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

Aiko - Eggplany - Japanese Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

Aiko - Japanese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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

See all

went here for hrw and it was FIRE! i loved everything except for the sour grape? dessert it was not it for me read more

See all

We chose to sit at the sushi bar and were surprised to find ourselves being waited on by the executive chef, Michael; he was incredibly gracious, warm, unpretentious, and generous. We didn't know what to expect, but after the first outstanding bites, we followed his advice to the letter, and everything was beyond sublime. The fish was first-rate, the flavors incredible. Best sushi we have ever had! Heading back for the full omakase treatment very soon. We can't wait! 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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

I finally had a chance to see what the hype was about and I'm please to say it did not disappoint. The neighborhood was a little sketchy, but once you're inside, it's really nice. We were greeted right away. I was offered to sit at the dining room or the sushi bar, we chose the bar. We were introduced to our sushi chef for the day and we elected to have the Omakase dinner which was reasonably priced. The standout dishes was the spicy tuna hand roll with habanero peppers, the yellowtail belly, sushi, and the amazing dessert that I can't even explain. I felt the portions were a little small/thin, otherwise you'd get a 5 star. The waiters and waitresses were fantastic as well-constantly coming by to clean up any used dishes and constantly filling the . Overall, great restaurant I look forward to going back. read more

Me and my family have tried so many different sushi restaurant and this one was by far one of the bests. The quality of the rice, fish and seaweed and the service was perfect. I've been to Japan 3 times and this place comes very close to real authentic Japanese sushi!! Food: 9.5/10. The 0.5 was because the wasabi could've been better! Ambiance: 8/10. The actual restaurant was pretty average but the bathroom is so pretty. Service: 10/10. Our server (Aaron) was super kind and helpful. read more

We really enjoyed the unique menu. Service was great. It's very loud so just be prepared but otherwise was great.

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

I want to love it. I've been to an event here and the food was fantastic, but I went back for Restaurant Week looking to grab a quick bite before walking over to Julep and it was a bust. The menu options were just not of value and I got the $30 box thing and it was just suuuuuper fishy (And not in a tasty fresh Sushi way). Also the service was excruciatingly slow for a silent Happy hour timing and the tables are too close together. People were bumping into us the whole time. read more

Had the most amazing time, with Adam as the bartender & Perla as the server, so hospitable and kind. The martinis were amazing and the food was delicious. Definitely will be coming back here read more

Aiko - Japanese Near Me - Houston, Texas

I love love love Aiko! I've been here a few times now and I've had such an amazing experience each time. The staff is so nice and the food is just incredible. My favorites are the Kanpachi nigiri and BGB Saketoro Aburi nigiri! read more

First time here and definitely exceeded my expectations. They have valet for parking but on slow nights, you can park in the parking lot without the valet. We sat at the sushi bar and our sushi chef was very accommodating. We let him choose majority of our dishes and we were not disappointed. We did tell him what we didn't like and what we like and he based the dishes on that. So in a way it was like an omakase. They did provide an omakase on their menu but I heard it doesn't change much. I will say the omakase provided is cheaper compared to other places in Houston. The restaurant overall is somewhat not small but not too small. Definitely worth it for date night. read more

See all

Aiko is one of my absolute favorite spots, and I've had the pleasure of dining here many times. Most recently, I attended the Aiko Appreciation Dinner, and it was truly special. The evening featured a perfectly curated wine pairing by the wonderful Grant Long of Aonair in Napa Valley. He shared fascinating stories about each wine, even inviting us to visit his property which was such a personal and memorable touch. Aiko went above and beyond, even sending us home with a thoughtful gift to cap off the evening. What I love most about Aiko is their dedication to creating exceptional experiences every time. The sushi is consistently fresh and absolutely delicious, making it some of the best in Houston. Over the years, we've come to know many of the staff members, and their warm, attentive service makes us feel right at home. In fact, we're heading back tonight with a table of 10 to celebrate my husband's birthday. it's the perfect place for any special occasion. Aiko never fails to impress, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a truly unforgettable dining experience. read more

See all

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

Aiko - Japanese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Amazing! One of my favorite sushi experiences. Drinks were so good. Service was top notch. The atmosphere was great and good location with easy parking. We did the Omakase and will be back again. read more

See all

Aiko is such a hidden gem in Houston -- the kind of place that feels both elegant and inviting the moment you walk in. The atmosphere is perfect for a girls' night, a romantic date, or even treating yourself to something special. The sushi is absolutely divine -- so fresh, delicate, and beautifully presented that you almost don't want to touch it... until the first bite melts in your mouth. YUMMY!! The staff made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Attentive, warm, and knowledgeable -- they really elevate the dining experience without ever being overbearing. 10/10 recommend Xoxo read more

Back at Aiko. Trying to understand why it's so easy to get into- blows our mind. Has some of the best nigiri Houston (or anywhere) has to offer. Highlights: sunomono app, nigiri across the board. Excited for their new cocktail venture in Autry Park! read more

Aiko - Saketoro Aburi- seared salmon belly. DELICIOUS! - Japanese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Came for the amazing Houston restaurant week deal and absolutely loved this spot. The vibes inside are amazing for a fun sushi dinner on the weekend with your friends or a date! The fish is incredibly fresh, packed with flavor and each dish is carefully curated into an amazing bite. Their service was top notch & I will definitely be back to try their omakase! read more

See all

Food fantastic, service fantastic, but the valet is the worst set up I have ever seen. we chose to not do the onakase which we don't regret. Lived every single thing we ordered. Highlights were the unit toast appetizer, uni nigiri, and foie. That being said, nothing was bad! Service was incredible. The valet set up is horrible. Not worth getting into, but any smart restaurant owner knows the valet goes next to the door not all the way across the parking lot. read more

Delicious sushi spot that will leave you with a great sushi experience and fresh fish. It is some of the best sushi I've had in Houston, and I will absolutely be going back! read more

See all

Great place offering fresh and delicious sushi! The place has a young hip vibe. Staff members are super attentive and overall the service is great. Happy hour menu is good too. read more

See all

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

See all

I been on 2 occasions and loved everything here! Everything was fresh and tasted exquisite. A bit price but the service was good. Highlights: Seared salmon belly - amazing!! Kaarage - loved the wag it was fried and seasoned. Beat I've had! Oyster shooters - fresh And everything else was amazing!! Writing this review is making me hungry and want to go back today! Kanpachi crudo Madai Kinmedai Kanpachi Masu Sake crudo Shima aji Chutoro Otoro Sake handroll Hamachi Crudo Maguro Crudo Foie Gras Negitoro Maki Spicy Tuna Maki Hamachi Maki Junmai - Tenbu Sake read more

See all

Love the food, the service was speedy and clean with clearing the table. I give this place a 9/10, please add a dehumidifier to the bathroom it was humid. Also add a natural scent to the bathroom. 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

See all

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

See all

I had previously come for HRW and really enjoyed it, so wanted to come check out the omakase! There are several omakase options, and from 5-6:30 pm there's a happy hour version that's $45 for one starter, one crudo, four nigiri, and one hand roll. Started off with a lychee martini, which was really tasty and not too sweet. Everything I tried was fantastic and so fresh. We added the karage and a couple other hand rolls/nigiri, all of which were excellent. Service is also top notch- the dishes come quickly, the plates get cleared out from in front of you quickly, they give you fresh plates and are always refilling your water. Manager even came to check in on us a few times. The space is nicely decorated with comfortable seating and the music is good! You can see the chefs preparing the fish at the bar- next time I come I definitely want to sit there! Really can't say enough good things about this spot. It's probably the best bang for your buck omakase option in Houston. Will have to come back for the larger omakase menu! Definitely recommend a reservation especially for dinner on a Friday night. There's a small lot next to the building for parking as well as overflow parking. read more

See all

A friend and I came to Aiko for a sake and sushi pairing event. All the sakes and sushi were excellent. The servers and sushi chefs were very knowledgeable and provided detailed information about all items served. The restaurant itself is also quite beautiful. I will definitely return to try there other offerings. read more

See all

I dined here for the first time recently and it was a great experience. We came for the Social Hour Omakase for $45 (runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m.), which was a good starter, and also tried a few other items from the menu. Some of my favorite things off the menu were the Spicy Tuna Maki and A5 Wagyu Maki, which was super savory and just melts in your mouth. We could not have asked for better service. Our server was really knowledgeable about the menu and was able to give us some really good recommendations. All of the staff we interacted with were so attentive and all the food came out quickly. It ended up being pretty pricey, but overall the quality of the food and service that we received was top notch. read more

See all