The food here is The atmosphere is phenomenal…read more The music is great The service is impeccable Must try in Sono

The vibe is chill. Would recommend the Ishiyaki Wagyu on hot stone! It was tasty and came with a…read moreside of kimchi and string beans. The poke bowl was flavorful but was mainly rice. I wouldn't recommend the Yaki Onigiri, despite reading positive reviews for it. The fried rice was way too heavy and didn't taste good. The greasiness was competing with the strong taste of the salmon. Some servers knew their job well, and greeted us at the door. A newer server wasn't as knowledgeable on gluten free options there and also didn't take away our used appetizer plates before serving us the mains. Not a huge deal, but it does make a difference in your dining experience and how the flow of your meal goes.

We went on a Sunday and chose the chef's counter in the tamaki-ya room hidden away in the back. We…read morewere fortunate enough to find Chef Taibe behind the counter on his otherwise night-off. I'm no foodie but I am Chinese/Japanese and can appreciate finer things in life when I see it. This place meet and exceeded my expectations. The wonderful speak-easy tamaki-ya room in the back is warmly lit and held at a nice volume, much quieter than the izakaya bar in the front. For small bites we had the Beet n Hijiki salad (highly recommend!), Agedashi tofu, and Torched Maine uni. For hand-rolls I had the Spanish Mackerel, Hokkaido Scallops, Ocean Trout, BBQ Eal & Foie Gras, and Cucumber ume. My wife had the Maine Uni, Hamachi, and Botan Ebi. Everything was good, but there were quite a few that were very good, and there were two that, for me, were the best that I've ever had in recent memory. For the Spanish Mackerel Chef Taibe put an interesting spin on it by topping it off with a traditional Chinese ginger and scallion garnish used in a tender chicken dish. It works, it balances out the briny taste of Spanish Mackerel... which is great... unless you LOVE the briny, savory, mineral, metallic, umami taste of fresh Spanish Mackerel :) The Hokkaido Scallops was, by quite a large margin, the best scallop dish I've ever had. The tender sweetness of the fresh scallop combined with a brown butter kewpie (how American!) and yuzu tobiko sauce swimmingly. Texture, temperature, taste, all perfect. I like eel and I love Unaju. But by far the biggest surprise was the BBQ Eal & Foie Gras (see pic). This dish alone warrants a culinary course. On the face of it, bbq, eel, foie gras all sets you up for something rich, filling, heavy. But when I bit into the unassuming hand roll, it was the lightest bite of Japanese rice/seafood/seaweed/liver/sauce combo I've ever had. Turns out Chef Taibe prepared the sauce from scratch using five+ different spices, and prepared the foie gras au torchon. I could go on, but suffice to say, this was one of the best bites I've ever had. By contrast, I thought I was going to close out with the cucumber ume roll, but compared to the eel and foie gras, the ume actually felt more overpowering. Perhaps if they cut back on the generous amount of ume paste... (Worthy mention: Chef Taibe presents the nori in a separate envelope. This seemingly simple step is crucial to the taste and mouthfeel of the hand roll. It provides a wonderful fresh crisp crunch to every bite and it does indeed make a difference. He mentioned he sources a special nori but I forgot the details, just know that it's really good) My wife loves uni, and I'll let her describe her experience (which she won't) but it was so good she had to order a second one. As if you need more convincing, we had a great experience and I think you will too. Bravo Chef, well done

We absolutely love Bar Bushido. From the moment you walk in, you can feel the intention behind…read moreeverything -- this isn't just a restaurant, it's a full experience. The cocktail program is seriously one of the best in the area. Creative without being gimmicky, balanced, and clearly inspired by Japanese ingredients and technique. Every drink feels thoughtful and well executed -- the kind of place where you actually want to work your way through the menu. The food is where it really shines. The chef-owner's love of Japanese cuisine comes through in every detail. The yakitori program is outstanding and deeply traditional -- using all parts of the chicken the way it's done in Japan. It's respectful, intentional, and absolutely delicious. You don't often see that level of authenticity and execution locally. The bar bites are some of the best around. The fried chicken sando is one of my personal favorites -- perfectly crispy, juicy, balanced, and craveable. And the ramen? No one can hold a candle to it. The broth is deeply flavorful and layered, the noodles are spot on, and every topping feels purposeful. It's the kind of bowl you think about the next day. Perhaps the best kept secret in all of Norwalk is the back room -- the elegant Temaki-Ya. Tucked away behind an unmarked entrance, this intimate hand-roll bar feels almost like discovering a hidden Japanese speakeasy. The atmosphere is quiet and refined, the kind of place that's perfect for a special date night or a memorable evening with friends. The temaki (hand rolls) are beautifully composed, with thoughtful ingredient combinations that balance texture, flavor, and visual appeal. What makes this place special is the dual experience -- lively izakaya vibes in the front, elegant hand-roll bar in the back -- all tied together by serious culinary skill and genuine hospitality. Norwalk is lucky to have this spot.

Hands down one of my fav. Kawa Ni in Westport. I recently went there for late lunch. Its the kind…read moreof atmosphere that feels trendy without trying too hard. Ive been there for dinner time as well, it's lively, loud in a good way, and immediately feels like somewhere you could stay for hours. I ordered the miso ramen, and it was honestly one of the most satisfying bowls of ramen I've had in Connecticut. The broth was the star of the dish its deep, rich, savory, and layered with that perfect balance of umami and subtle sweetness from the miso and a bit nitty form the sesame seeds. The noodles had the perfect texture: chewy, springy, and able to hold onto the broth beautifully. Nothing was overcooked or mushy . What impressed me most was how balanced the ramen was. Some ramen spots go overboard with salt or spice, but this bowl felt refined. Rich but not greasy. Flavorful but not overpowering. You could tell there was actual technique behind it. The portion size was also generous enough to leave completely full without feeling uncomfortable afterward. The service matched the food perfectly and so freaking sweet. I have trying to rec this all my coworkers

Ok, where do I even start with this spot!? Highly recommend…read moremaking a reservation because they book up fast. Like one of Westport's hottest restaurants right now! The decor is a lovely authentic izakaya with the wood paneling and everything. It's a beautiful homage to Japanese culture. Ok now menu. Lunch there is great but recommend going for the dinner menu over anything to have more options! The addictive cabbage is just as it says, addicting. It's acidic, savory and has the perfect crunch to it. The crab Rangoons are sooo good. They give you plenty of sauce and you can tell it's the good crab. The cold sesame noodles are perfect! A little bit of heat, a bunch of flavor. I'm drooling just thinking about it! The chili dumplings were good but a little too spicy for me! We also really enjoyed the kimchi carbonara and personally, I'm a sucker for udon noodles! And now the star of the show for me and something I've ordered three times now! The crab fried rice! The crab is so tender and buttery, like it actually melts in your mouth. And the pork belly chunks in it, also tender and delicious. I like dream of this dish every week! And the great thing is you can order the half size during dinner so you can try other things too! This spot is in my top 5 for 2026 so far! Please go try them asap!

What a nice surprise! I was craving sushi for my birthday recently, and my husband found Kazu. We…read morespilt the sushi and sashimi platter for 2, which was not only beautiful but really delicious... the fish seemed exceptionally fresh and was had a wonderful fresh taste. Our daughter had the kids bento box which she LOVED. And the waitress couldn't have been more friendly and accommodating. We will definitely be back!

Great service, delicious food. Nice ambience and reasonably priced!…read more Easy parking in the street. I recommend this restaurant!

It is sometimes a challenge to consistently produce first-rate quality and service when you are…read moreoverwhelmed by demand, but Sushi Jin did that on my recent Friday evening (prime time) visit. The place was packed, they had six sushi chefs on staff. Our party of four enjoyed many courses over several hours (my fave was the wagu tacos). Bottom line ,,, Sushi Jin is now my new absolute favorite place to dine in Fairfield County, if price is no object. Our elaborate seven-course dinner was $600 for four people, a dinner for two with fewer courses could be under $100. The ambiance is less than optimal (poor acoustics, tables closer than optimal), but if I were the owner, I would absolutely make the same choices given the demand. The food quality is outstanding. Nothing even close nearby. The staff was remarkably accommodating to our desires and availabilities (booths are more pleasurable than tables).

Love Sushi Jin. Ate here last minute at the sushi bar. The "tacos" are beautiful and delicious,…read moreeach a scoop of fresh fish (salmon yuzo, tuna poke, hamachi and scallions) nestled between taco-shaped dried seaweed. I had the sushi-sashimi combo and the fish was pristinely fresh and so pretty. Split a shrimp tempura roll, which was good. Service great and friendly, definitely unrushed. Can't wait to return.

This is the "hole in the wall" style ramen joint you've been looking for…read more I took a chance while on the hunt solo for something to eat and popped into this place. I ordered one of the special Ramen dishes and it crushed it. Excellent work! Just the right amount of spice - I think it was called volcano - but it wasn't overly spicy, it was perfect. Noodles were good, pork was good, the broth was excellent. The people working there were very nice. I enjoyed the food so much that I actually ended up ordering a noodle dish and some dumplings to go. And I added a mochi for dessert. So if you're out and about and hungry and could really use a warming bowl of Ramen, Good Hope is a good choice.

Came here on a Friday afternoon. Open seating. Very nice woman served us…read more We loved the spicy Sichuan dumplings (that she recommended) were our favorite - that sauce! But the pan fried dumplings and soup dumplings were also good. The pickled daikon was another favorite. And the chicken bao topped us off. If I was back in the neighborhood, I'd definitely come back.

This was happy dance level food. The kind of food you eat and you light up and do a little wiggle…read morein your seat. We liked the food so much we ordered more after we ate what we initially ordered. I also took my toddler here and he willingly ate most of his food. I was amazed. We ordered the stir fried chicken rice noodles, spicy salmon roll and chicken katsu. The extra dish ordered was the Red Bull roll. All the sushi tasted fresh. The katsu sauce was delicious as well as the noodles. The ambiance was nice, clean bathroom and great service. I live far from here but I would love to come again. If it was closer, I think this would be my favorite sushi place.

The place was pretty much empty but it was such a cute spot, clean and fun decorations everywhere…read more They have seating indoor as well as outdoor but it's winter so you know, inside it is! . We were a party of 7, including 2 young kids. We were greeted immediately and taken to our seats. The waitress was soooo nice and accommodating, super patient with our kiddos and so polite, so before even ordering, we were so happy to be there. They do have high chairs for kids if needed which is nice to have as an option. We ordered diff things and all of the stuff was good, I wouldn't say it was amazing but it was good. I had the Tonkotsu ramen but it was slightly salty for my taste. The ambience was good, the staff so nice, and the price was reasonable which is always a plus. Although the food wasn't the best I've ever had, the costumer service was top notch and would absolutely go there to eat again and try other things in the menu!

A great little sushi spot right on the main drag in SONO!…read more I'm always craving sushi (literally always) so when visiting Norwalk, I picked a place within walking distance from our hotel and we gave Oishi a shot. I'm so glad we ended up here because the ambiance was great, the staff was super friendly and attentive, and the food was delicious! We were seated immediately on a Saturday night (which was fantastic because everywhere else was packed). We ordered some appetizers, which were great. The calamari was very crispy. For my meal, I ordered a few small dishes (in true izakaya style) and I loved them all. I'd never seen a tofu skin sushi roll in any of the Japanese restaurants I've been to, so I was excited to try that. It lived up to the expectation. Absolutely delicious. The truffle yellowtail and toro tartar were also great. My friends both ordered hot dishes: yaki udon and ramen with pork. They were also both very happy with their meal. I tried some of the yaki udon and I thought it was super flavorful (and I'm not a big noodle gal)! The waiter brought over shots of saki on the house, which was really nice. I didn't have any since I don't drink, but my friends said it was fruity and enjoyable. We had a lovely time here overall. Cozy vibes. Great food. Friendly staff. I think my only gripe (which is super tiny) is that this doesn't resemble an izakaya well. I think they would have been better off calling it Oishi Sushi or Oishi Japanese Restaurant. The "small plates" part of the menu was small and pretty standard. I expect a lot more variety and interesting dishes at a true izakaya. But overall, really happy with my experience here!

This Japanese restaurant is amazing the fish is extremely fresh so delicious. I love the tuna it so…read morecreamy and I certainly had a party in my mouth. The salads were fresh as well the avocado was perfect complementing the other veggies so extraordinary. The service is fantastic everyone so knowledgeable of the menu the big plus is they are friendly and so welcoming.

I came in with my grandmother for a nice lunch yesterday. As always, we got tea to start out. I…read moreordered the Maki Combo and it was delicious! It was all super fresh and was made quickly. My grandmother ordered the bento box with shrimp tempura, that she loves and can never finish. She says it makes the perfect leftovers for the next day. We were excited to see they got new and improved menus! This is one of our favorite spots due to the amazing food, attentive service, and relaxing atmosphere. Truly a hidden gem in Norwalk that i'd recommend to anyone!

Fresh Sushi! Visiting CT and was craving sushi. The Maki Combo with soup & Salad was plenty & the…read moresushi was so fresh for dinner. I'll probably be back for lunch another day.

To celebrate a graduation, you can choose a number of restaurants in the area. My child was…read moregraduating from The Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts and chose OKO Kitchen. Not a chain restaurant and not very big. As it turns out, it was a perfect combination for an UH-MAZ-ING meal! Literally, upon entering the front door, a curtain pulls to the side as we entered the restaurant. A nice little touch like you're entering a whole new world. It's a quaint little spot, maybe 20 or so tables total and some bar seating available. We had a small group of 7 and fit right along the far wall. Asked for some special favors from the hostess and she was more than accommodating. Our server, Julia was phenomenal. She gave us some time to socialize, choose our meals and looked after us as if we were her only table (while taking care of a couple other tables at the same time). Very personable and helpful along the way, not just someone who took our orders only never to be seen again. She had some great suggestions and was very knowledgeable about the menu. The food was spectacular! I initially ordered a few appetizers for the table. She suggested a Makimono dish which was a selection of the same items I requested and a few more! Perfect for sharing! We enjoyed a variety of entree selections from their menu including poke bowls, sushi and grilled meats and fish. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals. The desserts were a perfect casual finish to our meal! Can't say enough good things about our experience at OKO Kitchen. The service and food were spot on! Keep on Yelp'n!

Our first time to Oko and would go again! We sat at the bar (thinking it was a sushi bar when we…read moremade the reservation, but it is a regular bar)- our fault- no big deal. The bartender was lovely and friendly without being annoying. The scallop hand roll was a huge win! My husband had the tuna hand roll and also loved his. Then, we ordered the lobster and king crab hand rolls, they were also flavorful but still went back to the scallop! Delicious! We had the crab fried rice that was very tasty and a good portion- shareable when ordered with other items. We had an array of nigiri. It's a small restaurant with city vibes, friendly service. It was expensive and I'm not completely sure everything was worth the cost, for a special occasion, it is worth it.