If you crave authentic Japanese food, then Sharaku is what you need. Please pardon the happy rant that follows. It's part of my post-vacay therapy, After the slight depression that sets in after completing your dream vacation to Japan, Sharaku is the best medicine that can be found within reasonable driving distance. Allow me to start with the simple things: rice and pickles. I became obsessed with Japanese pickles on our trip and was delighted with the pickle offerings paired with the perfectly steamed bowl of rice at Sharaku. We also ordered from the starter menu -- salmon cheeks and pork kimchee (yes, the latter is Korean, but the Japanese love their Korean food just like I do) -- both were large portions, perfect for splitting, beautifully presented, and delicious to boot. I almost cried. Finally, we ordered nigiri. THIS is the place to order nigiri, not the trendy place where deep fried cream cheese rolls abound, but here where the sushi chefs quietly perform their dance-like slices of gorgeous ingredients with methodical grace. Maybe they don't have your favorite fish, but that is only because quality comes first at Sharaku, and, being a gazillion miles from the ocean, they will not serve something that is sub-par. Needless to say, the nigiri was amazing. There was melt-in-your mouth salmon roe, sweet shrimp, the highest quality tuna, marinated mackerel, and so much more. We finished with a modest dessert, which went perfectly with the tea we'd been guzzling all evening. I think we spent a lot of money. Actually, I'm sure we did, but I simply don't care. This isn't Japan. It isn't even the food-mecca of Manhattan. This is Metro Detroit. The fact that I can get this authentic, delicious, and detail-oriented cuisine without hopping on a plane is mind-blowing. Sharaku, I love you. read more

One of the best Japanese restaurant in MI. Service, quality of food are almost equal to the ones in Japan! read more

NOT THE BEST ANYMORE.. This place was on top my list for Japanese food.. Over the years it has been slowly getting worse. Both service and the quality of food. At the same time the price has also been steadily increasing. Also, lately I have noticed there is no wait and my Japanese coworkers are also not a big fan of this place anymore. read more

This restaurant is the best Japanese restaurant in Michigan! They put a lot of efforts to make the food food! Lunch is affordable but busy... and dinner is the bit expensive. But you would not want to eat the bad raw fish... If you are looking for the American unique rolls, this is not the right place to go but if you would like to try the authentic Japanese food, Sharaku is the place for you;) read more

Oh my goshhhh, I can't find better japanese restaurant around to get Chirashi, Sushi Sashimi, you name it. I am not a fan of their rolls, but I dislike rolls anyway, But yeah, almost all their dishes are the best, and you can see that most people coming are Japanese, learn this, you want the best japanese restaurant? ask Japanese to choose. And i am telling you, so many of them choose this one, but because it is kinda far from ann arbor and other major big cities, it is pretty unknown to people read more

Sharaku is most likely the best place to get Japanese food in Michigan. Every dish I've had from here has been of a very high quality. I've only ever gone here for lunch, and it's a long drive for me, but it is worth it every time. The chirashi contains very fresh fish - the salmon in particular. Everywhere else in Michigan salmon has a slightly old texture to it, which makes it pretty horrible, but at Sharaku it tastes the way it should. I don't understand how one place can source fresh fish but nobody else can, but there it is. The lunch bento is massive, and contains fresh 'in-season' items that I haven't been able to find anywhere else in the state. The selection of ramen they have is great for winter, the broth is nice and thick, and the noodles they use don't taste like cheap bulk junk that everyone else seems to use. Usually there are two lunch specials for $10 either one, the ramen is under $10, and the lunch bento is slightly more than $10. The food is well worth the price. read more

This place is great! Novi is the most densely populated area of Japanese living outside of Japan in the entire US (think about that for a moment). Yes, it's expensive, but the food is absolutely top notch. My fiance and I (Both Japanese) ordered the special sushi for two, with the soft shell crab appetizer, chawan mushi (egg custard) and grilled mackerel. Everything was great. For those people who don't know the difference between decent and great sushi, don't come here because you won't be happy when your not that full and paying over $100 for two people. But for those of you who know good Japanese food, this is a must try. read more

I got sushi here the day after I gave birth! Though it wouldn't have been the sushi of my selection after waiting ) months, it was not too bad . Very fresh and tasty. The only reason I didn't hit the five star is because the rolls were extremely small and not as much sushi for the price. I would give it a try for sure again. read more

Best Sushi restaurant in Michigan hands down. Friendly staff, great service, delicious.

Overpriced Japanese foods for this quality of foods. Try the smaller Japanese restaurant next door in the same plaza is much better read more

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If you're contemplating going or not trust me and eat here! The owner, chefs, and servers are beyond lovely and accommodating. But most importantly the fish is so fresh and yummy, and thats coming from an LA sushi snob. read more

My husband, Dan, and I try our best to have weekly date nights. During our evening out, we like to find new and unique places in our community to try. That is how we discovered Sharaku Sushi. As we walked in, I immediately knew we had hit gold - it had a unique, authentic feel and the sushi bar was packed with fresh fish. If you are a sushi lover like I am - this is YOUR place. They have a huge menu and there are unique rolls I had never tried before. If you don't like sushi there are many other items on the menu to try. Speaking of the menu...it is in both Japanese and English! So on our date night we tried lots of different rolls - I recommend the eel and scallion. I also ordered a salad with a delicious sesame dressing. Dan ordered a spicy shrimp appetizer which we loved - but has some kick to it. For his entree he ordered a teriyaki bowl which was a large portion of chicken and rice - YUM! This is a moderately priced restaurant. The average sushi roll is about $10 and the entrees are about $15. If I had to sum up the vibe in one word it would be authentic. The servers spoke both English and Japanese and had an amazing understanding of the menu and what to recommend when wanting to try something new. The restaurant has a main dining area near the sushi bar and then separate little rooms with just three or four small tables inside. We ate in one of the rooms and had it all to ourself for the perfect date night! read more

To be honest I have heard so much about this place that when I sat down and ate I was a lil disappointed. The home style Japanese food was good however when I compare it to some of the home style restaurants I used to eat in los angles there was no comparisons. Dont get me wrong it was good but the food did not jump off the plate or even reach the plateau of memorable. I have had much better experiences with home style Japanese food at Aji-ten in Canton. The sushi again was good however I must say I much more impressed with noble fish in clawson. BTW everyone tries to scare you with the price of this place.. it really is not bad.. The total for three people with lots of food and no drinks was 115. I would say if you have not tried home style Japanese food try this place out, they have a very large menu... I am just not sure how long till i go back.. read more

The best sushi bar in the d! It has the freshest fish around, the owner is one of the chefs and the clientele is mostly asian. read more

I have been here at least 30 times with customers, friends and family. Always during lunch. Everyone loved it! I am soooo happy that my friend recommended Sharaku to me. The place has the best and I mean the best Sushi period! I usually order the lunch special and it has never disappointed. Never! Great food, very nice service. Fast and courteous. Highly recommend Sharaku. read more

We only ever get carry out but it's so good every time! The customer service on the phone and for pickup is excellent. My husband had to wait longer than usual and was offered hot tea. The food is always fresh and delicious . read more

The restaurant is located in a plaza where there is adequate parking for all. I had the opportunity to check it out during lunch. The lunch items are descent and reasonably priced. The restaurant itself is not a big restaurant and cannot accommodate large crowds. I was under the impression that it can hold about 50 people at most. Many Japanese nationalists seem to go here during lunch, which is always a good sign. I had the chance to try the bento box and the spicy ramen with fried rice. When I think about it now, the spicy ramen and fried rice combo was a carb bomb. Physically, the content of the meal does not seem big, but it's all carbs and broth. It will fill you up because we are talking about noodles and rice which will expand in your body. The flavor of the broth was rich, and you could definitely mix it with a bowl of white rice if you want to. The "spicy" comes from the meat itself and I think the restaurant could have given more meat. However, I can't complain because the price was reasonable for meal I got. The second item is the lunch bento box. It's a very light dish when I think about it. It came with the one piece of tuna, one piece of salmon, few pieces of tempura, a grilled mackerel, and etc. Granted Japanese people do not eat a lot or the cuisine itself does not pack a lot of quantity, I felt that it still could have used more substantive items in the bento box if I am paying in the 10's for it. If you want to a lighter meal, bento box is the way to go, but if you want something hearty, the ramen and fried rice combo is better. The food was clean. The sashimi pieces indicated that the fish was at least pretty good. The salmon piece had nice white fat lines and read more

My favorite sushi restaurant! They are always so friendly and the food is delicious.

Love this place. The food is exquisite and staff is charming and helpful. Felt like strolling into a little restaurant in Sangen-Jaya for a savory soba at lunch. The menu is superb from top to bottom. Curry, noodles, rice dishes, sushi; all satisfying and well made. Bring a group and check out one of the most authentic Japanese eateries in Oakland county, possibly southeast Michigan. read more

Decent Japanese food, but quite pricey. You can get similar food at Ajishin at better prices. The benefit of coming here though is you don't need to wait in the long queues. read more

I really liked Sharaku. The atmosphere was great, and the chirashi was fresh. We actually went to try Kitchen Hanzo, but it was closed at the time. It was lunch and I was with a new business acquaintance, so I kept my experience simple, but I am very much looking forward to experiencing more from this establishment! With the US strip mall culture, it's difficult to replicate the true Japanese experience, but Sharaku comes close...prob as close as you can outside of a close quarters metro scenario :) read more

Best sushi in the area. Large menu of authentic Japanese dishes other than sushi that change often. Get ready to spent some $ though. Chefs are kind and will cater to your tastes, just ask. Oh yeah, sit at the counter. Also, you might want to call ahead for a reservation if you're going on a weekend night. read more

I ordered Tempura Soba and my mom got Sushi & Tempura Udon combination that comes with salad, miso soup and dessert. My Tempura Soba was really good and my mother really enjoyed her Tempura Udon! Sushi were alright, the fish tasted a bit off to me. But the Udon in this place is great. read more

One of the Japanese expatriates at my company brought me to this place. He claimed it was authentic. The food was well presented, fresh, flavourful and served promptly. The service was great. I had the sushi platter. I am docking off one star as it is located very far from my company. read more

Legit Japanese run restaurant. Sushi was super fresh. Got the specialties including uni and chutoro. Top notch. And finally the Shokado Bento for $14 was amazing! Will be back every time I'm in the neighborhood! 5 stars for food quality and service! read more

Don't let the strip mall Sharaku is located in detour you. This is my go to when back home for good quality sushi at fair prices. There are no special rolls or thrills, just authentic rolls and noodle bowls. Give it a try! read more

Probably the most expensive sushi meal I've ever had in Michigan, yet I give them a 5 star. After hours and hours of watching shota-no-sushi online, missing the last very good sushi meal I had had in LA (the place in L.A. is called Sasabune -- no california roll, no spicy tuna roll is their slogan (and if you know anything about sushi at all, these two rolls are by no means *Japanese*...some of the reviews about Sharaku that I've just read just made me laugh so hard, and yet the person claimed to be well-accustomed to sushi..LMAO). In case you ever want to try some sushi place in L.A.), I did some research and came across this restaurant. I stormed in for dinner on a cold night, requested to sit at the bar, and without thinking, ordered an omakase meal (if you don't know what omakase is, try google. i don't want to interrupt my train of thought explaining it today). My boyfriend and I decided to have some sake with the meal, and again I let the chef make the recommendation. 66 dollars for a 720-ml bottle of cold sake to a lot of people is pricey (to me as well, considering i drink a 16-dollar/bottle red wine and usually am happy with it), but he did make a good recommendation. The sake didn't kill the food that we had. I usually have tea with my sushi meal if i really want to taste/test the fish out. But again, good sake also enhances the pleasure of good sushi just like wine to cheese and other food. I am not going to bother looking at my dine-out-and-note-down-some-nasty-reviews notebook since the memory is still so fresh and there are not many nasty things to say about this place anyway. 1) ***The chef (Mr.Kim, Korean by birth, trained in Japan, very fluent in Japanese) knew what he was doing. His knife skill when I saw him prepare my first course already was promising a good happy meal. He knew what to do with each fish, different preparation methods for different fish, Omakase was well designed to build up the satisfaction to the very last bite. He is also a very good entertainer at the bar, one of the remarkable points that I personally think every sushi chef should have. 2) the fish is very fresh. Being in Michigan, so far away from the sea and everything else, this also comes with a price tag that is not cheap. They served me fresh fish (not previously frozen) throughout the course. I do not know if it is because they generally do not hold any previously-frozen fish in the house, or they just knew that I was a picky b-tch. Either way worked with me, I was very happy with the quality of the fish. 3) the rice was **just right** for nigiri. it was not sticky/wet. the size came proportional to the fish. it was a very pleasant surprise in each course that he served me. 4) I enjoyed three things that I normally DO NOT eat at most other sushi places, pickled ginger, tako, and tamago. Most places serve low-quality cheaper kind of ginger, so I just don't eat it for it just sucks naturally. But Sharaku's pickled ginger is the right kind and probably the only kind that I would eat. Unlike most Tako served in this country that are the cooked-then-frozen-then-thawed to be served as some chewy-sticky piece of rubber, Sharaku offered me fresh tako that was very sweet, almost crunchy with a little chewiness in it. And their Tamago is probably the best I've had in a long looooonnnnggggg time that i don't even remember the last time I had it this good (again, i normally stay away from it. had it not been served omakase, i wouldn't have thought of ordering it myself). They made their tamago in the house. It was not overly sweetened, and the sweetness that i tasted was not of the sugary syrupy in flavor in their first major note. They have a great variety of fish from the menu that i saw. and to my understanding, you might not get the same fish every time you go in. i will definitely go back, even though that might mean - i need to get a better job or - i need to find a rich husband or - both. i plan to go back for my special occasions now, and now it feels like i can even make any day a special occasion just for the heck of going back there. (by the way, if you don't have the 70-dollar a bottle sake, the meal should be much cheaper than what I had) read more

Don't be fooled by Richard.F Sharaku is one of the best sushi restaurants in Detroit. Sharaku can be expensive for those who are used to going into poorly managed or run of the mill Japanese restaurants owned by non-Japanese people. So when you see people writing reviews here saying Sharaku is too expensive, why not just go to Meijer or Krogers instead and get some sushi rolls from there? After all, you get what you pay for. Sharaku is for those who not only appreciate authentic Japanese food, but want good customer service and presentation, as well. Here are some points that show you're at a fine Japanese restaurant: 1. Own and run by Japanese staff. 2. Many Japanese customers that keep coming back. 3. Sushi menu is all authentic, meaning no cream cheese or other types of weird sushi that are deep fried, etc. These types of sushi are created by non-Japanese sushi chefs. Regarding what Richard.F said: I've been going to this place for many years and one thing I learned is that there are many people that think they know everything about the Japanese culture and even try to speak Japanese. Really, the only thing these people are doing is making fools of themselves. P.S. Tempura Udon is $14. You either made a typo or you just wanted people to think that Sharaku is ripping you off. read more

Pretty legit (as in Japanese legit) spot. During weekdays you'll likely come into a business style atmosphere , and on weekends business casual. It is on the pricier end, but bento and combos are pretty filling ($30 range). Ask what foods they've run out of. It was funny that they ran out of the individual udon soup, but they still had udon combo with sushi. Waitress explained it was a different flavor/style. When you order Ocha (hot tea) it is bottomless, but they come to pour for you (no pot left on table). Over all, this is a place that I would bring my parents (it meets my father's Japanese standards and expectations ) read more

I must admit that we didn't try the food. That's because after looking at the menu, we just walked out. Here's why. But first let me say that I have made over a hundred trips to Japan and I eat Sushi quite often. So I don't want any readers to think my observations are uneducated And I love it all. I eat Taco (Octopus), Uni (Sea Urchin), Ika (Squid) and all manner of raw shellfish. So back to our abortive experience. We walked in on a Sunday night at around 7 PM. There were plenty of tables open and we were seated immediately. We got menus and were quite surprised. The Sushi menu had many items crossed out. These were not manually crossed out as if they had run out of items. They were struck out using a computer. And even if they had not crossed out a thing, the items that were listed missed the most basic Sushi items. So I asked our server. Toro arimasu ka (Do you have Toro?) She didn't seen to understand. She looked Japanese, but I suppose she might not have been. Or maybe my pronunciation wasn't the best, I don't know. So I asked in English. She said if it's not on the menu, we don't have it. Toro, by the way is the belly of the tuna and it is the nicest tasting and most expensive tuna you can find. So I asked. Do you have Hamachi (Yellow tail)? Nope, How about Maguro (Just plain Tuna). Nope. Now I could understand it if they only had one kind of Eel or if they didn't serve a kind of Japanese Clam. But to not have the most basic Sushi items was really strange. So she walked away. Then one of my party mentioned that she loved Spicy Tuna Roll and it wasn't on the menu. This too is as standard at a Sushi place as french fries at McDonald's. So we looked at the Japanese Dinner menu. That too was insane. The prices looked to be roughly double that of what we would expect at a local Japanese restaurant. And this place is not in the high rent district. It is off Haggerty Road, across the street from Meijer's in a small strip mall. When I say the prices were high, how about $ 23 for a Tempura Udon. How about $ 22.00 for a Shrimp Tempura? So we decided to just say no and walked out. After we left we went to Mene Sushi and I confirmed that indeed the price for a nice Tempura Udon was around $ 11. And they also had Nabeyaki Udon which was mysteriously missing from the menu at Sharaku and at Mene it was just $ 9.95. Of course Mene had all of the items missing from the Sharaku menu too. What a waste of time. read more

Closest to Tokyo you can get in Michigan! Love this place. Went here after my Japanese coworkers recommended it. Brought in pictures of sake I like that is only sold in Japan so they could recommend something. It's a bit pricy but you get what you pay for. A lot of the menu is hard to understand but the wait staff is very helpful with the ordering process. None of that Americanized sushi crap! Highly recommend!!! read more

Clean but small, kept feeling like I needed something but waitress wasn't there. Calamari was good, but wish it had a sauce or flavor, soft shell crab was great- tempura veggies were good. No ginger salad was disappointing but their house salad was good. Spicy Tuna was good just not the flavor I was expecting, spicy Cali was great. Rolls are small and come with 6 pieces so really, $6.00 a roll is expensive after seeing it. Really what irritated me was that all the Asian people got private tables but the white people sat in the front tables. We were offered one of two tables, even though we were only people in the restaurant, and both in front of the door--- I wasn't happy and explained I didn't want the cold air on my kids- sorry, choose one of these two table--- half the restaurant was still empty by the time we were done, not for reservations like they claimed. Then, for the kids, I just wanted noodles with teriyaki sauce- but they would NOT accommodate. Needless to say, we will not be back. read more

Really the best sushi around. I've been doing this sushi thing for a long time. Try the Omakase at dinner. Your experience calculator will thank you. Lunchtime is for sets. Can't go wrong here. Impress your date at dinner and order off the menu by asking graciously for a Hamachi Kama. You're welcome. read more

I travel to Japan on occasion and understand Japan quality sushi. If you want Japan level sushi, this is your place! Service can be a bit slow at times, but this is a place that will reward you with excellent food. read more

The service was slow and inattentive. There was a table that was seated before us, they left after an hour of waiting. Since the Yelp reviews were good, I decided to wait and see how my sushi will taste. After over an hour, the waitress comes by and said the kitchen will be closing, "Last Order"...when we haven't even got our first order yet. Finally the waitress brought our sushi over and they forgot one of the roll we had ordered. Additionally the sushi tasted below average....I can make this quality of sushi at home with no culinary skills. Then I also had to ask the waitress to refill my drink, when it was already empty 30 min ago. Next time, I rather wait an hour at Ashijin Novi, better service, way better Japanese food. I definitely don't recommend this place to anyone nor will I ever come back. read more

Many Japanese businessmen, on company budget of course, rave about Sharaku as THE BEST sushi place in Michigan. This small restaurant is located in a strip mall on Haggerty. Highly recommend that you get a reservation before you go, because they don't treat walk in costumers nicely at times. Sharaku specializes in Edo-mae zushi, which means they usually add a special touch to the sushi. Unlike Ajishin, pieces are small, which is more consistent with sushi specialty places in Tokyo. So why only 3 stars when their sushi is so great? Due to the high prices, I only went there twice. Each time, I was still hungry after the meal. So, if I don't really want to go back there and I am never satisfied after eating there, why would I give more than 3 stars? Compared to NY or San Francisco prices, Sharaku is not so expensive, but in Michigan standards, it is high. Good for businessmen on company budget. read more

One night, Hanzo was closed for a private party, so I finally tried Sharaku. I'm happy I did - had Hanzo been open, I'd never have had an excuse to stray. The variety of appetizers is respectable, and there is also a great selection of sushi. The sushi chefs are real masters, in collared shirts and ties. I tried a cold eggplant appetizer on special, fried tofu hot appetizer, and tempura veggie rolls. I'd order all of these again. And a duo of green tea: hot green tea (about 1000 cups) and a scoop of green tea ice cream for dessert. The setting is simple, but elegant, and service is phenomenal. The prices are super reasonable. No, it is not in the same league as Hanzo, but what is? With Sharaku and Hanzo in the same strip, this has to be one of the best strip malls in all of Metro Detroit. read more

OMG! This place is AMAZING! I haven't had a bad meal YET! I'm trying to work my way through the menu! lol! The Grilled Mackerel and Salmon Teriyaki is DELICIOUS! Seriously, I've tried a lot on the menu. Not one disappointment yet! Love it! read more

5 stars for Michigan is an easy rating for Sharaku. Michigan in general lacks truly great Japanese food or authentic sushi. If you want deep fried tempura cream cheese, your choices are aplenty - but for real, quality nigiri and sashimi, that is a challenge. Sharaku is definitely pricey - but worth it. For those who don't speak Japanese or are not regularly around the language/culture, I can imagine it can be a little daunting dining at Sharaku. However, that lends to the authenticity. I regularly dine here both by myself (experience with Japanese language & culture) as well as with Japanese customers and colleagues and have consistent, high quality meals. From a review of the sushi, Sharaku gets very high quality fish and other ingredients and it shows. Their chefs understand how to properly slice and assemble their pieces with no sloppily put together bites coming to the customer. Interestingly enough, I know of many instances where even local sources provide ingredients to Sharaku where it immediately finds its way to table - this lends to the freshness greatly. Sharaku is consistent and can be counted on for a great meal - I highly recommend it whether you are a seasoned sushi/Japanese diner or someone looking to expand your horizons. read more

I think I'm a tough customer when it comes to sushi, and this place is just perfect. Top notch fish (including the delicious toro), beautifully prepared (SIT AT THE BAR) and nice people working here. No fancy gimmicks, just great, japanese traditional sushi (don't expect to find american-style rolls here). Take the omekase, you won't regret it. Will come back again, weekly. Might as well move near the place too. read more