As a youth, I was fortunate enough to spend a few years in Tokyo, but when I came back to the states, wonders like hamburgers and texmex drew me away from Japanese cuisine for whatever reason. Fortunately, I'm back with vengeance, and I'm looking for the best Japanese food in DFW. First up was Maki Boy, and consider the bar set high! Star 1: How was the service and atmosphere? Wonderful. Maki Boy isn't huge, and it's a bit tucked away off of Belt Line, but the inside couldn't be more comfortable. Whether you're here alone for a quick lunch or catering to a larger group, there's a quaint accommodation in Maki Boy's more than comfortable atmosphere. It only gets better once you're seated, with quick, friendly and authentic service. Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? I decided to start things off with a classic, which was the Chicken Bowl. I opted for a "mini" size, and was stunned to find that, for only $3.75, I got this good sized bowl of goodness: http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=33m-RbOYtj7LXj4f0BKTog&userid=OKX-V5j_qfuOebeHeWGrHg That's a brilliant price, and things only got better. Feeling bold, I went with the "Volcano Roll", and while I was warned by the waiter that this was a sizable dish that would take 20 minutes, I dove in headfirst: http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Gfobz_2MUuPfY2pxAi9c2w&userid=OKX-V5j_qfuOebeHeWGrHg Boom. What a dish. You're looking at a full sized (12?) roll blended with a crawfish sauce. It was $13.50, but this turned out to be two meals, and for sushi? That's more than reasonable. Star Granted. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? We'll start with the Chicken Bowl, which was excellent. The dish is simple, but that's part of the beauty is it not? The rice was fluffy and cooked to perfection, the chicken tender with just the right amount of terikyaki sauce, and the ratio of rice to meat balanced. The trend continued with the Volcano Bowl, with a solid roll uniquely topped with a cajun crawfish sauce. To be honest, the sauce wasn't my favorite, but that comes down to preference, and at the end of the day I was too overwhelmed by the size of this roll to even care. This was excellent food, and I'm impressed. Single Star Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? At present, Maki Boy is the only Japanese place in DFW that I've tried, and having said that, it's the best. I'll need to shop around to some of the other nearby Japanese places to throw out a proper assessment, but as things currently stand I would gladly come back to Maki Boy daily. Star Granted. read more

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Food (3/5) Maki Boy is a quaint hole-in-the-wall that serves Japanese and Korean cuisine. The prices are extremely fair, and visitors are allowed to obtain unlimited amounts of free Korean banchan dishes in the corner. Don't expect anything too extravagant though - just kimchi, bean sprouts, broccoli, etc. Out of my three visits, I have only ever ordered sushi, soondubu (Korean tofu stew), and the udon / sushi combination special. None of the aforementioned that I had ordered was over $10 (maybe $8-$9 on average). Word of advice: Don't order the soondubu. I have had better in the area for a comparable price, so I would just stick to the cheap sushi. If I remember correctly, prices start as low as $6 for a roll, but I noticed the rolls were cut a little shorter and thinner than what I'm used to, so that might explain the cheaper price. However, the best thing I have ordered here has been the $8.95 special for 10 pieces of chef's choice sushi and a smaller portion of noodles (choice of seafood udon, spicy ramen, or miso ramen). The food was more than enough to fill me up, and the $8.95 price tag was a great value. I enjoyed the udon, which contained a fair amount of shrimp, squid, and clam given the low price point. The sushi, however, had an unusual peppery aftertaste for me, but I couldn't tell where the pepper taste was coming from. I had tried the sushi alone, and there seemed to be no pepper taste, so I can only imagine its origination (e.g., tainted soy sauce mini plate, soy sauce itself??). This seems to be an anomaly, so I will give this place the benefit of the doubt and not rule out a future visit. I will be honest and admit that I would not be as forgiving if the price were higher. Service (3.5/5) To order your food, you have to order at the cash register, which is located at the counter next to the sushi bar. Afterwards, you are given a number marker and are required to find your own table. Tables are first-come, first-serve. Given the popularity of this place, finding a table was difficult. Pro tip: If you have multiple people in your party, try having one person wait for a table and secure it once a party leaves while the others order food. I will give extra points to the workers though as they tried to help me find an open table and even tried suggesting our party share a table with another group. Atmosphere (3/5) The restaurant space is very small and homey feeling. Upon entering the restaurant, you'll see the order counter and are in the main dining room. Space is limited in the main room. There are a total of approximately 9 tables capable of seating only 2 people each. These tables are capable of being grouped together to create larger tables to seat parties of 4. There is a separate smaller room that can seat possibly 8 people at two tables. There is also sushi bar seating fit for only 3 people, so seating real estate is scarce during prime lunch / dinner time. Bottom Line This place is extremely fair in price, especially the $8.95 sushi and noodle combination special. Although I had a weird pepper aftertaste from my sushi, the low price won't bar me from visiting again and giving the place a second chance. Admittedly, I wouldn't go on my own volition as I have other favorites sushi spots, but if I am ever in the area and have a craving for some cheap sushi, I know I can rely on Maki Boy. read more

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They always have great staff and keep it clean. It is hole in the wall but Bc of that, the place has a cozy feel to it. They have these unlimited sides that are to die for. I can eat their pickled jalapeños all day! Their food is consistent - even though I make it here maybe two-three times a year, it still tastes the same. I have favorites of course. I always get their eel hand roll which they distribute evenly w rice and eel and is held together well (some places put too much sauce and it falls apart) and it's also well presented. Their seafood tofu soup is the best. There is isn't much to say but try it! Also their yakisoba is delicious. read more

Makiboy - Eel hand rolls- just yum! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Irving, Texas

Maki Boy is a small and overlooked, Japanese and Korean fusion restaurant hidden in a cluttered plaza in Irving, just barely peeking out from behind a thick pillar. Upon first entry you are welcomed by upbeat music, a display slot machine and LOTS of small LED lights that out does your Momma's Christmas decorations. Hello high electricity bill but who's complaining? It works. You pick up the menus from the Sushi bar and order it there, picking your own seats afterwards. The restaurant is certainly not big, which plays on some psychology, giving it the feeling it is always busy because tables can be near filled around dinner time, making it impossible for multiple larger parties to sit together. The menu is diverse, and very inexpensive. You have choices of Udon noodles, rice dishes, sushi meals, ramen bowls, etc. Lots of choices. I ordered a mini chicken bowl, which is simply a small $4 rice bowl with tender chicken and warm teriyaki sauce on top, along with a 6pcs Maki Monster sushi roll for I believe $6.95. I like their set up for ordering sushi. You can either order a 6 pcs version or a 12 pcs version of that roll. There is a salad bar which is free and unlimited as well which brings your dinner full circle. I was stuffed for just about $12. I became envious of a table behind me when their fried rice was brought out. It was served inside a pineapple. I can quickly imagine the sweet flavor and aroma getting soaked into the rice. Yum! Come on out for a casual dining experience. The service is good, the staff really takes care of you to make sure everything is okay. The food is phenomenal. 5 stars in my book. read more

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I will say I do like the value of MB. I mean, you truly can't beat their deals on sushi rolls because everywhere else in Irving for sushi costs your firstborn child. So if you want some quick California rolls to go this would be a decent choice. I also think the quality is not as up there as it used to be back in the day. This place tends to be a hit or miss with the rolls. Perhaps I should venture out and try other dishes. Some of the sashimi as well IMO doesn't look extremely fresh. I've definitely had better and sometimes, you do just need to pay more when it comes to this type of cuisine. Quality over quantity type of situation. Also the joint is so cramped and small I wouldn't recommend bringing people here for a sit down dinner. There are better places to go plain and simple. But try it out for some takeout. I'll keep it on my list but I'm not sure I'll go here quite as often as I used to. read more

Helloo. I have been here three or four times and have not been disappointed. Today I am having the miso ramen and the udon. Both soups are delicious and the portions are generous. Cannot complain when you pair either of these soups with a roll for a whopping 8.95. The fish is fresh, I mean, the quality is good for what you pay for. It ain't no Sushi Sake grade, but then again I'm not paying those prices here. The yummy Korean sides are always free and unlimited. Good little appetizer as you wait for your food, which isn't long at all. I don't know what the VIP card does but I have one and it makes me feel special! The seating is limited so keep that in mind if you come during the lunch rush. Just get here and keep this gem of a find in business for time to come. read more

Makiboy - Miso ramen on top and Udon on the bottom paired with a delicious roll and sushi. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Irving, Texas

First, I have to say that I'm surprised I haven't written a review about this place after so many years. Also, this was the first time I actually remembered to take photos of the food before it was completely devoured. After several years of coming to this ace annually, the food still tastes great and consistent. Service, like many restaurants suffers here and there as time goes. Some years they have great service. Whereas some years they have terrible service. With the advent of smartphones and their oh am many features, young people's work ethic suffers quite a bit, but it was okay, j was there mainly for the food and could care less about the service. Just didn't have to tip them for bad service! If you are contemplating on giving this place a shot, do it! Sushi is great, other items on the menu are great as well! read more

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Where do I start, this is the best homely Japanese place in Irving. Worth it! try their miso ramen with sushi platter and spicy seafood udon noodles. Kimchi fried rice was bland. Also there is a pickle bar with amazing broccolis and vegetables. read more

Ok so I'm in Dallas area visiting from San Diego and used Yelp to locate a good lunch spot. Saw reviews for here and went ahead and came here to try it out. Let me tell you how AMAZING the food was! When I first walked in, I was a little underwhelmed with how small this place was, however, we went ahead and ordered the Salmon Sashimi and Beef Bulgogi. Not only was presentation an absolute beauty but the quality and taste of the food was excellent. I watched the chef put on plastic gloves and then vinyl gloves before touching any of the food to cut. Most definitely recommend this restaurant! Thank you read more

Honestly I don't want to give a bad review because it looks to be owned by a fellow Korean, but the cashier could use some work on her interpersonal and customer relation skills. As someone who hasn't been here before we are underwhelmed on if we should order at the front or sit down, please at least say hello and let us know. Also, it offends me that they make me put in a tip amount before I have been served and given any service because you have to order then pay to sit down and eat. This whole place is confusing and yet I feel empathy for the owners because I want it to do well for their sake. I will most likely never come back even though I wanted to try some of the Korean non sushi items. read more

Got the chicken breast teriyaki, my boyfriend got the chef special. Both were super good!! Chicken was cooked perfect the sauce was great! Large portion of chicken and rice! Lots of veggies underneath the chicken but they didn't get in the way (I'm not a veggie person). Boyfriends sushi and ramen (chef special) was excellent! Maki Boy is definitely our new go to for dinner! Sad I didn't take any pics because the food was so pretty when it was brought out to us. Place is super small tho! Very cramped and busy. But for good reason, the foods amazing! read more

This is truly a hidden gem. Standing outside this place you will be very unimpressed. It is in a dingy shopping mall with crowded parking. The inside is nice. The place is small but never packed. There is a small bar up front where you place your order. I love ordering the small chicken bowl, Hawaiian fried rice, volcano roll, and maki roll. Of course I can't order all this at one time. The small chicken bowl is inexpensive with a good amount of quantity and great taste. The chicken is very tender. The Hawaiian fried rice come in a pineapple shell. Very nice with pork and shrimp in it. The maki roll is the best dish I have had here. The salmon is pretty nice on the roll. You get a lot with the volcano roll. Great value. read more

I looooove me some maki-boy! Came here earlier for dinner and it was delicious! I've been coming here for a few years & maki-boy never disappoints me. Its a cool Korean-Japanese fusion restaurant. You order at the front, pay, sit down & a staff member brings your food. The staff is super nice as well! They keep prices low, good sized portions, complimentary sides such as kimchi, anddd they got a mini bar with various liquors! You could totally get a little turnt up :) lol I recommend the caterpillar roll -- my favorite & they put huge pieces of avocado on top. Also, for sushi, you can choose either 6 or 12 pieces! This is great because it doesn't subject you to order & eat an entire roll.. You can get half of 1 roll & half of another! I like having options lol The exterior & surroundings of this establishment may not be that inviting but please "don't judge a book by it's cover." When you walk in, it may look a little different than most sushi places -- there's Christmas lights, a slot machine, gumball machine, two tv's, and other quirky stuff that don't go with each other. It definitely reminds me of a page out of the I-SPY books.. It doesn't bother me at all! They also play music & it's kind of dim inside which gives it a chill vibe. It's a little gem in Irving & everyone should try it out! read more

Makiboy - California roll, caterpillar roll & beef bulgogi -- all for $24! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Irving, Texas

I've honestly never had a bad experience eating at Maki Boy. It was one of the much visited restaurants me and my fiance went to when we first started dating. I always choose the tofu soup or the sushi. But every time i order either or I am never disappointed. read more

I love this place. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I usually get the sashmi salad with rice or the eel donburi. My boyfriend loves the pineapple fried rice and the chicken bowl. The atmosphere is really nice and waitresses are always so friendly. read more

Makiboy - Pineapple fried rice - Asian Fusion Near Me - Irving, Texas

Great find as many other yelpers mentioned. Mini chicken bowl - rice and very moist chicken (possibly steamed, looks and tastes like they are boneless thighs) served with teriyaki sauce (delicious! Doesn't look or taste store bought). This is definitely a revisit!! Also craved salmon sashimi, got a few pieces of those. So buttery and fairly thick slices, thicker than normal which is good since it did cost a little more. There's a little food cart against the wall that has broccoli, pickled cucumbers, pickled daikon, pickled ginger, kimchi, bean sprouts and sliced jalapeños. It's serve yourself free of charge. Kind of like Korean banchan. Went during lunch on a weekday, there's a steady stream of customers. You may catch a table or two that would be empty. read more

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Food is authentic. Service is incredible. Ambience is a hole in the wall place. Romantic Asian setting even has a private room. You can sit down to watch them. Prepare sushi. read more

I love this place! Why would you go else where if you get a special for $8.99 with 10 piece fresh sushi, a "mini" (not as small as you think) bowl of seafood udon/ramen/ miso soup and delicious fresh side dishes? Great service. Fast. Cheap. Come and fall in love. read more

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I've started getting the eel donburi and I'm addicted. Their broccoli is to die for. So glad I found this little place. read more

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The owners are the best we love them they couldn't be more welcoming. The food is always fresh which in the sushi world is a must. I usually get the bento box but I've had just about everything on the menu. 10 out of 10 recommend! read more

So if you know Irving, you know we have no shortage of really good Japanese food - and Maki Boy is no exception. The hand rolls here are fantastic (we always get one or two when we come). I think they also have the best tempura plate of all the places in Irving. It is a small place, but the atmosphere is very nice, and the servers are very polite. The one thing to know before you go is that you order at the bar, and pay up front - and then they bring the food to your table. I did have to take a star off for this, because if you're using a card, I don't wanna tip before I see what kind of service I'm getting (though the service has been fantastic every time!). It also is a pain in the butt when you want to order more food (which is par for the course when eating Japanese). All in all, my wife and I love Maki Boy, and we will certainly return! read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE. Cheap, authentic Japanese food that taste great! What more could I ask for ? I come here with my boyfriend a lot. I always order the Miso Ramen special. I've also ordered the Spicy Seafood Ramen special, the bimbimbop and the udon noodle soup. My favorite is the miso ramen, but everything else that I have tried is also incredible. They're open pretty late, so if you're in the mood for some awesome Japanese food at a great price, this is the place to go! read more

Makiboy - Upon!! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Irving, Texas

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Came in on a Sunday and it was packed - which was a good sign. Seating was very limited so my party of 4 split up into two small tables... Sushi prices were reasonable and the side bar that came along for dine in guess was delicious. I would definitely come back to this place for a quick lunch. read more

So I've written a review on the normal stuff I get from here, but my mom ordered the Volcano roll. O.M.F.G. so.. you don't have a 6 piece option, like many of the other choices, but lemme tell ya... if you're a real southerner and dont mind to get down with some oil(or butter)... you might enjoy this! its a normal california roll... SMOTHERED in this crawfish(yum) & Scallop (didnt try it) cooked mayo with some panko & that spicy red sauce. like.. its heaven in your mouth.. and its pretty hot when you get it! Don't think twice! just do it! read more

Second time here and service was outstanding .. Sushi was fresh and tasted good . The mammal was also good but the cucumber namasu was a little too much vinegar. Good variety of dishes. Will have to come back to try new things . read more

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Great prices, and decent sushi. The prices are especially great if you get 2 of the same type of roll! The seating is a little tight, but there is plenty of it. A lot of the pickled veggies for your sides at no additional cost which is nice. The staff is very nice, and helpful if you have questions, but be patient, their English isn't wonderful. read more

Love Maki boy! They have great prices, the appetizer bar is really good, especially the broccoli. I get to go orders quite often, the miso soup is great and love the Philadelphia Roll. It is a small place so sometimes it does get quite busy, but they are very attentive and get the food out pretty quickly. read more

This is a very quiet and unassuming restaurant tucked away in a shopping center, but the sushi will blow you away. Everything tastes fresh and is made to order with a bar of sides to chose from. The sushi rolls are a very good size, about an inch and a half across wide each piece. If sushi isn't your cup of tea, the small chicken teriyaki bowl is very filling and delicious for about $4 or $5. For the most part it is a self service restaurant now, you'll chose your own seat and tell the waitress what you'd like to order, etc. read more

I have been to Maki boy almost 5 times. I love maki boy. I think the uniforms are totally adorable and the interior is super cute. The food is amazing. I usually go for the Hawaiian fried rice. Every time I take a bite of the Hawaiian fried rice it has a tasteful blend and Hawaii in rice form. I have recently tried the spicy tuna rolls and fell in love. The spicy tuna is a perfect blend of spice, tuna, and rice. We also get the salmon teriyaki. Personally the salmon is a little too fishy for my taste but still really really good. We always try a different roll just to see what we like and they are always satisfying. Who wouldn't want want food with sides. The side are pretty good some better then others. My favorite is the yellow radish, broccoli, and bean sprouts. The kimchi isn't too good for my taste but everything else is good. :D read more

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Amazing. every single time i get food from here it's Amazing no complaints, and the service is so nice

This is my usual go to spot when I'm in the Irving area. The food is always fresh and the staff is always super sweet. Ordered my food to go and it tasted just as great as it does in the restaurant. If you like fried rice GET the kimchi fried rice. It's enough for at least 2 people to share. Won't be disappointed. Love that they let you pick the rolls in either a 6 or 12 portion. read more

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Went here for lunch, it was very busy and a lil small, I decided to get to go. The food was delicious! I got the daily Bento box, I love bento boxes and this was no different, go a small Cali roll with white rice, salad, shrimp tempura (never tried before and it was enthralling!) with fried salmon and one other thing! It's close to where I work so I will be back for lunch soon! read more

This place was hard to find. The area is congested and GPS seemed very confused. We almost gave up. Thank goodness we didn't! This little hole in the wall (order at the counter, seat yourself) is packed with Japanese staff and deliciously authentic udon. The hubs had seafood udon and was pleased to pick bits of seafood out of his soup. I had udon and sushi because I just can't resist sushi. This was more food than I needed, but yum! Loved the large piece of tuna on top of the small portion of rice. The teens had fried rice -- good but boringly American, imo. They were happy though. The best and most unexpected part was the serve your self appetizer bar complete with kimchi, pickles, pickled ginger and more! I could've used a whole additional plate. We chose this place after flying in to Dallas from Charlotte, nc where the food is mostly American bland, boring and traditional. Yum! read more

Makiboy - Sushi and my half eaten udon - Asian Fusion Near Me - Irving, Texas

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Quick and easy eats! Stopped by briefly with a coworker and had a good time there. It's like a family style place with not too many seats! Many people stopped by for takeouts. read more

I go to makiboy almost weekly. I can place an order one week and they can't add shrimp or substitute the following week. I noticed its depended on who is making the rolls ...if they want to or not. I don't mind paying extra it's a bit frustrating. read more

Love this lil' place! It's a family favorite when we want sushi. Food has always been fresh and delicious. Can be a bit crowded during lunch time or dinner but just go a lil' earlier or later to get a seat. Would be 5 stars but I do wish it offered more seating. Based on the food alone it's awesome. Lots of parking out front. They offer a Rewards Program for regulars, so just ask about it. read more

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I agree with David that this place isn't a secret anymore. 5-6 years ago, you'd find a sprinkle of people from the neighboring stores in there during lunch hours but it wasn't the busy, crowded area it is today. Charlie is the owner of the place and he is all about making the food worthy of your taste buds. He's a pretty cool guy and whenever the place is packed, he usually gives out samples of his smoothies to the customers. I've tried a number of sushi and the only one I'd stay away from is the eel roll. I'm not a fan of the aftertaste at all. The Spicy sea food ramen, the smoothies, the hawaiian pine rice, the chicken teriyaki bowl, Yaki soba, and the fruit icee are all items I'd recommend you try; even if you don't like seafood, I'm sure you'll find something to your liking at the place. Side dishes: the side dishes are definitely a popular treat and the ones that people grab at the most is the kimchi and broccoli soaked in teriyaki. The interior decorations are a little...well, they grow on you- from the tv showcasing an aquarium, to the christmas candy cane that smiles at you all year round. Every time I come home from college, this is the place I visit with my friends and family. PS: become a fan of them on facebook for discount coupons. read more

Was craving sushi and saw this place had great reviews. The reviews were dead on! I ordered the bibimbop and it tasted like home. It was really good. Even my mom would have to agree. The sushi was OK. I had the eel roll. Although the size of the sushi was bigger than most I've definitely had better. I ordered take out and the wait wasn't too bad. I'd say about less than 30 mins. The price was right up my alley as well. All together I spent less than $20 on my meal. I will definitely be going back! read more

Makiboy - Bibimbop! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Irving, Texas

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My wife and I love this place. It is a nice little restaurant and the food is good (the veggie bar is great). Maki Boy is one of our favorite restaurants in Irving. read more

Sushi was great! I got the rainbow roll and it was huge! Great deal, and great service to go.