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Aka Sushi House
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
2390 W Alabama StHouston, TX 77098
Neighborhood: Upper Kirby
(713) 807-7875
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 10:30 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 12 am
Sat 12 pm - 12 am
Sun 12 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Franklin J. said: "Heard about this place a long time ago...then recently someone on twitter posted a picture of the bone marrow, and that was pretty much it. We ordered a few items on the menu, and the standout items were the bone marrow, kobe beef and…" read more »
236 reviews for Aka Sushi House
Review Highlights
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"Reverse happy hour is fantastic here." In 42 reviews -
"Try my favorites: Basil Beef and Black Pepper Beef." In 13 reviews -
"along with the spicy basil wings." In 12 reviews
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236 reviews in English
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Review from Stephanie J.
Austin, TX
5/24/2012
not a complaint about this place!
their happy hour runs all weekend long, where you can find their simple rolls at extremely reasonable prices. non-hh menu is considerably pricier, it was hard for me to venture out and try the specialty rolls when the hh menu offered so much selection. as for drink specials, my boyfriend had a bottle of Kirin Light for just 2$...not bad not bad!
excellent service and ambiance. busy yet not overcrowded. perfect date spot. -
Review from Kevin M.
Houston, TX
5/21/2012
I have come here many times during their happy hour and reverse happy hour. They offer happy hour two different times on weekdays and virtually the entire weekend. Although it is a little small, the ambiance is what you would expect from a sushi lounge - modern music, loud patrons, and sake bombs everywhere. I will say, however, that if it wasn't for the reduced prices during happy hour, I would consider this place too pricey to be a regular customer. But since I only plan meals here during happy hours, that's not a problem! That being said, I have not been disappointed with what I've had.
The black pepper beef is amazing - I love the miso vinaigrette that comes with the beef and it is extremely tender. You can't go wrong with anything that has yellowtail or salmon in it, as their sashimi is pretty fresh! Their basil wings appetizer is also really good. Their hand rolls are pretty decently sized and you can adjust the spiciness to your liking. If you're looking for roll suggestions, then go for the spider-mon roll or the french kiss roll. If you like scallops, opt for the crater roll, it's great! Their tempura ice cream satisfies the craving, but isn't to die for. Overall great place for sushi happy hour. -
Review from Janna L.
5/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
My friend made a reservation for their reverse happy hour on a Thursday at 8:45 for a group of about 12-14 of us. When the first few of us arrived, they sat us at one table, which was fine since the rest of our party hadn't arrived yet. They told us that the table next to us would clear out shortly and if we just waited a few minutes, both of the tables would be ours. Slowly more and more of our party started to arrive and the table next to us kept ordering more drinks. It didn't look like they were going anywhere anytime soon, so we just crammed more of us into the tiny table. It was clear that management didn't know how to handle the situation and was in the process of trying to find us a new table somewhere else in the restaurant. Finally we suggested they move the smaller party instead, since they'd already been there for a while and it was just a group of 3. It was about 10 at this point when we eventually got both tables, sat comfortably, and were able to order our food. I don't necessarily blame Aka for the problem, and I think they tried their best to handle it. Just a warning though- it might not be a great place for a big group and you might have to be prepared to wait a while, despite making a reservation.
Whew! With that being said, my food was actually really good. I was unimpressed with their limited happy hour menu but couldn't keep myself from ordering the ninja roll. The description included goat cheese and honey wasabi so I was immediately intrigued. It was almost creamy and tangy but had a slight sweetness to it. Really delicious!
You'll get some pretty good sushi if you go to Aka, but be careful when it's crowded. The space is small and it seems they have trouble making accomodations for large groups. -
Review from edgard k.
5/25/2012
Went there to try the tonkotsu ramen. Same problems as most restaurants in Upper Kirby area - limited space and overcrowded. Without reservation and came during dinner time, our party had to wait about 1 hour. The ramen itself is pretty good, while I liked the seabass karaage and butabara more. Service was prompt but space is very limited. Park in the side streets if you can't find any spots in the lot.
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Review from Trang T.
Houston, TX
Updated - 5/2/2012
I am in love with this place. I come here so often that my friends always call me out on it. I could eat here everyday! I sorta do....
Here are some stuff you should def try: (During HH!)
CHILI GARLIC ROLL- my absolute favorite. It contains shrimp tempura, crab mix, cucumber, yellowtail on top, thai chili, garlic ponzu. It's pretty much the perfect combination in a roll! I like to eat it with sriracha and dip it in a side of spicy ponzu sauce.
BACON WRAPPED TOMATOES- delicious! But let it cool down before you pop one in your mouth!
BLACK PEPPERED BEEF- My favorite appetizer. I like to order 2 of these every time. It's a COLD dish and the beef is thinly cut and yes, mainly raw. You can't really taste that it's raw though! Soaked in their delicious miso vinaigrette sauce.
SPICY BASIL WINGS
STRAWBERRY SHORT RIBS- this isn't on the menu, it's their special and I don't know how long they will have it for but it's DELICIOUS...get it while you can.
HAMACHI THAI CHILI- I just love love love yellowtail
SALMON or HAMACHI sampler- 2 pc sashimi, 2 pc nigiri. Their fish is the BEST!
HAMACHI KAMA-perfect seasoning
BEEF AVOCADO NEGIMAGI
BAKED MUSSELS
Service here is great. Parking is no bueno when it's busy so if there's no more spots, park in the neighborhood behind Aka. Can get very loud!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/29/2012
Out of all the sushi places that I have tried (even in a different state), Aka is the best yet.
… Read more »
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Review from Sandra R.
Houston, TX
5/20/2012
Good and creative sushi. I love that the maki rolls are sliced into smaller pieces so I can actually eat them in one bite, some places they just keep getting bigger and BIGGER! Service is always friendly and extremely quick.
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Review from Christine M.
Houston, TX
4/15/2012
Thank goodness for spring break! One of the few times I'm actually able to enjoy happy hour without the worry of having to do more work when I get home or even the stress of the classroom the next day.
I figured since I had a week off, I might as well take advantage of happy hours nearby and the first on the list was Aka Sushi House since it started at 3pm and was walking distance from my place. So I called up some coworkers and we decided to meet up on a Tuesday afternoon.
I've been to this place before and this time it was different but in a good way. The good being that it wasn't crowded and service was great this day. Also it was happy hour!
We started off the afternoon with some sake cocktails. I enjoyed the lychee one while my coworkers enjoyed the apple ones. Then it was time to munch on some food. The list went on forever and we ate every single bit. The bacon wrapped tomatoes were delicious and gave me ideas for my next appetizer to make when having people over or bringing to a party. My coworker's favorite was the beef wrapped avocado. She said it melted in your mouth and the beef was perfectly seasoned. I ordered the grilled squid because my coworkers have never had grilled squid before. The only type of squid they have had was fried calamari. They were scared that the tentacles were going to be on there, but they weren't so they felt a little bit better about eating it. We ordered a bunch more. I think we ended up sitting there for about 2 hours just talking drinking and eating.
Beware, just because it is happy hour, doesn't mean that the bill will always be cheaper. For the time we spent there, our bill definitely was a shocker to some of my coworkers, but we justified it with never having a chance to enjoy happy hours during the day and a special spring break treat.
All in all, the only time I will really be visiting will be during those 3-7pm happy hours because it isn't crowded, service is a lot better and you get to actually enjoy the company you're with and the food you ordered. -
Review from June J.
Beverly Hills, CA
5/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
I stumbled on this place as I was working in the area. They have a great happy hour with great tapas. I'd highly recommend trying out their happy hour. They have both great food and drinks on their HH list.
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Review from Maxine T.
Houston, TX
4/15/2012
reverse happy hour menu. AWESOME. I think it's also all day on saturdays, you may want to call and double check on when HH for food is, it's been a while since i been here.
I love how the selection of the HH Menu is very extensive and yet still very cheap. Me and the bf always come here during these hours and have a table full of small plates. It's been a while since i came here, and now thinking about it is making me crave for it some more! Best reverse happy hour sushi menu in town that i've encountered yet! Probably go again really soon. -
Review from Erica C.
3/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
All day happy hour? On a saturday? Aka, where have you been all my life?!?!?
The food was good... but don't trust me on the sushi. I'm not a huge sushi fan and will only eat rolls like a tempura shrimp roll. If you are looking for a review on the sushi please move on to the next.
I had shrimp tempura, pork belly, gyoza, spicy basil chicken wing, seaweed salad, agedashi tofu, korkke.... everything was yum!!! The shrimp tempura stood out to me because the batter was so flaky and soft. Eat the agedashi tofu quickly or it absorbs all the sauce and becomes a soggy mess. I didn't have anything I didn't like.
But the fun of aka was ordering bottles of flavored sake. Sake sake $20 dolla! Sake sake long time! We had both the lychee and apple sake. Both were so delicious you didn't know how much you were drinking. The lychee sake comes with little lychees you can put into your shot glass.
The service was also amazing! Our server was incredibly attentive, poured sake for us, and anticipated our needs - getting chairs for guests walking in, pouring water, etc.
So go get your sake on! -
Review from Barbara A.
Rialto, CA
3/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
SUSHI ONLY (WHY GOD, GIVE ME ONE SUSHI PLACE IN HOUSTON)
Service was good, a little slow but good. The happy hour menu had a good range of appetizers, rolls, and drinks.
End of good part.
Aka Sushi House;
You have interesting fusion dishes with a touch of class and then you put Doritos chips in a sushi roll.
What the eff, brah?
I got the Houston Roll, the Salmon skin hand roll and the California Roll. Houston Roll was bland, Salmon Skin hand roll was fine although greasy, and the California roll was as good as Methodist Hospitals Quick-N-Go style sushi. Except for at least at the hospital cafeteria, they don't just throw a stick of imitation crab into a roll, they make the imitation crab mix.
Here's the problem in my humble opinion:
the rice and the fish.
The rice is still a bit hard like it's under cooked and there's too much. I felt like I was getting cute mini toilet paper rolls filled with tiny bits of things. And the fish... well I can see why a lot of the specialty rolls come with some kind of strong sauces like horseradish, honey mustard, and balsamic oil. Waiting for the barbecue sauce one.
After going to 4 sushi places in Houston, I'm just going to wait for when I go to a state that has a great coast and get sushi there. Because why would I want to go to a sushi place that's going to treat raw fish like Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets? -
Review from Tammy S.
Houston, TX
5/11/2012
Aka has some of the freshest sushi in town. They have a good selection of sashimi, decent prices, and some great specialty rolls. One of my favorite things about this place is that I can bring family and friends here who are a bit squeamish about raw food and there are so many other great things they can eat while I still get my salmon rolls! Everyone I've brought here has been thrilled with the food and the service. Yes, it gets busy, especially on Fri/Sat night, and parking at that point (as with many of the places in this block) can get rather annoying. That said, they accommodated a large group of us pretty quickly on a Friday night with no reservation. The service is always fast and very friendly. This is always my go-to sushi place, and often just my go-to restaurant!
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Review from Eunice T.
2/26/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Rarely do you go to a place & EVERYTHING you ordered was good. Or where everything goes right.
I don't know what was going on last night, but Aka Sushi House was the ultimate win. Reverse happy hour, on a weekend. Drinks were not a cocktail masterpiece but they do get the job done. I tried the apple fuji & my friend had the sangria. Some nice guy bought us shots. I love bars with nice guys who buy me shots. We had the cotton candy shot & the fruit loops shot. I definitely recommend the fruit loops.
The crab-cream cheese puff with mango sauce was heaven in 4 small bites. The grilled beef wrapped avocado was buttery & delicious. We also ordered the crazy roll & the crunchy salmon roll.
I honestly can't wait to go back. -
Review from Kevin H.
Plano, TX
5/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Let me start by saying that I am VERY picky about Sushi. I will leave a place that has a fishy smell when I walk in the door. The place itself is pretty small. There is a small bar, and also a small sushi bar. The service was very friendly and they stopped by multiple times to see if I had questions about the menu. The food was very good. I was expecting the rolls to be good after reading other reviews, so my expectations were already pretty high. I was not disappointed one bit. They have a good Happy hour and reverse happy hour for late night. The place itself seemed pretty trendy, hipster, which isn't always a good thing, but overly did not bother me.
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Review from Kevin W.
Updated - 3/15/2012 4 Check-ins Here
This might possibly be my favorite sushi spot in H-Town.
So, The Fam couldn't recall our last visit, and we decided to fill the void. We came in before Happy Hour was over, and loaded up from the menu.
Here are the top picks:
*Ika Teriyaki (grilled squid)
*Houston Roll
*Ninja Roll
*Spicy Salmon/Tuna Rolls
For drinks...
*Itami Onigoroshi (a cold sake)
*Iced Green Tea
The grilled squid is better here than a similar offering down the street at Kata Robata. However, I wouldn't get the Tiger Eye Roll again. It's not nasty, just has too much rice filling for me.
Regarding the sake, they served "topped off", where its glass container is overflowing into the wooden case which it's served. In other words, drink your glass *and* the sake in the case--that's not water!
If it's not my favorite, it's easily in the top 3.Listed in: (IAH) - Internationals Attack…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/9/2012
This is one of the better sushi places inside the loop. They have a Reverse Happy Hour, and it gets… Read more »
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Review from Christine N.
Houston, TX
3/22/2012
I went here for lunch yesterday with a girlfriend. THe food was very good! Try the stuffed mushrooms & crab hoopers!
I could find this food at any other sushi house but what I was most impressed with was their staff. They were all very friendly and very helpful. This is a great place to get served! -
Review from Shawn P.
Houston, TX
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Love AKA! I only go during the reverse happy hour. I pig out on their great sushi and I am huge fan of the plum wine spritzer!
I think that AKA offers the best sushi happy hour in Houston...but who am I---give it a try and tell us what you think. -
Review from Phoebe P.
Los Angeles, CA
3/1/2012
Mmmmm. Aka. Delicious salmon, perfect cocktails (the lychee and apple fiji are amazing), and a tofu cheesecake? Sold.
I first came to Aka for my birthday last year. Since then, I've been coming back loyally. The fish first off is FRESH. The rolls are amazing and not drenched in sauces or tempura. While Aka is creative, they're still authentic and remain true to the taste of freshness.
At night this place is busy! It has more of a lounge feel to it at night than the quaint vibe during the day. The bartender mixed us bomb drinks, and I was definitely happy.
Another thing I loved about Aka was the service. I've always gotten two waiters a majority of the time, and they're just SO accommodating (maybe even too much -- which is not a problem for me)! It's always a pleasant visit.
Aka is fun, intimate, and a place for memories to be made. -
Review from Tracy G.
Houston, TX
5/14/2012
This review is based purely on not being contacted. I wanted to have my birthday here because I had attended my friends party and it was great. No one has contacted me back after 3 emails sent. I have made reservations at Kata Robata and I am super excited. Wished I could have tried AKA....Totally unprofessional to not respond and they lost out on a party of 15...
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Review from David D.
Houston, TX
3/4/2012
Top four things to know about AKA Sushi
1) The environment and lighting is perfect, both during the day and at night.
2) The sushi quality is outstanding, however the reverse happy hour is not a good deal for the food (they skimp on sushi), in fact, it is better to order from the real menu.
3) The lunch menu is incredible and the portion sizes are generous.
4) The service is great -
Review from Nupur L.
1/8/2012
Came here with a friend for happy hour and was pleasantly surprised. Their Happy Hour had a really nice range of drinks, appetizers, sushi and rolls (aka, not everything was covered in tempura and mayo). I can't comment on the drinks because my friend had to get back to work so we stuck to water. My friend and I started with these mango crab rangoons, which were surprisingly delicious. Those exist in that weird space on the dessert/dinner continuum where if you'd ate it at the right time and place, it could serve as a fix for both.
We shared these stuffed mushrooms that were awesome! If you go, those are a must. I had a nice spicy tuna roll and a good whitefish tempura roll and my friend enjoyed her dynamite roll. I'd have rated the place higher but I'm wary of Japanese places where the fried apps are the most memorable part of the meal. The damage for two apps apiece and three rolls was only $16 per person though. Happy hour indeed! I'll be back to sample more.Listed in: The Yelp 100 Challenge!, Sushi Happy Hours
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Review from carla f.
Bellaire, TX
I am always wary of trying a different place for sushi. Miyako has proved to be my number 1, always. I was, however, feeling a little adventurous and decided to try Aka Sushi House. It took our server about twelve minutes to even greet us, and when he did, he said "Hey guys.." Nevermind not apologizing for the long wait, so why not throw out the formalities too!
Nothing changed from there. It took him forever to get our drinks. It took them forever to take our order. It took them forever to bring our order. The only thing that was done quickly and efficiently was my guest and myself crossing this place off of our list. -
Review from Austin G.
Houston, TX
everything i have tried here is perfect, their service is top notch and tofu cheesecake, is the bomb!!!
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Review from Vic C.
Richmond, TX
Updated - 2/12/2012
I observed the cleanliness of the eating area more closely this time, and they really do need to pay more attention to it. Not only were wrappers and such on the floor underneath the booth (again), a ledge by the window was liberally sprinkled with bits of food. I don't know how often they clean such areas, but it needs to be more often.
They had only three violations on the last inspection (which is low for here, trust me), but that inspection, I just noticed, was in September of 2010 - what's up, Houston health department? Plus one of the violations was "The person in charge of the food establishment unable to demonstrate knowledge of HACCP principles." If you google it, that's a bit worrisome....
http://houston.tx.gego... sushi&tp=ALL
I enjoyed the food once again, as long as I could keep my mind off the debris. The service was once again slow but otherwise OK.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/23/2011
I wish they'd clean under the tables more often and the service was sometimes a bit slow (and they… Read more »
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Review from Andrew B.
3/28/2012
Love this place! If only this place had a patio, this place would be perfect. The food is great, the happy hour and reverse happy hours have food and drinks their on special almost all day long. The basil beef, bacon wrapped tomatoes, and the tempura cheesecake are a must for any newbies....It was our first time and not only will we be back but we will get those items again....Great decor, friendly staff, and a good place for a younger hip crowd. Ask for Edwin behind the bar...passionate about his mixology skills and love for Japanese food. We will be back and enjoy all of the sushi rolls we did not get to try after stuffing our face on the must have apps.
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Review from Meredith D.
River Oaks, Houston, TX
1/1/2012 14 Check-ins Here
Hmmmm, if you're craving good sushi, go to Aka. Their food is really yummy and fresh. The restaurant is not damp nor does it have a cleaning/chemical smell, which I've noticed and disliked at other sushi places. I believe Aka means red in Japanese so the red and dark wood interior is fitting as well as visually appealing. All of their staff are friendly and provide excellent service, especially Tony, my favorite.
I judge sushi restaurants based on the quality of what I consider to be a fundamental part of the sushi experience - California Rolls and edamame. (Screwing those up = I'm not going to like it here.) I always get a California Roll and edamame at Aka - delicious!! Also, the salmon sampler, firecracker shrimp and Tony Roll.
They have Happy Hour and Reverse Happy Hour, which is good but it gets really crowded/loud during those times. -
Review from Jamie H.
Houston, TX
3/16/2012 1 photo
I decided that our first sushi experience in Houston would be at AKA. I would definitely recommend it for it's creative rolls and great fish.
-Smoked Yellowtail- We started our meal with this fantastic nigiri. Even though we were stuffed at the end of our roll expedition, we order another round instead of dessert.
-French Kiss Roll- Anything with truffle product will attract me. This roll was light and fresh, my favorite of the night. The addition of lemon made it exciting and different. If you're looking for something spicy, this is not your roll.
-Chili Garlic Roll- The garlic ponzu made this roll. It had a little kick, and the flavor was amazing.
-Ninja Roll- This roll was... interesting. I liked the roll for its savory notes, but was a little weirded out by the goat cheese. It's not that it tasted bad, it's just not an addition I had experienced in sushi. The honey wasabi was great.
-Louisiana Roll- By far, this was my boyfriend's favorite. You just can't go wrong when you put all the spicy seafood combos with sriracha! There was a point when there were 5 pieces of this roll left and only 2 of the others--apparently someone was saving them for the end!
4 specialty rolls and 2 orders of nigiri came out to be around $65, which is what I expected to pay ordering off the regular, special roll menu--and we left stuffed!
Overall, the atmosphere was intimate and hummed with happy customers throughout the dinner. We were seated at the sushi bar, which I actually enjoyed (despite being a booth snob). We will definitely go back to try out the happy hour menu! -
Review from Carole G.
12/4/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This place is pretty forgettable. I know that because I chose to eat here having completely forgotten that we had already tried this place. Apparently nothing about it stuck with me even with my husband insisting we had been here. Then, I spotted the waiter we had last time. Yes, we have been here. Not sure why we came again!
There is nothing wrong with Aka sushi. It's just forgettable. Nothing about it really stands out. We took our daughter here for lunch so she could try sushi in Houston. We ordered a few different rolls and a couple of sashimi. The rolls were good; certainly not great and really nothing to write home about it. Sashimi was good but not melt in your mouth oh man I've got to have some more of that good. Not at all. It was just a tad above being "just ok."
And actually the not good part of our lunch visit was the fact that everything came out at different times. My husband had a bowl of soup with his lunch and that was brought promptly. But, when it came time to actually bringing his lunch it was as if they forgot to make it. He had ordered a chicken salad. It was nothing more than a cut up chicken breast plopped onto/into a tossed green salad. Somehow this was not ready for many minutes after our sushi came out. I think they apologized for it twice before bringing it. Since he doesn't eat sushi, we now had our meal while he waited. Just bad timing.
Service is attentive here so not sure what the mix-up was. Lunch was a little on the pricey side for what it was. Hopefully I will now remember having gone here so I can choose another place the next time.
Written in my travelogue: Bleh. Still on the search for a really great sushi spot. -
Review from Jenn C.
Houston, TX
4/1/2012
Great reverse happy hour. The smoked hamachi with garlic oil and ponzu is divine. Drinks are tasty- try the lychee-infused sake. Some of the grilled items did not come out as hot as I'd like and the ramen ended up being a smidge better than ok. I wanted to give it a 3.5 or 3.75. 5 being food nirvana...
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Review from Eric B.
Houston, TX
2/27/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The best in Houston but, I haven't tried Uchi yet. The key to great sushi is fresh ingredients and a creative menu. Aka has both down pat. The quality is the same every time we go, the restaurant never smells fishy. A major clue as to freshness.
The inside tip at Aka is to eat at the sushi bar and talk to the chefs. You're guaranteed to get a much better experience this way and I think at any sushi place. I'm hard pressed to say there's a bad dish on the menu, I've tried almost everything. From starters to the rolls it all melts in your mouth. The uzusukuri has truffle oil and truffle salt, the french kiss has the right touch of lemon and salmon nigiri (thats just with rice) is top notch every time. Their kitchen items are great as well; stuffed mushrooms, sake streamed seabass, yakitori and gyoza are all great. Happy hour all day Saturday and Sunday, each day from 4-7 and reverse HH at night is a plus although I'd suggest be adventurous! Try more than just the California and rock and roll. There's a lot of flavor out past the shallow end! Don't hesitate to try the sashimi or nigiri here, the fish is all great quality and by itself is great! That's how you know the other rolls will be good too.
Another tip. If a guy named Jaime is working there ask him to make you a special roll! Just tell him know if there's a particular fish you like or just let him loose. They appreciate you allowing them to be creative and you won't be disappointed. This roll (whatever it is) will be $15. Their menu special rolls run $12 and basic rolls $3 to $7, which puts it at just a little cheaper than other sushi places for premium rolls and makes it a steal! The only down side is that parking can be bad when this place gets packed but, it's very worth it. Highly recommended! -
Review from Carrie G.
11/27/2011
Saturday Happy Hour review only!
Here's the bottom line: If rolls are your thing, Aka's happy hour is NOT the best bang for your buck. However, if you like a variety of non-sushi plates (seaweed salad, black pepper beef, vegetable tempura) and/or nigiri and sashimi, this happy hour is perfect for you.
Me? I'm a big fan of their sushi samplers. They offer white fish, albacore, salmon, tuna, and yellowtail samplers, all of which come with two pieces of nigiri and two pieces of sashimi. No mixing and matching is allowed, so if you order a salmon sampler, you will get a total of four pieces of salmon, all for $7-8. It really is an incredible deal. The sushi is very generously portioned and beautifully presented. My dining companion and I ordered a yellowtail sampler and a salmon sampler, and we were nothing but impressed. In fact, their yellowtail sashimi was some of the best I'd ever had.
Our waiter was quick and efficient. He had a big personality, but he was careful not to approach our table too often. We thoroughly enjoyed his service.
I would definitely come back to Aka for happy hour. -
Review from Sara T.
PT WASHINGTON, FL
3/27/2012
Dark and casual romantic inside. Great service. Decent prices. Amazing chicken teriyaki. Husband had the cajun roll, white fish roll, and tuna. The tuna roll was filled to the max with tuna. The most he had ever seen! So yummy.
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Review from Oliver D.
Houston, TX
1/23/2012
Bring back the happy hour take-out option PLEASE!
I used to luv this fricken place when you could order off the happy hour menu and pick up. Atmosphere is fine, don't get me wrong (maybe seating little crowded for the amount of larger groups i seem to be a part of when we eat here on the weekends) but I loved being able to run in, grab my food and get back to work. The bartender can make some great drinks too if you're looking to pre-game on Fri/Sat nights.
Bottom line - sushi is good. I've never tried to sway people from eating here when Aka is consensus. -
Review from Angel F.
12/29/2011
I've been dining at Aka since 2006 and absolutely love the place. There are several sushi places that I frequent depending on my company, and this is the restaurant I choose when entertaining people looking for fresh, inexpensive Americanized sushi.
First: the hostess always guides us to a booth without us asking if one is available. I love this because typically restaurants try to rotate servers and booth preferences get ignored. This restaurant is small enough to fill up the booths first and they clearly define server sections well; so, no one gets left out.
Second: our server is always friendly. Always! Even if I show up at closing, they are just as eager and happy to assist. Note: the bartender is a student that usually has his head in a book or watching the game....his service isn't as outstanding, but since he's right there, it isn't that bad, either.
Third: happy hour is from 3-7 and 9-close. There really is no reason to come any other time. During happy hour, prices are outstanding and the menu is quite extensive. I nearly always end up with eyes bigger than my stomach and end up ordering $30 worth of $4 items.
Fourth: I've accidentally visited Aka outside of happy hour and still had an outstanding experience. The prices are completely reasonable, the fish is fresh, and their custom rolls are out of this world.
I love this place!!!! -
Review from Jessica L.
Houston, TX
11/30/2011 4 Check-ins Here
The greatest appeal for me to this place has to be the happy hour, which actually includes a lot of food and drinks! It's no secret so it gets pretty packed so just be prepared if you don't have a reservation.
I actually haven't ordered a lot of the sushi-- I like trying their other menu items and have been consistently pleased with what I've tried. They add new items on their menu every so often and have pretty interesting/creative drinks! It's a fun and affordable place to eat. Considering how expensive sushi can get, I definitely appreciate the hh prices!!
Service has always been good in my experience. The parking lot can get full but usually we've been able to find parking on a side street. -
Review from Amy C.
Round Rock, TX
10/28/2011
Happy hour review only**
I've been coming here for reverse happy hour (9- close) for about 2 years now and no other place can compare with AKA. They have hh monday through friday 3-7 and 9 - close and all day saturday and sunday! It has a great selection of apps and drinks and a great place to just come chill with friends and catch up . Service is always friendly and attentive. The last time me and 2 friends went we ordered the asari miso, black pepper beef, salmon sampler, kakuni something?, bacon wrapped tomatoes, baked mussels, and three drinks for about 40 bucks. Definitely worth giving them a try if you haven't already. -
Review from Priya S.
Richmond, TX
3/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
I actually did not go here during happy hour. I just went here for lunch during a week day and I have to say the decor of the restaurant is reflective of the food and the theme. We got the lunch special where you get two rolls for 10 dollars. I tried the crazy, crunchy, spicy crunchy salmon, and the tiger eye. The sushi was pretty good. I wouldn't say this is the best sushi in town but still enjoyed it. I felt the sushi was missing something. I wasn't too thrilled with the service, since the waiter mixed up our orders. Maybe I will try again during happy hour. For now, I give Aka a three.
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Review from Cameron B.
Houston, TX
11/11/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I don't know how I'm just now trying out this place. I live AND work nearby. I came here with a friend on her recommendation. I really enjoy this place. I am a sucker for a versatile lunch menu. I think I have food ADD. I don't want one thing... I want choices or combos... soup, salad, sushi, sashimi, etc. Aka does a great job with this. There are combos with sushi and sashimi or just rolls, and soup and salad are included. Most options are under $10 which is great!
The crazy roll is the favorite so far. The fresh jalapeno adds a great texture without being too spicy, as the seeds have been removed.
The atmosphere here is quite nice. Mostly black and red, there is a minimalist zen design that is nicer than most establishments at this price point. I must admit though, the restrooms are not the best. Clean in appearance but smelly. Maybe a plumbing issue? Yuck.
I have yet to check this place out for dinner yet, as I'm sure the atmosphere is quite different.Listed in: Greenway Lunch Spots
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Review from Justin M.
Saint Louis, MO
2/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Looks Delicious...
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Review from Daniel L.
9/18/2011 2 Check-ins Here
If you come here on a Saturday night be prepared to wait at least 45 minutes. For serious, I never wait anywhere. I am not a patient person. It shocked me I had that much patience to wait for anything 45 minutes. It of course being touted by my friend as the "it" sushi spot - and me being easily convinced I should try more sushi places than Azuma. So I was ready to try it especially after hearing that happy hour menu was all through the weekend. I like happy hour prices - it means there is more money for alcohol. So I was sold.
Aka is in that small strip mall on W. Alabama on the Whole Foods side of the street. If you are coming from Montrose then you are going to pass Shepherd and Zake, get into the right lane, pass Ziggy's Healthy, the paint store, and then bam there is your shopping center, across the street from Fleming's Steakhouse and the Gables Upper Kirby. Don't expect to find a parking spot in this tiny lot that apparently has no turnover ever. I had to go all the way deep into the neighborhood and find parking on Kipling ... and walk into the restaurant while it was raining. This is sort of a fancy place so you should not shake the water off like your dog would. Note to self for next time.
The waiting is kind of miserable since there are like three seats in the entry vestibule and the door is so big when it opens you are in someone's way and you really can't move walls (yet) so its just kind of miserable being bumped into for 45 consecutive minutes.
So finally seated. There are two kinds of waiters here: incrediblysuperseriousformal and the fun gay one ("It's Britney Bitch!") -- guess which one we had? Yep, the serious one. Not fair. I wanted to ask for a waiter substitution but that is apparently not appropriate to do at a place like this.
We ended up ordering some beers ($2.75 for happy hour price) and a staggered smattering of a bunch of things to try.
1. Wasabi dumpling - not as spicy as I was expecting, but at least you could taste something. I like my things HOT and this was mild at best.
2. Bacon wrapped tomato - amazeballs. The tomato is super juicy and explodes in your mouth, the bacon lingers around to say hello. They come out super hot so give it a second so it doesn't go all scaldy on your mouth.
3. Spicy salmon roll - it was okay.
4. Yakuza roll (not on the happy hour menu) - very impressive look, it looked like someone spent a lot of time on presentation. The taste was unusually on point for something that looked so cool, it was very tasty.
5. Two sashimi, Two sushi of the yellow tail - the yellow tail was very soft and almost buttery, it was one of the better ones I have had.
The beer comes out with these cute little "shot glasses" to drink out. I felt like Godzilla trying to drink from a human sized cup. It was fun. I felt classy. And our waiter, although way too formal and serious for me, kept refilling my glass every time he passed by. Which was not super often - in fact it seemed like at points he was COMPLETELY avoiding us. One time he walked by our table with menus on his shoulder entirely blocking his view of our table, when we needed another round of beer and were hailing him like a taxi, we ended up just getting the water girl to pick us up our beers. Another time when I needed one of those tray things to put my wasabi and soy sauce on he was MIA for about five minutes and we thought he might appear for a few passes through the restaurant with a napkin or S&M mask to obscure his vision on our table.
The Godzilla roll (not on happy hour menu) comes with Doritos chips in there. I really wanted it but my friend was not willing to stoop to my level to try it. So I will come back with someone else and give it a try.
The "It's Britney" waiter was on the mark with all of his tables and cracking jokes and making small talk. I think this place is 100% dependent on how serious you want to be and how serious your waiter is that you are paired with. Azuma was a four star experience, this was a three star experience but I intend to come back for the Godzilla roll and hope to be able to give Aka an upgrayedd in star power.
