If it weren't for the service I'd give Sushi Den a 5. And I don't think the service is the main problem. I've been coming to Sushi Den since 1996--and even worked there for a few years while putting myself through graduate school. The food has always been exceptional. The problem with Sushi Den feels like a problem of the heart. Even then, the manager felt cold and critical. I'm not sure who manages the restaurant now, but I remember then as staff if was a bit scary working there because it never truly felt like a spirit of team was nurtured that could match the spirit of the food. I feel the intelligence of this restaurant, for sure--in the decor, in the design, in the business model, and in the preparation and presentation of the food itself. But without a heart at the center of the restaurant that gives staff something to believe in, the service will always fall flat. Every single time (at least 20-30 times since 1996) I've come to Sushi Den I've experienced this flatness. As a customer, it sometimes makes me feel like the servers are like children worrying that their rigid parents might punish them, because when they screw up they look frightened, and in general they look anxious. I think there was only one server, a woman, I had on Mother's Day a year ago who was genuinely warm, conversant, relaxed, and inviting. When I go to a restaurant, as a woman and mother who cooks almost every day of the year--sometimes serving elaborate meals of my own--I go to relax, not have to think about things other than what I want to eat, enjoy the people and the ambience, and enjoy being fed really good food. And then yes, the devil is also in the details of the service. Today I went in for lunch and my server looked genuinely scared to approach my table to take my order. I'm known for my warmth as a person, so this made me wonder if perhaps this was her first day? She brought me a half a glass of water and I ordered my lunch, which she said came with soup and a salad. I asked for lemon in my water. She returned after a whole 10 minutes with my miso soup. No lemon, but my water at this point was below half full. The lunch came and looked and tasted beautiful, but the whole time I was trying to savor my food I was wondering where the salad was. The server who brought the lunch said salad didn't come with my lunch. I replied that the server said that it did. I waited. I stopped eating my main course, anticipating. The server came again and asked if I'd gotten my salad yet. No, I said. Another 10 minutes went by. Again, she came back and I said, no salad yet. She left again and another 5 minutes later finally came back with a salad. By this time the lunch music had stopped even though I'd arrived at 1pm (lunch ends at 2pm). No one ever refilled my water glass, which toward the end was empty after I'd rationed it the extent of the meal. These details--which shouldn't have become an issue at all--really felt distracting to enjoying my lunch. I wound up comforting my server, who was effusively apologetic by the end about my salad. But this also didn't help me enjoy my meal. I wound up working for a meal I was supposed to be paying for. I've worked as a server for over 10 years, and when I did, I was known for my exceptional service and attitude, so I'd like to think I have some good guidance I could offer that would take Sushi Den from good to great. And what I feel is needed is more heart in the management and better training practice on the floor, including how to scan and attune to customers. Even the people bussing need more training so they stop taking things that belong on the table, especially before people are done with them. When the joyful heart is there learning becomes more possible, and this would be a great approach to working with staff, I believe. I hope this review helps management in some way. My intention is to help, because deep down I've always wanted this restaurant to become exceptional, and they have everything else it takes. read more

It's been many years since we've dined there with friends, but overall I was very impressed with beautiful and delicious food I had never experienced before. The wait staff offered suggestions for my first time with sushi, so I'm spoiled for life now! They also successfully helped me wade through avoiding allergy foods for me. We have very good and happy memories of Sushi Den. Yes, it is expensive-- but the quality is there. (Skip drinks and you can lower your bill, too.) Would definitely go back, but will need to save up first. read more

It's been several years since we've been to Sushi Den and I can say it is still my fav sushi around (though some new spots have opened the 10 years we've lived here that are close seconds!) My husband and I went on a Tuesday night for a little date night while my parents were in visiting and could watch the babe. The service is still spot on and the fish is as fresh as can be for being sent to a landlocked state. Another fun thing that I'm not sure they still do is a sushi making class. So fun getting to learn from a sushi expert and I love the banter they do with those attending the class! Definitely recommend if it's still something they do! read more

Believe the hype, baby! It was incredible. Every cut of fish is like butter melting in your mouth. We started with the crispy tuna (delicious), then enjoyed the miso cod - un-freaking believable!!! Definitely get the cod. You will not regret it. We also had items off the fresh fish menu- yellow tail with jalapenos. Since we enjoyed the miso cod so much, we also tried the miso eggplant and that was delicious too! For drinks, we both had the sake mule and it was great. We didn't have reservations for our Friday night outing but arrived close to opening (4:45 ish) and didn't have a problem getting in. We sat at the bar which is perfect for us. If you love sushi and have an appreciation for fresh fish, you must go here. read more

Always a delight to dine here! Tried a bunch of sushi's and loved everything we ordered. The miso eggplant app is def a star dish - we got 3 orders of this among the six of us. For drinks I started with the blackberry blush which was good but then we got a few flasks of the hot sake - I am a hot sake fan now. This time around, they weren't sold out of the matcha tiramisu and this is an absolutely amazing dessert! If you love matcha, you have to try the matcha tiramisu. I am a sushi den fan and I love their food and have always liked their service. Absolutely a gem for sushi. read more

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Amazing food as always. My daughter requested sushi den specifically and wasn't disappointed. read more

Sushi Den - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Sushi Den was on my list the first time I visited Denver...unfortunately they didn't have any reservations, so when I visited Denver again, I made it a point to make reservations in advance. They only had a 9:15 p.m. reservation, which is a really odd time for dinner but I snagged it anyways. Upon arrival, I was really surprised by the ambiance of the restaurant. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I thought it would be a casual spot. It's actually upscale looking, trendy, and a cute spot for a date night. We ordered what was recommended by our waiter and nothing disappointed. Service was great, food came out quickly, and the fish was so fresh and melted in my mouth. Definitely a little pricier for sushi, but 10/10 worth it. read more

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Pretty bougie and hip date night vibe restaurant. Good quality fresh fish. Good sushi and good service. They have paid parking garage across the street. Recommend for fancy date night. read more

First time having sushi in Denver and it was a decent experience! They're known for their Catch of the Day so definitely order from that menu for the freshest seafood. The rolls weren't worth the $$ in my opinion. The quality of their nigiri was where we tasted the best sushi. Highly recommend the Toro, Scallops, Uni & Shrimp. They were buttery and melted in your mouth through every bite. NOTE: Izakaya & Sushi Den share the same entrance and currently share the same menu due to the pandemic. So be patient and kind to their staff, they're doing their absolute best! This restaurant had a unique atmosphere on both levels, with greenery and calming elements like a little fountain to create such a cozy ambience. read more

Sushi Den - Rainbow Roll - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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yep, believe the Hype. This.is.the.best.sushi.in.Denver. I am a sushi snob hailing from the wild's of NYC and have been to many fine sushi establishments. While Sushiden a step down from some of the best spots in NYC, its not too far off. For this new yorker who moved to Boulder, i have found my spot. We called impromptu on a friday evening around 7pm and found that the wait was only 20 minutes. I took a chance and my son and i drove the 35 minutes into Denver (pro-tip, there is a parking garage that validates, so parking easy and only $2. It actually came up as Sushi Den Parking on my GPS). We arrived, no line, requested sushi Bar and were seated within 5 minutes of getting there. In terms of Ambiance, take a look at the inside photos, but this is a place that is really nice to dine in. They run this establishment like a well oiled machine. The place is well staffed, has great technology (the hostess real time could see which seats were available on her computer), and the sushi comes out quickly, but extremely well prepared (we had quite a theater as we sat at the sushi bar). I have no doubt Sushi Den is very profitable and they should seriously be thinking about expanding nationally. So lucky break, but we happened to be seated in front of the head chef, who is Japanese and a master at his craft. I asked what was good today and he directed me to the Medai and the Japanese Summer fish (a Sake). My server was amazing and helped me curate a mixture of some Nigiri as well as rolls. Everything was pretty much amazing and the Sapporo was ice cold as it should be. We finished off with a Banana Cream pie (yep they had that there) and it rocked. The standout sushi items were: Toro Iburri (divine), Salmon Iburri, all the rolls (a salmon roll on the special menu, firecracker roll, Shrimp Tempura Roll). I will be back repeatedly. Thank you Sushi Den for an amazing evening out with just me and my son. read more

Sushi Den - Some insane rolls and out of this world ibburi - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Ok... sushi den was the pinnacle of delicious, gorgeously made sushi creations. Authentic, flavorful, well served. Sadly it's a very distinct WAS. went for a lunch after a while away... Service was curt, the food was average... especially the soft shelll crab which I have never experienced as dry, tasteless, and porly presented anywhere on the planet. I ordered a "standard" mixed drink and was told "no, we can't do that. We only have regular drinks"... so, I see you have 2 of 2 of the required ingredients, so ‍. Three people came to well over $300 for a pretty average lunch order. Sorry Sushi Den... you were the pinnacle. Now you're just overcharging for a foux high end experience, without the innovation, ambiance, or flavor to back it up. There are too many better tasting, bettor served, and more reality priced options in the city. read more

First off! WOWZA!!! Amazing food, service and awesome place to see. First time having sashimi and I don't know why I've never eaten it before. Our waitress was so helpful with the choosing our rolls and guided us through the menu. The fish is flown daily. I am just amazed at this amazing place. The restaurant itself is beautiful and very open. Make sure to get your reservation in if you plan on traveling from out of town! Perfect way to end our latest trip to Denver. read more

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First, the food is always incredible. Secondly, the service. What an awesome experience! I normally come with only adults but we decided that we would bring our children who are 4 and 1. The whole staff was so kind and accommodating. I wouldn't normally associate sushi den with somewhere that would be so welcoming to children, but it was amazing! It was relaxing and there was a lot going on so the kids were entertained. Thank you for a lovely evening! read more

Second time to Izakaya Den (Sushi Den). It was lovely. Service is good and attentive, but not overly so. Food was amazing! Highlights were the BF Toro from Spain and the Toro in Tuna (the bluefin tuna toro wrapped inside of bluefin Akami). Spicy edamame was fire as well. It's a nice treat to get that good of seafood in landlocked Denver! read more

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Great Michelin star sushi spot! Prices are not bad, food is great, and it has a good atmosphere. When it's crowded on a weekend night, servers sometimes seem a bit overworked and food takes some time. However, for the price and quality- this is my favorite sushi spot. It's nice that it's on south pearl street, as it's such a cute place to hang out. Reservations are easy to get despite how popular this spot it. I always take friends here when they're visiting! read more

Service is impeccable and ambience is lovely. Outside patio space has mostly stools but is pretty. Food was okay, very fresh but not my favorite sushi. $170 for two with one glass of wine and moderate amount of food. Was hungry by the time I reached home. Did appreciate the vegetarian options. read more

Great experience dining at Sushi Den! The ambiance here is so fun for a date night or group. Definitely make a reservation in advance though. We ordered the deluxe sushi platter and it was perfect for 2. The quality and price was worth it! read more

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Looks pretty and delicious. For the price you pay, I wouldn't say it's anything unique or exceptional in the flavors...BUT the quality of the service, the cleanliness, the way they run everything is definitely top notch professionalism. I think it's a good place to go for a special occasion... read more

Sushi Den - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Sushi Den was highly recommended by so many locals. So I decided to give it a try immediately! Beautiful ambiance, great service, and good vibes. But honestly the food was lacking a bit for me... specifically I expected more from the toro nigiri. It was good but I've had better for the same price point :/ Scallop and uni were very good. i love salmon skin so I got the roll but it was definitely not worth it - I think there are better ways to highlight the ingredient. Everything else was good but I don't really get the hype, it's nothing to write home about. read more

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Love love love the decor, the ambience and the SUSHI. What a gorgeous spot for fine Japanese dining. We had the lucky chance to be seated upstairs next to bamboo and a waterfall. We were next to a few families and others on dates. Given the pricepoint, it's ideal for special outings or whenever you're in the mood for something upscale. Sushi Den is, indisputably, the best place for sushi in Denver. They serve art on a plate that a lot of other places don't indulge in. Expect traditional and experimental, as far as the dishes go. Definitely the freshest quality fish you can get this far inland! I highly recommend the Osaka Style Aburi Salmon, but we ordered a variety of rolls and nigiri - you can't go wrong here, so let your palate guide you. Make reservations, regardless of what time of day or day of the week. Expect a wait if you try to walk in. Expect to wait between dishes during peak hours. Located in a humble neighborhood with street parking. read more

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I'm not a sushi person but the three others in our group are, and even i loved this restaurant with so many great fish and tempura, etc. choices. Was packed, service wonderful and what a buzz this restaurant had. Great food and vibe! read more

If you're looking for an old school Japanese restaurant who serves amazing sashimi and sushi then make a reservation for this Denver area classic! read more

Really fresh fish and good quality to boot. Will I say this is the best sushi meal I have had ever-- no. What was really good: 1. New Style Salmon Roll- Really Great and different! Was a flavor explosion in each bite 2. Nigiri: Fatty Tuna and salmon were very solid. It definitely tastes like they ship fresh sushi in every morning. What you can pass on: 3. Tempura: I would pass on this, very average. 4. Green Tea Tiramisu: Also average, lacked a lot of green tea flavor through out, with a disproportionate amount of matcha at the top, which is the only place you get "green tea" in the bite. Service was prompt and helpful, but as far as this restaurant goes I would prioritize the specialty rolls and the fresh sushi via sashimi or nigiri format. Will we be back? Possibly! It wasn't life changing-ly spectacular to justify price tag, but if i have a hankering for super fresh sushi I know where to go. read more

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Amazing experience! Love the atmosphere, our waitress was so nice and the sushi was fantastic. Everything was so fresh and service was quick. I will definitely be coming back!! Also be sure to order the cloud cheesecake - delicious! read more

Sushi Den - Crispy Spicy Tuna - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Love love love. The price is so worth the experience. Great food, great drinks , very kind and knowledgeable staff and real cute inside. Fav place to hit when in Denver read more

Wowowow Sushi Den is top notch. I want to go back already. Such delicious food and soo many options. The staff was extremely friendly and the inside was a cute/fun dining experience. You have to try the crispy spicy tuna - it is 12/10. Besides the food, they offer fun drinks as well. read more

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By far the best sushi I've had in Denver to-date! I came here for my birthday dinner a few weeks ago, and was delighted to meet Joey, my server, who - like me - had lived in both DC/VA/MD & Aurora, CO, so we had fun conversation. I started with a sake flight of Shichida "Junmai" (with flavors of honey & green apple), Toko Junmai Daiginjo "Divine Droplets" (with flavors of peach, apple, pear, melon, radish, and pineapple), and Rihaku Tokubetsu Junmai Nigori "Dreamy Clouds" (with flavors of nuts, ripe fruits, toffee, earth tones, and a tinge of banana - described as chewy & creamy), which I loved - even though I don't normally like cloudy sake. And later, I added a Sapporo. Though I wasn't planning to order an appetizer, Joey recommended the Ginger Sashimi (tuna), which was some of the best sashimi I've ever had. I also ordered a House Salad & Miso Soup, and the Miso Soup was easily the best I've ever had. For sushi, I ordered the New Zealand King Salmon, which was so good, I placed a second order, as it melted in my mouth. I also loved the Hamachi (yellowtail), and ordered the Hawaiian Kanpachi, which was not my favorite. I also ordered the Hotate (scallop) with aioli via blow torch, which was Joey's recommendation, and it was incredible. As it was my birthday, Joey also spoke to the chef/manager, and gave me a complimentary Green Tea Tiramisu with a lit birthday candle, and this dessert was to-die for. I've always loved tiramisu, and also love green tea, and though I had no idea what to expect, it was a perfect combination. read more

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Ordered: Seaweed Salad (~$8) Miso Soup (~$4): traditional Japanese soup with tofu, seaweed, green onions, enoki, shimeji, and shiitake mushrooms. Nigiri Sushi (2 pc/order): Toro/Fatty Tuna (~$15), Hamachi/Yellowtail (~$8), Shake/Salmon (~$8). Tuna Firecracker Roll (~$14): 8 pieces; spicy tuna mayo mix, avocado, cucumber, tempura flakes and amadare, topped with diced red/yellow peppers, red onions, wasabi tobiko, jalapeño, and cilantro. New Style Salmon Roll (~$20): 8 pieces; avocado, asparagus, cucumber, shiso leaf topped with salmon, cilantro, garlic, fresh ginger, chives, black pepper, sesame seeds, red/yellow peppers, red onion, and seared with olive/sesame oils. Wagyu Beef Roll (~$12): 5 pieces; wagyu beef, lettuce, scallions, shichimi, asparagus, sesame seeds, and mayo. Lobster Tempura Roll (~$14): 5 pieces Banana Cream Pie (~$10) Diet Coke (~$3) Aya's take: We waited about 45 minutes for a table for 2 around 8pm on a Thursday, but it was well worth it. The ambiance here is perfect for a date night, but I would recommend making a reservation to avoid waiting. The rolls were all good but none in particular stood out to me. The Wagyu Beef Roll is worth a try since the wagyu beef is well-seasoned and super tender. It also balanced out all the seafood we were having. The absolute best part was the Nigiri Sushi. It came out to ~$31 for 6 pieces and I really understand why. The freshness, the textures, the colors - you really do get what you pay for. We had to end off with the Banana Cream Pie which had such a thin crust with the main focus being on the banana cream (as it should be). If you're in Denver, do yourself a favor and come to Sushi Den! read more

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Best sushi I've ever had! The fish is flown in daily and is exquisitely fresh. The servers are trained to perfection, are warm and freindly and keep the food coming at a good pace. We were in the back room which was less noisy than the large, front room. There is a large variety of choices and the server was very helpful in aiding us in making choices that complimented each other and provided variety. Can't wait to go back! read more

Love this place. Great for a nice sit down sushi meal or a sushi burrito/bowl to go. Awesome selection of sakes and the owner is super knowledgeable and friendly. read more

Wow!! This place takes over for best sushi I've had in CO. There were a million options and we tried a bit of everything. The yellowtail was outstanding! Our server, Booker, was great and super knowledgeable about the menu and his recommendations. Sake was great as well. Would definitely recommend read more

Sushi Den - Sake - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I enjoyed Sushi Den and I think it is pretty reasonably priced if you can get your hands on a reservation! We sat at the sushi bar and were given a free app and dessert. I like the Nigiri from Temaki Den a little bit better, but still worth a try! read more

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4.5/5 Stars. I came on NYE with a party of 2. We were in line waiting before the restaurant opened and got seated right away. We ordered: - Cocktails: Blood Orange Horizon, 5 Rings - Appetizer: Japanese Eggplant - Mains: Aburi Hotate, Spider Roll, New Style Salmon Roll, White Dragon Roll, Waygu Beef Roll - Desserts: Warm Chocolate Cake, Banana Cream Pie, Green Tea Tiramisu The meal started off on a high note with amazing cocktails -- such a large drink menu selection. We ordered the eggplant on a whim and it was surprisingly one of my favorite dishes...I could drink that honey sesame miso glaze with a straw. Everything really tasted delicious, and nothing tasted even slightly fishy. The highlights for me were the white dragon roll and the new salmon roll. We left absolutely stuffed. Service was great, very knowledgeable, and friendly, despite the packed house. The restaurant is beautifully designed and decorated. The only drawback for me was that the menu was complicated and overwhelming for me, with 4 large sheets of paper filled with information on both the front and back. Glad to finally have crossed Sushi Den off of my list, and I hope to be back! read more

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Really bad experience. The food was above average, but they way over served the table next to us and they were screaming the entire time. Would not recommend this place. read more

Loved my experience! You have to fill out a special form in advance for omakase and they have limited spots so send it early! I was too late but the head sushi chef called me and made a special arrangement because I was only in town for a few days. We had an amazing server named Su (not sure how to spell it) who chose dishes for us with our likes and dislikes in mind. He did a wonderful job and everything was delicious. Some people are hesitant to have sushi in a land locked state but the fish was high quality and I was told that it's flown in every day. This would be a great place for friends, family, or a date, and it's a good place to get dressed up for! If you're going to eat sushi in Denver, go here. read more

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If you're reading this, stop what you're doing and make plans to go to Sushi Den right now. Ok I'm gonna say it: Sushi Den is the best sushi restaurant in the USA. Actually: in North America. The must-try is the Aburi style sushi -- they sear it and the char taste really elevates the whole thing. Tuna firecracker was pretty good Rainbow roll was standard and fresh However the Aburi --- WOWO Aburi Salmon - I died Aburi Sockeye salmon - I was resuscitated Aburi spicy Toro -- DIED AGAIN. transported to heaven Service - love she checked if we wanted the ginger before taking the plate. Super attentive and amazing job with making us feel welcome . Why are you still reading? Make a reservation today. You'll thank me later read more

Enjoyed an evening here with a friend. We walked into their sister location and we're not able to be seated but they gave us Sushi Sen as a option to be seated at the bar. We walked over to this location and were sat immediately. Jake was our bartender/waiter and took great care of us. We started with a bottle of Charsonnay - Sonoma Cutrer. It was a perfect compliment to edamame and sushi. Loved the food and service. read more

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been here so many time over the last decade. It use to be a great place for late night get together. The service always great but the atmosphere is not as good any more. Got there when they open with the kids to celebrate one of their birthday. Had to wait in line for a while to be seated in 2 restaurant. Why not just combine 2 restaurant into one? Got seated by the wall. The couch seat is so broken down you can feel the spring. I pretty much just SUNK in my seat. The food is always great and very fresh. But this time the rice did not taste as great as before, is lacking vinegar. Also in the end our favorite desert for Chocolate Moose cake missing the white chocolate that use to have and also it was dry. Maybe they are opening so many restaurants and missing lots of worker so is just lacking in some area now. Hopefully they fix it soon.... read more

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Everything was mostly flawless here. It's always a good sign to me when the server doesn't blink when you ask them for an ice bucket to keep the cold sake cold. It's a HUGE place...the biggest sushi bar/restaurant I've ever been in. That would normally not be a good sign but they pulled it off very well. Yes, fairly expensive but also very good quality. Made a reservation and was seated at the bar immediately. Not a cozy neighborhood sishi bar. read more

Sushi Den - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Great spot with a large selection of sushi and sushi dishes. I loved the Tuna toro dishes, about 5 different preparations to choose from. Dessert selection could have been better but still enjoyed the experience regardless. read more