Been to both the Heights and Montrose locations regularly and Handies is easily my favorite go-to…read morehandroll spot in the city. The selection is great across the board, I genuinely enjoy every hand roll I've had, and you really can't go wrong with any of the sets. The crudo is always a hit too. What I love most is how approachable it is - from the vibe inside to even the food itself. It works just as well for a quick but really good meal as it does for stopping in to grab a hand roll or two between errands or before heading somewhere else. Consistently high quality without feeling overly serious or complicated. Service is always on top of it, the experience is efficient without feeling rushed, and it's one of those spots that stays in regular rotation no matter how many new places pop up around the city.

Handies Douzo is easily one of the first places I will recommend when in Houston. Their handrolls…read moreare unmatched, and the crudos are just as good. It's a great spot to enjoy high-quality sushi without the price tag of an upscale restaurant. The staff are always warm and welcoming, and the all-bar seating creates a lively, interactive dining experience. I usually order a 3-handroll set, add a hamachi handroll at the end, and share the chutoro sashimi. The chutoro just melts in your mouth, and each handroll is thoughtfully balanced with great flavor combinations. It's always a reliable place to go to and can serve as a quick bite when I'm indecisive on where to eat. That being said, it gets pretty busy during dinner time, so I'd recommend making a reservation ahead of time.

Loved the food here! The fish is super fresh and high quality and even the non-sushi menu items had…read moregreat flavors and were well executed. I got the pan daiquiri as my drink to start and my friend got the herbed lavender lemonade. For food we shared the hamachi crudo, the chutoro nigri, the kanpachi nigiri, the A5 tartare, the kani handroll, The kinoko yasaimono, and the hot scallop dish to share. The pan daiquiri was SO good. The smokiness from the mezcal hits you first and then the sweet and creamy after taste takes over. It was so well mixed and I would highly recommend trying this if you are a mezcal lover like me. (9/10) The herbed lavender lemonade was too tangy and sweet for my liking. The lavender flavor get lost in the drink. It tasted like a typical lemonade, nothing special. (5/10) The hamachi crudo was so fresh and I really enjoyed the sweet and tangy broth. I'm not sure I would call it tom kha broth but it tasted good regardless and paired well with the tomatoes. (7.5/10) The chutoro nigiri was SO buttery and melt in your mouth delicious. I would definitely get this again. (8.8/10) The kanpachi nigiri was fresh and I enjoyed the sauce paired with it. It was my first time trying amberjack and I liked it. (7/10) The A5 tartare was super unique and well seasoned. There was plenty of tartare compared to the amount of milk bread you are given to eat it with. The uni, caviar, pate and waygu all mixed together was a decadent combination full of flavor. My only note was the contrast in temperatures that I did not love, the tartare came cold while the milk bread was warm. Overall, a very luxurious and tasty dish. (8/10) The kani handroll surpassed my expectations. Typically I don't go for crab first, but I did enjoy the flavors paired with the crab and the hand roll was well filled. (7.8/10) The kinoko roll (king trumpet mushroom roll) really surprised me. I was weary about getting this roll because I normally don't opt for vegan options, but this king mushroom was so well prepared and the sauce was so delicious that dare I say that I enjoyed this more than some of the fish/meat sushi rolls I've had in the past. (8/10) The hot scallop dish was one of the best bites of the night. The scallop was perfectly charred and cooked and the creamy polenta base with the umami salmon roe, with the fried red cabbage to add texture was amazing. I would definitely order this again. (9/10) Overall, I really enjoyed my time at Aiko and the food surpassed my expectations. I loved everything I tried and do want to come back to try more. The service was quick and helpful with the menu. Parking can be a bit tricky, but there are some free street parking spots around the plaza. The ambiance is definitely upscale and classy. It's a great place for a date! My only complaint was that I made a reservation for 2 at least a week in advance and upon arrival, though they had plenty of open tables, we were seated at the opposite end of a table that was already occupied. We were close enough to hear their entire conversation throughout dinner, and I just thought it was an odd experience because that had never happened to me before. Though it did not hinder me from enjoying the food I would have preferred to be seated at our own table.

I thought Aiko delivered a really memorable meal. Overall I'm giving this place 5 stars -- the…read morequality of the fish and the execution were excellent -- though personally I did find the progression of courses a little rich toward the end. For context, Aiko is part of the same group as Doko (their sushi omakase concept) and Handies Douzo (their handroll-focused restaurant), and you can definitely see the overlap in technique and flavor profiles across the restaurants. We went for the Valentine's omakase menu. The meal started with the Oyster Duo. One had a yuzu granita and aguachile that was bright and refreshing, while the other had a roasted onion soubise with smoked trout roe that leaned richer and more savory. Nice contrast between the two. One of my favorite early dishes was the chilled zaru soba. The buckwheat noodles had a great chewy texture and the mentsuyu broth was light and refreshing with mirin, mushroom, and seaweed notes. It was a really nice palate reset. The smoked ocean trout sashimi (masu) was another standout. It had garlic aioli on top with oil and black pepper, and the tomato added a crunchy brightness that balanced the richness of the fish. It's a simple combination but worked surprisingly well. The temaki course was excellent. The snow crab handroll had this creamy mayo texture with chili and crunchy shallots, and you can tell they roast the seaweed sheets right before serving because the nori had an incredible crunch -- honestly some of the best texture I've had in a handroll. It reminded me a lot of the style they do at Handies. For the hirame crudo with pomegranate and shiso, the flavor was good but a bit more subtle. I think the pistachio really helps that dish; without enough of it the flavors felt a little muted. I know pomegranate and pistachio is a common flavor pairing for middle eastern cuisines. My partner has a tree nut allergy so they removed it for both of us. The wagyu fat rice was very indulgent. The first thing you taste is the wagyu fat, but the fried shallots and other crunchy elements help balance it out. The sauce reminded me a lot of something you'd get at Doko -- rich but very satisfying. Adding fried rice in between fish courses was an interesting choice from the chef, but I think Aiko aims to be more western fusion than a traditional Japanese omakase. The tuna trio was fantastic. The chutoro with negidare (garlic, sesame oil, scallion) was probably my favorite bite of the night -- super flavorful and perfectly balanced. The foie gras course leaned sweet and savory, almost like an eel sauce flavor with some crunch on top. Delicious, but by this point in the progression I was definitely feeling the richness of the meal. Dessert was a milk tea tiramisu that I thought was really interesting. The mascarpone layer had a tartness to it -- almost like there might be a little sour cream mixed in -- and one layer had a subtle salty note that balanced the sweetness. Overall, the food quality was excellent and the fish was clearly very fresh. My only minor critique is that the progression of courses skewed a bit rich for my personal preference, especially in the second half of the meal. That said, every dish was thoughtfully executed and there were some truly standout bites. If you enjoy creative omakase with some richer flavor profiles, Aiko is definitely worth trying.

The food is delicious. Will definitely need to be back to try more. They have a good selection on…read morethe bar menu. The restaurant is small and cozy but big enough.

Yikes... where do I start. The service was awful. We weren't offered water and when we asked for…read morewater it took forever to Arrive and there were literally 2 other tables. The food was terrible. Tonkatsu ramen was pure salt and the broth was pure fat and greasy. The sushi was like Kroger sushi too. Not the vibe at all... 4.5 star, maybe if you smoked a lot of weed and hadn't eaten in days. Reality is 2-3 stars at best

Kiah was great!! Food was amazing and service was great as well. The ambiance was nice and calmread more

Food was amazing and Kevin was an amazing server. He was very nice and friendly. He was willing to…read moretalk us through everything since it was our first time here!!

This is such a gem in the heights! Great food, great happy hour and great service no matter what…read moreday you come here they do not disappoint! Super unique rolls! Ask for Madorii she's a fantastic waitress! Such a great neighborhood spot! Good for families good for a date night good for even a business dinner!

Our first time here, and we were pleased! My wife is a non-fish-eating sushi lover, so we were…read moredrawn to the various tofu options. Her favorite item was the Japanese Fried Rice, very savory. The menu overall was quite extensive, and the happy hour options were more diverse than most. The service from Madori was also top-notch. She was very pleasant and attentive without making us feel rushed. The restaurant itself is nice (it's the old "Helen in the Heights" location) with a large open air patio. Unfortunately, some flies thought so too ‍ Overall, a nice early evening outdoor meal!

Hidden gem. Seriously one of my favorites casual restaurant spots in Houston. Bring your friends…read morehere if you want them to know you're a foodie

Adorable on the inside. Ramen was excellent. Will return. Nice new neighborhood spot.read more

4.3 stars! Private parking lot and space is decorated nicely…read moreand obviously very clean. Service was friendly and they give you a complimentary dynamite roll and free ice cream. Lunch specials are at a great price (note for the bento box, they don't give rice with it).

Thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Osaka on a Saturday afternoon. Don't let the outside appearance…read morefool you. We were sat immediately and attended to promptly. We ordered the Eel Roll, The Dragon Roll, Houston Roll and the spicy tuna roll. As we waited for our order imagine our surprise when we received a complimentary appetizer. It was jumbo shrimp on top of a crispy wonton. It was wonderful and very satisfying. When the rolls arrived they did not disappoint. they we bigger than your average rolls. I get why this place have there regular customers. But wait there was a complimentary dessert also (Green Tea Ice cream. I will definitely be back. Service was very attentive and friendly. The place was clean and they have me as one of their frequent patrons.

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

The food tasted good but nothing was new or exciting. The service was terrible... our waitress…read more(Karen?) was really slow.. also my friend waited almost 45 minutes for a glass of wine. She clearly forgot to ring it in and then brought us the check. We then asked for the glass of wine and she brought it with a revised check. We also never saw a manager during our visit. At the end, we were charged 20% gratuity for a group of 7... seemed strange. Not saying we wouldn't have tipped that but it didn't sit well knowing the service was so bad.

This was a very cozy place for ramen on a Thursday night. Nataly was my waitress. She was attentive…read moreand informative about the different drinks and the menu. The Ramen was amazin.

I'm writing this more for those that never had the chance to visit but on the off chance get to…read morevisit elsewhere and looking for info. I visited here frequently and I'm sad to see it shut down. Kazzan ramen in Osaka is a bit north of the main hub of Osaka, but one can hope they continue to try to spread their magic elsewhere. It was touching to see they'd trained (at least some) the staff to incorporate some of the tradition you'll see when in Japan such as greeting and goodbyes, even understanding phrases such as "okaikei onegai shimasu." Having lived in Japan, it was a nice touch. Food & Drink Kazzan ramen is an absolute delight. The stone bowl is so hot and keeps your ramen warm for the entire time you're enjoying it. They offer shio, shoyu, karamiso ramens. I personally loved the karamiso though their limited edition spicy version was great if looking for some heat. For appetizers, the black pepper edamame was a standout. Flavors of toasted sesame, maybe a touch of soy, with black pepper - . The cocktails were always delicious. They always had elevated cocktails with custom syrups and bitters. Definitely nice to see unique Japanese ingredients being incorporated into the cocktail scene. Service The service was always great, very attentive. Never had a want or need go long without being addressed. Staff was always making th rounds collecting plates, filling water, making sure you have everything. Pricing The ramen was a bit pricey even for US standards, which likely contributed to struggles but it was still delicious and worth visiting. I think a few bucks cheaper would have probably gone a long way. Or offering bundled pricing with cocktails or drinks to encourage more revenue while discounting. Though, I don't find it coincidental that this location has been plagued by multiple establishments not making it. That would indicate onerous lease rates and a potentially shrewd landlord. Overall This place will be missed and for anyone that does get a chance to visit them elsewhere, you won't regret it!

This restaurant is a cozy, authentic gem for Japanese small plates. The space is intimate with a…read moresmall dining area. Reservations are highly recommended. There aren't many tables, and it fills up quickly. Service was incredibly friendly and attentive. This is what we ordered: 1. pepper tuna tataki 2. hamachili 3. hijiki 4. karaage 5. agedashi tofu 6. Rock N Roll roll 7. Zen Mega Dragon roll 8. hamachi sashimi 9. hamachi roll 10. Extra Picante roll 11. Yakisoba noodles 12. Brussel sprouts Almost everything was absolutely delicious. The pepper tuna tataki and hamachili were fresh and flavorful. The karaage was crispy, tender and juicy, and the agedashi tofu had that perfect texture in a savory broth. All were sooo good. The Zen Mega Dragon roll, hamachi hamachi roll, and Extra Picante roll were all fresh and excellent. The only two dishes that didn't quite wow us were the hijiki and the Rock N Roll roll. Both were a bit basic compared to everything else on the table. The yakisoba noodles did take a little while to come out, but wow... they were soooo worth the wait. Savory, hot, and incredibly satisfying. Prices are very reasonable for the quality and portion sizes, which makes it even better. There is free parking, but the lot is small. When it's busy, finding a spot can be a little tricky. We will definitely be back to explore more of the menu.

this was a very tasty spot. the flavors of the sushi were so good i ended up not needing any soy…read moresauce at all. the service was very friendly and attentive which was nice. the ambiance was dark but welcoming. it was nice having dessert on the menu that was more unique than usual and i had to try one of their options you just don't see on others menus. it was nice getting something more earthy and authentic. presentation was very pretty as well. overall it was a great experience that made me want to go back.