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Hana Café
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
235 Smith St(between Butler St & Douglass St)
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Neighborhoods: Cobble Hill, Gowanus
(718) 643-1963
- Nearest Transit:
-
Bergen St (F, G)
Carroll St (F, G)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
Evan R. said: "Zutto is under new management, and their owner invited several Yelpers to come check it out for free. I don't normally spend much time in TriBeCa, but free is a great offer. I got there early, and service was attentive from the…" read more »
43 reviews for Hana Café
Review Highlights
"and the sushi is always fresh and delicious."
(in 3 reviews)
"I'll get the miso soup next time."
(in 3 reviews)
"I am definitely going back."
(in 3 reviews)
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43 reviews in English
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Review from Liz H.
Brooklyn, NY
1/12/2012
Japanese food is probably the only option I have in delivery food in Carroll Gardens area when craving Asian food. Thai restaurants in this area is really not that great ( compared to Queens)
I have tried Osaka Sushi, Ki Sushi, Hana Sushi.
All of these three restaurants are run by non Japanese, which is expected in NY.
Until recently my delivery place was Osaka but recently I have tried Hana and it's not so bad either, compared to Ki or Osaka. It is cheaper than those 2 other restaurants.
Hana Sushi is not the best Japanese restaurant but neither Ki nor Osaka is.
It satisfies me for what it is. I will definitely order from here again. -
Review from The J.
Brooklyn, NY
11/11/2011
Hana Cafe is a nice sushi date restaurant. It's cute and kind of dark, great service, and good sushi. I wish I didn't have to mention that there often is one piece of fish that makes me squirm a little. I get the Chirashi-- and I think it's "Blue Fish" It didn't taste right-- but the rest of the fish included was REALLY GOOD. It's that kind of place-- where you're 85% satisfied. They have a nice variety of Saki-- I think the unfiltered creme saki is a nice, light, sweet pairing to sushi.
The prices are completely reasonable-- I can't say that for some of the other Sushi spots nearby -
Review from Zachary T.
Brooklyn, NY
8/17/2011
My new favorite! Try the japanese fried rice; simple yet delicious. I also really like the sake mojitos; different and interesting.
Check out this place!
In addition to fantastic food and superb drinks, the service staff is friendly and attentive. 5 stars!! -
Review from A R.
Brooklyn, NY
10/1/2011
I walked in and asked if I could buy one piece of sushi first before sitting down and ordering a meal BECAUSE I'M AN A--HOLE.
I tasted one bite then spit it into my napkin BECAUSE I'M AN A--HOLE.
My friends were dubious BECAUSE I'M AN A--HOLE, I told them before you let them make your lunch, you should taste what they brought me BECAUSE I'M AN A--HOLE. My friend Steve tried it and immediately spit it out got up and walked out BECAUSE I'M AN A--HOLE. Cesar followed close behind him, leaving me BECAUSE I'M AN A--HOLE. -
Review from Kirsten P.
Brooklyn, NY
This is someplace where a headline spot for reviews would be very helpful, because, for me the best thing about going to Hana Cafe around lunchtime is the $3/ dish menu.
All of the salads - seaweed, avocado, kani and crispy salmon skin are $3/ each. Then there are a number of sushi dishes that are also $3/each - they have the option of either getting either 2 pieces of sushi, hand roll or regular roll. Then they also have a $3/ each drink option.
When I went by today, I ended up getting the kani salad (because they do a great sliced cucumber in this salad, imho) and I made sure to ask for extra roe on top. Then I got 3 rolls - spicy tuna, yellow tail (with scallon) and the avocado/ salmon. Personally, I liked the spicy tuna best because they mince the spicy chili right into the tuna. Oh, and I also got their green tea, which is great on a cold day like today.
I spent some time speaking to their day manager, Andy, about the lack of an interior picture - Hana Cafe is very "cute" on the inside - it only has about 15- 20 tables and the lighting is really nice. After I finish this review, I am going to try to upload a picture that I took today of the interior. Also, it is always nice and warm.
Having compared Hana Cafe's salad options against others in the area - for the size, flavour and cost, they seem to be much better. It has kind of put me off from having salads elsewhere.Listed in: Japanese - Brooklyn, Cheap Eats - NYC
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Review from Aron W.
Brooklyn, NY
8/1/2011
I've eaten at Hana at least a half a dozen times, and I've never experienced expired fish, bad service, or any of the other grievances people Yelped about on here. That said, this place is not Nobu, nor will it run you Nobu prices. So manage your expectations, people. I have to say that the Spicy Boy roll (one of their house rolls) is insanely good. Def. worth a visit.
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Review from Kotaro O.
Brooklyn, NY
4/28/2010
Fake Japanese restaurant.
Foods are look like Japanese food, but tastes are really different.
There are no any Japanese, it says everything.
If you like fake sushi and Japanese food, here is gonna be reasonable for your money. -
Review from Metsuc K.
Brooklyn, NY
12/19/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Amazing food. The live scallops sushi melts in your mouth. Try the raw stuffed tuna dumplings for something different. All sushi as well as cooked food is outstanding and ive been here many times and will continue to eat here.
Service is also excellent. -
Review from emery d.
Brooklyn, NY
7/21/2010
What a surreal experience. I walked in and asked if I could buy one piece of sushi first before sitting down and ordering a meal. Waitress insisted that I and my friends sit down. I ordered 1 piece of tuna sashimi, and told the waitress that I wanted to taste the sushi before we ordered. The tuna was already prepared and on the bar/counter waiting to be brought to the table but the waitress insisted on taking my friends orders first before bringing the piece of fish to me.
She brought a coke and a ice tea to my friends, then she brought me the fish. I tasted one bite then spit it into my napkin. This is clearly either a lazy chef or more likely a greedy owner that doesn't want to take the loss on fish that is clearly not fit for raw consumption.
My friends were dubious, I told them before you let them make your lunch, you should taste what they brought me. My friend Steve tried it and immediately spit it out got up and walked out. Cesar followed close behind him, leaving me. Under normal circumstances I would not pay for a piece of gone bad fish, but since I originally proposed that I buy a piece to test, I decided to live up to my end of the bargain.
I told the waitress to charge me for the piece of fish. She insisted that I should pay for the drinks as well as they were poured into cups and brought to the table. Since I just wanted to get out I told her "charge me for what you need to and let me leave"
I'm so angry that they insisted I should pay for those drinks, even though I don't care about the money, it's just that we wanted to test the fish first and they were so PUSHY and brought us the drinks before the rotting fish.
Disgusting, greedy pigs. Save your time and money. -
Review from Jammy M.
Edwards, CO
11/8/2011
Hana Sushi may look like a hole-in-the-wall but I had a great dinner with a friend there for his birthday. We were in the only people in the place so we were a bit apprehensive but by the time we left there were plenty of other tables occupied. We ordered the Brooklyn Bridge for two ($50). It came out on a big wood platter in the shape of the actual Brooklyn Bridge. The presentation was fabulous. Usually when you order the chef's suggestions at a sushi restaurant, there are a few items that look (and maybe taste) a little scary to the average sushi eater. However, we ate every piece on the "bridge" and it was delicious. For the quality and quantity of food we got for $50, I thought it was a great deal - I will definitely be going back.
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Review from kathy c.
San Francisco, CA
1/16/2007
Hana Cafe is my favorite sushi restaurant in NY. It's entirely unpretentious, and a total neighborhood family joint. It has yet to be discovered for it's super fresh fish and great service. I don't even live in NY anymore, but every time I go back to Hana Cafe with my friends, they remember me.
Everything here is spectacular. They start you off with free edamame as you decide on your order. I always get nigiri, not sashimi here, since the pieces are much bigger and less expensive (I never really understood that). They have great selection. I recommend the mackerel, scallop, toro, and squid. If you're looking for maki, try the sakura roll. It's wrapped in pink rice paper and comes with three types of fish and a special sauce (delectable). I've only ever tried their cooked appetizers, and they were also great - fried oysters and baked scallops. You can't go wrong with the Hana Cafe.
I didn't even know that they were an "all you can eat place" until I read the other reviews. I still think I would order off the menu rather than be restricted. -
Review from Margarita V.
Brooklyn, NY
4/17/2008
So there I was, back from vacation and fighting some serious jet lag (I feel like an old lady that I can barely stay awake past 9pm! When will my night owl ways return???). After eating my way through Thailand, I needed something to balance all those coconut curries and fried noodles (I swear, it's worth all the jet lag in the world for all the great food out there). Sushi was the way to go.
Hana has a great lunch special where you can get miso soup, a salad, and three rolls for $8.95. They also deliver quickly (faster than some of the places just down the street from me!) and the sushi is always fresh and delicious. I've also had the beef negimaki and unagi don, both of which are also great.
I've only eaten at the restaurant once, but had an equally enjoyable experience (and I prefer it to Osaka because it's less cramped).
Hana's sushi may not have cured my jet lag (seriously, my body clock needs to get with it pronto!), but it did help ease those post-vacation blues. -
Review from Victor L.
Brooklyn, NY
6/30/2008
I took Friday off and tried to go see Wanted at the Court Street 12 but it was sold out, so I decided to try out the Cobble Hill Cinema at 8pm. This presented another long stroll through Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill, 3 hours to be exact. It was hot and balmy and I knew there had to be sushi somewhere but I would take my time, because well 3 hours was a stretch. At some point I started to realize that there weren't a lot of sushi places around, so I headed back toward Smith from Clinton and Henry Street (which has some neat places of its own) and saw a huge sign that said "SUSHI". I wanted to go to a simple place that wasn't that fanciful. When I got in, I was the only one there besides the staff, who were all Chinese of course. The prices were modest and I was looking forward to a decent second-tier sushi meal alone in anticipation of Wanted.
The free little thing of edamame was a good start, you can never have too many of those. As I was contemplating why a hostess AND two waitresses for such a small place, I realized this was the only sushi place around and seemed to be popular for takeout.
I got some spicy rolls along with some soup and an avocado roll, and it really did the trick. The spicy mayo was pretty tasty, it wasn't too hot and the rolls were large, fresh, and fairly salty.
It seems like most sushi joints can serve up items that are either really bland and kind of tasteless, or really robust and with the spicy sauce singes your tongue. This was the latter, which was nice.
The key is the prices were affordable and it's good Chinese run sushi. For all you aficiandos out there, go fug yourselves. You don't have to be so harsh. -
Review from Ariana J.
New York, NY
3/1/2010
Mehhh...
The sushi here is ok, but with so many sushi restaurants in the neighborhood it's not really worth checking out. If you're REALLY craving sushi, and Ki and Kiku and all the other places on Smith Street are packed then go here, but it's definitely not one of my top choices. -
Review from J P.
Brooklyn, NY
9/5/2011
Hana Cafe is the last choice you should make when you are in the mood for sushi in Carroll Gardens. The sushi here is mediocre at best, I actually had a mildewy flavor in my mouth after a piece of yellowtail. No real Japanese sushi chef would serve this fish - not even cooked - and definitely not raw. I happened to eat that one last. So to wash down the bad flavor I placed another order of sake towards the end of the evening. The server took the order and upon returning with the drinks told us that they were closing now, and then they turned up the lights and started shoving the - VERY stinky - trashbags by our table, very disgusting! Why didn't she mention that they close now before taking another drink order?
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Review from Jeff O.
Woodside, NY
1/6/2008 2 photos
The sake selection numbers around 8.
The layout and size restaurant was great for our group of 11.
We were treating nicely by our wait staff of 2.
Nice way to celebrate 2007 and bring in 2008.
It seems Osaka and Hana have an inverse relationship of dining comfort to fish quality. Perhaps Hana Cafe was even more equally distributed.
Osaka for the mouth. Hana for the smile.Listed in: The Rising Son
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Review from Lana V.
11/23/2009
This used to be my go-to sushi place and then I weaned myself off their mediocre food.
I feel a little guilty giving them two stars because the service here is actually very good. The two stars are for the food. Nothing irks me more in a sushi restaurant than stale fish. You know when it gets kind of chewy and tastes a little off?
In their defense, I do tend to stop in pretty late, close to closing time to pick up my food to go, so I'm not expecting the freshest fish but still. I would rather them tell me that they are out of fresh tuna and to please order something else than give me fish that is clearly past its prime. It's not like the chef can't tell the difference. -
Review from Heath R.
Los Angeles, CA
1/30/2007
This sushi joint is on my way to C.'s house, and I've been curious about it for quite some time. Last night, on the way home, I decided to stop in for a late takeout dinner: udon!
I walked in, ordered chicken udon to go, and the woman at the checkout asked, "Noodle soup?" Indeed. Wait, wait, wait; it didn't take long. And the udon cost $11.
$11 for udon? The lunch place downstairs from where I used to work had udon for about $5. True, the soup was good. I do love my noodles. But at $11 for udon, I can't imagine ever ordering it here again.Listed in: For Cobble Hillbillies
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Review from Ezra H.
New York, NY
4/15/2008
OK, this was the 3rd visit. When I ask what kind of toro you have and if it's really good (granted it's Monday and lunchtime) and you check with the chef and say "oh yes, it's very good" and I ask, "yes, but is it white/pink and marbled or more redish like normal maguro" and you respond, "it's very good, you'll like" and then I get the toro and it's pinkish red (like deli maguro) mealy and cut the wrong directlion so that you can't bite through it.... well, that makes me scared to eat sushi quite frankly (and I can't live without sushi).
And then you ask me if I liked it and I respond, "ehhh, not my favorite but it was ok". And you're nice enough to give me another cut, one that you said, "isn't as high quality but some people like- everyone different." And I try not to be insulted because I know that I've eaten toro about 357,576 times more than I should have given the state of the world's fish supplies. But I smile and say thank you anyway despite the fact that the peace offering is better but still poor quality.
Siighhhh... and shucks. I still like you, though, you're real nice and you tried so hard. So buck up little camper I'll be back but I won't order toro for lunch and probably won't come on a monday again- i really hate it when that damn food service stereotype hold true....DAMN YOU GOD OF STEREOTYPES!!!
extra star for nice service, minus star for double guessing the customer and delivering poor quality fish...sorry, gotta be honest... -
Review from .angela i.
Brooklyn, NY
1/1/2009
Unique & tasty rolls, entrees and drinks.
Good service and cozy decor.
I order from here weekly because of good prices and food tastes fresh. -
Review from Ann T.
11/9/2009
I get one thing only here - the oyako don buri. It is always awesome, and is easily two meals. Fried chicken cutlets, vegetables (including cool enoki mushrooms), a runny egg and a sweet sauce over steaming brown rice - I crave this all the time. It is delicious. I go to Ki or Osaka for sushi, so I couldn't tell you much about Hana Cafe's.
It's not the most attractive restaurant on Smith St., but service is friendly and the prices are pretty decent. -
Review from Terence M.
Fresh Meadows, NY
3/30/2008
Excellent food, decent restaurant. We went here for Brooklyn week, but saw so much that we wanted that we couldn't simply order from the prix fix menu. The rolls are interesting and varied. The prices are low enough that you don't worry about ordering one more to try it.
Free edemame with the meal is a great bonus.
I saw someone here mention a long sake menu, maybe we missed it but ours wasn't that huge. There was a decent list of about 8 or 9 cold sakes. Warm sakes were limited to just house brand. The selection was decently priced. And the few bottles we ordered were excellent. I'd give a suggestion, but I can never remember the names of the sakes I drink.
The restaurant itself was nice, nothing breathtaking, but a simply little place that was very clean. Service was quick and friendly.
I am definitely going back.
Oh, by the way, try the Angel roll and the Sakura roll, those two were our favorite by far. Maybe stay away from the Toro sushi. It had a tougher texture than normal, the temperature wasn't exactly right, and even the taste was off. Was really the only minus to the whole night. -
Review from Justin P.
Old Bridge, NJ
2/10/2009
In the thick of night as we walked along Smith street, we noticed the bright lanterns hanging from the awning and correctly assumed that we were close to HC. Onto my review:
Ambiance: Nothing grand or memorable about the decor, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The tables weren't packed together, the atmosphere was subdued and the decor was decent. Overall, the ambiance was neither breath-taking nor something to bemoan.
Waiter service: No qualms with our waitress.
Sushi: There are twenty-eight different roll options on the menu. We ordered four of them, and they were generally appetizing. While I wouldn't deem them as middling, as the past reviewer did, I wouldn't write that the rolls tasted great either. And, there are definitely more recession-friendly sushi joints, such as New Ashiya.
Overall, if I happen to be in Cobble Hill again, I'd consider going back to HC and trying some of the other sushi rolls at this establishment. -
Review from Rocky S.
San Francisco, CA
7/25/2009
I found their menu at my door in Red Hook and already I was a fan as not too many restaurants deliver out here. My first try was delivered and it was good. Had the usual sushi rolls and hand rolls. All were very good at very reasonable prices.
The best thing I just found out is that they offer an all you can eat menu for $23.95. Of course this can only be done at the restaurant. Now how cool would it be if they had an all we can deliver. I had lots of handrolls which were all delicious. Oh ya, the all you can eat is cash only.
This is now my go to sushi place. Parking on Smith Street isn't so bad either. -
Review from Dian C.
Brooklyn, NY
8/20/2010
This is the best Japanese food I've had in Brooklyn, up there with Blue ribbon. They give healthy portions and the food is just divine.
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Review from t m.
Brooklyn, NY
8/2/2009
A couple of friends and I had a delightful dinner here. The waitstaff seems genuinely friendly and attentive. I felt really comfortable in the space, and the food was tasty, fairly priced and well-portioned.
The sashimi dinner I had was excellent, every variety of fish was fresh and flavorful. It had that nice melt-in-your mouth quality about it. The garden salad that accompanied it was meh. Standard orange gloopy dressing. I'll get the miso soup next time.
It's the sort of restaurant I wish I had in my neighborhood. It may not be super flashy, but there's good food and a good vibe here. -
Review from steve d.
7/22/2010
SAVE TIME, $$$ & YOUR HEALTH!!!! Avoid this place at all costs! I wish i was able to give no stars, but it's not an option.
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Review from Libby M.
Brooklyn, NY
5/28/2007
i get delivery from this place several times a week. i loooovve it. i do find that sunday nights are not their freshest, but still good.
their delivery is FREAKISHLY fast.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from YVONNE H.
Brooklyn, NY
11/18/2008
the sushi is not always fresh. the fish should melt in your mouth and not be chewy. even when i got the spicy tuna, i would have to chew on it ...a lot.
so if youre low on money and need a quick fix--- skip all the fish and get the spider roll and dragon roll.
id highly recommend ki sushi for sushi. -
Review from Knuka D.
Brooklyn, NY
8/11/2010
We just moved to the neighborhood and first thing we tried to find was a decent sushi place for delivery. We chose this one because it had a good ratio of reviews/price. I don't understand all you people giving rave reviews about this place! We ordered most basic sushi rolls, california, vegetable and spicy tuna. The spicy tuna was literally disgusting and inedible. All the rest not containing fish were ok, because how can you really fail a california roll? Well they can!! The rolls were squeezed together into a large mush of rice. The pieces themselves were tiny and once separated from the mush they would fall apart. I doubt I've ever had anywhere else rolls that were so small! It was a total waste of money for no quantity and absolutely horrible quality. I wish I could constantly log in with different names so that I take the ratings down. So misleading!
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Review from Mimi R.
New York, NY
5/5/2010
The food here has been consistently good. They have the standard Japanese menu. I've tried many dishes and haven't had one bad experience. The service is also quick and friendly.
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Review from Hannah L.
7/10/2009
cute little authentic japanese restaurant!
had one of the most interesting sushi dishes ever here - the salmon bun.
it's a salmon tartar. outside is avacado(?) tempura-ed which makes a solid fried 'bun'. it comes with all this yummy sauce all around it. so delish!
outside, are three tempura-ed leaves. i thought they were for decoration, but the waitress told me they are edible and that many patrons enjoy it. you dip around around in the sauce and bite in! meaty, fried and yummy. so unexpected, but so good and interesting!
anyways, super cute place. decent sushi prices, and nice staff too! -
Review from Anna K.
11/11/2009
The sushi here is almost always fresh (they do have their off days) and take out is pretty fast. The place itself is has pretty simple decor but the service is fast and they are rarely full.
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Review from William O.
Brooklyn, NY
12/27/2005 2 photos
When I first moved to the city my roommate told me we had to go to this all-you-eat-sushi restaurant. I said, "Oh god, I love Sushi. Let's freakin' go!" We went. There was a catch, it was confusing as hell. You pay $21 bucks, cash only, for the privelege, and you order rolls on this slip, then they bring it too you, but you have to eat everything or they charge extra. I get the thing, but that's not what I am looking for in AYCE Sushi. The rolls were great though, and the place was definately full of the sushi loving public, so if you can pack away plate after plate do the AYCE. Otherwise grab a few rolls and relax.
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Review from katie s.
Brooklyn, NY
5/24/2008
I really love Hana cafe. The service is great if you eat in, and the takeout is really fast. They have a pretty standard selection of rolls but 90% of the time the fish is amazing. Sure, I've had a mediocre piece of fish, but find myself going back again and again and again. I'd recommend going in and seeing what is freshest that day. Their fried food is also really good in case you need to dine with a heathen.
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Review from Bridgette R.
Brooklyn, NY
2/4/2009
Great food, very pleasant staff, creative rolls, quick delivery, lot's of sake! Can't go wrong!!
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Review from sady c.
Brooklyn, NY
2/21/2010
I noticed a bunch of average reviews of Hana and I'm writing in to voice my strong approval for this local sushi joint. It's definitely not fancy so if you're looking for a sexy Japanese ambiance, this ain't it. BUT if you want very tasty and affordable sushi, this can be your go-to place. I order delivery from here about once a week and I'm always pleased. Their wasabi shumai is delicious and gives you that nice sinus kick. Their sashimi are generously portioned and well-priced. I usually go with yellowtail, scallop and fluke. But it's their rolls I love. I tend to stick to the simpler rolls like spicy tuna and eel and avocado and I'm always quite happy with my meal. Yay Hana Cafe!
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Review from Deeana H.
Brooklyn, NY
7/16/2009
This is a relatively small place with friendly waiters and decent prices. Lots of Japanese drinks available, with free edamame when you sit down. Awesome. The first time I ordered the Ocean Roll and I nearly came. It's was extremely tasty. More recently, I got the Rock n Roll which was simpler but still quite yummy. Next time, my roomie and I plan on trying the sushi for 2. So in summary, good for a night out with the bff or a date, yummy but still affordable sushi.
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Review from Howard M.
Brooklyn, NY
8/6/2009
Very good sushi rolls. Very fresh and delicious. As a bonus, we always seem to find a parking spot near the restaurant and have made this place a regular in our restaurant rotation.
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Review from Steve M.
Brooklyn, NY
1/11/2010
I dislike giving negative reviews, but I can't let people be fooled by the 4-star rating. I've gotten delivery from this place twice and the food was subpar on both occasions. When I order from a new spot, I try to get items that are relatively mainstream. I went with the miso soup, tuna roll, unagi roll, and chicken teriyaki. The sushi was really bad--I ate about half of it before I couldn't eat any more. Tuna was chewy and unappetizing. Yes, I'm a bit of a sushi snob, but when you're eating raw food, I think you can afford to be. The teriyaki was also really mediocre--and how hard is it to make chicken teriyaki?
Overall, I'm frankly stunned that this place gets such a high rating. The food is not great and it's by no means a bargain. If you want great sushi in Brooklyn, try Ki Sushi (they also have fast delivery).
