My partner and I were running errands on a gloomy Sunday and decided to act on our growing hunger,…read moreso I began to peruse Yelp for some recommendations. I'll usually filter out restaurants by the average / amount of reviews and this was a top contender. Located inside an unassuming shopping plaza, we backed into a suitable parking spot and finally entered the legendary Sushi Bear. The first thing we instinctually noticed was an odd, chemical smell (hopefully cleaning product / hence the knocked off star) and some of the walls looked to be under renovation and partially covered with incoherent children's scribble, but no big deal. We were promptly sat and immediately served a complimentary holiday roll and clear soups which were both very tasty. Soon after, our order was taken and within minutes was brought to us which we quickly filled up on. The staff were VERY attentive and friendly. The food was excellent and I will 100% be returning here whenever I need another convenient sushi fix. Highly recommended for the area. - Lou Sassle

I ordered take out and was completely surprised. The food was very hot (even the miso soup) and…read morefresh. Did pick up and the food was ready when I arrived (great service) and people were sooo very nice. I did hibachi dinner with scallops, the scallops were perfectly cooked. Totally amazed, really thought they would be tough and just white in color, juicy and a perfect sear-Bravo! Loved the fresh crispy salad and the ginger dressing was so good, not the average type dressing. I look forward to going in to Sushi Bear and try the fresh Sushi.

We dined in for my birthday and we had a great time, everyone was very friendly and very very nice…read more The hostess even checked with the Chef weeks before I made a reservation to ask if they could accommodate me because I have Celiac Disease (I highly recommend calling beforehand). She also gave me directions to the restaurant because it was in a plaza and I wasn't from the area and didn't want to be late. The omakase experience here and the sake tasting was fantastic. Every dish was so precisely made and plated and we got tonwatch it all from the Chef'scounter. We were given explanations for everything we had that night and they made everything gluten-free because two of us that night were gluten-free. The omakase is in the back of the restaurant as well sectioned off from the main restaurant and bar. The space is beautiful and it even has and outdoors seating area with a large (maybe fake) Sakura tree. They made my birthday dinner very special and I appreciated that a lot. The sake tasting was also just as fantastic. The sommolier explained every sake and even let me take a quick photo of the bottle so I would be able to remember it. The Final dish was a gluten-free cheesecake. If I lived in JAX I would come here all the time. I highly recommend it! Everyone was great and all the food was fantastic.

Came here for my birthday and did the full Omakase experience. What an amazing experience!…read moreDelicious food and drinks. Right from the get-go you were in for a flavor adventure. The chef was very detailed and even explained every dish. My wife and I loved it so much, we're already planning our next one! Worth every single penny!

We rounded out a great day in Orange Park with a stop at Green Papaya Thai Restaurant on Blanding…read moreBlvd. The location is perfect right before you jump back on the highway. We started with the Gyoza, which is always a reliable favorite here. I ordered a mix of sushi including Tamago, a Philly Roll (properly made with smoked salmon!), and the Holiday Roll. The Holiday Roll was an incredible surprise--I absolutely loved it. Bonus: the portions were large enough that I had plenty of leftovers for lunch today. Lauren got the Drunken Noodles, but fair warning on the spice levels: she usually handles heat well and ordered a Spice Level 2, but it was incredibly fiery! She probably should have stuck to a Level 1, though she still managed to eat a good bit of it. The decor inside this location is fantastic, and watching the robot waiter cruise around the dining room adds such a fun touch to the atmosphere. Highly recommend! This review originally appeared in the Jacksonville Fun, Eats & Drinks Facebook group.

I took my family here for my mothers birthday and we loved it!…read more Great prices, we were able to keep it at a 30$ budget per person without alcoholic drinks (that is always extra) We had a great time here, service was 10/10. And we loved the ambience and music. Food was A+ We will be back!

First time dining here, and I'll definitely be back!…read more The sushi was fresh, delicious, and perfectly prepared. The service was friendly, attentive, and polite. What really stood out was that the chef came out before we left to ask how we enjoyed our meal. It's always nice to see a restaurant that genuinely cares about its customers' experience.

Excellent sushi, and management. Loved the cozy atmosphere and that the owner was the one making…read morethe sushi. Prices were fantastic. Service was a little slow but worth the wait.

The best vegan sushi in Jacksonville!!!!!!…read more They have an all vegan menu and a non vegan as well. The steamed dumplings do not disappoint. The steamed veggie gyoza are delightful and the shittake mushrooms stuffed. The sweet angel / sweet forest rolls are my favorite vegan rolls. This place is seriously a veggie gem. Been going here for years & it never disappoints. Also the food comes out extremely fast, quiet restaurant, and attentive staff.

Sushi is always fresh at the cozy restaurant. We love the dancing scallops app. I wish it came with…read moremore than 4 pieces. It's so good. The Super Mario is one of our favorite rolls. This was our first time trying new beginning. While everything was fresh, I couldn't help but feel like it was missing something in terms of flavor. That didn't stop us from devouring it. My daughter had the bento which was great. She said she was satisfied with the portion and overall taste/quality for the price. There are so many options to choose from. It'll take us a while to try them all. There's something for everyone including a vegan menu.

We frequently order/eat from Sake house 2... They never disappoint! The staff is genuine and kind,…read morethey even know what we always order, including drinks and remember it! We love dining from Sake House 2 because the staff is genuine and attentive to you. Excellent meals, superior quality and large portion sizes! We eat-in or go through Door Dash. They always cook the steak the way you want. If the door dash doesn't allow you to customize the order, you can call the restaurant and they will update and make it the way you want, such as without vegetables or without sesame seeds. Prices are exceptional. Dine-in lunch for Teriyaki ranges from $12-$14, (with chicken teriyaki is $12). Hibachi ranges from $12-$15. Dinner for Teriyaki ranges from $16-$24 (including 2x meat, like chicken and steak $24 and chicken teriyaki being $18. We don't like sushi, but they have an extensive number of sushi and put it on bamboo boat designs for how they serve at the restaurant. It's truly a work of art!

I've tried to try this place once before, but there's a strange smell in restaurant that's a bit…read moreoff-putting. Last time I got a drink but left without eating. Today I stuck it out, and I can confirm you get used to the smell haha! The service was great. My waitress was super sweet. She was really on top of it and had that knack of showing up exactly when you need her and leaving you alone for the rest of it. 10/10. The Sapporo beer was good. I got the spicy tuna roll and the Diablo roll. I LOVED the Diablo roll. The tuna roll was pretty boring- it's about half the size and about half the price. They're generous with the tuna, there's just not much going on besides that. So I would definitely recommend getting a specialty roll! Can't wait to try more in the future :)

We went to O-Ku Jax Beach for lunch and amazing views recently. We had our dear friend with us…read more O-Ku is located at 502 First Street in Jax Beach and they have a great rooftop with killer ocean views. We split the Braised Pork Belly Bao to start, which was great. After that, we worked from the lunch specials. She did the Hot Box with chicken and I did the Sushi Box. We liked both and the only afterthought was that she would've asked for shrimp instead of chicken next time. My only note was that the Spicy Tuna roll included with my box was VERY spicy. That may sound like an odd thing to say but many places don't mean "spicy" when they say it about their rolls. O-ku means spicy when they say it, so just know that. Our servers name was John and he was great. Attentive without being overbearing and kept us updated on what we coming next while making solid suggestions on drinks, sides & desserts. This review originally appeared in the Jacksonville Fun, Eats & Drinks Facebook group.

5 stars for O-ku! One of my favorite restaurants, it's one of our go-to's for special occasions!…read more We've gone for birthdays, anniversaries, when family/friends come to visit from out of town! The food and service are consistently good every time we go and the ambience is always so fun! We've sat in the dining areas downstairs and upstairs as well as right at the sushi counter- all wonderful experiences! The food is excellent!! We usually order a few apps, a few sushi rolls to share, sometimes sushi/nigiri as well! Particular favs include the crispy rice, lobster temaki, and Oceanside, Fuego, and blazing saddles rolls, to name a few. The drinks are also amazing here! This place is the first I've seen with the option to put Parmesan cheese on your espresso martini -apparently it's a thing?!- glad I tried it though I do prefer my espresso martinis parm free...but how fun!! The Shogun and plum martini are great options...I think I've enjoyed every drink I've tried at O-ku actually, so you can't go wrong!Their drink menu is quite fun and inventive! Sake flights are a great option too! Overall: lovely ambience, the service is friendly, professional, and timely every time we go and the food is always amazing! Can't say enough good things! Suggestion to make a reservation because they do often fill up, though getting a spot at the bar is always a great option here too

I came to this place for the first time a month ago, and it was by far the best tasting hibachi…read more I've had in years. I ordered the hibachi shrimp, veggies, stir fry noodles, I also tried the filet mignon and salmon. Very delicious!!! Also a great atmosphere 10/10 We went back and realized they were closed for remodeling.

Beautiful and open inside! I love the wooden decor and various lanterns…read more There is space for hibachi tables, but there are also booths and tables as well as seating at bar. I sat in a booth and I know that this is so picky, but the seats were so far back from the end booth that I had to sit on the same side as my friend to reach the table. Not a dealbreaker, just uncomfortable. The food was great though! I had a tempura shrimp roll and found it crispy and yummy. The vegetable udon was the star and it was packed with flavor. Will go again!