If vibes were a sport, Chika would be undefeated. From the moment I walked in, I felt like I accidentally RSVP'd to a very cute, very exclusive party--and somehow got in. The décor? Instagram is begging you to take photos. The food? Let's just say my plate didn't stand a chance. Every bite had flavor doing the absolute most (in the best way). I came for dinner and left emotionally attached to the menu. Service was friendly, fast, and made me feel like a regular--even though it was my first visit. Bonus points because no one judged me for contemplating a second entrée "for research purposes." Would I come back? Immediately. Would I recommend? Already have. Chika isn't just dinner--it's an experience with a side of "why didn't I come here sooner?" read more

Chika - Lights, Camera, Vibes - Japanese Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Good fish, great service, but the concept needs work Chika was an interesting experience. They're clearly going for a club-style omakase vibe with music, darker lighting, and a smoky atmosphere. It's cute that they tried to blend a nightlife feel with sushi. For me, it didn't quite land, but I can appreciate the attempt. Service was impeccable. The team was warm, attentive, and professional throughout the night. The food was decent for the price, but the flavor curation felt off. The soup tasted like bland water. The poke/nacho was okay but leaned too salty. The salad felt like a basic garden salad tossed in as an afterthought. The fish itself was fresh, which matters most for sushi. Where it struggled was in execution and timing. The nigiri was made all at once for the entire group instead of paced out. Sushi really should be eaten within a certain window, and by the time we got through everything the flavors started blending together. The seasoning also felt inconsistent. At one point the chef zested too much lime on several pieces which left a bitter note and pushed citrus onto dishes that didn't need it. It felt like the kitchen was vibing more with the music and DJ energy than carefully building flavor profiles. Overall, good fish and decent sushi, but the curation and taste balance are missing. The ambiance seems to be the main focus rather than the food itself. Still worth trying once. It's a fun concept and a good night out. I just don't think it's the place that will put San Antonio on the sushi map yet. read more

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Last night I learned that I CAN and DO like to eat raw sushi. It was just about the quality and my fear of getting sick lol. @chika.satx has a beautifully curated experience w/ once a night menus -- no meal is ever the same. It's super personal & the playlist is fire AF. I HIGHLY recommend this experience to anyone who is a foodie. Most importantly, the service was immaculate. Literally from the host to the chef and the server. EVERYTHING about this experience made me love it so much. This is one of the best experiences and restaurants I've had in my life. If I could give them 10/5 stars, I would. I love my city! read more

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I loved this place. It was such a great time. The chefs put no a great show and mixed it with incredible sushi and appetizers. The decor was one of the stars of the show. Lighting was perfect and definitely social media worthy. The servers were very attentive to our every need. They removed all of our plates after we finished them. My favorite sushi was the wagyu. It was super juicy and absolutely delicious. Highly recommend giving this place a try! read more

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I loved this experience. Chefs really created a fun environment, taught inspo behind the dishes, and then delivered excellent food! read more

Chika - Japanese Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Aesthetic ambiance. I'd recommend grabbing a few drinks upstairs while you wait for check-in. I forgot the chefs' names, but they were very friendly and explained each dish in detail. Each course was exceptional, and I left feeling very satisfied. read more

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I was really disappointed with my recent visit to this omakase fusion restaurant. The entire place was so dark that I could barely see what I was eating, which completely took away from the experience--especially for a place that's supposed to highlight presentation and detail. Speaking of presentation, the dishes looked sloppy and uninspired. Nothing felt thoughtfully plated or visually appealing, which is surprising for an omakase concept where presentation should be part of the value. The biggest issue, though, was the flavor and price. It was extremely expensive for food that tasted average at best. Most dishes were bland and forgettable, and definitely not worth the premium cost. For what they charge, you'd expect bold flavors and a memorable experience--not flavorless, so-so food that you could get from HEB sushi bar. I left feeling like I paid far too much for very little in return.another ridiculous idea is we were fed up with a big tray of fried rice, cucumber salad, kimchi, pickled radish- I am wondering if the chef is total lost of himself!!!! No way to go back again. read more

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10 out 10 hands down!!! This was an amazing experience in fine Asian dining mixed with great vibes and a vibrant atmosphere. Every course was prepared well and tasted fantastic. I'm not big on crab but the Blue Crab course was probably the best crab I've had in my entire life. The wine service was carefully selected and paired well with every dish. The music, energy, dancing, food, service, everything, top notch! This truly was an amazing date night and I look forward to returning!! read more

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I visited Chika before and enjoyed it enough to go back. This last visit was the WORST experience I have ever had in any restaurant. First problem: We were waiting patiently upstairs for our "seating" time that ran over 30 minutes late. Second problem: Music overpowering and waiting for food and sake for another 20 minutes, while the smell of vinegar overpowered the entire downstairs . Third problem: The food was really awful all around and I could not believe what was being served for the price. The music is a ridiculous distraction from how little effort or care is put into the puny appetizers of a two bite salad, a cucumber salad, chips with maybe one bite of ceviche, a scallop, a pasta soup, and then avocado nigiri and maybe 4 pieces of nigiri with actual fish that were not seasoned or presented with any explanation and were rushed. Then, no dessert or ending...just a piece of dry flavorless nigiri to end a terrible experience. The sake was the only thing we enjoyed and of course that was not even included in the price. This chef had the nerve to ask why we didn't enjoy our dinner and then disregard the feedback completely by telling us not to come back. Never before in all my years dining out and working in the food service industry have I seen the owner/chef treat a customer with disgust and disrespect. I think this might be since $150 per person is prepaid and he doesn't have to care or offer to make our experience enjoyable. Normal managers invite customers back to try it again and do better. Not this guy. Really upset me as we were leaving to be treated that way. This restaurant really had a great start and it is unfortunate this San Antonio sushi establishment has fallen off a cliff while the chef seems to be blinded by his own ego. We won't be back and neither will anyone I know. I am spreading my experience to all my friends and family. It's really too bad. read more

Hands down much an incredible omakase experience! I adore these 2 brilliant, cool, fun chefs and their delicious creative flavors and technique. Thanks for heating it up literally! Everything is masterful, so good beautiful underground ambiance and service. Cheers! Thank you so much for this fantastic memory. read more

Chika - Japanese Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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I wish I could give this place a higher rating, but I can't justify a five-star review. Upon arrival, we had a couple of drinks at Amelia, which I love. That bar is great. They call us at 6 to be seated Chika is located in the basement beneath Amelia. I had really high hopes because someone recommended it to me, and maybe they just set the bar too high. The best part of this experience was the service. The chefs were awesome, and our waitress was attentive and nice. However, for the price, I think they should offer more sushi pieces. If you want anything other than wine or sake, make sure to grab a couple of cocktails from upstairs. I've had Omakase more times than I can count, and this one was definitely not what I was expecting. I think we had a total of nine courses, more than half of which were small bites and random things that weren't sushi. I definitely will not be going back. read more

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As someone who lived in Hawai'i for over a decade, studied culinary arts there, and has visited Japan several times, I have a deep appreciation for Japanese cuisine and the balance of umami, salt, and simplicity that make it so special. Unfortunately, my experience at Chika was more confusing than culinary. When we first arrived, we weren't sure where to go. The bartender seemed more interested in selling drinks than helping us figure out how to check in, so we stood awkwardly until a kind hostess appeared and guided us downstairs. That's when things took a turn into what felt more like a nightclub than a sushi experience--lasers, loud music, and a vibe that screamed group event rather than refined omakase. Once seated, the chef began explaining the first dishes, which sounded promising--until he suddenly transitioned into being the DJ for the night. Throughout the entire meal, the music blasted so loud it was hard to focus on the food. The dishes themselves, sadly, lacked depth. The starting courses were bland and missing even basic seasoning. There was little to no umami, and no shoyu was provided. The nigiri selection was limited to ahi, salmon, and kampachi--five pieces total--before things wrapped up with banana bread and ice cream. A surprising (and frankly odd) ending to what was billed as a Japanese/mexican tasting menu. I also requested a bottle of junmai daiginjo, but was told they no longer carry it and that the junmai ginjo was "the same." When I politely questioned that, I was instructed to drink it out of a white wine glass--another strange detail in a night full of them. In short, Chika feels like it's chasing a trendy, high-energy experience rather than delivering the flavor, balance, and authenticity that make Japanese cuisine so memorable. For me, it was more flash than finesse. read more

Chika - Japanese Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Craftsmanship replaced with showmanship, creativity and attention to detail replaced with bravado. I don't know what happened to Chika since the beginning of their tenure but what used to be an absolutely phenomenal experience is now not worth the time, effort, or money. I'm truly disappointed that one of the best of the best in San Antonio has succumbed to ... I don't know ... complacency maybe? read more

Omakase experience with a twist was genuinely superb to most other locally available. Pricing is a bit surprising after "fees" what was $95 each, for two ended up $250...there's a real press to order booze and when asked for alternative it wasn't received too well by the wine somalier. He reluctantly agreed to "go all the way to the bar" for us to have a topo Chico, then had to keep asking for water refills that he splashed on my designer bag even though I'd moved it twice. It's really dark in there so you don't get much of the experience to see plating unless you use flash on your photos so an overall great experience with some mild adjustments we might've enjoyed more. read more

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Chef Jonathan Reyes created an intimate, lively omakase experience with a fun twist on traditional sushi. I loved sitting at the bar and chatting with the chefs, this made the experience even better! Everything tasted amazing and will be back!! read more

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This was such a cool experience. The vibes are top notch. It doesn't feel like you are in San Antonio. We got the wine pairing which included 5 different wines (recommend). I feel like many people complained about the amount of food for the price, but we felt the quality was top notch and worth it. The fish and rice all melted in your mouth. We loved the ambiance and intimate setting. The one negative is I asked for all pescatarian in the booking and that was completely ignored. Do not go in with any food preferences. However, they do acknowledge allergies. Ignoring that fact, we had an amazing experience. read more

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If you're looking for an omakase experience highlighting traditional Japanese cuisine, you will either be delightfully surprised or dissatisfied. This is unapologetically a uniquely San Antonio experience and is captured in each of the dishes. If I was to knit pick, I would recommend setting up the wine pairing after everyone is seated. Very minor and certainly not worth demoting this to a 4-star experience. Great spot, great venue, and uniquely San Antonio! read more

So cool! Speakeasy/club vibes. Start by waiting in a swanky bar (Amelia), then get escorted down through a basement night club (Sweet Baby) to a tiny room in a back hallway. Each bite is highly composed, takes a while to put together, and is served at once to the whole room. Described at "San AnTokyo" - Japanese fish with San Antonio flavors. Every bite was incredible, not a single disappointment. And even with a lot of spicy flavors being thrown around (Serrano, ancho, Thai Chile) - nothing was too spicy for me (and I'm a HUGE wuss). The showmanship was great, too. Chef Reyes was also the DJ, he set the bar on fire, he torched bone marrow to drip fat onto sushi. It was such a good time! read more

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I wish I could give a better review, but unfortunately I can't lie my thoughts because I love Japanese sushi culture. This is just my opinion as a person who knows real sushi and wants to eat good sushi in San Antonio, and also for who wants to eat similar quality of sushi like you could in Japan (I understand this omakase is not authentic Japanese style and it's a fusion of Japanese and Mexican cuisine). First, something positive! Free parking is available, which is a plus. After the parking, it was kinda difficult to find the place. But when I found it, I was excited about the gorgeous looking interior of the building. The bar and lounge area at the entrance was very beautiful. I'd like to come back for the bar and lounge someday. Chika is located downstairs. The server was very nice and well mannered. Fish grade was good. I liked Otoro and Unagi. A chef's fire performance was very entertaining, although music was a bit too loud all the time. If you like to watch entertainments and loud party music, you'll love it. Serious criticizing from here... The most important ingredient of sushi is actually rice. I was very disappointed with it. It was so unfortunate because they had great quality of fish. Their rice was very mushy and the flavor was not well balanced. One of the chefs told us they use "Koshihikari" which is one of famous Japanese rice brands, but sadly it doesn't matter at all because it was not cooked and seasoned right. Literally it ruined every single piece of sushi they made. It was really sad. Another disappointment was the first dish. They served a little bowl of pickled daikon radish and cucumber with tajin seasoning. Pickled daikon is not expensive to get, nor cucumber. It should be complementary for the expensive omakase course if they still want to serve. The taste was just like regular pickled daikon with cucumber. Honestly I don't know if tajin seasoning made it taste different or better. Nothing unique, very boring and felt cheap. I saw some pictures of nice grilled shrimp dish or carpaccio dish on Yelp. If I could get those appetizers, I was happier. The third disappointment was the last dish. We had Japanese castella and matcha flavored ice cream. The taste was nothing special. I don't know if they even baked the castella, maybe it was from a package. I think the chef probably forgot about preparing the whipped cream for the dish beforehand because he started making it, but he gave it up soon and just served it without whipped cream. It didn't look and taste like a dessert from a fancy omakase restaurant. Lastly, my friend and I chose to sit at a bar counter to watch the chef's work. But the counter is too high to see the kitchen. One of the chefs was using the countertop for the final decoration for sushi, but I wanted to watch from the beginning of the creation; how they create the shape of "nigiri sushi". I don't recommend to sit on a counter with extra $15 unless you want to watch the fire performance closely. Maybe I had too much high expectations, because the other reviews were good and their instagram looked nice. I wanted more sophisticated omakase experience for paying about $145 including the service fee (the fee was automatically charged when we booked). read more

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This was our second time to Chika. While the first experience was met with cool vibes of trendy music, the chef lighting the bar on fire, and a multi-course that hit the mark, our second trip could not have been any different. It started by being sat 30 minutes later than our reserved seating time. Upon entering the dining room, we were overwhelmed by a strong vinegar smell that reared it's ugly face during the nigiri dishes diminishing the taste of hamachi and other pieces that were dry and looked like leftovers in Monday's fish counter at your local supermarket. The first four courses were daikon with bad tajin, two bagged salad dishes, and a "concha soup." Not what someone would expect for $150 per person meal and certainly short on sophistication and complexity. The only thing we found complex was the loss of identity of the restaurant and how rushed everything seemed since the chef was running late for our sitting but needed to herd us out for the next customers. After dinner, the waitress asked how dinner was. We shared our disappointment and contrasted it against our first time to Chika. What we didn't expect was to be confronted, and yes it was a confrontation by the chef when we exited the restaurant. He proceed to argue with us, told us to never come back and to write two reviews...he didn't care! Needless to say my wife and were incredibly shocked, insulted, and embarrassed by this event. Chika is a lost cause overshadowed by loud music and a dance show meant to distract you from the subpar food by someone that could not make it in the big leagues. Save your money. There are many more restaurants in San Antonio worth a $300 meal, and certainly where you will be treated like a customer and not like a second class citizen by an egotistical owner/"chef." read more

Wait, why was this the best omakase experience I have ever had? Everything was straight up perfect. I literally have chills writing this. We made reservations here and a credit card was required. We had trouble finding the place but no big deal. We went into Easy Baby and had to ask the staff and they instructed us to wait until they were ready to let us in. Once they were ready, they gathered all of the parties and led us down the stairs and into the dining area. It felt exclusive, almost like we were about to get initiated into a cult. It was dark in there and they were playing jazz type music which was super relaxing. All of the seats were full and there were mostly pairs of people of all different age groups. We originally planned to only do the omakase, but were tempted to do the wine pairing. It was the best decision. I think it was less than $50 per person and came with 6 different wines - I honestly don't remember because I blacked out by the end of it LOL. They kept it flowing! A glass was never empty. All of the different courses that came out were so unique and flavorful. The chefs explained what it was and how to eat it. I don't even remember how many rounds there were but there was more than I expected. Sometimes after omakase I leave feeling hungry but not here! The chefs were super chill and made conversation with the guests. They didn't mind all the pictures that we were taking. The vibe took a turn (for the better) when we explained that we're from Southern California. It was at that moment that they started playing west coast rap music like Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Tupac LMAO!!! It definitely got poppin in there and was the perfect way to get hyped for a night out. 1000000/10 would recommend! read more

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This is not a typical omakase. The Chef mentions during the intro that it is the "San Antonio experience". The room was really dark and hard to see the dishes. We also paid the extra to sit at the bar, but you can't see the Chefs prep anything. I also didn't like when they pre-made the pieces THEN handed them out. The waiter was great and answered any questions we had. On to the food, it was definitely different. The sushi rice was a little too mushy for our liking. Some combinations were interesting and not in a good way...chorizo overpowers tuna. I got a wine pairing, but none were from Japan. I had Italy and Spain for most of the wine. read more

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This is a trendy restaurant located behind a dance club. There are two experienced chefs who prepare a single serving of sushi at a time to the clientele. With each piece of sushi they tell a backstory behind it. This goes on for several rounds. Between each round they played jazz and R&B music to get everyone in an intimate yet festive mood. Each piece of sushi was unique in flavor and original in creation. They never serve the same menu twice. You also have the option to pair the sushi with chilled sakes. There is a gentleman there who ensures the sake stays cold and that your glasses are not empty. Finally there is an option to purchase a dessert. The proceeds from the dessert sales go towards a charity. The food was delicious but was served in small quantities. Be ready to eat some appetizers somewhere else before coming because you will not fill up on the menu. Basically you're paying for the presentation and the full experience. This is a great place for a date or as part of a girls night out. read more

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This was our first time going here and was amazed at how great the food, ambiance and service was. All seafood is very fresh and the chefs add a twist of awesome flavors from the traditional Japanese style. The chefs were very accommodating with food my food allergies too. It is definitely a dining show experience to remember and I would highly recommend this place to anyone. read more

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Chika is the most creative omakase place I've ever been to. The ingredients are top-tier, every bite is amazing, the service is warm and quick, and the wine pairings are perfect. But for me, the coolest part is that the chefs are basically DJs. They prepare each course to a handpicked playlist while you're sitting at the counter. It feels like dinner and a show. Cool vibe, amazing food, 10/10. read more

Our meal time was at 8pm and didn't get seated and our first dish until 8:45pm. They literally served flavored ice. Didn't get first sushi until about 9:30. Got like 5-6 PIECES of sushi overall plus a few appetizers. No dessert. WAY too little food especially at that price (over $200 with the wine pairing). The 5-6 pieces tasted good but the whole experience sucked. They said at the beginning they would feed us until we "tapped out" but then just ended things when they had barely given us any food. You sit at a long bar like table and they play the music very loud so can't really talk to your group. If you're going to pay the price then you might as well go to Mixtli. Very very disappointed with my experience at this restaurant. read more

This experience was quite disappointing. We were told the show would start at 8pm, but we ended up waiting for 30 minutes because the previous group ran late. Once seated in a small room, the chef started burning sage, which filled the space quickly. It was overwhelming and uncomfortable, especially right before eating. Personally, I found it unpleasant and it irritated my nose. The appetizer was tsukemono (Japanese pickles). The chef explained a lot about it, but honestly, it tasted like something you could buy at a regular Japanese grocery store--just ok, nothing special at all. The only part I genuinely enjoyed was the wine pairing, which was interesting and thoughtfully selected. But the food overall didn't match the high price point. Portions were very small, and the taste didn't justify the cost. They also placed the chopsticks vertically, which is culturally inappropriate and felt careless. Overall, very disappointed. This place is overrated and overpriced. I would give it 2 stars at most--maybe even just 1. read more

Eating at Chika is a fully immersive culinary experience. We sat at the sushi bar and got to chat with the chefs who were both down to earth and yet fastidious and obsessed with the craft of creating amazing food. They call their style "San AnTokyo" sushi, which is a perfect description of the flavors. The wine pairing was generous and flowed on and on. I can't wait to go back and bring more people to experience this San Antonio treasure! It was more than a meal - it was an ecstatic sensory experience! read more

This place is awesome! Everything from the ambiance, lighting and service to the food and wine pairings...it's not like anything else you'll find in San Antonio. The chefs curate a unique experience with each meal, so you'll never eat the same thing twice. I've eaten there about 6 times and have enjoyed it every time. Love the local flair and fusion of San Antonio and Japanese flavors! Can't recommend enough for a great dinner and fun experience. read more

Amazing! Absolute Best dining experience in San Antonio! The food was top notch and unique. The wine pairing was perfect. The chef's were great! You get a completely different experience each time you go. Will go once a month to enjoy the best sushi in SA. read more

My husband and I gift experiences instead of material gifts for Christmas and thought Chika sounded fun. The experience was fun - we were instructed to meet in a bar nearby, given a glass of bubbly on arrival and then taken to the sushi bar. Fun journey to a place we wouldn't have found on our own (that's the point, I know). But the fun ended there. The sushi was tasteless. For each round the chef explained everything he had prepared on top of the (exotic) fish but I got no taste of fish and not much of what ever else was in the mix. Lots of rice compared to the amount of fish. We have had $500 omakase in NYC and $12 sushi trays at HEB and I'm just not going to say it. This was not good sushi or good value. The only good thing about it was we did the wine pairing so we were at least happy while we spent $300 on sushi that was totally subpar. read more

Fucking incredible!! San Antonio needed this! I've been 2x now & each time has been an incredibly different, amazing experience! The vibe, the food & the chefs are top notch! Very affordable for what you are getting & the wine pairings are great. I wish y'all so much success & will be back monthly, for sure! Thank you for doing this for San Antonio! read more

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I've been dreaming about the day a high end Sushi experience makes landfall in SA... the time has come. Think Uchi meets sushi by scratch with a touch of San Antonio. You're welcome in advance. read more

Excellent Omakase experience! The staff, the food and service were all great. very excited to have a legit omakase here in the Alamo city! we will be back. read more