KELP Sushi Joint
3401 W Bay To Bay Blvd,Ste D, Tampa, FL, 33629
KELP Sushi Joint Menu
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Address :
3401 W Bay To Bay Blvd,Ste D
Tampa, FL, 33629 - Phone (813) 831-2222
- Website https://kelpsushi.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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SoTampa ..
Our second time at Kelp. The first time was better than the second (which will probably be our last). The sushi platter contained all cooked fish and some sushi rolls tasted very sweet). We (as well as many others, judging by the fact that we were the only customers on Saturday night) do not find Kelp being a good value since in addition to already expensive food they are the first restaurant that ever charged us for refills on hot tea.
(2)Amber C.
First time today for lunch after mani/pedi next door. I thought it was a Very good price for lunch - $12 for two rolls (not specialty ones), miso soup and salad. I love the thought that was put into design and modern/industrial (as previously mentioned) with an added vintage touch- black and white photos for artwork. Does not look like your typical sushi restaurant. Perfect for a date! The rolls I had for lunch were pretty average but I am looking forward to visiting again and trying their specialty rolls. Very friendly service!
(4)Danielle N.
KELP is more than just a hole in the wall sushi joint. It is my new sushi heaven! I just moved here 3 months ago and I asked everyone where their favorite South Tampa sushi places are.... Needless to say my husband and I were not impressed by the local favorites. I stumbled upon KELP and I was so blown away I joined Yelp and had to write my very first review. I had their sushi lunch special... Two rolls, soup, & salad for $12! The Florida roll and spicy salmon were fantastic!
(5)Marie D.
We tried this place out twice and both have been delivery. First time, it was a 30 min delivery wait, 2nd time they completely have us the wrong order and now this third time it has taken two and a half hours for our delivery. Totally unacceptable. This place is a joke and think they are a big time NY sushi hot spot. Definitely not the case. Slow down Kelp you guys will loose a ton of customers quickly! Maybe you should hire more educated staff. I just called after waiting two and a half hours. They put my order as a pick up! Complete joke of a restaurant. Never eating here again.
(1)Jack C.
Found the sushi menu for dinner to be limited (no Sushi combo available) and just OK. Smaller place with nice atmosphere but no sushi bar! Got the Ice Volcano Roll and for $14.25 it didn't have much crab on top like most do. Flavor was good but not worth the price. Ended up costing me $27 with tip for one roll, miso soup and two green iced teas. Staff was very friendly and service was good. Need to step up the menu a bit and more ingredients in those rolls.
(3)Niesa J.
Tried it for the first time because we had a Groupon, but we will definitely be back. its a cozy shop with a beautiful decor and awesome service. the food is the best we've had in Tampa yet.
(5)Sean M.
First time to visit Kelp today. Started off on wrong foot, was told no military discount during initial greeting. I never seek out places that do give discounts. So Kind of made me feel I was there in search of a hand out, which I was not. Menu choice a bit lack luster. Lots of cooked items. So if that's not your speed. This place is a skip. Nice enough wait staff, don't think I would return.
(2)Emily S.
Enjoyed the sushi- I had the lunch special with 2 rolls (florida and spicy salmon), soup, and salad. Personally I would prefer it cost less and only get soup or salad. Also had a spicy tuna roll. Disappointments- They don't have hot green tea. Part of their philosophy is sustainability/impact on the environment- so I'm confused why they are using plastic disposable cups for soy sauce, disposable chop sticks, and bottled drinks/soda. Most of the bottles were glass- so pretty easy to recycle- but I wonder if they really are recycling. Bottom line- would I go back? Yes if I'm in the immediate area. But I don't think I would make a trip out to go there specifically.
(3)Francesca P.
I LOVE Kelp. It is so easy, convenient, and yummy! Not only is the service great when you eat in and when you pick it up....but they also deliver! I have never had a sushi restaurant deliver. Everything is customizable, so if you don't want a certain element on your roll, you can take it off. They have a ton of different cooked rolls, which is what I prefer. I also love that they are open 7 days a week!
(5)Jenny P.
The design of the restaurant's interior is a five star. Not so much the sushi itself. I've been to many sushi restaurants in Tampa and this is the worst one I've been to. The rolls are pretty pricey for what actually is inside the rolls. We ordered a roll that was 14.00 but it pretty much a California with cooked pieces on top. Nothing special, and definitely not worth 14 bucks. I would rather spend that money at another sushi place that gives you quality/unique sushi rolls. Not coming back here.
(2)Kyle G.
The newest sushi addition to the South Tampa area ranked a 3-star from me. The menu is sturdy, but the execution is hit or miss. I've had their food on two occasions - takeout for lunch, and dine in for dinner. The takeout was much more impressive than the dining experience, however the server was very attentive without being annoying. The sushi seemed fresh, but as other reviewers have mentioned, there's a lot of room for improvement. I also feel like they're a tad on the expensive side when compared to other sushi joints (SoHo, Soobak, and so on).
(3)Kelly L.
Rose cave and fire tornado are great ! Miso soup is top notch. This place is byob. I've been here twice and the sushi was great both times.
(5)Shai J.
Not impressed. The volcano roll was tasteless and dry with no resemblance to what sushi should be. The second roll ordered also had just a slither of tuna which was no match for the over fried shrimp core. In short, I've had better sushi at Kona Grill....and I don't go there for sushi.
(1)Marlena P.
I'm pretty new to the Tampa area and boy was I craving some sushi! So I yelped it and decided these pics looked the bomb! So I went down there on a weeknight and picked up 2 specialty rolls and the dumplings...I think they were. Well the dumplings were good. Larger than I was expecting and the sauce was nice. The sushi rolls were.... Meh. Idk I couldn't pinpoint what about them was so meh. They were saturated in so much sauce and who knows what else and I couldn't taste the fish. I tend to favor straight up nigiri over the complicated shit... It might have been the rice that was off. I didn't taste that good... Ugh, we'll is place didn't agree with me so I'm gonna continue the search for a great sushi place in the Tampa area. I'm kinda sad I had such high hopes....
(2)Susie F.
We went there yesterday but they were closed it didn't said anything on their website or phone recording it will be nice if they post on their website instead of we drove all the way from brandon
(1)Brian F.
Stopped in over the weekend for the first time, and was very pleased with the atmosphere & food. One of the other reviewers described it great: "clean, modern/industrial feel". I ordered the Fire Tornado roll & could not have been happier. I welcome the new sushi joint into the neighborhood, and look forward to many more visits.
(5)Don P.
Probably a 3.5, but I like to round up. If you are, as am I, not from around here, and you are looking for really good sushi like what you get back home, this place will disappoint you. If you are looking for some really tasty food that is, imho, only sushi in presentation (stuff wrapped in sticky rice and seaweed), but very creative and flavorful and nothing like the usual work-travel offerings that you are subjected to, you might love it. I think the three "sushi platter" options on the menu are reasonably priced. But...I wish they would introduce a platter that did not include any of the deep-fried (o.k. "tempura") concepts. After seaweed salad and some super excellent seared tuna tataki, I shared the middle platter option with one other big-eater, and we both got really full; and I, at least, started to feel gross from eating all that fried (o.k. "tempura") chicken. But, you know, I'm not from around here. I just don't eat that much deep fried stuff. It sure does taste good. At any rate, I will definitely come back, but will probably just pig out on sashimi and tataki, unless they roll those up in rice and seaweed--I'd totally eat that. BYOB!
(4)James M.
AMAZING! ! Scorched earth was my fav with a close second being the spicy tuna. All of it was fresh and delicious. Cant wait to go back.
(5)Rebecca R.
Clean, fresh, made to order, beautiful presentation, wonderful flavor combinations. Service is warm and welcoming.
(5)Diane T.
Sushi is good and they have a great iPhone app for ordering online, however I'm still sitting here waiting for my rolls and I input the order at 7:04 and it's been over 45 min. Not okay.
(3)Amie M.
3rd time disappointed with Kelp. We were so excited to have a new place to order delivery dinner from. My 1st attempt : website said not available so I called. They did not answer so I drove to Kelp to place my order. The business hours on the door said they were open but no one was there. (After their grand opening) 2nd attemp: went online to place my order..after selecting menu items I was prompted to sign in or create account. While creating my account.site went down. I called Kelp and the person who answered the phone at 8:31pm said that she would not take my delivery order because it was after 8:30. Tonight was our final attempt at enjoying sushi delivery. I placed my order and paid online at 7:40pm. At 9:20 I called Kelp, the person who answered said they never put my order in. She said they use a 3rd party vendor and in order to process a refund she would need to call the owner. She wasn't apologetic and said they got a ton of orders and only have a few drivers.
(1)Paul N.
Great, local sourced and nearby with a nice trendy, clean look. My first experience there I went into anaphylactic shock. I'm allergic to tilapia of all things...while I did not order any, I got served some. Yet when I called, they insisted none was served. I thought I should give them a second chance and bought a groupon...only to find out they have closed until June. Guess what? The groupon expires at the end of May. Nothing on the website says they're closed. The phone number just rings and rings. Maybe a message alerting customers about a new re-opening would have been nice. I tried hard to like you, Kelp. Just stay closed and provide maps for people to go to SoHo sushi or Yoko's. I'll give it 2 stars based on the locally sourced ingredients and trendy design. The food is, literally, poisonous to me and the customer service is a 0. Go elsewhere for your sushi. Anywhere else.
(2)Brad R.
Great place to come with friends and/or family! We started with their iced green tea. So refreshing and it's made with Stevia. We got the scorched earth, seaweed salad, tuna sashimi and a veggie roll. All were amazing and very fresh!! We came back with friends and all shared a tempura cheese. Oh man, it was incredible!! Service was great and they were very nice. Great place and they deliver downtown!!
(5)Heather P.
Went to Kelp tonight in hopes of a close sushi spot; however, Kelp is not the place. First we tried to order beers and were told that Kelp just opened and they were still working on their liqueur license. I found this odd since they have been open for a year. When ordering our sushi roles, I noticed they did not have any cucumber warped roles. I always order one cucumber warped role, so I asked if they could do that and she said yes for a $4 up-charge. I found it crazy to charge an extra $4 for cucumber, especially when most places only charge an extra $2. The roll was only 7.25 and they wanted to add $4...just crazy. The decor was odd, they had patio furniture inside as tables and chairs. The sushi was okay and very overpriced. If you are looking for a good sushi spot in South Tampa then Kelp should be your LAST choice. Yoko, Soho Sushi, and Zen Sushi are ten times better. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY.
(1)Allison C.
Best new sushi joint in South Tampa! I consider myself somewhat of a sushi snob and just love this concept. Often I want to get take-out sushi but usually decide when I'm already out and about and normally have to wait 25+ minutes for my order to be ready. At Kelp your order is ready very quickly and the quality and menu options are amazing and creative! The staff is friendly and knowledgable and the decor is trendy and clean. You have to try this place!!!
(5)Windy C.
Clean smallish dining area. Rolls on the menu are tasty and creative. Perfect for a light meal. Hard to find as it sits off of Bay-to-Bay Blvd in the back of a small strip mall near a Starbucks. If you're looking for a quiet intimate meal with good service in Palma Ceia then this is the place.
(3)Angie D.
Fast service and the food was very yummy and fresh! I have tried many sushi restaurants around the area and am yet to find one like this. Loved the decor and the modern yet rustic feel!
(5)M G.
Bland, nothing special abt it. A to go joint. If you decide to eat there you will be served a plastic baggie with watery wasabi, and plastic cup with nasty tasting soy sauce. Really wanted to like this place but besides the cool look, it was a huge disappointment. Btw, the specialty rolls are ridiculously small for the price.
(1)Kathy S.
WOW! Had a mixture of Sushi rolls for lunch- Absolutely Amazing! Highly recommend stopping by this new, fresh, wonderful restaurant!
(5)Kat M.
went to check out the offerings last night.. staff was friendly and helpful. the menu is mostly rolls with some other offerings. we places a take away as the interior was nice but not really a dining place, maybe great for lunch. the food was fresh and well prepared, and service was prompt. only complaint is why do these roll places feel the need to put cream cheese in sushi? CREAM CHEESE DOES NOT BELONG IN SUSHI PEOPLE!!!!. But you can order without. Overall I hope the location does not jinx this place.
(4)E S.
I visited Kelp within the first week of its opening. I was really impressed with the high-end tasteful decor from floor to ceiling, and the beautifully equipped open kitchen. The chef and staff wore black/white uniforms completed with paperboy hats, which I thought was a very nice touch. You walk up to the counter and place your order on an electronic tablet. The staff then brings the food out to the table or packs it in boxes to go. There are several tables inside, and according to the chef outside seating is coming soon :). Every plate coming out of the kitchen was arranged nicely and looked delicious. I tried two sushi rolls and both were very fresh and very flavorful. The staff was very quick at preparing the food and bringing it out to the table, as well collecting empty plates. This place is perfect for a quick delicious meal or carry-out/delivery. I'll be visiting this place often.
(5)Mercy G.
so, KELP just keeps getting better. In the the last year and a half not only did they add an adorable outside area where you are seated under globe string lights but more importantly the menu got a major upgrade. 1) Theres more vegetarian rolls on the menu than any other sushi place Ive ever been to. EVER. & they're really really good! like REALLY great! 2) They now have BOWLS, for kids and adults 3) The previous omg they give you brown rice without an upcharge got even better! Here are the options: Brown rice - no extra charge, Rice PAPER- no extra charge, Cucumber wrap ($2), Soy paper ($1.50), make your roll Tempura style ($1) 4) alcohol & FRIED ICE CREAM. ** Stil have the amazing lunch Special!!! **
(5)Jasmine R.
Oh Kelp! I am a reformed Kelp addict, unfortunately due to them changing their menu :(. Three months ago this would be a five star recommendation but now everything is just a little to 'interesting' versus being the best sushi you've ever had. The venue itself is super cute and akin to spots in NYC or LA. I could definitely see this being a nice choice for a low key date night. Staff is very friendly and hip. I love that they use quality sustainable ingrediates. It's on the pricey side, two rolls and a green tea (and FYI skip the green tea...tasted like algae) was $30, but they do have a lunch special which gives you a lot of bang for your buck.
(3)Frank E.
I am continuing to explore the menu. Tonight new item sticky buns and they are amazing.
(5)Veneesa M.
I started eating here when they first opened. I was really surprised how good it was. My favorites were the calamari salad and the bronze pebble. AND THEN God knows what happened but a few months ago the food started tasting like crap. The calamari salad is now okay and the bronze pebble now has no flavor. ON TOP OF THAT the delivery drivers have no sense of direction. My building has a huge sign on it and is only 12 minutes from the restaurant. Why does it take over an hour to find me? BUT THATS NOT IT, I got charged three times for one order, which I'm sure was the computers fault. But then the cashier could care less when I called about the problem and could not spell westshore. How dumb are you? After I talked to a manager who said she will talk to the general manager, they still didn't do anything about. After two days, I went into the restaurant and I finally got my money back. Why wasn't it a priority? You're holding my money! MY POINT IS that I will NEVER eat here again. It is the last time I'll eat somewhere besides koto or soho sushi. They need to get there shit together and I'm not going sit and shift in it until they figure it out.
(1)Uyen D.
Sushi was Not worth the price!! Few problems with this place during this visit: 1) overpriced everything 2) our rolls came out and looked like trash. I could have rolled the sushi better ..scratch that a 5 year old would have done better or cared more about what the sushi looked like 3) my spicy tuna cucumber roll had pieces of bacon in it, which was not listed on the menu ingredients. Horrible flavors together.. I love bacon but not with my spicy tuna and I can't imagine someone who can't eat meat would react. 4) my earth roll... Looks good on the menu and was the only roll that looked any thing like a specialty roll - tasted like trash. I love my rolls with volcano toppings and usually eat all the toppings... This time I left them on the plate. And not to mention $16 for that crap. Not coming back.. If you want good sushi do yourself and wallet a favor and go to Soho or Zen sushi
(1)Mailoha A.
I felt like doing some food exploring today so I "dragged" a friend with me to Kelp for lunch. We had never been there before but had heard good things. And if you read my reviews you know that I love to try new places. We had no problems finding it. It is in a plaza on Bay to Bay. It is the same plaza that Feet First (running store), Pilot Bank, Massage Studio, Starbucks, Soleil Tanning, and Taco Fusion are all in. When we arrived we were able to park right up front. They have some spots reserved just for Kelp customers. We were also pretty happy to see the outdoor seating because it was a gorgeous day out. A couple actually had their puppy with them at their table outside :) Note that there is also indoor seating. It's a small place and I'm not sure how busy they get but between the indoor and outdoor seating, you should be good. Their lunch options are great. For $12 you get 2 full rolls, a miso soup and a ginger salad. I went with that option. My friend got 2 rolls (see my pictures) and she really enjoyed them both. And their lunch, all the way until 4pm! Service was very nice. Everyone was very friendly. They were attentive and the service was nice and fast. Basically, I'll be back for more :)
(5)Cassandra S.
I've been once and was pretty disappointed with the sushi... It just wasn't that great, especially for the price. The flavors were a little off... I'm not sure exactly how to describe it. The place was completely empty. I only went because I had a coupon and prob won't beer back.
(3)Erin S.
Kelp sushi is definitely different than your average sushi restaurant. More of a fast paced dining experience, with a huge takeout and delivery buisiness. They have a wonderful lunch special everyday consisting of a choice of two rolls from a limited menu (think spicy tuna, tampa roll, etc) and it comes with ginger salad AND miso soup for 12 bucks. It's definitely a hell of a deal, considering how expensive sushi can be. When I went I got to try one of the new chef specials, new style nigiri. Tuna and white fish lightly seared on rice, with a ginger/garlic mix, tataki sauce, and green onion on top. Melt in your mouth amazing! So much flavor. I highly recommend kelp for the great food, service, and it's definitely appreciated that they use only sustainable seafood.
(5)Charlie Rae Y.
Another fun, funky, fantastic Tampa eatery made so much less desireable by being stuck in a shopping plaza! Don't let this deter you too much. We enjoy Kelp's vibe and also their menu's unexpected twists. They have really fab veg options (which we enjoy even though we are not vegetarian) as well as interesting specialty roles. Our faves are the classics though, and Kelp does them well. Their simple salmon/avacado role makes a stop in worth it. Everytime we have been in the mgr/owner is also there which is impressive to me as it seems he is committed to growing and getting better which speaks volumes.
(4)K D.
I love this place! There are so many roll selections, everything I've had has been good & fresh, & being able to have it delivered is even better. So happy Kelp is close by. I haven't be in the restaurant yet so I can't review that but every delivery experience I've had has been positive. Also- really appreciate the options of cucumber, white or brown rice, or rice paper for every roll
(4)Linda L.
This is a sushi joint for folks who don't like Sushi. We sat at the sushi bar but the treatment we received was more like someone waiting for take out. The sushi is in containers where you can't see the ingredients and the staff looks like a bunch of college kids making their way. The menu items look good if you are looking for cooked or vegetable based sushi rolls. It's a one and done for us but for families who want to please all, this might be a good spot.
(2)Kate E.
Came in to an almost empty restaurant. Tucked in location off of bay to bay. Lit bit of outdoor seating. Inside seating felt chipotle-esk. Not your typical sushi spot. If you crave the typical asian atmosphere this is not your place. Our server was not Asian. Open kitchen visible for patrons. I had green tea, edamame salad, miso soup, and a rose cave roll. Edamame salad was okay.. I prefer the hot edamame with salt. The rose cave roll was okay as well. Nothing to rave about. I probably will not be back but mostly because I like the typical Asian decor service experience.
(3)Michelle M.
Kelp Sushi Joint was ok, but there are better sushi options in Tampa. We were lured here because the restaurant offers BYOB (bring your own bottle) and they do not charge a corkage fee. Wine glasses and cork screws are provided by Kelp. While I enjoyed the modern décor and appreciated the purse hooks underneath the tables for the ladies I just wasn't a fan of the menu. Most of the rolls were pretty simple (California, Spicy Tuna, Mexican). If I was a timid eater trying out sushi for the first time these rolls may have appealed to me, but in my opinion the rolls were boring. The rolls that were more intricate contained cooked fish, imitation "krab" or fried chicken. None of these ingredients appeal to me. The sashimi and nigiri options are almost non-existent which raises a huge red flag. My husband could not believe there were no sashimi platters on the menu. When he asked the waitress if the chef could prepare one for us they agreed, but the platter he created only contained tuna, salmon, and rainbow trout. Not much of a variety! While everything tasted fine, nothing "wowed" us. We will probably not return, but this is a good spot for people that like very simple or cooked sushi rolls.
(3)Emalee A.
Love this joint! I find the fish to always be fresh, it's got a great vibe and fast service. They are a new company but the owner, Wesley, is far from new when it comes to sushi. He ran "Origami" alongside his family on the northern side of Tampa proper. I love seeing this modern take to sushi and I feel his is a true entrepreneur, a personality I want to support to help keep Tampa cool! Amazing lunch specials and although they don't serve alcohol I can bring in my own with NO corkage fee!! I hope to see little Kelp Sushi Joints pop up all over town!
(4)Michelle M.
I was told 7 dollars not 3.99 and I really only went there for the spicy mayo and they gave me the recipes so that was awesome so no need to go back it was 7 not 3.99 and I feel u were messing with me due to old employees I am friends with and you took it out on me cause u don't know how to treat your staff so it stems from you how you act not them it's u there scared to even talk they say you yell at them so owe well that's you
(1)Nick D.
Decided to give this place a try on my lunch break and I have to say...I'm impressed. It's a little small but the decorations are pleasant l. Most importantly, the sushi is VERY good...and you get a good amount. I will definitely be going back.
(5)Beth S.
My first time at Kelp proved it to be a clean, and exactly what it's called a sushi joint. It's not overly fancy but it is quiet and they offer basic rolls plus a few creative ones. I don't really like the cooked rolls, but this place has a bunch if that's your thing. I'm more of a sashimi girl and I didn't see much of that on the menu. Pricing is pretty comparable to the other south Tampa places and the rolls were about the same size. Service was quick and friendly and I was surprised the place wasn't packed at noon, especially considering it's location on Bay to Bay. I wouldn't say this place was bad by any stretch, it just didn't knock my socks off. I had the Florida roll, which is salmon, tuna, avocado, cream cheese and roe and a miso soup. They don't offer any beverages that aren't bottled except for iced tea. I agree with others that the menu is small and seems to be lacking some oomph, but the chef's specialty board looked promising. I'm happy to try Kelp again and give it another shot at 5 stars.
(3)Evangeline W.
First time at kelp surprisingly considering I love sushi and I live local. Made a dinner reservation for 5 and it was very nice. Our waitress was very polite and attentive. The inside is well decorated, it gives off a nice vibe. I love how you can see the sushi making action. The menu is very well priced and delicious. I will be coming back for sure!
(5)Hwal L.
I wish I could rate this place higher: - watermelon drink: only $1.35, freshly blended with a bit of ice. Perfect! - edamame salad: fresh ingredients, but next to no seasoning which made it taste blend. Server lady asked how it was and was very receptive to the feedback, but the other person said to be the manager was not. Disappointing. - purple cloud: interesting combo of salmon and chicken tempura. Loved red and green onions. Perfect! - fire tornado: the topping was way too saucy and the whole thing ended up swimming in the sauce. It was out of balance and too rich. Again, server lady was appreciative of feedback but the manager was not, which is a shame. They are a new local business and we appreciated the clean, modern decor, but I'm not sure if I'd readily want to go back. I hope they improve and do well.
(3)Maggie A.
great sushi and their lunch special for 2 rolls with a side miso soup and ginger said is the perfect deal.
(5)Jade Y.
Kelp gets 5 stars for: -their crab rangoon (yum) -convenience (sushi delivery, yay!!) -reliable/quick delivery/ friendly delivery peoples (at least in my experience) However, I'd give them maybe 2.5/3 stars for: -the sushi itself -the static menu In general, I'm fond of Kelp. But it's kind of a guilty pleasure type fond. Like a "I'm craving sushi like crazy but I'll be at work till midnight, so screw it, I'll overlook paying $40 for lunch/delivery/tip today because I want sushi, and I want it now" type thing. The crab rangoon is the best thing I've tried on their menu. It's seriously good. But the sushi menu itself, meh. It's way too heavy on the cooked fish rolls for my taste. Also, it's super repetitive. It takes a long time to pick out my order if I'm trying to find multiple rolls that sound good and don't have basically the same components. It's hard to even remember what rolls I've tried/liked because they're all so similar in ingredients/flavor. They really like to scorch things. But, that aside- this place satisfies a craving, and while it's certainly not the best sushi you'll find in Tampa, it's far from the worst. I assume it's even better when you dine in, which I've as of yet not been compelled to do, but probably should one of these days.
(4)Dominique H.
This morning I got delivery from them at work, & it came right on time. I got edamame, Mexican roll & the shrimp pineapple roll. Amazinggg food! I am excited to visit the restaurant in person and try more things !
(5)Lis L.
Was in the mood for a unique roll and found it at Kelp! Love this little sushi place on Bay to Bay. Here are the reasons to go: - Friendly service - Urban / Modern decor - Clean - Relatively unique menu items - not your typical strip mall sushi - Lunch special is a good value - Overall delicious and fresh It is nice to find a sushi restaurant that offers both your standard rolls (ala, California) and unexpected flavors that delight the palate. Price point is fair and reasonable given the better quality. I am hooked. This is now my 'go to / everyday' sushi place!
(4)Amanda L.
Decent sushi restaurant that on its own might do well, but it is likely going to have some issues due to nearby competition. Despite the modern, understated decor, Kelp serves the typical sushi rolls offered in Tampa - lots of sauce and ingredients, not much emphasis on the fish itself. Unfortunately for Kelp, their execution (e.g., way too much sauce) is lacking and thus, long time establishments like Soho Sushi and even Yoko's, surpass Kelp. Most importantly, while Kelp's menu does not differ very much from the competition, its rolls are priced $1-2 higher. Warning on the desert oasis roll: ultra sweet - tastes like tuna with jelly/jam... we couldn't even finish it.
(3)Wendy T.
Sushi is great I recommend it to all of my friends but my favorite part is amazingly sweet girls who bring it to Me Wendy
(5)Noelle L.
My husband and I visited Kelp Sushi Joint last night for dinner. The interior had that clean, modern/industrial feel to it. There are a few tables inside, but the dining area is small, so I think this is more of a sushi to go concept. We ordered four rolls (Florida roll, Rose Cave, Sailing Stone, & Scorched Earth). One thing we found was that the menu was heavily influenced on three items: cream cheese, salmon, and cooked items. With a name like Kelp, which sounds natural/pure, it was alarming the number of cooked rolls, rolls with cream cheese, and also with something fried in it. Out of the 24 rolls that Kelp offers, only 2 of them offer a truly raw experience, and another three are raw with cream cheese. The rest have the fake krab mixture, cooked meat, or are tempura fried. They do have sashimi and tataki appetizers that are raw. The Florida roll ($8.25) was good, but next time we will request no cream cheese in it. The Rose cave roll ($13.75) was our favorite out of the four we tasted. It did have tempura shrimp in it, but the tuna was sliced well and tasted VERY fresh. There was a little too much spicy mayo on top for our liking, but that is personal preference. The Sailing Stone ($9.25) was okay, but it was our fault we ordered it; it was tempura fried and we totally missed that part where it did say it was tempura fried. If you like tempura fried rolls, you'll probably like this one because the batter was thin and not overwhelming, like most sushi restaurants. The Scorched earth roll ($14.95) was interesting, but the roll itself was basically a California roll with chopped tuna and salmon pieces on top and blow torched. The concept was cool, but we prefer raw rolls. The description was a little misleading, as it does not describe the rolls construction, so we figured the salmon and tun would be inside of it. Lesson learned to ask questions. This is also the only sushi restaurant in the area that charges $10.45 for a spicy tuna roll! That is a very steep price. Most of the competitors charge in the ballpark of $5-7 for a spicy tuna roll. Their red forest roll, which has kimchi, roasted peppers, and spinach is $8.45, which again, I find very expensive for a roll consisting of vegetables. I do appreciate that Kelp is eco friendly in that they are only using sustainable fish and try to buy local as much as possible. I wish they offered more raw rolls (spicy tuna roll with tuna on top, or rolls with raw ingredients & vegetables with no fake crab or cream cheese). But if you are new to sushi and prefer cooked ingredients, this place is for you! Kelp just opened, so they are working out the kinks. With that being said, I'll stop back in and give an updated review in a few weeks.
(3)Marianne M.
Really great sushi place! My favorite is the Tampa roll. They have a very good urban vibe and a good lunch, takeout, and light dinner menu! Would definitely recommend
(4)Dawn S.
I order sushi using the app a few times a month and they deliver! I've tried some of their more "exotic" rolls but I always get the Mexican and Ragoons. I'm not a fan of some of the other roles-my tastes in sushi are pretty tame. So for the rolls/foods I enjoy it hits the spot. Delivery is always timely-never more than an hour during peak times and one time was at my place in like 20 min.
(4)Josh N.
Attentive staff and great platters I was not a fan of the watermelon juice which was more than made up for by the amazing!!! Crab rangoon
(4)Todd B.
3.5 stars, rounding up. This was our second attempt at Kelp. First attempt was slightly after 9PM on a Friday or Saturday to find they closed at 9. Seriously, a restaurant that closes at 9 on a weekend is weak. I know this is Florida, but not everyone is into the early bird special. And this play is trying to be hip, kind of new-wave sushi, yet they close basically at sunset? Weird. Second time around was better. First thing you notice about Kelp is how small it is. I think there are 6-10 tables, and the place gets busy. There were one or two tables when we arrived, but it filled up. They also did a tremendous amount of to-go orders. Point being, if you want a table, it might be a crap shoot. We ordered 3 rolls and my girlfriend got crab rangoons. Can't tell you about the rangoons, but the rolls were very good. Like I said, a lot of them are far from your tradition sushi rolls - even in the specialty roll concept, they were a bit far out. For example, we got the Desert Oasis roll, which has mango and a thai chili sauce. Sounds strange, right? I thought I wouldn't like it, but it was actually my favorite. We also got a Underwater Lake roll, which has boiled shrimp, cucumber, avocado and krab salad - also very good, but again, not very traditional. Finally, we got a Salt Cove roll, which was spicy shrimp, smoked salmon with jalapeno. This one I didn't care for, and I've had sushi with jalapeno before and really liked it, but in my opinion, the flavors didn't really go well together here. So really, I'm deducting a bit for that last roll, but the others were very good. And to Kelp's credit, they go light on the rice, heavy on the fish. Drawbacks to Kelp, besides the size, are the options and prices. They don't have a very extensive menu - 23 rolls (I think) and some appetizers. Seems like a lot, but that's maybe 1/2 a sushi menu at other places. Additionally, they are mostly specialty rolls. They do not have too many of your regular run-of-the-mill rolls. Finally, price wise, most of the rolls are over $10. So if you're looking for your regular $6-$8 sushi rolls, this isn't for you. But if you want to try something different, and really enjoy it, I think you should give Kelp a try
(4)Livia W.
I have eaten here at least 10 times and never fail to be disappointed. Friendly staff & stylish atmosphere. Always spotless. Sustainably sourced fish & partner with Monterey Bay Aquarium. Favorites are the watermelon drink, bronze pebble roll, sunken island roll, and crab rangoon app. Great for lunch or low key dinner.
(5)Jeff D.
I found this place when I was buying shoes next door, big surprise. I love sushi and this place did not disappoint. I had one of there platers, what a good idea most of the time I have to order 3 or 4 different things with the platers you get a bunch of stuff. The fish was fresh and the service was good. I will definitely be back.
(5)Kristen O.
First of all let me start off by saying I was totally freaked out to order sushi from a place I have never been, and have it delivered. The girl that answered the phone asked her manager of they would deliver to be even though I was slightly outside of their radius, they did! Which was so nice. The delivery driver called to confirm my address, and they were earlier than they said they'd be... Which NEVER happens. She was sweet, apologetic because she originally was given the wrong address. The food was great. Sunken island was Delish. It must've gotten tossed around in the car but it was really good, Rangoons were amazing, sauce was fantastic, and the miso soup was good too. I'm super impressed and will def be back!!!
(5)Mary J.
KELP calls itself a sushi joint but that does not do it justice. This small, tasteful dining spot has class and sass. The decor is subdued yet has a touch of swank and swagger to it. Seating is limited but the outside area is really inviting when the weather cooperates. But what really matters is that how the sushi rolls. Glad to say that the philosophy of make it fresh, find it locally, when possible, and let what's in season be part of the seasoning and flavor is part of what makes the already enjoyable sushi even more enjoyable. There's even a premise and a promise of using sustainable seafood which is a stand to be celebrated. As Platinum members of the Florida Aquarium's Seafood Now program, KELP helps support responsibly harvested fish. This sushi stand-out is a bit hard to find within a busy retail center that constantly has cars circling and searching for a place to park. But find it, try it and you are sure to truly enjoy it.
(4)Occy V.
Wesley is the man, I was a fan when he opened the Origami location on Hillsborough. We would go twice a week to eat and the constantly evolving menu every week always kept it fresh.
(4)Abby K.
This place has the best sushi in town! It gets a little pricey for dinner but you can get decent lunch specials. Their miso soup is delicious. Their ginger salad is good but it's a bit on the vinegary side as opposed to a ginger flavor. However, the sushi rocks. I love the spicy tuna, spicy salmon, and the krab salad one. Haven't had a bad one yet.
(5)Christina C.
Wanted to try this place so bad and then when I did it was a big let down. only two tables of people and they were so slow. I was with a table of four (counting me) and they bring out one plate at a time.. ( no big deal ) but when i got mine It had ingredients that I asked not to be included. so by the time i got my right order everyone at the table was done and getting ready to leave. The waitress went on break in the middle of our dinner as she was sitting and eating and someone else took over her tables. I have to say the food was good but i pay for service too.
(2)Serguei V.
Kelp sushi delivered some tasty sushi rolls. I ate the spicy tuna and California rolls. Both were tasty with large pieces of fresh fish within each roll. Ordered takeout over the phone and used a coupon code for $10 off. The order was packed neatly with the rolls tightly wrapped in waxed paper rather than plastic containers. The decor inside was hip and trendy. I would go back with a group and try out more dishes!
(4)Lindsay T.
Amazing sushi and the best sushi delivery I've had in Tampa! Not only was it great for delivery sushi, but it was great in general! The food arrived in just under and hour and we had no problems like some of the other reviews stated. I forgot the names of our rolls but they had the words "pebble" and "glacier" in the names.. So good!
(5)Steve M.
Disappointing. I ordered a chef's special roll, the river roll, and a roll I was told was popular, the bronze pearl. Both were bland and seemed non- fresh. The decor, such as it is, is awful. Felt like eating in a fast food restaurant.
(1)Robin T.
This new sushi place has some of the best sushi in Tampa! They use fresh, local ingredients, which I support, but more importantly, the sushi here is DELICIOUS. They have some very creative rolls for extremely reasonable prices, especially when compared to a lot of the other specialty roll prices in South Tampa. My personal fav is the Ice Volcano, which is massive and probably a meal on its own. The place is pretty small with limited seated inside, but the ambiance is very nice (classy and intimate). GREAT service, friendly people, and the owner is awesome! :) If you like sushi, you should definitely come and give this place a try- you won't regret it!!
(5)John N.
Great looking place and promo for lunch. Not a complete sushi joint and if you like your rolls to be drenched in mayonnaise, this is for you. It's fitting for the area
(3)Daphne W.
Great atmosphere, great friendly service and yummy sushi- but no beer or wine. I guess you can bring in your own beer and wine. Too late for this visit, maybe next time.
(4)EJ P.
NOTE: THIS IS REALLY A 4.5 STAR REVIEW!!!!! The reason I am docking half a star for Kelp Sushi Joint is because they haven't mastered the sticky rice thing yet and the rolls fall apart when you pick them up. Or at least that is what happened to us when we stopped in the other day. Otherwise, this is definitely the freshest most imaginative sushi I've had so far in Tampa Bay. This is the kind of sushi place you'd find in Chicago or Miami or Philly. Awesome variety of rolls, wonderful ambiance/decor, excellent service. I expect this place to get very popular very fast. NOTE: THIS PLACE SEEEMS TO FOCUS MORE ON COOKED ROLLS. The only negatives I see that could affect its success is the location, which you can't really see unless you look very hard. It's not right on Bay to Bay, it's deep in the crevices of a little strip mall on Bay to Bay. Also, the place is very small and has only 4 or 5 tables inside. Lots of outdoor seating, if you are into that. Me, I prefer A/C and no bugs. That could present a challenge as I can easily imagine that once this place gets more popular, inside tables will be scarce. They should have made the kitchen smaller and the dining space larger. Yummy rolls you will be craving all the time.
(4)