A group of us stopped in on a Monday evening for hibachi. The restaurant was clean, orderly, and overall just a nice place to dine with friends. It's was quite slow, staff promptly greeted us, and we were able to secure a hibachi table and chef right away. Our hibachi chef was friendly and talented, but we couldn't understand anything he was saying because he had a mask on; hopefully he was well, or being cautious? Our server wasn't much for conversation, she was slow to refill drinks, and we had a mistake with our meal, that seemed like it would have been too much trouble to wave her down and have them fix. Four of us had Hibachi and Nancy ordered two sushi rolls. One of her rolls was a spicy tuna ($7.50) and the other was supposed to be a tempura fried shrimp roll instead of bringing out the tempura roll they brought her a California roll ($6.50). Not the end of the world but something to note. Both rolls were good but I would probably go with an upgraded roll (Chef Special) if I were to return. For some reason I always get The short end of the stick when I eat at a hibachi restaurant. Its like they always give me a ton of rice and give a 1/3 of my meat to everyone else. Same thing happened here. I ordered the steak and shrimp ($28.95) and my buddy next to me got a ton of shrimp and his kids got most of the steak. I think next time I do this I'm going to tell them to cook mine separately in butter so this can't happen again, so annoying. The hibach was good and our experience was overall good. I would come back again but I think I'll come with a better game plan if ordering hibachi. read more

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Food was spectacular! There wasn't anything we tried that wasn't spectacular! We had the beef fried dumplings firecracker shrimp teriyaki chicken and teriyaki steak with fried rice miso soup and California rolls. The service was incredibly efficient well timed and friendly! We have little ones with us wherever we go and our youngest started to have a hard time towards the end of our meal and the server came over to help and she was so so good and kind with our little one that the situation was over after only a few moments of her arrival! The facilities are so picturesque and insta worthy! Super cool boat and bar and pond with a waterfall! We will absolutely be back again!!! read more

The service was great. Waitress was very friendly. Hibachi chef was great. Had a wonderful time.

Tasty food, even for a non seafood eater. Love their veggie tempura. Friendly service.

Consistently great sushi with friendly service. Clean and modern inside. Love the boat!! read more

The staff was extremely friendly and the food was delicious! A great experience whether you come with one person or many. I definitely recommend! read more

This is my 2nd visit here. I went last year with my husband and we were impressed. Today I dined alone for lunch. I was the only person eating in at the time yet somehow I felt forgotten at times. I was seated and got my food right away. I got the sashimi lunch and samurai roll. So fresh and delicious! However I had ordered a side of spicy mayo which didn't come. No big deal. But no one came to check on me for my whole meal. I needed a drink refill. No one. I could see some staff sitting together which is totally fine with me. But again I was the only person dining there and for my whole meal no one came to check on me. I will certainly go back and hope for better service next time. read more

Akira Albany - Samurai Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Glenmont, New York

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Food good, service very slow. I think they forgot about us. Had to ask for someone to come serve us and after we were served, had to ask for our bill. read more

I can only speak to the hibachi experience - but it was hibachi. It was fine. We randomly all got a couple shrimp, thankfully nobody was allergic. Nothing special, but not bad either. read more

Came here for a hibachi dinner for two and the food was delicious!! The hibachi chef put on a good show. We had a spicy tuna roll to start and that was yum too. Excited to come back for another meal :) read more

Akira Albany - a plate of food and a drink - Sushi Bars Near Me - Glenmont, New York

For the price, this quality of food was a major rip off. The fish had no flavor. Its a cool space and decor but the food does not match it at all. Sawa Sushi right down the road is so much better. read more

Food was amazing, my cook was the best, he even made my daughters ballon dogs, he was so kind! I recommend this place!

Six stars! (I know there are only five, but Akira deserves six!) The best Chinese Japanese cuisine in the Capital District. Not your ordinary sushi or Chinese restaurant. Extensive menu of traditional Japanese cuisine including sushi, sashimi, rolls, noodle dishes. Features some Thai and Chinese dishes as well as a number of fusion dishes. There is an expression in Europe: One eats with the eyes, meaning that presentation is incredibly important for the total dining experience, and Akira's kitchen and sushi chefs make culinary presentation truly an art form. A restaurant is only as good as the overall experience which includes the moment you step through the doors to the moment you step out. The welcome is warm, the environment is fresh and clean, ambiance is very pleasant and well designed. Staff are attentive and interested in pleasing. We would be remiss if we didn't mention the one who brings it all together: Manager Michelle. She is the one with the headset rushing back and forth supervising staff, kitchen, and sushi bar while casting a welcoming, interested smile as she passes by. Michelle is an artist in many ways. One of those ways is her skill in composing new and interesting menu items, novel tastes and textures using familiar ingredients, and making it all work. Who would ever thought to find a Grand Marnier shrimp appetizer in an oriental bistro?!? That's only one of the incredibly delicious innovations you'll find at Akira. In a place like Albany where everything is hyped and "famous," but all too frequently disappointing, Akira brings NYC quality to new heights, and you leave with an appreciative smile on your face. Thank you, Michelle, for making Albany's Akira what it is! We love you! read more

I was just there 2/22/2024, ordered the bomb lobster roll, there was no taste to the meat also, I found two large pieces of fried shell on the plate. They were breaded so, it was done on purpose. When I told the serve he said, we fry the whole thing. Went once, never going back. NOT WORTH THE MONEY. read more

I like this place a lot - the decor and the food in particular. The waitstaff is always very pleasant and helpful...even if not a one of them seems to be familiar with the word "nigiri". There is much (read: everything) that I don't know about the Japanese language and I may be misusing the word or something. Maybe it's not a word that's ever spoken but only written. Maybe it's written "nigiri" and pronounced "when she smiled, doubt was no longer possible: it was Natasha, and he loved her." I'll have to try pronouncing it that way next time. I like the water fountain burbling in the background (sometimes I wish it didn't have to compete with the (non-Japanese) music playing over the sound system). I like the big wooden ship in the middle of the room and the smaller (but still quite big) wooden ships on which large orders of sushi arrive. The quality of the mixed drinks can be little hit-or-miss, but when they're good, they're very good, and the sushi is always fresh and delicious. Being at a loss for a pithy conclusion, I will simply end this here. read more

Akira Albany - Sushi à la carte - Sushi Bars Near Me - Glenmont, New York

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Great menu, great staff. Hibachi is alright, but the sushi is high quality and they serve a variety of rolls and dishes. Definitely better than most surrounding sushi restaurants. read more

I walked in to a completely empty, dimly-lit restaurant for a late lunch. After a couple minutes of waiting, I was luckily able to attract the attention of the sushi chef, because all three servers were hiding in the back somewhere. As I sat at the sushi bar, I was handed a ten-page menu with lots and lots of photos. I looked down to see the beer-sponsored photo place mat with lots of pictures of sushi. If not for the real hashi (not disposable) and hashi-oki, I would have expected to see sushi murals on the walls. At least, no TV on the wall (photo). The overall ambiance seemed more geared toward large groups who enjoy the knife skills, mini fire volcanoes and sake squirt bottles that have come to epitomize teppanyaki. As usual, I ordered several simple items, just to measure the skills of the chefs before trying out one of their "stripper" rolls (I think they had hoped to spell "striper" [bass]). Despite repeating my choices three times, I still ended up with order errors. My server seemed to swing between two extremes - completely ignoring me and being patronizingly helpful. I think I can pour my own soy sauce. Also, the sushi chef is right in front of me, and has already handed me one plate - I probably don't need you to rush in to hand me the other. The chef presented me with a complimentary amuse bouche: a small ball of spicy shredded imitation crab wrapped with thin slices of avocado. It was edible, I guess, but I usually avoid ordering surimi of any kind. The soup was not bad, and a lot hotter than the tea. The sushi was a mixed bag, prepared by two different chefs - one for the nigiri, and one for the maki (photo). The rice for both was very lightly seasoned, and each was plated very simply. From the nigiri, the toro was very good, and the saba and hirame were both pleasant, however, none of the nigiri had wasabi added under the fish - a step few local restaurants add. The unagi was a little different - a few small slices of avocado were added atop the eel - but not bad. But the rolls tasted "off." I should have been suspicious when I saw the fish removed from the display cooler to create the roll. The salmon for my nigiri was cut directly from a fillet, but the salmon for the maki was pre-cut, pulled out of a small plastic tub. Not good. I couldn't eat more than two of the maki, when I decided not to punish myself anymore. I wasn't sick later, so apparently the taste was just bad, not rancid. When one of the inattentive servers finally approached me ten minutes after I finished eating, she saw the maki remaining on my plate. Instead of asking about the meal, she offered me a "to-go" box, which I instantly refused. I found this restaurant very uneven. The nigiri that I ordered were pretty good. The maki and the servers were not. It will most likely be a while before I return. 2019 01 17. S26. read more

Akira Albany - Maki: eel cucumber, salmon. Nigiri: tamago, unagi, sake, maguro, hirame, toro, saba, himache. 2019 01 17. S26. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Glenmont, New York

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We eat here at least 2x per month, in house or takeout. Always sushi. The kids love it and demand dinner here. Dynamite roll is everyone's favorite but the sashimi is great. Service is always good. read more

- Empty at lunch - Good service - The salad had a lot of iceberg lettuce, which I didn't like - I really loved the fried beef gyoza - sushi roll is plentiful - Beef hibachi is delicious - They don't give that many shrimp in the combo, but those few are pretty good - This is a good place for large groups - Could be a festive environment - Fried rice is delicioso - Wasn't the biggest fan of the scallop read more

Management spent good money on a indoor boat and waterfalls. Bathrooms pristine. Don't let the ambiance fool you the sushi is top shelf. Try the Yummy Roll. Polite and attentive staff. Highly recommend. read more

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Went here yesterday with my daughter and we ate in the dining room rather than the hibachi tables. I've been to Akira many times and always enjoy my food however I would not recommend getting hibachi unless you're at a hibachi table. We got the Treasure of the Sea for 2 and all of the seafood was dried out. Dried out salmon, shrimp, and barely recognizable lobster. The scallops looked like they were filleted in half, they were so thin. This meal cost almost $60 for 2 and I was shocked at the state of the seafood they were serving. It was all drenched in a very salty teriyaki sauce as well. I'm not saying it's a bad place because their sushi is always stellar and if you eat at the hibachi tables it's fresher. Just don't order hibachi from the dinning room. read more

Ordered online for pickup as I'm recovering from a tonsillectomy and it's raining, and soft sushi at home sounded perfect. I ordered white tuna sushi and a crab stick sushi roll - my favorites - and was texted that my order would take 25-45 minutes to prepare. I live down the street, so after 25 minutes, I went over to see if the order was ready, and it had just come to the counter. The lovely woman there told me I was all set and I took my food home and dug in. My god. The sushi was fantastic. Some of the best I've had since I was in LA. So grateful to this wonderful restaurant and glad it's so close by. I'll be a regular from now on. read more

Excellent decor and atmosphere; we were seated right away and given menus. Our group ordered a variety of cooked and uncooked sushi rolls, yakitori, gyoza, miso soup, seaweed salad and combination dinners. Japanese beer and lychee sake were also ordered. The food was fresh, flavorful and we all shared a bit of our meals within our group. Our servers were friendly and attentive. A great experience we hope to repeat! read more

Solid hibachi but obviously pricey. Good for birthdays with a boombox and good times.

Excellent food, nice modern atmosphere, and great service here. Sushi in the Albany area has come a long way in recent years, and I feel Akira's is on par with some of the better sushi restaurants I've visited locally. The full bar and modern decor set Akira apart from many, though, if these are things you might be looking for. The Husband and I have been here a handful of times and enjoyed ourselves on each visit. We've sampled a few different drinks, apps, sushi, hot entrees, and desserts, but haven't yet done the hibachi. To be totally honest, my initial impression from viewing Akira's Yelp profile turned me off a little. Seeing 60 (sixty!) photos uploaded by the business made me wonder if they might be over-compensating for something. I'd rather see unstaged photos on Yelp that are an actual reflection of guests' experiences. But, as it turns out, the food and restaurant are actually quite attractive, so don't let the excessive photos scare you off. read more

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We had hibachi at this restaurant many times. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The portion sizes are generous. The price per entre, I however, is a bit pricey. read more

Don't get the spicy salmon roll! Something was very off about it tonight. The tuna sashimi was excellent. Lobster roll was good. Staff is very attentive :-) I have been here several times and the food is good read more

Have been to this restaurant before and never felt this way. Apparently it's greed has surpassed its service commitment. The woman who seated us had quite an attitude and we should have walked out at that point but it was my birthday and my guest said let's just ignore her and have a good diner, so we stayed. The chef cooks at your table and he was good hence I tipped him well with cash. By the quantity of the food it was easy to see where they were skimping on the food. One egg for two people in the fried rice used to be three. Oh well. We finished our meal and another waitress brought the bill. We sat there for 15 minutes more waiting for the cake they promised. I decided to review the bill and pay. I asked the waitress to remove the gratuity charge as we tipped the chef and would tip the waitress separately but not 20+ percent of the total. She argued with me and said we always charge gratuity in the bill and the menu says that. I informed her gratuity is just that a voluntary subjective charge at the customers discretion. She said no. This is a greedy move not an industry standard and I advised her I wouldn't pay it. The chef returned and gave me back the money I tipped him. I paid The bill then. They are quite greedy and inflexible and destroyed an otherwise enjoyable experience. I should have paid with a different card where I could have cancelled the payment as we walked out the door and made them be reasonable by consumer force. I'd skip this choice as well as Koto in Colonie as they do the same thing. Greed is easy to see in both places. read more

Chic dining room features glowing blue lights, a large boat doubling as bar seating, and an oversized Buddha head focal point. Sushi is fresh, tasty, beautifully presented, and offered in various inventive combinations. The Seafood Udon comes in a very large bowl. Veggies are crisp and fresh, as is the seafood. Only caveat is that it's a bit bland. Could use a few slices of ginger and a dash of hot sauce. read more

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Was very skeptical given the previous owners issues which prevented me from checking it out. So glad I stopped in for lunch, the place is beautiful and the food is awesome. Try the Avacado Sensation which is appropriately named! Wait staff is friendly and knows the menu well. Great beer and drink menu as well. If you have been reluctant to try it out because of the previous owners issues, get over it because you are missing out! read more

Akira Albany - Sushi Bars Near Me - Glenmont, New York

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My fiancée and i went to a late lunch here Sunday afternoon, and it was really great sushi! First time here, and we had a great experience. Attached is a picture of the rolls we chose. The only thing i could add is, for dessert i got the crème brulee and the top shell wasn't very hard - it lacked the crunch. BUT, it's a sushi place, and for their main item, that knocked it out of the park. The crème brulee in general was tasty, just a tiny improvement for next time! :) read more

Akira Albany - Sushi Bars Near Me - Glenmont, New York

Lunch shrimp hibachi! It came with fried rice, grilled veggies, and choice of soup or salad. The portions are huge and so good. This place never disappoints. read more

Akira Albany - Shrimp hibachi lunch to go. YES! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Glenmont, New York

I came and met friends and had a sashimi dinner and eel roll. My experience with the quality and quantity of both was very good and happy with the fresh fish. However My friend steph had steak and scallop hibachi and was not pleased with the overcooked steak (ask med rare) and scallops were very flat and dry. The taste was okay but the quality of protein was sub par. My friend jade ordered samurai roll and chicken and salmon. Both were tasty but service was super slow coming back for orders and drinks. The overall assumption from the rest of our group was tasty food but slow service. FYI, they did play Backstreet Boys A Capella "last Christmas" it's August. read more

Akira is a gem for this community. The restaurant is run by a professional and conscientious staff. The sushi is top-quality, not the lower-quality stuff that you would expect in a sub-urban location. I've eaten in the finest sushi restaurants in the world and would put the fish quality and food presentation among the tops. My recommendation is to come a few times and enjoy the different aspects of the restaurant. Traditional hibachi, a depth of menu with authentic Japanese and Asian foods, and especially the sushi. You won't be disappointed by the quality and value. read more

Started out with coming in for our 6:00PM reservation. When we arrived, we were informed that the hibachi dining room was full, and that our reservation was given to a group that arrived "just before" we did. We were placed in a private dining room and were told we could still order hibachi and that it would just be cooked in the kitchen and not in front of us. We ordered and were given a free appetizer to compensate us. The food arrived to our table at room temperature, as if had sat out for a bit before being brought to the table. The taste was mediocre at best, but the steak was in fact cooked properly to temperature. The portion sizes were much smaller than had we ordered hibachi to be cooked in front of us, yet we still paid the same "cooked at table" hibachi. Restaurant cleanliness wasn't all that great. There were dust bunnies and cobwebs at our backs and behind our booth. I wouldn't recommend. read more

Excellent fresh food and atmosphere combined friendly staff and fair price point. It's lunch runs about 2$ less on their lunch specials. The servers have excellent communication skills and eager to give the customers a lovely dining experience. read more

We order takeout from here probably once a month and occasionally come in for sit-down meals. It's been consistently good every time. When we come in, the staff is always patient with our kids (who admittedly can be a little loud and messy, especially the toddler). The sushi variety is good, food is always well packaged, tastes fresh and delicious, and FYI, they are good about accommodating food allergies. We have sat in both the sushi side of the restaurant and the hibachi side. The whole restaurant is beautifully decorated and clean. It is fairly pricy, but to me, you get what you pay for. I would prefer to pay a little more for the better quality fish they serve here. *Also, now that Yelp has health department scores listed, it's worth noting they have one of the best scores I've seen compared to other sushi places in the area. read more

Nice atmosphere and fresh clean subtle dinning. My wife had the steak & Salmon Habachi. And I had the steak and shrimp habachi. We started off with their version of crab cakes. It was made like sushi pieces and than dipped in tempura and deep fried. It's served with their duck sause. The food was subtle, clean and enjoyable. I'm not a sushi kind of guy, but I do like me some hibachi. There may be better options if you travel into Albany, Troy or Schenectady? But this is convenient for those living South of Albany. I like it and would go again. Not as much food as I like to eat, but probably the ammount I should be eating. read more

We are regulars here and the food is always good (both the hibachi and sushi), the drinks are great, and the staff is friendly. The hibachi filet is one of the most tender I've had in the capital region and is always cooked perfectly. The sushi is fresh and always impresses me (I love the tuna rolls and rainbow roll) I would highly recommend trying Akira read more

We had a 6:00 reservation for tonight. The restaurant was overcrowded and the manager was trying to do five jobs at once. She kept trying to fill each hibachi even though we were waiting. After waiting for 45 minutes with no table in sight we left. We had been going there for several years but no more. read more