GENERALIZED REVIEW:…read more Came here with a friend from theatre after a full run--he had this place recommended to him by another theatre friend, so we're just passing on the word. The plaza was a bit confusing to navigate, and I'm pretty sure if the place weren't full of Asian parents and their kids, it would've felt like the shadiest place ever because you have to enter from the back. Otherwise, the plaza had a lot of great-looking stores overall. My first go-to: I've loved drinking Kirin Light ever since I discovered it in Chicago. The flavor is literally so light, with a slight acidity that brightens up my meal. The sake here was frankly also delicious. I didn't order it, but my friend did, and they had it warmed. The flavor was soothing and subtle, almost like tea. It was exceptionally easy to drink, and the ocean-themed ceramicware was a beautiful touch. We ordered two rolls: the Shaggy Dog and the Truffalufagus (a fun tongue-twister). I personally chose the Truffalufagus (which is not fun to spell) because it seemed like the most unique dish on the menu, and I enjoyed it very much. What I liked most about it was that it was subtle yet impactful. I also loved the textures--from the internal crunch paired with the fresh jalapeño to the softness of the fish. I'm glad I gave this roll a shot, and I would be excited to try it again anytime. The Shaggy Dog was great, but it appealed less to my flavor profile. It was a little too rich and creamy for me. I recommended this place to my BF as a potential future date spot--I personally think he would like it... if he weren't the type to enjoy AYCE sushi so much. If they had more unique rolls, I would definitely come back just for those. I was tempted to order the Surf and Turf for this round, but I didn't want to seem like a glutton, hahaha.

Visited Himari for HRW. Fantastic Food and impeccable service. Joanna, their general manager, was…read moreexceptional checking on us and making everything exceeded our expectations which it definitely did. Mabuhay Joanna! Looking forward to bring our other family members to try out Himari!

The place was pretty and clean. The appetizers and hand roll was definitely more yummier than the…read moremain dish. You only get 3 pieces of Takoyaki. For the price and amount it was very underwhelming. My bf and I both received a ton of rice but the protein and everything else was very little compared to the amount of rice. It was nice but the amount and price didn't match up for sure. We were told there were no refills on drinks too

Stopped by, for a dinner by myself wanting to try something new!…read moreUpon entering, I was greeted nicely and seated by myself at a cool bench with a built in cushion, next to a cool wall full of cool trinkets and decor. The staff were very nice and accommodating. I felt very well taken care of. The food was fresh and super yummy, my favorite of this bunch was the croquette the potato was so good and the sauce was delectable. The blistered shishito peppers were so fresh, I could not get enough. But I'm biased I love shishito peppers. Overall I'll be coming back to try other things on the menu!

Solid ramen spot with great, attentive, and efficient service and tasty food. Their menu is…read moresuccinct but shines in all areas; I am more of a ramen person than sushi, and I love their tonkotsu. The broth is rich and flavorful and comes with the standard ramen toppings, plus they offer lots of ways to customize with add-ons (I always add corn for some texture). The inside is small and intimate, but they do a great job of moving people through with their efficient service that any wait shouldn't be too bad. Parking - shared lot with others in the shopping center

Super service my flexitarian friend called go ahead and then I'll cancel and when we went in there,…read moreshe wants to look through the menu they had it done in minutes the price reasonable the service fast and friendly. The ramen flavourfull the portions are large. I didn't see a vegan choice. To be fair I was only there a few moments. There is ample parking. A first choice. In Oak Forest/Garden Oaks.

Their takeout experience was seamless. Order online, arrive during the provided window and receive…read morethe goods. No need to call upon arrival, no need to leave your car, just order, arrive and go. My order traveled 40 minutes before I was able to dig in, but even so, it remained solid. Ordering sushi in the suburbs I missed my Madai! I missed delicious otoro, and I missed a few nuances of good sushi, like proper slicing, great temperature control and the key that separates good from great nigiri, good rice. As far as the food: Madai- chewier than expected but may be because I ordered at the end of the night or caught them on an off day. Kin Madai-solid :) Otoro- melt in your mouth, fatty, buttery, and decadent as it should be! I like that they dress their nigiri, a pinch of citrus and dab of caviar feel like the cherry on top of a great sundae. I certainly will stop in again next time I'm in the Heights.

Great sushi spot in the heights area! Dim darker vibe inside, very nice, clean and spacious. Decor…read moreis classy yet casual. Great spot to dine in and they do have a nice covered and lit up patio area. Good customer service. Sushi is fresh, flavorful, and appetizers like the edamame are good.

Went to Aiko for dinner during Restaurant Week, and this was easily one of the best meals I've ever…read morehad. For $55, you get four courses, with the option to add dessert for another $10. The vibe was moody and lightly lit, and the restaurant was busy with people celebrating. I ordered the sunomono, maguro crudo, salmon and king crab hand roll, and signature nigiri. The hand rolls were probably the best thing I've ever had, I even ordered an additional spicy tuna hand roll because I wasn't ready for them to be over. My sister even ordered another flight of nigiri because it was so phenomenal. To finish, I ordered the ube sponge cake, which was the perfect little treat to end the night. Seriously, I'll be dreaming about this meal. If I'm back in Houston, I'll definitely be coming back!

Finally got a chance to try Aiko! They also offered $25 HRW 3-meal course w/ $6 add-on for a small…read moredessert bite for lunch. Service was excellent. Love the decor; super chic. There were lots of rubber ducks scattered everywhere lol. Ordered a carajillo and the drink tasted GREAT! On the other hand... I sipped from each of my friends' ube espresso martini (did not taste the same between both drinks, bartender might have poured too much alcohol; couldn't appreciate any ube flavor). Not a fan of that drink (2.5 stars or less). HRW order - 1st: sunomono (cucumber) - 2nd: hotate crudo (delicious scallops!!) - 3rd: spicy tuna & sake handrolls - dessert add-on: matcha mochi (ok, can skip this) Other foods ordered: - karaage: chicken was well made, lots of flavor - sashimi (3pc): saketoro, madai, & hotate - unagi nigiri: eel was really good - spicy scallop handroll Even if you don't need to use the restroom, you should still check out the bathroom. The walkway was a pretty bamboo forest haha. Aside from the ube espresso martini, everything else was delicious and good! I recommend Aiko and would dine here again.

Aesthetic was 10/10! Loved the wide range of options as well. Madori was very attentive which made…read moremy experience overall pleasant. Will be coming back.

Service was great and food was incredible!! Madori was amazing making sure we were taken care of…read more Will definitely be back soon!!!

This place has been on my to-go list for a while and it did not disappoint! We started off with age…read moretakoyaki and toro carpaccio, which were both recommended to us by our server. The age takoyaki was creamy and good to share amongst a group. The toro carpaccio was amazing as well and melted in your mouth. We also ordered chicken curry udon, chicken karaage, and tantan noodles. All had really great flavors but my personal favorite was the tantan noodles which came with poached egg, sauce, and garnishes that you got to mix into the noodles. Super creamy and nutty! I really loved the vibe of the restaurant too, it's small but has a homey vibe that would be great for either a small group hangout or a date. There's a lot of bars to visit nearby too. Our server was also so sweet and brought us a baggie of Japanese candies & sweets after our dinner since it was Valentine's Day. Only complaint was parking. Very small lot and very packed! Get there a bit before your reservation to figure out parking.

Solid Japanese cuisine in Houston that I'm sad I just tried out! Their lunch menu options are great…read moreand reasonably priced. Nigiri was fresh, tempura was hot and crunchy. Staff were friendly. It feels more casual and a good place for a quick dinner or just a casual grab with friends when you don't want to cook for the night. Would definitely come back. The parking can be a little tricky since it's pay to park. About $2

I've been wanting to try this place for a while. We had a reservation on Friday 6pm, and it wasn't…read morecrowded. It's a pretty homey small restaurant. We recommend the gindara and nigiri pieces. We did gwr the tonkatsu entree and it was a little disappointing - meat was tough and soggy on the outside where it's fried. Another down side is that - we also ordered another dish that never came out and were initially billed for it. Therefore - I recommend checking you got all your dishes and receipt Overall pretty good experience. I would come here for the fish if you're in the area.

This has been on my to try list for the longest time and I'm glad I finally got to try it. Secured…read morea reservation for 11:30, right as the restaurant opened. They let us in early so we didn't have to stand out in the cold. The restaurant is small and quiet, with the sushi bar in the middle, where it's easy to see everything is made. We opted for the sashimi special, the takoyaki, the 4 season roll, and the gyu suji. The sashimi special was delicious, great cuts, nice and tender. The 4 season roll was also great, with good cuts of fish, not too fishy. The takoyaki was perfectly crispy with a good filling and just the right amount of octopus. We accidentally let the gyu suji sit out too long so it got cold and gelatinous, but they were super nice about reheating it for us. It ended up not being for me, beef tendon is just a bit too cartilaginous for me. Overall, a great experience! Will definitely need to be back!

Amazing food and amazing service!!!!!!! Sarah was our waitress and she was super sweet and…read moreinformative about the menu. Definitely recommend!

What an incredible dining experience! I visited Thai Tapas on a Thursday for Happy Hour, and it…read moreexceeded every expectation. I started with the fried Thai chicken, and it was crispy, flavorful, and the perfect appetizer. For my cocktail, I ordered their signature blue Mai Tai, which was not only beautiful to look at but also refreshing and delicious. The highlight of the evening was the whole red snapper . Wow! The presentation alone was worthy of five stars, but the flavor took it to another level. The fish was perfectly cooked, beautifully seasoned, and honestly one of the best seafood dishes I've had. Every bite was absolutely amazing. What made the experience even better was the outstanding service. Every member of the staff was welcoming, attentive, and genuinely friendly. You can tell they take pride in making every guest feel at home. If you're looking for authentic Thai flavors, great cocktails, and exceptional hospitality, Thai Tapas is a must-visit. Whether you're a Houston local or just visiting the city, put this restaurant on your list--you won't regret it. I already know where I'll be eating the next time I'm in Houston. I can't wait to come back!