A really excellent meal. We did the omakase at the counter. The food was great: flavorful, varied, and in generous portions. The sourcing of the fish is careful (from an ecological point of view), which we appreciated. The service was also excellent, done in a casual way but attentive and restrained when appropriate. The sushi chef managed to present the food with his prepared remarks, respond to our questions, advise on sake, and also (critically!) give us space for our own conversation. The main meal is expensive, but I was deeply pleased to see at the end that the sake pairings the chef had recommended were very affordable. It felt like the restaurant had the right focus (on quality of food) and a generous spirit came through. The ambiance is informal but nice enough (I would make some lighting adjustments, to start with), and the pricing is reasonable for the quality -- especially from this poor New Yorker's point of view. Would definitely return!
Eric K.
Amazing experience delicious, beautiful food paired with perfectly matched sake prepared by a very well informed chef. Unforgettable!!!
Ben V.
Such a great experience sitting at the sushi bar! We did the minato which was their most basic omakase option. My favorite dishes were the assortment of nigiri, the 3 day miso salmon, and the black cod Mia soup. We also did the sake pairing which was a lot of fun. The chef we had was very informed on the different sakes and helped explain everything. The place has very chill vibes and is a great spot for a date night or special occasion.
Lorri G.
A reservation was made at Sozai on a Monday for dinner the next evening as a treat for me. I have been recuperating from a surgery for several weeks. By 4:00 the following day I realized I was not in shape to go out. I called and cancelled the reservation as the person who had made the reservation was unreachable at work and I didn't want them to incur the expense for a nice meal when I was not feeling up to it. The reservation was cancelled but no mention of impending charges was made and I, being the guest vs the individual who made the reservation, was uninformed of Sozai's cancellation policy. The person who made the reservation was subsequently charged 60.00! I called to discuss the situation but was informed there are no exceptions to the policy (which was not mentioned when I cancelled). This is the most unforgiving policy I have EVER encountered. I even offered to obtain a note from my surgeon. It is true that I telephoned at 5:00, but the restaurant doesn't open until 5:00! It seems to me that exceptions should be allowable for medical situations that are unforeseen? What if I were running a fever, had tested positive for COVID, or the like VS being in significant discomfort resulting from surgery? This is the most user unfriendly policy I've encountered.
Sandra Miselem
Absolutely incredible. It was all so good I couldn't cope. Delightful sake, wonerfully paired. I got the Nami option and every bit of fish was flavored and paired with the perfect vegetable. I think I only didn't finish a couple pieces of cabbage. I left absolutely stuffed and in the best mood ever. Didn't even mind the hour drive home, I was so happy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mya Mya
The food is 10/10. The people are not.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 1
Allison Priebe
Had an amazing first Omakase experience here. We had the Nami option and three beautifully paired sake tastings. All the staff were very knowledgeable and passionate about their craft. It was an incredible experience from beginning to end with so many delightful fresh flavors. They have an extensive sake selection. The pairings and background information on each one was very thorough too. Well worth every cent for this experience. It is clear that there is no lack of enthusiasm for providing high quality, sustainable, and above all delicious dishes. My boyfriend and I had moments of speechless glee, with each new dish exceeding the former, which we already thought couldn't be beat. I even had to close my eyes in order to fully appreciate the flavors erupting in my mouth at times. Absolutely blown away and looking forward to coming back! Thank you to the whole Sozai team for an outstanding experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omakase NAMI
Mikaela K.
From the outside Sozai is an unassuming sushi spot tucked into a strip mall in Clawson. The restaurant is known for its high quality fish, traditional Japanese and omakase. To be honest, if you are looking for a restaurant with trendy/sexy vibes this is not the place. Since we sat at a regular table we were only allowed to order from the regular menu. If you opt for the omakase you need to sit at the sushi bar. To be honest we were pretty disappointed with the overall service. All of the dishes were basically "plopped" down in front of us with no explanation. Also when we asked to sample a type of wine before committing to a full glass, the waitress quickly shut us down. Despite the atmosphere and service, the food was definitely impressive. We started the meal with their vegetable offerings; the sunomono, Kaiso and pickled veggies. All of the starting plates were flavourful and well balanced. If you are looking to try a legit seaweed salad you should try their kaiso; it is a far cry from what you would find at a grocery store sushi bar. We then had the spicy albacore tataki and tuna with natto. The tuna with natto is a very traditional Japanese dish of seared tuna served cold over fermented soy beans. The soy beans have a unique sticky texture but add a totally unique flavour to the rich fish. Finally we had three rolls; the bowler roller, dark crystal and southern. All sushi rolls were delicious but hands down our favourite was the southern. This roll incorporates Sozai's own creation of bbq eel where they substitute catfish in place of the eel. All rolls were a perfect balance of flavours and textures and the ingredients ultra fresh. There is definitely a reason why sozai has been awarded many accolades for their delicious food; I look forward to returning and doing the omakase. Hopefully the service will be better wheb we are at sitting at the sushi bar.
Ryan Brady
Had the sushi forward omakase meal, forget what it was called on the menu. The food was all very delicious and well presented. Having been lucky enough to have enjoyed high end sushi in much larger cities, I would say Sozai was pretty close in terms of food quality.The ambiance of the place is pretty lacking, but certainly not to the extent that it interfered with my enjoyment of the food. We sat at the sushi bar and had the owner prepare our food for the evening. His personality might be best described as gruff, but again it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the food.Overall I would recommend this to people who are looking for an upscale sushi experience in the metro Detroit area.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Jenea Markham
Outstanding omakase! Chef Hajime and his staff delivered a two hour experience that we will be talking about for a long time. An absolute joy from start to finish!
Cozy and homey spot for fresh, flavorful, and authentic Japanese food. I really enjoyed the ambiance of the place, the friendly service, and the overall experience. However, I would not return for the food itself as a vegan. I found the vegan options to lack flavor and creativity. I tried basically every vegan option on the menu and the highlights were the seaweed salad, cucumber salad, and fried mochi dessert. The deep forest roll was nice but really lacked a creamy or umami element to bring the flavors together. It somehow felt dry in your mouth. The fried tofu and mushrooms is one of the worst things I’ve ever eaten—it had a goey/slimy texture and absolutely no flavor, so eating it was actively unpleasant. The ume shiso was almost extraordinary. The shiso leaf flavor was surprising and enjoyable, but the roll again lacked a creamy or fatty element to not feel so dry. Overall I left wanting to love this place but also somewhat disappointed at the experience.Vegetarian options: Plenty of labeled vegan options
Nicola B.
Sozai is my happy place! The people who work here are kind and knowledgeable, the menu is thoughtfully put together, and the food is delicious.
Kim Simecek
Wonderful Japanese cooking/sushi experience. Dishes are innovative and creative, showcasing a diversity of flavors, textures and artistry. The Sake selection is the best in the state and the Sake Master is a wizard with pairings and knowledge.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
alex kauer
This was out first experience at Sozai and it lived up to all the hype. The Omakase option we selected was beautifully curated, showcasing fresh fish from around the globe with a focus on sustainability. Every course was exquisite and unique. The sake recommendations paired wonderfully with each course, adding another layer to the dining experience. Finally, the staff was great, guiding us through each course. The pride and passion for what they do was apparent through the whole experience. We will definitely be returning to dine at Sozai!Kid-friendliness: Not for children.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omakase NAMI
Pierre Mikha
Amazing Vegetarian food choices. Awesome service and atmosphere. I definitely recommend dining here.
A really excellent meal. We did the omakase at the counter. The food was great: flavorful, varied, and in generous portions. The sourcing of the fish is careful (from an ecological point of view), which we appreciated. The service was also excellent, done in a casual way but attentive and restrained when appropriate. The sushi chef managed to present the food with his prepared remarks, respond to our questions, advise on sake, and also (critically!) give us space for our own conversation. The main meal is expensive, but I was deeply pleased to see at the end that the sake pairings the chef had recommended were very affordable. It felt like the restaurant had the right focus (on quality of food) and a generous spirit came through. The ambiance is informal but nice enough (I would make some lighting adjustments, to start with), and the pricing is reasonable for the quality -- especially from this poor New Yorker's point of view. Would definitely return!
Amazing experience delicious, beautiful food paired with perfectly matched sake prepared by a very well informed chef. Unforgettable!!!
Such a great experience sitting at the sushi bar! We did the minato which was their most basic omakase option. My favorite dishes were the assortment of nigiri, the 3 day miso salmon, and the black cod Mia soup. We also did the sake pairing which was a lot of fun. The chef we had was very informed on the different sakes and helped explain everything. The place has very chill vibes and is a great spot for a date night or special occasion.
A reservation was made at Sozai on a Monday for dinner the next evening as a treat for me. I have been recuperating from a surgery for several weeks. By 4:00 the following day I realized I was not in shape to go out. I called and cancelled the reservation as the person who had made the reservation was unreachable at work and I didn't want them to incur the expense for a nice meal when I was not feeling up to it. The reservation was cancelled but no mention of impending charges was made and I, being the guest vs the individual who made the reservation, was uninformed of Sozai's cancellation policy. The person who made the reservation was subsequently charged 60.00! I called to discuss the situation but was informed there are no exceptions to the policy (which was not mentioned when I cancelled). This is the most unforgiving policy I have EVER encountered. I even offered to obtain a note from my surgeon. It is true that I telephoned at 5:00, but the restaurant doesn't open until 5:00! It seems to me that exceptions should be allowable for medical situations that are unforeseen? What if I were running a fever, had tested positive for COVID, or the like VS being in significant discomfort resulting from surgery? This is the most user unfriendly policy I've encountered.
Absolutely incredible. It was all so good I couldn't cope. Delightful sake, wonerfully paired. I got the Nami option and every bit of fish was flavored and paired with the perfect vegetable. I think I only didn't finish a couple pieces of cabbage. I left absolutely stuffed and in the best mood ever. Didn't even mind the hour drive home, I was so happy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food is 10/10. The people are not.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 1
Had an amazing first Omakase experience here. We had the Nami option and three beautifully paired sake tastings. All the staff were very knowledgeable and passionate about their craft. It was an incredible experience from beginning to end with so many delightful fresh flavors. They have an extensive sake selection. The pairings and background information on each one was very thorough too. Well worth every cent for this experience. It is clear that there is no lack of enthusiasm for providing high quality, sustainable, and above all delicious dishes. My boyfriend and I had moments of speechless glee, with each new dish exceeding the former, which we already thought couldn't be beat. I even had to close my eyes in order to fully appreciate the flavors erupting in my mouth at times. Absolutely blown away and looking forward to coming back! Thank you to the whole Sozai team for an outstanding experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omakase NAMI
From the outside Sozai is an unassuming sushi spot tucked into a strip mall in Clawson. The restaurant is known for its high quality fish, traditional Japanese and omakase. To be honest, if you are looking for a restaurant with trendy/sexy vibes this is not the place. Since we sat at a regular table we were only allowed to order from the regular menu. If you opt for the omakase you need to sit at the sushi bar. To be honest we were pretty disappointed with the overall service. All of the dishes were basically "plopped" down in front of us with no explanation. Also when we asked to sample a type of wine before committing to a full glass, the waitress quickly shut us down. Despite the atmosphere and service, the food was definitely impressive. We started the meal with their vegetable offerings; the sunomono, Kaiso and pickled veggies. All of the starting plates were flavourful and well balanced. If you are looking to try a legit seaweed salad you should try their kaiso; it is a far cry from what you would find at a grocery store sushi bar. We then had the spicy albacore tataki and tuna with natto. The tuna with natto is a very traditional Japanese dish of seared tuna served cold over fermented soy beans. The soy beans have a unique sticky texture but add a totally unique flavour to the rich fish. Finally we had three rolls; the bowler roller, dark crystal and southern. All sushi rolls were delicious but hands down our favourite was the southern. This roll incorporates Sozai's own creation of bbq eel where they substitute catfish in place of the eel. All rolls were a perfect balance of flavours and textures and the ingredients ultra fresh. There is definitely a reason why sozai has been awarded many accolades for their delicious food; I look forward to returning and doing the omakase. Hopefully the service will be better wheb we are at sitting at the sushi bar.
Had the sushi forward omakase meal, forget what it was called on the menu. The food was all very delicious and well presented. Having been lucky enough to have enjoyed high end sushi in much larger cities, I would say Sozai was pretty close in terms of food quality.The ambiance of the place is pretty lacking, but certainly not to the extent that it interfered with my enjoyment of the food. We sat at the sushi bar and had the owner prepare our food for the evening. His personality might be best described as gruff, but again it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the food.Overall I would recommend this to people who are looking for an upscale sushi experience in the metro Detroit area.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Outstanding omakase! Chef Hajime and his staff delivered a two hour experience that we will be talking about for a long time. An absolute joy from start to finish!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Cozy and homey spot for fresh, flavorful, and authentic Japanese food. I really enjoyed the ambiance of the place, the friendly service, and the overall experience. However, I would not return for the food itself as a vegan. I found the vegan options to lack flavor and creativity. I tried basically every vegan option on the menu and the highlights were the seaweed salad, cucumber salad, and fried mochi dessert. The deep forest roll was nice but really lacked a creamy or umami element to bring the flavors together. It somehow felt dry in your mouth. The fried tofu and mushrooms is one of the worst things I’ve ever eaten—it had a goey/slimy texture and absolutely no flavor, so eating it was actively unpleasant. The ume shiso was almost extraordinary. The shiso leaf flavor was surprising and enjoyable, but the roll again lacked a creamy or fatty element to not feel so dry. Overall I left wanting to love this place but also somewhat disappointed at the experience.Vegetarian options: Plenty of labeled vegan options
Sozai is my happy place! The people who work here are kind and knowledgeable, the menu is thoughtfully put together, and the food is delicious.
Wonderful Japanese cooking/sushi experience. Dishes are innovative and creative, showcasing a diversity of flavors, textures and artistry. The Sake selection is the best in the state and the Sake Master is a wizard with pairings and knowledge.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was out first experience at Sozai and it lived up to all the hype. The Omakase option we selected was beautifully curated, showcasing fresh fish from around the globe with a focus on sustainability. Every course was exquisite and unique. The sake recommendations paired wonderfully with each course, adding another layer to the dining experience. Finally, the staff was great, guiding us through each course. The pride and passion for what they do was apparent through the whole experience. We will definitely be returning to dine at Sozai!Kid-friendliness: Not for children.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omakase NAMI
Amazing Vegetarian food choices. Awesome service and atmosphere. I definitely recommend dining here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5