Mikado is one of those restaurants that immediately makes you feel comfortable the second you walk in. The first thing I noticed was that clean restaurant smell; everything felt very well maintained, peaceful, and welcoming. As soon as you walk in and head downstairs, there's always someone ready to greet and help you. Customer service has consistently been friendly and attentive every time I've visited. This is the type of place you can take your parents, go on a first date, enjoy a family dinner, or even come alone with headphones and still feel comfortable. One thing I really appreciate is how quiet and intimate it feels inside. It's one of the few restaurants where you can actually hear your conversation without yelling across the table. I ordered takeout this visit because I was shopping nearby, but I've dined in before and would definitely come back to sit down and fully enjoy the atmosphere and authentic cuisine. This time I ordered the Thai pineapple fried rice with shrimp. The flavor was savory with a subtle sweetness from the pineapple, and it included peas, carrots, eggs, and small seeds throughout that added texture. The shrimp were medium sized, and my small to-go portion came with four pieces. The dish was delicious, but next time I'd probably order extra shrimp. They also have a large variety of menu options including sushi, hibachi, vegetarian dishes, and specialty drinks. I especially love that they offer Japanese sodas and Tuesday drink specials Parking is convenient too. There's a public paid parking lot directly across from the restaurant. Definitely a relaxing and reliable spot when you want good food and a calm atmosphere. Already craving another visit read more

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Dined at Mikado for Valentine's Day. The ambiance is very unassuming as we entered from the back door (via the parking lot). Gorgeous and enchanting deco is romantic and feeling very much like an escape from the outside world. Attentive staff, fresh sushi sashimi and a really delicious lychee martini! Such an affordable sushi date night experience. LOVE the interior design. read more

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We've stopped into Mikado a couple times now, both for takeout and for dine in. The service is quick and friendly, and they're also on top of allergens and have many gluten free options including soy sauce! When we dined in, we ordered the lunch specials, which are really great deals. The fish is nice and fresh, and they have good nigiri and sashimi options for order too, like salmon belly. I love getting tricolor sushi at sushi restaurants, as it gives a good sampling of their fish. Mikado's tricolor sushi is great! Definitely a place to return to, both for dine in and take out! And especially for the lunch specials! read more

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Love some good sushi and Mikado hits the spot everytime. Our service this time was much better than it had been in the past! We've been rushed before for no reason and wasn't busy at all. But this time our waiter was awesome! Very nice ! My friend and I have been going to Mikado for years and we enjoy the food. They have a big menu . The restaurant it self is pretty dark but cool. read more

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Mikado is usually my go-to for sushi, especially if I want to have things besides the sushi, too. My friend and I went on a Saturday night recently to celebrate our birthdays from the month before. I like the ambience. The booths are pretty private. You have to walk down a flight of steps and it feels like you're not even in downtown Middletown. The menu is extensive. Almost too big. Despite this, I've never had something I didn't love at Mikado. They've done everything well so far. The service is great, good portions and a variety of options. read more

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Our two orders of filet mignon hibachi came out completely raw on the inside. May be ok place for sushi but would not recommend for hibachi. Pork dumplings were decent. read more

Awesome restaurant! If you're downtown and want Asian cuisine check this place out! Enjoyed the dumplings for lunch. Food was made quickly and service was excellent. read more

Mikado Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

We tried Mikado for the first time and it was good. The salmon belly was fresh and oily, while the otoro was a bit watery. The team tries super hard to make sure to follow your order including being gluten free, but you should add 10minutes to whatever quoted order time they give you. read more

First of all, the decor here is super eclectic and random but it kind of works. The sushi was delicious. The miso soup was watery and slightly flavorless, but that could be forgiven because everything else was so good. read more

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This is the best place to get sushi in the Middletown area. Their food always tastes fresh and is beautifully presented. They offer an excellent lunch special deal where you can order 3 sets of rolls that come with soup for $15. Very nice atmosphere inside and always kind service. Would highly recommend Mikado to anyone in the area who is torn between which restaurant to order sushi from! read more

I don't know how I haven't reviewed Mikado yet, I've been here a bunch of times! At least once a year honestly. I love the entire atmosphere, it's a beautiful restaurant. The service is very quick and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. I have a nut allergy and they make me feel comfortable at their establishment. We always get a scorpion bowl, which is delicious of course. I always order the tempura dinner while my husband gets sushi rolls. Always a hit, we've even brought friends here on multiple occasions! read more

Mikado Japanese Restaurant - Chicken Tempura Dinner - Japanese Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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We got the crab rangoons, salmon avocado maki, eel avocado maki, and shrimp tempura maki. My favorite part of the meal was hands down the crab rangoons. These may have been the best crab rangoons I've ever had. They almost tasted custardy? The maki wasn't the best though. Salmon avocado was fine, but not that melt in your mouth feel I look for in my favorite roll. The eel avocado was decent, nothing to complain about. The shrimp tempura roll tasted ok, but it was mostly panko compared to a tiny bit of shrimp, and I wish it had more eel sauce, especially ti balance out the dryness of the overload of panko. I also tried the gyoza from my friend's plate which I thought were very bland. Though I also tried my other friend's spicy tuna, and that was definitely one of the best spicy tuna rolls I've ever had. Overall, a mixed bag foodwise. Not sure I'll be back. Though, I should note, the atmosphere was amazing! We were seated in the back, right under this tree that climbed up to the ceiling, giving a leafy fall-colored canopy, it was beautiful. read more

Not all the great downtown Middletown restaurants are on Main Street. Mikado Sushi is one of those hidden gems. If you only drive on main and don't look elsewhere you'll miss this place. The decor reminds me of the Rainforest Cafe without the animatronics. We liked it. It wasn't just the run of the mill wall decorations. All the food, except one was fresh and very tasty. The salmon was an off color and texture. Once food was delivered we never saw a server who asked about our meal. I abhor helicopter servers but one check is customary and required. The person that delivered the plate was not able to tell us which was which. So in spite of some minor problems we enjoyed it, enjoyed the experience and will be back. Prices were comparable for other sushi restaurants in the area. read more

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The sushi wasn't great and the hibachi rice was dry. They also forgot one of the sushi orders and missed one of the hibachi orders.

I just wish they had more shrimp tempura sushi options! that's all. Noteworthy: Our wonderfully kind waitress told me if I wanted a refill on my soda. It's not free refills and then I would have to pay again. I was a bit bummed by this and I'm guessing she could see it on my face or something and when she came with the checks, She was like "just remember for next time" and only charged me for one soda. The staff here are truly amazing. Also, really cool decor. I just wish the Women's bathroom sink didn't assault me with its water pressure read more

Overall, I enjoyed my experience here. After many years of knowing about Mikado, I finally decided to try. Nestled downstairs in a building in the middle of Middletown, it's a quaint restaurant with really nice, unique Japanese decor. I enjoyed my crispy chicken entrée and also tried the chicken tempura which was crispy and fresh. I forget the name of the sushi role my dining partner tried but it was tasty. Service was friendly and attentive. I would come back if in the area. read more

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We had a great dinner and will come back again! Good service as well. Great selection of rolls so it fits everyone's interests

(Visited 11/27/2019) Hanging out in Middletown for the evening and we had a craving for sushi, so here we are. I'll tell you how it went. Atmosphere/Appearance: Right on the corner of the beginning of downtown Middletown is this gem. Right behind the restaurant is a huge parking lot that kinda belongs to the city so you have to feed the meter, but only between certain times. Once in the door at the back of the restaurant you're greeted with some pretty awesome decor I must say. It also continues throughout the restaurant into the different intimate sections. However, we're in a Japanese restaurant and they're playing country music. It was actually quite annoying and was a huge turn off. Service: Not very good to be honest. It seems to be on par with other reviews, so be it. Food: My fiancée and I ordered the Sushi For 2 combo. It comes served in this adorable "love boat" and it comes with 20 pieces of assorted sushi (5 different kinds), a spicy tuna roll as well as a Dragon Roll. All of the food was very delicious. I also ordered ordered Gekkeikan cold sake in the 375ml, but got a 300ml bottle... for the same price. Hmm... something is VERY wrong with that. I tried to plead my case, but whatever. I had already decided that I wouldn't return here. Value: Sushi boat was $50.00 and I think it was absolutely worth it. $25.00 per person and it's SO MUCH FOOD. It was a solid choice. In conclusion, this wasn't my best sushi restaurant experience and I won't be returning. It is what it is. I wish them the best, but if you guys are in the area, check them out and let us know how your time was. read more

Mikado Japanese Restaurant - Saké! - Japanese Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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Met my cousin here for dinner last night. Her and her son come here frequently but it was my first time. Parking is convenient and right behind the restaurant. It is a pay lot so you have to feed the meter before you feed yourself so bring $1 bills or pay with your card. It did take me a few laps around to find someone leaving so be aware on busier times to allow yourself some time if you have a reservation or are meeting someone. Moving on to Mikado itself...the ambiance is nice and it's clean. They have a couple different rooms. I noticed there was a private room off to the side. We sat in what I think is the main dining room. While it got busy it still stayed pretty quiet so it was nice to be able to chat and be able to hear each other. I did notice that it took a bit for someone to come take our order and service was a bit lacking the rest of the night. However our waitress was very nice and it seemed like she was the only server working that area so it seems more like maybe a staffing issue which is pretty common everywhere these days. The food was good. We split the sushi pizza, my cousin had a sushi combo and I had a hibachi combo meal. Portions were just right. The food was tasty. It was a little more bland than other hibachi places I've been to but it was still good. It was fresh and my hibachi came out hot. Overall we enjoyed our experience and meals. Would come back again and try other things! read more

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This is my go to! Food is always excellent, service is always amazing and the ambiance is wonderful. Very intimate restaurant with calming/uplifting music playing. Today I had a California roll, not shown but delicious. For my entree I had hibachi rice with chicken teriyaki. This is my fav rice, doesn't make you feel heavy after eating and tastes clean. The chicken teriyaki was very good too, I love that sauce. Can't wait to come back. read more

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The food was good, I order lobster, filet, and scallops. My only complaint is the scallops were not real scallops. read more

Mikado Japanese Restaurant - Mixed Seafood Combo - Japanese Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

Food was pretty good, place was a bit dingy, it's in the basement of building, decor has seen better days. Prices were fair. If you react poorly to strong smells, fyi the smell of fish is strong read more

What a disappointment! Mikado has really gone downhill recently (speaking as someone who has eaten here a number of times over the past 20 years). I had the hibachi salmon dinner: The salmon pieces were very thin, which probably made it impossible for the chef to cook properly. Not surprising, the salmon was VERY overcooked, to the point of being almost leathery. The vegetables were also badly overcooked. The fried rice, thank goodness, was at least edible, though nothing special. I had given up on the salmon and the vegetables after a few bites. The only reason I gave 2 stars and not just 1 was because the ambiance was lovely as usual, and the service was friendly and fast. But the main reason for eating out is the food. Do yourself a favor and go instead to Hachi or Niuda Noodle and Sushi, both just a short walk away. read more

Never a bad meal here. Coolest ambience of a restaurant I have ever been to. Love the underground feel. Highly recommend.

I have loved coming to Mikado for years. Main Street in middletown absolutely has some gems and this is one of my favorites. I generally sit at the bar and the bartenders are friends and love to joke so it always makes for a great time. They are super helpful about the menu as well. The place is nice because it's never too loud or noisy and there is more than enough space for small or larger parties. During my last visit I had the tuna tataki which is always wonderfully fresh and flavorful. I also had the shrimp and scallop hibachi with fried rice. One thing I really enjoy about mikado is that their hibachi is always always well seasoned and flavorful. The portion size is perfect too. For dessert I had the Oreo cake which I had to share because of the size but it was delicious as well. They also have an amazing selection of cocktails including a variety of martinis which are my favorite. If you love Japanese food mikado is an absolute must try in Middletown. read more

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I give this place a 5/5 for decor and ambience. As soon as I walked in I was like WOW. There are these huge fake trees everywhere that are really cool and the ambience is really nice. Now, the food is average. The miso soup and "love boat" we got was average, nothing too exciting. The drinks were really good, I got different wines and they have a very nice selection. Lastly, the servers do not speak with you much, which I personally LOVE because I want to spend the night out with my man, not an annoying waiter, but I can see how someone would feel like the service is dry due to that. read more

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One of my favorite sushi options in Connecticut! There are new options on the menu every time I go, although a visit to Mikado isn't complete without an order of the sexy roll (lobster and mango - we order it for dessert!). They have generous portions that are easily share-able and hold well if you want to eat them the next day instead. Parking is in the back (as is the entrance, actually) and it seems that the parking situation is different every time I'm here. It used to be free, and then you had to take a ticket at a gate, and now you pre-pay at a kiosk. Parking in the lot is free after 8pm, so that may influence my next return trip. read more

Mikado Japanese Restaurant - Sexy Roll (best roll on the menu!) - Japanese Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

This was pretty lackluster. There were a lot of fans on Reddit singing praises, but it fell short. The dumplings were watery. The udon was bland. Takeout service was friendly. Dollar for dollar- not worth the cost, unfortunately. read more

Ate here with a group of 8 ladies and had a wonderful experience. They offer 2 sizes of scorpion bowls - large and medium. Not much size difference between each, both are HUGE and come with fun extra long straws. We enjoyed the crab rangoons, shrimp shumai, and gyoza for appetizers. All were tasty and decent portion sizes for the price. For entrees we had a mix of different sushi rolls and chicken pad Thai. Everything was flavorful and fresh. They even swapped out rice for cucumber for my friend that's keto. Definitely try the sexy roll! We were seated in this private area in which you sit in traditional Japanese dining seating. There was even a little screen door we could open and close which was nice. Only complaint would be the lighting was a bit harsh and the bulbs were flickering like a strobe light at one point. Overall great experience! read more

Mikado Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

Their sushi brings me lots of joy my favorite go to for great food at an amazing price!!

Mikado staff is always prompt when ordering out. I've not had a chance to eat in, but the inside is quaint and clean. Food is always on point. Would like to sea rolls that have a different variety of fish majority rolls have salmon and tuna. read more

Sushi roll selection as always excellent. Decor has a nice and warm style and staff is friendly and helpful if undecided. If you're up for a warm sushi roll, definitely try "Snow White". read more

Come down the stairs and enter an elegant and modern representation of Authentic Japanese cuisine. The staff is polite and attentive. The sushi roll combinations are sublime and ingeniously grafted. Other items like excellent hibachi, appetizers like Kano salad or pot stickers, dessert like mochi ice cream round out the mix... this is the best sushi restaurant in Middletown and a must try for any foodies or people looking for great food in a setting of excellent ambience. read more

Went last night for first time (had a groupon that I needed to use). My boyfriend and I were both pleased with our food but feel its slightly on the pricey side. The atmosphere we really liked- the art and lighting was nice and who cares that you are in a basement. Our servers were very nice and one lady was so cute in particular. My bf ordered a margarita (he always wants odd drinks) and she had no clue what we were asking for but had us write it down for her. She came back with a fabulous margarita! Now the food: we got the gyoza appetizer (delicious!). I got a small house salad and really loved the ginger dressing! It was different than the typical orange one- i really enjoyed it. Wish they would throw a few more vegetables into the salad though- it was lettuce with one tomato. For entrees I got the Spicy Girl Roll which was so pretty and really good. Price was 13.50. My Boyfriend got hibachi steak (now they don't have a hibachi table so this was just off the kitchen menu). He enjoyed it but said it was too expensive at $20. You can go to a hibachi restaurant get same dish for 22 with the show and get more food. I tried it and wouldnt exactly say it or the veggies tasted like hibachi (it was still good but just had a more terryaki flavor i think) but my bf thought it was spot on. Overall we really enjoyed it. They have tons of sushi options and will probably come back with a girlfriend who also likes sushi so we can get a few different rolls. read more

Mikado Japanese Restaurant - Spicy Girl roll -13.50 - Japanese Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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This place is kind of hidden, there's a sign on one side of the building but the entrance is in the back and you go downstairs. Atmosphere really cool, a little dark but it suits it. The menu is huge and the scorpion bowls are on fire (literally) and so good. My group had the hot app combo with an array of fried seafood items, mostly shrimp. All were good, service was on point, never had to ask for waters to be filled or for anything else actually, she almost came around too much but better that than never. We ordered 4 special rolls and split them all so we could each try some. I totally loved every one of them. We all said the same thing leaving this place, why do we not come here more often, it is one of the better sushi places in the area read more

If I could rate 4.5 Stars then I would. Based on my experience, the interior is rather cute, it's different but yet still expected as a Japanese restaurant. The food and the Sushi is really good! Fresh, cooked well, and didn't take too long to come out. Also the Sushi looked amazing as well as it tasted amazing. What brings this down to a 4.5 for me was how we had reservations and we weren't promptly seated immediately and still waited 15 minutes. Lucky that we weren't in a hurry or anything but just saying, I like this restaurant. I hope they use my 5 star review as a motivation to make sure things like that don't happen, I understand they were super busy but come on, we had reservations, 5 minutes okay but 15 to 20 minutes, no read more

Mikado Japanese Restaurant - Forgot which Signature Roll this was but it was very tasty. - Japanese Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

This spot is a hidden gem wasn't expecting what we got! Service and the decor was amazing definitely going back soon! read more

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My sister and I just came here for lunch and it was so good! Best quality sushi I've had in a long time! We also had pork gyoza and negimaki beef as appetizers which was delicious. Portions sizes were perfect. The service was very good as well. Our food was made quickly and very fresh. The restaurant was very clean and everyone wore masks which made us feel safe. Will definitely come back again when we are in the area :) read more

Mikado Japanese Restaurant - Godzilla roll - Japanese Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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Been coming here for a long time however over the last several visits the service and quality has greatly decreased. Sometimes the food will be great but the service (either dine in OR take out) has been horrendous. Or, like tonight, the service was prompt and polite however the food was atrocious. Tonight the sushi was flat and texture was just awful. My spicy tuna roll was neither spicy and I'm not sure it was tuna. A Spicy Shrimp & Kani roll was supposed to be included in my Spicy Trio however I was left with a dry and disappointing shrimp/crunch roll - I can't even tell what it is supposed to be. We used to absolutely love Mikado. A family dinner spot once a month. Now when my daughter suggests Mikado I prepare for disappointment. Such a shame what has happened to this once fine and premiere establishment. Thankfully there are many other options in the area and my daughter may be finally convinced to try elsewhere. read more

The restaurant is situated down below street level. I like the stone walls and waterfall decoration. Food is great, but I have a lot of observations about the way they serve. Its a little disjointed and disengenuine. When we came in we and asked for a table for 2. They sat us at a small bar in the center of the floor while we waited for out table to be ready. While we sat at this mini bar there were several wait-staff came and went behind the bar but they never greeted or offered us a drink. Which is odd since we were hoping to be served. They didn't even make eye contact with us, probably because they didn't want to have to make anything for us. They were making cocktails for their seated tables. We were sat about 5 mins after that. I got a fancy cooked roll and my fiancé got Chicken Katsu Don which is a rice and breaded chicken dish with an egg. I was happy with the food and would like come back and try more. The service being weird isn't enough to keep me away from decent sushi. read more