Aki Japanese Restaurant

I've traveled around the country and had really good sushi. But this takes top award for the best sushi that I've had in a long time. The outside of the building is deceiving because it is a renovated house that fits perfectly into this small community and blends in with the surroundings. At first I had to do a double take in order to make sure that's where I was. the chefs behind the bar did a fantastic job preparing the food. Even heard the one making suggestions to the couple to the right of me since they were very intrigued of the unique sushi dishes. My three pictures that I've posted is what I had. I love eel and theirs was very pleasing to The taste and outstanding. This is a must go to place. If you are in this area. I highly recommend it. It's a small place and it's very busy.

Be prepared as each flavor is one to savor at Aki. Unbeknownst to those who have just off the beaten path come into the presence of these professionals. We find ourselves selves again faced with the unfortunate fact our stomachs are not larger. Truly, my sole dissapiontment was we could not consume more of the delicious offerings provided here. I must urge you, chew slowly, as you will attemt to voraciously devour the myriad of flavorful options. Aki will have you utterly enchanted by the aromas and tastings, while your soul is made whole, with piece by piece of delicious sashimi, hand cut by the best chefs in Covington. Enthralled by this selection, I have yet to expierience something similar, as many have tried to replicate these methods but none have come close to the level of service and food here. Without a doubt, I will most certainly see you again.

Another $ increase. $41 for one roll w/ taxes. I’ve loved this place for years but unfortunately I won’t be back. It’s quality fish but it’s not $40-a-roll good. Even the hostess looked shocked as she handed me the bill and said “I guess they went up on prices again.”

I am a true disciple of Aki. It is hands-down my favorite sushi anywhere, in any state, in any country I’ve visited, ever. I travel a good bit, and I eat sushi everywhere I go; there is no comparison to Aki. Sushi is three things: Quality fish, Skilled artistry, and Love. Aki has all three ingredients in spades. All the fish is fresh and top-notch in grade. The chefs are impeccable in their abilities. And the love comes out in the service, the children’s hangings on the wall, and the flavorful and unique combinations on (and off) the menu. If you have to wait to get a seat, then wait - it’s worth it! Have not had a bite yet that need a second… and third, fourth, fifth. Aki is not just my favorite sushi, it is my favorite restaurant, period. Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, date nights, friend dinners, and pretty much every other week just in general, this is our go-to comfort food. Our home away from home (who has way better sushi than our home), filled with a whole staff who feel like family. Highest of recommendations! (Do yourself a favor and order a Hurricane Roll. You’re welcome.)

The best sushi on the northshore. Ordered the pink lady roll, the Atlantic salmon, tempura, and v roll. Everything was great. They don’t take reservations on the weekends. We waited about 45 mins but it was worth it. Will def be coming back!

My good friend Oui! You are a magician! This was truly a great experience. Will make the trip from BR just to see you and eat here more often! Best sushi EVER!

Cozy atmosphere and fresh sushi / sashimi, reasonable price for every order . Chef Oui knows all his fish and turn it into an art of sushi .

This place was great!! The staff was super friendly and parking was convenient. We were greeted and seated right away. We had our sushi within a few minutes of ordering. We will definitely be back!

The fish at Aki is the freshest; meticulously chosen and prepared. I've dined often in many of the New Orleans area's sushi bars over the past 35 years, and I can confidently recommend Aki as my favorite of all, especially its unassuming location in a cottage amongst others on Florida Street. Try Chef Oui's yellowtail belly sashimi with, I think, ponzu, pickled Wasabi peas & maybe a touch of sea salt? Yum.

As usual, I key spelled AKI was wonderful fresh delicious great service just a real pleasure to eat here

This is the Best sushi I ever tried. So fresh that melts in your mouth. %10000 times recommended it's my favorite sushi place of all times

Aki is by far the freshest and best quality sushi on the northshore. All ingredients are brought in fresh and you can taste it. The service is great very knowledgeable. The restaurant itself has a great small ambiance.

THIS is the place to go! First time trying Aki and they knocked it out of the park. I never leave reviews good or bad but I felt compelled to praise this restaurant. The service was impeccable, the food was sensational and the atmosphere of the quaint location tied it all together even for a busy Friday night. This was not just an amazing dinner but more of an experience I wont forget. I ordered the Nigiri sampler entree and the fish was so fresh that it melted in my mouth. %1000 chance I will be back very soon.

TOP restaurant in all Louisiana. Texas should be jealous and Alabama's desperate to have their recipes . Of course we are the lucky ones to be living close by and enjoying the sushi at AKI, is just delightful. WE can not explain how delicate and tender the fish that the chef selects every morning is. He is proud to serve the top of the line fish in the market. we have never been disappointed at this amazing establishment. The wait every evening is a testament to this fact.

We never knew this little shack held such a punch on the inside! This place stays busy with customers for both done-in and to-go. They have both great food and great service. A little pricey but definitely worth it. Our server Holly was absolutely adorable and did such a good job on helping us figure out what we really wanted to eat Plus, our drinks never hit empty one time! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Food and wait staff were both good but literally 4 minutes after paying our bill, while in the middle of a conversation, we were asked if everything was good. After we replied Yes, a lady "told" us she needed the table. Funny thing was that there were no other people waiting. We found out later that it was the owner's wife. Poor customer service on her part. Never went back.

I haven't been here in years and decided to go back to memory lane since the 1st experience was memorable. Aki Japanese Restaurant did it again and made me want to come back for a 3rd time. Everything from the food to the dining experience was on point. This is what I ordered: 1. Atlantic Salmon (favorite) 2. Blue Fin Tuna 3. Brussel Sprouts 4. V Roll 5. Lobster Roll If you're looking for an enjoyable experience for a date night, then come check this place out! #LambChopOnTheGeaux #sushi #covingtonla #akijapaneserestaurant #akisushi

A wonderful experience. Great service, delicious & fresh. Make your reservation, as it's a quaint place.

I ate there for the first time last Saturday with on of my girlfriends. The sea bass and Hawaiian seafood salad were amazing. I definitely plan on dining here again.

Always fresh sushi with impeccable rice and wraps. My very favorite sushi restaurant in Southeast Louisiana ... and Texas to boot!

Only the freshest fish is served here. The rolls are amazing and the ambiance is nice for a family dinner or a date night. You definitely get what you pay for.

AKI is the gem of Covington. Authentic Japanese sushi. The finest ingredients, the best fresh fish. Expert preparation. Small and with limited seating. Family run. You cannot do finer for sushi in Louisiana. I eat here 3 times a month. Cannot recommend it higher.

Not your best...go back to your roots. You're better than our last meal. Too much imitation crab, too much mayo and sauce, and the pin wheel size rolls are ridiculous. Keep it simple and clean or you'll just be another Megumi and others.

I do not know who Pistol P is or what his agenda is... but AKI is the BEST SUSHI YOU WILL FIND ANYWHERE!!!! I have traveled the entire world and you aren't finding this quality sushi anywhere except Japan. Furthermore, the owners are the same owners that opened this amazing establishment! As far as service goes, it is first rate. Everyone is so kind and attentive. For anyone wanting the finest, freshest fish this is THE PLACE!

Great food. Great service. Unique. Pricey. Parking is difficult. I recommend, it's worth a try.

Really good nigiri with good qualify fish, well seasoned/textured rice. Nigiri is simple food, but the devil is in the detail. They do serve westernized rolls (eg. crunchy, dragon, hello kitty rolls) as well. :)

It's been a year since my last review and just wanted to follow up, I have had the burrito roll 43 times give or take since then. Forty-three. THE BURRITO ROLL DOESN'T LIE! The sushi quality here is phenomenal , Chef Oui and Mrs. Lynn are unmatched in the sushi game! The quality speaks for itself.

High quality and delicious. The chefs there are very nice, the cucumber salad is very tasty, not too sweet or salty, I would definitely recommend this place

This is the BEST sushi around. Everything is so fresh and tasty. The staff is amazing and I would eat here every day if I could.

Staff was rude. Made us wait even thought they had tables open. Once we finally got to a table to order the server took a while to come to us. The fish was not fresh. I got a salmon roll and the fish was chewy and slimy and when I told the chef he said that's how it came. I've been here before and it was amazing but this time it was just not up to par. I don't know if they have new management because when we got there this short bug eyed Asian lady tried telling us that we couldn't get a table even though it was 10 till 7. Hopefully they get back to their old ways here because I love this place

We tried Aki tonight. It was our first time there. It was amazing. From the dumplings to the Blue Fin Tuna special.

The best sushi I have had in my entire life including in San Fran, New York and Seattle. Only the best fish is served and you can tell. It has ruined me on getting sushi anywhere else, because it doesn't even come close to the AMAZINGNESS that is Aki. Also , in my humble opinion the Atlantic salmon is not to be missed.

Small and clean establishment located in downtown Covington. We heard the chef was from one of our favorite sushi restaurants in Baton Rouge, and had to make the drive from NOLA to show support. We were excited to give it a try and hoped it was going to be a little similar. Started off with the Atlantic salmon and man..the sauce was a little too sour. This was the dish we really came for and I was so disappointed (insert sad face). Onto the Hawaiian seafood salad that tasted like nothing. It tasted like regular sashimi with slices of avocado, asparagus and mango. Truffle where? Then came the beef takaki that was a little rubbery. Last but not least, the V. Roll, which was probably my favorite out of all. It had snow crab, spicy salmon and light rice inside with tuna, salmon, yellowtail and snapper outside. It was wrapped in soy paper and topped with crunchy, spicy mayo and eel sauce. It was delicious! Oh wait! I almost forgot. We ordered scallop and toro sushi too. The fatty tuna was buttery and melted right in the mouth. Oh, please do order it! Overall, not too bad. I did notice that the other waiter was more attentive and went out of his way to describe the specials on the board compared to our waitress. She didn't even mention any of it to us nor did she picked up the empty plates on our table. Would we come back? Maybe not. I rather drive to BR but it was worth a try.

Been coming here for years - Chef Oui's preparation of sushi is simply "Consistently Excellent!" I've eaten sushi all across Japan this place is top notch.

The freshest sushi restaurants I've ever been to and I've been to a lot. The Rachel roll is outstanding!

This place has the best sushi on the North Shore. They opened my eyes by adding apple to their snow crab salad. I will never eat sushi the same way again. Another one of my favorites is the low carb roll. Talk about a great place to eat if you're doing the low-carb thing! Their fish flawless, their food is delicious, and the people are amazing!

Best sushi on the Northshore. Downtown Covington hidden gem but if you know you go!. Small dining area so call ahead to make sure they have room for your party. Everything is always super fresh and plated beautifully. The owners are so nice and the wait staff is friendly. The pineapple at the end is always a refreshing treat!

The four of us really enjoyed our meals ! The hurricane and Rachel rolls were our favorite. The flavor of the hurricane roll was amazing !!! We will be back

So first, let me start by saying that the sushi here is delicious and if your ordering to go, this is your place. But on a freezing cold Tuesday night when the restaurant was more than half empty they made us stand on the porch, with their backs to the door. They seemed so put off that we were there at 7:30 and were quick to tell us they would be closing soon. So tired of the post COVID lack of customer service. Great Sushi with exceptional service right around the corner.

Excellent sushi and hot entrees. Very fresh. Sushi Chefs are legit! Nestled in an old house, different feel from a regular sushi joint

A very good restaurant with very nice and efficient staff; fairly limited menu but what they do they do well. That said, it is a bit shocking and off putting that management apparently makes all staff wear the disgusting and completely ineffective medical looking masks after all such Covid theater has been dropped and acknowledged by even the agencies that insisted on them in the first place...

The absolute best sushi on the Northshore! Great service in a small setting. Perfection.

Wow! The best sushi that I have ever eaten.  I got the V. Roll, the Tiger Roll, and the Rachel roll. First, they treat each roll as a work of art. By far the best looking rolls I've ever eaten. Very pretty! I saw some of the other dishes that were being prepared for other guest - truly amazing presentation. These three rolls emphasized fresh fish over rice.  The best fish I've had in a long time and so much of it. Very filling and well worth the price. If you having tried Aki yet,  give it a try. You'll like it!

The sushi is so delicious and fresh! The service was quick and friendly. The location is great...right in downtown Covington. A++++

Warning: this is not a cheap sushi experience. My word!! I thought I had to go back to the Southshore for truly delicious Japanese food. Save your gas because I found a place up here. The five star reviews were enough to get my attention but when I saw the small menu I knew we had to give it a try. Aki is in a small house near the cemetery and I was surprised by all of the available parking. There is a public lot very close by but there were also shells on either side of the road to provide parking that doesn't make you cringe-- I'm always worried someone is going to take my side mirrors off in old Covington. As soon as we sat down we were each brought a small dish of pickled cucumbers which were sweet and refreshing. I ordered the chirashi bowl lunch, my husband ordered the sashimi bento and also a green dragon roll. First of all I was impressed with the roll because there was no crabmeat/surimi filler: it was an avocado and eel roll and both shone. (If you've seen some of my other reviews, you know I have an issue with poorly executed eel and avocado rolls!) Everything was beautiful and care was taken in cutting the fish into precise, delectable pieces. There were no ragged edges here. The assortment of non-fish in my chirashi was excellent! There were pickled carrots and daikon, mushrooms, tofu skin, tamagoyaki, and what I believe to be marinated kanpyo. The only think that could have possibly elevated this bowl is salmon roe. After we'd eaten our fill, our server brought out a small plate of ice cold pineapple. I would highly recommend giving this place a try. I saw other dishes being transported to the tables around us and everything was a feast for the eyes. A definite five star experience.

Wonderful sashimi and sushi. Great salad and fish appetizers. Excellent and delicious rolls. Great service. Interesting location. Small but nice. It's in what appears to be a converted home. Regardless. A wonderful. And welcoming atmosphere with great food.

The absolute best sushi place on the northshore. Very friendly welcoming staff and super clean cozy restaurant. We were just driving by and decided to try and it was a great decision. Recently picked up a to go order and it was just as great as the 1st time!

The freshest sushi made by skilled sushi chefs. This family-owned restaurant is the very best on the northshore and possibly the entire New Orleans area. Family-owned, excellent and friendly service. Everyone who works at Aki takes pride in what they do, and it shows. My favorites--fried calamari, king cake roll, hurricane roll, pink lady roll, apple snow crab salad. Yum!!

Best Sushi in the area! Wonderful fresh flavorful salads and rolls. Amazing Sashimi. Chef is extremely particular about quality and freshness. The presentation of each dish is beautiful. We love the sushi bar!

Best sushi on the Northshore! Excellent quality and wonderful flavors. The service was great and we will definitely be back.

A true treasure of Japanese cuisine! The emerald gem in Covington! The Spicy Tuna Lovers Bowl is basically flavor explosions in your mouth! Tuna, Avocado and chefs sauce... nuff said! Next up, Tiger Roll with more fish filler than rice stuffer. Sad Sake cup had me going back for more and the finale is a complimentary pineapple wedge desert. A lil pricey, but you get your money's worth and then some.

Tucked into a converted bungalow about an hour from NOLA, Aki is a hidden gem and one of the best sushi experiences you will ever have. Each dish is creatively and beautifully put-together and features the best-quality fish. The space is small and intimate; don't skip the sushi counter to chat with master Chef Oui. Aki is family-owned which I love -- if you go you will be welcomed by the family and treated as such. Try: Atlantic Salmon, Brussel Sprouts, Hawaiian Salad, Little Rice Roll, Toro (fatty tuna), anything with spicy tuna!

Saw cockroaches upon walking in, walked out without trying the food. No thank you! That's all

Best sushi of all time. High quality, consistency, and excellent service. Spicy Tuna Lover is one of the most delicious appetizers on the menu. The Assorted Nigiri Dinner gives you a taste of several fresh fish. If you're feeling like ordering rolls, the Rachael, V, or Thuyvi Rolls never disappoint.

amazing service, great sushi! ordered the rock and roll and it was delicious but about 45 minutes later I threw up all of my food and it lasted all night. I got food poisoning :(

Hands down the best sushi and Japanese food we have had on the Northshore. After Moving from Los Angeles, my wife and I thought the days of great sushi were over. This place isn't SUGARFISH but the fish is always fresh. Great apps as well.

This is the best sushi that I have found anywhere. Always fresh and flavorful. The staff is courteous and attentive. The place is smallish and there is only street side parking, but the food is worth any inconvenience.

I've always like this place and the food always comes out good. They need to do a desert menu one day though.