro truffle roll, and the bluefin roll (highly recommend, especially since it was suggested to us). I also had the dirty chai martini, which was such a great surprise. It was smooth, unique, and honestly one of those drinks you remember after the night is over. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and really well done. But what truly made our night was Serena, the host. She went above and beyond for my husband and I in a way that didn't go unnoticed. She was incredibly attentive, kind, and made us feel genuinely taken care of the entire time. It's rare to come across someone who puts that much care into the guest experience. Her level of service and attention is exactly what you'd hope for when dining out. I wished she was serving our table! Our visit to AKA was truly memorable. Between the food, the atmosphere, and the exceptional service, we'll definitely be coming back the next time we're in town. read more

Ordered amazing lavish food. Toro truffle, mango yellow tail roll. They both are amazing. Dumplings are delicious too. Must try . I tried cream cheese and veggie ones. Pad Thai, egg fried rice and orange chicken have really good flavours, quite different. Everything was unique and scrumptious. read more

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We stopped by last night for a quick drink and were honestly so disappointed. As industry workers, we understand the complexity of a Friday night shift, especially at 11:30pm, but my boyfriend and I were very upset with the lack of service and hospitality this place offered. Between waiting 30 minutes at the bar for a bartender to even make eye contact, to being over charged for a single WELL vodka soda, we won't be coming in again. $21 for a well single vodka soda is insane, for any establishment. To the manager of this establishment, your male bartender in the red bandana last night made 5 random cocktails for a woman next to us and charged her $5. We respectfully tried to get his attention for 30+ minutes while he socialized with woman and ignored the rest of the bar. The only reason we were able to order was because the woman next to us called attention to the fact that we hadn't ordered. When it came down to paying, we happily paid the $21 as to not cause a scene, but when I went to click text on the receipt option- the female bartender swiped the toast handheld from under my finger. Literally. Without saying anything. Check your cameras at 11:35. Rush or not, that's so rude. I was so upset about this situation and it truly made the rest of the time spent at AKA not enjoyable. I typically don't write reviews, because mistakes happen, but no one deserves to be over charged for a beverage that the bartender doesn't want to charge someone else for. That's not hospitality etiquette by any means. read more

What a fun club!! You can hear the music from the street, which instantly pulled us in. It was even more surprising when we found out there was no cover charge, say what?! Once inside, the place was impressive. The vibe is super Instagram-worthy, and the atmosphere was all about having a great time. The music was poppin' all night. I would definitely come back! From what I've read in other reviews, it looks like they also offer dinner here, which makes me even more curious to return. Drinks are reasonable so over all great first time here! read more

AKA - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Food was pretty good. Service is very nice and attentive. Good dinner vibes inside. The sushi rolls are pretty good. The tom kha soup was not too bad! read more

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We were staying in the gaslamp area were looking for a fun spot to eat. I'm glad I chose this spot for a Friday night. It was so lively, beautifully and aesthetically decorated, and fun! It definitely was a place to go for celebrations because there were a few tables that got attention with lights and drinks which was pretty fun to watch. They have music going on in the background which adds to the vibe. The lighting is great. As soon as you walk in you see a lit up statue. Every so often a drummer comes out and drums to the beat of the music, which is pretty fun to be a part of. Our server was great and attentive. She was very helpful with answering any questions we had. We ordered the salmon skin salad, which was a unique flavorful taste. The saltiness from the salmon complemented the salad. Order two sushi rolls, which I can't remember what they were But they were both really good. I also ordered PadThai... It was definitely plenty for two people. So we ended up taking left over Pad Thai, which we normally don't. I will say it was amazing the next day too! We ordered two Sopporos and 2 sake to make sake bombs. I'd recommend doing 1 sake, and two Sopporos next time. Overall, we had a great experience, great service, great food, and great nights. I will definitely go again. read more

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Food: 4 Service: 5 Ambiance: 5 We happened to stumble upon AKA Restaurant in on a fairly quiet weeknight. We didn't have reservations but were seated promptly, which was a great start to the evening. What first caught our eye was the super creative décor. There's a large statue in the middle of the room that really makes a statement, and inside the red, dark lighting gives the space a really cool, moody vibe. It feels a little sultry and dramatic, but still lively and fun at the same time. We were seated quickly and helped quickly. We ordered several items to share: the lamb chops, mango yellowtail sushi, salmon skin salad, and the lobster garlic noodles. For drinks, we tried an ube cocktail (forgot the name) and the lychee martini. The cocktails came out aesthetically beautiful and were also delicious and refreshing. We really enjoyed them. The food arrived pretty fast and not only looked gorgeous, but tasted just as good. I especially loved the lobster garlic noodles and the lamb chops. Both were super flavorful and satisfying. The mango yellowtail sushi was good, but not my favorite of the night. The true star of the show was the salmon skin salad. The salmon skin was fried perfectly, light, crispy, and absolutely delicious. It was honestly the best salmon skin salad I've ever had. Overall, the ambiance is really neat. It's dark and moody, but still has an energetic vibe. I highly recommend this spot for a date night, a girls' night out, or just a fun evening downtown. The service was excellent, the food was delicious, and the ambiance was on point. I'd love to come back later in the evening when it transitions more into a club/lounge vibe. It looks like it would be such a good time. Highly recommend for good food, good vibes, good service, and an overall great night out. read more

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Service was fantastic and Ercole was amazing, so I highly recommend asking for him if you're dining there. The ambiance is super unique and I heard it turns into a club on weekends, which is really cool. As for the food, it was pretty mid especially for the price point. Also, for a place advertised as Asian cuisine, it was surprising that most of the main entrées were steak-focused. I personally wouldn't go back for the food, but the experience and atmosphere were definitely memorable. read more

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Had this place bookmarked as a must try because I love sushi and I love elegant ambiance. Decided to check it out on a late Sunday evening and it was surprisingly empty, four or so people at the bar and one table. The hostess asked if I had a reservation but I said I don't mind sitting at the bar. There was a surprisingly strong odor of cleaning solvent or air freshener or something that was really difficult to tolerate, especially in a restaurant setting. I don't know if there was some incident that needed to be cleaned or if that's the norm, but it wasn't great. I ordered the Crispy Blossom and the Salmon Roll (can't remember the name and it's not on their online menu), both with soy paper. I also got a diet soda, which was hot (not even room temp), watered down, and flat. The rolls were well presented but they smelled and tasted a little old (not fresh). They were also quite soggy and fell apart instantly when picked up. I'm not one to leave ultra negative reviews, but it's all for the sake of supporting business improvement. Also, for $80, this was pretty disappointing. On top of all that, the music was club level loud, and then BAM! We were deafened by the sound of a gong and elevated music for a birthday at the one table. The upsides? The venue is nice and the staff is really friendly and attentive, and the wait time for the food was good. Not sure I'd return though. read more

AKA - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

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We went with a large group for a business dinner slash belated bday bash. Food and vibes were Tao adjacent. They brought out champagne and had the DJ go crazy for my bday. Boys weren't super impressed with the steak but all of the appetizers and sushi were great. We had a lovely time. Restaurant is really large inside and great for a group. read more

AKA - Appetizers - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

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We were visiting SD for a few days! Decided to come in to Aka seemed like a fun place to dine. Our server Martin was friendly and attentive. The food was served quickly and delicious we had the filet mignon potstickers, Thai green papaya salad, mango yellow tail sushi roll and salmon sashimi. Drink's peligrino and lychee martini sweet and strong. The place is popping with color a mix of flashing lights. Overall it was a fun place to dine. I wish there was a mosquito lamp or repellent to dine comfortably. read more

This is a nightclub disguised as a sushi restaurant. There wasn't a single thing about this place that was even decent. After getting our table I went to the restroom and it was disgusting and I knew the night was about to be horrible. I was with coworkers so I couldn't just get up and leave. The cocktails are unbalanced and mediocre at best. I got a beer and it wasn't even cold. The "pork" belly bao buns looked like mystery meat. Sushi was mediocre at best. It's a bunch of bottle service girls in skimpy outfits serving disgusting food and drinks, oh but there's a DJ! I don't need a dj when I'm trying to eat. If you love a club vibe, this is your place. If you like sushi and just dinner, literally go anywhere else. read more

AKA - "Pork belly" bao buns - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

I came here during restaurant week, and sadly was disappointed. The portion sizes on some of their items drastically varied. The food was just ok, nothing to really rave about in my opinion. The staff were decent, but our waiter was a bit forgetful, and we did feel rushed a bit too. The decor though was beautiful, and I liked that they offer a lounge like setting later on. I'd probably comeback to check out the lounge and maybe get a drink, but that's about it. read more

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So we were visiting San Diego for Halloween weekend, and for our last night, we decided to go to the Gaslamp and grab a bite to eat. I chose AKA because it was open late. Honestly, this restaurant, which transforms into a nice lounge later on in the night, exceeded my expectations. We were seated immediately in this nice booth-type chair, which was very comfortable. The ambiance was really nice, and we were near the bar, where we could watch the World Series. Gaslamp was busy that night; honestly, I didn't realize it was still the day after Halloween. Anyways, we were seated right away and were given the menu immediately. These were the items we ordered: Lychee Drink (5/5): Not the actual name, but the drink was extremely well-made. A-5 Pandan (5/5): Another amazing whiskey drink. Appetizer: Singapore Tempura Rock Shrimp (5/5): By far the best rock shrimp appetizer I have ever had. It had some sweetness, but not overpowering. Seared Wagyu (5/5): Another amazing wagyu appetizer. Made really well, with a perfect texture. The sauce that came with it was very tasty as well. Main Entree: Both of these sushi rolls were amazing and were well-made. Is it pricey, yes, but I think the quality of their food was really good. Tempura Roll Mango Yellowtail After we finished our meal, we were waiting for our server to come back, but since it took him too long, we asked one of the ladies who worked there if we could order a drink, which she took. Unfortunately, the drink was forgotten, and we had to flag down our actual server to check on it, and we even had to explain to him that we ordered it from the female floor manager, I'm assuming. I decided to go down a star because of our server. After all our food was served, he didn't really check up on us anymore until I flagged him down to check for another drink and get our bill so we could pay for it. I understand they were transitioning to their night/club atmosphere, but you need to be able to balance that. You can't ignore your current guest due to a transition. Unfortunately, we decided not to stay longer since people started coming in to dance, but then there were females who were drunk dancing on top of a table. They eventually kicked them out, but when people get sloppy like that, it's usually my cue to leave the place. Overall, the food and drinks here are really good, and yes, it can be pricey, but I do think it was well worth it. The restaurant has an amazing ambiance and cool decor. read more

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San Diego's coastline sparkles with culinary gems for daytime dining, but when it comes to nightlife, Gaslamp Quarter seizes the spotlight. You won't need window seating either because the interior is the vibe. AKA San Diego sits prominently on the corner of Fifth Ave and Market St where an Italian restaurant used to be. Through glass panes, passersby can glimpse at the prismatic lighting and vivid decor. With same day reservations, we were seated by the tall Buddha statue, curiously situated behind a DJ setup, peaceful but ready to party. We'd find out later that the beat's turned up for birthdays which numbered 2 that night. DJ and waitstaff made each celebration lively and fun. As impressive as the backdrop is, the focus remains the menu, an array of Asian fusion dishes that blend flavors with remarkable success. The succulent Yakiniku Filet Beef Satays, the creative Grilled Baja Jumbo Prawns with risotto cake, and the mouthwatering Bluefin Tuna Wasabi are just a few highlights. Many visitors flock to SD for surf and sun, but the city doesn't go dark when nighttime comes. Contrarily, this is when downtown hits the on switch, and AKA is one of the many glowing lights you can follow to find phenomenal dining with unrivaled ambiance. read more

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Such a great experience!!! had the yummiest food and the nicest staff. highly recommend! read more

AKA - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

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We hosted a work happy hour at AKA. I initially made a reservation for 14 people, but we ended up having 2 more people show up. Our server quickly helped us with accommodating the other 2 guests. Our reservation was at 5pm on a Wednesday. We were one of the first parties to arrive, and the place did fill up in the next hour. The restaurant felt upscale, and the decor was Asian-inspired. The large buddha centerpiece had a DJ set, so I imagine that the restaurant flipped into a club during the weekends. Drinks were great. I had the Thai Me Up and Lychee Martini. I enjoyed both but the Thai Me Up was particularly outstanding especially if you like Thai Tea. I jokingly told my coworker that all it needed was boba. I didn't get a chance to try much of the food, but I picked at a couple of dishes. I tried a piece of the toro truffle roll, a piece of shrimp tempura roll, a couple of bluefin tuna poke bites, and some Pad Thai. The sushi was fine. None of the rolls stood out to me. I wasn't a fan of the their Pad Thai. I felt like they were trying to be cute with making the Pad Thai look and taste completely different. I thought the flavor was unrecognizable, and then using a flat noodle that is typically made for Pad See Ew threw me off. The noodles were cooked perfectly al dente though, so I'll give them that. But give us the comfort of Pad Thai that we know and love. Lastly, kitchen service was very slow. They couldn't crank out our drinks or food fast enough. I also felt like they were making a lot of assumptions without asking. For example, it happened twice where one person ordered 2 rolls for himself but the server would place one order at one side of the table and then the 2nd order at the other side. read more

Arrived early on a Wednesday an hour after opening. Was seated immediately, place was basically empty. Service from Martin was great, he was attentive and friendly. Overall experience was just meh. The Albacore Delight roll smelled fishy, and the Toro Truffle for $36 was a disappointment. Overpriced. The Veggie Dumplings were delicious, highly recommend those. The Miso Soup was good, but it was brought out with a huge spoon! Strange. Also got the Garlic Edamame, really good, highly recommend. Cocktails and sake were good. Bathroom soap dispenser was empty, unacceptable for only being open for an hour. Go for some drinks and an app, but I don't recommend full dinner service. read more

Food: Bluefin Tuna Wasabi Roll - spicy kick from wasabi but not overpowering. really tasty and flavorful! fav roll! Pork Belly Bao Buns - soft, cutely displayed, fluffy bun, kind of dry pork belly but overall flavorful, and has pickled veggies Mango Yellowtail Roll - saucy, citrusy, peppery but well combined flavors Service: Very kind service and everything went smoothly! We made a reservation day of and had no problems. Ambiance: Dim lit and very decorated restaurant with nice restaurant vibes. There's also a little bar seating area. Lots of tables and seats. read more

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I came here with a group of girls to celebrate a birthday. We had reservations & were seated about 2 minutes upon arrival. The server told us it was a busy night & drink orders may be a bit backed up. I appreciate it when servers give us a heads up so we're not left wondering why the drinks are taking so long. Crab Fried Rice: I normally avoid fried rice dishes because they're usually so basic, but I think this was actually everyone's favorite dish. I was surprised by how flavorful it was. I would definitely order this again! Lobster Garlic Noodles: This was actually not as flavorful as I had hoped, but it wasn't terrible. The lobster was delicious & I loved how they cut it up in small pieces for you. The noodles were what lacked that garlic & butter flavor, but nothing an extra pinch of salt can't fix. Bluefin Tuna Poke Bites: This was a great little bite. However, for the price we all wished there was a bit more poke on the cracker. Hokkaido Scallop Sashimi: This was really good, another great small bite. It tasted fresh & had a little citrus tang to it. Grilled Lollipop Lamb Chops: The lamb was very tender & easy to bite off the bone. Packed with flavor & cooked to perfection. I would order this dish again. Surf n Turf Roll: The surf n turf was amazing. Get your phone out & be ready to record because it's fun to watch them torch the bone marrow as they drizzle the butter on the rolls. A real crowd pleaser for sure. Another dish I would love to order again! Our whole experience was fabulous. The server was attentive & made sure we had everything we needed. He was quick to clear off any finished plates & brought our birthday girl her dessert. They have the coolest entrance to the restroom that is very IG worthy. The bathroom was gorgeous inside & well kept. Thank you for an amazing experience, I can't wait to return! read more

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The menu screams order everything!!!! Friendly inviting vibe of a place. Whether it's a girls night out or just need a drink out at a cool big bar. Eating outside or indoors there are tables for large or smaller groups. Even on a Sunday night it's a party. Love the music selection they play!!! We enjoyed the food but service was pretty slow. read more

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Our food was delish! Kelsey was a great server, very attentive, friendly, and went out of her way to find a substitute for my cocktail. Definitely will come again! read more

Food is good, service is good, ambiance is good too. We will definitely come back if we are here in the area.

I came here for my birthday and my server James was amazing, the ambiance of the place is really cool and the food was delicious, we tried a little bit of everything from the happy hour menu and it was so good read more

AKA - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

The inside of the restaurant reminded me of what people think, Vegas looks like. Everything was super flashy and in your face. Service started off slow, but the server was great. Unfortunately, the food was not! I couldn't figure out if I liked the drink. So I got it twice and I'm still undecided. I went during happy hour so I didn't spend much. One star for the server who was awesome. read more

Happy hour, is the best time, trying different dishes, and you can fill up without getting a main dish. A good glass of wine, bubbles [moet], complements the dishes. Staff always attentive. Music just loud enough, such that we can carry on a conversation without having to raise our voices read more

AKA - Pork belly, garlic adamame, shrimp tempura. Ahi tuna... - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

So I have to say my friends and I stumbled into this place, stumbled as in dodging the large crowd during comic con yesterday. There were five of us and fortunately we were able to get a table immediately. All of us enjoyed our meals. I ordered the pad Thai and I expected it to be just really expensive and mediocre, but it was actually quite delicious. The vibe inside the restaurant is awesome. The music was great. There was a live DJ music and the colors were nice. Bathrooms were clean. Servers were friendly and dressed up for comic con. My friend ordered a chicken finger type of appetizer and it came with double what we thought. Like entre sized. Had we known, he would have probably shared that with one other person. read more

AKA - Noodles - pad Thai - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Made reservations here for my girlfriend's bachelorette during the July 4th weekend and it was a blast! The food was delicious and plenty for us to share. Our favorite was the scallop crudo and rock shrimp tempura. The drinks were enough to get us feeling something but still tasty! During the dinner, they had complimentary photos which was nice! They did give you a small photo and asked if you'd like to purchase the nicely framed ones so beware of that! This location gives me the vibes of TAO back in Los Angeles! Very cute and instagramable :) read more

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Kelsey was wonderful! The food was fresh and delicious! Highly recommend The atmosphere was fun and light read more

The only explanation for any bad review of this place must be from competitors. The food here is INCREDIBLE! Went last weekend for my bachelorette and they made me feel so special. Food was beyond amazing, going back next week for my birthday! I'll actually take food pics this time. I was so in the moment! Also the place transforms into a club at night and it was the most fun we had the whole weekend. Best place downtown and my new fav! read more

AKA - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Kelsey was fantastic! Came here to celebrate my big first job - she made us feel celebrated and accommodated! Great food and excellent place to enjoy a big life win! read more

AKA - Ube cheesecake - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

AKA Restaurant is easily one of the best happy hour spots I've tried in the Gaslamp Quarter. Came here with friends and it did not disappoint. We went during happy hour and the value alone is worth it--most dishes were in the $10-$12 range, which is a steal for both the quality and location. We all started with the lychee martini, and wow--it was so good. Light, refreshing, and just the right amount of sweetness. Definitely a must-order. As for the food, everything we tried was absolutely delicious. The fried cracker shrimp, filet mignon potstickers, salmon and avocado roll, chicken karaage, and crab rangoon were all on point. The firecracker shrimp was our favorite--hands down. Perfectly crispy with so much flavor. The ambiance really ties everything together. The décor is super cool with a strong Asian-inspired theme, and the vibe is stylish, lively, and perfect for a night out with friends. If you want great food, great drinks, and a great atmosphere, check this place ou We'll definitely be back. read more

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Service started a little slow but once Cru got here the experience was elevated. He had top notch food and drink recommendation. All 4 of us were very pleased with him, the food, the overall experience. We will be back thanks to Cru and the kitchen. Cheers and happy 2026! read more

AKA - Food - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

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Cru was da man! Took care of our group for my homies bachelor party. Food was great, ambience felt like a club, and service was top notch. read more

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Visiting San Diego over the weekend and AKA was one of the highlights during our stay. We didn't have reservations and still got seated immediately. Our server Marco was very pleasant and the food was excellent. We ordered the Mango Yellowtail sushi and ended up ordering a second round of the sushi it was so fresh and delicious. read more

Celebrated a friend's bday recently. First time trying this new place. Aesthetically, the place was amazing, lots of photo ops, upbeat and classy. Can't miss the meditating Buddha as it greets you as you enter the place. And that Torii gate arch to the right is an eye contact catcher as well. Definitely a nightclub-trendy vibe. Fridays and Saturdays entertainment starts at around 10 p.m. When we got there, the place was still pretty empty. The place was full when we left. Menu has a variety of different types of Asian food from Japan, China, and Thailand. We ordered quite a few dishes to share. The whole group liked the food. Blue fin poke bites 5/5 Pork belly boa 5/5 ordered 2x. Shrimp pad Thai -3/5 Filet mignon potstickers 3/5 - on the salty side. Main lobster garlic noodles - 1/5- noodles were tough, this was a missed on the flavor. Skip this one. Mango yellow tail - 3.5/5. Yellow tail scallions - 4/5. Cocktails/ mocktails- watered down Service- our server was nice. First few dishes got to our table pretty fast. The rest of the food, we had to wait longer and had to follow up on the status of our order. Noticed though at the far corner side of the bar next to the Torii gates arch, birthday celebrants, staff brought sparkles with the birthday dessert. When my friend got her bday treats, the staff that brought the sweets were holding their phones with the flashlights on. Not sure, but I did not like that part. Disappointed. Small Bathroom, was a little dark, few stalls 3-4 stalls. There was a bathroom attendant in the ladies room. Being that the bathroom was already small, it made it a bit crowded. Parking-it's in the gaslamp area. Parking is challenging. Better to Uber/Lyft, carpool. Place is pricey. It's more for aesthetic, decor, lay out of the place. Not because of " amazing food". read more

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Amazing service by Cru and the rest of the staff! He understood the vibe for our friend's bachelorette party and kept the energy up all night! read more

My friend and I always passed by AKA and wanted to try it out. From looks outside and inside- the aesthetic is 100%. Super pretty and instagrammable and that's what drew us in. However, the experience inside unfortunately didn't match. I mean if you're ready for a Vegas style dining experience this is your place. However, the music is so loud, tables are so small and so close together that you don't have room at the booths. Overpriced craft cocktails and Asian food. On a busy day even the waiters forget you, and only service those who ordered bottle service or the birthday celebrations with the sparklers. I tried the ube matcha horchata and it was a waste of $18+ drink. I had to return it because it was really gross. We ordered the filet mignon but I think that was the best on the menu. It was an 8oz steak for decent price. However, it was slathered in a lot of sauce but it didn't really have much flavor. I really wanted to like this place, but I guess it's just not my type of vibe. For an Asian fusion restaurant I expected more than just aesthetic and vibe. read more

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Overall, not great. The place smelled like a bar (gross chemicals), the sushi rolls weren't that good, the service was pretty horrible. Definitely would not recommend. read more

Wow! Wow! Wow! This restaurant is beautifully decorated. I should have taken more pictures of the ceiling, because the decor changes from section to section. The food is equally beautiful in presentation. This place is pricey, but worth it I think. The garden salad, for example, is not just a garden salad. It has sushi, avocado, wasabi, etc. It may be the best salad I have ever had in my life. I thought it was a bit over dressed. I ordered the fillet mignon potstickers and they were ok. Not bad on their own and delicious with the dressing from the salad. The Blue fin wasabi sushi was delicious and tasted better and better with every bite. The Yuzu Beignets with the mango sauce were ridiculously good. The service is top-notch . If you are in the area and you have the funds, treat yourself. read more

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