It really pains me to leave such a critical review, but this place really just missed the mark for us. We chose to dine at Atlas Izakaya because it has very high Yelp reviews, but we left disappointed. The food was just okay and for such high prices I don't think any of it was worth it. We started with the kimchi (not pictured) for $7. We enjoyed it, but I would suggest to anyone with multiple people in their party to order more than one considering the size. Next was the crispy tuna rice, not much to say about this one. It was decent, not the best I've ever had but not the worst. The pork dumplings with crispy chili oil were lacking. Save the money and skip this dish. The maitake mushroom was one of the better dishes, I believe they are in a miso cream sauce which was really really good. This was one thing that was standout and the reason I wouldn't rate it any lower. We had the beef skewers for $27 for TWO skewers of meat. They were pretty good but considering the size and the price, I would not order it again. $27 in most other restaurants would get you a little more bang for your buck. Finally, we got one piece of the bluefin tuna otoro nigiri and a krab avocado hand roll. I did not find the bluefin to be good at all, I regret ordering it entirely. The other person in my party enjoyed their hand roll. We also ordered two of the sake cocktails, they were okay. Bear in mind if you're going with non-drinkers or children that they do not serve any soda products here, only sake or water. The restaurant is pretty on the inside, but you can dress casual as it is not super fancy. The prices are too high for the food to be lacking. One or two standout dishes are not enough to make it worth it for me to come back. I don't typically leave negative reviews but based on the 4.5 star rating that led me here I felt I should chime in. read more

See all

We came in late on a Wednesday night and had a great experience of sakes and tapas sitting in the comfortable chairs at the bar. The atmosphere is chill with music to match. The charming co-owner actually ended up being our guide for the evening, teaching us about sake and suggesting food orders. Our favorite food was not the most popular, I suspect: bok choi with chili sauce. It was perfectly prepared. We also enjoyed the small fried chicken buns. Really pleasant place for dinner in key West. read more

Atlas Izakaya - Sake cocktails - Japanese Near Me - Key West, Florida

I've heard about this place and always wanted to try it. Thumbs up for the decor and service. Thumbs down for the food. I just wasn't into anything we tried. Prices high, flavor low. read more

See all

This place is amazing! Very much an Izakaya, with its unique indoor architecture, style, and closeness. The servers are very intimate with the menu, and can make great food and sake recommendations. The stand outs that I had were the grilled grouper, hand rolls, and dumplings. The staff is very welcoming, but very busy (it's a good thing!). Can't recommend their sake margarita enough! read more

Atlas Izakaya - Duck and dumplings. Get the dumplings! - Japanese Near Me - Key West, Florida

I wish we had taken some photos to share but we had a great first dinner here. We just moved to Key West and Atlas Izakaya was our first dinner here in town. We sat at the bar and had a wonderful experience. Great suggestions from our server/bartender and the food was delicious and worth the price. Dining out is pricy here and not all restaurants are worth the cost. We will definitely be back! read more

Didn't hit the mark for us, especially for the price and portion size. The good: very cute spot with nice decor and dishes, cozy seating, and great and knowledgeable service. And free parking!! The Keys Roll was also fantastic - local fish in a delightful roll. The Yuzu tart - their take on the key lime pie - had a nicely torched meringue and tasty berries. The non alcoholic fizz drink was also really good, not too sweet and an interesting basil flavor. Just not much of it once you factor in the ice. The not so good: the short ribs had good flavor on the outside, but the pieces were thick and the inside didn't have much flavor. The portion size was extremely small for the price. The hamachi was ok but would have preferred more sauce. The ssam broccoli was so bad we couldn't even finish it, despite being hungry after 6 other foods! It tasted like garbage... the salmon crispy rice was also mismatched on portion size to price, and was veryyy fishy. It comes with fish flakes on top which didn't help. 3 pieces which is hard to share as a couple! Some food took a long time to come out, though our server kept us informed that the sushi gal was backed up. They also ran out of rice so we couldn't order more sushi. So maybe give them a try but beware of small plates and be prepared to spend some cash to get full! read more

See all

The blue fin tuna was melt in your mouth yummy. The beef short ribs were super tender and flavorful. The maitaki mushrooms were oh so flavorful and perfectly prepared. The lobster boa buns were the perfect texture and lobster was super fresh. The space was well decorated and very cozy. The staff were really attentive and kind. read more

See all

Such a hidden gem in Key West! Came in on a quiet Wednesday night and sat at the bar. The inside was swanky and cozy. Amy was super friendly, knowledgeable, and easy to chat with. She gave us some great recommendations and we ended up starting with the crudo, a lobster roll bao, a hot karaage chicken bao, an octopus yakitori, and a couple of maki rolls. The absolute standouts for me were the bao buns. The lobster bao was particularly exceptional. The bao bun was fried so it had a nice crispy texture and the lobster meat melted in your mouth. The hot karaage was also delicious. I loved the togarashi ranch. The other standout was the octopus yakitori. Probably some of the most tender octo I've ever had. Definitely don't sleep on this spot if you're visiting Key West! read more

I decided to come here for my birthday dinner. I need to be honest. This food - particularly the lobster roll bao buns - both radicalized me and changed me on a molecular level. It was everything. The baby corn dish was also SO special. Our service was top tier. I'm already planning my next visit. The restaurant is set up to share and have a wonderful group meal. Thank you to the staff at Atlas Izakaya for such an incredible experience. See you again soon! read more

See all

We stumbled upon this place while visiting Old Town in Key West. It's chill and nice inside , servers are very friendly and very decent food as well. The Wahoo Ceviche was refreshing, the Chicken Hearts yakitori very tender and delicious. Nice miso creamy flavor on the Maitake Mushroom, and Okinomiyaki (pancake) was really tasty. We also got the Wahoo Maki, and Tuna cucumber with Serrano Pepper Maki. This joint definitely exceed our expectation, I will recommend to give it a try! read more

See all

We went for a bachelorette dinner and it was pretty good. The food was nice, and the watermelon cocktail was a hit. We made a reservation and had to wait for about 10 minutes after arriving at the reservation time to be seated. The entrance was very small and this was a little uncomfortable. The staff seemed irritated with us being there, but we had confirmed the booking and there was only 4 of us. The portion sized were standard. The bill is paid online but there is no option to split the bill even though you are paying it yourself. The sake options are decent, but the selections for plum wine are a little limited. If you come, make sure your group understands the sharing concept! The restaurant didn't really do anything h special for our occasion, which is fine, but it would have been a nice touch that other restaurants in town had added. read more

See all

The food was AMAZING! The soft shell crab buns and the vegetable dumplings were out-of-this-world delicious. The service was excellent, friendly, helpful and fast. The restaurant is located in a strip mall but inside, the restaurant is gorgeous and elegant, with an East-meets-Key West vibe. read more

My boyfriend and I come here nearly every time we are in Key West, which is often. We love the food and drinks. My favorite item to get is the steak on the stone. The service is great and we love the atmosphere. read more

Amazing food. Service was prompt and helpful. Small, unassuming gem with a soft tone ambience for casual or special occasions. Simple menu with quite a variety of dishes. Ceviche with yellow snapper and tuna: 3.5 stars. I like the blend of veggies. But I like my ceviche slight more acidic... more lime juice? Crispy rice with tuna: yummy. 4.5 stars. Well seasoned flavored. Slightly crispy rice on outside and soft rice on the inside. Tuna tartar and sauces on top. With side of dip ( kinda like ponzu sauce). You need a little since the rice is thick. I've had this version with thin crispy rice, but this version is good in its own way. Soft shell crab Bao bun: 4 stars. Soft shell crab was partly crispy and the acidity was perfect. I just felt the Bao was pretty thick and over took the crab itself in taste. Hokkaido scallops/ 5 stars. Cooked well. Soft and moist, savory . In a nice creamy miso sauce. Hmmm I can go for seconds. Sake flight: surprisingly I like all 3 sake in the flight. Each had their unique taste but all pretty smooth. I would totally come back for a date night! read more

See all

This place was awesome!! I need to try their hot options next time, but the tuna and salmon avocado rolls were incredible. The salmon avocado roll was probably the freshest one i've found in Tampa so far. Reasonably priced and will absolutely be coming back! read more

In Japan an Izakaya is a small intimate casual restaurant with sharable dishes. We found one in Key West by strolling down Duval Street. We were happy to find modern takes on Japanese items in addition to Sushi and Sashimi offerings. We found Okinomyaki and crisp gyoza. A number of wonderful seafood offerings were present. The crispy rice and spicy pickle were especially welcome. The staff was welcoming and Amy the owner took care of us. We have made a few trips to Japan and were pleasantly surprised to find an Izakaya in the Keys. read more

Atlas! I did not expect this in Key West. Chief John has brought something special to Key West. Our server was excellent along with Chef John, bringing our food to the table. The ambience was awesome. What a cool restaurant. This restaurant is something you would find in Miami, Atlanta, New York and LA. Chef John brings an incredible twist to Japanese food. We tried several items from the menu like the Tuna cones, smoked duck tataki, spare ribs, eel yakitori, chicken hearts yakitori, wood ear mushrooms yakitori and ramen with shrimp. It was excellent and so was the service. You may find some of the food a bit salty but that's due to the preparation that adds a savory, salty flavor to the dishes. I will be back. Chef John is the Godzilla of Atlas Izakaya. read more

See all

Probably one of the best meals I've had and definitely the best Japanese inspired food I had the privilege of enjoying. I wish I included pictures of the sashimi.The salmon, tuna, and yellowtail were so buttery smooth, so fresh that it just melts on your tongue. I'll think about it for days. The octopus popsicles were astounding in taste. I've never tasted octopus cooked as perfectly as it was. It had a similar tenderness to pork belly but even more tender. It's rare to find that kind of tenderness at any place that serves octopus so I was overwhelmed by how good it was and this is coming from someone who generally does not like octopus. Amazing. My main dish was a bowl of spicy pork ramen. Shout outs to the broth and the perfect noodles. I could have this dish just to drink the broth alone. It was not too spicy and it had a perfect blend of ingredients that I will not pretend to know. The noodles absorbed the broth perfectly and they were neither overcooked nor overly firm. Words cannot capture the taste I indulged from this. I wish I could accurately review the matcha ice cream sandwich bao buns, but I was so stuffed that I couldn't enjoy it fully. However, the bun itself was light and airy similar to donut mill inspired desserts, and it's warmth had a nice contrast with the matcha ice cream. The service was awesome. One of the owners was the bartender and she gave us a thorough rundown of everything including the history of the restaurant, the dishes, the preparation, everything. She set my expectations high for the food which went above and beyond that. The restaurant itself was on the smaller side but it wasn't too cramped. I'm not sure how many larger parties you could do, but we took a few seats at the bar. It's one larger room, but it seems like it was split into a more intimate section, the bar, and a larger dining area. The restaurant is a little more upscale but not pretentiously so. Very nice ambiance. A top recommendation for fellow Japanese food enjoyers. I'll definitely come back if I'm in the area again. read more

See all

We drove over 50 miles to try this place after reading the great reviews. It's definitely a great culinary journey. We were pleasantly surprised for the non presumptuous place, great atmosphere and super friendly service. Everything we had was over the top in flavor! Highly recommended! read more

Food was okay except for the portion size is quite small for the price. Service was incendiary slow, not bad but sooooooo slow. The karagee chicken is a joke for $17 bits two chicken McNuggets in a piece of dough...incredible! Ambiance is not necessarily romantic more party folks. Not sure I'd recommend this place...based on price and service! read more

Oh. My. Goodness. WOW. I don't even know how in the world it took me this long to write this review because this restaurant is out of this world and I've been thinking about it so often since my trip to key west last week. I have been trying to find good sushi in key west for awhile now, and decided to give this place a try. Right off the bat had a warm welcome and was happy to see how amazing the atmosphere of this place was. Such a great place to eat for any type of occasion, date night, family dinner, business, it's perfect. Our waitress was SO sweet and patient with us as we were contemplating dishes, and food was brought out very quickly. Crispy tuna rolls were really really, and the salmon roll as well, but don't even get me started on the Mexican roll. This was typically not something I would go for but it sounded good and gave it a try, and this was seriously one of the best rolls I've ever had in my entire life. Wanting to hop on a plane back to key west just for this roll. Seriously such an amazing spot , best sushi in Key West. Will defenitly be back next time I'm in town. read more

Atlas Izakaya - Crispy Tuna - Japanese Near Me - Key West, Florida

See all

We loved this restaurant! The owner personally shared the specials and features of menu dishes. It was definitely pricey for the amount of food but this is not uncommon for tapas style restaurants. This restaurant offers something different from the typical key west fare. read more

Atlas Izakaya - Lobster bao buns and hand rolls - Japanese Near Me - Key West, Florida

Unpretentious and wonderful restaurant in Key West. As it is small plates to share, would have liked to have been seated at the table with my wife and another couple. Quality of dishes was very high. Everything was very tasty. Exceptional evening at Atlas Izakaya. read more

Definitely make a reservation! We had high hopes for this place; the atmosphere was beautiful and the service was professional and very informative. We came during happy hour and got the tuna crispy rice and the pork ribs. I loved the tuna, but found the ribs very salty. We also got the octopus on a stick; it was delicious, however, very salty. My husband enjoyed the sake specials for happy hour. We enjoyed our time, but agree that there needed some balance in the seasonings. read more

See all

Food was really good! They really are trying here. Service was a little odd. Not bad but felt disorganized and bumpy. Sitting at the bar we were able to talk to some of the kitchen staff and really enjoyed their suggestions! I will define be trying to re create the fried chicken bun and will be back on our next visit to KW. read more

This place Rules! All the food I had was incredible. The hot karagee, bahn mi buns, crispy rice W/ tuna were all fantastic to name a few. All taken care of by a great, friendly staff that explained all the food and sakes. I love the space the restaurant is in, not too big not too small. We will definitely be coming back soon.. make sure to buy a round for the line. read more

See all

Top 5 Asian Fusion Meals I've had in LIFE and that's crazy to say as a local of Hawaii. - Crispy Rice: INSNAE - Tuna Cones: CRAZY - Pork & Shrimp Dumplings: SLAP YA MOMMA GOOD - Octopus Bao Buns: ILLEGALLY FLAVORFUL - Mexican Sushi Roll: Average...just average - Ramen: LIFE CHANGING Amy was a great server! If you're in Key West and you want to get away from the crazy and have a civilized high class meal, POP IN! read more

My new favorite spot- amazing, fresh, inventive food. I love the Karaage Chicken and Lobster Bao Buns, Crispy Rice with tuna, King Crab tacos, hearts of palm rangoon, local catch yakatori and the octopus. I've brought everyone I know here and they all love it. Highly recommend! read more

See all

Best meal we had while on the island. Everything we had was wonderful, with well thought out flavor combinations. I especially liked the baby corn and crispy rice. Slightly disappointed they didn't have the yuzu tart the other reviews raved about, but loved the zero proof mocktails read more

A sort of Asian tapas experience, good food, pricey and wonderful service. A must try when visiting Key West.

Atlas Izakaya was a gem to find on Key West. Walked in and the decor was on point. We knew it was going to be delicious from the cookbooks they had collected on their shelf. We were treated, seated and our hostess went over the entire menu for us explaining each section of the menu and what to expect from them. We've been to a lot of Izakaya spots through out the years but this is definitely one of the most memorable. Only took photos of 2 dishes but everything we ordered was flavorful and balanced. Really did not expect this in Key West so it was a surprise and there's parking in front too! read more

Atlas Izakaya - Crispy rice with tuna - Japanese Near Me - Key West, Florida

See all

Eating here was the highlight of our key west vacation. This place is a must try and a nice option to have in the area that isn't the same Florida/Caribbean cuisine. The food experience was unique. Basically it's a bunch of small plates and you order however many you're hungry for. The wagyu dumplings and crispy tuna rice were highlights for us. The presentation was awesome and made the food exciting to eat. Amy was our server and she was amazing. So thoughtful and attentive - we felt like we were the only ones in the restaurant. The only drawback is that the place is kind of hidden. We walked past it a few times before realizing it actually was the restaurant. They need some more signage or something . Overall this is a must try if you're in key west. read more

This was a great experience. We tried many things from the menu, tuna tataki was great, steamed pork dumplings delicious, Brussels sprouts so good! Good authentic japoneze beer. Service was awesome, our writer was great and the ambience was awesome as well. read more

Finally got to Atlas Izakaya last night and all we can ask is "Why did we wait so long?!?!" Absolutely amazing addition to the already incredible Key West dining scene. I love this: Izakaya means "stay-drink-place". It is a word used to describe the perfect spot to settle down and dine with company. They hit the nail on the head as this is a place to sit, relax, eat a bit, order more, eat some more, relax, chat, enjoy! We had assumed it was another sushi spot; it's so much more than sushi (although they offer a few nigiri & sashimi menu items). Small plates of super creative, beautiful & DELICIOUS foods! We only ordered from a few "categories", saving the "other half of the menu" for our next visit this week! We were walk ins & despite not having a reservation, were SO kindly greeted by everyone when we arrived. We asked to be at the sushi bar (again, not realizing it was SO much more, which they explained), & they seated us at the Chef's counter (there is also a bar/counter & 2 seating areas), which I highly recommend. Had the pleasure of chatting at length with the owners/Chef Johnny & Amy, as well as with the other chefs (Go Bucs!) and Fernando (who we know from Santiago's). They are SO helpful walking your through the menu and offered some amazing tips that were incredible. Amy surprised us by serving our sake in a Masu celebration box - excellent special touch!! Can't wait to go back (in 3 days!) & recommend you visit too! PS the purchase of some of their menu items donates to the Boys & Girls Clubs of The Keys! I have more pics but am limited to 10 unfortunately read more

See all

The food was really good and authentic. The owners were really, really nice and a really good experience.

Great small plates and sushi served up in a cozy atmosphere. Nice saki and beverage options. Awesome every time!

A time I'd love to give half stars. 4.5 stars overall because I found many of the food items to be a bit too salty and in need of a sweetness to balance it out. My husband who I dined with (and others) might disagree- this is just my preference. We sampled many menu items: maitake mushroom, octopus, special dumplings, crudo of the day, tuna crispy rice, shrimp yakitori, pork belly bao. We had sake to drink. The pork belly bao was easily my favorite.. the furikake dusted on the top was excellent and a flavor I'd never seen before added to this kind of dish. The yakitori and octopus were on the salty side. They do offer a happy hour from 5-6 which includes about 5 sake specials and 5-6 food menu specials for a discount. The happy hour is worth it. The service was very good and the decor is fun! read more

This was our second visit to this establishment. Solidifying our first impression of it as a spectacular hidden gem of Key West. The food here is so beautifully and creatively prepared you might find yourself as we were, shocked that such an incredible chef is creating such food on this quaint little island. Johnny and his lovely wife Aimee, who we had the pleasure of meeting, are restaurant celebrities in this town, well known in the Florida Keys "foodie" community as a winning husband and wife team that have been setting the bar for delicious food and great service for many years. This is their first solo endeavor and it is not to be missed. So many incredible and unique tasting items on the menu, everyone will find something that will surprise and delight them. Might I suggest not missing out on the sticky rice with tuna. A true taste of heaven. Sophistication doesn't stop with the food. The design of the restaurant is also fantastic. The solid jewel tones add to the subtle quiet magesticness of this magnificent eatery. read more

The eclectic and cute place was incredible. Our waiter, Patrick, took us through the menu as well as made our experience fabulous. We tried one of every category (appetizer, specialty sushi, and dumpling). The scallops, crispy rice tuna, and shrimp and chive dumplings were incredible. Highly recommend the experience and food here. read more

This place is a totally unique adventure for your taste buds! I've been here several times and tried both their main menu and their tasting menu - they never disappoint. The fish is SO fresh. The meat is always tender and expertly prepared. We love getting to try all of their daily specials, and the flavors of each dish on the standard menu are perfectly balanced! The tapas-style allows you to try a little bit of everything, and with the wide variety of dishes available, you'll want to try it all! The owners and staff are an absolute delight, and they're able to make fantastic recommendations to pair your meal with premium sakes and wines to really elevate the entire experience. There's nothing that will ever compare in Key West! read more

See all