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    Nara Sushi

    4.5 (37 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    1. Hamachi Chili
    Ivy L.

    I was so excited to see an AYCE sushi place open up so close and couldn't wait to try it. It had amazing reviews and the photos actually showed decent pieces of sushi. There was a good amount of options to choose from. The interior was modern and nicely decorated, super spacious and bright. However, the sushi just fell short of my expectations. The quality was not great.. I didn't expect top notch for an AYCE place but some places have decent grade fish that's edible and enjoyable. Hubby and I just didn't enjoy the cuts served to us - he went as far to say it was gross. Service was good, our lady was nice. We wished we liked it but didn't and unfortunately probably won't be back. There are just so many other options out there to have stuff you don't enjoy.

    Mark W.

    I was craving for sushi and this place has been on my radar for a while so I went by myself to satisfy my craving. This place hit the spot, I went around 4:30PM for an early dinner and it was not pack I was able to get a table right away. The server, John, was the best as he help me with good recommendations like: beef short ribs and the hamachi chili as appetizers Both were great and the hamachi chili was just a little bit spicy not extreme spicy so if you can eat a little bit of spicy get this! Since I am eating by myself, I got all my sushi in hand roll so no food will be wasted. I also like the fact their nigiri sushi are good size and not full of rice. Now for the not so good, you can skip the fried calamari, crispy house wing both were just okay. The fried ice cream was just okay too. If you live in the area and want to get your money worth for AYCE sushi, come here right now.

    Nhi V.

    Food was so bland I thought I had Covid. If you think all AYCE places taste the same, it can definitely always be worst. Somehow everything was mushy, bland, or both. It is almost amazing how the beef, sashimi, nigiri, salad, soup, and wasabi had absolutely zero flavor. Stuffed jalapenos were oily and mushy, sashimi were gray and extremely bland, miso soup tastes like onion soup, spicy salmon nigiri was just a mushy blob with no flavor. Eel sashimis usually come out hot and broiled at other places. Here it was hard and room temperature, sitting on a bed of ice, making the taste extremely fishy. After the entire appetizer and sashimi ordeal, I didn't want any rolls, but went ahead and tried one anyway. Sauce was super watered down, shrimp tempura was all tempura and no shrimp. Salmon, as with the rest, had no flavor. Rent must be expensive, but this is really bad.

    Chili Hamachi
    Lisa J.

    Dropped by Nara's yesterday afternoon around 2pm for my first visit in. The restaurant is at the corner of a parking lot with lots of space to park outside and is equally big and roomy inside.. So this place is an all u can eat sushi experience, where you pay 39.95 per adult ( not including drinks) to theoretically have action at eating all the menu items you have an inkling for ( in a 2 hour time frame).. And to be honest I am usually not that excited about these types of restaurants because you usually end up sacrificing quality for quantity.. Well to be fair , Nara wasn't the best sushi I've had by no stretch , but it certainly held its own, and for the myriad of food options that are available, cooked and raw, big and small, I believe you cannot beat the price point - especially if you are HUNGRY ... Service was also attentive, so I gave it 4 stars

    Jalapeno yellowtail. Yellowtail red snapper and mackerel sashimi.
    Vinh N.

    This is the second AYCE sushi that I've been to that doesn't serve in a buffet format. The first one I went to, Umiya in Midtown, was pretty good, but Nara is better. The fish taste fresher, the pieces are bigger, and the overall portions are larger per order. I had remarked that I wished Umiya serve their sushi on ice. Nara does, and it helps with the taste even if there is a backlog due to the sheer amount that you order and conversations that may be happening. Their version of the jalapeno yellowtail or chili hamachi is excellent as the spice does not overpower the taste of the yellowtail. They also don't overdrench their sashimi appetizers with sauce. Their dessert offerings are pretty good. I was surprised at the crispiness of the tempura twinkie that it made me question whether it was actually a twinkie. This location used to be a Sushi King. When you go in, the layout and decor hasn't changed that much. There's plenty of parking that's shared by several businesses including Pappasito's and Office Depot.

    Rock Shrimp
    Carolyn C.

    We enjoyed dinner Saturday at a new Japan restaurant on Kirby and Richmond. They offer an All You Can Eat menu, but we opted for the Ala Carte menu and still had leftovers. Everything was fresh, delicious and beautifully presented. The rock shrimp appetizer was absolutely delicious, with a glaze that had a lovely hint of spice. The beef short ribs were perfectly marinated and so very tender. The teriyaki salmon entree included 3 thin fillets. The sashimi and sushi were fresh and had great flavor and texture. The Siu Mai and gyoza were full of umami. We received excellent service and highly recommend trying.

    Tuna
    Alexis O.

    Wonderful variety and great service! The best cocktails. Try to go for the tuna cuttings if u can! Super fresh!

    Linn P.

    Came here for my sis birthday. We did call ahead same day to reserve a table for 7 and kids/baby. They were very accommodating. Our server was very sweet, I believe Mandy. The sushi quality was pretty good! Not too much rice on the sushi nigiri which was great. Good amount of fish. The rolls were plenty tho; about 8 pieces per roll order which is too much for me to finish so I didn't get any. I wish they did their rolls in 4-6 pieces instead. I got mainly sashimi and sushi which was unlimited. I did notice the scallop sushi I got tasted spoiled. That was the only piece I did not eat. I loved everything else I got. The drinks on happy hr were great too. We got the lychee martini and starburst. The starburst was the tastier of the two. The restaurant was busy but not packed on a Saturday night. There were tables avail throughout our time there. The entrance is a bit difficult for our stroller so I can't imagine anyone in a wheelchair can come here.

    Sushi  Sashimi combo ordered A La carte
    Sam W.

    We came in for the all-you-can-eat sushi on a Sunday morning, but at nearly $40 per person, it felt a bit high, so we opted for the à la carte menu instead. The selection was very comprehensive and gave us plenty of great options. We started with miso soup, mushroom soup, and two crab salads all were fresh, flavorful, and generously portioned. For our main dishes, we ordered the sushi and sashimi combo (beautiful presentation) along with a spider roll, which ended up being just enough. We were definitely full by the end and everything tasted very fresh. Our total came to $82 before tip. In hindsight, the all-you-can-eat option may have been comparable, but we really appreciated the quality and freshness of the made-to-order items. Service was friendly, and as first-time guests, we even received a fun plush toy, which was a nice and unexpected touch. Next time, I'll plan to come during happy hour and enjoy a cocktail instead of iced tea.

    Hot appetizers
    Chris W.

    Seeing that Nara had taken over the old Sushi King spot on Kirby, we swung by for a Mother's Day lunch a few weeks ago. We admired the sleek interior makeover before settling in and studying the extensive AYCE menu. Here are my thoughts on what we tried: Sushi appetizers - These are your standard tataki and seasoned sashimi offerings - our favorite was the seared salmon tataki, with just a hint of sear and a briny burst of masago. They are served on lettuce for presentation but personally I wouldn't recommend eating them together. Sushi - The nigiri is fresh and the fish-to-rice ratio was well-proportioned. We particularly liked the seared salmon (only available as nigiri) and the yellowtail! Unlike my friends, my family and I don't typically opt for rolls so I didn't try any on this occasion - they do have a fairly long list of cooked and raw rolls so there's sure to be something for everyone :) Hot food - The quality of fried food is decent, without excess greasiness or stale oil taste - I'd recommend the veggie tempura and the age tofu for a texture and "tempura"-ture contrast to your sushi journey! However, I can't endorse the popcorn chicken (a little overcooked and dry for me) or the shrimp tempura (these are the cylindrical panko-crusted babies you can get at Costco at a much better price). Desserts - My favorite banana tempura was fried beautifully (and you have to get it à la mode with red bean or matcha ice cream!) The three of us also split the fried vanilla ice cream, which was quite well done too. Service was prompt, friendly, and efficient - at the end of our meal, our server came by with a pink carnation to celebrate the holiday :) What Nara has going for it is its central location, open parking, and lower risk of overcrowding (at least during the day). But its menu variety and pricing aren't as competitive as Umiya in Midtown, Machi on Washington, or Kimoto and Masa off Westheimer. Hemmed in by more appealing options, Nara needs to find its niche or risk getting pushed out by its competition - I sure hope it will stick around as long as Sushi King did!

    Mailynn V.

    The atmosphere was cute. They gave me a little stuffed animal on the day I came in. Service was good they take your order so it's not tablet based or paper based. There seems to be plenty of parking in my opinion. I tried a bunch of rolls and nigiri I felt like the quality wasn't too bad for all you can eat and the rolls were probably standard size. The tiger roll and dragon rolls were my favorite. Their salmon nigiri was also good. They had a variety of dishes and I really liked the flavors they used on the rolls. The crab mix they used blended well and were shredded up perfectly inside the rolls.

    Seared salmon nigiri
    Brandon D.

    Their dinner menu is pretty extensive, I got the monster and kiss of fire rolls, baked mussels, rock shrimp, hamachi chili, beef tataki, salmon hand roll, salmon sashimi, and the salmon, tuna, seared beef, and seared salmon nigiri. They have a huge selection of rolls but eating 8 pieces for each roll is too much for just me. I loved the seared salmon nigiri, make sure to get a lot of those. Baked mussels were just ok. Rock shrimp is actually very good. I finished off with some green tea ice cream and banana tempura

    Ambreen K.

    Seaweed salad - 9/10 Fried calamari - 8/10 Crab rangoon - 9.5/10 Spicy girl roll - 9.5/10 TNT roll - 9/10 Shaggy dog roll - 9.5/10 Tokyo roll - 7/10 Machi crunchy roll - 9/10 Crab meat - 8/10 Yellow tail - 8/10 Oreo tempura - 9.5/10 Another day another sushi spot We liked their spicy girl and shaggy dog rolls the most Overall a good sushi spot if youre in the area! Their lunch AYCE is $24.95 per person and dinner AYCE is $36.95 per person. They also offer 10% off to students!

    4. Dynamite Roll

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    The all you can eat lunch menu was great! Not a reduced menu. Many many rolls to choose from. And a great price!!

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    3 months ago

    Great place for when you are craving sushi or Asian food! Ask for Adam - he is very attentive and wonderful!

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    5 months ago

    Delicious, will be back! Guy was so kind, attentive, and super knowledgeable. Thanks Huy!!

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    6 months ago

    great new spot. Valerie was an excellent server! Great variety of menu items. would recommend!

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    Ask the Community - Nara Sushi

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    Norigami - Spicy Scallop

    Norigami

    4.5(126 reviews)
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    Ah, yes, Norigami, crafting the hand rolls and nigiri of my dreams! Located in the West U area, the…read more24 seat restaurant does sushi classics with care and a creative twist. My friends and I love to go for their once a month $5 nigiri night and never leave disappointed! When it comes to sushi, the limit does not exist, right? All of their nigiri and hand rolls can be ordered a la carte or if you're feeling a bit in decisive, they have several hand roll sets that come with 3-5 preselected options. On nigiri night, announced a few days in advance on their socials, almost all of their nigiri is $5. Chutoro, otoro, hamachi, all melt in your mouth quality, all included in the special. That's a yes from me. As I mentioned, my friends and I love to do this deal every month and every time the staff have all been super friendly and make you feel more than welcome, providing recommendations and stopping by frequently to take more orders. Norigami does have a hidden speakeasy, Hidden Bar, which can be accessed through an unmarked door at the front of the restaurant. Drinks, and most of the food options can be ordered at either the restaurant or the bar which caters to whatever vibe suits you best - dark, intimate cocktail bar or more traditional sushi restaurant where you can watch each roll being prepared fresh to order. Overall, an excellent spot! Definitely check them out!

    The service was awesome and spot on! The decor and ambiance were super cute -- definitely a great…read moredate night spot. As for the sushi, it was a bit hit or miss for me. The salmon tasted a little too fishy, and the hamachi hand roll fell short since I could barely taste the hamachi. However, the kanpachi was the standout of the night! It was buttery, flavorful, and easily the best fish I had there. The pricing was fair overall, and despite a few misses, the atmosphere and service made for a nice experience.

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    Kira

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    4.6(113 reviews)
    0.4 miUpper Kirby

    Such a cute, intimate little sushi spot!!! The second we walked in, it was immediately a vibe. Dark…read moreand moody, BANGER vinyls playing, and just a handful of seats right in front of the chefs. I loved being able to watch them make all of our dishes right in front of us and then hand them straight over. It made the whole dinner feel so fun and personal. And the happy hour??? FIRE. The cocktails were so yummy, everything we tried was delicious, and our server DJ was the sweetest! Honestly such a 10/10 experience from the food to the music to the atmosphere. We were already talking about when we could come back before we even left Definitely found a new little date night spot!

    This was my second time visiting Kira but the first time I was successful eating here. I tried to…read morevisit for lunch when they first opened but was turned away since I didn't have a reservation. I would say that was a little off putting but I still wanted to give it a try. I waited a few months to try again and I was able to walk in for lunch. There was only one other patty there so it was pretty dead. They asked me for my phone number to seat me which I would have preferred to just give my number vs my personal info but I didn't fight them on it. I opted for the lux hand roll selection and a glass of white wine. Food was good, a tad pricey. I think it was about $100 for lunch. I would go again and maybe try something different but nothing super spectacular stood out. Felt a little sterile and without warmth.

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    Izakaya Wa - River Oaks - #YelpElite #Yelp #sushi

    Izakaya Wa - River Oaks

    4.3(319 reviews)
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    This place has been on my to-go list for a while and it did not disappoint! We started off with age…read moretakoyaki and toro carpaccio, which were both recommended to us by our server. The age takoyaki was creamy and good to share amongst a group. The toro carpaccio was amazing as well and melted in your mouth. We also ordered chicken curry udon, chicken karaage, and tantan noodles. All had really great flavors but my personal favorite was the tantan noodles which came with poached egg, sauce, and garnishes that you got to mix into the noodles. Super creamy and nutty! I really loved the vibe of the restaurant too, it's small but has a homey vibe that would be great for either a small group hangout or a date. There's a lot of bars to visit nearby too. Our server was also so sweet and brought us a baggie of Japanese candies & sweets after our dinner since it was Valentine's Day. Only complaint was parking. Very small lot and very packed! Get there a bit before your reservation to figure out parking.

    Solid Japanese cuisine in Houston that I'm sad I just tried out! Their lunch menu options are great…read moreand reasonably priced. Nigiri was fresh, tempura was hot and crunchy. Staff were friendly. It feels more casual and a good place for a quick dinner or just a casual grab with friends when you don't want to cook for the night. Would definitely come back. The parking can be a little tricky since it's pay to park. About $2

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    Aka Sushi House - Sushi Platter Spicy Yellowtail Shrimp Crunchy

    Aka Sushi House

    3.9(1.5k reviews)
    0.3 miUpper Kirby
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    My girlfriend and I tried Aka for a late lunch, looking for other Japanese entrees outside of…read moresushi. It was fairly empty at the time we showed up. Service was friendly although a bit slow. We each got a rice bowl and shared the stuffed mushroom appetizer. I opted for the gyudon beef bowl. It came with very tender cubed ribeye and mushrooms on top of flavorful rice. I would've liked if it had more beef though. The stuffed mushrooms were fried and crispy, although the "stuffing" was lacking as well. The katsu kare don was one of the better tonkatsu I've tried and very reasonable for the price too. I'd probably go with that one if I come back.

    Food: 2/5 Service: 2/5…read moreAmbiance 4/5 Was in town visiting and I love Japanese food so I said let's give this place a try since pass it often. OMG, this was the worst Japanese food I have ever had. The miso soup was not good, the portions were small and the quality of the food was not good. When we arrive only 2 tables were full. We were seated right away then after that it took awhile for us to give or order then to receive our food. We kept looking around like it's not busy, so why are we waiting so long. Also, there was like Tofu on the bento box and we asked if we could get subutuite that and we were told no. Really, so we are paying for something we don't want; like or even going to eat. Wow. However, I will not return. Houston had good food, but this place failed Houston.

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    Japanese Ramen Gachi - Pan Fried Hanetsuki Gyoza

    Japanese Ramen Gachi

    4.2(134 reviews)
    2.0 miWest University
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    Excellent ramen! I dropped by during lunch and got the Tonkotsu Spicy which came with 5 pieces of…read morechashu, mushroom, ground pork, bean sprouts, and cashews. The chashu was tender, the broth was somehow rich but light, and the noodles were the perfect texture. Everything was executed perfectly. I customized the spice to hot and it was actually pretty hot, so be warned!! For the lunch combo, I added the pork chashu with rice for additional $4 which was pretty flavorful but not sure I'd get again. Overall, the portions were pretty filling! Ambiance was really good and felt like I was in Japan (but more spacious). Only one waiter but service was good.

    Ramen gachi I'm on a…read morequest to find the best tonktosu ramen! Unfortunately this isn't the one, but it's still a great bowl! Service: immediate. Friendly. One waitress served everyone in the restaurant while I was there. She was speedy in taking and delivering orders. She seemed very nice! Food: ordered Tonkotsu Gachi and my mom ordered the yuzu. Food arrived very quickly, though we ordered no appetizers. The tonkotsu broth was rich and velvety in texture, but more like a mild umami in flavor. The chashu pork was pale, but melt in your mouth buttery and bursting with savory pork goodness! The marinated egg wasn't brought up to temperature with the broth -- a little cooler than room temperature, with a medium oozy yolk. It felt like the marinade penetrated all through to the yolk -- it was great! I welcomed the novel choice to use red onion over the usual scallions. It was a nice touch of color and brought in that bright, juicy onion flavor that I crave. Noodles were perfect texture. Not too hard or mushy. This bowl feels made to focus on the broth and flavor and not so much an instagram post. Delicious!! My only complaint was a very very very slight bitterness in the background. I couldn't pin where it was coming from. Maybe that's a risk of simmering bones for so long. I'll keep this short because I couldn't just eat my moms bowl... The Yuzu shio broth was clearer, with bright, citrusy, and savory body. The bamboo shoots were golden (grilled?) with a little snap to it. Reminds me of a king oyster mushroom. This is really a unique broth and I haven't had anything like it. You should definitely try it! Restaurant: clean, neat, every table literally has its place /orientation. Deep wood furniture, honeyed lighting, and dark window shades give the restaurant a cozy chic ambience despite visiting around noon. Good food, great service. Great prices. Large portions.

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