Roji

Michael is probably the best chef I’ve had there, and maybe the best chef at any omakase I’ve ever been to. He was funny, polite, and above all knowledgeable, skilled, and easy to learn from. Fantastic experience, fantastic fish, and honestly a fantastic value compared to Omakase experiences in other major cities. I only wish they would make it easier and more normal to get a reservation. And schedule Michael for more shifts.

An experience!! Not just food or a place to get sushi but vibe. Music being played on a record player. Music chose by the server. Pieces of art being made right before your eyes with some fresh tasting fish. The salad and miso soup(made with fish bones cooked down to add a lot of flavor) are wonderful. Reservations are made 6am the day you want to go. An intimate group of 8 gives the chef and server time to form a repor with the attendees. It's worth the time and money.

This is absolutely one of my favorite places in Cincinnati. I was trying to keep a secret but they really deserve 1 million stars so this review has been a long time coming. It’s the closest thing you can get to a traditional Japanese omakase experience in Cincinnati. For context I’ve been to Japan multiple times so truly this place is legit. Food: 5/5 The restaurant is omakase style, so no menu no choice, just 9 courses of amazing. The 9 course does refer to dinner. Their lunch is also delicious and a great option if you are looking for a more budget friendly option. You can also purchase extras during the dinner course and I would highly recommend it so you don’t have sushi fomo. All the sushi is prepared perfectly and should be eaten as is. That means no soy sauce dipping or extra wasabi topping. The menu rotates based on seasonal availability of the fish and all fish is from Japan. I’ve had some truly amazing sushi and some that I’ve never tried before. They can accommodate allergies but are not vegan or vegetarian friendly. Service: 5/5 I love everyone who works here! The service is great and the preparation is interactive. The sushi chefs provide descriptions of each course and background on the fish. They love regulars so make sure you come back and visit them again! Atmosphere:5/5 The entrance is located in an alley which isn’t my favorite, but it’s trying replicate the restaurant of Japan that are everywhere including in alleys. It’s an 8 top sushi bar so you need to be on top of your reservations that are only available same day. Get ready to wake up early cause the link for reservations opens at 6am and they go fast! The restaurant its self is clean and tastefully decorated. I really cannot say enough nice things about this place. It’s amazing and I recommend it to any sushi lover.

Probably one of my favorite luxury sushi experiences ever! Its omekase, which means "i leave it to you" so theres not really a menu. They have lunch seating and dinner seating. Theres only 8 seats so the whole experience is fairly intimate. The fish are fresh and they have a good variety of drinks available. Highly recommend if you love sushi and are looking for a different experience!

A delicious experience. Well worth the wait and absolutely lives up to the hype. Staff was knowledgeable and presented a relaxed atmosphere. Every bite was amazingly handcrafted and perfect.

Best meal I've ever had. Also the most expensive. If you don't like sushi do not come here. If you do, you will love it. They were very knowledgeable. It was very interesting getting to hear and see how things were prepped and where they were from. If you want to go alone lunch is the only option. You have to pay when you make your reservations and when you're there towards the end of the meal you can pay extra to get extras. The best thing of everything we ate was one of those extras. It's the picture in the bowl partially eaten because it was so good we forgot to take pictures. It was an experience.

Amazing restaurants. If you are looking for a lot of food this isn't the place for you. If you want an incredible food and service experience it is 10/10. Every serving was better than the last. Will be coming back soon.

Some of the best Omakase I have ever tried. Worth every penny. The atmosphere is welcoming. The chef is talented and service was spectacular. I will be back.

I am so impressed with this experience it is just hard to explain. The freshest fish, stuff that I didn't even know existed(looking at you FRESH SARDINES); the intimate setting, and 8-seater restaurant full of friends; and the service that made us feel so cared for and taken care of! Everyone must go! Roji is such a great experience; you do need to book ahead of time but it is worth it. Tax and tip are included in your booking price. The sushi chef was so knowledgeable and his assistant was so attentive with our place setting and drinks. All of the courses were preplanned but they did have a few surprises and special offerings!

Superior Omakase experience with exquisite style, flavors, logistical check in system, and warm atmosphere. I was lucky to try Roji during my short trip to Cinci. My sister woke up before the birds were singing around 5am to confirm a reservation later that day for my partner and I. Sadly sister couldn't make it due to her cold :( Our table time was set for around 5pm. When we arrived, we waited with other patrons for the same reservation slot as us. 8 people in total. As we walked into the actual room, their simple/chich traditional set up was warm, and had hints of character and included their record player. The chef and his apprentice began walking us through their menu/drink menu and queued up some music from Alopecia and LCD soundsystem. The stage was set and our sushi chef from the night got to preparing our remarkable bites for the evening. It was a pleasure being able to exchange conversation with the chef about his background and experience with sushi and the master chef of the omakase restaurant. It was interesting to learn his history and how it's been since opening Roji. Since the menu changes based on the market availability of the sushi, each visit seems to be very unique in its own fashion especially since the chef will curate to their preferences. The sake selection was premier and their cocktails were equally strong and delicious. I loved the Rose Petal Sake cocktail. It was very boozy yet had a nice fruit taste to balance the liquor. My favorite of the plated sushi was probably the charred eel. It was slightly crisp, umami, and had scrumptious after taste. There were other ingredients I had never tried before too that I sadly can't remember but was so ecstatic when my tongue was tasting it. To see the chef from start to finish was epic. Watching him grind the wasabi, plate each sushi, and explain how and why we were tasting each bite was an experience I never had the pleasure of indulging in before. It was truly artistic. The Roji team and experience was phenomenal. I'd recommend to any lover of sushi who wish to enjoy an intimate and relaxing meal.

This isn't just dinner--it's an encounter you'll feel in your , a ritual of precision and purity. Nothing like this exists in Cincinnati, or even the entire Tri-State. This isn't your standard sushi bar or another fried-tempura stop. If that's what you're looking for, turn back. This place is an experience, raw and immersive. Imagine entering a hidden, intimate room where only a handful of others are gathered around a master at work. Every piece of fish placed before you is an invitation into the chef's world--a world that celebrates both the subtlety and depth of the ocean's treasures. You're not just served; you're taught, spoken to, invited to understand the artistry of each cut. Watch as he moves, slicing through fresh, seasonal fish with skill that feels almost otherworldly. Each course builds on the last, unfolding layers of flavor and texture you've likely never tasted before. Sure, there was one that might have been too intense for us, but that's part of it--the unfiltered experience, raw and unrestrained. This omakase takes you straight to Japan, into an atmosphere so profound it lingers long after the final piece is served. This is a rare offering, something you'll carry with you, maybe forever.

Roji is an experience. From having to wake up early to make day of reservations, the 8 seat restaurant is a vibe. Entering through the alley makes the whole restaurant have a speakeasy atmosphere. The music was played on records and felt vey laid back. The dinner consists of 9 pieces and 1 hand roll. If you are a big eater, then, you may want to eat before or after. The chef told us that the menu changes with the season based on the fish available. Our fish was delicious and consisted of classics like salmon and tuna along with rarer choices like black throat and sea eel. It was a delicious dinner and an interesting experience.

My daughter and I got omakase lunch to celebrate the last day of the semester. I woke up at 6am to snag the time we wanted and a few hours later, we entered the intimate space from the alley. Everything was amazing. We loved hearing about each fish and what made its flavor unique. A couple of our favorites were the fatty tuna hand roll, the saltwater eel, and a wild- caught mackerel. Each dish was prepared with care and we left in awe of the artistry we'd just experienced. The Court st side of their space has a cute shop with onigiri! Be sure to check it out on your way.

If you enjoy REAL sushi, this is your place. Yes, it is worth the hype. Don't want to wake up at 6a to score a seat? Roji now offers an express lunch service as well as reservations for 5+ by Instagram DM.

Getting into Roji and then finding the place are a bit of a challenge, but an adventure that will reward you richly if you can pull it off. First, you'll need to set your alarm for early o' clock to snag a reservation when the site opens at 6 a.m. One of the women dining when we were there said she'd made her Tock account in advance to make the reservation process easier, which is a smart move in my opinion. Once you successfully claim a time slot you'll need to input some personal details AND pay in advance, so be ready. (The fee includes the meal and gratuity, so you'll only have to pay at the restaurant for any beverages you add on.) If you're successful, head downtown and park on or around Court Street before making your way into the alley behind Avril Bleh, Great Clips, etc. and heading for the paper lanterns. The place is tiny with no real waiting area so I would not enter more than a few minutes before your reservation time to ensure your seats are ready to go. The meal lasts one hour and it's staggered by the half-hour (so if there are other diners sitting when you arrive, they started 30 minutes earlier and will be leaving halfway through your meal). Once you've run the gauntlet of rising early and adventuring to the restaurant, the real fun begins. Pick your poison (beer, sake, wine or soda) if desired, and settle in for an incredible meal. The fish is imported from Japan, so the menu changes regularly with the seasons, and each course is prepared to show off and accentuate the seafood. Pieces and courses are served one at a time, already seasoned to perfection, and you can eat with chopsticks or simply pick them up by hand. On the night we were there, the courses included some sushi standbys such as lean and fatty tuna, salmon, and roe, but also things I've never tried before or never had served as sushi such as golden eye snapper, squid, scallop and rockfish. With each course, the chef Misaki Kato described the fish and talked about how and why it received the specific treatment that it did. I loved the story behind each piece--particularly the salmon, which he described as "my least favorite fish at the sushi bar" and served garnished with pickled shallots to offset its fattiness. For me, sushi has two extremes: Ok fish that has been dressed up and combined with other ingredients to make decent rolls (which is what you'll find at most Cincinnati establishments), and really, really amazing fish that has been barely dressed so that the seafood itself is the star (I am thinking of an omakase experience in Seattle and sushi I ate in Japan). Roji is a very compelling in-between. The quality of the fish is great, obviously several notches above any other sushi I've had in the Midwest. And yet the presentation is also interesting. Every sauce, every garnish is carefully considered to accentuate and add to the fish. The result is a quality seafood meal that is also highly engaging, surprising and delightful to eat. So yes, the sushi is absolutely worth it. But despite the high-end nature of the meal, the ambience of Roji is surprisingly casual and welcoming. Records from their vinyl collection play in the corner as you enjoy every bite. The staff are approachable and readily answer questions and chat with guests. And the intimate nature of the restaurant (only 8 seats!) encourages chatter amongst diners. It is such a journey to get into Roji that every guest we encountered 1) was truly excited to be there and 2) had had the mutual bonding experience of waking up super early to snag a reservation. A 5/5 experience I look forward to repeating!

It's not easy to get into Roji. But, set your alarm for 6:00AM, because it is worth it! I tried many times to get in, but was not successful. However, this morning, I was! So tonight we got to experience omakase at Roji! What a special experience that was. I love that we have this opportunity in Cincinnati. The preparation, the quality, the talent and presentation, was fabulous. Very enjoyable and hope we get the opportunity to experience this again!

It was an amazing experience. Cincinnati has nothing else like this. The fish was fresh and delightful. The staff was amazing. The music was on point. I cannot wait to go again.

The whole experience is amazing! A must... at least once, if not multiple times! The chefs explain everything so well, describe what you are about to eat and the conversation is just as great as the food!

The food here is excellent. And there's a palpable excitement in the air when you meet the folks who got lucky enough to get a reservation with you. Would recommend this place to anyone who loves sushi and is looking for a one-of-a-kind Cincinnati experience. My compliments to the chef (and DJ)!

What a hidden gem! Literally, hidden behind an alley between busy city streets! The experience was really nice - although it was 60 minutes, I did not feel rushed and I was able to enjoy each piece of sushi. The chef was great at explaining each piece and was very friendly and welcoming. Each piece was hand crafted to highlight the flavors of the fish - it was very nicely done. The room was very neat and the vibe was nice with good music and service. I highly recommend this place for anyone who's looking for a good quality omakase that won't break the bank!

Delicious and high quality sushi in an intimate setting! We have been multiple times and will always come back! Sushi Chef Misaki is always open to questions about the fish, and engages in our conversations as well!

Came here for my birthday meal and it was great! Woke up at 6am day of to book an online reservation and thankfully snatched one for 5:30pm on a Friday. The restaurant itself is in a back alley, but once you walk in, you feel like you are transported outside of Cincinnati. Décor is clean, modern Japanese and very intimate - seating for 8 with jazz records playing in the background. We were seated and brought a hot towel to clean our hands. You can order from a menu of drinks, but we stuck with water. The chef is behind the counter is very friendly and has an impressive background in the local Cincinnati sushi scene. He handmakes every piece with the help of his trainee, places each piece in front of you, then gives a short description about the fish and ingredients you are about to eat. Everything was thoughtfully well-crafted with care and fresh, high quality fish. We had a total of 10 pieces. In the end, if the chef has time, you have the option to order another piece for extra cost. Lovely omakase experience in Cincinnati! Very reasonably priced compared to what you get in larger cities like NY. Highly recommend!

You need to be quick if you want a seat at Roji! Reservation starts at 6:00 am sharp and will sell out within minutes! We really enjoyed the food & ambiance, and the chef was super friendly. We are already planning to come back again! What a hidden gem in Cincinnati! So glad we got a chance to try this culinary adventure! No need to travel to Japan folks!

Never heard of this place until last week. I am a Japanese who was born & raised in Japan. I had thought I knew every Sushi place in Cincinnati - which I seldom visit just because the quality isn't just there for the price they charge around here. Then my daughter told me about this place. It's a reservation only establishment and has only 8 counter seats with 1 hr dining time. The menu doesn't exist but the chef's "Omakase" style. The Itamae-San (sushi-chef) was very nice. They served 10 (might have been 11 ) pieces. Each piece had some creativity to it that enhanced the flavor of the ingredient. It might be a bit pricey but for the quality of the food I didn't mind. I mean where else would you find such fine sushi in Cincinnati? I will go back for more for sure!

Amazing sushi and experience that may ruin everyday sushi for me forever. Very unique experience that makes it feel very exclusive. Hard to get a reservation, but worth waking up before 6AM to snag one. Highly recommend if you want a high-level, guided sushi experience.