I've visited Mikata Sushi twice now, about two months apart, and I have quite a few thoughts! There…read morewere definitely some highlights, but a few things left me underwhelmed. Let's get into it!
Yellowtail - 6/10
If you know me, you know yellowtail is MY FISH! I absolutely love yellowtail, and honestly, I enjoy it in just about any presentation. However, something about this one was a little off for me.
The cuts were noticeably thicker than what I typically prefer. The flavor was there, but the overall appearance and color of the fish didn't give me the same quality impression I've gotten from other yellowtail experiences.
What makes this more interesting is that I ordered it on BOTH visits, and unfortunately, I had the same impression each time. I wanted to love it because yellowtail is easily one of my favorite fish, but it just wasn't giving what I'm used to.
Steak Fried Rice - 7/10
WOWWW! This was probably the biggest surprise of the entire experience. This is some of the best fried rice I've had in a WHILEEEE!
The flavor profiles were EVERYTHING. I could actually taste the individual ingredients, but somehow everything came together beautifully. You know when a song comes on and every single beat hits exactly where it's supposed to? That's how this fried rice tasted!
Now, why the 7/10 instead of higher? THE YUM YUM SAUCE. I honestly feel like it did more harm than good. The sauce had more of a mayonnaise-like taste, and I felt it took away from what was already really good fried rice. I wish I had ordered it without the sauce the first time around. I actually regret not getting it on my first visit, but I'm so happy I finally tried it on my second!
Shrimp Tempura - 5/10
This one was pretty forgettable. The shrimp was very crispy, which I appreciated, but the ponzu sauce it came with threw off the overall flavor for me. Something about the combination just didn't quite come together.
The flavor wasn't fully there, and while it wasn't necessarily a bad dish, it definitely wasn't something I'd go back specifically to order. Nothing particularly memorable.
Margarita Roll - 10/10
YESSSSS! NOW THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! As a YELLOWTAIL LOVER, this roll understood the assignment!
This is a raw roll, and the fish was SO flavorful. Everything about this roll worked for me. The flavor, the overall experience, just everything!
I ordered this on BOTH visits, and both times it delivered. That's how you know it's good when you come back and immediately order the same thing again. Easily my favorite item at Mikata. If I returned, this would absolutely be on my order again.
My Spending
First Visit:
* Margarita Roll
* Yellowtail
* Total: $50
Second Visit:
* Shrimp Tempura
* Yellowtail
* Steak Fried Rice
* Margarita Roll
* Total: $80
Service & Overall Experience - 6/10
Now, let's talk about service because this definitely impacted my overall experience.
First Visit: I'd honestly give the service a 0/10. My waiter took an extremely long time to bring out my dishes, and my yellowtail was slightly warm by the time it arrived.
Second Visit: I sat at the sushi bar, and I believe one of the managers assisted me. The difference was noticeable! Not necessarily because he was a manager, but because he was attentive. You can literally see the food coming out on the sushi bar, and he actually took the time to pay attention and make sure my dishes made it to me.
During my first visit, my waiter would see food come out, walk right past it without saying anything, and head back into the kitchen. I noticed that same lack of attentiveness again during my second visit. It wasn't a matter of the restaurant being too busy; it was a matter of someone taking the time to pay attention to their customers and the food coming out.
I really appreciated the assistance during my second visit because it made everything move much faster.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I'd give Mikata a 6/10. The Margarita Roll was a 10/10 experience, and the steak fried rice was a pleasant surprise. However, the yellowtail consistency and service definitely brought down my overall rating.
Would I return? Possibly! But I already know exactly what I'm ordering: that Margarita Roll!