We made it over here after booking out several weeks in advance - they stay busy! And with good reason as it was a very nice date night. Each room is decorated a little differently. The staff are very attentive and we had waiters and even the chef came and checked on us at one point. We tried several items so we could get sample the menu. We had the crispy brussel sprouts - a must try / definite recommend. We had the kimchi fried rice as well as the short ribs, both of which were good. I would definitely come back and sample more of the menu. read more

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Johin'na was a great date-night experience. We had a 5:30 reservation in the Sakura Room, and from the smooth valet experience to the fast service, everything started off great. The atmosphere was the highlight for me. The purple lighting, cherry blossom trees, and Japanese-inspired decor give the room an upscale, intimate vibe. We tried the Birmingham Roll, Brussels sprouts, bao buns, chicken lollipops, Sake Sangria, Strawberry Lychee Martini, and peach cobbler. Everything was flavorful. My only knock was the portion size. Several items are listed as "To Share," but the portions were smaller than I expected. read more

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Came here for a nightcap after a comedy show. I and I did not have high expectations, but Johin'na quickly made an impression. I was led through a corridor next to the front bar that opened up into a large room with a seated bar in the middle illuminated by a colorful tree. This was great ambiance for a date and the food amd drinks did not disappoint. I love their selection of raw oysters, but I would say their chef special is a necessity. I enjoyed the chef's creativity with the oyster garnishes and I will be ordering this every visit. The short ribs were perfect, fork tender and covered in a robust sauce, this will be a frequent order as well. The most difficult part of the night was finding what to drink. As someone who always wants to taste the entire menu, I often ask for recommendations from the staff. Luckily, the bartender quickly suggested a cocktail for me as well as a modification he personally enjoys. The drink was strong, flavorful, and most importantly balanced. I will be looking forward to coming back to Johin'na's again. read more

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Saki sangria- watered down. Not made over night. Can taste the passion fruit. Cannot taste the pineapple, sake or prosecco. Plum blossom drink- no complaints very good Pork belly bao- good. Pork belly was dry. Bao broke on both. Sauce good. Bao not freshly made in house. Soy garlic chicken lollipops + garlic rice- rice was splendid! Very garlicky how you expect. The sauce on the chicken lollipops was amazing and would have been better as a chicken breast meal. The name "lollipop" you would expect a chicken lollipop. You would expect the drums to be cut down to make chicken lollipop. However this dish was delicious in terms of flavor. Truffle tuna carpaccio- tuna was fresh. Also salty. Hardly tasted any truffle. Not worth the price. Collard greens gyoza- SALTY!!!! I think we all know good collards are already seasoned...the soy sauce made it extra salty. Would have benefited from a creative sauce. Love the idea. I think if edited this dish will be a star. Grilled oysters with miso butter- very good but TOO SALTY! Might have been from the Parmesan. Crazy part is I love seasoning. Come from a mixed background but definitely had too many salty dishes tonight. Birmingham roll- loved this catfish roll! DELICIOUS! No complaints. Super clever! Service- I love love love the bar manager at the Sakura bar area. He is a gem. Met him at other restaurants and he's top tier. Our server was nice I can tell she had many other people so it took her some time to come and check up on us. Seating- sat at the bar. SHORT PEOPLE BEWARE! it's beautiful inside this restaurant and the chairs are comfy. However, they completely sink and if you're short...the bar is too high. Multiple women around me felt the same. Also very crowded at bar I felt like I could hardly move. Pricing- overpriced for sure. It's meant to be luxury but I do think the taste of the food and amount compared to the price does not match. It isn't upscale enough. Too salty. Atmosphere- packed on a Saturday night. Very stylish fresh and new restaurant. Love that it is Black owned and the chef is also Black. Staff was great. It's beautiful inside and makes you want to have date night! I think it will only continue to get better! read more

I've been here twice and it's been a great experience each time. Once was earlier this year for date night and a few weeks ago for my wife's birthday. When I tell you it looks so nice in there. I loveee viewing the tree in the middle of the bar. Now the food is definitely the star of the show. My wife and I always get the same thing lol. We always share the crispy squid which is definitely chefs kiss. She will get the Birmingham Roll which is pretty good. My all time favorite is the glazed salmon. Their drinks are also the cherry on top. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a good date night or cute girls night out. I also love complimentary valet. read more

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Came back for brunch and service is SO slow. Our server, Patrick was very nice but getting the food was painfully slow. My grits were DELICIOUS. The omelette was meh. Other than that I would not rush back for brunch lol. read more

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I love the vibe of Johin'na. Some friends and I decided to check out this beautiful establishment. This was my third time dining at Johin'na, and I must say the food, drink, and aesthetics are pleasing to the eye and palate. On my most recent visit, I ordered the crispy whole fish. The dish was not only beautifully plated, but the combination of flavors was amazing. The owner's daughter recommended this dish, and it did not disappoint--actually, all of the recommendations added to an enjoyable experience. If you are looking for an asian fusion experience, Jihin'na is definitely a place to visit. Lavishly decorated, coupled with the owner, Shaun, and her daughters, who are personable and really want you to enjoy every moment. read more

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I got 3 words! Johin'na,Johin'na, Johin'na! This place is Stellar. I mean upper echelon! And, I love EVERYTHING, about it! The decor! MINT! The service, amazing. Thanks Deja!!! But, we are here to see about this food! We are a party of 5 girlfriends. We eat all the time, but it's rare when we all taste the same goodness. Starters we got edamame, calamari, Kimchi fried rice, Brussels(Asian style, and broccolini. All good! My favs are the Kimchi and broccolini. Entrees were 2 fried snappers, 2 braised short ribs and 1 chicken with salad. All good. Of course, I was on braised pork. It came on top of the most delicious cornbread smothered in gravy. I should have gotten my gravy to the side, but honey, they fixed it. Disappointed, plate came back with gravy on the side. Chef Ashley brought it out ancame to say Hi, just off the plane from Bali. Yes, Hunty, the out of the country, Bali! Thank you lady! This is a whole experience of class, beautiful aesthetic and charm with delicious food. Y'all already know, I'll be back! read more

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For our anniversary weekend we could not pass up this recently (last several months) opened gem. Make sure to make reservations as it helps smooth service and Johin'na has been very popular even at opening time (5pm). We were greeted by the beautiful entrance and the hostesses congratulated us on our anniversary. Hubby got chicken karaage and jasmine rice, and I got the tempura lobster rolls. The rice was not as flavorful according to him, and I agree. But the rolls were absolutely worth it! A great rec from the bartender/waiter! Same for the chicken karaage, very tender. All food was hot and came through an order by order basis, not all at one time. The music choices were great and not overwhelming/too loud. Beautiful bathrooms ever, too. They deserve your visit! read more

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My husband decided to take me out on the town last night! He knew I had been wanting to try Johin'na so that's where we went. They are located right across from Helen. They have valet parking, which was great because that cut down on having to find a parking spot. My husband secured a reservation for us so we didn't have to wait to be seated. We had a great seat in the dining area where the bar is located. The way this place is decorated is definitely cool. It creates a nice atmosphere. Our waitress was nice and went over a lot of the menu with us since it was our first time at the restaurant. I loved the Collard Green Gyoza! The Bao Buns were tasty. I just think there needed to be a bit more of the ingredients to balance out the size of the buns. My drink, the Geisha's Kiss, was cool but it was weak. I almost feel like I ordered a mocktail. I loved my Kimchi Fried Rice with grilled chicken. It was a good portion. I had some to take home. My husband tried two beers and had something with pork tips. He liked everything he had. Overall, this is a nice spot and we would probably come back! read more

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Absolutely the best in Birmingham I've ever had! I am a pure lover of Japanese food and this exceeded my expectations. Firstly our server Kira was so nice and fun. She gave us great service and helped us with recommendations. We opted for the following: Collard green gyoza Birmingham roll Broccolini Mock-a-Rita & V Bees Knees mocktails Short ribs and jasmine rice Lobster noodles Everything was literally piping hot when it got to the table and full of flavor! Short rib was soooo tender and the gravy was to die for! Whoever thought of that collard green gyoza needs an award!!! The ambiance was very moody, great Japanese art around the restaurant and the beautiful tree in the dining area adds the best touch, I spent so much money here but definitely worth every penny. read more

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This place lived up to the hype! Me & my friends (5) had dinner here to celebrate the holidays. Loved that they had complimentary valet and was seated as soon as we arrived. I also loved that we were seated without everyone being present. This is always a plus for me bc 5 girls, one is bound to be late lol! Our waitress was Chef Amber and she was perfect!! She knew the menu front and back and none of her suggestions disappointed! Before ordering I had to check out the restroom bc I've heard how beautiful it was and it did not disappoint!! It's the perfect place to snap a photo!! They had different rooms throughout the restaurant. We ate in the large room, Sakura Room & the room was so beautiful!! Our table was enough room for the 5 of us. Chef Amber suggested the Ecchi Martini w/ tequila and it was the perfect cocktail! I was concerned about the vanilla but I couldn't taste it (like Chef Amber said). We started things off sharing the Crispy Brussels Sprouts and Collard Green Gyoza! Those Collard Green Gyoza was a pleasant surprise & my fav!! Must try!! We ordered the Salmon, Short Ribs & I had the cod! My only complaint is I wanted more!! If you aren't sure if you should try this new Bham fav, do yourself a favor and make a reservation!! read more

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Been hearing so much about this restaurant but mostly about how beautiful it is. And it is that. Unlike anything in Bham. There are several smaller rooms but the main room with the main bar is just amazing topped off with a lighted cherry tree in the middle. We ate at the bar and the service by the bartender was excellent. Had recommendations and quick to address small mistakes. Had the cod and it was delicious. Wife had the salmon and loved it. Great for a romantic night but would definitely make sure ur in the main r read more

Johin'na - That cherry tree does it for me. - Japanese Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

We had reservations for the bar which I assumed would be the bar area but no it was the actual bar. We were seated immediately upon arrival. The hostesses greeted us with a smile and they were friendly. There were several booths in the bar area that were empty throughout the duration of our visit which I would have preferred. There was a bar hook for my bag which I did appreciate. We tried a variety of dishes: Oyster Kimchi Collard Greens, Birmingham Roll, Miso Cod, Hot Stone Short Ribs, and we ended with the Apple Cobbler & Ice Cream. Everything tasted great and the service was good. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and I loved the atmosphere. The owner stopped by to say Hello. We enjoyed our visit and I would definitely return. read more

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Oh what a beauty. Your eyes will feast upon the elegance of this establishment before you are wowed by the food. It's nestled in the heart of downtown Birmingham, surrounded by bustling nightlife. You're greeted warmly, first by valet, then by the hostess staff. We waited able 15 minutes for our reserved table, but we used this time to snap a couple of photos. There are a few photos ops that will call out to you. The food was great, from appetizers to entrees, not a single complaint. read more

Johin'na - Japanese Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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The food was phenomenal. I had the Alabama rolls with the catfish, which was the delightful, and I had the state with skillet, potatoes and egg. The steak was cooked to perfection and it was made medium-rare. The way I like it, the service was top tier. The server was very knowledgeable about the menu and knew what were the right touches that I needed for my meal. The ambiance was a soft lighting, and the music was soft. So it was easy to have a conversation and enjoy the music. At the same time, I will be back. read more

The newest Japanese dining experience in Birmingham is the epitome of elegance. Johin'na is a chic, classy restaurant that operates as an izakaya (plates are meant to be shared). Plates are served immediately after preparation, which I really enjoyed! The inside here is stunning. There are three rooms where you can dine: the Sakura, Pagoda, and Kurama rooms. We dined in the Kurama room, but I would recommend the Sakura room (it's the one with the big "Instagrammable" tree). You'll need to make a reservation, as this place books up far in advance. You can choose your preferred room when you reserve your table. What we ordered: -Birmingham Roll So yummy! This had fried catfish in it, which was delicious! -Kyoto Heat Roll Super fresh! The cucumber added a nice crunch. -Shaved Parm and Truffle Spinach Salad 7/10, it was good, but I wouldn't necessarily order again. -Crispy Brussels (Asian style) I wouldn't order these again. They were way too flaky and kind of dry. Overall consensus: this was a wonderful dining experience that had some really great dishes. It's very expensive and not in my budget to eat here frequently. I'd recommend coming for the ambiance, but if you're willing to settle for high-quality sushi with a standard experience, your wallet may be happier elsewhere. read more

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Our first experience here! The artwork and ambiance was really beautiful with a cool vibe. We had a resy for 4 and were immediately taken to a lovely room with a Fox painted on the wall along with gorgeous lighting. We were not approached by our server for around 15 minutes. Finally, we asked a young man, Elliott, who was standing against the wall observing the room, if he could take our drink order. He did and we finally met our server, Amanda. We ordered two starters to share then proceeded with entrees. We really enjoyed all the flavors in each dish, served family style. Highly recommend this new restaurant! Japanese cuisine with a southern fusion. One thing that was difficult for us was conversing. The music was so loud we were having to talk loudly to each other during dinner and our server was having a challenge with hearing and comversing. read more

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I was invited here by a local and we had dessert. I love that this is a black owned Japanese restaurant I think the ambiance and details are amazing. The service at the bar was very nice and extremely accommodating. We enjoyed the dessert and the butter cake was my favorite between the two. So delicious! read more

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The space is beautifully curated with all the aesthetics. Drinks were delicious. So many small plates options that looked delicious, was a let down on the sushi variety being so limited. They made for it with adjusting some plates to dietary restrictions so kindly without hesitation. I would dine there again but didn't leave thinking oh I can't wait to come back. read more

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What an amazing addition to Birmingham. When reservations finally opened, I was thrilled to book a table, and it did not disappoint. I started with the salt and pepper calamari, which was perfectly crispy and seasoned just right. The Toro Watermelon Tuna Sashimi was fresh, creative, and packed with flavor. My friend ordered the ribeye, and it was cooked to perfection. The cocktails were also delicious. Service was amazing and attentive without being overbearing . Let's talk about the space itself is absolutely beautiful everything is photo quality. Birmingham definitely needed this kind of elevated dining experience. I'll be back. read more

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The whole place feels like it should be in Miami, not Birmingham. The ambiance is insane and so detailed. Service was next level too - there were so many runners that plates disappeared the second we were done. Complimentary valet = big win. And can we talk about the bathrooms?! Hands down the coolest bathrooms EVER Food highlights: Lobster noodles, Birmingham roll, bao buns (the second option), and the collard green gyoza. Sadly, we didn't like our drinks at all (mock-a-rita and Geisha's kiss).The pork was also a miss. It had good flavor but was a little dry and the portion was not really worth the price. If you're looking for good food, fire music, excellent service, and instagrammable vibes - this is the place for you. read more

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It's been days since my visit but I'm still thinking about how awesome this place is! The decor is phenomenal and you can tell a lot of thought was put into it. Upon arrival they offered complimentary valet which is always a plus in downtown. The front entrance has two aquariums with a variety of fish that I could have looked at for a while. They have three dining room options which I was confused about when booking but I saw since then they have added a description of. The Sakura is the main room (which is the best in my opinion) and has the prettiest cherry blossom tree as the main attraction. Make sure you walk around to take it all in. Even the bathroom is a treat! We started out with drinks which I had the Geisha's Kiss and he had the Sparkling Saku! Both were great starters to the evening. On to the food... it made me say oh yes this place is spectacular! We had the collard green oyster....weird I know but try them! Pork Belly Bao Buns was on my list to try and I could had those alone and been happy! They offer shared plate style servings so we went with Lobster Pasta and Birmingham Roll. They were also delicious! I will say the pasta was great but the portion size could have been more especially the amount of lobster provided. Service was also great! We were promptly greeted, given suggestions on the food and had a visited from the owner. She showed concern with the fan blowing directly behind us as they were having an air conditioning issue but I was comfortable. Very well done on this new "it" place and it was everything I expected it to be and more! read more

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The restaurant itself is beautiful. Without a reservation on a weeknight, I was told we could sit at the bar or on the settee in the backs not knowing how the settee setup looked, I asked to see it before I decided. I could see the two spots at the bar. I was so glad I asked to see the settee. Behind the hostess station was a whole other wraparound bar, with a gorgeous tree with pink floral lushes, booth seating and double settees with a table between -- a whole other vibe. Music playing, very sexy. Owner stopped by to great us, as did the chef. Do not leave this place without having the truffle Brussels sprouts. Unbelievably delicious! Pomakira cocktail, peach cobbler (3 dumplings with peaches inside and powdered sugar on the top) and butter cake were equally fabulous. Lobster noodles, peach teriyaki salmon and grilled oysters were good. read more

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This was a perfect date night with my husband. The ambiance was beautiful. The service was superb. The food was delicious. We started with the grilled oysters which were not our favorite (only negative of the night!) We also had the pork and tenderloin steak. Hands down my favorite steak - tender & smoky - divine! The brussel sprouts were very tasty. They have a Plum wine that we enjoyed very much. The best dessert was the warm butter cake = Amazing! The salted caramel crème brûlée was very good too, it just didn't touch the butter cake. read more

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We celebrated a birthday here and everything was fabulous. The interior is gorgeous and well thought out. Every single food item ordered was delicious but stand outs were the Asian Brussels and scallop roll. The lychee martini was fabulous along with the yuzu beer. Our server Richard was kind and answered all of our questions. read more

Johin'na - Japanese Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Came here a couple of months ago with some friends. Loved it. Beautiful interior decor. Lovely staff, delicious cocktails and food. Enjoyed multiple items on the menu. The highlights were the lobster noodles and fried snapper. read more

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Beautifully decorated, classy, and excellent service. From the moment you walk in, you know you'll be well taken care of. I heard from many people that this restaurant is overhyped, but I think they probably just ordered wrong. The miso cod absolutely blew me away. They changed their recipe, so it's not like the sweet miso cod at Nobu. Instead, it has a savory butter miso sauce with delicious enoki mushrooms and the flakiest cod. The lobster pasta was also good, but didn't hold a candle to the miso cod because it was just that incredible. Can't wait to try more dishes. read more

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The colorful environment The art on the walls The tree The service The food The drinks read more

Johin'na - Can't remember the name but it's so good! - Japanese Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Loving this Japanese inspired new restaurant in downtown Birmingham. It is beautifully decorated and very hip. Our server was actually one of the head chefs/owners which felt very personal. All of our dishes came out promptly, and everything was delicious. I do feel as though it's a bit pricey, so definitely will be saving for special occasions. read more

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As a self-proclaimed foodie, I loveeee this restaurant concept. First of all, it's gorgeous. There's not a single room that doesn't scream elegance when you walk in. They have a really great drink menu and I suggest trying a few cocktails. We love getting the Birmingham roll when we come as well as the edamame. We tried the short rib bao buns for the first time and it was really good. They do have a happy hour so lots of options to come dine! read more

Johin'na - Birmingham roll - Japanese Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

My husband and I came in for dinner on a Thursday evening to celebrate my birthday. We had reservations and were seated immediately. Passing by some rooms on the way to our seats, was a treat for the eyes! Each dining room had its own vibe and were all very beautiful. The room we sat in had a huge cherry blossom tree with beautiful artwork on the back wall. Our server Kira was fantastic! She made recommendations and was very helpful. The food is served in such a way that you are meant to share what you get, but no judgement if you want to keep it for yourself Everything we had was prepared when ordered, was fresh and delicious. We started with some tuna dishes as well as a half dozen oysters and they were both amazing, next we shared the Kyoto roll and it tasted great! We also shared some brussel sprouts done Cali style-which was slightly charred and with Parmesan-definitely a treat! We capped off our meal by sharing the crème brûlée and it was delicious, the candied ginger garnish was a sweet tangy treat and paired well with dessert. read more

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Went to Johin'na for their newly added brunch. We had a reservation and were seated promptly, but there was no complimentary valet like there is for dinner. We had several questions about the menu, but our waitress seemed frustrated and didn't come back to the table until it was nearly too late--right before the kitchen was closing. I tried to offer constructive feedback that it would've been helpful to know the kitchen's closing time when we were seated so we didn't feel rushed, but I was met with heavy pushback. I ended up speaking with the manager, who agreed the situation wasn't handled properly and offered us a discount on our meals, which I appreciated. The food itself was delicious--I had the matcha waffles and they were so good! We also had a mimosa flight for $65, which wasn't bad split between 5 people. It came with a Bottle of Santome Prosecco four different juices: Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, Grapefruit Juice, and Cranberry Juice. I would definitely return to try other brunch items, but hopefully with a much better service experience. read more

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Kudos to this place for offering valet parking. Parking downtown is almost impossible so to not have to worry about parking was a huge plus. This place is absolutely beautiful! The tree in the middle of the room sets the whole vibe for the overall experience. Chef Amber and her service was top tier. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and recommended the Ecchi martini with tequila. You can definitely taste the tequila. Good recommendation. I had the short rib and it was delicious on top of that cornbread. I was with a group and we all got different things: the salmon, the cod and kimchi fried rice. Definitely want to come back and support. read more

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Portions weren't big, but they filled you up! The atmosphere was SO GORGEOUS! The chef was the sweetest woman in the world and was very knowledgeable about the menu/meals to pick. If you wanna have a cute fancy night out i definitely recommend this place! read more

Johin'na brings fun flavors, bold color and a playful energy to Birmingham's dining scene. The menu offers delicious, not-too-serious Asian fusion small plates, such as pork rib bao buns, apple cobbler fried dumplings, and lychee martini. Johin'na's food and ambiance is creative, but not fussy, making it a fun spot to share dishes with friends and try something new. read more

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The service and food were great! The music also added to the good atmosphere vibes. We also appreciated the staff being accommodating to the food allergies in our party. read more

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10 of 10. This place is like nowhere else in Birmingham. The decor is stunning in the back. Food, service and ambiance was amazing. Definitely recommend! read more

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Absolutely love this place! Took company visitors to dinner! Goodness, the food was amazing! Everything tasted was amazing with the leader being the kimchi rice. Quoted from one of the visitors, 2nd best rice to her wife's. Service was amazing, and we were in the cherry blossom room and it was beautiful. read more

Love love love the ambiance and the service was decent. It is a different dinning experience than normal. I would recommend people to try versus your standard dinner option. read more

Johin'na - Dinning area - Japanese Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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