Arrived at Himari today and really did have a great experience! It is a small setting but it left a…read morebig impression! Sat at the bar and ordered hot saki and sparkling white wine as an added kick( both were great by the way), and then for starters we got a crispy tuna roll, which was very good, ( tuna on a bed of fried rice cake cut into rectangles , with chives and trimmings on top) order of the chicken karage , that was fried to perfection, spicy / juicy goodness and everything you want from fried chicken!, and lastly got the nigiri sampler with premium pieces of very fresh , melt in you mouth sushi! And all of this was available at happy hour prices because we got there before 5, except for the chicken karage and sparkling wine! Service was also STELLAR! I will be back for sure!!!

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.

I love coming here! The sushi is always cooked fresh and everything tastes wonderful. The spicy…read moreedamame was the perfect spice. We got the Orange Dragon, the Citrus Hamachi and the Be Someone. Each had a unique yet delicious taste that it was truly difficult to pick a favorite. The waiter was so kind and attentive. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming. I love coming back here!

Very fresh and creative rolls. Only sake cocktails. Nice chill little date night. We got the be…read moresomeone, k-pop salmon, and Texas hamachi rolls with 2 salmon nigiri and gyoza. I loved them all but I think our fave was the k-pop salmon with the kimchi sauce. I got a lychee martini and he got the spicy one. I wish they had a full bar but would def come back for some rolls

Hidden gem. Seriously one of my favorites casual restaurant spots in Houston. Bring your friends…read morehere if you want them to know you're a foodie

Adorable on the inside. Ramen was excellent. Will return. Nice new neighborhood spot.read more

Solid ramen spot with great, attentive, and efficient service and tasty food. Their menu is…read moresuccinct but shines in all areas; I am more of a ramen person than sushi, and I love their tonkotsu. The broth is rich and flavorful and comes with the standard ramen toppings, plus they offer lots of ways to customize with add-ons (I always add corn for some texture). The inside is small and intimate, but they do a great job of moving people through with their efficient service that any wait shouldn't be too bad. Parking - shared lot with others in the shopping center

Super service my flexitarian friend called go ahead and then I'll cancel and when we went in there,…read moreshe wants to look through the menu they had it done in minutes the price reasonable the service fast and friendly. The ramen flavourfull the portions are large. I didn't see a vegan choice. To be fair I was only there a few moments. There is ample parking. A first choice. In Oak Forest/Garden Oaks.

We come here about 3-4 times a month, so it's safe to say this spot is one of our go-tos. We can…read moreusually get a table without a long wait, the staff is always friendly, the atmosphere is welcoming, and the sushi is consistently fresh. Our usual lineup includes raw oysters, bone marrow, edamame, a variety of sashimis, and the hot rock short rib--and every single dish is reliably delicious each visit. The only real downsides are the timing of the dishes and the wine selection. The pacing can be pretty uneven; one person may finish their plate several minutes before another's food even arrives. If you're ordering multiple dishes, it helps to put in the longest-prep items first, then order the quicker ones 5-10 minutes later. The wine menu also feels limited and could use an upgrade. Despite those cons, the quality of the food and the overall experience keep us coming back regularly. Definitely a strong spot for sushi lovers.

Ka has been one of my go to spots for a while and on a good day they are amazing but on a bad day…read moreis shocking what they will serve, today was one of those days, I am so disappointed in the food that I was served today that I am questioning my desire to ever go back, this saddens me greatly because once again when they are on, they are really on, I truly hope that they address these issues

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.

This is such a gem in the heights! Great food, great happy hour and great service no matter what…read moreday you come here they do not disappoint! Super unique rolls! Ask for Madorii she's a fantastic waitress! Such a great neighborhood spot! Good for families good for a date night good for even a business dinner!

Our first time here, and we were pleased! My wife is a non-fish-eating sushi lover, so we were…read moredrawn to the various tofu options. Her favorite item was the Japanese Fried Rice, very savory. The menu overall was quite extensive, and the happy hour options were more diverse than most. The service from Madori was also top-notch. She was very pleasant and attentive without making us feel rushed. The restaurant itself is nice (it's the old "Helen in the Heights" location) with a large open air patio. Unfortunately, some flies thought so too ‍ Overall, a nice early evening outdoor meal!

Went for dinner since we were in the area. For a Thursday night, it was still pretty busy. All the…read moretables were full but we ended up being seated pretty quickly at bar seating. Opted for the salmon trio sashimi, tontoro skewers, and one of their new appetizers, the yuzu ageimoono (?). The taro potato balls were delicious, smooth with a nice light crispy shell covered in a salty, light yuzu dressing. The tontoro was delicious, well roasted, not too fatty, and tender. The salmon trio was also great, coming with king salmon, regular salmon, and smoked salmon. To be honest, I could tell there was a difference between the king and regular salmon, but I couldn't really tell which one was which. I also had a bite of my friend's tantanmen, which was basically like the Japanese version of dandan noodles and it was delicious, great nutty flavor with a touch of spice. It has a pretty nice menu. While it is a touch higher in price point, it is pretty reasonable for Houston. The quality is pretty equivalent to what I had in Japan, although as expected, more expensive. Will definitely need to be back to try their other items!

Yummy, quick, and decently priced…read more You can make several of the rolls into hand rolls if you ask the waiter Waiters are friendly and knowledgeable I like that they have real wasabi Vibes are pretty casual, I'd come here during the day or if you wanna grab a quick bite with someone after hanging out in river oaks

This has been on my to try list for the longest time and I'm glad I finally got to try it. Secured…read morea reservation for 11:30, right as the restaurant opened. They let us in early so we didn't have to stand out in the cold. The restaurant is small and quiet, with the sushi bar in the middle, where it's easy to see everything is made. We opted for the sashimi special, the takoyaki, the 4 season roll, and the gyu suji. The sashimi special was delicious, great cuts, nice and tender. The 4 season roll was also great, with good cuts of fish, not too fishy. The takoyaki was perfectly crispy with a good filling and just the right amount of octopus. We accidentally let the gyu suji sit out too long so it got cold and gelatinous, but they were super nice about reheating it for us. It ended up not being for me, beef tendon is just a bit too cartilaginous for me. Overall, a great experience! Will definitely need to be back!

Had their Valentine's Day omakase and loved the whole experience…read more - Omakase is in a separate, clean, intimate room from the regular dining area - Escorted to our seats + warm hand towel to start - Servers were very attentive - Chef was locked in, super cool watching everything being prepared right in front of us Favorite bites: - Cherry stone clam soup (clay pot) - Don't know how, but the clams were in the shape of fish & were big, broth was super flavorful. 9/10 - Hon maguro - First piece and they did NOT skimp on the fish. Lightly dressed, amazing texture. 9/10 - Uni - Very high quality, no weird aftertaste, super vibrant. 9.5/10 - Wagyu sushi - Melted in my mouth. So rich and tender. 10/10 - Fatty tuna - STAR of the show. Literally melts, would order a whole plate of this if I could. 10/10 - Monaka (pastry w/ red bean, mochi, and matcha cream) - Not too sweet, perfect texture combo to end the meal. 10/10 Overall: such a well-executed omakase with high-quality fish and great service. Definitely a special occasion spot

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