This was hands down our favorite meal in Charleston! It's gorgeous inside, the low, golden lighting combined with the huge mirrors hung from the walls create a modern, cool atmosphere with a very cozy feel. The servers were all so friendly, helpful, and attentive. We had a full conversation with both our servers while we sat at the bar for dinner. The drinks were fantastic and unique. I've never had a cocktail with sake before and I really loved the Saketini, which had cucumber, sake, and vodka. I also ordered the Basil Berry Lemonade and it was fantastic. My fiancée had the Shot Callin, High Ballin, featuring Japanese whisky, ginger, and honey. He said the ginger packed a punch and one was plenty. He ordered the Shogun next and loved it. The food was delicious! We had the bai buns for an appetizer and one was filling but light enough that it didn't ruin your appetizer. The bun was light and fluffy and the meat was tender and well seasoned. The sushi was so fresh and the ingredient combinations were unique. I was skeptical about the Salmon and Lemon Roll, but it was our favorite of the three we ordered! The Firecracker Roll and Rainbow Roll are classics and they were heavenly. If you're in Charleston and you're a sushi lover, you MUST make a stop at O-Ku! read more

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Nicely decorated and very clean establishment. Our server, Alyssa, was very friendly and attentive. The portions and quality for the non-sushi items were great, but if you're having sushi, it can get expensive quick. Delicious nonetheless. read more

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Food was amazing with great music. Food came out fast and delicious. Waitress was funny and nice good service !

We came to Charleston for our ten year anniversary and wanted to try something special to celebrate. O-Ku was recommended by a coworker since we love sushi. We made a reservation in advance and had no reason to believe there would be any issues. When we arrived, it was right before they started getting super busy so we were immediately seated at a table. The waitress was accommodating and gave us a few recommendations based on our preferences. We weren't elated by the appetizer's size or flavor, but the bao buns were a sufficient introduction to the menu. We ordered several sushi rolls for our meal. Without going into too much detail, we were underwhelmed. The flavor was lacking in two of our three rolls. Our waitress noted that we were not going to finish one of the rolls as neither one of us like it and quickly replaced it. (Surprisingly, our favorite roll was wrapped in a thin, fried potato.) The manager visit our table before the next role came out and let us know that he wanted our experience to be positive. Their attention to detail and eagerness to help us find food items that we would enjoy was a treat. Outstanding service all the way around. We gave this place 3 stars for the less than impressive sushi, especially for the price. It just didn't live up to the hype. read more

O-Ku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Really pleasant experience all around. Warm lighting, attentive service, a creative menu, and cool chill out music combine to create an atmosphere more akin to a seductive scene from a movie than King Street in Charleston. They even handed us complementary flutes of champagne at the end of our meal. A+ read more

O-Ku - Karaage chicken - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Amazing food. Dark moody atmosphere. Good music. The art is very special. Service is top notch. Our bartender was so amazing. It was my birthday and she sent out a special appetizer and also comped a drink or 2. She was so sweet and bubbly. She made me a special dessert shot and it was SO GOOD!! read more

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While in town visiting we dined in one evening for dinner. My sister, brother in law and I all split a bunch of things off the menu. We ordered the usuzukri for an appetizer. It was our favorite thing we had the whole night, but we all thought it was overly salty and we like salt. We also got the crispy rice, it was good but nothing to write home about. We enjoyed the sushi rolls, we had the play boy and the tuna tataki. The real miss of the night was the sashimi we ordered, the pieces of fish were wayyy too large and left much to be desired. We ordered two temaki, they were decent. Service was great and the atmosphere was top notch. For the price, I do not think it's worth the hype. Had the fish been more fresh and prepared properly this would have been a hit. read more

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Everything was sooo good! The waiter was so educated on the food and drink menu. The ambiance is perfect for a date night. read more

Food was fabulous, service was outstanding, and the overall atmosphere is refined and relaxed. Highly recommend this if you're a sushi lover. Will definitely be back. read more

O-Ku - Tuna Tataki Roll and Playboy Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Two words: Happy HOUR! The half-off rolls and discounted drinks are such a great deal at this sleek, modern restaurant. I made a reservation for a Friday at 5pm last month and there was a crowd outside waiting for them to open! The space quickly filled up with patrons but there were still tables available - busy, but not overly crowded... the perfect vibe. My bf and I started with a couple of cocktails for only $10 each. Then we ordered 5 different rolls off of the HH menu, which ranged from $4 - $6 per roll. Quality was fresh and sushi was delicious! Great value and quality - really not much more you can ask for. We noticed that a lot of tables ordered the spring rolls, so we asked for an order too. We overlooked it on the menu since well, they're called spring rolls and we thought it meant the deep-fried kind. However, their "spring roll" is actually similar to the Vietnamese-style summer roll, the kind that is not fried but wrapped in soft rice paper. The black sesame dipping sauce that it came with blew us away. Clearly not Vietnamese flavors, but this fusion dish is done so right. I'm so glad we noticed the crowd-favorite! The manager stopped by every table to check in, which was a nice touch. A great spot for date night or friends. Highly recommend! read more

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I went to this spot for a fancy dinner with a friend and it was sooo good!! We got hand rolls, 3 sushi rolls, some apps and 2 drinks each. I will say it was pricey but not crazyyyy for all that it was $100 each. The food was delicious and the server was super attentive. I would go back if i'm in the mood to dress up and drop a bag read more

O-Ku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Ella was amazing. So fun sweet and accommodating, felt like we were just talking to a friend! The vibes in this place were rly good perfect for a date night, and food was amazing. Crispy rice and fuego roll was sooooo good. read more

O-Ku - Fuego fiasco roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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This O-Ku is situated in the heart of downtown Charleston, on King St and is truly a prime location for anyone who wants sushi before a night out. The service is great and it's a pretty crowded place, which I imagine makes it even tougher for their wonderful staff to do such an amazing job. When it comes to the food, I loved everything I had because the quality was amazing. However, I'm not sure if it's because I've also been to the O-Ku in DC, but I wasn't wow'd by any of the items I tried. Don't get me wrong, the nigiri and sashimi were so fresh (the market price Otoro nigiri was so good I had to order another round of it) and the Surf and Turf specialty roll was delicious. Would overall recommend! read more

O-Ku - Nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Good sushi and generous portions! Friendly staff and great service. My fav was the kanpachi temaki :) Unfortunately, could not taste the matcha in the drink or cake read more

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The service was impeccable we had Kat. She has amazing tips and reviews of the whole menu very knowledgeable. We had so many amazing dishes and desserts 10/10. EAT HERE read more

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I am PICKY about restaurants in general- very picky; I am from Tahoe on the California side and went to college in SF. I will honestly say this is the cleanest sushi with the best service I have ever had (no getting filled with rice and mayo here). Mikuni is great, O-Ku is superb. Everything: atmosphere, service, cleanliness, the food, the bathrooms, the windows being clean, the sidewalk outside ON KING ST (which is a job) the staff being clean and respectful. Every little thing I typically pick apart could not be picked. Kudos and might be one of the only reasons I return to Charleston. read more

Easiest 5 stars review. Every thing we ordered was amazing. Reservation is highly recommended. I did mine on Open Table to secure our anniversary dinner. Everyone was amazing. Service is great. We love our server, Sam. The Nigiri flight is amazing! Beautiful place as well. Thank you! read more

I can't compliment Alexis enough on her unbelievable service! Alexis made great recommendations and made sure that we never wanted for anything. The food was incredible but it's always the service that makes the difference and that was certainly the case with our meal at O-Ku. Food was spot on and the ambience is warm - a little loud but warm and refreshing. It's a little loud - why do sushi restaurants play club music anyway? - but it wasn't bad. Definitely go and ask for Alexis. read more

Met with friends at Oku for happy hour. It was a great time with tasty drinks and I got to experience their Chef's Tasting menu as well. The selection from them is diverse and it was exciting to pair them with Sake drink flights. For an appetizer we ordered their Dim Sum, wings, and dumplings. The flavors they achieved were unreal! The sushi experience here is top-notch. Salmon nigiri is off the charts with how delicious it was. Our serve was sweet and she made sure we didn't want for anything. The expert preparation and presentation shines through. The vibe inside feels upscale. This dining journey is phenomenal with quality ingredients that make for a wonderful experience! read more

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Delicious as always. Top notch food, service and atmosphere. Extra special shout out to Sam from the Natti! We love dining here when in Charleston. read more

Absolutely love this place! We came here for our seven year wedding anniversary and. It did not disappoint! The restaurant called in advance to get some information from us and set up a cute little table overlooking the street. Sam was an excellent server, very attentive and friendly even gave us some tips for local hangouts. Now the food, oh my goodness so delicious. The crudo for an app was outstanding, truffle edamame so yummy! The drinks were all outstanding, I enjoyed the Saketini and the Fig whiskey drink omg delish! Now for food, my wife's rolls were amazing, and my sashimi unbelievably fresh and mouth watering! We also had the lobster which is cooked at the table!!! Just writing this review makes we want the food right now. Such a spectacular sushi place! Cannot wait to come back!!!! read more

To me, O-Ku is one of the more fun "experiences" on King. They have great drinks - try the sunrise vodka cocktail if you like spicy and fruity at the same time. The sushi has always been really good as well. We normally get a mix of all types and nothing ever disappoints! I've been for a couple of work dinners as well, so it's great for anything from a dinner with friends to a dinner with clients. I honestly thought I had pics of the beautiful food presentations but I will make sure to get them next time and update this review. Yes, we will definitely be back! read more

O-Ku has such an amazing interior and ambiance. We went recently with friends and the food was delicious. I don't eat raw sushi so I was a bit sad to see they had very few cooked rolls but the one I got was amazing. I also HIGHLY recommend the rock shrimp. Each of us got a different dessert and they were all wonderful. The pavlova was my favorite! The textures and flavors were just so well paired. read more

O-Ku - Passionfruit Pavlova - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Came for a date night, we sat at the bar, was in and out in 30 minutes great service and very nice ambiance. Food was tasteless lacked flavor. Unfortunately will not return. read more

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Best dinner of our stay! So fun and fresh fish, variety of dishes and prices were not super unreasonable unlike the rest of Charleston.

This is a delicious choice for a nice dinner! Very easy to book online and the seating was quick upon arrival. We had wonderful service and loved their menu. The scallop sushi roll is to die for! It was one of the best rolls I have ever had. I would recommend this as a dinner option to anyone visiting the Charleston area. Enjoy some sake while you are there as well! read more

O-Ku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Food was good but the service could have been better... I ordered dragon king roll which was very good but they forgot to serve it with wasabi, ginger & soy sauce ... not big deal but more attention is needed in this area read more

Excellent food, great service, exceptional music choice, great ambience. Loved everything about this restaurant. Top notch read more

O-Ku - Edamame & Gyoza - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Unfortunately I was at MUSC when my family ate here so I got take out. The place was jam packed at 6:00 pm no tables were available so my wife was told that all tables were committed to their reservations and that she could wait till 9:30 pm for a table. She looked around and noticed availability at the bar so she asked if she could be seated there. The host then said "oh yeah, sure..." my wife said the bar tender was very nice. We tasted the surf and turf roll which was really good. My fam had the bao buns with pork, presentation was gorgeous but they said the meat was a bit salty. I tasted the fuego fiasco which was decent. My wife said the playboy roll was the star of the show she loved it. The tamaki was more of a taco and lazily put together. My take out order unfortunately was wrong I received a baby dynamite roll instead of the dragon king roll. But the ambiance seemed nice I love dimly lit places just lit enough to see your meal and enjoy good company. Overall very overhyped sushi spot but plenty of places to venture in this city. Will keep looking for my gem. read more

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Solid 3.5. Service was excellent, food was good, selection was fair, and atmosphere was extremely nice. New and trendy. The restaurant is located in the trendy part of downtown. We went during happy hour, so prices were reasonable. We started with the spicy edamame. They were OK. Finding spicy edamame is tough so it was fine. Brussel sprouts were very good. Roll selection is limited with common rolls, but they were good. Had the Spicy Tuna Crunch Roll and Fire Cracker Roll. Fried rice was only fair. Not much flavor. It was more a seasoned sushi rice. They do not have hot sake, all cold sake. Big negative for me. Overall, the best part of our dinner was the service and atmosphere. For me, not enough to go back since there are many other sushi places around Charleston that are a bit less expensive. read more

the vibes, the vibes, the vibesssss! such a homey and lovely place. this was our first time visiting, based on recommendations from others. the sushi / food was great as well as the staff and atmosphere. reservations are a must. read more

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Went for a birthday dinner and it was delicious! It is family style, which I love because you share everything and don't feel so stuffed. Highly recommended. read more

O-Ku - Karaage chicken - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Terrific service and delicious fresh food, loved the ambiance. We didn't have reservations, but they were able to seat us at their new sushi bar and were able to watch as they made the rolls. We ordered the duck bao bun, crunchy tuna roll, the playboy roll, yellowtail, and toro. We were "gifted" the black magic, which was my absolute favorite! We enjoyed every element of the meal and definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

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Great atmosphere with lively crowd of folks. We had wagu, toro, toro, toro along with spicy edamame, eel, dumplings. All very good. Highly recommended read more

Had the BEST experience at O-Ku! I was celebrating a birthday and they went out of their way to buy me a gift. I was blown away by the incredible customer service! Plus the food was 10/10!! read more

Amazing service, food and overall excellent experience. Most fresh sushi we have had! Excellent restaurant! Great job.

Great sushi - I had a salmon roll, followed by a tuna roll. I had Sake for the first time in decades. I could not taste the flavors of the sake. Prices are okay for happy hour. Decor of Oku is nice. Bartender was decent. read more

O-Ku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

While in Charleston on vacation, we stumbled into O-Ku while exploring King St. My wife and I are big fans of sushi and frequently go to our favorite sushi place back home for AYCE sushi. Upon entering the website, the first thing you notice is the restaurant's decor. It is a very modern and warm with angled mirrors lining the walls. The menu is pretty diverse with many different types of sushi rolls and sashimi. There are also other dishes including noodles and rice. I ordered the crunchy spicy tuna, while my wife ordered the potato roll. We also decided to split an order of the fried rice. My spicy tuna roll was very good with the tuna having only light heat. The potato roll was an interesting experience, but was also pretty good. The fried rice was loaded with peppers and onions, which are not really my thing. Overall, the meal was good, not great. The prices are pretty high and don't really lend to ordering a bunch of rolls. It didn't appear there was any AYCE option either. If you are in Downtown Charleston and are in the mood for sushi, this place is worth trying. read more

O-Ku - Spicy Tuna Crunch Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Thank you, Rachel! You made a cold, windy night so warm :) - my boyfriend and i had such a nice time - cocktails, food, service, everything amazing. Definitely try the carpaccio- it was our favorite read more

This place is a must! The food, the service, and the staff were all amazing! So many fun and tasty things to try and the drinks were also the best I've had in Charleston! read more