Kengo Sushi & Yakitori

In Toledo, Ohio there is the restaurant Kengo Sushi & Yakitori. A small Japanese restaurant. There are no reservations, but there is a waiting list. After a relaxed 30-minute wait, 3 seats were free for us at the bar. The staff are super friendly and attentive. The food couldn't be fresher. It was very, very tasty and we were always able to order more to try many of the dishes on offer. It may be a high-priced restaurant, but the food is unique.

We made a reservation for the Omakase and we were not disappointed! I have had sushi from all over the country and multiple times in different trips to Japan, and this experience and sushi ranks with the best of them! I made the trip down from Michigan to eat here after a colleague suggested it and I believe this could be one of the top sushi places within a 3 hr radius. It is expensive but it is worth it!

Best flavor profile of a dinner we had in weeks. With our travels around food, this is such a treat having in Toledo. Book early or join the wait-list. Excited to bring our friends next time.

One of the best places for Sushi and a great addition to the Kengo Resturants. This is a good spot, eat some sushi & yakatori. Absolutely delicious, fresh, clean sushi. 10/10 would recommend the Wagyu Roll. 10/10 would recommend the Unagi (Eel). 10/10 would recommend the porkbelly yakatori. Filling? Not really, was a bit of a downer but if you're okay with a 30-50$ total just to feel satisfied, not bad! The tempature of resturant was perfect. Had the A/C on during a high tempature spring day. Bit crowded! And very long wait times! Worth the wait.

Honestly, I don’t know how this ended up in Toledo of all places, but this is the best sushi you’re going to get in the Midwest. The quality of the fish and the technique of the chefs are impeccable, making Kengo a true gem. That being said, you’re going to be dropping quite a bit of cash, but you can rest easy knowing that it’s going to be worth it. Omakase aside, expect to spend at least 80+ dollars on a meal. Of course this all depends on what you get, but why would you go to a nice sushi place and not buy the nice sushi? Side note: get there early and be prepared to wait on weekends. You’re not the only one who wants good sushi and it is a small restaurant.

My wife and I stumbled across this gem not long after they opened and absolutely love every bite every time. From irasshaimase to arigatō this is our absolute favourite place for sushi hands down. We are blessed to have this level of quality dining right in our backyard! The food is superb and the service is second to none!

Even though this place may be the best Japanese restaurant in Toledo, the price is way too high, it's really easy for anyone to pay over $50, $70, or even $100 but is not full at all. The overall taste is acceptable, the sushi and yakitori are high quality in the US, but only average or a bit below average in Japan. If anyone wants to experience a descent Japanese yakitori bar but doesn’t have a chance to take a trip to Japan in a short term, this place could be a good option.

Amazing delicious spot, my first true Omakase! Chef Kengo and his team prepared an ultra lovely meal: otoro two ways, chutoro aburi, hamachi, salmon, skipjack, alfonsino, madai, waygu, chicken thigh yakitori, red wine soy lamb, grilled avocado w/wasabi relish, uni cream scallop, and lobster chicken dashi egg curd topped with caviar - everything BLEW MY MIND! Our server Ali was fantastic, speedy and professional. I will dine here EVERY time in Toledo and you should too!

Absolute Gem for Sushi Lovers in Toledo/ Midwest! This place is a must-visit! We were blown away by how insanely fresh and flavorful everything was, truly next-level quality. Each bite was melt-in-your-mouth good and you can tell the chefs care deeply about the ingredients and presentation. This place is officially our new go-to date night spot.

This place is amaaazing and one of our go-to's for date night or taking friends in town to visit. Everything is so FRESH and just dissolves in your mouth. We've loved everything so far but some of our standouts are the bluefin tuna, which was initially recommended to us by our wonderful server, and the kalbi. Can't wait to go back again!

Confession time - my husband and I visited Kengo when we first moved to the area. We had just finished grad school and shared one sushi roll and one order of yakitori. We weren't super impressed because we left hungry and didn't see what all the hype was about. We were excited when Kango opened his ramen location because maybe that was more our speed (ie: we cheap). I think we've been there about seven times and loved it every time, as an aside. Seven years later, we returned to the acclaimed sushi spot with friends who are frequent diners. They booked us a slot for omakase with Chef Kengo. WOW. We had a very personal meal with the down to earn chef who, while very friendly, kept his eye on the fish the whole time. Maybe it surprises people that for a self proclaimed foodie, I've never had sashimi. Honestly, the texture of raw fish has never really appealed to me. But this meal had ~5 sashimi courses, and I enjoyed most of them. Kengo stays true to local flavors of the season and what's freshest. He even has the fish brought in from Japan to assure quality. The menu on this particular day had three starter courses...one was a fresh ceviche with avocado, the other was something I'm going to call "gimme more" because it was delicious, and then a dashi broth. Then came yakitori (I liked the vegetarian option most), then sashimi and sushi. The meal lasted about 2 hours and we left full but not bloated. Truth be told, I enjoyed this more than a la carte because the price is fixed and you don't have the pressure of picking the perfect items. So I suppose we are spoiled for the future. Omakase is the way to go for a truly special experience tucked away in Toledo.

So this place is busy and it's obvious. Put your name outside wait forever for them to call you. My first time going I went on a Friday at 5 was on the list for 2.5 hours, never received a call and left. Ok. No problem but a little annoying Second time. A Thursday. Not as busy. Table for 1. Get the text, come over. Apparently a seat isn't open. They have me standing by the hallway to the bathrooms. Server asks me for a beverage, I order a drink. She never comes back. I see her taking someone else's order. This is after standing for 20 minutes after they told me my TABLE OF 1 is available. Further four people leave. No one is bussing their tables. I wait five minutes. Not one person touches the tables. This is a busy place so you would think priority would be on getting seats ready. At that point I am going to call a spade a spade. The food is probably good but there is an arrogance that comes with that. I am kinda rooting against this place now. You have made an enemy Kengo! (Shaking fist)

I've heard many great things about this place and have been really setting the standards very high. This restaurant did not disappoint. We had dinner here and a friend that comes here quite often ordered for us. The quality of the food and the selection was unmatched for Toledo. The first course was a grilled avocado and as simple as that sounds the flavors were intense. It came as a half with soy sauce and fresh wasabi relish. Has anyone ever had fresh wasabi? That pretty much explains the rest of the meal. The food was fresh and nothing was ordinary in any sense. I will saw the fatty tuna sashimi was probably the best I've ever had. This will be a regular place we come for dinner for sure.

Amazing delicious spot, my first true Omakase! Chef Kengo and his team prepared an ultra lovely meal: otoro two ways, chutoro aburi, hamachi, salmon, skipjack, alfonsino, madai, waygu, chicken thigh yakitori, red wine soy lamb, grilled avocado w/wasabi relish, uni cream scallop, and lobster chicken dashi egg curd topped with caviar - everything BLEW MY MIND! Our server Ali was fantastic, speedy and professional. The vibe was amazing, I really loved being counter close to chef, so cool, fun, intimate! I will dine here EVERY time in Toledo and you should too!

Let me start by saying being greeted was reminiscent of the old show cheers as you are greeted by the staff. The music and ambiance is straight off of a 90s deep cut track and it made me feel the vibes. The food was beyond well priced with tapas style delivery and the street food esq feel of the menu bringing sushi hits and street corner foods straight from Japan. Good for a date night or with a buddy as the booze is just as great.

The best classic Japanese sushi but, above your average sushi spot. The service is great but, seems like there's a possibility to get missed. However, the staff appears to be on top of their serving style. I love the sushi bar, lounge style atmosphere. I'm glad we have our own sushi spot now. Highly recommended! My favorite nibble is the fish cakes.

Had a great time at Kengo. Had to put our name on the list but we just walked around the city until our table was available. The place is intimate but casual feel. Our server was really nice and explained the menu since it was our first time. There is maki/Sashimi. However you chose. There is wasabi on it which I think next time I would take out since I want to taste the fish more. There are also sushi rolls and Yakitori. "And try's" which were other dishes outside of those categories. I love this style of eating bc you get to try a lot of different bites but can order it again if you love it. Out of all the things we tried..have to say the otoro was the best bite for me. Can't wait to go back and try more.

I came out to Kengo Sushi today to experience their Omakase. I was looking forward to a night of really great food and a nice experience. I left the restaurant overall dissatisfied and disappointed with the experience. To start: the food, the service, and the atmosphere were all great! I really enjoyed the dishes I was served, and I thought that the ambiance of the place was cool! I did find a pretty big chunk of ice in the ceviche, which kinda made me feel like everything wasn't as fresh as advertised. As I was being served, I was comparing what I was getting to the menu board. I was served 2 appetizers, a deep fried soft shell crab, chicken meatballs, chicken thighs, bacon wrapped green beans, and about 7 pieces of nigiri and half of a roll. On the menu, this price adds up to a little over half of the 125$ before tip that I paid for the experience. After all was said and done, I felt like I severely overpaid.

The Chefs table experience is absolutely amazing! We've been here for dinner and enjoyed every bite. Chefs table was beyond amazing! Highly recommend!!!

The most legit sushi I've ever had, and I am very picky being from a coastal state with access to fresh fish. Go before it opens and put your name on the window (there are markers and a list), then show up at opening to get seated right away. Otherwise anticipate a 2 hour wait, but it's worth it.

Was in Toledo and wanted some sushi and took a chance. Small and very intimate, but great service and amazing food.

Omakase for my daughter's birthday tonight. It was amazing. We've had Omakase in NY, NJ, Tx and now Ohio! This restaurant is the second best we've been to so far. The service is superb and the selection's provided are mouth watering. The restaurant is small but the setting is intimate and inviting. My daughter wanted a bit more rice with her Nigiri but for me it was perfect. Finally someone that doesn't overwhelm you with rice and lets the fish shine. The meats were so flavorful. The chat and succulence of the chicken is the best I've ever tasted. We were lucky enough to be able to meet the chef. Great talent!! Next door is the ramen place that is just as amazing. We will definitely coming back to try the remainder of the menu. Thank you for a great experience.

Come here for classic Japanese sushi and yakitori. Don't bother if you're looking for all the fancy rolls, there's not here but then, you won't miss them. We tried various sushi and all of them were fresh and buttery. My favorites were the bluefin tuna and salmon. I will say the hamachi otoro was super rich with oil and I can't believe I'm saying this but almost too oily. We tried the chicken thighs and scallop yakitori. The smoke on those foods were unbelievable. Amazing! The thighs were good but kinda bland but the scallops were phenomenal. Tasted like they pulled it straight out of the ocean. This is the newer restaurant in the casino. We came here so we didn't have to wait outside at the original restaurant. It's decorated nicely inside and a medium sized restaurant. The service was excellent.

Great little area and a welcomed surprise when looking at Yelp for a sushi place. This is a very hip place and the service team has a good vibe. Yumi (sp?) was our server and she was great. Offered some great recommendations. We were originally greeted by not so welcoming person. The first thing communicated was how long the wait would be. I went back in and then the tune changed. So overall...would go back. Just would love to feel more welcomed at first interaction. Sushi was very good and fresh. Yakitori was just ok.

Best sushi in Toledo. The chef is there in person. Sometimes there's a wait but it's worth it. Extremely creative too.

The food experience is incredible. The staff is on point and their sushi is incredible. Have to say this was the best sushi I have ever had. 1st class sushi. Looking forward to going back.

My husband loved the food here so much he's willing to drive 2.5 hours each way on a weekly basis for the sushi. Cocktails were unique and paired well with the food. All of the sushi was amazing. The grilled okra, corn and shishito peppers were delicious and a great alternative to fish. Our waitress recommended the bacon wrapped mango and it was out of this world. You have to put your name on the reservation list and they only have three seatings at 5, 6:30 and 8pm. Interesting system but it works

Chef Kengo is, in my opinio, the most creative chef in Toledo. I have ate here too many times to count and I love that there is always something new to try. If you're a sushi fan, you will love it. See you soon Chef Kengo!

This Toledo gem felt so welcoming and loving. Good vibes only. If you FORCED US to rank everything we ordered this would be it.... 1. Pork belly - I'm salivating thinking about taking a bite of it. Best part: the salty crispy pork 2. Chicken wing - as I took a bite i loved the crunchy skin married with the juicy chicken. Pro tip: order 2. 3. Avocado - Char grilled avocado? Deliciousness. Comes with a tangy wasabi relish and a soy sauce pool in the cado's belly bottom. Best part: tiny spoons 4. Little Lilly Sake - happy, fun, light, sweet, creamy. The pearlescent coloring contrasting the black wooden cup was dessert for the eyes. 5. Spicy tuna roll - they took an ordinary roll and made it extraordinary. 6. Miso soup - Tofu was creamy and firm, seaweed was fresh, and miso was perfectly flavored. Best part: The broth 7. Chicken meatball - these juicy chicken balls explode in your mouth in the best way possible. pro top: dip in the house made soy sauce. 8. Salmon s yellowtail - it sure does. And that's how it was written on the chalkboard too! best part: the furikake on the rice 9. Negitoro- tender and fatty fish feels good in your mouth. 10. Chicken breast - loved the wasabi relish and seasoning and, I mean, how can you go wrong with char grilled meat on a stick. 11. Brussel sprouts - grilled with a savory juice. 12. Corn - it's corn! It has the juice. It has the grease. CANT FORGET house made pepper and soy sauce: served with everything and elevated every bite. I think we've said enough, but Kengo slaps.

Food: excellent. Service: outstanding. Everyone is friendly and welcoming. The food is consistently outstanding. Highly recommend.

I've had the pleasure of meeting Kengi and watching his growth! Hands down the best in Tokeso!!!!

If you love food, understand food culture, and you happen to find yourself in Toledo, this place is fantastic! Well done everybody involved in bringing this restaurant and dining experience to being. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. Jenn, our bar server was amazing as well. 5 stars. Not to be missed.

This is the best sushi place. I've been to sushi places all over the country. I lived in SD and LA and went to sushi several times a week. It was the one thing I thought I'd miss from CA. Thankfully, we found Kengo and it is an amazing place with wonderful people and delicious food.

This place is amazing! Fun atmosphere and fabulous food! I try something new each time and am always pleased

This is my all time favorite sushi spot! This is where I first tried sushi as a teenager and over the years the team there has always been super wonderful and the food is amazing! Even after moving to Chicago I still make a point to visit here whenever I'm in Toledo because it continues to beat any other sushi place I've tried!

Este producto es único esclusivo compralo ahora mismo es excelente té lo recomiendo, recetas exquisitas, visítanos gracias

Ok, like seriously, this place deserves all the stars!!! Who would have thought that such delicious sushi would be found int he midwest!?!? Probably my favorite place for sushi outside of Japan...?? I came here for Omekase with a friend. We made reservations a couple weeks in advance. I think the total came out to be 125/person, and it was so worth it!!! There were hot courses and sushi courses. Seriously, everything was amazing and I can't even name a favorite. It was a solid amount of food, and I had some leftovers I got to take home! It was literally so good that I already have another reservation made for a couple weeks from now. Just try it!! You won't be disappointed!!!

I said it once and I said it 1,000 times while eating here, food this good should be ILLEGAL! And then I would follow the food and get locked up in jail right alongside it just so I could continue eating!!! I mean...COME ON! I came here for the first time this weekend after months of knowing this place existed and wanting to try it! My friend and I finally found some free time in our schedules to make the trek (it's 1.5 hours away from me, but literally worth every minute and mile of the drive there AND back!) this past weekend. I feel like this place is very underrated because it was completely pain-free to get a reservation that worked with our schedule - and on a Saturday that might normally be the busiest day of the week! I think I called a month before our reservation to book, and they had several options for Fridays/Saturdays in the weeks leading up to the one we picked. Their sushi bar is 5 seats, which is where they serve the omakase. They do two omakase seatings a night (6 pm and 8 pm), so I just would've expected it to be a bit more difficult to reserve, but I am NOT complaining! A hidden gem? Keep it hidden! Even though I want to (and technically AM) currently shouting about how much I love Kengo from the rooftops! Our omakase was 15 courses - or if you group the 3 yakitori courses together and 8 sushi courses, then it would be more like 6 courses. Either way you slice it, it's a TON of food and I was deliciously full by the end of the meal. The damage was $125, and I believe that is the standard price for Kengo's omakase. For the amount of food you get and the QUALITY, CREATIVITY, AND DELICIOUSNESS of the food you get, the price is more than worth it and if I'm being honest, it's probably a good thing that I'm not located closer to Kengo because even with this price I would want to come here like on a weekly basis. The great news is though that you don't always have to do omakase! So much of their yakitori and sushi are available for order on their normal menu. Kengo is in fact 90% standard dining tables and 10% omakase seating. When we first walked into this unassuming storefront located on a very cute and quaint, trendy-looking street, we were overwhelmed by just how lively and crowded the place was! The dining tables were packed full of people and everyone was having a GOOD TIME! Throughout the 2 hours we spent here for omakase, there were so many people who came through. It truly gave us "local watering hole" vibes and it was incredible. There seem to be so many regulars, in fact, it seemed like everyone was a regular! Every time someone walked in, the chef KENGO himself or any/many of the staff would be greeting them with a level of familiarity we were not expecting! Honestly, it made me jealous and it is now my mission to also become a regular here! I saw the chef doing shots with some people who came in to celebrate their birthday and just general immaculate and exuberant vibes abound all around this restaurant. I absolutely loved it and this welcoming environment truly made our omakase experience that much more enjoyable! All in all, great food, great atmosphere, GREAT TIME! I couldn't even identify to you my favorite course because truly all of them were great. I did love overall though, especially during the winter, that all of the dishes BUT the sushi were hot dishes! I feel like a lot of omakase places only do or majority do raw things, but on a cold, winter day in Toledo, the hot dishes really hit the spot! I also loved that every dish was a show stopper kind of dish. Everything was so creatively put together and the flavors had layers of complexity that went above and beyond! Truly, the entire people was perfect and there was not a single weak link throughout it! We had such a great time that I have already called back and schedule ANOTHER omakase reservation! I am very excited to see how the omakase experiences differ in terms of what they serve us and will be sure to update y'all here when I go back! This place is officially my favorite omakase I've ever eaten I think (ousting my previous favorite from NEW YORK), and I love that it's within driving distance of me! Check Kengo out if you haven't already because it is more than worth it!!!

We had the omasaka and what a great experience. The menu start to finish is amazing. Fresh fish, great flavors, nothing was bland or boring. It was great being served by the chef who explained the dishes.

Kengo Sushi is a revelation. I've been trying to get here for years, but it's always closed for the holidays, when I come back to Toledo. This time, we returned in early November, so I was able to get reservations for the omakase. In a word, the experience is outstanding. We were greeted on the way in and out, and our waiter was extremely attentive and polite. We even got to chat at length with Chef Kengo, who clearly takes his craft seriously. Super cool guy. All of the food was fresh and cooked to perfection. Among my favorite of the 12 courses were the sea bass and pork belly -- so crispy! Even things like the stuffed mushroom, which I normally wouldn't touch, was delicious. Of course, some dishes I liked more than others, but that's simply a matter of personal preference, not food quality. Anyway, the whole omakase dinner lasted about 90 minutes and cost $240, including drinks, tax, and tip. Not a cheap meal. But this is, hands down, the best meal I've ever had in Toledo, and in my top five overall. As the Terminator said, "I'll be back."

Amazing experience!! Wonderfully delicious food! Service is knowledgeable and happy! Small place but ambiance is top notch!

This is by far the best spot in Toledo, OH - hands down, there isn't anything better. Chef Kengo is there every single time I walk in prepping food for the Omakase, which should you ever have a chance to try, please do yourself a favor and do it...everything is prepared perfectly...never ever disappointed with the food...a few things you need to grab every visit, the grilled avocado and an order of the miso soup...if you are a bit of an adventurous eater, get the fish head...best thing I have ever eaten!

Not worth the wait. Food was very expensive and extremely small portions. Tuna was stinky. Inside the restaurant is small and a little too bright but not for us even know we like smaller places.

Came here for the omakase on a Saturday with the boyfriend for his birthday. I was told multiple times prior to coming here that the sushi here is probably the best in the Midwest area. I don't usually crave raw fish/not a huge fan of it, so I was unsure as to what to expect! The omakase experience was very enjoyable, and very well-paced. We were both so stuffed after it! It came with a good mix of cooked items and raw items. As someone who does not usually enjoy raw fish, I wonder if it is because I've never had extremely fresh fish. The fish here is so fresh, and the flavors are on point. My favorite course was probably the grilled sea bass. The fish was perfectly cooked, and the flavor was out of this world. I wish they had this on the regular menu! Omakase is by reservations only. You get seated at the high table area, which has 5 seats. It is 85/person, and it is absolutely worth every penny! I definitely plan on coming back and look forward to trying other items on the menu.

Wow. This place is delicious. I'm from Michigan and was in the area for the Toledo museum. Came here for dinner. They get busy fast! We started lining up before they opened and there was already a huge group forming. Luckily we were the first few since this place has limited seating. We sat at the bar. The yakitori is actually decently priced and it is yummy. Their sushi is also super delicious and super fresh. Probably one of my favorite place for sushi to be honest. I never had medium fatty tuna belly until this place. They get the freshest of fresh fish here! Their omakase looks fire! I've seen some photos on here and it looks like such a unique set of dishes that the chef gives. I believe there is 8 seats for omakase and looks like reservations for that gets booked up quick! Looks like they also grill fish collar. I also need to try that. Love grilled fish. I wish this place was closer. Even my boyfriends enjoyed this place. I wish parking was easier. It's street parking.

First time trying real authentic sushi/sashimi. I loved it. Appreciated the help from the server, she was very nice.

Fantastic fish! This place exceeds many top end Japanese restaurants in much larger cities. Great bar and service. It's small so plan ahead.

This is an amazing hidden gem in Toledo. I went for the omakase and was pleasantly surprised because of how amazing Kengo was. The food was so fresh and delicious. The nigiri courses were my favorite and I will definitely go again. The only thing that I wish was different was that sometimes, the wasabi was overpowering. That being said, the food was still amazing! I definitely recommend going here!!

Best sushi in the Midwest. The quality is crazy and the preparation is fantastic. The yakitori options are great, my fav is the beef tongue. So good. If you want sushi, start at the top with wagu and then work your way down the board. It's a great journey. The staff is always super friendly and the overall environment is fun.

The atmosphere was lively and the chef personable. Service was excellent and the food was delicious. Not a single course of the omakase disappointed. Fresh fish that melted in your mouth!!

My boyfriend and I recently tried out Kengo for the first time after hearing some amazing reviews. We sat at the bar and had an amazing time. The servers put in their favorite items that they recommended. The grilled avocado with wasabi relish was to die for. Our favorite had to be the wagyu sushi. I could have ate 3 orders of it!!! We were so impressed that we scheduled the 12 course meal for my boyfriend's birthday coming up! Can't wait to go back :)

I have been to Kengo more times than I can remember and it is always top tier. Not a single thing I can say other than everything they have is great. From the service, the atmosphere (very small but that's how it is supposed to be), and the food, all just top tier.

My husband and I made the drive down from Ann Arbor to try the omakase almost right before the second lock down of this pandemic. I want to first commend Chef Kengo on his hospitality, kindness and just overall ease to talk with during our meal. He is so personable and we enjoyed our conversation as we ate his delicious courses. I am generally a fan of a total sushi/sashimi omakase but this was the closest thing we were going to find and I had heard great things about the place. His dishes did not disappoint. Mixed omakases with prepared dishes are generally always too filling for me and so I prefer smaller portions of the cooked dishes in order to have room for the sushi/sashimi. However, the cooked courses were all so good and unique and he did not skimp on the sushi courses and they were all so good - with very good sushi rice. Would definitely return and would want to bring friends when covid is over to enjoy together! What a wonderful dinner experience!

Absolutely some of the best food available in Toledo. The omakase experience is amazing. We've done it three times now. Always had a blast and really enjoyed the delicious creations the chef makes.

I couldn't believe that I found this type of restaurant here in Toledo. The food here is phenomenal. There may be a wait but the food is worth it. The fish is super fresh, the service is quick, the presentation is perfect. The details that this restaurant takes to make these dishes perfect is amazing. The rice had a great texture and was not over packed. The wasabi is REAL, it's not the fake stuff that you see in 99% of all other restaurants anywhere in the US. I'm still in awe in this experience.

Phenomenal food experience. Have been here for both Yakitori & "normal" dining. Very popular. Heads up don't be startled - they yell hi? every time you enter the door - it's fun. Authentic taste, quick service. Small seating area. Yumm.

Deliciously fresh and authentic. Every sashimi piece tasted like it jumped right out of the ocean.