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Ajishin
Categories: Restaurants Sushi Bars Restaurants Japanese Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
42270 Grand River AveNovi, MI 48375
(248) 380-9850
- Hours:
Mon, Wed-Sun 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon, Wed-Sun 5 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
103 reviews for Ajishin
Review Highlights
"The varieties of udon, curry rice, sushi were all good."
(in 10 reviews)
"...up some amazing pastries from hippo bakery while you wait."
(in 5 reviews)
"...favorite dish is the Grilled Fish Combo- it comes with..."
(in 7 reviews)
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103 reviews in English
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Review from Victoria K.
Ann Arbor Charter Township, MI
12/23/2011
Authentic Japanese food! With American serving size!
The sashimi was fresh. The udon was tasty. The fish we ordered fried until crispy outside but still juicy inside... Heaven.
Worth the hour long queue even though we went with a reservation. -
Review from Amanda K.
Mukilteo, WA
12/5/2011
I haven't been here in a very long time, since we moved out of state several years ago. And I only went twice before we moved. We discovered it a bit too late!! But, I have to say - this was the first place I ever had Udon soup, and I got their special "Ajishin Udon". OMG! I could kill them for giving me the best Udon I've ever had as my first experience. Nothing has compared. Nothing. I'm still looking. But I loved their Udon so much - that 5 years later, I'm still looking for one as good - and still disappointed everywhere else.
Small place - long wait if no reservation. PACKED. OMG good udon. -
Review from Jessica W.
Ann Arbor, MI
11/23/2011
Mmmmm, mmmmm, udon... So warm, noodley, and delicious.
You can tell by the number of people that frequent this place on an ordinary Saturday afternoon that there must be something magical going on. And there is.
The soup was lovely, the fish tasted fresh, and the rolls were well-made and scrumptious. I now see why people drive all the way out from Ann Arbor for this place: it's the best around. -
Review from Luke R.
Updated - 11/10/2011
After a less than stellar visit at a different Sushi/Noodle eatery I decided to give Ajishin another go.
It was jam packed in there, several people already waiting to be seated. The main counter was full every seat.
I lucked out at having only to wait about 5 mins, and able to sit at 12noon being able to get a table for lunch.
The menu has not changed since the last time I visited, however I could not recall what it was I had had last time.
I knew only that I wanted a big bowl of Udon and some vege sushi.
I opted for Tetsagaku? Udon and 2 avocado rolls. they served me some complimentary rice ball which I gobbled up quickly - it was bland however, it did not taste like I recall it did before.
I was not in any rush, so I sat with my tablet pc out to finish reading a couple ebooks while I waited for my order.
the sushi rolls came first. the rolls were the inside out style, with the avocado inside the seaweed and the rice on the outside, rolled in toasted sesame seeds. the flavor was buttery and the seeds gave it a nice crunch. I had never had vege suhsi from Ajishin before but if this is representative of their other sushi types then I will be happy with getting vege sushi and Udon every time I visit.
the soup looked just as I remember... a thick pork curry with scallions, fried tofu, kelp, onions, and heap of udon.
I gotta say this udon bowl fit the bill. It was EXACTLY what I had a taste for and it was spot on delicious.
My main only problems with my lunch was it was insane trying to get a refill on my Hot Tea. and Asking them for a Fork was almost sacrilegious. it took the waiter 10minutes to bring me a Fork. Unfortunately CTS bothers my hands pretty harsh, so I cannot use Chopsticks very well.
the Food was awesome - definitely 5 stars.
service was not as awesome - 3 stars at best.
Overall 4 stars.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/24/2011
I've read countless reviews for this place and always wanted to sit down and eat. I've visited once… Read more »
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Review from Rob M.
10/17/2011
If your American white man your going to find this place a little weird. It is way to small for the amount of hungry customers this place gets. They don't have a host and the next best thing is a pad of paper that you sign yourself in on. The first time I was there I stood there for some time before I caught on. I've never actually sat in a table and usually jump too the sushi bar.
This place is a 5* restaurant except for the fact that you don't get seated right away if you show up during the peak hours. Lets face it they have the best Udon/Soba broth in town. The sushi is really good too. Not the best I have ever had, but defiantly above average good. The clientele is almost 90% Asian if that tells you anything. Even if you do have to wait, during lunch hours they get you in and out pretty quick so you won't be waiting long. Get the Udon/Soba and you will be sold. -
Review from Jenn K.
New York, NY
9/12/2011
I'm only writing a review because I keep forgetting the name of this place and I don't want to! I'm visiting my cousin in Ann Arbor and he asked if I liked Japanese food. uh duh. Who doesn't? So he drove me like 20 miles away, not telling me I'd have to go that far for food, but it is absolutely worth it. We went for lunch on a Monday, so there was no wait. He told me on the weekends, the line/wait can get crazy so I guess I got lucky visiting on a weekday. The udon here is pretty authentic and maybe THE most delicious udon I've ever had. Their unagi, salmon, and other sashimi is pretty fresh and generously portioned as well.
They also give you scorching hot green tea (real green tea, not that American green tea crap) and some triangular ball of rice wrapped in seaweed (which I didn't eat so I wouldn't fill myself with rice) as appetizer. Appears that the chef is Japanese so the food is authentic and nearly all of the patrons while we were there were Japanese (or Asian) which speaks to its authenticity.
I feel so lucky I got to try this place with a positive experience. They even had little Japanese story books to shut my 5-yo niece up while we ate. I'm so happy I got to enjoy my meal sans her princess tantrums.
The only down side was that the hippo bakery place that everyone talks about changed its schedule so that it's closed on Mondays. blah! But that doesn't affect the review of the food for this place. -
Review from Michelle L.
Ferndale, MI
9/29/2011
BEST UDON NOODLES EVER! That is all you really need to read or order from Ajishin. The only reason why they have 4 stars instead of 5 is because I'm not really into their sushi...its just kind of meh...
But, their udon noodle bowls are unreal. I highly suggest ordering one ASAP. I once went there to pick up carry out for lunch (drove way out of my way to get it because I had a craving) and there were tons of asian people waiting outside for them to open. As soon as they open their doors people rush in! It was hilarious. Obviously they have a lot of fans. I think they are often on a wait for dinner, so plan accordingly!
There's not much else to say really...just order the udon and enjoy!Listed in: Best Sushi
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Review from Joseph A.
Novi, MI
9/21/2011
The really high aggregate score of this place surprises me.
The waits are ridiculous and somewhat unjustified in my opinion, the sushi average, the udon is good but not spectacular (maybe being a little harsh there), and the service is more than occasionally horrible.
I have to qualify the rest of my review in a couple ways first:
One, I am not a huge udon-soup fan in general (although sign me up for Curry-udon whenever and wherever it's available). It's not that I don't like udon- it's just rarely going to be the first thing I think to order- I personally much prefer the stronger flavors of ramen, or something not broth based. (So feel free to take this all with a grain of salt).
Second- before I'm accused of not knowing what I'm talking about because of that first statement- (warning- obnoxious reviewer qualifications follow) I lived in Japan for years, I have a Japanese wife, I speak the language, we eat variations of udon at home regularly - I live in Novi (the Japan-town of Detroit). I've probably eaten enough of the stuff in my life lined-up end to end to circle the globe at least once.
Anyways- so the udon is good. The broth has an earthy quality to it- but the depth of flavor is a little too weak for my palette- (I prefer the fishier, deeper style of broth.)
All that being said, it is the best udon around- I will not deny that. Based on just the noodles this is a 4-star place.
The sushi is average/good- but most of all it's very reasonably priced- which I think is a big part in driving the crowds.
100% Self-servingly I wish they'd open a separate sushi place next door and focus on this location being a true noodle-shop with quicker service and first come first serve open seating (no call-ins).
The waits are ridiculous, and the service is often horrible, ranging from friendly to downright rude, but usually some combination of both because they have multiple wait-staff running around. It's always kind of haphazard and kind of stressful. If the food was mind-blowing, I wouldn't care- but to me, it's not, and I won't trade a few bucks for a stressed-out dining experience.
Anecdotally people in my (Japanese) company which is 5 minutes away rarely ever go here (for lunch at least) because of the ridiculous waits for tables and slow service once you do get seated. When people from out-of-town offices visit they always want to come here because of the reputation (and because it is an udon-specialty restaurant- which is rare) but the locals know better. Of course they are always busy so someone must be going- I see the flaw in my own logic here.
If you're really in the mood for udon go during an off hour and have a nice bowl of soup and hope that you get treated nicely. -
Review from Stine M.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
12/24/2011
Very good! Very small place, try to go during non-prime eating times or get take out. Turning left out of the parking lot can be a pain.
Saturday nights are an hour wait.
I miss this place! -
Review from Jenny Z.
Dearborn Heights, MI
Updated - 7/18/2011
Decent food + horrible, rude service = never coming back.
Okay let's be honest, the food is good, but not good enough to suffer through the treatment.
First of all, the wait here is extremely long. Not because they just have soo many people who want to eat here but because the staff is extremely slow and half retarded. Count on waiting 40+ minutes for only 2 groups ahead of you. Most people sitting at tables are also waiting to be served. So 1) you have to wait 40+ minutes to get a table, and 2) you wait another 20-30 minutes to get food, and 3) you wait another 15 minutes to get the bill.
If you're someone who doesn't mind wasting time, or have a lot of time to waste -- this would not be an issue.
So one night, we had two hours for dinner, and figured why not, let's go and stand in line at Ajishin. We only had two groups ahead of us. And after this long painful wait of either standing on the curb outside in the heat, or standing in the way inside (there is no seating if you're waiting), we were finally the next people in the list. Yay, the 40 minute wait is finally over! or so we thought.
The next thing we knew, the three servers started talking in hushed tones RIGHT NEXT TO US, about how they should move the existing 3 people at the bar to a table rather than let us have the table. The 3 people didn't want to move, so the servers went and skipped to the people after us on the list and seated a couple who came 20 minutes after us.
I have never seen such blatant rude service of PURPOSELY skipping over someone while standing right next to them. We walked out at that point. I'm not sure why we were skipped over, but the couple replacing us were both Japanese? So maybe you get slower service if you have too many white people in your group, who knows what was stuck up their ass that night. One thing's for sure, they don't value their customers.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/2/2010
We went here last night, and thankfully - it wasn't crowded (it's literally taken us three times to… Read more »
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Review from Kevin R.
Detroit, MI
7/13/2011
Udon, Soba, Grilled Fish, Nigiri.
This is what this place is all about. Be prepared to wait as it is very popular (I think it's closed on Tuesdays). And it is a hell of a drive from the D all the way out to Novi but worth the trip alone.
This place reminds me of being in Japan, small simple and good food. A Japanese friend that I used to make music with that is now rock-star sushi chef now in a place in Royal Oak took me here once and I was hooked. Super cheap, it's like 6-8 for a giant bowl of perfect Udon. Real Japanese Green Tea is on tap (I don't think they have beer, in fact my Irish ass knows they don't have beer but I don't miss it if I have some Ocha!).
Udon, so good and a beautiful broth. The noodles are perfect everytime. I know this a skill that is hard to do and the cat that is doing it is on point (I think he is a Mexican guy and he knows his shit.) They have lots of variety on what is in it but the namesake Ajishin one is my favorite.
Sushi, nigiri or sashimi for me because with the Udon if I get a roll they will be rolling my ass out on a cart. I ALWAYS get Nigiri Uni (beautiful golden sea urchin) that always melts like butter in mouth and taste but nothing of the ocean. There is something about fresh Uni and not to many places can do it cause it doesn't stay fresh too long and gets funky quick. I think maybe cause there are many Japanese that frequent Ajishin that it stays fresh. Ikura (large bright red caviar ) that explodes in your mouth and usually a piece of maguro (tuna) or tamago (japanese sweet omelette). Their sushi is on huge side which kinda shocked me at first but it makes total sense here.
Sometimes some nice cold Soba noodles or some grilled fish, Mackerel is the way to go.
Anyways, you can't go wrong here, just be prepared to wait and if you got time before hand peep out the Happy Hippo bakery that is across the lot. Good Japanese baked goods, kids will freak out if they go here. -
Review from Jiwon P.
Dearborn, MI
8/2/2011
Worth the drive, worth the wait. If you get there after opening, expect to wait at least 20-30 minutes with a party of 2. The girlfriend and I tried this place because of its stellar reviews and the general lack of good asian food in the metro area. Man, were we pleasantly surprised. We got the Ajishin Udon and split a curry rice.
The Udon was flavorful with excellent broth and noodles with perfect consistency. Couldn't taste any MSG and the overall flavor balances were pretty incredible.
And then the curry rice. Oh wow. I've had a number of different kinds of curry rice, from Japanese to Korean, Indian and Thai. Wow. Usually not a huge fan of Japanese curry rice, but this was incredible. The curry was flavorful without being heavy and salty. Slight touches of pickled ginger added good flavor throughout and the meat was well cooked and absolutely tasty.
We've been back 5 times since and definitely enjoy it every single time we go. Also, it's across the way from a Hippo bakery, where we can get our fill of red bean paste buns for desert.
Nice. -
Review from P C.
Houston, TX
11/23/2011
Food wise, best in the city..we go there almost every weekend for the food..
Service wise, some of the Japanese waitresses are plain RUDE..., -
Review from Tammy P.
Novi, MI
6/26/2011
As if this place needed another glowing review, here's another one.
I skip the sushi here and go straight for the udon. My udon of choice is usually the Maiko, but if I'm there for dinner, I love getting the broiled fish & udon combo. The salmon is lightly seasoned, and the skin is crisp. The fish isn't overdone, it's cooked enough to flake without drying your mouth like the Sahara. I hate fish that is so overcooked that you end up drinking a ton of water because of the lack of moisture! The rice is also perfectly cooked, not too dry but not a pile of mush.
The udon broth is what makes the meal gold though. I don't know what they put in this bowl of amazing, but ask to get your tempura on the side so that it's not soggy and enjoy a bowl of the greatest soup in Novi! -
Review from Liz W.
3/30/2011
I liked it here. I didn't think either of the options here, noodles or sushi, were the absolute best ever in my ratings book but I did really enjoy both a lot. I want to come back and experiment more but its a bit of a hike for me to Novi so this will not make the regular rotation for me or anything.
I went with the tetsugaku udon as my old friend Rodney liked it and he is known to have good taste. I liked the delicate type curry, its definitely not hot, it is subtle and yet still satisfyingly flavorful. The fried tofu was very nice in it indeed. It made for happy slurps. Perfect dish for a gray icky Michigan day. It managed to be just what I needed to perk me up.
My mother opted for gojyu-no-toh a chirashi sampler with tuna, sea urchin, salmon roe, river eel and shrimp. It was lovely. The sushi rice here is indeed tasty and the fish was very fresh. The miso soup was nice to her palate too. I would be all over this dish on a less dreary day. Luckily she and I are inclined to sharing so I was not left wanting.
The place is quite hopping but worth it. The prices are extremely reasonable for the quality. I will be back at some point.Listed in: Sushi and other Japanese, Novi Nibbles, Nibbles in Novi
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Review from Jen L.
Canton, MI
7/6/2011
I have no clue about the food because the service was so poor we didn't get past tea.
The restaurant is small. We came in on a Wednesday evening to find one table open and were told we'd have to wait. When we inquired about the open table, we were told that people were coming for it. 10-15 minutes later and another table opened up and we were seated. We were handed menus, but no sushi menus (the purpose of our visit). As we waited for a waitress to return so we could ask for a sushi menu, the occupants of the mystery table arrived, received menus, ordered, and had food served to them. We had enough that point and left.
The service was much better at the Benihana down the road at Haggerty and 8 Mile Rd in Farmington Hills. -
Review from Chris W.
WASHINGTN TWP, MI
5/25/2011
Best sushi place ever and I have literally been to 30+ sushi places in Michigan. Nobel Fish is good but this place is so good its hard to explain, its big enough for a group if you had to or great if you're alone.
The sushi if phenomenal and the noodles are pretty dang good too. Prices are really good for sushi. GO HERE its amazing. -
Review from Toni B.
Detroit, MI
Updated - 9/22/2011
I finally tried the noodles and I loved them. Specifically I had the Ajishin Udon which I found delicious. I still love the sushi. My friend and I frequently go here for lunch and although it is crowded you can call ahead and get put on the list. It really does help you get seated faster. Totally worth the wait every time.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/30/2010
After reading Janelle W.'s review I have to admit I did not even go for the noodles at this place.… Read more »
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Review from Ariel F.
Ann Arbor, MI
4/8/2011 1 photo
Ajishin is my absolute favorite Japanese restaurant in Michigan. I crave this place all the time. Whenever I'm in the Novi/Farmington area, I always make plans to go there right at 5PM for dinner, because if you get there later than the second they open, be ready to wait. This place is so popular!
My favorite dish that they serve there (that I haven't been able to find at any other sushi restaurant in the Ann Arbor area) is the kyo-chirashi with salmon roe and salmon sashimi. Imagine, a bowl of rice covered in a bed of salmon roe topped with slices of salmon sashimi. It's absolute perfection! Plus, all the fish is fresh and clean so I've never myself, nor known of anyone, who had issues after eating here.
If this is your first time going, the menu might throw you off a bit. Feel free to ask your waiter as many questions as you can before he/she leaves, because even though it's a small restaurant, they're always very busy so it might be hard to grab him/her again. Their menu is translated a bit funny...like what's a delicious harmony? I don't know, but it's great!
I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who's in the area or is craving Japanese food. -
Review from Natasha R.
Livonia, MI
6/28/2011
If you are reading this review before heading out there, I would call and see if there is a wait. If not, be prepared to wait. This place is small and they really should expand because everyone loves it!
My bf and I always share an order of Tatsugaku which is a curry udon noodle soup. It's delicious. I wish that it had more pork in it, though, as I always seem to get 1 piece of meat in it, thats a drawback but hey, still tastes like a party in my mouth. I also usually get 2 avocado sushi rolls as I don't eat seafood but love the idea and taste of vegetarian sushi. My boyfriend usually goes for the spicy tuna roll.
The atmosphere is friendly and comfy. There is usually a bit of a wait and i've sometimes seen them put 2 people at a 4 person table when there is a line out the door, so it really is "first come, first served". There is a shelf full of comic books/manga if you are bored during your wait. My bf and I came with his family one time and it was 5 of us, we were put at a 4 person table. We didnt mind, we were just happy to sit down, but they will honestly try to take care of you. The wait staff is frazzled but very nice and they try to do their best.
Oh, one more thing. My bf and I came here last week and it was during a rush. We were waiting on 2 other people who wound up being late, we were sat at a table and didnt order or anything and were being "those people" on a packed day, and they were still very nice to us and understood. -
Review from Louise M.
Chicago, IL
4/23/2011
I told a friend that I was going to Detroit for a business trip. She told me she used to live in Novi, MI and Ajishin is her absolute favorite noodle house, ever. Even though it was 45 minutes out of my way, I thought I had to try it. She told me to get there early if I didn't want to wait. Well, of course I didn't want to wait and plus I'd be eating alone! So I wanted it as painless as possible no matter how good the place would be I didn't want to suffer to eat there. After driving about 5 hours from Chicago, I thought I'd get there by 4:15 PM. I had to wait about 45 minutes for them to open. Huh...waiting anyway.
Nope!! Forgot they're on EST! So when I got there, they just opened, and no line!! Sweet! I ordered the Ajishin Udon, as well as the toro, salmon, and unagi nigiri. Too bad I didn't have company so I could order more stuff in the menu. I really wanted to try the hamachi collar that my friend told me about. But I didn't see it in the menu anymore.
My soup and sushi came so quick. About 5 minutes or so I was eating! The cool part too, the waitress spoke perfect English. I didn't have to struggle to explain about wanting my egg soft poached in the noodle. The noodle soup was yummy. The broth was awesome. It had tempura fried onion that gave a really nice flavor, aroma, and texture to the soup. I wish they gave me bigger tempura shrimps..but that was my only complaint. Everything else was tasting so great! The sushi were also delicious. I couldn't believe I just inhaled a $2.20 tuna belly. Yes!! $2.20!
I got out of there in maybe 20 minutes, full, and happy. I paid $17 including tip for my dinner. Unbelievably cheap.
If I go to Detroit again, I will make sure to stop here to try their other stuff so I could give them the extra star. -
Review from Caroline C.
Troy, MI
11/16/2010
I hold Ajishin close to my heart. Spoken frankly, the food is good, but nothing that is truly unforgettable. Most of Ajishin's charm, however, lies in its ambiance and the value you get for what you pay. It's a small, cozy, no-frills noodle house with a simplistic menu and $7.50 lunch specials that are worth every cent. Every special comes with a huge bowl of udon noodles, and my favorite is when they have the grilled fish for lunch - the cod is juicy, tender, and absolutely satisfying!
Put your name on the list and stop by Hungry Hippo pastry house in the same plaza, or even better, call in beforehand. Even if you have to wait 30 minutes to get a table, get stone-faced service from one of the waitresses that looks like she rolls out of wrong side of the bed EVERY SINGLE DAY, there is no doubt you will walk out full, happy, and with a smile on your face!Listed in: Fine Dining, Diners, Dives
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Review from Mitsuaki M.
Bloomfield Hills, MI
This place has inexpensive Sushi and I often use this place to scratch my Sushi itch. That being said, I do have several tips I can share with you.
1) The Daily Lunch Special is $7.50, and it's a nice deal.
2) The Lunch Crowd is SUPER HEAVY, so if you try to visit during your lunch break good luck getting in. So, try to be at the door when the place opens at 11:30am, or get there after 2:00pm.
3) If you like Japanese Manga Comics, you have a selection of them to read here. (If you read Japanese...)
With the quality of Sushi, you get what you pay for definitely apply. If you want top class fish, you need to pay top class prices. Unfortunately, I have yet to find any of these top class places in the vicinity. However, I will keep my eyes peeled within this state and any adjacent states, so keep reading my reviews. -
Review from Jane J.
Grand Rapids Charter Township, MI
10/4/2011
I'm from Grand Rapids, and every time I visit my brother in Ann Arbor or just travel towards the east side of the state I never fail to visit Ajishin.
It's funny because it's always a mad dash to see who can get in first from the parking lot.
My favorites from here are the udon, not so much the curry udon because I'm not a big fan of curry, but the udon base here is great. Not too salty like other places I've tried.
I've tried the sushi here also, and the sushi chefs are really fast with their hands. I've personally never sat at the bar because I always come with 2-3 more people and we prefer sitting at a table.
Yes, the service can be lacking sometimes, but this place is always packed and I can see the servers work with what they got and to me that's good service.
I give this place 5 stars and I really recommend it to anyone who is in town :) -
Review from Kristin G.
Royal Oak, MI
Holy Delicious.
A whole new world of noodles opened up the first time I tried Pho Bowl...I know Pho is Vietnamese. I'm just sayin' bear with me, cause I'm a noodle newb.
I'd have to say, that Ajishin was the first good bowl of Udon I've had. So I may not be some sort of noodle pro, but I can attest to the fact that these noodles are worth every minute of the wait and are well worth venturing a long distance to enjoy. The ingredients, fresh and flavorful. I had the shrimp tempura Udon. The tempura bits in the broth gave it a wonderful fried flavor without being heavy.
The atmosphere is so very welcoming, so very Japanese in style too. It is reminiscent of someone's family room diner. My husband and I were the only non Japanese people in the place. We drove up and I swear I've never seen so many foreign cars in one place in Detroit! They have kids books (in Japanese) and hooks on the walls for coats. The service was prompt and friendly.
The sushi was, as others have said, very generously portioned and fresh. I can't fain any sort of expertise on behalf of Japanese cuisine but I think the sheer attendance of Japanese folks speaks volumes about the taste and quality at Ajishin. I wish they were closer, but I WILL make the trek, it's WORTH IT!
Mmm...Udon noodles and cold winter days...the perfect marriage :) -
Review from Ellen L.
West Bloomfield Township, MI
3/23/2011
This is a pretty good Japanese restaurant. There's not much variety of food other, though. But, their udon noodles are very good and their sushi is decent.
I've been here a couple of times and there's a few things that I've noticed.
1) The place is quite small so if you come in during lunch hours you'll end up huddling in a group right in front of the entrance. Plus, there are 2 tables at the back which the group is standing in front of. Now, if I were those individuals eating in those 2 tables, I hope I'm not claustrophobic because it'll seem like everyone is taking up you're space.
2) The service can be slow. Slow to be seated, slow to get your order taken. It's happened a few times to me, which makes me not really want to go back there.
And I don't know if it's just me, but since the table sizes are limited it seems like larger groups get seated before smaller ones EVEN if the smaller ones have gotten there before the larger groups.
The prices at Ajishin are reasonable for the portion sizes that they give you. For example, the curry rice plate is about 1.5x of a regular plate. And when you look at it, it seems like the curry is overflowing which is great for the price you're paying. But, if you're going to have anything at Ajishin, I'd go with their Ajishin udon. It's a very tasty dish with fried tofu, egg, naruto, noodles and you top it off with the addition of hondashi (for additional flavoring). -
Review from Viet N.
9/27/2010
Update 4/23/2011: Another day of Hippo-shin for lunch, and I swear, Ajishin is the ONLY restaurant in SE Michigan that I've seen where people line up before the doors open, and fills to capacity in the first 10 minutes. Unbelievable -- and even more so because we placed our order within 5 minutes, and got our udon within 10 minutes. Yummy says the tummy.
Overall: Come for comforting udon, pass on the sushi. Mostly agree with Jenny Z. and Janelle (see their in-depth reviews). Reminds me of home, which is high praise.
We go here every six months or so for some cheap, comforting udon soup. Dinner for two for under $20 is a grand bargain, and each bowl of udon is probably enough to fill up a medium-sized adult. Don't bother calling in, just leave your name/number, and head across the strip mall to Pastry House Hippo to kill time.
The menu only has a few dishes, which is a huge plus in my book. Besides udon, I thought the curry rice was pretty good. Not fabulous, but for $8, very nourishing.
Sushi rolls/nigiri/sashimi -- pass. It's not that it's bad, it's just not good. And anyway, this place is a noodle house with a long wait.
In summary, 4/5 stars because I like the bustling, yet intimate atmosphere, and because it's the best place around for soup.Listed in: "Let's go to _______ for…
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Review from Wei O.
2/24/2011 8 Check-ins Here
Not else i can say about this place that hasnt been said.
Few important things to note :-
-They only serve delicious udon noodles and decent sushi. Dont expect to find bentos or izakaya style items.
-They are closed on Tuesday.
-It gets VERY crowded during lunch time. Make sure you put your name down on the book as soon as you walk in.
-TRY the curry rice. Its 7.50, filling and delicious.
-Not recommended for group with more then 5 people. -
Review from Sarah K.
Ann Arbor, MI
5/9/2011
I really love to go there for dinner. They serve grilled fish combination with udon. I love cod-fish with ajishin udon. They are such a good combination. The rolls here are ok. The price is cheap for me compare to the quality of the food.
One trick for this place is that you'd better call for reservation since the line is very long and the restaurant itself is very small. -
Review from Nuri G.
You know you've found good sushi when you're one of two white guys in the entire establishment.
Hands down, Top 10 sushi experiences in my entire life.
Rice? Nailed it.
Fish quality? Incredible
Udon? Holy crap, why haven't I had this stuff before? I may be ruined.
I stuffed myself *stupid* for about $25, which means, in a cost comparative fashion, this was the most bang for my sushi buck I've ever *ever* had.
I ordered a spicy tuna, a futomaki, toro, maguro, sake, egg omelet, hamachi, and a tempura udon with shrimp and onion (I split this with my dining partner) and everything was so damn good. I usually don't like spicy tuna where the tuna is ground (I like it cubed) but this was uncommonly delicious.
Protip: CALL AHEAD and get on the list. We arrived at 12:00 and waited for almost an hour. Call-ins get some weird priority (the shell game was just a bit frustrating) but it was completely worth it. -
Review from Robyn T.
11/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
Super good sushi, reasonable prices, cool atmosphere and wonderful service. Congrats Ajishin, you get the 5!
Karen C and I met here for our weekly 'try someplace new' and we were both in the mood for sushi. Based on the previous raves, this was the pick.
Ajishin is a smaller place that's dimly lit and has little tables scattered everywhere and a sushi bar off to one side. I've never been to Japan, but I imagine it's pretty close to authentic looking. Who knows? But I thought it was cool.
We were greeted with a smile and sat down right away. I heard about how busy this place gets but it seemed ok on a random Monday at 6pm. Our friendly server came out promptly with some hot tea and our sushi order form.
I am a pretty conservative sushi eater, so I stuck with my two faves: shrimp tempura and california. YUM! Some of the best I've ever had. I have to say their rice is perfectly sticky yet soft. The shrimp was cooked just right and still had it's tempura crisp, and the california roll had the most tasty avocado in it. Usually I stop eating because I get bored with the taste, but this time I stopped eating because there was not even 1 grain left on plate. And I was considering drinking the rest of the soy sauce to keep the memory of last hour alive.
Karen and I got to talking the way women can, and we talked, and talked, and talked. I think we ended up staying there over 2 hours. Never once did the staff look at us weird, or pressure us to get outta there. In fact, even after the bill was paid, they kept checking on us and bringing us more tea. Most appreciated! -
Review from Tara L.
Holly, MI
Updated - 6/3/2011
yea. i know i just wrote this review, but went there tonight and had the worst experience EVER!
we arrived at around 7pm and knew we'd be waiting, so we put our name down and was actually surprised to be seated in a decent time (~15 minutes on a friday night).
once seated, i expected the menus and tea to be given to us rather quickly like how they usually do. well, that didn't happen. i looked at my watch, and 5 minutes passed. 10 minutes. AFTER 15 MINUTES, i had to flag one of the waitresses down to say to her that we had NOT been given menus or tea! what is up with that?! she apologized profusely and then said to us that we had "her undivided attention and if there was anything that we needed, to holler at her and she'd take care of us."
so much for that!
we already knew what we wanted to get, and that was 2 bowls of maiko hot udon soup. the first waitress didn't come back to get our order, so we had another lady take our order. i looked over to the right of me and noticed there was a table of 3. it seemed like they had been there for quite some time, as they were futzing around with their chopsticks with the wasabi. sure enough, a few minutes after i noticed them, the girl in the group calls out for the waitress, asking why their food had not arrived. they had been waiting over 40 minutes.
immediately, i looked at Husband and wide-eyed we both said to each other "i hope we won't have to wait 40 minutes for our udon noodle soup." i guess we jinxed ourselves, because you know what? WE WAITED 40 MINUTES FOR OUR UDON NOODLE SOUP. when the lady brought our noodles, she just placed it on the table and didn't even apologize. NOTHING.
every other time that we've been there we have only had to wait 10-15 minutes at most. i mean, that is still a little excessive for udon noodle soup, but considering that their staff is not very efficient and there is always a full house, i cut them some slack. no biggie, but MAN! 40 minutes? are you kidding me? and we didn't order anything else!
the food itself was more salty than usual. i don't know what happened, but it wasn't good.
anyway, i don't know if i'll be coming back here because i think their quality is suffering. it seems like a lot of the japanese patrons and staff have left.
such disappointment. :(Listed in: Michigan Eats
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/2/2011
Their udon noodle soup broth is pretty good, and the amount that they give you is a decent amount.… Read more »
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Review from T P.
Southfield, MI
4/3/2011
Good for noodles, not for sushi. Sushi has too much rice, salmon was average. Spicy tuna roll not spicy enough.
Remember to sign in the notebook when you get there and pay attention when they call your name. -
Review from Rudy Q.
Novi, MI
3/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's the best Japanese noodle place, bar none.
I love the rice balls too. -
Review from Tom V.
Wayne, MI
4/1/2011
Another review to add to the pile. I go here for lunch often.
The lunch special is a great value, usually a roll or sashimi and udon noodles. The udon is always good but the sushi can vary from day to day.
They get pretty busy for lunch, so it's usually best to show up just before
11:30 when they open. Also, they're closed on Tuesday which is sometimes a bummer when you've got the craving. -
Review from Ching-Fan L.
Ann Arbor, MI
10/10/2010
Two years in the Ann Arbor vicinity and I've yet to find another place that tops Ajishin! The food is consistently good with fresh fish and lovely udon, I like the portions too, no itty bitty rolls or thin-cut nigiri fish slices, a mouthful at a time yes but that's how it's meant to be.
My favorites are: the salad-it's not on the menu, just ask for it, it comes with a very refreshing daikon-mayo dressing and costs just $3; the large sushi lunch-a cali roll and 6 nigiri including an enormous and delicious tamago nigiri, you can also sub anything you don't like for another nigiri variety; the udon!-strong broth and perfectly cooked noodles everytime, if you like your tempura crisp ask for it to be served on the side, not in the soup.
The greatest thing is the price, $2-4 for individual nigiris, $4-5 for rolls and just $7 for the lunch special, which always comes with their signature udon and is very filling.
If you're not going to arrive before they open on weekends, call ahead and ask to be put on the waitlist, that'll shorten the wait considerably. Also, if you like japanese pastries, head over to the Hippo House Bakery in the same plaza, my favorites are the English loaf and the danish loaf! -
Review from Eric C.
10/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
I was in the Detroit area for a business trip and was staying nearby at the Doubletree just a mile away. Looked for food places on Yelp and found a Japanese?! place with 4.5 stars and 59 reviews. Gotta see for myself! Came away happy, but fully aware I am spoiled by what I have access to in California.
I was seated immediately at the bar (weeknight at 8pm). Food came fast.
Ajishin udon was tasty, but nothing uber special. Ordered some nigiri sushi. Fish tasted surprisingly decent, but not ultra fresh. Rice was disintegrating. I noticed the fish was already sliced.
Overall: I'd come back again if I were staying in the Novi area. It's one of the higher rated Yelp restaurants in the area with a good quality/price ratio. -
Review from ER Doc K.
Holland, OH
1/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The Udon is very good, tasty, high quality. The sushi is mediocre though.
I highly recommend lunch here, it's affordable, and the udon is good.
Coming from a person who is accustomed to the west coast Japanese food, I would say this restaurant is decent. It is only receiving a 4 star from my perspective since I definitely had better Japanese udon and sushi before.
However, from what is available in michigan, I would highly recommend this place! -
Review from Darren G.
Pittsburgh, PA
8/22/2010
Very good sushi, sashimi, UDON!!!! and others...
i am not particularly a fan of their katsu curry or similar though.
But Yeah, it is one of the best in Michigan
you guys should know, my friends from Illinois drove all the way from UIUC to find this restaurant in Novi, while doing a road trip to Lansing -
Review from Jeanette B.
Ann Arbor, MI
7/5/2011
Udon was great, but their sushi was just ok.
