We finally got to try this spot out and it was great. It's a small spot and a very intimate setting. We were greeted and sat. The Chefs came up and explained everything to us. Everyone was super nice, I loved the vibe. Everything we tried was delicious. My favorites were the Uni, King Salmon, the little green crab dish, the squid soup, wagyua grilled cheese and the scallop. I loved the presentations. Some were very unique! My least favorite was the duck, I wished they had replaced that one with a seared wagyu dish, especially for the price we paid I was kind of expecting something like that. Also, was a bit disappointed we were not served tuna belly. I'm not a huge fan of tuna because there isn't much flavor. The desserts were good, but to have three as each course separately was a bit excessive. I would have rather had more seafood dishes or wagyu and one desert at the end. The wine I ordered was great and I wish I could remember the name of it. All in all this was a great experience and glad I tried it out however I think I had too high of expectations. read more

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Most enjoyable meal this year! Best comparable would be Jont in DC. You have to book through Tock. They take reservations on the 15th of the month for the following month. They have a parking lot to the right of the building. Austere small counter seating. There were 9 diners, 3 chefs and a sommelier who were very friendly and informative. It's fun to talk to them while they're preparing your meal. They have their own fish buyer who process fish from the Toyosu market in Tokyo). Did the same and wine pairing which was very nice (fyi the wine and sake list is very expensive). So many highlights it's hard to choose a favorite. I'd say the Baifun uni, bluefin tartare, olive wagyu tartlet, maguro sushi, dry aged duck, pear and caviar, and chocolate and truffle were all mind blowing. But all the others were fantastic as well. Highly recommend. read more

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I feel like after living in Japan and NYC, I've been very, very fortunate to have had some incredible culinary experiences. My husband and I really appreciate/value an expertly crafted meal.. Koya in Tampa absolutely blew us away. We came here for an early birthday dinner. I often speak in superlatives, but I truly think this was the best course meal I've ever had. They absolutely deserve at least one more star on top of the one they already have. The fish was so tender and flavorful. So often the rice can be overlooked, but not here. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I thought I didn't love uni or soup broth. My husband thought he didn't like raw squid or raw scallops. We were both proven wrong. I honestly think I can say I've never loved a meal as much as this. (I'm so sorry to all the places that have come very close.) I can't wait to go back, and if you ever find yourself in Tampa Bay, please go here. It's worth it. On top of all of that, the service was excellent. Koya has a small team full of friendly and knowledgeable staff. Once again, absolutely incredible. The vibe is of a typical sushi bar, which fits the ambiance well. However, you can feel relaxed and not on edge. It's the best of both worlds. Have I adequately expressed how obsessed with this place I am? read more

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The dining experience created by the incredible team at Koya is exquisite: the food and presentation are extraordinary, the wine and sake pairings are delectable, and the service is impeccable. Thank you for a memorable and fun evening! read more

Koya is such an awesome intimate dining experience with a level of food quality that is unmatched. The ingredient sourcing alone is just fantastic. Add thoughtful presentation and skilled preparation and your meal is destined to be one of a kind. We enjoyed everything placed in front of us and even made new friends in our intimate space. I definitely recommend Koya for any omakase, high end food lover. You will enjoy the food and the experience. read more

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Food was amazing! The chefs were knowledgeable and explained in great detail of each course and the origin. Very small intimate 8 seat counter, great atmosphere and ambiance for an anniversary dinner or special occasion with friends. My top pieces were definitely the Uni on the milk bread. The Maguro and King salmon, the Ika (squid dish), Hokkaido Uni with the pasta, and of course the orange passionfruit ice cream. Basically the entire course! Definitely would come back again for their winter menu to see what they have to offer! read more

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Koya is in my opinion, outstanding on all accounts. The chic intimate interior is stunning. All the staff are honestly one of, if not the best I've ever had. They explained everything in detail and were so knowledgeable, kind and honestly funny. Calling the food served at Koya "food" doesn't do it justice. It's a true work of art that I honestly felt kind of bad eating because of how stunning it was. And of course everything was delicious. This restaurant is perfect for a special occasion or just a nice dinner. All in all a great place that I without a doubt hope to return to. read more

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They are both creative & yummy dishes! Have been a few times and will continue to be our favorite omakase spot in Tampa! Definitely deserving of the Michelin stars! read more

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Highly overrated omakase. Only 4 pieces of sushi and rest were deconstructed food with lots of explanations. I felt I needed to go home and eat ramen. Services were excellent to give it a 3.5. Ambiance was nice with comfortable chair. read more

If you're looking for the most authentic and highest quality Japanese experience in Tampa look no further. I have been to this restaurant several times now and it just keeps getting better. If you are a little weary about going to a Japanese restaurant where it's omakase style where you leave it up to the chef and you have no idea what the menu is until you show up don't be afraid. Take a chance and try this wonderful cuisine to its fullest. Or if you know what you're getting yourself into then you will be very pleased with everything. Everything is flown in straight from Japan. Chef Eric and Adriana and their team are very experienced and operate a the highest of levels. Don't let the price scare you away. Treat yourself and save this for a special occasion. read more

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Honestly some of the freshest creative sushi around. We did the seasonal tasting NOT the nigiri tasting and it was full of delightful varieties of delectable treats like the famous compressed melon and a triple corn panna cotta with corn sorbet and popcorn! The most amazing waygu "steak sando" and of course their famous UNI. Worth the Michelin star and the hefty price tag and my wife opted for the reserve sake paring which was a real treat and sensory experience. Service was impeccable and the atmosphere was a simple, intimate 8 person tasting counter. read more

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Hello chef and team. Just had dinner last night (8/15/2025) everything was awesome. Food and service! I'm a restaurateur. You deserve 100% the Michelin star! Very creative and well executed it! I see your passsion and your team shows it too. Food will be forever in my mind. Congratulations! read more

I had an amazing Omakase experience at Koya and was blown away by the level of creativity behind many of the dishes that were served. There were too many dishes to recall each perfectly but I will go through some of the highlights: Scallop with passionfruit in some type of cream-based broth. Lovely blend of flavors here, scallop tasted very fresh. O-toro tartare with caviar on the side. A simple dish, but one of my favorites I tried tonight. Uni on toasted milk bread. I loved this concept! Milk bread being so sweet and savory, and the richness of the uni adding to that was next-level. King crab in some type of crispy roll. Delicious and I'd devour a second one in an instant. I was very impressed with their dessert dishes as well. I appreciate the blend of contemporary French and American in a traditionally Japanese setting. The service was immaculate and our host/server was always ready to refill our drinks and replace our dinnerware. This place definitely meets the service criteria for a Michelin star establishment. read more

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Toro take out, sooo yummy. The takeout is limited days only, I can't wait to for the next one! read more

Koya - "A little variety please" - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Very intimate atmosphere. Only 9 of us there for the evening. The chefs were great, had some good conversations with them along the way. Definitely suggest doing the alcohol pairing with the tasting. All the dishes were small but had so much flavor. It was a very relaxing and enjoy experience. Parking is easy, which is on the side or back. Expect to pay close to $600 a person if adding the pairing to the tasting. Everything was phenomenal, so fresh and so flavorful. read more

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Great food, service, and ambiance. Best sushi in town. Great prices, we had a bit of everything on the menu.

Amazing atmosphere, outstanding chefs who explain everything to you perfectly and interact with you throughout your tastings, highest of quality fish and meats, perfectly matched and balanced flavors, warning will leave you with super high expectations from any other Japanese restaurant!! Couldn't ask for a better experience. read more

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Lovely. We've been here twice now and love the service and every handcrafted, well thought out, fresh, bite. It's not just a meal, it's an experience read more

Absolutely incredible experience. Koya is hands down the best restaurant in Tampa!!! Chef Eric is so humble and the teamwork between him and all Chefs & Sommelier is enlightening. Execution of the tasting menu was on point and oh my God the taste and presentation of each dish was flawless! The ambiance was intimate and inviting and i loved the education of each dish and ingredients used! A happy, delightful, incredible tasting experience!!! We will definitely be back and highly recommend! If i could give 10 stars i would. Thank you for such an incredible experience! read more

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We went for a Bday dinner for a sushi-lover 12 year-old son. The staff and the chef made the dinner to be quite a dining experience. The quality and presentation were exquisite. The chef came to us a few times, and quite inspiring for a young Connoisseur. Thank you for making this amazing experience. read more

I give Koya 4 stars for these reasons. The quality of food was amazing. The staff is phenomenal. Sarah was definitely the star with her great smile and charm. The Nigiri was all exactly the same. A piece of fish on top of rice with a different sauce. ..7 times. We wanted to experience variety. Not just different pieces of fish. The 8 seat tasting was very cozy. The beverage tasting was great. Definitely an experience. Just not the variety that I had hoped. read more

Koya is an incredible omakase place and deserves its star. The nigiri was the best I've ever had. I would definitely suggest that if you're going to go, it's worth spending the extra money on the sake/wine pairing. I don't really drink so I just tasted each one but the pairings were so thoughtful that some of the dishes really would not have been the same without them! The service was as incredible as the food. We will definitely go back when the seasonal menu changes! read more

Amazing tasting menu, service, and experience. Although I do wish the portion sizes were bigger.