Aiko Photos
Business Info
AIKO ATMOSPHERE
More like Aiko
Recommended Reviews - Aiko
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
Sushi chaser me--I do not live here and lived in LA where sushi is a religion. Aiko would qualify and I'm a sushi snob big time. One of my criteria is do they have engawa--and they sure did. Engawa is flounder/halibut fin. They sear it and that must be standard because I ordered 2 separate times. Absolutely loved everything I ordered.
We just went here for the 2026 HRW and we were pleasantly impressed. The options for each course were great choices, I went with coworkers but we all got different items to try and rate. This place was very unique and had such a cool feel to it. Very small but quaint and thoughtfully decorated. Service was great and I have no complaints there. The Sunomono was honestly the highlight of my meal and I feel like I could eat that everyday. I picked the Maguro Crudo and it was so fresh and clean and just the right amount of sauce, perfection. The two handrolls I picked were Kani and BF Tuna. The tuna was optimal and had the perfect balance and ration of constituents as well as the right amount of flavor. The Kani I was a little disappointed in, it was like eating tuna fish. Lastly, I got the mochi matcha and while the flavor was good, the consistency was a little weird. Probably not something I would get again. I will be back very soon to try the main menu and eat more sunomono.
Great opportunity to try Aiko during Houston Restaurant Weeks. The salmon crisp was amazing as well as the salmon hand roll and crab hand roll. We also tried the seared salmon belly nigiri (Saketoro Aburi) and even though it's a bit pricey it's sooooo good, buttery and melt in your mouth. Definitely worth a try if you get the chance! Service was quick and the waitress was attentive and our waters were constantly filled. Vibes are great, very closed off from the front and fancy feeling, amazing hallway to the bathroom as well!
2nd time I've been here and it did not disappoint! I came here for Houston restaurant week and it was so worth it. I love the service and ambiance of this restaurant. It's very intimate and the staff are kind. The food is high quality and presentation is always 10/10.
Loved the food here! The fish is super fresh and high quality and even the non-sushi menu items had great flavors and were well executed. I got the pan daiquiri as my drink to start and my friend got the herbed lavender lemonade. For food we shared the hamachi crudo, the chutoro nigri, the kanpachi nigiri, the A5 tartare, the kani handroll, The kinoko yasaimono, and the hot scallop dish to share. The pan daiquiri was SO good. The smokiness from the mezcal hits you first and then the sweet and creamy after taste takes over. It was so well mixed and I would highly recommend trying this if you are a mezcal lover like me. (9/10) The herbed lavender lemonade was too tangy and sweet for my liking. The lavender flavor get lost in the drink. It tasted like a typical lemonade, nothing special. (5/10) The hamachi crudo was so fresh and I really enjoyed the sweet and tangy broth. I'm not sure I would call it tom kha broth but it tasted good regardless and paired well with the tomatoes. (7.5/10) The chutoro nigiri was SO buttery and melt in your mouth delicious. I would definitely get this again. (8.8/10) The kanpachi nigiri was fresh and I enjoyed the sauce paired with it. It was my first time trying amberjack and I liked it. (7/10) The A5 tartare was super unique and well seasoned. There was plenty of tartare compared to the amount of milk bread you are given to eat it with. The uni, caviar, pate and waygu all mixed together was a decadent combination full of flavor. My only note was the contrast in temperatures that I did not love, the tartare came cold while the milk bread was warm. Overall, a very luxurious and tasty dish. (8/10) The kani handroll surpassed my expectations. Typically I don't go for crab first, but I did enjoy the flavors paired with the crab and the hand roll was well filled. (7.8/10) The kinoko roll (king trumpet mushroom roll) really surprised me. I was weary about getting this roll because I normally don't opt for vegan options, but this king mushroom was so well prepared and the sauce was so delicious that dare I say that I enjoyed this more than some of the fish/meat sushi rolls I've had in the past. (8/10) The hot scallop dish was one of the best bites of the night. The scallop was perfectly charred and cooked and the creamy polenta base with the umami salmon roe, with the fried red cabbage to add texture was amazing. I would definitely order this again. (9/10) Overall, I really enjoyed my time at Aiko and the food surpassed my expectations. I loved everything I tried and do want to come back to try more. The service was quick and helpful with the menu. Parking can be a bit tricky, but there are some free street parking spots around the plaza. The ambiance is definitely upscale and classy. It's a great place for a date! My only complaint was that I made a reservation for 2 at least a week in advance and upon arrival, though they had plenty of open tables, we were seated at the opposite end of a table that was already occupied. We were close enough to hear their entire conversation throughout dinner, and I just thought it was an odd experience because that had never happened to me before. Though it did not hinder me from enjoying the food I would have preferred to be seated at our own table.
Went on a pretty packed night, but had a good anniversary dinner here. We got the premium omakase and a couple of extra hand rolls. Food was great. Foie gras was true melt in mouth, as was the salmon belly. Amberjack and sea bream were overall my favorite bites. There were great vibes and music in the main dining area. The manager and waitress even came out to take a shot with us! Great anniversary date spot.
Unarguably one of my favorite restaurants in Houston, I'm talking top 3. During this visit I went for Social hour and everything shown is from the social hour menu aside from the Kanpachi Crudo. The food was fresh and everything was at a good temperature from the rice in the rolls and nigiri to the topping on the crudos and the heat of the chicken. The food here is amazing. The cocktails were well balanced and the service has been professional every time I visit. Clean restaurant not too loud and very aesthetically pleasing. Just goated tbh
For the past year, Aiko has become our favorite restaurant in Houston. And anytime friends reach out wanting my sushi recs or even an all-time favorite restaurant in Houston rec, Aiko is one of my top picks. We almost always get the omakase ($45 during social hour). If the beau is really hungry, he'll get the tasting menu, which runs about $150. They time our courses perfectly, and I appreciate they can accommodate my GF request. After an introduction to it on a tasting menu, we started ordering the raw oysters topped with aguachile and YUZU GRANITA! Best dressed oysters in Houston. Seriously. And for happy hour, they're $3/each. You also must order the saketoro aburi (seared salmon belly) and hamachi crudo. We just dined there yesterday and as I'm writing this Yelp review, considering we go back today. ...Really wish they had a rewards program!
I thought Aiko delivered a really memorable meal. Overall I'm giving this place 5 stars -- the quality of the fish and the execution were excellent -- though personally I did find the progression of courses a little rich toward the end. For context, Aiko is part of the same group as Doko (their sushi omakase concept) and Handies Douzo (their handroll-focused restaurant), and you can definitely see the overlap in technique and flavor profiles across the restaurants. We went for the Valentine's omakase menu. The meal started with the Oyster Duo. One had a yuzu granita and aguachile that was bright and refreshing, while the other had a roasted onion soubise with smoked trout roe that leaned richer and more savory. Nice contrast between the two. One of my favorite early dishes was the chilled zaru soba. The buckwheat noodles had a great chewy texture and the mentsuyu broth was light and refreshing with mirin, mushroom, and seaweed notes. It was a really nice palate reset. The smoked ocean trout sashimi (masu) was another standout. It had garlic aioli on top with oil and black pepper, and the tomato added a crunchy brightness that balanced the richness of the fish. It's a simple combination but worked surprisingly well. The temaki course was excellent. The snow crab handroll had this creamy mayo texture with chili and crunchy shallots, and you can tell they roast the seaweed sheets right before serving because the nori had an incredible crunch -- honestly some of the best texture I've had in a handroll. It reminded me a lot of the style they do at Handies. For the hirame crudo with pomegranate and shiso, the flavor was good but a bit more subtle. I think the pistachio really helps that dish; without enough of it the flavors felt a little muted. I know pomegranate and pistachio is a common flavor pairing for middle eastern cuisines. My partner has a tree nut allergy so they removed it for both of us. The wagyu fat rice was very indulgent. The first thing you taste is the wagyu fat, but the fried shallots and other crunchy elements help balance it out. The sauce reminded me a lot of something you'd get at Doko -- rich but very satisfying. Adding fried rice in between fish courses was an interesting choice from the chef, but I think Aiko aims to be more western fusion than a traditional Japanese omakase. The tuna trio was fantastic. The chutoro with negidare (garlic, sesame oil, scallion) was probably my favorite bite of the night -- super flavorful and perfectly balanced. The foie gras course leaned sweet and savory, almost like an eel sauce flavor with some crunch on top. Delicious, but by this point in the progression I was definitely feeling the richness of the meal. Dessert was a milk tea tiramisu that I thought was really interesting. The mascarpone layer had a tartness to it -- almost like there might be a little sour cream mixed in -- and one layer had a subtle salty note that balanced the sweetness. Overall, the food quality was excellent and the fish was clearly very fresh. My only minor critique is that the progression of courses skewed a bit rich for my personal preference, especially in the second half of the meal. That said, every dish was thoughtfully executed and there were some truly standout bites. If you enjoy creative omakase with some richer flavor profiles, Aiko is definitely worth trying.
pretty interior. friendly staff. fresh food, you can tell it is more than other sushi restaurants. it has a clean taste and is very good. dessert was interesting flavors as well. enjoyed my time here.
Absolutely love this place, hands down one of my favorite sushi spots in Houston. High-quality sushi without being as insanely expensive as Katami. I always get the $55 omakase, which is so worth it for the price. The omakase includes: - Edamame to start -Salmon crudo: insanely fresh, citrusy yuzu flavor, & ikura paired perfectly. I literally cleaned the plate (10/10) - 5 nigiri: beautifully dressed, high-quality fish (9/10) - Salmon hand roll: crunchy nori, extra crunch inside, super satisfying (9/10) - Mochi to end on a sweet note Other dishes I've tried: - Oysters: a bit small, but I liked the yuzu flavor (7/10) - Karaage: perfectly breaded, juicy chicken with a slight kick (9/10) - Engawa nigiri: my absolute favorite. Lightly torch seared so it melts in your mouth (10/10) - A5 wagyu maki: great flavor and texture, just wished the wagyu stood out more (8/10) - Chutoro w/ uni & caviar: chef made this for us and WOW. No words. (10000/10) - Masu Kunsei (ocean trout) nigiri: not fishy at all, perfect texture, dressed beautifully (9/10) - Madai nigiri: clean, fresh, and very memorable (9/10) Ambiance is dark and intimate, perfect for date night. You can sit at the bar or at a table, and even the hallway to the restroom is aesthetic with mirrors and plants. Service was fast and attentive. If I could eat sushi here every other day, I absolutely would. 10/10.
Enjoyed an evening of speciality cocktails and paired bites. The cocktails highlighted the HIBIKI JAPANESE HARMONY whisky and HAKU VODKA. Now let's get to the food. I would have to recommend their spicy chicken as an appetizer and any of their sushi on the menu as I could not find a single roll I disliked. Thoughtfully prepared, delectable and the service was pretty good! This would be a good happy hour spot with the girls or a peaceful date night as it's very reserved, intimate and elevated. The venue is not that big so you don't have to worry about huge crowds. The servers will recommend menu items according to your pallet which is super helpful. Also when you arrive, the first part of the restaurant ins sectioned off by huge curtains to allow for happy our guests to enjoy their time and from the more intimate parties to enjoy their time. Pretty cool concept.
tried the omakase at Aiko, the presentation and their menu had a variety of things. I don't think the flavors meshed well with the sauce like it didn't complement or balance the dish well. However, the fish quality was fresh and the nigiri looked aesthetically pleasing. The service in general wasn't too bad but I didn't go during a busy time, I went during lunch on a week day. Aesthetically, everything was gorgeous just not as memorable taste-wise as I hoped, especially considering the price.
2 months ago
1 year ago
Every piece of sushi I ate was so fresh! It was so flavorful, and I can't wait to come back in the future. The atmosphere was very pretty and relaxing. There was plenty of parking. Service was excellent! Happy hour was great and prices are very reasonable for high quality sushi. read more
Went with the chefs tasting option on Thursday night. The nectarine lychee spritz was refreshing and really good. The first four nigiri options were ok, wasn't too impressed with the flavor profiles. Wasabi may have been unevenly distributed on one of the pieces. The otoro bluefin tuna and A5 ribeye pieces were the favorites by far. Would have liked more of these in the tasting. The dessert was also pretty good, simple and well balanced between matcha green tea ice cream and a sharp strawberry glaze. Would try and come back in the future to try out the happy hour menu (ends at 6:30pm on weekdays). read more
We enjoyed our anniversary dinner at Aiko. The nigiri, sashimi and crudo were all fresh. My only complaint with both the crudo dishes was the intense amount of yuzu and ponzu sauce. Our server was pleasant and we were seated in a timely manner with our reservation.. Unfortunately we had missed the Omakase (5-630pm) by an hour that is $45 pre-reset and looks like it has a ton of fish options. The yellowtail Nigiri is phenomenal. read more
Located in the sea of popular establishments along Washington Ave, Aiko has been a standout amongst the rise of omakase themed businesses for their trendy-not-traditional approach to sushi. The quality of the food, professional yet amiable service, contemporary atmosphere, and excellent execution of the experience has struck a big chord with Houston diners and yours truly. Whether it's a hot date, a group feast, or a solo dining session at the bar, reservations are highly recommended. The vibe is more Texas chic than Japanese-like atmosphere, The young-ish chefs behind the counter is a giveaway, along with the format of their omakase, and the simple interior with the spacious table setup. The plant filled entrance is a nice effect for first timers, but the impression is quickly supplanted by everything else they have to offer. Food wise, there is a lot to appreciate. The abbreviated $55 omakase is a nice introduction to the spread, but I would maintain the $95 option is the way to go. At 14 courses (edamame, 2 oysters, 2 crudos, 8 nigiri, handroll, mochi) with dessert, it's a good mesh of what they do best. I appreciate the dedicated section of bluefin tuna, which ranges from akami to chutoro to toro. The latter is still my favorite cut of any fish, which was buttery and incredibly rich with each bite. I am also smitten with their japanese scallop (muki hotate) and their Hokkaido uni, which are premium choices ($18/14) for small'ish pieces but oh-so-wonderful. The crudo pieces really range from $15-18, but make for an excellent bite all around. The scallop muki hotate is an excellent choice, but the kuro kanpachi truffle is foodgasmic. While the food is clearly the hype machine, the cherry on top is the service. The wait staff is professional, energetic, and extremely knowledgeable about the food. Even when their food days aren't the best, I feel the people working here will do their best to ensure a quality experience. read more
I came to Aiko for HRW with my friend; given the price point, the restaurant felt luxurious... the front entrance seemed small, but when we were seated, my friend and I were taken behind the curtains, which led to a surprisingly large seating area. But unfortunately, the food I ordered wasn't up my alley. :( Parking was decent on a Friday afternoon, but since it is downtown Houston, expect space to get tight during busier hours. For the HRW deal, it came in three courses, and you'd order one dish in each course. I got the: - 1st Course - Sunomono: (3/5) This was essentially a cucumber salad, and I enjoyed it initially. The Sunomono had a sour taste, but I did find it borderline salty after a while. - 2nd Course - Maguro Crudo: (3/5) The addition of chili garlic added an interesting flavor note, but much like Sunomono, the Maguro Crudo was also on the salty side; no fish aftertaste though, and I enjoyed how the texture of the tuna practically melted in my mouth! - BGB Sake Maki: (2/5) Each piece had a nice flavor on the first bite, but the aftertaste had a prominent garlic (?) flavor, almost as if there were chunks of garlic in the salmon mix. I'm unfamiliar with how the BGB Sake Maki was prepared, but personally, I've never been a fan of strong garlic tastes, so this was a turn-off for me. - Spicy Tuna Maki (a la carte): (4/5) I ordered this thinking I wouldn't be full after the three courses (spoiler alert: I was right), but I enjoyed the Spicy Tuna maki a lot! It had a spicy kick, and the fried onion bits + scallops on top were also delicious. I had a bite of my friend's Yellowtail order, which I enjoyed a lot more. Truthfully, I was disappointed with what I ordered, but it's more of a personal taste issue rather than quality. Aiko is way out of my tax bracket, so I wouldn't return for a while, but nonetheless, I'm glad I got to experience it for HRW. :) read more
3 months ago
Came for the HRW lunch. Vibes were right and service was excellent. Food was good, except for the crab roll. The first bite tasted like canned tuna. My friend tried it and said the same thing. The rest of the bites tasted a bit more like crab but not by much. The seaweed salad and crudos were excellent choices. Her salmon roll was fantastic. read more
This sushi restaurant off Washington in the Heights is a phenomenal little secret born as the "love child" from the talent behind Kukoro and Hands Douzo. I don't know if it's the location that has kept the seating accessibility open, but I'm there for it. Once you enter past the little waiting bar into the dining area - you'll see clean contemporary styling with the sushi bar to the left and tables/booths to the right. Seating for 2 or for good sized groups can be accommodated. The Restrooms are down a bamboo lined hall - which (as ridiculous as it may sound) is really nice. But the food . . especially the omakase experience . . is very very good. Especially compared to what the popular sentiment is for sushi places in Houston (some of the highly regarded places pale in comparison IMHO). So what did we have? Oysters with a yuzu granita and aguachile Muki Hotate Usuzukuri - nothing like some scallop with yuzu kosho Paddlefish Caviar Hirame Madai Kanpachi Masu Sake Crudo - shaved truffles and some grape tomatoes Negitoro handroll Tarabagani Saketoro Aburi Chutoro Otoro A5 Wagyu Semifreddo We did do a little order of Sawagani - love it when a place has these little river crabs Chefs and the rest of the service staff were so friendly and awesome and we even got to take a little duck home with us. read more
This restaurant is one of my favorite places to get sushi and sashimi. The parking is easy with a shared lot on the side of the building. Reservations are suggested, as they tend to fill up quick by the end of the week throughout the weekend. The omakase experience is very good and the quality is on par with the price point. The fish has always been fresh and the sushi bar chefs have been friendly and knowledgeable. I've had their omakase during happy hour which is a good deal and at other times, at the sushi bar as well as at a regular table. I'd recommend sitting at the sushi bar (there's only ten spaces) for the full experience. Their drinks are on point and haven't disappointed me, especially if its a recommended pairing. I had the pleasure of pairing sake with various dishes (kombu salad, nigiri sushi, crudo, and more), all were delicious. I like their creative flavors and all the different textures that are presented to the palate. A few of my favorite items are the foie gras gunkan, chu toro sashimi, salmon crudo, and kombu salad. This is a good spot for date night, girls night out, special occasions, and strong sushi cravings. Lastly, when you visit Aiko, be sure to walk down the path to the restroom for a unique experience too. read more
1 year ago
I really like Aiko. I've been twice and enjoyed both times. They have a large selection of nigiri and sashimi. I really like their crudo selection as well, the maguro is my fav but all are worth a try. I sat at the bar most recently and Bailey was super helpful with suggestions. A great place to catch up with a friend and good music. read more
This place is moving up to be one of my favorite high end sushi spots! The flavor/topping they use to go with the fish for each nigiri is always very delicious. We tried two different crudos with very different taste profiles. The maguro crudo was a much more bolder flavor (to go with a fattier fish) and the madai crudo had a light, delicate taste to go with the white fish. They have a good variety of different types of fish here. I really like the shima aji and kanpachi. I noticed know too that they are offering the belly piece for several types of fish. We tried the ocean trout belly, which had a creamy aioli on it that made this nigiri taste super buttery. The king trumpet mushroom nigiri had a great texture that went so well with the browned butter. My favorite nigiri piece is the aburi sake toro. If you want something heavier, this is even more fattier and meltier than having A5 wagyu. It will literally melt in your mouth and the char from the torching makes it even better. Great flavor and great quality! Will definitely be coming back! read more
1 year ago
This restaurant has been recommended to me to quite a few times and bless those who gave me the recommendation! The food here was incredible. There wasn't one dish that I didn't like. Everything we ordered was fresh and very flavorful. Our waiter was very friendly and gave great recommendations and they explained every dish they brought out. We really lucked up, as our visit was a spur of the moment idea, so we had no reservations, but were able to get a seat near the entrance area. These seats were more for cocktail hour (I would assume) but they were still able to serve us from the menu. It was a little loud inside but the playlist was great, the food super fresh and everyone seemed to be enjoying their time there so the mood was top tier! I look forward to coming back to try out more items off the menu! read more
2 years ago
Aiko is a sushi restuarant located in the Heights and offers omakase along with a variety of sashimi, nigiri, and more. I was able to try some of their items during Houston's Restautant Week. The hamachi crudo was the appetizer and consisted of hamachi wrapped around cherry tomatoes on top of a coconuty puree. I had the chirashi bowl as the main dish, which featured plenty of sashimi pieces of tuna, salmon, and yellowtail on top of rice. The final piece of the restaurant week menu was the handroll, and I chose the spicy tuna handroll. The fish all tasted very fresh, and I really enjoyed the yellowtail crudo. However, I did wish there was more, as the serving sizes are very small. The service was great! The servers came to check up on us frequently and filled our drinks often. They even offered a matcha cheesecake when they heard my friends mention gifting me the meal as my birthday, and I thought that was very nice and attentive of them. Parking is spacious on the side, but I do think they share the parking space with other businesses and am not sure how busy it is on the weekends. Overall, the sushi was fresh, and the service was great. The inside is a bit small and gives more of an intimate feeling for a gathering with close friends or a date. read more
Aiko is one of the newer concepts from Chefs Patrick Pham and Daniel Lee in Houston. They started the omakase pop-up dinner known as Secret Taste, Kokoro in the Bravery Chef Hall in Downtown Houston, then Handies Douzo and Himari in the Houston Heights. Aiko is the newest concept with a sushi bar and seated dining. The private parking lot is shared with Taco Deli, and there are about 20 spots. Reservations are made online, available on Open Table. There are about 15 tables inside. FOOD: Social HH is everyday at 12:00 to 6:30 PM. Some of items we ordered are part of the Houston Restaurant Week 2024. 1. Hamachi Crudo (Yellowtail, coconut tom kha, cherry tomatoes, 3/5): The coconut tom kha is an interesting twist in this crudo. It was overall OK, as it is not something I would order again. 2. Maguro Crudo (Bluefin tuna, pickled cucumbers, ponzu, 4/5): This was fresh and delicious. I could eat more of this than the hamachi crudo. We both preferred this one. 3. Sunomono (Cucumber, chili garlic, cherry tomatoes, 4/5): Fresh and light. This reminded me of a Korean cucumber side dish. 4. Kombu Salad (Seaweed salad, carrots, mushroom, sesame dressing, 4/5): Delicious. I love the various concoction in this salad with the perfect amount of dressing. I would definitely order this again. 5. Sake Handroll (Salmon, yuzu kosho, shiso, 5/5): We definitely loved this. Great simple flavor. 6. Kani Handroll (Lump crab, yuzu kosho aioli, crispy shallots, 3/5): It was OK for me. There were good amounts of the lump crab. The crunch/crisp from the shallots added a different touch, but it can take away from the other ingredients. 7. Spicy Tuna Handroll (Bluefin tuna, haberano aioli, crispy shallots, 4/5): We definitely loved this. Great flavor overall but aforementioned with the shallots. 8. Foie Gras Gunkan (Hudson valley duck liver-tare-nori, 5/5): This was our favorite of the night. Foie gras does not disappoint, and it melts in your mouth. Gunkan is basically the word battle ship sushi. Overall, Aiko will be known for the innovative and various flavor profiles used here. However, most of the dishes did not stand out for me to come back. The service was great, as the servers came around in a timely manner. Dishes were brought out, and they were removed when finished. Our water never touched the bottom. Would I come back? I would try other sushi restaurants in Houston before coming back. read more
Stephen was excellent and very knowledgeable. We ordered several dishes and each one was excellent. We were seated promptly at the sushi bar and greeted quickly by Stephen, who explained the process and then the different types of dishes. After we ordered 3 dishes, he saw our interests and made some solid recommendations. The foie gras is best for dessert, the wagyu, saketoro Aburri, bgb sake, hamachi and otoro were excellent! A great date night and a great meal with fantastic service. read more
4 months ago
I had heard great things about Aiko and knew that I needed to try it during HRW. From the moment we entered, my friends and I were given the best treatment. Our servers were attentive and friendly and even explained the origin story of the various rubber ducks when asked. And then came the food! From the Crudo to the Nigiri and finally the Handroll, the entire meal was delicious, beautiful and satisfying. Every component complemented each other and resulted in a fresh and flavorful bite. For dessert, I had to order a piece of expresso mochi, which was the perfect way to end an excellent experience! read more
2 years ago
Honestly we've ordered so many items I forgot what everything was. But they were all very phenomenal. We came on short notice since we didn't have a reservation, but they were very accommodating and sat us down fairly quickly. This place honestly deserves a Michelin star, food was fantastic, everything was fresh and unique. Service was excellent, some dishes did took awhile to arrive, but the severs did came by often checking up on the food for us to keep us updated. Overall maybe alil pricy, but I can understand with the quality of food and service read more
One of my favorite sushi spots in Houston! I love enjoying quality sushi with chill vibes and this spot does it perfectly! I've enjoyed everything I've tried here. Can't go wrong with anything you order so start with your fave but feel safe to be adventurous as well! Happy hour - good options to start the meal! Parking - complimentary valet in an adjacent lot or can find a spot in the area. Reservations - may be able to snag one last minute but I wouldn't risk it One of the few restaurants I revisit often! Must try! read more
2 years ago
I found my favorite restaurant in Houston! For parking, they have valet but there's also a big lot behind the restaurant on the right hand side where you can park for free. Right when you walk in, you see this cute duck plushie which I couldn't help but hug it was so cute. And I loved how I was able to see it be incorporated in the cocktail I ordered (Lychee Martini). This was recommended to me after I asked the server what their sweetest cocktail was and I thoroughly enjoyed the drink. After you check in with the front, you go through these curtains where the dining area is located. The interior is decorated nicely, giving the restaurant an intimate vibe. I don't think people talk about the bathroom enough because I was amazed. It was a fun experience walking through a bamboo alleyway before reaching the bathrooms located at the very end. For dinner I got the normal omakase instead of the Houston Restaurant Week one as well as the Tanin Bune (Japanaese Sea Urchin w/Ikura) , Tarabagani (King Crab), and Foie Gras. Everything that I had was fantastic. But the ones that stood out to me the most were the Kinoko Usuzukuri, all the nigiri (especially the Otoro) and the Foie Gras. The toppings on the Kinoko dish were crunchy yet balanced out with the softness from the mushroom itself. The flavors were refreshing which was a perfect way to start before I indulged on the nigiri's. I love how the toppings for the nigiri's were all slightly different yet complimented so well with the fish itself. The fish was fresh and the quality was fantastic. The otoro as you probably guessed is very rich and just melts in your mouth. Same thing for the Foie Gras- I still think about this dish from time to time from how good it was. Aside from the delicious food, the service here was wonderful. Everyone was very attentive and looked for ways to make my dining experience enjoyable. I am very happy that I finally got to try Aiko. I've been telling my friends about this spot all week and I cannot wait to visit again and try other dishes! read more
My recent food obsession has been omakase sushi. So hopefully you'll continue seeing more reviews around town. My wife and I are finally at a point where we feel comfortable leaving the twins at home and having periodic date nights. On this particular night we ended up at Aiko. They advertise their omakase for happy hour with a $10 discount at $45 per person. We sat at a table instead of the bar, so we did not get a chance to interact with the chefs, I do miss that aspect of omakase. So I'll state that yes it is chefs choice but it's more of a combo, comes with certain pieces but it comes out all at once and with not much discretion besides what is on the sheet. However, my wife and I don't mind as we really do most of our judgement via the actual taste. This omakase was solid value but we really only got exposed to one new fish that we wouldn't normally order, the Masu/ocean trout. This was delicious! And I will continue looking for this at other restaurants. We ordered additional items from both their happy hour menu and their normal menu since the omakase is smaller than other places. I did notice that they did offer Engawa on a limited basis, sadly they were out on this particular night. We added on fatty tuna, uni, and froi gras. The froi gras was one of the best pieces I have had at any restaurant and I can't wait to come back just for that alone! The service was very attentive and the pieces came out at a good pace. I didn't feel overwhelmed but I was not waiting around. read more
Had the chance to experience Aiko for HRW and it didn't disappoint! Very nice vibe and atmosphere, the restaurant is cozy. The Nigiri tasted great, though one of our plates were missing some of the toppings. I didn't get pics of everything but I also tried the MAGURO crudo and HAMACHI crudo. I typically like yellowtail more than tuna but favored the maguro crudo for sure. The jumbo salad was ok but not something I'd order again. Lastly, the sake handroll was so delicious but all in all I wish they offered more food. I get it's a fancy restaurant but we left hungry lol. Not sure if the HRW week portions are smaller so we are up for trying this place again on a normal night! read more
My friends and I are always checking out sushi restaurants and Aiko was great! We decided to come try it out after seeing it on the HRW menu. First off, service was excellent. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. We enjoyed everything from the HRW menu. Appetizers were nice and light. Crudos, hard to pick a favorite. Everything was fresh and the flavor profiles for each fish just worked. The nigiris were also fresh and delicious. Since we were enjoying ourselves, we ended up ordering 2 extra rolls: negitoro and kani. Along with saketoro nigiri as recommended by our waiter. They came out charred, hot, and deliciously rich. I'm craving more already. We enjoyed all of the sushi/nigiris. Can't wait to come back soon! read more
My sister and I made dinner reservations for our younger sister's birthday here on a Friday night. We came to enjoy their curated "social hour" menu as well as other items on their regular menu. Parking is complimentary and is right next to the restaurant. The atmosphere inside is modern and clean. The restaurant is partitioned off by large curtains from any natural lighting so you will need to make do with the table light for my food photographers out there. Each of us tried their social hour omakase which was a really good deal. It came with 8 items for $45. All items were fantastic! The fish was fresh and nicely seasoned. We also ordered a few other items from their Social Hour menu. We ended with the foie gras gunkan which was chefs kiss* and our favorite! Service was superb! Our waiter was knowledgeable about each dish, very attentive, and came back to check on us frequently. If I lived in Houston I would no doubt be dining here frequently! read more
10 months ago
Great, we tried handies and we heard we had to try this spot after, it was great! Our server Mya was so nice read more
The entire dining experience at Aiko was a 5/5! Starts off with friendly hostess staff and elegant posh decor at the front. The front waiting area is separated from the main dining area by a curtain. Inside the restaurant is fairly small but efficiently spaced. It can get slightly loud at times when it's super packed which makes it difficult for table talk. We got to meet the manager Joe who serviced us well as we were visiting for the healthcare worker promo. We sat at the sushi bar and our main servers were the maki boys who treated us well. Small talk was appreciated but not too overwhelming. We started off with a bottle of Dassai 45 sake recommended by Joe. The sake was smooth and not too bitter. It was such a huge bottle that we actually ended up sharing a shot with the owner and staff. Omakase Oyster shooter 4/5 refreshing tart flavor from the yuzu and great palette cleanser to start the meal. Sake crudo 5/5 I hardly see crudos in omakase so this was a nice surprise and plenty to eat. Truffle wasn't too overbearing. Madai 5/5 easily one of our favorites of the night. Great tasting white fish. Hirame/Aji/masu were all 3.5/5 good but nothing great. Kinoko deluxe 4.5/5 this was a surprise to me that I would like it this much. I have a sweet tooth so the brown butter flavor was nice and paired well with the caviar for a sweet and salty taste. Maguro crudo 5/5 absolutely amazing dish! We loved the chili garlic and ponzu combo! Sake handroll 4.5/5 Akamatsu --- unfortunately couldn't rate bc we were getting the dishes out of order and I lost track of what dishes we had, so they accidentally forgot to bring this dish out. Akami/chutoro 5/5 different cuts of tuna. Phenomenal! A5 tartare 5/5 second dish with caviar on it and it paired well with the tartare and quail egg which kept everything together and so moist. Semifreddo 4/5 very good and refreshing dessert to end the night! Other than one missed dish, we had such a fun dining experience and still left completely stuffed! read more
1 year ago
11 months ago
We went during happy hour and had the $55 omakase. Sushi was fresh and flavorful. Worth it for the price. My favorite was the crudo and nigiri. Service was good. They have a bamboo pathway to the restroom! Super cool, had to get a pic there. read more
2 years ago
Based on Yelp reviews, we gave Aiko a try and so glad we did. We added ourselves to the wait list on their website and they called a few minutes later with two spots at the sushi bar. We decided to do the omakese and wow, every dish was amazing! read more
Who doesn't like a nice green curtain to shroud your dining room in an aura of mystery? I know I do! Feeling a little pressured--because "you'll get better quality fish when you order the $55 omakase--I caved. The lemon dredged edamame, unsurprisingly, is a delightfully fresh way to start. Right on its heels was the crudo: mine had salmon and was rather revolting. However, my friend had the maguro and that was sublime. So, not all was lost early in the meal. Nigri--wow. Just wow: kanpachi, shima aji, and the chutoro were my favorite. Skip the mochi. The whiskey sour was good, but unremarkable. Our waiter was very helpful and the rubber duckies added an unexpected quirk. read more
I came here on one of the super cold days in January for a friend, expecting to not enjoy it that much because of the weather, and left IN LOVE. Everything we had tasted amazing and had perfect texture. There was such a unique and clear combination of flavors but they all paired super well. One of the best parts of our experience is definitely the service. Our waitresses, Jo and Lisa, were such joys to be around. They explained all the dishes, how to eat them for maximum enjoyment, and were overall extremely patient and kind. I would definitely come back. There is even a convenient parking lot. read more
3 years ago
Happy hour here is a must!!!! My husband and I made a reservation for Happy Hour and was very glad we did. We ordered $5 Sapporos, $5 Sake, $45 Omakase (x2), karrage and one more nigiri set. Total was about $150, which is pretty good for everything. The sushi is small, but very well made, I loved the salmon and pieces with truffle. The hand roll was absolutely delicious too. Bathroom is gorgeous. Tons of bamboo and gold lights make the walk to the toilet a cool experience. Service is top notch. The servers will constantly fill your water, make sure your table is clean and be available for anything at all. It was a great late Valentine's Day treat. read more
1 year ago
More info about Aiko
1902 Washington Ave
Ste C
Houston, TX 77007
Sixth Ward
Directions
(832) 582-7525
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.aikohtx.com
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
More Info
Health Score
Aiko Reviews in Other Languages
Ask the Community - Aiko
Can you still experience omakase dining with kids?
Yes, I brought my 2.5 yr old to happy hour and he sat there eating chicken karage while I got the omakase.
