When I stepped into this establishment it felt like I had been transported back to japan. The interior was so cute and they had a section with a high raised table where you can sit on the ground with your shoes off. The service was pretty good, when we went there was only one waitress but she did a good job bouncing between us and the other patrons. We were served a miso soup as an appetizer and it had a nice flavor but I wish there was a little bit more tofu and seaweed in it. The agedashi tofu was standard, I wish that they had brought the tofu on a separate dish from the broth as it was soggy by the time it reached our table. The tempura udon noodles had good texture and the broth was good although slightly sweet. My main gripe with this dish is the lack of tempura served with it. You get three pieces of shrimp and one vegetable but in our case it was two pieces of shrimp and a nori piece. :( The pork katsu curry was good but not quite what I expected. I really appreciate that the curry had beef and some veggies in it and a nice hearty flavor, but it felt more like a sauce and not a curry. The pork was a little dry and I wish I had more pickled veggies but over all not a bad dish. I would definitely come back here again but keep in mind the parking lot is SMALL so you may need to park elsewhere and walk over. read more

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I ordered the Eel Meal again last Thursday night and it was very delicious, rich with flavor, very soft with a creamy feel to it and good quality. Love the crunchy, golden ginger slices with it and the sauce is a nice blend of sweet n salty. The eel slab also had a nice grilled vibe to it and the rice was a perfect carb pair-up. I love the eel and the chicken katsu curry here. Still need to try their oysters and an ice cream next time at some point. Great, friendly service as well. On a note; it's great that they sell multiple foods of Japanese cuisine as opposed to other places where it's only ramen n sushi every time. It's very traditional with that hole in the wall vibe to it and very cozy. read more

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Food was amazing, great attention to detail with every dish. Fish was fresh & they made great recommendations for new fish to try. Staff were friendly and attentive. My new favorite spot! read more

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Stopped here for a solo lunch and was blown away by the quality of the sashimi. Service was great and my cooked items were very good too. The atmosphere is intimate and reminded me of old school Japanese restaurants! read more

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Great hidden gem! Felt like I was in Japan again! Food and service was amazing! Will definitely be back for lunch next time! read more

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This is my second time here, and the food was just as good as my first visit! I got the agedashi tofu and chicken katsu curry. The tofu was light yet flavourful. The broth complimented the tofu well! The curry was delicious as well. I liked that the roux actually had chunks of ground meat in it, which made the dish feel very hearty. Despite that, I didn't feel overwhelmed from eating it, unlike other curries which can start to feel heavy. The chicken was also moist with a good crunch on the outside. Service is impeccable as well! The waitress was very friendly and attentive. I never felt myself needing to ask for anything because she was always checking on me. The outside of the shop is very unassuming, but don't let that fool you. The interior is very quaint and cozy. From the music to the decorations, everything just gives a traditional Japanese vibe. I only wish I lived closer so that I could visit more often read more

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Wow! What an amazing find. So grateful they were open on a Monday. I lived in Japan for a couple years and can attest that the curry katsu was amazing! I also had the Dried Squid or Atarime, and again it was sooo good. The icing on the cake was the service, Andy and Angela were so welcoming and kind. They deserve 5 stars for just their service. I sat at the sushi bar, and the music, the lighting and the smells were fantastic. Definitely recommend sitting there! read more

Sasaki Japanese Restaurant - Curry Pork Katsu - A La Carte - Japanese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Food: Sushi and noodles were delicious for the most part. 5 Stars Service: Friendly and warm. 5 Stars Ambiance: Clean but a bit older. 4 Stars Overall: At least, does not seem to be another Chinese-owned Japanese eatery, which is prevalent in Houston. From the language that the staff were talking to each other, I think this is Korean-owned Japanese eatery. 5 Stars read more

Love this place! As close as you can get to authentic Japanese food. Great service and very Japanese ambiance and vibe. If you can, order Omakase. Sit at the bar. Order a namabiru. Highly recommend! read more

Sasaki Japanese Restaurant - Living the dream! - Japanese Near Me - Houston, Texas

I came in here for the first time and I loved the sake bombs and the food. This is a definite place to try. The sushi is magnificent. So is the service. Much love. read more

Sasaki Japanese Restaurant - Done. - Japanese Near Me - Houston, Texas

I had omakase last night and each dish was creative and yummy. The new owner has cleaned up the space, which is great since the reason I haven't been back in a while is because the previous owners did not care about cleanliness. The new chef is great and has a more creative style than the previous chef. I left very full and satisfied with the quality and quantity of food. read more

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This is one of my favorite hole in the wall for sushi! It's also one of the only authentic omakases where it's actually chef's choice for that night and not a pre-set menu. Omakase: 5 This 13 course omakase runs for $100 and it includes dessert. The best part of the omkase is that you will leave feeling full and your taste buds will be super happy! While you don't get a choice on what he makes I have still enjoyed everything he's served and it's helped me expand my palate! For example, I usually don't like white fishes unless if they're from Japan but I loved all the ones he's served! I'm glad I did because during one omakase it was predominantly white fishes While this omkase is mostly chef's choice it always includes a type of "salad", tempera items (fried item), Kushiyaki (skewered item), a couple slices of sashimi, and unagi. However, each time I've gone there is something different about these "set items" such as the unagi is cooked differently or the salad has a different component so there is still a variety found with these items. I also love fact that even though it's "chef's choice" he always puts thought in the order. For example, the unagi is always last so it won't overwhelm your palate which would prevent you from enjoying the milder fishes. Tamago: 5 If you love sweet tamago you have to try the one here! It's as fluffy as a soufflé and could be a perfect dessert! Service: 5 While the chef is on the quieter side you can tell that he enjoys what he's doing. While I am still traumatized by the incidents, there were a couple times when he laughed at me since I did a happy dance because I was happy about how good the food was! The hostess was very attentive and would check on us throughout the meal Atmosphere: 5 What I like about this place is that it's very homey. The host and chef treat their regulars like family and people stay to chat and not just eat. Parking: 3 I am not taking this into consideration since it's not something they can control but the parking lot is limited. So if you can try to carpool! read more

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Had an awesome lunch at Sasaki. It is a quiet and small restaurant with simple decor. The service staff were super friendly. They made me feel welcomed. I had the Chirashi Sushi, pork Katsu, Katsu curry, and ramen. Portions given were just right. The Chirashi sushi is the best I ever had. The fish was fresh and plenty, and the rice wasn't just plain white rice. The rice was seasoned which paired well with the raw fish. The pork Katsu was so good. The crumbs were super crispy, and the potato salad was yummy. The Katsu curry was very good too. The curry was flavorful, the ingredients were generous. The ramen was soft, and broth was flavorful. Delicious. Definitely would go back again for more. read more

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I had their chawanmushi, zaru soba, and oyster tempura. Everything is delicious and very fresh. The server is also attentive and friendly. I would come here again, even if it's a 30m drive! read more

Sasaki Japanese Restaurant - Chawanmushi (steamed egg custard with seafood) - Japanese Near Me - Houston, Texas

One of Houston's hidden gems! This is a lovely and cozy spot with delicious, fresh, and high quality food. I recommend trying as many of the sushi options as you can! We went in family-style on a bunch of rolls and thoroughly enjoyed it. I also recommend the chicken karrage and the potato salad. Our waitress was incredibly kind, and despite the fact that she was working out some kinks that everyone goes through when starting a new position, she still provided excellent service. I am especially impressed with the way she was able to still serve us with a smile after getting verbally assaulted by a customer who had an issue with his bill that was EASILY resolved....Mitchell you know who you are. read more

I have been to this place multiple times, best sushi I have had in Houston. Great staff, great nigiri. read more

Sasaki Japanese Restaurant - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Houston, Texas

I don't do many reviews on Yelp but wanted to share one for Sasaki Japanese restaurant. I should start by saying my husband is half Japanese and I can't tell you how many times we've been to a "Japanese" restaurant in Texas and I have to spend the next few hours listening to him gripe about how un-Japanese everything was. Not so for Sasaki! He instead sang their praises and looks forward to going back! We were in Houston visiting family and are always on a quest to discover authentic Japanese food. We were happy to discover Sasaki yesterday, a restaurant that has been there for a few decades. We ordered a lot of food because we were so excited to find Japanese homestyle meals and very fresh sushi. The gyoza was delicious, and the miso soup was tasty with a variety of ingredients. I ordered curry rice with katsu chicken, and the curry was homestyle with beef and finely chopped veggies. So tasty and not spicy, just like I like it. The katsu chicken was breaded and cooked well and had thickness to it, it wasn't meat pounded down paper thin like so many other "Japanese" restaurants. Next time, I'll get saba shio, which I love and is difficult to find. My husband ordered oyako-donburi because that is his favorite homestyle meal. The chicken in his was grilled and then put in with the egg and seasoning and he liked the flavor of the chicken. This was the only dish that wasn't stellar, the sauce was a little lacking in flavor to his taste. We ordered the buckwheat soba and sushi dish to share, because soba is a summer dish. It was very delicious. The sushi was fantastic and very fresh, and the fish was of good quality. For example, so many "sushi" places give you tuna that is not even the correct color, it is not quality. This tuna was a nice deep red pink (see pic), as it should be. Seriously, the sushi was REALLY DELICIOUS and prepared well. Service was great, our waitress was so nice and friendly and informative. We loved the unassuming surroundings, the traditional style, and the old nostalgic Japanese music. The music in particular reminded my husband of his years in Japan as a kid. Don't miss out on this place if you like real Japanese food. We will be back next time we are in Houston!! read more

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So fresh. I very love. service too friendly . This is always my go to restaurant when I want to eat raw food. read more

Sasaki Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Little hidden gem if you are looking for authentic sushi in town! Definately will recommend zaru sushi combo on a hot summer day! Friendly atmosphere' read more

Sasaki Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Houston, Texas

It's your typical neighborhood sushi/ramen shop. Parking is very difficult; there might be 8-10 spots out front and that's it. No street option obviously. Interior was a little bit old and antiquated. The service was pretty slow on a slow day. The food portions were very small and didn't seem like it had a chef's touch to them; we were not impressed by the taste or quality. read more

Sasaki Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Houston, Texas

I was there today(9-5-25) right before closing, I was walking around and saw the place. I tried the beef udon for the first time. It was amazing read more

The ambiance of the restaurant is really welcoming and the staff were super great and helpful with things we didn't understand about the menu. Definitely a place to visit if ever in the mood for sushi. Will for sure be coming back. read more

Still one of my favorites Japanese restaurants with no frills quality sushi. On my last visit, I split appetizers, a sashimi combo, order of tuna sashimi, along with other delicious morsels. As usual, every beautifully sliced portion of sashimi was very fresh and amazing. The sashimi combo ended up containing abalone and herring roe, which were delightful picks that I don't usually order. The abalone was especially nice and oceany. The herring roe was... interesting in terms of mouthfeel. Glad I tried it. Excellent choices by the sushi chef who is always the same. The tuna sashimi slices were fat and amazing. Shreds of daikon and seaweed accompanied the sashimi, a really nice touch. Service by the waiter could use a bit of work, but I'm so blown away by the sashimi, I barely notice. I did have to call the waiter back to refill my dining companion's nearly empty drink after he refilled mine. And what I really noticed was the incredible squeaky table we were seated at that would make a noise any time it was even lightly leaned upon. Honestly, this place could use a bit of a makeover, but I do enjoy the charm of it and will continue returning regardless. Their care and detail in providing high quality no nonsense sushi is the best. read more

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Went there and ordered the enoki mushrooms, unagi don, and tempura soba. It was the best Japanese food I have had ever. Staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The waitress was very attentive and even packed our food for us!!! Also the restaurant is very quaint and clean. Enjoyed the atmosphere. Will be returning! read more

The food is not the best but it's okay. The service is really bad, the waitress can't answer any question about the menu, I had to ask for a glass of water 3 times to bring it. There was only one table occupied by 3 people plus our party of 6. The service was slow and messy, several times we had to remember to complete the order, they even brought the appetizer at the end. The worst thing is that they imposed a 20% tip on us. We have reached the point where restaurants shamelessly impose the tip on you regardless of the bad service. read more

What a hidden gem! 10/10 atmosphere, food and service! Truly authentic experience. Will be back again! read more

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We came for my partner's birthday dinner and everything was top notch! The staff is so kind and accomadating, food was delicious and fresh. It is so disheartening to see so many negative reviews about a very new staff member (who was so incredibly sweet and doing her best). We even listened to the patron who left a 1 star review criticizing the wait staff and berate and attack this server- just absolutely disgusting behavior. Looking at you, Mitchell F. Regardless, we still enjoyed our experience greatly and can't wait to dine here again! read more

Every opportunity to taste Toda-San's Sushi is a treat to me, it's especially enjoyable with a fellow food lover who shares the same appreciation too. The Shime Saba is the best piece of marinated Mackerel I've put in my mouth in recent memories. Oily Fishes with Shiny Skin is my most favorite type of fish, and eating these extremely Cured pieces is the peak of enjoyment for me. My friend saw the Asparagus Gomae, instead of the usual Spinach Gomae, and she ordered it. The appetizer consists of delicately prepared Asparagus Tips with Sesame Sauce that is plated beautifully. The new Korean owner who is always sweet and hospitable brings out a spicy fermented Bean Sprout for us, which I deeply appreciate and relish. The restaurant is renovated to feel a little brighter, cleaner, and newer but still retains its characteristic Japanese charm and old-school vibe. Of course, the ChirashiSushi is as delicious as ever, packed with picks of fish and seafood that Toda-San knows in his heart that I would enjoy. Perfect rice, delectable pieces of fish and exotic seafood, I can't ask for anything more, it's just the most enjoyable bowl of ChirashiSushi that I have the honor to receive from a top and experienced Sushi Chef. Every visit to Sasaki is a treasure to me. I hope to have the good fortune to continue to taste Toda-San's Sushi for as long as possible. read more

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As a customer who came for years, I'm now saddened its changes under new management (recently in the past months). Usually come with my family with kids but now they charge "service fees" which isn't even the tip (we still tipped nicely even with that). We were regulars over the years, but the friendly ambience, family atmosphere, just isn't the same. It was a great spot without breaking the bank but now the quality & portions lowered with increase in price. We loved it as frequent spot but with the changes, you may as well go to the kata, Uchi, MF or others for better quality to price. Prior, quality and portions were superb for the price, saddened it's no longer that way (understand new owners are trying to recoup their investment) but previously it had the perfect balance topped with superb customer service (the old chef used to give candy or desserts to my kids as a thank you, something small but makes you really thankful as a customer). However, it's now just a typical restaurant that doesn't stand out. They lost one of the regulars, we won't be coming back, hope they understand what customer lifetime value means... read more

I went here with some friends on a weeknight. It was amazing! So much authentic Japanese food that isn't laden with a spicy mayo sauce. We had a plethora to eat including the unagi bowl, various sushi and rolls. I highly recommend the unagi bowl. It is delicious and savory but the sauce wasn't overwhelming strong and it was balanced well with the rice. The chicken katsu was some of the best I've ever had. The chicken was served hot and fresh, not too greasy and just delicious. The charred eggplant was also delicious, a very good vegetarian option. I would love to visit again. The food is made with such care and the serivr was warm and friendly. read more

Sasaki Japanese Restaurant - Unagi Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Houston, Texas

This is definitely one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Houston, I have eaten with them since the 80s and have never had anything but a wonderful meal, if you are feeling a little bit adventurous just allow the chef to design a meal for you or at least give him the opportunity to tell you what his favorite pieces of fish are for that day, it is always a pleasure to eat at Sasaki read more

Sasaki Japanese Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Houston, Texas

I've been in Houston for 20 years now. This was my first sushi and every other sushi spot has failed to live up to it. It is an absolute gem. Definitely talk to the staff and ask about their Japanese menu. They have random specials that are amazing. That's where they hid the grilled squid for years. I think it's on the main menu now. It's such a treat. read more

Sukiyaki is so good and I also love the macaroni & potato salad. Need to go there again soon.

Please don't use the name Sasaki anymore. It really depreciate the value of the name and the legacy it has been. I wad told the owner and chef has changed but still with the belief of my favorite restaurant in Houston, I came back to try (I moved to a different state). First of all, the food portioned has decrease drastically. I ordered 5 different types of sushi but the fish it self was a lot smaller. The old chef used to let us know when the new fresh fish was in and etc but no interaction as the chef was the ready when I came in for the opening. It took the chef 15 mins preparing for one table. As he was talking back and forth with the owner/server. Secondly, the taste of the food has changed. One thing I specifically remember is the sweet shrimp head tempura being favorite for the crunchiness and tempuras all being fresh but it was evident that the tempura udon tempuras were either frozen or not prepared with care. Unagi used to have a smoked flavor with the fish totally over the rice but the fish was on top of the rice and barely covering. The sauce was smothered so it was very salty. The music was way too loud with one table being there for lunch and just the quiet ambiance is now gone. It just seems like any other sushi restaurant and not the authentic homey vibe. One last thing was tamago was so thin that it just split on top of the sushi. Where it used to be so big that i had to take it off the sushi and eat it separately. I used to talk to the chef and always felt welcomed but definitely didnt pass the vibe check. I will never take my time out of my visit from out of state to come back here for the legacy has been ruined. I still appreciate the old chef and their servers that cared. Hope you enjoy your retirement. I wish i had better before and after pictures but all gone. But here is some you can tell which is before and after. read more

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Mom and Pop Sushi Restaurant tucked away in a small strip center. Portions are generous, fish is delicious and fresh. I loved the fried hamachi collar and the unagi (eel) is the best I've tasted in Houston. If you go during peak dinner time and order from the sushi bar, there may be a wait as it's the one chef making everything. read more

SO GOOD! I will keep this place in mind for lunch when I want to splurge just a bit. I ordered their fish of the day bento, which came with rice, salmon, side salad, miso soup, veggie side dishes, potato salad, and edamame. For 15 something dollars and all the components the bento was very economical. I also ordered a spicy salmon roll, their salmon roll is not like the mayo heavy rolls you get in most american sushi restaurants but a little bit cleaner with a sharper spice. I loved it! If you do like the mayo profile maybe opt out, but personally it was a welcome departure from the usual standard for me. read more

My friend and I planned to stop for a quick lunch, but it ended up like a full, extra lunch lol. We enjoyed all the sushi. Very good quality. All sushi peaces were giant cut! I almost had to bite in two to finish each sushi. Overall, I would definitely come back to try their tatami room! read more

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Decided to come here for dinner with my family, and it was such a cozy experience. Its rare that i eat a meal from a restaurant and it tastes like it came from a warm and loving home. Not to mention the server was very sweet and she helped us navigate through the menu and the variety of sashimi options. She recommended us some toro sashimi and it was AMAZING. It tasted fresh and it almost melted in your mouth. The interior of this place was also very lovely and it felt cozy. A literal hidden gem especially if you're craving some sashimi read more

Amazing place !! Felt super authentic and had the most amazing iced coffee!! Service was amazing and the scenery was gorgeous!! We had the chicken catsu curry, sooo good !! read more

I did like the exterior and the intimate interior environment. Seems like they have been in business for quite a while. Quality was average. read more

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