Stopped by Okinawa Sushi & Hibachi Steakhouse for a late lunch and decided to sit out on the…read morepatio.... such a great choice!! The outdoor seating was relaxed and perfect for enjoying the beautiful weather without feeling rushed. Service was friendly and attentive, even during that in-between lunch/dinner time. Our food came out fresh and well-prepared. We both ordered hibachi. Our server even offered us to go drinks which was a nice gesture. Overall, it was a laid-back, enjoyable experience. Definitely a solid spot for a casual lunch date or catching up with friends. I'd come back again for sure.

Food first, thoughts after... Overall a good choice. We went…read moreback after so many years because our friends wanted to go before moving away from Birmingham. The sushi was good. My husband enjoyed his udon but both of us were thirsty when we got home due to the saltiness.

Where do I begin? I…read morehave lived in the Birmingham Metro area the majority of my life and love trying new places, so when my son spotted this place on a shopping trip to Publix and asked if we could go try it out I said yes (if he was a well-behaved boy at school lol). Luckily for us, he was today. It's location being over the parking deck is probably why I didn't notice it and I was nervous about how accessible it would be however there were two solid ways to get there either from the street or parking deck so that proved to be no issue at all. It has both indoor and outdoor seating with cute decor all over the inside. I've never been to Japan but one could imagine this gave its all to emulate the feel of a cool Japanese city restaurant. There's a cocktail bar on the right, sushi bar to the left, and good seating in the middle. Maybe large parties would be hard to seat upon reflection but I'm sure it's doable. The menus we received were EXTENSIVE. So many sushi and nigiri options were available it was almost overwhelming but they also gave us a paper selection for sushi that went into detail of the chef specials. But don't worry, they had other options including various soups, salads, appetizers (we got the spring rolls, YUM. My son devoured them), and hibachi style dishes. We decided to get the Udon with shrimp and veggies, Osaka roll, and Vestavia roll. Genuinely, you can taste the love and care. My son actually closed his eyes and sighed when he dived into the noodles dish and was enamored with the Vestavia roll (did I mention he's six?? Seriously, that reaction from a six year old means they're doing something right!). I also was beyond impressed with the flavors of it all. I wish I was more hungry so I could get more. Lastly, I want to touch on service. I, myself, am a bartender so service is a big thing for me. I have high expectations because I know how the job should be done. When I tell you these lovely people know how to make you feel at home, goodness. Every customer that came in was warmly greeted and if they were a regular it was like they were coming home. The lovely lady at the front (I want to say was maybe the manager?) was all smiles and running around helping and talking with staff and guests alike. She stopped by our table and chatted with my son and told us she was happy they had "new family members" (LOVE). Our server was phenomenal, even seeing my son was struggling with his chopsticks so he rigged up a pair to be more kid friendly which was great. We were sat facing the sushi bar so we were watching how much care and effort they were putting into each plate. It was a sight to see. This place clearly cares about its patrons from the moment they come in til the moment they leave. The love they put into every dish and interaction should be something you get everywhere. They've set a high bar and I'm happy we got to experience it. I cannot wait to go back. I'm already plotting what I'll try next!

Stopped by Samurai Sushi in Vestavia for a Sunday lunch after church for Easter, and it was a…read morepretty relaxed experience. The restaurant wasn't crowded at all, which made for a quiet and easygoing meal. The sushi itself was just okay... nothing particularly memorable, but it satisfied the craving. Service was smooth and timely, likely helped by the lighter crowd. Overall, a decent spot if you're looking for a low-key lunch without the wait, but the food didn't quite stand out compared to other sushi spots in the area

The restaurant itself was nice but smaller than I had expected. We were there around 2 on Saturday…read moreand we got seated right away. The honeycomb seating was not available to sit at because I believe they were under construction so that was a little disappointing since that's where my daughter wanted to sit. But wasn't that big of a deal. The food and service was great.

The design is honestly what made me want to check this place out in the first place I had seen it…read moreall over social media and it looked so cute and unique inside. When we got there, it definitely lived up to the aesthetic. The whole setup is really nice, very much so photo-worthy, and you can tell they put a lot of thought into the design! I was visiting from out of town and brought my mom and sister with me, so I was pretty excited for us. We were really hoping to sit in the honeycomb booths since that's what you always see on social media, but unfortunately they were blocked off when we arrived, which was a little disappointing. It wasn't a dealbreaker, but it did take away from the experience we were expecting. The servic is where things started to fall short. Our waiter wasn't very attentive, and there were pretty long gaps between him checking on us. We found ourselves waiting a while for simple things, which made the experience feel a bit off. On a positive note, the food did come out pretty quickly, so I'll give them that. That said, the food itself just didn't really hit for me personally . It looked good, but flavor-wise it was kind of underwhelming. We also didn't receive the Cherry Blossom jelly that we asked for with my combo, our server just kind of forgot, and when we requested soy sauce, it took quite a while to get it. Those little things add up, especially when you're already not getting much attention from your server.

We went to lunch today to Nori and it was great. All the food we had was very tasty. My sons 9 and…read more11 loved their shrimp and the potstickers. My wife had chicken and scallops also very good and I had steak and lobster which was excellent. The service was great and the ambience is very nice. I think we were in and out in about an hour. Our cook was funny and talented in his skills. My kids even had a Rama made Strawberry Boba Tea and loved them. We will be back!

Unfortunately this was not one of my favorite hibachi experiences and I do plan on revisiting to…read moresee if my next experience would be different. I'm wondering if it was my fault for not ordering hibachi from the demonstration grill, but I was thinking since the restaurant was empty I was going it a service ordering from a table, but my soup and salad came out after my hibachi meal. I think the waiter forgot about it because I had to so if it was still coming. When it did come, the soup looked like mostly water (see photos) and the salad was over drenched in dressing. I've never seen that much dressing in a salad my entire life. The meat wasn't hot but the fried rice really saved the day. It was salty, but I prefer mine that way. I like the location of this place so I'm hoping that next visit will be different.

Love Shiki. Consistently good food, great location. I love the coconut soup here. Sushi is always…read moretop tier, too. Family-friendly, lots of good apps like edamame and tempura green beans. Service is always fantastic, even their takeout service - they're always super quick. Inside is cool, and the patio outside is a good vibe. I think they have a weeknight Ladies night wine special.

Sushi and a white wine hates to see me coming ‍…read more Don't miss happy hour so you can try several apps & drinks. Our faves in order: *The strawberry mojito was sooo refreshing *Kimchi brussel sprouts (y'all know I love an acid component and this delivered) *Panang curry pot stickers *Tempura green beans Fave rolls in order: *Cash Me Out *Spicy crunchy salmon *Spicy tuna We had a reservation but it wasn't necessarily needed. It's more casual than we thought and that was a welcomed surprise. Our server was friendly and helpful. Parking wasn't too too horrible. There are slanted spots right outside the restaurant, if you're lucky enough to get one. Beyond those, idk where you'd park. We had a lovely evening and would go back!

Absolutely the best sushi option in the Greater Birmingham Area with a server-delivered…read moreall-you-care-to-eat menu that includes more than a dozen appetizers, two soups, seven salads, hibachi , ramen, fried rice, and a wide range of sushi and nigiri -- all of which are excellent. You don't wait long for your orders even when Sakana is packed. Dinner is $30.95 (adults, children $14.99. Lunch (until 3 pm) is a tremendous value for $20.95/$10.99. There's an extensive regular menu and daily specials if you're not that hungry. Servers are attentive and friendly. Restrooms are clean and well-supplied. Lighting in the dining area is perfect for this type of restaurant. Adult beverages are reasonably priced and there are specials on drinks. The only negative is the vanilla ice cream that comes with the deal as dessert -- it is the worst tasting, artificial flavored one I've ever tasted.

Iwas so excited to try this place because I'm a huge foodie, but our server completely ruined the…read moreexperience. When we arrived, my friend asked how the All-You-Can-Eat (AYCE) option worked. After the server explained it, I made a lighthearted joke to my friend saying, "So, anything and as much as you want!" The server immediately snapped back with a rude comment about her manager not liking food waste. I told her it was just a joke between friends, but the attitude didn't stop there. When I tried to order a single bowl of ramen, she told me to get the AYCE dinner option instead, even though ramen is listed individually on the menu. Because I have a smaller appetite, iI told her it was good and I was sticking with the ramen. Later, my friend offered to share a piece of her sushi roll with me. The server cut in and rudely snapped that we weren't allowed to do that, stating that if I wanted anything else, I had to get the all you can eat. While we told her that I wasn't getting from her food we where just sharing because it was our first time there, she was sooo rude coming at us that we CAN'T. While I understand AYCE sharing rules, her delivery was incredibly hostile, argumentative, and unprofessional. It completely ruined our lunch break. I was looking forward to this place, but the terrible service ruined it.

DO NOT DINE HERE. If I could rate this a place a zero I would. My first time having a bad…read moreexperience at a Kobe's restaurant. Im not sure if its because we sat at a both instead of having them cook in front of us but the food was terrible. I ordered the salmon and steak, the only thing that was edible was the steak, which I had to pick bones out of. The rice was inedible, I literally had to spit it out because I couldn't swallow it due to the taste. The salmon was dry, over cooked, and unseasoned. We offered to pay for the food that we did eat but instead the manager told us to go home and never come back. Dine wisely !

We made reservations for my daughter's 13th birthday last night. There were 13 of us total. The…read morecook did not even do the entertaining at all. We had to go find chopsticks. No Happy birthday dessert or anything. They were dead because the weather was bad. I would have hoped for a better experience. I feel like it was a waste of time and $500. The tip was included and I felt service was horrible. I will not be going back.

Iola is a solid choice for consistent good food. We eat there and it wonderful. We get takeout and…read moreit wonderful.

This please pleasantly surprised me! We moved to this area about a year ago & just started…read moreventuring out and trying new places. I always noticed the parking lot Infront of this place was packed, now I know why. We called in two orders of general tsos chicken & when I arrived to pick it up the place was packed! Everything was so hot and fresh.. even after getting it home and eating. The homemade spicy mustard sauce was delicious! I think we've found our new spot. We are so excited to try it again & get the sushi.

The service was great! The atmosphere was beautiful and clean! The appetizers were honestly better…read morethan our food! My cocktails were lovely! Would love to come back to try some other things!

1000/10 recommend…read more This was an amazing experience--great food, outstanding service, and a beautiful atmosphere. The dishes were flavorful and well prepared, the staff was attentive and welcoming, and decorations of the restaurant added such an elegant, unique aesthetic that made the whole experience even more memorable. Highly recommend.

Spicy, sour, and seriously satisfying! That's how you describe the soup at Fuji Hibachi Express…read more When I'm looking for a quick dinner, one of my favorite pickup spots is Fuji Express. You can order online by going directly to the website. They make the food quick and my orders have always been correct. My go to order is a large hot and sour soup with a side of rice. By getting the large, I have plenty of food for lunch the next day.

Our go to hibachi take out! I am a huge fan of the spring rolls and the chicken hibachi. The…read morehibachi is the best deal! You get noodles and soup and salad. Flavors are great! They are so quick, literally ready in 10 minutes after I call it in.