My wife and I love nearly everything about Wa. We go there at least once a week and have for many years. While the atmosphere is not perfectly to our liking it's a small sacrifice for the food and very friendly staff. Please consider just 2 things: change the music and add some craft brew to your list, please. M & J
(4)
Rachael G.
We did not have extremely high expectations for sushi in Lawrence, but as individuals who start having tremors if more than three days go by without some sashimi, we decided to suck it up and try this place late on a Thursday evening. Though they were getting ready to close, the owners let us in to eat. They were very friendly, and I appreciated the fact that they didn't make us feel like they were trying to get us out the door. We got salmon sashimi and a roll (don't ask me which one, I can't remember for the life of me). We were both mildly surprised that the sashimi was as decent as it was. I say "decent" because I would never place it in the "excellent" or even "good" category, but it wasn't terrible and tasted pretty fresh. We both agreed the experience was better than we had expected. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here again, but it wasn't the worst I've ever had either.
(3)
Elizabeth S.
My fiance and I took my folks there for dinner last night and it was delicious. We're recent transplants who love sushi and were delighted by our Wa dining experience. Our waiter was friendly and promptly refilled empty water glasses without us ever having to ask. We shared a variety of rolls (The Vegas roll, Maui roll, Crunchy Yum Yum roll, Black Pearl roll, and the Kansas roll) and were equally impressed by each and every one. The ingredients are deliciously fresh and paired together in such a way that each flavor shines through. For instance, the mango on the Maui roll did not overpower the shrimp or avocado it only enhanced the dish. The rice is light and fluffy, not gummy or heavy, so we left there feeling full but not overstuffed. Perhaps the best part was how inexpensive the whole meal was. In a larger city dinner for 4 at a restaurant like this would cost well over one hundred dollars, but with tax and tip we paid just over eighty. We will certainly be back!
(4)
Steven W.
Very good rolls. Very good service. Decent bar selections. Positive experience overall.
(3)
Jennifer H.
Although I have eaten sushi at not more than 5 or 6 different restaurants, I do want to point out that this is the best BY FAR. I have had the kamikaze, crunch munch, Sean Connery, fried veggie, and hot rolls, and they are all delicious. Service has always been good. The only let down so far has been the ginger dressing on the salad. I've had better.
(4)
Tiffinie F.
We frequent Wa regularly. Great place. Best sushi in Lawrence. Kansas roll, Hamachi and maguro were great today. I would not say it's the best sushi I've had (hence the 4 star)--but definitely best you will find in Lawrence. The restaurant is small but quiet and clean. The servers and the chef are very nice and helpful.
(4)
Bethanie W.
I could be a little bias being that I am a Jayhawk and love Lawrence as a whole. I have had sushi in Vegas, San Francisco, New York, Arizona, etc. and have not been able to find anything that competes with the sushi at Wa. Located on Mass you have the perfect location contributing the magnificence of this restaurant. Go in your suit or in you shorts you can't go wrongly dressed. Start off with the House Salad. The ginger dressing is to die for. The restaurant specialty rolls such as The Wa Roll and The Mass Roll, but you can't go wrong choosing a run of the mill California Roll either. Another gem at Wa is the honey Wasabi - it takes the fire of the wasabi and combines it wit h a sweet honey that kills the bite. All of that with the plum wine and you will leave full and happy. As for who you should bring, I have seen groups, families, small children and couples. The restaurant is very quiet though so I would consider that if you have a younger child.
(5)
Ty O.
For a nice downtown sushi restaurant in the Midwest, Wa hits all the major points. The interior is very pleasant and sets the mood for a nice meal. The hostess and servers were welcoming and polite, providing service that was wonderfully transparent. I loved the atmosphere, which really lend itself to enjoying the entire experience. The sushi and sashimi were constructed simply and elegantly. The presentation had small flourishes that enhanced the meal (the tuna roll was shaped into petals like a flower -- it was a cute touch). The cuts of sashimi were generous. They were tender and firm and had an excellent flavor. The nigiri were similarly delicious and held together nicely. They were a nice size, though the fish on top was at times slightly too long for the rice, though a little extra fish can hardly be a bad thing. Wa provides a more refined sushi experience than others in Lawrence. I'll most certainly be returning to try some of their more specialized rolls, confident that their quality will match that of the basic flavors I tried the first time. I definitely recommend Wa to anyone who likes quality sushi and has some nice company enjoy it with (mine was excellent). Review: 4.25 stars.
(4)
Nate M.
One of my most missed joints in Lawrence is definitely Wa. I had my first ever sushi here with a good friend many years ago and I'm drawn to it not just because of the sentimentality, but also because they have some consistently great sushi. The service is deceptively great...In the past you'd go in and see a bunch of like-dressed hipster and assume it was going to be standoffish and cold, as is the status quo for the restaurants on mass...but unlike the other places, the servers here are polite, friendly, and totally don't care if you're a beginner or a fugu master. I've brought some friends here throughout the years for their virgin sushi experience, and all of them loved it. I remember that the Zen Crunch and Wa Roll were the two things I had to order EVERY time I went. I wish I could go on and on about all of the nuanced compositions of all of the rolls but I was so devoted to these two in particular that I'm not sure I ever had much else. I do know that at one point I ordered some shrimp roll that came out on a fajita comal looking thing and they lit it on fire. And one time we ordered so much that they brought it out on this huge/embarrassing/awesome wooden boat that took up most of the table. For a while I had a totally maladaptive crush on one of the sushi chefs, but as that's been 6+ years ago, I'm certain he's moved on. Either way, if you're in Lawrence and want some really great unique sushi in an awesome location, you really can't beat Wa. (and get the Zen Crunch...seriously)
(4)
Joi B.
Let it be known that it is *rare* if not completely impossible for me to give a 4-star review to a place where my food arrived 20 minutes after our order, and before we received our drinks, at that. Why am I doing so? Apparently this past Saturday night, a prom vomited its students onto Mass St. and Wa was packed at 9:30 pm. That's OK, they handled the crowd the best they could. The service here is so charming that I am willing to forgive the fact that we sat there waiting for our food (and drinks), me getting crazier by the second. Not good for the K. Sorry, darlin'! Yes, a lot to be said for the staff here. Our waiter was friendly and flattering (asked for our IDs...awwwww!). Another waitress came over and apologized for the K not receiving the cheering action for his sake bomb (while I silently thanked...whomever. I hate having a commotion surrounding my dinner table, thank you very much!) The food, again, way up to par. This time I tried the "Fried Vegetable Roll" which is a veg tempura roll. It's big enough that you really don't need to order a second roll. I couldn't finish it, as hungry as I was. I love Wa. Even on a crazy night packed with parties where normally I wouldn't have even crossed the threshold, as I detest loud, crowded restaurants. Even if I have to sit at the sushi bar instead of a table (I know, I know. *Everyone* wants to sit at the sushi bar. Not me! Nothing personal. I just like to sit across from my dining companion).
I'm giving this restaurant a 3 out of 5 because the sushi was great and reasonably priced for the quality, but I will not be going back. I prefer Yokohama to Wa. The service was TERRRRRRIBLE. I had a blonde girl that was patronizing and we had to wait at least 15 min to get our order placed. We ordered soup and salad which should be swift...and she took care of everyone but us first, causing our food to be tardy. When she did broung out the sushi, she tried to give it to the table behind us and didn't even wait for us to finish our soup OR salad! She was annoyingly trite and condescending...and the owner had to bring us our last roll because it had been sitting on top of the bar too long...and the owner didn't crack a smile the entire hour and a half we were in the restaurant. The atmosphere is aesthetically appealing and nicely decorated, however, the tables are TOOOOOOO close together. You can basically go on a date with the table next to you.
(3)
Alex H.
Very nice place! Great traditional and more American sushi. They have a great selection, and the fish is very fresh! Great service and the restaurant itself is very Japanese oriented and peaceful. A great overall place!
(5)
Troy L.
I will not be coming back. Yelp, you have failed me! This place has great reviews, but I was very disappointed with my meal. My wife and I came here for lunch and ordered a few sushi items. To save you the trouble of reading a long review, I'll just tell you that the sushi rice was awful. It was too hard, and not seasoned well. Want to know if the the sushi restaurant is legit or not?One sure-fire way to tell if a sushi spot is legit is by how much care they put into making their sushi rice. The rice tasted old. Sushi has so few components to it, and rice being a primary one, means we will not be returning to this establishment. Sorry, Wa.
(1)
Drew M.
The roll I got they lit on fire! It was the bomb!
(4)
Clarice W.
After returning to Wa in over a year I am regrettably detracting a star. The dining atmosphere has changed dramatically; there are a lot more tables (making it more crowded) and is more dimly lit (too much so, it made me sleepy...). I had the Emperor Roll, spicy crab and tempura flakes with several different types of fish on top. Two problems: first, the fish was unevenly sliced, ranging from 0.5cm thickness to basically translucent. How can I enjoy sashimi when it resembles pickled ginger more than a juicy cut of fish?? Second, the width of the rolls were uneven as well but this time on the large end, some reached about 2in length. I don't know if they were trying to compensate for the oh-so-thin slices of fish, but please, I do not want to look like a chipmunk when I eat. These inconsistencies make me feel like Wa is getting sloppy. Because the ingredients are still quality I can't go down further than 3 stars. But I'm sad to say that, in terms of sushi in Lawrence, it's now a toss-up for me between Wa and Yokohama - it all depends on whether you're aiming for a more romantic (Wa) or trendy (Yokohama) kind of atmosphere.
(3)
Meghan B.
Wahhhhh I miss Wa. Wa is more laid back and less of a scene compared with the other sushi place in downtown Lawrence and I've never had a bad meal there. The service is always friendly and there's always some totally random music playing during your meal (I think I've heard Television's Marquee Moon album on numerous occasions). If you go, my advice is to order the Sean Connery roll. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Sunthud P.
I really like the Jayhawk roll which is the sushi roll on a hot plate; however, this is the only reason why I go to this restaurant. The other dishes are just okay compared to Yokohama which is just one block away.
(3)
Phil W.
Good choice for sushi. The place is casual and kept very clean. The food was delicious and they had a solid lineup of choices. I also like the outdoor seating.
(4)
Craig M.
Just about a week after I had lunch at Ra in Leawood, I stumbled onto Wa in Lawrence. I was in town with 2 hours to kill and it was raining hard. No problem since I always have an umbrella in the trunk. After walking past several tempting restaurants that I hope to visit someday, I felt drawn into Wa which turns out to be the opposite end of the spectrum when compared to Ra. It is somewhat dimly lit. Everything is very formal though friendly. It is a traditional upscale Japanese venue. The food was great and the service was attentive. It felt so cozy. Especially after being out in the rain and sitting down to a warm bowl of hot and sour soup. Absolutely no complaints...I should visit Lawrence more often.
(4)
Jacob P.
The Wa is by far my favorite place to eat in Lawrence, KS. Why you ask? Because I LOVE SUSHI!!! I love good sushi and i love Great Sushi. I fell in love with this place the first time I went in. I am a regular at the Wa and I have yet to be let down. As soon as I open the front door I hear "Irasshaimase" from the sushi bar letting me know I'm welcome. Every roll I have had has been great. the sashimi is as good as it gets for the midwest. Yes I have to say that, the stuff on the coast is superior but I'm not on the coast am I? hehe. The servers are always attentive and well schooled in sushi and sake. They will make special requests. I was there last night as a surprise by my girlfriend. We knocked out a 740(heart attack) roll, a Wa roll, and a california roll to clean the pallet. Great service, great food, great conversation with the sushi chefs. When in Lawrence go give them a visit. p.s. Why heavens no! We seek a full meal and all the compliments of the house. Come Elwood let us adjourn ourselves to the nearest table and overlook this establishments board of fare.
(5)
Mike P.
I was already charmed with Massachusetts St. as a whole and was in the mood for something I hadn't had in a while. The restaurant was pretty dead as it was a Monday night. I sat at the sushi bar, and upon the chef's recommendation, got the Mafia Roll. It was very good and very spicy. Also, I ordered the calamari appetizer which I would avoid in the future. It was prepared quite differently than I am used to. It was too heavily breaded, and I wound up pulling the squid meat out of the thick tempura. I only wished I had been with a group so I could have tried the many other deliciously looking specialty rolls. There are excellent photo examples in the menu that make everything look good. The staff was very gracious and nice and the chef made me feel very welcome and honored to have eaten there. We watched Monday Night Football together on the screen behind the bar.
(4)
Samantha A.
At first I was afraid, I was petrified. Of sushi that is. Maybe that's why I've never tried Wa. But since the Thai place on Mass closed, and I've developed a fondness for little circles of rice with stuff in them, I gave Wa a try. Man, have I been missing out! Wa is great. The tofu, the tuna rolls, the Crystal roll, something with "Yam Yam" in the name ... my date and I ummed and wowed the whole way through. It's nice to eat sushi with someone you love, because at least for me there's always a chance I'm going to dump something in my lap. But it wasn't just the company that made Wa awesome. Fresh food. Beautiful presentation. Strooooooooooong drinks. I may be late but I'm happy to jump on the Wa bandwagon.
(5)
Deana W.
The sign on the door reads: "They Love us on Yelp." It's true, we do. Step off the busy Massachusetts strip into another world. This restaurant is a calming oasis in the heart of the strip. The atmosphere in this small, sushi restaurant is very "East meets West". Warm, wood tones characterize the minimalistic, Japanese decor. Seating is available at either the sushi bar or tables. Your choice. The first thing you need to know is that, yes, there are wonderful things on the menu for those of you that are less than excited about raw fish. The menu is laid out mostly in pictures, just like back in grade school, with descriptions underneath the photos. There is something here for every palate, from the experienced, to the novice. Just like your very first training bra, you want it, but you're just not quite ready for the real deal...just yet. Sushi training rolls. Once you get started down this path, there's no turning back. The addiction will set in. There are sushi rolls designed for those of you with raw fishophobia, aka, Me! My personal favorite, the Heart Attack, has crunchy, tempura shrimp. Yum! I also highly recommend the Sean Connery, Kansas roll, or the Crunch and Munch. These rolls are beautifully presented. The Kansas roll is served to your table, flaming. The taste is ridiculously wonderful. My name is Deana, and I am a sushi addict, but I'm OK with it. Not quite ready for that 12 step program, just yet.
(5)
Rich H.
Wa is an oasis of tasty Japanese food in the Kansas ethnic food desert. Sashimi was fresh, uni and ikra nigiri were flavorful, and the spicy scallop roll had a fresh seafood taste. Some tempura items in the bento box were heavily battered, overwhelming the veggies and seafood. Soba noodles were pleasantly chewy but the soup broth was mundane. There are too many gimmicks, including a complicated rolls with ridiculous names and flaming platters. Good selection of saki (for the location) and friendly service. In New York this place would rate 2 stars, but it fully earns 4 stars in Kansas.
(4)
Meryl C.
Yokohama is OK for a cheap fix or a rowdy night out. Cafe Beautiful is in a whole 'nother realm (in food, atmosphere, and price). But for your day-in, day-out Lawrence sushi needs, Wa is where it's at. Their rolls are fun--some of my favorites are the Sean Connery Roll and the Kansas Roll--but their nigiri is awesome. I've heard it compared to good West coast sushi, and although I haven't sampled such, it's certainly beats everywhere else I've been in the Midwest. The fish is pretty, firm, and slips down my throat ever-so-obligingly. Also, I'm sure it's possible, but I don't ever remember getting bad service here. The servers are knowledgeable about the food, while at the same time being completely not stuck-up about it. If you want to push your comfort barriers, they're right there with you, and have generally tried the item in question so they can describe it. If you want a fork and not to "eat anything scary or gross" (as my baby sister requested once), they're happy to help you with that, as well.
(5)
Dan Z.
i have traveled the country many times over and have had sushi just about everywhere from East to West, North and South and Wa holds it own! And in Lawrence KS too. Who'd a thought....
(4)
Nick K.
For the price I really don't think that Wa is worth it. I am not trying to sound biased, but for about $3 less a roll you can go to Yokohama's and get a superior meal for less. Wa is decent by all means, but when a rival is just down the street that is blatantly better, you need to ask why does Wa receive better reviews. As for Lawrence sushi, Wa is good, but just not the best. The sashimi itself is very good as well as some of the specialty rolls, but it seems a bit more pricey than i was expecting. By no means is this a bad resteraunt, so if you are looking for the Mass street environment then it is a great place to go.
(3)
Tony H.
It started with me asking, " do you have Yakisoba?" A fair question since I was in a Japanese restaurant. The owner gave me a scrunchy face like I asked her if she served Shit Sushi. It went down hill from there. Poor service, uninspiring food, way too expensive. I gave it one star because I couldn't submit this review without a rating and no stars was not an option.
(1)
Sarah Z.
The sushi is really good here! The service is fine and they're always accomodating for large groups. Probably the better sushi place in town. The only drawback is that it is pricey. But it's a treat once in a while. :)
(4)
Stephie G.
There aren't many Asian restaurants in Lawrence, especially ones that have any hint of authenticity. Wa, actually does a good job, as they offer Korean food (bulgogi, soon doo boo), something NOT offered anywhere else in Lawrence. I went here to celebrate my new job with my boyfriend, who loves sushi. He has never had a bad experience here and loves their Spicy Tuna Roll as well as their Spicy Salmon Roll. Over half their menu is sushi, so if you absolutely LOVE it, and are willing to pay for it, then this is your place. On one occasion, I saw someone order the Kansas Roll, which is quite the spectacle as it does come lit on fire (I know all you pyro-sushi lovers are excited). However, if you aren't a sushi fan, their choices are limited choice, beware. Unfortunately, I am allergic to fish and most seafood (yes, I know, I'm missing out, you're not the first to shudder). If you get there between 2 and 6pm, Wa has Happy Hour with $2.95 appetizers including dishes like Gyoza, Egg Rolls, Edamame, and Calamari. We got the Edamame, and I had the pleasure of educating my guy how to get the soybeans out of their pod without prying the whole thing open with your fingers. "Stick the pointed side into your mouth, then use your teeth to slide the beans out of their pod." Given my allergy, I decided to order the Chicken Katsu, which is usually a safe choice. The chicken was tasty, though the small sides on the plate I could have cared less for. Sadly, the sauce that accompanied the Chicken Katsu did not have the hoisin taste I was anticipating. To be honest, the sauce resembled more of an A1 barbecue sauce. When I had asked for hoisin sauce, they replied saying they had none. For goodness sakes, you guys are an Asian restaurant! Have hoisin sauce! The place gets packed during dinner time, especially during the weekends, so be prepared to wait, otherwise get their early evening, late afternoon before the rush. Sans the sauce incident, Wa is absolutely in my top 3 choices for Asian cuisine in Lawrence.
(4)
Jaime F.
Strike 1: Pachamamas is closed on Sundays Strike 2: Teller's stops serving food between brunch and dinner Score: Wa---a favorite that had slipped my mind Discussing life changes with a long-time friend I hadn't seen for years the goal was to be isolated, be able to giggle freely, and to have a server who could deal with our indecisiveness and "colorful" vocabularies. Wa was perfect. After picking the hyphenated part of her former last name off her chopsticks (they will store them for you if you take your own) only to realize the former flames had been stuffed in there by mistake we decided to finish our glass of wine before ordering. Daniel, a long-time Wa employee was our server and he was fantastic---patient, professional and conversational when the moment required it. We started with the Ahi-Tuna Tower and that was by far the highlight of the meal. The sauce was fantastic and the avocado added the perfect texture addition. Followed by salmon sushi, sashimi and unagi (and multiple prompt and generous red wine refills) we were in a better place. Like most women in transition we could not forgo ice cream, the green tea variety was delicious. Highly recommended for good times and bad!
(5)
Andrew L.
Really good sushi, and the server was really friendly and provided great customer service. I will recommend to people in the area looking to eat some good sushi.
(4)
Heather M.
Service and food are great! Love everything I have tried!
(5)
G B.
Wa is excellent. We eat there at least twice a month. The food is tasty and very fresh, the staff and owners are always friendly.
(5)
Nick C.
While it's true that there are other, cheaper places in Lawrence to get "sushi", Wa does it right. Sushi in the midwest is a get what you pay for situation, so Wa's $15 specialty rolls are well worth every penny. Capable of serving the first-time American or the seasoned sushi-eater, Wa defaults to chopsticks and sake, but can handle forks and soda if that's more your speed. My only complaint with Wa is the hit-or-miss wait staff. They've got a few servers who are excellent, right on top of the refills and within arms reach if there's a need or an issue, but they've got a few who take your order, bring a drink, and disappear forever into the abyss. Having been repeat diners there, we've learned to separate the good from the bad and are able to request the good almost every time. Quite possibly the best midwestern sushi joint!
(4)
Jack T.
Hands down the best sushi I have had in Lawrence. Service is always prompt and friendly, and their specialty rolls are fantastic (as are their standard rolls). In addition to the excellent food and service, they have an awesome sake list. If you are looking for good, fresh sushi or sashimi in Lawrence with a generally quiet atmosphere, hit up Wa, you won't regret it.
(5)
Matt K.
The photos on the menu are very helpful, even for an experienced sushi eater. There were plenty of interesting rolls to choose from, so I'll have to make a few more trips to try them all. The staff was extremely friendly and the server was great with suggestions. The fish was good quality and had nice flavor and texture. I look forward to my next visit.
(5)
James D.
This place is great! I had my first sushi experience here with a friend several years ago and whenever I'm back in Lawrence I always end up going to wa at least once. Great food and a great place to meet with friends. Also a good spot to take a date. Enjoy!
(5)
Holly H.
I absolutely love this place! It's my favorite sushi place in Lawrence, but I haven't gotten to go in some time. It's usually a special occasion type place because of the cost, but most sushi places that my husband and I like are like that. Wa is the first place that I ever truly tried sushi, is also where my husband proposed to me. There is a great selection of food including sushi, bento boxes, soups, desserts, alcohol, etc. It's fun to watch the chefs prepare the sushi...and it's great when you order enough sushi to have it arrive on a giant boat!
(5)
Corey W.
The best sushi in Lawrence. The spicy tuna roll is the only sushi that I have had that wasn't good to excellent. For newbies to sushi, I recommend the Kansas Roll and Unagi...cooked sushi is easier. Atmosphere is fine, the price is a little high. Service has always been excellent. Relative to the sushi that I had in Seattle, I would give this place 4 stars. I know, I'm pulling a little Seattle snobbery. Deal with it.
(5)
Chris P.
I'm torn between giving Wa three stars and four stars. Once again, I wish three and a half stars were an option. If I weren't in Kansas, it'd be a clear cut three. But, this place, especially the service, is so far ahead of the downtown Yokohama, I have to give it four stars. The sushi is average. For Kansas, that means it's pretty good. The menu is, well, average. I had the chirashi, which is fairly difficult to screw up (assuming the fish is fresh, and this fish is about as fresh as possible for here). The service was pretty amazing, though. The waiter took the time to explain what each fish was without either of us asking. Whilst I knew what most were, that extra touch is appreciated. The decor is nice; it's also nice not to have sake bomb chants every five seconds, as with Yokohama. If you're in Lawrence, this is the place to go for sushi (now that my beloved Cafe Beautiful seems to be no more).
(4)
Ryan L.
delicious sushi, best in lawrence by far.
(5)
Colleen Z.
The best sushi in Lawrence hands down. Hubby and I love to sit at the sushi bar and watch the chefs create. The spicy scallop roll is one of my favorites. I love the feel of the restaurant as well as the decor. Become a regular, you will be seated quickly and receive the best service in town. We have yet to have a less than great roll. Try Wa and you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Briana O.
Recently had a double date night here, based on the recommendation from the other couple that it was the best sushi in Lawrence. We all settled in with bottles of Sapporo and edamame and waited for our huge boat (yes, our rolls were served to us in a wooden boat! Cute!) of sushi to arrive. The rolls were good rolls, but nothing that totally rocked my socks off. I ordered the Las Vegas and California, which are pretty standard fare anywhere so maybe I should've branched out. I may have to try again to see if I can find a roll to dream about. But for me, it was a pleasant but not mouth-wateringly memorable experience. The service was good, the sushi was good, the little wall of the "regulars"' chopsticks was cool....but I just wasn't blown away. I'll let you know what I think next time..... :)
(3)
Mike K.
ive been here once so far and im only going to comment on the house specials, which are mostly korean. i had the dol sot bibim bap (mixed rice in a stone bowl). trust me guys, it's authentically korean. i should know (dae han ming gook!) just as good as what you would get in other korean restaurants. everyone else like their sushi.
(5)
D T.
I think they put crack in their sushi...seriously. It's been years since I've been here, but I'm coming back for a visit, and Wa is all that's on my mind. I used to eat this stuff 3 times a week. (I had a great bartending job, don't be jealous of my gluttony.) I'm a tuna girl, and everything tuna-based was AMAZING. I will update when I get back, but it's shocking to have such an unbelievable sushi joint smack dab in the middle of Kansas??? Thanks you Wa for depleting my bank account throughout college, and it was sooo worth it.
(5)
Jessica R.
I'm forced to drop my 5 star rating to 4. The high quality of the nigiri and sashimi, in additional to the wait staff are what made Wa an exceptional sushi restaurant. About 8 months ago, something seemed to change. As a result, their veteran servers left. Since then, the quality of the food and the service have not met my expectations consistently. Overall, my experiences are positive and I still love the place. I'd like to see them return to the standard and consistency that I've enjoyed for years.
(4)
Kelsey G.
Wa is my favorite place for sushi in Lawrence. The atmosphere is perfect for any occasion and the staff is always friendly. My favorite rolls are the cucumber special and the New York, which pairs salmon with fuji apple. Amazing!
(5)
Jamie K.
Wa is the place to go if you want sushi in Lawrence. I recently wrote a review of Yokohama. I prefer Wa over Yokohama but only by a very slight margin. Wa is more of a traditional sushi restaurant. It has good quality fish and good classic rolls. While Yokohama has crazier rolls with more bold ingredients, Wa uses tastier fish. This is what I am after. Simple. Good. Fish.
(4)
Estela F.
My experience at the restaurant was just awful. There was yelling on the part of the owners at the employees, which made for a very uncomfortable dining experience. Ignoring that bit of inappropriate behavior the service was lackluster. The waitress forgot to bring part of our order so one of my friends had to wait a long time for his food. This is never acceptable especially in a restaurant that tries so hard to appear to be upscale. As for ambiance the music was atrocious. It was a mix of pop, R&B, and some kind of korean or japanese. They need to pick one kind of music and stick with it because honestly bouncing around from Chris Brown to foreign music is distracting. There were also a bunch of tvs all with ESPN. When I'm spending $100+ with a few friends to share sashimi and sake I don't want Chris Brown or ESPN around. The chairs had crumbs in the corners and the floor had spilled crumbs and other food debris. I guess cleanliness isn't important. The sake menu was limited but the one I chose was good. We had Yaegaki Nigori, an unfiltered sake I'd had before. The menu was enormous. I hate hate hate enormous menus. It means they obviously keep food frozen in the back somewhere because they simply can't keep everything available on the menu in stock and fresh unless the place is really high traffic and they're making everything constantly. Wa is not high traffic. There were about 7 other tables, maybe 20 other people in the place during dinner on a Thursday night. That was a bad sign from the start. My gut instinct was to leave, but I believed the reviews on here so my friends and I stayed. The food was bad. The sashimi didn't look or taste fresh, which might be typical for Kansas but I don't know. I thought there might be a place that flew in fresh fish but Wa certainly isn't that place. I always like to try hamachi, tai, sake, hotate, saba, tako, uni, maguro, and toro. None of the sashimi tasted fresh. The hotate arrived late so I imagine they were thawing it in the back. Ick. This is typical of places that freeze, thaw, refreeze and/or leave the meat around for a few days. They claimed everything was fresh, but I know the difference between fresh sashimi and sashimi that's sat around. In a restaurant that's not high traffic it's pretty much impossible to get really fresh sashimi because they order a lot and it just doesn't get purchased fast enough. The reviews on here suggested the sushi was amazing but I didn't find that to be the case. The hotate and uni were particularly bad. I asked to get a refund and the manager refused. Typical of a place with poor service. Overall I was not impressed and as I'm from out of town and only spent a short time in Lawrence I won't be going back. Look elsewhere for sushi because Wa was simply awful on all fronts. I'm surprised they stay in business.
(1)
Joe W.
Friendly staff, great sushi.
(5)
Lindsay W.
Are the previous reviewers all somehow related to the owners? I mean, the sushi is ok, but it's not off the charts. I find the selection of rolls to be standard, if not boring, and the menu overall is very run-of-the-mill. The service is fabulous, and I suppose that alone warrants 5 stars, but for such lackluster sushi, I wouldn't go more than 2 stars. In my world, that averges to 3. If you live in Lawrence and really want some sushi, this is an ok place to satisfy the craving.
(3)
Brad D.
Best Sushi in Kansas Great service I have great knowledge in the sushi department, therefore, my rating for this place will prove quite accurate. Ninety-nine percent of the time, I sit at the sushi bar at this establishment. It has a small restaurant feel to it, so you feel like you get individual attention, because you do. The sushi chef usually will great you and ask you about your dish. The environment is not bistro, but more of a traditional japanese style, something that is uncommon in a lot of sushi places these days. Service is good to great depending on how busy they, but no worries, I have never had a bad experience here. The original owner sold it to the new guys, but nothing has changed. Way to go. The old owners supposabley opened Yokohama, not sure if this true however. Regardless, I prefer a more quiet traditional setting over a loud place with too many televisions in it. Wa is the best in Lawrence. Make sure you try the super white tuna. I rarely see this on sushi menus and it tastes amazing. I describe it as a soft buttery taste. In my opinon, it is better than Toro.
(4)
Linda B.
Love driving to Larrytown and making an evening of it by going to Wa before a concert or just a long stroll along Mass. Great relaxed atmosphere, great staff and reaally good sushi!
(5)
Aunt B.
The sushi here is great and really not high priced as some of the previous reviews have mentioned. Good sushi doesn't have a dollar menu! The service was fast and friendly, even when unbelievably crowded! The sushi is so awesomely delicious that even the non-sushi eater in our group had several pieces! On my last visit, I had the Wa roll which was rich and spicy! The New York roll was tasty with salmon and avocado but instead of cucumber, there are small slivers of apple! Still crunchy and cool, this was a delicious alternative and I wish they'd replace all cucumber with apple! When you go, please don't overlook the sushi without the fancy names. I had the spicy scallops roll and it was my favorite. Those were all I had room for this last visit, but the menu is HUGE. Go try it and tell us what your favorites are!
(5)
Taylor O.
Chuck Norris roll.
(4)
Nathaniel H.
Not the best sushi and the chefs definitely set an unnerving, unfun vibe. The servers really seem to do the best with what they have. While it's lovely to see that yelpers like Wa, I have never enjoyed going there.
(2)
Michael C.
I had great service here when I went with my friend a few weeks ago. We got in right away, and really enjoyed all the food + the drink specials (some kind of Valentine's Day thing). Fantastic service. Definitely recommend this place for its food as well.
(5)
David H.
Surprised by how slow the service was. Restaurant was about half full and it took over 45 minutes for our 3 orders to come. Wasn't worth the wait. Really wanted to give this place high marks since we chose this place over many other options.
(2)
Corey O.
There is no way this place does not get a 5 star. Some of the best sushi in the midwest. If you're not going for the really cheap, spend the extra dollar or two per roll and go here. You can't go wrong. SOOO tasty. They know what they're doing. UPDATE: In response to the last yelper from CA. Yeah, it's not fresh from the pacific that morning. As for selection, she calls it standard? It sounds like she just looked at one page of the menu. They have dozens of different types of rolls AND they just added another new menu. Don't listen to her. Try it for yourself.
(5)
Rush G.
Ok, so I am kind of new to Yelp and this is my second review, and like my previous review was 5 stars as well. But in all honesty, Wa is not only a GREAT sushi place in Lawrence, but just a fantasic sushi place in general--would do well in any big city. I have experienced wonderful service, very kind wait staff, and high-quality food. My favorite is the Kamikaze Roll, which is highlighted by the spicy crawfish. They have a nice combination of classic rolls and creative rolls, IMHO. Been here probably 10 times and wouldn't mind multiplying that by a few. :) Go!
(5)
Jenna B.
Not bad considering I was in KS! I was hesitant to eat here since the closest ocean is hundreds of miles away. Granted, I did have a cold when I had dinner here so my sense of smell might not have been at its best. The sushi was great, the fish didn't smell like fish, and the noodle bowl was very flavorful. The spicy sushi rolls are definitely that, they cleared me up quick but delicious nonetheless.
(4)
Ankle B.
I was pleasantly surprised by Wa. I generally don't eat sushi unless there's an ocean nearby, but this was really good. It's crazy how you have to travel to Lawrence to find a Japanese sushi chef. 2 of them at that!! Everything was super fresh and they had some really creative specialty rolls. Brought a colleague here who's new to sushi (I know), he had the "crunchy yum yum" roll, and LOVED it. LOL. We all have to start somewhere! They brought out a huge platter of beginners' and expert sushi and we devoured all of it. Truly delicious! Just because I wanted some Japanese soul food, I got the Chicken Katsu (which is surprisingly harder to get in the States than sushi), and they even did that right (all white meat w/a side of shredded cabbage)! The appetizers were great as well. Add a full bar to boot, and it's party time!
(4)
Amanda D.
Wa is amazing. Obviously, it is located in Kansas, which means it does not have the kind of variety that might be offered on the East or West Coasts, but for Kansas, I am completely impressed with the quality of food that is offered at Wa. The service is ALWAYS top notch and I have never had something here that I did not love.
(5)
Jamie S.
Wa is probably my favorite place in all of Lawrence. Every time Andy suggests going to Wa, my face lights up like a little kid on Christmas Day. It's not the cheapest place to get sushi, but it certainly is the best. Our go to appetizer is always the beef asparagus maki. It's so good. Trust me, you'll want to order it. We have tried numerous rolls, however, our favorites are the Kansas Roll, the 701 (heart attack) roll, and the KC Royals roll. They also have the best hand rolls I've ever had. I strongly recommend the spicy tuna hand roll - it will not disappoint! If you haven't experienced Wa, you're definitely missing out. The exceptional food coupled with the fantastic customer service and atmosphere make for a great date night.
(5)
Kevin B.
Wa prepares some of the best sushi I have had while traveling the country, and they do it consistently. Since moving to the Lawrence area 3 years ago, this place has become our home-away-from-home - we eat there at least once a week. It has been hard to try other restaurants in town because every time we get a night out without the kids, we want Wa. We try to order different items and always try the specials, and have yet to have something we didn't like. Definitely the best in Lawrence, and worth becoming a regular - they take care of you well! Recommendations - 740 Heart Attack Roll, Kansas Roll, Zen Crunch Roll, Dynamite Roll
(5)
Jenny B.
Ever since I moved here a few years ago I asked my friend who lived here where is the best sushi in town? She recommended Wa Sushi. I am here quite often and a few of the staff know exactly what I want when I walk in lol. The crunch munch is my favorite roll. I always get the salad with ginger dressing the the gyoza is awesome too!
(5)
Shannon H.
Went with my daughter, son in law & husband. We ordered 5 rolls. Prince was comparable to other sushi places about 12 to 15 per roll. The best roll was the special Kansas Royals Roll. Everything was pretty good. Our server was very attentive and helpful with the menu.
(4)
Amanda B.
This is a decent place for sushi or as good as it can be for not being close to the coast. Majority of rolls tasted fishy and if you know sushi it does not taste fishy even if you eat it raw. Waiter was very friendly and knowledgable of menu. KC royal roll was the best!
(3)
Sophie L.
Sushi was okay. Maybe I'm being too picky but have definitely had better. A lot of rolls on the menu were fried or had cream cheese in it. The Korean food was really good and udon noodles were yummy. We tried a bunch of rolls. The Kansas roll was interesting since it came on fire. Some of our group loved it and the others didn't like the burnt taste. Service was good and we enjoyed the ambience.
(4)
Ben A.
Food was okay, but it was the service that pissed me off, really. There really aren't many good Japanese restaurants here in Lawrence, so we tried this one. First time, fine. Second time, sitting at the table after half an hour, while no one even talked to us. It was RIDICULOUS!!!
(3)
Scott T.
14 months have passed since I last reviewed Wa. As I said in my last review, I've eaten here more than any other restaurant in Lawrence. It's not even close, and Wa still cranks out the best and most consistent sushi and overall dining experience in town. I like one of their nearby competitors but it's such a totally different experience. Wa is casual, just a little elegant without feeling pretentious, and the service and overall experience is just so relaxing. The other: party city, loud, noisy, fun... but. I'm usually not looking for all of that. My daughter, now 17, has eaten sushi here since she was two years old and it used to be our weekly dad/daughter date. We don't do those as often as we used to but when we often--happily--find ourselves here. Our sashimi deluxe and salmon sashimi plates were just ridiculously enjoyable on our most recent visit. Hot green tea, rice, miso, and as always, great service. Thank you, Wa, for being our in-town dining home away from home.
(5)
Gaz H.
The food here is solid and the folks are very accommodating (although the management seems a bit stern, they have very friendly and helpful servers). The fish was fresh and delicious. Likely your best sushi option in the vicinity. Nighttime classical musical selection makes this place seem more formal than it really is. Like sushi places everywhere, not cheap. Recommended.
(4)
Emily L.
It's not the best sushi I've ever had, but it's up there. The quiet atmosphere was nice as was the service. I really enjoyed the new Royals roll, but wasn't a fan of the highly recommended Sean Connery roll.
(4)
Lesia M.
Great service, we only had salads and sushi, the kansas roll is fun, it arrives at the table on fire, the rolls are all smaller than i am used to, but very tasty.We will be back!
(4)
Jacqueline T.
Wa is one of the best sushi restaurant in Lawrence / kc area. The fish is fresh and there are different variety of fish to choose from. My husband and I order the love boat everytime we go there and it comes with nigiri, sashimi, different kinds of tempura and chicken teriyaki. Definitely a good way to try a little bit of everything from this restaurant. Overall service is decent but not consistent. It depends on who is the server that you get that night to determine if he/she is attentive. Price is high but you are paying for the quality of the sushi not cheap sushi.
(5)
Alexsha L.
Took my girlfriends out to celebrate a birthday, we had the best time! Our waiter was extremely courteous, helpful and gave great suggestions! The food was wonderful and the atmosphere was as well! Will definitely be going back!!
(5)
Gary K.
Very nice place. Wait staff very friendly and make a great martini. The wine is suspect. Sushi fresh and a wide variety to choose from. With a big group request the Sushi Boat presentation. Nice ramen soup dish. Very clean
(5)
Stephen H.
So let me explain, Wa is an excellent sushi spot in the middle of Lawrence that happens to have some decent Korean food on the menu for those Lawrence-dwellers who don't live in KC, where there is an abundance of Korean food choices. Apart from having more rolls to choose from than I've ever seen at any place in my life, they have a "chopstick locker" where the regular customers can keep their chopsticks. These are small little cubbies - and you can't buy them - you get rewarded them by being a regular. They supply the chopsticks (which are nice, I am told). Only critique? When someone like myself, who is usually very good at making decisions, becomes a bit paralyzed by the multi-page roll menu, it might be time to focus on your best 20 options, and dump the rest. Even at 20 rolls you would still offer a ton of great choices.
(5)
Justin G.
Food was very fishy and did not seem very fresh. Nothing compared to California sushi.
(1)
Tony C.
More restaurants should take a page out of Wa's book. It's simple: great food, amazing service, and the perfect atmosphere.
(5)
Saara Z.
Great sushi in Lawrence! Wa Restaurant is definitely one of the best sushi options in Kansas. We had a selection of nigiri and three rolls for dinner. The nigiri was fresh, particularly the salmon, the white tuna, and the scallop. The specialty rolls we had were good but not spectacular, both of us were more impressed with the simple salmon avocado roll that we ordered. The service was pretty attentive and the sushi did not take too long to come out.
(4)
Lab L.
Another great dinner at Wa. Service was a bit different than our first experience. Is it possible for an over-friendly server?? We ordered 8 different rolls...all great. Still love the beef rolled over asparagus app. Bring friends when you go here...so you, too, can try as many rolls as possible!!!
(4)
Cimmy R.
I am not a fish person. I grew up with elderly, retired parents and my father fished a lot, so I'm pretty sure I can clean catfish and bream in my sleep. This does not entice me to eat fish. I'll throw down for some well-made scallops or lobster or such, especially since I now live in landlocked Kansas and I'm accustomed to the fresh seafood of southern Alabama and Miami. My husband, however, will eat fish over almost anything else. To compromise, we go to Wa. Sashimi for him, sushi for me. Win, win, y'all! I know it's not "authentic", but the Kansas Roll is one of the best things that's ever hit my mouth. It comes to your table on fire and by the time the fire goes out, you're ready to go. Oh. Em. Gee. Please allow me to be the white girl I am for a moment to say this: I can't even. My husband really likes the sashimi and I was convinced to try a small bite of some tuna. Not bad. Service is great, especially the last time we went (I wish I could remember our server's name). My only complaint is that, when it's busy, you're practically sitting in the laps of the people at the table beside yours. Wait, I lied. One more complaint: I hate, hate, hate the birthday thing they do. If my husband ever did that to me, he'd quickly be a single man. Writing this review has made up my mind where we're eating dinner tonight. I even plan to get a small something with fish!
(4)
Delana L.
I have long relied on Wa for fresh sashimi and a pleasant atmosphere. Though the music selections are often quirky, the food has always been reliably good. Today, for the first time ever, I had a negative experience at Wa. My dining companion ordered the Sashimi Sampler from the appetizer selection. She tasted it, then I tasted it, and, to put it simply, the sashimi tasted "off." I've been eating sushi and sashimi for over twenty years. This fish didn't taste right. The snapper had a rather sharp and surprising taste and smell. Fresh fish is odorless. This fish was not odorless. Because the fish tasted and smelled bad, neither I nor my dining companion could eat more of it, past the first alarming bite. After trying the snapper, we each took a small bite of the salmon, and agreed that it, too, was uncharacteristically pungent. We left the tuna untouched. Every restaurant is going to have a bad day from time to time. For whatever reason, things went wrong today. We decided to send the dish back, and the response to that was unexpectedly dramatic, given the circumstances. I would expect an issue like this to be handled quickly and quietly, either by taking the offending dish off the table and off the check, or allowing the patron to order something else. I don't know what to say, other than it just got weird, and we became really uncomfortable. It turned into a Thing, stressful and unpleasant. I am not sure if the fish was old, or if it had absorbed smells of neighboring items in the cooler. In any event, it did not taste or smell good to eat.
(2)
Amanda R.
The restaurant was great atmosphere wise but there wasn't any loud music playing when I went. I had the Hamachi Cocktail Roll and the Dragon Roll. The dragon roll is a standard roll that you can find anywhere but the Hamachi Roll was a special there. I was curious about the roll having apple but the slight crunch it gave was really great.
(5)
Jay B.
I've never seen so many fried style sushi rolls on one menu, but then they had so many different sushi rolls to chose from I almost had option paralysis. Still, the fish tasted fresh, the waitstaff friendly, and over it is was a great dining experience. The only complaint is that parking is extremely difficult, which really isn't about the restaurant, but add time to find a parking space!
(4)
T.J. F.
Take some friends and share a few different rolls. There is a large variety to choose from. If you're into sushi it's what you'd expect from a sushi bar/restaurant combo. If you're a first timer its a great place to go because the staff is so friendly and willing to help you order something that you will like.
(5)
Katie L.
I really enjoy coming to Wa when I'm really craving some good sushi. I'm no expert on the cuisine but I do know that I've never tried a bad sushi here. The staff is always attentive and I've never had to wait too long for my food. I usually go for the Downtown Roll and try something else on the side (IE: soups or salads) just to see what else Wa has to offer.
(4)
Kerry P.
The BEST SUSHI ever, bar none. Me and my boyfriend have been regulars here and they treat us like royalty. They have shipment twice a week so the sushi is always fresh. Trust me, I've tried plenty of sushi restaurants across the country and I've always came back to good ol' Lawrence for this place. I live in KC now and have tried a few places here and it just doesn't compare... It's worth the 35 minute drive to Larry. Rolls to get: Mafia Roll - there's no roll like it and it's not filled with unnecessary veggies, all meat baby. Temptation Roll Rainbow Roll Jayhawk Roll All in that order.
(5)
Kim H.
This place is great, I love sushi, I really recommend this for all the sushi fanatics out there. It's a great place downtown and a big part of downtown as well has been there for a few years, I have been to many sushi bars in the In the US and this is literally one of my top favorites. Only downside about this place is that it is really expensive. Overall great atmosphere good location and yummy yummy sushi.
(4)
Timothy B.
Good sushi, but I feel like the rolls are the standout here. They have a huge menu of options for rolls and most that I have had have been very good. I prefer Nigiri and tend to judge sushi restaurants by this rather than rolls. On that measure Wa is good, but just below what I would judge to be a five star performance.
(4)
Ms D.
It's awful. Never go here. Save all the best sushi for the rest of us. My first time but my repeat customer birthday-having daughter insisted and I believe I'm going to have to move in. Some of the freshest sushi, with exotic combinations besides the usual suspects. Seriously, I never intend to visit Lawrence again without coming here for dinner at least once. Besides the perfect rolls consisting of crunch/soft, sweet/hot, etc. the presentations are exquisite. The staff is professional, the sushi chefs authentic and sitting at the bar rounds out the experience. Not rating it with 5 stars means you are an unhappy person who wouldn't know a great meal if it shoved itself in your mouth. Go, smile, order the unusual with one or more friends/family, have a drink, and go home a happy diner.
(5)
Rodney M.
An enjoyable experience from start to finish. Our waitress was incredibly helpful for us first time diners. The wait for our meal was short and the food was delicious. Looking forward to a return trip.
(5)
Chris L.
My favorite sushi joint in Lawrence. Staff is wonderful especially the owners. Their rolls are great but I prefer their nigiri sushi.
(5)
Teresa P.
This place is consistent regardless of weekday or weekend and serves quality sushi year round. Came here for lunch on a tuesday and got a delicious service. The Rock n Roll, Fire Dragon, and Rainbow rolls are always fresh and satisfying. Glad that there's a place in Lawrence I can trust to have consistent eats!
(4)
Jesse M.
I feel like a dick, but this was super meh sushi. Maybe I'm just spoiled by all the travelling I do, but everything was underwhelming. We had several rolls and a bento box and it was all on the bland side for what we ordered.
(2)
Kelly H.
Went here for dinner for a friend's birthday and was so happy with how good it was. We ordered many different rolls for the table but the highlights were the Sean Connery roll and another roll that I cannot remember the name of, but it had julienned vegetables on top. Great meal!
(4)
Haylie S.
This place has great vegetable tempura and sushi! I've loved everything I've gotten here. Everything tastes fresh, obviously an important quality for a sushi restaurant. My only complaint is the price. I can get almost the same quality of food for less at Kokoro on 6th. I'll probably come back again. This seems like a "special occasion" restaurant at this point.
(4)
Abby E.
Seriously the best sushi we have had to date! Thank you Yelp for leading us here, we were not disappointed (Sean Connery roll was amazing) Gave Wa 4 stars instead of 5 only because they need to update their decor .
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jason P.
My wife and I love nearly everything about Wa. We go there at least once a week and have for many years. While the atmosphere is not perfectly to our liking it's a small sacrifice for the food and very friendly staff. Please consider just 2 things: change the music and add some craft brew to your list, please. M & J
(4)Rachael G.
We did not have extremely high expectations for sushi in Lawrence, but as individuals who start having tremors if more than three days go by without some sashimi, we decided to suck it up and try this place late on a Thursday evening. Though they were getting ready to close, the owners let us in to eat. They were very friendly, and I appreciated the fact that they didn't make us feel like they were trying to get us out the door. We got salmon sashimi and a roll (don't ask me which one, I can't remember for the life of me). We were both mildly surprised that the sashimi was as decent as it was. I say "decent" because I would never place it in the "excellent" or even "good" category, but it wasn't terrible and tasted pretty fresh. We both agreed the experience was better than we had expected. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here again, but it wasn't the worst I've ever had either.
(3)Elizabeth S.
My fiance and I took my folks there for dinner last night and it was delicious. We're recent transplants who love sushi and were delighted by our Wa dining experience. Our waiter was friendly and promptly refilled empty water glasses without us ever having to ask. We shared a variety of rolls (The Vegas roll, Maui roll, Crunchy Yum Yum roll, Black Pearl roll, and the Kansas roll) and were equally impressed by each and every one. The ingredients are deliciously fresh and paired together in such a way that each flavor shines through. For instance, the mango on the Maui roll did not overpower the shrimp or avocado it only enhanced the dish. The rice is light and fluffy, not gummy or heavy, so we left there feeling full but not overstuffed. Perhaps the best part was how inexpensive the whole meal was. In a larger city dinner for 4 at a restaurant like this would cost well over one hundred dollars, but with tax and tip we paid just over eighty. We will certainly be back!
(4)Steven W.
Very good rolls. Very good service. Decent bar selections. Positive experience overall.
(3)Jennifer H.
Although I have eaten sushi at not more than 5 or 6 different restaurants, I do want to point out that this is the best BY FAR. I have had the kamikaze, crunch munch, Sean Connery, fried veggie, and hot rolls, and they are all delicious. Service has always been good. The only let down so far has been the ginger dressing on the salad. I've had better.
(4)Tiffinie F.
We frequent Wa regularly. Great place. Best sushi in Lawrence. Kansas roll, Hamachi and maguro were great today. I would not say it's the best sushi I've had (hence the 4 star)--but definitely best you will find in Lawrence. The restaurant is small but quiet and clean. The servers and the chef are very nice and helpful.
(4)Bethanie W.
I could be a little bias being that I am a Jayhawk and love Lawrence as a whole. I have had sushi in Vegas, San Francisco, New York, Arizona, etc. and have not been able to find anything that competes with the sushi at Wa. Located on Mass you have the perfect location contributing the magnificence of this restaurant. Go in your suit or in you shorts you can't go wrongly dressed. Start off with the House Salad. The ginger dressing is to die for. The restaurant specialty rolls such as The Wa Roll and The Mass Roll, but you can't go wrong choosing a run of the mill California Roll either. Another gem at Wa is the honey Wasabi - it takes the fire of the wasabi and combines it wit h a sweet honey that kills the bite. All of that with the plum wine and you will leave full and happy. As for who you should bring, I have seen groups, families, small children and couples. The restaurant is very quiet though so I would consider that if you have a younger child.
(5)Ty O.
For a nice downtown sushi restaurant in the Midwest, Wa hits all the major points. The interior is very pleasant and sets the mood for a nice meal. The hostess and servers were welcoming and polite, providing service that was wonderfully transparent. I loved the atmosphere, which really lend itself to enjoying the entire experience. The sushi and sashimi were constructed simply and elegantly. The presentation had small flourishes that enhanced the meal (the tuna roll was shaped into petals like a flower -- it was a cute touch). The cuts of sashimi were generous. They were tender and firm and had an excellent flavor. The nigiri were similarly delicious and held together nicely. They were a nice size, though the fish on top was at times slightly too long for the rice, though a little extra fish can hardly be a bad thing. Wa provides a more refined sushi experience than others in Lawrence. I'll most certainly be returning to try some of their more specialized rolls, confident that their quality will match that of the basic flavors I tried the first time. I definitely recommend Wa to anyone who likes quality sushi and has some nice company enjoy it with (mine was excellent). Review: 4.25 stars.
(4)Nate M.
One of my most missed joints in Lawrence is definitely Wa. I had my first ever sushi here with a good friend many years ago and I'm drawn to it not just because of the sentimentality, but also because they have some consistently great sushi. The service is deceptively great...In the past you'd go in and see a bunch of like-dressed hipster and assume it was going to be standoffish and cold, as is the status quo for the restaurants on mass...but unlike the other places, the servers here are polite, friendly, and totally don't care if you're a beginner or a fugu master. I've brought some friends here throughout the years for their virgin sushi experience, and all of them loved it. I remember that the Zen Crunch and Wa Roll were the two things I had to order EVERY time I went. I wish I could go on and on about all of the nuanced compositions of all of the rolls but I was so devoted to these two in particular that I'm not sure I ever had much else. I do know that at one point I ordered some shrimp roll that came out on a fajita comal looking thing and they lit it on fire. And one time we ordered so much that they brought it out on this huge/embarrassing/awesome wooden boat that took up most of the table. For a while I had a totally maladaptive crush on one of the sushi chefs, but as that's been 6+ years ago, I'm certain he's moved on. Either way, if you're in Lawrence and want some really great unique sushi in an awesome location, you really can't beat Wa. (and get the Zen Crunch...seriously)
(4)Joi B.
Let it be known that it is *rare* if not completely impossible for me to give a 4-star review to a place where my food arrived 20 minutes after our order, and before we received our drinks, at that. Why am I doing so? Apparently this past Saturday night, a prom vomited its students onto Mass St. and Wa was packed at 9:30 pm. That's OK, they handled the crowd the best they could. The service here is so charming that I am willing to forgive the fact that we sat there waiting for our food (and drinks), me getting crazier by the second. Not good for the K. Sorry, darlin'! Yes, a lot to be said for the staff here. Our waiter was friendly and flattering (asked for our IDs...awwwww!). Another waitress came over and apologized for the K not receiving the cheering action for his sake bomb (while I silently thanked...whomever. I hate having a commotion surrounding my dinner table, thank you very much!) The food, again, way up to par. This time I tried the "Fried Vegetable Roll" which is a veg tempura roll. It's big enough that you really don't need to order a second roll. I couldn't finish it, as hungry as I was. I love Wa. Even on a crazy night packed with parties where normally I wouldn't have even crossed the threshold, as I detest loud, crowded restaurants. Even if I have to sit at the sushi bar instead of a table (I know, I know. *Everyone* wants to sit at the sushi bar. Not me! Nothing personal. I just like to sit across from my dining companion).
(4)Allan R.
I ate here 10/2/13 for dinner. It was just okay. Very large menu. Service was fine. Food was just okay. The rice on my roll was not in the true tradition of Japanese rolls. Yes, I've had the real thing and this wasn't it. My food was just acceptable. The worst thing about this place was the music. What restaurant owner plays the sound track from Saturday Night Fever, and ABBA in a Japanese restaurant. The décor and atmosphere was very nice however upon entering there is a very musty smell to the place. Will I return? Yes, as always I give a place 3 tries to get it right. If you're desiring Japanese food this place is okay but there are better places in town for less.
(2)Madelynn M.
I'm giving this restaurant a 3 out of 5 because the sushi was great and reasonably priced for the quality, but I will not be going back. I prefer Yokohama to Wa. The service was TERRRRRRIBLE. I had a blonde girl that was patronizing and we had to wait at least 15 min to get our order placed. We ordered soup and salad which should be swift...and she took care of everyone but us first, causing our food to be tardy. When she did broung out the sushi, she tried to give it to the table behind us and didn't even wait for us to finish our soup OR salad! She was annoyingly trite and condescending...and the owner had to bring us our last roll because it had been sitting on top of the bar too long...and the owner didn't crack a smile the entire hour and a half we were in the restaurant. The atmosphere is aesthetically appealing and nicely decorated, however, the tables are TOOOOOOO close together. You can basically go on a date with the table next to you.
(3)Alex H.
Very nice place! Great traditional and more American sushi. They have a great selection, and the fish is very fresh! Great service and the restaurant itself is very Japanese oriented and peaceful. A great overall place!
(5)Troy L.
I will not be coming back. Yelp, you have failed me! This place has great reviews, but I was very disappointed with my meal. My wife and I came here for lunch and ordered a few sushi items. To save you the trouble of reading a long review, I'll just tell you that the sushi rice was awful. It was too hard, and not seasoned well. Want to know if the the sushi restaurant is legit or not?One sure-fire way to tell if a sushi spot is legit is by how much care they put into making their sushi rice. The rice tasted old. Sushi has so few components to it, and rice being a primary one, means we will not be returning to this establishment. Sorry, Wa.
(1)Drew M.
The roll I got they lit on fire! It was the bomb!
(4)Clarice W.
After returning to Wa in over a year I am regrettably detracting a star. The dining atmosphere has changed dramatically; there are a lot more tables (making it more crowded) and is more dimly lit (too much so, it made me sleepy...). I had the Emperor Roll, spicy crab and tempura flakes with several different types of fish on top. Two problems: first, the fish was unevenly sliced, ranging from 0.5cm thickness to basically translucent. How can I enjoy sashimi when it resembles pickled ginger more than a juicy cut of fish?? Second, the width of the rolls were uneven as well but this time on the large end, some reached about 2in length. I don't know if they were trying to compensate for the oh-so-thin slices of fish, but please, I do not want to look like a chipmunk when I eat. These inconsistencies make me feel like Wa is getting sloppy. Because the ingredients are still quality I can't go down further than 3 stars. But I'm sad to say that, in terms of sushi in Lawrence, it's now a toss-up for me between Wa and Yokohama - it all depends on whether you're aiming for a more romantic (Wa) or trendy (Yokohama) kind of atmosphere.
(3)Meghan B.
Wahhhhh I miss Wa. Wa is more laid back and less of a scene compared with the other sushi place in downtown Lawrence and I've never had a bad meal there. The service is always friendly and there's always some totally random music playing during your meal (I think I've heard Television's Marquee Moon album on numerous occasions). If you go, my advice is to order the Sean Connery roll. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Sunthud P.
I really like the Jayhawk roll which is the sushi roll on a hot plate; however, this is the only reason why I go to this restaurant. The other dishes are just okay compared to Yokohama which is just one block away.
(3)Phil W.
Good choice for sushi. The place is casual and kept very clean. The food was delicious and they had a solid lineup of choices. I also like the outdoor seating.
(4)Craig M.
Just about a week after I had lunch at Ra in Leawood, I stumbled onto Wa in Lawrence. I was in town with 2 hours to kill and it was raining hard. No problem since I always have an umbrella in the trunk. After walking past several tempting restaurants that I hope to visit someday, I felt drawn into Wa which turns out to be the opposite end of the spectrum when compared to Ra. It is somewhat dimly lit. Everything is very formal though friendly. It is a traditional upscale Japanese venue. The food was great and the service was attentive. It felt so cozy. Especially after being out in the rain and sitting down to a warm bowl of hot and sour soup. Absolutely no complaints...I should visit Lawrence more often.
(4)Jacob P.
The Wa is by far my favorite place to eat in Lawrence, KS. Why you ask? Because I LOVE SUSHI!!! I love good sushi and i love Great Sushi. I fell in love with this place the first time I went in. I am a regular at the Wa and I have yet to be let down. As soon as I open the front door I hear "Irasshaimase" from the sushi bar letting me know I'm welcome. Every roll I have had has been great. the sashimi is as good as it gets for the midwest. Yes I have to say that, the stuff on the coast is superior but I'm not on the coast am I? hehe. The servers are always attentive and well schooled in sushi and sake. They will make special requests. I was there last night as a surprise by my girlfriend. We knocked out a 740(heart attack) roll, a Wa roll, and a california roll to clean the pallet. Great service, great food, great conversation with the sushi chefs. When in Lawrence go give them a visit. p.s. Why heavens no! We seek a full meal and all the compliments of the house. Come Elwood let us adjourn ourselves to the nearest table and overlook this establishments board of fare.
(5)Mike P.
I was already charmed with Massachusetts St. as a whole and was in the mood for something I hadn't had in a while. The restaurant was pretty dead as it was a Monday night. I sat at the sushi bar, and upon the chef's recommendation, got the Mafia Roll. It was very good and very spicy. Also, I ordered the calamari appetizer which I would avoid in the future. It was prepared quite differently than I am used to. It was too heavily breaded, and I wound up pulling the squid meat out of the thick tempura. I only wished I had been with a group so I could have tried the many other deliciously looking specialty rolls. There are excellent photo examples in the menu that make everything look good. The staff was very gracious and nice and the chef made me feel very welcome and honored to have eaten there. We watched Monday Night Football together on the screen behind the bar.
(4)Samantha A.
At first I was afraid, I was petrified. Of sushi that is. Maybe that's why I've never tried Wa. But since the Thai place on Mass closed, and I've developed a fondness for little circles of rice with stuff in them, I gave Wa a try. Man, have I been missing out! Wa is great. The tofu, the tuna rolls, the Crystal roll, something with "Yam Yam" in the name ... my date and I ummed and wowed the whole way through. It's nice to eat sushi with someone you love, because at least for me there's always a chance I'm going to dump something in my lap. But it wasn't just the company that made Wa awesome. Fresh food. Beautiful presentation. Strooooooooooong drinks. I may be late but I'm happy to jump on the Wa bandwagon.
(5)Deana W.
The sign on the door reads: "They Love us on Yelp." It's true, we do. Step off the busy Massachusetts strip into another world. This restaurant is a calming oasis in the heart of the strip. The atmosphere in this small, sushi restaurant is very "East meets West". Warm, wood tones characterize the minimalistic, Japanese decor. Seating is available at either the sushi bar or tables. Your choice. The first thing you need to know is that, yes, there are wonderful things on the menu for those of you that are less than excited about raw fish. The menu is laid out mostly in pictures, just like back in grade school, with descriptions underneath the photos. There is something here for every palate, from the experienced, to the novice. Just like your very first training bra, you want it, but you're just not quite ready for the real deal...just yet. Sushi training rolls. Once you get started down this path, there's no turning back. The addiction will set in. There are sushi rolls designed for those of you with raw fishophobia, aka, Me! My personal favorite, the Heart Attack, has crunchy, tempura shrimp. Yum! I also highly recommend the Sean Connery, Kansas roll, or the Crunch and Munch. These rolls are beautifully presented. The Kansas roll is served to your table, flaming. The taste is ridiculously wonderful. My name is Deana, and I am a sushi addict, but I'm OK with it. Not quite ready for that 12 step program, just yet.
(5)Rich H.
Wa is an oasis of tasty Japanese food in the Kansas ethnic food desert. Sashimi was fresh, uni and ikra nigiri were flavorful, and the spicy scallop roll had a fresh seafood taste. Some tempura items in the bento box were heavily battered, overwhelming the veggies and seafood. Soba noodles were pleasantly chewy but the soup broth was mundane. There are too many gimmicks, including a complicated rolls with ridiculous names and flaming platters. Good selection of saki (for the location) and friendly service. In New York this place would rate 2 stars, but it fully earns 4 stars in Kansas.
(4)Meryl C.
Yokohama is OK for a cheap fix or a rowdy night out. Cafe Beautiful is in a whole 'nother realm (in food, atmosphere, and price). But for your day-in, day-out Lawrence sushi needs, Wa is where it's at. Their rolls are fun--some of my favorites are the Sean Connery Roll and the Kansas Roll--but their nigiri is awesome. I've heard it compared to good West coast sushi, and although I haven't sampled such, it's certainly beats everywhere else I've been in the Midwest. The fish is pretty, firm, and slips down my throat ever-so-obligingly. Also, I'm sure it's possible, but I don't ever remember getting bad service here. The servers are knowledgeable about the food, while at the same time being completely not stuck-up about it. If you want to push your comfort barriers, they're right there with you, and have generally tried the item in question so they can describe it. If you want a fork and not to "eat anything scary or gross" (as my baby sister requested once), they're happy to help you with that, as well.
(5)Dan Z.
i have traveled the country many times over and have had sushi just about everywhere from East to West, North and South and Wa holds it own! And in Lawrence KS too. Who'd a thought....
(4)Nick K.
For the price I really don't think that Wa is worth it. I am not trying to sound biased, but for about $3 less a roll you can go to Yokohama's and get a superior meal for less. Wa is decent by all means, but when a rival is just down the street that is blatantly better, you need to ask why does Wa receive better reviews. As for Lawrence sushi, Wa is good, but just not the best. The sashimi itself is very good as well as some of the specialty rolls, but it seems a bit more pricey than i was expecting. By no means is this a bad resteraunt, so if you are looking for the Mass street environment then it is a great place to go.
(3)Tony H.
It started with me asking, " do you have Yakisoba?" A fair question since I was in a Japanese restaurant. The owner gave me a scrunchy face like I asked her if she served Shit Sushi. It went down hill from there. Poor service, uninspiring food, way too expensive. I gave it one star because I couldn't submit this review without a rating and no stars was not an option.
(1)Sarah Z.
The sushi is really good here! The service is fine and they're always accomodating for large groups. Probably the better sushi place in town. The only drawback is that it is pricey. But it's a treat once in a while. :)
(4)Stephie G.
There aren't many Asian restaurants in Lawrence, especially ones that have any hint of authenticity. Wa, actually does a good job, as they offer Korean food (bulgogi, soon doo boo), something NOT offered anywhere else in Lawrence. I went here to celebrate my new job with my boyfriend, who loves sushi. He has never had a bad experience here and loves their Spicy Tuna Roll as well as their Spicy Salmon Roll. Over half their menu is sushi, so if you absolutely LOVE it, and are willing to pay for it, then this is your place. On one occasion, I saw someone order the Kansas Roll, which is quite the spectacle as it does come lit on fire (I know all you pyro-sushi lovers are excited). However, if you aren't a sushi fan, their choices are limited choice, beware. Unfortunately, I am allergic to fish and most seafood (yes, I know, I'm missing out, you're not the first to shudder). If you get there between 2 and 6pm, Wa has Happy Hour with $2.95 appetizers including dishes like Gyoza, Egg Rolls, Edamame, and Calamari. We got the Edamame, and I had the pleasure of educating my guy how to get the soybeans out of their pod without prying the whole thing open with your fingers. "Stick the pointed side into your mouth, then use your teeth to slide the beans out of their pod." Given my allergy, I decided to order the Chicken Katsu, which is usually a safe choice. The chicken was tasty, though the small sides on the plate I could have cared less for. Sadly, the sauce that accompanied the Chicken Katsu did not have the hoisin taste I was anticipating. To be honest, the sauce resembled more of an A1 barbecue sauce. When I had asked for hoisin sauce, they replied saying they had none. For goodness sakes, you guys are an Asian restaurant! Have hoisin sauce! The place gets packed during dinner time, especially during the weekends, so be prepared to wait, otherwise get their early evening, late afternoon before the rush. Sans the sauce incident, Wa is absolutely in my top 3 choices for Asian cuisine in Lawrence.
(4)Jaime F.
Strike 1: Pachamamas is closed on Sundays Strike 2: Teller's stops serving food between brunch and dinner Score: Wa---a favorite that had slipped my mind Discussing life changes with a long-time friend I hadn't seen for years the goal was to be isolated, be able to giggle freely, and to have a server who could deal with our indecisiveness and "colorful" vocabularies. Wa was perfect. After picking the hyphenated part of her former last name off her chopsticks (they will store them for you if you take your own) only to realize the former flames had been stuffed in there by mistake we decided to finish our glass of wine before ordering. Daniel, a long-time Wa employee was our server and he was fantastic---patient, professional and conversational when the moment required it. We started with the Ahi-Tuna Tower and that was by far the highlight of the meal. The sauce was fantastic and the avocado added the perfect texture addition. Followed by salmon sushi, sashimi and unagi (and multiple prompt and generous red wine refills) we were in a better place. Like most women in transition we could not forgo ice cream, the green tea variety was delicious. Highly recommended for good times and bad!
(5)Andrew L.
Really good sushi, and the server was really friendly and provided great customer service. I will recommend to people in the area looking to eat some good sushi.
(4)Heather M.
Service and food are great! Love everything I have tried!
(5)G B.
Wa is excellent. We eat there at least twice a month. The food is tasty and very fresh, the staff and owners are always friendly.
(5)Nick C.
While it's true that there are other, cheaper places in Lawrence to get "sushi", Wa does it right. Sushi in the midwest is a get what you pay for situation, so Wa's $15 specialty rolls are well worth every penny. Capable of serving the first-time American or the seasoned sushi-eater, Wa defaults to chopsticks and sake, but can handle forks and soda if that's more your speed. My only complaint with Wa is the hit-or-miss wait staff. They've got a few servers who are excellent, right on top of the refills and within arms reach if there's a need or an issue, but they've got a few who take your order, bring a drink, and disappear forever into the abyss. Having been repeat diners there, we've learned to separate the good from the bad and are able to request the good almost every time. Quite possibly the best midwestern sushi joint!
(4)Jack T.
Hands down the best sushi I have had in Lawrence. Service is always prompt and friendly, and their specialty rolls are fantastic (as are their standard rolls). In addition to the excellent food and service, they have an awesome sake list. If you are looking for good, fresh sushi or sashimi in Lawrence with a generally quiet atmosphere, hit up Wa, you won't regret it.
(5)Matt K.
The photos on the menu are very helpful, even for an experienced sushi eater. There were plenty of interesting rolls to choose from, so I'll have to make a few more trips to try them all. The staff was extremely friendly and the server was great with suggestions. The fish was good quality and had nice flavor and texture. I look forward to my next visit.
(5)James D.
This place is great! I had my first sushi experience here with a friend several years ago and whenever I'm back in Lawrence I always end up going to wa at least once. Great food and a great place to meet with friends. Also a good spot to take a date. Enjoy!
(5)Holly H.
I absolutely love this place! It's my favorite sushi place in Lawrence, but I haven't gotten to go in some time. It's usually a special occasion type place because of the cost, but most sushi places that my husband and I like are like that. Wa is the first place that I ever truly tried sushi, is also where my husband proposed to me. There is a great selection of food including sushi, bento boxes, soups, desserts, alcohol, etc. It's fun to watch the chefs prepare the sushi...and it's great when you order enough sushi to have it arrive on a giant boat!
(5)Corey W.
The best sushi in Lawrence. The spicy tuna roll is the only sushi that I have had that wasn't good to excellent. For newbies to sushi, I recommend the Kansas Roll and Unagi...cooked sushi is easier. Atmosphere is fine, the price is a little high. Service has always been excellent. Relative to the sushi that I had in Seattle, I would give this place 4 stars. I know, I'm pulling a little Seattle snobbery. Deal with it.
(5)Chris P.
I'm torn between giving Wa three stars and four stars. Once again, I wish three and a half stars were an option. If I weren't in Kansas, it'd be a clear cut three. But, this place, especially the service, is so far ahead of the downtown Yokohama, I have to give it four stars. The sushi is average. For Kansas, that means it's pretty good. The menu is, well, average. I had the chirashi, which is fairly difficult to screw up (assuming the fish is fresh, and this fish is about as fresh as possible for here). The service was pretty amazing, though. The waiter took the time to explain what each fish was without either of us asking. Whilst I knew what most were, that extra touch is appreciated. The decor is nice; it's also nice not to have sake bomb chants every five seconds, as with Yokohama. If you're in Lawrence, this is the place to go for sushi (now that my beloved Cafe Beautiful seems to be no more).
(4)Ryan L.
delicious sushi, best in lawrence by far.
(5)Colleen Z.
The best sushi in Lawrence hands down. Hubby and I love to sit at the sushi bar and watch the chefs create. The spicy scallop roll is one of my favorites. I love the feel of the restaurant as well as the decor. Become a regular, you will be seated quickly and receive the best service in town. We have yet to have a less than great roll. Try Wa and you will not be disappointed.
(5)Briana O.
Recently had a double date night here, based on the recommendation from the other couple that it was the best sushi in Lawrence. We all settled in with bottles of Sapporo and edamame and waited for our huge boat (yes, our rolls were served to us in a wooden boat! Cute!) of sushi to arrive. The rolls were good rolls, but nothing that totally rocked my socks off. I ordered the Las Vegas and California, which are pretty standard fare anywhere so maybe I should've branched out. I may have to try again to see if I can find a roll to dream about. But for me, it was a pleasant but not mouth-wateringly memorable experience. The service was good, the sushi was good, the little wall of the "regulars"' chopsticks was cool....but I just wasn't blown away. I'll let you know what I think next time..... :)
(3)Mike K.
ive been here once so far and im only going to comment on the house specials, which are mostly korean. i had the dol sot bibim bap (mixed rice in a stone bowl). trust me guys, it's authentically korean. i should know (dae han ming gook!) just as good as what you would get in other korean restaurants. everyone else like their sushi.
(5)D T.
I think they put crack in their sushi...seriously. It's been years since I've been here, but I'm coming back for a visit, and Wa is all that's on my mind. I used to eat this stuff 3 times a week. (I had a great bartending job, don't be jealous of my gluttony.) I'm a tuna girl, and everything tuna-based was AMAZING. I will update when I get back, but it's shocking to have such an unbelievable sushi joint smack dab in the middle of Kansas??? Thanks you Wa for depleting my bank account throughout college, and it was sooo worth it.
(5)Jessica R.
I'm forced to drop my 5 star rating to 4. The high quality of the nigiri and sashimi, in additional to the wait staff are what made Wa an exceptional sushi restaurant. About 8 months ago, something seemed to change. As a result, their veteran servers left. Since then, the quality of the food and the service have not met my expectations consistently. Overall, my experiences are positive and I still love the place. I'd like to see them return to the standard and consistency that I've enjoyed for years.
(4)Kelsey G.
Wa is my favorite place for sushi in Lawrence. The atmosphere is perfect for any occasion and the staff is always friendly. My favorite rolls are the cucumber special and the New York, which pairs salmon with fuji apple. Amazing!
(5)Jamie K.
Wa is the place to go if you want sushi in Lawrence. I recently wrote a review of Yokohama. I prefer Wa over Yokohama but only by a very slight margin. Wa is more of a traditional sushi restaurant. It has good quality fish and good classic rolls. While Yokohama has crazier rolls with more bold ingredients, Wa uses tastier fish. This is what I am after. Simple. Good. Fish.
(4)Estela F.
My experience at the restaurant was just awful. There was yelling on the part of the owners at the employees, which made for a very uncomfortable dining experience. Ignoring that bit of inappropriate behavior the service was lackluster. The waitress forgot to bring part of our order so one of my friends had to wait a long time for his food. This is never acceptable especially in a restaurant that tries so hard to appear to be upscale. As for ambiance the music was atrocious. It was a mix of pop, R&B, and some kind of korean or japanese. They need to pick one kind of music and stick with it because honestly bouncing around from Chris Brown to foreign music is distracting. There were also a bunch of tvs all with ESPN. When I'm spending $100+ with a few friends to share sashimi and sake I don't want Chris Brown or ESPN around. The chairs had crumbs in the corners and the floor had spilled crumbs and other food debris. I guess cleanliness isn't important. The sake menu was limited but the one I chose was good. We had Yaegaki Nigori, an unfiltered sake I'd had before. The menu was enormous. I hate hate hate enormous menus. It means they obviously keep food frozen in the back somewhere because they simply can't keep everything available on the menu in stock and fresh unless the place is really high traffic and they're making everything constantly. Wa is not high traffic. There were about 7 other tables, maybe 20 other people in the place during dinner on a Thursday night. That was a bad sign from the start. My gut instinct was to leave, but I believed the reviews on here so my friends and I stayed. The food was bad. The sashimi didn't look or taste fresh, which might be typical for Kansas but I don't know. I thought there might be a place that flew in fresh fish but Wa certainly isn't that place. I always like to try hamachi, tai, sake, hotate, saba, tako, uni, maguro, and toro. None of the sashimi tasted fresh. The hotate arrived late so I imagine they were thawing it in the back. Ick. This is typical of places that freeze, thaw, refreeze and/or leave the meat around for a few days. They claimed everything was fresh, but I know the difference between fresh sashimi and sashimi that's sat around. In a restaurant that's not high traffic it's pretty much impossible to get really fresh sashimi because they order a lot and it just doesn't get purchased fast enough. The reviews on here suggested the sushi was amazing but I didn't find that to be the case. The hotate and uni were particularly bad. I asked to get a refund and the manager refused. Typical of a place with poor service. Overall I was not impressed and as I'm from out of town and only spent a short time in Lawrence I won't be going back. Look elsewhere for sushi because Wa was simply awful on all fronts. I'm surprised they stay in business.
(1)Joe W.
Friendly staff, great sushi.
(5)Lindsay W.
Are the previous reviewers all somehow related to the owners? I mean, the sushi is ok, but it's not off the charts. I find the selection of rolls to be standard, if not boring, and the menu overall is very run-of-the-mill. The service is fabulous, and I suppose that alone warrants 5 stars, but for such lackluster sushi, I wouldn't go more than 2 stars. In my world, that averges to 3. If you live in Lawrence and really want some sushi, this is an ok place to satisfy the craving.
(3)Brad D.
Best Sushi in Kansas Great service I have great knowledge in the sushi department, therefore, my rating for this place will prove quite accurate. Ninety-nine percent of the time, I sit at the sushi bar at this establishment. It has a small restaurant feel to it, so you feel like you get individual attention, because you do. The sushi chef usually will great you and ask you about your dish. The environment is not bistro, but more of a traditional japanese style, something that is uncommon in a lot of sushi places these days. Service is good to great depending on how busy they, but no worries, I have never had a bad experience here. The original owner sold it to the new guys, but nothing has changed. Way to go. The old owners supposabley opened Yokohama, not sure if this true however. Regardless, I prefer a more quiet traditional setting over a loud place with too many televisions in it. Wa is the best in Lawrence. Make sure you try the super white tuna. I rarely see this on sushi menus and it tastes amazing. I describe it as a soft buttery taste. In my opinon, it is better than Toro.
(4)Linda B.
Love driving to Larrytown and making an evening of it by going to Wa before a concert or just a long stroll along Mass. Great relaxed atmosphere, great staff and reaally good sushi!
(5)Aunt B.
The sushi here is great and really not high priced as some of the previous reviews have mentioned. Good sushi doesn't have a dollar menu! The service was fast and friendly, even when unbelievably crowded! The sushi is so awesomely delicious that even the non-sushi eater in our group had several pieces! On my last visit, I had the Wa roll which was rich and spicy! The New York roll was tasty with salmon and avocado but instead of cucumber, there are small slivers of apple! Still crunchy and cool, this was a delicious alternative and I wish they'd replace all cucumber with apple! When you go, please don't overlook the sushi without the fancy names. I had the spicy scallops roll and it was my favorite. Those were all I had room for this last visit, but the menu is HUGE. Go try it and tell us what your favorites are!
(5)Taylor O.
Chuck Norris roll.
(4)Nathaniel H.
Not the best sushi and the chefs definitely set an unnerving, unfun vibe. The servers really seem to do the best with what they have. While it's lovely to see that yelpers like Wa, I have never enjoyed going there.
(2)Michael C.
I had great service here when I went with my friend a few weeks ago. We got in right away, and really enjoyed all the food + the drink specials (some kind of Valentine's Day thing). Fantastic service. Definitely recommend this place for its food as well.
(5)David H.
Surprised by how slow the service was. Restaurant was about half full and it took over 45 minutes for our 3 orders to come. Wasn't worth the wait. Really wanted to give this place high marks since we chose this place over many other options.
(2)Corey O.
There is no way this place does not get a 5 star. Some of the best sushi in the midwest. If you're not going for the really cheap, spend the extra dollar or two per roll and go here. You can't go wrong. SOOO tasty. They know what they're doing. UPDATE: In response to the last yelper from CA. Yeah, it's not fresh from the pacific that morning. As for selection, she calls it standard? It sounds like she just looked at one page of the menu. They have dozens of different types of rolls AND they just added another new menu. Don't listen to her. Try it for yourself.
(5)Rush G.
Ok, so I am kind of new to Yelp and this is my second review, and like my previous review was 5 stars as well. But in all honesty, Wa is not only a GREAT sushi place in Lawrence, but just a fantasic sushi place in general--would do well in any big city. I have experienced wonderful service, very kind wait staff, and high-quality food. My favorite is the Kamikaze Roll, which is highlighted by the spicy crawfish. They have a nice combination of classic rolls and creative rolls, IMHO. Been here probably 10 times and wouldn't mind multiplying that by a few. :) Go!
(5)Jenna B.
Not bad considering I was in KS! I was hesitant to eat here since the closest ocean is hundreds of miles away. Granted, I did have a cold when I had dinner here so my sense of smell might not have been at its best. The sushi was great, the fish didn't smell like fish, and the noodle bowl was very flavorful. The spicy sushi rolls are definitely that, they cleared me up quick but delicious nonetheless.
(4)Ankle B.
I was pleasantly surprised by Wa. I generally don't eat sushi unless there's an ocean nearby, but this was really good. It's crazy how you have to travel to Lawrence to find a Japanese sushi chef. 2 of them at that!! Everything was super fresh and they had some really creative specialty rolls. Brought a colleague here who's new to sushi (I know), he had the "crunchy yum yum" roll, and LOVED it. LOL. We all have to start somewhere! They brought out a huge platter of beginners' and expert sushi and we devoured all of it. Truly delicious! Just because I wanted some Japanese soul food, I got the Chicken Katsu (which is surprisingly harder to get in the States than sushi), and they even did that right (all white meat w/a side of shredded cabbage)! The appetizers were great as well. Add a full bar to boot, and it's party time!
(4)Amanda D.
Wa is amazing. Obviously, it is located in Kansas, which means it does not have the kind of variety that might be offered on the East or West Coasts, but for Kansas, I am completely impressed with the quality of food that is offered at Wa. The service is ALWAYS top notch and I have never had something here that I did not love.
(5)Jamie S.
Wa is probably my favorite place in all of Lawrence. Every time Andy suggests going to Wa, my face lights up like a little kid on Christmas Day. It's not the cheapest place to get sushi, but it certainly is the best. Our go to appetizer is always the beef asparagus maki. It's so good. Trust me, you'll want to order it. We have tried numerous rolls, however, our favorites are the Kansas Roll, the 701 (heart attack) roll, and the KC Royals roll. They also have the best hand rolls I've ever had. I strongly recommend the spicy tuna hand roll - it will not disappoint! If you haven't experienced Wa, you're definitely missing out. The exceptional food coupled with the fantastic customer service and atmosphere make for a great date night.
(5)Kevin B.
Wa prepares some of the best sushi I have had while traveling the country, and they do it consistently. Since moving to the Lawrence area 3 years ago, this place has become our home-away-from-home - we eat there at least once a week. It has been hard to try other restaurants in town because every time we get a night out without the kids, we want Wa. We try to order different items and always try the specials, and have yet to have something we didn't like. Definitely the best in Lawrence, and worth becoming a regular - they take care of you well! Recommendations - 740 Heart Attack Roll, Kansas Roll, Zen Crunch Roll, Dynamite Roll
(5)Jenny B.
Ever since I moved here a few years ago I asked my friend who lived here where is the best sushi in town? She recommended Wa Sushi. I am here quite often and a few of the staff know exactly what I want when I walk in lol. The crunch munch is my favorite roll. I always get the salad with ginger dressing the the gyoza is awesome too!
(5)Shannon H.
Went with my daughter, son in law & husband. We ordered 5 rolls. Prince was comparable to other sushi places about 12 to 15 per roll. The best roll was the special Kansas Royals Roll. Everything was pretty good. Our server was very attentive and helpful with the menu.
(4)Amanda B.
This is a decent place for sushi or as good as it can be for not being close to the coast. Majority of rolls tasted fishy and if you know sushi it does not taste fishy even if you eat it raw. Waiter was very friendly and knowledgable of menu. KC royal roll was the best!
(3)Sophie L.
Sushi was okay. Maybe I'm being too picky but have definitely had better. A lot of rolls on the menu were fried or had cream cheese in it. The Korean food was really good and udon noodles were yummy. We tried a bunch of rolls. The Kansas roll was interesting since it came on fire. Some of our group loved it and the others didn't like the burnt taste. Service was good and we enjoyed the ambience.
(4)Ben A.
Food was okay, but it was the service that pissed me off, really. There really aren't many good Japanese restaurants here in Lawrence, so we tried this one. First time, fine. Second time, sitting at the table after half an hour, while no one even talked to us. It was RIDICULOUS!!!
(3)Scott T.
14 months have passed since I last reviewed Wa. As I said in my last review, I've eaten here more than any other restaurant in Lawrence. It's not even close, and Wa still cranks out the best and most consistent sushi and overall dining experience in town. I like one of their nearby competitors but it's such a totally different experience. Wa is casual, just a little elegant without feeling pretentious, and the service and overall experience is just so relaxing. The other: party city, loud, noisy, fun... but. I'm usually not looking for all of that. My daughter, now 17, has eaten sushi here since she was two years old and it used to be our weekly dad/daughter date. We don't do those as often as we used to but when we often--happily--find ourselves here. Our sashimi deluxe and salmon sashimi plates were just ridiculously enjoyable on our most recent visit. Hot green tea, rice, miso, and as always, great service. Thank you, Wa, for being our in-town dining home away from home.
(5)Gaz H.
The food here is solid and the folks are very accommodating (although the management seems a bit stern, they have very friendly and helpful servers). The fish was fresh and delicious. Likely your best sushi option in the vicinity. Nighttime classical musical selection makes this place seem more formal than it really is. Like sushi places everywhere, not cheap. Recommended.
(4)Emily L.
It's not the best sushi I've ever had, but it's up there. The quiet atmosphere was nice as was the service. I really enjoyed the new Royals roll, but wasn't a fan of the highly recommended Sean Connery roll.
(4)Lesia M.
Great service, we only had salads and sushi, the kansas roll is fun, it arrives at the table on fire, the rolls are all smaller than i am used to, but very tasty.We will be back!
(4)Jacqueline T.
Wa is one of the best sushi restaurant in Lawrence / kc area. The fish is fresh and there are different variety of fish to choose from. My husband and I order the love boat everytime we go there and it comes with nigiri, sashimi, different kinds of tempura and chicken teriyaki. Definitely a good way to try a little bit of everything from this restaurant. Overall service is decent but not consistent. It depends on who is the server that you get that night to determine if he/she is attentive. Price is high but you are paying for the quality of the sushi not cheap sushi.
(5)Alexsha L.
Took my girlfriends out to celebrate a birthday, we had the best time! Our waiter was extremely courteous, helpful and gave great suggestions! The food was wonderful and the atmosphere was as well! Will definitely be going back!!
(5)Gary K.
Very nice place. Wait staff very friendly and make a great martini. The wine is suspect. Sushi fresh and a wide variety to choose from. With a big group request the Sushi Boat presentation. Nice ramen soup dish. Very clean
(5)Stephen H.
So let me explain, Wa is an excellent sushi spot in the middle of Lawrence that happens to have some decent Korean food on the menu for those Lawrence-dwellers who don't live in KC, where there is an abundance of Korean food choices. Apart from having more rolls to choose from than I've ever seen at any place in my life, they have a "chopstick locker" where the regular customers can keep their chopsticks. These are small little cubbies - and you can't buy them - you get rewarded them by being a regular. They supply the chopsticks (which are nice, I am told). Only critique? When someone like myself, who is usually very good at making decisions, becomes a bit paralyzed by the multi-page roll menu, it might be time to focus on your best 20 options, and dump the rest. Even at 20 rolls you would still offer a ton of great choices.
(5)Justin G.
Food was very fishy and did not seem very fresh. Nothing compared to California sushi.
(1)Tony C.
More restaurants should take a page out of Wa's book. It's simple: great food, amazing service, and the perfect atmosphere.
(5)Saara Z.
Great sushi in Lawrence! Wa Restaurant is definitely one of the best sushi options in Kansas. We had a selection of nigiri and three rolls for dinner. The nigiri was fresh, particularly the salmon, the white tuna, and the scallop. The specialty rolls we had were good but not spectacular, both of us were more impressed with the simple salmon avocado roll that we ordered. The service was pretty attentive and the sushi did not take too long to come out.
(4)Lab L.
Another great dinner at Wa. Service was a bit different than our first experience. Is it possible for an over-friendly server?? We ordered 8 different rolls...all great. Still love the beef rolled over asparagus app. Bring friends when you go here...so you, too, can try as many rolls as possible!!!
(4)Cimmy R.
I am not a fish person. I grew up with elderly, retired parents and my father fished a lot, so I'm pretty sure I can clean catfish and bream in my sleep. This does not entice me to eat fish. I'll throw down for some well-made scallops or lobster or such, especially since I now live in landlocked Kansas and I'm accustomed to the fresh seafood of southern Alabama and Miami. My husband, however, will eat fish over almost anything else. To compromise, we go to Wa. Sashimi for him, sushi for me. Win, win, y'all! I know it's not "authentic", but the Kansas Roll is one of the best things that's ever hit my mouth. It comes to your table on fire and by the time the fire goes out, you're ready to go. Oh. Em. Gee. Please allow me to be the white girl I am for a moment to say this: I can't even. My husband really likes the sashimi and I was convinced to try a small bite of some tuna. Not bad. Service is great, especially the last time we went (I wish I could remember our server's name). My only complaint is that, when it's busy, you're practically sitting in the laps of the people at the table beside yours. Wait, I lied. One more complaint: I hate, hate, hate the birthday thing they do. If my husband ever did that to me, he'd quickly be a single man. Writing this review has made up my mind where we're eating dinner tonight. I even plan to get a small something with fish!
(4)Delana L.
I have long relied on Wa for fresh sashimi and a pleasant atmosphere. Though the music selections are often quirky, the food has always been reliably good. Today, for the first time ever, I had a negative experience at Wa. My dining companion ordered the Sashimi Sampler from the appetizer selection. She tasted it, then I tasted it, and, to put it simply, the sashimi tasted "off." I've been eating sushi and sashimi for over twenty years. This fish didn't taste right. The snapper had a rather sharp and surprising taste and smell. Fresh fish is odorless. This fish was not odorless. Because the fish tasted and smelled bad, neither I nor my dining companion could eat more of it, past the first alarming bite. After trying the snapper, we each took a small bite of the salmon, and agreed that it, too, was uncharacteristically pungent. We left the tuna untouched. Every restaurant is going to have a bad day from time to time. For whatever reason, things went wrong today. We decided to send the dish back, and the response to that was unexpectedly dramatic, given the circumstances. I would expect an issue like this to be handled quickly and quietly, either by taking the offending dish off the table and off the check, or allowing the patron to order something else. I don't know what to say, other than it just got weird, and we became really uncomfortable. It turned into a Thing, stressful and unpleasant. I am not sure if the fish was old, or if it had absorbed smells of neighboring items in the cooler. In any event, it did not taste or smell good to eat.
(2)Amanda R.
The restaurant was great atmosphere wise but there wasn't any loud music playing when I went. I had the Hamachi Cocktail Roll and the Dragon Roll. The dragon roll is a standard roll that you can find anywhere but the Hamachi Roll was a special there. I was curious about the roll having apple but the slight crunch it gave was really great.
(5)Jay B.
I've never seen so many fried style sushi rolls on one menu, but then they had so many different sushi rolls to chose from I almost had option paralysis. Still, the fish tasted fresh, the waitstaff friendly, and over it is was a great dining experience. The only complaint is that parking is extremely difficult, which really isn't about the restaurant, but add time to find a parking space!
(4)T.J. F.
Take some friends and share a few different rolls. There is a large variety to choose from. If you're into sushi it's what you'd expect from a sushi bar/restaurant combo. If you're a first timer its a great place to go because the staff is so friendly and willing to help you order something that you will like.
(5)Katie L.
I really enjoy coming to Wa when I'm really craving some good sushi. I'm no expert on the cuisine but I do know that I've never tried a bad sushi here. The staff is always attentive and I've never had to wait too long for my food. I usually go for the Downtown Roll and try something else on the side (IE: soups or salads) just to see what else Wa has to offer.
(4)Kerry P.
The BEST SUSHI ever, bar none. Me and my boyfriend have been regulars here and they treat us like royalty. They have shipment twice a week so the sushi is always fresh. Trust me, I've tried plenty of sushi restaurants across the country and I've always came back to good ol' Lawrence for this place. I live in KC now and have tried a few places here and it just doesn't compare... It's worth the 35 minute drive to Larry. Rolls to get: Mafia Roll - there's no roll like it and it's not filled with unnecessary veggies, all meat baby. Temptation Roll Rainbow Roll Jayhawk Roll All in that order.
(5)Kim H.
This place is great, I love sushi, I really recommend this for all the sushi fanatics out there. It's a great place downtown and a big part of downtown as well has been there for a few years, I have been to many sushi bars in the In the US and this is literally one of my top favorites. Only downside about this place is that it is really expensive. Overall great atmosphere good location and yummy yummy sushi.
(4)Timothy B.
Good sushi, but I feel like the rolls are the standout here. They have a huge menu of options for rolls and most that I have had have been very good. I prefer Nigiri and tend to judge sushi restaurants by this rather than rolls. On that measure Wa is good, but just below what I would judge to be a five star performance.
(4)Ms D.
It's awful. Never go here. Save all the best sushi for the rest of us. My first time but my repeat customer birthday-having daughter insisted and I believe I'm going to have to move in. Some of the freshest sushi, with exotic combinations besides the usual suspects. Seriously, I never intend to visit Lawrence again without coming here for dinner at least once. Besides the perfect rolls consisting of crunch/soft, sweet/hot, etc. the presentations are exquisite. The staff is professional, the sushi chefs authentic and sitting at the bar rounds out the experience. Not rating it with 5 stars means you are an unhappy person who wouldn't know a great meal if it shoved itself in your mouth. Go, smile, order the unusual with one or more friends/family, have a drink, and go home a happy diner.
(5)Rodney M.
An enjoyable experience from start to finish. Our waitress was incredibly helpful for us first time diners. The wait for our meal was short and the food was delicious. Looking forward to a return trip.
(5)Chris L.
My favorite sushi joint in Lawrence. Staff is wonderful especially the owners. Their rolls are great but I prefer their nigiri sushi.
(5)Teresa P.
This place is consistent regardless of weekday or weekend and serves quality sushi year round. Came here for lunch on a tuesday and got a delicious service. The Rock n Roll, Fire Dragon, and Rainbow rolls are always fresh and satisfying. Glad that there's a place in Lawrence I can trust to have consistent eats!
(4)Jesse M.
I feel like a dick, but this was super meh sushi. Maybe I'm just spoiled by all the travelling I do, but everything was underwhelming. We had several rolls and a bento box and it was all on the bland side for what we ordered.
(2)Kelly H.
Went here for dinner for a friend's birthday and was so happy with how good it was. We ordered many different rolls for the table but the highlights were the Sean Connery roll and another roll that I cannot remember the name of, but it had julienned vegetables on top. Great meal!
(4)Haylie S.
This place has great vegetable tempura and sushi! I've loved everything I've gotten here. Everything tastes fresh, obviously an important quality for a sushi restaurant. My only complaint is the price. I can get almost the same quality of food for less at Kokoro on 6th. I'll probably come back again. This seems like a "special occasion" restaurant at this point.
(4)Abby E.
Seriously the best sushi we have had to date! Thank you Yelp for leading us here, we were not disappointed (Sean Connery roll was amazing) Gave Wa 4 stars instead of 5 only because they need to update their decor .
(4)