50 Best Japanese Restaurants near University Place

“Be going here over 15 years. Never disappointed!!!! Great people and great hosts!!!“

“The definition of a mom & pop shop that cares about what they do. Food is consistently great. I always order take out and the dishes are still always well-prepared and presented, quick service, etc. If you’re in the area and haven’t tried it then you’re robbing yourself.“

“We had so much fun! It was our first time there! It was so good and the waiters and waitresses are super friendly! The food was so good! Thank you for a great birthday 🥳“

“one word...EXCEPTIONAL! An absolute must visit.“

“I have been coming here for years and the food is awesome!“

“Great local Asian food place that has delicious food and yummy bubble tea. The prices are cheaper then many of the surrounding teriyaki places. They have seating, but not tons of them. My family enjoyd all the food and really enjoyed all the bubble tea.“

“I always get the vegetarian bento box, which has a nice variety and always fills me up and then some.“

“Food were delicious, beautifully prepared and service is over beyond!!! 100%“

“First order: I was really excited. The portions felt on par with what I would expect for the cost, and most importantly, the meals seemed fresh. The flavors were really good and packaged well. As someone who hates leftovers, I really enjoyed my first order. I would have given 4/5 stars.

My second order this week, not so much. (Maybe I ordered the wrong things this week). The breakfast portions were small (I was still hungry afterward), and the quality didn’t feel the same as the week before. The scrambled eggs with asparagus turned the eggs slimy and brown—not the most appealing. Dinners during the second week were decent but included fillers, like what appeared to be canned green beans. More roasted broccoli would have felt better, in my opinion.

So it depends on the week, I guess. I already ordered for next week, so we’ll see. I’ll update my review if the quality improves. I would order again for convenience (I’m currently postpartum, so having premade meals is super helpful!), but for this price point, I would expect the quality to stay consistent or improve.“

“My family visits Nari often and the staff goes out of their way to make us feel welcome. Their food is delicious and I love the energy they put into selecting cute and unique dishware. We always order sushi and my kids loves the katsu chicken. Don’t sleep on the desserts.“

“Beef teriyaki, sushi, and calamari are amazing!“

“Now that there is a great sushi chef there I hope that we will be seeing sushi added to the menu“

“This place is absolutely gorgeous!!! 10/10 would recommend. Everything is so fresh, I highly recommend getting their sashmi, itis so incredibly delicious. The service is also phenomenal! Everyone is so sweet and makes you feel you welcomed ☆“

“We tried the spicy pork salad, kimchi dumplings, and kingbap roll. All were delicious, especially the spicy pork salad. The spice level on the pork was perfect, good heat, but not make you cry hot, balanced well with some sweet. We will definitely go back.“

“Recently moved back home after 10 years living on the east coast. This was, hands down, the BEST sushi I have had since leaving Washington. The food is so fresh! I’m normally a tuna person but the Salmon Ladder was UNBELIEVABLY TASTY. Make sure to squeeze the lemon on top! Miso soup was perfect, and the spicy rainbow was so yummy! Even ordering this for delivery was perfect.“

“What can I say, I love this place!! I recommend the sushi made with tempura shrimp & the deep-fried, crispy gyoza. I odered the bulgogi that came with rice & salad... delicious! So much gogi, I needed to take it to go.

As someone who cares about the atmosphere & dining experience at restaurants, I would say that this place is extremely underrated. I give it 5/5. Don't let the outside location fool you. Dining in is a good idea if you're looking for a place to relax (maybe it's just me, but I feel like I'm at a spa when I'm here). I wish I knew about this place sooner. It would make for a good place to wait for traffic to clear up -- and maybe read a book or something, hehe.

If you're looking for a cozy place for a small family birthday lunch or dinner, this place is the type of place that can become a traditional spot. In fact, when I went, a family of seven held their son's birthday here.

FYI, there is parking & entrances on both sides of the building.“

“The ginger delight has 0 ginger flavor, and the only parking is street parking so when its full you get to walk 1-2 blocks to get there.
Food was still good, gals up front were polite and friendly, one of the chefs in the back would not stop staring at me tho and it made me v uncomfortable. Id get food from here again, but will definitely send my husband instead of picking it up myself“

“Service was great with large portions of food!“

“First time coming here last Friday. Came here with my cousin, we ordered the karaage chicken, tempura, sashimi rolls & spicy tuna roll. iIt was pretty good, I can tell everything was freshly made. I'd definitely come back“

“This is the best orange chicken place in Tacoma hands down.

Outdoor not really enticing, but don't be fooled. Inside is clean and cute. A bit dated, but that's part of the charm.

Well portioned servings of orange chicken and general tso. The radish kimchi could use a bit more work, but that's fine.

Service could also be friendlier, but that's not what we came for so overall, this place still deserves a solid 5 stars.“

“As someone from Hawaii who’s accustomed to Michelin-rated Japanese cuisine, I have high standards when it comes to sushi—and Sake Sushi & Grill absolutely delivered! I ordered the Chirashi (Sashimi Salad), and my husband had the Sushi Bento. Both dishes were outstanding. The sushi rice was a standout—perfectly cooked and seasoned, which is rare to find even at well-known spots. The selection of sashimi was exceptionally fresh, delicious, and beautifully presented. You could taste the care and quality in every bite. My husband couldn’t stop raving about his Sushi Bento dinner, and we both agreed: Sake Sushi & Grill has officially become our new favorite. If I could give it a Michelin rating, I would—hands down. We can’t wait to return!“

“I've been to many sushi places in the Tacoma/Seattle area and Fujiya certainly stands out as one the best. I can really only speak to the nigiri, but it is always fresh, melt in your mouth tender and generous slices of fish. So good! I want to go back just talking about it!“

“1st let me say..had food twice, once from order service and other in person. Both times the service and food were great! The manager is very nice and respectful along with the staff. The funny differences from other sushi restaurants are the fact you have to order everything by QR code ( so if you want a mobile device free night..not gonna happen) and your order comes via a robot! Now that I found funny because I kept on despite directions from the “robot waitress” trying to take food from the other shelves until I got used to things. Speaking on getting “used to”..try maybe 1 or 2 times order something small to get used to how the quantities are served. My friend meant to only get 2 of something and ended up with 3 and I had to eat the extra 1 for respect of the dining rules “whatever is left when you are done you must pay for”. Now the “all you can eat” bit. Please understand that the food here is really good and that they offer quite a unique variety of items to try and eat. That is the meaning of the “all you can eat” here. This is not a legit “all you can eat” restaurant . For $30 you are getting way good quality..so do you want good quality or high quantity? In this tight market you can’t really get both. So please be mindful & respectful of this. They do sadly have techniques to let you know when you are reaching “their” maximum..and after much thought…I can respect that. Overall the food, service and everything else was excellent. I ate mostly the sashimi which I thought tasted fresh and buttery when needed to be and when ate rolls I had the rolls that were cooked and those were handled expertly. My friends had the coconut shrimp which was the favorite for them and such like items. One said the ribs were tough and the fried rice was too hard. Overall I will return and be more “menu venturing “ knowing that there is actually a limit. Again..out of respect, please respect quality over quantity.“

“Teriyaki chicken has great char. Superior strip mall style ‘yaki with generous portions.

Tempura shrimp was large, light and crispy. Don’t let the rundown mall scare you off! This is good food, freshly prepared by a friendly owner!“

“The young man working there was very friendly and helpful. The food came out fast and was delicious. I got the spicy pork and it's perfect. Hot enough to make you sweat, but not regret. The portion could serve two people, so if your partner likes the same food it becomes very cheap. I plan to go again.“

“Stopped in today for the first time for a quick bite while running errands.... smelled delicious driving by...greeted with a genuine smile by a friendly gentleman (likely owner or manager). Lunch menu very reasonable.
I had the spicy chicken teriyaki to go.
Graat sized portion of Chicken. Chicken was tender, juicy, Hot, fresh, and perfectly spicy to keep delicious flavor with a kick. Plenty of sauce. A few onions on top gave it great flavor. 2 big scoops of sticky white rice and a decent sized side salad with dressing in a separate to go box.
So delicious.

Ended up stopping back there again on the way home tonight to pick up dinner to share the experience.
Second visit. Greeted again with a genuine smile by a nice lady. Fast efficient order to go. Gentleman from earlier remembered me! Family Loved it too!

Will return. Excited to dine in next time. Thank you!“

“Despite the exterior looking a little worse for wear, it's very cozy and friendly inside.
We ordered the chicken yakisoba and it was some of the best I've had in a loooong time--plus there was enough to last for two meals. And even though we ordered take-out, they still served us a complementary egg drop soup. Very pleased to have discovered this place and will definitely be coming back!“

“Good foods, good price and they are very kind for customers. Recommend 10 of 10“

“The Gig Harbor store really does a great job with their displays. my kids enjoyed the valentines day photo booth!!“

“We loved their special rice combo so much that we had them cater for our wedding! They were so happy and excited to be apart of it. When we picked up the food they had given us a large portion and everyone at the wedding enjoyed it! Will be back for more!“

“Best Teriyaki in town hands down. Best Teriyaki in town hands down. Best Teriyaki in town hands down. Best Teriyaki in town hands down. Best Teriyaki in town hands down. Best Teriyaki in town hands down. Best Teriyaki in town hands down.“

“I stopped by on a whim because I was nearby, it was lunchtime, and I had never been here before. The interior is charmingly decorated and welcoming, and the person behind the counter greeted me as soon as I walked in the door. The prices feel reasonable to me, and I really enjoyed my food. I ordered the beef bulgogi, which was delicious, and the service was prompt and polite. I will definitely be returning!“

“Ordered the Chicken Teriyaki comes with rice & lettuce salad. The Beef Yakisoba was delicious comes with (1) scoop of rice. Overall the cost is affordable compared to other places. The service was friendly & fast too. I will definitely go back.“

“I can’t believe I’ve never stopped here before, this place serves some of the best sushi I’ve had in a while. Meals are a very reasonable price, most being around $15 or less. The two servers we had were very sweet, me and my friends will definitely be coming back.“

“I’ve been here several times for both dine-in and takeout, and it’s always been a great experience. The service is consistently friendly, and the food is amazing. The rolls are flavorful with plenty of great options to choose from. The chef’s choice nigiri always includes excellent selections, and the teriyaki dishes are delicious as well. Highly recommend!“

“The food is so delicious!!!“

“The food is good, BUT in that past year they have become SOoooo EXPENSIVE and its NOT worth the money any longer. The portions used to be larger and now they barely fill their boxes. Not going back because of those reasons. They need to drop the prices again and add more food to boxes again.“

“Wonderful service and the food is very tasty.“

“The food was absolutely delicious, and great portions. We were traveling all day and it was so nice to have some warm and fresh food! The egg drop soup to start off was amazing, and we got the Garlic Chicken and Bulgogi Beef, both are worth trying. The fried rice was such a nice balance to the meal, not too overpowering or greasy like we’ve had at other restaurants. Definitely recommend!“

“It’s under new ownership and I didn’t know that when I placed my order. This used to be my favorite place to get Mongolian beef. When I ordered online I asked for ‘extra onion/veggies’ my fault for not specifying only the veggies that normally come with the meal and they added broccoli which turned the dish into the taste of broccoli and beef- which I didn’t want. Also, this dish has much more kick to it than the previous owners, so those with heartburn be aware. Also there is no note on their site stating if dishes are spicy. Nice enough woman working at front, but when I called to ask about the broccoli and let her know it ruined the taste, she explained why there was broccoli she had nothing left to add. An offer to remake or correct would have been nice, or at least an ‘I’m sorry’. Again my fault for not specifying what kind of extra veggies.“

“YESS!!! amazing place when at the mall! I’ll always eat here!!“

“Our first time trying this restaurant, I drive past it on my way to work. So I finally stopped in.
I was nervous cuz it looked closed & the open sign wasn’t on. It was indeed open thankfully 😂
The customer service was nice, he was very helpful & friendly.
The food came out quickly and hot.

I ordered the Steele st special B all my favorite things in 1 box. It definitely hit all my expectations. I will get this again anytime

My daughter got the bbq pork fried rice, no veggies. She also got enjoyed her food.

On the side we shared an order of egg rolls. Very tasty.

Not one complaint from us today.
Very happy & satisfied with our choice to stop in today.
Thank you ☺“

“We had Destiny as our server and she was the best I’ve had in a very long time. She was accommodating, friendly, personable.. honestly the best server that I’ve had maybe ever. She made me so excited to come back. we were blown away with her service.“

“Last night was our first dining experience at Domo Sushi, and we definitely plan to return! The food, the service, and the atmosphere were all enjoyable. Thank you for a wonderful night out.“

“We order from Yum Yum Teriyaki often and are always satisfied with their food and service. We especially like the house Yakisoba and beef broccoli, but all their food is delicious! The owners are very friendly and work hard to please. We highly recommend this restaurant!“

“DO NOT RECOMMEND It's what I pushed and then all the sudden it said I recommend it no I don't I went in today to go get my Beef Teriyaki with fried rice I paid extra for the rice. I ended up not getting a sauce for my fried rice so I asked for one. I showed the girl that I didn't get one and she was rude to me in front of all the customers saying that it doesn't come with 1. Trying to charge me $1 so I'm confused that not only did I just pay 12.49 plus 1.99 for some rice and you want to charge me for a sauce. She slammed down 2 sauces and said "next time I'm charging you". I took 1 to my table and said you know what I'll put it back because I ordered a side of fried rice and will give my mom mine. Shes slamming the ice around etc... Also I had bean sprouts in my food a few weeks ago when I asked for none in 3 of my meals. I didn't complain. I did have 2 complaints from the past about sweet and sour chicken being hard it was all like bone cartridges. If you complain one time the rest of the time on they treat you like crap. I'm done with going here I've had enough of thier bs.“

“This was so good that I forgot to take pictures before starting to eat. It's unfortunate this is a place we'll end up hitting when we're in town, as opposed to being local to us.

If you happen to be staying in one of the hotels that's a walking distance from here, I would absolutely recommend you go in and grab something. You will probably be able to get two or maybe even three meals out of each order, so it would be great to take back with you.“

“Lived in Gig Harbor for 2yrs now and this is our first time here. The owner was at the cash register and took out order. She was so sweet and friendly and all smiles. We love being greeted like this. Such a breath of fresh air.

We got the moon river and ahi tower sushi with cold sake. Sooo good!! Very well balanced and fresh. Each bite was full of flavor. We didn't even remember to dip into the soy sauce. Which is the first time ever that we didn't use soy sauce. Just goes to show the sushi was perfect on its own no need to add anything else.

The free soups as appetizers and free homemade crab balls for dessert was such a nice treat.

We really appreciate all the extra touches. Was a beautiful atmosphere. Very welcoming and good quick service. We will absolutely be regulars here.“

“Stopped in for a quick bite. We had the vegetable tempora as a starter. Husband had the Phoenix and I had a order of California rolls. Excellent food“

“Huge portions of food for great price. Extremely good and fresh tasting food! The food is amazing and VERY consistent. No fat on meat, chicken is moist never dried out, and there's tons to choose from. I was shopping at nearby store with my mom and we decided to try this place for lunch. I haven't gone to any other teriyaki place since!! Best place! And very attentive service too.“