Minato offers fabulous sushi right in the heart of Mt. Vernon. They have a wide array of classic and novel sushi roll options. My meals there have never been any thing less than good and fairly priced! Give it a try. They also have a wicked happy hour deal. read more

Minato Sushi Bar - Veggie tempura - Japanese Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I visited this place on a Friday afternoon for happy hour (it's until 7pm) with two girl friends. First of all, this place is actually pretty spacious - especially for a Baltimore sushi bar. We ordered drinks - appletini(very good) fuzzy bear (kind of strong then again I have low tolerance)? And food - we ordered J&J, some shrimp tempura and salmon rolls. Here is my review: the waiter was very nice, hostess not so much. while I overall had a positive experience, the food takes very very long to come out and waiters are not attending because they're so busy and they have a lot of hostesses in the front doing nothing. food wise, it was good, for happy hour price but I wouldn't go back for normal business hours. The pricing was a little high for the quality. It was just sushi, nothing special. read more

They water down their soy sauce! Point blank, it's super obvious. That said their sushi is good and happy hour is amazing. I love going but always wish I had brought a bottle of my own soy sauce in my purse because theirs tastes like nothing and is way lighter than it should be, despite being in Kikkoman bottles. On the other hand, their April roll is awesome. read more

This joint reminds of NYC, very swanky and cool. The colorful light-tiled ceiling looks like a mix between Sushi Samba and O'Hare International Airport. This was also an excellent prelude to the Lotus show we were about to see. The missing star here isn't for lack of being impressed with the food-- it's just that we went with someone who knew all the servers so I can't give a fair rating, so it's more of a blank spot. For appetizers, we got the shrimp dumplings and the curry puffs. Both disappeared too fast to evaluate them properly. From the second they spent on my tongue, they were really good. I highly recommend the special New Minato roll (eel, shittake mushrooms, and avocado) which was smokey and melted in your mouth, and the Asahi roll (spicy tuna, salmon, whole roll flashed fried roll) which had a great kick to it. I really think fried sushi rolls are one of the better things on this planet. If you're in Charm City, stop on by. read more

I'm surprised I haven't reviewed Minato yet. Sushi Hana used to be my fav place back when I lived in Towson. However when I moved here this became my new pick practically overnight. Their sushi is top notch and the staff is quite friendly. I love spicy tuna and theirs is the greatest I've had outside of Hawaii. They also have a great happy hour. I go there roughly weekly. read more

I've come here a couple times for their lunch specials since I think it's such a good deal. They give you unlimited salad with a good Japanese dressing (you just go up to a big bowl and get however much you want) and all their rolls are half off. The sushi is OK, like typical sushi you'll get anywhere, but it's a good combo lunch! read more

What's really bad about this place is that I live right around the corner from it. Which really is a good thing but my waist line (and at times, my wallet) does not appreciate the close proximity. Maybe my new year's resolution will be to go here less? .....nah. That's a silly idea. Minato is probably one of the best happy-hour spots that you don't know about. From 5-7pm during the week, they have GREAT deals on food and drink. So much so that I will do a happy dance every day I know that I'm heading there after work. The staff has always been lovely and the decor is unique. So they don't have the best volcano roll I've ever eaten but it's pretty darn close. And really, how can I complain when I'm only paying $7 for it during happy hour? (for those of you unfamiliar with sushi prices, that's a steal. Trust me.) read more

I live right around the corner and my wife and I easily go here two or three times a month. We've never had a bad experience here and it will continue to be our go-to sushi place for a long time. Some folks have criticized Minato's prices for being too high and that other people are only reviewing them for their happy hour. I suppose that's fair enough, but I'm most in the mood for Minato when I get home from work, and that's always happy hour time, so I have no complaints. There are some menu items that I wouldn't pay full price for, but if I were to come in after happy hour there are plenty of other great options to choose from. They also have a great menu beyond just the sushi which is worth checking out too. But for my money, a Doug Roll and a giant can of Sapporo is about as good as it gets after a busy day! read more

This is a good date spot or just hanging out with friends. They have a small bar area up front which is nice. The lighting on ceiling definitely gets your attention. They also have a dining area in the back which is also nice. I had the chef's choice (for two) which gives you a sample of everything in a nice presentation. As far as quality and sushi goes, it was just okay. There was nothing that wow'ed me, but it wasn't bad either. Overall, it's a nice relaxing spot to dine in or even go for happy hour. If I lived in Baltimore, I would def go here when I could. I recommend this spot. read more

Always come for their happy hour which is an awesome deal. $7 for any of the special rolls. Over the years, the quality of the sushi has improved. I was not impressed the first couple times I visited. The rice was too hard and the sushi was not that tasty. More recently, everything has been just right. Its busy during happy hour, but I have never waited. The service is fast. The non-sushi items are okay. I would suggest getting Pho elsewhere. read more

I had a great experience here! When I walked in, I noticed that the place was super cute. Nothing flashy or outstanding... simply cute. My date and I sat by the window, and a server promptly came to the table. I order a Merlot, edamame, cucumber roll with cream cheese, and avocado roll. The edamame came out, and it was standard. My rolls were nice and fresh. Since my order was simple, I didn't have any complaints. As I was waiting for my food, I did notice that they have a nice happy hour which I will surely return for. This may be my new "dining on a budget" spots in Baltimore. read more

I used to really love Minato's. I don't know what happened! I always get their yellow diamond roll which is my fave! It's always good, and that hasn't changed, but everything else seems like it has. My husband ordered chicken teriyaki and he didn't like it at all. For the price, he expected something really good. It honestly smelled like a wet dog/dirty feet. I don't know how he even ate it. I raved about this place, so I kind of felt like an ass. Their specials are dope though! Their happy hour is awesome, I think they have specials on Mondays, Tuesdays & Sundays? May it's changed. It's just average now as far as sushi goes, as far as teriyaki? Don't do it! Just get some cheap sushi on a Monday and be done with it. read more

Great happy hour and nice sushi taste. To be honest, when I entered here, I was unsure of how good the sushi will be - with pre-cut fish and a very un-Japanese decor, the odds for me to get a good sushi were pretty low. I am happy I was mistaken. The sushi tasted great, during the happy hour the prices were very reasonable and the staff was extremely friendly. Overall a great experience. The only downside was the fact that my tea was served as a cup with hot water and a tea-bag, which isn't something I would expect at a Japanese restaurant. read more

The coolest thing about this place is the ceiling... not the sushi. Cute date spot because is trendy, has music and you can walk to the bars afterwards. That is of course unless he/she appreciates great sushi then this is NOT the place for you. I must say, good sake deals though. The sushi was ok, not at all memorable. The food can be best described as unimaginitive and of average taste. Your best bet is to explore other options. I would not go back here... unless I everything else was closed or ran of of food. This place just isn't worth a second meal. read more

I come here at least once a week when I lived in Bmore. Inexpensive sushi place and serves decent food. When there's the 50% deal, a fancy sushi roll is just $5. The sashimi isn't the most prime cut, but it's more than decent for the money you pay. I highly HIGHLY recommend rock and roll. YUM! I miss it so much... read more

Best. sushi. happy hour. ever. The sushi rolls here are pretty great and the specials are even better. If you come during happy hour, you won't ever spend more than $7 on a set of rolls (and that even includes rolls with lobster and crab!) and you can get your fill of drinks on the cheap. They even offer specials after happy hour is over -- on Wednesdays after 7p, they have $3 martinis/cocktails. Uh yes, please. The only reason why I'm giving 4 stars as opposed to 5 is because even though the maki rolls are pretty good, I don't consider them the best I've ever had (I like Joss better) and also, I'm not sure how I feel about the rest of their sushi. I ordered the toro sashimi once and instead of the melt-in-your-mouth tuna fat that I expected, it was rather tough and stringy. Could've been a fluke though. Other menu items that I've had: spring rolls are very good (spring roll sauce is nice and spicy), the seaweed salad is excellent, fried tofu is sort of odd because it's served in a sauce that defeats the crispiness of the tofu, and I would advise against ordering the pho simply because you could get a much larger portion for a cheaper price at an actual pho house. read more

The food and atmosphere is mind blowing! (And the seater is a hot asian guy with a bicpt tattoo )

Very nice restaurant, seating is a little tight for a large party, they accommodated well though. Staff was friendly. Would recommend the Chef's Special, totally worth it. Guaranteed gratuity was very reasonable. Will definitely be back! read more

Minato Sushi Bar - Baby Octopus appetizer - Japanese Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Went for lunch on a regular workday. The environment is nice and clean. Servers are welcoming and attentive, constantly checking us out and help us with our requests. Since we went during happy hours, special sushi are only $8.25 (raised from $7.5), which I found very affordable for restaurant sushi. They also have a free salad bar (mainly lettuce and onion) that will help getting some green into your system. We ordered the Super Bowl and Red Sunrise. They came quickly and tasted pretty decent. The super bowl rolls were still warm when served. The shrimp tempura inside was nice and crunchy. The whole roll was well seasoned with sweet eel sauce. Red Sunrise was good as well. Salmon on the top was fresh, seasoned with spicy Korean sauce, which is not overly spicy but with a nice kick. If you are looking for high-end sushi restaurant, this might not be your place. But for a quick grab for lunch, given the happy hour price, I would recommend this place. read more

Minato Sushi Bar - Japanese Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I'd give the food a four and a negative two for service. Got there at 6, they were out of the chef's choice, so we ordered off the happy hour menu. Server abandoned us for 20min, then they were out of fatty tuna--at6pm on a Friday? Put our order in. Took about 20 minutes, but a roll was missing. Our waitress didn't know which rolls were which, so it took a while to identify what we needed yet. And we waited. At 7, I was going to give it until 7:15 before I walked. They finally brought out the missing roll at 7:15, with a new waiter (thank goodness) and we got the check with it. I won't be returning. No fatty tuna and an hour and a half for a couple rolls and sushi? The place wasn't even half full! read more

Minato seems to specialize in "new" variations of your typical sushi roll. It's not traditional, but it isn't exciting either. At least the sushi was fresh. The one thing that really was a damper on my evening was that I ordered some mochi ice cream that wasn't fully defrosted. They really had some great drink specials though - Martinis for $3 on Wednesdays!? Nice. read more

The sashimi was EXCELLENT -- 5-star worthy! The sushi hand rolls were good but not brilliant. We will absolutely be back regularly! read more

Minato has good sushi. Not amazing sushi, but its good. Their happy hour deal is where its that. Those prices are great for the sushi you get and the drinks are fun. They have a pretty good drink selection and lots of sushi. I have also had their regular food and it was good. Again, not great, but good. The prices are great and it is good for groups. Minato gets 3 stars for the quality of food and 4 stars for the happy hour, service, and atmosphere. read more

I had the bento box... Chicken Katsu and their sushi. One thing I know from experience is that when FISH is fresh... it actually melts in your mouth and does not have a rubbery texture... you should be able to smash it with your tongue and it tastes absolutely delicious. Minato reminds me of the days when I was in korean and i got to eat fresh fish where i picked out the fish while they were alive!. LOVE LOVE LOVE THEIR FOOD. and on the side note. It's half off maki during lunch! read more

We went for the 1/2 price specialty rolls on Tuesdays... Atmosphere is young and fun. Lots of mango fish combinations in their rolls (which I initially thought would be questionable) but it's actually delicious. They balance the sweetness of the mango with some sort of spicy smokey flavor in the fish. The cold tofu appetizer is super yummy (don't be afraid of the fish flakes it comes with) and ask for the shichimi seasoning in a red spice jar to top it off with. I thought the food was really yummy -- I just guess I wish they had a greater variety of more unusual fish sushi selections and a greater array of specialty rolls. They seemed to reuse a lot of the same ingredients in creating their special rolls in particular: avocado, eel, mango, "crispyness", crab over and over. I was so disappointed that they ran out of green tea ice cream!!! Reliably good and fun, yet a bit run of the mill. Well priced. Parking can be a challenge in the area. read more

First off, I would give this place 3.5 stars if I could. The food is decent, and what elevates this place to a 3.5 rating for me was the quality of service and the speed at which my food was brought out. I came here on a Saturday night for dinner around 7pm. First thing I noticed is that it wasn't super busy and was easy enough for me to find a spot at the sushi bar. I ordered a tall Sapporo for the happy hour price of $5.50, so that was a bonus. They have a pretty convenient system for ordering rolls and sashimi by giving you an order sheet and a pencil. It kind of reminded of ordering dim sum at a Chinese restaurant. I decided to order some maguro sashimi, a fresh crab California Roll and a Hippo Roll. I was a little bummed out because they had toro sashimi on their menu, but told me they ran out. I'll have to come back one day to see if they re-stock their toro supply. The rolls came out ridiculously fast. It was probably the fastest service I've ever seen at a sushi bar. So, that was definitely a plus for me. The maguro sashimi wasn't really that impressive. It looked a little dry and didn't taste that fresh. The same goes for the rolls. They were okay, but there was almost too much going on that I couldn't really taste the fish. For the Hippo Roll, it was smothered with a little too much sauce, and it covered up the taste of the salmon. Service was great and happy hour specials look generous. I would return to give them another shot, maybe will try out their happy hour too. I would probably go for the Chirashi right off the bat next time to test out the freshness and quality of their fish. read more

Love the happy hour sushi and sashimi offerings. Fresh sashimi and reasonably priced sushi. The place is located in one of the best neighborhoods in Baltimore - Mount Vernon. Walking to the restaurant is a pleasant experience by itself. We enjoyed our meal very much. read more

Minato Sushi Bar - Happy Hour - Japanese Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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The place is fine but if you're looking for good sushi, go elsewhere. I love good sushi and I was disappointed. I'm often surprised how average sushi places often get good ratings on review sites. read more

Sweet HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS!!! Being new to Baltimore, places like this in mount vernon made me happy! The Happy hour deals are pretty awesome! We have to go in from work almost once a week! The amazing thing about the happy hour is you get the special rolls that would normally cost 10-15 for only $7! So you know we only order the most expensive once for best value!! I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. Aside from that, there are other tasty items on their happy hour menu like their shrimp dumplings for just 2.50 etc. Also they have the weekly specials for happy hour like 3$ cosmos on wednesday! Really, without trying, you'll find something to love about this place! read more

In here now.. Service slow af. Its happy hour. Come here 5 to 7 Monday thru Friday for some dope deals.. Good priced appetizers among other things :) I looove the miso soup here; its just the right consistency and taste; it's also veggie. Edamame is great too. And can't forget seaweed salad. All on the happy hr menu. I'm obessed. I was a BIT dissapointed (to say the least) when I walked in one day, right at about 6:55, and they told me happy hour was closed... Blehhhhh! Way better than Aloha, in my opinion, but not as good as Geisha which is also in Mount Vernon. read more

This is my favorite Sushi place in Mt. Vernon. The sushi is delicious (my favorite is the MD roll!) and the staff is great! You will see the owner in there every single day just watching and greeting you. Min is the greatest server ever, always remember names, and drinks. Great atmosphere, decor, very clean, crisp and inviting. Great for date night or catching up with friends. Happy Hour is until on weekdays and Specialty Maki Rolls are half price, and Wednesday nights are half price martinis! read more

It's too bad Yelp can't do half stars -- I think this place should get a 3.5, but I'm rounding up because I did have a positive experience overall. We came for happy hour, which has a bunch of specials, as well as $7 specialty rolls. Got a spicy tuna roll (husband's favorite), salmon and avocado roll, tuna lover roll, dynamite roll (yellowtail with mango and crunch), and two pieces of nigiri, salmon and ikura. We quite enjoyed the rolls -- they were fresh and tasty and the flavors were well-balanced. My salmon nigiri was great, but the ikura tasted gingery, which was odd (and no, it wasn't next to the ginger on the plate). The rolls weren't huge, but were filling enough, especially at happy hour prices. Where Minato made me less happy was the uneven service. Everyone was friendly, but not always attentive. First, the waitress asked if we were ready to order when I was very clearly nose-deep in the menu, then we had to wait to actually get anyone to come back and take our order. The order itself took about 45 minutes to come out, and they weren't especially full! Overall, I liked it and will go again, but probably only during happy hour. Their prices are a little high otherwise. read more

This is my go-to for carryout sushi in the City, no question, though unjust get basic sushi rolls.