Taro

I took my boy friend there today for his birthday and we both ordered the all you can eat buffet dinner for $34.99 each, the #4 which is the ramen bowl and a couple of drinks . We tried everything and it looks better than it tastes ! Except the egg rolls were really good so we decided to put in another order of egg rolls a few other items since it was all you can eat so we thought . When we got the waiters attention to put in the order he told us we had to finish what we had before we can order and thing else so at that point we asked for to go boxes and was told it will cost us another $8.00 so I asked for the ticket so we can pay our bill . The waiter brings my card back and my boyfriend wanted the chop sticks and was told that the restaurant policy was he could take them because the reuses them and my boyfriend said we paid $124.00 for this food and I can’t keep them and y’all reuse these wooden sticks? And took them any ways! I Do not recommend these place and I wish I had read the reviews before going ! Never again smh

Not great. I stood by the door waiting. My phone number was with the order. I recieved a message that my order was canceled. I tried calling you, but the phone didn't answer. I went to your restaurant to retrieve the order, but it's shut down. The doors were broken open and the place was trashed. I never got my food, but I was billed $50. I must contest the charge.

This is a perfect little sushi spot for lunch time! You get 2 rolls with a soup or salad for $10.99! The salad has a light dressing with crispy onions, red peppers, cabbage, and crisp lettuce. Today I ordered the crawfish avocado roll and the fried shrimp, crab meat, avocado roll. Both so delicious! I additionally ordered a Thai milk tea on the side. It was good but I like mine a little more milky. I would definitely recommend anyone looking for a quick lunch. It don’t even take them 10 mins to bring everything out!

I was pleasantly surprised to find crayfish at this Japanese restaurant! The prices are affordable, making it a great value for money. The flavor of the crayfish leans towards the sweeter side, which I thoroughly enjoyed. However, the crawfish today is not fresh.

Terrific food and service. We stopped in for a quick lunch date and left as fans. The meal was exquisite, according to our taste buds, and the entire staff was kind and attentive. The ambiance was welcoming and relaxed. My only complaint was that I hadn't heard of them before. I will certainly be returning and spreading the word about the delicious food here. Thank you.

We saw a report about this restaurant on a radio station’s website. This is a very clean nice restaurant. The food is great and we selected to use ‘buffet’ payment method - we ordered many dishes but at the end, we pay $30/person. This great payment method may not last long. We used this method ordered half dishes on the menu and shared by five of us. We will know what to order for our next visit!

This was a great choice for a takeout! They are located close to the NRG dtadium so i would imagine there are times when they are extremely busy. Food was delicious. Their containers didnt hold the broth well and some of it spilled, bot a big deal but something they can improve on. Apparently this place is an all you can eat buffet too. I would definitely come back here again.

We had a great experience here! We ordered some sashimi, baked mussel, miso soup, angry bird roll (our favorite). The fish tasted fresh and service was really fast

I come here often, and the food is always great. I've even ordered their sushi for lunch to go. Via pick up and DoorDash. They package their food well and it's always fresh. I have only had positive experiences here. Oh wait... one time I tried to order the all you can eat sushi, but everyone at the table has to order it. Just a heads up.

the salmon and eel nigiri were some of the best i have tasted but i was disappointed to find out that it was limited to five per person, PER VISIT. i typically mostly order nigiri when i go and eat ayce sushi so this affected my rating for taro a lot. additionally, the lunch menu didnt have many options and the specialty rolls were all very similar, just with different names. the lunch ayce was priced at around $25. the service was good; no complaints. we went on a sunday for lunch so the food came out pretty quick as it was just us there. the restaurant was nice and quiet and has the NRG stadium peeking at it from across the plaza, just behind the Ross. overall, it was nice but i would opt for different ayce sushi restaurants for roughly the same price.

While there's nothing extraordinary about the kind of business Taro specializes in (#1), the location alone is worth noting. Situated directly across the street from NRG Stadium along Kirby, it's ideally placed to capture the slice of tourists and locals. Considering the wide selection of Japanese-inspired fare, the potential is there -- but unfortunately, the food is both overpriced and mediocre, much like their predecessor (#2). Things I appreciated: * Interior: I am fairly confident that one could show up with 20 people from a football game across the street and find a seat. There's enough seating in here to house an army and they've done a good job with the ambiance to keep the appearance of a faux-premium vibe. * Service: While they were generally slow on a few things, most of the staff members I've encountered were super pleasant and very transparent about what / what not to order. I appreciated this immensely. * Yakitori: No exaggeration, this is one of the better AYCE yakitori experiences I've had. The chicken and beef yakitori combos (#3) had great presentation, were juicy, and full of flavor. This was the only item where I wanted multiple orders. Things that are not great: * The price: This. My first time coming here it was $31 (Or ... $30.99), but the last time was $50. With that kind of a steep hike, you'd think they'd offer uni, toro, and some kind of premium yakitori, but too hard to justify considering their lineup of food and drink. * The name: Previously, it was simply "Taro Japanese Restaurant." As of earlier this year, it has become "Taro VIP BBQ SEAFOOD HOTPOT & BAR." * The drinks: I'm stoked they have an alcohol license and can serve wine, beer, and cocktails. But the cocktails are on another level bad. The Mexican Mule ($14.50) was too tinge too sour, the Taro Red ($14.50), Blue Hawaii ($13.50) and Tokyo Rose ($13.50) are way too sweet. Even the powdered milk teas and fruit teas felt very generic. * The sushi: I can handle low quality sushi, but there was some level of funk for almost all the salmon, tuna, and yellowtail that I ordered. It was masked a bit better in the rolls, but at some point, I couldn't order anymore. * The ramen: While I think offering any kind of ramen is a plus in the AYCE scenario, the ramen here is understandably mid. All of the tonkotsu choices are the best bet, but this is a hard pass for even folks that love noodle soup. * The spelling: While I'm typically forgiving of most menu mishaps, the fact one is being charged $50 and they can't seem to spell shoyu, fried, tartare, etc. correctly is kind of mind blowing. * Most of their baked sushi items: This includes their tataki, baby octopus, mussels, ankimo, and tartare. This is likely due to the seafood quality issue that I had alluded to earlier. * The crawfish: Skip. Don't bother ordering, even if it's peak crawifsh season since it tastes like something more from a Chinese buffet than anything resembling the kinds of crawdads from Louisiana. For a place that boasts being run by culinary graduates trained under a famous Japanese chef (#5), it's incredibly disappointing to such such variety paired with such flawed execution. One could argue Taro is more style than substance, but I hope they find a way to correct their course. ____________ (#1) All you can eat Japanese restaurant where everyone speaks Mandarin. (#2) Akashi: https://www.yelp.com/biz/akashi-houston-7 (#3) Calling all carnivores: This is your moment. (#4) "Shyoyu" "Fired" "Tartar" (#5) Takeshi Kaneko? Okay then.

We stopped by to pick up sushi to take to our hotel room nearby and wow this place did not disappoint! We devoured the delicious sashimi, sushi rolls, seaweed and squid salads in no time. The service was very friendly and professional. I would definitely entertain the idea of trying the AYCE option if we were in the area again.

This was my first time in. The staff was super nice and friendly. I'm new to the sushi game so I had a lot of questions. And they had no problem answering any of them. It was pretty slow so the staff were very attentive!

Came in with a friend on Friday night at 8:45, closing time was 930 but last call for food is 915, which seems a bit early to me for a Friday night but we got everything we wanted ‍. Dress code: casual, came in shorts and t shirt but ambiance is nice enough that you wouldn't look out of place in something a bit more formal Food 4/5: apps were awesome, we got chicken karaage, tuna tartar, salmon and albacore tataki, all were amazing. we got a smorgas board of different sushi, wanted sashimi but you can only get nigiri here. Generally quality was pretty average for all you can eat, salmon was good and red snapper was definitely the stand out here, quite good quality. Also got 3 different rolls, and a ramen, decent quality. Good quality ice cream and tempura oreas were yum Ambiance 5/5: beautiful atmosphere, lots of space for each table Service 4/5: friendly and helpful, slow at times, missed a couple of our orders but we ordered a lot at once so understandable. Value AYCE/5: all you can eat value determined by how much you can eat but only having nigiri brings the value down to 4/5 for me ‍ Total 4.3/5: not having sashimi was a pretty big point deduction for me when a lot of similar places do but quality for the rest is pretty good quality with some standouts. Red snapper definitely felt higher quality than most other ayce places Parking: massive shared parking lot

Sushi is excellent here. I especially like the FatBoy roll and the Texas roll. My wife enjoys the tempura shrimp rolls. I am not familiar with restaurant ramen so I was a little unsure. The broth was delicious and the homemade hot sauce came on the side had a wonderful taste (and blistering heat - a little goes a long way. The thin sliced meat was not to my taste, but that is purely personal preference - I could tell it was a good product, just not my thing. I thought the noodles had a firmer, more al dente texture that was new to me, but I expect that was my lack of prior experience. The "Japanese BBQ" was an experience. It took a bit to get the hang of it. The food was all very fresh and beautifully served, and the dipping sauces were tasty. In hindsight, I would probably have enjoyed the all you can eat sushi more, but I am happy I tried it. The restaurant has a laid back feel. Simple decor of umbrellas and lanterns. There is no sense of being rushed. My only suggestion would be to have some tables without the gas hibachi setup as that limits leg room (playing footsie is right out). I've returned twice. I highly recommend it.

Went on a Saturday earlier in the summer around 12:30 -- there was a surprising lack of people! It's a relatively new restaurant, which may explain the empty tables. The restaurant aesthetic is modern and sleek but you don't need to dress-up. We ordered the lunch AYCE menu and it was an affordable $25 per person. We mainly ordered sushi rolls from the AYCE menu, which in itself is the typical mix of Japanese and fusion rolls. But there were other items as part of the AYCE menu, including pork katsu, tataki, and ice cream. My quick opinion on the sushi rolls we ordered: * Rainbow Roll = basic can't go wrong, fresh fish not much flavor * Eel Roll = soft eel, sweet-flavored, simple and nice * Golf = deep fried, good cream cheese lovers * Fat boy = unique and odd taste, the sweetness of off-putting and unusual for sushi Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant for its AYCE. This was definitely worth the price -- as long as you order a lot!

We came in before the Beyoncé concert since it was close by. From the get go we had bad service. We had to flag down for drinks, food came in we didn't get eating utensils or plate set ups. We didn't have a dedicated server and employees would try to ignore our flag downs. One of my friends didn't ever receive her food and they didn't notice. The biggest thing is the advertising for the crawfish boil is DECEPTIVE!!! They advertise the photo attached as $8/ pound HOWEVER they don't tell you that unless you get the $15 portion you won't get potatoes and corn.... Just 1 pound of crawfish and 1 lemon. We gave them the chance to amend these issues and they said "we've been in business for 5 years and we're busy". Mind you only 3 tables were occupied in the entire restaurant.

The best Japanese food I've ever had, right here. The buffet is a deal at $25. The fish is all fresh, even the gyoza tastes homemade and delicious. Get a bowl of the ramen, it's not with msg instead they use the ancient hokaido method of steaming the broth it's amazing and healthier. Enjoy!!

Overall had a good time with my friends. AYCE sushi is a good deal- I would recommend sticking to rolls and not going with the individual sushi We were able to order ramen, sushi, bbq, ice cream and fried oreos as part of the price which I thought was super unique and cool. I really appreciated the kind gentleman server who spoke to our group. One thing that caught me off guard was that they had a promotion card but our waitress said that they weren't doing it anymore. But it felt like it was just our table that they didn't honor it because they left the card at every other table. I think it would've been more professional to honor the deal of the free drink because they had it on the table. But besides that I really made the most of that time and had a blast with my friends.

This place seems like a hidden gym. I live in the area and pass by it all the time and it looks like there is never any business. They have an AYCE Buffet option but we opted for the individual order. The service was okay, nothing to brag about. Typical service. The inside of the restaurant is very nice and modern with the Japanese flair. Great little date night spot. The spring rolls and spicy salmon roll came out first. Spring rolls were good. Honestly didn't expect them to be fried but I was not upset. The sauce was delicious as well. The spicy salmon roll, wasn't too crazy about it. It seemed pseudo fresh and was actually quite uncomfortably large. Seemed like it was just missing something. Also, the spice was nonexistent. So don't expect any spice aspect there. The chicken katsu and chicken teriyaki were both quite middle of the road was well. The chicken katsu was okay and the real hitter there was the sauce, which seems to be the trend for me at least. The fry on it was very aggressive which I did enjoy. The rice was rice. No complaints. The chicken teriyaki did seem a little off. Something that will make you say "is this chicken? ". But nonetheless was alright. The drinks are sort of a hit or miss here. I like strong drinks and my lady likes fruity drinks. The Tokyo rose is sort of a dry bitter drink due to the sake which k enjoyed. The white green tea is not what i was expecting with that name. Very overpowered on the lemon side but easy enough to go down I suppose. All in all, I'd come back. Not often, but I can see this being a good random, don't know where to go, almost last resort option for Japanese style cuisine.

Excellent! I concur that this place is bomb! I highly recommend the $31 all you can eat! It is such a good deal and everything is sooo good! We ordered some of everything. The sushi roll sets are large so be mindful when you order that it's alot but yummy! The appetizers are all good But let me tell you! The fried oreos are that girl! We ordered 3 orders it was so good! Also sampled all the ice creams, the match is my favorite but the sesame comes in 2nd. The beverages outside of water are extra but I absolutely will be back and I highly recommend!

Update!!! This place is now AYCE ALL YOU CAN EAT All Day Saturday & Sunday and for dinner Monday-Friday 5-9pm Adult $30.99 Child 4-6 yrs $12.99 7-10 yrs $16.99 Same menu, but it just hits differently in a good way now that it's AYCE.

I came here because of the other reviews I read but I wasn't too impressed by the food. We tried a variety of items including their house salad, miso soup, jalapeño bombs, brussel sprouts tempura, dynamite roll, salmon roll, and California roll. The food was pretty bland or it was over salted to the point I couldn't eat it. I was really hoping this place would be good as I love the idea of it being all you can eat and you can order anything on their menu, but unfortunately it didn't live up to the hype for me. The service was a little slow as well.

Pretty expensive for really average sushi Went for just regular dinner but they also have it for all you can eat: Spicy salmon: 3.5/5 had a nice crunch but the rice was slightly mushy and warm which made the fish warm, taste was okay Nemo roll: 2.5/5 covered in the sauce so you couldn't taste the fish, again mushy rice Monkey roll: 3.5/5 the cucumber was too thick but the fish was okay, still too much sauce Dragon roll: 4/5 probably the best one because it wasn't overly sauced, eel roll with eel sauce Our server was nice but tried really hard to make conversation to the point where it felt awkward. They could improve by cooling the rice and cooking it differently so it's not so mushy and putting less mayonnaise based sauce. Inside design had pretty Japanese cherry blossoms and comfortable booths. Wish I could like this more because it seems like a family run place but the quality just wasn't there for this price.

We've been going to this place down in Pearland for AYCE sushi and recently found that Taro had an all you can eat menu as well! We decided to check it out and found that you can order anything on the menu as part of the AYCE deal if you opt for that option. Kids under a certain age eats for free! We decided to give it a try and was pretty blown away by the quality of the nigiri. The only downside is that the nigiri selection is small - no tobiko or any fish eggs for that matter. We tried a variety of things, including the ramen and it was creamy and the noodles were surprisingly al dente. The fried rice had good flavors for our toddler. Overall, it was a pretty decent experience, especially for the price and the AYCE menu. The service isn't the quickest but they were friendly and they weren't the slowest either. Restaurant was clean and there was plenty of space.

The food here was okay, but not the best service as it was towards the end of the night and it wasn't really busy at all so to have to wait almost 15 mins to get someone to place our order for just a drink was not great. We got shrimp fried rice which was super salty, so was not that edible. The ambiance was nice but nothing special I think they need to be more attentive and also if a customer asks for extra condiments then bring it while they are eating not when they are about to pay the bill. Not sure if we will come back here.

I stopped in on a mission to quench my sushi craving. I had visited this place before under a different name prior to the pandemic, I believe, but had not been back since. After speaking with the chef and my server after I ate, I found out the previous restaurant was focused on the fusion of Chinese and Japanese. This is now a focus on just Japanese. Service-my server Phong was kind. Giving me recommendations. And even encouraged me to come back soon since I live in the area. I agreed. Food - I had the Hot Geisha Roll $16.95 per Phong's recommendation. It was with Albacore. It was very saucy, which i dont mind depending on my mood. I think I need to come back and do the Omakase to really judge. Then I got the Truffle Madai $18. I actually did like this dish. You could definitely taste the truffle oil, and the lemon zest kept it bright tasting. It was a well-balanced dish, right up my alley.

We've eaten here before and loved the ramen. This time not so much. Only one other table in the restaurant was taken and yet. It seemed a couple of teenagers were in charge. Didn't know the menu, checking their phones while taking the order. Several items orders never delivered. Also had to get up and find one of them to get part of our meal. Ramen was fine sushi tasted old. This place has a nice atmosphere and should be busy but with what we experienced we understand why no one was there.

I drove past this restaurant and googled it to find it's an AYCE sushi restaurant--so I gave it a try. This restaurant probably had the best quality sushi I've tried in Houston thus far. Everything is so fresh and the presentation is great. We tried so many things on their AYCE menu and there were a lot of amazing options, everything was delicious including the dessert. Try the Oreo tempura and their bubble teas!!! When we went, it was a Saturday evening at 5pm when they just reopened for dinner so the restaurant was pretty empty but people started trickling in around 6. The ambiance is like a low lit sushi bar so may be a nice choice for dates. They have a good alcoholic drink menu. We had a sweet waitress and met the manager, who is so hospitable and nice. Tip: Leave a Google review and you get a free bubble tea! Go go go before they raise the prices--$31pp for 90 minutes is a great deal for such high quality sushi and so many options!

Pretty solid AYCE spot with lots of variety. Tried the AYCE sushi menu and felt the rolls were pretty solid. The real stars were the sides, which had a lot of variety and was done well. Servers were pretty attentive and quick to bring things out and check on our table. Interior is nice and big. Was surprised it wasn't busier when we went but it was a positive experience.

Great fresh and beautifully presented sushi. Servers can use more training, as you can wait quite a while at the hostess stand before being acknowledged. $31.99 All You Can Eat option is a bargain if you enjoy sushi and sashimi. Tonkotsu Ramen is rich and satisfying.

Very good rice texture and flavor. Chicken is tender and nice sweet teriyaki sauce. The staff was courteous. Clean and welcoming vibe. The food was good. Definitely better than I expected. Keep in mind they DO close at 2pm and I believe open back up at 5:00 p.m. so make sure you look at your watch if you're going for a late lunch. I was definitely rushed out so that they could close at the 2:00 p.m. mark.

Food was not good. Sushi wasn't fresh at all. The vibe is decent I guess. Service is also decent. I honestly didn't like a single thing I ordered

This will be my new spot for sushi! The $31 all you can eat is amazing. I got 3 crispy tuna rices (2 pieces each) which are $9 each so I got my moneys worth just in that. Also got a shaggy dog roll which I loved and the chicken kaarage which was eh kinda bland. I got a white tea shot cocktail and loved it. I want to come and try more rolls, the gyoza, and cocktails. The staff was so nice too. And it's a cute restaurant with great space. I got a to go fried rice and will update when I eat it. Ok the fried rice isn't good at all. I didn't enjoy the flavor

In town for a meeting and had very nice surprise finding Taro last night for dinner. The ambiance, service and food were well above my expectations based on the location. I went for the 'all you can eat' option to sample the menu and my server Henry was an expert and pleasant guide. Everything I tried was excellent with the Tataki and Rainbow Roll standing out. I also had a few pieces of sushi and the fish was very fresh and the eel was delightful. A bit of sake to chase the fish and a scoop of green tea ice cream to finish. I am certain to return next time I'm in town.

I've been coming here since last year and I always order the all you can eat which is $30 per person Overall the food and the dine in experience is great our server Henry is the best he has really good recommendations and cracks jokes to make us smile yall should definitely come check this restaurant

Food very good Service sucks all other tables had great service but ours was ignored after food was delivered. Never had this service here before.

So glad to find another AYCE Japanese restaurant, that's within the NRG area. It's $30.99 per person, you can order anything from the menu, from appetizers (extensive selection, including baked salmon and baked mussels!), sushi rolls, fried rice, teriyaki dishes, yakitori and ramen. This is probably the best deal that covers so many varieties of food I've seen. Portion sizes are big here, especially for the sushi rolls, definitely come here hungry. I'd highly recommend doing the AYCE here instead ordering individual items from the menu, as the prices are a little higher than other places. For dessert, I've never seen black sesame ice cream anywhere else, give it a try, it's unique and delicious. Service is fast, restaurant is clean and spacious.

Aesthetically, this restaurant is really pretty! It's like a hidden gem. Not sure how long they have been there but I've never seen it the few times I'm in the complex. They have tables and booths. Service was good. Our waiter checked on us multiple times. FOOD AND DRINK: They have all you can eat for $30.99 per adult. For drinks, we ordered house sake and a lemon drop. The sake was served at room temperature. The lemon drop was very good. Not sweet or too strong, but a good balance. The taro ramen lacked flavor and was warm, not hot. I was told it's usually full of flavor and steaming hot. The Rock shrimp was mildly crispy and good flavor. Served very warm too. The golf sushi roll was good. It was 8-10 pieces. Deep fried Shrimp tempura with cream cheese and jalapeno. The pork gyoza was ok. Could use more flavor. For dessert, we shared the vanilla Ice cream and shrimp tempura oreo, which surprisingly good. The oreo was deep fried and had chocolate drizzing on top with a small side of whipping cream and a cherry. The ice cream was 1 or 2 scoops. Ratings: House Sake - 3/5 Rock shrimp - 5/5 Taro ramen - 3/5 Golf roll - 4.5/5 Lemon martini - 5/5 Gyoza pork - 3/5 Vanilla Ice cream and shrimp tempura oreo - 5/5 I will definitely return back to try other ramen options and more sushi.

there's a new menu now for AYCE. the price increased from $32 to now $49.99. they also removed the yakitori skewers from the AYCE menu and decreased the amount of options for ramen.. there's also specific rolls that's on the a la carte menu that isn't on the AYCE menu, and you can't order it if it isn't on the AYCE menu. very unfortunate bc we were looking forward to eating here again but couldn't justify the price with the variety of food.

Solid place for some casual Japanese food. They have a happy hour until 6:30 pm with some good deals! Takoyaki, sushi rolls for $5, some nigiri and other things also available. Takoyaki was crispy and soft, very fresh, probably my favorite thing I tried. I got one of the Taro special ramens that has dumplings and pork. It's a little pricier than other ramens I've had at different places ($17) so may not be the best value you can find. Flavor is good and portion is decent. The sushi rolls that are in the happy hour menu are smaller than others, maybe like 3/4 of a full roll. But you can easily get several different ones to share. Also tried the baked mussels, which were covered in a savory mayo sauce. Service is really great, wait staff is kind and food comes out pretty quickly.

I drove by this restaurant and could smell the food from outside so I did a quick Yelp search and was sold! The restaurant is located in a big shopping plaza so there's plenty of parking. I tried this restaurant on a Sunday afternoon so it was pretty chill, just a few customers inside so I was seated upon walking in. My waiter greeted me right away and took the time to go over several menu items. I was most interested in their "tasting" lunch and dinner menu with 5 and 6 course options that seem really cool. I only stopped by to get a quite bite for lunch but I'm definitely going to come back to check it out :) For my meal I tried the Texan roll which is a traditional California roll topped with spicy shrimp and onions. It was delicious! The roll itself wasn't too spicy to me. Their sushi options are pretty safe in my opinion, because a handful of the rolls have cooked seafood on it so it's a good option for people who are hesitant to try raw fish ( I love both lol). I also tried the crispy chicken bun and it was sooo yummy! I love bao buns and how soft and fluffy they taste. The chicken was coated in a savory/sweet sauce and topped with Tatar sauce (which complimented the bun well. The food and service here are excellent! The prices are very reasonable too for lunch and dinner so I will definitely be back to try more items.

This spot is the absolute best !!! If your in the mood for some really good Japanese food with a twist this is the spot for you. Great music alittle EDM. The ambiance is just perfect super clean. Everyone super friendly. Highly recommend & very affordable !

Don't let the fact that this restaurant is located next to a Big Lots store stop you from eating here. The food is amazing. Cost very reasonable. And the server was most helpful. In town for business, a coworker and I decided to eat here and were absolutely amazed. The inside is trendy but definitely feels Japanese with its cool lighting and a spacious seating area. The rolls were creative, well prepared, and absolutely delicious. And if you like brussel sprouts, the tempura fried brussels should not be missed. As we ate dinner this evening, we decided we would be returning to try some different items tomorrow night.

This place is very close to medical center area by the NRG area. Food was nahhhhh... not too great. Service was Ok We ordered couple bao and they weren't good at all. And they were a bit over priced. $4.25 for one tiny bao. The ramen was barely OK , soup base wasn't hot as it supposed to be.

Occupying spacious quarters in a colossal strip mall off Kirby, Taro operates as an affordable option for sushi, ramen, and Japanese small plates. The high-ceilinged space features individual tables and booths, Japanese TV, and bass-thumping EDM or anime themed music. On my first visit soon after they had opened, our server was a charismatic young man who was very enthusiastic about their vision. He was easy-going, gave honest suggestions ("don't get that dish"), and really talked up the head chef who apparently trained in Japan and had success out west before launching this venture. Across my two visits, I concluded that there is clearly sound technique and flair for style on display, but the ingredient quality and execution aren't there yet. My thoughts: Miso soup - could be saltier and richer, but a pretty good take on an essential appetite stimulant. Presented whimsically in an egg-shaped lidded cup and ornamented with lots of green onion and thick-cut tofu. Pork gyoza - one of the best things on the menu! Crispy base, soft and fragrant interior, high-quality soy sauce. Crispy Rice - effectively deep-fried sushi rice, which provided nice texture but not much flavor, topped with spicy tuna and jalapeno. The accompanying sauce was savory and a little sweet. Not bad but nothing too exciting. Spicy Salmon Roll and Baked Crab Roll - nice and refreshing, both worth a shout. House Special Roll - lightly seared salmon with smoky notes over a California roll with some lemon and salt for brightness. Enjoyed this roll as well. Sashimi - slices aren't very thick (they are very judicious with the fish in everything) but pretty good for the price. The tuna was better than the salmon interestingly, with a lovely pinkish-red hue, fatty texture, and delicate sweetness. Ramen - I didn't try any noodle bowls, but my buddy found his to be watery and mediocre I would highly encourage chewing the ginger, which is (or at least was) a high-end variety imported directly from Japan. It was phenomenal: spicy and sour and sweet, crunchy and soft at the same time, delicately sliced into near-transparent sheets. Didn't think I would ever wax philosophical about a fibrous root, but here we are. The slices of fish in the sushi are thin but fresh, and Taro traffics in subtle flavors that aren't in your face, which sometimes to me came across as overly muted. The rolls are architecturally sound at least, because there is nothing worse than a roll that pops open on the slightest manipulation. I wanted to like Taro because it has charm, but the menu lacks consistency - maybe third time's the charm ?

This use to be one of my favorites but recently it seems they've either changed cooks or recipes maybe and prices increased. I loved the tempura vegetables but the last few times it was soggy and didn't have the same veggies from before. Also my seaweed salad was on the slimy side (like old)

Unbelievably good!! I did not expect the quality to be so amazing with an all you can eat deal, but I'm blown away! I wish so badly I lived in Houston, because I would be here all the time. Such a fantastic menu with apps, rolls, skewers, ramen, soup, rice, and desserts. I'll be dreaming about that tataki for a while. I also really appreciate that they do not make you feel guilty about ordering more food. Sometimes I've been to an AYCE and feel some shame about ordering more, but they made me feel excited and celebrated to try as many dishes as I wanted!

Amazing tuna sashimi the flavor was ranked among the best I have ever had. The texture was something from out of this world

I feel like I'm responsible for spreading awareness of this place to everyone. PLEASE SAVE YOUR MONEY!!! This place is probably the WORST AYCE in this area. From the atmosphere to the food, this place is rock bottom. Lemme break down what I experience so you don't have to... SERVICE 2/10 - The workers here had no spirits left in them at all. I also notice two workers that were mean mugging each other throughout the whole experience. It was cash or Zelle for the payment, which was understood since it was post Hurricane. FOOD 0/10 -Ordering the AYCE for $30, you would expect a wide variety of foods to offer from. There were no skewers left to order from. The sushi nigiri and rolls were packed full of rice. The ramen looked nothing like the pictures. Flavor was very bland and the noodles were more like a vermicelli than ramen noodles. Baked mussels were still very watery like they just thawed it right out the freezer. Overall, please save your money! There are many better options to choose from. Don't say I didn't warn you! I don't ever write reviews but coming out that restaurant mad made me do it. There are tastier and even cheaper options that can satisfy you better than this place. I hope they can change their ways. Love you and take care!

For not being in the middle of the city, it is pretty darn good. Ramen has good flavor and the mushrooms actually add flavor to the bites. Pork had flavor to it, though not as tender as other places. Sushi was average (which is not bad). The fish taste fresh but not jaw dropping. Overall, very pleased with the meal. Will be my local ramen spot when I do not feel like hitting up the long lines at the trendy places around the city.

First time visitor after looking up for all you can eat sushi places in the area. Came Friday night around 7pm- total 6 guests including 2 of us. That should have been my clue to turn around and leave. But looked at the 4.5 star reviews on yelp and decided to stay. Average food 3/5 - sushi rice too dry, fried items appeared rewarmed rather than made fresh. No sashimi option in a $31 all you can eat. The food was my biggest disappointment. Service 4/5 - Sever checked multiple times if we need anything but at times it was passive aggressive. For example one time I asked server about an ice cream flavor and reply was to google it. Another time I asked about a special roll whether it is fried or not and reply was to read the description when it could have been yes or no answer). Ambience 5/5 - Seating area was upscale

What do you see labeled on this menu?? All you can eat right? So tell me why the wait staff and manager says there is a limit to how many sashimi I would like to place in my piehole! If you you like sashimi don't come here it's not AYCE even tho the menu states it! I'm paying an AYCE price. Poor establishment.

The AYCE is the best sushi deal in town! I try to hit this up every time I make it down.

Unfortunately this place has gone downhill. Now it's 'all you can eat' sushi. So I suppose it's natural that quality would suffer. And it has. I went here a few years ago, and loved it. But I will never go back.

A bit of a hidden gem with great authentic Japanese cuisine, some amazing dishes (curry rice, tempura, desserts) good service, and a palatable price point to match. Food: - Curry rice 5/5 - the curry is light yet rich, savory yet not overly salty, and generally perfectly balanced. Some of the best Japanese curry I've had. - Chicken katsu 3.5/5 - crispy batter, somewhat tasty, but a little dry (which is the unfortunate case for many katsu meats) - Ramen 3.5/5 - tastes pretty authentic, with earthy broths and wholesome sides, and well-prepared noodles. Above average. - Tempura 4.5/5 - really good tempura shrimp and vegetables! The batter is very crispy and light. Some of the best I've had. - Salad 5/5 - for some reason, I love the combination of fried onions and the house ginger dressing which has the consistency of ranch. A wonderful side dish to the great entrees here! - Desserts 5/5 - the desserts here are incredibly unique, delicious, and prepared and plated with delicate precision, all while being reasonably priced. Definitely would try them, especially the mochi ice cream and sweet potato creme brulee! - Appetizers: agedashi tofu 4/5 - light, crispy, in a nice dashi broth, but not sure if I like that the battered crust falls off fairly easily. Takoyaki 4/5 - crispy shell, doughy insides, and good flavor! Hard to find good takoyaki in Houston. Other: - Service was good, fairly fast, and pretty polite. - It tends to be not too busy, probably because of the restaurant's fairly young age and location. - I have not tried their sushi and rolls so I cannot speak to them. Scores: Food 4/5 Service 4.5/5 Value 4/5 Overall 4/5 Consistency 4.5/5 Visits: 3 times in the last year. Thank you for reading my review. I hope you found it helpful!

I'm not one to leave a bad review, but I hope they take it as constructive criticism because it is a critique from my kids POV based on their experience. Food: 4/10 -Sashimi was cut paper thin. You are apparently limited to 15 pieces per person. If we are paying for AYCE, why is there a limit? -Sushi rolls were small, lots of rice. There was more wet mushy rice than anything, dredged in sauce. -the ramen was surprisingly very good. The service, oh boy, the service. Our waitress had our table and another across the restaurant. She was missing most of the time and when she was present, was flustered because apparently the manager says we cannot order anymore sashimi due to our "limit" while the freely charged us for AYCE, no rhyme of reason. The restaurant is in a strange location.. but spacious, clean and had potential until the ordering and AYCE part. No pictures, we were too busy arguing with the manager and poor waitress. At the end of the day we left and my kids were still hungry because they had to split 15 pieces of paper thin sashimi that we were limited to when paid AYCE prices. DINER BEWARE!