Lina L.
Yelp
I am quite convinced Akino is unbeatable in this realm. It's my (and my sister's) favorite AYCE sushi spot in Queens (risky claim but probably all of NYC - there, I said it). Its proximity to home and easy access via the train station make it a convenient go-to. In fact, we love Akino so much that we've started measuring the value of other restaurants based on the "Akino Scale" (yes, it's a thing now). Are we getting our Akino worth of sashimi at [insert any sushi restaurant] given [x] price? Would it have been better to just have head to Akino altogether?
The sashimi here is fresh, and the value is hard to beat (I mean where else can you gulp down tons of sashimi like there's no tomorrow without any judgement? Part of it might be because they're too busy to judge). The monthly specials are a delightful twist and keep me coming back to see what's new. Recently, they added takoyaki and fried clam to their menu and they're good enough. Sure, bigger pieces of octopus would be nice and it probably won't be the best takoyaki ever, but at this price point, it's hard to complain. One of my unexpected favorites? Their matcha latte. But hold on matcha enthusiasts, warning alert: it's not your traditional matcha but one that's (inarguably) pumped with artificial sugar. But hey, it tastes good! It's like pure dessert in a cup - sweet, creamy, and tastes like matcha ice cream (with a hint of vanilla). My sister, who usually isn't into traditional matcha lattes, loved it.
Service has been consistently good. The servers are always super nice and efficient with getting our orders. The initial wait for the first round of orders can be a bit slow, but things speed up quickly after that (they're like ninjas with sushi platters lol).
The ambiance is solid. One thing to note is that the tables are quite close to each other, making it feel a bit crowded, but it's a minor inconvenience (think of it as a cozy sushi commune).
Tip: pay with cash for a 5% discount :)