Rachel M.

I went there in search of a good bowl of ramen and this was one of two places in Tampa that had some kind of miso ramen with good food reviews. I can live with all the weird restaurant stuff everyone talks about if the food is good, but to be honest, the food was really disappointing. I got the miso tonkotsu ramen and the broth was pretty good, but it was broth, noodles, two tiny slices of pork that were kind of on the verge of tainted, a tiny spoonful-ish of corn and scallions, and shredded ginger. I just find it weird that a bowl of soup that's almost nine dollars has hardly any toppings in it. I know I'm a little spoiled because I'm from Southern CA where there's places to get ramen everywhere, but I feel like for the price of the bowl there should at least be an egg in it or something. It's practically top ramen with better broth since the bowl didnt have a whole lot in it, and the ramen bowl was about half full-ish. Probably gonna just gonna go to the asian market and DIY it next time lol
(2)
Jim B.

Sooooo.... Finally got to try this place. Love the funky decor, love the booths, love the 'family feel' The strip shopping center in which it is located is above average for this hideous section of Tampa, but still a rather basic strip mall. Service: 'scattered' is the best word for it. Oddly, the servers seem to speak spanish as their main language.... in a Japanese restaurant. Food: We split the baby octopus appetizer (very nice, but could have had more spice) the takoyaki octopus balls (hot, steaming, yummy - best of the three items by far) and the okonomiyaki. The latter was topped with those little fish shavings that move in the heat and provide a nice savory flavor, plus the usual sauces. Perhaps it was me, but the last item was heavier than I have had in some other places. Maybe I just hit on a day when my stomach was not up for such a heavy dish - or perhaps this is just a really heavy version (its been a few years since I had it last) Not sure. But I found myself not that into it. I need to try this again, and try some different menu items I think. My first glance here leaves me thinking "meh-ish". Funny aside: My companion asked about takoyaki and the server didn't knwo what that was... we ordered the 'octopus pancakes' off the white board, and out came the takoyaki (as I suspected) The language thing here is just strange.
(3)
Renita S.

Sushi wasn't terrible dont order tuna lol service was slow and untrained! Apparently lady who owns the place has a waiter apparently working for free?? We walked out without leaving any tip and owner said "zero tip" and said "She works for free" so assuming she makes money off of tip after that feeling guilty my friend went back to attempt to give and lady said no don't if service was bad! Mind you yes it was Bc it's unethical to have someone make money off simple tips ! Anyways not sure about the actual Japanese food but wouldn't waist time on sushi ! Also they charge for water lol
(2)
Tosh A.

I lived in Japan for over 18 years and this is the most authentic Japanese restaurant I have been to! The closest place you can probably get food like this is East Village in NYC. You will see things on their menu that all the other so called Japanese restaurants have never heard of. If you want to get a real taste of Japan, go here. Highly recommended.
(5)
Kirsten H.

This is one of my favorite restaurants of Tampa, and probably my husband's favorite restaurants (his father is Japanese so he has high standards for Japanese food). Their sushi is good and fresh, and we always get a few rolls, but where they really shine is their authentic Japanese fare. You can get all kinds of traditional Japanese food - katsu curry, curry ramen, okonomiyaki, soba, musabi, champon, natto, bento boxes, you name it (we have tried all the above dishes and more btw, all awesome). Another great thing about this restaurant is that the food always comes out super quickly. I love this place, will continue to come back, and will cry if they ever close. One of the few restaurants we regularly patron. You MUST give them a try, and if you do, try their extensive non-sushi menu items. *Edit - service has been a bit spotty lately but if you can get past that, their food is still way better than any of the Asian-Fusion sushi spots you can find in Tampa, hands down. Also, something weird that annoys me personally... they have been putting up signs all over the walls with weirdly passive-aggressive messages. Things like, "IF YOUR ENTIRE PARTY HAS NOT ARRIVED YOU WILL NOT BE SEATED" and "YES, OUR RAMEN CONTAINS PORK" and other weird stuff. What's up with that? It doesn't make me feel welcomed to their restaurant at all.
(4)
Mike S.

Grilled whole calamari was fantastic! Best part about the sushi---spicy mayo & eel sauce in squeeze bottles on the table. Says something about the quality of the sushi though. The only reason I give this place 4 stars is because of the variety & value. Food won't blow your hair back, but it'll definitely save your wallet.
(4)
Christy S.

You can't judge a book by its cover. The decor is mismatched and tacky, we actually thought abut leaving when we say down but we are glad we stayed. We ordered a few orders of sushi just try. The sushi cut were large and very good/fresh, we were pleasantly surprised and ended up ordering two more times. Prices are on the cheap side for sushi and quality very good. We will be back, this is our new favorite sushi place in Tampa. Highly reccommended you will be surprised!
(5)
Al B.

Best Japanese food in Tampa! I used to live in Japan and this is one of the exact menus you can find in Japan. All of their food is traditional Japanese style. I enjoy coming here with my spouse and I have not been disappointed. Most of the dinners cost around $12 and you get a good amount of food. If you need more than that...well I would suggest a diet.
(5)
Aldo F.

Came here based on yelpers recommendation for a authentic Japanese spot. Boy, were they right on the money! This little place offers pretty awesome authentic Japanese food. You can find a lot of street fare style food here such as Takoyaki, yakisoba, ramen etc. We ordered some shoyu pork belly ramen and it was pretty darn good. The pork was really good, had a great sweet taste and it was almost very tender. We also had okonomiyaki and Takoyaki and both were great. I'm glad I found this spot and I'll be sure to stop by when in the Tampa area again.
(4)
Deirdre S.

I was really looking forward to eating at i Ai. I have a friend who raves about how authentic it is, so I was very excited. Now, to be fair, it wasn't bad. I will give it another shot, but I will have to try different items because what I had was nothing special. I tried the crab rangoon, something I try at every asian restaurant I go to that serves it. i Ai's version was not much better than what I can get from a Chinese take-out restaurant at 2am. There was mostly cream cheese inside, and the wrappers were somewhat greasy. They were served with a standard (possibly prepackaged) "thai" chili sauce. Meh. We also ordered a volcano roll, another favorite of mine that I order everywhere. i Ai has the "Special Volcano," so I went with it, along with the spicy tuna roll. Both were disappointing. The spicy tuna was standard, but the volcano had a weird taste to it and just didn't seem fresh. I will give them some credit though. The decor is understated, yes, but that gives it charm for me. The server was polite and service was prompt. I also picked very "Americanized" rolls, and that was my fault. As I said, I would give this place another shot and try some different things.
(3)
Bina J.

Delicious and authentic Japanese food. However, the service needs to improve. The waitresses are super awkward and abrupt. The chef lady is unfriendly. My friend spoke Japanese to her and she didn't really respond. Is she even Japanese? Prices have also gone up. Otherwise, if you want true Japanese cuisine, go here.
(4)
Rachel C.

I should've steered clear of the sushi and gone with traditional Japanese food. The sushi was cheap and I know better than to trust cheap sushi. I followed a Yelp tip an got the Garlic Snapper Roll- ugh, it was more like an onion roll and very little flavor at that. I asked for a recommendation and the waitress suggested the Volcano Roll- again, meh. The crab rangoon was delicious though.
(2)
Christiaan G.

Decent rolls for a great price. Hot food is also fairly good, though not the best I've ever tasted. What sets this place apart, though, is convenient location, and selection of really interesting "hybrid/fusion" rolls, which you might not expect (e.g. Tampa Roll with fried fish?)
(4)
Thy C.

This place is crazy!!! It is so cheap and the food is so good. They have real japanese hot meals. You have to try the octopus pancakes(tokoyaki), a popular street food in Japan. The scallop and sweet shrimp was good but my favorite was the garlic fish roll.
(5)
Justin R.

Lunch box was ok and was a great amount of food. They did have a plethora of noodle dishes I feel I will have to come back to try for sure. The tempura was basic and refreshing, the miso was perfectly balanced; although the fried rice tasted ok I wasn't happy with the texture. The decorum was up beat and kitschy on some aspects, possibly a little overdone but it doesn't take away for the je ne sais quoi.
(3)
Sally M.

This place was recommended to me by a Japanese (born & raised in Japan) friend living in the area. I finally tried it out last week & had to go back within a few days, I loved it so much! I'll update my review as I try more menu items. The decor is simple & attractive; I don't recall music playing, but it doesn't feel empty in its quietness. It's rather tranquil. There are a number of booths & a few tables with chairs; the bathroom was pretty barren (not fancy) but clean -- no complaints. - Soy sauce flavor ramen: Delicious! Not quite up to par with the ramen stands I frequented in Japan, but that's to be expected from a restaurant like this. The noodles are perfectly al dente, the soup has just the right flavor & consistency, & the chashu (pork) topping just melts in your mouth. & for the price ($7? 8?), unbeatable. It's a HUGE serving. - Kaki fry (fried oysters): Amaaaaazing. This is one of my favorite izakaya dishes, & they make it PERFECTLY. It's not a permanent menu item (right now). At $4.50 for 4 oysters, it's maybe a LITTLE bit on the pricy side of average, but trust me, they're well worth it. - Katsu-curry (curry with breaded fried pork cutlet): Also delicious! For $8.50 you get a large plate 2/3-filled with rice & 1/2-filled with curry sauce, half-ladled over the sliced cutlet. It's a rather thin piece of tonkatsu, but that's how it's supposed to be for katsu-curry. I can make tastier curry myself at home... but the katsu is harder (& more trouble), & for $8.50 I'm definitely content to let someone else do the cooking on this one for me, especially since they make it so well. If you've never had Japanese curry before, I HIGHLY recommend trying the katsu-curry. It's GREAT! - Vegetable tempura: My fiance had this on our 2nd trip, & I have to say I was a little bit less than impressed. It was just barely on the soggy side; not as light as good tempura is supposed to be. But I give them major points for putting daikon-oroshi (grated daikon radish) into the dipping sauce automatically; it's not tempura without daikon! & the serving size is quite respectable. However, unless tempura is a staple for you & you just can't live without it, I wouldn't order it here. Edited 11/13/08: We went again last week with the Japanese friend who recommended I Ai to us, & her fiance, & had a LOT of food. I won't update about all of it, but I will say this: - Tuna Yamakake (Tuna sashimi with grated yama-imo) is REALLY REALLY GOOD. If you're into trying new things, definitely give it a try.
(5)
Darrell D.

I heart Ai is a hidden gem in the Gold's Gym/Marshalls strip mall. I frequent Marshalls so I've often driven past I heart Ai. After also reading about it on Yelp, I decided to try it out tonight w/ my PTL. We were one of a few people dining in tonight, but I'm glad we did. We had the age dashi, salmon masubi, fried oysters, sukiyaki don buri and ramen w/ white broth. Everything was delicious especially the fried oysters. My PTL said she's had better ramen in LA, but the one at I heart Ai was really good considering we had it in TPA (not exactly known for good authentic Asian food). All that food + a soda for $30 (excl tip) left us very satisfied and full. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Nhi L.

Been coming here for years, but the sushi has become so disgusting and dirty. Had the spicy salmon roll and the Alaskan roll. Two words. Food Poisoning. I ate this right before finals too! Beware of this place and look at the kitchen, do you really want your food prepared like that? I have learned my lesson and I will never ever step back into that restaurant ever again...
(1)
Chris P.

Rachel C. says she should've steered clear of the sushi and gone with traditional Japanese food - that's what I did. I had a craving for Bulldog sauce, so I ordered the chicken katsu. The panko they use (the breading) is kind of lame, I really felt like I was eating Shake 'n Bake more than I was eating at a Japanese restaurant. Miso was good, edamame overcooked and salt-licious. The waitstaff - HELLO, ANYONE HOME? The girl we had didn't know any of the dishes when we asked her questions and furthermore, there was actually a language barrier (at least her English is better than my Spanish). Wait, Spanish? Yes. Overall average I'd say - $17 for dinner isn't too bad, but this is probably the last time I'll ever think about that meal.
(3)
Occy V.

This wasnt spectacular for me but it was decent. I ordered some of their special rolls and they had a pretty expansive menu. It isnt too much to look at or lively but the sushi is above average and tasted fresh.
(3)
Jeanie Y.

I have eaten sushi all over the place, and all sorts of ways. Other than the service, the sushi is ok. Nothing that wakes the food palete, but the good enough. I have tried many sushi places in Tampa, and the quality is good especially for the price.
(3)
Akeem W.

Since iv been going to Japan every year since I was 11 years old...This place is not good,I can make better Chicken Katsu than they can. Waitress are not prompt at all..not social either. There sushi is plain and hardly gave any ginger or wasabi
(2)
Jia Z.

The menu LOOKS authentic..(different things on the menu) ..and they're open by Japanese people.. but the food didn't taste that good. My shishamo didn't come out the way I use to have them.. the sushi my friend had was so so.. nothing special.. it's just a shame because this is actually opened by Japanese people and I was hoping for some really awesome fish. This just can't be the best Japanese place here in Tampa or else I will probably cry.
(2)
Micah M.

Nice selection. Pretty tasty sushi!
(4)
Vincent W.

The place isn't that hard to find but easy to miss if you're not actively looking for it. It's next to a Gold's Gym if that helps anyone on locating it. The place is small, only a few tables, you can see the kitchen the sushi bar seats 4 people maybe 5. I personally don't mind it being small, wish it has tables and seats lining and facing the wall then it could be like the eateries all over asia. Anyways, onto the food. I ordered the Ai Ai roll, and ramen. The roll wasn't bad, maybe a little small but it fits the price. The ramen was ok, the ramen is chewy like it should be, instead of just limp noodles that been in soup too long. It had bean sprouts, the fish cake, and 3 slices of BBQ pork. It def. looks like the stuff you can get in Japan. Overall, it's not bad at all, couple things I would like change is a little less salt in the soup and lower the price, it was $7. If you compare it to Pho you get more bang for your buck with pho. I also got to try the veggie pancake. Maybe it's just me the day I visited, but the pancake was a little salty. The service was alright, they were very attentive but one guy seems like he's attentive because he's nervous. For now, it's only 3 stars for me. I would def. come back to try their other dishes not just because I can give better rating on it but it's lot of dishes. One thing that stood out to me immediately is the place seems to be open and own by Japanese, based on what I heard them speaking and the handwritten whiteboard menu on the wall. So I'm hoping maybe I can try more authentic dishes after getting to talk to the owner(s)/cooks.
(3)
Alan N.

I Ai I Ai Sushi! OK so maybe I don't love it, but it is good and I would return. The Sushi - Maguro, Hamachi and Unagi were passable but not "the best" but my comparison is to Hawaii so you can take that into account. The portions of fish were generous but not the best quality. The other food, Age Tofu, Gyoza, Tempura, Teriyaki Steak and Sukiyaki was good and the prices were reasonable. Bottom line - surprisingly decent Japanese food at reasonable prices.
(4)
Jake C.

My new favorite Japanese restaurant. Sorry Kazu, but this place has won my heart. It looks pretty ordinary once inside, but the cooler case full of imported drinks promises good things to come. Their lunch menu is a great value, with Don and Ramen as well as some bentos. I had the pork ramen, and my girlfriend had the yakisoba. She's kind of a fussy eater sometimes, but she loved it. The ramen was by far the best I've ever had (having never had a good asian part of town, or been to Japan). They also serve a number of other things you won't find at many (if any other) Japanese restaurant in Tampa. Omusubi (Onigiri) filled with salmon or umeboshi, and Okinomiyaki are the most apparent. I dare anyone to find another restaurant in Tampa that serves these things. It is definitely worth the trip (I drove over 45 mins to get there, as I do with all Tampa restaurants.). I plan on going back ASAP.
(5)
Lyndsey D.

The review isn't for the food, which is fine. It's for the terrible way I was treated! I tried calling in a lunch order, was hung up on twice. Called back the third time and they asked me to just come in. So I went in. And was yelled at the entire time I was waiting for my food to be made, because apparently I was making the woman who was making the food's life much too complicated. This is because I placed 4 separate lunch orders (small ones! nothing crazy!) and then I wanted to pay for them separately. She told me over and over again that this was too much trouble and kept shaking her head and rolling her eyes at me. I've never been treated so miserably at a place where I was trying spend money... don't they want return customers? And then to top it off, before I walked out the door she told me that she didn't even know if she'd given me the right stuff because I had called in the order and then come in to order... hello, you told me to!!!
(1)
Katie F.

Ai Sushi is without doubt the only delicious and authentic Japanese restaurant in Tampa, FL. I have tried about 75% of the menu items, and everything has been great, so don't worry about what to order, just go with whatever sounds good to you. Today I had the tofu steak and sapporo roll. The tofu steak came with mushrooms and a mouthwatering sauce, (I wish I could cook this), the rolls were a perfect consistency and flavor. Ai sushi has a wide variety of good food, I have no idea where they get it from but it is always really fresh and tasty. If you like authentic Japanese food that is reasonably priced, Ai sushi is a must!
(5)
Matthew M.

Went for lunch today. Arrived at about 12:45 - not busy at all! Was worried because of that, but for no reason. We were promptly seated and attended to by two servers. Drinks were fetched quickly while my buddy and I decided. I knew I wanted the Soy Sauce Ramen, he settled on Beef Curry. Both were excellent - My friend, who is not typically keen on asian cuisine, even commented on how delicious the meat and spices were. The Ramen was fantastic! My first time having authentic Japanese ramen, and it did not disappoint. A huge bowl with tons of noodles and pork... what more could you want? Total bill with tax for two came to $18 and change for lunch. Aside from a mild language barrier that made ordering just a little tricky (not knowing what some of the items on the menu were, we needed some explanation), this was a wonderful lunch.
(4)
Ren J.

I ordered the teriyaki tofu and veggie dinner, which came with a bowl of miso soup (awesome because it's the only place I've been to that includes mushrooms in their miso soup) and a bowl of rice. The tofu was crispy on the outside and squishy on the inside. In other words, perfect. I'd read somewhere that they close at 10, but I was incorrect -- they close at 9, so I showed up only half an hour prior to their close. Either way, the waitress was nice and the food was amazing and very fairly priced. Definitely recommend it!
(4)
S Yeng C.

This is the only place in Tampa, that I know of, that has some real Japanese food. I love TAKOYAKI!!
(5)
Jessica C.

This place is very affordable and the wait staff is so nice. The rolls are always delicious!! I have never been disappointed.
(4)
Priscilla S.

I went to I Ai Sushi with my friends because she had heard they served authentic Japanese food. When we walked in, I thought it was a cute and quaint place. They even had tacky decor and heart pillows on their back booths that match the name. Their menu has so many different foods to choose from, but it's better to just choose what sounds good. I was skeptical and unsure about the food so I ordered sushi instead. I had the Tuna with some gooey white daikon radish and some seaweed flakes ($6). It was recommended by a friend, but I didn't enjoy it that much. The white gooey daikon radish was flavorless and didn't give the tuna sashimi any extra punch of flavor. I also tried their Spicy Tuna roll ($5) which was a bit of a disappointment. There wasn't enough tuna and too much rice, plus it wasn't that spicy, and I've had better. But as a consolation, I got to try everyone's dishes which were fairly good. I tried the Soy Sauce Ramen, Tonkatsu, Katsu Curry with rice, and Pot Stickers. I recommend the authentic Japanese dishes, but not the sushi. After such a hardy meal, we still had room for a light dessert. There was so much to choose from, but we were craving mochi. They had one flavor which was green tea ice cream mochi ($1.50) that was very satisfying. It was like a palate cleanser and was a great way to end a big meal. Overall, I liked the place, and would return to try their other dishes because there are so many. But I would rather go if I am around the area. It's a fun hang out place, but not sure if they accept large groups since it's kind of small. They also have a nice fish tank filled with exotic fish.
(3)
Danielle R.

We love I Ai Sushi! It's our favorite sushi place in the area. In fact, it's my favorite sushi I've had. I'm not a sushi pro and typically order the specialty rolls but their Tampa and Mexican rolls are delicious! The Bento Boxes are great too!
(5)
Travis K.

My favorite sushi place in Tampa. Sushi is always fresh and tasty. Aside from sushi, tonkatsu and ramen are great.
(5)
Christine H.

Great sushi! We tried 6 different rolls and everything was super fresh and tasted great. The spicy salmon and spider roll were all some of the best rolls I've ever had. It's a nice homey place - no frills with honest food.
(4)
Robert H.

Excellent sushi! Try the soup sushi if you want to try something different. Casual atmosphere. Drove 40 miles to eat here, will not hesitate to go back.
(5)
Mesha L.

We visited for the first time. It was quite busy so it took a while to get our drinks or even take our orders but we weren't in a rush. I we ordered, ramen, udon, sushi, dumpling and croquet. The food was hot and fresh. And everything was pretty good but not super great. Drinks come in cans so no refills. The tables really need to be refinished or replaced as they have a lot of ware. The waitress was very nice and it has a nice mom and pop feel to it. I I'll return in the future :)
(4)
Loreal D.

I ai Sushi is a small, but quality Japanese restaurant with many good and not so good qualities. It's located in a shopping plaza, so if you are not looking for it you may miss it from the road. I come here often to fill my ramen and katsu cravings. Though here are some of the key things to note about this place: 1. The food is really good, with a fairly decent price point. ($5-15) I haven't found a place in the Tampa area that can compare to the quality. They make everything fresh and leave you wanting more. 2. A very diverse menu, but if you are unfamiliar with traditional Japanese cuisine you may struggle with the options. The place is pretty much mom and pop establishment. Every time I come in they are fairly understaffed, and don't have much time to explain the menu (or really want to). So if you got a friend who knows what's what about Japanese food I would recommend bringing them the first time you come. 3. Understaffed= slower service. Though, this is all dependent upon the amount of people eating and what people order. I've come here during lunch rush, and been out in about an hour. 4. Very traditional decorations, but the signage can be off putting and busy in my opinion. They have a bunch of signs highlighting different foods or some of their business rules. Bottomline: Really good Japanese restaurant with a fairly good price, possible slow service, and if you're unfamiliar with traditional Japanese cuisine; bring a friend that knows.
(4)
Cindy L.

I Ai Sushi, at the corner of Dale Mabry and Waters Blvd. is our go to place for a quick sushi meal. It is not one of those see and be seen at sushi joints. Nor is it an Americanized version of a sushi restaurant. It is authentic Japanese. As you enter, you might be a bit put off by all the little notes on the booths and posted around the walls. But, it is kinda funny. 'No cell phone use', 'Ramen has pork', and so on. I really don't care about all the notes; kinda adds to the restaurants character. The menus are a bit confusing, too. But, if you are just there for sushi, then you should have no problem at all. The sushi is fresh and delicious. We usually order the crispy tuna roll, eel and a regular tuna roll. On a whim, I ordered the cold sesame noodles, too. I had never ordered anything but sushi here before, so I wasn't too sure what to expect. The noodles came out garnished with pork, carrots, cucumber and a few other items. Not what I was expecting, but was pretty tasty! Definitely will go back when in the mood for a quick sushi bite!!
(4)
Uyen L.

I love this place because the price is reasonable and for the portions that they give you. I got the seafood champon and it was amazing!
(5)
Jenny C.

It has been several years since I last went to this restaurant and I was craving Japanese food so I decided to have dinner here solo last night. I looked at their menu ahead of time and already knew what I wanted to order: tonkatsu ramen, spam musubi, and okonomikyaki. I gave this place 3 stars because everything was just okay. The first dish that came out was the spam musubi ($2.50). This one was a little different than what I am used to. It was a a slice of spam, slightly pan fried with a little teriyaki sauce, set on top of a rectangular block of rice, wrapped with a seaweed strip. While spam and rice period is a good combo, I felt like the execution was lacking. The rice was still warm/hot and did not hold together. It started falling apart once I picked it up and took a bite. I'm not sure, but the rice tasted like regular rice instead of sushi rice. I was hoping that it would be like a rice ball with the spam inside a giant ball of rice. I guess this was just a different style. Either way, it was not held together well so I just ate it like spam and rice with chopsticks. The tonkatsu ramen came next. The bowl was big but it was only half-full (still a good portion though for $9). There were a couple slices of pork (chashu), a fish cake slice (cute pink/white kind), pickled ginger, scallions, and corn. The broth and the noodles overall were not bad. I honestly think that I'm just not a huge fan of Japanese ramen. I've had ramen in NYC and had the same reaction ~ it's just okay. Nothing spectacular and a little too bland for me. I actually sprinkled in some Japanese red pepper spice into my broth for more flavor. I was hungry so I finished the whole bowl but I would probably not get ramen again. The okonomyaki came out last and it was quite large and filling and served on a hot platter. It is a savory pancake with pork and cabbage, topped with okonomiyaki sauce (tastes like Worcestershire sauce but thicker and sweeter), kewpie mayo, seaweed flakes, and bonito flakes. Now the first time I ever had okonomiyaki was when a friend from Japan actually made it for us at home. I've actually made this at home also. The last time I've had okonomiyaki was in St. Marks Place in NYC. Now in comparison- this version was larger but flatter. The pork (belly I'm assuming) was very thin and on the bottom instead of on top of the batter so most of the time it ended up just falling off. The toppings were fine but you can't really mess that up. Overall, I wished that there was more cabbage in the batter which would have made the pancake thicker. If I have a craving for okonomiyaki, I would probably order this again since this is the only place in Tampa I've found it. Overall, I liked the food but wasn't overly thrilled about anything. The service was fine and the atmosphere is homey. But even though I will filled, I still felt hungry afterwards, like there was a taste I was looking for that wasn't fulfilled. I do plan on coming back again and trying other dishes like the katsu curry rice! I've had the age tofu before a long time ago and remember it being delicious also.
(3)
Matt L.

Not very good ramen. Noodles were too big I felt like to eat even them being an udon noodle. Not my favorite bowl of ramen but I will give them points for the gyoza. It was pretty good along with the super Mexican roll. Couldn't finish the bowl of ramen though so I left kinda bummed after paying a 40 dollar meal for 2.
(2)
Larry C.

If having Famous Japanese Baseball players pictured eating in your restaurant doesn't get your attention, then you truly need to come experience I Ai Sushi for yourself. As a big time Yankee Fan, I was couldnt believe it when i saw the pictures of Hideki Matsui, Hiroki Kuroda & Kei Igawa side by side with the owner at the front of the store. Yes the interior is not much to look at but then again neither were the good restaurants i've frequented in NYC that usually served up better food than those modern looking and trendy overpriced Japanese eateries. They also had a few odd signs up such as "no cell phone service" & "you must have all your party in attendance in order to get seated" & "$10 min order" ... but if you have good food i guess i can overlook this grade school like feeling I was thrilled when i found out that they had my favorite Japanese street snack, Okonomiyaki (Fried Octopus Balls) which did not disappoint at all. The flavor of the octopus was fresh and the shavings & garnishments did well to complement this little wonderful dish! We also had the Ikamaru (grilled whole squid) that was phenomenal with the sesame like sauce dipping it came with. A little strange looking if your not used to eating squid that doesn't come breaded and deep fried, but this is def a must try! I'm a big time Ramen snob and have been searching for a good ramen spot in Tampa ever since ive moved here and have been met with much disappointment. As ive come to compare Tampa ramen to the the best of NYC Ramen shops like Momofuku, Ippudo, & my Ramen lunches around the 47th street Japanese midtown area ... i'm happy to say that their Ramen was on point! For Tampa ramen spots this place was pretty good as the broth had a lot of flavor and the ramen had a great taste to it. I ordered the tonkatsu Ramen and was happy to get tender pieces of pork in my bowl. I think i've found my new Ramen spot ! As somewhat of a little hole in the wall type of Japanese restaurant, sometimes those are the true hidden GEMs to find.
(5)
Andrea R.

I was recently introduced to I Ai Sushi by a friend and fellow Yelper who'd been here previously for a UYE a while back. I was promised that even though the place is small, kinda cluttered and heavily laden with random signs everywhere that I'd fall madly in lust with the food. No joke. I ordered the Gyu Don bowl which is thinly sliced onions and beef that's been marinated/cooked in some addictive broth over a mound of white steamed rice. Topped with paper thin strips of pickled ginger that when mixed into the beef and rice provides the most amazing flavor combo. I live 30/45 min away and crave this warm bowl of tastiness once a week. Alas the distance prohibits my regular consumption of this dish but it doesn't hinder my ability to dream and salivate anyway. Overlook the decor/location and strange sign laden surfaces. Go for the authentic food, it's worth it.
(4)
Sarah B.

This place is delicious! The sushi is fresh and the ramen is yummy. There are some very interesting signs about how to order, when to order and what you can and can't do. The staff are not super friendly and there are rules! But that is part of the experience and the food is so good I don't mind.
(4)
Helen L.

One of my friends from Tampa took me here a year ago to eat. Since then I'll make the 1 hour drive just to eat here. This is the only place I've found that has takoyaki. The chicken balls are tasty too. The ramen is on the saltier side for me though. Prices are reasonable for the portion sizes.
(5)
Nam K.

This is one of the most interesting places I have ever been to. If the service was better, i'd give them 5 stars Service: We were told by the hostess/waitress/busgirl that we would have to wait for 45 minutes before we could get and a table and order. What? Are u kidding me? There were 3 tables, and one was almost done eating. And you had no carry out orders. We finally got a table, and the waiting began. We looked her, She looked at us, and nothing happened. I tried to get drink orders, but she told us we had to wait for 30 mins. Water anyone? please? NOPE. After a very long wait, one of the cooks came out to take our order. She was surprised that the hostess didn't even take our drink orders. Food: It was very good. The soup was tasty. The squid balls were delish. Advice: Check your bills. She added a beer to our check, and we didn't even order it. Next time you're in the area, stop by. Try this place. It is quite an experience.
(4)
michelle l.

The decor is shabby, and the staff is surly, but the ramen is great. The noodles are chewy, the soy broth salty but light. It came with three slices of delicately fatty pork and a tiny artificial crab slice. Wonderful comfort food.
(4)
Christina M.

BEST RAMEN AROUND! Their sushi is good but their ramen is amazing. They offer different flavors but I normally go with beef or pork. It's always hot, delicious and filling. They cook the noodles to the perfect texture and the savory pieces of meat are delicious. The broth is superb and I always drink it to the very last drop.
(4)
Nat W.

I have tried I Ai a couple times before. I think it is great to have a Japanese restaurant with such extensive menu in Tampa. The menu consists of authentic Japanaese bar menu (Izakaya). I have had their tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet), fried rice, and sushi. Everything was meh....I grew up in Japan and know what authentic Japanese foods taste like. Trust me this place is not up to par. But again, there are only few Japanese restaurants in the area, and I guess I Ai is good enough in Tampa.
(3)
Dena P.

After hearing and seeing so many photos I thought I would love this place. I'm so so. The food is actually pretty darn good and authentic. I love that they have items from takoyaki and natto which is pretty close to japanese snacking in Japan. There's also curry that's the real deal and Ramen. I also really enjoyed the sashimi, they are really nice cuts of fish. The only thing I wasn't crazy about is the restaurant itself. It is very old fashion and is more of a "shack" than a restaurant itself. It's really tiny and has maybe 8 or so tables at most. Everything about the restaurant interior and service isn't .... very profesional. Other than that I would come back if I was in the area. The food I had was pretty decent. The curry hit the spot for my boyfriend and the sashimi was nice cuts and fresh. It is a bit tacky but if you're up to hit a little shack with an extensive menu of authentic japanese food. Do it!
(3)
Quan D.

Quick Summary: The food here is yummy and the menu is pretty extensive, giving you a good tour of Japanese cuisine. The sushi was pretty good as well. It's nice to find a place with a variety of ramen flavors in the local area. Tampa is seriously lacking in ramen joints... but it was nice to see that they had several varieties here from soy, miso, curry, and my personal favorite tonkatsu (a milky broth). I got a bowl of that and since they are a sushi restaurant after all I got some scallops and yellow tail in addition. The ramen was pretty good, nice broth and the noodles were a nice chewy consistency. I liked the amount of corn they gave, and also a good amount of pork with it, (very nicely cooked as well). One thing I should have asked for was some fresh crushed garlic... really helps to bring out the flavor. I did note that the bowl of ramen was quite huge, but it was only filled up halfway... it's nice so you don't spill everywhere, but for $9 bowl it was a surprising that I was still hungry. I'm used to going to a ramen place and leaving stuffed... The sushi was pretty good, the portions were pretty generous. The wasabi is a little lighter in strength and flavor I noted, and a more whipped consistency than paste. I was thrown for a loop by the number of paper signs (printouts) saying things like $10 dine in minimum, no split checks, if you're still waiting for your party please wait outside. I totally understand that these are important things for a small business, but the way they're posted in every booth, it just comes off tacky, distracting from the ambiance, and plain uninviting. I would recommend for the minimum and party notice to be up front, and then the comment about split checks should just be handled by the wait staff when they go to take the order. It seems that would be more tactful... Also, the menu is a bit confusing. It seems they're trying to put a lot of info into a small space. I'm very familiar with japanese cuisine and was able to navigate ok, but still had trouble figuring out what was offered. For someone that isn't familiar with the cuisine, I would imagine it daunting. I would recommend a more organized set up, and for the rolls especially pictures cause those are different everywhere. These things aside, if it were based on food alone I would have gone with a 3.5-4. It was tasty and I will be back to try some of their other dishes.. very curious about the curry ramen! :)
(3)
Sera D.

The service could be better but for the price and the quality I love coming here awesome ramen and their grilled squid is amazing
(4)
Rich F.

Looking for some ramen and have finally found it. Awesome food & service. Waitress was quick to take our orders and the food came out promptly. Atmosphere I felt was awesome, walked in and you can tell this place was authentic and had that warm homely feel. I ordered the tonkatsu miso ramen, pan fried gyoza, hawaiian rice ball, and the salmon rice ball. Broth was tasty, ramen was the right texture, and the sliced pork was excellent. Everything else ordered was also good.
(5)
Josiah G.

This was a really interesting lunch and I'll have to come back to try more things because although the food was very good, the atmosphere was very weird. I almost felt like I was in boot camp again with all the rules plastered on every square inch. Some of the ones that stood out were "Turn off cell phone, or no service" and "Wait outside if you're waiting on someone else" and also "$10 minimum order." These are literally everywhere. There are signs proclaiming the ramen has pork in it. This one could be avoidable too if the menu was more descriptive. And regarding the menu(s), I was handed two menus. A one page menu and then a full menu with a lunch section. Between that and the menu on the wall, I had three places to look through. The problem is that all the menus are very congested and offer little, to no, explanation of the food or ingredients. Also, the prices were different for some of the same items on the different menus. The space itself was also congested and felt a little cramped. It also looked like it could use a cleaning in certain places. After essentially guessing a ramen bowl on the title alone, since there is no description, I was very pleased with what I received. I'm not a sushi eater, but I love ramen and this curry ramen I ordered was delicious. I've never really had a ramen quite like it, but it was a big serving, which is should be for $12, and it had beef, pork, carrots, cabbage and corn in it. It could have used some more meat, but I was comfortably full when I was finished. Like I mentioned above, I'll have to come back for more items because apparently there is a lot of stuff on the menu and the food I had was good, I'll just need the Rosetta Stone to piece together what I'm going to try next.
(3)
Hime U.

Well, I will recommend this Ramen because it is good, but the REALLY POOR SERVICE? Did not welcome a customer with a smile. and the attitude in our dinner time is really bad, just like you owe the waitress 1 million dollar!! She shows no patience to customers when they are ordering and I think the other service(explain the menu, or bring our plate...) does not worth a tip!!!!! People come here should aware of these kind of bad experience, it may happens, and I will not eat here again.
(2)
Kerry J.

My immediate impression when walking inside: one part Japanese video game, one part Hoarders episode, one part passive aggressive notes a coworker leaves on the office fridge. They really like to decorate with little notes telling you not to do things (no dining in for under $10, no waiting on a large group at a table when everyone isn't there yet, no breathing -- OK, I made that one up). The same notes are posted in 3 places in every single booth. I was kind of scared I'd accidentally do something to anger whoever wrote these notes, but I was able to eat here without incident. Also, there is pork in the ramen. They make this abundantly clear in the 50 notes posted around the restaurant saying this. Maybe just put that on the menu? Honestly, the crazy notes kind of make this place charming. I can't help but make a little fun of it though. :) The sushi is pretty good. And quite cheap. No rolls were over $10. It's a decent place to grab sushi if atmosphere doesn't matter much or if, like me, you feel like skipping out on the gym and eating sushi instead (it's located next to Gold's).
(3)
Karen F.

I have eaten different bento boxes for lunch here multiple times over the past 5 years, but this is still a tough place for me to review. On the one hand, the sushi is almost always good - and my most recent lunch the sashimi portions were huge and fresh and flavorful. The tempura vegetables this last visit were also delicious, perfectly cooked, and I love their dipping sauce. So the food - 4 stars! Yea! However - the atmosphere is a big deterrent from me giving it an overall rating of 4 or more stars. Very cramped, dark, little place. Like a dive - but that's not really what you want a sushi restaurant to be. The booths have ripped seats that are not lined up correctly with the tables. The tables are warped and cracked and have seen better days. There are small hand written signs posted all around, which only seem to add to the cluttered feel. I definitely don't want to peer into the kitchen, working off a "don't see it, can't hurt me" kind of mentality. Service is very hit or miss = some days on the ball, some visits barely there. Summary: Roll the dice and take your chances. (Quick - name that movie!)
(3)
Thuyan N.

The food is great but..I've never had service so horrible in my life. I'm a server myself so I understand the concept of customer and waitress etiquette. I'm a very easy person to deal with, if you don't give me a warm welcome I understabd, not everyone can have a positive attitude at work. But, this is different. An Asian lady came and took my order, I knew what I wanted so I told her without hesitation. I realized I forgot something so I asked "excuse me, Im sorry I forgot one item" she looked at me and threw a fit and sighed then rolled her eyes. My friend was furious, but I continued to be polite with her and said thankyou. I went to get my check while my friend was grabbing my card real quick from outside. The Asian lady then pointed at the check and shrugged and rudely asked "what?". I said "I'm sorry, my friend is grabbing my card please give me a second" she then walked away. I'm a 20% tipper for the servers who deserve it because I understand that most money you earn is from tips. I left them $1 because of the horrible customer service. The food is amazing! I love it there, I've been there a couple times, they're service was ok.. Kinda quiet but they're ok. But this time they passed the line. I would reccomend you to only do takeouts at this place.
(1)
Kristal C.

I Ai Sushi.... I don`t know where to start, there is just so many words to describe this place honestly. I met up with my friend to have lunch. Okay so I must admit I was kind of skeptical about this place, its in a run down shopping strip and not enough traffic flowing through but boy was I surprised by the food. Amazing!! The sashimi tasted fresh which is important and my bento box was huge. The server was this sweet girl, like she was truly a gem. I have never been to a place where they give you eel sauce and spicy mayo I was like whoa what I always have to have for extra. Okay so this is not your typical traditional sushi Japanese eating place, there`s a twist to the food and it brings traditional Japanese food to a twist. The place itself is very small and a tad over crowded with stuff but the food and service was excellent so you kind of look past stuff like that. I haven`t been for supper but I will definitely go back for lunch.
(4)
Sig A.

I only went to this place mostly just to get my ramen fix every week. This place gave me a good impression at first just because it has a unique ambiance. They have decorations like the Hatsune Miku poster and Doraemon stuff dolls, and I am fond of those things. However, I decided not to come back to this place ever again mainly because of their horrible service. Before I start ranting and raving on the poor quality of their service, I just want to mention what I think of their food. Their menu have a wide variety of Japanese food, but I think they are all overpriced. Probably I just have a high standard because I grew up in San Francisco Bay Area where I tried tons of Japanese restaurants. But during my 1 year here in Florida, I've learned to lower my expectations since there are not that many Asians here. Their ramen broth is good, I can't deny that. But it feels like it's missing a lot of ingredients. It is very basic; it has the noodles, a few slices of chashu, and a piece of Naruto kamaboko. I always have to request extra meat. I even thought of bringing my own boiled eggs and some kikurage to complete the ramen. Their okonomiyaki is so thin. It barely has any meat inside, it doesn't even contain cabbage, and the okonomi sauce you can buy from Japanese supermarkets taste better than the one they use. They use actual octopus in their takoyaki, but the dice of octopus tentacle they put in the takoyaki is so small, I rather have them put calamari in it. It is not cooked really well neither; it was still somewhat liquidy inside when I ate one. Their ikamaru is good; I actually have no complaints on this food item other than the price. They have other typical Japanese food in the menu like oyakodon and katsu curry, but I don't like how I have to pay about 9-10 bucks for food that I used to pay 5-6 dollars for when I was in California. I've visited this place more than 5 times and I haven't tried any of their rolls despite of the name of the store, but I heard from other people that the fish they use doesn't smell fresh. Well, that's all I can say about their food. Now off to talk about the service I've received. Of all the times I visited this place, I have never seen any of the staff smile. I give them the standard 15% tip anyway on my first visit thinking maybe it's just one of those days. On my subsequent visits, the staff still have the same uninviting attitudes. So I decide to only give 10% tip the next few times. The Hispanic waitresses barely have any knowledge about the items on the menu. Each time you ask a question about an item, they have to bring an angry Asian lady to take our order. This Asian lady always have a facial expression that says, "What the @#$% do you want?!" If you tell her that you and your friends will be paying separate checks, she will always let out a frustrated sigh and rolls her eyes as she walks away from your table. After you get your food, the Hispanic waitresses never come to check on you again even though there is only one other party of customers at the time. The waitresses always do something rude while I am eating and it is really unappetizing. They take away your food before you even finish it without even asking. Slamming the sake bottle on our table spilling at least half a shot of sake on the table and never bothered wiping or apologizing. They start vacuuming the carpet under your table while you're eating. This list goes on. One time I called the store 1 hour ahead before closing (9pm) to ask if my friend and I will still be able to order even though we're going to arrive there close to 9pm and we were told that it's okay. We arrived there with 15 minutes to spare but we saw them with the chairs already up and the Hispanic waitresses vacuuming the floor already, telling us they're closed. We drove all the way there from Brandon (about 35 minutes away without traffic) for nothing. Hence on my last visit, I decided not to give them any more than 5% tip because I think that reflects the quality of service they've given me. The last time I went there frustrated me the most. The Asian lady with the "What the @#$% do you want?!" face came chasing us down in the parking lot with my check pointing out that I only put down 74 cents as a tip. She was fussing and saying, "What am I gonna do with your 74 cents?! I don't need your 74 cents!" She left one of her servers to wait for me to change the tip. Since she said that doesn't need my 74 cents, I crossed out the tip, write down just the original price of the food I paid for as total, and have the server send the check back. The angry Asian lady came back the second time asking, "Are you saying you don't like our food? This is an insult." I never said I hated the food; I just don't like the service. This is why I'll never visit this store ever again. I rather drive more than an hour and a half and eat at Sapporo Ramen in Orlando (which has a much better ramen anyway).
(1)
Chad L.

Decent sushi restaurant for being down the street. Ordered Mexican roll which was amazing. Steak with onions over shrimp sushi. Ordered spicy salmon roll that was not spicy. Will try again. Probably just take out. Restaurant inside does not look appealing.
(4)
Gerri G.

I have to edit my review, as they aren't as good as they used to be. We ordered the Sashimi Nami and they didn't give as much fish as before. (there were only 2 pieces of Salmon, for example. Also, they took out the octopus and replaced it with conch. Also, the pieces were smaller). Before, they would give you three pieces of fish each, sometimes more! (and good-sized pieces). Now, the last two times we ordered, I don't know, they seem to be getting pretty chinsy. I think next time I'll check out Kaisen Sushi's take out (dining in is fabulous!). It's a shame, they used to be really good. I always overlooked the standoff-ish attitude of the hostess because the food was so good (we mainly do take -out here). It was nice to have a convenient location for sushi. Oh well, looks like I'll drive farther north to Kaisen...
(3)
Steve E.

My friend Coty S. hosted a fabulous Unofficial Yelp Event this afternoon at I Ai Sushi and offered up her knowledge to those of us who wanted to sample Izakaya, or Asian small plates of incredible yummines but had no clue what to order. I'm a huge fan of sushi of all varities, and various types of Asian soups and noodle bowls, but I was seriously lacking in my knowledge of what to order when faced with a menu of things that I had never heard of before, and had no idea how to pronounce. That's where Coty and her husband came to rescue. They drove up from Sarasota and hosted our little luncheon gathering at I Ai Sushi which is located in the old Albertsons shopping center just north of Waters Avenue on Dale Mabry Blvd. Coty ordered about a dozen small plates of food (and bowls of soup) which were passed around the table for everyone to sample. She knew of several things which were off-menu specials, and so we really felt very pampered by having our own culinary expert to handle the ordering. Here's my best attempt to describe the various small plates: * Small fried rice balls called Takoyaki with the house mayo for dipping * Flattened pancakes filled with cabbage & pork called Okonomi Yaki * Delicious raman noodle bowl called Tonkotsu with BBQ pork * Udon soup with Soba noodles and fried shrimp * Fried balls of chicken called Tsukunet * Grilled and sliced whole squid with a fabuolus dipping sauce called Ikamaru * A plate of three fried rice balls (one had dried fish flakes, one was filled with salmon, and the third was filled with plum). The rice balls were called Omusubi, and the fillings were called Okaka, Syake, and Ume (respectively). * Potato croquettes with chicken, onion and egg served with Bulldog sauce called Oyako Don * an incredible collection of pickled vegetables known as Oshinkyo This amazing amount of food, which easily fed seven people, was just over $100 including drinks, tax and tip. Now that I have a better appreciation for the menu, I will happily return and try some additional dishes. Thank you Coty!!!
(5)
Cecilia A.

This place sucks. I ordered the tuna tekka (the tuna did not taste fresh), salmon roe sushi (was good) and the champon ramen (which I've had several times in California at several different restaurants) the champon was the worst. It was almost flavorless aside from the taste of canned corn and bacon. The noodles were gummy and there was hardly any broth in the bowl. Very disappointing considering I drove a half hour and took a toll road to get here. The owner is incredibly unfriendly and unwelcoming. Belittles her employees, doesn't even allow them to take orders, they only seat you and run your food. Growing up in souther California I've been quite accustomed to eating all types of Asian cuisine and this id have to say has been the worst Japanese food I've had in a very long time. Thoroughly disappointed.
(1)
Brett N.

Why 4 stars? Because I knew coming with an expert would improve my experience. --- --- --- I'm going to be really lazy, as I have in the past with this kind of thing... and write a total cop-out review. I'm going to set a really bad example of being a good Yelper here... as I did when I showed up 15 minutes late with not enough cash to this UYE. I do not have a clue what I ate today. Everything was very good. Read Coty's review to learn everything you need to know: yelp.com/biz/i-ai-sushi-â€¦ There's nothing left to say here.
(4)
Daniel Q.

I'm a regular here. I consider this be a place I really try to visit a couple of times a month. I would love to give this place the 5 star, but at the moment the service can be a little iffy. I've taken people here and the opinions are somewhat discordant. The food is good, that part is not usually ever disputed by anyone I've seen or with whom I've spoken. They do a collection of sushi, and what I really like the homestyle dishes that they serve. I don't know a place in Tampa with the same selection of Japanese foods. Takoyaki - tried little batter balls filled with octopus and served with a tangy sauce, Sukiyaki - thin sliced beef and vegetables served in a soy mirran sauce in this iron bowl so that the beef is cooking when it gets to you, Katsu Curry - japanese curry and pork chops served with rice, genuine Ramen, and so many other dishes that are classic Japanese but hard to find here. The food would be great by my standards just by being the sole source, but truthfully they are really prepared well and delicious by most any standards. The thing keeping that final star is the service. It seems they can't keep the same wait staff for any decent length of time. The owner takes orders, but is usually far to busy, and often comes off as brusk (and that's coming from a regular who's she's seen for years). I would most definitely recommend this place. My advice would be to treat this like a place at capacity. Decide quickly, make your order very clear, and be patient. If they seem like they might have forgotten something, politely remind them when they get to table. It'll be worth it.
(4)
Kathy C.

We tried I Ai Sushi during our recent Tampa weekend trip based on the Yelp reviews. We were excited to try various small plates because we sorely miss izakaya joints that are just not available where we live. Upon entering I Ai Sushi, we were greeted by a nice lady who took us to our table. The place is what I expect of a mom & pop shop type restaurant with many signs indicating specials. We ordered a few items off the menu and few from the signs posted on the wall. We tried their whole grilled squid, beef tongue, octopus balls, a bowl of ramen, cold tofu, and probably some other dishes I forgot. Although nothing really wow'd us, we were so very happy to have a place to even get these dishes. This is a must visit for me when I am in Tampa.
(4)
Zach H.

I've heard a lot of great things about this place so I decided to check it out with a couple friends. First off, the service was terrible. We waited around 15 min until our order was taken. In the time leading up, not a single server was around. We decided to get several things to share, so here we go... -Shrimp Tempura: Crispy and seasoned nicely. It was good, not great. -Squid Tempura: Unpleasantly chewy. Won't be getting that again. Sweet Winter Roll: nice balance of flavors and textures between the shrimp, "crunchies", and the sauce. Was nice, but nothing special. -Florida Roll: Blue crab, avocado, and cucumber. The cucumber balanced out the heaviness of the crab and avocado. It was good, but also nothing special. -Okonomiyaki (Japanese Style Pancake): In keeping with the theme of the meal... it was quite average. They were airy with pretty good flavor, but the pork was barely noticeable. There was also too much of the sweet brown sauce and overwhelmed everything. Overall, it was okay. Not bad, not great... but right in the middle. Sadly, nothing impressed me during my first visit. The service could have affected my perception of the food, so if it was unusually poor service then I probably have to come back. If I do return, I'll have to try one of the Ramen bowls that I hear so much about.
(3)
Hoda B.

I came for the sushi, I end up ordering their lunch special, Teriyaki chicken with salad. Bad idea, I would say the teriyaki chicken in the mall food court is wayyyyy better than this one, do I need to say more? Yeah one other thing, I am not going back.
(2)
Teri W.

The Champon Ramen is something you crave days later. The food is consistently delicious - try the whole squid appetizer. Portions are generous. The only disappointment is the hit - or - miss service. The owner woman is generally nice, unless she's overwhelmed: which could be often since they are understaffed. If you aren't in a rush & willing to tolerate the service, give this gem a try.
(4)
Francesca L.

I LOVE sushi-I could eat it for every meal every day. This was the worst sushi I have ever tasted. Worse than Publix even. I am sorry I don't get it why this place has great reviews. I just moved right down the road from Naples and was SO excited to try this place because of it's high yelp rating. I ordered 4 rolls plus wontons and edamame, and EVERYTHING tasted like old fish. I mean that in the worst possible way...it tasted like rotten fish smells. EW EW EW! Between the dirty restaurant, the creepy customers (lonely truck drivers sitting alone eating sushi with a fork), and the fish taste that will haunt me forever, I am steering clear of this entire plaza! Sushi lovers be warned...far better places in the area!
(1)
Bridget M.

Ramen was very bland. Sushi was pretty good. Service was fast. Horrible ghetto atmosphere. Seemed unsanitary. Won't be returning.
(2)
Derek H.

I recently came back from a trip from Japan and was looking for some authentic Japanese food in the area. Unlike some other establishments, this place is exactly what I remember eating on my 3 week stay. Granted its a bit more expensive here, but that's to be expected. All in all it's good value for the money. As far as atmosphere goes, this place reminds me of some of the smaller shops I are in in Kyoto so I found it to be quaint, but I can understand why to others it might be a bit homely. The service is also nothing spectacular, but to be honest I don't care because I enjoy the the food. I don't require stellar service to have a great dinner.
(5)
David H.

Came here for lunch based on reviews and word that they have authentic dishes here. I ordered a sashimi dinner meal and my gf got the Tonkatsu Ramen. I should have tried one of their authentic dishes like curry katsu or something. I did not really enjoy the sashimi. The sashimi was sliced weird, each piece was huge and awkward to eat and was not as fresh as I'd like. I had a taste of the ramen and it was pretty good. My gf had most of it and she enjoyed the soy-miso broth, which was accompanied by pork belly and noodles. The noodles were not too soft and had a good amount of bite to it, al dente if you will. I think I would give it another try... next time I will just go for a hot dish.
(3)
Stephenie P.

My boyfriend and I went here after moving in nearby, it had the potential to be our neighborhood sushi restaurant. Unfortunately, they were very busy and only had one server. We had a long wait to order. When we did order we mentioned that I have a shellfish allergy, which is never a problem at other sushi restaurants When we finally got our sushi, it was full of shrimp and crab. When we finally were able to flag down the waitress we were given attitude and told to just pick it out. Considering we requested they use a clean knife to make my sushi, we didn't trust the rest of it. She took the sushi away and did not offer to fix it, or bring something else. When she brought the check, the sushi she took away was still on there. When we asked to remove it, she said no, that they had made it already. We insisted and they finally agreed. She had to go in the back to talk to the manager and we watched the manager berate her for her errors in front of the whole restaurant. We will never return. When someone has an allergy you take that seriously, and don't make the customer pay for your mistake.
(1)
David C.

I was in Tampa on business and found this spot on Chowhound. This sushi spot is very good! Its not fancy, but the sushi is fresh, tasty, and affordable. It looks like a husband and wife team owns the business. He cuts the sushi and she is the wait staff. I was in town for 7 nights and I ate at this spot three of those nights. The service is friendly and food is delivered to you in a timely fashion. The Japanese food is also good as one night I had the udon noodle soup and found it to be very good. I AI Sushi serves escolar... I love when a sushi bar carries this fish... yum! I loved this spot and I hope you will too. Enjoy!
(5)
Danny O.

Whenever I'm in Tampa, I try to make a trip out here. The sushi has always been good. However, I love their cooked Japanese food. Lot of items that you don't find at average Japanese restaurants (ie Izakaya dishes, Okonomiyaki, and great ramen)
(5)
J V.

one yahoo review said they had shabu shabu.. so.. i came.. i saw.. i ordered..and i ate.. bottom line: sauces with the shabu shabu.. not the best i've tried..but still okay ..and.... "i'm just so damn glad i found a japanese place that had other food besides just teriyaki and sushi". so i'm planning to come back and try all the other non-sushi items.. like all the ramen, udons, hot & cold noodle soups, ..and i think i saw sukiyaki too.. i was hoping for japanese bbq too..but it wasn't listed..i don't think.... (i've had my fair share of sushi..so i'm going for all the other non-sushi items now.. ) .. we didn't order any specialty sushi rolls.. so i can't comment on that.. but the soup & salad with the meals were both good.. the lunch special is pretty good.. u get a little bit of everything ..fried rice, main dish, appetizer, salad/soup.. all for $7.50 if u really wanna enjoy your food and dining experience.. don't come during peak hours.. like during lunch.. service is gonna go down.. they will forget your to go order.. and you'll have to flag them down or walk up to them to get something.. but it was understandable .. at least for me.. i was a waitress before.. i'm prone to being understandable in these conditions.. and I wasn't in any rush..but my lunch mate was.. so i had to come back for the to go order she forgot to put in.. it was okay though.. to balance it out.. i took a lot of tootsie rolls and mints from the counter.. =) .. couldn't help it.. i love tootsie rolls and those dinner mints.. and if u must go during lunch hours.. you better go early and save yourself a table... it looks big from the outside..but it's actually really small inside.. 10 tables max. i'm thinking?.. one main chief, one main waitress, and a helper..
(4)
Coty S.

Do you know what Izakaya is? Some people call it the Japanese equivalent of dim sum, I call it small plates of bar food. At I Ai, it is more of a family atmosphere than a bar atmosphere, but the small plates are where its at. Not as good a those yakatori houses at St. Marks (NYC), but it cures the cravings. It was a little difficult to find, located in an office complex called Fountain Oaks off of Waters Ave. near the intersection of Dale Mabry, next to an Albertsons. We arrived here as soon as they opened, and the was only one other table there, so we were able to get fast service. The entire dining area could hold probably 40-50 people if maxed out. Decorations are quaint and the atmosphere is quite comfortable and family oriented. The menu posted here on Yelp is just their to-go menu, their dine-in menu is way more extensive. Also, make sure to check the overhead dry-erase boards when you enter for Chef recommendations, specials, and in stock-items that may not be on the menu as well. We were not charged for free refills on pots of delicious hot green tea. Their sushi is decent and to the point. So don't come here expecting anything creative or inexpensive because it is exactly the opposite at I Ai in the case of sushi only. The said that their most popular roll is the Special Mexican Roll ($9.00), so I gave it a try. It was very solid, with the perfect rice to filling ratio and decent flavor. However, it wasn't nearly as exciting as their kitchen items, and not much different than sushi I could find closer to home for the same quality and price. In my personal opinion, I will not order sushi here again, because their cooked kitchen items are so delicious and inexpensive- it is like nothing else you will find in the Tampa area. Don't get me wrong, the sushi is solid, but there is so much other food there that I prefer. If you are looking for homemade Japanese food, then this is your place. Nothing is too fancy. It is great to taste and experience foods that Japanese people would like to enjoy on an everyday basis, not just special occasion. My husband referred to some items as "diner food." The Okonomiyaki ($8.00) is a Japanese pancake similar to Korean Pajeon. It is a vegetable pancake that contains pork and covered in a sweet brown sauce and mayo, then a sprinkle of dancing bonito shavings. The serving is very large, enough for an entire meal with maybe a side of soup or salad. This pancake only comes in one house flavor, usually shops with specialize in this dish and serve up many custom and specialty flavors, but I Ai just has one for you to try. It is delicious and crispy, while being creamy, tangy, and smokey at the same time. The Age Tofu ($4.00) is served up my favorite way, where the cubes of fried tofu are floating in dashi broth with shaved radish on top. So you eat it with a spoon to get a bite of tofu and some delicious broth at the same time. The Sunomono ($4.00) was bright and refreshing with cucumber, crab stick, and a sweet shrimp on top- all covered in a sour citrus dressing. I always have to order the Omusubi (Onigiri) if it is offered, especially when they are only $2.00 each for your choice of mouth-watering bonito, plum, or salmon fillings. They are the side of a small hamburger and just as filling, so watch out. The Soy Sauce Ramen ($7.00) was a large serving and the noodles were perfectly chewy with flavorful broth. I was a little confused from the other photos posted here of small vegetable side dishes, which made me assume that I Ai served up complimentary side dishes with an entrÃ©e. That is not the case. Most of the side dishes (similar to Korean banchan, but not complimentary) range from $2.00-$4.00 per serving. We tried the Yama Sengiui ($4.00) which was julienne strips of slimy mountain potato-like root. Sally recommends trying it graded with tuna for the same price next time, and we will. The Shabu-Shabu is what I came for. While they had many stone pot soups- the cook at your table experience of Shabu-Shabu was $28.00, and I just was not ready to pay that much per person yet on my first try. I can definitely see I Ai having many regulars because of their cheap menu, delicious food, cute atmosphere, and fast service. We will definitely return to try more items, since we probably just scratched the surface here today. As I said before; it is impossible to find everyday Japanese food like this in the Tampa area. Maybe in New York City, but not here, so I feel very lucky to have found I Ai. I was very impressed when dining here, and also had a fun time. Compared to other establishments in Tampa- 5 stars. Tons of food $44.41 before tip
(5)
Moo B.

Cute little restaurant. Nice decor. Food looks very nice. We liked the grilled squid very much and ordered a couple ramen. All rice dishes were too hard for our taste. It's not the typical chewy Japanese rice. It's too hard. Rice balls are all too salty. They have only one server and she was not very nice to us. A Hispanic lady who really doesn't know anything about the menu or Japanese. Not helpful at all.
(3)
Jason C.

One of the few places in Tampa to get more authentic cooked Japanese food options. They even have takoyaki. Be aware they call them octopus dumplings. They also have lots of mysterious specials that I've never tried.
(3)
Jeremy A.

I came in wanting to try some sushi but when I requested a spicy scallop roll and they wouldnt make me one even though they offered it in sashimi I decided to go for mostly japanese food. I got the katsu curry and it was really really good, The ika sansai and salmon roll i got for sushi was definitely average. The price is right and Id be back, but only to order off the japanese menu, skip the sushi.
(3)
Lance C.

Glad I came back for the Japanese food. Wonderful, incredibly well priced, flavorful, authentic and served quickly. Started with the Age Tofu, small cubes of tofu, breaded and fried in dashi broth, the tofu was creamy and the dashi was just the right complement. Then I had a bonito Omusubi (kind of like a large rice ball, filled with rehydrated bonito, surrounded by a large sheet of nori). The warm rice and the smoky fish were perfect, especially for $2.50. Then we had the Okonomi yaki, a large vegetable pancake with pork, served sizzling on a cast iron skillet with bonito flake and a savory sauce. Simply delicious. Total for two people, with green tea, $24. Highly recommend! I will return!
(5)
Kevin F.

Nothing special. The service was quick and the price was reasonable, but it wasn't as good as I was hoping for. May try again another time.
(2)
Tiffany H.

Okay, it's official, I have to drive an hour for a beef sukiyaki rice bowl. I made this my halfway point meeting up with a friend because it was one of the few places that seemed to have a beef bowl on their menu. I've been craving this magical dish ever since I left Miami. I remember getting them at Sushi Chef a few years ago thanks to a friend who knew the ins and outs of the less common Japanese dishes. So I went on my quest, and found I Ai Sushi. This place is tiny. It's in a strip mall. Don't let this dissuade you. We went in and were seated next to a table of half a dozen girls celebrating a birthday. Most of the other tables were full so I knew it was going to be good. Our waiter had a bit of a rough time confirming what I wanted to order. I knew what I used to get and wanted to make sure it was the right thing because their menu has some redundancies in it (someone needs to edit it! Please!). A few comments back and forth and my friend ordered. She got a bento box to try a little of everything. I also decided to start off with some gyoza. They were spot on. And then my bowl came to me. I pulled the lid off and noticed there was something that looked like shredded dried seaweed on top. It's ok, I'll just scoot it off to the side. It's not the hot pink pickled ginger I used to get but not everyone does everything the same. "Breathe, just breathe" I told myself... and then I took my first bite. Ohhhh beef bowl! How I've missed you! It was like being reunited with a long lost love! That sweet broth, tender pieces of beef and onions on top of rice... It's one of my comfort foods and I'm so glad I found it here! I'm not a sushi girl, and teriyaki or tempura are the generic non-sushi options at Japanese places (neither of which I'm crazy about), so this... This pleased me greatly. We wrapped up and got our check (yes, there are little notes everywhere with the rule: no split checks) and went on our way. I'll never be able to comment on anything else here because I know I will always get that beef bowl. Always!
(5)
Amanda L.

Such a gem! It's rare to see these types of Japanese restaurants outside of large cities or Japan. Japanese cuisine is so much more than sushi/sashimi and ramen, and it's great to find a place like this in Tampa. I was really excited to see that my search for ramen on yelp revealed a place that not only fulfilled my craving, but also served a smorgasbord of authentic Japanese dishes. We had the soy sauce ramen with pork belly, katsu curry, cold tofu and tuna yamakake (an interesting dish - probably more for adventurous eaters). All were delicious. I'm excited to come back again to try more of their small dishes!
(4)
Sarah B.

I liked this place. It is small like other reviews have said, and it is a little dark inside but the food was good. I had the miso ramen and my dad got teriyaki chicken that came with miso soup and fried rice. Next time I'll try the actual sushi. Some people have said that the owner is rude but she seemed polite enough to me. She just wasn't over the top friendly. Good place, will come back soon.
(4)
Carlos H.

For all the sushi that I eat, I have never really had too much regular Japanese cuisine dishes except for instant ramen and the occasional Teriyaki Chicken, so coming to I Ai Sushi was a new experience for me. I decided to go with my friend Sally's Yelp review and try her recommended dishes. Here is how they fared up for me: -Kaki fry (fried oysters): Just as good as Sally described them, I almost did not get a picture of it because they were so good we ate the four oysters right away. A new favorite dish for me. I have had oysters cold but never fried before and I was really impressed with how it tasted. Certainly worth the $4.50 I paid for it too. It's a special so hopefully they will have it there if you guys pay a visit. -Katsu-curry (curry with breaded fried pork cutlet): Delicious. A new taste for me since I have never had Japanese curry before. Not spicy in a hot kinda way but spiced with a strong flavor. The rice was cooked well too, it was filling too I had to share with my friends. I tried their soy sauce ramen noodles off a friend and it was good, I'm not a big noodle either though so I can't say too much about it. The tuna sashimi in their Tuna Yamakake was great and really fresh, the grated yama-imo was a taste I have never had before kinda slimy but not in a bad way...hard to describe haha I say just try it for yourself and see if you like it. Wanting something lite to top it off I ordered some mochi ice cream which is $1.50 a piece, not a bad add-on to finish you off since it is not too heavy. The only flavor they had was green tea which was great and a nice way to end my visit at I Ai Sushi. The bill was pretty cheap considering the food I got and I got to try so many new things, I'll be coming back here to check out their entrees in the future. Service was quick and though the waitress could have been a little friendlier, I will let it slide this time since service was quick and the food was excellent. The restaurant itself is nicely decorated, plate have designs on them, some seats have heart shaped cushions and even what looked stuffed animal pillows, and there was fish tank there as well. The girls complimented the female bathroom (though I can't share my thoughts on that). On my way out of the restaurant I noticed they had all these Japanese drinks for sale there too and I was sad that I only ordered a water to drink when I could have had Ramune or some other Japanese drink but now I know for future visits =) Check it out =)
(5)
Andrew C.

Great place. Ordered the special volcano and another roll forgot the name, but both were delicious . Wife ordered the curry ramen, the broth was too thick and salty. I ordered the nabeyaki udon, it was fantastic. I will definitely return.
(4)
Jay Y.

I came here in my hunt for some good Ramen and this place was recommended by 3 different people over the last few weeks. Needless to say, I've given each of them a strike for recommending the ramen here. I had the highly anticipated Tonkotsu Ramen and although the pork was tasty, the rest of the ramen was a disappointment, the broth was kind of bland and tasted a little too similar to those MSG packets with instant ramen. Now I don't think any of it was not freshly prepared, it just wasn't what I expected and maybe I was expecting a little too much. It didn't have any bamboo shoots, soft boiled egg, bean sprouts, or even the flowery looking fish cake, and maybe these were add-on options I missed on the menu, but if I missed it, no one checked if I wanted to add them in... Beyond that, I did try the sushi and it was ok so I'd probably recommend sticking with the sushi or the dinner boxes...
(2)

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Address : 3691 W Waters Ave
Tampa, FL, 33614
Phone (813) 932-1111
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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I ai Sushi

3691 W Waters Ave, Tampa, FL, 33614

I ai Sushi Menu

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