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    Katami

    4.6 (315 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:30 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Katami Photos

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    KATAMI ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Katami

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    Mailynn V.

    Service was superb. Knowledgeable staff and experience was outstanding. The server was friendly, attentive, and clearly experienced. The atmosphere was classy and peaceful. The whole dining experience was pleasant. The food even exceeded my expectations. There were so many options and everything I had was delicious. I tried a bunch of items on the menu. One of my favorite things that I tried was the nigiri and the sashimi bluefin flight. They arranged the bluefin tuna in the order of lean to fatty. The fish tasted so fresh and had a smooth texture that was buttery. It just melted in my mouth. My other favorite was the hotate crudo. It had a silky jiggly texture to it. I thought the foie gras with pbj on milk bread was unique. The flavors paired well with the foie gras and had a tender bite to it. The drinks here were also fantastic.

    tuna
    Mimi H.

    Literally no complaints. Kata Robata was originally my favorite Japanese spot in town but now Katami is definitely tied, which makes sense considering they are sister/cousin restaurants. Our server was extremely professional and knew everything about every dish. Every dish exceeded our expectations. Perfect vibe and quality food for when you want to splurge on a meal!

    Kathy D.

    The ambiance is nice, and our server was excellent--very knowledgeable about the menu and helpful throughout the meal. The fish quality is solid, which is expected given that this restaurant is priced higher than most sushi spots. That said, the dishes felt a bit one-dimensional. Everything was good, but nothing really stood out or felt memorable. It seemed like the menu played things too safe, and we never had a moment where we thought, "this is what makes this place special." One disappointing moment was with a food runner. My sister has a severe shellfish allergy, and when she called him back--just once--to double-check potential contamination, he rolled his eyes before responding. That reaction was pretty surprising and not appropriate, especially given the seriousness of food allergies. Overall, the sushi is decent and the fish quality is good, but it didn't leave a lasting impression.

    Oysters with caviar and uni
    Jeremy T.

    I visited for a special occasion and was a little disappointed they did not ask if I was celebrating anything when making the reservations. Luckily I visited on a weeknight and it wasn't that busy since I decided to change the seating area I had selected after seeing how they initially sat us next to a huge group and it was very loud. They easily moved us to the sushi bar where it was fairly quiet. Our server did an excellent job describing Chef Hori's vision and meaning for each portion of the menu and made several recommendations although I don't think we ended up taking any of them. We tried the young snapper (a seasonal fish from Japan), the nigiri sampler (10 pieces), the foie scallops, the Ishiyaki Yakiniku, and 2 oysters (1 with caviar and 1 with uni). Nigiri sampler - I rarely order these at sushi restaurants, but considering this is a high end sushi restaurant I was certain they would incude some of the more exotic fish on the plate and not just basic ones. Sure enough they did. The sampler the night I visited consisted of scottish salmon, adult snapper, goldeneye snapper, medium fatty tuna, yellowtail, salmon roe, gizzard shad, lean tuna, barracuda, and amberjack. I liked the barracuda the best. We saw a ton of people ordering this dish. Young snapper - pretty good, so if you see this one on their daily menu, I recommend ordering it. Foie scallops - this was another one of my favorites. The scallops are a pretty decent size on this nigiri and the flavor is so umani. Ishiyaki yakiniku - this was easily our favorite dish of the entire evening. The server will show you, if it's your first time visiting, how to cook the meat on the stone, although it's not rocket science and similar to hot stone cooking at other Japanese and Korean restaurants. You receive 5 slices and they say it's only 2oz of Japanese kobe beef, but it just seems larger than 2oz. The meat cuts like butter and is super tender and seasoned well. Oysters with uni and caviar - they indicated these are Canadian oysters and you receive am ample amount of caviar (or uni) on your oyster. I asked for Ossetra caviar, but they said it comes with Kaluga. Overall, a great experience here as I was fully expecting. Most customers probably valet but I was able to find a nearby parking spot fairly easily since it was a weeknight. If Tony Buzbee highly recommended this restaurant, then so do I.

    Jiaqi Z.

    Apparently it was one of the best restaurants in Houston. The service was great, atmosphere is very calm modern and comfortable. The food is not bad, sushi is fresh and there are some cool creative dishes. There were some modifications done to cater to locals so it's not as authentic as it could be. It is a bit over priced imo. I had better Japanese food in LA with the same price.

    Carol C.

    KATAMI has become one of my favorite spots for sushi in Houston! Located in the River Oaks area near West Dallas street. This is the sister restaurant of Kata Robata, a Houston classic & favorite for sushi. The inside is very spacious with lots of seating. With dim lighting and elevated feel, the service was fantastic. The food was equally excellent and worth the price. Everything we ordered was delicious. No bad items! As someone that doesn't like drinking that much, I absolutely loved the ume clarified milk punch. It didn't taste too strong. Parking is a bit of a headache as this area gets super busy. There is valet parking at a small cost.

    Samantha W.

    Wow, what a treat and a tough place to compete against with all the sushi restaurants in Houston but it lives up to the hype. There is street parking (hard to find) and valet parking. Unless you're lucky to get street parking, I would just do valet and fyi the restaurant does not provide complimentary valet If you eat there; it's 7 dollars. Reserved a table and we still had to wait a bit for it but not overly long. Service and food all impeccable overall. The servers and wait staff were all very attentive, helpful, very knowledgeable on the menu/food and provided great recommendations. Food also came out quickly. Got the sashimi platter for 2 and I think it's a steal for the price of this kind of setting. I'm not a huge fan of white fish but it tasted SO fresh. They are apparently known for their toro tar tar and I agree, it was the best thing I tasted there - I would literally come back just for that. Will be back and definitely recommending my friends/family here! Hope to see this place flourish.

    Toro tar tar (a must have, we get it every time)
    Jas T.

    This is my third time at Katami and I enjoy it just as much as the first and second time! My boyfriend and I were here for our anniversary date night this time and we had a blast. The chill ambience, the delicious food and the laughs were top tier. We had Alex (I think, I'm bad at remembering names but he had Japanese whiskey pins on his apron) as our waiter and he was attentive and so knowledgeable! He gave us great drink recs and was descriptive with the flavor profile for the nigiri choices that we were unfamiliar with. For food, we ordered plenty of appetizers, some of the daily nigiri and our usual go-to's nigiri + some random ones. Apps: toro tartar (amazing flavor profile), goma tofu (good and nutty in flavor), tomato somen salad (refreshing and nice) Daily: squid (a fave for me), purple uni (we both love this), Sakura sake (yes), rockfish (bf got this and really liked it), a tiger prawn app (it was ok) Nigiri from regular menu: totoro, chutoro, scallop, hamachi, barracuda, shiitake mushroom, clam, and mackerel. Roll: the southern smoke roll (so good). We should've tried more rolls. Dessert: my bf noted a dairy intolerance so the chef made us a light and sweet non-dairy dessert out of coconut milk and fruits to celebrate! It was very thoughtful of them. Also got the apple caramel bread pudding (the only cooked fruit dessert I eat b/c I'm a cooked fruit hater) I didn't get pictures of everything since I got distracted w/ eating, but it was a memorable night! I highly recommend coming here for a high quality dinner with friends or a date. Katami is easily a favorite on my sushi restaurant list!

    Green tea shaved ice - Kakigori
    Vinson D.

    We went for our Valentine's day and the server was very attentive to all the details. He informed us throughout the whole night on what he recommends for drinks and the menu. I will say all the choices were a hit for us. The environment was very formal and we didn't dress for the occasion but the service was still top notch. Will go back again.

    Barbara P.

    Katami was one of the best meals I have had in a very long time. It had been on my list for a few years and I decided what a better time to try it than my wife's birthday. We came in for a 5:30 seating. The restaurant is just absolutely gorgeous. We chose a few things off the menu and then asked our waitress for a few of her recommendations. Every single thing that touched our lips was a hit. The chu toro was so buttery and delicious. I contemplated ordering several more. The crab and the shrimp were also very very good. I had three cocktails all of which I extremely enjoyed. The service, the ambience, and the food are not to be missed. If you have not been here yet you must try.

    Trisa V.

    At Katami, the flavors arrive like fragments of memory before they become a whole sentence. This is the strange pleasure (and occasional frustration) of fine dining when you cook enough yourself to recognize the building blocks. You spend half the meal trying to identify each note before the dish moves past analysis and settles into feeling. The shrimp toast came first, and it read almost plainly at first bite: cultured tang from crème fraîche, sweet fruit, the faint richness of butter soaking into impossibly thin milk bread. A small herb scattered on top sharpened everything just enough. Then the caviar arrived not as luxury punctuation but as structure, binding the sourness and sweetness into something quieter and more deliberate. At home, these flavors would sit beside one another. Here, they dissolved into each other. Several dishes moved unmistakably toward Vietnamese flavors without ever becoming literal reproductions. The branzino tempura carried the familiar push and pull of nước mắm and sugar, maybe shrimp paste somewhere underneath, though softened into something more restrained. A brown sauce alongside it tasted almost startlingly recognizable: peanut butter, grainy sugar, the kind of sweet-savory depth that recalls satay sauce made in a home kitchen. The flavors are not hidden exactly, but compressed. In home cooking, especially in Southeast Asian food, flavor often announces itself clearly: fish sauce is fish sauce, herbs remain bright and separate, sugar lands directly on the palate. At Katami, those same references are blurred at the edges. Sometimes the dishes communicated more through texture than taste. The rockfish, paired with yuzu kosho, had a peppery structure that lingered longer than the citrus itself. The sakura salmon tasted like a spring time promenade, cherry blossom petals scattering in the bright, breezy sky. Overall, I recommend this sushi spot for a contemporary perspective on fine dining sushi. I was surprised to see other cuisines blended in compared to restaurants that are distinctly Japanese. Katami focuses on a story with each individual course, instead of all the plates flowing together. Each dish has a start and finish, it felt like reading a book compiled of mini poems!

    Hamachi Yuzu
    Victoria N.

    Came here for a birthday dinner and was super satisfied with my experience! There is a valet parking lot. Loved the ambiance inside, it was a large comfortable space too. Stephan was our server and he did a great job recommending dishes to us and making sure we were taken care of! We ordered the: - Hamachi Yuzu - Otoro tartare - ishiyaki wagyu - shu mai - Bone marrow - Robata baby back ribs - Otoro - Yellow tail - Wild salmon - Caviar - Hamachi sake chili roll The fish here was super fresh and clean. The otoro was buttery and delicious. The otoro tartare and ishiyaki wagyu were amazing too! I'd honestly recommend every single dish that my table ordered. Will definitely be coming back to try more of their menu!

    Toro toro
    Thao L.

    Always delicious! Service is excellent! Ambiance is better in the main dining versus sunroom.

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Katami

    Can they split checks?

    We do not split checks but can split payments

    Does this restaurant also take walk ins?

    Yes.

    Is this place kid friendly?

    They're not kid unfriendly.. they're just a more upscale place so unless you have really well behaved kids, I'd try to avoid it. We did bring our 3 year old and the server was really friendly and tried to bring him ice cream to keep him occupied… Read more

    Is there a dress code?

    There is no dress code! Personally, I would suggest dressing nice (no tshirt and flip flops) because of the ambiance. I wore a sweater and jeans.

    Is there like a private room or a separate sitting area?

    Yes, we have both. Please email any inquiries to contact@katamihouston.com and someone will get back to you tomorrow. Thank you.

    View All 6 Questions

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    Aiko

    Aiko

    4.5
    (338 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Free parking

    Loved the food here! The fish is super fresh and high quality and even the non-sushi menu items had…read moregreat flavors and were well executed. I got the pan daiquiri as my drink to start and my friend got the herbed lavender lemonade. For food we shared the hamachi crudo, the chutoro nigri, the kanpachi nigiri, the A5 tartare, the kani handroll, The kinoko yasaimono, and the hot scallop dish to share. The pan daiquiri was SO good. The smokiness from the mezcal hits you first and then the sweet and creamy after taste takes over. It was so well mixed and I would highly recommend trying this if you are a mezcal lover like me. (9/10) The herbed lavender lemonade was too tangy and sweet for my liking. The lavender flavor get lost in the drink. It tasted like a typical lemonade, nothing special. (5/10) The hamachi crudo was so fresh and I really enjoyed the sweet and tangy broth. I'm not sure I would call it tom kha broth but it tasted good regardless and paired well with the tomatoes. (7.5/10) The chutoro nigiri was SO buttery and melt in your mouth delicious. I would definitely get this again. (8.8/10) The kanpachi nigiri was fresh and I enjoyed the sauce paired with it. It was my first time trying amberjack and I liked it. (7/10) The A5 tartare was super unique and well seasoned. There was plenty of tartare compared to the amount of milk bread you are given to eat it with. The uni, caviar, pate and waygu all mixed together was a decadent combination full of flavor. My only note was the contrast in temperatures that I did not love, the tartare came cold while the milk bread was warm. Overall, a very luxurious and tasty dish. (8/10) The kani handroll surpassed my expectations. Typically I don't go for crab first, but I did enjoy the flavors paired with the crab and the hand roll was well filled. (7.8/10) The kinoko roll (king trumpet mushroom roll) really surprised me. I was weary about getting this roll because I normally don't opt for vegan options, but this king mushroom was so well prepared and the sauce was so delicious that dare I say that I enjoyed this more than some of the fish/meat sushi rolls I've had in the past. (8/10) The hot scallop dish was one of the best bites of the night. The scallop was perfectly charred and cooked and the creamy polenta base with the umami salmon roe, with the fried red cabbage to add texture was amazing. I would definitely order this again. (9/10) Overall, I really enjoyed my time at Aiko and the food surpassed my expectations. I loved everything I tried and do want to come back to try more. The service was quick and helpful with the menu. Parking can be a bit tricky, but there are some free street parking spots around the plaza. The ambiance is definitely upscale and classy. It's a great place for a date! My only complaint was that I made a reservation for 2 at least a week in advance and upon arrival, though they had plenty of open tables, we were seated at the opposite end of a table that was already occupied. We were close enough to hear their entire conversation throughout dinner, and I just thought it was an odd experience because that had never happened to me before. Though it did not hinder me from enjoying the food I would have preferred to be seated at our own table.

    I thought Aiko delivered a really memorable meal. Overall I'm giving this place 5 stars -- the…read morequality of the fish and the execution were excellent -- though personally I did find the progression of courses a little rich toward the end. For context, Aiko is part of the same group as Doko (their sushi omakase concept) and Handies Douzo (their handroll-focused restaurant), and you can definitely see the overlap in technique and flavor profiles across the restaurants. We went for the Valentine's omakase menu. The meal started with the Oyster Duo. One had a yuzu granita and aguachile that was bright and refreshing, while the other had a roasted onion soubise with smoked trout roe that leaned richer and more savory. Nice contrast between the two. One of my favorite early dishes was the chilled zaru soba. The buckwheat noodles had a great chewy texture and the mentsuyu broth was light and refreshing with mirin, mushroom, and seaweed notes. It was a really nice palate reset. The smoked ocean trout sashimi (masu) was another standout. It had garlic aioli on top with oil and black pepper, and the tomato added a crunchy brightness that balanced the richness of the fish. It's a simple combination but worked surprisingly well. The temaki course was excellent. The snow crab handroll had this creamy mayo texture with chili and crunchy shallots, and you can tell they roast the seaweed sheets right before serving because the nori had an incredible crunch -- honestly some of the best texture I've had in a handroll. It reminded me a lot of the style they do at Handies. For the hirame crudo with pomegranate and shiso, the flavor was good but a bit more subtle. I think the pistachio really helps that dish; without enough of it the flavors felt a little muted. I know pomegranate and pistachio is a common flavor pairing for middle eastern cuisines. My partner has a tree nut allergy so they removed it for both of us. The wagyu fat rice was very indulgent. The first thing you taste is the wagyu fat, but the fried shallots and other crunchy elements help balance it out. The sauce reminded me a lot of something you'd get at Doko -- rich but very satisfying. Adding fried rice in between fish courses was an interesting choice from the chef, but I think Aiko aims to be more western fusion than a traditional Japanese omakase. The tuna trio was fantastic. The chutoro with negidare (garlic, sesame oil, scallion) was probably my favorite bite of the night -- super flavorful and perfectly balanced. The foie gras course leaned sweet and savory, almost like an eel sauce flavor with some crunch on top. Delicious, but by this point in the progression I was definitely feeling the richness of the meal. Dessert was a milk tea tiramisu that I thought was really interesting. The mascarpone layer had a tartness to it -- almost like there might be a little sour cream mixed in -- and one layer had a subtle salty note that balanced the sweetness. Overall, the food quality was excellent and the fish was clearly very fresh. My only minor critique is that the progression of courses skewed a bit rich for my personal preference, especially in the second half of the meal. That said, every dish was thoughtfully executed and there were some truly standout bites. If you enjoy creative omakase with some richer flavor profiles, Aiko is definitely worth trying.

    Photos
    Aiko
    Cucumber tomato salad
    Cucumber tomato salad
    Salmon toro w. truffle & caviar

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    Salmon toro w. truffle & caviar
    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

    4.0
    (1.8k reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$$

    Today was pretty amazing!! My wife had originally planned my birthday dinner at a different…read morerestaurant (I won't say any names) but if you plan to celebrate your birthday at poor behavior and you have kids...(They don't allow kids) Smh ... Just go to Gryu-Kaku instead!!!! We spent about 3 hours here, we started our dinner slowly enjoying our appetizers, with no feeling of being rushed, My wife got her usual Sake, and I got me a Mocktail (alcohol free living) blwe both enjoyed out drinks, as well as our appetizers, my daughters LOVEED the edamame and me and the wife the spicy version! We also got some gyozas & Kim-Chi for the kids & they tore it up!! Then came the main course, They had a huge mountain of some very delicious cut of meat that was worth about 8 original plates for $35! Definitely a must while they still have this deal! We also got an order of short ribs, seasoned chicken, assorted veggies, a cheese fondue, some Japanese sausages, a really tender cut of soy seasoned steak, shishito peppers & we had so much fun cooking everything up! My girls loved EVERYTHING!! To finish off we asked if they did anything for birthdays because it wasy birthday, and even tho we asked after closing hours they still gathered servers to come and sing happy birthday & everyone had an amazing attitude! Even tho it was a bit late Molten lava cake and ice cream was BOMBBBB The mochi is also delicious but they where out since it was so late. OVER ALL AMAZING EXPERIENCE!! Me and the wife come pretty often but this was one of the most memorable visits Definitely a must & recommend very highly! I would of posted pictures but we where hungry and ate dam near EVERYTHING

    We stopped by on a Wednesday for early dinner and only two other tables were occupied. Despite how…read moreempty the restaurant was, we still found ourselves repeatedly having to track down our server just to order additional items or get drink refills, which was frustrating. We ordered à la carte and tried a variety of dishes: fried cheese wontons (just okay), garlic fried rice (excellent), yaki-shabu beef, umakara ribeye, bistro hanger steak, and chicken teriyaki. All of the beef cuts tasted very similar, so the chicken ended up being my favorite. On the positive side, as a party of three, including a ravenous teenager, we were able to eat to our hearts' content for under $100, which feels like a pretty reasonable deal these days. One thing I do miss, though, is when the grill used to be greased. I understand the fire hazard concerns, but without it, the meats stick far too easily now, making cooking less enjoyable and affecting the overall experience.

    Photos
    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

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    Kata Robata

    Kata Robata

    4.3
    (2.3k reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$$

    Kata Robata absolutely lived up to its reputation. The sushi was incredibly fresh, beautifully…read morepresented, and every bite was outstanding. The nigiri was one of the highlights of the meal. The seaweed salad was unlike any I've had before, it featured about eight different types of seaweed and was beautifully presented. While it wasn't quite my personal favorite, I appreciated the creativity and quality. The true star of the meal was the miso black cod. It was perfectly cooked, buttery, flavorful, and literally finger-licking good. I would come back just for that dish. Excellent food, elegant presentation, and a memorable dining experience. I will definitely be back!

    Kata Robata used to be one of my favorite restaurants before I moved away from Houston. After…read morerecently moving back, I chose it for my birthday lunch with friend because I had such fond memories of dining there. Unfortunately, this visit was disappointing. I arrived about 20 minutes before opening and had to wait outside in Houston's summer heat 93'F. While there are a few benches, there is very little shade, and guests are not allowed to wait inside. When the restaurant opened, there was no clear system for seating guests. Even though I was first in line, several people rushed in ahead of me, making the process feel disorganized. The biggest issue involved a $300 gift card that my friend had received years ago. She simply asked the staff to check the balance. When the server returned, he told us the manager had cut the card in half and that the entire balance had to be used during that visit. What bothered me was the lack of communication. We were never informed of the policy before the card was invalidated. If that is the restaurant's policy, it should be explained clearly beforehand. As two ladies having lunch, spending $300 was difficult, so we ended up ordering far more food than we normally would. The sashimi was fresh but cut thinly than what I've had at comparable restaurants. The hamachi kama, chirashi, and lobster mac and cheese were good. The green tea soufflé cheesecake was the biggest disappointment. For $10, it consisted of three very small cubes and felt overpriced. The waitstaff were attentive, friendly and professional, which helped salvage the experience. However, between the uncomfortable wait outside, the chaotic seating process, and the poor handling of the gift card, this visit did not live up to my previous experiences. While I have many good memories of Kata Robata, I'm not sure I'll be returning anytime soon.

    Photos
    Back dining space
    Back dining space
    Lunch nigiri.
    Lunch nigiri.
    Okinawa Sun - strong AF

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    Okinawa Sun - strong AF
    Kazzan Ramen & Bar

    Kazzan Ramen & Bar

    4.0
    (129 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    I'm writing this more for those that never had the chance to visit but on the off chance get to…read morevisit elsewhere and looking for info. I visited here frequently and I'm sad to see it shut down. Kazzan ramen in Osaka is a bit north of the main hub of Osaka, but one can hope they continue to try to spread their magic elsewhere. It was touching to see they'd trained (at least some) the staff to incorporate some of the tradition you'll see when in Japan such as greeting and goodbyes, even understanding phrases such as "okaikei onegai shimasu." Having lived in Japan, it was a nice touch. Food & Drink Kazzan ramen is an absolute delight. The stone bowl is so hot and keeps your ramen warm for the entire time you're enjoying it. They offer shio, shoyu, karamiso ramens. I personally loved the karamiso though their limited edition spicy version was great if looking for some heat. For appetizers, the black pepper edamame was a standout. Flavors of toasted sesame, maybe a touch of soy, with black pepper - . The cocktails were always delicious. They always had elevated cocktails with custom syrups and bitters. Definitely nice to see unique Japanese ingredients being incorporated into the cocktail scene. Service The service was always great, very attentive. Never had a want or need go long without being addressed. Staff was always making th rounds collecting plates, filling water, making sure you have everything. Pricing The ramen was a bit pricey even for US standards, which likely contributed to struggles but it was still delicious and worth visiting. I think a few bucks cheaper would have probably gone a long way. Or offering bundled pricing with cocktails or drinks to encourage more revenue while discounting. Though, I don't find it coincidental that this location has been plagued by multiple establishments not making it. That would indicate onerous lease rates and a potentially shrewd landlord. Overall This place will be missed and for anyone that does get a chance to visit them elsewhere, you won't regret it!

    I walked in and immediately saw my group waiting at the table. The server came up to take drink…read moreorders. He brought waters and I ask for a hot green tea and one of my dining companions had already ordered hot green tea but the server forgot and had to be reminded. Someone else had asked for a Japanese soda but then changed their mind when the flavor was not what they wanted and told the server they wanted a Dr Pepper and the server brought the Japanese soda. I thought service would be more attentive since the restaurant was not busy. We also had to ask for water refills. I was told our table just turned over. The setups were not replenished and we kept having to ask for things. Were ordered apps and ramen and hot stone bowl items. They apps were brought to the table but we did not have plates.. so we had to ask for plates. One of the dining companions decided to get up and get chopsticks instead of waiting. When our entrees arrived the server kept passing the super hot item over from one side of the table instead of to each person. The food, the edamame was over cooked... so mushy. Takoyaki was ok. I ordered the Kazzan Shoyu. It was ok. Then it took a while for the bill to come, we were told they ran out of receipt paper. Sometimes it's the little details that make the difference. Not sure I would come back.

    Photos
    Kazzan Ramen & Bar
    Kazzan Ramen & Bar
    Kazzan Ramen & Bar

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    Zen Japanese Izakaya

    Zen Japanese Izakaya

    4.2
    (334 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    This restaurant is a cozy, authentic gem for Japanese small plates. The space is intimate with a…read moresmall dining area. Reservations are highly recommended. There aren't many tables, and it fills up quickly. Service was incredibly friendly and attentive. This is what we ordered: 1. pepper tuna tataki 2. hamachili 3. hijiki 4. karaage 5. agedashi tofu 6. Rock N Roll roll 7. Zen Mega Dragon roll 8. hamachi sashimi 9. hamachi roll 10. Extra Picante roll 11. Yakisoba noodles 12. Brussel sprouts Almost everything was absolutely delicious. The pepper tuna tataki and hamachili were fresh and flavorful. The karaage was crispy, tender and juicy, and the agedashi tofu had that perfect texture in a savory broth. All were sooo good. The Zen Mega Dragon roll, hamachi hamachi roll, and Extra Picante roll were all fresh and excellent. The only two dishes that didn't quite wow us were the hijiki and the Rock N Roll roll. Both were a bit basic compared to everything else on the table. The yakisoba noodles did take a little while to come out, but wow... they were soooo worth the wait. Savory, hot, and incredibly satisfying. Prices are very reasonable for the quality and portion sizes, which makes it even better. There is free parking, but the lot is small. When it's busy, finding a spot can be a little tricky. We will definitely be back to explore more of the menu.

    this was a very tasty spot. the flavors of the sushi were so good i ended up not needing any soy…read moresauce at all. the service was very friendly and attentive which was nice. the ambiance was dark but welcoming. it was nice having dessert on the menu that was more unique than usual and i had to try one of their options you just don't see on others menus. it was nice getting something more earthy and authentic. presentation was very pretty as well. overall it was a great experience that made me want to go back.

    Photos
    Zen Japanese Izakaya
    Fish from Japan
    Fish from Japan
    Zen Japanese Izakaya

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    Katami - sushi - Updated July 2026

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