We had our first visit here last night and it was way better than I expected! The atmosphere inside is exquisite, huge fish tanks, beautiful chandelier and an amazing sushi bar are just a few of the details that stand out. The service was amazing and last but certainly not least the food was...WoW! The sushi was so fresh I could still smell ocean on it. We had both rolls and sashimi and, though there are great sushi restaurants in the area this was hands down the best. They also have hibachi tables in the back which we are excited to try next time. I hate to let everyone know how great this place is because I kinda want to keep it to myself but you all deserve to experience this for yourselves! It's addicting! Be prepared!
(5)
Lulu R.
The food was wonderful. Best gyoza I've ever had and my sushi was exactly how I wanted it. The service on the other hand, was terrible. Our waiter acted very differently towards us as compared to his other tables. He came to get out plates when we were finished eating and he asked if we were done. I told him I was and that the food was great. He looked at me and told me that he didn't ask how the food was, he asked if we were finished. We heard him saying at another table that he "just didn't care at all" about his job. He might have been joking with them, but his attitude towards us was not a friendly one. Great food, terrible waiter.
(4)
Carrie M.
REVIEW UPDATE: I came in again during their happy hour. WOW. Many rolls under 3$ and HALF PRICE DRINKS. I ordered 3 rolls, spicy dynamite, snow crab, and sweet potato. The rolls were rolled tightly and very fresh. One glass of wine and my check was $12.....GO NOW AND BRING YOUR FRIENDS! That happy hour is the best I have EVER seen.
(5)
Tuyet P.
Little Tokyo's hibachi is much better in my opinion. Their chefs are very entertaining than the ones here. Fancy place, but atmosphere is so dull. Traditional sushi tastes average. However, I just hate the fact that many Japanese sushi restaurants are open and own by so many Chinese people nowadays. It feels like a scam. I am not racist or anything, I just prefer my food authentic to its finest.
Such a great find!! Great food. Nice owners and servers. Clean. Happy hour is awesome too!
(5)
Ann N.
The bf and I decided to give this place a try after reading all the wonderful reviews from yelp. We came in around 8ish on a Sunday evening. Besides for the one family in the hibachi room, we were the only other customers in entire dining area. We were greeted immediately and seated at a booth. The decor inside looked quite lovely with fresh flowers on each table. However, I didn't get that Japanese-ish vibe. Restaurant decor reminded me of this Mediterranean Greek restaurant I once went to. Our waiter was nice and polite. I started out ordering a spicy shrimp soup,salmon pizza appetizer and bf order his entree, which was an unagi don. After looking at the menu for a few more minutes I decided to get the salmon teriyaki entree. Jumbo shrimp spicy soup-Taste like tom yum soup. Got a nice tangy spicy flavor. Two shrimps and loaded with golden mushrooms(my fav). $3.50 Unagi Don-Came with house ginger salad,clear osumashi soup, and white rice. My bf is very particular about sauces so he always request for sauce on side on any dish. Luckily he did bc the eel sauce was not good compare to most places. It didn't have the sweet taste that we're accustomed to. Taste like plain hoisen sauce :/ Salmon Teriyaki-Include salad,soup,and white rice. We both didn't care for the clear soup. Taste like water, flavorless. Maybe needed more hon-dashi and salt perhaps? I liked the house ginger salad. Vegetables were fresh and crunchy. Ginger dressing sweet and fruity. I ate all my salad and his salad too.Y'all can tell I liked the salad huh? Lol. The amount of salmon fish was plentiful and cooked perfectly. However, I only got half bowl of white rice which was hardly reasonable. I would understand if I ordered from the lunch menu that this amount of rice is reasonable. But I ordered from the dinner menu so shouldn't it be right to get a full bowl of rice? Midway through eating I realized I never received my salmon pizza appt that I ordered. Our waiter came by to see how we were doing and I mentioned to him I never got the salmon pizza. He said I never ordered it!!!???!!! Untrue. The salmon pizza was the first thing I order and I even pointed to the item on the menu at the time. My bf heard me say it too but I didn't wanted to cause trouble so I just let it go. To sum everything up I enjoyed the food minus the soup. Service was lacking. Ambiance lovely and quiet. I would probably go back to eat but not anytime soon.
(3)
Moondusterr B.
Went there for lunch and this place is pretty big. However, we were only 1 of 3 tables in the place so that was awkward. We didn't do the hibachi because I would hate to make the chef put on a show just for 2 of us. We had the BBQ Squid steak for an appetizer, Seaweed salad (best taste and presentation I've ever had, other places just throw it in a plain bowl.) We got a specialty roll for an entree which was the "Rocky Roll" it had cooked scallops on top which were incredible. I really hope people start coming to this place because it seems they tried really hard to make it a beautiful place and their food is a notch above the rest. Please go support this place.
(5)
Mason R.
My girlfriend and I tried this place because its in the neighborhood, but she's very picky about her sushi. She thought it was fresh and tasty and I thought it was very reasonably priced. The decoration and atmosphere was very modern. Our booth had a very high back which provided privacy and cut out neighboring conversation. Our waitstaff was very quick and never left our cups dry. I can see this business is bound for success and I can't wait to go back for hibachi!
(5)
Sean B.
Hands down the best service I've ever received!!! It was a slower night for them but they were awesome. Food was good and very fresh. The portions are a good size too. Happy hour sushi, small plates and apps start at like $2. We sat at the Hitachi with my two little boys (6 and 2). At first my boys were being a pain. Several staff came to entertain, distract, and even help feed them. Never ever ever have I seen this. Chef Kenny on the grill was fun and got the boys cheering. Our server Jing was super sweet. She stayed close and was on point. She even played with the kids at the fish tank. I did not get who I assume was the host/owner's name. She hugged on my son and helped he finish his dinner. That is a hard thing to do! Beautiful dinning rooms, clean, good food and reasonable prices even without the happy hour prices. Especially that happy hour menu. Great job to everyone there. Sorry for making a mess. We will be going again soon. Ive been in the restaurant business a long time and I wish I had a staff so wonderful! Thanks so much! Please try this place out for yourself.
(5)
Kim L.
The presentation and taste were amazing, and the decor is stunning. With the look of the place, I would expect the prices to be astronomical, but they were comparable to other sushi places in the neighborhood. Can't wait to go back for hibachi soon.
(5)
Cynthia L.
Great service, beautiful interior, and fab food!
(5)
Blake B.
I was at lakeside mall, hungry as heck, and remembered this place and damn, I'm so happy I did. First visit ever tonight and I was cruising solo. Typically I'll do this when my girlfriend is away: go to a nice restaurant by myself and go big; sip on a few bomb ass drinks, and generally chill out. And sushi, as we all know, is the best, so there I was. David was my server AND the bartender.. And I feel sorry if he doesn't serve you, because he knew everything. I basically let him do the ordering - based on whatever I was into. So I said spicy and raw fishy and he recommended the Daniel Roll and the Salmon Zest (maybe?).. Both of them were so delicious. The salmon zest, which is riceless, was so tender and awesome. And the Daniel was a big fat boy of a roll, which means leftovers, that I forgot about until just now. Yes. The best part was the drinkage. I told David I was a big White Russian fan and he delivered big time. Small, but so frothy and perfect. So a quick dessert drink before my salty fish dinner, classic style. And then to pair with the spicy sushi, he whipped up a kind of cucumber, cilantro, slightly sour cocktail. It was so fresh and so good, and worked as intended with the spice.. I'm quite sure he could whip up any custom request you could throw at him, or let him recommend something based on your tastes. He knows what's up! Can't wait to come back! 10 outta 10 fresh, authentic, badass sushi and amazing cocktails and excellent service.
(5)
Jessica S.
First time here and I will definitely be back. Don't be thrown off by the cheesy exterior signage (sorry Akira) because this place is first class. Once you cross the marble threshold you will feel as if you've been transported to your own personal sushi/hibachi palace of wonder. The interior design motif along with the food plating is exquisite. This place is taking Fat City to the next level. You must go experience it for yourself!
(5)
Amelia R.
Love this place the happy hour is great for a good deal. The food is awesome as well as the service. I love the onion soup and spring rolls. I usually get the teriyaki chicken, or a shrimp tempura appetizer. Both are delicious. The service is awesome as well! Decor is pretty cool with the little courtyards filled with plants.
(5)
Chelcie L.
Don't let the empty parking lot fool you! This sushi restaurant is exquisite and is the only sushi restaurant in Fat City that performs hibachi meals too. I can not comment on the quality of the hibachi side but I have frequented the sushi side. Let me start off by describing the restaurant. The outer of the restaurant is nice with Wisteria growing over an arched trellis, with lovely landscaping and the quite large rainbow LED Akira sign shines on the outer wall. When you walk in it's a very classy setting immediately my eyes are drawn to the beautiful crystal chandeliers and the exotic fresh and salt water tanks. The rear of the restaurant features a unique outdoor looking setting with sky lighting behind large panes of glass and a fountain surrounded by luscious green vines and other plants. All on the sushi side. The other side of the restaurant is where the hibachi goers enjoy there meal with several tables available. Now on to the food. I haven't found anything that I don't like on the menu. I liked there unique take on some of my favorite dishes: crab Rangoon is fried immitation crab with cream cheese and jalapeno, tuna tataki served with a wasabi sauce. The specialty rolls are exquisite (don't remember all the ones I've eaten, but it was a lot and all were savory). The lunch specials are a great deal (under 10$) and include 2 rolls from a list served with a noodle salad (although co-workers found the noodle salad a little dry the other day), or the chicken or salmon teriyaki with roll, or large fried pork chop with roll all served with choice of garden salad or clear/miso soup. Tried my first mo-chi desert here; green tea and vanilla. Of course the green tea was my favorite but my boyfriend enjoyed the vanilla too. Why the one star? Bathroom had funny smell and the first time I went the server was pretty lousy (and we were the only people there!), but all subsequent visits have resulted in nothing but a good experience. I highly recommend if you are looking for a new sushi restaurant in this area to give it a try. Enjoy.
(4)
Maria L.
Great addition to Fat City! We had the hibachi dinner which consisted of the filet mignon; great flavor and super tender. The black cod; dynamite texture and succulent. A great catch! The sushi was super fresh, creative and priced very well. I was very much impressed with the professional level of service and the attention to detail. Overall an excellent value, superior quality food and service!
(5)
Marissa N.
Took my 8 year old here for hibachi and was not disappointed! Food was very good, but the chef at the table put on a great show and my son had a fun time. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Jolie F.
Incredibly delicious! Gorgeous atmosphere! Super fresh sushi. Wonderful service. Hands down, best sushi restaurant in Metairie.
(5)
Jennifer T.
Can't believe how great this place is - walking in and seeing the unearthly decor (and beautiful, extravagant fishtank), not to mention the fresh, modern Japanese cuisine, I'd expect much higher prices! In reality, this place is quite a bargain, and the new hibachi chef is hilarious and great. Not too salty (which is pretty rare), just tasty! I highly recommend the scallops, and the Japanese tea (toasty authentic flavor).
(5)
Anna T.
My bf and I went here for lunch to get the hibachi since I wanted to try something new. No one was there at the hibachi just us which made me a bit uncomfortable haha. Well inside was nicely decorated. Usually when I go to a hibachi bar they would give me soup and salad on the house but here I think only gave u soup. When the chef came out the meat portion was quite small I think. The food was a bit really salty like too much of soy sauce maybe. But other than that it was ok. I really like how it's not that smokey in the restaurant after cooking it so that's a plus.
(3)
Tony T.
Very amazing hibachi. Food was excellent. Hibachi and sushi 5/5 stars. Service was exceptional. The owner and manager both checked up on our table multiple times. Very warm atmosphere. Did I mention that the Hibachi was stellar. Price is very reasonable given the upscale feel of the interior. Spotless kitchen, spotless bar and hibachi dining. Highly recommended! I've been to many hibachi grills in Chicago, and this one is just as good, and surprisingly well-priced!
(5)
Tegan L.
This place is great - the decor is really lovely and the prices are average for sushi. We had a very romantic date and really enjoyed the beautiful aquarium.
(5)
Kenna S.
This is a beautiful restaurant. Kenny the chef was very entertaining. Our appetizers were edamame and butterfly kiss--no complaints very good. Also had the hibachi salmon and hibachi filet mignon and lobster--VERY good too. The staff was very friendly. Very nice place to go celebrate for special occasions.
(5)
Jimmy N.
This was our second time to Akira! The Sushi was super fresh. We had the "crazy dog" it was fabulous, probably one of the best rolls I've ever had anywhere. We also had the "cherry blossom" roll, it was also delicious. Last visit we had Hibachi, and the chef was absolutely funny and made the show extra fun for the kids! We will definitely go back!!
(5)
Greg R.
Really great sushi and sushi chef. If you haven't been since January it's a complete new menu. The Cowboy and the Boston rolls were fabulous! Get the nachos too! I highly recommend and I just moved from SF so I know good sushi.
(5)
Chris O.
This restaurant is VERY good! I did not try the hibachi, but have eaten the sushi and yummy appetizers 8 different times now. First, let me say that I've tried sushi at almost every restaurant in Metairie and New Orleans. I've been eating it for years and eat it 4-5 times a week. The place is clean and decorated very nicely. The owners and staff are very nice and appreciative. The sushi is fresh, well presented, generously portioned and reasonably priced. They have a great Happy Hour menu! Definitely a thumbs up and worth trying!
(5)
Jed M.
When I walk into a Japanese restaurant I expect to be greeted the Japanese way, but all the Asians here are Chinese and they know no Japanese. The decor also looks somewhat Chinese. It's way too bright with white everywhere. Not the romantic, dark and cozy rooms that I expect from Japanese. Where are the paper lanterns? Anyway, the food was sub-par. Not worth what we paid.
(2)
Fuk Y.
Salmon Teriyaki was good. I liked the sauce. Tempura veggies were also good. Eggrolls was good with the eggrolls sauce. So I mean Eggroll sauce was very good and the eggrolls were just OK.
(4)
Artie H.
This place was awesome. Had the habachi with the family. Chef had us entertained the whole time. Food was excellent. Definitely going back soon.
(5)
Johnathan N.
I had a good time dining in here not too long ago. The sushi was good, the fried rice was weird to me, but I guess that's because I'm not used to having it that way. Our server was new but she did a fine job. The wine I ordered took a while to come out but it was nothing to get upset over. I'll be back soon!
(3)
Joni H.
I went here for lunch last week with my niece and 3 year old daughter. I loved the service and food. My daughter had a wonderful time and was treated so sweet! I will be going back here again soon!
(5)
Manny C.
Great place good sushi, not run by Japanese. Just kidding decent spot but wasn't packed at all. Just a bit alarmingly.
(4)
Tim W.
Stopped by for lunch today. Sushi was absolutely delicious as was the miso soup. Wait staff was friendly and prompt. I will definitely be going back again. With lunch only $7.95 it's very reasonable and right around the corner from the mall!
(4)
Erica F.
So glad we happened to drive by and see this new sushi place. Very fresh sushi, great selection of drinks. I am excited to go back for hibachi the tables are nice and the guests looked like they enjoyed the food. It was not crowded for a Saturday evening, but soon it will be once people try it out. Delicious!!!
(5)
Gerald H.
This place is right across Dragos so traffic can be a bit crazy during dinner. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful done. The place was empty which was surprising. We started off with some california rolls, dragon roll, and gyoza. Be warned all the portions are pretty large. The gyoza came with 6 pieces. The dragon roll was 12 I think. We also order the Chirashi, pineapple fried rice and chicken yakitori. Way to much food but we ate all the sushi and took home the rice and chicken. Overall the food was good. The ahi and salmon tasted fresh and had good color. I probably wouldn't order the chirashi again and just opt for ahi sashimi. The service was okay. She didn't know what a Sapporo beer was and pronounced gyoza as gonza. She was knew there and apologized. The place had a benihana style hibachi room but no one was in there. It's a really big restaurant so when it's empty it's kind of awkward. Maybe we'll come back for lunch. The fish was pretty awesome. #nola #noladining
(4)
Caitlin K.
The interior is absolutely stunning. Our waiter was perfect. The sushi was amazing and we got half off our bottle of wine. Prices were great, too!
(5)
Susan R.
We left before we had a chance to try any food. We were sitting directly in front of the sushi chef and were ignored for 20 minutes. Had a wonderful experience at Shogun!!! The edited version- it was a Friday night around 7 and there was only ONE sushi chef. He was so busy with the orders for the tables that he had no time to attend to us.
(1)
K D.
Excellent drinks and rolls. We had a rock n roll and crunchy roll and they were so fresh and delicious that we ordered seconds! The drinks were mixed to perfection although the glass was a little small. Nice ambience as well.
(4)
Rokaya G.
This place was amazing! The service was great and the waiter was hilarious (Kenny). I just wish they served virgin cocktails/margaritas. Other than that, it was a blast!
(5)
Liz B.
This place is so so so good. The staff is extremely kind and the dining room is very nice. I have been a long time little Tokyo fan, but not since the new location opened. We just saw Akira on yelp and decided to try something new. I have never been so happy with sushi! Very fresh and everything we got was amazing!! So excited about a new place !!!
(5)
Steph S.
This place was depressing... Start to finish. Waiter was completely bored by his job. Food was bland. Sushi was warm. Workers were sitting around looking like they'd rather be at the dentist then here.
(1)
Ryan S.
Akira sits in the heart of Fat City in the same location of an old Italian place that closed a while back. Do not let the more humble outside fool you - this place is absolutely stunning on the inside. A full bar compliments the white linen tablecloth feel of an upscale plus dining experience. Unfortunately, this experience was only for takeout, but the service, was exceptional and very personable. This time was all about hibachi - a full and diverse menu is offered and is well-executed. The food was fresh, hot, well-portioned, and had good flavor. No complaints here. I look very forward to returning for a full dining experience in the near future. Please support this place and keep it open!
(4)
Helen L.
Came here for lunch and will not return. I had the shrimp with curry noodles. It was ok but it did not come with salad or any veggies considering it was a lunch special. My husband ordered the grilled salmon teriyaki lunch special. It was not very good. He also ordered the Rainbow Roll. I was surprised at the size of the roll. It was very small. We typically order this roll from other restaurants and it's pretty large. As for the service: it was odd also. Our waiter came to our table and asked if we were ready. We ordered our drinks then he just stood there ready to take our order. Wow talk about odd. It took a little long to get our food and when we did it was not pipping hot. When we were leaving the host did not say anything. Again wow. The price was a little high for the Rainbow Roll. Each of our lunch dish was $9.95. It was ok. Sorry but we will not return. Too many good restaurants around.
(3)
Therese O.
It was the first time for my Dad and some of my siblings at a Hibachi restaurant. We were able to call ahead and reserve the table. The Hibachi was GREAT! They use very minimal butter compared to other Hibachi places I have tried. The Chef, Kenny, was GREAT! very entertaining and made sure to offer pieces of the steak and fish to my family members to ensure it was cooked to their liking. The portions were just perfect. My brothers had sushi and thoroughly enjoyed it. The decor is beautiful! The Hibachi tables are seated with very comfortable chairs and ample room to accommodate my family of 8. Overall, it was a great experience. It was fairly empty while we were there so I hope more people begin to come in and enjoy the great food and atmosphere.
(5)
Eliza W.
Got back to NOLA and came here for dinner first thing off the plane! Amazing that they remember me even though I only come once every few months. And complimentary gold flakes on my sushi???? I think yes.
(5)
Edward W.
Again, another great experience at Akira. This is now my fifth time here. If you haven't been here in a while, you'll notice an updated menu. Usually menu changes aren't a good thing, but man this revamp has been quite a treat. Kevin and the staff really tried a different approach to their flavor combinations, and it works! Spicy Girl Roll: crunchy and hot. Indo Volcano: sweet, creamy, and all sorts of deliciousness. Folks, if you haven't gone here yet, you have to make a trip. You won't be disappointed with the food and the stellar atmosphere. I give 2 thumbs up for Akira. I'd give another 2 if I had more hands. Alas, i only have three ;)
(5)
Christy F.
I would give the food 4 stars and the service 2 stars .... At best. If it weren't for Kenny the hibachi chef I would never return! We walked in to a very clean and spacious restaurant and were seated at a large, beautiful hibachi table. The night started off badly, however, as I had to ask for my drink 3 times and it was not brought to the table until 40 minutes later. Our waiter seemed like he did not want to be there at all and was very unenthusiastic. I dined with my sister and we ordered both hibachi and sushi. The salad with ginger dressing was very crisp and fresh. The soup was average. The hibachi shrimp, steak, veggies, and fried rice were also very good but *warning* if you do not like teriyaki sauce you need to tell the cook ahead of time!! Most of the hibachi food has teriyaki on it. My only complaint on hibachi is that we did not get the seafood or ginger sauce that is usually served with the meal. Also nothing was flipped into the air so we could catch it in our mouths as we had seen done at the tables next to us (we were the last table of the night so I can kind of understand being tired and overlooking these). Kenny the chef was very upbeat and fun and had a great personality though! The sushi was some of the best in town. My sister and I got the crab roll (perfect!) and Crazy dog roll. She wanted hers as an appetizer and they brought it out in the middle of the meal. I wanted mine as a meal and got it as an appetizer. Other sushi orders with the party next to us were also messed up or incorrect. I would probably return because of the food quality, in hopes that the service has gotten better. With a little work this restaurant could provide an amazing experience. My sister, however, was appalled at the service and will never return (she wrote her own review on how she was treated). I think maybe the whole staff should drink some of the energy drinks that Kenny had obviously been drinking and then it would be a good night!! :)
(3)
Amanda T.
Hands down our favorite sushi restaurant. Delicious food, awesome service, and best of all SUPER CLEAN. No need to eat at any other sushi place in Metairie.
(5)
Thanh N.
This is a must-try japanese restaurant in metairie. The atmosphere is calming and the decor is absolutely lovely, yet the prices are so reasonable. Above all, most of the foods are tasty, and the chef takes some REAL effort to decorate his dishes. we came here three times, and have been amazed all the time. Theres only this last time we encountered a problem: the squid steak came out a little cold. We didnt make a big deal out of it, just gently reminded the waiter and still enjoy the tasty squid. At the end of the meal, the manager came out to apologize and offer us a half-price discount on the squid. Conclusion: awesome food, awesome decoration, and awesome customer care. thumbs up!
(5)
Davide S.
Great food, good atmosphere. There were only two other groups besides us so it wasn't loud or packed. Friendly service from our waiter as well. Such decor. Much curtain. Very sushi. Such lovely. Wow.
(4)
Isabella F.
Went here for happy hour on a Wednesday. It was surprisingly very great and a yelp find. We walked in and only one other table was occupied, so we had our pick to all the tables. We chose to get sushi, but they also have hibachi. They have great prices for appetizers and the standard rolls, and all drinks were half off! The hostess was hilarious and our server, I forgot his name but he was a white male probably in his thirties, was funny as well and great at suggestive selling our drinks. I got the cucumber infused drink and my friends each got the kiwi one and the berry acai one. They were very light and refreshing, something you would probably get at a spa. Regardless, it was perfect for a hot day! At first glance, the place was beautiful. Once you sat down it almost seemed like the place was an old Greek restaurant. There is a windowed green house area along the back wall with a nice fountain. The bar had beautiful upholstery on the bottom. All individual pieces of decoration were great but all together was missing something to link them all together. Overall though it was nice. Our appetizers came out and we got the vegetable spring rolls, crab ragoons, and the gyoza. All off the happy hour menu. All were very delicious. The crab ragoons were a little smaller than I'm used to. We then got our specialty rolls (not on HH) and I ordered the Boston Roll to celebrate my roots. It was delicious. However I forgot to ask if the crab was artificial so when they placed it down I asked and the server asked the chef if it was real crab (I'm allergic to shellfish). There was some language difficulties and then server said yes because it was from Korea. I thought that was odd but they quickly took my plate away to make me something I can eat. However once the chef fully understood what I was talking about he said I could eat it. My roll was delicious! I will definitely try it again. My only concern was that the calamari we ordered off the HH menu, that was an appetizer, came after our entrees. We almost thought we didn't order it. They said after it does take awhile. The calamari was very good. It could've used some seasonings or a sauce on the side. My friend asked for a side of spicy mayo and it worked great as a dipping sauce. Overall, very good experience. I've never gone out to eat for sushi in Metairie, I usually just stick to NOLA, but I was very surprised and will definitely go back for happy hour again!
(5)
Kris A.
The owners spared no expense in the remodel. Chandeliers, fish tanks, large leather seating, 4 hibachi tables including a huge 12 seater are some of the things coming to mind. We stopped in for a hibachi dinner one friday night in December. My first observation once seated was the position of every hibachi table were all facing the wrong way. Every seat faces a blank white wall. Wouldnt it make more sense for everyone to face into the beautiful room and feel and see the energy of all the entertaining hibachi chefs? I ordered a martini and the server had no clue what gin, vermouth or anything was. Im still not sure if I really drank what I paid for because it was one of the worst drinks ever. Comparing to the established hibachi restaurants nearby, the salad, noodles and rice were equally as good. You do have to pay extra for the noodles and rice. For some odd reason, instead of cooking the steak with soy sauce, they use eel sauce? We didnt care for it at all and will be the reason we will not return- for hibachi anyway.
(3)
Isaac P.
Please go eat here! Food is great; based on how many people I see there when I go, I am afraid this place wont last. So, I don't care about hibachi per se, but I love sushi and Japanese food. I've eaten dinner in the regular dining room once, and just got a lunch to go. Both visits, the host/hostess, waiter, bartender, etc were all exceptionally nice. Time spent waiting after ordering was quick. And most importantly, the food was great. Even better, I feel the food/quality to price ratio is well above average too. I don't consider myself cheap, but I don't like paying for low quality service or food. I feel like I get more for my money here than a lot of other places. I was also impressed by the decor and finished in the restaurant, nicely done.
(5)
Brittany S.
We waited over 30 minutes just to get a water. I tried to walk up to the bar and order and the manager told me go sit down and wait. Horrible service
(1)
May W.
YUM YUM YUM! Bought a Yelp groupon and, I was so happy to have done that. Ordered a couple of rolls: crunchy and Tootsie. Everything was fresh and soooo beautiful. I wasn't sure what was happier: my eyes, taste buds or belly. All I knew was how content and happy I was after my wonderful meal. And best of all, all you ladies (and some men) out there.....the servers are very very attractive young men that waited on everyone the night we went. It was Halloween night, and- no tricks- it was definitely a treat for my senses. Even the manager on duty that night was a handsome Asian gentleman. So maybe all the drool from our table wasn't just from the food, lol. Can't wait to go back- especially since now there's no competition from Crazy Johnnie's.
(5)
Sonya R.
This was my very first hibachi house experience and it was fun as well as very good. My entire family enjoyed every moment of it.
(5)
John T.
BLUF: Realy great atmopshere and space with great sashimi and great sushi. Place is pretty large for metairie and they dont pack the people in. very nice place but dont feel like you need to dress fancy. more than 1 hibachi booth and a sushi bar. great happy hour. $2.5 sashimi/sushi. We got the squid, octopus, whitefish, tuna, salmon and mackerel. 2 pcs each and they were all very large cuts and extremely good. this made it worth the trip in itself. we tried only sushi rolls without rice. we got 3 of the 4 offered (salmon zest, fried fish and akira roll). Salmon zest and the fried fish rolls were really good and the akira was average. they were all interesting. i would def get them again (prob not the akira). Service was very nice and seemed like he could be a guy you hang out with. That being said he wasnt all that good. We would have appreciated him letting us know which roll was which and what the sashimi cuts were. We figured it out but we shouldnt have to. Overall though, service was fine. Def one of the better sushi places in NOLA/metro area. I would go back in a heartbeat when in Metairie.
(4)
Seth H.
This is some of the best hijack I have had in a long time. The food was absolutely amazing however it was the service that really astonished me. We came with our two year old son and the staff went above and beyond to make sure we had a great experience. The atmosphere is one of the best I have seen in this town. Although it may not like amazing on the outside I would definitely recommend visiting.
(5)
Anthony Y.
I love this place. I had the crazy dog sushi, the filet mignon with shrimp hibachi, and also a steak hibachi. This place is elegantly decorated and the staff is very welcoming. I took a group of 3 out for lunch there. Parking wasn't a problem for us. The meal portions are very generous for a lunch menu. I'd definitely recommend this place for both habachi and sushi.
(5)
Kurt L.
I glanced at the rating, and showed my wife at the table you can't always go by ratings. I was looking at photos and when I saw the cool crawfish taken by Jennifer T. from Harvard Square-yelping since 2012. I noticed that in 3 years she has "objectively" reviewed ONLY this one place and visited with tips about the funny chef's, etc. on more occasions. Then I saw the photo and was like "oh", ok. So we had the hibachi and walked out of there with a $71 bill & drank water. On the other hand, there's a hibachi place by the base of Hwy 249 in Houston we visited after Katrina when we were practically homeless for $8 each during lunch. Those chef's could take a plastic bowl and flip it into their chef hat with a skillet. Our chef was like "you think I'm a magician or something ???" The food was really good. If I had scallops 2" in diameter and fillet as thick as your calf I could flip around some fried rice as well. They should visit Benihana sometime. Anyway, if I had a restaurant that nice and was making money hand over fist, guess where my kid would go to school???? HARVARD!!! and visit once a year to post all kinds of photos. For that I give them 3 stars to equal out the advantageous rating from the Asian chain letter they broadcast. YELP should crack down on that practice. Maybe a banner with beginner would force the family to go to a few other places. Just like eBay restrictions. Otherwise cheating is the result (and to think from a Harvard student?!?!?). What's next, an M.I.T blackjack club to beat the casinos?
(3)
Katie S.
So far so good for this new sushi joint in Metairie. When you first walk in, this place might make you feel a little under-dressed with all the white table cloths, stylish decor, floral table center peices, and fountain/garden sealed behind a glass wall. But don't worry, it's still Metairie, just come as you are. This place sort of amuses me in a way because the inside is NOTHING like what you would expect looking at the outside. The exterior is sort of a boxy looking odd building with few windows and a GIANT neon rainbow sign...perhaps you have noticed it? How could you not! At first you are like, "Is it a strip club? Or maybe a LGBT bar? Oh....no it's actually a REALLY swanky sushi place...interesting...." I have frequented this place several times since it opened and I hardly have anything negative so say about it. The menu is somewhat a fusion ranging from hibachi, traditional sushi rolls, some unique specialty rolls I hadn't seen before, some Chinese dishes, some Japanese dishes, and even some pad thai. I happen to know they have a great happy hour menu and they list their menu online and even provide delivery. So far I've tried: Crab Rangoons, Jumbo Spicy Shrimp Soup (amazing!), Salmon Zest Roll, Akira Roll, Soft Shell Crab Roll, O.M.G. Roll and Indo Volcano Roll. I really like that they have a few "no rice" roll options on their menu because I tend to want to skip all that rice and get right to the good stuff. If you like Tom Yum Soup and a spicy kick than I really encourage you to try the Jumbo Spicy Shrimp Soup. It's one of my favorite items on their menu, which is weird, because it is soup after all. So far the Salmon Zest Roll is my favorite and great for anyone who enjoys the "no rice" rolls like myself. The only roll I did not care for was the Indo Volcano Roll because it totally was not how I pictured it to be from the menu description (I have uploaded pictures for reference). It says "special sauce" on the menu but they don't mention that the "special sauce" they speak of is basically like an asian buffalo/bbq sauce that they literally PILE on top of the sushi. It was like sushi, and fish, and spicy buffalo sauce, and my mouth was just really confused. It was just a bit misleading and a bit too odd for me to handle but that's just my opinion. Everything else here has certainly been stellar otherwise. The service does tend to be a little on the slow side but since it is usually not very crowded (like maybe two tables actually dining at a time each time I've visited) maybe they don't feel the need to take on more staff at the moment? I always sort of wonder if this place will last due to the apparent lack of business. It is certainly not dramatically slow or slow in any way that would actually deter me from coming back. If you want a sushi place in Metairie with a lot of swanky AMBIANCE than this is certainly the place for you! Despite how fancy it looks on the inside, the prices are very reasonable and are what you would expect from mostly any sushi restaurant in the area. Perfect for a date night, or perhaps a big group for hibachi and sushi.
(4)
Nicole P.
Had the Red Scorpion roll.. 10 pieces for 14.00.. Well worth the price.. Very fresh, best sushi I've ever had.. Nola is known for its Cajun but I'll be coming back for the sushi
(5)
Anna L.
Came here with friends a while back and tried the chicken teriyaki. Chicken was reallyyyyy dry. Good service. Extra star, because we got complimentary heart-shaped sushi.
(3)
Summer W.
The atmospher there is great, quiet and with beautiful aquarium. Ordered Tempura Lunch Special, together with 3 types of recommended sushi. Personally think that the shrimp Tempura should be improved. The essential part of the Tempura is to keep the inner part fresh, keep it original taste, so it is crucial to have extremely thin crispy hull. However, the restaurant did not play good at this part. The hull is as thick as the shrimp itself. For sushi, the fruit sushi(with kiwi, mango on top) is refreshing. Other two types, sorry cannot remember the name, are tasted a little bit greasy. Nevertheless, it can be tasted that the ingredients are fresh. I think it could be difficult to keep the food fresh in this hot weather! Overall, the food there is fine. I think I will come over again. Good choice for people come to shopping at lakeside and want to have sushi.
(3)
Jonathan L.
I've been to hundreds of restaurants across the country and I can confidently say that this is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. Their service is amazing. I just recently moved in the area and decided to give this place a try. My housemate and I walked in and we were instantly greeted by Kevin. He sat us at the bar and recommended different menu items. What stood out was that he seemed to really want to get to know us rather than just earn our business. I ordered the teriyaki bento box to go and you get a TON of food. Kevin is a perfectionist in the way he stacks the food togo and how it's prepared. He even put some card board so that none of the food tilts as we carry it. I came back for the Happy Hour for post exam drinks with my medical school friends and the bartender named David was running the bar. David makes the most amazing drinks! You can just say "I like kiwi" and he'll make the most amazing drink out of kiwi for you. I told him "I would like something sweet with fruit" and he made me something with grape and it was hands down the best drink I've ever had. I wanted to order more but I was starting to get a little tipsy. We ordered a bunch of Happy hour rolls (about 10) and over 10 drinks and our entire bill was under 70 dollars. I would have easily paid 10 dollars for each drink but it came out to 3.50 each. One of the female owners also gave me a free drink because I found her lost ring on the seat. She was so grateful which was really really cute. I didn't even do much beside ask who's ring it was and she kept thanking me the entire night. --------------------------------------------------Â-------------------------------------------- Overall Summary: - The restaurant is absolutely beautifully decorated and extremely clean. They would easily be charging 30+ dollars for meals but they have extremely reasonable prices. - Their service is amazing. I feel like I personally know each member of the staff with just a couple of visits here. This is a must try if you're in New Orleans. - Their seafood is fresh, their bento box was delicious and perfectly seasoned and their drinks are perfect. - Ask for David and order "the drink with grape in it" and he will know what it is. It's an off menu drink and you won't regret ordering it. It's less than 8 dollars if you're budget conscious. - The restaurant has a little bit of a Singaporean/Chinese/Japanese fusion as you can tell in their fried rice which I really like. - Easily 5 stars and I'll definitely be back and with more friends.
(5)
Deborah M.
My absolute favorite sushi restaurant in the city!! Everything is so fresh! The staff is super friendly and the atmosphere is beautiful. I am always trying new sushi places and nothing has topped Akira. I hear Mark Wahlberg goes here a lot too! Try the Out of Control roll.. It really is out of control, amazing!
(5)
Jill D.
I was very impressed! I wasn't sure about it before going but I went once and have been back a lot. I tell everyone about this place! The food is excellent and the decor is very pretty. I haven't had the hibachi yet but plan on it.
(5)
Kay V.
My sister and I came by after shopping; searching Yelp for the closest sushi restaurant. The restaurant was super gorgeous, and the food was a solid 8.5/10. I felt like I was walking into a 4-diamond restaurant. Our server David was not quite as attentive as we like. We had to ask for plates, napkins and spicy mayo sauce. Being in the service business many years ourselves, we tried being more considerate. Overall, the sushi was fresh! I got the Akira roll bc I've been looking everywhere for a roll wrapped in rice paper wraps since one of my fav sushi place in Baton Rouge closed down. The Golden Henna was also very good. (I'm a huge salmon kind of girl. Lol) The Baked Green Mussel was delightful, although a little less on the spicy mayo and a couple more pieces of mussels would round out the dish perfectly. We also happen to come during their HAPPY HOUR. Ordered the Philadelphia Roll, Crunchy Roll and Snowcrab Roll. Any sushi chef/cook can make a specialty roll, fancy and tasty. The real test is rather or not they can make their regular rolls stand on its on. Even their regular rolls were on par. Kudos! I am not a hibachi person, but the show that was going on in the next room was quite entertaining. I might give it a try the next time I visit.
(4)
Duy H.
Beautiful decor, sushi is good, restroom clean and fresh, low price. Service is friendly and food is redicilous
(5)
Cal O.
For those coming to NoLa from out of the state and are looking for a great sushi place this restaurant is what you have been looking for. The place looks impeccable. The fish tanks add a nice touch. We came here for sushi. But the menu has many other options. We ordered shrimp and fried tempura as an appetizer . It was delicious. The vegetables tasted fresh and crunchy. Then we got our sushi. I'll definitely recommend the Crazy Dog and the Crunchy Roll. The presentation of a dish always enhances the plate. At Akira they do a great job preparing and garnishing the dishes... As soon as we took a bite, our mouth was filled with a rush of flavors and sensations that truly made us say "Yuumm". Yes, it was that tasty... Lastly, the service was one the best we have experience here in Metairie. Our waited went out of his wag to make sure we got what needed to truly have an excellent experience. We are definitely coming back to sit at the Hibachi kitchen, and that's for part two of my review... Do I recommend this place? Absolutely yes.
(5)
Brittany G.
My boyfriend and I had a delicious habachi lunch here a few weekends ago. The chef was great and the food was excellent. The lunch prices are very reasonable. We will be back!
(5)
Sire D.
Went with the bro to have a skooshi extravaganza. They didn't disappoint. We started out with the ahi tower and the sashimi salad. Both were pretty good. Then we had the volcano roll, Boston roll, the omg roll, and the crazy Dogg roll. Everything was fresh and tasty. Service was good. Atmosphere in the restaurant is nice as well. Will definitely visit again.
(5)
Samantha A.
The food is amazing..and fresh! The service at the sushi bar is the best...anything on their menu is to die for. I LOVE THE SPICY GIRL ROLL! Prices are affordable but competitive...thier hibatchi shrimp fried rice is the best around...i givebthe place five stars for everything from their decor to thier friendly staff... NOT TO MENTION the first time i went their i got an appetizer on the house! Yay me! P.s. their salmon skin salad is amazing and fresh! Its not on the menu but they will make it!
(5)
KiingFsh F.
I sat in on an early lunch and had the Hibachi - The chef was comical and pleasant, and it was a plus that he was fluent in good food- I had the steak and scallops- each was prepared perfectly. The steak was tender with a hint of pink in the center- delicious!. Scallops were golden on the outside and tender melt in your mouth center! Great job Kenny(Chef). I also had Salmon, Tuna, and escolar- cuts were perfect. The flavor, presentation and service was excellent. The restraunt has a great feel, not to stuffy, and a large bar - you should have an enjoyable experience here. worth checking out.
(4)
Jackie M.
If you don't get hibachi the service moves at an absolute glacial pace! The food is good but not good enough to wait so long! It took 10 minutes just to get our drink orders. My crab Rangoon appetizer came after my meal and it's like they were afraid to bring the check! I didn't want to be in there for another second and I felt like I could never leave! I don't recommend it.
(1)
Christine A.
Nothing to write home about. I'm from Colorado so thought surely this place would minimally be on par or better but was disappointed to say the least. No hot oil/ chili sauce? Flavorless hibachi fried rice. No sushi happy hour as in $1/per piece all day long like is common where I hale. Not great service either. Not a fan.
(2)
Beth C.
Awesome service, extremely nice staff. Great atmosphere(very fancy) with great prices! Food was delicious!!! Very good special rolls, and they are presented in a very fancy way!
(5)
Wendy H.
The service was awesome my drink was filled as soon as it got to the half way point. Beautiful atmosphere and staff very friendly. I ordered the Kirin roll and it was awesome. I will be coming back and bring friends.
(5)
Jeanne H.
The service is a little slow but the sushi is delicious. I prefer to order takeout as it always seem rather dead inside.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dessert Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Kelli J.
We had our first visit here last night and it was way better than I expected! The atmosphere inside is exquisite, huge fish tanks, beautiful chandelier and an amazing sushi bar are just a few of the details that stand out. The service was amazing and last but certainly not least the food was...WoW! The sushi was so fresh I could still smell ocean on it. We had both rolls and sashimi and, though there are great sushi restaurants in the area this was hands down the best. They also have hibachi tables in the back which we are excited to try next time. I hate to let everyone know how great this place is because I kinda want to keep it to myself but you all deserve to experience this for yourselves! It's addicting! Be prepared!
(5)Lulu R.
The food was wonderful. Best gyoza I've ever had and my sushi was exactly how I wanted it. The service on the other hand, was terrible. Our waiter acted very differently towards us as compared to his other tables. He came to get out plates when we were finished eating and he asked if we were done. I told him I was and that the food was great. He looked at me and told me that he didn't ask how the food was, he asked if we were finished. We heard him saying at another table that he "just didn't care at all" about his job. He might have been joking with them, but his attitude towards us was not a friendly one. Great food, terrible waiter.
(4)Carrie M.
REVIEW UPDATE: I came in again during their happy hour. WOW. Many rolls under 3$ and HALF PRICE DRINKS. I ordered 3 rolls, spicy dynamite, snow crab, and sweet potato. The rolls were rolled tightly and very fresh. One glass of wine and my check was $12.....GO NOW AND BRING YOUR FRIENDS! That happy hour is the best I have EVER seen.
(5)Tuyet P.
Little Tokyo's hibachi is much better in my opinion. Their chefs are very entertaining than the ones here. Fancy place, but atmosphere is so dull. Traditional sushi tastes average. However, I just hate the fact that many Japanese sushi restaurants are open and own by so many Chinese people nowadays. It feels like a scam. I am not racist or anything, I just prefer my food authentic to its finest.
(1)Tori H.
The atmosphere was incredible and a total surprise given the nondescript exterior of the place aside from their Vegas - style flashy sign. It is a really elegant place inside with fresh red roses at our booth. The fish tanks were also very clean and mesmerizing. My friend and I both had lunch specials and were the only patrons there aside from one other man at the bar. This obviously made for fast service. The prices for the lunch specials were so cheap, I felt like I was ripping the restaurant off. The total bill was $20 for two people! My chicken katsu bento box lunch special came with clear soup, salad, gyoza, fried rice, a shrimp tempura, and a slice of orange. The food was very enjoyable, and I would definitely come back. The fried rice was very unique, but still enjoyable. With respect to other Asian restaurants around the area, cafe east does not have as many side dishes with the entrée, but the entrée is bigger. My friend and I went there the day before, so that's why I'm comparing the two.
(5)Trang P.
Such a great find!! Great food. Nice owners and servers. Clean. Happy hour is awesome too!
(5)Ann N.
The bf and I decided to give this place a try after reading all the wonderful reviews from yelp. We came in around 8ish on a Sunday evening. Besides for the one family in the hibachi room, we were the only other customers in entire dining area. We were greeted immediately and seated at a booth. The decor inside looked quite lovely with fresh flowers on each table. However, I didn't get that Japanese-ish vibe. Restaurant decor reminded me of this Mediterranean Greek restaurant I once went to. Our waiter was nice and polite. I started out ordering a spicy shrimp soup,salmon pizza appetizer and bf order his entree, which was an unagi don. After looking at the menu for a few more minutes I decided to get the salmon teriyaki entree. Jumbo shrimp spicy soup-Taste like tom yum soup. Got a nice tangy spicy flavor. Two shrimps and loaded with golden mushrooms(my fav). $3.50 Unagi Don-Came with house ginger salad,clear osumashi soup, and white rice. My bf is very particular about sauces so he always request for sauce on side on any dish. Luckily he did bc the eel sauce was not good compare to most places. It didn't have the sweet taste that we're accustomed to. Taste like plain hoisen sauce :/ Salmon Teriyaki-Include salad,soup,and white rice. We both didn't care for the clear soup. Taste like water, flavorless. Maybe needed more hon-dashi and salt perhaps? I liked the house ginger salad. Vegetables were fresh and crunchy. Ginger dressing sweet and fruity. I ate all my salad and his salad too.Y'all can tell I liked the salad huh? Lol. The amount of salmon fish was plentiful and cooked perfectly. However, I only got half bowl of white rice which was hardly reasonable. I would understand if I ordered from the lunch menu that this amount of rice is reasonable. But I ordered from the dinner menu so shouldn't it be right to get a full bowl of rice? Midway through eating I realized I never received my salmon pizza appt that I ordered. Our waiter came by to see how we were doing and I mentioned to him I never got the salmon pizza. He said I never ordered it!!!???!!! Untrue. The salmon pizza was the first thing I order and I even pointed to the item on the menu at the time. My bf heard me say it too but I didn't wanted to cause trouble so I just let it go. To sum everything up I enjoyed the food minus the soup. Service was lacking. Ambiance lovely and quiet. I would probably go back to eat but not anytime soon.
(3)Moondusterr B.
Went there for lunch and this place is pretty big. However, we were only 1 of 3 tables in the place so that was awkward. We didn't do the hibachi because I would hate to make the chef put on a show just for 2 of us. We had the BBQ Squid steak for an appetizer, Seaweed salad (best taste and presentation I've ever had, other places just throw it in a plain bowl.) We got a specialty roll for an entree which was the "Rocky Roll" it had cooked scallops on top which were incredible. I really hope people start coming to this place because it seems they tried really hard to make it a beautiful place and their food is a notch above the rest. Please go support this place.
(5)Mason R.
My girlfriend and I tried this place because its in the neighborhood, but she's very picky about her sushi. She thought it was fresh and tasty and I thought it was very reasonably priced. The decoration and atmosphere was very modern. Our booth had a very high back which provided privacy and cut out neighboring conversation. Our waitstaff was very quick and never left our cups dry. I can see this business is bound for success and I can't wait to go back for hibachi!
(5)Sean B.
Hands down the best service I've ever received!!! It was a slower night for them but they were awesome. Food was good and very fresh. The portions are a good size too. Happy hour sushi, small plates and apps start at like $2. We sat at the Hitachi with my two little boys (6 and 2). At first my boys were being a pain. Several staff came to entertain, distract, and even help feed them. Never ever ever have I seen this. Chef Kenny on the grill was fun and got the boys cheering. Our server Jing was super sweet. She stayed close and was on point. She even played with the kids at the fish tank. I did not get who I assume was the host/owner's name. She hugged on my son and helped he finish his dinner. That is a hard thing to do! Beautiful dinning rooms, clean, good food and reasonable prices even without the happy hour prices. Especially that happy hour menu. Great job to everyone there. Sorry for making a mess. We will be going again soon. Ive been in the restaurant business a long time and I wish I had a staff so wonderful! Thanks so much! Please try this place out for yourself.
(5)Kim L.
The presentation and taste were amazing, and the decor is stunning. With the look of the place, I would expect the prices to be astronomical, but they were comparable to other sushi places in the neighborhood. Can't wait to go back for hibachi soon.
(5)Cynthia L.
Great service, beautiful interior, and fab food!
(5)Blake B.
I was at lakeside mall, hungry as heck, and remembered this place and damn, I'm so happy I did. First visit ever tonight and I was cruising solo. Typically I'll do this when my girlfriend is away: go to a nice restaurant by myself and go big; sip on a few bomb ass drinks, and generally chill out. And sushi, as we all know, is the best, so there I was. David was my server AND the bartender.. And I feel sorry if he doesn't serve you, because he knew everything. I basically let him do the ordering - based on whatever I was into. So I said spicy and raw fishy and he recommended the Daniel Roll and the Salmon Zest (maybe?).. Both of them were so delicious. The salmon zest, which is riceless, was so tender and awesome. And the Daniel was a big fat boy of a roll, which means leftovers, that I forgot about until just now. Yes. The best part was the drinkage. I told David I was a big White Russian fan and he delivered big time. Small, but so frothy and perfect. So a quick dessert drink before my salty fish dinner, classic style. And then to pair with the spicy sushi, he whipped up a kind of cucumber, cilantro, slightly sour cocktail. It was so fresh and so good, and worked as intended with the spice.. I'm quite sure he could whip up any custom request you could throw at him, or let him recommend something based on your tastes. He knows what's up! Can't wait to come back! 10 outta 10 fresh, authentic, badass sushi and amazing cocktails and excellent service.
(5)Jessica S.
First time here and I will definitely be back. Don't be thrown off by the cheesy exterior signage (sorry Akira) because this place is first class. Once you cross the marble threshold you will feel as if you've been transported to your own personal sushi/hibachi palace of wonder. The interior design motif along with the food plating is exquisite. This place is taking Fat City to the next level. You must go experience it for yourself!
(5)Amelia R.
Love this place the happy hour is great for a good deal. The food is awesome as well as the service. I love the onion soup and spring rolls. I usually get the teriyaki chicken, or a shrimp tempura appetizer. Both are delicious. The service is awesome as well! Decor is pretty cool with the little courtyards filled with plants.
(5)Chelcie L.
Don't let the empty parking lot fool you! This sushi restaurant is exquisite and is the only sushi restaurant in Fat City that performs hibachi meals too. I can not comment on the quality of the hibachi side but I have frequented the sushi side. Let me start off by describing the restaurant. The outer of the restaurant is nice with Wisteria growing over an arched trellis, with lovely landscaping and the quite large rainbow LED Akira sign shines on the outer wall. When you walk in it's a very classy setting immediately my eyes are drawn to the beautiful crystal chandeliers and the exotic fresh and salt water tanks. The rear of the restaurant features a unique outdoor looking setting with sky lighting behind large panes of glass and a fountain surrounded by luscious green vines and other plants. All on the sushi side. The other side of the restaurant is where the hibachi goers enjoy there meal with several tables available. Now on to the food. I haven't found anything that I don't like on the menu. I liked there unique take on some of my favorite dishes: crab Rangoon is fried immitation crab with cream cheese and jalapeno, tuna tataki served with a wasabi sauce. The specialty rolls are exquisite (don't remember all the ones I've eaten, but it was a lot and all were savory). The lunch specials are a great deal (under 10$) and include 2 rolls from a list served with a noodle salad (although co-workers found the noodle salad a little dry the other day), or the chicken or salmon teriyaki with roll, or large fried pork chop with roll all served with choice of garden salad or clear/miso soup. Tried my first mo-chi desert here; green tea and vanilla. Of course the green tea was my favorite but my boyfriend enjoyed the vanilla too. Why the one star? Bathroom had funny smell and the first time I went the server was pretty lousy (and we were the only people there!), but all subsequent visits have resulted in nothing but a good experience. I highly recommend if you are looking for a new sushi restaurant in this area to give it a try. Enjoy.
(4)Maria L.
Great addition to Fat City! We had the hibachi dinner which consisted of the filet mignon; great flavor and super tender. The black cod; dynamite texture and succulent. A great catch! The sushi was super fresh, creative and priced very well. I was very much impressed with the professional level of service and the attention to detail. Overall an excellent value, superior quality food and service!
(5)Marissa N.
Took my 8 year old here for hibachi and was not disappointed! Food was very good, but the chef at the table put on a great show and my son had a fun time. Will definitely be back!
(5)Jolie F.
Incredibly delicious! Gorgeous atmosphere! Super fresh sushi. Wonderful service. Hands down, best sushi restaurant in Metairie.
(5)Jennifer T.
Can't believe how great this place is - walking in and seeing the unearthly decor (and beautiful, extravagant fishtank), not to mention the fresh, modern Japanese cuisine, I'd expect much higher prices! In reality, this place is quite a bargain, and the new hibachi chef is hilarious and great. Not too salty (which is pretty rare), just tasty! I highly recommend the scallops, and the Japanese tea (toasty authentic flavor).
(5)Anna T.
My bf and I went here for lunch to get the hibachi since I wanted to try something new. No one was there at the hibachi just us which made me a bit uncomfortable haha. Well inside was nicely decorated. Usually when I go to a hibachi bar they would give me soup and salad on the house but here I think only gave u soup. When the chef came out the meat portion was quite small I think. The food was a bit really salty like too much of soy sauce maybe. But other than that it was ok. I really like how it's not that smokey in the restaurant after cooking it so that's a plus.
(3)Tony T.
Very amazing hibachi. Food was excellent. Hibachi and sushi 5/5 stars. Service was exceptional. The owner and manager both checked up on our table multiple times. Very warm atmosphere. Did I mention that the Hibachi was stellar. Price is very reasonable given the upscale feel of the interior. Spotless kitchen, spotless bar and hibachi dining. Highly recommended! I've been to many hibachi grills in Chicago, and this one is just as good, and surprisingly well-priced!
(5)Tegan L.
This place is great - the decor is really lovely and the prices are average for sushi. We had a very romantic date and really enjoyed the beautiful aquarium.
(5)Kenna S.
This is a beautiful restaurant. Kenny the chef was very entertaining. Our appetizers were edamame and butterfly kiss--no complaints very good. Also had the hibachi salmon and hibachi filet mignon and lobster--VERY good too. The staff was very friendly. Very nice place to go celebrate for special occasions.
(5)Jimmy N.
This was our second time to Akira! The Sushi was super fresh. We had the "crazy dog" it was fabulous, probably one of the best rolls I've ever had anywhere. We also had the "cherry blossom" roll, it was also delicious. Last visit we had Hibachi, and the chef was absolutely funny and made the show extra fun for the kids! We will definitely go back!!
(5)Greg R.
Really great sushi and sushi chef. If you haven't been since January it's a complete new menu. The Cowboy and the Boston rolls were fabulous! Get the nachos too! I highly recommend and I just moved from SF so I know good sushi.
(5)Chris O.
This restaurant is VERY good! I did not try the hibachi, but have eaten the sushi and yummy appetizers 8 different times now. First, let me say that I've tried sushi at almost every restaurant in Metairie and New Orleans. I've been eating it for years and eat it 4-5 times a week. The place is clean and decorated very nicely. The owners and staff are very nice and appreciative. The sushi is fresh, well presented, generously portioned and reasonably priced. They have a great Happy Hour menu! Definitely a thumbs up and worth trying!
(5)Jed M.
When I walk into a Japanese restaurant I expect to be greeted the Japanese way, but all the Asians here are Chinese and they know no Japanese. The decor also looks somewhat Chinese. It's way too bright with white everywhere. Not the romantic, dark and cozy rooms that I expect from Japanese. Where are the paper lanterns? Anyway, the food was sub-par. Not worth what we paid.
(2)Fuk Y.
Salmon Teriyaki was good. I liked the sauce. Tempura veggies were also good. Eggrolls was good with the eggrolls sauce. So I mean Eggroll sauce was very good and the eggrolls were just OK.
(4)Artie H.
This place was awesome. Had the habachi with the family. Chef had us entertained the whole time. Food was excellent. Definitely going back soon.
(5)Johnathan N.
I had a good time dining in here not too long ago. The sushi was good, the fried rice was weird to me, but I guess that's because I'm not used to having it that way. Our server was new but she did a fine job. The wine I ordered took a while to come out but it was nothing to get upset over. I'll be back soon!
(3)Joni H.
I went here for lunch last week with my niece and 3 year old daughter. I loved the service and food. My daughter had a wonderful time and was treated so sweet! I will be going back here again soon!
(5)Manny C.
Great place good sushi, not run by Japanese. Just kidding decent spot but wasn't packed at all. Just a bit alarmingly.
(4)Tim W.
Stopped by for lunch today. Sushi was absolutely delicious as was the miso soup. Wait staff was friendly and prompt. I will definitely be going back again. With lunch only $7.95 it's very reasonable and right around the corner from the mall!
(4)Erica F.
So glad we happened to drive by and see this new sushi place. Very fresh sushi, great selection of drinks. I am excited to go back for hibachi the tables are nice and the guests looked like they enjoyed the food. It was not crowded for a Saturday evening, but soon it will be once people try it out. Delicious!!!
(5)Gerald H.
This place is right across Dragos so traffic can be a bit crazy during dinner. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful done. The place was empty which was surprising. We started off with some california rolls, dragon roll, and gyoza. Be warned all the portions are pretty large. The gyoza came with 6 pieces. The dragon roll was 12 I think. We also order the Chirashi, pineapple fried rice and chicken yakitori. Way to much food but we ate all the sushi and took home the rice and chicken. Overall the food was good. The ahi and salmon tasted fresh and had good color. I probably wouldn't order the chirashi again and just opt for ahi sashimi. The service was okay. She didn't know what a Sapporo beer was and pronounced gyoza as gonza. She was knew there and apologized. The place had a benihana style hibachi room but no one was in there. It's a really big restaurant so when it's empty it's kind of awkward. Maybe we'll come back for lunch. The fish was pretty awesome. #nola #noladining
(4)Caitlin K.
The interior is absolutely stunning. Our waiter was perfect. The sushi was amazing and we got half off our bottle of wine. Prices were great, too!
(5)Susan R.
We left before we had a chance to try any food. We were sitting directly in front of the sushi chef and were ignored for 20 minutes. Had a wonderful experience at Shogun!!! The edited version- it was a Friday night around 7 and there was only ONE sushi chef. He was so busy with the orders for the tables that he had no time to attend to us.
(1)K D.
Excellent drinks and rolls. We had a rock n roll and crunchy roll and they were so fresh and delicious that we ordered seconds! The drinks were mixed to perfection although the glass was a little small. Nice ambience as well.
(4)Rokaya G.
This place was amazing! The service was great and the waiter was hilarious (Kenny). I just wish they served virgin cocktails/margaritas. Other than that, it was a blast!
(5)Liz B.
This place is so so so good. The staff is extremely kind and the dining room is very nice. I have been a long time little Tokyo fan, but not since the new location opened. We just saw Akira on yelp and decided to try something new. I have never been so happy with sushi! Very fresh and everything we got was amazing!! So excited about a new place !!!
(5)Steph S.
This place was depressing... Start to finish. Waiter was completely bored by his job. Food was bland. Sushi was warm. Workers were sitting around looking like they'd rather be at the dentist then here.
(1)Ryan S.
Akira sits in the heart of Fat City in the same location of an old Italian place that closed a while back. Do not let the more humble outside fool you - this place is absolutely stunning on the inside. A full bar compliments the white linen tablecloth feel of an upscale plus dining experience. Unfortunately, this experience was only for takeout, but the service, was exceptional and very personable. This time was all about hibachi - a full and diverse menu is offered and is well-executed. The food was fresh, hot, well-portioned, and had good flavor. No complaints here. I look very forward to returning for a full dining experience in the near future. Please support this place and keep it open!
(4)Helen L.
Came here for lunch and will not return. I had the shrimp with curry noodles. It was ok but it did not come with salad or any veggies considering it was a lunch special. My husband ordered the grilled salmon teriyaki lunch special. It was not very good. He also ordered the Rainbow Roll. I was surprised at the size of the roll. It was very small. We typically order this roll from other restaurants and it's pretty large. As for the service: it was odd also. Our waiter came to our table and asked if we were ready. We ordered our drinks then he just stood there ready to take our order. Wow talk about odd. It took a little long to get our food and when we did it was not pipping hot. When we were leaving the host did not say anything. Again wow. The price was a little high for the Rainbow Roll. Each of our lunch dish was $9.95. It was ok. Sorry but we will not return. Too many good restaurants around.
(3)Therese O.
It was the first time for my Dad and some of my siblings at a Hibachi restaurant. We were able to call ahead and reserve the table. The Hibachi was GREAT! They use very minimal butter compared to other Hibachi places I have tried. The Chef, Kenny, was GREAT! very entertaining and made sure to offer pieces of the steak and fish to my family members to ensure it was cooked to their liking. The portions were just perfect. My brothers had sushi and thoroughly enjoyed it. The decor is beautiful! The Hibachi tables are seated with very comfortable chairs and ample room to accommodate my family of 8. Overall, it was a great experience. It was fairly empty while we were there so I hope more people begin to come in and enjoy the great food and atmosphere.
(5)Eliza W.
Got back to NOLA and came here for dinner first thing off the plane! Amazing that they remember me even though I only come once every few months. And complimentary gold flakes on my sushi???? I think yes.
(5)Edward W.
Again, another great experience at Akira. This is now my fifth time here. If you haven't been here in a while, you'll notice an updated menu. Usually menu changes aren't a good thing, but man this revamp has been quite a treat. Kevin and the staff really tried a different approach to their flavor combinations, and it works! Spicy Girl Roll: crunchy and hot. Indo Volcano: sweet, creamy, and all sorts of deliciousness. Folks, if you haven't gone here yet, you have to make a trip. You won't be disappointed with the food and the stellar atmosphere. I give 2 thumbs up for Akira. I'd give another 2 if I had more hands. Alas, i only have three ;)
(5)Christy F.
I would give the food 4 stars and the service 2 stars .... At best. If it weren't for Kenny the hibachi chef I would never return! We walked in to a very clean and spacious restaurant and were seated at a large, beautiful hibachi table. The night started off badly, however, as I had to ask for my drink 3 times and it was not brought to the table until 40 minutes later. Our waiter seemed like he did not want to be there at all and was very unenthusiastic. I dined with my sister and we ordered both hibachi and sushi. The salad with ginger dressing was very crisp and fresh. The soup was average. The hibachi shrimp, steak, veggies, and fried rice were also very good but *warning* if you do not like teriyaki sauce you need to tell the cook ahead of time!! Most of the hibachi food has teriyaki on it. My only complaint on hibachi is that we did not get the seafood or ginger sauce that is usually served with the meal. Also nothing was flipped into the air so we could catch it in our mouths as we had seen done at the tables next to us (we were the last table of the night so I can kind of understand being tired and overlooking these). Kenny the chef was very upbeat and fun and had a great personality though! The sushi was some of the best in town. My sister and I got the crab roll (perfect!) and Crazy dog roll. She wanted hers as an appetizer and they brought it out in the middle of the meal. I wanted mine as a meal and got it as an appetizer. Other sushi orders with the party next to us were also messed up or incorrect. I would probably return because of the food quality, in hopes that the service has gotten better. With a little work this restaurant could provide an amazing experience. My sister, however, was appalled at the service and will never return (she wrote her own review on how she was treated). I think maybe the whole staff should drink some of the energy drinks that Kenny had obviously been drinking and then it would be a good night!! :)
(3)Amanda T.
Hands down our favorite sushi restaurant. Delicious food, awesome service, and best of all SUPER CLEAN. No need to eat at any other sushi place in Metairie.
(5)Thanh N.
This is a must-try japanese restaurant in metairie. The atmosphere is calming and the decor is absolutely lovely, yet the prices are so reasonable. Above all, most of the foods are tasty, and the chef takes some REAL effort to decorate his dishes. we came here three times, and have been amazed all the time. Theres only this last time we encountered a problem: the squid steak came out a little cold. We didnt make a big deal out of it, just gently reminded the waiter and still enjoy the tasty squid. At the end of the meal, the manager came out to apologize and offer us a half-price discount on the squid. Conclusion: awesome food, awesome decoration, and awesome customer care. thumbs up!
(5)Davide S.
Great food, good atmosphere. There were only two other groups besides us so it wasn't loud or packed. Friendly service from our waiter as well. Such decor. Much curtain. Very sushi. Such lovely. Wow.
(4)Isabella F.
Went here for happy hour on a Wednesday. It was surprisingly very great and a yelp find. We walked in and only one other table was occupied, so we had our pick to all the tables. We chose to get sushi, but they also have hibachi. They have great prices for appetizers and the standard rolls, and all drinks were half off! The hostess was hilarious and our server, I forgot his name but he was a white male probably in his thirties, was funny as well and great at suggestive selling our drinks. I got the cucumber infused drink and my friends each got the kiwi one and the berry acai one. They were very light and refreshing, something you would probably get at a spa. Regardless, it was perfect for a hot day! At first glance, the place was beautiful. Once you sat down it almost seemed like the place was an old Greek restaurant. There is a windowed green house area along the back wall with a nice fountain. The bar had beautiful upholstery on the bottom. All individual pieces of decoration were great but all together was missing something to link them all together. Overall though it was nice. Our appetizers came out and we got the vegetable spring rolls, crab ragoons, and the gyoza. All off the happy hour menu. All were very delicious. The crab ragoons were a little smaller than I'm used to. We then got our specialty rolls (not on HH) and I ordered the Boston Roll to celebrate my roots. It was delicious. However I forgot to ask if the crab was artificial so when they placed it down I asked and the server asked the chef if it was real crab (I'm allergic to shellfish). There was some language difficulties and then server said yes because it was from Korea. I thought that was odd but they quickly took my plate away to make me something I can eat. However once the chef fully understood what I was talking about he said I could eat it. My roll was delicious! I will definitely try it again. My only concern was that the calamari we ordered off the HH menu, that was an appetizer, came after our entrees. We almost thought we didn't order it. They said after it does take awhile. The calamari was very good. It could've used some seasonings or a sauce on the side. My friend asked for a side of spicy mayo and it worked great as a dipping sauce. Overall, very good experience. I've never gone out to eat for sushi in Metairie, I usually just stick to NOLA, but I was very surprised and will definitely go back for happy hour again!
(5)Kris A.
The owners spared no expense in the remodel. Chandeliers, fish tanks, large leather seating, 4 hibachi tables including a huge 12 seater are some of the things coming to mind. We stopped in for a hibachi dinner one friday night in December. My first observation once seated was the position of every hibachi table were all facing the wrong way. Every seat faces a blank white wall. Wouldnt it make more sense for everyone to face into the beautiful room and feel and see the energy of all the entertaining hibachi chefs? I ordered a martini and the server had no clue what gin, vermouth or anything was. Im still not sure if I really drank what I paid for because it was one of the worst drinks ever. Comparing to the established hibachi restaurants nearby, the salad, noodles and rice were equally as good. You do have to pay extra for the noodles and rice. For some odd reason, instead of cooking the steak with soy sauce, they use eel sauce? We didnt care for it at all and will be the reason we will not return- for hibachi anyway.
(3)Isaac P.
Please go eat here! Food is great; based on how many people I see there when I go, I am afraid this place wont last. So, I don't care about hibachi per se, but I love sushi and Japanese food. I've eaten dinner in the regular dining room once, and just got a lunch to go. Both visits, the host/hostess, waiter, bartender, etc were all exceptionally nice. Time spent waiting after ordering was quick. And most importantly, the food was great. Even better, I feel the food/quality to price ratio is well above average too. I don't consider myself cheap, but I don't like paying for low quality service or food. I feel like I get more for my money here than a lot of other places. I was also impressed by the decor and finished in the restaurant, nicely done.
(5)Brittany S.
We waited over 30 minutes just to get a water. I tried to walk up to the bar and order and the manager told me go sit down and wait. Horrible service
(1)May W.
YUM YUM YUM! Bought a Yelp groupon and, I was so happy to have done that. Ordered a couple of rolls: crunchy and Tootsie. Everything was fresh and soooo beautiful. I wasn't sure what was happier: my eyes, taste buds or belly. All I knew was how content and happy I was after my wonderful meal. And best of all, all you ladies (and some men) out there.....the servers are very very attractive young men that waited on everyone the night we went. It was Halloween night, and- no tricks- it was definitely a treat for my senses. Even the manager on duty that night was a handsome Asian gentleman. So maybe all the drool from our table wasn't just from the food, lol. Can't wait to go back- especially since now there's no competition from Crazy Johnnie's.
(5)Sonya R.
This was my very first hibachi house experience and it was fun as well as very good. My entire family enjoyed every moment of it.
(5)John T.
BLUF: Realy great atmopshere and space with great sashimi and great sushi. Place is pretty large for metairie and they dont pack the people in. very nice place but dont feel like you need to dress fancy. more than 1 hibachi booth and a sushi bar. great happy hour. $2.5 sashimi/sushi. We got the squid, octopus, whitefish, tuna, salmon and mackerel. 2 pcs each and they were all very large cuts and extremely good. this made it worth the trip in itself. we tried only sushi rolls without rice. we got 3 of the 4 offered (salmon zest, fried fish and akira roll). Salmon zest and the fried fish rolls were really good and the akira was average. they were all interesting. i would def get them again (prob not the akira). Service was very nice and seemed like he could be a guy you hang out with. That being said he wasnt all that good. We would have appreciated him letting us know which roll was which and what the sashimi cuts were. We figured it out but we shouldnt have to. Overall though, service was fine. Def one of the better sushi places in NOLA/metro area. I would go back in a heartbeat when in Metairie.
(4)Seth H.
This is some of the best hijack I have had in a long time. The food was absolutely amazing however it was the service that really astonished me. We came with our two year old son and the staff went above and beyond to make sure we had a great experience. The atmosphere is one of the best I have seen in this town. Although it may not like amazing on the outside I would definitely recommend visiting.
(5)Anthony Y.
I love this place. I had the crazy dog sushi, the filet mignon with shrimp hibachi, and also a steak hibachi. This place is elegantly decorated and the staff is very welcoming. I took a group of 3 out for lunch there. Parking wasn't a problem for us. The meal portions are very generous for a lunch menu. I'd definitely recommend this place for both habachi and sushi.
(5)Kurt L.
I glanced at the rating, and showed my wife at the table you can't always go by ratings. I was looking at photos and when I saw the cool crawfish taken by Jennifer T. from Harvard Square-yelping since 2012. I noticed that in 3 years she has "objectively" reviewed ONLY this one place and visited with tips about the funny chef's, etc. on more occasions. Then I saw the photo and was like "oh", ok. So we had the hibachi and walked out of there with a $71 bill & drank water. On the other hand, there's a hibachi place by the base of Hwy 249 in Houston we visited after Katrina when we were practically homeless for $8 each during lunch. Those chef's could take a plastic bowl and flip it into their chef hat with a skillet. Our chef was like "you think I'm a magician or something ???" The food was really good. If I had scallops 2" in diameter and fillet as thick as your calf I could flip around some fried rice as well. They should visit Benihana sometime. Anyway, if I had a restaurant that nice and was making money hand over fist, guess where my kid would go to school???? HARVARD!!! and visit once a year to post all kinds of photos. For that I give them 3 stars to equal out the advantageous rating from the Asian chain letter they broadcast. YELP should crack down on that practice. Maybe a banner with beginner would force the family to go to a few other places. Just like eBay restrictions. Otherwise cheating is the result (and to think from a Harvard student?!?!?). What's next, an M.I.T blackjack club to beat the casinos?
(3)Katie S.
So far so good for this new sushi joint in Metairie. When you first walk in, this place might make you feel a little under-dressed with all the white table cloths, stylish decor, floral table center peices, and fountain/garden sealed behind a glass wall. But don't worry, it's still Metairie, just come as you are. This place sort of amuses me in a way because the inside is NOTHING like what you would expect looking at the outside. The exterior is sort of a boxy looking odd building with few windows and a GIANT neon rainbow sign...perhaps you have noticed it? How could you not! At first you are like, "Is it a strip club? Or maybe a LGBT bar? Oh....no it's actually a REALLY swanky sushi place...interesting...." I have frequented this place several times since it opened and I hardly have anything negative so say about it. The menu is somewhat a fusion ranging from hibachi, traditional sushi rolls, some unique specialty rolls I hadn't seen before, some Chinese dishes, some Japanese dishes, and even some pad thai. I happen to know they have a great happy hour menu and they list their menu online and even provide delivery. So far I've tried: Crab Rangoons, Jumbo Spicy Shrimp Soup (amazing!), Salmon Zest Roll, Akira Roll, Soft Shell Crab Roll, O.M.G. Roll and Indo Volcano Roll. I really like that they have a few "no rice" roll options on their menu because I tend to want to skip all that rice and get right to the good stuff. If you like Tom Yum Soup and a spicy kick than I really encourage you to try the Jumbo Spicy Shrimp Soup. It's one of my favorite items on their menu, which is weird, because it is soup after all. So far the Salmon Zest Roll is my favorite and great for anyone who enjoys the "no rice" rolls like myself. The only roll I did not care for was the Indo Volcano Roll because it totally was not how I pictured it to be from the menu description (I have uploaded pictures for reference). It says "special sauce" on the menu but they don't mention that the "special sauce" they speak of is basically like an asian buffalo/bbq sauce that they literally PILE on top of the sushi. It was like sushi, and fish, and spicy buffalo sauce, and my mouth was just really confused. It was just a bit misleading and a bit too odd for me to handle but that's just my opinion. Everything else here has certainly been stellar otherwise. The service does tend to be a little on the slow side but since it is usually not very crowded (like maybe two tables actually dining at a time each time I've visited) maybe they don't feel the need to take on more staff at the moment? I always sort of wonder if this place will last due to the apparent lack of business. It is certainly not dramatically slow or slow in any way that would actually deter me from coming back. If you want a sushi place in Metairie with a lot of swanky AMBIANCE than this is certainly the place for you! Despite how fancy it looks on the inside, the prices are very reasonable and are what you would expect from mostly any sushi restaurant in the area. Perfect for a date night, or perhaps a big group for hibachi and sushi.
(4)Nicole P.
Had the Red Scorpion roll.. 10 pieces for 14.00.. Well worth the price.. Very fresh, best sushi I've ever had.. Nola is known for its Cajun but I'll be coming back for the sushi
(5)Anna L.
Came here with friends a while back and tried the chicken teriyaki. Chicken was reallyyyyy dry. Good service. Extra star, because we got complimentary heart-shaped sushi.
(3)Summer W.
The atmospher there is great, quiet and with beautiful aquarium. Ordered Tempura Lunch Special, together with 3 types of recommended sushi. Personally think that the shrimp Tempura should be improved. The essential part of the Tempura is to keep the inner part fresh, keep it original taste, so it is crucial to have extremely thin crispy hull. However, the restaurant did not play good at this part. The hull is as thick as the shrimp itself. For sushi, the fruit sushi(with kiwi, mango on top) is refreshing. Other two types, sorry cannot remember the name, are tasted a little bit greasy. Nevertheless, it can be tasted that the ingredients are fresh. I think it could be difficult to keep the food fresh in this hot weather! Overall, the food there is fine. I think I will come over again. Good choice for people come to shopping at lakeside and want to have sushi.
(3)Jonathan L.
I've been to hundreds of restaurants across the country and I can confidently say that this is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. Their service is amazing. I just recently moved in the area and decided to give this place a try. My housemate and I walked in and we were instantly greeted by Kevin. He sat us at the bar and recommended different menu items. What stood out was that he seemed to really want to get to know us rather than just earn our business. I ordered the teriyaki bento box to go and you get a TON of food. Kevin is a perfectionist in the way he stacks the food togo and how it's prepared. He even put some card board so that none of the food tilts as we carry it. I came back for the Happy Hour for post exam drinks with my medical school friends and the bartender named David was running the bar. David makes the most amazing drinks! You can just say "I like kiwi" and he'll make the most amazing drink out of kiwi for you. I told him "I would like something sweet with fruit" and he made me something with grape and it was hands down the best drink I've ever had. I wanted to order more but I was starting to get a little tipsy. We ordered a bunch of Happy hour rolls (about 10) and over 10 drinks and our entire bill was under 70 dollars. I would have easily paid 10 dollars for each drink but it came out to 3.50 each. One of the female owners also gave me a free drink because I found her lost ring on the seat. She was so grateful which was really really cute. I didn't even do much beside ask who's ring it was and she kept thanking me the entire night. --------------------------------------------------Â-------------------------------------------- Overall Summary: - The restaurant is absolutely beautifully decorated and extremely clean. They would easily be charging 30+ dollars for meals but they have extremely reasonable prices. - Their service is amazing. I feel like I personally know each member of the staff with just a couple of visits here. This is a must try if you're in New Orleans. - Their seafood is fresh, their bento box was delicious and perfectly seasoned and their drinks are perfect. - Ask for David and order "the drink with grape in it" and he will know what it is. It's an off menu drink and you won't regret ordering it. It's less than 8 dollars if you're budget conscious. - The restaurant has a little bit of a Singaporean/Chinese/Japanese fusion as you can tell in their fried rice which I really like. - Easily 5 stars and I'll definitely be back and with more friends.
(5)Deborah M.
My absolute favorite sushi restaurant in the city!! Everything is so fresh! The staff is super friendly and the atmosphere is beautiful. I am always trying new sushi places and nothing has topped Akira. I hear Mark Wahlberg goes here a lot too! Try the Out of Control roll.. It really is out of control, amazing!
(5)Jill D.
I was very impressed! I wasn't sure about it before going but I went once and have been back a lot. I tell everyone about this place! The food is excellent and the decor is very pretty. I haven't had the hibachi yet but plan on it.
(5)Kay V.
My sister and I came by after shopping; searching Yelp for the closest sushi restaurant. The restaurant was super gorgeous, and the food was a solid 8.5/10. I felt like I was walking into a 4-diamond restaurant. Our server David was not quite as attentive as we like. We had to ask for plates, napkins and spicy mayo sauce. Being in the service business many years ourselves, we tried being more considerate. Overall, the sushi was fresh! I got the Akira roll bc I've been looking everywhere for a roll wrapped in rice paper wraps since one of my fav sushi place in Baton Rouge closed down. The Golden Henna was also very good. (I'm a huge salmon kind of girl. Lol) The Baked Green Mussel was delightful, although a little less on the spicy mayo and a couple more pieces of mussels would round out the dish perfectly. We also happen to come during their HAPPY HOUR. Ordered the Philadelphia Roll, Crunchy Roll and Snowcrab Roll. Any sushi chef/cook can make a specialty roll, fancy and tasty. The real test is rather or not they can make their regular rolls stand on its on. Even their regular rolls were on par. Kudos! I am not a hibachi person, but the show that was going on in the next room was quite entertaining. I might give it a try the next time I visit.
(4)Duy H.
Beautiful decor, sushi is good, restroom clean and fresh, low price. Service is friendly and food is redicilous
(5)Cal O.
For those coming to NoLa from out of the state and are looking for a great sushi place this restaurant is what you have been looking for. The place looks impeccable. The fish tanks add a nice touch. We came here for sushi. But the menu has many other options. We ordered shrimp and fried tempura as an appetizer . It was delicious. The vegetables tasted fresh and crunchy. Then we got our sushi. I'll definitely recommend the Crazy Dog and the Crunchy Roll. The presentation of a dish always enhances the plate. At Akira they do a great job preparing and garnishing the dishes... As soon as we took a bite, our mouth was filled with a rush of flavors and sensations that truly made us say "Yuumm". Yes, it was that tasty... Lastly, the service was one the best we have experience here in Metairie. Our waited went out of his wag to make sure we got what needed to truly have an excellent experience. We are definitely coming back to sit at the Hibachi kitchen, and that's for part two of my review... Do I recommend this place? Absolutely yes.
(5)Brittany G.
My boyfriend and I had a delicious habachi lunch here a few weekends ago. The chef was great and the food was excellent. The lunch prices are very reasonable. We will be back!
(5)Sire D.
Went with the bro to have a skooshi extravaganza. They didn't disappoint. We started out with the ahi tower and the sashimi salad. Both were pretty good. Then we had the volcano roll, Boston roll, the omg roll, and the crazy Dogg roll. Everything was fresh and tasty. Service was good. Atmosphere in the restaurant is nice as well. Will definitely visit again.
(5)Samantha A.
The food is amazing..and fresh! The service at the sushi bar is the best...anything on their menu is to die for. I LOVE THE SPICY GIRL ROLL! Prices are affordable but competitive...thier hibatchi shrimp fried rice is the best around...i givebthe place five stars for everything from their decor to thier friendly staff... NOT TO MENTION the first time i went their i got an appetizer on the house! Yay me! P.s. their salmon skin salad is amazing and fresh! Its not on the menu but they will make it!
(5)KiingFsh F.
I sat in on an early lunch and had the Hibachi - The chef was comical and pleasant, and it was a plus that he was fluent in good food- I had the steak and scallops- each was prepared perfectly. The steak was tender with a hint of pink in the center- delicious!. Scallops were golden on the outside and tender melt in your mouth center! Great job Kenny(Chef). I also had Salmon, Tuna, and escolar- cuts were perfect. The flavor, presentation and service was excellent. The restraunt has a great feel, not to stuffy, and a large bar - you should have an enjoyable experience here. worth checking out.
(4)Jackie M.
If you don't get hibachi the service moves at an absolute glacial pace! The food is good but not good enough to wait so long! It took 10 minutes just to get our drink orders. My crab Rangoon appetizer came after my meal and it's like they were afraid to bring the check! I didn't want to be in there for another second and I felt like I could never leave! I don't recommend it.
(1)Christine A.
Nothing to write home about. I'm from Colorado so thought surely this place would minimally be on par or better but was disappointed to say the least. No hot oil/ chili sauce? Flavorless hibachi fried rice. No sushi happy hour as in $1/per piece all day long like is common where I hale. Not great service either. Not a fan.
(2)Beth C.
Awesome service, extremely nice staff. Great atmosphere(very fancy) with great prices! Food was delicious!!! Very good special rolls, and they are presented in a very fancy way!
(5)Wendy H.
The service was awesome my drink was filled as soon as it got to the half way point. Beautiful atmosphere and staff very friendly. I ordered the Kirin roll and it was awesome. I will be coming back and bring friends.
(5)Jeanne H.
The service is a little slow but the sushi is delicious. I prefer to order takeout as it always seem rather dead inside.
(5)