Okinawa
148 Wildwood Pkwy, Homewood, AL, 35209
Okinawa Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Homewood for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Homewood for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Homewood for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
148 Wildwood Pkwy
Homewood, AL, 35209 - Phone (205) 582-8969
- Website https://www.okinawasushiusa.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Alana M.
My boyfriend and I were really in the mood for "hibachi" food. This was great! Obviously without the hibachi grill show, but amazing food and wonderful service. Reasonable prices and a nice feel within made it feel trendy yet comfortable. This is definitely our go to when we are in the mood for the food and don't want to pay for a "show." I can't wait to try their sushi.
(5)Sandra W.
Out of town..looking for my sushi fix. Ordered the chefs special nine piece..honestly the quality was unimpressive. The salmon was of medium quality..fatty in undertone and finish. Yellowtail had a vein of texture through it, which I have never experienced before. Shrimp was shrimp..what more can I say? The temperature was far from ideal..I prefer my sushi cold, not wilting over the rice. Green tea icecream, unimpressive..oily after finish. Middle range sushi, middle range review.....
(3)B. H.
Had lunch here with a friend and it was a great experience. I had a bento box, he had sushi. The food came out quickly, and tasted great. I still don't know how they have what seemed to be 8 inch prawns, but they tasted great. The bento box had fried prawns and veggies, and the frying was great as it was not oily at all, just great crunch on the outside and moist tasty food on the inside. The service is also great, the staff was incredibly attentive and polite. The price was great too for lunch. I can't wait to go back and try more sushi or dinner.
(5)Harriet T.
In town from Memphis. This was close to our hotel. We LOVED it-food was great and the presentation was beautiful. We ate dinner on Saturday and went back for lunch on Sunday!
(5)Scott W.
Menu is sophisticated and comprehensive. An excellent staff is eager to help you find just what you want. If you like tuna be sure to order the Tuna Amazing roll.
(4)Will B.
Decided I needed some Japanese food for dinner and was recommended Okinawa from co-worker. First thing it a very nice building, but when i got there I thought it was closed, turns out i was just first of the dinner crowd. Ordered a Kirin then started with one of their 25% off rolls, the "Lucky Roll" just to make sure it would be a good dinner. Roll was very good and spicy. Ordered the Shrimp Tempura meal as my main course. It came with soup or salad, I got the salad with ginger dressing. Very good homemade dressing. Entree was very large and looked great. Shrimp was large and tasty, tempura batter was perfectly cooked. It was pretty large and could not eat it all so had to take it home. Only downside was restaurant was very warm, it was 104 outside but still seemed like they did not have the air on.
(4)Nicole M.
I would highly recommend this restaurant. We were heading down I65 to get back to Florida and found this restaurant on Yelp. The customer service was excellent and it may have been the best hibachi we have ever had and by far the best Ginger dressing. Loved the decor and atmosphere inside. Will make it a point to eat there again while traveling.
(5)Colin L.
Excellent food and excellent service! The waiter was very patient and helpful to help my group find the best options for us. They have sashimi as well as sushi and both are delicious and well prepared.
(5)Alice J.
This may have been the best sushi I have had outside of Asia. The golden spider (fried soft shell crab) was superb. Truly a soft shell, not a paper shell. The presentation is excellent, the ambience inside very unexpected from the look of the place outside. The staff is very attentive, my tea was never empty. I wish I had a place like this where I live, but while I am here on business...I'll be back tomorrow.
(5)Michael B.
Totally changed my world in regards to sushi. I've had sushi before and supposedly from some of the best places in Birmingham...this place rocks my world every time! Tonight was tiffany rolls, and a chef combination of some sort (can't remember what it was called) and a shrimp something or other appetizer. Everything was amazing! If I have a choice, it's the only sushi place I will eat.
(5)Lisa N.
I'm surprised that I've never been to this place before last week! The setting was very chill and modern. We had the Spider roll and the hibachi tofu. The tofu was cooked wonderfully! Crispy on the outside and soft and juicy on the inside. The staff was very nice as well. Overall, I had a great first experience here and I'm gonna come back soon!
(5)David F.
Very nice atmosphere, good sushi and very pleasant service. Would go there again when in Birmingham.
(4)Justin W.
This place lived up to the Yelp hype in my books. I loved it's strange, but unique total restaurant atmosphere/experience. I had one of the combo sushi plates (Maki?) for someteen dollars, and it was more than enough. I think I got about 18 pieces or so of various types of sushi. The grilled stuff was delicious, too. I'll make this a regular favorite for sure.
(5)Michael F.
My in-laws were in town and offered to take my wife and I out for dinner so we decided on sushi and looked up to see which places had good reviews. Okinawa came out on top so we gave it a try. The quality exceeded what we thought could be had in Birmingham. The salads were exceptionally fresh, the ginger salad dressing was outstanding, and the fried calamari was also exceptional. We ordered four different rolls (California, Christmas, Dragon, and Tuna rolls) and were even more impressed with the high quality of both the food and the ingredients. The service was incredible and our waitress was not only charming and personable but also extremely knowledgeable. This is now our favourite restaurant in Birmingham and the only place we will now go to for Japanese cuisine and sushi.
(5)Amulya R.
I love it. The ichiban rolls are awesome. Food is great and so is the service!
(5)Tynesheia O.
Really nice atmosphere and the food was quite delicious. I didn't expect it to be that pricey but overall the experience was good.
(4)Kelli R.
Service was friendly and prompt, but food not as stellar. Average for Alabama, not for sophisticated palates. Sushi at lunch was cold, pre-made and lacking texture due to long grain (not sushi) rice. Bento salmon was very thin and overcooked. Hibachi steak was cubed cheap cut, no veggies in fried rice,side veggies mushy and sad. Won't come here again!
(2)Bryant F.
A self-avowed sushi connoisseur dining here with family, I found the selection to be on par with the quality and interaction with the sushi chef to be well above par. Fatty tuna (Toro) was not available but the chef personally selected the belly (fattier) areas of the salmon and tuna; and the cuts were large, meaty, and succulently fatty. My wife, accompanying me on military travel, was on a restricted diet; the server took careful directions and did an exceptional improvisation that was well enjoyed. The service here is among the best I'ver ever experienced. Don't miss this jewel in little Homewood, AL!!!!!
(5)Brian C.
The sushi is beautiful, delicious and fresh and the service is friendly and attentive. The interior is wonderful. Simply the best sushi place in Birmingham. Highly recommended.
(5)Rach M.
The sushi here is fantastic. We went in, were immediately greeted by our waiter and had to wait all of five minutes for our food. The fish was fresh and very tasty. The Okinawa roll was unlike anything I had ever tried but I really enjoyed it. Their nigiri is also very good. All in all, I would definitely recommend this place to sushi lovers.
(5)Julie L.
Been here several times for lunch and dinner. If you come at lunchtime, don't be surprised if the place looks closed as you drive up Wildwood Parkway - the entrance is on the side of the building, so there may not be cars parked on the side you see first (if you're coming from Lakeshore). Their sushi lunch special is a great buy (sushi isn't really cheap anywhere, so a good deal makes me happy). Lots of options for tradtional and what I like to call "Americanized" sushi (rolls with cooked ingredients and non-traditional stuff like strawberry sauce). Service is always nice and prompt.
(4)Ashley T.
I came to this place since I was craving Japanese and this restaurant was on the way to the Birmingham Airport. The ambience of the place is a bit on the fancy side, but no need to dress up for it. The staff is super friendly and always willing to answer any questions patiently. We were there during their lunch specials, which in my opinion were superb. You can get three tasty sushi rolls for less than 10 dollars. As a Californian, that was simply unheard of. I was even skeptical that the rolls wouldn't be that good, but my doubts were completely unfounded. As soon as I had a bite of the Shrimp Tempura roll, I knew I was in for a treat. I also ordered the Spicy Tuna and Philadelphia rolls, which were just as good as the former one. The rest of our party ordered from their Hibachi lunch specials. Steak and chicken. I did not try the chicken, but I was told it was very good. The one who ordered the steak also added a side of shrimp (you can add all sorts of sides to the Hibachi lunch menu) both of which were delicious. Their sauce is definitely tasty. Also, all of their lunch specials (including the meals mentioned here) come with soup or salad. I can't remember what kind of soup is the one they offered, but when we asked if we could have Miso soup, they substituted with no extra charge. Overall a great dining experience: great food, service, place, for a decent price.
(5)Shay A.
Best Sushi in Birmingham! Great service! Ask for Sara... Lots of options for sushi and Japanese Food. Always busy and still get food out fast.
(5)Whitney B.
This is now my favorite Japanese place in Bham. Why? Because our delightful server (name withheld to protect the innocent) actually grabbed the chopsticks from my friend and fixed his sushi for him and fed it to him. I could not stop laughing, and this alone is worthy of a high rating. I've only been to this place twice, but both times the service has been excellent. One time I tried a deep fried sushi roll, and it was great. This last time I tried the x'mas roll. It was awesome. I am a fan of their miso soup and house salad. I love ginger dressing. Both times I ordered hibachi, one time chicken and one time steak. Was everyday hibachi food, but still tasty. I've also tried their hibachi tofu. Big and fluffy and just right. The prices are a little high, but it looks like they usually have some kind of special going on. Yum yum.
(4)Rebecca K.
Really good food, not really good service. There wasn't a consistent server, so it made it hard to ask for anything needed. Again, really good quality food. But the bad service trumped the good food.
(3)Danielle G.
This place is good! I liked their hibachi sauce especially. I believe they use a type of brown curry in it that I've only had at places in San Francisco. I ordered the combo hibachi (chicken and steak) to go. I thought the place was really nice inside as well. The fried rice and veggies were pretty good and the miso soup was tasty.
(5)Larry C.
The staff was friendly, attentive, and extremely nice. Reviews are spot on. The roll menu is VERY long and REALLY good! Highly recommend this place for an amazing sushi experience! Plan to share so that you can sample a number of different flavors.
(4)Evan F.
I was very impressed by Okinawa. I ordered the Sashimi Deluxe (chef's choice), some sort of variation of a Volcano Roll (can't remember the name), and the Tofu Hibachi dinner. In all fairness, the Sashimi was a little better than average. The octopus was some of the best I've ever had, but the "usuals" (tuna, salmon, etc.) were disappointingly average. The Volcano Roll was delicious and met my "spicy standard." The Tofu Hibachi was the high point of the meal: the tofu being of the highest quality I have ever tasted. To top it off, everything except the alcohol was 30% off. I'm sure this discount won't last so now's as good a time as any to give Okinawa a try.
(4)Dj A.
Omfg! Heavenly is the only way to describe my first experience at Okinawa. My current wife and I visited on a Friday evening around 9pm. There were just a few other couples eating, so seating and service was quick. The waitress was really nice and although her English was a little difficult to understand, she was a total treasure. We started with a couple of sweet teas, normally I would have a real drink, but I'd just smoked some killer green and didn't want to hurt that buzz. We ordered the deep fried soft shell crab appetizer that came with a sweet chili sauce for dipping. Wow, we were completely blown away with the freshness and amazing flavors. I kept the sweet chili sauce and ate it with my 2012 sushi roll, which was also fresh and delicious. My wife got another sushi roll, that also has tempura shrimp in it. The sushi was amazing, I'm not much of a sashimi guy, but next time I'm going for it. Everything smelled so damn fresh and it all tasted amazing. I am now a true devotee!
(5)D L.
It was not that good. But we didn't order sushi. That is what everyone around us seemed to be ordering.
(3)Chad L.
Great fish, great service, great ambiance - 5 minutes from my easy chair,
(5)Jamie B.
Great place....particularly for dinner. It is a fav at lunch (near offices) and I think struggles for dinner....therefore...they give discounts....great service, great sushi...great prices....this is our new fav for Sushi
(4)Tatum H.
The service was great, the sushi was just average, being from the Seattle and living in LA I've had way better sushi, what I can say is that I didn't get sick so I was happy about that :)
(3)Corey P.
We decided to have dinner here one night because we are both fans of Japanese food, and hadn't tried it yet. We were both very impressed. The sushi was excellent. The miso soup was excellent. The udon I had was excellent. My boyfriend's shrimp teriyaki was excellent. We left very full and very satisfied. We went for dinner on a Friday night, and it was not very busy (we actually thought it might be closed when we pulled up). I think this is because of the somewhat isolated location. It is a little unfair that it is not very busy at night because the restaurant itself is very good. And really, it's very close to several places to run errands before or after.
(5)Sean M.
A good little sushi place. I definitely recommend the power roll. The atmosphere in the joint could be improved. It just seemed a little scattershot and could use the talents of a quality interior designer. My hot sake could have come out a bit hotter. It seemed to cool down rather quick. Go for their sushi though, it's very good.
(3)Dan H.
This place is wonderful. The service is impeccable, waitstaff are incredibly friendly, the sushi is top notch. Wish I could eat here every day.
(5)Phoebe W.
I would actually give this 3.5 stars, if I could. I came here for dinner with some friends who really liked the place. The service was excellent and personable, and the interior decor is modern and lovely. I got the Spicy Roll Dinner, which came with 3 types of spicy sushi rolls (8 pieces each) and salad. The ginger dressing on the salad was very tasty, although the texture could be thickened up a bit. I can tell that the sushi chef is still learning because my rolls weren't as tightly bound as they should have been (some of them opened up when you picked them up). I wasn't super pleased to see that the raw fish in my rolls wasn't a whole piece --it was minced fish, instead. I also didn't think any of the rolls were spicy despite being touted as spicy. However, despite these issues, they did taste good, even if the technique and texture were a bit lacking. Some of my friends got some of the more exotic specialty rolls, and these definitely looked better (though they were more expensive), so I will have to give their sushi another try. I didn't get a chance to get some sashimi or nigiri this time, either, but will do so on another trip. The prices were fairly reasonable, considering you get an extra 20% off your dinner ticket right now. The basic rolls were very inexpensive (about $5 for 8 pieces), but the specialty rolls averaged at $14-15 (which is a little pricey). One friend ordered a hibachi dinner, which looked plentiful and delicious, and I'm also curious about trying the tonkatsu. I will definitely have to come back and give it another try. Hopefully the rolls will be better. I can't say, though, that the rolls are worse than any other sushi joint in Bham (Surin and Sekisui, I'm looking at you). But the service really puts this place over the top and is the #1 reason why I'd consider going back.
(4)Bubby T.
Menu was above average. Good combination platters. Sushi had fresh taste. Servers very personable. Only negative was that the background music seemed out of place and distracting. All in all, we will probably return.
(3)Leanne D.
The food was tasty and beautifully presented. Our servers were very attentive. We really enjoyed the decor. Sushi is the biggest part of the menu but there some good alternatives if you don't like sushi. My only caveat was that they were out were out of several choices of beer that a coworker was trying to order.
(5)Guam D.
The food seemed fresh, the seafood in my soup didn't seem fishy at all. The noodle soup i ordered tasted great!
(5)Jeff T.
My coworker and I stopped in here for dinner and were both impressed. It's clean and new on the interior, and the staff is extremely friendly. The food was great too, I had a few sushi rolls and my coworker had the sashimi combo plate. Good prices too
(5)Katie S.
I finally came here with my dad, stepmom, and boyfriend. I had previously only gotten takeout, but I'm happy that we had a sit-down meal. We had several of the rolls, and shrimp tempura. The shrimp tempura is awesome and huge! The samurai roll is also very good, I would recommend it. This is a nice peaceful sushi place. The lighting is low and the food is great. If you're looking for a place to hold a small gathering with friends and family or a meeting, this seems like a great place.
(4)Brad C.
Food was alright. Not my most favorite from a jap steakhouse. However, the service was very pleasing, fast, and friendly. That gets my 4 star rating.
(4)Richard T.
Fantastic food! Friendly and helpful service. Best Japanese restaurant in town! If you want solid, authentic Japanese food without all the fuss, this is the place to go. Great take out too!!!!
(5)Alex P.
Pretty awesome sushi spot. It's not glamorous, it's not trendy and its located in a chain filled strip mall. However, the sushi is great and priced very very competitively. FILET MIGNON HIBACHI - large portion, actually ended up sharing it. The meat was very well prepared, flavorful as I would have expected. SALMON SUSHI - had one of the rolls (around $15) and it was goo GREAT AMBIANCE INSIDE - it's not upscale, but tastefully done. Casual, nice water feature, cozy setup.
(4)Allison E.
We have been here twice now and have enjoyed it each time. The sushi is fresh, they offer so many speciality rolls (almost an overwhelming amount), hibachi items, etc.. - something for even the non sushi lovers! I didn't notice if they have a full bar, but I am almost certain they do not but they are offering sake, wine & beer. Price point for everything is about average and the service has always been really good too. During our last visit our order took a long time, although I didn't really notice because hubby and I were having some good convo- ha! The waitress brought over some complimentary edamame because we were waiting so long. Fab customer service! We have tried several rolls here (check out my pics!), but we favor the tuna avocado roll, dynamite roll, hamachi sushi and hubby really likes the tiffany roll. The fried rice is a perfect portion for two and is really yummy - it has a different taste than other fried rice I have had, we really liked it. The gyoza is also perfect for sharing. Close to home and serving up some delish, fresh sushi!
(4)Marcelo A.
The rolls tasted premade and the waitresses dont keep track of their own tables. We were asked by three different waitresses what we'd like even after we ordered, it was an absolute mess. Over half the menu is fried so if you dislike that I suggest you look elsewhere. Service also took over 20 minutes even with an empty house.
(2)Jaime P.
Very good! Great atmosphere and service is awesome. The sashimi was good the rolls could have been a little better. Fried raspberry cheesecake was the best!!!!
(4)Brie G.
Everything about it was pretty fantastic. The service was incredibly fast (admittedly, we dined on a Tuesday), but still. We didn't wait more than 10 minutes for our sushi to get to the table. The servers were polite and knew what everything was supposed to be. My partner's Okinawa roll arrived without the strawberry sauce and the server immediately noticed and brought it to the table. We will definitely go back.
(5)Massimo F.
In few words I could say that: the sushi is good! Their sushi rolls are good bcz (I think) the amount of fish it comes in it is more than the other sushi restaurants in town. For that reason, the rolls are particularly enjoyable. The sushi nigiri is as good as the other restaurants. Sashimi... good, but again, nothing special. Basically, I don't think the fish here is anything fresher than the other top sushi restaurants in town. Good place
(4)Natasha S.
I was a bit skeptical by the looks, however, once you enter you'd be surprised by how nice the restaurant is. The decor is modern and the menu is extensive. The service was splendid and we were seated right away. The sushi was really good. Not my favorite but right up there.The price was right. I'd definite go back!
(4)Cheryl M.
Loved it. I had the Okinawa salad,. I ate every bite but if you don't care for Wasabi, do not order this. It has a Wasabi sauce that will clear out your sinuses. I also had the dancing dragon roll sushi. Delicious. Even my fiancé, who isn't a fan of sushi, enjoyed it. He had the filet and shrimp hibachi. Filet was tender, shrimp was succulent. Overall am excellent meal with great service. Beer, wine, and sake. No mixed drinks. Prices were reasonable. We will be back!
(5)J P.
Really good sushi - good value - nice place to eat. Had the "Hot Girl" roll (spicy salmon, avocado, cream cheese, deep-fried): Recommended! Decor might be a bit noisy if they are busy but it wasn't bad. Good place for a casual business dinner but it might get noisy if groups or kids are eating then. Good cold sake selection but not that many.
(4)Cesar G.
Good service, food was good as well I had the Samurai Roll as well as some sashimi. Fair ambiance.
(4)Mary Cathryn P.
I couldn't find a thing I didn't like about this place. Our server was the sweetest, most attentive woman and she was helpful at suggesting good menu options. The beer was cold, the saki was hot, and the food was delicious. The Fuji Mountain Roll is probably the best, most refreshing sushi roll I've ever eaten. I would definitely visit this place again if I was craving sushi in Bham.
(5)Missy N.
Love this place. The waitstaff is superb and the food is excellent. If you sit at the sushi bar you get a freebie sushi plate. Its always excellent and typically it's something I've not tried before. The sushi is always fresh! A big plus is that they also have cooked foods for those who refuse to eat sushi. Favorite sushi? White tuna sashimi. Favorite cooked food? It's a toss up between the chicken Katsu and the Teriyaki bento box. The bento box includes meat of your choice, spring rolls, California rolls, rice and soup.
(5)Debbie C.
I was scared to go in because the lot was empty and it looked abandoned. Turns out it was just a really slow night. I was the only one there for a good hour before another table walked in. The food was great. Service was excellent. I will be back to try out more stuff!
(4)Nick O.
4.5 stars The food was excellent but not mind blowing. The service, however, was awesome. Our server was incredibly polite and charming. The ambiance was very pleasant, despite the fact that we brought our 4 and 6 year old. The kids loved the chicken hibachi.
(5)Katie P.
Today was my oldest daughter's fifth birthday and hibachi is one of her favorite meals! The reviews for this place brought us in and I was immediately disappointed that there was no table top service. The food and service made up for it. We will add it to out regular family eateries and be regular patrons going forward. Yelpers got this one right!!
(5)Jason W.
This is the first time I come here to eat sushi, did not disappoint, fish is fresh sushi do great, I think I would have been off from them .
(5)Mark G.
Here on business and came to eat due to rating on Yelp! The parking and dining room were empty! I was nervous. But the sushi and service was great. Birmingham, support this place or they are going to go away.
(5)John S.
First time trying No wait seating for lunch I tried the Chicken Teriyaki Bento Box. Includes soup, salad, California roll, spring roll, rice, chicken and mixed vegetables. I did not care for the soup at all. Salad was good, nothing special. I was disappointed in the California roll. Was good not great. Spring roll was good just a bit on the small side. Chicken was very good, serving size seemed a bit small. Rice was just right for eating with chopsticks. Mixed vegetables particularly the carrots not a crisp as I expected. All-in-all was good but not counting down until my next trip. Will give it another shot.
(3)Miranda C.
WE LOVE OKINAWA! I am a student at Samford and bring my friends here every chance we get to go to lunch. Coming from the Gulf Coast, I know good sushi. This is ahhmazing. The staff is so nice, I just want to give our server a hug. This is our "place."
(5)Arsh D.
This place was fantastic. The ambiance was amazing. The waitstaff was superb. The hibachi and tempura were excellent. The tonkatsu was sub-par, but not too bad. The SUSHI tho. The SUSHI was AMAZING. Omg. I had the rainbow roll and I couldn't have been happier. The red snapper just melted in my mouth. It was all so delicious. I can't wait to go back for more! Pricing is not bad for a nicer sushi place. For a family of three we paid about $80, tip included, not skimping on the sushi we desired. If you're going for a dinner, they're going to run you around $20 for one person including a drink. If you just want sushi, the rolls are $5-15 each roughly. Totally worth it and I'll be back for my birthday in February! (Also I know it's silly, but I loved all their pretty glowy lights and the color-changing led candles on each table!! Ee!)
(5)Chris N.
This is my go to place for sushi during lunch. The service here is always great. You get good food for a decent price. If you haven't tried this place...you should.
(4)Keefer B.
Looks sketchy, but a great sushi place. Relatively inexpensive for sushi, and the handrolls are the best deal in town.
(5)Kylea C.
I really dig this place. I've kind of become accustomed to really being disappointed with restaurants located along Lakeshore, but this one has never disappointed. Their sushi is really good and always fresh, and their hibachi is delicious, too. The hibachi portions are huge, so up get plenty of bang for your buck. I like the environment. From the outside, it doesn't look like anything special. But from the inside it's really nice. It has low lighting that sets a relaxed vibe, quiet music, colorful lighting, and a pretty sweet water feature. Good vibe, good food- you can't really go wrong with this place.
(4)Mandy B.
We found this place thru Yelp and it was wonderful! The sushi was delicious and he service was some of the best we've had in a while! They were very friendly, attentive (but not annoyingly so), kept our drinks filled and very helpful with choosing was to order. We highly recommend it and will be going back!
(5)Dean K.
My wife, son and I went to Okinawa for the 1st time. We loved this place. We went in at 530 on a Saturday night and there was nobody in this place. I was a little skeptical at first. We order sushi and some apps. It was great and the service was the same.
(5)John C.
Absolutely the best in Birmingham! We have tried a few and this place is amazing. Ask for whatever is not on the menu. Hamachi necks amazing!
(5)Ee Vonn Y.
The setup of the restaurant is gorgeous. This would definitely be a nice place to for a romantic dinner. I loved staring at the goldfish at the sushi bar and the nice waterfall display that separates the entrance from the dining area. The Dancing Dragon Roll wasn't anything better than sushi I've had from Whole Foods. I wanted to like it but I needed lots of wasabi-soy sauce to detect any flavor. The calamari was basically onion rings with that thick layer of removable breading. There was barely any sauce.
(3)Hayden K.
I have very high standards for Japanese food and this is definitely the best Hibachi dinner I've ever had. Make sure to order the beef negamaki appetizer as well. The service was incredibly quick and our servers were extremely nice. I will definitely be going back. They also have a really cool water fall in the restaurant!
(5)Dale S.
Perfect in every way! Nice atmosphere, prompt friendly service & GREAT sushi....who could ask for more? Try this gem, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Amy C.
I am only giving Okinawa a 3 star review but there are many factors going into my review of this place. I will break them down below 1. Ambiance - I think Okinawa has a nice atmosphere but the decorations are kind of strange to me. They've selected weird gauzy patterned cloths to serve as dividers for there restaurant but they look just like tacky shower curtains. The water fountain wall is pretty cool though. I came earlier during dinner and when the restaurant is emptier you can hear every conversation echo around you loud and clear. It was a lot better when things got busier. I give 3/5 for ambiance 2. Service - the waitresses are very nice but we had a bit of a language barrier with our server. Another waitress stepped in to help out so it wasn't too big of a deal. We waited a really long time for our meal and saw every customer that came in after us get served first. We did order a lot of food and we weren't in a rush so again not too big of a deal. 4/5 for service. 3. Food - I would compare the sushi at Okinawa to Osushi in Hoover. The rice is tougher than I personally think it should be. I like it when sushi rice is a little softer but not mushy, and it kind of just glides into your mouth just like the fish does. Also since they plate everything and serve all entrees at once I think our rolls were sitting out for a while as they were plating the sashimi and nigiri which was part of the reason. Most of the fish was very good and fresh tasting. (Unfortunately no sushi in Birmingham will ever be completely fresh because of the location and food safety regulations :(. The salmon was the best but it's hard to mess up salmon since it defrosts well due to its high fat content. Tuna and yellowtail were ok and the mackerel was just plain awful! Very fishy tasting and I couldn't eat it :( So.. the Fantastic Roll was a 3.5/5, salmon / yellowtail and other fish I couldn't identify was a 4/5, tuna a 3.5/5, mackerel a 0. I really liked that they have green tea ice cream, it was pretty good! Not many restaurants in Bham have green tea ice cream :) If any Birmingham foodies are trying to figure out the best sushi restaurants, here are my ratings for all the ones I've tried.. Jinsei: I give it a solid 4/5 but it really is the best sushi spot in Birmingham. Yes, it is too expensive but go on Sundays for the $9 rolls Osushi: pretty good overall for value and price. I would but it right up next to Okinawa and I think either of the two would just come down to personal preference. IMO Okinawa was just a little overwhelming with all the roll selections, and I like the ambiance much better at Osushi Maki Fresh: Best value sushi, especially the Sunday 2 for $5. It's not amazing, but if you just need a quick sushi fix Maki fresh is awesome Don't bother with any other places (Surin, Sushi Village, Ginza, etc)
(3)Dean A.
I was going to drive a little farther and go to a Vietnamese restaurant, but saw that they were closed for the night... So figured that I would try here. Sushi in Homewood Alabama? Ok. Why not. Rather glad that I stopped. It did take me a few minutes to find: they aren't where yelp show it them to be... The restaurant is next to the strip mall housing planet fitness. I had miso, the sashimi sampler, and Yaki Udon. While the miso was ok. But the sashimi sampler was very nice (and 9 pieces for about $10?). The Yaki udon was very, very good! Would I come back here? Most definitely! Would I drive out of my way to come here? Yes. I would. Hopefully I will be able to get back here before I leave the area.
(4)Losa O.
Just got here from California, sushi was great. Server/waitress was rude with attitude. Asked for a few plates & forks for the kids since we were all sharing, she comes back with one fork. Once we got our check she came back 15 seconds later to ask if we were ready with it while we were trying to calculate tip amount, came back 10 seconds later & asked again while we were still trying to get our cash together for her, just rude!!! Didn't even say thank you! Rude, rude & rude! Overall, food was good customer service bad.
(3)Laura S.
Really great service!!! The atmosphere is very calming and not too loud. The sushi was fairly good. I had the Black Angel and my girlfriend has the Okinawa roll, and both were good! Definitely will be coming back here
(4)Emily K.
Fantastic food! I got the tofu teriyaki, and it was incredible. Tofu is either awful Or fantastic, depending on how it is cooked. Okinawa does it perfectly, and it is delicious!
(5)James T.
After reading the reviews I really wanted to like this place. But a sushi bar is all about the fish; there is nowhere to hide. It is perfect or it isn't. First, the good. The staff is attentive and efficient. The presentation of the sushi is very good if not always perfectly traditional. But those departures may have more to do with local preferences. The restaurant is inviting and clean. And some of the fish was fine. These days most of the salmon and hamachi are farm raised and such variance as there is boils down to how the itamai breaks down the fish. The best, fattiest pieces should be used for nigiri and sashimi with the less desirable pieces reserved for maki. Here, Okinawa did fine. The salmon and yellowtail were very good. Tuna is a different problem. There is huge pressure on tuna because of high demand. Little of the best ever makes it to US restaurants and what does is very expensive. The maguro at Okinawa was good by average sushi bar standards - but nothing special. From there things went down hill. I have a particular fondness for the mackerel called saba. This is a vinegared preparation and restaurants can purchase saba ready to serve or prepare it themselves. The saba at Okinawa was barely edible. Saba should be rich, oily, tender, with a 'fishy' flavor balanced by the vinegar. At Okinawa it was dry, flavorless, and as interesting as a piece of cardboard. I asked about but chose not to order the squid. Ika should be served with a bit of Shiso leaf between the fish and the rice. I was told that local palates did not favor shiso and therefore they did not carry it. I suspect that if local palates don't favor shiso then they don't favor squid either. The octopus was ... OK. Tako should be sliced in a washboard manner to maximize the surface area of the fish. This was just sliced. It was served nicely with thin lemon slices between the slices of tako. But tako should also be served with coarse salt. This was not. Bottom line? Okinawa is a pleasant experience if you stick with the basics.
(3)Tonya K.
Whomever said "DONT JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER", was completely right. Driving up to the front of the building, it reminded me of a mexican restaurant I had eaten at recently but walking in was like walking in to an oasis. Beautiful, tranquil and very clean. Very upscale design for the location. Amazing sushi, good Saturday lunch menu, and the service was quick. They do have two outside patio areas, one is covered and one is completely open. Food entrees were typical in flavor of most Thai restaurants but the sushi is what you w ill come back for. Price is fair for the quality and the care taken in plating. I would have given 5 stars but when i asked to customize a roll, i got one those looks of astonishment.So apparently that is frowned upon in this establishment. Ha! Overall, had a wonderful meal with wonderful family, what else do you want? Maybe a nice live band but no karaoke please! Lol!
(4)Barrett S.
Some of the best sushi I have ever had. They are able to make very subtle and amazing tastes all in one roll. I would recommend the "Power roll" it has exquisitely thin beef seared to perfection with cracked pepper on top. I will return for these alone! The atmosphere is nice and elegant without being chintzy. The wait staff is friendly and very knowledgeable. Definitely a hidden gem. Will return.
(5)Kaley S.
Best sushi and service ever. I've turned so many friends on to this wonderful place!!!!
(5)Kelly P.
Some of the best hibachi tofu I've ever had!! Simple, tasty food and the portion sizes are MASSIVE!! And the service was fantastic. The food was quite good, but the miso soup was a little off and the salad dressing was really mayonnaise heavy.
(4)Andrew M.
A hidden gem in otherwise sketchy Wildwood, this place is pretty darn good. Fresh, well crafted sushi with super fast service and reasonable prices. The normal rolls are pretty cheap based on how tasty they are. The specialty rolls are more expensive but worth every penny. The Dancing Dragon Roll is my favorite. Plenty of seatung(indoor and patio) and never over crowded. I encourage the sushi lover to give it a try.
(4)Jason B.
Excellent service and very good food. I had the hibachi steak with an edamame appetizer. Food was delivered in lightning speed. Servers were very attentive and made sure I had everything I needed. The food was not the best I ever had but it was certainly very good. I would eat here again.
(5)Dori D.
The sushi is fresh and well-prepared, the servers are very friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere is quite nice--sort of an upscale feeling without the high prices. I'm delighted their location is so easy to access for me. One of my new favorites.
(5)Shannon B.
The service and food/sushi is amazing!! I love sushi, and this is my place at least once a week. I recommend everything!!!
(5)Schuyler R.
I have taken my family here many times and we absolutely love it. The staff is always cordial and seem genuinely happy to see us. Okinawa has the best sushi in Birmingham. The Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll is nothing fancy but one of my go-to rolls that never disappoints. And while it is not your traditional hibachi grill where the food is cooked in front of you, the Filet Mignon hibachi is amazing. Try their house white sauce - so good.
(5)Brad B.
This place was absolutely wonderful!!! Super friendly service, they were attentive, kept drinks refilled, food came quickly and the sushi was delicious! Highly recommend and will be going back soon! The servers were some of the most genuine and friendly that we've had in a while!
(5)Richard S.
Excellent food, marvelous staff, relaxing atmosphere, quick service are a few of the positive attributes of this restaurant. This is our third visit and becoming regular.
(5)Kelsey K.
Completely disappointed. There is absolutely no excuse for serving sushi made with cat food grade chopped up fish. I can't even eat my takeout meal from here. If I could rate Okinawa zero stars I would. Do not order sushi here, as you can find better quality rolls in a grocery store's prepared section.
(1)Carlie P.
I come here almost 5 days a week, this place is amazing!! 2014 rolls are the best. I've never been a sushi person till I came here. Now I'm completely in love with the whole menu. The staff is also super attentive and gracious.
(5)Will L.
Okinawa has definitely set the sushi/sashimi bar pretty high. I never think about things in Wildwood as being nice. In fact, as you pull up to Okinawa, it has that same kind of bland, chain restaurant look. Don't be fooled. The pleasing interior decor sets the mood for what's to come. We were quickly greeted by a kind waitress, but I was going to need a few more minutes to look at this menu. I honestly wanted one of everything. I finally decided the calamari app on the sushi-sashimi combo (chef's choice). He chose well. Everything was fresh and served in a timely manner. It's slightly on the pricey side, but honestly worth it. When I want a fantastic seafood meal that hasn't seen heat, this is my place.
(4)Michelle W.
The staff was amazing and helpful!!!!! My very first time to try sushi and it was AMAZING!!!!!!!! I had the Tiger Roll and my sister had the shrimp tempora and it wS the best she has ever had!!!!! I can DEFINATLY say that this is a MUST eat if your looking for amazing service, and amazing sushi, as well as AMAZING food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Madison J.
LOVE LOVE LOVE! great food, great service! Some of the elaborate sushi rolls are not my favorite (I prefer the simple ones here) but the hibachi is very good. I often just get a side of noodles, fried rice, veggies, and maybe a shrimp and avocado roll with eel sauce on it.
(5)Crystal B.
What else could you ask for? Convenient location, beautiful, delicious, filling food, a relaxing environment & a wonderful staff. Our family loves it here! It is one of our favorite places to eat. My 10-year-old will pick this place over anywhere else in a heartbeat! The food is beautiful to look at and also tastes amazing, the staff is warm, friendly and so welcoming. We actually ate here tonight, and I wanted to try something new. The Kiwi Roll sounded really refreshing & fruity, that I figured I'd give it a go. They were out of Kiwi, but our favorite "lady" (don't know her name) suggested that I try the Okinawa Roll, and that she knew I would love it. Well, she was right!! I was extremely pleased with her suggestion! This is one of my new favorites now! We had to cut our evening short because my husband got his call to go into work (life of a railroader).... and the staff quickly got us the bill & to go boxes and got us out the door quickly. My Favs; Okinawa Roll Okinawa Salad Harimaki Edamame Calamari Thank you to Okinawa for great food and service!
(5)Mike B.
I have probably dined at Okinawa 30 times or more in the last few years. Whenever I travel to Birmingham for my company I always make a point to enjoy a delicious meal here. My particular favorite is the Tuna Amazing. I also enjoy the Salmon sashimi. As much as I enjoy the sushi I also appreciate the dining experience. The dining area provides a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy a delicious meal. In the warmer months there is also a patio to enjoy. A compliment to the meal you will enjoy are the excellent wait staff that will serve you. Okinawa is in the southwest area of Birmingham off of Lakeshore Parkway. Find it and enjoy!
(5)Stephanie C.
Great atmosphere ! Really pretty inside ! Awesome for dates:) , great service , food was delicious , not a long wait despite it being crowded the last time I went .. I will say the lunch special is a good deal, dinner is kind of pricey . Not sure if this is a good kids restaurant, but is great for teens & adults !:) completely satisfied
(5)Katie A.
Got a take-out order and everything was delicious and piping hot, and the staff was friendly! I ordered tofu teriykai with veggies (huge serving!) and it came with rice and salad (I paid extra for seaweed salad, which I love). My husband had the tempura udon noodle soup and he thought it was good (note: it has broccoli). We are only in town one night and found Okinawa on Yelp - so happy we did!
(4)Dave P.
What a nice surprise this place turned out to be! I was planning to eat at the Chinese restaurant at the end of the neighboring strip-center (Dragon something) but it has gone out of business,. So, half hearted, I went into Okinawa. I ordered a glass of wine, a veggie roll, and tofu Hibachi. DELICIOUS! The tofu was lightly fried and in a light teriyaki sauce - amazing!! Service was quick and friendly. I can't wait to go back!!!
(5)Robbie B.
Beautiful place and friendly staff. But food was not as good as I would expect. Ordered Chicken Hibachi and the soup was only luke warm. Salad was decent. Then the main course came out. Chicken was steamy hot with good taste. Vegetables and rice was barely even warm. Everything looked fresh. But for $15 just for one plate of half warm food seems a little ridiculous. They also say that are a steak house, only saw one steak item on menu. Not sure how they consider that a steak house. Only sushi and hibachi. Tofu $13. Steak $21.
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