Made resy ahead of time and was able to get seated right away. Danny was super knowledge and friendly, and provided a wonderful 1st time dining experience! Zach the chef was also very knowledgeable as well and presented each dish beautifully. Started off with the "Alive" cocktail which was a tequila based drink. Pretty strong and refreshing citrus taste! Ordered the the 4 Temaki set which included Hotate, Salmon, Negitoro and Crab. My favorite was deff the crab handroll, had a yummy buttery taste. Extra handrolls we got the Steak & Eggs handrolll (taste just how it sounds and the steak was nice/tender) and an extra Crab Handroll. Also, got 2 diff Donburi's which is the Negitoro Donburi and Bluefin Tuna Donburi (SOOOO worth it, it had Akamai/Chutoro/Otoro and all melted in your mouth and was fresh and paired great with the sauce it came with). The rice overall, was seasoned and cooked great as well. To add on the side, we got their chilli crunch which was a nice topper for our hand rolls. To end the night, we got the Raspberry Kakigori (super soft ice and refreshing). Pretty close to Japan! Seating was a very chill vibe with vinyl players and good music. Parking - Garage and super close walk to the restaurant to the left Overall, good first time experience! PS if you have a AMEX plat, you can get your credit via Resy! read more

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I was super excited to try out this new hand roll spot. The parking garage gives you two free hours, and the restaurant validates for an additional hour, so three hours total, which is more than enough. I ordered the three hand roll set with a maguro hand roll add on. If I had to rank them, it would be: 1. Hotate:The lemon zest pairs incredibly well with the scallop. 2. Salmon: Super creamy thanks to the sauce. 3. Maguro: Also creamy from the avocado. I personally do not prefer avocado in my hand rolls, but it was still good. 4. Negitoro: A little fishy and more plain compared to the others. Overall, the hand rolls were very generous with both rice and fish. I was a bit surprised by the side of pickles since I usually expect ginger and wasabi, but the pickles were a game changer. The hand rolls did not need soy sauce because they were already full of flavor. The service was attentive, and they even offer warm towels at the beginning. Overall, this is definitely a place I will be coming back to regularly. read more

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I visited Kira for dinner with a couple of friends during my weekend trip to Houston. 5 stars for quality, delicious food at reasonable prices! We shared the Scallop Crudo ($16), Loup De Mer Sashimi ($9), Bluefin Akami Sashimi ($12), and Bluefin Otoro Sashimi ($20). For myself, I got two Hotate handrolls ($9 each), one Spicy Bluefin Tuna handroll ($8), and an Ikura donburi ($34). Everything was incredibly fresh. The seasoning was delicate and did not overwhelm the flavors of the fish itself, which was greatly appreciated. My favorites for the evening were the Hotate handroll and Ikura donburi, although everything was excellent. The prices were also incredibly reasonable (especially compared to food prices in SF). The service was professional and very warm. They only offer counter seating (no tables), which was fine for a group of 3, but may be challenging for larger groups if everyone wants to mingle. I'm very glad I gave them a try. I will definitely be back when I move to Houston in a few months! read more

Kira - Interior - Sushi Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

If you love hand rolls, you NEED to try this place. I got their 5-piece lunch temaki set with hotate, salmon, maguro, lobster, and maitake, and somehow every roll got better and better. The salmon was my favorite, lobster was a close second, and the maitake mushroom roll was surprisingly incredible. I also added the negitoro and negitoro with caviar and by the end of this meal I was absolutely stuffed. But listen... the real star? Their miso soup. I'm dead serious when I say it's the best miso soup I've ever had. We finished with the mango coconut kakigori shaved ice and it was the perfect ending. It's definitely a splurge, but honestly worth it. Just make a reservation because this place gets PACKED. read more

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Nice little restaurant for temaki, donburi, and kakigori. We went for a late lunch, overall they had pretty good lunch deals in my opinion. Definitely would come back whenever we're feeling temaki or donburi. For lunch, they have various Temaki sets that include a miso soup and a crudo. You could also build your own set. For lunch, each of the donburi also comes with a small miso soup. Ordered: - Hambagu Donburi Set - Bluefin Tuna Donburi Set - My favorite of the 3 donburi sets we tried. I would reorder all of the donburi we got, but I just have a slight preference for tuna. - Chirashi Set - Maguro Temaki - Hotate Temaki - Very nice thick pieces of scallop with just enough citrus flavor - Raspberry Kakigori - Honestly one of the best Kakigori we've had. Definitely want to try the Matcha Kakigori next time we go. Located in area with a large parking garage. The garage says 2 hours free. Staff was very attentive and knowledgeable. read more

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Second time around was a winner-- we tried Kira twice with the return visit being a better experience! I was bummed with our first visit, as every nigiri piece was over-sauced (in my opinion), so everything just tasted like their soy sauce mix. Glad our friends wanted to go again, because the second visit was way better! I was able to request less sauce / lower sodium for the temakis. We avoided the nigiri because of the first experience, but the temaki were delish~ Crudo-- loved the chunky ginger sauce with the scallops as it wasn't too spicy or strong. The scallops were fresh, sweet, and delicious. The spicy amberjack crudo was more focused on the meaty and silky fish itself, as the sauce didn't stand out too much for me. Yummy~~ Temaki/handrolls-- each bite contrasted a crisp outer layer of seaweed that wasn't too thick with an almost creamy filling. Choose traditional or unique combinations of flavors. My favorites were the salmon lox bagel (tofu cream, sour cream & onion) + the lobster seaweed hollandaise. Such interesting mixes that worked well; they were savory, so creamy with the rice, and totally awesome. :) Nigiri-- Only ordered these on the first visit, so not sure if that was a fluke! The rice was too hard for me, grains were startlingly distinct, and each piece was generously brushed with their sauce... which made it taste like soy sauce for each bite. The fish didn't stand out; every piece tasted similarly like their soy sauce mix, and it too salty for me. Bowls-- The Wagyu bowl came with a beautiful spread of neatly placed beef slices that was full of flavor and definitely rich. There was a bit of funk and umami from the truffle flavor. The meat lover approved. Get the wagyu bowl for almost half price on Wednesdays! :D Matcha kakigori-- they were trying this out on the menu and testing the waters before releasing a matcha strawberry version. :) This was refreshing and not too bitter or too sweet (could be stronger for heavy matcha lovers). I'm wasn't a fan of the jelly pieces tucked inside. There was an interesting and pleasant savoriness from the furikake / seaweed syrup (?) ties it together-- tasty! Kira is great for a tasty meal in a mix of casual/slightly formal setting (dress it up or down!) The team members there seemed like happy, motivated, and really nice people . Will be returning for more temaki and to try more of their bowls :D. Swing by for lunch or dinner-- they also have happy hour and specials each day! read more

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Kira is a special place that is trendy and intimate while also offering some seriously delicious sushi bites. The restaurant is counter seating only with lighting focused on the bar area. We were met with extremely friendly accommodating service right as we entered. The host greeted us as we walked in and offered to take our drink order, as the guests before us were still dining and it was approaching our reservation time. We got to order the Why Go and an off menu Shochu Lemon Sour as we were waiting. We were later offered these drinks on the house since we had to wait a whole 2 minutes past our reservation time. Insane. The Why Go is a plum vinegar and plum wine based drink that provides a salty, sour, and slightly sweet taste that will surely whet your appetite. I am not exaggerating when I say that the off menu Shochu Lemon Sour was one of my favorite cocktails that I have had in Houston. The lemon sour is lightly sweet, not overly sour, and the perfect complement to the slightly sweet and earthy shochu. The drink was so perfectly balanced and light and served as the perfect sip between bites and reminded me of the lemon sours that I have had in Tokyo. I wanted to eat and drink more and more every time I took a drink. Be warned that this is an off menu item that may not be available in the future. We ordered the 8 course tasting menu for 2 at $185 and added two scallop handrolls (hotate temaki). I was equally impressed with the food as I was with the drinks. The bites, while not all strictly traditional edomae flavors, were balanced while each element was distinct. The seafood quality is obvious from the crudo and sashimi courses. Kira's innovation and creativity shines through their handrolls, with offerings like the lox bagel (smoked salmon with cream cheese) and peking duck (quite close to the real thing!). Their attention to detail is unquestionable through the preparation and presentation of their kakigori (shaved ice) desert. Not every bite was my absolute favorite (wagyu donburi is not something I would reach for again) and some bites were truthfully unpleasant (a mouth full of chilis due to uneven ingredient distribution in the spicy tuna temaki). Service, while inviting and endlessly kind, seemed a bit too eager at times (the server took my drink before I was done as soon as I expressed interest in another cocktail). These are small complaints and certainly items that I will over look next time I visit Kira. Courses we received in order: 1. Maguro Crudo (akami, shitake, onion, house soy) 2. Sashimi (loup de mer / branzino, salmon, otoro) 3. Hotate Temaki [add on] 4. Smoked Salmon Temaki 5. Spicy Tuna Temaki 6. Peking Duck Temaki 7. Lobster Temaki 8. Wagyu Donburi 9. Mango Coconut Kakgori read more

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Kira is reminiscent of a moody cocktail bar in Japan from atmosphere to the small details of the plating, the record player, and everywhere in between. Not a single detail was overlooked. It's great for date night or casual night out. The hand rolls are all uniquely curated highlighting the main component. There's no such thing as a bland hand roll here, nor did any of them need soy sauce, and they didn't have same seasoning in every hand roll. My favorites were the lobster with seaweed hollandaise and the maitake mushroom with brown butter. The chefs were knowledgeable and shared the process and labor of their craft which made us appreciate the food even more. We finished with the matcha kakigori made from ice imported from Japan and a side of underground creamery ice cream. It was a perfect treat to end the meal. read more

Kira - Matcha kakigori (ice cream on the side) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Came here for our anniversary and left happily satisfied--full, content, and a little nostalgic. We started the night with two cocktails. The martini initially caught my eye because I love shochu, and when I mentioned that, the bartender offered to make an off-menu lemon sour with shochu. It was incredibly refreshing and exactly what I was craving. He even offered it on the house--and my husband loved it so much he ordered another. We ended up doing the 8 course for 2 for $185 which featured 1 crudo, 3 different sashimis, 4 hand rolls, a rice bowl, and a shaved ice dessert. Every bite was fresh and thoughtfully curated with unique combinations. I was particularly impressed with the tuna crudo, which their paired with shiitake mushroom in a umami sauce. The mushroom flavor melted together with the meaty akami flavor and made for such a complimentary bite. It was a combo I've never had before that worked very well. I was also impressed with the otoro sashimi. The quality was so fresh and instantly melted on my tongue. The hand rolls were all very good and top quality- I enjoyed some new ones like hot lobster and pecking duck. Some of the combos had stronger, western forward flavors but they were all very unique and enjoyable nonetheless. The dessert. This deserves its own paragraph. We had the mango and coconut shaved ice and it was INSANE. It features a toasted coconut cream with perilla notes and fresh mango. I just kept smiling after every bite. I'm so happy with our dinner here. The vibes were good. Will definitely be back! read more

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What a great lunch spot! It's in the same plaza as Pondicheri. Went on Dec 26 and still saw quite a few patrons. I noticed their glasses first - elevated nonchalant chic. The waitstaff is sweet. My friend and I ordered a crudo, a cucumber appetizer, a chirashi bowl and ikura bowl each, and the coffee kakigori. The hotate and the chopped chutoro was quite a bit too fishy, and the coffee kakigori was far too salty and didn't taste at all of coffee, but I liked the black sesame cream in the latter. The rest were delicious. Portions are on the small end, which helps to really savor the meal. I especially loved: - the sauce for the cucumber dish, - the wasabi mixed with the actual root grated, and - that my chirashi also had some ikura. Would definitely re-visit. Pricey paid parking in front of the restaurant or free 2-hr parking in the garage. read more

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I am finally not pregnant and was craving sushi so we stopped in for a quick bite. Definitely use Resy to make a reservation also kiddos who can't eat sushi are not allowed to dine. The restaurant is very small with maybe 15 seats along a bar area. We watched some YouTube video that recommended this place and it did not disappoint. Service was very prompt- they retold your napkin when you get up so it is a bit nicer of a dining experience. The food tasted very fresh and they were only out of a few ingredients. The stereo system sounded great-that was part of the reason we stopped in. Also the art was really cool and fit the vibe well. The restaurant is very small with maybe 15 seats along a bar area. read more

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I was influenced to book a reservation at Kira, and I wasn't disappointed. We generally hit Hando in the Heights. It's always a sure thing. But I was convinced to venture out to Upper Kirby on a Sunday afternoon. We hit lunch at 1230. I work with the public so on my days off, I'm generally peopled-out. The vibe was perfect with just a few others dining. It was quiet and so chill. They had me at "Japanese Jazz" in the reviews honestly. There were a few options to choose from. We chose the Temaki set (3 for him, 4 for me). It was honestly a good amount of food: miso, crudo, and handrolls. We each had a cocktail. If I remember correctly, it was just a little over $100 with gratuity. Well worth it. Presentation, umami, vibe...oh and parking! Kira is also a Resy restaurant, so if you're an Amex Platinum member, use your rewards!! read more

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I think probably like 15 people can fit in here, I wasn't prepared for how "intimate" this lunch was going to be. To Kira's credit that staff did a great job of making it feel approachable, there isn't some sushi snobbery happening. They worked to sit our group of 4 on the corner so we could all be writhing ear shot and like of sight of the others. It would appear, at least for lunch, than this is mostly a handroll and sashimi affair. The menu was paired down to just a handful of options between those and some crudos and just a few other options. They have handroll prefixes you can choose from too. The selection was limited but good quality from what I could see. Scallops and premium fatty tuna are great choices. Additionally the do handcranked shaved ice that ended up being a really fun treat to cap things off Make sure to make a reservation and the parking in the garage is first 2 hrs free! read more

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We went to Kira with a small group to try it for the first time. Parking was available in the adjacent garage, which is free for up to 2 hours. It's a fairly busy and upscale area getting in and out. The interior is a fairly modern style and seating is done around a central station where the staff prepare your meal. The service is top notch; portions are quite small compared to expected so be prepared to order a few items if you're hungry. We got a couple of their crudo items; the maguro and the hotate. Both were tasty but were super small in portion, even for the full sized dish. We got a variety of their handrolls; highlights were the tuna, duck, and lowlight was their lobster hand roll, which was way too buttery and a bit off putting. The sashimi was good quality fish; we tried the white fish, kanpachi, chutoro, and otoro. All were solid in terms of flavor and presentation. We also got too much dessert in their shaved ice. They were shaved freshly on premise but with the toppings and sauces were quite difficult to eat. The raspberry and coffee were good; the coconut and mango and chocolate banana were a thumbs down from me; the sour sauce on the coconut and mango was not tasty and I just wasn't a fan of the flavor of the chocolate banana. Overall, it's a good hand roll spot with a few options and the seafood seemed like fairly good quality fish and shellfish. It is on the pricey side but not surprising considering the area. The music is also pretty chill and jazzy. read more

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Wow, what a intimate and great service restaurant for hand rolls and other Japanese food! Everything that we ordered was amazing thing, fresh, and delicious! Again, like I mentioned, the service was immaculate. I really like the vibe of the restaurant which includes the art, music, service. The food came out fast. We got the four hand rolled set, which came with crab, tuna, salmon, scallop. I would rank them in this order: crab, scallop, tuna, salmon. One small point that I like to mention was, I didn't necessarily finish my plate since some of the stuffing of the hand roll fell onto the plate, but the waiter took that plate away before our dessert came. Overall, I highly recommended would come back. read more

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After having been to every sushi handroll bar that currently exists in Houston, and the surrounding suburbs, Kira is definitely the #1 spot. No surprise their commitment to excellence is so high when they come from the same owners as Neo, Kira is the more affordable, but still delicious option when it comes to sushi. Walking in, you immediately get cool vibes when you hear their traditional Japanese vinyls playing. I believe Katlyn was our waitress and the service was spot on, no complaints there. As far as the food goes, I honestly loved everything. Quick rundown: Miso soup - simple, comforting, warms your soul Tofu handroll - most surprising bite, get this even if you don't like tofu Masu handroll - ocean trout had a nice smokiness to it Maitake handroll - great texture on the mushroom, brown butter is so rich but delicious Maguro handroll - spicy tuna done right, prob my favorite Hotate handroll - juicy scallops with yuzu kosho is always a yes from me Bluefin tuna donburi - SO FREAKING GOOD, tuna lovers bowl for sure!! Coconut mango kakigori - they import special ice from Japan to get the best texture possible, so light fluffy and creamy, not icey, 100% recommend getting one of their kakigoris! Kira is well worth the money! Come here for a nice lunch for a great deal, or this would be a great date night spot for dinner. Next time I'll have to try their cocktails or sake for sure. Cheers! read more

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Wowowowowowoowoww!!! These hand rolls are AMAZING!! Like. FREAKING AMAZING. It's almost hard to say which hand roll was my favorite. I almost love them all equally from the scallop which was so lemony and refreshing, the spicy tuna which instead of crispy onions which I'm used to from other places it was grilled onions and it paired so amazingly, to the lobster hand roll which that butter sauce was SCRUMPTIOUS!!! The salmon hand roll was def my least favorite of the 4 we tried, but even that was pretty good overall. I loved having pickles instead of ginger. It was a nice switch up! Pickles were on point for me. The truffle mushroom bowl? Chefs kiss. I love me some egg yolk too. 100% would come back. I'm blown away. Truly. Def would try more hand rolls. Desert was nice too! I love shaved ice and the fried pop rices were a nice touch to make it crispy. Restaurant is by the same owner of Neo! Another fantastic restaurant that you should check out if you have the chance. They have the best ice cream I've ever had. read more

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Came to Kira Handroll Bar during happy hour and it ended up being a really great lunch spot. The happy hour prices were solid for the quality, especially compared to other handroll places. Shoutout to our server DJ -- super welcoming, friendly, and honestly made the experience even better. You can tell he actually cares. The food was really good. I loved the spicy tuna, easily my favorite, and the crudos were amazing flavor-wise, just wish the portions were a little bigger. Still worth it though. Overall, great vibes, good food, and fair prices for what you're getting. Definitely a spot I'd come back to, especially for happy hour. read more

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10/10 I love you Kira. I had the most amazing experience at Kira, and I am dying to go back. This whole dinner altered my brain chemistry in the best way possible. Kira is by the same owners as Neo, and wow I am impressed. It's a small restaurant with only bar seating, so it was perfect for a little date night for my husband and I. Walking in- the staff was so nice and accommodating. We had to cancel our earlier reservation but we ended up pushing to a later time and they were so understanding about it. Ok let's get to the good stuff here is what we got and what I can't stop thinking about: - Kanpachi sashimi- 10/10. Fresh and delicious: they cut the amberjack right in front of us before serving. It can't get any better than that! - Chutoro Sashimi- 10/10 delicious no complaints here - Maguro hand roll- 738282/10. By far my favorite hand roll. It was so delicious, spicy, tangy. It melted in your mouth. Paired with the spicy ponzu I immediately ordered another one because I knew I was going to cry when this one was finished. I am still thinking about this hand roll - Negitoro- 8/10- this was good but not better than the maguro to me. Once I had the maguro I did not want any other roll. - Bluefin Tuna Donburi- 1838383/10. I have never had donburi before and I was pleasantly surprised. It was a rice bowl with garlic rice, and then fish on top with an egg yolk in the middle. They were not stingy at all with the fish and the presentation was amazing. I'm so impressed and happy with how it turned out. It was so delicious and was not over priced - To end it we got a raspberry kakigori which was delicious. We have seasonal flavors so I can't wait to go back and try their other flavors I can't wait to return!!! So amazing and at the top of my list for sushi in the Houston area. read more

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Must eats: maitake, negitoro, salmon, and crab hand rolls and sea bass sashimi with lime. Great selection of wine and sake and some creative cocktails. The service is exceptional and reservations are a must since it only seats about 15 people. Massive parking garage so no stress there. Its dimly lit and they spin great records so it's a wonderful date night pick. read more

The aesthetics of Kira are really nice with interesting artwork on the walls, a record player to the side, and intimate bar seating. Service is also super friendly both from the servers and the chefs. I opted for the three roll temaki set - my favorite was the scallop with the fresh citrus flavors and least favorite was the smoked salmon because i found it too salty for my liking, especially paired with the garlic ponzu dipping sauce (which I also feel like didn't have a strong garlic or ponzu flavor but that didn't bother me too bad). Additionally I always judge handroll places based on whether the seaweed is crispy or not and the seaweed was crispy at Kira. I also tried the plum liquer based cocktail they had (sorry forgot the name) which honestly just tasted like plum juice which wasn't bad. I wanted to try their shaved ice but seeing the portion size for it, I knew it wouldn't get finished, but at least it seems to be a better bang for your buck! read more

Kira is a gem! It's located on Kirby with easy parking. The inside is an intimate counter, vinyl records playing, and some of the best hand rolls I've ever had. Every bite felt perfectly balanced, from the crisp seaweed to the warm rice and fresh fish. The dessert (japanese shaved ice) was light, fluffy, and unforgettable. I want to try all the different flavors!! Service was warm and attentive without being stuffy. Pricey, but absolutely worth it for a special occasion. I'd come back in a heartbeat! read more

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I'm always in search of hand rolls (temaki) in Houston. Please feel free to DM your fav place both in and outside of Houston. I came here for the first time on a Saturday right when they opened at 4pm. No resy was no problem, as I was the only guest there. I had been studying the reviews and decided the best deal was there happy hour deal. Its a daily deal from openenig to 6p. So I came for that $50 happy hour, that's price fixed. It includes 1 crudo, 3 temaki, 1 lux temaki, 1 shaved ice dessert- kakigori. You don't get to pick the individual items, as it's chefs choice, per day. Let the surprise of life flow. Service - was 5 star. I was able to be easily seated, my hostess who was also the server answered all questions, and cleared my plate promptly each course. And accommodated my time constraints. The staff and chef were friendly and warm. It's a typical quiet and calm chef counter sushi bar. Food : Crudo - tuna Temaki - scallop Temaki - spicy tuna Temaki - white fish Lux temaki - crab Kakigori- rasberry Overall the food was more subtle of flavor than I expected. The two stand outs were the crudo - tuna with mushrooms which packed a punch and was a great starter, and the dessert which was a tangy sweet swirl of yum cold blisss. I love rasberrys so it was great for me. The temaki white fish came with apples so it was basically tuna salad in a hand roll form, the apples added a great texture and flavor to the roll, which I liked. You get alot of items for the price, so in that sense I felt good about it. And I appreciate the level of care and expertise of the preparation of the meal as well. I left full, but not satiated the way I wanted, if you can belive. The reviews are all pretty positive, so I presume this business will continue to do well. read more

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My husband and I went to Kira for dinner on Friday evening and had a really nice meal. We arrived on time for our reservation and were promptly seated. Because this restaurant is small and counter seating only, I wouldn't recommend arriving early for your reservation because there isn't really anywhere to wait. Service was attentive throughout, we loved getting to watch the chef's at work and the loud music created a cozy date night vibe. For dinner we ordered the Kanpachi Crudo, Maitake temaki, Assorted Sashimi, Negitoro donburi, Swirl kakigori. The Maitake temaki was my favorite dish, but my husband found the seaweed wrap unpleasant. He was, however, very impressed with the kakigori which is made with ice flown in from Japan. Overall, we had a lovely dinner but I'm not sure that I would choose this over some of our other favorite local sushi spots. read more

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Kira is hidden in plain sight, and if you're not actively searching for it, you'll miss it. Walking in, you'll be blown away by...... how tremendously dark and dim the place is... I know the ambiance is deliberately aiming for the intimate, comfy and contemporary vibes but it was almost a bit in excess for my tastes. They have a record set up to go with the sushi tastings. You can do ala carte, but I elected to do their omakase at about $75 a person. My party was quickly seated with great service. Speaking of tastes, Chef Brian started off my omakase with a variety of delicious hand rolls. Lets be clear, these aren't the same handrolls you'll find at your "Run of the mill" sushi place, Kira's hand rolls are very well thought out, flavors are unique with harmonic flavors on your tongue. Ranging from smoked salmon, to scallops, to lobster, the hand roll omakase doesn't skimp out. We also received a few don buri bowls and they came out absolutely delicious. One of these bowls would have been sufficient, but they gave us 2 different types. We also go their shaved ice desserts, but the hazelnut and raspberry were very on point. They also tell us they get the special shaved ice straight from Japan! (Definitely a gimmick) Overall I had an enjoyable dinner at Kiras. The lighting was too dim for my tastes and I was almost rubbing shoulders with the dude next to me. I like the place, but it'll have to be a special occasion for me to come back. $$$$ read more

Wow. Best word to describe the whole experience. As you open the door, you see a very exclusive seating for 15 at this sushi bar. We came on a Friday, at lunch and had the whole place to ourselves, surprisingly- probably due to the rain, but it made the experience that much more amazing- as if we rented the whole place to ourselves. Greeted by the chefs as soon as we walked in. The waiter and service were bar-none as we were sat and offered drinks and given the time to look over the menu, offering to answer any questions we might have as it was our first time. We ordered the 3 roll temaki set, the chirashi donburi, the salmon donburi, and the mango coconut shaved ice. Every piece came out like a work of art. Starting with the scallop crudo, so light and fresh, evenly balanced with fresh cilantro, perfectly textured scallops with ginger that wasn't overpowering but complimentary. The chirashi rice bowl was a hearty serving of lots of quality sashimi, and rice that's already seasoned in a way that no soy sauce is needed but so delicately done. The hand rolls handed to you at your seating from the sushi chef, came fresh with such an incredible balance of flavors and crisp nori, unlike any we tried before, and when the sushi chef handed the maitake handroll over, saying it was his favorite, you could tell why. The earthy flavor of the maitake with the great spongy texture but bite to it married with the sauce to complement and crunch of the nori was perfect. My donburi of salmon and salmon roe with an egg yolk on top, was absolutely delicious. The creaminess the yolk gives to the dish- mmm- could have had 2! Large pieces of salmon and a generous portion of the best salmon roe I've probably ever had- the experience was definitely one not to forget! And to round out the meal with an extraordinary shaved ice experience, as you watch them shave the crystal clear giant ice cube by hand! And then they place this beautiful masterpiece in front of you. What an ending- light, refreshing shaved ice with a sumptuous coconut cream and mango coulis, not too sweet but just right be the ending of this unforgettable meal. It was one for the books that I'll never forget and can't wait to experience again read more

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I would highly recommend this spot to anyone who loves sushi!!!!!!!!! And def make a resy since it's a small and intimate spot. The service was spot on and I do love the concept of them playing Japanese vinyl in the background. We ordered these items: 1 Hotate Temaki 1 Masu Temaki 1 Maguro Temaki 2 Aka Ebi Temaki 2 Lobster Temaki 2 Maitake Temaki 1 Bluefin Tuna Sashimi 1 Seasonal Sashimi 1 King Crab Donburi ($58) 1 A5 Wagyu Donburi ($50) Personally, I didn't think the donburi was worth the price tag. They were mostly rice and I felt like it was uneven for the amount of toppings you get. The temaki were all so good though, as was the sashimi. I would highly recommend those and I would just stick with that the next time we come back! read more

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Kira is hands down the best hand rolls in town. I went to Kira on Saturday evening and trying out their 7 course tasting. It's an open kitchen and you can see the chefs making your food. I love how everyone was very attentive and interactive with the guest. Thank you DJ and chef Q (hope i heard your name right) for the great service and hospitality. The food was phenomenal. I got an appetizer, 4 hand rolls: 1 tuna, 1 tofu (which surprisingly so good), 1 lobster (creamy and tender) and another one i forgot. Then A5 wagyu donburi, and omg the meat was tender, but soft and literally melt in my mouth, combined with the garlic chips, chef kiss. Finishing with the Choco Banana Kakigori, very banana-y not too sweet which i like, topping with the slightly salty and crunchy from the hazelnuts. Great place for date nights! I'll def come back to check out their lunch menu as well. But overall, 10/10. read more

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To be honest, I'm giving this place a solid 4.5 stars. This sushi restaurant is known for its intimate atmosphere and fresh sushi. There is limited seating, so I recommend making a reservation rather than just dropping in. I did learn that they have a happy hour menu that lasts until 6pm, but alas, we didn't have a reservation until 7pm. The service is fantastic, from the host to the servers, and the chefs that make their creations in front of you. We got the chef's selection (omakase) and got to try a little bit of the whole menu. Typically, this selection comes with 7 courses that hit an appetizer, some hand rolls, maybe some sashimi, rice bowl, and dessert. They have this option for one person or two, but since we had a party of 3, they did their best to accommodate and make sure we weren't left hungry! My favorite was probably the lobster hand roll and the smoked salmon hand roll. The don buri (rice bowls) were also absolutely delicious and I can see myself coming back and just grabbing one of those for a full meal in itself. I loved their shaved ice desserts, and both the hazelnut and the raspberry were delicious in their own right. The ice is imported from Japan and hand shaved in preparation for you. Overall, great experience, good value for what you pay, great service and good food! read more

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We really enjoyed this place for my birthday. We ordered the 7 course chef's selection for 3 people. Service was great, and they were extremely accommodating. My wife is not the biggest raw seafood lover, but she thoroughly enjoyed it all, to her surprise. The salmon donburi was a favorite; it melts in your mouth. The raspberry shaved ice dessert was also fantastic. They ice comes all the way from one place in Japan. We left happy. Maybe 80% full, but we came hungry. read more

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Kira is a sushi restaurant that focuses on temaki and donburi in the River Oaks area. There are only 15 seats, so reservations ahead are a must. This has become my favorite spot for handrolls/temakis in Houston and definitely blows the others out the park! I got the Maitake, Maguro, and Hotate handroll along with the Happy Hour set. The handrolls are amazing! The fish quality is great, and the chefs were engaging and asked if we had any allergies. The Maitake does not have any fish and contains mushroom, instead, and it was so buttery and creamy. There is a butter garlic aroma if you sit on the left corner, and it is the chef searing the hen of the woods mushroom with the brown butter for the Maitake handroll, and and the smell will make you drool. All the other handrolls were great! The Happy Hour set came with 1 Crudo, 3 Temaki, 1 Lux Temaki, and Kakigori for $50, which was a steal! The service was fantastic! The hosts and the chefs took special care of our orders. They pay attention to you and are not just pumping out handrolls and trying to get you our of there as fast as possible. I got the Nude cocktail. The cocktails were not too strong and was a good balance of sweetness and bitterness. The vibes were nice with lots of Tame Impala LOL and felt very intimate--perfect for a date night. Spacing between each person at the bar was spread out enough to where you're not bumping into each other, which is nice. There was a parking garage for all the shops nearby, and we just parked there. Overall, Kira was spectacular! Service was one of the best, and the handrolls and food we had were delectable for the price point. read more

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I loved my experience here! And it's shockingly reasonably priced! 3 Otoro sashimi for $16 is unheard of. Tuesday is 20% off Temaki and Monday is all day happy hour. These are some of the best hand rolls I've ever had. Handed straight to you from the chefs hand so that you have the freshest crispest nori experience. I would definitely return to dine here again. The service is exceptional. I would skip the dessert honestly. read more

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Located in the River Oaks area, Kira is an intimate sushi restaurant with limited seating. I highly recommend making reservations in advance. The restaurant's ambiance exudes sophistication and intimacy. The vinyl playlist was thoughtfully curated to perfectly complement the ambiance. The staff is attentive and demonstrates genuine care for the guests' experience. The food here is a perfect balance of freshness and deliciousness. My favorite item here is the lobster handroll! The drinks are incredible and a must if you visit. Overall I enjoyed my time here and cannot wait to be back. read more

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Really nice concept. Food was above average in all. If i had to rate it I'd give it 8.4/10. Some concept and classic sushi flavors for sure. Great Tea. I think I was expecting more for the the ambiance and environment. It was WAY better than fast casual sushi but below fine dining. Service was a 10/10. I'll be back read more

Every single hand roll was so good! The quality of fish is amazing. My favorite was the lobster hand roll, and it was definitely the most memorable. The Saikyo Miso is not your average miso soup, and it's better drank from the cup than eating it with a spoon in my opinion. I like how light my Sakura cocktail was. If you're looking for something a bit stronger, get the Pandan cocktail. I ordered the Almond Joy and Choco Banana kakigori, and they were the perfect dessert for the summer. I need to come back and try all their kakigori options! Choco Banana was my favorite. Service was good - I called in to reserve for 6, and they made it happen :) read more

We have so many sushi spots in the city so sometimes it's hard to pick a favorite. Kira instantly made it to my top 3 list from the first visit. Great ambiance, music, service, quality and taste. The fish itself is always fresh and they make sure you have one of the most authentic experiences while still trying new flavors. read more

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Kira is a well concealed inconspicuous speakeasy vibe sushi counter. Was very excited to see this "affordable " option of Neo come in to existence. Chef Mark Wong is the fantastic head chef at this new establishment. Service here was wonderful. Seats are comfortably spaced for a 15seat counter top. Definitely go for a Temaki set to sample the most. I love the warm rice in their handrolls. A new clean plate gets swiftly set down in front of you between rolls for any fallen debris. Very attentive service. The Donburi is also a sizable/filling bowl- I went for the Negitoro which was so tasty with the leek topping. Kakigori dessert is fun to watch them shave down. I loved the berry one- it was perfectly fluffy and sweet and tart. Better than the chocolate one. Parking is ample in the garage behind the restaurant. Looking forward to my next visit here! read more

Kira - Berry Kakigori - Sushi Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The geniuses behind Neo have created something more approachable, more accessible, and somehow, as delicious as their first reputable concept. The ambiance is intoxicating and sexy. The service is fine dining tier without the pretentiousness. The food and drink are undeniably the best I've had this year. I'm already dreaming of my next visit. Each member of their staff made us feel at home and truly cared for. They were extremely attentive without being overbearing - resetting the table and seat settings like a reflex, moving in and out of the narrow walking paths like a choreographed dance. The place runs like a well oiled machine. The menu is simple, consisting of crudo, sashimi, temaki (hand rolls), donburi (rice bowls), and a couple shaved ice desserts. Our server was extremely patient and informative - if you need help making selections, lean on your server for suggestions. My meal started with a Nude cocktail, a symphony of strawberry rhubarb, super refreshing and perfectly balanced. Highly recommend. Next came a round of temaki, each one handed directly to us from the chef to preserve the crispness of the nori. These were easily the best hand rolls I've ever had, knocking Handies out of my top spot. Our favorites were... - the smoked trout (an ode to bagel with lox) - maitake (hen of the woods mushrooms with an intoxicating brown butter emulsion) - lobster emulsion with hollandaise (so good my husband had an out of body experience) - murasaki uni (don't skip if you're an uni lover) The crudo was good, but I would probably skip this next time. My trout and ikura donburi was great too, but it felt a little one note after going through the incredibly complex temaki tasting. Overall, Kira delivered the best meal and experience I've had in 2024. Can't wait to go back to try the rest of the menu. read more

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Went for donburi lunch. It was a very clean and quiet restaurant. Really enjoyed my food and the chef was very attentive. Unfortunately no cold matcha tea but ok no biggie had hot matcha tea. Food was very fresh. The miso soup was a tad too salty for my taste but overall very good. read more

Visited twice, and have had a wonderful experience. Very attentive service, clean, quick to check on feedback and correct on them, and they like to keep diners informed about respecting the allotted reservation time. Ambiance is cozy, and intimate. We enjoyed the interaction with the chefs and hosts regarding the food and beverage options. They have a wonderful HH deal from 5 to 6 PM for $50. You can get a crudu, hand rolls, and one of their kakigori desserts. Our favourites were the ocean trout hand roll with tofu "cream cheese". A play on everything bagel. Unexpectedly delicious. Then the amaebi hand roll was fresh with the pickled garlic. Scallop hand roll with sansho and yuzu made us want to have ten of them because the balance was so wonderful. Their chirashi comes with 7 different types of fish/shellfish, and one bowl is good enough to be accompanied by two hand rolls to fill you up. Generous serving with a 3 year aged tamari sauce. The uni and toro donburi was yummy and rich. The kani hand roll with kosho aioli wasn't overtly salty like we have experienced at other places but complimenting the crab to draw out its sweetness. The highball drink reminded me of the one we would get in Japan - very refreshing. The favourite dessert is the raspberry kakigori. Made with Japanese imported ice block. They shave it right in front of you in a hand cranked ice shaver and assemble the dessert in layers. It's divine! They also have a nicciolata version in their rotation, but it needs some improvements due to the fat from the chocolate mousse creme not sitting well with the ice. It has been a lovely experience on both occasions, and can't wait to visit again soon. read more

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