Popped into this place for our last meal before leaving AZ and it did not disappoint! We were the…read morefirst people in. When we walked in it had a very fishy smell, so it kind of made us second guess our choice. But we went for it anyhow. The greeter/server was very pleasant and sat us. It was very clean inside with ample space between seat. We browsed through the menu and started with our usual edamame and pot stickers. The edamame was salted well throughout where a lot of places just put the salt on top only. We ordered a couple varieties of sake which were both good. Out of all of the things we ordered the karange skewer was just a little more oily than were use to, but still good. The spicy salmon roll had really great flavor and the lollipop roll was probably one of the better versions that we have had. The musubi was giant to say the least, it was good, but offered a bit too much rice. Overall the food and service was great and we were very happy that we ended up here!

Awesome late night spot, for decent quality Japanese eats, and in the Tempe-Scottsdale area. Zu…read moreIzakaya was a solid post-study dinner spot when I was a student, and this time it definitely held up! We were nearby for a show, and decided to stop in on a Wednesday evening for a late dinner with some friends. They have a good happy hour menu, and my friends ordered off there, but I was craving sushi so I got the nigiri omakase. It came with miso soup, which I enjoyed, definitely hard to go wrong there. The sushi itself was decent, nothing crazy, but definitely better than grocery store quality. The tuna and salmon pieces were a little fishy, maybe not the freshest, but it was also quite late (~10pm) so I wasn't expecting too much. Beautifully presented, and the cuts were quite large which was nice! The food came out pretty fast, and the service was pleasant. The restaurant vibes are pretty dark, and moody. The bathroom was kind of scary personally, super dark and a little messy, so I decided to wait till I got home. Overall, a solid experience, and definitely a good choice if I am in the area.

Two of us stopped on a Friday night before heading to Phoenix theater. Service was great, attentive…read morewhile not being overly bearing. The EXO noodles were really good and had just enough spice without being too hot. Plenty of seafood in it too. Katsu chicken sandwich was also quite tasty and the fries were some of the best fries I've had in a long time with an interesting dipping sauce. All in all a great experience I will definitely stop there next time I'm anywhere close!

Allergy warning! There are undeclared walnuts in the vegan potstickers. I have a walnut allergy and…read morethis ruined a recent date night at CK. I've enjoyed the vegan offerings at CK for years without issue, but this recent event has made me question whether I'll be returning. On a recent visit, my guy and I ordered the vegan potstickers to start, and also each ordered a cocktail and entree. As we finished sharing the potstickers, my throat and mouth started to itch and tingle, an indicator that I'd been exposed to something I'm allergic to. Our server came by and we asked if there are any nuts in the potstickers, and he quickly said that yes he's pretty sure there are. Then he asked if there was an allergy, to which I replied yes, I'm allergic to walnuts. He went to the kitchen and came back to say their allergen chart indicates tree nuts, but he'd have to ask the chef which one specifically. The server left again and was gone for at least 5 minutes at this time... Since we needed resolve quickly, my boyfriend left our table and went down the street to get me Benadryl. While the bf was gone, the server came back and said he couldn't find any Benadryl in the emergency kit, and asked how I was doing. I was quite uncomfortable, but trying to be patient waiting for Benadryl to arrive. Not sure what else was to be done in that moment. While I was hanging out alone waiting on my bf to return, the manger eventually came over and checked on me. He said he would take the potstickers off the bill. Gee, thanks? In hindsight, paying nearly $100 for the rest of the meal felt like a gut punch when I couldn't really enjoy anything and my guy had to physically leave in the middle of the meal to fix an issue they caused with negligence. Menu screenshot attached is from 5/18, which is about 2 weeks after my incident, so I'm assuming CK has not yet fixed their menus.

We were seated immediately, and our hostess gave us some of the nicest service I've experienced…read more The Japanese beers are a must, especially off draft. We were able to snag happy hour deals for the chili edamame and the Las Vegas and spicy yellowtail rolls. The rolls were very tasty and came out in less than 5mins. The edamame.... THE BEST edamame I've had to date. These are a required must-try for anyone going here. We decided to try a hot pot for the first time and went with a fan favorite spicy seafood pot. I was scared it would be fishy, which I don't like. But it was in a tonkotsu broth (pork bone broth) so the seafood flavor was just in the seafood itself, which was perfect for me. It was so good. Not very spicy though, and I think that would level it up a bit. Off happy hour, it is a bit pricey. A hotpot is $20 but easily feeds two or three people, but the rolls are about $7-$14 a piece which adds up. Happy hour is a good time to be there. It's also more refined inside, a nice glow of the lights and high end tableware and chopsticks. Not too fancy, which is perfect for an impromptu night out like we had.

My first time at Zu Izakaya was a blast! I came in with a group of 5 and were seated quickly. Our…read morewaitress Tiana was very attentive and helpful as we decided our orders. Overall, the place has a fun vibe with lots of string lights and Japanese decorations. They have happy hour twice a day. We came during their 9-11PM happy hour (we love a late night happy hour!) Lots of options for sushi, drinks, and appetizers on the happy hour menu. The spicy tuna roll was a refreshing roll with just the spicy tuna, cucumber and rice. A simple roll that still has a good spicy flavor but not too overpowering that it takes over your meal. The Vegas roll is a classic if you like fried rolls! Can't go wrong with this one. The nigiri was top notch. The yellowtail nigiri quite literally melts in your mouth and the flavors are buttery and soft. It's my personal favorite whenever I want nigiri. The salmon nigiri was also very good. Slights sweet but if you add soy sauce it balances it out. The jjambong pot was so filling. We ate this after the sushi. It's enough to be shared with 2-3 people and includes a mix of some seafoods, enoki mushrooms, onions, and ramyeon with a spicy broth. The noodles were good, the broth was delicious and not too spicy if you're not a person that handles spice well. My only complaint is that we had about 6-7 mussels but only 2 pieces of shrimp. It would've been nice to have a more even distribution of the seafood but other than that the taste was amazing. With the happy hour it was incredibly affordable. Even without the happy hour I would definitely come here again. 10/10!!

Had lunch here and it was about a 10 min wait to get in. There is an iPad at the front door to put…read moreyour name on the wait list. Small footprint in the Mekong Plaza. Ordered the pork and chives dumplings, XLB, and Beef chow fun. Service was expedient and waters were already preset on the table. There was a QR code on the table that allowed you to order online or if you waited a few more minutes, server will come over and take your order. All of our food came fast... within about 10-15 min. Chow fun had the wok hay ( wok air that makes food taste good) and thick slices of velveted beef slices. Pork and chive dumpling and XLB were juicy and moist and delicious with the ginger black vinegar chili oil sauce. I really like the food here and staff moves fast. Great place for a quick lunch.

Great little dumpling place!…read more The place is small, with limited seating, so be prepared to wait a little, though we didn't wait long! Maybe 20 minutes? The staff was all really friendly which surprised me because I swear they never stopped! They were busy but still kind and attentive! We ordered the spicy dumplings and the Hong Kong Fried Rice! The Boas were good, but the dough was a little thicker than I'm used to. So I felt full rather quickly! The fried rice however, 10/10 NO NOTES!!! Best fried rice I think I've ever had!! Totally worth the drive. Will be back for sure!!

I'd noticed this place before but felt a place that had ramen, stir-fries, and sushi probably…read morewasn't great. A friend mentioned loving it so we set up dinner and it was great! Its in a building at the edge of a strip mall so seems like plenty of parking. There's a fun light display with the logo outside the front door on the sidewalk. Inside is very cute! They've definitely made an effort on the ambiance.There's also a nice side patio that looks like it has bamboo shades to make it less "strip mall". The staff here are very warm and welcoming. Great service! Throughout our dinner and our long sitting and chatting after, our waitress was friendly, checking in and offering soda refills. We had the shrimp tempura -- really good! A friend had sushi and loved it (and comes here regularly), and the rest of us all had stir-fries, which were all very good. I ordered Mongolian beef and asked if they had chili oil and our waitress asked if I wanted it in the dish or on the side and I said both, which was no problem. This is a great neighborhood spot to enjoy a relaxed dinner (or lunch!) with friends (or yourself, whatever). It wasn't noisy and we felt very welcomed there. Food was great and its really a great option if you want sushi and others dont. They also have happy hour pricing on some of the appetizers, sushi and boba but I don't think they have alcohol. I can see why this place gets such high stars and will definitely be back.

Stopped by Bloomy Kitchen after driving by looking for a place to eat. We were greeted by friendly…read morestaff and told to sit wherever we liked. The parking lot and restaurant were full which was a good sign. I ordered the Pork Belly Buns as an appetizer and my partner ordered the Shrimp Tempura. Both were very good, especially the Shrimp Tempura. For my entree, I ordered the Tantanmen Ramen and was beyond satisfied with my choice. The ramen was extremely flavorful and the marinated egg was the perfect addition, providing a slightly sweet taste. My partner ordered the Hot Spicy Ramen which was good but wasn't a favorite. Service was great, food was delicious, and prices were fantastic. We haven't been back yet but Bloomy Kitchen is definitely a place I would recommend.

Bingo and I did happy hour at Bisutoro Sushi Bar and Grill in Biltmore Fashion Plaza. The patio…read morespace is small but dog friendly. The happy hour menu had some great selections and the happy hour prices were very reasonable. The best were the waiters and chef. They were so nice to prepare this salmon cut roll especially for Bingo, so he could have something to eat too. Bingo enjoyed it. I definitely want to go back and try their Argentine Sizzling Ribeye. The table across from us had ordered it and it smelled delicious.

Catfished! Pictures are deceptive. This is tough...I was excited to try this place as a trusted…read morefoodie friend said the food was good. That was NOT at all my experience. I will mention the place is designed very nicely. For starters the food was bland, except the shishito peppers. The peppers were fantastic and that's the only thing I enjoyed. The ramen was second best compared to the other items. Edamame was good. The sushi roll, seaweed would not break down as I was chewing it and the roll didn't have much flavor to it. Now for the reason for the two stars...the crispy rice. The bites are soooo big I had to cut them in half in order to eat it (good thing) because when I broke the second one in half; I found a black HAIR about the same length of a finger cooked in the rise (I'm blonde by the way). I was shocked and hate complaining. I wasn't going to say anything as I lost my appetite. My friend who was dinning with me, said something politely. The waiter said okay I'll get you another one and ran away with the plate before we got a chance to said we didn't want another one. We saw him show the manager and she okayed him to make another. I was shocked the manager or waiter didn't apologize, wasn't shocked by it, acted normal like nothing was wrong. For this reason I will not be returning. Again my other friend had a great experience and I had a bad one, so 50/50 shot. I know we are human and mistakes happen. It was the way it was handled that drop the rating. Along with bland food for the price.

Excellent quality and service, my new go-to spot! Ambiance and plating was beautiful as wellread more

Would highly recommend. Nice selection of food and great ambiance. Really enjoyed the AYCE.read more

Met up with a friend here for light snacks and drinks and the ambiance of the time start was ver…read moremuch calm, fun and eccentric in a good way. Service was great and the quality of the food was simply amazing. We ordered orange blossom which was salmon and another tuna one that I don't recall the name. Both tasted very fresh and the sear on the tuna was amazing

The ambience here is incredible and the food was genuinely excellent. The space alone makes you…read morewant to come back. That said, the service didn't match the experience. Our server (female, thick square glasses) came off pretty rude and inattentive throughout most of the night. The only time the energy really shifted was when the bill came, which felt a bit disappointing. It was also noticeable that her demeanor toward us felt different compared to other tables. Not sure why, but it did affect the overall experience. I'd still recommend this place for the food and atmosphere, but I do hope the service becomes more consistent.

YES all the stars…read more The vibe alone once you walk it is exquisite. They offer indoor seating, bar seating, and outdoor seating. I believe the outdoor patio offers a lighter menu option compared to sitting inside. The staff holds exceptional standards. Not only were they friendly and helpful but they worked as a team. While I'm asking the waitress questions, another staff member comes up and takes the dirty plates from her hands so sly. Now onto the food....words don't do the pictures justice. Everything I ate was amazing. I would absolutely visit again, again, and again! I'm still thinking about the insane flavors each item brought. I would have not ordered the sushi cubes but our waitress said I would enjoy it based on our convo, she was CORRECT! The chicken sliders still keep me up at night dreaming of them. If I lived closer I would order from this place frequently. The drinks were strong and a perfect balance. I've heard you can't go wrong with anything on the menu and I can't wait to test that theory.

This was our second time here since moving to Phoenix a couple of years ago, and the food has been…read moreexcellent both times. The sushi was surprisingly good as well! And as a sushi chef myself, I can honestly say I was impressed. Last night, Phebe was our server and she was incredibly sweet and attentive. She got everything perfect, checked on us often, and we never felt like we needed anything. This is definitely going to become one of our regular spots in Phoenix!

One of my favorite places little pricy but great for vegetarian or plant based plenty of fish and…read moremeat for my pescatarian or carnivorous friends and family. Some of my favorites whole plant choices Vegetable Hand Roll- one of the stand-out options, has to be the veggie hand roll starter, which is served with sesame miso sauce NO RICE. And a lot of nettle (nutritional powder house) | even asked for extra nettle. Shishito Peppers, Eggplant Miso, Warm Mushroom Salad-it's my FAVORITE DISH on menu .Crispy Rice Avocado- soo good, Seaweed Salad- I always order it's so healthy and delicious.

I was in town for a bachelorette with a group of 5 ladies. The bride really wanted to try Nobu but…read moredidn't realize that they were going to be less accommodating with allergies. One person in our party has severe allergies to nuts and shellfish but we didn't have any problems at any other restaurants during the entire trip. Of course, legally, we know you cannot guarantee that there won't be cross-contamination but the way the waitress came off was very rude and lacked empathy. Our friend felt so uncomfortable that she cancelled her drink and left to eat alone at the Johnny Rocket in the mall. After that interaction, the mood definitely shifted. The hostess came over to apologize but it was such a sad way to end our trip. Our friend came back before dessert and, despite the cold warnings, the waitress had the nerve to bring her a plate for dessert. Upon reviewing the itemized receipt after the trip, they charged us for our friend's drink even though we cancelled it and she didn't dine with us. The food was good and the restaurant was beautiful but, unfortunately, our entire trip ended on a sour note because of this experience. If you have an allergy, try Johnny Rocket or Three Thirty Three.