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Amu
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
43 reviews for Amu
Review Highlights
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"Awesome sake bar and tapas-like servings of Japanese food." In 3 reviews -
"...a couple hot dishes as well (grilled squid was very good as..." In 3 reviews -
"The sashimi always tastes fresh and the staff is attentive..." In 12 reviews
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43 reviews in English
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Review from Penelope B.
Boulder, CO
4/13/2012
A Boulder five. Maybe Colorado. It's the only izakaya in town as far as I know. And the food is always delicious. Good service, too. I'd skip desserts though. One of few places where you can order onigiri. They do a good job. Much more enjoyable ambiance than Sushi Zanmai (next door, shared wall and sushi prep). NOT a sushi place, though you can have some sashimi and certain sushi elements.
Small. Make reservations or get there at open.
I'd say good for a certain kind of kid. Ours like gyoza a lot, and rice, and enjoys sitting at the tatami room table or at the high table in front. But it is a quieter restaurant and not the sort of seating where a high chair would be feasible. So, either unconfined in the mat room, or a babe in arms, and you'll be ok. -
Review from Megan E.
4/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
If you've been wanting to go to Japan but just can't afford that $1,800 per person flight, come here instead! Learn a little Japanese before coming to help yourself fit in... and be prepared for everyone else to be speaking it.
We got here at 4:58 - and there was already a line! Get there early, the seating is tight and there aren't many people leaving early (we left first out of everyone that came and we stayed almost 1.5 hours).
It's like a tapas place so be prepared for small plates that you share. And be aware that even at the few tables there, you'll be sitting with other people - it's a cozy place, not a private place.
We ordered the sake flight, which was very good (unfiltered sake available) and 6 other dishes including beef tongue! If you sit at the first bar, you can watch them work - and that's a cool show in itself.
Make sure to bring shoes you can slip off easily and try to wear socks or bring some to put on.
It's not cheap but it's a fun experience so give it a shot! -
Review from Liza M.
Boulder, CO
4/30/2012
Could have been a little over my head - but still amazing; small but it's more of an experience then to get full off
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Review from Lynn C.
10/12/2011
I can't explain this place.
First off, it's not a sushi restaurant....so dont come here expecting sushi. It's a real izakaya with real japanese food, real japanese servers, and real japanese patrons. We ordered a ton of small dishes and every single dish was delicious. My favourite wasn't even on the menu, but a daikon salad that was served to everyone-- although everything was just as good. Lots of sake, and you have to take off your shoes.
The price was reasonable too. The four of us, about 10 dishes and three bottles of sake and a large bottle of asahi for about $50 each person.
A lot of cold food, a lot of seafood, a ton of sake selection, and a little on the salty side. Definitely worth coming.Listed in: Broomfield (and area), CO…
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Review from Shannon M.
Boulder, CO
11/12/2011
My wife and I really enjoyed the entire experience at Amu. We sat at a shared table with a group of Japanese business men, which was really enjoyable and added a cultural twist to the evening. The food was exceptional and truly authentic. The wait staff was attentive and helpful with the menu.
The ambiance isn't fancy and the space of the restaurant is small just to manage your expectations. -
Review from Aiko S.
Los Angeles, CA
10/12/2011
Very authentic, very friendly, very entertaining (!!).
You have to take your shoes off in this restaurant. They have counter and goza. This place is really cool!
as a first timer, we did not know what to order. But our server was really helpful and we tried the dishes she recommended. They were all good!
Yakibuta (pork) is a must:) -
Review from Joseph B.
Boulder, CO
3/8/2012
My favorite Japanese & Sushi in Boulder and compares with great places in SF or Honolulu. Prices are reasonable, menu is based on traditional Japanese, but unique for most Americans. Great sashimi and tons of interesting small plates. Great staff. Oh BTW probably my favorite Boulder restaurant.
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Review from jill l.
Culver City, CA
8/25/2011
Amu is the best Japanese restaurant you can find in Boulder, Co. The sashimi always tastes fresh and the staff is attentive and friendly. You won't be able to find Americanized Japanese food here - The Boulder Roll or Philly Roll- but what you will find is really delicious Japanese food. I've tried most things on the menu and have always left a happy camper.
Only downfall is that because of how small this place is, there can be a bit of a wait. -
Review from Rachael B.
Boulder, CO
Amu is, hands down, my favorite place to eat in Boulder, possibly in Colorado. I was introduced by a friend a few years ago and have been coming back ever since. I started with things I recognized, sashimi, sunomono, soba, etc and have now tried almost everything on the menu. Their new style "fusion" is amazing - try the Salmon Carpaccio and attempt to hold back your tears of joy. I recently discovered the tseukemono (pickled veggies) - brightly colored, perfectly pickled treats.
I'm not one to dine alone but Amu is one of those places where I feel comfortable the second I walk in. By now most of the wait staff knows me by sight, they are the sweetest people ... I can sit at the bar, share a cup of sake with my chef and have an amazing meal for under 20$ (if I want, but let's get real, I have NO QUALMS spending money at this place).
The fish is fresh, they have weekly/daily specials, you can buy a huge bottle of sake and they will keep it for you in a special 'customer's only' fridge, the service is fast and friendly, the environment is delightful....I have never had a disappointing experience here. Sure, there are a few things that I've tried that I haven't been wild about but then I just order up a plate of Hamachi Carpaccio and melt into my chair (which is super comfy by the way!) Oh, and try the Mochi Kakiage - imagine a flash fried ball of mochi with scallops, shrimp, fish and seaweed tumbled together and served piping hot with a dish of sea salt....
Nothing but Amu LOVE. -
Review from Amy F.
4/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was so excited to finally try this place! My friend and I sat at the bar and shared a couple plates. The atmosphere is very Japanese, with prompt, polite service.
Their seaweed salad is out of this world, the best I have EVER had! We also had the lotus root with shrimp and the soba noodle special. I love lotus, and was thrilled with these deep-fried little shrimp sandwiches. The sauce that came with the soba noodles was a fun mix-it-yourself adventure, complete with a raw quail egg. The flavors were amazing, I hope it's on the menu again next time!
The menu is a bit intimidating, but this is clearly the kind of place where anything you order will be a delight. -
Review from Stella T.
Boulder, CO
5/26/2011
Amu used to be my fav. jap restaurant in Boulder.
However, I feel that their quality of food has gone down quite a bit recently but still rate best in Boulder. -
Review from darcie s.
Boulder, CO
12/12/2010
we read about Amu on Yelp and thought we'd give it a try. Coming from LA we've really missed all of the amazing Asian food you can get, but this place was definitely worth the visit. we'll be going back.
since there were a lot of interesting dishes we'd never tried before we asked for an Omakase menu to see what they'd bring. you can give the waitress an amount that you're willing to spend which we set at $50 each but when the bill came we found that we had gotten $50 total. a nice surprise given we felt like we had a lot of great variety and were pretty full by that point.
we went with the kirin on draft (a nice touch) and our first course was a fresh yellowtail tataki salad. the fish was really good (something we're still hesitant about being landlocked). she then brought shumai which were light rather than doughy. i really liked the next course which were the fish cakes. it was something i wouldn't likely have ordered but they were tasty. our last course was a fish shabu. we had some more of the fresh yellowtail with a shabu pot that was delicious. it would have been good to have a little more variety with the fish but i assume that is what was freshest.
service is really pleasant as is the atmosphere. the food didn't necessarily come out in the best flow, but it could have been due to a large holiday party they had. we'll be going back to see. -
Review from Diane K.
1/6/2011
First, I 'm scared of sushi. I used to love it, but I had one of those sickly incidents and my taste buds revolted (oysters did the same!). My stomach is a weakling, I guess.
My visit to Amu was for other items on the menu. I got the edamame, vegetable tempura, and shrimp dumpling (but it was called something else). The edamame was salted well, but slightly aged. My sister-in-law made tempura for the family over the holidays, and hers was amazing. This tempura wasn't as good, but it was close. The dumplings were decent. I tried one of their draft beers--kirin, and I don't know that I finished it. But it wasn't horrible.
So why four stars? Sounds like a three, right? I tried my friend's fire [something] roll. It was so delicious! Especially the spicy creme sauce it was made with.
Moral of the story. When a place is renowned for its sushi. Trust the sushi. -
Review from Alia Z.
4/8/2011
One of the best Japanese places in town. Serves small plates, so you get to try plenty of different things.
Pros: delicious food, authentic
Cons: usually packed because there aren't that many places to sit. the tables in the back are the sit-on-the-floor kind, which can be painful after a while. -
Review from Tricia K.
Rio Rancho, NM
4/9/2011
I am so glad Amu is open on Sunday nights. I was dining solo (again) and seated at the "bar" area at the entrance of the restaurant. I love that they don't allow shoes inside, very authentic.
This was my second Izakaya (sake bar) experience but this one was more low key and casual. I had the beautiful waitress help me decide on what dishes to order because I wanted some fairly authentic food. She told me to order the broiled mackerel (outstanding), fatty yellowtail sashimi (also outstanding), seafood mochi fritter (kinda odd, not sure I liked it), and onigiri cakes (always love these).
I can't comment on the sake since I am not a drinker but the food was authentic and there were several Japanese people eating solo there as well which is always a good sign. The food was fairly inexpensive so I felt I got a good bargain for some delicious morsels.
I recommend skipping desserts here though, my green tea creme brulee was overcooked and not very good. -
Review from Hels C.
Manhattan, NY
3/9/2011
BACKGROUND | The boyfriend wanted to try real sushi, so we tried AMU from our friends' recommendations. it was AWESOME.
We removed our shoes before we sat down at the bar (think super Japanese) and seating is super limited (so call in advance).
SUSHI | AMAZING is all, I love this place! The price was great for the sushi and it was fresh! The Japanese dishes were fantastic and the lovely lady behind the bar was fantastic at answering questions and offering suggestions. Trust her!
I can't really write any more on this place, but you should def. try this place out if you are looking for authentic Japanese... like really authentic... I always judge a Sushi place by how many Japanese people work there and how many Japanese people eat there. This place has passed the test, a definite A for sushi in Boulder. -
Review from Hannah E.
Updated - 7/7/2009
I had to upgrade after I had by far the best mackerel sashimi of my life here the other night. Whatever recipe shimesaba involves (it just said marinated mackerel on the menu) sign me up for a dish a day. Seriously. I would eat this every day for the rest of my life.
I mentioned how awesome it was to the friendly chef and he explained that it was Osaka-style and that he likes to eat it with ginger, as he simultaneously placed a platter of thick-as-steak cut hamachi in front of us. These yellowtail slices were almost an inch thick. And they were heavenly and divine - yes, both. Also the best hamachi I've ever eaten (tied with other hamachi experiences at Amu).
While Amu still is shaky on some of the grilled and fried dishes, I've decided that I no longer care to dock them a star for that whilst they're in their kitchen prepping up the best sashimi I've had ever - and that includes sashimi in Chicago, L.A., and San Francisco.
Here is a my must-order list - everything I'd order if I were trying to impress the crap out of someone with my ordering skillz and my restaurant-choosing skillz:
Starter:
Kinpira
Hijiki
Hourensou gomaae
Ebi Shumai
Sunomono:
Kani
Sashimi:
Yellowtail
Shimesaba
Maguro&Avocado
Yakimono:
Green Mussel
Kamo Shioyaki
Agemono:
Soft Shell Crab
And take any dessert they offer.
Amu is in my extra-special good graces and would come up against Chez Panisse if anyone ever asked me where I would want to eat my final, pre-death meal.Listed in: Pearl Street Eating from Best…, Like Being At Home, Fish, Fish, Fish!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/20/2009
If you are not a regular customer at Amu, your greeting will almost inevitably be a polite, but… Read more »
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Review from Toto M.
Boulder, CO
11/12/2010
LOVE LOVE LOVE (did i say it enough?) this place!
Food, excellent. Service, terrific. Atmosphere, just like home.
I am a Japanese native, and no matter how much you get used to be away from home, you will always miss the food that you've grown up with...and that's where Amu comes in! This place always makes me feel at home...literally. Japanese food is not all about Sushi; food that Amu serves is more of Japanese home dishes that my mom would cook and is much closer to my heart. Tsukemono, Yamaimo in butter-soy sauce, Grilled Ika, Chikuwa age, well when it's cold Nabemono is the way to go.
If you haven't experienced Japanese food besides Sushi and Miso soup and are looking for a place to give a shot at, this is it; you won't be disappointed! -
Review from James W.
Boulder, CO
5/27/2008
This is great Japanese food! We go at least once a month and whenever asian friends and family are in town (OK, with non-asians that really like this stuff too!). So glad we discovered this restaurant and sake bar next door to the raucous and annoying (CU students, california roll-eating, sake bomb-slammin') crowds that overrun Zanmai most evenings. (Amu is owned by Zanmai, though.)
Chefs and staff are all Japanese and knowledgeable and friendly. There's only about 10-12 seats at the bar counter, so groups are more comfortable (and easier to chat facing) reserving the 2 tables/tatami booths in back. Usually the 2 of us can walk in and get seated or after only a short wait, though word is slowly getting out about Amu.
Sashimi and fish prepared in front of you at the bar, but don't miss out on big selection of authentic "small plates" of cooked food from the kitchen (NO sushi for you!). Try the croquettes, egg custard, fried squid, tofu, pork, duck, fish, mochi ice cream, dessert specials, etc. - all made in Amu's kitchen, as far as I know. Decent selection of premium chilled sakes and usually good guidance from our server, if needed.
Hope our oasis in Boulder stays around! Only place in town for a real Japanese dining experience.Listed in: Eating Asian in Denver to…
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Review from kainoa r.
Santa Rosa, CA
4/2/2008
The most authentic Japanese meal I have ever had. In Boulder. Colorado. Some people are hesitant to go for fresh/raw fish in the middle of the country, but I can tell you, the Whole Foods Market in Boulder has (had two years ago) the busiest Seafood department in all of their stores in the US, and gets deliveries seven days a week. The point? Fresh fish can be, and is found in Colorado.
This place seats just about a dozen people, and when you are surrounded by Japanese businessmen all speaking Japanese, you know you have found something real.
The chef works alone, and at a medium pace. He doesn't rush any preparation, and that's okay, because when you get your plate, whatever is on it is of the highest quality, and worth the wait. Also, take your time to watch; it's amazing to see a master sushi chef at work... The presentation is beautiful, and very... classic.
Prepare yourself to spend at Amu because it's quite expensive, and if you are satisfied with average Japanese, this might not be worth it to you.Listed in: Places I Eat
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Review from David C.
Boulder, CO
6/15/2010
The first time I went here with a friend, I was a Japanese food newbie. But the food was so darn good, and the guy behind the counter was really nice in explaining all the different choices.
As the sign of Amu says (it's next-door to Sushi Zanmai, don't get them confused) this is "beyond sushi" with many raw fish dishes.
The second time I went here, I decided to bring in a pro -- my Japanese aunt -- to confirm my initial thoughts. She gave it the good and authentic thumbs up. Again, very excellent food.
Her only negative comment... the prices were high for some of the dishes, especially for some of the small portions you got, such as with the raw fish dishes.
But for great, authentic Japanese food in the the middle of Colorado, I'll take it. Make it a special night, order a variety of dishes, be adventurous, ask questions and have fun! -
Review from Christina L.
San Francisco, CA
3/3/2010
This place rocks. We look forward to eating it even when we're in Tokyo and Hong Kong, cities with obviously decent Japanese food. It makes places like Izakaya Den look like a complete joke. I'm surprised by the lack of reviews but it's better for us - we've waited for nearly 2 hours for a seat at the counter at this place before but we never have regrets.
I think it starts when you come through the door. You have to take off your shoes. I don't know abt you but I already feel comfy and at home when I don't have to eat with shoes. The place is small, with about 8-10 seats at the sushi bar and a table for four at the door. That's it. No rolls here, only izakaya goodness and a specials menu that has included the biggest plate of fresh uni I've seen in my life and thought I would only find in food heaven.
There are no screaming college kids looking to do sake-bombs (that's next door). Only genuine, small dishes carefully prepared in front of you by the female sushi chef who only smiles and prepares each dish to perfection in a calming way that reflects the relaxed atmosphere. They have a myriad of sakes and sojus as well as Kirin on tap. Heck you get to even pick your own sake cup. In addition to the variety of sunomono, fried and grilled stuff, and sukiyaki, they also have oden and my personal fave, okonomiyaki. There's also plenty of Japanese customers, which makes it even more legit and leaves us wondering where they all go since we never see them anywhere else in Denver/Boulder. Another bonus: as small as the place is, the waitstaff never ushers you out and lets you sit as long as you'd like. Hands down our favorite place to come back to in Denver that feels like our second home. -
Review from Grace W.
Cupertino, CA
6/4/2011
Oh how do I even begin this review? 5 stars for it's excellent, personable service that represents how a true izakaya is in Japan.
I recommend sitting at the bar because its interesting to watch the chef preparing each dish and meticulously arranging each ingredient to beautifully present each dish.
You will be offered a mini appetizer complimentary from chef. Usually it's a salad with a light refreshing peanut sauce. Occasionally, it might be something with tako in a tangy dressing.
Since it's an izakaya, that means you are expecting smaller dishes like tapas. Ordering multiple dishes to share is highly recommended.
Some of my favorites are:
1) Sunomono: a salad with raw fish, octopus or shrimp in a yuzu, zesty dressing. It's a good starter to excite your taste buds.
2) Wahu steak: MuST TRY! A grilled steak with butter topped with grated daikon and a side of mustard. It might sound odd but you will find the daikon mellows out the heaviness of the steak and gives it a refreshing burst in your mouth
3) yakitori : chicken skewers with sweet sauce
4) grilled duck : succulent duck with crispy skin. Ask for their chilling powder. It adds a little kick to it.
5) Spanish mackerel : they prepared this like a tartare. And if you are willing to try ( subjected to availability) do ask for them to deep fry the fish bone. Yes it sounds odd but by deep frying the bones, they turn into crispy bites and it's really good.
6) grilled squid
7) sashimi : nothing special about the preparation but it's good fish
8) grilled shio chicken
9) agedashi tofu
10) sake: you can't complete an izakaya experience with out sake
Do try to plan ahead for an experience at Amu. It's a small place so it gets crowded really fast. It's easy to get a seat during the weekdays.
NOTE: If you are looking for sushi, they have none here. Next door is Sushi Zanmai where sushi is served. It's owned by the same management. -
Review from Yoyo T.
Brooklyn, NY
3/15/2010
I don't know why I've gone anywhere else for sushi in Denver/Boulder. We sat at the bar and ordered yellowtail sashimi, pepper steak, yosenabe, and eel. All were really good.
The yellowtail was really thick and fresh. The pepper steak was really juicy, cooked just right. The eel was really flavorful and soft. It wasn't dry and had the right give. The Yosenabe was really flavorful. I shouldn't have ordered anything else besides the yosenabe, because they can take the broth, put an egg and rice in it. Next time.
I'd definitely go back there again.Listed in: Boulder
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Review from sandra e.
Long Island City, NY
6/1/2009
Great Japanese dishes-- I'm not talking about sushi because they do not serve any at Amu.
They do offer tapas-style dishes so beautifully served and very tasty. We had the grilled squid legs, roasted pork, avocado & tofu salad, daikon and kaiware salad, fried eel , and the rice balls wrapped in seaweed. My mouth waters just to remember the amazing taste of these dishes.
The ambiance is very simple, you will take your shoes off if seating in the back. The service is great and the whole experience is gracious and very peaceful.
Their tea is really good!! -
Review from Niniane W.
Mountain View, CA
2/20/2011
I really liked the sake here, and the hamachi was good. The egg custard was also good. The waitress is so incredibly pretty.
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Review from shannon h.
Denver, CO
11/20/2010
Never been to Japan but I'll pretend I'm there when I'm dining here. I had no reason to question my friend from Japan when he referred me to this little snippet of the other side of the world. I am sure glad I checked it out on my own! The food - savory- a real experience! The kind of place where you tell the chef a little about your likes and he takes care of you from there
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Review from Ziola S.
Boulder, CO
2/11/2011
Best Japanese food in Boulder! I tell all my friends about Amu because the food is amazing and there's nothing else like this Japanese restaurant experience in Boulder. Amu serves up Japanese small plates, served "family style" so that your entire party can sample each dish.
Food: The menu is mostly in Japanese, with a word or two in English (so not much description), so when I first started going I asked a lot of questions about the menu. I now find that I can choose anything from the menu and love it. My favorite dishes are: seaweed salad, burdock root, Hamachi Carpaccio (thinly sliced raw yellow fin tuna over a bed of green lettuce in a delicious sauce), Maguro Yukke (dice cubes of tuna and avocado sitting in an hollowed out avocado (mixed with that awesome sauce again) and sitting on a nest of daikon radish, their green mussels, and their wahuu steak (which comes out on a searing hot dish and is served with green onion, daikon radish, and mustard). I think I just figured out why they don't give descriptions. It just doesn't do it justice. The ingredients sound fine on their own, but trust me, when you eat this, you'll know what I'm talking about - pure awesomeness.
The staff: Are super friendly! Even though I only go once in a while (because I can spend a lot there since I want to order everything) they always seem to remember my wife and me.
Only complaint: They need more tables! It's a super small restaurant and I often find that if I want to get a seat, I must wait 45 minutes (which I'm usually more than willing to do because the food rocks and I know it'll be worth it). -
Review from Shane M.
Boulder, CO
6/21/2010
If you are tired of the same Japanese sushi places that serve 99% rolls or nigiri, give this place a shot. They have sashimi but that is only part of the menu; they also have many other traditional Japanese dishes. The ambiance is great - they have tables that you sit down to without chairs, although there is a recess in the floor for your feet to go so you're not too uncomfortable (not necessarily unauthentic either - I have sat at tables with and without this recess in Japan and Korea).
Food was all exceptional and authentic. Service was very good and friendly. Only negative was that some of the dishes were a little pricey - especially the sashimi, which I was surprised by the small portions provided for the price, and while the sashimi was good, it wasn't mind-blowing by any means. -
Review from Lauren R.
Boulder, CO
5/11/2011
Most authentic Japanese in Boulder by far. The fish isn't always incredibly fresh, but you can't blame them being landlocked and all. Cozy atmosphere, super hospitable staff, and a wonderful variety of traditional Japanese food that you can't get anywhere else in Boulder.
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Review from Tiffany S.
Erie, CO
3/24/2011 12 Check-ins Here
I'm going back on my promise to keep this place as my own BEST KEPT SECRET of Boulder's best Japanese, but I love Amu and I love the people, and I'd rather support them. This will just make my wait time longer (which is always well worth it), but then again, that's one of the reasons we go on "off nights." I could go on for days, but then I'd be spoiling all my secrets, you should see for yourself!
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Review from Nancy M.
Boulder, CO
11/14/2011
We chose this restaurant based on the Yelp reviews. It was a crowded Friday night...and we wanted to sit at the bar.... At first, I was disappointed to be seated at the community table with a large group of Japanese business men.....boy was I wrong. They all assured us that the food was "the same" as in Japan....and steered us to a lot of delicious entrees!! Every sauce that we had was delicious. The food was incredibly fresh. The staff were extremely attentive, accommodating and friendly. We will definitely be back soon!! Bring friends and sit at the community table....or have a date at the bar....you can't go wrong!!
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Review from Chris P.
Austin, TX
4/28/2011
Loved Amu! Probably my favorite restaurant in Boulder, Amu is a true Japanese authentic with a real master behind the bar. The wahuu steak was perfect. Everything was perfect, in fact. I will make this a regular stop every time I come back into town.
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Review from Yokes H.
Boulder, CO
9/1/2008
This place is great in Boulder and this place would be ok if it were in LA. So I'll say this place is great for now. They have all of the yakizakana (grilled fish) and comfort foods that I'm used to having at home. Since I'm so busy all the time, I don't have the time to cook or shop for Japanese food. This is why Amu has been a crucial part of my life lately. I almost come here once every week. I usually order the food that I miss from home like grilled fish (although.. they're always out of Tara no Kasuzuke / cod in sake paste http://en.wikipedia.or...), mozuku (seaweed in vinegar - VERY refreshing http://www.wonder-okin...), nikujaga (potato & beef stew http://en.wikipedia.or...) and buta no kakuni (pork belly cooked in soy/sake broth http://en.wikipedia.or...), ika no gesoage (marinated then fried squid legs), . If you've never had the Agedashi Mochi yet. Try it. It's one of my favorites there. Their okonomiyaki was ok. It might be better if you guys made this at home. If you were in LA of course, you could go to an okonomiyaki place and grill a nice one yourself.
The setup of Amu is kind of nice too. You take your shoes off before you go up the steps to sit at the bar or in the tatami rooms in the back. There aren't too many seats here so it's always a good idea to call in advance before you arrive. I don't know if they take long term reservations but I know they hold seats for you. They always tell me to call ahead of time so I don't have to wait so long when I get there. The staff is very friendly here. They make me feel at home.
Nothing beats home cooking but Amu is the next best thing for me now. The prices here are very reasonable and affordable too. For those of you from LA, don't expect too much. It's good but it's not like wow. The owners of Sushi Zanmai own this place but Amu is so much better in quality. Ironic. -
Review from Gavin D.
Denver, CO
6/18/2008
Amu is a good Izakaya experience for Boulder, but sub-par to others that i've had in NY (of course). Sushi Den apparently has something they offer in their new back room, but i haven't been there yet... despite being owned by the same owners of Sushi Zanmai (which is only good for Karaoke on Saturday nights), the food is quite superb. i can't remember what i had there because i was hammered, but i remember it being damn good. I'll update this when i go there in a more sober state. If you're in NY, go to Sakagura. It is the bizzybomb. Maybe i'll yelp on that one later.
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Review from Aaron H.
Boulder, CO
11/4/2007 2 photos
To people that know Japanese food (that aren't just part of the sushi fad), this is easily the best place in boulder. To have found a good, authentic, izakaya in the middle of Colorado greatly surprised me. Make sure to check on the daily fresh fish specials. Ask the chef for advice if you're not sure what to get. If they have fresh Uni (sea urchin) sashimi then don't miss it. We also had a wonderful baby hamachi sashimi as well as mackerel. Try a suonomo and a couple hot dishes as well (grilled squid was very good as well as the shrimp with taro). The Wahuu steak is extraordinary. It is succulent melt in your mouth and served in a savory yet slightly sweet sauce. They have Kirin on tap and are happy to let you sample a few sake's if you don't know which one you want. Wonderful food (raw and cooked), great sake and beer, comfortable\intimate atmosphere.
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Review from Philipp S.
Erie, CO
7/23/2008
Amu is one of our favorite spots in Boulder. The staff is always very friendly and the whole atmosphere is very relaxed.
Yuki-san is our favorite chef and knows how to cut a nice thick slice of sashimi.
The food from the kitchen is always very good and the small portion tapas sizes are great for trying all kinds of different foods . -
Review from Jason S.
Boulder, CO
8/23/2010
I love Amu more each time I go there. Great food, warm and homey atmosphere, charming staff, and a great selection of sake.
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Review from Sea T.
Seattle, WA
7/19/2011
What stupendous luck that my friends, who had never before been to Amu, suggested that we go there last night! I was born in Japan, grew up in Hawaii, have traveled around Japan and eaten in Japanese restaurants in Seattle, Portland, New York, San Francisco, LA, DC, Philadelphia - you get the idea. This is the SINGLE BEST Japanese restaurant I have ever had the joy of dining in! Everything was perfect, from the horenso goma-ae to the saba shioyaki (yum!) to chawanmushi to hamachi sashimi to the Wakatake Onikoroshi. I was unprepared for anything like this meal - it got progressively more exciting with each new treat. Do yourself a favor. Be adventuresome and go. Even if you do not know Japanese food or the izakaya style, the very kind server will guide you happily through a joyous evening.
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Review from Tom L.
Ithaca, NY
10/23/2009
Amu has the best traditional Japanese food in Boulder, combined with excellent friendly service. Very limited seating, so plan to sit at the bar. This is not a good place for groups unless you reserve one of the tables in back.
