Izakaya Wa

This Japanese restaurant offers fresh and high-quality food, but with the price paid, I expected even better quality and more generous portion sizes. While the ingredients are fresh, the overall experience felt a bit underwhelming considering the cost. Service-wise, there’s definitely room for improvement. A more genuine greeting, better attention to detail, and thoughtful menu recommendations would elevate the dining experience. On the other hand, the busboys did a fantastic job—efficiently clearing empty dishes with great manners, which kept the table tidy throughout the meal. The restroom was also clean, which is always a plus. One thing to note is that parking is now paid, which might be an inconvenience for some. Overall, it’s a decent spot with potential, but refining both the service and portion sizes would make it a better value. Four out of five stars.

Food is amazing! Tuna melts in your mouth and the curry for the chicken katsu is so flavorful! We were able to get a table for two without a reservation on Friday evening, but reservations are recommended.

Every time I pass by I thought it was an upper scale restaurant, but when I finally tried it and I was little disappointed. Casual dining nothing fancy, too loud, and expensive. The waitress wasn’t a great help as I am not familiar with a Japanese cuisine, she recommended some dishes that were appetizers ( the skewers ), paid $82 for 2 persons with No drinks we had water. The seating is not comfortable. 2 hours later we were hungry again.

I don’t usually do reviews, but this place has given me such a solid first time experience that I gotta rant. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by multiple people, and a lady sat me down by the sushi bar. I came here to try out the beef udon that my coworker [strongly] recommended, and mind you it did not disappoint lol. I also had an eel nigiri (fire, my absolute fav) and was finally tempted with a matcha mont blanc parfait (I am a diehard matcha fanatic) which was life changing btw, it had everything I loved in a single dessert. My server and all the staff were so friendly-it really added to the atmosphere! This is a comfortable environment for friend groups/family or for introverts who want to eat alone like me. This experience meant a lot because it was a perfect end to a stressful, upsetting day. 20/10 definitely coming back:)

Always excellent service and high quality food. Each time I visit I feel very welcomed and the environment is so enjoyable. Flounder nigiri is amazing. I ate it before I could take a picture. If you have a sushi and traditional Japanese cuisine itch to scratch then you’ve come to the right place.

Japanese here. This place reminds me of a real izakaya in Japan. I thought just ordered few small appetizers but ended up ordering bunch of foods because so good. Taking wasabi (octopus wasabi) and battera are highly recommended if you like raw fish. Staffs are so nice and made me more orders.

Excellent food and service, waiters are very attentive, food is served very quickly, though it is a bit noisy

Great easy going place. Service was average, Fantastic food and atmosphere.

Horrible service. It's like they stereotyped me. I was in the area and decided to go for a weekday lunch. The moment I ears shown the table I eas rushed to order tea or drink and a bunch of menus slapped in front of me . I was like I need water first , and lie rally 1 sec was asked if I know what to order , I was like let me look at the menu, the bus boy got water and the Asian lady again ridges me asking if I am ready eventually I ordered the lunch spl sushi . And tgats it that was the end of service no one asking if I needed anything nothing . In and out in 20 mins . It was comical and degrading in the worst possible way! Thus us almost empty restaurant there were just 2 other tables with patrons during viral lunch hours! No wonder they are losing patronage . Horrible ! We would love going there few years ago. They lost my intro age forever. They almost stereotyped

居酒屋 stay-drink-place Happy happy joy joy! Defines this spot from entry to exit. Met the bestie for our monthly girls date night and this was perfect. She has been to both locations before so I let her order and she knows me so well . You are immediately welcomed as you walk in the door and we were immediately seated (6 pm, Wednesday). The staff were friendly and professional and our server was 5 star all around. Our order: gyutan, nasu torimiso, salmon sashimi, potato croquette, Japanese sausage skewer, vegetable tempura, grilled squid Gyutan - (5/5) - sliced beef tongue with sesame oil and green onions - so tender and delicious, make sure to add the green onions - the flavor was on point and the beef melted in my mouth Nasu torimiso - (4/5) - flash fried egg plant with sweet miso ground chicken- eggplant was crisp on the outside while tender on the inside - the sauce was a little sweet for me but the combo went well Salmon sashimi - (5/5) - perfect cut in thickness and size, the wasabi wasn't overpowering and the salmon was so fresh and pillowy Potato croquette - (5/5) the crisp from the batter was perfection and the potato was so tender and fluffy and airy Japanese sausage skewer - (3/5) - good and meaty but just not my style; very well cooked though (I was removing it off the skewer and it fell on the floor but not after I took a huge bite lol) Vegetable tempura - (4/5) - great batter and fry time was perfect, assortment of veggies - asparagus, onion, zucchini, yam - deliciously light - nice light dipping sauce that wasn't overpowering Grilled squid (half) - (5/5) - my favorite thing, the squid was cooked perfectly - it was not too chewy and was so tender with a little bit of a bite and it came with a mayo dipping sauce and tiny peppers (optional, it was good plain too) - we should have ordered the whole squid - hmm next time This was a real happy dining experience. The whole atmosphere, food, staff, people were just amazing. There are definitely a lot of things I'd like to try so I have many trips back. If you haven't tried it yet, what are you waiting for?

Food and portions were excellent, service was very attentive and top notch! My only complaint is the parking; had to pay to park. Curry is fine like others have stated in their reviews. I loved my cowboy roll and peppered tuna nigiri. Sunday evening is the best time to come; no wait! We had went 2 weeks prior on a Saturday night - expect to wait around 30 minutes for a table to open up.

While it hardly reminds of anything I've had on either coast (#1), Izakaya WA is most likely the average Houstonian's choice for all things Japanese bar food. And by all accounts, they might be right. Personally, I'm still grateful that Houston even has the option. Being located in the heart of River Oaks usually means that the food is not going to be for the cuisine purist's palate and the prices are going to skew on the higher side. As long as that's understood, any qualms for the ultra-authentic experiences can be tamed. It's not going to be Jiro apprentices at the sushi bar or the staff comprehending anything beyond the pseudo Japanese greetings for the customers. The layout of the interior is very conducive to all parties. They're a great option for solo dining at the bar, a group feast at a booth, or just a fun foodie date night. I appreciate the semi-intimate lighting and the ambiance can be lively at times. A big shout out to Shino, who took care of our table and might've been the only Japanese waitress in the whole place. There were some hits in the many things I ordered, which include their gourmet curry rice ($15 for a full) and their magi fuji pork katsu. The karaage was nicely seasoned and crunchy, tsukune had a nice kick to it, and I'm always a sucker for croquettes. The skewers that I did have (beef tenderloin, pork belly, kurobata pork sausage, tec.) were solid. Our server informed us the absence of a number of izakaya items I was hoping to find. No chicken skin skewers, salmon roe mentaiko pasta, and while I will forever be in love with toro, I don't know if I can justify $37 for a small set of sashimi or uni at $39. RIver Oaks being the bougie area that is, also means the prices are going to be higher and the food isn't going to be for the purist palate. As long as those expectations are set, the experience here can really be as good as any. ___________ (#1) NYC. LA. Seattle. Or even Japan for that matter.

First time trying this place and loved it! We got a variety of raw fish & hot items from their menu. If you go with a group, I recommend getting a little bit of everything! My favorites were the Hamachi Collar and the fresh nigiris! The staff was very friendly, attentive and did a great job explained the menu for us.

Food - sushi rolls are amazing, katsu curry is also pretty good (honestly katsu curry is a pretty rare find in houston) the potato ball was hard to like but interesting Service - nice attentive Ambiance - great casual izakaya vibes with very welcoming Japanese greetings everytime anyone comes in and leaves

I tried this Izakaya place in river oaks called Izakaya Wa. It's similar to a Korean pocha where they have an extensive menu of many small dishes that are meant to be eaten with drinks. Parking is charged here but it is really cheap. They have such a nicely decorated outside patio too. I got the pork katsu curry, tonpei yaki, spicy salmon roll, salmon carpaccio, yakitori negima skewer, and karaage with Komi sauce. The katsu curry was pretty good and is a really filling dish at such a cheap price. The tonpei yaki was sooo good as well. It includes cabbage, bean sprouts, and pork wrapped in eggs. The pork was so tender. The spicy salmon roll was pretty good but the salmon carpaccio was very thin and didn't feel worth the price. The yakitori negima skewer was decent. It's cooked but texturally tasted like it wasn't fully cooked. The karaage with Komi sauce was really good with the sauce but you need to eat it right away or it will be become soggy.

From the ambiance to the delicious food 9/10!! Went here to celebrate a birthday and it we will definitely be back for another special occasion! Did make a reservation bc they get busy since it's so good and it was worth it! I loved the curry and the fresh ingredients of everything else. Our server was super helpful with making reservations and brought out some ice cream and sang happy birthday which was really nice!

I have been here a few times as I love their other location but sometimes this one is more convenient. After this last time here I don't think I'll be back to this location. I do think that they need better wait staff when this place gets a little busy everyone is running around with their heads cut off. The udon noodle soup is just like the memorial location. Well we will see with time it may be just as good as the other location.

Izakaya Wa is a great spot for a casual dining experience. Though parking is available in a paid lot, it's worth the convenience. Our server, Kumiko, was friendly and provided excellent service tonight. It was my first time and Izakaya Wa offered a diverse Japanese menu. The appetizers, like the kara age and ika ring, arrived hot and were flavorful. I ended up with the Rock N Roll which has shrimp tempura, masago, cucumber, and spicy mayo. It was a very simple but solid roll. Although I didn't get a chance to sample the skewers this time, I'm looking forward to trying them on my next visit. Overall, Izakaya Wa is a solid choice for a Japanese restaurant in the area.

I would definitely want to try this place again and with a different group of company. I came here for lunch with my company and it was alittle late because they close about 2PM and we came in at 1pm for lunch, and their kitchen was prepping to close about 1:45PM. I didn't order a whole lot because I was on a budget but the food I did eat was good! I have to dock points because our server forgot to bring us a few items when we asked for more water, for spicy mayo a fork/ spoon and so we were left waiting for over 10 minutes before she came back and remembered we had asked for certain items.

I've been here many times and always great food and service but listen guys if you are going to serve people until 10pm you can't ask them to leave at 10:30. Do better.

This place had been on my list for a while, finally went for my bday dinner. It's a small restaurant, reserved a table for 10 people on a Wednesday night. Service was 10/10, the waiter was very attentive and had great recommendations. Ordered a bunch of items off the menu, including sake bombs. Loved the sushi. Got a complimentary scoop of matcha ice cream as well. Definitely recommend this spot!

If you ever have a craving for a cozy and comforting meal, you have to go here. The beef udon had flavorful yet light broth and the noodles were high quality. The chicken katsu curry was crispy and savory, even the rice was delicious. The cucumber sunomono was simple and refreshing. All the sushi/sashimi was delicious as well. Fresh and presented well. I really appreciate our server as well. We got in not long before close (we're the worst, we know) while it was pouring rain, and our server was super friendly and had awesome recommendations. Lastly, it's really pretty inside! It has that Japanese feel and feels so cozy. Perfect for a date, an outing with friends, or just by yourself!

Still such a great spot! I have a an entire college of all the new dishes we try from their specials

Met friends here to eat, drink, and enjoy each other. We sat outside in the rain and it was idyllic. Helpful staff, wonderful food and drink.

We tried alot of dishes the full rack of grilled squid was really good texture was great. I had a shaggy dog roll loved it very fresh. Chicken skewers were mid. Service was great, bartender was very attentive although busy.

Every dish was soo good. I was surprised that I liked everything. We got the beef and chicken skewers and the pork skewers. The chicken was okay- dry and nothing special. The pork was juicy and well seasoned. The curry was nice and thick. The uni we had was fresh. The shrimp tempura was soo good. Would def recommend. The little potato salad it was on complimented the dish very well. Service was fine/good. The interior is small and dark and somewhat cramped but that was okay. Good for a casual date or hangout.

I was super excited to try this place's curry because according to this one TikTok, this place have the best curry in Houston. But honestly, the curry was aight. It wasn't bad, but wasn't spectacular either. It came out pretty luke warm and wasn't hot enough to my liking. The sushi was good, very fresh. The omelet and the onion rings were not bad. And it was my first time trying a matcha mont blanc, or any mont blanc tbh. Not sure if all mont blanc is made like this but basically under the matcha and cream it was cereal? So I was a bit taken back, but the matcha flavor was nice and strong. This place is cute though, very nice atmosphere. And I love a place was cute aesthetics. However I believe everywhere around was paid parking.

Good food and great service! I've been to the memorial location, but this was my first time at this one. We ordered a bunch of different dishes, and everything came out super fast. I didn't love the tempura batter, but everything else was really tasty! A surprise favorite was the dan dan noodles, which I don't think it's on the regular menu. I want to come back to try more different things! Note: you do have to pay for parking

Izakaya Wa has become one of my favorite places to get good authentic Japanese food. I like both locations but found that this location to be more chill. On a weekend for lunch, we were seated right away. They had the lunch special which was such a good deal. Service is always friendly and quick. One of my favorite item is the spicy scallops. The special of the day came with several pieces of sashimi and small rolls. It was just the right portion but very satisfying. The ambience is very casual here and also feels very homey.

I came here several times. I've loved it everytime except for this time.. our waiter kept forgetting our orders! And won't write things down... this place is also very expensive for the amount. Izakaya is meant to be few small almost Tapas size dishes with a lot of drinking. When we ordered enough food to make 4 of us full for dinner, we paid $250 including tip. I love izakaya places and their vibe. This place has the perfect atmosphere and the vibe for late night izakaya, especially if sit in the back by the bar. Yakitori is their specialty (my fav: salted yakitori negima- so juicy), but also try their tan tan noodles, taro balls. Their chicken curry udon was pretty good. Their drinks are good. If you want sweet highball here, forget it. Just order from their cocktail menu. Because of the price, the service issues with the recent visit, and i personally didn't like their highball..., I will rate it 3 stars..

man... its been years since i've had yakitori. the last time i had it was back when i was still living in California. we got a bunch of different yakitori and some other non-skewers items. Beef, chicken, bacon wrapped asparagus, pork and some edamame and tofu. everything was great and the service was great. what this place was missing were the meatball skewers with cheese. I know it sounds random, but it's one of the best yakitori items you can get. I didn't check, but i think this place has a separate room you can book for private events. if its what i'm thinking, its probably one of those rooms you sit on the ground and take of your shoes before you enter. The worst thing about this place is the parking situation. You need to scan a QR code and pay for parking. I don't know if there are free parking spots along the street?

I really wanted to like this place but I found it to be underwhelming and their menu limited. There are definitely some great, fresh pieces of fish I had (Wednesday is when they get their shipments in), but there's just way more interesting menus and better values elsewhere imo. The one exception to freshness- their salmon roe was gross and soft, and didn't have that signature pop that indicates freshness. We were also turned off by the fact that the automatically calculated gratuity on their check out machine was higher than the real percentage.

I finally got to try Izakaya WA this past weekend :') On a Friday night, the wait wasn't terribly long. Super casual vibes and incredibly friendly staff. We ordered sooo much food: -salmon carpaccio -chicken skewers w/ sauce -ebi skewers -pork belly skewers -beef tenderloin skewers -grilled fatty tuna skewers -grilled shrimp skewers -tuna/salmon/uni nigiri -some roll -maybe other things I forgot... we ordered a lotttt, LOL There aren't too many places I'd go to twice, but this is one of them. I enjoyed EVERYTHING we ordered, except for that roll. That was a miss for sure. Also, I felt like the nigiri had a bit too much rice... but that didn't take away from the experience as a whole. Looking forward to coming back and trying their drinks (:

Love this place! New go to for casual sushi and Japanese tapas. Always get the chefs choice nigiri selection, the tuna tartar with rice crisps, and a couple rolls. Also tried a chicken katsu curry the last time I went and it was yummy. Love the casual ambiance and they always greet you when you walk in! Fast service.

This is my most favorite place for authentic Japanese food in the loop! Vibe: Casual with tables and booths, high top tables, and seating at the bar. There are also private rooms where you can have the door closed and is great for big groups that want privacy or to celebrate a special event. Service: Everyone is super welcoming and friendly. Service is attentive and food comes out quickly. We've come here so many times our favorite waitress (Sachi) always knows our "usual" order and we look forward to seeing her as much as the food. Drinks: There is a full bar but we usually order wine or sake (they have a great sake list). Our favorite sake is the Kikusui Junmai Ginjo because it's dry and crisp. Dishes we LOVE: - Tontoro: Pork belly skewer that we get as a starter. The pork belly is grilled perfectly and has just enough fat to make it savory as well. A must try dish if you love pork!! - Nasu: Grilled eggplant skewer thats goes well with the Tontoro. - Vegetable Tempura - Memorial Roll with Salmon: We love this roll so much that my husband and I order each of our own. - Boheme Roll - Bluefin Tuna Sashimi Sampler: The fish is savory and buttery and always fresh. - Uni - Desserts: Mochi ice cream and Maccha Montblanc are both good! Overall, if you're looking for fresh, affordable sushi then you must try this place out!

Being a Californian, I totally love Izakaya WA. For Japanese food, it's the Jack-of-all-trades place that has everything under one roof: skewers, sushi, soups, noodles, tonkatsu, donburi, sake, beer... EVERYTHING. Whether lunch or dinner, they have set plates you can order, as well as specials. And if that weren't enough, make sure to look at all the little signs they have on the table and walls... Even more specials posted everywhere. I have no idea how they keep track of everything, and how the cooks/chefs know how to prepare every dish. But they do -- And the quality is very good for a casual place. Remember, this isn't a date night spot. This is casual, bring all your friends and family type of place. Location is in such a convenient area on Shepherd in River Oaks/Montrose. Parking lot can get full, so be prepared to park on the neighborhood streets and walk over. I really love this place. This place can get crowded, and service can be a bit slower sometimes. You'll have to get over it because they have everything when it comes to Japanese food, it's tasty and a great value. Reminds me of Japanese places I grew up with in Southern California.

Pretty good spot for yakitori. Staff is pleasant. We tried several different items including yakitori, sashimi, and starter apps. The steamed egg is very good and authentic. All the yakitori was good. Fish was not great - the tuna was very fishy/not fresh and the white fish was covered with sesame oil, so may have masked the taste too. Would go back!

Awesome green tea, matcha dessert and everything between. Had mentaiko cream pasta and beef sukiyaki. Fabulous, fabulous meal

Staple for delicious food in a cozy environment. Their lunch specials are excellent. I hope to try some of their dinner offerings soon. I recommend dinning in, everything just tastes better. The service is enjoyable, accommodating and efficient. I dine here at least once or twice a month. Sometimes I dine alone. Sometimes I bring others, and when I do they also want to return.

Parking is a mess now. But we paid in the lot on the other side of the next door building. My wife ordered Chardonnay and asked when the bottle was open. Answer. "2 days". And asked if they could open a new bottle "no". See ya.

Excellent Japanese izakaya. Food/drink were both excellent. Ambience has the feel of a casual diner. Service by maitre'd to seat a baby was just OK.

Really loved the food! I ordered the half and half. It came with a salad, a side dish, a half portion of udon soup, and a rice bowl with protein on top. I was amazed at all of the food you get for $15. The protein changes week to week and on the occasion that I went it was salmon. I ordered seaweed salad for my side. Everything was flavorful and delicious. Our waitress was so sweet. I would definitely go back!

So so so impressed with this place! Welcoming, nice atmosphere, very authentic feel, quick service, and amazing food. There was also no wait when we went in on a Saturday night! The karaage komi and chicken katsu curry were my personal favorites--the chicken was so tender and melted in my mouth. Everything else was delicious, as well. Highly recommend if you're looking for a good, authentic izakaya place. Perfect for family, friends, or a date night.

Terrible service! We were sat at a table with harsh overhead lighting that was now flattering. We waited for 15 min at a table and wasn't acknowledged at all. We ended up leaving to go to a better establishment that respects minorities. 1/10. Terrible.

Came here with a group of 8 people, and I liked how they had private rooms for bigger groups. I definitely recommend making a reservation beforehand too. They have fresh wasabi here, which I've never had before. I'm usually not a wasabi fan, but I was actually okay with it. It looks very authentic inside. Plenty of seating. What we ordered: -potato croquettes -tako wasabi -agedashi tofu -age takoyaki -yakitori negima grilled skewer (chicken thigh) -hotate grilled skewer (scallop) -tontoro grilled skewer (mugi fuji pork) -tasting bluefin tuna (sashimi of akami, chutoro, and negitoro x2 pieces) My personal favorites that I would order again would be: tontoro grilled skewer because I love pork belly and tasting bluefin tuna. It was so delicious. I was already a little full before coming here for dinner, just because I had a big lunch, so unfortunately, I didn't get to try a ton of the food here. But from what I've had, I loved everything that I tried, and will absolutely come back.

So tasty! Should have come here years ago instead of passing by it. Please support this restaurant and try it today! Looks can be deceiving! The interior is so lively and a contrast from the dark exterior of the building. Fun atmosphere. Must try restaurant if you live nearby or enjoy Japanese food and culture! They have a bar and high-tops near the bar where you don't need a reservation, and the full menu is served there too. There is a main dining room, and there are also semi-private dining booths. You should make a reservation or you'll he told there is a 30-45 minute wait for the dining room on a Friday night. Four stars because my friend called to make a reservation, and we thought we were told we didn't need one but then showed up a little later, and we were asked if we had a reservation, and the wait was 30+ minutes. We ate in the bar which was fun anyway. The Japanese food was very very good. We tried several sushi rolls, the special gyoza, some grilled skewers- very tender. Also had bowls of beef and chicken udon. The soup broth and noodles were excellent. I would try the chicken curry udon next time instead. We sat at a hightop table in the bar area and the server was so attentive, and we ordered A LOT of food for two people. Call to make a reservation or show up and sit in the bar area. Hi

Amazing food, super authentic (Japanese owner, manager and clientele) and surprisingly reasonably priced too. This is my new favourite local restaurant in my bit of Houston. Highlights include fatty tuna skewer and agedashi tofu. Only sampled a few nigiri sushi but was also excellent. Very casual but that's the style of this restaurant concept.

There is a paid parking lot near the restaurant but I would recommend driving across the street to park in the free parking garage. The food was great! I had the rock n roll and the caterpillar roll, both were amazing. The caterpillar roll was more like a typical sushi roll, the rock n roll was a simple but large size roll that was pretty plain tasting, though crunchy. I also tried the wa fu futomaki roll which I found quite delicious with its combination of different sashimis. I thought the portion sizes of everything were a bit small, but it's about par for the course for a sushi/izakaya restaurant. I also had their hamachi Kama which was very good! Service was a bit slow. Also they are out of certain fish on some days-- on the day we went the hamachi Kama was almost out and they warned us that we ordered the very last one. The restaurant has a casual vibe and is a nice place to enjoy an evening!!

The restaurant was packed in a Tuesday night. I ordered miso soup, seaweed salad, salmon and yellowtail sashimi, crunchy shrimp roll and Maccha Mont Blanc Parfait. All w ere really good. Waitress was on top of it too.

I've been to Izakaya Wa a handful of times now and I can confidently say that their service and food quality is always amazing and consistent! I try something new with every visit but these are my favorites: - Tempura udon: This is one of my favorite japanese dishes and it's pretty hard to find a place that makes it well in Houston imo. The tempura udon here is soo good the udon has a unique soft and chewy texture that I love - Chawanmushi: I tried this during my last visit and was blown away at how silky and flavorful the egg custard was. The tiny bits of veggies and meat complimented the smooth egg very well - Gyu kushiyaki (beef tenderloin) skewers: These are so tender and perfectly grilled, it's definitely a must-try I've also tried their dessert offerings, the matcha montblanc parfait and the peti cake dessert. The parfait is pretty good and has a mixture of textures with the soft whipped cream, smooth montblanc, crunchy corn flakes, ice cream, etc. I will say that if you are not a fan of hazelnut puree then you will probably not enjoy this. The peti cake dessert was tasty although I wish the cake pieces were a bit bigger. Definitely try Izakaya Wa for some great and authentic Japanese food :)

We sat at the bar. Had an amazing experience. Our bartender was great and gave us amazing suggestions. We had so many good plates. HIGHLY recommend Wa Fu Futomaki for a roll. Or if you want a soup the Gomoku Udon! Two of (now) my favorite things in life!!!

This place is bangin bro I love it! If ur thinking about going just do it, you surely won't be disappointed.

Place seemed pretty exciting when we walked in, seemed like everyone was having a great time on a Saturday evening so my guest and so were excited. It was a little uncomfortable to be seated at a table with a bunch of garbage from the previous customers though. Took them almost 7 minutes to have someone walk over and they didn't even clear all of the stuff off the table. We didn't expect a spotless table, but it was sticky with sauce and there was still trash. We ordered a few items like the pork curry and beef udon which were good! Skewers were pretty decent too. Some disappointments we experienced was with the salmon nigiri which was 4 dollars for one piece. It was really sad to see honestly and wasn't worth the price. But maybe that's just me. The Ika Ring we ordered was inedible. It's basically "Japanese" calamari but it was the most dry, tough, and greasy thing ever. It was actually like chewing on a rubber tire. We were also pretty bummed about the service. Seems like the service staff visited all the other tables but didn't really interact with us. The few times they came around, they did a great job of taking the sauces from the table that came with our food. We didn't even get to mention we wanted to keep it. They were really quick to stack stuff into the sauce, making it inedible. Overall the place wasn't terrible I guess? Sure, some of the food items were overpriced in my opinion for what it actually was and the service was awkward, but I wonder if we just had a poor experience. Hopefully your visit will be more pleasant.

Delicious sushi, skewers, and soup! Service was great. Parking was a bit confusing, but plenty of space.

This place stays busy! But, very steady -- the servers and hostesses are so quick, efficient. Food was good as well -- a bit pricey, but, you gotta pay a premium for izakaya in the states! We had the beef tongue, mushroom skewer, eihire, grilled squid, and a carpaccio special of the day. Highly recommend the eihire. The grilled squid was cooked to a good consistency but I was bummed that it did not come with a dipping sauce. We used what we had left of the sauce from eihire and it helped a bit. Otherwise, the squid can get pretty dry and bland to eat. We asked for fresh wasabi and were surprised to see that they charged us $5 for it. We always ask for fresh wasabi, if the restaurant has it -- have never been charged before. We were fine with it, but, a noticed when we requested would've been nice.

Got our takeout order wrong several times (thankfully I checked again before driving off after correcting them on the first error). The grilled skewers barely had any meat on them and cost a whopping $7 for two. Highly disappointed for the value received based on the cost. Clearly pricing purely off of the location being in River Oaks and not matching the high cost with quality food and service.

Came here for a wedding rehearsal dinner with a party of about 25 in their back room. Service was extremely accommodating and all the food was on point. My water stayed full and plates came out at a perfect pace. Service and ambience get an A. Food was also really good. My favorite was o-toro nigiri. Can confirm all the fish was fresh. Some of the items we had: Mac & Potato salad Agedashi Tofu TX hamachi carpaccio Torimomo skewers Aspara bacon skewers Gyu Kushiyaki skewers O toro nigiri Unagi nigiri Sake nigiri Spider roll Rock n roll (tempura) among others. All I can say is all the food got ate and I didn't hear any complaints. Ambience of the restaurant was also excellent and it seemed to be a hot spot in the neighborhood. I would for sure come back. Thanks for showing our party a great time!