I've been to a number of Sushi by Bou's locations in NYC, so when we noticed this Isla Verde location, we knew it would be a good quality experience and decided to go. (For those unfamiliar, Sushi by Bou offers a mid-priced limited-seating/chef's-table type omakase experience, but not like, super old-school serious Japanese-style- it has more of a fun, modern vibe. The locations aren't standalone, but rather speakeasy style, nestled into some other larger space like a hotel lobby, hotel suite, coffee shop, or restaurant.) That said, this particular location really exceeded my expectations, and may now be my favorite Sushi by Bou location. The quality of the sushi was very good as usual, but the ambiance was even better than some of the New York locations, and the service was fantastic. The chefs were a ton of fun, and the cocktail menu is great. I particularly liked the yuzu honey bee. read more

Sushi By Bou - Isla Verde - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carolina, Puerto Rico

See all

WOW. To even say we went out to eat would be disrespectful, THIS WAS AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME. I've never eaten at a restaurant with such cohesion, whether it be the service itself, the food, but ultimately just the overall vibe. It sounds so corny to say, but the staff felt like family. We were first greeted by Gio who was not only professional in all senses, but just a kind soul at the core. Whether it be recommendations, suggestions, or just overall comfort, he made sure everything we needed (and even things we didn't know we needed) were attended to at the highest level. Our chef Greg along with his amazing team were so in sync that the 75 minutes experience felt like the purest form of a culinary flow state. Each dish set the bar so high that it felt impossible to top, but like clockwork, it did. If you want just food, this might not be your place, but if you want to have your literal mind blown, this is the place to be. Even our trip to Japan did not reach the levels that this experience did. We booked our reservation last minute on a whim but I honestly can't imagine our trip now without this experience . If I could give more stars I would. This puts most Michelin star restaurants to shame. This food hits your soul. read more

Sushi By Bou - Isla Verde - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carolina, Puerto Rico

Came here a few weeks ago for my sister-in-law's birthday. We were a group of 6, and later others joined after dinner. I believe they are a chain with several locations in the States. They are located at the Fairmont Elementary School San Juan Hotel. It's a small restaurant, just the sushi bar and the cocktail bar. In the back they have a speakeasy karaoke lounge. Great vibes, very trendy and hip. Reserves your table via OpenTable and choose from either the 12 course or 15 course experience. You eat what the chef places I. Front of you, as long as you're not allergic to it. Afterwards, they give you a menu to revisit anything and have some extras. We chose the 12 course. This was the first time my wife and I had experienced something like this. It was great. Every course was delicious. And the sake was excellent. My only complaint would be that the OpenTable description made it seem like the 15 course was longer, but two in our group chose it and it was the same. Maybe because they were in our group? Oh well, next time. Cocktails were also very good. Beer options were more basic. Service fantastic. Our big surprise was finding out the lounge is a karaoke lounge. That was lots of fun. We stayed till closing time. read more

See all

A Disastrous Experience at Sushi by Bou - San Juan I had high expectations for Sushi by Bou in San Juan, but the entire experience was a disaster from start to finish. Unacceptable Wait Time & Poor Hospitality We had a 9:45 PM reservation but were not seated until 10:15 PM--a 30-minute delay with no apology or compensation. Instead, we were crammed into a hot, overcrowded lounge, repeatedly told "just two more minutes," only for that to drag on. When we finally asked for a real update, the staff simply said, "The last group ran long." Unprofessional & Inappropriate Staff Behavior Once seated, we quickly realized this wasn't just a bad experience--it was unsafe and unprofessional: * Our chef was actively drinking while preparing food. Yes, you read that right. He had clearly been drinking before service and continued to do so. * Another chef walked into the kitchen with a wrapped, bloody hand, which is beyond unsanitary and should never have been allowed. * The chef spent the night hitting on the women at our counter. Despite them clearly being uncomfortable, he continued feeding them sushi directly into their mouths and persisting in his advances. It was predatory behavior. * The women were also past their drinking limit, yet alcohol kept being pushed on them. Subpar, Sloppy Sushi For the high price point, I expected skilled sushi chefs--instead, we got sloppy, inconsistent, and poorly trained staff: * Uneven rice portions, wildly different fish cuts from one guest to another, and pieces that fell apart instantly. * The chef noticed my reaction and only then started to make an effort with the pieces served to me. A Safety Hazard & No Proper Clean-Up To top it all off, the staff was so drunk they were stumbling. At one point, a server dropped an entire tray of shot glasses, shattering them everywhere. A piece of glass literally flew up and hit us. But did they properly clean it up? * No. They did not change our plates or ensure there was no glass on dishes. * They did not take precautions to prevent glass from getting into food or drinks. Final Verdict: A Place in Desperate Need of an Overhaul This was not a high-end omakase experience--it was an absolute mess. Sushi by Bou in San Juan desperately needs new management, new chefs, and professional oversight. Do not waste your time or money here. You'll get sloppy service, untrained chefs, unsafe conditions, and a disturbing atmosphere. I rarely write reviews this harsh, but this place was unacceptable. read more

See all

probably the best omakase experience in PR (not saying much but is what it is). Not on the same level as other big cities and the quality can vary a little bit but still, it's probably the best you'll find here. I still recommend Sushi by Bou and think that the overall flavors are solid but it's a bit inconsistent and I also feel like they are working a bit too much with volume in mind- which makes sense given there's also a Door Dash option for this as well (omakase delivery is actually pretty good). Experienced sushi eaters may be disappointed and less foodie types will be impressed. I enjoy Sushi by Bou and eat it a few times a year. read more

Omakase PARTY! Nightclub atmosphere the moment you walk in (compliment) Intimate space with Japanese Street art all over the walls. Attentive, dynamic staff. Great quality of fish. Nice cocktails. My only dissatisfaction was that the music was too loud at times making it difficult to hear or communicate with the staff or date/friends. They have a small room on the back perfect for a private party. GET THE WHOPPER! Come here for a Fun Night! read more

See all

I wanted to try this place for my bday and it did not disappoint at all!!!!!! I did upgrade to the more expensive experience then I had I had originally booked for but was worth it !! The bartenders were nice and friendly .... We were waiting For another group to finish up there experience before we could go !!!! Finally seated the workers were exprelly Friendly and personable!!! Definitely engaged with you made you laugh and feel welcomed !!! Do not ask me to remember all the courses because I definitely do not !!! But I got lots of pics for two of us plus drinks was about 500$ so definitely keep in mind read more

See all

Gregory, Adrian, Joshua, James, and Karen..... amazing experience. Courses were flames, strongly recommend.... Live a little.....

Josh the chef was amazing very funny, Karina was great and James was great, the food and portions were amazing

This was my first ever omakase and it defied every expectation I had, though to be honest, I had no idea what to expect! It was an ambiance and experience from the first to the last bite. Sushi chefs and entertainers! I learned a ton throughout dinner as well. It is an intimate and fun experience. Every bite was exploding with aesthetic, texture and flavor. My absolute favorite was the fatty tuna. There were sake shots, toasts and great story telling too! read more

See all

Arrived at 8:22 Rez at 8:30 we ended up canceling because we weren't sat by 8:55 pm and saw people still who didn't check out. I love this place otherwise but the service unbelievable they do this to customers. opentable says they have a 1 hr 15 min limit on their reservations. confusing. read more

Luis (our chef) was amazing! His passion and artistry for food, flavors and presentation shines through with every bite. I had little expectations but was blown away by his talent and my tastebuds were blown away too. Would recommend to anyone. Loved the speakeasy ambiance. Never had to wait for a refill. Overall great! read more

Sushi By Bou - Isla Verde - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carolina, Puerto Rico

See all

the 12 course tasting was amazing. there was not a single dish I didn't like. Karina was a pro and so friendly. the staff made an effort to make the first night of our honeymoon special. everything was fresh and perfectly seasoned and the ambiance was immaculate. read more

Excelente sushi y acompañamiento El mejor q he comido,muy fresco todo y gran variedad read more

The best sushi I've had in Puerto Rico. Service was awesome and the sake was fantastic. The lounge with karaoke was a fun treat. So much fun. I can't wait to return. read more

Sushi by Boū 's first location outside the continental United States. Located at the iconic el San Juan hotel and casino in a former art gallery. This speakeasy has a 12 seat sushi counter , a cocktail bar and a karaoke lounge. They have the Boū standard 12 piece experience for $65 and the Boū-gie which is 17 pieces, a handroll and a sake for $125. 6 staffers for 12 people to provide the best service you can imagine in a non stuffy setting. The vibe is Tokyo alley street art Hope you enjoy it as much as we did bringing it to light read more

See all

So gooood. Every bite was amazing. Also met some amazing people there. Great for experience and networking. Beautiful vibes and ambiance. Not the most filling restaurant though so keep that in mind read more

The experience at Sushi By Bou was unique and amazing! The sushi was "lick your fingers good" and don't even get me started on the cocktails. The service was excellent, the staff were highly attentive. The ambiance is boutique style, you feel like you are VIP from the moment you walk in. Highly recommend if you want to have a different sushi experience in the island of Puerto Rico. P.S. Ask for the "whopper" read more

Sushi By Bou - Isla Verde - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carolina, Puerto Rico

See all

This is a must-not-Miss experience. If you love food, love to see someone put passion into what they do, or just love a fun experience while you eat, come here. Come here even if you don't want to. You'll change your mind. read more

The ambiance was pleasant, and the service was friendly, but our experience was marred by a long wait. Despite waiting over 30 minutes for seating in the lounge and ordering (and paying for) drinks, we felt forgotten and overlooked. read more

OMG that was awesome. Excellent fish wrapped up in a cool vibe. Unique experience with proper service in PR!

The room is very small, blasting music to the point you can't even hear yourself talk, portion sizes are very small and thus very expensive for the price they are charging. Fish quality is bad and not what I expected for a restaurant offering omakase. Oh, and they want to continually sell you on buying alcohol. I would not recommend this restaurant. read more

1st time having it. It was a fabulous experience. The staff was very cool. I'll be back for sure!!!

One of the best omakase experiences I have been to. The set up of the place was amazing and each piece got better and better. Sushi By Bou is a must try! read more

Exquisite!! Amazing food. Loved the experience and the great service. The Speakeasy vibe and Music were extraordinary

Best sushi on the island by a landslide! Highly recommend for anyone with a discerning tongue.

Sushi by Bou is a new, experience concept sushi restaurant inside the Fairmont San Juan Hotel and Casino. When you arrive, ask an employee to direct you to where the restaurant is located as it is not clearly marked anywhere. At least anywhere that we could see. Once you arrive, you ring the doorbell and someone will come and greet you and take you inside the room. Is a small room with sushi bar seating for I believe 14 and a bar. The decor is beautiful with an artsy street vibe. Employees are attentive but at times over selling the restaurant and its multiple other locations across the US. A little over enthusiastic at times but nevertheless very friendly just tone down a little the self marketing. We ordered a couple of drinks at the bar while waiting for the previous diners to finish. It is a timed omakase experience. We chose the bougie omakase which came with 17 different dishes. The set price is fair and in par with lots of omakase restaurants. All one bite portions with a couple of exceptions. The drinks were delicious but expensive. Somewhat more than NYC standards. The sushi was fresh and delicious but at times it felt a little repetitive on taste and presentation. Way more nigiri than sashimi. Good quality ingredients. One thing that I was expecting and did not get here was the tamagotaki as the last bite signaling the end of the meal. Always had it served previously in all other omakase restaurants that we have previously visited but not here. I also felt a little bit of disconnect between the masters behind the counter. I noticed because we had done plenty of omakase in various restaurants across the US and the world and something was missing. Another observation, and this is a personal one, omakase is not the dining experience for instagram taking pictures so I suggest that if you have never done omakase or kaiseki to read up on what the experience is about and the rules of etiquette. The chef was gracious and accommodating but some people just don't have common sense. Nevertheless, they just recently opened and probably still trying to get everything to run smoothly so will try them again for sure. Happy to see this type of dining experience brought to Puerto Rico. Worth a visit especially for the omakase beginner. read more

love this sushi by bou as much as the others !!! omakase is amazing, chefs are awesome, service and the rest of the staff are knowledgeable and have great energy! vibes are great, and i cant wait to come read more