Godai Sushi Bar & Japanese Restaurant

Today I came to this restaurant — the last time I was here was five years ago because I had to move to another city. Now that I’m back in San Antonio, I couldn’t miss the chance to stop by again. I was hoping to see the elderly uncle who used to be the owner, with his wife helping out. I just found out that there’s a new owner now, who has taken over the business. I’m so glad that someone skilled has continued it, and the customers are still happy to return. The food still brings joy to the customers — maybe even better than before — while preserving the original concept from the previous owners. I’ll definitely be coming back again next time.

Such an aesthetic place! The service was quick, the food was delicious, and the prices were super affordable! The server was friendly and explained everything so thoroughly. I’m definitely coming back here, 100% recommend :)

This place isn’t just a restaurant, it’s an experience. The ambience is lovely and the sushi is delicious. 🤤 Chef treats sushi like an art. It was beautifully prepared and so delicate and fresh. Hands down the best sushi we’ve had in San Antonio. Our waitress Kamryn was lovely, attentive and helpful. We will definitely be back. Perfect for a romantic date night or special occasion.

Okay. I don't give 5 stars ever. But today (Mar. 14th, 2025) for lunch at Godai, 💯 yes by all of us. We git there at 11am. 4 of us celebrating a birthday. We didn't ask, but when the employees saw the cake. They offered to place the cake in their refrigerator. Great start. We were seated immediately. Very nice atmosphere. Clean restaurant and very friendly service. We ordered spicy edamame, sushi rolls, 3 beef bulgogi bowls, and 1 chicken teriyaki bowl. Another nice surprise is that Godai gifted the bday boy an Ahi Tower. And that was very delicious. Our server never let our drinks go dry. Checked on us constantly enough to make sure everything was okay. Wish I could remember her and the cooks' name. They were great. I had not been here in good while. But the new owners, management, and staff are doing a great job. We'll be going back again soon. Thank Godai. Hope you enjoyed the cake. 👍🏼😊 And by the way, order Steve's sushi roll. It's very delicious!!!

made a reservation for the 14 course omakase (+ miso soup, pickled vegetables, dessert, and complimentary after-meal snacks) with a friend and it was a superb experience with chef elvan. all of the fish tasted so fresh and light, yet almost rich with the very delicately balanced flavors of each course. our waitress was very attentive also. i had an amazing time and would love to dine for the omakase experience again!

Craving sushi tonight, we drove by on a whim to our old favorite, Godai. Expected to see it still shuttered but it's been re-opened since 12/24 under new management/owner and they've definitely kept the delicious Godai tradition going. The familiar goodness of that house salad with its delicious miso dressing and side miso soup, A++++. Same warm decor, welcoming sushi bar, happy servers and excellent chefs have somehow created a brighter interior that complemented every dish we ordered. There's a lot of competition for great sushi in SA but Godai remains consistently top of our list. It remains consistently delicious, reasonably priced, and a truly pleasurable dining experience (especially at a time when it's often easier to just stay home than fight traffic or crowds or the cost). So glad Godai is back! Highly recommend.

The dining experience was exceptional, and I would highly recommend it for both casual outings and romantic dates. The culinary offerings were remarkable, particularly the bento box lunch, which featured a delectable roll. The opportunity to meet the chef added to the overall ambiance. The attentive service from the waitress further enhanced the dining experience.

KC was our chef for the omakase and he was wonderful! He was extremely pleasant and overall an entertaining chef, you could tell he was passionate about what he does! He was def one cool cowboy! And I do feel bad, but I believe her name was Adrianna, was also a wonderful server- so so sweet and made sure we were taken care of!! We’ll def be back to try the 14 course omakase!!

To dine at Godai is to immerse oneself in a realm where the culinary arts are not merely performed but are elevated to a discipline of ceremonial precision, each course unfolding as a studied meditation on balance, restraint, and the pursuit of gustatory perfection. From the moment one crosses the threshold into its subtly appointed interior, characterized by a minimalist aesthetic that privileges refinement over spectacle, it becomes clear that the experience to follow is guided not by ostentation, but by a philosophical adherence to the core principles of Japanese culinary integrity. The staff, exhibiting a demeanor that marries consummate professionalism with an almost instinctive awareness of the diner's rhythm and needs, execute their duties with such unbroken grace and discretion that the progression of the meal appears to occur outside of time itself, as though choreographed by an unseen hand devoted entirely to the preservation of calm. Each preparation, whether it be an understated cut of sashimi presented in austere silence or a succession of nigiri placed before the guest with deliberate solemnity, reflects an almost monastic devotion to purity of form, wherein neither embellishment nor flourish is permitted to obscure the elemental perfection of the ingredient in its most unadulterated state. The rice, so often overlooked yet here prepared with such mathematical exactitude in both temperature and seasoning, serves not merely as a vehicle but as a coequal component of each bite, harmonizing with fish of such freshness and provenance that their origin seems to whisper through texture alone. To describe this establishment as a restaurant is to err by omission; it is, more truthfully, a sanctum of tradition in which each gesture--however minute--is imbued with intentionality, reverence, and the unspoken promise that excellence, when pursued without compromise, becomes a form of transcendence.

Love their lunch deals and their food is even great. Service was 10/10 and so is the ambiance

We miss Goro, but the food from the new owners is still high quality fresh fish. Isabella took good care of us. The only downside was a lack of air conditioning. Muggy enough to make the water glass sweat. The house salad is simple and as good as ever. We had the shashito pappers as an appetizer. We didn't care for the sweetness. Olive oil, salt, and garlic is all that's needed. I had to wash up after that. The sashimi is still large and fresh. For some reason they torched the Escolar. We prefer it raw. The spicy tuna roll was good, with a decent amount of heat. The Rainbow Roll was good, but I forgot they use fake crab. The ceviche roll was large and tasty.

I am writing this review with a very sad heart! The old Godai was really my favorite sushi spot in San Antonio. The chef used to call and notify when he brings different fish from Japan we would go and he makes us special dishes off the menu... I was driving by and I saw the restaurant open.... Decided to check it out and see what's going on still having the same name. It was so disappointing... the flavors everything went down hill! It is a new ownership. The place feels nostalgic and the ambiance feels like a large izakaya in Japan The service was ok the girl who served us was very friendly. They have a very cheap omakase deal which I will go check out soon for one last chance

Such a cute little spot in San Antonio. The owner just re-opened this place several weeks ago, and brining brand new service and tasty food to San Antonio. If you are looking for great sushi spot, this is the place for you. The mood is great, service is excellent and you definitely don't want to miss the chef special. If you like to entertain, sit on the bar area, Steve is here to make sure your dinner experience is unforgettable.

So glad this place is open again! Chef KC and Kamryn took good care of us, definitely recommend the sushi boat!

The only reason for the three stars is an extremely rude server. Not our server our server was very nice and I believe her name was Bianca, but the girl that was working with her had a bad attitude. Our server was outside, taking an order and our food became ready. I heard them ring the belt twice. The sushi chef asked the other waitress to bring us our food and in front of us she said no I've helped her three times today, I'm not doing it anymore, very unprofessional. I know the sushi chef saw that I heard probably by the expression on my face. He did send over a free seaweed salad, but that still doesn't excuse her behavior. There was no apology. I'm not sure if it was addressed but management should really address her attitude.

We stopped by Godai because we saw that this was ranked #3 sushi in San Antonio. I am not sure if it was an old list we saw because I don't think Godai was a hit. Our server, I believer her name was Hannah, with long auburn hair, was great and very attentive. However, that was the highlight of the meal. Miso and salad were complimentary with the meal. The salad had so much dressing and was dripping off the lettuce. The miso soup was ok, a little on the salty side. We started with the Special Hamachi Sashimi. The first thing I noticed was the black plate did not look very clean and had smudges all over. There was a very small amount of ponzu sauce for the dish. This is usually our favorite shared appetizer and we did not finish this plate. Next up were some nigiri pieces, salmon, tuna, and white tuna. The salmon nigiri is always my go to when trying a new sushi restaurant however, this was very lacking and I actually did not eat the second piece. The nigiri pieces were a generous portion for the price but they were more "dissolve in your mouth" not "melt in your mouth". The chirashi bowl was lackluster. I've never had a chriashi bowl where I kept finding pieces of ginger throughout the dish. The tuna was a bit grainy and felt chalky in my mouth. Most of the fish tasted very "fishy". The rice was not usually what I get in a chriashi bowl - it was kind of crunchy and piece-y, not the usual glistening with a hint of the rice vinegar. The seaweed salad included was pretty good though. The shaved white carrot atop the dishes were also not the usual translucent white. Later that night and through the next day I found myself running to the bathroom. Overall, I would not recommend Godai and would not return. They do have good prices for the portion and good service but that is it. There are other sushi restaurants in San Anontio with better quality.

We tried the Black Dragon Roll, Spider Roll (not pictured) , and Orange blossom roll. All delicious. Service was a little slow but it's was a busy night, so not enough for me to lower my review!

The food was delicious and the service was fantastic. The orange blossom was super yummy & so was the pork katsu. Highly recommend!

the food was very good the waitres Bianca was very kind the food was great the cook wa very nice

Great sushi and service! Jia's Roll was amazing! Will definitely be coming back for more!

First time here, but turns out we love it! They just reopened and we are glad that we tried it. We sat in Sushi Bar and the chef there was very attentive and gave us a lot of recommendations. Also, the server is always checking on us if we need something. We tried the Beef Galbi, which is our favorite Galbi in town now Give this place a chance, you won't regret

Always a treat to stop by here for their fresh seafood, reasonable prices, and relaxed atmosphere. Their portions are generous and servers are friendly and casual. It's a quiet neighborhood location and has all the basic and traditional items with a dash of new style rolls.

Did not enjoy the order at all. While it could have been the particular items I ordered there are much better options in the area. The fried rice had a weird after taste to me and and the sushi rolls left something to be desired and were also hard to eat. They were large sized with less pieces, this made them harder to eat and with a lot more rice than I usually like. The rice to actual fish ratio seemed off to me. Likely will not order from here again.

We visited the GODAI reboot tonight!! Food was amazing!! And a special shout out to our favorite server, JIA, who was so charismatic and friendly and wonderful! She made our evening the best! The ambience is similar to the previous ownership.

As good as, if not better than, Godai was under the prior owner and manager. Many of us miss Goro but the new owner and his staff have brought back this North San Antonio most favored Sushi spot to beyond its previous heights. We had the Miso Soup and Edamame as appetizers, our main lunch was a Spicy Bulgogi Bento box as well as a Phili Roll. Both were excellent. The service was top notch and the food delivery was timely. There was some remodeling completed on the space which makes it more spacious.

The rolls are so tasty, the service is amazing. We miss Mr. Goro, but this place is in good hands. The California Crunch and the Orange Blossom were our favorites! So glad this place is reopened, we were desperate for great sushi again and couldn't stand the other sub-par sushi options.

Jia great Service was friendly and fast, she gave us great recommendations and kept our drinks topped off the whole time without hovering Please put the Jia roll on the menu

We sat at the bar and it was such a fun experience. Sushi was AMAZING!!! Def recommend

Godai is always excellent! Craving sushi... this is the spot to satisfy that craving. This long time staple for sushi never disappoints. Besides the excellent sushi, the service is top notch. We were greeted as soon as we came in the door by friendly faces. We were seated almost immediately and the food we ordered came out like a well timed symphony... flawlessly. The eclectic ambience keeps your attention as you enjoy the dinning experience with those around you. If you've never been I highly recommended this place.

Our first time back since reopening and it was fantastic! The food was delicious and fresh. Interior is open and beautifully decorated. Our server Cameron was very polite and informative on the new menu. We got to meet KC who has obvious enthusiasm for the restaurant and it shows in the quality of the food. We'll be back and we Highly recommend!

Early birthday celebration continues @godai_sushibar for dinner tonight. Dad had Lemonade, and my husband and I shared an Orion beer. Thankful for the complimentary salad and miso soup! We had the Seaweed Salad and Shrimp Tempura. Then, we shared the Yellowtail, Escolar, and Uni sashimi, and Ikura nigiri. As a San Antonio Restaurant Gold Diner's Program member, we bought one sushi roll (Dragon Roll) and got an equal/lesser value roll (Lobster Tail Roll) for free. We also had the Agedashi Tofu. For Dad's early birthday, they provided the Fried Oreo and Vanilla Ice Cream. Another Gold Diner's Program member perk is that there are select wines for $10 a bottle plus tax. Go see Goro soon and check it all out!

At lunch I stood at front door for awhile before anyone noticed me. Sat at the bar. I love that they still serve the A&M roll. It tasted great, but chef was very skimpy with crab and crunchy on top. The salmon nigiri was good. Much to my disgust.. they charged a $1.00 Added Fee for using my card without informing me! I had cash, so this is like a toll fee without signs! Foul!

The new Godai is excellent. I had the Poke Salad and my boyfriend had the tempura. Both were wonderful! Huge portions do plenty for lunch the next day. Adrianna even gave us some of their yummy sauces to take home. Fantastic experience!

the food was delicious , customer service was good Cameron was super sweet and friendly. my children loved the kids menu items, I will definitely be coming back with my family.

Unfortunately gotta hammer this place. This was always my goto sushi place, but it's just plain terrible now. No more alcohol, no more soy paper, rolls now come with 3 less pieces. Waited an hour and 30 minutes for the food to come out. My roll was not prepared as described or like it usually used to be. No more Godai until they get their act together.

I gotta say, I tried this place because the other sushi place owned by the same person as this one is my absolute favorite. I had to see if the deliciousness extended to Godai. It is ok. The soup and salad that come with the meal are really good, I would buy that salad dressing all day. The sushi was good, tasted fresh and had generous portions. Just not as good as my favorite love sushi place. Check out my reviews to find out where! Service was friendly and quick. If you are in the hood and craving sushi I would recommend it.

Miso was yummy. Brussel sprouts with parm cheese surprisingly good. Fried gyoza unexpected and quite delicious. My A&M Roll was huge and delicious as well. Kamryn was an excellent server who really made our experience quite enjoyable.

THE FOOD IS AMAZING AND SO FAST, the service is so great and so sweet! i'm so glad i came here with my friends! they were so funny and they even gave us free dumplings because it was our last day of school!

Goro has leased the building to new folks and they are doing a bang up job. The Jesse's roll is incredible. Service is wonderful and they are open for lunch and dinner. All new menu but still incredible sushi. Support local!!

LOVED THE SERVICE. Food fast and fresh. Godai Sushi Bar is a culinary gem! Fresh, flavorful sushi & creative rolls. Excellent service makes it a top spot. Highly recommend!

Amazing dinner for mothers day! Recommendations from our server kamryn were incredible and she really did take the time to make us feel welcomed. Food was incredible, you would think with how busy and packed it is that service would be a little stilted but it was perfect from start to finish. A lively venue with incredible food and service, Godai is a wonderful venue to visit.

Best Sushi I've had in a long time! The service was great, staff very friendly! We loved it!!

Very clean restaurant. Owner/Chef came to meet us and explained he had re-opened a week or so ago. Food is well balanced with good flavors. Will suggest to order the tower and Godai roll. Gyosas were delicious too! Dessert was great. Tempura ice cream. Define rely oil on fryer was new so taste was delicious. Fresh food+good service= great place for a Friday night sushi.

The nigiri was okay but the sushi wasn't that amazing here. One roll had so much guacamole it made the texture way too creamy and thick. It was empty inside but cute. The service was nice they serviced delicious salad and miso for dinner time.

5 stars just for service. Ambiance and food is average IMO. Godai is currently owned and ran by two people Chef Goro and his wife Chef Yong with no other staff. It's byob so we brought a couple bottles of saki and sat at the sushi bar. The interior leaves something to be desired it's very simple and nothing fancy. Half the restaurant is actually set up for the sushi rolling classes he teaches. The conversation we had with both was amazing. They told us about San Antonio and the sushi scene from when they started with a partner at Goro, to opening their own restaurant, their life moving here and switching careers later in life, and their desires for the future. Both Chefs are super friendly and sweet and I would go back just for them. For the sushi itself, it's decent and priced better than a lot of these other sushi restaurants in San Antonio. They are also looking to bring omakase to his sushi restaurant so be on the lookout for that too.

Since we stepped into the restaurant we immediately received outstanding service from Krys. The food service was very fast and excellent! The Godai roll and Habanero Salmon are 10/10! Mr. Steve and Krys truly made the experience amazing. We will most definitely be coming back!! Great job!! Oh! And ofcourse! The ambiance was on point, very warm and comfy! Goodluck Mr. Steve!

Have been here several times, and always enjoy it. Ambience is nice and cozy, service always pleasant and happy, and food has always been great. I love the miso soup they bring when you dine in. Soft shell crab appetizer is also delicious, my boyfriend's favorite. We have tried several sushi rolls, and all have been good. I think anything you try here will be good!

The food is tasty and our server was great! This is my first choice for sushi in San Antonio.

This is my new favorite sushi spot. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but when you walk in your immediately greeted with a "Cheers" atmosphere. This meaning, everyone who came in was a regular and all the staff was very friendly and laid back. The owner also came over and was talking with everyone. Very very sweet man. We started with the Octopus and Seaweed salad, which was outstanding. My husband had gyoza and they definitely had the perfect sear on them. Then we shared the Roberta roll and the Texas Tech Roll. They were both delicious, but the Texas tech was so good we ordered a second round. The Sushi chef was so nice and she told us some rolls that we should try next time. The only thing that was a little disappointing was how there is no bar drink menu but that will definitely not stop us from from returning. Thank you for a wonderful meal!

Jia was our server, she recommend her sushi roll & it was amazing. Me and my friend split about 4 plates of them. 10/10 would recommend jia's roll

Nice atmosphere, sushi is fresh, miso soup is hot- different kinds of rolls - will he definitely back.

Great, authentic Japanese food, best in town!!! Fantastic service & the owner, Goro, always makes you feel welcomed! Mixed drinks available, too. Come on out to enjoy high quality food in a casual setting. Enjoy Dan & Jane Duo smooth jazz on Saturdays, 6-8:30pm.

Sushi is always a good option when you don't know what to have for dinner. I was introduced to Godai many years ago. I don't go as often as I wish, but when I go, I get reminded of why I return. They have many options in their menu. They have the typical rolls and then some. This time I started with edamame and ordered a few rolls to share. I can't even say which was my favorite. They were all good in their own way. I had green tea, but they do have sake and wine available Staff is great. Parking is on site. It can get busy. We arrived at 6pm and didn't have an issue getting a table.

Food and service great. Creative. Artistic. Delicious. One of the best!!!! Recommend salmon habanero, spicy edamame lots of lemon!! And sunny roll!!!

The staff was super friendly. The restaurant was clean. I thought the sushi was really good too. Especially with the hamachi! I will be going back...soon!

Hands down the best sushi in the San Antonio area! The sushi rolls are so delicious. It's always a treat when I go to Godai Sushi. The service is great. Everyone is friendly and courteous. It is a nice place for a date or small gathering with friends.

Eh. If Yelp let me stop there, I would. But it truly is just eh. It's not bad, but it's not great. We got three different rolls they were pretty bland in flavors. We got yakisoba as well, also pretty bland. The service was also, you guessed it, bland. The star of the show was the crab "spring roll"