The food here is The atmosphere is phenomenal…read more The music is great The service is impeccable Must try in Sono

The vibe is chill. Would recommend the Ishiyaki Wagyu on hot stone! It was tasty and came with a…read moreside of kimchi and string beans. The poke bowl was flavorful but was mainly rice. I wouldn't recommend the Yaki Onigiri, despite reading positive reviews for it. The fried rice was way too heavy and didn't taste good. The greasiness was competing with the strong taste of the salmon. Some servers knew their job well, and greeted us at the door. A newer server wasn't as knowledgeable on gluten free options there and also didn't take away our used appetizer plates before serving us the mains. Not a huge deal, but it does make a difference in your dining experience and how the flow of your meal goes.

We went on a Sunday and chose the chef's counter in the tamaki-ya room hidden away in the back. We…read morewere fortunate enough to find Chef Taibe behind the counter on his otherwise night-off. I'm no foodie but I am Chinese/Japanese and can appreciate finer things in life when I see it. This place meet and exceeded my expectations. The wonderful speak-easy tamaki-ya room in the back is warmly lit and held at a nice volume, much quieter than the izakaya bar in the front. For small bites we had the Beet n Hijiki salad (highly recommend!), Agedashi tofu, and Torched Maine uni. For hand-rolls I had the Spanish Mackerel, Hokkaido Scallops, Ocean Trout, BBQ Eal & Foie Gras, and Cucumber ume. My wife had the Maine Uni, Hamachi, and Botan Ebi. Everything was good, but there were quite a few that were very good, and there were two that, for me, were the best that I've ever had in recent memory. For the Spanish Mackerel Chef Taibe put an interesting spin on it by topping it off with a traditional Chinese ginger and scallion garnish used in a tender chicken dish. It works, it balances out the briny taste of Spanish Mackerel... which is great... unless you LOVE the briny, savory, mineral, metallic, umami taste of fresh Spanish Mackerel :) The Hokkaido Scallops was, by quite a large margin, the best scallop dish I've ever had. The tender sweetness of the fresh scallop combined with a brown butter kewpie (how American!) and yuzu tobiko sauce swimmingly. Texture, temperature, taste, all perfect. I like eel and I love Unaju. But by far the biggest surprise was the BBQ Eal & Foie Gras (see pic). This dish alone warrants a culinary course. On the face of it, bbq, eel, foie gras all sets you up for something rich, filling, heavy. But when I bit into the unassuming hand roll, it was the lightest bite of Japanese rice/seafood/seaweed/liver/sauce combo I've ever had. Turns out Chef Taibe prepared the sauce from scratch using five+ different spices, and prepared the foie gras au torchon. I could go on, but suffice to say, this was one of the best bites I've ever had. By contrast, I thought I was going to close out with the cucumber ume roll, but compared to the eel and foie gras, the ume actually felt more overpowering. Perhaps if they cut back on the generous amount of ume paste... (Worthy mention: Chef Taibe presents the nori in a separate envelope. This seemingly simple step is crucial to the taste and mouthfeel of the hand roll. It provides a wonderful fresh crisp crunch to every bite and it does indeed make a difference. He mentioned he sources a special nori but I forgot the details, just know that it's really good) My wife loves uni, and I'll let her describe her experience (which she won't) but it was so good she had to order a second one. As if you need more convincing, we had a great experience and I think you will too. Bravo Chef, well done

We absolutely love Bar Bushido. From the moment you walk in, you can feel the intention behind…read moreeverything -- this isn't just a restaurant, it's a full experience. The cocktail program is seriously one of the best in the area. Creative without being gimmicky, balanced, and clearly inspired by Japanese ingredients and technique. Every drink feels thoughtful and well executed -- the kind of place where you actually want to work your way through the menu. The food is where it really shines. The chef-owner's love of Japanese cuisine comes through in every detail. The yakitori program is outstanding and deeply traditional -- using all parts of the chicken the way it's done in Japan. It's respectful, intentional, and absolutely delicious. You don't often see that level of authenticity and execution locally. The bar bites are some of the best around. The fried chicken sando is one of my personal favorites -- perfectly crispy, juicy, balanced, and craveable. And the ramen? No one can hold a candle to it. The broth is deeply flavorful and layered, the noodles are spot on, and every topping feels purposeful. It's the kind of bowl you think about the next day. Perhaps the best kept secret in all of Norwalk is the back room -- the elegant Temaki-Ya. Tucked away behind an unmarked entrance, this intimate hand-roll bar feels almost like discovering a hidden Japanese speakeasy. The atmosphere is quiet and refined, the kind of place that's perfect for a special date night or a memorable evening with friends. The temaki (hand rolls) are beautifully composed, with thoughtful ingredient combinations that balance texture, flavor, and visual appeal. What makes this place special is the dual experience -- lively izakaya vibes in the front, elegant hand-roll bar in the back -- all tied together by serious culinary skill and genuine hospitality. Norwalk is lucky to have this spot.

A great little sushi spot right on the main drag in SONO!…read more I'm always craving sushi (literally always) so when visiting Norwalk, I picked a place within walking distance from our hotel and we gave Oishi a shot. I'm so glad we ended up here because the ambiance was great, the staff was super friendly and attentive, and the food was delicious! We were seated immediately on a Saturday night (which was fantastic because everywhere else was packed). We ordered some appetizers, which were great. The calamari was very crispy. For my meal, I ordered a few small dishes (in true izakaya style) and I loved them all. I'd never seen a tofu skin sushi roll in any of the Japanese restaurants I've been to, so I was excited to try that. It lived up to the expectation. Absolutely delicious. The truffle yellowtail and toro tartar were also great. My friends both ordered hot dishes: yaki udon and ramen with pork. They were also both very happy with their meal. I tried some of the yaki udon and I thought it was super flavorful (and I'm not a big noodle gal)! The waiter brought over shots of saki on the house, which was really nice. I didn't have any since I don't drink, but my friends said it was fruity and enjoyable. We had a lovely time here overall. Cozy vibes. Great food. Friendly staff. I think my only gripe (which is super tiny) is that this doesn't resemble an izakaya well. I think they would have been better off calling it Oishi Sushi or Oishi Japanese Restaurant. The "small plates" part of the menu was small and pretty standard. I expect a lot more variety and interesting dishes at a true izakaya. But overall, really happy with my experience here!

This Japanese restaurant is amazing the fish is extremely fresh so delicious. I love the tuna it so…read morecreamy and I certainly had a party in my mouth. The salads were fresh as well the avocado was perfect complementing the other veggies so extraordinary. The service is fantastic everyone so knowledgeable of the menu the big plus is they are friendly and so welcoming.

What a nice surprise! I was craving sushi for my birthday recently, and my husband found Kazu. We…read morespilt the sushi and sashimi platter for 2, which was not only beautiful but really delicious... the fish seemed exceptionally fresh and was had a wonderful fresh taste. Our daughter had the kids bento box which she LOVED. And the waitress couldn't have been more friendly and accommodating. We will definitely be back!

Great service, delicious food. Nice ambience and reasonably priced!…read more Easy parking in the street. I recommend this restaurant!

I came in with my grandmother for a nice lunch yesterday. As always, we got tea to start out. I…read moreordered the Maki Combo and it was delicious! It was all super fresh and was made quickly. My grandmother ordered the bento box with shrimp tempura, that she loves and can never finish. She says it makes the perfect leftovers for the next day. We were excited to see they got new and improved menus! This is one of our favorite spots due to the amazing food, attentive service, and relaxing atmosphere. Truly a hidden gem in Norwalk that i'd recommend to anyone!

Fresh Sushi! Visiting CT and was craving sushi. The Maki Combo with soup & Salad was plenty & the…read moresushi was so fresh for dinner. I'll probably be back for lunch another day.

Hands down one of my fav. Kawa Ni in Westport. I recently went there for late lunch. Its the kind…read moreof atmosphere that feels trendy without trying too hard. Ive been there for dinner time as well, it's lively, loud in a good way, and immediately feels like somewhere you could stay for hours. I ordered the miso ramen, and it was honestly one of the most satisfying bowls of ramen I've had in Connecticut. The broth was the star of the dish its deep, rich, savory, and layered with that perfect balance of umami and subtle sweetness from the miso and a bit nitty form the sesame seeds. The noodles had the perfect texture: chewy, springy, and able to hold onto the broth beautifully. Nothing was overcooked or mushy . What impressed me most was how balanced the ramen was. Some ramen spots go overboard with salt or spice, but this bowl felt refined. Rich but not greasy. Flavorful but not overpowering. You could tell there was actual technique behind it. The portion size was also generous enough to leave completely full without feeling uncomfortable afterward. The service matched the food perfectly and so freaking sweet. I have trying to rec this all my coworkers

Ok, where do I even start with this spot!? Highly recommend…read moremaking a reservation because they book up fast. Like one of Westport's hottest restaurants right now! The decor is a lovely authentic izakaya with the wood paneling and everything. It's a beautiful homage to Japanese culture. Ok now menu. Lunch there is great but recommend going for the dinner menu over anything to have more options! The addictive cabbage is just as it says, addicting. It's acidic, savory and has the perfect crunch to it. The crab Rangoons are sooo good. They give you plenty of sauce and you can tell it's the good crab. The cold sesame noodles are perfect! A little bit of heat, a bunch of flavor. I'm drooling just thinking about it! The chili dumplings were good but a little too spicy for me! We also really enjoyed the kimchi carbonara and personally, I'm a sucker for udon noodles! And now the star of the show for me and something I've ordered three times now! The crab fried rice! The crab is so tender and buttery, like it actually melts in your mouth. And the pork belly chunks in it, also tender and delicious. I like dream of this dish every week! And the great thing is you can order the half size during dinner so you can try other things too! This spot is in my top 5 for 2026 so far! Please go try them asap!

This is the "hole in the wall" style ramen joint you've been looking for…read more I took a chance while on the hunt solo for something to eat and popped into this place. I ordered one of the special Ramen dishes and it crushed it. Excellent work! Just the right amount of spice - I think it was called volcano - but it wasn't overly spicy, it was perfect. Noodles were good, pork was good, the broth was excellent. The people working there were very nice. I enjoyed the food so much that I actually ended up ordering a noodle dish and some dumplings to go. And I added a mochi for dessert. So if you're out and about and hungry and could really use a warming bowl of Ramen, Good Hope is a good choice.

Came here on a Friday afternoon. Open seating. Very nice woman served us…read more We loved the spicy Sichuan dumplings (that she recommended) were our favorite - that sauce! But the pan fried dumplings and soup dumplings were also good. The pickled daikon was another favorite. And the chicken bao topped us off. If I was back in the neighborhood, I'd definitely come back.

Rafael, Hayro & Betsy created a very memorable experience for me at 'Mecha'-- the service was…read moreabsolutely impeccable. I ordered two miso ramen with a load of add-ons to go following the epic snowstorm... it was positively delicious. Broth was balanced, savory and had the perfect aspect of heat... pork belly was cooked to perfection and I love how they prepare the perfect tamago (egg). A special treat is the saki flight-- Hayro is very well versed in his tasting note knowledge and origins of the featured sakis and was ultra kind, consistent with his execution of dynamic cocktails behind the bar. Love the ambiance, music is always on point and the bar set-up is ultra inviting... I prefer that over sitting in a booth. Rafael, the manager, was ultra attentive and very gracious towards me as a waiting patron... he even surprised me with a little KFC Bao which was absolutely magical with the sauces provided! Professionalism 10.0 and so endearing! I would recommend double checking your to go orders, especially if the order is a bit complex or heavy on the add-on factor (my cabbage was left out but I believe it was substituted for a larger order of greens)... but Betsy was polite and patient amidst me being a picky foodie in my ordering process! I can't thank this team enough for consistently delicious food and noteworthy customer service... it is ultra popular for a reason! *Posted while currently waiting on yet another to go order-- thank you, Mecha!*

* Takeout! Traveling…read morefor work, staying at the Marriot down the road.. I saw this place come up on a Yelp search as a highly rated spot nearby. I threw an order in for delivery through Uber Eats while I jumped in the shower. Took 30 minutes to arrive, the food was piping hot and presented beautifully, despite the foil and plastic containers. Overall delicious. The Saigon egg rolls are served with a Vietnamese dipping sauce fresh mint and lettuce wraps, and they were light and crispy and all the flavors together incredible. The KFC bao bun was a little on the dry side, but had a satisfying gochujang glaze with crunchy pickled veggies nestled in a soft pillowy bun. Kimchi fried rice was bursting with flavors and the creamy yolk from the fried egg added a velvety richness. There was a nice presence of bacon, fried shallots and scallion. Overall perfect. Excited to try the Ramen and Pho sometime!

Excellent fresh sushi. Always delicious. Restaurant clean and employees friendly. Authentic food…read more Highly recommend.

Tasty new addition to downtown! I meandered over there for lunch today, picking up a roll and a…read moreside dish. Takeaway only - it's a small shop with various sushi rolls /dishes lined up to the right as you walk in. They also sell some Japanese snacks interspersed between some minimalist modern knick knacks. There's a few tiny tables for immediate consumption if you can't wait to get back to your car/house/park to chow down. They keep making stuff throughout the day and I was tempted by whatever the guy was boxing up behind the counter... as I was paying... so definitely fresh and made daily (they date every box). Wish they had a better seating area but generally happy there's good sushi in Darien.