As mentioned before, greeted immediately & very welcoming. No intimidation for new sushi/japanese…read morefood peeps. Very simple menu & selections. We had the sizzling salmon entree. I had the sashimi salad w/ponzu dressing & a bowl of rice. I didnt eat the salad part, just the sashimi w/my hot rice! Next time, tempura udon. I can't ever resist. The bowls aren't as big as what you get in japan, but large for US (Ramen & Udon)

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Garlic knock out was absolutely delicious. Perfect amount of spice and super flavorful.read more

Just what I needed. Service was efficient and friendly. Food was amazing. First bite, I just…read morecould resist was the a5 wagyu caviar sushi. It is an amazing bite of food. Next I had the Signature Toripaitan, which had an amazing broth, noodles had a good bite, eggs were done nicely, a little truffle but too overpowering. Was still spoiling myself so I made another order of Wagyu and ikura and of Wagyu and caviar to end the meal. Both were so good.

Let's get the most important thing out of the way:…read more You need the crispy rice with spicy tuna. It's not a want. It's a need. I pop in here probably once a month. I'm assuming it's a family-owned joint because the one and only guy working front of house always takes care of me. He's awesome. The place is cute. It's tastefully decorated, and they have a very-on-brand, ginormous full moon light on the wall that's illuminated from behind. It's super cool. I've only ever seen a couple other diners in there with me at any time. The food comes out super fast, which is great, because I'm hungry as soon as i step in the place. The prices are reasonable, the portions are generous, and the food is always good. If you're in the area, this place is a must-stop.

We found this place by accident. My daughter and I arrived around 6pm on a Saturday. There were no…read morepeople there. Slowly others started to arrive about half hour later. I ordered hot sake and it did not disappoint. My daughter got a Ramune, miso soup, and shrimp tempura roll. No complaints! Miso soup was missing tofu that day. Apparently they were all out. Nevertheless the soup was very nice! I got two specialty rolls. The names escape me at the moment. The menu doesn't have a huge selection of rolls but I found what I like and both were VERY good! Good amount of fish vs rice. Everyone is very attentive. Service is very good. The ambiance is interesting :) nothing fancy but not too bland either. There are full moon/moon related decorations. The rolls are also named with the Moon theme in mind. Overall very nice and we will be back to try their ramen !

Nishikawa Ramen is a small little ramen shop decorated with anime posters from Naruto, One Piece,…read moreand Dragon Ball. There were also cute little trinkets of My Neighbor Totoro. Upon entering, we were free to seat ourselves and chose a booth by the wall. It was not busy at all and the service was quick and friendly. We started off with a large sake bomb paired with a Kirin Light ($15). We then ordered two Tonkotsu Ramens, one medium spice and one hot spice ($15.99 each). Honestly, the hot spice level did not taste spicy at all, so I would recommend going extra hot if you like spice. They also provide chili powder on the table if you want to add more spice yourself. The ramen broth itself could have used a tad more flavor. I lightly added some soy sauce to the broth which is something I often do to add a little kick. I loved all of the toppings included, from the green onions to the kikurage (wood ear mushroom). My favorite part was the pork chashu, which was really tender and delicious. I also appreciated that the ramen came with a full soft boiled egg rather than half an egg, and the egg was perfectly runny. Before leaving, we ordered their tea special that was buy one get one. We got a matcha milk tea and a cafe latte which I forgot to take a photo of. I felt like the cafe latte could have used a little more sweetness to balance it. Also, I found it neat that Nishikawa offers a rewards program, not something I see often at ramen shops. My true rating would be 4.5 due to some of the criticisms I mentioned above, but overall I still had a good experience. Thank you for serving us. Visited 5/2/26

This place was good but the service could use some work. I went in during the mid afternoon for an…read moreearly dinner and was seated right away but the waitress didn't give me a menu. I sat there for several minutes and when she came back, she asked if I was ready to order. I asked for a menu and then she tapped this little sign on the table that had a QR code on it. I guess they want you to use your phone to look up the menu but then she brought me a printed menu and a glass of water. I had about a minute to look at the menu before the waitress came back and asked what I wanted. I ordered the small portion of the chicken karaage appetizer and the Nishikawa Black Ramen. Both items came out at about the same time. The chicken was good and there was a lot which somewhat surprised me because I thought they had given me a large portion by mistake. The only downside was that the plate was really small so the chicken kept tumbling onto the table. The ramen was just ok. It came in a really big bowl and there was a lot of broth and toppings but relatively little noodles in comparison. It was more like a bowl of soup. The slice of pork was huge but a little bit chewy when I was expecting it to be tender. The egg wasn't sliced so it was difficult to pick up the entire piece with my chopsticks. The chicken was $7 and the ramen was $18. I would have been ok just getting the chicken, perhaps a large portion for $12. I wouldn't get this particular ramen again. With tax and a tip my total was a little over $31 which isn't the most I've spent at a ramen restaurant, but it wasn't cheap either. I wasn't offered a refill on my drink until after I had paid and was ready to leave. In fact, I only saw the waitress once after my food was brought out, and that was when she brought me the bill. The rest of the time she was somewhere in the kitchen.

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.

Jinya Ramen is one of those spots that just gets it right. Welcoming service from the jump, and the…read morespace delivers--plenty of seating, a solid bar, and a great patio when the weather's right. The ramen is rich and flavorful, but the real draw is happy hour (3-6pm) with a strong lineup of food and drinks that make it easy to linger. Bonus: right next to Paris Baguette for an easy coffee/dessert follow-up. Great vibe, great value, and an easy go-to--plus it's on InKind.

We walk in on a Sunday evening roughly 7pm party of 2. The place was not busy, but steady…read more The hostess was very nice and accommodating, she sat us and advises our waiter would be with us shortly. Our waitress comes to us and takes our drinks and orders. She came back to advise us that they were out of the cucumber salad. I ask if she could add something to my order (I wanted to add an egg to my ramen, not on the side but in the ramen) to which she acknowledged. Roughly 10 mins later, a new waiter brings me out an egg in a bowl! I politely told him I asked for it to be in my ramen, not as a side. He looks at me as if I've lost my mind, then asks if I want it in a to-go box... why?? I told him a second time, that I asked for it to be on my soup, the ramen! He walked away. Another 15 mins goes by and yet another server comes and brings out our food. Everyone around us is getting service, like multiple times, but we have yet to see our waitress. We asked a 3rd waiter if we could get sauces, which he brings out. We eat our food, and guess what...? Still no waitress. We finish our food and had to ask a fourth waiter for a to go box, and finally our waitress comes out and asks if we need anything, to which I tell her, no, we've already been taken care of! She walks away with what seemed like an attitude. Brings our check. Another 10 mins goes by and we don't see her... every other table is gettin their service from their waiters/waitress and we don't. So we get up and pay for our bill, ourselves at the hostess table. Our waitress comes up to take our bill, doesn't say anything at all. No, I'm so sorry I'm waiting multiple tables, or hey sorry I'm working both inside and outside, nothing. Besides the less than par service the food was really good!! If she would have at least communicated to us, how busy she was or is or anything, this would a be a totally different story.

One of the best ramen experiences of my life and I say that as a Ramen lover who has tried…read morecountless bowls over the years. A friend brought us here, and despite a short wait, everything moved impressively fast. From seating to ordering to the food arriving at our table, it barely took 15 minutes. I ordered the Garlic Knock Out, and it truly lived up to its name. The broth was rich and deeply flavorful, the noodles were cooked to perfection, and the meat was exactly as tender as it should be. Every element was well-balanced and satisfying. The service was decent. The staff were clearly busy, and our server had a bit of sass but as long as mutual respect is maintained, that doesn't bother me. Highly recommended.

A solid once-in-a-while ramen spot, especially for the price…read more We'd only return specifically for the Aburasoba and the Signature Ramen -- both are packed with way more flavor than the rest of the menu. Everything else was just okay. We'd probably skip the appetizers and hot tastings next time. Great value if you're craving those two standout bowls!

Hands down one of the best restaurants in Phoenix, imho…read more Love their pasta dishes and the staff is always nice and friendly. While the restaurant is small it's nice and clean! Bon Appetit

Had a nice dinner here with friends last night. We arrived around 8pm and were seated in one of the…read moretwo booths right at the entrance. It's a cool fusion place with sushi, ramen and Italian pasta. While I was tempted to try the pasta, the extremely spicy gyoza potstickers called to me even more. My friends enjoyed some beef udon and katsudon. I also had a glass of Chardonnay. The service was nice and the decor seemed a bit fusion as well- abstract art, European style paintings etc the holiday lights added a nice touch too. I enjoyed my spicy potstickers, they had a great heat- although I did not expect there to be so much broth; it was essentially dumpling soup, but it was tasty. My friends liked their meals too and we had a good time hanging out and catching up. I would recommend. Pretty good value/price!

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!

On a Sunday evening, after checking out the Desert Botanical Garden, I was looking for some food in…read morethe area. I came across Zu Izakaya and it's great reviews as one of the options. I love Japanese food so my decision was made. I drove over and parked in their complimentary lot. Ambiance (3.5/5): I've been to Japan and there are plenty of izakayas there. Think of them as small bars which often serve solid food. Zu fits that bit. It's a relatively small restaurant, probably seats about 30 people. and it's pretty no frills for a Japanese spot. I was seated at a booth in the corner of the restaurant. They have free WiFi which is always a good touch. Service (3/5): Service was friendly, though a bit inconsistent. My waitress wasn't as attentive as I would have liked. The type of service where you have to flag them down to get what you want and to close out. Drinks (4/5): Zu has a nice menu of Japanese and Korean beverages, including sake, soju, Japanese beer, and more. With that being said, I just had an iced green tea. Food (4/5): I got a nice variety. I went with the Japanese sausage off of the grill menu, the OBI mayo roll off of the sushi menu, and the cheese corn off of the appetizer menu. Let's start with the sausage. It's a small item, two small sausages, but absolutely delicious. The sausage was bursting with flavor and basted in a sweet sauce. Minus the portion size, perfection. The cheese corn also hit the spot, but the execution was off. The corn is served on a hot platter, and unfortunately some of the corn on the edges was badly burnt. The type of situation where they should start over. Which they didn't. Lastly, the OBI mayo roll is essentially a California roll with marinated warm shrimp on top in a mayo sauce. I didn't love the hot and cold combo (shrimp and sushi), but outside of the temperature, it was a delicious roll. All in all, a very food meal. My only gripe with Japanese food is that it can get expensive quick. Given that Zu is in Tempe, I was hoping that prices would be a little cheaper. With that being said, they do have a solid happy hour (and reverse happy hour) with both food and drink specials. Next time I stop by, I'd like to check out some of their Korean options. I focused on the Japanese stuff this time (which makes the majority of the menu). Next time around, the bulgogi is calling my name!

My partner and I originally chose this place because we heard they light one of the sushi rolls on…read morefire, which immediately sounded like something fun we had to try. Funny enough, this actually wasn't even the exact restaurant my partner had been thinking of when he brought it up, but honestly I'm so glad we ended up here anyway because the food was REALLY good. We ordered the flaming ohmygod sushi roll, and man... it was amazing. Not only was the presentation fun, but the sushi itself actually tasted incredible too, which sometimes isn't the case with more "gimmicky" menu items. It was so good that I literally ordered another roll to-go and took it on the plane back home with me because I already knew I'd be craving it later. That alone should say enough about how much I liked it. I also tried the matcha martini, and it was honestly one of the best cocktails I've had in a while. It had the perfect balance of matcha flavor and alcohol where neither one overpowered the other. Sometimes matcha drinks either taste way too earthy or completely lose the matcha flavor under the alcohol, but this one was super smooth, flavorful, and really well done. The restaurant itself also has a really nice atmosphere. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, and the indoor area definitely has a more upscale vibe than your usual sushi spot and that makes the experience feel a little more elevated and perfect for a date night. On top of all that, the servers were super friendly and provided genuinely great service throughout the meal. Everyone was attentive, welcoming, and made the experience feel really comfortable and enjoyable. Overall, this place completely exceeded my expectations. Great sushi, fun presentation, amazing drinks, friendly service, and a really nice atmosphere. I'd absolutely come back again.

Great sushi at pretty good prices. There was a bit of a wait since it was a weekend. I don't…read morebelieve they take reservations so it's a good idea to get there early. The cocktails were unique, but the sushi stole the show. The interior is trendy, lively, and young. The only other complaint was they only had 2 individual bathrooms so it was a 20 minute wait just to use the restroom.