Tei Tei Robata

 

4

14

Brett S.

Dallas, TX

Well pretty much everyone has already said it and I agree completely, Tei Tei is the best of its kind in Dallas.  All of the food is top notch, from the marinated sea bass to the washu beef and the bluefin toro it is all delicious.  Check out the specials when you go, sometimes you can find a real treat on a random night.  They also have a great sake menu if you like sake. After dinner you can hang out in the bar area where they have a DJ spinning on some nights. Highly recommended.

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18

6

Kevin G.

New York, NY

pros: consistently amazing food, friendly service staff, nice bar in the back

cons: bit pricey, somewhat of a wait for drop-ins

dishes worth checking out:
-foil wrapped sea bass with enoki
-tempura soft shell crab
-quail with yuzu pepper
-couple of specialties: lobster and grilled branzini

*entry edited to remove the word "crap" with the correct word for the food: crab

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Elite '08

291

368

Tara M.

Austin, TX

This place is small, cramped, crowded, there is always a wait and the atmosphere is not romantic in the least; but, I still recommend this place for a date if you have a foodie friend you want to empress. This is not the place to take a fussy woman with low blood sugar as you will no doubt not get a second date. The service is polite yet aloof.  And the food is super fresh and different from the usual Japanese in Texas. Which all comes across as authentic Japanese..

That said this is my favorite place for Japanese food in Texas.  I do not go here specifically for Sushi but what I have had was very fresh.  What I do go for is the Hot Rock - I love to watch the thin slices of Kobe Beef cook on the rock just moments before it melts like butter on my tongue.  And the Miso Sea Bass is perfect in every way.  But, my #1 favorite item here that I often find myself craving is the large skewered and grilled oysters (the outside skin is tight but the inside is raw and when you bite in it bursts in your mouth)..

If there is a long wait they have a nice bar at the opposite end of the main entrance with it's own entrance.  Be polite and walk down the sidewalk instead of through the cramped dining area until your name is called.

Enjoy..

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5

44

Sydney P.

Plano, TX

One of our favorite restaurants!! The sushi at tei tei was delicious!! The chefs, like any other sushi restaurant, prep the food right in front o of you, you dont have to wait long for it either.  Have a bar and table seating as well. the restaurant itself was clean, the lighting was perfect, and the service was wonderful.

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8

34

Melissa H.

Dallas, TX

While the seating in the dining room is (extreeeemely) limited and the bar area is even less spacious, the food and the drinks make up for most of the uncomfortability.  You'll wait a while on your table, but you won't have to wait more than a minute to get your drink order in by one of the bartenders or wait staff.  The DJ "spins" some okay music, though if you're waiting in the bar for over an hour and a half, you may begin to wonder if you're hearing the same tunes over again.  The main bartender, a fella with long hair, will AMAZE you with his own creations, but make sure you have him make your cocktail--nobody else does near as well as he does.  The food is great.  Slow to arrive, perhaps, but it's delicious.  If you're claustrophobic or agoraphobic, I'd recommend you stay away from Tei Tei...but if you're a fan of Japanese food, grin and bear it--you won't be disappointed.

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Elite '08

21

69

Jessica C.

Dallas, TX

Hands down this the best japanese restaurant in Dallas.  The food is quality, service is always great, and the restaurant experience is always exceptional.  I've become a regular here and will continue to be.  A true Japanese meal for me is not only sushi but also some of the more traditional/authentic dishes.  My experience would not be complete unless I leave the restaurant eating all of the following: Agedashi Tofu, Chicken Roll, Miso Seabass, Salmon Sushi, Spicy tuna roll, WASHU BEEF ON THE ROCK, Steamed Whole Lobster, and the Panna Cotta.

May I emphasize that the washu beef on the rock is a hot rock that you use to sizzle the washu beef on.  This is an awesome hands-on experience!  

The restaurant itself is hard to locate--it is well hidden, which provides for a nice quaint and unique experience.  The outside is misleading because once inside, it is a lively and intimate Japanese Restaurant.  It only makes sense that this restaurant is so popular as the wait time is known to be lengthy.  Expect 45 minutes.

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4

30

Hazel G.

Euless, TX

Oh Tei Tei.....as many have commented, definitely the best Japanese restaurant in Dallas.  The seafood is super fresh and its often taken up live right in front of the sushi bar before its cooked.  They have new specials regularly but I tend to order my favorites.  One of the best dishes there is the Cornflake Shrimp...its not on the normal menu but on their special menu and if its not...request it.  It's taking the shrimp tempura we all know and love and instead breading it with cornflakes.  I know it may sound a bit weird but its so delicious.  

I also love the marinated filet of sea bass and order the sashimi sampler here since the fish is absolutely fresh and flown in daily.  Another odd dish that I love is the grilled rice ball.  It's exactly what it sounds like but the rice is flavored and grilling the rice brings about a nice earthy flavor.  

While the wait can be bad........very bad.  It's definitely worth the wait.  Hands down, Tei tei is one of the best restaurants in Dallas.

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Elite '08

65

207

Russell P.

Savannah, GA

COOK YOUR OWN F'ING MEAT!

That was my first thought when I dined at Tei Tei several months back.  If you're going to charge me an arm and a leg for some meat, the shit should be cooked.  Average Kobe beef.

The tempura soft-shell crab was one of the better things I tried there.  The sushi was pretty good, too.  The bar was nice, and I enjoyed the Japanese beer suggestions of the bartender.  

Maybe I'm just a lazy bastard and want to see the cooks actually do the cooking.  I don't know, but I doubt I'll be back for anything other than sushi....because I expect THAT to be uncooked.

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0

21

gummy j.

San Francisco, CA

Very fresh, very good.  One of the best sushi places I've had.  It can get pricey if you're not careful, otherwise I recommend it to my friends.

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12

2

ashley m.

New York, NY

Tei Tei is why I love sushi!! This place is so good on so many levels..The seating capacity is only 48 and they only take reservations for parties of 4--but its so worth it!! Aside from the extensive selection of rolls and shashimi-- be sure to order the grilled sea bass and washu beef on rock..YUMMY!!!! This place is definitely worth the splurge :)

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Elite '08

19

164

Tamara M.

New York, NY

We'd been searching for outstanding Japanese food in Dallas.  Tei Tei fits the bill.  The place is small, but cozy.  We got there early, but it was already filling up quickly at 7 on a Tuesday night.  

I tend to stay away from places that look too trendy, and Tei Tei does have that vibe going on, but that's not the focus here.  Service was way above average.  The staff was attentive without being obtrusive.  

Sushi and grill staff spoke Japanese to each other, lending authenticity and pleasing traditionalists and sushi snobs alike.  The sushi we had was amazing.  The fish was very fresh and cut with care. But here's what sets a place apart: the sushi rice was perfect, and the nori was clearly fresh and high quality.  Just when you start thinking tuna is tuna, you get a silky piece of heaven like we were served that night.  Other sushi highlights: jumbo clam and baby yellowtail.

From the grill we had baby tako.  The waitress made sure we knew what to expect when we ordered (we did), and I thought that made sense.  It was just the consistency it should be, and seasoned to perfection.  The "robata" part of the menu was rather limited, but I liked their focus on organics, local, and seasonal items.

Trying Asahi black (beer), which I hadn't seen before, was a special treat as well.  The only drawback was a lack of parking in this busy area.  Using valet was really the only option.

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Elite '08

37

114

Laura R.

Dallas, TX

Holy crap, why had I not been here before?! This is going to be a difficult review to write because I feel like I won't be reviewing, just listing what we had. I think my "Oh my god, this was so good" ' s would grow old.

Anyway, a sampling of what my date and I had: kobe beef on a rock, sea eel, yellowtail, sea bass, fried spicy squid legs, Japanese snapper, spicy tuna tartare, Spanish mackerel, Kobu-cured flounder (FANTASTIC!), salmon, grilled fish cake, seaweed salad and more that I can't even remember.

Oh, we also had the "Feed Me Roll," which appears to be a chef's creation, using inspiration from other things you've ordered. Our Feed Me roll was a spicy tuna roll, topped with yellowtail, salmon, snapper, smelt eggs and salmon roe. It was really delicious.

All in all, it was a really delightful experience. We elected to sit at the bar, seeing as the wait for a table was pushing an hour. Sadly, Tei Tei doesn't take reservations unless your party is four+. Prices are reasonable, but if you order in excess as we did, don't be surprised to see a 3-figure tab.

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Elite '08

36

162

Alex L.

Allston, MA

This is the best Japanese restaurant in Dallas.  The decor, the ambiance, the music, the sushi, the cooked dishes, the staff, everything is fantastic.  I've only been here maybe 5 times in the past 3 years, but the waitresses always seem to recognize me.  The sushi here is really the best in Dallas, always fresh and hardly ever out of anything (sometimes it's a pain to get really good uni).  If there's ever a wait, there's a great little bar and lounge area in the back, so generally I don't mind waiting like 30-40 minutes.  Normally, I expect the wait, so it really doesn't bother me.

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6

9

D S.

Dallas, TX

An excellent spot for Japanese food --

Standouts include "kobe" beef sizzled on a hot rock, miso-marinated sea bass (excellent, immaculate fish), baby crabs, and various crudo.

The sashimi-averse diners at our table ordered bland california rolls, but the yakitori and edamame hit the spot for these timid souls.

The floor tables are an excellent place to gather a group of friends and hide away, drinking from the fairly nice wine list and enjoying the ebb and flow of service on a busy busy night.

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Elite '08

43

60

Ron G.

Allen, TX

This is hands down our favorite restaurant in Dallas. It is an especially great place to take someone who is finally ready to get over the notion that Japanese food consists primarily of "sushi rolls" and "sushi". The sushi is fantastic but more importantly I think TTR has the most diverse Japanese menu in town. In addition to the sushi and Sashimi we are absolutely in love with what we call the "hot rock" - raw and thinly sliced Kobe/Washu beef is brought to your table along with a smooth very hot rock and a light sauce on the side. Place the meat briefly on the hot rock to sear it and then enjoy it as it melts in your mouth! All of the grilled fish is very sensitively prepared - you won't find the fish's taste buried under heavy or overly strong sauces. Wait staff is great and the bar is a true happening place. OK. I'll stop writing now before I bore you. If you're in Dallas and you love Japanese food you MUST try this place. Be warned it is quite small and very popular. Go early or late or be prepared to chill in the bar.

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12

78

Tom O.

Irving, TX

A very small restaurant, it serves some of the best Japanese seafood in town.  In addition to Sushi, they have a large variety of grilled fish, crabs, lobster, etc.  The quality of the seafood is excellent, I would say best in Dallas, along with Teppo, the sister operation down and around the corner.

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2

3

Andy C.

Dallas, TX

Hands down my favorite restaurant in the entire city.  You don't normally equate North Texas to Japanese food, but this place is really something special.  I've eaten at Nobu and Megu in NYC, Morimoto in Philly, Ozumo in San Fran, and eaten fresh tuna hours off the boat in Tokyo and I can say that Tei Tei is as good if not better.  

I started going to Tei Tei simply for the food and long before it became a mecca of the beautiful and over stylized people of Dallas and those who come to watch them.  Besides the uber trendy scene, Tei Tei's food quality has remained impeccable, succulent and the gastronomic equivalent of hot but slow sex.  All sashimi is fresh and chilled to the perfect temp (toro sashimi is the best thing on the menu).  Ordering hot and cold foods off the menu is a culinary adventure.  Everything I have tried has been good and some wonderful.  Some of my past favorites include: broiled sea bass cheek, agadashi tofu, yuzu pepper cured duck breast, and ox tail stew.

Service is solid, not overly friendly, but knowledgeable about the menu and food preparation.  The worst thing about Tei Tei is that they normally don't take reservations which means you have to camp out at the bar for hours if you want to eat during prime dining hours.  This isn't necessarily a bad thing as the bar is quite a scene although undersized.  They have a full compliment of Asian beers and a relatively decent selection of Sake to be enjoyed in bamboo boxes or hollowed bamboo trunks.

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Elite '08

23

31

Pat P.

Dallas, TX

Tei Tei's small space is one its charms but it can be a drag waiting an hour for a table.   A nice consolation to the typically long wait is the cool saki bar/lounge area in the next room.  You can order a nice drink while munching on some edamame.

The sushi is done very well.  The typical stuff you find elsewhere is very good here:  tuna, salmon, eel and so on.   The sea bass is very popular (almost as good as the one I make at home).  Another popular dish is the "beef on the rocks," a 6-slice order of high-grade washu beef, served raw with an extremely hot rock and a soy based dipping sauce. You can do your own grilling at the table.  What's not fun about that?

And it feels like a cozy little San Francisco joint which is nice.

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0

1

david d.

Lakeside, TX

I have been eating sushi for 40 years, never have I had sushi of this caliber in the USA.  The fish is better than you can get at Nobu in Soho, NYC and much cheaper, still bring plenty of cash because a good sushi dinner is still expensive.  Tei, the owner is behind the bar and he prepares dishes better than I have had in Tokyo!! Don't miss this place.

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Elite '08

116

430

Meridith H.

Dallas, TX

We had such a fun experience at Tei Tei.  While quarters are a little cramped, the atmosphere is festive and fun.  The sushi is good, the kobe beef on a rock is entertaining and tasty, but the true gem is the sea bass.  It was mouth-watering, to die for delicious.  

Go early or get reservations...we even had to wait on a Sunday night at 6:30.  It is a tiny restaurant.  The hostess was a little bit in our personal space but it was almost unavoidable due to where we were seated by the door.  I won't hold that against Tei Tei.  I highly recommend for a small gathering of friends or a romantic evening out.  You are sure to have fun and enjoy a great dinner looking over at the open kitchen.

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