I love coming here for dinner or happy hour. The happy hour is delicious and I love that we can get a seat at the bar quickly. Food comes out fresh and the drinks are delicious. The decor always sets the mood and the bartenders are so fun! They are funny and polite. One thing I will say, they forgot a hand roll I ordered or maybe it didn't register in the system. The last few items I ordered were To-Go and they brought every dish on a plate. I reminded them it was to-go and they brought me little containers for the food, 3 times. read more

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Came in on the recommendation of a friend, I don't love that they don't take reservations unless you have a party of 6 or more. But we were able to get sat for a party of 2 in about 50 minutes, I believe the bar is first come first served so I'd recommend scouting out bar availability if you're quoted with a longer time than you'd prefer to wait. Ambiance is great, decor is on theme, and the music was solid, not overpowering and it didn't feel like conversations were competing with the music. We were able to hold conversation amongst ourselves and our waitress at normal volumes. Service was solid, food came fairly quickly for the most part, and there were only a couple of times where we needed to look for our server to get some additional request in. Food was amazing, I loved both the chicken and duck skewers. The edamame was okay, could have used a little more seasoning for me personally. The wagyu fried rice was nothing less than delicious. The yellow tail and jalapeño hand roll was good, but more of a taco since it wasn't rolled at all, the ingredients were more so just placed inside the sea weed. The Batanga Highball was probably the most refreshing cocktail I've had this year. Incredible experience over all, I will definitely be back, the next time I'm in town. read more

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Taro Bar is definitely one of the trendiest spots in Tampa, and I had to check it out while in the area. I really loved the concept of small plates, which makes it fun to order a variety of dishes and share with the table. The atmosphere is lively, stylish, and perfect for a night out. That said, while the food was good, nothing really wowed me enough to make me say, "I have to come back for this dish." The biggest downside is that Taro Bar doesn't take reservations for parties of six or less, so we ended up waiting about an hour to be seated. Overall, I'd say Taro Bar is more about the drinks, vibes, and trendy atmosphere than the food. If you're looking for a fun, fashionable spot to grab cocktails, socialize, and enjoy the scene, it's worth checking out. Just be prepared to wait, especially during a busy weekend! read more

Tori Bar - Cucumber salad - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Tori Bar is always such a fun spot! The vibes are consistently high, and their happy hour has a great mix of food and drink options. The spicy tuna hand roll is easily my favorite and something I order every time. My only downside is that they only take reservations for parties of 5 or more, which can make it a little tricky on busy nights. Still one of my favorite spots in Tampa! read more

Tori Bar - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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The food at Tori Bar was absolutely amazing. The Wagyu steak skewers were so good and tender and the wagyu fried rice was even better!! read more

Tori Bar - This wagyu fried rice was amazing!! - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

My partner and I tried this spot during their happy hour, mainly for the matcha martini but we luckily tried a few other items on the menu and loved them! The ambiance is very dark and intimate inside, moderate noise from all the other parties around but the decor is too notch. They have very fast service with plenty of workers constantly around cleaning and bringing items. We ordered the matcha martini which was very good but on the sweeter side, we also tried the HH highball and cocktail of the month which were also good. For food we tried the shishito skewer, karage, and 4 different hand rolls which came with wasabi and ginger on the side. Everything tasted fresh and was very flavorful, what a great spot for happy hour and we will definitely be back! read more

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Tori Bar was a great experience! It's very loved by the locals and seems like THE spot to be on a Friday night. We did not have a reservation (party or 2) and we waited about 45 min for a table. The ambiance is dim lighted and lively, perfect for dinner. The food was very good as well! They're smaller plates so trying many things is common. I loved everything we ordered especially the cucumber salad, lychee mocktail, and Rangoon! Wasn't a fan of the Lump Crab Meat Cucumber and Avocado hand roll but I think that's more of a me thing than the food itself - it is a popular one. Highly recommend this place and would love to come back! read more

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Came here on a date and thought the aesthetic of this place was cool. Very loud inside, so if you are trying to have a deep conversation this is not the location to do so. Had to scream across the table so that the guy could hear me. BUT if you are coming for the food, then this is the spot to be and share plates. The food was pretty good and service was nice. Have a good girls night here no dates! read more

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Came to Tori Bar for Happy Hour Friday night! Absolutely loved it! The place was very busy, so if you plan to come for happy hour on a Friday or Saturday definitely come early. It runs 4-6 M-Sat. We got a seat at the bar thankfully and opted for their happy house lychee highball which was $10. I sucked it down it was so good! Placed an order for the spicy tuna hand roll, the fries, Chicken Thigh with Scallion and Japanese sausage skewers, and the chicken Karaage. The handroll came out within just a few minutes. The fish was so fresh and delicious. Later on we ordered the Tekka Don (raw) which was raw tuna over rice. The tuna was so fresh and delicious. Even my date, who doesn't like sushi, tried so and was impressed! Definitely give Tori bar a try for regular or late night happy hour, or really just any time for some delicious Asian inspired small plates and hand rolls. read more

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I couldn't recommend this place more! If you're doubting, don't. If you think you'll spend too much money, you will. But only because the food is so good and you'll want more. This is one of my favorite local spots as a Florida baby. Hand rolls are really big and you'll be full from 2-3 depending on how glutinous you are. Their smashed cucumbers and crudo are FIRE. Make sure you go during happy hour so you can feel better about spending more money there. They also have a very unique drink menu. Including non-alcoholic. I like the Lychee delight. They also are good with allergens and have lots of options for gluten free. For best portion size I'd recommend the hand rolls and starters, the skewer are a little small but very flavorful so still worth the try. I know they have live music too but not sure when, I believe they update on instagram. Anyways...get in your car and get there early so you can find parking. read more

Tori Bar - Hand rolls gf & lychee delight - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Came here for the first time even though this spot is just a mile from our house. Should've been coming here much sooner! We love Izakaya Tori and knew they opened this spot a few years back. They run a fantastic happy hour from 4-6pm daily. You'll want to get here around 4 though to get a table as they do get crowded. Specials on beer, highballs, and a rotating cocktail of the month as well as specials on apps and sushi. Awesome place to hang out, elevated atmosphere, great vibes! read more

Tori Bar - Cocktail of the month special and Mentaiko Fries - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Third time at Tori Bar and I love her so much! Just missed happy hour but still well worth it... the vibes are always awesome. We ordered a a mix of things for the table and left feeling very satisfied. We started with the Hokkaido scallops, I'm not normally a scallop person but WOW. They were sliced thin and the flavors were perfection. We also had the hamachi crudo which was yummy but didn't hold up to the scallops for me! We always get an order of mentaiko fries to share which never disappoints. Our friends also got the garlic butter soy mushrooms and chicken karaage, I could do without both of those but they weren't bad. The braised pork belly was delicious and of course my first loves are the handrolls! Of course I managed to attack before I remembered to take a pic lol, but they were both sooo good. The spicy salmon was my fave, but if the eel and avocado had some sauce on it it would be perfect as well. Great time as always Tori Bar!! read more

3/5 Stars Great spot for a happy hour! The waitstaff was fantastic and super attentive, though the hosts could definitely work on being a bit friendlier. I'm leaving 3 stars mainly due to their gratuity policy and a minor service mix-up. They automatically added auto-gratuity for a "party of 6." Hear me out--our party was actually 4 adults, a toddler, and a 3-month-old who slept in a carrier the entire time. Charging automatic gratuity for an infant feels a bit excessive. But they said that is the owners rules. They have to count by head, not by who gets served. On top of that, we asked three separate times for our second order of edamame and it was never brought out. Overall, good vibes and food for happy hour, but the billing policy for babies and the forgotten item were definitely frustrating. read more

Tori Bar - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I have finally crossed the famous toy bar off my list. I came for happy hour with friends Labor Day weekend. This place is probably one of the most popular in Tampa and they definitely live up to the hype although it is a very small place. The food is really good. The service is even better and the drinks are delicious. I don't have a picture, but I got the mangoes sticky rice drink with rum. It can't come out quite strong, but it is good. My friends got the drink of the month, which was a green drink with foam and a melon garnish. They couldn't get enough of it. They ordered two. Now when it comes to the food, the chicken thigh skewer was amazing so tender and so juicy I couldn't believe my eyes. I also got the pork belly skewer. It was very delicious. I actually got two of them and the lop crab hand roll was phenomenal. If you can get two of those as well you'll thank me later. The french fries were delicious. I wish it had more of the sauce or maybe some additional sauce on the side for those at the bottom that don't get hit with the garnishes. The edamame was delicious and overall I had a wonderful experience. Outside the establishment I would like to touch on parking. It can be a bit difficult so just make sure you leave enough time to look for parking. You may have to park across the street and walk. read more

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I really enjoyed my time here at Tori Bar which seems to be THE spot in this area. We waited about 45 min for a party of 2 around 5pm or so. The food comes out very quick and it's more of a tapas style ordeal. The inside of the restaurant is dark and has cool decorations. Lots of bar seating it's probably great for a date night or just a girls night. Next time I would like to try an assortment of sashimi instead of just tuna. I would definitely return to do so. read more

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Love love love Tori Bar!!! A great local spot and always very busy. They have the BEST happy hour I've found in Tampa Bay - a huge selection of food and cocktail items to choose from where most places have a very small happy hour menu. For a girls night, we went for happy hour and had the best experience. Our waitress was a total girls girl and super helpful with recommending her favorites for us to try. I had a mocktail and my friends all had cocktails. Everything was served SO quickly! We had a wide range of things for the happy hour menu: Salmon and Avocado Hand Roll, Tuna and Avocado Hand Roll, Chicken Thigh with Scallion Skewers, Smashed Japanese Cucumber (so good!!!!) and the Brussel sprouts. I also ordered the Chicken Karaage and Shiso Rangoon off the normal menu and cannot recommend the Shiso Rangoon enough!! Truly my favorite dish. We ended dinner with the Ube cheesecake and loved it! We always have a great time here and appreciate the great service, great food, and the vibes. read more

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Tori Bar is such a vibe. If you're into Japanese inspired small bites packed with flavor, this spot is it. Everything I've tried has been really good, from the rice to the fries. The Mentaiko fries are perfectly crispy, and somehow they stay crispy even after you add the sauce which is amazing. So the ribeye with fries is a must. Super flavorful and cooked just right. Food usually comes out pretty fast. And do NOT skip dessert the ube cheesecake is incredible. It's light, unique, and the perfect way to end the meal. The atmosphere is always on point...music, great energy, and just an overall good time every visit. Only downside is the parking. It's street parking or a garage, and you definitely have to pay attention and make sure you're paying the meter because they stay on it with tickets in that area. I really wish parking was easier, but honestly, the food and vibe still make it worth it. read more

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Happy hour at Tori Bar is everything! Very nice ambiance and quick service! A few things to take note of are that they don't take reservations for a party under 6 people and there is a two hour table limit during happy hour. This is understandable because the restaurant filled up QUICKLY and I got there shortly after 4pm when happy hour starts. The lump crab hand roll was delicious, get two! I also had the miso soup, teriyaki chicken thigh skewer, and the zucchini skewer accompanied by a lychee highball. I will definitely be back for the late night happy hour as well! read more

Tori Bar - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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I have been long awaiting to try the infamous Tori Bar that has struck the Tampa Bay Area. From friends, strangers, word on the street had all told me to try out Tori Bar. They specifically mentioned to go during their happy hour because it's a great deal and so I did. I went around an hour before close;10:45 ish. The service was excellent. Our server, the food runner, and food buzzer all nice and I could tell were genuine people. My server surprised me with my drink choice of the night, the GuavaTai. It was strong but with great flavor. I would order it again and my friend got the special of the month which she really enjoyed. I then ordered myself 3 hand rolls off the happy hour menu and man were they worth the every penny. The size of the hand roll was bigger than most places I've seen. The seafood fresh. I also lovedddd that they have written on their menus what is gluten free; not a lot of places have that indicated on the menu. We also ordered the chicken karaage, chicken thigh skewer with scallion, and the braised pork. The braised pork and chicken karaage was honestly to die for. The pork was melt in your mouth tender and delicious and the karaage was just cooked to perfection. The interior had a moody feel to it, great for a date night, night out with your girls, and overall such a cute place to take pics and vibe out. I am so excited to go back and try the rest of what Tori Bar has to offer! read more

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As an avid lover of Japanese culture and food, I was anxious to try Tori Bar. I came in for their happy hour and enjoyed $10 highballs which has a unique system for added C02 which I can confirm made a difference in the taste, truly unique. The handroll I enjoyed was fresh and you can watch them making them at the end of the bar. We sat at the bar which quickly filled up, so I recommend getting there early or having a reservation, optimal for smaller parties. Ambiance is upscale, modern, japanese. If you have been to Izakaya Tori they have similar menu items but much more unique drinks, and higher quality offerings. read more

Tori Bar - Highball - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Came here for Happy Hour on a Wednesday, and it was pretty busy. Opted to sit outside, as it was November. The Happy Hour isn't a huge discount from the regular prices, but still a deal. The fries are absolutely delicious, the lychee speciality drink is a bit sweet but still yummy (as long as you like sweet), and the rolls were good not great... I tried the crab one, since the server told us it is real crab, and it probably is, but just not super flavorful? The pork belly skewers were crispy and yummy as well! Service was fast and helpful! read more

The food was so good! The wagyu skewer was my favorite. Will definitely come back. My waitress was very friendly and helpful when ordering my food. She knew it was my first time visiting and recommended how each item should be prepared. I sat outside on a new evening night, they have the outdoor area well lit with fans on. The inside was pretty busy and noisy, nice social interaction. read more

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Tori Bar is such a great spot! The cocktails are phenomenal, and the vibe and atmosphere are awesome, especially with the music. There's a great variety of dishes to choose from, which makes it perfect for ordering a bunch of different things and sharing. The sea bass was excellent, the crab rangoon was delicious, and the hand rolls were some of our favorites. The lamb chop lollies were also really good and definitely worth trying. Great drinks, great food, and a really fun atmosphere. Definitely a place I'll be coming back to! read more

Excellent Happy Hour with neat and unique events that are thrown here. Service at the bar is best and some of the servers are not friendly and have an issue with patrons requesting extra blue cheese olives LOL. It's me. Food is incredible I will say. This is a sister restaurant to Izakaya Tori off Dale Mabry. I recognized their plating and their iconic Shiso Rangoon that have me dreaming about them every other day. Try this place out. HH from 4-6 M-F. read more

Tori Bar - Crab and Avocado Hand Roll and Tuna Sashimi Variety - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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My first time here was on a Wednesday for the girls nights in March, I arrived right at 7 and it was already packed! I didn't realize how popular this spot was even on the weekday nights. Our group got a booth by the bar - plenty of space for 6-7 of us which was great. We started with drinks, I ordered the lychee martini and it was fantastic - it really has a great lychee flavor which isn't always on the mark with lychee martinis. The mentaiko fries were good, definitely shareable size. The rice was the real winner at our table, it was delicious. The chicken thigh with scallion skewers were also delicious, we ordered them a little extra crispy and I would recommend ordering them that way. For dessert - if there's anything you MUST try, it's the ube cheesecake. That was a 10/10 for me. It's a great spot to get together with your friends, but make sure you get there early enough to grab a table or you'll be waiting for quite some time! read more

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This review was somewhere in between a 3/5 and 4/5. It easily could've been a four with some minor differences. There was just something about Tori Bar that didn't meet the high expectations others have thrown on to them. First off, plan to pay for parking (~$3/hr). It was a busy Friday night when we came so we understood it would be busy. We just missed happy hour by a minute or two due to a 40 minute wait. We ordered the tuna handroll and the yellowtail handroll. Both were adequate but I'm not a fan of the handroll style. Just give me sushi. It was the same cost as a normal sushi roll but with less value. The quality was fine just the concept is meh. We also ordered the Duck Skewer and the Chicken Thigh Skewer. Chicken Thigh Skewer was definitely worth it. Tasty and a decent portion for a 'single serving' while the Duck needed seasoned a bit more and was much less generous for the serving signs despite being already well more expensive than the Chicken Thigh. We also ordered the fries, which needed a bit more sauce which they were happy to bring. Nothing special but helped filled us up. We also ordered the Kaarage chicken which was ok but nothing special, not worth getting. The best part about Tori Bar is the vibe on the patio with some beautiful weather. The service was ok, but it took about ten minutes to get helped after seating and what felt like another ten to get our check at the end. The biggest qualm I have with Tori Bar are the 'single serving style' menu. It feels like you have to order the exact right amount of food to not be hungry or you could also then waste money. Psychologically it isn't the best feeling to mentally swipe a card to order more food just to fill up a 'normal dinner portion'. All the drinks looked good but we didn't order any. Will I be back anytime soon? Probably not. It's the perfect place to come when someone else like work or a company is picking up the check, just not on my own dime. I'd rather just get Sushi somewhere else or just gets Korean food somewhere else. read more

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Late night dinner after watching a concert. Nice bar full of young people from UT. Nice selection of sushi rolls and small plates Great service. No pics cause I ate first! read more

I'm obsessed with this place. I'm in Tampa often for work and I always stop in when I'm in town. The food is amazing, there isnt anything I don't love. My only issue is that it is absurdly cold every time I've been in. I know Tampa is hot but may I suggest not freezing us out. read more

Literally my go to spot in Tampa. It stays open late which is always a win, and the vibe is super easygoing and fun. I really love their handrolls--always fresh and made really well. The lychee drink is also a favorite, super refreshing and not too sweet. And the truffle rice is honestly so good, kind of addictive read more

Tori Bar - Hand rolls - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Enjoyed eating here for date night! We got there around 6pm and waited about 25 minutes for a table. Service was very fast as plates come out maybe 5-10 minutes after you place an order! The drinks were very very strong for my liking but still tasty. We ordered so much food but it was so amazing! My favorite was the spicy tuna roll. It is near the university so expect a lot of college kids! Overall, really nice restaurant. read more

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I think it's safe to say that Tori Bar is my favorite Japanese restaurant in Tampa! If there's one place you'll catch me at least twice a month, it's here for happy hour (4pm - 7pm). It's also my go-to spot whenever I have friends visiting Tampa and want them to experience one of the best dining gems in the city. The food is always consistent, and the flavors never miss. My absolute favorite dish is the truffle pot rice! Rich, comforting, and packed with flavor. I also can't skip the braised pork belly skewers, which are perfectly tender and full of savory goodness. As for drinks, the lychee martinis here are easily the best I've had in Tampa. They're perfectly balanced and dangerously good. And if you have room for dessert, the matcha crème brûlée is the perfect sweet ending. Between the food, quick service an drinks, and overall vibe, Tori Bar never disappoints. Be back soon! read more

A must visit restaurant in Tampa! Street parking was easy to find, which made arriving stress free. The moment we walked in, we were impressed by the beautiful interior decor and how clean and inviting the place felt. We had a reservation for a large party, and despite how busy it was, the staff made sure everyone felt well taken care of. Our server, Monica, was absolutely phenomenal. She anticipated our needs, ensured no one waited long for anything, and gave fantastic recommendations that really enhanced our experience. The food was outstanding. Every single dish we tried blew us away. Since everything is served tapas style (small plates), we loved being able to sample a wide variety of flavors. We can't wait to go back! read more

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We stopped in on a Friday night for drinks and snacks. We sat at the bar and ordered drinks. I ordered the espresso martini and was very happy with it. We then shared a hand roll and the fries. The fries were an incredibly large serving! We had a great experience and would come back again! read more

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Slowly becoming a Tampa staple! Had a great experience here. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated, and although it's a small space, they did a great job maximizing it so that guests don't feel crowded. Went here for the late night happy hour on Valentine's Day and thoroughly enjoyed myself. We had the Spicy Octopus hand roll, Chicken Thigh, Chicken Wing, and Pork Belly skewers. We also had the Mentaiko fries. All super yummy! Also had the Lychee Highball. The bartender was lovely! Overall amazing experience, can't wait to visit again. read more

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Impromptu late night grab after a concert. We always dined at its sister restaurant Izakaya, Tori and food is always delicious there. We started off with some appetizers I like the french fries, poke bowls, hand sushi, and a variety of skewers. The food was very good and service was quick. So appreciative of that given we were starving from a concert. Great place to hang out with your friends. Nice bar area! I would recommend if you are looking for bar type setting and small plates to e read more

The best happy hour in Tampa! Almost daily deals with flavorful skewers, massive handrolls and delicious drinks. Service is amazing and quick. I don't know how they do it. I will be back for the truffle scallop pot rice and the pork belly skewers. read more

Tori Bar is such a great spot for Japanese small bites and easily one of my favorite places for a fun night out. Everything we ordered was incredible, and honestly there isn't a bad item on the menu. The pork skewers were perfectly cooked and packed with flavor, the karaage was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, and the fries with spicy mayo were dangerously addictive. The crab hand rolls were fresh, well balanced, and absolutely delicious. Even the smaller plates felt thoughtfully done and high quality. The service is always great too! The ambiance really sets the mood. It's sexy, dark, and intimate, making it super cute for a date night or a night out with friends. The vibe feels elevated but still relaxed, which makes you want to stay, snack, and order one more thing. If you're into great food, good energy, and a cool atmosphere, Tori Bar is a must. read more

What used to be fly bar is now Tori bar and I absolutely love what they did with the place. It's undeniable that Tori bar has an amazing late night happy hour however I was really disappointed with their service. I arrived at about 10:15 PM sat at the bar waited over 30 minutes to be served. They finally were able to take my order and when that time came, they told me that their kitchen was already closed due to them closing at 11. I was actually baffled considering I had been waiting at the bar to be served for 30 minutes. I will say they did end up serving me after I expressed my concerns However it really did take away from the experience. I really want to enjoy the ambience and the food, but the whole thing was kinda ruined after the service issue. I will absolutely give Tori bar another chance despite the service because the food and drinks were actually that good. read more

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Was able to stop in for late night happy hour with the squad. Service was very accommodating as always and super friendly. The Japanese smash cucumber is a very good gluten free/veggie dish that was my highlight of the night. Other items I tried were avocado & cucumber hand roll, chicken wings (salt) and tomatoes. Overall my second trip to Tori Bar was yet again amazing. The ambiance is really nice, the lighting truly sets the mood for awesome nights in Tampa Bay! read more

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I wouldn't come back for the food, but I would definitely check out more drinks here. The $15 matcha martini was out of this world yummy and typically I don't even like matcha. The bad news. I came here on a Friday night at 6:32pm. I was told a 35 minute wait. However, the actual wait time was 1 hour and 1 minute. Off by a lot. The tables here are super close together unless you get a booth or a high top table. The bar area is big and maybe I'd just sit there next time. Now, back to the food. The only food item that was above average was the $9 chicken karaage. I would probably just get multiple orders of this. Also, the $13 Garlic butter wild mushroom was pretty good too. Both the chicken and rib eye steak skewers were terrible. No flavor, and just bad. The spicy edamame wasn't spicy, and didn't taste right. Lastly, I tried a $14 green day drink and it was good too, but the matcha drink was the star of the night. I like all the Japanese ambiance, but once again, I'd only come here for drinks and karaaage. read more

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