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Uchi Houston

4.4 (2.6k reviews)
Closed • 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM
Updated 3 months ago

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UCHI HOUSTON ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Trendy
Dressy
Good for groups

Recommended Reviews - Uchi Houston

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Fried milk
Neal M.

Friendly staff, enthusiastic service, intimate atmosphere! Came to Uchi as part of a group dinner with a set coursed menu. The food was fantastic-- fresh, clean, and well complimenting flavors. The highlight for us was the Chutoro nigiri. Despite a classic combination of flavors, the ginger they used had a fresh and spicy kick which we all enjoyed, paired with melt in your mouth fish. The coursed dinner proved that you can't really go wrong with any of the menu items at Uchi, they're all made with simple ingredients which are prepared and paired well. Is it the best sushi restaurant in Houston? Unfortunately not... but are they in the runnings? 100% The vibes at Uchi are intimate. Regardless of if it's a date or a group dinner, the environment really brings everyone together... the bustling conversations throughout the dining room is evidence of that. Rating: 9/10, rounded up for 5 stars for great service and simply great ingredients

Nida H.

Delicious omasake experience! We also ordered the shag roll from the menu. Would definitely recommend the happy hour omakase! It's filling, well-timed out courses, and a reasonable price for the amount of food. Ambiance is perfect for a fun date. Hype music but not too loud where you can't hear your date. Service is very very good. Every waiter is attentive, friendly, and welcoming.

Stephanie I.

This is my second time coming to Uchi. I was greeted by the hosts when I walked in and was taken care of. The staff were so friendly and they made sure to check on us while we were enjoying our meals. I went during happy hour which there was a lot of great deals. I got the omakase for 2 and it was worth it. I was excited to see what we were going to get next. The salmon nigiri was my favorite.We also got the Hama Kama and the flavor was amazing. It was so soft and the fish fell off the bone. I would definitely go back here especially if you are coming to celebrate for a special occasion.

Tiffany H.

Had a reservation at Uchi. Seated once the entire party arrived. Got our drink orders in quick. - Espresso martini was pretty good & miso carajillo was better after mixing! It took a while before food orders were placed. Luckily everything came out at a good pace. Service was excellent and staff was friendly. - Ora king salmon (1 big piece) - least fave, worth trying once tho - Muki hotate gunkan (scallop & avocado) - got a 2nd round since they were that good Sashimi 6pc - Madai: Good but scales/crispy texture threw me off - can't decide which was my fave between Akami (tuna) & Sake toro (salmon belly) - Unagi nigiri was great (slightly crispy) - Zero sen maki: roll was delicious, unique flavors! - Enjoyed the brussel sprouts. - Hot rock (wagyu 6pc): just like the name, that's where you cook the meat for a few seconds haha - Hama chili (yellowtail paired w/ orange): this was amazing They brought a complimentary dessert for a friend celebrating her birthday! Dessert: Fried milk ice cream (3pc) - melts in your mouth! Honestly each person should order their own portion for this! Can't wait to dine at Uchi again!

Henry S.

Food was amazing sat at the sushi bar great service and amazing kind employees. Jose was our sushi bar server he made the night, took the review from a 4 stars to a 5 stars. Only complaint is I didn't stay longer.

Maguro sashimi and goat cheese.. Bigeye tuna with pumpkin oil
Ivy L.

The best way to enjoy Uchi is to go the somakase route! We come once in awhile and all we need to do is find a reservation and sit down and let the servers know what we like/dislike and they do the rest! They check in with you after 10 courses or so to see how hungry you are and gauge what they put in based on hunger! The caviar service is fantastic!! The ostetra caviar is briny and salty, without any of the fishiness! It comes with fried potato cubes that I feel takes away from the caviar, but they're great alone! I even asked for ketchup one day to finish them - fyi, nobody has ketchup in the kitchen . We usually lean towards more of the raw stuff and the crudos and sushi bites are always fantastic! Depending on your server, the things they send in might be different! Ambiance is casual, dimly lit and romantic.. but service is pretty fantastic the last few times we've been. Not a huge fan of the cocktails but we always make up for it with a bottle of wine or sake! They have a new dessert - a cilantro granita over a panna cotta with honey crumbs underneath. It is so refreshing, unique and the flavors are fantastic - not too sweet! Make reservations or try your luck at the bar for drop-in dining!

Valencia H.

Stop 3 on an unexpected happy hour tour! Let's just say what I thought would be a 2 hour catch up at another spot turned into a full on girls night. We had already eaten but all desperately wanted a lychee martini. So we walked over and met the sweetest worker who told us we could hang out on the patio if we wanted a more relaxed vibe since we weren't planning on ordering food. This was perfect since we weren't also planning to do our small gifts exchange! We ran into a couple of guys who wanted to join in the fun and ended up getting us another round of a specialty margarita. While we were surprised there were no actual lychees the cocktail was still beautiful and even included an edible flower. Will come back for dinner

Nicki M.

Uchi is one of those places that is consistently delicious and keeps me coming back! I've been many times and always have a really fun server but this time, ours was definitely good and knowledgeable but just lacked that "so glad you're here" personality. I didn't realize how much that makes an impression on your dining experience. The restaurant is upscale with sophisticated atmosphere. Everything I ordered was delicious and expertly crafted. My favorite of the evening was the lobster laksa!

Teresa M.

Everything is great here: foods, service, and ambiance! We have been here couple times. We couldn't book at 6pm. Our reservation is 4:30pm. Still very crowded. We got valet parking, they waived our parking fee. Will definitely come back!

Yasmin S.

I loveddd their happy hour! We ordered lychee martinis which were super good, and a margarita on their menu which was yummy. The only downside is that they don't include a lychee in them(bummer!) However, our waitress was so sweet! I can't remember her name, but she worked Friday evening. She was very personable, and super friendly. I'll definitely be back for food next time.

a5 Hot Rock
Kiran A.

Husband wanted to do an impromptu date night in the middle of the week, and we've always heard so much about Uchi he decided that's where he wanted to go! He was able to get reservations for the next day, even though they showed fully booked they were able to fit us in when we called them, which we really appreciated. I'm always a bit nervous with places that serve sushi because there's never much on the menu for me- I don't do seafood. And understandably I can't expect them to cater to non-seafood eaters at a seafood place. However, Uchi has so many options! They even have a vegetarian menu. My friends had told me to be sure to try the Gyutoro, it's this 72 hour wagyu beef sashimi, and when they bring it out they explain the way to eat it is to flip inside down and get a feel for the seasoning on the bottom. It was melt in your mouth delicious. We were so happy with that dish we ordered more. We also had the A5 Hot Rock with wagyu and it was such a fun concept. They bring out a hot stone, and raw wagyu beef, that you cook yourself tableside on top of the stone, it instantly starts to sizzle when the beef touches it. It's interesting because this was also Wagyu beef but the flavors and taste were entirely different from the other dishes we had ordered. We enjoyed this and was a fun concept. We had edamame which was standard fare, onion ring tempura- nice and crispy, gyumaki and for dessert we had the fried milk dessert. We enjoyed everything we ordered. Our server did seem in a hurry to rush us out, maybe that's because we were worked in when they were showing sold out? We had a great time though and can't wait to try more on the menu.

Sa'Rah H.

Who knew Uchi did house calls...and I'm not talking door dash. I recently had the pleasure of attending a birthday celebration in the form of an amazing dinner party for my brother and sis-n-law at their home. I mean wow...it's been over a week but I'm still thinking about this phenomenal experience. The Uchi team was exceptional and professional. From the chefs, cooks and host and servers they were on their game from start to finish. The champagne, sake and wine was flowing nonstop the entire evening. Every single dish of the 10 course tasting menu was phenomenal but my favorites included the Hama chilli, sake crudo and the wagyu tataki which was my favorite bite of the night. The dessert was the cherry on top to a perfect dining experience and we barely had room to finish it all. There was so much food! After the meal, the kitchen was clean, without a trace and they were gone out the back door within minutes. It was truly bewildering how quickly they just disappeared. They left us full, happy and satisfied. If you can swing it, I highly recommend this experience at your home. Everything was truly beautiful and sooooooo good.

HsiaoCheng W.

Now that was some good fish. The evening started as most do with me trying to find parking. I had heard that the self parking at the garage across the street can have issues with cell reception there and since it's QR code pay deal, this could be an issue as it has been for others. Valet was complimentary but I knew we'd be there more than 3 hours which I had read was the limit. So we decided to do street parking. Dicey dicey dicey neighborhood with some cars spray painted and some houses abandoned. But we took our chances and parked a couple blocks north of the restaurant. Thankfully the car was still there and in tact by the night's end. We went for a group event. They had sushi making together with an Omekase menu. The bar tender told us before the event that the sushi making is usually a contest and she was right. Guess who won. Heh heh. Pro tip - I think as long as your sushi is reasonably decent looking, then the way you decorate the dish with the sauce will decide your fate. And yes you do get to eat your sushi when finished! The Omakase had so many dishes. And it was one of the few times I can honestly say I got kinda full during a Japanese meal. We even had desert which was fried milk and so delicious. The a5 wagyu was my favorite with the various Nigiri that you gotta eat it upside down per their instruction. The hot stone beef was fun to make. And so many other dishes that I really can't recall. I was going to take pics but it was a classy event. Nobody pulling out the cameras as it's probably everyday fare for the others. But for this po boy it was a once in a lifetime experience!

biendo

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Page 5 of 66

Uchi Houston Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Uchi Houston

What is the dress code for women?

Whatever you want it to be

Do they really open at 4pm now?

Heck yeah

Do you still have patio seating?

No, they do not but check out their adjoining bar.

How much is the omakase?

$175 as of May 2024

Is social hour offered on the weekends as well?

Yes

Is the full menu also available during happy hour?

If the question is about the food, then they have a Happy hour menu, both vegetarian or vegan and regular

Is there outdoor seating?

No I don't believe there is sorry :(

Is there still a corking fee?

No I don't believe so but don't absolutely quote me on that! But we'll worth it I promise!

Is the happy hour till 6 or 6:30pm?

Hi Jenny. Happy hour ends at 6pm now.

Does this restaurant offer tatami floor seating?

No they don't its a more modern sushi restaurant. You might want to try Teppay

How much is valet parking?

Its complimentary, you just have to let the valet service know that you are visiting Uchi.

I love sushi, but my partner does not. Do they have dishes available for people who don't eat raw fish or raw meat? Anything cooked that's not sushi? The menu is a bit difficult to understand.

They have many cooked items that are delicious. Not everything is raw but I wouldn't suggest Omakase "Chef's choice" because it is mostly raw

I see in curbside menu that there's Omakase for $150.... if that for one person or is that a bundle because it mentions for two?

We didn't have the Omakase curbside, but dined in. They're small plates, so the dishes will prob avg 2 pieces or so.

I noticed recent pictures of to go sushi it doesn't look good. Could they serve with ice? After all it's raw fish and ice isn't a huge overhead.

My wife and I were there tonight. Quality was excellent. As good as always. Less of a crowd as expected.… Read more

Is Uchi still offering happy hour?

Yes, Uchi is honoring their Sake Social menu everyday between 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM CT.

How dressy is dressy attire?

Upscale casual. I wouldn't go here in shorts and flip flops, but the crowd is definitely on the dressier side. They're pretty relaxed, so a cool hipster vibe works well too.

Can someone eat at the bar without a reservation?

Yes, there are two bars, one that's geared more to drinking but you can still order food and then the sushi bar, which is where you want to be obviously. the earlier you go, the easier it is to get a good spot. You might have to wait 10-15 minutes… Read more

What time do you have to start lining up to get first or second place in the sake social line? I know it's offered from 5 to 6:30 but there's a huge line every day when I pass by! Also where in the restaurant is the best place to sit? Thanks!

Generally the wait isn't very long these days. I just went 2 Wednesdays ago, and we just happened to get there 5 minutes before opening (wasn't really trying to get there early), and we were third in line. Seated immediately.

How much is the chef's tasting menu?

The price of the tasting menus vary daily, but the 5-6 course "favorites" menu is generally $75 for two people and the 10 course omakase is about $100/pp. If you're looking to dine with a specific budget, the servers or chefs at the sushi bar can… Read more

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Aiko - Mochi Dessert

Aiko

4.5(337 reviews)
1.8 mi•Sixth Ward
Locally owned & operated
Free parking

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.

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Aiko
Aiko - Cucumber tomato salad

Cucumber tomato salad

Aiko - Salmon toro w. truffle & caviar

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Salmon toro w. truffle & caviar

Himari

Himari

4.3(116 reviews)
5.3 mi•Oak Forest/Garden Oaks
•$$

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.

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Himari - Chef Eber recommended

Chef Eber recommended

Himari - Salmon roll

Salmon roll

Himari - Lychee martini

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Lychee martini

Katami - Osaka Decadent roll

Katami

4.6(303 reviews)
0.9 mi•Montrose
•$$$

At Katami, the flavors arrive like fragments of memory before they become a whole sentence. This is…read morethe strange pleasure (and occasional frustration) of fine dining when you cook enough yourself to recognize the building blocks. You spend half the meal trying to identify each note before the dish moves past analysis and settles into feeling. The shrimp toast came first, and it read almost plainly at first bite: cultured tang from crème fraîche, sweet fruit, the faint richness of butter soaking into impossibly thin milk bread. A small herb scattered on top sharpened everything just enough. Then the caviar arrived not as luxury punctuation but as structure, binding the sourness and sweetness into something quieter and more deliberate. At home, these flavors would sit beside one another. Here, they dissolved into each other. Several dishes moved unmistakably toward Vietnamese flavors without ever becoming literal reproductions. The branzino tempura carried the familiar push and pull of nước mắm and sugar, maybe shrimp paste somewhere underneath, though softened into something more restrained. A brown sauce alongside it tasted almost startlingly recognizable: peanut butter, grainy sugar, the kind of sweet-savory depth that recalls satay sauce made in a home kitchen. The flavors are not hidden exactly, but compressed. In home cooking, especially in Southeast Asian food, flavor often announces itself clearly: fish sauce is fish sauce, herbs remain bright and separate, sugar lands directly on the palate. At Katami, those same references are blurred at the edges. Sometimes the dishes communicated more through texture than taste. The rockfish, paired with yuzu kosho, had a peppery structure that lingered longer than the citrus itself. The sakura salmon tasted like a spring time promenade, cherry blossom petals scattering in the bright, breezy sky. Overall, I recommend this sushi spot for a contemporary perspective on fine dining sushi. I was surprised to see other cuisines blended in compared to restaurants that are distinctly Japanese. Katami focuses on a story with each individual course, instead of all the plates flowing together. Each dish has a start and finish, it felt like reading a book compiled of mini poems!

The ambiance is nice, and our server was excellent--very knowledgeable about the menu and helpful…read morethroughout the meal. The fish quality is solid, which is expected given that this restaurant is priced higher than most sushi spots. That said, the dishes felt a bit one-dimensional. Everything was good, but nothing really stood out or felt memorable. It seemed like the menu played things too safe, and we never had a moment where we thought, "this is what makes this place special." One disappointing moment was with a food runner. My sister has a severe shellfish allergy, and when she called him back--just once--to double-check potential contamination, he rolled his eyes before responding. That reaction was pretty surprising and not appropriate, especially given the seriousness of food allergies. Overall, the sushi is decent and the fish quality is good, but it didn't leave a lasting impression.

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Katami - Fresh flowers.

Fresh flowers.

Katami - Foie Scallop

Foie Scallop

Katami - Roasted cabbage

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Roasted cabbage

Handies Douzo

Handies Douzo

4.6(503 reviews)
2.6 mi•The Heights
•$$

Been to both the Heights and Montrose locations regularly and Handies is easily my favorite go-to…read morehandroll spot in the city. The selection is great across the board, I genuinely enjoy every hand roll I've had, and you really can't go wrong with any of the sets. The crudo is always a hit too. What I love most is how approachable it is - from the vibe inside to even the food itself. It works just as well for a quick but really good meal as it does for stopping in to grab a hand roll or two between errands or before heading somewhere else. Consistently high quality without feeling overly serious or complicated. Service is always on top of it, the experience is efficient without feeling rushed, and it's one of those spots that stays in regular rotation no matter how many new places pop up around the city.

Handies Douzo is easily one of the first places I will recommend when in Houston. Their handrolls…read moreare unmatched, and the crudos are just as good. It's a great spot to enjoy high-quality sushi without the price tag of an upscale restaurant. The staff are always warm and welcoming, and the all-bar seating creates a lively, interactive dining experience. I usually order a 3-handroll set, add a hamachi handroll at the end, and share the chutoro sashimi. The chutoro just melts in your mouth, and each handroll is thoughtfully balanced with great flavor combinations. It's always a reliable place to go to and can serve as a quick bite when I'm indecisive on where to eat. That being said, it gets pretty busy during dinner time, so I'd recommend making a reservation ahead of time.

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Handies Douzo - Inside vibe

Inside vibe

Handies Douzo - Salmon handroll

Salmon handroll

Handies Douzo - Bgb Sake

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Bgb Sake

Tins

Tins

4.9(51 reviews)
2.7 mi•The Heights

We went to TINS on Friday for my birthday. We love going to an Omakase, but this is more. This is…read morean experience. Chef Sky puts all of his passion into this 14 course adventure. Each bite is elevated and delicious. We wanted to eat slow and enjoy each bite, but each was better than the last and so hard to eat slow! We were anticipating each piece! We loved the addition of laksa and his Malaysian influence. It was so hard to pick a favorite. The sake FLOWS! It's truly unlimited. We had so much fun. The interior is vibe in itself. If you go for the 8 o'clock seating, they do karaoke after and I can only imagine how fun that it since Chef Sky is so fun. He shared so much knowledge and was just so much fun to talk to as well. We finished our meal and stayed another 40 minutes talk to Chef and enjoying the sake. It really is more than just sushi. You will not find wasabi and soy sauce anywhere. Each of the sauces elevates each bite you take and compliments it so well. Here's what we enjoyed: 1.Madai (jalapeño dressing ) 2.Hickory smoke sichimi salmon ( crunchy garlic and sweet & sour sauce ) 3.Scallop with sesame oil , truffle salt , fried garlic , ponzu and mint leaf ) 4.Malaysian curry laksa 5.Tuna (Spain ) mango salsa make with tom yum sauce 6.Kanpachi (Hawaii ) truffle oil , Himalayan salt & lemon zest 7.King salmon (New Zealand ) seared with yuzu miso and Malaysian crunchy fried anchovy 8. Santa Barbara uni shooter 9. Founder (repulic of Korea) homemade pepper sauce 10. Seared escolar with pork floss 11. Toro with creamy cilantro lime sauce with kizami wasabi 12 . Hamachi with Malaysian style sweet garlic sauce 13. Unagi with old granny spice and yuzu salt 14. mango crepes cake

Tins is, without a doubt, the best omakase like experience I've ever had. Every course flowed…read moreseamlessly into the next, each dish complementing the last in a way that felt intentional and artful. Honestly--hands down better than Uchi. The atmosphere was amazing. Chef Sky was welcoming, friendly, and incredibly entertaining. You can tell he loves what he does, and it makes the whole experience that much better. If you enjoy sake, do yourself a favor and catch a ride there and back. The bottomless sake is no joke and pairs perfectly with every dish! And whatever you do, don't miss karaoke after the 8pm seating. It was an absolute blast. By the end of the night, everyone--complete strangers when we walked in--felt like instant friends while singing our hearts out. I've definitely found my new favorite date night / family night / any-night spot. Cannot recommend Tins enough!

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Tins
Tins - Unlimited sake

Unlimited sake

Tins - Yellowtail (sweet garlic sauce)

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Yellowtail (sweet garlic sauce)

Kata Robata - Texas Wagyu Katsu Sando

Kata Robata

4.3(2.3k reviews)
1.9 mi•Upper Kirby
•$$$

Kata Robata was an amazing experience from start to finish! We decided to try several of the daily…read morespecials along with a few menu favorites, and everything was absolutely delicious. From the specials menu, we started with the spicy garlic coconut milk mussels made with fresh Prince Edward Island/British Columbia mussels in a rich spicy garlic coconut cream sauce, topped with green onions and served with toasted ciabatta bread. The broth was incredible and packed with flavor. As an appetizer, we ordered the Texas Wagyu Hot Stone Bowl -- the only rice item on the menu at the time -- made with rice, egg, kimchi sauce, tawan mushrooms, sesame, and green onion. It was prepared tableside for us, which made the experience even more fun and interactive. We also tried the Spicy Soy Ramen with braised ground pork, chili oil, soy milk broth, soft boiled egg, wakame, green onion, and micro cilantro. The flavors were rich, comforting, and had the perfect amount of spice. The Nagasaki Champon Ramen was another standout with clams, shrimp, cabbage, pork, onion, ginger, and micro cilantro in a flavorful broth that tasted fresh and authentic. The restrooms were very Japanese-inspired and beautifully maintained, adding to the atmosphere of the restaurant. Gabby was an amazing waitress -- attentive, friendly, knowledgeable, and made the entire dining experience even better. Then there was dessert: Green Tea soufflé and chocolate milk bread pudding! I hope i get a picture of it!!! Service is GREAT! Drinks are filled. Needs are met- and exceeded!!!0 Parking is self parking, but it was worth it. We will definitely be back again to try many more items on the menu! Come early if you want to hear your partner it gets LOUD!

The food tasted good but nothing was new or exciting. The service was terrible... our waitress…read more(Karen?) was really slow.. also my friend waited almost 45 minutes for a glass of wine. She clearly forgot to ring it in and then brought us the check. We then asked for the glass of wine and she brought it with a revised check. We also never saw a manager during our visit. At the end, we were charged 20% gratuity for a group of 7... seemed strange. Not saying we wouldn't have tipped that but it didn't sit well knowing the service was so bad.

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Kata Robata
Kata Robata - Various nigiri.

Various nigiri.

Kata Robata - Okinawa Sun - strong AF

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Okinawa Sun - strong AF

Ume Sushi

Ume Sushi

4.6(219 reviews)
2.6 mi•The Heights

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

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Ume Sushi
Ume Sushi - A5 wagyu beef toban yaki

A5 wagyu beef toban yaki

Ume Sushi - Ume Symphony Cocktail

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Ume Symphony Cocktail

Uchi Houston - sushi - Updated May 2026

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