wow what a cool spot!! But had some hiccups Atmosphere - 5/5 The inside of this place feels so authentic and old school. I love the design of the restaurant and felt like I was transported to another place and another time! Service - 3/5 Everyone here was extremely kind!! It's a family run place which is super cool and I got some good tips on what to order. My rating is low because - I don't know what happened - but my food took over 30 minutes to arrive and I didn't get any updates of what the issue was - the person next to me who ordered much later got food at the same time as me and we ordered something similar so it was pretty frustrating to me / I think maybe there was a mistake with my order? Idk seemed like a weird situation. Also I wasn't offered any tea which apparently came with what I ordered until the end of my meal, I love tea and wish I could've enjoyed it sooner! Food- 3/5 The food was good although i think too much / too big! I ordered the nigiri which I love - but the fish was wayyyyy too large for the rice. It's not a bad problem to have per se, but I think it made me trying to eat it very awkward. You can't just put the nigiri piece in your mouth, way to much fish for this. I was trying to cut it to the size of the rice with my chopsticks lol. I think it's better to have the correct ratio on this, even though more fish is awesome. Also, I had one piece of fish that kind of had a vein / something tough in it - so that was disappointing considering I got 5 pieces for ~45$ and I didn't really eat one of them for this reason. The miso soup was probably the best part lol- I am pretty particular and have had some amazing sushi , so am a bit harsh on this but mainly just think they should fix the sizing of the portions so you can eat it how you're supposed to. Overall: 3.5/5 I think I'd give this place another try. I wouldn't order the nigiri again, but I'd like to try some other items they offer. I think I had an unfortunate experience here, so willing to give it another go. read more

Niki's Tokyo Inn - Nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Authentic Japanese food in San Antonio!! This tiny building is as other Yelp reviews described, an extremely unassuming hole in the wall. But it does feel like a tiny restaurant in Japan. They have Japanese style seating in the back of the restaurant. Their sushi is really amazing and fish is extremely fresh, but you can also order a variety of very authentic Japanese kitchen food. We've tried the udon noodles and yakiniku dinner. Everything is delicious. Good service. They have a tiny little parking lot connected to the restaurant. We have made a reservation each time we've gone and have gone right after they opened so it hasn't been busy. Not sure what they might be like on weekends/nights. read more

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Hidden gem in SA. Service can be a little slow but they have a great selection of fresh sashimi. Portion sizes are larger than typical sushi places. The dim lighting makes for an intimate setting - perfect for a date night. They have regular and tatami-style seating. You'll most likely have to make a reservation at least a few days in advance to get seating read more

Niki's Tokyo Inn - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Cozy spot in heart of SA. Great food and great service. Highly recommend to friends and family.

Quaint and cute place. Door was a little difficult to locate. More traditional Japanese place where you can choose to take your shoes off and sit on carpet in the back. We got sashimi platter, Gyoza and chawanmushi. The best part was the steamed egg, brought back childhood memories! So soft and tasty. Also their prices are very reasonable for food quality. It is a little bit slower for service, limited staff. I'd be back again! read more

Niki's Tokyo Inn - Sashimi large - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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I was a bit underwhelmed after reading all the glowing reviews and recommendations for Niki's. I came for a rare date night and the place was packed for a Saturday night. The restaurant walks a fine line between quaint/traditional and old/dilapidated. Our table was wobbly and the chairs felt like 80s office seating. The window we were seated by looked like it hadn't been cleaned since Niki's was established a couple decades ago. And it didn't make me feel any better that the lighting was dim throughout the restaurant. The food was alright! I got a chirashi bowl and my husband got a sashimi combo. The cuts of fish were not so fresh - it was alright but really nothing special - and since they were cut really thick, it was hard to mask with soy sauce & wasabi... I usually love sashimi, but it felt almost like eating a raw steak? Maybe I'm just not enough of a fan or I've been spoiled by growing up in the PNW. Our server was personable and attentive, the redeeming element to an otherwise very mediocre experience read more

We got off to a rough start ordering. They had no toro and then told us they only had a half order of the fried oysters. I am not sure they just didn't want to give us a full order but they were delicious, regardless. The yellow tail was amazing and huge pieces and my husband loved his sashimi dinner. The vegetable tempura was so good, sweet potato, broccoli, carrot and jalapeño. It is truly a hole in the wall restaurant so be prepared, it's very old but you will enjoy the meal. , it was a winner. read more

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We stood there for the daughter to ignore us for two mins and then looks up and says "reservation?" And we say yes- then rudely looks at us like idiots and says "name??" Then walks off like not really seating us but eager to turn us away- we finally get someone to seat us and truly Niki's is dilapidated- dirty and full of clutter and broken fixtures and lighting. It was once charming in the roughness but should do itself a favor and close since they don't care to treat patrons with respect as much as contempt- oh it was largely empty on a Friday at 6:40. We were ushered to a table in a corner without any lights (broke) or air flow or music. Please don't bother with this place, it's not charming or even sanitary. read more

Hidden gem, traditional Japanese cuisine. The overall design of the restaurant is very nice, and it gives you the option to sit on chairs or the floor. I ordered the sushi mix, and it was authentic and delicious. The green tea is amazing there as well. Service did take a while, but worth it. I would go back. read more

Niki's Tokyo Inn - Sushi Mix - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

This is a cool spot! Limited parking right outside of the restaurant. It is an unassuming building, but once you walk inside, it's like you are transported to Japan! I thought the fish was fresh and tasty! It was a good entree choice to get to try a variety of different seafood! I also tried some vegetable tempura. I love the pumpkin squash one. There is complimentary green tea. You can sit on the tatami floor, bar seating, or normal chairs. Make a reservation ahead of time. read more

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This was a pretty good experience, especially for being in San Antonio where it's kind of hard to find good Asian food (coming from Houston). We sat on the ground at really low level tables with mood lighting or like in darkness with just candlelight at our table. We ordered these dinner medleys where we got a couple of items with our meal rather than just one thing, and it was a lot of food for the price. The tempura was made really well and wasn't heavy, the pickled cucumber was yummy as a side dish, and the raw fish was also good (didn't taste fishy). Service was also pretty fast and efficient. read more

I would rate this a 4 for the ambiance and 2 for the food. We sat in the traditional seating, on pads on the floor. The place is dark and a little grungy but interesting, reminded my husband of being in japan. 3 of us ordered the 10 course meal. There was not a single bit of food that I was impressed by. Most everything was fried, and the 2 small portions of meats that weren't fried were so over cooked as to be almost inedible. We had a lot of leftovers, but most of it didn't get eaten. Everyone loved the experience. And everyone besides me was happy with the food. My youngest wants to go there for his birthday. So I will give it a solid three stars. read more

Niki's Tokyo Inn - Traditional seating area - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Probably the most authentic Japanese food place in San Antonio. Love going on Tuesdays for the fresh fish sushi. They have both American and traditional Japanese seating. It's cool to have the experience if you've never had traditional Japanese seating. Staff is actually speaking Japanese as well to add to the authenticity. read more

Family owned since 1970. Wow!! Hole in the wall and a neighborhood gem in San Antonio. Really love the family vibe here. I overheard the nice gentleman sharing stories that dates back in the 70s and the famous people that have passed through here. What a great history. Their sashimi and sushi were excellent. Hamachi was amazing. They offer full service Japanese cuisine which also includes the Japanese style, Seiza (sit on the floor) with private rooms. Excellent customer service ran by the family. There is plenty of parking. Entrance is at the back. Open Tuesday - Saturday for dinner only from 5:30PM to 10:00PM. Closed Sunday and Monday. I highly recommend. We will return. Cheers! read more

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What does an old run down building that looks completely abandoned? A Japanese small market that is hard to find and a Mexican bakery have in common? All of them are on the same block next to each other and one of them is actually amazing! My wife and I were on the search for Japanese pickles and she suggested Tokyo Mart. Well, it was hard to find!!!! I did find the Mexican bakery that I wanted to check out, but I was distracted by an old dilapidated building that looked abandoned. I immediately assumed that old building was the Tokyo mart and that it was closed. OH WELL! But I just happened to walk around the building and there it was.... Tokyo mart. A nice little Japanese store. What does that have to do with Niki Tokyo Inn? Well, we were missing rice and Japanese food so we looked up Yelp and there it was.... Niki Tokyo Inn. Yes! Food looked good, but you know how that can be? I looked it up on the map and was completely confused! You know where this is going... It was somehow sandwiched between the Mexican Bakery and Tokyo Mart. NO WAY???? I was just there walking around. It can't be that dilapidated old closed down building????? YES IT IS! What????? I mean, you go inside and the floor is crooked, the bathroom looks old school. I immediately went for the string hanging from the lightbulb. Ahhh no, they have a switch, but the string wouldn't be out of place. Inside, it looked like someone's living room - a crooked living room. I wondered if the building could survive an earthquake! Everyone inside was HAPPY. The workers were happy, the patrons happy, well, great! Everyone's happy! I saw a big rice pot and was instantly happy! We took a look at the menu and I was instantly taken back to 1980 prices. How about entire dinners for $20? They had most everything you want. Tsukemono, Sushi, hand rolls, Sapporo Black, sake etc...etc... I got the ribeye teriyaki dinner and my wife got tempura. They give you pickles to start they were delicious. We also got a weird fried wonky ton wrapper to dip in mustard shoyu. That was a little strange. The dinners and sushi were great! Everything was on point and not overly sweet. It really recalled the early days of Hilo and fine Japanese restaurants. I heard they've been open since 1970. There was a memorial about Niki - who started the place. The entire meal threw me back to the good days when you could get an entire dinner, drinks and good food for a reasonable price! YES! If they can do it, maybe Hawaii can???? Or maybe "no can"? In any case, a fantastic hole in the wall place with delicious food! read more

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One of the best experiences and some of best Japanese food I've had in the United States. Highly recommend trying this place. Outside at night may look very shady, I was visiting from out of town and was concerned but it's a wonderful place inside and again, amazing food read more

Really authentic and cozy sushi place in the center of town! This place is calm, relaxing, and reminds me of a little quaint home. The lighting is dim, and it's a great place for a romantic dinner. The sashimi was incredibly fresh, and the presentation was lovely. also ordered green tea and house white wine, which were great. Our waitress was super sweet!! Will be back to try more items off of their menu read more

Niki's Tokyo Inn - Sashimi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Super unassuming place with delicious sushi! We almost went right past it. I love that there is eastern and western seating. Very old-school atmosphere and a unique experience for someone who has never had eastern dining experience (sitting on the floor). Service is great, food is great. Prices are good! read more

Niki's Tokyo Inn - Eastern Dining Experience Room - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Stopped by Niki's Tokyo Inn with my fiancé, a friend of mine had recommended it to me sometime ago. It's in a very unassuming building, you blink you miss it type of place. There was plenty of parking. The inside is small, a little stuffy but cozy. We didn't have a reservation and were sat in one of the rooms where you have to take your shoes off. The server was average, he wasn't terribly rude but he wasn't friendly either - he kind of left our table alone for 15 minutes and I kept having to flag him to put in the orders for us. The food had pros and cons. Pros: delicious pickles, miso/egg drop soups, and great grilled fish. Cons: the agedashi tofu was not fried well and bland. The yakiniku was okay flavor wise but had a lot of stringy sinewy pieces. I would have preferred a different preparation - I was expecting something with more substance than cooked beef and a small side of kimchi. Overall it wasn't too bad; next time I will try something different on the menu; I hope the service and the food presentation improves. I really want to like this place and give it a chance to grow on me :) read more

Niki's Tokyo Inn - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Niki's Tokyo Inn will subvert all your expectations. It's located in an old, rundown looking building that I truthfully thought was closed when we arrived, but the full parking lot and small sign let me know we had the right place. Once you step inside, you're greeted by friendly staff, a sushi bar, warm lighting, and Japanese tatami mats. The ambiance is great; the restaurant is calming and relaxing. This would be a great place to chat as you dine. The restaurant has been family owned in San Antonio for more than 50 years, which just adds to an already fun and hidden gem of a restaurant. We were provided warm towels as we were seated, which immediately reminded me of the dining experience in Japan itself. We ordered hot tea, the sushi mix, and some uni sushi. The sushi was tasty, with a focus on more traditional flavors rather than some more over the top modern rolls. read more

Niki's Tokyo Inn - sushi mix - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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I walked in without a reservation and asked about seating, a lady in the back was very loud and rude in japanese then I was told no tables until way later. I then asked in japanese if it would be possible to eat quickly and leave before the next reservation and the lady gave me a very rude no. I was completely fine with not being accommodated but I was very offended at the way they barked at me rudely just for asking. read more

Ask for the Hari Mari Secret Menu Pro Tip: You must ask for it like this : yo yo yoko and yell "Sour Trout " three times out loud while sitting at the sushi bar to get a free meal. You must surprise the staff with this request to work TRUST ME Emphasize Sowerrrrrrrr for a bonus dish !!! The trout is amazing Complex japanese aromas beautiful historical setting Did you know Nikis Tokyo Inn was the first Japanese Restaurant in town? Everything is hand made or had a hand in it read more

Niki's Tokyo Inn was a great experience for dinner. It's a Japanese restaurant that opens at 5:30pm. Their specialty is sushi and they have been established since 1970. It's beautifully decorated and dim lit for dinner, upon entering you are greeted. I was asked if I had a reservation and I said no but the lovely lady still accommodated us. We were grateful for that kindness. The lady host asked us if we wanted tables or to sit on the floor, we chose to sit on cushions on the floor. In the back there are tables low to the ground and you can sit on the cushions. This was our first time there, we felt really welcomed. The service is phenomenal, I believe I may have been speaking with the owner but I wasn't sure. I didn't want him to get the suspicion I was making a review. My sister and I both had Kai Miso which was really good. We ordered the Tokyo Inn Dinner which came with Vegetable Tempura. There was a variety of different sushi (shashimi) that tasted straight from the harbors of Japan. I could just imagine it since we never been to Japan. We were delighted with the experience of trying something authentic to Japanese food. It's a really nice place to dine for a date. Oh and by the way, right next door is Tokyo Mart grocery which sells all Japanese imported items. It's really neat. I loved the cold strawberry milk. Take your friends! Take your family! Take Your Beloved, you will be pleasantly surprised. P.S. When you choose to sit on the floor you are instructed to remove shoes before entering. Socks is a good idea :) read more

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here is the review you were looking for: coming from an Asian person. this is truly a no frills, no gimmick, LEGIT Japanese spot. I am truly floored (no pun intended) by the value and quality from Niki's. It's so unassuming on the outside but the food speaks for itself. Having to take off your shoes and sit on the floor may seem weird to some but it truly adds to the experience rather than it being just a gimmick. It felt as if I was being invited into their home. Service was very kind and you can tell that they put so much effort into everything they serve. I've had so many Japanese places that just scream (literally) gentrification, trying to sell you an aesthetic. Not here. We ordered the 10 course dinner -- and for $25 per person, that's almost unheard of. Everything from the simple egg drop soup to the karage was well balanced in seasoning and truly was a delight! Favorite bite had to be the fried oysters - crispy exterior, soft and juicy oyster that had not a single trace of dirt or sand to be sensed. Everything fried we had in our menu was so light airy and crispy as any good tempura SHOULD BE. And had no remnants of greasy or oily aftertaste. I left completely stuffed and satisfied! I am so used to Houston restaurants serving the same large quantity miso soup with corn kernel sized tofu and the same shrimp tempura you buy at wholesale stores. -- Niki's truly brought the home cooked aspect to their meals. Truly a hidden GEM in San Antonio, yall are so lucky to have such an amazing spot! I can't wait to make this spot a must visit every time I'm in town. read more

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Good food, wonderful ambience, all 'family' members. Can't wait to go back again! Doesn't take reservations so go right after opening to get it easily. read more

First of all, how dare they? How dare they be so personable? How dare they be so delicious? How dare they keep taking care of me? And how dare they keep making me travel over 200 miles to keep seeing them? The audacity is real and man oh man, this place is worth my time, money, and hunger every single time i go see them. From what I recall, this place has been owned and ran by the same people/family since the 80's. It looks sketchy outside and for sure it seems like people have lived in this building for years.... But it definitely builds character and history to their background. They've added parts to their once house to make it a restaurant where you, I, and other commoners can enjoy their amazing food. The menu is big, not complicated, and definitely drool worthy. They've got a bunch of combos. A bunch of things you've had from some other fancy places, yet I keep continuing to frequent this place. But let's get on to the review and why I keep coming here. I often find myself wondering why I keep coming here though. But it's because their texas sized rolls and nigiri will satiate your hunger. I tend to get their Tokyo inn special which involves sashimi, tempura, and some type of grilled fish. Every time I come in, I try and sit at the sushi bar and if you can? Do it. Call and make that damn reservation so you can experience an enhanced atmosphere. I have yet to stray from my normal order because," if it ain't broke? Don't fix it!" The Sashimi will consist of tuna, salmon, hamachi, octopus, surf clam, and roe. Each piece has been hand sliced by mother. So it's filled with love. It's filled with years and years worth of experience. And its definitely going to fill your stomach. The tempura has shrimp, asparagus, broccoli, and other veggies. The traditional sauces will be served and you will be asking for more if you're not full of food by now. Each piece has a crunch and bite to it which adds to your experience. The grilled fish is what i always expect to eat. I get the collar and the umami is always there. I can't ever get enough with how simple yet complex the taste of each morsel. If you haven't stopped by here yet. You're doing yourself a problem. Come by. Come sit and enjoy some Japanese food done by actual people. If you didn't know for a tidbit. Japanese food is the number one cuisine which is NOT ran/own by its own people. So come by. Take a seat for a minute. And get yourself a handie. I mean hand roll. read more

Niki's Tokyo Inn - Some random stuff that they keep giving me. - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

This place is a hidden gem. It is genuinely authentic. Perfect for me, not so much for my husband. The sushi isn't your typical sushi, it's truly Japanese style. Raw! So you'll have to be willing to try it. We were able to visit Tokyo before the world turned upside down and yes, it's definitely Tokyo vibes. You have the option of sitting at a table or Japanese style. So cool! We had our baby so we opted for the regular table. Heads up, it's a small location so call ahead for reservations. All of our service encounters were great. Our waitress gave us good recommendations and I had sushi. I just can't recall the name. It's a bit dark inside so my pictures weren't worth posting. Overall, we got a little bit of everything. We had edamame, so good. Udon noodles, which is so rare to find! We were so excited! We also had an egg roll and chicken skewer. Our 13 month old enjoyed all of it, well except the sushi. Lol! We even had a red bean dessert and wow! It was so delicious! They even brought little plates so our baby could eat. It's always the small details. We definitely enjoyed our experience here. So call ahead, dine Japanese style, and indulge! read more

Niki's Tokyo Inn - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Wonderful, authentic Japanese sushi experience! We tried the sashimi platter, which came with many different sushi cuts, miso soup, cabbage, and tempura. Service and food were phenomenal. read more

Niki's Tokyo Inn - Sashimi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

This place is a local gem if you haven't been here what are you waiting for!? There restaurant can transport you to Japan with their traditional sitting room. Their menu consist of sushi and other items. Their ginger salad is a must try along with their assortment of sashimi. Service here is friendly and attentive but don't hover. read more

Niki's Tokyo Inn - Inside - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Oh man this place never misses, I absolutely love coming back here such a quiet ambiance but the food quality is so good. The service continues to be good as well read more

Niki's Tokyo Inn - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

This a hole in the wall place that has the best food ever. I have never had anything bad and what I hear they grow There own veggies . I feel like we always get spoiled at this restaurant and look forward to coming here when in town . read more

Really good value and variety for the money. We sat at a traditional table on cushions, which made the experience special. This place has an ambiance like going back in time to the early 80's- loved that. Our multi-course meal had everything from tempura to nigiri to whole fish, with some great seaweed salad and pickled accompaniments. read more

Came for dinner and was seated at the floor tables. The food here is so good and the sushi slices are so thick! It was pretty busy when I arrived so service was a little slow Ordered nigiri a la carte with giant clam, scallop, mackerel, smoked salmon, and eel. Also got the uni maki, yokan, adegashi tofu, and assorted sashimi. read more

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Amazing restaurant! Great sushi! Wonderful ambiance! I highly recommend Niki's Tokyo Inn.

You need reservations! We didn't know that until we walked in. But, we'll plan better for next time because it looks like a cool little place. read more

We were recommended to this spot by someone who we trusted, and that's important, cause we may not have walked in if not. This location is not big on curb appeal, but you walk in and feel transported to Japan. We sat in the traditional Japanese table area (shoes off, sitting on mats) and received a true Japanese service experience. I got the Tokyo dinner and my fiance got the sashimi dinner. Both were absolutely exceptional and a ridiculous value at under $60 for both. This is a MUST visit. read more

Deliciously authentic Japanese food and great, friendly service. Highest recommendation!!

We booked a reservation and we're seated on the floor, traditional style in the back. We had incredible warm sake, tempura, several of the different sushi and Sapporo beer. We both ordered the dinner portions and it was plenty to eat. The absolute best part of the meal was the grilled fish. This place is legit and has an old school traditional ambiance that you should definitely try. read more

There are only a handful of sushi places in the US that come close to the atmosphere one finds in a cozy, family-run sushi-ya you might find in Japan, but Niki's Tokyo Inn fits the bill. What's even better is that they've been doing sushi the right way for the last 40 years (maybe longer) and they are doing it in an unassuming neighborhood in San Antonio, Texas. Don't let the exterior (or the interior, for that matter) fool you: it looks run down, but the food and service rival anything you'd find in Seattle, New York, Chicago or even LA. The two female sushi-ya-san know their craft and have always taken care of guests with an unassuming flair. And don't just take my word for it: next time the PGA Tour rolls into town, every Japanese golfer, their entourages and Japanese media team can be found at Niki's because it truly is the closest thing to home they'll find in San Antonio. read more

Niki's Tokyo Inn - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Food was great. Service was great. The establishment could use some improvements on the outside but other than that, I will definitely come back. read more