100000/10. Loved this spot! I found out about this restaurant at the Yelp Asian Street Food Festival and they told me that they have a DJ on Saturdays. I told my husband about it and we decided to go here for date night. It did not disappoint. The DJ was great, he kept the vibes going all night! Our server was so sweet and nice. They told us they were short staffed and it might be a longer wait on the food but the food came out quicker than we expected. We ordered some items from their late night happy hour and really enjoyed everything that we ordered. However, I cannot stop dreaming about their Lychee Martini! Best Martini that I've ever had, I wish it was on the happy hour menu!! Overall, we loved the food, service, and ambiance. We will definitely be back! read more

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I had made reservations in advance and arrived about 15 minutes early. We came here to celebrate our anniversary. We checked in and had to wait a few minutes for our table to be ready. We were sat a high top once they cleared the table. Service was very spotty. Seemed to have general service delays with every aspect of our evening. We asked for water and that took quite some time. Finally, our waitress stopped by and asked if we were helped yet. At that point, we knew what we wanted and place our order. After a reasonable wait, most of order came out. Being small plates, we were sharing. But they didn't bring out plates. It took a while to get our servers attention but once we did, she brought them out. On to the positive, the food is really good. The crispy rice was we excellent as was the shrimp. The sushi was outstanding and the crab fried rice was also very good. Unfortunately, they ran out of one of their dessert specials. We did have some leftovers and got boxes. But it took quite some time for our server to return. After a while, I was able to waive her down and able to pay at the table. In summary, the food is excellent. Not sure if they were short servers or busier than normal. But service really needs to be better. read more

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The rating is closer to 3.5 than 4 stars. Food - the sushi rolls are pretty good. The chicken yakitori tastes better than the steak one which surprisingly costs $9 for one stick. The street corn tastes good, but I wish it were corn off the cob. Service - needs improvement. Service is very slow even though it's not that busy. It took a while to get our drinks, to place our order and get our food. read more

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Had an amazing dinner with parents tonight. Leida was our server and explained the menu and concept perfectly. She provided amazing hospitality and her descriptions for the hand roll flight were immaculate. The food was amazing as well, really enjoyed the chutoro and otoro hand rolls and the seasonal black garlic tonkatsu. I love how affordable and approachable they put tuna belly on the menu, while you get to try a wide range of other usually expensive nigiri. The concept of diy hand rolls was really cute too. I thought the mentaiko udon could use a little more mentaiko tbh. But I loved the funky, almost sour cream sauce of the mentaiko. Good strong garlic flavor comes through as well. Vibes were immaculate, love the hanging lanterns and aesthetic of the restaurant. The open concept was cool if you sit at the bar and watch the sushi chefs. I love the projector displaying scenes from anime as well. They even have a Vero water filter which costs like $5K. Can't wait to come back again on an empty stomach and try more. read more

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Amazing food came for the RE Grand Opening and I must say I didn't want to leave the food was banging and the sushi was freshly.. made right there in from of you. If your looking for a good tasty drink sushi and also a banging DJ this is the place read more

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Treated myself to sushi lunch today and it was great!. Izakaya has some different food options than your typical sushi restaurant- I especially like the skewer options. The salmon sushi was super tasty (got 4 orders which was 8 thick pieces). Also ordered the crispy rice with spicy tuna- it's a big filling portion that is meant to be shared. Waitress was sweet and thoroughly explained the menu. Restaurant was cute except the floor was sooooo sticky. I'll for sure visit again (just hopefully they use a different floor cleaner in the future lol) read more

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Let me talk about the good: interior is so clean and inviting our server was great, friendly and accommodating clean bathrooms they have great customer service in general esp after a mishap (see more below) Now the reason why I took out 2 stars - food was average I had originally ordered the katsu curry lunch, but after quite a bit after I ordered they told me they didnt have it. Apparently they didnt have curry sauce and the chef was trying to find some so thats why it took time, understandable. So I ordered the yakitori don instead. The yakitori tasted okay. I've had authentic yakitori and it didnt really taste like it. The chicken one was also on the dry side. Usually yakitori is juicy and tender and has a great sauce. But this left much to be desired. With that being said, I did finish my meal though. It was okay and I just wanna say thank you to the staff there they're great. If you want to come and eat here i'd definitely recommend it, enjoy the vibes and try out other stuff. read more

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This was a first visit for fellow Yelper Sara & me. We shared and enjoyed everything, although some of the edamame in the bowl wasn't fully warmed. I loved the crab fried rice- it is such a good portion that I had leftovers that I savored the next day. Be sure to check out their daily lunch specials & weekday happy hour too! read more

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Every. Single. Order. I've done with Izakaya Ko has been phenomenal. From their skewers to their top-tier nigiri to their sushi rolls, delicious. My favorite nigiri? All of them. I placed an order for literally every nigiri piece. Yup, I'm sure they were like "What the..." but that's what I wanted and it was displayed neatly and beautifully in a to-go container. All tasted fresh from the sea and I got to luxuriate in a moment oof bougie bliss from the comfort of home. The rolls? I do have a favorite one, the Ocean Pearl (Bluefin Tuna, chives topped with otoro, black truffle pearl, gold flakes). The tuna just melts in your mouth and the subtle saltiness of the black truffle pearl is such a treat. Definitely one of the best Japanese spots I've been to. read more

Izakaya Ko - Chicken Skewers (Skin, Gizzard, Skin, Heart, Thigh) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

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Very large menu with a lot of options for rolls and sushi. Restaurant is small and has a modern vibe. We had a reservation, but got the worst table near the kitchen and the bathroom, but I guess someone has to sit there. The service was friendly, our server was new and not familiar with the menu. I probably ordered the wrong thing, the beef bowl with rice, which seemed to be lacking in flavor. The cooked rolls were great and had a great flavor, read more

Izakaya Ko - Sushi Bars Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

A fantastic new addition to the Jax Beach area! I've visited Izakaya Ko several times since their grand opening and have consistently enjoyed their large menu, weekly specials, and upscale-yet-casual vibe. The restaurant has a modern feel without being too fancy. The staff is kind and attentive. The first time I went, I was blown away by how many different things were on the menu. They have a variety of skewers, cold and hot dishes, rolls, nigiri, and other larger dishes. Their menu is perfect for eating family style and trying a bunch of different things. They have a decent sake, wine, and beer menu, but no cocktails yet (though I've heard that's coming soon!) With our party of eight we were able to try a little bit of everything, some of my favorites being the angel roll and chutoro nigiri. I've also been to Izakaya Ko's handroll night and omakase. The omakase was a great starter omakase for those who have never been to one, smaller in size but each piece thoughtfully made and at an affordable cost. My only critique is that the chef was a bit too quiet which made it difficult to hear the details of each dish. The handroll night, on the other hand, was a very delicious and exciting add on to their menu. I love how you can choose from multiple sets, each handroll having a unique fish and topping. Izakaya Ko is a great casual spot to get fresh Japanese dishes. As someone who has spent years of her life in Japan, I believe this restaurant offers delicious and authentic flavors with a great modern flare. read more

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Came in for a late lunch while visiting from out of town. The food was super fresh and the staff very nice. The decor was hit and miss. Definitely seems like they didn't finish remodeling an old restaurant. read more

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Amazing restaurant! Came in on a Saturday night and the place wasn't crazy busy thankfully. Our server was nice and attentive despite having several other servers call out last minute. We started with a Sapporo, a few yakitori (meatballs, tenderloin, thigh) and the lamb chop. All of them were so tasty and flavorful! Then we had a yakisoba, a samurai roll, and a couple nigiri to finish off. Overall a lovely meal, ambiance was nice and the space is decorated very well. Looking forward to coming back! read more

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The food was very good especially the miso soup & takoyaki. The service was exceptional! The ambiance was very nice for the Mother's Day brunch! The staff are very friendly & professional. read more

Love the vibes at this restaurant the food is so good. Great customer service as well read more

Izakaya Ko - Izakaya Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

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You better come hungry! I bring my family here every time they are in town. The omakase is also fantastic for whatever special events you may want or just a very nice dinner out! read more

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Izakaya Ko is now my favorite sushi spot! And I had no plans to eat sushi when I arrived. But the nice patron beside me convinced me to at least buy one piece. I ended up ordered two pieces of salmon sushi, a lamb chop, scallop kabob, gyoza (4 pieces) pan-fried pork dumpling with garlic tempura sauce and green tea cheesecake. I sat at the sushi bar and watched the chef make my salmon. It was just like the patron advised, silky like butter. I very much enjoyed the sushi for the first time in my life. This was only the fourth time trying it and it had been many years since my last attempt. Thanks for serving it the way it was meant to be served:) I absolutely loved the lamb chop and could have eaten many more pieces. It was seasoned and cooked perfectly. The scallops were my least favorite. The pan fried pork dumplings were hot and deliscious! I do not typically order cheesecake but I'm glad I tried the green tea version. It was not as rich and heavy as typical cheesecake and I enjoyed their twist on this dessert. I left the restaurant feeling satisfied but not stuffed. That is how I prefer to feel after eating. I will absolutely be back to try more sushi and other menu items. read more

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Have been meaning to try this out as its in our neighborhood and it did not disappoint! We went in for early dinner and took advantage of the Happy Hour menu. We tried several items and enjoyed them all. The spicey garlic edemame is great and you can say how spicy you want it! Also, get the Chinese 5 spice chicken bites. Delish!! Draft Soporo was nice and cold and the sake bomb was fun! Staff are super nice and our server explained the menu which was helpful. read more

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Food was decent. Service was okay, they forgot some of our orders. Great interior and decoration but did not live up to the looks.

Delicious food, even better service, and the decor was an upgrade from the previous establishment. We'll definitely return and spend a ridiculous amount of time continuing to explore the menu! We liked the jalapeño poppers and the gyoza as appetizers but next time we'll head straight for the scallops or sushi. The crab fried rice was good but I didn't fall in love, it needed more of the crab and the fries were a must try but I'm not craving them. They had great flavors and textures but I wasn't a fan of the sweet sauce. The sushi was on point, we want to try all of it! Our experience was great overall and we will be returning soon! read more

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I tried Izakaya Ko a few times before writing this review because while the restaurant excited me (we need a good Izakaya in Jacksonville), I just cannot give it anything better than a 3-star "Ok" rating after these visits. First off, the food was not bad at all. I liked the crab fried rice, the otoro and several sashimi / sushi were pretty good, the skewers were decent (but really overpriced imo), and I was not a fan of the chicken karaage (bland) or the tuna sashimi (fish was good, everything else not). However, I feel that this restaurant has a bit of higher prices and going for a bit more of high-end vibe, but the service was so lacking, even for slow nights. The poor server was running around crazy, tending to all the tables and acting as a hostess. This is why that while I think the food tastes decent, overall I can't say I am eager to return due to the overall dining experience not matching up to the prices paid. read more

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Trendy spot! The food was delicious and the space is decorated nicely. I will say it was super cold so bring a jacket lol. We came for lunch and it comes with a soup or salad. I ordered a to-go for my friend, and first the wrong thing was made and then when it came out correctly it wasn't in a to-go so I had to ask for it in a to-go, which was a little confusing and strange. Overall, yummy food. Would love to come back at night for happy hour! read more

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I made a reservation online through Resy for the omakase experience. I even called the day before, and they specifically told me to book it online--which I did. The next day, when I arrived and checked in, I was told I needed to make a reservation in advance because it takes two days for the chefs to prepare, and that it's a two-hour experience. My boyfriend and I just looked at each other, completely dumbfounded. There was no point in arguing--we followed exactly what they told us to do, yet in person, they repeated the same instruction as if we hadn't. The floor was also extremely sticky; we could hear our shoes sticking with every step. Additionally, the nigiri lunch menu was actually more expensive than dinner, and the prices inside the restaurant did not match what was shown online. The Yelp menu only includes about half of what's offered in person. Lastly, the fish wasn't as fresh as expected. read more

Izakaya Ko - Sushi Bars Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

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Enjoyed dinner. The server was timid and a bit slow. She looked young and inexperienced. I noticed another waitress that was spit on serving the booth behind me. She knew the items on the menu explained & suggested what to have. I am sure with tine my server will feel more comfortable. The food was tasty. I had the double dragon roll. The tuna was extremely fresh and it had a unique crunch. Then I ordered shrimp kushiyaki and taking soba noodles. Spicy and delicious. read more

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Fantastic lunch specials. The Katsu Don is deliciously crispy chicken and very flavorful curry sauce. If I ever have a hangover again, I'm coming back for this. The Gyoza and Edamame were very tasty apps. The Shoyu ramen was also excellent. I will definitely be back to enjoy the sushi and grilled items. read more

Izakaya Ko - Katsu Don - Sushi Bars Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Stopped by for a quick lunch and was pleasantly surprised. Located in a small shopping center off Beach Blvd, Izakaya Ko offers great quality yakitori and sushi at a fair price. We got the Yakitori and Chirashi lunch special. The yakitori was succulent and had great smoky flavor with nice char. It was accompanied by a nice side of cabbage over a bed of rice. We also got the Izakaya roll, which was crispy and flavorful but a bit on the sweeter side. The wings were good but for $11 and only 4 we were hoping for something a little more exciting. Crab fried rice was recommended to us and did not disappoint, we added chili oil to ours. Service was great and attentive. Ambiance was a little quiet, we felt like we had to whisper during our lunch. Maybe if music was a little louder it'd be a little more comfortable. Overall had a good experience and would recommend read more

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Our new go to sushi spot, crispy rice was soooo good. And the shrimp appetizer was phenomenal. Can't wait to go back read more

Izakaya Ko - Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice - Sushi Bars Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Why haven't we found this spot sooner???? Like all other reviewers, we agree they have the best "omakase" price in town. Everything we ordered were so good even the clear soup is worth paying for. I'm mad that we just now found this place haha we will def come here more often. read more

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Amazing! Wow.. If you haven't been and you love Sushi. This is the spot. In the old Bento location on Beach in Jax Beach. Fresh sushi and delicious Saki makes a perfect evening. The restaurant is Japanese elegant with whimsical Neon signs. I ordered 2 rolls Yellowtail Jalapeño and Angel Roll. The Yellowtail had just the perfect balance of spice to not over balance the delicious fish. The Angel Roll was a salmon,avocado and scallop. It literally danced in my mouth. I would definitely order both again. My son ordered the Moriawase Sashimi Chefs Special. He loved it! The staff was attentive but a bit slow and sometimes confused but nothing that would make a bad review. The restaurant is fairly new and to be expected. If you love Sushi then give Izakaya Ko a try! read more

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If you're looking for a Yakitori place in Jacksonville, this is probably the best one to go to. Even though it can't taste & compare to authentic Japanese yakitori made from Japan or other areas with a lot of Japanese/American nationals, Izakaya Ko does them justice. Also, they do offer a lot more variety than other Japanese restaurants here in Jacksonville. My family and I went around 2:45 in the afternoon which in my opinion was the perfect time since we were the only customers there. Service was excellent and definitely loved the ambiance! They do offer quite a bit of other Japanese dishes as well (sushi, rice bowls, ramen, etc...) so we'll have to try them the next time we go there. Price were all very reasonable and are pretty much the same as the other Japanese restaurants in the area. Shout out to the Yakitori chef, well done Sir!!! read more

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I found this place via a tiktok exploration video. It looked like a cool place to treat my sister for her birthday. The location is great: on the busy street of Beach Blvd with a shopping strip behind where there was also a gym I think... very good placement. The service was good. I was late and forgot to ask her name though. My sister requested no rice sushi if possible; if not possible then light rice. I remember it was the dragon roll and another roll that started with an A The chefs obliged the light rice request. They were both tasty. The A-roll had this delicious sweet crunchy stuff on top... chef's kiss. I don't know what my other sister ordered but it looked good. It was the other sushi roll. Chasing nostalgia, I ordered yaki soba and tsukune. While they tasted good, they were not what I expected. For the meatball, I was expecting 2-3 small meatballs on a stick like I typically see in anime. Instead it looked like I got 1 meatball the size of two. The presentation wasn't what I hoped for. They used a different noodle than I remember was used in Japan for making soba. It also tasted different from what I remember. But so far I haven't found a restaurant to meet this taste memory yet. At thecend, we did separate checks. My sister's drink was on my table, I only had water. But that didn't matter because my sister ended up paying for my tab because they don't take cash. I was caught very off guard; I didn't bring a card. If I'd been by myself I don't know what would have happened. We shut the place down and another employee was so sweet to take our pictures around the restaurant. Overall it was a pleasant experience. I took away 2 stars because I only use cash at restaurants after having my card info stollen and charged by a server at another restaurant. It'd behoove them to have more ways to pay. read more

Izakaya Ko - Yakisoba yakitori dragon roll and some other rolls - Sushi Bars Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

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I came for my cousin's birthday and the service was amazing. We were a party of 7 and never felt ignored and many of our needs were anticipated. The restaurant is clean and well maintained, including the restroom. To drink, I had the Sake Lychee Martini and it was great! The food was hit or miss unfortunately. Everything we ordered came out hot and fresh so that is good. The gyoza was very good. However, the other things we ordered were just OK. I had the Gyudon (ribeye and rice dish). It's made with white rice, thin sliced ribeye, and scallions. The steak was flavored well but very chewy. I was also able to taste the Tonkotsu Ramen (not on the menu but offered) and it was just OK. They include a sausage in the ramen that I've not seen in ramen before, just as an FYI. Given how well the service was and the food quality, I think they are worth going again to try other menu items. read more

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Excellent food!! The fish quality here is fantastic and everything is plated very nicely!! The otoro sashimi was my favorite, it just melts in your mouth! The yellowtail jalapeno roll was great, the salmon was great, the toro tartare was great! All in all, great place for sushi!! Not usually a fan of ordering gyoza or fried rice, but both were very good!! I loved the sauce with the gyoza, it is spicy tho! Takoyaki was a great texture soft inside and crispy outside! Loved the skirt steak; It was juicy and cooked medium rare and had a nice char on the outside! I also loved the sauce! Service was good, but we did wait a while for the check. Nice ambience here, there is a good amount of seating and even a couch you can eat at! Would like to sit there next time maybe! It is a bit pricey, but I can't complain as the quality justifies it! read more

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Amazing food, best sushi in Jax beach. Seriously most sushi in Jax beach is terrible but this is actually pretty good. read more

It's like if someone thought making Japanese food was easy and they could make a quick buck selling garbage to people who don't have much experience with Japanese dinning. Every piece of yakitori was burnt and yet under cooked. I left most of it uneaten, it was that rough. The crab fried rice was so overly seasoned all you could taste was soy sauce. The rice was mushy and clearly not cooked correctly. Falls short in all regards from taste to texture. Service was good and quick, just wish the food was decent. The drink menu was unique, and enjoyed the two sake based cocktails we tried. For these prices, it's robbery would they are passing off as Japanese food. read more

I became a new fan recently and continue to enjoy different items from their lunch menu and regular menu. A cool, cozy and relaxing vibes with each visit too. The owner and staff are very friendly and helpful when choosing food from the menu. Food is fresh tasting and savory with every bite. Heard that their lunch menu is going to be available every day possibly soon...Can't wait! read more

Izakaya Ko - Sushi Bars Near Me - Jacksonville Beach, Florida

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We arrived bright and early for opening and were the first to dine in for dinner! It did smell a little fishy at first but once our food started cooking you could breathe a little easier lol! Lots of seating options. There are a few couches to sit at as well as booths and sushi counter seating. We enjoyed a booth for our first visit. This was quite the experience! The food came out super fast as we were the first to arrive! We ordered family style to share with our friend. There are some things I wouldn't order personally and weren't my favorite. The gyoza was full but kinda dry and i didn't care for the sauce that accompanied it. The crab fried rice wasn't very good either. Too much sesame oil. Star of the show was the sashimi. Particularly the otoro omg. Fatty PHAT! Ahmazing. The salmon was also soooo yummy. The tartare dip was fun and had a fresh yummy taste but I wouldn't get it again. Very fun for a group though. The yellowtail jalepeno roll was awesome. Spicy good crunch. We need to go back for more of the grilled meats but we did try the skirt steak and oh my god that's some good steak!!! You get a nice big piece on each skewer. Perfectly cooked. Tender and meaty. Love the chimichurri sauce! Takoyaki was pretty good it was crisp on the outside and warm soft on the inside. Really good octopus texture! Tender. We had interest in the sake but our server didn't know anything about them so we had to pass on enjoying a drink with our meal. Overall fun experience !! Glad to have finally made it in after having it bookmarked for so long. read more

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Jacksonville junk. Had to travel 500+ miles to experience this ? Sorry, I might me a northeastern snob, but this is your typical southeast beachfront wannbe ethnic place. Ate there and the sushi is meh. Ordered one night later, and they missed two items on the order. Save your money and effort. read more

Went to dinner here at Izakaya Ko for the first time. Food was excellent. Dishes were presented Beautifully. Quiet dinner with attentive staff. The variety of Nigiri was good, fresh and went well with Sake. I will definitely return. read more

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Izakaya is fairly new & I've been wanting to try it. Let me say I am extremely picky about where I eat sushi in Jacksonville. I have narrowed it down to 2 places. This is mostly due to the fact that it is important when consuming raw fish that it is very fresh & you are tasting that freshness. Well Izakaya is now on my short list where I will eat sushi. Well Izakaya arrived early on a Sunday evening with a reservation but didn't need it judging by the hostesses willingness to seat us in the almost empty restaurant. ( by 6 pm it started to really fill up and people were waiting) it's a cute place with sort of conversation seating on one side and a long sushi bar on the other. As you pass through that there are comfortable booths and tables on the other side. We chose a booth (my favorite seating). Our server was a sweet young woman albeit a little shy. This is the only area here that may need improvement. After flagging her down to take our order, she never returned unless we flagged her down for more water and the check. I did notice the other server at the table next to us being attentive so it was just this gal who needs a little training. The menu is divided up with apps typical like goyza, edamame under hot plates. There is a section with skewered cooked items I ordered the scallops and a friend ordered the shrimp. This is a small plate item which is fine however my scallops were so tiny and dried out. This was my only disappointment my friend got 3 small / med shrimp & said they were very tasty. We decided to share the Double Dragon roll & it was excellent. We also shared a soba noodle which was so delicious & a pretty large bowl. I was super impressed by the types of tuna offered including lean tuna, fatty tuna and tuna belly. I opted to try the sushi nigiri of fatty tuna. It was fresh and delicious. Over all our meal was excellent. It was $25 pp with tip which was super reasonable. I definitely will return to try some more of the sushi. On the way out the sushi chef waved & thanked us for coming. read more

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