We loved our dine-in meal recently with friends. I ordered the spicy ramen with lots of meats and veggies BUDAE-JJIGAE and loved it! I knew I had to get the sushi pizza again after my last rave review 6 years ago! It was just as tasty as I remember- so refreshing and easy to share. We enjoyed a couple rounds of hot sake yum! Service was excellent and the vibes were great. We got moved to an even larger booth - great staff and food. We will come here more often - wow 10/10 experience. read more

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I went with Bento #1 . Ingredients were fresh and prepped for each serving! The waiter was nice and helped with some recommendations. The place is very cozy and has family friendly vibes . read more

You'll never leave hungry with a meal from Ajio! The soup and congee that comes with the food always taste great. I've been to Ajio several times and am always happy with the service. The servers are polite, and always quietly stop by the table to collect garbage and plates. The location is convenient, nestled right in downtown Hamilton. It's cozy and quiet and there's never a wait for a table. It's a great place to eat alone, on a date, or with friends! The last time I was there I enjoyed the Bulgogi Stone Bowl Bibimbap and shared the Onion Pancake. Their Katsu and Bento boxes are also really great picks too. read more

Vegetarian bento box The banana sushi on the menu was better than I was expecting, completely worth to try. The other sushi with the cucumbers and avocado and the avocado sushi were very fresh and good flavors. They provide enough ginger wasabi and soy to enjoy the meal. I'm not a huge fan of the seaweed salad but not pictured was another salad and some soup. I did not eat either. Great value for the money. read more

Ajio Sushi - Vegetarian bento box - Japanese Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

Hidden gem in the heart of downtown Hamilton! Hole in the wall near Gore Park! Food was spectacular fresh and surprisingly affordable! read more

Ajio Sushi - Sushi boat, very fresh good and surprisingly reasonable! - Japanese Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

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Decent fish quality, but too much dry rice. We had the maki/sushi platter (medium size) and assorted sashimi, which was enough to feed 4 people. The platter and sashimi were colourful and beautifully presented, but unfortunately, the taste was mediocre. The raw fish, especially the salmon and butterfish, were actually quite tasty. However, the rice was dry and parts of it were hard. The rolls had way too much rice, and there was barely any filling or flavour. Most of the maki rolls tasted pretty bland and similar as a result. read more

Ajio Sushi - Medium sized maki/sushi platter - Japanese Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

Such delicious and fresh sushi! The love boats are so delicious and the pizza sushi is our absolutely favourite. We have been back several times because it's just that good. The servers are always so polite and the atmosphere is cozy and comfortable. Will definitely be back again soon! read more

Ajio Sushi - Salmon sushi pizza - Japanese Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

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A nice little Korean sushi restaurant in downtown Hamilton. The servers were polite and the portions rather generous. I had a sushi bento box and it came with a variety of sides. read more

I really wanted Korean food and this was the few places that served Korean food in Hamilton. We came on a Friday night. The restaurant was quite busy and we were told that there would be a 5 min wait as the restaurant was full. But then the waiter ended up seating a party of 4 that came after us. After we were seated, we quickly ordered and was served water, congee, and salad. Then we waited, waited, and waited. I got up to fill my own water and saw several other tables who were seated after us get their food and leave. We finally got our food and it was average. We ended up getting up to pay after waiting for a while for the bill to not come. I feel like the service gets worse and worse everytime. My meal of kimchi bulbogi, spicy rice cakes, and a soup took around 3 hours! read more

This place is so gooddd! I didn't even have it when it was super fresh and hot and I still loved it so much. The gan poong gi stays so crunchy and crispy and is sweet and sour with a bit of a kick to it. The rice cakes were filled with fish cakes and came with the kimmari which definitely balances out all the sauces and flavour you're eating in this meal. Also the rice cakes have lots of fish cakes and carrots in it too so you don't get tired of eating so much rice cake. read more

Ajio Sushi - Kimmari Boki | Gan poong gi - Japanese Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

Great food for a fair price. You scan a QR code upon arrival to view their menu. They have 10% off for cash discount. Order ahead if possible as they were slammed from 5PM onward. I ordered the yaki udon with chicken. Good portion sizes with lots of veggies and al-dente noodles. Came with sides of sweet radish and kimchi. For $15 this was a nice treat. I'll be back next time to try their spicy chicken and toppoki. read more

Recommendation: Spicy chicken with cheese Really good taste Kimchi pancake is fine and the location is really good read more

Ajio Sushi - various dishes of food on a table - Japanese Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

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My first and last time here. The chicken teriyaki was a joke. Take your business elsewhere read more

Ajio Sushi - a bowl of food on a table - Japanese Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

BEST restaurant in Hamilton, Ontario for Korean food! I love this place and have been going here for years now. They have tons of authentic Korean foods on their menu and even offer Japanese sushi/bento boxes! Love this spot and would highly recommend! I always end up ordering "Gan Poong Gi", which is essentially crispy chicken in their classic, Korean [not really spicy] spicy sauce - comes with one bowl of white rice. Every dish ordered usually comes with a small congee soup, house salad and 4-5 Korean sides. Great price, really filling and the portion is quite large! I also ordered their "Love Boats" [sushi platters] before and those are also quite good. Aijo Sushi also offers Korean soju, which is nice to have and has a bunch of flavours like apple, peach and plum - which is quite rare to find in Hamilton! read more

Ajio Sushi - "Gan Poong Gi" ($16.99) - best dish at Aijo!! Its basically crispy chicken with Korean sauce - so good! - Japanese Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

If you've ever craved Japanese sushi and Korean fried chicken AT THE SAME TIME...!!!... AIJO has you covered!!! The sushi is bursting with fresh avocado, red tuna or salmon (your choice), crispy nori, and crunchy, salty tobiko sprinkled allll over. The sweet smokiness of each roll can be enjoyed with traditional Korean side dishes (banchan) , like glass noodles and pressed fish cake. And, when your taste buds are ready to be elevated to the flavours of Korean cuisine, the sticky fried chicken is packed with a heat punch and a sweet honey glaze that has you ordering more. This spot is an absolutely gem downtown Hamilton and very much worth the acclaim. read more

Aijo Sushi was a place that I've been intending try out for some time due to the glowing reviews here. Since I finally got around to visiting the area I made it my destination for dinner. Because it's located in the Hamilton downtown core there is limited parking available - you'll most likely have to go to one of the paid lots around the area instead. Upon entering the restaurant the first thought that came to my mind was: quaint. The decor is modeled after a Japanese establishment complete with traditional Japanese paintings and wooden booths (although there were korean posters as well). The interior actually looks kind of cramped so I'd imagine it would be very busy during lunch and dinner with lineups. Although the place wasn't very busy it took about five minutes before they prepared a table for the three of us and even longer before they came back with the menus. The waiters and waitresses seemed rushed, but they did make an effort to explain to us the popular dishes and frequently refilled our drinks. I ultimately decided on the Kimchi Bulgolgi while my friends had the Pork Bone Soup. All korean meals start with a small bowl of garden salad and congee. Afterwards the banchan came out which consisted of bean sprouts, cucumbers, and kimchi tofu. They were all the standard korean fare so no issues there. I'm not sure if these were supposed to tide us over until the main courses, but at the time I thought maybe the wait was worth it because my mouth was watering when the main dishes came out. I was only half right. The beef seemed to be of pretty low quality or improperly cooked. The flavouring was also tame and not nearly as spicy as I was hoping. My friends also said that the broth for the pork bone soups were mediocre and that, again, the pork wasn't too good. I'll admit the portions were adequate for the price however so that's a plus. Maybe I'll come here one more time to try out the sushi dishes since they are highly rated on this website, but I honestly wouldn't go back for the Korean dishes. Between the slow service and average food there are better places to go to in Hamilton if you're craving Korean food. read more

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We tried to eat at this place last week but there were no tables. It looks like a hole in the Wal, so we figured the food must be good. So, off we went two nights ago and YES, this is a great place. Even though it was full again and we had to walk around for a spell then wait inside the for for the crowd to cool. The green salad is one of the best I've ever had. The tempura is not all conventional but the shrimps were amazing. This is our new go-to :) read more

This is the last place I ate at before the pandemic hit. March 11th or so. I've been thinking about it ever since. I've only been once, but it was so good. I got something like spicy pork. It came out on this metal slab & was piping hot. Great presentation, food & experience. I would say a real 4/5 stars, but a Yelp 5/5 read more

Aijo is a cute Korean and Japanese restaurant located in downtown Hamilton. The appearance of this place is not very attractive at all, but you can never judge anything by their cover. Walking into Aijo, we were greeted away really quickly by a lady who then asked us what drink we wanted (tea and water is complimentary) and also gave us the menu. They have lunch specials starting from $7.50, though of course the lunch meals are about $10+ in price. These are the bento boxes, however you can also get pork bone soup and other delicious Korean food. It seems fairly reasonable considering bento boxes, in addition, you are given a bowl of miso soup, a bowl of congee, salad and Korean dishes on the side included in the meal! I got the sushi bento box which included salmon rolls, spicy salmon and california rolls. I thought the spicy salmon was a little spicy and the rolls barely stayed together. The sushi alone wasn't very impressive, but I added a star because I've never seen a place that gave so many side dishes! read more

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I walked here after our trip back from the gardens and bayfront, so I was hungry for fresh sashimi. The sashimi dinner is good size in portion for one person, comes with korean side dishes and miso soup. I like the old feel and the kimchee was authentic. The sashimi is not as fresh as I would have liked and there was way too much salmon. Too much salmon makes the palette too rich, of which all types of sashimi should have been cut to serve. Once they give you a small cup of water, they don't come refill. read more

I got coaxed here months ago for their mochi after a dinner date turned to dessert - and was floored by their menu. "Really," I thought, "why didn't we come here for dinner instead?" Six months later, I finally made it back to try out their savory menu. I had checked it out online (along with reviews because YAY for reviews) and was a little leery given its eclectic menu - usually places that do more than one cuisine, unless they're specifically fusion, only do a half job on each cuisine they include. Oh my, what a pleasant surprise! I wound up finding Rappokgi, which was my favourite drunk food in Korea and hasn't been found since I left her in 2012. Suffice it to say, I got excited...and then tried to tell myself not to get TOO excited because the caliber might not be great. ....Except it totally was great. Beyond great. Creamy, spicy-sweet red pepper sauce with perfectly sloppy noodles and chewy, gorgeous daulk... Be still my heart! Their menu is HUGE, and they do a lunch special each day with several options, so it'll definitely be added to my rotation. And, of course, their service is outstanding. Incredibly friendly and generous - I'm pretty sure the server was laughing at my Happy Food Dance and took a bit of joy from my explosive excitement while looking at the menu. Those kind bits and pieces make the experience. Definitely try it out. read more

I was blown away by this place. I have had 4 people tell me to try this place out. 2 of which where people that had lived in Korea for 2-3 years prior. They both claimed their kimchi stew was fantastic. I did not try the kimchi, but had an assortment of goodies for my anniversary dinner with my fiance. We started off with edamame and vegetarian gyzo dumplings, followed by Asahi Maki roll and two Bento boxes. I got the soft shell crab Bento box while my fiance had the vegetarian Bento box. I haven't had soft shell crab in year and I was so delighted. The soft shell crab was to die for and the sashimi and sushi was so delicious and fresh. This place was fantastic!!! Honestly, I was so surprised. Didn't even finish my meal, I needed to bring home a doggie bag. Will definitely come back to try more goodies as well as have more soft shell crab!! read more

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This was a Great change from AYCE restaurants. I went by myself and At the servers suggestion I ordered a large bento box of delicious samples of Authentic Japanese cooked favourites, sauces and fresh sushi. I had a very good quality small warm sake. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable regarding the food. I will be back soon ! ( and take a pic or two ) read more

Solid four stars. Great portion sizes. Owned by Koreans so you get side dishes for anything you order. It's like the Korean/Japanese Cheesecake Factory of Hamilton. Go hungry, leave angry at yourself for being so full and fat. read more

Aijo is a restaurant at which I visited with anticipation, as it was rated 4.5 stars on Yelp and had many outstanding reviews. The caveat, however, was that almost all the the reviews it had received up until now were from 2015-2016, with two from Jan-Feb 2017. Essentially, there were no recent reviews. Perhaps the chef changed, the suppliers were switched, or maybe there was another inexplicable reason, but my visit yesterday was not a 4-5 star experience. When we entered, we noticed that the decor had a largely Japanese aesthetic to it. There were wooden partitions and paintings of beautiful Japanese women on the walls. With the exception of the metal fold-up chairs and the white scratches on the tables that made the restaurant seem somewhat ''cheap'', the decor was rather pleasant. However, simultaneously, what really bothered me was the smell in the room. None of the other parties seemed bothered, so I kept it in the back of my headspace. When I went to the washroom, it clicked. Down the steep flight of stairs I went into an eerily lit and dirty basement where they housed the toilets. I curled up at the formidable waft of what seemed like mold and years of sanitary negligence. The stench was strong, so strong that I believe that it tiptoed its way up the stairs and mixed with the fragrances in the kitchen, ultimately resulting in that unidentified smell I mentioned earlier. This was a red flag at the start of my dinner. Wary as I was with trying the food after my trip to the washroom, I conceded. We had a sushi platter, ja jang myeon, soft shell crab, tonkatsu, a dragon maki roll, and takoyaki. The previous Yelp reviews and my impression are like night and day. The sashimi that came with the maki roll had not thawed through and the roll had dry fillings as well as an above average amount of rice. The takoyaki did not have all the works you would usually get; there was no mayonnaise, no teriyaki sauce, and no nori flakes. The tonkatsu was decent, but the japchae that came with it was dry, as if it had been cooked many hours earlier and had been stored away. As for the ja jang myeon, it was no saving grace either with the watered down flavour of the sauce. The only item I enjoyed that night was the free jook (ie. Congee) that you get before your meals are served. It was slightly saltier than what I get in Chinese congee houses, but it was very hearty nonetheless. In all fairness, I wish I could have eaten a pot of the jook instead of my original orders. I do not recommend Aijo and will likely never eat here again. It seems to be a popular spot in Hamilton, but please come with discretion. read more

Ajio Sushi - the front of the restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Hamilton, Ontario

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It's been years and I keep coming back to this place! Best korean food restaurant in Hamilton! I love their kimchi chi gae!! Always looking forward for coming back! :) read more

This place is a great spot to hit up. You can even take friends that don't eat sushi and they will have many options. We usually get the boat for two and it is a enough sushi for folks that enjoy sushi. read more

I can only speak for the dish that I had, which was the Spicy Chicken with Cheese. This is one of those dishes where you're immediately sold the second it enters your mouth! It's an amazingly savoury dish, whose main star is the broth, but is followed closely by the soft meat and the blessed cheese topping. The quality of the food is a bit of a surprise considering the aesthetics of the venue. The service isn't bad either. And I should say the serving size was more than enough, along with the complementary appetizers. When I'm hungry in the area next, I'm definitely going back to see if the other dishes make the cut. Great Korean food experience! read more

My favourite spot for Korean/Japanese, stop in here everytime I return home to Hamilton. Highly recommend stonebowl bibimbop. read more

Close this place down. First arrived, people waiting outside. Walked in the restaurant, rude greeting. Sat down, let us know there's no menus when the restaurant was half empty. Waited 30 minutes for service no one arrived and we left. Never went to a restaurant that experienced something like this. I feel bad for the employees there, I think just one waiter. Serious management issues here. read more

Service has become worse lately. A lot of other reviewers have had the same complaints: the food takes way too long. In our last visit, we ordered a simple order of some sushi rolls. We waited 40minutes without anything coming on the table. We asked the server what was up, and he said it was on the way. We waited 10more minutes and got up to leave and the waiter approached us when he saw this. He told us to wait a minute, then went to ask the chef and then came back and admitted our order was not placed... So not only did he lie, he then preceded to charge us for a drink before he told us we could go. No apology either. Sorry that the waiter with a tumor on his face ruined our night, and our time. read more

Amazing little restaurant located in downtown Hamilton. I've been eating here for several years now and they always provide above and beyond customer service. My only qualm about this place is that when it gets really busy, it make take them a while to take your order. However considering all the free side dishes and appetizers they serve (depending on what you order), their low prices and a vast selection of Korean and Japanese dishes, the wait is always worth it. read more

A cute and small Korean/Japanese restaurant located in downtown Hamilton. The food here is more tolerable than other Korean restaurants I've been to around the area, their sushi could use a little improvement in terms of flavour though. With regards to service, the owner is really friendly and tries her best to keep customers happy, overall she's a cheerful person. I got the spicy rice cake (tteokbokki) with cheese and although it tasted good in terms of flavour, the rice cake was way over cooked that it got bloated by the time it was served to me. The cheese is a great addition to the meal but I found that it was a little overpriced for its value. The normal spicy rice cake was $8 while the one with cheese was an extra $2 essentially, making it around $10. But at least they give you a generous portion so I would say everything weighed out. My friend and I also got a spicy salmon roll to share, however it was a little salty... which I find odd for sushi. But it was only $4 for 6 pieces so why not, it was an alternative way to get sushi cravings satisfied. I haven't tried any of their other Japanese dishes but their Korean dishes are better than average. read more

My go to restaurant for when I am craving Korean food! I love the spicy chicken with cheese and their stew and sushi are delicious!

They offer korean food and sushi, both are good! My favourite dish from them is the bibimbap, the bowl is hot enough to give you crispy bits of rice. For the sushi side, I like their spicy salmon rolls. read more

The workers are all really nice and the food was amazing !! Their korean chicken is so good!! It's such a hidden gem!

the worst Korean restaurant you might ever come across. The food is subpar, definitely not worth the price that they ask for, the soup broth is sour and outdated. If you want real Korean food, I would consider going somewhere else, why waste your money living through a bad experience. Also, if you try to raise any concerns with the manager, he'll call you a slut, swear to god. If you ask him to apologize he will not and blame it on you. I threw everything that I ate at this restaurant up, definitely not recommend. read more

Love this place, not sure what I'd do if they closed. Sushi is always fresh and buttery. Bibimbop has great flavours. Free rice porridge before every meal.Staff is great. Not too expensive, under $40 without drinks for 2. Beer around $5. read more

worst place ever been in Hamilton，first time heard that a restaurant ran out of menu with only half customer dining in the restaurant. Waited for 15mins without any services, cant make order, can't ask for a water. The waitress keeps repeating be right back but not showing up for any services after. maybe you guys should consider hiring more stuff and print more menus ready for customer. read more

This restaurant has clearly been here for quite a while. The first impression... Uh... Not as good as I thought it should be. Yet, I see improvement every time I went there. My first recordation would be the love boat, huge amount and relatively cheap price. Foods are very fresh and nicely prepared. The owners are couple from Korea, super nice and friendly. read more