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    Sozai Photos

    SOZAI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Sozai

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    Audrey E.

    The reviews made me skeptical of the restaurant before dining in for omakase, but I had the complete opposite experience of the negative reviews. The restaurant was busy on the night we went in, and unlike what the reviews stated (that it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop), there was music playing and people were chatting. Maybe they made these changes after seeing the reviews about the noise though. Although I am sympathetic about the reviews where people were charged a hefty fee for cancelling their reservation, the policy made sense to me at the restaurant because of the purposeful sourcing of the food for each customer. The chefs and servers were kind, welcoming, and attentive, and taught us about the food and sake we were being served. The meal was incredibly delicious--everything was so intentional. The sashimi was fresh and the dishes were flavorful and took us out of our comfort zone. I'm quite confused by the reviews saying the meal lacked flavor, I did not feel that way at all. The restaurant was recommended by a coworker who had lived in Japan short-term, saying that it was the most similar to what he had had there--even better than omakase he has had on both US coasts. I've never had omakase before, but I've had sushi on the east coast and I would say it is very comparable. It's definitely the best nigiri and sashimi I've had in the Midwest. I would absolutely recommend Sozai! It's worth the price.

    Keith I.

    Sozai was a great experience. We selected the more adventurous Nami option (Omakase style). Chef Mike was fantastic and did a series of sake pairings for us too. The fish was unbelievably fresh and delicious, and the preparation and presentation were lovely. Chef Mike explained everything to us and asked if we had any allergies. He also ran through the menu at the beginning of the meal in case there was anything we didn't feel adventurous enough to try. The lightly fried prawn head was the strangest thing (at least to us westerners), but it was delicious, shell and all. The sake pairings were fabulous and his tea pairings were also spot-on. Sozai is not inexpensive, but for the quality and quantity of food, as well as the relaxed pace of the chef, it was well worth the price. We left full and happy. Sozai is also worth the wait to secure a reservation. Can't wait to go back!

    Sweet shrimp sushi with caviar. Deep fried shrimp head
    Sooyoung B.

    At the beginning of omakase course, Chef Sato told us that we will be served the whole course with invasive species. I had to laugh out loud with anxiety. Either this meal will be brilliant or I will be paying $200 per person for cheap bottom crawler that no one wants? I think what he meant was the whole course is focused on sustainable fishing. The course was filled with hard to find very pricey ingredients (Matsudake mushroom, abalone, caviar, sea urchin from Hotkaido.. etc) that you cannot get anywhere else in Michigan. I think his key to success is spending a lot of time for sourcing the best ingredients. If you rarely get out of Michigan but you have very high expectations of Japanese food, it is worth visiting. It was very entertaining interacting with chef Sato. By the way, he won the James Beard Award this year. I have had several omakase dinners before. I am not going to say it was the best one but it was very unique experience.

    Charshi bowl and a couple lovely rolls
    Cuemaster S.

    Fresh food Japanese experience being prepared at an elevated level. Recommended for the true connoisseur of Japanese food as the elevated aspects of their dishes may be lost on novices or first timers. Jmho Go here and enjoy.

    Tiffany S.

    I was craving good Chirashi after writing my review for Rondo in Seattle, then I remembered Sozai (since the Chef & Owner moved from Seattle). I love their sustainable approach to seafood - really should be more widely adopted. This means you're not going to see the typical bright orange salmon & and bright red tuna. I loved the variety of fish from Ono to Coho Salmon. I'll definitely be back for Omakase. My goal is to make the list for their Kappo (we are proud to offer the exclusive dining event that is Kappo. Our chefs will take you on a culinary journey of creative dishes, with no limits on the number of courses. Be prepared for approximately four hours of traditional and exotic Japanese fare. Kappo is truly a chef's choice experience. As such, it cannot be altered to accommodate any dietary restrictions. We can only accept one party per night for Kappo, so you must confirm Kappo availability when you call to set your reservation). I overheard a quick conversation about the Kappo but essentially the Chef has a list of preferences as everything is customized to you! *Nanban (lightly fried fish served with seasoned ponzu and a touch of sesame oil) - SO GOOD. The fry was truly super light and it was a really nice eat. *Ceviche of the Day (our take on the classic South American dish prepared with our special blend of yuzu, lime, and sea salt served with crispy Japanese sweet potato slices) - A little fishy for me - maybe just the blend of fish and shrimp used. I forget what was in it. *Chirashi (assorted sashimi over sushi rice) - super unique that they bury bits of fish (almost poke size cubes) throughout the sushi rice so it's a really fun eat! The seasoned rice was just a SMIDGE too vinegary for me, but very good all in all. *Red Violin (avocado, cucumber, and jalapeño topped with tuna, and spicy red miso) - This was AWESOME. I was sort of against ordering a roll like this at an establishment like Sozai but they do it up and do it well! I was also a big fan of the real wasabi as well (Oregon grown wasabi root ground into a smooth paste rich and full-flavored without the sharp pungency of imitation wasabi).

    Margie S.

    Sozai has been on my got-to-try list for a while. We had an anniversary coming up, so an Omekase experience sounded perfect. We were so amazed with the food and service! We sat at the sushi bar, which I highly recommend - so you can watch each dish being prepared. Each course comes out beautifully arrayed and described, you can't help but be impressed with the mastery of the chefs. I really enjoyed everything, but especially loved the creativity of the chef with the sustainable dishes they prepare. Reservations are recommended on weekends, but there is some walk in availability midweek. We can't wait to go back!

    Hikari Roll
    Bernadette B.

    This sushi restaurant knows what it's about. Don't come here looking for your typical American-style sushi. Their sushi represents a much more traditional Japanese style of sushi with an emphasis on raw fish. You won't see a California roll or anything like it. I really loved that they made an effort with all of their ingredients, emphasizing sustainability, and our chef explaining where each fish had come from. We didn't do the omakase but started with miso soup and ceviche (split between two of us). For the main course, we ordered two of the chef's choice rolls and a hikari roll (again split between two people). By the end we couldn't take another bite we were so stuffed. All the ingredients tasted incredibly fresh, and tasty. I really really enjoyed every bite we had. Though I will say - the miso soup was definitely not your run-of-the-mill. It was the heartiest miso soup I've ever had with an incredibly rich broth along with mushrooms and other fixings. Don't order this thinking it's going to be a light appetizer. If you want to fill up on just sushi, you might want to avoid this one. I'm looking forward to coming to this place again, though not too soon, since it's a pricier type of sushi. Worth it however, and hopefully, we'll be able to experience the omakase sometime in the future. I'll definitely be back!

    Cecily W.

    Very glad we found this place! They don't have many tables and need to make reservations ahead of time. I called to ask for availability on the day and got 2 seats at the sushi bar, which is not bad. Their menu can be confusing. We were not super sure what to try at first. It seems like they are not trying very hard on marketing. Their sign is tiny too. You probably won't notice this place if you just drive by. We got the veggie bento box and two rolls, Bowler rollers and red violin. Everything is very well prepared and packed with flavors. I really enjoyed the veggie bento box, which emphasis the original flavor of each ingredients but add many interesting twist to them. Overall, I'd highly recommended this place!

    Sushi  night!!
    Dee W.

    I would definitely recommend that you try this place out the food here was so tasty. The reason for my 4 out of 5 stars is because they only offered bar seating and they wanted to solicit private dining pricing for this option. When we arrived there were tables available but there website didn't allow you book for a table and very limited reservations options online. Definitely would recommend you to try this out for a date night or a girls day you won't be disappointed.

    Spicy tuna tataki
    Mikaela K.

    From the outside Sozai is an unassuming sushi spot tucked into a strip mall in Clawson. The restaurant is known for its high quality fish, traditional Japanese and omakase. To be honest, if you are looking for a restaurant with trendy/sexy vibes this is not the place. Since we sat at a regular table we were only allowed to order from the regular menu. If you opt for the omakase you need to sit at the sushi bar. To be honest we were pretty disappointed with the overall service. All of the dishes were basically "plopped" down in front of us with no explanation. Also when we asked to sample a type of wine before committing to a full glass, the waitress quickly shut us down. Despite the atmosphere and service, the food was definitely impressive. We started the meal with their vegetable offerings; the sunomono, Kaiso and pickled veggies. All of the starting plates were flavourful and well balanced. If you are looking to try a legit seaweed salad you should try their kaiso; it is a far cry from what you would find at a grocery store sushi bar. We then had the spicy albacore tataki and tuna with natto. The tuna with natto is a very traditional Japanese dish of seared tuna served cold over fermented soy beans. The soy beans have a unique sticky texture but add a totally unique flavour to the rich fish. Finally we had three rolls; the bowler roller, dark crystal and southern. All sushi rolls were delicious but hands down our favourite was the southern. This roll incorporates Sozai's own creation of bbq eel where they substitute catfish in place of the eel. All rolls were a perfect balance of flavours and textures and the ingredients ultra fresh. There is definitely a reason why sozai has been awarded many accolades for their delicious food; I look forward to returning and doing the omakase. Hopefully the service will be better wheb we are at sitting at the sushi bar.

    Nicole E.

    It's fantastic to see a new restaurant here in the spot where I used to love their crab Rangoon, the former Lil Thai express place. The entire staff has been vaccinated. Omakase is at the sushi chef table and they select what you will get. I sat at a table. I do like the Omakase experience, would do that with my husband another time in the future. It's a simple and clean interior. The sushi bar is the focus of the restaurant. The sushi chefs are interacting much with the customer. Staff is all so warm, welcoming, jovial and friendly too. The waitress is super nice, patient and attentive. I ordered a futomaki, pure Michigan, southern, deep forest and a midori. I am also trying their brewed barley tea. The cucumber water is also quite refreshing. No sriracha at all, but their house made spicy wasabi sauce works for me though, it's quite yummy. I used it on all of the rolls. The pure Michigan is different, the tempura onion is super crispy, the walleye is so good too. The southern is good, it's a big bite size for me. The deep forest is colorful, it's tasty. The seafood futomaki is so huge, thought the pure Michigan was big, not even. So many flavor profiles. Crunchy green beans and carrots, flaky fish, soft squash. A nice combo. They do clean the chairs and tables down after the guests leave. It's a really fun and cool experience for all here. It will be an experience unlike any other. The sushi chefs (Hajime and Brian) really try to get to know you and your eating preferences and create a memorable experience for sure. Betty will help you from beginning to make sure you leave with a sated belly and an impressionable meal. It's feels like the Cheers of sushi spots.

    Marissa C.

    Came here for a birthday dinner for the omakase meal. It was my first time so the chef was a great help to us in making recommendations and suggestions for our meal! Since this is a primarily a seafood restaurant, I would recommend that patrons at least like eating fish and have an open mind. The menu is selected but very well crafted. Overall this was a great experience!

    Green tea and Black Sesame (our fav) mochi and Japanese cheesecake with houjicha infused anglaise and sesame cracker!
    AJ B.

    Lucky enough to have the night off from our toddler, we decided to treat ourselves to a rare dinner out! Looking for something new, we stumbled across Sozai. Sushi and sustainability? I was sold instantly. Unassuming on the outside, it is quaint and clean on the inside with a large and beautiful sushi bar as the main feature. We did not make reservations, which I do recommend, but they still made sure to accommodate us at a table despite staff shortages. The highlights: the food and the service!!! Betty, our waitress, was phenomenal. Knowledgeable, fun, thoughtful, and timely, despite being the only person working the tables and the hostess stand! Her food recommendations were fantastic too! We ended up ordering the Bento Box with Black Cod as well as the Hokki Gai nigiri and the Hikari roll. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. The cod was probably my favorite, but it's really hard to choose! I even enjoyed the little accoutrements and could have eaten a whole bowl of the seasoned greens (sweet potato leaves perhaps?) and seaweed salad. We paired our meal with some exceptional sake and finished it with the fluffy cheesecake and tasty green tea and black sesame mochi. We will absolutely be back and hope to try the Omakase next time. Thank you for the lovely experience!

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    Ask the Community - Sozai

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    Kyoto Japanese Steak House - Rock N' Roll

    Kyoto Japanese Steak House

    (555 reviews)

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    If you're looking for dinner and a show, **Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse absolutely delivers on…read moreboth--and then some.** From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere hits you: warm lighting, sleek Japanese-inspired décor, and that unmistakable buzz of excitement coming from the hibachi grills. It's not just a meal here--it's an experience that pulls you in right away. Let's talk about the main event: the hibachi chefs. These aren't just cooks--they're performers, artists, and crowd-engaging pros all rolled into one. The precision, the speed, the flair... it's unreal. You've got flying shrimp, onion volcanoes erupting in flames, utensils spinning like something out of a martial arts movie--yet somehow, nothing feels gimmicky. Every move is sharp, confident, and backed by serious skill. You can tell these chefs have mastered their craft. And the food? Easily the star of the show, even with all the theatrics going on. The steak is tender, juicy, and cooked exactly how you want it--no compromises. The chicken is perfectly seasoned with that savory, slightly smoky hibachi flavor that's hard to replicate anywhere else. The shrimp are plump and buttery, and if you go for scallops or lobster, expect that same level of freshness and precision. Even the fried rice deserves its own spotlight--fluffy, rich, and packed with flavor, not just filler on the plate. The portions are generous without being overwhelming, and everything comes out hot and perfectly timed. You're not waiting around between courses--the whole experience flows smoothly from start to finish. Plus, the sauces? Absolute game changers. That yum yum sauce alone could carry a meal. Service-wise, Kyoto really shines. The staff is attentive without hovering, friendly without feeling forced, and genuinely invested in making sure you're having a great time. Whether it's your first visit or your tenth, they treat it like an occasion. And that's the thing--Kyoto *feels* like an occasion. It's the kind of place you go for birthdays, celebrations, date nights, or just when you want to turn a regular evening into something memorable. The energy is high, the food is consistently excellent, and the whole vibe makes you want to stay longer than you planned. Bottom line: Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse isn't just good--it's **an all-out, sensory-packed experience** that combines incredible food, live entertainment, and top-tier service. If you haven't been yet, you're seriously missing out.

    We decided to come her for my uncle's birthday. I would not recommend coming to celebrate a…read morebirthday because they don't even have dessert. I was told we could bring dessert but they don't give you plates and it just felt like a after thought. We had to say 2x that it was his birthday just to get a tiny ice cream and candle they kept forgetting to light... The food is good but just come because you wanna eat, find a better birthday spot.

    Sozai - japanese - Updated May 2026

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