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.

Delicious, creative meal with friendly and attentive service. We sat in the patio out back in June…read moreand it was a bit warm even with the fans so my preference would be to try to sit inside. Still it was fine. Enjoyed the gem salad, Nancy cakes, lamb tartare and wood grilled half chicken. Side of the beef fat sticky rice. Nancy cakes: yes I could eat these every visit. Really good combination of flavors and textures. Everything was nice: lamb tartare was delicious, salad was strong. Chicken satisfying. Had a solid dessert too: hazelnut marjolaine. I look forward to returning and trying a whole new batch of dishes.

Nancy's Hustle is the real deal…read more Walked in with no expectations and left wondering how I'd gone this long without eating here. The Nancy Cakes are worth the hype, piping hot with that whipped butter and smoked trout roe combo that somehow just works. We also had the dumplings and the double cheeseburger on the English muffin, both excellent. The burger especially punches way above what you'd expect from a bistro. The vibe is perfect. Dark, relaxed, no pretension, and still feel like you're having a great night out. Michelin Bib Gourmand for a reason. This is one of the best restaurants in Houston, full stop. Just make a reservation, the place fills up fast.

We came here for my mom's birthday celebration. Everyone was so friendly and accommodating. The…read moremeats were delicious and be sure to get the cucumbers too! S'mores at the end were the best finishing touch. We had a great time.

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.

I've been to so many sushi places throughout Houston and this one has become the top of my list…read more Nothing else compares after having eaten sushi here!!

Soliddddd Japanese cuisine…read more When people think Japanese, they automatically think sushi but there's so much more. Got the chicken katsu curry for $11.99? Came out piping hot, made fresh, tender with SOLID tasting Japanese curry. I thought the proportions were going to be small due to only being $11.99 but nope, it was a full sized entree. Hidden gem for sure with a variety of Japanese entrees that aren't sushi. Only thing - I wish miso soup came out piping hot.

i popped into jinya on a friday evening, and was pleasantly surprised by the sexy decor-- low…read morelights and deep colors. the service was prompt. we were immediately seated and our server was really sweet. i ordered the veggie ramen with a few fixings and a spicy tuna and crispy rice. veryyy good! for the ramen to be made with meat, the broth was definitely still full bodied and comforting. it was my friend's bday, and we brought it a cake. the server didn't make a fuss about it and was very helpful. the staff all came and sung happy birthday, which was very sweet and unexpected. of course we cut cake for the servers and kitchen staff. (if you dont at least give your server a piece of cake, please do better! cake is meant to be shared and celebrating is for anyone). i wasn't able to finish my ramen despite the pix. i definitely took it home and ate it for brunch the following saturday and the flavours still held up. bonné appétit c.

Great food and great prices! I really like the feel and look of this Jinya location. Especially…read morebeing in midtown the layout reminds me of typical restaurants in NYC, so a city vibe. We sat by the bar at the front of the restaurant, which I enjoyed because the natural sunlight coming in. The remainder of the restaurant is dimly it. I decided to have small bites so broccolini and chicken bites. The broccolini was really good, it was topped with quinoa which I wonder is added for texture because it didn't add much to the actual meal but it still tasted good over all. The chicken bites were super hot and fresh. Much larger than I was expecting as well. I tried the kiwi mocktail drink which was pretty yummy as well.

In H town for a few days this was my first dinner on my list to try in downtown. Great experience…read more Service was on point. Hostess was incredible and our server took great care of us with some quick draw recommendations. Nice setting with a view of downtown. Quiet, which was perfect for catching up with an old friend. We got sushi, apps and a steak. All of it was awesome. Short rib tacos were awesome. The Angry Scorpion Roll was my personal fav. Can't go wrong.

Came here for my wife's birthday last weekend because all she wanted was a good steak. And that's…read moreexactly what she got! The restaurant is on the third floor of the Four Seasons hotel. It's warm, cozy and perfect for a date night. The staff is super attentive and nice, they really made sure we had the best dinner possible. We got the filets, potatoes three ways and asparagus. The steaks came with their homemade chimichurri sauce that I honestly could have just drank. It was so good and the perfect addition to dinner. The potatoes were a fun take on mashed potatoes with an absolutely unreal oxtail gravy. They brought out a sundae with a candle to celebrate the occasion and it was the best ending to a wonderful meal.

Love this place! The selection for all you can eat sushi was vast and everything was so fresh. The…read moreserver was amazing and service was fast! We loved the vibes and they even turned on a happy birthday song when we were doing dessert. We will be back! You loved the sake and lychee martinis. Also highly recommend the sushi tower and all the sashimi.

One of my favorite AYCE so far. The rolls are pretty big…read moreand they come in 8 pieces. It was nice that the waitress notified me ahead of time. The way you ordered the food was neat. You use the app on your phone and place your order and you can even notify the waiter if you need anything. One thing about this place is that they're strict about wasting food so take it slow if you're doing AYCE. If you end up wasting the food you pay full price for the ones you've wasted. They had so many options. I did the AYCE Dinner and they have a little bit more options like sashimi and nigiri but it's $38.96 and if you make it for the lunch menu it's $28.95. I definitely got my moneys worth. I ordered the volcano roll, kanau roll, black dragon roll, and several sashimi like the salmon, tuna, yellow tail, kanikama, snapper, and hamachi. My favorite was the kanau roll it was different whereas it had peanut butter as an ingredient. I feel like the roll blended well with the peanut butter even though it sounds weird. I just had the after taste of peanut butter. My only complaint is the parking. I parked on the curb and it usually cost money to park, however I went on a holiday and it was free. The atmosphere was a little bit upscale I'd say. Not fully upscale but it was casual upscale. It would be a nice date spot. Overall, the server was great she was attentive, warned me about the extra charge for wastage, and recommended items.

Located inside the Lyric Food Hall. So there's open seating and walk up ordering. No wait service…read moreor drink refills. The whole food hall probably has a different feel depending on if you're here during work hours vs theatre hours. Unironically the best sushi restaurant in Downtown Houston, since Covid killed all the others. With a large selection of rolls taking up most menu. Went through like 4 of them and they all tasted good. Fair Mix of textures and flavors. Rolls come in pieces of 10, so it's great for sharing. Fish was fresh tasting as well, no need to pass on this place because it's not brick and mortar sushi restaurant.

Located inside the Lyric Food Hall; a newly opened upscale food hall similar to Finn Hall and…read moreBravery Hall in the north side of downtown. Interior has 10ish shops with no various cuisines. Service is pretty minimal; they take your order and you go and pick up your order when it's ready. We tried a bunch of items on the menu; from the tuna tower to the specialty rolls and crudo. For the price point, it's very similar to Bluefish and Azuma. There's quite a bit of fusion style. The sashimi and crudo were both alright, and the rolls were also good but also somewhat forgettable and basic (like you've had elsewhere). Overall, it seems like a quick lunch stop style sushi spot in a nice and new food hall. Is it mind blowing? Nope, but everything is also on par with a mid- level sushi restaurant.