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    Akai Hana

    4.3 (807 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Akai Hana Photos

    Business Info

    AKAI HANA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Akai Hana

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    Crispy Kale Roll
    Nick S.

    If you're a sushi fan in Columbus, Akai Hana needs to be on your list of places to go! They are located in the Japan Marketplace where there are so many great spots and shops to explore! The vibes here are awesome and it's great for any occasion! Every dish feels so authentic, and the quality of seafood in their rolls are top of the line and taste incredibly fresh! The bento boxes are always fun to do and allow you to taste a little bit of everything! Be on the lookout for their specials they have going on the Crispy Kale Roll was one of the best rolls I've had in the city!

    Super Dry
    Eric F.

    Am I turning Japanese, turning Japanese? I really think so. Can we get somebody at Yelp! to check how often that joke has been used to start a sushi restaurant review. This place is in a strip mall with bakery - Belle's- and a Japanese grocery store. They are all hopping. The story I get is that when Honda opened a plant here the services followed. Tracks. The sashimi is great. Also got the tofu, which I really like. Soft shell crab are great. The ambiance is that of a very busy Japanese restaurant. The servers are teched up so everything moves at a pace. Simply said, if you are in Columbus come here.

    They have a very large selection
    Jeffrey B.

    This is my fist time here and you need to make reservations. Every time I'm in the area this place is always busy. I ordered the octopus because no matter where I go I must try how they prepare it. Then I ordered the Alaska. It was a bit smaller than I expected but still good. I would go back since they have a lot of different options to try on the menu. Service was fine. Did feel a little rushed though.

    Caterpillar Roll on the bottom  Tuna Bliss A Roll on top
    Karina A.

    Not my first time at Akai Hana, but my first review. Each time I have gone I have just simply loved their sushi. Service was wonderful. Ambjance was a little loud, but as expected for a fully packed Saturday night. We started with miso soup and tempura shrimp and veggies for appetizers. The tempura was fantastic, with the perfect crunch. My partner also tried a salmon hand roll. The hand roll was packed with salmon and incredibly fresh. For the mains, we opted for the suki yaki (which my partner had most of) and the caterpillar roll and tuna bliss A roll. The rolls were exquisite, each piece perfectly put together. We were so into our meal that I even forgot to take pictures until midway in! I also appreciate that their online menu had pictures for everything, it certainly made picking our items much easier. I definitely look forward to going back to Akai Hana, especially for the sushi and fish.

    Nigiri - Fatty Tuna was my favorite
    Clare K.

    Really wonderful authentic dishes like Hamachi Kama (fried yellowtail collar, or cheek - tenderest part of the fish) and soft shell crab. We also ordered some nigiri with melt in your mouth fish (Fatty Tuna was my favorite). Our waitress was attentive and lovely.

    Samantha M.

    Found this restaurant amongst a list of recommended sushi spots in Columbus and the recommendation did not disappoint. I was a bit skeptical with the sushi in Ohio based on my last experience when I ordered sushi from a different restaurant. Akai Hana redeemed the sushi scene and provided a delicious meal with great service despite us walking in a bit late. We ordered two rolls and noodles and they were delicious. We ordered the salmon avocado roll and a spicy tuna roll. It was a great spot for our date night or you can come for a family dinner. I definitely see myself coming back, I'm craving sushi just writing this review!

    Tuna Bliss A Roll
    Nafisa H.

    I love the restaurants in this shopping center and this is the more upscale Japanese restaurant in the group. The atmosphere is cozy, a tad loud when we came but we were seated next to a very large group. Expect it to be busy but you can still manage a table with little to no wait. I shared the tuna bliss a and sweet potato roll with a friend and it was delicious! You can count on them for having consistent quality food.

    Front: Spicy Scallop Roll  Back: Pixie Roll
    Sammi M.

    Other than Japan, this is the best sushi I've ever had. So authentic and their fish could not be more fresh. We tried the spicy tuna crispy rice and I'd totally get it again! For simple rolls, get the yellowtail. It's a great option to go with other special rolls. I'd recommend all the rolls we got! All great. The baked scallop roll is a roll they're known for and it's delish if you like warm scallops and a creamier sauce. Regardless if you like sushi you MUST go to Akai Hana. Also visit the Japanese market next door. It's the closest I've gotten to Japan since I went last summer.

    Eel hand roll
    Talor B.

    Was craving a good hand roll and this is one of the few places in the city that make them! I had my toddler with me so we weren't able to dine in but I got 2 hand rolls and some nigiri to go. The host was super friendly and my order was ready early although they seemed fairly busy. I really enjoyed the nigiri. I got a king salmon and a smoked salmon. Honestly not sure which one was which but one had a ton of yummy flavor. The hand rolls were pretty loaded - I got the shrimp and the eel. I'd probably dine in next time but definitely will be back.

    Aubrie H.

    If you love sushi and you haven't been here, you're missing out. Always made fresh and delicious! They have so many specialty rolls but a lot of regular rolls as well. They have more than just sushi but that seems to be our go to when we visit. Tried the pixie roll again on this visit and it was delicious but the rainbow roll is a close second. Between service and delicious food, this is a great place to visit.

    Shrimp Tempura Roll
    Abby R.

    Stopped in for dinner on a busy Thursday evening. We made a reservation and were seated promptly. The resturaunt is larger than you'd think and can get a little noisy. Our server was only around intermittently, it was busy so understandable. The spring rolls and the udon were by far the best things we ordered! The spring rolls were hot and crispy with fresh filling, and the sweet and sour sauce on the side was delicious! The udon was very cabbage heavy and needed soy sauce, but the dish tasted fresh (and the leftovers were good). The sushi was just alright- both speciality rolls had a lot of sauce so the tempura batter was soggy and really only the sauce flavor came through, which for spicy mayo had too much mayo, hardly any spice.

    Chef's Special - letting the sushi chef choose the best pieces for you is the way to go
    Gabriel G.

    This place is just incredible! Best sushi in Columbus. Hands down. The selection, the quality, and the preparation are top notch! Even their rolls are amazing because the fish is so fresh, but for the true top shelf experience, you have to get sushi and/or sashimi. Always great to start with some tempura veggies too! And then of course there's pleeenty of sake to satisfy your rice wine desires :) IMPORTANT NOTE : Be sure to make a reservation several days in advance if you want to get in on a Friday or Saturday at dinner time! If I'm being picky, it's time for them to upgrade the furniture inside, but the staff is always a delight and the food is out of this world!

    Yose Nabe
    Cindy M.

    Love that there is a japanese village in Columbus! This restaurant is quite large. Came here on a Wednesday night and it was busy but luckily there was no wait to be seated. Friendly service. I ordered a yose nabe and it came out steaming hot. Loved how hot it was but had to wait 10 minutes for it to cool down lol. It was huge! Def could feed two people. I also ordered a uni nigiri and a amaebi nigiri - both were super fresh. I would def come back if im in the area!

    Eel!

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    2 years ago

    Highest quality sushi in Columbus. Always busy and for good reason. Doesn't matter what you order - rolls, nigiri, sashimi...all top shelf.

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    2 years ago

    My favorite sushi spot! Great service, helpful staff. Couldn't be happier with them!

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    Ask the Community - Akai Hana

    Do they have all you can eat sushi?

    No we do not have all you can eat sushi.

    Are there any gluten-free options? Is the sushi rice gluten-free? Gluten-free soy sauce?

    Rice is gluten free. Even so-named "glutinous rice" does not have gluten in it.

    View All 4 Questions

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    Yoshi's Japanese Restaurant

    4.3
    (133 reviews)
    3.8 mi
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    Don't let the strip mall fool you. Yoshi is hiding some of the best, most upscale sushi in the…read morecity! TL;DR: Upscale food in a low-key area. We spent $230 (w/ tip) and it was worth every penny. Probably the best Japanese restaurant in the city. We passed by this place multiple times on our way elsewhere. We're Mario fans, so the name Yoshi caught our eye, but the cramped strip mall exterior doesn't exactly scream culinary dream. We decided to take a chance, and let me just say--wow. It's an intimate space with just a few tables and an 8-10 seat sushi bar. We didn't have reservations (make one, they fill up fast) but managed to snag seats at the bar. The service immediately stood out. We had better attention here than at some upscale steakhouses--glasses never went empty, and their menu suggestions were spot on. One minor heads-up: at the sushi bar, staff sometimes walk behind you to talk to the chefs, which can be a bit distracting. For starters, we grabbed the gyoza and asked for a standout small plate. They pointed us to the beef tongue. It arrived hot with shredded onions and spicy mustard, delivering a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth tenderness with a deep, beefy richness. The gyoza was equally flawless. Instead of the overly chewy or burnt wrappers you find at most spots, these had a delicate, golden-brown sear with an intensely savory, garlicky umami filling. We paired this with Sayuri sake, a creamy, unfiltered pour that perfectly balanced sweetness with a dry, clean finish. Since we love nigiri, we ordered a spread: tuna, salmon, smoked salmon, sweet shrimp, and Japanese scallop, plus a salmon/avocado roll. The cuts were impeccably sourced and practically dissolved on the tongue. You rarely find this level of consistency. Just a heads up--they prepare it the traditional way, meaning there is a dab of wasabi tucked directly under the fish. We also tried the Wagyu A-5 roll. It's about as "meat and potatoes" as a roll can get: steak, carrots, asparagus, and rice. The seared Wagyu fat melted instantly, creating a decadent, buttery glaze over the crisp vegetables. It's one of those rare foods that genuinely forces you to pause after each bite. At $40, it was 100% worth it. I can't say enough about this experience. Next time, we're leveling up to the fatty tuna and Wagyu experience on their special menu. That's the exact culinary peak we've been looking for, and incredibly, it's tucked inside a suburban strip mall. Absolutely brilliant.

    So the sushi was very tasty, there was an issue with my meal but they corrected it and apologized…read morefor the issue. The staff was all very friendly and helpful and attentive. They have lots of parking and the vibe is very nice. Perfect for a date night or ladies night. They have lots of seating and bar seating too. I think overall this place is really good

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    Akai Hana - japanese - Updated July 2026

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