Sara C.

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!! they know all of their customers by name and almost always their order. I try to taste at least one new thing every time but cant help but stick to the FAVs. Tuna tataki Crunchy Roll on point.
(5)
Catherine N.

Order take out last night from this place. First order was the fried po-boy roll. Since I was looking though the photos being posted I saw one user having the same roll and asked the girl on the phone can it be done; she said yes after talking to the person making the sushi I'm guessing. I also had to replaced the smelt roe since I can't eat it with cream cheese ($1 extra). I enjoyed that roll very much. It came to around $16, but the size of the roll was well worth the money. I also order the cowboy roll since it seem to be very popular and while it was good; I wouldn't order it again. The employee on the phone was very nice and helpful with my order. She was friendly and wasn't pushy or sound annoyed when I had my request. All in all it was a nice experience in take-out sushi. Will be my go-to sushi take out from now on.
(4)
Julie V.

My favorite sushi place on the westbank. Their fish is always fresh and there's a wide selection of food and rolls! My favorites: -bbq eel hibachi rice, this is so good. It's definitely not your ordinary fried rice. The rice is really moist and flavorful with bits of eel. -can never go wrong with the baked salmon -ceviche salad is really fresh and has a wide variety of fish in it; I love the ponzu sauce and cucumber slices in this salad -Laplaco roll has spicy tuna and snow crab in a soy wrap. It's really simple but delicious. -mango and salmon roll had fried tempura shrimp in the middle with fresh salmon and mango on top -sweet fried shrimp sushi is a must get! The presentation is nice and the shrimp heads are crunchy I attended a few karaoke parties here including my own birthday. The rooms are great, karaoke system is awesome, and service is on point. Their rates aren't bad either. Much better than little Tokyo! There's Byob which is $25 for small bottles and $35 for large bottles.
(5)
Jess C.

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet! I have been about 5 times now and it is always good. We are addicted to the cowboy roll. It's so good. And it's consistently good. No guessing of the steak will taste the same... It's always great. We try a couple different rolls every time we come but one remains the same. I will update on my next visit and add a picture of i can remember before devouring it! So until next time Daiwa!
(4)
Jess W.

Ordered for lunch at the office today. We had a great experiance from ordering by phone right up through the pickup of our order. The staff was very friendly and quick to bring the order out upon being finished. They had a nice little waiting area so you dont have to stand awkwardly waiting for your food. Great food. The baked scallops were great as was the spicy city roll. Definately a little gem hidden on the westbank. I would recommend for sure.
(4)
Joy C.

I don't know about the other items on the menu, but this is my go -to place for crawfish roll and shrimp tempura roll. I always order take-out, so I can't rate the dine in service. My food is always good and the people are always friendly.
(5)
Mike T.

This place is the BOMB! Food came out fast, everything was fresh & delicious. The one thing that threw me off guard was the menu... There is so much going on in the menu that my friends & I didn't know what to order. It was so overwhelming, but we had the best waitress ever, Julie! She gave us recommendations & free moochi desserts. Yum..! When I came here, I was only expecting 6-8 pc of sushi, but I think it came out to be 12pc per sushi we ordered. LOL. But it was good tho and not that expensive. I think the prices match with the quality & quantity of the sushi.
(5)
Sabrina H.

Food was pretty good, not the greatest sushi place on the westbank, but there is definitely a wide variety. Got the poboy roll and it was delicious. The miso soup was tasty, but the noodle salad was odd, not very good in my opinion. As for the service, our waiter, Mark, was very rude. I'm not sure if it was a bad day or something, but his demeanor was not very welcoming. Would give this an extra star if the service was better.
(3)
Nicole P.

Daiwa is the go to sushi joint on the westbank! The location is a little hard to find if you've never been before. It's located in a little shopping center next to French Rivera gym and cox cable on Lapalco. I've honestly NEVER had a bad experience here before. I come here regularly and everything is excellent from the service to the food. Everything is always fresh! I order to go often and Lanh always has my order right and I can see Daiwa has pretty fast service for a restaurant that gets a full house pretty much every weekend and even during lunch on weekdays. They also added karaoke rooms not too long ago and they are awesome! Tons of fun and there's different sizes and there's even a hello kitty themed room. They all hold different amounts of people and the prices vary according to how many people are attending. Some of my favorite things from daiwa listed below: *Kimchee Seafood Yaki Udon- When I first tried, it was a little salty and over sauced for my taste, but I asked for it less salty and light sauce and it was PERFECT! It was the perfect balance of spicy and salty. It has pan fried seafood (scallops, shrimp, salmon?, crabmeat) and thick udon noodles with the kimchee sauce. *Smelt Roe Crab Meat Salad- It's very light and refreshing. It has shredded cucumber mixed in a creamy sauce with crab meat and a very generous amount of smelt roe. *Lapalco Roll- I consider this a special roll, but it's priced like one of the regular rolls. It's wrapped on the outside with soy paper versus rice. It has spicy tuna, snow crab, smelt roe and tempura flakes. Topped with spicy mayo. YUM! *Daiwa Special Roll- Has a lot of raw fish, so if you're not good with raw fish, this may not be the best roll for you. Overall, the prices are pretty reasonable and the rolls are HUGE compared to other sushi restaurants. Even the basic rolls like crunchy and crawfish roll are rolled big. The food is always fresh to me and I will always be a returning customer.
(5)
Trang N.

The sushi here is fresh and decently priced! I always get the salted white fish, seared, scallops, kimchi udon, no name roll, rock n roll, and most of the popular rolls. On my last visit I wanted to low carb so I ordered the ceviche salad and gyoza. Both were good. The ceviche salad is a really good size, it had salmon, tuna, white fish, and octopus on a bed of spring mix with a tangy ponzu sauce? I really didn't like the octopus, it was kind of salty.
(4)
Brandi C.

NEVER DISAPPOINTED!!! Their sushi is definitely the best around....great customer service and very friendly staff!
(5)
Kameron B.

Daiwa is definitely the best place to get sushi on the westbank! I usually get the po-boy roll, clear soup and edamame and it all taste fresh and great (:
(4)
Lauren N.

The best sushi place on the west bank! When I'm craving sushi, which is all the time, I come here. My favorites to get: Mango Salmon special roll, Snowcrab Naruto, Cowboy roll, Po-boy roll, and Spicy city! It's always fresh and never disappoints me. The service is great and the atmosphere is nice!
(5)
Emily V.

Yum yumm in my tummy! Never disappointed at daiwa! My son loves the Kim chi udon, fried dumplings and baked mussels! As for sushi rolls, I always order the sunset and sunrise roll. So good!!
(5)
Trang D.

This is my go to sushi joint on the westbank. Here's what to get! Kim Chi Seafood Yaki Udon- Japanese thick noodles tossed in a red spicy sauce with shrimp, scallop, and tuna? They are a bit skimpy on the seafood. Baked Seafood- It comes to you in a handmade foil-like bowl with seafood inside topped with Japanese masago mayo. Add a bowl of rice for $1 Cowboy Roll- my sister ordered this roll and I honestly can't remember what's inside. I just know beef is wrapped on top with eel sauce or teriyaki sauce? My sister describes the taste like "thit nuong" for my fellow vietnamese yelpers. Daiwa Roll- this is my favorite roll. It's stuffed with tuna, salmon, shrimp tempura, and snowcrab. This roll can't fit in one bite so I struggle with my chopsticks to make it into two pieces. On a slow day, my sister and her friend made the mistake to sit at bar and got charged an additional $1. Wtheck. Oh well.
(4)
Ashley M.

Always a pleasant experience with speedy service. I'm impressed with the size of their vegetable rolls. A lot of restaurants have tiny portions for the vegetarian options. These are the hardiest I can recall getting from a Japanese restaurant. My 10 year old son loves their squid. He's had the calamari and the squid steak an store them both to pieces (barf). My only negative feedback is that is FREEZING in there. If you're hot natured or going through menopause, you'll be great. Regular people make sure you bring a jacket. I had to tuck our cloth napkins into my son's shirt to attempt to wrap his shoulders last go round!
(4)
Michael T.

Just realized I never reviewed Daiwa (seems I did on Urbanspoon some years ago) Hands down, no question, no contest, not even close, my favorite sushi place, period. Far and away the one thing I miss (well, aside family of course) since I moved from Marrero, the place I was born and raised. Now living in the Shreveport/Bossier area and travelling all over the state trying new sushi places none come close. Enough cannot be said about the staff. I haven't been in for probably 6 or so months and was in town for work and walked in to be greeted instantly "Hey Mr. Michael". So polite, friendly and honest, very proud of the location. Food, well, I think I have had the entire sushi/sashimi menu... a few times. The quality is like no other, fish is fresh, flavors unique and present in every bite, rice the best. Presentation has taken a very slight dip from years past but still leaps and bounds above others and possibly just due to newer chefs. I literally crave this place and ate it two days in a row on my recent visit. Prices are fair, very fair and considering your getting a top notch product worth every penny. Menu is inviting and they don't do like many places where they charge flat rates just about for regular/special rolls, each roll is priced accordingly. Personal favorites include the Lapalco roll, Special Crunchy roll (best bang for your buck) and the Sunrise roll (the oyster's and roe in unison are divine) however every single roll is worthy of merit. My only complaint is that I wish they had a location near me and begs the question if they were not in such an odd location in Marrero what they could stand to do. Mindful, this is a place that opened at 11:30 and had half the dining room full and 6 or so to-go orders at 11:31. If your even within 30 miles of this place, do yourself a favor and go enjoy. It beats anything else you will find on the Eastbank/Westbank and trust me from my experience, anywhere else in the state. Daiwa is an absolute treat and deserving of every bit of praise and accolade they receive.
(5)
Victoria N.

Daiwa is my go-to place for sushi. It's location is hard to find, but it gets easier once you're a regular like me. The service is hit or miss. I sometimes get the very best service, and sometimes it is just horrible. I had this one girl that kept telling us our food was cooking only to find out forty minutes later she never put the order in! I never saw her again after that night.. maybe she got fired? Once, the ginger smelled horrible- very rotten. I informed my waitress and she went to the front and started laughing with the other waitresses. Rude! The sushi is divine. Presentation is everything here. I'm one or those aggravating people that always make special requests, but they never seem to let me down. I definitely recommend the kimchi yaki udon, smelt roe crabmeat salad, and poboy roll. The kimchi yaki udon is spicy, but it's levels vary from time to time. The smelt roe crabmeat salad is very refreshing. The poboy roll is expensive but trust me, it will leave you full! No Name Roll is great for the sashimi lovers out there. Cowboy Roll is delicious if you're up for a delicious collision of Western and eastern cuisine. Gyoza is over cooked sometimes, but I recommend the pork ones. My little sister is a die-hard sashimi fan, and she says theirs is as fresh as it gets! My dad loves it too. The mochi balls tasted old to me; they had a powdery texture. The tempura cheesecake wasn't yummy, but the fried icecream was on par. Their milky green tea reminds me of a non-blended version of Starbuck's green tea frappaciuno. The menu is very extensive, which is more aggravating than impressive to me. Most of the menu items are nearly the same besides a small contrast! I make sure I read every single description. Sometimes adding something to a cheaper roll essentially makes it exactly like their specialty roll. The decor is beautiful, even the waiting room is nice. I've never been in the karaoke rooms, but my aunt held her birthday party there, and she really enjoyed it. The place is busy majority of the time but if I remember correctly, they do not take reservations.
(4)
Catherine R.

Whenever my husband and I are on the West Bank and want good sushi, this is where we go. The service is always fast and friendly! The tuna is very fresh and the speciality roles are amazing especially the spicy city roll. They even made it for me without the fried outside part as my request. We will keep coming back!
(5)
Zachary G.

If this place was on Veterans, other sushi places would go under. Top 5 Sushi in greater New Orleans
(5)
Dane N.

Excellent service... very attentive servers who create a great environment for their guests. The food is exceptional. Traditional sushi for those who want it, but their 'special menu' features carefully thought out sushi rolls that are tasty, innovative, and artistic. Best sushi on the Westbank, and could go toe-to-toe with any sushi restautant in New Orleans.
(5)
Tony L.

Came here on a Sunday around 1 pm with 3 of my friends. We walked in and was seated immediately. The atmosphere was nice and and laid back. Look to the left for the cherry blossom tree art. Our waiter jennifer I believe was friendly and on point with our order. Let's move on the food; I had the ceviche salad, some sushi rolls, and mochi desserts. I really enjoyed the ceviche salad and sushi rolls but sadly, i forgot what sushi rolls i ordered... The mochi dessert... i did enjoy not so much. I had the mint chocolate chip mochi while my friend had strawberry mochi. Both the mochi tasted rubbery; mochi is suppose to be soft and chewy. We did enjoyed the ice cream filling in the mochi though. I recommend getting the ice cream next time rather than the mochi. Will be coming here again for a round 2!
(4)
Pam T.

If you need sushi fixed don't waste your time at Tennou or lame Cafe Zen just come to Daiwa. My favorite are kimchi roll as I always order this as my app also kimchi udon to cure my spicy butts. My son favorite is scallop fried rice but here is the thing The fried rice is inconsistent sometimes they are too heavy on sugar but everything else makes up for it. Cowboy rolls and avocado roll are pretty good. Staffs are very sweet. This is my favorite japanese restaurant and will recommend to families and friends
(5)
Ryanne A.

It is very rare for me to find a great sushi restaurant but with both the friendly staff & delicious, fresh food, I certainly have found what I have been looking for. I live uptown with many places to choose from but to be quite honest, I would happily travel to the westbank just for this lovely find. The portions for the three rolls we chose were perfect (as in, we brought home leftovers). The service gave my date & I the perfect amount of alone time as well as attention. Considering I used to work in the service industry, I know how difficult it can be when it's the end of the night and not many customers are there (and you're about to close), but thank you so much!!! I can only imagine my other visits will be just as fantastic!
(5)
Lisa P.

Best on the westbank! Everything is delicious and I love that you can get brown rice in the hibachi rice!
(5)
Hanna H.

BEST SUSHI EVER !!! crunchy roll is awesome. but my favorite part is the service! they're always so nice! they always ask how my days going. they're very polite and caring. def my fav sushi place I've ever been to:) love Daiwa
(5)
Kathee T.

We came pretty late to closing but there were a good group of people dining in and it seemed like the karaoke rooms was where the turn up was too real. Maybe it was because we came in late, but the sushi rolls were a turn off for me because they weren't rolled tight at all. BUT the sashimi and poke tuna salad was amazinggg. The sashimi tasted so fresh it was almost as soft as butter. Also, please do not leave until you have tried the kim chi udon. Overall, good vibes and a menu with a lot of variety and pretty cheap prices compared to some of the other sushi places I have been.
(4)
Yifei W.

Discrimination!!! Racism!!! Me and my two girl friends went there last week supposedly to celebrate Chinese New Year. We arrived there at lunch time and asked for a karaoke room. We were told to wait 20-25 mins for them to set up the room. We waited for over 50 mins watching all other customers waiting and being led to their tables. I couldn't wait any longer cuz I was starving. So I went to the front and asked what's going on. One waitress told me we needed to make reservation for the karaoke room which they didn't tell us at all when we got there. I told them we already waited almost an hour instead of 25 mins and we were very hungry. She ignored my words at all just kept saying about the reservation thing and showing me the price of karaoke room sounded like we couldn't afford it. We asked her to stop explaining these things we already been told and please tell us when they can open a room for us. Finally she agreed to take us to the karaoke room which seemed set up already. After we got into the room, her attitude changed completely saying "you know what, I'm doing you a favor. If you don't like, you can leave." Are you kidding me? This is your JOB! We're still willing to pay for it even you ignored us for an hour because we still want to have fun. Then she said "OMG you Chinese are crazy!!!......" Then she went out, opened the restaurant's door. Everyone in the restaurant looked at us with a weird look. We went out the restaurant with embarrassment. We wanted to fight back but seemed like we couldn't do anything there because we were minority, we were poor international students. This is their service. From the beginning to the end, we didn't see any smile on her face. We didn't hear any apology from them. Btw she is an Asian too. She speaks Chinese too. It was my very first time being discriminated. I don't think I will ever go back to that place again.
(1)
Katherine Z.

The waitress with short hair is discrimination and kept us waiting for a long time!!! All people came at the same time with us have already finished meal! There were no one apologize and lead us to room after keeping us an hour. She is so rude and explained a lot of nonsense and conflicted words. Finally she drived us to leave! What the fuck! She ruined our Mardi Gras Day!
(1)
Bridget W.

This place is overrated. I dont care that your decor is trendy and your menu is big. If your server gives me a puzzled look like a dog I said "lets go for a walk" to when I ask about the hamachi and I need to actually explain to her what hamachi is I lose some serious confidence in this restaurant. Quite frankly if I had been the one that drove I would have gotten up and left as this all too well reminds me of the sushi joints in California that are run by Koreans and not Japanese and you end up with "fusioned" sushi that is second rate. So since I didnt drive and pick this place and my friends (originally from California) did and swore to me when they saw my face after the confused server left our table that the sushi was good, I made the best of it. And to be honest it wasnt bad. But it wasnt great either. Just so-so. The service was ridiculous by California standards, but hey this is Louisiana, so to them this is normal to take 15 minutes to get a cup of miso soup. LOL So instead of the 2 stars I would give this place if it was in California... they get 3 because they are in Louisiana.
(3)
Ivan B.

WHATA WHATA THIS PLACE IS AWESOME! I went to lunch with my friend and sushi was the item of the day, which led to a little drive to Daiwa. I have never heard of this place before and I rarely spend time wandering the WestBank. This place is a little hidden corner of a random shopping center so it might be tricky to spot out. This makes for a great parking lot though. When I came it was around lunchtime and not very busy. We were seated right away and handed the menu. Boy oh boy this menu is huge! They have so many combinations of sushi with various maki, temaki, and nigiri. It is also great because many of the items have pictures to accompany them which will definitely want you craving every little thing. I had no clue what to order so I just went off of waitress recommendation. In the end we tried the Baked Green Mussels first. Though it is only 4 little pieces, eat bite was loaded with flavor and a great sauce for the mussel. I was not too hungry so I only ordered the Tsurai Special. Delicious Spicy Tuna that filled me up well! I can't remember the name of the roll my friend ordered, but I enjoyed that as well. Daiwa has a nice and chill ambience for a little date. An added thing that I liked was that they play K-POP music in the background! I can totally be jamming to my songs while eating here. One other thing is that this place has Karaoke rooms in the back for private parties. While I probably won't be using any of those anytime soon, each theme for the rooms looked pretty cool. They have some price specials based on the party size and it seemed reasonable. So whether you get takeout, go on a little date, or party it up, try Daiwa for a little sushi getaway.
(4)
Maria E.

This place is amazing. We been searching for a sushi place that is similar to our favorite sushi restaurant back in Cali and this place is close!!! I love the fact that they also have a karaoke rooms that you can rent out. Sushi is amazing. Food is amazing!!! You have to try the Wasabi Almond Shrimp!!! Restaurant is super clean. Nice people. The only bad thing I would say is that we ended up having a waitress who doesnt eat seafood and couldn't really tell or explain to us what it is. It's a sushi restaurant.... Maybe have people who eat seafood work there. Oh and military discount too.
(5)
Francis N.

Great restaurant and food and lol about the "poor international student" you guys are funny. Scroll down to read more
(5)
Erin F.

this is easily the best sushi i've tried so far. i get the lapalco rolls, which are pretty simple, but delicious. my boyfriend loves the fryers deluxe roll and the Hiroshima oyster roll (forgive me if the spelling is off). that tends to be our regular order here, and we enjoy it every time, while occasionally branching out to try new things. i can also recommend their fema roll, the poboy roll, and their spicy city roll in good faith. they have a huge menu, so there are plenty of things to try, and that means something for everyone too. the prices go from fair and average to a bit expensive, depending on what you get of course. i'd say it averages out to be about $15 per person. the staff is wonderful. the ladies there are so incredibly sweet and give you a personal experience, even if you're just picking up a to-go order. all in all, i couldn't be happier with this place. i have to thank yelp and previous commenters for leading me there. :)
(5)
Kayla H.

I LOVE Daiwa! Every time I go in there the service is fast and friendly. The sushi is also amazing. So far it's my favorite sushi place on the Westbank. I usually get the Clear Soup, California roll, Snow crab roll, Chicken yakatori which is really good. The sushi itself compared to other places has more of the filling and less rice. Other places give you just a little bit of what you asked for and tons of rice but I've always been satisfied with their sushi. It's also very clean and sanitary there.
(5)
Brooke N.

Daiwa is my favorite sushi joint in the Westbank. My favorites are: Ceviche Salad, Peppered Tuna with fresh wasabi, tuna sashimi, Kimchee Udon, and the Australian Lobster Roll I believe it's called. Price reasonable, casual dining, and the staffs are very friendly.
(4)
Anna T.

This place isn't bad. You can tell the food are fresh thank god. My favorite roll is the cowboy roll because I just love beef. I wish the beef on top was slice thicker, it's too thin. Anyways and I ordered the beef tataki (idk how to spell) haha, it was good but I wish it came with lettuce underneath like the other places that comes with it. Instead it came with onions. I also ordered the kimchi udon which it's not really that special, just udon with taste of kimchi spice in it. On to the dessert, I was craving for fried cheesecake and red bean ice cream. Not good at all. I don't know what batter they used to deep fried my cheesecake but it's disgusting. But I still gave this place a 4 star because their food are fresh I give them that.
(4)
Jessica N.

Hands down my favorite sushi place in New Orleans! Almost everything I've tried on the menu is delicious. And speaking of the menu, it's very extensive for a sushi place with a huge variety of both sushi and hot food items aimed to please any palate. My favorites are their Australian lobster tail roll, Cowboy roll, Poboy roll, No Name roll, salmon and yogurt roll... Actually I have so many favorites that I can't even name them all. On the hot food, I also really like their hibachi fried rice and appetizers like the scallops, beef negi maki, beef tataki and kimchi seafood udon. Their portions are on the large side. It's very cute inside and the service is always on point. I eat here at least twice a month and I'm always happy and full when I leave. In fact, my boyfriend refuses to go to any other sushi place in the city because he knows it won't be Daiwa and he would be disappointed lol. If I could give them more than 5 stars, I would.
(5)
Nicole Y.

This is my favorite sushi place ever! The food is always fresh and always taste amazing! The Cowboy Roll is my favorite roll a must try on the menu!! I will forever keep coming back here to eat!
(5)
Joey M.

Great food. The cowboy roll is great but eat it first beef and crawfish very tasty but not sushi. Great roll to break someone in.
(5)
Amy T.

Sushi came out pretty quickly. There's a very friendly staff. They have a pretty extensive menu and everything ordered was very good. I liked the work out roll, southern belle, and two face. I do believe the kim chi udon noodles are good though (my boyfriend gets this every time). It's super spicy at times, and other times just a little spicy. The best thing was the drink that I ordered: the milky green tea. It was like a green tea shake!! Topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with powdered green tea. Best green tea beverage ever. Any time I pass by I would have to order at least the drink to go!! I've gone a few times and no particular dish or roll is something that I must have or go back for. Nothing memorable. It is the preferred sushi place for me if I'm around the Marrero area, but not my favorite of the Westbank.
(3)
Brandon L.

My family and friends have frequented this restaurant on numerous occasions and have yet to be disappointed. What I like best is the variety of non-sushi items on their menu. Their is a kind of noodle soup, which that may well be the name, that my 3-year old loved. I have also heard that if you spend 150 on sushi, they comp your party a karaoke room.
(5)
Audrey H.

The menu might be a little too big. Sushi is too good for me to care.
(5)
Clemente C.

This place is great. We went in tonight (Valentine's Day) and even though they knew they were going to be slammed they didn't mind that we had a 2.5 hour extended dinner and were ordering rolls 2 at a time. It's already been stated that the place has good food, so I'm not going to bring that up. It's one of my favorite spots to go get sushi from because of this, I'd be willing to put up with surly waitstaff for this kind of food. They do have a great wait staff too though, so this is the best of both worlds, and it's tucked away in a little strip mall in Marrero of all places.
(4)
Jovan H.

Usually every sushi place is about the same. They have the same rolls just with different names, they have the same drinks, and same food but somehow Daiwa is absolutely different in every sense. The food is better here than anywhere else I've been in New Orleans. The food is always fresh and never changing. You know exactly what you're gonna get when you order a roll from them because everyone makes their rolls the same exact way. It's never changing. The atmosphere is very nice with the Asian decor, and it's always quiet enough to have an intimate evening with your loved one or to have fun with some friends or family that come out to eat with you. But you really have to try the food. The cowboy roll, the appetizers, and the fried rice of course! That's always what I get and if you are into trying new things, this is the place to do that. You will never be disappointed and if you are they will take whatever you got back, (WITHIN REASON) and try to rectify the situation. Did I mention how nice the servers and staff are? I used to come here with my girlfriend all the time and they know us by name now. They know what we want to order or tell us about the specials or the new things on the menu. Talk about A++ service across the board. Also you should check out the karaoke rooms. Perfect place to have a nice party with friends singing drinking and eating the best sushi in New Orleans.
(5)
Sophia H.

This is a great spot on the West Bank for sushi. I'm pregnant and I was craving for sushi so I ordered cooked sushi. Haha I love the atmosphere and decorations are beautiful. I'll be back for sure.
(4)
Olivia D.

Daiwa is, hands down, the best sushi restaurant in New Orleans. The quality of the fish, the creativity of the menu, and the service from Ken and his staff are unparalleled. I have eaten at Kanno, Ninja, Rock-N-Sake, Mikimoto, all of the Sake Cafes, Shogun (recently did a chef's tasting), and all the other notable Japanese restaurants in NOLA, and Daiwa is not only the best food but the best value in town. I am so passionate about this restaurant that I have brought friends from NYC and L.A. here, and they have specifically asked to return on subsequent visits to NOLA. I happily make the drive to the WBank every time I have a craving. Must order: sea salt white fish sashimi, tuna sashimi with fresh wasabi, golden gulf roll, seafood kimchee udon (extra noodles if with a big group). Other stand outs: squid salad, poke tuna salad, ceviche salad, escolar roll, tsurai roll, cowboy roll, special yellowtail sushi, hamachi kama, anything with escolar, and anything Ken recommends.
(5)
Sara J.

The rolls are huge. Even the regular rolls are a lot of food. Servers are very friendly and food is hot and served promptly. Excellent rolls!!
(4)
Ronnie P.

I've had sushi everywhere around the city and even worked at a sushi restaurant and it doesn't get better than daiwa! This place opened my senior year of high school and became a regular visit for my friends and I , years later the food quality has only improved as the atmosphere is perfect! I make the drive from Kenner just for daiwa
(5)
Jeremy H.

We shared a ton of food. Cowboy roll was just ok, I have had better cowboy rolls but it was still good. We also ordered the po-boy roll. This is my new favorite sushi roll, delicious. We got more, but I don't remember exactly what. And then we got the mochi ice cream balls for dessert. The strawberry was delicious.
(5)
Matt V.

Great food. Spicy udon noodles were amazing. The kareoke part of the restaurant was a lot of fun. The kareoke machine has a little bit of a learning curve - but once you get it, it is no problem. If you are coming from new orleans, don't let the drive hold you back. Definitely worth the trip.
(5)
Nancy N.

I've been to numerous sushi places and this is my absolute favorite. The environment is kinda loud but that's only because it's a popular place to go to. I highly encourage ordering the spicy kimchi udon and fryer's deluxe roll. Oh, and don't forget about dessert! I highly recommend the mango mocha ice cream. Yum!!
(5)
Sandy M.

This is my number one sushi place to go whenever i want sushi. Their sushi is delicious!! I've been here a few times now and they never ever disappoint me. Today i went with my husband and we went a little early before dinner time. It was quiet and nice. We ordered some oysters, squid salad, po-boy rolls, and cow boy rolls. Cow boy rolls is my favorite rolls. Everything we ordered were absolutely delicious! The best sushi ever! Highly recommend this place!
(5)
Kim-Thao H.

I've been holding off on writing this review, but I'm not exactly sure why...maybe because I don't eat sushi as frequently as I used to? Possibly. But anyways, Daiwa is a pretty solid sushi joint, especially on the West Bank. It's near my home so that's always a plus. If I wanted to get a quick sushi fix near home, it would be here or Tennou. First off, this place is located in a strip mall by French Riviera Fitness, so it might be easy to miss. Upon walking in, I was able to appreciate the delicate decor and set up. The staff is also friendly and always gives suggestions on what to get on the menu. I've been here a few times, so here are a couple of my favorites: Kim Chi Yaki Udon- Can get pretty spicy after a few bites, so it's not recommended if you can't eat spicy. But if you can, these noodles are GOOD! Great flavor, and perfect amount of spice for someone like me. I like it HOT! ;) Mango Salmon Special Roll- I tend to always get rolls with mango and salmon; I just loveee the combination, because it's always so light and refreshing. It comes with shrimp tempura for a nice crunch in the roll. The sauces also complement the roll well. Two-face Roll- This roll comes with tuna AND salmon! AWESOME! It also has a very light dot of a wasabi like sauce on top, which is not overwhelming at all! So it does go well with the roll, as well as the other sauces. Cowboy roll- Perfect for those who don't like raw and want their fix of beef! I love the tender slice of steak that's placed on top. It really gives you that beef satisfaction that you may crave. Also I am a big fan of beef tataki, just not from here. If I were you, get this roll instead. The beef tataki here isn't satisfying and isn't sliced thin enough. They also give you a very small portion. The one thing I do love about this restaurant is that they offer a large variety of different rolls to try from. Very different compared to other sushi joints around the area. Whether they're good or not, I do not yet know, but yes I have tried a few that I did not like. I do look forward to trying a couple other things on the menu including the ceviche salad and a good bit of the other rolls. Daiwa is definitely a winner and I will be a returning customer.
(4)
Peter N.

Very nice atmosphere. But wished it's service and food matched it. First of all. Our server was horrible.. She once came to our table to clear it, she took an undone salad from our table and left a finished plate back.. Food over all was not satisfying, a lot of there rolls are full of mayo, which made the rolls look more full than it really was.. Their fish did not taste fresh, probably will not be a second time. Save your time and make a little extra trip to somewhere else that you know that will satisfy you.
(3)
Godwin C.

Dear Sushi Lovers, Are you tired of the same old sushi rolls and played-out flavors that you get at EVERY SUSHI RESTAURANT in New Orleans? Fed up with how every special roll is just borrowed from a competitor? Frustrated by the seeming lack of creativity and daring? The answer to ALL (well, I guess I should probably say MANY) of your sushi problems can be found at Daiwa. THE GOOD It's Not The Same Food: You ever notice how specialty roll names at various sushi restaurants all seem the same in this city? Burning Man Roll, Causeway Roll, Metairie Roll, Bye Bye Katrina Roll, Uptown Roll, Utah Roll, Margarita Roll...the list is endless and exhausting. The rolls aren't all bad - on the contrary, some of them can be quite tasty as long as they aren't oversauced - but it just gets real old, real fast when you keep seeing the same menu items at every place, like they aren't even the slightest bit ashamed that they're overtly "borrowing" rolls from each other. The simple fact that the rolls at Daiwa are DIFFERENT make it worth the trip. Even if they never change their menu again for the rest of their existence, they will always stand out in the sparse New Orleans sushi scene because they aren't just copying everyone else. Oh yeah, and if you must get those New Orleans rolls, they make those too. Although why you would at this place is beyond me. It's Different AND Creative Food: Do I mean creative in the realm of all things sushi? Probably not. Do I mean more creative and daring than anything else in New Orleans? Most certainly yes. Just take a gander at the Special Menu on their website and you can see that they put effort in designing interesting rolls and sushi-based items. In reality, the daring part of their food can be summed up with one item: Salmon Yogurt Roll. You might not like that particular one, but you gotta admit they had some moxie to put it on their menu. Their Different/Creative Stuff Is DELICIOUS: So we've established that simply being different makes it worth a trip. We've established that their food carries a bit of creativity and daring. As a bonus, their food also happens to be awesome! I generally do not eat rolls at sushi places anymore, but I have enjoyed all of the original rolls at Daiwa. There is a true BALANCE in flavors, something sorely lacking in most New Orleans sushi places. Nothing comes oversauced or overstuffed with too much rice. Fish and accompaniments are proportioned properly. Flavors make sense (well, the Salmon Yogurt Roll is the odd one out on that statement. Again, moxie). Kitchen food is delicious too, with my personal favorite being the Baked Scallop With Garlic Butter Sauce on the Special Menu. Most certainly simple flavors - if I bought scallops on the regular, I could probably make this - but it doesn't take away from the fact that they cook the scallops right each time and make it a great-tasting dish. THE BAD Location: Good for Westbank people, bad for Godwin. Why oh why does it have to be so "far" away from Uptown? The closeness of everything in New Orleans has completely ruined me in judging distance now... PURGATORY Salmon Yogurt Roll: I get it, Chef Ken. Dessert in a sushi roll. Good idea. Nice try. I'm just never going to get used to that flavor-and-texture jigsaw puzzle. If you haven't tried it, give it a shot. Who knows, you might appreciate and understand it better than myself. It's still on the menu for a reason. OVERALL I know this review might just seem like an extended bash of New Orleans sushi in general, but I swear it's not. There are still places in New Orleans that I like and appreciate: Kyoto, Mikimoto, Hana...it's just a person gets tired of repetition and needs a change-up. Daiwa is it and beyond. Well worth the trip, well worth the time. If you are a hardcore fan of New Orleans standard rolls, let go of your biases and give Daiwa a try. If you want different AND tasty, need I say more?
(5)
Aleatha M.

Yup it's the best!!!! Service fabulous! Prices good. Clean restrooms. Nice decor. The baked scallops yummy. Mussels yummy. Lobster roll? Good god that's good. Cowboy roll? Good. What a variety of rolls and sashimi. The 5 of us that ate here loved it. No complaints. Is it the best in this area? Try it for yourself and see. So happy it's on the west bank ! ;)
(5)
Paul N.

My first time at Daiwa was last night for a birthday get together. Daiwa is a restaurant, but also had karaoke rooms for different size groups. I think you had to reserve in advance for the karaoke room. We did and had to put $50 for deposit, which wasn't a problem. First, let's talk about the food. It's a food joint after all. We ordered a wide range of food because it was a large group. Personally, I think sushi were average there. It's nothing to write home about. There weren't anything that I felt like I couldn't get anywhere else, especially there is so many sushi and Asian fusion joints nowadays. Second, of course, service...Daiwa has multiple karaoke rooms available, so I would figure that they should be staffed for large groups. There were different size rooms, and we reserved the large room, which comfortably seats 40 people. We had probably 25-30 people at one time, but there were only one waitress all night. She was so slow. Drinks came out slowly and food was a couple plates at a time. She was doing her best to keep up, but she clearly was running behind. Third, karaoke....the main reason why we booked this place. Sounds and TVs were good....no complaint, but the limited selection of songs. It seems to have more songs in Chinese than English. I could argue if there were more Japanese because it is a sushi place, but nope....Chinese songs and older English songs. We made it work, and enjoyed ourselves because it's karaoke after all. Lastly, the cost/price - as of food and drinks, Daiwa is comparable to other sushi places. However, Daiwa continues to push us to increase or tab by raising their "minimum" spend required. When we reserved that large karaoke room, we were told that we had to put a $50 deposit, and we will get it back if we spend $350 or more on our tab. If not, they will charge us for the room, which we agreed and thought if was fair for that size room. However, when it was getting close to the end of the night. The waitress said that we need to spend $59 more to meet the minimum. We asked for detailed receipt and it was over $600 already, so why do we have to spend more? Waitress said that since we had that many people the "minimum" spend went up. First, there are different size rooms for a reason and we reserved a large room for a reason. Again, the large room seats 40 people comfortably, so shouldn't Daiwa expect the room to seat 40 people. Furthermore, Daiwa told us that the "minimum" was $350, so why is it different now? Btw, it turned out that we were the one room rented that night and they were slow....is that a factor? I don't know but I do know that a sliding minimum scale is shady and not a way to run a business. Of course, I asked for the policy, and they didn't have it. Guess what? Our words against theirs....we didn't gave a problem with the $600+ tab but it's the principle that Daiwa's waitress wants us to spend more by threatening us that she will have to charge us the room fee. Keep in mind that she gets 20% tip because it's a large group. We just paid and thought it was shady with the "minimum" spend required kept changing throughout the night. Just a suggestion to get it in writing from them. We will not return to Daiwa. I don't like shady business like this.
(1)
Salli P.

best place to get sushi on the west bank =] its nicely decorated and completely affordable. daiwa is one of my favorite places to dine out.
(5)
Marielle S.

First things first. You may be wondering, "Where the heck is this place?" Well, I had no issue finding it, since I live on the Westbank, but in case you don't, here are some landmarks. First go to Lapalco past Barataria. You will see a Pizza Hut, then a shopping center, then a Ryan's. Daiwa is in the shopping center, in the far corner. For those on the Westbank, it's in the shopping center right across the street from the Red, White, and Blue thrift store. I included a pic of the outside of the place. Ok, now onto the place itself. After hearing tons of good things from Jen L., and other fellow yelpers, and being a huge sushi lover, I decided to try this place out. It only opened a few months ago, and from what I understand, it has some ties to Hana, which is located Uptown. For those not aware, Hana is my GO TO for sushi 95% of the time. I couldn't wait to try out what I had been referring to as "Westbank Hana". Walking in, like others, I was immediately impressed with the decor. Sure, it still had that "restaurant in a shopping complex" kind of feel, but I think that they did a good job with decorating it and giving it that authentic Japanese look. The menu of this place is HUGE. They go far beyond rolls, sashimi, sushi and the other basics. They have a whole eclectic choice of things, all at reasonable prices. Be sure to check out the menu on their website, to see what I'm talking about. Since it was my first time, I decided to keep it simple with a tuna roll, a Philly roll, and a Metairie roll. You can check out how it all looked, in my picture. It was so good. I would definitely say that it's as good as Hana, or any other sushi place on the Westbank. Also, the waiter was really nice and attentive and was sure to keep my water filled, which is a biggie with me. I can't wait to go back and try some of their other speciality rolls and dishes.
(4)
Kristy J.

The smelt roe and crab meat salad was awesome. I dined in but It was so good I had to order one to go!! The soft shell crab roll is awesome as well. I finished everything off with a glass of imported plum wine. I'll be back for sure.
(5)
Carol D.

I am not a sushi fan whatsoever but daiwa changed everything for me. I now LOVE sushi, but only at daiwa! they aren't afraid to get creative and combine unlikely ingredients. kimchi udon, scallop habichi rice, cowboy roll and the scallops is a must here! I always leave here overly stuffed and incredibly satisfied!
(5)
Sharon S.

This is "THE PLACE" for Sushi. We love Daiwa. They make everything fresh. We used to leave the gym and walk straight to Daiwa. Sometimes we'd pull up to the gym & instead of working out we would just go for Sushi. Best out of the two if you ask me. We always order a Snow Crab salad which his a huge lump of crab, alvocado slices on top & Roe. I love the fishy eggs. Then we switch up the Sushi rolls. We've had the Marrero, Fema, Kenner, Tiger, Katrina, Sashimi Naruto, Lapalco. Good, good, good and all good. Service is excellant! They now have party rooms with Kareoke. Woo Woo!!! You can Sushi and party
(5)
Mary T.

Daiwa is THE best sushi restaurant on the west bank...even better than majority of sushi places in nola. Service is always outstanding, food and sushi are amazing and the atmosphere is great.
(5)
Kim-Mi V.

Daiwa is one of the best sushi restaurants on the West Bank. To be honest, I did not like Daiwa at all the first time i dined here. I decided to give it another shot, and I'm glad I did! Their menu could be a little overwhelming, but it's fun. It's a good place to bring someone that doesn't had too much "sushi experience" because there are pictures all of menus to aid them! Downside: I haven't had any rolls that impressed me yet. I've tried the Smoked Salmon Mango roll, which is good, but this could be found at Zen's (also on the West Bank) or Hana's (Uptown) Favorite things to order Kimchee Udon - it's a little spicy Cerviche Salad Sashimi Pizza Things I didn't care for Tempora Udon Soup - the strangest tasting udon soup I've ever had
(3)
Amelia T.

My love for this sushi restaurant is immense. I fell in love with their seafood yaki udon (mouth-gasm oh my gosh). Their po-boy roll, rainbow roll, escolar roll, squid steak, and tiger roll are very delicious. The raw fish are very fresh, especially their #1 tuna. And then comes the green tea tempura ice cream... this dessert is a must-get whenever you dine in at Daiwa. I cannot express how much I love eating here over any other sushi restaurants in the Westbank; their seafood yaki udon and green tea tempura ice cream are what you'll forever crave for the most after you once try it. The service is also pretty great, and their karaoke rooms are so cute! The ambience of this restaurant is very relaxing and casual.
(5)
Bryan S.

Great Private rooms for parties . They kept the food and drinks flowing for our group of 30! No Complaints at all & loved how each Karaoke room is uniquely decorated (Hello Kitty Room, Purple Room, Etc)! Highly Recommend.
(5)
Deborah F.

Grest sushi rolls. Enjoyed it.
(4)
Deborah F.

Grest sushi rolls. Enjoyed it.
(4)
Ann N.

One of my most favorite sushi place to eat! Don't let the location fool you. Restaurant might seem small and located in a corner by the dollar store. They actually have really great food and beautiful decor inside. I come here at least once a week. Sashimi always fresh and thick. Rolls are decent size and delicious. Service are top notch. Can't really find any fault with this place. Great quality food at a reasonable price. Servers are prompt and attentive. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Big Baby D.

Phenomenal is an understatement. The hands down best sushi on the Westbank. It's unfortunate that its location makes it difficult to spot from the road, but the reviewer Marielle S. does a great job of explaining the LOCATION (below my review). COMPARISONS: Once you're here, you're welcome to indulge in the finest sushi the Westbank has to offer. Daiwa certainly outdoes a majority of the sushi I've eaten on the East Bank. Daiwa is on par with or better than Mikimoto (on par regarding cost and better than regarding quality), Daiwa far exceeds that which I've had at Shogun, and Daiwa is on par with or better than Little Tokyo on Carrollton. AMBIANCE and SERVICE: Now that we've established some comparisons to local favorites, let's talk about atmosphere and service. The place is exceptionally clean (almost sterile) and the atmosphere is soothing. There are times when it gets noisy, but for the most part, when the place isn't packed, it's rather low key. The wait staff literally hovers over you attending to your every need. It is not uncommon to have have a member of the wait staff offer to refill your drinks or assist you even though they are not dedicated to working your table. It's not that it's necessary, it's just that management has clearly ingratiated the idea that everyone is there to ensure that every customer is satisfied. This is a remarkable experience for the Westbank in general, and it's exceptional compared to most places I've had sushi on the Westbank (name it and I've at least tried it once). The FOOD: Daiwa serves up some of the best Japanese cuisine I've had in the city. Beyond offering great Japanese, they do a great job of executing dishes that would cross into the realm of Asian Fusion. There are literally about 5 different menus, and I was informed tonight that a new menu is on the way which will replace some of the existing menus (I don't think any items are going away, but even more items will be added). The nigiri sushi (pieces) is of the highest quality and never disappoints. The maki (rolls) sushi is available in a dizzying selection. Literally astounding how many different rolls they have available. The chef is also open to creating new rolls based upon your preference(s). Recommended Rolls: Westbank Hiroshima (if you like fried oyster) Sunrise (if you like fried oyster) TNT Sunset Daiwa Special Rock n' Roll FEMA (the only positive association I have w/ FEMA) Lapalco *Sushi Roll Special section of the menu - each roll averages less than $4.00 ea, awesome if you're on a budget. **Some of the special rolls are as low as $6.00, so it's tough to pass on them. Some go up to $13.95, but not every special roll is $10+, which is a refreshing change from several local sushi restaurants. Recommended Dishes (from the kitchen, which is exceptional): Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Tempura Hibachi Rice - Shrimp/Scallop/Eel - better than most I've had while dining Hibachi! Baked Scallop Nanami Chicken Nuggets Special Kimchee Octopus Salad Daiwa Special Scallop Recommended Desserts: Cheesecake Tempura Tempura Ice Cream Banana Tempura The QUALITY: The head sushi chef is always talking about his unyielding desire to purchase the highest quality of fish he can get his hands on, and it shows. He clearly scrutinizes Every purchase to ensure that the fish is excellent. Quality has never been compromised in any visit of mine (of which there have likely been well over a dozen since I found Daiwa in May). The Drinks: I celebrated my birthday here and was treated to a phenomenal Sake Martini, which I would highly recommend. I enjoyed several of them and my friends and I sampled sake which we all found to be very agreeable. If you're looking for a drink from their great selection of sakes or plum wines, they are delighted to assist you in selecting, and will even offer unique cocktails based on your tastes. If you can't be satisfied here, then you were looking for a bad experience. If you are ever, at any time unsatisfied with your experience, simply report it to the manager and they will go out of their way to ensure that you are satisfied. I was driven to write my review because I've spoken to people who wrote positive reviews and received an email from the owner thanking them. I called this to his attention while dining here tonight and he informed me that he responds to every post on Yelp to thank satisfied customers and to attempt to rectify any issues with dissatisfied customers. I was positively shocked by this ideology this day in age and the last thing I would like to see is for this place to fail, so show your support for something truly wonderful and positive on the "Wank." Support Daiwa - at least give it a chance, and then give it a Yelp!
(5)
Dorothy Y.

Willing to go out of your way for good eats? Of course you do; you're reading Yelp. Head to the West Bank and check out Daiwa! This new Japanese restaurant opened last month and is already gaining popularity by word of mouth. You might recognize sushi chef and owner Ken Wong from behind the bar at Hana and various Little Tokyo locations, most recently LT Uptown (with me! The funnest and second-clumsiest server they've ever had). Named after the famous Daiwa Sushi restaurant in Tsukiji, Japan, Daiwa serves well-priced sushi rolls, lunch and dinner specials, and a smattering of chef specialties and yakitori. A group of my former Little Tokyo Uptown co-workers and I headed over this week to support our friend's new venture and both stomachs and wallets appreciated the endeavor. I don't have good pictures of the interiors, but it is brightly lit (which I personally like, as it makes for better photography), with a hand painted cherry branch mural on the wall and Ikea orb lanterns dangling throughout. The following dishes were split among the 5 of us and filled us all up nicely. Full disclosure: We paid for everything at full-price, no discount, except the complimentary dessert and small-dish sample of glass noodles. Onto the food! Squid steak: I enjoyed the legs most because I like my calamari charred and crisp. Only complaint, I wish the onions had come cooked or carmelized, as they didn't have enough time on the iron platter . Baked mussels: Standardly flavored with salmon roe and cream, the chopped pieces of mussels added a nice chew to the sweet sauce. Agedashi tofu: One of my favorite dishes from Japanese restaurants anywhere, these blocks of tender yet firm tofu are lightly battered and fried, then topped with bonito flakes and chives, served with soy sauce. Nummy nummy! Cowboy roll: crawfish inside, seared rare steak on the outside - Here is the first of the specialty rolls we tried, the Cowboy Roll. I personally don't like crawfish in my sushi, but I appreciated it's slight spice as contrasted with the delicious, lightly seared beef. Salmon yogurt roll: Raw salmon, shrimp tempura, salad greens wrapped in Vietnamese rice paper, topped with sweet/tangy yogurt sauce. No rice. - I didn't think I would like this because sweet foods bother me so it was a nice surprise. This was more like goi cuon (Vietnamese spring roll) than a traditional sushi roll. The fresh salad greens with crispy shrimp and supple raw salmon, flavored only slightly with the sweet yogurt sauce, mixed yummily in my mouth. I hate sauce-doused sushi (like so many places in the NOLA do); a light drizzle works perfectly for me. Sample of a new dish: glass noodles and kimchi. - While waiting for our next dish, Ken brought out a small sample of a new dish: spicy kimchi glass noodles with chilled cucumber. It reminds me of childhood cold noodle dishes that you buy on the street in Taiwan. Fun note: glass noodles are made with mung beans so they have absolutely no carbohydrates. Kimchi and hamachi roll - I didn't try this because I didn't want to. I mean, I like hamachi as sashimi; I'm just not a big fan of like spicy tuna-like preparations. Looked good though, especially if you like kimchi. BBQ eel hibachi rice - I was feeling hungry and wanted rice to fill up at this point, so Ken recommended this dish. Probably one of the best hibachi rices I've ever had, with the fatty and meaty eel morsels counterpointing the rice. Negimaki: Thinly sliced rare beef wrapped around green onion and grilled - Another yakitori dish of grilled beef and green onion. I could probably eat like 3 plates of this. Salmon salad - Didn't eat the salad, it was pretty much romaine lettuce with raw salmon diced on top. It looked very nice. Tofu pudding, topped with strawberry, peach, and blueberry - Last, we enjoyed a dessert of almond tofu jello pudding. A little firmer than flan, slightly saccharine, and topped with fruit and drizzled with chocolate sauce, this was a fitting end. We actually couldn't finish all of them. Daiwa's location is a little ways out there but I think it's worth making the West Bank Field Trip for. There are so many dishes I want to try. Can I also mention that they have a full bento box lunch special for $8?
(4)
Jen L.

I wandered over to the Wank this evening to check out Daiwa as they are one of the Wednesday participants in Sushi for Sendai. And I think we'll be making that trek again. Every roll and each piece of sushi was beautifully presented. The chef's knife skills were particularly noticeable on the vegetable roll with each piece of cucumber looking identical to the other. Amazing. The crispy tofu was the lightest and freshest version of that dish that I've ever had. The salmon mango roll was delicious and different; the rice paper roll was beautiful. Plus they have inari which I LOVE and it's always on the menu. The fish was all fresh and delicious. And the service was attentive to the point of funny. When the staff found out we lived uptown, they were amazed that we drove over the bridge. The owner even recognized E from when he used to eat lunch weekly at Hana. Crazy.
(4)
Kahne Lynn R.

I know a lot of people love this place, but my husband and I were far from impressed. We eat a lot if sushi. We tried to count at one point and we stopped around 20 restaurants or so. And when we go to eat sushi, we eat sushi. Not the other menu items, so please note this review is for the rolls, service and atmosphere only. Atmosphere: Some if the hardest, most uncomfortable benches I have ever sat on. And if the person in the booth behind you is moving please note that you're going to feel like you're trying to eat on a turbulent airplane. The lighting is bright and harsh. And I like k-pop as much as the next person, but if it is loud to the point I have to shout at my husband across the table, it's too loud. And it's a sushi restaurant, not a bar, there is no need for flat screens everywhere, also with the volume on blast that competes with the music. Service: As my husband and I eat sushi about once a week, and this was the first time that we had eaten there, we like to study the menu. Our drink order was taken and the waiter returned almost immediately with the drinks. He asked for our order and we told him to give us five minutes, however instead of attending to other customers, he sat down at an empty table right next to us and stared. After about two minutes he got back up and asked us if we were ready, we told him no. He sat down next to us again. There were multiple empty tables, there was no need to stare us down, there wasn't a line of people. There was no need to rush us. We placed our order and the food was brought out. Then we were summarily dismissed. Our drinks were not even refilled once. We tried to flag waiters down and were ignored. The only time he came by again was to drop off the bill. In short, rude, inattentive and impatient. The food: lackluster at best. They put "spring mix" (aka soggy colorful nasty tasting lettuce) that watered down the flavor of everything. We started picking it out of the rolls so we could taste something besides lettuce. We literally filled up an entire salad plate with the stuff. The presentation was sloppy. Sushi should be beautiful to the eyes and palate. The rolls were not rolled tightly (they fell apart easily, which is a pain), overpowered with lettuce sticking out everywhere, cut unevenly, unrolling on the plate, and just piled on the plate with no presentation whatsoever. I love tuna, it should be beefy red, slightly chewy and have no odor at all and cut into big chunks. Once I removed all of the lettuce I was left with what looked like discarded pieces, pale pink, mushy in the mouth, smelling strongly of fish. I was afraid of getting ill (I even eat my steaks cold rare) so I didn't finish it. The miso was terribly bland with hardly any tofu or seaweed. Just broth and a ton of green onions. I adore miso and I was sorely disappointed. The only thing I really enjoyed was the iced green tea, but I drank it quickly trying to get the taste of the terrible food out of my mouth and was left wanting a refill that never came. Even the roe was strong smelling and mushy. I like my caviar to have a crunch. Long story short, even if this was an isolated incident, it was bad enough that we will not be returning. Thanks but no thanks.
(1)
Carla V.

Mmmmmm! Welcome to my favorite sushi spot on the Westbank! This was my second visit to Daiwa and I loved it - again! The service is very prompt and the minute you are seated, you will find a dish that has a compartment for your soy sauce, a linen napkin, wooden chopsticks, a sanitized wipe, a specialty menu and the sushi order form. These people are not playing around. It's all business and rightfully so. So here's the dish, literally. The Cowboy Roll; Lapalco Roll; Tsurai Roll (this one is the money shot if you like spicy!) and the Beef Negimaki rounded out our meal. My only disappointment/regret is that I did not eat more. I should have hallowed out my stomach to find room for more food. The rolls are perfectly made and do not fall apart easily, nor are they too big to digest in a swift, single bite. Every item on the menu is numbered, but it has no purpose for ordering, but rather answer the question, how much do they offer? One thing I was impressed with, bear with me as this keeps the standard low and is no reflection on Daiwa, was the the pictorial menu. The pictures made my mouth water and the rolls actually look identical to the pictures. The size of the restaurant is adequate and a fair noise level. There is contemporary music playing in the background but it's at a great volume unless other places that make you feel like you're in a club. Not that I am old, but rather easily distracted. Who doesn't like Usher, but then I suddenly wonder, am I here to eat or dance? This was a non issue for me at Daiwa because I was all over the sushi. If you don't have time to dine in, you will be happy to know that takeout is an option. Try it next time you're cruising down LaPalco Boulevard in the 70072...you won't believe that sushi this good is tucked away in this strip mall.
(4)
Sarah A.

The sushi here is superb! They are recently planning to expand so I'm worried that this may affect quality. I like my hole in the wall. I have enjoyed everything I ordered and can't wait to try more. The to go service is a breeze and the girl that takes the orders is super friendly. The inside is rather small but is nicely furnished and decorated.
(4)
Nana B.

The sushi here is great I could say it's the best on the west bank . They have a variety of special rolls which are delicious. Every time I go there I always try something new and it doesn't disappoint me.
(5)
Daniel M.

I gave Daiwa a shot after reading good reviews. It's tasty. Decor is nice. Service was fine. You know, it's...fine. I had sushi rolls: Tear Drop, Shrimp Tempura, Crunchy Dynamite. Prices were in line with most sushi places around here. $17 for all three rolls. The menu looked quite extensive. And, if I were on a date, I'd consider this place for the ambience. But I don't date much. Because of my...condition. Anyway, that's a story for another time.
(3)
Lauren H.

Best sushi in NOLA, not just the westbank (which it is also). The staff is always very helpful and nice. I love the ambiance and decor of the place, it is small but that doesn't bother me any. The Marrero Roll and the Spicy City Roll are must haves. Try Daiwa once, and you will never go back to any other sushi restaurant!!
(5)
Uyen V.

Kim chi udon and salmon tar tar. Nom nom nom. Sushi is decent.
(4)
Kelly L.

The first time I tried to locate them, I got lost twice! The place is so ducked off you'd probably get lost yourself. For a sushi restaurant, it is very inexpensive and very affordable! The decor is so pretty and the environment is very calm and welcoming. The waitress staffs are very nice, as for the food - I wasn't easily tempted. I would definitely recommend the Australian Lobster Roll. This is definitely my favorite! There is a piece of deep-fried lobster, crab meat, snow crab, and purple romaine lettuce. It's wrapped in soy paper and topped with smelt roe. One con about it is that they don't quite roll it tight enough. Baked Scallop: The baked scallops were very dull. It lacked flavoring. Obviously it wasn't seasoned because all I tasted was butter and garlic. But honestly, it's not too bad. Hiroshima Oyster Roll: This roll was actually good also. The only bad thing about it was that they had CHEESE in it. I think it might have been cheddar cheese. I'd recommend you order it without the cheese. Deep-fried Oysters: These oysters were very good! It's the same oysters inside the hiroshima oyster rolls. Only bad thing about it is that it's a little too greasy. Other than that it's great. The sauce it comes with is also very good. Any rolls with mango was a disappointment. The mangos tasted like jello. I don't even think it was real mango. It was probably preserved or something.
(3)
Jessica E.

Best Sushi on the westbank.
(5)
David C.

I am amazed at the reviews I am reading. This place was very forgettable. The rolls were lacking contrast, and were not executed the way they were described on the menu. There are dozens of better options in the city
(2)
Pam T.

Daiwa a a a. I love this place. their food is the best in the wank area decoration was so inspired I really love to give them five stars but they just need to work on their staffs. sometimes I feel like they don't see me!
(4)
Justin B.

Great space despite being in strip mall, decor contemporary and very clean. Creative rolls and salads. Very attentive and friendly staff though they assume new customers are inexperienced with sushi and over-explain a bit but that may very well be the case for most of their clientele. Could have done without Fox News playing on the mulit-screens but at least they were muted TVs
(4)
Tony T.

Looking for a really chilled or relaxing environment to dine in? Daiwa should be your one stop destination for sushi and enjoyment. The dÃ©cor is modern, friendly staff, and tasty food; what more can you ask for? The prices are more than reasonable. My favorite dish there would have to be the Hokkaido Chirashi or the Grilled Sushi Imperial because they consist of big portions of fish and it taste different than just ordinary sashimi; maybe because they use extremely fresh fish! Not only the sashimi is delectable, but the rolls are also well made such as the Southern Belle, TnT, Mango Salmon Special. Even the food from the kitchen is on par, but the concentration is more on the sushi bar. My only complaint is sometimes it gets really HOT; so I advise you to request a seat somewhere in the back. Other than that, I have never had any problem with this restaurant, so I don't think you would have any either.
(4)
Truc D.

I honestly don't see what's all the fuss about with this place. I've had better.
(2)
Tuvy N.

I like the variety of the menu and the interior of the restaurant. The fish tasted fresh and overall, I was satisfied with my meal. I had the Imperial grilled sashimi, Two Faced roll, the Gulf (?) Roll, and baked mussels. The Imperial grilled sashimi consists of a big portion of salmon, white tuna, scallop, and shrimp. I prefer my sashimi straight raw rather than grilled, but it wasn't bad. The Two Faced roll was recommended by the server and he said it's a popular dish. I enjoyed it also! I asked for sauce (wasabi and spicy mayo?) on the side since I can't eat anything wasabi-flavored. I originally ordered the Marine Roll which has scallops, but they ran out, so I ordered the Gulf (sorry I'm not sure if it's the name) Roll instead. I also enjoyed this roll. The baked mussels was nothing out of the ordinary. I use it as a topping for my sushi rolls. Service was kind of slow and the food seemed to take its time getting to our table, but it maybe because there was only one server during the lunch shift. I would eat here again to try the other dishes!
(3)
Rob D.

It is true this place seems to be in an odd location. However, once found, it certainly is worth the effort to go out of your way. I've eaten at many different Japanese places throughout the city and every time I find a favorite one, it is hard pressed to find another. Daiwa has surpassed my expectations on all levels. Their dÃ©cor is chic, fresh, and inviting. The menu is extensive and you will need some time to choose. They have several menus, including a colorful, picture spread of their selected rolls and specials. It will make your eyes bigger than your stomach. While contemplating your order, you can sit back at enjoy their variety of specialty cocktails, beer, or fine sakes. I particularly enjoy their sakes. The fixation I have about this place is the friendliness of the staff. Even at their busiest times, I felt like I was being waited on hand-and-foot. I've been here in a group of eight and the fast and friendly service was the same. They are always eager to please and readily available to offer you menu suggestions. While there, I met the owner and we pleasantly conversed for some time. The owner was indulgent about his menu offerings, as I discussed about other Japanese restaurants in the area. I was given superb samplings of the owner's recommendation on unique rolls and sakes, gratis! Needless to say, I was overly impressed and jubilant. This place is a wonderful place to eat, not only because of the deliciously fresh food but the gracious staff makes it a more pleasant dining experience. Only place to get exciting sushi in the West Bank!
(5)
Thuy A.

What a great little place. It's like a breath of fresh air for sushi on the westbank! The prices are super decent and the staff is friendly. I've been twice and have thoroughly enjoyed both visits. The Cowboy Roll and the Australian Lobster Roll were delectable and scrumptous. My husband and I ate every last piece. Another dish that is a must for everyone is the Kimchee Udon Noodles. YUM!!! It's spicy, sweet, and jam-packed with flavor!!!! The texture of the noodles and tuna and sauce worked really well together. I can't wait to go back!!!!=)
(5)
Tammy V.

If I was not from the West Bank, Daiwa would have been hard to find. It's tucked away in a shopping complex without much pizazz to draw in customers. BUT after eating there once, I had to come back. The decor of the restaurant is very trendy compared to the other Japanese restaurants in the vicinity. I've tried the ceviche salad. This dish is so cheap for all the fish you get in it. I also tried the Volcano Roll and the Dynamite Roll. Both rolls were good as well. Only complaint is that I found some fish bones in a piece of my Dynamite Roll. It wasn't a big deal for me, but would be a turn off for my other customers. My second time there, I tried the Kimchee Udon. It was fabulous! I would definitely recommend this to anyone who can take a little bit of heat. I also tried the Tsurai Roll. This roll was decent but lacked a few elements. Inside the roll was majority snowcrab and a tiny bit of spicy tuna. It was wrapped in soy paper and topped with a seared tuna, a dot of chili sauce, and a drizzle of some kind of sauce. Overall it was not my favorite. If I were to order it again, I would add cucumbers or something with a crunchy texture so the roll isn't so mushy when eaten.
(4)
Ellanzia W.

I like it the sushi is good. I was not a big fan of sushi before but now I want it all the time. I love their special crunchy roll. The service is great I always enjoy my food here.
(4)
J T.

Food was okay. Management was good and attentive.
(3)
Bill C.

Ceviche was excellent, and very fresh as was all the sushi. Tako was great. Good service and selection as well
(4)
Sherry W.

DELICIOUS!!! I absolutely loved the sushi and the atmosphere!!! I can't believe this is on the WEST BANK!!! Truly worth the drive over there from the French Quarter--- I highly recommend this!!!!!
(5)
Jenny N.

My favorite sushi joint! I am in love with the Kimchi Yaki Udon..I'm not gonna lie, I definitely attempted to make this & it did not taste like Daiwa's. Theirs is so flavorful, mouth watering & just plain yummy! My bf always get it for me because I tend to crave for this A LOT. It's spicy, yet the seafood balances out the spice. I've tasted plenty of the sushi there, but my favorite is the Samurai Roll. It contains raw fish, snow crab, rice wrapped around with rice paper & shrimp on top. I usually add cream cheese to it. I'm not a crazy sushi person, so I guess you can say I like to eat the same thing over & over. I hate trying new sushi so I guess that's why I've been stuck on the Samurai Roll.
(4)
Daniela J.

very delicious and good looking place.. however is very expensive in comparison to normal sushi places..you only get 6 pieces when most sushi places give you 8 pieces for the same price..or like the lunch special, you only get 1 roll, a soup, and salad for $10 whereas most sushi places you can get 2-3 rolls(of 8 pieces) for the same price with the soup and salad.
(3)
Richard B.

Quite possibly the best Japanese restaurant in New Orleans. The sushi is amazingly fresh and vibrant. They also have other fantastic Japanese cuisine for those of you who dislike sushi. The wait-staff is extremely friendly and attentive and the food is well priced. Definitely my favorite restaurant on the Westbank. You want to give this place a try!
(5)
Ashley Y.

If you are in the Westbank area, it would probably take you about 15 minutes or even less to reach Daiwa. Lapalco basically connects to everywhere in the Westbank, so you are probably riding down this boulevard more than you think. The sign is a little hard to see since there is a tree blocking it, but if you are familiar with French Riviera or Dollar General, then you would have no problem finding it. Once you step inside of the restaurant, you will fall in love with the decorations of this place! As a matter of fact, the owners designed this place themselves. The first time I walked into this place, I noticed how nice and clean it looked. As soon as I stepped foot, I noticed that there was this tree that glowed with pink lights. It might be hard to see at first since it is small and on the floor. I wanted to steal it. Honest. Also, the lights hanging from above are just fabulous! There are comfy booths, small tables (which can be put together so simply), and the sushi bar. Everything appeared so nicely. I loved how the background music consisted of songs from their culture, maybe, and even songs that I have heard on the radio. I noticed that they have music from my favorite K-pop group, Big Bang. GOTTA LOVE IT! This was such a comfortable and trendy environment. It's so stylish. The staff are extremely friendly and are willing to do just about anything to meet your needs. Since I am so picky, I eat only a few things. However, after listening to others rant and rave about their foods, I am positive that the menu offers a lot more. As for something to taste, I would definitely recommend the Australian Lobster Roll. This roll is almost healthy and absolutely wonderful. Inside, there is a piece of deep-fried lobster, snowcrab, crab meat, and greens. It is wrapped with soy paper and topped with smelt roe. Sometimes, depending on which plate the chef prepares it on, the eel and spicy mayo sauce is either drizzled on top or drizzled fancily on the side. I always eat this and every time I do, it is magnificent! You can't go wrong. The hibachi rice is good. There are three kinds: shrimp, BBQ eel, and scallop. Since I am not a fan of any of the main ingredients, I was able to substitute the shrimp for beef and chicken. I am sure if you want just vegetables for the kids or even yourself, they are able to do that. I keep hearing great things about the popular Kimchee Seafood Udon, Black Cod, Ceviche salad, Escolar Roll, Two Face Roll, and the Daiwa Special Roll. I am sure you will love these things unless you are just super picky about how things taste. If you do not seem to be too interested in these items, there are a lot of more options! I almost forgot to tell you about the new roll that just came out! I do not eat anything raw, so this roll made it happen for me. It is called the Spicy City Roll. Inside, there is crawfish, snowcrab, avocado, and Jalapenos! Also, the wrap is seaweed on the inside and deep-fried on the outside. It is a big roll, so you may share this roll with others. It was delish! My favorite drinks/desserts are the strawberry yogurt and milky green tea. You can drink these while you eat, if you want. I would recommend Daiwa to anyone because the service is great and you can't complain about decent, inexpensive dining. I don't mind the visit.
(5)
Sophia N.

Is it me or was I the only one having a bad experience with the squid?It tasted burnt to me.We had the crab roll and that tasted nasty also.The rice kept falling everywhere!They surely didn't roll it up nicely enough.The only decent thing the were the scallops to bad there was only 5 of them.Other then the food being bad the place is really nice!And the prices are good also.
(2)
Kent C.

I have to say the service here is horrible. The waiter recommended a dish and had me sold however, I had to wait an hour for the food to defrost. Why the hell would you recommend a dish when it's not even ready to be prepared? When I got the dish the sashimi was poorly washed and disgustingly warm. I would much rather wipe Charlie Sheen's ass in order to eat Cheerios out of a hobo's belly button then to return to Daiwa. (SERIOUS)
(1)
Tim P.

I've heard good reviews of this restaurant, so I decided to take my mom to lunch and give Daiwa a try. The decor inside the restaurant is really nice for a westbank sushi restaurant. Although it was really bright during lunch, I could tell that this place would have a really pretty ambiance during dinner time when the place is darker. We were greeted very politely at the door. My mom even commented on how our waitress had a great energy to her and how she seemed to be genuinely sweet. (I believe her name was Christina). I thought it was pretty cool how the menus here had loads of pictures, which made ordering extra easy. After receiving my Coke in this tiny little bottle, we decided to start our meal off with the Crispy Tofu, Butter and Garlic Scallops, and an order of the Kimchee Udon Noodles. The Crispy Tofu wasn't very crispy at all. It was kind of soggy and there was nothing really special about it although it was kinda cool how those thin flakes that is drizzled on top of the tofu seemed to be moving or something. (Don't ask me why I ordered tofu in a sushi restaurant). That was my mistake, so I won't really count that one against them. The scallops on the other hand were perfectly seared and seasoned and was topped off with those stringy mushrooms. I actually prefer the scallops to be plated over a bed of greens the way Rock N Sake does it, but the stringy mushrooms wasn't bad at all. The Kimchee Udon Noodles was the BOMB though! I plan on coming back to this place just for the Kimchee Udon Noodles. It is a little pricey though at $9 a bowl and the portion was pretty small. I decided to try the Australian Lobster roll and the Cowboy roll. I was a little disappointed with the Lobster roll because quite a few of my friends suggested that roll. I thought it was a little weird to roll some lettuce into the roll. I felt like the lettuce was overpowering and sort of took away from the roll. Now that I think about it, I don't know why I didn't just pick the lettuce out to see how it would taste without it? *Brainfart* The Cowboy roll was good but not great. We only ordered two rolls, so I can't judge the place based on 2 rolls. It was partly my fault for venturing out and trying different combinations on the sushi rolls. I definitely plan on trying more rolls the next time I come back for their Kimchee Udon Noodles. I also plan on coming back at dinner time to experience the moody lighting. =)
(4)
Don H.

Fresh fish great rolls!
(5)
Laura M.

You won't be disappointed! Please give this place a try next time you're in the mood for sushi. Our neighbor highly recommended it and we are so glad he did because it was the best sushi we've had since we moved here from baton rouge. It went beyond our expectations in every category, great food, great atmosphere, and a staff that makes you feel like family. We've been many times and always leave happy. give it a shot!
(5)
Lan T.

my new fave sushi place! worth driving 25 mins for!
(5)
Matt V.

Great food. Spicy udon noodles were amazing. The kareoke part of the restaurant was a lot of fun. The kareoke machine has a little bit of a learning curve - but once you get it, it is no problem. If you are coming from new orleans, don't let the drive hold you back. Definitely worth the trip.
(5)
Nancy N.

I've been to numerous sushi places and this is my absolute favorite. The environment is kinda loud but that's only because it's a popular place to go to. I highly encourage ordering the spicy kimchi udon and fryer's deluxe roll. Oh, and don't forget about dessert! I highly recommend the mango mocha ice cream. Yum!!
(5)
Julie V.

My favorite sushi place on the westbank. Their fish is always fresh and there's a wide selection of food and rolls! My favorites: -bbq eel hibachi rice, this is so good. It's definitely not your ordinary fried rice. The rice is really moist and flavorful with bits of eel. -can never go wrong with the baked salmon -ceviche salad is really fresh and has a wide variety of fish in it; I love the ponzu sauce and cucumber slices in this salad -Laplaco roll has spicy tuna and snow crab in a soy wrap. It's really simple but delicious. -mango and salmon roll had fried tempura shrimp in the middle with fresh salmon and mango on top -sweet fried shrimp sushi is a must get! The presentation is nice and the shrimp heads are crunchy I attended a few karaoke parties here including my own birthday. The rooms are great, karaoke system is awesome, and service is on point. Their rates aren't bad either. Much better than little Tokyo! There's Byob which is $25 for small bottles and $35 for large bottles.
(5)
Catherine N.

Order take out last night from this place. First order was the fried po-boy roll. Since I was looking though the photos being posted I saw one user having the same roll and asked the girl on the phone can it be done; she said yes after talking to the person making the sushi I'm guessing. I also had to replaced the smelt roe since I can't eat it with cream cheese ($1 extra). I enjoyed that roll very much. It came to around $16, but the size of the roll was well worth the money. I also order the cowboy roll since it seem to be very popular and while it was good; I wouldn't order it again. The employee on the phone was very nice and helpful with my order. She was friendly and wasn't pushy or sound annoyed when I had my request. All in all it was a nice experience in take-out sushi. Will be my go-to sushi take out from now on.
(4)
Clemente C.

This place is great. We went in tonight (Valentine's Day) and even though they knew they were going to be slammed they didn't mind that we had a 2.5 hour extended dinner and were ordering rolls 2 at a time. It's already been stated that the place has good food, so I'm not going to bring that up. It's one of my favorite spots to go get sushi from because of this, I'd be willing to put up with surly waitstaff for this kind of food. They do have a great wait staff too though, so this is the best of both worlds, and it's tucked away in a little strip mall in Marrero of all places.
(4)
Michael T.

Just realized I never reviewed Daiwa (seems I did on Urbanspoon some years ago) Hands down, no question, no contest, not even close, my favorite sushi place, period. Far and away the one thing I miss (well, aside family of course) since I moved from Marrero, the place I was born and raised. Now living in the Shreveport/Bossier area and travelling all over the state trying new sushi places none come close. Enough cannot be said about the staff. I haven't been in for probably 6 or so months and was in town for work and walked in to be greeted instantly "Hey Mr. Michael". So polite, friendly and honest, very proud of the location. Food, well, I think I have had the entire sushi/sashimi menu... a few times. The quality is like no other, fish is fresh, flavors unique and present in every bite, rice the best. Presentation has taken a very slight dip from years past but still leaps and bounds above others and possibly just due to newer chefs. I literally crave this place and ate it two days in a row on my recent visit. Prices are fair, very fair and considering your getting a top notch product worth every penny. Menu is inviting and they don't do like many places where they charge flat rates just about for regular/special rolls, each roll is priced accordingly. Personal favorites include the Lapalco roll, Special Crunchy roll (best bang for your buck) and the Sunrise roll (the oyster's and roe in unison are divine) however every single roll is worthy of merit. My only complaint is that I wish they had a location near me and begs the question if they were not in such an odd location in Marrero what they could stand to do. Mindful, this is a place that opened at 11:30 and had half the dining room full and 6 or so to-go orders at 11:31. If your even within 30 miles of this place, do yourself a favor and go enjoy. It beats anything else you will find on the Eastbank/Westbank and trust me from my experience, anywhere else in the state. Daiwa is an absolute treat and deserving of every bit of praise and accolade they receive.
(5)
Jess C.

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet! I have been about 5 times now and it is always good. We are addicted to the cowboy roll. It's so good. And it's consistently good. No guessing of the steak will taste the same... It's always great. We try a couple different rolls every time we come but one remains the same. I will update on my next visit and add a picture of i can remember before devouring it! So until next time Daiwa!
(4)
Jess W.

Ordered for lunch at the office today. We had a great experiance from ordering by phone right up through the pickup of our order. The staff was very friendly and quick to bring the order out upon being finished. They had a nice little waiting area so you dont have to stand awkwardly waiting for your food. Great food. The baked scallops were great as was the spicy city roll. Definately a little gem hidden on the westbank. I would recommend for sure.
(4)
Mike T.

This place is the BOMB! Food came out fast, everything was fresh & delicious. The one thing that threw me off guard was the menu... There is so much going on in the menu that my friends & I didn't know what to order. It was so overwhelming, but we had the best waitress ever, Julie! She gave us recommendations & free moochi desserts. Yum..! When I came here, I was only expecting 6-8 pc of sushi, but I think it came out to be 12pc per sushi we ordered. LOL. But it was good tho and not that expensive. I think the prices match with the quality & quantity of the sushi.
(5)
Nicole P.

Daiwa is the go to sushi joint on the westbank! The location is a little hard to find if you've never been before. It's located in a little shopping center next to French Rivera gym and cox cable on Lapalco. I've honestly NEVER had a bad experience here before. I come here regularly and everything is excellent from the service to the food. Everything is always fresh! I order to go often and Lanh always has my order right and I can see Daiwa has pretty fast service for a restaurant that gets a full house pretty much every weekend and even during lunch on weekdays. They also added karaoke rooms not too long ago and they are awesome! Tons of fun and there's different sizes and there's even a hello kitty themed room. They all hold different amounts of people and the prices vary according to how many people are attending. Some of my favorite things from daiwa listed below: *Kimchee Seafood Yaki Udon- When I first tried, it was a little salty and over sauced for my taste, but I asked for it less salty and light sauce and it was PERFECT! It was the perfect balance of spicy and salty. It has pan fried seafood (scallops, shrimp, salmon?, crabmeat) and thick udon noodles with the kimchee sauce. *Smelt Roe Crab Meat Salad- It's very light and refreshing. It has shredded cucumber mixed in a creamy sauce with crab meat and a very generous amount of smelt roe. *Lapalco Roll- I consider this a special roll, but it's priced like one of the regular rolls. It's wrapped on the outside with soy paper versus rice. It has spicy tuna, snow crab, smelt roe and tempura flakes. Topped with spicy mayo. YUM! *Daiwa Special Roll- Has a lot of raw fish, so if you're not good with raw fish, this may not be the best roll for you. Overall, the prices are pretty reasonable and the rolls are HUGE compared to other sushi restaurants. Even the basic rolls like crunchy and crawfish roll are rolled big. The food is always fresh to me and I will always be a returning customer.
(5)
Joy C.

I don't know about the other items on the menu, but this is my go -to place for crawfish roll and shrimp tempura roll. I always order take-out, so I can't rate the dine in service. My food is always good and the people are always friendly.
(5)
Trang N.

The sushi here is fresh and decently priced! I always get the salted white fish, seared, scallops, kimchi udon, no name roll, rock n roll, and most of the popular rolls. On my last visit I wanted to low carb so I ordered the ceviche salad and gyoza. Both were good. The ceviche salad is a really good size, it had salmon, tuna, white fish, and octopus on a bed of spring mix with a tangy ponzu sauce? I really didn't like the octopus, it was kind of salty.
(4)
Brandi C.

NEVER DISAPPOINTED!!! Their sushi is definitely the best around....great customer service and very friendly staff!
(5)
Kameron B.

Daiwa is definitely the best place to get sushi on the westbank! I usually get the po-boy roll, clear soup and edamame and it all taste fresh and great (:
(4)
Trang D.

This is my go to sushi joint on the westbank. Here's what to get! Kim Chi Seafood Yaki Udon- Japanese thick noodles tossed in a red spicy sauce with shrimp, scallop, and tuna? They are a bit skimpy on the seafood. Baked Seafood- It comes to you in a handmade foil-like bowl with seafood inside topped with Japanese masago mayo. Add a bowl of rice for $1 Cowboy Roll- my sister ordered this roll and I honestly can't remember what's inside. I just know beef is wrapped on top with eel sauce or teriyaki sauce? My sister describes the taste like "thit nuong" for my fellow vietnamese yelpers. Daiwa Roll- this is my favorite roll. It's stuffed with tuna, salmon, shrimp tempura, and snowcrab. This roll can't fit in one bite so I struggle with my chopsticks to make it into two pieces. On a slow day, my sister and her friend made the mistake to sit at bar and got charged an additional $1. Wtheck. Oh well.
(4)
Ashley M.

Always a pleasant experience with speedy service. I'm impressed with the size of their vegetable rolls. A lot of restaurants have tiny portions for the vegetarian options. These are the hardiest I can recall getting from a Japanese restaurant. My 10 year old son loves their squid. He's had the calamari and the squid steak an store them both to pieces (barf). My only negative feedback is that is FREEZING in there. If you're hot natured or going through menopause, you'll be great. Regular people make sure you bring a jacket. I had to tuck our cloth napkins into my son's shirt to attempt to wrap his shoulders last go round!
(4)
Lauren N.

The best sushi place on the west bank! When I'm craving sushi, which is all the time, I come here. My favorites to get: Mango Salmon special roll, Snowcrab Naruto, Cowboy roll, Po-boy roll, and Spicy city! It's always fresh and never disappoints me. The service is great and the atmosphere is nice!
(5)
Sabrina H.

Food was pretty good, not the greatest sushi place on the westbank, but there is definitely a wide variety. Got the poboy roll and it was delicious. The miso soup was tasty, but the noodle salad was odd, not very good in my opinion. As for the service, our waiter, Mark, was very rude. I'm not sure if it was a bad day or something, but his demeanor was not very welcoming. Would give this an extra star if the service was better.
(3)
Emily V.

Yum yumm in my tummy! Never disappointed at daiwa! My son loves the Kim chi udon, fried dumplings and baked mussels! As for sushi rolls, I always order the sunset and sunrise roll. So good!!
(5)
Kayla H.

I LOVE Daiwa! Every time I go in there the service is fast and friendly. The sushi is also amazing. So far it's my favorite sushi place on the Westbank. I usually get the Clear Soup, California roll, Snow crab roll, Chicken yakatori which is really good. The sushi itself compared to other places has more of the filling and less rice. Other places give you just a little bit of what you asked for and tons of rice but I've always been satisfied with their sushi. It's also very clean and sanitary there.
(5)
Brooke N.

Daiwa is my favorite sushi joint in the Westbank. My favorites are: Ceviche Salad, Peppered Tuna with fresh wasabi, tuna sashimi, Kimchee Udon, and the Australian Lobster Roll I believe it's called. Price reasonable, casual dining, and the staffs are very friendly.
(4)
Victoria N.

Daiwa is my go-to place for sushi. It's location is hard to find, but it gets easier once you're a regular like me. The service is hit or miss. I sometimes get the very best service, and sometimes it is just horrible. I had this one girl that kept telling us our food was cooking only to find out forty minutes later she never put the order in! I never saw her again after that night.. maybe she got fired? Once, the ginger smelled horrible- very rotten. I informed my waitress and she went to the front and started laughing with the other waitresses. Rude! The sushi is divine. Presentation is everything here. I'm one or those aggravating people that always make special requests, but they never seem to let me down. I definitely recommend the kimchi yaki udon, smelt roe crabmeat salad, and poboy roll. The kimchi yaki udon is spicy, but it's levels vary from time to time. The smelt roe crabmeat salad is very refreshing. The poboy roll is expensive but trust me, it will leave you full! No Name Roll is great for the sashimi lovers out there. Cowboy Roll is delicious if you're up for a delicious collision of Western and eastern cuisine. Gyoza is over cooked sometimes, but I recommend the pork ones. My little sister is a die-hard sashimi fan, and she says theirs is as fresh as it gets! My dad loves it too. The mochi balls tasted old to me; they had a powdery texture. The tempura cheesecake wasn't yummy, but the fried icecream was on par. Their milky green tea reminds me of a non-blended version of Starbuck's green tea frappaciuno. The menu is very extensive, which is more aggravating than impressive to me. Most of the menu items are nearly the same besides a small contrast! I make sure I read every single description. Sometimes adding something to a cheaper roll essentially makes it exactly like their specialty roll. The decor is beautiful, even the waiting room is nice. I've never been in the karaoke rooms, but my aunt held her birthday party there, and she really enjoyed it. The place is busy majority of the time but if I remember correctly, they do not take reservations.
(4)
Catherine R.

Whenever my husband and I are on the West Bank and want good sushi, this is where we go. The service is always fast and friendly! The tuna is very fresh and the speciality roles are amazing especially the spicy city roll. They even made it for me without the fried outside part as my request. We will keep coming back!
(5)
Zachary G.

If this place was on Veterans, other sushi places would go under. Top 5 Sushi in greater New Orleans
(5)
Dane N.

Excellent service... very attentive servers who create a great environment for their guests. The food is exceptional. Traditional sushi for those who want it, but their 'special menu' features carefully thought out sushi rolls that are tasty, innovative, and artistic. Best sushi on the Westbank, and could go toe-to-toe with any sushi restautant in New Orleans.
(5)
Tony L.

Came here on a Sunday around 1 pm with 3 of my friends. We walked in and was seated immediately. The atmosphere was nice and and laid back. Look to the left for the cherry blossom tree art. Our waiter jennifer I believe was friendly and on point with our order. Let's move on the food; I had the ceviche salad, some sushi rolls, and mochi desserts. I really enjoyed the ceviche salad and sushi rolls but sadly, i forgot what sushi rolls i ordered... The mochi dessert... i did enjoy not so much. I had the mint chocolate chip mochi while my friend had strawberry mochi. Both the mochi tasted rubbery; mochi is suppose to be soft and chewy. We did enjoyed the ice cream filling in the mochi though. I recommend getting the ice cream next time rather than the mochi. Will be coming here again for a round 2!
(4)
Pam T.

If you need sushi fixed don't waste your time at Tennou or lame Cafe Zen just come to Daiwa. My favorite are kimchi roll as I always order this as my app also kimchi udon to cure my spicy butts. My son favorite is scallop fried rice but here is the thing The fried rice is inconsistent sometimes they are too heavy on sugar but everything else makes up for it. Cowboy rolls and avocado roll are pretty good. Staffs are very sweet. This is my favorite japanese restaurant and will recommend to families and friends
(5)
Ryanne A.

It is very rare for me to find a great sushi restaurant but with both the friendly staff & delicious, fresh food, I certainly have found what I have been looking for. I live uptown with many places to choose from but to be quite honest, I would happily travel to the westbank just for this lovely find. The portions for the three rolls we chose were perfect (as in, we brought home leftovers). The service gave my date & I the perfect amount of alone time as well as attention. Considering I used to work in the service industry, I know how difficult it can be when it's the end of the night and not many customers are there (and you're about to close), but thank you so much!!! I can only imagine my other visits will be just as fantastic!
(5)
Lisa P.

Best on the westbank! Everything is delicious and I love that you can get brown rice in the hibachi rice!
(5)
Katherine Z.

The waitress with short hair is discrimination and kept us waiting for a long time!!! All people came at the same time with us have already finished meal! There were no one apologize and lead us to room after keeping us an hour. She is so rude and explained a lot of nonsense and conflicted words. Finally she drived us to leave! What the fuck! She ruined our Mardi Gras Day!
(1)
Kathee T.

We came pretty late to closing but there were a good group of people dining in and it seemed like the karaoke rooms was where the turn up was too real. Maybe it was because we came in late, but the sushi rolls were a turn off for me because they weren't rolled tight at all. BUT the sashimi and poke tuna salad was amazinggg. The sashimi tasted so fresh it was almost as soft as butter. Also, please do not leave until you have tried the kim chi udon. Overall, good vibes and a menu with a lot of variety and pretty cheap prices compared to some of the other sushi places I have been.
(4)
Yifei W.

Discrimination!!! Racism!!! Me and my two girl friends went there last week supposedly to celebrate Chinese New Year. We arrived there at lunch time and asked for a karaoke room. We were told to wait 20-25 mins for them to set up the room. We waited for over 50 mins watching all other customers waiting and being led to their tables. I couldn't wait any longer cuz I was starving. So I went to the front and asked what's going on. One waitress told me we needed to make reservation for the karaoke room which they didn't tell us at all when we got there. I told them we already waited almost an hour instead of 25 mins and we were very hungry. She ignored my words at all just kept saying about the reservation thing and showing me the price of karaoke room sounded like we couldn't afford it. We asked her to stop explaining these things we already been told and please tell us when they can open a room for us. Finally she agreed to take us to the karaoke room which seemed set up already. After we got into the room, her attitude changed completely saying "you know what, I'm doing you a favor. If you don't like, you can leave." Are you kidding me? This is your JOB! We're still willing to pay for it even you ignored us for an hour because we still want to have fun. Then she said "OMG you Chinese are crazy!!!......" Then she went out, opened the restaurant's door. Everyone in the restaurant looked at us with a weird look. We went out the restaurant with embarrassment. We wanted to fight back but seemed like we couldn't do anything there because we were minority, we were poor international students. This is their service. From the beginning to the end, we didn't see any smile on her face. We didn't hear any apology from them. Btw she is an Asian too. She speaks Chinese too. It was my very first time being discriminated. I don't think I will ever go back to that place again.
(1)
Hanna H.

BEST SUSHI EVER !!! crunchy roll is awesome. but my favorite part is the service! they're always so nice! they always ask how my days going. they're very polite and caring. def my fav sushi place I've ever been to:) love Daiwa
(5)
Bridget W.

This place is overrated. I dont care that your decor is trendy and your menu is big. If your server gives me a puzzled look like a dog I said "lets go for a walk" to when I ask about the hamachi and I need to actually explain to her what hamachi is I lose some serious confidence in this restaurant. Quite frankly if I had been the one that drove I would have gotten up and left as this all too well reminds me of the sushi joints in California that are run by Koreans and not Japanese and you end up with "fusioned" sushi that is second rate. So since I didnt drive and pick this place and my friends (originally from California) did and swore to me when they saw my face after the confused server left our table that the sushi was good, I made the best of it. And to be honest it wasnt bad. But it wasnt great either. Just so-so. The service was ridiculous by California standards, but hey this is Louisiana, so to them this is normal to take 15 minutes to get a cup of miso soup. LOL So instead of the 2 stars I would give this place if it was in California... they get 3 because they are in Louisiana.
(3)
Ivan B.

WHATA WHATA THIS PLACE IS AWESOME! I went to lunch with my friend and sushi was the item of the day, which led to a little drive to Daiwa. I have never heard of this place before and I rarely spend time wandering the WestBank. This place is a little hidden corner of a random shopping center so it might be tricky to spot out. This makes for a great parking lot though. When I came it was around lunchtime and not very busy. We were seated right away and handed the menu. Boy oh boy this menu is huge! They have so many combinations of sushi with various maki, temaki, and nigiri. It is also great because many of the items have pictures to accompany them which will definitely want you craving every little thing. I had no clue what to order so I just went off of waitress recommendation. In the end we tried the Baked Green Mussels first. Though it is only 4 little pieces, eat bite was loaded with flavor and a great sauce for the mussel. I was not too hungry so I only ordered the Tsurai Special. Delicious Spicy Tuna that filled me up well! I can't remember the name of the roll my friend ordered, but I enjoyed that as well. Daiwa has a nice and chill ambience for a little date. An added thing that I liked was that they play K-POP music in the background! I can totally be jamming to my songs while eating here. One other thing is that this place has Karaoke rooms in the back for private parties. While I probably won't be using any of those anytime soon, each theme for the rooms looked pretty cool. They have some price specials based on the party size and it seemed reasonable. So whether you get takeout, go on a little date, or party it up, try Daiwa for a little sushi getaway.
(4)
Maria E.

This place is amazing. We been searching for a sushi place that is similar to our favorite sushi restaurant back in Cali and this place is close!!! I love the fact that they also have a karaoke rooms that you can rent out. Sushi is amazing. Food is amazing!!! You have to try the Wasabi Almond Shrimp!!! Restaurant is super clean. Nice people. The only bad thing I would say is that we ended up having a waitress who doesnt eat seafood and couldn't really tell or explain to us what it is. It's a sushi restaurant.... Maybe have people who eat seafood work there. Oh and military discount too.
(5)
Francis N.

Great restaurant and food and lol about the "poor international student" you guys are funny. Scroll down to read more
(5)
Erin F.

this is easily the best sushi i've tried so far. i get the lapalco rolls, which are pretty simple, but delicious. my boyfriend loves the fryers deluxe roll and the Hiroshima oyster roll (forgive me if the spelling is off). that tends to be our regular order here, and we enjoy it every time, while occasionally branching out to try new things. i can also recommend their fema roll, the poboy roll, and their spicy city roll in good faith. they have a huge menu, so there are plenty of things to try, and that means something for everyone too. the prices go from fair and average to a bit expensive, depending on what you get of course. i'd say it averages out to be about $15 per person. the staff is wonderful. the ladies there are so incredibly sweet and give you a personal experience, even if you're just picking up a to-go order. all in all, i couldn't be happier with this place. i have to thank yelp and previous commenters for leading me there. :)
(5)
Anna T.

This place isn't bad. You can tell the food are fresh thank god. My favorite roll is the cowboy roll because I just love beef. I wish the beef on top was slice thicker, it's too thin. Anyways and I ordered the beef tataki (idk how to spell) haha, it was good but I wish it came with lettuce underneath like the other places that comes with it. Instead it came with onions. I also ordered the kimchi udon which it's not really that special, just udon with taste of kimchi spice in it. On to the dessert, I was craving for fried cheesecake and red bean ice cream. Not good at all. I don't know what batter they used to deep fried my cheesecake but it's disgusting. But I still gave this place a 4 star because their food are fresh I give them that.
(4)
Jessica N.

Hands down my favorite sushi place in New Orleans! Almost everything I've tried on the menu is delicious. And speaking of the menu, it's very extensive for a sushi place with a huge variety of both sushi and hot food items aimed to please any palate. My favorites are their Australian lobster tail roll, Cowboy roll, Poboy roll, No Name roll, salmon and yogurt roll... Actually I have so many favorites that I can't even name them all. On the hot food, I also really like their hibachi fried rice and appetizers like the scallops, beef negi maki, beef tataki and kimchi seafood udon. Their portions are on the large side. It's very cute inside and the service is always on point. I eat here at least twice a month and I'm always happy and full when I leave. In fact, my boyfriend refuses to go to any other sushi place in the city because he knows it won't be Daiwa and he would be disappointed lol. If I could give them more than 5 stars, I would.
(5)
Nicole Y.

This is my favorite sushi place ever! The food is always fresh and always taste amazing! The Cowboy Roll is my favorite roll a must try on the menu!! I will forever keep coming back here to eat!
(5)
Joey M.

Great food. The cowboy roll is great but eat it first beef and crawfish very tasty but not sushi. Great roll to break someone in.
(5)
Amy T.

Sushi came out pretty quickly. There's a very friendly staff. They have a pretty extensive menu and everything ordered was very good. I liked the work out roll, southern belle, and two face. I do believe the kim chi udon noodles are good though (my boyfriend gets this every time). It's super spicy at times, and other times just a little spicy. The best thing was the drink that I ordered: the milky green tea. It was like a green tea shake!! Topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with powdered green tea. Best green tea beverage ever. Any time I pass by I would have to order at least the drink to go!! I've gone a few times and no particular dish or roll is something that I must have or go back for. Nothing memorable. It is the preferred sushi place for me if I'm around the Marrero area, but not my favorite of the Westbank.
(3)
Brandon L.

My family and friends have frequented this restaurant on numerous occasions and have yet to be disappointed. What I like best is the variety of non-sushi items on their menu. Their is a kind of noodle soup, which that may well be the name, that my 3-year old loved. I have also heard that if you spend 150 on sushi, they comp your party a karaoke room.
(5)
Audrey H.

The menu might be a little too big. Sushi is too good for me to care.
(5)
Jovan H.

Usually every sushi place is about the same. They have the same rolls just with different names, they have the same drinks, and same food but somehow Daiwa is absolutely different in every sense. The food is better here than anywhere else I've been in New Orleans. The food is always fresh and never changing. You know exactly what you're gonna get when you order a roll from them because everyone makes their rolls the same exact way. It's never changing. The atmosphere is very nice with the Asian decor, and it's always quiet enough to have an intimate evening with your loved one or to have fun with some friends or family that come out to eat with you. But you really have to try the food. The cowboy roll, the appetizers, and the fried rice of course! That's always what I get and if you are into trying new things, this is the place to do that. You will never be disappointed and if you are they will take whatever you got back, (WITHIN REASON) and try to rectify the situation. Did I mention how nice the servers and staff are? I used to come here with my girlfriend all the time and they know us by name now. They know what we want to order or tell us about the specials or the new things on the menu. Talk about A++ service across the board. Also you should check out the karaoke rooms. Perfect place to have a nice party with friends singing drinking and eating the best sushi in New Orleans.
(5)
Sophia H.

This is a great spot on the West Bank for sushi. I'm pregnant and I was craving for sushi so I ordered cooked sushi. Haha I love the atmosphere and decorations are beautiful. I'll be back for sure.
(4)
Olivia D.

Daiwa is, hands down, the best sushi restaurant in New Orleans. The quality of the fish, the creativity of the menu, and the service from Ken and his staff are unparalleled. I have eaten at Kanno, Ninja, Rock-N-Sake, Mikimoto, all of the Sake Cafes, Shogun (recently did a chef's tasting), and all the other notable Japanese restaurants in NOLA, and Daiwa is not only the best food but the best value in town. I am so passionate about this restaurant that I have brought friends from NYC and L.A. here, and they have specifically asked to return on subsequent visits to NOLA. I happily make the drive to the WBank every time I have a craving. Must order: sea salt white fish sashimi, tuna sashimi with fresh wasabi, golden gulf roll, seafood kimchee udon (extra noodles if with a big group). Other stand outs: squid salad, poke tuna salad, ceviche salad, escolar roll, tsurai roll, cowboy roll, special yellowtail sushi, hamachi kama, anything with escolar, and anything Ken recommends.
(5)
Sara J.

The rolls are huge. Even the regular rolls are a lot of food. Servers are very friendly and food is hot and served promptly. Excellent rolls!!
(4)
Ronnie P.

I've had sushi everywhere around the city and even worked at a sushi restaurant and it doesn't get better than daiwa! This place opened my senior year of high school and became a regular visit for my friends and I , years later the food quality has only improved as the atmosphere is perfect! I make the drive from Kenner just for daiwa
(5)
Jeremy H.

We shared a ton of food. Cowboy roll was just ok, I have had better cowboy rolls but it was still good. We also ordered the po-boy roll. This is my new favorite sushi roll, delicious. We got more, but I don't remember exactly what. And then we got the mochi ice cream balls for dessert. The strawberry was delicious.
(5)
Sandy M.

This is my number one sushi place to go whenever i want sushi. Their sushi is delicious!! I've been here a few times now and they never ever disappoint me. Today i went with my husband and we went a little early before dinner time. It was quiet and nice. We ordered some oysters, squid salad, po-boy rolls, and cow boy rolls. Cow boy rolls is my favorite rolls. Everything we ordered were absolutely delicious! The best sushi ever! Highly recommend this place!
(5)
Kim-Thao H.

I've been holding off on writing this review, but I'm not exactly sure why...maybe because I don't eat sushi as frequently as I used to? Possibly. But anyways, Daiwa is a pretty solid sushi joint, especially on the West Bank. It's near my home so that's always a plus. If I wanted to get a quick sushi fix near home, it would be here or Tennou. First off, this place is located in a strip mall by French Riviera Fitness, so it might be easy to miss. Upon walking in, I was able to appreciate the delicate decor and set up. The staff is also friendly and always gives suggestions on what to get on the menu. I've been here a few times, so here are a couple of my favorites: Kim Chi Yaki Udon- Can get pretty spicy after a few bites, so it's not recommended if you can't eat spicy. But if you can, these noodles are GOOD! Great flavor, and perfect amount of spice for someone like me. I like it HOT! ;) Mango Salmon Special Roll- I tend to always get rolls with mango and salmon; I just loveee the combination, because it's always so light and refreshing. It comes with shrimp tempura for a nice crunch in the roll. The sauces also complement the roll well. Two-face Roll- This roll comes with tuna AND salmon! AWESOME! It also has a very light dot of a wasabi like sauce on top, which is not overwhelming at all! So it does go well with the roll, as well as the other sauces. Cowboy roll- Perfect for those who don't like raw and want their fix of beef! I love the tender slice of steak that's placed on top. It really gives you that beef satisfaction that you may crave. Also I am a big fan of beef tataki, just not from here. If I were you, get this roll instead. The beef tataki here isn't satisfying and isn't sliced thin enough. They also give you a very small portion. The one thing I do love about this restaurant is that they offer a large variety of different rolls to try from. Very different compared to other sushi joints around the area. Whether they're good or not, I do not yet know, but yes I have tried a few that I did not like. I do look forward to trying a couple other things on the menu including the ceviche salad and a good bit of the other rolls. Daiwa is definitely a winner and I will be a returning customer.
(4)
Paul N.

My first time at Daiwa was last night for a birthday get together. Daiwa is a restaurant, but also had karaoke rooms for different size groups. I think you had to reserve in advance for the karaoke room. We did and had to put $50 for deposit, which wasn't a problem. First, let's talk about the food. It's a food joint after all. We ordered a wide range of food because it was a large group. Personally, I think sushi were average there. It's nothing to write home about. There weren't anything that I felt like I couldn't get anywhere else, especially there is so many sushi and Asian fusion joints nowadays. Second, of course, service...Daiwa has multiple karaoke rooms available, so I would figure that they should be staffed for large groups. There were different size rooms, and we reserved the large room, which comfortably seats 40 people. We had probably 25-30 people at one time, but there were only one waitress all night. She was so slow. Drinks came out slowly and food was a couple plates at a time. She was doing her best to keep up, but she clearly was running behind. Third, karaoke....the main reason why we booked this place. Sounds and TVs were good....no complaint, but the limited selection of songs. It seems to have more songs in Chinese than English. I could argue if there were more Japanese because it is a sushi place, but nope....Chinese songs and older English songs. We made it work, and enjoyed ourselves because it's karaoke after all. Lastly, the cost/price - as of food and drinks, Daiwa is comparable to other sushi places. However, Daiwa continues to push us to increase or tab by raising their "minimum" spend required. When we reserved that large karaoke room, we were told that we had to put a $50 deposit, and we will get it back if we spend $350 or more on our tab. If not, they will charge us for the room, which we agreed and thought if was fair for that size room. However, when it was getting close to the end of the night. The waitress said that we need to spend $59 more to meet the minimum. We asked for detailed receipt and it was over $600 already, so why do we have to spend more? Waitress said that since we had that many people the "minimum" spend went up. First, there are different size rooms for a reason and we reserved a large room for a reason. Again, the large room seats 40 people comfortably, so shouldn't Daiwa expect the room to seat 40 people. Furthermore, Daiwa told us that the "minimum" was $350, so why is it different now? Btw, it turned out that we were the one room rented that night and they were slow....is that a factor? I don't know but I do know that a sliding minimum scale is shady and not a way to run a business. Of course, I asked for the policy, and they didn't have it. Guess what? Our words against theirs....we didn't gave a problem with the $600+ tab but it's the principle that Daiwa's waitress wants us to spend more by threatening us that she will have to charge us the room fee. Keep in mind that she gets 20% tip because it's a large group. We just paid and thought it was shady with the "minimum" spend required kept changing throughout the night. Just a suggestion to get it in writing from them. We will not return to Daiwa. I don't like shady business like this.
(1)
Marielle S.

First things first. You may be wondering, "Where the heck is this place?" Well, I had no issue finding it, since I live on the Westbank, but in case you don't, here are some landmarks. First go to Lapalco past Barataria. You will see a Pizza Hut, then a shopping center, then a Ryan's. Daiwa is in the shopping center, in the far corner. For those on the Westbank, it's in the shopping center right across the street from the Red, White, and Blue thrift store. I included a pic of the outside of the place. Ok, now onto the place itself. After hearing tons of good things from Jen L., and other fellow yelpers, and being a huge sushi lover, I decided to try this place out. It only opened a few months ago, and from what I understand, it has some ties to Hana, which is located Uptown. For those not aware, Hana is my GO TO for sushi 95% of the time. I couldn't wait to try out what I had been referring to as "Westbank Hana". Walking in, like others, I was immediately impressed with the decor. Sure, it still had that "restaurant in a shopping complex" kind of feel, but I think that they did a good job with decorating it and giving it that authentic Japanese look. The menu of this place is HUGE. They go far beyond rolls, sashimi, sushi and the other basics. They have a whole eclectic choice of things, all at reasonable prices. Be sure to check out the menu on their website, to see what I'm talking about. Since it was my first time, I decided to keep it simple with a tuna roll, a Philly roll, and a Metairie roll. You can check out how it all looked, in my picture. It was so good. I would definitely say that it's as good as Hana, or any other sushi place on the Westbank. Also, the waiter was really nice and attentive and was sure to keep my water filled, which is a biggie with me. I can't wait to go back and try some of their other speciality rolls and dishes.
(4)
Salli P.

best place to get sushi on the west bank =] its nicely decorated and completely affordable. daiwa is one of my favorite places to dine out.
(5)
Kristy J.

The smelt roe and crab meat salad was awesome. I dined in but It was so good I had to order one to go!! The soft shell crab roll is awesome as well. I finished everything off with a glass of imported plum wine. I'll be back for sure.
(5)
Carol D.

I am not a sushi fan whatsoever but daiwa changed everything for me. I now LOVE sushi, but only at daiwa! they aren't afraid to get creative and combine unlikely ingredients. kimchi udon, scallop habichi rice, cowboy roll and the scallops is a must here! I always leave here overly stuffed and incredibly satisfied!
(5)
Sharon S.

This is "THE PLACE" for Sushi. We love Daiwa. They make everything fresh. We used to leave the gym and walk straight to Daiwa. Sometimes we'd pull up to the gym & instead of working out we would just go for Sushi. Best out of the two if you ask me. We always order a Snow Crab salad which his a huge lump of crab, alvocado slices on top & Roe. I love the fishy eggs. Then we switch up the Sushi rolls. We've had the Marrero, Fema, Kenner, Tiger, Katrina, Sashimi Naruto, Lapalco. Good, good, good and all good. Service is excellant! They now have party rooms with Kareoke. Woo Woo!!! You can Sushi and party
(5)
Kim-Mi V.

Daiwa is one of the best sushi restaurants on the West Bank. To be honest, I did not like Daiwa at all the first time i dined here. I decided to give it another shot, and I'm glad I did! Their menu could be a little overwhelming, but it's fun. It's a good place to bring someone that doesn't had too much "sushi experience" because there are pictures all of menus to aid them! Downside: I haven't had any rolls that impressed me yet. I've tried the Smoked Salmon Mango roll, which is good, but this could be found at Zen's (also on the West Bank) or Hana's (Uptown) Favorite things to order Kimchee Udon - it's a little spicy Cerviche Salad Sashimi Pizza Things I didn't care for Tempora Udon Soup - the strangest tasting udon soup I've ever had
(3)
Mary T.

Daiwa is THE best sushi restaurant on the west bank...even better than majority of sushi places in nola. Service is always outstanding, food and sushi are amazing and the atmosphere is great.
(5)
Amelia T.

My love for this sushi restaurant is immense. I fell in love with their seafood yaki udon (mouth-gasm oh my gosh). Their po-boy roll, rainbow roll, escolar roll, squid steak, and tiger roll are very delicious. The raw fish are very fresh, especially their #1 tuna. And then comes the green tea tempura ice cream... this dessert is a must-get whenever you dine in at Daiwa. I cannot express how much I love eating here over any other sushi restaurants in the Westbank; their seafood yaki udon and green tea tempura ice cream are what you'll forever crave for the most after you once try it. The service is also pretty great, and their karaoke rooms are so cute! The ambience of this restaurant is very relaxing and casual.
(5)
Bryan S.

Great Private rooms for parties . They kept the food and drinks flowing for our group of 30! No Complaints at all & loved how each Karaoke room is uniquely decorated (Hello Kitty Room, Purple Room, Etc)! Highly Recommend.
(5)
Ann N.

One of my most favorite sushi place to eat! Don't let the location fool you. Restaurant might seem small and located in a corner by the dollar store. They actually have really great food and beautiful decor inside. I come here at least once a week. Sashimi always fresh and thick. Rolls are decent size and delicious. Service are top notch. Can't really find any fault with this place. Great quality food at a reasonable price. Servers are prompt and attentive. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Big Baby D.

Phenomenal is an understatement. The hands down best sushi on the Westbank. It's unfortunate that its location makes it difficult to spot from the road, but the reviewer Marielle S. does a great job of explaining the LOCATION (below my review). COMPARISONS: Once you're here, you're welcome to indulge in the finest sushi the Westbank has to offer. Daiwa certainly outdoes a majority of the sushi I've eaten on the East Bank. Daiwa is on par with or better than Mikimoto (on par regarding cost and better than regarding quality), Daiwa far exceeds that which I've had at Shogun, and Daiwa is on par with or better than Little Tokyo on Carrollton. AMBIANCE and SERVICE: Now that we've established some comparisons to local favorites, let's talk about atmosphere and service. The place is exceptionally clean (almost sterile) and the atmosphere is soothing. There are times when it gets noisy, but for the most part, when the place isn't packed, it's rather low key. The wait staff literally hovers over you attending to your every need. It is not uncommon to have have a member of the wait staff offer to refill your drinks or assist you even though they are not dedicated to working your table. It's not that it's necessary, it's just that management has clearly ingratiated the idea that everyone is there to ensure that every customer is satisfied. This is a remarkable experience for the Westbank in general, and it's exceptional compared to most places I've had sushi on the Westbank (name it and I've at least tried it once). The FOOD: Daiwa serves up some of the best Japanese cuisine I've had in the city. Beyond offering great Japanese, they do a great job of executing dishes that would cross into the realm of Asian Fusion. There are literally about 5 different menus, and I was informed tonight that a new menu is on the way which will replace some of the existing menus (I don't think any items are going away, but even more items will be added). The nigiri sushi (pieces) is of the highest quality and never disappoints. The maki (rolls) sushi is available in a dizzying selection. Literally astounding how many different rolls they have available. The chef is also open to creating new rolls based upon your preference(s). Recommended Rolls: Westbank Hiroshima (if you like fried oyster) Sunrise (if you like fried oyster) TNT Sunset Daiwa Special Rock n' Roll FEMA (the only positive association I have w/ FEMA) Lapalco *Sushi Roll Special section of the menu - each roll averages less than $4.00 ea, awesome if you're on a budget. **Some of the special rolls are as low as $6.00, so it's tough to pass on them. Some go up to $13.95, but not every special roll is $10+, which is a refreshing change from several local sushi restaurants. Recommended Dishes (from the kitchen, which is exceptional): Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Tempura Hibachi Rice - Shrimp/Scallop/Eel - better than most I've had while dining Hibachi! Baked Scallop Nanami Chicken Nuggets Special Kimchee Octopus Salad Daiwa Special Scallop Recommended Desserts: Cheesecake Tempura Tempura Ice Cream Banana Tempura The QUALITY: The head sushi chef is always talking about his unyielding desire to purchase the highest quality of fish he can get his hands on, and it shows. He clearly scrutinizes Every purchase to ensure that the fish is excellent. Quality has never been compromised in any visit of mine (of which there have likely been well over a dozen since I found Daiwa in May). The Drinks: I celebrated my birthday here and was treated to a phenomenal Sake Martini, which I would highly recommend. I enjoyed several of them and my friends and I sampled sake which we all found to be very agreeable. If you're looking for a drink from their great selection of sakes or plum wines, they are delighted to assist you in selecting, and will even offer unique cocktails based on your tastes. If you can't be satisfied here, then you were looking for a bad experience. If you are ever, at any time unsatisfied with your experience, simply report it to the manager and they will go out of their way to ensure that you are satisfied. I was driven to write my review because I've spoken to people who wrote positive reviews and received an email from the owner thanking them. I called this to his attention while dining here tonight and he informed me that he responds to every post on Yelp to thank satisfied customers and to attempt to rectify any issues with dissatisfied customers. I was positively shocked by this ideology this day in age and the last thing I would like to see is for this place to fail, so show your support for something truly wonderful and positive on the "Wank." Support Daiwa - at least give it a chance, and then give it a Yelp!
(5)
Dorothy Y.

Willing to go out of your way for good eats? Of course you do; you're reading Yelp. Head to the West Bank and check out Daiwa! This new Japanese restaurant opened last month and is already gaining popularity by word of mouth. You might recognize sushi chef and owner Ken Wong from behind the bar at Hana and various Little Tokyo locations, most recently LT Uptown (with me! The funnest and second-clumsiest server they've ever had). Named after the famous Daiwa Sushi restaurant in Tsukiji, Japan, Daiwa serves well-priced sushi rolls, lunch and dinner specials, and a smattering of chef specialties and yakitori. A group of my former Little Tokyo Uptown co-workers and I headed over this week to support our friend's new venture and both stomachs and wallets appreciated the endeavor. I don't have good pictures of the interiors, but it is brightly lit (which I personally like, as it makes for better photography), with a hand painted cherry branch mural on the wall and Ikea orb lanterns dangling throughout. The following dishes were split among the 5 of us and filled us all up nicely. Full disclosure: We paid for everything at full-price, no discount, except the complimentary dessert and small-dish sample of glass noodles. Onto the food! Squid steak: I enjoyed the legs most because I like my calamari charred and crisp. Only complaint, I wish the onions had come cooked or carmelized, as they didn't have enough time on the iron platter . Baked mussels: Standardly flavored with salmon roe and cream, the chopped pieces of mussels added a nice chew to the sweet sauce. Agedashi tofu: One of my favorite dishes from Japanese restaurants anywhere, these blocks of tender yet firm tofu are lightly battered and fried, then topped with bonito flakes and chives, served with soy sauce. Nummy nummy! Cowboy roll: crawfish inside, seared rare steak on the outside - Here is the first of the specialty rolls we tried, the Cowboy Roll. I personally don't like crawfish in my sushi, but I appreciated it's slight spice as contrasted with the delicious, lightly seared beef. Salmon yogurt roll: Raw salmon, shrimp tempura, salad greens wrapped in Vietnamese rice paper, topped with sweet/tangy yogurt sauce. No rice. - I didn't think I would like this because sweet foods bother me so it was a nice surprise. This was more like goi cuon (Vietnamese spring roll) than a traditional sushi roll. The fresh salad greens with crispy shrimp and supple raw salmon, flavored only slightly with the sweet yogurt sauce, mixed yummily in my mouth. I hate sauce-doused sushi (like so many places in the NOLA do); a light drizzle works perfectly for me. Sample of a new dish: glass noodles and kimchi. - While waiting for our next dish, Ken brought out a small sample of a new dish: spicy kimchi glass noodles with chilled cucumber. It reminds me of childhood cold noodle dishes that you buy on the street in Taiwan. Fun note: glass noodles are made with mung beans so they have absolutely no carbohydrates. Kimchi and hamachi roll - I didn't try this because I didn't want to. I mean, I like hamachi as sashimi; I'm just not a big fan of like spicy tuna-like preparations. Looked good though, especially if you like kimchi. BBQ eel hibachi rice - I was feeling hungry and wanted rice to fill up at this point, so Ken recommended this dish. Probably one of the best hibachi rices I've ever had, with the fatty and meaty eel morsels counterpointing the rice. Negimaki: Thinly sliced rare beef wrapped around green onion and grilled - Another yakitori dish of grilled beef and green onion. I could probably eat like 3 plates of this. Salmon salad - Didn't eat the salad, it was pretty much romaine lettuce with raw salmon diced on top. It looked very nice. Tofu pudding, topped with strawberry, peach, and blueberry - Last, we enjoyed a dessert of almond tofu jello pudding. A little firmer than flan, slightly saccharine, and topped with fruit and drizzled with chocolate sauce, this was a fitting end. We actually couldn't finish all of them. Daiwa's location is a little ways out there but I think it's worth making the West Bank Field Trip for. There are so many dishes I want to try. Can I also mention that they have a full bento box lunch special for $8?
(4)
Jen L.

I wandered over to the Wank this evening to check out Daiwa as they are one of the Wednesday participants in Sushi for Sendai. And I think we'll be making that trek again. Every roll and each piece of sushi was beautifully presented. The chef's knife skills were particularly noticeable on the vegetable roll with each piece of cucumber looking identical to the other. Amazing. The crispy tofu was the lightest and freshest version of that dish that I've ever had. The salmon mango roll was delicious and different; the rice paper roll was beautiful. Plus they have inari which I LOVE and it's always on the menu. The fish was all fresh and delicious. And the service was attentive to the point of funny. When the staff found out we lived uptown, they were amazed that we drove over the bridge. The owner even recognized E from when he used to eat lunch weekly at Hana. Crazy.
(4)
Peter N.

Very nice atmosphere. But wished it's service and food matched it. First of all. Our server was horrible.. She once came to our table to clear it, she took an undone salad from our table and left a finished plate back.. Food over all was not satisfying, a lot of there rolls are full of mayo, which made the rolls look more full than it really was.. Their fish did not taste fresh, probably will not be a second time. Save your time and make a little extra trip to somewhere else that you know that will satisfy you.
(3)
Godwin C.

Dear Sushi Lovers, Are you tired of the same old sushi rolls and played-out flavors that you get at EVERY SUSHI RESTAURANT in New Orleans? Fed up with how every special roll is just borrowed from a competitor? Frustrated by the seeming lack of creativity and daring? The answer to ALL (well, I guess I should probably say MANY) of your sushi problems can be found at Daiwa. THE GOOD It's Not The Same Food: You ever notice how specialty roll names at various sushi restaurants all seem the same in this city? Burning Man Roll, Causeway Roll, Metairie Roll, Bye Bye Katrina Roll, Uptown Roll, Utah Roll, Margarita Roll...the list is endless and exhausting. The rolls aren't all bad - on the contrary, some of them can be quite tasty as long as they aren't oversauced - but it just gets real old, real fast when you keep seeing the same menu items at every place, like they aren't even the slightest bit ashamed that they're overtly "borrowing" rolls from each other. The simple fact that the rolls at Daiwa are DIFFERENT make it worth the trip. Even if they never change their menu again for the rest of their existence, they will always stand out in the sparse New Orleans sushi scene because they aren't just copying everyone else. Oh yeah, and if you must get those New Orleans rolls, they make those too. Although why you would at this place is beyond me. It's Different AND Creative Food: Do I mean creative in the realm of all things sushi? Probably not. Do I mean more creative and daring than anything else in New Orleans? Most certainly yes. Just take a gander at the Special Menu on their website and you can see that they put effort in designing interesting rolls and sushi-based items. In reality, the daring part of their food can be summed up with one item: Salmon Yogurt Roll. You might not like that particular one, but you gotta admit they had some moxie to put it on their menu. Their Different/Creative Stuff Is DELICIOUS: So we've established that simply being different makes it worth a trip. We've established that their food carries a bit of creativity and daring. As a bonus, their food also happens to be awesome! I generally do not eat rolls at sushi places anymore, but I have enjoyed all of the original rolls at Daiwa. There is a true BALANCE in flavors, something sorely lacking in most New Orleans sushi places. Nothing comes oversauced or overstuffed with too much rice. Fish and accompaniments are proportioned properly. Flavors make sense (well, the Salmon Yogurt Roll is the odd one out on that statement. Again, moxie). Kitchen food is delicious too, with my personal favorite being the Baked Scallop With Garlic Butter Sauce on the Special Menu. Most certainly simple flavors - if I bought scallops on the regular, I could probably make this - but it doesn't take away from the fact that they cook the scallops right each time and make it a great-tasting dish. THE BAD Location: Good for Westbank people, bad for Godwin. Why oh why does it have to be so "far" away from Uptown? The closeness of everything in New Orleans has completely ruined me in judging distance now... PURGATORY Salmon Yogurt Roll: I get it, Chef Ken. Dessert in a sushi roll. Good idea. Nice try. I'm just never going to get used to that flavor-and-texture jigsaw puzzle. If you haven't tried it, give it a shot. Who knows, you might appreciate and understand it better than myself. It's still on the menu for a reason. OVERALL I know this review might just seem like an extended bash of New Orleans sushi in general, but I swear it's not. There are still places in New Orleans that I like and appreciate: Kyoto, Mikimoto, Hana...it's just a person gets tired of repetition and needs a change-up. Daiwa is it and beyond. Well worth the trip, well worth the time. If you are a hardcore fan of New Orleans standard rolls, let go of your biases and give Daiwa a try. If you want different AND tasty, need I say more?
(5)
Aleatha M.

Yup it's the best!!!! Service fabulous! Prices good. Clean restrooms. Nice decor. The baked scallops yummy. Mussels yummy. Lobster roll? Good god that's good. Cowboy roll? Good. What a variety of rolls and sashimi. The 5 of us that ate here loved it. No complaints. Is it the best in this area? Try it for yourself and see. So happy it's on the west bank ! ;)
(5)
Richard B.

Quite possibly the best Japanese restaurant in New Orleans. The sushi is amazingly fresh and vibrant. They also have other fantastic Japanese cuisine for those of you who dislike sushi. The wait-staff is extremely friendly and attentive and the food is well priced. Definitely my favorite restaurant on the Westbank. You want to give this place a try!
(5)
Kent C.

I have to say the service here is horrible. The waiter recommended a dish and had me sold however, I had to wait an hour for the food to defrost. Why the hell would you recommend a dish when it's not even ready to be prepared? When I got the dish the sashimi was poorly washed and disgustingly warm. I would much rather wipe Charlie Sheen's ass in order to eat Cheerios out of a hobo's belly button then to return to Daiwa. (SERIOUS)
(1)
Kahne Lynn R.

I know a lot of people love this place, but my husband and I were far from impressed. We eat a lot if sushi. We tried to count at one point and we stopped around 20 restaurants or so. And when we go to eat sushi, we eat sushi. Not the other menu items, so please note this review is for the rolls, service and atmosphere only. Atmosphere: Some if the hardest, most uncomfortable benches I have ever sat on. And if the person in the booth behind you is moving please note that you're going to feel like you're trying to eat on a turbulent airplane. The lighting is bright and harsh. And I like k-pop as much as the next person, but if it is loud to the point I have to shout at my husband across the table, it's too loud. And it's a sushi restaurant, not a bar, there is no need for flat screens everywhere, also with the volume on blast that competes with the music. Service: As my husband and I eat sushi about once a week, and this was the first time that we had eaten there, we like to study the menu. Our drink order was taken and the waiter returned almost immediately with the drinks. He asked for our order and we told him to give us five minutes, however instead of attending to other customers, he sat down at an empty table right next to us and stared. After about two minutes he got back up and asked us if we were ready, we told him no. He sat down next to us again. There were multiple empty tables, there was no need to stare us down, there wasn't a line of people. There was no need to rush us. We placed our order and the food was brought out. Then we were summarily dismissed. Our drinks were not even refilled once. We tried to flag waiters down and were ignored. The only time he came by again was to drop off the bill. In short, rude, inattentive and impatient. The food: lackluster at best. They put "spring mix" (aka soggy colorful nasty tasting lettuce) that watered down the flavor of everything. We started picking it out of the rolls so we could taste something besides lettuce. We literally filled up an entire salad plate with the stuff. The presentation was sloppy. Sushi should be beautiful to the eyes and palate. The rolls were not rolled tightly (they fell apart easily, which is a pain), overpowered with lettuce sticking out everywhere, cut unevenly, unrolling on the plate, and just piled on the plate with no presentation whatsoever. I love tuna, it should be beefy red, slightly chewy and have no odor at all and cut into big chunks. Once I removed all of the lettuce I was left with what looked like discarded pieces, pale pink, mushy in the mouth, smelling strongly of fish. I was afraid of getting ill (I even eat my steaks cold rare) so I didn't finish it. The miso was terribly bland with hardly any tofu or seaweed. Just broth and a ton of green onions. I adore miso and I was sorely disappointed. The only thing I really enjoyed was the iced green tea, but I drank it quickly trying to get the taste of the terrible food out of my mouth and was left wanting a refill that never came. Even the roe was strong smelling and mushy. I like my caviar to have a crunch. Long story short, even if this was an isolated incident, it was bad enough that we will not be returning. Thanks but no thanks.
(1)
Carla V.

Mmmmmm! Welcome to my favorite sushi spot on the Westbank! This was my second visit to Daiwa and I loved it - again! The service is very prompt and the minute you are seated, you will find a dish that has a compartment for your soy sauce, a linen napkin, wooden chopsticks, a sanitized wipe, a specialty menu and the sushi order form. These people are not playing around. It's all business and rightfully so. So here's the dish, literally. The Cowboy Roll; Lapalco Roll; Tsurai Roll (this one is the money shot if you like spicy!) and the Beef Negimaki rounded out our meal. My only disappointment/regret is that I did not eat more. I should have hallowed out my stomach to find room for more food. The rolls are perfectly made and do not fall apart easily, nor are they too big to digest in a swift, single bite. Every item on the menu is numbered, but it has no purpose for ordering, but rather answer the question, how much do they offer? One thing I was impressed with, bear with me as this keeps the standard low and is no reflection on Daiwa, was the the pictorial menu. The pictures made my mouth water and the rolls actually look identical to the pictures. The size of the restaurant is adequate and a fair noise level. There is contemporary music playing in the background but it's at a great volume unless other places that make you feel like you're in a club. Not that I am old, but rather easily distracted. Who doesn't like Usher, but then I suddenly wonder, am I here to eat or dance? This was a non issue for me at Daiwa because I was all over the sushi. If you don't have time to dine in, you will be happy to know that takeout is an option. Try it next time you're cruising down LaPalco Boulevard in the 70072...you won't believe that sushi this good is tucked away in this strip mall.
(4)
Sarah A.

The sushi here is superb! They are recently planning to expand so I'm worried that this may affect quality. I like my hole in the wall. I have enjoyed everything I ordered and can't wait to try more. The to go service is a breeze and the girl that takes the orders is super friendly. The inside is rather small but is nicely furnished and decorated.
(4)
Nana B.

The sushi here is great I could say it's the best on the west bank . They have a variety of special rolls which are delicious. Every time I go there I always try something new and it doesn't disappoint me.
(5)
Thuy A.

What a great little place. It's like a breath of fresh air for sushi on the westbank! The prices are super decent and the staff is friendly. I've been twice and have thoroughly enjoyed both visits. The Cowboy Roll and the Australian Lobster Roll were delectable and scrumptous. My husband and I ate every last piece. Another dish that is a must for everyone is the Kimchee Udon Noodles. YUM!!! It's spicy, sweet, and jam-packed with flavor!!!! The texture of the noodles and tuna and sauce worked really well together. I can't wait to go back!!!!=)
(5)
Truc D.

I honestly don't see what's all the fuss about with this place. I've had better.
(2)
Daniela J.

very delicious and good looking place.. however is very expensive in comparison to normal sushi places..you only get 6 pieces when most sushi places give you 8 pieces for the same price..or like the lunch special, you only get 1 roll, a soup, and salad for $10 whereas most sushi places you can get 2-3 rolls(of 8 pieces) for the same price with the soup and salad.
(3)
Kelly L.

The first time I tried to locate them, I got lost twice! The place is so ducked off you'd probably get lost yourself. For a sushi restaurant, it is very inexpensive and very affordable! The decor is so pretty and the environment is very calm and welcoming. The waitress staffs are very nice, as for the food - I wasn't easily tempted. I would definitely recommend the Australian Lobster Roll. This is definitely my favorite! There is a piece of deep-fried lobster, crab meat, snow crab, and purple romaine lettuce. It's wrapped in soy paper and topped with smelt roe. One con about it is that they don't quite roll it tight enough. Baked Scallop: The baked scallops were very dull. It lacked flavoring. Obviously it wasn't seasoned because all I tasted was butter and garlic. But honestly, it's not too bad. Hiroshima Oyster Roll: This roll was actually good also. The only bad thing about it was that they had CHEESE in it. I think it might have been cheddar cheese. I'd recommend you order it without the cheese. Deep-fried Oysters: These oysters were very good! It's the same oysters inside the hiroshima oyster rolls. Only bad thing about it is that it's a little too greasy. Other than that it's great. The sauce it comes with is also very good. Any rolls with mango was a disappointment. The mangos tasted like jello. I don't even think it was real mango. It was probably preserved or something.
(3)
Jessica E.

Best Sushi on the westbank.
(5)
David C.

I am amazed at the reviews I am reading. This place was very forgettable. The rolls were lacking contrast, and were not executed the way they were described on the menu. There are dozens of better options in the city
(2)
Justin B.

Great space despite being in strip mall, decor contemporary and very clean. Creative rolls and salads. Very attentive and friendly staff though they assume new customers are inexperienced with sushi and over-explain a bit but that may very well be the case for most of their clientele. Could have done without Fox News playing on the mulit-screens but at least they were muted TVs
(4)
Pam T.

Daiwa a a a. I love this place. their food is the best in the wank area decoration was so inspired I really love to give them five stars but they just need to work on their staffs. sometimes I feel like they don't see me!
(4)
Daniel M.

I gave Daiwa a shot after reading good reviews. It's tasty. Decor is nice. Service was fine. You know, it's...fine. I had sushi rolls: Tear Drop, Shrimp Tempura, Crunchy Dynamite. Prices were in line with most sushi places around here. $17 for all three rolls. The menu looked quite extensive. And, if I were on a date, I'd consider this place for the ambience. But I don't date much. Because of my...condition. Anyway, that's a story for another time.
(3)
Tony T.

Looking for a really chilled or relaxing environment to dine in? Daiwa should be your one stop destination for sushi and enjoyment. The dÃ©cor is modern, friendly staff, and tasty food; what more can you ask for? The prices are more than reasonable. My favorite dish there would have to be the Hokkaido Chirashi or the Grilled Sushi Imperial because they consist of big portions of fish and it taste different than just ordinary sashimi; maybe because they use extremely fresh fish! Not only the sashimi is delectable, but the rolls are also well made such as the Southern Belle, TnT, Mango Salmon Special. Even the food from the kitchen is on par, but the concentration is more on the sushi bar. My only complaint is sometimes it gets really HOT; so I advise you to request a seat somewhere in the back. Other than that, I have never had any problem with this restaurant, so I don't think you would have any either.
(4)
Tuvy N.

I like the variety of the menu and the interior of the restaurant. The fish tasted fresh and overall, I was satisfied with my meal. I had the Imperial grilled sashimi, Two Faced roll, the Gulf (?) Roll, and baked mussels. The Imperial grilled sashimi consists of a big portion of salmon, white tuna, scallop, and shrimp. I prefer my sashimi straight raw rather than grilled, but it wasn't bad. The Two Faced roll was recommended by the server and he said it's a popular dish. I enjoyed it also! I asked for sauce (wasabi and spicy mayo?) on the side since I can't eat anything wasabi-flavored. I originally ordered the Marine Roll which has scallops, but they ran out, so I ordered the Gulf (sorry I'm not sure if it's the name) Roll instead. I also enjoyed this roll. The baked mussels was nothing out of the ordinary. I use it as a topping for my sushi rolls. Service was kind of slow and the food seemed to take its time getting to our table, but it maybe because there was only one server during the lunch shift. I would eat here again to try the other dishes!
(3)
Rob D.

It is true this place seems to be in an odd location. However, once found, it certainly is worth the effort to go out of your way. I've eaten at many different Japanese places throughout the city and every time I find a favorite one, it is hard pressed to find another. Daiwa has surpassed my expectations on all levels. Their dÃ©cor is chic, fresh, and inviting. The menu is extensive and you will need some time to choose. They have several menus, including a colorful, picture spread of their selected rolls and specials. It will make your eyes bigger than your stomach. While contemplating your order, you can sit back at enjoy their variety of specialty cocktails, beer, or fine sakes. I particularly enjoy their sakes. The fixation I have about this place is the friendliness of the staff. Even at their busiest times, I felt like I was being waited on hand-and-foot. I've been here in a group of eight and the fast and friendly service was the same. They are always eager to please and readily available to offer you menu suggestions. While there, I met the owner and we pleasantly conversed for some time. The owner was indulgent about his menu offerings, as I discussed about other Japanese restaurants in the area. I was given superb samplings of the owner's recommendation on unique rolls and sakes, gratis! Needless to say, I was overly impressed and jubilant. This place is a wonderful place to eat, not only because of the deliciously fresh food but the gracious staff makes it a more pleasant dining experience. Only place to get exciting sushi in the West Bank!
(5)
Tammy V.

If I was not from the West Bank, Daiwa would have been hard to find. It's tucked away in a shopping complex without much pizazz to draw in customers. BUT after eating there once, I had to come back. The decor of the restaurant is very trendy compared to the other Japanese restaurants in the vicinity. I've tried the ceviche salad. This dish is so cheap for all the fish you get in it. I also tried the Volcano Roll and the Dynamite Roll. Both rolls were good as well. Only complaint is that I found some fish bones in a piece of my Dynamite Roll. It wasn't a big deal for me, but would be a turn off for my other customers. My second time there, I tried the Kimchee Udon. It was fabulous! I would definitely recommend this to anyone who can take a little bit of heat. I also tried the Tsurai Roll. This roll was decent but lacked a few elements. Inside the roll was majority snowcrab and a tiny bit of spicy tuna. It was wrapped in soy paper and topped with a seared tuna, a dot of chili sauce, and a drizzle of some kind of sauce. Overall it was not my favorite. If I were to order it again, I would add cucumbers or something with a crunchy texture so the roll isn't so mushy when eaten.
(4)
Uyen V.

Kim chi udon and salmon tar tar. Nom nom nom. Sushi is decent.
(4)
Ellanzia W.

I like it the sushi is good. I was not a big fan of sushi before but now I want it all the time. I love their special crunchy roll. The service is great I always enjoy my food here.
(4)
J T.

Food was okay. Management was good and attentive.
(3)
Bill C.

Ceviche was excellent, and very fresh as was all the sushi. Tako was great. Good service and selection as well
(4)
Lauren H.

Best sushi in NOLA, not just the westbank (which it is also). The staff is always very helpful and nice. I love the ambiance and decor of the place, it is small but that doesn't bother me any. The Marrero Roll and the Spicy City Roll are must haves. Try Daiwa once, and you will never go back to any other sushi restaurant!!
(5)
Sherry W.

DELICIOUS!!! I absolutely loved the sushi and the atmosphere!!! I can't believe this is on the WEST BANK!!! Truly worth the drive over there from the French Quarter--- I highly recommend this!!!!!
(5)
Jenny N.

My favorite sushi joint! I am in love with the Kimchi Yaki Udon..I'm not gonna lie, I definitely attempted to make this & it did not taste like Daiwa's. Theirs is so flavorful, mouth watering & just plain yummy! My bf always get it for me because I tend to crave for this A LOT. It's spicy, yet the seafood balances out the spice. I've tasted plenty of the sushi there, but my favorite is the Samurai Roll. It contains raw fish, snow crab, rice wrapped around with rice paper & shrimp on top. I usually add cream cheese to it. I'm not a crazy sushi person, so I guess you can say I like to eat the same thing over & over. I hate trying new sushi so I guess that's why I've been stuck on the Samurai Roll.
(4)
Ashley Y.

If you are in the Westbank area, it would probably take you about 15 minutes or even less to reach Daiwa. Lapalco basically connects to everywhere in the Westbank, so you are probably riding down this boulevard more than you think. The sign is a little hard to see since there is a tree blocking it, but if you are familiar with French Riviera or Dollar General, then you would have no problem finding it. Once you step inside of the restaurant, you will fall in love with the decorations of this place! As a matter of fact, the owners designed this place themselves. The first time I walked into this place, I noticed how nice and clean it looked. As soon as I stepped foot, I noticed that there was this tree that glowed with pink lights. It might be hard to see at first since it is small and on the floor. I wanted to steal it. Honest. Also, the lights hanging from above are just fabulous! There are comfy booths, small tables (which can be put together so simply), and the sushi bar. Everything appeared so nicely. I loved how the background music consisted of songs from their culture, maybe, and even songs that I have heard on the radio. I noticed that they have music from my favorite K-pop group, Big Bang. GOTTA LOVE IT! This was such a comfortable and trendy environment. It's so stylish. The staff are extremely friendly and are willing to do just about anything to meet your needs. Since I am so picky, I eat only a few things. However, after listening to others rant and rave about their foods, I am positive that the menu offers a lot more. As for something to taste, I would definitely recommend the Australian Lobster Roll. This roll is almost healthy and absolutely wonderful. Inside, there is a piece of deep-fried lobster, snowcrab, crab meat, and greens. It is wrapped with soy paper and topped with smelt roe. Sometimes, depending on which plate the chef prepares it on, the eel and spicy mayo sauce is either drizzled on top or drizzled fancily on the side. I always eat this and every time I do, it is magnificent! You can't go wrong. The hibachi rice is good. There are three kinds: shrimp, BBQ eel, and scallop. Since I am not a fan of any of the main ingredients, I was able to substitute the shrimp for beef and chicken. I am sure if you want just vegetables for the kids or even yourself, they are able to do that. I keep hearing great things about the popular Kimchee Seafood Udon, Black Cod, Ceviche salad, Escolar Roll, Two Face Roll, and the Daiwa Special Roll. I am sure you will love these things unless you are just super picky about how things taste. If you do not seem to be too interested in these items, there are a lot of more options! I almost forgot to tell you about the new roll that just came out! I do not eat anything raw, so this roll made it happen for me. It is called the Spicy City Roll. Inside, there is crawfish, snowcrab, avocado, and Jalapenos! Also, the wrap is seaweed on the inside and deep-fried on the outside. It is a big roll, so you may share this roll with others. It was delish! My favorite drinks/desserts are the strawberry yogurt and milky green tea. You can drink these while you eat, if you want. I would recommend Daiwa to anyone because the service is great and you can't complain about decent, inexpensive dining. I don't mind the visit.
(5)
Sophia N.

Is it me or was I the only one having a bad experience with the squid?It tasted burnt to me.We had the crab roll and that tasted nasty also.The rice kept falling everywhere!They surely didn't roll it up nicely enough.The only decent thing the were the scallops to bad there was only 5 of them.Other then the food being bad the place is really nice!And the prices are good also.
(2)
Tim P.

I've heard good reviews of this restaurant, so I decided to take my mom to lunch and give Daiwa a try. The decor inside the restaurant is really nice for a westbank sushi restaurant. Although it was really bright during lunch, I could tell that this place would have a really pretty ambiance during dinner time when the place is darker. We were greeted very politely at the door. My mom even commented on how our waitress had a great energy to her and how she seemed to be genuinely sweet. (I believe her name was Christina). I thought it was pretty cool how the menus here had loads of pictures, which made ordering extra easy. After receiving my Coke in this tiny little bottle, we decided to start our meal off with the Crispy Tofu, Butter and Garlic Scallops, and an order of the Kimchee Udon Noodles. The Crispy Tofu wasn't very crispy at all. It was kind of soggy and there was nothing really special about it although it was kinda cool how those thin flakes that is drizzled on top of the tofu seemed to be moving or something. (Don't ask me why I ordered tofu in a sushi restaurant). That was my mistake, so I won't really count that one against them. The scallops on the other hand were perfectly seared and seasoned and was topped off with those stringy mushrooms. I actually prefer the scallops to be plated over a bed of greens the way Rock N Sake does it, but the stringy mushrooms wasn't bad at all. The Kimchee Udon Noodles was the BOMB though! I plan on coming back to this place just for the Kimchee Udon Noodles. It is a little pricey though at $9 a bowl and the portion was pretty small. I decided to try the Australian Lobster roll and the Cowboy roll. I was a little disappointed with the Lobster roll because quite a few of my friends suggested that roll. I thought it was a little weird to roll some lettuce into the roll. I felt like the lettuce was overpowering and sort of took away from the roll. Now that I think about it, I don't know why I didn't just pick the lettuce out to see how it would taste without it? *Brainfart* The Cowboy roll was good but not great. We only ordered two rolls, so I can't judge the place based on 2 rolls. It was partly my fault for venturing out and trying different combinations on the sushi rolls. I definitely plan on trying more rolls the next time I come back for their Kimchee Udon Noodles. I also plan on coming back at dinner time to experience the moody lighting. =)
(4)
Don H.

Fresh fish great rolls!
(5)
Laura M.

You won't be disappointed! Please give this place a try next time you're in the mood for sushi. Our neighbor highly recommended it and we are so glad he did because it was the best sushi we've had since we moved here from baton rouge. It went beyond our expectations in every category, great food, great atmosphere, and a staff that makes you feel like family. We've been many times and always leave happy. give it a shot!
(5)
Lan T.

my new fave sushi place! worth driving 25 mins for!
(5)

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Address : 5033 Lapalco Blvd,Ste B6
Marrero, LA, 70072
Phone (504) 875-4203
Website https://www.daiwasushi.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Best Nights : Mon, Wed, Fri
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Daiwa

5033 Lapalco Blvd,Ste B6, Marrero, LA, 70072

Daiwa Menu

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