We literally NEVER have a good experience with SATO. Tonight was another witness of their terrible customer service. Here goes: We were on our way home and called to place an order. The hostess told us that they would not take a pick up order until 8:30 (um ok....). But since it was 8:12, we decided to WAIT until 8:30 to order rather than finding an alternative to feed our family who already picked out their orders. So, we waited in our car for 20 minutes, and called back ready to place are order. The hostess said that the kitchen is now "not taking orders". I explained the situation and asked if we could just get a few ramen since we just waited at her direction. She must not realize that rent on Elmwood is expensive, or that there are bills to be paid, or that humans ordering food pay the bills, or that an owner would appreciate this $100 ramen order or the many orders we place all year, or large eat in bills because there is no attempt to keep us as a customer. We live in the neighborhood and love to support local restaurants and businesses and our family of 6 places large orders. Last time we were in to eat the service was bad as well. It took about 20 minutes to get our drinks. And the time before that we came on my daughters birthday and they said they weren't seating parties of 6 even though the entire restaurant was open. Hmmm. We literally could see every open table. My daughter in her 10 year old birthday crown telling them how much she loved ramen didn't even make them flinch since they seem to have delicious broth and no souls. We will keep spending our money at local establishments that treat customers like humans. read more

Service was wonderful! We were seated quickly. Our server was kind and checked in on us periodically. The ambiance was nice, not too classy but not too relaxed. It was a nice date night spot. In terms of food, my partner and I were unimpressed. To preface, we are from CA/Bay Area. The okonomiyaki was delicious! 5/5 but we have no base reference for this dish. We would skip the sushi and ramen. Unfortunately the sushi rice was too hard. The fish was fine though, relatively fresh! The avocado in our CA roll was a little browned. The ramen was a little undercooked and hard. The toppings were good but the meat was a little hard/dehydrated? They did do us a favor and split our one order into two small bowls before bringing it out. overall, we would not come back, but we are glad to have experienced it. read more

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I've gotten Raman and Sushi for takeout in the past and it has always been very good! Recently ordered the chicken teriyaki don rice bowl (also takeout) as pictured. Online ordering was very easy and pick up process is smooth and timely! Although I haven't dined in, staff always seem friendly. Parking may be challenging as there is no parking lot and you will need to find street parking, but there are several side streets around. read more

SATO - Teriyaki Don (chicken) with seaweed salad and an egg added - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

When I first moved to Buffalo, I tried their location on Main St. and wasn't very impressed. One main reason was that I was never a big fan of ramen and as a vegetarian, the only thing I could eat there was veggie ramen. Fast forward 7 years and I visited their location on Elmwood and was thoroughly impressed by the range of food they offer for vegetarians. I recently was in Japan and loved vegan okonomiyaki. When I saw that Sato was offering this food for vegetarians, I jumped at the opportunity to try it. I'm happy to say that I was not disappointed and it was as delicious as the one I tasted in Osaka. I also got their Japanese vegetarian curry which was decent. The service was quick and efficient and the ambience was perfect for a casual night out with a friend. Suffice to say, I'm gonna be back to eat more of that Okonomiyaki! read more

SATO - Vegetarian Japanese curry - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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When in Buffalo, if you are in the mood of some Japanese food, Sato is the name! I was in the mood for an Okonomiyaki, which is quite tasty and authentic. I also ordered the Omakase sashimi, which is not bad but not knocking my socks off. Sato also has a nice variety of sake and cocktails so it's probably as good as Japanese food gets in Buffalo? Correct me if I'm wrong =) read more

SATO - Oknokiyaki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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I've come to this location twice now and have had overall a very good experience. I got the vegetable dumplings, veggie ramen, and spicy tuna roll. The food is very good. The veggie ramen is actually really flavorful which I was worried about. The tuna roll was very good. My only complaint with this location is that all of their ramen broths have pork in them, I wish they had options that were just chicken broth. I would also recommend making revelations so you don't have to wait. As for as atmosphere goes, super cozy vibes. Love coming here on a cold night! read more

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Glad I finally tried Sato. It wasn't my choice this time, but a bowl of hot soup on a cold Buffalo fall evening sounded perfect. I have to admit, we live in a world where some formerly important values don't exist for the new generations. To be progressive I should accept it, and I do, but I don't take anybody's lead. It's the way I am. It must come with age, too;). Lately, I've been critical when it comes to service and what's offered. Let's add to it the poor economy. We should support each other, but it's not going only in one direction. After my brief introduction, I just wanted to say that our food was good. We ordered three types of ramen and a side of kimchi. Although I can only speak for myself, my company really enjoyed their soups. Oddly enough, my seafood ramen did not contain any seafood except wakame, an edible seaweed. Choosing shrimp or crab or both incurs additional costs. I went with crab. Now, should I blame my phone that eats first for the soup being lukewarm? Come on! I just took a few photos to share with Yelp, nothing crazy. Anyway, I really enjoyed the smooth and buttery flavor of my ramen. Combined with the crab meat, it tasted divine. The noodles weren't my favorite, but I don't think there were any other choices. In contrast to the RBF "How can I help you" hostess, our server was great. She took good care of us and we were grateful for that. The restaurant seemed to be run by young women, who don't care much about details. Michaelangelo said one time: "Trifles make perfection, and perfection is not trifle". I felt like this place was missing a warm and inviting atmosphere. It wasn't classy or upscale either. In the dining area, the lights were too bright. It was chilly. The group of 'older' people next to us were wearing coats. One possibly still a gentleman had a hat on. I think he was actually cold. I don't remember any background music. One of our tables was strangely vibrating. The kitchen door was open (no curtains like I saw on some older photos) and next to it I noticed dirty cleaning equipment. The person at the bar was on the phone the whole time. I was wondering what her position was until someone finally ordered sushi. As we were leaving, the hostess said goodbye, turning her head away from the phone screen. Together with the bartender they sat in the corner just being busy with the outside world through their devices. For me, eating out isn't just about food. I'm not that desperate. Maybe Sato is great, but next time I drop President Franklin, I'll do it somewhere else. read more

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Gorgeous venue, peaceful vibes, Asian culture, amazing service and the food made me wanna order another one to go home with! Love love loved this place. Street parking is a pain in downtown but once you get inside nothing can go wrong! Best steak bowl ever! read more

SATO - Dessert Miso Caramel Donuts - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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Lots of tattooed folks in here included some non-Japanese staff. It's def a millennial crowd here, but the sushi is fresh and the service is friendly. Nice option when in Elmwood Village. read more

We went in Wednesday night and ordered the spicy miso ramen and the chicken katsu curry. We were able to immediately get a table and got drinks in a timely manner. The food was very good, portion sizes were really big. Everyone was very friendly, from the hostess, to the waitress and bartender. We will returning soon. read more

The ramen is always very good. The noodles maybe a little firmer than I would like, but overall very good. Delicious appetizers as well. It's a bit pricey, but it's a nice spot. Neither location is very big, so it's better for smaller gatherings. read more

SATO - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

I've got to say first and foremost, I am glad that there is a Japanese restaurant in this area. I was visiting my roommate's family, and they wanted to take me to a Japanese restaurant. After looking at a few different options in the area, this one seemed the most appealing in menu and the restaurant space. I have a few comments though. The service was quite slow. Like, very slow. There were a few people seated after us who were served first (who had similar orders) and we got our water refilled maybe once despite a very clear empty water bottle. It took maybe 30-40 minutes to finally get our food. Not fun to not have water and have a long wait for food, but I digress. In terms of the food, I am glad that they have some of my favorites from home, specifically okonomiyaki, and it was actually pretty good. Wished there were options to add meat or seafood in it, but having it on the menu nonetheless is still pretty good. The curry was okay, very sweet, but the vegetables were not really cooked and simmered into it as I was expecting. The carrots were pretty soft, but potatoes were quite hard, and I had wished the onions were cooked down a bit more (or blended into it.) My biggest disappointment though was the tonkotsu ramen. When I think of tonkotsu, I think of salty, fatty, oily pork flavors in a pretty dense base, however this one tasted a bit watery. The ajitama and charsiu were pretty good though, though the noodles were okay. For the high price, I was expecting more, and was left pretty disappointed. In all, SATO is a nice trendy place to get a drink and some food, but if you are expecting to have the tastes and flavors Japanese food is known for, maybe try somewhere else next time. read more

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We went on a Monday evening before the Bills game and were sat quickly. Love the dim, blue vibes and mirrors! I got the classic Sato ramen with pork. I added an extra soft boiled egg and bok choy. Hot, delicious and full of flavor. I took the rest of the broth home with me and finished it the next day. We decided to get the miso donuts for dessert and they were so so good! Hot and fluffy with caramel sauce. Can't wait to be back. Definitely a favorite staple in the neighborhood. read more

SATO - Sato Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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We love sato for date night! It's so cozy! The menu is all delicious (and I feel like I've tried 90% of it.) The staff is attentive and check in regularly but also leave you alone to enjoy your meal. Definitely recommend! P.S. I looove the veggie ramen, hubs loves the spicy. read more

They add extra charges to your bill and then argue with you when you question it. They also refuse to take it off because they are "not allowed" to refund. read more

Sato seems to do a few things well and a few not so well. I was not a fan of my sushi order though it was ok. Out of three rolls I only really enjoyed the bbq eel one. The crab tasted less fresh than I'd have liked. And the sweet potato avocado roll I got to share with my friend was only ok. The cabbage pancake my friend ordered was tasty as were the gyozas, and her beef and rice bowl was totally decent. I'd like to come back and try some ramen and see if that's where this place shines. We also tried two sake flights and those were good. That all said the service was good and our server was very nice and attentive. I just wish the sushi was better. read more

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This is a cute spot on elmwood. They have a small bar area with lots of drink choices. Great sake and wine list. There is also a cute upstairs area with some seating. Tables are smaller and mainly only fit 2 people a piece but you can put tables together. I recommend this location for more intimate outings. Not really good for large groups. The food is always good. I usually get sushi when I come here. To be honest I haven't had any of the other entrees. I have had a few of their appetizers. The spring rolls are really good along with their steamed dumplings. My friend got the Raman and she said it had a nice flavor. Their sushi is really good and fresh. WARNING their spicy is actually spicy. Way more spicy than any other sushi I've had from other places. But it is good. read more

Sweet outside area and good service. It's very much a fusion restaurant. The avocado salad was delicious and giant sized - enough for two as an entree. Cocktail menu is varied and the whisky one was delicious. Good sake variety. The shishito lacked unami but were ok. The sushi is supermarket quality at best and not worth it. The fish had a mild freezer burn. The rice was way too sweet. The omakse included California rolls - not what one is expecting! But the rice pudding was scrumptious - not too sweet, great rice texture and mix of flavors. Would go back for desert and sake but avoid the sushi read more

The food - incredible. The service - terrible. Expect to practically beg to order a drink after waiting 30 minutes to be approached. Once you are able to finally order your food after being ignored for another 30 minutes after you get your drink, it does come out quick and very very tasty! Lots of potential here, just need some better service please read more

My go-to place for ramen in the Buffalo area. My favorite is the Spicy Miso and I add extra noodles and pork. It is absolutely delicious and if you're a ramen fan, I'd go I've then a try. My husband had the sushi and said it was also delicious. If you're a Japanese good fan, Sato can be added on your just try list! read more

SATO - Spicy Miso - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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The miso ramen is the best with the real crab rolls. I wouldn't suggest the house sake unless you like drinking water. But to each their own. The waitress is always the same every time I go which is nice. It's a small place but be sure to to go not during a busy time if you want a quiet meal. I had a group of college kids show up and the one was so loud I couldn't even hear my gf talk to me. Not a stab at the restaurant at all some guest need to be respectful to their surroundings. read more

Ordered the red curry Raman to go. The dish had the perfect spice level for me and overall pretty flavorful. Two pieces of the shrimp were not properly deveined which was a bit of a turn off. I also requested utensils and I suppose the 4 sets of chop sticks would some how help me slurp up the broth? A spoon would have been nice. I'm staying at a hotel nearby and don't have access to spoons. The biggest turn off was the hostess. Being the first face you see at a restaurant should set the tone. When asked if I could have a receipt she seemed bothered and when she printed one she held it up as if I should come fetch it and didn't even say thank you. At this rate she'll be a miserable hostess for the rest of her days. read more

An unimpressive dining experience. The gyoza was probably frozen at some point. Tasted OK but nothing special. The miso ramen was OK. The sushi was about the same quality you'd get at a supermarket. I got the chef's plate sushi and it was just... Not good. The rice was soggy in spots and crunchy in other spots. The rolls fell apart when picked up and 2 of the pieces had almost no ingredients in them aside from their medicare rice. Bottom line; There are far better Japanese restaurants in town. Probably won't be back. read more

Thought we would try something new and we weren't disappointed! Everything we had was delicious! read more

SATO - Sato ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Dinner club #21 Steve wants a flight of Sake... pronounced for heavens SAKE Forgot pics of all the apps :( Pretty Damn Good! Yummy ramen, Steve likes the fan, delicious Sake and goyza...now on to dessert somewhere! read more

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Rather warm winter evening, decided to try Sato restaurant for their Tonkotsu Ramen. It was not full, but so-so busy evening. I got seated and placed an order for Tonkotsu Ramen. ...waited and waited for almost 30 minutes. Finally the Ramen bowl got served. This was wuite disappointment as I never expected serving a bowl of Ramen to take this long wait. In the past, there were only a few Ramen shops took this long...anyway, it looked promising at a glance after the bowl was placed on the table. Broth looked like Tonkotsu Shoyu, and some Ma-Yu on top, toppings were half of half-boiled egg, three slices of chashu pork ( very thinly sliced), menma (bamboo shoots), sprouts, scalion sesami seeds and pickled ginger (red one). I wish soup temperature was higher as it was rather luke warm. Broth was thin and weak...made it worse with red picked ginger as flavor from these ginger took over the soup completely. This was not a good thing as I expected more Tonkotsu flavor from soup. Menma pieces did not have much flavor; and Chasho pork was really thin. Ramen noodle was...chewy and mushy. Totally not matching for Ramen soup. This was another disappointment honestly. I saw number of reviews on this restaurant and good ones...but I could not agree after all. Maybe it was just one night Ramen bowl was not meeting up usual serving? Who knows...but my experience was definitely not good. Honestly 2.5 stars; but Yelp does not allow a half star. I am not sure if I will try this place again or not just based upon this Ramen bowl. By the way, latest price of Tonkotsu Ramen is $19. read more

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What a cool place to grab some Sushi and Ramen. The food was excellent. I would highly recommend trying the 7 Spice Sushi. It was recommended to me by the server and it did not disappoint!!! read more

Loved our experience here a few weekends ago. We each got a ramen bowl and some sushi as well as the edamame. We each got espresso martinis which had a nice kick and taste as well. The ramen bowls were absolutely delicious - filled with flavor and nice portions. I even had enough to bring home for a bowl the next day. Can't wait to come back and try some different bowls. read more

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Food is always delicious! Service was great and food came out timely. Even the cocktails were pretty yummy. Can't go wrong with the spicy ramen. read more

My favorite all time ramen! Out of all their locations this is the one that has the buffalo chicken ramen on the menu which is the perfect combination of ramen & buffalo flavors. The matcha is pretty good too! read more

Given the times we are in, giving Sato four stars. I was very surprised at the price difference upon arrival from the other Sato restaurants, 1 on main and 1 on pearl. Same items but a $2-$4 difference. We were greeted promptly at the door and seated with 4 minutes. However after we sat, we noticed multiple tables around us dirty. Come to find out these were only cleaned when they needed the table, otherwise they stayed dirty the entire time we ate. I blamed short staffing at first but saw the host chatting with 2 bartenders, who had no customers at the bar, on our way out the door. Mind you the host was the one to clean the tables before sitting people. On to food, we ordered dumplings, that were cooker very well and tasty, and tonkatsu. The breaded pork was very tough a day poorly seasoned but the BBQ sauce provided was delicious. We split a veggies ramen as we were told they were large portions and it did not disappointe. Broth was thick but good. read more

SATO - Veggies ramen split in to two bowls - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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The food is always super good at sato! Their seating is a little limited so I recommend making a reservation in advance but it's totally worth it. I def recommend the desserts in addition to the ramen and sushi! read more

Very solid Japanese food! The ramen was especially good as we were getting out of the cold. read more

SATO - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Showed up around 749 well before closing time, was completely ignored by a server outside as I was with my dog and could not go inside. She must have walked by me at least 5 or 6 times before I tied up my dog to go inside and ask. If the kitchen was closed she could have at least greeted a potential customer and informed me instead of just ignoring. Two hostess inside weren't helpful either just kind of stated the kitchen was closed despite them closing at 840 and actively serving food. Unfortunate wasn't able to try some ramen this evening. read more

Awesome evening with great friends. We made reservations and good thing because it looked to be an hour wait for walk ins. We all got a Death & Taxes espresso martini to start and weren't disappointed. I ordered the 7 spices sushi roll to start and it was exploding with flavor. Then had the Shio Butter Ramen which I admittedly finished in one sitting although there could have been plenty for leftovers! Will definitely be back. Chill yet cool vibes in this small yet spacious spot. read more

SATO - Death and taxes - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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Love this place! Outstanding service, creative drinks, and tasty sushi and ramen. A must-try if you're visiting Elmwood Village.

The food deserves a three/four but the service has gotten much worse. The last two visits have been a bad experience. Either the staff need to undergo more training or desperately need to hire more! The outdoor patio is a good feature and the cocktails don't disappoint. Within the last two years I'm starting to think the sushi is better than the ramen. read more

SATO - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Went with a buddy for a early dinner during Porchfest and though the wait took a bit, the meal itself was delicious. I had the Sato Ramen ($14) which was flavorful and satisfying. My friend ordered pork dumplings for the table and the salmon teriyaki roll which he really enjoyed and even contemplated ordering a second one. The dumplings were good too. The staff were friendly and professional and once we ordered our food came out very quickly which was nice. read more

SATO - Sato Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Went there last Sunday for dinner. The food was still good but the service we received was not acceptable at all. We made a reservation for 3 at 7:15 pm for safety because we didn't know what time we might arrive. We arrived at 6:30 pm and asked the server at the front if we can get a table earlier than the reservation. She said "No, you will NOT get a table before 7:15 pm." and asked us to wait outside while is winding and raining horribly. Okay, so we went outside and waited for 45 minutes. We got back to the restaurant at 7:15 pm and asked them for the table. They said we need to wait 5 more minutes and ended up waited 10 mins for the table. And here's the funny part: Three men came in while we were waiting for our table to be ready, with NO reservation, asked them for a table. The same server told them they need to wait 20-25 minutes politely while we were standing right next to them. So, what does it make any sense to make a reservation? We made our reservation and ended up waiting for almost an hour, and someone who came with NO reservation only needs to wait for 20 minutes??? I don't know if it is based on my race or the server just doesn't like us, this is unacceptable and made our experience extremely terrible. From now on, I'm still a fan of their food, but I'm not happy with the service I received on the last visit. read more

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The service was great! The spicy miso pho could have been spicier but it was pretty good. Loved the broth.