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Sono Bana Japanese Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
1206 Dixwell AveHamden, CT 06514
(203) 281-4542
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
Sun 4 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
46 reviews for Sono Bana Japanese Restaurant
Review Highlights
"This is the best sushi place in New Haven, hands down."
(in 7 reviews)
"The soft shell crab on the Spider roll was SO GOOD."
(in 3 reviews)
"...you go here for lunch, they have some great lunch specials."
(in 4 reviews)
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46 reviews in English
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Review from Kristina O.
New Haven, CT
8/28/2011
Best sushi restaurant in the area. I really like their crunch roll and their special eel roll. Yum! You wouldn't guess from the outside how good it is.
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Review from Rina K.
Boise, ID
1/7/2012 2 photos
1. I just have to mention that: the location kind of scared me. If I remember correctly, it's next to some kind of foreign-import liquor store and hair dresser.
-- 1 1/2. I was seated by a window, so I could see outside. Yike.
2. Actual Japanese people here. That always helps.
3. More important than 1., and 2., though, is the food. Sometimes "Japanese" restaurants serve "Bento Boxes" that are composed of stir-fried things on rice with sauce. I'm pretty sure that's teriyaki. Or stir-fry. But not this! Not here! The make-your-own Bento Box was wonderful! Unagi Don! Well, pretty much. It didn't actually come with rice, but it's not like you can't just get a side bowl at a Japanese restaurant. nbd. Also, it wasn't the standard tempura and California Roll lock-in, either (though it could be if you wanted it to be, of course; so many options!). I had a tasty salad, sashimi, and salmon rolls along with the unagi. So essentially, I got a box o' fish that was generously priced and portioned. And that was just lovely.
(4. Ginger ice cream for dessert: a little too sweet and not ginger-y enough, but ice cream gets me.)
Do it. Try it. -
Review from Becky S.
New Haven, CT
10/24/2011
I want to preface this review by saying I have been going to Sonobana since it was still called Hama: 8 years for those counting. We even went for my birthday once and have taken both of our families for meals because it was one of our favorite places in the area.
We discovered tonight that they deliver to New Haven and since we were looking for a delivery option, of course we chose them over the many other delivery options as they were one of my favorite places to eat.
We were a bit shocked when we were quoted a 40 to 50 minute waiting time, but thought it was worth it for one of my favorite places. After an hour and no sign of them, we called to check on things. They said it was on its way and was delayed because they were trying to coordinate 3 deliveries in the area. Fine, we were patient and polite.
Another 30 minutes later, still no delivery so we called again. This time they said the car had broken down but they were under the impression that the driver had delivered the food. This was a blatant lie. The woman at the restaurant at first offered to intercept our food and deliver it herself but then she learned that the driver did, in fact, have a working vehicle again.
At the end of it all, after a third nagging phone call (why should we have had to call so many times?), we finally got our food after 2 hours wait. It is a Monday night, what excuse could there be? Keep in mind that we had hot food (which was now cold) and cold food (sushi) which at the minimum was no longer fresh and could even possibly give someone food poisoning. Although I think I got a brief sorry or two from the owner, I found it extremely insulting that we were expected to pay for the food (as evidenced by the driver handing me a receipt to sign). In the end, we did accept the food (because we were starving!!!) but I hope the business knows that the correct action in this case is to not charge us as we could have refused the food and it would have then gone to waste. I am sad to say that I will not be going back. For other sushi options I would recommend Miso for expensive sushi, Miya's for alternative sushi, and Sushi Palace if you want bang for your buck. At the minimum I would strongly recommend against the delivery service as it is horrible. So much for our relaxed night in! -
Review from Edward S.
Corpus Christi, TX
EXCELLENT sushi! That's all there is to say. I had the Tempura Maki Roll and the Spider Roll. The soft shell crab on the Spider roll was SO GOOD. Everything tasted so fresh and just looked so inviting on the plate. The others who were with me ordered Bento Box combination plates and devoured every bite.
The service (waitress) is friendly, albeit a bit slow, but don't let that discourage you. The food is WELL worth the wait. And the prices are quite comparable to other sushi houses I've been to (and I've been to a LOT of 'em). -
Review from Alicia S.
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
I wouldn't say that Sono Bana is the BEST sushi in the area, but the happy hour special was pretty great. The most expensive roll on the happy hour menu was $6.95, so we ate pretty good for $40.
I did not so much like the Tempura Maki Roll...it was too warm and too much breading. I liked the sweet potato roll but with it had the sauce that the tempura maki roll had! The best roll by far was the Special Spicy Tuna...yum-o! We'll be back! -
Review from Angel S.
Long Island, NY
Pretty decent sushi spot, though the rolls are standard to smaller in size. The Negimayaki, however, was terrific, with tender slices of beef oozing with melted cheese. The place is clean and service is very good.
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Review from Dave G.
New Haven, CT
4/18/2011
Amazing sushi! The menus (there are three of them) can be a little confusing if you don't know your way around sushi, but, boy, is it good sushi! The spider roll is great, different from how I knew it from the West Coast, where I got the whole crab rolled up (although they have that one, too), but chopped. Dragon roll was divine, too.
I haven't tried the lunch bento boxes, but quality of what I had for dinner probably vouches for their quality.
It's not necessarily on the cheap side, but it's definitely worth it. -
Review from Audrey F.
Southington, CT
3/27/2011
We have not been back to Hama for many years. Now that we were searching for a Japanese restaurant for our ethnic eating experience, we chose Sono Bana.
I think it is still the same Japanese owner because they still make the greatest agedashi tofu of all the Japanese restaurants we have been to in CT. Hot fried silken tofu in a tentsuyu broth that melts in your mouth-wow!
We ordered a huge sushi boat with assorted fresh sushi, including soft shell crab tempura and crunchy spicy tuna.
And once again my friend chatted up the waiter and found out he is a Yalie student from China. His mom is a great cook and we tried to get invited to his mom's for dinner one day! We keep trying to get that ultimate ethnic dining experience.
Downside: Parking is very limited in the back of the restaurant. Food was pricy as usual. Tough to find a hole in the wall Japanese joint. I am almost afraid to find one because of the raw sushi. And lose the beef negamaki with cheese in it. I know it is not a traditional japanese food (invented by a Japanese chef in NYC), but cheese..really? My husband always orders that dish (grilled beef wrapped around scallions) but was turned off by the melted cheese. -
Review from tricia z.
Meriden, CT
5/2/2011
I've been here twice with two extremely mediocre experiences.
The first was take-out, me and my boyfriend got sushi rolls and neither of us enjoyed it very much. Avoided it and went elsewhere after trying it the first time.
The next visit was with a group for lunch and the service was dreadfully slow. On top of that the food was again very bleh.
Nothing makes me want to come back here. Maybe I'll give it another try when I'm desperate one day. -
Review from Richard W.
Astoria, Queens, NY
1/3/2011 5 photos
A few friends and I went to Sono Bana for a little NYE dinner before heading off to a proper party. The place wasn't really crowded at all and our server, Kuni, was super nice as well as super gracious in letting us stay pretty late past closing.
The sushi was good, but not the best I've ever had. I got the zaru soba for an appetizer, which was good but also a little disappointing because typically zaru soba is served cold and on ice and this was kind of lukewarm... :( I also tend to like a little bit more of a vinegar-y sauce and their sauce was kind of bland.
However, the non-sushi parts of the dinner box ($15 for soup, dumplings, a main dish, and two sushi rolls all in all a very reasonable price) were really, really good. The chicken katsu was sliced thick and tender and the veggie gyoza were really tasty and melted in my mouth.
Also, the super secret deal here that my friends and I particularly enjoyed was a bottle of Momokawa pearl sake, reasonably priced at $20. Yeah, if you picked up a bottle from a wine shop it'd be probably 25 - 50% cheaper. But, compared to the $10 a bottle for a large hot sake at most sushi places, you got probably 1.5x more, better quality sake for the money and it was really good.
All in all, a cool little sushi restaurant that's worth an occasional stop in. Definitely worth a peek to try out their Japanese style dishes that aren't sushi, but I really didn't feel like their sushi was anything spectacular. It was good, though. -
Review from Mallory R.
Hamden, CT
11/30/2010
I have to start off with how long the food took to come out. I came on a Saturday night and it wasn't super busy, a good crowd, but nothing that they shouldn't be able to handle. But the food took forever to come out. Long enough that a friend was able to drive down from the Hartford area and come sit with us before we even got our food. We weren't in a rush so we didn't particularly mind (other than the fact that we were starving) but just in case, don't head here if you need to catch a movie. You will be late. My friend and I noticed other people getting a little upset but the waitresses were pretty good with checking in and making sure we didn't need anything.
Aside from that, I love the place. I started off with the miso soup, which was some of the best I've had. I mostly stick with eel when I order sushi so I got the Dragon roll and it was really good. It made me appreciate the fact that the chef took his sweet time making it.
Overall, it is a clean, good quality sushi joint that forces you to sit back and relax, order a beer (which came super quick) and enjoy your evening with friends. -
Review from Kate T.
9/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
My first impression: the menu is more confusing than was my first day of immersion German class.
Be prepared to sort out what you want from a total of FOUR (4) menus. My boyfriend was so hungry that he turned into a big cranky baby because he couldn't figure out how/what to order. For example, they have a bento box menu where you can choose A+A+B selections, or was it A+B+B? If you don't like that idea, you can choose from one of their fill-in-the-blank sushi combination menus, which don't offer some standard sushi choices. I could go on...
After the fiasco that is determining what to order, we were very happy with what we got. The fish was the freshest I've EVER had. I've never had yellow tail that didn't have a tinge of fishy-ness, except for what I ate here. It was all delicious. I would definitely recommend it, just have an idea of what you want before you get there because the menu situation will throw you off. -
Review from L C.
New York, NY
11/3/2010
I'm a 'special roll' kind of gal when I go to Sono Bana:
Spicy scallop, Volcano, Fried oyster, Shrimp special, Dragon - any of these rolls will leave your tummy content.
Child friendly, speedy/friendly service.
PS - Be sure to bring take out containers for your leftovers! -
Review from athena B.
Alameda, CA
8/16/2011
Fresh fish, great price and friendly staff!!
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Review from Heather P.
Dayton, NV
7/14/2010
Wish I could give this place a better review, but based on my first (and last) experience there I just can't...
Tim and I went for dinner on a Friday night and, although they were busy we were seated within about 15 minutes...not a bad start. After we were seated a waitress came and took our drink order, a couple Kirins, and brought them back fairly quick. This is when things took a turn for the worst. We must have sat and waited another thirty minutes before she returned to take our sushi order. After the order was taken we waited more. And more. After what was at least another forty-five minutes our waitress appeared and apologized by offering free soup. We ate the soup and shortly thereafter our food arrived. We ordered a wide range of rolls but everything kind of tasted alike and while it was good enough to satisfy a sushi craving it was nothing special. The price was great for lackluster sushi but the wait really killed it for me. We probably won't be returning :-( -
Review from Matt C.
Hamden, CT
8/13/2010 5 Check-ins Here
For frequent fish-eaters, such as myself and family, Sono Bana offers a 'club card', which lets you build up points for every dollar you spend. Although the card doesn't make me eat here more often, it's nice to be rewarded as a frequent customer.
Yes, you could get better sushi in NY. Maybe in Boston. But in greater New Haven, this traditional sushi is the best. The only thing keeping me from 5 stars is the endless loop of music with about 5 songs. It's the same every time I go. Don't miss the "Mad About You" theme. It's in my head, and now it's in yours. -
Review from K W.
New Haven, CT
7/21/2007
Sono Bana gets five stars from me for two reasons:
1. Their sashimi was really fresh. You can just feel their freshness, as you sink your teeth into them. Even better than their sushi.
2. Their lunch specials were more than reasonably priced. You can't beat their price of two rolls for less than six dollars.
Other things to note about this place:
Sashimi was generously sliced: Good sized portions.
Spicy tuna rolls had big chunks of tuna rather than having the chopped up kind.
Salad was cold and crunchy.
Tempera was crispy.
Service was good.
Udon was unimpressive, but at least they weren't overdone.
Atmosphere is just average, but there's parking in the back.
If there's ever a bargain for Japanese food, this place has it.Listed in: Top Spots near Elm City
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Review from Cat W.
New Haven, CT
5/4/2011
This is a sushi standby for the local grad students and some professors, too. It's not too expensive, friendly and comfortable, but the food is hit or miss. However, the food is also consistent so if you can find what you like, it's usually better than most of the other options. No GF soy sauce, just like everywhere else around here.
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Review from Sara B.
North Haven, CT
Updated - 4/19/2011
Unfortunately the quality of service has gone down the last several times we've visited. The food is still good, but I have to downgrade my review to 3 stars based on the very slow service.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/17/2009
There are many Japanese restaurants in the greater New Haven area, but in my experience (over 5… Read more »
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Review from Katie K.
Plymouth Meeting, PA
8/23/2007
I have not been to this establishment since they changed their name from Hama to Sona Bana, but when it was Hama, it was fantastic.
The service was always excellent and friendly, the sushi is reasonably priced and always tasty/fresh. You just can't go wrong when you go here. If it's still under the same management, then I'd definitely recommend it. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. This was the original sushi place that welcomed me with open arms when I moved to Connecticut 9 years ago, so it will always hold a place in my heart.
I should really go back soon, because based on other reviews, it really seems to be just as good as always. -
Review from Andres M.
Cambridge, MA
1/28/2011
I've been here a couple of times and I liked it every time. I specially liked their happy hour special before 6:30pm : a bento box for $12.
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Review from Alice L.
North Haven, CT
4/22/2011
The best sushi and sashimi. Original japanese chef. I have try many Japanese Place nothing can compare here.
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Review from Vitor L.
New Haven, CT
3/9/2011
Cozy restaurant, then environment it nicer than it looks from outside.
Service was good and the food was nice.
They have good prices for lunch specials. -
Review from J T.
Astoria, NY
7/27/2008
Very delicious and well priced. I'd come here again.
Clean.
Good service. -
Review from J H.
12/16/2010
One word: Toro.
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Review from Elle N.
New Haven, CT
6/1/2011
I have been going to Sono Bana for years...years (plural) when it was Hama, too. It's my go-to Wednesday night sushi. The prices are just right: that perfect spot between expensive and "do-I-really-want-discounted-sushi?" They have a good selection of rolls, some traditional American-Japanese, some with a newer spin (although I have to say that I don't really 'get' Miya's, so maybe it would be just traditional to others...) The Bento box is a good option (one reviewer said it was confusing...um, not really...there are even pictures to help you!) But mostly I get the sashimi, which is very good; I don't think I can remember a time that it was not very fresh. If I had one complaint, it would be that there is sometimes inconsistency in portion, especially in takeout; it's never been to the point that I wouldn't go back, but I have been irked on occasion to get a take-out order home to find pieces of sashimi cut the size of a postage stamp. But I pointed this out to the servers, and I haven't had the problem again. The staff is very nice and courteous, and I've always found the service to be very good.
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Review from Rick G.
New Haven, CT
2/22/2007
Sono Bana, please have my children? This is some of the best sushi and Japanese food I have had so far. The fish is so fresh and all of the special rolls are unlike any others I have tasted. One of the best parts of the restaurant is their sushi menu. It is like porn. About 6 pages of rolls displayed along with pictures. I can vouch for the chicken teriyaki as well. It is juicy and succulent, served in a homemade teriyaki sauce.
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Review from Ben K.
Oakland, CA
6/22/2007
I was a resident of New Haven for 7 years from 2000 to 2007 (Just moved to Oakland, CA!) and this is my favorite restaurant in the greater New Haven area. I will sorely miss this place! This place used to be called Hama until they decided to change their name (same owners though). I still call it Hama though, for old times sake.
They have, hands down, the best deals on high quality sushi and Japanese food. I love their dinner combo bento boxes (so many different combinations to choose from) which is a large amount of food for 16 dollars.
Even better, this place has the most awesome sushi/roll combination called "The Sushi set". You get to choose 7 pieces of sushi (including really good fatty tuna, sea urchin, eel, and sweet shrimp) and 2 rolls (each with like 6 to 8 pieces) and you get a seaweed salad or miso soup, all for like 17 dollars!
As for non-sushi items, I love the katsudon,donkatsu, and their udon dishes are also awesome. I highly recommend their nabeyaki udon.
The restaurant itself is laid-back, is a neighborhood restaurant, not one of those chic fancy japanese places, so if you are looking for a relaxed non-pretentious place to get really good sushi at reasonable prices, GO HERE. I also have to give the people there some props for being courteous and attentive. I love the down-home service there. If you are looking for a fancy trendy experience, then I suggest you try Miso in downtown New Haven instead.
Finally, if you frequent the place as much as I used to (once a week or more), you can pick up a VIP card that will get you credit back for each time you eat there. Once you accumulate 10 dollars credit, you can apply it back towards your bill! Good stuff.
Anyway, I'll miss this place, and for sure, if I ever go back to New Haven to visit, I'll make sure to go here. For all you New Haven people, please keep this place going strong for years to come, so that I may drop in and enjoy myself here. -
Review from Jenny F.
2/15/2007 8 photos
The freshest sushi in the area. I love coming here for lunch because they have a great bento selection/sushi selection for not so much cash. The weekends can be insanely busy so definitely call ahead for a table.
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Review from Christine C.
West Haven, CT
10/21/2007
As sushi goes, this is the best deal for the best quality. Generally, unless you're very careful, you're still going to drop a few dollars on dinner, but it's worth it. The service is fast and friendly, the place is spotless, the seating is comfortable, and the food is excellent. The rolls I've tried are always fresh and very flavorful. The only reason I'm giving it four stars instead of five is because I'd like to see them offer a few more vegetarian rolls.
Listed in: New Haven-ish Places to East
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Review from Taishi T.
Edison, NJ
3/3/2006
The best sushi in CT, so far"
I haven't been to too many sushi places in CT, but I am usually known as a good indicator of good sushi amongst my friends. And all I can say that the yellow tail the day I went was amazing. I think my friend and I ordered like an extra order besides the platter of sashimi that we ordered, it was that good. Japanese owners, and Japanese sushi chefs really make a difference. The other specials on the board were amazing as well, so don't forget to look at that when you get there. Garlic Squid is good. But the sashimi was very well cut and I think for CT, this is the the only place I would put my money on. The suid garlic is great. But make sure you make reservations before you go, since dinner get pretty crazy. They recently are in the midst of a name change (SonoBana), so look out for that as well. If you have a bit of a sweat tooth, I would recommentd the tempura friend green tea ice cream. But, I still think Yama on West Houston in NY has the best. The atmosphere has much to be desired (minus the one tatami booth for the lucky enough to know what it is), but it's the food that I would keep coming back for. -
Review from Tam N.
New Haven, CT
11/18/2010
Awesome sushi place. Decently priced, and the triple roll is just plain sexy. Restaurant is split into two sides, one mainly consists of booths and other side has larger tables for bigger groups. Staff/service is good, maybe a little slow, but with good apps and food you really wouldn't notice
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Review from David T.
Washington, DC
7/3/2005
I don't know how they do it, but Hama serves up some of the freshest sushi I have ever had at unbelievably affordable prices (especially at lunch). Their menu requires an advanced degree to decipher, but you could pick your dishes by shooting darts at it blindfolded and you would still walk away very happy. Like most of the best restaurants in this area there is zero atmosphere, but it doesn't really matter. Parking in back. Reservations recommended on Friday and Saturday nights.
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Review from Terry S.
Manhattan, NY
10/24/2010
I love SB. Not only is their food really good, but the prices aren't bad either. If you go here for lunch, they have some great lunch specials. Totally recommend if you want good sushi :)
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Review from William B.
Palo Alto, CA
Updated - 1/20/2008
This is the same as Sonobana: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/20/2008
If you go to Yale and like sushi, you will eat here as often as you can afford it. For my… Read more »
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Review from Sheryl L.
San Francisco, CA
8/8/2006
Being from San Francisco, I had low expectations for Connecticut sushi. I know, I'm a snob. But Hama forced me to forgive my stereotypes in favor of delicious, fresh, and reasonably priced sushi. And unlike trying to eat sushi in San Francisco, there was no wait, even on a Friday at 8. Now, it may be because it's summer, but still. Also, while the service was not spectacularly fast, the waiter kept apologizing as if it was taking forever, when that was certainly not the case. I will go back. Many times. And it will soothe my Californian soul.
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Review from Amber A.
New Haven, CT
Updated - 4/5/2009
I love this place, but honestly it isn't as good as it used to be. They used to be the best sushi in town, but lately the food has been disappointing: rotten avocado, burned gyoza, sloppy sushi. Overall, still a good place, but the quality needs to be more consistent.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/29/2009
This used to be my favorite Japanese place, but I feel that quality has really dropped in the last… Read more »
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Review from Michele A.
Easton, CT
3/7/2011
Don't be put off by the store front and location. The food was great! Wide variety and good value. The bento box is a fantastic deal - especially if you arrive before 6:30. Will be stopping in again.
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Review from Jessica v.
Hamden, CT
12/6/2009
I love this place! The service is great, the staff is welcoming and friendly. The sushi is awesome! Fresh and delicious! I definately recommend this place to anyone looking for good sushi at a decent price.
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Review from mochi m.
Middletown, CT
1/17/2010
This is the best sushi place in New Haven, hands down. Being from Japan, I'm extremely picky about the temperature of the rice, how the fish are cut, etc. Some nights seem better than others (they were out of uni one night, some rolls seemed smaller than usual on some nights, etc.), but in general, I have not been disappointed.
Forget other overpriced places like Miso or Miya's (though Miya's does have an interesting menu). This is the cheapest and the best sushi in the region.
