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    Papa Yu

    4.3 (331 reviews)
    Closed 10:30 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    PAPA YU ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Papa Yu

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    Shaggy and crunchy tempura rolls.
    Trieu L.

    For the price you get really fresh spicey mayo and eel sauce drizzling, with crunchy tempura flakes topping your sushi rolls. I am all about that good topping and really nice displays but when it comes to getting all the yummy ness I felt the texture and taste was just right with all the balance of the rice vinegar, sesame oil, sweetness of the rice in the sushi roll was perfect ratio to the meat unlike many places they put mostly rice and vegetables but barely any meat while it stands out that you get points with a decent amount of flavor and texture all both shaggy and crunchy crab was my 2 favorite along with popcorn chicken it was very well seasoned that you can't say there's no chicken left bland with more on the sweet side.

    Menu
    Heather W.

    Staff was friendly and got me my order on time. They had plenty of seating. I was the only one in there at the moment. It was around 1130am on a Tuesday so a little before lunch rush. I got a watermelon fruit drink. So good! And a make your own regular poke bowl - brown rice, cucumber, carrots, edamame, onion, seaweed salad plus extra, avocado and double salmon. With sauce and spicy mayo on the side. Tasted great. I got a regular bowl but it was pretty big! Tasted great. I'd go back again. I ordered online and it was super easy.

    Tonkotsu Ramen and Spicy Salmon Roll (8Pc)
    Angela A.

    Papa Yu still serving up good sushi and tea! They now have ramen and rice bowls as well. AND they have a good ole happy hour (3-6pm weekdays and all day on Saturday and Sundays - dine in only). I tried their tonkotsu ramen for the first time and it did not disappoint at all. Savory, well balanced flavors. The broth was so good! I also ordered the spicy salmon sushi, always fresh and good. Service is always nice and helpful. It's a small, well maintained space. Depending on what time you go, it's either very quiet or busy with customer traffic.

    Sushi Menu
    David P.

    Nut Allergy friendly: I don't think they use nuts in anything! I didn't even ask. Order - to - Food: 14 minutes I came for lunch on a Friday afternoon and it was consistently busy while I was there, both with people dining in and with take-out orders. You order at the counter and then they'll either bring your bowl out or call your name for a to-go. I got a custom poke bowl with organic greens and it was perfect. The fish was of the expected quality, no fishy taste or scent. Portions were great at a very reasonable price. The service here is also top notch! They brought out a high chair for someone carrying a baby without being asked. Overall, lovely spot for poke that might be one of the best in Houston for this price range.

    Super crunchy roll and tiger eye roll
    Catherine C.

    Brought my sister who was craving sushi to try this place out. I've lived here so many years and gone to 99 without setting foot in this little establishment that can be hard to miss because of all the surrounding restaurants. Needless to say the happy hour prices were great (M-F 3-6pm) and my sister was thoroughly satisfied with the food. I especially enjoyed the Tiger Eye roll and the Super Crunchy roll was also a solid choice. It was very quiet at 4pm on a weekday but the staff working was very nice. I'd come again for a quick casual sushi fix!

    Spicy Scallop Roll (8 Pieces)
    Amie N.

    My mom and I were pleasantly surprised! For the price, everything tasted fairly fresh and quality. I think this place gets crowded during the weekday lunches and commutes, so Sat-Sun there is an all day "happy hour" pricing and my spicy scallop roll was only $4.50. This is a great place to stop by for a quick and casual snack or lunch.

    Regular Poke Bowl
    Kasey Z.

    This was a decently priced sushi/poke spot (with other menu items like ramen, bento boxes, etc that I didn't try), but I was not super impressed with the food. The spicy scallop roll was not what I expected (I was expecting the scallops to be raw/chopped and marinated or combined with spicy mayo), but it was just a piece of small (probably frozen) bay scallop drizzled with spicy mayo on top. The monkey roll was pretty good, but only came with 5 pieces for $10.50. I think I would just still with getting poke bowls from here, because the poke bowl also starts at 10.50 and was decently packed with the various fish/toppings! I enjoyed my poke bowl, but wish I had a bit more sauce in it. Unlike other poke places where you can go down a line and pick ingredients/watch them make it, you order at the counter and they make it after, so it's hard to tell whether or not it has enough sauce for your liking. I would still come back and get poke/maybe try out other foods!

    Dragon Roll (8 Pieces)
    Eugene P.

    General Description: A fast sushi/ poke/ ramen restaurant. The good: - Rolls taste as good as a higher end restaurant. - Ramen was decent. - Smaller sitting area. - Fast service. The bad: - You can't expect first grade quality sushi, but I'd wish the Tuna was a bit fresh-er. Overall: Not bad for fast sushi spot.

    Spam Musubi
    Jennifer J.

    Papa Yu was a great, quick weeknight dinner. The food was good. The spam musubi was so good with the crab mix. The service was great! She was attentive and kind. Ambiance was very casual and cozy. We will be back!

    Papa Milk Tea
    Lisa H.

    Yummy poke & milk tea! Definitely coming back to try other things. They have good service & good seating inside.

    Keisha R.

    Service was fast and friendly. The menu is great. A lot of mix and matching and food combos and free boba so I liked that. I got the mango slush and it could have been blended better. I was chewing a lot of chunks of ice, which made it harder to eat but it was tasty and fresh. Inside was clean, no issues there.

    The torn dollar that was slipped in among my change by the unethical little cheat that works there.
    Michelle S.

    The food is just OK. But I will never go back because the staff lacks all integrity. When I paid cash for my lunch today, they scammed me with some of my change, and I didn't know until I went to get a coffee afterwards. The guy slipped in less than half a dollar among the dollars that he returned to me. What a cheat!

    Pork Kutsu Bowl

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    Kokoro Sushi and Yakitori

    Kokoro Sushi and Yakitori

    4.5
    (396 reviews)
    9.7 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Speaks Spanish

    This was my favorite meal of this Houston trip…read more Now yall-- we ordered damn near everything on the menu! And let me tell you this menu has a lot to offer-- from sushi, crudo, yakitori, small dishes, and appetizers you name it The food was tasty, and surprisingly beautifully prepared. This was a very affordable in compared to most sushi places I've been to. Definitely with a try, I've been talking about it since I left and when I return it'll be my first stop! (Get the tuna!)

    Used to love this place, my downtown staple for sushi. I can't recommend this place less…read more On their website and on Google it says they close at nine, understanding this and knowing I would have to order and eat fast, I showed up at 8:30 for a quick dinner downtown. Upon arrival, I was told that I could not sit at the sushi bar and eat. If I wanted to order I had to go sit in the common area of this dining hall. After this discussion, I said fine and asked for a menu. They then told me I had to get up and order at the register and view the menu glued to the counter. They took the order of a couple who sat down maybe 2 minutes before me in front of me. I will never come back to this place. They seem to be the last man standing in this dining hall, and with this kind of customer service, they won't last much longer. It's a shame because I love the food and I am a regular at handies and aiko as well. Won't be back to any of them.

    Photos
    Front stall pic
    Front stall pic
    Wagyu toast
    Wagyu toast
    Wagyu Toast

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    Wagyu Toast
    Aiko

    Aiko

    4.5
    (349 reviews)
    8.8 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Free parking

    Went on a pretty packed night, but had a good anniversary dinner here. We got the premium omakase…read moreand a couple of extra hand rolls. Food was great. Foie gras was true melt in mouth, as was the salmon belly. Amberjack and sea bream were overall my favorite bites. There were great vibes and music in the main dining area. The manager and waitress even came out to take a shot with us! Great anniversary date spot.

    I had a good experience at Aiko. Service was good, and the ambiance was nice…read more I stopped in for the lunch menu as part of Houston restaurant week. It was pretty good! The restaurant itself was pretty packed - there wasn't any parking (but they do have an overflow lot you can use). Inside the vibe was nice & upscale. It was surprisingly not intimate & was a little loud. The bathroom hallway was very cool (as the other reviews have said) I got the three course lunch w/ an added chutoro nigiri. The restaurant week lunch was fine, but the nigiri really stood out. I wish they would've had even just one nigiri on the restaurant week menu. The kombu salad was good & had nice flavor without being too overpowering. The hamachi crudo was awesome!! I'm a big crudo fan, but this one was above and beyond my expectations. All of the flavors played so well together & my yellowtail was so fresh and light and buttery. I loved the creaminess of the sauce & how it balanced the acidity of the tomatoes & onion so well. I savored every bite. Honestly the hand rolls left a lot to be desired. The kani hand role wasn't super great. The flavor was mid & the texture felt a bit off. I also thought sake hand roll was just ok.. My chutoro nigiri was also awesome. The cut was beautiful & the fish was super fresh and had an awesome texture. It just melted in my mouth. I'll definitely be back to try the lunch nigiri tasting menu. I'd recommend trying this place, just make sure to get the crudo or nigiri

    Photos
    Aiko
    Cucumber tomato salad
    Cucumber tomato salad
    Salmon toro w. truffle & caviar

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    Salmon toro w. truffle & caviar
    Himari

    Himari

    4.3
    (125 reviews)
    6.4 mi
    $$

    The ambiance and the food were amazing. The service was also great but accent was hard to…read moreunderstand sometimes. Highly recommend getting the omakase set, highish price at first, but definitely felt the value throughout the course.

    GENERALIZED REVIEW:…read more Came here with a friend from theatre after a full run--he had this place recommended to him by another theatre friend, so we're just passing on the word. The plaza was a bit confusing to navigate, and I'm pretty sure if the place weren't full of Asian parents and their kids, it would've felt like the shadiest place ever because you have to enter from the back. Otherwise, the plaza had a lot of great-looking stores overall. My first go-to: I've loved drinking Kirin Light ever since I discovered it in Chicago. The flavor is literally so light, with a slight acidity that brightens up my meal. The sake here was frankly also delicious. I didn't order it, but my friend did, and they had it warmed. The flavor was soothing and subtle, almost like tea. It was exceptionally easy to drink, and the ocean-themed ceramicware was a beautiful touch. We ordered two rolls: the Shaggy Dog and the Truffalufagus (a fun tongue-twister). I personally chose the Truffalufagus (which is not fun to spell) because it seemed like the most unique dish on the menu, and I enjoyed it very much. What I liked most about it was that it was subtle yet impactful. I also loved the textures--from the internal crunch paired with the fresh jalapeño to the softness of the fish. I'm glad I gave this roll a shot, and I would be excited to try it again anytime. The Shaggy Dog was great, but it appealed less to my flavor profile. It was a little too rich and creamy for me. I recommended this place to my BF as a potential future date spot--I personally think he would like it... if he weren't the type to enjoy AYCE sushi so much. If they had more unique rolls, I would definitely come back just for those. I was tempted to order the Surf and Turf for this round, but I didn't want to seem like a glutton, hahaha.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Salmon roll
    Salmon roll
    Shima Aji nigiri

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    Shima Aji nigiri
    Koi

    Koi

    4.5
    (286 reviews)
    8.7 mi
    $$$

    Amazing all around! Decor was refined and modern throughout the entire dining floor…read more Fish were all super fresh and delicious! Also had to highlight their house made soy sauce which was extremely umami, very unique and sets this place slightly apart from the many other sushi joints in its range Truffle crab chawanmushi was certainly a top highlight for me as well - rich truffle oil with the perfectly light steamed egg and sweet crab chunks, just an incredible dish and I could have easily eaten several of these The uni was also extremely fresh and buttery and was nice even for someone who doesn't usually like uni In the same class and range as places like Kata Robata and I would say it's a strong rival! Would come back again!

    A great spot for sushi in the Montrose area. They have a small parking lot in the front otherwise…read moreyou can find street parking in the neighborhood behind the restaurant. Easy to make resy online. The inside had low lightings, giving an intimate ambience. It wasn't too crowded when we were there on a weekday night. Menu had a variety to your usuals between sashmi, nigiri, maki, or cold tasting items. They also have a chef's feature menu. We ordered a few items to share: - Carbonara udon - Uni pasta - Royal chutoro maki - Wagyu and mushroom tarts - Toyosu sashimi platter - Salmon flight My favorite of the night. I am usually not a huge udon fan but the udon noodles were super soft and melts in your mouth. Probably one of the best udons I have had. We had to try the uni pasta when we saw it on the menu. A good amount of uni and the sauce was perfect with the pasta. For sashmi option, the Toyosu sashimi platter was a great choice that offer a variety of the chef's curated imported fresh Japanese sashimi. We also got the salmon flight which had 6 pieces of the salmon and salmon belly. Service was friendly and quick. Overall, a good spot for sushi in the Montrose area.

    Photos
    Aburi roll, el Diablo roll
    Aburi roll, el Diablo roll
    Crispy rice
    Crispy rice
    Yuzu Mojito

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    Yuzu Mojito
    Tins

    Tins

    4.9
    (54 reviews)
    6.7 mi

    I had been eyeing Tins for a while and finally took the plunge - and I'm glad I did. It's a very…read moreunique "not sushi" omikase, with a very good character as the mastermind by the name of Chef Sky. I'm not sure what I enjoyed more: the food or the service but it was hands down one of my favorite omikase experiences I've ever had (and I've done this in Japan). There were very thoughtful dishes centering your staples like high quality tuna, salmon, scallops, and oysters. One thing that resonated with me was the laksa, which is a Malaysian style curry. Such a fun and unique experience, you'll definitely enjoy your time with chef Sky!

    We went to TINS on Friday for my birthday. We love going to an Omakase, but this is more. This is…read morean experience. Chef Sky puts all of his passion into this 14 course adventure. Each bite is elevated and delicious. We wanted to eat slow and enjoy each bite, but each was better than the last and so hard to eat slow! We were anticipating each piece! We loved the addition of laksa and his Malaysian influence. It was so hard to pick a favorite. The sake FLOWS! It's truly unlimited. We had so much fun. The interior is vibe in itself. If you go for the 8 o'clock seating, they do karaoke after and I can only imagine how fun that it since Chef Sky is so fun. He shared so much knowledge and was just so much fun to talk to as well. We finished our meal and stayed another 40 minutes talk to Chef and enjoying the sake. It really is more than just sushi. You will not find wasabi and soy sauce anywhere. Each of the sauces elevates each bite you take and compliments it so well. Here's what we enjoyed: 1.Madai (jalapeño dressing ) 2.Hickory smoke sichimi salmon ( crunchy garlic and sweet & sour sauce ) 3.Scallop with sesame oil , truffle salt , fried garlic , ponzu and mint leaf ) 4.Malaysian curry laksa 5.Tuna (Spain ) mango salsa make with tom yum sauce 6.Kanpachi (Hawaii ) truffle oil , Himalayan salt & lemon zest 7.King salmon (New Zealand ) seared with yuzu miso and Malaysian crunchy fried anchovy 8. Santa Barbara uni shooter 9. Founder (repulic of Korea) homemade pepper sauce 10. Seared escolar with pork floss 11. Toro with creamy cilantro lime sauce with kizami wasabi 12 . Hamachi with Malaysian style sweet garlic sauce 13. Unagi with old granny spice and yuzu salt 14. mango crepes cake

    Photos
    Omikase  style - fish with perfect flavors!    Outstanding food and a terrific experience.
    Omikase style - fish with perfect flavors! Outstanding food and a terrific experience.
    Unlimited sake
    Unlimited sake
    Yellowtail (sweet garlic sauce)

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    Yellowtail (sweet garlic sauce)
    Ume Sushi

    Ume Sushi

    4.6
    (224 reviews)
    8.0 mi

    Really good sushi. We went on a Sunday night and it was pretty empty. Maybe one or two other…read morediners. The good news it was quiet. The bad news is that things come out too fast, other than the cocktails we ordered first, which showed up after the first course did. I find that a bit irritating. I guess maybe their bar/drinks person went home. But still, a great place in the Heights area. Great fresh sushi, imaginative cocktails and pleasant staff. Will go back when we are in the area

    We decided to sit at the bar on a Saturday night. This may be where we went wrong. The bartenders…read morewere so busy making drinks that at times we had to flag them down to get things. Probably wouldn't recommend sitting at the bar. Food: -Spicy Edamame (4/5): Flavor is a literal different so took a minute for us to get into it, spice sneaks up on you (at first it's kind of sweet). - MF Box (5/5): My personal favorite. The taste and texture are perfect. Very light but flavorful. -Tokyo Roll (5/5): Very good as well. -Hamachi Serrano (3/5): Okay. Not my favorite but wanted to try it out. Texture wasn't for me and could of had a little more flavor. -Baked Lobster Tempura (4/5): Good appetizer option. Sauce was very good, but just a lot. -Shisito (3/5): very few in the portion, average. Drinks: -Spicy Margarita (2/5): Not on the menu just ordered it. Tasted pretty watery. -Oishii (5/5): Wanted to try this drink which is made with Japense Whisky. I would describe it as a piña colada cousin. Was very good, could of been a bit bigger (haha). Worth a try if you like sweet drinks. Overall definitely recommend this place for sushi lovers or those trying to be adventurous. Staff was very nice. Valet parking available. Will definitely be back.

    Photos
    Ume Sushi
    Otoro Nigiri
    Otoro Nigiri
    Spicy Tuna Tartare

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    Spicy Tuna Tartare

    Papa Yu - poke - Updated August 2026

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