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    Blue Fin

    4.2 (340 reviews)
    InexpensiveJapanese
    Closed 10:30 am - 6:30 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Blue Fin Photos

    Business Info

    BLUE FIN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Blue Fin

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    Bronson S.

    One of my go-tos for a quick and cheap lunch during the workday! The staff is so friendly and you can tell they have good relationships with their long time regulars. I usually get the teriyaki bowl with sunomono salad. i've tried other things on the menu, but this is my favorite. Really quick and easy option with good quality food and cozy atmosphere. They've been around this long for a reason, so check it out! Definitely recommend.

    Their logo, the blue fin
    Victor H.

    The Blue Fin is my place to go for fast health teriyaki chicken and cucumber salad. I only get 30 minutes for lunch. Service is friendly with a variety of quick dishes to choose, ambience is nice and clean with outdoor seating. Stop by try them out for a quickie!The Japanese Blue Fin just south of McDowell on Central ave.

    Veggie Bowl with Tofu and Inari
    Eric S.

    This place has amazing food and service. Used to come here every day in between classes at Phoenix College while the light rail was being built and get a veggie bowl with brown rice. Easy to miss, hard to replace this gem!

    Armando S.

    The Service was Fun Fun Fun The Dish was Love and Made Extra Fast Try the Seaweed Salad

    Seaweed salad is tasty and the peach mochi was delish
    Joyce S.

    Every time I'm in the neighborhood I have to drop by this cheery little gem of a place. It's in a great locale being walking distance to the Japanese Gardens and Burton Barr Library. Just order at the counter and have a seat. There's some handy outdoor seating so you can watch the light rail go by which adds to a fun downtown atmosphere. Service is friendly and prompt, and how nice to have affordable prices for the meals that are deliciously prepared. This time I just jumped in for a bite of seaweed salad and a peach mochi. They have a nice assortment of mochi and that always makes a handy pop in your mouth snack.

    Teriyaki Chicken plate Tempura Shrimp
    Anabel H.

    It has been a family tradition to pick up some Blue Fin's favorite teriyaki chicken plate! It comes with white rice and salad with ginger dressing. I also order a three piece shrimp tempura as my appetizer very good Everything here is always delicious and freshly made to order. Service is always amazing and there is plenty of tables inside and outside to seat and enjoy your food.

    The Tuna on the Wall
    Mario M.

    I've been coming here for 10+years. Even if I don't have time I will never stop. I always get a bowl of Teriyaki chicken with extra chicken and rice. This is a family-owned business and " Lynn" the familiar face if you've already been here will ALWAYS be here unless she specifies. Even if this place is a Mainstay among teriyaki businesses here in Phoenix it's always gonna be known as "the little guy" which is why you should support bluefin. it's always quiet unless it's early lunch time. The building itself is a testament to longevity and endurance and grace

    Laz C.

    Blue Fin is a Phoenix institution! My family and I have been coming to get our Blue Fin fix for many years. In all these years Lynn has been the friendly face we have always appreciated seeing along with some previous employees who are no longer with us(RIP Olga)! Lynn exudes so much POSITIVITY that is always welcomed. She tells my family and I we're her lucky charm who attracts customers when we visit. Maybe she tells this to all her regulars, either way we are happy to carry the torch if she truly feels we help her! The warm greeting always makes their food so much better! I am in no position to give Blue Fin a grade on its authenticity or it's level of preparing their dishes to the gold standard. I can tell you it always fulfills my palate and based on busyness, many others agree! Not every dish may be in your wheelhouse, but keep going through the menu until you find what satisfies your liking. Not sure if it is really a secret menu item, but you can have the "Ninja Fries". Fries are always a perfect pair with whatever you eat. If you truly want to support a small business. Blue Fin is a must try!

    Panko Chicken
    0 4.

    A phoenix classic, must try! I personally like the chicken katsu with sweet & sour or the beef bowl. The proportions are so good, and the price is on point. Same family has owned it since the 90s , truly a staple.

    Oyako chicken

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    Great lunch options for such a small place! Very quick service and always friendly! Recommend to my friends

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    3 years ago

    This is the best place in the valley for teriyaki chicken. I stop by when ever I am close by!

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    6 years ago

    Blue fin never disappoints! Top quality food & recipes prepared with both taste & health in mind. What more could you ask for?

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    Page 3 of 9

    Ask the Community - Blue Fin

    Are there any gluten free options on the menu?

    Yes

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    My partner and I originally chose this place because we heard they light one of the sushi rolls on…read morefire, which immediately sounded like something fun we had to try. Funny enough, this actually wasn't even the exact restaurant my partner had been thinking of when he brought it up, but honestly I'm so glad we ended up here anyway because the food was REALLY good. We ordered the flaming ohmygod sushi roll, and man... it was amazing. Not only was the presentation fun, but the sushi itself actually tasted incredible too, which sometimes isn't the case with more "gimmicky" menu items. It was so good that I literally ordered another roll to-go and took it on the plane back home with me because I already knew I'd be craving it later. That alone should say enough about how much I liked it. I also tried the matcha martini, and it was honestly one of the best cocktails I've had in a while. It had the perfect balance of matcha flavor and alcohol where neither one overpowered the other. Sometimes matcha drinks either taste way too earthy or completely lose the matcha flavor under the alcohol, but this one was super smooth, flavorful, and really well done. The restaurant itself also has a really nice atmosphere. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, and the indoor area definitely has a more upscale vibe than your usual sushi spot and that makes the experience feel a little more elevated and perfect for a date night. On top of all that, the servers were super friendly and provided genuinely great service throughout the meal. Everyone was attentive, welcoming, and made the experience feel really comfortable and enjoyable. Overall, this place completely exceeded my expectations. Great sushi, fun presentation, amazing drinks, friendly service, and a really nice atmosphere. I'd absolutely come back again.

    First time here and I was not disappointed. All of the staff were friendly and helped each other…read morerun food and refill waters, which isn't something you see much of these days. We were there at around 5pm and it wasn't too busy, but there was a steady flow of diners coming in and out. Seating is ample, with outdoor, bar, sushi bar, and regular table options. I ordered two rolls: hot havana and mango roll. Both were delicious and the mango was juicy! The purple rice was super fun and set them apart from other sushi spots. I also ordered the miso soup to start. The food came out quickly. My only "complaint" is there aren't a ton of classic roll options. But this is a more upscale sushi restaurant, so it isn't surprising. I will keep this place in my list of spots to hit when I'm looking for a bite to eat in DTPHX.

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    Ramen Kagawa - Miso ramen

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    4.1(288 reviews)
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    A great unassuming ramen spot in downtown Phoenix! With the cooler temps and rain, ramen was…read moreabsolutely in order! Trying to find something in walking distance, Ramen Kagawa popped up. Relatively quaint, but still ample seating, we were able to walk in and get a table no problem on a Tuesday evening. I went with the spicy miso ramen with chicken, and added a soft boil egg. I was not disappointed! The broth was super flavorful, perfectly spiced, ample protein and overall portion and perfectly cooked egg. I left full and still had leftovers! My friend got their veggie ramen, which she did enjoy, it was a bit thicker of a broth, but had good flavor. We ended the meal with their matcha tiramisu, which was very light, almost more whip cream style, but equally delicious. Service was friendly and fast. The prices were really reasonable and overall it was an enjoyable experience! The bathroom itself left a bit to be desired, but not enough to deter me from returning if I am in the area and the craving arises!

    I've enjoyed this spot for years and it has always been my goto place for ramen. They consistently…read morehad the best broth and perfectly soft-boiled eggs soaked in flavor. Unfortunately, I visited today for the first time in a while and left feeling really disappointed, it's changed, and not for the better. I always order the Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen (no meat, replace with egg, extra egg, add corn and cabbage). I was surprised to be told they no longer offer cabbage, which was one of my favorite additions. The eggs were also different. They used to be served whole, and I loved slicing into them to reveal that beautiful golden yolk. This time they arrived already sliced, and once the broth was added, the yolks started to cook. I was also given a side of arugula, which honestly has no place in a ramen bowl. It felt very out of place. There were also pickled carrots, which I ended up removing, not for me. The broth was noticeably greasier than before, which was another letdown. I immediately texted my best friend (the one who originally introduced me to this place) and she shared the same thoughts. She even mentioned telling her server, "Don't mess with a good thing," and that really sums it up. I'm truly sad to say this experience left me very disappointed, and I may have to start looking for a new ramen spot. WHHHHHHYYYYYYY

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    Palma

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    4.1(715 reviews)
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    I like this place because they offer vegan options, the vegan sushi is seasoned to perfection. I…read morealso love the yummy fries (seasoned sweet potatoes). The drinks are cute and satisfying. Upon entering I got this relaxing effect from the openness of the large patio and the beautifully decorated space with live tropical plants and contemporary seating. The hostess was accommodating even though we didn't make reservations. This place provided a truly enjoyable time.

    Palma in downtown Phoenix brings a youthful, high-energy vibe--especially on weekends. The crowd is…read morea mix of large and small groups, so it works for different types of outings, with a steady flow of people coming in from all over town (plus plenty of tourists). The weekend atmosphere is a big draw: upbeat music, a lively crowd, and a fun, social energy. That said, the logistics can be a bit of a grind. Our group of six waited quite a while to be seated, which isn't surprising given the night and the fact that two large sections were reserved for private parties. During the wait, seating was a challenge--we were asked to move around a few times, which got a little frustrating. Service is good overall, but during peak rush it can be tough to flag someone down when you need help. On the plus side, the happy hour menu is strong and definitely worth taking advantage of. Once you're settled in, the vibe carries the experience. Great energy and a fun scene--just be ready for a bit of a wait and some crowd management on busy nights.

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    Pa’La Downtown - Carbonara and Japanese sweet potato

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    4.4(334 reviews)
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    Very good place friendly staff Try beef tartar mushroom…read moreoctopus. Food is delicious It is so good that I am eating and leaving reviews. Super place

    We stopped in to Pa'la after a game because I heard they served basque cheesecake…read more I did learn my lesson on not calling because it is currently not on the menu. However, the gentleman at the door who held himself with the pride of an owner talked us into staying for a glass of wine and flan. Well, I then talked myself into some Japanese sweet potatoes. Ok. So, I'm going to tell you these are some of the best little snacks you can try. They had a good amount of salt with a chili oil crunch on top. That chili crunch is the things dreams are made of! The flan, as one of the bar tenders, Taylor, described, was more pot de creme than flan. With a honey ice cream and dehydrated milk crunch on top. Now, here's where pa'la shinned in a way many places have lost; service. Taylor was conversational and well versed on the menu. She then stepped away and Jeff came over to check on us. When I ordered the flan he immediately said, you have a gluten allergy, I'll make sure to flag your order. I didn't have to repeat myself because someone else checked on us. Which is amazing!!! As I stood up I almost tripped another server. He was so cordial and polite to me when really it was me not being observant. His response was genuine and not forced. Which made me feel like once again, I was interacting with someone who wanted to be at work. This was an all around great experience! We were delighted!

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    Meh. I really wanted…read moreto like this place. It's close, the vibe is good, it should be an easy win. But it just... wasn't. Noodles were a little undercooked, the egg was straight up hard boiled, and the broth tasted kind of rushed. The tonkatsu portion was tiny too. For $18, that's a tough sell. I've had way better ramen for less, so this just felt like corners being cut. I even mentioned the egg and was told they make them in bulk and sometimes they don't come out right... okay, then maybe don't serve the ones that don't come out right? I get it, times are rough. But if I'm paying premium ramen prices, I'd like something that at least resembles premium ramen. Probably won't be back.

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    Blue Fin - japanese - Updated May 2026

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