I've been frequenting Oishii for almost two years now, and there are quite a few reasons I keep coming back. That being said, every place has its flaws. Cons first: It is true that the parking is a hassle at times. The lot is tiny and half the spots are reserved for the attached dry cleaners and corner store. However, they do allow parking at the neighboring lot next door, although this lot sometimes fills up as well, and is kind of difficult to get out of. There have been a few occasions where we did sit for quite a while at our table before we were greeted. Although it's not a frequent occurrence, it has happened on more than one occasion. The space is tiny and a bit worn down. While it is a very high traffic restaurant, I feel the upkeep is a bit lacking. Proish Con: There is nearly always a wait to get a table. While that stinks, the fact that people are willing to wait an hour in the cramped reception area is a testament to how delicious and fresh the food is. People obviously think it's worth the wait. If you are a truly seasoned Oishii patron though, you will call ahead to add your name to the wait list. Yes, THEY LET YOU CALL AHEAD. If you want to skip the bustle all together though, they also take to-go orders over the phone. Pros: The Happy Hour is awesome. Buy 1 get 1 free apps and really good beer prices. Plain and simple, the food is delicious. I love their creamy salad dressing and miso soup, but the star of the show is definitely their sushi. It is SO fresh, to the point where I'll skip dessert and opt for a piece of toro instead. One of my favorite menu items is the Fuji Maki (this roll is baked though, so it takes about 15 minutes). I haven't really ventured to try other menu items outside of sushi, maki, and apps though. The staff is very friendly and I have never received an incorrect order. This seems amazing to me considering they don't have server sections, and often times you'll have 3 or more people taking care of you. Whatever the system, it seems to be working as far as ordering goes. But like I stated before, the initial greeting process needs some help. It's CHEAP! The value for what you're getting is outstanding; it can't be beat. All in all, I do love this place. I have had a lot of sushi around Houston and this place remains as my number one pick. I would love to see them move to a new location nearby (or perhaps open a second one?), but I'm not sure how likely that is. read more

Not to brag, but I consider myself a sushi conoisseur. Not only have I grown up eating sushi but I've worked at 3 different sushi restaurants ranging from family-style settings to upscale midtown. Oishii is not out there to impress you with its decor. It's exactly what it is. A hole-in-the wall with more than fair prices. Common nigiri and sashimi pieces are priced at a $1 at all times. Not the freshest but far from repulsive. This place totally satiates my hunger with their happy hour menu prices of buy 1 get 1 free appetizers for $4 (including some sushi rolls). My favorite appetizers are the gyoza (fried pork dumplings) and the agedashi tofu (one of the best agedashi tofus I've had). You just have to know the menu to know what's fresh to eat. I'd stay away from the yellowtail and the mackeral but salmon, escolar, unagi, tuna, and several others meet my sushi freshness standards (and believe me I am picky). My definite roll of recommendation is the Oishii roll. All my friends have fallen in love with it. Liquor prices are more than friendly. Beers (domestic and import) are $1.50 and sake is $3.00 The service is okay. People forget when they aren't paying a premium for their food theys shouldn't expect premium service. The only time I can complain is on busy nights when the line is out the door in this petite restaurant. If you don't like waiting avoid happy hour from Thursday-Saturday because it takes a while to receive the sushi. However, the waitstaff itself is very sweet and it makes me angry when snobs treat them angrily because they forget this isn't the midtown environment. Beware of parking on busy nights. Oishii isn't the best and freshest sushi in town but they certainly know how to keep their prices at an affordable level without sacrificing the quality of their food. If this kind of restaurant is satisfying customers to the point where they are willing to wait over an hour on Fridays and Saturdays without any need of flashy decor and trendy music, it certainly is a treasure amongst many of Houston's large chain restaurants. read more

We went for lunch on a Friday afternoon to take advantage of the lunch specials. Even though we times ourselves to arrive what we thought would be late - at 1:40 - the place was still packed and we had to wait 20 minutes for a table. It was then so loud that we were hardly able to carry on a conversation until around 2:30pm. This, incidentally, is the time I recommend you go for lunch as the specials are good until 3:00pm. If that's too late, you're in luck because the happy hour specials start at 3:00pm. Be advised, however, you can't arrive at 2:50 and take advantage of the lunch specials then after 3:00 want the happy hour prices. You have to choose one or the other. As far as the food is concerned, it's certainly a bargain. Our check for 2 people including 2 bottles of Kirin was $25.00. We both had really basic offerings - Grilled Salmon Bento Box & the Spicy Tuna, Eel, Cali Roll Combo. They both came with soup and salad and it was so much food. We were unable to finish everything and took rolls home. Everything is fresh and tasty although the fish to rice ratio could stand to tilt in favor of the fish. But for the price, you can't beat it!! As a bonus, the service is friendly and efficient and the Seaweed Salad is out of this world. read more

So, I've gotten mixed reviews from this place but I'm going with the more positive experience I had. The first time, I swear I saw mackerel on the menu and ordered it, but they gave me salmon instead...?! We had been waiting for so long, that I just said "screw it, I'm too hungry to have them take this back" and ate it anyway. Plus, I like salmon too. It was alright... I would've rather had it not be drenched in teriyaki sauce, but whatever. At least I got soup and cucumber salad with my meal and those were decent (miso soup was a bit salty). So, that wasn't a great experience. The next time I came here, I ordered some special sashimi combo they had on the board. I looooove sashimi. If I remember correctly, I think there were 12 pieces? I forgot what types of fish were there, but they were all pretty good. They tasted fresh and I didn't feel sick afterward (which always happens if I have sashimi that isn't fresh). Overall, not a fan of their, I guess, bento boxes. Their sashimi, however is pretty good, but not the best I've ever had. It'll do to satisfy any craving I get and their specials are a pretty great deal. read more

I have been visiting Oishi for a very long time. I recently went back for lunch after a few years and Its still the same great restaurant it has always been. Food prepared fresh as you order, I'm a massive fan of their miso soup. While it's simple they do an awesome job of making is very flavorful. I would say pass on the Bento plates if you are picky about your meat. The bento plates are a great deal and you do get a lot of food, I ordered the Salmon and I was disappointed because unlike most of the other food this appeared to be possibly frozen and or microwaved. I don't hold this against them, lunchtime is super packed and that is why Bento plates are offered usually only during this time in most Sushi restaurants. It's a fast and filling meal option. I would just keep that in mind depending on your time limitations versus food expectations. With that said the staff is very attentive, and friendly. This is definitely an awesome Houston spot to explore. read more

I usually hit up Oishii once every week or two for dinner. It is a small family owned restaurant with a lot of charm. The food compared to other sushi places is quite affordably priced, is made with care, is fresh and tastes really good. The Tempura Ice cream is to die for. The owners are extremely nice and friendly people and take a hands on approach to making sure all customers have a positive experience. With such great prices and so much good food, I'd probably eat here more often if it were not for the fact that the restaurant gets pretty packed and most of the time there is a wait. Also, since there is limited parking around the building sometimes it's hard to find a spot. I hope Oishii moves into another location with some extra space and some more parking soon. Other than the wait and the parking issue, this place is great. Everyone should definitely check this place out when in Houston! read more

We were in Houston for the summer and on a budget. So we were in desperate need for some good happy hour Sushi specials! We chanced on Oishii and honestly I was surprised it took me that long to find it in the list of the best Sushi places in Houston. Needless to say it became an absolute favorite for us. For $30, you can easily have multiple beers AND a ton of sushi. We would order only the sushi/sashimi and not the specialty rolls because the fish was so fresh and made it worth it. I was not the biggest fan of their specialty rolls, because I have had so much better. But for the price and the freshness of the rolls, this place is a must during Happy Hour. Its very cheap even otherwise. But do keep in mind, no matter when you show up, there will probably always be a wait. Worth the money and the wait. read more

I have never had anything at Oishii that was less than stellar, but the escolar sashimi is spectacular. I don't know what magic Matthew works over it, but it is the most tender, flavorful bite of heaven-in-your-mouth sashimi experience I have had. I tend to gravitate toward the same items when we visit - the always reliable Spicy Tuna roll, the Tiger Eye roll (the combination of the warm salmon with crispy fresh jalapeno slice and cream cheese wrapped in soy paper is one of my favorites), soft shell crab Crazy roll and sometimes splurge on the signature Oishii roll (the baked mussels on top add the perfect touch). Don't be put off by the hole-in-the-wall nature of Oishii's façade in a strip center or the lines of people waiting their turn. Worth it! read more

I recently had lunch at Oishii and ordered the chicken teriyaki bento box. The dish wasn't the best, but it was decent once I added some soy sauce as it lacked flavor on its own. However, the rolls were the highlight of the meal and what I would highly recommend. I had the Shaggy Dog roll, which was fantastic, and the California roll that came with the bento was good too. My friend also ordered the bento box and felt the same way about the chicken teriyaki. They tried the Da Bomb roll, which looked amazing. While the bento boxes were just okay, I'll definitely be back for the rolls. The restaurant is on the smaller side and fills up quickly, so be prepared to wait or consider ordering to go. read more

This place has my heart! It's a very unassuming spot, almost "hole in the wall" status. But oh my gosh is their sushi DELICIOUS. It's always fresh, and they'll tell you all about their selection process if you ask them. First, be warned: You'll want to call ahead and make a reservation because they're almost always packed (seriously). The service has always been top-notch here in my experience. I usually get the Tiger Eye Maki and spicy tuna roll (a classic). And of course don't forget to wash it down with some hot sake :) read more

We've been to this moderately priced restaurant a number of times. We quite enjoy the numerous hot dishes and the sushi is fresh and presented beautifully. Our friend ordered cools sesame noodles which came served in an ice bowl with shredded veggies to decorate sides. It was delicious and quite unusual eating from a bowl made of ice! The Fire Wok dish is a favorite of my friends with lobster, shrimp, chicken and loads of veggies in a boulibasse sauce. Decor is quite nice without being over the top. Certainly worth a visit! read more

Oishii is truly a local treasure! The sushi is hands-down the best in town--always fresh, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. The service is incredible; the staff is attentive, friendly, and makes every visit feel special. On top of that, the prices are surprisingly reasonable, making it easy to indulge without breaking the bank. Whether you're dining in or grabbing takeout, the food comes out fast without ever compromising quality. If you're a sushi lover, Oishii is a must-visit spot! read more

The only incentive to go to Oishii seems to be the price. It's affordable. But as for quality, the food was average, nothing special. Parking though was horrible. There's a small (and I mean small) parking lot to the left of the restaurant but it's difficult to find a space. The staff was courteous even though it was extremely busy. Food service was relatively quick. But for average food, the place seemed very cramped and noisy. But is it worth the long drive? Not anytime soon. read more

I can't believe I ate in the same restaurant that earned these stellar reviews. Sashimi was mealy, cut in huge slabs which made it unappetizing and presented on the plate with all the charm from a Greek Diner. I also had the soft-shell crab roll. Could it have been microwaved? Nothing crispy about it. The rice and crab were also mealy and borderline...gross. As i looked around I saw a lot of "russian dressing" sushi - rolls with gloppy sauce. Won't be back. read more

I use to come here during the weekends with my friends for sushi. Hand rolls are cheap and I always order extra chopped scallop hand rolls. There are two things you need to know before coming here. First, this place is ALWAYS packed (I came at 2PM, 3PM, 4PM... always have to get in line, long line). Second, the parking slots are limited so you might need to drive around to find a parking. And be patient, the order usually takes 15 to 20 minutes. read more

The buy-1 get-1 free happy hour is awesome. The $1-$1.75 sushi options are awesome, the snapper and sea bass are my favorite. Parking is a bit rough, and it's ALWAYS packed...but that should tell you something. Chicken wings and fries also available for any denegerate that goes to a sushi restaurant and orders chicken wings. They got TV's to watch the game, and for $30-$40 you can get a big ass dinner for two, with sake and beers. DOPE. read more

Cant go wrong for good quality and affordable sushi at Oishii. It's better than what I normally pay for at other pricier/fancy sushi restaurants. 5 stars for the sushi but -1 star for parking and ambiance. I can always count on Oishii when I simply just want Good and Fresh Sushi. I enjoyed their fresh adamomae and agadashi tofu, clam soup and specialty maki rolls. I also like their ABC specials as well. read more

The king of dollar sushi. And the line to go with it. This place is certainly full of people all the time however, in my opinion wasn't worth the wait. The food was OK and for the price. I'm sure fantastic for people looking for cheap sushi. For raw fish, I guess it depends on your comfort level for taking a chance. It worked out for me. But the line? Would probably be the reason why I wouldn't go back. read more

Great Staff. Very friendly. Prices are Fair. Gets crowded. FISH FRESHNESS/ Quality are questionable at times. Be careful of this, as this is hugely important when eating raw fish. Other than that its a decent place. I've been there a few times where the fish WAS NOT FRESH. Be careful and be vocal. If it doesn't smell right, or if the color is off, pass. read more