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Prime 131

4.4 (164 reviews)
Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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PRIME 131 ATMOSPHERE

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Intimate
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8 oz filet with spinach
Tara O.

This was my pick for my solo Mother's Day weekend dinner. It has been on my list for quite some time. I made a reservation online, valet was right there to take my car (price:8.00). I sat at their wood fire bar. It was great. I ordered the filet and spinach along with the Cosmobelle to drink. The service was on point and I never had to look for her. The steak was cooked to perfection and they sliced it as requested. The chef sent me a little gift to try which was a whitefish sushi roll. I will be booking again

Dinosaur bone marrow
Mykel W.

Date night approved! So many good options for fine dining now in houston but I took a shot in the dark and decided to try prime 131 for our monthly date night and they did not disappoint at all. The food was amazing! We just decided to try the recommended starters from our waitress, a sushi roll and dessert. We literally left no food behind lol. The bone marrows and the lobster bites were top tier! I will have to say we did come during dinner around 6:30 and as time went on they got increasingly busy and service started declining. We were flagging down waiters for request. For the price we are paying to dine here and for this to be a five star, I think that should be improved. Other than that the overall dining experience was exceptional. We will definitely be back to try other items on the menu!

Jennifer E.

Prime 131 was a must! We went for our Anniversary Dinner BUT I like a good deal so we made it just in time for a little Happy Hour! The margaritas are amazing! We had margaritas, oysters and 2 sushi rolls. All were soooo good! We were stuffed after that but we still wanted to have our "fancy" Anniversary Dinner which the spot is very that...fancy, lights dimmed and all of that..so we stayed and ordered a steak and macaroni for us to share. Both were cooked perfectly. The service was tip notch at the bar and the table. We are definitely going back for that happy hour! To toooo good!

8 oz filet
Ashley G.

With so many gems in Houston, I am glad I came across this place. I was looking for a place that offered Steak and Sushi and this amazing place popped up. Prime 131 was tucked away in the Heights area. I think it's a great place to check out during the week after work or during the week as a date night. The vibes inside are very romantic and cozy. I started the night off with the Tequila Twilight, which was a well balanced of sweet and tequila. I paired the food together with the mini crab cakes. The crab cakes were so tasty, I didn't have a chance to snap a picture but the freshness and crispness of the crab cakes didn't last long on my plate. I am definitely torn between the short rib and the 8 oz steak but if I had to choose again, I think I would have to go with the short rib. The short rib was grilled to perfection, yet very tender!! The mash potatoes also had short rib mixed in so I am not sure I would order the short rib and mash potatoes together again. All and all the food and atmosphere was 10/10.

Old fashioned
Elizabeth B.

It's a fun space with neon signs and an open wood grill kitchen. The service was very nice and accommodating. We went for a dinner with friends, and everything was good. We all shared a bunch of sushi to start, and it was all top notch. I had the lobster, which was delicious. I was skeptical about being good at multiple things (sushi, wood fire grill?), but I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't take lot of pictures, the friends are also vendors that were taking us out. We were confused by the menu online, but were pleasantly surprised by how great everything was.

New York Strip steak
Michael S.

This was my first visit to the restaurant. The menu is amazing with a great selection of salads, appetizers, steaks and extensive drink menu. This is the first Houston restaurant I found to have two different New York Strip choices. Sides can be shared. The staff takes time to answer any questions as each item is unique. Make sure you check out the entire menu. The atmosphere is modern with a good seating area at the bar and a mix of tables in the dining room. Valet parking is easy and they stay open late.

Miso Glaze
Eugene P.

A steakhouse/ sushi bar restaurant that has a rustic, high end vibe. Good: - Bone in filet and Miso Cod was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. - Mac and cheese was also delicious. - The asparagus side had a base sauce that tasted like sweet hummus mixed with their version of pico de gallo. Bad: - I don't like restaurants that adds in extra costs (3% operating fee). Why not just bake it into the price? The price point is already on the higher end and I just feel like I'm getting nickled and dimed. - Server brought out the wrong check. I think it was an honest mistake. But you can't make mistakes like this at this caliber. - Side portions are smaller than I had anticipated. Overall: I would come back. It's worth a try.

birthday flan
Jeane J.

this is a cute upscale restaurant in the heights right off 11th street .. decor is dark and romantic, kind of outdoorsy but in an upscale way. The service was great, didn't have to ask for anything because she was very attentive, the food was perfectly made and very flavor .My steak was well done (which i asked for) and it was made well done . Overall, a vibe i'll come back to .

Ahi Tuna
Wendy W.

My birthday falls in August, which means I get to celebrate during Houston Restaurant Weeks. Lucky me! I was looking for a spot that could accommodate a large group, and to my surprise, I found out The BB Group has opened so many new hot spots. I don't go out much these days, so I was thrilled to discover them. Booking was quick and easy. I reserved Prime 131 for a group of 20-25. The manager was great and let me know they had a smaller room available (not completely private, but private enough), which worked perfectly for us. Parking was a breeze with both valet and a private garage offering free parking. When I walked in, I was immediately impressed by the aesthetics. I wish I'd had a chance to tour the whole restaurant, but I went straight to our table. Our entire group ordered from the HRW menu, and we were pleasantly surprised...the portions were full-sized apps, entrées, and desserts. What a deal! And the food? Outstanding. Out of 20 people, not a single unhappy mouth! Service was equally impressive! They happily split the bills for everyone and even cut our cake at no extra charge. I couldn't be happier with my choice, and everyone in our group agreed. Prime 131 made my birthday celebration unforgettable! Photos included.

Entrance of Prime 131 Celebrating the launch of my book
Rod B.

I went there specifically to celebrate the receipt of my first paperback versions of my first book. It was a special night on Saint Patrick's Day. The staff was willing to play along and take selfies with the book. The food is always amazing, and the staff is very attentive. We like sitting at the bar, where the entertainment is largely watching the stoking of the open fire that gives food that pit smell and look. The drinks are top-shelf there, and the low-light ambiance is refreshing after the cold, rainy night or the blazing sun of Houston.

Ye J.

After driving past Prime 131 numerous times, we finally decided to give it a try and made a reservation for our Saturday date night. The restaurant is located in Timbergrove, tucked among residential subdivisions in a small strip repurposed from machine shops. Although the lot is spacious and the only other business sharing the lot is a small CrossFit gym, parking is valet only for $8, which seems unreasonable given the location. The industrial vibe interior was spacious with dim lighting. They even kept some of the original equipment/fixtures. While we expected this to a steak restaurant, the menu surprisingly has a lot of seafood/sushi options. For appetizers, we ordered the chilled eastern oysters (5/5, flavored with ponzu and wasabi, excellent ), roasted oysters (4/5, Thai style), mini crab cakes (3/5, pretty mid) and dinosaur bone marrow (3.5/5, smelled great while grilling in the open kitchen, nice presentation, pretty good flavor but not too content). For the main, we split the USDA Prime porterhouse for 2 loaded with crab meat (4.5/5), cooked perfectly medium rare, very tender and seasoned well. For sides, we shared grilled asparagus (5/5), broccolini (4/5) and exotic wild mushrooms (4/5). We ended the meal with lemon and lime (a fun dessert came with a little hammer, 5/5) and skillet fudge (classic, 4/5). Overall enjoyed our dinner experience. We didn't really explore the sushi menu, will give it a try another time.

Basque cheesecake. Really delicious with the nice components.
Teresa K.

HRW dinner: Service was great. The staff was attentive to our needs. Appetizers: Lobster miso soup: a bowl of miso soup with some lobster meat. The shellfish flavor deeply infused into the broth. Wasn't the biggest portion but my husband was very satisfied with the flavor. 5/5. The beets: soo good: the wood fired flavor with the earthy beets and the labneh are perfection. This is my favorite dish which seems silly, but it is a very good beet dish: 5/5. Romaine: their take on a ceasar. Very good. I like the smoky flavor from the grill. 4/5. Edamame: it was fine. Very run of the mill. 3/5. Entree: Filet: delicious. Cooked perfectly to a medium rare. 5/5. Chicken: chicken was tender, potatoes were nice: pretty basic. 4/5. Wagyu skirt steak: very tender. Nicely composed dish. 5/5. Short rib: very rich, very tender. Lacked salt. Wish it had more of the herbs on top as it definitely needed some kind of acid or something to cut the richness. 3/5. Desserts: Bread pudding: this sounded good, but there was nothing special about it. It was super plain and dry tasting and kind of bland. Bread pudding should decadent and rich, but this was not it. The black sesame ice cream I was super excited for, but the texture of the ice cream was bad. It was almost chewy and gummy. 2/5. Basque cheesecake: love the components: delicious 5/5. Black Forest cake: different from last year but our dining companion enjoyed it: 4/5.

Wedged in.
Jason D.

I had never heard of this joint prior to gandering at the HRW site this year, so we decided to give it a shot. We made a reservation for a double date on a Saturday night. If you're lucky enough to find a spot in the front lot, make sure you grab it. Valet is going to be an additional 10 bucks or so to park your car 2 ft away. That's 2/3 of a cocktail. Save your money if you can. The dining hall is a very clean and spacious, remodeled industrial space. They still have some equipment tastefully highlighted throughout the restaurant. A neat look and throwback to the original of the building. If you send it in the central area, you'll get a good view of the kitchen and staff doing their thing. Food wise, when it comes to hrw you're not necessarily getting the best thing anybody has to offer, but it's usually pretty solid because they want you back. This was no exception. Everything was good, but not amazing. I started with the LobsterMiso Soup. I thought it was good. It was definitely skimping on quantity. I wouldn't say that the flavors were overly pronounced, but it was a different take on the miso and I liked it. The gal got the grilled romaine salad, and she loved it and I thought it was pretty good too. For the entree I ordered the wagyu skirt steak. For what it was, it was very good. No complaints. Comparatively speaking the grilled bone-in short rib my friend ordered was probably the winner of the evening. Not only did it look. Super cool, but it was cooked to perfection. We also really enjoyed the salt grilled branzino. Very tender and flavorful. I think I won on the desserts with the Black Forest, a sizeable chocolate cake arrangement. The bread pudding was good, but I didn't care for the black sesame ice cream too much. We also ordered a round of cocktails to go with our dinner. And those were very good. If they have a happy hour I would consider coming through for that. Service was very fast and very efficient considering how busy they are on a Saturday night. It's an upscale spot perfect for dates, and more formal dining. A very good ambiance. Definitely worth a shot for a new contender in the hrw experience.

Spicy edamame

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Meal and a cocktail, minimum $50/person but you could easily drop $100/person or more

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Aiko

Aiko

4.5
(338 reviews)
3.4 mi
Locally owned & operated
Free parking

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.

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Aiko
Cucumber tomato salad
Cucumber tomato salad
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Himari

Himari

4.3
(118 reviews)
2.0 mi
$$

How damn cute! They go over the top with their to go/delivery packaging…read more Sushi is good and travels well. The edamame was a great surprise - not your typical boiled and salt. It was that but also charred on a grill that added a little plus plus. We'll order from them again.

There's seating outdoors, inside at the sushi bar, tables, and more seating upstairs. I noticed…read morethat they used machines to give proportionate amount of rice for the nigiri and rolls. This is nice to have consistent amounts of rice for each dish. I do wonder if this would make service slow or not because it did take awhile to get our food. There were a lot of to go orders and the way they package the items looked top tier. I did see they had a reasonable price for omakase for 2 ($95). This alone I think is worth trying this place out. However, I was not hungry enough for their omakase. I don't know if the machine played a roll in it but the seaweed was a bit soft and got stuck onto the dish. This made the quality of the rolls disappointing. The fish tasted fresh but I think the flavors and ingredients overpowered the fish. I would have liked ingredients that would elevate the fish and make it stand out as the highlight of the rolls. However, I thought they did a good job with presentation in each dish. I tried the rainbow row and that was a bit hard to eat because the seaweed got stuck onto the wooden board. I also thought the menu didn't reflect all of the ingredients that were inside of the rolls. They list the main stuff but not everything else. For example, I noticed that there was asparagus inside of the rainbow row but it isn't listed. For that reason I'd give it 3 stars. I wouldn't order this again. The next item I tried was the yuzu kissed and this was my favorite out of everything I've tried. I do think that it was missing something that would balance out the citrusy flavor but nevertheless it was still tasty as long as you don't douse the fish in the sauce, 5 stars. I also tried the Wagyu pitchfork and I think something that would've made this taste better would be a sauce maybe like an eel sauce. This would also get 3 stars for me. The spicy tuna roll was 3 stars for me and it was more so of the texture of the tuna. The tuna felt like it was stuffed in the roll and was like a soggy texture. Some of the tuna fell out as I was eating it and it also made the seaweed wrap around it a bit moist. I think if you go here you definitely should get the sashimi that way you could actually taste the quality of the fish. I tried the medium tuna and fatty and these were actually what I would expect from a place like this. The quality was there but the other items didn't hit the mark for me. The other item I tried was the Japanese scallop and the scallop was tasty and had that smooth buttery texture. The seaweed again kind of ruined the scallop for me. It felt like the scallop was shoved into the roll and was all soft and squishy when I picked it up.

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Interior
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Koi

Koi

4.5
(286 reviews)
4.0 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.

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Aburi roll, el Diablo roll
Aburi roll, el Diablo roll
Crispy rice
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Handies Douzo

Handies Douzo

4.6
(504 reviews)
2.0 mi
$$

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.

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Inside vibe
Inside vibe
Salmon handroll
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Tins

Tins

4.9
(51 reviews)
1.2 mi

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

Tins is an omakase and reservation only restaurant that serves innovative and fun appetizers and…read moresushi. Chef Sky is the main guy and he was the only one working the night we visited. Sake flows freely here and is generously refilled and included with the meal price. We had an amazing time just chatting with Chef Sky and the only other couple that was dining during our reservation (only 4 total during our seating). The service from the one man team is seamless and Chef Sky made us all feel welcome and served as a catalyst for conversation and time just disappeared until diners from the next seating started flowing in. We had a wonderful time getting to know him and getting to talk all things food with him, from the struggles of opening a restaurant to where he enjoys eating on his days off. While Tins offers a very nice and high end meal, Chef Sky creates an environment where guests can relax and hang out for the duration of their reservation, so do not expect white linen, posh fine dining here. The list of courses we received in order were: 1. Japanese Sea Bream (Madai) with Jalapeno Sauce 2. Hickory Smoked Sichimi Salmon 3. Scallop (Hotate) with Truffle Sauce 4. Laksa (Curry noodle soup) 5. Lean Bluefin Tuna (Akami) with Mango Salsa 6. Amberjack (Kanpachi) with Truffle Oil 7. Seared New Zealand King Salmon 8. Santa Barbara Uni and Ikura Shooter 9. Korean Flounder (Hirame) with Pepper Sauce 10. Seared Escolar with Pork Floss 11. Fatty Bluefin Tuna (Toro) with Creamy Cilantro Sauce and Kizami Wasabi 12. Yellowtail (Hamachi) with Garlic Soy Sauce 13. Broiled Eel (Unagi) with Lao Gan Ma 14. Matcha Red Bean Cake Tins playfully stands for "This is not sushi" and Chef Sky explains that his omakase course is not traditional sushi and is not served with wasabi and ginger. I enjoyed every course with courses 2, 5, 6, and 10 being particular highlights. That being said, I am unsure if I would return for the food alone as I found some of the toppings to overpower the fish and rice and I am more of a fan of traditional edomae style sushi. The fish that Chef Sky sources in undoubtably high quality. The tuna, amberjack, and yellowtail were some of the best I have had in Houston. The rice is well cooked and well seasoned too. To my own taste, it is a bit of a shame that high quality and masterfully prepared ingredients are masked by creamy cilantro sauce or mango salsa. Chef Sky is an honest guy, creative mind, excellent conversationalist, and great story teller. Taking part in his omakase course, diners get a glimpse into his story. We sampled dishes inspired by where he grew up, where he learned to cook, where he opened his first restaurant, and where he is now. We had a great time and may return to hang out with Chef Sky in the future and look forward to where his creativity takes his "not sushi" omakase course.

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Tins
Unlimited sake
Unlimited sake
Yellowtail (sweet garlic sauce)

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Yellowtail (sweet garlic sauce)
Kata Robata

Kata Robata

4.3
(2.3k reviews)
3.8 mi
$$$

Had a fantastic evening at Kata Robata! Our server, Gabby, was excellent and attentive throughout…read morethe 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

Kata Robata used to be one of my favorite restaurants before I moved away from Houston. After…read morerecently 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.

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Back dining space
Back dining space
Lunch nigiri.
Lunch nigiri.
Okinawa Sun - strong AF

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Okinawa Sun - strong AF
Ume Sushi

Ume Sushi

4.6
(220 reviews)
2.4 mi

I can't believe there isn't more buzz around this place--we were able to get an 8pm NYE reservation…read morefor 2 less than 48 hours in advance. Ume deserves to be considered among Houston's heavy-hitters of Sushi. Hands-down, their food is comparable to that of places like Uchi and Kata at a slightly lower (maybe?) price point. Ume's nigiri takes the cake as my favorite in the city. We were blown away with the quality of ingredients and unique flavor profile in every single piece of nigiri across the standard and deluxe offerings of the chef's choice plates, Wagyu, and specials. I also want to take a moment to recognize the outstanding experience provided by our server, Scott. Beyond demonstrating his thorough understanding of their menu and sushi, broadly, with exceptional recommendations and knowledgeable insights, he consistently went the extra mile to help make our dinner special.

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

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Ume Sushi
A5 wagyu beef toban yaki
A5 wagyu beef toban yaki
Ume Symphony Cocktail

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Ume Symphony Cocktail

Prime 131 - steak - Updated July 2026

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