A tiny yet very interesting little place! The food was pretty good and the service was quick and friendly. I got the Veggie Yakisoba and ate every last bite. I have to agree with another reviewer about the cucumber water...its amazing! The only things I consider a downside are the prices (a little high, but I suppose worth it due to the quiet atmosphere), and the fact that it wasn't decorated that much. I was looking at the same painting for about an hour and got a little bored. I'd definitely go back though, the food was quite yummy! :)
(4)
Liz G.
Friendly staff Fresh ingredients Amazing Ramen! This is my go-to spot. They definitely have an exceptional attention to detail and are educated about their products. When you ask for water it is cucumber infused water:) Almost every time I have visited I have ordered the Ramen. It is delish. I've also ordered hand rolls, Sashimi, the Brussels and pork belly, and the calms. All get a thumbs up!
(5)
Christopher C.
Lots of sushi options in the area, but Gaysha has a cool, distinctive vibe that's more contemporary than its neighbors. Not Americanized sushi in the sense that the rolls aren't deep-fried or slathered in cream cheese. But not traditional either, with ingredients drawn from this hemisphere and locally. The chef experiments without becoming a foodie caricature. That does mean that any single item can be hit or at least not-hit, but worth tasting through the menu.
(4)
Fidel C.
I was not at all pleased with my visit here. There are plenty of sushi restaurants on the strip of Wilton Drive but this one had very good reviews so I thought I'd give it a shot. The couple at the table next to us was extremely inebriated and almost immediately offered us their brand new, unopened bottle of the most expensive sake Gaysha had to offer. It was great! And I really appreciated that kind gesture from two complete strangers. Once I took a look at the menu, however, my stomach was not pleased with what my eyes saw. All the rolls were unappealing in one aspect or another. They certainly have no traditional menu items you would expect, as being that I do not eat fish-- the California roll was the only thing I felt comfortable eating. How boring....but whatever. The roll was really unappealing. The avocado in my roll was brown and that was gross! I didnt eat a few pieces because of it. I also ordered the pork belly with brussel sprouts. EVEN GROSSER! I felt like they diced pieces of spam and served it with almost uncooked brussel sprouts and called it a day. The pork belly was flavorless and hard. It truly tasted like mystery meat and gave the entire bowl a strange taste. I couldn't even bear to eat the brussel sprouts alone because it just tasted so awful. I would never return here, and I highly suggest Teejays across the street-- thats what I get for cheating on my usual spot!
(1)
Sean R.
As far as sushi places go, This place is off. The decor is right, but it's hipsters rolling the sushi.... It is quite loud and the acoustics Just make all the sounds louder. The sushi is very bland and has no taste. We ordered a specialty roll, it was quite possibly the saltiest sushi I have ever had. The service was decent, which is why I have a second star.
(2)
Susie H.
Best sushi in Fort Lauderdale hands down. Modern and chic! I would recommend Gaysha to anyone who loves sushi. Takeshi and his staff are super friendly and knowledgable and the food is always amazing. If you haven't eaten at Gaysha you are missing out. I wish I could give more than 5 stars.
(5)
Jocelyn P.
Overpriced & under delivered.. Sushi far from fresh wouldn't recommend to anyone! Was brown in color.
(1)
Darryl S.
We first popped into Gaysha when we first moved to Wilton Manors. Now that we're relocating to Melbourne, Australia, in a few weeks, we decided to revisit one of our first South Florida dining experiences. The place was still spare as ever; we were the only customers during our visit. The crew was a new (to us) bunch. Overall, our dishes ranged from good to excellent. (I've added some pictures this time around, along with the prices.) I'm bringing this place down a notch for three reasons: (1) the music was too loud and dirge for our tastes; (2) a couple of the dishes lacked the panache deserving of its price; and (3) the piecemeal delivery of dishes was a bit off-putting, esp. when one person's order is served, while the other has to wait a good five minutes or more for the next order to show up. And, too, this is definitely not a place where you'd come to eat often, as the prices are definitely on the high end. ($18 for two stout espresso beers; $10 for an order of hot sake; $3 for a small bowl of white rice. See my pics for individual prices of various dishes.) Still, though, I'm a fan, and it was worth the splurge....
(4)
Alex P.
This is my first review on Yelp because I have never had an experience that was so awful that the world had to know about it, until tonight. I've eaten the sushi here many times and have always enjoyed it. But I won't be going back, however, because of the miserable experience I and my girlfriend had tonight with the chef's choice ("omakase" on the bill). Where do I start? It took nearly half an hour for our food to begin arriving after I asked for the chef's choice, which was a long time to wait for two hungry people. Sushi usually takes a while to arrive when we've ordered it, but never this long. The wait between dishes just began to drag on and on and on, compounded by the fact that everything was as tiny as possible. First course: some kind of "ceviche." This tasted like nothing so much as a pile of random proteins marinated overnight in vinegar. Anyone who has ever eaten real ceviche knows that it is supposed to be marinated in citrus juices. The vinegar taste was so overpowering we could barely choke it down, but we were hungry and hopeful that the next course would be more substantial and flavorful. Also, there was an octopus tentacle. I like eating octopus, because the octopus is the second-smartest creature on the planet and I enjoy asserting my carnivorous dominance over it whenever possible. It's a shame it didn't taste like an octopus. It was not. The second course was a single shrimp. This was described by our server with all sorts of flourishes, none of which I paid attention to, distracted as I was by the fact that I was still going to be fucking hungry after finishing my single shrimp. To its credit, the shrimp did not taste overwhelmingly like vinegar. Unfortunately, it did not taste good, either. It simply existed, obnoxiously demanding that we acknowledge its presence, like Donald Trump. The third course was mushy tuna tartare blended with jalapenos, which made it taste more like jalapenos than tuna. It was topped with black caviar and little flakes of edible gold. Note to all chefs: the surest way to signal to your guests that you are ripping them off is to top your food with flakes of fucking edible gold. Gold tastes like nothing and adds nothing to your dining experience other than the sense that you are about to spend far more money than your meal deserves. The tuna was inedible for my girlfriend, who does not like jalapenos. So I ate it in shame. The fourth course was three tiny slices of salmon that were basted in a substance that made them taste worse than if they'd simply been offered as sashimi, which I seriously regretted not ordering at this point in the meal. We had by then been sitting there for over an hour and were still very hungry because nothing that was served offered more than half an appetizer's worth of calories. At this point I cut the meal short, paid, and left the restaurant. Some sushi restaurants go out of their way to make you feel special when you order the omakase chef's special. Other restaurants, like Gaysha, give you the stuff no one else would actually want to eat and smile while they charge you three times what you would have paid for a nice sushi dinner. Don't give me fucking gold flakes when I ask for the chef's special. Give me something that tastes good. Is that so fucking hard? Stick to what you're good at and don't try to be fancy. tl;dr, don't order the omakase unless you hate your life.
(1)
Frances A.
With my brother being a sushi chef, I am very particular on where I go for sushi. Have to admit that the sushi was pretty good here. Ended up trying a few items and was pretty happy with the quality of the seafood. Just felt that the prices were a bit high. Tried the below items: Miso Soup Cilantro lime miso soup Yellow Tail Jalapeno Roll Yellow tail and jalapeno, seaweed wrapped on the outside California Roll Lump crab, california avocados, and cucumber rolled inside out with sesame seeds Sashimi Platter Came with 6 different types of fish (honestly can't remember what they were) Overall good experience, wish our server could've warned us that the sashimi platter was $32 though. At least it was pretty enough to be picture worthy.
Organic foodie alert! This place is super cool with the local art (for sale) and locally grown (organic) produce and the freshest fish. The skilled and artist dishes crafted by the AHmazing chefs are to die for! I recommended this place for everyone that is over the deep fried, cream cheese filled artificial crab "sushi"! #foodrevolution at its finest
(5)
Tim T.
Tried last Saturday and had the noodle soup. It was flavorful and the service friendly. Seating is limited but we didn't have a problem saturday at 7:30pm. The ice water they serve is unique!
(4)
Mauricio B.
Considering this place is rated 4.5 stars, we were expecting it to be something special. Unfortunately, that's not what we found. The place is small, but clean with friendly service; however, the food is just medium. The lime cilantro miso soup sounded interesting, however, it did not have much flavor. I also tried their special salmon roll, and found it to be kind of plain. Nice presentation, but lacking flavor. Something that I enjoyed in this visit was the nice selection of Japanese beers they have. I tried the Hitachino brown ale, and it was very good. Full body, hoppy and nice taste. With so many good restaurants in the area, we will probably not come back to this place.
(3)
D'ana N.
This spot is small but great for a small group of friends. Our waiter was really good at explaining the menu and really accommodating. Didn't like how bland some of the rolls were but they had some great and flavorful ones. This spot is worth a try, good prices and good feel. But not what I would consider the best in town.
(3)
Al K.
Trying a new sushi place can be terrifying since good sushi is hard to find. Rest assured this place is awesome!! I instructed them needed a gluten free and vegan roll and the chef prepared something amazing off the cuff. Very small space with only a few tables and kind of odd decor but still initiate and romantic. Our food did take quite awhile to arrive well over 40 mins and we were the only ones besides 1 other couple in the restaurant. However the quality and taste of food is by far worth the wait!
(5)
Chuck K.
Fresh fresh fresh!!!!! That's so refreshing! The food here is always the best!!!! I highly recommend the Diamond Roll!!
(5)
Diana L.
Excited to discover the ramen was part of the special menu. We had the tonkatsu and butter miso which was a vegetable broth. Generous portions and the broth was nice and light, not too oily but very flavorful. The tonkatsu roasted pork wasn't traditional fried tonkatsu which I enjoyed, and the portion was just right. Love the special seaweed salad appetizer, it was delicious cause it was mixed with green seaweed salad and hijiki. They had a nice selection of beer and desserts but after the delicious broth there was no room for it. Loved the ambiance, small casual sushi bar but with personality because of its decorations and good music. Can't wait to go back for some more, happy to find a place that serves traditional ramen (:
(5)
George B.
After horrible take out experience across the street at Tee-Jay Sushi. Returned my take out there and walked across street to Gaysha. explained I had hungry guests at home and needed a lot of good food quick. They were amazing..... Will get lots of return biz from me.....
(5)
Cindy H.
Im not from Ft. Lauderdale or even Florida for that matter but found myself with my friend here first thing after my flight. I hadnt eaten more than half a muffin and ginger ale for over 5 hours so i was voraciously hungry. Miso cod- crazy good. Flaky.. Beautifully seasoned Everything else was fairly good as well. Ramen- ok heres where i had to take a star off. Ive been quite fortunate to have access to pretty awesome ramen houses in LA. The ramen was really not authentic tasting, at least compared to all the ones ive had. The tonkotsu broth wasnt rich and fatty enough and tasted watered down. Like the flavors werent developed for more than an hour. I felt the noodles werent firm enough as well. Plus im not used to $18 bowls of ramen. The service was great, very friendly and points for the giant black dildo since its something I've never stared at while dining out. Wilton Manors for ya!
(4)
Jeremy E.
Gaysha is fabulous! The Takeshi is delicious, I like to squeeze the takoyaki and swallow gobs of his kewpie!
(5)
Danielle R.
The Ramen Soup is amazing! It was priced at $17, which I thought was a little pricey, but was exquisite in its presentation, flavor, and heartiness. It sure helped that it was 60 degrees outside and raining. Which gets me to my next point...it's VERY HARD to find this place. It's in the same plaza as Bill's right next to a real estate place that is painted entirely blue. Just park in the rear (pardon the pun for Wilton Manors); however, you have to walk around the front to get in as the back door is (ahem) deliveries only. Well it was raining and cold...and I had to walk way out of my way to get in and I was rained on when I got in :( boo. sad me. Met a friend for dinner, we ordered Sake (slightly limited menu and they only had the big ones), and the Octopus Carpaccio appetizer (priced at $15). While it was indeed very tasty, it was very tiny, and there was only 5 very thin slices (each was $3), now I like to eat and when I think Octopus I think the big slabs you get at a Greek place. It was more like a 'taste' then an appie. Good, but order something more substantial. Would I go back-- YES-- for the soup for sure. (see pix)
(4)
Jonathan M.
Absolutely the best Sushi place in Fort Lauderdale! You won't find any "imitation" crab here, only the freshest, top notch ingredients! Everytime i order i am impressed! No lunch, boo...but great place!
(5)
Alex G.
Small, chill, casual sushi joint with absolutely the best sushi around! The menu, while not extensive, is a sleeper -- even simple dishes are made at the highest level. Purely sublime. Special rolls were so good I can't even describe them. Yakisoba noodles - perfectly cooked with crisp veggies. Mushroom roll? Try it - served with a super flavorful side sauce. Steamed clams came in a broth so good we practically drank it. This is my new fave place!
(5)
Rebecca S.
Exceptional food and very friendly staff. They definitely take sushi to a new level. The wraps are unique, the food was very fresh, and the place is excellent for a nice dinner before hitting the drive.
(4)
Carmela F.
Was on a solo dining adventure after a happy hour with coworkers in downtown ft Lauderdale. I'm always in the mood for sushi so decided to take a trip to Wilton Manors. I read about and heard about Gaysha and their amazing sushi. . .What I heard and read was true!! I always judge a sushi joint by the quality of the raw selections (also my favorite part about Japanese cuisine) I ordered tuna, salmon, and masago with a quail egg. . .so good I ordered a second round this time with sake. Sweet masago blends perfectly with the rice asmnd quail egg, the salmon and tuna fresh and buttery. The yellow tail jalapeño was also very fresh and perfect bite size pieces. The only down side is I wanted more jalapeño :) Normally, I would order Nigori but they were out and my server suggested a glass of another popular sake, which was also really good and in a cute little bottle. The one negative was the strange odor but the place is small and the kitchen is practically in the same room so that probably had something to do with it. Go to Gaysha if you want quality and friendly service!! I will back again soon perhaps on another solo dining adventure!!
(4)
Almost G.
If the pun in the name turns you off, disappear back to the hell spawn of homophobia that birthed you. If you want to hang out with an awesome crew of adept sushi chefs, seek out Gaysha. They're open late, you won't get sick, the bathroom is epic and the chefs love to make your tastebuds orgasm. It's a small place, so don't bring your whole football team, no matter how much male bonding is going on. Make sure to tip with cash, or dildos. New dildos.
(5)
Kent D.
I walked into Gaysha Sushi with very few expectations but very quickly realized that this small unassuming restaurant prepared their sushi and other Japanese dishes in the classical methods. Gaysha also uses only the best quality fish they can find every day. I lived in New York City for 22 years and I became good friends with two classically-trained Japanese sushi chefs. They taught me to understand the difference between high-quality sushi and run-of-the mill sushi. I began with the hijiki and wakame salad ($8). Excellent. Next I had the scallop appetizer ($12) Superb! All the sashimi: Ika, uni, fluke were extremely fresh and of the highest quality. As I talked with the two young sushi chefs, I found out they also make their own ponzu sauce and their own tamago. The service was fast and riendly and two two sushi chefs are more than happy to discuss how they prepare their food. This small sushi restaurant, located in the heart of Wilton Manors, is on a par with the best sushi restaurants in New York City and Boston. In those cities, my sushi dinners average between $100 and $120 for one person. At Gaysha, my bill was $50 (without any alcohol.) If you appreciate excellent quality sushi with some unusual Fusion touches, try Gaysha. Talk with the chefs about what you like. You will not be disappointed. I plan to go back.
(5)
Raymond Z.
*I used the house made soy sauce very sparingly, I wanted to let the fish speak for itself* The first time I went to Gaysha was several years ago. At the time, I remember driving for about ten minutes waiting for a parking space to open up in the back section of the plaza. I was expecting melt in your mouth sushi like I experienced in NYC and for the toro to be divine. I was disappointed and had not been back since. Since then, I had been meaning to give it another try (as I do with most other restaurants) but did not force myself to until now. After some shopping at To The Moon, I walked over to Gaysha and was seated promptly. I sat at the sushi bar to try and get a glimpse of the action. After some deliberation and inquiries, I was ready to order. I started with a Kimchee Crab Cake ($10) as an appetizer. Before this, I haven't eaten a crab cake so I wasn't sure what to expect texture or taste wise. The top and bottom was slightly crispy and as a whole the crab cake was about room temperature warm. After biting into it, I saw what I assume were minced pieces of kimchee and of course, crab meat. The mayo-like drizzle on top didn't add too much to the dish, but the garnish of what was possibly cayenne pepper on the plate certainly gave that extra heat. I also enjoyed the black caviar on top as a garnish. I would probably order this again just to write a better description. Next up, I chose an Oyster, Hokkaido Scallop, and Hamachi Belly ($3-$4 each) with the latter two served as sushi. The oyster was served in the shell and was a bit smaller than I was expecting. The pico de gallo-like topping gave a complement to the fresh sea taste of the oyster. The Hokkaido Scallop was the one item that had the most melt in your mouth texture, and had a great sweetness to it. I enjoyed that item the most. The Hamachi Belly was a bit tougher and more chewy, but the jalapeno on top matched the texture well. Finishing off, I chose the Cabana Boy roll ($15: Shrimp and cucumber on the inside, topped with white fish, garlic, ginger, garlic chives, finished with hot olive oil, sesame oil and soy sauce), The shrimp was plump and juicy and paired well with the crisp cucumber. The whitefish on top was tougher than the rest of the roll, and I did not really taste the ginger or fried garlic. As for the sauce combination, there was a hint of soy sauce and slightly less so on the sesame oil. The roll would've stood better if the sauce was more of a drizzle on the roll and the olive oil stood out less. Overall, I would probably go for the Pink Ranger roll next time (Salmon and cucumber on the inside topped with salmon and fresh basil, drizzled with a balsamic soy reduction) or focus more on sushi/sashimi to truly get a more traditional taste of the fish.
(4)
S. K.
I was invited to Gaysha's opening night by a close friend. I was completely hooked! The food is always fresh, combinations original and atmosphere relaxed and friendly. If you're not sure what to order, just ask. The friendly staff is always there to help. My only complaint is that once you eat here, sushi at other places just won't taste as good :) so you're going to have to come back here! I love this place!
(5)
Steve L.
Nice quaint place - food and service were both excellent Had a nice combination of traditional and modern takes on Japanese. The ramen was also delicious
(5)
Hin C.
I went there on a Sunday night because I read the good reviews on their Tonkatsu Ramen they had because my friends and I were craving ramen. We got there, it was a small restaurant. Seating capacity was no more than 30. Service was slow and this restaurant was not big at all. I ordered the Tuna Salmon CC roll which was pretty good, but it was poorly made and cut. I also had a Tonkatsu Ramen which came out like 15 minutes later after the CC roll. As always, I take a picture of the food before I touch it. They forgot to give each of us soup spoons. I grabbed my chopsticks and soup spoon and started digging in. First I tasted the broth which wasn't bad at all, then I noticed that I only had 1 slice of pork and a bit. I picked up the pork and I examined it, I was really disappointed. Bringing back sad and disappointed memories, I changed this review to ONE star... im not the type of person who'll send food back unless there's something realllllly wrong with my food, and this isn't one of them. The picture of my RAMEN below is untouched as you can see, the onions, relish, bamboo, scallions are still in their spots. One slice of pork and the SMALL piece(size of a QTR/half dollar)touching to the scallions.
(1)
Robert B.
What an experience! Food options were incredibly creative and delicious. Staff is courteous and colorful. You can tell the chefs really put heart into what they do by the foods appearance alone. I was also told their health department scores were stellar which was why I came in the first place since I chose to eat a dish containing raw fish. I will definitely be coming back here. Also: owner is NOT yakuza.
(5)
Annie R.
No words. Amazing. You won't find cream cheese and spicy mayo here, and I love that. Best sushi I've ever had. Get the diamond roll and cabana boy roll, you won't be disappointed. They even created a special roll for me not on the menu.
(5)
Alexis O.
I cannot say enough great things about Gaysha Sushi. This is by far my favorite sushi restaurant in Fort Lauderdale and by far the best among all the small little sushi spots in Wilton Manors. Don't be overwhelmed by the choice of sushi options in Wilton, this is the go to place. It is a small and intimate setting, so it is perfect to go with a friend or a significant other. Gaysha offers organic and fresh ingredients with every sushi roll- AND it shows. They are creative in the composition of flavors. Some highlights are the Pink Ranger Roll (this is a must get for any Salmon lover), Yellowtail Jalapeño roll (which is great for the value at $7), and the Spicy Love. I have also had the Cabana Boy, but this is not my favorite as I find it slightly bland for my taste buds). Gaysha features a delicious variety of sake and the waiters are always there to fill your water glass, which is nice with some of the spicy dishes.
(5)
Jeremy B.
I read on Yelp and heard from a friend of mine that this place was good and my wife suggested we go out for sushi with the family the night before Mother's Day since we were going out of town the next day. It ended up being pretty good. We started with edamame as usual but Gaysha has Garlic Soy Edamame which was awesome because it was like regular edamame but they sauteed it garlic, soy, and sake so it was super flavorful. Well worth the extra $1 over the regular stuff. They have a decent wine selection and also some craft beers. I had a Great Divide Lasso IPA ($7) and my wife had one of the Hitachino Nest Ales ($9), which are Japanese craft beers. Awesome that they have this because many sushi restaurants ignore good beer and serve garbage Saporro, Asahi, or Kirin beers that are all terrible. They didn't have any high chairs for my 1 yr old but she did enjoy the miso soup and side of white rice. Us adults shared the tuna tartare appetizer and a few sushi rolls. The best ones were the South of the Border Roll ($15) (Tuna, romaine lettuce, sriracha on the inside, topped with fresh tuna and homemade ponzu salsa) and the Red Dragon Roll ($15) (shrimp, romaine lettuce, cucumber, schiracha, eel inside out with red tobiko and avocado slices). They don't have any tempura rolls because they are "health conscious" according to the waitress. All in all, the service was OK considering they were not busy on a Saturday night, and we enjoyed the food and thought it was priced reasonably because the sushi rolls were good-sized portions. We will go back to Gaysha again...
(3)
Ali S.
Let me preface this with I must confess that I'm a huge sushi snob and I only eat nigiri. If you're going to this place with the intention of eating anything else, then this review won't be very helpful. With that said, I have no idea how this place has 4.5 stars and glowing reviews that say things like the "freshest fish." I tried the salmon, hamachi, toro, whitefish of the day (grouper), and the sweet middle neck clams. The hamachi was fine but definitely previously frozen, but everything else was terribly fishy!! Even the salmon was bad and that is saying a lot because places can often get away with mediocre quality, but this was well below mediocre. If you're looking for quality sushi in the area - Yelp told me this place has the highest rating - I would advise trying the number 2 or 3 option on Yelp because you won't find fresh, delicious sushi here.
(2)
Lissa g.
One of the best sushi place is on the drive very fresh authentic you really feel like you're in Japan it's pretty neat and it's a good place to go in the dr at any time of the day enjoy
(4)
Gregory S.
Small place but great sushi. More on.the casual side. Really enjoyed the laid.back atmosphere The only issue i have is they are under staffed and the stove emits some unpleasant smoke into the small restaurant
(3)
Josephine F.
Great sushi, yummy and fresh. The place is little but very clean and friendly. Best sushi sushi in Wilton Manors.
(5)
Mike S.
Service is as good as it gets in Wilton Manors. The food was unbelievably good. The Brussel Sprouts were to die for!
(5)
Lori R.
OMG - the sushi here is FAAAABulous! Always something new and creative on the menu. Christina, our favorite server, is exceptionally helpful and knowledgeable! It's a very small restaurant and you always leave smelling like sesame oil, but that's part of the ambiance!
(5)
Gina B.
This place is the bomb! Seriously, the best sushi I've ever had. I went to Gaysha Sushi with a friend and we ordered the seaweed salad and the cabana boy roll and they were both delicious! I love the whole "health conscious eater" concept of this place. You can definitely tell that they use high quality ingredients in their food which is great. Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Rick S.
This place, by far, is top down the best sushi I've tasted. Located in the heart of Wilton Manors, parking is a little scarce but was available in the back. The decor was impeccable and art covered the place, even the restroom was quirky (sounds weird but oddly true) and just overall very reflective of the Wilton Manors area. The sushi is not cheap but the quality and vibrancy of the plates are well worth the money. Ask about the specials because they change frequently but are always dynamic and creative. The service was quick and attentive, one of the best parts actually; it's a smaller place but don't be put off. Gaysha sushi is a diamond in the rough to be sure, if you're in Wilton Manors you simply must stop here for dinner!
(5)
Chloe E.
Exceeded my expectations. Service was very pleasant. Food was delicious: seaweed salad, crab cake, spicy love rolls and yellowtail roll. Drinks were delightful and buzz worthy (plum sake & hot sake). I also Loved the cucumber water. Overall, this place left a great impression on me. Thank you Christina & staff!
(5)
Jeff A.
Fabulous place for sushi. Consistently great quality. I recommend the homemade ramen and the tuna tataki. The sushi is as beautiful as it is delicious.
(5)
Sergey T.
This is a fantastic place! The food is delicious and I am currently here alone (probably because of the rain) enjoying immensely as if I had a private chef and waiters :)
(5)
dima p.
Stick to the appetizers and the "Americanized" rolls. The sashimi not so great. The wait staff is super nice and attentive. Tried the tuna caprice and that was awesome, it's like a caprice salad with tuna on top. The usual rolls are good california, tuna, etc. If you know your sushi though this might not be the place as the sashimi seemed frozen.
(3)
Galina M.
This place is unbelievable. The freshest uni ever!!! Its a very unique place - small, must sit at the bar and chat with the owner, Takeshi. Hes uber fun and knows a lot about fish, sushi... Must order rolls: south of the border, pink ranger. Must order appetizer: seared white fish (snapper). Must order small dish: kimchi crabcake, but only if u like kimchee, otherwise itll taste weird to u. Unagi here is very fresh as well. What really amazed us about this place is that they dont have a fryer or a microwave so thats a true testament to how fresh their fish and ingridients are. Takeshi uses very unique and creative combination of ingridients to fill up the rolls - they are just enough - not too much where they would overwhelm the taste of fish. Its an art, trully! Oh and their scallop comes straight from Hokkaido, japan, flash frozen!!! So exciting! I wish he was in Chicago then wed go there like all the time. Sigh. Highly recommend u wont regret trying out this place!
(5)
Jason T.
I love this place. My partner and I come here at least 2 times a month. Service is always awesome and friendly. I love the creativity put into the dishes. Not the typical JB roll kind of spot. My favorite Items - The Seaweed Salad is yum, Himachi Crab Cake. Salmon Salad is super good.
Great food, Super friendly people, and what we had was fresh. Love that they make everything even their sauces. Its not the typical american Jap places where they do spicy mayo and cream cheese everything. Its still Japanese with a twist. :) The uni amazing!!! Yum everything!!! SORRY I STARTED EATING AND FORGOT TO TAKE MORE PHOTOS
(5)
Sandra P.
Unexpected and delicious! I went based on the reviews here because Yelp rarely steers me wrong. They have cucumber water (don't be alarmed, they don't tell you), and pride themselves on being fresh, organic, and appeal to the healthier side by not offering anything fried--I could deal with that. They also played music like Weezer and Mumm-Ra (if you know who they are and enjoy them, you're in luck--not that their choice in music should have anything to do with their food). Food came out quick. We ordered the Red Dragon Roll, Cabana Boy, Tuna Salmon CC Roll, and had a chef's choice sushi (which consisted of eel, buffalo mozzarella, and cucumber on the inside/topped with seared tuna, eel sauce, fried garlic--I don't know what happened to the 'no frying' thing but I wasn't about to complain, and spicy mayo). ALL were DELICIOUS, fresh, and offered its own unique flavor. Try those. They also had a tonkatsu ramen ($18) that sounded delicious, and I would've tried it but I wasn't hungry enough.. four plates of sushi was all I could handle. I took a star off for how pricey it was (four plates of sushi between two people for $60 before tax and tip), but I'm just being picky. Given the unique selections, and all the ingredients they used, I wouldn't have expected it to be any less. Not sure where all these other self-proclaimed sushi snobs have dined though, must be somewhere unbelievably incredible, and then some... cause I thought this place was fantastic. :)
(4)
Yoni M.
The absolute best. Creative while maintaining traditional and quality standards. Haven't been disappointed once by anything
(5)
Penny L.
food was not good had the special roll and ramen yuck not good at all way better sushi in the area ramen was really bad
(1)
Derek E.
Granted its small size, it has a huge flavor on dishes! An awesome and friendly staff makes the place even better! The owner has brought a new and awesome twist on traditional Japanese dishes. Best is the dragon roll and green tea ice cream! You will not be disappointed! Granted a little more on the pricy side, worth it!
(5)
Michael Y.
Great service, Friendly staff. They have this most amazing cucumber water... I know it's funny to rave about it.... but you gotta have it. Their sushi is in the top 5% in fort lauderdale restaurants.
(5)
Destiny S.
Gaysha is definitely the freshest, cleanest, most creative sushi spot in Fort Lauderdale. Also, they have a fabulous selection of non sushi items and ridiculously good ramen. I love their beer selection as well. There are so many places to eat sushi in this town, and I've tried them all, seriously. Gaysha continues to be my favorite.
(5)
amy s m.
This place rocks! Hands down the best and freshest sushi. The owner hand picks all the fish and it's so fresh. It's so good it melts in your mouth. My favorite is the Pink Ranger roll, yummy. There rolls are so yummy and have different tastes than most sushi restaurants. We go there at least 2 x a month. It's now our favorite sushi place and the cooked food is quite Delicious as well.
(5)
Krys P.
Trust me, I wish I can give it more stars, along with all the raving reviews this place received, but that would be a disservice to all the places who truly deceive more. I don't mind the spartan decor, I actually like its Zen simplicity, with the calligraphy and bamboo. The menu is indeed very small, concentrated on cold dishes. Those hankering for an udon, teriyaki or katsudon will be disappointed, as there is not much beyond a few salads and rolls on the menu. That I don't mind either. In Japan these dishes belong to different restaurants and indeed you don't expect to find everything in one place. My main complain is the quality of the fish. If you specialize in a small menu of sushi, you better do it good. And I mean more than presentation. After all, it's what goes into my mouth that counts. I don't know if I just happen to visit on a day they ran out of good fish, but in all honestly, they just aren't good sashimi. They lack the delicate, fresh flavor of fresh sashimi. I don't mean to brag, but I've eaten sushi up and down the east coast and on both sides of the Pacific, and I know what a heavenly experience it is when a good piece of fish melts in your mouth. We tried like 6 different dishes, including the much mentioned Spicy Love Roll and tataki. The mushroom roll is my favorite (I guess because there is no mediocre fish to disappoint me.) Consider this: about 80% of the rolls on the menu has a spicy sauce or pepper in it. If you have fresh ingredient, you use minimal flavoring to let the ingredient stands out. Spices are usually used to mask slightly old ingredients. That's where spicy tuna and pepper beef comes from.
(3)
Luis P.
If you're in the Ft. Lauderdale/Wilton Manors area and care more about the quality of your sushi than having the best backdrop for a selfie, this is your place! The food is super fresh and there's always something new to try on the menu. Takeshi & Stephanie (the 2 grown ass men behind the sushi bar) are always willing to change something up to fit your taste & keep us coming back. If you're not sure what to get, close your eyes and point at the chalk board, you can't go wrong. If you're looking for something light, the garlic soy edamame & Tuna Salmon CC Roll are pretty great! If your looking for something cooked, the Tonkotsu Ramen or Miso Sea Bass(if it's on the board) are excellent too! If you're looking for something you haven't had before, order the Omakase... aka Chef's Choice. They ask you what ingredients you'd like to avoid and create 4 incredible courses. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Hannah L.
The decor of this restaurant is perfect for art enthusiasts, fans of appealing aesthetics, and/or college students. The servers are really nice and easy to talk to. Horribly pricey but the sushi was amazing. But $12 for a California roll? Girl, bye. Normally I wouldn't mind but I'm trying to save money at the moment. Being a broke college girl and all that jazz.
(4)
Amanda B.
Some of the best sushi I have ever had in south Florida--or even ever! Simple, fresh rolls. Good prices for the amount of fish you get. I've been to almost every sushi place around and this one is my favorite!
(5)
Ben J.
Amazing food. The decor does not match the quality of food. We had great service and some of the most creative and delicious sushi we have experienced in many years. The name and decor may scare you away, but you'll miss great food if you let them.
(5)
Enoch T.
Overprice food for average Japanese food. The ramen 'special' there was 17, which was only rather average. It had good reviews so I figured why not. Nothing more special than any other ramen I tried. They also added an 18% gratuity without asking and we only had a party of 4. If you are up for over price average food this is your place. If not there are tons of sushi bars better than this. Definitely not the 'world's best sushi bar'
(1)
Colleen C.
It was Thursday, January 17th, 2013. The day was dark, but the rain did not fall quite so heavy as the rushing wave of regret I experienced for not trying Gaysha sooner. After a brief conversation about the delightful nature of cucumber water and extensive Google searches, my coworker and I headed out to Wilton Manors to see if the reviews claiming "wild sexy magic in my mouth" and "angels made love on my tongue" (two separate reviewers, mind you) could be trusted. Conclusion: These reviewers did not truly capture the near-orgasmic experience that results from eating here. A puddle of drool is pooling beneath me as I write this review, fantasizing about going to Gaysha. Within a week of my first visit, I'd been here four times --- please believe it'd have been more if I lived less than 30 minutes away. I briefly considered breaking my current lease and moving to the area. Things that I have eaten here (and highly recommend): Side Salad with Ginger Dressing, Edamame, Tuna Tataki, King Crab California Roll, Wilton Rainbow Roll, Tuna Salmon CC Roll, Spicy Love, Cabana Boy, Pink Ranger, South of the Border Roll, and a few other things that people launched into my mouth in my sushi-induced haze. The beer might have had something to do with that haze, too ---- OH WAIT, I DIDN'T MENTION THE BEER YET?! Let me start off by saying, I LOVE beer. It takes a lot for me to get excited about alcohol, and my first impression of this small restaurant was that I'd settle on some mediocre drink and continue to live my life with no notable reaction or effect. That was until I experienced Lucky Beer and (my new all-time favorite) Morimoto Soba Ale. Either of these are perfect companions for your meal, although I often find myself triple-fisting with a beer in one hand, my cucumber water in another hand, and my chopsticks in another.
(5)
Stephanie A.
Amazing sushi, loved the salmon salad, and the carb free tuna roll! super super fresh tasting! all in all i loved this place only reason i didnt give it a 5 is because the ramen was a bit expensive and lacked meat. (only 3 small pieces of pork) other than that everything was amazing. service, food and price EXCELLENT! :)
(4)
Natalie S.
WOW! I'm so happy my friend Joel introduced me to this WONDERFUL place! The Ramen was to DIE for! I asked for it nice and spicy--the delivered. Fresh ingredients--wonderful experience. Made me feel loved inside :) Started with the house salad and a couple of pieces of sashimi.....the house salad was a meal in itself--the dressing was AMAZING--nice and fresh. The sashimi (grouper and tuna) YUM! My friend has vegetarian sushi (not that crappy carrot stick and avocado nonsense)--he told the chef to create and she did. It was FANTASTIC! In conclusion am totally in love with this place and will probably be there almost every single day.
(5)
Jimmy H.
Yelp has wronged me before in the past but they totally got it right this time! So right that I even made a yelp account just so I can tell you about it! Battling the torrential downpours of FTL, (i'm a californian and have not owned an umbrella until today) my gf and I made it to Gaysha. The design and set-up is very simple and trendy without feeling overly pretentious. I decided to go with the Omakase while my gf opted for the seaweed salad, miso soup, and pink ranger roll. One word...three syllables, to sum it up. FAB-U-LOUS! The sushi was out of this world fresh and all of the sauces and dressings are made from scratch! I could actually enjoy each piece of delicacy without having to wipe all the mayo off that all those other sushi restaurants use to mask up their subpar fish! And that wasn't all. I finished the meal with a scrumptious bowl of seafood ramen. Having had ramen in Japan town in both NorCal and SoCal, Gaysha's ramen def gives the others a run for their money! My gf was sick and didn't have much of an appetite but she cleaned out all of her plates and even indulged in some of my Omakase! Now only if I can convince the chef/owner to move a little further westward...thanks Gaysha for being the highlight eatery of my short FTL trip! I will come back for you someday! *sigh*
(5)
Danielle D.
Fresh, innovative, delicious. Don't think twice, just go ! This place is a must-dine.
(4)
Talia G.
This place has become our new go-to for sushi when we feel like having a nice, low key date night. Every time I've been there the service has been wonderful and the food is so well made. Rice tastes fresh, as does the fish. They pride themselves in using organic, healthy ingredients. You won't find any mayo, cream cheese or tempura here. They have some interesting twists to your traditional rolls - think fresh jalapenos and schiracha eel. They have several signature rolls not on the menu that are to die for... like the Spicy Love, Cabana Boy, and Pink Ranger. They also have a nice selection of craft beers. The Rogue hazelnut is my favorite. The place itself is pretty average.. nothing to rave about. But it's clean and has very minimalist decor. Not complaining... I'd rather they focus on the food than the decor! Based on the people that seem to hang out there, it seems like a very hipsterish place. Nothing wrong with that either... just an FYI.
(4)
Beelze B.
Mediocre food; expensive for what it it's; tiny portions
(1)
Nighthawk H.
The food here is very fresh. Staff is knowledgeable, attentive, and polite. My favorite dish here is the spicy ramen and the garlic edamame is also very good. I have tried to spicy love roll, and that was also very delicious. The food here is extremely fresh, and I really like the cucumber water.
(5)
Casey B.
I love this place, it's near my home and I finally got to go and try the food there. I feel badly that it took me this long to get to it but it was worth the wait. The food is top notch, and the small intimate atmosphere make it an ideal date night place. I took my mother here on her most recent visit and she loved it. Takeshi runs an ace business and I suggest that any locals who have not tried this place do so as well as tourists. You will not be let down!
(5)
Daniel B.
Unusual sushi selections and very little for non-sushi fans so be aware. Mom is not a sushi person and did find one item she would try and loved it! My selections were fresh and delicious. I'd be more specific but this was weeks ago. Can't remember all the exact details but I would definitely go back, with a sushi lover.
(4)
Jacky M.
The food is very tasty. The ginger dressing is the best in town. Meals are pricey however, the food is really fresh, all organic. Tried the garlic soy edamame and an assortment of rolls. The meal was pretty tasty but dine outside because the inside is way too stuffy.
(3)
Ben S.
I moved away from Ft. Lauderdale about 10 months ago and not a week goes by when I don't want to go eat Takeshi's sushi. The man is an artist. The fresh fish and array of flavors... I'm salivating just writing this. Go here! Eat all the sushi because I won't be able to for another 3 months. This will be the first stop (After my mother's house) when I return to Florida.
(5)
Albina S.
After the first time trying Ramen soup at Gaysha, i would not go anywhere else.. period. Fresh seafood every time, great atmosphere and amazing service that what brings me back every week. Tried almost every item on the menu! I highly recomend to try Toro, CC roll and Seafood Ramen. AMAZING!
(5)
Kathleen P.
Fresh fish, great rice, awesome prices, lovely staff! Go here! Dishes were elegantly flavored with focus on health consciousness and taste. We had five dishes and each one was delicious. Wait staff/ sushi chef were informative and friendly. Best sushi in Ft Lauderdale and our family eats sushi four times a week. Restaurant is intimate, atmosphere is friendly. Music was fun and hardly noticeable over the savory flavor explosions. Plus Wilton Manners is always entertaining with some lively characters...we will be going back here frequently! Given high marks because quality, flavor, friendliness, and price hit the bullseye.
(5)
Shatha S.
Aweful sushi.... No brown rice. No tempura.... Dragon roll is dry in ur mouth from too much rice.
(2)
Michelle B.
Cucumber water for the win! Attentive and friendly staff. Fresh and innovative specials. Will be back! Go Tom!
(4)
Jennifer R.
Just when my husband and I had given up on South Florida dining, we had dinner last night at Gaysha. We mostly ordered the specials - monkfish pate, salmon carpaccio, mackeral tataki, south of the border roll. Its crazy that the first place that actually had spicy salsa was a Japanese restaurant. I was so happy to have fresh, lovely Japanese food - and for once a sushi place that wasn's Sushi/Thai or had chicken wings on the menu! As others have said - you won't find the standard California roll or other Americanized staples on the menu - but you won't miss them either. Its a small menu but lovely portions and very reasonable prices. We are definitely going back, already thinking about next meal at Gaysha.
(5)
Kevin L.
Great food... awesome staff!!
(5)
Ron B.
I must pre-empt by saying that I consider atmosphere to be an important factor when I assess a dining experience. I'm not sure where everyone that gave this place five stars has been getting their sushi, but I it's just OK IMO. The sushi was fine....certainly nothing wrong with it...except for one personal issue I have with them...if you wanted to visit often, it would be nice if you could buy the inexpensive rolls...and their basics (I.e. spicy tuna, Ca rolls) are very well priced at $5 - 7...but they are only available with the nori on the outside...who does that still? Not offering rolls inside out is like wearing a sweater vest...it might have been fashionably acceptable at one point in time, but that time is long over. So, if you are like me, and only enjoy rice-out rolls, you're immediately in the specialty section, where the rolls run from $10 to $15... Not outrageous at all, but more like once-a-month pricing, not 2 to 3 times a week pricing. I would also say that the level of service has slipped since they first opened...nothing wrong per se, just some sort of tough chicks now that don't exactly exude warmth (as opposed to previous visits). The beer, wine and sake selection is adequate, although nothing you would rave about at all. The primary shortcoming of this place, however, is the atmosphere...it is tiny (15-20 seats) and lacking in anything to look at, see, feel, do...just you and your co-diners and your food. It is also not terribly busy, which adds to the general lack of atmosphere. Not that I won't go back nor do I mean to discourage anyone from going and having some decent sushi...but I did feel obligated to balance the reviews on here with some alternate thinking. By all means go and try it for yourself...just do so with some more realistic expectations.
(3)
Travis S.
This place is amazing! The restaurant is small and easy to miss. Make sure to keep a eye out because this place is well worth it. The sushi is fresh along with the herbs they use are home grown. I would say the only down side is they are a small restaurant that needs to expand. They have a spicy love role that is to die for as well.
(5)
Ryan S.
Innovative, fresh and creative. So far my favorite sushi place in Fort Lauderdale by far. A bit on the pricey side ad the specials do not rotate enough, but fantastic nonetheless.
(5)
Lori L.
Don't walk by, this is a great little place. Both the food and service are excellent. We will defiantly be back.
(5)
Chantal C.
Gaysha is a great restaurant located conveniently off Wilton Drive. If it's your first time visiting and aren't too sure on what to order then don't be shy! Chef Takeshi can literally make you anything your heart desires. If you are a traditionalist when it comes to your Japanese food then maybe Gaysha isn't right for you; however, if you love Japanese food and are looking for a new innovative play on both display and flavor then this is the place for you! The miso soup is refreshing with the hint of cilantro and citrus Chef Takeshi added. The Sashimi Salad appetizer is more than enough for two (maybe even three) and is absolutely delicious. Honestly, the dressing on the salad will have you wanting to lick the plate. I've also had the Live Scallop Sashimi (it is my display photo) and not only was it some of the tastiest scallops I've ever had but the display was breath taking and a true work of art. The rolls are super fresh, made to order, and to die for! The Spicy Love Roll is a must for anyone that visits Gaysha. I've also eaten the South of the Border Roll and it features the most amazing salsa created personally by Chef Takeshi. You may even want to ask for an extra side of salsa for dipping it is that good! I also had tuna and cooked mushroom tacos. Yes, I said tacos! They are absolutely delicious and come with a side of jalepenos, salsa, and cilantro sauce. It should be noted that all products are fresh, not frozen, which makes a huge difference in flavor. Also, if you are looking for a California Roll with imitation crab then don't bother coming here. Gaysha ONLY USES REAL CRAB!!! If you are looking for great food and a nice intimate atmosphere then come to Gaysha. Even if you dine alone you will be the great company of friendly employees who will keep you company. If you come with a small group there is plenty of seating so no need to worry. There are even dinner specials where chef Takeshi will prepare you a multiple course meal that gives you a taste of everything he has to offer and is extremely reasonably priced. If you plan on coming with a large group (6 or more) then I recommend calling ahead and having the tables arranged for you. It takes two minutes and then you don't have to worry about seating as that appears to be a concern for others on here. Oh, it should be noted that music is played at this establishment but not to worry, it is not played loudly and it is a great variety. I wouldn't describe it as "emo" as that is a term to describe a musical genre that came out after the 2000s but I would say you get a great variety of hits from the 80s and 90s. Honestly, I usually come with someone else and don't even notice the music. You most likely won't notice it either.
(5)
Joe B.
Really top notch sushi. Love this place. Simple and local and not a large menu... but clean and very good food! You will not go wrong with this place!
(5)
Amy R.
It's really hard to get sushi in South Florida these days without cream cheese, tempura flakes or a roll that's so fried it wouldn't matter what kind of fish you were getting. Not here at Gaysha. None of that Americanized nonsense. I was really happy to find that they use only fresh fish, fresh ingredients and even have a nice selection of craft beers and organic wines. Hell, even their water is filtered and infused with cucumber and mint! They have some sushi menu staples like the tuna and salmon roll, but it's the specialty rolls that set them apart. Everything we tried was delicious and we were definitely enamored with the Spicy Love Roll! Our waiter was also really helpful in explaining everything they do and recommending things to try for our taste. Price was right on too! We will definitely be back!!
(5)
Tanya C.
Excellent! The fish is very fresh and I love the unique rolls the chef creates. Definitely worth the trip if you are in the area!
(5)
Karri B.
Best Sushi! Great Service, all organic. Definitely be back!
(5)
E B.
F@#*ING AWESOME..... no other way to describe it. Freshest sushi with the best taste in all of Broward maybe the world! This place is a sushi bar and thats all you will find here. It is small but the staff is super friendly and very knowledgeable. The sushi chef/owner is super cool. The inside of this place reminds me of Miami ink. Cool art on the wall. Over all there's not one negative thing about this place.
(5)
Julie F.
Last night was my third visit to Gaysha. For starters, I had a salad with ginger dressing. Once I was finished eating the greens, i could see lil bits of carrots and ginger left in the bowl. This ginger dressing is definetly home made and delicious. Then I had a King Crab California roll. The owner/chef cracked a fesh crab leg to make this roll. You will not find any imitation crab stick used here. Last, but not least, I had a salmon skin roll. It was lightly drizzled with eel sauce, not drowning like most other places. Considering everything is fresh and organic, you will be suprised how affordable this place is. Oshi!
(5)
Anne N.
This place is fantastic! The sushi is out of this world...so fresh and doesn't have a bunch of gooey mayo on it. The seaweed salad was delicious and very different in taste as compared to other places. Not only was the sushi great the ramen was superb as well! Must eat here!
(5)
Carol M.
I was not impressed with this restaurant. We ordered a Tonkatsu noodle soup. First, it had very little flavor. I think it came from a package and they just added too much water to it. Second, there was no tonkatsu. Third it was way over priced, $18. We also ordered a cucumber roll. Their sushi rice is not properly seasoned. This is not authentic Japanese cuisine.
(1)
Mark B.
Love this place. Cool place on the drive with the best sushi and some of the most unique choices that change daily. So fresh it's still swimming. :) Lower prices make this place a great value too. You can also order off menu.
(5)
NJ H.
I love this place!!!!! I've been there twice and both times it was amazing. The chef's specials are always fantastic. This prices are fair as well. I can't wait to go back! I have two dishes I have to recommend are the tuna caprese and the miso soup. Both dishes are traditional with a twist. The caprese is the same, but with a soy balsamic and fresh tuna on top! The miso soup has a citrus fusion that makes it out of this world!!! If your feeling like having sushi you need to check this place out ASAP!
(5)
Javier C.
Awesome flavors! Very creative.
(5)
Ed N.
I avoided this for the first few months after it opened because I couldn't take the name seriously. Sorry I missed out on something great and I've made up for it eating there about once a week since I first stopped in. This is a small sushi place where the owner is behind the sushi bar and coming up with original takes on rolls and sushi with the freshest ingredients. Very health conscious spa kind of flare down to strips of cucumber in the water to add an interesting flavor. Food is incredibly good and that's from somebody who eats a LOT of sushi and sashimi. Their sushi is good, rolls are fantastic. Sashimi isn't their strongest suit. Service slows down when it's crowded which is understandable. Very worthwhile experience. The 80's rock with Talking Heads and Pretenders and etc playing made me feel right at home too. And open til 3 AM on weekends !
(4)
Harald F.
Amazingly delicious Sushi. Today this place was completely empty but thanks to yelp reviews we went there anyway and did not regret it. One of the best Sushis we ever had!
(5)
Kate A.
We've heard nothing but amazing things about this place and I am happy to say...I concur! This little unassuming spot had a table open on a Friday night when we popped in and we were greeted immediately by the waiter who wound up being knowledgeable and attentive throughout our meal. We decided to do the tasting menu because the menu was small and we wanted to try everything. We had 5 courses of the freshest fish! Beautiful presentation and flavors. The tuna salad and ramen were standouts! An all around fantastic experience! Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Thomas Z.
This place is great ! This is my second time here in the past 2 weeks. The food is freshly prepared to order, and not already sitting prepared in a refrigerator like many Sushi places in South Florida. The Chef is friendly and makes you feel welcome. The wait staff is very knowledgeable, friendly, attentive, and informative ! The menu is creative, diverse, and they put a unique spin on typical sushi items. I'll be back here every 2 weeks from now on !!
(5)
Roger V.
I absolutely love the menu, food and staff are fun. Great local dinner spot ;-)
(5)
Mike W.
Outstanding job setting up a small sushi bar and making all the right tradeoffs. Takeshi-san cannot carry the huge inventories of a Matsuri in his cozy sushibar. But he does make decisions not to carry any poor quality, uncool ingredients like kani stick, cream cheese, escolar, etc. Take a look in the sushi case, then sit down and enjoy some great sushi. Try some of the soba ale while your there too, it's good. More deets at blog.sushi.pro/2011/11/g… Also, notice how friendly they are in a nice, informal setting like this. Just kick back with the Gaysha signature roll and enjoy.
(5)
John A.
Chef's choice. You will not be disappointed with ANYTHING here. Superb service. Superb food!!
(5)
Derek J.
Great food! Great staff! Very cute. Would be hard to come here with a larger group of friends, but is very nice. Doubt I will go to other sushi places in the area for awhile :-)
(4)
Kreisten S.
My boyfriend took me to Gaysha for my birthday and I loved it! The food was fantastic. The service was great. And they had a great beer selection! Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Tim E.
Great little place to have good sushi. They serve cucumber scented water and the food is wonderful. It is very small and not fancy. This is a place to go for good sushi with some friends and have a good time. Food prices are reasonable.
(5)
Shawn C.
Deceiving in its spartan and maybe a little dingy appearance. But overall we loved the simplicity and freshness. And with sushi that's what's it's all about. We'd definitely go back!
(4)
James L.
I was hankering for sushi last night, and this new place had opened up within walking distance, so I figured it was worth a shot! Plus it's name was too good to pass on. GAYsha haha! I read the previous review, and I have to say I was skeptical. I'd heard of folks that would write fake reviews and what not, and the one earlier from mine was simply GLOWING with too many emphatic statements to take seriously. But, again, I figured it was worth a shot. I ordered three things. I got the seaweed salad, Dragon Roll, and something else I can't remember, but it was a low-carb option thing. I have to say all three items were EXCELLENT. I was especially surprised at the seaweed salad coming out purple! It kinda looked like a pile of rotting vegetation, (with a flower garnish!) but it tasted fantastic. The other two rolls were pretty ok too. They were only $10, which for sushi I think is rather reasonable. I've been other places that charge upwards of $14 or $18. As mentioned above, the place is TINY, and the only reason I didn't give this five stars is because the selection is quite small. Only 4 or 5 rolls to choose from, aside from all the sashimi and appetizers and such. Their menu fits on one side of a page, for example. The waiter did mention that they're big on organic and natural stuff, if that's important to you. They also had a section of "traditional" Japanese rolls you could order, but they didn't seem very appealing to me. So, while it's small, everything *I* had was delicious. I'd recommend this to folks hankering for sushi in Swinging Gay Wilton Manors, but don't want to go too far to get it. It's super convenient to the drive, being right next to Bill's and across the way from Alibis. Perfect for a late-night craving. Check it out!
(4)
Takeshi K.
will be opening late august .. healthy, organic, raw foods .
(5)
Nicholas R.
Best Sushi ever! Small place with excellent service and phenomenal food!!! Reasonably priced menu blows expensive restaurants out of the water. The guy there even makes all his own sauces... The chili sauce was excellent! This place is a must try for anyone who enjoys good sushi.
(5)
J M.
This place is amazing! First, let me say that it is tiny. But that being said, it has a wonderful cozy atmosphere. My group of 4 had Amanda as our server and she did a phenomenal job of guiding us through what to order. We started with the ceviche, the spicy tofu and edamame. The ceviche was incredible! The citrus marinade was delicate and well-balanced and it just enhanced the freshness of the fish and veggies in the ceviche. This is a must-have appetizer! The edamame and spicy tofu were wonderful too, but the ceviche was a standout. Next we had tamago sashimi, pumpkin swordfish sushi and the tuna carpaccio. The tamago was homemade (and delicious) and all of the fish was very fresh! The carpaccio was finished with sesame oil and was filled with amazing flavor. At this point in the meal, we knew that our next round of ordering would not disappoint! Our last round of ordering brought us 5 rolls from the menu and, unfortunately, I can't fully remember the names. We had the Shroom roll which was a vegetarian roll. It was wonderful! If you like mushrooms, you'll love it. We would definitely get that one again. There was also a roll with tuna and salmon wrapped in cucumber with a vinegar finish. So refreshing! We also had a roll that reminded me of a Rainbow Roll with multiple types of fresh fish on top. That would be on my list to have again on my next visit! And lastly there was a roll with shrimp and eel that was fantastic! The chef was wonderfully friendly and was willing to answer all of our questions. It was such an intimate experience due to the size of the restaurant and that made it a very special dining experience. This has just become our new favorite sushi spot! If you are in Fort Lauderdale and love sushi, you definitely will want to try this place!
(5)
Jonathan R.
Delicious, unique dishes. Quality ingredients and wonderful service! I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Renee F.
What a true sushi experience! This chef cares about quality and separation from the same old sushi BS. The quality of the fish and true commitment to innovation makes this a must stop. BE WARNED! they do not have a fryer so if you are looking for unhealthy fried rolls, do not come to this fresh, health minded sushi joint. Check this place out - you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Samantha d.
We had this place again tonight for the second time.. Drove from Coral Springs! Its so fresh, great quality, delicious and reasonably priced! If you tell the chef one or two ingredients you like, he'll work his magic and come up with something amazing. Definitely recommended for sushi lovers.
(5)
Saira K.
The best! cannot sum it up any better than that. It's true that they have a small menu rather than trying to serve mainstream fare BUT let's talk about that for a bit. 1. Fish is fresh and different each time 2. Tell the server if you want a role / sashimi etc. and then let it be Takeshi's choice. You won't be disappointed! 3. There is always a "specials' menu which changes daily 4. Don't be afraid to ask for ingredients you like. Takeshi can put his special touch on it. 5. There will always be a surprise ingredient he uses that enhances the flavor 6. The salmon is outstanding!!!!!! He uses a salt rub which gives a flavor out of this world! If you want sushi, go anywhere you want. If you want an experience, come to Gaysha.
(5)
Al Z.
Ok so, why does everyone have to mention that the interior is small in every review? There is plenty of room for sitting, chilling and eating a kickass meal at the bar or at the tables. You other people must be fatties if you cant sit inside here comfortably. If thats the case I suggest eating more honeybuns and meals from Wendys because you are hopeless. Whatevs. The food here is REALLY, REALLY good! Super fresh and super tasty. The tuna tataki was flavored with the tastiest capers and sauce. I licked the plate. Yes I licked it. I AM NOT ASHAMED. There are more than enough offerings on the menu and the board has plenty of daily specials. The food is fresh, fresh, fresh. I dont think they have anything fried here, so if you are looking for some fried cream cheese with rice I suggest clogging your arteries at the Tokyo Bowl drive through with all the Canadian tourists (nothing personal Canadians, but you know its true, dont front.) I dont write many reviews, so if I do write one you know that I authentically mean what I wrote. This place is great in all respects. Also the food made my tummy feel GOOD AND FULL too, unlike a few other places which have made me feel bloated and almost poop my pants later. You will love it. I promise! Pros: Food, Service, Vibe, Everything Cons: Apparently, Andre The Giant and the morbidly obese might find the interior a tight fit. Everyone else should be just fine.
(5)
Paulina G.
My husband and I went there for a quiet date night and we were delighted. The place is rather small with a few tables, yet it wasn't packed at all so no issues with seating. The menu has only cold items and rather limited choices (not what you'd expect in any other sushi restaurant), but definitely satisfying. It was the first time that I had sushi served without any wasabi or ginger and I have to say I definitely didn't miss it. The inventive sauces made the dishes and it was delicious! Highly recommend; definitely going back.
(4)
Carlos M.
Best sushi ever! they have rolls I haven't tasted anywhere else before... service is great, and the price is fine. It doesn't seem like they are doing a lot of business which is really sad because their food is great...
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Hipster, Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Marina M.
A tiny yet very interesting little place! The food was pretty good and the service was quick and friendly. I got the Veggie Yakisoba and ate every last bite. I have to agree with another reviewer about the cucumber water...its amazing! The only things I consider a downside are the prices (a little high, but I suppose worth it due to the quiet atmosphere), and the fact that it wasn't decorated that much. I was looking at the same painting for about an hour and got a little bored. I'd definitely go back though, the food was quite yummy! :)
(4)Liz G.
Friendly staff Fresh ingredients Amazing Ramen! This is my go-to spot. They definitely have an exceptional attention to detail and are educated about their products. When you ask for water it is cucumber infused water:) Almost every time I have visited I have ordered the Ramen. It is delish. I've also ordered hand rolls, Sashimi, the Brussels and pork belly, and the calms. All get a thumbs up!
(5)Christopher C.
Lots of sushi options in the area, but Gaysha has a cool, distinctive vibe that's more contemporary than its neighbors. Not Americanized sushi in the sense that the rolls aren't deep-fried or slathered in cream cheese. But not traditional either, with ingredients drawn from this hemisphere and locally. The chef experiments without becoming a foodie caricature. That does mean that any single item can be hit or at least not-hit, but worth tasting through the menu.
(4)Fidel C.
I was not at all pleased with my visit here. There are plenty of sushi restaurants on the strip of Wilton Drive but this one had very good reviews so I thought I'd give it a shot. The couple at the table next to us was extremely inebriated and almost immediately offered us their brand new, unopened bottle of the most expensive sake Gaysha had to offer. It was great! And I really appreciated that kind gesture from two complete strangers. Once I took a look at the menu, however, my stomach was not pleased with what my eyes saw. All the rolls were unappealing in one aspect or another. They certainly have no traditional menu items you would expect, as being that I do not eat fish-- the California roll was the only thing I felt comfortable eating. How boring....but whatever. The roll was really unappealing. The avocado in my roll was brown and that was gross! I didnt eat a few pieces because of it. I also ordered the pork belly with brussel sprouts. EVEN GROSSER! I felt like they diced pieces of spam and served it with almost uncooked brussel sprouts and called it a day. The pork belly was flavorless and hard. It truly tasted like mystery meat and gave the entire bowl a strange taste. I couldn't even bear to eat the brussel sprouts alone because it just tasted so awful. I would never return here, and I highly suggest Teejays across the street-- thats what I get for cheating on my usual spot!
(1)Sean R.
As far as sushi places go, This place is off. The decor is right, but it's hipsters rolling the sushi.... It is quite loud and the acoustics Just make all the sounds louder. The sushi is very bland and has no taste. We ordered a specialty roll, it was quite possibly the saltiest sushi I have ever had. The service was decent, which is why I have a second star.
(2)Susie H.
Best sushi in Fort Lauderdale hands down. Modern and chic! I would recommend Gaysha to anyone who loves sushi. Takeshi and his staff are super friendly and knowledgable and the food is always amazing. If you haven't eaten at Gaysha you are missing out. I wish I could give more than 5 stars.
(5)Jocelyn P.
Overpriced & under delivered.. Sushi far from fresh wouldn't recommend to anyone! Was brown in color.
(1)Darryl S.
We first popped into Gaysha when we first moved to Wilton Manors. Now that we're relocating to Melbourne, Australia, in a few weeks, we decided to revisit one of our first South Florida dining experiences. The place was still spare as ever; we were the only customers during our visit. The crew was a new (to us) bunch. Overall, our dishes ranged from good to excellent. (I've added some pictures this time around, along with the prices.) I'm bringing this place down a notch for three reasons: (1) the music was too loud and dirge for our tastes; (2) a couple of the dishes lacked the panache deserving of its price; and (3) the piecemeal delivery of dishes was a bit off-putting, esp. when one person's order is served, while the other has to wait a good five minutes or more for the next order to show up. And, too, this is definitely not a place where you'd come to eat often, as the prices are definitely on the high end. ($18 for two stout espresso beers; $10 for an order of hot sake; $3 for a small bowl of white rice. See my pics for individual prices of various dishes.) Still, though, I'm a fan, and it was worth the splurge....
(4)Alex P.
This is my first review on Yelp because I have never had an experience that was so awful that the world had to know about it, until tonight. I've eaten the sushi here many times and have always enjoyed it. But I won't be going back, however, because of the miserable experience I and my girlfriend had tonight with the chef's choice ("omakase" on the bill). Where do I start? It took nearly half an hour for our food to begin arriving after I asked for the chef's choice, which was a long time to wait for two hungry people. Sushi usually takes a while to arrive when we've ordered it, but never this long. The wait between dishes just began to drag on and on and on, compounded by the fact that everything was as tiny as possible. First course: some kind of "ceviche." This tasted like nothing so much as a pile of random proteins marinated overnight in vinegar. Anyone who has ever eaten real ceviche knows that it is supposed to be marinated in citrus juices. The vinegar taste was so overpowering we could barely choke it down, but we were hungry and hopeful that the next course would be more substantial and flavorful. Also, there was an octopus tentacle. I like eating octopus, because the octopus is the second-smartest creature on the planet and I enjoy asserting my carnivorous dominance over it whenever possible. It's a shame it didn't taste like an octopus. It was not. The second course was a single shrimp. This was described by our server with all sorts of flourishes, none of which I paid attention to, distracted as I was by the fact that I was still going to be fucking hungry after finishing my single shrimp. To its credit, the shrimp did not taste overwhelmingly like vinegar. Unfortunately, it did not taste good, either. It simply existed, obnoxiously demanding that we acknowledge its presence, like Donald Trump. The third course was mushy tuna tartare blended with jalapenos, which made it taste more like jalapenos than tuna. It was topped with black caviar and little flakes of edible gold. Note to all chefs: the surest way to signal to your guests that you are ripping them off is to top your food with flakes of fucking edible gold. Gold tastes like nothing and adds nothing to your dining experience other than the sense that you are about to spend far more money than your meal deserves. The tuna was inedible for my girlfriend, who does not like jalapenos. So I ate it in shame. The fourth course was three tiny slices of salmon that were basted in a substance that made them taste worse than if they'd simply been offered as sashimi, which I seriously regretted not ordering at this point in the meal. We had by then been sitting there for over an hour and were still very hungry because nothing that was served offered more than half an appetizer's worth of calories. At this point I cut the meal short, paid, and left the restaurant. Some sushi restaurants go out of their way to make you feel special when you order the omakase chef's special. Other restaurants, like Gaysha, give you the stuff no one else would actually want to eat and smile while they charge you three times what you would have paid for a nice sushi dinner. Don't give me fucking gold flakes when I ask for the chef's special. Give me something that tastes good. Is that so fucking hard? Stick to what you're good at and don't try to be fancy. tl;dr, don't order the omakase unless you hate your life.
(1)Frances A.
With my brother being a sushi chef, I am very particular on where I go for sushi. Have to admit that the sushi was pretty good here. Ended up trying a few items and was pretty happy with the quality of the seafood. Just felt that the prices were a bit high. Tried the below items: Miso Soup Cilantro lime miso soup Yellow Tail Jalapeno Roll Yellow tail and jalapeno, seaweed wrapped on the outside California Roll Lump crab, california avocados, and cucumber rolled inside out with sesame seeds Sashimi Platter Came with 6 different types of fish (honestly can't remember what they were) Overall good experience, wish our server could've warned us that the sashimi platter was $32 though. At least it was pretty enough to be picture worthy.
(3)Patricia N.
I've been wanting to try this place out for a while now. So for my boyfriend's birthday, we decided to splurge on some sushi. This establishment is a health-conscious restaurant. You won't find any spicy mayo sauce drizzled over tempura shrimp here. But you don't need all that fluff if you have fresh fish. We started off with a scallop special for an appetizer. Sweet scallops with arugula, black caviar, sunflower seeds, and oil (sorry, I forgot what type of oil) drizzled on top. It was a light and refreshing appetizer to start off our meal. We also had their oyster shooters. Not the best oyster shooter I've had, but I'll take it. We also ordered a bottle of their plum wine sake (definitely a must try if you want something on the sweeter side). For our rolls we had their: diamond roll, shroom roll, tuna roll, and cabana boy roll. We also ordered their grouper nigiri. The diamond roll had a nice crunch to it with romaine lettuce inside. There was crab on the inside and yellow tail on the outside and was the perfect spiciness with jalapeño slices and chili oil. The shroom roll is a great vegetarian option. Sautéed mushrooms with cilantro and a balsamic dipping sauce. The tuna was fresh. And this was the first time I had grouper nigiri. It was a delicate fish and the sesame oil they added to it really brought it together for me. I can see why the cabana boy roll is a general crowd favorite with the white fish on the outside and fresh (not imitation) crab inside. The boyfriend and I left the restaurant full and guilt-free. The only gripe I have is that the atmosphere wasn't the best. Lighting wasn't the most romantic or trendy (I mean, fluorescent lighting never compliments anyone's skin tone). Also, the food service was on the slower side and when we walked in, there wasn't anyone to greet us (no sushi chef, server, or host(ess) in site even though there were other patrons seated at tables). I'll give them some credit since it was a Monday night and they probably weren't expecting too many customer to begin with, but there should always be someone manning the front of the house. Overall, a good experience and I wouldn't mind visiting again.
(4)Naomi K.
Organic foodie alert! This place is super cool with the local art (for sale) and locally grown (organic) produce and the freshest fish. The skilled and artist dishes crafted by the AHmazing chefs are to die for! I recommended this place for everyone that is over the deep fried, cream cheese filled artificial crab "sushi"! #foodrevolution at its finest
(5)Tim T.
Tried last Saturday and had the noodle soup. It was flavorful and the service friendly. Seating is limited but we didn't have a problem saturday at 7:30pm. The ice water they serve is unique!
(4)Mauricio B.
Considering this place is rated 4.5 stars, we were expecting it to be something special. Unfortunately, that's not what we found. The place is small, but clean with friendly service; however, the food is just medium. The lime cilantro miso soup sounded interesting, however, it did not have much flavor. I also tried their special salmon roll, and found it to be kind of plain. Nice presentation, but lacking flavor. Something that I enjoyed in this visit was the nice selection of Japanese beers they have. I tried the Hitachino brown ale, and it was very good. Full body, hoppy and nice taste. With so many good restaurants in the area, we will probably not come back to this place.
(3)D'ana N.
This spot is small but great for a small group of friends. Our waiter was really good at explaining the menu and really accommodating. Didn't like how bland some of the rolls were but they had some great and flavorful ones. This spot is worth a try, good prices and good feel. But not what I would consider the best in town.
(3)Al K.
Trying a new sushi place can be terrifying since good sushi is hard to find. Rest assured this place is awesome!! I instructed them needed a gluten free and vegan roll and the chef prepared something amazing off the cuff. Very small space with only a few tables and kind of odd decor but still initiate and romantic. Our food did take quite awhile to arrive well over 40 mins and we were the only ones besides 1 other couple in the restaurant. However the quality and taste of food is by far worth the wait!
(5)Chuck K.
Fresh fresh fresh!!!!! That's so refreshing! The food here is always the best!!!! I highly recommend the Diamond Roll!!
(5)Diana L.
Excited to discover the ramen was part of the special menu. We had the tonkatsu and butter miso which was a vegetable broth. Generous portions and the broth was nice and light, not too oily but very flavorful. The tonkatsu roasted pork wasn't traditional fried tonkatsu which I enjoyed, and the portion was just right. Love the special seaweed salad appetizer, it was delicious cause it was mixed with green seaweed salad and hijiki. They had a nice selection of beer and desserts but after the delicious broth there was no room for it. Loved the ambiance, small casual sushi bar but with personality because of its decorations and good music. Can't wait to go back for some more, happy to find a place that serves traditional ramen (:
(5)George B.
After horrible take out experience across the street at Tee-Jay Sushi. Returned my take out there and walked across street to Gaysha. explained I had hungry guests at home and needed a lot of good food quick. They were amazing..... Will get lots of return biz from me.....
(5)Cindy H.
Im not from Ft. Lauderdale or even Florida for that matter but found myself with my friend here first thing after my flight. I hadnt eaten more than half a muffin and ginger ale for over 5 hours so i was voraciously hungry. Miso cod- crazy good. Flaky.. Beautifully seasoned Everything else was fairly good as well. Ramen- ok heres where i had to take a star off. Ive been quite fortunate to have access to pretty awesome ramen houses in LA. The ramen was really not authentic tasting, at least compared to all the ones ive had. The tonkotsu broth wasnt rich and fatty enough and tasted watered down. Like the flavors werent developed for more than an hour. I felt the noodles werent firm enough as well. Plus im not used to $18 bowls of ramen. The service was great, very friendly and points for the giant black dildo since its something I've never stared at while dining out. Wilton Manors for ya!
(4)Jeremy E.
Gaysha is fabulous! The Takeshi is delicious, I like to squeeze the takoyaki and swallow gobs of his kewpie!
(5)Danielle R.
The Ramen Soup is amazing! It was priced at $17, which I thought was a little pricey, but was exquisite in its presentation, flavor, and heartiness. It sure helped that it was 60 degrees outside and raining. Which gets me to my next point...it's VERY HARD to find this place. It's in the same plaza as Bill's right next to a real estate place that is painted entirely blue. Just park in the rear (pardon the pun for Wilton Manors); however, you have to walk around the front to get in as the back door is (ahem) deliveries only. Well it was raining and cold...and I had to walk way out of my way to get in and I was rained on when I got in :( boo. sad me. Met a friend for dinner, we ordered Sake (slightly limited menu and they only had the big ones), and the Octopus Carpaccio appetizer (priced at $15). While it was indeed very tasty, it was very tiny, and there was only 5 very thin slices (each was $3), now I like to eat and when I think Octopus I think the big slabs you get at a Greek place. It was more like a 'taste' then an appie. Good, but order something more substantial. Would I go back-- YES-- for the soup for sure. (see pix)
(4)Jonathan M.
Absolutely the best Sushi place in Fort Lauderdale! You won't find any "imitation" crab here, only the freshest, top notch ingredients! Everytime i order i am impressed! No lunch, boo...but great place!
(5)Alex G.
Small, chill, casual sushi joint with absolutely the best sushi around! The menu, while not extensive, is a sleeper -- even simple dishes are made at the highest level. Purely sublime. Special rolls were so good I can't even describe them. Yakisoba noodles - perfectly cooked with crisp veggies. Mushroom roll? Try it - served with a super flavorful side sauce. Steamed clams came in a broth so good we practically drank it. This is my new fave place!
(5)Rebecca S.
Exceptional food and very friendly staff. They definitely take sushi to a new level. The wraps are unique, the food was very fresh, and the place is excellent for a nice dinner before hitting the drive.
(4)Carmela F.
Was on a solo dining adventure after a happy hour with coworkers in downtown ft Lauderdale. I'm always in the mood for sushi so decided to take a trip to Wilton Manors. I read about and heard about Gaysha and their amazing sushi. . .What I heard and read was true!! I always judge a sushi joint by the quality of the raw selections (also my favorite part about Japanese cuisine) I ordered tuna, salmon, and masago with a quail egg. . .so good I ordered a second round this time with sake. Sweet masago blends perfectly with the rice asmnd quail egg, the salmon and tuna fresh and buttery. The yellow tail jalapeño was also very fresh and perfect bite size pieces. The only down side is I wanted more jalapeño :) Normally, I would order Nigori but they were out and my server suggested a glass of another popular sake, which was also really good and in a cute little bottle. The one negative was the strange odor but the place is small and the kitchen is practically in the same room so that probably had something to do with it. Go to Gaysha if you want quality and friendly service!! I will back again soon perhaps on another solo dining adventure!!
(4)Almost G.
If the pun in the name turns you off, disappear back to the hell spawn of homophobia that birthed you. If you want to hang out with an awesome crew of adept sushi chefs, seek out Gaysha. They're open late, you won't get sick, the bathroom is epic and the chefs love to make your tastebuds orgasm. It's a small place, so don't bring your whole football team, no matter how much male bonding is going on. Make sure to tip with cash, or dildos. New dildos.
(5)Kent D.
I walked into Gaysha Sushi with very few expectations but very quickly realized that this small unassuming restaurant prepared their sushi and other Japanese dishes in the classical methods. Gaysha also uses only the best quality fish they can find every day. I lived in New York City for 22 years and I became good friends with two classically-trained Japanese sushi chefs. They taught me to understand the difference between high-quality sushi and run-of-the mill sushi. I began with the hijiki and wakame salad ($8). Excellent. Next I had the scallop appetizer ($12) Superb! All the sashimi: Ika, uni, fluke were extremely fresh and of the highest quality. As I talked with the two young sushi chefs, I found out they also make their own ponzu sauce and their own tamago. The service was fast and riendly and two two sushi chefs are more than happy to discuss how they prepare their food. This small sushi restaurant, located in the heart of Wilton Manors, is on a par with the best sushi restaurants in New York City and Boston. In those cities, my sushi dinners average between $100 and $120 for one person. At Gaysha, my bill was $50 (without any alcohol.) If you appreciate excellent quality sushi with some unusual Fusion touches, try Gaysha. Talk with the chefs about what you like. You will not be disappointed. I plan to go back.
(5)Raymond Z.
*I used the house made soy sauce very sparingly, I wanted to let the fish speak for itself* The first time I went to Gaysha was several years ago. At the time, I remember driving for about ten minutes waiting for a parking space to open up in the back section of the plaza. I was expecting melt in your mouth sushi like I experienced in NYC and for the toro to be divine. I was disappointed and had not been back since. Since then, I had been meaning to give it another try (as I do with most other restaurants) but did not force myself to until now. After some shopping at To The Moon, I walked over to Gaysha and was seated promptly. I sat at the sushi bar to try and get a glimpse of the action. After some deliberation and inquiries, I was ready to order. I started with a Kimchee Crab Cake ($10) as an appetizer. Before this, I haven't eaten a crab cake so I wasn't sure what to expect texture or taste wise. The top and bottom was slightly crispy and as a whole the crab cake was about room temperature warm. After biting into it, I saw what I assume were minced pieces of kimchee and of course, crab meat. The mayo-like drizzle on top didn't add too much to the dish, but the garnish of what was possibly cayenne pepper on the plate certainly gave that extra heat. I also enjoyed the black caviar on top as a garnish. I would probably order this again just to write a better description. Next up, I chose an Oyster, Hokkaido Scallop, and Hamachi Belly ($3-$4 each) with the latter two served as sushi. The oyster was served in the shell and was a bit smaller than I was expecting. The pico de gallo-like topping gave a complement to the fresh sea taste of the oyster. The Hokkaido Scallop was the one item that had the most melt in your mouth texture, and had a great sweetness to it. I enjoyed that item the most. The Hamachi Belly was a bit tougher and more chewy, but the jalapeno on top matched the texture well. Finishing off, I chose the Cabana Boy roll ($15: Shrimp and cucumber on the inside, topped with white fish, garlic, ginger, garlic chives, finished with hot olive oil, sesame oil and soy sauce), The shrimp was plump and juicy and paired well with the crisp cucumber. The whitefish on top was tougher than the rest of the roll, and I did not really taste the ginger or fried garlic. As for the sauce combination, there was a hint of soy sauce and slightly less so on the sesame oil. The roll would've stood better if the sauce was more of a drizzle on the roll and the olive oil stood out less. Overall, I would probably go for the Pink Ranger roll next time (Salmon and cucumber on the inside topped with salmon and fresh basil, drizzled with a balsamic soy reduction) or focus more on sushi/sashimi to truly get a more traditional taste of the fish.
(4)S. K.
I was invited to Gaysha's opening night by a close friend. I was completely hooked! The food is always fresh, combinations original and atmosphere relaxed and friendly. If you're not sure what to order, just ask. The friendly staff is always there to help. My only complaint is that once you eat here, sushi at other places just won't taste as good :) so you're going to have to come back here! I love this place!
(5)Steve L.
Nice quaint place - food and service were both excellent Had a nice combination of traditional and modern takes on Japanese. The ramen was also delicious
(5)Hin C.
I went there on a Sunday night because I read the good reviews on their Tonkatsu Ramen they had because my friends and I were craving ramen. We got there, it was a small restaurant. Seating capacity was no more than 30. Service was slow and this restaurant was not big at all. I ordered the Tuna Salmon CC roll which was pretty good, but it was poorly made and cut. I also had a Tonkatsu Ramen which came out like 15 minutes later after the CC roll. As always, I take a picture of the food before I touch it. They forgot to give each of us soup spoons. I grabbed my chopsticks and soup spoon and started digging in. First I tasted the broth which wasn't bad at all, then I noticed that I only had 1 slice of pork and a bit. I picked up the pork and I examined it, I was really disappointed. Bringing back sad and disappointed memories, I changed this review to ONE star... im not the type of person who'll send food back unless there's something realllllly wrong with my food, and this isn't one of them. The picture of my RAMEN below is untouched as you can see, the onions, relish, bamboo, scallions are still in their spots. One slice of pork and the SMALL piece(size of a QTR/half dollar)touching to the scallions.
(1)Robert B.
What an experience! Food options were incredibly creative and delicious. Staff is courteous and colorful. You can tell the chefs really put heart into what they do by the foods appearance alone. I was also told their health department scores were stellar which was why I came in the first place since I chose to eat a dish containing raw fish. I will definitely be coming back here. Also: owner is NOT yakuza.
(5)Annie R.
No words. Amazing. You won't find cream cheese and spicy mayo here, and I love that. Best sushi I've ever had. Get the diamond roll and cabana boy roll, you won't be disappointed. They even created a special roll for me not on the menu.
(5)Alexis O.
I cannot say enough great things about Gaysha Sushi. This is by far my favorite sushi restaurant in Fort Lauderdale and by far the best among all the small little sushi spots in Wilton Manors. Don't be overwhelmed by the choice of sushi options in Wilton, this is the go to place. It is a small and intimate setting, so it is perfect to go with a friend or a significant other. Gaysha offers organic and fresh ingredients with every sushi roll- AND it shows. They are creative in the composition of flavors. Some highlights are the Pink Ranger Roll (this is a must get for any Salmon lover), Yellowtail Jalapeño roll (which is great for the value at $7), and the Spicy Love. I have also had the Cabana Boy, but this is not my favorite as I find it slightly bland for my taste buds). Gaysha features a delicious variety of sake and the waiters are always there to fill your water glass, which is nice with some of the spicy dishes.
(5)Jeremy B.
I read on Yelp and heard from a friend of mine that this place was good and my wife suggested we go out for sushi with the family the night before Mother's Day since we were going out of town the next day. It ended up being pretty good. We started with edamame as usual but Gaysha has Garlic Soy Edamame which was awesome because it was like regular edamame but they sauteed it garlic, soy, and sake so it was super flavorful. Well worth the extra $1 over the regular stuff. They have a decent wine selection and also some craft beers. I had a Great Divide Lasso IPA ($7) and my wife had one of the Hitachino Nest Ales ($9), which are Japanese craft beers. Awesome that they have this because many sushi restaurants ignore good beer and serve garbage Saporro, Asahi, or Kirin beers that are all terrible. They didn't have any high chairs for my 1 yr old but she did enjoy the miso soup and side of white rice. Us adults shared the tuna tartare appetizer and a few sushi rolls. The best ones were the South of the Border Roll ($15) (Tuna, romaine lettuce, sriracha on the inside, topped with fresh tuna and homemade ponzu salsa) and the Red Dragon Roll ($15) (shrimp, romaine lettuce, cucumber, schiracha, eel inside out with red tobiko and avocado slices). They don't have any tempura rolls because they are "health conscious" according to the waitress. All in all, the service was OK considering they were not busy on a Saturday night, and we enjoyed the food and thought it was priced reasonably because the sushi rolls were good-sized portions. We will go back to Gaysha again...
(3)Ali S.
Let me preface this with I must confess that I'm a huge sushi snob and I only eat nigiri. If you're going to this place with the intention of eating anything else, then this review won't be very helpful. With that said, I have no idea how this place has 4.5 stars and glowing reviews that say things like the "freshest fish." I tried the salmon, hamachi, toro, whitefish of the day (grouper), and the sweet middle neck clams. The hamachi was fine but definitely previously frozen, but everything else was terribly fishy!! Even the salmon was bad and that is saying a lot because places can often get away with mediocre quality, but this was well below mediocre. If you're looking for quality sushi in the area - Yelp told me this place has the highest rating - I would advise trying the number 2 or 3 option on Yelp because you won't find fresh, delicious sushi here.
(2)Lissa g.
One of the best sushi place is on the drive very fresh authentic you really feel like you're in Japan it's pretty neat and it's a good place to go in the dr at any time of the day enjoy
(4)Gregory S.
Small place but great sushi. More on.the casual side. Really enjoyed the laid.back atmosphere The only issue i have is they are under staffed and the stove emits some unpleasant smoke into the small restaurant
(3)Josephine F.
Great sushi, yummy and fresh. The place is little but very clean and friendly. Best sushi sushi in Wilton Manors.
(5)Mike S.
Service is as good as it gets in Wilton Manors. The food was unbelievably good. The Brussel Sprouts were to die for!
(5)Lori R.
OMG - the sushi here is FAAAABulous! Always something new and creative on the menu. Christina, our favorite server, is exceptionally helpful and knowledgeable! It's a very small restaurant and you always leave smelling like sesame oil, but that's part of the ambiance!
(5)Gina B.
This place is the bomb! Seriously, the best sushi I've ever had. I went to Gaysha Sushi with a friend and we ordered the seaweed salad and the cabana boy roll and they were both delicious! I love the whole "health conscious eater" concept of this place. You can definitely tell that they use high quality ingredients in their food which is great. Can't wait to come back!
(5)Rick S.
This place, by far, is top down the best sushi I've tasted. Located in the heart of Wilton Manors, parking is a little scarce but was available in the back. The decor was impeccable and art covered the place, even the restroom was quirky (sounds weird but oddly true) and just overall very reflective of the Wilton Manors area. The sushi is not cheap but the quality and vibrancy of the plates are well worth the money. Ask about the specials because they change frequently but are always dynamic and creative. The service was quick and attentive, one of the best parts actually; it's a smaller place but don't be put off. Gaysha sushi is a diamond in the rough to be sure, if you're in Wilton Manors you simply must stop here for dinner!
(5)Chloe E.
Exceeded my expectations. Service was very pleasant. Food was delicious: seaweed salad, crab cake, spicy love rolls and yellowtail roll. Drinks were delightful and buzz worthy (plum sake & hot sake). I also Loved the cucumber water. Overall, this place left a great impression on me. Thank you Christina & staff!
(5)Jeff A.
Fabulous place for sushi. Consistently great quality. I recommend the homemade ramen and the tuna tataki. The sushi is as beautiful as it is delicious.
(5)Sergey T.
This is a fantastic place! The food is delicious and I am currently here alone (probably because of the rain) enjoying immensely as if I had a private chef and waiters :)
(5)dima p.
Stick to the appetizers and the "Americanized" rolls. The sashimi not so great. The wait staff is super nice and attentive. Tried the tuna caprice and that was awesome, it's like a caprice salad with tuna on top. The usual rolls are good california, tuna, etc. If you know your sushi though this might not be the place as the sashimi seemed frozen.
(3)Galina M.
This place is unbelievable. The freshest uni ever!!! Its a very unique place - small, must sit at the bar and chat with the owner, Takeshi. Hes uber fun and knows a lot about fish, sushi... Must order rolls: south of the border, pink ranger. Must order appetizer: seared white fish (snapper). Must order small dish: kimchi crabcake, but only if u like kimchee, otherwise itll taste weird to u. Unagi here is very fresh as well. What really amazed us about this place is that they dont have a fryer or a microwave so thats a true testament to how fresh their fish and ingridients are. Takeshi uses very unique and creative combination of ingridients to fill up the rolls - they are just enough - not too much where they would overwhelm the taste of fish. Its an art, trully! Oh and their scallop comes straight from Hokkaido, japan, flash frozen!!! So exciting! I wish he was in Chicago then wed go there like all the time. Sigh. Highly recommend u wont regret trying out this place!
(5)Jason T.
I love this place. My partner and I come here at least 2 times a month. Service is always awesome and friendly. I love the creativity put into the dishes. Not the typical JB roll kind of spot. My favorite Items - The Seaweed Salad is yum, Himachi Crab Cake. Salmon Salad is super good.
(5)Marqus R.
In what seems a parade or rave Yelps about Gaysha, I fear I'm out of step. Yes, I found Gaysha to be good, but not anymore than an "Oh hum, it's OK" type of good. First off, the interior décor is Spartan, as in no décor at all. That is unless one considers a couple of dead, dried out bamboo poles stuck in pot as decorative. However, I suppose on the other hand one might say that such might be construed as an outstanding example of Japanese Industrial or Japanese Minimalist. Then, at least while I was present, the background music was, to my astonishment and utter disbelief, emo music. Worse, it was emo music played through some sort of speaker system having a resonant sound band seemingly of no more capability than a cell phone. As for the food, I started with very well prepared mesculan salad generally consisting of cos, mache, frisee, oak, Red Russian and roquette arugula leaf lettuces topped off with a beautiful blue orchid ....a pleasing, unique touch....mixed with an Asian ginger dressing. For an appetizer, since they didn't have octopus available, I selected a salmon carpaccio which was served with thin slices of salmon topped with capers and greens. Though the salmon was good, it certainly wasn't of Northern Atlantic belly cut and didn't have either the taste or the texture of good wild Pacific. For my entrée, I enjoyed their spicy love roll which, though teaming with a good complex of tangy spice flavors exuding a certain amount of heat, again was something that didn't strike me as being anything unique, out of the ordinary or extra special. Overall, I found Gaysha to be a nice restaurant with exceedingly pleasant friendly service. And though emo background music is to me disturbing, peevish, petulant, and generally more a source of annoyance than comfort, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Gaysha as being a decent sushi restaurant, more particularly of course if I were making the recommendation to an emo. Now, so that no one makes me out to be some sort of bigoted emo hater, which I know that you probably will all now do, I hold nothing whatsoever against any emo. Believe me, I don't, I really don't. Matter of fact if any emo is reading this, I find you, your ways your poems and your styles to be rather cute. It's just your damnable emo music I loath.
(3)Lindy N.
Great food, Super friendly people, and what we had was fresh. Love that they make everything even their sauces. Its not the typical american Jap places where they do spicy mayo and cream cheese everything. Its still Japanese with a twist. :) The uni amazing!!! Yum everything!!! SORRY I STARTED EATING AND FORGOT TO TAKE MORE PHOTOS
(5)Sandra P.
Unexpected and delicious! I went based on the reviews here because Yelp rarely steers me wrong. They have cucumber water (don't be alarmed, they don't tell you), and pride themselves on being fresh, organic, and appeal to the healthier side by not offering anything fried--I could deal with that. They also played music like Weezer and Mumm-Ra (if you know who they are and enjoy them, you're in luck--not that their choice in music should have anything to do with their food). Food came out quick. We ordered the Red Dragon Roll, Cabana Boy, Tuna Salmon CC Roll, and had a chef's choice sushi (which consisted of eel, buffalo mozzarella, and cucumber on the inside/topped with seared tuna, eel sauce, fried garlic--I don't know what happened to the 'no frying' thing but I wasn't about to complain, and spicy mayo). ALL were DELICIOUS, fresh, and offered its own unique flavor. Try those. They also had a tonkatsu ramen ($18) that sounded delicious, and I would've tried it but I wasn't hungry enough.. four plates of sushi was all I could handle. I took a star off for how pricey it was (four plates of sushi between two people for $60 before tax and tip), but I'm just being picky. Given the unique selections, and all the ingredients they used, I wouldn't have expected it to be any less. Not sure where all these other self-proclaimed sushi snobs have dined though, must be somewhere unbelievably incredible, and then some... cause I thought this place was fantastic. :)
(4)Yoni M.
The absolute best. Creative while maintaining traditional and quality standards. Haven't been disappointed once by anything
(5)Penny L.
food was not good had the special roll and ramen yuck not good at all way better sushi in the area ramen was really bad
(1)Derek E.
Granted its small size, it has a huge flavor on dishes! An awesome and friendly staff makes the place even better! The owner has brought a new and awesome twist on traditional Japanese dishes. Best is the dragon roll and green tea ice cream! You will not be disappointed! Granted a little more on the pricy side, worth it!
(5)Michael Y.
Great service, Friendly staff. They have this most amazing cucumber water... I know it's funny to rave about it.... but you gotta have it. Their sushi is in the top 5% in fort lauderdale restaurants.
(5)Destiny S.
Gaysha is definitely the freshest, cleanest, most creative sushi spot in Fort Lauderdale. Also, they have a fabulous selection of non sushi items and ridiculously good ramen. I love their beer selection as well. There are so many places to eat sushi in this town, and I've tried them all, seriously. Gaysha continues to be my favorite.
(5)amy s m.
This place rocks! Hands down the best and freshest sushi. The owner hand picks all the fish and it's so fresh. It's so good it melts in your mouth. My favorite is the Pink Ranger roll, yummy. There rolls are so yummy and have different tastes than most sushi restaurants. We go there at least 2 x a month. It's now our favorite sushi place and the cooked food is quite Delicious as well.
(5)Krys P.
Trust me, I wish I can give it more stars, along with all the raving reviews this place received, but that would be a disservice to all the places who truly deceive more. I don't mind the spartan decor, I actually like its Zen simplicity, with the calligraphy and bamboo. The menu is indeed very small, concentrated on cold dishes. Those hankering for an udon, teriyaki or katsudon will be disappointed, as there is not much beyond a few salads and rolls on the menu. That I don't mind either. In Japan these dishes belong to different restaurants and indeed you don't expect to find everything in one place. My main complain is the quality of the fish. If you specialize in a small menu of sushi, you better do it good. And I mean more than presentation. After all, it's what goes into my mouth that counts. I don't know if I just happen to visit on a day they ran out of good fish, but in all honestly, they just aren't good sashimi. They lack the delicate, fresh flavor of fresh sashimi. I don't mean to brag, but I've eaten sushi up and down the east coast and on both sides of the Pacific, and I know what a heavenly experience it is when a good piece of fish melts in your mouth. We tried like 6 different dishes, including the much mentioned Spicy Love Roll and tataki. The mushroom roll is my favorite (I guess because there is no mediocre fish to disappoint me.) Consider this: about 80% of the rolls on the menu has a spicy sauce or pepper in it. If you have fresh ingredient, you use minimal flavoring to let the ingredient stands out. Spices are usually used to mask slightly old ingredients. That's where spicy tuna and pepper beef comes from.
(3)Luis P.
If you're in the Ft. Lauderdale/Wilton Manors area and care more about the quality of your sushi than having the best backdrop for a selfie, this is your place! The food is super fresh and there's always something new to try on the menu. Takeshi & Stephanie (the 2 grown ass men behind the sushi bar) are always willing to change something up to fit your taste & keep us coming back. If you're not sure what to get, close your eyes and point at the chalk board, you can't go wrong. If you're looking for something light, the garlic soy edamame & Tuna Salmon CC Roll are pretty great! If your looking for something cooked, the Tonkotsu Ramen or Miso Sea Bass(if it's on the board) are excellent too! If you're looking for something you haven't had before, order the Omakase... aka Chef's Choice. They ask you what ingredients you'd like to avoid and create 4 incredible courses. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Hannah L.
The decor of this restaurant is perfect for art enthusiasts, fans of appealing aesthetics, and/or college students. The servers are really nice and easy to talk to. Horribly pricey but the sushi was amazing. But $12 for a California roll? Girl, bye. Normally I wouldn't mind but I'm trying to save money at the moment. Being a broke college girl and all that jazz.
(4)Amanda B.
Some of the best sushi I have ever had in south Florida--or even ever! Simple, fresh rolls. Good prices for the amount of fish you get. I've been to almost every sushi place around and this one is my favorite!
(5)Ben J.
Amazing food. The decor does not match the quality of food. We had great service and some of the most creative and delicious sushi we have experienced in many years. The name and decor may scare you away, but you'll miss great food if you let them.
(5)Enoch T.
Overprice food for average Japanese food. The ramen 'special' there was 17, which was only rather average. It had good reviews so I figured why not. Nothing more special than any other ramen I tried. They also added an 18% gratuity without asking and we only had a party of 4. If you are up for over price average food this is your place. If not there are tons of sushi bars better than this. Definitely not the 'world's best sushi bar'
(1)Colleen C.
It was Thursday, January 17th, 2013. The day was dark, but the rain did not fall quite so heavy as the rushing wave of regret I experienced for not trying Gaysha sooner. After a brief conversation about the delightful nature of cucumber water and extensive Google searches, my coworker and I headed out to Wilton Manors to see if the reviews claiming "wild sexy magic in my mouth" and "angels made love on my tongue" (two separate reviewers, mind you) could be trusted. Conclusion: These reviewers did not truly capture the near-orgasmic experience that results from eating here. A puddle of drool is pooling beneath me as I write this review, fantasizing about going to Gaysha. Within a week of my first visit, I'd been here four times --- please believe it'd have been more if I lived less than 30 minutes away. I briefly considered breaking my current lease and moving to the area. Things that I have eaten here (and highly recommend): Side Salad with Ginger Dressing, Edamame, Tuna Tataki, King Crab California Roll, Wilton Rainbow Roll, Tuna Salmon CC Roll, Spicy Love, Cabana Boy, Pink Ranger, South of the Border Roll, and a few other things that people launched into my mouth in my sushi-induced haze. The beer might have had something to do with that haze, too ---- OH WAIT, I DIDN'T MENTION THE BEER YET?! Let me start off by saying, I LOVE beer. It takes a lot for me to get excited about alcohol, and my first impression of this small restaurant was that I'd settle on some mediocre drink and continue to live my life with no notable reaction or effect. That was until I experienced Lucky Beer and (my new all-time favorite) Morimoto Soba Ale. Either of these are perfect companions for your meal, although I often find myself triple-fisting with a beer in one hand, my cucumber water in another hand, and my chopsticks in another.
(5)Stephanie A.
Amazing sushi, loved the salmon salad, and the carb free tuna roll! super super fresh tasting! all in all i loved this place only reason i didnt give it a 5 is because the ramen was a bit expensive and lacked meat. (only 3 small pieces of pork) other than that everything was amazing. service, food and price EXCELLENT! :)
(4)Natalie S.
WOW! I'm so happy my friend Joel introduced me to this WONDERFUL place! The Ramen was to DIE for! I asked for it nice and spicy--the delivered. Fresh ingredients--wonderful experience. Made me feel loved inside :) Started with the house salad and a couple of pieces of sashimi.....the house salad was a meal in itself--the dressing was AMAZING--nice and fresh. The sashimi (grouper and tuna) YUM! My friend has vegetarian sushi (not that crappy carrot stick and avocado nonsense)--he told the chef to create and she did. It was FANTASTIC! In conclusion am totally in love with this place and will probably be there almost every single day.
(5)Jimmy H.
Yelp has wronged me before in the past but they totally got it right this time! So right that I even made a yelp account just so I can tell you about it! Battling the torrential downpours of FTL, (i'm a californian and have not owned an umbrella until today) my gf and I made it to Gaysha. The design and set-up is very simple and trendy without feeling overly pretentious. I decided to go with the Omakase while my gf opted for the seaweed salad, miso soup, and pink ranger roll. One word...three syllables, to sum it up. FAB-U-LOUS! The sushi was out of this world fresh and all of the sauces and dressings are made from scratch! I could actually enjoy each piece of delicacy without having to wipe all the mayo off that all those other sushi restaurants use to mask up their subpar fish! And that wasn't all. I finished the meal with a scrumptious bowl of seafood ramen. Having had ramen in Japan town in both NorCal and SoCal, Gaysha's ramen def gives the others a run for their money! My gf was sick and didn't have much of an appetite but she cleaned out all of her plates and even indulged in some of my Omakase! Now only if I can convince the chef/owner to move a little further westward...thanks Gaysha for being the highlight eatery of my short FTL trip! I will come back for you someday! *sigh*
(5)Danielle D.
Fresh, innovative, delicious. Don't think twice, just go ! This place is a must-dine.
(4)Talia G.
This place has become our new go-to for sushi when we feel like having a nice, low key date night. Every time I've been there the service has been wonderful and the food is so well made. Rice tastes fresh, as does the fish. They pride themselves in using organic, healthy ingredients. You won't find any mayo, cream cheese or tempura here. They have some interesting twists to your traditional rolls - think fresh jalapenos and schiracha eel. They have several signature rolls not on the menu that are to die for... like the Spicy Love, Cabana Boy, and Pink Ranger. They also have a nice selection of craft beers. The Rogue hazelnut is my favorite. The place itself is pretty average.. nothing to rave about. But it's clean and has very minimalist decor. Not complaining... I'd rather they focus on the food than the decor! Based on the people that seem to hang out there, it seems like a very hipsterish place. Nothing wrong with that either... just an FYI.
(4)Beelze B.
Mediocre food; expensive for what it it's; tiny portions
(1)Nighthawk H.
The food here is very fresh. Staff is knowledgeable, attentive, and polite. My favorite dish here is the spicy ramen and the garlic edamame is also very good. I have tried to spicy love roll, and that was also very delicious. The food here is extremely fresh, and I really like the cucumber water.
(5)Casey B.
I love this place, it's near my home and I finally got to go and try the food there. I feel badly that it took me this long to get to it but it was worth the wait. The food is top notch, and the small intimate atmosphere make it an ideal date night place. I took my mother here on her most recent visit and she loved it. Takeshi runs an ace business and I suggest that any locals who have not tried this place do so as well as tourists. You will not be let down!
(5)Daniel B.
Unusual sushi selections and very little for non-sushi fans so be aware. Mom is not a sushi person and did find one item she would try and loved it! My selections were fresh and delicious. I'd be more specific but this was weeks ago. Can't remember all the exact details but I would definitely go back, with a sushi lover.
(4)Jacky M.
The food is very tasty. The ginger dressing is the best in town. Meals are pricey however, the food is really fresh, all organic. Tried the garlic soy edamame and an assortment of rolls. The meal was pretty tasty but dine outside because the inside is way too stuffy.
(3)Ben S.
I moved away from Ft. Lauderdale about 10 months ago and not a week goes by when I don't want to go eat Takeshi's sushi. The man is an artist. The fresh fish and array of flavors... I'm salivating just writing this. Go here! Eat all the sushi because I won't be able to for another 3 months. This will be the first stop (After my mother's house) when I return to Florida.
(5)Albina S.
After the first time trying Ramen soup at Gaysha, i would not go anywhere else.. period. Fresh seafood every time, great atmosphere and amazing service that what brings me back every week. Tried almost every item on the menu! I highly recomend to try Toro, CC roll and Seafood Ramen. AMAZING!
(5)Kathleen P.
Fresh fish, great rice, awesome prices, lovely staff! Go here! Dishes were elegantly flavored with focus on health consciousness and taste. We had five dishes and each one was delicious. Wait staff/ sushi chef were informative and friendly. Best sushi in Ft Lauderdale and our family eats sushi four times a week. Restaurant is intimate, atmosphere is friendly. Music was fun and hardly noticeable over the savory flavor explosions. Plus Wilton Manners is always entertaining with some lively characters...we will be going back here frequently! Given high marks because quality, flavor, friendliness, and price hit the bullseye.
(5)Shatha S.
Aweful sushi.... No brown rice. No tempura.... Dragon roll is dry in ur mouth from too much rice.
(2)Michelle B.
Cucumber water for the win! Attentive and friendly staff. Fresh and innovative specials. Will be back! Go Tom!
(4)Jennifer R.
Just when my husband and I had given up on South Florida dining, we had dinner last night at Gaysha. We mostly ordered the specials - monkfish pate, salmon carpaccio, mackeral tataki, south of the border roll. Its crazy that the first place that actually had spicy salsa was a Japanese restaurant. I was so happy to have fresh, lovely Japanese food - and for once a sushi place that wasn's Sushi/Thai or had chicken wings on the menu! As others have said - you won't find the standard California roll or other Americanized staples on the menu - but you won't miss them either. Its a small menu but lovely portions and very reasonable prices. We are definitely going back, already thinking about next meal at Gaysha.
(5)Kevin L.
Great food... awesome staff!!
(5)Ron B.
I must pre-empt by saying that I consider atmosphere to be an important factor when I assess a dining experience. I'm not sure where everyone that gave this place five stars has been getting their sushi, but I it's just OK IMO. The sushi was fine....certainly nothing wrong with it...except for one personal issue I have with them...if you wanted to visit often, it would be nice if you could buy the inexpensive rolls...and their basics (I.e. spicy tuna, Ca rolls) are very well priced at $5 - 7...but they are only available with the nori on the outside...who does that still? Not offering rolls inside out is like wearing a sweater vest...it might have been fashionably acceptable at one point in time, but that time is long over. So, if you are like me, and only enjoy rice-out rolls, you're immediately in the specialty section, where the rolls run from $10 to $15... Not outrageous at all, but more like once-a-month pricing, not 2 to 3 times a week pricing. I would also say that the level of service has slipped since they first opened...nothing wrong per se, just some sort of tough chicks now that don't exactly exude warmth (as opposed to previous visits). The beer, wine and sake selection is adequate, although nothing you would rave about at all. The primary shortcoming of this place, however, is the atmosphere...it is tiny (15-20 seats) and lacking in anything to look at, see, feel, do...just you and your co-diners and your food. It is also not terribly busy, which adds to the general lack of atmosphere. Not that I won't go back nor do I mean to discourage anyone from going and having some decent sushi...but I did feel obligated to balance the reviews on here with some alternate thinking. By all means go and try it for yourself...just do so with some more realistic expectations.
(3)Travis S.
This place is amazing! The restaurant is small and easy to miss. Make sure to keep a eye out because this place is well worth it. The sushi is fresh along with the herbs they use are home grown. I would say the only down side is they are a small restaurant that needs to expand. They have a spicy love role that is to die for as well.
(5)Ryan S.
Innovative, fresh and creative. So far my favorite sushi place in Fort Lauderdale by far. A bit on the pricey side ad the specials do not rotate enough, but fantastic nonetheless.
(5)Lori L.
Don't walk by, this is a great little place. Both the food and service are excellent. We will defiantly be back.
(5)Chantal C.
Gaysha is a great restaurant located conveniently off Wilton Drive. If it's your first time visiting and aren't too sure on what to order then don't be shy! Chef Takeshi can literally make you anything your heart desires. If you are a traditionalist when it comes to your Japanese food then maybe Gaysha isn't right for you; however, if you love Japanese food and are looking for a new innovative play on both display and flavor then this is the place for you! The miso soup is refreshing with the hint of cilantro and citrus Chef Takeshi added. The Sashimi Salad appetizer is more than enough for two (maybe even three) and is absolutely delicious. Honestly, the dressing on the salad will have you wanting to lick the plate. I've also had the Live Scallop Sashimi (it is my display photo) and not only was it some of the tastiest scallops I've ever had but the display was breath taking and a true work of art. The rolls are super fresh, made to order, and to die for! The Spicy Love Roll is a must for anyone that visits Gaysha. I've also eaten the South of the Border Roll and it features the most amazing salsa created personally by Chef Takeshi. You may even want to ask for an extra side of salsa for dipping it is that good! I also had tuna and cooked mushroom tacos. Yes, I said tacos! They are absolutely delicious and come with a side of jalepenos, salsa, and cilantro sauce. It should be noted that all products are fresh, not frozen, which makes a huge difference in flavor. Also, if you are looking for a California Roll with imitation crab then don't bother coming here. Gaysha ONLY USES REAL CRAB!!! If you are looking for great food and a nice intimate atmosphere then come to Gaysha. Even if you dine alone you will be the great company of friendly employees who will keep you company. If you come with a small group there is plenty of seating so no need to worry. There are even dinner specials where chef Takeshi will prepare you a multiple course meal that gives you a taste of everything he has to offer and is extremely reasonably priced. If you plan on coming with a large group (6 or more) then I recommend calling ahead and having the tables arranged for you. It takes two minutes and then you don't have to worry about seating as that appears to be a concern for others on here. Oh, it should be noted that music is played at this establishment but not to worry, it is not played loudly and it is a great variety. I wouldn't describe it as "emo" as that is a term to describe a musical genre that came out after the 2000s but I would say you get a great variety of hits from the 80s and 90s. Honestly, I usually come with someone else and don't even notice the music. You most likely won't notice it either.
(5)Joe B.
Really top notch sushi. Love this place. Simple and local and not a large menu... but clean and very good food! You will not go wrong with this place!
(5)Amy R.
It's really hard to get sushi in South Florida these days without cream cheese, tempura flakes or a roll that's so fried it wouldn't matter what kind of fish you were getting. Not here at Gaysha. None of that Americanized nonsense. I was really happy to find that they use only fresh fish, fresh ingredients and even have a nice selection of craft beers and organic wines. Hell, even their water is filtered and infused with cucumber and mint! They have some sushi menu staples like the tuna and salmon roll, but it's the specialty rolls that set them apart. Everything we tried was delicious and we were definitely enamored with the Spicy Love Roll! Our waiter was also really helpful in explaining everything they do and recommending things to try for our taste. Price was right on too! We will definitely be back!!
(5)Tanya C.
Excellent! The fish is very fresh and I love the unique rolls the chef creates. Definitely worth the trip if you are in the area!
(5)Karri B.
Best Sushi! Great Service, all organic. Definitely be back!
(5)E B.
F@#*ING AWESOME..... no other way to describe it. Freshest sushi with the best taste in all of Broward maybe the world! This place is a sushi bar and thats all you will find here. It is small but the staff is super friendly and very knowledgeable. The sushi chef/owner is super cool. The inside of this place reminds me of Miami ink. Cool art on the wall. Over all there's not one negative thing about this place.
(5)Julie F.
Last night was my third visit to Gaysha. For starters, I had a salad with ginger dressing. Once I was finished eating the greens, i could see lil bits of carrots and ginger left in the bowl. This ginger dressing is definetly home made and delicious. Then I had a King Crab California roll. The owner/chef cracked a fesh crab leg to make this roll. You will not find any imitation crab stick used here. Last, but not least, I had a salmon skin roll. It was lightly drizzled with eel sauce, not drowning like most other places. Considering everything is fresh and organic, you will be suprised how affordable this place is. Oshi!
(5)Anne N.
This place is fantastic! The sushi is out of this world...so fresh and doesn't have a bunch of gooey mayo on it. The seaweed salad was delicious and very different in taste as compared to other places. Not only was the sushi great the ramen was superb as well! Must eat here!
(5)Carol M.
I was not impressed with this restaurant. We ordered a Tonkatsu noodle soup. First, it had very little flavor. I think it came from a package and they just added too much water to it. Second, there was no tonkatsu. Third it was way over priced, $18. We also ordered a cucumber roll. Their sushi rice is not properly seasoned. This is not authentic Japanese cuisine.
(1)Mark B.
Love this place. Cool place on the drive with the best sushi and some of the most unique choices that change daily. So fresh it's still swimming. :) Lower prices make this place a great value too. You can also order off menu.
(5)NJ H.
I love this place!!!!! I've been there twice and both times it was amazing. The chef's specials are always fantastic. This prices are fair as well. I can't wait to go back! I have two dishes I have to recommend are the tuna caprese and the miso soup. Both dishes are traditional with a twist. The caprese is the same, but with a soy balsamic and fresh tuna on top! The miso soup has a citrus fusion that makes it out of this world!!! If your feeling like having sushi you need to check this place out ASAP!
(5)Javier C.
Awesome flavors! Very creative.
(5)Ed N.
I avoided this for the first few months after it opened because I couldn't take the name seriously. Sorry I missed out on something great and I've made up for it eating there about once a week since I first stopped in. This is a small sushi place where the owner is behind the sushi bar and coming up with original takes on rolls and sushi with the freshest ingredients. Very health conscious spa kind of flare down to strips of cucumber in the water to add an interesting flavor. Food is incredibly good and that's from somebody who eats a LOT of sushi and sashimi. Their sushi is good, rolls are fantastic. Sashimi isn't their strongest suit. Service slows down when it's crowded which is understandable. Very worthwhile experience. The 80's rock with Talking Heads and Pretenders and etc playing made me feel right at home too. And open til 3 AM on weekends !
(4)Harald F.
Amazingly delicious Sushi. Today this place was completely empty but thanks to yelp reviews we went there anyway and did not regret it. One of the best Sushis we ever had!
(5)Kate A.
We've heard nothing but amazing things about this place and I am happy to say...I concur! This little unassuming spot had a table open on a Friday night when we popped in and we were greeted immediately by the waiter who wound up being knowledgeable and attentive throughout our meal. We decided to do the tasting menu because the menu was small and we wanted to try everything. We had 5 courses of the freshest fish! Beautiful presentation and flavors. The tuna salad and ramen were standouts! An all around fantastic experience! Can't wait to go back.
(5)Thomas Z.
This place is great ! This is my second time here in the past 2 weeks. The food is freshly prepared to order, and not already sitting prepared in a refrigerator like many Sushi places in South Florida. The Chef is friendly and makes you feel welcome. The wait staff is very knowledgeable, friendly, attentive, and informative ! The menu is creative, diverse, and they put a unique spin on typical sushi items. I'll be back here every 2 weeks from now on !!
(5)Roger V.
I absolutely love the menu, food and staff are fun. Great local dinner spot ;-)
(5)Mike W.
Outstanding job setting up a small sushi bar and making all the right tradeoffs. Takeshi-san cannot carry the huge inventories of a Matsuri in his cozy sushibar. But he does make decisions not to carry any poor quality, uncool ingredients like kani stick, cream cheese, escolar, etc. Take a look in the sushi case, then sit down and enjoy some great sushi. Try some of the soba ale while your there too, it's good. More deets at blog.sushi.pro/2011/11/g… Also, notice how friendly they are in a nice, informal setting like this. Just kick back with the Gaysha signature roll and enjoy.
(5)John A.
Chef's choice. You will not be disappointed with ANYTHING here. Superb service. Superb food!!
(5)Derek J.
Great food! Great staff! Very cute. Would be hard to come here with a larger group of friends, but is very nice. Doubt I will go to other sushi places in the area for awhile :-)
(4)Kreisten S.
My boyfriend took me to Gaysha for my birthday and I loved it! The food was fantastic. The service was great. And they had a great beer selection! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Tim E.
Great little place to have good sushi. They serve cucumber scented water and the food is wonderful. It is very small and not fancy. This is a place to go for good sushi with some friends and have a good time. Food prices are reasonable.
(5)Shawn C.
Deceiving in its spartan and maybe a little dingy appearance. But overall we loved the simplicity and freshness. And with sushi that's what's it's all about. We'd definitely go back!
(4)James L.
I was hankering for sushi last night, and this new place had opened up within walking distance, so I figured it was worth a shot! Plus it's name was too good to pass on. GAYsha haha! I read the previous review, and I have to say I was skeptical. I'd heard of folks that would write fake reviews and what not, and the one earlier from mine was simply GLOWING with too many emphatic statements to take seriously. But, again, I figured it was worth a shot. I ordered three things. I got the seaweed salad, Dragon Roll, and something else I can't remember, but it was a low-carb option thing. I have to say all three items were EXCELLENT. I was especially surprised at the seaweed salad coming out purple! It kinda looked like a pile of rotting vegetation, (with a flower garnish!) but it tasted fantastic. The other two rolls were pretty ok too. They were only $10, which for sushi I think is rather reasonable. I've been other places that charge upwards of $14 or $18. As mentioned above, the place is TINY, and the only reason I didn't give this five stars is because the selection is quite small. Only 4 or 5 rolls to choose from, aside from all the sashimi and appetizers and such. Their menu fits on one side of a page, for example. The waiter did mention that they're big on organic and natural stuff, if that's important to you. They also had a section of "traditional" Japanese rolls you could order, but they didn't seem very appealing to me. So, while it's small, everything *I* had was delicious. I'd recommend this to folks hankering for sushi in Swinging Gay Wilton Manors, but don't want to go too far to get it. It's super convenient to the drive, being right next to Bill's and across the way from Alibis. Perfect for a late-night craving. Check it out!
(4)Takeshi K.
will be opening late august .. healthy, organic, raw foods .
(5)Nicholas R.
Best Sushi ever! Small place with excellent service and phenomenal food!!! Reasonably priced menu blows expensive restaurants out of the water. The guy there even makes all his own sauces... The chili sauce was excellent! This place is a must try for anyone who enjoys good sushi.
(5)J M.
This place is amazing! First, let me say that it is tiny. But that being said, it has a wonderful cozy atmosphere. My group of 4 had Amanda as our server and she did a phenomenal job of guiding us through what to order. We started with the ceviche, the spicy tofu and edamame. The ceviche was incredible! The citrus marinade was delicate and well-balanced and it just enhanced the freshness of the fish and veggies in the ceviche. This is a must-have appetizer! The edamame and spicy tofu were wonderful too, but the ceviche was a standout. Next we had tamago sashimi, pumpkin swordfish sushi and the tuna carpaccio. The tamago was homemade (and delicious) and all of the fish was very fresh! The carpaccio was finished with sesame oil and was filled with amazing flavor. At this point in the meal, we knew that our next round of ordering would not disappoint! Our last round of ordering brought us 5 rolls from the menu and, unfortunately, I can't fully remember the names. We had the Shroom roll which was a vegetarian roll. It was wonderful! If you like mushrooms, you'll love it. We would definitely get that one again. There was also a roll with tuna and salmon wrapped in cucumber with a vinegar finish. So refreshing! We also had a roll that reminded me of a Rainbow Roll with multiple types of fresh fish on top. That would be on my list to have again on my next visit! And lastly there was a roll with shrimp and eel that was fantastic! The chef was wonderfully friendly and was willing to answer all of our questions. It was such an intimate experience due to the size of the restaurant and that made it a very special dining experience. This has just become our new favorite sushi spot! If you are in Fort Lauderdale and love sushi, you definitely will want to try this place!
(5)Jonathan R.
Delicious, unique dishes. Quality ingredients and wonderful service! I'll definitely be back.
(5)Renee F.
What a true sushi experience! This chef cares about quality and separation from the same old sushi BS. The quality of the fish and true commitment to innovation makes this a must stop. BE WARNED! they do not have a fryer so if you are looking for unhealthy fried rolls, do not come to this fresh, health minded sushi joint. Check this place out - you will not be disappointed.
(5)Samantha d.
We had this place again tonight for the second time.. Drove from Coral Springs! Its so fresh, great quality, delicious and reasonably priced! If you tell the chef one or two ingredients you like, he'll work his magic and come up with something amazing. Definitely recommended for sushi lovers.
(5)Saira K.
The best! cannot sum it up any better than that. It's true that they have a small menu rather than trying to serve mainstream fare BUT let's talk about that for a bit. 1. Fish is fresh and different each time 2. Tell the server if you want a role / sashimi etc. and then let it be Takeshi's choice. You won't be disappointed! 3. There is always a "specials' menu which changes daily 4. Don't be afraid to ask for ingredients you like. Takeshi can put his special touch on it. 5. There will always be a surprise ingredient he uses that enhances the flavor 6. The salmon is outstanding!!!!!! He uses a salt rub which gives a flavor out of this world! If you want sushi, go anywhere you want. If you want an experience, come to Gaysha.
(5)Al Z.
Ok so, why does everyone have to mention that the interior is small in every review? There is plenty of room for sitting, chilling and eating a kickass meal at the bar or at the tables. You other people must be fatties if you cant sit inside here comfortably. If thats the case I suggest eating more honeybuns and meals from Wendys because you are hopeless. Whatevs. The food here is REALLY, REALLY good! Super fresh and super tasty. The tuna tataki was flavored with the tastiest capers and sauce. I licked the plate. Yes I licked it. I AM NOT ASHAMED. There are more than enough offerings on the menu and the board has plenty of daily specials. The food is fresh, fresh, fresh. I dont think they have anything fried here, so if you are looking for some fried cream cheese with rice I suggest clogging your arteries at the Tokyo Bowl drive through with all the Canadian tourists (nothing personal Canadians, but you know its true, dont front.) I dont write many reviews, so if I do write one you know that I authentically mean what I wrote. This place is great in all respects. Also the food made my tummy feel GOOD AND FULL too, unlike a few other places which have made me feel bloated and almost poop my pants later. You will love it. I promise! Pros: Food, Service, Vibe, Everything Cons: Apparently, Andre The Giant and the morbidly obese might find the interior a tight fit. Everyone else should be just fine.
(5)Paulina G.
My husband and I went there for a quiet date night and we were delighted. The place is rather small with a few tables, yet it wasn't packed at all so no issues with seating. The menu has only cold items and rather limited choices (not what you'd expect in any other sushi restaurant), but definitely satisfying. It was the first time that I had sushi served without any wasabi or ginger and I have to say I definitely didn't miss it. The inventive sauces made the dishes and it was delicious! Highly recommend; definitely going back.
(4)Carlos M.
Best sushi ever! they have rolls I haven't tasted anywhere else before... service is great, and the price is fine. It doesn't seem like they are doing a lot of business which is really sad because their food is great...
(5)