Wow, I had no idea private, Asian-style karaoke rooms were available in Athens. You can find them at Shokitini, a trendy-looking Japanese fusion and sushi restaurant located downtown. Thanks to fellow Atlanta Yelpers Mike Y. and Viv W. for introducing a bunch of us to this place. We were part of an enormous group (40? 50? I don't even want to count) that karaoke'd the night away in the business's two biggest rooms until closing time. The karaoke rooms are hidden upstairs. You have to walk through a few short, winding hallways to get to them. Once I stepped inside the karaoke rooms, I felt like I was back at any old Korean karaoke joint in Atlanta (e.g. Karaoke Melody, Sound of Music). For the most part, everything looked and felt the same, from the setup to the furniture to the karaoke system itself -- yes, they use the same "standard" Korean karaoke system complete with Korean and other Asian language songs and Korean music videos. Don't worry. There's enough English on the remotes and in the songbooks to get by. If anything, the staff can teach you how to operate the easy-to-use equipment. The sound quality was good, the song selection was decent, and everyone had a good time. Several of the karaoke bars in Atlanta have better song selection, but for Athens, Shokitini works just fine. The fun part is the karaoke system's scoring system. I think most people score at least 90 (out of 100) no matter how poorly they sing. We imbibed on plenty of soju and I tried a small sampling of restaurant's food menu. This included the edamame (boiled soy beans, sprinkled with salt), agedashi tofu (deep fried tofu marinated in sweet soy sauce), gyoza (pan-fried pork dumplings), and some sushi rolls. Everything was appetizing and tasted quite alright. If anything, I recommend the agedashi tofu. That shareable appetizer was authentic and addictively delicious. There were two American servers who handled our group. They did a remarkable job considering the size of our party and its numerous orders/requests. The downstairs dining area is nice. It does give off an Americanized sushi bar/lounge-type vibe. There are multiple bars and HDTVs, the highlight being the projected widescreen display behind the sushi bar. There's also an enclosed patio outside next to the sidewalk. When we arrived at roughly 9:30pm on a Sunday night, the restaurant seemed moderately busy. Several metered parking spaces are located directly in front of the restaurant on W. Clayton St. I was told parking is free after 10pm and all-day on Sunday. read more

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Drinks were really good. We did the karaoke room which was fun, but not that fun. It felt kinda dirty in there. Also, the sushi was good but didn't taste very fresh. We'll see if I'll be back read more

Shokitini - I honestly don't even remember what I got - Sushi Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

This place has the best sushi in town. So high quality and so many options to choose from. If you're a sushi or hibachi lover, you need to try this! read more

Shokitini - Red ninja roll and chefs choice - Sushi Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Worst place I've tried Ubering from. I tried calling in an order over an hour before they closed. They told me they were closed but on there Apple Maps and google they are open they just didn't feel like doing the work. I hope for all yall to decline this place it's trash. read more

Great place to get sushi and some cocktails and rent a karaoke room. I got some tuna rolls and the tuna melted in my mouth. Service was great. It's full service in the karaoke rooms also. read more

Just moved to Athens, and I am so excited there is a fantastic place to get sushi in town! We tried the spicy mushroom soup (it was spicy but very tasty), mushroom puffs (get this!), and 3 rolls: chefs special (very fresh, large, and delicious), UGA roll (fried, lots of cream cheese, not my favorite...), and the Red Ninja Roll (also fresh and amazing). The ambience is relaxing and inviting. I hope to sit at the sushi bar next time so I can watch the magic happen! I will definitely be a frequent visitor! read more

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Delicious. Custom roll was great. Naruto style (cucumber wrap) available for 2 dollars more. Really friendly and helpful sushi chefs. Hamachi kama (tuna neck/cheek) rocked my socks. Great Mexican sushi chef too. read more

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Love the sushi and the environment at this restaurant! the service was great and the water checked on us regularly

Great service and food! We got five rolls which was plenty for the two of us. The rolls came out looking great and it looked like thought and care was put into the design of both the rolls separately and together. The Red and Black roll was the favorite with a very fresh and fish forward flavor. Food came out quick and our waiter was prompt. read more

The Chefs special! My wife and I are never disappointed eating here, great food, drinks & atmosphere. Also, ask for Rex he is always kind and very knowledgeable. I love spicy food Rex nailed it again. The finishing touch was the fried Oreos and they were perfect. If you love great sushi then Shokitini is the only sushi place in the Athens area you need to go. My wife loves the peach martini gets it every time we go. We've not had one bad thing or experience dining at Shokitini. read more

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Great sushi, servers needs to be more attentive as all they do is deliver food and refill.

This is just not good sushi and it makes me so sad. I wanted to love it, but they charge over $10 for every roll and they're filled with cucumber, carrot, and sometimes cream cheese with smaller amounts of fish :( not worth the prices for something I could pickup at the grocery store. We overheard the table next to us asked for their hibachi steak to be compensated as well because it was over cooked and too tough for her, yikes. read more

Best sushi in Athens hands down! I've been here several times and they never disappoint! No complaints.

Great food and wonderful service. Busy on a Friday night but still easy to hear the table.

Pretty good sushi. Pretty good service. I am not sure why I haven't gone back (probably due to the fact that there are a lot of sushi places in downtown)! The portions are pretty big, so that is a plus. Clearly my eyes were too big for my stomach when I decided to order (in the picture). read more

Shokitini - Sushi Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

The freshest rice and vegetables you can find. Great service, intimate atmosphere, and amazing food. We come to Shokitini every chance we get, and it never disappoints. It is a little pricey, but you get what you pay for. Quality food. read more

Shokitini - Yum!! Love the rice!! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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Delicious sushi every time. Fresh, mouth watering sashimi. Great staff with impeccable, friendly service. Can't recommend enough.

My favorite sushi place in Georgia. We live about 45 minutes away and stop in whenever we're in the area. Sitting at the sushi bar offers the best dining experience as you receive a complimentary salad, tempura mushroom, and fried Oreo when you sit there. The Chef's special rolls are a must. They are different every time and I've never had one I don't like. read more

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In town for a football game and was craving sushi. Shokitini did not disappoint! Everything we had was delicious! Had the UGA Roll (YUM), Classic Roll minus the asparagus, sashimi appetizer, and chicken hibachi dinner! read more

Shokitini - Sashimi Appetizer - Sushi Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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Visited again - still the place for sushi in Athens! The word has gotten out, so be prepared to wait if you visit on a Friday or Saturday night when Athens is in full swing. The complimentary fried Oreo is a nice touch if you sit at the sushi bar. read more

Shokitini - Octupus, hand roll with tuna, salmon Shoktini roll. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

We started eating before taking the pic so a few pieces are missing. Everything was delicious! The spicy mushroom soup is a winner as well! read more

Shokitini - We started eating before taking the pic so a few pieces are missing. It was delicious & the spicy mushroom soup is a winner as well. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

I love this restaurant and I love the atmosphere. It's very chill and low lighting, which makes me feel relaxed. The sushi is amazing and the price is very affordable. The L.A roll and a side of fried rice is my go to! read more

Clean and busy, but also somewhat intimate. Service is always quick and friendly. The food is consistently excellent.

Sushi dates are kinda our thing - so we were excited and had high hopes based on the reviews! When I first walked in, I thought it was dark and reclusive feeling ... and at first we opted to sit at the bar, but my view would've been a store bought container of crab salad ... that they appeared to be using because it was stored on top of the fresh sushi fish. Bathrooms were kinda gross. The service was good - but the food was lacking. The spicy mushroom soup was so spicy that I choked - literally - and couldn't stop coughing and tears were coming out ... plus I'm pregnant so it was rough! 3/10 I wish it wasn't so spicy though, I think it had the potential to be really good. The salad with ginger was pretty good. 7/10. Shrimp dumplings (not pictured) we got fried - they were overly cooked and chewy. 2/10. For our meal, We ordered the chefs roll (8/10), Beverly Hills (7/10), Shoktini Slammer (4/10... not very good, chewy) Classic City (8/10) and the Baked Mount Fuji (2/10, would not recommend. Not good for our taste!). We then ordered their fried Oreos .. not very pleasing. Dry and thin. 2/10. The bill was nearly $94 ... I posted a picture of that as well. For the quality and taste, too pricey. Overall I would rate it a 5/10. Probably won't go back. read more

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Fish: 4.8 stars Markedly better than it used to be. Prices have gone up a dollar on a few of there items but they taste so much better that I don't care. I'll pay for quality. Service: 2 stars Still not great, but better. Sit at the sushi bar and you fix this problem. Other Menu Items: 3.5 stars not bad. not bad at all. Lacking greatly in terms of traditional dishes like Oyako Don, okonomiyaki, and many other, but for what they are aiming for they've done well. Decor: 5 stars There are lots of shiny things and blue lights in the establishment. It is staffed with lots of attractive women that don't care about your order at all. However, it would be wrong of me not to award them the 5 stars for what is seemingly the only thing they care about. Price: 2 stars/ 4 stars ( sitting at sushi bar) They have been the only sushi game in town for years and they know it. You pay for this too, but its a far cry from highway robbery. It is worth mentioning that you get a free Kani salad, baked mussel app., and tempura Oreo desert if you sit at the sushi bar. This is awesome. The only drawback is that you might actually have to literally fight someone to get a seat. It is also worth mentioning that your very nice,attractive, wildly inattentive waitress will be expecting a huge tip. Lasting Impressions: Waaaay better than last time. Fish was fresher, service was better,sushi chefs were happier. Officially the best sushi in Athens and also pretty damn decent as compared to most spots I've been. Maybe the chefs were just on their game tonight. Who knows? Who cares? It was good... and in Athens. read more

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Shows open to 1100 on site which could be wrong as it's 930 and the "Chefs, have left for the evening" what a crappy COvid response

Very picky about sushi more so on techniques used to clean the fish, display, and served. So when we dined here I immediate took notice how organized, colorful, and well kept the fish were along with great sushi chefs but one we had, Chef Austin...AMAZING! He knew exactly what my husband wanted and created the perfect roll! Super friendly and an expert. Not to mention a regular who's been dining here with his wife says something about the quality of the establishment. Definitely made it on our go-to next we're in Athens! Oh yesss, the dessert you get for sitting at the bar...wait for it, it's AMAZING. read more

Shokitini - Our super friendly and an expert sushi Chef, Austin. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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Always a treat. Favorite sushi spot in Athens. Always sit at the bar, you get free samples of things. read more

Shokitini - Surf n Turf roll, UGA Roll (fried) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

My new fav sushi joint! Went here with my clients and we got a lot of sushi. I love the atmosphere. I got a Ketel One Martini made dirty and it was perfect! I loved the Seaweed Salad and the Spicy Tuna stuff. The dynamite Mussels were to die for and I will get them again and again! We got so many rolls I can't list but every one of them was great. We tried only a few spicy things but I love spicy. read more

Years ago this place was my favorite. Now it's just an over hyped downtown restaurant. Their sushi is somehow often too bland. Their "hibachi" dinners are definitely bland and cooked without much thought. The chicken is left in huge chunks and hardly seasoned or sauced. The veggies are partly just onion. Not worth it for the prices they charge. You could go to any other sushi place and get the same meal for cheaper. read more

I recommend the georgia peach martini and the sumo roll! great service and amazing sushi! sit at the sushi bar for free stuff! we got salad, an appetizer and fried oreos for free! awesome place! read more

Shokitini - Sushi Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Great sushi bar in downtown Athens. 2nd time here and was pleasantly surprised to see them playing the Packers game on the projector. The sushi is very good, fresh, reasonably priced. Will definitely make this one of our go-tos! read more

This is our second visit here. Our first experience was great. The food is good and has a nice hibachi menu for those who don't eat sushi. I make a habit of checking my bill for errors in general and at our second visit here when I got the bill I thought she had given me someone else's check. There were several items that we did not purchase and other items missing. The waitress explained the price of some items are the SAME as others so it gets printed out as different named items. Example: My husbands sweet tea was listed on the bill as a Shirley temple. Anyway, there was no real way to check the bill for accuracy. Not cool. It's not like they have a huge menu. This needs to be fixed in their computer system immediately. Not sure we will be back because of this. read more

My first time here and had the privilege to have sushi prepared by one of the chefs named Brian. Five stars mainly for my man behind the counter, Brian! Give that man a raise! read more

Shokitini - Made by our sushi chef Brian for my girlfriend and I. Thanks so much again man - Sushi Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

TERRIBLE SERVICE. Booked a karaoke room to celebrate graduation... ended up being late due to traffic and graduation running long (we take responsibility for this). The server had an attitude before we even started ordering. Eventually, she stopped coming to the room, and they started sending other servers to us. One of our orders was wrong due to a miscommunication with the sushi sheet, and one was just simply wrong. After sending it back, we still received the wrong items. We also received little to no instructions on how to work the karaoke machine, which delayed singing for the little time we had left in the room. After all of this, we sang TWO songs before we were shut off. Somebody came into the room, didn't say anything, and rudely unplugged everything... leaving us sitting in silence in the dark. For the price we paid to celebrate a special night, this was unacceptable. As somebody who works in customer service, I understand we all have bad days. However, communication and attitude need to be improved. We've been here quite a few times with no issues, but this will prevent us from ever coming back. read more

Very intimate atmosphere with a good bit of distance between tables, which I liked. The sushi was good and they had a wide selection to choose from. Wait staff seemed a bit slow, especially as it wasn't crowded but not terribly so. Overall, I'd come back again. read more

Terrible service and sat people who were just putting their name down before us after we had been waiting and they had not. Our waitress rarely came by and did not even give us the time of day when she did. Food was fine but service but horrific for the prices of this place. read more

We love Shokitini and have been here many times. The UGA roll is our favorite thing to order. We recently tried the karaoke room for the first time and it is very fun for small/medium groups. The song selection was large and The service was attentive. read more

One powerfully snowy night, in a powerless Athens, two hungry college students began the search for food. They were not picky, but simply hungry. After finding the Beechwood shopping center (and all of Alps Rd.) in complete darkness, they considered returning home to feast on raw ramen and warm beer. That was not an option. The search must continue! Many miles of perilous driving later... success! Downtown, somehow, still had power! The friends trudged through the slush and snow, following their noses and rumbling tummies to.. Shokitini! Although crowded with fellow hungry, college students, they did not have to wait for a table. They ordered right away and were soon inhaling delicious little rolls of rice and raw fish. The atmosphere was pleasant and warm. Popular music played in the background. After a mind blowing dessert of fried oreos, it became clear: the voyage had been a success. read more

I truly do not like this place. The atmosphere would be fine if there wasn't a giant 20ft. TV behind the sushi bar. It mainly played commercials during our dinner. Our server was very sweet, but wasn't really able to answer any questions we had about the menu. The green tea had a dishwater smell about it. The sushi was very fishy smelling and tasting. not good flavors. Overuse of sauces to try to cover up the poor quality fish. I have eaten here many times because a lot of people throw parties here in the Karaoke rooms, which are a blast. This place has great potential, but they need a lot of work. read more