Chef Yoshi is awesome! It has been a long time that I have been wowed by sushi. The food was amazing. I will defintely be back! read more

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Fantastic service and ambiance. Food is good. The matcha tiramisu was very unique and delicious. read more

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I came here with friends for an Omakase. They were kind enough to let us sit at the counter and held our reservation as I was rushing from the airport. Our waitress was super kind and walked us through the entire process, with narrations and instructions for each of the 17 plates. The chef was also super funny and kind and shared stories as well. My favorite plates were the oyster, blue fin tuna in the jar, shrimp tempura, and the cod. Every bite was so beautiful to look at and the flavors were amazing. There were many things that I have never tried before or were unsure of, and each bite was 100% worth it. The interior was so pretty, especially in the evening. The lightning was amazing. I think that even if you sat at a booth, it would still be an amazing experience. I 1000% recommend coming to Aya sushi - it's at the top of my list of recommendations. read more

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Came here for lunch. Excellent sushi. Service this time was exceptional. Nice laid back vibes. Food came out quick. Waiter was very attentive and knew exactly what we liked. Excellent dining experience. read more

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This place exceded all my expectations and more. Is it pricy - yes but the service was top tier. You get a towel before you eat, the waiters clear your plate and place after each set. They describe the dishes and how to eat them. Overall vibe was contemporary / upscale. The enoki butter was life changing. Mushrooms that taste like al dente pasta. It was both rich and soulful. All the nigiri was so light and had layers of flavor. The Dino maki did not miss. Usually if a roll includes crab or lobster it's minuscule. Here? They give you chunks on every piece. Chunkssssss. Ugh this roll alone left me so happy and full. Miso seabass was small for the price but was smoky, sexy?, buttery. I wish I was given a knife to cut it with. The fish was soft enough to cut with chopsticks but a knife would have made things a bit easier. We got the apple pie for dessert. I didn't expect it to be fried but it was tasty - reminded me of an elevated McDonald's apple pie. read more

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I ordered sushi for pickup and was told it would be ready in 30 minutes. When I arrived on time, they told me it wasn't ready and had me sit and wait. I ended up waiting another 30 minutes before the food was finally prepared. When I asked what caused the delay, I was simply told they were busy--no apology, no effort to make it right. To make matters worse, when I got home, I realized they had only included two tiny soy sauce packets for the entire order. Between the long wait, lack of communication, and poor attention to detail, this was a frustrating and disappointing experience. I won't be returning. read more

Beautiful interior, bar area. Everything is very modern and sleek. Service was attentive and helped us pick some great dishes. We tried the Moriawase for lunch which included soup/salad along with 7 types of 2 pieces of sashimi. I don't remember what fish we exactly had but all of it was delicious, fresh, and imported. The quality of the sashimi, crudo along with the carefully picked out ingredients made for a flavorful, intricate lunch. read more

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The food was delicious and a little pricy. The restaurant itself is set up really cute and I have no complaints about our server. I wouldn't recommend bringing your children unless they really love sushi or you see an entree they might likI tried a new sake based on a recommendation from the manger. I also loved that they were very patient in helping me find the perfect drink. I had several samples before landing on the Amabuki. Totally recommend giving it a try. As far as the food, my favorite roll was the aya. I also liked the gyu hama it was topped with wagyu steak, which was a first for me on a sushi roll. I didn't really like the chicken kaarage. I had one starter that I cant remember the name of, but they bring it out in a jar with smoke. Not very feeling, but tasty in deed. read more

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We had a wonderful experience here. Leo, our server, was incredibly knowledgeable about every dish and generously shared insights about the chef's passion for his craft. The place was clean, and I loved the gold and green color scheme! We greatly appreciated Leo's recommendations. The fish was of exceptional quality with delicious flavors. Below, you'll find details on everything we ordered. Overall, we had a fantastic experience--the staff were attentive and amazing. We're eagerly looking forward to returning soon! FYI: we did come in the morning so the parking wasn't an issue. Not sure about later read more

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We went to this place for Valentine's Day and it was packed. They were offering a coursed meal full of delicious fresh bites. Because it was a busy night the food did take quite while, we were there for a few hours, but our server was amazing. He was incredibly kind and apologetic about the wait. The food was great though. Every dish was absolutely delicious. I do want to come back on a leash busy night to get a better feel of the place. read more

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Is an entire experience when you go there. The service is extraordinary. The decor beautiful. Please ask for recommendations but everything that we tried off the menu was absolutely delicious. I was so taken by the food that I didn't take any pictures. read more

I had the opportunity to join in celebrating Aya Sushi's second anniversary which included a buffet style dinner along with 2 signature cocktails. The space to me feels like a modernized art deco style restaurant with some fun pink themes. It also has a pretty spacious patio outside. I can't speak for the restaurant on a normal day but will definitely be looking forward to returning. The signature cocktails they had were great and I hope some of them make their permanent or at least rotating menu. Food wise, things were pretty good for a buffet style set up. They had plenty of options and one of my favorite dishes ended up being their spicy edamame, it was just regular edamame but spiced up with a delicious, savory, spicy, garlicy sauce. I think the second year anniversary was fun to attend but didn't do the restaurant full justice. Food was alright and there weren't enough seats for attendees so people were standing around, trying to eat or drink. I'm curious to see how regular service is so looking to come back soon! read more

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The food is so perfect! Yoshi-San makes the experience even better!!! The staff are the best for sure! But the ambiance! Is sooo gorgeous!! I love that they also have a patio! read more

Had a great Omakase experience with Chef Yoshi Not only were each and every dish beautifully crafted and presented but tasted amazingly fresh and refreshing! Chef Yoshi made the evening so memorable and personable by sharing himself and his experiences and knowledge of sushi read more

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We came for the lunch menu and we're the first ones there. The ambiance was upscale and a beautifully decorated space. The server was so nice and helpfully explained what we got. We ordered the chefs choice nigiri + classic maki. Sushi was fresh. Super good for what it's worth for lunch. I'll come back one of these days and try something else on the menu! Parking is part of a plaza, so it shouldn't be too difficult to find a space! read more

Aya Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Bellaire, Texas

The food, service and ambiance at this unassuming spot impressed us! Our waiter Andrew was both personable and knowledgeable. We ordered the chef curated tasting menu and enjoyed every bite! As an extra, we ordered the Lobster Harumaki and were blown away. The miso apple dessert provided the perfect ending to our meal. We plan to return soon! read more

Arguably the best sushi restaurant in all of Houston! The source their fish and oysters from all over the nation and they are fresh!!!!!!!!! We ate off a curated chefs tasting where they made each dish right in front of us! Such grace and technique! The exquisite taste of each dish was something you would expect out of a movie. The restaurant also look like it was out of a movie! Absolutely gorgeous!!!! I would recommend to try drinks off their drink pairing menu! Omg!!!! Wow! read more

Aya Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Bellaire, Texas

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Aya Sushi is my favorite sushi place in Houston, and it's in Bellaire!! Yoshi has created a nice blend of Japanese food traditions and American restaurant culture. Guests are welcomed with a traditional Japanese greeting, but no knowledge of Japanese is necessary to realize you are being welcomed. The sushi is excellent and served without soy sauce, wasabi or pickled ginger, as Yoshi and his chefs expertly season the season the sushi as they make it and I have not missed the bottle of soy sauce at all. Aya has a Happy Hour every day with reduced prices on some menus items and beer/wine. I have only eaten at the cocktail bar, where the service is excellent. The sushi bar is reserved for customers who are ordering omakase. I recommend Aya to anyone looking for great sushi. read more

Service was wonderful. We came for my birthday and they were so nice to us. We were the only folks there for lunch. Everything was delicious, especially the tonkatsu. The house made katsu sauce was wonderful. The fish was fresh and beautifully presented. I truly appreciated how family friendly they were!! The birthday treats were a very nice touch. read more

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I highly recommend making a reservation if you can because this place does get filled up pretty fast, especially during dinner time. Reservations are easy to make online! I came here with a group of friends, and we were seated immediately upon arrival. This place can accommodate for a decently big group. There is also plenty of parking in the lot for this restaurant. Inside the restaurant is very clean, sleek, and looks pretty upscale. What we ordered: -pink lady crudo (it was highly recommended) -ebi tempura -everything salmon (from HH menu) -sake hara nigiri (salmon belly) -chu toro nigiri (medium fatty tuna) -sake maki This place definitely had one of the widest variety of crudos I have ever seen! I would go back and try the other ones, because I only got to try the "pink lady" one, which was so delicious. The presentation of all of the dishes are stellar. The everything salmon dish from the HH menu is a fun shareable dish to try with a unique concept. It reminds me of getting a salmon and cream cheese on an everything bagel. All of the dishes I tried were so good and fresh. I would like to go back and try the omakase sometime. The service was also great. Our server was very friendly and attentive. read more

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Had the most amazing Omakase experience here - please make reservation and sit at the chef's table. Right off the bat, the staff were super attentive. We grabbed a drink first and then have an extensive wine, sake and cocktail menu. Try the cocktails or do the beverage pairing. The omakase is 19 courses and at each course the staff we tell you exactly what it is, where it came from and how to eat it best. I love this so much as it really optimizes the taste factor. Each course was so incredibly unique and fresh. I'm not new to omakase but I had new flavors I've never tried before. You can also order a la carte which we did because there were some more pieces we wanted to try. We ended with a foie gras dessert which was so unique but also became my favorite of the night. We got 3 other desserts and just as unique - definitely try the matcha tiramisu. All desserts are made in house! I love that they change their menu every season so if you've come once, come again as the menu will be different and you can try new things! Thank you so much for an amazing evening out! read more

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Wow. Blown away! The restaurant ambience is amazing. Our waitress was so sweet and helpful for ordering. The fish was very fresh and unique. We really loved everything including the cocktails. ESPECIALLY the Kanpachi - PLEASE order that!!! Sashimi or nigiri. Highly recommend for a sushi night!! (But be prepared for an expensive dinner) read more

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We came in hopes of omakase today (but found out that only starts after 5pm) :( We met Jillian, who was an amazing hostess and very knowledgeable about the menu and the recommendations. My mom and I are tasters and love to try a little of everything. We went with the moriawase, the oysters, enoki butter, Aya maki, and premium hiramasa crudo. We left super happy and bellies full. Thanks, we'll definitely have to get back here for some omakase in the future, it was definitely worth the hike! read more

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Great food But you need to NOT let people bring dogs in for dinner Paying for a lot for an experience not a coffee shop Disappointed read more

Tried this place for the first time and was pleased with the service, price point, and food. Not the best sushi I've had, but solid and tried some things I haven't seen elsewhere. First off, we expected to spend a pretty penny here, as you would expect at a higher end Japanese restaurant, but we only spent $75/person on food and walked out stuffed. The $75 gets you a menu sampler of their best items and I think is only available on Sunday. We were struggling to pick items so this was perfect. Our waitress, Apple, was friendly and attentive. I don't remember the name of any dishes, so I'll just describe. Nigiri (4.5/5): we ended up with 4-5 different nigiri - the quality of fish was good but I though there could have been less rice to each bite Bok choy (5/5): this was a nice surprise. I never would have ordered on my own. It's baby bok choy delicately fried to be crisp with a plum like sauce on it. Pro tip: shake off some of that sauce and it's a perfect bite. Too much sauce is overwhelming. Fried cauliflower (2/5): there's a bit of heat to this and I thought the fry was a bit soggy. Not my cup of tea. Enoki in butter sauce (5/5): Wow, I love enoki but paired with that umami sauce, it was fantastic. Definitely on the rich side, so would share this with 1-2 other people for sure. Sushi (4/5): the last sushi roll of the night was their signature roll and was loaded with good stuff. Unfortunately I was so stuffed I couldn't appreciate it. We took one piece home (don't judge) and next day when I put that bite in my mouth, I could appreciate his good it was. Ambiance was nice - there are two bars - a sushi bar and a drink bar. We were seated at a very spacious booth. They also have regular tables to push together if there's a larger party. May go again to try omakase. read more

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Came here with a group of friends to celebrate a birthday! Ambiance was very classy and quiet as it wasn't busy on a Sunday afternoon. The restaurant interior was gorgeous with modern fixtures and seating booths/tables! Our waiter was super nice and greeted us as my friends came to our table gradually and then we ordered 2 bottles of sake to enjoy. The manager came by to wish my friend a happy birthday and gave great suggestions for the sake which we went with 1 of her suggestions and 1 of my boyfriends. Glasses were brought out and we ordered off the happy hour menu until Happy Hour was over. My friend ordered a few other items off the regular menu as they were still hungry and the food was super delicious! This place is great for a small group, date night or just an individual dinner. The prices are kind of high but that's what you get for the quality. I would probably come back as they have very unique items on their menu that I wouldn't find at other sushi places! read more

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Disappointing experience. I feel it was expensive for very little food. Also, I felt the menu was difficult to navigate. I think they are trying to be "fancy" but the sushi I ordered fell flat. I had to ask for soy sauce, wasabi, and ginger. Will probably not go back as there are so many good sushi restaurants in Houston. read more

Came here on Valentines Day, it wasn't really packed since we went during the day. Service was great, food came out SUPER slow. Miso Soup (5/5) Miso is always a hit or miss. Had all the flavors there. Miso Salad (5/5). Loved the dressing! Salmon and Salmon Belly Sashimi (5/5) Fresh. Madai Crudo (4/5) Good and I liked the torched flavor but I felt like it needed more sauce to it. Miso Seabass (5/5) Flavor was great, fish was flakey. We enjoyed it Triangle Roll (4/5) Good. Foie Gras (4/5) Good but not as good as uchi's. We got other sushi pieces as well, but I forgot what they were called. My husband liked all of them, some were too fishy for me. Everything was good but it just didn't wow me. I would come here again but it's not at the top of my list. read more

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I had a great first omakase experience at Aya Sushi. Although we were seated at the enclosed patio on an abnormally cold February Saturday evening, they had heaters on for us, it was rather cozy for a patio. Also, if since our party was the only one seated out on the patio, they were able to move one of the heaters closer to us. Their cocktail menu was eclectic, varied, and handcrafted. I opted for the Onimasa, a take on a matcha old fashioned - tasty. Later in the evening I got a Breakfast Bird, a tasty rum based drink that was sweet and satisfying. First, the waiter explained what the towel tablet was for, most things are recommended to experience with your hands and the towel is there to clean your hands with. We had an amuse bouche of sorts, a seaweed like concoction with a slightly sour note at the end to welcome our palate with more rich and tasty offerings, served on a soup spoon. What followed was a series of sashimi and nigiri, which included seafood like, flounder, cuttlefish, salmon, tuna, redfish, uni, and a soup with chicken meatballs, and more. Each was presented beautifully with microgreens and topped with small amounts of seasoning. When presented with two, they recommended to eat from left to right. I was explained is was because the left had more savory bold flavors, the right was more subtle and sweet. As each dish was presented, our server explained what was prepared, recommended how it should be consumed. We were also served with an A5 Waygu beef, they we cooked ourselves on a hot plate pot. It was one of the most tender pieces of beef I've tasted. We also had a foie gras sashimi. They were very attentive with serving our water, drinks, and were very polite. Since it was my friend's birthday, they presented us with a coffee crepe cake and a matcha mascarpone cake. They were delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and my first omakase dinner. read more

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The atmosphere is so welcoming and chic at the same time. They enthusiastically greet you as you enter. The sushi bar/chef area is in the back where the magic happens. Happy hour is a great opportunity to try the different options. The staff have always been nice, helpful, welcoming, professional, knowledgeable. read more

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My cousin and I came for HH and our experience was amazing, from our waiter (Phi) to the food. We sat outside in the covered patio. It was clean and the weather was great. We ordered a few things off the HH menu and some from the regular menu. Standout items were the truffle hirame, scallop, and ocean trout. I got the Texas Highball as my drink of choice (I love anything whiskey). The prices are high which is expected for a fancy higher end sushi spot but going for HH is key to not break the bank. Can't wait to go back! read more

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This place was absolutely amazing! We came for the Omakase and were not disappointed. Who knew little pieces would fill us up like it did. Chef Yoshi Katsuyama gave us a great selection. Service - Our waiter, John, was very personable. He asked for our names! He did so good my friend literally gave this man a hug when we left. Of course that lead John to bring it on in to me too. It was great. Ambiance - love the look. The lighting is dim but they have these cute little 2-way lamps that allow for a better view of the menu and great for photos! The place is small so make sure to reserve a spot early especially to do the experiences Food- Mostly everything was great. I am a condiment lover. I needed to add nothing to everything unless it came with it. I'm usually like, "May I have a side of spicy mayo please". Didn't need it. The only item I did not like matter of fact it has to be the worse thing I have ever eaten was the Sea Urchin. It was the texture, the look, and the taste that ruined it for me. The desert was very good Drinks- Great cocktails and Saki. read more

Aya Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Bellaire, Texas

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Hands down, BEST omakase I've ever had. I've enjoyed omakase at Kata Robata, MF Sushi, and Roka Akor (to name a few), but Aya Sushi has them all beat by miles. Better than any Michelin-star restaurant I've been to. The ambiance, service, and impeccable food and drink made for an evening I will remember for the rest of my life. Chef Yoshi, famous for his eccentric personality and iconic pink apron, trained for decades in Tokyo and worked four years at Uchi. His experience is apparent in the masterfully designed 19-course omakase, which includes ingredients flown in from Japan. Every offering was unique and exciting, utilizing various textures, tastes, and temperatures. Moving through each course felt like making my way through a book that I couldn't put down. Their drink menu is equally as impressive, with the best cocktails I've had all year and the largest sake selection in Texas. Their Japanese whiskey selection is impressive as well. Our waiter did an excellent job of gauging our preferences and helping us to select the perfect cocktails. From start to finish, their staff made us feel so warm and welcome - a trait not easily found in hospitality as of late. Ambient lighting and clean wooden lines make this modern space an excellent backdrop for the perfect date night. Aya deserves more recognition. Houston has so many restaurants worth visiting but only a handful that have me yearning to come back. Next time you have something to celebrate - whether that's an anniversary, birthday, or payday - make sure to spend it with Chef Yoshi! read more

Rating: 4.5/5 Visited Aya Sushi midweek to try their lunch special and was pleasantly surprised by the interior! When you walk in, you are greeted by warm interior with lots of natural wood tones and greetings by the staff. My friend made reservations for 5 a few days prior and we were seated promptly upon arrival. I decided to try the Premium 5 Piece Chef's Choice + 1 Classic Maki ($28) from the lunch menu. The waitstaff was extremely helpful in helping me decide which option to go with and what cuts of fish would be available for that day. With the lunch special, you get a salad, miso soup, and the entree of your choosing. The salad with onion dressing was good but I will probably go with the ginger dressing next time as the onion dressing had a mild flavor. The Miso Soup was also okay but I do think it could use a bit more umami flavor. However, I did enjoy the different elements that were placed in the Miso Soup. For the most part, the sushi itself was pretty satisfying! I decided to go with the spicy salmon maki and it had a good amount of spice with it. With each bite I enjoyed the balance of flavors that were curated by the chef. My favorite cut was the salmon nigiri which absolutely melts in your mouth. The sushi is definitely on the pricier side and although that can be justified in certain cases I am not sure if I would come back other than for the lunch special. I can definitely see Aya Sushi as a great date night spot or for groups between 5-6 people. If you plan to come here be sure to reserve ahead of time! There is also plenty of parking so no need to worry about that. read more

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The real MVP of this place is the bar tender. Drinks were perfection. We chose the omakase to explore the menu options. The beginning started out not to our taste but picked up with the nigiri and finished off nicely with a hot rock. Nice patio area, large parking lot which are pluses. read more

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We came here for omaskase and were able to take a seat at the bar to enjoy the experience. We did the chef's tasting for $135 and we added the beverage pairing for $65/person. The beverage pairing included a bunch of different sakes, so we thought it was worth the money for all the different sakes we got to try. Overall, the experience was excellent from start to finish. It's kinda interesting cause the sushi bar is an assembly line and all the waiters will bring out the food whenever it's ready. So it may also be made in the back or your dishes hop on the assembly line they have behind the sushi bar. So it's not your traditional omakase experience in that sense but it's was still good. It wasn't our favorite omakase, but I thought it was good for the price point! read more

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Came to Aya for the Omakase- did the chefs tasting. Service was great, and the coursing out for the omakase was perfectly timed. We were out on the patio and enjoyed a little heat lamp action for the cool spring breezy evening we had. We enjoyed all the nigiri's and I thought the sashimi's were good too. Some of the specialty things (baby octopus) may be more of an acquired taste... All in all not a bad tasting.- more of 3.5 stars read more

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Overall, we had a nice omakase experience here. There were a few instances where I thought the fish to rice ratio was a bit off, where the sashimi was cut a bit thin/small compared to the rice which makes the ending notes that of the rice instead of the fish. Nonetheless, we had a wonderful time conversing with Chef Yoshi and the $135 Chef's Course is quite a good deal considering you get uni, wagyu, and foie gras. Here are a few impressions of our 19-course dinner: Onimasa cocktail- very very good; strong hojicha taste; one of the best cocktails ive had Kaiju Rita cocktail- smoothie consistency, strong mezcal taste, creamy and spicy Seaweed appetizer- light, goes down quickly Chicken Meatball Soup - tender, tastes homemade Cod Fish Ball - edamame adds a nice crunch, a bit salty Hirame- fragrant, flowery, ponzu sauce kind of overpower fish Madai- stronger than amadai, supple Ika (squid)- nice balance of squid and rice, squid was creamy Tuna don- fresh, clean taste Toro duo- best bite yet, extremely rich but not overwhelming Grilled Unagi- clean flavor, soft, crispy skin Uni- very sweet and creamy Hokkaido uni Wagyu- melt in your mouth, sauce really balanced out the richness Miso apple pie- best dessert ive had in a long time; absolutely delicious; warm, salty, rich, creamy; tastes like salted caramel with a twist read more

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Awesome 19 course omakase experience that was well worth the money. Chef Yoshi-san explains beforehand it's not all nigiri, and there are some pretty interesting dishes in the beginning, including encapsulated miso soup, a chicken broth based custard, and jellyfish. -$135/person. You will leave full! -Ample parking out front -It wasn't too busy when we dined on a Saturday evening & we were one of the only few sitting at the sushi bar! Gives you a great opportunity to film and visualize all the dishes that were being made. The rest of the interior was gorgeous with plenty of ambient lighting and spots for photo opps. - Big highlights included all of the nigiri, including amberjack and the BEST tuna flight I've ever had in my life. The courses just keep getting better each time so patience is well worth it! - Improvements: They are very efficient here and course will come out right after course, which I absolutely LOVE. It is great to save time. However, toward the end of the evening our dishes were taken the MOMENT after we put the courses in our mouth which takes away from the experience & we couldn't fully enjoy the last 5 courses. 30 more seconds would've been ample. Also, we felt pretty pressured by everyone in the beginning for a drink pairing w/ the omakase. I don't drink m and I mentioned it multiple times I wouldn't want the pairing, but they were so insistent on it, I can see how it can make some uncomfortable. Overall, outstanding courses and experience. Would come again! read more

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We tried the omakase at the sushi bar. I will say for the price of the omakase you get a great amount of food however we weren't super wowed by each dish. I would definitely recommend trying omakase once but I don't think we would come back again for the omakase. We tried 3 different cocktails and loved them. If you love to drink old fashioned definitely get the onimasa. Was so goooooood! read more

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