What a great atmosphere. My husband and I went to just have drinks and was pleasantly surprise by the menu. It was pretty busy, however we were able to get into the bar right away. It was really busy so the bartender didn't give us any attention. However because of the wait the manager gave us drinks on the house. The wait wasn't too bad because the atmosphere was very nice. . It made our experience even better. Will definitely come again.
(4)
Teri A.
Having dinner with two of my favorite men! Aoki menu is phenomenal! The food is excellent and the portions are just right not too little not too much. The staff is very friendly, courteous and helpful. Definitely will be back. Highly recommended.
(5)
Rich Y.
As dadeland continues to expand, this new restaurant came with tons of hype. As a big fan of Asian cuisine I was looking forward to the opening of this place. Decor was very modern and unique. Service and seating was very fast. Menu was printed on a paper and very limited compared to the other popular hibachi style restaurant located a few miles south. The food was ok, ordered the oysters for an appetizer, only came with three per order, if your a big eater, you definitely won't want to share. However it tasted very fresh and had three different sauces to top. No soup, but had a salad included with your entree, which was mixed and prepared live but was a pretty average house salad. The hibachi chef came out and the show was pleasant, very pleased, would be great for the kids. Ordered the seafood trio (lobster,shrimp,scallops), again very fresh. The "inaka fried rice" included five different types of rice and noodle. Didn't taste bad, but didn't taste great either. The shrimp sauce (pink sauce) really helped the flavor. Hibachi vegetables included with your meal as well. Limited dessert menu also. Overall, I gave it three stars because I felt they lacked a little on their fried rice, and their limited menu. I think it's a great alternative to the always crowded Samurai and their was practically no wait to be seated and the service began promptly. Bought the Aoki staff shirt for 6 bucks, which was pretty awesome I might add. New restaurant still, so I'll give them some time to work out the kinks and I'll try again in a few months.
(3)
Adrian A.
I went to aoki on a friday night and it was completely empty. The place was nice but the service was extremely slow. It took them about 10min to take my order. The waiter didn't even bring me my food, the people at the sushi bar did. Not only did the waiter take forever with bringing my check, he gave a stupid excuse and didn't get me water! I had to ask another waiter walking by for a glass of water. Half the time I saw the waiter flirting with another waitress instead of serving us. It must have taken him at least 20min to get us our check because of that. The food was good but the service was awful.
(3)
Nicole M.
I rarely review restaurants but our experience here is worth reviewing. Our chef, Victor, was amazing. Great knife skills, unbelievably entertaining and everything was cooked to perfection. We enjoyed it as much as our two daughters did. Much better than Samari or Benihana, plus...no wait!
(5)
Robyn L.
Staff was friendly and engaging. The chefs do more tricks with food than they do at Samurai/Benihana. The spinning salad idea is cool but the ginger dressing is bland. However, they add some sort of dried fish skin garnish that adds a lot of flavor. The food here is okay. The sushi rolls are all fried. The teppanyaki was decent. My filet mignon could have used some more seasoning but my friend's wagyu was good. The rice was interesting but not to my liking. I'd probably give this spot another chance but for me, it doesn't compare to Samurai.
(3)
Monica B.
I will never go to any other Teppanyaki restaurant after having tried Aoki! Thomas is the best chef, but he only works Mondays, Tuesdays, and some Sundays, so make sure to come when he's there! Adam was an awesome server/host and made our meal very enjoyable.
(5)
Jasmine V.
I was really excited to introduce this restaurant to my boyfriend. The previous two times I had visited had been great. He finally agreed to eat here on a Friday night and I couldn't wait to have their delicious fried rice that I had eaten on my last visit. We approach the restaurant and I had to catch the hostesses attention as they were just chatting with each other. We get seated at the bar in the back because I told my boyfriend I loved the decor of the back room. We were immediately greeted by a friendly bartender who handed us the menus and introduced herself to us. We quickly placed our orders of a bottle of sake, edamame, a roll, and their special fried rice. Our edamame and roll were served on a decent waiting time but the rice, which I couldn't stop raving about, never made it to our table. Apparently it was a mistake made by the bartender or who knows who but I was shocked to see how management insisted on reprimanding the bartender in front of us and made it a big scene where they all lingered next to the bar as if something really serious had just occurred. I observed the other employees and noticed they didn't seem to excited to be there. It's sad because this restaurant has great potential but it seems the management isn't great. In the end I tipped the bartender well as she deserved it and hopefully it's a learning lesson for management.
(1)
Ray C.
The only good thing about this place is the quality of the food which is why it even gets 2 stars which are extremely generous. The service at this restaurant is, simply put, terrible. We were in a group of 20 and we sat on the terrace. Kudos to the manager for accommodating us. We advised the server at the beginning to split the table in 4 before ordering for ease of the check later; the server indicated that they'd do better than that and that 2 servers would split the table in order to better service us. Great. Instead of smooth service, it was quite the opposite. The food came out in spurts, so if you ordered 3 selections you would get a plate at random intervals, with some people finishing their meal while others were just starting. And instead of taking the dish to the correct cover based on the placement on the ticket (like most restaurants do), the servers would engage in calling out the name of the dish until someone claimed it. I never got my fried rice despite asking for it at least five times. And despite never getting it, it appeared on the bill at the end (no surprise there). I must have reminded the server about my next beer at least a half dozen times over the course of 90 minutes before she woke up and brought it to me. I mean, seriously... how hard is it to, on the customer's third reminder, swing by the bar and remind the barkeep to pour you a 6 oz draft beer?? Then the check at the end was a fiasco, with several person's order spread across 2, sometimes 3 checks. The ribs were great and so was the coconut/tropical roll, but I can have good ribs or sushi anywhere in Miami. You come to a hibachi restaurant for the experience and this place is just not there. I won't be coming back here at any time soon.
(2)
Jennifer M.
The restaurant itself is beautiful and unique! You can tell they put a lot of thought into their design. We had sushi when we went but the cook at your table is the more popular choice there. They have great happy hour deals as well.
(5)
May G.
First off, let me start by saying that this place certainly has a nice vibe to it. The way the restaurant is set up seems like you're in a different world. The menu is very creative too as it is written on brown paper bags. After hearing some mixed reviews about this place, my boyfriend and I decided to check it out. The wait time was typical for a saturday night (45 minutes to an hour for teppanyaki).The hostess took down our number and said she would call us once the table was ready, which was neat since we were not limited to waiting outside and were free to roam around the mall. We decided to wait it out in the bar area and try out some drinks. The bartender (I'm not sure what his name is) was SO nice. He gave us his opinion on various drinks and even let us sample a few beers. I ordered an Emmit Remus (I believe that is how it is spelled) and my boyfriend ordered the mojito. My drink was fabulous! A sweet blend of strawberries with whiskey and simple syrup amongst other things. My boyfriend's mojito was so/so...nothing too spectacular. Now for the actual dinner... Once we sat down at our teppenyaki table and ordered our items, everything just went downhill. We ordered the Fire Dragon roll, and it was certainly delicious and very fresh. Possibly one of the best dragon rolls we have ever eaten. Anyway, the real reason why I am giving this review TWO stars is because of the chef. At the beginning he did some pretty neat tricks and was engaging throughout the cooking process BUT he messed up several times without apologizing. For example, when cooking the rice, he RAN OUT (miscalculation I guess) as he got to my boyfriend, which happened to be the last person in the table. So instead of apologizing and excusing himself, he just disappeared for a few minutes into the kitchen, came back with a regular bowl of rice and yes he mixed it in with the scraps on the table but did not even add more eggs and the other ingredients added to everyone else's portion. Just plain. That was obviously a little upsetting and just set the tone for the rest of the evening. Everything else was just mediocre. The rice was really not tasteful, unless you are willing to drench it with the pink dipping sauce (as I noticed everyone was doing). The meat was cooked to order but once again, lacking in taste. At another point the chef had to disappear once again into the kitchen because he had forgotten something else, once again without excusing himself or apologizing. Now, I've been to many other hibachi/teppanyaki restaurants and this is the first time I sit at a table where the chef just disappears mid-show. After the dinner my boyfriend asked the chef why his rice did not have the additional condiments and the chef just said he had mixed it in with the scraps on the table! My boyfriend asked for the managers name, and you would think that is was a sign to the chef to perhaps apologize or introduce his manager but nope...nada. So there you have it...not the best experience and certainly overpriced for the service we received.
(2)
Marilyn H.
Lunch on a Sunday afternoon should always be pleasant....our free time is valuable...lunch at aoki...was superb...waiters pleasant and attentive to all our needs...all tables were neat and clean...authentic hibachi....drinks were great, salad man was great and so was the salad presented in a very unique was..and delist......our entree fresh and well cooked"..veggies and rice were a "10"...all in all a great place for a terrific lunch...and very resonably priced... Would highly recommend it...dinner is defiantly pricey...
(4)
Paulina S.
We called Samurai and the wait was 1.5 hours...(no surprise here!!) In hopes of no wait, we opted to try Aoki which has the different approach of letting you sit and eat without having your table full. We got to dadeland at about 9 on a Saturday night. We were seated and served as soon as we arrived although it was only 4 at our table. Our food was great. The spinning salad contained mixed greens instead of just iceberg lettuce. The 4 grain rice did honestly taste healthier and it was delicious. My chicken was as good as you would expect hibachi chicken to be and the steak was not dry. Our 1.5 year old son was entertained the entire time and had no complaints. He was not a fan of the fried rice but some $3 white rice seemed to make him happy. I do think they rely less on the garlic butter other places use and lean more on using flavorful ingredients. Shot out to our chef Savon who was attentive to our son while also being funny and overall nice guy. Total bill with tip for my our dinner and 2 beers was $81 . Thanks for a great night out Aoki!
(5)
Jane S.
Instead of dining at one of the hibachi tables, we chose a regular table outside. The server was extremely pleasant and very accommodating and made the experience quite nice. The "Happy Hour" (all day) salmon sushi was excellent but the spicy tuna appetizer was too fishy tasting and we couldn't eat it. The salads were extremely fresh with a nice, subtle ginger dressing. The miso soup, instead of tofu, had pieces of roasted potatoes (sweet potato and regular potato) and was delicious. The meat rice bowl was very tasty and so was the chicken katsu. Our only problem is that this restaurant did not have a very good kid's menu in that the cheapest Kid's offering started at $10.95! Our little one, who is 4yo and is a picky eater, simply does not eat enough to justify this price! We ordered the $13.95 chicken katsu for her (which she loved, but we couldn't stomach the price!!) and they didn't even have ketchup. (we got some from the next door restaurant!!) We didn't understand this, as this restaurant is located in a mall that is overrun with adults and their children shopping! If they add a more reasonable kid's menu, we will return.
(3)
PrincessMisty M.
I've been here twice so far and ate from the two menus that the hostess described as 'two different concepts.' One menu is used for the sushi bar and tables and a second menu for the hibachi grill. The first time we stopped for some quick sushi and ate at their beautiful sushi bar. We ordered the four sushi rolls from the happy hour menu and were very impressed with the quality and freshness. The sushi chefs were funny and the second time we came we had a reservation for a large group and sat at the 'teppanyaki' grill and had the same server again. Her name was Jackie and she was super friendly and knowledgable about the menus somehow kept up with our complicated group order. Both times she kept our table clear of dirty plates or empty drinks. Our chef at the grill was Leo who had some some fun hibachi tricks for us! Overall we had a great time both visits and excellent service.
(5)
Sheila T.
I only tried the sushi menu And everything I tried was excellent. The drinks were awesome too, and the staff outstanding. Been there a few times now and plan to go back. They have valet parking specifically for the restaurants upstairs which makes it so much easier.
(5)
Cristina P.
Nice looking place, food is good in its own right, prices a bit high but leans on fair. It's likely that most people come in here comparing it to Samurai....it's similar but not the same (Samurai's food is more flavorful and there's more variety). It's got it's own flavor and while not bad, I wouldn't give it 5 stars. I will say this, our cook, Cedric was phenomenal. Great cook and quite entertaining to boot. Glad I tried it and may be back one day but it's not a must.
(3)
May L.
A big portion of lunch menu teppanyaki set with salad, fried rice, choice of meat (shrimp was perfect), and fried vege for $12-15! The food was nice and my friend and I were extremely satisfied. Come here for lunch!
(5)
Mercedes G.
We went to Aoki for my son's birthday and had a great time. The service was great and the food was delicious. The fried rice was the best I've had in a long time. The steak was cooked to perfection and vegetables were very good too. Our chef was funny and made our night a memorable one. My new favorite teppanyaki place.
(5)
Isabel L.
I wanted to like this place, but when I think Hibachi I think Beni Hana, they have a winning formula and its the taste I crave when I want Hibachi. This place had to be better than Beni Hana to earn its place in my restaurant repertoire. It didn't - Here's why: 1. Their Fried Rice is NO GOOD. It has four different rices, and a boatload of dry garlic which was overkill. It killed my stomach (apparently black rice can pass completely undigested through your stomach) and I can eat everything- except this apparently. This is one star off. 2. Their sauces are no good. One sauce is too creamy and mayonnaise-y. The other too tart. I tried mixing the two, but still not enough flavor. Beni Hana's sauces are delicious, these are bland at best. This is at least a 2 star deduction. 3. I ordered the Wagyu Beef $8 upgrade, we compared it to the Filet Mignon my fiance ordered (which is cheaper upgrade) and the Filet Mignon was clearly the winner. I don't appreciate trendy but not-worth-it expensive menu options. That's the last star off. Lastly, the ginger salad dressing had no flavor and the dry tuna flakes on it tasted like rotting fish leather. I don't understand all the positive reviews. Now I didn't try any of their sushi, so maybe that's worth trying if you go here. I would pass on the hibachi.
(1)
Ty C.
Awesome sushi, beautiful set up and great staff. Try the surf and turf roll, the sunomono roll and the specialty cocktails. No complaints here
(5)
Natasha S.
This was our first time dining here and we had a great time.. Our kids loved their dinners.. Sushi rolls were top notch.. Fried rice, salad, veggies were delicious.. Our cook Leo made it a fun experience for the kids.. Overall loved this place, loved the food and will definitely be back!!
(4)
Stacy G.
My husband and I were very excited about Aoki opening up, considering he's a HUGE fan of Samurai. We went there the first week it opened and the sushi was phenomenal, the sushi staff was amazing. The Sushi Manager, I believe his name was Pete was extremely gracious and made sure that our experience was great. We went again last week and we had a horrible experience. The sushi was not a fresh and the service was not good. We asked to speak to the Manager and they told us he no longer worked there. It was a shame our last experience was not as good as our first. In fact, I believe the air conditioning was not working and the restaurant was empty. I hope its better the next time we go.
(2)
Jenny A.
My husband and I visited Aoki a few weeks back on a Friday night. The place was jammed pack, so we decided to sit out in the terrace.. We had an amazing experience from the server that took care of us to the outstanding sushi and items from the grill we ate. My husband fell in love with the strip steak that was cooked to perfection and I one of the fried rolls, I think it was called the "Emperor roll" We decided to visit your restaurant this past Friday. OMG !!! What a not so good experience we had... The service was terrible. We sat and must have waited for someone to take care of us for more than 15 mins. When we finally got our food, What a difference from the first experience we had. I can actually say that it was close to being terrible. My husband's steak was overcooked and served cold and the sushi rolls I got looked the presentation my plate was horrific. I hope that you guys get it together and be consistent with your food. We will give you another try and see what happens...
(1)
Giovanni P.
The food was amazing!!! The service and price was very good. They came to the table constantly and had our orders to perfection. The quality of food was heaven. You couldn't ask for it any better. Perfect place for the family as well. Very much recommended.
(5)
Charlie S.
Food is not bad, however, you come out smelling like food. Very very bad extractor system. First and last time I visit this place.
(2)
Osman S.
Wow! What an experience.. 2nd time and it only solidified how great this place is! First off have a drink with the most creative bartender in a while... PETE.. This guy thinks outside the box and caters to your drinking needs. Dinning was excellent.. I know this place is not cheap but the atmosphere made me not want to not think about a budget.. Lester and Adam were our guys and we had blast. Must visit. Goodnight!
(5)
Silvia B.
Went for lunch for a co-workers birthday the service was great, the food was amazing everything i would try was really good even though am allergic to shellfish the waitress knew she would warn me before what each food had in it she was was very knowledgeable.
(5)
Mario G.
Food was okay. Same concept as Benihana and Samurai all they did was change the salad and fried rice. The salad was better than the competitors but not the rice. It tasted funny and lacked flavor. I welcome the competition though as last time I went to Samurai, and it's my kids favorite, I was disappointed.
(2)
Gabriel T.
A very good Sushi place in Miami. Order the Surf and Turf Roll and the Emperor. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Maria S.
I've never had a problem with the food, however they need to learn how to service people correctly. Every time I go we sit by the bar in the back and order sushi- we gotten ignored, bad service, and even heard employees making rude comments about customers. Unprofessional. Over priced.
(1)
Richard M.
This place is overrated!! Food and quality of service were mediocre to say the least. My shrimp was well undercooked (yuk). There is not a single Oriental working at this place!!! The cook was from Nicaragua (quite a neophyte) and his cooking skills were terrible. The flavor of the food is below the Samurai/Benihana flavor/quality standards - BY FAR!!! Thanks but no thanks....
(1)
Kharina S.
Had dinner here on Saturday and had the best experience with my family. The food was amazing. I highly recommend the NY Strip and Lobster combo. My husband got the chicken and it was also delicious. The best part about this restaurant is the entertainment, our Chef was so funny. My 2 yr old was his biggest fan! We will definitely be going back soon!
(5)
Claudia R.
Before anything, I'd like to point out that I made a yelp account just for this... The first time I visited, I sat at the sushi bar and everything was great. Everyone was very friendly and the food was great! I continuously recommended it to all of my friends. However, I visited again on Friday to kick off my birthday weekend. We were seated in the hibachi area but were told that we could order from whichever kitchen. Two of my friends ordered from the hibachi, another a regular plate, and I ordered some sushi rolls. The hibachi meals came first within 20 minutes, and the regular plate soon after. I, the birthday girl, watched as everyone ate. An hour passed and I was STILL waiting and by this time everyone else in my party and even the other couple seated with us, had finished eating. My boyfriend reminded our waiter about my rolls and our appetizer and he reacted very embarrassed and shocked. "The food runner never brought you your rolls?! It's probably just sitting there, I'll be right back." Another ten minutes passed and he comes back to tell us that "the ticket had never been printed," whatever that means. He asked if I wanted my rolls to go and I said yes- this outing was to celebrate my birthday NOT to take turns watching each other eat. We had been waiting for so long that the couple seated with us had already gotten AND paid their bill. The experience was SO ridiculous that the couple even felt compelled to say something to a passing employee. It was honestly thanks to them that my boyfriend's appetizer and my rolls were on the house. In retrospect, the entire meal should have been on the house because we had to wait ANOTHER thirty minutes for my rolls to be prepared. I was finally brought my rolls in a take out box and the check was brought as well. Sure enough, the rolls and appetizer were on the house. But when the waiter finally came back around to pick up our checks we had to remind him about bringing the appetizer. There goes another 15 minutes. My boyfriend still tipped our waiter (and well at that) because we understood this was technically the "food runner's" job. Again in retrospect, we shouldn't have even tipped as well as we did because how did the waiter not realize that he was picking up everyone's plate but mine?! The food tasted great but the experience was horrid. It was my birthday and I was the only one who did not get a chance to eat. I was so embarrassed and this was a horrible way to kick off my weekend. It was extremely disappointing especially since my first experience there was so great. I will not continue to recommend this to my friends and family. This was just such a ridiculous experience.
I don't understand why people write bad reviews on this place. I love coming here with a group of friends. We all ate from the Teppanyaki menu which is totally worth it! I've been there a few times and I don't recall having a bad meal there. I have made it to dessert once and I had the deep fried tempura brownie and it was delicious. Anything deep fried is good to me! I recommend coming here and try it out for yourself!
(5)
Nicole W.
I love Aoki! It's not as crowded and chaotic as Samurai, but is equally delicious! On my first visit, we dined at the Hibachi table. I ordered the chicken and shrimp combo, crispy pig ears (appetizer), and the cheesecake tempura for dessert! All of it was delicious! The pig ears were crispy and heavenly, and our meal included a large salad that was constructed in front of us! The service was outstanding and I can't wait to return!
(5)
Elaine Z.
I'd never heard of this teppanyaki joint until I decided to eat lunch at Bobby's Burger Palace - then upon seeing Aoki, changed my mind. Charmingly decorated and inviting waitstaff ushered us to a table - I loved the design of the chopstick wrappers and the furniture. The lunch specials were awesome for both food and drink. We had $4 beers and a $5 tuna poke salad that had TONS of tuna! For entrees, we had the spicy pork and bulgogi bowl. The bulgogi was not super authentic, but still tasty! I really enjoyed the meal and hope to come back to try the sushi or teppanyaki.
(4)
April J.
Surprised to find another establishment in Miami by the Benihana family. I like Benihana, and consider it pretty authentic Japanese food. Tried Doraku and wasn't a fan. Wasn't sure what to expect walking into Aoki. Let me start off saying that I LOVE the decor-- the high ceilings, the wood rustic feeling, love it all. Came during a Sunday afternoon and ate off of their lunch menu. Salmon Poke -- well worth it for $5. A lot of meat although the seasoning was slightly too much, but still great. Katsu Don Donburi -- The only complaint I have is that the meat was a little dry and it didn't come with the katsu sauce, had to ask for it on the side. But good portions and came with a little side salad.
(4)
S K.
Aoki is everyone's favorite restaurant. Hibachi is so much fun - for a special event - and it is so much better than Samurai or Benihana. The fried rice is a mixture of all different kinds of rices, making it even a bit healthier. The food is much more fresh. The service is much more quick than the other hibachi restaurants; you'll never be waiting more than ten minutes to be served. If you are not looking for hibachi, their normal sushi restaurant is exquisite. Delicious and reasonable prices. Fresh fish. Again, great service. Highly recommended.
(5)
Zhou F.
Interesting that this is actually owned by the Aoki family, as in Steve Aoki the DJ, son of Rocky Aoki the founder of Benihana. Food here is nothing special, but good for a quick stop while you're shopping as they have cheap lunch and happy hour specials. We had the Tuna Poke as the appetizer, which was on their happy hour menu and surprisingly good. For 5 dollars, there was a generous quantity of tuna, mixed with seaweed and onions in soy sauce and topped with fried noodles. An interesting combination of flavors and definitely worth a try. I ordered the spicy pork off their lunch special menu for my entree. It was served with potato salad, cabbage, a salad, and steamed rice. The pork actually packed quite a kick, so be aware of that if you decide to order it. The spiciness is basically all you taste. The pork itself is overcooked and a bit dry. The potato salad was a nice complement to the sauce of the pork as it counteracted the spiciness. The salad with peanut dressing was unexceptional, and the steamed rice was a bit dry. For the price, we pretty much got what we expected. In summary, good for a quick, reasonably priced lunch while you're shopping, but don't expect much.
(3)
Ian T.
I liked Aoki. However, don't expect anything wildly different (or superior) to a standard Benihana restaurant. This should be no surprise, since it's founded by the sons of Benihana founder "Rocky" Aoki. The interior is a bit more intimate and upscale than Benihana, and the prices are reasonable. Of course, if you go for the Teppan option (i.e. they prepare your food on the grill at your table), the quality of both the food and the 'show' will vary somewhat by the specific chef you get. For example, our guy was quite no-nonsense and had no flourishes, while at the next table it was all onion ring volcanoes and jokes. The meat was well seasoned, if not spectacular. The shrimp were above par and worked well with the seasoning. A distinction of Aoki is their take on fried rice. They use a medley of whole grain brown rice varieties, and don't put protein such as shrimp into their concoction. The result is likely healthier, but honestly I think I like the more decadent variety they serve at Benihana or Samurai. Your mileage may vary. Also, they have a pretty good deal where a second person can share in your teppanyaki for a small charge and will get their own rice, etc. As a special note, my wife had sushi and it was quite well done. Overall, it was a good experience and while I'm not addicted and going to rush back, next time I feel like Teppanyaki, it's definitely on the list. Particularly given it's convenient location in the Dadeland Mall.
(4)
Chris R.
A Mediocre Experience Had dinner last night and the service was dreadful had to ask for everything (menus, silverware, plates, WATER!) and we were greeted by our waiter with the question that drives me crazy when it's the first thing uttered when you arrive to restaurant: "are you guys ready to order?" Meanwhile, they hadn't even set the table and brought menus. The manager was seen just walking around not once did I see him greet any customers or check on tables. Food Had a cocktail, I can't recall the name but I it had cucumber in it. It was mostly syrup and you barely tasted any alcohol. The mighty warrior roll had a taste of your usual tempura soaked cream cheese roll (nothing special). The pig ears were a sad mini plate, weren't bad but they give less than a handful. Had the tuna rice bowl, it literally that RICE. It came with a small amount of tuna and cucumber, that was it. The food wasn't the worst thing in the world but it's nothing special. You can get better and more affordable at most mom and pop sushi joints around town. Conclusion The place is nicely put together sort of Epcotish (Disney reference). The service was way off not a memorable experience. Food was average. All in all you have better options a few footsteps away. Earls and Cheesecake Factory aren't even in the same stratosphere when it comes to food and service. Do you and your party a favor take the walk even if you have to wait a bit longer.
The sushi is good. Salmon appetizer is great and so is the spicy tuna roll. This is a sister restaurant of Doraku, which is also good. Service was really good and management was very friendly and fun.
(5)
Melanie A.
I came to this restaurant literally like the first week it opened. I was surprised that even in the very early stages of the restaurant, everything was on point. I went with 2 friends and we of course sat at the Hibachi table (is that even the correct way to say it? who knows). The service was great and we did not have to wait long for the chef to make his appearance. He did some great tricks and was very entertaining (not to mention pleasant). Who doesn't enjoy that part of the meal? I definitely enjoy being entertained while I stuff my face with endless food, yum. I had the shrimp & chicken...maybe even the beef? who knows. I am a fan of hibachi style restaurants but I usually show up and it's all kids. Aoki Teppanyaki is different. Of course there will be children as this is in a mall and children happen to shop with their parents at malls BUT this is a much more elegant atmosphere suitable for date-night OR a time to bring the youngsters (or to just drink - I approve). This is a great place to go even if you are not shopping in the mall (again, date-night, helloooo). I don't quite understand why people comment about how they don't understand the fascination with Hibachi style places. I totally get it. If it's not your cup of tea, then simply don't go. People understand what they are getting from this type of a restaurant. Don't go to a Hibachi style restaurant if you don't enjoy watching a chef pretty much give you a show. It's like going to an ice-cream parlor and saying you hate ice-cream. Not a good idea, right? Ugh, come on. Have a drink and relax!
(5)
Alicia S.
Great place for lunch. Very reasonable happy hour prices on food items. Their fried rice is different and very tasty. Great sushi menu as well
(5)
Mayli M.
I thought it was great! The place has a nice vibe. You can sit at a teppankai table, a regular table inside or a regular table on their patio. We opted for the latter & were glad we did. Things we tried: chicken fried rice=absolutely delicious! The flavor is a little different in a good way. The Great Unifier (roll)=good.. It had a nice citrus punch. The One Eyed Dragon (roll)=delicious but seriously spicy hot (nice that they use wahoo) The Supreme Shogun (roll)=It didn't have a lot of lobster but was tasty. Ultimate Ronin (roll)=loved it..nice touch with the walnuts I wish they didn't have a paper bag for a menu. I don't think it matches the style of the restaurant. Other than that, I have no complaints. I'll definitely be back. FYI happy hour is EVERY DAY 11:30-7pm!
(4)
Shareen B.
AmaZing. Second time there. Cuz I couldn't wait from my first visit!! I truly hope everyone gets to know this little find at Dadeland Mall. Truly the best Japanese food I've had in awhile. Yum. Can't wait for my next visit!!! *we went to Mall just for Aoki
(5)
Manuel G.
Aoki is awesome... Way better than Benihana I love its quiet ambience and the flow of the restaurant which is great place for small and large groups. Servers take care of me with no lag and the food is always cooked right they have a nice set of beer and sake. Sushi and Stella Artois best mix ever.
(5)
Krystle C.
Alright here goes: Not real sushi and it kept falling apart Chicken fried rice was okay Had no soy sauce on the table Service was slow Maybe the hibachi tables inside would have been better Meh, wouldn't eat here again
(2)
Kristina D.
This place is great! We sit at the sushi bar a lot quick service! The chefs at the tables are great as well. I perfer here to samurai.
(5)
Ame B.
Mediocre at best. We really liked the delux spicy tuna roll and the eggplant miso appetizer. The chicken teriyaki and the korean bbq beef dish tasted like commercial food; not authentic at all. Probably wouldn't come to eat here again.
(3)
Stephanie B.
I was pretty underwhelmed by my whole experience. For starters you have a bunch of options of where to sit and they basically just tell you to sit wherever you want. For someone who's never been there it might be a little annoying when you're hungry and you just want to be seated and that's it. The girls at the front are merely just that, just a bunch of girls (along with that hideous, awkward, uninviting and architecturally insignificant wooden table they sit and gossip at). They need hostesses that actually do their job in a hospitable manner. Anyway, we end up sitting at one of the high tables near the bar and the service was really slow. It took forever to get menus and have our orders taken and we literally had to ask for everything from water, to utensils. We ordered the one eyed dragon roll and it was actually delicious. I've never tried a roll with jalapeño in it. We also ordered the crispy pig ears which were fair and the reason they were fair was because of how thin and little they were! I couldn't believe they charged like $8 for what felt like 5 strands of crispy hair. So you couldn't even get the taste of the pig ears because they were sooo thin, and mind you this is supposed to be one of their most popular items. Then came 3 donburi bowls, they were all more than halfway filled with rice. The pork one was good, so was the vegetable one. However the tuna one tasted sad because it was like a big rice cupcake with tuna sprinkles. That's what it felt like cause the pieces of tuna were so small and little. Sigh, should've gone to Earl's. I'd only come back for the one eyed dragon roll during a shopping day if the wait is too long at earl's.
(2)
Channing N.
Been wanting to try this place for some time. Thought it would be a lot like Samurai, but I was pleasantly surprised. For starters, the decor is really something. Very modern, but themed well with the whole Japanese restaurant. The menus were printed on brown paper bags...don't really know the history behind that, but it was pretty cool. My family and husband took part in the whole tappanyaki lunch, which gave me the full experience. Got to try my husband's fried rice, steak and chicken. All was delicious. The cook was funny and very friendly. Our waiter was great...very attentive and sweet. I ordered the miyamoto roll and omg, was it delicious. The price was great during lunch/happy hour, too. We spent just under 150--five of us eating full lunches, four of us having 2 drinks each and 2 desserts. Definitely going back...very soon!
(5)
Tina V.
7/5 late teppanaki and sushi lunch review. Cute decor and atmosphere. Service and food was wonderful once you get pass the kind of nice kind of rude hostesses in the front. Dont get me wrong, they greeted us and all but when I had simple questions or when it was time to sit us, I did not appreciate their sarcastic tone or rude eye rolling... Maybe its just me being picky but if it was me I would not do that in front of customers. Other then that everything was wonderful from our waitress Michelle and our chef Santos who was very interactive and funny. The food was not excellent as I have had better teppanaki and sushi back home but still really good and I love their healthy fried rice concept. Yes you can order sushi and small plates on the teppanaki side too. Surf and turf roll $13(4/5) It is a pretty decent roll. Not overly sauced or filled with mayo like many other sushi place in Miami but a little too much rice ratio of you ask me. Masago Nigiri $5.50(4/5) fresh Hamachi sashimi $7 (5/5) really fresh Lunch special combo $15.20 each (4/5) we both choose the shrimp amd sirloin. It comes with their house special inka? fried rice, stir fry seasonal veggie, and table side spinning salad with ginger dressing. The salad was fresh amd the ginger dressing was lightly refreshing. The fried rice was interesting with several different grains from around the world? The seasonal veggie was my least favorite.. it was bland. The sirloin was cooked to my liking and the shrimp as well. Both could use a little more seaaoning. Overall it was good. Drinks I had the saki sampler from light and balance to creamy and sweet. It was all yummy. The boyfriend has their special old fashioned which he really like. I also had a glass of Gerard Chardonnay which was quite refreshing but I did not like the cup it came in. Overall a good time and fun lunch with the boyfriend with added thanks to our server Michelle and our chef Santos. I would definitely return to try their HH and other stuff on the menu.
(4)
Stephanie P.
I LOVE this place! Food is great, place is beautiful. But, Aura is a TERRIBLE waitress. She does not pay attention when you're placing your order, she stares off into space, actually. You have to ask a million times for things and she gets your order wrong. I've had her as a waitress on 3 or 4 separate occasions and it's the same thing every single time. I honestly just come back because I love the food as much as Samurai's, probably even more.
(3)
Hesham E.
Sushi in Miami is usually hit or miss, but Aoki Teppanyaki is definitely a hit. I highly recommend this place if you're at Dadeland Mall. When I used to work in South Miami, I would go to the sushi bar for lunch and never once left disappointed. Occasionally, I would order a small plate or two, but the sushi is what makes this place really great. Although the wait time for your order is a bit longer than other sushi places that I've been to, it's well worth it. Aoki's sushi chefs really take their time and the quality shows. I've tried most of their sushi rolls and my absolute favorite has to be Surf n' Turf. It's a very unique flavor and an original roll - as far as I know. Another great thing about this place is that they are constantly experimenting and trying new ingredients. I look forward to trying out more when I'm in the area!
(4)
Nicolette R.
Their happy hour lunch menu is so great!! The firecracker shrimp is to die for. They're also really quick and clean and have great servers.
(4)
Zhou J.
Super terrible food here and bad service . The food I ordered are totally not what I want and forgot to give us the food we ordered . The chef did not cook well for the extra food we ordered. I have to say this is the worst Japanese restaurant I have ever seen. Although the wall decorated well with photos , the service and food are horrible! Never wanna come again! Never !
(1)
Andrew P.
I have yet to sit at AOKI's Hibachi table because I am in love with their Sushi. The Ultimate Ronin, Thw Fire Dragon and The Hearty Warrior are among my favorites. I also love how they brought back my guilty pleasure of Fried Chicken Liver... I know but if you used to eat at Samurai you wouldn't be cringing. Be sure to stop in for Happy hour for some sushi and drinks you wont regret it! I cant wait to return for Hibachi!
(4)
Natasha P.
Been here twice food and atmosphere are great ... service sucks! So if u have time a patience try it out if not don't even bother!!!
(3)
Fabio F.
Love me a nice sushi restaurant! First of all this restaurant is in the second floor of Dadeland mall, next to the burger joint & earls! We went Saturday night around 7pm, wasn't too full but there were a couple big parties! This is also one of those places that won't sit you until EVERYONE from your party is there.. Yes even by one person. So if you have that one friend who is always running late, maybe pick them up? Make sure they're there or no sushi for you. Lol. You walk in and already you can tell you're in a nice place, everyone in uniform, the decor is more dark and rustic. We managed to get seated in front of the sushi chefs which was a pretty cool sight. We got to watch them make sushi rolls from scratch. Got a couple tips too on how to make mine at home that much better! We had the pleasure of being seated with Luis as our server. He was AWESOME! He greeted us, and introduced himself very professionally and right to asking what we wanted to drink! The whole night he was constantly checking up and making sure I never got to the bottom of my drink before he refilled it! The food.. First I felt like I was really in Japan cause man, that menu is hardcore, It took me like 20 min to finally realize It was in English. Lol. But no matter! The food was still great! We got several rolls that were on point! I like spicy foods so I was recommended I try the "Godzilla" roll? I'm almost positive that was the name. It had salmon, crab, cream cheese, and avocado tempura fried and topped with garlic aioli, spicy aioli, eel sauce, garlic chips, and jalapeno.. MMMMMM ;D We also got fried rice and "Fire Dragon" and the "Surf and Turf" all which were very good! From where we were seated we also got to see the "Samurai-like" tables where the chefs are cooking infront of you! Next time we'll probably sit there, looked fun! So nice decor + great service + good food = a great fun night! I recommend you give this place a try!
(4)
Jeff G.
Nice looking place, but I never quite understood people's fascination with this faux Japanese food. I guess watching the cook play with your shrimp while making an onion volcano spit fire is amusing, the food itself is pretty bland. Not surprising as Teppanyaki was invented for Americans coming to Japan after WWII and Americans tend to love their boring bland food! That being said, Aoki isn't bad, just not my thing.
(3)
Phillip H.
Super happy with the staff and manager. Especially since my wife is a huge Steve Aoki fan and this restaurant being his brothers. the staff gave us a little background of the restaurant. On top of that the staff helped with my wifes shell fish allergy and made sure what she could or couldnt eat. The food is amazing and it didnt take long to bring it out. They started bringing out the orders as they were ready. I recommend this place and we will surely be going back there again very soon. Oh and prices are very reasonable.
(5)
Adam P.
Came on a Thursday afternoon, sat with 2 others. Ordered chicken fried rice. I basically had to eat by myself as it took so long for my meal to come that they already ate and had there plates taken away. After receiving my meal, I was shocked by the lack of chicken in an 11.00 dollar meal. I would say they cut one chicken strip and put it in the rice. To avoid a long wait for chicken I requested salmon sashimi. Not only did it take another 10 minutes but I was provided with 2 small pieces and the salmon was very low quality. If this wasn't bad enough, we requested to speak to the manger multiple times and never once had them come out and apologize for anything.
(1)
Elizabeth M.
Being a huge fan of teppanyaki, I was excited when Aoki opened. We love the new wing at Dadeland and the new restaurants that have opened so we decided to check it out Friday night. We waited about 10 minutes (beats the wait over at Samurai any day). The waitress was not very friendly and failed to tell us about the specials. The menu is similar to those at other teppanyaki restaurants and at first it appears that the prices are the same until you realize that there is no soup and no shrimp appetizer included - so it is more expensive. Nevertheless we ordered our usually combinations - I had the chicken and shrimp and my husband ordered the wagyu and shrimp and here are our findings: Decor - Really nice! Except they got carried away with the chairs. They fit in with the theme perfectly and even have the restaurants name engraved on them, but sooooo uncomfortable! Salad - Disappointing! A gentlemen came out and began spinning a bowl while adding dressing making a huge mess (lettuce flying everywhere)! Then topping it with dried fish and tried convincing us it tasted like bacon - not in a million years would that pass as bacon. Gross! I was missing my very simple lettuce, tomato and ginger dressing at this point. Rice - Again disappointing! It's obvious that Aoki got overly creative to me at this point. A mixture of what I remember the Chef saying of 5 different types of rice and noodles. I just remember it looking like a mess and random fish smelling ingredients going in. No thanks! Shrimp - A huge no no! Nice size, but weren't cleaned prior to cooking. Ewww! Did I mention how HOT It was?!?! Someone turn on the a/c we're sitting in front of a grill!!! I missed the other teppanyaki places throughout my meal and wished that we had gone elsewhere. We ended up leaving for dessert and visiting another restaurant nearby.
(1)
Mailyn D.
The two stars I'm giving this place is based SOLELY ON THE FOOD . Came to this place on a sunday afternoon place was not packed at all, and still had to wait the LONGEST time for some fried rice , and sushi rolls , let's not forget I ordered something else last minute that actually never got to the table it bothered me so much I cancelled it and the waitress didn't even cared to apologize and brought the check I'm sure she didn't even put it in bur guess what ? I got the check in seconds .I won't be coming back , for the food I rather take a trip to doraku been there many times and is the same food and great service which I love .
(2)
Sebastian M.
The place is beautiful and the service was great, but the food was just not there. Good thing I ordered extra beef in my bowl because if I wouldn't have, there wouldn't be any beef at all. I've been to way better places, but Aoki was convenient after a day spent shopping. I would suggest skipping it all together to avoid a disappointing meal.
(2)
Almi R.
Hubby and I came here for lunch while we waited for my oil to be changed at the Firestone across the street. We were seated right away at a teppanyaki table. The service was good and the food was excellent. I think it has more 'real' flavors than it's competitors. The rice has actual ginger flavor, and the veggies included sweet potato and zucchini. The salad was interesting with a dried fish on top that tastes like bacon! My only complaint was the time the entire process took. We were there for about an hour and a half, we had time to kill so it wasn't a problem, but keep this in mind. Also, the lunch specials were phenomenal. $11 for chicken?!?! Hellloooo super deal! Also, they had happy hour. $4 for flat tire. A couple beers and this food and I was ready for a nap. Definitely a place to check out.
(4)
Miriana M.
I really liked Aoki. The decor is beautiful, their happy hour is great and there's something for everyone on the menu. The reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is the service was kinda slow, even though there wasn't many people at the restaurant at the time. Tried the buns, the firecracker shrimp, tuna poke salad, and the fire dragon roll, everything was tasty. I would definitely come back here for happy hour or to try the teppanyaki tables with a large group.
(4)
Arlene V.
Came here on a Sunday around 5:30pm. If you sit outside be prepared to wait. Food wasn't bad, I'd come back.
(3)
Sue M.
This place has become one of my favorite restaurants, me and my hubby love this place, we have been here so many times now that we know everybody there, they always make us feel like home, the place is incredible beautiful and original, I love the decor, the service is outstanding, and the food is delicious, they have the best japanese food (miso soup is delicious, phily roll, salad, etc) and one of the most things we love are all the specials they have, their Happy hour is great and their lunch manu as well. We have introduced lots of our friends and family to this place, and we even go there for our specials days as birthdays, valentines, etc. We recommend this gem to everybody because is just GREAT! we hope it continues like that.
(5)
Rachel H.
I would love to talk about the food, but the service was so bad that I never got to try any! I went on a slow weekday afternoon around 4:00 p.m. and was promptly seated by the hostess. I wanted sushi, so I sat in the outside area with one friend. There were two other tables sat and the remaining three were empty, so it wasn't busy. I was impressed by the decor and the menu, and found some tasty options to try. I realized that five minutes had passed and our server hadn't greeted us yet. Sometimes places get busy so we decided to patiently chat while we waited. During this time, two servers had gone to their respective tables all within five feet of our table and didn't seem to care that we were unattended. The hostesses seem occupied with their conversation as they were loudly giggling and didn't notice that we hadn't been helped. After waiting ten more minutes, fifteen total at this point, I loudly said to my friend that we would wait two more minutes. At this point a busser was cleaning a table next to us and didn't seem to notice us either. Two minutes came and went and we were never attended to, so we left. Not greeted. No water. No nothing. As we walked away one of the hostesses gave us a dirty look as if we had done something wrong instead of asking why we got up. I have worked in the service industry and always try to be patient and understanding, but 17 minutes is way too long. Especially when we were in the vicinity of 2 servers, 2 hostesses, and 1 busser. I won't bother to give this restaurant another shot as clearly its staff gives little importance to serving their guests.
(1)
Don M.
Great decor, wonderful service, good food, generous happy hour. What more do you need? Sitting in Aoki you forget you are conveniently at the mall. Can't go wrong here.
(4)
Natalie G.
After a not so great first impression at Aoki...im happy we decided to give it another shot. We ordered almost everything from their amazing happy hour menu thats somewhat reminiscent of Dorakus great portions and quick service. Our waitress was wonderful and drinks were great too. The sparkling rose was refreshing...lychee martini was delish! My only complaint is the hostess they just arent aware greeting wise or seating esither which is strange because thats theyre job. Our waitress was great sat us diwn very knowledgeable and upbeat. We will deff be back!
(4)
Mark P.
Sooooooo good , I'm a huge sushi lover, and I gotta say the emporer roll was epic. I've worked in restaurants for about 7 years and these guys have their shit together . my server ADAM recommended the Japanese scotch whiskey blend and it was a revelation, I will recommend this place EVERY lover of Japanese cuisine I know, my fiance is getting back from a business trip in a week and this is where I'm taking her. I want ADAM as my server he is Epic , and I've know many a shit server in my day, so I believe I can make and informed opinion . I've always been a fan of Steve Aoki musically , and now foodwise. So me and my buddy say kudos and a tip of the hat. Adam's the shit BTW
(5)
Memi C.
I been to so many places for sushi and hibachi , and this place really impress me , amazing food , healthier taste , amazing waiter(sylvie) and hibachi cook(porfirio), overall the best service I have received in a while !!!! If you go to this place request porfirio for the hibachi tables , you won't regret it ! !!!! Will most definitely come back here and recommend this place to my friends!
(5)
Michael M.
Amazing amazing amazing amazing!! The food and prices at this place are out of this world!!!! Best fried rice I've ever had... 3 grains and noodles in the rice?!?!? Amazing!!! The hibachi chef "Daz" is hilarious!!!! Ask for him! This is my fav habachi spot ever... Laid back.. And they even had amazing sushi.. I may never go to Benihana again.. This place takes the cake!! And the green yea ice cream..
(5)
Erika S.
Not sure why this place doesn't have better reviews because everything about this place was amazing! We came during happy hour (which we didn't know existed) and were pleasantly surprised when we sat at the sushi bar. We ordered a few items from the happy hour menu (salmon poke, tuna tataki, and philly roll) and some from the regular (house salad and another roll I can't remember the name). All of the food was delicious! The service was amazing and extremely quick and the waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu. The ambience is a plus, and the little details such as the menu and the wood block where the check comes are super authentic. For those that think the service was slow, keep in mind that they are fairly new and might be getting the hang of it. Our experience was more than great and we will definitely be returning!
(5)
Jessica F.
This place was very pretty, I have to say. The decor is great and I like that it's right in the mall. I love sushi and wanted some while shopping, so that's a plus. I was greeted right away and the host was very nice. He even walked me to the bathroom to show me where it was. I was seated outside the restaurant on the "patio" since I was alone. I ordered the Fire Dragon Roll and the Big Wave Roll. The Fire Dragon was good, just average and the Big Wave was actually very unique and delicious. It has coconut shrimp, mango salsa and coconut on top. The only reason they are getting four stars instead of five is the service was kind of slow. The place was pretty empty though, so don't know why. Maybe because I was outside and alone so I ate quicker than a larger table would. Not that my server wasn't very nice because she was. So pretty good place, I'm glad it's there. Have the Big Wave Roll!
(4)
April A.
Happy Hour almost every day? Sign me up. Aoki has great sushi at an even better price. Their lychee martini was spectacular. I thought their menu was quirky and adorable. Great ambiance overall.
(5)
Debbie C.
First impression...beautiful decor. Who ever their designer is, bravo! The atmosphere was nice. I completely forgot I was in a mall. It was a bit hot an stuffy, which was expected. Service was great. The cooks are experienced and very funny. Haha! The wait staff is still pretty green. I felt so bad for stumping the waitress, but she did go out of her way to find out the answers to my questions. Big plus on service! The food...mm. I've been to Samurai...Benihana...in between variations. Unfortunately, I cannot find anything special about their menu. The 4 grains of rice in their friend rice was interesting, but that's about it. I was, however, impressed by their lunch prices. Very reasonable and generous. If you are one who likes entertainment and like to dine out with a large group, then this is the place for you! It just didn't hit the spot for me. Atmosphere 5/5 Service 5/5 Food 2/5
Love this place I have lunch here on the regular and the staff is super friendly and remember me by name especially the bartenders in the back half of the restaurant. Love the happy hour offerings and the service is quick. I've also sat down for dine in service where they cook in front of you and the meal is always great!! Also, their brownie tempura is to die for!! I will continue coming back time and time again. My only complaint is their miso soup it's a bit salty and with a lot of vegetables that take away from that traditional miso I've grown to love. That being said it is not enough for me not to give this five stars!!
(5)
Benjamin D.
Aoki Donburi was excellent. Poke was excellent. Fried rice was excellent. Jaclin was effecient, professional, helpful and attentive, even as she was triple-sat. I look forward to returning both for the food and for the excellent service.
(5)
Robert F.
If you're looking for teppanyaki stick to Samurai or Bennihana. Small tables feel crowded. Their inaka fried rice has no flavor. Ordered a bottle of wine and were served in cognac glasses. Won't be going back.
(2)
Liz C.
Oustanding service and food. The best sushi we have ever tasted. The ambience was perfect.
(5)
Cristy M.
Tried this place for the first time yesterday and I must say it was pretty good. We had a bunch of appetizers from the happy hour menu and everything was really fresh and tasty. The tuna was exceptionally well. We had it in three different appetizers and they were definitely my favorite. However, we tried something that was called salmon belly and it was not very good. Had more fat then meat and wasn't very tasty at all. The eggplant rolls were okay. After a couple they were just too mushy. The beer on tap was great. Service was also very good. Food came out very fast as well. Would definitely go again.
(3)
Denise M.
My daughter was having a major Samurai craving on a Friday night, but if any of you have been to Samurai at anytime you know the wait can be eternal - so she suggested that we go to the new "Steve Aoki" place in Dadeland (yeah she's 17 LOL)... We went to Aoki at about 8:00 pm on a Friday night and we were sat immediately. Our server was very gracious and informative whilst she took our orders. When we have gone to Samurai in the past we have always shared our plates and was concerned that they would not allow the same arrangement her, but luckily that was not an issue so my so my two daughters were able to share one order and my husband and I were able to share an order of the Steak, Chicken, and Shrimp. Our chef David was GREAT - he was funny and communicative and very outgoing - I remember feeling bad for the chef at the table right next to us because no one at that table was even paying attention to him - but again our chef was GREAT and the food was good. To be completely honest for the most part the food was very similar to that of Samurai or Benihana but the wait is much more acceptable - looks like this will be my to go place when ever I am having a teppanyaki craving (or my daughter does) we'll probablt come here...
(4)
Lissette G.
I lived in the dadeland area for many years and come down to visit often. Haven't been down for two years so today was my first time seeing the new addition to dadeland mall. So I chose to try one of the restaurants in the area. Aoki looked so pretty from the outside I just couldn't resist. Sat down at the sushi bar and was quickly greeted by my waiter, a very bubbly and accommodating young guy. He quickly brought me some water and then answered my menu questions. I came in around 4pm on a weekday so I opted for a lighter fare and chose from their happy hour menu (3pm-7pm I believe). Great selections for a nicer price. I ordered the Philadelphia roll and the laughing Buddha roll. Order was taken and sushi guy handed me my rolls in no time. The sushi was fresh and the serving was generous. Delicious!! I was very impressed by the laughing Buddha roll which is basically a vegan roll but stuffed beautifully with mesclun greens, asparagus, avo, red pepper and wasabi. I may be forgetting some of the ingredients involved. To wrap things up, I had a great experience. Service was great, food was great and ambience and feel was great. I'm definitely coming back again to try the hibachi and for the dinner experience.
(5)
David S.
Great hibachi. Drink menu is amaaazing (Sake, beer, teas, cocktails). Awesome sushi and rice menu as well as hibachi menu.
(4)
Wendy G.
I just want to eat there everyday! Very nice and upscale. Very different from Benihana and Samurai. Although they all own by each-other lol. Ambiance is nice and the chef we got was amazing. HILARIOUS. Must try the Spicy edamame. Had the Lobster and Scallops and its full of flavor. They make they're own ginger which i had in my drink with whiskey sooo good. Sushi rolls are amazing. I just can't wait to go backkkk!
(5)
Robert B.
So we where going to Benihana when my mother in-law said "why don't we go to that new Benihana place (Aoki) in Dadeland?" I say, "Sure lets give it a try!" From here I will call Benihana 'B' First impressions: very nice decorations, clean and light & airy as apposed to B... but I started getting that feeling that it was going to be different than what I have known all my life. We where 6 and unlike B they sat us right away (no waiting to fill the table) point awarded. Our waitress was nice and took our orders straight forward... But there was one issue... B is known for their fried rice... I could live off the stuff. But Aoki makes their rice a bit different using 4 types of grains including forbidden rice which my kids like... So and this is the only issue I found... They need to provide a kids fired rice with just one grain... I know, I know let them try it... But we all know that it can be difficult. Anyway, Salad was freshly made In front of us... Nice cold and crisp! Add another point.. Rice was surprisingly good! We move on to main meal; steak, chicken, shrimp and veggies... If you have been to B it is the same preparation with one exception... It looks, smells and taste healthy... The chicken actually taste like chicken! After we filled our bellies we had the tempura walnut browny with vanilla ice-cream... Yummy! Great time, good experience, a bit on the high side, cost wise... Figure $27 per person. I will come back, but like an old friend I am sure to visit B's as well.... Oh and yes and you will still come out smelling of food... Time to take a bath!
(4)
Leylani D.
The alcohol beverages were very weak. The fried rice lacked flavor. No miso soup was included with the meal :/
(2)
Julio G.
Very nice place, well japanese theme decorated. Theres a lunch menu at noon so budget friendly. A lot, and I mean a lot of combinations for teppanyaki entree (from regular shrimp and chicken to exotic center cut filet mignon or wagyu beef). Nigori Sake is a must try, healthy fried rice and spinning salad complimentary with your entree just delicious. Tables seat 8 but can fit 10 tight. Recommended, will visit again.
(5)
Faiyaz H.
Not As Impressive As It Looks From Outside If you have ever gone to Kobe or Samurai, this place is trying to be like those places. We went with a party of 7 to 8 and were told that they do not take reservations but it was slow that night so there would be no issues sitting us. They wanted the entire party to be there before we were seated - which I could understand. The food was okay - nothing to jump up and down about. The portion sizes to the cost is not that great. Most at our table were done eating everything before the veggies were even ready for us to eat. I would suggest pacing yourself to get the overall experience. I would not go out of my way to go to this location again - only go if a bunch of people are already going there. Better choices available close by.
(2)
Michelle M.
Tried out this place for the first time. Amazing!! Food is fresh, and delicious, atmosphere is very relaxed, music is awesome!! Servers are very nice. Overall, exceptional. Won't be the last time I come here...
(5)
Stephanie V.
Loved loved loved this place ! Went for lunch & had a great experience .. 3 of us ordered the fried rice which was made with a variety of grains & it wasn't too heavy like Benihana it was light & tasted healthy.. The lunch menu is cheap and great portions .. The only complain I could have is that everything comes out in a different times because everything is made in a different kitchen (sushi kitchen, hibachi grill etc) we all ate at different times but the food was great overall !
(5)
Howard Y.
First, I admit that I'm a fan of teppanyaki. I've enjoyed going to Benihana over the years. From childhood to adulthood. I felt like Benihana was more of an entertainment experience. I would go there for special occasions, but not for a food experience. Aoki, on the other hand, was more about the food and the ambiance. The design was cool, yet traditional. I ordered the Wagyu steak plus chicken. I enjoyed the 3-grain fried rice. (Different from Benihana's). Had the sake sampler, which I would recommend for those who enjoy sake. Some of my favorite dishes from Doraku were also there: Eggplant Miso, garlic-teriyaki edamame. I had a fun time. I don't live that far south, so I might not go again soon. But it was worth the drive from downtown.
(5)
Veronica D.
My family and I went for dinner Early Friday night in the teppanyaki side of the restaurant. I loved the decor, and the servers and hostesses were very nice. Now for the reason I gave Aoki a 3 star and not a 5. I think the food is lacking. I ordered the seafood trio, lobster, shrimp and scallops. The lobster was not fully cooked, it was actually tranluscent, GROSS. I could not eat it. I also did not like the rice, I would really prefer the traditional fried rice. My husband ordered the center cut filet and he liked it. I did enjoy the selection of edamame with the different sauces, that was yum. All and all, I hope the restaurant irons out their kinks, because it has great potential. I'll definitely be back to try the sushi. Hopefully it's a little better than the teppanyaki.
(3)
Andrea V.
Sushi is good & the variety of sake is great. Lots of flavors, I even found one that I like which was fruity. Delicious tea too & the food on the hibachi grill is great. The lunch special is worth it & the vibe to the whole place sets a laud back kinda mood.
(4)
John C.
Pretty good. Really good deal for lunch It's like samurai but not exactly it is nice a clean and a really big place. Upstairs in dadeland mall. It is steak or chicken or shrimp. They have sushi too. Comes with salad and rice and veggies. No soup Worth the trip and much better than waiting for hours at samurai but samurai is better
(3)
Lorena O.
Great place! Food & service were fantastic! They have a couple of semi private rooms that can accommodate 16 people in 2 tepanyaki tables. They also take reservations which is superb. I know I personally don't like to wait over 1.5 hrs for this type of experience or the quality of the food.
(4)
Rick M.
Let's call this Teppanyaki for the adventurous. It just wasn't for me. I had high hopes for Aoki as it was going up. There's a void of Teppanyaki in the area and Samurai gets too crowded, Benihana in the Gables is too complacent being the industry's top dog, and my favorite places for hibachi-style eats (Umami in Doral for value and Sushi Sake in West Kendall for quality) are too far away from me. I waited anxiously for Aoki to open up. And waited. And waited. It's finally here! In a nutshell this is teppanyaki for foodies, and I'm sure that many will appreciate it but it just didn't do it for me and my family looking for the more traditional hibachi experience that we're used to. The dining room itself is beautiful. The rich woodsy entrance and modern decor works. We had lunch on a Saturday, and the fact that they honor lunch prices on the weekend (like Umami, but not Samurai or Benihana) gives it an extra star on value. If you're used to the traditional teppanyaki experience there are a few things that will stand out for you: 1. True to its name, the "spinning salad" included in the meal is a salad that is prepared tableside, tossed as it spins in a silver bowl rotating on a base. It looks good, and it's the same ginger dressing you know and love. The mix of spring and romaine greens are a twist from the iceberg lettuce they use at most places, but that's one of the many foodie-centric tweaks you get at Aoki. Maybe it was just me, but I could've used more ginger dressing in my portion. 2. The fried rice also isn't the decadent side that artery-clogging patrons douse in the creamy white sauce at other places. This is billed as "healthy" fried rice, and it shows. It's not just white rice but a combo of jasmine rice, brown rice, and what's called "Chinese Black Forbidden" rice. There are also some noodles tossed into the mix, giving it a different general texture. Maybe it was just our chef, but he was very light on the garlic butter, making this a colorful yet less unhealthy version of the fried rice staple served elsewhere. Maybe I'll get used to it if we return, but it's not the rich side that makes "double fried rice" such a common phrase at Samurai. 3. Another foodie tweak is when it comes to the veggies. The sliced carrots that everyone else serves? Well, here it's sweet potato. It has the same color, and sweet potato fans will be high-fiving one another at the sight. Me? I'm Bugs Bunny hoping for a carrot instead. Our chef also didn't have the peppy exhibitionist personality that you see in many teppanyaki chefs. It wasn't much of a show. Unlike Kobe and Umami, those onion volcanos don't breathe fire. That's how it is at Benihana, but I figured this magnetic upstart with windows with everyone in the new Dadeland wing peering in would benefit from flashes of fire every now and then or flashier showmanship. The chef working the other table also seemed a bit dry on the patter. I hope that's not being coached. I want the fire volcano, the shrimp tails flying into chef hats and pockets, and the hokey "egg roll" and "butter fly" puns. If I'm just watching someone cook it gets awkward. The quality of the meats (chicken and strip steak in my case) joins the decor and the lunch menu value as the three stars in my review. My wife thought her chicken was a bit undercooked and gummy, but mine (which admittedly stayed on about 3-5 minutes longer) was perfect and juicy. The strip steak also had robust flavor, or maybe that was just the kick coming out after the otherwise bland fried "Inaka" rice. The place just opened so I will probably give it another shot in a few weeks. The pedigree is too good -- not just the Aoki name, but the ownership/management group that also watches over the top-notch Doraku sushi eatery in Brickell -- for it not to improve. However, I have to be honest and leave it three stars for now.
(3)
Nicho D.
So the story goes this place was established by the son of the owner of Samurai. Its not hard to love this place. The decor is really cool, you can tell they dumped alot of cash and creativity into it. If you go for lunch, its the same portions as dinner, but for alot cheaper. I love the salad they make you with these little smoked fish flakes they top it with. Yes its the same cheasy hibachi show/service as most places, but the food is GOOD. Of course I drown everything in the pink sauce! I will probably never go to benihana or samurai again now that this place is open.
(5)
Mimi B.
I have been to this restaurant three times already because my kids want to eat hibachi and Samurai had over an hour wait. This place never has a wait because it's obviously not as good. Other than their service everything else at Samurai is better. Sorry :(
(2)
Vanessa M.
Everyone keeps raving about the decor... Can we talk food?! My husband and I had a major sushi craving and live just around the corner so we figured we'd give Aoki a try. He had the Surf and Turf roll, which he loved, and I had the Fire Dragon roll which was pretty good. But the show stopper was their Aoki fried rice! It's a mix of long and short grained rices, brown rice and "Black Forbidden Rice"... We had it with chicken and it was DELICIOUS! A different take on fried rice. Had our server box the leftovers right up. Service was helpful and speedy. I couldn't give it 5 stars because it didn't quite measure up to our favorite sushi spot, but we will definitely be back to try the teppanyaki which I believe they specialize in. Try it out!!!
(4)
Felix J.
Better than Samurai and better than Benihana! The rice is SOOOO good! It is a blend of 4 types which I believe are short and long grain, brown, and black. My scallops were perfect, wife's filet mignon was also just right, and the beer selection was better than most Japanese restaurants. Service was very good considering I went on its 5th day of being open. Servers were still learning which is perfectly fine particularly when they go find the answer to the question they weren't sure of. The bill was a tad higher than the other places mentioned above but hey, you get what you pay for! Looking forward to my next visit.
(5)
Alejandro M.
Being as fan of Hibachi-style cuisine, I could not have been less impressed. Restaurant felt cramped, staff is not trained properly, chef was in engaging and did not ask how we wanted our meat cooked, and they took forever to do anything. Don't waste your time, go to Umami or Kobe.
(1)
Raymond F.
The service could have been better but I think it was because the person was new to the job. Aside from that, the food and ambiance were great.
(3)
Priscilla C.
Just glad this wing is filling up with plenty of nice restaurants... We had sushi and it was very yummy. The imperial rice is also a must have. Will go back and try other menu items. The tepenyaki looked very good!
(4)
Laura D.
I visited Aoki just after it had been open for 2 weeks. I've been waiting for them to open since the opening of this new wing in Dadeland and I pass by it often on my way to Earls Kitchen next door. One of my top favorite restaurants is an Hibachi style restaurant, so I was eager to try this new restaurant. The ambiance and decor is well done and makes you feel like you're in an oriental forest that looks old and hand crafted. We decided to go on a Friday for lunch and were happy to be sat immediately. Just after sitting down, I noticed that the waiter was slow at bringing the drinks to our table. In fact, our drinks didn't come until after the salad was tossed (in front of us) and we started eating it. Then I noticed that there was barely any salad dressing, so I asked our waiter for more. I waited and waited and it never came so I asked another waiter. A few minutes later, I finally got the extra dressing. This delay did not make sense because the restaurant was no where near full and they had plenty of staff. Then our chef came to the table ready to cook but he had to wait another 10 minutes to start cooking our food because the waiter forgot to turn on the stove top. That was extremely annoying. The chef was very personable, friendly and funny. He made the experience what a hibachi style restaurant should be. He even gave the chef job to one of the guests at my table, which was quite fun (see photo). I give our chef a full 5 stars but unfortunately I am not rating the chef, I'm rating the restaurant. My husband and I both ordered the NY strip lunch that included their version of fried rice. I am Not impressed with their fried rice. I'm fact, the chef asked what I thought about the fried rice, and I told him the truth: it was good not great and I prefer the chicken fried rice from Samurai / Benihana. Aoki's version of the fried rice has noodles, edamame, and black rice. The recipe calls for very little "frying" and little garlic butter and soy sauce. If fact, it was so bland that I had to add soy sauce and the pink shrimp sauce to make it taste good. Then it did! The steak was also average, nothing out of this world! We then asked for our check and the waiter had seemed to take longer than he should have. I feel that Aoki should really consider training their serving staff a little longer and train them about not keeping their guests waiting for drinks, checks, salad dressing or sauces, etc. If a waiter is in the weeds, it's better to tell someone and ask for help, then keep their guests waiting. Also, we ordered the spicy tuna roll and we liked it. If they are able to improve their customer service, I may consider coming back for sushi.
(2)
Jackelyn P.
Had a great time at this place. I have to say I may have enjoyed it more than Benihana. The fried rice was outstanding. They use a mixture of white rice, brown rice, black rice and noodle. Sooo delicious. The food was fresh and the chef was very entertaining. Prices were comparable to other hibachi places... Not too bad. Drinks were fair and the staff was super friendly. Would recommend this place to anyone who is in the Dadeland area and in the mood for Japanese.
(4)
Ivette R.
This place is amazing AOKI Teppanyaki is kind of like Benihana even though I can't compare how good the food is there than at Benihana.Hamaci YUZU Carpaccio it was absolutely delicious and very edible the staff is friendly and are also very knowledgeable they're professionals as cooks I will return some day
(5)
Jacky D.
Great place. Good was great. Service was excellent and the prices weren't bad either. Definitely will be returning again.
(5)
Julie Q.
This place was really good. The food was good portions. I loved the rice, It was different blends and tasted so fresh. Our chef was fun with my kids and they enjoyed there meal. I ordered the ribs as an appetizer and they were delicious.
(4)
Jim A.
It's all about the food! The service and show are pretty good too but the quality of their food is why I keep going back. The Four Grain Rice is simply amazing! The texture, the flavor, and the small amount of noodles mixed in makes this rice the best rice I have ever had. The filets have always been great quality and this also applies to their shrimp, and chicken. I usually get those three as my order there (Filet, chicken, and shrimp). The ambiance is pretty nice and the waitresses and cooks have usually done a nice job. Very happy with this place and am grateful that it is very close to where I live. Can't wait to go back to have more of that incredible rice.
(5)
Tom A.
this place was very good when they first opened. they have gone down hill very fast. my waitress Aura(spanish women, long black hair) started arguing with me about what I didn't or did order for my daughter and I finally had to tell her to leave the table. The manager Eddie is accommodating, however his staff does not provide good service. our table chef "Lester" was rude as well. I simply asked him not to add soy sauce to my fried rice and he started saying" this sauce here has soy sauce, this chicken has soy sauce". He was a real wise guy and acted very condescending. I finally said, just make it however you need to. If you want to spend $60 on lunch and be treated poorly, then this is your place. I eat out 4 times a week and I have yet to experience this kind of treatment at a dine in restaurant in a very long time. There were items on my bill that another party ordered and the waitress(Aura)began arguing with my wife. There was a Japanese soda and a chicken meal we didn't order and the waitress continued to argue. when I went to the manager to tell him my bill errors, he mistakingly gave me another couples bill which was triple my bill. Don't go there, you will not have a pleasant experience.
(1)
Y L.
We came for happy hour and dinner last night. They have great happy hour specials. The appetizers were delicious: fried shrimp and tuna tataki. We shared the chicken teriyaki and Philadelphia roll. Both were amazing especially the chicken. We asked for the dipping sauces which made the flavors even better. Our server was great too and attentive. Great addition to the area.
(5)
Pamela P.
The Teppanyaki part of Aoki is awesome 5 star super delicious super reasonable and the chefs are friendly and entertaining. I've experienced the Teppanyaki twice for lunch and it has not disappointed. They make the BEST mixed rice I've ever had in my life (no kidding). However, I decided to try their Sushi Happy Hour as they advertise some really good deals $5-$7 plates and drinks. I sat at the sushi bar and the sushi was good, decent but not mind blowing. All 3 times that I have been here the service was very slow and not streamlined though friendly enough. The biggest baddest disappointment for me came when after I had finished my sushi meal, I noticed NONE of the all MALE sushi chefs were wearing gloves while preparing the rolls. BIG NO-NO. Made me wonder how the Teppanyaki chefs prep in the ingredients in the back (although both times I experienced Teppanyaki the chefs were wearing gloves each time). I am hoping this was an isolated incident this past Sunday.
(3)
Nick M.
Great Looking Place - Horrible Service. Place is 50% full and have been waiting 45 minutes for our teppanyaki chef. Ordered a drink - took 20 minutes to arrive. Too many dining options in Miami to have to put up with this level of service. Get it right Aoki.
(1)
Joseph W.
Don't let the name fool you. This is not just a Teppanyaki restaurant. They have a full sushi bar out front and it is quite big. Hibachi in the back.I ate at the Sushi bar so I will only review that part of the restaurant. The sushi was quite good. The rolls are plentiful and the nigiri was very good. The fish and seafood were quite fresh with good bite. Josue the Sushi chef was quite good and he loves what he does. It shows in the service you get. He even offered me to try some other sauces with my sushi. A nice touch. The waitress. Yes, the waitress comes up to the bar to take your order. Very quick and fast. All in all a good experience. I will be back.
(4)
Bryan E.
A friend suggested I try Aoki and I was quite impressed. I went on a Thursday night so it wasn't too packed. We were seated within 5 mins and had a pleasant server take our drink orders as we waited for others to fill up the remaining seats around the hibachi. The food was great, our chef was fantastic, and the atmosphere really made it feel like we were in Japan. The only downside is that it is a little pricey--as with most hibachi places. I'll definitely go back though!
(4)
Nikie L.
Service was terrible! Waited over 20 min and not even water was left on our table. No server ever approached us and we watched another table seated after us have their order taken. Ended up walking off into the mall and going elsewhere.
(1)
Lo D.
Loved the decor, the food, and the people.
(4)
SCARLETT V.
AWESOME place súper friendly food was great love it. Service great as well first time visit for sure will come again :)
(4)
Sofia R.
Would have eaten there but the hostess only offered me a seat either at the sushi bar or in the middle of the mall...walked to over to a much more accommodating place, Earls Kitchen + Bar.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Garage Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes 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
Lina T.
What a great atmosphere. My husband and I went to just have drinks and was pleasantly surprise by the menu. It was pretty busy, however we were able to get into the bar right away. It was really busy so the bartender didn't give us any attention. However because of the wait the manager gave us drinks on the house. The wait wasn't too bad because the atmosphere was very nice. . It made our experience even better. Will definitely come again.
(4)Teri A.
Having dinner with two of my favorite men! Aoki menu is phenomenal! The food is excellent and the portions are just right not too little not too much. The staff is very friendly, courteous and helpful. Definitely will be back. Highly recommended.
(5)Rich Y.
As dadeland continues to expand, this new restaurant came with tons of hype. As a big fan of Asian cuisine I was looking forward to the opening of this place. Decor was very modern and unique. Service and seating was very fast. Menu was printed on a paper and very limited compared to the other popular hibachi style restaurant located a few miles south. The food was ok, ordered the oysters for an appetizer, only came with three per order, if your a big eater, you definitely won't want to share. However it tasted very fresh and had three different sauces to top. No soup, but had a salad included with your entree, which was mixed and prepared live but was a pretty average house salad. The hibachi chef came out and the show was pleasant, very pleased, would be great for the kids. Ordered the seafood trio (lobster,shrimp,scallops), again very fresh. The "inaka fried rice" included five different types of rice and noodle. Didn't taste bad, but didn't taste great either. The shrimp sauce (pink sauce) really helped the flavor. Hibachi vegetables included with your meal as well. Limited dessert menu also. Overall, I gave it three stars because I felt they lacked a little on their fried rice, and their limited menu. I think it's a great alternative to the always crowded Samurai and their was practically no wait to be seated and the service began promptly. Bought the Aoki staff shirt for 6 bucks, which was pretty awesome I might add. New restaurant still, so I'll give them some time to work out the kinks and I'll try again in a few months.
(3)Adrian A.
I went to aoki on a friday night and it was completely empty. The place was nice but the service was extremely slow. It took them about 10min to take my order. The waiter didn't even bring me my food, the people at the sushi bar did. Not only did the waiter take forever with bringing my check, he gave a stupid excuse and didn't get me water! I had to ask another waiter walking by for a glass of water. Half the time I saw the waiter flirting with another waitress instead of serving us. It must have taken him at least 20min to get us our check because of that. The food was good but the service was awful.
(3)Nicole M.
I rarely review restaurants but our experience here is worth reviewing. Our chef, Victor, was amazing. Great knife skills, unbelievably entertaining and everything was cooked to perfection. We enjoyed it as much as our two daughters did. Much better than Samari or Benihana, plus...no wait!
(5)Robyn L.
Staff was friendly and engaging. The chefs do more tricks with food than they do at Samurai/Benihana. The spinning salad idea is cool but the ginger dressing is bland. However, they add some sort of dried fish skin garnish that adds a lot of flavor. The food here is okay. The sushi rolls are all fried. The teppanyaki was decent. My filet mignon could have used some more seasoning but my friend's wagyu was good. The rice was interesting but not to my liking. I'd probably give this spot another chance but for me, it doesn't compare to Samurai.
(3)Monica B.
I will never go to any other Teppanyaki restaurant after having tried Aoki! Thomas is the best chef, but he only works Mondays, Tuesdays, and some Sundays, so make sure to come when he's there! Adam was an awesome server/host and made our meal very enjoyable.
(5)Jasmine V.
I was really excited to introduce this restaurant to my boyfriend. The previous two times I had visited had been great. He finally agreed to eat here on a Friday night and I couldn't wait to have their delicious fried rice that I had eaten on my last visit. We approach the restaurant and I had to catch the hostesses attention as they were just chatting with each other. We get seated at the bar in the back because I told my boyfriend I loved the decor of the back room. We were immediately greeted by a friendly bartender who handed us the menus and introduced herself to us. We quickly placed our orders of a bottle of sake, edamame, a roll, and their special fried rice. Our edamame and roll were served on a decent waiting time but the rice, which I couldn't stop raving about, never made it to our table. Apparently it was a mistake made by the bartender or who knows who but I was shocked to see how management insisted on reprimanding the bartender in front of us and made it a big scene where they all lingered next to the bar as if something really serious had just occurred. I observed the other employees and noticed they didn't seem to excited to be there. It's sad because this restaurant has great potential but it seems the management isn't great. In the end I tipped the bartender well as she deserved it and hopefully it's a learning lesson for management.
(1)Ray C.
The only good thing about this place is the quality of the food which is why it even gets 2 stars which are extremely generous. The service at this restaurant is, simply put, terrible. We were in a group of 20 and we sat on the terrace. Kudos to the manager for accommodating us. We advised the server at the beginning to split the table in 4 before ordering for ease of the check later; the server indicated that they'd do better than that and that 2 servers would split the table in order to better service us. Great. Instead of smooth service, it was quite the opposite. The food came out in spurts, so if you ordered 3 selections you would get a plate at random intervals, with some people finishing their meal while others were just starting. And instead of taking the dish to the correct cover based on the placement on the ticket (like most restaurants do), the servers would engage in calling out the name of the dish until someone claimed it. I never got my fried rice despite asking for it at least five times. And despite never getting it, it appeared on the bill at the end (no surprise there). I must have reminded the server about my next beer at least a half dozen times over the course of 90 minutes before she woke up and brought it to me. I mean, seriously... how hard is it to, on the customer's third reminder, swing by the bar and remind the barkeep to pour you a 6 oz draft beer?? Then the check at the end was a fiasco, with several person's order spread across 2, sometimes 3 checks. The ribs were great and so was the coconut/tropical roll, but I can have good ribs or sushi anywhere in Miami. You come to a hibachi restaurant for the experience and this place is just not there. I won't be coming back here at any time soon.
(2)Jennifer M.
The restaurant itself is beautiful and unique! You can tell they put a lot of thought into their design. We had sushi when we went but the cook at your table is the more popular choice there. They have great happy hour deals as well.
(5)May G.
First off, let me start by saying that this place certainly has a nice vibe to it. The way the restaurant is set up seems like you're in a different world. The menu is very creative too as it is written on brown paper bags. After hearing some mixed reviews about this place, my boyfriend and I decided to check it out. The wait time was typical for a saturday night (45 minutes to an hour for teppanyaki).The hostess took down our number and said she would call us once the table was ready, which was neat since we were not limited to waiting outside and were free to roam around the mall. We decided to wait it out in the bar area and try out some drinks. The bartender (I'm not sure what his name is) was SO nice. He gave us his opinion on various drinks and even let us sample a few beers. I ordered an Emmit Remus (I believe that is how it is spelled) and my boyfriend ordered the mojito. My drink was fabulous! A sweet blend of strawberries with whiskey and simple syrup amongst other things. My boyfriend's mojito was so/so...nothing too spectacular. Now for the actual dinner... Once we sat down at our teppenyaki table and ordered our items, everything just went downhill. We ordered the Fire Dragon roll, and it was certainly delicious and very fresh. Possibly one of the best dragon rolls we have ever eaten. Anyway, the real reason why I am giving this review TWO stars is because of the chef. At the beginning he did some pretty neat tricks and was engaging throughout the cooking process BUT he messed up several times without apologizing. For example, when cooking the rice, he RAN OUT (miscalculation I guess) as he got to my boyfriend, which happened to be the last person in the table. So instead of apologizing and excusing himself, he just disappeared for a few minutes into the kitchen, came back with a regular bowl of rice and yes he mixed it in with the scraps on the table but did not even add more eggs and the other ingredients added to everyone else's portion. Just plain. That was obviously a little upsetting and just set the tone for the rest of the evening. Everything else was just mediocre. The rice was really not tasteful, unless you are willing to drench it with the pink dipping sauce (as I noticed everyone was doing). The meat was cooked to order but once again, lacking in taste. At another point the chef had to disappear once again into the kitchen because he had forgotten something else, once again without excusing himself or apologizing. Now, I've been to many other hibachi/teppanyaki restaurants and this is the first time I sit at a table where the chef just disappears mid-show. After the dinner my boyfriend asked the chef why his rice did not have the additional condiments and the chef just said he had mixed it in with the scraps on the table! My boyfriend asked for the managers name, and you would think that is was a sign to the chef to perhaps apologize or introduce his manager but nope...nada. So there you have it...not the best experience and certainly overpriced for the service we received.
(2)Marilyn H.
Lunch on a Sunday afternoon should always be pleasant....our free time is valuable...lunch at aoki...was superb...waiters pleasant and attentive to all our needs...all tables were neat and clean...authentic hibachi....drinks were great, salad man was great and so was the salad presented in a very unique was..and delist......our entree fresh and well cooked"..veggies and rice were a "10"...all in all a great place for a terrific lunch...and very resonably priced... Would highly recommend it...dinner is defiantly pricey...
(4)Paulina S.
We called Samurai and the wait was 1.5 hours...(no surprise here!!) In hopes of no wait, we opted to try Aoki which has the different approach of letting you sit and eat without having your table full. We got to dadeland at about 9 on a Saturday night. We were seated and served as soon as we arrived although it was only 4 at our table. Our food was great. The spinning salad contained mixed greens instead of just iceberg lettuce. The 4 grain rice did honestly taste healthier and it was delicious. My chicken was as good as you would expect hibachi chicken to be and the steak was not dry. Our 1.5 year old son was entertained the entire time and had no complaints. He was not a fan of the fried rice but some $3 white rice seemed to make him happy. I do think they rely less on the garlic butter other places use and lean more on using flavorful ingredients. Shot out to our chef Savon who was attentive to our son while also being funny and overall nice guy. Total bill with tip for my our dinner and 2 beers was $81 . Thanks for a great night out Aoki!
(5)Jane S.
Instead of dining at one of the hibachi tables, we chose a regular table outside. The server was extremely pleasant and very accommodating and made the experience quite nice. The "Happy Hour" (all day) salmon sushi was excellent but the spicy tuna appetizer was too fishy tasting and we couldn't eat it. The salads were extremely fresh with a nice, subtle ginger dressing. The miso soup, instead of tofu, had pieces of roasted potatoes (sweet potato and regular potato) and was delicious. The meat rice bowl was very tasty and so was the chicken katsu. Our only problem is that this restaurant did not have a very good kid's menu in that the cheapest Kid's offering started at $10.95! Our little one, who is 4yo and is a picky eater, simply does not eat enough to justify this price! We ordered the $13.95 chicken katsu for her (which she loved, but we couldn't stomach the price!!) and they didn't even have ketchup. (we got some from the next door restaurant!!) We didn't understand this, as this restaurant is located in a mall that is overrun with adults and their children shopping! If they add a more reasonable kid's menu, we will return.
(3)PrincessMisty M.
I've been here twice so far and ate from the two menus that the hostess described as 'two different concepts.' One menu is used for the sushi bar and tables and a second menu for the hibachi grill. The first time we stopped for some quick sushi and ate at their beautiful sushi bar. We ordered the four sushi rolls from the happy hour menu and were very impressed with the quality and freshness. The sushi chefs were funny and the second time we came we had a reservation for a large group and sat at the 'teppanyaki' grill and had the same server again. Her name was Jackie and she was super friendly and knowledgable about the menus somehow kept up with our complicated group order. Both times she kept our table clear of dirty plates or empty drinks. Our chef at the grill was Leo who had some some fun hibachi tricks for us! Overall we had a great time both visits and excellent service.
(5)Sheila T.
I only tried the sushi menu And everything I tried was excellent. The drinks were awesome too, and the staff outstanding. Been there a few times now and plan to go back. They have valet parking specifically for the restaurants upstairs which makes it so much easier.
(5)Cristina P.
Nice looking place, food is good in its own right, prices a bit high but leans on fair. It's likely that most people come in here comparing it to Samurai....it's similar but not the same (Samurai's food is more flavorful and there's more variety). It's got it's own flavor and while not bad, I wouldn't give it 5 stars. I will say this, our cook, Cedric was phenomenal. Great cook and quite entertaining to boot. Glad I tried it and may be back one day but it's not a must.
(3)May L.
A big portion of lunch menu teppanyaki set with salad, fried rice, choice of meat (shrimp was perfect), and fried vege for $12-15! The food was nice and my friend and I were extremely satisfied. Come here for lunch!
(5)Mercedes G.
We went to Aoki for my son's birthday and had a great time. The service was great and the food was delicious. The fried rice was the best I've had in a long time. The steak was cooked to perfection and vegetables were very good too. Our chef was funny and made our night a memorable one. My new favorite teppanyaki place.
(5)Isabel L.
I wanted to like this place, but when I think Hibachi I think Beni Hana, they have a winning formula and its the taste I crave when I want Hibachi. This place had to be better than Beni Hana to earn its place in my restaurant repertoire. It didn't - Here's why: 1. Their Fried Rice is NO GOOD. It has four different rices, and a boatload of dry garlic which was overkill. It killed my stomach (apparently black rice can pass completely undigested through your stomach) and I can eat everything- except this apparently. This is one star off. 2. Their sauces are no good. One sauce is too creamy and mayonnaise-y. The other too tart. I tried mixing the two, but still not enough flavor. Beni Hana's sauces are delicious, these are bland at best. This is at least a 2 star deduction. 3. I ordered the Wagyu Beef $8 upgrade, we compared it to the Filet Mignon my fiance ordered (which is cheaper upgrade) and the Filet Mignon was clearly the winner. I don't appreciate trendy but not-worth-it expensive menu options. That's the last star off. Lastly, the ginger salad dressing had no flavor and the dry tuna flakes on it tasted like rotting fish leather. I don't understand all the positive reviews. Now I didn't try any of their sushi, so maybe that's worth trying if you go here. I would pass on the hibachi.
(1)Ty C.
Awesome sushi, beautiful set up and great staff. Try the surf and turf roll, the sunomono roll and the specialty cocktails. No complaints here
(5)Natasha S.
This was our first time dining here and we had a great time.. Our kids loved their dinners.. Sushi rolls were top notch.. Fried rice, salad, veggies were delicious.. Our cook Leo made it a fun experience for the kids.. Overall loved this place, loved the food and will definitely be back!!
(4)Stacy G.
My husband and I were very excited about Aoki opening up, considering he's a HUGE fan of Samurai. We went there the first week it opened and the sushi was phenomenal, the sushi staff was amazing. The Sushi Manager, I believe his name was Pete was extremely gracious and made sure that our experience was great. We went again last week and we had a horrible experience. The sushi was not a fresh and the service was not good. We asked to speak to the Manager and they told us he no longer worked there. It was a shame our last experience was not as good as our first. In fact, I believe the air conditioning was not working and the restaurant was empty. I hope its better the next time we go.
(2)Jenny A.
My husband and I visited Aoki a few weeks back on a Friday night. The place was jammed pack, so we decided to sit out in the terrace.. We had an amazing experience from the server that took care of us to the outstanding sushi and items from the grill we ate. My husband fell in love with the strip steak that was cooked to perfection and I one of the fried rolls, I think it was called the "Emperor roll" We decided to visit your restaurant this past Friday. OMG !!! What a not so good experience we had... The service was terrible. We sat and must have waited for someone to take care of us for more than 15 mins. When we finally got our food, What a difference from the first experience we had. I can actually say that it was close to being terrible. My husband's steak was overcooked and served cold and the sushi rolls I got looked the presentation my plate was horrific. I hope that you guys get it together and be consistent with your food. We will give you another try and see what happens...
(1)Giovanni P.
The food was amazing!!! The service and price was very good. They came to the table constantly and had our orders to perfection. The quality of food was heaven. You couldn't ask for it any better. Perfect place for the family as well. Very much recommended.
(5)Charlie S.
Food is not bad, however, you come out smelling like food. Very very bad extractor system. First and last time I visit this place.
(2)Osman S.
Wow! What an experience.. 2nd time and it only solidified how great this place is! First off have a drink with the most creative bartender in a while... PETE.. This guy thinks outside the box and caters to your drinking needs. Dinning was excellent.. I know this place is not cheap but the atmosphere made me not want to not think about a budget.. Lester and Adam were our guys and we had blast. Must visit. Goodnight!
(5)Silvia B.
Went for lunch for a co-workers birthday the service was great, the food was amazing everything i would try was really good even though am allergic to shellfish the waitress knew she would warn me before what each food had in it she was was very knowledgeable.
(5)Mario G.
Food was okay. Same concept as Benihana and Samurai all they did was change the salad and fried rice. The salad was better than the competitors but not the rice. It tasted funny and lacked flavor. I welcome the competition though as last time I went to Samurai, and it's my kids favorite, I was disappointed.
(2)Gabriel T.
A very good Sushi place in Miami. Order the Surf and Turf Roll and the Emperor. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Maria S.
I've never had a problem with the food, however they need to learn how to service people correctly. Every time I go we sit by the bar in the back and order sushi- we gotten ignored, bad service, and even heard employees making rude comments about customers. Unprofessional. Over priced.
(1)Richard M.
This place is overrated!! Food and quality of service were mediocre to say the least. My shrimp was well undercooked (yuk). There is not a single Oriental working at this place!!! The cook was from Nicaragua (quite a neophyte) and his cooking skills were terrible. The flavor of the food is below the Samurai/Benihana flavor/quality standards - BY FAR!!! Thanks but no thanks....
(1)Kharina S.
Had dinner here on Saturday and had the best experience with my family. The food was amazing. I highly recommend the NY Strip and Lobster combo. My husband got the chicken and it was also delicious. The best part about this restaurant is the entertainment, our Chef was so funny. My 2 yr old was his biggest fan! We will definitely be going back soon!
(5)Claudia R.
Before anything, I'd like to point out that I made a yelp account just for this... The first time I visited, I sat at the sushi bar and everything was great. Everyone was very friendly and the food was great! I continuously recommended it to all of my friends. However, I visited again on Friday to kick off my birthday weekend. We were seated in the hibachi area but were told that we could order from whichever kitchen. Two of my friends ordered from the hibachi, another a regular plate, and I ordered some sushi rolls. The hibachi meals came first within 20 minutes, and the regular plate soon after. I, the birthday girl, watched as everyone ate. An hour passed and I was STILL waiting and by this time everyone else in my party and even the other couple seated with us, had finished eating. My boyfriend reminded our waiter about my rolls and our appetizer and he reacted very embarrassed and shocked. "The food runner never brought you your rolls?! It's probably just sitting there, I'll be right back." Another ten minutes passed and he comes back to tell us that "the ticket had never been printed," whatever that means. He asked if I wanted my rolls to go and I said yes- this outing was to celebrate my birthday NOT to take turns watching each other eat. We had been waiting for so long that the couple seated with us had already gotten AND paid their bill. The experience was SO ridiculous that the couple even felt compelled to say something to a passing employee. It was honestly thanks to them that my boyfriend's appetizer and my rolls were on the house. In retrospect, the entire meal should have been on the house because we had to wait ANOTHER thirty minutes for my rolls to be prepared. I was finally brought my rolls in a take out box and the check was brought as well. Sure enough, the rolls and appetizer were on the house. But when the waiter finally came back around to pick up our checks we had to remind him about bringing the appetizer. There goes another 15 minutes. My boyfriend still tipped our waiter (and well at that) because we understood this was technically the "food runner's" job. Again in retrospect, we shouldn't have even tipped as well as we did because how did the waiter not realize that he was picking up everyone's plate but mine?! The food tasted great but the experience was horrid. It was my birthday and I was the only one who did not get a chance to eat. I was so embarrassed and this was a horrible way to kick off my weekend. It was extremely disappointing especially since my first experience there was so great. I will not continue to recommend this to my friends and family. This was just such a ridiculous experience.
(2)Ericka G.
WOW!! This place is just too cool. First off I had to cancel a Yelp event (sorry Cassie) to come here for a mandatory family dinner. (It's family time) Glad I did. The décor is just..WOW.. I mean I've never been to Japan but I feel like this place gives you a little feel as to what you may expect somewhat. I just wanted to video tape everything instead of pictures (unfortunately my phone died so not as many pictures were taken). From the entrance all the way to the back there's just so much to look at and the walls, the ceiling, the lighting, I mean everything is just beautiful and talk about friendly. The hostess was super nice and our bartender was phenomenal, my mom said it was the best amaretto sour she's ever had in her life...that's a HUGE statement coming from my mom. Then our waiter was superb, I mean he was super attentive and even remembered all of our names (there was 8 of us). Since our party hadn't all arrived we sat at the bar and waited. It was happy hour and they had a great variety of selections from beers, wine, sake, mixed drinks, and even different rolls, salads, etc. It was all fairly priced and I had to text my girlfriends and let them know next happy hour is here. Once our party arrived our cool ass waiter took us to our tables and went over all the menu options and random annoying questions we had. Once we placed our order, Abbey, our salad spinner made a delicious ginger salad that was very refreshing. I stuffed my face like a hamster it was so good =) Once our chef arrived ( I believe his name was Portofio; sorry if I'm spelling it wrong) he too knew all of our names, he went over all our orders and started the show. First off, I know the Aoki family owns Benihana so it's basically the same concept but I consider this place a way up upgrade and there's more food and sushi options here. Anyhow the chef interacted with us the whole time. We laughed, smiled, and joked with him the entire time. We didn't want him to leave. Wanted him to pull up a chair and join us. It was true entertainment. When you go you MUST ask for him specifically!!! We all had tempanyaki style dinner so it came with the fried rice, veggies, the salad, and then your meat, poultry, or seafood option. I ordered the shrimp, my mom had the scallop, lobster, and shrimp, my step dad had the filet mignon and lobster. His nieces had the wagu steak with shrimp and the lobster and filet mignon. I can't remember what everyone else ordered but we all tasted each others food so it was like we almost had all the options available. It all came with a ginger sauce and pink sauce on the side. I ususally would get double pink sauce but I tasted their ginger sauce and it was strong and refreshing and absolutely delish. Our overall experience was awesome. We continued talking about dinner this morning. This place is a definite must come back.
(5)Alessandra P.
I don't understand why people write bad reviews on this place. I love coming here with a group of friends. We all ate from the Teppanyaki menu which is totally worth it! I've been there a few times and I don't recall having a bad meal there. I have made it to dessert once and I had the deep fried tempura brownie and it was delicious. Anything deep fried is good to me! I recommend coming here and try it out for yourself!
(5)Nicole W.
I love Aoki! It's not as crowded and chaotic as Samurai, but is equally delicious! On my first visit, we dined at the Hibachi table. I ordered the chicken and shrimp combo, crispy pig ears (appetizer), and the cheesecake tempura for dessert! All of it was delicious! The pig ears were crispy and heavenly, and our meal included a large salad that was constructed in front of us! The service was outstanding and I can't wait to return!
(5)Elaine Z.
I'd never heard of this teppanyaki joint until I decided to eat lunch at Bobby's Burger Palace - then upon seeing Aoki, changed my mind. Charmingly decorated and inviting waitstaff ushered us to a table - I loved the design of the chopstick wrappers and the furniture. The lunch specials were awesome for both food and drink. We had $4 beers and a $5 tuna poke salad that had TONS of tuna! For entrees, we had the spicy pork and bulgogi bowl. The bulgogi was not super authentic, but still tasty! I really enjoyed the meal and hope to come back to try the sushi or teppanyaki.
(4)April J.
Surprised to find another establishment in Miami by the Benihana family. I like Benihana, and consider it pretty authentic Japanese food. Tried Doraku and wasn't a fan. Wasn't sure what to expect walking into Aoki. Let me start off saying that I LOVE the decor-- the high ceilings, the wood rustic feeling, love it all. Came during a Sunday afternoon and ate off of their lunch menu. Salmon Poke -- well worth it for $5. A lot of meat although the seasoning was slightly too much, but still great. Katsu Don Donburi -- The only complaint I have is that the meat was a little dry and it didn't come with the katsu sauce, had to ask for it on the side. But good portions and came with a little side salad.
(4)S K.
Aoki is everyone's favorite restaurant. Hibachi is so much fun - for a special event - and it is so much better than Samurai or Benihana. The fried rice is a mixture of all different kinds of rices, making it even a bit healthier. The food is much more fresh. The service is much more quick than the other hibachi restaurants; you'll never be waiting more than ten minutes to be served. If you are not looking for hibachi, their normal sushi restaurant is exquisite. Delicious and reasonable prices. Fresh fish. Again, great service. Highly recommended.
(5)Zhou F.
Interesting that this is actually owned by the Aoki family, as in Steve Aoki the DJ, son of Rocky Aoki the founder of Benihana. Food here is nothing special, but good for a quick stop while you're shopping as they have cheap lunch and happy hour specials. We had the Tuna Poke as the appetizer, which was on their happy hour menu and surprisingly good. For 5 dollars, there was a generous quantity of tuna, mixed with seaweed and onions in soy sauce and topped with fried noodles. An interesting combination of flavors and definitely worth a try. I ordered the spicy pork off their lunch special menu for my entree. It was served with potato salad, cabbage, a salad, and steamed rice. The pork actually packed quite a kick, so be aware of that if you decide to order it. The spiciness is basically all you taste. The pork itself is overcooked and a bit dry. The potato salad was a nice complement to the sauce of the pork as it counteracted the spiciness. The salad with peanut dressing was unexceptional, and the steamed rice was a bit dry. For the price, we pretty much got what we expected. In summary, good for a quick, reasonably priced lunch while you're shopping, but don't expect much.
(3)Ian T.
I liked Aoki. However, don't expect anything wildly different (or superior) to a standard Benihana restaurant. This should be no surprise, since it's founded by the sons of Benihana founder "Rocky" Aoki. The interior is a bit more intimate and upscale than Benihana, and the prices are reasonable. Of course, if you go for the Teppan option (i.e. they prepare your food on the grill at your table), the quality of both the food and the 'show' will vary somewhat by the specific chef you get. For example, our guy was quite no-nonsense and had no flourishes, while at the next table it was all onion ring volcanoes and jokes. The meat was well seasoned, if not spectacular. The shrimp were above par and worked well with the seasoning. A distinction of Aoki is their take on fried rice. They use a medley of whole grain brown rice varieties, and don't put protein such as shrimp into their concoction. The result is likely healthier, but honestly I think I like the more decadent variety they serve at Benihana or Samurai. Your mileage may vary. Also, they have a pretty good deal where a second person can share in your teppanyaki for a small charge and will get their own rice, etc. As a special note, my wife had sushi and it was quite well done. Overall, it was a good experience and while I'm not addicted and going to rush back, next time I feel like Teppanyaki, it's definitely on the list. Particularly given it's convenient location in the Dadeland Mall.
(4)Chris R.
A Mediocre Experience Had dinner last night and the service was dreadful had to ask for everything (menus, silverware, plates, WATER!) and we were greeted by our waiter with the question that drives me crazy when it's the first thing uttered when you arrive to restaurant: "are you guys ready to order?" Meanwhile, they hadn't even set the table and brought menus. The manager was seen just walking around not once did I see him greet any customers or check on tables. Food Had a cocktail, I can't recall the name but I it had cucumber in it. It was mostly syrup and you barely tasted any alcohol. The mighty warrior roll had a taste of your usual tempura soaked cream cheese roll (nothing special). The pig ears were a sad mini plate, weren't bad but they give less than a handful. Had the tuna rice bowl, it literally that RICE. It came with a small amount of tuna and cucumber, that was it. The food wasn't the worst thing in the world but it's nothing special. You can get better and more affordable at most mom and pop sushi joints around town. Conclusion The place is nicely put together sort of Epcotish (Disney reference). The service was way off not a memorable experience. Food was average. All in all you have better options a few footsteps away. Earls and Cheesecake Factory aren't even in the same stratosphere when it comes to food and service. Do you and your party a favor take the walk even if you have to wait a bit longer.
(2)Jackie S.
I'm not sure why this place has such mediocre reviews? Décor, modern swank stylish - check Service - my waiter was attentive and friendly - check Drinks - I only had one (shocker I know) the Eastern Caipirinha. The drink was good but I'm not a big ginger fan so it wasn't my favorite but it didn't stop me from downing every last drop. And Finally...the sushi! Oh the sushi! I do love you! All the rolls are really good but the Fire Dragon and the Hearty Warrior are exceptional! - double check!!
(4)Dj R.
The sushi is good. Salmon appetizer is great and so is the spicy tuna roll. This is a sister restaurant of Doraku, which is also good. Service was really good and management was very friendly and fun.
(5)Melanie A.
I came to this restaurant literally like the first week it opened. I was surprised that even in the very early stages of the restaurant, everything was on point. I went with 2 friends and we of course sat at the Hibachi table (is that even the correct way to say it? who knows). The service was great and we did not have to wait long for the chef to make his appearance. He did some great tricks and was very entertaining (not to mention pleasant). Who doesn't enjoy that part of the meal? I definitely enjoy being entertained while I stuff my face with endless food, yum. I had the shrimp & chicken...maybe even the beef? who knows. I am a fan of hibachi style restaurants but I usually show up and it's all kids. Aoki Teppanyaki is different. Of course there will be children as this is in a mall and children happen to shop with their parents at malls BUT this is a much more elegant atmosphere suitable for date-night OR a time to bring the youngsters (or to just drink - I approve). This is a great place to go even if you are not shopping in the mall (again, date-night, helloooo). I don't quite understand why people comment about how they don't understand the fascination with Hibachi style places. I totally get it. If it's not your cup of tea, then simply don't go. People understand what they are getting from this type of a restaurant. Don't go to a Hibachi style restaurant if you don't enjoy watching a chef pretty much give you a show. It's like going to an ice-cream parlor and saying you hate ice-cream. Not a good idea, right? Ugh, come on. Have a drink and relax!
(5)Alicia S.
Great place for lunch. Very reasonable happy hour prices on food items. Their fried rice is different and very tasty. Great sushi menu as well
(5)Mayli M.
I thought it was great! The place has a nice vibe. You can sit at a teppankai table, a regular table inside or a regular table on their patio. We opted for the latter & were glad we did. Things we tried: chicken fried rice=absolutely delicious! The flavor is a little different in a good way. The Great Unifier (roll)=good.. It had a nice citrus punch. The One Eyed Dragon (roll)=delicious but seriously spicy hot (nice that they use wahoo) The Supreme Shogun (roll)=It didn't have a lot of lobster but was tasty. Ultimate Ronin (roll)=loved it..nice touch with the walnuts I wish they didn't have a paper bag for a menu. I don't think it matches the style of the restaurant. Other than that, I have no complaints. I'll definitely be back. FYI happy hour is EVERY DAY 11:30-7pm!
(4)Shareen B.
AmaZing. Second time there. Cuz I couldn't wait from my first visit!! I truly hope everyone gets to know this little find at Dadeland Mall. Truly the best Japanese food I've had in awhile. Yum. Can't wait for my next visit!!! *we went to Mall just for Aoki
(5)Manuel G.
Aoki is awesome... Way better than Benihana I love its quiet ambience and the flow of the restaurant which is great place for small and large groups. Servers take care of me with no lag and the food is always cooked right they have a nice set of beer and sake. Sushi and Stella Artois best mix ever.
(5)Krystle C.
Alright here goes: Not real sushi and it kept falling apart Chicken fried rice was okay Had no soy sauce on the table Service was slow Maybe the hibachi tables inside would have been better Meh, wouldn't eat here again
(2)Kristina D.
This place is great! We sit at the sushi bar a lot quick service! The chefs at the tables are great as well. I perfer here to samurai.
(5)Ame B.
Mediocre at best. We really liked the delux spicy tuna roll and the eggplant miso appetizer. The chicken teriyaki and the korean bbq beef dish tasted like commercial food; not authentic at all. Probably wouldn't come to eat here again.
(3)Stephanie B.
I was pretty underwhelmed by my whole experience. For starters you have a bunch of options of where to sit and they basically just tell you to sit wherever you want. For someone who's never been there it might be a little annoying when you're hungry and you just want to be seated and that's it. The girls at the front are merely just that, just a bunch of girls (along with that hideous, awkward, uninviting and architecturally insignificant wooden table they sit and gossip at). They need hostesses that actually do their job in a hospitable manner. Anyway, we end up sitting at one of the high tables near the bar and the service was really slow. It took forever to get menus and have our orders taken and we literally had to ask for everything from water, to utensils. We ordered the one eyed dragon roll and it was actually delicious. I've never tried a roll with jalapeño in it. We also ordered the crispy pig ears which were fair and the reason they were fair was because of how thin and little they were! I couldn't believe they charged like $8 for what felt like 5 strands of crispy hair. So you couldn't even get the taste of the pig ears because they were sooo thin, and mind you this is supposed to be one of their most popular items. Then came 3 donburi bowls, they were all more than halfway filled with rice. The pork one was good, so was the vegetable one. However the tuna one tasted sad because it was like a big rice cupcake with tuna sprinkles. That's what it felt like cause the pieces of tuna were so small and little. Sigh, should've gone to Earl's. I'd only come back for the one eyed dragon roll during a shopping day if the wait is too long at earl's.
(2)Channing N.
Been wanting to try this place for some time. Thought it would be a lot like Samurai, but I was pleasantly surprised. For starters, the decor is really something. Very modern, but themed well with the whole Japanese restaurant. The menus were printed on brown paper bags...don't really know the history behind that, but it was pretty cool. My family and husband took part in the whole tappanyaki lunch, which gave me the full experience. Got to try my husband's fried rice, steak and chicken. All was delicious. The cook was funny and very friendly. Our waiter was great...very attentive and sweet. I ordered the miyamoto roll and omg, was it delicious. The price was great during lunch/happy hour, too. We spent just under 150--five of us eating full lunches, four of us having 2 drinks each and 2 desserts. Definitely going back...very soon!
(5)Tina V.
7/5 late teppanaki and sushi lunch review. Cute decor and atmosphere. Service and food was wonderful once you get pass the kind of nice kind of rude hostesses in the front. Dont get me wrong, they greeted us and all but when I had simple questions or when it was time to sit us, I did not appreciate their sarcastic tone or rude eye rolling... Maybe its just me being picky but if it was me I would not do that in front of customers. Other then that everything was wonderful from our waitress Michelle and our chef Santos who was very interactive and funny. The food was not excellent as I have had better teppanaki and sushi back home but still really good and I love their healthy fried rice concept. Yes you can order sushi and small plates on the teppanaki side too. Surf and turf roll $13(4/5) It is a pretty decent roll. Not overly sauced or filled with mayo like many other sushi place in Miami but a little too much rice ratio of you ask me. Masago Nigiri $5.50(4/5) fresh Hamachi sashimi $7 (5/5) really fresh Lunch special combo $15.20 each (4/5) we both choose the shrimp amd sirloin. It comes with their house special inka? fried rice, stir fry seasonal veggie, and table side spinning salad with ginger dressing. The salad was fresh amd the ginger dressing was lightly refreshing. The fried rice was interesting with several different grains from around the world? The seasonal veggie was my least favorite.. it was bland. The sirloin was cooked to my liking and the shrimp as well. Both could use a little more seaaoning. Overall it was good. Drinks I had the saki sampler from light and balance to creamy and sweet. It was all yummy. The boyfriend has their special old fashioned which he really like. I also had a glass of Gerard Chardonnay which was quite refreshing but I did not like the cup it came in. Overall a good time and fun lunch with the boyfriend with added thanks to our server Michelle and our chef Santos. I would definitely return to try their HH and other stuff on the menu.
(4)Stephanie P.
I LOVE this place! Food is great, place is beautiful. But, Aura is a TERRIBLE waitress. She does not pay attention when you're placing your order, she stares off into space, actually. You have to ask a million times for things and she gets your order wrong. I've had her as a waitress on 3 or 4 separate occasions and it's the same thing every single time. I honestly just come back because I love the food as much as Samurai's, probably even more.
(3)Hesham E.
Sushi in Miami is usually hit or miss, but Aoki Teppanyaki is definitely a hit. I highly recommend this place if you're at Dadeland Mall. When I used to work in South Miami, I would go to the sushi bar for lunch and never once left disappointed. Occasionally, I would order a small plate or two, but the sushi is what makes this place really great. Although the wait time for your order is a bit longer than other sushi places that I've been to, it's well worth it. Aoki's sushi chefs really take their time and the quality shows. I've tried most of their sushi rolls and my absolute favorite has to be Surf n' Turf. It's a very unique flavor and an original roll - as far as I know. Another great thing about this place is that they are constantly experimenting and trying new ingredients. I look forward to trying out more when I'm in the area!
(4)Nicolette R.
Their happy hour lunch menu is so great!! The firecracker shrimp is to die for. They're also really quick and clean and have great servers.
(4)Zhou J.
Super terrible food here and bad service . The food I ordered are totally not what I want and forgot to give us the food we ordered . The chef did not cook well for the extra food we ordered. I have to say this is the worst Japanese restaurant I have ever seen. Although the wall decorated well with photos , the service and food are horrible! Never wanna come again! Never !
(1)Andrew P.
I have yet to sit at AOKI's Hibachi table because I am in love with their Sushi. The Ultimate Ronin, Thw Fire Dragon and The Hearty Warrior are among my favorites. I also love how they brought back my guilty pleasure of Fried Chicken Liver... I know but if you used to eat at Samurai you wouldn't be cringing. Be sure to stop in for Happy hour for some sushi and drinks you wont regret it! I cant wait to return for Hibachi!
(4)Natasha P.
Been here twice food and atmosphere are great ... service sucks! So if u have time a patience try it out if not don't even bother!!!
(3)Fabio F.
Love me a nice sushi restaurant! First of all this restaurant is in the second floor of Dadeland mall, next to the burger joint & earls! We went Saturday night around 7pm, wasn't too full but there were a couple big parties! This is also one of those places that won't sit you until EVERYONE from your party is there.. Yes even by one person. So if you have that one friend who is always running late, maybe pick them up? Make sure they're there or no sushi for you. Lol. You walk in and already you can tell you're in a nice place, everyone in uniform, the decor is more dark and rustic. We managed to get seated in front of the sushi chefs which was a pretty cool sight. We got to watch them make sushi rolls from scratch. Got a couple tips too on how to make mine at home that much better! We had the pleasure of being seated with Luis as our server. He was AWESOME! He greeted us, and introduced himself very professionally and right to asking what we wanted to drink! The whole night he was constantly checking up and making sure I never got to the bottom of my drink before he refilled it! The food.. First I felt like I was really in Japan cause man, that menu is hardcore, It took me like 20 min to finally realize It was in English. Lol. But no matter! The food was still great! We got several rolls that were on point! I like spicy foods so I was recommended I try the "Godzilla" roll? I'm almost positive that was the name. It had salmon, crab, cream cheese, and avocado tempura fried and topped with garlic aioli, spicy aioli, eel sauce, garlic chips, and jalapeno.. MMMMMM ;D We also got fried rice and "Fire Dragon" and the "Surf and Turf" all which were very good! From where we were seated we also got to see the "Samurai-like" tables where the chefs are cooking infront of you! Next time we'll probably sit there, looked fun! So nice decor + great service + good food = a great fun night! I recommend you give this place a try!
(4)Jeff G.
Nice looking place, but I never quite understood people's fascination with this faux Japanese food. I guess watching the cook play with your shrimp while making an onion volcano spit fire is amusing, the food itself is pretty bland. Not surprising as Teppanyaki was invented for Americans coming to Japan after WWII and Americans tend to love their boring bland food! That being said, Aoki isn't bad, just not my thing.
(3)Phillip H.
Super happy with the staff and manager. Especially since my wife is a huge Steve Aoki fan and this restaurant being his brothers. the staff gave us a little background of the restaurant. On top of that the staff helped with my wifes shell fish allergy and made sure what she could or couldnt eat. The food is amazing and it didnt take long to bring it out. They started bringing out the orders as they were ready. I recommend this place and we will surely be going back there again very soon. Oh and prices are very reasonable.
(5)Adam P.
Came on a Thursday afternoon, sat with 2 others. Ordered chicken fried rice. I basically had to eat by myself as it took so long for my meal to come that they already ate and had there plates taken away. After receiving my meal, I was shocked by the lack of chicken in an 11.00 dollar meal. I would say they cut one chicken strip and put it in the rice. To avoid a long wait for chicken I requested salmon sashimi. Not only did it take another 10 minutes but I was provided with 2 small pieces and the salmon was very low quality. If this wasn't bad enough, we requested to speak to the manger multiple times and never once had them come out and apologize for anything.
(1)Elizabeth M.
Being a huge fan of teppanyaki, I was excited when Aoki opened. We love the new wing at Dadeland and the new restaurants that have opened so we decided to check it out Friday night. We waited about 10 minutes (beats the wait over at Samurai any day). The waitress was not very friendly and failed to tell us about the specials. The menu is similar to those at other teppanyaki restaurants and at first it appears that the prices are the same until you realize that there is no soup and no shrimp appetizer included - so it is more expensive. Nevertheless we ordered our usually combinations - I had the chicken and shrimp and my husband ordered the wagyu and shrimp and here are our findings: Decor - Really nice! Except they got carried away with the chairs. They fit in with the theme perfectly and even have the restaurants name engraved on them, but sooooo uncomfortable! Salad - Disappointing! A gentlemen came out and began spinning a bowl while adding dressing making a huge mess (lettuce flying everywhere)! Then topping it with dried fish and tried convincing us it tasted like bacon - not in a million years would that pass as bacon. Gross! I was missing my very simple lettuce, tomato and ginger dressing at this point. Rice - Again disappointing! It's obvious that Aoki got overly creative to me at this point. A mixture of what I remember the Chef saying of 5 different types of rice and noodles. I just remember it looking like a mess and random fish smelling ingredients going in. No thanks! Shrimp - A huge no no! Nice size, but weren't cleaned prior to cooking. Ewww! Did I mention how HOT It was?!?! Someone turn on the a/c we're sitting in front of a grill!!! I missed the other teppanyaki places throughout my meal and wished that we had gone elsewhere. We ended up leaving for dessert and visiting another restaurant nearby.
(1)Mailyn D.
The two stars I'm giving this place is based SOLELY ON THE FOOD . Came to this place on a sunday afternoon place was not packed at all, and still had to wait the LONGEST time for some fried rice , and sushi rolls , let's not forget I ordered something else last minute that actually never got to the table it bothered me so much I cancelled it and the waitress didn't even cared to apologize and brought the check I'm sure she didn't even put it in bur guess what ? I got the check in seconds .I won't be coming back , for the food I rather take a trip to doraku been there many times and is the same food and great service which I love .
(2)Sebastian M.
The place is beautiful and the service was great, but the food was just not there. Good thing I ordered extra beef in my bowl because if I wouldn't have, there wouldn't be any beef at all. I've been to way better places, but Aoki was convenient after a day spent shopping. I would suggest skipping it all together to avoid a disappointing meal.
(2)Almi R.
Hubby and I came here for lunch while we waited for my oil to be changed at the Firestone across the street. We were seated right away at a teppanyaki table. The service was good and the food was excellent. I think it has more 'real' flavors than it's competitors. The rice has actual ginger flavor, and the veggies included sweet potato and zucchini. The salad was interesting with a dried fish on top that tastes like bacon! My only complaint was the time the entire process took. We were there for about an hour and a half, we had time to kill so it wasn't a problem, but keep this in mind. Also, the lunch specials were phenomenal. $11 for chicken?!?! Hellloooo super deal! Also, they had happy hour. $4 for flat tire. A couple beers and this food and I was ready for a nap. Definitely a place to check out.
(4)Miriana M.
I really liked Aoki. The decor is beautiful, their happy hour is great and there's something for everyone on the menu. The reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is the service was kinda slow, even though there wasn't many people at the restaurant at the time. Tried the buns, the firecracker shrimp, tuna poke salad, and the fire dragon roll, everything was tasty. I would definitely come back here for happy hour or to try the teppanyaki tables with a large group.
(4)Arlene V.
Came here on a Sunday around 5:30pm. If you sit outside be prepared to wait. Food wasn't bad, I'd come back.
(3)Sue M.
This place has become one of my favorite restaurants, me and my hubby love this place, we have been here so many times now that we know everybody there, they always make us feel like home, the place is incredible beautiful and original, I love the decor, the service is outstanding, and the food is delicious, they have the best japanese food (miso soup is delicious, phily roll, salad, etc) and one of the most things we love are all the specials they have, their Happy hour is great and their lunch manu as well. We have introduced lots of our friends and family to this place, and we even go there for our specials days as birthdays, valentines, etc. We recommend this gem to everybody because is just GREAT! we hope it continues like that.
(5)Rachel H.
I would love to talk about the food, but the service was so bad that I never got to try any! I went on a slow weekday afternoon around 4:00 p.m. and was promptly seated by the hostess. I wanted sushi, so I sat in the outside area with one friend. There were two other tables sat and the remaining three were empty, so it wasn't busy. I was impressed by the decor and the menu, and found some tasty options to try. I realized that five minutes had passed and our server hadn't greeted us yet. Sometimes places get busy so we decided to patiently chat while we waited. During this time, two servers had gone to their respective tables all within five feet of our table and didn't seem to care that we were unattended. The hostesses seem occupied with their conversation as they were loudly giggling and didn't notice that we hadn't been helped. After waiting ten more minutes, fifteen total at this point, I loudly said to my friend that we would wait two more minutes. At this point a busser was cleaning a table next to us and didn't seem to notice us either. Two minutes came and went and we were never attended to, so we left. Not greeted. No water. No nothing. As we walked away one of the hostesses gave us a dirty look as if we had done something wrong instead of asking why we got up. I have worked in the service industry and always try to be patient and understanding, but 17 minutes is way too long. Especially when we were in the vicinity of 2 servers, 2 hostesses, and 1 busser. I won't bother to give this restaurant another shot as clearly its staff gives little importance to serving their guests.
(1)Don M.
Great decor, wonderful service, good food, generous happy hour. What more do you need? Sitting in Aoki you forget you are conveniently at the mall. Can't go wrong here.
(4)Natalie G.
After a not so great first impression at Aoki...im happy we decided to give it another shot. We ordered almost everything from their amazing happy hour menu thats somewhat reminiscent of Dorakus great portions and quick service. Our waitress was wonderful and drinks were great too. The sparkling rose was refreshing...lychee martini was delish! My only complaint is the hostess they just arent aware greeting wise or seating esither which is strange because thats theyre job. Our waitress was great sat us diwn very knowledgeable and upbeat. We will deff be back!
(4)Mark P.
Sooooooo good , I'm a huge sushi lover, and I gotta say the emporer roll was epic. I've worked in restaurants for about 7 years and these guys have their shit together . my server ADAM recommended the Japanese scotch whiskey blend and it was a revelation, I will recommend this place EVERY lover of Japanese cuisine I know, my fiance is getting back from a business trip in a week and this is where I'm taking her. I want ADAM as my server he is Epic , and I've know many a shit server in my day, so I believe I can make and informed opinion . I've always been a fan of Steve Aoki musically , and now foodwise. So me and my buddy say kudos and a tip of the hat. Adam's the shit BTW
(5)Memi C.
I been to so many places for sushi and hibachi , and this place really impress me , amazing food , healthier taste , amazing waiter(sylvie) and hibachi cook(porfirio), overall the best service I have received in a while !!!! If you go to this place request porfirio for the hibachi tables , you won't regret it ! !!!! Will most definitely come back here and recommend this place to my friends!
(5)Michael M.
Amazing amazing amazing amazing!! The food and prices at this place are out of this world!!!! Best fried rice I've ever had... 3 grains and noodles in the rice?!?!? Amazing!!! The hibachi chef "Daz" is hilarious!!!! Ask for him! This is my fav habachi spot ever... Laid back.. And they even had amazing sushi.. I may never go to Benihana again.. This place takes the cake!! And the green yea ice cream..
(5)Erika S.
Not sure why this place doesn't have better reviews because everything about this place was amazing! We came during happy hour (which we didn't know existed) and were pleasantly surprised when we sat at the sushi bar. We ordered a few items from the happy hour menu (salmon poke, tuna tataki, and philly roll) and some from the regular (house salad and another roll I can't remember the name). All of the food was delicious! The service was amazing and extremely quick and the waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu. The ambience is a plus, and the little details such as the menu and the wood block where the check comes are super authentic. For those that think the service was slow, keep in mind that they are fairly new and might be getting the hang of it. Our experience was more than great and we will definitely be returning!
(5)Jessica F.
This place was very pretty, I have to say. The decor is great and I like that it's right in the mall. I love sushi and wanted some while shopping, so that's a plus. I was greeted right away and the host was very nice. He even walked me to the bathroom to show me where it was. I was seated outside the restaurant on the "patio" since I was alone. I ordered the Fire Dragon Roll and the Big Wave Roll. The Fire Dragon was good, just average and the Big Wave was actually very unique and delicious. It has coconut shrimp, mango salsa and coconut on top. The only reason they are getting four stars instead of five is the service was kind of slow. The place was pretty empty though, so don't know why. Maybe because I was outside and alone so I ate quicker than a larger table would. Not that my server wasn't very nice because she was. So pretty good place, I'm glad it's there. Have the Big Wave Roll!
(4)April A.
Happy Hour almost every day? Sign me up. Aoki has great sushi at an even better price. Their lychee martini was spectacular. I thought their menu was quirky and adorable. Great ambiance overall.
(5)Debbie C.
First impression...beautiful decor. Who ever their designer is, bravo! The atmosphere was nice. I completely forgot I was in a mall. It was a bit hot an stuffy, which was expected. Service was great. The cooks are experienced and very funny. Haha! The wait staff is still pretty green. I felt so bad for stumping the waitress, but she did go out of her way to find out the answers to my questions. Big plus on service! The food...mm. I've been to Samurai...Benihana...in between variations. Unfortunately, I cannot find anything special about their menu. The 4 grains of rice in their friend rice was interesting, but that's about it. I was, however, impressed by their lunch prices. Very reasonable and generous. If you are one who likes entertainment and like to dine out with a large group, then this is the place for you! It just didn't hit the spot for me. Atmosphere 5/5 Service 5/5 Food 2/5
(3)Lauren P.
We went out for a family dinner to Aoki expecting a similar experience to Benihana's-- we heard that the owner is the son of the owner of Benihana's...so that is 100% the experience we got. However, our waiter was not extremely attentive, and did not even bring each guest a water glass when we sat down. He brought them one at a time, and it took until we all had our entrées to get a refill. The food itself was...okay. It lacked seasoning and flavor, despite our chef adding some kind of "seasoning" along the way. The NY strip meat was cooked well, but the chicken was doused in lemon butter after being cooked in oil. It too lacked overall seasoning and flavor. The NY strip steak had no salt. The kobe beef ($42) was tender and delicious. It was also stringy and completely underwhelming as far as the cut of meat. The chef cooked it to order, but failed to get a good enough sear on the outside to take care of some of the "stringiness" from the marbling. My father in law ordered shrimp for his entrée, and I noticed that when the shrimp was thrown onto the grill, some of the veins had not been taken out. I'm not a huge fan of shrimp to begin with, but that is basic food prep 101-- ALWAYS TAKE OUT THE VEIN. Spending $30+ dollars per entrée for six people, plus drinks, we spent nearly $250 for what I deem to be a lackluster meal in general. I would probably not go back there.
(3)Kevin L.
Love this place I have lunch here on the regular and the staff is super friendly and remember me by name especially the bartenders in the back half of the restaurant. Love the happy hour offerings and the service is quick. I've also sat down for dine in service where they cook in front of you and the meal is always great!! Also, their brownie tempura is to die for!! I will continue coming back time and time again. My only complaint is their miso soup it's a bit salty and with a lot of vegetables that take away from that traditional miso I've grown to love. That being said it is not enough for me not to give this five stars!!
(5)Benjamin D.
Aoki Donburi was excellent. Poke was excellent. Fried rice was excellent. Jaclin was effecient, professional, helpful and attentive, even as she was triple-sat. I look forward to returning both for the food and for the excellent service.
(5)Robert F.
If you're looking for teppanyaki stick to Samurai or Bennihana. Small tables feel crowded. Their inaka fried rice has no flavor. Ordered a bottle of wine and were served in cognac glasses. Won't be going back.
(2)Liz C.
Oustanding service and food. The best sushi we have ever tasted. The ambience was perfect.
(5)Cristy M.
Tried this place for the first time yesterday and I must say it was pretty good. We had a bunch of appetizers from the happy hour menu and everything was really fresh and tasty. The tuna was exceptionally well. We had it in three different appetizers and they were definitely my favorite. However, we tried something that was called salmon belly and it was not very good. Had more fat then meat and wasn't very tasty at all. The eggplant rolls were okay. After a couple they were just too mushy. The beer on tap was great. Service was also very good. Food came out very fast as well. Would definitely go again.
(3)Denise M.
My daughter was having a major Samurai craving on a Friday night, but if any of you have been to Samurai at anytime you know the wait can be eternal - so she suggested that we go to the new "Steve Aoki" place in Dadeland (yeah she's 17 LOL)... We went to Aoki at about 8:00 pm on a Friday night and we were sat immediately. Our server was very gracious and informative whilst she took our orders. When we have gone to Samurai in the past we have always shared our plates and was concerned that they would not allow the same arrangement her, but luckily that was not an issue so my so my two daughters were able to share one order and my husband and I were able to share an order of the Steak, Chicken, and Shrimp. Our chef David was GREAT - he was funny and communicative and very outgoing - I remember feeling bad for the chef at the table right next to us because no one at that table was even paying attention to him - but again our chef was GREAT and the food was good. To be completely honest for the most part the food was very similar to that of Samurai or Benihana but the wait is much more acceptable - looks like this will be my to go place when ever I am having a teppanyaki craving (or my daughter does) we'll probablt come here...
(4)Lissette G.
I lived in the dadeland area for many years and come down to visit often. Haven't been down for two years so today was my first time seeing the new addition to dadeland mall. So I chose to try one of the restaurants in the area. Aoki looked so pretty from the outside I just couldn't resist. Sat down at the sushi bar and was quickly greeted by my waiter, a very bubbly and accommodating young guy. He quickly brought me some water and then answered my menu questions. I came in around 4pm on a weekday so I opted for a lighter fare and chose from their happy hour menu (3pm-7pm I believe). Great selections for a nicer price. I ordered the Philadelphia roll and the laughing Buddha roll. Order was taken and sushi guy handed me my rolls in no time. The sushi was fresh and the serving was generous. Delicious!! I was very impressed by the laughing Buddha roll which is basically a vegan roll but stuffed beautifully with mesclun greens, asparagus, avo, red pepper and wasabi. I may be forgetting some of the ingredients involved. To wrap things up, I had a great experience. Service was great, food was great and ambience and feel was great. I'm definitely coming back again to try the hibachi and for the dinner experience.
(5)David S.
Great hibachi. Drink menu is amaaazing (Sake, beer, teas, cocktails). Awesome sushi and rice menu as well as hibachi menu.
(4)Wendy G.
I just want to eat there everyday! Very nice and upscale. Very different from Benihana and Samurai. Although they all own by each-other lol. Ambiance is nice and the chef we got was amazing. HILARIOUS. Must try the Spicy edamame. Had the Lobster and Scallops and its full of flavor. They make they're own ginger which i had in my drink with whiskey sooo good. Sushi rolls are amazing. I just can't wait to go backkkk!
(5)Robert B.
So we where going to Benihana when my mother in-law said "why don't we go to that new Benihana place (Aoki) in Dadeland?" I say, "Sure lets give it a try!" From here I will call Benihana 'B' First impressions: very nice decorations, clean and light & airy as apposed to B... but I started getting that feeling that it was going to be different than what I have known all my life. We where 6 and unlike B they sat us right away (no waiting to fill the table) point awarded. Our waitress was nice and took our orders straight forward... But there was one issue... B is known for their fried rice... I could live off the stuff. But Aoki makes their rice a bit different using 4 types of grains including forbidden rice which my kids like... So and this is the only issue I found... They need to provide a kids fired rice with just one grain... I know, I know let them try it... But we all know that it can be difficult. Anyway, Salad was freshly made In front of us... Nice cold and crisp! Add another point.. Rice was surprisingly good! We move on to main meal; steak, chicken, shrimp and veggies... If you have been to B it is the same preparation with one exception... It looks, smells and taste healthy... The chicken actually taste like chicken! After we filled our bellies we had the tempura walnut browny with vanilla ice-cream... Yummy! Great time, good experience, a bit on the high side, cost wise... Figure $27 per person. I will come back, but like an old friend I am sure to visit B's as well.... Oh and yes and you will still come out smelling of food... Time to take a bath!
(4)Leylani D.
The alcohol beverages were very weak. The fried rice lacked flavor. No miso soup was included with the meal :/
(2)Julio G.
Very nice place, well japanese theme decorated. Theres a lunch menu at noon so budget friendly. A lot, and I mean a lot of combinations for teppanyaki entree (from regular shrimp and chicken to exotic center cut filet mignon or wagyu beef). Nigori Sake is a must try, healthy fried rice and spinning salad complimentary with your entree just delicious. Tables seat 8 but can fit 10 tight. Recommended, will visit again.
(5)Faiyaz H.
Not As Impressive As It Looks From Outside If you have ever gone to Kobe or Samurai, this place is trying to be like those places. We went with a party of 7 to 8 and were told that they do not take reservations but it was slow that night so there would be no issues sitting us. They wanted the entire party to be there before we were seated - which I could understand. The food was okay - nothing to jump up and down about. The portion sizes to the cost is not that great. Most at our table were done eating everything before the veggies were even ready for us to eat. I would suggest pacing yourself to get the overall experience. I would not go out of my way to go to this location again - only go if a bunch of people are already going there. Better choices available close by.
(2)Michelle M.
Tried out this place for the first time. Amazing!! Food is fresh, and delicious, atmosphere is very relaxed, music is awesome!! Servers are very nice. Overall, exceptional. Won't be the last time I come here...
(5)Stephanie V.
Loved loved loved this place ! Went for lunch & had a great experience .. 3 of us ordered the fried rice which was made with a variety of grains & it wasn't too heavy like Benihana it was light & tasted healthy.. The lunch menu is cheap and great portions .. The only complain I could have is that everything comes out in a different times because everything is made in a different kitchen (sushi kitchen, hibachi grill etc) we all ate at different times but the food was great overall !
(5)Howard Y.
First, I admit that I'm a fan of teppanyaki. I've enjoyed going to Benihana over the years. From childhood to adulthood. I felt like Benihana was more of an entertainment experience. I would go there for special occasions, but not for a food experience. Aoki, on the other hand, was more about the food and the ambiance. The design was cool, yet traditional. I ordered the Wagyu steak plus chicken. I enjoyed the 3-grain fried rice. (Different from Benihana's). Had the sake sampler, which I would recommend for those who enjoy sake. Some of my favorite dishes from Doraku were also there: Eggplant Miso, garlic-teriyaki edamame. I had a fun time. I don't live that far south, so I might not go again soon. But it was worth the drive from downtown.
(5)Veronica D.
My family and I went for dinner Early Friday night in the teppanyaki side of the restaurant. I loved the decor, and the servers and hostesses were very nice. Now for the reason I gave Aoki a 3 star and not a 5. I think the food is lacking. I ordered the seafood trio, lobster, shrimp and scallops. The lobster was not fully cooked, it was actually tranluscent, GROSS. I could not eat it. I also did not like the rice, I would really prefer the traditional fried rice. My husband ordered the center cut filet and he liked it. I did enjoy the selection of edamame with the different sauces, that was yum. All and all, I hope the restaurant irons out their kinks, because it has great potential. I'll definitely be back to try the sushi. Hopefully it's a little better than the teppanyaki.
(3)Andrea V.
Sushi is good & the variety of sake is great. Lots of flavors, I even found one that I like which was fruity. Delicious tea too & the food on the hibachi grill is great. The lunch special is worth it & the vibe to the whole place sets a laud back kinda mood.
(4)John C.
Pretty good. Really good deal for lunch It's like samurai but not exactly it is nice a clean and a really big place. Upstairs in dadeland mall. It is steak or chicken or shrimp. They have sushi too. Comes with salad and rice and veggies. No soup Worth the trip and much better than waiting for hours at samurai but samurai is better
(3)Lorena O.
Great place! Food & service were fantastic! They have a couple of semi private rooms that can accommodate 16 people in 2 tepanyaki tables. They also take reservations which is superb. I know I personally don't like to wait over 1.5 hrs for this type of experience or the quality of the food.
(4)Rick M.
Let's call this Teppanyaki for the adventurous. It just wasn't for me. I had high hopes for Aoki as it was going up. There's a void of Teppanyaki in the area and Samurai gets too crowded, Benihana in the Gables is too complacent being the industry's top dog, and my favorite places for hibachi-style eats (Umami in Doral for value and Sushi Sake in West Kendall for quality) are too far away from me. I waited anxiously for Aoki to open up. And waited. And waited. It's finally here! In a nutshell this is teppanyaki for foodies, and I'm sure that many will appreciate it but it just didn't do it for me and my family looking for the more traditional hibachi experience that we're used to. The dining room itself is beautiful. The rich woodsy entrance and modern decor works. We had lunch on a Saturday, and the fact that they honor lunch prices on the weekend (like Umami, but not Samurai or Benihana) gives it an extra star on value. If you're used to the traditional teppanyaki experience there are a few things that will stand out for you: 1. True to its name, the "spinning salad" included in the meal is a salad that is prepared tableside, tossed as it spins in a silver bowl rotating on a base. It looks good, and it's the same ginger dressing you know and love. The mix of spring and romaine greens are a twist from the iceberg lettuce they use at most places, but that's one of the many foodie-centric tweaks you get at Aoki. Maybe it was just me, but I could've used more ginger dressing in my portion. 2. The fried rice also isn't the decadent side that artery-clogging patrons douse in the creamy white sauce at other places. This is billed as "healthy" fried rice, and it shows. It's not just white rice but a combo of jasmine rice, brown rice, and what's called "Chinese Black Forbidden" rice. There are also some noodles tossed into the mix, giving it a different general texture. Maybe it was just our chef, but he was very light on the garlic butter, making this a colorful yet less unhealthy version of the fried rice staple served elsewhere. Maybe I'll get used to it if we return, but it's not the rich side that makes "double fried rice" such a common phrase at Samurai. 3. Another foodie tweak is when it comes to the veggies. The sliced carrots that everyone else serves? Well, here it's sweet potato. It has the same color, and sweet potato fans will be high-fiving one another at the sight. Me? I'm Bugs Bunny hoping for a carrot instead. Our chef also didn't have the peppy exhibitionist personality that you see in many teppanyaki chefs. It wasn't much of a show. Unlike Kobe and Umami, those onion volcanos don't breathe fire. That's how it is at Benihana, but I figured this magnetic upstart with windows with everyone in the new Dadeland wing peering in would benefit from flashes of fire every now and then or flashier showmanship. The chef working the other table also seemed a bit dry on the patter. I hope that's not being coached. I want the fire volcano, the shrimp tails flying into chef hats and pockets, and the hokey "egg roll" and "butter fly" puns. If I'm just watching someone cook it gets awkward. The quality of the meats (chicken and strip steak in my case) joins the decor and the lunch menu value as the three stars in my review. My wife thought her chicken was a bit undercooked and gummy, but mine (which admittedly stayed on about 3-5 minutes longer) was perfect and juicy. The strip steak also had robust flavor, or maybe that was just the kick coming out after the otherwise bland fried "Inaka" rice. The place just opened so I will probably give it another shot in a few weeks. The pedigree is too good -- not just the Aoki name, but the ownership/management group that also watches over the top-notch Doraku sushi eatery in Brickell -- for it not to improve. However, I have to be honest and leave it three stars for now.
(3)Nicho D.
So the story goes this place was established by the son of the owner of Samurai. Its not hard to love this place. The decor is really cool, you can tell they dumped alot of cash and creativity into it. If you go for lunch, its the same portions as dinner, but for alot cheaper. I love the salad they make you with these little smoked fish flakes they top it with. Yes its the same cheasy hibachi show/service as most places, but the food is GOOD. Of course I drown everything in the pink sauce! I will probably never go to benihana or samurai again now that this place is open.
(5)Mimi B.
I have been to this restaurant three times already because my kids want to eat hibachi and Samurai had over an hour wait. This place never has a wait because it's obviously not as good. Other than their service everything else at Samurai is better. Sorry :(
(2)Vanessa M.
Everyone keeps raving about the decor... Can we talk food?! My husband and I had a major sushi craving and live just around the corner so we figured we'd give Aoki a try. He had the Surf and Turf roll, which he loved, and I had the Fire Dragon roll which was pretty good. But the show stopper was their Aoki fried rice! It's a mix of long and short grained rices, brown rice and "Black Forbidden Rice"... We had it with chicken and it was DELICIOUS! A different take on fried rice. Had our server box the leftovers right up. Service was helpful and speedy. I couldn't give it 5 stars because it didn't quite measure up to our favorite sushi spot, but we will definitely be back to try the teppanyaki which I believe they specialize in. Try it out!!!
(4)Felix J.
Better than Samurai and better than Benihana! The rice is SOOOO good! It is a blend of 4 types which I believe are short and long grain, brown, and black. My scallops were perfect, wife's filet mignon was also just right, and the beer selection was better than most Japanese restaurants. Service was very good considering I went on its 5th day of being open. Servers were still learning which is perfectly fine particularly when they go find the answer to the question they weren't sure of. The bill was a tad higher than the other places mentioned above but hey, you get what you pay for! Looking forward to my next visit.
(5)Alejandro M.
Being as fan of Hibachi-style cuisine, I could not have been less impressed. Restaurant felt cramped, staff is not trained properly, chef was in engaging and did not ask how we wanted our meat cooked, and they took forever to do anything. Don't waste your time, go to Umami or Kobe.
(1)Raymond F.
The service could have been better but I think it was because the person was new to the job. Aside from that, the food and ambiance were great.
(3)Priscilla C.
Just glad this wing is filling up with plenty of nice restaurants... We had sushi and it was very yummy. The imperial rice is also a must have. Will go back and try other menu items. The tepenyaki looked very good!
(4)Laura D.
I visited Aoki just after it had been open for 2 weeks. I've been waiting for them to open since the opening of this new wing in Dadeland and I pass by it often on my way to Earls Kitchen next door. One of my top favorite restaurants is an Hibachi style restaurant, so I was eager to try this new restaurant. The ambiance and decor is well done and makes you feel like you're in an oriental forest that looks old and hand crafted. We decided to go on a Friday for lunch and were happy to be sat immediately. Just after sitting down, I noticed that the waiter was slow at bringing the drinks to our table. In fact, our drinks didn't come until after the salad was tossed (in front of us) and we started eating it. Then I noticed that there was barely any salad dressing, so I asked our waiter for more. I waited and waited and it never came so I asked another waiter. A few minutes later, I finally got the extra dressing. This delay did not make sense because the restaurant was no where near full and they had plenty of staff. Then our chef came to the table ready to cook but he had to wait another 10 minutes to start cooking our food because the waiter forgot to turn on the stove top. That was extremely annoying. The chef was very personable, friendly and funny. He made the experience what a hibachi style restaurant should be. He even gave the chef job to one of the guests at my table, which was quite fun (see photo). I give our chef a full 5 stars but unfortunately I am not rating the chef, I'm rating the restaurant. My husband and I both ordered the NY strip lunch that included their version of fried rice. I am Not impressed with their fried rice. I'm fact, the chef asked what I thought about the fried rice, and I told him the truth: it was good not great and I prefer the chicken fried rice from Samurai / Benihana. Aoki's version of the fried rice has noodles, edamame, and black rice. The recipe calls for very little "frying" and little garlic butter and soy sauce. If fact, it was so bland that I had to add soy sauce and the pink shrimp sauce to make it taste good. Then it did! The steak was also average, nothing out of this world! We then asked for our check and the waiter had seemed to take longer than he should have. I feel that Aoki should really consider training their serving staff a little longer and train them about not keeping their guests waiting for drinks, checks, salad dressing or sauces, etc. If a waiter is in the weeds, it's better to tell someone and ask for help, then keep their guests waiting. Also, we ordered the spicy tuna roll and we liked it. If they are able to improve their customer service, I may consider coming back for sushi.
(2)Jackelyn P.
Had a great time at this place. I have to say I may have enjoyed it more than Benihana. The fried rice was outstanding. They use a mixture of white rice, brown rice, black rice and noodle. Sooo delicious. The food was fresh and the chef was very entertaining. Prices were comparable to other hibachi places... Not too bad. Drinks were fair and the staff was super friendly. Would recommend this place to anyone who is in the Dadeland area and in the mood for Japanese.
(4)Ivette R.
This place is amazing AOKI Teppanyaki is kind of like Benihana even though I can't compare how good the food is there than at Benihana.Hamaci YUZU Carpaccio it was absolutely delicious and very edible the staff is friendly and are also very knowledgeable they're professionals as cooks I will return some day
(5)Jacky D.
Great place. Good was great. Service was excellent and the prices weren't bad either. Definitely will be returning again.
(5)Julie Q.
This place was really good. The food was good portions. I loved the rice, It was different blends and tasted so fresh. Our chef was fun with my kids and they enjoyed there meal. I ordered the ribs as an appetizer and they were delicious.
(4)Jim A.
It's all about the food! The service and show are pretty good too but the quality of their food is why I keep going back. The Four Grain Rice is simply amazing! The texture, the flavor, and the small amount of noodles mixed in makes this rice the best rice I have ever had. The filets have always been great quality and this also applies to their shrimp, and chicken. I usually get those three as my order there (Filet, chicken, and shrimp). The ambiance is pretty nice and the waitresses and cooks have usually done a nice job. Very happy with this place and am grateful that it is very close to where I live. Can't wait to go back to have more of that incredible rice.
(5)Tom A.
this place was very good when they first opened. they have gone down hill very fast. my waitress Aura(spanish women, long black hair) started arguing with me about what I didn't or did order for my daughter and I finally had to tell her to leave the table. The manager Eddie is accommodating, however his staff does not provide good service. our table chef "Lester" was rude as well. I simply asked him not to add soy sauce to my fried rice and he started saying" this sauce here has soy sauce, this chicken has soy sauce". He was a real wise guy and acted very condescending. I finally said, just make it however you need to. If you want to spend $60 on lunch and be treated poorly, then this is your place. I eat out 4 times a week and I have yet to experience this kind of treatment at a dine in restaurant in a very long time. There were items on my bill that another party ordered and the waitress(Aura)began arguing with my wife. There was a Japanese soda and a chicken meal we didn't order and the waitress continued to argue. when I went to the manager to tell him my bill errors, he mistakingly gave me another couples bill which was triple my bill. Don't go there, you will not have a pleasant experience.
(1)Y L.
We came for happy hour and dinner last night. They have great happy hour specials. The appetizers were delicious: fried shrimp and tuna tataki. We shared the chicken teriyaki and Philadelphia roll. Both were amazing especially the chicken. We asked for the dipping sauces which made the flavors even better. Our server was great too and attentive. Great addition to the area.
(5)Pamela P.
The Teppanyaki part of Aoki is awesome 5 star super delicious super reasonable and the chefs are friendly and entertaining. I've experienced the Teppanyaki twice for lunch and it has not disappointed. They make the BEST mixed rice I've ever had in my life (no kidding). However, I decided to try their Sushi Happy Hour as they advertise some really good deals $5-$7 plates and drinks. I sat at the sushi bar and the sushi was good, decent but not mind blowing. All 3 times that I have been here the service was very slow and not streamlined though friendly enough. The biggest baddest disappointment for me came when after I had finished my sushi meal, I noticed NONE of the all MALE sushi chefs were wearing gloves while preparing the rolls. BIG NO-NO. Made me wonder how the Teppanyaki chefs prep in the ingredients in the back (although both times I experienced Teppanyaki the chefs were wearing gloves each time). I am hoping this was an isolated incident this past Sunday.
(3)Nick M.
Great Looking Place - Horrible Service. Place is 50% full and have been waiting 45 minutes for our teppanyaki chef. Ordered a drink - took 20 minutes to arrive. Too many dining options in Miami to have to put up with this level of service. Get it right Aoki.
(1)Joseph W.
Don't let the name fool you. This is not just a Teppanyaki restaurant. They have a full sushi bar out front and it is quite big. Hibachi in the back.I ate at the Sushi bar so I will only review that part of the restaurant. The sushi was quite good. The rolls are plentiful and the nigiri was very good. The fish and seafood were quite fresh with good bite. Josue the Sushi chef was quite good and he loves what he does. It shows in the service you get. He even offered me to try some other sauces with my sushi. A nice touch. The waitress. Yes, the waitress comes up to the bar to take your order. Very quick and fast. All in all a good experience. I will be back.
(4)Bryan E.
A friend suggested I try Aoki and I was quite impressed. I went on a Thursday night so it wasn't too packed. We were seated within 5 mins and had a pleasant server take our drink orders as we waited for others to fill up the remaining seats around the hibachi. The food was great, our chef was fantastic, and the atmosphere really made it feel like we were in Japan. The only downside is that it is a little pricey--as with most hibachi places. I'll definitely go back though!
(4)Nikie L.
Service was terrible! Waited over 20 min and not even water was left on our table. No server ever approached us and we watched another table seated after us have their order taken. Ended up walking off into the mall and going elsewhere.
(1)Lo D.
Loved the decor, the food, and the people.
(4)SCARLETT V.
AWESOME place súper friendly food was great love it. Service great as well first time visit for sure will come again :)
(4)Sofia R.
Would have eaten there but the hostess only offered me a seat either at the sushi bar or in the middle of the mall...walked to over to a much more accommodating place, Earls Kitchen + Bar.
(1)