This restaurant has some potential, as the server was friendly, and they do put some effort into presentation. The food is also sufficiently good. Unfortunately, the extremely smelly (like strong BO) napkins really ruined the mood for us. If they can improve the sanitation, I can see this restaurant going to four stars for me.
(3)
Hailey Z.
First time i have ever tried white tuna! Lovely and attentive staff, delicious and super fresh fish with a beautiful presentation. We will be back!
(4)
Abby Q.
The price is RIGHT, people! They have happy hour Monday through Saturday, 2:30-5. During happy hour you can get 2 for 1 beer, wine, or sake, and discounted rolls and appetizers. I've been here three times now for Saturday happy hour and have yet to be disappointed! On our most recent trek, my favorite sushi buddy and I ordered as follows: 2 glasses of lychee sake each (holy YUM, Batman!!!!) 1 order of Gyoza 2 fried sweet potato rolls (we don't like sharing this one...nomnomnom) 1 rainbow roll 1 titanic roll 1 mango roll 1 order of tobiko 1 order of hamachi That's A LOT of food, right!!!!!! And our tab only added up to about $40 for each of us AFTER tip. We left feeling fat, happy, and not as poor as when we go to Sasa. What's even better is that the quality of the sushi is fantastic. The only downside is that last time we sat on the patio here, we witnessed a stabbing. However, that is no fault of the restaurants and solely the fault of the creepers on Colfax Avenue.
(5)
D D.
Good food but HORRIBLE service. Came in on a fri about 3:30. Our waitress was to busy to serve us. We had to get up and ask 4 times for drinks, food, service.... Then a friend joined us and had to get her attention to serve our friend. We where her only table and could tell that the sushi chef was annoyed. Food was great but service SUCKED!!!! To bad....
(1)
Lauren B.
The boyfriend and I had some serious sushi cravings when last we were in Denver, so I whipped out my Yelp app and made a quick search to see what our options were. Okinawa was a great choice! We've been spoiled, growing up in California, so I find I'm often skeptical when ordering sushi in a landlocked state. Okinawa did not disappoint. We started off with a salad (him) and miso soup (me), both of which were excellent. We had a sweet potato roll (delicious, I highly recommend ordering this), AAC roll (avocado, asparagus, cucumber - not bad if you like your veggies), mango roll (I'm a sucker for a little bit of sweet with my sushi), spicy tuna roll (classic), and a lobster roll whose name escapes me. Everything was delicious though. I was also a fan of the service. The staff was very attentive and friendly. We felt well taken care of. The restaurant was a bit quiet when we were there for an early dinner, so I'm not sure how crowded it gets. Sushi ain't cheap, so prepare your wallet! Also be sure to grab a lollipop on your way out the door.
(4)
Nic H.
Finally, another sushi restaurant in Denver that I actually enjoyed! I wasn't too sure about the atmosphere at first; it seemed a bit too formal and pretentious for my tastes, but then I sat down. Those chairs, oh my. I feel ridiculous mentioning chairs in a review, but their chairs are like magic insta-comfort butt-clouds. Okay, enough about chairs. On to the main attraction: the SUSHI! Presentation has been gorgeous and unique every time we've visited, regardless of what we order. Everything is beautifully made and wonderfully fresh. I've lost track of everything we've tried so far, but the Golden Roll, King Maki Roll, Black Dragon Roll and Titanic Roll have been some of our favorites. Their Sushi for Two boat was great too, and very reasonably priced. Speaking of prices, their happy hour is pretty damn awesome. Cheap appetizers, rolls (including a few special rolls), and two-for-one drinks? Yeah, I can deal with that! Extra points for our last visit. We brought my dad along--and my dad doesn't do sushi. We were pleasantly surprised to find that Okinawa's kitchen entrees are just as impressive as their sushi. My dad ordered the Diver Scallops, which he said were delicious. I can't verify that myself, as they disappeared rather quickly, but they certainly looked good! Gah, now I want to go back again. Must find some excuse to go to Denver again soon. We do still need to try their live scallops, after all! The only downside I've run into so far: the service isn't quite there at times. Some of the servers are friendly and helpful (and even recognize us when we come in), others...just don't measure up.
(4)
Melanie R.
I went to Okinawa with a party of six on a Friday evening, we called ahead to see if they could accommodate us and they said no problem it would be 10 minutes. We arrived about 10-15 minutes later and had to wait about 10 minutes so not bad considering it was a Friday night. My friend has an allergy to shellfish so we advised the waitress and she was helpful with any questions relating to ingredients etc. What I love about Okinawa is that the rolls are not huge, you can actually fit the whole piece in your mouth without feeling like a chipmunk or eating only half the roll to have the other half fall apart! Well done Okinawa. The food and service was good and there was some interesting people watching. I would definitely go back. The reason for only 4 stars instead of 5 is that we ordered the fatty tuna and it is "MP" so you expect it to be great and although it was good we have had better so that was a tad disappointing.
(4)
Nicole W.
AMAZING!!! Amazing sushi and rolls: Ichiban roll- wow sweet potato roll - mmmm Black Volcano - very tasty Rainbow roll - tasty eggplant sushi - wow - so good tamago - pretty good eel - so so spicy girl - anh The calimari was by far the best i've had in a very long time! Place is cute and small - parking is the suck. Manager/maitre de/all around do it all guy - he was fabulous - made funny jokes, interacted with the tables - just a great asset to the restaurant. Definitely a busy place - so go early! No reservation on friday and saturday! And they aren't a fan of more than 1 sushi order - so try and get it right the first time! I will definitely be back - this place is great and has amazing sushi!
(5)
Adam S.
I think it's fair to say that this was easily the best sushi experience I've had in Denver so far. The sashimi was fresh, well portioned, and delicious. The rolls were fantastic. We had the lobster tempura roll and the shrek roll and both were outstanding. The place is low key and does not give off that "see and be seen" trendy vibe of some of the other sushi spots in Denver. It was a tad on the pricey side, but I suppose that is par for the course for good sushi in a landlocked state. Anyway, this place is great and I will be back as soon as I can be.
(5)
Amari M.
never coming back i got the dragon roll n my freinds thr california roll the rolls were tiny!!!!!!!!!! we were like wth??? the dragon roll tasted like california roll and the california like u buy at the grocery store the prices are the same as other places idk why anyone would pay the same amount for wayyy less its not worth it sushi isnt good horrible no wonder it was empty
(1)
john W.
Watch out Hapa. We've wanted a non-Hapa sushi option for a long time, and Okinawa is it. Great staff, like truly awesome and great. I haven't like service staff this much in a long time! The spicy girl, black dragon, ichiban rolls are all good. The Calamari is OMFG good. We almost ordered another order of the stuff. Definitely a popular place.
(5)
Justin H.
Bomb. We had the Ichiban Roll, super white tuna, sea urchin, and then more super white tuna. Everything we ate was delicious. We sat at the sushi counter, and I was as equally impressed by the quality of the food coming out as I was with he precision and care of the staff that prepped it. Service was great. Happy hour was ridiculously good too. We also drank two of those big Kirin Ichiban beers, and two warm sakes. Our tab was less than $60?! I'll be back.
(5)
R V.
Great food, great presentation, great service, great atmosphere. Loud - but that's not a real detractor. Great restaurant!
(4)
Kat A.
My favorite server from Go Fish relocated to this fantastic new sushi restaurant - yay Thomas! I finally got around to visiting Okinawa (haaaa) a couple weeks ago, and I was really pleased with everything, save for the very unappealing task of finding parking in the neighborhood amongst the rampant construction. My dining companion had the steak teriyaki and was really happy with his meal, and I had - well, I had a really ridiculous amount of sushi. The highlight of my meal was the salmon nigiri - sooo delicious. The spicy tuna roll was also really tasty. As a starter, I tried their cucumber salad. It was great, but heads up, folks, that particular palate pleaser is a hot one, thanks to a healthy dose of wasabi. I killed it, though. Killed it dead. The prices were absolutely reasonable. The seating was crazy comfortable. The people watching? I mean, come on, you're right on Colfax. Unsurpassed. And the food was great, as was the service.
(4)
Geoff H.
This place rocks! Laid back atmosphere, yet refined enough for a classy date night or a relaxed date night. Service was very friendly and prompt. Food was served quickly and tasted great; you can tell quality ingredients are used. Specials are always unique and thoughtful as are the specialty rolls on the menu. Walked in at 6:30 on a Friday and was immediately sat. Value was nearly spot on, just a bit high priced, but for the location, I understand. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Claire S.
Came here last night to celebrate one of our many anniversaries . Hands down this is the best sushi restaurant we have been to in Denver so far. My husband ordered enough sushi and sashimi for 4 but we ate it all!! So good. The sashimi is fresh, definitely best anywhere around here and the boat they made us was so pretty! The Shrek roll is amazing ah mah gah! All in all just fantastic food, vibe is cozy not trendy which I love for sushi. So happy we tried this place :)
(5)
Tiffany N.
I always found it amusing when I lived in California and people asked if I was so glad to have the opportunity to eat "good" sushi again because the truth is there are plenty of places in Denver that make sushi just to my liking. And it turns out that Okinawa is one of them. On a recent dinner date Sir Nicholas and I ordered way too much food to finish which was a shame, but my propensity for wanting to try lots of dishes got the best of me. We had a few rolls and a few pieces of sashimi. While I'm having a terrible time remembering the names of the rolls I do know that we had one that was spicy tuna, one that was a "low carb" version of the spicy tuna (wrapped in cucumber without rice), an unagi roll, and then one made with Kobe beef and fried asparagus that I wanted to try for novelty's sake. That last one was weirdly reminiscent of a cheesesteak, which is good, but I'm not necessarily sure it's a flavor many people would crave when sushi is on their mind. Everything, though, was fresh and tasted great. The low carb tuna roll was especially interesting because they cucumber wrap gave it a crunchy texture that melded well with the texture of the spicy tuna. I'm not sure how long it's been since Okinawa replaced Nohana, but I absolutely adore the changes. The atmosphere during our dinner was lively and energetic, but not too loud, which is nice when you want to hear what the person across the table from you is saying without having to shout at one another. And even though we stopped in after 9, it was still fairly crowded. (Just a note they do close at 10 and I believe they'll stop seating tables a little before that as I saw a couple come in for dinner and the only option they were given was take-out at around 9:45 pm.)
(4)
Anthony N.
I've heard great things about this place so I had to check it out. From the outside, I thought it'd be a lot bigger, but it's a good size for a small group of friends and the amount of food you get for the price can't be beat. But quality of quantity, yes? Well, seeing as we were starving, we kind of over-ordered.. big time. Among the rolls we ordered were was one that surprisingly took the crown and became a hit amongst our friends - the sweet potato rolls! You gotta try it. It's damn mmm-mmmm good. All in all - a great spot that we might even consider frequenting more often if start hanging out more around the area. Parking is kind of a pain (as expected being between one-way streets and Colfax), but you can't really argue with such fresh sushi at a bargain price point!
(4)
David R.
I was a little nervous to try Okinawa at first, since I didn't think any sushi restaurant off of Colfax would be decent. I've been eating sushi since age 5, and was thoroughly impressed with the quality, service, and ambiance during my visit. Even the music was amazing. The main kicker for me was the Ami-Ebi (raw sweet shrimp) If a restaurant can serve this to my standards, they can serve anything. They also add a sauce to the fired heads which I've never had before, and it was excellent. For some perspective: I've been to Sushi Den and it's sister restaurant, and was not impressed. They are both very over-hyped and over priced. Okinawa Sushi is truly a diamond in the rough. I've from Southern California and this is on par with some of the best sushi out there.
(5)
David R.
We've doing doing lunch here for a long time, the bento box is a great deal and a lot of food. Went for dinner for the 1st time last week, and we were blown away. As good as Sushi Den but half the price.
(5)
Leah D.
After hearing that my longtime love Sushi Den had steeply increased its prices since last I ate there, hubby and I decided to try out Okinawa on Colfax for a sushi date. I was quite happy with our meal, which included a nice array of sashimi, a tempura shrimp roll, and a sweet potato roll. Not a bad bite in the lot of it, and a nice atmosphere, too. Being walking distance from Twist & Shout and Tattered Cover doesn't suck, either.
(4)
Cara M.
Absolutely wonderful spot, left a tip that was much more of a review. Regardless, this spot is amazing and I wish I had somewhere as good as this back home!
(5)
Sarah V.
Stay away from the raw tuna here...my boyfriend and I both got food poisoning this weekend from the sushi. When I called to let them know what had happened the manager didn't sound surprised and offered nothing in the way of an apology. I will not be back.
(1)
Tara L.
Probably the best sushi I've had in Denver and very reasonably priced! I've tried several different rolls and never been let down. The seaweed salad is delish!
(4)
Tara L.
We are so lucky to live near Okinawa. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked it, being a picky sushi eater. The spicy than is great. Fish quality is consistently good and so are the rolls.
(5)
Clare V.
High-quality sushi that isn't overpriced. The waitress recommended some cold sake that went great with our edamame and hand-rolls. Unlike some of the other sushi restaurants in town, Okinawa's hand rolls have lots of great seafood that isn't all tempura. They also have gluten-free soy sauce and are very knowledgeable about what sauces I needed to have on the side. Great City Park Neighborhood restaurant!
(4)
alan c.
In town for work and knowing that this landlocked city somehow manages to produce high quality sushi joints we found this gem on YELP! Fellow Yelpers, thanks for the advice. We ordered the sashimi platter for two and the shrek roll and us two big guys with big appetites were more than satisfied. The presentation was bizarre and a bit over the top (flashing lights and a giant salad bowl with a block of ice and tree branches and fresh seaweed...) but the quality of the fish was spectacular and the portions ample. Nice place, attentive service, quality fish and fair prices ! Bravo. We will be back.
(4)
Janice A.
I usually don't write reviews unless I was somehow compelled by the extraordinary deliciousness and quality of food OR it was a miserable experience in which I would like to spare others from experiencing. Unfortunately, this would be a disappointing experience more so for the service. Rude. Rude. Rude. We arrived for happy hour and were seated in a corner table covered with dust and debris in the sauce dish and table top. Asked if we could move tables and was met with a hostile waitress "go ahead!" Throughout the meal, we ordered off their happy hour menu and it was alright. Salmon, super white tuna, clams, and volcano roll. Didn't think it was worth the price. The other staff members were standing around while we struggled to juggle our oversized plates and the waiter even tried to shuffle our plates around. Hello, please take away the plates we had already finished! Then there would be more room. Overall, mediocre experience and would not return.
(1)
Patrick S.
So, embarassed that I have been remiss in reviewing Okinawa...living in Cheesman does not afford one alot of sushi opportunities within walking distance...this however, is one of them. My first visit was during their grand opening event. My good friend Russ and I decided to give it a shot and we were not disappointed. Everything we tried was delish...lots of rolls and some yellowtail sashimi (none for me thanks). The service was impeccable and we were treated to a sample from the manager...nice touch! Just last week the Doctor and I revisited with our good friends to introduce them to a new sushi joint, not in LOHI. Once again, it was all 5 x 5...with one exception...the Yakisoba. We ordered a salmon roll that just was not as fresh as we expected. A quick word with the manager and we were treated to a delicious replacement at no cost...the Yakisoba was a bit non-descript but palateable. Since it wasn't even on the menu and made to suit the non-sushi lover in the crowd we will give them a push...A for effort, C for results... 4 of us gorged and the bill was about $60...I am good with that!
(4)
Amberley D.
Fantastic! Started with miso soup which was piping hot and delicious. Two of us had five rolls total and ate all but three pieces! The service was excellent, everyone we encountered was polite, our water was always full and I would say it was overall a great experience. I'll be back as often as I can!
(5)
Kate A.
We trudged in here during a snow storm famished and eager to try this new sushi place in our neighborhood. The atmosphere is all I could want from a great sushi restaurant and the service was great and the chef's were friendly (but that could have been because we were the only ones there because of the storm...hmm). When getting sushi I usually stick to the usual fare (i.e. the oh so delicious Philadelphia Roll), but with a sudden pulse of adventure we got the octopus amongst our other rolls. I'm glad I did because it was fresh, tasty, and beautifully put together which squashed any nerves I had about having to choke down tentacles. We also got the "Lover's Roll" which turned out to be a towering work of art compete with flowers, bamboo, little heart-shaped sauce drops, and 12 carefully heart-shaped pieces of sushi. It would be great for Valentine's Day, but should be avoided if eating alone...could be awkward. Definitely check it out!
(5)
Justine M.
Came here a while ago with a large group of people -- Okinawa stayed open late for us, and the staff were very friendly and tolerant of the less sober people in the group :) And beyond that, the food tasted fresh and the bill wasn't nearly as bad as any of us anticipated. Returned here last week for a more quiet dinner and once again, the staff was very friendly and knowledgeable, the food was delicious, and the prices were extremely reasonable. I'm not a vegetarian, but I highly recommend the sweet potato roll! Despite the construction going on around the restaurant and the busy street corner it's on, Okinawa has a great patio if you're into outdoor dining.
(4)
Art M.
This place used to be Sushi Heights.... Okinawa has a very nice decor, and the waitstaff was pleasant.. We started off with appetizers, the Tempura appetizer (Shrimp, carrot, zucchini, potato) Miso soup, and Salad. The tempure was very good, the miso soup was just ok..and the salad was ok... I ordered the Eel platter, my wife had the Chicken Teryaki. My Eel platter was pretty good, but not the best, the Eel was ok but was a bit to scaly for my taste. My wife's chicken teryaki was ok... We also ordered California rolls, they were just ok, they had way too much mayonnaise, and the sticky rice was too warm, it should have been cool, and the consistency was off. Overall the experience was ok, the decor made up for the meal,, Sushi Heights was way better and in a league of it's own..too bad they went out of business... If I go back It will only be for the Tempura Appetizer..
(3)
Kris S.
I am not a sushi girl. But when a client who was visiting from New York said he was craving sushi, I knew Okinawa was the place to take him. I was pleased by the variety of non-sushi menu items. I had the veggie tempura appetizer, which was plentiful enough to suffice for dinner. The atmosphere is upscale and the service is attentive (but not "in your face"). Okinawa really classes up Colfax. I hope similar places will open nereby.
(4)
Sarah R.
I love this place. I went here when they first opened and was happy to find a place with great service, when these days, it seems no one really cares about it. I've been a repeat customer because they are very close to my work and find their avacado peanut rolls to die for! They are the perfect snack before a meal or eat 4 or 5 for dinner - yes, they are that good. Who knew? The presentation was excellent, staff was friendly, food was great and they made me a little sparkling sake concoction that made that much happier. Glad East Colfax is getting some good restaurants that are affordable!
(5)
Robert M.
Great service and nice people, but the sushi needs a bit of work. The rice isn't sticky enough and the sushi portions are small. Decent rolls - had the dragon, salmon skin, sweet potato, and A.A.C. rolls.
(3)
Chirag C.
I often find myself balancing the desire to be a creature of habit versus pushing myself to constantly try new places. I tend to err on the pushy side but think after eating at Okinawa, I've found my go to sushi place near home. Why? The ambiance, food, and service here are great. Running through my mental checklist of what makes a restaurant experience enjoyable for me, I found no flaws and a few great surprises. The ingredients are incredibly fresh; the choice for vegetarians is vast (they have your standard avocado and cuke rolls, but many interesting iterations beyond); and the service is efficient and with a smile.
(4)
Winston C.
I was in town for a conference with my wife and we wanted to get some sushi. Of course I pulled up my yelp app and found this little place. The restaurant is put together very well, dimly lit with really nice plates. The restaurant is on the smaller side but it did not cause a problem in my experience here. Me and my wife ordered 4 rolls, 1 specialty roll (lovers) and 3 regular sushi rolls (spicy tuna, eel, dynamite). The flavors were spot on, very fresh and felt authentic. A good sign that the food is going to be good is when all the servers and chefs are Japanese. All in all we spent 33.00 for everything. Great Restaurant!
(4)
Michelle F.
We liked Okinawa a lot--sushi was very good for the price, and we really liked the urban feeling of sitting out on their porch. We had the mango roll--one of their creations--and it was fantastic. The manager came over and chatted with us for a while--very personable. We'll definitely be back.
(4)
Sean R.
OK food. Terrible service!!! I, and a few friends have tried to give these guys business but the just don't deserve it.
(1)
Jojo L.
Love the place. We had volcano roll, titanic roll and the dragon roll. The fish tasted really fresh, also they used different sauces to make the sushi taste different (in the good way). I really enjoyed my meal.
(4)
Truc N.
Sushi is good. Not bad by any means. However the rice needs improvement. It is too piecy/dry and falls off the fish/roll. Service was good.
(3)
Alyson A.
Great food. I'm always looking for delicious sushi here in Denver! I really liked the setting and they're only a few blocks from my place. Great ambiance. Definitely a keeper.
(4)
Rich R.
Went to Okinawa on a whim with friends after a free show at Twist & Shout and I was extremely happy with the quality, quantity and service. Sushi Delux - 10pcs assorted Nigiri w/ a Tuna Roll for $18 (comes with a salad. Pieces of Sushi dwarfed the small bed of rice. Normally in Sushi places, 10pcs and a roll leaves my wanting a little dessert but I could hardly get the last bite down. My friend had several rolls; All were delicious. The other had the Chicken / Vegetable Tempura and seemed to enjoy it. The small (free!) Cheesecake bites were the best way to end the meal. It's no Sassa Sushi but it's better than Sushi Hai (if that helps...)
(4)
Rachel H.
I am so glad that I tried this new sushi spot. The food was good and the place has a nice look and atmosphere. The prices were terrific! We will definitely go back!
(4)
Heather A.
My new "go-to" neighborhood sushi spot. This is the perfect local sushi joint. Affordable, just the right amount of ambiance, friendly and fast service, and oh yeah, great sushi! We went for the first time on Valentine's Day expecting a long wait and slow service. We were pleasantly surprised to find that we were seated within a few minutes, and had attentive and helpful service. I even got a rose from our waitress to mark the romantic occasion. If you live in the neighborhood, you gotta check out Okinawa.
(4)
Maria M.
I was so, so sad when Sushi Heights closed. Back in my young and super broke days I'd go to Sushi Heights on the last payday of each month, sit at the sushi bar and slowly work my way through whatever I could afford and read a good book. Great memory. When Okinawa opened I was super excited and it hasn't disappointed. I've been numerous times and I've never been disappointed with the quality of food or the quality of service. One on trip, a date night with the hub, we got our sushi served on a boat. It was silly and over the top and completely awesome!! Oh ya, and the sushi and sashimi was amazing. Today for lunch we had the biggest, most wonderful green mussels I've ever had. They were simply divine! We followed with a simple line up of california roll, spicy tuna roll (they were both on special) a spider roll and some unagi. All perfect. I'm deducting one star for their lack of a good happy hour deal.
(4)
Victoria S.
I just moved in to the area and looked around Yelp for good sushi places. I'm hardly a sushi connosieur but I eat it fairly regularly and I know bad sushi when I get it. But Okinawa was the first I tried, and it might be the last because I think I found my new favorite sushi restaurant! Service was fast and polite, the sushi was fresh and delicious! I had mostly basic types (no Volcano sushi for me) and I'd recommend the Yellowtail sushi (not the roll but actual traditional sushi, though the roll was good too) and the miso soup. The soup was mostly broth with pretty small pieces of tofu and seaweed but it was delicious nonetheless. I'll definitely be coming back!
(5)
Jason H.
2nd time here and will b back :) good sushi and friendly service!
(4)
Kimberly S.
I have to say that the fish surprised me. I LOVE sushi! It is impossible for me to not get sushi every now and then, though I usually feel like I leave hungry. That was not the case at Okinawa. For one, I usually can't stand miso soup. I don't like the smell or the way it usually tastes like rotten fish, not to mention the fact that tofu never sits well with me, but my boyfriend forced me to give it another go--and I actually liked it! We ended up splitting the one bowl, because I actually wanted to eat it. That was enough to get me excited for the sushi, but better than that was the fact that we came during happy hour, which meant that you could get two sushi rolls for $8.75 or three for $12.00 (ranging from six to eight pieces each). My boyfriend is a little more daring when it comes to ordering sushi, so I left it in his capable hands. We got a few off the regular menu and went with the three rolls off the happy hour menu. Of course the happy hour menu is more limited but they had Unagi (eel) rolls on it and that made it even better! We also ordered a small appetizer called Dynamite that had a seafood medley mixed with mushrooms and some kind of creamy sauce that had a hint of heat to it. So good! It was a small app and I think if I had to I would've fought for it with my boyfriend! That plate went back clean! So already we were excited about the random drop it, but then the actual sushi showed up. There was so much of it! There were plenty of rolls from the happy hour menu and though my boyfriend picked a decent amount of different sushi, it was about a normal order for us, but this time the whole thing was delicious and filling! Everything was so yummy! ...Now to the four stars: Though the sushi was wonderful and I actually enjoyed the miso soup there were a few points that couldn't be ignored. I was confused by the service. One minute we had one server and the next we had another. It was impossible to tell who was actually our server. However, they were nice. But then when we got to the end of the meal we decided we wanted to grab the Key lime white chocolate cheese cake--creme brulee? (still a little confused about the cake itself honestly) Though they had already brought out the check we thought it wouldn't be too hard to flag down a server (since the only two servers seemed to both be taking care of us??). That however, was not the case. I think it took ten minutes before my boyfriend finally had to call out to one server as he was walking away from another table. Not to mention that we apparently ended our meal at the same time that all of the staff decided to sit down to lunch right in front of the customers. We all need to eat, I get it, but working in the food industry I also know that it's proper to keep it out of sight from the customers. So we finally got the order in for the dessert and it was dropped off at our table quickly. But there was no crunchy torched sugar on the top. Perhaps because the kitchen had sat down to lunch? Nonetheless it was still yummy (don't ask me what it actually was though lol) And last and certainly least is the fact that I am completely confused by the decor. I felt like the furniture belonged in a fine dining restaurant and the rest was out of a Mexican coffee shop-night club? (I have no better definition). Not to mention the fact that there was some kind of weird Mexican music playing (in a sushi restaurant??). But that's just nitpicking :P (sorry for the long review!)
(4)
Jenny K.
Great fish, great presentation. Not a big selection, but very tasty. Can't wait to go there again.
(4)
Neil G.
Good sushi, ok service, but a little overpriced
(3)
Rashad K.
Simply awesome! After a great first day of yoga (warm power vinyasa class at the CAC), Monica and I felt like indulging ourselves with some clean, light, but satisfying food. So since Okinawa is just a minute away from my place, we figured a nice stroll to the new sushi restaurant was in order. The Decor is minimalistic yet warm with earth tones rising from the floor up to cool white walls behind the sushi bar. Not a large place, seats about 50 but you don't feel cramped. All in all a very comfortable spot. We were greeted right away and were given plenty of time to look through the extensive menu. The prices really stand out due to how low they are so I was expecting stingy portions. That was far from the truth, so much food! Nice thick, very high quality pieces of sashimi, perfectly cooked rice, and get this......free little bites of cheesecake to cap the meal. Definitely going to become a regular at this place!
(5)
Ivan R.
The food was delicious, the prices were a little on the steep side and the portions on the small side. All in all, it was well rounded but nothing out the ordinary.
(3)
Heather M.
I am always up to try new sushi places so when this came to town, I was game. The pros were that we were able to find a parking spot close by (construction causes some havoc) and I fell in love with the Honeymoon roll. The con was that I had food poisoning for three days after the dinner (my dinnermates also felt queasy). So excluding the sickness I would give the place four stars...I am torn on whether I will return.
(2)
Paige W.
This is probably one of my least favorite sushi restaurants I have been to, ever. It wasn't terrible, I didn't feel like I was going to die, but the flavor combinations were just not there for me. I think my favorite part of the meal was the side salad, which is the exact same as every other sushi restaurant in Denver. We had a few rolls, and most of them were far too sweet, due to the sauces they were swimming in. I missed the savory element of a sushi roll, and wished that they had more options in that regard. Even the rolls that sounded savory on the menu were covered in a sweet sauce. My least favorite rolls were snow white (bleh), and one that I don't remember the name of- but it was covered in a mango sauce that tasted like frozen mango concentrate that wasn't diluted at all. I will not be returning, simply because there are far better places in Denver to snag sushi at a much lower price point. (Sushi Hai).
(2)
Sasha S.
Ate dinner at Okinawa for the first time last night. We didnt have to wait for a table, but at 9pm the place was full and had a great energy. Service was fast and friendly and they did a nice job with the remodel. The food was excellent and the presentation was the best I've seen in Denver. We ordered several rolls and sashimi and enjoyed every bite. The table next to us ordered the sushi boat for 2, and the scallop appetizer and though I had absolutely no complaints about our order, I had a little food envy. The sushi boat in only $40, which seemed like a great price. I'll definitely be back for that.
(4)
Tess H.
Good place! The cap hill area has been needing a good sushi restaurant and now we have one.. yay! I have yet to eat inside the restaurant, but have ordered take-out a handful of times now and have always been very impressed with the quality of sushi and the reasonable prices. Their special rolls are great, as well as their more simple rolls. Inside the restaurant looks very nice as well, I just haven't had the chance to eat there yet. Definitely recommend this place!
(5)
Dana R.
Nice, subtle improvement since my last visit and I feel it's now a 4 and a halfer! The atmosphere was just as nice as it was on the first visit, and again, I'm amazed that we were sitting SO close to the people next to us and still couldn't hear them (maybe we just keep sitting by quiet talkers)...BUT, the food was good. And I mean really good and memorable. Loved the sweet potato roll, the rainbow roll was fresh and flavorful and the seaweed salad was one of the best I've had!
(4)
Andrea R.
one of my favorite places to eat sushi, we came here for happy hour and stuffed ourselves with miso soup, sushi and finally mochi ice cream. try the ichiban roll;)
(5)
Olivia K.
Being that this place is SUPER close to where I live, the boyfriend and I have made this a regular stop- and I don't even like sushi. I'm typically the only person in the restaurant not eating sushi, but the servers still treat me like a normal person when I order veggie tempura. In fact, they know me and my order as soon as I walk in the door now! I guess it's because I'm not only predictable, but probably the only person who orders this. Oh well. My boyfriend loves the sushi and says it's reasonably priced. Plus, you get free little cheesecake bites at the end of your meal! What could be better than that?!!
(5)
Adam K.
So wanted to tempt fate and went here for an early dinner on a Monday (against Bourdain's advice), and sat at the bar to enjoy some fish. The good news was the sushi was very tasty and the quality was good. The bad news is one of the chefs had a totally bad attitude (even to other chef it looked) and totally killed the mood. The other staff were nice though, but if you can't talk to the sushi chef for advice, then that just kills it for me.
(3)
Samantha C.
This is not douse your sushi in soy sauce sushi. I ordered the rainbow roll and the salmon sushi. This was my first experience and someone told me it was a super good spot, so I tried it! I'm always a little hesitant with food on colfax, but the roll and salmon sushi was unbelievably fresh, delicous, and beautiful! I will definetely be going back.
(4)
Sarah P.
Good food with really neat presentation. They have a lot of specialty rolls, but not the most bang for your buck. Attentive service and nice atmosphere. A solid neighborhood sushi place that I'd go back to.
(4)
Lauren M.
Because it's within walking distance, this will definitely be our new sushi place. But, even if it weren't walkable, I'd still make the trip to eat here. The sushi was fresh, the rolls were reasonably priced (not cheap, but not ridiculous either) and everything tasted great. I had a really good chianti and some flavorful sake. Our waitress was attentive and our rolls were made surprisingly quickly for the amount of people in the restaurant. We had the truffle tuna to start and it was delicious. I enjoyed the small cut rolls (philly and spicy tuna) because I find those easy to eat (they tasted great too - chill but not cold, liberal sesame seed sprinkles, quality fish). We also had the snow white roll, which was good. The only reason this isn't a five star review is that I don't think their specialty rolls are particularly creative. The best sushi places I've been to mix interesting ingredients with fresh fish to create scrumptious pieces of art on the plate. The rolls here were very straightforward. Still, if you live in the neighborhood or are looking for a good sushi place when you're in the area, I would definitely give Okinawa a try. (Two random notes: even though this is on Colfax, you can't hear the traffic; also, as some others have mentioned, the seats are super comfortable)
(4)
Alex W.
Bento box and sushi were sooooo good. Had lunch here with my bf and it was such a great lunch. HUGE plus: Their music was on an Air mix the whole time. Maguro and Moon Safari? Yes please.
(4)
Jess K.
I'm giving them 3 stars for the service (server was the manager), the rest of the staff was great and helpful. Their food is great, except the 3 Musketeer roll we had was pretty boring and lacked flavor but was beautifully presented. What bothered us the most about our server was the fact he was standing at the table next to us for almost the entire duration of our meal socializing with 2 girls. He was loud, unattentive and was using the f-word at a pretty high volume. Just not what I expect from a manager or a server for that fact. Just left a bad taste in our mouths but will most likely be back due to the lack of competition for sushi on colfax.
(3)
Tracy L.
My boyfriend and I live close by and thought we would try this place out. I'm always looking for options that are less expensive than Sasa or Sushi Den, and where I can get takeout for lunch. My boyfriend is super picky when it comes to sushi, and we were both impressed by this place! The only reason I gave it 4 stars, is because while good, it just doesn't compare to Sasa. Nothing does. When we sat at the sushi bar they gave us a yummy crab mango salad. I could've eaten 2 of these! We ordered 2 appetizers and a couple of rolls, including a new style sashimi and spicy tuna crispy rice. The spicy tuna crispy rice was good, but not as good as I've had at other places. The new style sashimi and the rolls were great! There were a lot of interesting things on the menu, and I'm excited to go back and try more!
(4)
deanne n.
Excellent food, amazing staff, and wonderful atmosphere! 5 stars for best sushi in Denver CO!
(5)
Rachel S.
So excited a great sushi place has moved into the CP Hood! The restaurant is pretty small, well appointed and intimate atmosphere. The house bottle are pretty inexpensive ($24 per bottle) and I thought the prices were very reasonable. The rolls were around $11-13 each and DELISH! One of my favorites was the new style with jalapeno. I could not get enough of it. The service was prompt and all the rolls were presented in a unique approach. I will be back. They do have a happy hour, but it is from 2-5pm...thought that was a little strange.
(5)
Christopher C.
this place was pretty good, got a bunch of sushi and of course some saki.
(4)
Bradley L.
Great Teriyaki Salmon bowl for lunch! Great price, lots of food and good flavor. I have not been for happy hour or dinner and don't think I will, since the lunch prices are good.
(4)
Alan W.
We're from AZ and have never had such fresh and cheap sushi. I wish we could come back!
(5)
Helen Y.
The shrimp tempura bento is a must try! Batter is very light & food tastes great. The sashimi is yummy too. Oiishii desu ne. (Delicious in Japanese) The sauce that comes with the sashimi is very tasty too. Love this new place & the service is excellent!
(5)
Steven B.
This location has been a variety of oriental, mostly sushi, places over the past few years. I'm not sure what the changes are all about but this time they have upped the ante on the sushi! It has been pretty good, but not my favorite, in the past and now it is my first choice for sushi. The decor is the minimal Japanese you'd expect, but the preparation and freshness of the sushi is at the top of the scale. The sushi chefs take a lot of time in arranging the sushi so that it is as good to look at as to eat. For a small place they seem to always have some of the more expensive cuts. They advertise 'Blue Fin' but I haven't bother to check on whether this is the 'good' or 'bad' kind. . .I guess the sushi is so good I don't want to know. Service is excellent and while I've only gone in a few times they seem to recognize me, or at least pretend to do so and that makes me feel good. Probably the only complaint is that the location on East Colfax means sparse parking, but it's worth the effort.
(5)
marissa o.
Wonderful sushi, great neighborhood spot!!!
(5)
Kate T.
Picked this place with a coworker because it's close to City Park and away from the congestion some of the Uptown eateries get at lunchtime during the week. We're both vegetarian, and this place offered a lot for us to choose from. Our server was so friendly and attentive, and we felt very welcomed. Really loved it. The decor was warm and inviting and we noticed some "regulars" were already there on their 2nd or 3rd visits, even though this place is relatively new. Also, they have very reasonable lunch specials-- not expensive and we both left with containers half-full of left-overs. I had the teriyaki tofu lunch and my coworker had the veggie udon. Really great flavors. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Leslianne N.
This review is long overdue. Let me start off saying that we were so excited to have a sushi place so close to us. However, now we will journey the extra time to go somewhere else. We are totally frustrated with this place! The first time we went in was a decent experience. Good food, which made up for the DUMB waiter! He was slow, he mumbled, he pretty much seemed like he has been stoned for the last 5 years. We went back a month later, hoping to get a better server. We did not...we got the same stoned waiter. We sat outside and it took forever for our waiter to come over. He took our order and went to the other table near us. Didn't go inside to place our order, just started chatting with the table (not taking their order). They were discussing if Jesus really existed NO JOKE!!! After about 10 min he went inside to place the order. Our food came out and we started eating. We had ordered a roll with Eel in it among others and it was good. My boyfriend took a bite of this eel roll and immediately started to gag. I thought he was choking, but he wasn't. He ran straight to the bathroom. There was no way I was eating anymore until I know what happened. He came back saying that he threw up and feels like he is going to again. He realized that he had something stuck in his throat. We didn't know what it was, but we thought it was some shell from the shrimp tail or bone. We weren't sure, but we were sure that we were done. Since, our waiter was nowhere to be found another waiter came over to help. We told him the situation, he apologized, and said he would get the manager. Who is the mananger...OUR DUMB@$$ WAITER!!! We tell him what happened he says that he will give us some hot sake on the house to see if it helps. Before we could say no, He's back with the sake. My boyfriend gave it a shot and it did nothing. We just wanted to leave, but our waiter/manager was loudly chatting about Jesus again. We figured that the meal would be comped or significantly discounted since we didn't eat any of the meal except for one piece of sushi. We let the waiter know that we were extremely upset and that we don't think that we should pay full price for something that we are NOT going to eat. My boyfriend was miserable as we waited for the guy to bring us the bill. We get it and he just took off the one roll but charged us full on everything. We ended up spending $40 on two bites of sushi( less than that, BC my boyfriend threw up)! Since my bf was suffering we paid and left so pissed off! We got home and after 20 min of looking in his mouth, we found a white speck way in the back of his throat. We used tweezers to pull it out and it was a good 1/2 inch bone stuck back there. I can honestly say that we will NEVER EVER EVER go back to that place unless that waiter was fired and we were assured that the food would have no bones. Even then it would be hard to say yes. This happened a while back and I still get fired up just thinking about it.
(1)
Dan G.
Really affordable sushi on Colfax. The fish was fresh and the sushi chefs seemed really happy to be at work. The service was efficient and friendly. Okinawa is a great value and a needed addition to Colfax.
(4)
Thea K.
The food, price, atmosphere and service were great! The wait staff was eager to please and very accommodating and the sushi chef behind the bar was fun to watch! They have some unique flavors and combinations on their menu that set them apart from other Denver sushi locations like Hapa and Mt. Fuji and, prices that are lower than you'd expect for the quality of food and service.
(4)
Amy D.
This new sushi joint has made a complete overhaul from it's earlier days as a different sushi restaurant most likely from different owners. It's now a modern, yet cozy atmosphere where even the bathrooms have funky tile and a contemporary sink. Walking in, you definitely get the wow factor (especially if you've experienced the previous look of this building). The servers are welcoming and knowledgeable. The sushi is fresh, and they special attention to detail in the presentation. We had the jalapeno yellow tail as an appetizer followed by a mixture of sashimi along with the Angel, Playboy, and Shrek rolls. It was the perfect mix for four of us. A nice touch at the end is the bite sized cheesecake for each guest. If you're lucky, you'll get to do a Saki shot with the manager Thomas. It's so good that I've visited this restaurant twice in two weeks!
(4)
Cassandra S.
My friend and I drove up last night to eat here after having a friend referred me here. We loved it.....very reasonably priced and very clean. Fast service and clean restrooms. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Kay T.
Denver doesn't have that many good sushi places but this place is decent. The sushi is good and fresh in this small restaurant. They need to extend their happy hour times as well because people are still working or traffic just sucks on Colfax. There really isn't much parking either unless there is and I don't know about it...
(4)
Kyle G.
Colorado has pretty much no clue how to do sushi ... go here and experience the real thing ... fyi if its overly complicated and covered in sauces ur not eating japanese food - that's like saying panda express is authentic chinese food
(4)
Randy H.
Was our first visit to Okinawa. Was pleased by the appearance of the interior, and the selection of music, which was pleasant in volume and type. Our waiter seemed like he was somewhat new, but handled our requests in a timely manner. The sushi was excellent. Great selection of specialty rolls as well. Prices were lower than I had expected too!
(4)
Julia G.
The sushi here is pretty good, and fairly priced. However, we have ordered take-out twice and had surprises both times. The first time, we received a roll that we didn't order in place of whatever we did. It was good, so not a huge deal. We tried it again tonight and they left off the avacado on one of the rolls. Since the avacado was one of the clinchers for why I ordered it, I called to let them know and was told they no longer put avacado on that particular roll (the mango roll, if you're curious). That's fine, but they should change the menu then. I'm sure we'll order from here again, and hopefully their take-out will eventually work out the kinks.
(4)
Becca P.
We'll definitely be going here again, but that's largely due to the fact that it's within walking distance of our house. Prices are affordable and the vegetarian sushi is excellent. Our favorite was the avocado peanut roll. Seating is a little cramped, but it's a cute space nevertheless.
(4)
Brian B.
Greeted and seated right away at sushi bar. Very clean and nice atmosphere. Miso a bit bland but served in nice, heavy bowl with matching spoon. Gyoza are piping hot and the delicate wrap is nicely browned on one side. There is a nice amount of garlic and the pork is sweet and ultra-tender. The shrek roll is an instant favorite with it's soy bean paper jacket holding together a delightful manage of lobster, tuna, white tuna, crunch, avocado, mango, and roe...did you get all of that? The playboy roll, crowned with a perfect, thin jalapeño circle has a sweet, mint (?) note stashed away beneath the yellowtail, spicy, and white tuna. Two very original rolls. The hamachi is fresh and tender. Attentive but not overbearing service, and complimentary frozen cheese cake cubes, one plain, one with a praline topping, completes a very enjoyable first experience. Thank you. We will be back!
(4)
Rebekah H.
I like Go Fish, and having lived in San Francisco AND a rural fishing village in Japan, I can be a bit of snob when it comes to my sushi fish. I thought let me try this joint and see if it can delight me, I liked the decor, comfortable chairs, and I thought the service was great. The fish was decent, but the rice was just not sticky enough! Fallin all over the place, I hate that. But it was tasty and beautifully presented, so I would go there again.
(3)
Sarah G.
Okinawa is an awesome spot on Colfax! The sweet potato rolls are so good. Try them even if you don't like sweet potatoes. I've tried a number of other rolls there and every one has been excellent. The servers are always really attentive and they have a great lunch special. There aren't many sushi places in that part of town, but Okinawa would probably be the best even if there were others!
(4)
Mike Z.
What a great addition to Colfax. Finally a great Sushi place in City Park. The food was great. The service was great. We will definitely frequent this place in the future!
(4)
Heidi T.
I moved here from CA last August so I will admit that I have been spoiled with great sushi. This was my first CO sushi experience. I knew going in that it would not be CA quality but this place had good reviews so I thought I would try it for lunch. Definitely not even comparable to CA sushi. I ordered three rolls and only ate 5 total pieces before throwing it out. The smell was suspect and the texture was mush. The least I expect is my fish cold and crisp. Not so much.
(2)
Luis S.
I've been going here for 6 months or so; lunch specials are great (3 rolls & soup for $12.95!), nice ambiance, and really good sushi at a good price. The service is great, they recognize me when I come in. Highly recommend it!
(5)
Melissa G.
My new favorite sushi joint in Denver! The sushi is absolutely delicious and the presentation is a work of art. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Fantastic! You won't be disappointed with anything you get.
(4)
Audra O.
excellent food and excellent service. top notch presentation. okinanwa uses creativity with their menu, combining unique ingredients that blend well together to make flavor combinations that excite the mouth ... my mouth, anyway. loved it!
(5)
James T.
We ordered take-out sushi to take to the ball game. The prices were reasonable and the sushi was delicious. It was nicely presented in the plastic take-out container. The staff was very friendly when we picked up the order. I'm excited to eat in and add to this review soon.
(4)
Eric T.
very good sushi for a decent price point! the design of the place is contemporary but still has a warm feeling. it doesn't feel uptight but rather hipster. a place to come back to visit when in town in Denver, city by the bay ;)
(4)
Portia H.
Very good sushi and great service.
(4)
Michelle S.
Happy hour has been extended to 6:00 PM here and the quality of sushi seems to just get better each time. I've become a big fan of this place.
(5)
Avery E.
I don't like to sushi here. But I'm very particular. The lunch boxes are excellent. I really like their steak teriyaki because it's actually a steak.
(4)
ChronicBuddzz B.
The ninja roll has me karate chopping my roommate in the head. Truly delicious. Also recommend trying the Okinawa roll. Eating sushi on Colfax rules.
(5)
Ellie H.
I've been here a few times and have never been disappointed in the food. Giving 4 stars because I am always turned off when a sushi place smells like fish and the entire place smelt SO fishy the last time I was there, it was all my friends and I could talk about. The sushi didn't disappoint me but The smell definitely did. Lol
(4)
Kat S.
Clean, tasty, free Dum-Dum's, not horribly over priced, with a good variety. Staff was friendly and efficient. I like efficient. Our server also made amazing and elaborate hand gestures every time he set something on our table. I will definitely go back.
(4)
Alisha K.
Okinawa is consistently fresh and delicious, has great service and is one of my favorite sushi restaurants in Denver. Their plating is always elegant- every dish is carefully designed and is presented beautifully. Definitely try the Dragon Roll and the Ninja Roll- both are epic! They also have a great sake menu.
(5)
S P.
I live in the neighborhood and have passed by maybe 100 times. Maybe I thought I was above a sushi place on Colfax, but THIS PLACE HAS VERY GOOD FISH. We sat at the sushi bar in part so I could critique the fish, chefs, operation... While one chef was solid, the other guy was EXCELLENT! The oversized fish was fresh, tasty, and high quality all around. In order from best (for what I tried)- Salmon, yellowtail, tuna, eel, yet all were good. The handroll was not great- too bad. The seaweed salad was fresh and plentiful. I would return.
(4)
Killian G.
DO NOT EAT HERE! THERE ARE ROACHES IN AND AROUND THE SUSHI!!!!!!!!!! Two years ago, after finally giving birth and being able to eat sushi, so we decided to celebrate and come here. My wife, being the type of person that orders Volcano drinks, Pu Pu platters, and other extravagant attention-grabbing menu novelties, decided she would like to get the sushi boat. When our boat was cast from the sushi counter and docked at our table, dozens of stowaway cockroaches exited the vessel and scrambled all over our table. We got up and walked out. We haven't been back since, and we never will.
(1)
Samuel Antonio S.
4 stars for the food, 4 stars for the service, and 2 stars for the ambiance. The food was perfectly prepared as you can see in the picture I posted. The fish was fresh and consistent. The happy hour deals are pretty good, but are much better at other places like Hapa or Blue Sushi. The staff were funny and accomodating. It was certainly slow being a Saturday afternoon and we had no less than 4 people serve us. While this may sound nice, it felt disjointed and not cohesive. 2 stars for ambiance because of how hot it was in there. Granted it was a hot day, but it was quite warm and uncomfortable in there. We mentioned this concern to a server who made a slight attempt at an explanation and did nothing afterward. Whats worse is our first round of Soporros were not quite cold. Everyone knows this is the worst for light beers. The second round was fine. I would go back if hungry and nearby but would opt for other choices.
(3)
Annie C.
I believe this is one of the few Japanese restaurants in the area that is open through that awkward 2pm to 5pm timeframe, so one gold star for Okinawa! Let me just start by saying the service here is awesome. I walked in with a few good friends on a Saturday afternoon and the gentleman serving us was extremely friendly, courteous, and prompt! (He also gave us a slice of chocolate cake on the house!) The lunch specials are all pretty inexpensive (~$8), considering how much variety you get! I got the Salmon Teriyaki lunch box, which was completed with a California roll, miso soup (served at a perfect temperature), green salad (with yummy ginger dressing), and rice. In short, everything was well prepared and quite palatable. Moral of the story: If you're feeling hungry for some Japanese food between 2pm and 5pm, swing by and have a good time.
(5)
J K.
I like this place. The sushi is solid, the staff is attentive and polite, the location is great, and I always leave happy. Not the best sushi place in town, but for the price and the location, pretty pleasing.
(4)
Nat S.
Went for a friends birthday. Service was friendly. Rolls were good, not mind blowing in any way. I have not had mind blowing good sushi in Denver- as of yet. The presentation of the rolls is what makes this a little fancier. We had about ten rolls for our table. They were adequate. The spicy rolls had no crunch and had an unusually tangy taste. Is there cream cheese in the spicy sauce?Food was a three, service was a four or five.
(4)
lauren k.
Great reliable sushi in denver. Service is sometimes a bit lacking with speed of clearing empty/dirty plates but overall a great experience. Very fresh, creative rolls and awesome japanese dishes too. Awesome happy hour!
(4)
Kelly F.
Awesome lunch special! Ordered 3 rolls which came with miso soup or salad for $13. Totally affordable and delicious. I wasn't able to eat it all though :)
(4)
Paula K.
I thought I would venture out today and try another sushi place in the hood even though our favorite is just a couple of blocks from home. The yelp ratings guided me to Okinawa. Highs- I have to give them big points for their calamari. I have just about given up trying to find calamari at a sushi restaurant that isn't just bland tempura coated squid. Okinawa impressed me. The service was decent. The restaurant was quiet and nicely decorated Lows- The green mussels were way too mayonnaisy for me. I love green mussels in spicy mayo but there has to be more flavor going on than just mayo. These were bogged in mayo with very little flavor of anything else. I ordered a cucumber roll for my daughter and a shrimp tempura roll for myself. I'm not a fan of seaweed on the outside of the roll. I realize it's just a preference but it's a strong preference of mine that it's not as it overpowers the other flavors and a little harder to eat neatly for those larger two-bite rolls. I didn't even know this was a low until I just read some of the other yelp reviews. But the only lunch special I was offered was a two roll lunch ($9) and a three roll lunch ($12). Both good deals but what are theses other lunch specials that yelpers speak of?? Disclaimer. I did not try the sushi. I wish I would have so I could give a more well-rounded review. But based on what I did have it was okay. I wish I could give another 1/2 star for the calamari which was way more than just okay. But I have to base it on the other 75% of what i ate. And maybe it's not them but me. But I didn't get anything to make me wish that I hadn't just gone to my usual stand-by.
(3)
Colleen E.
Never disappoints - fun, non-pretentious ambience, great quality for the price.
(4)
Shannon S.
Really great place. Just moved to Denver and tried this place because it's in my neighborhood. I'm so impressed with the service and quality of the sushi. We will definitely be regulars.
(4)
Joshua S.
This is definitely in the top 3 sushi restaurants in the Denver area. I have been here several times in the last year and have yet to be disappointed. I usually get nigiri sushi and maybe one roll. The fish is of outstanding quality- they have the best mackerel that I have had on the mainland. Urchin is regularly available- something that I have found a lot of other restaurants don't sell enough of to bother keeping in stock. The salmon skin roll is also the best by far I've had in Denver. Service is very personable and friendly.
(4)
Rebecca F.
Where do I get started with Okinawa? This is my favorite neighborhood sushi spot, ever! I love their lunch and happy hour specials. The sushi lunch box specials are delicious and they have plenty of options. The servers are always friendly and make sure to accommodate you as best they can. I've tried a variety of sushi and sashimi dishes and can't complain about a single one! I love the dressing they use on their salads, it's to die for.They carry some of my favorite beers as well as delicious sake. If you're in the area, I'd definitely give into your sushi craving and try them!
(4)
Rebecca a.
Well this place went down fast in my books. I have to say that for a good six months we would come here, BUT we would NEVER order any alcohol, why you ask? Oh well because they serve hot beers and cold saki. This place has no idea what a refrigerator is, seriously, who the heck wants a "buy one hot beer, get another hot beer free"? No one. that is who. No one. So we would overlook this terrible attribute and instead enjoy the delicious sushi and quick walk from our apartment with water... well that was until... I found a wasp in my food. I actually almost ate it. This sickened me much more than I expected... but... I am allergic. What was worse was the wasp wasn't entirely dead. He was hiding under my salad. And I almost ate him and I am sure that if I had put him in my mouth that he would've used his left breath on stinging me and then I would've had to go to the hospital. What made this experience even more troubling was the restaurant didn't care. They actually said this was normal... what? Having wasps in my salad does not surprise you? This isn't the first time? This can happen again? wh.. what? So we haven't been back and we wont ever be back. It truly is disappointing because they are so close to us, but we will find another place to go. Having to rush to the hospital to make sure I don't die because a wasp stings me in my mouth... throat... stomach... whatever is not a night I ever attend to have. So if you like live wasps in your sushi or salads, then you should for sure come here, it seems to be a delicacy over there.
(1)
Elizabeth S.
We love the vibe here--it's always a little busy and a little noisy...not at all serious or dull as many sushi restaurants can be. The volcano roll is super tasty. Grab a window seat and enjoy good sushi, well priced beers and a fun view of Colfax.
(4)
Dennis B.
After seeing the positive ratings for this place, I was a bit disappointed by my experience here. The Tempura asparagus roll was tasty, the fish in the other rolls was decent quality, but the eel roll was sort of a joke. Granted, we did go at 10p and they close at 11p, so maybe the chefs and servers were tired and ready to go home....but I'm still paying full price just like any other customer who came earlier in the night, so the late hour is not really an excuse in my opinion. It's not like we walked in 10 minutes before closing. Half the eel roll pretty much just seemed to have eel skin in it with the tiniest shred or two of actual eel meat.....without the sauce on top, I suspect some of the pieces would have just tasted more like a cucumber/rice roll instead of eel. Disappointing. Making the server who brought the check aware of this (in a polite way and after even complimenting on some of the other food), resulted in a sort of lackluster "OK, I'll tell the chef" response. Bottom line is, it wasn't terrible, but I'd prefer to spend my money somewhere else next time.
(2)
Kristine B.
Okinawa is solid sushi; I had very basic rolls when I stopped in here (Salmon and Tuna/Eel) and everything tasted very crisp and fresh, but I think some of the people here forget Sushi Den exists, which is absolutely the best sushi in Denver. That being said, this place is open any time of the day for some solid fish, which definitely gives it a star up on most average sushi joints, and they have some rather inventive special rolls, as well as a very attentive staff and attractive, modern interior. I wouldn't say it was the best sushi I ever had, but it's solid and worth a visit.
(4)
Karen H.
I came to Denver for business and tired out three of the top Yelp rated sushi places. Okinawa was hands down my favorite. All the places had comparable prices for their basic and specialty rolls. We ate here twice while visiting, once for lunch and once for dinner. At lunch the place wasn't too busy and the staff were very attentive. I ordered one of their three roll specials. The amount of fish in each was meager, but the price is pretty good for me. Two of my co-workers got the lunch boxes, and the meals were huge! If you come here for lunch, definitely consider getting a box if you are hungry! For round two, I ordered two specialty rolls (Salmon Mango Roll and Rainbow Roll). Given that the price of these rolls were comparable to the other sushi places I went, I expect to get just a little fish on these rolls. I was so excited when I got my sushi. They did NOT skimp. I hands-down love the Salmon Mango Roll. There is just so much salmon and the mango balances well with it. If you are going for a specialty roll, go for this one! I took a picture of my platter but it doesn't give it justice because it looks like a normal sized plate, I should have put something next to it for scale. It was a VERY big plate with good portions of fish. About the atmosphere, it is not the swankiest of places, but it is still a very nice atmosphere. All of the servers were really pleasant and jovial, if not jocular at times. If you are coming on a weekend night, consider making reservations if possible. Sitting at the sushi bar can be very entertaining; the sushi chefs are very creative in their presentation of the rolls. If you do sit at the bar, avoid sitting near the door on cold days, as there can be a draft. Summary: If I ever go back to Denver, I will definitely be eating here again because: More fish for money compared to other local places The fish is fresh tasting and the rolls are creative in a palatable way The overall ambiance is pleasant without being over the top Here for lunch?: Try a Lunch box meal Here for dinner?: Go for the Salmon Mango Roll!!!
(4)
Conrad S.
I love Okinawa, the service is outstanding and the sushi is fresh and creative. I will be back, I have been back, and it never dissapoints.
(5)
Luciana B.
I'm Brazilian and me and my family were craving for some good sushi in Denver! This one did not disappoint! It was awesome, the dishes were well served! I ordered sushi tacos that were INCREDIBLE!!!! Don't miss the chance to taste that! And then me and my brother split the sushi lovers or something similar... It was enough for the both of us! Great place, great sushi, great service... 5 stars!
(5)
Brittany T.
Probably the best sushi in town. Period. Priced normally I suppose, but not too expensive. Great atmosphere here and at the Tennyson location its slightly more cozy. Sometimes have coupon months where you get 20% of your bill in a gift card for next time and buy one get one on drinks. Good HH but it changes I think
(5)
Kam D.
My favorite of the 2nd tier of sushi places in Denver. It's not on the same level as Sushi Den or Sasa but it's still better than most of the other places. I've always been satisfied when ordering from here which is pretty often. Also, their happy hour is pretty solid with buy one get one drinks and discounted rolls.
(4)
Steph G.
I am a sushi addict. There, I've acknowledged it. This was my 2nd sushi dinner in 4 days. Can we move on now? Okinawa really helped kill the craving. Yes, I get very intense sushi cravings. So intense that it's all I can think about if my stomach grumbles a little. I know, I have a problem! Service is friendly and efficient. It's a busy spot, but we were given great service despite the restaurant being nearly full. We ordered some rolls- golden roll and volcano roll. Also got some spicy tuna, yellowtail/scallion and spicy scallop crunch. The verdict? All DELICIOUS. Fresh, nicely made, and well presented. Can I ramble for a sec about how good the volcano roll was? It wasn't what I expected but it sure was tasty! It came with a spicy/sweet soy teriyaki-type sauce combo- usually not a saucy sushi fan but this was was yum. The jalapeño in it gave it some more kick. I do like my spice. :) I think it's worth mentioning that they do a sushi for 2 on the menu for $39 which I would have loved to try- 16 pcs of sushi plus 2 specialty rolls sounds like a great deal! My bf didn't like the plain fish on rice idea...he's not a sushi purist like me. I will get to it one of these days! Love Okinawa and I've been here a couple times now. It does not disappoint.
(4)
Gabriel P.
Probably the best sushi I've ever had east of California. The fish was surprisingly fresh and very tasty, and the rolls are creative and well constructed with excellent presentation. Service was pretty good, ambiance is ok. Lots of interesting options on the menu but I have to give a shoutout for the cucunber-wrapped low carb rolls in particular.
(5)
Raeanne J.
I was super excited to order from this place because they offer brown rice. So I decided to deviate from my normal place I order from. Myself and 3 co-workers checked out the menu online and were super stoked that the Sushi Lunch Combo (2 rolls and soup or salad) was only $8.50! We placed an order over the phone and picked it up. It wasn't until we got back to the office that we realized we were over charged for the sushi. They had charged $10 per person instead of $8.50. I called and spoke with a woman and she said the website price is wrong and they need to update it, they changed the pricing about 6 months ago. She also added verbatim, "If you don't believe us you can come in and look at our menu here and it says $10". I wouldn't have been as annoyed with the price difference if it were't for her last comment. It's definitely not geared towards customer service... Anyway the sushi here is not as good from where I am used to ordering from, so I will not be returning.
(2)
Craig C.
This is my third time I have been to Okinawa. The fish is extremely well prepared and very fresh. The rolls are equally as good. There is nice selection of specialty rolls. Always a great meal.
(4)
Hunter W.
One of our favorite sushi spots in Denver. Great happy hour, mildly inconsistent service, but delicious sushi. Perfect atmosphere to sit and relax while enjoying a variety of hand-made rolls. Check this place out.
(4)
Natalie Q.
Possibly the best sushi in Denver. It's hard to find good sushi after traveling to Japan and San Fran, especially in Denver. This place has always wowed me with their selection and quality. The flavors are amazing and they always make the food look amazing.
(5)
Kara A.
I'm very hesitant about eating fish in a landlocked state. Maybe it's because I've had a few bad experiences since we arrived here, but I decided to trust my fellow Yelpers on this one. Plus, our good friends really wanted sushi. We arrived here around 6:30 on a Saturday night. The place was busy and we had a short wait. There was one table in particular that was especially troubling for the hostess. They were reserving a table for a large party, but could not tell the hostess how large their party would be and appear to have been taking up space in several pushed together tables for more than a reasonable amount of time. The hostess, very frustrated, eventually came up to us and muttered some less than friendly things. While, admittedly, this was unprofessional, after witnessing the exchange between him and this party, we were understanding. Nevertheless, it was an interesting way to start off our evening. After about 10 minutes, we were seated and our friends arrived. We ordered sushi using the typical method (indicate how many of each roll on a piece of paper). Service was friendly and quick. Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised with the sushi. My one complaint is that the fish in my spicy roll seemed... mashed. It was an unpleasant texture and we didn't finish that particular roll as a result. I was told by my friend, however, that this is a method that seems to be specific to Colorado, which is interesting and will certainly make me think twice before ordering spicy rolls in the future. The atmosphere is nice. It doesn't feel cheap, like some sushi spots, and it also isn't overly formal. It's a good spot to grab some good sushi with friends on the weekend. We'll definitely return! We just won't order a spicy roll.
(4)
Kate R.
I have had really good sushi here. The prices are great for lunches and happy hour. But on Thursday the service was so slow it was ridiculous AND when I checked my bank account, Okinawa had kindly added themselves a dollar on to the tip amount I already left! For the service I got that night, my tip amount was already too much. Not impressed.
(2)
Shelley P.
The best sushi that I've ever had was in San Fran, so it's really hard to give any place a five-star review after that. I mean, c'mon, how many inland places are going to have that advantage? That said, this place is pretty dang delicious. My husband and I went there on an impromptu date night at the behest of a friend of his. We asked him his favorite place in the neighborhood (he owns a tattoo shop up the street, and knows the area well) and he gave us the name of this place. We got the California roll, the spicy tuna roll, and the Titanic roll. I liked the spicy tuna and Titanic rolls the best, but it was all fresh and delicious. The atmosphere is perfect for a date night, not too loud and cozy for such a cold night.
(4)
Normon K.
Terrible. Luke warm beer, "sushi" all tasted like mayonese. Worst sushi I've tried in Denver. You're better off going anywhere else
(1)
Noah P.
Okinawa is fantastic. I am no sushi connoisseur, but I do eat sushi about 4 days a week/ make my own sushi when I don't have the time to go out. Okinawa is my go to when I need my sushi fix for sure. There's no gimmicks when it comes to ordering a straight up piece of fish. The service at this place will make you feel at home ( Servers are obviously working their shifts, but they care about your well being.). The servers are the nicest people. They remember my face/ family, and make it a point to make sure I enjoy my meal 100%. Every order of fish is just as fresh as if I were to get a piece from my man Gus at Seafood Landing up in the highlands. If you are someone who enjoys fish, and not just a gimmicky tasting roll, check out Okinawa for sure. The guys behind the sushi bar are very pleasant, and will help you find out what your pallet craves. I come from the coast, and I really hate Denver's reputation of sushi to be a fancy imitation crab roll wrapped with a "special" sauce to be our sushi image. Thanks Okinawa for being awesome! I'll see you tomorrow for some Uni before my shift. I'm the Uni guy '
(5)
Esther C.
I had been here many years ago for dinner, but don't remember my experience, which means it must have been mediocre. We came in today for lunch as the taco place next door had a 45 minute wait and also was notorious for being really loud and obnoxious, so we opted to go here as it seemed less busy and quiet. The food was fine, but the price point was awesome! We received a lot of food for what we paid for, and the service was outstanding (hence the 4 stars)! Even though the food didn't knock my socks off, it was good (quality of the fish was quite fresh). The bathrooms were also immaculate! I would definitely come back again.
(4)
H B.
Service with a smile and sushi too! The outside patio was great to frequent in warmer weather. Server was knowledgeable on fish options and quick. She also knew her sake and helped us to choose the right bottle. I've heard that Okinawa is the best sushi in Denver and I'd have to agree that it's right up there. Parking is available but only a hand full of spots so street parking is your next best option. This is in a very busy part of town that doesn't have much available street parking. Although we learned later that there is a pay parking lot kiddy corner to the restaurant.
(4)
Marisa M.
Most important bit to know about Okinawa- they offer a sensationally savory lychee sake. Not served the traditional way with the cute little Japanese shot glass things- instead they were served in wine glasses but that is just me being nit-picky. Our server was fantastic- friendly and chatty and chalk-full of good suggestions on what to order (what kind of a weird compound noun is that? "Chalk-full"?). Anyhow, the sushi was great, but nothing that would make me rant and rave and write a few odes and soliloquies in its honor. The Spicy Girl roll was great, it was one of the specialties so a bit expensive. The salmon roll and the sweet potato tempura roll were tasty and cheap. ALSO, for anyone who has read my previous reviews, you know I am a HUGE brown rice lover, and my inner health-nut instantly did a back flip of excitement when I saw that Okinawa had this option. A side note- only my inner health-nut can do back flips. I'm not sure how to rate the price range here- the specialty rolls were $10 and over, and the generic rolls, from which there were MANY to choose, were all below $10. So... yeah.
(4)
Elizabeth A.
When it comes to Sushi, there are two main types of sushi joints. The special occasion places where you go knowing you're going to drop some coin (yea, I said that), and your neighborhood restaurants that you can actually end up frequenting. Okinawa is definitely no Sushi Den or Sushi Sasa, but as for neighborhood joints, this is definitely at the high quality end. Standard neighborhood sushi prices, but the quality here is much better than most. It can be a gamble at some sushi places, but the quality of the sashimi and sushi here is much better than most. We ate here again over the weekend and were in time for happy hour. Happy hour here is a great way to get some food in your belly before a night out drinking, while getting well on your way with their BOGO sake and beer. We started with Edamame and the Yellowtail Jalapeno appetizer which was fresh, delicious, and not overly spicy. Then we had the Golden Roll which was tasty while different than more traditional rolls, as it had mango and cilantro. We also shared the Chirashi, which is my go to (rather than Sashimi plates) at sushi restaurants. Typically, Chirashi comes over a bed of sushi rice which has pickled vegetables mixed in. The presentation was a bit different here, as there was a bed of rice, but it was on a place and overall it looked more like a Sashimi plate. I digress...the Chirashi was excellent for a neighborhood place. When you get the same number of pieces as the Sashimi plate, yet Chirashi is cheaper and comes with pickled veg, why wouldn't you opt for this over the Sashimi? Overall, another great meal at Okinawa. Not 5 star because, well, it's not Sushi Den, Sushi Sasa, or Sushi Tora, but Okinawa is definitely one of the best neighborhood sushi joints around and they have a great happy hour which is great for throwing back a few.
(4)
Clint C.
I've been pretty lazy writing these lately but this place deserved a write up. This place is legit and fresh as you're gonna get if you're a true sushi fan.
(5)
Jacque R.
Okinawa is really the only sushi restaurant that we go to. It's our first choice always when we want sushi. It's consistent with its fresh fish, never too "fishy" and is always delicious and beautiful presentation. We keep it simple and get sushi and sashimi and an occasional roll, but bc everything is so fresh, we keep it simple! The owner Thomas always takes time to talk and drink sake with us to show his appreciation for our business. The wait staff is collaborative and helps out all tables. Service is great too. We love coming here!
(5)
Lauren H.
I moved away from Denver and every time i go back i go here! Golden Roll... enough said... just get it!!
(5)
Tricia K.
Came here with co-workers for lunch and yum! Lunch specials include three rolls for $12 or a bento box for $8. Decent food for a good price. Stars go down for me though because our food was so slow coming out. Something important to think about for a work lunch. And when food finally did come, the last person out of four in our group, did not receive their food for ~20mins. To the point where the others had to stop eating or they would have finished before the last person got their dish. When it finally came out, the server kept blaming the kitchen saying it's not her fault... So, overall I am just not sure about this place.
(3)
Kristina V.
Loved this place! The sushi rolls were excellent and the service was even better. Coming from Chicago, this sushi ranks higher than any of the 10 sushi places I tried in Chicago, even those rated 3.5 stars and above. I will be back to this place for the Golden roll and Ninja roll.
(4)
Mariela B.
Yum! Yum! Yum! I've eaten here a few times and have always had attentive and friendly service. The price is right (actually great during happy hour) and the sushi is DELICIOUS! I tried a different place recently and it was all hype. Had mediocre service and sushi there for twice the price. I'll be defaulting to Okinawa from now on!
(5)
Brian S.
A very special hidden gem on Colfax. Genuinely good fish and rolls, and the prices are right in line with where they should be. Having lived a block off Colfax back when there were no restaurants or nice places to hang out, I have a prejudice against anything on Colfax, but as I try more places, like Okinawa, I find myself being very pleasantly surprised. This place is clean, contemporary and has an intimate feel to it, almost like a date-night place, but it still has a group hang out feel as well. Our waiter was friendly and fast, knowing we had a show to get to. The fish and rolls were very good. The eel was awesome, and the Titanic roll was incredible. The Rainbow roll was also very good. Definitely recommended - give this place a shot!
(4)
Google U.
I consider myself a bit of a sushi snob. Their blue fin tuna and green muscles are some of the best ive ever had. Great service stays open late. Owner is hilarious.
(5)
Jesse N.
I loved the food, interesting menu and the fish was very fresh. We had the sushi "sandwich" and it was awesome! Love that they are creative with the menu and not afraid to make something different. The staff was friendly and attentive. Get there early, gets crowded on the weekends, but worth the wait.
(4)
Sy S.
Nice location. Overall, the food and service was great. If you're looking for a nice little sushi spot, you found it. The addition of the free warm saki was a bonus.. Enjoy!
(4)
Kindra W.
This is a great restaurant. The ambiance is perfect for a couple or a small group. The service is always friendly and the food is as fresh as it gets. My husband and I frequent this local sushi spot for its consistency in quality. It is worth the wait on a popular Friday or Saturday evening.
(4)
Amy Z.
Wow! The experience was amazing. They were mindful of presentation, taste, and service. Absolutely will return in the future.
(5)
Steph B.
Firstly, the sushi was outrageously good, superb sushi that I wish I could eat again and make it 2 nights in a row. That good. However, the service was inadequate. They only received 4 stars and not less because the food was excellent, albeit a long wait to get the food. I made a reservation for Friday night. When we got to the restaurant, the host did not look at a reservation list or anything and seemed unorganized and unable to seat us. After about 15 minutes we were seated, and then waited a long time before even being acknowledged by anyone. We ordered drinks that took a while to get to us, and shortly after ordering said drinks (2 bottles of saki - one cold, on hot) we ordered our dinner and then wait about 30 mins for our food - just sushi. My friend had also order a miso soup that never made it to him. Overall, the service was not good - really slow and never very concerned with our experience. I didn't feel like a well-treated guest. With that said, the food was spectacular. Really fresh, interesting and delicious sushi. We got some sashimi and also special hand rolls. The Spicy Tuna Naruto roll (a "low carb roll" wrapped in cucumber) was excellent. Also got the Spicy Girl Roll and Golden Roll as well as yellowtail (sashimi), albacore tuna (sashimi) and spicy scallop (sushi). Delicious.
(4)
Kate C.
Okinawa is as good as it gets. Been my go-to sushi joint for years, since they opened. Service is phenomenal, food is fantastic and there is very rarely too long of a wait. It's pleasantly busy on a Friday/Saturday night, but the service does not suffer. Recommend the tuna appetizer, it's a definite fave.
(5)
Likheng N.
Solid sushi for a reasonable price. We ordered the sushi and sashimi boat for two and were surprised by how filling it was. The lychee sake is a must! There was no wait for a table for two on Thursday night and service was excellent.
(4)
Cari B.
Great service, great prices, great food. The wait staff can be charming, they are very respectful of my food allergies and I have never had a bad experience.
(4)
Winnie P.
Great lunch buys 2 rolls (limited menu) $9 or 3 rolls = $12 both with miso or salad. the rolls are not your big fancy one but you will be full. Box lunch deals too. Very colorful but the bar chiefs are not chatty or smiley. Nothing I've had is bad and I've tried a lot on this this menu. They've been here for years but as Sushi Heights. Real green tea. Parking is in the back so don't try to find a meter. Service is speedy and take out is a breeze.
(4)
Thomas N.
The worst Japanese dining experience I have had in Denver, without question. After ordering a selection of both appetizers and sushi, nothing stood out. The "tempura" items were served at room temperature and the batter had the consistency of the thickest beer battered fish. The rolled items from the sushi menu fell apart with the slightest touch and tasted less than fresh. Overall, Okinawa is expensive and offers low quality Japanese food with service to match.
(2)
Richard R.
Solid sushi for a joint on Colfax. I was a bit confused because the door isn't on the corner of Colfax and York as I imagined. Rather, it's a few paces east of the corner so don't pull a Richard and yank on the wrong door before reading the sign. Great atmosphere with high ceilings, an open dining area and of course the option for sitting at the bar. The fact that Dolly Parton was playing as we walked in was fun! We arrived late on a Tuesday evening and were promptly seated, drink orders taken and the sushi decisions commenced. Overall I would give 4 stars for the food. The presentation of each roll was done well and it was made quickly. The unagi was good, not great and the same goes for the shrimp tempura. This place isn't trying to be anything fancy so I would for sure say it's A-OK. Had to detract stars for the slooooow service at the end of our meal. I understand we were one of the last tables close to closing time. But when our plates have been cleared and our wine glasses emptied that might be a cue to bring the bill over instead of just letting folks sit around. We would have been gone much quicker if we didn't have to flag down a server to get the bill and then 10-15 minutes later do it again to have her run the card. All in all this is a good place to fulfill your sushi fix. It's got a good location if you can find parking around The Fax. Good food, decent wine, a bit of help needed on the service but a nice dining experience none the less. It's a good thing I liked my date cuz that awkward wait for the bill would have been worse if he was lame...
(3)
Shannon C.
My best friend and I ventured here since it's near her new place. We decided to order a few rolls to share and a bottle of wine. The price was right on the bottle of wine, but it wasn't anything spectacular. All of the rolls we got, especially the spicy tuna and the rainbow roll, were fresh and delicious. We stuck to the regular rolls, as the "special" ones were quite pricey. Hopefully I can venture back here during happy hour to try out some more of their sushi.
(4)
Shea S.
After reading numerous positive reviews and hearing that they might be related to Go Fish (one of my fav sushi spots in town), I thought this might be a good place for a nice but reasonable sushi dinner. I was correct in that assumption. Okinawa might be my new favorite sushi spot in Denver. They have a large assortment of rolls to choose from, including some fantastic vegetarian rolls. Note, I'm a card carrying carnivore, but these veggie rolls are great! The avocado peanut was unique and delicious (I liked the crunch of the peanuts with the avocado), while the sweet potato roll is essentially tempura fried sweet potato fries cut and put into a roll (also delicious). They also have a tempura fried asparagus roll that I assume is like Go Fish's, which is perhaps my favorite roll there. We also tried the lobster roll (not to be confused with the Maine version) and spicy Yellowtail tuna roll - both fresh and tasty too. Clean and modern with excellent friendly service, Okinawa has an extensive list of fresh and delicious sushi at a very reasonable price. I was stunned at how affordable everything was and how much you get for your buck. And I wasn't even there during happy hour, where many of the same great rolls are even cheaper. Parking is atrocious in this area, but it's worth it, whether on a date or for happy hour.
(4)
Ynhi P.
Hate the limited meter parkings. Other than that, the place is great. Decors were simple and contemporary which I love. Got a romantic feel to it, so maybe better for a couple date night rather than a group catch up type of thing?!?!! The server was fast, prompt, and friendly. We were seated and offered drinks right away. We had the baked bay scallop which is pretty much dynamite sauce on top of scallops. Presentation were beautiful. Tastes wonderful. Sashimi deluxe we had was good, nothing more special than other sushi restaurants except for the presentation. The roll we had, which I cant recall on the nam at the moment, was less than good - tasted bland, supposedly there were spicy tuna ontop of the roll, but we werent able to even taste any of the spicy kick from it. We ordered chicken udon after our sushi fix and it came out stir fried. I was disappointed because i was expecting an udon soup not stir fried, but we thought we would give it a try since it smelled so good and it was pretty darn good.
(3)
Chad R.
Came in for a to go dinner. Placed my order, and waited, and waited, and waited. Admired the skilled craftsmanship behind the sushi bar. Eventually left with a partial order yet charged full price (silly me for not checking the order when I got to the car after it took as long as it did). Might go back but certainly for dine in and not take out.
(2)
Jessika M.
Shrek Roll is a must get!!! Also the perfect intro for sushi newbies. Edamame were the norm, service fine. Not disappointed and certainly left satisfied. Parking can be an issue on certain nights but if you've been anywhere on Colfax on a Fri/Sat you know what you're in for.
(4)
Jane D.
The service, food and atmosphere at Okinawa is always top notch! The attention to detail is consistently present and you can't beat the price. This has always been one of my favorite places in Denver for Sushi. The Seaweed salad, Sashimi, edamame and miso are hands down my favorite! But if you ask Thomas, (one of the owners who's ALWAYS there), to make you something special, he will not disappoint.
(5)
Lindsey B.
We stopped in at Okinawa on Colfax for Linner one Saturday - and were pleasantly surprised by the happy hour menu (2:30 - 5:30 daily) - not just weekdays. The happy hour includes 2 for 1 sake, beer, wine and discounts on certain apps, sushi rolls and featured rolls. (Warning - I skew vegetarian in my sushi choices.) Of the four rolls we ordered, the Fried Sweet Potato roll was the absolute best, and from what I can tell the general public feels the same way. So for veggies and carnivores alike - give it a try! The Volcano Roll was also excellent - so many flavors, and perfectly spicy jalapeños. Our server had the perfect level of attentiveness - no empty drinks, but also didn't hover. Food was fast, as were the drinks. Definitely a neighborhood go to. livelaughdenver.com
(4)
Mary W.
Volcano roll for the win!!
(5)
Stephanie S.
Came here a while ago to celebrate a friend's belated birthday. I ordered the rolls (Angel roll and Snow White roll) and when she saw my selections, she was not impressed. However, when they arrived, they did NOT last long! We even ordered a second Snow White. I think the Snow White roll is my fave roll in Denver. The service is great and the prices are competitive. Since it's right up the street from my place, I'm afraid I'll be hanging out here more and more! Sushi anyone?
(5)
Max C.
Pretty fancy sushi place with good selection and amazing arrangements. Definitely priced for it though. I also like that the rolls don't have an exorbitant amount of rice like some other places! Would come back here if we had company and wanted to take them to a fancy sushi place.
(4)
Gail O.
After living on the west coast and being spoiled in SF and Seattle on the freshest fish, I finally found a place that comes close to them in Denver. Okinawa is delish! I can't speak for their speciality rolls, as I always get the Nigiri or Sashimi, but they have the best selection of interesting fresh fish around. Granted you can go elsewhere and pay a lot more for more exotic choices, but fresh Uni, Horse Mackerel, Toro and live sea scallop are just some of the yummy treats they get in regularly. I also had Japanese oysters for the first time after consuming my weight in Puget Sound and Pacific Coast oysters. They were surprisingly fresh and delicate! Happy hour is a must as it is 2 for 1 wine and sake. This isn't boring Robert Mondavi coastal junk either. The wine list is brief but well compiled.I enjoy the Albarino and the Chenin Blanc.
(5)
Gretchen G.
Sushi on Colfax? Yeah that sounds crazy but its so yummy. The ambiance is done well so you forget your on Colfax. I highly recommend the Lover roll which consists of avocado, spicy tuna and yellow tail wrapped inside a slice of tuna which they shape into hearts.
(4)
Carly B.
We've been here twice and have gotten take-out a handful of times. If you're sick of waiting for your table at Pinche then head over to Okinawa. Even though they're busy too, they'll probably have a table for you. This (I believe) is owned by the same folks behind Go Fish so if you like that place, you'll probably like this place too. I like their numerous veggie rolls and more creative sushi rolls incorporating fruit. One of my surprising favorites is the avocado and peanut roll (presented just as it sounds, with avocado and peanuts). The peanuts lend a great texture. I also really enjoy their avocado salad. The base is a bed of greens mixed with a sweet soy ginger dressing and is topped with thinly sliced avocados, little puffed rice balls (like the kind that are in KIND bars) and served with wasabi vinaigrette for drizzling. This salad is one of the instances where I'm glad I'm a bit more nimble with chopsticks than the husband (more for me). It's also not terribly priced (not unlike Go Fish). In the last case, about $55 (pre-tip) got us vegetable tempura, avocado salad, inari, three veggie rolls, a fancier specialty mango roll and a small bottle of dry sake to share.
(4)
Annette M.
Japon closed :( so came here for first time after reading the great yelp reviews, Early lunch surprisingly gets full of high schoolers. Service was excellent but we were really unimpressed with the sushi. Very little rice on the rolls and little fish. We tried several new rolls recommended by our server .... Spider-Man and Shrek roll were heavy on mayo? and oddly tasted like a sandwich. Blah, Those were left on the plate. I did enjoy the hot tea, salmon skin roll and the seaweed salad but unfortunately we will not be back.
(2)
Jen W.
Had not been here in quite some time and was pleasantly surprised as I think the food has improved. The place was pretty empty as there was a Broncos game on and we were served quickly. We were on our way to a movie so it was a 30 minute bite of very fresh and flavorful sashimi. Glad I gave them another shot. Our waiter was hilarious and made it an entertaining visit. Parking is always hit and miss on Colfax.....
(4)
Emily T.
Have you ever tried mochi ice cream? I hadn't even heard of it until I visited Okinawa and now my cravings for it will never let me forget. Do yourself a favor and order it for your dessert. You're welcome in advance. But, you probably care less about green tea ice cream wrapped in a pounded Japanese rice cake and more about the sushi. So, about that sushi, it's fresh and presented nicely. I personally prefer ordering rolls over sashimi and fortunately for me, they have an extensive menu, which includes several veggie-roll options. Our table enjoyed ordering several rolls (each under $10) and divvying up the pieces, so that we could try a bit of everything - favorites being the spicy yellowtail and spider roll. Worth noting for those of you avoiding carbs, Okinawa offers low-carb sushi rolls, where cucumber is subbed in for rice, which I haven't seen elsewhere. Okinawa is the kind of space that feels welcoming whether you're dining solo (they have a bar), on a date, or with a group. I know I'll be back and for more than just the mochi ice cream!
(4)
Micky B.
The layout of the restaurant is intimate and relaxing while the staff is fun and attentive. I almost always have a small panic attack after I order at any sushi restaurant that I may leave still hungry, but not here. A great spot for a nice dinner any day of the week and a real gem for Colfax.
(4)
Alissa R.
went here for a quick lunch with the boyfriend, ordered shu mai $4.50, sashimi lunch $12.00 and the 2 roll lunch special $8.50, both came with choice of soup or salad, we chose one of each to share. Miso is always good here, never too salty with just the right amount of tofu, seaweed, and green onions. salad is basically ice berg, a slice of tomtato and cucumber with a sesame dressing, decent. the shu mai was extra yummy, for true shrimp lovers this is spot on! The rolls were yummy as usual, we chose the AAC roll and the spicy yellowtail. the sashimi was delicious and presented in a sexy way, but while the salmon tasted fine, it seemed like it was semi-frozen in the middle (maybe just from lying on ice?) anyhow, that is the only reason to rate it at 4 instead of 5 for this visit. i shall return again and again!
(4)
Alison B.
I went here spur of the moment with a friend of mine for dinner. It was a Thursday evening around 8 and we had no trouble being seated immediately. The service was good. The waitress was very attentive. We had hot green tea bc it was freeeezing outside. It was tastey and warmed us right up. I ordered the sweet potato roll and it was PHENOMENAL! I could have eaten a plate full of them. The rest was also pretty tastey, but I took off a star for the spicey tuna. I prefer the mayo sauce seperate from the tuna and at okinawa, they blended it making it a strange texture. Over all, I would recommend and return :)
(4)
Meg E. G.
Went here w/ a fellow yelper because the Thai place down the street was closed but damn am I glad we did. The parking is a bit sketch but the inside decor was modern yet inviting which I appreciated. I had an iced tea to drink and while you may think that that is pretty standard- it's not. Many restaurants brew them too weak or too strong, there's was perfect and I appreciated the frequent refills. What really blew me away was the Mango roll and the Crazy tuna roll- both absolutely scrumptious and the perfect portion size. And yes I ate both of the rolls by myself- sorry I'm not sorry. All in all I was impressed I thought the service, style, tea, and all around delectable dining I will definitely be back after I can afford it. Unfortunately it is a bit pricey but it's definitely worthwhile if for a nice night out.
(4)
Elizabeth F.
Excellent! I visited Okinawa for the first time last week. A good menu, friendly service, and delicious sushi! I'll be back!
(4)
Tiffany N.
I hate when I go somewhere and have a pleasant experience but something feels off about the place. You guessed it, thats how I feel about Okinawa. Loved the atmosphere, variety of rolls and entrees for the non sushi lovers out there (AKA communists in my book) and good service. I got the Spicy Girl and it rocked my world! It lived up to the name and was absolutely flavorful, all while clearing up my nostrils. I would have ordered two more rolls if I had on looser pants and wanted to drop some major bills that night. All of the sushi was fantastic, full of flavor and fresh. Their prices for sushi were a little higher than I would normally pay but the quality of their sushi is definitely worth the few extra dollars. And being a FL girl, I'm not willing to take risks on raw fish when I'm landlocked. But still, something was off and I've been sitting here for 10 minutes writing this review and I still can't figure out what it is that separates it from a four star rating and a five. Guess I will have to go back to see if said thing is still off there, no issues with that since I can always get down with awesome sushi like Okinawa offers!
(4)
Phillip M.
YES! A sushi place in Denver that's actually good and not stupid expensive. I've been here twice and really enjoyed it. The atmosphere is cool, the sushi is good, and the prices won't break the bank. Not much to say beyond that.
(4)
Chris S.
We loved everything we tried and they have some really unique stuff that doesn't involve fish which my girl can't really do. As far as veggie / chicken / steak options go she was pleased. Definitely suggest the Dynamite, Tamago, and Portabello rolls.
(5)
Alexis P.
So delicious! They had a lot of innovative rolls which I like, even some wrapped in soy paper instead of seaweed. Presentation was fresh and beautiful. Decor was clean and polished. Service time to get our sushi took slightly longer than normal, but the craft that goes into each roll is worth the wait( one of our rolls was shaped like hearts instead of round!) All of the waiters were attentive and very kind. I will Definitely be back!
(5)
Evan A.
DE-LICIOUS! Good sushi for the price and great service. Only down side is the lack of parking, but defiantly someplace I'll head back too!
(4)
Riza H. C.
4 SOLID STARS! Saturday June 11th 2011, went here for Happy Hour Sushi with 6 other frens. Time : 4.00pm onwards. Apparently, they "forgot" that I made the reservation for our party. Well note to self, next time whenever calling a restaurant or establishment, please "REMEMBER" the name of the receiver who takes your call. When I arrived, thankfully, this establishment was not as busy and the waitstaff swiftly managed to prepare the tables for the 7 of us. There are several other patrons dining in while we were here. Good deals to have when you order from their Happy Hour menu and you can mix your order with the main menu if that is what you desired. The service was prompt, attentive and welcoming. If I could recall correctly, there are like 2 waitstaffs attending to our table. Now the FOOD, in conclusion, my other frens liked what they order. The sushi looks good, and they did good in terms of presentation for how they plate the sushi for our party. Here was what I ordered for that afternoon. * Calamari * Grilled Squid Salad * LIVE Scallops that was one of the Special of the Day * Amaebi * Spicy Lobster * King Crab * Uni * Unagi * Hotategai I like both the Calamari and the Grilled Squid Salad. Though until now, I am still trying to figure out the "special sauce" that they provide that comes with the Calamari. For the LIVE Scallops, its so fresh, no fishy smell at all and just melt in my mouth. I "melt down" when I ate the King Crab. So buttery and delish. The rest of my sushi order, was good. All in all good experience eating here and I do not mind returning when needed. I request specifically, that separate checks for our party before ordering. This establishment allow separate checks for our group. 2 thumbs up in my books! Do take note, you are welcome to park behind the building, first come first serve, and there are ample of parking along the streets. It also depends on the time you are there.
(4)
Diana W.
Came back here for a friend's birthday. Still fabulous service, free dessert for the birthday girl, and quick order and serve turn around time. Did I mention already how much I love their lowcarb rolls? i can seriously eat 2 of them and each bite is still so flavorful and fresh!
(4)
Nick V.
Had the sashimi dinner. Sushi was very fresh and the assortment was great. Nice thick cuts.
(5)
Alison W.
So, Okinawa is the sushi place that is a stone's throw from my home. You'd think I get sick of it...but I don't! The man who's always there as a server is sweet. He never seems flustered. That's a server skill. Their happy hour is unbeatable. I also think their vegetarian rolls are super creative - whether or not you're a veg-head, try the avocado and peanut roll. I promise you won't be disappointed! They're rarely TOO packed to enjoy a meal, but prepare yourself - if you go in for takeout, maybe call ahead and get a pickup time. I waited 45 minutes once, which is slow by any standards.
(4)
Kate S.
Okinawa is fabulous. I used to live in the neighborhood and would do take out or eat in all the time. I have since moved, but refuse to go to the sushi places in my new neighborhood. They just aren't as good! So instead we make the 15 minute drive even if we are just doing take out. The fish is always fresh. The presentation is beautiful. We always get the Spicy crunchy tuna appetizer, which has the perfect combination of spicy and then sweet soy. The lovers role comes in the shape of a heart and the tuna is perfect. We also love the Mango Role and the New York Role. I honestly cannot say enough great things about this place. The atmosphere is nice, the service is always friendly, and the food is perfect. I am a huge fan!
(5)
Mardy S.
This was well worth the dining experience, especially since it was our last evening before heading back to Houston. We sat at the sushi bar and asked the waiter what was available that was off the menu. The blue fin tuna was so awesome that we ordered seconds. It literally melted in our mouths before the avocado did...yum!!! The waiter recommended other items that were off the menu that were good, with the exception to fish liver which was OK but not exactly my type of taste. Oh well have to try things at least once! Overall great experience, the staff was very interactive with my husband and I. We would go back again when we're in town.
(5)
David K.
Not great but not good either. Went there for happy hour which was good on drinks, but the food wasn't amazing.
(2)
Meghan H.
Never had a bad meal here. I know there are some other sushi places in Denver that would be considered superior to Okinawa (like Sushi Den or Sushi Sasa) but I don't want to spend a car payment on my dinner, nor do I want to put on heels and make up just so I can fit in with the clientele that tend to frequent those establishments, so I stick to Okinawa. I can go with a ball cap and jeans on and no one bats an eye. This IS, after all, Colfax Avenue, and it's Denver, not Manhattan. Okinawa is well priced, comfortable and consistent. I could eat their green roll every day. I really appreciate their veg options. We've had couple of specialty rolls here that were too much of a mash up with multiple flavors jockeying for position, but we've learned what to avoid (anything with mango and we like mango) and what is a winner. Love their shrimp shumai. The crunch spicy scallop roll melts on the tongue with just enough heat to keep your eyes wide open. Service is solid, I can get Great Divide brews (never been a big fan of Japanese beer, though I'll hit a Sapporo in a pinch) and the seats are comfy. There is patio seating but it faces York and I always feel like I'm breathing bellows of car exhaust when I sit out there so usually I stick to the inside seating. All in all this is a great place for a date, with above-par offerings, good ambiance and efficient staff.
(4)
Erin H.
LOVED their happy hour!!! Two-for-one drinks and fantastic sushi! Our favorite was the Angel Roll! The calamari was so different and light--loved that too! Will DEFINITELY be back!
(5)
Lendy L.
Okinawa is very trendy. From table set up to cushy chairs and the light fixtures, it's actually a very nicely put together sushi restaurant. When my party of 3 arrived we did not have reservations but we were seated promptly after 10 minutes considering that it was quite packed for a 7pm dinner. We order tea and and 4 hardly rolls of sushi at very reasonable prices. The final verdict was it was all delicious. The collared yellowtail was cooked perfectly and when accompanied by a side of ponsu sauce I'm as happy as a clam. The bill ended up coming out to be about $25 per person and we all left full and content. I would recommend this place to friends!
(4)
Missy B.
i love specialty sashimi plates, and this place has the best selection i've ever seen. and i've eaten sushi all over the country. quality of fish is fresh and great, pricing is reasonable.
(5)
Richard B.
Always suspicious of a sushi place on colfax. But was pleasantly suprised today with great prices and super fresh fish! Ps thanks for the free sake too!
(5)
Courtney O.
I'm only giving this place 5 stars because there isn't the option for 10. Service was wonderful and the sushi was somehow even better.
(5)
Daron S.
Holy Calamari!! This was the biggest and best calamari I have ever had. They looked like onion rings. And I'm not even a calamari fan, but the fiance is. All of the rolls we tried were great, but the stand out was the one with mango on top. The atmoshphere is nice and plenty of people watching due to the colfax location, which I love! Their happy hour seemed really good, so I want to experience that one day!
(4)
Giovanna R.
My husband and I have been eating here since it opened a few years ago! We love it! The sushi is so fresh , and if you like calamari you have to try it here! It's the best I've ever had!! We live in Aurora now and we still drive down to Okinawa's. It's the best !
(5)
Steph A.
Really enjoyed the roll selection. They had quite a few specialty rolls to choose from and each one that I tried was delightful. No complaints on the service. I think this is a great date night spot!
I've consistently had very good sushi here and a few truly excellent meals. I like the basics, salmon and tuna, and they do those very well. The fish is fresh, there's just the right amount of rice, and their wasabi and ginger are very good. Where they really shine is with their specialty dishes. I had a tuna sushi special recently that had cilantro and jalapeno in a delicious spicy sauce. Another favorite of mine is their tuna carpaccio, again it's because of the sauce. The waitstaff is generally efficient; if they were friendly I might be tempted to give this place five stars. The beer and wine selection is another reason they don't get five stars, just the boring basics. All in all, though, this is my go-to sushi place, really no reason to go anywhere else when it's this good, with very reasonable prices, and an easy location.
(4)
Alex R.
We went here last night and had some pretty great sushi! We loved loved loved the Shrek roll, and ordered it because of yelp reviews. We also got two other special rolls- the golden and we forgot what the other one was called, as well as two regular rolls- Boston and Kra. Truly fantastic sushi. It was fresh, affordable and a nice atmosphere. Servers were a little frazzled as they had a large party come in, but were still very friendly if not fast.
(4)
Katie H.
I've been here a handful of times and I always leave stuffed. My last visit was no different but it was the first time I ordered things off the non-sushi roll menu. The spicy sashimi salad was SO good and is frankly a really good deal for $10. Tons of seafood, deliciously spicy, and the greens underneath were fresh and crisp. My partner ordered the gyoza for the table and they were heavenly. The noodle had just the right amount of pan sear and the pork was incredibly juicy. The accompanying sauce was not too sweet and my friend commented that he would drink it. So there's that, too. As usual, the sushi was fantastic and they never overdo the rice. We'll be back.
(4)
Devin R.
Yay Okinawa! They're very careful about keeping my sushi gluten free. It's hard to find a sushi place that will do that. I love every roll I've tried there. The staff is all very friendly and helpful, especially when it comes to working around dietary restrictions. The price is a little on the high side, but I think it's worth it.
(4)
Melissa T.
Yay! I'm the 100th review. I am in love with this place. It's got great atmosphere, delicious veggie rolls, and awesome service. I kind of abandoned sushi when I became a vegetarian but I have recently rediscovered veggie rolls and they make me so happy. The presentation here alone makes me happy. Also, their wine glasses are comically enormous. Which is awesome for several reasons.
(5)
Jason K.
Great sushi. Service was good but just a little slow. They were out of uni, but it was Sunday night so that's expected. The spider roll was very good. My wife had the chicken teriyaki and it was excellent. The squid salad was also very tender, but was missing the tentacles, so it wasn't a complete squid. I prefer their other location off Ken Caryl better, but I would go back if I was in the area.
(4)
Kelly T.
Sweet sassy frassy molassy! This here is some good sushi! It's so good, that apparently it caused me to channel Yosemite Sam when I wrote those last two sentences. I went here for lunch on a Sunday and, man, I'm glad I did. My dining companion placed the order and when it arrived, my little taste buds jumped for joy. Quick aside: I have GOT to remember that almost all soy sauce at restaurants have gluten in them. If I can remember that, then I'll avoid the slightly upset stomach that followed this meal. It had NOTHING to do with the food and everything to do with my stupidity. I think my favorite was the mango roll. Most of my favorite recipes combine sweet and savory into one dish and this sushi roll did the same. I had a couple other rolls, which I can't remember the names of, but they were really tasty too. And I finished the meal off with a nice cup of tea, which, wonders never cease, was not scaldingly hot when the server brought it to the table. Nothing kills my happy tummy buzz better than a cup of tea that sears my mouth at the first sip. It's really great to see the Congress/City Park area getting some really great restaurants built in the area and Okinawa definitely comes in at the top in this neighborhood.
(4)
Jenny H.
This place deserves three stars off ONLY because of the service. The sushi was fabulous. It tasted fresh and was served in perfect sized rolls, not too big to be called bite-size. The menu has a good selection and the edamame was cooked perfectly! As for the service, it was terrible. An hour and a half long story short, we didn't get drinks for at least 15 minutes, after finally asking someone where they were. We didn't receive a simple extra side which was written on the menu and circled by the server at time of order. Servers did not come to our table once to see if anything was needed or how the food was. Had to walk to the sushi bar to get the side. Was never asked for drink refills. And had to get up and track someone down for the bill after waiting way too long to get a servers attention. All of this and there were only TWO of us. This was not a group of people who were too much to handle. Just two people. I will never sit down for another meal there. Because I loved the sushi, I will be ordering carry out the next time I want Okinawa.
(2)
Sarah K.
I was going to give Okinawa five stars, given the superior quality of fish and tasty, reasonably priced rolls, but there was some ruckus at the end of our meal that left me with a very...disturbing...last impression. The sushi was phenomenal, as was the service. I loved the spicy girl and the shrek rolls; the sashimi was to die for! We were enjoying our evening when a clatter of dishes came from the back of the house; we didn't think much of it--maybe a waiter was having an off night or a patron had a few too many... We paid the bill and moseyed outside...All of a sudden a guy stormed past us and asked if we had just eaten at Okinawa. "Yes, why?" we asked. "There was a live cockroach on our plate of sushi; we nearly knocked the table over trying to get away." Uh. "Yeah, they gave us our meal for free but I will NEVER come back." I'm sorry to say, neither will I. I'm sorry Okinawa, I just can't get past this...
(2)
Seth E.
Decent sushi for a great price, especially during happy hour which includes buy one get one free drinks! To be fair I haven't tried their more spendy rolls which may be fantastic, but the moderate to low priced rolls are tasty and well worth the money.
(4)
J A A.
I've tried this place a couple of times, and have not been impressed. It's always crowded though - guess because it's the only sushi joint in the area
(2)
Kirby C.
A decent sushi place. The name got me excited hoping that they would actually have some Okinawan dishes on the menu (what I would give for some Okinawa Soba, or Tofu Champuru) but no such luck. The yellowtail was fantastically fresh. The tuna was almost bad enough to send back. We ordered the yellowtail collar (I can't remember what the name on the menu was) starter and it was absolutely delicious but was shocked to find that the bowl of white rice that came with it was suspiciously similar to Uncle Ben's and overcooked into mush to boot. C'mon on now! A sushi joint with long grain rice that is overcooked to boot?!? WTH! Beer and sake were reaonably priced and the service was good. Nothing to rave about here just a decent place to grab some sushi and a beer in my neighborhood.
(3)
Raheem H.
love this place, the GM is great and service is fast. Glad they don't take reservations, otherwise you would never get in!!!
(4)
Jaime P.
Excellent sushi, I only tried three rolls but enjoyed them all. The dessert chocolate cake was delicious. I was there during happy hour and my total bill was $39 for 3 rolls and a slice of cake. A little pricy for one persons lunch but I did order too many rolls and couldn't eat them all.
(4)
Ghostfaceknitter W.
Okay so I had a beyond phenomenal experience here a few weeks back that I had to share: I called on a friday night at 7 pm - it was a last minute birthday dinner that was scheduled for another restaurant that didn't work out - for a table for 8. That's right I said a table for 8. We arrived to see several people standing in the doorway waiting for a table and I almost freaked until I looked to the center of the restaurant and saw an empty table for 8 waiting for us!! The waitress was fabulous - she handled our huge table with ease and made sure everyone was comfortable and content. Everyone LOVED the sushi and there was literally nothing left (even though we thought we had ordered WAY too much). The also comped us on some of our drinks (sake/beer) which was so nice considering they did us a HUGE birthday favor. I just love this place and after such a wonderful experience I will continue to be a loyal Okinawa customer. Thanks again Okinawa! :)
(5)
Vitaly O.
Great Sushi place! very friendly and relaxing atmosphere, delicious sushi, great design! They also have unique beer imported from Okinawa... i think it was called Orion. My brother and I had a great lunch there. strongly recommend this place!
(5)
Sarah B.
I had a great experience here. The atmosphere was simple and intimate, the sushi was good, the wine was good, the service was just right, and the prices were really reasonable. We had miso soup, the spicy tuna roll, the spider roll, and edamame. The portions were bigger than I expected. We also order white tuna sashimi, which was good, but I've had better. That was the only thing that wasn't 5 stars for me, though.
(5)
Cherie B.
So glad I found a decent sushi joint in my new neighborhood! I love the ambiance in this little restaurant...and it's a PERFECT location for people-watching on Colfax. This girl loves to do some people-watching! I recommend starting off with the Seaweed Salad...it's delicious and has just the right amount of sesame oil. Their sashimi (Salmon is my fave) is fresh and I have yet to dislike any of the rolls I have picked. Since I tend to fill myself up on rice like a bird after a wedding, I try to order at least one of their riceless rolls. It's rolled up in thinly sliced cucumber, which makes for a fresh, crisp roll. The Spiderman, Spicy Girl, Ichiban and Crazy Tuna Rolls are all pretty good...along with your standard Spicy Tuna, Rainbow and Philadelphia. I hear the Kobe Beef and Sweet Potato Rolls are to die for. Those aren't my typical choices of rolls, but I might have to give them a shot sometime! The service is sometimes hit or miss. Some nights, every single server in house will stop by and check on you several times...it's a bit overwhelming. But hey, better than being ignored all night and banished to the corner like Baby at the Summer-end Celebration, I suppose!
(4)
Elphey I.
The service was great, the bathrooms were fancy, and the food rocked! We had some masago/tobiko handrolls, crab and tamago pieces, miso soup, yellowfin tuna collar, asparagus tempura special roll and another really, really spicy special roll. We left stuffed for a good price and were not too bothered by other patrons. We hope to return on many occasions and look forward to more great eats!
(5)
Andrew T.
I am a sushi snob and Okinawa is the best sushi place in Denver. Tom does a great job running the restaurant. He is at work everyday and always makes sure everyone is taken care of. Always great food and service. I recommend Okinawa to everyone.
(5)
mike g.
Not horrible, not awesome. Won't go back..
(3)
Denver C.
Came here on a Thursdsy night, I even called to make reservation for 4, by the time we got there, the restaurant was completely empty by 7:30, made us wonder why! I told the host that we had a reservation for David, she looked at me confused asked me if I needed a reservation, I was like there's 4 of us! & she brought us to a table finally. Being the only table there I thought at least food will come out fast, we started eating our sushi 30mins after we placed the order, they completely forgot about our drinks! 3 waiters came to our table telling us it will be ready soon but no one apologized! Our gyoza came out cold, calamari was so oily that we can't even put our finger on! The sushi taste really fishy, white tuna was still half FROZEN!!! Rice on the rolls fell apart right when I landed my chopsticks on there! We finally had to get up & left to Go Fish! I'll reccomend Go Fish over Okinawa in a heart beat! Better happy hour, better waitstaff & better location! I'm sorry Okinawa but we will not be returning!
(1)
Shaun M.
Great service and great sushi A++++ My only complaint is the very very small parking lot behind the building I went during the afternoon and did not see any parking besides on the street and in this small alleyway behind the business that's the ONLY reason I putting a 4 and not a 5.
(4)
Lisa T.
Freshness, creativity, good value, friendly and attentive staff and ambiance are on point. The no/low carb rolls were a surprise and had me coming right back for more, they use an incredible assortment of fish to completely fill a cucumber wrapper, the fish really shines. The beautiful plates and flowers should warrant higher prices, its casual and I'm going there now...I've ordered many menu items and all were excellent
(4)
Mariel R.
After watching 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' last night (awesome doc, check it out), I was craving sushi so I decided to finally try Okinawa. I am a weird sushi fan because I don't eat fish, but what I do love is a restaurant with great vegetarian options. What I had: Edamame - hard to screw that up. Just enough salt. Sweet Potato Roll - One of my favorite things. Delicious and HUGE. Don't order this one if you are on a date because it is hard to eat this and look pretty at the same time. Avocado and Peanut Roll - I had never had this before but it was pretty tasty. It is basically a roll filled with avocado and Planters honey roasted peanuts. Definitely an American invention but I love peanuts and I love avocado--who knew these two could work together? Egg Sushi - or something... I had just seen them making this in the film I watched so I figured I would give it a try. The best way that I can describe this solid egg thing is that it tastes like flan but without the sweet component. It's kind of custard-y. Not my favorite but that's just because I am not a huge custard fan. This place is cool on the inside and has huge windows (kind of weird to be staring at the Arby's across the street). They have dum-dums at the door instead of mints. I obviously can't tell you about their real (fish) sushi, but the vegetarian stuff is pretty good!
(4)
Eric H.
I like Okinawa. Okinawa is really really good. I know Okinawa is good because I have been here many times. You can eat raw fish here, it is good.
(5)
Surelys G.
Delicious sushi--the Salmon & Fatty White Tuna sashimi were amazing! Try the Volcano roll, it has a lovely mix of flavors. The food was beautifully presented and the ambiance quite nice! I'll come back to this Denver sushi place!
(5)
Claude F.
I would probably be giving Okinawa a higher rating were it a little cheaper but at premium sushi prices, one can reasonably expect a lot. In some ways, it delivered on our one visit there but in many ways it was ...meh. Service was fine but pretty cold for the most part, don't expect a warm smile from a hostess. Overall the service was fairly weak. The restaurant is really nicely decorated though, they've got a real nice space. Starters were ok. The miso wasn't hot and the house salad was pretty lame, but the seaweed salad was fine. For the most part we were happy with the sushi but it was really the rolls that stood out. The California rolls and the Spicy Tuna rolls were excellent! I think if i lived in the immediate vicinity, I'd be a customer but honestly I feel like in this price range I'll probably go elsewhere
(3)
Scott P.
This place does the damn thang. Seriously. They're not cheap, but you'll never feel like they're overpriced for what you're getting. It's a higher-quality sushi place, and WOW... the uni was PERFECT- perfect consistency, perfect temperature, perfectly presented... I'm OVER super-cold uni that has OBVIOUSLY just been thawed right before being served. You've swear that these bits came right OUT of the urchin (and according to the server- when uni is in season, that's exactly what they do!!). The rice was VERY slightly vinegared and perfectly boiled. And the scallop... the scallop... ASK ME ABOUT THE SCALLOP!!!! Seriously. Ask me about the damned scallop. My man was so proud of it that he showed me how they keep them alive until serving them. And the presentation- shell opened with the muscles thinly sliced like bits of sashimi. No eraserhead bay scallops here!!! The guy who served me was really enthusiastic about the products he was serving, and that's always a great indication of quality. I respect establishments which inspire loyalty in their workgroups, and it was obvious that this guy was eating here as often as possible. I have love for that.
(4)
Katelyn O.
This is one of my favorite sushi places! Nice atmosphere and delicious food. Get the spicy sushi appetizer on a pie of rice-Yum!
(4)
Moon L.
Lovely sushi rolls. Delicious sashimi. Staff was pleasant. We had a good little lunch date here. Good times.
(4)
Travis B.
I am, by no means, a seasoned sushi connoisseur. I do, however, know that I LOVE sushi. What I DO NOT LOVE is being completely turned off of a perfectly great restaurant because of a perfectly AWFUL server. When I saw this place open up about two blocks from my place, I was utterly thrilled, but it only took two visits for my jubilation to be completely dowsed. The first visit was great. Our lanky, serial-killer-looking server did a wonderful job of filling us up with great sushi, and keeping our drinks topped off. Oddly, tt was that same serial-killer-looking server, in fact, that completely ruined it for me on our very next trip to Okinawa. Now, I have worked in the food-service industry, so as anybody who has done the same knows -- you ALWAYS TIP WELL. Which is what I did, exactly, the first time I went to Okinawa. The second time? We walked in to be greeted by Mr. Richard Trenton Chase himself, who said, "I'm sorry, but we only serve customers who tip in this restaurant." Are you kidding me!?!?!?!? After a brief exchange of words, I left feeling more insulted than I've ever felt at a restaurant. I was too insulted to even attempt to approach a manager. Was it a case of mistaken identity? Did somebody steal my tip off of the table the previous time? I don't know, but this jerk was completely convinced that I stiffed him, and because of him... I WILL NEVER GO BACK. Good riddance.
(1)
Alex K.
I love sushi. and I love okinawa. go for the lunch special, 3 rolls for 12.95--- great new place right off colfax. love the vibe. LOVE the sushi. Definitely a nice addition to the Colfax restaurant scene, and SUSHI for a reasonable price? even better!
(4)
Alli T.
I was really excited to try out Okinawa after reading the awesome reviews on Yelp. However, I was SO disappointed. When we were seated, there was only one place setting. we were never brought another, and had to take one off another table. The waiter filled our waters immediately, but never again (even though we finished them in about 5 minutes). He was flippant, and would walk away from our table even as we were talking (when he came by, which was once throughout the entire time we were there). We watched our sushi sit on the counter for at least 15 minutes before it was brought to us by the hostess. The rice was hard at that point, and overall the sushi was flavorless, except for the sauces, which were overpowering and, frankly, not good. I don't think I've ever left sushi on the plate before - we left about 10 pieces of the 4 rolls we ordered because we just couldn't choke it down any more. Overall, the atmosphere was nice, but between the awful service and mediocre sushi, I won't be returning.
(1)
Jonny D.
We were on our way to a spot on Colfax but got tempted hard by Japanese upon passing Okinawa. One U-turn later, we were in an intimate, well-appointed dining room. We loved the comfy chairs and downbeat music. I had the Black Angel roll as my primary selection. Everything was amazing. It's the best sushi I've had in Denver, tying with Sushi Den, which is much, much further away from us. Every time I get a hankering for sushi, this is where I'll go.
(5)
Lisa B.
This place sucks. If I could give a negative star it would get it. Service and food is terrible.
(1)
Scott N.
okinawa is the best sushi i've had since leaving tucson - but sushi on oracle is still better b/c shun is working the sushi bar. hamachi kama was excellent, as was the hamachi sashimi plate (i substituted ponzu for whatever sauce they had on the menu). the oysters were from CA and were super fresh and good. my friend, randy, got the avocado salad and i ended up eating most of it - the miso/wasabi dressing is phenomenal. the place is small, quaint, perfectly sized so they're not overworked, which makes for great sushi preparation. i had not one complaint about the whole experience. the sushi guys were even nice and cool - not acting too busy to shoot the shit with you while you ate. raving.
(5)
Megan N.
Really good sushi and other apps. Cute little place on the corner of Colfax. Went today for a meeting. Loved it. I would recommend the yellow tail app. with jalapenos. Yum. the edamame was good too. I got the NY Roll and the Spicy Tuna roll. Really good- a neat kick to the spicy tuna. The place was dead when we got there for an early lunch, but later filled up. Only one server and had great service from Thomas! Love it and will be back. Thanks!
(4)
Danny P.
The service here was great, and the food is quality and delicious.The decor is inviting with comfortable seating. I've ordered there twice in the last month and each time, I was more than pleased with both the food and the service. They're extremely welcoming and friendly. Their mango roll is delectable. In fact, all their rolls are delicious. Try the Avocado salad and you won't be disappointed. All-in-all, a great place for quality, authentic, Japanese cuisine. I highly recommended this one, and will be going back soon.
(5)
Carolyn M.
Food - 4 stars Atmosphere - 4 stars Service - 1 star Stopped here with my family for some sushi on Sunday night. The place was empty when we arrived (it was early, maybe 5:30pm), but packed when we left (around 7pm). Our server was super awkward...not sure if it was his first day, or his first time speaking with strangers, but he had a hard time getting words out of his mouth. Not a big deal - we weren't in any big hurry. We ordered some sushi and a few small apps (miso, seaweed salad, edamame...), but after 20 minutes, we were still waiting without any food. Our server finally returned with a large plate of sushi. He wasn't entirely sure what each roll was, but we remember what we ordered so it wasn't an issue. We asked him if he forgot our apps and he admitted that he had. He said he would bring them out if we were still interested, but it took him a good 5-10 minutes for him to return to our table. I didn't expect to see these on our final bill, but of course, they were. He tried to bring us another plate of sushi about 15 minutes later - we told him we hadn't ordered that and he realized (after a long pause) that it belonged to a table on the other side of the restaurant. I think that was the last we saw of him - a female server stepped in to take his place for the remainder of our time there. Overall the fish was fresh and the sake was super, so I would consider coming back. Maybe just for take-out.
(3)
Joe F.
The food tasted really fresh and the price is very affordable. Will definitly come back.
(4)
Tommy B.
My fiance and I recently moved to Denver. We're pretty strict about sticking to our sushi at least once a week diet and I'll be damned if we didn't get lucky on the first try with Okinawa. Here's why: - 5 minute walk from our place - Reasonably priced - Good service... after about 4 visits, the whole staff recognizes us as soon as we walk in - Quality fish. Now we're not talking Masa quality here, but the place is generally busy which means high turnover and in turn fresh fish. We've been in on Monday's and Tuesday's and it tastes just as good as it does on Saturday. Now if they'll just start delivering...
(4)
John K.
Denver isn't exactly a culinary hot-spot by any means, and we don't always have the best seafood, but when it comes to Sushi....I am just glad we do have a couple places that stand out. Okinawa being one of them. Relatively new, Okinawa took over the location of a previous sushi spot, that I barely remember. Remodeled, and off to a killer start from what I got out of my dining experience. The sushi was fantastic and the service wasn't bad either. I have a feeling that we'll be frequenting Okinawa again (and again, and again)
(4)
C C.
I have to be honest, this used to be my all time favorite since I live so close and easily can visit weekly but the service is really lacking. You can easily plan to sit waiting for service for 20 minutes yet be the only person in the restaurant. 3 visits in a row I've been extremely disappointed in both the service and the fish. I'm not sure what has changed but I'll give it one more try then I'm going to take my business elsewhere. It's a bit disturbing when you bring your concern to management and they dont' even apologize or acknowledge the issues. That should be a red flag. There are plenty of other sushi places so it's not the end of the world.
(2)
Michael S.
The Northern corner of York and Colfax is no longer just a place for strangers to ask you for change while telling you their sob stories. There's new businesses coming in every day it seems. I'm so very excited that this restaurant opened in my neighborhood. I didn't go right away because of the first review here being a negative one, but as a couple more reviews came in, and they were positive, I jumped right in. And I'm glad I did. There is affordable and delicious sushi just two blocks from my house! The decor made me think the experience may be more expensive than it was. I was really impressed with the plating as well. I've dined in and had to go. Both times service was exceptional and friendly. I'm always a big fan of unagi but have tried Okinawa's spicy tuna and smoked salmon as well. I'm looking forward to experimenting with other rolls soon!
(5)
Julie A.
When we arrived at 7:30 on a Saturday night, it looked like we'd be in for a nice long wait, but to our delight, after about five minutes the four of us were seated. The tables are packed in tightly, but the ambiance is very nice and it's clear that no expense was spared in re-doing everything in the entire restaurant, complete with a new entrance and lights that change colors running under the sushi bar. We were in a gabby mood and took our time ordering but were quickly served with some Sake, Edamame and Seaweed Salad. I was happy to see an extensive vegetarian section on the menu, and I ordered my favorite sweet potato tempura roll and an avocado, asparagus and cucumber roll, while my friends went crazy and accidentally ordered spicy tuna in 3 of the 5 things they ordered. They liked the Spice Girl the best. We chomped and gabbed and ate sake and before we knew it, we had been there 3 hours. The restaurant started to clear out and so our service got even better, bringing carafe after carafe of sake and some cheesecake bites to complete our night. This is definitely going to be our new sushi hangout!
(5)
Lee S.
Amazing Sushi Restaurant in Denver. The Miso, Seaweed Salad, and the Avocado Salad to start were amazing and great portion size. The sushi was top quality and melt in your mouth good. Very modern decor and the wait staff was very helpful, although a little overwhelmed at time because they were slightly understaffed. Great sushi restaurant for Denver.
(5)
Claire B.
Everything tastes good. Though the rice is lacking. I ordered 5 different sushi rolls and the rice was under cooked and grainy. The rice fell off the rolls as I picked it up. Needs a better texture, stickiness, another type of rice maybe. Other than the rice, everything was ok, from appetizers, entrees to dessert.
(2)
Robb B.
I went in solo and took up a seat at the sushi bar. I ordered the Seaweed Salad, a Jaki Roll, a Lobster Tempura roll, and water. The service was fast, the ambience was nice, and the "kitchen" was fast. The Seaweed salad was perfectly prepared. The rolls were good although I found the Lobster Tempura roll to be slightly bland and uninspiring. I walked out of the restaraunt with a $21 tab, the price is right, service great, and food is good.
(4)
Roxy R.
My roommate and I went here for dinner on a Friday and had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. The place was packed! The rush seemed to die down when we were leaving at about 9pm. We ordered seaweed salad, cucumber salad and edamame to start. The seaweed salad was perfectly tender and the cucumber salad was nice and spicy -- both were fresh and refreshing. The edamame was wonderful and coated with a little bit of the nicest sea salt I've ever tasted. The waitstaff was prompt and attentive, if not exactly warm, but I was very impressed. Our waters were refilled constantly and they were quick to clear plates and ask for beer and wine refills. We ordered several rolls: The broccoli tempura, the avocado, asparagus and crab, the lover girl, and another which I can't remember. My favorites were the broccoli tempura and the lover girl roll. OH MY GOD the lover girl roll was so delicious, I ate almost the entire thing myself. My roommate dislikes tobiko and they honored her request. I was a little worried we would have to send some back, but they got our order perfect. The presentation was divine. I would love to come back again and again. Great date place!
(5)
Kelly A.
Best sushi place in Denver! At least that I've noticed so far. They have a huge variety, especially of vegetarian rolls (not just cucumber rolls). Buy 1 Get 1 sake during happy hour - you can't beat that!
(5)
Jeff C.
2.5 Stars, but rounding up this time!! Stopped in for a quick bite after getting my hair cut at Floyd's. I thought the prices were reasonable, but the portion size was small. I guess you get what you pay for. They have a $8.50 lunch special which is two rolls (from a selection of about 15 choices) and either miso soup or a small salad. I thought the miso soup was pretty flavorless. I ordered the NY Roll and the spicy tuna roll. The NY Roll is tuna, cream cheese and cucumber. Well the pieces were about 65% cream cheese, 30% or less tuna and the rest was cucumber. I love cream cheese, but I could barely tell there was any tuna in it. Also, it seemed like every once in a while I would get a fennel taste which was odd especially since I don't like fennel. (Thought the rice had black sesame seeds, but maybe it was fennel). The spicy tuna roll was ok--I did like that it had some crunchy yummies in it, but was disappointed that it was a pureed tuna mixture vs. chunkier pieces. And it was not really that spicy. Oh well, for 11 bucks it was ok, but nothing to write home about. Oh, I did find a strange little something sticking to the rice-----I have a feeling it was one of two things but I don't really want to think about it.
(3)
Chantal B.
I am bummed we didn't make it here sooner! It was fabulous! The sushi was delicious, everything we had was top notch. I often quickly judge a place on the quality of its maguro sashimi and Okinawa passed with flying colors! The service was great, the atmosphere is perfect and the prices are so reasonable. Oh...and the plate presentation is beautiful! I know I'll get flack for this, but since we've moved to Denver, this has been the best sushi experience (and sushi) I've had...and I've tried all the highly recommended joints (Sushi Sasa, Sushi Den, etc). Our usual MO is to split a big fancy roll and a couple of standards as well as order up some sashimi. Because of how good everything was, we were thinking about ordering the sashimi boat for two next time. I usually don't go that route, but since all the fish was so delicious I think it's going worth a try. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Cheyne M.
Very good sushi and atmosphere. I've been here twice and just stuffed myself after watching soccer at the Three Lions Pub. I don't remember what I ate b/c I was trashed... but I remember I liked it both times... I'll be back sober sometime...
(4)
Dan G.
This place is great and right around the corner form or house. Fish is super fresh and rice is so nice. However, look out for the manager, my wife named him Travis... This guy has been hanging out at two table during or time here and does not stop talking... Lol, he's a good enough guy and thankfully stayed away from our table. I will come back here for sure
(4)
Katie W.
Smallest cuts of fish I've ever had at a sushi restaurant. For $20 I got 2 pieces of salmon nigiri, 2 pieces of yellowfin nigiri and a shrimp tempura roll were all about half the size of any other sushi restaurant in town. Good quality, but definitively not good value for what you get.
(2)
Amy S.
The sushi here is very high quality given that the prices are relatively low! The server also gave us free cheesecake bites for dessert, and I swear that it is the only cheesecake that I've ever liked. Amazing!
(5)
Mark Z.
This place is fantastic. I have now been here twice, and both times the food was excellent. Additionally, the service here is super friendly, and the owner always makes it a point to greet everyone. I used to live in Chicago, and there are a million great sushi places there. This place reminds me of some of the better ones in terms of food quality and experience.
(5)
J D.
Knave now been to Okinawa 4 times in the 1 month that it has been open. Each time I have been very happy with the food, service, and the prices. The owner is always there and very friendly. I've never dined he without recording free saki from the owner. The sushi rolls are large in size and very affordably priced. There are the usual rolls on the menu but also many unique rolls made with interesting things like caviar or horseradish (actually very tasty). The place is very small so it can be a little cramped when full but overall it's a great choice for very good and reasonably priced sushi. Good for dates or for a group of friends.
(4)
px b.
The best sushi in Denver, possibly the best sushi ever! Very imaginative and creative. Loved the Volcano Roll and Angel Roll. Reasonably priced.
(5)
Ben K.
My fiance and I first tried this place shortly after it opened. We both are sushi lovers and love all the interesting rolls that Okinawa does that you can't find anywhere else. Some of our favorites are the Mango Roll, Angel Roll, Kobe Beef Roll, Snow White Roll, and the Titanic Roll. We've also always had great service, especially from Thomas! Highly recommend this place to all of our friends. If we want sushi in Denver this is the only place we go.
(5)
Sara L.
I thoroughly enjoy Okinawa. They get four stars because even though their sushi is amazing, I've had better, but I prefer to go to Okinawa because their price is better. Location is perfect but that applies to me because I live nearby. They have a great selection and their sushi truly is delicious.
(4)
Bruce F.
Last night Okinawa hit it out of the park! I ordered sushi togo for a party of 24 people. I ordered the food about a month in advance. When I arrived for pick up the chefs were busy making everything fresh. What a relief they didn't just pull it out of a fridge. I had four giant platters. EVERYONE loved how fresh and delicious the sushi was and EVERYONE wanted to know where it was from. Dine in or take out Okinawa is a home run!
(5)
Laura P.
As a vegan, it can be hard to find a sushi place that I am willing to spend any money at. Okinawa is an exception because they have many vegetarian rolls for me to choose from, that after several visits I still have yet to try them all. Most sushi places have one or maybe two veggie rolls, but Okinawa puts effort into coming up with several unique and tasty vegetarian options. I especially like the avocado and peanut roll as well as the mushroom sashimi. The staff is always friendly and efficient. I've been here for romantic dinners as well as more rowdy group affairs and it is nice for both. Also, the presentation of the more complex platters is always really pretty.
(4)
David H.
Happy Hour 2-6. Low carb rolls. Great service.
(4)
Jonathan B.
Really good sushi at a very fair price. My wife loves the miso soup. I will visit them again and often and have no problems recommending others do too.
(4)
Courtney B.
I never thought I would enjoy sushi so much! We tried so many rolls, I can't even tell you. The lychee sake is so damn tasty and the chicken katsu is the best I've ever had. I can't wait to come back.
(4)
S P.
I live in the neighborhood and have passed by maybe 100 times. Maybe I thought I was above a sushi place on Colfax, but THIS PLACE HAS VERY GOOD FISH. We sat at the sushi bar in part so I could critique the fish, chefs, operation... While one chef was solid, the other guy was EXCELLENT! The oversized fish was fresh, tasty, and high quality all around. In order from best (for what I tried)- Salmon, yellowtail, tuna, eel, yet all were good. The handroll was not great- too bad. The seaweed salad was fresh and plentiful. I would return.
(4)
Killian G.
DO NOT EAT HERE! THERE ARE ROACHES IN AND AROUND THE SUSHI!!!!!!!!!! Two years ago, after finally giving birth and being able to eat sushi, so we decided to celebrate and come here. My wife, being the type of person that orders Volcano drinks, Pu Pu platters, and other extravagant attention-grabbing menu novelties, decided she would like to get the sushi boat. When our boat was cast from the sushi counter and docked at our table, dozens of stowaway cockroaches exited the vessel and scrambled all over our table. We got up and walked out. We haven't been back since, and we never will.
(1)
Samuel Antonio S.
4 stars for the food, 4 stars for the service, and 2 stars for the ambiance. The food was perfectly prepared as you can see in the picture I posted. The fish was fresh and consistent. The happy hour deals are pretty good, but are much better at other places like Hapa or Blue Sushi. The staff were funny and accomodating. It was certainly slow being a Saturday afternoon and we had no less than 4 people serve us. While this may sound nice, it felt disjointed and not cohesive. 2 stars for ambiance because of how hot it was in there. Granted it was a hot day, but it was quite warm and uncomfortable in there. We mentioned this concern to a server who made a slight attempt at an explanation and did nothing afterward. Whats worse is our first round of Soporros were not quite cold. Everyone knows this is the worst for light beers. The second round was fine. I would go back if hungry and nearby but would opt for other choices.
(3)
Annie C.
I believe this is one of the few Japanese restaurants in the area that is open through that awkward 2pm to 5pm timeframe, so one gold star for Okinawa! Let me just start by saying the service here is awesome. I walked in with a few good friends on a Saturday afternoon and the gentleman serving us was extremely friendly, courteous, and prompt! (He also gave us a slice of chocolate cake on the house!) The lunch specials are all pretty inexpensive (~$8), considering how much variety you get! I got the Salmon Teriyaki lunch box, which was completed with a California roll, miso soup (served at a perfect temperature), green salad (with yummy ginger dressing), and rice. In short, everything was well prepared and quite palatable. Moral of the story: If you're feeling hungry for some Japanese food between 2pm and 5pm, swing by and have a good time.
(5)
J K.
I like this place. The sushi is solid, the staff is attentive and polite, the location is great, and I always leave happy. Not the best sushi place in town, but for the price and the location, pretty pleasing.
(4)
Avery E.
I don't like to sushi here. But I'm very particular. The lunch boxes are excellent. I really like their steak teriyaki because it's actually a steak.
(4)
Paula K.
I thought I would venture out today and try another sushi place in the hood even though our favorite is just a couple of blocks from home. The yelp ratings guided me to Okinawa. Highs- I have to give them big points for their calamari. I have just about given up trying to find calamari at a sushi restaurant that isn't just bland tempura coated squid. Okinawa impressed me. The service was decent. The restaurant was quiet and nicely decorated Lows- The green mussels were way too mayonnaisy for me. I love green mussels in spicy mayo but there has to be more flavor going on than just mayo. These were bogged in mayo with very little flavor of anything else. I ordered a cucumber roll for my daughter and a shrimp tempura roll for myself. I'm not a fan of seaweed on the outside of the roll. I realize it's just a preference but it's a strong preference of mine that it's not as it overpowers the other flavors and a little harder to eat neatly for those larger two-bite rolls. I didn't even know this was a low until I just read some of the other yelp reviews. But the only lunch special I was offered was a two roll lunch ($9) and a three roll lunch ($12). Both good deals but what are theses other lunch specials that yelpers speak of?? Disclaimer. I did not try the sushi. I wish I would have so I could give a more well-rounded review. But based on what I did have it was okay. I wish I could give another 1/2 star for the calamari which was way more than just okay. But I have to base it on the other 75% of what i ate. And maybe it's not them but me. But I didn't get anything to make me wish that I hadn't just gone to my usual stand-by.
(3)
Colleen E.
Never disappoints - fun, non-pretentious ambience, great quality for the price.
(4)
Shannon S.
Really great place. Just moved to Denver and tried this place because it's in my neighborhood. I'm so impressed with the service and quality of the sushi. We will definitely be regulars.
(4)
Joshua S.
This is definitely in the top 3 sushi restaurants in the Denver area. I have been here several times in the last year and have yet to be disappointed. I usually get nigiri sushi and maybe one roll. The fish is of outstanding quality- they have the best mackerel that I have had on the mainland. Urchin is regularly available- something that I have found a lot of other restaurants don't sell enough of to bother keeping in stock. The salmon skin roll is also the best by far I've had in Denver. Service is very personable and friendly.
(4)
Rebecca F.
Where do I get started with Okinawa? This is my favorite neighborhood sushi spot, ever! I love their lunch and happy hour specials. The sushi lunch box specials are delicious and they have plenty of options. The servers are always friendly and make sure to accommodate you as best they can. I've tried a variety of sushi and sashimi dishes and can't complain about a single one! I love the dressing they use on their salads, it's to die for.They carry some of my favorite beers as well as delicious sake. If you're in the area, I'd definitely give into your sushi craving and try them!
(4)
Portia H.
Very good sushi and great service.
(4)
Michelle S.
Happy hour has been extended to 6:00 PM here and the quality of sushi seems to just get better each time. I've become a big fan of this place.
(5)
Rebecca a.
Well this place went down fast in my books. I have to say that for a good six months we would come here, BUT we would NEVER order any alcohol, why you ask? Oh well because they serve hot beers and cold saki. This place has no idea what a refrigerator is, seriously, who the heck wants a "buy one hot beer, get another hot beer free"? No one. that is who. No one. So we would overlook this terrible attribute and instead enjoy the delicious sushi and quick walk from our apartment with water... well that was until... I found a wasp in my food. I actually almost ate it. This sickened me much more than I expected... but... I am allergic. What was worse was the wasp wasn't entirely dead. He was hiding under my salad. And I almost ate him and I am sure that if I had put him in my mouth that he would've used his left breath on stinging me and then I would've had to go to the hospital. What made this experience even more troubling was the restaurant didn't care. They actually said this was normal... what? Having wasps in my salad does not surprise you? This isn't the first time? This can happen again? wh.. what? So we haven't been back and we wont ever be back. It truly is disappointing because they are so close to us, but we will find another place to go. Having to rush to the hospital to make sure I don't die because a wasp stings me in my mouth... throat... stomach... whatever is not a night I ever attend to have. So if you like live wasps in your sushi or salads, then you should for sure come here, it seems to be a delicacy over there.
(1)
Elizabeth S.
We love the vibe here--it's always a little busy and a little noisy...not at all serious or dull as many sushi restaurants can be. The volcano roll is super tasty. Grab a window seat and enjoy good sushi, well priced beers and a fun view of Colfax.
(4)
Dennis B.
After seeing the positive ratings for this place, I was a bit disappointed by my experience here. The Tempura asparagus roll was tasty, the fish in the other rolls was decent quality, but the eel roll was sort of a joke. Granted, we did go at 10p and they close at 11p, so maybe the chefs and servers were tired and ready to go home....but I'm still paying full price just like any other customer who came earlier in the night, so the late hour is not really an excuse in my opinion. It's not like we walked in 10 minutes before closing. Half the eel roll pretty much just seemed to have eel skin in it with the tiniest shred or two of actual eel meat.....without the sauce on top, I suspect some of the pieces would have just tasted more like a cucumber/rice roll instead of eel. Disappointing. Making the server who brought the check aware of this (in a polite way and after even complimenting on some of the other food), resulted in a sort of lackluster "OK, I'll tell the chef" response. Bottom line is, it wasn't terrible, but I'd prefer to spend my money somewhere else next time.
(2)
Kristine B.
Okinawa is solid sushi; I had very basic rolls when I stopped in here (Salmon and Tuna/Eel) and everything tasted very crisp and fresh, but I think some of the people here forget Sushi Den exists, which is absolutely the best sushi in Denver. That being said, this place is open any time of the day for some solid fish, which definitely gives it a star up on most average sushi joints, and they have some rather inventive special rolls, as well as a very attentive staff and attractive, modern interior. I wouldn't say it was the best sushi I ever had, but it's solid and worth a visit.
(4)
Karen H.
I came to Denver for business and tired out three of the top Yelp rated sushi places. Okinawa was hands down my favorite. All the places had comparable prices for their basic and specialty rolls. We ate here twice while visiting, once for lunch and once for dinner. At lunch the place wasn't too busy and the staff were very attentive. I ordered one of their three roll specials. The amount of fish in each was meager, but the price is pretty good for me. Two of my co-workers got the lunch boxes, and the meals were huge! If you come here for lunch, definitely consider getting a box if you are hungry! For round two, I ordered two specialty rolls (Salmon Mango Roll and Rainbow Roll). Given that the price of these rolls were comparable to the other sushi places I went, I expect to get just a little fish on these rolls. I was so excited when I got my sushi. They did NOT skimp. I hands-down love the Salmon Mango Roll. There is just so much salmon and the mango balances well with it. If you are going for a specialty roll, go for this one! I took a picture of my platter but it doesn't give it justice because it looks like a normal sized plate, I should have put something next to it for scale. It was a VERY big plate with good portions of fish. About the atmosphere, it is not the swankiest of places, but it is still a very nice atmosphere. All of the servers were really pleasant and jovial, if not jocular at times. If you are coming on a weekend night, consider making reservations if possible. Sitting at the sushi bar can be very entertaining; the sushi chefs are very creative in their presentation of the rolls. If you do sit at the bar, avoid sitting near the door on cold days, as there can be a draft. Summary: If I ever go back to Denver, I will definitely be eating here again because: More fish for money compared to other local places The fish is fresh tasting and the rolls are creative in a palatable way The overall ambiance is pleasant without being over the top Here for lunch?: Try a Lunch box meal Here for dinner?: Go for the Salmon Mango Roll!!!
(4)
Conrad S.
I love Okinawa, the service is outstanding and the sushi is fresh and creative. I will be back, I have been back, and it never dissapoints.
(5)
Luciana B.
I'm Brazilian and me and my family were craving for some good sushi in Denver! This one did not disappoint! It was awesome, the dishes were well served! I ordered sushi tacos that were INCREDIBLE!!!! Don't miss the chance to taste that! And then me and my brother split the sushi lovers or something similar... It was enough for the both of us! Great place, great sushi, great service... 5 stars!
(5)
Brittany T.
Probably the best sushi in town. Period. Priced normally I suppose, but not too expensive. Great atmosphere here and at the Tennyson location its slightly more cozy. Sometimes have coupon months where you get 20% of your bill in a gift card for next time and buy one get one on drinks. Good HH but it changes I think
(5)
Kam D.
My favorite of the 2nd tier of sushi places in Denver. It's not on the same level as Sushi Den or Sasa but it's still better than most of the other places. I've always been satisfied when ordering from here which is pretty often. Also, their happy hour is pretty solid with buy one get one drinks and discounted rolls.
(4)
ChronicBuddzz B.
The ninja roll has me karate chopping my roommate in the head. Truly delicious. Also recommend trying the Okinawa roll. Eating sushi on Colfax rules.
(5)
Ellie H.
I've been here a few times and have never been disappointed in the food. Giving 4 stars because I am always turned off when a sushi place smells like fish and the entire place smelt SO fishy the last time I was there, it was all my friends and I could talk about. The sushi didn't disappoint me but The smell definitely did. Lol
(4)
Kat S.
Clean, tasty, free Dum-Dum's, not horribly over priced, with a good variety. Staff was friendly and efficient. I like efficient. Our server also made amazing and elaborate hand gestures every time he set something on our table. I will definitely go back.
(4)
Alisha K.
Okinawa is consistently fresh and delicious, has great service and is one of my favorite sushi restaurants in Denver. Their plating is always elegant- every dish is carefully designed and is presented beautifully. Definitely try the Dragon Roll and the Ninja Roll- both are epic! They also have a great sake menu.
(5)
Nat S.
Went for a friends birthday. Service was friendly. Rolls were good, not mind blowing in any way. I have not had mind blowing good sushi in Denver- as of yet. The presentation of the rolls is what makes this a little fancier. We had about ten rolls for our table. They were adequate. The spicy rolls had no crunch and had an unusually tangy taste. Is there cream cheese in the spicy sauce?Food was a three, service was a four or five.
(4)
lauren k.
Great reliable sushi in denver. Service is sometimes a bit lacking with speed of clearing empty/dirty plates but overall a great experience. Very fresh, creative rolls and awesome japanese dishes too. Awesome happy hour!
(4)
Steph G.
I am a sushi addict. There, I've acknowledged it. This was my 2nd sushi dinner in 4 days. Can we move on now? Okinawa really helped kill the craving. Yes, I get very intense sushi cravings. So intense that it's all I can think about if my stomach grumbles a little. I know, I have a problem! Service is friendly and efficient. It's a busy spot, but we were given great service despite the restaurant being nearly full. We ordered some rolls- golden roll and volcano roll. Also got some spicy tuna, yellowtail/scallion and spicy scallop crunch. The verdict? All DELICIOUS. Fresh, nicely made, and well presented. Can I ramble for a sec about how good the volcano roll was? It wasn't what I expected but it sure was tasty! It came with a spicy/sweet soy teriyaki-type sauce combo- usually not a saucy sushi fan but this was was yum. The jalapeño in it gave it some more kick. I do like my spice. :) I think it's worth mentioning that they do a sushi for 2 on the menu for $39 which I would have loved to try- 16 pcs of sushi plus 2 specialty rolls sounds like a great deal! My bf didn't like the plain fish on rice idea...he's not a sushi purist like me. I will get to it one of these days! Love Okinawa and I've been here a couple times now. It does not disappoint.
(4)
Gabriel P.
Probably the best sushi I've ever had east of California. The fish was surprisingly fresh and very tasty, and the rolls are creative and well constructed with excellent presentation. Service was pretty good, ambiance is ok. Lots of interesting options on the menu but I have to give a shoutout for the cucunber-wrapped low carb rolls in particular.
(5)
Raeanne J.
I was super excited to order from this place because they offer brown rice. So I decided to deviate from my normal place I order from. Myself and 3 co-workers checked out the menu online and were super stoked that the Sushi Lunch Combo (2 rolls and soup or salad) was only $8.50! We placed an order over the phone and picked it up. It wasn't until we got back to the office that we realized we were over charged for the sushi. They had charged $10 per person instead of $8.50. I called and spoke with a woman and she said the website price is wrong and they need to update it, they changed the pricing about 6 months ago. She also added verbatim, "If you don't believe us you can come in and look at our menu here and it says $10". I wouldn't have been as annoyed with the price difference if it were't for her last comment. It's definitely not geared towards customer service... Anyway the sushi here is not as good from where I am used to ordering from, so I will not be returning.
(2)
Craig C.
This is my third time I have been to Okinawa. The fish is extremely well prepared and very fresh. The rolls are equally as good. There is nice selection of specialty rolls. Always a great meal.
(4)
Hunter W.
One of our favorite sushi spots in Denver. Great happy hour, mildly inconsistent service, but delicious sushi. Perfect atmosphere to sit and relax while enjoying a variety of hand-made rolls. Check this place out.
(4)
Natalie Q.
Possibly the best sushi in Denver. It's hard to find good sushi after traveling to Japan and San Fran, especially in Denver. This place has always wowed me with their selection and quality. The flavors are amazing and they always make the food look amazing.
(5)
Kelly F.
Awesome lunch special! Ordered 3 rolls which came with miso soup or salad for $13. Totally affordable and delicious. I wasn't able to eat it all though :)
(4)
Kristina V.
Loved this place! The sushi rolls were excellent and the service was even better. Coming from Chicago, this sushi ranks higher than any of the 10 sushi places I tried in Chicago, even those rated 3.5 stars and above. I will be back to this place for the Golden roll and Ninja roll.
(4)
Mariela B.
Yum! Yum! Yum! I've eaten here a few times and have always had attentive and friendly service. The price is right (actually great during happy hour) and the sushi is DELICIOUS! I tried a different place recently and it was all hype. Had mediocre service and sushi there for twice the price. I'll be defaulting to Okinawa from now on!
(5)
Kara A.
I'm very hesitant about eating fish in a landlocked state. Maybe it's because I've had a few bad experiences since we arrived here, but I decided to trust my fellow Yelpers on this one. Plus, our good friends really wanted sushi. We arrived here around 6:30 on a Saturday night. The place was busy and we had a short wait. There was one table in particular that was especially troubling for the hostess. They were reserving a table for a large party, but could not tell the hostess how large their party would be and appear to have been taking up space in several pushed together tables for more than a reasonable amount of time. The hostess, very frustrated, eventually came up to us and muttered some less than friendly things. While, admittedly, this was unprofessional, after witnessing the exchange between him and this party, we were understanding. Nevertheless, it was an interesting way to start off our evening. After about 10 minutes, we were seated and our friends arrived. We ordered sushi using the typical method (indicate how many of each roll on a piece of paper). Service was friendly and quick. Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised with the sushi. My one complaint is that the fish in my spicy roll seemed... mashed. It was an unpleasant texture and we didn't finish that particular roll as a result. I was told by my friend, however, that this is a method that seems to be specific to Colorado, which is interesting and will certainly make me think twice before ordering spicy rolls in the future. The atmosphere is nice. It doesn't feel cheap, like some sushi spots, and it also isn't overly formal. It's a good spot to grab some good sushi with friends on the weekend. We'll definitely return! We just won't order a spicy roll.
(4)
Kate R.
I have had really good sushi here. The prices are great for lunches and happy hour. But on Thursday the service was so slow it was ridiculous AND when I checked my bank account, Okinawa had kindly added themselves a dollar on to the tip amount I already left! For the service I got that night, my tip amount was already too much. Not impressed.
(2)
Shelley P.
The best sushi that I've ever had was in San Fran, so it's really hard to give any place a five-star review after that. I mean, c'mon, how many inland places are going to have that advantage? That said, this place is pretty dang delicious. My husband and I went there on an impromptu date night at the behest of a friend of his. We asked him his favorite place in the neighborhood (he owns a tattoo shop up the street, and knows the area well) and he gave us the name of this place. We got the California roll, the spicy tuna roll, and the Titanic roll. I liked the spicy tuna and Titanic rolls the best, but it was all fresh and delicious. The atmosphere is perfect for a date night, not too loud and cozy for such a cold night.
(4)
Normon K.
Terrible. Luke warm beer, "sushi" all tasted like mayonese. Worst sushi I've tried in Denver. You're better off going anywhere else
(1)
Noah P.
Okinawa is fantastic. I am no sushi connoisseur, but I do eat sushi about 4 days a week/ make my own sushi when I don't have the time to go out. Okinawa is my go to when I need my sushi fix for sure. There's no gimmicks when it comes to ordering a straight up piece of fish. The service at this place will make you feel at home ( Servers are obviously working their shifts, but they care about your well being.). The servers are the nicest people. They remember my face/ family, and make it a point to make sure I enjoy my meal 100%. Every order of fish is just as fresh as if I were to get a piece from my man Gus at Seafood Landing up in the highlands. If you are someone who enjoys fish, and not just a gimmicky tasting roll, check out Okinawa for sure. The guys behind the sushi bar are very pleasant, and will help you find out what your pallet craves. I come from the coast, and I really hate Denver's reputation of sushi to be a fancy imitation crab roll wrapped with a "special" sauce to be our sushi image. Thanks Okinawa for being awesome! I'll see you tomorrow for some Uni before my shift. I'm the Uni guy '
(5)
Esther C.
I had been here many years ago for dinner, but don't remember my experience, which means it must have been mediocre. We came in today for lunch as the taco place next door had a 45 minute wait and also was notorious for being really loud and obnoxious, so we opted to go here as it seemed less busy and quiet. The food was fine, but the price point was awesome! We received a lot of food for what we paid for, and the service was outstanding (hence the 4 stars)! Even though the food didn't knock my socks off, it was good (quality of the fish was quite fresh). The bathrooms were also immaculate! I would definitely come back again.
(4)
H B.
Service with a smile and sushi too! The outside patio was great to frequent in warmer weather. Server was knowledgeable on fish options and quick. She also knew her sake and helped us to choose the right bottle. I've heard that Okinawa is the best sushi in Denver and I'd have to agree that it's right up there. Parking is available but only a hand full of spots so street parking is your next best option. This is in a very busy part of town that doesn't have much available street parking. Although we learned later that there is a pay parking lot kiddy corner to the restaurant.
(4)
Marisa M.
Most important bit to know about Okinawa- they offer a sensationally savory lychee sake. Not served the traditional way with the cute little Japanese shot glass things- instead they were served in wine glasses but that is just me being nit-picky. Our server was fantastic- friendly and chatty and chalk-full of good suggestions on what to order (what kind of a weird compound noun is that? "Chalk-full"?). Anyhow, the sushi was great, but nothing that would make me rant and rave and write a few odes and soliloquies in its honor. The Spicy Girl roll was great, it was one of the specialties so a bit expensive. The salmon roll and the sweet potato tempura roll were tasty and cheap. ALSO, for anyone who has read my previous reviews, you know I am a HUGE brown rice lover, and my inner health-nut instantly did a back flip of excitement when I saw that Okinawa had this option. A side note- only my inner health-nut can do back flips. I'm not sure how to rate the price range here- the specialty rolls were $10 and over, and the generic rolls, from which there were MANY to choose, were all below $10. So... yeah.
(4)
Elizabeth A.
When it comes to Sushi, there are two main types of sushi joints. The special occasion places where you go knowing you're going to drop some coin (yea, I said that), and your neighborhood restaurants that you can actually end up frequenting. Okinawa is definitely no Sushi Den or Sushi Sasa, but as for neighborhood joints, this is definitely at the high quality end. Standard neighborhood sushi prices, but the quality here is much better than most. It can be a gamble at some sushi places, but the quality of the sashimi and sushi here is much better than most. We ate here again over the weekend and were in time for happy hour. Happy hour here is a great way to get some food in your belly before a night out drinking, while getting well on your way with their BOGO sake and beer. We started with Edamame and the Yellowtail Jalapeno appetizer which was fresh, delicious, and not overly spicy. Then we had the Golden Roll which was tasty while different than more traditional rolls, as it had mango and cilantro. We also shared the Chirashi, which is my go to (rather than Sashimi plates) at sushi restaurants. Typically, Chirashi comes over a bed of sushi rice which has pickled vegetables mixed in. The presentation was a bit different here, as there was a bed of rice, but it was on a place and overall it looked more like a Sashimi plate. I digress...the Chirashi was excellent for a neighborhood place. When you get the same number of pieces as the Sashimi plate, yet Chirashi is cheaper and comes with pickled veg, why wouldn't you opt for this over the Sashimi? Overall, another great meal at Okinawa. Not 5 star because, well, it's not Sushi Den, Sushi Sasa, or Sushi Tora, but Okinawa is definitely one of the best neighborhood sushi joints around and they have a great happy hour which is great for throwing back a few.
(4)
Clint C.
I've been pretty lazy writing these lately but this place deserved a write up. This place is legit and fresh as you're gonna get if you're a true sushi fan.
(5)
Jacque R.
Okinawa is really the only sushi restaurant that we go to. It's our first choice always when we want sushi. It's consistent with its fresh fish, never too "fishy" and is always delicious and beautiful presentation. We keep it simple and get sushi and sashimi and an occasional roll, but bc everything is so fresh, we keep it simple! The owner Thomas always takes time to talk and drink sake with us to show his appreciation for our business. The wait staff is collaborative and helps out all tables. Service is great too. We love coming here!
(5)
Lauren H.
I moved away from Denver and every time i go back i go here! Golden Roll... enough said... just get it!!
(5)
Tricia K.
Came here with co-workers for lunch and yum! Lunch specials include three rolls for $12 or a bento box for $8. Decent food for a good price. Stars go down for me though because our food was so slow coming out. Something important to think about for a work lunch. And when food finally did come, the last person out of four in our group, did not receive their food for ~20mins. To the point where the others had to stop eating or they would have finished before the last person got their dish. When it finally came out, the server kept blaming the kitchen saying it's not her fault... So, overall I am just not sure about this place.
(3)
Brian S.
A very special hidden gem on Colfax. Genuinely good fish and rolls, and the prices are right in line with where they should be. Having lived a block off Colfax back when there were no restaurants or nice places to hang out, I have a prejudice against anything on Colfax, but as I try more places, like Okinawa, I find myself being very pleasantly surprised. This place is clean, contemporary and has an intimate feel to it, almost like a date-night place, but it still has a group hang out feel as well. Our waiter was friendly and fast, knowing we had a show to get to. The fish and rolls were very good. The eel was awesome, and the Titanic roll was incredible. The Rainbow roll was also very good. Definitely recommended - give this place a shot!
(4)
Google U.
I consider myself a bit of a sushi snob. Their blue fin tuna and green muscles are some of the best ive ever had. Great service stays open late. Owner is hilarious.
(5)
Jesse N.
I loved the food, interesting menu and the fish was very fresh. We had the sushi "sandwich" and it was awesome! Love that they are creative with the menu and not afraid to make something different. The staff was friendly and attentive. Get there early, gets crowded on the weekends, but worth the wait.
(4)
Sy S.
Nice location. Overall, the food and service was great. If you're looking for a nice little sushi spot, you found it. The addition of the free warm saki was a bonus.. Enjoy!
(4)
Steph B.
Firstly, the sushi was outrageously good, superb sushi that I wish I could eat again and make it 2 nights in a row. That good. However, the service was inadequate. They only received 4 stars and not less because the food was excellent, albeit a long wait to get the food. I made a reservation for Friday night. When we got to the restaurant, the host did not look at a reservation list or anything and seemed unorganized and unable to seat us. After about 15 minutes we were seated, and then waited a long time before even being acknowledged by anyone. We ordered drinks that took a while to get to us, and shortly after ordering said drinks (2 bottles of saki - one cold, on hot) we ordered our dinner and then wait about 30 mins for our food - just sushi. My friend had also order a miso soup that never made it to him. Overall, the service was not good - really slow and never very concerned with our experience. I didn't feel like a well-treated guest. With that said, the food was spectacular. Really fresh, interesting and delicious sushi. We got some sashimi and also special hand rolls. The Spicy Tuna Naruto roll (a "low carb roll" wrapped in cucumber) was excellent. Also got the Spicy Girl Roll and Golden Roll as well as yellowtail (sashimi), albacore tuna (sashimi) and spicy scallop (sushi). Delicious.
(4)
Kate C.
Okinawa is as good as it gets. Been my go-to sushi joint for years, since they opened. Service is phenomenal, food is fantastic and there is very rarely too long of a wait. It's pleasantly busy on a Friday/Saturday night, but the service does not suffer. Recommend the tuna appetizer, it's a definite fave.
(5)
Likheng N.
Solid sushi for a reasonable price. We ordered the sushi and sashimi boat for two and were surprised by how filling it was. The lychee sake is a must! There was no wait for a table for two on Thursday night and service was excellent.
(4)
Cari B.
Great service, great prices, great food. The wait staff can be charming, they are very respectful of my food allergies and I have never had a bad experience.
(4)
Winnie P.
Great lunch buys 2 rolls (limited menu) $9 or 3 rolls = $12 both with miso or salad. the rolls are not your big fancy one but you will be full. Box lunch deals too. Very colorful but the bar chiefs are not chatty or smiley. Nothing I've had is bad and I've tried a lot on this this menu. They've been here for years but as Sushi Heights. Real green tea. Parking is in the back so don't try to find a meter. Service is speedy and take out is a breeze.
(4)
Thomas N.
The worst Japanese dining experience I have had in Denver, without question. After ordering a selection of both appetizers and sushi, nothing stood out. The "tempura" items were served at room temperature and the batter had the consistency of the thickest beer battered fish. The rolled items from the sushi menu fell apart with the slightest touch and tasted less than fresh. Overall, Okinawa is expensive and offers low quality Japanese food with service to match.
(2)
Kindra W.
This is a great restaurant. The ambiance is perfect for a couple or a small group. The service is always friendly and the food is as fresh as it gets. My husband and I frequent this local sushi spot for its consistency in quality. It is worth the wait on a popular Friday or Saturday evening.
(4)
Amy Z.
Wow! The experience was amazing. They were mindful of presentation, taste, and service. Absolutely will return in the future.
(5)
Richard R.
Solid sushi for a joint on Colfax. I was a bit confused because the door isn't on the corner of Colfax and York as I imagined. Rather, it's a few paces east of the corner so don't pull a Richard and yank on the wrong door before reading the sign. Great atmosphere with high ceilings, an open dining area and of course the option for sitting at the bar. The fact that Dolly Parton was playing as we walked in was fun! We arrived late on a Tuesday evening and were promptly seated, drink orders taken and the sushi decisions commenced. Overall I would give 4 stars for the food. The presentation of each roll was done well and it was made quickly. The unagi was good, not great and the same goes for the shrimp tempura. This place isn't trying to be anything fancy so I would for sure say it's A-OK. Had to detract stars for the slooooow service at the end of our meal. I understand we were one of the last tables close to closing time. But when our plates have been cleared and our wine glasses emptied that might be a cue to bring the bill over instead of just letting folks sit around. We would have been gone much quicker if we didn't have to flag down a server to get the bill and then 10-15 minutes later do it again to have her run the card. All in all this is a good place to fulfill your sushi fix. It's got a good location if you can find parking around The Fax. Good food, decent wine, a bit of help needed on the service but a nice dining experience none the less. It's a good thing I liked my date cuz that awkward wait for the bill would have been worse if he was lame...
(3)
Shannon C.
My best friend and I ventured here since it's near her new place. We decided to order a few rolls to share and a bottle of wine. The price was right on the bottle of wine, but it wasn't anything spectacular. All of the rolls we got, especially the spicy tuna and the rainbow roll, were fresh and delicious. We stuck to the regular rolls, as the "special" ones were quite pricey. Hopefully I can venture back here during happy hour to try out some more of their sushi.
(4)
Shea S.
After reading numerous positive reviews and hearing that they might be related to Go Fish (one of my fav sushi spots in town), I thought this might be a good place for a nice but reasonable sushi dinner. I was correct in that assumption. Okinawa might be my new favorite sushi spot in Denver. They have a large assortment of rolls to choose from, including some fantastic vegetarian rolls. Note, I'm a card carrying carnivore, but these veggie rolls are great! The avocado peanut was unique and delicious (I liked the crunch of the peanuts with the avocado), while the sweet potato roll is essentially tempura fried sweet potato fries cut and put into a roll (also delicious). They also have a tempura fried asparagus roll that I assume is like Go Fish's, which is perhaps my favorite roll there. We also tried the lobster roll (not to be confused with the Maine version) and spicy Yellowtail tuna roll - both fresh and tasty too. Clean and modern with excellent friendly service, Okinawa has an extensive list of fresh and delicious sushi at a very reasonable price. I was stunned at how affordable everything was and how much you get for your buck. And I wasn't even there during happy hour, where many of the same great rolls are even cheaper. Parking is atrocious in this area, but it's worth it, whether on a date or for happy hour.
(4)
Ynhi P.
Hate the limited meter parkings. Other than that, the place is great. Decors were simple and contemporary which I love. Got a romantic feel to it, so maybe better for a couple date night rather than a group catch up type of thing?!?!! The server was fast, prompt, and friendly. We were seated and offered drinks right away. We had the baked bay scallop which is pretty much dynamite sauce on top of scallops. Presentation were beautiful. Tastes wonderful. Sashimi deluxe we had was good, nothing more special than other sushi restaurants except for the presentation. The roll we had, which I cant recall on the nam at the moment, was less than good - tasted bland, supposedly there were spicy tuna ontop of the roll, but we werent able to even taste any of the spicy kick from it. We ordered chicken udon after our sushi fix and it came out stir fried. I was disappointed because i was expecting an udon soup not stir fried, but we thought we would give it a try since it smelled so good and it was pretty darn good.
(3)
Chad R.
Came in for a to go dinner. Placed my order, and waited, and waited, and waited. Admired the skilled craftsmanship behind the sushi bar. Eventually left with a partial order yet charged full price (silly me for not checking the order when I got to the car after it took as long as it did). Might go back but certainly for dine in and not take out.
(2)
Jessika M.
Shrek Roll is a must get!!! Also the perfect intro for sushi newbies. Edamame were the norm, service fine. Not disappointed and certainly left satisfied. Parking can be an issue on certain nights but if you've been anywhere on Colfax on a Fri/Sat you know what you're in for.
(4)
Jane D.
The service, food and atmosphere at Okinawa is always top notch! The attention to detail is consistently present and you can't beat the price. This has always been one of my favorite places in Denver for Sushi. The Seaweed salad, Sashimi, edamame and miso are hands down my favorite! But if you ask Thomas, (one of the owners who's ALWAYS there), to make you something special, he will not disappoint.
(5)
Lindsey B.
We stopped in at Okinawa on Colfax for Linner one Saturday - and were pleasantly surprised by the happy hour menu (2:30 - 5:30 daily) - not just weekdays. The happy hour includes 2 for 1 sake, beer, wine and discounts on certain apps, sushi rolls and featured rolls. (Warning - I skew vegetarian in my sushi choices.) Of the four rolls we ordered, the Fried Sweet Potato roll was the absolute best, and from what I can tell the general public feels the same way. So for veggies and carnivores alike - give it a try! The Volcano Roll was also excellent - so many flavors, and perfectly spicy jalapeños. Our server had the perfect level of attentiveness - no empty drinks, but also didn't hover. Food was fast, as were the drinks. Definitely a neighborhood go to. livelaughdenver.com
(4)
Mary W.
Volcano roll for the win!!
(5)
Stephanie S.
Came here a while ago to celebrate a friend's belated birthday. I ordered the rolls (Angel roll and Snow White roll) and when she saw my selections, she was not impressed. However, when they arrived, they did NOT last long! We even ordered a second Snow White. I think the Snow White roll is my fave roll in Denver. The service is great and the prices are competitive. Since it's right up the street from my place, I'm afraid I'll be hanging out here more and more! Sushi anyone?
(5)
Max C.
Pretty fancy sushi place with good selection and amazing arrangements. Definitely priced for it though. I also like that the rolls don't have an exorbitant amount of rice like some other places! Would come back here if we had company and wanted to take them to a fancy sushi place.
(4)
Gail O.
After living on the west coast and being spoiled in SF and Seattle on the freshest fish, I finally found a place that comes close to them in Denver. Okinawa is delish! I can't speak for their speciality rolls, as I always get the Nigiri or Sashimi, but they have the best selection of interesting fresh fish around. Granted you can go elsewhere and pay a lot more for more exotic choices, but fresh Uni, Horse Mackerel, Toro and live sea scallop are just some of the yummy treats they get in regularly. I also had Japanese oysters for the first time after consuming my weight in Puget Sound and Pacific Coast oysters. They were surprisingly fresh and delicate! Happy hour is a must as it is 2 for 1 wine and sake. This isn't boring Robert Mondavi coastal junk either. The wine list is brief but well compiled.I enjoy the Albarino and the Chenin Blanc.
(5)
Gretchen G.
Sushi on Colfax? Yeah that sounds crazy but its so yummy. The ambiance is done well so you forget your on Colfax. I highly recommend the Lover roll which consists of avocado, spicy tuna and yellow tail wrapped inside a slice of tuna which they shape into hearts.
(4)
Carly B.
We've been here twice and have gotten take-out a handful of times. If you're sick of waiting for your table at Pinche then head over to Okinawa. Even though they're busy too, they'll probably have a table for you. This (I believe) is owned by the same folks behind Go Fish so if you like that place, you'll probably like this place too. I like their numerous veggie rolls and more creative sushi rolls incorporating fruit. One of my surprising favorites is the avocado and peanut roll (presented just as it sounds, with avocado and peanuts). The peanuts lend a great texture. I also really enjoy their avocado salad. The base is a bed of greens mixed with a sweet soy ginger dressing and is topped with thinly sliced avocados, little puffed rice balls (like the kind that are in KIND bars) and served with wasabi vinaigrette for drizzling. This salad is one of the instances where I'm glad I'm a bit more nimble with chopsticks than the husband (more for me). It's also not terribly priced (not unlike Go Fish). In the last case, about $55 (pre-tip) got us vegetable tempura, avocado salad, inari, three veggie rolls, a fancier specialty mango roll and a small bottle of dry sake to share.
(4)
Annette M.
Japon closed :( so came here for first time after reading the great yelp reviews, Early lunch surprisingly gets full of high schoolers. Service was excellent but we were really unimpressed with the sushi. Very little rice on the rolls and little fish. We tried several new rolls recommended by our server .... Spider-Man and Shrek roll were heavy on mayo? and oddly tasted like a sandwich. Blah, Those were left on the plate. I did enjoy the hot tea, salmon skin roll and the seaweed salad but unfortunately we will not be back.
(2)
Jen W.
Had not been here in quite some time and was pleasantly surprised as I think the food has improved. The place was pretty empty as there was a Broncos game on and we were served quickly. We were on our way to a movie so it was a 30 minute bite of very fresh and flavorful sashimi. Glad I gave them another shot. Our waiter was hilarious and made it an entertaining visit. Parking is always hit and miss on Colfax.....
(4)
Emily T.
Have you ever tried mochi ice cream? I hadn't even heard of it until I visited Okinawa and now my cravings for it will never let me forget. Do yourself a favor and order it for your dessert. You're welcome in advance. But, you probably care less about green tea ice cream wrapped in a pounded Japanese rice cake and more about the sushi. So, about that sushi, it's fresh and presented nicely. I personally prefer ordering rolls over sashimi and fortunately for me, they have an extensive menu, which includes several veggie-roll options. Our table enjoyed ordering several rolls (each under $10) and divvying up the pieces, so that we could try a bit of everything - favorites being the spicy yellowtail and spider roll. Worth noting for those of you avoiding carbs, Okinawa offers low-carb sushi rolls, where cucumber is subbed in for rice, which I haven't seen elsewhere. Okinawa is the kind of space that feels welcoming whether you're dining solo (they have a bar), on a date, or with a group. I know I'll be back and for more than just the mochi ice cream!
(4)
Micky B.
The layout of the restaurant is intimate and relaxing while the staff is fun and attentive. I almost always have a small panic attack after I order at any sushi restaurant that I may leave still hungry, but not here. A great spot for a nice dinner any day of the week and a real gem for Colfax.
(4)
Lauren B.
The boyfriend and I had some serious sushi cravings when last we were in Denver, so I whipped out my Yelp app and made a quick search to see what our options were. Okinawa was a great choice! We've been spoiled, growing up in California, so I find I'm often skeptical when ordering sushi in a landlocked state. Okinawa did not disappoint. We started off with a salad (him) and miso soup (me), both of which were excellent. We had a sweet potato roll (delicious, I highly recommend ordering this), AAC roll (avocado, asparagus, cucumber - not bad if you like your veggies), mango roll (I'm a sucker for a little bit of sweet with my sushi), spicy tuna roll (classic), and a lobster roll whose name escapes me. Everything was delicious though. I was also a fan of the service. The staff was very attentive and friendly. We felt well taken care of. The restaurant was a bit quiet when we were there for an early dinner, so I'm not sure how crowded it gets. Sushi ain't cheap, so prepare your wallet! Also be sure to grab a lollipop on your way out the door.
(4)
Nic H.
Finally, another sushi restaurant in Denver that I actually enjoyed! I wasn't too sure about the atmosphere at first; it seemed a bit too formal and pretentious for my tastes, but then I sat down. Those chairs, oh my. I feel ridiculous mentioning chairs in a review, but their chairs are like magic insta-comfort butt-clouds. Okay, enough about chairs. On to the main attraction: the SUSHI! Presentation has been gorgeous and unique every time we've visited, regardless of what we order. Everything is beautifully made and wonderfully fresh. I've lost track of everything we've tried so far, but the Golden Roll, King Maki Roll, Black Dragon Roll and Titanic Roll have been some of our favorites. Their Sushi for Two boat was great too, and very reasonably priced. Speaking of prices, their happy hour is pretty damn awesome. Cheap appetizers, rolls (including a few special rolls), and two-for-one drinks? Yeah, I can deal with that! Extra points for our last visit. We brought my dad along--and my dad doesn't do sushi. We were pleasantly surprised to find that Okinawa's kitchen entrees are just as impressive as their sushi. My dad ordered the Diver Scallops, which he said were delicious. I can't verify that myself, as they disappeared rather quickly, but they certainly looked good! Gah, now I want to go back again. Must find some excuse to go to Denver again soon. We do still need to try their live scallops, after all! The only downside I've run into so far: the service isn't quite there at times. Some of the servers are friendly and helpful (and even recognize us when we come in), others...just don't measure up.
(4)
Melanie R.
I went to Okinawa with a party of six on a Friday evening, we called ahead to see if they could accommodate us and they said no problem it would be 10 minutes. We arrived about 10-15 minutes later and had to wait about 10 minutes so not bad considering it was a Friday night. My friend has an allergy to shellfish so we advised the waitress and she was helpful with any questions relating to ingredients etc. What I love about Okinawa is that the rolls are not huge, you can actually fit the whole piece in your mouth without feeling like a chipmunk or eating only half the roll to have the other half fall apart! Well done Okinawa. The food and service was good and there was some interesting people watching. I would definitely go back. The reason for only 4 stars instead of 5 is that we ordered the fatty tuna and it is "MP" so you expect it to be great and although it was good we have had better so that was a tad disappointing.
(4)
Nicole W.
AMAZING!!! Amazing sushi and rolls: Ichiban roll- wow sweet potato roll - mmmm Black Volcano - very tasty Rainbow roll - tasty eggplant sushi - wow - so good tamago - pretty good eel - so so spicy girl - anh The calimari was by far the best i've had in a very long time! Place is cute and small - parking is the suck. Manager/maitre de/all around do it all guy - he was fabulous - made funny jokes, interacted with the tables - just a great asset to the restaurant. Definitely a busy place - so go early! No reservation on friday and saturday! And they aren't a fan of more than 1 sushi order - so try and get it right the first time! I will definitely be back - this place is great and has amazing sushi!
(5)
Adam S.
I think it's fair to say that this was easily the best sushi experience I've had in Denver so far. The sashimi was fresh, well portioned, and delicious. The rolls were fantastic. We had the lobster tempura roll and the shrek roll and both were outstanding. The place is low key and does not give off that "see and be seen" trendy vibe of some of the other sushi spots in Denver. It was a tad on the pricey side, but I suppose that is par for the course for good sushi in a landlocked state. Anyway, this place is great and I will be back as soon as I can be.
(5)
Amari M.
never coming back i got the dragon roll n my freinds thr california roll the rolls were tiny!!!!!!!!!! we were like wth??? the dragon roll tasted like california roll and the california like u buy at the grocery store the prices are the same as other places idk why anyone would pay the same amount for wayyy less its not worth it sushi isnt good horrible no wonder it was empty
(1)
john W.
Watch out Hapa. We've wanted a non-Hapa sushi option for a long time, and Okinawa is it. Great staff, like truly awesome and great. I haven't like service staff this much in a long time! The spicy girl, black dragon, ichiban rolls are all good. The Calamari is OMFG good. We almost ordered another order of the stuff. Definitely a popular place.
(5)
Justin H.
Bomb. We had the Ichiban Roll, super white tuna, sea urchin, and then more super white tuna. Everything we ate was delicious. We sat at the sushi counter, and I was as equally impressed by the quality of the food coming out as I was with he precision and care of the staff that prepped it. Service was great. Happy hour was ridiculously good too. We also drank two of those big Kirin Ichiban beers, and two warm sakes. Our tab was less than $60?! I'll be back.
(5)
R V.
Great food, great presentation, great service, great atmosphere. Loud - but that's not a real detractor. Great restaurant!
(4)
Kat A.
My favorite server from Go Fish relocated to this fantastic new sushi restaurant - yay Thomas! I finally got around to visiting Okinawa (haaaa) a couple weeks ago, and I was really pleased with everything, save for the very unappealing task of finding parking in the neighborhood amongst the rampant construction. My dining companion had the steak teriyaki and was really happy with his meal, and I had - well, I had a really ridiculous amount of sushi. The highlight of my meal was the salmon nigiri - sooo delicious. The spicy tuna roll was also really tasty. As a starter, I tried their cucumber salad. It was great, but heads up, folks, that particular palate pleaser is a hot one, thanks to a healthy dose of wasabi. I killed it, though. Killed it dead. The prices were absolutely reasonable. The seating was crazy comfortable. The people watching? I mean, come on, you're right on Colfax. Unsurpassed. And the food was great, as was the service.
(4)
Geoff H.
This place rocks! Laid back atmosphere, yet refined enough for a classy date night or a relaxed date night. Service was very friendly and prompt. Food was served quickly and tasted great; you can tell quality ingredients are used. Specials are always unique and thoughtful as are the specialty rolls on the menu. Walked in at 6:30 on a Friday and was immediately sat. Value was nearly spot on, just a bit high priced, but for the location, I understand. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Claire S.
Came here last night to celebrate one of our many anniversaries . Hands down this is the best sushi restaurant we have been to in Denver so far. My husband ordered enough sushi and sashimi for 4 but we ate it all!! So good. The sashimi is fresh, definitely best anywhere around here and the boat they made us was so pretty! The Shrek roll is amazing ah mah gah! All in all just fantastic food, vibe is cozy not trendy which I love for sushi. So happy we tried this place :)
(5)
Leah D.
After hearing that my longtime love Sushi Den had steeply increased its prices since last I ate there, hubby and I decided to try out Okinawa on Colfax for a sushi date. I was quite happy with our meal, which included a nice array of sashimi, a tempura shrimp roll, and a sweet potato roll. Not a bad bite in the lot of it, and a nice atmosphere, too. Being walking distance from Twist & Shout and Tattered Cover doesn't suck, either.
(4)
Cara M.
Absolutely wonderful spot, left a tip that was much more of a review. Regardless, this spot is amazing and I wish I had somewhere as good as this back home!
(5)
Tiffany N.
I always found it amusing when I lived in California and people asked if I was so glad to have the opportunity to eat "good" sushi again because the truth is there are plenty of places in Denver that make sushi just to my liking. And it turns out that Okinawa is one of them. On a recent dinner date Sir Nicholas and I ordered way too much food to finish which was a shame, but my propensity for wanting to try lots of dishes got the best of me. We had a few rolls and a few pieces of sashimi. While I'm having a terrible time remembering the names of the rolls I do know that we had one that was spicy tuna, one that was a "low carb" version of the spicy tuna (wrapped in cucumber without rice), an unagi roll, and then one made with Kobe beef and fried asparagus that I wanted to try for novelty's sake. That last one was weirdly reminiscent of a cheesesteak, which is good, but I'm not necessarily sure it's a flavor many people would crave when sushi is on their mind. Everything, though, was fresh and tasted great. The low carb tuna roll was especially interesting because they cucumber wrap gave it a crunchy texture that melded well with the texture of the spicy tuna. I'm not sure how long it's been since Okinawa replaced Nohana, but I absolutely adore the changes. The atmosphere during our dinner was lively and energetic, but not too loud, which is nice when you want to hear what the person across the table from you is saying without having to shout at one another. And even though we stopped in after 9, it was still fairly crowded. (Just a note they do close at 10 and I believe they'll stop seating tables a little before that as I saw a couple come in for dinner and the only option they were given was take-out at around 9:45 pm.)
(4)
Anthony N.
I've heard great things about this place so I had to check it out. From the outside, I thought it'd be a lot bigger, but it's a good size for a small group of friends and the amount of food you get for the price can't be beat. But quality of quantity, yes? Well, seeing as we were starving, we kind of over-ordered.. big time. Among the rolls we ordered were was one that surprisingly took the crown and became a hit amongst our friends - the sweet potato rolls! You gotta try it. It's damn mmm-mmmm good. All in all - a great spot that we might even consider frequenting more often if start hanging out more around the area. Parking is kind of a pain (as expected being between one-way streets and Colfax), but you can't really argue with such fresh sushi at a bargain price point!
(4)
David R.
I was a little nervous to try Okinawa at first, since I didn't think any sushi restaurant off of Colfax would be decent. I've been eating sushi since age 5, and was thoroughly impressed with the quality, service, and ambiance during my visit. Even the music was amazing. The main kicker for me was the Ami-Ebi (raw sweet shrimp) If a restaurant can serve this to my standards, they can serve anything. They also add a sauce to the fired heads which I've never had before, and it was excellent. For some perspective: I've been to Sushi Den and it's sister restaurant, and was not impressed. They are both very over-hyped and over priced. Okinawa Sushi is truly a diamond in the rough. I've from Southern California and this is on par with some of the best sushi out there.
(5)
David R.
We've doing doing lunch here for a long time, the bento box is a great deal and a lot of food. Went for dinner for the 1st time last week, and we were blown away. As good as Sushi Den but half the price.
(5)
Sarah V.
Stay away from the raw tuna here...my boyfriend and I both got food poisoning this weekend from the sushi. When I called to let them know what had happened the manager didn't sound surprised and offered nothing in the way of an apology. I will not be back.
(1)
Tara L.
Probably the best sushi I've had in Denver and very reasonably priced! I've tried several different rolls and never been let down. The seaweed salad is delish!
(4)
Tara L.
We are so lucky to live near Okinawa. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked it, being a picky sushi eater. The spicy than is great. Fish quality is consistently good and so are the rolls.
(5)
Clare V.
High-quality sushi that isn't overpriced. The waitress recommended some cold sake that went great with our edamame and hand-rolls. Unlike some of the other sushi restaurants in town, Okinawa's hand rolls have lots of great seafood that isn't all tempura. They also have gluten-free soy sauce and are very knowledgeable about what sauces I needed to have on the side. Great City Park Neighborhood restaurant!
(4)
alan c.
In town for work and knowing that this landlocked city somehow manages to produce high quality sushi joints we found this gem on YELP! Fellow Yelpers, thanks for the advice. We ordered the sashimi platter for two and the shrek roll and us two big guys with big appetites were more than satisfied. The presentation was bizarre and a bit over the top (flashing lights and a giant salad bowl with a block of ice and tree branches and fresh seaweed...) but the quality of the fish was spectacular and the portions ample. Nice place, attentive service, quality fish and fair prices ! Bravo. We will be back.
(4)
Janice A.
I usually don't write reviews unless I was somehow compelled by the extraordinary deliciousness and quality of food OR it was a miserable experience in which I would like to spare others from experiencing. Unfortunately, this would be a disappointing experience more so for the service. Rude. Rude. Rude. We arrived for happy hour and were seated in a corner table covered with dust and debris in the sauce dish and table top. Asked if we could move tables and was met with a hostile waitress "go ahead!" Throughout the meal, we ordered off their happy hour menu and it was alright. Salmon, super white tuna, clams, and volcano roll. Didn't think it was worth the price. The other staff members were standing around while we struggled to juggle our oversized plates and the waiter even tried to shuffle our plates around. Hello, please take away the plates we had already finished! Then there would be more room. Overall, mediocre experience and would not return.
(1)
Patrick S.
So, embarassed that I have been remiss in reviewing Okinawa...living in Cheesman does not afford one alot of sushi opportunities within walking distance...this however, is one of them. My first visit was during their grand opening event. My good friend Russ and I decided to give it a shot and we were not disappointed. Everything we tried was delish...lots of rolls and some yellowtail sashimi (none for me thanks). The service was impeccable and we were treated to a sample from the manager...nice touch! Just last week the Doctor and I revisited with our good friends to introduce them to a new sushi joint, not in LOHI. Once again, it was all 5 x 5...with one exception...the Yakisoba. We ordered a salmon roll that just was not as fresh as we expected. A quick word with the manager and we were treated to a delicious replacement at no cost...the Yakisoba was a bit non-descript but palateable. Since it wasn't even on the menu and made to suit the non-sushi lover in the crowd we will give them a push...A for effort, C for results... 4 of us gorged and the bill was about $60...I am good with that!
(4)
Amberley D.
Fantastic! Started with miso soup which was piping hot and delicious. Two of us had five rolls total and ate all but three pieces! The service was excellent, everyone we encountered was polite, our water was always full and I would say it was overall a great experience. I'll be back as often as I can!
(5)
J A A.
I've tried this place a couple of times, and have not been impressed. It's always crowded though - guess because it's the only sushi joint in the area
(2)
Cheyne M.
Very good sushi and atmosphere. I've been here twice and just stuffed myself after watching soccer at the Three Lions Pub. I don't remember what I ate b/c I was trashed... but I remember I liked it both times... I'll be back sober sometime...
(4)
Dan G.
This place is great and right around the corner form or house. Fish is super fresh and rice is so nice. However, look out for the manager, my wife named him Travis... This guy has been hanging out at two table during or time here and does not stop talking... Lol, he's a good enough guy and thankfully stayed away from our table. I will come back here for sure
(4)
Katie W.
Smallest cuts of fish I've ever had at a sushi restaurant. For $20 I got 2 pieces of salmon nigiri, 2 pieces of yellowfin nigiri and a shrimp tempura roll were all about half the size of any other sushi restaurant in town. Good quality, but definitively not good value for what you get.
(2)
px b.
The best sushi in Denver, possibly the best sushi ever! Very imaginative and creative. Loved the Volcano Roll and Angel Roll. Reasonably priced.
(5)
Ben K.
My fiance and I first tried this place shortly after it opened. We both are sushi lovers and love all the interesting rolls that Okinawa does that you can't find anywhere else. Some of our favorites are the Mango Roll, Angel Roll, Kobe Beef Roll, Snow White Roll, and the Titanic Roll. We've also always had great service, especially from Thomas! Highly recommend this place to all of our friends. If we want sushi in Denver this is the only place we go.
(5)
Sara L.
I thoroughly enjoy Okinawa. They get four stars because even though their sushi is amazing, I've had better, but I prefer to go to Okinawa because their price is better. Location is perfect but that applies to me because I live nearby. They have a great selection and their sushi truly is delicious.
(4)
Bruce F.
Last night Okinawa hit it out of the park! I ordered sushi togo for a party of 24 people. I ordered the food about a month in advance. When I arrived for pick up the chefs were busy making everything fresh. What a relief they didn't just pull it out of a fridge. I had four giant platters. EVERYONE loved how fresh and delicious the sushi was and EVERYONE wanted to know where it was from. Dine in or take out Okinawa is a home run!
(5)
Laura P.
As a vegan, it can be hard to find a sushi place that I am willing to spend any money at. Okinawa is an exception because they have many vegetarian rolls for me to choose from, that after several visits I still have yet to try them all. Most sushi places have one or maybe two veggie rolls, but Okinawa puts effort into coming up with several unique and tasty vegetarian options. I especially like the avocado and peanut roll as well as the mushroom sashimi. The staff is always friendly and efficient. I've been here for romantic dinners as well as more rowdy group affairs and it is nice for both. Also, the presentation of the more complex platters is always really pretty.
(4)
David H.
Happy Hour 2-6. Low carb rolls. Great service.
(4)
Jonathan B.
Really good sushi at a very fair price. My wife loves the miso soup. I will visit them again and often and have no problems recommending others do too.
(4)
Courtney B.
I never thought I would enjoy sushi so much! We tried so many rolls, I can't even tell you. The lychee sake is so damn tasty and the chicken katsu is the best I've ever had. I can't wait to come back.
(4)
Kirby C.
A decent sushi place. The name got me excited hoping that they would actually have some Okinawan dishes on the menu (what I would give for some Okinawa Soba, or Tofu Champuru) but no such luck. The yellowtail was fantastically fresh. The tuna was almost bad enough to send back. We ordered the yellowtail collar (I can't remember what the name on the menu was) starter and it was absolutely delicious but was shocked to find that the bowl of white rice that came with it was suspiciously similar to Uncle Ben's and overcooked into mush to boot. C'mon on now! A sushi joint with long grain rice that is overcooked to boot?!? WTH! Beer and sake were reaonably priced and the service was good. Nothing to rave about here just a decent place to grab some sushi and a beer in my neighborhood.
(3)
Raheem H.
love this place, the GM is great and service is fast. Glad they don't take reservations, otherwise you would never get in!!!
(4)
Jaime P.
Excellent sushi, I only tried three rolls but enjoyed them all. The dessert chocolate cake was delicious. I was there during happy hour and my total bill was $39 for 3 rolls and a slice of cake. A little pricy for one persons lunch but I did order too many rolls and couldn't eat them all.
(4)
Ghostfaceknitter W.
Okay so I had a beyond phenomenal experience here a few weeks back that I had to share: I called on a friday night at 7 pm - it was a last minute birthday dinner that was scheduled for another restaurant that didn't work out - for a table for 8. That's right I said a table for 8. We arrived to see several people standing in the doorway waiting for a table and I almost freaked until I looked to the center of the restaurant and saw an empty table for 8 waiting for us!! The waitress was fabulous - she handled our huge table with ease and made sure everyone was comfortable and content. Everyone LOVED the sushi and there was literally nothing left (even though we thought we had ordered WAY too much). The also comped us on some of our drinks (sake/beer) which was so nice considering they did us a HUGE birthday favor. I just love this place and after such a wonderful experience I will continue to be a loyal Okinawa customer. Thanks again Okinawa! :)
(5)
Vitaly O.
Great Sushi place! very friendly and relaxing atmosphere, delicious sushi, great design! They also have unique beer imported from Okinawa... i think it was called Orion. My brother and I had a great lunch there. strongly recommend this place!
(5)
Sarah B.
I had a great experience here. The atmosphere was simple and intimate, the sushi was good, the wine was good, the service was just right, and the prices were really reasonable. We had miso soup, the spicy tuna roll, the spider roll, and edamame. The portions were bigger than I expected. We also order white tuna sashimi, which was good, but I've had better. That was the only thing that wasn't 5 stars for me, though.
(5)
Cherie B.
So glad I found a decent sushi joint in my new neighborhood! I love the ambiance in this little restaurant...and it's a PERFECT location for people-watching on Colfax. This girl loves to do some people-watching! I recommend starting off with the Seaweed Salad...it's delicious and has just the right amount of sesame oil. Their sashimi (Salmon is my fave) is fresh and I have yet to dislike any of the rolls I have picked. Since I tend to fill myself up on rice like a bird after a wedding, I try to order at least one of their riceless rolls. It's rolled up in thinly sliced cucumber, which makes for a fresh, crisp roll. The Spiderman, Spicy Girl, Ichiban and Crazy Tuna Rolls are all pretty good...along with your standard Spicy Tuna, Rainbow and Philadelphia. I hear the Kobe Beef and Sweet Potato Rolls are to die for. Those aren't my typical choices of rolls, but I might have to give them a shot sometime! The service is sometimes hit or miss. Some nights, every single server in house will stop by and check on you several times...it's a bit overwhelming. But hey, better than being ignored all night and banished to the corner like Baby at the Summer-end Celebration, I suppose!
(4)
Elphey I.
The service was great, the bathrooms were fancy, and the food rocked! We had some masago/tobiko handrolls, crab and tamago pieces, miso soup, yellowfin tuna collar, asparagus tempura special roll and another really, really spicy special roll. We left stuffed for a good price and were not too bothered by other patrons. We hope to return on many occasions and look forward to more great eats!
(5)
Andrew T.
I am a sushi snob and Okinawa is the best sushi place in Denver. Tom does a great job running the restaurant. He is at work everyday and always makes sure everyone is taken care of. Always great food and service. I recommend Okinawa to everyone.
(5)
mike g.
Not horrible, not awesome. Won't go back..
(3)
Denver C.
Came here on a Thursdsy night, I even called to make reservation for 4, by the time we got there, the restaurant was completely empty by 7:30, made us wonder why! I told the host that we had a reservation for David, she looked at me confused asked me if I needed a reservation, I was like there's 4 of us! & she brought us to a table finally. Being the only table there I thought at least food will come out fast, we started eating our sushi 30mins after we placed the order, they completely forgot about our drinks! 3 waiters came to our table telling us it will be ready soon but no one apologized! Our gyoza came out cold, calamari was so oily that we can't even put our finger on! The sushi taste really fishy, white tuna was still half FROZEN!!! Rice on the rolls fell apart right when I landed my chopsticks on there! We finally had to get up & left to Go Fish! I'll reccomend Go Fish over Okinawa in a heart beat! Better happy hour, better waitstaff & better location! I'm sorry Okinawa but we will not be returning!
(1)
Shaun M.
Great service and great sushi A++++ My only complaint is the very very small parking lot behind the building I went during the afternoon and did not see any parking besides on the street and in this small alleyway behind the business that's the ONLY reason I putting a 4 and not a 5.
(4)
Lisa T.
Freshness, creativity, good value, friendly and attentive staff and ambiance are on point. The no/low carb rolls were a surprise and had me coming right back for more, they use an incredible assortment of fish to completely fill a cucumber wrapper, the fish really shines. The beautiful plates and flowers should warrant higher prices, its casual and I'm going there now...I've ordered many menu items and all were excellent
(4)
Megan N.
Really good sushi and other apps. Cute little place on the corner of Colfax. Went today for a meeting. Loved it. I would recommend the yellow tail app. with jalapenos. Yum. the edamame was good too. I got the NY Roll and the Spicy Tuna roll. Really good- a neat kick to the spicy tuna. The place was dead when we got there for an early lunch, but later filled up. Only one server and had great service from Thomas! Love it and will be back. Thanks!
(4)
Mariel R.
After watching 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' last night (awesome doc, check it out), I was craving sushi so I decided to finally try Okinawa. I am a weird sushi fan because I don't eat fish, but what I do love is a restaurant with great vegetarian options. What I had: Edamame - hard to screw that up. Just enough salt. Sweet Potato Roll - One of my favorite things. Delicious and HUGE. Don't order this one if you are on a date because it is hard to eat this and look pretty at the same time. Avocado and Peanut Roll - I had never had this before but it was pretty tasty. It is basically a roll filled with avocado and Planters honey roasted peanuts. Definitely an American invention but I love peanuts and I love avocado--who knew these two could work together? Egg Sushi - or something... I had just seen them making this in the film I watched so I figured I would give it a try. The best way that I can describe this solid egg thing is that it tastes like flan but without the sweet component. It's kind of custard-y. Not my favorite but that's just because I am not a huge custard fan. This place is cool on the inside and has huge windows (kind of weird to be staring at the Arby's across the street). They have dum-dums at the door instead of mints. I obviously can't tell you about their real (fish) sushi, but the vegetarian stuff is pretty good!
(4)
Eric H.
I like Okinawa. Okinawa is really really good. I know Okinawa is good because I have been here many times. You can eat raw fish here, it is good.
(5)
Surelys G.
Delicious sushi--the Salmon & Fatty White Tuna sashimi were amazing! Try the Volcano roll, it has a lovely mix of flavors. The food was beautifully presented and the ambiance quite nice! I'll come back to this Denver sushi place!
(5)
Claude F.
I would probably be giving Okinawa a higher rating were it a little cheaper but at premium sushi prices, one can reasonably expect a lot. In some ways, it delivered on our one visit there but in many ways it was ...meh. Service was fine but pretty cold for the most part, don't expect a warm smile from a hostess. Overall the service was fairly weak. The restaurant is really nicely decorated though, they've got a real nice space. Starters were ok. The miso wasn't hot and the house salad was pretty lame, but the seaweed salad was fine. For the most part we were happy with the sushi but it was really the rolls that stood out. The California rolls and the Spicy Tuna rolls were excellent! I think if i lived in the immediate vicinity, I'd be a customer but honestly I feel like in this price range I'll probably go elsewhere
(3)
Danny P.
The service here was great, and the food is quality and delicious.The decor is inviting with comfortable seating. I've ordered there twice in the last month and each time, I was more than pleased with both the food and the service. They're extremely welcoming and friendly. Their mango roll is delectable. In fact, all their rolls are delicious. Try the Avocado salad and you won't be disappointed. All-in-all, a great place for quality, authentic, Japanese cuisine. I highly recommended this one, and will be going back soon.
(5)
Scott P.
This place does the damn thang. Seriously. They're not cheap, but you'll never feel like they're overpriced for what you're getting. It's a higher-quality sushi place, and WOW... the uni was PERFECT- perfect consistency, perfect temperature, perfectly presented... I'm OVER super-cold uni that has OBVIOUSLY just been thawed right before being served. You've swear that these bits came right OUT of the urchin (and according to the server- when uni is in season, that's exactly what they do!!). The rice was VERY slightly vinegared and perfectly boiled. And the scallop... the scallop... ASK ME ABOUT THE SCALLOP!!!! Seriously. Ask me about the damned scallop. My man was so proud of it that he showed me how they keep them alive until serving them. And the presentation- shell opened with the muscles thinly sliced like bits of sashimi. No eraserhead bay scallops here!!! The guy who served me was really enthusiastic about the products he was serving, and that's always a great indication of quality. I respect establishments which inspire loyalty in their workgroups, and it was obvious that this guy was eating here as often as possible. I have love for that.
(4)
Katelyn O.
This is one of my favorite sushi places! Nice atmosphere and delicious food. Get the spicy sushi appetizer on a pie of rice-Yum!
(4)
Moon L.
Lovely sushi rolls. Delicious sashimi. Staff was pleasant. We had a good little lunch date here. Good times.
(4)
Travis B.
I am, by no means, a seasoned sushi connoisseur. I do, however, know that I LOVE sushi. What I DO NOT LOVE is being completely turned off of a perfectly great restaurant because of a perfectly AWFUL server. When I saw this place open up about two blocks from my place, I was utterly thrilled, but it only took two visits for my jubilation to be completely dowsed. The first visit was great. Our lanky, serial-killer-looking server did a wonderful job of filling us up with great sushi, and keeping our drinks topped off. Oddly, tt was that same serial-killer-looking server, in fact, that completely ruined it for me on our very next trip to Okinawa. Now, I have worked in the food-service industry, so as anybody who has done the same knows -- you ALWAYS TIP WELL. Which is what I did, exactly, the first time I went to Okinawa. The second time? We walked in to be greeted by Mr. Richard Trenton Chase himself, who said, "I'm sorry, but we only serve customers who tip in this restaurant." Are you kidding me!?!?!?!? After a brief exchange of words, I left feeling more insulted than I've ever felt at a restaurant. I was too insulted to even attempt to approach a manager. Was it a case of mistaken identity? Did somebody steal my tip off of the table the previous time? I don't know, but this jerk was completely convinced that I stiffed him, and because of him... I WILL NEVER GO BACK. Good riddance.
(1)
Alex K.
I love sushi. and I love okinawa. go for the lunch special, 3 rolls for 12.95--- great new place right off colfax. love the vibe. LOVE the sushi. Definitely a nice addition to the Colfax restaurant scene, and SUSHI for a reasonable price? even better!
(4)
Alli T.
I was really excited to try out Okinawa after reading the awesome reviews on Yelp. However, I was SO disappointed. When we were seated, there was only one place setting. we were never brought another, and had to take one off another table. The waiter filled our waters immediately, but never again (even though we finished them in about 5 minutes). He was flippant, and would walk away from our table even as we were talking (when he came by, which was once throughout the entire time we were there). We watched our sushi sit on the counter for at least 15 minutes before it was brought to us by the hostess. The rice was hard at that point, and overall the sushi was flavorless, except for the sauces, which were overpowering and, frankly, not good. I don't think I've ever left sushi on the plate before - we left about 10 pieces of the 4 rolls we ordered because we just couldn't choke it down any more. Overall, the atmosphere was nice, but between the awful service and mediocre sushi, I won't be returning.
(1)
Jonny D.
We were on our way to a spot on Colfax but got tempted hard by Japanese upon passing Okinawa. One U-turn later, we were in an intimate, well-appointed dining room. We loved the comfy chairs and downbeat music. I had the Black Angel roll as my primary selection. Everything was amazing. It's the best sushi I've had in Denver, tying with Sushi Den, which is much, much further away from us. Every time I get a hankering for sushi, this is where I'll go.
(5)
Lisa B.
This place sucks. If I could give a negative star it would get it. Service and food is terrible.
(1)
Scott N.
okinawa is the best sushi i've had since leaving tucson - but sushi on oracle is still better b/c shun is working the sushi bar. hamachi kama was excellent, as was the hamachi sashimi plate (i substituted ponzu for whatever sauce they had on the menu). the oysters were from CA and were super fresh and good. my friend, randy, got the avocado salad and i ended up eating most of it - the miso/wasabi dressing is phenomenal. the place is small, quaint, perfectly sized so they're not overworked, which makes for great sushi preparation. i had not one complaint about the whole experience. the sushi guys were even nice and cool - not acting too busy to shoot the shit with you while you ate. raving.
(5)
C C.
I have to be honest, this used to be my all time favorite since I live so close and easily can visit weekly but the service is really lacking. You can easily plan to sit waiting for service for 20 minutes yet be the only person in the restaurant. 3 visits in a row I've been extremely disappointed in both the service and the fish. I'm not sure what has changed but I'll give it one more try then I'm going to take my business elsewhere. It's a bit disturbing when you bring your concern to management and they dont' even apologize or acknowledge the issues. That should be a red flag. There are plenty of other sushi places so it's not the end of the world.
(2)
Carolyn M.
Food - 4 stars Atmosphere - 4 stars Service - 1 star Stopped here with my family for some sushi on Sunday night. The place was empty when we arrived (it was early, maybe 5:30pm), but packed when we left (around 7pm). Our server was super awkward...not sure if it was his first day, or his first time speaking with strangers, but he had a hard time getting words out of his mouth. Not a big deal - we weren't in any big hurry. We ordered some sushi and a few small apps (miso, seaweed salad, edamame...), but after 20 minutes, we were still waiting without any food. Our server finally returned with a large plate of sushi. He wasn't entirely sure what each roll was, but we remember what we ordered so it wasn't an issue. We asked him if he forgot our apps and he admitted that he had. He said he would bring them out if we were still interested, but it took him a good 5-10 minutes for him to return to our table. I didn't expect to see these on our final bill, but of course, they were. He tried to bring us another plate of sushi about 15 minutes later - we told him we hadn't ordered that and he realized (after a long pause) that it belonged to a table on the other side of the restaurant. I think that was the last we saw of him - a female server stepped in to take his place for the remainder of our time there. Overall the fish was fresh and the sake was super, so I would consider coming back. Maybe just for take-out.
(3)
Joe F.
The food tasted really fresh and the price is very affordable. Will definitly come back.
(4)
Tommy B.
My fiance and I recently moved to Denver. We're pretty strict about sticking to our sushi at least once a week diet and I'll be damned if we didn't get lucky on the first try with Okinawa. Here's why: - 5 minute walk from our place - Reasonably priced - Good service... after about 4 visits, the whole staff recognizes us as soon as we walk in - Quality fish. Now we're not talking Masa quality here, but the place is generally busy which means high turnover and in turn fresh fish. We've been in on Monday's and Tuesday's and it tastes just as good as it does on Saturday. Now if they'll just start delivering...
(4)
John K.
Denver isn't exactly a culinary hot-spot by any means, and we don't always have the best seafood, but when it comes to Sushi....I am just glad we do have a couple places that stand out. Okinawa being one of them. Relatively new, Okinawa took over the location of a previous sushi spot, that I barely remember. Remodeled, and off to a killer start from what I got out of my dining experience. The sushi was fantastic and the service wasn't bad either. I have a feeling that we'll be frequenting Okinawa again (and again, and again)
(4)
Sarah R.
I love this place. I went here when they first opened and was happy to find a place with great service, when these days, it seems no one really cares about it. I've been a repeat customer because they are very close to my work and find their avacado peanut rolls to die for! They are the perfect snack before a meal or eat 4 or 5 for dinner - yes, they are that good. Who knew? The presentation was excellent, staff was friendly, food was great and they made me a little sparkling sake concoction that made that much happier. Glad East Colfax is getting some good restaurants that are affordable!
(5)
Michael S.
The Northern corner of York and Colfax is no longer just a place for strangers to ask you for change while telling you their sob stories. There's new businesses coming in every day it seems. I'm so very excited that this restaurant opened in my neighborhood. I didn't go right away because of the first review here being a negative one, but as a couple more reviews came in, and they were positive, I jumped right in. And I'm glad I did. There is affordable and delicious sushi just two blocks from my house! The decor made me think the experience may be more expensive than it was. I was really impressed with the plating as well. I've dined in and had to go. Both times service was exceptional and friendly. I'm always a big fan of unagi but have tried Okinawa's spicy tuna and smoked salmon as well. I'm looking forward to experimenting with other rolls soon!
(5)
Julie A.
When we arrived at 7:30 on a Saturday night, it looked like we'd be in for a nice long wait, but to our delight, after about five minutes the four of us were seated. The tables are packed in tightly, but the ambiance is very nice and it's clear that no expense was spared in re-doing everything in the entire restaurant, complete with a new entrance and lights that change colors running under the sushi bar. We were in a gabby mood and took our time ordering but were quickly served with some Sake, Edamame and Seaweed Salad. I was happy to see an extensive vegetarian section on the menu, and I ordered my favorite sweet potato tempura roll and an avocado, asparagus and cucumber roll, while my friends went crazy and accidentally ordered spicy tuna in 3 of the 5 things they ordered. They liked the Spice Girl the best. We chomped and gabbed and ate sake and before we knew it, we had been there 3 hours. The restaurant started to clear out and so our service got even better, bringing carafe after carafe of sake and some cheesecake bites to complete our night. This is definitely going to be our new sushi hangout!
(5)
Lee S.
Amazing Sushi Restaurant in Denver. The Miso, Seaweed Salad, and the Avocado Salad to start were amazing and great portion size. The sushi was top quality and melt in your mouth good. Very modern decor and the wait staff was very helpful, although a little overwhelmed at time because they were slightly understaffed. Great sushi restaurant for Denver.
(5)
Claire B.
Everything tastes good. Though the rice is lacking. I ordered 5 different sushi rolls and the rice was under cooked and grainy. The rice fell off the rolls as I picked it up. Needs a better texture, stickiness, another type of rice maybe. Other than the rice, everything was ok, from appetizers, entrees to dessert.
(2)
Robb B.
I went in solo and took up a seat at the sushi bar. I ordered the Seaweed Salad, a Jaki Roll, a Lobster Tempura roll, and water. The service was fast, the ambience was nice, and the "kitchen" was fast. The Seaweed salad was perfectly prepared. The rolls were good although I found the Lobster Tempura roll to be slightly bland and uninspiring. I walked out of the restaraunt with a $21 tab, the price is right, service great, and food is good.
(4)
Roxy R.
My roommate and I went here for dinner on a Friday and had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. The place was packed! The rush seemed to die down when we were leaving at about 9pm. We ordered seaweed salad, cucumber salad and edamame to start. The seaweed salad was perfectly tender and the cucumber salad was nice and spicy -- both were fresh and refreshing. The edamame was wonderful and coated with a little bit of the nicest sea salt I've ever tasted. The waitstaff was prompt and attentive, if not exactly warm, but I was very impressed. Our waters were refilled constantly and they were quick to clear plates and ask for beer and wine refills. We ordered several rolls: The broccoli tempura, the avocado, asparagus and crab, the lover girl, and another which I can't remember. My favorites were the broccoli tempura and the lover girl roll. OH MY GOD the lover girl roll was so delicious, I ate almost the entire thing myself. My roommate dislikes tobiko and they honored her request. I was a little worried we would have to send some back, but they got our order perfect. The presentation was divine. I would love to come back again and again. Great date place!
(5)
Kelly A.
Best sushi place in Denver! At least that I've noticed so far. They have a huge variety, especially of vegetarian rolls (not just cucumber rolls). Buy 1 Get 1 sake during happy hour - you can't beat that!
(5)
Jeff C.
2.5 Stars, but rounding up this time!! Stopped in for a quick bite after getting my hair cut at Floyd's. I thought the prices were reasonable, but the portion size was small. I guess you get what you pay for. They have a $8.50 lunch special which is two rolls (from a selection of about 15 choices) and either miso soup or a small salad. I thought the miso soup was pretty flavorless. I ordered the NY Roll and the spicy tuna roll. The NY Roll is tuna, cream cheese and cucumber. Well the pieces were about 65% cream cheese, 30% or less tuna and the rest was cucumber. I love cream cheese, but I could barely tell there was any tuna in it. Also, it seemed like every once in a while I would get a fennel taste which was odd especially since I don't like fennel. (Thought the rice had black sesame seeds, but maybe it was fennel). The spicy tuna roll was ok--I did like that it had some crunchy yummies in it, but was disappointed that it was a pureed tuna mixture vs. chunkier pieces. And it was not really that spicy. Oh well, for 11 bucks it was ok, but nothing to write home about. Oh, I did find a strange little something sticking to the rice-----I have a feeling it was one of two things but I don't really want to think about it.
(3)
Chantal B.
I am bummed we didn't make it here sooner! It was fabulous! The sushi was delicious, everything we had was top notch. I often quickly judge a place on the quality of its maguro sashimi and Okinawa passed with flying colors! The service was great, the atmosphere is perfect and the prices are so reasonable. Oh...and the plate presentation is beautiful! I know I'll get flack for this, but since we've moved to Denver, this has been the best sushi experience (and sushi) I've had...and I've tried all the highly recommended joints (Sushi Sasa, Sushi Den, etc). Our usual MO is to split a big fancy roll and a couple of standards as well as order up some sashimi. Because of how good everything was, we were thinking about ordering the sashimi boat for two next time. I usually don't go that route, but since all the fish was so delicious I think it's going worth a try. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Kate A.
We trudged in here during a snow storm famished and eager to try this new sushi place in our neighborhood. The atmosphere is all I could want from a great sushi restaurant and the service was great and the chef's were friendly (but that could have been because we were the only ones there because of the storm...hmm). When getting sushi I usually stick to the usual fare (i.e. the oh so delicious Philadelphia Roll), but with a sudden pulse of adventure we got the octopus amongst our other rolls. I'm glad I did because it was fresh, tasty, and beautifully put together which squashed any nerves I had about having to choke down tentacles. We also got the "Lover's Roll" which turned out to be a towering work of art compete with flowers, bamboo, little heart-shaped sauce drops, and 12 carefully heart-shaped pieces of sushi. It would be great for Valentine's Day, but should be avoided if eating alone...could be awkward. Definitely check it out!
(5)
Justine M.
Came here a while ago with a large group of people -- Okinawa stayed open late for us, and the staff were very friendly and tolerant of the less sober people in the group :) And beyond that, the food tasted fresh and the bill wasn't nearly as bad as any of us anticipated. Returned here last week for a more quiet dinner and once again, the staff was very friendly and knowledgeable, the food was delicious, and the prices were extremely reasonable. I'm not a vegetarian, but I highly recommend the sweet potato roll! Despite the construction going on around the restaurant and the busy street corner it's on, Okinawa has a great patio if you're into outdoor dining.
(4)
Art M.
This place used to be Sushi Heights.... Okinawa has a very nice decor, and the waitstaff was pleasant.. We started off with appetizers, the Tempura appetizer (Shrimp, carrot, zucchini, potato) Miso soup, and Salad. The tempure was very good, the miso soup was just ok..and the salad was ok... I ordered the Eel platter, my wife had the Chicken Teryaki. My Eel platter was pretty good, but not the best, the Eel was ok but was a bit to scaly for my taste. My wife's chicken teryaki was ok... We also ordered California rolls, they were just ok, they had way too much mayonnaise, and the sticky rice was too warm, it should have been cool, and the consistency was off. Overall the experience was ok, the decor made up for the meal,, Sushi Heights was way better and in a league of it's own..too bad they went out of business... If I go back It will only be for the Tempura Appetizer..
(3)
Kris S.
I am not a sushi girl. But when a client who was visiting from New York said he was craving sushi, I knew Okinawa was the place to take him. I was pleased by the variety of non-sushi menu items. I had the veggie tempura appetizer, which was plentiful enough to suffice for dinner. The atmosphere is upscale and the service is attentive (but not "in your face"). Okinawa really classes up Colfax. I hope similar places will open nereby.
(4)
Robert M.
Great service and nice people, but the sushi needs a bit of work. The rice isn't sticky enough and the sushi portions are small. Decent rolls - had the dragon, salmon skin, sweet potato, and A.A.C. rolls.
(3)
Chirag C.
I often find myself balancing the desire to be a creature of habit versus pushing myself to constantly try new places. I tend to err on the pushy side but think after eating at Okinawa, I've found my go to sushi place near home. Why? The ambiance, food, and service here are great. Running through my mental checklist of what makes a restaurant experience enjoyable for me, I found no flaws and a few great surprises. The ingredients are incredibly fresh; the choice for vegetarians is vast (they have your standard avocado and cuke rolls, but many interesting iterations beyond); and the service is efficient and with a smile.
(4)
Winston C.
I was in town for a conference with my wife and we wanted to get some sushi. Of course I pulled up my yelp app and found this little place. The restaurant is put together very well, dimly lit with really nice plates. The restaurant is on the smaller side but it did not cause a problem in my experience here. Me and my wife ordered 4 rolls, 1 specialty roll (lovers) and 3 regular sushi rolls (spicy tuna, eel, dynamite). The flavors were spot on, very fresh and felt authentic. A good sign that the food is going to be good is when all the servers and chefs are Japanese. All in all we spent 33.00 for everything. Great Restaurant!
(4)
Michelle F.
We liked Okinawa a lot--sushi was very good for the price, and we really liked the urban feeling of sitting out on their porch. We had the mango roll--one of their creations--and it was fantastic. The manager came over and chatted with us for a while--very personable. We'll definitely be back.
(4)
Sean R.
OK food. Terrible service!!! I, and a few friends have tried to give these guys business but the just don't deserve it.
(1)
Jojo L.
Love the place. We had volcano roll, titanic roll and the dragon roll. The fish tasted really fresh, also they used different sauces to make the sushi taste different (in the good way). I really enjoyed my meal.
(4)
Truc N.
Sushi is good. Not bad by any means. However the rice needs improvement. It is too piecy/dry and falls off the fish/roll. Service was good.
(3)
Alyson A.
Great food. I'm always looking for delicious sushi here in Denver! I really liked the setting and they're only a few blocks from my place. Great ambiance. Definitely a keeper.
(4)
Rich R.
Went to Okinawa on a whim with friends after a free show at Twist & Shout and I was extremely happy with the quality, quantity and service. Sushi Delux - 10pcs assorted Nigiri w/ a Tuna Roll for $18 (comes with a salad. Pieces of Sushi dwarfed the small bed of rice. Normally in Sushi places, 10pcs and a roll leaves my wanting a little dessert but I could hardly get the last bite down. My friend had several rolls; All were delicious. The other had the Chicken / Vegetable Tempura and seemed to enjoy it. The small (free!) Cheesecake bites were the best way to end the meal. It's no Sassa Sushi but it's better than Sushi Hai (if that helps...)
(4)
Rachel H.
I am so glad that I tried this new sushi spot. The food was good and the place has a nice look and atmosphere. The prices were terrific! We will definitely go back!
(4)
Heather A.
My new "go-to" neighborhood sushi spot. This is the perfect local sushi joint. Affordable, just the right amount of ambiance, friendly and fast service, and oh yeah, great sushi! We went for the first time on Valentine's Day expecting a long wait and slow service. We were pleasantly surprised to find that we were seated within a few minutes, and had attentive and helpful service. I even got a rose from our waitress to mark the romantic occasion. If you live in the neighborhood, you gotta check out Okinawa.
(4)
Maria M.
I was so, so sad when Sushi Heights closed. Back in my young and super broke days I'd go to Sushi Heights on the last payday of each month, sit at the sushi bar and slowly work my way through whatever I could afford and read a good book. Great memory. When Okinawa opened I was super excited and it hasn't disappointed. I've been numerous times and I've never been disappointed with the quality of food or the quality of service. One on trip, a date night with the hub, we got our sushi served on a boat. It was silly and over the top and completely awesome!! Oh ya, and the sushi and sashimi was amazing. Today for lunch we had the biggest, most wonderful green mussels I've ever had. They were simply divine! We followed with a simple line up of california roll, spicy tuna roll (they were both on special) a spider roll and some unagi. All perfect. I'm deducting one star for their lack of a good happy hour deal.
(4)
Victoria S.
I just moved in to the area and looked around Yelp for good sushi places. I'm hardly a sushi connosieur but I eat it fairly regularly and I know bad sushi when I get it. But Okinawa was the first I tried, and it might be the last because I think I found my new favorite sushi restaurant! Service was fast and polite, the sushi was fresh and delicious! I had mostly basic types (no Volcano sushi for me) and I'd recommend the Yellowtail sushi (not the roll but actual traditional sushi, though the roll was good too) and the miso soup. The soup was mostly broth with pretty small pieces of tofu and seaweed but it was delicious nonetheless. I'll definitely be coming back!
(5)
Jason H.
2nd time here and will b back :) good sushi and friendly service!
(4)
Kimberly S.
I have to say that the fish surprised me. I LOVE sushi! It is impossible for me to not get sushi every now and then, though I usually feel like I leave hungry. That was not the case at Okinawa. For one, I usually can't stand miso soup. I don't like the smell or the way it usually tastes like rotten fish, not to mention the fact that tofu never sits well with me, but my boyfriend forced me to give it another go--and I actually liked it! We ended up splitting the one bowl, because I actually wanted to eat it. That was enough to get me excited for the sushi, but better than that was the fact that we came during happy hour, which meant that you could get two sushi rolls for $8.75 or three for $12.00 (ranging from six to eight pieces each). My boyfriend is a little more daring when it comes to ordering sushi, so I left it in his capable hands. We got a few off the regular menu and went with the three rolls off the happy hour menu. Of course the happy hour menu is more limited but they had Unagi (eel) rolls on it and that made it even better! We also ordered a small appetizer called Dynamite that had a seafood medley mixed with mushrooms and some kind of creamy sauce that had a hint of heat to it. So good! It was a small app and I think if I had to I would've fought for it with my boyfriend! That plate went back clean! So already we were excited about the random drop it, but then the actual sushi showed up. There was so much of it! There were plenty of rolls from the happy hour menu and though my boyfriend picked a decent amount of different sushi, it was about a normal order for us, but this time the whole thing was delicious and filling! Everything was so yummy! ...Now to the four stars: Though the sushi was wonderful and I actually enjoyed the miso soup there were a few points that couldn't be ignored. I was confused by the service. One minute we had one server and the next we had another. It was impossible to tell who was actually our server. However, they were nice. But then when we got to the end of the meal we decided we wanted to grab the Key lime white chocolate cheese cake--creme brulee? (still a little confused about the cake itself honestly) Though they had already brought out the check we thought it wouldn't be too hard to flag down a server (since the only two servers seemed to both be taking care of us??). That however, was not the case. I think it took ten minutes before my boyfriend finally had to call out to one server as he was walking away from another table. Not to mention that we apparently ended our meal at the same time that all of the staff decided to sit down to lunch right in front of the customers. We all need to eat, I get it, but working in the food industry I also know that it's proper to keep it out of sight from the customers. So we finally got the order in for the dessert and it was dropped off at our table quickly. But there was no crunchy torched sugar on the top. Perhaps because the kitchen had sat down to lunch? Nonetheless it was still yummy (don't ask me what it actually was though lol) And last and certainly least is the fact that I am completely confused by the decor. I felt like the furniture belonged in a fine dining restaurant and the rest was out of a Mexican coffee shop-night club? (I have no better definition). Not to mention the fact that there was some kind of weird Mexican music playing (in a sushi restaurant??). But that's just nitpicking :P (sorry for the long review!)
(4)
Jenny K.
Great fish, great presentation. Not a big selection, but very tasty. Can't wait to go there again.
(4)
Neil G.
Good sushi, ok service, but a little overpriced
(3)
Rashad K.
Simply awesome! After a great first day of yoga (warm power vinyasa class at the CAC), Monica and I felt like indulging ourselves with some clean, light, but satisfying food. So since Okinawa is just a minute away from my place, we figured a nice stroll to the new sushi restaurant was in order. The Decor is minimalistic yet warm with earth tones rising from the floor up to cool white walls behind the sushi bar. Not a large place, seats about 50 but you don't feel cramped. All in all a very comfortable spot. We were greeted right away and were given plenty of time to look through the extensive menu. The prices really stand out due to how low they are so I was expecting stingy portions. That was far from the truth, so much food! Nice thick, very high quality pieces of sashimi, perfectly cooked rice, and get this......free little bites of cheesecake to cap the meal. Definitely going to become a regular at this place!
(5)
Ivan R.
The food was delicious, the prices were a little on the steep side and the portions on the small side. All in all, it was well rounded but nothing out the ordinary.
(3)
Heather M.
I am always up to try new sushi places so when this came to town, I was game. The pros were that we were able to find a parking spot close by (construction causes some havoc) and I fell in love with the Honeymoon roll. The con was that I had food poisoning for three days after the dinner (my dinnermates also felt queasy). So excluding the sickness I would give the place four stars...I am torn on whether I will return.
(2)
Paige W.
This is probably one of my least favorite sushi restaurants I have been to, ever. It wasn't terrible, I didn't feel like I was going to die, but the flavor combinations were just not there for me. I think my favorite part of the meal was the side salad, which is the exact same as every other sushi restaurant in Denver. We had a few rolls, and most of them were far too sweet, due to the sauces they were swimming in. I missed the savory element of a sushi roll, and wished that they had more options in that regard. Even the rolls that sounded savory on the menu were covered in a sweet sauce. My least favorite rolls were snow white (bleh), and one that I don't remember the name of- but it was covered in a mango sauce that tasted like frozen mango concentrate that wasn't diluted at all. I will not be returning, simply because there are far better places in Denver to snag sushi at a much lower price point. (Sushi Hai).
(2)
Sasha S.
Ate dinner at Okinawa for the first time last night. We didnt have to wait for a table, but at 9pm the place was full and had a great energy. Service was fast and friendly and they did a nice job with the remodel. The food was excellent and the presentation was the best I've seen in Denver. We ordered several rolls and sashimi and enjoyed every bite. The table next to us ordered the sushi boat for 2, and the scallop appetizer and though I had absolutely no complaints about our order, I had a little food envy. The sushi boat in only $40, which seemed like a great price. I'll definitely be back for that.
(4)
Tess H.
Good place! The cap hill area has been needing a good sushi restaurant and now we have one.. yay! I have yet to eat inside the restaurant, but have ordered take-out a handful of times now and have always been very impressed with the quality of sushi and the reasonable prices. Their special rolls are great, as well as their more simple rolls. Inside the restaurant looks very nice as well, I just haven't had the chance to eat there yet. Definitely recommend this place!
(5)
Dana R.
Nice, subtle improvement since my last visit and I feel it's now a 4 and a halfer! The atmosphere was just as nice as it was on the first visit, and again, I'm amazed that we were sitting SO close to the people next to us and still couldn't hear them (maybe we just keep sitting by quiet talkers)...BUT, the food was good. And I mean really good and memorable. Loved the sweet potato roll, the rainbow roll was fresh and flavorful and the seaweed salad was one of the best I've had!
(4)
Andrea R.
one of my favorite places to eat sushi, we came here for happy hour and stuffed ourselves with miso soup, sushi and finally mochi ice cream. try the ichiban roll;)
(5)
Olivia K.
Being that this place is SUPER close to where I live, the boyfriend and I have made this a regular stop- and I don't even like sushi. I'm typically the only person in the restaurant not eating sushi, but the servers still treat me like a normal person when I order veggie tempura. In fact, they know me and my order as soon as I walk in the door now! I guess it's because I'm not only predictable, but probably the only person who orders this. Oh well. My boyfriend loves the sushi and says it's reasonably priced. Plus, you get free little cheesecake bites at the end of your meal! What could be better than that?!!
(5)
Adam K.
So wanted to tempt fate and went here for an early dinner on a Monday (against Bourdain's advice), and sat at the bar to enjoy some fish. The good news was the sushi was very tasty and the quality was good. The bad news is one of the chefs had a totally bad attitude (even to other chef it looked) and totally killed the mood. The other staff were nice though, but if you can't talk to the sushi chef for advice, then that just kills it for me.
(3)
Samantha C.
This is not douse your sushi in soy sauce sushi. I ordered the rainbow roll and the salmon sushi. This was my first experience and someone told me it was a super good spot, so I tried it! I'm always a little hesitant with food on colfax, but the roll and salmon sushi was unbelievably fresh, delicous, and beautiful! I will definetely be going back.
(4)
Sarah P.
Good food with really neat presentation. They have a lot of specialty rolls, but not the most bang for your buck. Attentive service and nice atmosphere. A solid neighborhood sushi place that I'd go back to.
(4)
Lauren M.
Because it's within walking distance, this will definitely be our new sushi place. But, even if it weren't walkable, I'd still make the trip to eat here. The sushi was fresh, the rolls were reasonably priced (not cheap, but not ridiculous either) and everything tasted great. I had a really good chianti and some flavorful sake. Our waitress was attentive and our rolls were made surprisingly quickly for the amount of people in the restaurant. We had the truffle tuna to start and it was delicious. I enjoyed the small cut rolls (philly and spicy tuna) because I find those easy to eat (they tasted great too - chill but not cold, liberal sesame seed sprinkles, quality fish). We also had the snow white roll, which was good. The only reason this isn't a five star review is that I don't think their specialty rolls are particularly creative. The best sushi places I've been to mix interesting ingredients with fresh fish to create scrumptious pieces of art on the plate. The rolls here were very straightforward. Still, if you live in the neighborhood or are looking for a good sushi place when you're in the area, I would definitely give Okinawa a try. (Two random notes: even though this is on Colfax, you can't hear the traffic; also, as some others have mentioned, the seats are super comfortable)
(4)
Alex W.
Bento box and sushi were sooooo good. Had lunch here with my bf and it was such a great lunch. HUGE plus: Their music was on an Air mix the whole time. Maguro and Moon Safari? Yes please.
(4)
Jess K.
I'm giving them 3 stars for the service (server was the manager), the rest of the staff was great and helpful. Their food is great, except the 3 Musketeer roll we had was pretty boring and lacked flavor but was beautifully presented. What bothered us the most about our server was the fact he was standing at the table next to us for almost the entire duration of our meal socializing with 2 girls. He was loud, unattentive and was using the f-word at a pretty high volume. Just not what I expect from a manager or a server for that fact. Just left a bad taste in our mouths but will most likely be back due to the lack of competition for sushi on colfax.
(3)
Tracy L.
My boyfriend and I live close by and thought we would try this place out. I'm always looking for options that are less expensive than Sasa or Sushi Den, and where I can get takeout for lunch. My boyfriend is super picky when it comes to sushi, and we were both impressed by this place! The only reason I gave it 4 stars, is because while good, it just doesn't compare to Sasa. Nothing does. When we sat at the sushi bar they gave us a yummy crab mango salad. I could've eaten 2 of these! We ordered 2 appetizers and a couple of rolls, including a new style sashimi and spicy tuna crispy rice. The spicy tuna crispy rice was good, but not as good as I've had at other places. The new style sashimi and the rolls were great! There were a lot of interesting things on the menu, and I'm excited to go back and try more!
(4)
deanne n.
Excellent food, amazing staff, and wonderful atmosphere! 5 stars for best sushi in Denver CO!
(5)
Rachel S.
So excited a great sushi place has moved into the CP Hood! The restaurant is pretty small, well appointed and intimate atmosphere. The house bottle are pretty inexpensive ($24 per bottle) and I thought the prices were very reasonable. The rolls were around $11-13 each and DELISH! One of my favorites was the new style with jalapeno. I could not get enough of it. The service was prompt and all the rolls were presented in a unique approach. I will be back. They do have a happy hour, but it is from 2-5pm...thought that was a little strange.
(5)
Christopher C.
this place was pretty good, got a bunch of sushi and of course some saki.
(4)
Bradley L.
Great Teriyaki Salmon bowl for lunch! Great price, lots of food and good flavor. I have not been for happy hour or dinner and don't think I will, since the lunch prices are good.
(4)
Alan W.
We're from AZ and have never had such fresh and cheap sushi. I wish we could come back!
(5)
Helen Y.
The shrimp tempura bento is a must try! Batter is very light & food tastes great. The sashimi is yummy too. Oiishii desu ne. (Delicious in Japanese) The sauce that comes with the sashimi is very tasty too. Love this new place & the service is excellent!
(5)
Steven B.
This location has been a variety of oriental, mostly sushi, places over the past few years. I'm not sure what the changes are all about but this time they have upped the ante on the sushi! It has been pretty good, but not my favorite, in the past and now it is my first choice for sushi. The decor is the minimal Japanese you'd expect, but the preparation and freshness of the sushi is at the top of the scale. The sushi chefs take a lot of time in arranging the sushi so that it is as good to look at as to eat. For a small place they seem to always have some of the more expensive cuts. They advertise 'Blue Fin' but I haven't bother to check on whether this is the 'good' or 'bad' kind. . .I guess the sushi is so good I don't want to know. Service is excellent and while I've only gone in a few times they seem to recognize me, or at least pretend to do so and that makes me feel good. Probably the only complaint is that the location on East Colfax means sparse parking, but it's worth the effort.
(5)
marissa o.
Wonderful sushi, great neighborhood spot!!!
(5)
Kate T.
Picked this place with a coworker because it's close to City Park and away from the congestion some of the Uptown eateries get at lunchtime during the week. We're both vegetarian, and this place offered a lot for us to choose from. Our server was so friendly and attentive, and we felt very welcomed. Really loved it. The decor was warm and inviting and we noticed some "regulars" were already there on their 2nd or 3rd visits, even though this place is relatively new. Also, they have very reasonable lunch specials-- not expensive and we both left with containers half-full of left-overs. I had the teriyaki tofu lunch and my coworker had the veggie udon. Really great flavors. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Leslianne N.
This review is long overdue. Let me start off saying that we were so excited to have a sushi place so close to us. However, now we will journey the extra time to go somewhere else. We are totally frustrated with this place! The first time we went in was a decent experience. Good food, which made up for the DUMB waiter! He was slow, he mumbled, he pretty much seemed like he has been stoned for the last 5 years. We went back a month later, hoping to get a better server. We did not...we got the same stoned waiter. We sat outside and it took forever for our waiter to come over. He took our order and went to the other table near us. Didn't go inside to place our order, just started chatting with the table (not taking their order). They were discussing if Jesus really existed NO JOKE!!! After about 10 min he went inside to place the order. Our food came out and we started eating. We had ordered a roll with Eel in it among others and it was good. My boyfriend took a bite of this eel roll and immediately started to gag. I thought he was choking, but he wasn't. He ran straight to the bathroom. There was no way I was eating anymore until I know what happened. He came back saying that he threw up and feels like he is going to again. He realized that he had something stuck in his throat. We didn't know what it was, but we thought it was some shell from the shrimp tail or bone. We weren't sure, but we were sure that we were done. Since, our waiter was nowhere to be found another waiter came over to help. We told him the situation, he apologized, and said he would get the manager. Who is the mananger...OUR DUMB@$$ WAITER!!! We tell him what happened he says that he will give us some hot sake on the house to see if it helps. Before we could say no, He's back with the sake. My boyfriend gave it a shot and it did nothing. We just wanted to leave, but our waiter/manager was loudly chatting about Jesus again. We figured that the meal would be comped or significantly discounted since we didn't eat any of the meal except for one piece of sushi. We let the waiter know that we were extremely upset and that we don't think that we should pay full price for something that we are NOT going to eat. My boyfriend was miserable as we waited for the guy to bring us the bill. We get it and he just took off the one roll but charged us full on everything. We ended up spending $40 on two bites of sushi( less than that, BC my boyfriend threw up)! Since my bf was suffering we paid and left so pissed off! We got home and after 20 min of looking in his mouth, we found a white speck way in the back of his throat. We used tweezers to pull it out and it was a good 1/2 inch bone stuck back there. I can honestly say that we will NEVER EVER EVER go back to that place unless that waiter was fired and we were assured that the food would have no bones. Even then it would be hard to say yes. This happened a while back and I still get fired up just thinking about it.
(1)
Dan G.
Really affordable sushi on Colfax. The fish was fresh and the sushi chefs seemed really happy to be at work. The service was efficient and friendly. Okinawa is a great value and a needed addition to Colfax.
(4)
Thea K.
The food, price, atmosphere and service were great! The wait staff was eager to please and very accommodating and the sushi chef behind the bar was fun to watch! They have some unique flavors and combinations on their menu that set them apart from other Denver sushi locations like Hapa and Mt. Fuji and, prices that are lower than you'd expect for the quality of food and service.
(4)
Amy D.
This new sushi joint has made a complete overhaul from it's earlier days as a different sushi restaurant most likely from different owners. It's now a modern, yet cozy atmosphere where even the bathrooms have funky tile and a contemporary sink. Walking in, you definitely get the wow factor (especially if you've experienced the previous look of this building). The servers are welcoming and knowledgeable. The sushi is fresh, and they special attention to detail in the presentation. We had the jalapeno yellow tail as an appetizer followed by a mixture of sashimi along with the Angel, Playboy, and Shrek rolls. It was the perfect mix for four of us. A nice touch at the end is the bite sized cheesecake for each guest. If you're lucky, you'll get to do a Saki shot with the manager Thomas. It's so good that I've visited this restaurant twice in two weeks!
(4)
Cassandra S.
My friend and I drove up last night to eat here after having a friend referred me here. We loved it.....very reasonably priced and very clean. Fast service and clean restrooms. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Kay T.
Denver doesn't have that many good sushi places but this place is decent. The sushi is good and fresh in this small restaurant. They need to extend their happy hour times as well because people are still working or traffic just sucks on Colfax. There really isn't much parking either unless there is and I don't know about it...
(4)
Kyle G.
Colorado has pretty much no clue how to do sushi ... go here and experience the real thing ... fyi if its overly complicated and covered in sauces ur not eating japanese food - that's like saying panda express is authentic chinese food
(4)
Randy H.
Was our first visit to Okinawa. Was pleased by the appearance of the interior, and the selection of music, which was pleasant in volume and type. Our waiter seemed like he was somewhat new, but handled our requests in a timely manner. The sushi was excellent. Great selection of specialty rolls as well. Prices were lower than I had expected too!
(4)
Julia G.
The sushi here is pretty good, and fairly priced. However, we have ordered take-out twice and had surprises both times. The first time, we received a roll that we didn't order in place of whatever we did. It was good, so not a huge deal. We tried it again tonight and they left off the avacado on one of the rolls. Since the avacado was one of the clinchers for why I ordered it, I called to let them know and was told they no longer put avacado on that particular roll (the mango roll, if you're curious). That's fine, but they should change the menu then. I'm sure we'll order from here again, and hopefully their take-out will eventually work out the kinks.
(4)
Becca P.
We'll definitely be going here again, but that's largely due to the fact that it's within walking distance of our house. Prices are affordable and the vegetarian sushi is excellent. Our favorite was the avocado peanut roll. Seating is a little cramped, but it's a cute space nevertheless.
(4)
Brian B.
Greeted and seated right away at sushi bar. Very clean and nice atmosphere. Miso a bit bland but served in nice, heavy bowl with matching spoon. Gyoza are piping hot and the delicate wrap is nicely browned on one side. There is a nice amount of garlic and the pork is sweet and ultra-tender. The shrek roll is an instant favorite with it's soy bean paper jacket holding together a delightful manage of lobster, tuna, white tuna, crunch, avocado, mango, and roe...did you get all of that? The playboy roll, crowned with a perfect, thin jalapeño circle has a sweet, mint (?) note stashed away beneath the yellowtail, spicy, and white tuna. Two very original rolls. The hamachi is fresh and tender. Attentive but not overbearing service, and complimentary frozen cheese cake cubes, one plain, one with a praline topping, completes a very enjoyable first experience. Thank you. We will be back!
(4)
Rebekah H.
I like Go Fish, and having lived in San Francisco AND a rural fishing village in Japan, I can be a bit of snob when it comes to my sushi fish. I thought let me try this joint and see if it can delight me, I liked the decor, comfortable chairs, and I thought the service was great. The fish was decent, but the rice was just not sticky enough! Fallin all over the place, I hate that. But it was tasty and beautifully presented, so I would go there again.
(3)
Sarah G.
Okinawa is an awesome spot on Colfax! The sweet potato rolls are so good. Try them even if you don't like sweet potatoes. I've tried a number of other rolls there and every one has been excellent. The servers are always really attentive and they have a great lunch special. There aren't many sushi places in that part of town, but Okinawa would probably be the best even if there were others!
(4)
Mike Z.
What a great addition to Colfax. Finally a great Sushi place in City Park. The food was great. The service was great. We will definitely frequent this place in the future!
(4)
Heidi T.
I moved here from CA last August so I will admit that I have been spoiled with great sushi. This was my first CO sushi experience. I knew going in that it would not be CA quality but this place had good reviews so I thought I would try it for lunch. Definitely not even comparable to CA sushi. I ordered three rolls and only ate 5 total pieces before throwing it out. The smell was suspect and the texture was mush. The least I expect is my fish cold and crisp. Not so much.
(2)
Luis S.
I've been going here for 6 months or so; lunch specials are great (3 rolls & soup for $12.95!), nice ambiance, and really good sushi at a good price. The service is great, they recognize me when I come in. Highly recommend it!
(5)
Melissa G.
My new favorite sushi joint in Denver! The sushi is absolutely delicious and the presentation is a work of art. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Fantastic! You won't be disappointed with anything you get.
(4)
Audra O.
excellent food and excellent service. top notch presentation. okinanwa uses creativity with their menu, combining unique ingredients that blend well together to make flavor combinations that excite the mouth ... my mouth, anyway. loved it!
(5)
James T.
We ordered take-out sushi to take to the ball game. The prices were reasonable and the sushi was delicious. It was nicely presented in the plastic take-out container. The staff was very friendly when we picked up the order. I'm excited to eat in and add to this review soon.
(4)
Eric T.
very good sushi for a decent price point! the design of the place is contemporary but still has a warm feeling. it doesn't feel uptight but rather hipster. a place to come back to visit when in town in Denver, city by the bay ;)
(4)
Amy S.
The sushi here is very high quality given that the prices are relatively low! The server also gave us free cheesecake bites for dessert, and I swear that it is the only cheesecake that I've ever liked. Amazing!
(5)
Mark Z.
This place is fantastic. I have now been here twice, and both times the food was excellent. Additionally, the service here is super friendly, and the owner always makes it a point to greet everyone. I used to live in Chicago, and there are a million great sushi places there. This place reminds me of some of the better ones in terms of food quality and experience.
(5)
J D.
Knave now been to Okinawa 4 times in the 1 month that it has been open. Each time I have been very happy with the food, service, and the prices. The owner is always there and very friendly. I've never dined he without recording free saki from the owner. The sushi rolls are large in size and very affordably priced. There are the usual rolls on the menu but also many unique rolls made with interesting things like caviar or horseradish (actually very tasty). The place is very small so it can be a little cramped when full but overall it's a great choice for very good and reasonably priced sushi. Good for dates or for a group of friends.
(4)
Alissa R.
went here for a quick lunch with the boyfriend, ordered shu mai $4.50, sashimi lunch $12.00 and the 2 roll lunch special $8.50, both came with choice of soup or salad, we chose one of each to share. Miso is always good here, never too salty with just the right amount of tofu, seaweed, and green onions. salad is basically ice berg, a slice of tomtato and cucumber with a sesame dressing, decent. the shu mai was extra yummy, for true shrimp lovers this is spot on! The rolls were yummy as usual, we chose the AAC roll and the spicy yellowtail. the sashimi was delicious and presented in a sexy way, but while the salmon tasted fine, it seemed like it was semi-frozen in the middle (maybe just from lying on ice?) anyhow, that is the only reason to rate it at 4 instead of 5 for this visit. i shall return again and again!
(4)
Alison B.
I went here spur of the moment with a friend of mine for dinner. It was a Thursday evening around 8 and we had no trouble being seated immediately. The service was good. The waitress was very attentive. We had hot green tea bc it was freeeezing outside. It was tastey and warmed us right up. I ordered the sweet potato roll and it was PHENOMENAL! I could have eaten a plate full of them. The rest was also pretty tastey, but I took off a star for the spicey tuna. I prefer the mayo sauce seperate from the tuna and at okinawa, they blended it making it a strange texture. Over all, I would recommend and return :)
(4)
Meg E. G.
Went here w/ a fellow yelper because the Thai place down the street was closed but damn am I glad we did. The parking is a bit sketch but the inside decor was modern yet inviting which I appreciated. I had an iced tea to drink and while you may think that that is pretty standard- it's not. Many restaurants brew them too weak or too strong, there's was perfect and I appreciated the frequent refills. What really blew me away was the Mango roll and the Crazy tuna roll- both absolutely scrumptious and the perfect portion size. And yes I ate both of the rolls by myself- sorry I'm not sorry. All in all I was impressed I thought the service, style, tea, and all around delectable dining I will definitely be back after I can afford it. Unfortunately it is a bit pricey but it's definitely worthwhile if for a nice night out.
(4)
Elizabeth F.
Excellent! I visited Okinawa for the first time last week. A good menu, friendly service, and delicious sushi! I'll be back!
(4)
Tiffany N.
I hate when I go somewhere and have a pleasant experience but something feels off about the place. You guessed it, thats how I feel about Okinawa. Loved the atmosphere, variety of rolls and entrees for the non sushi lovers out there (AKA communists in my book) and good service. I got the Spicy Girl and it rocked my world! It lived up to the name and was absolutely flavorful, all while clearing up my nostrils. I would have ordered two more rolls if I had on looser pants and wanted to drop some major bills that night. All of the sushi was fantastic, full of flavor and fresh. Their prices for sushi were a little higher than I would normally pay but the quality of their sushi is definitely worth the few extra dollars. And being a FL girl, I'm not willing to take risks on raw fish when I'm landlocked. But still, something was off and I've been sitting here for 10 minutes writing this review and I still can't figure out what it is that separates it from a four star rating and a five. Guess I will have to go back to see if said thing is still off there, no issues with that since I can always get down with awesome sushi like Okinawa offers!
(4)
Phillip M.
YES! A sushi place in Denver that's actually good and not stupid expensive. I've been here twice and really enjoyed it. The atmosphere is cool, the sushi is good, and the prices won't break the bank. Not much to say beyond that.
(4)
Chris S.
We loved everything we tried and they have some really unique stuff that doesn't involve fish which my girl can't really do. As far as veggie / chicken / steak options go she was pleased. Definitely suggest the Dynamite, Tamago, and Portabello rolls.
(5)
Alexis P.
So delicious! They had a lot of innovative rolls which I like, even some wrapped in soy paper instead of seaweed. Presentation was fresh and beautiful. Decor was clean and polished. Service time to get our sushi took slightly longer than normal, but the craft that goes into each roll is worth the wait( one of our rolls was shaped like hearts instead of round!) All of the waiters were attentive and very kind. I will Definitely be back!
(5)
Evan A.
DE-LICIOUS! Good sushi for the price and great service. Only down side is the lack of parking, but defiantly someplace I'll head back too!
(4)
Riza H. C.
4 SOLID STARS! Saturday June 11th 2011, went here for Happy Hour Sushi with 6 other frens. Time : 4.00pm onwards. Apparently, they "forgot" that I made the reservation for our party. Well note to self, next time whenever calling a restaurant or establishment, please "REMEMBER" the name of the receiver who takes your call. When I arrived, thankfully, this establishment was not as busy and the waitstaff swiftly managed to prepare the tables for the 7 of us. There are several other patrons dining in while we were here. Good deals to have when you order from their Happy Hour menu and you can mix your order with the main menu if that is what you desired. The service was prompt, attentive and welcoming. If I could recall correctly, there are like 2 waitstaffs attending to our table. Now the FOOD, in conclusion, my other frens liked what they order. The sushi looks good, and they did good in terms of presentation for how they plate the sushi for our party. Here was what I ordered for that afternoon. * Calamari * Grilled Squid Salad * LIVE Scallops that was one of the Special of the Day * Amaebi * Spicy Lobster * King Crab * Uni * Unagi * Hotategai I like both the Calamari and the Grilled Squid Salad. Though until now, I am still trying to figure out the "special sauce" that they provide that comes with the Calamari. For the LIVE Scallops, its so fresh, no fishy smell at all and just melt in my mouth. I "melt down" when I ate the King Crab. So buttery and delish. The rest of my sushi order, was good. All in all good experience eating here and I do not mind returning when needed. I request specifically, that separate checks for our party before ordering. This establishment allow separate checks for our group. 2 thumbs up in my books! Do take note, you are welcome to park behind the building, first come first serve, and there are ample of parking along the streets. It also depends on the time you are there.
(4)
Diana W.
Came back here for a friend's birthday. Still fabulous service, free dessert for the birthday girl, and quick order and serve turn around time. Did I mention already how much I love their lowcarb rolls? i can seriously eat 2 of them and each bite is still so flavorful and fresh!
(4)
Nick V.
Had the sashimi dinner. Sushi was very fresh and the assortment was great. Nice thick cuts.
(5)
Alison W.
So, Okinawa is the sushi place that is a stone's throw from my home. You'd think I get sick of it...but I don't! The man who's always there as a server is sweet. He never seems flustered. That's a server skill. Their happy hour is unbeatable. I also think their vegetarian rolls are super creative - whether or not you're a veg-head, try the avocado and peanut roll. I promise you won't be disappointed! They're rarely TOO packed to enjoy a meal, but prepare yourself - if you go in for takeout, maybe call ahead and get a pickup time. I waited 45 minutes once, which is slow by any standards.
(4)
Kate S.
Okinawa is fabulous. I used to live in the neighborhood and would do take out or eat in all the time. I have since moved, but refuse to go to the sushi places in my new neighborhood. They just aren't as good! So instead we make the 15 minute drive even if we are just doing take out. The fish is always fresh. The presentation is beautiful. We always get the Spicy crunchy tuna appetizer, which has the perfect combination of spicy and then sweet soy. The lovers role comes in the shape of a heart and the tuna is perfect. We also love the Mango Role and the New York Role. I honestly cannot say enough great things about this place. The atmosphere is nice, the service is always friendly, and the food is perfect. I am a huge fan!
(5)
Mardy S.
This was well worth the dining experience, especially since it was our last evening before heading back to Houston. We sat at the sushi bar and asked the waiter what was available that was off the menu. The blue fin tuna was so awesome that we ordered seconds. It literally melted in our mouths before the avocado did...yum!!! The waiter recommended other items that were off the menu that were good, with the exception to fish liver which was OK but not exactly my type of taste. Oh well have to try things at least once! Overall great experience, the staff was very interactive with my husband and I. We would go back again when we're in town.
(5)
David K.
Not great but not good either. Went there for happy hour which was good on drinks, but the food wasn't amazing.
(2)
Meghan H.
Never had a bad meal here. I know there are some other sushi places in Denver that would be considered superior to Okinawa (like Sushi Den or Sushi Sasa) but I don't want to spend a car payment on my dinner, nor do I want to put on heels and make up just so I can fit in with the clientele that tend to frequent those establishments, so I stick to Okinawa. I can go with a ball cap and jeans on and no one bats an eye. This IS, after all, Colfax Avenue, and it's Denver, not Manhattan. Okinawa is well priced, comfortable and consistent. I could eat their green roll every day. I really appreciate their veg options. We've had couple of specialty rolls here that were too much of a mash up with multiple flavors jockeying for position, but we've learned what to avoid (anything with mango and we like mango) and what is a winner. Love their shrimp shumai. The crunch spicy scallop roll melts on the tongue with just enough heat to keep your eyes wide open. Service is solid, I can get Great Divide brews (never been a big fan of Japanese beer, though I'll hit a Sapporo in a pinch) and the seats are comfy. There is patio seating but it faces York and I always feel like I'm breathing bellows of car exhaust when I sit out there so usually I stick to the inside seating. All in all this is a great place for a date, with above-par offerings, good ambiance and efficient staff.
(4)
Erin H.
LOVED their happy hour!!! Two-for-one drinks and fantastic sushi! Our favorite was the Angel Roll! The calamari was so different and light--loved that too! Will DEFINITELY be back!
(5)
Lendy L.
Okinawa is very trendy. From table set up to cushy chairs and the light fixtures, it's actually a very nicely put together sushi restaurant. When my party of 3 arrived we did not have reservations but we were seated promptly after 10 minutes considering that it was quite packed for a 7pm dinner. We order tea and and 4 hardly rolls of sushi at very reasonable prices. The final verdict was it was all delicious. The collared yellowtail was cooked perfectly and when accompanied by a side of ponsu sauce I'm as happy as a clam. The bill ended up coming out to be about $25 per person and we all left full and content. I would recommend this place to friends!
(4)
Missy B.
i love specialty sashimi plates, and this place has the best selection i've ever seen. and i've eaten sushi all over the country. quality of fish is fresh and great, pricing is reasonable.
(5)
Richard B.
Always suspicious of a sushi place on colfax. But was pleasantly suprised today with great prices and super fresh fish! Ps thanks for the free sake too!
(5)
Courtney O.
I'm only giving this place 5 stars because there isn't the option for 10. Service was wonderful and the sushi was somehow even better.
(5)
Daron S.
Holy Calamari!! This was the biggest and best calamari I have ever had. They looked like onion rings. And I'm not even a calamari fan, but the fiance is. All of the rolls we tried were great, but the stand out was the one with mango on top. The atmoshphere is nice and plenty of people watching due to the colfax location, which I love! Their happy hour seemed really good, so I want to experience that one day!
(4)
Giovanna R.
My husband and I have been eating here since it opened a few years ago! We love it! The sushi is so fresh , and if you like calamari you have to try it here! It's the best I've ever had!! We live in Aurora now and we still drive down to Okinawa's. It's the best !
(5)
Steph A.
Really enjoyed the roll selection. They had quite a few specialty rolls to choose from and each one that I tried was delightful. No complaints on the service. I think this is a great date night spot!
(4)
Chris L.
I've consistently had very good sushi here and a few truly excellent meals. I like the basics, salmon and tuna, and they do those very well. The fish is fresh, there's just the right amount of rice, and their wasabi and ginger are very good. Where they really shine is with their specialty dishes. I had a tuna sushi special recently that had cilantro and jalapeno in a delicious spicy sauce. Another favorite of mine is their tuna carpaccio, again it's because of the sauce. The waitstaff is generally efficient; if they were friendly I might be tempted to give this place five stars. The beer and wine selection is another reason they don't get five stars, just the boring basics. All in all, though, this is my go-to sushi place, really no reason to go anywhere else when it's this good, with very reasonable prices, and an easy location.
(4)
Alex R.
We went here last night and had some pretty great sushi! We loved loved loved the Shrek roll, and ordered it because of yelp reviews. We also got two other special rolls- the golden and we forgot what the other one was called, as well as two regular rolls- Boston and Kra. Truly fantastic sushi. It was fresh, affordable and a nice atmosphere. Servers were a little frazzled as they had a large party come in, but were still very friendly if not fast.
(4)
Katie H.
I've been here a handful of times and I always leave stuffed. My last visit was no different but it was the first time I ordered things off the non-sushi roll menu. The spicy sashimi salad was SO good and is frankly a really good deal for $10. Tons of seafood, deliciously spicy, and the greens underneath were fresh and crisp. My partner ordered the gyoza for the table and they were heavenly. The noodle had just the right amount of pan sear and the pork was incredibly juicy. The accompanying sauce was not too sweet and my friend commented that he would drink it. So there's that, too. As usual, the sushi was fantastic and they never overdo the rice. We'll be back.
(4)
Devin R.
Yay Okinawa! They're very careful about keeping my sushi gluten free. It's hard to find a sushi place that will do that. I love every roll I've tried there. The staff is all very friendly and helpful, especially when it comes to working around dietary restrictions. The price is a little on the high side, but I think it's worth it.
(4)
Melissa T.
Yay! I'm the 100th review. I am in love with this place. It's got great atmosphere, delicious veggie rolls, and awesome service. I kind of abandoned sushi when I became a vegetarian but I have recently rediscovered veggie rolls and they make me so happy. The presentation here alone makes me happy. Also, their wine glasses are comically enormous. Which is awesome for several reasons.
(5)
Jason K.
Great sushi. Service was good but just a little slow. They were out of uni, but it was Sunday night so that's expected. The spider roll was very good. My wife had the chicken teriyaki and it was excellent. The squid salad was also very tender, but was missing the tentacles, so it wasn't a complete squid. I prefer their other location off Ken Caryl better, but I would go back if I was in the area.
This restaurant has some potential, as the server was friendly, and they do put some effort into presentation. The food is also sufficiently good. Unfortunately, the extremely smelly (like strong BO) napkins really ruined the mood for us. If they can improve the sanitation, I can see this restaurant going to four stars for me.
(3)
Kelly T.
Sweet sassy frassy molassy! This here is some good sushi! It's so good, that apparently it caused me to channel Yosemite Sam when I wrote those last two sentences. I went here for lunch on a Sunday and, man, I'm glad I did. My dining companion placed the order and when it arrived, my little taste buds jumped for joy. Quick aside: I have GOT to remember that almost all soy sauce at restaurants have gluten in them. If I can remember that, then I'll avoid the slightly upset stomach that followed this meal. It had NOTHING to do with the food and everything to do with my stupidity. I think my favorite was the mango roll. Most of my favorite recipes combine sweet and savory into one dish and this sushi roll did the same. I had a couple other rolls, which I can't remember the names of, but they were really tasty too. And I finished the meal off with a nice cup of tea, which, wonders never cease, was not scaldingly hot when the server brought it to the table. Nothing kills my happy tummy buzz better than a cup of tea that sears my mouth at the first sip. It's really great to see the Congress/City Park area getting some really great restaurants built in the area and Okinawa definitely comes in at the top in this neighborhood.
(4)
Jenny H.
This place deserves three stars off ONLY because of the service. The sushi was fabulous. It tasted fresh and was served in perfect sized rolls, not too big to be called bite-size. The menu has a good selection and the edamame was cooked perfectly! As for the service, it was terrible. An hour and a half long story short, we didn't get drinks for at least 15 minutes, after finally asking someone where they were. We didn't receive a simple extra side which was written on the menu and circled by the server at time of order. Servers did not come to our table once to see if anything was needed or how the food was. Had to walk to the sushi bar to get the side. Was never asked for drink refills. And had to get up and track someone down for the bill after waiting way too long to get a servers attention. All of this and there were only TWO of us. This was not a group of people who were too much to handle. Just two people. I will never sit down for another meal there. Because I loved the sushi, I will be ordering carry out the next time I want Okinawa.
(2)
Sarah K.
I was going to give Okinawa five stars, given the superior quality of fish and tasty, reasonably priced rolls, but there was some ruckus at the end of our meal that left me with a very...disturbing...last impression. The sushi was phenomenal, as was the service. I loved the spicy girl and the shrek rolls; the sashimi was to die for! We were enjoying our evening when a clatter of dishes came from the back of the house; we didn't think much of it--maybe a waiter was having an off night or a patron had a few too many... We paid the bill and moseyed outside...All of a sudden a guy stormed past us and asked if we had just eaten at Okinawa. "Yes, why?" we asked. "There was a live cockroach on our plate of sushi; we nearly knocked the table over trying to get away." Uh. "Yeah, they gave us our meal for free but I will NEVER come back." I'm sorry to say, neither will I. I'm sorry Okinawa, I just can't get past this...
(2)
Seth E.
Decent sushi for a great price, especially during happy hour which includes buy one get one free drinks! To be fair I haven't tried their more spendy rolls which may be fantastic, but the moderate to low priced rolls are tasty and well worth the money.
(4)
Hailey Z.
First time i have ever tried white tuna! Lovely and attentive staff, delicious and super fresh fish with a beautiful presentation. We will be back!
(4)
Abby Q.
The price is RIGHT, people! They have happy hour Monday through Saturday, 2:30-5. During happy hour you can get 2 for 1 beer, wine, or sake, and discounted rolls and appetizers. I've been here three times now for Saturday happy hour and have yet to be disappointed! On our most recent trek, my favorite sushi buddy and I ordered as follows: 2 glasses of lychee sake each (holy YUM, Batman!!!!) 1 order of Gyoza 2 fried sweet potato rolls (we don't like sharing this one...nomnomnom) 1 rainbow roll 1 titanic roll 1 mango roll 1 order of tobiko 1 order of hamachi That's A LOT of food, right!!!!!! And our tab only added up to about $40 for each of us AFTER tip. We left feeling fat, happy, and not as poor as when we go to Sasa. What's even better is that the quality of the sushi is fantastic. The only downside is that last time we sat on the patio here, we witnessed a stabbing. However, that is no fault of the restaurants and solely the fault of the creepers on Colfax Avenue.
(5)
D D.
Good food but HORRIBLE service. Came in on a fri about 3:30. Our waitress was to busy to serve us. We had to get up and ask 4 times for drinks, food, service.... Then a friend joined us and had to get her attention to serve our friend. We where her only table and could tell that the sushi chef was annoyed. Food was great but service SUCKED!!!! To bad....
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
P H.
This restaurant has some potential, as the server was friendly, and they do put some effort into presentation. The food is also sufficiently good. Unfortunately, the extremely smelly (like strong BO) napkins really ruined the mood for us. If they can improve the sanitation, I can see this restaurant going to four stars for me.
(3)Hailey Z.
First time i have ever tried white tuna! Lovely and attentive staff, delicious and super fresh fish with a beautiful presentation. We will be back!
(4)Abby Q.
The price is RIGHT, people! They have happy hour Monday through Saturday, 2:30-5. During happy hour you can get 2 for 1 beer, wine, or sake, and discounted rolls and appetizers. I've been here three times now for Saturday happy hour and have yet to be disappointed! On our most recent trek, my favorite sushi buddy and I ordered as follows: 2 glasses of lychee sake each (holy YUM, Batman!!!!) 1 order of Gyoza 2 fried sweet potato rolls (we don't like sharing this one...nomnomnom) 1 rainbow roll 1 titanic roll 1 mango roll 1 order of tobiko 1 order of hamachi That's A LOT of food, right!!!!!! And our tab only added up to about $40 for each of us AFTER tip. We left feeling fat, happy, and not as poor as when we go to Sasa. What's even better is that the quality of the sushi is fantastic. The only downside is that last time we sat on the patio here, we witnessed a stabbing. However, that is no fault of the restaurants and solely the fault of the creepers on Colfax Avenue.
(5)D D.
Good food but HORRIBLE service. Came in on a fri about 3:30. Our waitress was to busy to serve us. We had to get up and ask 4 times for drinks, food, service.... Then a friend joined us and had to get her attention to serve our friend. We where her only table and could tell that the sushi chef was annoyed. Food was great but service SUCKED!!!! To bad....
(1)Lauren B.
The boyfriend and I had some serious sushi cravings when last we were in Denver, so I whipped out my Yelp app and made a quick search to see what our options were. Okinawa was a great choice! We've been spoiled, growing up in California, so I find I'm often skeptical when ordering sushi in a landlocked state. Okinawa did not disappoint. We started off with a salad (him) and miso soup (me), both of which were excellent. We had a sweet potato roll (delicious, I highly recommend ordering this), AAC roll (avocado, asparagus, cucumber - not bad if you like your veggies), mango roll (I'm a sucker for a little bit of sweet with my sushi), spicy tuna roll (classic), and a lobster roll whose name escapes me. Everything was delicious though. I was also a fan of the service. The staff was very attentive and friendly. We felt well taken care of. The restaurant was a bit quiet when we were there for an early dinner, so I'm not sure how crowded it gets. Sushi ain't cheap, so prepare your wallet! Also be sure to grab a lollipop on your way out the door.
(4)Nic H.
Finally, another sushi restaurant in Denver that I actually enjoyed! I wasn't too sure about the atmosphere at first; it seemed a bit too formal and pretentious for my tastes, but then I sat down. Those chairs, oh my. I feel ridiculous mentioning chairs in a review, but their chairs are like magic insta-comfort butt-clouds. Okay, enough about chairs. On to the main attraction: the SUSHI! Presentation has been gorgeous and unique every time we've visited, regardless of what we order. Everything is beautifully made and wonderfully fresh. I've lost track of everything we've tried so far, but the Golden Roll, King Maki Roll, Black Dragon Roll and Titanic Roll have been some of our favorites. Their Sushi for Two boat was great too, and very reasonably priced. Speaking of prices, their happy hour is pretty damn awesome. Cheap appetizers, rolls (including a few special rolls), and two-for-one drinks? Yeah, I can deal with that! Extra points for our last visit. We brought my dad along--and my dad doesn't do sushi. We were pleasantly surprised to find that Okinawa's kitchen entrees are just as impressive as their sushi. My dad ordered the Diver Scallops, which he said were delicious. I can't verify that myself, as they disappeared rather quickly, but they certainly looked good! Gah, now I want to go back again. Must find some excuse to go to Denver again soon. We do still need to try their live scallops, after all! The only downside I've run into so far: the service isn't quite there at times. Some of the servers are friendly and helpful (and even recognize us when we come in), others...just don't measure up.
(4)Melanie R.
I went to Okinawa with a party of six on a Friday evening, we called ahead to see if they could accommodate us and they said no problem it would be 10 minutes. We arrived about 10-15 minutes later and had to wait about 10 minutes so not bad considering it was a Friday night. My friend has an allergy to shellfish so we advised the waitress and she was helpful with any questions relating to ingredients etc. What I love about Okinawa is that the rolls are not huge, you can actually fit the whole piece in your mouth without feeling like a chipmunk or eating only half the roll to have the other half fall apart! Well done Okinawa. The food and service was good and there was some interesting people watching. I would definitely go back. The reason for only 4 stars instead of 5 is that we ordered the fatty tuna and it is "MP" so you expect it to be great and although it was good we have had better so that was a tad disappointing.
(4)Nicole W.
AMAZING!!! Amazing sushi and rolls: Ichiban roll- wow sweet potato roll - mmmm Black Volcano - very tasty Rainbow roll - tasty eggplant sushi - wow - so good tamago - pretty good eel - so so spicy girl - anh The calimari was by far the best i've had in a very long time! Place is cute and small - parking is the suck. Manager/maitre de/all around do it all guy - he was fabulous - made funny jokes, interacted with the tables - just a great asset to the restaurant. Definitely a busy place - so go early! No reservation on friday and saturday! And they aren't a fan of more than 1 sushi order - so try and get it right the first time! I will definitely be back - this place is great and has amazing sushi!
(5)Adam S.
I think it's fair to say that this was easily the best sushi experience I've had in Denver so far. The sashimi was fresh, well portioned, and delicious. The rolls were fantastic. We had the lobster tempura roll and the shrek roll and both were outstanding. The place is low key and does not give off that "see and be seen" trendy vibe of some of the other sushi spots in Denver. It was a tad on the pricey side, but I suppose that is par for the course for good sushi in a landlocked state. Anyway, this place is great and I will be back as soon as I can be.
(5)Amari M.
never coming back i got the dragon roll n my freinds thr california roll the rolls were tiny!!!!!!!!!! we were like wth??? the dragon roll tasted like california roll and the california like u buy at the grocery store the prices are the same as other places idk why anyone would pay the same amount for wayyy less its not worth it sushi isnt good horrible no wonder it was empty
(1)john W.
Watch out Hapa. We've wanted a non-Hapa sushi option for a long time, and Okinawa is it. Great staff, like truly awesome and great. I haven't like service staff this much in a long time! The spicy girl, black dragon, ichiban rolls are all good. The Calamari is OMFG good. We almost ordered another order of the stuff. Definitely a popular place.
(5)Justin H.
Bomb. We had the Ichiban Roll, super white tuna, sea urchin, and then more super white tuna. Everything we ate was delicious. We sat at the sushi counter, and I was as equally impressed by the quality of the food coming out as I was with he precision and care of the staff that prepped it. Service was great. Happy hour was ridiculously good too. We also drank two of those big Kirin Ichiban beers, and two warm sakes. Our tab was less than $60?! I'll be back.
(5)R V.
Great food, great presentation, great service, great atmosphere. Loud - but that's not a real detractor. Great restaurant!
(4)Kat A.
My favorite server from Go Fish relocated to this fantastic new sushi restaurant - yay Thomas! I finally got around to visiting Okinawa (haaaa) a couple weeks ago, and I was really pleased with everything, save for the very unappealing task of finding parking in the neighborhood amongst the rampant construction. My dining companion had the steak teriyaki and was really happy with his meal, and I had - well, I had a really ridiculous amount of sushi. The highlight of my meal was the salmon nigiri - sooo delicious. The spicy tuna roll was also really tasty. As a starter, I tried their cucumber salad. It was great, but heads up, folks, that particular palate pleaser is a hot one, thanks to a healthy dose of wasabi. I killed it, though. Killed it dead. The prices were absolutely reasonable. The seating was crazy comfortable. The people watching? I mean, come on, you're right on Colfax. Unsurpassed. And the food was great, as was the service.
(4)Geoff H.
This place rocks! Laid back atmosphere, yet refined enough for a classy date night or a relaxed date night. Service was very friendly and prompt. Food was served quickly and tasted great; you can tell quality ingredients are used. Specials are always unique and thoughtful as are the specialty rolls on the menu. Walked in at 6:30 on a Friday and was immediately sat. Value was nearly spot on, just a bit high priced, but for the location, I understand. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Claire S.
Came here last night to celebrate one of our many anniversaries . Hands down this is the best sushi restaurant we have been to in Denver so far. My husband ordered enough sushi and sashimi for 4 but we ate it all!! So good. The sashimi is fresh, definitely best anywhere around here and the boat they made us was so pretty! The Shrek roll is amazing ah mah gah! All in all just fantastic food, vibe is cozy not trendy which I love for sushi. So happy we tried this place :)
(5)Tiffany N.
I always found it amusing when I lived in California and people asked if I was so glad to have the opportunity to eat "good" sushi again because the truth is there are plenty of places in Denver that make sushi just to my liking. And it turns out that Okinawa is one of them. On a recent dinner date Sir Nicholas and I ordered way too much food to finish which was a shame, but my propensity for wanting to try lots of dishes got the best of me. We had a few rolls and a few pieces of sashimi. While I'm having a terrible time remembering the names of the rolls I do know that we had one that was spicy tuna, one that was a "low carb" version of the spicy tuna (wrapped in cucumber without rice), an unagi roll, and then one made with Kobe beef and fried asparagus that I wanted to try for novelty's sake. That last one was weirdly reminiscent of a cheesesteak, which is good, but I'm not necessarily sure it's a flavor many people would crave when sushi is on their mind. Everything, though, was fresh and tasted great. The low carb tuna roll was especially interesting because they cucumber wrap gave it a crunchy texture that melded well with the texture of the spicy tuna. I'm not sure how long it's been since Okinawa replaced Nohana, but I absolutely adore the changes. The atmosphere during our dinner was lively and energetic, but not too loud, which is nice when you want to hear what the person across the table from you is saying without having to shout at one another. And even though we stopped in after 9, it was still fairly crowded. (Just a note they do close at 10 and I believe they'll stop seating tables a little before that as I saw a couple come in for dinner and the only option they were given was take-out at around 9:45 pm.)
(4)Anthony N.
I've heard great things about this place so I had to check it out. From the outside, I thought it'd be a lot bigger, but it's a good size for a small group of friends and the amount of food you get for the price can't be beat. But quality of quantity, yes? Well, seeing as we were starving, we kind of over-ordered.. big time. Among the rolls we ordered were was one that surprisingly took the crown and became a hit amongst our friends - the sweet potato rolls! You gotta try it. It's damn mmm-mmmm good. All in all - a great spot that we might even consider frequenting more often if start hanging out more around the area. Parking is kind of a pain (as expected being between one-way streets and Colfax), but you can't really argue with such fresh sushi at a bargain price point!
(4)David R.
I was a little nervous to try Okinawa at first, since I didn't think any sushi restaurant off of Colfax would be decent. I've been eating sushi since age 5, and was thoroughly impressed with the quality, service, and ambiance during my visit. Even the music was amazing. The main kicker for me was the Ami-Ebi (raw sweet shrimp) If a restaurant can serve this to my standards, they can serve anything. They also add a sauce to the fired heads which I've never had before, and it was excellent. For some perspective: I've been to Sushi Den and it's sister restaurant, and was not impressed. They are both very over-hyped and over priced. Okinawa Sushi is truly a diamond in the rough. I've from Southern California and this is on par with some of the best sushi out there.
(5)David R.
We've doing doing lunch here for a long time, the bento box is a great deal and a lot of food. Went for dinner for the 1st time last week, and we were blown away. As good as Sushi Den but half the price.
(5)Leah D.
After hearing that my longtime love Sushi Den had steeply increased its prices since last I ate there, hubby and I decided to try out Okinawa on Colfax for a sushi date. I was quite happy with our meal, which included a nice array of sashimi, a tempura shrimp roll, and a sweet potato roll. Not a bad bite in the lot of it, and a nice atmosphere, too. Being walking distance from Twist & Shout and Tattered Cover doesn't suck, either.
(4)Cara M.
Absolutely wonderful spot, left a tip that was much more of a review. Regardless, this spot is amazing and I wish I had somewhere as good as this back home!
(5)Sarah V.
Stay away from the raw tuna here...my boyfriend and I both got food poisoning this weekend from the sushi. When I called to let them know what had happened the manager didn't sound surprised and offered nothing in the way of an apology. I will not be back.
(1)Tara L.
Probably the best sushi I've had in Denver and very reasonably priced! I've tried several different rolls and never been let down. The seaweed salad is delish!
(4)Tara L.
We are so lucky to live near Okinawa. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked it, being a picky sushi eater. The spicy than is great. Fish quality is consistently good and so are the rolls.
(5)Clare V.
High-quality sushi that isn't overpriced. The waitress recommended some cold sake that went great with our edamame and hand-rolls. Unlike some of the other sushi restaurants in town, Okinawa's hand rolls have lots of great seafood that isn't all tempura. They also have gluten-free soy sauce and are very knowledgeable about what sauces I needed to have on the side. Great City Park Neighborhood restaurant!
(4)alan c.
In town for work and knowing that this landlocked city somehow manages to produce high quality sushi joints we found this gem on YELP! Fellow Yelpers, thanks for the advice. We ordered the sashimi platter for two and the shrek roll and us two big guys with big appetites were more than satisfied. The presentation was bizarre and a bit over the top (flashing lights and a giant salad bowl with a block of ice and tree branches and fresh seaweed...) but the quality of the fish was spectacular and the portions ample. Nice place, attentive service, quality fish and fair prices ! Bravo. We will be back.
(4)Janice A.
I usually don't write reviews unless I was somehow compelled by the extraordinary deliciousness and quality of food OR it was a miserable experience in which I would like to spare others from experiencing. Unfortunately, this would be a disappointing experience more so for the service. Rude. Rude. Rude. We arrived for happy hour and were seated in a corner table covered with dust and debris in the sauce dish and table top. Asked if we could move tables and was met with a hostile waitress "go ahead!" Throughout the meal, we ordered off their happy hour menu and it was alright. Salmon, super white tuna, clams, and volcano roll. Didn't think it was worth the price. The other staff members were standing around while we struggled to juggle our oversized plates and the waiter even tried to shuffle our plates around. Hello, please take away the plates we had already finished! Then there would be more room. Overall, mediocre experience and would not return.
(1)Patrick S.
So, embarassed that I have been remiss in reviewing Okinawa...living in Cheesman does not afford one alot of sushi opportunities within walking distance...this however, is one of them. My first visit was during their grand opening event. My good friend Russ and I decided to give it a shot and we were not disappointed. Everything we tried was delish...lots of rolls and some yellowtail sashimi (none for me thanks). The service was impeccable and we were treated to a sample from the manager...nice touch! Just last week the Doctor and I revisited with our good friends to introduce them to a new sushi joint, not in LOHI. Once again, it was all 5 x 5...with one exception...the Yakisoba. We ordered a salmon roll that just was not as fresh as we expected. A quick word with the manager and we were treated to a delicious replacement at no cost...the Yakisoba was a bit non-descript but palateable. Since it wasn't even on the menu and made to suit the non-sushi lover in the crowd we will give them a push...A for effort, C for results... 4 of us gorged and the bill was about $60...I am good with that!
(4)Amberley D.
Fantastic! Started with miso soup which was piping hot and delicious. Two of us had five rolls total and ate all but three pieces! The service was excellent, everyone we encountered was polite, our water was always full and I would say it was overall a great experience. I'll be back as often as I can!
(5)Kate A.
We trudged in here during a snow storm famished and eager to try this new sushi place in our neighborhood. The atmosphere is all I could want from a great sushi restaurant and the service was great and the chef's were friendly (but that could have been because we were the only ones there because of the storm...hmm). When getting sushi I usually stick to the usual fare (i.e. the oh so delicious Philadelphia Roll), but with a sudden pulse of adventure we got the octopus amongst our other rolls. I'm glad I did because it was fresh, tasty, and beautifully put together which squashed any nerves I had about having to choke down tentacles. We also got the "Lover's Roll" which turned out to be a towering work of art compete with flowers, bamboo, little heart-shaped sauce drops, and 12 carefully heart-shaped pieces of sushi. It would be great for Valentine's Day, but should be avoided if eating alone...could be awkward. Definitely check it out!
(5)Justine M.
Came here a while ago with a large group of people -- Okinawa stayed open late for us, and the staff were very friendly and tolerant of the less sober people in the group :) And beyond that, the food tasted fresh and the bill wasn't nearly as bad as any of us anticipated. Returned here last week for a more quiet dinner and once again, the staff was very friendly and knowledgeable, the food was delicious, and the prices were extremely reasonable. I'm not a vegetarian, but I highly recommend the sweet potato roll! Despite the construction going on around the restaurant and the busy street corner it's on, Okinawa has a great patio if you're into outdoor dining.
(4)Art M.
This place used to be Sushi Heights.... Okinawa has a very nice decor, and the waitstaff was pleasant.. We started off with appetizers, the Tempura appetizer (Shrimp, carrot, zucchini, potato) Miso soup, and Salad. The tempure was very good, the miso soup was just ok..and the salad was ok... I ordered the Eel platter, my wife had the Chicken Teryaki. My Eel platter was pretty good, but not the best, the Eel was ok but was a bit to scaly for my taste. My wife's chicken teryaki was ok... We also ordered California rolls, they were just ok, they had way too much mayonnaise, and the sticky rice was too warm, it should have been cool, and the consistency was off. Overall the experience was ok, the decor made up for the meal,, Sushi Heights was way better and in a league of it's own..too bad they went out of business... If I go back It will only be for the Tempura Appetizer..
(3)Kris S.
I am not a sushi girl. But when a client who was visiting from New York said he was craving sushi, I knew Okinawa was the place to take him. I was pleased by the variety of non-sushi menu items. I had the veggie tempura appetizer, which was plentiful enough to suffice for dinner. The atmosphere is upscale and the service is attentive (but not "in your face"). Okinawa really classes up Colfax. I hope similar places will open nereby.
(4)Sarah R.
I love this place. I went here when they first opened and was happy to find a place with great service, when these days, it seems no one really cares about it. I've been a repeat customer because they are very close to my work and find their avacado peanut rolls to die for! They are the perfect snack before a meal or eat 4 or 5 for dinner - yes, they are that good. Who knew? The presentation was excellent, staff was friendly, food was great and they made me a little sparkling sake concoction that made that much happier. Glad East Colfax is getting some good restaurants that are affordable!
(5)Robert M.
Great service and nice people, but the sushi needs a bit of work. The rice isn't sticky enough and the sushi portions are small. Decent rolls - had the dragon, salmon skin, sweet potato, and A.A.C. rolls.
(3)Chirag C.
I often find myself balancing the desire to be a creature of habit versus pushing myself to constantly try new places. I tend to err on the pushy side but think after eating at Okinawa, I've found my go to sushi place near home. Why? The ambiance, food, and service here are great. Running through my mental checklist of what makes a restaurant experience enjoyable for me, I found no flaws and a few great surprises. The ingredients are incredibly fresh; the choice for vegetarians is vast (they have your standard avocado and cuke rolls, but many interesting iterations beyond); and the service is efficient and with a smile.
(4)Winston C.
I was in town for a conference with my wife and we wanted to get some sushi. Of course I pulled up my yelp app and found this little place. The restaurant is put together very well, dimly lit with really nice plates. The restaurant is on the smaller side but it did not cause a problem in my experience here. Me and my wife ordered 4 rolls, 1 specialty roll (lovers) and 3 regular sushi rolls (spicy tuna, eel, dynamite). The flavors were spot on, very fresh and felt authentic. A good sign that the food is going to be good is when all the servers and chefs are Japanese. All in all we spent 33.00 for everything. Great Restaurant!
(4)Michelle F.
We liked Okinawa a lot--sushi was very good for the price, and we really liked the urban feeling of sitting out on their porch. We had the mango roll--one of their creations--and it was fantastic. The manager came over and chatted with us for a while--very personable. We'll definitely be back.
(4)Sean R.
OK food. Terrible service!!! I, and a few friends have tried to give these guys business but the just don't deserve it.
(1)Jojo L.
Love the place. We had volcano roll, titanic roll and the dragon roll. The fish tasted really fresh, also they used different sauces to make the sushi taste different (in the good way). I really enjoyed my meal.
(4)Truc N.
Sushi is good. Not bad by any means. However the rice needs improvement. It is too piecy/dry and falls off the fish/roll. Service was good.
(3)Alyson A.
Great food. I'm always looking for delicious sushi here in Denver! I really liked the setting and they're only a few blocks from my place. Great ambiance. Definitely a keeper.
(4)Rich R.
Went to Okinawa on a whim with friends after a free show at Twist & Shout and I was extremely happy with the quality, quantity and service. Sushi Delux - 10pcs assorted Nigiri w/ a Tuna Roll for $18 (comes with a salad. Pieces of Sushi dwarfed the small bed of rice. Normally in Sushi places, 10pcs and a roll leaves my wanting a little dessert but I could hardly get the last bite down. My friend had several rolls; All were delicious. The other had the Chicken / Vegetable Tempura and seemed to enjoy it. The small (free!) Cheesecake bites were the best way to end the meal. It's no Sassa Sushi but it's better than Sushi Hai (if that helps...)
(4)Rachel H.
I am so glad that I tried this new sushi spot. The food was good and the place has a nice look and atmosphere. The prices were terrific! We will definitely go back!
(4)Heather A.
My new "go-to" neighborhood sushi spot. This is the perfect local sushi joint. Affordable, just the right amount of ambiance, friendly and fast service, and oh yeah, great sushi! We went for the first time on Valentine's Day expecting a long wait and slow service. We were pleasantly surprised to find that we were seated within a few minutes, and had attentive and helpful service. I even got a rose from our waitress to mark the romantic occasion. If you live in the neighborhood, you gotta check out Okinawa.
(4)Maria M.
I was so, so sad when Sushi Heights closed. Back in my young and super broke days I'd go to Sushi Heights on the last payday of each month, sit at the sushi bar and slowly work my way through whatever I could afford and read a good book. Great memory. When Okinawa opened I was super excited and it hasn't disappointed. I've been numerous times and I've never been disappointed with the quality of food or the quality of service. One on trip, a date night with the hub, we got our sushi served on a boat. It was silly and over the top and completely awesome!! Oh ya, and the sushi and sashimi was amazing. Today for lunch we had the biggest, most wonderful green mussels I've ever had. They were simply divine! We followed with a simple line up of california roll, spicy tuna roll (they were both on special) a spider roll and some unagi. All perfect. I'm deducting one star for their lack of a good happy hour deal.
(4)Victoria S.
I just moved in to the area and looked around Yelp for good sushi places. I'm hardly a sushi connosieur but I eat it fairly regularly and I know bad sushi when I get it. But Okinawa was the first I tried, and it might be the last because I think I found my new favorite sushi restaurant! Service was fast and polite, the sushi was fresh and delicious! I had mostly basic types (no Volcano sushi for me) and I'd recommend the Yellowtail sushi (not the roll but actual traditional sushi, though the roll was good too) and the miso soup. The soup was mostly broth with pretty small pieces of tofu and seaweed but it was delicious nonetheless. I'll definitely be coming back!
(5)Jason H.
2nd time here and will b back :) good sushi and friendly service!
(4)Kimberly S.
I have to say that the fish surprised me. I LOVE sushi! It is impossible for me to not get sushi every now and then, though I usually feel like I leave hungry. That was not the case at Okinawa. For one, I usually can't stand miso soup. I don't like the smell or the way it usually tastes like rotten fish, not to mention the fact that tofu never sits well with me, but my boyfriend forced me to give it another go--and I actually liked it! We ended up splitting the one bowl, because I actually wanted to eat it. That was enough to get me excited for the sushi, but better than that was the fact that we came during happy hour, which meant that you could get two sushi rolls for $8.75 or three for $12.00 (ranging from six to eight pieces each). My boyfriend is a little more daring when it comes to ordering sushi, so I left it in his capable hands. We got a few off the regular menu and went with the three rolls off the happy hour menu. Of course the happy hour menu is more limited but they had Unagi (eel) rolls on it and that made it even better! We also ordered a small appetizer called Dynamite that had a seafood medley mixed with mushrooms and some kind of creamy sauce that had a hint of heat to it. So good! It was a small app and I think if I had to I would've fought for it with my boyfriend! That plate went back clean! So already we were excited about the random drop it, but then the actual sushi showed up. There was so much of it! There were plenty of rolls from the happy hour menu and though my boyfriend picked a decent amount of different sushi, it was about a normal order for us, but this time the whole thing was delicious and filling! Everything was so yummy! ...Now to the four stars: Though the sushi was wonderful and I actually enjoyed the miso soup there were a few points that couldn't be ignored. I was confused by the service. One minute we had one server and the next we had another. It was impossible to tell who was actually our server. However, they were nice. But then when we got to the end of the meal we decided we wanted to grab the Key lime white chocolate cheese cake--creme brulee? (still a little confused about the cake itself honestly) Though they had already brought out the check we thought it wouldn't be too hard to flag down a server (since the only two servers seemed to both be taking care of us??). That however, was not the case. I think it took ten minutes before my boyfriend finally had to call out to one server as he was walking away from another table. Not to mention that we apparently ended our meal at the same time that all of the staff decided to sit down to lunch right in front of the customers. We all need to eat, I get it, but working in the food industry I also know that it's proper to keep it out of sight from the customers. So we finally got the order in for the dessert and it was dropped off at our table quickly. But there was no crunchy torched sugar on the top. Perhaps because the kitchen had sat down to lunch? Nonetheless it was still yummy (don't ask me what it actually was though lol) And last and certainly least is the fact that I am completely confused by the decor. I felt like the furniture belonged in a fine dining restaurant and the rest was out of a Mexican coffee shop-night club? (I have no better definition). Not to mention the fact that there was some kind of weird Mexican music playing (in a sushi restaurant??). But that's just nitpicking :P (sorry for the long review!)
(4)Jenny K.
Great fish, great presentation. Not a big selection, but very tasty. Can't wait to go there again.
(4)Neil G.
Good sushi, ok service, but a little overpriced
(3)Rashad K.
Simply awesome! After a great first day of yoga (warm power vinyasa class at the CAC), Monica and I felt like indulging ourselves with some clean, light, but satisfying food. So since Okinawa is just a minute away from my place, we figured a nice stroll to the new sushi restaurant was in order. The Decor is minimalistic yet warm with earth tones rising from the floor up to cool white walls behind the sushi bar. Not a large place, seats about 50 but you don't feel cramped. All in all a very comfortable spot. We were greeted right away and were given plenty of time to look through the extensive menu. The prices really stand out due to how low they are so I was expecting stingy portions. That was far from the truth, so much food! Nice thick, very high quality pieces of sashimi, perfectly cooked rice, and get this......free little bites of cheesecake to cap the meal. Definitely going to become a regular at this place!
(5)Ivan R.
The food was delicious, the prices were a little on the steep side and the portions on the small side. All in all, it was well rounded but nothing out the ordinary.
(3)Heather M.
I am always up to try new sushi places so when this came to town, I was game. The pros were that we were able to find a parking spot close by (construction causes some havoc) and I fell in love with the Honeymoon roll. The con was that I had food poisoning for three days after the dinner (my dinnermates also felt queasy). So excluding the sickness I would give the place four stars...I am torn on whether I will return.
(2)Paige W.
This is probably one of my least favorite sushi restaurants I have been to, ever. It wasn't terrible, I didn't feel like I was going to die, but the flavor combinations were just not there for me. I think my favorite part of the meal was the side salad, which is the exact same as every other sushi restaurant in Denver. We had a few rolls, and most of them were far too sweet, due to the sauces they were swimming in. I missed the savory element of a sushi roll, and wished that they had more options in that regard. Even the rolls that sounded savory on the menu were covered in a sweet sauce. My least favorite rolls were snow white (bleh), and one that I don't remember the name of- but it was covered in a mango sauce that tasted like frozen mango concentrate that wasn't diluted at all. I will not be returning, simply because there are far better places in Denver to snag sushi at a much lower price point. (Sushi Hai).
(2)Sasha S.
Ate dinner at Okinawa for the first time last night. We didnt have to wait for a table, but at 9pm the place was full and had a great energy. Service was fast and friendly and they did a nice job with the remodel. The food was excellent and the presentation was the best I've seen in Denver. We ordered several rolls and sashimi and enjoyed every bite. The table next to us ordered the sushi boat for 2, and the scallop appetizer and though I had absolutely no complaints about our order, I had a little food envy. The sushi boat in only $40, which seemed like a great price. I'll definitely be back for that.
(4)Tess H.
Good place! The cap hill area has been needing a good sushi restaurant and now we have one.. yay! I have yet to eat inside the restaurant, but have ordered take-out a handful of times now and have always been very impressed with the quality of sushi and the reasonable prices. Their special rolls are great, as well as their more simple rolls. Inside the restaurant looks very nice as well, I just haven't had the chance to eat there yet. Definitely recommend this place!
(5)Dana R.
Nice, subtle improvement since my last visit and I feel it's now a 4 and a halfer! The atmosphere was just as nice as it was on the first visit, and again, I'm amazed that we were sitting SO close to the people next to us and still couldn't hear them (maybe we just keep sitting by quiet talkers)...BUT, the food was good. And I mean really good and memorable. Loved the sweet potato roll, the rainbow roll was fresh and flavorful and the seaweed salad was one of the best I've had!
(4)Andrea R.
one of my favorite places to eat sushi, we came here for happy hour and stuffed ourselves with miso soup, sushi and finally mochi ice cream. try the ichiban roll;)
(5)Olivia K.
Being that this place is SUPER close to where I live, the boyfriend and I have made this a regular stop- and I don't even like sushi. I'm typically the only person in the restaurant not eating sushi, but the servers still treat me like a normal person when I order veggie tempura. In fact, they know me and my order as soon as I walk in the door now! I guess it's because I'm not only predictable, but probably the only person who orders this. Oh well. My boyfriend loves the sushi and says it's reasonably priced. Plus, you get free little cheesecake bites at the end of your meal! What could be better than that?!!
(5)Adam K.
So wanted to tempt fate and went here for an early dinner on a Monday (against Bourdain's advice), and sat at the bar to enjoy some fish. The good news was the sushi was very tasty and the quality was good. The bad news is one of the chefs had a totally bad attitude (even to other chef it looked) and totally killed the mood. The other staff were nice though, but if you can't talk to the sushi chef for advice, then that just kills it for me.
(3)Samantha C.
This is not douse your sushi in soy sauce sushi. I ordered the rainbow roll and the salmon sushi. This was my first experience and someone told me it was a super good spot, so I tried it! I'm always a little hesitant with food on colfax, but the roll and salmon sushi was unbelievably fresh, delicous, and beautiful! I will definetely be going back.
(4)Sarah P.
Good food with really neat presentation. They have a lot of specialty rolls, but not the most bang for your buck. Attentive service and nice atmosphere. A solid neighborhood sushi place that I'd go back to.
(4)Lauren M.
Because it's within walking distance, this will definitely be our new sushi place. But, even if it weren't walkable, I'd still make the trip to eat here. The sushi was fresh, the rolls were reasonably priced (not cheap, but not ridiculous either) and everything tasted great. I had a really good chianti and some flavorful sake. Our waitress was attentive and our rolls were made surprisingly quickly for the amount of people in the restaurant. We had the truffle tuna to start and it was delicious. I enjoyed the small cut rolls (philly and spicy tuna) because I find those easy to eat (they tasted great too - chill but not cold, liberal sesame seed sprinkles, quality fish). We also had the snow white roll, which was good. The only reason this isn't a five star review is that I don't think their specialty rolls are particularly creative. The best sushi places I've been to mix interesting ingredients with fresh fish to create scrumptious pieces of art on the plate. The rolls here were very straightforward. Still, if you live in the neighborhood or are looking for a good sushi place when you're in the area, I would definitely give Okinawa a try. (Two random notes: even though this is on Colfax, you can't hear the traffic; also, as some others have mentioned, the seats are super comfortable)
(4)Alex W.
Bento box and sushi were sooooo good. Had lunch here with my bf and it was such a great lunch. HUGE plus: Their music was on an Air mix the whole time. Maguro and Moon Safari? Yes please.
(4)Jess K.
I'm giving them 3 stars for the service (server was the manager), the rest of the staff was great and helpful. Their food is great, except the 3 Musketeer roll we had was pretty boring and lacked flavor but was beautifully presented. What bothered us the most about our server was the fact he was standing at the table next to us for almost the entire duration of our meal socializing with 2 girls. He was loud, unattentive and was using the f-word at a pretty high volume. Just not what I expect from a manager or a server for that fact. Just left a bad taste in our mouths but will most likely be back due to the lack of competition for sushi on colfax.
(3)Tracy L.
My boyfriend and I live close by and thought we would try this place out. I'm always looking for options that are less expensive than Sasa or Sushi Den, and where I can get takeout for lunch. My boyfriend is super picky when it comes to sushi, and we were both impressed by this place! The only reason I gave it 4 stars, is because while good, it just doesn't compare to Sasa. Nothing does. When we sat at the sushi bar they gave us a yummy crab mango salad. I could've eaten 2 of these! We ordered 2 appetizers and a couple of rolls, including a new style sashimi and spicy tuna crispy rice. The spicy tuna crispy rice was good, but not as good as I've had at other places. The new style sashimi and the rolls were great! There were a lot of interesting things on the menu, and I'm excited to go back and try more!
(4)deanne n.
Excellent food, amazing staff, and wonderful atmosphere! 5 stars for best sushi in Denver CO!
(5)Rachel S.
So excited a great sushi place has moved into the CP Hood! The restaurant is pretty small, well appointed and intimate atmosphere. The house bottle are pretty inexpensive ($24 per bottle) and I thought the prices were very reasonable. The rolls were around $11-13 each and DELISH! One of my favorites was the new style with jalapeno. I could not get enough of it. The service was prompt and all the rolls were presented in a unique approach. I will be back. They do have a happy hour, but it is from 2-5pm...thought that was a little strange.
(5)Christopher C.
this place was pretty good, got a bunch of sushi and of course some saki.
(4)Bradley L.
Great Teriyaki Salmon bowl for lunch! Great price, lots of food and good flavor. I have not been for happy hour or dinner and don't think I will, since the lunch prices are good.
(4)Alan W.
We're from AZ and have never had such fresh and cheap sushi. I wish we could come back!
(5)Helen Y.
The shrimp tempura bento is a must try! Batter is very light & food tastes great. The sashimi is yummy too. Oiishii desu ne. (Delicious in Japanese) The sauce that comes with the sashimi is very tasty too. Love this new place & the service is excellent!
(5)Steven B.
This location has been a variety of oriental, mostly sushi, places over the past few years. I'm not sure what the changes are all about but this time they have upped the ante on the sushi! It has been pretty good, but not my favorite, in the past and now it is my first choice for sushi. The decor is the minimal Japanese you'd expect, but the preparation and freshness of the sushi is at the top of the scale. The sushi chefs take a lot of time in arranging the sushi so that it is as good to look at as to eat. For a small place they seem to always have some of the more expensive cuts. They advertise 'Blue Fin' but I haven't bother to check on whether this is the 'good' or 'bad' kind. . .I guess the sushi is so good I don't want to know. Service is excellent and while I've only gone in a few times they seem to recognize me, or at least pretend to do so and that makes me feel good. Probably the only complaint is that the location on East Colfax means sparse parking, but it's worth the effort.
(5)marissa o.
Wonderful sushi, great neighborhood spot!!!
(5)Kate T.
Picked this place with a coworker because it's close to City Park and away from the congestion some of the Uptown eateries get at lunchtime during the week. We're both vegetarian, and this place offered a lot for us to choose from. Our server was so friendly and attentive, and we felt very welcomed. Really loved it. The decor was warm and inviting and we noticed some "regulars" were already there on their 2nd or 3rd visits, even though this place is relatively new. Also, they have very reasonable lunch specials-- not expensive and we both left with containers half-full of left-overs. I had the teriyaki tofu lunch and my coworker had the veggie udon. Really great flavors. We will definitely be back.
(4)Leslianne N.
This review is long overdue. Let me start off saying that we were so excited to have a sushi place so close to us. However, now we will journey the extra time to go somewhere else. We are totally frustrated with this place! The first time we went in was a decent experience. Good food, which made up for the DUMB waiter! He was slow, he mumbled, he pretty much seemed like he has been stoned for the last 5 years. We went back a month later, hoping to get a better server. We did not...we got the same stoned waiter. We sat outside and it took forever for our waiter to come over. He took our order and went to the other table near us. Didn't go inside to place our order, just started chatting with the table (not taking their order). They were discussing if Jesus really existed NO JOKE!!! After about 10 min he went inside to place the order. Our food came out and we started eating. We had ordered a roll with Eel in it among others and it was good. My boyfriend took a bite of this eel roll and immediately started to gag. I thought he was choking, but he wasn't. He ran straight to the bathroom. There was no way I was eating anymore until I know what happened. He came back saying that he threw up and feels like he is going to again. He realized that he had something stuck in his throat. We didn't know what it was, but we thought it was some shell from the shrimp tail or bone. We weren't sure, but we were sure that we were done. Since, our waiter was nowhere to be found another waiter came over to help. We told him the situation, he apologized, and said he would get the manager. Who is the mananger...OUR DUMB@$$ WAITER!!! We tell him what happened he says that he will give us some hot sake on the house to see if it helps. Before we could say no, He's back with the sake. My boyfriend gave it a shot and it did nothing. We just wanted to leave, but our waiter/manager was loudly chatting about Jesus again. We figured that the meal would be comped or significantly discounted since we didn't eat any of the meal except for one piece of sushi. We let the waiter know that we were extremely upset and that we don't think that we should pay full price for something that we are NOT going to eat. My boyfriend was miserable as we waited for the guy to bring us the bill. We get it and he just took off the one roll but charged us full on everything. We ended up spending $40 on two bites of sushi( less than that, BC my boyfriend threw up)! Since my bf was suffering we paid and left so pissed off! We got home and after 20 min of looking in his mouth, we found a white speck way in the back of his throat. We used tweezers to pull it out and it was a good 1/2 inch bone stuck back there. I can honestly say that we will NEVER EVER EVER go back to that place unless that waiter was fired and we were assured that the food would have no bones. Even then it would be hard to say yes. This happened a while back and I still get fired up just thinking about it.
(1)Dan G.
Really affordable sushi on Colfax. The fish was fresh and the sushi chefs seemed really happy to be at work. The service was efficient and friendly. Okinawa is a great value and a needed addition to Colfax.
(4)Thea K.
The food, price, atmosphere and service were great! The wait staff was eager to please and very accommodating and the sushi chef behind the bar was fun to watch! They have some unique flavors and combinations on their menu that set them apart from other Denver sushi locations like Hapa and Mt. Fuji and, prices that are lower than you'd expect for the quality of food and service.
(4)Amy D.
This new sushi joint has made a complete overhaul from it's earlier days as a different sushi restaurant most likely from different owners. It's now a modern, yet cozy atmosphere where even the bathrooms have funky tile and a contemporary sink. Walking in, you definitely get the wow factor (especially if you've experienced the previous look of this building). The servers are welcoming and knowledgeable. The sushi is fresh, and they special attention to detail in the presentation. We had the jalapeno yellow tail as an appetizer followed by a mixture of sashimi along with the Angel, Playboy, and Shrek rolls. It was the perfect mix for four of us. A nice touch at the end is the bite sized cheesecake for each guest. If you're lucky, you'll get to do a Saki shot with the manager Thomas. It's so good that I've visited this restaurant twice in two weeks!
(4)Cassandra S.
My friend and I drove up last night to eat here after having a friend referred me here. We loved it.....very reasonably priced and very clean. Fast service and clean restrooms. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Kay T.
Denver doesn't have that many good sushi places but this place is decent. The sushi is good and fresh in this small restaurant. They need to extend their happy hour times as well because people are still working or traffic just sucks on Colfax. There really isn't much parking either unless there is and I don't know about it...
(4)Kyle G.
Colorado has pretty much no clue how to do sushi ... go here and experience the real thing ... fyi if its overly complicated and covered in sauces ur not eating japanese food - that's like saying panda express is authentic chinese food
(4)Randy H.
Was our first visit to Okinawa. Was pleased by the appearance of the interior, and the selection of music, which was pleasant in volume and type. Our waiter seemed like he was somewhat new, but handled our requests in a timely manner. The sushi was excellent. Great selection of specialty rolls as well. Prices were lower than I had expected too!
(4)Julia G.
The sushi here is pretty good, and fairly priced. However, we have ordered take-out twice and had surprises both times. The first time, we received a roll that we didn't order in place of whatever we did. It was good, so not a huge deal. We tried it again tonight and they left off the avacado on one of the rolls. Since the avacado was one of the clinchers for why I ordered it, I called to let them know and was told they no longer put avacado on that particular roll (the mango roll, if you're curious). That's fine, but they should change the menu then. I'm sure we'll order from here again, and hopefully their take-out will eventually work out the kinks.
(4)Becca P.
We'll definitely be going here again, but that's largely due to the fact that it's within walking distance of our house. Prices are affordable and the vegetarian sushi is excellent. Our favorite was the avocado peanut roll. Seating is a little cramped, but it's a cute space nevertheless.
(4)Brian B.
Greeted and seated right away at sushi bar. Very clean and nice atmosphere. Miso a bit bland but served in nice, heavy bowl with matching spoon. Gyoza are piping hot and the delicate wrap is nicely browned on one side. There is a nice amount of garlic and the pork is sweet and ultra-tender. The shrek roll is an instant favorite with it's soy bean paper jacket holding together a delightful manage of lobster, tuna, white tuna, crunch, avocado, mango, and roe...did you get all of that? The playboy roll, crowned with a perfect, thin jalapeño circle has a sweet, mint (?) note stashed away beneath the yellowtail, spicy, and white tuna. Two very original rolls. The hamachi is fresh and tender. Attentive but not overbearing service, and complimentary frozen cheese cake cubes, one plain, one with a praline topping, completes a very enjoyable first experience. Thank you. We will be back!
(4)Rebekah H.
I like Go Fish, and having lived in San Francisco AND a rural fishing village in Japan, I can be a bit of snob when it comes to my sushi fish. I thought let me try this joint and see if it can delight me, I liked the decor, comfortable chairs, and I thought the service was great. The fish was decent, but the rice was just not sticky enough! Fallin all over the place, I hate that. But it was tasty and beautifully presented, so I would go there again.
(3)Sarah G.
Okinawa is an awesome spot on Colfax! The sweet potato rolls are so good. Try them even if you don't like sweet potatoes. I've tried a number of other rolls there and every one has been excellent. The servers are always really attentive and they have a great lunch special. There aren't many sushi places in that part of town, but Okinawa would probably be the best even if there were others!
(4)Mike Z.
What a great addition to Colfax. Finally a great Sushi place in City Park. The food was great. The service was great. We will definitely frequent this place in the future!
(4)Heidi T.
I moved here from CA last August so I will admit that I have been spoiled with great sushi. This was my first CO sushi experience. I knew going in that it would not be CA quality but this place had good reviews so I thought I would try it for lunch. Definitely not even comparable to CA sushi. I ordered three rolls and only ate 5 total pieces before throwing it out. The smell was suspect and the texture was mush. The least I expect is my fish cold and crisp. Not so much.
(2)Luis S.
I've been going here for 6 months or so; lunch specials are great (3 rolls & soup for $12.95!), nice ambiance, and really good sushi at a good price. The service is great, they recognize me when I come in. Highly recommend it!
(5)Melissa G.
My new favorite sushi joint in Denver! The sushi is absolutely delicious and the presentation is a work of art. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Fantastic! You won't be disappointed with anything you get.
(4)Audra O.
excellent food and excellent service. top notch presentation. okinanwa uses creativity with their menu, combining unique ingredients that blend well together to make flavor combinations that excite the mouth ... my mouth, anyway. loved it!
(5)James T.
We ordered take-out sushi to take to the ball game. The prices were reasonable and the sushi was delicious. It was nicely presented in the plastic take-out container. The staff was very friendly when we picked up the order. I'm excited to eat in and add to this review soon.
(4)Eric T.
very good sushi for a decent price point! the design of the place is contemporary but still has a warm feeling. it doesn't feel uptight but rather hipster. a place to come back to visit when in town in Denver, city by the bay ;)
(4)Portia H.
Very good sushi and great service.
(4)Michelle S.
Happy hour has been extended to 6:00 PM here and the quality of sushi seems to just get better each time. I've become a big fan of this place.
(5)Avery E.
I don't like to sushi here. But I'm very particular. The lunch boxes are excellent. I really like their steak teriyaki because it's actually a steak.
(4)ChronicBuddzz B.
The ninja roll has me karate chopping my roommate in the head. Truly delicious. Also recommend trying the Okinawa roll. Eating sushi on Colfax rules.
(5)Ellie H.
I've been here a few times and have never been disappointed in the food. Giving 4 stars because I am always turned off when a sushi place smells like fish and the entire place smelt SO fishy the last time I was there, it was all my friends and I could talk about. The sushi didn't disappoint me but The smell definitely did. Lol
(4)Kat S.
Clean, tasty, free Dum-Dum's, not horribly over priced, with a good variety. Staff was friendly and efficient. I like efficient. Our server also made amazing and elaborate hand gestures every time he set something on our table. I will definitely go back.
(4)Alisha K.
Okinawa is consistently fresh and delicious, has great service and is one of my favorite sushi restaurants in Denver. Their plating is always elegant- every dish is carefully designed and is presented beautifully. Definitely try the Dragon Roll and the Ninja Roll- both are epic! They also have a great sake menu.
(5)S P.
I live in the neighborhood and have passed by maybe 100 times. Maybe I thought I was above a sushi place on Colfax, but THIS PLACE HAS VERY GOOD FISH. We sat at the sushi bar in part so I could critique the fish, chefs, operation... While one chef was solid, the other guy was EXCELLENT! The oversized fish was fresh, tasty, and high quality all around. In order from best (for what I tried)- Salmon, yellowtail, tuna, eel, yet all were good. The handroll was not great- too bad. The seaweed salad was fresh and plentiful. I would return.
(4)Killian G.
DO NOT EAT HERE! THERE ARE ROACHES IN AND AROUND THE SUSHI!!!!!!!!!! Two years ago, after finally giving birth and being able to eat sushi, so we decided to celebrate and come here. My wife, being the type of person that orders Volcano drinks, Pu Pu platters, and other extravagant attention-grabbing menu novelties, decided she would like to get the sushi boat. When our boat was cast from the sushi counter and docked at our table, dozens of stowaway cockroaches exited the vessel and scrambled all over our table. We got up and walked out. We haven't been back since, and we never will.
(1)Samuel Antonio S.
4 stars for the food, 4 stars for the service, and 2 stars for the ambiance. The food was perfectly prepared as you can see in the picture I posted. The fish was fresh and consistent. The happy hour deals are pretty good, but are much better at other places like Hapa or Blue Sushi. The staff were funny and accomodating. It was certainly slow being a Saturday afternoon and we had no less than 4 people serve us. While this may sound nice, it felt disjointed and not cohesive. 2 stars for ambiance because of how hot it was in there. Granted it was a hot day, but it was quite warm and uncomfortable in there. We mentioned this concern to a server who made a slight attempt at an explanation and did nothing afterward. Whats worse is our first round of Soporros were not quite cold. Everyone knows this is the worst for light beers. The second round was fine. I would go back if hungry and nearby but would opt for other choices.
(3)Annie C.
I believe this is one of the few Japanese restaurants in the area that is open through that awkward 2pm to 5pm timeframe, so one gold star for Okinawa! Let me just start by saying the service here is awesome. I walked in with a few good friends on a Saturday afternoon and the gentleman serving us was extremely friendly, courteous, and prompt! (He also gave us a slice of chocolate cake on the house!) The lunch specials are all pretty inexpensive (~$8), considering how much variety you get! I got the Salmon Teriyaki lunch box, which was completed with a California roll, miso soup (served at a perfect temperature), green salad (with yummy ginger dressing), and rice. In short, everything was well prepared and quite palatable. Moral of the story: If you're feeling hungry for some Japanese food between 2pm and 5pm, swing by and have a good time.
(5)J K.
I like this place. The sushi is solid, the staff is attentive and polite, the location is great, and I always leave happy. Not the best sushi place in town, but for the price and the location, pretty pleasing.
(4)Nat S.
Went for a friends birthday. Service was friendly. Rolls were good, not mind blowing in any way. I have not had mind blowing good sushi in Denver- as of yet. The presentation of the rolls is what makes this a little fancier. We had about ten rolls for our table. They were adequate. The spicy rolls had no crunch and had an unusually tangy taste. Is there cream cheese in the spicy sauce?Food was a three, service was a four or five.
(4)lauren k.
Great reliable sushi in denver. Service is sometimes a bit lacking with speed of clearing empty/dirty plates but overall a great experience. Very fresh, creative rolls and awesome japanese dishes too. Awesome happy hour!
(4)Kelly F.
Awesome lunch special! Ordered 3 rolls which came with miso soup or salad for $13. Totally affordable and delicious. I wasn't able to eat it all though :)
(4)Paula K.
I thought I would venture out today and try another sushi place in the hood even though our favorite is just a couple of blocks from home. The yelp ratings guided me to Okinawa. Highs- I have to give them big points for their calamari. I have just about given up trying to find calamari at a sushi restaurant that isn't just bland tempura coated squid. Okinawa impressed me. The service was decent. The restaurant was quiet and nicely decorated Lows- The green mussels were way too mayonnaisy for me. I love green mussels in spicy mayo but there has to be more flavor going on than just mayo. These were bogged in mayo with very little flavor of anything else. I ordered a cucumber roll for my daughter and a shrimp tempura roll for myself. I'm not a fan of seaweed on the outside of the roll. I realize it's just a preference but it's a strong preference of mine that it's not as it overpowers the other flavors and a little harder to eat neatly for those larger two-bite rolls. I didn't even know this was a low until I just read some of the other yelp reviews. But the only lunch special I was offered was a two roll lunch ($9) and a three roll lunch ($12). Both good deals but what are theses other lunch specials that yelpers speak of?? Disclaimer. I did not try the sushi. I wish I would have so I could give a more well-rounded review. But based on what I did have it was okay. I wish I could give another 1/2 star for the calamari which was way more than just okay. But I have to base it on the other 75% of what i ate. And maybe it's not them but me. But I didn't get anything to make me wish that I hadn't just gone to my usual stand-by.
(3)Colleen E.
Never disappoints - fun, non-pretentious ambience, great quality for the price.
(4)Shannon S.
Really great place. Just moved to Denver and tried this place because it's in my neighborhood. I'm so impressed with the service and quality of the sushi. We will definitely be regulars.
(4)Joshua S.
This is definitely in the top 3 sushi restaurants in the Denver area. I have been here several times in the last year and have yet to be disappointed. I usually get nigiri sushi and maybe one roll. The fish is of outstanding quality- they have the best mackerel that I have had on the mainland. Urchin is regularly available- something that I have found a lot of other restaurants don't sell enough of to bother keeping in stock. The salmon skin roll is also the best by far I've had in Denver. Service is very personable and friendly.
(4)Rebecca F.
Where do I get started with Okinawa? This is my favorite neighborhood sushi spot, ever! I love their lunch and happy hour specials. The sushi lunch box specials are delicious and they have plenty of options. The servers are always friendly and make sure to accommodate you as best they can. I've tried a variety of sushi and sashimi dishes and can't complain about a single one! I love the dressing they use on their salads, it's to die for.They carry some of my favorite beers as well as delicious sake. If you're in the area, I'd definitely give into your sushi craving and try them!
(4)Rebecca a.
Well this place went down fast in my books. I have to say that for a good six months we would come here, BUT we would NEVER order any alcohol, why you ask? Oh well because they serve hot beers and cold saki. This place has no idea what a refrigerator is, seriously, who the heck wants a "buy one hot beer, get another hot beer free"? No one. that is who. No one. So we would overlook this terrible attribute and instead enjoy the delicious sushi and quick walk from our apartment with water... well that was until... I found a wasp in my food. I actually almost ate it. This sickened me much more than I expected... but... I am allergic. What was worse was the wasp wasn't entirely dead. He was hiding under my salad. And I almost ate him and I am sure that if I had put him in my mouth that he would've used his left breath on stinging me and then I would've had to go to the hospital. What made this experience even more troubling was the restaurant didn't care. They actually said this was normal... what? Having wasps in my salad does not surprise you? This isn't the first time? This can happen again? wh.. what? So we haven't been back and we wont ever be back. It truly is disappointing because they are so close to us, but we will find another place to go. Having to rush to the hospital to make sure I don't die because a wasp stings me in my mouth... throat... stomach... whatever is not a night I ever attend to have. So if you like live wasps in your sushi or salads, then you should for sure come here, it seems to be a delicacy over there.
(1)Elizabeth S.
We love the vibe here--it's always a little busy and a little noisy...not at all serious or dull as many sushi restaurants can be. The volcano roll is super tasty. Grab a window seat and enjoy good sushi, well priced beers and a fun view of Colfax.
(4)Dennis B.
After seeing the positive ratings for this place, I was a bit disappointed by my experience here. The Tempura asparagus roll was tasty, the fish in the other rolls was decent quality, but the eel roll was sort of a joke. Granted, we did go at 10p and they close at 11p, so maybe the chefs and servers were tired and ready to go home....but I'm still paying full price just like any other customer who came earlier in the night, so the late hour is not really an excuse in my opinion. It's not like we walked in 10 minutes before closing. Half the eel roll pretty much just seemed to have eel skin in it with the tiniest shred or two of actual eel meat.....without the sauce on top, I suspect some of the pieces would have just tasted more like a cucumber/rice roll instead of eel. Disappointing. Making the server who brought the check aware of this (in a polite way and after even complimenting on some of the other food), resulted in a sort of lackluster "OK, I'll tell the chef" response. Bottom line is, it wasn't terrible, but I'd prefer to spend my money somewhere else next time.
(2)Kristine B.
Okinawa is solid sushi; I had very basic rolls when I stopped in here (Salmon and Tuna/Eel) and everything tasted very crisp and fresh, but I think some of the people here forget Sushi Den exists, which is absolutely the best sushi in Denver. That being said, this place is open any time of the day for some solid fish, which definitely gives it a star up on most average sushi joints, and they have some rather inventive special rolls, as well as a very attentive staff and attractive, modern interior. I wouldn't say it was the best sushi I ever had, but it's solid and worth a visit.
(4)Karen H.
I came to Denver for business and tired out three of the top Yelp rated sushi places. Okinawa was hands down my favorite. All the places had comparable prices for their basic and specialty rolls. We ate here twice while visiting, once for lunch and once for dinner. At lunch the place wasn't too busy and the staff were very attentive. I ordered one of their three roll specials. The amount of fish in each was meager, but the price is pretty good for me. Two of my co-workers got the lunch boxes, and the meals were huge! If you come here for lunch, definitely consider getting a box if you are hungry! For round two, I ordered two specialty rolls (Salmon Mango Roll and Rainbow Roll). Given that the price of these rolls were comparable to the other sushi places I went, I expect to get just a little fish on these rolls. I was so excited when I got my sushi. They did NOT skimp. I hands-down love the Salmon Mango Roll. There is just so much salmon and the mango balances well with it. If you are going for a specialty roll, go for this one! I took a picture of my platter but it doesn't give it justice because it looks like a normal sized plate, I should have put something next to it for scale. It was a VERY big plate with good portions of fish. About the atmosphere, it is not the swankiest of places, but it is still a very nice atmosphere. All of the servers were really pleasant and jovial, if not jocular at times. If you are coming on a weekend night, consider making reservations if possible. Sitting at the sushi bar can be very entertaining; the sushi chefs are very creative in their presentation of the rolls. If you do sit at the bar, avoid sitting near the door on cold days, as there can be a draft. Summary: If I ever go back to Denver, I will definitely be eating here again because: More fish for money compared to other local places The fish is fresh tasting and the rolls are creative in a palatable way The overall ambiance is pleasant without being over the top Here for lunch?: Try a Lunch box meal Here for dinner?: Go for the Salmon Mango Roll!!!
(4)Conrad S.
I love Okinawa, the service is outstanding and the sushi is fresh and creative. I will be back, I have been back, and it never dissapoints.
(5)Luciana B.
I'm Brazilian and me and my family were craving for some good sushi in Denver! This one did not disappoint! It was awesome, the dishes were well served! I ordered sushi tacos that were INCREDIBLE!!!! Don't miss the chance to taste that! And then me and my brother split the sushi lovers or something similar... It was enough for the both of us! Great place, great sushi, great service... 5 stars!
(5)Brittany T.
Probably the best sushi in town. Period. Priced normally I suppose, but not too expensive. Great atmosphere here and at the Tennyson location its slightly more cozy. Sometimes have coupon months where you get 20% of your bill in a gift card for next time and buy one get one on drinks. Good HH but it changes I think
(5)Kam D.
My favorite of the 2nd tier of sushi places in Denver. It's not on the same level as Sushi Den or Sasa but it's still better than most of the other places. I've always been satisfied when ordering from here which is pretty often. Also, their happy hour is pretty solid with buy one get one drinks and discounted rolls.
(4)Steph G.
I am a sushi addict. There, I've acknowledged it. This was my 2nd sushi dinner in 4 days. Can we move on now? Okinawa really helped kill the craving. Yes, I get very intense sushi cravings. So intense that it's all I can think about if my stomach grumbles a little. I know, I have a problem! Service is friendly and efficient. It's a busy spot, but we were given great service despite the restaurant being nearly full. We ordered some rolls- golden roll and volcano roll. Also got some spicy tuna, yellowtail/scallion and spicy scallop crunch. The verdict? All DELICIOUS. Fresh, nicely made, and well presented. Can I ramble for a sec about how good the volcano roll was? It wasn't what I expected but it sure was tasty! It came with a spicy/sweet soy teriyaki-type sauce combo- usually not a saucy sushi fan but this was was yum. The jalapeño in it gave it some more kick. I do like my spice. :) I think it's worth mentioning that they do a sushi for 2 on the menu for $39 which I would have loved to try- 16 pcs of sushi plus 2 specialty rolls sounds like a great deal! My bf didn't like the plain fish on rice idea...he's not a sushi purist like me. I will get to it one of these days! Love Okinawa and I've been here a couple times now. It does not disappoint.
(4)Gabriel P.
Probably the best sushi I've ever had east of California. The fish was surprisingly fresh and very tasty, and the rolls are creative and well constructed with excellent presentation. Service was pretty good, ambiance is ok. Lots of interesting options on the menu but I have to give a shoutout for the cucunber-wrapped low carb rolls in particular.
(5)Raeanne J.
I was super excited to order from this place because they offer brown rice. So I decided to deviate from my normal place I order from. Myself and 3 co-workers checked out the menu online and were super stoked that the Sushi Lunch Combo (2 rolls and soup or salad) was only $8.50! We placed an order over the phone and picked it up. It wasn't until we got back to the office that we realized we were over charged for the sushi. They had charged $10 per person instead of $8.50. I called and spoke with a woman and she said the website price is wrong and they need to update it, they changed the pricing about 6 months ago. She also added verbatim, "If you don't believe us you can come in and look at our menu here and it says $10". I wouldn't have been as annoyed with the price difference if it were't for her last comment. It's definitely not geared towards customer service... Anyway the sushi here is not as good from where I am used to ordering from, so I will not be returning.
(2)Craig C.
This is my third time I have been to Okinawa. The fish is extremely well prepared and very fresh. The rolls are equally as good. There is nice selection of specialty rolls. Always a great meal.
(4)Hunter W.
One of our favorite sushi spots in Denver. Great happy hour, mildly inconsistent service, but delicious sushi. Perfect atmosphere to sit and relax while enjoying a variety of hand-made rolls. Check this place out.
(4)Natalie Q.
Possibly the best sushi in Denver. It's hard to find good sushi after traveling to Japan and San Fran, especially in Denver. This place has always wowed me with their selection and quality. The flavors are amazing and they always make the food look amazing.
(5)Kara A.
I'm very hesitant about eating fish in a landlocked state. Maybe it's because I've had a few bad experiences since we arrived here, but I decided to trust my fellow Yelpers on this one. Plus, our good friends really wanted sushi. We arrived here around 6:30 on a Saturday night. The place was busy and we had a short wait. There was one table in particular that was especially troubling for the hostess. They were reserving a table for a large party, but could not tell the hostess how large their party would be and appear to have been taking up space in several pushed together tables for more than a reasonable amount of time. The hostess, very frustrated, eventually came up to us and muttered some less than friendly things. While, admittedly, this was unprofessional, after witnessing the exchange between him and this party, we were understanding. Nevertheless, it was an interesting way to start off our evening. After about 10 minutes, we were seated and our friends arrived. We ordered sushi using the typical method (indicate how many of each roll on a piece of paper). Service was friendly and quick. Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised with the sushi. My one complaint is that the fish in my spicy roll seemed... mashed. It was an unpleasant texture and we didn't finish that particular roll as a result. I was told by my friend, however, that this is a method that seems to be specific to Colorado, which is interesting and will certainly make me think twice before ordering spicy rolls in the future. The atmosphere is nice. It doesn't feel cheap, like some sushi spots, and it also isn't overly formal. It's a good spot to grab some good sushi with friends on the weekend. We'll definitely return! We just won't order a spicy roll.
(4)Kate R.
I have had really good sushi here. The prices are great for lunches and happy hour. But on Thursday the service was so slow it was ridiculous AND when I checked my bank account, Okinawa had kindly added themselves a dollar on to the tip amount I already left! For the service I got that night, my tip amount was already too much. Not impressed.
(2)Shelley P.
The best sushi that I've ever had was in San Fran, so it's really hard to give any place a five-star review after that. I mean, c'mon, how many inland places are going to have that advantage? That said, this place is pretty dang delicious. My husband and I went there on an impromptu date night at the behest of a friend of his. We asked him his favorite place in the neighborhood (he owns a tattoo shop up the street, and knows the area well) and he gave us the name of this place. We got the California roll, the spicy tuna roll, and the Titanic roll. I liked the spicy tuna and Titanic rolls the best, but it was all fresh and delicious. The atmosphere is perfect for a date night, not too loud and cozy for such a cold night.
(4)Normon K.
Terrible. Luke warm beer, "sushi" all tasted like mayonese. Worst sushi I've tried in Denver. You're better off going anywhere else
(1)Noah P.
Okinawa is fantastic. I am no sushi connoisseur, but I do eat sushi about 4 days a week/ make my own sushi when I don't have the time to go out. Okinawa is my go to when I need my sushi fix for sure. There's no gimmicks when it comes to ordering a straight up piece of fish. The service at this place will make you feel at home ( Servers are obviously working their shifts, but they care about your well being.). The servers are the nicest people. They remember my face/ family, and make it a point to make sure I enjoy my meal 100%. Every order of fish is just as fresh as if I were to get a piece from my man Gus at Seafood Landing up in the highlands. If you are someone who enjoys fish, and not just a gimmicky tasting roll, check out Okinawa for sure. The guys behind the sushi bar are very pleasant, and will help you find out what your pallet craves. I come from the coast, and I really hate Denver's reputation of sushi to be a fancy imitation crab roll wrapped with a "special" sauce to be our sushi image. Thanks Okinawa for being awesome! I'll see you tomorrow for some Uni before my shift. I'm the Uni guy '
(5)Esther C.
I had been here many years ago for dinner, but don't remember my experience, which means it must have been mediocre. We came in today for lunch as the taco place next door had a 45 minute wait and also was notorious for being really loud and obnoxious, so we opted to go here as it seemed less busy and quiet. The food was fine, but the price point was awesome! We received a lot of food for what we paid for, and the service was outstanding (hence the 4 stars)! Even though the food didn't knock my socks off, it was good (quality of the fish was quite fresh). The bathrooms were also immaculate! I would definitely come back again.
(4)H B.
Service with a smile and sushi too! The outside patio was great to frequent in warmer weather. Server was knowledgeable on fish options and quick. She also knew her sake and helped us to choose the right bottle. I've heard that Okinawa is the best sushi in Denver and I'd have to agree that it's right up there. Parking is available but only a hand full of spots so street parking is your next best option. This is in a very busy part of town that doesn't have much available street parking. Although we learned later that there is a pay parking lot kiddy corner to the restaurant.
(4)Marisa M.
Most important bit to know about Okinawa- they offer a sensationally savory lychee sake. Not served the traditional way with the cute little Japanese shot glass things- instead they were served in wine glasses but that is just me being nit-picky. Our server was fantastic- friendly and chatty and chalk-full of good suggestions on what to order (what kind of a weird compound noun is that? "Chalk-full"?). Anyhow, the sushi was great, but nothing that would make me rant and rave and write a few odes and soliloquies in its honor. The Spicy Girl roll was great, it was one of the specialties so a bit expensive. The salmon roll and the sweet potato tempura roll were tasty and cheap. ALSO, for anyone who has read my previous reviews, you know I am a HUGE brown rice lover, and my inner health-nut instantly did a back flip of excitement when I saw that Okinawa had this option. A side note- only my inner health-nut can do back flips. I'm not sure how to rate the price range here- the specialty rolls were $10 and over, and the generic rolls, from which there were MANY to choose, were all below $10. So... yeah.
(4)Elizabeth A.
When it comes to Sushi, there are two main types of sushi joints. The special occasion places where you go knowing you're going to drop some coin (yea, I said that), and your neighborhood restaurants that you can actually end up frequenting. Okinawa is definitely no Sushi Den or Sushi Sasa, but as for neighborhood joints, this is definitely at the high quality end. Standard neighborhood sushi prices, but the quality here is much better than most. It can be a gamble at some sushi places, but the quality of the sashimi and sushi here is much better than most. We ate here again over the weekend and were in time for happy hour. Happy hour here is a great way to get some food in your belly before a night out drinking, while getting well on your way with their BOGO sake and beer. We started with Edamame and the Yellowtail Jalapeno appetizer which was fresh, delicious, and not overly spicy. Then we had the Golden Roll which was tasty while different than more traditional rolls, as it had mango and cilantro. We also shared the Chirashi, which is my go to (rather than Sashimi plates) at sushi restaurants. Typically, Chirashi comes over a bed of sushi rice which has pickled vegetables mixed in. The presentation was a bit different here, as there was a bed of rice, but it was on a place and overall it looked more like a Sashimi plate. I digress...the Chirashi was excellent for a neighborhood place. When you get the same number of pieces as the Sashimi plate, yet Chirashi is cheaper and comes with pickled veg, why wouldn't you opt for this over the Sashimi? Overall, another great meal at Okinawa. Not 5 star because, well, it's not Sushi Den, Sushi Sasa, or Sushi Tora, but Okinawa is definitely one of the best neighborhood sushi joints around and they have a great happy hour which is great for throwing back a few.
(4)Clint C.
I've been pretty lazy writing these lately but this place deserved a write up. This place is legit and fresh as you're gonna get if you're a true sushi fan.
(5)Jacque R.
Okinawa is really the only sushi restaurant that we go to. It's our first choice always when we want sushi. It's consistent with its fresh fish, never too "fishy" and is always delicious and beautiful presentation. We keep it simple and get sushi and sashimi and an occasional roll, but bc everything is so fresh, we keep it simple! The owner Thomas always takes time to talk and drink sake with us to show his appreciation for our business. The wait staff is collaborative and helps out all tables. Service is great too. We love coming here!
(5)Lauren H.
I moved away from Denver and every time i go back i go here! Golden Roll... enough said... just get it!!
(5)Tricia K.
Came here with co-workers for lunch and yum! Lunch specials include three rolls for $12 or a bento box for $8. Decent food for a good price. Stars go down for me though because our food was so slow coming out. Something important to think about for a work lunch. And when food finally did come, the last person out of four in our group, did not receive their food for ~20mins. To the point where the others had to stop eating or they would have finished before the last person got their dish. When it finally came out, the server kept blaming the kitchen saying it's not her fault... So, overall I am just not sure about this place.
(3)Kristina V.
Loved this place! The sushi rolls were excellent and the service was even better. Coming from Chicago, this sushi ranks higher than any of the 10 sushi places I tried in Chicago, even those rated 3.5 stars and above. I will be back to this place for the Golden roll and Ninja roll.
(4)Mariela B.
Yum! Yum! Yum! I've eaten here a few times and have always had attentive and friendly service. The price is right (actually great during happy hour) and the sushi is DELICIOUS! I tried a different place recently and it was all hype. Had mediocre service and sushi there for twice the price. I'll be defaulting to Okinawa from now on!
(5)Brian S.
A very special hidden gem on Colfax. Genuinely good fish and rolls, and the prices are right in line with where they should be. Having lived a block off Colfax back when there were no restaurants or nice places to hang out, I have a prejudice against anything on Colfax, but as I try more places, like Okinawa, I find myself being very pleasantly surprised. This place is clean, contemporary and has an intimate feel to it, almost like a date-night place, but it still has a group hang out feel as well. Our waiter was friendly and fast, knowing we had a show to get to. The fish and rolls were very good. The eel was awesome, and the Titanic roll was incredible. The Rainbow roll was also very good. Definitely recommended - give this place a shot!
(4)Google U.
I consider myself a bit of a sushi snob. Their blue fin tuna and green muscles are some of the best ive ever had. Great service stays open late. Owner is hilarious.
(5)Jesse N.
I loved the food, interesting menu and the fish was very fresh. We had the sushi "sandwich" and it was awesome! Love that they are creative with the menu and not afraid to make something different. The staff was friendly and attentive. Get there early, gets crowded on the weekends, but worth the wait.
(4)Sy S.
Nice location. Overall, the food and service was great. If you're looking for a nice little sushi spot, you found it. The addition of the free warm saki was a bonus.. Enjoy!
(4)Kindra W.
This is a great restaurant. The ambiance is perfect for a couple or a small group. The service is always friendly and the food is as fresh as it gets. My husband and I frequent this local sushi spot for its consistency in quality. It is worth the wait on a popular Friday or Saturday evening.
(4)Amy Z.
Wow! The experience was amazing. They were mindful of presentation, taste, and service. Absolutely will return in the future.
(5)Steph B.
Firstly, the sushi was outrageously good, superb sushi that I wish I could eat again and make it 2 nights in a row. That good. However, the service was inadequate. They only received 4 stars and not less because the food was excellent, albeit a long wait to get the food. I made a reservation for Friday night. When we got to the restaurant, the host did not look at a reservation list or anything and seemed unorganized and unable to seat us. After about 15 minutes we were seated, and then waited a long time before even being acknowledged by anyone. We ordered drinks that took a while to get to us, and shortly after ordering said drinks (2 bottles of saki - one cold, on hot) we ordered our dinner and then wait about 30 mins for our food - just sushi. My friend had also order a miso soup that never made it to him. Overall, the service was not good - really slow and never very concerned with our experience. I didn't feel like a well-treated guest. With that said, the food was spectacular. Really fresh, interesting and delicious sushi. We got some sashimi and also special hand rolls. The Spicy Tuna Naruto roll (a "low carb roll" wrapped in cucumber) was excellent. Also got the Spicy Girl Roll and Golden Roll as well as yellowtail (sashimi), albacore tuna (sashimi) and spicy scallop (sushi). Delicious.
(4)Kate C.
Okinawa is as good as it gets. Been my go-to sushi joint for years, since they opened. Service is phenomenal, food is fantastic and there is very rarely too long of a wait. It's pleasantly busy on a Friday/Saturday night, but the service does not suffer. Recommend the tuna appetizer, it's a definite fave.
(5)Likheng N.
Solid sushi for a reasonable price. We ordered the sushi and sashimi boat for two and were surprised by how filling it was. The lychee sake is a must! There was no wait for a table for two on Thursday night and service was excellent.
(4)Cari B.
Great service, great prices, great food. The wait staff can be charming, they are very respectful of my food allergies and I have never had a bad experience.
(4)Winnie P.
Great lunch buys 2 rolls (limited menu) $9 or 3 rolls = $12 both with miso or salad. the rolls are not your big fancy one but you will be full. Box lunch deals too. Very colorful but the bar chiefs are not chatty or smiley. Nothing I've had is bad and I've tried a lot on this this menu. They've been here for years but as Sushi Heights. Real green tea. Parking is in the back so don't try to find a meter. Service is speedy and take out is a breeze.
(4)Thomas N.
The worst Japanese dining experience I have had in Denver, without question. After ordering a selection of both appetizers and sushi, nothing stood out. The "tempura" items were served at room temperature and the batter had the consistency of the thickest beer battered fish. The rolled items from the sushi menu fell apart with the slightest touch and tasted less than fresh. Overall, Okinawa is expensive and offers low quality Japanese food with service to match.
(2)Richard R.
Solid sushi for a joint on Colfax. I was a bit confused because the door isn't on the corner of Colfax and York as I imagined. Rather, it's a few paces east of the corner so don't pull a Richard and yank on the wrong door before reading the sign. Great atmosphere with high ceilings, an open dining area and of course the option for sitting at the bar. The fact that Dolly Parton was playing as we walked in was fun! We arrived late on a Tuesday evening and were promptly seated, drink orders taken and the sushi decisions commenced. Overall I would give 4 stars for the food. The presentation of each roll was done well and it was made quickly. The unagi was good, not great and the same goes for the shrimp tempura. This place isn't trying to be anything fancy so I would for sure say it's A-OK. Had to detract stars for the slooooow service at the end of our meal. I understand we were one of the last tables close to closing time. But when our plates have been cleared and our wine glasses emptied that might be a cue to bring the bill over instead of just letting folks sit around. We would have been gone much quicker if we didn't have to flag down a server to get the bill and then 10-15 minutes later do it again to have her run the card. All in all this is a good place to fulfill your sushi fix. It's got a good location if you can find parking around The Fax. Good food, decent wine, a bit of help needed on the service but a nice dining experience none the less. It's a good thing I liked my date cuz that awkward wait for the bill would have been worse if he was lame...
(3)Shannon C.
My best friend and I ventured here since it's near her new place. We decided to order a few rolls to share and a bottle of wine. The price was right on the bottle of wine, but it wasn't anything spectacular. All of the rolls we got, especially the spicy tuna and the rainbow roll, were fresh and delicious. We stuck to the regular rolls, as the "special" ones were quite pricey. Hopefully I can venture back here during happy hour to try out some more of their sushi.
(4)Shea S.
After reading numerous positive reviews and hearing that they might be related to Go Fish (one of my fav sushi spots in town), I thought this might be a good place for a nice but reasonable sushi dinner. I was correct in that assumption. Okinawa might be my new favorite sushi spot in Denver. They have a large assortment of rolls to choose from, including some fantastic vegetarian rolls. Note, I'm a card carrying carnivore, but these veggie rolls are great! The avocado peanut was unique and delicious (I liked the crunch of the peanuts with the avocado), while the sweet potato roll is essentially tempura fried sweet potato fries cut and put into a roll (also delicious). They also have a tempura fried asparagus roll that I assume is like Go Fish's, which is perhaps my favorite roll there. We also tried the lobster roll (not to be confused with the Maine version) and spicy Yellowtail tuna roll - both fresh and tasty too. Clean and modern with excellent friendly service, Okinawa has an extensive list of fresh and delicious sushi at a very reasonable price. I was stunned at how affordable everything was and how much you get for your buck. And I wasn't even there during happy hour, where many of the same great rolls are even cheaper. Parking is atrocious in this area, but it's worth it, whether on a date or for happy hour.
(4)Ynhi P.
Hate the limited meter parkings. Other than that, the place is great. Decors were simple and contemporary which I love. Got a romantic feel to it, so maybe better for a couple date night rather than a group catch up type of thing?!?!! The server was fast, prompt, and friendly. We were seated and offered drinks right away. We had the baked bay scallop which is pretty much dynamite sauce on top of scallops. Presentation were beautiful. Tastes wonderful. Sashimi deluxe we had was good, nothing more special than other sushi restaurants except for the presentation. The roll we had, which I cant recall on the nam at the moment, was less than good - tasted bland, supposedly there were spicy tuna ontop of the roll, but we werent able to even taste any of the spicy kick from it. We ordered chicken udon after our sushi fix and it came out stir fried. I was disappointed because i was expecting an udon soup not stir fried, but we thought we would give it a try since it smelled so good and it was pretty darn good.
(3)Chad R.
Came in for a to go dinner. Placed my order, and waited, and waited, and waited. Admired the skilled craftsmanship behind the sushi bar. Eventually left with a partial order yet charged full price (silly me for not checking the order when I got to the car after it took as long as it did). Might go back but certainly for dine in and not take out.
(2)Jessika M.
Shrek Roll is a must get!!! Also the perfect intro for sushi newbies. Edamame were the norm, service fine. Not disappointed and certainly left satisfied. Parking can be an issue on certain nights but if you've been anywhere on Colfax on a Fri/Sat you know what you're in for.
(4)Jane D.
The service, food and atmosphere at Okinawa is always top notch! The attention to detail is consistently present and you can't beat the price. This has always been one of my favorite places in Denver for Sushi. The Seaweed salad, Sashimi, edamame and miso are hands down my favorite! But if you ask Thomas, (one of the owners who's ALWAYS there), to make you something special, he will not disappoint.
(5)Lindsey B.
We stopped in at Okinawa on Colfax for Linner one Saturday - and were pleasantly surprised by the happy hour menu (2:30 - 5:30 daily) - not just weekdays. The happy hour includes 2 for 1 sake, beer, wine and discounts on certain apps, sushi rolls and featured rolls. (Warning - I skew vegetarian in my sushi choices.) Of the four rolls we ordered, the Fried Sweet Potato roll was the absolute best, and from what I can tell the general public feels the same way. So for veggies and carnivores alike - give it a try! The Volcano Roll was also excellent - so many flavors, and perfectly spicy jalapeños. Our server had the perfect level of attentiveness - no empty drinks, but also didn't hover. Food was fast, as were the drinks. Definitely a neighborhood go to. livelaughdenver.com
(4)Mary W.
Volcano roll for the win!!
(5)Stephanie S.
Came here a while ago to celebrate a friend's belated birthday. I ordered the rolls (Angel roll and Snow White roll) and when she saw my selections, she was not impressed. However, when they arrived, they did NOT last long! We even ordered a second Snow White. I think the Snow White roll is my fave roll in Denver. The service is great and the prices are competitive. Since it's right up the street from my place, I'm afraid I'll be hanging out here more and more! Sushi anyone?
(5)Max C.
Pretty fancy sushi place with good selection and amazing arrangements. Definitely priced for it though. I also like that the rolls don't have an exorbitant amount of rice like some other places! Would come back here if we had company and wanted to take them to a fancy sushi place.
(4)Gail O.
After living on the west coast and being spoiled in SF and Seattle on the freshest fish, I finally found a place that comes close to them in Denver. Okinawa is delish! I can't speak for their speciality rolls, as I always get the Nigiri or Sashimi, but they have the best selection of interesting fresh fish around. Granted you can go elsewhere and pay a lot more for more exotic choices, but fresh Uni, Horse Mackerel, Toro and live sea scallop are just some of the yummy treats they get in regularly. I also had Japanese oysters for the first time after consuming my weight in Puget Sound and Pacific Coast oysters. They were surprisingly fresh and delicate! Happy hour is a must as it is 2 for 1 wine and sake. This isn't boring Robert Mondavi coastal junk either. The wine list is brief but well compiled.I enjoy the Albarino and the Chenin Blanc.
(5)Gretchen G.
Sushi on Colfax? Yeah that sounds crazy but its so yummy. The ambiance is done well so you forget your on Colfax. I highly recommend the Lover roll which consists of avocado, spicy tuna and yellow tail wrapped inside a slice of tuna which they shape into hearts.
(4)Carly B.
We've been here twice and have gotten take-out a handful of times. If you're sick of waiting for your table at Pinche then head over to Okinawa. Even though they're busy too, they'll probably have a table for you. This (I believe) is owned by the same folks behind Go Fish so if you like that place, you'll probably like this place too. I like their numerous veggie rolls and more creative sushi rolls incorporating fruit. One of my surprising favorites is the avocado and peanut roll (presented just as it sounds, with avocado and peanuts). The peanuts lend a great texture. I also really enjoy their avocado salad. The base is a bed of greens mixed with a sweet soy ginger dressing and is topped with thinly sliced avocados, little puffed rice balls (like the kind that are in KIND bars) and served with wasabi vinaigrette for drizzling. This salad is one of the instances where I'm glad I'm a bit more nimble with chopsticks than the husband (more for me). It's also not terribly priced (not unlike Go Fish). In the last case, about $55 (pre-tip) got us vegetable tempura, avocado salad, inari, three veggie rolls, a fancier specialty mango roll and a small bottle of dry sake to share.
(4)Annette M.
Japon closed :( so came here for first time after reading the great yelp reviews, Early lunch surprisingly gets full of high schoolers. Service was excellent but we were really unimpressed with the sushi. Very little rice on the rolls and little fish. We tried several new rolls recommended by our server .... Spider-Man and Shrek roll were heavy on mayo? and oddly tasted like a sandwich. Blah, Those were left on the plate. I did enjoy the hot tea, salmon skin roll and the seaweed salad but unfortunately we will not be back.
(2)Jen W.
Had not been here in quite some time and was pleasantly surprised as I think the food has improved. The place was pretty empty as there was a Broncos game on and we were served quickly. We were on our way to a movie so it was a 30 minute bite of very fresh and flavorful sashimi. Glad I gave them another shot. Our waiter was hilarious and made it an entertaining visit. Parking is always hit and miss on Colfax.....
(4)Emily T.
Have you ever tried mochi ice cream? I hadn't even heard of it until I visited Okinawa and now my cravings for it will never let me forget. Do yourself a favor and order it for your dessert. You're welcome in advance. But, you probably care less about green tea ice cream wrapped in a pounded Japanese rice cake and more about the sushi. So, about that sushi, it's fresh and presented nicely. I personally prefer ordering rolls over sashimi and fortunately for me, they have an extensive menu, which includes several veggie-roll options. Our table enjoyed ordering several rolls (each under $10) and divvying up the pieces, so that we could try a bit of everything - favorites being the spicy yellowtail and spider roll. Worth noting for those of you avoiding carbs, Okinawa offers low-carb sushi rolls, where cucumber is subbed in for rice, which I haven't seen elsewhere. Okinawa is the kind of space that feels welcoming whether you're dining solo (they have a bar), on a date, or with a group. I know I'll be back and for more than just the mochi ice cream!
(4)Micky B.
The layout of the restaurant is intimate and relaxing while the staff is fun and attentive. I almost always have a small panic attack after I order at any sushi restaurant that I may leave still hungry, but not here. A great spot for a nice dinner any day of the week and a real gem for Colfax.
(4)Alissa R.
went here for a quick lunch with the boyfriend, ordered shu mai $4.50, sashimi lunch $12.00 and the 2 roll lunch special $8.50, both came with choice of soup or salad, we chose one of each to share. Miso is always good here, never too salty with just the right amount of tofu, seaweed, and green onions. salad is basically ice berg, a slice of tomtato and cucumber with a sesame dressing, decent. the shu mai was extra yummy, for true shrimp lovers this is spot on! The rolls were yummy as usual, we chose the AAC roll and the spicy yellowtail. the sashimi was delicious and presented in a sexy way, but while the salmon tasted fine, it seemed like it was semi-frozen in the middle (maybe just from lying on ice?) anyhow, that is the only reason to rate it at 4 instead of 5 for this visit. i shall return again and again!
(4)Alison B.
I went here spur of the moment with a friend of mine for dinner. It was a Thursday evening around 8 and we had no trouble being seated immediately. The service was good. The waitress was very attentive. We had hot green tea bc it was freeeezing outside. It was tastey and warmed us right up. I ordered the sweet potato roll and it was PHENOMENAL! I could have eaten a plate full of them. The rest was also pretty tastey, but I took off a star for the spicey tuna. I prefer the mayo sauce seperate from the tuna and at okinawa, they blended it making it a strange texture. Over all, I would recommend and return :)
(4)Meg E. G.
Went here w/ a fellow yelper because the Thai place down the street was closed but damn am I glad we did. The parking is a bit sketch but the inside decor was modern yet inviting which I appreciated. I had an iced tea to drink and while you may think that that is pretty standard- it's not. Many restaurants brew them too weak or too strong, there's was perfect and I appreciated the frequent refills. What really blew me away was the Mango roll and the Crazy tuna roll- both absolutely scrumptious and the perfect portion size. And yes I ate both of the rolls by myself- sorry I'm not sorry. All in all I was impressed I thought the service, style, tea, and all around delectable dining I will definitely be back after I can afford it. Unfortunately it is a bit pricey but it's definitely worthwhile if for a nice night out.
(4)Elizabeth F.
Excellent! I visited Okinawa for the first time last week. A good menu, friendly service, and delicious sushi! I'll be back!
(4)Tiffany N.
I hate when I go somewhere and have a pleasant experience but something feels off about the place. You guessed it, thats how I feel about Okinawa. Loved the atmosphere, variety of rolls and entrees for the non sushi lovers out there (AKA communists in my book) and good service. I got the Spicy Girl and it rocked my world! It lived up to the name and was absolutely flavorful, all while clearing up my nostrils. I would have ordered two more rolls if I had on looser pants and wanted to drop some major bills that night. All of the sushi was fantastic, full of flavor and fresh. Their prices for sushi were a little higher than I would normally pay but the quality of their sushi is definitely worth the few extra dollars. And being a FL girl, I'm not willing to take risks on raw fish when I'm landlocked. But still, something was off and I've been sitting here for 10 minutes writing this review and I still can't figure out what it is that separates it from a four star rating and a five. Guess I will have to go back to see if said thing is still off there, no issues with that since I can always get down with awesome sushi like Okinawa offers!
(4)Phillip M.
YES! A sushi place in Denver that's actually good and not stupid expensive. I've been here twice and really enjoyed it. The atmosphere is cool, the sushi is good, and the prices won't break the bank. Not much to say beyond that.
(4)Chris S.
We loved everything we tried and they have some really unique stuff that doesn't involve fish which my girl can't really do. As far as veggie / chicken / steak options go she was pleased. Definitely suggest the Dynamite, Tamago, and Portabello rolls.
(5)Alexis P.
So delicious! They had a lot of innovative rolls which I like, even some wrapped in soy paper instead of seaweed. Presentation was fresh and beautiful. Decor was clean and polished. Service time to get our sushi took slightly longer than normal, but the craft that goes into each roll is worth the wait( one of our rolls was shaped like hearts instead of round!) All of the waiters were attentive and very kind. I will Definitely be back!
(5)Evan A.
DE-LICIOUS! Good sushi for the price and great service. Only down side is the lack of parking, but defiantly someplace I'll head back too!
(4)Riza H. C.
4 SOLID STARS! Saturday June 11th 2011, went here for Happy Hour Sushi with 6 other frens. Time : 4.00pm onwards. Apparently, they "forgot" that I made the reservation for our party. Well note to self, next time whenever calling a restaurant or establishment, please "REMEMBER" the name of the receiver who takes your call. When I arrived, thankfully, this establishment was not as busy and the waitstaff swiftly managed to prepare the tables for the 7 of us. There are several other patrons dining in while we were here. Good deals to have when you order from their Happy Hour menu and you can mix your order with the main menu if that is what you desired. The service was prompt, attentive and welcoming. If I could recall correctly, there are like 2 waitstaffs attending to our table. Now the FOOD, in conclusion, my other frens liked what they order. The sushi looks good, and they did good in terms of presentation for how they plate the sushi for our party. Here was what I ordered for that afternoon. * Calamari * Grilled Squid Salad * LIVE Scallops that was one of the Special of the Day * Amaebi * Spicy Lobster * King Crab * Uni * Unagi * Hotategai I like both the Calamari and the Grilled Squid Salad. Though until now, I am still trying to figure out the "special sauce" that they provide that comes with the Calamari. For the LIVE Scallops, its so fresh, no fishy smell at all and just melt in my mouth. I "melt down" when I ate the King Crab. So buttery and delish. The rest of my sushi order, was good. All in all good experience eating here and I do not mind returning when needed. I request specifically, that separate checks for our party before ordering. This establishment allow separate checks for our group. 2 thumbs up in my books! Do take note, you are welcome to park behind the building, first come first serve, and there are ample of parking along the streets. It also depends on the time you are there.
(4)Diana W.
Came back here for a friend's birthday. Still fabulous service, free dessert for the birthday girl, and quick order and serve turn around time. Did I mention already how much I love their lowcarb rolls? i can seriously eat 2 of them and each bite is still so flavorful and fresh!
(4)Nick V.
Had the sashimi dinner. Sushi was very fresh and the assortment was great. Nice thick cuts.
(5)Alison W.
So, Okinawa is the sushi place that is a stone's throw from my home. You'd think I get sick of it...but I don't! The man who's always there as a server is sweet. He never seems flustered. That's a server skill. Their happy hour is unbeatable. I also think their vegetarian rolls are super creative - whether or not you're a veg-head, try the avocado and peanut roll. I promise you won't be disappointed! They're rarely TOO packed to enjoy a meal, but prepare yourself - if you go in for takeout, maybe call ahead and get a pickup time. I waited 45 minutes once, which is slow by any standards.
(4)Kate S.
Okinawa is fabulous. I used to live in the neighborhood and would do take out or eat in all the time. I have since moved, but refuse to go to the sushi places in my new neighborhood. They just aren't as good! So instead we make the 15 minute drive even if we are just doing take out. The fish is always fresh. The presentation is beautiful. We always get the Spicy crunchy tuna appetizer, which has the perfect combination of spicy and then sweet soy. The lovers role comes in the shape of a heart and the tuna is perfect. We also love the Mango Role and the New York Role. I honestly cannot say enough great things about this place. The atmosphere is nice, the service is always friendly, and the food is perfect. I am a huge fan!
(5)Mardy S.
This was well worth the dining experience, especially since it was our last evening before heading back to Houston. We sat at the sushi bar and asked the waiter what was available that was off the menu. The blue fin tuna was so awesome that we ordered seconds. It literally melted in our mouths before the avocado did...yum!!! The waiter recommended other items that were off the menu that were good, with the exception to fish liver which was OK but not exactly my type of taste. Oh well have to try things at least once! Overall great experience, the staff was very interactive with my husband and I. We would go back again when we're in town.
(5)David K.
Not great but not good either. Went there for happy hour which was good on drinks, but the food wasn't amazing.
(2)Meghan H.
Never had a bad meal here. I know there are some other sushi places in Denver that would be considered superior to Okinawa (like Sushi Den or Sushi Sasa) but I don't want to spend a car payment on my dinner, nor do I want to put on heels and make up just so I can fit in with the clientele that tend to frequent those establishments, so I stick to Okinawa. I can go with a ball cap and jeans on and no one bats an eye. This IS, after all, Colfax Avenue, and it's Denver, not Manhattan. Okinawa is well priced, comfortable and consistent. I could eat their green roll every day. I really appreciate their veg options. We've had couple of specialty rolls here that were too much of a mash up with multiple flavors jockeying for position, but we've learned what to avoid (anything with mango and we like mango) and what is a winner. Love their shrimp shumai. The crunch spicy scallop roll melts on the tongue with just enough heat to keep your eyes wide open. Service is solid, I can get Great Divide brews (never been a big fan of Japanese beer, though I'll hit a Sapporo in a pinch) and the seats are comfy. There is patio seating but it faces York and I always feel like I'm breathing bellows of car exhaust when I sit out there so usually I stick to the inside seating. All in all this is a great place for a date, with above-par offerings, good ambiance and efficient staff.
(4)Erin H.
LOVED their happy hour!!! Two-for-one drinks and fantastic sushi! Our favorite was the Angel Roll! The calamari was so different and light--loved that too! Will DEFINITELY be back!
(5)Lendy L.
Okinawa is very trendy. From table set up to cushy chairs and the light fixtures, it's actually a very nicely put together sushi restaurant. When my party of 3 arrived we did not have reservations but we were seated promptly after 10 minutes considering that it was quite packed for a 7pm dinner. We order tea and and 4 hardly rolls of sushi at very reasonable prices. The final verdict was it was all delicious. The collared yellowtail was cooked perfectly and when accompanied by a side of ponsu sauce I'm as happy as a clam. The bill ended up coming out to be about $25 per person and we all left full and content. I would recommend this place to friends!
(4)Missy B.
i love specialty sashimi plates, and this place has the best selection i've ever seen. and i've eaten sushi all over the country. quality of fish is fresh and great, pricing is reasonable.
(5)Richard B.
Always suspicious of a sushi place on colfax. But was pleasantly suprised today with great prices and super fresh fish! Ps thanks for the free sake too!
(5)Courtney O.
I'm only giving this place 5 stars because there isn't the option for 10. Service was wonderful and the sushi was somehow even better.
(5)Daron S.
Holy Calamari!! This was the biggest and best calamari I have ever had. They looked like onion rings. And I'm not even a calamari fan, but the fiance is. All of the rolls we tried were great, but the stand out was the one with mango on top. The atmoshphere is nice and plenty of people watching due to the colfax location, which I love! Their happy hour seemed really good, so I want to experience that one day!
(4)Giovanna R.
My husband and I have been eating here since it opened a few years ago! We love it! The sushi is so fresh , and if you like calamari you have to try it here! It's the best I've ever had!! We live in Aurora now and we still drive down to Okinawa's. It's the best !
(5)Steph A.
Really enjoyed the roll selection. They had quite a few specialty rolls to choose from and each one that I tried was delightful. No complaints on the service. I think this is a great date night spot!
(4)Michaele M.
Seaweed salad - beautifully presented, tasted very nice Lobster roll - pretty good, although, 2 of the pieces had the tails unnecessarily attached, which were hard and inedible. The lobster in those tails tasted slightly of ammonia, which is a sign of spoiled seafood :-( Dragon roll - only 5 pieces but really tasty. Very trendy inside, nice décor. The 2 younger waitstaff were very nice and attentive, however, the older woman looked mean, never smiled at me, never came over to ask if I needed anything but was quick to flash a smile when she saw patrons who weren't dressed as casually as myself.
(3)Chris L.
I've consistently had very good sushi here and a few truly excellent meals. I like the basics, salmon and tuna, and they do those very well. The fish is fresh, there's just the right amount of rice, and their wasabi and ginger are very good. Where they really shine is with their specialty dishes. I had a tuna sushi special recently that had cilantro and jalapeno in a delicious spicy sauce. Another favorite of mine is their tuna carpaccio, again it's because of the sauce. The waitstaff is generally efficient; if they were friendly I might be tempted to give this place five stars. The beer and wine selection is another reason they don't get five stars, just the boring basics. All in all, though, this is my go-to sushi place, really no reason to go anywhere else when it's this good, with very reasonable prices, and an easy location.
(4)Alex R.
We went here last night and had some pretty great sushi! We loved loved loved the Shrek roll, and ordered it because of yelp reviews. We also got two other special rolls- the golden and we forgot what the other one was called, as well as two regular rolls- Boston and Kra. Truly fantastic sushi. It was fresh, affordable and a nice atmosphere. Servers were a little frazzled as they had a large party come in, but were still very friendly if not fast.
(4)Katie H.
I've been here a handful of times and I always leave stuffed. My last visit was no different but it was the first time I ordered things off the non-sushi roll menu. The spicy sashimi salad was SO good and is frankly a really good deal for $10. Tons of seafood, deliciously spicy, and the greens underneath were fresh and crisp. My partner ordered the gyoza for the table and they were heavenly. The noodle had just the right amount of pan sear and the pork was incredibly juicy. The accompanying sauce was not too sweet and my friend commented that he would drink it. So there's that, too. As usual, the sushi was fantastic and they never overdo the rice. We'll be back.
(4)Devin R.
Yay Okinawa! They're very careful about keeping my sushi gluten free. It's hard to find a sushi place that will do that. I love every roll I've tried there. The staff is all very friendly and helpful, especially when it comes to working around dietary restrictions. The price is a little on the high side, but I think it's worth it.
(4)Melissa T.
Yay! I'm the 100th review. I am in love with this place. It's got great atmosphere, delicious veggie rolls, and awesome service. I kind of abandoned sushi when I became a vegetarian but I have recently rediscovered veggie rolls and they make me so happy. The presentation here alone makes me happy. Also, their wine glasses are comically enormous. Which is awesome for several reasons.
(5)Jason K.
Great sushi. Service was good but just a little slow. They were out of uni, but it was Sunday night so that's expected. The spider roll was very good. My wife had the chicken teriyaki and it was excellent. The squid salad was also very tender, but was missing the tentacles, so it wasn't a complete squid. I prefer their other location off Ken Caryl better, but I would go back if I was in the area.
(4)Kelly T.
Sweet sassy frassy molassy! This here is some good sushi! It's so good, that apparently it caused me to channel Yosemite Sam when I wrote those last two sentences. I went here for lunch on a Sunday and, man, I'm glad I did. My dining companion placed the order and when it arrived, my little taste buds jumped for joy. Quick aside: I have GOT to remember that almost all soy sauce at restaurants have gluten in them. If I can remember that, then I'll avoid the slightly upset stomach that followed this meal. It had NOTHING to do with the food and everything to do with my stupidity. I think my favorite was the mango roll. Most of my favorite recipes combine sweet and savory into one dish and this sushi roll did the same. I had a couple other rolls, which I can't remember the names of, but they were really tasty too. And I finished the meal off with a nice cup of tea, which, wonders never cease, was not scaldingly hot when the server brought it to the table. Nothing kills my happy tummy buzz better than a cup of tea that sears my mouth at the first sip. It's really great to see the Congress/City Park area getting some really great restaurants built in the area and Okinawa definitely comes in at the top in this neighborhood.
(4)Jenny H.
This place deserves three stars off ONLY because of the service. The sushi was fabulous. It tasted fresh and was served in perfect sized rolls, not too big to be called bite-size. The menu has a good selection and the edamame was cooked perfectly! As for the service, it was terrible. An hour and a half long story short, we didn't get drinks for at least 15 minutes, after finally asking someone where they were. We didn't receive a simple extra side which was written on the menu and circled by the server at time of order. Servers did not come to our table once to see if anything was needed or how the food was. Had to walk to the sushi bar to get the side. Was never asked for drink refills. And had to get up and track someone down for the bill after waiting way too long to get a servers attention. All of this and there were only TWO of us. This was not a group of people who were too much to handle. Just two people. I will never sit down for another meal there. Because I loved the sushi, I will be ordering carry out the next time I want Okinawa.
(2)Sarah K.
I was going to give Okinawa five stars, given the superior quality of fish and tasty, reasonably priced rolls, but there was some ruckus at the end of our meal that left me with a very...disturbing...last impression. The sushi was phenomenal, as was the service. I loved the spicy girl and the shrek rolls; the sashimi was to die for! We were enjoying our evening when a clatter of dishes came from the back of the house; we didn't think much of it--maybe a waiter was having an off night or a patron had a few too many... We paid the bill and moseyed outside...All of a sudden a guy stormed past us and asked if we had just eaten at Okinawa. "Yes, why?" we asked. "There was a live cockroach on our plate of sushi; we nearly knocked the table over trying to get away." Uh. "Yeah, they gave us our meal for free but I will NEVER come back." I'm sorry to say, neither will I. I'm sorry Okinawa, I just can't get past this...
(2)Seth E.
Decent sushi for a great price, especially during happy hour which includes buy one get one free drinks! To be fair I haven't tried their more spendy rolls which may be fantastic, but the moderate to low priced rolls are tasty and well worth the money.
(4)J A A.
I've tried this place a couple of times, and have not been impressed. It's always crowded though - guess because it's the only sushi joint in the area
(2)Kirby C.
A decent sushi place. The name got me excited hoping that they would actually have some Okinawan dishes on the menu (what I would give for some Okinawa Soba, or Tofu Champuru) but no such luck. The yellowtail was fantastically fresh. The tuna was almost bad enough to send back. We ordered the yellowtail collar (I can't remember what the name on the menu was) starter and it was absolutely delicious but was shocked to find that the bowl of white rice that came with it was suspiciously similar to Uncle Ben's and overcooked into mush to boot. C'mon on now! A sushi joint with long grain rice that is overcooked to boot?!? WTH! Beer and sake were reaonably priced and the service was good. Nothing to rave about here just a decent place to grab some sushi and a beer in my neighborhood.
(3)Raheem H.
love this place, the GM is great and service is fast. Glad they don't take reservations, otherwise you would never get in!!!
(4)Jaime P.
Excellent sushi, I only tried three rolls but enjoyed them all. The dessert chocolate cake was delicious. I was there during happy hour and my total bill was $39 for 3 rolls and a slice of cake. A little pricy for one persons lunch but I did order too many rolls and couldn't eat them all.
(4)Ghostfaceknitter W.
Okay so I had a beyond phenomenal experience here a few weeks back that I had to share: I called on a friday night at 7 pm - it was a last minute birthday dinner that was scheduled for another restaurant that didn't work out - for a table for 8. That's right I said a table for 8. We arrived to see several people standing in the doorway waiting for a table and I almost freaked until I looked to the center of the restaurant and saw an empty table for 8 waiting for us!! The waitress was fabulous - she handled our huge table with ease and made sure everyone was comfortable and content. Everyone LOVED the sushi and there was literally nothing left (even though we thought we had ordered WAY too much). The also comped us on some of our drinks (sake/beer) which was so nice considering they did us a HUGE birthday favor. I just love this place and after such a wonderful experience I will continue to be a loyal Okinawa customer. Thanks again Okinawa! :)
(5)Vitaly O.
Great Sushi place! very friendly and relaxing atmosphere, delicious sushi, great design! They also have unique beer imported from Okinawa... i think it was called Orion. My brother and I had a great lunch there. strongly recommend this place!
(5)Sarah B.
I had a great experience here. The atmosphere was simple and intimate, the sushi was good, the wine was good, the service was just right, and the prices were really reasonable. We had miso soup, the spicy tuna roll, the spider roll, and edamame. The portions were bigger than I expected. We also order white tuna sashimi, which was good, but I've had better. That was the only thing that wasn't 5 stars for me, though.
(5)Cherie B.
So glad I found a decent sushi joint in my new neighborhood! I love the ambiance in this little restaurant...and it's a PERFECT location for people-watching on Colfax. This girl loves to do some people-watching! I recommend starting off with the Seaweed Salad...it's delicious and has just the right amount of sesame oil. Their sashimi (Salmon is my fave) is fresh and I have yet to dislike any of the rolls I have picked. Since I tend to fill myself up on rice like a bird after a wedding, I try to order at least one of their riceless rolls. It's rolled up in thinly sliced cucumber, which makes for a fresh, crisp roll. The Spiderman, Spicy Girl, Ichiban and Crazy Tuna Rolls are all pretty good...along with your standard Spicy Tuna, Rainbow and Philadelphia. I hear the Kobe Beef and Sweet Potato Rolls are to die for. Those aren't my typical choices of rolls, but I might have to give them a shot sometime! The service is sometimes hit or miss. Some nights, every single server in house will stop by and check on you several times...it's a bit overwhelming. But hey, better than being ignored all night and banished to the corner like Baby at the Summer-end Celebration, I suppose!
(4)Elphey I.
The service was great, the bathrooms were fancy, and the food rocked! We had some masago/tobiko handrolls, crab and tamago pieces, miso soup, yellowfin tuna collar, asparagus tempura special roll and another really, really spicy special roll. We left stuffed for a good price and were not too bothered by other patrons. We hope to return on many occasions and look forward to more great eats!
(5)Andrew T.
I am a sushi snob and Okinawa is the best sushi place in Denver. Tom does a great job running the restaurant. He is at work everyday and always makes sure everyone is taken care of. Always great food and service. I recommend Okinawa to everyone.
(5)mike g.
Not horrible, not awesome. Won't go back..
(3)Denver C.
Came here on a Thursdsy night, I even called to make reservation for 4, by the time we got there, the restaurant was completely empty by 7:30, made us wonder why! I told the host that we had a reservation for David, she looked at me confused asked me if I needed a reservation, I was like there's 4 of us! & she brought us to a table finally. Being the only table there I thought at least food will come out fast, we started eating our sushi 30mins after we placed the order, they completely forgot about our drinks! 3 waiters came to our table telling us it will be ready soon but no one apologized! Our gyoza came out cold, calamari was so oily that we can't even put our finger on! The sushi taste really fishy, white tuna was still half FROZEN!!! Rice on the rolls fell apart right when I landed my chopsticks on there! We finally had to get up & left to Go Fish! I'll reccomend Go Fish over Okinawa in a heart beat! Better happy hour, better waitstaff & better location! I'm sorry Okinawa but we will not be returning!
(1)Shaun M.
Great service and great sushi A++++ My only complaint is the very very small parking lot behind the building I went during the afternoon and did not see any parking besides on the street and in this small alleyway behind the business that's the ONLY reason I putting a 4 and not a 5.
(4)Lisa T.
Freshness, creativity, good value, friendly and attentive staff and ambiance are on point. The no/low carb rolls were a surprise and had me coming right back for more, they use an incredible assortment of fish to completely fill a cucumber wrapper, the fish really shines. The beautiful plates and flowers should warrant higher prices, its casual and I'm going there now...I've ordered many menu items and all were excellent
(4)Mariel R.
After watching 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' last night (awesome doc, check it out), I was craving sushi so I decided to finally try Okinawa. I am a weird sushi fan because I don't eat fish, but what I do love is a restaurant with great vegetarian options. What I had: Edamame - hard to screw that up. Just enough salt. Sweet Potato Roll - One of my favorite things. Delicious and HUGE. Don't order this one if you are on a date because it is hard to eat this and look pretty at the same time. Avocado and Peanut Roll - I had never had this before but it was pretty tasty. It is basically a roll filled with avocado and Planters honey roasted peanuts. Definitely an American invention but I love peanuts and I love avocado--who knew these two could work together? Egg Sushi - or something... I had just seen them making this in the film I watched so I figured I would give it a try. The best way that I can describe this solid egg thing is that it tastes like flan but without the sweet component. It's kind of custard-y. Not my favorite but that's just because I am not a huge custard fan. This place is cool on the inside and has huge windows (kind of weird to be staring at the Arby's across the street). They have dum-dums at the door instead of mints. I obviously can't tell you about their real (fish) sushi, but the vegetarian stuff is pretty good!
(4)Eric H.
I like Okinawa. Okinawa is really really good. I know Okinawa is good because I have been here many times. You can eat raw fish here, it is good.
(5)Surelys G.
Delicious sushi--the Salmon & Fatty White Tuna sashimi were amazing! Try the Volcano roll, it has a lovely mix of flavors. The food was beautifully presented and the ambiance quite nice! I'll come back to this Denver sushi place!
(5)Claude F.
I would probably be giving Okinawa a higher rating were it a little cheaper but at premium sushi prices, one can reasonably expect a lot. In some ways, it delivered on our one visit there but in many ways it was ...meh. Service was fine but pretty cold for the most part, don't expect a warm smile from a hostess. Overall the service was fairly weak. The restaurant is really nicely decorated though, they've got a real nice space. Starters were ok. The miso wasn't hot and the house salad was pretty lame, but the seaweed salad was fine. For the most part we were happy with the sushi but it was really the rolls that stood out. The California rolls and the Spicy Tuna rolls were excellent! I think if i lived in the immediate vicinity, I'd be a customer but honestly I feel like in this price range I'll probably go elsewhere
(3)Scott P.
This place does the damn thang. Seriously. They're not cheap, but you'll never feel like they're overpriced for what you're getting. It's a higher-quality sushi place, and WOW... the uni was PERFECT- perfect consistency, perfect temperature, perfectly presented... I'm OVER super-cold uni that has OBVIOUSLY just been thawed right before being served. You've swear that these bits came right OUT of the urchin (and according to the server- when uni is in season, that's exactly what they do!!). The rice was VERY slightly vinegared and perfectly boiled. And the scallop... the scallop... ASK ME ABOUT THE SCALLOP!!!! Seriously. Ask me about the damned scallop. My man was so proud of it that he showed me how they keep them alive until serving them. And the presentation- shell opened with the muscles thinly sliced like bits of sashimi. No eraserhead bay scallops here!!! The guy who served me was really enthusiastic about the products he was serving, and that's always a great indication of quality. I respect establishments which inspire loyalty in their workgroups, and it was obvious that this guy was eating here as often as possible. I have love for that.
(4)Katelyn O.
This is one of my favorite sushi places! Nice atmosphere and delicious food. Get the spicy sushi appetizer on a pie of rice-Yum!
(4)Moon L.
Lovely sushi rolls. Delicious sashimi. Staff was pleasant. We had a good little lunch date here. Good times.
(4)Travis B.
I am, by no means, a seasoned sushi connoisseur. I do, however, know that I LOVE sushi. What I DO NOT LOVE is being completely turned off of a perfectly great restaurant because of a perfectly AWFUL server. When I saw this place open up about two blocks from my place, I was utterly thrilled, but it only took two visits for my jubilation to be completely dowsed. The first visit was great. Our lanky, serial-killer-looking server did a wonderful job of filling us up with great sushi, and keeping our drinks topped off. Oddly, tt was that same serial-killer-looking server, in fact, that completely ruined it for me on our very next trip to Okinawa. Now, I have worked in the food-service industry, so as anybody who has done the same knows -- you ALWAYS TIP WELL. Which is what I did, exactly, the first time I went to Okinawa. The second time? We walked in to be greeted by Mr. Richard Trenton Chase himself, who said, "I'm sorry, but we only serve customers who tip in this restaurant." Are you kidding me!?!?!?!? After a brief exchange of words, I left feeling more insulted than I've ever felt at a restaurant. I was too insulted to even attempt to approach a manager. Was it a case of mistaken identity? Did somebody steal my tip off of the table the previous time? I don't know, but this jerk was completely convinced that I stiffed him, and because of him... I WILL NEVER GO BACK. Good riddance.
(1)Alex K.
I love sushi. and I love okinawa. go for the lunch special, 3 rolls for 12.95--- great new place right off colfax. love the vibe. LOVE the sushi. Definitely a nice addition to the Colfax restaurant scene, and SUSHI for a reasonable price? even better!
(4)Alli T.
I was really excited to try out Okinawa after reading the awesome reviews on Yelp. However, I was SO disappointed. When we were seated, there was only one place setting. we were never brought another, and had to take one off another table. The waiter filled our waters immediately, but never again (even though we finished them in about 5 minutes). He was flippant, and would walk away from our table even as we were talking (when he came by, which was once throughout the entire time we were there). We watched our sushi sit on the counter for at least 15 minutes before it was brought to us by the hostess. The rice was hard at that point, and overall the sushi was flavorless, except for the sauces, which were overpowering and, frankly, not good. I don't think I've ever left sushi on the plate before - we left about 10 pieces of the 4 rolls we ordered because we just couldn't choke it down any more. Overall, the atmosphere was nice, but between the awful service and mediocre sushi, I won't be returning.
(1)Jonny D.
We were on our way to a spot on Colfax but got tempted hard by Japanese upon passing Okinawa. One U-turn later, we were in an intimate, well-appointed dining room. We loved the comfy chairs and downbeat music. I had the Black Angel roll as my primary selection. Everything was amazing. It's the best sushi I've had in Denver, tying with Sushi Den, which is much, much further away from us. Every time I get a hankering for sushi, this is where I'll go.
(5)Lisa B.
This place sucks. If I could give a negative star it would get it. Service and food is terrible.
(1)Scott N.
okinawa is the best sushi i've had since leaving tucson - but sushi on oracle is still better b/c shun is working the sushi bar. hamachi kama was excellent, as was the hamachi sashimi plate (i substituted ponzu for whatever sauce they had on the menu). the oysters were from CA and were super fresh and good. my friend, randy, got the avocado salad and i ended up eating most of it - the miso/wasabi dressing is phenomenal. the place is small, quaint, perfectly sized so they're not overworked, which makes for great sushi preparation. i had not one complaint about the whole experience. the sushi guys were even nice and cool - not acting too busy to shoot the shit with you while you ate. raving.
(5)Megan N.
Really good sushi and other apps. Cute little place on the corner of Colfax. Went today for a meeting. Loved it. I would recommend the yellow tail app. with jalapenos. Yum. the edamame was good too. I got the NY Roll and the Spicy Tuna roll. Really good- a neat kick to the spicy tuna. The place was dead when we got there for an early lunch, but later filled up. Only one server and had great service from Thomas! Love it and will be back. Thanks!
(4)Danny P.
The service here was great, and the food is quality and delicious.The decor is inviting with comfortable seating. I've ordered there twice in the last month and each time, I was more than pleased with both the food and the service. They're extremely welcoming and friendly. Their mango roll is delectable. In fact, all their rolls are delicious. Try the Avocado salad and you won't be disappointed. All-in-all, a great place for quality, authentic, Japanese cuisine. I highly recommended this one, and will be going back soon.
(5)Carolyn M.
Food - 4 stars Atmosphere - 4 stars Service - 1 star Stopped here with my family for some sushi on Sunday night. The place was empty when we arrived (it was early, maybe 5:30pm), but packed when we left (around 7pm). Our server was super awkward...not sure if it was his first day, or his first time speaking with strangers, but he had a hard time getting words out of his mouth. Not a big deal - we weren't in any big hurry. We ordered some sushi and a few small apps (miso, seaweed salad, edamame...), but after 20 minutes, we were still waiting without any food. Our server finally returned with a large plate of sushi. He wasn't entirely sure what each roll was, but we remember what we ordered so it wasn't an issue. We asked him if he forgot our apps and he admitted that he had. He said he would bring them out if we were still interested, but it took him a good 5-10 minutes for him to return to our table. I didn't expect to see these on our final bill, but of course, they were. He tried to bring us another plate of sushi about 15 minutes later - we told him we hadn't ordered that and he realized (after a long pause) that it belonged to a table on the other side of the restaurant. I think that was the last we saw of him - a female server stepped in to take his place for the remainder of our time there. Overall the fish was fresh and the sake was super, so I would consider coming back. Maybe just for take-out.
(3)Joe F.
The food tasted really fresh and the price is very affordable. Will definitly come back.
(4)Tommy B.
My fiance and I recently moved to Denver. We're pretty strict about sticking to our sushi at least once a week diet and I'll be damned if we didn't get lucky on the first try with Okinawa. Here's why: - 5 minute walk from our place - Reasonably priced - Good service... after about 4 visits, the whole staff recognizes us as soon as we walk in - Quality fish. Now we're not talking Masa quality here, but the place is generally busy which means high turnover and in turn fresh fish. We've been in on Monday's and Tuesday's and it tastes just as good as it does on Saturday. Now if they'll just start delivering...
(4)John K.
Denver isn't exactly a culinary hot-spot by any means, and we don't always have the best seafood, but when it comes to Sushi....I am just glad we do have a couple places that stand out. Okinawa being one of them. Relatively new, Okinawa took over the location of a previous sushi spot, that I barely remember. Remodeled, and off to a killer start from what I got out of my dining experience. The sushi was fantastic and the service wasn't bad either. I have a feeling that we'll be frequenting Okinawa again (and again, and again)
(4)C C.
I have to be honest, this used to be my all time favorite since I live so close and easily can visit weekly but the service is really lacking. You can easily plan to sit waiting for service for 20 minutes yet be the only person in the restaurant. 3 visits in a row I've been extremely disappointed in both the service and the fish. I'm not sure what has changed but I'll give it one more try then I'm going to take my business elsewhere. It's a bit disturbing when you bring your concern to management and they dont' even apologize or acknowledge the issues. That should be a red flag. There are plenty of other sushi places so it's not the end of the world.
(2)Michael S.
The Northern corner of York and Colfax is no longer just a place for strangers to ask you for change while telling you their sob stories. There's new businesses coming in every day it seems. I'm so very excited that this restaurant opened in my neighborhood. I didn't go right away because of the first review here being a negative one, but as a couple more reviews came in, and they were positive, I jumped right in. And I'm glad I did. There is affordable and delicious sushi just two blocks from my house! The decor made me think the experience may be more expensive than it was. I was really impressed with the plating as well. I've dined in and had to go. Both times service was exceptional and friendly. I'm always a big fan of unagi but have tried Okinawa's spicy tuna and smoked salmon as well. I'm looking forward to experimenting with other rolls soon!
(5)Julie A.
When we arrived at 7:30 on a Saturday night, it looked like we'd be in for a nice long wait, but to our delight, after about five minutes the four of us were seated. The tables are packed in tightly, but the ambiance is very nice and it's clear that no expense was spared in re-doing everything in the entire restaurant, complete with a new entrance and lights that change colors running under the sushi bar. We were in a gabby mood and took our time ordering but were quickly served with some Sake, Edamame and Seaweed Salad. I was happy to see an extensive vegetarian section on the menu, and I ordered my favorite sweet potato tempura roll and an avocado, asparagus and cucumber roll, while my friends went crazy and accidentally ordered spicy tuna in 3 of the 5 things they ordered. They liked the Spice Girl the best. We chomped and gabbed and ate sake and before we knew it, we had been there 3 hours. The restaurant started to clear out and so our service got even better, bringing carafe after carafe of sake and some cheesecake bites to complete our night. This is definitely going to be our new sushi hangout!
(5)Lee S.
Amazing Sushi Restaurant in Denver. The Miso, Seaweed Salad, and the Avocado Salad to start were amazing and great portion size. The sushi was top quality and melt in your mouth good. Very modern decor and the wait staff was very helpful, although a little overwhelmed at time because they were slightly understaffed. Great sushi restaurant for Denver.
(5)Claire B.
Everything tastes good. Though the rice is lacking. I ordered 5 different sushi rolls and the rice was under cooked and grainy. The rice fell off the rolls as I picked it up. Needs a better texture, stickiness, another type of rice maybe. Other than the rice, everything was ok, from appetizers, entrees to dessert.
(2)Robb B.
I went in solo and took up a seat at the sushi bar. I ordered the Seaweed Salad, a Jaki Roll, a Lobster Tempura roll, and water. The service was fast, the ambience was nice, and the "kitchen" was fast. The Seaweed salad was perfectly prepared. The rolls were good although I found the Lobster Tempura roll to be slightly bland and uninspiring. I walked out of the restaraunt with a $21 tab, the price is right, service great, and food is good.
(4)Roxy R.
My roommate and I went here for dinner on a Friday and had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. The place was packed! The rush seemed to die down when we were leaving at about 9pm. We ordered seaweed salad, cucumber salad and edamame to start. The seaweed salad was perfectly tender and the cucumber salad was nice and spicy -- both were fresh and refreshing. The edamame was wonderful and coated with a little bit of the nicest sea salt I've ever tasted. The waitstaff was prompt and attentive, if not exactly warm, but I was very impressed. Our waters were refilled constantly and they were quick to clear plates and ask for beer and wine refills. We ordered several rolls: The broccoli tempura, the avocado, asparagus and crab, the lover girl, and another which I can't remember. My favorites were the broccoli tempura and the lover girl roll. OH MY GOD the lover girl roll was so delicious, I ate almost the entire thing myself. My roommate dislikes tobiko and they honored her request. I was a little worried we would have to send some back, but they got our order perfect. The presentation was divine. I would love to come back again and again. Great date place!
(5)Kelly A.
Best sushi place in Denver! At least that I've noticed so far. They have a huge variety, especially of vegetarian rolls (not just cucumber rolls). Buy 1 Get 1 sake during happy hour - you can't beat that!
(5)Jeff C.
2.5 Stars, but rounding up this time!! Stopped in for a quick bite after getting my hair cut at Floyd's. I thought the prices were reasonable, but the portion size was small. I guess you get what you pay for. They have a $8.50 lunch special which is two rolls (from a selection of about 15 choices) and either miso soup or a small salad. I thought the miso soup was pretty flavorless. I ordered the NY Roll and the spicy tuna roll. The NY Roll is tuna, cream cheese and cucumber. Well the pieces were about 65% cream cheese, 30% or less tuna and the rest was cucumber. I love cream cheese, but I could barely tell there was any tuna in it. Also, it seemed like every once in a while I would get a fennel taste which was odd especially since I don't like fennel. (Thought the rice had black sesame seeds, but maybe it was fennel). The spicy tuna roll was ok--I did like that it had some crunchy yummies in it, but was disappointed that it was a pureed tuna mixture vs. chunkier pieces. And it was not really that spicy. Oh well, for 11 bucks it was ok, but nothing to write home about. Oh, I did find a strange little something sticking to the rice-----I have a feeling it was one of two things but I don't really want to think about it.
(3)Chantal B.
I am bummed we didn't make it here sooner! It was fabulous! The sushi was delicious, everything we had was top notch. I often quickly judge a place on the quality of its maguro sashimi and Okinawa passed with flying colors! The service was great, the atmosphere is perfect and the prices are so reasonable. Oh...and the plate presentation is beautiful! I know I'll get flack for this, but since we've moved to Denver, this has been the best sushi experience (and sushi) I've had...and I've tried all the highly recommended joints (Sushi Sasa, Sushi Den, etc). Our usual MO is to split a big fancy roll and a couple of standards as well as order up some sashimi. Because of how good everything was, we were thinking about ordering the sashimi boat for two next time. I usually don't go that route, but since all the fish was so delicious I think it's going worth a try. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Cheyne M.
Very good sushi and atmosphere. I've been here twice and just stuffed myself after watching soccer at the Three Lions Pub. I don't remember what I ate b/c I was trashed... but I remember I liked it both times... I'll be back sober sometime...
(4)Dan G.
This place is great and right around the corner form or house. Fish is super fresh and rice is so nice. However, look out for the manager, my wife named him Travis... This guy has been hanging out at two table during or time here and does not stop talking... Lol, he's a good enough guy and thankfully stayed away from our table. I will come back here for sure
(4)Katie W.
Smallest cuts of fish I've ever had at a sushi restaurant. For $20 I got 2 pieces of salmon nigiri, 2 pieces of yellowfin nigiri and a shrimp tempura roll were all about half the size of any other sushi restaurant in town. Good quality, but definitively not good value for what you get.
(2)Amy S.
The sushi here is very high quality given that the prices are relatively low! The server also gave us free cheesecake bites for dessert, and I swear that it is the only cheesecake that I've ever liked. Amazing!
(5)Mark Z.
This place is fantastic. I have now been here twice, and both times the food was excellent. Additionally, the service here is super friendly, and the owner always makes it a point to greet everyone. I used to live in Chicago, and there are a million great sushi places there. This place reminds me of some of the better ones in terms of food quality and experience.
(5)J D.
Knave now been to Okinawa 4 times in the 1 month that it has been open. Each time I have been very happy with the food, service, and the prices. The owner is always there and very friendly. I've never dined he without recording free saki from the owner. The sushi rolls are large in size and very affordably priced. There are the usual rolls on the menu but also many unique rolls made with interesting things like caviar or horseradish (actually very tasty). The place is very small so it can be a little cramped when full but overall it's a great choice for very good and reasonably priced sushi. Good for dates or for a group of friends.
(4)px b.
The best sushi in Denver, possibly the best sushi ever! Very imaginative and creative. Loved the Volcano Roll and Angel Roll. Reasonably priced.
(5)Ben K.
My fiance and I first tried this place shortly after it opened. We both are sushi lovers and love all the interesting rolls that Okinawa does that you can't find anywhere else. Some of our favorites are the Mango Roll, Angel Roll, Kobe Beef Roll, Snow White Roll, and the Titanic Roll. We've also always had great service, especially from Thomas! Highly recommend this place to all of our friends. If we want sushi in Denver this is the only place we go.
(5)Sara L.
I thoroughly enjoy Okinawa. They get four stars because even though their sushi is amazing, I've had better, but I prefer to go to Okinawa because their price is better. Location is perfect but that applies to me because I live nearby. They have a great selection and their sushi truly is delicious.
(4)Bruce F.
Last night Okinawa hit it out of the park! I ordered sushi togo for a party of 24 people. I ordered the food about a month in advance. When I arrived for pick up the chefs were busy making everything fresh. What a relief they didn't just pull it out of a fridge. I had four giant platters. EVERYONE loved how fresh and delicious the sushi was and EVERYONE wanted to know where it was from. Dine in or take out Okinawa is a home run!
(5)Laura P.
As a vegan, it can be hard to find a sushi place that I am willing to spend any money at. Okinawa is an exception because they have many vegetarian rolls for me to choose from, that after several visits I still have yet to try them all. Most sushi places have one or maybe two veggie rolls, but Okinawa puts effort into coming up with several unique and tasty vegetarian options. I especially like the avocado and peanut roll as well as the mushroom sashimi. The staff is always friendly and efficient. I've been here for romantic dinners as well as more rowdy group affairs and it is nice for both. Also, the presentation of the more complex platters is always really pretty.
(4)David H.
Happy Hour 2-6. Low carb rolls. Great service.
(4)Jonathan B.
Really good sushi at a very fair price. My wife loves the miso soup. I will visit them again and often and have no problems recommending others do too.
(4)Courtney B.
I never thought I would enjoy sushi so much! We tried so many rolls, I can't even tell you. The lychee sake is so damn tasty and the chicken katsu is the best I've ever had. I can't wait to come back.
(4)S P.
I live in the neighborhood and have passed by maybe 100 times. Maybe I thought I was above a sushi place on Colfax, but THIS PLACE HAS VERY GOOD FISH. We sat at the sushi bar in part so I could critique the fish, chefs, operation... While one chef was solid, the other guy was EXCELLENT! The oversized fish was fresh, tasty, and high quality all around. In order from best (for what I tried)- Salmon, yellowtail, tuna, eel, yet all were good. The handroll was not great- too bad. The seaweed salad was fresh and plentiful. I would return.
(4)Killian G.
DO NOT EAT HERE! THERE ARE ROACHES IN AND AROUND THE SUSHI!!!!!!!!!! Two years ago, after finally giving birth and being able to eat sushi, so we decided to celebrate and come here. My wife, being the type of person that orders Volcano drinks, Pu Pu platters, and other extravagant attention-grabbing menu novelties, decided she would like to get the sushi boat. When our boat was cast from the sushi counter and docked at our table, dozens of stowaway cockroaches exited the vessel and scrambled all over our table. We got up and walked out. We haven't been back since, and we never will.
(1)Samuel Antonio S.
4 stars for the food, 4 stars for the service, and 2 stars for the ambiance. The food was perfectly prepared as you can see in the picture I posted. The fish was fresh and consistent. The happy hour deals are pretty good, but are much better at other places like Hapa or Blue Sushi. The staff were funny and accomodating. It was certainly slow being a Saturday afternoon and we had no less than 4 people serve us. While this may sound nice, it felt disjointed and not cohesive. 2 stars for ambiance because of how hot it was in there. Granted it was a hot day, but it was quite warm and uncomfortable in there. We mentioned this concern to a server who made a slight attempt at an explanation and did nothing afterward. Whats worse is our first round of Soporros were not quite cold. Everyone knows this is the worst for light beers. The second round was fine. I would go back if hungry and nearby but would opt for other choices.
(3)Annie C.
I believe this is one of the few Japanese restaurants in the area that is open through that awkward 2pm to 5pm timeframe, so one gold star for Okinawa! Let me just start by saying the service here is awesome. I walked in with a few good friends on a Saturday afternoon and the gentleman serving us was extremely friendly, courteous, and prompt! (He also gave us a slice of chocolate cake on the house!) The lunch specials are all pretty inexpensive (~$8), considering how much variety you get! I got the Salmon Teriyaki lunch box, which was completed with a California roll, miso soup (served at a perfect temperature), green salad (with yummy ginger dressing), and rice. In short, everything was well prepared and quite palatable. Moral of the story: If you're feeling hungry for some Japanese food between 2pm and 5pm, swing by and have a good time.
(5)J K.
I like this place. The sushi is solid, the staff is attentive and polite, the location is great, and I always leave happy. Not the best sushi place in town, but for the price and the location, pretty pleasing.
(4)Avery E.
I don't like to sushi here. But I'm very particular. The lunch boxes are excellent. I really like their steak teriyaki because it's actually a steak.
(4)Paula K.
I thought I would venture out today and try another sushi place in the hood even though our favorite is just a couple of blocks from home. The yelp ratings guided me to Okinawa. Highs- I have to give them big points for their calamari. I have just about given up trying to find calamari at a sushi restaurant that isn't just bland tempura coated squid. Okinawa impressed me. The service was decent. The restaurant was quiet and nicely decorated Lows- The green mussels were way too mayonnaisy for me. I love green mussels in spicy mayo but there has to be more flavor going on than just mayo. These were bogged in mayo with very little flavor of anything else. I ordered a cucumber roll for my daughter and a shrimp tempura roll for myself. I'm not a fan of seaweed on the outside of the roll. I realize it's just a preference but it's a strong preference of mine that it's not as it overpowers the other flavors and a little harder to eat neatly for those larger two-bite rolls. I didn't even know this was a low until I just read some of the other yelp reviews. But the only lunch special I was offered was a two roll lunch ($9) and a three roll lunch ($12). Both good deals but what are theses other lunch specials that yelpers speak of?? Disclaimer. I did not try the sushi. I wish I would have so I could give a more well-rounded review. But based on what I did have it was okay. I wish I could give another 1/2 star for the calamari which was way more than just okay. But I have to base it on the other 75% of what i ate. And maybe it's not them but me. But I didn't get anything to make me wish that I hadn't just gone to my usual stand-by.
(3)Colleen E.
Never disappoints - fun, non-pretentious ambience, great quality for the price.
(4)Shannon S.
Really great place. Just moved to Denver and tried this place because it's in my neighborhood. I'm so impressed with the service and quality of the sushi. We will definitely be regulars.
(4)Joshua S.
This is definitely in the top 3 sushi restaurants in the Denver area. I have been here several times in the last year and have yet to be disappointed. I usually get nigiri sushi and maybe one roll. The fish is of outstanding quality- they have the best mackerel that I have had on the mainland. Urchin is regularly available- something that I have found a lot of other restaurants don't sell enough of to bother keeping in stock. The salmon skin roll is also the best by far I've had in Denver. Service is very personable and friendly.
(4)Rebecca F.
Where do I get started with Okinawa? This is my favorite neighborhood sushi spot, ever! I love their lunch and happy hour specials. The sushi lunch box specials are delicious and they have plenty of options. The servers are always friendly and make sure to accommodate you as best they can. I've tried a variety of sushi and sashimi dishes and can't complain about a single one! I love the dressing they use on their salads, it's to die for.They carry some of my favorite beers as well as delicious sake. If you're in the area, I'd definitely give into your sushi craving and try them!
(4)Portia H.
Very good sushi and great service.
(4)Michelle S.
Happy hour has been extended to 6:00 PM here and the quality of sushi seems to just get better each time. I've become a big fan of this place.
(5)Rebecca a.
Well this place went down fast in my books. I have to say that for a good six months we would come here, BUT we would NEVER order any alcohol, why you ask? Oh well because they serve hot beers and cold saki. This place has no idea what a refrigerator is, seriously, who the heck wants a "buy one hot beer, get another hot beer free"? No one. that is who. No one. So we would overlook this terrible attribute and instead enjoy the delicious sushi and quick walk from our apartment with water... well that was until... I found a wasp in my food. I actually almost ate it. This sickened me much more than I expected... but... I am allergic. What was worse was the wasp wasn't entirely dead. He was hiding under my salad. And I almost ate him and I am sure that if I had put him in my mouth that he would've used his left breath on stinging me and then I would've had to go to the hospital. What made this experience even more troubling was the restaurant didn't care. They actually said this was normal... what? Having wasps in my salad does not surprise you? This isn't the first time? This can happen again? wh.. what? So we haven't been back and we wont ever be back. It truly is disappointing because they are so close to us, but we will find another place to go. Having to rush to the hospital to make sure I don't die because a wasp stings me in my mouth... throat... stomach... whatever is not a night I ever attend to have. So if you like live wasps in your sushi or salads, then you should for sure come here, it seems to be a delicacy over there.
(1)Elizabeth S.
We love the vibe here--it's always a little busy and a little noisy...not at all serious or dull as many sushi restaurants can be. The volcano roll is super tasty. Grab a window seat and enjoy good sushi, well priced beers and a fun view of Colfax.
(4)Dennis B.
After seeing the positive ratings for this place, I was a bit disappointed by my experience here. The Tempura asparagus roll was tasty, the fish in the other rolls was decent quality, but the eel roll was sort of a joke. Granted, we did go at 10p and they close at 11p, so maybe the chefs and servers were tired and ready to go home....but I'm still paying full price just like any other customer who came earlier in the night, so the late hour is not really an excuse in my opinion. It's not like we walked in 10 minutes before closing. Half the eel roll pretty much just seemed to have eel skin in it with the tiniest shred or two of actual eel meat.....without the sauce on top, I suspect some of the pieces would have just tasted more like a cucumber/rice roll instead of eel. Disappointing. Making the server who brought the check aware of this (in a polite way and after even complimenting on some of the other food), resulted in a sort of lackluster "OK, I'll tell the chef" response. Bottom line is, it wasn't terrible, but I'd prefer to spend my money somewhere else next time.
(2)Kristine B.
Okinawa is solid sushi; I had very basic rolls when I stopped in here (Salmon and Tuna/Eel) and everything tasted very crisp and fresh, but I think some of the people here forget Sushi Den exists, which is absolutely the best sushi in Denver. That being said, this place is open any time of the day for some solid fish, which definitely gives it a star up on most average sushi joints, and they have some rather inventive special rolls, as well as a very attentive staff and attractive, modern interior. I wouldn't say it was the best sushi I ever had, but it's solid and worth a visit.
(4)Karen H.
I came to Denver for business and tired out three of the top Yelp rated sushi places. Okinawa was hands down my favorite. All the places had comparable prices for their basic and specialty rolls. We ate here twice while visiting, once for lunch and once for dinner. At lunch the place wasn't too busy and the staff were very attentive. I ordered one of their three roll specials. The amount of fish in each was meager, but the price is pretty good for me. Two of my co-workers got the lunch boxes, and the meals were huge! If you come here for lunch, definitely consider getting a box if you are hungry! For round two, I ordered two specialty rolls (Salmon Mango Roll and Rainbow Roll). Given that the price of these rolls were comparable to the other sushi places I went, I expect to get just a little fish on these rolls. I was so excited when I got my sushi. They did NOT skimp. I hands-down love the Salmon Mango Roll. There is just so much salmon and the mango balances well with it. If you are going for a specialty roll, go for this one! I took a picture of my platter but it doesn't give it justice because it looks like a normal sized plate, I should have put something next to it for scale. It was a VERY big plate with good portions of fish. About the atmosphere, it is not the swankiest of places, but it is still a very nice atmosphere. All of the servers were really pleasant and jovial, if not jocular at times. If you are coming on a weekend night, consider making reservations if possible. Sitting at the sushi bar can be very entertaining; the sushi chefs are very creative in their presentation of the rolls. If you do sit at the bar, avoid sitting near the door on cold days, as there can be a draft. Summary: If I ever go back to Denver, I will definitely be eating here again because: More fish for money compared to other local places The fish is fresh tasting and the rolls are creative in a palatable way The overall ambiance is pleasant without being over the top Here for lunch?: Try a Lunch box meal Here for dinner?: Go for the Salmon Mango Roll!!!
(4)Conrad S.
I love Okinawa, the service is outstanding and the sushi is fresh and creative. I will be back, I have been back, and it never dissapoints.
(5)Luciana B.
I'm Brazilian and me and my family were craving for some good sushi in Denver! This one did not disappoint! It was awesome, the dishes were well served! I ordered sushi tacos that were INCREDIBLE!!!! Don't miss the chance to taste that! And then me and my brother split the sushi lovers or something similar... It was enough for the both of us! Great place, great sushi, great service... 5 stars!
(5)Brittany T.
Probably the best sushi in town. Period. Priced normally I suppose, but not too expensive. Great atmosphere here and at the Tennyson location its slightly more cozy. Sometimes have coupon months where you get 20% of your bill in a gift card for next time and buy one get one on drinks. Good HH but it changes I think
(5)Kam D.
My favorite of the 2nd tier of sushi places in Denver. It's not on the same level as Sushi Den or Sasa but it's still better than most of the other places. I've always been satisfied when ordering from here which is pretty often. Also, their happy hour is pretty solid with buy one get one drinks and discounted rolls.
(4)ChronicBuddzz B.
The ninja roll has me karate chopping my roommate in the head. Truly delicious. Also recommend trying the Okinawa roll. Eating sushi on Colfax rules.
(5)Ellie H.
I've been here a few times and have never been disappointed in the food. Giving 4 stars because I am always turned off when a sushi place smells like fish and the entire place smelt SO fishy the last time I was there, it was all my friends and I could talk about. The sushi didn't disappoint me but The smell definitely did. Lol
(4)Kat S.
Clean, tasty, free Dum-Dum's, not horribly over priced, with a good variety. Staff was friendly and efficient. I like efficient. Our server also made amazing and elaborate hand gestures every time he set something on our table. I will definitely go back.
(4)Alisha K.
Okinawa is consistently fresh and delicious, has great service and is one of my favorite sushi restaurants in Denver. Their plating is always elegant- every dish is carefully designed and is presented beautifully. Definitely try the Dragon Roll and the Ninja Roll- both are epic! They also have a great sake menu.
(5)Nat S.
Went for a friends birthday. Service was friendly. Rolls were good, not mind blowing in any way. I have not had mind blowing good sushi in Denver- as of yet. The presentation of the rolls is what makes this a little fancier. We had about ten rolls for our table. They were adequate. The spicy rolls had no crunch and had an unusually tangy taste. Is there cream cheese in the spicy sauce?Food was a three, service was a four or five.
(4)lauren k.
Great reliable sushi in denver. Service is sometimes a bit lacking with speed of clearing empty/dirty plates but overall a great experience. Very fresh, creative rolls and awesome japanese dishes too. Awesome happy hour!
(4)Steph G.
I am a sushi addict. There, I've acknowledged it. This was my 2nd sushi dinner in 4 days. Can we move on now? Okinawa really helped kill the craving. Yes, I get very intense sushi cravings. So intense that it's all I can think about if my stomach grumbles a little. I know, I have a problem! Service is friendly and efficient. It's a busy spot, but we were given great service despite the restaurant being nearly full. We ordered some rolls- golden roll and volcano roll. Also got some spicy tuna, yellowtail/scallion and spicy scallop crunch. The verdict? All DELICIOUS. Fresh, nicely made, and well presented. Can I ramble for a sec about how good the volcano roll was? It wasn't what I expected but it sure was tasty! It came with a spicy/sweet soy teriyaki-type sauce combo- usually not a saucy sushi fan but this was was yum. The jalapeño in it gave it some more kick. I do like my spice. :) I think it's worth mentioning that they do a sushi for 2 on the menu for $39 which I would have loved to try- 16 pcs of sushi plus 2 specialty rolls sounds like a great deal! My bf didn't like the plain fish on rice idea...he's not a sushi purist like me. I will get to it one of these days! Love Okinawa and I've been here a couple times now. It does not disappoint.
(4)Gabriel P.
Probably the best sushi I've ever had east of California. The fish was surprisingly fresh and very tasty, and the rolls are creative and well constructed with excellent presentation. Service was pretty good, ambiance is ok. Lots of interesting options on the menu but I have to give a shoutout for the cucunber-wrapped low carb rolls in particular.
(5)Raeanne J.
I was super excited to order from this place because they offer brown rice. So I decided to deviate from my normal place I order from. Myself and 3 co-workers checked out the menu online and were super stoked that the Sushi Lunch Combo (2 rolls and soup or salad) was only $8.50! We placed an order over the phone and picked it up. It wasn't until we got back to the office that we realized we were over charged for the sushi. They had charged $10 per person instead of $8.50. I called and spoke with a woman and she said the website price is wrong and they need to update it, they changed the pricing about 6 months ago. She also added verbatim, "If you don't believe us you can come in and look at our menu here and it says $10". I wouldn't have been as annoyed with the price difference if it were't for her last comment. It's definitely not geared towards customer service... Anyway the sushi here is not as good from where I am used to ordering from, so I will not be returning.
(2)Craig C.
This is my third time I have been to Okinawa. The fish is extremely well prepared and very fresh. The rolls are equally as good. There is nice selection of specialty rolls. Always a great meal.
(4)Hunter W.
One of our favorite sushi spots in Denver. Great happy hour, mildly inconsistent service, but delicious sushi. Perfect atmosphere to sit and relax while enjoying a variety of hand-made rolls. Check this place out.
(4)Natalie Q.
Possibly the best sushi in Denver. It's hard to find good sushi after traveling to Japan and San Fran, especially in Denver. This place has always wowed me with their selection and quality. The flavors are amazing and they always make the food look amazing.
(5)Kelly F.
Awesome lunch special! Ordered 3 rolls which came with miso soup or salad for $13. Totally affordable and delicious. I wasn't able to eat it all though :)
(4)Kristina V.
Loved this place! The sushi rolls were excellent and the service was even better. Coming from Chicago, this sushi ranks higher than any of the 10 sushi places I tried in Chicago, even those rated 3.5 stars and above. I will be back to this place for the Golden roll and Ninja roll.
(4)Mariela B.
Yum! Yum! Yum! I've eaten here a few times and have always had attentive and friendly service. The price is right (actually great during happy hour) and the sushi is DELICIOUS! I tried a different place recently and it was all hype. Had mediocre service and sushi there for twice the price. I'll be defaulting to Okinawa from now on!
(5)Kara A.
I'm very hesitant about eating fish in a landlocked state. Maybe it's because I've had a few bad experiences since we arrived here, but I decided to trust my fellow Yelpers on this one. Plus, our good friends really wanted sushi. We arrived here around 6:30 on a Saturday night. The place was busy and we had a short wait. There was one table in particular that was especially troubling for the hostess. They were reserving a table for a large party, but could not tell the hostess how large their party would be and appear to have been taking up space in several pushed together tables for more than a reasonable amount of time. The hostess, very frustrated, eventually came up to us and muttered some less than friendly things. While, admittedly, this was unprofessional, after witnessing the exchange between him and this party, we were understanding. Nevertheless, it was an interesting way to start off our evening. After about 10 minutes, we were seated and our friends arrived. We ordered sushi using the typical method (indicate how many of each roll on a piece of paper). Service was friendly and quick. Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised with the sushi. My one complaint is that the fish in my spicy roll seemed... mashed. It was an unpleasant texture and we didn't finish that particular roll as a result. I was told by my friend, however, that this is a method that seems to be specific to Colorado, which is interesting and will certainly make me think twice before ordering spicy rolls in the future. The atmosphere is nice. It doesn't feel cheap, like some sushi spots, and it also isn't overly formal. It's a good spot to grab some good sushi with friends on the weekend. We'll definitely return! We just won't order a spicy roll.
(4)Kate R.
I have had really good sushi here. The prices are great for lunches and happy hour. But on Thursday the service was so slow it was ridiculous AND when I checked my bank account, Okinawa had kindly added themselves a dollar on to the tip amount I already left! For the service I got that night, my tip amount was already too much. Not impressed.
(2)Shelley P.
The best sushi that I've ever had was in San Fran, so it's really hard to give any place a five-star review after that. I mean, c'mon, how many inland places are going to have that advantage? That said, this place is pretty dang delicious. My husband and I went there on an impromptu date night at the behest of a friend of his. We asked him his favorite place in the neighborhood (he owns a tattoo shop up the street, and knows the area well) and he gave us the name of this place. We got the California roll, the spicy tuna roll, and the Titanic roll. I liked the spicy tuna and Titanic rolls the best, but it was all fresh and delicious. The atmosphere is perfect for a date night, not too loud and cozy for such a cold night.
(4)Normon K.
Terrible. Luke warm beer, "sushi" all tasted like mayonese. Worst sushi I've tried in Denver. You're better off going anywhere else
(1)Noah P.
Okinawa is fantastic. I am no sushi connoisseur, but I do eat sushi about 4 days a week/ make my own sushi when I don't have the time to go out. Okinawa is my go to when I need my sushi fix for sure. There's no gimmicks when it comes to ordering a straight up piece of fish. The service at this place will make you feel at home ( Servers are obviously working their shifts, but they care about your well being.). The servers are the nicest people. They remember my face/ family, and make it a point to make sure I enjoy my meal 100%. Every order of fish is just as fresh as if I were to get a piece from my man Gus at Seafood Landing up in the highlands. If you are someone who enjoys fish, and not just a gimmicky tasting roll, check out Okinawa for sure. The guys behind the sushi bar are very pleasant, and will help you find out what your pallet craves. I come from the coast, and I really hate Denver's reputation of sushi to be a fancy imitation crab roll wrapped with a "special" sauce to be our sushi image. Thanks Okinawa for being awesome! I'll see you tomorrow for some Uni before my shift. I'm the Uni guy '
(5)Esther C.
I had been here many years ago for dinner, but don't remember my experience, which means it must have been mediocre. We came in today for lunch as the taco place next door had a 45 minute wait and also was notorious for being really loud and obnoxious, so we opted to go here as it seemed less busy and quiet. The food was fine, but the price point was awesome! We received a lot of food for what we paid for, and the service was outstanding (hence the 4 stars)! Even though the food didn't knock my socks off, it was good (quality of the fish was quite fresh). The bathrooms were also immaculate! I would definitely come back again.
(4)H B.
Service with a smile and sushi too! The outside patio was great to frequent in warmer weather. Server was knowledgeable on fish options and quick. She also knew her sake and helped us to choose the right bottle. I've heard that Okinawa is the best sushi in Denver and I'd have to agree that it's right up there. Parking is available but only a hand full of spots so street parking is your next best option. This is in a very busy part of town that doesn't have much available street parking. Although we learned later that there is a pay parking lot kiddy corner to the restaurant.
(4)Marisa M.
Most important bit to know about Okinawa- they offer a sensationally savory lychee sake. Not served the traditional way with the cute little Japanese shot glass things- instead they were served in wine glasses but that is just me being nit-picky. Our server was fantastic- friendly and chatty and chalk-full of good suggestions on what to order (what kind of a weird compound noun is that? "Chalk-full"?). Anyhow, the sushi was great, but nothing that would make me rant and rave and write a few odes and soliloquies in its honor. The Spicy Girl roll was great, it was one of the specialties so a bit expensive. The salmon roll and the sweet potato tempura roll were tasty and cheap. ALSO, for anyone who has read my previous reviews, you know I am a HUGE brown rice lover, and my inner health-nut instantly did a back flip of excitement when I saw that Okinawa had this option. A side note- only my inner health-nut can do back flips. I'm not sure how to rate the price range here- the specialty rolls were $10 and over, and the generic rolls, from which there were MANY to choose, were all below $10. So... yeah.
(4)Elizabeth A.
When it comes to Sushi, there are two main types of sushi joints. The special occasion places where you go knowing you're going to drop some coin (yea, I said that), and your neighborhood restaurants that you can actually end up frequenting. Okinawa is definitely no Sushi Den or Sushi Sasa, but as for neighborhood joints, this is definitely at the high quality end. Standard neighborhood sushi prices, but the quality here is much better than most. It can be a gamble at some sushi places, but the quality of the sashimi and sushi here is much better than most. We ate here again over the weekend and were in time for happy hour. Happy hour here is a great way to get some food in your belly before a night out drinking, while getting well on your way with their BOGO sake and beer. We started with Edamame and the Yellowtail Jalapeno appetizer which was fresh, delicious, and not overly spicy. Then we had the Golden Roll which was tasty while different than more traditional rolls, as it had mango and cilantro. We also shared the Chirashi, which is my go to (rather than Sashimi plates) at sushi restaurants. Typically, Chirashi comes over a bed of sushi rice which has pickled vegetables mixed in. The presentation was a bit different here, as there was a bed of rice, but it was on a place and overall it looked more like a Sashimi plate. I digress...the Chirashi was excellent for a neighborhood place. When you get the same number of pieces as the Sashimi plate, yet Chirashi is cheaper and comes with pickled veg, why wouldn't you opt for this over the Sashimi? Overall, another great meal at Okinawa. Not 5 star because, well, it's not Sushi Den, Sushi Sasa, or Sushi Tora, but Okinawa is definitely one of the best neighborhood sushi joints around and they have a great happy hour which is great for throwing back a few.
(4)Clint C.
I've been pretty lazy writing these lately but this place deserved a write up. This place is legit and fresh as you're gonna get if you're a true sushi fan.
(5)Jacque R.
Okinawa is really the only sushi restaurant that we go to. It's our first choice always when we want sushi. It's consistent with its fresh fish, never too "fishy" and is always delicious and beautiful presentation. We keep it simple and get sushi and sashimi and an occasional roll, but bc everything is so fresh, we keep it simple! The owner Thomas always takes time to talk and drink sake with us to show his appreciation for our business. The wait staff is collaborative and helps out all tables. Service is great too. We love coming here!
(5)Lauren H.
I moved away from Denver and every time i go back i go here! Golden Roll... enough said... just get it!!
(5)Tricia K.
Came here with co-workers for lunch and yum! Lunch specials include three rolls for $12 or a bento box for $8. Decent food for a good price. Stars go down for me though because our food was so slow coming out. Something important to think about for a work lunch. And when food finally did come, the last person out of four in our group, did not receive their food for ~20mins. To the point where the others had to stop eating or they would have finished before the last person got their dish. When it finally came out, the server kept blaming the kitchen saying it's not her fault... So, overall I am just not sure about this place.
(3)Brian S.
A very special hidden gem on Colfax. Genuinely good fish and rolls, and the prices are right in line with where they should be. Having lived a block off Colfax back when there were no restaurants or nice places to hang out, I have a prejudice against anything on Colfax, but as I try more places, like Okinawa, I find myself being very pleasantly surprised. This place is clean, contemporary and has an intimate feel to it, almost like a date-night place, but it still has a group hang out feel as well. Our waiter was friendly and fast, knowing we had a show to get to. The fish and rolls were very good. The eel was awesome, and the Titanic roll was incredible. The Rainbow roll was also very good. Definitely recommended - give this place a shot!
(4)Google U.
I consider myself a bit of a sushi snob. Their blue fin tuna and green muscles are some of the best ive ever had. Great service stays open late. Owner is hilarious.
(5)Jesse N.
I loved the food, interesting menu and the fish was very fresh. We had the sushi "sandwich" and it was awesome! Love that they are creative with the menu and not afraid to make something different. The staff was friendly and attentive. Get there early, gets crowded on the weekends, but worth the wait.
(4)Sy S.
Nice location. Overall, the food and service was great. If you're looking for a nice little sushi spot, you found it. The addition of the free warm saki was a bonus.. Enjoy!
(4)Steph B.
Firstly, the sushi was outrageously good, superb sushi that I wish I could eat again and make it 2 nights in a row. That good. However, the service was inadequate. They only received 4 stars and not less because the food was excellent, albeit a long wait to get the food. I made a reservation for Friday night. When we got to the restaurant, the host did not look at a reservation list or anything and seemed unorganized and unable to seat us. After about 15 minutes we were seated, and then waited a long time before even being acknowledged by anyone. We ordered drinks that took a while to get to us, and shortly after ordering said drinks (2 bottles of saki - one cold, on hot) we ordered our dinner and then wait about 30 mins for our food - just sushi. My friend had also order a miso soup that never made it to him. Overall, the service was not good - really slow and never very concerned with our experience. I didn't feel like a well-treated guest. With that said, the food was spectacular. Really fresh, interesting and delicious sushi. We got some sashimi and also special hand rolls. The Spicy Tuna Naruto roll (a "low carb roll" wrapped in cucumber) was excellent. Also got the Spicy Girl Roll and Golden Roll as well as yellowtail (sashimi), albacore tuna (sashimi) and spicy scallop (sushi). Delicious.
(4)Kate C.
Okinawa is as good as it gets. Been my go-to sushi joint for years, since they opened. Service is phenomenal, food is fantastic and there is very rarely too long of a wait. It's pleasantly busy on a Friday/Saturday night, but the service does not suffer. Recommend the tuna appetizer, it's a definite fave.
(5)Likheng N.
Solid sushi for a reasonable price. We ordered the sushi and sashimi boat for two and were surprised by how filling it was. The lychee sake is a must! There was no wait for a table for two on Thursday night and service was excellent.
(4)Cari B.
Great service, great prices, great food. The wait staff can be charming, they are very respectful of my food allergies and I have never had a bad experience.
(4)Winnie P.
Great lunch buys 2 rolls (limited menu) $9 or 3 rolls = $12 both with miso or salad. the rolls are not your big fancy one but you will be full. Box lunch deals too. Very colorful but the bar chiefs are not chatty or smiley. Nothing I've had is bad and I've tried a lot on this this menu. They've been here for years but as Sushi Heights. Real green tea. Parking is in the back so don't try to find a meter. Service is speedy and take out is a breeze.
(4)Thomas N.
The worst Japanese dining experience I have had in Denver, without question. After ordering a selection of both appetizers and sushi, nothing stood out. The "tempura" items were served at room temperature and the batter had the consistency of the thickest beer battered fish. The rolled items from the sushi menu fell apart with the slightest touch and tasted less than fresh. Overall, Okinawa is expensive and offers low quality Japanese food with service to match.
(2)Kindra W.
This is a great restaurant. The ambiance is perfect for a couple or a small group. The service is always friendly and the food is as fresh as it gets. My husband and I frequent this local sushi spot for its consistency in quality. It is worth the wait on a popular Friday or Saturday evening.
(4)Amy Z.
Wow! The experience was amazing. They were mindful of presentation, taste, and service. Absolutely will return in the future.
(5)Richard R.
Solid sushi for a joint on Colfax. I was a bit confused because the door isn't on the corner of Colfax and York as I imagined. Rather, it's a few paces east of the corner so don't pull a Richard and yank on the wrong door before reading the sign. Great atmosphere with high ceilings, an open dining area and of course the option for sitting at the bar. The fact that Dolly Parton was playing as we walked in was fun! We arrived late on a Tuesday evening and were promptly seated, drink orders taken and the sushi decisions commenced. Overall I would give 4 stars for the food. The presentation of each roll was done well and it was made quickly. The unagi was good, not great and the same goes for the shrimp tempura. This place isn't trying to be anything fancy so I would for sure say it's A-OK. Had to detract stars for the slooooow service at the end of our meal. I understand we were one of the last tables close to closing time. But when our plates have been cleared and our wine glasses emptied that might be a cue to bring the bill over instead of just letting folks sit around. We would have been gone much quicker if we didn't have to flag down a server to get the bill and then 10-15 minutes later do it again to have her run the card. All in all this is a good place to fulfill your sushi fix. It's got a good location if you can find parking around The Fax. Good food, decent wine, a bit of help needed on the service but a nice dining experience none the less. It's a good thing I liked my date cuz that awkward wait for the bill would have been worse if he was lame...
(3)Shannon C.
My best friend and I ventured here since it's near her new place. We decided to order a few rolls to share and a bottle of wine. The price was right on the bottle of wine, but it wasn't anything spectacular. All of the rolls we got, especially the spicy tuna and the rainbow roll, were fresh and delicious. We stuck to the regular rolls, as the "special" ones were quite pricey. Hopefully I can venture back here during happy hour to try out some more of their sushi.
(4)Shea S.
After reading numerous positive reviews and hearing that they might be related to Go Fish (one of my fav sushi spots in town), I thought this might be a good place for a nice but reasonable sushi dinner. I was correct in that assumption. Okinawa might be my new favorite sushi spot in Denver. They have a large assortment of rolls to choose from, including some fantastic vegetarian rolls. Note, I'm a card carrying carnivore, but these veggie rolls are great! The avocado peanut was unique and delicious (I liked the crunch of the peanuts with the avocado), while the sweet potato roll is essentially tempura fried sweet potato fries cut and put into a roll (also delicious). They also have a tempura fried asparagus roll that I assume is like Go Fish's, which is perhaps my favorite roll there. We also tried the lobster roll (not to be confused with the Maine version) and spicy Yellowtail tuna roll - both fresh and tasty too. Clean and modern with excellent friendly service, Okinawa has an extensive list of fresh and delicious sushi at a very reasonable price. I was stunned at how affordable everything was and how much you get for your buck. And I wasn't even there during happy hour, where many of the same great rolls are even cheaper. Parking is atrocious in this area, but it's worth it, whether on a date or for happy hour.
(4)Ynhi P.
Hate the limited meter parkings. Other than that, the place is great. Decors were simple and contemporary which I love. Got a romantic feel to it, so maybe better for a couple date night rather than a group catch up type of thing?!?!! The server was fast, prompt, and friendly. We were seated and offered drinks right away. We had the baked bay scallop which is pretty much dynamite sauce on top of scallops. Presentation were beautiful. Tastes wonderful. Sashimi deluxe we had was good, nothing more special than other sushi restaurants except for the presentation. The roll we had, which I cant recall on the nam at the moment, was less than good - tasted bland, supposedly there were spicy tuna ontop of the roll, but we werent able to even taste any of the spicy kick from it. We ordered chicken udon after our sushi fix and it came out stir fried. I was disappointed because i was expecting an udon soup not stir fried, but we thought we would give it a try since it smelled so good and it was pretty darn good.
(3)Chad R.
Came in for a to go dinner. Placed my order, and waited, and waited, and waited. Admired the skilled craftsmanship behind the sushi bar. Eventually left with a partial order yet charged full price (silly me for not checking the order when I got to the car after it took as long as it did). Might go back but certainly for dine in and not take out.
(2)Jessika M.
Shrek Roll is a must get!!! Also the perfect intro for sushi newbies. Edamame were the norm, service fine. Not disappointed and certainly left satisfied. Parking can be an issue on certain nights but if you've been anywhere on Colfax on a Fri/Sat you know what you're in for.
(4)Jane D.
The service, food and atmosphere at Okinawa is always top notch! The attention to detail is consistently present and you can't beat the price. This has always been one of my favorite places in Denver for Sushi. The Seaweed salad, Sashimi, edamame and miso are hands down my favorite! But if you ask Thomas, (one of the owners who's ALWAYS there), to make you something special, he will not disappoint.
(5)Lindsey B.
We stopped in at Okinawa on Colfax for Linner one Saturday - and were pleasantly surprised by the happy hour menu (2:30 - 5:30 daily) - not just weekdays. The happy hour includes 2 for 1 sake, beer, wine and discounts on certain apps, sushi rolls and featured rolls. (Warning - I skew vegetarian in my sushi choices.) Of the four rolls we ordered, the Fried Sweet Potato roll was the absolute best, and from what I can tell the general public feels the same way. So for veggies and carnivores alike - give it a try! The Volcano Roll was also excellent - so many flavors, and perfectly spicy jalapeños. Our server had the perfect level of attentiveness - no empty drinks, but also didn't hover. Food was fast, as were the drinks. Definitely a neighborhood go to. livelaughdenver.com
(4)Mary W.
Volcano roll for the win!!
(5)Stephanie S.
Came here a while ago to celebrate a friend's belated birthday. I ordered the rolls (Angel roll and Snow White roll) and when she saw my selections, she was not impressed. However, when they arrived, they did NOT last long! We even ordered a second Snow White. I think the Snow White roll is my fave roll in Denver. The service is great and the prices are competitive. Since it's right up the street from my place, I'm afraid I'll be hanging out here more and more! Sushi anyone?
(5)Max C.
Pretty fancy sushi place with good selection and amazing arrangements. Definitely priced for it though. I also like that the rolls don't have an exorbitant amount of rice like some other places! Would come back here if we had company and wanted to take them to a fancy sushi place.
(4)Gail O.
After living on the west coast and being spoiled in SF and Seattle on the freshest fish, I finally found a place that comes close to them in Denver. Okinawa is delish! I can't speak for their speciality rolls, as I always get the Nigiri or Sashimi, but they have the best selection of interesting fresh fish around. Granted you can go elsewhere and pay a lot more for more exotic choices, but fresh Uni, Horse Mackerel, Toro and live sea scallop are just some of the yummy treats they get in regularly. I also had Japanese oysters for the first time after consuming my weight in Puget Sound and Pacific Coast oysters. They were surprisingly fresh and delicate! Happy hour is a must as it is 2 for 1 wine and sake. This isn't boring Robert Mondavi coastal junk either. The wine list is brief but well compiled.I enjoy the Albarino and the Chenin Blanc.
(5)Gretchen G.
Sushi on Colfax? Yeah that sounds crazy but its so yummy. The ambiance is done well so you forget your on Colfax. I highly recommend the Lover roll which consists of avocado, spicy tuna and yellow tail wrapped inside a slice of tuna which they shape into hearts.
(4)Carly B.
We've been here twice and have gotten take-out a handful of times. If you're sick of waiting for your table at Pinche then head over to Okinawa. Even though they're busy too, they'll probably have a table for you. This (I believe) is owned by the same folks behind Go Fish so if you like that place, you'll probably like this place too. I like their numerous veggie rolls and more creative sushi rolls incorporating fruit. One of my surprising favorites is the avocado and peanut roll (presented just as it sounds, with avocado and peanuts). The peanuts lend a great texture. I also really enjoy their avocado salad. The base is a bed of greens mixed with a sweet soy ginger dressing and is topped with thinly sliced avocados, little puffed rice balls (like the kind that are in KIND bars) and served with wasabi vinaigrette for drizzling. This salad is one of the instances where I'm glad I'm a bit more nimble with chopsticks than the husband (more for me). It's also not terribly priced (not unlike Go Fish). In the last case, about $55 (pre-tip) got us vegetable tempura, avocado salad, inari, three veggie rolls, a fancier specialty mango roll and a small bottle of dry sake to share.
(4)Annette M.
Japon closed :( so came here for first time after reading the great yelp reviews, Early lunch surprisingly gets full of high schoolers. Service was excellent but we were really unimpressed with the sushi. Very little rice on the rolls and little fish. We tried several new rolls recommended by our server .... Spider-Man and Shrek roll were heavy on mayo? and oddly tasted like a sandwich. Blah, Those were left on the plate. I did enjoy the hot tea, salmon skin roll and the seaweed salad but unfortunately we will not be back.
(2)Jen W.
Had not been here in quite some time and was pleasantly surprised as I think the food has improved. The place was pretty empty as there was a Broncos game on and we were served quickly. We were on our way to a movie so it was a 30 minute bite of very fresh and flavorful sashimi. Glad I gave them another shot. Our waiter was hilarious and made it an entertaining visit. Parking is always hit and miss on Colfax.....
(4)Emily T.
Have you ever tried mochi ice cream? I hadn't even heard of it until I visited Okinawa and now my cravings for it will never let me forget. Do yourself a favor and order it for your dessert. You're welcome in advance. But, you probably care less about green tea ice cream wrapped in a pounded Japanese rice cake and more about the sushi. So, about that sushi, it's fresh and presented nicely. I personally prefer ordering rolls over sashimi and fortunately for me, they have an extensive menu, which includes several veggie-roll options. Our table enjoyed ordering several rolls (each under $10) and divvying up the pieces, so that we could try a bit of everything - favorites being the spicy yellowtail and spider roll. Worth noting for those of you avoiding carbs, Okinawa offers low-carb sushi rolls, where cucumber is subbed in for rice, which I haven't seen elsewhere. Okinawa is the kind of space that feels welcoming whether you're dining solo (they have a bar), on a date, or with a group. I know I'll be back and for more than just the mochi ice cream!
(4)Micky B.
The layout of the restaurant is intimate and relaxing while the staff is fun and attentive. I almost always have a small panic attack after I order at any sushi restaurant that I may leave still hungry, but not here. A great spot for a nice dinner any day of the week and a real gem for Colfax.
(4)Lauren B.
The boyfriend and I had some serious sushi cravings when last we were in Denver, so I whipped out my Yelp app and made a quick search to see what our options were. Okinawa was a great choice! We've been spoiled, growing up in California, so I find I'm often skeptical when ordering sushi in a landlocked state. Okinawa did not disappoint. We started off with a salad (him) and miso soup (me), both of which were excellent. We had a sweet potato roll (delicious, I highly recommend ordering this), AAC roll (avocado, asparagus, cucumber - not bad if you like your veggies), mango roll (I'm a sucker for a little bit of sweet with my sushi), spicy tuna roll (classic), and a lobster roll whose name escapes me. Everything was delicious though. I was also a fan of the service. The staff was very attentive and friendly. We felt well taken care of. The restaurant was a bit quiet when we were there for an early dinner, so I'm not sure how crowded it gets. Sushi ain't cheap, so prepare your wallet! Also be sure to grab a lollipop on your way out the door.
(4)Nic H.
Finally, another sushi restaurant in Denver that I actually enjoyed! I wasn't too sure about the atmosphere at first; it seemed a bit too formal and pretentious for my tastes, but then I sat down. Those chairs, oh my. I feel ridiculous mentioning chairs in a review, but their chairs are like magic insta-comfort butt-clouds. Okay, enough about chairs. On to the main attraction: the SUSHI! Presentation has been gorgeous and unique every time we've visited, regardless of what we order. Everything is beautifully made and wonderfully fresh. I've lost track of everything we've tried so far, but the Golden Roll, King Maki Roll, Black Dragon Roll and Titanic Roll have been some of our favorites. Their Sushi for Two boat was great too, and very reasonably priced. Speaking of prices, their happy hour is pretty damn awesome. Cheap appetizers, rolls (including a few special rolls), and two-for-one drinks? Yeah, I can deal with that! Extra points for our last visit. We brought my dad along--and my dad doesn't do sushi. We were pleasantly surprised to find that Okinawa's kitchen entrees are just as impressive as their sushi. My dad ordered the Diver Scallops, which he said were delicious. I can't verify that myself, as they disappeared rather quickly, but they certainly looked good! Gah, now I want to go back again. Must find some excuse to go to Denver again soon. We do still need to try their live scallops, after all! The only downside I've run into so far: the service isn't quite there at times. Some of the servers are friendly and helpful (and even recognize us when we come in), others...just don't measure up.
(4)Melanie R.
I went to Okinawa with a party of six on a Friday evening, we called ahead to see if they could accommodate us and they said no problem it would be 10 minutes. We arrived about 10-15 minutes later and had to wait about 10 minutes so not bad considering it was a Friday night. My friend has an allergy to shellfish so we advised the waitress and she was helpful with any questions relating to ingredients etc. What I love about Okinawa is that the rolls are not huge, you can actually fit the whole piece in your mouth without feeling like a chipmunk or eating only half the roll to have the other half fall apart! Well done Okinawa. The food and service was good and there was some interesting people watching. I would definitely go back. The reason for only 4 stars instead of 5 is that we ordered the fatty tuna and it is "MP" so you expect it to be great and although it was good we have had better so that was a tad disappointing.
(4)Nicole W.
AMAZING!!! Amazing sushi and rolls: Ichiban roll- wow sweet potato roll - mmmm Black Volcano - very tasty Rainbow roll - tasty eggplant sushi - wow - so good tamago - pretty good eel - so so spicy girl - anh The calimari was by far the best i've had in a very long time! Place is cute and small - parking is the suck. Manager/maitre de/all around do it all guy - he was fabulous - made funny jokes, interacted with the tables - just a great asset to the restaurant. Definitely a busy place - so go early! No reservation on friday and saturday! And they aren't a fan of more than 1 sushi order - so try and get it right the first time! I will definitely be back - this place is great and has amazing sushi!
(5)Adam S.
I think it's fair to say that this was easily the best sushi experience I've had in Denver so far. The sashimi was fresh, well portioned, and delicious. The rolls were fantastic. We had the lobster tempura roll and the shrek roll and both were outstanding. The place is low key and does not give off that "see and be seen" trendy vibe of some of the other sushi spots in Denver. It was a tad on the pricey side, but I suppose that is par for the course for good sushi in a landlocked state. Anyway, this place is great and I will be back as soon as I can be.
(5)Amari M.
never coming back i got the dragon roll n my freinds thr california roll the rolls were tiny!!!!!!!!!! we were like wth??? the dragon roll tasted like california roll and the california like u buy at the grocery store the prices are the same as other places idk why anyone would pay the same amount for wayyy less its not worth it sushi isnt good horrible no wonder it was empty
(1)john W.
Watch out Hapa. We've wanted a non-Hapa sushi option for a long time, and Okinawa is it. Great staff, like truly awesome and great. I haven't like service staff this much in a long time! The spicy girl, black dragon, ichiban rolls are all good. The Calamari is OMFG good. We almost ordered another order of the stuff. Definitely a popular place.
(5)Justin H.
Bomb. We had the Ichiban Roll, super white tuna, sea urchin, and then more super white tuna. Everything we ate was delicious. We sat at the sushi counter, and I was as equally impressed by the quality of the food coming out as I was with he precision and care of the staff that prepped it. Service was great. Happy hour was ridiculously good too. We also drank two of those big Kirin Ichiban beers, and two warm sakes. Our tab was less than $60?! I'll be back.
(5)R V.
Great food, great presentation, great service, great atmosphere. Loud - but that's not a real detractor. Great restaurant!
(4)Kat A.
My favorite server from Go Fish relocated to this fantastic new sushi restaurant - yay Thomas! I finally got around to visiting Okinawa (haaaa) a couple weeks ago, and I was really pleased with everything, save for the very unappealing task of finding parking in the neighborhood amongst the rampant construction. My dining companion had the steak teriyaki and was really happy with his meal, and I had - well, I had a really ridiculous amount of sushi. The highlight of my meal was the salmon nigiri - sooo delicious. The spicy tuna roll was also really tasty. As a starter, I tried their cucumber salad. It was great, but heads up, folks, that particular palate pleaser is a hot one, thanks to a healthy dose of wasabi. I killed it, though. Killed it dead. The prices were absolutely reasonable. The seating was crazy comfortable. The people watching? I mean, come on, you're right on Colfax. Unsurpassed. And the food was great, as was the service.
(4)Geoff H.
This place rocks! Laid back atmosphere, yet refined enough for a classy date night or a relaxed date night. Service was very friendly and prompt. Food was served quickly and tasted great; you can tell quality ingredients are used. Specials are always unique and thoughtful as are the specialty rolls on the menu. Walked in at 6:30 on a Friday and was immediately sat. Value was nearly spot on, just a bit high priced, but for the location, I understand. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Claire S.
Came here last night to celebrate one of our many anniversaries . Hands down this is the best sushi restaurant we have been to in Denver so far. My husband ordered enough sushi and sashimi for 4 but we ate it all!! So good. The sashimi is fresh, definitely best anywhere around here and the boat they made us was so pretty! The Shrek roll is amazing ah mah gah! All in all just fantastic food, vibe is cozy not trendy which I love for sushi. So happy we tried this place :)
(5)Leah D.
After hearing that my longtime love Sushi Den had steeply increased its prices since last I ate there, hubby and I decided to try out Okinawa on Colfax for a sushi date. I was quite happy with our meal, which included a nice array of sashimi, a tempura shrimp roll, and a sweet potato roll. Not a bad bite in the lot of it, and a nice atmosphere, too. Being walking distance from Twist & Shout and Tattered Cover doesn't suck, either.
(4)Cara M.
Absolutely wonderful spot, left a tip that was much more of a review. Regardless, this spot is amazing and I wish I had somewhere as good as this back home!
(5)Tiffany N.
I always found it amusing when I lived in California and people asked if I was so glad to have the opportunity to eat "good" sushi again because the truth is there are plenty of places in Denver that make sushi just to my liking. And it turns out that Okinawa is one of them. On a recent dinner date Sir Nicholas and I ordered way too much food to finish which was a shame, but my propensity for wanting to try lots of dishes got the best of me. We had a few rolls and a few pieces of sashimi. While I'm having a terrible time remembering the names of the rolls I do know that we had one that was spicy tuna, one that was a "low carb" version of the spicy tuna (wrapped in cucumber without rice), an unagi roll, and then one made with Kobe beef and fried asparagus that I wanted to try for novelty's sake. That last one was weirdly reminiscent of a cheesesteak, which is good, but I'm not necessarily sure it's a flavor many people would crave when sushi is on their mind. Everything, though, was fresh and tasted great. The low carb tuna roll was especially interesting because they cucumber wrap gave it a crunchy texture that melded well with the texture of the spicy tuna. I'm not sure how long it's been since Okinawa replaced Nohana, but I absolutely adore the changes. The atmosphere during our dinner was lively and energetic, but not too loud, which is nice when you want to hear what the person across the table from you is saying without having to shout at one another. And even though we stopped in after 9, it was still fairly crowded. (Just a note they do close at 10 and I believe they'll stop seating tables a little before that as I saw a couple come in for dinner and the only option they were given was take-out at around 9:45 pm.)
(4)Anthony N.
I've heard great things about this place so I had to check it out. From the outside, I thought it'd be a lot bigger, but it's a good size for a small group of friends and the amount of food you get for the price can't be beat. But quality of quantity, yes? Well, seeing as we were starving, we kind of over-ordered.. big time. Among the rolls we ordered were was one that surprisingly took the crown and became a hit amongst our friends - the sweet potato rolls! You gotta try it. It's damn mmm-mmmm good. All in all - a great spot that we might even consider frequenting more often if start hanging out more around the area. Parking is kind of a pain (as expected being between one-way streets and Colfax), but you can't really argue with such fresh sushi at a bargain price point!
(4)David R.
I was a little nervous to try Okinawa at first, since I didn't think any sushi restaurant off of Colfax would be decent. I've been eating sushi since age 5, and was thoroughly impressed with the quality, service, and ambiance during my visit. Even the music was amazing. The main kicker for me was the Ami-Ebi (raw sweet shrimp) If a restaurant can serve this to my standards, they can serve anything. They also add a sauce to the fired heads which I've never had before, and it was excellent. For some perspective: I've been to Sushi Den and it's sister restaurant, and was not impressed. They are both very over-hyped and over priced. Okinawa Sushi is truly a diamond in the rough. I've from Southern California and this is on par with some of the best sushi out there.
(5)David R.
We've doing doing lunch here for a long time, the bento box is a great deal and a lot of food. Went for dinner for the 1st time last week, and we were blown away. As good as Sushi Den but half the price.
(5)Sarah V.
Stay away from the raw tuna here...my boyfriend and I both got food poisoning this weekend from the sushi. When I called to let them know what had happened the manager didn't sound surprised and offered nothing in the way of an apology. I will not be back.
(1)Tara L.
Probably the best sushi I've had in Denver and very reasonably priced! I've tried several different rolls and never been let down. The seaweed salad is delish!
(4)Tara L.
We are so lucky to live near Okinawa. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked it, being a picky sushi eater. The spicy than is great. Fish quality is consistently good and so are the rolls.
(5)Clare V.
High-quality sushi that isn't overpriced. The waitress recommended some cold sake that went great with our edamame and hand-rolls. Unlike some of the other sushi restaurants in town, Okinawa's hand rolls have lots of great seafood that isn't all tempura. They also have gluten-free soy sauce and are very knowledgeable about what sauces I needed to have on the side. Great City Park Neighborhood restaurant!
(4)alan c.
In town for work and knowing that this landlocked city somehow manages to produce high quality sushi joints we found this gem on YELP! Fellow Yelpers, thanks for the advice. We ordered the sashimi platter for two and the shrek roll and us two big guys with big appetites were more than satisfied. The presentation was bizarre and a bit over the top (flashing lights and a giant salad bowl with a block of ice and tree branches and fresh seaweed...) but the quality of the fish was spectacular and the portions ample. Nice place, attentive service, quality fish and fair prices ! Bravo. We will be back.
(4)Janice A.
I usually don't write reviews unless I was somehow compelled by the extraordinary deliciousness and quality of food OR it was a miserable experience in which I would like to spare others from experiencing. Unfortunately, this would be a disappointing experience more so for the service. Rude. Rude. Rude. We arrived for happy hour and were seated in a corner table covered with dust and debris in the sauce dish and table top. Asked if we could move tables and was met with a hostile waitress "go ahead!" Throughout the meal, we ordered off their happy hour menu and it was alright. Salmon, super white tuna, clams, and volcano roll. Didn't think it was worth the price. The other staff members were standing around while we struggled to juggle our oversized plates and the waiter even tried to shuffle our plates around. Hello, please take away the plates we had already finished! Then there would be more room. Overall, mediocre experience and would not return.
(1)Patrick S.
So, embarassed that I have been remiss in reviewing Okinawa...living in Cheesman does not afford one alot of sushi opportunities within walking distance...this however, is one of them. My first visit was during their grand opening event. My good friend Russ and I decided to give it a shot and we were not disappointed. Everything we tried was delish...lots of rolls and some yellowtail sashimi (none for me thanks). The service was impeccable and we were treated to a sample from the manager...nice touch! Just last week the Doctor and I revisited with our good friends to introduce them to a new sushi joint, not in LOHI. Once again, it was all 5 x 5...with one exception...the Yakisoba. We ordered a salmon roll that just was not as fresh as we expected. A quick word with the manager and we were treated to a delicious replacement at no cost...the Yakisoba was a bit non-descript but palateable. Since it wasn't even on the menu and made to suit the non-sushi lover in the crowd we will give them a push...A for effort, C for results... 4 of us gorged and the bill was about $60...I am good with that!
(4)Amberley D.
Fantastic! Started with miso soup which was piping hot and delicious. Two of us had five rolls total and ate all but three pieces! The service was excellent, everyone we encountered was polite, our water was always full and I would say it was overall a great experience. I'll be back as often as I can!
(5)J A A.
I've tried this place a couple of times, and have not been impressed. It's always crowded though - guess because it's the only sushi joint in the area
(2)Cheyne M.
Very good sushi and atmosphere. I've been here twice and just stuffed myself after watching soccer at the Three Lions Pub. I don't remember what I ate b/c I was trashed... but I remember I liked it both times... I'll be back sober sometime...
(4)Dan G.
This place is great and right around the corner form or house. Fish is super fresh and rice is so nice. However, look out for the manager, my wife named him Travis... This guy has been hanging out at two table during or time here and does not stop talking... Lol, he's a good enough guy and thankfully stayed away from our table. I will come back here for sure
(4)Katie W.
Smallest cuts of fish I've ever had at a sushi restaurant. For $20 I got 2 pieces of salmon nigiri, 2 pieces of yellowfin nigiri and a shrimp tempura roll were all about half the size of any other sushi restaurant in town. Good quality, but definitively not good value for what you get.
(2)px b.
The best sushi in Denver, possibly the best sushi ever! Very imaginative and creative. Loved the Volcano Roll and Angel Roll. Reasonably priced.
(5)Ben K.
My fiance and I first tried this place shortly after it opened. We both are sushi lovers and love all the interesting rolls that Okinawa does that you can't find anywhere else. Some of our favorites are the Mango Roll, Angel Roll, Kobe Beef Roll, Snow White Roll, and the Titanic Roll. We've also always had great service, especially from Thomas! Highly recommend this place to all of our friends. If we want sushi in Denver this is the only place we go.
(5)Sara L.
I thoroughly enjoy Okinawa. They get four stars because even though their sushi is amazing, I've had better, but I prefer to go to Okinawa because their price is better. Location is perfect but that applies to me because I live nearby. They have a great selection and their sushi truly is delicious.
(4)Bruce F.
Last night Okinawa hit it out of the park! I ordered sushi togo for a party of 24 people. I ordered the food about a month in advance. When I arrived for pick up the chefs were busy making everything fresh. What a relief they didn't just pull it out of a fridge. I had four giant platters. EVERYONE loved how fresh and delicious the sushi was and EVERYONE wanted to know where it was from. Dine in or take out Okinawa is a home run!
(5)Laura P.
As a vegan, it can be hard to find a sushi place that I am willing to spend any money at. Okinawa is an exception because they have many vegetarian rolls for me to choose from, that after several visits I still have yet to try them all. Most sushi places have one or maybe two veggie rolls, but Okinawa puts effort into coming up with several unique and tasty vegetarian options. I especially like the avocado and peanut roll as well as the mushroom sashimi. The staff is always friendly and efficient. I've been here for romantic dinners as well as more rowdy group affairs and it is nice for both. Also, the presentation of the more complex platters is always really pretty.
(4)David H.
Happy Hour 2-6. Low carb rolls. Great service.
(4)Jonathan B.
Really good sushi at a very fair price. My wife loves the miso soup. I will visit them again and often and have no problems recommending others do too.
(4)Courtney B.
I never thought I would enjoy sushi so much! We tried so many rolls, I can't even tell you. The lychee sake is so damn tasty and the chicken katsu is the best I've ever had. I can't wait to come back.
(4)Kirby C.
A decent sushi place. The name got me excited hoping that they would actually have some Okinawan dishes on the menu (what I would give for some Okinawa Soba, or Tofu Champuru) but no such luck. The yellowtail was fantastically fresh. The tuna was almost bad enough to send back. We ordered the yellowtail collar (I can't remember what the name on the menu was) starter and it was absolutely delicious but was shocked to find that the bowl of white rice that came with it was suspiciously similar to Uncle Ben's and overcooked into mush to boot. C'mon on now! A sushi joint with long grain rice that is overcooked to boot?!? WTH! Beer and sake were reaonably priced and the service was good. Nothing to rave about here just a decent place to grab some sushi and a beer in my neighborhood.
(3)Raheem H.
love this place, the GM is great and service is fast. Glad they don't take reservations, otherwise you would never get in!!!
(4)Jaime P.
Excellent sushi, I only tried three rolls but enjoyed them all. The dessert chocolate cake was delicious. I was there during happy hour and my total bill was $39 for 3 rolls and a slice of cake. A little pricy for one persons lunch but I did order too many rolls and couldn't eat them all.
(4)Ghostfaceknitter W.
Okay so I had a beyond phenomenal experience here a few weeks back that I had to share: I called on a friday night at 7 pm - it was a last minute birthday dinner that was scheduled for another restaurant that didn't work out - for a table for 8. That's right I said a table for 8. We arrived to see several people standing in the doorway waiting for a table and I almost freaked until I looked to the center of the restaurant and saw an empty table for 8 waiting for us!! The waitress was fabulous - she handled our huge table with ease and made sure everyone was comfortable and content. Everyone LOVED the sushi and there was literally nothing left (even though we thought we had ordered WAY too much). The also comped us on some of our drinks (sake/beer) which was so nice considering they did us a HUGE birthday favor. I just love this place and after such a wonderful experience I will continue to be a loyal Okinawa customer. Thanks again Okinawa! :)
(5)Vitaly O.
Great Sushi place! very friendly and relaxing atmosphere, delicious sushi, great design! They also have unique beer imported from Okinawa... i think it was called Orion. My brother and I had a great lunch there. strongly recommend this place!
(5)Sarah B.
I had a great experience here. The atmosphere was simple and intimate, the sushi was good, the wine was good, the service was just right, and the prices were really reasonable. We had miso soup, the spicy tuna roll, the spider roll, and edamame. The portions were bigger than I expected. We also order white tuna sashimi, which was good, but I've had better. That was the only thing that wasn't 5 stars for me, though.
(5)Cherie B.
So glad I found a decent sushi joint in my new neighborhood! I love the ambiance in this little restaurant...and it's a PERFECT location for people-watching on Colfax. This girl loves to do some people-watching! I recommend starting off with the Seaweed Salad...it's delicious and has just the right amount of sesame oil. Their sashimi (Salmon is my fave) is fresh and I have yet to dislike any of the rolls I have picked. Since I tend to fill myself up on rice like a bird after a wedding, I try to order at least one of their riceless rolls. It's rolled up in thinly sliced cucumber, which makes for a fresh, crisp roll. The Spiderman, Spicy Girl, Ichiban and Crazy Tuna Rolls are all pretty good...along with your standard Spicy Tuna, Rainbow and Philadelphia. I hear the Kobe Beef and Sweet Potato Rolls are to die for. Those aren't my typical choices of rolls, but I might have to give them a shot sometime! The service is sometimes hit or miss. Some nights, every single server in house will stop by and check on you several times...it's a bit overwhelming. But hey, better than being ignored all night and banished to the corner like Baby at the Summer-end Celebration, I suppose!
(4)Elphey I.
The service was great, the bathrooms were fancy, and the food rocked! We had some masago/tobiko handrolls, crab and tamago pieces, miso soup, yellowfin tuna collar, asparagus tempura special roll and another really, really spicy special roll. We left stuffed for a good price and were not too bothered by other patrons. We hope to return on many occasions and look forward to more great eats!
(5)Andrew T.
I am a sushi snob and Okinawa is the best sushi place in Denver. Tom does a great job running the restaurant. He is at work everyday and always makes sure everyone is taken care of. Always great food and service. I recommend Okinawa to everyone.
(5)mike g.
Not horrible, not awesome. Won't go back..
(3)Denver C.
Came here on a Thursdsy night, I even called to make reservation for 4, by the time we got there, the restaurant was completely empty by 7:30, made us wonder why! I told the host that we had a reservation for David, she looked at me confused asked me if I needed a reservation, I was like there's 4 of us! & she brought us to a table finally. Being the only table there I thought at least food will come out fast, we started eating our sushi 30mins after we placed the order, they completely forgot about our drinks! 3 waiters came to our table telling us it will be ready soon but no one apologized! Our gyoza came out cold, calamari was so oily that we can't even put our finger on! The sushi taste really fishy, white tuna was still half FROZEN!!! Rice on the rolls fell apart right when I landed my chopsticks on there! We finally had to get up & left to Go Fish! I'll reccomend Go Fish over Okinawa in a heart beat! Better happy hour, better waitstaff & better location! I'm sorry Okinawa but we will not be returning!
(1)Shaun M.
Great service and great sushi A++++ My only complaint is the very very small parking lot behind the building I went during the afternoon and did not see any parking besides on the street and in this small alleyway behind the business that's the ONLY reason I putting a 4 and not a 5.
(4)Lisa T.
Freshness, creativity, good value, friendly and attentive staff and ambiance are on point. The no/low carb rolls were a surprise and had me coming right back for more, they use an incredible assortment of fish to completely fill a cucumber wrapper, the fish really shines. The beautiful plates and flowers should warrant higher prices, its casual and I'm going there now...I've ordered many menu items and all were excellent
(4)Megan N.
Really good sushi and other apps. Cute little place on the corner of Colfax. Went today for a meeting. Loved it. I would recommend the yellow tail app. with jalapenos. Yum. the edamame was good too. I got the NY Roll and the Spicy Tuna roll. Really good- a neat kick to the spicy tuna. The place was dead when we got there for an early lunch, but later filled up. Only one server and had great service from Thomas! Love it and will be back. Thanks!
(4)Mariel R.
After watching 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' last night (awesome doc, check it out), I was craving sushi so I decided to finally try Okinawa. I am a weird sushi fan because I don't eat fish, but what I do love is a restaurant with great vegetarian options. What I had: Edamame - hard to screw that up. Just enough salt. Sweet Potato Roll - One of my favorite things. Delicious and HUGE. Don't order this one if you are on a date because it is hard to eat this and look pretty at the same time. Avocado and Peanut Roll - I had never had this before but it was pretty tasty. It is basically a roll filled with avocado and Planters honey roasted peanuts. Definitely an American invention but I love peanuts and I love avocado--who knew these two could work together? Egg Sushi - or something... I had just seen them making this in the film I watched so I figured I would give it a try. The best way that I can describe this solid egg thing is that it tastes like flan but without the sweet component. It's kind of custard-y. Not my favorite but that's just because I am not a huge custard fan. This place is cool on the inside and has huge windows (kind of weird to be staring at the Arby's across the street). They have dum-dums at the door instead of mints. I obviously can't tell you about their real (fish) sushi, but the vegetarian stuff is pretty good!
(4)Eric H.
I like Okinawa. Okinawa is really really good. I know Okinawa is good because I have been here many times. You can eat raw fish here, it is good.
(5)Surelys G.
Delicious sushi--the Salmon & Fatty White Tuna sashimi were amazing! Try the Volcano roll, it has a lovely mix of flavors. The food was beautifully presented and the ambiance quite nice! I'll come back to this Denver sushi place!
(5)Claude F.
I would probably be giving Okinawa a higher rating were it a little cheaper but at premium sushi prices, one can reasonably expect a lot. In some ways, it delivered on our one visit there but in many ways it was ...meh. Service was fine but pretty cold for the most part, don't expect a warm smile from a hostess. Overall the service was fairly weak. The restaurant is really nicely decorated though, they've got a real nice space. Starters were ok. The miso wasn't hot and the house salad was pretty lame, but the seaweed salad was fine. For the most part we were happy with the sushi but it was really the rolls that stood out. The California rolls and the Spicy Tuna rolls were excellent! I think if i lived in the immediate vicinity, I'd be a customer but honestly I feel like in this price range I'll probably go elsewhere
(3)Danny P.
The service here was great, and the food is quality and delicious.The decor is inviting with comfortable seating. I've ordered there twice in the last month and each time, I was more than pleased with both the food and the service. They're extremely welcoming and friendly. Their mango roll is delectable. In fact, all their rolls are delicious. Try the Avocado salad and you won't be disappointed. All-in-all, a great place for quality, authentic, Japanese cuisine. I highly recommended this one, and will be going back soon.
(5)Scott P.
This place does the damn thang. Seriously. They're not cheap, but you'll never feel like they're overpriced for what you're getting. It's a higher-quality sushi place, and WOW... the uni was PERFECT- perfect consistency, perfect temperature, perfectly presented... I'm OVER super-cold uni that has OBVIOUSLY just been thawed right before being served. You've swear that these bits came right OUT of the urchin (and according to the server- when uni is in season, that's exactly what they do!!). The rice was VERY slightly vinegared and perfectly boiled. And the scallop... the scallop... ASK ME ABOUT THE SCALLOP!!!! Seriously. Ask me about the damned scallop. My man was so proud of it that he showed me how they keep them alive until serving them. And the presentation- shell opened with the muscles thinly sliced like bits of sashimi. No eraserhead bay scallops here!!! The guy who served me was really enthusiastic about the products he was serving, and that's always a great indication of quality. I respect establishments which inspire loyalty in their workgroups, and it was obvious that this guy was eating here as often as possible. I have love for that.
(4)Katelyn O.
This is one of my favorite sushi places! Nice atmosphere and delicious food. Get the spicy sushi appetizer on a pie of rice-Yum!
(4)Moon L.
Lovely sushi rolls. Delicious sashimi. Staff was pleasant. We had a good little lunch date here. Good times.
(4)Travis B.
I am, by no means, a seasoned sushi connoisseur. I do, however, know that I LOVE sushi. What I DO NOT LOVE is being completely turned off of a perfectly great restaurant because of a perfectly AWFUL server. When I saw this place open up about two blocks from my place, I was utterly thrilled, but it only took two visits for my jubilation to be completely dowsed. The first visit was great. Our lanky, serial-killer-looking server did a wonderful job of filling us up with great sushi, and keeping our drinks topped off. Oddly, tt was that same serial-killer-looking server, in fact, that completely ruined it for me on our very next trip to Okinawa. Now, I have worked in the food-service industry, so as anybody who has done the same knows -- you ALWAYS TIP WELL. Which is what I did, exactly, the first time I went to Okinawa. The second time? We walked in to be greeted by Mr. Richard Trenton Chase himself, who said, "I'm sorry, but we only serve customers who tip in this restaurant." Are you kidding me!?!?!?!? After a brief exchange of words, I left feeling more insulted than I've ever felt at a restaurant. I was too insulted to even attempt to approach a manager. Was it a case of mistaken identity? Did somebody steal my tip off of the table the previous time? I don't know, but this jerk was completely convinced that I stiffed him, and because of him... I WILL NEVER GO BACK. Good riddance.
(1)Alex K.
I love sushi. and I love okinawa. go for the lunch special, 3 rolls for 12.95--- great new place right off colfax. love the vibe. LOVE the sushi. Definitely a nice addition to the Colfax restaurant scene, and SUSHI for a reasonable price? even better!
(4)Alli T.
I was really excited to try out Okinawa after reading the awesome reviews on Yelp. However, I was SO disappointed. When we were seated, there was only one place setting. we were never brought another, and had to take one off another table. The waiter filled our waters immediately, but never again (even though we finished them in about 5 minutes). He was flippant, and would walk away from our table even as we were talking (when he came by, which was once throughout the entire time we were there). We watched our sushi sit on the counter for at least 15 minutes before it was brought to us by the hostess. The rice was hard at that point, and overall the sushi was flavorless, except for the sauces, which were overpowering and, frankly, not good. I don't think I've ever left sushi on the plate before - we left about 10 pieces of the 4 rolls we ordered because we just couldn't choke it down any more. Overall, the atmosphere was nice, but between the awful service and mediocre sushi, I won't be returning.
(1)Jonny D.
We were on our way to a spot on Colfax but got tempted hard by Japanese upon passing Okinawa. One U-turn later, we were in an intimate, well-appointed dining room. We loved the comfy chairs and downbeat music. I had the Black Angel roll as my primary selection. Everything was amazing. It's the best sushi I've had in Denver, tying with Sushi Den, which is much, much further away from us. Every time I get a hankering for sushi, this is where I'll go.
(5)Lisa B.
This place sucks. If I could give a negative star it would get it. Service and food is terrible.
(1)Scott N.
okinawa is the best sushi i've had since leaving tucson - but sushi on oracle is still better b/c shun is working the sushi bar. hamachi kama was excellent, as was the hamachi sashimi plate (i substituted ponzu for whatever sauce they had on the menu). the oysters were from CA and were super fresh and good. my friend, randy, got the avocado salad and i ended up eating most of it - the miso/wasabi dressing is phenomenal. the place is small, quaint, perfectly sized so they're not overworked, which makes for great sushi preparation. i had not one complaint about the whole experience. the sushi guys were even nice and cool - not acting too busy to shoot the shit with you while you ate. raving.
(5)C C.
I have to be honest, this used to be my all time favorite since I live so close and easily can visit weekly but the service is really lacking. You can easily plan to sit waiting for service for 20 minutes yet be the only person in the restaurant. 3 visits in a row I've been extremely disappointed in both the service and the fish. I'm not sure what has changed but I'll give it one more try then I'm going to take my business elsewhere. It's a bit disturbing when you bring your concern to management and they dont' even apologize or acknowledge the issues. That should be a red flag. There are plenty of other sushi places so it's not the end of the world.
(2)Carolyn M.
Food - 4 stars Atmosphere - 4 stars Service - 1 star Stopped here with my family for some sushi on Sunday night. The place was empty when we arrived (it was early, maybe 5:30pm), but packed when we left (around 7pm). Our server was super awkward...not sure if it was his first day, or his first time speaking with strangers, but he had a hard time getting words out of his mouth. Not a big deal - we weren't in any big hurry. We ordered some sushi and a few small apps (miso, seaweed salad, edamame...), but after 20 minutes, we were still waiting without any food. Our server finally returned with a large plate of sushi. He wasn't entirely sure what each roll was, but we remember what we ordered so it wasn't an issue. We asked him if he forgot our apps and he admitted that he had. He said he would bring them out if we were still interested, but it took him a good 5-10 minutes for him to return to our table. I didn't expect to see these on our final bill, but of course, they were. He tried to bring us another plate of sushi about 15 minutes later - we told him we hadn't ordered that and he realized (after a long pause) that it belonged to a table on the other side of the restaurant. I think that was the last we saw of him - a female server stepped in to take his place for the remainder of our time there. Overall the fish was fresh and the sake was super, so I would consider coming back. Maybe just for take-out.
(3)Joe F.
The food tasted really fresh and the price is very affordable. Will definitly come back.
(4)Tommy B.
My fiance and I recently moved to Denver. We're pretty strict about sticking to our sushi at least once a week diet and I'll be damned if we didn't get lucky on the first try with Okinawa. Here's why: - 5 minute walk from our place - Reasonably priced - Good service... after about 4 visits, the whole staff recognizes us as soon as we walk in - Quality fish. Now we're not talking Masa quality here, but the place is generally busy which means high turnover and in turn fresh fish. We've been in on Monday's and Tuesday's and it tastes just as good as it does on Saturday. Now if they'll just start delivering...
(4)John K.
Denver isn't exactly a culinary hot-spot by any means, and we don't always have the best seafood, but when it comes to Sushi....I am just glad we do have a couple places that stand out. Okinawa being one of them. Relatively new, Okinawa took over the location of a previous sushi spot, that I barely remember. Remodeled, and off to a killer start from what I got out of my dining experience. The sushi was fantastic and the service wasn't bad either. I have a feeling that we'll be frequenting Okinawa again (and again, and again)
(4)Sarah R.
I love this place. I went here when they first opened and was happy to find a place with great service, when these days, it seems no one really cares about it. I've been a repeat customer because they are very close to my work and find their avacado peanut rolls to die for! They are the perfect snack before a meal or eat 4 or 5 for dinner - yes, they are that good. Who knew? The presentation was excellent, staff was friendly, food was great and they made me a little sparkling sake concoction that made that much happier. Glad East Colfax is getting some good restaurants that are affordable!
(5)Michael S.
The Northern corner of York and Colfax is no longer just a place for strangers to ask you for change while telling you their sob stories. There's new businesses coming in every day it seems. I'm so very excited that this restaurant opened in my neighborhood. I didn't go right away because of the first review here being a negative one, but as a couple more reviews came in, and they were positive, I jumped right in. And I'm glad I did. There is affordable and delicious sushi just two blocks from my house! The decor made me think the experience may be more expensive than it was. I was really impressed with the plating as well. I've dined in and had to go. Both times service was exceptional and friendly. I'm always a big fan of unagi but have tried Okinawa's spicy tuna and smoked salmon as well. I'm looking forward to experimenting with other rolls soon!
(5)Julie A.
When we arrived at 7:30 on a Saturday night, it looked like we'd be in for a nice long wait, but to our delight, after about five minutes the four of us were seated. The tables are packed in tightly, but the ambiance is very nice and it's clear that no expense was spared in re-doing everything in the entire restaurant, complete with a new entrance and lights that change colors running under the sushi bar. We were in a gabby mood and took our time ordering but were quickly served with some Sake, Edamame and Seaweed Salad. I was happy to see an extensive vegetarian section on the menu, and I ordered my favorite sweet potato tempura roll and an avocado, asparagus and cucumber roll, while my friends went crazy and accidentally ordered spicy tuna in 3 of the 5 things they ordered. They liked the Spice Girl the best. We chomped and gabbed and ate sake and before we knew it, we had been there 3 hours. The restaurant started to clear out and so our service got even better, bringing carafe after carafe of sake and some cheesecake bites to complete our night. This is definitely going to be our new sushi hangout!
(5)Lee S.
Amazing Sushi Restaurant in Denver. The Miso, Seaweed Salad, and the Avocado Salad to start were amazing and great portion size. The sushi was top quality and melt in your mouth good. Very modern decor and the wait staff was very helpful, although a little overwhelmed at time because they were slightly understaffed. Great sushi restaurant for Denver.
(5)Claire B.
Everything tastes good. Though the rice is lacking. I ordered 5 different sushi rolls and the rice was under cooked and grainy. The rice fell off the rolls as I picked it up. Needs a better texture, stickiness, another type of rice maybe. Other than the rice, everything was ok, from appetizers, entrees to dessert.
(2)Robb B.
I went in solo and took up a seat at the sushi bar. I ordered the Seaweed Salad, a Jaki Roll, a Lobster Tempura roll, and water. The service was fast, the ambience was nice, and the "kitchen" was fast. The Seaweed salad was perfectly prepared. The rolls were good although I found the Lobster Tempura roll to be slightly bland and uninspiring. I walked out of the restaraunt with a $21 tab, the price is right, service great, and food is good.
(4)Roxy R.
My roommate and I went here for dinner on a Friday and had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. The place was packed! The rush seemed to die down when we were leaving at about 9pm. We ordered seaweed salad, cucumber salad and edamame to start. The seaweed salad was perfectly tender and the cucumber salad was nice and spicy -- both were fresh and refreshing. The edamame was wonderful and coated with a little bit of the nicest sea salt I've ever tasted. The waitstaff was prompt and attentive, if not exactly warm, but I was very impressed. Our waters were refilled constantly and they were quick to clear plates and ask for beer and wine refills. We ordered several rolls: The broccoli tempura, the avocado, asparagus and crab, the lover girl, and another which I can't remember. My favorites were the broccoli tempura and the lover girl roll. OH MY GOD the lover girl roll was so delicious, I ate almost the entire thing myself. My roommate dislikes tobiko and they honored her request. I was a little worried we would have to send some back, but they got our order perfect. The presentation was divine. I would love to come back again and again. Great date place!
(5)Kelly A.
Best sushi place in Denver! At least that I've noticed so far. They have a huge variety, especially of vegetarian rolls (not just cucumber rolls). Buy 1 Get 1 sake during happy hour - you can't beat that!
(5)Jeff C.
2.5 Stars, but rounding up this time!! Stopped in for a quick bite after getting my hair cut at Floyd's. I thought the prices were reasonable, but the portion size was small. I guess you get what you pay for. They have a $8.50 lunch special which is two rolls (from a selection of about 15 choices) and either miso soup or a small salad. I thought the miso soup was pretty flavorless. I ordered the NY Roll and the spicy tuna roll. The NY Roll is tuna, cream cheese and cucumber. Well the pieces were about 65% cream cheese, 30% or less tuna and the rest was cucumber. I love cream cheese, but I could barely tell there was any tuna in it. Also, it seemed like every once in a while I would get a fennel taste which was odd especially since I don't like fennel. (Thought the rice had black sesame seeds, but maybe it was fennel). The spicy tuna roll was ok--I did like that it had some crunchy yummies in it, but was disappointed that it was a pureed tuna mixture vs. chunkier pieces. And it was not really that spicy. Oh well, for 11 bucks it was ok, but nothing to write home about. Oh, I did find a strange little something sticking to the rice-----I have a feeling it was one of two things but I don't really want to think about it.
(3)Chantal B.
I am bummed we didn't make it here sooner! It was fabulous! The sushi was delicious, everything we had was top notch. I often quickly judge a place on the quality of its maguro sashimi and Okinawa passed with flying colors! The service was great, the atmosphere is perfect and the prices are so reasonable. Oh...and the plate presentation is beautiful! I know I'll get flack for this, but since we've moved to Denver, this has been the best sushi experience (and sushi) I've had...and I've tried all the highly recommended joints (Sushi Sasa, Sushi Den, etc). Our usual MO is to split a big fancy roll and a couple of standards as well as order up some sashimi. Because of how good everything was, we were thinking about ordering the sashimi boat for two next time. I usually don't go that route, but since all the fish was so delicious I think it's going worth a try. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Kate A.
We trudged in here during a snow storm famished and eager to try this new sushi place in our neighborhood. The atmosphere is all I could want from a great sushi restaurant and the service was great and the chef's were friendly (but that could have been because we were the only ones there because of the storm...hmm). When getting sushi I usually stick to the usual fare (i.e. the oh so delicious Philadelphia Roll), but with a sudden pulse of adventure we got the octopus amongst our other rolls. I'm glad I did because it was fresh, tasty, and beautifully put together which squashed any nerves I had about having to choke down tentacles. We also got the "Lover's Roll" which turned out to be a towering work of art compete with flowers, bamboo, little heart-shaped sauce drops, and 12 carefully heart-shaped pieces of sushi. It would be great for Valentine's Day, but should be avoided if eating alone...could be awkward. Definitely check it out!
(5)Justine M.
Came here a while ago with a large group of people -- Okinawa stayed open late for us, and the staff were very friendly and tolerant of the less sober people in the group :) And beyond that, the food tasted fresh and the bill wasn't nearly as bad as any of us anticipated. Returned here last week for a more quiet dinner and once again, the staff was very friendly and knowledgeable, the food was delicious, and the prices were extremely reasonable. I'm not a vegetarian, but I highly recommend the sweet potato roll! Despite the construction going on around the restaurant and the busy street corner it's on, Okinawa has a great patio if you're into outdoor dining.
(4)Art M.
This place used to be Sushi Heights.... Okinawa has a very nice decor, and the waitstaff was pleasant.. We started off with appetizers, the Tempura appetizer (Shrimp, carrot, zucchini, potato) Miso soup, and Salad. The tempure was very good, the miso soup was just ok..and the salad was ok... I ordered the Eel platter, my wife had the Chicken Teryaki. My Eel platter was pretty good, but not the best, the Eel was ok but was a bit to scaly for my taste. My wife's chicken teryaki was ok... We also ordered California rolls, they were just ok, they had way too much mayonnaise, and the sticky rice was too warm, it should have been cool, and the consistency was off. Overall the experience was ok, the decor made up for the meal,, Sushi Heights was way better and in a league of it's own..too bad they went out of business... If I go back It will only be for the Tempura Appetizer..
(3)Kris S.
I am not a sushi girl. But when a client who was visiting from New York said he was craving sushi, I knew Okinawa was the place to take him. I was pleased by the variety of non-sushi menu items. I had the veggie tempura appetizer, which was plentiful enough to suffice for dinner. The atmosphere is upscale and the service is attentive (but not "in your face"). Okinawa really classes up Colfax. I hope similar places will open nereby.
(4)Robert M.
Great service and nice people, but the sushi needs a bit of work. The rice isn't sticky enough and the sushi portions are small. Decent rolls - had the dragon, salmon skin, sweet potato, and A.A.C. rolls.
(3)Chirag C.
I often find myself balancing the desire to be a creature of habit versus pushing myself to constantly try new places. I tend to err on the pushy side but think after eating at Okinawa, I've found my go to sushi place near home. Why? The ambiance, food, and service here are great. Running through my mental checklist of what makes a restaurant experience enjoyable for me, I found no flaws and a few great surprises. The ingredients are incredibly fresh; the choice for vegetarians is vast (they have your standard avocado and cuke rolls, but many interesting iterations beyond); and the service is efficient and with a smile.
(4)Winston C.
I was in town for a conference with my wife and we wanted to get some sushi. Of course I pulled up my yelp app and found this little place. The restaurant is put together very well, dimly lit with really nice plates. The restaurant is on the smaller side but it did not cause a problem in my experience here. Me and my wife ordered 4 rolls, 1 specialty roll (lovers) and 3 regular sushi rolls (spicy tuna, eel, dynamite). The flavors were spot on, very fresh and felt authentic. A good sign that the food is going to be good is when all the servers and chefs are Japanese. All in all we spent 33.00 for everything. Great Restaurant!
(4)Michelle F.
We liked Okinawa a lot--sushi was very good for the price, and we really liked the urban feeling of sitting out on their porch. We had the mango roll--one of their creations--and it was fantastic. The manager came over and chatted with us for a while--very personable. We'll definitely be back.
(4)Sean R.
OK food. Terrible service!!! I, and a few friends have tried to give these guys business but the just don't deserve it.
(1)Jojo L.
Love the place. We had volcano roll, titanic roll and the dragon roll. The fish tasted really fresh, also they used different sauces to make the sushi taste different (in the good way). I really enjoyed my meal.
(4)Truc N.
Sushi is good. Not bad by any means. However the rice needs improvement. It is too piecy/dry and falls off the fish/roll. Service was good.
(3)Alyson A.
Great food. I'm always looking for delicious sushi here in Denver! I really liked the setting and they're only a few blocks from my place. Great ambiance. Definitely a keeper.
(4)Rich R.
Went to Okinawa on a whim with friends after a free show at Twist & Shout and I was extremely happy with the quality, quantity and service. Sushi Delux - 10pcs assorted Nigiri w/ a Tuna Roll for $18 (comes with a salad. Pieces of Sushi dwarfed the small bed of rice. Normally in Sushi places, 10pcs and a roll leaves my wanting a little dessert but I could hardly get the last bite down. My friend had several rolls; All were delicious. The other had the Chicken / Vegetable Tempura and seemed to enjoy it. The small (free!) Cheesecake bites were the best way to end the meal. It's no Sassa Sushi but it's better than Sushi Hai (if that helps...)
(4)Rachel H.
I am so glad that I tried this new sushi spot. The food was good and the place has a nice look and atmosphere. The prices were terrific! We will definitely go back!
(4)Heather A.
My new "go-to" neighborhood sushi spot. This is the perfect local sushi joint. Affordable, just the right amount of ambiance, friendly and fast service, and oh yeah, great sushi! We went for the first time on Valentine's Day expecting a long wait and slow service. We were pleasantly surprised to find that we were seated within a few minutes, and had attentive and helpful service. I even got a rose from our waitress to mark the romantic occasion. If you live in the neighborhood, you gotta check out Okinawa.
(4)Maria M.
I was so, so sad when Sushi Heights closed. Back in my young and super broke days I'd go to Sushi Heights on the last payday of each month, sit at the sushi bar and slowly work my way through whatever I could afford and read a good book. Great memory. When Okinawa opened I was super excited and it hasn't disappointed. I've been numerous times and I've never been disappointed with the quality of food or the quality of service. One on trip, a date night with the hub, we got our sushi served on a boat. It was silly and over the top and completely awesome!! Oh ya, and the sushi and sashimi was amazing. Today for lunch we had the biggest, most wonderful green mussels I've ever had. They were simply divine! We followed with a simple line up of california roll, spicy tuna roll (they were both on special) a spider roll and some unagi. All perfect. I'm deducting one star for their lack of a good happy hour deal.
(4)Victoria S.
I just moved in to the area and looked around Yelp for good sushi places. I'm hardly a sushi connosieur but I eat it fairly regularly and I know bad sushi when I get it. But Okinawa was the first I tried, and it might be the last because I think I found my new favorite sushi restaurant! Service was fast and polite, the sushi was fresh and delicious! I had mostly basic types (no Volcano sushi for me) and I'd recommend the Yellowtail sushi (not the roll but actual traditional sushi, though the roll was good too) and the miso soup. The soup was mostly broth with pretty small pieces of tofu and seaweed but it was delicious nonetheless. I'll definitely be coming back!
(5)Jason H.
2nd time here and will b back :) good sushi and friendly service!
(4)Kimberly S.
I have to say that the fish surprised me. I LOVE sushi! It is impossible for me to not get sushi every now and then, though I usually feel like I leave hungry. That was not the case at Okinawa. For one, I usually can't stand miso soup. I don't like the smell or the way it usually tastes like rotten fish, not to mention the fact that tofu never sits well with me, but my boyfriend forced me to give it another go--and I actually liked it! We ended up splitting the one bowl, because I actually wanted to eat it. That was enough to get me excited for the sushi, but better than that was the fact that we came during happy hour, which meant that you could get two sushi rolls for $8.75 or three for $12.00 (ranging from six to eight pieces each). My boyfriend is a little more daring when it comes to ordering sushi, so I left it in his capable hands. We got a few off the regular menu and went with the three rolls off the happy hour menu. Of course the happy hour menu is more limited but they had Unagi (eel) rolls on it and that made it even better! We also ordered a small appetizer called Dynamite that had a seafood medley mixed with mushrooms and some kind of creamy sauce that had a hint of heat to it. So good! It was a small app and I think if I had to I would've fought for it with my boyfriend! That plate went back clean! So already we were excited about the random drop it, but then the actual sushi showed up. There was so much of it! There were plenty of rolls from the happy hour menu and though my boyfriend picked a decent amount of different sushi, it was about a normal order for us, but this time the whole thing was delicious and filling! Everything was so yummy! ...Now to the four stars: Though the sushi was wonderful and I actually enjoyed the miso soup there were a few points that couldn't be ignored. I was confused by the service. One minute we had one server and the next we had another. It was impossible to tell who was actually our server. However, they were nice. But then when we got to the end of the meal we decided we wanted to grab the Key lime white chocolate cheese cake--creme brulee? (still a little confused about the cake itself honestly) Though they had already brought out the check we thought it wouldn't be too hard to flag down a server (since the only two servers seemed to both be taking care of us??). That however, was not the case. I think it took ten minutes before my boyfriend finally had to call out to one server as he was walking away from another table. Not to mention that we apparently ended our meal at the same time that all of the staff decided to sit down to lunch right in front of the customers. We all need to eat, I get it, but working in the food industry I also know that it's proper to keep it out of sight from the customers. So we finally got the order in for the dessert and it was dropped off at our table quickly. But there was no crunchy torched sugar on the top. Perhaps because the kitchen had sat down to lunch? Nonetheless it was still yummy (don't ask me what it actually was though lol) And last and certainly least is the fact that I am completely confused by the decor. I felt like the furniture belonged in a fine dining restaurant and the rest was out of a Mexican coffee shop-night club? (I have no better definition). Not to mention the fact that there was some kind of weird Mexican music playing (in a sushi restaurant??). But that's just nitpicking :P (sorry for the long review!)
(4)Jenny K.
Great fish, great presentation. Not a big selection, but very tasty. Can't wait to go there again.
(4)Neil G.
Good sushi, ok service, but a little overpriced
(3)Rashad K.
Simply awesome! After a great first day of yoga (warm power vinyasa class at the CAC), Monica and I felt like indulging ourselves with some clean, light, but satisfying food. So since Okinawa is just a minute away from my place, we figured a nice stroll to the new sushi restaurant was in order. The Decor is minimalistic yet warm with earth tones rising from the floor up to cool white walls behind the sushi bar. Not a large place, seats about 50 but you don't feel cramped. All in all a very comfortable spot. We were greeted right away and were given plenty of time to look through the extensive menu. The prices really stand out due to how low they are so I was expecting stingy portions. That was far from the truth, so much food! Nice thick, very high quality pieces of sashimi, perfectly cooked rice, and get this......free little bites of cheesecake to cap the meal. Definitely going to become a regular at this place!
(5)Ivan R.
The food was delicious, the prices were a little on the steep side and the portions on the small side. All in all, it was well rounded but nothing out the ordinary.
(3)Heather M.
I am always up to try new sushi places so when this came to town, I was game. The pros were that we were able to find a parking spot close by (construction causes some havoc) and I fell in love with the Honeymoon roll. The con was that I had food poisoning for three days after the dinner (my dinnermates also felt queasy). So excluding the sickness I would give the place four stars...I am torn on whether I will return.
(2)Paige W.
This is probably one of my least favorite sushi restaurants I have been to, ever. It wasn't terrible, I didn't feel like I was going to die, but the flavor combinations were just not there for me. I think my favorite part of the meal was the side salad, which is the exact same as every other sushi restaurant in Denver. We had a few rolls, and most of them were far too sweet, due to the sauces they were swimming in. I missed the savory element of a sushi roll, and wished that they had more options in that regard. Even the rolls that sounded savory on the menu were covered in a sweet sauce. My least favorite rolls were snow white (bleh), and one that I don't remember the name of- but it was covered in a mango sauce that tasted like frozen mango concentrate that wasn't diluted at all. I will not be returning, simply because there are far better places in Denver to snag sushi at a much lower price point. (Sushi Hai).
(2)Sasha S.
Ate dinner at Okinawa for the first time last night. We didnt have to wait for a table, but at 9pm the place was full and had a great energy. Service was fast and friendly and they did a nice job with the remodel. The food was excellent and the presentation was the best I've seen in Denver. We ordered several rolls and sashimi and enjoyed every bite. The table next to us ordered the sushi boat for 2, and the scallop appetizer and though I had absolutely no complaints about our order, I had a little food envy. The sushi boat in only $40, which seemed like a great price. I'll definitely be back for that.
(4)Tess H.
Good place! The cap hill area has been needing a good sushi restaurant and now we have one.. yay! I have yet to eat inside the restaurant, but have ordered take-out a handful of times now and have always been very impressed with the quality of sushi and the reasonable prices. Their special rolls are great, as well as their more simple rolls. Inside the restaurant looks very nice as well, I just haven't had the chance to eat there yet. Definitely recommend this place!
(5)Dana R.
Nice, subtle improvement since my last visit and I feel it's now a 4 and a halfer! The atmosphere was just as nice as it was on the first visit, and again, I'm amazed that we were sitting SO close to the people next to us and still couldn't hear them (maybe we just keep sitting by quiet talkers)...BUT, the food was good. And I mean really good and memorable. Loved the sweet potato roll, the rainbow roll was fresh and flavorful and the seaweed salad was one of the best I've had!
(4)Andrea R.
one of my favorite places to eat sushi, we came here for happy hour and stuffed ourselves with miso soup, sushi and finally mochi ice cream. try the ichiban roll;)
(5)Olivia K.
Being that this place is SUPER close to where I live, the boyfriend and I have made this a regular stop- and I don't even like sushi. I'm typically the only person in the restaurant not eating sushi, but the servers still treat me like a normal person when I order veggie tempura. In fact, they know me and my order as soon as I walk in the door now! I guess it's because I'm not only predictable, but probably the only person who orders this. Oh well. My boyfriend loves the sushi and says it's reasonably priced. Plus, you get free little cheesecake bites at the end of your meal! What could be better than that?!!
(5)Adam K.
So wanted to tempt fate and went here for an early dinner on a Monday (against Bourdain's advice), and sat at the bar to enjoy some fish. The good news was the sushi was very tasty and the quality was good. The bad news is one of the chefs had a totally bad attitude (even to other chef it looked) and totally killed the mood. The other staff were nice though, but if you can't talk to the sushi chef for advice, then that just kills it for me.
(3)Samantha C.
This is not douse your sushi in soy sauce sushi. I ordered the rainbow roll and the salmon sushi. This was my first experience and someone told me it was a super good spot, so I tried it! I'm always a little hesitant with food on colfax, but the roll and salmon sushi was unbelievably fresh, delicous, and beautiful! I will definetely be going back.
(4)Sarah P.
Good food with really neat presentation. They have a lot of specialty rolls, but not the most bang for your buck. Attentive service and nice atmosphere. A solid neighborhood sushi place that I'd go back to.
(4)Lauren M.
Because it's within walking distance, this will definitely be our new sushi place. But, even if it weren't walkable, I'd still make the trip to eat here. The sushi was fresh, the rolls were reasonably priced (not cheap, but not ridiculous either) and everything tasted great. I had a really good chianti and some flavorful sake. Our waitress was attentive and our rolls were made surprisingly quickly for the amount of people in the restaurant. We had the truffle tuna to start and it was delicious. I enjoyed the small cut rolls (philly and spicy tuna) because I find those easy to eat (they tasted great too - chill but not cold, liberal sesame seed sprinkles, quality fish). We also had the snow white roll, which was good. The only reason this isn't a five star review is that I don't think their specialty rolls are particularly creative. The best sushi places I've been to mix interesting ingredients with fresh fish to create scrumptious pieces of art on the plate. The rolls here were very straightforward. Still, if you live in the neighborhood or are looking for a good sushi place when you're in the area, I would definitely give Okinawa a try. (Two random notes: even though this is on Colfax, you can't hear the traffic; also, as some others have mentioned, the seats are super comfortable)
(4)Alex W.
Bento box and sushi were sooooo good. Had lunch here with my bf and it was such a great lunch. HUGE plus: Their music was on an Air mix the whole time. Maguro and Moon Safari? Yes please.
(4)Jess K.
I'm giving them 3 stars for the service (server was the manager), the rest of the staff was great and helpful. Their food is great, except the 3 Musketeer roll we had was pretty boring and lacked flavor but was beautifully presented. What bothered us the most about our server was the fact he was standing at the table next to us for almost the entire duration of our meal socializing with 2 girls. He was loud, unattentive and was using the f-word at a pretty high volume. Just not what I expect from a manager or a server for that fact. Just left a bad taste in our mouths but will most likely be back due to the lack of competition for sushi on colfax.
(3)Tracy L.
My boyfriend and I live close by and thought we would try this place out. I'm always looking for options that are less expensive than Sasa or Sushi Den, and where I can get takeout for lunch. My boyfriend is super picky when it comes to sushi, and we were both impressed by this place! The only reason I gave it 4 stars, is because while good, it just doesn't compare to Sasa. Nothing does. When we sat at the sushi bar they gave us a yummy crab mango salad. I could've eaten 2 of these! We ordered 2 appetizers and a couple of rolls, including a new style sashimi and spicy tuna crispy rice. The spicy tuna crispy rice was good, but not as good as I've had at other places. The new style sashimi and the rolls were great! There were a lot of interesting things on the menu, and I'm excited to go back and try more!
(4)deanne n.
Excellent food, amazing staff, and wonderful atmosphere! 5 stars for best sushi in Denver CO!
(5)Rachel S.
So excited a great sushi place has moved into the CP Hood! The restaurant is pretty small, well appointed and intimate atmosphere. The house bottle are pretty inexpensive ($24 per bottle) and I thought the prices were very reasonable. The rolls were around $11-13 each and DELISH! One of my favorites was the new style with jalapeno. I could not get enough of it. The service was prompt and all the rolls were presented in a unique approach. I will be back. They do have a happy hour, but it is from 2-5pm...thought that was a little strange.
(5)Christopher C.
this place was pretty good, got a bunch of sushi and of course some saki.
(4)Bradley L.
Great Teriyaki Salmon bowl for lunch! Great price, lots of food and good flavor. I have not been for happy hour or dinner and don't think I will, since the lunch prices are good.
(4)Alan W.
We're from AZ and have never had such fresh and cheap sushi. I wish we could come back!
(5)Helen Y.
The shrimp tempura bento is a must try! Batter is very light & food tastes great. The sashimi is yummy too. Oiishii desu ne. (Delicious in Japanese) The sauce that comes with the sashimi is very tasty too. Love this new place & the service is excellent!
(5)Steven B.
This location has been a variety of oriental, mostly sushi, places over the past few years. I'm not sure what the changes are all about but this time they have upped the ante on the sushi! It has been pretty good, but not my favorite, in the past and now it is my first choice for sushi. The decor is the minimal Japanese you'd expect, but the preparation and freshness of the sushi is at the top of the scale. The sushi chefs take a lot of time in arranging the sushi so that it is as good to look at as to eat. For a small place they seem to always have some of the more expensive cuts. They advertise 'Blue Fin' but I haven't bother to check on whether this is the 'good' or 'bad' kind. . .I guess the sushi is so good I don't want to know. Service is excellent and while I've only gone in a few times they seem to recognize me, or at least pretend to do so and that makes me feel good. Probably the only complaint is that the location on East Colfax means sparse parking, but it's worth the effort.
(5)marissa o.
Wonderful sushi, great neighborhood spot!!!
(5)Kate T.
Picked this place with a coworker because it's close to City Park and away from the congestion some of the Uptown eateries get at lunchtime during the week. We're both vegetarian, and this place offered a lot for us to choose from. Our server was so friendly and attentive, and we felt very welcomed. Really loved it. The decor was warm and inviting and we noticed some "regulars" were already there on their 2nd or 3rd visits, even though this place is relatively new. Also, they have very reasonable lunch specials-- not expensive and we both left with containers half-full of left-overs. I had the teriyaki tofu lunch and my coworker had the veggie udon. Really great flavors. We will definitely be back.
(4)Leslianne N.
This review is long overdue. Let me start off saying that we were so excited to have a sushi place so close to us. However, now we will journey the extra time to go somewhere else. We are totally frustrated with this place! The first time we went in was a decent experience. Good food, which made up for the DUMB waiter! He was slow, he mumbled, he pretty much seemed like he has been stoned for the last 5 years. We went back a month later, hoping to get a better server. We did not...we got the same stoned waiter. We sat outside and it took forever for our waiter to come over. He took our order and went to the other table near us. Didn't go inside to place our order, just started chatting with the table (not taking their order). They were discussing if Jesus really existed NO JOKE!!! After about 10 min he went inside to place the order. Our food came out and we started eating. We had ordered a roll with Eel in it among others and it was good. My boyfriend took a bite of this eel roll and immediately started to gag. I thought he was choking, but he wasn't. He ran straight to the bathroom. There was no way I was eating anymore until I know what happened. He came back saying that he threw up and feels like he is going to again. He realized that he had something stuck in his throat. We didn't know what it was, but we thought it was some shell from the shrimp tail or bone. We weren't sure, but we were sure that we were done. Since, our waiter was nowhere to be found another waiter came over to help. We told him the situation, he apologized, and said he would get the manager. Who is the mananger...OUR DUMB@$$ WAITER!!! We tell him what happened he says that he will give us some hot sake on the house to see if it helps. Before we could say no, He's back with the sake. My boyfriend gave it a shot and it did nothing. We just wanted to leave, but our waiter/manager was loudly chatting about Jesus again. We figured that the meal would be comped or significantly discounted since we didn't eat any of the meal except for one piece of sushi. We let the waiter know that we were extremely upset and that we don't think that we should pay full price for something that we are NOT going to eat. My boyfriend was miserable as we waited for the guy to bring us the bill. We get it and he just took off the one roll but charged us full on everything. We ended up spending $40 on two bites of sushi( less than that, BC my boyfriend threw up)! Since my bf was suffering we paid and left so pissed off! We got home and after 20 min of looking in his mouth, we found a white speck way in the back of his throat. We used tweezers to pull it out and it was a good 1/2 inch bone stuck back there. I can honestly say that we will NEVER EVER EVER go back to that place unless that waiter was fired and we were assured that the food would have no bones. Even then it would be hard to say yes. This happened a while back and I still get fired up just thinking about it.
(1)Dan G.
Really affordable sushi on Colfax. The fish was fresh and the sushi chefs seemed really happy to be at work. The service was efficient and friendly. Okinawa is a great value and a needed addition to Colfax.
(4)Thea K.
The food, price, atmosphere and service were great! The wait staff was eager to please and very accommodating and the sushi chef behind the bar was fun to watch! They have some unique flavors and combinations on their menu that set them apart from other Denver sushi locations like Hapa and Mt. Fuji and, prices that are lower than you'd expect for the quality of food and service.
(4)Amy D.
This new sushi joint has made a complete overhaul from it's earlier days as a different sushi restaurant most likely from different owners. It's now a modern, yet cozy atmosphere where even the bathrooms have funky tile and a contemporary sink. Walking in, you definitely get the wow factor (especially if you've experienced the previous look of this building). The servers are welcoming and knowledgeable. The sushi is fresh, and they special attention to detail in the presentation. We had the jalapeno yellow tail as an appetizer followed by a mixture of sashimi along with the Angel, Playboy, and Shrek rolls. It was the perfect mix for four of us. A nice touch at the end is the bite sized cheesecake for each guest. If you're lucky, you'll get to do a Saki shot with the manager Thomas. It's so good that I've visited this restaurant twice in two weeks!
(4)Cassandra S.
My friend and I drove up last night to eat here after having a friend referred me here. We loved it.....very reasonably priced and very clean. Fast service and clean restrooms. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Kay T.
Denver doesn't have that many good sushi places but this place is decent. The sushi is good and fresh in this small restaurant. They need to extend their happy hour times as well because people are still working or traffic just sucks on Colfax. There really isn't much parking either unless there is and I don't know about it...
(4)Kyle G.
Colorado has pretty much no clue how to do sushi ... go here and experience the real thing ... fyi if its overly complicated and covered in sauces ur not eating japanese food - that's like saying panda express is authentic chinese food
(4)Randy H.
Was our first visit to Okinawa. Was pleased by the appearance of the interior, and the selection of music, which was pleasant in volume and type. Our waiter seemed like he was somewhat new, but handled our requests in a timely manner. The sushi was excellent. Great selection of specialty rolls as well. Prices were lower than I had expected too!
(4)Julia G.
The sushi here is pretty good, and fairly priced. However, we have ordered take-out twice and had surprises both times. The first time, we received a roll that we didn't order in place of whatever we did. It was good, so not a huge deal. We tried it again tonight and they left off the avacado on one of the rolls. Since the avacado was one of the clinchers for why I ordered it, I called to let them know and was told they no longer put avacado on that particular roll (the mango roll, if you're curious). That's fine, but they should change the menu then. I'm sure we'll order from here again, and hopefully their take-out will eventually work out the kinks.
(4)Becca P.
We'll definitely be going here again, but that's largely due to the fact that it's within walking distance of our house. Prices are affordable and the vegetarian sushi is excellent. Our favorite was the avocado peanut roll. Seating is a little cramped, but it's a cute space nevertheless.
(4)Brian B.
Greeted and seated right away at sushi bar. Very clean and nice atmosphere. Miso a bit bland but served in nice, heavy bowl with matching spoon. Gyoza are piping hot and the delicate wrap is nicely browned on one side. There is a nice amount of garlic and the pork is sweet and ultra-tender. The shrek roll is an instant favorite with it's soy bean paper jacket holding together a delightful manage of lobster, tuna, white tuna, crunch, avocado, mango, and roe...did you get all of that? The playboy roll, crowned with a perfect, thin jalapeño circle has a sweet, mint (?) note stashed away beneath the yellowtail, spicy, and white tuna. Two very original rolls. The hamachi is fresh and tender. Attentive but not overbearing service, and complimentary frozen cheese cake cubes, one plain, one with a praline topping, completes a very enjoyable first experience. Thank you. We will be back!
(4)Rebekah H.
I like Go Fish, and having lived in San Francisco AND a rural fishing village in Japan, I can be a bit of snob when it comes to my sushi fish. I thought let me try this joint and see if it can delight me, I liked the decor, comfortable chairs, and I thought the service was great. The fish was decent, but the rice was just not sticky enough! Fallin all over the place, I hate that. But it was tasty and beautifully presented, so I would go there again.
(3)Sarah G.
Okinawa is an awesome spot on Colfax! The sweet potato rolls are so good. Try them even if you don't like sweet potatoes. I've tried a number of other rolls there and every one has been excellent. The servers are always really attentive and they have a great lunch special. There aren't many sushi places in that part of town, but Okinawa would probably be the best even if there were others!
(4)Mike Z.
What a great addition to Colfax. Finally a great Sushi place in City Park. The food was great. The service was great. We will definitely frequent this place in the future!
(4)Heidi T.
I moved here from CA last August so I will admit that I have been spoiled with great sushi. This was my first CO sushi experience. I knew going in that it would not be CA quality but this place had good reviews so I thought I would try it for lunch. Definitely not even comparable to CA sushi. I ordered three rolls and only ate 5 total pieces before throwing it out. The smell was suspect and the texture was mush. The least I expect is my fish cold and crisp. Not so much.
(2)Luis S.
I've been going here for 6 months or so; lunch specials are great (3 rolls & soup for $12.95!), nice ambiance, and really good sushi at a good price. The service is great, they recognize me when I come in. Highly recommend it!
(5)Melissa G.
My new favorite sushi joint in Denver! The sushi is absolutely delicious and the presentation is a work of art. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Fantastic! You won't be disappointed with anything you get.
(4)Audra O.
excellent food and excellent service. top notch presentation. okinanwa uses creativity with their menu, combining unique ingredients that blend well together to make flavor combinations that excite the mouth ... my mouth, anyway. loved it!
(5)James T.
We ordered take-out sushi to take to the ball game. The prices were reasonable and the sushi was delicious. It was nicely presented in the plastic take-out container. The staff was very friendly when we picked up the order. I'm excited to eat in and add to this review soon.
(4)Eric T.
very good sushi for a decent price point! the design of the place is contemporary but still has a warm feeling. it doesn't feel uptight but rather hipster. a place to come back to visit when in town in Denver, city by the bay ;)
(4)Amy S.
The sushi here is very high quality given that the prices are relatively low! The server also gave us free cheesecake bites for dessert, and I swear that it is the only cheesecake that I've ever liked. Amazing!
(5)Mark Z.
This place is fantastic. I have now been here twice, and both times the food was excellent. Additionally, the service here is super friendly, and the owner always makes it a point to greet everyone. I used to live in Chicago, and there are a million great sushi places there. This place reminds me of some of the better ones in terms of food quality and experience.
(5)J D.
Knave now been to Okinawa 4 times in the 1 month that it has been open. Each time I have been very happy with the food, service, and the prices. The owner is always there and very friendly. I've never dined he without recording free saki from the owner. The sushi rolls are large in size and very affordably priced. There are the usual rolls on the menu but also many unique rolls made with interesting things like caviar or horseradish (actually very tasty). The place is very small so it can be a little cramped when full but overall it's a great choice for very good and reasonably priced sushi. Good for dates or for a group of friends.
(4)Alissa R.
went here for a quick lunch with the boyfriend, ordered shu mai $4.50, sashimi lunch $12.00 and the 2 roll lunch special $8.50, both came with choice of soup or salad, we chose one of each to share. Miso is always good here, never too salty with just the right amount of tofu, seaweed, and green onions. salad is basically ice berg, a slice of tomtato and cucumber with a sesame dressing, decent. the shu mai was extra yummy, for true shrimp lovers this is spot on! The rolls were yummy as usual, we chose the AAC roll and the spicy yellowtail. the sashimi was delicious and presented in a sexy way, but while the salmon tasted fine, it seemed like it was semi-frozen in the middle (maybe just from lying on ice?) anyhow, that is the only reason to rate it at 4 instead of 5 for this visit. i shall return again and again!
(4)Alison B.
I went here spur of the moment with a friend of mine for dinner. It was a Thursday evening around 8 and we had no trouble being seated immediately. The service was good. The waitress was very attentive. We had hot green tea bc it was freeeezing outside. It was tastey and warmed us right up. I ordered the sweet potato roll and it was PHENOMENAL! I could have eaten a plate full of them. The rest was also pretty tastey, but I took off a star for the spicey tuna. I prefer the mayo sauce seperate from the tuna and at okinawa, they blended it making it a strange texture. Over all, I would recommend and return :)
(4)Meg E. G.
Went here w/ a fellow yelper because the Thai place down the street was closed but damn am I glad we did. The parking is a bit sketch but the inside decor was modern yet inviting which I appreciated. I had an iced tea to drink and while you may think that that is pretty standard- it's not. Many restaurants brew them too weak or too strong, there's was perfect and I appreciated the frequent refills. What really blew me away was the Mango roll and the Crazy tuna roll- both absolutely scrumptious and the perfect portion size. And yes I ate both of the rolls by myself- sorry I'm not sorry. All in all I was impressed I thought the service, style, tea, and all around delectable dining I will definitely be back after I can afford it. Unfortunately it is a bit pricey but it's definitely worthwhile if for a nice night out.
(4)Elizabeth F.
Excellent! I visited Okinawa for the first time last week. A good menu, friendly service, and delicious sushi! I'll be back!
(4)Tiffany N.
I hate when I go somewhere and have a pleasant experience but something feels off about the place. You guessed it, thats how I feel about Okinawa. Loved the atmosphere, variety of rolls and entrees for the non sushi lovers out there (AKA communists in my book) and good service. I got the Spicy Girl and it rocked my world! It lived up to the name and was absolutely flavorful, all while clearing up my nostrils. I would have ordered two more rolls if I had on looser pants and wanted to drop some major bills that night. All of the sushi was fantastic, full of flavor and fresh. Their prices for sushi were a little higher than I would normally pay but the quality of their sushi is definitely worth the few extra dollars. And being a FL girl, I'm not willing to take risks on raw fish when I'm landlocked. But still, something was off and I've been sitting here for 10 minutes writing this review and I still can't figure out what it is that separates it from a four star rating and a five. Guess I will have to go back to see if said thing is still off there, no issues with that since I can always get down with awesome sushi like Okinawa offers!
(4)Phillip M.
YES! A sushi place in Denver that's actually good and not stupid expensive. I've been here twice and really enjoyed it. The atmosphere is cool, the sushi is good, and the prices won't break the bank. Not much to say beyond that.
(4)Chris S.
We loved everything we tried and they have some really unique stuff that doesn't involve fish which my girl can't really do. As far as veggie / chicken / steak options go she was pleased. Definitely suggest the Dynamite, Tamago, and Portabello rolls.
(5)Alexis P.
So delicious! They had a lot of innovative rolls which I like, even some wrapped in soy paper instead of seaweed. Presentation was fresh and beautiful. Decor was clean and polished. Service time to get our sushi took slightly longer than normal, but the craft that goes into each roll is worth the wait( one of our rolls was shaped like hearts instead of round!) All of the waiters were attentive and very kind. I will Definitely be back!
(5)Evan A.
DE-LICIOUS! Good sushi for the price and great service. Only down side is the lack of parking, but defiantly someplace I'll head back too!
(4)Riza H. C.
4 SOLID STARS! Saturday June 11th 2011, went here for Happy Hour Sushi with 6 other frens. Time : 4.00pm onwards. Apparently, they "forgot" that I made the reservation for our party. Well note to self, next time whenever calling a restaurant or establishment, please "REMEMBER" the name of the receiver who takes your call. When I arrived, thankfully, this establishment was not as busy and the waitstaff swiftly managed to prepare the tables for the 7 of us. There are several other patrons dining in while we were here. Good deals to have when you order from their Happy Hour menu and you can mix your order with the main menu if that is what you desired. The service was prompt, attentive and welcoming. If I could recall correctly, there are like 2 waitstaffs attending to our table. Now the FOOD, in conclusion, my other frens liked what they order. The sushi looks good, and they did good in terms of presentation for how they plate the sushi for our party. Here was what I ordered for that afternoon. * Calamari * Grilled Squid Salad * LIVE Scallops that was one of the Special of the Day * Amaebi * Spicy Lobster * King Crab * Uni * Unagi * Hotategai I like both the Calamari and the Grilled Squid Salad. Though until now, I am still trying to figure out the "special sauce" that they provide that comes with the Calamari. For the LIVE Scallops, its so fresh, no fishy smell at all and just melt in my mouth. I "melt down" when I ate the King Crab. So buttery and delish. The rest of my sushi order, was good. All in all good experience eating here and I do not mind returning when needed. I request specifically, that separate checks for our party before ordering. This establishment allow separate checks for our group. 2 thumbs up in my books! Do take note, you are welcome to park behind the building, first come first serve, and there are ample of parking along the streets. It also depends on the time you are there.
(4)Diana W.
Came back here for a friend's birthday. Still fabulous service, free dessert for the birthday girl, and quick order and serve turn around time. Did I mention already how much I love their lowcarb rolls? i can seriously eat 2 of them and each bite is still so flavorful and fresh!
(4)Nick V.
Had the sashimi dinner. Sushi was very fresh and the assortment was great. Nice thick cuts.
(5)Alison W.
So, Okinawa is the sushi place that is a stone's throw from my home. You'd think I get sick of it...but I don't! The man who's always there as a server is sweet. He never seems flustered. That's a server skill. Their happy hour is unbeatable. I also think their vegetarian rolls are super creative - whether or not you're a veg-head, try the avocado and peanut roll. I promise you won't be disappointed! They're rarely TOO packed to enjoy a meal, but prepare yourself - if you go in for takeout, maybe call ahead and get a pickup time. I waited 45 minutes once, which is slow by any standards.
(4)Kate S.
Okinawa is fabulous. I used to live in the neighborhood and would do take out or eat in all the time. I have since moved, but refuse to go to the sushi places in my new neighborhood. They just aren't as good! So instead we make the 15 minute drive even if we are just doing take out. The fish is always fresh. The presentation is beautiful. We always get the Spicy crunchy tuna appetizer, which has the perfect combination of spicy and then sweet soy. The lovers role comes in the shape of a heart and the tuna is perfect. We also love the Mango Role and the New York Role. I honestly cannot say enough great things about this place. The atmosphere is nice, the service is always friendly, and the food is perfect. I am a huge fan!
(5)Mardy S.
This was well worth the dining experience, especially since it was our last evening before heading back to Houston. We sat at the sushi bar and asked the waiter what was available that was off the menu. The blue fin tuna was so awesome that we ordered seconds. It literally melted in our mouths before the avocado did...yum!!! The waiter recommended other items that were off the menu that were good, with the exception to fish liver which was OK but not exactly my type of taste. Oh well have to try things at least once! Overall great experience, the staff was very interactive with my husband and I. We would go back again when we're in town.
(5)David K.
Not great but not good either. Went there for happy hour which was good on drinks, but the food wasn't amazing.
(2)Meghan H.
Never had a bad meal here. I know there are some other sushi places in Denver that would be considered superior to Okinawa (like Sushi Den or Sushi Sasa) but I don't want to spend a car payment on my dinner, nor do I want to put on heels and make up just so I can fit in with the clientele that tend to frequent those establishments, so I stick to Okinawa. I can go with a ball cap and jeans on and no one bats an eye. This IS, after all, Colfax Avenue, and it's Denver, not Manhattan. Okinawa is well priced, comfortable and consistent. I could eat their green roll every day. I really appreciate their veg options. We've had couple of specialty rolls here that were too much of a mash up with multiple flavors jockeying for position, but we've learned what to avoid (anything with mango and we like mango) and what is a winner. Love their shrimp shumai. The crunch spicy scallop roll melts on the tongue with just enough heat to keep your eyes wide open. Service is solid, I can get Great Divide brews (never been a big fan of Japanese beer, though I'll hit a Sapporo in a pinch) and the seats are comfy. There is patio seating but it faces York and I always feel like I'm breathing bellows of car exhaust when I sit out there so usually I stick to the inside seating. All in all this is a great place for a date, with above-par offerings, good ambiance and efficient staff.
(4)Erin H.
LOVED their happy hour!!! Two-for-one drinks and fantastic sushi! Our favorite was the Angel Roll! The calamari was so different and light--loved that too! Will DEFINITELY be back!
(5)Lendy L.
Okinawa is very trendy. From table set up to cushy chairs and the light fixtures, it's actually a very nicely put together sushi restaurant. When my party of 3 arrived we did not have reservations but we were seated promptly after 10 minutes considering that it was quite packed for a 7pm dinner. We order tea and and 4 hardly rolls of sushi at very reasonable prices. The final verdict was it was all delicious. The collared yellowtail was cooked perfectly and when accompanied by a side of ponsu sauce I'm as happy as a clam. The bill ended up coming out to be about $25 per person and we all left full and content. I would recommend this place to friends!
(4)Missy B.
i love specialty sashimi plates, and this place has the best selection i've ever seen. and i've eaten sushi all over the country. quality of fish is fresh and great, pricing is reasonable.
(5)Richard B.
Always suspicious of a sushi place on colfax. But was pleasantly suprised today with great prices and super fresh fish! Ps thanks for the free sake too!
(5)Courtney O.
I'm only giving this place 5 stars because there isn't the option for 10. Service was wonderful and the sushi was somehow even better.
(5)Daron S.
Holy Calamari!! This was the biggest and best calamari I have ever had. They looked like onion rings. And I'm not even a calamari fan, but the fiance is. All of the rolls we tried were great, but the stand out was the one with mango on top. The atmoshphere is nice and plenty of people watching due to the colfax location, which I love! Their happy hour seemed really good, so I want to experience that one day!
(4)Giovanna R.
My husband and I have been eating here since it opened a few years ago! We love it! The sushi is so fresh , and if you like calamari you have to try it here! It's the best I've ever had!! We live in Aurora now and we still drive down to Okinawa's. It's the best !
(5)Steph A.
Really enjoyed the roll selection. They had quite a few specialty rolls to choose from and each one that I tried was delightful. No complaints on the service. I think this is a great date night spot!
(4)Chris L.
I've consistently had very good sushi here and a few truly excellent meals. I like the basics, salmon and tuna, and they do those very well. The fish is fresh, there's just the right amount of rice, and their wasabi and ginger are very good. Where they really shine is with their specialty dishes. I had a tuna sushi special recently that had cilantro and jalapeno in a delicious spicy sauce. Another favorite of mine is their tuna carpaccio, again it's because of the sauce. The waitstaff is generally efficient; if they were friendly I might be tempted to give this place five stars. The beer and wine selection is another reason they don't get five stars, just the boring basics. All in all, though, this is my go-to sushi place, really no reason to go anywhere else when it's this good, with very reasonable prices, and an easy location.
(4)Alex R.
We went here last night and had some pretty great sushi! We loved loved loved the Shrek roll, and ordered it because of yelp reviews. We also got two other special rolls- the golden and we forgot what the other one was called, as well as two regular rolls- Boston and Kra. Truly fantastic sushi. It was fresh, affordable and a nice atmosphere. Servers were a little frazzled as they had a large party come in, but were still very friendly if not fast.
(4)Katie H.
I've been here a handful of times and I always leave stuffed. My last visit was no different but it was the first time I ordered things off the non-sushi roll menu. The spicy sashimi salad was SO good and is frankly a really good deal for $10. Tons of seafood, deliciously spicy, and the greens underneath were fresh and crisp. My partner ordered the gyoza for the table and they were heavenly. The noodle had just the right amount of pan sear and the pork was incredibly juicy. The accompanying sauce was not too sweet and my friend commented that he would drink it. So there's that, too. As usual, the sushi was fantastic and they never overdo the rice. We'll be back.
(4)Devin R.
Yay Okinawa! They're very careful about keeping my sushi gluten free. It's hard to find a sushi place that will do that. I love every roll I've tried there. The staff is all very friendly and helpful, especially when it comes to working around dietary restrictions. The price is a little on the high side, but I think it's worth it.
(4)Melissa T.
Yay! I'm the 100th review. I am in love with this place. It's got great atmosphere, delicious veggie rolls, and awesome service. I kind of abandoned sushi when I became a vegetarian but I have recently rediscovered veggie rolls and they make me so happy. The presentation here alone makes me happy. Also, their wine glasses are comically enormous. Which is awesome for several reasons.
(5)Jason K.
Great sushi. Service was good but just a little slow. They were out of uni, but it was Sunday night so that's expected. The spider roll was very good. My wife had the chicken teriyaki and it was excellent. The squid salad was also very tender, but was missing the tentacles, so it wasn't a complete squid. I prefer their other location off Ken Caryl better, but I would go back if I was in the area.
(4)Michaele M.
Seaweed salad - beautifully presented, tasted very nice Lobster roll - pretty good, although, 2 of the pieces had the tails unnecessarily attached, which were hard and inedible. The lobster in those tails tasted slightly of ammonia, which is a sign of spoiled seafood :-( Dragon roll - only 5 pieces but really tasty. Very trendy inside, nice décor. The 2 younger waitstaff were very nice and attentive, however, the older woman looked mean, never smiled at me, never came over to ask if I needed anything but was quick to flash a smile when she saw patrons who weren't dressed as casually as myself.
(3)P H.
This restaurant has some potential, as the server was friendly, and they do put some effort into presentation. The food is also sufficiently good. Unfortunately, the extremely smelly (like strong BO) napkins really ruined the mood for us. If they can improve the sanitation, I can see this restaurant going to four stars for me.
(3)Kelly T.
Sweet sassy frassy molassy! This here is some good sushi! It's so good, that apparently it caused me to channel Yosemite Sam when I wrote those last two sentences. I went here for lunch on a Sunday and, man, I'm glad I did. My dining companion placed the order and when it arrived, my little taste buds jumped for joy. Quick aside: I have GOT to remember that almost all soy sauce at restaurants have gluten in them. If I can remember that, then I'll avoid the slightly upset stomach that followed this meal. It had NOTHING to do with the food and everything to do with my stupidity. I think my favorite was the mango roll. Most of my favorite recipes combine sweet and savory into one dish and this sushi roll did the same. I had a couple other rolls, which I can't remember the names of, but they were really tasty too. And I finished the meal off with a nice cup of tea, which, wonders never cease, was not scaldingly hot when the server brought it to the table. Nothing kills my happy tummy buzz better than a cup of tea that sears my mouth at the first sip. It's really great to see the Congress/City Park area getting some really great restaurants built in the area and Okinawa definitely comes in at the top in this neighborhood.
(4)Jenny H.
This place deserves three stars off ONLY because of the service. The sushi was fabulous. It tasted fresh and was served in perfect sized rolls, not too big to be called bite-size. The menu has a good selection and the edamame was cooked perfectly! As for the service, it was terrible. An hour and a half long story short, we didn't get drinks for at least 15 minutes, after finally asking someone where they were. We didn't receive a simple extra side which was written on the menu and circled by the server at time of order. Servers did not come to our table once to see if anything was needed or how the food was. Had to walk to the sushi bar to get the side. Was never asked for drink refills. And had to get up and track someone down for the bill after waiting way too long to get a servers attention. All of this and there were only TWO of us. This was not a group of people who were too much to handle. Just two people. I will never sit down for another meal there. Because I loved the sushi, I will be ordering carry out the next time I want Okinawa.
(2)Sarah K.
I was going to give Okinawa five stars, given the superior quality of fish and tasty, reasonably priced rolls, but there was some ruckus at the end of our meal that left me with a very...disturbing...last impression. The sushi was phenomenal, as was the service. I loved the spicy girl and the shrek rolls; the sashimi was to die for! We were enjoying our evening when a clatter of dishes came from the back of the house; we didn't think much of it--maybe a waiter was having an off night or a patron had a few too many... We paid the bill and moseyed outside...All of a sudden a guy stormed past us and asked if we had just eaten at Okinawa. "Yes, why?" we asked. "There was a live cockroach on our plate of sushi; we nearly knocked the table over trying to get away." Uh. "Yeah, they gave us our meal for free but I will NEVER come back." I'm sorry to say, neither will I. I'm sorry Okinawa, I just can't get past this...
(2)Seth E.
Decent sushi for a great price, especially during happy hour which includes buy one get one free drinks! To be fair I haven't tried their more spendy rolls which may be fantastic, but the moderate to low priced rolls are tasty and well worth the money.
(4)Hailey Z.
First time i have ever tried white tuna! Lovely and attentive staff, delicious and super fresh fish with a beautiful presentation. We will be back!
(4)Abby Q.
The price is RIGHT, people! They have happy hour Monday through Saturday, 2:30-5. During happy hour you can get 2 for 1 beer, wine, or sake, and discounted rolls and appetizers. I've been here three times now for Saturday happy hour and have yet to be disappointed! On our most recent trek, my favorite sushi buddy and I ordered as follows: 2 glasses of lychee sake each (holy YUM, Batman!!!!) 1 order of Gyoza 2 fried sweet potato rolls (we don't like sharing this one...nomnomnom) 1 rainbow roll 1 titanic roll 1 mango roll 1 order of tobiko 1 order of hamachi That's A LOT of food, right!!!!!! And our tab only added up to about $40 for each of us AFTER tip. We left feeling fat, happy, and not as poor as when we go to Sasa. What's even better is that the quality of the sushi is fantastic. The only downside is that last time we sat on the patio here, we witnessed a stabbing. However, that is no fault of the restaurants and solely the fault of the creepers on Colfax Avenue.
(5)D D.
Good food but HORRIBLE service. Came in on a fri about 3:30. Our waitress was to busy to serve us. We had to get up and ask 4 times for drinks, food, service.... Then a friend joined us and had to get her attention to serve our friend. We where her only table and could tell that the sushi chef was annoyed. Food was great but service SUCKED!!!! To bad....
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