Mei Japanese Restaurant is consistently good and actually feels authentic. I love going there. Been a few times and haven't had a bad meal yet. read more

Mei Japanese Restaurant - Soft shell shrimp - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I'm going to argue, at the risk of starting something, that Mei has the best sushi in the Cincy area, in terms of offerings and consistent preparation (which means perfect rice). Saturday lunch is my favorite - not crowded, very personal service, and the absolute best yakitori and sushi. Special fish of the day/week are on handy photo cards, and definitely worth trying. I rely here on server recommendations. I've never had a bad dish or piece of fish. Be careful not to order too much from the extensive menu!! read more

Ordered: ika natto, karaage, sushi deluxe, onigiri, chirashi There was a little wait for dinner on a Saturday but it wasn't too bad. I love how authentic and relaxing dining room felt- I felt like I was transported to a small Japanese house. The food came pretty quickly. The karaage was not the best in Cincinnati, kinda questioned if it was fully cooked since it was a bit pink inside. The sushi is one of the best raw fish you can get in Cincinnati. It's a lot more fresh and higher quality than most generic sushi restaurants in town. There was a great variety of fish/ seafood served in the sushi deluxe and chirashi bowl. I would skip the onigiri- it was okay, it wasn't very flavorful and the seaweed was a bit soft. read more

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I'm from Japan and this is the most authentic high quality sushi. With family we can reserve the rooms in back and can have privacy. I highly recommend. read more

Great place. Had a party of 8 for a Birthday celebration and everything was great. Atmosphere, food, service, all top notch. Highly recommend read more

Mei Japanese Restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Hands down one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants I've been to In the US. The menu has items that aren't typically seen in the average Japanese restaurant, but are so commonplace in Japan. The specials reflected this as well as many of the regular menu items. Even something as simple as the oshinko garnishments were spot on. The agedashi tofu was perfect. The chawanmushi was what I would have been served at my grandmother's house as well as the perfect akadashi miso soup. Ika somen with natto is definitely an acquired taste, but with so much nostalgia for anyone spending significant time in Japan. The mentaiko onigiri took me back to after school snack time. Was thrilled to see Shishiamo grilled fish on the specials--I can't think of a time I've seen it on another menu! Yakitori choices were also excellent and nice to see the departure from typical teriyaki style meat to highlight the working man's simple grilled salted chicken skins. Was worth the drive for the departure from the typical Japanese restaurant offerings. read more

Mei Japanese Restaurant - Yakitori of chicken skin. Aladashi miso soup. Mentaiko onigiri. Agedashi tofu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Their sushi and food are fresh. We got carry out and it was just as good as having it in the restaurant

Again - always good sushi and excellent service. Our dinner here a couple of evenings ago was delicious, as usual. I had the Sushi Deluxe and my husband had the Sashimi Dinner. Both dinners come with miso soup - it's salty and rich and our favorite miso soup. We also had two pieces of their special fish and enjoyed it quite a bit. We're 'regulars'- so we'll be back soon. read more

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The chicken skewers were delicious. Pumpkin appetizers were tender and flavorful. Sushi was delicious. Nabeyaki Udon had plenty of fresh udon and flavorful broth. Service was ample yet not overly present. Just enough. Restaurant was big yet small enough and quiet enough. The back booths had a view of the back side that was maintained with greenery, still water in a creek beyond the back walkway. Then small houses on the other side. Just a peaceful view of the back read more

Mei Japanese Restaurant - Philladelphia roll, fresh eel cucumber roll, California roll and one other roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Went here to celebrate a special occasion with family and it was an excellent experience. The decore, furnishings, utensils, and staff were all very nice. It was more fancy than I had anticipated but the prices were still very reasonable for a more upscale experience. Portions on appetizers are small, but the main dinner dishes we got were a great value for the price, coming with healthy sizable amounts of rice, miso soup, and salad. The bbq eel was super flavorful and tender. Definitely the best miso soup I've ever had. My only minor complaint is that the soup and teriyaki and katsu sauces are a bit salty. A great place for authentic Japanese food at good prices. I cant wait to try the sushi next time! read more

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For the life of me, I'm trying to figure out how this place doesn't have a full five stars on here. The service was amazing. Seriously the sweetest lady. The place itself is so cute and the tatami rooms are great. Very clean. Now the food. We are blown away. Truly authentic Japanese. Unbelievably good!! We came with two kids and they're leaving with full bellies and they don't even have kids meals, which should tell you something. My kids ate duck, curry noodles, chicken, edamame and red bean eye cream and loved it. My husband had ramen and said it was 100% the best he's ever had. My pork katsu curry was unreal. We will be back!!! So so good!! read more

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Wow just wow. That Nabeyaki udon reminded me of home in Asia. It was so delicious and very flavorful! I also love the traditional Japanese design of the restaurant as it really elevates the food. 100 percent recommend! read more

Mei Japanese Restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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From start to finish a great experience - the hostess welcomed me and left me at the sushi bar with plenty of reading material- four separate menus! They had some nice looking cocktails and epic special appetizers - they also have a nice selection of cold and warm sake - Mei reminds me of a place we went to when I lived in Japan - tatami rooms, and chabudai if you're able to sit on the floor - great for large groups and parties. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I did! read more

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Have eaten here a few times and decoys time to review it Mei consistently has very good Japanese food. They have amazing sushi and appetizers and yummy main dishes. They have a full bar also. The waitstaff is attentive and the ambiance is peaceful. read more

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We really liked Mei Japanese Restaurant! The food was great, the interior was very well done and the staff were excellent! My daughter and I were craving ramen one afternoon, and decided to try Mei. I had a great miso ramen and my daughter had curry katsu udon. She loved her and mine was excellent! Great portions served piping hot. The friendly server suggested a hot lemon citrus drink for me which was outstanding . The menu is quite broad - lots of sushi and many other Japanese dishes that we would like to try in a future visit. We were the only customers in the restaurant but that was not surprising since we were there on New Year's Eve day, at an odd time in between lunch and dinner. The interior space is very well done, with lots of seating. The location was the strange part - sort of behind a car dealer in an odd little "neighborhood" of businesses in what look like ranch style houses? Definitely the landlord should invest a few bucks in sprucing up the exterior commercial spaces (Mei looks fine but some of the other buildings could use some TLC), but none of that impact Mei - Mei shines once you get inside. Lots of parking, welcoming staff and great food. We'll be back! read more

Mei Japanese Restaurant - Katsu Curry Udon - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Our go-to place for sushi. The fish is always fresh, and the duck ramen is wonderful. Never a bad experience. Staff knows us by name. Highly recommend! read more

Updating my old review. I hadn't thought of this restaurant in a long time, but it was still good. Even though they were very busy, we still got our order fairly quickly. Considering we ordered the Love Boat, which as you can see from the photo has many components, I'm glad it didn't take forever. There were things my kids liked as well- shrimp tempura, gyoza, siu mai, shrimp nigiri. I like how they have the various seating options as well. Overall I was pleased with my meal. read more

Mei Japanese Restaurant - Love boat - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Given how much the wife and I have complained about Cincinnati sushi since we moved here from New Orleans almost a decade and a half ago, how in the hell did we miss out on Mei for so long? Too many Cincinnati restaurants that serve sushi are of the "party sushi" variety: Sometimes loud and obnoxious, catering specifically to the young, featuring lots of cocktails and beer, and churning out largely Americanized gloppy "sushi" product (variously deep-fried, squirted with too many silly sauces, filled with too many non-seafood items, constructed with crummy rice, etc.). Their aim seems to be create "crazy" sushi rather than good sushi. They're evidently influenced by SoCal sushi culture, which I suppose was once a legitimate (and good) American expression of the cuisine but has since spawned thousands and thousands of crappy sushi restaurants across the country. Mei is exactly the opposite of such places: Dignified, quiet, and traditional. It is not cutting-edge, and it is not flashy. Anyway, among the Japanese places on this side of the river, Mei probably has the freshest and best-handled seafood outside of Ando, and at less stratospheric prices. This is not to say that it's inexpensive. (In my experience, you don't want to eat cheap sushi in Cincinnati.) Anyway, this was our first serious sushi outing in about two years, so it was more than worth it. Of a variety of nigiri we had on our most recent visit, only the tuna was a little less than superb (a little grainy in texture, maybe). Only one other minor complaint: perhaps a little heavy on the wasabi in a few pieces. A couple of rolls--a belly tuna with green onion roll and the double spicy tuna roll--were excellent, too. (Guess what? We like the tuna. And the rolls made better use of it than the nigiri did.) Mei, of course, is not just a sushi restaurant, but a full-on Japanese restaurant with a bunch of Japanese specialties. We had a few appetizers with our sushi, including oshitashi (steamed spinach with just a little soy sauce and bonito flakes) and an appetizer special that consisted of salmon skin with pickled onions and ponzu sauce. Both were simple, fresh, and delicious. Most of the staff is a bit older. They're seasoned professionals and, in our limited experience, great at what they do, warm and accommodating. read more

Mei Japanese Restaurant - Nigiri (front-back,L-R): salmon, mackerel, sea urchin, tuna, yellowtail - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Mei Japanese is one of my favorite restaurants in not only Cincy, but also in all of Ohio. Their sushi is always fresh and they have a great variety of appetizers and noodle dishes. I have been coming to Mei for over 5 years. The staff is so kind and know their regulars well. They often play soft instrumental music that gives the restaurant a relaxing ambiance. I like that there are various seating options between booths, chairs, and traditional Japanese tatami. It's a nice place to visit with friends, a date, or coworkers. read more

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This is one of the best sushi place in Cincinnati. Service always top notch. Everything seems super clean and even offer warm towels for hand wash before meals. At first I thought it too pricey but after I live in Cincinnati for 10 years. I tried pretty much every sushi places and quality wasn't even close to this place. Now I always come here when I want sushi or Japanese cuisine read more

Had the vegetarian ramen and was so surprised by how tasty and delicious it was. This place has become a staple for me whenever in Montgomery. Their vegetarian ramen is to die for. I absolutely love the flavor and the veggies in it. The sushi here is also so phenomenal and tasty. Always so fresh, healthy and delicious. read more

Mei Japanese Restaurant - Vegetarian ramen with a mushroom roll in the back! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Hidden gem! Note lovers of Japanese food, this is off the beaten path and very good. Service is efficient, not super friendly or talkative but even that feels very authentic. In Japan wouldn't get chatty or friendly service much either, much more of a distant but polite society. They have lots of stuff on the menu I will have to make a lot more visits to try the wide selection of dishes I remember. We've already made it return plans and reservations. read more

Best Japanese restaurant in Cincinnati. I always go for the hot tea with ginger. It's great on a cold day. read more

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Hands down our favorite / go to Japanese restaurant in Cincinnati. It is always the one we recommend to others, in addition to Matsuya in Kentucky. The Chirashi bowl is pricey, but comes with really fresh fish and the Japanese rice is perfectly seasoned with rice vinegar - absolutely worth it. The udon was also surprisingly so good - broth was perfectly seasoned, not salty, and every item in the Udon was so flavorful. Perfect for the cold weather. The tonkatsu is always solid and great to share, could be a bit crispier and thicken but still very good. Service is great. Thankful for such a great Japanese restaurant in town. read more

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We used to come here somewhat regularly when we lived in Cincinnati. On a return trip, we came back -- this time, with three kids in tow. Overall, the dinner was delicious. We got the $85 love boat, which was packed with sushi, sashimi, and tempura shrimp and veggies. Crushed it! The gyoza had more vegetables than our kids are used to, so they weren't quite the hit they normally are. Nevertheless, the meal was really solid -- albeit not cheap ($128 after tax and tip). read more

We had a private room for a friend's birthday, and it was really enjoyable. A welcome surprise was that their seats let you sit with your feet hanging down under the table and there were little chair backs to the cushions. Definitely a more comfortable situation than the traditional cross legged seats. Considering the size of our group, our waitress was great! I especially loved the tea and the salad. The teriyaki chicken was good, but a little lukewarm and not quite hot enough. The prices are really reasonable though for dinner and a large group, so that was great! read more

Mei Japanese Restaurant - Teriyaki Chicken Teriyaki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Upon landing in Cincinnati for a business trip, I was hit with an intense craving for Japanese food - luckily for me, Mei was only a mere eight minutes from my hotel. With thoughts of ramen and sushi in my head, I knew I had to go. Upon entering, Mei is set up much like a traditional Tokyo eatery with tatami mats, door drapes, and even low table seating options. Being extremely hungry at the time, I ordered a smattering of traditional Japanese food options, checking off the tempura, yakitori, sushi, and ramen categories. The large number of Japanese speaking businessmen diners only increased my confidence. Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura (5/5): The tempura here is everything it should be: cripsy, light, and showcasing the natural ingredients. The batter remained airy and did not soak up all the oils that it was fried in. This left the impression that the tempura did not leave you feeling heavy and bloated after consuming. Paired with the mild dipping sauce (tentsuyu), this tempura really revved my appetite into high gear. Seared Duck Breast with Salt (5/5): This dish is another prime example of gentle Japanese cooking that highlights the flavors and freshness of the star ingredient which in this case was the duck. The duck breast here was perfectly grilled so that you could taste the flame licked umami flavors while retaining the moisture from the duck. Paired with just a light sprinkle of salt, I was reminded of why I liked duck so much. Amaebi (Sweet Shrimp) and Otoro (Fatty Tuna) Sushi (5/5): In order to satisfy my raw fish craving, I asked the waitress what the tastiest (and most premium cuts) were available for that night. After that request, I ended up with a sweet shrimp and otoro sushi. The otoro simply melted in my mouth - requiring absolutely no chewing. Raw shrimp required a bit more jaw work and is definitely not a texture recommended for everyone, but like its name - the sweetness and fresh flavor made it a solid choice. Tonkotsu Ramen (3/5): The weakest dish I had that night. Toppings were a bit sparse and the broth seemed a bit off. That being said, the ajitama was prepared well enough and the pork belly had some nice seared notes. Definitely had better though. The next time I am in this area for work, I would definitely try more raw options and their intriguing soba selection. The good service, clean interior, and extensive options make Mei Japanese Restaurant on the top of my list for Japanese food in this area. read more

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I was referred to this place by a friend of mine because they had rooms you could reserve where you could sit on the floor...AND they had great food. The surprising thing was, even when you sat down on the floor, there was an opening below for people to extend their legs (as if they were sitting at an actual table). That was helpful for those who had leg issues and couldn't sit cross legged. The service was great, super friendly and attentive. The food was also delicious and they made my birthday dinner awesome!!! Definitely recommend! read more

Cute little spot, in a cute little development (that I somehow never knew existed). Had a fine meal. The menu does have nice variety. My friend got the hot pot and I got sushi. The sushi was not my favorite in Cincinnati, but it was fine. I'd go here again if I was in the area and looking for a meal, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here again. read more

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Absolutely wonderful place. Everything about Mei Japanese is fabulous - the food, the service, the ambience - everything. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Mei is great! I really like the unique vibe of this restaurant. It's really comfortable and warm. They even have the option to sit on the floor! I usually order some sushi and some soup from here and everything I've tried has been delicious. Most recently, I tried some of their tempura vegetables and shrimp. It was great and I would highly recommend. I also tried their Salmon Onigiri which was decent. Service was amazing as always! read more

Mei Japanese Restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I was looking for new places to eat and decided to head towards Montgomery since it was near the gym. You see a bing sign yet says "Mei", but you can't see it from the road. It's near the car dealership and near a comedy club in the back of the lot. This place doesn't look like much on the outside but the inside is a different world. It's really like you're walking into a real authentic Japanese restaurant. You can choose from normal seating or the kind where you take your shoes off and sit on pillow/mats. This blew my mind ! Never have I seen this done in a Japanese restaurant in the US. The food was delicious and really light ! None of this chicken and rice swimming in sauce. I got the crab salad, miso, a few sushi rolls, and chicken teriyaki. Everything was delicious and cooked to perfection. It was the lightest teriyaki chicken that I had ever eaten and didn't make me feel sick or bloated afterwards. Pricing is a little more than your typical American style Japanese steakhouse, but we'll worth it in quality. I will definitely return ! read more

Mei Japanese Restaurant - Seating - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Doing dinner here it's easy to see why this place has one so many awards for best sushi and even best restaurant in the region. The service was great, and every single thing we tried was fantastic. The California roll is an easy American sushi mainstay, And they did it well. But the hungry roll, that's more of like their specialty role, definitely American eyes, but definitely over the top delicious. Massive servings, full of flavor crunch, and rich sauces. My bento box was The perfect definition of multiple courses of deliciousness, with every single thing being well worth the visit. Maybe the best salmon I've ever had cooked in my life! I'm not really sure what the egg custard was supposed to taste like, but it was really just super salty and umami rich... I guess that's okay. Everything else? read more

This Japanese restaurant served really authentic food, true to it's culture. I was really impressed by the menu. I liked how some of the seating required you to come out of your shoes and put on slippers. The traditional way of stepping into older home in Japan. The Miso Ramen was on point and really good. I so recommend ramen along with BBQ sea eel sushi when eating at Mei. read more

Mei Japanese Restaurant - Miso Ramen with bamboo shoots - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Everything is great! Love the soft shelled crab for an appetizer! I also like maguro tuna for an appetizer as well.

"Maybe the best Japanese in Town" Seems very authentic, run by folks that speak Japanese etc. Subtle and nice inside the joint. Ramen was super good, as was the udon. In my second visit, I ordeed the Shabu Shabu ($70). Was decent, but I dont think the meat was ribeye, and the veggies included were lacking. What they need to do is to rethink what they include in the Shabu Shabu so that it elevates. But like I said, I really enjoyed the place, and next time I will check out the sushi. read more

What an absolute gem in Montgomery. I wound up here last night after an unbelievably bad experience at a restaurant right next door. Mei Japanese has an intimate setting feels so very clean and the authentic menu and ambiance really hold true to Japanese culture. They have booths, tables and even private rooms. Their sushi was delicious and their menu was packed with a lot of great options besides sushi. I can't wait to go back! read more

The food and service are both excellent! We will definitely come back to try other things on the menu

We loved Mei. Beautiful spaces inside and the small patio. We especially enjoyed the tempura shrimp. Plenty of sushi and non-sushi items on the menus and everything we tried was tasty. Service was great. read more

Great menu, great service. Love this whole group of restaurants - they are a hidden oasis off an otherwise busy sprawl-like strip of Montgomery Rd. I hope Montgomery town officials protect this area and don't play monkey zoning games with ever-expanding Twin Lakes looming. That would be a huge loss for Montgomery. Great food and great character back in this space ! Can't wait to go back to Mei!!! read more