Normally, I take notes of what kind of food I ordered but words cannot share the level of attention, authenticity, freshness, umami, and mind bending euphoria for those that are Japanese food fanatics. I was too busy eating and being in my own mind world experience and I was so happy to be by myself because the joy that each entrée brought me was incredible. If there was a rating system higher than five, it would deserve an eight out of five. Have every single entrée the star of the dish was the rice I've been to plenty of restaurants, but the Japanese rice has to be Michelin star rated. The rice every grain was covered in seasoned perfectly. I don't recall having this much joy. The fish ultra fresh The tablet based ordering, fun and technological The delivery of the food, comes to you on a conveyor belt. Instead of reading this review, go out and try it just go. You'll thank me later. read more

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This was my first time trying aburi-style sushi, and wow--I was impressed. The light sear gives the fish a nice smoky flavor and melts some of the fat, which makes each bite incredibly flavorful. I also really liked the restaurant itself. You can tell the owners put a lot of thought into the space--it feels modern, comfortable, and welcoming without trying too hard. Great food, great atmosphere, and definitely a place I'll be coming back to. It's earned a spot in my regular sushi rotation. read more

conveyor belt sushi in a nice & modern ambiance ok and pretty fresh sushi, our favorite is the ABURI SCALLOP SUSHI (get this!), aesthetic tableware that is stoneware originally would give maybe give 1 more star, but had such a horrible INEDIBLE food... crazy they were charging $20 FOR ONE PIECE for this. It was the wagyu uni, and the meat cut was NOT wagyu. It was extremely chewy, no one could bite it and the piece looked like straight tendon/ fat. I'm in disbelief. Granted the servers were nice enough to take it off our bill, but how can you serve that!! Not only serve that, but charge an absurd amount. Sorry but won't be back nor recommend. read more

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Love coming here. Prices are reasonable and there's quite a good amount of variety. My absolute favorite to get here is the Aburi California Roll. read more

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Paid another visit to Aburi Tora last night and had a really good dinner. We arrived around 6 PM and very surprised to see that it was less than half-full. I do enjoy a calm and quiet atmosphere before the crowd appears. Gives me plenty of time to review the menu, make my orders and take photographs while we wait. Staff was very nice and remembered who we were which is a good thing. I did find out that they do catering so that if you're ever interested, give them a call. Just a reminder to bring a credit card because they will not take cash. read more

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Nice new spot that opened recently. Our server explained the dining process and checked in on us to ensured we had everything we needed. We ordered our food and drinks on the tablet, which had detailed descriptions and pictures, and then the food arrived on the conveyor belt. The entire process is quick and simple. read more

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Aburi TORA is a hidden gem that I will be recommending to friends and family who seek a fun conveyor belt sushi restaurant experience. I came in for lunch and was blown away by their lunch specials. Not only are they a great value, but the quality is insane for the price. You truly feel like you're getting an upscale sushi experience without the upscale price tag. The fish quality rivals some of the best sushi spots in Austin, and I don't say that lightly. Every piece was incredibly fresh, buttery, and clean-tasting. The kind of sushi where the fish literally melts in your mouth. You can taste the care and precision in every bite. It's rare to find a place that balances affordability with this level of quality, but Aburi Tora absolutely nails it. Whether you're a sushi lover or just getting into it, this spot is a must. I'm already counting down the days until I go back. read more

Aburi TORA - Scallop nigiri - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We went during their soft opening a bit ago and were quite impressed with the quality of the fish from this type of sushi restaurant. The restaurant is rather large (and off the beaten path on Parmer). You order from the digital pad on your table and the sushi comes via express next to the table. Service was quick. Sushi was decent. Prices were okay. We really liked the sweet potato fries. The pressed sushi is fun. The desserts were delicious. Prices add up fast because it's so easy to order just one more. read more

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A very welcome addition to the conveyor belt sushi scene in Austin, this is basically a more upscale Kura concept with handcrafted sushi. The locale is very nice, with a modern feel to it. We went around the opening and it was very clean and sleek. Ordering is done via a tablet, and sushi comes out via a track system. The sushi was good, but the portions were small. We spent about $80 and left hungry. The sushi we got was beautiful though and made with care. We also had 2 rolls never come out and had to remind our server twice to see what was going on, as they forgot after the first reminder. This left us waiting for a good 20 minutes- Which is awkward for this kind of concept. Otherwise its a welcome addition to the sushi scene. If you like Battera (pressed sushi) Aburi is worth checking out. read more

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I didn't know what to expect out of this place. I went with a friend on their grand opening day. We joined the Yelp waitlist but still had to wait an additional 15 minutes after the estimated time. We got seated and the ambiance is pretty intimate. The conveyor belt feels hidden and you don't really notice sitting with other people even though there are booths everywhere. It's not super big but the mirrors are really deceiving. We ordered a good amount of sushi and small dishes. Everything was great and came out promptly. We spent about $100 between the two of us, which seemed reasonable given the amount of food. I enjoyed everything and didn't need soy sauce (which they don't recommend anyway). The menu is a little hard to use though. The interface could use some work. I imagine with more people it might be challenging to order. I also found it a little odd that we couldn't just order drinks when we were sat; we were directed to always use the tablet. Otherwise, I'm happy for this place! Would recommend for a date night! read more

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High quality fish with delicious seasoned rice. Food is made to order and delivered on a conveyor belt. Unlike other restaurants where the food is continuously on the belt. Interior is sleek and modern. Great for casual dining or date night. read more

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I had such high expectations for this place as it's the first of many businesses that so many hope for in East Village. The ambiance would have been great had it not been for the mop water, sewage-esk odor that was all around their service counter by the employee corner. For a Friday night, they had sold out of seemingly half their fish listed in their menu. See the pictures for yourself. Maybe they're still working out how much fish to stock up on for the weekend, but this wasn't a soft open. It was a Friday night several weeks in after opening. Tastes were typical sushi and presentation average. Prices were high and service was decent. They (servers, runners) could work on being more personable and maybe practice smiling? read more

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I'd say this is honestly closer to 3.5 stars. You mainly order from a tablet and it comes to you via conveyor belt. The food was tasty though I wouldn't come here hungry otherwise your wallet will feel it. Service was fine, you mostly get left alone when you get seated which is perfect for introverts. It can only be best described as an upscale Kura with better sushi quality and some interest in pieces. Plenty of parking but downside is the area doesn't really have much else. read more

Aburi Tora is a bit of a drive, but definitely worth checking out. The space itself is really cute and inviting, and the service was excellent from start to finish. One of the highlights is the ordering system, you place your order on an iPad, and your food arrives via a conveyor belt, which makes the whole experience feel interactive and fun. That said, there are still servers around if you need help or prefer a more traditional touch. We ended up sharing a variety of nigiri and rolls, and everything we tried was fresh and delicious. We also had sake, which was so good and added to the overall fun vibe of the meal. Super random, but the restaurant has heated Japanese toilets! I thought that was cool and kind of unique. Overall, a really fun spot for sushi with a modern twist. read more

We came here twice. The first time was during their grand opening. Service was great and the food came out pretty fast and hit to order. Both times we came on a Saturday for dinner and we did not have to wait to be seated. You order your food on the tablet. If you want alcohol, you will need to push the call for help button and a waiter/waitress will check your ID to over pass the screen for you to order alcohol. Without the employee over ride you can only order nonalcoholic drinks. Here's what we ordered: * 2 aburi Chu-toro- 4/5 I like this one than the salmon one * 2 ABURI salmon Oshi- 2/5: there is a lot of rice and the salmon is very thin. It's smoky and still yummy. Rice is seasoned well and you are not suppose to dip in soy sauce to eat this one. * 3 salmon sashimi - 5/5 super yummy! * 2 chu toro- 5/5 super fresh and melt in your mouth! * 1 aburi scallop oshi - 5/5 truffle taste is so well balanced with the scallop I like this one rhe most out of the aburi style * 5 Akami bluefin tuna - 5/5 so good! Quality is on par with Uchiko Uchi places. High quality and just a good nigir! * 2 shio scallop - 5/5 scallop Heaven , my favorite! * 1 karage chicken 1/5 : nothing special * 1 sea urchin - 2/5 better than most places but not the best uni I had. It was creamy but I won't order it again * 1 chopped scallop gunkan 1/5 creamy and tasteless. Not balance and took away from scallop. Bland creamy *4 salmon nigiri : 5/5 what a great value and definite satisfy my salmon craving! * 2 hotate scallop : 4/5 I couldn't taste the difference in this scallop versus the $4 scallop. *yellow tail hamachi nigiri: 5/5 so good * 1 Tora roll: 2/5 it was ok but nothing special. * 2 yellow tail hamachi nigiris - 5/5 tasty *2 sea bream: 1/5 chewy. * unagi: 5/5 the best unagi nigiri I had. Balance of flavor and the eel melts in your mouth . Definitely a favorite * 1 fried oysters $8- 1/5 came out piping hot so be careful biting into the fried oyster because it will burn your mouth. I was disappointed because the oyster flavor was very minimum and you can barely taste the oyster. Super crispy batter. * chestnut cake - 1/5 it was soggy and not good * 6 aburi shrimp Ebi- 5/5 the seasoning and cream basil is so freaking good! * yuzu sherbet: 5/5 definitely the best dessert on the menu ! Love how refreshing and light it was. The strawberry compote pair so well with it! * electric jellyfish beer 5/5: different and good I wish they had highball drinks like how many restaurants offer in Japan! There were very limited drink options. Do I recommend this place? Yes I do feel the first time we were here the food was better. The second time it was good but a few of the nigiris the don't put the topping and we didn't realize it until we ate it. Overall I love the concept with the conveyor bringing out the food fresh to order and how fast the food comes out. Great experience and high quality sushi at a reasonable price. Great place for date night and dine with friends . read more

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I've tried the aburi at the Austin ghost kitchen a few years back but wasn't very impressed. However, I really loved Aburi Tora! The space feels very sleek and swanky and larger than the actual square footage by some clever use of mirrors. It's definitely on the pricier end for conveyor belt sushi but everything tasted fresh and I really liked the charred options. Would definitely come back again. read more

Aburi TORA - Conveyor belt - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Excited to have a sushi spot so close by! Overall good experience with some areas for improvement. Prices felt fair for what you're getting with the quality and size depending on what you order. Felt like a slightly upscale version of conveyor belt sushi. Ended up going twice, once at 3pm on 2/14 Saturday and second around 6pm on a Wednesday. Probably because of how new the place is and the holiday, the first time was quite crowded. There was no waitlist system at the time beyond the server coming by the waiting area and asking us who was next in line. Seems like Yelp waitlist has been implemented since. The iPad we used then was also not responsive half the time. Wednesday had no wait, but still a good amount of people dining. The ambiance had dimmer mood lighting too in the evening. The servers both times were super nice, though needed to flag them down as they were always busy clearing plates or helping customers. The booth walls were quite high, so it almost felt like there was an illusion of privacy for our party which was nice. The menu was a bit confusing to navigate and there seemed to be 2 versions of it that we'd somehow tab to, but then the items were arranged in different orders and we'd click through pages of the menu to find what we wanted. Did like the order history listing out item, quantity, and total price for transparency as well as the confirmation on the iPad when items arrived. Foodwise, I'd stick to the J. ABURI style and traditional nigiris. The Aburi sushi felt like too much rice and sauce with not enough fish for the taste balance and cost. Personally loved the J. Aburi torched smokey taste and the freshness of the the more traditional nigiris, including the ikura. Brussel sprouts taste wise wasn't bad, but texture wise seemed a bit soggy on the inside while almost burnt on the outside. Udon was mid. The wasabi and ginger were surprisingly good though. Random request, but any chance of making a J. Aburi style scorched flounder? Both times, my group ended up repurposing the sushi plate that came out as a personal plate since the only personal dishware we had were our small sauce dishes. Any chance of just having a small plate to eat off of with the initial table set? Will be back again at some point, but probably more for smaller groups willing to spend a bit for a special occasion. read more

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Definitely a must try. Menu is not too expansive, but what we tried was delicious. Highly recommend the aburi scallop. The touch menu was a little confusing at the beginning as you have to tap some buttons more than once. Also, if you are wanting alcohol, you need to request the server to unlock your menu to include it. Food, originally, came out in a timely manner but the last few things took so long we forgot about them. read more

Aburi TORA - Aburi Austin sampler - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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As an sushi lover at various price points, I'd say Tora ranks pretty high, especially for "conveyor belt" sushi. Everything came out fast, the taste was fresh and had a reasonable price point. The touch screen is user-friendly and has a wide range of options like sashimi, rolls, tempura and their torched nigiri. Would highly recommend this place! read more

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This is such a fun spot with delicious sushi! The concept is pretty unique. You order on an iPad and then a conveyor belt sends out your sushi. It makes the ordering super efficient and simple. The sushi was delicious and way better than I'd expect from a conveyor belt. Even though the services don't bring out your food, they were still coming by to check on us frequently. Highly recommend if you are a sushi lover like me and looking for a unique dining experience. read more

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This place has gotten extremely popular since openings. Conveyor belt sushi that isn't complete garbage was needed in Austin! But although I don't expect much service, this place was pretty lackluster. Despite repeating the phone number twice while putting down our name, they had gotten it wrong and never checked up on us waiting there for over 1.5 hours until everyone else had been seated and we were the lone two people there. We had asked if we had a table ready twice/how long the wait was, so it was very odd to have such a mix up. Besides that, the sushi is way overpriced. Some things are genuinely good (like the salt series), but the rice for most of the signatures are so mushy and pressed way too hard together. The lack of texture and sometimes average tasting fish could still be ok if this place was cheaper, but it is WAY too expensive. You could genuinely find some omakase spots for the same price. It's not a particularly beautiful place either, feels very Home Depot decorated. Nothing about this place justifies the price. Not the service, not the food, not the wait, not the look, nothing. Save your money and go to a normal sit-down sushi spot and you'd be happier! read more

I visited Aburi TORA with a fellow foodie and got to try quite a bit of their menu. Overall, I was pleased with the service and the food, but I think you really have to figure out what menu items are worth it. And I reserve 5 star spots as spots that I regularly crave and want to re-visit, but I think Aburi TORA is a spot that I would recommend to someone else to try, but I wouldn't necessarily have that itch to go to again. The good: - Aburi Scallop - rich and buttery, with a nice truffle flavor - Nigiri - we ordered various nigiri and sampler platters and all were quite good, great quality fish The meh: - Aburi Yellowtail - I love yellowtail, but I felt like this one lacked any significant punch - Uni - not super expensive for uni, so I didn't expect much, and it was pretty mediocre - Wagyu - It was a thinly sliced wagyu rolled around rice, and it didn't have much flavor at all except slightly salty in the middle - They have a special soy sauce, that is flavorful but a bit too salty for me - we used the low sodium salt instead read more

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Tora recently opened across from our home, so I was super excited when I came here over the weekend :) The only other conveyor sushi spot I've been to is Kura, which is more kid and family-focused, while Tora has a much more upscale and modern vibe. Between my husband and me, we spent about $100, which was expected, and honestly worth it for the quality of the sushi. Everything tasted fresh, well-prepared, and leveled up from what you typically expect from conveyor sushi. Personally, I still lean toward AYCE sushi spots when I want the most bang for my buck, but Tora is great when you're looking for a nicer sushi experience, or looking to have a quick meal and lasting trying different items from the menu without having the full portion sizes. I'll definitely be a returning customer! read more

A stellar conveyor belt concept which allows for incredible fast service and fresh dishes! Within what almost feels like seconds after pressing confirm, your food is brought out by their conveyor belt! It zips by and bam your food has arrived. The Aburi pieces are truly the stars of the show. I personally like the salmon and scallop Aburi pieces. The nigiris could use a bit more attention to keep the rice together. They seem to fall apart almost immediately and the fish is thin; however it taste fresh and is quite good. My least favorite plate was the edamame. It felt super old and mushy so I did not enjoy that. I'm excited to come back and try their hot appetizers like their yam fries. Service is great! They check in to make sure you have cleared your plates and water full. Thrilled to have this concept in the neighborhood! read more

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Basically the nicer version of Kura without toys and the sushi constantly revolving. Everything was delivered as it was order basically. Scallop and Isaki were my favorite. My only problem was their rice would not stay in one piece. I would think my chopstick skills are good, but I felt like we had a lot of pieces the rice would just fall in half when we tried to pick it up off the plate. Interior of the restaurant was nice and modern. All their seats are basically booths, each one can fit 4 people comfortable, but 6 if you wanted to squeeze. read more

went on a thursday evening and it was pretty full. the space is really clean and minimalistic. you order on an ipad and the food comes out on a conveyor belt. the waiter still checks in on you though, so you're not completely on your own. ordered a variety of things to try: - salmon sashimi was competitively priced. 3 large pieces for $7 - beef sukiyaki was yummy but pretty salty on its own. definitely need to pair it with rice imo - kamatama udon is served cold. the noodles themselves didn't have much flavor and only the meat was seasoned well, but it didn't really stick to the noodles lols - salmon oshi needed a bit more flavor. the waiter told us not to use soy sauce since it already had flavor but i kind of wish i dipped it a little - j. aburi salmon - loved the seared flavor. - teriyaki wings were just okay - wouldn't order again for that price point read more

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We came on the second opening day so a wait was expected but all the staff were friendly and kind. We came around 1pm and waited for 30 mins for a table to open up. Ordering is done on the tablet and only 7 options can be sent at a time. Pressing on the food photo itself will ask to confirm the quantity and item. Unfortunately, pressing on the description does not expand with more information if the text is cut off and changes the screen especially if it's near the previous/next buttons. The quality of food was great! Everything tasted fresh and well seasoned. There were limited options, especially for rolls. Although it's a given this is a sushi place, the one or two vegetarian options would not be suffice for a vegetarian or vegan. That being said, I would still visit again but only if I was in the area or to take someone who wanted a conveyor belt sushi experience with quality seafood. The restaurant is decorated in a moderate style and good ambient music that you can still have a conversation at the table without shouting or feeling like you're being eavesdropped. read more

The food was so good. We came on the first day they added it to the menu. HIGHLY suggest this - so so good and the bread is like crispy and soft. All of the food was delicious. I eat a lot so I did need like 10 orders of food but so so delic read more

Aburi TORA - Toriten Bao Bun - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

The fish are so fresh and amazing! Get the lemon nigiri!! Loved this place so much! Service was perfection and the conveyor belt is so fun. read more

Aburi TORA - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

Loved the sushi! A bit pricey ($100 for 2 people) but felt worth it given the quality. I really enjoyed the salmon aburi but would probably skip the shrimp and scallop - generally didn't love the mayo layers. The eel j'aburi is definitely worth getting to try. I thought the flavors were well done, love a good torched fish. Menu options weren't too vast but also easier to pick! Some interesting apps/desserts - really enjoyed the chestnut cake. Cold udon can probably be skipped read more

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This is such a cute place. The building is not too big, which makes it very intimate. I saw people spending date night together, families, and friends. I was there for a girls' night and was able to try a few different rolls, their soup, plus dessert! The cost didn't seem overpriced and the amount of food that you receive is just enough not to overload your belly. I also liked that there is a call button to receive service if you need to speak to a person. Everything is delivered on a conveyor belt and the food was fast when I was there. I will definitely be back to try some other options. read more

Absolutely loved my experience at Tora! From the moment we sat down, everything felt thoughtfully done. I really appreciated that each item had a picture which made ordering fun and easy, especially for trying new things. The classic conveyor-belt setup was such a highlight, and everything came out fresh every single time. You could really tell the quality and care behind each plate. The smoked nigiri was outstanding, and my favorite by far was the yellowtail J. Aburi Prime style. This was perfectly balanced, flavorful, and melt-in-your-mouth good. Such a great combination of quality, freshness, and an enjoyable dining experience. Can't wait to come back! read more

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I've been excited to try this spot, and it did not disappoint. I'd never tried aburi sushi before, but it might be my new favorite. We arrived for lunch and were quickly seated. After a short overview of the menu and ordering process from our waitress, we decided to try a little of everything. Our first dish came zooming down the conveyer belt in about 2-3 minutes. More and more things came a few minutes later. Everything we tried was fresh, well-made, and delicious. I can't remember the names of everything we ate, but I enjoyed all of the items in the Aburi sampler and the Austin sampler, especially the one with scallop. The staff were attentive and helpful, and we even ran into one of the chefs on her break outside the restaurant. She asked us about our meal and gave us some insight into their cooking process. She seemed to take great pride in their menu, and it reflected in the quality and flavor of their dishes. We will definitely be back again soon! read more

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We love this spot on Austin's Upper Eastside! We actually took our kiddos during the day but this would make for a sweet date night too. Who doesn't love yummy sushi on a fun conveyor belt?! Service was excellent too. 10/10. read more

I actually really love this place. The service is great because they don't bother you while you're eating, the food comes out fast, and the quality of sushi is the best that I've had in Austin. The restaurant is super modern and low lighting which allows for a perfect date night. I've been here twice and can't wait to come back. The zuke toro is my favorite but careful because it does sell out! read more

I'm giving 5 stars because the staff are really nice and some of the food is really tasty. I'm not sold on any of the rolls but the nigiri is good and those Aburi squares are good! The main problem with this place that me and my friends cannot stop talking about is it looks like an unfinished surgical operation room. Everything is made of steel, LED bright white lights like you're at the dentist office or a hospital, and there is not a single piece of decor in the entire restaurant. There are no barstools at the bar, you will not see one hint of color or a warm bulb throughout the entire restaurant. Not one. It definitely has a get in and get out as fast as possible vibe. On the outside, it does not really look like it is open. Their sign is very small and in a shopping center without a lot going on so if I didn't live right by there I would have no idea they were open. I understand that they wanted to go for a modern vibe but I looked at the locations online in comparison to this one, and although they were modern, they were still warm and inviting, not depressing decor wise. I am not saying this to tear the business apart I'm saying it because I hope it survives. But when people are paying $65 -$100 + a piece to eat sushi they want to feel a vibe, not feel like they are in a sterile surgical operating room. I have been in here several times and I have never wanted to take a single picture because it literally looks like you are in a surgical construction site with steel walls, tables, and ceilings. There is not a painting on the wall. There is not a plant. There is not a warm bulb nothing. When you walk in you wonder if maybe you went color blind. If you are eating lunch and you are really hungry and you want to get in and out it's a great place to go just keep in mind there is absolutely no vibe whatsoever unfortunately. Pretty good sushi though :) read more

Our daughter recommended to visit Anura Tori in Austin. My oh my, what a great experience. First of all the ambiance is modern hip and urban. The conveyer sushi style service is amazing and the food is absolutely wonderful. We never had sushi this "lekker" as they say in Holland. Even though we he food is delivered via conveyer, the additional service is perfect. The staff knows their food and will provide excellent advice! Thanks! read more

This place is new and the staff was friendly and helpful. The food was really good. Enjoyed the Toro pieces and we did two of the samplers to try more items. The wings were crispy and liked the mustard sauce. Kinda looks like a night club inside so a cool date spot read more

New fav sushi spot!! So quick, easy to order. Delicious sushi for a great price! Wonderful service as well.

The sushi was actually really tasty and of good quality. We enjoyed everything that we ordered. Three stars because 1) Service was lacking. Servers were not very attentive or personable, even when we were one of three tables in the restaurant at the time. And 2) The iPad ordering system needs a huge revamp - the ordering experience is not ideal and the program they use for ordering is clunky and really prone to crashing. Honestly, I'm not sure why servers are really needed at this restaurant to begin with when you order through an iPad and receive your food through the conveyor belt. Of course, they clear out plates on your table and also bring you your check, but if the restaurant expects servers to be tipped generously, they need to ensure that their waitstaff is providing excellent service outside of the iPad. I would have rated four stars, but our table was just not impressed with the experience - in human or tablet form - which sucks because we actually enjoyed the food. But until service is improved, probably won't be going back any time soon. read more