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    Ichijiku Sushi

    4.1 (49 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 2:30 PM, 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

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    Jenny Q.

    Went for their happy hour and it's well worth the value! I got the chefs special nigiri lunch menu for under $30 which included a hand roll, salad, and soup! Sushi was fresh and my favorites were the tuna and salmon nigiri. Service was fast and waiter was able to describe all the fish to us. My friends also loved the sushi here. Good place to have an affordable date. I want to come back for the AYCE sushi dinner!

    Chef omakase double order @nhueats_
    Nhu L.

    I absolutely love this place for sushi! I wanted to come for all you can eat omakase but missed it by 8:30 pm, I definitely recommend coming earlier for that. I enjoyed the soft shell crab and sushi bowl so much! The portions were big and it's fairly reasonably priced. The sake options were delicious and the service was amazing with great recommendations. This is a great place for birthdays, dates and groups but definitely make a reservation because this place gets busy.

    Sushi happy hour until 7
    Sandra K.

    The nigiri was spectacular. I made a reservation and sat at the bar because I didn't know what lunch was going to be like. There was a small line behind me and groups ranging from 2-6. It was crazy. It was so delicious and well priced. I loved watching the family do their thing and enjoyed all of my food. I ate so much I had to take a nap. Parking was easy on a weekday.

    Kira L.

    Food - the Wagyu skewer was the best one (but pretty overpriced $15 for a single skewer), followed by the Wagyu nigiri and the crudo. The handrolls aren't really a hit (a little soggy seaweed too). Crispy rice tuna wasn't also my fav. Service - friendly Ambiance - I dig the vibes here, great for friends meet up hangouts and a date Yelp challenge, 100 challenge, 2025

    Tuna and crab handrolls.
    Maggie X.

    Review mainly for happy hour. Heard about this new sushi restaurant that popped up in Chinatown and dropped in on a weeknight to sample their happy hour. Cozy, compact ambiance with table and bar seating. The decor was cute, both from a design standpoint and food plating perspective. Service was fine. Uni tofu (not happy hour): Our server recommended this chefs special in lieu of the nigiri I was going to order. I couldn't decide if I liked it. On one hand, the tofu's silken texture both complemented and distracted from the smooth uni; on the other hand, I missed the robust support of rice under the uni. I could have done without the gelee, which felt gloopy and unnatural when mixed in with the organic textures of tofu and uni. Truffle edamame: I've said it before and I'll say it again: this obsessive trend of putting truffle oil on everything needs some caution tape. Normal boiled edamame with some salt would've been perfectly fine, but instead this arrived slathered in truffle oil that overpowered the delicate sweetness of the edamame and left an oily film as an aftertaste. Hamachi nigiri: The hamachi was delicate and a nice texture with a good ratio of rice. Tempura cut roll: Over sauced, over crunched. The flavor was fine, but I couldn't taste much of it over the unagi sauce slathered throughout the roll and the oily tempura bits heaped on top. Chicken wings: Overfried to the point where you could taste the oiliness. Flavor was mediocre. Portion was generous for the price. Handrolls (California and tuna): I liked the presentation, but the boxes did squish the bottom point of the handrolls. More importantly, the nori was not toasted and became very quickly soggy with the filling and sushi rice. Rubbery nori is one of my least favorite foods to fight through; there's no way to do it elegantly. Ripping through soggy seaweed with teeth and hands while all the fillings scatter onto the plate is very sad face. Taste was mediocre. I might be convinced to come back and sample more fresh fish offerings, but I won't be back for happy hour.

    Love sitting at the sushi counter
    David C.

    Ichijuku Sushi was the perfect spot for a weekend happy hour lunch! Yes they have happy hour even on the weekends in Bellaire! Happy hour is everyday from open till 7pm, and on the weekends they have a special lunch menu Sat/Sun 12-3pm only. These happy hour and weekend lunch specials are a great deal! I sat at the sushi counter so service was great and I had the pleasure of watching the sushi chefs at work. I've always admired sushi chefs perfect their craft. Ambiance wise, the restaurant is casual enough for a fun lunch with friends, but it's also nice enough that you could go on a nice dinner date here as well. As far as the food goes, I'd recommend their spicy lobster tempura, spicy tuna crispy rice, salmon nigiri, chutoro, hamachi, A5 wagyu, and tai yuzu shio ramen. Everything was fresh, tasty, and well executed. I'm excited to come back and try other items on their menu, enjoy!

    Sapporo 22 oz for $7
    Deborah N.

    In a sea of restaurant competition in the heart of Chinatown, lays hidden a sushi spot that offers all day happy hours and three tiers of omakases to delight all patrons - whether you're on a budget or you want to splurge, Ichijiku offers something for everyone! When walking in, you find yourself immersed in an atmosphere that's between casual and trendy! Their request is business casual! You can't beat their happy hour prices !!!! We got a 22oz bottle of Sapporo for $7 and shared it and it was the perfect pairing to our nigiri selections and appetizers! I highly recommend their yellowtail, salmon, and bluefin tuna nigiri's! They also offer daily specials, an we tried this seared fluke with pink salt, citrus and yuzu, and it was the best one out of everything! I would heed on the red snapper tho! They keep a bit pf the skin on and it wasn't the melt in your mouth kind of sushi. A bit tougher...also we ordered the tako Sunomono with double octopus, but the octopus was way too chewy and not edible!! We ended up spitting it out and not eating it... The spicy tuna crispy rice was okay - didn't blow my mind - has a tempura like crunch but not what I was expecting! The service was friendly and the experience was enjoyable overall!

    Agedashi tofu
    Alexandra K.

    I recently heard about ichijiku and was excited to give their AYCE menu a try! I made a reservation a couple days in advance for Sunday evening at 6pm and was seated immediately. I was originally drawn to this spot by its unique AYCE omakase experience. It's $65 a person, and you get a select menu. The experience started with miso soup, followed by small portions of edamame, vegetable tempura, and hamachi crudo. Then a 5 piece nigiri and 1 roll is presented. After completing these, you can order as much as you want, 5 items at a time, from the select AYCE list. A green tea ice cream and mochi was given at the end as dessert. Overall, I had a great time. I think this is a great place for people who balance value eating and good quality eating. But, it seemed to me that the fish given in the omakase nigiri 5 piece set was nicer quality than those in the AYCE menu. Out of the nigiri, the hamachi was my favorite, along with the tai, and unagi nigiri. As far as AYCE sushi goes, it's nicer quality than most AYCE spots but also has a higher price. I'm personally not someone who can down a ton of food so this isn't worth it for me but I would recommend this if you love AYCE and wanted something a step above the average spot. Other note: the music played was like Japanese fast upbeat pop (anime music adjacent) so inevitably the vibe was more casual because of it. I felt this kind of took away from the romance in a way that soft background beats wouldn't so maybe this isn't a good choice as a romantic date night option. I'd say this is a good casual date night or first date spot! Or just for hanging casually w friends

    Brooke A.

    Came here for happy hour that goes till 7! Has some great deals and options as well as an all you can eat menu we will have to try another time. Some favorites were the crispy rice bites, tempura lobster, and salmon crisp. Not a ton of seating so definitely worth looking at getting a reservation during busy times.

    Amie N.

    Went here back in August and LOVED this place! It's a step up from the cheaper sushi spots in the area, and you can definitely tell with the quality and presentation of their dishes. The ambiance of the place was nice & cozy with both bar and table seating. I wouldn't recommend to go here if you have a large group of more than 6 because it is a smaller building. Service was great from what I remember, and our server knew exactly how to advertise their specials and had good knowledge of the menu. Overall the food here was a 4/5. Nothing was bad at all, but there were certain dishes that I did not really care for. Fish quality was all good for the price. I would skip out on the A5 uni special next time since it was ~$20 a piece but it was a nice try, and the shiso was an interesting (but needed) contrast in the bite to cut through the fattier waygu and uni. Another skip would be the stuffed shiitake, which was good but tasted like something you could make at home with a little effort. The tempura fries however were sooo good with the wasabi mayo. Wasn't too oily and had a nice crisp and fluff to them. Their selection of fish is also pretty diverse which is hard to find nowadays if you're not going to the more upscale spots. Was this the best sushi spot I've had in this price range? No, but I would definitely come back if I were in the area.

    Woo K.

    New spot I think. Staff was nice. Nice interior. Food was good! The fried octopus was super tender. Cooked perfectly. 100% would get again. Spicy tuna roll was delicious. Hamachi kama needed more flavor. Smokey flavor? It felt a bit dry in some parts as well. Nigiri was amazing. Would come back for the nigiri and octopus.

    Tempura fried lobster bites
    Tyson P.

    Stop by lunch to try this new place out. Server was nice but the food is just okay. Nothing was bad or great. Just okay. Try lunch special 7 piece nigiri with California Handroll and miso soup and small salad for $25. 3/5 (you get whatever chef select. Some fish was average and others was fishy) Added $5 tempura fried lobster bites. Not bad for price . 4/5 stars Overall 3.5 . Total bill $33 with tip $39.

    A5 Wagyu Kushi | Negitoro Kushi
    Chau L.

    We went to Ichijiku on a Thursday around 5:15 pm. The restaurant is on the smaller side, with booths and seats at the sushi bar available. Service was good. They have a small "$7 before 7pm" happy hour menu everyday. We ordered: - Spicy tuna crispy rice - Salmon nigiri - Yellowtail nigiri - Agedashi tofu - A5 wagyu kushi - Eel kushi - Negitoro kushi - Bluefin chutoro nigiri - Bluefin akami nigiri - A5 wagyu aburi nigiri - Kinmedai nigiri - Hotate nigiri - Anago nigiri - Spicy tuna hand roll The sushi here was not bad, but nothing really stood out. My favorites were probably the hamachi and salmon off the happy hour menu. The A5 Wagyu aburi had nice flavor, but wished it was warmer when it came out. The spicy tuna hand roll tasted like something you'd get from a really cheap or ayce sushi restaurant, and the seaweed was not crispy. Out of the robata and appetizers we ordered, I enjoyed the A5 wagyu kushi and the spicy tuna crispy rice. My least favorite was the agedashi tofu. The texture was very slimy.

    Tuna Cut Roll

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    Aiko - Mochi Dessert

    Aiko

    4.5(337 reviews)
    11.2 miSixth Ward
    Locally owned & operated
    Free parking

    Loved the food here! The fish is super fresh and high quality and even the non-sushi menu items had…read moregreat flavors and were well executed. I got the pan daiquiri as my drink to start and my friend got the herbed lavender lemonade. For food we shared the hamachi crudo, the chutoro nigri, the kanpachi nigiri, the A5 tartare, the kani handroll, The kinoko yasaimono, and the hot scallop dish to share. The pan daiquiri was SO good. The smokiness from the mezcal hits you first and then the sweet and creamy after taste takes over. It was so well mixed and I would highly recommend trying this if you are a mezcal lover like me. (9/10) The herbed lavender lemonade was too tangy and sweet for my liking. The lavender flavor get lost in the drink. It tasted like a typical lemonade, nothing special. (5/10) The hamachi crudo was so fresh and I really enjoyed the sweet and tangy broth. I'm not sure I would call it tom kha broth but it tasted good regardless and paired well with the tomatoes. (7.5/10) The chutoro nigiri was SO buttery and melt in your mouth delicious. I would definitely get this again. (8.8/10) The kanpachi nigiri was fresh and I enjoyed the sauce paired with it. It was my first time trying amberjack and I liked it. (7/10) The A5 tartare was super unique and well seasoned. There was plenty of tartare compared to the amount of milk bread you are given to eat it with. The uni, caviar, pate and waygu all mixed together was a decadent combination full of flavor. My only note was the contrast in temperatures that I did not love, the tartare came cold while the milk bread was warm. Overall, a very luxurious and tasty dish. (8/10) The kani handroll surpassed my expectations. Typically I don't go for crab first, but I did enjoy the flavors paired with the crab and the hand roll was well filled. (7.8/10) The kinoko roll (king trumpet mushroom roll) really surprised me. I was weary about getting this roll because I normally don't opt for vegan options, but this king mushroom was so well prepared and the sauce was so delicious that dare I say that I enjoyed this more than some of the fish/meat sushi rolls I've had in the past. (8/10) The hot scallop dish was one of the best bites of the night. The scallop was perfectly charred and cooked and the creamy polenta base with the umami salmon roe, with the fried red cabbage to add texture was amazing. I would definitely order this again. (9/10) Overall, I really enjoyed my time at Aiko and the food surpassed my expectations. I loved everything I tried and do want to come back to try more. The service was quick and helpful with the menu. Parking can be a bit tricky, but there are some free street parking spots around the plaza. The ambiance is definitely upscale and classy. It's a great place for a date! My only complaint was that I made a reservation for 2 at least a week in advance and upon arrival, though they had plenty of open tables, we were seated at the opposite end of a table that was already occupied. We were close enough to hear their entire conversation throughout dinner, and I just thought it was an odd experience because that had never happened to me before. Though it did not hinder me from enjoying the food I would have preferred to be seated at our own table.

    I thought Aiko delivered a really memorable meal. Overall I'm giving this place 5 stars -- the…read morequality of the fish and the execution were excellent -- though personally I did find the progression of courses a little rich toward the end. For context, Aiko is part of the same group as Doko (their sushi omakase concept) and Handies Douzo (their handroll-focused restaurant), and you can definitely see the overlap in technique and flavor profiles across the restaurants. We went for the Valentine's omakase menu. The meal started with the Oyster Duo. One had a yuzu granita and aguachile that was bright and refreshing, while the other had a roasted onion soubise with smoked trout roe that leaned richer and more savory. Nice contrast between the two. One of my favorite early dishes was the chilled zaru soba. The buckwheat noodles had a great chewy texture and the mentsuyu broth was light and refreshing with mirin, mushroom, and seaweed notes. It was a really nice palate reset. The smoked ocean trout sashimi (masu) was another standout. It had garlic aioli on top with oil and black pepper, and the tomato added a crunchy brightness that balanced the richness of the fish. It's a simple combination but worked surprisingly well. The temaki course was excellent. The snow crab handroll had this creamy mayo texture with chili and crunchy shallots, and you can tell they roast the seaweed sheets right before serving because the nori had an incredible crunch -- honestly some of the best texture I've had in a handroll. It reminded me a lot of the style they do at Handies. For the hirame crudo with pomegranate and shiso, the flavor was good but a bit more subtle. I think the pistachio really helps that dish; without enough of it the flavors felt a little muted. I know pomegranate and pistachio is a common flavor pairing for middle eastern cuisines. My partner has a tree nut allergy so they removed it for both of us. The wagyu fat rice was very indulgent. The first thing you taste is the wagyu fat, but the fried shallots and other crunchy elements help balance it out. The sauce reminded me a lot of something you'd get at Doko -- rich but very satisfying. Adding fried rice in between fish courses was an interesting choice from the chef, but I think Aiko aims to be more western fusion than a traditional Japanese omakase. The tuna trio was fantastic. The chutoro with negidare (garlic, sesame oil, scallion) was probably my favorite bite of the night -- super flavorful and perfectly balanced. The foie gras course leaned sweet and savory, almost like an eel sauce flavor with some crunch on top. Delicious, but by this point in the progression I was definitely feeling the richness of the meal. Dessert was a milk tea tiramisu that I thought was really interesting. The mascarpone layer had a tartness to it -- almost like there might be a little sour cream mixed in -- and one layer had a subtle salty note that balanced the sweetness. Overall, the food quality was excellent and the fish was clearly very fresh. My only minor critique is that the progression of courses skewed a bit rich for my personal preference, especially in the second half of the meal. That said, every dish was thoughtfully executed and there were some truly standout bites. If you enjoy creative omakase with some richer flavor profiles, Aiko is definitely worth trying.

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    Aiko
    Aiko - Cucumber tomato salad

    Cucumber tomato salad

    Aiko - Salmon toro w. truffle & caviar

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    Salmon toro w. truffle & caviar

    Himari

    Himari

    4.3(116 reviews)
    10.9 miOak Forest/Garden Oaks
    $$

    Arrived at Himari today and really did have a great experience! It is a small setting but it left a…read morebig impression! Sat at the bar and ordered hot saki and sparkling white wine as an added kick( both were great by the way), and then for starters we got a crispy tuna roll, which was very good, ( tuna on a bed of fried rice cake cut into rectangles , with chives and trimmings on top) order of the chicken karage , that was fried to perfection, spicy / juicy goodness and everything you want from fried chicken!, and lastly got the nigiri sampler with premium pieces of very fresh , melt in you mouth sushi! And all of this was available at happy hour prices because we got there before 5, except for the chicken karage and sparkling wine! Service was also STELLAR! I will be back for sure!!!

    There's seating outdoors, inside at the sushi bar, tables, and more seating upstairs. I noticed…read morethat they used machines to give proportionate amount of rice for the nigiri and rolls. This is nice to have consistent amounts of rice for each dish. I do wonder if this would make service slow or not because it did take awhile to get our food. There were a lot of to go orders and the way they package the items looked top tier. I did see they had a reasonable price for omakase for 2 ($95). This alone I think is worth trying this place out. However, I was not hungry enough for their omakase. I don't know if the machine played a roll in it but the seaweed was a bit soft and got stuck onto the dish. This made the quality of the rolls disappointing. The fish tasted fresh but I think the flavors and ingredients overpowered the fish. I would have liked ingredients that would elevate the fish and make it stand out as the highlight of the rolls. However, I thought they did a good job with presentation in each dish. I tried the rainbow row and that was a bit hard to eat because the seaweed got stuck onto the wooden board. I also thought the menu didn't reflect all of the ingredients that were inside of the rolls. They list the main stuff but not everything else. For example, I noticed that there was asparagus inside of the rainbow row but it isn't listed. For that reason I'd give it 3 stars. I wouldn't order this again. The next item I tried was the yuzu kissed and this was my favorite out of everything I've tried. I do think that it was missing something that would balance out the citrusy flavor but nevertheless it was still tasty as long as you don't douse the fish in the sauce, 5 stars. I also tried the Wagyu pitchfork and I think something that would've made this taste better would be a sauce maybe like an eel sauce. This would also get 3 stars for me. The spicy tuna roll was 3 stars for me and it was more so of the texture of the tuna. The tuna felt like it was stuffed in the roll and was like a soggy texture. Some of the tuna fell out as I was eating it and it also made the seaweed wrap around it a bit moist. I think if you go here you definitely should get the sashimi that way you could actually taste the quality of the fish. I tried the medium tuna and fatty and these were actually what I would expect from a place like this. The quality was there but the other items didn't hit the mark for me. The other item I tried was the Japanese scallop and the scallop was tasty and had that smooth buttery texture. The seaweed again kind of ruined the scallop for me. It felt like the scallop was shoved into the roll and was all soft and squishy when I picked it up.

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    Himari - Chef Eber recommended

    Chef Eber recommended

    Himari - Salmon roll

    Salmon roll

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    Katami - Osaka Decadent roll

    Katami

    4.6(303 reviews)
    10.0 miMontrose
    $$$

    At Katami, the flavors arrive like fragments of memory before they become a whole sentence. This is…read morethe strange pleasure (and occasional frustration) of fine dining when you cook enough yourself to recognize the building blocks. You spend half the meal trying to identify each note before the dish moves past analysis and settles into feeling. The shrimp toast came first, and it read almost plainly at first bite: cultured tang from crème fraîche, sweet fruit, the faint richness of butter soaking into impossibly thin milk bread. A small herb scattered on top sharpened everything just enough. Then the caviar arrived not as luxury punctuation but as structure, binding the sourness and sweetness into something quieter and more deliberate. At home, these flavors would sit beside one another. Here, they dissolved into each other. Several dishes moved unmistakably toward Vietnamese flavors without ever becoming literal reproductions. The branzino tempura carried the familiar push and pull of nước mắm and sugar, maybe shrimp paste somewhere underneath, though softened into something more restrained. A brown sauce alongside it tasted almost startlingly recognizable: peanut butter, grainy sugar, the kind of sweet-savory depth that recalls satay sauce made in a home kitchen. The flavors are not hidden exactly, but compressed. In home cooking, especially in Southeast Asian food, flavor often announces itself clearly: fish sauce is fish sauce, herbs remain bright and separate, sugar lands directly on the palate. At Katami, those same references are blurred at the edges. Sometimes the dishes communicated more through texture than taste. The rockfish, paired with yuzu kosho, had a peppery structure that lingered longer than the citrus itself. The sakura salmon tasted like a spring time promenade, cherry blossom petals scattering in the bright, breezy sky. Overall, I recommend this sushi spot for a contemporary perspective on fine dining sushi. I was surprised to see other cuisines blended in compared to restaurants that are distinctly Japanese. Katami focuses on a story with each individual course, instead of all the plates flowing together. Each dish has a start and finish, it felt like reading a book compiled of mini poems!

    The ambiance is nice, and our server was excellent--very knowledgeable about the menu and helpful…read morethroughout the meal. The fish quality is solid, which is expected given that this restaurant is priced higher than most sushi spots. That said, the dishes felt a bit one-dimensional. Everything was good, but nothing really stood out or felt memorable. It seemed like the menu played things too safe, and we never had a moment where we thought, "this is what makes this place special." One disappointing moment was with a food runner. My sister has a severe shellfish allergy, and when she called him back--just once--to double-check potential contamination, he rolled his eyes before responding. That reaction was pretty surprising and not appropriate, especially given the seriousness of food allergies. Overall, the sushi is decent and the fish quality is good, but it didn't leave a lasting impression.

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    Katami - Fresh flowers.

    Fresh flowers.

    Katami - Foie Scallop

    Foie Scallop

    Katami - Roasted cabbage

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    Roasted cabbage

    Handies Douzo

    Handies Douzo

    4.6(500 reviews)
    10.7 miThe Heights
    $$

    Been to both the Heights and Montrose locations regularly and Handies is easily my favorite go-to…read morehandroll spot in the city. The selection is great across the board, I genuinely enjoy every hand roll I've had, and you really can't go wrong with any of the sets. The crudo is always a hit too. What I love most is how approachable it is - from the vibe inside to even the food itself. It works just as well for a quick but really good meal as it does for stopping in to grab a hand roll or two between errands or before heading somewhere else. Consistently high quality without feeling overly serious or complicated. Service is always on top of it, the experience is efficient without feeling rushed, and it's one of those spots that stays in regular rotation no matter how many new places pop up around the city.

    Handies Douzo is easily one of the first places I will recommend when in Houston. Their handrolls…read moreare unmatched, and the crudos are just as good. It's a great spot to enjoy high-quality sushi without the price tag of an upscale restaurant. The staff are always warm and welcoming, and the all-bar seating creates a lively, interactive dining experience. I usually order a 3-handroll set, add a hamachi handroll at the end, and share the chutoro sashimi. The chutoro just melts in your mouth, and each handroll is thoughtfully balanced with great flavor combinations. It's always a reliable place to go to and can serve as a quick bite when I'm indecisive on where to eat. That being said, it gets pretty busy during dinner time, so I'd recommend making a reservation ahead of time.

    Photos
    Handies Douzo - Inside vibe

    Inside vibe

    Handies Douzo - Salmon handroll

    Salmon handroll

    Handies Douzo - Bgb Sake

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    Bgb Sake

    Tins

    Tins

    4.9(51 reviews)
    9.8 miThe Heights

    We went to TINS on Friday for my birthday. We love going to an Omakase, but this is more. This is…read morean experience. Chef Sky puts all of his passion into this 14 course adventure. Each bite is elevated and delicious. We wanted to eat slow and enjoy each bite, but each was better than the last and so hard to eat slow! We were anticipating each piece! We loved the addition of laksa and his Malaysian influence. It was so hard to pick a favorite. The sake FLOWS! It's truly unlimited. We had so much fun. The interior is vibe in itself. If you go for the 8 o'clock seating, they do karaoke after and I can only imagine how fun that it since Chef Sky is so fun. He shared so much knowledge and was just so much fun to talk to as well. We finished our meal and stayed another 40 minutes talk to Chef and enjoying the sake. It really is more than just sushi. You will not find wasabi and soy sauce anywhere. Each of the sauces elevates each bite you take and compliments it so well. Here's what we enjoyed: 1.Madai (jalapeño dressing ) 2.Hickory smoke sichimi salmon ( crunchy garlic and sweet & sour sauce ) 3.Scallop with sesame oil , truffle salt , fried garlic , ponzu and mint leaf ) 4.Malaysian curry laksa 5.Tuna (Spain ) mango salsa make with tom yum sauce 6.Kanpachi (Hawaii ) truffle oil , Himalayan salt & lemon zest 7.King salmon (New Zealand ) seared with yuzu miso and Malaysian crunchy fried anchovy 8. Santa Barbara uni shooter 9. Founder (repulic of Korea) homemade pepper sauce 10. Seared escolar with pork floss 11. Toro with creamy cilantro lime sauce with kizami wasabi 12 . Hamachi with Malaysian style sweet garlic sauce 13. Unagi with old granny spice and yuzu salt 14. mango crepes cake

    Tins is, without a doubt, the best omakase like experience I've ever had. Every course flowed…read moreseamlessly into the next, each dish complementing the last in a way that felt intentional and artful. Honestly--hands down better than Uchi. The atmosphere was amazing. Chef Sky was welcoming, friendly, and incredibly entertaining. You can tell he loves what he does, and it makes the whole experience that much better. If you enjoy sake, do yourself a favor and catch a ride there and back. The bottomless sake is no joke and pairs perfectly with every dish! And whatever you do, don't miss karaoke after the 8pm seating. It was an absolute blast. By the end of the night, everyone--complete strangers when we walked in--felt like instant friends while singing our hearts out. I've definitely found my new favorite date night / family night / any-night spot. Cannot recommend Tins enough!

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    Tins
    Tins - Unlimited sake

    Unlimited sake

    Tins - Yellowtail (sweet garlic sauce)

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    Yellowtail (sweet garlic sauce)

    Kata Robata - Texas Wagyu Katsu Sando

    Kata Robata

    4.3(2.3k reviews)
    8.1 miUpper Kirby
    $$$

    Nut allergy friendly - The lunch ramen is still safe! As is most of the menu I believe…read more Parking: Actually quite difficult in the small strip mall lot. Gets very busy during lunch and you might have to wait for someone to come out. Yep, they're all here for Kata. Time to Entree: 7 Minutes We arrived at 1PM on a Friday afternoon without a reservation and got quoted a 20 minute wait for 2 people. That ended up being around 9 minutes wait. Service for the lunch tonkatsu ramen was quick and efficient. The ramen is just as great as I remember. The pork tonkatsu is flame seared and has an excellent charred flavor, very different than normal tonkatsu pork but still melts in your mouth. The broth is flavorful and ginger-forward, but not too salty to where it's overpowering. Great portions of noodles that makes for a satisfying lunch. Kata's ramen still bats for the top 5 in Houston in my book. Always happy to make it back for their lunch when I've got the time.

    The food tasted good but nothing was new or exciting. The service was terrible... our waitress…read more(Karen?) was really slow.. also my friend waited almost 45 minutes for a glass of wine. She clearly forgot to ring it in and then brought us the check. We then asked for the glass of wine and she brought it with a revised check. We also never saw a manager during our visit. At the end, we were charged 20% gratuity for a group of 7... seemed strange. Not saying we wouldn't have tipped that but it didn't sit well knowing the service was so bad.

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    Kata Robata
    Kata Robata - Various nigiri.

    Various nigiri.

    Kata Robata - Okinawa Sun - strong AF

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    Okinawa Sun - strong AF

    Ume Sushi

    Ume Sushi

    4.6(219 reviews)
    11.0 miThe Heights

    I can't believe there isn't more buzz around this place--we were able to get an 8pm NYE reservation…read morefor 2 less than 48 hours in advance. Ume deserves to be considered among Houston's heavy-hitters of Sushi. Hands-down, their food is comparable to that of places like Uchi and Kata at a slightly lower (maybe?) price point. Ume's nigiri takes the cake as my favorite in the city. We were blown away with the quality of ingredients and unique flavor profile in every single piece of nigiri across the standard and deluxe offerings of the chef's choice plates, Wagyu, and specials. I also want to take a moment to recognize the outstanding experience provided by our server, Scott. Beyond demonstrating his thorough understanding of their menu and sushi, broadly, with exceptional recommendations and knowledgeable insights, he consistently went the extra mile to help make our dinner special.

    Really good sushi. We went on a Sunday night and it was pretty empty. Maybe one or two other…read morediners. The good news it was quiet. The bad news is that things come out too fast, other than the cocktails we ordered first, which showed up after the first course did. I find that a bit irritating. I guess maybe their bar/drinks person went home. But still, a great place in the Heights area. Great fresh sushi, imaginative cocktails and pleasant staff. Will go back when we are in the area

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    Ume Sushi
    Ume Sushi - A5 wagyu beef toban yaki

    A5 wagyu beef toban yaki

    Ume Sushi - Ume Symphony Cocktail

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    Ume Symphony Cocktail

    Ichijiku Sushi - sushi - Updated May 2026

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