I realize that a lot could be happening behind the scenes at Bonsai that I am not aware about. From a customer's perspective though, the food quality has noticeably declined. It's not that the food is bad per se...but it's not good, especially for the price. For instance, we were served only two banchan - kimchi and gamja bokkeum that tasted deep fried rather than braised. At other Korean restaurants in Columbus, I've gotten up to nine banchan. The seafood pancake, which cost a startling $18-$19, was decently crispy but not particularly generous with the fillings. The jajangmyeon was straight up not good. I've tried making jajangmyeon at home a few times and it's never turned out well; somehow the sauce is just missing an extra...something...that only seems to come through in restaurant jajangmyeon. Bonsai's sauce tasted like the sauce I made at home: simultaneously too bitter and too bland. Most irredeemable for me though, was the soggy texture of the noodles. The only dish that I enjoyed was the kimchi dolsot...but it's also the easiest to make so... In the past, I've been okay with Bonsai's steeper prices and white clientele. The food was worth it to me! Now, however, I'm not sure I will be back unless there is significant improvement. read more

Bonsai Japanese and Korean restaurant has been in the Kingsdale shopping center, a few doors down from Market District, for about seven years now. I ate here once when it opened, but never think to go there even though it's just a mile from my house. It was a convenient lunch option, so I stopped in for some sushi and bibimbap, both which were really good. Bonsai is now officially on my radar. I was here (solo) at a later lunch hour, so the dining room was quiet, and the service was all mine. The ambience is warm and the service was great. They sent out a complementary plate of crab rangoon, which isn't my favorite, but a thoughtful gesture. Definitely recommend. * I have subsequently been here a few more times, and each time has been very good. I mostly have got sushi, but the bibimbap is consistently nicely done.* hello read more

See all

This is a go-to spot on days when I'm not sure what I want. The owner is so kind and thoughtful! The Korean dishes are authentic and delish. I roll in with my daughter and we're always happy with our meal. Bonus - Orange Leaf (froyo) is across the street so my kiddo gets a treat. Definitely give this place a try - they are open most days. read more

Fast, friendly service and a large selection of sushi. Tucked in the corner of the shopping center, this place can be a little hard to find. The restaurant is small but very quaint and inviting. I ate two of the most incredible looking and tasting sushi rolls. Pictured is the Jalapeño Roll, which comes with salmon, cucumber, avocado and cream cheese topped with tuna, jalapeño, cilantro, lime and spicy sauce. Also pictured in the background is the Kahiki Roll, which is a Boston roll mix, avocado, cucumber and cream cheese topped with shrimp, tobiko and mango sauce. Besides sushi this place has a large selection of soups, stir fry's, teriyaki and many other traditional Japanese and Korean dishes. read more

See all

What a wonderful culinary and guest experience! Our first time dining with them and they gave us a free roll. The rolls were delicious and unique. The Smokehouse and Sunday Morning roll were a big hit! read more

Bonsai - Kimchi Stew - Japanese Near Me - Upper Arlington, Ohio

This is THEE place for perfectly prepared Korean, Japanese Sushi and Chinese cuisine. I took my granddaughter, Kaylin, and we were both impressed with the cleanliness and service! My standards for Korean Food is very high and my Bibimbap was the best I have ever had since Indianapolis. Hot (temperature) when served! My side dishes were kimchi, radishes, and perfect "sticky" steamed rice. The green hot tea great! The service was pronto and respectful. The PRICES were very reasonable. I will be back!! read more

Bonsai - My dish was Bibimbap with an egg on top. Yummy !!! Bi Bim Bap. - Japanese Near Me - Upper Arlington, Ohio

A beautiful restaurant! We did carrot - the Arlington roll ( pictured), Shrimp tempura with Udon noodle, & Chicken Tonkatsu. Everything was hot & very flavorful. Honestly it seemed a little pricey for the portions. However, we will definitely order again & definitely recommend. Tons of choices - Japanese, Korean, Sushi etc read more

Bonsai - Japanese Near Me - Upper Arlington, Ohio

Came here on a Friday night abc was seated immediately. Very friendly staff and knowledgeable about the menu. I didn't have the sushi but a friend did and it looked delicious. I had chicken Yaki with soba noodles and it was amazing. A true hidden gem and I will definitely come back. read more

I wasn't sure what to expect, never been here before and Bonsai is not a term I'd associate with sushi or sashimi. But.. I am pleasantly surprised! It is clean, well decorated with a distinctive Asian theme. Very comfortable and the quiet atmosphere would make for nice dining in with a companion! Good relaxing music playing enhanced the experience! I elected to get some carry out sushi (spicy California roll) and vegetable egg roll as I'm running errands. Disappointed that lunch boxes aren't available except on Monday through Friday and it's Saturday right now. Additionally due to supply, they apparently aren't offering the lunch boxes as a selection at the time of my visit. Now, I'm examining my selections. The Vegetable Evg Roll (two small ones actually) were crisp on the outside & hot & tasty on the inside - just exactly what you want! As for the California Roll, well made and tight, & plenty of very fresh shaved ginger! Unfortunately there was no wasabi paste in the box - but other than that omission it was otherwise a great sushi experience. I recommend a visit and will definitely return & perhaps being a companion to dine in! read more

Bonsai - Vegetable Egg Roll. - Japanese Near Me - Upper Arlington, Ohio

See all

The service was great. The atmosphere was great. Spouse says the fish was good. I am still thinking about how weird the rice was. Glutinous, sticky, tough and flavorless. Not sushi rice. Very disappointing. read more

Wonderful place to get sushi. Service is top notch. Very casual relaxing atmosphere . Highly recommend . read more

Bonsai - Japanese Near Me - Upper Arlington, Ohio

See all

Bonsai is located in the Kingsdale shopping center and the inside looks pretty much like any Chinese restaurant/ buffet you've ever been to. It's small but cute and the tables are pretty close together. I heard way too much of a conversation that wasn't meant for me the service is fine, they hand you a menu, you order and that's about the extent of that. It did take quite a while for them to refill water or ask if we needed refills on our drinks. The salmon was pretty good, full of Asian flavors and cooked to the right doneness. I didn't think I would like the potatoes as they are served cold, but those were pretty good as well. The sushi is okay, I guess for the price point it's decent. Out of the 4 rolls we ordered, the veggie one was my favorite. I just don't see myself making a trip back here for sushi, there are definitely better options in Columbus. read more

Bonsai - Salmon, potatoes, kimchi - Japanese Near Me - Upper Arlington, Ohio

See all

I don't think I've ever had anything I didn't like from Bonsai. They are my go-to for "fancy sushi", whenever I want specialty rolls. I know it's maybe not so authentic, but I love kind of non-traditional rolls with mango sauce and lots of avocado. The Nabeyaki Udon are delicious. And the salmon terayaki is fantastic, the salmon is so tender. I also enjoyed the chicken katsu - it was eggy and not too heavy. You'll get the full complement of little Korean sides and snacks, which is one of my favorite parts of the meal. Whenever I go, the service is always quick, for both dine in and carry out, and they are very friendly! read more

Delicious!! Probably the best pad Thai I've had. The edamame was good as well. Everything was delivered nice and hot and a great portion size. read more

Bonsai - Edamame - Japanese Near Me - Upper Arlington, Ohio

See all

Bonsai's still got it. Kalbi - 5/5 On par with what we've had in LA. Sweet, savory, smokey and all around delicious. Chiraishi - 3/5 Decent, but wouldn't order it again. Some of the fish was good, others not so much. Gan Pang Shrimp - 5/5 A must order. Tender fried shrimp with vegetables in a savory sauce so good you'll be picking out the green peppers to finish them off. read more

Outsanding Japanese food. Chicken teriyaki is best I've ever had. Light, fresh broccoli and not too sweet. Sushi was also great. Will be back. read more

Amazing service and food every time, and the restaurant itself is wonderfully cozy, especially on a snowy day. They treat you like family and I drive 30+ minutes just to experience dinner here. read more

Great place! Very authentic! We went there for lunch and it was very clean. The food was very Korean. Didn't have to wait or anything. Love the seafood pancake so much! Will go back again! read more

See all

Excellent food and friendly people but finding their menu online was a big challenge, I'll try to help you out with the link but beware the prices are wrong: https://madtric.wixsite.com/bonsai I tried the Soon Doo Boo stew for $15, a full quart container of spicy broth packed with egg, mussels, tofu, and vegetables, so yummy, a big scoop of perfect white rice on the side. Also some banchan on the side - seaweed, spicy cucumbers, mild broccoli and great Kim chi. My dining companion got the sushi and noodle soup combo, $23 for a quart of miso Ramen, two pieces of tempura, a California roll and three pieces of sushi, very good. Better if dining in, but hey. Ohio allows dine in at 50% capacity right now, and there's a 10% discount if you do that, but we stuck stubbornly to take out. read more

Bonsai - Tempura to go-a - Japanese Near Me - Upper Arlington, Ohio

See all

Really good Korean and Japanese food. Sushi is tasty. Korean dishes are tasty. Unless you are a total food snob, try Bonsai. Staff is friendly, too. read more

I went to this Japanese restaurant after work with my co-workers and it was amazing! The vibes were calm and peaceful :) definitely recommend the sushi. Here's what we got: California Roll $6.50 Crunchy Sushi Roll $7 Pork Egg Roll $2.50 Crab Rangoon $5 Yaki Vegetarian $10.95 Teriyaki Chicken $17.95 Sake (sadly can't remember how much this was) read more

Good sushi but, omg expensive!!! Mind you I spend a lot on food but a tempura appetizer and 2 rolls was $50. Service was attentive but slow

SO HAPPY there's a really good sushi place at Kingsdale in Upper Arlington, and Bonsai is very authentic sushi and Japanese. Sushi was very good. Miso soup was very good. Prices are fine for the quality. Service was very attentive. DEFINITELY worth your patronage... we'll be back... soon... read more

We love Japanese and Korean Cuisine, and Bonsai is now at the top of our list. Started with the house salad (delicious ginger dressing). It was great!!! Wanted to try the beef/ Bulgogi sushi, had a beef sushi roll at a great Japanese restaurant in Hawaii and it was on par with that. A Quality beef/sushi for those not as fond of seafood :) For the main course we went with the Chicken Katsu Curry, one of the few in town that tastes made from scratch vs curry blocks which is much more common and fine as well, but this was better prepared and with a more rich and authentic flavor. Just a great dining experience from start to finish, cannot wait to return. read more

Food is excellent, especially in person at the restaurant. It's a very chill place that's great for a relaxing and quiet night out. Service was great as well...they were very helpful with what to order for first timers. read more

Found the Bento box I have been looking for since I moved here. All my old favourites like Teriyaki shrimp and veggies, seaweed salad, and sticky rice ball, with a new one - muscle in the shell. Came with Miso soup but I added a salad with proper ginger dressing. Service was spot on, not hovering but there when needed. Helpful with my questions since my expert can't help me anymore. Menu is varied, but lunch specials have a dish from most sections. While a little pricey for dinners, at least for a librarian, lunch specials are a good deal. You have to pay for quality, just don't want to pay my first born for it. (Which I can't since never had one of those and step kid wouldn't like me doing that!) Ordered shrimp sushi to go - risking that shell fish allergy again. With the leftovers from the box, I got 3 meals . Those who eat normally, maybe 2. Those of you like EBS, it would be a very filling lunch. Parking could be tricky, but shared lot lets you find something in a short walk. Will be back. Got to keep up my chop sticks skills since I can do that at work. No chop sticks allowed in a prison library. read more

See all

Sushi was decent! The prices were higher than I would have expected for the quality we received. The one upside is many of the basic rolls had 8 pieces instead of 6. I would return if I was in the area, but I don't think I would go out of my way to come here. Glad I tried it! read more

Bonsai - 8 Piece Philly Roll, 8 Piece Spicy Salmon Roll, 8 Piece Una-Avo Roll, Smokehouse Roll - Japanese Near Me - Upper Arlington, Ohio

I miss Japanese Oriental Restaurant. Quirky layout in an old house, cramped parking, and all, the food was amazing. When I heard the owners had a new place, I found a reason to get over this way. It is pretty much a stripmall storefront, not very big inside, but very nicely arranged and decorated. There's a sushi bar, and plenty of comfy tables. The food is still amazing. Large menu, with Japanese, Korean, and a few other Asian items. Tons of sushi, a variety of Korean dishes, ramen and other noodles, etc., etc. So many good choices. I started with veggie tempura- super light coating, large pieces of fresh veggies, a great app. Next was a piece of unagi, one of my favorites. It was large, tender, and flavorful. A bulgogi roll finished the "starters"- tender beef, nicely marinated, in a sushi roll. Large, well-made, and gone too fast. Finally, curry udon. Tender noodles in a slightly spicy, deeply seasoned broth. Maybe not quite as good as some I've had at Tensuke, but very very good. Service was good. Prices are good for the quality. If you like Korean or Japanese, you have to get over here. Worth a detour, and so much to try that you'll be back for more. read more

Bonsai - Veggie tempura - Japanese Near Me - Upper Arlington, Ohio

See all

Continued decline over the years in terms of food quality and portions despite increasing prices. We used to love their lunch tempura bento box but for unfresh shrimp and some odd katsu chicken nuggets it definitely isn't worth the $20 charge before tip. They also got rid of old favorites like the Campus Roll and even the basic California roll had mostly mushy rice with a small piece of imitation crab. Service isn't great either as there as usually only one server who didn't come by to check if we needed anything else the whole time. Decor is relatively nice. After 20 years with them since they were Japanese Oriental, we won't be back. read more

This is a new Korean/Japanese restaurant that has opened up. The owner was very friendly and chatty and I'd like to try this place again. However, the food was a bit up and down on the day we visited. The Korean pancakes were wonderful. Crispy and tasty and made just right. The bulgogi was okay. Not bad not great. The $50+ sushi platter was we ordered was disappointing. While I really liked their eel and salmon nigiri pieces, and was impressed by the size of the nigiri pieces, the rest of the platter just didn't do anything for me. 5 stars for service. 3 stars for the food. read more

Bonsai - Japanese Near Me - Upper Arlington, Ohio

See all

Soft piano music plays in the dining room. The food was great. The service was fast and friendly and the menu was huge. We also had vegetable egg rolls. Menu said 3 but we got two but only because they used to be smaller. They were great! read more

See all

Bonsai is easily the best Japanese/ Korean restaurant in the area. I've been a regular for years, and the food quality and service has always been fantastic. The manager has always been always very personable and accommodating. They have a great menu variety, and I've never had a bad dish. The setting is always cozy and welcoming. Can't recommend enough. read more

This is a happy new discovery for our family, located in Upper Arlington. We have eaten there twice now and I have to keep myself from suggesting it every week, cuz I'm hooked! It's mainly a Japanese/Korean place, with a few Chinese and Thai items on the menu. It's attractively decorated, about average-sized for a Japanese restaurant. On both occasions the service has been very good. They offer a great number of well prepared, albeit somewhat pricey sushi and sashimi rolls. Their version of tempura is better than most, with a nice variety of vegetables and a light, non-greasy batter. Delicious miso soup as well. Some dishes we have tried and can highly recommend are the Yakisoba noodles, the Chap Chae with beef, the Sukiyaki, Tofu Jim with pork, and Chicken Dol Sot. As with most Japanese and Korean restaurants, this isn't going to be dinner on the cheap, which is why my current desire to go here every week must be violently fought! It has been 3 weeks now, though and I do feel myself losing the battle...it won't be long now! read more

The only stellar point was the server. I truly do not comprehend the other reviews. There sushi rolls were devoid of flavor. The plating was insulting. I cannot in good conscience recommend anything beyond the server. If I owned a restaurant I'd find a way to hire the young man. This was a FVLV winner! read more

Bonsai has quickly become my favorite restaurant in Columbus. I've been looking for a place that has cold soba and I'm so glad I found it here! They also have a variety of other delicious food. We tried the Kalbi, cold soba, and the whole fish. I also had a bottle of soju. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a hole in the wall with great food! read more

Bonsai - Zaru Soba and Sushi Appetizer - Japanese Near Me - Upper Arlington, Ohio

One of our favorite restaurants! We get the Sunday Morning Roll and Dol Sot every time - so good! read more

The service here is fantastic! It feels like you're eating with family. The servers all check on you and the owner is ridiculously kind. Our server was a grandmotherly lady. It's easy to forget about this restaurant because it's tucked away next to a dry cleaner in Kingsdale but it's easily the best restaurant there. The Korean food is authentic and just as good as the Korean restaurants on Bethel. The sushi is also fresh and tastes like it's sourced from the same fish providers as other authentic sushi restaurants. If you live in Upper Arlington or Grandview, go support a family-owned business! You won't regret it. read more

Love this sushi spot can't wait to come back to ohio just for this Fresh and tasty very very cheap read more

I met one of my best friends that he and I served together in the Navy during Desert Storm for lunch at Bonsai. We were stationed in Japan in the early 90's, and we are very fond of Japanese food. Bonsai took care of our craving he had ordered a Tempura Soba, and I ordered a Nebiyaki Udon, we shared a Mexican Roll, an Avacado Roll, and a Spicy Tuna Hand Roll. Outstanding across the board, we were stuffed and the presentation was as if we were in Japan. We were the only people in the Restaurant which allowed us to have a Great Conversation to catch up and Enjoy our Lunch. Thank You Bonsai for the Awesome food and when I get the opportunity to come through Columbus I'll definitely come back to your Restaurant. If you're in the Columbus area give Bonsai the Opportunity to Serve you, the wait staff and atmosphere make for an Amazing Experience, you will not be disappointed! read more

Bonsai - My friend Chanon, and the Sushi Rolls I described in the review. - Japanese Near Me - Upper Arlington, Ohio

Horrible gone wrong. I have never had sushi that was this bad. No taste what's so ever. I will not be back. The sushi plating is really bad. The best part of the meal was the server. First visit. Last visit. read more

Bonsai - Crap - Japanese Near Me - Upper Arlington, Ohio

See all