I paid off my student loans so it was sushi to celebrate!!! I knew I wanted a sushi boat and my husband found this place online and made reservations for a Friday night. It's the usual center city parking situation - try your luck with street parking or park in one of the decks. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This place is pretty low key but way more spacious that it looks from the outside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's relatively "no frills" when it comes to vibe as service, very casual - definitely not fine dining, lighting is a little harsh.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We got the Love boat for 2 - which comes with one miso soup and one salad (so hopefully you're willing to share or maybe one of you only wants soup and the other wants salad). The boat was ok - didn't really hit the spot in the way that I had hoped. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Karaoke rooms are open and pretty loud but they sound fun.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Maybe I'll come back and check those out but I likely won't be back otherwise. read more

Samurai Japanese Restaurant - Sushi boat - Japanese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Ordered takeout from here so it might not have been the best representation of their food, but it was mediocre at best. I had the rainbow roll because it had a BOGO offer, making 2 rolls only $16. However, the rolls were SMALL and basically just a California roll with a tiny sliver of fish on top. Two was the perfect amount for me and I don't eat that much, so I would've been quite upset if I'd paid over $30 for that. Aside from the price and size, it wasn't very good. There wasn't much imitation crab inside (which is relatively inexpensive anyways) and the fish on top wasn't very fresh so I ended up taking it off. The salmon sashimi pieces were also half cooked? Super weird... Maybe the food would be better in person, or if I didn't order sushi for takeout, but I probably won't be coming back here :( read more

Samurai Japanese Restaurant - 2 Rainbow Rolls for takeout - fish wasn't very fresh :\ - Japanese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I live right down the street from here and always passed this restaurant during my walks home. I finally decided to try it out on of my walks home and I ordered the baked scallops and salmon teriyaki. The baked scallops came out right away and they were so tasty! I also thought they were pretty unique because most sushi places have baked mussels, not scallops. The bento also came with great dipping sauces for the tempura and shumai. They complemented each other well! 10/10 I would definitely come back! I believe they also have great happy hour/lunch specials/AYCE that i WILL be coming back to try. read more

Samurai Japanese Restaurant - Baked Scallop - Japanese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Wanted to like this spot more as I had been craving all-you-can-eat sushi and looked forward to coming here before a nearby show. I came for an early dinner and the restaurant never got very busy, but service was slow and spotty; we didn't get an item we ordered (not a huge deal since it was AYCE and we technically didn't pay for it, but still eyebrow-raising) and we had to keep making an effort to get a server's attention. That was difficult since the two workers often seemed to be in the back or serving and seating other guests - the restaurant might need to hire more people. No real complaints about the food - sad they were out of uni but don't blame them much, and I didn't realize the crispy spicy tuna roll is literally a deep-fried sushi roll and I probably wouldn't get that again, but the menu is pretty extensive (even including special rolls) and these more standard sushi all hit the mark. If we were able to more consistently make orders, I'd probably find it a pretty solid value but the slow service and our time constraint made this occasion a little less satisfying. Might still give it another chance as it's one of the only AYCE sushi places in the area, or maybe I'd get a la carte to just have to order once. read more

Samurai Japanese Restaurant - Hot girl roll, yellowtail jalapeno roll, salmon avocado roll, tuna and spicy tuna nigiri - Japanese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Excellent downtown Rittenhouse area Japanese restaurant that has BENTO box dinners. Most places only have bento for lunch. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior is super cool modern and exciting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was excellent. And the price... yes, the price for a bento was awesome! We enjoyed our bentos and got out of there without breaking the bank for dinner. Thank you! read more

Samurai Japanese Restaurant - Bento dinner - Japanese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Great hidden spot for some cheap sushi! You can get a spicy shrimp/crab roll (my fav) for ~6 bucks. Everything is very fresh and clean, too! Reason for 4 stars is because i would only come here for sushi. Their soft shell crab salad was mid, primarily because there wasn't much crab to work with (was just eating fried breading at times). Would pass on their desserts, too - both their fried icecream and mochi were let downs. read more

Had a great meal! Only really tried them because Uber eats has a buy 1 get 1 free deal, but it didn't disappoint!! I got the Black Angel roll and Yellowtail Jalapeño roll. Both had an excellent fish to rice ratio. Fish tasted fresh with no weird "fishy" taste. Flavorful and unique! Will order from them again. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Look forward to eating in so I can experience the ambience and service as well![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Samurai Japanese Restaurant - Black Angel Roll Yellowtail, Salmon, or Tuna Jalapeno Roll - Japanese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Food was truly delectable and fresh. I was neither surprised or disappointed by this gem of a restaurant. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's very causal but has an upscale vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service was timely and prompt if that makes sense and it was friendly and not overbearing. It was my birthday and I celebrated with my hod son from California and he enjoyed it just as much as I did. Thanks for the pleasant experience on my birthday read more

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Excellent sushi presentation and wonderful service . Ocean Roll was amazing . Thank you

I'm unsure about how to begin.This is my second visit here. It's my first time at this restaurant.It was pretty good and decided to bring Friend to come back to get the sushi all you can eat. However, this time the sushi flavor is somewhat bland and lacks taste. Additionally, the presentation they serve is not appealing. Our server also doesn't inquire about the taste of the food, which I believe is because of the all-you-can-eat format, leading them to not pay much attention to us. We find ourselves unable to complete the meal and must pay an additional charge for it. We don't mind this since it's mentioned on the menu, but when we received the bill, the tip was included without any prior notice, and we were only a party of two. If we hadn't been careful about that, we could have ended up paying for the leftover food, the gratuity, and an additional tip on top of that.We informed the waitress who was serving us that she mentioned everything regarding gratuity on the menu, but I noticed it only applies to parties of five or more, which isn't a favorable approach for the restaurant to earn additional income. This is the bottom line of my experieIn summary, based on my experience with this restaurant, if you are looking for quality sushi, I recommend seeking options elsewhere.Don't be deceived by the all-you-can-eat offer that lures you in, as you may end up paying more due to the hidden charges on the bill. read more

I was really excited to try this place due to it being one of the higher rated Japanese spots in Center City. However, I was welcomed with an abrupt and condescending "YES?" from the hostess as I walked in. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place was not too busy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] She continued her unwelcoming demeanor as I attempted to inquire about seating which prompted me thank her and choose to dine elsewhere. As I exited she laughed at me in very poor taste and quite frankly an ugly laugh. A kind reminder to the hostess you cannot be ugly and mean at the same. You have got to pick one struggle. Anyway, [[HIGHLIGHT]]I'm sure the place is great and it looked cozy[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], perhaps she belongs in the dishwasher where she doesn't have to interact as the face of the restaurant read more

Came here with my girlfriend for the all you can eat. The sushi is solid. The diversity of the all you can eat menu is pretty good. It's honestly a decent all you can eat sushi spot. The issue is the service, and namely that you are rushed out of the restaurant. We came in at 7 PM and the waitress starts on a tangent that the sushi would come slow because the chef was making sushi for two other groups in the restaurant. I'd never been forewarned before that the chef of a restaurant would be behind because he's serving other people in his restaurant. Ok, a bit weird, but whatever. As we finished one of our dishes the waitress then tells us it's our "last call" and that we are near our time ending, although we had only been there an hour and had 4 rolls total and a smattering of other items. Instead of arguing, we said ok, paid the bill, and showed them the receipt which showed that we had been there only an hour. Just a weird experience and very offputting. read more

Great Sashimi we order it at least once a week. I order the Tuna Salmon Calamari Salad. Dragon Roll & Rainbow Roll. Samurai Sashimi Salad. Makes a Wonderful dinner. The woman at the front desk is very nice and the whole staff is as well. read more

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nice spot for sushi! Stopped by for a quick bite and tried the spicy salmon roll and the spicy crab roll which were both good. The spicy crab roll filling tasted nice and fresh. The employees are kind and attentive. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place also had a nice calm atmosphere with the darker setup.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I hope to come again and try out the other rolls on the menu read more

Samurai Japanese Restaurant - CR8. Spicy Salmon Roll CC11. Spicy Crab Rollcrab - Japanese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Very pleasantly surprised! We live in California so our standards for authentic Japanese fish are very high and until now, difficult to find in Philly. This place has great, fresh sashimi and really reasonable prices. We got the $27 all you can eat and it was a feast of fresh sashimi and wonderful rolls. Will come back for sure. read more

Food was good and priced fairly. The sushi was amazing and had so many options. Casual spot that was super quick and friendly. read more

Samurai Japanese Restaurant - Hibachi dinner - Japanese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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*Ordered on DoorDash so I can't speak to the atmosphere. Today is my first day off to relax and wind down in a few months so I decided to treat myself to ordering food. Took a chance on this place which I had never tried before and was pleased. In the spirit of treating myself I got sushi, potstickers, AND pan fried noodles. MMM! The potstickers were flavorful and came with a good dipping sauce. The noodles are delicious and the chicken in them was tasty. Soft lo mein, it really hit the spot! They were mixed with carrots, lettuce, cabbage and onions, so there was a decent crunch and texture, which I loved. The sushi (shrimp tempura) was the one kind of disappointment-- it tasted okay, but was $8 and only came with 5 pieces. So I probably wouldn't spring for that again. Overall I definitely recommend the pan fried noodles. Things are decently priced from what I saw (besides the sushi) and I'd probably order from here again. Plus that had some good discounts going on through DoorDash. read more

AYCE for $27 was perfect for our lunch date today. A limit of 5 pieces of sashimi/sushi for the Tuna, Yellowtail, White Tuna, Salmon, and Eel was perfectly fine as I do not think I could've eaten that much more. Appetizers (Fried Shumai and Shrimp Tempura) were pretty solid as well. Overall really good value compared to sitting down and just ordering entrees. Service was ok, our server forgot to add the 5% cash discount but other than that, everything else was fine. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Clean bathrooms and pretty fast service times for food orders![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 90 minutes limit was also not a serious issue for our table. read more

I have only had take out from this place but the sushi is really good. They are also always quick with the orders. I will definitely come in person soon and try it out! read more

Loved the food here! Ate here for dinner during our visit to Philly. They have an AYCE sushi option on Tue to Thu for $35. The price is definitely worth it given the quality of the sushi. We tried the Rainbow Roll, the American Dream Roll, and the Crispy Tuna Roll. Also had the Kani salad. Everything tasted very fresh! We also got complimentary mochi. Would return if we're in Philly again. read more

Samurai Japanese Restaurant - Complimentary mochi: green tea and strawberry - Japanese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This spot is a little hidden as you have to go into the small courtyard and up some steps, but once you find it you're greeted by the cozy interior. There is a lunch special menu if you're here at that time. Many choices come with either soup or salad. The red snapper teriyaki was very tender and nicely cooked over a bed of assorted vegetables with a side bowl of rice. Sushi rolls were nicely filled. Prices were fair and the service is quick. The presentation is also very appealing, everything served on earthenware with nicely plated garnish. Overall a good spot to go for a meal. Thanks read more

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This really wasn't the Valentine's Day experience we were looking for, but it ended up being salvageable. We made the reservation for AYCE sushi for 8:30pm about a week in advance and were notified the restaurant would close at 10pm -- all fine on our end. We got there, sat down, and didn't have anyone come over to take our order for 20 minutes. When they did at 8:50pm, they said the kitchen would close at 9pm (what????). So of course, we ordered as much as possible at that moment. The appetizers came out in about 15 minutes. Then after another 20 minutes, the sashimi came out. Then after another 30 minutes (obviously very hungry), we asked what was going on and were told the kitchen was backed up all night. The restaurant was supposed to be closed. From what I had seen, there were only a few tables there. Then about 10 minutes later our sushi came out. Our server allowed us to order additional items even at that time which was really nice; they boxed it up for us to take home. Very disorganized, but I do appreciate the staff staying late and providing extra food at the end of the night. Sushi (Broadly) - Very good, each of the rolls I had were tasty. Definitely solid. I really liked the Rainbow and California rolls. Shrimp Tempura - This was tasty. Nicely put together and crispy. I did, however, notice that the shrimp was NOT deveined -- so these should be deveined for obvious reasons. Gyoza - These were good, flavorful. Definitely recommend. Calamari - This was too crispy -- a bit like an onion ring. Do not recommend. Would I give this place another try? Potentially. Hoping this is really a one-off, but not a great impression. Value: 3/5 Quality: 3/5 Quantity: 4/5 Service: 2/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 read more

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Tasty sushi. We ordered carryout from Samurai Japanese Restaurant on a Saturday night, and our order was ready within 30 minutes. We tried the spicy girl roll, the black angel roll, and the godzilla roll. Each of the three rolls had a nice balance of flavors, and we were pleased with our choices. I would recommend Samurai Japanese Restaurant for takeout sushi in Philly. read more

All you can eat sushi is my love language. The best deal. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Hidden away in a shopping plaza but happy we found It![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Amazing food and best AYCE Sushi in the city, nice staff and even comes with free mochi desert. read more

Samurai Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Stopped here as it is close to hotel. Inside has nice jazz music playing and is well lit. It is in a location you really don't notice but it is nice. For appetizers I got miso and edamame. The soup smells amazing. Mm.. smooth and very tasty it has mushrooms, green onions and tofu. Wow Staff came up immediately and sat me. Sushi came looking amazing. Great presentation. Omg!! Amazing sushi. I had escolar and salmon! Wow! Melted in my mouth so fresh. Cuts are just right and correct amount of rice. Wasabi just falls apart and is so smooth There is a happy hour sushi special here so you need to check it out. I thought it was different that the restroom is downstairs, cool idea. I am impressed and will return while I am still here in the city. Night 2. Right!! When do I ever go to the same place two nights in a row. IT IS RHAT GOOD!!! Had to come back. This time trying the stripe bass. Have to say I really like this place. Sushi is so fresh. I wish I lived near Philly I would stop here as often as I could. Also had to try the ice cream tonight. The one Fe cream looks amazing, great presentation!! read more

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Very good food with generous portions! We got the takoyaki and the Sushi for Two, which came with two miso soups and salads, a tuna maki roll, 14 nigiri, and a chef's special roll. We chose the Lobster King Roll. The takoyaki had a nice crisp exterior and a creamy interior. There wasn't a ton of seafood inside, but they were tasty nonetheless. My favorite part of the meal was the Lobster King special roll. The lobster and spicy tuna in the Lobster King roll tasted fresh, and the sweet chili sauce surprised me by how good it was. I was initially unsure if I would like it but was eating dabs of just the sauce by the end to really savor it :) I thought the tuna maki and nigiri were also quite good. I appreciated how there wasn't too much rice, and the nigiri had good structural integrity. The salmon nigiri was my favorite--the fish was soft and buttery. I would come here again for the Lobster King roll and to try other appetizers / sushi! One thing to note is the check in special is no longer valid. Apparently, the promotion only ran when the restaurant first opened. read more

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My husband and I did a take out order and it was ready in 20 minutes. It was a short walk from our hotel so it was convenient. The price of the food was inexpensive; matched up with any other Japanese restaurant you could find. They do have a surcharge of $2 if you use card though. The food was plenty between the two of us. We shared two dishes. The chicken teriyaki with rice/salad plate and the pan fried vegetable noodle. Both were huge portions so we split them and it was still way more than enough for both of us. Tasted pretty good too. We definitely would go back again. read more

Super fun experience, we did the all you can eat and the food was wonderful. First time trying some of the rolls, definitely recommend doing that. read more

Samurai Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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this place has very good service and it also has a lot of very good food that is delicious

Came here last night for happy hour with my friend and I was not disappointed! The vegetable gyoza a was cooked perfectly. The rainbow roll and magic mango roll were all deliciously stuffed and the presentation looked amazing. I'm sorry I don't have pictures. The waiter was kind And attentive. I loved the atmosphere too. I didn't even know this place existed, nestled right next to the Academy of Arts. Great place to come to after work for cheap eats and drinks! $4 house wine and appetizers. read more

why is this fire?? random sudden find tucked next to an urgent care. came for AYCE on a tuesday night (per sign is tues-fri) that's $35 pp to $45 pp after tax and tip. great, efficient service. honestly the special rolls were kinda wack but still tasted good but in reality you can get pretty decent quality of unlimited AYCE sashimi for 45 which automatically makes it great in my book my friend loved all the hot food too (gyoza, hibachi, stir fries) idk how they do it but i would come hungry and come ready to take advantage of this for dinner. also bring CASH bc they charge a $2 surcharge on credit cards 2 ppl, tues, 5 pm, no wait, also no wait when we left at 6:30 altho unsure how this would hold up on the busier nights read more

Sushi was amazing and very fresh tasting, we ordered two boats and a lot of rolls :) the owner was friendly and featured us on Instagram xD

I was very excited due to the high reviews and the craving for hibachi and sushi but was disappointed. The flavor was nothing to write home about and the portions for both food and drink were smaller than I had hoped. It was decent but definitely didn't satiate my craving. The ambiance however was quite nice. read more

Best all you can eat sushi I have been to. The red snapper teriyaki is great, i would get one every time. This is one of the few sushi places where the seaweed salad is not too sweet. I ate a whole serving and half of seaweed salad. read more

Seriously wow! Would HIGHLY recommend Samurai to anyone. The food was great, and the staff was friendly and very helpful. Some noteworthy dishes were the baked seafood appetizer, the I heart you riceless roll, and lobster dynamite. Also - great for hosting a party in one of their private dining rooms with high tech projection walls and karaoke that we luckily got to experience for ourselves. It was a blast. We will be back again, and again! read more

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Best AYCE sushi in the area! The sushi is so fresh and they don't sacrifice quality if you order off of their AYCE menu, like most AYCE places do. Their A La Carte menu is even more impressive. Highly recommend the Ocean Breeze roll! Overall, I can tell they put a lot of effort into making sure they serve the highest quality fish, at a reasonable price. Must try if you're in the city! read more

Samurai Japanese Restaurant - AYCE sushi - Japanese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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What an amazing lunch we had in the city!!! Felt like sushi and few words opened in the area that served beer/alcohol. We met up w a friend and had the most surprisingly delicious sushi. They all were really fresh- and different rolls really highlighted their flavors. Definitely would recommend and will plan to return once we are back in Philly. Stop on by and you'll the glad you did. read more

Great Japanese restaurant. Sushi was fresh & came in great portions. The staff was also super friendly which was awesome. They also have a karaoke lounge. I didn't participate, but there was a group of ladies having a blast. It's a great place to hang out with friends or go on dates at! read more

Samurai Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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All the food was good. We got the chicken teriyaki, love boat for 2, and takoyaki. None of it was life changing but it doesn't always have to be. The chicken teriyaki was actually really good. Love boat for 2 had fresh tasting fish and is cheaper than other love boats for 2. Granted, the 2 special rolls it comes with (california and rainbow) are not that special. Side note: I realized California rolls need to get more shine, they're always solid and a treat to eat if you set aside any elitist sushi bias. The takoyaki is the same as every other takoyaki you get at any other Japanese restaurant, which is to say really tasty. The side salad the love boat for 2 came with actually went really well with the takoyaki. 2 dollars more for card transactions so bring cash if you have it. read more

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