Akasaka Sushi korean Japanese restaurant

I normally don't leave 1-star reviews for restaurants that have high ratings on Google Maps, but I felt compelled to write this based on the poor experience we had.

We made a reservation for 6:45pm on a Monday evening. When we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised to see a busy restaurant with most tables filled and a nice vibe. Our table wasn't ready and we waiting patiently for our table to be prepared. After approximately 15 minutes, we were seated and were informed that our server was quite busy and would greet us shortly. After another 15 minutes, she came over and took our drink orders. We asked for ice water and a couple of cokes and received our drinks less one coke about 10 minutes later. The 2nd coke came after another 10 minutes.
The restaurant was busy, but not that busy.
After we all got our drinks, we insisted on ordering our food as we were worried that we wouldn't see our server for another 10 to 20 minutes at this point.

My son and I ordered a Tropical Storm Boat (sushi, sashimi, and rolls) combo to share (attached photo). I will not review the dishes that other party members ordered. While we waited patiently for our food to arrive, I was imagining that the chef was putting together an incredible presentation of delicious and fresh sushi and sashimi. After 45 minutes, our boat arrived and utter disappointment followed.

The fish was not fresh. The sashimi pieces were small (1/2 the length of my pinky finger), and the rolls were clearly pre-made and refrigerated as the rice was hard. The food lacked any flavor and had a dry (stale) texture.

My son and I managed to finish the food as we were starved, but as I sit here writing this review in the restaurant waiting patiently for my server to bring my check, I am now worried about getting sick from the food.

The only saving grace was the waitress recognizing the poor experience we were having and offering us a free dessert. So, I feel generous with the 3 stars for her effort.

If you consider yourself to have high standards for sushi, do not come here. You'll find better quality sushi at your local grocery store.

Save yourself a horrible experience and am overpriced meal.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 3

We waited in line even though we had a reservation for at least 15 minutes.

The owner/chef yelling at his employees

My sauce dish greased up, as if it had lard in the sauce dish.

We waited over 30+ minutes just for this sushi boat, just to pay over $100+ for old refrigerated sushi.

I ordered a Tropical Storm dish, and my sushi rice was absolutely rock hard.

The cream cheese, luke warm (cream cheese should be refridgerated)

The Sashimi Hamachi, you might as well call them hamachi pebbles.

The tuna was seriously frozen, and sat.

I'm telling you, please disregard the reviews above, I would rather go to grab grocery store sushi than this.

You would have to pay me to eat this sushi.

The owner/chef is still staring at us awkwardly.

The only point they get is atmosphere. They have nice Portraits of the sushi, but the sushi in the portraits probably taste better than the sushi I had today.

I shared this sushi boat, and am still starving. I understand that I have a somewhat larger appetite, but for $100+?

If you want to pay for overpriced sushi and get old fish, rice, slow service, and an uncomfortable environment with nice light fixtures, be my guest!!!

I really pray that nobody has to have the same experience me and my family had today.

You know it's a 'great sushi' place when the chefs/waiters are breaking glasses in the kitchen.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 1

We came here for Christmas Day - unfortunately our drinks (lychee martinis) were watered down and one of our hibachi dinners had spoiled beef (tasted very sour). The staff was very overwhelmed and since it was the holiday we didn’t complain to our server (in retrospect we should have), but fair warning for future diners.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 1

Service: 2

We visited on Christmas Day with our two young kids and unfortunately the experience was disappointing. After being seated, it took about 20 minutes for our order to be taken, and the food didn’t arrive until roughly 50 minutes later. There was no acknowledgement or apology for the long wait, which made the experience especially difficult with young children.

The food itself was mediocre. We didn’t try the sushi, but the pork cutlet was over-fried, very hard to chew, and had very little meat. The tonkatsu ramen was quite bland, and the shrimp dish was overly sweet.

Overall, poor service and underwhelming food made this visit unenjoyable, which was disappointing for a Christmas Day outing.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 1

Went in for our first time on Christmas. Amazing decision. We did the Korean pancake to start and it was spectacular. Sweet, salty, had shrimp and scallions on top. Highly recommend. The squid ink noodles with shrimp and calamari was also delicious. Our server, Ana, was super friendly and provided great service throughout the meal.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Perfect place! Very tasty

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Soooooo good

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food was good except for Udon. The reason I am giving 5 star is due to the service I received from Lexi. My wife and I received the most courteous and thoughtful service we have ever received at any restaurant.
Thank you Lexi for most genuine, wonderful and pleasant attitude and service.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Food taste was good however Very small portions of sushi, we ordered 5 rolls for 4 people thinking it would be enough to share but no. Sushi rolls are small. Service was not good, very slow. We requested a sauce and by the time we got it we had finished our meal already, ordered two appetizers and one came first then the second came with our meal, when appetizers are supposed to be before the meal.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 3

Service: 1

Service was extremely slow. The food was mediocre not reflecting the reviews which leads you to believe they are not real.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 1

Food was very good! Will definitely come back to try the other dishes. Especially the icecream.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The food was delicious. Our servicer was nice and friendly.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Lol good was so good I forgot to take a photo of my dish before digging in. Got the spicy seafood jjambomb!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

food was good and so was the service, philip was great!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Always great food and great service.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5