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Ronin
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
325 W 4th StRoyal Oak, MI 48067
Neighborhood: Downtown Royal Oak
(248) 546-0888
- Hours:
Mon, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Tue-Fri 5 pm - 11 pm
Sat 5 pm - 3 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Classy, Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
137 reviews for Ronin
Review Highlights
"I love the mountain dew roll delicious flavors."
(in 25 reviews)
"A really beautiful thing are the Kobe sliders."
(in 15 reviews)
"crispy rice spicy tuna: YUM."
(in 6 reviews)
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137 reviews in English
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Review from Nikki B.
Beverly Hills, MI
1/5/2012 2 Check-ins Here
My favorite place to get sushi. I love this place. I have always had fantastic sushi and great customer service. I dine in and also get carryout. I get carryout weekly. My favorite rolls are spicy california, california, spicy tuna, shrimp tempura.
They had a roll for Japan for a month that was my favorite ever. It had tempura pineapple, spicy tuna, avocado or cucumber (can't remember). It was amazing! Tried several appetizers too. Spicy tuna tacos are so interesting and tasty.
I would go here every other night if I could. Love love love this place! -
Review from Reesa T.
Long Beach, CA
12/30/2011
If you know me- you might know I like me some sushi. Over the last several months I seem to have a nearly insatiable desire for sushi and I believe that it stems back to a visit several months back to Ronin.
Okay, yeah- its a little pricey, but I really never felt ripped off. The service was fine and the ambiance was okay. The entry way is pretty cool and though they do seem to try with their swanky atmosphere and really low lighting, but hey- bring a date and not your dad and you'll be fine!
The sushi is delicious! Its fresh (duh!) as are all the ingredients and you just get the feel for the quality and care that goes into every roll of maki and every hand roll.
I would love to visit Ronin again as soon as I make my way back to Royal Oak- simply put- this is bitchin' good sushi! -
Review from J H.
Clawson, MI
10/21/2011
great place to go for date night. its pretty pricey ($12 martinis ouch) but they are great nonetheless.
sushi is amazing shinto roll is to die for.
if you after a quick bite to eat sushi and dont care about the atmosphere i would hit up Tokyo Sushi down the road. the same taste at a lot less of the cost! -
Review from B C.
Warren, MI
12/4/2011
This is one of my favorite restaurants. Ever! I love everything about it. The ambiance, the food, the friendly staff, the sushi, the music they play... literally everything. I love sushi, and this is by far, one of the best sushi places I've ever been to. I often crave, and even daydream, about the crispy rice spicy salmon, and the seared whit tuna nigiri. The mountain dew roll and hot crawfish roll are another two of my favorites. If you go, you should try all of these! I also recommend the spicy shrimp tempura. mmmm..
My boyfriend and I sat at the sushi bar one night and had a few beers with the sushi guys, and they were handing us rolls to try. This was awesome! I got to try so many rolls I had never ordered before. It was definitely a unique and fun date night. One that left me full and happy. I recommend going to this place for almost any occasion.. It's hip and delicious so it makes for a fun place to take a date... But guys, not a first date! (I know you're trying to be cool, but..) Girls don't always like to shove pieces of sushi in their mouth while you're asking them those first questions...it's awkward. -
Review from Suz H.
Detroit, MI
12/30/2011
I was introduced to Ronin to a friend from CA who was visiting Detroit. She raved about the place and her co-workers compared it to Nobu. They called it Nobu of the Mid-west. A huge sushi fan, I had to try it.
We got there as soon as they opened. It was empty but nonetheless we went ahead. The hostess was very polite and the service was very prompt. They have happy hour everyday from 4pm-6pm, though more expensive than most happy hour menus it is well worth it! We ordered the seaweed salad, standard sushi rolls and the mountain dew roll. When ordering the latter, our waitress told us that she wanted us to try it and if we did not like it, we could return it no questions asked.
The ambience is great. It is dim. On one side, there are tables with the sushi chefs. On the other side, it is set up like a lounge with couches. There is a bar with every drink imaginable.
The food was amazing and the mountain dew roll was to DIE for! It is hard to explain, you just have to try it! As the night went on, more patrons came in- a trendier crowd. It got really loud and bar lounge like. There were people from all over.
It has a great atmosphere, the service is great and the price is well worth the food. -
Review from Michelle L.
Ferndale, MI
9/29/2011
I love Ronin. It is definitely my favorite nicer sushi place in Detroit. They aren't always completely consistent, which is why I give 4 stars instead of 5. Sometimes they deserve 5 stars...sometimes they deserve 3 or 4.
My usual order always includes the crispy rice spicy tuna appetizer. It is definitely one of my favorite foods ever. They fry up a little cube of sticky rice til its crispy and put some spicy chopped tuna on top with a pickled jalepeno on top of that! It is amazing. I have never ordered hot food from Ronin because I never make it past the sushi, although the food I've seen looks delicious. I also really love the mountain dew, spicy crawfish, crunchy roll, pink blossom, and crispy rice spicy salmon. I am sure there are plenty of other amazing rolls but these are definitely my favorites.
The service is usually really good, unless you get this one asian girl (her name escapes me right now)...but she sucks! Other than that you should be safe with any other server. The bartenders there are amazing too, all super friendly and can make a mean cocktail (Kevin, Shane, or Christian)! Although, I always get a hitachino beer, I'd highly recommend trying one if you like white ales. It's my personal favorite.
They also open up their windows when it's nice so the whole place feels like an open air restaurant! It's so nice, I wish is was warmer here so I could enjoy that part a little more...Listed in: Best Sushi
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Review from S S.
Royal Oak, MI
12/30/2011
Love Ronin! Great food, great atmosphere, excellent staff.....we go here all the time and love going back. If you haven't been, I'd recommend checking it out. It's very good and a fun place to spend some time with friends.
....oh and in the summer, with the doors/windows open....awesome! -
Review from Annette J.
Dearborn Heights, MI
8/3/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Yum yum happy hour in my tum tum!
Stopped in here for a super hot minute yesterday to grab a quick bite as I was running around. It was the PERFECT spot for such an occasion but also a great spot for a more leisurely meal with cocktails as well. I ordered two rolls (spicy salmon crunch roll and the mountain dew roll) and both were pretty tasty. Not nearly the best sushi I've ever had but the fish was fresh and the veggies in the mountain dew (tempura asparagus and sweet potato with shitaki mushroom) were cooked well. The spicy salmon could have been spicier but I still found it enjoyable. I also ordered some edemame which came out nice and hot with a generous sprinkling of sea salt. It's so simple but I love the salt. So many sushi places I've been to don't add it and it always makes my sodium loving heart sad.
I was in a hurry and my server was accommodating, which I appreciated. I sat at the sushi bar and it was comfortable and quick since the chefs just handed me my plate right over the glass. SCORE.
The real draw here is the ambiance and the beverages for happy hour. $2 beers, $2 hot sake, $3 well drinks and $5 wine pours? HOLY MOLY. That's a steal. Add that to the clean, modern decor, and the sushi specials (4 for my salmon roll) and you get a home run of a happy hour.Listed in: Drinky Poos, Seafood? Eat food!, I Like it Raw!, Royal Oak Rules!, Happy Happy Hours
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Review from Jennifer L.
Detroit, MI
God, I love American sushi. I might love Japanese sushi too, but I've never had it. I love raw fish. I love it by itself, I love it with spicy mayo, with eel sauce, with cream cheese, in a house, with a mouse, on a train, or in a tree. I love sushi.
Ronin sushi is pretty, it's creative, and it's good. Whenever going to Ronin, or bringing new people there, the success rate has been high. I can't think of a single time I've been disappointed. My biggest complaint would be that some of the specialty rolls are too big. I get pretty clever making my own, smaller rolls. Toothpicks come in handy. I am a re-rolling visionary.
Their spicy tuna doesn't piss me off, if you must know. They do chop it up and mix it with the spicy mayo, but they don't completely pulverize it. When you can actually taste the tuna, and it has the right amount of heat, it is a beautiful thing.
A really beautiful thing are the Kobe sliders. They come with a disturbingly large pile of okay french fries. The sliders, though.... just listen... ginger, bacon, sriracha, boursin... you know, just try them. I can't imagine you don't want to. They are tauntingly sexy burgers. I don't think they are that small, if we're being honest here. The patties are pretty thick and the size of my palm. I have normal sized girl hands, if you're wondering (and you were).
In Los Angeles Ronin is three stars.... In Metro-Detroit it's four (come on, lack of options and an ocean). I think that says enough, but I can rhyme more if you want. Just let me know. -
Review from Jesper G.
12/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cosy furnished. Do not sit by the door, it pulls. Serving is friendly and the selection is ok. Not the best sushi, but good traditional sushi.
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Review from Roxy K.
Birmingham, MI
9/16/2011
If you're looking to eat great sushi, Ronin is not the place to go. But if you're looking for a place to hang out and drink with friends and eat Americanized sub par sushi, then by all means this is the place for you.
Sushi here is sub par and not authentic at all. The food does look good and sounds exciting but it definitely disappoints as soon as it hits your mouth. I wouldn't say it tastes bad or foul but it's very "meh". I also tried the Kobe sliders which everyone keeps raving about but again, nothing to write home about. I found it to be quite bland and nothing special. It tastes alright but not as great as Kobe burgers should taste like.
The sushi at Ronin is a delight to people who have not had sushi before or have no idea what authentic sushi is. It's probably great for people who have not travelled out of Michigan as well though there are some good sushi places around the area such as Noble Fish which is just a few miles up in Clawson.
The only thing I really liked about Ronin food-wise was their flour less chocolate cake.
Sorry Ronin. As much as I would love to like your food and have given you a few chances to redeem yourself by coming back to taste other things on the menu, I just can't bring myself to enjoy your food.
On the upside, they have a great service. The servers were attentive and friendly. Too bad the food doesn't match their service.
Eating at Ronin is comparable to going on a date with a really nice handsome guy but then it all falls apart when you actually try to carry a conversation with him and then you realize he forgot his wallet and you end up paying for your date unexpectedly.
Great atmosphere, great service, with sub par food. You're basically paying for the ambiance. -
Review from Chad O.
Royal Oak, MI
12/15/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I love the upstairs vibe - this is my favorite place to go out and start my night. Food is so so but the ambiance is perfect (upstairs).
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Review from Chels N.
Royal Oak, MI
10/4/2011
I've been to Ronin on many occasions in the past 4 years, and obviously they are doing something good if I keep going back. There happy hour is one of the best, and is 7 days a week (whoever said happy hour should be limited to just 5 days obviously doesn't work on the weekends)
Tuna tartar is a must, as is basically anything on the menu. I've only visited their upstairs bar once, but it was definitely a see-and-be-seen type of place, but there is nothing wrong about that type of environment at 11pm on a Saturday. Whether you are catching up over work or meeting a date, I vote Ronin is the go-to spot for any occasion. -
Review from Ben O.
Ferndale, MI
7/18/2011
I'll probably get crucified for this, maybe even upside down, but I dont see the appeal of Ronin. I've gone there twice and both times been dissapointed in the food. Ive never been there for happy hour so I cant speak on that.
The sushi was sub par, and quite frankly for the price they charge not good enough. The atmosphere is very typical for a Royal Oak restaurant. Dark, "hip", servers wear straight leg jeans. Maybe its because I was born a few blocks from here and have been coming downtown my entire life so I know what it used to be. Or maybe I'm just not indie enough.
Cut the prices in half and thats the quality of food youll get. Keep going at this pace and I'll keep feeling ripped off. Go to Tokyo, its closer and 1000x better. -
Review from Ryan S.
Troy, MI
7/19/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Hatertastic 1 star reviews perplex me
I've got this place down to somewhat of a science, here's how i see it:
:::Start Things Off:::
-Seaweed Salad
-Edamame
-Tuna Tar Tar (optional)
:::The Goods:::
-Cha Cha Rolls (I like to get 2, because I'm SMART)
-Mountain Dew Roll (optional)
-Kobe Sliders
:::I Want MORE:::
-NY Strip w/ wasabi whipped tatoes
-Green Tea Ice Cream
Come between 5-7 any day and get ready for the BONUS ROUND (a.k.a. happy hour)
They have the usual limited choice HO menu with items like the m dew roll and gyoza. We were full and enjoyed 3 hot sakes with a final bill of $24 for two people, which is about half off what it would normally be.
Love this place! -
Review from Shannon B.
Madison Heights, MI
12/7/2011
I love this place super good food!!!
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Review from Erin H.
11/22/2011
Recently went here with a friend and was not disappointed! The decor and ambiance are excellent and the service was also good. I had the spicy shrimp tempura which was unusual and very tasty. The sushi was also great - in particular the "sea monster" roll - so creative and tasty! This used to be a "cursed" location in town, but it seems to have finally found something worth staying!
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Review from Robert C.
8/22/2011
Came here yesterday with some friends. Service was very very good - extremely helpful and polite waitstaff. The hostess allowed us to store our longboards in a room behind a SECRET DOOR. The atmosphere feels fancy and modern, yet relaxing, with lighting on the pleasantly dim side. Everyone got sushi except me, who got the babyback ribs. Ribbage was thoroughly delicious - very lean and flavorful. I must say I was not expecting much, especially as this is certainly not a place known best for their ribs. Everyone reported the sushi was qute good as well, including a friend who works as a sushi chef.
My only complaint is the way they serve water. They give you a big fancy bottle full of it, and from it you pour the water into the fancy simple glasses. The water is not cold at all - it is room temperature. Not sure if there is a reason and I am just ignorant, but we asked for ice and all was well. :) -
Review from Joe W.
Ferndale, MI
3/19/2011 ROTD 7/6/2011
I was scoping Yelp for vegan-friendly places to take a babe on a date. Ronin came to mind because of a few reasons. 1) Sushi is good. 2) Sushi almost always has vegan options. 3) I'd never been to Ronin before. 4) Ronin has good reviews!
It was about 9pm on a friday night when I picked up my lady friend and drove to Royal Oak. Valet at Ronin was $5, and a $3 tip would have put it at $8. So, I parked in the most confusing parking structure, but it only cost $3, so I was alright with that.
Walking up to Ronin, you can tell the place is going to be nice. It looked busy inside, and dark. Sexy. Really sexy. Royal Oak isn't really my scene to begin with, but I know what of crowd to expect on a Friday night. I'll just stop there as far as that goes, if you get my drift. I put my name on the list for FA seating for two. This would be a key element in our experience. The hostess gave me a pager, which I liked, because that meant we could explore the bar while we waited for an opening.
The bar was pretty packed. Standing room only. I got to brush against so many yuppies while I bulldogged up to the counter to get some drinks. Got a vodka tonic for the babe and a Bell's Best Brown for myself. They poured Stoli from the well. I'm gonna guess it was $6 and my beer was $5 ($11 total). Not bad. I actually expected to spend more. It was only about 15 minutes before the pager went off in my back pocket. FA seating includes the sushi bar, and there were two seats open. This ended up being what we wanted before we even knew that we wanted it.
We asked our server about our what our vegan options included, and she patiently went through the whole menu with us, explaining what we could order and what we couldn't. This was awesome of her. We ended up ordering two house ginger-carrot salads, edamame, and three rolls.
First came the edamame. The soybeans came out nice and hot, with just the right amount of sea salt. Edamame is always a fun, light, and cheap appetizer. I can't pass it up.
Next came the salads. This salad is awesome! Both my date and I really liked the dressing. She didn't stop talking about it the rest of the time we were in the restaurant.
The three rolls we ordered were the Mountain Dew Roll, the Shinto Roll, and the Tofu Roll. They looked so good on the platter, and they were HUGE. Each roll was 8 giant pieces. Since they were all vegetable rolls, I didn't expect them to have a lot of flavor (we skipped out on the mayo-based sauces that normally came on them), so we relied on our friends soy and wasabi to help, and they came through for us. The babe I was with agreed with me that the Shinto Roll was the best of the three.
We ate it all. Every bite. We somehow ordered the perfect amount of food. We were both full, but knew it wouldn't last, and were able to go out for more drinks afterwards without wanting to die. The food was quality. The service was good, considering how busy the restaurant was. The atmosphere was just right for a nice date. I never care about price, but I have to admit it was just right. I almost expected the check to be more ($44+$11 for drinks earlier). Ronin.... it's safe to bring a babe here. Even if she's a vegan babe.Listed in: Date O'Clock
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Review from Chris C.
Chicago, IL
11/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I like this place sushi good the dragon isn't the best but the spider is good. And the crowd is beautiful!
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Review from Mike S.
Madison, WI
11/6/2011
I pulled up a seat at the sushi bar at Ronin, a clean, sleek, and buzzing Japanese restaurant on this Monday night located in downtown Royal Oak. I found the staff to be pleasant and professional, and the sushi chefs were quite friendly. I tried a variety of sushi rolls, all of which were of high quality and delicious. Good service, a bit pricey, but I would consider coming back for sushi when I'm in town again.
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Review from Aleksandr P.
Troy, MI
4/30/2011
The only people that go here are trust fund babies who don't know they're eating mediocre food for a premium price.
It would be all good if the food was great, but the food is just as dry as the people inside.
Cherio -
Review from A.J. S.
3/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I thought this place tried too hard to be trendy, but really just ended up rather a mixed bag. The food was good, but the service was not so great, and the place was just too noisy.
Service - The waitress was aloof to say the best. At one point we spent 10 minutes trying to get her attention, she actually walked past us three times while we waved at her, and tried to get her attention, and didn't notice.
Ambiance - The place was too noisy, looking around they probably could have done a few things to make the place a bit better, maybe had some sound tiling on the cieling, set the tables up a little bit better. However, as it was, it was hard to really have a conversation where we sat
Food - I really liked the Jalapeno Sea Food Sushi that I had, actually all of the sushi was fairly good. The edamame was tasty. The place was pretty affordable.
In summary, it's not really a place that makes me just want to go back there without trying the other Sushi places in the area. I think I would rather try some of the other places, and compare. So, it's really not a very standout sushi place in my opinion, but it's worth a try. -
Review from Melanie H.
Royal Oak, MI
5/2/2011
This is a great place to go with a group of friends or girls night out when you're feeling like being a part of the "scene". The interior is beautiful and the music is always great. I love sitting in the sunken lounge, it's very comunal and makes for a more dynamic experience.
I'm more of a veggie roll person and I love them all, but the Mountain Dew roll is seriously one the best things I've ever eaten and I literally have cravings for it. I've tried some of the real sushi and it was good too, but not being an expert I won't go any deeper than that.
The beer selection is better than average and the lychee mohito is delish.
It's loud and crowded on the weekend, I happen to like that from time to time, but it may not be for everyone. -
Review from ashley n.
Hazel Park, MI
3/19/2011 1 photo
Ditto on everything Joe W. said. As we went together. And he's not kidding when i said the salad dressing was delicious. I could have drank the stuff in place of my vodka tonic.
Beyond delicious sushi, good service (as long as you can spit your drink orders out fast enough). And sitting at the sushi bar is a fun experience. If you don't mind bumping elbows at the bar, and the ridiculously tall bar stools (helloooo, not all of us are giants) this is a great place to go on a date or with some sushi friendly pals. -
Review from K J.
Ann Arbor, MI
9/30/2011
There's just something about Ronin that keeps you coming back for more. I've been coming here numerous times for several years now, for happy hour and for regular dining, and each time has been satisfying. If you can get there before 7, they have an awesome happy hour menu. Besides that you can't go wrong with the crispy rice spicy tuna, latin yellowtail sashimi with jalapenos, pink blossom and their tuna tartar is a must try--- the perfect blend of seasonings mixed with chunks of tuna, avocado, tomatoes, and onions. delicious! my only perk is that they don't give out enough wonton chips so you most often always have to ask for more. I come here mostly for sushi and drinks, and haven't really tried their kitchen menu but will certainly venture into it one day. I've had no problems with service. They have always been friendly, attentive and good.
And by the way, to the yelper below me (MICHELLE L) who posted about the waitstaff, just my two cents, but I thought it was pretty CLASSLESS of you to point out the server's race in identifying them. very mature.
And also, kind of ironic you said that because we did get a cute little *ahem* "asian" girl as our server last weekend. not sure if you got the same one, but our server was super nice, she was prompt & quick. We didn't get her name, but oh she had cool robot earrings. it's too bad we live quite a distance or else i'll satisfy my sushi cravings there every week. -
Review from John K.
Utica, MI
10/18/2011
i got 2 words for you...
albacore sashimi
very soft in texture and mild in taste. you will enjoy ronin's albacore sashimi. regardless of the preparation, albacore tuna always delivers exceptional flavour. richness and texture.
price- is reasonable
quality -is fresh as they can get
atmosphere- clean, nice & relaxing -
Review from Jeff A.
1/2/2011
At the outset I wanted to give this place a less then exciting review... Simply based on the seating process and the miss-information given on when we were going to be seated....
Then we were sat next to the drunkest abomination of humanity the Deee has to offer, I mean painfully drunk and loud....
Here is the amazing thing, our outstanding wait staff, there seemed to be three of them, they immediately made me forget about the seating process...
The deep warm bottles of affordable hot Sake made the drunks fade into the background....
The Sushi stole my attention and kept it until the very end!
We kicked off with a grand sashimi dish with ponzu and sauteed sliced fresh jalapeno... Delectable!
The roles which in some cases sounded like they were trying too hard, were actually quite astonishing! One fabulous roll after another graced our palate...
Because this was before Christmas and it has been a busy week or two of dining and libations, I don't remember every last name and ingredient... However a couple really stood out...
Spicy Scallop, a go to roll for me when its on the menu, this one was complex light airy and wonderful!
The Cha Cha Roll which literally melted away atop my tongue with perfect notes of garlic and seafood, I typically am not a fan of such creations, in this case I was full of satisfaction!
Ronin - I will be back! -
Review from Zoya z.
Hayward, CA
4/19/2011
Ronin, I love you.
Between the Ronin Mojito (that lychee does make a difference) and the cha cha roll, I am still thinking about my meal two weeks ago.
The service is great and the atmosphere contemporary. I like that even though Ronin has an appeal for the hip and good looking, everyone else still feels welcome.
The bar upstairs has comfy couches if you can find a spot on one. That's the downer of this place - they don't take reservations and are ALWAYS packed. But then I guess that's a good sign. -
Review from Amber P.
Royal Oak, MI
1/8/2011
This place was super busy even on a Tuesday night, which is, I suppose good for them and indicates something good about the business, but was annoying for me as we had to wait about 45 minutes to get seated--on a weeknight! So be prepared to wait to get in here. Which led to drinking their delicious "lychee fizz" cocktails at the bar during the wait, and although it made the wait go by quickly, it also also led to WAY more self-disclosure than I initially intended during our dinner conversation. Thank you Ronin.
Once we were seated, the service was fantastic. Our server could not have been any nicer or more helpful. Since my friend is Vegan, we got a plate of fish sushi and a plate of veggie sushi, and I have to say I was BLOWN AWAY by the veggie sushi. The fish sushi was fine, normal. The mountain dew rolls and avocado rolls were to die for. I am all about the veggie sushi here.
Based on the food (and drinks) I would have given it five stars. But I hate waiting to get into places. I guess when the food is good, it is hard to avoid the phenomenon of other people wanting to eat there too, so it's not really the restaurants fault. But it still annoys me. -
Review from Heidi M.
This is my favorite happy hour in Royal Oak!
Seriously the best Miso Soup around and I love the wooden bowl that it comes in. The bowl somehow seems to add a lot to the experience (maybe that's just me?).
I love sitting at the bar cause the bartenders are all great, and nice looking!! Bonus!! Their specialty cocktails are Delicious. I don't remember the name of the one that I had but it was gingery and yummy!
I did stop in late (I think it was around 10) on a Friday or Saturday night a couple weeks ago, there was a weird clubby vibe going on that I wasn't crazy about. The crowd was totally different than the happy hour crowd and the place was super crazy packed. I will stick to happy hour, it is definately 5 star.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/27/2011
Went to Ronin on Friday after work for happy hour. I had heard some hype about this place and had… Read more »
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Review from Daniel S.
Chicago, IL
1/24/2011
A friend took me to dinner at Ronin on a Friday night. The place was packed, and although there was immediate seating at the sushi bar, we opted to wait 20 minutes for a table. I've waited far longer for much less enjoyable meals...
Service throughout the meal was great. Our waitress went through the specials and was kind enough to elaborate further on a crab-mango salad, which became our favorite appetizer. Lump crab meat, diced mango, red onion, sprouts, a honey-mustard vinaigrette. The perfect light summer dish... even though it was a balmy 5 degrees outside. We also ordered a (giant) bowl of edamame deep enough to keep us snacking throughout the meal.
When I go out for sushi, I like to get at least one "signature" roll and then fill out the meal with more traditional maki. At my friend's reco, we ordered the "Pink Blossom". I can't remember the ingredient list because I was struck by a taste reminiscent of pre-packaged lunch meat (Budding's Roast Beef, I think). My friend loved it, but there was some smoky element in there that I couldn't get my taste buds around, so this was a miss for me. The other two rolls, however, were fantastic. Spicy tuna and spicy salmon crunch. Good heat in both rolls, and the crunch in the salmon roll was a great complement to the smooth texture of the fish and rice.
I look forward to going back with the hopes of trying a few more of the traditional rolls, enjoying any seasonal (or non-seasonal) specials... and sampling a few of the specialty cocktails! -
Review from Guillermo K.
Ann Arbor, MI
10/12/2011
Pretty Americanized, but pretty good.
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Review from Toshi T.
Dallas, TX
1/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
After working late one night, I arrived at Ronin around 10 pm on a Wednesday night. Relatively crowded, there were still 2-3 tables available, and I was seated immediately.
For dinner I ordered a bowl of miso soup, some of the fresh salmon sushi, the Latin Yellowtail Sashimi, and the Mountain Dew Roll along with a glass of cold, unfiltered sake.
To start, instead of the cold, unfiltered sake, I was brought a glass of some cold, filtered sake. Not a great start, but it was a long work night for me, and anything with alcohol in it would've sufficed.
The bowl of miso soup was very good and not overly salty, as most are when they are not homemade. I would've hoped for the Latin Yellowtail Sashimi to be more spicy, but it was delicious nonetheless. The selection that really stood out for me was the Mountain Dew Roll--tempura-fried shitake mushroom, sweet potato, and asparagus wrapped in spinach-soy paper. Yum. I could have totally knocked down two orders myself.
The service was great, and the noise level was quite manageable. Maybe I arrived on an almost perfect evening, but in any case, if I'm ever in the Royal Oak neighborhood hungry again, I'm definitely coming back here. -
Review from Viet N.
4/4/2011
Along with South, this is our unofficial hangout place for their reasonably cheap happy hour menu. $2 beers can't be beat!
First things out of the way -- the sushi is not amazing. It's probably on par with your average up-scale supermarket store stuff. Holiday Market-eque. Readers from New York, the West Coast, or anywhere-in-Canada will wonder how this restaurant got voted 5/5 so many times here.
What it lacks in food quality, it makes up in fun. It's a good mix between casual and preppy. It's fancy, but not stuffy. Kind of like Ruth's Chris. Many first dates can be seen making awkward conversation on the side.
I'll still go here, somewhat defying my rating. There's nothing like a place to have some cold sake and cheap sushi to unwind after work. -
Review from Michael M.
Huntington Woods, MI
12/2/2011
Really disappointing experience here tonight. Ordered $100 bucks in sushi take out. Maki, miso & tempura vegetables. They said it would be ready in 25 minutes, but wasn't even close to ready when we got there. After waiting almost 25 extra minutes for the food, we received cold tempura and poorly constructed, tiny sushi rolls. The miso was good though. Without even an apology to lessen then sting of bad food and service, we will not be returning to ronin.
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Review from Maria B.
3/22/2011
A friend of mine first introduced me to sushi at Ronin, and first impressions are definitely lasting!
Excellent sushi & sake here, along with an amazing lounge area. Love the whole design of the place, the food, and atmosphere are all fantastic! Another thing i love about Ronin is that it's literally a hidden gem (there's no sign or name, just a banner on the corner of the building with a Japanese character).
Ronin is located next door to the Royal Oak Music Theatre, and the place is always packed. Overall great experience and still one of my favs!!! : ) -
Review from Sheila Y.
Sterling Heights, MI
2/19/2011
This place is absolutely amazing! I first came here in the summer when my best friend was in town with her brother and his friends. Such a pretty place inside too! The bartenders are fantastic, funny, and nice. The food is yummy as well.
Plus happy hour is great! -
Review from Robert C.
Updated - 10/28/2010
During my most recent trip to Ronin, I was pleased to discover that they have a Happy Hour menu. For this cash-conscious Yelper, that's a great luxury.
Included in the specials are the Mountain Dew Roll which remains one of my favorite items on the menu.
Since I recommend visiting this place earlier in the evening (to avoid the Royal Oak nightclub crowds), the Happy Hour specials are definitely the way to go if you want to try one of the area's best sushi restaurants.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/9/2010
It's been said that Ronin is like Nobu, the swanky New York/Las Vegas chain known for being a hip,… Read more »
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Review from Nicole T.
Sterling Heights, MI
11/26/2010 1 Check-in Here
I like Ronin. They are expensive and their rolls and nigiri are unusually small which is why I'm giving them "A-OK". For the flavor and creativity of their sushi dishes I would say "Yay! I'm a fan!" I actually don't have an issue with price as long as it appears you're getting your money's worth. Here, you feel like the sushi chefs are back there weighing out the ingredients for your roll so as not to give you too much.
I like the atmosphere and the service has always been great but I always sit at the bar. Not the sushi bar THE bar. That's where all the hot men work.
Also, they carry Zipang which is my favorite sake drink. It's carbonated, chilled and slightly sweet. It's also not easy to find.
