Part of the duckstache hospitality group (which I can't not support because I love Handies duozo…read moreand you can find me at Handies every week) The nigiri and the chicken fat rice was great, just how I expected. However the maki here is pretty average, not what I expected of this group. Very casual location in a little food hall like area. Next to a fried chicken place and a pho place. Horrible parking nearby tbh since it's downtown Overall considering the experience, the food, the location, the parking, the price, I likely won't return

What an Amazing lunch here at Kokoro in Downtown Houston!!…read moreGet Justin to serve you at Kokoro! Best Sushi Houston HANDS DI

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.

I apologize for the low quality pictures but, everything was so good I couldn't wait to eat…read more Nancy cakes are a MUST TRY! The ricotta cavatelli was light and zesty and the shrimp was cooked to perfection. A phenomenal spring/ summer pasta parmesan & pancetta croquettes were crisp to perfection and are a must try if you're a cheese lover like me. Not pictured was their cocktail the green flag which was a 10/10! Service was out of this world. Our waitress was so kind and gave great recommendations! We got seated out in the patio and they have fans they can bring to the table if it gets too hot in this Houston heat but, the vibes were perfect for date night once the sun went down and the small table lamp turned on.

TLDR: Incredible food, standout service, and a cozy vibey atmosphere. Just as good as my last…read morevisit. Nancy's Hustle exceeded all expectations, even having dined here a few years back. Every dish was unique and packed with flavor. I am still thinking about that juicy chicken, the rich umami duck wontons, and the heavenly marjolaine. The service completely blew us away. Even with the casual atmosphere, the hospitality felt comparable to some Michelin starred restaurants I have dined at. Plates and utensils were constantly refreshed, water glasses never empty, and every staff member was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. The interior is cozy, dimly lit, and full of great energy. Perfect for date night, dinner with friends, or really any occasion. I will be thinking of this meal until my return!

Kiah was great!! Food was amazing and service was great as well. The ambiance was nice and calmread more

We had dinner at Gyu-Kaku and the food was amazing. I love how they season their meats…read more Kevin was our waiter and he was very attentive and helpful. We will be back.

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.

We came on a Saturday around 3PM as they have a daily happy hour from 2:30-7PM and we were grabbing…read morea late lunch. We were the only customers in so were quickly welcomed and sat. It has a nice, dimly lit interior and was decorated for Christmas but still had kabuki masks and other decor that made it obviously Japanese. Our waiter was super polite, pleasant, and attentive. He helped answer any questions and broke down the happy hour menu for us. We ordered the fried oysters, spicy edamame, agedashi tofu, hamachi nigiri/sashimi combo, houston and spider maki rolls, and rainbow/catepillar rolls. I enjoyed all the appetizers and both fried options were fresh out of the fryer (since no one else was here food came out quick and fresh). The oysters were juicy and the agedashi tofu came with a tempura sauce rather than all together as I'm used to. The hamachi was really good for the price, flavorful and tender. Roll wise, I prefered the houston roll to the rainbow roll and they both have similar fish. I enjoyed both the spider and catepillar rolls as well, though I wish there was a bit more avocado to the catepillar. Overall, this was a very nice find for a daily happy hour. Prices were good and we were super full by the end of our meal. It also has a parking lot and garage so you can park for free in midtown.

A chain ramen shop isn't normally a preferred dining choice. However, if it's JINYA, it's a ya…read more Service is top notch. I appreciate they have three vegetarian ramen options. Flying V Harvest was fantastic. I drank that broth like I just came out of the Sahara. So good. The Impossible meat fusion is a funny add but a good protein bump. It was a few days ago but I think I'm still full from that ramen bowl. The vibe is modern high ceiling bumping music; my in-laws found it to be too loud. I think they are giving you an excuse to lean in and get a little closer to your companion. The vibe is chic yet also casual so bring whoever you want but this would work for date night. The font on the menus is squint inducing so do your research ahead of time or prepare to spend more time perusing the menu than usual, especially with the dim lighting. They offer thin or thick noodles and can mix some broth options to adjust spice level. Drinks- the smoked in front of your face whiskey is a treat and a show. Solid spot. No regrets. Salivating at the thought of the next visit.

We decided we wanted ramen on a recent cold Houston night and went to one of our consistent places,…read moreJINYA. JINYA is located in the heart of midtown in a popular restaurant strip. Their ramen is flavorful and solid and their service is consistent. Parking: parking is free in the garage around the corner from JINYA. We went during the week and the garage was not packed. There's also paid street parking around the restaurant that you can find but look for signs to know when you have to pay and when you don't. Service: service here is very good. They have an army of waitresses and waiters who check on tables and we never had to ask for refills or never had to flag down someone. Our food came out in a timely manner. The one thing I will say about service is the appetizers we ordered came out right before our ramen so we had all of our food at one time which was a lot. I wish they would've spaced out the food timing a little more. Ambiance: JINYA has a modern interior and open concept. They have tables, booths, and 2 big community tables in the center of the restaurant. The restaurant playlist is hip and modern. The inside of the restaurant is dimly lit so if you have bad eyesight, get ready to use your flashlight to read the menu. Food: we ordered two ramens and the gyoza and edamame. Gyoza: these were fried well and had a gyoza sauce that came on the table. The wrapper was thin and they were not too oily. We would order this again. Edamame: this was typical edamame. Nothing too special. Would not get this again when we come back. Creamy Classic Tori-Paitian: this is a chicken ramen with wavy noodles that came with fried enoki mushrooms, chicken chasu, butter, spinach and a corn rib. This ramen was rich in flavor and had so many fun, delicious toppings. The corn run was grilled nicely and I wish I had more of them in my bowl. I'm a sucker for enoki mushrooms and this did not disappoint. I took the enoki mushrooms out of the ramen immediately so they didn't get soggy fast and that was the move if you want the mushrooms to stay crunchy. The chicken broth was rich and light which was a great combo. I finished this bowl to the last drop. JINYA Chicken Ramen: my girlfriend got the chicken ramen with a side of bamboo. Warning on the bamboo: the bamboo comes dressed in sesame oil and sole hot oil so they are a little spicy. The chicken ramen broth was once again rich with flavor and light. The chicken chase was good and this ramen comes with thin noodles instead of wavy noodles. Overall JINYA hits the spot when craving ramen or some hot soup on a cold day. The chicken broth is legit and I will be closing back to try the pork broth soon. My only qualm with JINYA is the price at over $17 per bowl of ramen. There are cheaper ramen places but JINYA flavor makes up for the priciness.

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.

Sushi was so yummy and had beautiful presentation. Such a sweet server as well. We thoroughly…read moreenjoyed our time!! Reasonably priced as well. Very pretty restaurant.

Amazing food! the ayce has such an amazing collection and very fresh fish and super high quality!read more

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.

I've had the pleasure of dining at Horuku Sushi several times, and each visit has been a delightful…read moreexperience. The owner's dedication to crafting each roll is evident, from the thoughtful design to the meticulous execution. The fish is consistently fresh, and the presentation reflects a true pride in the culinary art. While the Rainbow Roll is a personal favorite, I often ask the owner for recommendations and have never been disappointed. His suggestions always introduce me to new and exciting flavors. Whenever I'm at Lyric Market, Horuku Sushi is a must-visit for me. If you're in the area, I highly recommend stopping by for a memorable sushi experience.I

Friendly staff, but parking is horrible! The green apple slush was tasty but had a slight…read moreaftertaste. I didn't care for the Samosas they were dry and wasn't what I was expecting.

It's easily 700 degrees outside in Houston today so after walking around in third ward we popped…read moreover to ThirsTea for something cold to drink. On the corner of Scott and Elgin, ThirsTea was literally a cool breeze in the hot sun. Large windows made it bright but the awning kept it from being overbearingly hot as we perused the menu of drink options. They have milk tea, iced tea, chai, smoothies, slushies, rolled ice cream, and snacks. I got an iced pink chai latte made with oatmilk and cajun fries. The chai, pink due to a variation straight from India, was delicious. Smooth, not overly sweet, and refreshing. The fries were well seasoned and hot enough to make me do The Thing. You know the thing (hafhafhaf) you do when the food is too hot to eat immediately but too yummy to wait? Yeah, that thing. The woman who helped us was so sweet and attentive. This was the perfect stop on this hot day. I look forward to trying other things on the menu.