Aji Asian Bistro

Phenomenal Steak Hibachi, my family and I ordered a couple apps including the indian pancakes and the pan seared dumplings. Both of which were phenomenal. My main entree of Steak Hibachi came with fried rice and veggies lightly coated in an amazing soy base glaze. Service was fantastic, polite, and quick granted the size of the party. We were even gifted a pretty cool magnet.

The staff seemed very nice and accommodating however the food was completely distasteful. The hibachi instantly makes you feel nauseous and everything was greasy with the texture completely off. Portion was okay, however you arr done after 2 bites. Hibachi vegetables should not be soupy and chicken was really off. Just look and see...

I cannot say enough good things about Aji Asian Bistro! At first, we thought the wait for our food was long - and maybe it’s a little longer than your standard place - but when we got our food and saw the presentation, we completely understood why! The prices are very competitive and the quality is top-notch. What sets this place apart from others is the care and art with which everything is arranged. Photos do not do justice. All of the staff we interacted with were appreciative, gracious, and very welcoming. In addition, their menu is extensive and has items not every sushi place does - uni (which I love), sweet shrimp with heads (I can’t understand why, but my boyfriend loves the heads the most), and more. All in all- you will not be disappointed. Come for the food, the atmosphere, and the smiles.

Excellent. Very impressive. Volcano Sushi OMG I visited again today took some pictures after I started I couldn't wait to eat, it's just that good. The best beef fried rice I ever ate I brought back to eat for supper. I really enjoyed this place.

Had the Kara age and the unagi don . I would prefer to the have the unagi don any day. I also experienced the Jasmine oolong tea in a traditional teapot which was nice. Overall it was a good experience. I didn’t make a reservation despite going on a Saturday so it seems like a good option for those who may want to try something new.

The sushi is some of the best I’ve had in Charleston! So delicious and they have lychee martinis which I can’t seem to find anywhere!

Amazing food, Good price for how yummy it is! Got the Pork Gyoza, Miso Soup, Sesame Chicken, and Fried Icecream and split it with two of my friends, Aji has got to be one of the best Asian restaurants in Charleston!

Food is mediocre at best and wayyy overpriced for the quality. We asked for the sesame chicken extra crispy and it was not crispy in the slightest. It also didn’t taste like sesame chicken. More like orange chicken. I wouldn’t be inclined to write a review if it wasn’t for the premium price point.

My buddy Raymond took me out to dinner here and WOW what a great experience! Our server Victoria was super friendly and personable. Our food came out fast and was outstanding. I loved the options on the menu and their selection of teas was great. Sushi was insanely fresh and good. A bit pricey and well worth it. I had a good time and would love to come back again, even if it is a bit out of the way for me. J.Ja

The food is fresh and tasty. The staff is always polite and very attentive. We love the small feel to the place as to it does not feel stuffy. Great date night spot.

We love going to Aji when we are in the mood for Sushi and don't want to leave the island. The kids found one of our favorite secret dishes; a Spicy Tuna Sushi Pizza. It's one of our favorite dishes, we must order it every time we eat here, we actually had to order 2 the other day, LOL. We also tried their Pork Ramen soup, it was good but needed more salt, in the broth. They have great service; you can see that everyone is working hard to make sure you have a good meal. We have gone for birthdays before, they have a nice sunken in-dining area where you take your shoes off and eat in a Seiza-type setting. I would recommend Aji if you're looking for a fun atmosphere with well-priced sushi and good service.

Tried 1 sushi roll that was good. The sesame chicken however didn't taste good at all. The texture of the chicken was off and the flavor was bland.

It was my first time here and what a great experience! It's super intimate in there and the staff is just so nice! Everyone was super friendly and our waitress was super nice as well We got Harumaki & vegetable gyoza & cucumber salad for our appetizers! Everything was delicious. My only qualm is the cucumber salad was a little basic. Just cucumber and rice vinegar. It was still really good but could've been a little more for me Had the fire mountain roll, the ichiban and spicy tuna pizza as our meals. It was all delicious! Definitely a lot of food for just the two of us. It's definitely larger than normal sushi size and well worth it and it wasn't that expensive compared to other places. Definitely recommend!

Sushi was phenomenal. The service was great they had plenty of staff who seemed to care about their customers. The smell of the restaurant was a bit peculiar. KongFu Roll was $15 for 8 pieces and the shrimp tempura was $10 for 6 pieces.

We love eating here. There are always tables available and you are seated immediately and it is nice and quiet. The staff is quick and very sweet. The food is higher quality Chinese which is a nice change from cheap quick Chinese food. The General Tso is my favorite. The relaxing tea was very nice as well.

We come here often. The jalapeño hamachi appetizer is a must!! Service is great, sushi is solid!

Aji is great! We have been coming here for several times, and we've never been disappointed by the food, service, or quality in general. The servers are always beyond friendly and helpful, and the food never disappoints! I've been going with my daughter for 5 years now, and our favorites are the Shumai, the Shrimp Tempura Roll, and the General Tsao's Chicken. This is the best sushi in James Island!

We haven't been here in a while but always great food and service! The best sushi in Charleston! We love the Big Mama roll and the Mexican roll. Joyce's martinis are amazing too! We will be back soon... everything was delicious as always!

Aji is a super cute hole in the wall! They even have tea spots for a semi traditional tea! They have an awesome tea selection as well as an extensive sushi menu. They have a full bar and desserts as well. My partner and I both got sushi as well as dessert. The sushi was phenomenal. Also, we got clear soup, which was better than any other clear soup I've had anywhere else. As far as the 4 star rating, I gave it 4 stars due to price and service. This place is a lot more expensive than other sushi places I've been to, excluding downtown. The service was poor. The girl barely checked on us and never refilled our drinks. The restaurant is small and there were like 5 servers and she only had 2 tables. They were all just hanging out with each other at the front. We ordered dessert when we ordered our sushi and she brought it out wifh our main course. I would've thought she'd at least ask or bring it out later. I just wish we had a better service experience. Overall though, definitely check this hole in the wall out!

We love Aji Sushi! We have young kids so a sushi take out night is a perfect dinner night for us!

Okay, the sweet ladies who work here 100% won me over and their sushi is fantastic. Unassuming exterior with a warm and inviting interior--this spot is a new favorite for us. We will definitely be back! P.S. Get the Perfect Match Roll!

All of the sushi rolls were delicious! Some of them were quite large and we were all stuffed afterwards.

Always good to eat here! Food is great everytime. Servers are always friendly and service is fast!

Great find!! We just moved to the neighborhood and spotted Aji when we were at the grocery. Location looks to be an old bank, but they make it work. Busy place, service is fantastic, always smiling and fast. Our favorites are the Hawaii Roll and the Crazy Tuna Roll - delish!! Oh, and the dirty martini -prepared to perfection!! Best Sushi we have found in Charleston, no doubt!!

This place had been recommended by a friend of a friend. I'm a visitor/tourist and I came on a Saturday early afternoon (2:30?) with a couple of friends - we were seated right away. I got the chirashi bowl off the lunch special menu. Was super hungry and excited to eat my bowl. It came out on a plate - no biggie - presentation still looked great. Overall place was clean and cute decor on the inside. The outside? It looked like a bank in its past life. FOOD: The miso soup was good (came with the order being on lunch special). I was a little grossed out by the tomago (egg) and the imitation crab meat - they tasted like they had just recently been defrosted and had a weird texture :( The rest of the fish were generously sized and adequate in flavor/texture. My friend's veggie gyoza was pretty good. I didn't try the other stuff to comment further. SERVICE: they were very nice and felt cared for during the time there. They didn't check on us too much but just enough. PARKING: they have a small lot in the front! BATHROOM: I didn't visit to be able to comment. Overall, I probably wouldn't return in a jiffy, but it's okay. I think it was worth a try. If I lived here, I'd give them another try maybe in a few months.

We ordered the Love Boat. It says it will feed 4. And I believe it!! The sushi was super. I love me some white tuna. Terry, our server, was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. He gets 5 star. We sat in the sunken tables. It felt very authentic. I also ordered some fried rice without meat just ti see how it tasted. Not bad...for restaurant grade. It seems when order fried rice, all restaurants ever do is give you rice with soy sauce added. No carrots, egg, celery, peas, onions with a sprinkle is salt/pepper/garlic. So boring. We love this place. You won't go wrong with anything on the menu.

Food is always fresh and delicious, service is great, ambience is fantastic!!! I live in Beaufort, and whenever I come to Charleston to visit my daughter, I have to go eat at Aji!!!

We were referred by our family chiropractor to this wonderful, very clean and homey James Island restaurant. The food was very good and the quality of the sushi and softshell crab appetizer was amazing. The staff were very friendly and efficient. We would come back in a heartbeat to this hole in the wall type of restaurant. The owner, Joyce was originally a New Yorker from Queens. We love this place.

Aji Asian Bistro is one of my favorite sushi restaurant! Amazing service, nice staff and good environment!

Food Critics are back after a long anticipated await! Now first, the outside might not look appealing, but trust us you want to go inside. The inside is beautifully decorated and looks very well maintained. My partner got the Hibachi Chicken with extra fried rice and I got the Shrimp Cucumber Roll and Shrimp Tempura Roll. And let us just say they were absolutely delicious! My partner says " After sitting down and looking around I shortly realized we were in for a treat, the ambience was perfect and the decor even better. Traditional with a touch of halloween decorations made for a pleasant evening, definitely going to revisit very soon." Sushi tasted so fresh and were a very good portion size. Thank you Aji!

I love that this restaurant is practically in our back yard! We have finally gotten our favorites nailed down to a T! Starter is always the spicy tuna tartar. Never a disappointment. For the Sushi we do the M16, Dancing Lobster, and the Mexican. They are all superb! The sake is a must too! Thank you for always being consistent. Also, on those days where you're not feeling like dining out the Togo is just as good just minus the sake.

Consistently good, reasonably priced sushi with a solid selection of signature rolls, and plenty of options for noodles, hibachi, or stir fry for the non-sushi lovers. The environment is clean and well-decorated.

Incredible service and food! The chicken Pad Thai is to die for and the Angel Roll was superb. I use take out and it is always ready and a special parking place for me! If you have not been what are you waiting for????

Great sushi, amazing service and cool atmosphere. Favorite sushi spot in Charleston, would recommend to a friend!

Very good sushi but prices steep Forgot to include my requested gluten free soy sauce

Great food: teriyaki chicken is delicate, tender, not over-sauced. Servers were nice with my two young children. This place is a family favorite

This place used to be a favorite. The prices have gone up tremendously. The service seemed a bit frantic and lacking. The calamari appetizer was actually over fried and burned. The food is fine but for a 30% premium over other local Asian shops, it isn't worth it. If you are around the area, not a bad place to eat but if you have the time, I suggest heading to west Ashley's Zen for better ambiance, better price and service, just as good quality.

Omg I am so happy that we have an actual sit-down, great tasting Asian restaurant in James Island now. I visited here for lunch on Saturday for the first time and I already came back again today (3 days later). The lunch specials are amazing, about $9 will get you a soup or salad with an entree; the entrees range from curries, pad thai, 2 sushi rolls, hibachi, and more. So far, over my 2 dining experiences, I've tried the Malaysian curry with shrimp, philly roll, Alaska roll, and spicy tuna. The miso soup and salad that come along with the entrees are a nice added bonus, really like the miso here. Also had a pot of green tea and they keep a candle burning under the tea pot so it remains hot during your meal, a really nice touch. The service overall here is fantastic, they greet you upon entering and exit, are super fast to bring anything you need, and make sure that everything tastes great. I'm ecstatic about this restaurant and I hope they do well in the area. Go check them out and support a local business that finally has put an awesome restaurant in this location. I know I'll be eating out here a lot!

First time visit and won't be our last. Food was great , service was good and vibe was low key in a good way. Exterior doesn't do the interior justice . They also were able to get us in with a quick heads up call. This is a solid local's sushi spot over some of the more well knowns. Look forward to coming back.

Their lunch specials are wonderful but finally came for dinner. I had the Hibachi steak with mushroom soup. Others in our group got shrimp dumplings, chicken Malaysia curry,& lo mein. All the servings were big. On average about ~19 per entree. Charleston does not have great Asian food but I'd say this is the best on James island. Hot sake is $7 which is cheaper than most of their beer. Friendly staff and good food close by is a winner in my book.

This place was fantastic, the service was excellent the sushi and sashimi were large sizes. We ordered a the boat for two and it was only $55 which is great for 3 rolls and lots of sashimi and sushi. It was so much food we had leftovers.

Consistently good food. Above and beyond service. Clean and calming ambiance. High quality ingredients used.

Don't let the exterior fool you, this place is beautiful inside. The sushi was fresh and delicious !

This was absolutely the worst Asian food I've ever had. I didn't know it was possible to destroy chicken fried rice but apparently it is. They seated us next to the loudest human on the earth and the odd smell of the place was pretty offputting. The prices were high for the low quality food. We were visiting from out of state. The decor was nice and it was cool that they had some tables you could actually sit on the floor to dine. The service was decent. We were tired and starving when we went but was hoping for a better experience.

First off, this is the best sushi in Charleston. Hands down. With that being said, this is the first time I've ever felt entirely obligated to leave a review. My fiancé and I dined here tonight and the food was wonderful! We order the jalapeño yellowtail appetizer every single time. It is absolutely amazing, consistently. There were a few very minor hiccups with service but our server, I believe named Elle, was such a sweetheart. She seemed a bit flustered and we overheard that a server had walked out tonight and she (a hostess) was able to step in and help out. Yes, QUEEN. I just really cannot stress enough how wonderful the service and food is here every single time, and I hope that people can be gracious during these times as restaurants are getting back on their feet. We will definitely continue eating here and looking forward to amazing sushi and wonderful service. I wish I had taken pictures of the lovely plating but we ordered the jalapeño yellow tail, seaweed salad, avocado salad, to start. And the king dragon roll? I think it was called which was SO delicious. And some salmon sashimi and a Cali roll. We also ordered the pad Thai out of curiosity and it was not my favorite so I will say focus on the sushi here! It's absolutely amazing. Can't wait to go back.

We came in on a Saturday and sat at the sushi bar. The entire staff hovered around the end of the bar and we felt like we were being watched the whole time. We ordered the sushi pizza and it didn't have any flavor to it. The spicy tuna on it looked like red mush. The sushi rolls were the same. Didn't have much of any flavor, barely any rice, and one of my rolls was filled with mostly avocado. The prices were high for the quality of food we received.

Splendid sashimi and delectable rolls. Presentation was pleasing and beautiful and the service was just great. So thrilled to have a true sushi restaurant on JI!! Oh, there is also a nice saki selection and I'm all about hot saki when it is cold and rainy out! Love this place. We will be back.

Best sushi in Charleston! The owner is very involved which means a whole lot. Highly recommend giving this place a try.

After being seated 30 minutes without service, we just left. There were only 4 tables occupied and 5 wait staff chatting at the front. Very disappointed

I am all about international food options coming to James Island , so I decided to give it a try and since then, I have been having lunch there once or twice / week every week. The lunch special is priced great and has many options which I have probably tried many times.. My favorites are the 2 or 3 sushi combo, and the Red Curry. The portions are great for lunch and they include soup or rice. The ambiance of the place is extremely cute as is all the cutlery and dishes. I am seriously in love with their soup bowls and spoons. The staff is always nice and attentive and are always there to anticipate my needs. I cant recommend it enough.

Don't let the exterior throw you off. Inside is very nice and so are the rest rooms. Now the food is excellent. Sushi rolls are packed full and as delicious as they sound on the menus. The wait staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the sushi and will make recommendations when you ask. We love sushi and eat out at least once a month. This is one of the better ones other than our home location. Enjoy!

Wonderful food and very friendly and attentive service. Our table had the Chicken Katsu, Hibachi Chicken and 2 sushi rolls. All was excellent

This place is fantastic. It's what finally got my husband to eat sushi, too. The service is insanely good and the quality is top tier. We tracked this place down after not being here for months and it's just as good if not better than before. 10/10

I've never had something I didn't like here. Jalapeño Yellowtail ap is a favorite amongst several ppl I know. Service is impeccable. Yes it's a strip mall Asian restaurant. If it was a posh place in NYC charging way more my opinion on the food and service would be the same.

My friend goes here for every birthday she's in town and I was luck enough to join this year! The group table has fun ambience and requires you to lose the shoes and sit on cushions on a bench with your legs hanging below the table. Hard to explain but a cool concept. The sushi was delicious and I can't wait to go back and get the hibachi dishes which came in a sizable delicious-looking portion. For the birthday, they came out and sang to my friend and provided complimentary ice cream with whipped cream. It was a really enjoyable way to celebrate my friend. Until next time, Aji!

Visited this restaurant for the second time. It was a busy evening, but managed to get seated immediately. We had an excellent meal and friendly service. For an appetizer, we ordered the Volcano Crunchy Roll. We love sushi, and it was definitely good roll. We also ordered hibachi with chicken and steak. It was filling and I wasn't able to finish my whole plate. Will make for a good boxed meal later. Will definitely be adding this Asian bistro to our lineup.

Our take out tonight was nothing short of perfect. We ordered a Ninja Roll, which is rice less & wrapped in pink soy paper (perfect for those wanting a delicious roll but without the carbs). It was still a large roll & very tasty-tempura shrimp, spicy tuna, mango & topped with lobster salad and a light "chef's special sauce." We requested tobiko for that fun extra mouth "pop" sensation; the sushi chef was gracious with this garnishing. The side of spicy mayo was perhaps the best example of the condiment ever had at any sushi restaurant. For the Edo Combination Hibachi meal, we decided on chicken & shrimp (your pick of two out of four protein options, steak & salmon also offered). A nice array of grilled veggies, fried rice & a choice of soup or salad also included with the meal. The chicken was very tender & the shrimp was well seasoned. In our limited exposure to Hibachi, we expected a container of "white sauce" to pour all over it. No Hibachi white sauce here, instead the proteins & veggies were nicely dressed in a slightly sweet & savory brown sauce-delicious! We are both pretty picky about fried rice & every restaurant has its own interpretation of it-to a fault at times. This fried rice is the real deal. It doesn't taste like soy sauce drenched white rice with some sad peas & carrot bits tossed in for good measure. Lastly, the Thai Basil Wok with beef exceeded expectations. The beef was very flavorful & not weird & chewy as it can be in such dishes. The aromatic basil garlic brown sauce & veggies, was just enough to highlight all the flavors without overpowering the dish. We will definitely be adding Aji to our regular repertoire. If you are in search of above average Asian food, you may want to do as well.