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Bar Oni Izakaya

3.6 (54 reviews)
Closed • 6:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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Sugar free drink- yuzu hard seltzer
Amy J.

The food was delicious for bar food. The bartender was not particularly welcoming to me as I waited for ten minutes for my friend to join me. She really didn't want me to be there alone at a booth when it could get busy, she said. I told her again I was waiting on my friend. Rude. The meat skewers were super delicious and flavorful. The pumpkin croquettes were bland and the octopus fritters would have been better without the really odorous fishy bonito flakes all over it. Poor cocktail selection. All premade and only one was sugar free. The yuzu vanilla hard seltzer could have been alcohol-free for all I know it was so mild. The flavor was nice and mildly vanilla cream soda though.

Eggplant skewer, chicken leg skewer, chicken thigh skewer, chicken breast skewer, dashi fries. Krab korokke
Anh N.

I was disappointed that I wasn't able to try the shabu shop that was replaced by Bar Oni, but I decided to give the place a try. While the employees were very amicable, it seems that they forgot to clean our table before we sat down. Once they realized their mistake, they did a very rough wash of the table that I don't think really helped to clean it. I wouldn't normally care so much, but Covid :P Skewers: they didn't manage to remove the bitterness from the eggplant skewer so it wasn't my favorite. The breast and thigh were so-so. The best by far was the chicken leg skewer, it was super juicy and I wish we ordered three of this instead of trying the other skewers! Dashi fries: They're actually quite good but if you eat too much it gets salty. I would have also liked something saucy to help keep the garlic and scallions on the fries instead of falling to the bottom of the bowl. Krab Korokke: A little too rich in mayo for my taste, but they were nice and crunchy with a hot interior. In short, I think the food is alright but there is definitely room for improvement!

Egg Sando (with truffle mayo and caviar)
Leslie H.

Hate to disagree with all the 5-star reviews and I can't speak for dine-in, but my personal take-out experience here was honestly sub-par. Back when this place was Ushabu, I loved its warm, cozy and intimate vibes but during peak COVID, bar seats cramped close together in a tiny restaurant with thin dividers thrown in between just isn't an ideal setup. That being said, I was still excited for an izakaya place to open up in CLE and had to try their yakitori, so we dropped by to pick up some food. They never answer the phone so you have to walk in to order. In addition to a full house dining in, the place was packed with a few people already waiting for takeout when we arrived. The staff didn't seem to know how to handle this, and hesitantly but politely asked us to wait outside without even taking down our numbers. Maybe their small plates just aren't meant for takeout, but I was unimpressed by the skewers. We got 2 sets (yakitori & mixed) and they were mostly average and lacking in flavor, with the only real standout being the shishito peppers marinated in a bold and flavorful vinaigrette. Part of this is prob due to packaging; the different skewers all came packed one on top of each other in small boxes, which may have led to a loss of flavor integrity. Egg sando w/ truffle mayo and caviar was interesting but tbh kind of gimmicky and overpriced at $8, since the Hokkaido bread just didn't have the buttery, creamy flavor that I expect from milk bread. Overall, a disappointing yakitori experience (though might be better dine-in, idk) that unfortunately doesn't live up to its shabu-shabu predecessor in terms of quality and could benefit from more COVID-friendly restaurant practices (eg taking phone orders to minimize wait lines)

Ramen eggs, sushito pepper skewers
Adrianna U.

I haven't been to an izakaya style place since I visited japan, so i was really excited to see something like this in Cleveland. The inside was small, but this makes it feel more like you're walking into a cozy Japanese modern bar. There were some covid precautions taken to make you feel a little safer eating inside such a small space, like placing barriers between parties at the bar. You can't make reservations unless you get the set meal, so go early! Izakaya is like the equivalent of spanish tapas, so all the dishes are small, but I got to try so many foods!Everything was delicious, but must-haves were definitely the caviar egg-sando, seasoned eggs, and eggplant skewers. Egg sandwich had the most creamiest egg filling with fluffy bread, all topped with salty caviar, making it delectable. It wouldn't be an izakaya experience without getting some drinks- any sake is delicious!

Okonomiyaki pancake
Ailin J.

Environment: Have been waiting to try this place in Tremont for a while now! So excited I got seats on a Friday night! Came for a group of 3 at 6:30 and we got the last table! This is the latest time I would recommend for a weekend night because this place does not take reservations and it's very popular! There is a bar area that seats around 8 people and around 5 booths that seats around 4. It's small and quaint and people like to stay and chat here! So definitely come early! Obsessed with their music choice. Not sure if it's only on weekends but they were playing 2000s top hits and it really set a great fun vibe. Food and drink: First of all, the owner, Matt, was so fun and sarcastic and he talked with us occasionally which made the experience so fun! Chicken thighs were delicious!!!!! The salty exterior was perfection. Pork belly was pretty good. I've never really liked okonmiyaki but theirs was very comparable to the ones I've had in other Japanese restaurants! We ordered two pitchers of the house hi-balls (turnt up green tea) and it definitely has the perfect name for it! It's a great pour and strong. I rarely like bourbon drinks and I would definitely order this again! Food I would review 4-5 to be honest. But the atmosphere and extremely friendly staff made this definitely a easy 5 star rating!

Grilled shrimp and okra
Penelope H.

Come for a drink (the bartender was super nice and our beer was served in a cold frosted mug) but don't bother ordering the food. Going from worst to just ok: - skipjack tuna tataki: the fish tasted off. Not a good cut. It tasted like frozen low grade tuna steaks. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised given it was $12? - key west shrimp: $9 for 4 pieces of undercooked flavorless frozen shrimp. - shrimp shumai dumplings - at least the portion size was decent, but once again tasted like it was pulled out of a freezer. - fried vegetable gyoza - nice fry, but again, tasted like frozen. - okra - it tasted fresh, so the best thing I had that evening I guess? This came out to $50. Again, nice place to grab a cold beer and watch a game. Maybe we ordered all of the wrong dishes? But I am not so sure I want to find out.

Chicken thighs, Brussels sprouts and vegetable gyoza.
Danny O.

Who gives a three star review?!!! People with mixed emotions. This was my first time at Bar Oni. My wife and I came because the food seemed unique and the establishment advertises themselves as not taking reservations. My party of two showed up at 6:15pm on a Friday to a semi full bar with two empty tables with "reserved" signs on them. We were greeted by the bar staff and told to come back in 35-40 minutes when some seats would free up. We came back to a couple waiting in seats outside, we ordered drinks and went to their outdoor seating, which for some reason wasn't suggested earlier. After waiting another 50+ minutes outside, with a large group and couple being seated before us, we were seated at 8pm. The drinks we had outside were comped due to the wait. The food was solid and the drinks were good. We tried skewers with okra, brussels sprouts, chicken breasts/thighs and pork belly as well as a burger, octopus fritters and beef tartare. The okra, pork belly and chicken thighs were standouts. My wife had a sparkling tea highball, I had a Nikka Coffey Grain whiskey highball and their signature yuzu vanilla seltzer high ball. Overall it was good food and interesting drinks but a mixed experience. Tip #1, if you come in small groups be prepared to wait outside. Tip #2, if you have a mid to large sized group talk with their staff in advance and maybe you can get a reservation even though they don't advertise taking reservations.

egg Sando- its crustless :)
Blanche K.

this is an intimate izakaya spot, super glad to see it in cleveland! It's a small spot with about 4 big tables in addition to bar seating. the menu offers a wide array of yakitori skewers and small plates. definitely try the veggies, esp the mushrooms don't sleep on them!! I also really loved the egg sandos with a soy egg between milk bread topped w caviar, super rich and lux!! There's so much to try on the menu, I'll def be back! Lots of drink selection too!

The OG house drink. Very refreshing and not too boozy. Get the pitcher to split between 2 people.
Wayne K.

Bar Oni was a last minute decision, but turned out to be a great one. With 4 booths and a small bar, this small space concept was executed on we'll by the 2 staff running it. Highly recommend coming with an empty stomach so that you can try an assortment of everything they have to offer. Huge fan of their commitment to only providing sustainable fish. We will definitely be back.

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2 years ago

My experience was about the same as everybody else's the food was okay but not for the price , service felt very obligatory.

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1 year ago

Very overpriced for what you get. Out of half the menu. Poor service, was a lot better before.

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6 years ago

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4 years ago

Train wreck. VERY poor service. While I sat at the bar two couples came in and sat down then left suddenly.

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Kintaro Sushi & Hot Pot

Kintaro Sushi & Hot Pot

4.0
(505 reviews)
4.7 mi
•$$

This place has always been and continues to be one of my favorite places to eat in Greater…read moreCleveland. Where else can you get all-you-can-eat sashimi, sushi rolls, hibachi, and other appetizers for under 30 bucks? I went here for dinner, and for $28.99, I got a whole lot of sashimi, sushi rolls, hibachi scallops, shumai, strawberry ice cream, etc. Everything was delicious. The sashimi tasted great, and the sushi rolls were filling, though thankfully, Kintaro doesn't go too heavy on the rice. I thought the hibachi scallops were better than a lot of non-AYCE hibachi restaurants. They were tender and flavorful, and if I wasn't absolutely stuffed from the sashimi and sushi, I would have gotten another order of scallops. Like always, the service was great, and the staff was friendly. Our server frequently checked up on us and refilled our waters. So glad that you can still get a reasonably priced, delicious, and beyond filling meal here, even during these times of economic uncertainty.

The first time we went it was we fine, the hotpot and bbq were poorly explained and there is stuff…read moreon the digital menu that wasn't in the hotpot menu paper. Everything tasted fine, so we just assumed it was a communication issue. So we came back, this time it had a quarter of the menu and the quality took a sharp dive. Pretty amazing since it had been less than a week. Most of the menu was missing, our waiter seemed clueless, nice but clueless. I've never been to a hotpot that didn't have quail eggs all day. All the grill meat came out frozen, the cuts were thin and bad. The green peppers tasted like the blade that cut them, dry and metallic. I don't know that was way too wild a swing in quality we won't be back. We can't win with hotpot in Ohio it seems, for how much hotpot is in the US, I expect better than this. Kpot is still the worst but this last time at Kintaro is up there. Guess I'm looking for another hotpot place. It was clean and organized, the floor is in bad shape in the dining area but other than that it didn't feel dirty or unkempt.

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Kintaro Sushi & Hot Pot
Dragon Rol
Dragon Rol
Outside

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Outside
Sushi Kuwahata

Sushi Kuwahata

5.0
(1 review)
1.2 mi

Summary: Visited during a trip home to see my parents. I…read morelive in San Francisco and have traveled to Japan multiple times... This was truly the most exceptional omakase I have had anywhere in the world. Every detail has been planned and executed to the highest degree of excellence. To have this kind of experience anywhere would be a treat but to have it in Cleveland is an incredible luxury. A must visit. Details: Space - Absolutely stunning, intimate space with incredibly beautiful, traditional Japanese finishes. The wood counter is so soft you could rub your face against it. Food - Beyond all expectations. Careful selection of the best ingredients, a fanatical fixation on flawless execution, and undeniable skill, all really add up to something special here. The use of unique techniques and seasonings, chosen thoughtfully for each fish elevated what I thought were familiar ingredients to entirely new levels. Drink - Incredible selection of top sakes, many of which I even found difficult to find on my last visit to Japan. Service - Incredible service, warm, accommodating, effusively kind and above all else... super fun and friendly! At this level, dinning can often be stuffy or intimidating but the team really does an incredible job curating a fun light hearted atmosphere! Vibes - The vibes are great. By the time we left, we were friends with everyone in the room! Price/ value - This is definitely not a cheap meal but it is a truly special experience that could stand toe-to-toe with any top Sushi restaurant in the world. The amount of care, craft, skill is outrageously special and there is clearly a "spare-no-expense" approach to all of the ingredients, dishware, glassware and techniques used.

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Sushi Kuwahata
Sushi Kuwahata
Sushi Kuwahata

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Kyuu-juu

Kyuu-juu

4.0
(6 reviews)
1.2 mi

I had no idea this restaurant even existed until I saw an article on December 30th that they would…read morebe closing on December 31, 2025. So, I quickly messaged a good friend on December 30th (afternoon) and we planned to arrive for dinner. DINNER - The style is TAPAS so the food is small plates. Dinner was delicious. My friend and I ordered several dishes to share including sides (mushrooms, broccolini, and eggplant), rice, and 2 meats (sirloin steak and chicken skewers). The flavour was rich enough but not too strong. Pricing is slightly high but the quality is great. It's sad that the investor decided to close down this Japanese restaurant so early. They only opened in July 2025 so after 6 months they are closing. It takes time for a restaurant to see growth in customer base and money. Perhaps they didn't advertise well enough but whatever the case, I'm glad I got to try their food. Customer service was amazing. My friend and I were greeted when we arrived and were checked on throughout the night. **** GOAL of 365 reviews in 2025 - 60/365 total reviews in 2025 - 841 total Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 31 December 2025

Came to celebrate my birthday and the staff was so friendly! I love that they only carry Japanese…read moreliquor, it keeps the restaurant feel extremely authentic. We tried 6 dishes and 2 sashimi dishes and it was a perfect amount of food for 3 people. The food came out extraordinary fast too I was shocked. They were busy but efficient, I was quite impressed. The must haves are the chicken rice bowl, the yellowtail, and the beef cheek. I love the wide variety of food options for vegetarians and meat lovers. I will say, the food still needs some fine tuning. The flash fried octopus had a weird texture and the sauce was way too overpowering. The squash was good but didn't have anything that made it stand out than anything I could've made at home. Excited to come back to keep trying out more flavors!

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Old fashioned
Old fashioned
Sparkling sake
Sparkling sake
Chicken karaage

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Chicken karaage
Otani Noodle - Downtown

Otani Noodle - Downtown

4.2
(304 reviews)
1.2 mi
•$$

Nothing fancy. At all…read more But amazingly good food. Good service. Reasonably priced. Worth a shot.

Look. I knew I wasn't in LA. I knew there was no way the ramen here would be as good as what I'm…read moreused to eating. But I figured, I'm not a ramen snob. As long as it tastes warm and comforting, I'll be fine. And even then, the ramen here exceeded my expectations (in the bad direction). I'm not someone who craves ramen that often but this evening was chilly and I was looking for something broth-y. I figured I would give this shop a try. I was seated very quickly and was able to order within minutes. The price for the miso ramen seemed pretty reasonable, and it's my ramen of choice when I do eat it, so I figured I'd give it a try. I knew it wouldn't be a "traditional" bowl as the toppings listed were definitely out of the norm and mentally I was fine with that. I'm open to nontraditional toppings as long as everything tastes good. As soon as I took a bite, I was severely disappointed. The noodles honestly tasted like the type you get out of an instant noodle pack. The broccoli was hard and definitely not cooked all the way. And the soup had a strange taste that I can't quite describe, but definitely isn't normal for ramen. Again, I'm not a ramen snob--I've eaten lots of bowls of ramen at all sorts of restaurants (albeit in LA) and they've all tasted fine to me. But this was actually inedible. I was starving and had to eat something, so I just picked out all of the noodles and some of the corn and honestly left the rest of it in the bowl. I feel a little bad giving this place such a low rating, as the workers were nice enough, and it's not like I got sick, and maybe their other food is much better. But I really can't give this place a higher rating than I'm giving it because it truly was an inedible bowl of ramen. Sorry, Otani.

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Order bar
Order bar
Cavaliers Roll(8pcs)(Cooked)
Cavaliers Roll(8pcs)(Cooked)
Menu

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Menu

Bar Oni Izakaya - japanese - Updated July 2026

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