My favorite sushi place ever. I moved away from Louisville recently and I still have dreams about their rolls. It has to be said though that I like the 'american'-ized rolls. I like the clever and exciting special rolls. I like the spicy crab, I like the various sauces. I go there for the special rolls and the chef specials. The sashimi is very good, but if you're looking for a super authentic Japanese experience, you may not like a lot of the menu here. Love Sapporo!
(5)
Hao L.
I love my sushi, from traditional style to experimental. I lived in Chicago and had "live kill" sushi, where they sashimi the fish right out of the tank and serve it up to you with the severed head and tail on opposite sides of the plate still moving. Sapporo doesn't have any "live kill" options, but I didn't ask either. Their fish seems to be so fresh that they may very well have a fish tank in the back. I have been to Sapporo numerous times, and I will throw in my vote that it is the best sushi place in town. The Teppanyaki is very good also (my wife loves it), but it's not why I come to this place. It's easy to get sashimi here because of the fresh fish. They get toro here too from time to time, which has a smooth and meaty texture. The tuna tataki rocks. Fresh fish aside, I love this place because of the creativity of their rolls. Though they make traditional rolls, most of the rolls I get will have extra flavors. My favorite is the Spider roll which, here, has a teriyaki type sauce drizzled over it. Then there is the No Name roll which is rolled in cucumber slices. Try 'em all...Playboy roll, Chili Tai roll...watch the specials on the board. I had a roll that was essentially adopted from vietnamese cuisine, using moistened rice paper to wrap lettuce, tuna, shrimp, and snapper. Then it was placed in a shallow pool of their version of nuoc mam (fish sauce, lemon, garlic chili, sugar). So good! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Pricewise, it's on the expensive side if you're a sushi freak like me. I wish I could eat there everyday, but I would have to take out a loan. Teppanyaki is affordable.
(5)
Carl F.
I was not a fan of sushi, BUT....I am now. Our son wanted to eat sushi at Sapporo for his 28th Birthday. My wife agreed and I went along kicking and screaming and I"M GLAD I DID. Five of us ate a wide variety of sushi and I enjoyed every dish. I now consider myself a fan of Sushi and will definitly return to Sapporo. I especially enjoyed the Hurricane roll!
(4)
Beth M.
If I want a good variety of rolls, I will return. If I want Japanese food, I will not return. I didn't have the nigiri though it sounds like they are good so I will have to try that next time.
(3)
Antonio S.
Being from California, Sushi spots are as common as Mcdonalds. After moving away from Cali over a decade ago - sushi lovers such as myself lock on to those high quality, good sushi spots we are accustomed to and become regulars. Sapporo is one of those places. Whether you are into traditional sushi, 'fusion' sushi, hibachi or you are scared of fish and are more of the midwestern, American type who prefers meat - Sapporo has it all. Good, high quality sushi, and excellent customer service with reasonable prices. Go there!
(4)
Yoanna J.
What can I say I can't belive I am in Kentucky and found this amazing place mmmm delicious fresh. Service is good. Very friendly. Price is reasonable and did I say the sushi, sashimi. FRESH. I will come here 20 more time. Happy Eating
(5)
Colin E.
Always tasty, i've been going here for years and I think the service quality has dropped off recently, but I love Hibachi so this will always be one of my favorites in Louisville.
(4)
Stacy A.
I went to Sapporo based on reviews I read here on Yelp. We tried the dumpling app based on recommendations. It was decent but not something that I would get again. We did get the Top Secret Roll (not so secret after all, eh?). While I can appreciate that something that comes to your table in flames is not technically sushi, this roll was delicious! I can't wait to go back and next time I'd like to have a seat at the sushi bar and try a few more options.
(4)
Mr And Mrs G.
Mr says... great place for sushi Mrs says.... used to be our one and only source of japanese food until OISHI SUSHI opened up this year which is also on bardstown road and even though this place is slightly expensive than OISHI SUSHI we just love the unlimited choices of sushi and the grill similar to shogun off hurstbourne and taylorsville road. the variety of sushi and roll is remarkable. couldn't believe the unlimited combination of sushi from crab, shrimp, tuna, salmon to philadelphia cheese, cucumber and avocado. we always get sashimi wherein we price our own (wait? i think we do this at OISHI SUSHI) and we get generous portion of tuna and salmon for $10bucks - its a steal deal late night can get loud and crowded so we usually go here around 6pm where parking is bearable
(4)
Aaron H.
This was such an unexpected surprise. I was in Louisville for my Grandmother's 80th birthday and decided to get some sushi with my Mom after meeting her at the airport. Now I love good, fresh, authentic well prepared Japanese food and I eat sushi everywhere I go. I was not expecting much out of Louisville, Ky sushi. I was wrong. Yes, they had all the obligatory fried, covered with thick sauce, weird "special" rolls in order to cater to the clientele. But they also had fresh, high quality nigiri and interesting imported specials. They even went out of the way to use good local ingredients, most notably in the form of crawfish sushi! I was very impressed and will be back next time I'm in Louisville! Probably only deserves four stars but gave it the extra one because of location and far surpassing my expectations.
(5)
BJ S.
Being from DFW, Texas where sushi bars/lounges are left and right, Louisville is on track with this place. Not many sushi places around Louisville so it was a nice sight to see. They are building into the trendier side of fusion experiences and its nice. The fish here is great and what I had expected. Sushi rolls are very creative, especially the VIP Roll that comes out to you in a 151 open flame. Our servers were always attentive. Crowd is mixed and trendy during the weekends for dinner and it can get crowded so waiting for a open table might happen. Its a fun little place to just wind down. I'd recommend!
(4)
Michael D.
First let me say that the sushi and sashimi I had was some of the best I've ever had. The sashimi was slightly chilled and not room temp. The presentation was nice but not as one would expect. Now the bad news. The service stinks. Looking for something different and not our usual haunts, we decided to visit what is touted as a Best of Louisville Restaurant for sushi. We had a lackluster greeting at the door. We asked to be seated at the sushi bar and the hostess turned away and walked halfway to the bar, came back and said almost inaudibly that there were two seats. Taking that as our cue, we went to go seat ourselves. Luckily we did find two seats together and took a seat. About 10 minutes later a waiter arrived and deposited water. He returned and took our drink orders and left to go get them. We never did get our drinks the entire evening and he never did inquire again if we wanted something to drink. The restaurant is loud and neon lite. I don't recall what music was playing but I've heard it's supposed to be techno. I did notice many children running around the restaurant so I suppose that is why it is considered family friendly. I noticed many large tables of groups sitting with nothing in front of them. We usually like to order combination dinners as they are usually what we consider the best value with soup and salad included. When the waiter came back, I asked him what the Sushi & Sashimi Chef's Special for $35 & Up comprised of. His reaction was to point towards a menu on the bar and state that it is in there. While the other combinations were, the Chef's combo was not. We decided to go for it as usually a Chef's special is, well, special. I marked the sheet and handed it in. The waiter came back asking if we decided to which I said yes that we wanted the Chef's Special and had already turned the order sheet in. Still no drinks either. Other than a complementary cucumber salad that we got before we ordered, there was no soup or salad included with the chef's special. At about the time I noticed that we had been sitting there for a long time with no food, the chef presented us our food. Served on a plain white square plate, it comprised of a large amount of julienned radish, a tablespoon of pickled ginger, and a teaspoon of wasabi. There were 3 slices each of tuna, salmon, and I believe white tuna. Six small pieces of tuna roll, and one each of sweet shrimp, tuna, salmon, and white tuna. The fish had a nice chill to it and the white tuna was dressed with thin lime slices which gave a wonderful flavor to the fish. However, had I ordered these items ala cart, it would have come to $60.25. We were charged $70.00 plus tax. Would you belive that once we ate what we had, we actually expected that maybe there would be more? It usually happens but not this time. No, the waiter appeared and dropped the check. Hmmm...interesting that I saw others receiving slices of orange but not us. I would had complained to management had I seen any present. As it was, I feel that we paid too much for what we received. I did not tip our waiter "Thao" as I feel he did not do anything to deserve it. Not tipping is something I very rarely if all all do. I did however place a cash tip in the chef's tip jar. I feel overall that it was not worth the trip, we were abused by our server and I wouldn't go back there again. I would give it 1 star but the food we had is better than that. However, all the best food in the world will not bring customers back to a restaurant. Thankfully for the internet, I have someplace to let others know. :)
(2)
DN ..
For someone who is a total n00b when it comes to Sushi, this is the best training ground you could have here in Louisville. The atmosphere is nice and lively although the 90's techno may be a little much for some, I personally love reliving my youth. The Sushi here is the best ive ever tasted, and their Specials are some of the best combinations of fish ive ever seen. If you are planning on visiting here during the weekend make sure you have a reservation otherwise the wait, even for the sushi bar can be upwards of 90 minutes. Parking totally sucks, it is Bardstown road after all. But the walk is well worth it.
(5)
Ryan B.
Yummy sushi! Both rolls I had (Big Mouth and Bardstown Roll) were amazing. The hot tea came in a big pot and cup. A fun place with great hours on a cool street. And the waiter was hot.
(4)
J. J. D.
Hopping establishment with a liquor bar in the front, sushi bar in the back, tables, and hibachi in a separate area. I generally go for simple makizushi and my Philadelphia roll was excellent. The lovely lady had nigiri as well as fried shrimp heads (forget what it was called on the menu). All very tasty. They keep the place clean, but we felt like they cramped in a few too many tables in the main dining space. Would definitely go back.
(4)
A K.
Addendum: Tables are too close. Uncivilized-close.
(3)
Dustin W.
Probably the best sushi in town. Quick and accurate service. Had our sushi minutes after giving our order. The Playboy Roll is amazing
(5)
Giovanni Z.
Well no, it is not astounding that Sapporo gets mostly 5 star reviews. And no, just because your precious palate is always right to you, doesn't mean the same for everyone else. I have had sushi all over the world and Sapporo's preparation is definitely in the higher echelon. The rolls are creative, the presentation is very good and the fish is super fresh. I haven't had any of the standard Japanese items...steak, tempura dishes etc. But there sushi is hard to beat in the Louisville area.
(5)
Sand K.
There are better sushi places in Louisville without the long wait. I think a lot of people come here for the hype and because it's on Bardstown Rd (a hotspot in Louisville). Ordered Crunch Munch and Red Bull rolls along with a side and seaweed salad. Sushi was good and the server was very friendly - hostess not so much. The hours sign is really strange made with puffy paint as you walk in, for a place that's so busy and so expensive they might want to update that.
(3)
Ivanka B.
Really fresh fish! Wow. I am also a sucker for those makis rolled in tempura crunch - try the Playboy and White Castle rolls. At first I was skeptical because most of the rolls on the menu had "spicy" in the description but these 2 didn't and I'm really glad I tried them! They are also large and filling. The white tuna in white castle roll was awesome - i should have ordered some sashimi or nigiri pieces! My friend shared her salmon nigiri - lovely! I also had the mango-tini which was delicious but not too fruity so you could still tell it was a "grown-up" drink. The neighborhood is kinda funky but in a good way. They open at 5:30 and we were there on the dot - place filled up fast - definitely a good sign . . .
(4)
brendan j.
granted this is the only sushi place i have been to in louisville since moving here from san francisco, but frankly, i haven't felt the need to go anywhere else. the fish is fresh, the rolls are great, and when you sit at the bar they really take care of you. i've been 3 or 4 times and always left happy and full. i was really concerned i wouldn't get quality sushi moving from the west coast, but i stand corrected.
(4)
Shawn E.
The sushi is decent but doesn't match the hype. Service isn't the best I've had. Hibachi's terrible....I definitely wouldn't go there for that. From the outside it looks nice and the atmosphere's pretty nice, but the food's another story. Mediocre but there are better places in Louisville.
(2)
Margot S.
No no no! It's like a discoteque that sells Kroger deli sushi. The walls are all baby blue and they were blasting club mix Lady Gaga when we were there on a Wed night. The rolls were really really blah. Fake crabmeat in everything. The tuna was a little funky, the salmon was ok. Definitely not the place to go if you really like sushi. The service was fine. The place feels like a strip club without the naked ladies though.
(2)
Jennifer B.
Lots of choices for sushi, the meal is prepared quickly and aestheic presentation. Service has been good both times I was there.
(4)
Tony S.
Looks great from the outside, overly crowded insided, the tables are crammed too close together, service is sparse at best. The food was good , not exceptional, but very good, but was hard to enjoy when being bumped into while attempting to eat. A bit pricy compared to better places in town. It is obvious that Sapporo is a trendy place where more people go to be seen and drink than enjoy very good sushi. Looking to get laid try Sapporo, just want great food and great experience try something else.
(2)
Lauren L.
My favorite sushi in Louisville. The parking sucks (DO NOT park in the bank's lot right beside the restuarant, because you will get towed, no matter what time it is) The food is well worth the walk and the wait. The "Crunch Munch" is my favorite roll, and the "PlayBoy" and "VIP" rolls are close 2nds. Make sure you get the Shrimp Shumi appetizer, it is killer.
(5)
pedro s.
Not worth the hype - we went on a sat night, host absent, no service at all at the bar. You would think they would want you to at least pay for a drink, right? Would recommend oishii sushi just down the street- a friendly and authentic sushi restaurant
(1)
Lianna N.
Very nice decor, food no comment.
(2)
Erik W.
Too much sauce. That's really all that needs to be said. If you are a sushi traditionalist and enjoy it for the flavors of the fish, stay away from anything except maybe the sashimi. Of course, I ended up with random sauces on much of my nigiri, so maybe they put sauce on sashimi too. All I know is that everything the sushi bar prepared was pretty much wallowing in some kind of sauce. See the picture of my plates ( yelp.com/biz_photos/ckaO… ) and you can see what I mean. Add to that the fact that our waitress was curt and difficult to hail. She put in my sushi with an extra order of Unagi but because it had been so difficult to deal with her up until that point, I just left well enough alone and ate (and paid for) the extra. All this is rather unfortunate because the quality of the fish here seemed very good. That is what I could taste of it between mouthfuls of sauce.
(2)
Lana L.
My favorite sushi place in town! I've tried sushi all over the country, and this is always my favorite place to go too, impeccable service, great atmosphere and the rolls are to die for Mr. Kim always keeps his sushi fresh and the best that's in the market. If you like spicy I say try the Numero Uno roll, and top secret! Just thinking about it makes me drool. Another good one is the E.T. Roll! Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Moses G.
I was hungry and was with friends they were raving about this place so I figure I check it out. We got there and I found this was a Hibachi place my kind of Japanese. So we were told a 30 minute wait so I went strait to the the bar they had Jack Single Barrel so I was even more happy. We then were fitted in to a sit not bad at all. Food: the side sauces were great I liked them very good. I went with steak and lobster. As it is in the middle of the country and no ocean near by I had to give this place credit. The presentation was great the food and sides were perfect. I get out this way for work often and coming from California where there are awesome Hibachi grills and Sushi places for what it's worth this place was really good.
Every time I visit my brother in Louisville I insist on going back to this restaurant. It amazes me how many great restaurants are in this city. I've had some of the best sushi rolls here. It has such an extensive list of custom sushi rolls that I'm always excited to see what I'll try next. I appreciate the variety because to me after a while sushi can get sort of predictable. So if you're into sushi and want something different, this is the place to go. The food and service is always spectacular!!
(5)
Gregory S.
The decor needs updating and the service is hit or miss. I have only had the sushi, never the hibachi. However, the sushi is definitely worth the visit. A good spot to grab a couple of friends and head to town with the nigiri, sashimi and of course their specialty sushi rolls. I would start of with a house salad, the peanut dressing was very tasty. As for the sashimi, the fish is definitely fresh tasting. You know it's good when the halibut sashimi taste like it does in Alaska. When it comes to the sushi rolls, the mango is one of my favorites but I like them all. I polished off quite a few rolls every time I go trying different ones each time. The quality of the sake I found to be a bit lacking. Maybe it was what I ordered, but that is really the only fault I see with the food.
(4)
Dawnita S.
Some of the best sushi I've ever had! The Volcano is out of this world.
(5)
Adam W.
I'm a huge fan of Sapporo! The service was great and the food was excellent. If you're able to try and go early for the happy hour specials.
(5)
Diana M.
My now husband and I love this place! We started going as college students and have been to many sushi joints since but still one of the best! Decor is getting dated... However feel that service is and always had been great. Fresh fish, creative rolls and sit at the sushi bar for a fun and personal experience!
(4)
Holly P.
I'll make this simple. This place would've been great, except... 1) The hostess wasn't friendly at all. We were walk-ins, yes, but she was really rude about it when seating us. Terrible service. 2) Our server wasn't knowledgeable about the menu. Also, he seemed kinda drunk. He couldn't remember who did or didn't order, who ordered what plate, nor were our glasses filled until we asked. 3) It was pricey, considering the quality and portions of the food wasn't that great compared to other sushi spots that I've tried. However, I must say that the sushi chef who executed my custom roll made it exactly as I wanted. Also, the habachi chef was really nice and entertaining. These two stars are for them! Owners, if you are reading this, retrain your front of house staff and servers.
(2)
Munsok S.
I was visiting this place to see how they stacked up to the competition around lousiville. i would have to say that the food was alright. i was really concerned about the lack of customer service overall. we walk in to a restaurant that was filled with 3 tables and was greeted by the mean hostess to saying that they were on a 30 minute wait. i was like "what"! i said that 90% of the restaurant was empty and we had reservations! she was not friendly at all. i thought the decor was nice, but was very sterile feeling. kinda the feeling you get when you go to the hospital... Overall, the food was a 3+ Friendliness 1+ knowledge of service 2 sterilness 4+ I would try this place again.
(2)
Taylor S.
Loved it! Great service and better food! We had 4 rolls and absolutely LOVED 3 of the 4. The No Name Special Roll was delicious and was flamed right on our table. The Tempura roll was the closest thing we can find in Louisville to crab rangoon sushi and was delicious. The Playboy Roll was also very very tasty! The only disappointment was the lobster roll. It was just ok.
(5)
Adam M.
Folks, The fact that Sapporo gets mostly 5-star reviews is astounding. Let me enlighten you... I love sushi. I have been given the nickname "sushi monster" by my favorite chefs. My girl and I average 2-3 times/wk, and get everything from rolls to sushi to sashimi to sea urchin. There are so many reasons why, if you truly love sushi, that you should avoid Sapporo. The menu mainly consists of vastly overpriced fried rolls. Although they taste pretty good, fried rolls should not be the reason that anyone frequents a sushi joint. Maybe they'll get you hooked on the idea, but as soon as your taste buds open up, there is nothing like the taste of the raw fish. Period. The menu lacks any sort of creativity. As I said, 80% of the rolls are fried. I'm no sushi chef, but I can drizzle eel sauce on a fried roll with cream cheese and everyone will love it. When you order cuts of sushi/sashimi, you are basically getting ripped off. The cuts are literally the smallest I have ever seen outside of an airport. They are both short and thinly sliced, and priced way to high. There are MANY locally owned places that do a MUCH better job of giving you what you pay for. The quality of their fish if OK, but nothing special. I have had much more satisfying experiences. If you have never had sushi before, or eat it once every three months, Sapporo is not a bad choice. If you eat sushi more than 1x per month, please realize that Sapporo is like the Ruby Tuesday's of Sushi. Not awful, but oh boy are you in for a treat when you actually get taken care of at a fine steakhouse. The great part is, in this analogy, the steakhouses cost just a little less than RT's. The atmosphere is great, and the service has always been pretty good at Sapporos. If these are the most important factors to you, take my opinion with a grain of wasabi. When I taste a thick piece of yellowtail that melts in my mouth, I know that I am at home at a sushi joint (and not at Sapporos). Do yourself a favor. Read my other reviews, and if you're in the areas where I've reviewed a good sushi joint, GO there. It will likely mean the end of Sapporo for you.
(2)
Daniel R.
I had the Spicy Tuna Roll for an appetizer. It was a pretty good and had quite a bit of spice. Presentation was atypical though. Stacking instead of the traditional roll presentation. I ordered the Steak Hibachi med-rare. The fried rice was too salty, but the vegetables and beef were cooked exactly to order. A little greasy, but with that much butter being thrown around who could be surprised. The clientele ranged from good looking twenty somethings to families. The prices are pretty reasonable too. Think $100 for a date with apps, entrees, and drinks.
(4)
Cynthia D.
I like Sapporo. I will gladly attend any cliche birthday party that is held here. It's a nice interior with greatly padded seating and a lovely area of alcoholic beverages. I'm going to agree with most of the previous reviewers. If this was my first time at this sort of an establishment, I'd be impressed, but because I have been to Benihana numerous times in the past two decades, I leave thinking how poor the execution is. This is just a nice spot in a nice neighborhood with fair food. I am not going to even start into the differences between American interpretations of Japanese cuisine, and what actual food in Japan is like. No one in Kentucky really cares about that sort of a thing. Sapporo is safe for those members of your party of 4 or more that hate sushi, and would never try it because.. "Isn't that raw fish? Ew." They can just get a steak. American Style. Well done.
(2)
Jeff S.
So I've been going here for the better part of a year. Went two times in a row last two nights. It still is a 5 star sushi place. Just dont go here if you like traditional sushi because they don't do that. -----[Previous Reviews Below]-------------- Flaming tinfoil wrapped sushi?? HELLO - AMAZING! People always think I'm completely insane when I say that the best sushi I've ever had in my life is in Louisville, KY. Louisville is the main UPS hub in the country so they get fresh fish flown in daily. Most sushi places try to stick to tradition and make sushi that looks like all the other sushi in the world. Sapporo throws that out the window. They have something called a top secret roll that isn't on the menu that is amazing. It is some sort of roll (dont remember) on a banana leaf with sesame seeds - all wrapped in tinfoil and when it comes to your table they light the plate on fire. The fire toasts the sesame seeds and the roll is infused with a smoked sesame flavor. Just down right amazing.
(5)
Alexis H.
I'm a sushi lover and is really picky on how chefs make it. In my sushi, I like mostly fish... THIS PLACE IS AMAZING! I had both the top secret roll, the bomb roll (some role with a lemon slices on top), and something else with tuna in it. With 11 people, the staff is friendly and food came quicker than expected. We sat at the hibachi and the chef was nice. I wish he could've been more involved with us, but it did not ruin anything. Hibachi is the usual. Our waiter was so quick and friendly. Best service ever. I have an impatient family. She was very nice to work with that instead of being rude like most waiters. If I had to come back, I would totally try all the sushi. I wish o had a place like this back home.
(5)
Carolyn H.
Yummy food, crap service. Sure, it was busy but we waited an hour for 3 rolls - no salads, no appetizers, no booze. We even sat for 10 minutes before the server came for our drinks. Probably he was sat too quickly which isn't his fault but there were lots of service recovery opportunities. I'm being particularly hard on this place because the prices are very high so my expectations are, as well. Enough about the service - the food was fantastic. So much so, I'd still come back despite the other. We had the veggie roll, so good we ordered a second. And we each ordered a roll that typically comes with fish but subbed tofu and they were delish!!! The lucky leprichaun and the crunchy mango, if memory serves. Next time I'm likely to try the hibachi.
(3)
Gabrielle A.
Sapporo is my go-to spot for sushi. It is clean, has a large menu with a variety of rolls and the food is tasty and consistent. You can't beat the happy hour ($3-12 sushi rolls, $1 edamame!) However, the past few times I have been there, the service has been, well... meh. We went there for date night about a month ago and waited about 15 minutes before our waitress even approached our table for drink orders and the place was practically empty. Instances like this keep the establishment from getting my full five stars. Last week, I went with a group and my friend ordered a shrimp tempera roll (she has ordered it this way many times) and was given shrimp tempera sans-sushi... just fried shrimp. She told the waitress that she had ordered the roll, not the shrimp itself and the waitress said something like "we don't have a shrimp tempera roll, the roll is called the fried shrimp roll" and informed us that there was nothing she could do. My friend was disappointed as she had ordered it that way previously with no trouble. The waitress then sent the manager to our table just to repeat what she had told us... didn't really help at all or try to fix the situation. Overall, Sapporo is a solid place for Japanese food and they have options for those who are all "not so much" about the whole sushi thing. But the service is definitely hit-and-miss.
(4)
Lauren H.
3.5 stars. I'm not sure how qualified I am to review a sushi spot... I enjoy sushi; I've tried lots of sushi; but I don't LOVE sushi. I'll eat it and like it, but I almost always prefer a warm meal. Therefore, take my review with a grain of salt and please go try for yourself. For some reason, nothing about Sapporo leaves me excited to come back. Perhaps I'm just burned out on it, as my apartment used to be within walking distance, so I ate here often. The food is good, not amazing, but definitely above average. I've never been disappointed with anything I've tried from here. My favorite part is the house salad, which is just plain lettuce soaked in their delicious ginger dressing that I could probably drink. The sushi tastes fresh and there are tons of creative rolls to choose from. The fried rice and yakisoba meals are pretty good. I like that they use a variety of vegetables, but the meat can be a little tough. The prices aren't cheap, but they're on par with other Japanese sushi and steakhouses in town. Hibachi meals range from $12-$25+. They have sushi rolls available for less than $10 but their specialty rolls (let's be honest - those are the good ones) can get well above the $10 range. They do have a happy hour which features some awesome deals if you want the select items from that menu. The service is pretty slow, but the employees are always friendly.
(3)
Dione M.
Went here twice and both times the food and drinks were great. Even though the atmosphere seems a bit cheesy with the circa 1992 blue and pink neon lights, it's still a fun place with good sushi and saki. There is always a wait, so making reservation would be a good idea. Tried the raw octopus and it was great and fresh tasting. The sushi was also very fresh tasting and had a good combination of flavors. If you have to wait, sit at the bar fora drink. The bartenders are always friendly and the drinks are good.
(4)
Samantha F.
Excellent sushi! We ordered one of the specials- sweet roll and the salmon on top was delicious. We also ordered the highlands roll which is buffalo chicken and cream cheese.. Can't go wrong there. The chicken fried rice was good as well. We sat at the bar and service was a bit slow but they were very friendly! Not somewhere to go if you're in a hurry but a great date night spot.
(5)
Michael B.
Hip, upbeat soundtrack & prompt service. Upon seating, I was served a tempura flaked cucumber salad that was well above average. If you like eel at all, get the Dancing Eel Roll...! So savory... the spicy tuna, unagi, avacado and sauce unite for a fantastic mouth-altering experience. In this case, the ginger really will come in handy! The AKA roll was tame compared. But a rich, lingering crab/avacado/sauce taste was an awesome reward. Environment is a bit sterile, yet if you like sushi, there's nothing not to like here.
(4)
Anastasia A.
Best happy hour in town, amazing and fresh...great service always. Love this place, I eat here often. For happy hour, an assortment of $3-$10 rolls, one dollar Sake!
(5)
Toree P.
Sapporo is a great sushi place in Louisville - but not my favorite. I have never been disappointed but I didn't give it 5 stars because of price. I think it's a little over priced and hyped up. The drink specials aren't great and there is always a wait. However, I do enjoy the food and I think it's a great place to celebrate. I would recommend the Sunday Morning Roll and a Crunch Munch Roll. My husband opted for the Chicken Katsu instead of sushi and he was under-whelmed. The chicken was basic breaded chicken but it had a great BBQ-zingy sauce on the side. If nothing else - ORDER THE GINGER SALAD - and I won't judge you if you use a straw once the lettuce is gone. You can order it in bulk too... your welcome :)
(4)
Megan A.
I'm giving Sapporo 2.5 stars. My friends wanted hibachi so we sat in the back. We were seated with individuals that constantly changed what they wanted, added to-go boxes, and took selfies constantly. The service was slow and very confused (probably due to our neighbors). I had the sushi- the Derby Roll and Sunday Morning Roll. It was adequate sushi, but there is so much better sushi in Louisville. May be back for sushi and wine, but would probably choose another place for that.
(2)
Rachel R.
This is one of my favorite spots for a good, inexpensive dinner. The great thing about this place is that you have control over whether you spend $ or $$. Ex. One order of California rolls, a hot sake, and a seaweed salad during happy hour only costs $10. Sake: $1 Cali Roll: $3 Seaweed: $6 Fancier rolls cost more, of course. Another inexpensive roll I enjoy is the salmon skin roll. Pretty good! Casual dining experience at the bar and in the early evenings. The crowd tends to be more dressy-casual in the dining area after 6:00/6:30 on weekends.
(4)
Jim G.
Many years later, Mr. Kim still greets me like a close friend, and SAPPORO is still tops in sushi bars. Truly one of the best around.
(5)
Craig L.
Nice atmosphere and very good food. The happy hour from 5 to 6:30 every day is the bomb. Lots of options but the $1 hot sake and the $3 Gyoza were perfect. Pretty typical hibatchi. Well done and quick. Really liked the fried rice. Only thing I don't like about hibatchi restaurants is I like to linger a bit and they want to push you out to turn the table.
(3)
Jennifer P.
I think this place has great sushi. I give it 4 stars just because there are some other really great places in Louisville that I like just a little bit better.
(4)
Chris B.
I was surprised we found such great Sushi in Louisville of all places. Every time I recommend it, people raise an eyebrow given it's location. Almost all the rolls were great. Normally I only go for the Maki..but man..their Sushi is just beyond amazing. The Wasabi/lemon juice on it just makes the flavor explode in your mouth. I've never came across that with any other dish. I think I had a tear on my cheek. Best Sushi and Maki I ever tasted but just a disclaimer: most of the Sushi places I tried were in Montreal and Toronto and not in famous Sushi places like BC, Cali or NY etc. We went there 2 days in a row so we sampled most of the Sushi and Maki. Service was great and the decor was cool. The place was a bit loud. It's overpriced for Sushi but I think it's justified given the great food. I think parking might be an issue but not sure since we came here via Taxi.
(5)
Andrew D.
This is hands down the best Sushi in Louisville. The restaurant is clean, the service is great, and the food has never been a disappointment. I eat at Sapporo usually once a week. Their happy hour is one of the best deals at a sushi restaurant that you will find.
(5)
Mia N.
The happy hour is awesome! try the new orlean if you like something spicy! The servers are very polite and service is quick
(4)
Aeyoung M.
Very good, but crowded. One of the best Japanese Sushi places in Louisville. If you want to eat without a long wait, try the Sushi Bar, otherwise expect a 30 minutes wait.
(4)
Twinkle V.
I not only love this place because it's steps away from my best friend's house, but because it actually has some of the best sushi around. Service: Friendly, fast and remember the regulars. Even if you sit at the sushi bar, the wait staff works hard to keep sake filled and edamame fresh. Atmosphere: Modern, glitzy and filled with techno music. Sometimes someone will have a birthday and the wait staff will bring out the Japanese drums and walk through the restaurant. Pretty neat! Sushi bar is fun to sit at and watch them make rolls, the bar is cozy and plenty of tables elsewhere. Food: Uhhh-mazing. Sashimi (my favorite) is always fresh, with plenty of special chef selections. They also do a fresh wasabi that is to die for. Special rolls are always good, and presentation really has a high awe-factor. Beautiful, beautiful food. Worth finding a parking spot on Bardstown Road on a Friday night!
(5)
Matthew E.
Sapporo offers many different items for a wide variety of tastes. You may order something as traditional as filet mignon from the hibachi grill or as eccentric as a Top Secret Sushi Roll which is brought to your table wrapped in foil on a flaming plate. Here, sushi is not only for the daring as many rolls are filled with vegetables and other cooked ingredients. Don't forget to top off your meal with some delicious, hot sake!
(4)
Laura L.
Loooove this place! I've had sushi from some high end places in Chicago and California and this really compares! The fried rice could be a meal on its own it's so tasty and the rolls are yummy and refined. They are so beautifully constructed that they could be works of art. I also recommend the Raspberry Martini.
(4)
Benjamin M.
As for my first time here this place was above expectations. The spice green mussels were top notch set the bar high. The Bardstown roll was very good as well as to appeal to all both non sushi and sushi aficionados. I also had mackerel which was topped with a small Bit of some jalapeño maybe pickled! I've never done hibachi DINNER.... The portions were large! Definitely a good place in my opinion here in Louisville, and I'm a big time foodie and very oblivious to price. This was very much under what I expected to pay! That's a plus!
(4)
Francesca H.
If you're looking for good service and food I would not come here. I asked them 3 times to make sure my food is not spicy but when it came to the table it tasted extra spicy. It took them 30 minutes to take our orders
(2)
Grace B.
This restaurant is my favorite! They have an awesome variety of rolls and a good variety of food for those who don't like sushi. The Sunday morning roll is my favorite! We always get good service and it's usually pretty speedy. They are a bit pricy so we only go on special occassions.
(5)
Shannon W.
First time here and for a first date. I got the Rock and Roll roll - it was wrapped in cucumber with three types of fish and no rice served with some kind of sauce. It was good, the only problem I had was that the slices were huge and I had to cut them in half to eat them...lol. Don't wanna look like a chipmunk on a first date and the first piece about choked me!! The service was very good and so were the LITs!
(4)
Peggy S.
My husband and I love this place for sashimi, usually for a birthday or anniversary dinner, or just a craving of good sushi. It's been our go-to spot for 3 or 4 years, but...lately, the service is not as good and they are practically sprinting between tables!?! What's up with that? I know they're very busy every night we've gone, it doesn't matter what night of the week, they have a great crowd, good for them. But it's very irritating when we're out to relax and have someone else take care of dinner. I assumed it was for table turnover, which is doubly irritating, but I had lunch at the downtown location a few weeks ago, and same thing, servers running around, and the place wasn't jammed packed! Other than this complaint, I love their food. Based on what other reviewers are saying about other great sushi places in Louisville, maybe we should look around.
(4)
D K.
Great price for the amount of food. Will eat here again.
(4)
Danielle W.
This was the best sushi place I've been to off of the coast. Even though my other experiences are not on Yelp (unfortunately, as Yelp is a new thing for me), I have tried MANY, many, many sushi serving establishments in Kentucky as well as multiple coastal areas. The only sushi that is better than Sapporo in Louisville, was a nifty little place I tried about 5 times in 5 days while visiting Seattle, WA for a pharmacist conference (it was near the conference center and was called Blue Fin I think?). You just can't beat stuff THAT fresh- but the point is, that I've had it, so I'm adding credibility hopefully to my review. Prices were ranging from $8-$15 (specialty rolls), the seaweed salad was a generous portion, and the seats from the bar were EXCELLENT. Entertaining without the pressure for performance that I think that the grill provides (I'm not into that sort of thing really- please don't throw a piece of hot grilled shrimp at my face- shrimp don't have wings, they weren't meant to fly ok?) The service was fast (impressive for the SIZE of our meal) and friendly(impressive due to the amount of customers they had- my WATER was NEVER empty). Clean and very busy. Rolls were PERFECT. Room temp served and therefore just right. Location adds convenience of course. Cannot wait to go back.
(4)
A W.
Typical Japanese/hibachi fare. Chef with the typical tricks. Sushi was pretty good, I tried the rainbow roll $8.95. Hibachi chicken $14 with rice, veg, salad and miso soup. Seems like all these places are pretty much the same although this one had more sushi variety.
(3)
Mitch T.
I haven;t had better in this city! I love the Red Dragon Roll. Ginger salad is unbeatable. Happy hour every day 5-6:30!
(4)
Tim O.
Food was good but waitress was rude. She waiitd on person with sport coat before because of way he was dressed and dished me.
(2)
Kathy V.
As far as sushi in Louisville goes...it isn't my favorite and it isn't the worst. I tend to only come here when someone else insists on this place. The food quality is fine, but the rolls are a little pricier that I'd like and the service tends to feel more....aloof than at other places. I like that it's within walking distance of my home. It's not a bad place, I just never feel like there is anything particularly special about it...nothing that stands out to me.
(3)
Megan F.
Looking to spice up an average sushi night? Go to Sapporo for their happy hour and get $1 sake plus a filling and creative roll. I've only tried the VIP roll so far but highly recommend it. Now, this VIP roll has a very important note on it... it's torched but the fire is lit from underneath a small plate (sitting on top of a larger plate that remains untouched by the fire). So yeah the server literally lights the plate on fire and then they're off. What I found strange, but kinda cool, is that the flames stick around for about 5 minutes... The fire eventually died down and I felt ok to dig in without getting burnt and the VIP roll was definitely my favorite over what my friend ordered, another roll on happy hour special. What are their happy hour specials? $1 small hot sake, $4 large Sapporo Beer discounted sushi rolls from 5-6:30 pm Monday through Friday. Go check 'em out and get there early so you can take advantage of that sake special!
(4)
Megan P.
Hands down the best sushi in the city. The tuna tataki, crunch much, Hyland roll, and the dream roll are all amazing. I think I could live on the fried rice. It is one of our staple places on our wheel of restaurants that we tend to frequent.
(5)
KeiKei B.
Good sushi. Crowded as heck. They need more room.
(3)
Jake H.
The place was pretty cool as far as atmosphere goes. Their crowd control at the front did, however, leave something to be desired as 6 or 7 parties waited directly in front of the door. Service was good. My table ordered a shared sushi roll as an appetizer and I was a bit put off that our main order wasn't taken until after we completed that. The sushi (top secret roll) was phenomenal. The hibachi fair (chicken and shrimp) was average. If I came back I would probably stick to sushi as that seems to he their specialty. Overall good experience for an out of towner. Would return.
(3)
Jason A.
Looking for typical hibachi in the highlands? This is the place to go. They have sushi which is pretty typical and all of the normal hibachi grill items. The tricks by the chef were okay, nothing amazing. And, no sake squirt, which is a must for my hibachi chefs. Its good but not outstanding.
(3)
Cory H.
This is the best place in Louisville for sushi. The TJ Roll and the Derby Roll are my personal favorites.
(5)
Chris S.
Best sushi in Louisville (only their Bardstown rd location) one of my favorite date night restaurants. Awesome and always recommend.
(4)
Elizabeth E.
I am from the Louisville area and I must say this place is my favorite in the area. When me and my girlfriends want a girls night with happy hour we ALWAYS go here. The atmosphere has a cool, retro, laid back feeling to it which is a major plus for me personally. The service and presentation is great, its clean and the prices are unbeatable. The other sushi places in the area, that don't have that questionable grey substance passing as fish, are way overpriced. Sapporo has a special happy hour menu that I believe is until 7pm or something like that (can't recall exactly) where the prices are so cheap its wonderful. I extremely recommend this place and continue to visit here often. Anybody looking for some great sushi, drinks along with a fantastic atmosphere to share with people should definitely try this place!! P.S: the edamame and the sunday morning roll are extremely recommended by me!
(4)
Ronald B.
Fantastic fried rice. You will not taste better anywhere outside of Chicago. The sushi is OUTSTANDING with a lot of variety for everyone's taste buds. If you sit at the sushi bar they will serve you a cucumber salad that is delicious (not served at the tables outside the sushi bar area). Great customer service combined with the best Japanese food in KY get this place 5 stars!
(5)
Mickey B.
I always love their Happy Hour when I am in town. Amy is the best server around but everyone will miss her since she is finishing up Dental School. Anyway, sushi is on the money, and the sushi bar is a blast to sit and watch the chefs work their magic. New Orleans roll and Top Secret roll are some of the best I've ever had. If you are wanting to take your kids for a "Gee whiz that is a neat trick hibachi", this is not for you. If you want fantastic food, great service, and an authentic experience then you are coming to the right location. Enjoy
(4)
Holly H.
I love the entire experience here! The tempura roll and burrito roll are two of my favorites. Excellent food!!
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 : Trendy Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Liz T.
My favorite sushi place ever. I moved away from Louisville recently and I still have dreams about their rolls. It has to be said though that I like the 'american'-ized rolls. I like the clever and exciting special rolls. I like the spicy crab, I like the various sauces. I go there for the special rolls and the chef specials. The sashimi is very good, but if you're looking for a super authentic Japanese experience, you may not like a lot of the menu here. Love Sapporo!
(5)Hao L.
I love my sushi, from traditional style to experimental. I lived in Chicago and had "live kill" sushi, where they sashimi the fish right out of the tank and serve it up to you with the severed head and tail on opposite sides of the plate still moving. Sapporo doesn't have any "live kill" options, but I didn't ask either. Their fish seems to be so fresh that they may very well have a fish tank in the back. I have been to Sapporo numerous times, and I will throw in my vote that it is the best sushi place in town. The Teppanyaki is very good also (my wife loves it), but it's not why I come to this place. It's easy to get sashimi here because of the fresh fish. They get toro here too from time to time, which has a smooth and meaty texture. The tuna tataki rocks. Fresh fish aside, I love this place because of the creativity of their rolls. Though they make traditional rolls, most of the rolls I get will have extra flavors. My favorite is the Spider roll which, here, has a teriyaki type sauce drizzled over it. Then there is the No Name roll which is rolled in cucumber slices. Try 'em all...Playboy roll, Chili Tai roll...watch the specials on the board. I had a roll that was essentially adopted from vietnamese cuisine, using moistened rice paper to wrap lettuce, tuna, shrimp, and snapper. Then it was placed in a shallow pool of their version of nuoc mam (fish sauce, lemon, garlic chili, sugar). So good! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Pricewise, it's on the expensive side if you're a sushi freak like me. I wish I could eat there everyday, but I would have to take out a loan. Teppanyaki is affordable.
(5)Carl F.
I was not a fan of sushi, BUT....I am now. Our son wanted to eat sushi at Sapporo for his 28th Birthday. My wife agreed and I went along kicking and screaming and I"M GLAD I DID. Five of us ate a wide variety of sushi and I enjoyed every dish. I now consider myself a fan of Sushi and will definitly return to Sapporo. I especially enjoyed the Hurricane roll!
(4)Beth M.
If I want a good variety of rolls, I will return. If I want Japanese food, I will not return. I didn't have the nigiri though it sounds like they are good so I will have to try that next time.
(3)Antonio S.
Being from California, Sushi spots are as common as Mcdonalds. After moving away from Cali over a decade ago - sushi lovers such as myself lock on to those high quality, good sushi spots we are accustomed to and become regulars. Sapporo is one of those places. Whether you are into traditional sushi, 'fusion' sushi, hibachi or you are scared of fish and are more of the midwestern, American type who prefers meat - Sapporo has it all. Good, high quality sushi, and excellent customer service with reasonable prices. Go there!
(4)Yoanna J.
What can I say I can't belive I am in Kentucky and found this amazing place mmmm delicious fresh. Service is good. Very friendly. Price is reasonable and did I say the sushi, sashimi. FRESH. I will come here 20 more time. Happy Eating
(5)Colin E.
Always tasty, i've been going here for years and I think the service quality has dropped off recently, but I love Hibachi so this will always be one of my favorites in Louisville.
(4)Stacy A.
I went to Sapporo based on reviews I read here on Yelp. We tried the dumpling app based on recommendations. It was decent but not something that I would get again. We did get the Top Secret Roll (not so secret after all, eh?). While I can appreciate that something that comes to your table in flames is not technically sushi, this roll was delicious! I can't wait to go back and next time I'd like to have a seat at the sushi bar and try a few more options.
(4)Mr And Mrs G.
Mr says... great place for sushi Mrs says.... used to be our one and only source of japanese food until OISHI SUSHI opened up this year which is also on bardstown road and even though this place is slightly expensive than OISHI SUSHI we just love the unlimited choices of sushi and the grill similar to shogun off hurstbourne and taylorsville road. the variety of sushi and roll is remarkable. couldn't believe the unlimited combination of sushi from crab, shrimp, tuna, salmon to philadelphia cheese, cucumber and avocado. we always get sashimi wherein we price our own (wait? i think we do this at OISHI SUSHI) and we get generous portion of tuna and salmon for $10bucks - its a steal deal late night can get loud and crowded so we usually go here around 6pm where parking is bearable
(4)Aaron H.
This was such an unexpected surprise. I was in Louisville for my Grandmother's 80th birthday and decided to get some sushi with my Mom after meeting her at the airport. Now I love good, fresh, authentic well prepared Japanese food and I eat sushi everywhere I go. I was not expecting much out of Louisville, Ky sushi. I was wrong. Yes, they had all the obligatory fried, covered with thick sauce, weird "special" rolls in order to cater to the clientele. But they also had fresh, high quality nigiri and interesting imported specials. They even went out of the way to use good local ingredients, most notably in the form of crawfish sushi! I was very impressed and will be back next time I'm in Louisville! Probably only deserves four stars but gave it the extra one because of location and far surpassing my expectations.
(5)BJ S.
Being from DFW, Texas where sushi bars/lounges are left and right, Louisville is on track with this place. Not many sushi places around Louisville so it was a nice sight to see. They are building into the trendier side of fusion experiences and its nice. The fish here is great and what I had expected. Sushi rolls are very creative, especially the VIP Roll that comes out to you in a 151 open flame. Our servers were always attentive. Crowd is mixed and trendy during the weekends for dinner and it can get crowded so waiting for a open table might happen. Its a fun little place to just wind down. I'd recommend!
(4)Michael D.
First let me say that the sushi and sashimi I had was some of the best I've ever had. The sashimi was slightly chilled and not room temp. The presentation was nice but not as one would expect. Now the bad news. The service stinks. Looking for something different and not our usual haunts, we decided to visit what is touted as a Best of Louisville Restaurant for sushi. We had a lackluster greeting at the door. We asked to be seated at the sushi bar and the hostess turned away and walked halfway to the bar, came back and said almost inaudibly that there were two seats. Taking that as our cue, we went to go seat ourselves. Luckily we did find two seats together and took a seat. About 10 minutes later a waiter arrived and deposited water. He returned and took our drink orders and left to go get them. We never did get our drinks the entire evening and he never did inquire again if we wanted something to drink. The restaurant is loud and neon lite. I don't recall what music was playing but I've heard it's supposed to be techno. I did notice many children running around the restaurant so I suppose that is why it is considered family friendly. I noticed many large tables of groups sitting with nothing in front of them. We usually like to order combination dinners as they are usually what we consider the best value with soup and salad included. When the waiter came back, I asked him what the Sushi & Sashimi Chef's Special for $35 & Up comprised of. His reaction was to point towards a menu on the bar and state that it is in there. While the other combinations were, the Chef's combo was not. We decided to go for it as usually a Chef's special is, well, special. I marked the sheet and handed it in. The waiter came back asking if we decided to which I said yes that we wanted the Chef's Special and had already turned the order sheet in. Still no drinks either. Other than a complementary cucumber salad that we got before we ordered, there was no soup or salad included with the chef's special. At about the time I noticed that we had been sitting there for a long time with no food, the chef presented us our food. Served on a plain white square plate, it comprised of a large amount of julienned radish, a tablespoon of pickled ginger, and a teaspoon of wasabi. There were 3 slices each of tuna, salmon, and I believe white tuna. Six small pieces of tuna roll, and one each of sweet shrimp, tuna, salmon, and white tuna. The fish had a nice chill to it and the white tuna was dressed with thin lime slices which gave a wonderful flavor to the fish. However, had I ordered these items ala cart, it would have come to $60.25. We were charged $70.00 plus tax. Would you belive that once we ate what we had, we actually expected that maybe there would be more? It usually happens but not this time. No, the waiter appeared and dropped the check. Hmmm...interesting that I saw others receiving slices of orange but not us. I would had complained to management had I seen any present. As it was, I feel that we paid too much for what we received. I did not tip our waiter "Thao" as I feel he did not do anything to deserve it. Not tipping is something I very rarely if all all do. I did however place a cash tip in the chef's tip jar. I feel overall that it was not worth the trip, we were abused by our server and I wouldn't go back there again. I would give it 1 star but the food we had is better than that. However, all the best food in the world will not bring customers back to a restaurant. Thankfully for the internet, I have someplace to let others know. :)
(2)DN ..
For someone who is a total n00b when it comes to Sushi, this is the best training ground you could have here in Louisville. The atmosphere is nice and lively although the 90's techno may be a little much for some, I personally love reliving my youth. The Sushi here is the best ive ever tasted, and their Specials are some of the best combinations of fish ive ever seen. If you are planning on visiting here during the weekend make sure you have a reservation otherwise the wait, even for the sushi bar can be upwards of 90 minutes. Parking totally sucks, it is Bardstown road after all. But the walk is well worth it.
(5)Ryan B.
Yummy sushi! Both rolls I had (Big Mouth and Bardstown Roll) were amazing. The hot tea came in a big pot and cup. A fun place with great hours on a cool street. And the waiter was hot.
(4)J. J. D.
Hopping establishment with a liquor bar in the front, sushi bar in the back, tables, and hibachi in a separate area. I generally go for simple makizushi and my Philadelphia roll was excellent. The lovely lady had nigiri as well as fried shrimp heads (forget what it was called on the menu). All very tasty. They keep the place clean, but we felt like they cramped in a few too many tables in the main dining space. Would definitely go back.
(4)A K.
Addendum: Tables are too close. Uncivilized-close.
(3)Dustin W.
Probably the best sushi in town. Quick and accurate service. Had our sushi minutes after giving our order. The Playboy Roll is amazing
(5)Giovanni Z.
Well no, it is not astounding that Sapporo gets mostly 5 star reviews. And no, just because your precious palate is always right to you, doesn't mean the same for everyone else. I have had sushi all over the world and Sapporo's preparation is definitely in the higher echelon. The rolls are creative, the presentation is very good and the fish is super fresh. I haven't had any of the standard Japanese items...steak, tempura dishes etc. But there sushi is hard to beat in the Louisville area.
(5)Sand K.
There are better sushi places in Louisville without the long wait. I think a lot of people come here for the hype and because it's on Bardstown Rd (a hotspot in Louisville). Ordered Crunch Munch and Red Bull rolls along with a side and seaweed salad. Sushi was good and the server was very friendly - hostess not so much. The hours sign is really strange made with puffy paint as you walk in, for a place that's so busy and so expensive they might want to update that.
(3)Ivanka B.
Really fresh fish! Wow. I am also a sucker for those makis rolled in tempura crunch - try the Playboy and White Castle rolls. At first I was skeptical because most of the rolls on the menu had "spicy" in the description but these 2 didn't and I'm really glad I tried them! They are also large and filling. The white tuna in white castle roll was awesome - i should have ordered some sashimi or nigiri pieces! My friend shared her salmon nigiri - lovely! I also had the mango-tini which was delicious but not too fruity so you could still tell it was a "grown-up" drink. The neighborhood is kinda funky but in a good way. They open at 5:30 and we were there on the dot - place filled up fast - definitely a good sign . . .
(4)brendan j.
granted this is the only sushi place i have been to in louisville since moving here from san francisco, but frankly, i haven't felt the need to go anywhere else. the fish is fresh, the rolls are great, and when you sit at the bar they really take care of you. i've been 3 or 4 times and always left happy and full. i was really concerned i wouldn't get quality sushi moving from the west coast, but i stand corrected.
(4)Shawn E.
The sushi is decent but doesn't match the hype. Service isn't the best I've had. Hibachi's terrible....I definitely wouldn't go there for that. From the outside it looks nice and the atmosphere's pretty nice, but the food's another story. Mediocre but there are better places in Louisville.
(2)Margot S.
No no no! It's like a discoteque that sells Kroger deli sushi. The walls are all baby blue and they were blasting club mix Lady Gaga when we were there on a Wed night. The rolls were really really blah. Fake crabmeat in everything. The tuna was a little funky, the salmon was ok. Definitely not the place to go if you really like sushi. The service was fine. The place feels like a strip club without the naked ladies though.
(2)Jennifer B.
Lots of choices for sushi, the meal is prepared quickly and aestheic presentation. Service has been good both times I was there.
(4)Tony S.
Looks great from the outside, overly crowded insided, the tables are crammed too close together, service is sparse at best. The food was good , not exceptional, but very good, but was hard to enjoy when being bumped into while attempting to eat. A bit pricy compared to better places in town. It is obvious that Sapporo is a trendy place where more people go to be seen and drink than enjoy very good sushi. Looking to get laid try Sapporo, just want great food and great experience try something else.
(2)Lauren L.
My favorite sushi in Louisville. The parking sucks (DO NOT park in the bank's lot right beside the restuarant, because you will get towed, no matter what time it is) The food is well worth the walk and the wait. The "Crunch Munch" is my favorite roll, and the "PlayBoy" and "VIP" rolls are close 2nds. Make sure you get the Shrimp Shumi appetizer, it is killer.
(5)pedro s.
Not worth the hype - we went on a sat night, host absent, no service at all at the bar. You would think they would want you to at least pay for a drink, right? Would recommend oishii sushi just down the street- a friendly and authentic sushi restaurant
(1)Lianna N.
Very nice decor, food no comment.
(2)Erik W.
Too much sauce. That's really all that needs to be said. If you are a sushi traditionalist and enjoy it for the flavors of the fish, stay away from anything except maybe the sashimi. Of course, I ended up with random sauces on much of my nigiri, so maybe they put sauce on sashimi too. All I know is that everything the sushi bar prepared was pretty much wallowing in some kind of sauce. See the picture of my plates ( yelp.com/biz_photos/ckaO… ) and you can see what I mean. Add to that the fact that our waitress was curt and difficult to hail. She put in my sushi with an extra order of Unagi but because it had been so difficult to deal with her up until that point, I just left well enough alone and ate (and paid for) the extra. All this is rather unfortunate because the quality of the fish here seemed very good. That is what I could taste of it between mouthfuls of sauce.
(2)Lana L.
My favorite sushi place in town! I've tried sushi all over the country, and this is always my favorite place to go too, impeccable service, great atmosphere and the rolls are to die for Mr. Kim always keeps his sushi fresh and the best that's in the market. If you like spicy I say try the Numero Uno roll, and top secret! Just thinking about it makes me drool. Another good one is the E.T. Roll! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Moses G.
I was hungry and was with friends they were raving about this place so I figure I check it out. We got there and I found this was a Hibachi place my kind of Japanese. So we were told a 30 minute wait so I went strait to the the bar they had Jack Single Barrel so I was even more happy. We then were fitted in to a sit not bad at all. Food: the side sauces were great I liked them very good. I went with steak and lobster. As it is in the middle of the country and no ocean near by I had to give this place credit. The presentation was great the food and sides were perfect. I get out this way for work often and coming from California where there are awesome Hibachi grills and Sushi places for what it's worth this place was really good.
(3)Mike T.
The service here was pleasant and fairly attentive. Sushi quality was good. Their green tea was okay. Presentation was mediocre -- generally I don't care, but with Japanese cuisine presentation is a pretty big deal. There wasn't much to speak of here; no adornments or particularly creative arrangements. The atmosphere was nice, except that we were sitting right in a draft. Other than that, this place has hip looking décor without being full of douchebags. The custom rolls (like the Bardstown Road Roll) sounded good, though we didn't have any of them. It was a little pricey for what you get, but not over the top. The custom rolls did seem pretty high-priced, but without the benefit of having had one to see how much you get for that, I can't really judge.
(3)Rebecca L.
Every time I visit my brother in Louisville I insist on going back to this restaurant. It amazes me how many great restaurants are in this city. I've had some of the best sushi rolls here. It has such an extensive list of custom sushi rolls that I'm always excited to see what I'll try next. I appreciate the variety because to me after a while sushi can get sort of predictable. So if you're into sushi and want something different, this is the place to go. The food and service is always spectacular!!
(5)Gregory S.
The decor needs updating and the service is hit or miss. I have only had the sushi, never the hibachi. However, the sushi is definitely worth the visit. A good spot to grab a couple of friends and head to town with the nigiri, sashimi and of course their specialty sushi rolls. I would start of with a house salad, the peanut dressing was very tasty. As for the sashimi, the fish is definitely fresh tasting. You know it's good when the halibut sashimi taste like it does in Alaska. When it comes to the sushi rolls, the mango is one of my favorites but I like them all. I polished off quite a few rolls every time I go trying different ones each time. The quality of the sake I found to be a bit lacking. Maybe it was what I ordered, but that is really the only fault I see with the food.
(4)Dawnita S.
Some of the best sushi I've ever had! The Volcano is out of this world.
(5)Adam W.
I'm a huge fan of Sapporo! The service was great and the food was excellent. If you're able to try and go early for the happy hour specials.
(5)Diana M.
My now husband and I love this place! We started going as college students and have been to many sushi joints since but still one of the best! Decor is getting dated... However feel that service is and always had been great. Fresh fish, creative rolls and sit at the sushi bar for a fun and personal experience!
(4)Holly P.
I'll make this simple. This place would've been great, except... 1) The hostess wasn't friendly at all. We were walk-ins, yes, but she was really rude about it when seating us. Terrible service. 2) Our server wasn't knowledgeable about the menu. Also, he seemed kinda drunk. He couldn't remember who did or didn't order, who ordered what plate, nor were our glasses filled until we asked. 3) It was pricey, considering the quality and portions of the food wasn't that great compared to other sushi spots that I've tried. However, I must say that the sushi chef who executed my custom roll made it exactly as I wanted. Also, the habachi chef was really nice and entertaining. These two stars are for them! Owners, if you are reading this, retrain your front of house staff and servers.
(2)Munsok S.
I was visiting this place to see how they stacked up to the competition around lousiville. i would have to say that the food was alright. i was really concerned about the lack of customer service overall. we walk in to a restaurant that was filled with 3 tables and was greeted by the mean hostess to saying that they were on a 30 minute wait. i was like "what"! i said that 90% of the restaurant was empty and we had reservations! she was not friendly at all. i thought the decor was nice, but was very sterile feeling. kinda the feeling you get when you go to the hospital... Overall, the food was a 3+ Friendliness 1+ knowledge of service 2 sterilness 4+ I would try this place again.
(2)Taylor S.
Loved it! Great service and better food! We had 4 rolls and absolutely LOVED 3 of the 4. The No Name Special Roll was delicious and was flamed right on our table. The Tempura roll was the closest thing we can find in Louisville to crab rangoon sushi and was delicious. The Playboy Roll was also very very tasty! The only disappointment was the lobster roll. It was just ok.
(5)Adam M.
Folks, The fact that Sapporo gets mostly 5-star reviews is astounding. Let me enlighten you... I love sushi. I have been given the nickname "sushi monster" by my favorite chefs. My girl and I average 2-3 times/wk, and get everything from rolls to sushi to sashimi to sea urchin. There are so many reasons why, if you truly love sushi, that you should avoid Sapporo. The menu mainly consists of vastly overpriced fried rolls. Although they taste pretty good, fried rolls should not be the reason that anyone frequents a sushi joint. Maybe they'll get you hooked on the idea, but as soon as your taste buds open up, there is nothing like the taste of the raw fish. Period. The menu lacks any sort of creativity. As I said, 80% of the rolls are fried. I'm no sushi chef, but I can drizzle eel sauce on a fried roll with cream cheese and everyone will love it. When you order cuts of sushi/sashimi, you are basically getting ripped off. The cuts are literally the smallest I have ever seen outside of an airport. They are both short and thinly sliced, and priced way to high. There are MANY locally owned places that do a MUCH better job of giving you what you pay for. The quality of their fish if OK, but nothing special. I have had much more satisfying experiences. If you have never had sushi before, or eat it once every three months, Sapporo is not a bad choice. If you eat sushi more than 1x per month, please realize that Sapporo is like the Ruby Tuesday's of Sushi. Not awful, but oh boy are you in for a treat when you actually get taken care of at a fine steakhouse. The great part is, in this analogy, the steakhouses cost just a little less than RT's. The atmosphere is great, and the service has always been pretty good at Sapporos. If these are the most important factors to you, take my opinion with a grain of wasabi. When I taste a thick piece of yellowtail that melts in my mouth, I know that I am at home at a sushi joint (and not at Sapporos). Do yourself a favor. Read my other reviews, and if you're in the areas where I've reviewed a good sushi joint, GO there. It will likely mean the end of Sapporo for you.
(2)Daniel R.
I had the Spicy Tuna Roll for an appetizer. It was a pretty good and had quite a bit of spice. Presentation was atypical though. Stacking instead of the traditional roll presentation. I ordered the Steak Hibachi med-rare. The fried rice was too salty, but the vegetables and beef were cooked exactly to order. A little greasy, but with that much butter being thrown around who could be surprised. The clientele ranged from good looking twenty somethings to families. The prices are pretty reasonable too. Think $100 for a date with apps, entrees, and drinks.
(4)Cynthia D.
I like Sapporo. I will gladly attend any cliche birthday party that is held here. It's a nice interior with greatly padded seating and a lovely area of alcoholic beverages. I'm going to agree with most of the previous reviewers. If this was my first time at this sort of an establishment, I'd be impressed, but because I have been to Benihana numerous times in the past two decades, I leave thinking how poor the execution is. This is just a nice spot in a nice neighborhood with fair food. I am not going to even start into the differences between American interpretations of Japanese cuisine, and what actual food in Japan is like. No one in Kentucky really cares about that sort of a thing. Sapporo is safe for those members of your party of 4 or more that hate sushi, and would never try it because.. "Isn't that raw fish? Ew." They can just get a steak. American Style. Well done.
(2)Jeff S.
So I've been going here for the better part of a year. Went two times in a row last two nights. It still is a 5 star sushi place. Just dont go here if you like traditional sushi because they don't do that. -----[Previous Reviews Below]-------------- Flaming tinfoil wrapped sushi?? HELLO - AMAZING! People always think I'm completely insane when I say that the best sushi I've ever had in my life is in Louisville, KY. Louisville is the main UPS hub in the country so they get fresh fish flown in daily. Most sushi places try to stick to tradition and make sushi that looks like all the other sushi in the world. Sapporo throws that out the window. They have something called a top secret roll that isn't on the menu that is amazing. It is some sort of roll (dont remember) on a banana leaf with sesame seeds - all wrapped in tinfoil and when it comes to your table they light the plate on fire. The fire toasts the sesame seeds and the roll is infused with a smoked sesame flavor. Just down right amazing.
(5)Alexis H.
I'm a sushi lover and is really picky on how chefs make it. In my sushi, I like mostly fish... THIS PLACE IS AMAZING! I had both the top secret roll, the bomb roll (some role with a lemon slices on top), and something else with tuna in it. With 11 people, the staff is friendly and food came quicker than expected. We sat at the hibachi and the chef was nice. I wish he could've been more involved with us, but it did not ruin anything. Hibachi is the usual. Our waiter was so quick and friendly. Best service ever. I have an impatient family. She was very nice to work with that instead of being rude like most waiters. If I had to come back, I would totally try all the sushi. I wish o had a place like this back home.
(5)Carolyn H.
Yummy food, crap service. Sure, it was busy but we waited an hour for 3 rolls - no salads, no appetizers, no booze. We even sat for 10 minutes before the server came for our drinks. Probably he was sat too quickly which isn't his fault but there were lots of service recovery opportunities. I'm being particularly hard on this place because the prices are very high so my expectations are, as well. Enough about the service - the food was fantastic. So much so, I'd still come back despite the other. We had the veggie roll, so good we ordered a second. And we each ordered a roll that typically comes with fish but subbed tofu and they were delish!!! The lucky leprichaun and the crunchy mango, if memory serves. Next time I'm likely to try the hibachi.
(3)Gabrielle A.
Sapporo is my go-to spot for sushi. It is clean, has a large menu with a variety of rolls and the food is tasty and consistent. You can't beat the happy hour ($3-12 sushi rolls, $1 edamame!) However, the past few times I have been there, the service has been, well... meh. We went there for date night about a month ago and waited about 15 minutes before our waitress even approached our table for drink orders and the place was practically empty. Instances like this keep the establishment from getting my full five stars. Last week, I went with a group and my friend ordered a shrimp tempera roll (she has ordered it this way many times) and was given shrimp tempera sans-sushi... just fried shrimp. She told the waitress that she had ordered the roll, not the shrimp itself and the waitress said something like "we don't have a shrimp tempera roll, the roll is called the fried shrimp roll" and informed us that there was nothing she could do. My friend was disappointed as she had ordered it that way previously with no trouble. The waitress then sent the manager to our table just to repeat what she had told us... didn't really help at all or try to fix the situation. Overall, Sapporo is a solid place for Japanese food and they have options for those who are all "not so much" about the whole sushi thing. But the service is definitely hit-and-miss.
(4)Lauren H.
3.5 stars. I'm not sure how qualified I am to review a sushi spot... I enjoy sushi; I've tried lots of sushi; but I don't LOVE sushi. I'll eat it and like it, but I almost always prefer a warm meal. Therefore, take my review with a grain of salt and please go try for yourself. For some reason, nothing about Sapporo leaves me excited to come back. Perhaps I'm just burned out on it, as my apartment used to be within walking distance, so I ate here often. The food is good, not amazing, but definitely above average. I've never been disappointed with anything I've tried from here. My favorite part is the house salad, which is just plain lettuce soaked in their delicious ginger dressing that I could probably drink. The sushi tastes fresh and there are tons of creative rolls to choose from. The fried rice and yakisoba meals are pretty good. I like that they use a variety of vegetables, but the meat can be a little tough. The prices aren't cheap, but they're on par with other Japanese sushi and steakhouses in town. Hibachi meals range from $12-$25+. They have sushi rolls available for less than $10 but their specialty rolls (let's be honest - those are the good ones) can get well above the $10 range. They do have a happy hour which features some awesome deals if you want the select items from that menu. The service is pretty slow, but the employees are always friendly.
(3)Dione M.
Went here twice and both times the food and drinks were great. Even though the atmosphere seems a bit cheesy with the circa 1992 blue and pink neon lights, it's still a fun place with good sushi and saki. There is always a wait, so making reservation would be a good idea. Tried the raw octopus and it was great and fresh tasting. The sushi was also very fresh tasting and had a good combination of flavors. If you have to wait, sit at the bar fora drink. The bartenders are always friendly and the drinks are good.
(4)Samantha F.
Excellent sushi! We ordered one of the specials- sweet roll and the salmon on top was delicious. We also ordered the highlands roll which is buffalo chicken and cream cheese.. Can't go wrong there. The chicken fried rice was good as well. We sat at the bar and service was a bit slow but they were very friendly! Not somewhere to go if you're in a hurry but a great date night spot.
(5)Michael B.
Hip, upbeat soundtrack & prompt service. Upon seating, I was served a tempura flaked cucumber salad that was well above average. If you like eel at all, get the Dancing Eel Roll...! So savory... the spicy tuna, unagi, avacado and sauce unite for a fantastic mouth-altering experience. In this case, the ginger really will come in handy! The AKA roll was tame compared. But a rich, lingering crab/avacado/sauce taste was an awesome reward. Environment is a bit sterile, yet if you like sushi, there's nothing not to like here.
(4)Anastasia A.
Best happy hour in town, amazing and fresh...great service always. Love this place, I eat here often. For happy hour, an assortment of $3-$10 rolls, one dollar Sake!
(5)Toree P.
Sapporo is a great sushi place in Louisville - but not my favorite. I have never been disappointed but I didn't give it 5 stars because of price. I think it's a little over priced and hyped up. The drink specials aren't great and there is always a wait. However, I do enjoy the food and I think it's a great place to celebrate. I would recommend the Sunday Morning Roll and a Crunch Munch Roll. My husband opted for the Chicken Katsu instead of sushi and he was under-whelmed. The chicken was basic breaded chicken but it had a great BBQ-zingy sauce on the side. If nothing else - ORDER THE GINGER SALAD - and I won't judge you if you use a straw once the lettuce is gone. You can order it in bulk too... your welcome :)
(4)Megan A.
I'm giving Sapporo 2.5 stars. My friends wanted hibachi so we sat in the back. We were seated with individuals that constantly changed what they wanted, added to-go boxes, and took selfies constantly. The service was slow and very confused (probably due to our neighbors). I had the sushi- the Derby Roll and Sunday Morning Roll. It was adequate sushi, but there is so much better sushi in Louisville. May be back for sushi and wine, but would probably choose another place for that.
(2)Rachel R.
This is one of my favorite spots for a good, inexpensive dinner. The great thing about this place is that you have control over whether you spend $ or $$. Ex. One order of California rolls, a hot sake, and a seaweed salad during happy hour only costs $10. Sake: $1 Cali Roll: $3 Seaweed: $6 Fancier rolls cost more, of course. Another inexpensive roll I enjoy is the salmon skin roll. Pretty good! Casual dining experience at the bar and in the early evenings. The crowd tends to be more dressy-casual in the dining area after 6:00/6:30 on weekends.
(4)Jim G.
Many years later, Mr. Kim still greets me like a close friend, and SAPPORO is still tops in sushi bars. Truly one of the best around.
(5)Craig L.
Nice atmosphere and very good food. The happy hour from 5 to 6:30 every day is the bomb. Lots of options but the $1 hot sake and the $3 Gyoza were perfect. Pretty typical hibatchi. Well done and quick. Really liked the fried rice. Only thing I don't like about hibatchi restaurants is I like to linger a bit and they want to push you out to turn the table.
(3)Jennifer P.
I think this place has great sushi. I give it 4 stars just because there are some other really great places in Louisville that I like just a little bit better.
(4)Chris B.
I was surprised we found such great Sushi in Louisville of all places. Every time I recommend it, people raise an eyebrow given it's location. Almost all the rolls were great. Normally I only go for the Maki..but man..their Sushi is just beyond amazing. The Wasabi/lemon juice on it just makes the flavor explode in your mouth. I've never came across that with any other dish. I think I had a tear on my cheek. Best Sushi and Maki I ever tasted but just a disclaimer: most of the Sushi places I tried were in Montreal and Toronto and not in famous Sushi places like BC, Cali or NY etc. We went there 2 days in a row so we sampled most of the Sushi and Maki. Service was great and the decor was cool. The place was a bit loud. It's overpriced for Sushi but I think it's justified given the great food. I think parking might be an issue but not sure since we came here via Taxi.
(5)Andrew D.
This is hands down the best Sushi in Louisville. The restaurant is clean, the service is great, and the food has never been a disappointment. I eat at Sapporo usually once a week. Their happy hour is one of the best deals at a sushi restaurant that you will find.
(5)Mia N.
The happy hour is awesome! try the new orlean if you like something spicy! The servers are very polite and service is quick
(4)Aeyoung M.
Very good, but crowded. One of the best Japanese Sushi places in Louisville. If you want to eat without a long wait, try the Sushi Bar, otherwise expect a 30 minutes wait.
(4)Twinkle V.
I not only love this place because it's steps away from my best friend's house, but because it actually has some of the best sushi around. Service: Friendly, fast and remember the regulars. Even if you sit at the sushi bar, the wait staff works hard to keep sake filled and edamame fresh. Atmosphere: Modern, glitzy and filled with techno music. Sometimes someone will have a birthday and the wait staff will bring out the Japanese drums and walk through the restaurant. Pretty neat! Sushi bar is fun to sit at and watch them make rolls, the bar is cozy and plenty of tables elsewhere. Food: Uhhh-mazing. Sashimi (my favorite) is always fresh, with plenty of special chef selections. They also do a fresh wasabi that is to die for. Special rolls are always good, and presentation really has a high awe-factor. Beautiful, beautiful food. Worth finding a parking spot on Bardstown Road on a Friday night!
(5)Matthew E.
Sapporo offers many different items for a wide variety of tastes. You may order something as traditional as filet mignon from the hibachi grill or as eccentric as a Top Secret Sushi Roll which is brought to your table wrapped in foil on a flaming plate. Here, sushi is not only for the daring as many rolls are filled with vegetables and other cooked ingredients. Don't forget to top off your meal with some delicious, hot sake!
(4)Laura L.
Loooove this place! I've had sushi from some high end places in Chicago and California and this really compares! The fried rice could be a meal on its own it's so tasty and the rolls are yummy and refined. They are so beautifully constructed that they could be works of art. I also recommend the Raspberry Martini.
(4)Benjamin M.
As for my first time here this place was above expectations. The spice green mussels were top notch set the bar high. The Bardstown roll was very good as well as to appeal to all both non sushi and sushi aficionados. I also had mackerel which was topped with a small Bit of some jalapeño maybe pickled! I've never done hibachi DINNER.... The portions were large! Definitely a good place in my opinion here in Louisville, and I'm a big time foodie and very oblivious to price. This was very much under what I expected to pay! That's a plus!
(4)Francesca H.
If you're looking for good service and food I would not come here. I asked them 3 times to make sure my food is not spicy but when it came to the table it tasted extra spicy. It took them 30 minutes to take our orders
(2)Grace B.
This restaurant is my favorite! They have an awesome variety of rolls and a good variety of food for those who don't like sushi. The Sunday morning roll is my favorite! We always get good service and it's usually pretty speedy. They are a bit pricy so we only go on special occassions.
(5)Shannon W.
First time here and for a first date. I got the Rock and Roll roll - it was wrapped in cucumber with three types of fish and no rice served with some kind of sauce. It was good, the only problem I had was that the slices were huge and I had to cut them in half to eat them...lol. Don't wanna look like a chipmunk on a first date and the first piece about choked me!! The service was very good and so were the LITs!
(4)Peggy S.
My husband and I love this place for sashimi, usually for a birthday or anniversary dinner, or just a craving of good sushi. It's been our go-to spot for 3 or 4 years, but...lately, the service is not as good and they are practically sprinting between tables!?! What's up with that? I know they're very busy every night we've gone, it doesn't matter what night of the week, they have a great crowd, good for them. But it's very irritating when we're out to relax and have someone else take care of dinner. I assumed it was for table turnover, which is doubly irritating, but I had lunch at the downtown location a few weeks ago, and same thing, servers running around, and the place wasn't jammed packed! Other than this complaint, I love their food. Based on what other reviewers are saying about other great sushi places in Louisville, maybe we should look around.
(4)D K.
Great price for the amount of food. Will eat here again.
(4)Danielle W.
This was the best sushi place I've been to off of the coast. Even though my other experiences are not on Yelp (unfortunately, as Yelp is a new thing for me), I have tried MANY, many, many sushi serving establishments in Kentucky as well as multiple coastal areas. The only sushi that is better than Sapporo in Louisville, was a nifty little place I tried about 5 times in 5 days while visiting Seattle, WA for a pharmacist conference (it was near the conference center and was called Blue Fin I think?). You just can't beat stuff THAT fresh- but the point is, that I've had it, so I'm adding credibility hopefully to my review. Prices were ranging from $8-$15 (specialty rolls), the seaweed salad was a generous portion, and the seats from the bar were EXCELLENT. Entertaining without the pressure for performance that I think that the grill provides (I'm not into that sort of thing really- please don't throw a piece of hot grilled shrimp at my face- shrimp don't have wings, they weren't meant to fly ok?) The service was fast (impressive for the SIZE of our meal) and friendly(impressive due to the amount of customers they had- my WATER was NEVER empty). Clean and very busy. Rolls were PERFECT. Room temp served and therefore just right. Location adds convenience of course. Cannot wait to go back.
(4)A W.
Typical Japanese/hibachi fare. Chef with the typical tricks. Sushi was pretty good, I tried the rainbow roll $8.95. Hibachi chicken $14 with rice, veg, salad and miso soup. Seems like all these places are pretty much the same although this one had more sushi variety.
(3)Mitch T.
I haven;t had better in this city! I love the Red Dragon Roll. Ginger salad is unbeatable. Happy hour every day 5-6:30!
(4)Tim O.
Food was good but waitress was rude. She waiitd on person with sport coat before because of way he was dressed and dished me.
(2)Kathy V.
As far as sushi in Louisville goes...it isn't my favorite and it isn't the worst. I tend to only come here when someone else insists on this place. The food quality is fine, but the rolls are a little pricier that I'd like and the service tends to feel more....aloof than at other places. I like that it's within walking distance of my home. It's not a bad place, I just never feel like there is anything particularly special about it...nothing that stands out to me.
(3)Megan F.
Looking to spice up an average sushi night? Go to Sapporo for their happy hour and get $1 sake plus a filling and creative roll. I've only tried the VIP roll so far but highly recommend it. Now, this VIP roll has a very important note on it... it's torched but the fire is lit from underneath a small plate (sitting on top of a larger plate that remains untouched by the fire). So yeah the server literally lights the plate on fire and then they're off. What I found strange, but kinda cool, is that the flames stick around for about 5 minutes... The fire eventually died down and I felt ok to dig in without getting burnt and the VIP roll was definitely my favorite over what my friend ordered, another roll on happy hour special. What are their happy hour specials? $1 small hot sake, $4 large Sapporo Beer discounted sushi rolls from 5-6:30 pm Monday through Friday. Go check 'em out and get there early so you can take advantage of that sake special!
(4)Megan P.
Hands down the best sushi in the city. The tuna tataki, crunch much, Hyland roll, and the dream roll are all amazing. I think I could live on the fried rice. It is one of our staple places on our wheel of restaurants that we tend to frequent.
(5)KeiKei B.
Good sushi. Crowded as heck. They need more room.
(3)Jake H.
The place was pretty cool as far as atmosphere goes. Their crowd control at the front did, however, leave something to be desired as 6 or 7 parties waited directly in front of the door. Service was good. My table ordered a shared sushi roll as an appetizer and I was a bit put off that our main order wasn't taken until after we completed that. The sushi (top secret roll) was phenomenal. The hibachi fair (chicken and shrimp) was average. If I came back I would probably stick to sushi as that seems to he their specialty. Overall good experience for an out of towner. Would return.
(3)Jason A.
Looking for typical hibachi in the highlands? This is the place to go. They have sushi which is pretty typical and all of the normal hibachi grill items. The tricks by the chef were okay, nothing amazing. And, no sake squirt, which is a must for my hibachi chefs. Its good but not outstanding.
(3)Cory H.
This is the best place in Louisville for sushi. The TJ Roll and the Derby Roll are my personal favorites.
(5)Chris S.
Best sushi in Louisville (only their Bardstown rd location) one of my favorite date night restaurants. Awesome and always recommend.
(4)Elizabeth E.
I am from the Louisville area and I must say this place is my favorite in the area. When me and my girlfriends want a girls night with happy hour we ALWAYS go here. The atmosphere has a cool, retro, laid back feeling to it which is a major plus for me personally. The service and presentation is great, its clean and the prices are unbeatable. The other sushi places in the area, that don't have that questionable grey substance passing as fish, are way overpriced. Sapporo has a special happy hour menu that I believe is until 7pm or something like that (can't recall exactly) where the prices are so cheap its wonderful. I extremely recommend this place and continue to visit here often. Anybody looking for some great sushi, drinks along with a fantastic atmosphere to share with people should definitely try this place!! P.S: the edamame and the sunday morning roll are extremely recommended by me!
(4)Ronald B.
Fantastic fried rice. You will not taste better anywhere outside of Chicago. The sushi is OUTSTANDING with a lot of variety for everyone's taste buds. If you sit at the sushi bar they will serve you a cucumber salad that is delicious (not served at the tables outside the sushi bar area). Great customer service combined with the best Japanese food in KY get this place 5 stars!
(5)Mickey B.
I always love their Happy Hour when I am in town. Amy is the best server around but everyone will miss her since she is finishing up Dental School. Anyway, sushi is on the money, and the sushi bar is a blast to sit and watch the chefs work their magic. New Orleans roll and Top Secret roll are some of the best I've ever had. If you are wanting to take your kids for a "Gee whiz that is a neat trick hibachi", this is not for you. If you want fantastic food, great service, and an authentic experience then you are coming to the right location. Enjoy
(4)Holly H.
I love the entire experience here! The tempura roll and burrito roll are two of my favorites. Excellent food!!
(4)