Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Kuni's

    4.2 (288 reviews)
    ModerateSushi Bars, Japanese
    Closed Closed

    Kuni's Photos

    Business Info

    KUNI'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Classy
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Kuni's

    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

    Grilled Octopus
    Nabeel N.

    Found this little gem during a quick weekend visit to Buffalo. Set in a really quaint neighborhood. Service was fantastic and the lots of great authentic options on the menu. The grilled octopus is a 'must try' Couldn't believe we found Yellowtail Collar in Buffalo of all places, and it was cooked to perfection. The rolls and nigiri were all great too. Will definitely visit again!

    Ika Natto with qual egg.
    Bonnie T.

    First time back since Kuni san left. I have seen different reviews so not sure what to expect. The weather was not great and it was late, they were not busy, no wait, we got in right away, sitting at the sushi bar. We ordered some of the usual items. Ika Natto still is delicious, so is the seafood tempura (but somehow this dish looked smaller?) we also ordered the sashimi combo and the salmon collar to share. All food tasted great. Service was also very good, very attentive. For saki, we tried the strawberry cloudy saki, it was nice and sweet, like the rice wine my grandmother made. It was a comfort dinner, in a nice quite place. I definitely will come back.

    Small Sushi Combo

    Honestly i never write reviews but this place having almost 5 stars is so misleading. I'm a big sushi gal, this was the small sushi combo... $40 & I waited over 45 min. All of the fish were extremely subpar. I would rather get sushi from wegmans & spend 1/4 of the price than order from here again. The spicy tuna roll was okay, just absolutely not what i was expecting

    a person holding a bottle of sake
    Jen M.

    We went for our anniversary dinner with a couple of friends 2 summers ago. It was a Thursday night in July and my husband had to go there in person (around 7pm) to put our name down for a table. Luckily, our friends live down the street so we just had some wine and chit chatted until they called around 7:40ish. I'd only been to Kuni's once and it was more than 12 years ago so I don't remember much other than how expensive it was (at least I thought it was for someone in their mid 20s). I still think it's expensive now even though I was in my late 30s this time, but we were able to order whatever we wanted and tried a ton of stuff, including various sushi and apps as well as some entrees. The most memorable dish was the wasabi pork shumai - we must have reordered it 4 times. But pretty much everything was delicious. The biggest problem we had was with the service. The waitress we had had some major attitude. She was super snooty and made us feel like we weren't good enough to be there. Our friends bent over backwards to be super nice to her but she was still b*tchy. We've been to actual fancy restaurants all around the world including Michelin 3 stars and have never been made to feel that way. So, 2 whole stars off for that. I hear the place is now under new ownership. Not sure if we would go back any time soon. Perhaps we would if that mean girl waitress is no longer there.

    Sushi was amazing as always, hostess always gives great recommendations and service is great too. Really recommend trying their starters as they are fresh, infact everything is fresh here great dinner on a work day! Place is always busy so have some time set aside to wait for table. Intimate setting, perfect for 2 people.

    Anna W.

    My recent visit to Kuni's restaurant was quite inspirational. I'd like to organize 'making sushi fun night' more often. Yes! Let's make Japanese food and then let's go to Japan to enjoy a real thing. Kuni Sato is our local celebrity chef. I was surprised to see him, because the rumor was that he sold his business and moved back to Japan. My food was good. The miso soup came shortly after ordering it. Its temperature was perfect. I could dig in immediately and it was pleasantly delicious. Shrimp shumai were also delightful. I didn't taste it, but my companions had smiley faces. The Small Sushi Combo (Chef's Choice Combination) came nicely presented. It looked like a lot of food and it was. Bite after bite I enjoyed everything. However, nothing surprised me unfortunately. The mackerel was delicious, but salmon could have been much better. The tuna roll felt like a filler. I thought the wasabi was too spicy and soy sauce too salty... hahaha... Anyway, I would totally come back and eat more of their food. No doubt. The place is nice, cozy and our server was unexpectedly good. They don't take reservations and our waiting time was forty five minutes for three people. I noticed, they send everyone to the bar on the opposite side of the street to get a drink while waiting. The restaurant is located in a cute area. I wished they would suggest going for a walk or point of interest rather than the bar. Maybe garden walk ideas? Just saying...;)

    a plate of sushi on a table
    Michelle N.

    The restaurant is on the small side, so it gets packed quickly. I recommend going earlier to get a table before the dinner rush. One of the most authentic sushi restaurants there is in Buffalo area. Their other food items are just as good. I highly recommend trying this place out!

    Some of their awards
    Linda M.

    I must admit. It's been years since I've been to Kuni's. I visited several times when working downtown, early on at their original Elmwood location. Actually my very first visit was with a colleague who was here from Japan. He conversed with the chef, who I later realized was the owner, and did all the ordering. It was my first exposure to really good sushi. So here we are years later. We were in the area and decided to grab take out. The spicy tuna was outstanding. No skimping on the very fresh and tasty tuna and not overpowered by the rice. I enjoyed my 'go to' eel also but not as much as the tuna. We also ordered veggie tempura which might have lost some of its crunch during transport. The sushi was definitely the star of the dinner. Not sure what took me so long but I'll be back again. 2022-22

    Spicy cod roe and whole grilled baby octopus
    Lynette S.

    I've been going to Kuni's since he first came to buffalo and had a little spot in the basement of the Guaranty building downtown. It was a real treat to sushi on my lunch break since I worked downtown. Fast forward 30 years and Kuni is still going strong. I can't even find the words to describe the magical deliciousness of the food I was so lucky to taste tonight. Sure, there were a couple underwhelming dishes but overall the meal was spectacular. I tried a few of the specials but the regular menu items were the most satisfying. The seaweed salad has to be from heaven it was so delicious. The service was super, sat at the bar and enjoyed every minute of my stay.

    Mustard with raw fish
    Alex L.

    Haven't been to Kuni's in a while, but recently had a chance to enjoy some sushi and sashimi at the bar. The quality of the fish and rolls here are hard to beat. The focus is on the cut of the fish and the freshness of it and all the dishes really accentuate it. I had the ginger/mackerel combo, the spicy tuna and the Nuta which were fresh shrimp, mackerel, octopus and scallions finished with a vinegared miso. I had that along with some hot tea and miso soup and the entire meal was phenomonal. Service at the bar was great and the ambiance of the place is trendy, fun, clean and intimate. Highly recommend coming here for sushi!

    Large Sushi Combo
    Jennifer R.

    Kunis is top notch in buffalo sushi - but these days you can get comparable quality fish pieces at several places in buffalo, and maybe for less money.... But Kuni's is ALWAYS guaranteed to be great, and have a menu full of specials that you can get nowhere else.

    Vegetable tempura
    Sireesha A.

    After months of ordering take outs, I finally ended up in a Buffalo restaurant for dine-in. The outdoor seating was well spaced and sanitized. All the wait staff were wearing masks and I felt safe eating there. The place itself has been on my list for a while because of its eclectic sushi offerings (even for vegetarians). I shared vegetable tempura as an appetizer with my friend and got shiitake mushroom roll, avocado roll and Inari for my entree (believe me, there were more vegetarian options to choose from which was very inviting). The tempura was fried to perfect crispiness and had a variety of vegetables like mushrooms, peppers and some Japanese vegetable that we didn't know the name of but tasted good. At first, I wasn't sure if I ordered enough for my entree but looking at the 6 piece of each roll, I was more than satisfied about the portions. They had subtle yet a fresh taste which was paired perfectly with the soy sauce and wasabi. The inari is a sweet tofu pocket and almost felt like a nice dessert after the rolls. My friend was quite happy with her Japanese slaw too and we both left quite satisfied and glad that we could finally make this reunion happen in a sweet place!

    See all

    13 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Very fresh fish, the salmon was cooked perfectly. However the space was very small and over crowded. Very traditional food and sushi.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Matt H.
    11
    12
    14

    17 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Always friendly, the freshest seafood, a little loud but always a good experience.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mike M.
    24
    64
    93

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Eve W.
    13
    17
    6

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jess C.
    99
    52
    0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Diana N.
    199
    10
    0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    The Best Japanese place in Buffalo! Wonderful service, food made with passion and high quality ingredients!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Kunis continues to deliver top notch food and service. Couldn't imagine going anywhere else for Sushi!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dan L.
    3
    35
    0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Renee M.
    2
    247
    133

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rob N.
    132
    5
    1

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Yuk L.
    315
    494
    3320

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sarah M.
    110
    28
    0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 4 of 8

    Ask the Community - Kuni's

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Sushi Bars 1,954 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Kumo - Japanese crabmeat ravioli

    Kumo

    4.4(20 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    This was great. Very fresh and amazing. We shall definitely return. Small place but still very…read moregood. And clean.

    This is where my son decided he wanted to go for his 29th birthday dinner. We've never been here…read morebefore and it's close by our house so I figured why not ? It has a very, very small parking lot, which is pretty inconvenient. I had to park all the way down the street. We approached the restaurant and it looks so cute from outside with that big lucky cat. I don't know the names of these things so don't laugh at me, lol. We get inside. It's quite small inside. Also, they have a big cage that people can sit in only one though, and I wanted to sit in there, but it was already occupied by a family. The decorations are cute, but they don't have very many at least not on the side that we sat. We sat to the right when you walk in the door. The menus look like you're opening up a humongous encyclopedia or an almanac but there aren't that many pages in there so don't let it fool you. They have lots of different types of sushi, Japanese food, Chinese food, etc. My son got a salmon roll and a caterpillar which he said was amazing. I got General Tzo's chicken , which was much better than any Chinese place I've ever had it from. This was the real deal. But first I had pork eggroll and it was so good. They served it cut in half with duck sauce all over it and it was so good that way I loved it. Then I ordered a nice size bowl of pork lo mein. That was the best lo mein I have ever had in my life. It was absolutely delicious. My son tried some the next day and said that that was the best lo mein he's ever had. The employees were nice. Took a while for our food to come, but that was OK. We weren't in a rush. I ordered a Diet Coke and it seems that all Japanese and Chinese places that I go to lately they only give you cans of pop which seems weird to me, but whatever ! And this seems like a higher end type restaurant too. It's not a cheap little restaurant. This is a pretty pricey place, but like I said, it is delicious. I highly recommend going there and eating. Hopefully, you'll be as satisfied as my son and I were.

    Photos
    Kumo - Dining area

    Dining area

    Kumo - Gyoza, crab "ravioli", and chicken katsu appetizers (takeout obviously)

    Gyoza, crab "ravioli", and chicken katsu appetizers (takeout obviously)

    Kumo - Interior

    See all

    Interior

    Teton Kitchen Elmwood Tapas, Bar, & Sushi - Sashimi deluxe.

    Teton Kitchen Elmwood Tapas, Bar, & Sushi

    4.2(250 reviews)
    0.8 miAllentown
    $$

    Went in intending to try sashimi for the first time but got nervous at the last second lol, so I…read moreplayed it a little safer for a quick lunch. I ordered miso soup along with the Las Vegas roll, which is a deep fried sushi roll with fresh salmon, crab meat, kimchi, and cream cheese tempura topped with eel sauce. It was pretty good. The roll had a nice crunch and the filling was rich and flavorful. The eel sauce on top leaned a little sweeter than I usually prefer, so I was grateful for the soy sauce on the side to balance it out. The restaurant also wasn't too busy, which made for a really nice quiet lunch at the bar. Staff was friendly and everything came out quickly. No complaints

    I was dining alone for dinner on a Monday. It was a bit…read moreoff. As an example, the dining room had a total of five women and two men. The large screen TV was tuned to ESPN. The miso soup was nicely steamy but somewhat bland and watery. The side green salad was large, fresh and delicious. The sushi deluxe plate arrived with a gorgeous presentation on a square, wooden platter. Some of the chef's choices were fantastic: The salmon, smoked salmon, tuna and mackerel were superb; three were slightly dried out and hard - oops - and on my last piece, I found a pebble in the rice. These things happen. It's surprising they don't happen more often, given the harvesting process. I probably will try to make my next visit on a weekend, when the turnover is faster.

    Photos
    Teton Kitchen Elmwood Tapas, Bar, & Sushi - Miso salmon.

    Miso salmon.

    Teton Kitchen Elmwood Tapas, Bar, & Sushi - 722 vs 151. Khin you need to work more harder. Take care helper good.

    722 vs 151. Khin you need to work more harder. Take care helper good.

    Teton Kitchen Elmwood Tapas, Bar, & Sushi - Sushi tapas . toro , yellow tail & sweet shrimp.

    See all

    Sushi tapas . toro , yellow tail & sweet shrimp.

    SATO - Okonomiyaki

    SATO

    3.6(390 reviews)
    0.3 miElmwood Village
    $$

    I've gotten Raman and Sushi for takeout in the past and it has always been very good! Recently…read moreordered the chicken teriyaki don rice bowl (also takeout) as pictured. Online ordering was very easy and pick up process is smooth and timely! Although I haven't dined in, staff always seem friendly. Parking may be challenging as there is no parking lot and you will need to find street parking, but there are several side streets around.

    Service was wonderful! We were seated quickly. Our server was kind and checked in on us…read moreperiodically. The ambiance was nice, not too classy but not too relaxed. It was a nice date night spot. In terms of food, my partner and I were unimpressed. To preface, we are from CA/Bay Area. The okonomiyaki was delicious! 5/5 but we have no base reference for this dish. We would skip the sushi and ramen. Unfortunately the sushi rice was too hard. The fish was fine though, relatively fresh! The avocado in our CA roll was a little browned. The ramen was a little undercooked and hard. The toppings were good but the meat was a little hard/dehydrated? They did do us a favor and split our one order into two small bowls before bringing it out. overall, we would not come back, but we are glad to have experienced it.

    Photos
    SATO - Gyu-Don

    Gyu-Don

    SATO - Lake Erie Water, I prefer mine filtered and chilled. This place is more like 3 stars but could easily be 5. It's all in the details.

    Lake Erie Water, I prefer mine filtered and chilled. This place is more like 3 stars but could easily be 5. It's all in the details.

    SATO - Sashimi Plate (Chef's Choice) There were five pieces of nigiri and 8 piece CA roll

    See all

    Sashimi Plate (Chef's Choice) There were five pieces of nigiri and 8 piece CA roll

    Kuni's - sushi - Updated May 2026

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