This is an authentic Japanese sushi omakase restaurant like you would find in Japan. If you aren't looking for that experience, do go. However, if you understand omakase dining and want the best ingredients, you can't miss this. It's an experience for the senses.
The minimalist decor allows you to focus on the food. The staff is interactive and helpful including showing westerners how to use Japanese food utensils.
We were pleaseantly surprised with the amount of food. We were blown away by the quality of the food. Chef is amazing and is a rockstar in his own right. The Chef's Assistants were amazing too. Monet is truly a delight!
Parking: Parking is easy in the garage. They validate your parking pass.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi
Fabian Rincon
I have been to all of the Michelin starred restaurants in Georgia and I have to say that this one has been my favorite for many reasons. I went with a friend and ordered the sake flight, the beverage pairing, and the Wagyu add-ons. The food was exceptional and masterfully cooked in front of you. Chef Haya-san is one of the best in the world and to watch him cook, plus hear him tell a few jokes and share his insight, was delightful! The service by the staff was amazing and getting a history and geography lesson with each of the plates and drinks served to enhance the overall experience. I will certainly be back and cannot wait until the next time! Thank you Chef Haya-san and your team for such an wonderfully delightful culinary experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kiwi and Yuzu, Sea Urchin Hand Roll, Green Tea Pudding, Halibut, Octopus, Scallop Sashimi, Blue Fin Negi Toro Sushi Roll, Green Tea Flan, Shrimp Clear Soup, Fried Conger Eel, Nigiri Sushi, Sake Flight, Tamago and Unagi, Sushi, Mackerel Sushi, Wagyu Beef, Karaage, Guacamole, Hamachi Sashimi, Miso Soup
Siobhan S
This is the most amazing dining experience I’ve ever had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Keelan Seabolt
We were excited to get reservations for our anniversary and it was one of the best dining experiences we have ever had! From amazing sashimi to sushi to soups every dish was more impressive than the last. Even the wasabi was unlike anything I’ve eaten. But what was even more enjoyable than the food was the service and experience with had with Chef Hayakawa and his team. With only 8 seats, you get a personal experience with a Michelin star chef which is something you rarely get to enjoy. I cannot say enough about the food and experience. Thank you to the entire team at Hayakawa!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Legit Design
We've been to about a dozen michelin starred restaurants and this was by far the most approachable and friendly. You sit at the sushi bar with all the other guests - no tables - and have Hayakawa himself prepare everything you eat in front of you while he cracks jokes, answers questions, and guides you through the meal with the help of his excellent staff. His assistant teaches you the proper and traditional ways to enjoy classic sushi dishes so you never feel dumb or out of your league, which I really appreciated. There's other places that will give you super fancy stuff and wildly creative dishes, but that's not what this experience is about at all. This is about one man from a very specific location in Japan sharing the freshest fish anywhere in the south and his brilliantly simple home town recipes with you person to person. It's expensive, but during the otoro fatty tuna course, he hands you at least 75 dollars worth of fish to just slam in a single bite and while you're chewing you know it's something special. This is an expensive experience for seasoned restaurant goers who want to witness the vision of a man who truly cares about his craft.
I will also shout out his partner who helps teach and guide the experience that helped us pick out wonderful sake and wine throughout the evening, even allowing us to do a single glass of a bottle only selection because she wanted us to experience the perfection of the pairing.
It's gonna set you back a cool thousand dollars, but it's more than just a meal, it's experiencing the passion of a team who cares about their art, and something that you can't find anywhere else in the south. It's worth it. While I'll say I prefer the French style of a chef who thinks he's better than me and wants to challenge me with every dish, my wife says this is her favorite of any michelin starred place we've been because of how friendly and inviting everyone is.
Simply put if you love sushi, have the money, and don't plan on being in LA or NY anytime soon, you owe it yourself to give Hayakawason the chance to rethink what an omakasi experience can be.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Blue Fin Negi Toro Sushi Roll, Sushi, Hamachi Sashimi
Patrick White
Hayakawa is a place you want to go to for a very special occasion or celebration. For your average foodie looking to experience high-quality omikase.... simply not worth the price tag.
400 dollars pp without any drinks or supplementals. The uni was an extra 65 (but worth it). And sake added up to an extra 100. 500+ for what I would consider average omikase. Some dishes were certainly elevated, such as the uni and otoro Tuna. Other dishes like the salmon tasted like they've been frozen for months. The a5 wagyu was near flavorless, and was definitely frozen for 5 months before being served. For 500pp, you should be experiencing the freshest product possible, and this just wasn't it. Many of the flavors were muted. The ngiri was so cold like the fish was just pulled out of a refrigerator (it was).
Chef's cutting skills are questionable, as portions of the a5 wagyu were not equal. Some people received 20-25% more meat than other because the slices were quite uneven.
His unique Wasabi was good, again cold and refrigerated. But pungent and will hit you in the nostrils. Pickled ginger was muted flavorwise. Much of the nigiri lacked freshness, opting for authenticity being imported from Japan instead. That's where the high price tag comes from.
Anyways, there's other options that meet the same level of quality and quantity, in my opinion, for 1/3 - 1/2 the price. So I'd avoid spending your money here unless you truly feel like it's worth it (it isn't from a food perspective, maybe for a fun experience). You'll probably leave feeling like it wasn't worth it... but hey, at least you get a sticker.
On top of all this.. the entire experience felt incredibly rushed. Barely any time to even drink your sake or have a bite of ginger between courses. Part of it is because some courses are a bit larger, so you don't really get time to savor anything. Gulp it down and on to the next. Too much talking, and strangely, the head server was constantly overhearing private conversation between guests and interjecting her thoughts or opinions into their conversations.. very weird vibe.. no privacy. The rest of the servers were awkwardly standing behind everyone, burning a hole into the backs of our heads with their lifeless gaze, eagerly awaiting to reach over your shoulder the second you put those chopsticks down, adding to the rushed aspect of the service.
With all that being said, the experience was still extremely authentic. Best uni that I've ever had.
Thanks for reading. I hope this helps inform you before making that reservation and prepaying absurd amounts. I'm not trying to be negative or rude, but just give an honest review of a 'michelin star' restraunt.
Parking: Parking is validated.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Addy Delean
What an incredible evening - we had the most fun and delicious experience celebrating my bf's birthday. Never had I ever had Uni served the way Chef Hayakawa prepares his dish. Just one of the many stand-outs across all of the omakase dishes including the delicious Toro, Shima Aji, Sake, and more. We loved the option to add on more nigiri and use the appetizer sashimi for the nigiri. Of course, not only was the food incredible, but where the experience shines is in Chef Hayakawa's personality making us laugh all night. Also, huge shout out to Monet as well for the great wine recommendations - do not sleep on the rosé! We would 100% come again. Thank you to the entire staff for a special night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Will Morgan
The best sushi I’ve had in my life, yet amazingly the greatest experience was Chef Hayakawa, Sommelier Monet, and the staff that performed more impressively than you’ve seen in the movies. Eating here felt like vacation.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Octopus, Scallop Sashimi, Blue Fin Negi Toro Sushi Roll, Nigiri Sushi, Sushi, Karaage, Hamachi Sashimi
Rubye Sullivan
What a magical experience. This was the best food experience I have ever enjoyed. I enjoyed magical flavors and learned while tasting every beautiful plate.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Aburi Zuke Salmon, Over Rice, Blue Fin Negi Toro Sushi Roll, Sushi, Mackerel Sushi, Hamachi Sashimi, Miso Soup
Carey Zhuang
Absolutely amazing experience! Cannot recommend the omakase dinner here enough. Chef Hayakawa and his team provide not only excellent, delicious food, but also just such refined service while making it seem casual. Thoughtful touches such as having a phone holder, posing for pics, and all the service aspects were so elegantly done and smooth. The nigiri portions are large, so come hungry! You will leave feeling full yet satisfied and feeling good. Also, I so appreciate the clear explanations and direction provided to guests. It helps with allowing us to fully focus on the food and the experience. Just love all the small and thoughtful touches, like having a phone holder mat on the table. I had a wonderful time and would love to dine here again, perhaps bringing some loved ones with me. Thank you!
Monet, the staff and Hayakawa himself showed us to an amazing evening celebrating our anniversary. Every detail was taken care of as we were guided through a delicious omakase dinner experience with very generous portions! (don't miss the optional Uni dish!) Elegant, but relaxed, friendly, and open; the team delivers excellence without being pretentious. It was also educational! While we don't claim to be experts, we have had omakase before as well as several Michelin star experiences and this has lived up to our expectations and exceeded them in a refreshingly unique/traditional way. Congrats to them on their well deserved star! Highly recommended!
Parking: Parking deck off 11th. Take elevator to lobby. (there are small signs). Validated by restaurant. No valet.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Nigiri Sushi
Chad Racine
Incredible experience with excellent food.
Among the best in Atlanta. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi
k. b.
Wow!! I am a T-shirt and denim, 64 year old stetson kinda guy. I just moved to ATL and have experienced globally, third world dynamic cultural cuisines and establishment 5 stars, with many other types and levels of cuisine, none, really none compare with Hayakawa-san and his staff; traditional, fresh, fine and amazing. Each palate of fine art to articulate my taste buds was explained by Hayakawa-san and Monet with information about the origins and type of each fish and dish with perfect paring of dry to licorice saki by the Matre de/ Sommelier. The side tea and supporting dishes were perfect in action by the supporting staff, truly a smooth team. The Uni is the absolute BEST, prepared by Hayakawa-san, anywhere, globally. The "green caviar" was crisp and fresh. The guests I met were each truly genuine, with the exception of one that continually compared her Chinese ancestry to Japan in general, I felt the guests next to me and I were slightly annoyed and she detracted from the amazing traditional Japanese entre and experience. It was greatly appreciated that the policy of Hayakawa of no colognes or perfumes was great, which allowed the aroma of the hot dishes and saki true enjoyment. The absolute best ATL has to offer, if not the best traditional Japanese experience in the USA.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yen-Chen Huang
Haya San gave us one of the best omakase experiences of our life! Stacks up well against other Michelin star restaurants in the US and Japan. The portions were very generous! ?Haya San was very friendly and entertaining, and we left happy and satisfied!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Liz Carroll
Not only was our food amazing, but the service was impeccable. We have dined all over the world, and the yellowtail from Hayakawa was the best fish I have ever put in my mouth.Monet was so gracious, professional and approachable. I highly recommend!!
This is an authentic Japanese sushi omakase restaurant like you would find in Japan. If you aren't looking for that experience, do go. However, if you understand omakase dining and want the best ingredients, you can't miss this. It's an experience for the senses.
The minimalist decor allows you to focus on the food. The staff is interactive and helpful including showing westerners how to use Japanese food utensils.
We were pleaseantly surprised with the amount of food. We were blown away by the quality of the food. Chef is amazing and is a rockstar in his own right. The Chef's Assistants were amazing too. Monet is truly a delight!
Parking: Parking is easy in the garage. They validate your parking pass.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi
I have been to all of the Michelin starred restaurants in Georgia and I have to say that this one has been my favorite for many reasons. I went with a friend and ordered the sake flight, the beverage pairing, and the Wagyu add-ons. The food was exceptional and masterfully cooked in front of you. Chef Haya-san is one of the best in the world and to watch him cook, plus hear him tell a few jokes and share his insight, was delightful! The service by the staff was amazing and getting a history and geography lesson with each of the plates and drinks served to enhance the overall experience. I will certainly be back and cannot wait until the next time! Thank you Chef Haya-san and your team for such an wonderfully delightful culinary experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kiwi and Yuzu, Sea Urchin Hand Roll, Green Tea Pudding, Halibut, Octopus, Scallop Sashimi, Blue Fin Negi Toro Sushi Roll, Green Tea Flan, Shrimp Clear Soup, Fried Conger Eel, Nigiri Sushi, Sake Flight, Tamago and Unagi, Sushi, Mackerel Sushi, Wagyu Beef, Karaage, Guacamole, Hamachi Sashimi, Miso Soup
This is the most amazing dining experience I’ve ever had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We were excited to get reservations for our anniversary and it was one of the best dining experiences we have ever had! From amazing sashimi to sushi to soups every dish was more impressive than the last. Even the wasabi was unlike anything I’ve eaten. But what was even more enjoyable than the food was the service and experience with had with Chef Hayakawa and his team. With only 8 seats, you get a personal experience with a Michelin star chef which is something you rarely get to enjoy. I cannot say enough about the food and experience. Thank you to the entire team at Hayakawa!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We've been to about a dozen michelin starred restaurants and this was by far the most approachable and friendly. You sit at the sushi bar with all the other guests - no tables - and have Hayakawa himself prepare everything you eat in front of you while he cracks jokes, answers questions, and guides you through the meal with the help of his excellent staff. His assistant teaches you the proper and traditional ways to enjoy classic sushi dishes so you never feel dumb or out of your league, which I really appreciated. There's other places that will give you super fancy stuff and wildly creative dishes, but that's not what this experience is about at all. This is about one man from a very specific location in Japan sharing the freshest fish anywhere in the south and his brilliantly simple home town recipes with you person to person. It's expensive, but during the otoro fatty tuna course, he hands you at least 75 dollars worth of fish to just slam in a single bite and while you're chewing you know it's something special. This is an expensive experience for seasoned restaurant goers who want to witness the vision of a man who truly cares about his craft.
I will also shout out his partner who helps teach and guide the experience that helped us pick out wonderful sake and wine throughout the evening, even allowing us to do a single glass of a bottle only selection because she wanted us to experience the perfection of the pairing.
It's gonna set you back a cool thousand dollars, but it's more than just a meal, it's experiencing the passion of a team who cares about their art, and something that you can't find anywhere else in the south. It's worth it. While I'll say I prefer the French style of a chef who thinks he's better than me and wants to challenge me with every dish, my wife says this is her favorite of any michelin starred place we've been because of how friendly and inviting everyone is.
Simply put if you love sushi, have the money, and don't plan on being in LA or NY anytime soon, you owe it yourself to give Hayakawason the chance to rethink what an omakasi experience can be.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Blue Fin Negi Toro Sushi Roll, Sushi, Hamachi Sashimi
Hayakawa is a place you want to go to for a very special occasion or celebration. For your average foodie looking to experience high-quality omikase.... simply not worth the price tag.
400 dollars pp without any drinks or supplementals. The uni was an extra 65 (but worth it). And sake added up to an extra 100. 500+ for what I would consider average omikase. Some dishes were certainly elevated, such as the uni and otoro Tuna. Other dishes like the salmon tasted like they've been frozen for months. The a5 wagyu was near flavorless, and was definitely frozen for 5 months before being served. For 500pp, you should be experiencing the freshest product possible, and this just wasn't it. Many of the flavors were muted. The ngiri was so cold like the fish was just pulled out of a refrigerator (it was).
Chef's cutting skills are questionable, as portions of the a5 wagyu were not equal. Some people received 20-25% more meat than other because the slices were quite uneven.
His unique Wasabi was good, again cold and refrigerated. But pungent and will hit you in the nostrils. Pickled ginger was muted flavorwise. Much of the nigiri lacked freshness, opting for authenticity being imported from Japan instead. That's where the high price tag comes from.
Anyways, there's other options that meet the same level of quality and quantity, in my opinion, for 1/3 - 1/2 the price. So I'd avoid spending your money here unless you truly feel like it's worth it (it isn't from a food perspective, maybe for a fun experience). You'll probably leave feeling like it wasn't worth it... but hey, at least you get a sticker.
On top of all this.. the entire experience felt incredibly rushed. Barely any time to even drink your sake or have a bite of ginger between courses. Part of it is because some courses are a bit larger, so you don't really get time to savor anything. Gulp it down and on to the next. Too much talking, and strangely, the head server was constantly overhearing private conversation between guests and interjecting her thoughts or opinions into their conversations.. very weird vibe.. no privacy. The rest of the servers were awkwardly standing behind everyone, burning a hole into the backs of our heads with their lifeless gaze, eagerly awaiting to reach over your shoulder the second you put those chopsticks down, adding to the rushed aspect of the service.
With all that being said, the experience was still extremely authentic. Best uni that I've ever had.
Thanks for reading. I hope this helps inform you before making that reservation and prepaying absurd amounts. I'm not trying to be negative or rude, but just give an honest review of a 'michelin star' restraunt.
Parking: Parking is validated.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
What an incredible evening - we had the most fun and delicious experience celebrating my bf's birthday. Never had I ever had Uni served the way Chef Hayakawa prepares his dish. Just one of the many stand-outs across all of the omakase dishes including the delicious Toro, Shima Aji, Sake, and more. We loved the option to add on more nigiri and use the appetizer sashimi for the nigiri. Of course, not only was the food incredible, but where the experience shines is in Chef Hayakawa's personality making us laugh all night. Also, huge shout out to Monet as well for the great wine recommendations - do not sleep on the rosé! We would 100% come again. Thank you to the entire staff for a special night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The best sushi I’ve had in my life, yet amazingly the greatest experience was Chef Hayakawa, Sommelier Monet, and the staff that performed more impressively than you’ve seen in the movies. Eating here felt like vacation.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Octopus, Scallop Sashimi, Blue Fin Negi Toro Sushi Roll, Nigiri Sushi, Sushi, Karaage, Hamachi Sashimi
What a magical experience. This was the best food experience I have ever enjoyed. I enjoyed magical flavors and learned while tasting every beautiful plate.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Aburi Zuke Salmon, Over Rice, Blue Fin Negi Toro Sushi Roll, Sushi, Mackerel Sushi, Hamachi Sashimi, Miso Soup
Absolutely amazing experience! Cannot recommend the omakase dinner here enough. Chef Hayakawa and his team provide not only excellent, delicious food, but also just such refined service while making it seem casual. Thoughtful touches such as having a phone holder, posing for pics, and all the service aspects were so elegantly done and smooth. The nigiri portions are large, so come hungry! You will leave feeling full yet satisfied and feeling good. Also, I so appreciate the clear explanations and direction provided to guests. It helps with allowing us to fully focus on the food and the experience. Just love all the small and thoughtful touches, like having a phone holder mat on the table. I had a wonderful time and would love to dine here again, perhaps bringing some loved ones with me. Thank you!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Monet, the staff and Hayakawa himself showed us to an amazing evening celebrating our anniversary. Every detail was taken care of as we were guided through a delicious omakase dinner experience with very generous portions! (don't miss the optional Uni dish!)
Elegant, but relaxed, friendly, and open; the team delivers excellence without being pretentious. It was also educational! While we don't claim to be experts, we have had omakase before as well as several Michelin star experiences and this has lived up to our expectations and exceeded them in a refreshingly unique/traditional way. Congrats to them on their well deserved star! Highly recommended!
Parking: Parking deck off 11th. Take elevator to lobby. (there are small signs). Validated by restaurant. No valet.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Nigiri Sushi
Incredible experience with excellent food.
Among the best in Atlanta. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi
Wow!! I am a T-shirt and denim, 64 year old stetson kinda guy. I just moved to ATL and have experienced globally, third world dynamic cultural cuisines and establishment 5 stars, with many other types and levels of cuisine, none, really none compare with Hayakawa-san and his staff; traditional, fresh, fine and amazing. Each palate of fine art to articulate my taste buds was explained by Hayakawa-san and Monet with information about the origins and type of each fish and dish with perfect paring of dry to licorice saki by the Matre de/ Sommelier. The side tea and supporting dishes were perfect in action by the supporting staff, truly a smooth team. The Uni is the absolute BEST, prepared by Hayakawa-san, anywhere, globally. The "green caviar" was crisp and fresh. The guests I met were each truly genuine, with the exception of one that continually compared her Chinese ancestry to Japan in general, I felt the guests next to me and I were slightly annoyed and she detracted from the amazing traditional Japanese entre and experience. It was greatly appreciated that the policy of Hayakawa of no colognes or perfumes was great, which allowed the aroma of the hot dishes and saki true enjoyment. The absolute best ATL has to offer, if not the best traditional Japanese experience in the USA.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Haya San gave us one of the best omakase experiences of our life! Stacks up well against other Michelin star restaurants in the US and Japan. The portions were very generous! ?Haya San was very friendly and entertaining, and we left happy and satisfied!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Not only was our food amazing, but the service was impeccable. We have dined all over the world, and the yellowtail from Hayakawa was the best fish I have ever put in my mouth.Monet was so gracious, professional and approachable. I highly recommend!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Loading...