Ai Sushi & Grill
4655 Centennial Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO, 80919
Ai Sushi & Grill Menu
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Address :
4655 Centennial Blvd
Colorado Springs, CO, 80919 - Phone (719) 266-5858
- Website https://www.aisushi.us/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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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 : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Michiko Renee L.
My favorite place for take out sushi! The quality is amazing for good prices!!! I have Sat down for a meal a few times, although it is small the service is great!! Best sushi up north!!
(5)Morgan M.
I decided to try this restaurant because of the reviews I have read. They had nice and friendly staff which offered their assistance with menu items. I tried the spicy shrimp atop the california roll. I thought this tasted awesome. Usually I'm afraid to try sushi from new places because sometimes it can taste funny but at Ai Sushi, their sushi is great.
(4)Heather P.
ATMOSPHERE: Typical sushi joint, it's a bigger place with a grill section too. I like it. PRICE: A little on the expensive side I thought for the quality of food and service. FOOD: The sushi was great, they had a really nice variety and spread of new innovative rolls like the monkey brain. The sukiyaki was good, great broth but I was surprised that there were any noodles and have a bowl of rice instead. Also, we asked for a raw egg which is what my Japanese side loves was denied. They actually had no idea about that its a normal thing to do. I guess she did say she was new, which brings me to the terrible service... SERVICE:The place was half empty when we got here at a normal 7:00 time frame. We waited 35 minutes for an order of sukiyaki and waited an additional 30 minutes for our sushi! Are you kidding me? GO AGAIN?: I tried to give this place another shot because I liked the food, but after 3 strikes... I'm out. The food was good, but MEH I'VE EXPERIENCED BETTER.
(2)ElikapekaAnakalia M.
This was one of the first Sushi places my husband and I went to after moving here from Palo Alto. Being originally from Hawaii I have very high expectations for sushi so was not shocked when I wasn't in Love with this place. The sushi just wasn't very flavorful we tried eating there again a few times and found the same thing to be true. The cost of the Sushi here was also a turn off. However I would say that they do have the BEST udon I have found in all of Colorado Springs
(3)Miz F.
Dude, the avocado roll... need I say more?! This place rocks. Delicious and very fresh sushi rolls and very affordable unlike most sushi places I've been! Good service and very quick as well, which is also uncommon for a sushi place! Highly recommend this place!
(5)Don A.
Delicious, pleasant, quiet (they spread their customers out over their large seating area.) The food is fresh and perfectly prepared, the staff is positive and wholesome...the owners are lovely people with real hearts for their customers.
(5)Ree T.
Went on my lunch break with my co-workers. Each of us ordered our own meal and shared amongst eachother.. And I must say that everyone's dish tasted AMAZING!!! A couple of us were a little confused about what we wanted & the young lady (waitress) was very patient & helpful. We ordered Monkey Brain, seaweed, soup, philly roll, Krispy Roll with cream cheese/Avacado, bean sprouts, California roll with Avacado, the shrimp tempura and everything was delicious! I also learned while there that "Ai" means L-O-V-E! #funfact Btw, the only reason why I gave it a 4, & not a 5 stars bc it was during lunch (not very busy yet). I did see the section where they cook the food in front of you... & there are a couple of other questions I need answered before I give a perfect score... Like are they kid friendly, do they give fast, fun & friendly service on a very busy day, etc. :)
(4)Eric S.
Great sushi! Really enjoyed everything we ordered. Fresh fish and tasty creative rolls. I will be back!
(5)Nick N.
Loved the customer service. The beer was suggested to me. I asked what kind or beer would be similar to a blue moon and he gave Me a good recommendation and it was great. Sushi is above par as well. They have a hibachi too so they be cheffffffiiinnnnnn
(4)Craig S.
Watch out for rolls with sauces! I wish I would have said minimal sauce when I ordered the Denver Nuggets roll. Every other roll was spot on though and there were so many selections!
(4)Mukesh M.
Fresh and tasty fish. They have a great selection of food (sushi and cooked fish). One of the better sushi places I have tried.
(4)M K.
Yummy sushi! The service was great. We were satisfied with our sushi fix. We will be back when we're in the area.
(5)Jessica T.
For Colorado Springs, this is really good sushi. For anywhere else it's just alright. It is a bit overpriced in my opinion.
(3)Jenna G.
Best sushi I have had in the Springs! I heard about this place from a friend who said it was great food and reasonably priced. I was very impressed! I am from California and ever since i moved out here i have been looking for a sushi place that could "wow" me like the sushi in CA. Everyone told me about Jun sushi (up the street, off Centennial and Filmore) and i was not impressed at all, not that great sushi for prices that were about $4 or $5 more a roll then what CA sushi offers. But AI sushi exceeded my expectations. The menu was reasonably priced, in my "CA sushi" price range. I ordered multiple rolls and some sashimi. When the fish came, they were thick slices of meat and very very fresh. I would have to say, that is what i was most impressed with. How fresh the fish was. The rolls were awesome too. Very tasty meal! The only downside i had was the service, not the best I've ever had, but it was a weekday night, so maybe their waitstaff wasn't fully stuffed. But the food was worth it!!!
(5)Shanna V.
This is where my fiance took us on our first date, by accident! LOL he was looking for another sushi place with the same name, but on the wrong side of town. We ended up going to this place instead and have been going back ever since. Our favorite thing is the Hibachi grill. The chef has actually trained several of the hibachi chefs in the area. He cooks VERY good medium rare steak. YUM! Also, they are very creative with their sushi AND it tastes great. My favorite is the catepillar and pretty much anything with unagi on it. The hibachi grill is more expensive, but their sushi is very well priced. Some places we have been too are very expensive, but this place is very afforable and high quality for sushi. I highly recommend this place! Oh and I think the Elven review below got confused... maybe talking about another place?? I have been to AI well over a dozen times and it has not failed me yet!
(5)Mark S.
This is an often overlooked location. The staff is friendly and there isn't a wait. The teppanyaki performance rivaled what I have seen at Benni Hanna's and the food was very tasty. I liked that they didn't give my wife and I grief when we wanted to split an entree. The Sushi was very well prepared and the fish fresh.
(4)Summer Z.
I Heart Salmon. I really, really do. Which is how I knew I'd found a good place for my raw-fish fix in the springs. They have a plate called just that. It's 2 pieces of fresh salmon nigiri, 2 pieces of smoked salmon nigiri, and a fresh salmon roll. It's like buttah Service is good- I've never had to wait for a table, and the wait staff has always been super friendly and attentive. I'm always leary about seafood in a land-locked state (which, I know I've said before) but the sushi here is quite good. You do pay for quality. But again, I'd rather have a quality fish than save some cash and risk....well, I'll leave that to your imagination. The only reason Ai loses a star is that they have a rather narrow selection of rolls that aren't cooked. Don't get me wrong: still tasty. But I like fresh rolls.
(4)Galina P.
Continuing on my sushi place review streak, this is my new favorite. Very similar to Ai Sushi on Academy Boulevard, but the atmosphere is a bit cooler and more authentic. A menu insert with pictures of the sushi was super helpful in making a decision, because there were so many options. I went with the Tuna Festival because...well, it's tuna. This included a tuna, cajun tuna, albacore, and white tuna nigiri, along with a spicy tuna roll. The nigiri were served on a beautiful wooden platter and were absolutely incredible. Super clean and simple, and the ingredients definitely spoke for themselves. Being able to see the chefs make the sushi was also a treat. Brief warning, however--the spicy tuna roll was, actually, quite spicy. Phew. My friend got the vegetable tempura sushi, which likewise looked amazing. All in all, fantastic sushi experience, couldn't have asked for much more.
(5)Ira Mae R.
I went in this place after me and a friend watch a movie. How can I start? OH MY GOODNESS! This place is amazing! We sat on the bar, being in Colorado for a year, their salmon sashimi are so delicious. Hibachi is awesome.
(5)Paul H.
Not to be confused with the other AI Sushi on the east side, this is by far the best sushi experience in Colorado Springs. They not only have some of the freshest fish I have ever tasted, but the sheer variety of rolls will leave you coming back for much more. There are over 60 different roll combinations to choose from! Their salmon sushi and sashimi melts in your mouth. My favorite rolls are the Cherry Blossom (California roll with tuna, salmon, and avocado topping), the Avalanche 2 (baked spicy tuna, cream cheese, cucumber...deep fried then topped with roe), and the Buffalo roll (spicy tuna with avocado topping). They also have a huge selection of non-seafood so everyone can find something they want. The owner, Anna, and her staff give the best customer service I can ask for. If you are a repeat customer, she will great you by name and is always excited to see you. She even finds me the table with the best lighting if I come in with a book! Try to get that level of service elsewhere!
(5)PdotS T.
Decent...sushi was blah! Go to Hapa in DEnver for REAL Sushi!!!
(2)Brian D.
I have a close friend who lives in The Springs and the last two times I visited I went here. MY criteria for a return visit to a place like this is wanting the same roll or two I had last time because it was so good! I had a roll with shrimp that had unagi on top and a salmon roll that was super. i like th service and the comfy not big atmosphere here is calming.The chef is sociable and cool and I will again go back when I hit up Colorado Springs again!
(4)D E.
Not bad, but nothing special. We sat at the sushi bar. Service was ok. Atmosphere is ok. Sushi is ok. The price seemed high compared to the quality. We didn't try the the teppan, just sushi. Saw the guy catch a shrimp in his pocket and make an onion volcano. Sorry if I spoiled the show.
(3)Erika M.
We definitely over ordered! The menu was vast. I came for sushi and was not disappointed. My favorites were the Las Vegas roll, the Eskimo roll, and the Monkey Brain! YUMMY! I also prefer this location over the other because it's not as busy and the wait isn't ridiculous.
(4)Elianny S.
I came here for lunch and really liked the great selection of rolls they had at this place. We sat at the sushi bar and the service was friendly and efficient. I'm pretty boring so I just ordered basic tuna, salmon rolls but my sister ordered the monkey brains roll and it was very good.
(4)Adrienne K.
We ordered 2 rolls from there and they were horrible! I've never had to ask to get my money back before...I had 1 bite and it was awful...they refused to refund my 2 rolls and they were very unkind about it. We had 2 other rolls that were fine. I couldn't believe they wouldn't stand by their product and treat their customer with respect and kindness. If you want a REAL Sushi bar that is AWESOME go to Jun on Centennial and Fillmore it's right up the street! PS I've been eating Sushi for over 15 years and know bad sushi!! :)
(1)Sarah P.
My friend and I ordered three rolls on our visit with edamame. The rolls were VERY good, but they were ginormous! It took two bites to eat them. I have never been accused of having a small mouth...so I was a little surprised. Still they were VERY good!
(4)Bill P.
Perhaps the best sushi in Colorado Springs. Authentic sushi chefs, but with new and immaginative offerings. The quality is excellent, the service is friendly and swift.
(4)M S.
Ai Sushi is one of my more frequented sushi places here in COS.... The sushi chef recognizes me when I come in.... he gives us samples of things and "chef specials".... For having sushi in land-locked state like Colorado, I definately have no worries eating here... good portions, presentation, and price (considering its sushi)....
(4)Cookie M.
The sushi is good. My favorites are the Blackjack, I love Salmon and the Caterpillar. But their service was dirt slow even when there was barely anyone in the restaurant.
(4)Christy K.
Love the hibachi here. The cooks are always funny and interactive. The servers are always on top of it and the sushi is good. Great for date nights or for group dinners.
(5)Leila R.
Just an update since the first time I came. This is my favorite sushi place in town. This is where my husband and I come when we want sushi despite the fact it's clear across town. I've been here, Ai on Powers, Zen Fusion, Sushi Ring, Rakkyo, Yoo Mae, Fujiyama, Tomo, Tako (before it closed) and Sushi O Sushi. So, not every place in town, but a few. Also, I might not be from a "big city," but I was born and raised in beach town in California (and was eating sushi before it was a "thing") and after that lived in Virginia Beach for 8 years. I also go deep sea fishing with my dad (in Cabo) and had a sushi chef prepare a blue fin tuna right in front of me the day I caught it. So, I kind of like to think I know what fresh fish tastes like. Food: I love this place because they have the best fish for the best price. They don't have fancy specials (like 1/2 off lunches or AYCE) like some places in town, but it's because the quality of fish they have is already at the lowest price. There are other places in town that have good fish, but it's more expensive. Even my husband, who is no sushi expert, notices the difference in the nigiri he eats and how his rolls are made. There's less rice and more "good stuff." I go for sashimi (fish, scallops, roe w/ quail eggs, uni, etc.) and sometimes a roll. They have a lot of options, and I love that they have photos of all their rolls. If you don't want a roll that has sauces (like I don't) then just look at the picture or read the thorough description they give. There are plenty fresh, delicious, healthy rolls -- and they're easily identifiable. Also, the seaweed salad and soup are pretty standard. Ai on Powers has my favorite seaweed salad -- They add a scoop of the crab mixture that is in California rolls. And Sushi Ring has my favorite miso soup -- they make it spicy and add some crunchy won ton crispies strips, which I think is a great touch. Service: Never had any problems. Everyone is always really friendly. And once when I was by myself I sat at the sushi bar. I love watching the chefs work, and the one in front of me was so nice. He even gave me a free appetizer of some sashimi while I was waiting for my food because it was taking awhile. I didn't mind though. It was a Friday night. Of course, there was going to be a wait. Ambiance: It's not the best decorated or fanciest place, but who cares when the sushi is this good? Not me. If I was a guy and wanted to impress a girl who likes sushi, I'd still take her here to prove I know what I'm doing rather than somewhere else that looks nicer. Prices: Like I said, they don't have deals. But they're cheaper than other places I've been to that have the same or worse quality fish and rolls. Most of the specialty rolls are $8-$10. They have a few that are $12+. Nigiri and sashimi prices are on par with other places and SUCH a great quality. I even call this place for takeout despite the fact it's clear across town. Note: Some of the reviews in here are for the Ai on Powers. MAKE SURE YOU'RE REVIEWING FOR THE RIGHT AI SUSHI. This one is on Centennial. Ai on Powers is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. They have no relation. And I'm pretty sure this place's reviews have been negatively impacted by people reviewing for Ai on Powers (which is next to my house, so I've been there a few times). Even the photo in the pictures of the Ai on Powers. So, just be careful when posting your reviews.
(5)Heather S.
Went on a Friday night with my boyfriend. I love the long menu with lots of choices. They offer a second menu with pictures for reference which is probably pretty helpful for people that are unsure about what to order. I ordered five different rolls (I'm a terrible decision maker). It took about twenty minutes in order to recieve our sushi. We entertained ourselves with appetizers in the meantime. I assume they usually do not take as long, however there were a few large orders in front of us. The rolls ordered included the Monkey Balls, Black Jack, Denver Nuggets, Vegas Strip, and some other random regular roll. The display was very pretty! All of our rolls were absolutely amazing. The ingredients seemed very fresh. I enjoyed every bite, however if I had to pick one roll I would say the Vegas Strip was my favorite. The price was average for a sushi bar. Nothing unexpected. The service was just as good as the meal. I believe the servers share tips because we were helped by four different ones whether it was for getting our order, bringing our check, or fill out water. I very much enjoyed that. Did not feel ignored. I highly recommend trying this place out for sushi, I know I will be back again!
(5)Terry W.
Two things I have a problem with here:1st they always seem to be running around in a panic, the lady running the counter up front is going to have a ulcer if she keeps it up. 2nd the sushi menu is too crowed and too much going on with it that it takes a while to figure out what you are looking for. Also the pics need some clarity to them. We ordered some yellow tail tuna that came out totally different than what we were looking for in the pic. Now overall their food is really good. But we did get some yellow fin tuna that tasted rubbery, so my wife had to take off to the restroom to get rid of. Not saying it was bad, just rubbery, so it grossed her out. I had some California rolls and a Spicy Terakihi that was pretty dog gone good. Not great but really good. The whole over all look in the restaurant is great. My only complaint is the bathrooms, then need some cleaning and freshen up. I expect to see something like this in a dive bar or bar and grill, not AI. I would eat here again since my wife likes the design of the place but I am going to start looking for another local joint to try out.
(3)Heeyeun J.
It's been about a week and I still regret coming here. I ordered about 6 rolls and the tuna in my spicy tuna roll smelled bad and the service was mediocre. I'm really hoping that Colorado Springs has more sushi restaurants to offer than this place.
(2)Chris H.
Friendly service and awesome rolls! A lot of it is what you happen to order, but my fiance and I had one of the best roll spreads ever the other night. We will definitely be back.
(5)Lorri D.
One of THE best sushi places in the Springs. Not only great sushi and rolls, but service is friendly and helpful. Portion sizes are perfect, variety is amazing... taste is fresh! Cooking tables are fun, but I definitely prefer to just sit and enjoy my company at a more private table. The more wasabi the better... CHEERS!
(4)Maz M.
Best sushi in Colorado Springs. The sashimi is relatively fresh and the rolls are pretty good. Certainly have had better sushi in Denver, but this place is great if you are down south and craving some rolls. Very friendly staff and great ambiance. It looks like they do Hibachi as well, although I have never dined there for that cooking style or food
(3)Sarah G.
I love this place. The service is always great, seems like you have multiple servers? Not sure, but I'm okay with it. I've never been while the restaurant is packed. I will normally get the warm plum saki with my orders, the rolls were nice and tight. Hamachi and Alaskan is my recommendation. The Crazy Spicy was interesting... One of my past visits I do remember ordering crab won tons and they had real crab, not imitation. The Crazy Spicy has imitation. There are a ton of non sushi menu items I'll be trying !
(4)Rick S.
Writing a review about Colorado sushi is a tough thing for me. I've had lots of good sushi in my life in California, and even had it when I went to Japan. There's high expectations of it now for me, and unfortunately, I found Ai to be lackluster. I went with a friend and we sat down at the sushi bar. We ordered from a long list of choices. I knew that it's probably better not to get too much tuna, and maybe veer more towards salmon, seeing as tuna has a longer way to travel than salmon when it comes to Colorado. I can't remember the names of all the rolls I got, all I remember was one of them had avocado in the name, but with that being said, I'll try my best to describe my meal. Food: 2/5, and that's being quite generous The salmon tasted bad. Normally I hold a piece of sushi up to my nose and smell it, especially when fish is on the top. I do this because in my experience the smell is rather minimal. YES it's going to smell like fish, but like a fish that got all dolled up for prom, not like a fish who just finished a marathon run. And I'm sorry to say that the salmon I smelled was more like a marathon-running salmon. Service: 3/5 The servers were friendly enough, although it took forever for the sushi to come out. I know it does take time to whip up orders, but coming into this restaurant already famished I nearly inhaled my first roll when the food finally came out. And with something that per unit is so expensive to begin with, it's sad times. Another problem that came up was when they brought the sushi out, it was just on one gigantic plate which didn't even fit on the bar. And so we ate the entire night in an extremely awkward position. Price: 3/5 It's not cheap, but then again what sushi place isn't? I'm just bummed that the quality to price ratio was a little bit off, remember marathon-running salmon! 3 out of 5 is being extremely generous, you caught me in a good mood. I'm not going to be going around recommending this place to anyone though, and if I ever return I really hope the quality improves.
(3)Shannon M.
Way overpriced, even for a sushi restaurant. Looked at their menu, walked out before I even tried the food. There are great sushi restaurants in the springs for which you don't have to saw off an arm and a leg, and this one is not worth it.
(3)Elena M.
We were a party of 2 and waited for our food to come out for 1 hour! It wasn't even that busy. And the food wasn't good. I don't understand why they have such good reviews. If you want better sushi, Jun by King Soopers has much better rolls. Although, they have absolutely horrible wait staff there.. But at least the sushi is good!
(2)Sheridan S.
I was very pleasantly surprised going here. I met friends for dinner and we had a nice assortment of rolls - really tasty and some interesting combinations. Service has been friendly for both dine-in and carry out and I am fine with driving the added distance to go here. I look forward to sampling more things from the menu! A few of the dishes did seem to be overpriced, but the quality is there.
(5)Casey P.
Great place for lunch or dinner! Servers were very nice! N the place was lit perfectly. Fresh sushi for "land-locked" state, I enjoyed it and will be returning!
(4)Mike G.
Family run, local. They have a number of specialty rolls, the Yummy roll & Avalanche rolls are delicious. The Gyoza udon bowl is our son's favorite. I'm a nigiri fan myself, and the quality of the fish and rice are always top notch. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Jeannie D.
Slow service but good food.
(3)Dwayne T.
I am visiting Colorado Springs and take Yelp reviews seriously. I was pleased to see so may positive comments. It may be a regional thing, but the sushi here was the worst sushi I have ever had. Very Simply: all three of my rolls were dunked in sauces. I eat sushi for simplicity and health, not to have them covered in mayo and sweet sauces. I tried to pull the sauce off and everything turned to mush; a big mess. I told the waitress that I simply could not eat this sushi; that there was no mention of sauce on the menu descriptions. The waitress told me the owner would NOT take them off the bill; that they were very popular here. No consideration whatsoever. I just left the three rolls on the table. Being from a major city, travelling all over the U.S. and eating sushi at least every week, I was amazed that this sushi is considered edible. I can only hope that if someone from out of town reads this, they will understand that the sushi in Colorado Springs is not the same as anywhere else, and I'd strongly recommend you go for a different type of food, or a sushi restaurant that understands sushi. Yuck! Really the worst.
(1)Jonathan B.
I haven't eaten much sushi in the Springs, but this is definitely my favorite. The rolls were fresh and tasted great. Our favorite was by far the spicy salmon roll. Our only complaint was that the rolls were too big. Next time we will ask them to cut them into 8 pieces instead of 6. That's a really good problem to have though. I encourage you to go to Ai. Or get take-out. That's what we did.
(4)John R.
Excellent sushi. The denver nugget and monkey brain rolls were my favorites. Beautiful presentation. Reasonable price. Good atmosphere. Nice service. I would recommend if you are looking for a tasty date night.
(4)Neb P.
Sushi in Colorado! Seriously, this place is awesome. Great food at a reasonable price. Staff is super friendly. This is my oldest girl's favorite restaurant. Love the super spicy and bettina rolls!
(5)Tink E.
The staff was friendly & helpful. Great chef & very good sushi. Definitely coming back. Helpful chiropractic is close. ;)
(5)Joe H.
This is by far the best sushi bar in town. The key is to sit at the sushi bar and order 'special creations' from Mr. Kim. Ignore the menu. The personalized creations are to die for. The sushi is very fresh and the specials will satisfy even the most discerning sushi connoisseur. MUCH better than the place on Cinema Point. That place is 'ok' but no special creations! Also try the Sayuri sake. Best. Sake. Ever. Tell Mr. Kim I sent you and you'll get extra stuff! :-)
(5)Michelle G.
Best sushi in Colorado Springs. We've been here several times for sushi and have enjoyed the fish each time. The sushi chefs prepare the fish well and it has been consistently fresh each time we've visited. We have not eaten at the grill. We do everything from sashimi to rolls and have enjoyed getting to know the menu. A couple of notes about the menu so you go in knowing what to expect. Spicy = definitely spicy and hot. There will be a bit of an afterburn. I've had sushi all over the world. So, your expectations will need be adjusted a bit if you're from a coast. Preparation is simple and consistent. You'll not be getting innovation or unexpected flavors. You will be getting fresh fish. Service is spotty but nice. They practice a group service. This means that you don't have specific server and different waitresses/waiters will stop by during the course of your meal. What's nice is that you can ask anyone for what you need. What's bad is that it can leave you without someone if it gets busy and no one is completely responsible. The servers have not been formally trained. Notes for those arriving with children: The restaurant has tables with chairs - no booths. There are a few high chairs available for those little ones who might not be ready for their own chair. For those in car carriers - this restaurant does not have slings that set up near the table. They do have children crayons and mats/word searches but remember to ask when you walk in, they are not given out automatically. One item to take note of. There are several sushi restaurants in town named Ai Sushi. They are not owned by the same people and it is not a chain. This review is for this specific AI at the address noted on top right. Overall, the best sushi experience I've had in the area.
(4)Crystal G.
I moved to Colorado Springs from San Diego, CA and never thought I would find one of my favorite sushi bars in Colorado! Ai Sushi has the largest selection of sushi rolls that I've ever seen in one place and the freshness of their food, combined with their talented chefs make for an absolutely delicious meal! Btw, try the plum sake, it's a great paring with any sushi roll!
(5)Elliot P.
I would like to give Ai Sushi & Grill four or five stars, but I just can't make that strong a recommendation for a place that is so over priced. I absolutely love the food here. It is, without question, the best sushi and Japanese grill food in town. And I've been going to this particular location ever since it opened, and will undoubtedly continue to do so. It is only a mile from our home, we've become friendly with the manager and the chefs and the wait staff. But we've had to institute a "once a month only" policy because it has gotten so expensive over the years. Last night my son and I went for a "boy's night out," and the bill for two people, no desserts and only one adult beverage, was over $120 with tip. Up until recently, the head Sushi chef was a very personable, fun, talented guy named Mr. Kim. He would always greet us loudly and with great cheer when we walked in the front door. Mr. Kim is gone now, and the sushi chefs are competent and professional, but slow and not outgoing or friendly. This is a hospitality business, after all, how about a little hospitality toward your guests? Agree with all the great things that have been said about the food. Freshest fish always, awesome and creative special rolls as well as traditional maki and nigiri. Very talented teppan chefs, too. Delicious to the 10th power! Just, WHOA, expensive! Oh, one other thing to love: NO TV! So nice to not have the dang boob tube blaring at you when you're out to dinner!
(3)Mike S.
I wasn't necessarily looking for sushi in The Springs, but ran into this restaurant and thought I'd give it a shot. Very fresh sushi, great presentation and service, so I'm slowly becoming a regular when in town.
(4)Ethan B.
Super Duper. Great sushi at a clean casual environment.
(5)Dani T.
Truly some of the best sushi in town. Ai also sports three teppan tables and a kitchen menu. Very good. I wish I could give them a higher rating, but service is very sad and totally mismanaged and untrained and the prices are unreasonably high. It's become a once-a-year place because the prices are so high and we have to contend with mediocre service for it. Even with a reservation (that was painful to get because they don't answer the phone even when they're open, but necessary if you want a teppan table), this visit we waited 15 minutes to be seated in a nearly-empty restaurant because three different servers were trying to find our seats. Then the poor girl didn't bring the right menus for a long time, delaying the rest of the table's service. Then she took an order off of the wrong menu and blamed me for it even when the entire table verified that wasn't what was said and she was confused though we had repeated it clearly. I honestly felt bad for her as the servers clearly have no training, but for $60 a person before cocktails, this isn't acceptable. However, the food is good enough to look past these things and go once a year or so. I wish it could be more often.
(3)Sibby S.
Ambiance: Good size main dining room, with a sushi bar that seats around 10 or so. They also have three large teppanyaki grills (dinner only). Slightly upscale feel. High ceilings. Lots of windows, but they keep them covered, thus creating a kind of "slightly dimmed" and "mysterious" atmosphere. Their background music is classical-jazz fusion, which though not authentic, lends itself to the casual yet upscale feeling they are attempting to create. Service: Always very happy with service at sushi bar. Service at lunch time can be dreadfully slow for those on a time schedule (on my recent visit I was told that if I ordered any sushi the wait would be 20-25 minutes, in spite of the fact their were only about ten tables of customers and two sushi chefs -- i ordered one order of nigiri sushi with my entree, and it arrived 35 minutes later.) At dinner, service has always been fine. The Asian waitresses are very friendly and attentive, the Caucasian waitress I had a lunch seemed indifferent, but I will write her off as a "one off". Food: I am impressed with the selection and freshness of their fish. Being a major sushi connoisseur for years, this place is better than ok, and a rare find here in Colorado. Their beef and chicken entrees are tasty, and their tempura exceeds my expectations (very thin and crispy batter, not greasy). Sashimi is generously sliced, and the nigiri sushi is cut large, and overflows the rice. I also like the fact that the green tea is served piping hot (you won't be able to hold your cup for a few minutes), but that ensures you will have a nice warm cup of tea throughout your entire meal. I am constantly amused that people call this place A.I. It is pronounced Ah-EE. Ai is a surname in Japan and also Hawaii. Anyway, this place is in my top three Japanese places in Colorado Springs, and I find myself returning often for their very fresh and high quality raw fish.
(4)Jody R.
Best sushi in Colorado Springs! On our second visit, we were chatting with the sushi chef and found out he was the owner. They get shipments of fish delivered from the West coast every day. He said earlier that week they received a shipment of tuna that did not meet his standards and he refused to serve it as sushi, so they did not have tuna for one day. They sold the tuna in their cooked dishes, but not sushi. We were impressed by the integrity and have never received bad sushi at Ai -- and we eat here every 2-3 weeks for the past three years. This Ai is NOT related to the Ai on the East side of town. They used to be under the same ownership, but were sold several years ago.
(5)Tony S.
* Overall - 3.5 stars * Menu - 4 stars (very extensive sushi & grill options along with a Benihana-like Grill operation. All of which made our mouths water.) * Ambiance - 4 stars (very tasteful & classy, which you would not assume from the black windows in the strip mall.) * Sushi - 4.5 stars (super fresh and really outstanding - too bad the last rolls didn't show up until nearly closing time as we were the only ones left in the restaurant.) * Service - 1.5 stars (started off super friendly and efficient. Our bottle of sake and 1st plates showed up very quickly and we complimented them on it. But, then our server disappeared... and I don't mean for a few minutes, but for the rest of our visit! We never saw her again. No one came by to offer more sake, or tea, or even acknowledge us at all. As we waited like forgotten lepers, we actually considered simply walking out. Our 2nd plates finally arrived after 30+ more minutes. It really ruined an otherwise nice experience.) Maybe we'll try their sushi bar next time and forget the table service... especially since they forgot us. NOTE: This rating is almost exactly opposite of our review of Sushi Ring... which we had for lunch that same day. If we could only combine Sushi Ring's service with Ai Sushi quality - it would be an epic meal.
(3)Adara M.
A lot of great varieties of sushi and sashimi...udon was really good but what I enjoyed the most was the tempura style whole soft shell crab...delish.
(4)Patricia S.
The food here is AMAZING. Definitely my go-to place for sushi when I'm in Colorado Springs. The rolls are super yummy & the fish is super fresh. I'm really picky when it comes to sushi & I was more than happy with my meal. The prices are pretty typical of a sushi restaurant. Not exactly cheap, but you get what you pay for & this is definitely worth any cost, if you ask me :) The last time I was there I ordered the Raspberry Kamakazi which was really good. The service is phenomenal! The staff is always very friendly, welcoming & willing to give you advice or guidance on what to order if you're unsure. A table adjacent to me was having sushi for the first time & their waitress patiently explained the differences between nigiri, sushi & sashimi. She spent a lot of time with them making sure that they would enjoy their dinner, which honestly I've never seen a waitress do before. Still need to try other items on the menu, so I will probably end up reviewing again. This place is great! I've been here twice now & will definitely keep going back!
(5)Colin G.
I wouldn't say that the sushi sucked, but I wasn't blown away by it. I enjoyed what we ordered, it tasted good for what it was, and it wasn't too expensive. The service here sucked though. We came in relatively late and, after a few minutes, were the only ones left in there. The server decided to go chat up one of the chefs though and, 20 minutes later, she came back and we just got the check. It kind of bothered me because we started with two rolls and, unsure how to go from there, I mentioned that we would just order another one once we got into those first two. After sitting around with no water, no tea for my companion and no food on our plates for a while though, I said "Screw them" (more vulgarly though) to my companion and we just snacked on some leftovers back at the hotel later. Like I said though, the food was pretty good. We had a Philly and a some sort of tuna sampler, which was a nice idea. That tuna sampler had white tuna, albacore, seared ahi and something else, all in nigiri form (one piece of each) plus a spicy tuna roll. The spicy tuna was nicely spiced (not too hot but with a good kick) and the fish all tasted good and fresh. This ran $12.95. The Philly had a little too much cream cheese for my standards, and it was cut large. I'm used to 8 pieces in a roll. This had 6, but was the same size: the pieces were just really big. The Philly was $5.75. I'm not terribly familiar with the Springs, but it doesn't seem like there are too many sushi places in this area and, from what I've had as far as sushi in Colorado, you could definitely do a lot worse. This location (I didn't realize that they had more than one) seems to have some service issues from my experience as well as, apparently, other reviewers. If they cleaned that up and maybe had better music, this could be a really good place.
(3)Matthias B.
The rolls were the smallest portions I have ever seen. The prices were more expensive than most and the service was non-existent. The taste was great but that doesn't make up for the horrible experience. Will never go here again and neither will anyone I know.
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