Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Kata Robata

    4.3 (2.3k reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:30 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Kata Robata Photos

    Business Info

    KATA ROBATA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    More like Kata Robata

    Recommended Reviews - Kata Robata

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Crudo
    Brooke A.

    Finally made it out here for dinner. The ambiance feels much nicer inside than you would expect from the outside. Our waitress made so many great recommendations. The crudo and skewers were the group favorites.

    Sophie Y.

    Kata Robata used to be one of my favorite restaurants before I moved away from Houston. After recently moving back, I chose it for my birthday lunch with friend because I had such fond memories of dining there. Unfortunately, this visit was disappointing. I arrived about 20 minutes before opening and had to wait outside in Houston's summer heat 93'F. While there are a few benches, there is very little shade, and guests are not allowed to wait inside. When the restaurant opened, there was no clear system for seating guests. Even though I was first in line, several people rushed in ahead of me, making the process feel disorganized. The biggest issue involved a $300 gift card that my friend had received years ago. She simply asked the staff to check the balance. When the server returned, he told us the manager had cut the card in half and that the entire balance had to be used during that visit. What bothered me was the lack of communication. We were never informed of the policy before the card was invalidated. If that is the restaurant's policy, it should be explained clearly beforehand. As two ladies having lunch, spending $300 was difficult, so we ended up ordering far more food than we normally would. The sashimi was fresh but cut thinly than what I've had at comparable restaurants. The hamachi kama, chirashi, and lobster mac and cheese were good. The green tea soufflé cheesecake was the biggest disappointment. For $10, it consisted of three very small cubes and felt overpriced. The waitstaff were attentive, friendly and professional, which helped salvage the experience. However, between the uncomfortable wait outside, the chaotic seating process, and the poor handling of the gift card, this visit did not live up to my previous experiences. While I have many good memories of Kata Robata, I'm not sure I'll be returning anytime soon.

    Kobe Beef Skewers
    Rachel W.

    Had a fantastic evening at Kata Robata! Our server, Gabby, was excellent and attentive throughout the evening. My favorite was definitely the Kobe Beef Skewers - I could have just eaten those all night long! Deliciousness in every bite. I'm not a fan of raw fish, so while my family enjoyed a handful of crudo dishes and nigiri, I got to enjoy the Longhorn Roll. This roll was solid, nothing mindblowing. We all enjoyed the Spicy Miso Ramen! Rich, flavorful broth that rivals some of my top ramen spots. I forget exactly what dessert we ordered, it may have been their chocolate bread pudding, but it was so good that I was literally scraping the plate! There's a lot of menu options so I'd love to come back and try some more things

    Geoduck (giant clam) sashimi
    Hoonie K.

    My family had dinner here last weekend. We had an early dinner so parking was plentiful. The interior is clean but non-descript. The service was very good. I was a bit disappointed with the food given the reviews I had read, especially given that the sushi pricing is very expensive. I would give the food an overall 3.5/5 stars. We had: Octopus Crudo (3/5) - It's thinly sliced octopus from a large tentacle so pretty large circular discs. The "issue" is that the citrus flavors are so overpowering you can't tell at all that you're eating octopus. I will say the flavors weren't bad, just overpowering for the octopus. Ceviche - My daughter ordered this and said it was very good; I did not try. Sushi Sampler (10 pieces / $58) as well as a few add-ons including chu-toro, o-toro and ikura - (3.5/5) - Overall the sushi was okay to pretty good. Nothing outstanding imo. I thought the rice lacked flavor, was textually pretty hard. The fish was pretty good. Spicy Soy Ramen (4/5) - Probably the best dish of the night. Not my favorite ramen in Houston but this was a good dish. Overall, again a bit disappointed given the price point but if you put price aside, okay to pretty good food.

    Mia O.

    Me and a friend stopped by for a quick lunch. Immediately upon being seated, we were greeted by Tai our server. He was very welcoming and assertive. Throughout our interactions he was very vocal about his opinions of the menu and suggestions but could be heard having some disagreements with other tables and staff which was a bit concerning. Our food came out very quickly and was pretty good, but nothing to write home about. I have heard since visiting they are more known for other dishes besides sushi so will definitely try these next time.

    Outside
    David P.

    Nut allergy friendly - The lunch ramen is still safe! As is most of the menu I believe. 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.

    Schelly Y.

    Katsu sando - people seem to rave about this but we thought it was just okay. This seemed like similar sous vide style as the skewer but the skewer was much better Wagyu skewer - yum! Duck cold noodles - okay Scallop Foie nigiri - yes! So good and would order again

    Miso black cod
    L V.

    Kata Robata absolutely lived up to its reputation. The sushi was incredibly fresh, beautifully presented, and every bite was outstanding. The nigiri was one of the highlights of the meal. The seaweed salad was unlike any I've had before, it featured about eight different types of seaweed and was beautifully presented. While it wasn't quite my personal favorite, I appreciated the creativity and quality. The true star of the meal was the miso black cod. It was perfectly cooked, buttery, flavorful, and literally finger-licking good. I would come back just for that dish. Excellent food, elegant presentation, and a memorable dining experience. I will definitely be back!

    Black pepper salmon nigiri
    Alex W.

    Nothing was super bad but I was also not impressed with the meal, especially given the higher end prices. The chili oil dumplings with the sauce in a pipette looks cool but is kinda gimmicky. Black pepper salmon nigiri was great as it should be. One of the rolls with the eel sauce on top (I forget the name) was too salty for my liking, which is a shame because I really like eel.

    Sashimi platter
    Katie L.

    Favorite meal of our entire trip. Went with a group of 6 and ordered the perfect amount of food. Most things are shareable. The menu leans traditional Japanese and there's something for everyone. I was blown away with every single dish we had. Highlights: -the nigiri sampler was SO tasty and the proportion of fish to rice was perfect. Favorite bites were the roe and fatty tuna -the strawberry shaved ice cream - they ship their ice from Japan which seems the perfect amount of luxuriousness -the beef skewers were seasoned perfectly, cooked to the perfect temperature, and so juicy -the uni chawanmushi - need I say more?! It was such a treat to have with the beautiful piece of uni right on top Service was quick, attentive, and we had a fantastic time. Around 7 it was a packed house! Great vibes for date night, a family dinner, or to bring your parents. The restaurant was spacious and it felt vibrant. Would come back again in a heart beat!

    Aishah M.

    A bunch of people always ask me what's my favorite sushi spot in Houston is. And it's so tough because we have so many amazing options. Kata robata is definitely up there for me! They have been a Houston staple for ages, and their quality always stays consistent. They have such great options to choose from and we love coming here for a special occasion or just a date night. Our favorites to get- - Texas Kobe beef skewers 9/10 - Yuzu marinated salmon sashimi 9/10 - Wagyu katsu sando- 10/10 - Lobster Mac and cheese - 10/10 - Different nigiri- always 10/10 - Tropical spicy tuna roll 8/10 - Texas hamachi roll 9/10 - Rising sun roll I have yet to try their sister restaurant Katami! But I'm excited to go there soon.

    Giang T.

    came back to kata robata this time right when they opened @around 5pm and it was decently packed the quality is 10/10 as always This time we ordered the Texas Wagyu Sando to try out. If you like buttery flavor (more fat) cut of meat, then this is for you. Other must-orders are king salmon and chopped scallop nigiris. We also had otoro, sea bream and butterfish sashimi. You also can't go wrong with their ramen selections. We tried ordering oxtail ramen (their special of the day) but it was out so we opted for Nagasaki (seafood) ramen again. Plenty of parking spaces, no valet. Definitely perfect for fancy date nights, business meetings, family dinners and special occasions.

    Ocean Picante
    Mynika C.

    I've heard so many great things about Kata Robata and I'm glad we had an opportunity to check them out. An easy 10/10 experience! Went in during their lunch hours, upon entering I was greeted and informed that tables were being cleaned and prepared. I waited for all of 5 minutes before being seated. Soon after someone dropped off two waters for us. Shortly after that, Thao, our server stopped by to give an overview of the menu. Something she noted was that they were out of many things/food items. Specifically dishes containing lobster. We ordered the following: -Ocean Picante Roll -Miso Cod Bento -Longhorn Roll Honey I will be returning ANY chance I get! Any chance I take! That Longhorn Roll was something serious! Packed with flavor, fresh, and delicious. 20/10. Now as for the Ocean Picante Roll- I enjoyed it, but it wasn't my favorite. I'd give it an 8/10. That's a pretty high rating. Very good regardless. The Miso Cod Bento is served with seaweed salad, agedashi tofu, your choice of chicken teriyaki or chicken karaage, steamed rice, miso soup. And the food was fantastic!! Many people do not like tofu and guess what? I'm not many people. It's lightly fried to perfection! Kata Robata has an ambiance that makes you feel as if you're in an upscale space, yet not too stuffy or over the top. The lighting is perfect and it feels like a cozy meal with someone you love or like. Great for lunch, dinner, happy hour, or a nice date. I'll be returning very soon!

    See all

    25 days ago

    A frequent diner. Satisfied every time. Food quality is excellent. Service is excellent. Yes, you pay a premium, but it's worth it.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    19 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    25 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Brice A.
    149
    44
    24

    29 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    15 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of L V.
    1
    31
    52

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Coco B.
    0
    42
    13

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    8 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 59

    Kata Robata Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kata Robata

    Is there an onsen?

    No.

    Do they have corkage fee?

    They do not allow outside beverages of any kind.

    I have called them over 20 times and can't get through. How can I request omakase if no one answers the phone?

    Is there a happy hour?

    Unfortunately they no longer have happy hour.

    Are the owners japanese?

    The head chef, and several of the assistant chefs, are Japanese. However, the majority of the restaurant is owned by the Chinese family behind the Azuma restaurants.

    Does anyone have any details on their omakase? Price? Do I need to specify that's what we would like to order in the reservation upfront?

    I don't know the price but the point of the omakase is that it's a chef's tasting that they choose for you based on the current ingredients etc. Generally they will ask if there are any allergies or other exceptions but otherwise they curate the… 

    For lunch, do they serve the full menu or just the lunch menu?

    They offer the full menu at lunch as well. We ordered off the full menu last week during lunch.

    How much is the omakase? Would like to find out options and prices, couldn't find them on the menus

    Up to $160 per person!

    Is this place good for a date?

    Yes! But it's cold. Bring a jacket. And reservations are a must. Have fun!

    Do they take reservations?

    yes and you will have a best damn sushi you have ever had

    View All 11 Questions

    You might also consider

    Norigami

    Norigami

    4.5
    (125 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    Ah, yes, Norigami, crafting the hand rolls and nigiri of my dreams! Located in the West U area, the…read more24 seat restaurant does sushi classics with care and a creative twist. My friends and I love to go for their once a month $5 nigiri night and never leave disappointed! When it comes to sushi, the limit does not exist, right? All of their nigiri and hand rolls can be ordered a la carte or if you're feeling a bit in decisive, they have several hand roll sets that come with 3-5 preselected options. On nigiri night, announced a few days in advance on their socials, almost all of their nigiri is $5. Chutoro, otoro, hamachi, all melt in your mouth quality, all included in the special. That's a yes from me. As I mentioned, my friends and I love to do this deal every month and every time the staff have all been super friendly and make you feel more than welcome, providing recommendations and stopping by frequently to take more orders. Norigami does have a hidden speakeasy, Hidden Bar, which can be accessed through an unmarked door at the front of the restaurant. Drinks, and most of the food options can be ordered at either the restaurant or the bar which caters to whatever vibe suits you best - dark, intimate cocktail bar or more traditional sushi restaurant where you can watch each roll being prepared fresh to order. Overall, an excellent spot! Definitely check them out!

    The service was awesome and spot on! The decor and ambiance were super cute -- definitely a great…read moredate night spot. As for the sushi, it was a bit hit or miss for me. The salmon tasted a little too fishy, and the hamachi hand roll fell short since I could barely taste the hamachi. However, the kanpachi was the standout of the night! It was buttery, flavorful, and easily the best fish I had there. The pricing was fair overall, and despite a few misses, the atmosphere and service made for a nice experience.

    Photos
    View of the bar
    View of the bar
    Engawa nigiri
    Engawa nigiri
    Shrimp Skewers, the sauce really makes this

    See all

    Shrimp Skewers, the sauce really makes this
    Izakaya Wa - River Oaks

    Izakaya Wa - River Oaks

    4.3
    (316 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    - came in around 7pm, it was a bit crowded - bar is…read moreself-seating, attentive and respectful service from the bartenders - warm and relaxed ambience, typical bar restaurants vibe - wait-time wasn't long, i'd say maybe 10 min. tops - curry was great and flavorful - the soft texture of the rice was a plus for me - really enjoyed the smoked salmon, so fresh - melon chuhai was not much to my taste, however i still liked it there is paid parking here, but i paid about $2 for two hours of parking and we finished between 1hr and 1hr30min. i'd say that's decent.

    This place has been on my to-go list for a while and it did not disappoint! We started off with age…read moretakoyaki and toro carpaccio, which were both recommended to us by our server. The age takoyaki was creamy and good to share amongst a group. The toro carpaccio was amazing as well and melted in your mouth. We also ordered chicken curry udon, chicken karaage, and tantan noodles. All had really great flavors but my personal favorite was the tantan noodles which came with poached egg, sauce, and garnishes that you got to mix into the noodles. Super creamy and nutty! I really loved the vibe of the restaurant too, it's small but has a homey vibe that would be great for either a small group hangout or a date. There's a lot of bars to visit nearby too. Our server was also so sweet and brought us a baggie of Japanese candies & sweets after our dinner since it was Valentine's Day. Only complaint was parking. Very small lot and very packed! Get there a bit before your reservation to figure out parking.

    Photos
    Sushi bar
    Sushi bar
    #YelpElite #Yelp #sushi
    #YelpElite #Yelp #sushi
    #YelpElite #Yelp #sushi

    See all

    #YelpElite #Yelp #sushi
    Aka Sushi House

    Aka Sushi House

    3.9
    (1.5k reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    My girlfriend and I tried Aka for a late lunch, looking for other Japanese entrees outside of…read moresushi. It was fairly empty at the time we showed up. Service was friendly although a bit slow. We each got a rice bowl and shared the stuffed mushroom appetizer. I opted for the gyudon beef bowl. It came with very tender cubed ribeye and mushrooms on top of flavorful rice. I would've liked if it had more beef though. The stuffed mushrooms were fried and crispy, although the "stuffing" was lacking as well. The katsu kare don was one of the better tonkatsu I've tried and very reasonable for the price too. I'd probably go with that one if I come back.

    i recently visited aka sushi house for happy hour and i was pleasantly surprised!…read more their happy hour menu is undefeated -- imo. i've been to a number of happy hour sessions around town, but i believe aka has the most (definitely more than the average) items available during their happy hour (3-6p, and reverse 9p-12a) the food options were excellent!! one of my favorite items from the happy hour menu, is the korrokke!! i definitely didn't have a single complaint about any of the happy hour dishes. i also ordered a sake sangria. beware of the sake sangria!! they are strong! and if you like sake, definitely order! i seen a few pictures of the french kiss roll, and i definitely needed to order it! i also ordered a spicy tuna... because i am always desperate for a spicy tuna roll. these rolls did not disappoint!!! i was very pleased with the quality of the rolls. the service was chill. not overly friendly, but not overly mean... lol. we were definitely taken care of this is a very casual restaurant, so there is no obligation to get super dressed up.. be cute and comfortable. i would definitely recommend checking it out! bonné appétit c.

    Photos
    Aka Sushi House
    Gyudon
    Gyudon
    Aka Sushi House

    See all

    Japanese Ramen Gachi

    Japanese Ramen Gachi

    4.2
    (134 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    Excellent ramen! I dropped by during lunch and got the Tonkotsu Spicy which came with 5 pieces of…read morechashu, mushroom, ground pork, bean sprouts, and cashews. The chashu was tender, the broth was somehow rich but light, and the noodles were the perfect texture. Everything was executed perfectly. I customized the spice to hot and it was actually pretty hot, so be warned!! For the lunch combo, I added the pork chashu with rice for additional $4 which was pretty flavorful but not sure I'd get again. Overall, the portions were pretty filling! Ambiance was really good and felt like I was in Japan (but more spacious). Only one waiter but service was good.

    Ramen gachi I'm on a…read morequest to find the best tonktosu ramen! Unfortunately this isn't the one, but it's still a great bowl! Service: immediate. Friendly. One waitress served everyone in the restaurant while I was there. She was speedy in taking and delivering orders. She seemed very nice! Food: ordered Tonkotsu Gachi and my mom ordered the yuzu. Food arrived very quickly, though we ordered no appetizers. The tonkotsu broth was rich and velvety in texture, but more like a mild umami in flavor. The chashu pork was pale, but melt in your mouth buttery and bursting with savory pork goodness! The marinated egg wasn't brought up to temperature with the broth -- a little cooler than room temperature, with a medium oozy yolk. It felt like the marinade penetrated all through to the yolk -- it was great! I welcomed the novel choice to use red onion over the usual scallions. It was a nice touch of color and brought in that bright, juicy onion flavor that I crave. Noodles were perfect texture. Not too hard or mushy. This bowl feels made to focus on the broth and flavor and not so much an instagram post. Delicious!! My only complaint was a very very very slight bitterness in the background. I couldn't pin where it was coming from. Maybe that's a risk of simmering bones for so long. I'll keep this short because I couldn't just eat my moms bowl... The Yuzu shio broth was clearer, with bright, citrusy, and savory body. The bamboo shoots were golden (grilled?) with a little snap to it. Reminds me of a king oyster mushroom. This is really a unique broth and I haven't had anything like it. You should definitely try it! Restaurant: clean, neat, every table literally has its place /orientation. Deep wood furniture, honeyed lighting, and dark window shades give the restaurant a cozy chic ambience despite visiting around noon. Good food, great service. Great prices. Large portions.

    Photos
    Communal Table
    Communal Table
    Pan Fried Hanetsuki Gyoza
    Pan Fried Hanetsuki Gyoza
    Gachi fries

    See all

    Gachi fries

    Kata Robata - sushi - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...