My partner and I tried this spot during their happy hour, mainly for the matcha martini but we luckily tried a few other items on the menu and loved them! The ambiance is very dark and intimate inside, moderate noise from all the other parties around but the decor is too notch. They have very fast service with plenty of workers constantly around cleaning and bringing items. We ordered the matcha martini which was very good but on the sweeter side, we also tried the HH highball and cocktail of the month which were also good. For food we tried the shishito skewer, karage, and 4 different hand rolls which came with wasabi and ginger on the side. Everything tasted fresh and was very flavorful, what a great spot for happy hour and we will definitely be back! read more

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3/5 Stars Great spot for a happy hour! The waitstaff was fantastic and super attentive, though the hosts could definitely work on being a bit friendlier. I'm leaving 3 stars mainly due to their gratuity policy and a minor service mix-up. They automatically added auto-gratuity for a "party of 6." Hear me out--our party was actually 4 adults, a toddler, and a 3-month-old who slept in a carrier the entire time. Charging automatic gratuity for an infant feels a bit excessive. But they said that is the owners rules. They have to count by head, not by who gets served. On top of that, we asked three separate times for our second order of edamame and it was never brought out. Overall, good vibes and food for happy hour, but the billing policy for babies and the forgotten item were definitely frustrating. read more

Tori Bar - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Tori Bar was a great experience! It's very loved by the locals and seems like THE spot to be on a Friday night. We did not have a reservation (party or 2) and we waited about 45 min for a table. The ambiance is dim lighted and lively, perfect for dinner. The food was very good as well! They're smaller plates so trying many things is common. I loved everything we ordered especially the cucumber salad, lychee mocktail, and Rangoon! Wasn't a fan of the Lump Crab Meat Cucumber and Avocado hand roll but I think that's more of a me thing than the food itself - it is a popular one. Highly recommend this place and would love to come back! read more

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Came here for the first time even though this spot is just a mile from our house. Should've been coming here much sooner! We love Izakaya Tori and knew they opened this spot a few years back. They run a fantastic happy hour from 4-6pm daily. You'll want to get here around 4 though to get a table as they do get crowded. Specials on beer, highballs, and a rotating cocktail of the month as well as specials on apps and sushi. Awesome place to hang out, elevated atmosphere, great vibes! read more

Tori Bar - Cocktail of the month special and Mentaiko Fries - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Came to Tori Bar for Happy Hour Friday night! Absolutely loved it! The place was very busy, so if you plan to come for happy hour on a Friday or Saturday definitely come early. It runs 4-6 M-Sat. We got a seat at the bar thankfully and opted for their happy house lychee highball which was $10. I sucked it down it was so good! Placed an order for the spicy tuna hand roll, the fries, Chicken Thigh with Scallion and Japanese sausage skewers, and the chicken Karaage. The handroll came out within just a few minutes. The fish was so fresh and delicious. Later on we ordered the Tekka Don (raw) which was raw tuna over rice. The tuna was so fresh and delicious. Even my date, who doesn't like sushi, tried so and was impressed! Definitely give Tori bar a try for regular or late night happy hour, or really just any time for some delicious Asian inspired small plates and hand rolls. read more

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I couldn't recommend this place more! If you're doubting, don't. If you think you'll spend too much money, you will. But only because the food is so good and you'll want more. This is one of my favorite local spots as a Florida baby. Hand rolls are really big and you'll be full from 2-3 depending on how glutinous you are. Their smashed cucumbers and crudo are FIRE. Make sure you go during happy hour so you can feel better about spending more money there. They also have a very unique drink menu. Including non-alcoholic. I like the Lychee delight. They also are good with allergens and have lots of options for gluten free. For best portion size I'd recommend the hand rolls and starters, the skewer are a little small but very flavorful so still worth the try. I know they have live music too but not sure when, I believe they update on instagram. Anyways...get in your car and get there early so you can find parking. read more

Tori Bar - Hand rolls gf & lychee delight - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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I really enjoyed my time here at Tori Bar which seems to be THE spot in this area. We waited about 45 min for a party of 2 around 5pm or so. The food comes out very quick and it's more of a tapas style ordeal. The inside of the restaurant is dark and has cool decorations. Lots of bar seating it's probably great for a date night or just a girls night. Next time I would like to try an assortment of sashimi instead of just tuna. I would definitely return to do so. read more

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Happy hour at Tori Bar is everything! Very nice ambiance and quick service! A few things to take note of are that they don't take reservations for a party under 6 people and there is a two hour table limit during happy hour. This is understandable because the restaurant filled up QUICKLY and I got there shortly after 4pm when happy hour starts. The lump crab hand roll was delicious, get two! I also had the miso soup, teriyaki chicken thigh skewer, and the zucchini skewer accompanied by a lychee highball. I will definitely be back for the late night happy hour as well! read more

Tori Bar - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Love love love Tori Bar!!! A great local spot and always very busy. They have the BEST happy hour I've found in Tampa Bay - a huge selection of food and cocktail items to choose from where most places have a very small happy hour menu. For a girls night, we went for happy hour and had the best experience. Our waitress was a total girls girl and super helpful with recommending her favorites for us to try. I had a mocktail and my friends all had cocktails. Everything was served SO quickly! We had a wide range of things for the happy hour menu: Salmon and Avocado Hand Roll, Tuna and Avocado Hand Roll, Chicken Thigh with Scallion Skewers, Smashed Japanese Cucumber (so good!!!!) and the Brussel sprouts. I also ordered the Chicken Karaage and Shiso Rangoon off the normal menu and cannot recommend the Shiso Rangoon enough!! Truly my favorite dish. We ended dinner with the Ube cheesecake and loved it! We always have a great time here and appreciate the great service, great food, and the vibes. read more

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Tori Bar is such a vibe. If you're into Japanese inspired small bites packed with flavor, this spot is it. Everything I've tried has been really good, from the rice to the fries. The Mentaiko fries are perfectly crispy, and somehow they stay crispy even after you add the sauce which is amazing. So the ribeye with fries is a must. Super flavorful and cooked just right. Food usually comes out pretty fast. And do NOT skip dessert the ube cheesecake is incredible. It's light, unique, and the perfect way to end the meal. The atmosphere is always on point...music, great energy, and just an overall good time every visit. Only downside is the parking. It's street parking or a garage, and you definitely have to pay attention and make sure you're paying the meter because they stay on it with tickets in that area. I really wish parking was easier, but honestly, the food and vibe still make it worth it. read more

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As an avid lover of Japanese culture and food, I was anxious to try Tori Bar. I came in for their happy hour and enjoyed $10 highballs which has a unique system for added C02 which I can confirm made a difference in the taste, truly unique. The handroll I enjoyed was fresh and you can watch them making them at the end of the bar. We sat at the bar which quickly filled up, so I recommend getting there early or having a reservation, optimal for smaller parties. Ambiance is upscale, modern, japanese. If you have been to Izakaya Tori they have similar menu items but much more unique drinks, and higher quality offerings. read more

Tori Bar - Highball - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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I have been long awaiting to try the infamous Tori Bar that has struck the Tampa Bay Area. From friends, strangers, word on the street had all told me to try out Tori Bar. They specifically mentioned to go during their happy hour because it's a great deal and so I did. I went around an hour before close;10:45 ish. The service was excellent. Our server, the food runner, and food buzzer all nice and I could tell were genuine people. My server surprised me with my drink choice of the night, the GuavaTai. It was strong but with great flavor. I would order it again and my friend got the special of the month which she really enjoyed. I then ordered myself 3 hand rolls off the happy hour menu and man were they worth the every penny. The size of the hand roll was bigger than most places I've seen. The seafood fresh. I also lovedddd that they have written on their menus what is gluten free; not a lot of places have that indicated on the menu. We also ordered the chicken karaage, chicken thigh skewer with scallion, and the braised pork. The braised pork and chicken karaage was honestly to die for. The pork was melt in your mouth tender and delicious and the karaage was just cooked to perfection. The interior had a moody feel to it, great for a date night, night out with your girls, and overall such a cute place to take pics and vibe out. I am so excited to go back and try the rest of what Tori Bar has to offer! read more

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Came here for Happy Hour on a Wednesday, and it was pretty busy. Opted to sit outside, as it was November. The Happy Hour isn't a huge discount from the regular prices, but still a deal. The fries are absolutely delicious, the lychee speciality drink is a bit sweet but still yummy (as long as you like sweet), and the rolls were good not great... I tried the crab one, since the server told us it is real crab, and it probably is, but just not super flavorful? The pork belly skewers were crispy and yummy as well! Service was fast and helpful! read more

Excellent Happy Hour with neat and unique events that are thrown here. Service at the bar is best and some of the servers are not friendly and have an issue with patrons requesting extra blue cheese olives LOL. It's me. Food is incredible I will say. This is a sister restaurant to Izakaya Tori off Dale Mabry. I recognized their plating and their iconic Shiso Rangoon that have me dreaming about them every other day. Try this place out. HH from 4-6 M-F. read more

Tori Bar - Crab and Avocado Hand Roll and Tuna Sashimi Variety - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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The happy hour special here is awesome! The pork belly skewer as well as the chicken thigh skewers are amazing. The hand rolls are also awesome and their drinks are delicious. Make sure you make a reservation for dinner because it is pretty popular but happy hour after work is pretty decent. Service is fast and the food is always fresh. During happy hour it's a normal sound level, sometimes it's a little too loud for my liking for dinner. That might just be a me problem, but it seems like it would be a more hush toned restaurant. I guess I'm expecting too much from a place near a university lol. read more

Tori Bar - Cheers - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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I loveeee this place. The ambience, the food and the live music. Such a vibe! Highly recommend to others.

My first time here was on a Wednesday for the girls nights in March, I arrived right at 7 and it was already packed! I didn't realize how popular this spot was even on the weekday nights. Our group got a booth by the bar - plenty of space for 6-7 of us which was great. We started with drinks, I ordered the lychee martini and it was fantastic - it really has a great lychee flavor which isn't always on the mark with lychee martinis. The mentaiko fries were good, definitely shareable size. The rice was the real winner at our table, it was delicious. The chicken thigh with scallion skewers were also delicious, we ordered them a little extra crispy and I would recommend ordering them that way. For dessert - if there's anything you MUST try, it's the ube cheesecake. That was a 10/10 for me. It's a great spot to get together with your friends, but make sure you get there early enough to grab a table or you'll be waiting for quite some time! read more

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Late night dinner after watching a concert. Nice bar full of young people from UT. Nice selection of sushi rolls and small plates Great service. No pics cause I ate first! read more

Literally my go to spot in Tampa. It stays open late which is always a win, and the vibe is super easygoing and fun. I really love their handrolls--always fresh and made really well. The lychee drink is also a favorite, super refreshing and not too sweet. And the truffle rice is honestly so good, kind of addictive read more

Tori Bar - Hand rolls - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

This is my second time visiting Tori Bar and I'm in love! The vibes, the food, the beverages.. all so good. This time the girls and I went for happy hour and we tried several different items.. so tasty! I personally had the cocktail of month (the strawberry spritz), which was delicious, along with the tuna + avocado hand roll, salmon + avocado hand roll, chicken thigh with scallion skewer, and the braised pork belly skewer. My friends also let me try their mentaiko fries and shiso rangoons and both of those were standouts for me, along with the hand rolls for sure! They do not take reservations but we came around 4:30pm and had no issues getting a table. Will definitely be going back!! read more

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Enjoyed eating here for date night! We got there around 6pm and waited about 25 minutes for a table. Service was very fast as plates come out maybe 5-10 minutes after you place an order! The drinks were very very strong for my liking but still tasty. We ordered so much food but it was so amazing! My favorite was the spicy tuna roll. It is near the university so expect a lot of college kids! Overall, really nice restaurant. read more

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This review was somewhere in between a 3/5 and 4/5. It easily could've been a four with some minor differences. There was just something about Tori Bar that didn't meet the high expectations others have thrown on to them. First off, plan to pay for parking (~$3/hr). It was a busy Friday night when we came so we understood it would be busy. We just missed happy hour by a minute or two due to a 40 minute wait. We ordered the tuna handroll and the yellowtail handroll. Both were adequate but I'm not a fan of the handroll style. Just give me sushi. It was the same cost as a normal sushi roll but with less value. The quality was fine just the concept is meh. We also ordered the Duck Skewer and the Chicken Thigh Skewer. Chicken Thigh Skewer was definitely worth it. Tasty and a decent portion for a 'single serving' while the Duck needed seasoned a bit more and was much less generous for the serving signs despite being already well more expensive than the Chicken Thigh. We also ordered the fries, which needed a bit more sauce which they were happy to bring. Nothing special but helped filled us up. We also ordered the Kaarage chicken which was ok but nothing special, not worth getting. The best part about Tori Bar is the vibe on the patio with some beautiful weather. The service was ok, but it took about ten minutes to get helped after seating and what felt like another ten to get our check at the end. The biggest qualm I have with Tori Bar are the 'single serving style' menu. It feels like you have to order the exact right amount of food to not be hungry or you could also then waste money. Psychologically it isn't the best feeling to mentally swipe a card to order more food just to fill up a 'normal dinner portion'. All the drinks looked good but we didn't order any. Will I be back anytime soon? Probably not. It's the perfect place to come when someone else like work or a company is picking up the check, just not on my own dime. I'd rather just get Sushi somewhere else or just gets Korean food somewhere else. read more

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I think it's safe to say that Tori Bar is my favorite Japanese restaurant in Tampa! If there's one place you'll catch me at least twice a month, it's here for happy hour (4pm - 7pm). It's also my go-to spot whenever I have friends visiting Tampa and want them to experience one of the best dining gems in the city. The food is always consistent, and the flavors never miss. My absolute favorite dish is the truffle pot rice! Rich, comforting, and packed with flavor. I also can't skip the braised pork belly skewers, which are perfectly tender and full of savory goodness. As for drinks, the lychee martinis here are easily the best I've had in Tampa. They're perfectly balanced and dangerously good. And if you have room for dessert, the matcha crème brûlée is the perfect sweet ending. Between the food, quick service an drinks, and overall vibe, Tori Bar never disappoints. Be back soon! read more

We stopped in on a Friday night for drinks and snacks. We sat at the bar and ordered drinks. I ordered the espresso martini and was very happy with it. We then shared a hand roll and the fries. The fries were an incredibly large serving! We had a great experience and would come back again! read more

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Slowly becoming a Tampa staple! Had a great experience here. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated, and although it's a small space, they did a great job maximizing it so that guests don't feel crowded. Went here for the late night happy hour on Valentine's Day and thoroughly enjoyed myself. We had the Spicy Octopus hand roll, Chicken Thigh, Chicken Wing, and Pork Belly skewers. We also had the Mentaiko fries. All super yummy! Also had the Lychee Highball. The bartender was lovely! Overall amazing experience, can't wait to visit again. read more

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A must visit restaurant in Tampa! Street parking was easy to find, which made arriving stress free. The moment we walked in, we were impressed by the beautiful interior decor and how clean and inviting the place felt. We had a reservation for a large party, and despite how busy it was, the staff made sure everyone felt well taken care of. Our server, Monica, was absolutely phenomenal. She anticipated our needs, ensured no one waited long for anything, and gave fantastic recommendations that really enhanced our experience. The food was outstanding. Every single dish we tried blew us away. Since everything is served tapas style (small plates), we loved being able to sample a wide variety of flavors. We can't wait to go back! read more

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Impromptu late night grab after a concert. We always dined at its sister restaurant Izakaya, Tori and food is always delicious there. We started off with some appetizers I like the french fries, poke bowls, hand sushi, and a variety of skewers. The food was very good and service was quick. So appreciative of that given we were starving from a concert. Great place to hang out with your friends. Nice bar area! I would recommend if you are looking for bar type setting and small plates to e read more

The best happy hour in Tampa! Almost daily deals with flavorful skewers, massive handrolls and delicious drinks. Service is amazing and quick. I don't know how they do it. I will be back for the truffle scallop pot rice and the pork belly skewers. read more

I'm not a huge fan of hand rolls but because I went during happy hour I was able to be adventurous and try out a few things I wouldn't normally get. If you're more of a nigiri person I would get the hand rolls that aren't spicy as the spicy once are chopped and sauced up. I was expecting the sauce to be drizzled on it but it was still very delicious. The staff was very sweet and not overbearing at all but still very attentive! I sat on the patio which is very cute and great if you have a big party. On Friday nights they even have a singer that performs on the patio read more

Tori Bar is such a great spot for Japanese small bites and easily one of my favorite places for a fun night out. Everything we ordered was incredible, and honestly there isn't a bad item on the menu. The pork skewers were perfectly cooked and packed with flavor, the karaage was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, and the fries with spicy mayo were dangerously addictive. The crab hand rolls were fresh, well balanced, and absolutely delicious. Even the smaller plates felt thoughtfully done and high quality. The service is always great too! The ambiance really sets the mood. It's sexy, dark, and intimate, making it super cute for a date night or a night out with friends. The vibe feels elevated but still relaxed, which makes you want to stay, snack, and order one more thing. If you're into great food, good energy, and a cool atmosphere, Tori Bar is a must. read more

What used to be fly bar is now Tori bar and I absolutely love what they did with the place. It's undeniable that Tori bar has an amazing late night happy hour however I was really disappointed with their service. I arrived at about 10:15 PM sat at the bar waited over 30 minutes to be served. They finally were able to take my order and when that time came, they told me that their kitchen was already closed due to them closing at 11. I was actually baffled considering I had been waiting at the bar to be served for 30 minutes. I will say they did end up serving me after I expressed my concerns However it really did take away from the experience. I really want to enjoy the ambience and the food, but the whole thing was kinda ruined after the service issue. I will absolutely give Tori bar another chance despite the service because the food and drinks were actually that good. read more

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Was able to stop in for late night happy hour with the squad. Service was very accommodating as always and super friendly. The Japanese smash cucumber is a very good gluten free/veggie dish that was my highlight of the night. Other items I tried were avocado & cucumber hand roll, chicken wings (salt) and tomatoes. Overall my second trip to Tori Bar was yet again amazing. The ambiance is really nice, the lighting truly sets the mood for awesome nights in Tampa Bay! read more

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I wouldn't come back for the food, but I would definitely check out more drinks here. The $15 matcha martini was out of this world yummy and typically I don't even like matcha. The bad news. I came here on a Friday night at 6:32pm. I was told a 35 minute wait. However, the actual wait time was 1 hour and 1 minute. Off by a lot. The tables here are super close together unless you get a booth or a high top table. The bar area is big and maybe I'd just sit there next time. Now, back to the food. The only food item that was above average was the $9 chicken karaage. I would probably just get multiple orders of this. Also, the $13 Garlic butter wild mushroom was pretty good too. Both the chicken and rib eye steak skewers were terrible. No flavor, and just bad. The spicy edamame wasn't spicy, and didn't taste right. Lastly, I tried a $14 green day drink and it was good too, but the matcha drink was the star of the night. I like all the Japanese ambiance, but once again, I'd only come here for drinks and karaaage. read more

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The atmosphere was stylish and inviting, with a cool vibe that made it perfect for a night out. The drinks were well-crafted and tasted great, and the service was friendly and attentive throughout my visit. Everything came out in a timely manner, and the overall energy of the place made it even better. read more

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What a beautiful restaurant! They have one of the best happy hours in the Tampa Bay area. The only issue we had is that our waitress instead of taking our order for the last call she decided to go in the kitchen. Check on something come back. tell us happy hour was over. It stops us from being glutenous for sure but it also limits what her tip would be since it's based on a percentage of what we spend the food was great better than I expected. Definitely will be back. Also, they asked us if we were there for an event. We advised it was for friend's birthday and was completely ignored. read more

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The Tori Bar is a literal GEM! I came with a girlfriend for dinner and fell in love. The vibe was intoxicating. The place is more intimate and cozier, but it's perfect for the place. If you're looking for more of an open space, they also have outdoor seating, which in my opinion may be a more popular setting than the indoor. I tried a little bit of everything. Call me greedy, but the food was outstanding. The Mentaiko Fries, I've never had fries with mayo, mainly because I don't like mayo, but this was fantastic. I also had the Truffle Scallop Rice Pot; this was the star of the show. Comes served in a little metal pot, and the server stirs with precision, mixing all the ingredients to perfection (And YESSS they are supposed to stir it for you). We also ordered a few of the skewers; I'm pescatarian, so I had the Hokkaido Scallop, Shrimp, and Chilean Sea Bass, all delicious. My only note is that I wish we had some dipping sauces to elevate the flavors a bit! The Spicy Garlic Edamame was special, no one presented it this way, the spice and garlic aromas, Chef's kiss! Let's chit chat about the drink. NOW these are crafted drinks; if you aren't into experiencing new flavors, go for what you know. Everything sounded great, so I had a few cocktails: I had the Ume French 75, the Lychee Martini, and the Fujisan Margarita (with both the French 75 and the Martini, I switched the spirit to tequila), and they were still delightful. read more

Love the decor! Happy hour is amazing here. Great food options and solid drinks. I love sitting at the bar or sitting outside at night. Service is always good! read more

This place is a 10/10, especially for their unbeatable late-night happy hour. I try to go there at least once a week because the food is consistently amazing, the skewers and hand rolls are always the best part! It's the perfect spot if you want light bites or the chance to try a little bit of everything. The vibes and music are always on point, though it does get loud and feel a bit like a club on the weekends, so keep that in mind. Service is always welcoming, and I'm impressed everyone time by how quick everything comes out of the kitchen. The only downside is they don't take reservations, but the quality and atmosphere make the wait totally worth it! read more

Tori Bar - Mentaiko Fries and Smashed Japanese Cucumber - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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I finally made it here on a busy Saturday night to try the infamous Matcha martini! The room was packed from wall-to-wall. I didn't even know where they were going to see us until I saw this small high top table tucked into the corner. They had a great mix of music playing, but at the perfect volume where I could still enjoy our conversation when we're .They don't accept reservations for parties under six so luckily we were able to walk in and get seated right away. We had dinner somewhere else so we only stopped by for a cocktail. Our waiter Andres was a cool chill guy, but threw in a few jokes that kept us laughing. While, I did love the matcha martini, I would love to try it with vodka instead of gin. I'll definitely be back to try out their menu since a few things caught my eye read more

Tori Bar - Matcha Martini - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

This place is great! I've tried the cucumber salad, the spicy yellowtail handroll, the spicy octopus handroll, the rangoon, karage, Brussels sprout skewers and the mushrooms. Everything was a 5 star experience on my palette. Here, I prefer to be seated at a table. The bar staff is not welcoming at all. They really make you feel like it's a bother to provide you with service and that's been my experience twice. My last time, I was able to be seated at a table and I wish I remembered my server's name but she's the one who started the trend there of the pins on the apron and she has the most of them. Such a sweetheart. She was so patient and helpful with my indecisive friend attempting to navigate the menu and venture out and try new things. I love that the place even has outside seating, tho it's a very small space that is usually always full. Tori bar is a must visit. read more