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    Aka-Oni

    4.1 (28 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    Amy O.

    1/20/26- Ever since my return from Japan, I have not had any Japanese/ sushi.. food.. Gave in as flying took a toll on my hangry pangs.. Eager and open minded.. Appealing from the outside and recently opened a few months ago.. Staff friendly and server was attentive.. Food looked really appealing.. Downside was the tempura.. pale and soggy- Asked the server if they could have it redone.. Came back hotter and hot but had no flavor.. Beef was decent except for the bone in was chewy. Positives : prices were decent and I liked the ice cream..

    Beef ribs and onions
    Jayden D.

    Aka-oni...more like "Aka oh no" Ventured to to Aka-Oni last night and left disappointed. We called about five minutes ahead of time and asked how long the wait for two was- "uhm 25-30min." Okay, not bad- was wanting to wait less than an hour. Check in to the tablet. Hour goes by. Still waiting. Parties of four and six who arrived after us sat. Hour fifteen passes. Still larger parties that arrived after us sat. One hour and a half passed. Finally a table- only parties of two left. Okay- we were excited to eat here. Sit down- and ready to start to dig in. Server comes after ~5min after sitting down. He explains we order on the menu, and takes our cocktail orders. We order on the tablet, and food slowly starts to show up. We start some meat on the grill. Meats grilled. Chicken fried rice comes. Eat it. ~30 minutes go by. No waiter, no cocktails. Five minutes later. See the waiter- still not cocktails. Ask for some waters to tide us over. Five more minutes. He brings waters to other tables. Still no drinks, half of our food gone. I finally ask to speak to a manager. The manager- great. She remedies it by grabbing us waters, bringing us our cocktails, and discounts our meals and free drinks. She checks in on us throughout our meal to make sure we are doing well, which we appreciated. We start seeing people walking around with lettuce, Japanease mayo, and kimchi. Lo and behold, there is a cold section that our server didn't tell us about, but after seeing our server greet other tables, clearly points it out to other parties. The food was actually really good, which is disappointing the service was awful. The meats were quality, and all were seasoned or marinated well. The prepared appetizers all came out warm and were a nice addition. We didn't end up receiving our sesame seed fries- but not really surprised by the service we received. If we are in the area, we may be back. Most likely not, as the service was atrocious.

    Kate D.

    My husband and I dined on a Saturday evening. Knowing they would probably be busy and do not take reservations for small parties, when we were 10 minutes away I called to ask the wait time. I was quoted 15-20 minutes, but "could be 25-30 once we get there". Okay, no problem, that's a reasonable amount of time. When I checked us in, I was given a 45 minute wait time, okay no problem it is a Saturday night... We waited for an hour and 45 minutes! They were seating large parties (even without reservations) first as a majority of their tables accommodate more people. I understand wanted to get as many people in and eating as possible ($$), but there needs to be some way of seating all sized parties in the order they have been waiting. Once sat, our server got our drink order, explained we would order on the tablet, and that there was a dessert bar. Okay cool. We ordered our items on the tablet and they started coming out quite quickly (nice because there is a 2 hour time limited on the table). Some items are spicy, which led us to realize we didn't have our cocktails. My husband asked the waiter after we were seated for 20 minutes for a water. Didn't get it. He asked again. Still no water. After being sat for 35 minutes without drinks, we spoke to who I would assume was the owner. She was apologetic and got our drinks for us. (She also ended up comping them for us as well). The food itself is high quality, with the meats being good cuts, the rice being good, and a chocolate fountain. We did have some issues with ordering on the tablet and some food items not ever arriving. They deliver the food on carts with the order ticket attached, so I have to assume when they are walking around, the tickets fall off and they don't know you didn't get your item? We did have to find ourselves that the lettuce, jalapeños, kimchi, etc, is also on the dessert bar. Overall, I would give this place another shot. The food was good, the owner tried to make our experience right, and the idea of Japanese BBQ is always fun, it just seems we had an off time with waiting and forgetfulness.

    Hakim M.

    Very nice restaurant, went kinda late so felt little rushed. But food was great and server helped and explained things well. Its all you can eat. So come with appetite and time to enjoy. Only down side if you aren't sure how to grill or times for each meat to cook. It can get kinda intimidating.. over all great time and experience. (Cute they still had valentine day decor up)

    Soft serve
    Tiffany N.

    Went in for their soft opening! They didn't have all the sauces and the shrimp fried rice but everything on the menu was pretty much available. Japanese barbecue is seasoned just right, and I feel like I can eat without rice. Meat cuts were good. Variety on sauce is kinda limited compared to Japanese BBQ franchises I've been to. This place mainly had: Sweet soy, Spicy, and Salt and pepper but the meat quality makes up for it! I mainly like the short rib (especially my mom), sweet soy and salt/pepper beef tongue. Their spicy seasoning was a little bland for me. Personally didn't care for their ice cream but the container is cute

    Kendra A.

    The table for 6 of us was a tight fit. AYCE is nice especially with the many options, lots of rice in the bowls. The tempura shrimp was lackluster. The lime sauce was delicious! I think I have to go again with less people to really enjoy what's offered versus rush cooking food. The ventilation system was great too. The matcha ice cream was good, I wish it wasn't dyed this bright green color

    Lobster !!

    We had an older gentleman helped us out, he was really nice thanks. Foods are great, I'm a slow eater so it's kinda pressure having timing out on iPad lol .

    Ice cream machine
    Tyanna M.

    My husband and I went here for a late lunch/early dinner. We came in the door and no one was up front but the sign said wait to be seated so we waited a few and someone did come up to seat us. It was not busy in the late afternoon. It was our first time there and our waiter asked if we had been there before and I said no but we had been to a Korean BBQ before and he said it was pretty much the same. I still think we could have used a little more explanation but we mustered through. Looking at the iPad ordering there really were not enough meat options. We also did not notice the designation of "Rice and Noodles" above a couple of selections we made and we ended up with bowls of rice with a bit of meat on top and we did not want the rice at all. They also do not have a full bar there so they had some beer options and sake cocktails and I ordered a sake cocktail. Sake cocktail was ok but not great. You have a 2 hour time limit to eat of which 1.5 hours you can order items. I did not care for the price for what we got. I prefer the Korean BBQ near there, it is the only thing I have to compare to the meal we had here. The favorite thing I had here for me was the hanger steak. The favorite for my hubby was the dumplings. I ordered miso soup and salad and was shocked and sad the salad came with ranch on it, I fully expected ginger dressing and was looking so forward to it. I ate it but I do not care for ranch much at all. I looked at the bar they have setup for dessert and none of it I was really interested in. they had some s'mores ingredients to go with the chocolate fountain and some fruit and also had an ice cream machine which someone had said was not good so I did not venture there. We were full when we left so it was not all a loss but going back is not in our future.

    Miso Soup
    Kimberly F.

    I was so excited to try this place, and I wasn't disappointed! They just opened, so they had a discount, which was really nice. We got seated right away, and the decorations were really nice. The meats are great quality, but you only get a few small pieces with each order, so I highly recommend ordering multiples of each meat. It took awhile to get food, but our server, Jacky, was good at checking in with us and making sure our food was eventually delivered. I love that there's lots of appetizer, noodle, and rice dishes in addition to the meats. Don't forget to try the ice cream and make s'mores!

    Inside decor
    Shunda B.

    Hubby, son, and I tried this new Japanese BBQ spot right after TG and it was everything and more. We were seated immediatel! 1st off, I thought "Nice Place"! 2nd thought "Big table and roomy for all of the food we will be ordering". Our server was really nice and explained everything because every BBQ spot is not the same process when ordering. They had a really nice menu and it was all you can eat for $35....Kids were $17.50. At first BBQ spots were not my thing, but I'm quickly getting into them as they allow me to try a variety of appetizers, meats, veggies, seafood, and desserts without breaking the bank. As I stated, our server was so helpful and even helped cook a bit. She made recommendations and always checked to make sure we got everything that we ordered. Everything was of excellent quality. I miss a lot of pics as I waa busy eating and by the time I remembered a pic, it was one and done Some of my faves.....Fried Dumplings, Garden Salad, Shrimp and the Chicken Fried Rice, Short Ribs were bomb, Beef Finger Rib, Salt & Pepper ChunkEye, and Salt & Pepper Pork Belly. Hubby and son also tried the Salt & Pepper Beef Tongue and they Looooovvvvveeedddd it! Welp to each his own. Oh, I cannot forget to shout out the must tries....Marinaded Chicken Wings, Garlic Butter Shrimp, Zucchini, and the Garlic Butter Clams. It was worth every penny!!! Don't walk....run to this spot!!!!

    Short ribs and shrimp! Delicious.
    Nick B.

    Wonderful atmosphere. Great service and food! My daughter absolutely loved cooking her own food. Fun experience all around. Absolutely would recommend!

    Grill - Min

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    2 days ago

    Nice and quiet spot to enjoy lunch. Food came fast and was delicious. Server was very attentive and nice.

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    25 days ago

    Great time here for a birthday. Fun environment. Terrific attentiveness by the staff. Food was delicious. Would recommend.

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    1 month ago

    Came in for lunch and food was great! Fantastic pork, steak, egg rolls. Good service food came out super quick. Would definitely recommend

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    6 months ago

    Great decor, friendly staff and all you can eat bbq is a sure fire winning conversation.

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    6 months ago

    The food tasted amazing, the service was phenomenal, an the ambiance was very relaxing but also kinda of energizing.

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    Big Hoffas

    Big Hoffas

    4.3(918 reviews)
    9.5 mi
    $$

    This is the best barbecue in Central Indiana. The ribs, brisket, and pulled pork are outstanding…read more Make sure you try the habanero cole slaw. For lunch, I often get the teriyaki bowl.

    My husband and I have repeatedly been told how good the food is at Big Hoffas, so it's been on our…read morelist to visit for a loooong time. That is why it pains me to be giving this 3-star review. It's not that anything was bad, but after all the hype, we just weren't impressed. Let me start off by saying that the space is very cool. I loved the dark, swamp-themed mural painted on the wall, the banging playlist and the inclusion of a bar in the back as well as the ice cream counter. The staff were jovial, accommodating and extremely pleasant to interact with. My husband and I both ordered 1/2 slab rib combos. My 1/2 was much larger/meatier than his, so we swapped. The combo comes with two sides. We both ordered the baked beans, he had the coleslaw, and I had the macaroni and cheese. Categorically, everything was ok...good even, but not great or amazing, which were the words that we'd heard from others. Perhaps we didn't order the right items. The ribs were beautiful with the perfect smoke ring. They were seasoned well, but they were not as tender as I would've liked. I like my ribs to be fall-off-the-bone tender, but I know that isn't necessarily the industry standard. The sauce options were mild and hot, but I could barely distinguish the difference between the two. Hot is not spicy. The macaroni and cheese could've used some salt and pepper, but the baked beans were spot-on. The beans were on the sweet side, which is just how I like them. The platter is also served with soft, buttery, rolls with garlic.

    Photos
    Big Hoffas - This was one of the flickering lights

    This was one of the flickering lights

    Big Hoffas - The 1834 sandwich

    The 1834 sandwich

    Big Hoffas - Outside view of the building

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    Outside view of the building

    Smokin' Barrel BBQ - Chopped Chicken Sandwich with Kickin' Slaw at Smokin' Barrel BBQ

    Smokin' Barrel BBQ

    4.6(76 reviews)
    12.9 mi

    This was definitely a different setup compared to most. This small establishment is run out of the…read moreSertoma Community Center on the southeast side of the Indy Metro area. It does not look as though you are entering a restaurant when you approach, but you are. I think they are configured more for takeout, but they have access to the large event area with cafeteria-style seating. So there is plenty of room to eat in if you'd prefer (which we did). The hours seem a little limited so be sure to check before you go. The menu, including the specials, is on a white board as you walk in. The selection is streamlined, BBQ-dominated and carnivore-oriented (other than the sides). The system is a walk-up and order from the kitchen doorway. My wife chose the Pulled Pork Sandwich with Baked Beans while I opted for the Chopped Chicken Sandwich with Kickin Coleslaw. The food was very good. The proprietors were very friendly and engaging, and that was a plus. The prices were quite reasonable. With drinks and tip, it was about $14 each. My wife actually took enough away from hers for another meal, so it was a good deal. Our daughter and son-in-law live close, so we hope to try this place again when we visit.

    Normally great food & service but this time the owners were not there and our wings were hard and…read moreburnt! The first time we had the wings they were done to perfection. I believe because they just opened for the morning that the workers were rushing to get them done and over cooked them. Maybe this was just a training problem and will be corrected on our next visit. The brisket was delicious & so was the potato salad!! I'm still giving four stars because of our past experiences which were wonderful.

    Photos
    Smokin' Barrel BBQ - Smokin Barrel New Palestine location

    Smokin Barrel New Palestine location

    Smokin' Barrel BBQ - Pulled Pork

    Pulled Pork

    Smokin' Barrel BBQ - Storefront for Smokin' Barrel BBQ

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    Storefront for Smokin' Barrel BBQ

    Bar-B-Q Heaven - BBQ pig foot with green beans and Macaroni & Cheese

    Bar-B-Q Heaven

    3.3(97 reviews)
    9.3 mi
    $$

    Been coming here for years. It is a staple in Indy for ribs, and BBQ in general. My go-to orders…read moreare the rib tips and the pig feet. You can order the meat only or get a dinner that includes 2 sides and your choice of bread (white, wheat, or cornbread). They provide very generous portion sizes. The rib tips are the best that I have had in Indy thus far. They are tender and the seasoning they use is delicious. You could eat them without any sauce. However, the sauce is what takes it over the top for me. They offer sweet, medium, hot, or they will mix the sauces for you. The hot has a pretty good kick as a warning if you are sensitive to spice. I recently tried the Bar B Q bun, which is essentially a pulled pork sandwich. The pork is finely shredded and the sauce is poured on top of the pork. It's almost a fork and knife sandwich, as the bottom bun gets soaked in the sauce. Their sides have definitely reduced in quality over the years. I recently tried the mac and cheese and greens. As a note, they only have greens Friday - Sunday and they often times run out on Sunday if you do not get there early. The mac and cheese was dry and had little flavor. The greens, which used to be my favorite in the city, reminded me of cooked spinach and weren't seasoned. The service remains great. With the amount of people waiting while I was there, they were friendly and efficient. I wanted to order chess pie and there were not any readily available behind the counter. They told me they had some coming out of the oven in the kitchen if I was willing to wait and they brought it over once done. It is carry-out only, so be prepared to take it elsewhere to eat. You can call ahead to place your order as well.

    Very good! We enjoyed our Rib Tip & Chicken meals. Definitely a place loved by the locals due to…read morecontinuous line to the door.

    Photos
    Bar-B-Q Heaven - Outside

    Outside

    Bar-B-Q Heaven - Rib tips

    Rib tips

    Bar-B-Q Heaven

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    Aka-Oni - bbq - Updated May 2026

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