Saya Korean and Japanese Restaurant
1030 Kauffman Ave, Fairborn, OH, 45324
Saya Korean and Japanese Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Fairborn for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Fairborn for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Fairborn for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1030 Kauffman Ave
Fairborn, OH, 45324 - Phone (937) 879-9700
- Website https://www.sayakoreanandjapaneserestaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Valerie W.
Ohhhhhhhh, you KNOW you've got me when I start planning my next meal(s) before I'm even half way done with what's on my plate!!! So glad I got this Grupon and FORCED Mr. "Meat and Potatoes" to venture out with me on a chilly Sat. night to get some of the BEST Japanese/Korean food I've had this side of...ummmm....Queens, NY!! Lots of options-- I went for seaweed salad (yum!) and a couple of super fresh sushi favorites, then skipped over to Korea for some steamy beef bulgogi. He LOVED his chicken tepanaki (skewered w/ EXCELLENT marinade!) app. and beef teriyaki dinner! SUPER fast service, very helpful wait staff who patiently answered all our questions, and very reasonable prices... What more could you ask for?!? If they were just a bit closer to home, I'd be there (almost) every day!! YUM...
(4)Angel M.
LOVE this place! Sushi is delicious and not overpriced with beautiful presentation. Service is always fantastic and fast.
(5)Cassie W.
Used to love this place! However I think it changed ownership recently and it has gone downhill. Was in yesterday and ordered sushi. Had to send it back because there was hardly any fish at all on it! It was almost entirely rice and avocado. It was brought back to me having hardly changed. At $24 for two rolls, I expect a lot more than to leave still hungry. They've gotten super stingy while leaving the prices the same, and the quality just isn't what I remember.
(1)Christopher G.
Seriously...awful. Will never go here again. They failed to tell me that iced tea refills are NOT free, AFTER I had 4 refills. Sushi is probably the worst I've had in the Dayton area. I've been here before (a couple of years ago) and I remember when I ordered Kimchee stew it came with pork. When going recently, my stew had NO pork. I asked the manager about it and they said that they now charge extra for the pork! Not to mention the bowl that the stew came in was 1/4 the size it was last time I went and the the price has stayed the same! Avoid at all costs.
(1)Danlei W.
I use to like their lunch special~ the lunch box had a lot of side dishes. I love the side dishes more than the main course for a lot of Korean Restaurant. I am quite disappointed when they get rid of a lot side dishes for the lunch box. There's no longer clear noodle, no Korean Style omelet, no other random stuff that was mentioned in the previous review. Please give my favorite clear noodle back, Saya!
(3)Tif C.
We've never had the sushi here but the Bulgogi Bento Box is pretty decent. You get quite a bit of food for a low price. It's always packed during weekday lunch because of the close proximity to Wright-Patt AFB. Since I grew up in a Korean household, almost every restaurant falls a little short of my expectations when it comes to Bulgogi /kimchi. The staff can sometimes be a little harsh. One afternoon the waitress literally said, "hurry up" when we were making our order. That threw off the whole experience. Overall it's a decent place to eat if you are going more for the food itself and not the atmosphere.
(3)Ty M.
I'm not quite sure what the hype is all about...just ate here with my family, and I swear that I'm not ever going back. My wife bought a $7 noodle soup and I literally got instant ramen noodle soup with those small square vegetables that you get from those $0.99 Korean Hot & Spicy Instant noodle soup. I inquired about it, and they told me that it is in fact instant ramen. I bought a $8 tempura udon, and I got 4 battered vegetables (no shrimp). They told me that shrimp is too expensive so they only serve it during dinner, and it'll cost me $10. I also got their $13.50 "Lion King" sushi roll upon their chef's recommendation...EPIC FAIL. the sushi came crumpled and falling apart, and the taste was just off. Never again. Stay away.
(1)Jack M.
Yep, the management changed and so did the food. The White House roll is gone, the signature JH roll now has eel sauce on it, skip it. Asashi in Riverside is better for authentic Japanese and if you can get past its dive appearance, Yongs Cafe further down on Kaufman has the best Korean food in town...seriously!!!!
(1)Adrienne B.
I can't stop eating here. I think I have an unhealthy obsession with this place. My friend and I went here for dinner last night and I couldn't decide what I wanted and the server was suggesting "new" rolls and I had tried them all. At the end of the night she said "see you soon" with a knowing smile like a drug dealer would... I only go for the sushi but by far this is as good as it gets for me. I have tried others in the area but for price and quality this is hands down my favorite. My favorite rolls are the White House Roll which just melts in your mouth, the Mango Samba Roll, and I've become a new fan of the Candy Cane Roll. But really I've never met a roll there I don't like. And the sashimi appetizer...oh nom.
(4)Courtney C.
I visited Saya last year for the very first and very last time. Now I know it may seem unjust of me to be posting a review about this place so much later, but I'm still pretty upset over it all. The fact that I'm still bitter about my one-time dining experience here is saying a lot. I met up with a few friends, and the meal started off fine. Our server was nice, and we got our drinks and food out in a prompt manner. After that, it went downhill. After we got our food and drinks, we were maybe there for a good hour. All of our waters were empty, not a single offer to refill, and after we were done eating, we just decided to chat and wait instead of tracking down our waitress. 15 minutes after we're done eating, we start to question if our server has just completely forgotten about us. The restaurant's small, and the entire time we've been there (+1hr), there's been a total of 4 tables, one of which had just arrived at the end of our meal. There is literally no reason why in the span of over an hour, a waitress with 3 very calm tables can't check up on us, refill our glasses, or bring us our check. Now this is where I feel guilty, because I went and tracked down the first person I could find, which happened to be the owner. She was super sweet and apologized to me. She then went straight to getting our checks together for us. Unfortunately, my mind was already made up about this place. Servers are one of those things that for me can really make or break a restaurant. Maybe if the place had to-die-for food, I would be willing to try it again...maybe.
(1)Janelle F.
This used to be me and my best friends fave spot. We have noticed lately how small the portions are and how the prices have risen. Less food and more money? What happened Saya !? It's unfortunate because the people who work there are very nice but we probably won't be back because it's not Worth the extra $$
(2)John H.
Ramen is delicious, spicy but can still taste the scallions and other ingredients. Sushi is always good. Potstickers and shrimp dumplings are great!
(5)Tom E.
This used to be one of our favorite sushi spots. Dinner last night was poor service and poorer food. Don't know if the place changed hands or what. Almost looked like one person doing food and one waitress who was also bussing tables. Probably won't go back.
(1)Katie S.
I really don't know what happened to this place. I mean, it used to be my go-to for sushi and had the best tempura I've ever had. But lately, the food has been CRAP!!!! I don't know, maybe new management? I recently ordered the shrimp tempura box for lunch and i can honestly say I'd rather eat roadkill. Atleast the service was friendly. If you're looking for sushi, I suggest trying Osaka or JY Bamboo.
(2)Kev L.
Very very dissapointed in this place. Went there over a visit (Scoping out the Dayton area) naturally trying the few ethnic options available. I ordered the Kalbi Tang soup. I have to say it was by far the worst versión I have ever had in my life. I have made Kalbi Tang at home (Im not even Asian much less Korean) and my versions crushed this straight T.K.O. My version is nowhere near the standard im used to getting at other Korean establishments. The one here was very VERY salty, bland, and lacked any soul. The ingredients were of poor quality. The banchan here was a 2 out of 10. The Kimchi was okay, sweet and not overdone, but the other examples of Daikon radish were so tiny, I mean the portions of Banchan were smaller than what you would serve a stingy three year old. And when you pay the kind of cash you pay for Korean food, you aren't expecting banchan that takes up 10% of the dish. My wife ordered the Japche which was decent and did have good taste. A buddy of mine also ordered the Bulgogi. The Blgogi did have good flavor, was sweet and had plenty of onions. The cut of meat was not the best but was tasty. I will give this place a try down the line next time I am in town. This palce has to make my potential future life in Dayton bearable!!!!
(2)Melissa D.
I really hate lowering my rating as I love Saya and the people that work there, however, the past few times have been disappointing. I never see Sushi chefs behind the bar anymore and they seem understaffed most days. I wanted to order my favorite roll last time we went but it wasn't available. Apparently it left with the Sushi chefs. :( We usually have to wait 5-10 minutes before ordering as there is only one person working the dining room AND the Sushi bar. The sushi rolls seem to have shrank in size as well. Not the masterpieces I had become accustomed to. Saya - I do hope you are able to obtain new chefs and waitstaff and uphold the quality that so many of us have come to expect. I can't quit you, but I will have to find another place for sushi for a while. :(
(3)John K.
I am giving this restaurant 1 star. We come to the restaurant from time to time but the last visit was the last straw for us. We had yellowtail, salmon, unagi, and another sushi roll. The rolls were okay but the other sushi was so small, the smallest I have ever seen at any Japanese restaurant I know. The waitress blamed it for not letting the sushi chef know that we are Asian b/c "Caucasians like smaller fish portions and I forgot to tell him we had an Asian customer". Huh????? I was disgusted that we were given after having been a multi-visit customer and was so mad I even left them our points/reward card never to come back again. Avoid!
(1)Ian H.
I came here for lunch on a workday, and thought the prices were too high for the quality of food and service. My Korean spicy pork tasted ok, but attention to detail throughout the meal was not good. It took a long time for a server to come to the table, and I was unable to get a drink refill even after asking. It is a minor complaint, but my miso soup bowl wasn't served completely full (again, attention to detail). When competitors are charging $4 or $5 less for lunch, you would expect things to be a cut above here, which they are not. My lunch came with some California roll, which was not very good (they also forgot to bring it to me at all, which they did correct on their own). I noticed the prices for other basic sushi rolls were higher than other places I've seen in Dayton. All in all, JY Bamboo in Fairborn is a better value choice for lunch, with some similar offerings.
(2)Sophia F.
No idea what the fuss is about. We went by on a day when the sushi chef had been caught in Michigan by a snowstorm, so only ordered Korean food. A good indicator of a Korean restaurant that is not actually meant for Koreans: no Korean anywhere on the menu. This is mediocre-to-crummy Korean food, especially for the price (more than $12 a meal). The bulgogi was too sweet, and the banchan was frankly terrible--tiny servings, a terrible selection (kimchi, kkakdugi/radish kimchi, cucumbers, and dongchimi/slightly pickled radish), and flavors that managed to be incredibly bland and under-seasoned at the same time as they were slightly off/old. If this was the only Korean restaurant in Dayton, it still wouldn't be worth the trip. Stay home, look up some recipes online, and do it yourself. I guarantee it will taste better.
(1)Jed M.
This a Japanese/Korean fusion restaurant, but its talents lean more to Korean than Japanese food. Every Korean meal has been authentic and savory, and I've enjoyed every bite of them. I ordered the sushi only once and the portions seemed small compared to Akashi and high in price. I love the atmosphere though and the waitstaff is fantastic. I sat around talking with my buddy once and they gave us a few rounds of the Korean side dishes as a nicety (after our meal). I wouldn't expect that every time, but it left a very good impression.
(4)Cobra K.
Korean run Japanese/Korean restaurant. Came in and ordered the Sashimi Lunch Box for $10.95. Came with everything...miso soup, salad, glass noodles, tempura, sashimi, sushi rolls and other random things. No cohesion to the dish really...just a little bit of everything. Not bad and the sashimi was decent. 10% discount for AD Military.
(3)Courtney V.
They recently changed my favorite roll (J.H. Roll) to barely any of the delicious spicy mayo crab on it unlike the generous helpings of it in the past. I mean it's only imitation, at over 12$ a roll I think you can afford to not be so skimpy. Extremely disappointed and won't be going back anytime soon till they fix it. They are apparently trying to cut costs, but in the WRONG places. My advice to them would be-don't fix something that was never broken.
(2)The Stray K.
My husband and I use to come here frequently for the sushi and the Korean menu, and the service was great and the food worth the menu price. In thr last couple months the ownership had changed and one can quickly tell. We went in one night and ordered sushi and Korean entrees. The sushi came very quickly and it was pretty tasty ( but we were also starving) and we waited for 40 mins for our entrees. Not a single person came to check on us, but they did come to take our empty plates. I made eye contact with a few waiters but they were all too busy to come. Finally one came to ask if we wanted anything else and we informed them our meals haven't come at all. We find our ticket for thr meal wad not turned in. The boss informed us that the food was ready, apparently ready meant another 20 minutes. They arrived in to go boxes, we took thr hint. As if this experiece wasnt bad enough, we paid for the sushi because the gift certificate bought during previous management was no longer good. So we were out of money there as well. I do not intend on returning there till managememt changes. I dont recommend this place under current management at all.
(1)Katherine S.
The worst bulgogi I've had, but we also had Jeyook bok um which was really good. Service was pretty good. The lights were so bright they about burned our pupils. The sides were pretty much tasteless. The Kimchi was weird tasting. The radish was tasty while the only other two sides were bland. In Dayton, I prefer Sima. In DC area, Heebeen.
(3)Steve V.
Second time here. Great solidly prepared and presented Korean and Japanese food. Next to WPAFB... Why go to a chain?
(4)rebecca b.
Saya has a good ambiance and nice sushi. I've only eaten at the sushi bar for lunch. They graciously avoid putting my food allergens into the sushi even though one is soy. I don't have them on my list for food allergy-friendly restaurants because there was a bit of a language barrier issue the first time I went there. I totally understand that it is a lot to expect Asian restaurants to accommodate people with food allergies as well as other restaurants do. The sushi is good, and it's a good deal. The vegetable roll is $4 - $1.50 cheaper than grocery store vegetable rolls but fresher. I recommend Saya for sushi.
(4)Cassie C.
Kal bi. Kal bi. Kal bi!!!! That's all I could say after eating this extraordinary dish. It was so tasty! I have been dying for some delightful Korean since I left Philadelphia (there was this korean barbeque that I used to drive 30 minutes outside the city just to go there). The sweet-salty combination was right on and I loved their kimchi-spicy, flavorful, and a wonderful companion to the richness of the short ribs. The staff is warm and friendly and they give a 10% discount for military-SCORE! If you are in Dayton, Saya is worth the trip to Fairborn!
(4)Celeste M.
Been here twice, got a boxed lunch both times, can't say I was particularly impressed with either. Food wasn't terrible but it certainly wasn't as good as people keep raving, and service is super slow. Not worth it, in my opinion.
(3)Nicole G.
Best sushi around! Everyone is friendly there, can't beat it.
(5)Latoya L.
Yummy, Yummy, Yummy! I travel alot so Yelp helps me big time and they didn't fail me again! Great Bulgogi! Good Kim-chi and killer sushi! A must go to if your near Wright Patterson AFB!
(5)Wesley D.
I've had a fair amount of sushi and Saya is definitely one of my top choices for quality and price, definitely the best in the Dayton area. The staff is always extremely friendly and accommodating. They have many creative specialty rolls. My recommendations are the Mango Samba, Chili Dai, and the Air Force Roll. Note: Mango Samba and Chili Dai are not on the menu, so be sure to ask for it specially.
(5)Chris W.
Great authentic Korean food with great service!
(5)Anita Y.
I was expecting a place that was a little more "special" on the inside because of what other review said, but what I got was a plain and simple restaurant. Guess I wasn't expecting the small town approach to restaurant decor and ambiance. (Why the hell not I ask myself, I KNEW I was in Fairborn!) It felt just a bit claustrophobic because there were no windows. But this is a KOREAN place after all. To make up for the drab inside, the food was pretty tasty! I had the Kal-bi and had enough for leftovers. A perfect balance of sweet and salty. The meat was super tender! We also ordered the Dol Sat BiBimBob--served in a hot stone bowl. I've never had it this way, and liked what I tasted. It could have used a bit more meat....and the yolk was cooked hard. I prefer all the gooey goodness of a runny yolk to be dripping and oozing over the rice as a tasty rich sauce. We had a Mango Salmon roll, and another roll with tempura yam and crab. Yum di Dum! The other food thing I was disappointed in was the traditional side dishes; we were given 4, but piggy me wanted much more....like we get in Denver and Chicago... 7 or 8 dishes? The side dishes were kim chee, a pickled pickle dish, another red spicy pickled turnip/daikon dish, and a seasoned bean sprouts. Tasty enough....but MORE PLEASE! Especially since my Kalbi had no veggies. 4 people for under $100. including a large hot sake. Not bad. I'll give this place a 3 chopstick rating. What you gonna do with that single chopstick-I have no idea.
(3)Michael M.
I love Saya. Quite possibly my favorite sushi place in the Dayton area. The staff is very personable and the food has never let me down. It can get busy at times, but the service has done an admiral job keeping up. The one time that I felt service was inadequate I received free sake and a spicy tuna hand roll! The sushi tastes great, and I personally love the ginger salad dressing on the free salad (soup too!)
(5)Ryan P.
The Chicken Yakisoba was quite good, but a bit greasy and salty. My two toddler girls had a blast eating the noodles! Also tried the Spicy Chicken in a Korean spicy sauce. This was much better than the Yakisoba and it's safe to say that this will be a "go-to" item on the menu for my wife and I. We ordered it medium, but it still had quite a kick to it. Also tried the Big Mouth roll (spicy tuna, spicy crab and avocado inside with masago). The presentation and care given to the sushi this time around was a bit lax, but I had a ton of spicy tuna mix, so I was willing to let it slide. Saya delivered (not literally) another delicious meal!
(4)Willis W.
Pretty good Korean fare, I usually enjoy the spicy squid entree they have...
(4)Corey M.
A great choice for high quality sushi, at a good price. Every piece of sushi I have ordered here has been consistently very good. I haven't found a special roll that knocks my socks off yet though. To me, that is what earns the fifth star. However, I have found some of the appetizers and sides to be stand outs. I really enjoy the vegetable and shrimp tempura, seaweed salad, and miso soup. It isn't that they are different or more creative than other places, just made with more care. I haven't seen this restaurant filled to capacity, but business is consistently growing. there is a cosmopolitan mix though, a mixture of many Asians, black, and white people make up the clientele.
(4)Honora M.
I have eaten at many Japanese and Korean restaurants in the country specifically in NYC and when I lived in LA for 10 years. Hands down this is my favorite because of the QUALITY fresh fish. I can't believe I am in Fairborn, Ohio! The staff is even more wonderful than the food if it's even possible. The sweetest, friendliest staff who know their customers faces and greet you like family. Another perk, free WiFi, a great excuse for me to go do some studying/work while dining on delicious sushi and sipping on some hot sake. Finally, if I remember correctly, Saya salutes the men & women in uniform by giving 10% off (if they are are in uniform). Love Saya!
(5)Mike B.
New chef, quality not the same. Ate there the day after their chef left for a new job. New chef didn't hold up to the standards I had experienced before. Haven't been back since. Hopefully, they quality/tastes have returned.
(3)Laura V.
Love this place, small dining room and it's always hopping at lunch time. Their mango roll is fantastic, and I so miss that I don't work down in this area anymore, just simply because I don't get to eat here. Sometimes the service can be a little slow or discombobulated, but the sushi is SOOOO worth it.
(4)Linds M.
This has become one of our places to get sushi. Staff is wonderful and the sushi is superb! We have never had a roll that was questionable or less than perfect. Thank you Saya for being consistently wonderful!
(5)David D.
Score. Stopped in for quick dinner alone. Had the Tempura and Gyoza appetizers and a Big Mouth Roll. Light batter on tempura, good gyoza and the Big mouth roll (tuna, crab, and avocado) was terrific. Service was okay. I will go again.
(4)Eleanor B.
I'm so excited that for the first time there is a Japanese restaurant close enough for me to go to during lunch in the Fairborn/Beavercreek area! Not only that, they serve Tempura Udon noodle soup as a lunch special and I would've paid full price! I'm such a fan! Sushi or sashimi is delicious and if you happen to want Korean food instead, their beef bulgogi box lunch is wonderful. You can make various people happy if they don't want sushi for lunch!
(4)Lynn V.
Good sushi, food isn't bad either. Just slightly expensive.
(3)Dan N.
I love this place - This is where I'm going to get my lunch/dinner fixin' since my favorite Korean/Japanese place is back in Texas. Ordered the Bulgogi (Bulgoki on the menu) Box and it was more than I expected. It came with Salad, Tamago (egg), another egg dish, 2 california rolls, Chap Chae and some kind of chicken, savory fruit salad, bulgogi and rice. I also ordered the Mango roll (it's basically tempera shrimp roll with mango slices) not expecting to get a lot with the box. All the dishes were great and I wanted to go again for dinner but my co-worker wants to go so we're going again next week. Hospitality was great when I walked in, all the waitresses and waiter were attentive especially when it packed after I came in. Parking was cramped as I was leaving from lunch - it was packed too!
(4)Jeneane B.
This restaurant was recommended to a group of us who were traveling for business in Dayton. I was largely unimpressed with both the salad and the sushi I had. I ordered a spicy tuna roll with a starter salad. The salad was very over-dressed and sour, and the sushi was much more rice than filling. The two people I dined with ordered Korean style dishes and were both pleased with their meals. Based on my dining experience here, I would say that it's worth trying the Korean dishes, but get your Japanese fix elsewhere.
(2)Annie P.
Family had Korean for lunch. Service was awesome like it should be. Food was okay...something was lacking in every dish. Not enough side dishes as we hoped. Will return to try different dishes...maybe the sushi. Tried again. Returned a couple times because of great friendly service!
(3)Adele D.
Very,Very good Korean and decent Sushi. Service is friendly,but frequently very slow. This restaurant can get crowded at lunch and dinner times,but the bulgogi makes it all worth it. They have traditional and veggie options for nearly everything!
(4)Kevan C.
We usually eat lunch here. Have always had good service and the food has been great. They are always friendly. The crowd I go with always get multiple rolls and eat way too much. I would definitely recommend trying this restaurant.
(4)Michael K.
Place was packed but can't understand why. Service was bad, never refilled our drinks and took forever with the check. I'm Korean so maybe my mistake for coming here but the food sucked, Japanese or Korean.
(2)Ralfion R.
Saya is great restaurant here in Fairborn. It's close to Wright State University, and the staff are incredibly friendly. Service is also fast. My group of 20 friends ate there and our food arrived at a reasonable speed. The food is delicious and most importantly, affordable. I love it. I highly recommend the JH roll or the Kalbi. The ice cream is also great. I'm not much of a fan of the O-Sam Dol Sot Bibimbap. I've ordered it twice and the squid was rubbery. I do recommend the regulat Dol Sot bibimbap. For appetizers, I love the chicken yakitori. Again, great restaurant, great service!
(4)Sandra S.
My absolute favorite Japanese Restaurant in the Dayton area. I've been going there regularly for over 2 years and always sit at the Sushi bar. Be brave try the specials or let them surprise you with something creative. They are wonderful people and very friendly. After how often I go, they treat lil me almost like family always asking after my now adult children.
(5)kellie c.
This place has the best bulgogi! Also, try their volcano roll, it is so good! This is actually the only good meal I had in the Dayton area.
(5)John F.
Solid 4. While my beef boolgogi was a bit bland, they served it as a lunch with a sushi roll, dumplings, & salad.
(4)Heather D.
Not sure if they are under new management, a new chef, or what. I ate there yesterday and it was different. The tempura was different, the box was different, no one got a tiny piece of wasabi to go with the California rolls in the boxes. My food was still good, but I'm going to have to go back and only order some rolls to see how I really feel.
(4)Kymberlei T.
We had the pot stickers and spicy chicken dinner. The food was excellent, just not for me. But if you like sushi you need to come here! This place was very busy even for lunch on the weekend.
(4)Neko C.
Saya is my go-to Japanese food fix in Dayton- thus far, everything I have ordered here has been superb and pretty authentic. The tempura udon is great- proper broth and noodles YES! (I wish I was joking when I say that some restaurants use ramen noodles in their udon...Fail.). The tonkatsu is delicious- the pork was cooked perfectly and the breading wasn't too soggy or burnt. And their sushi selection is wonderful- love the fresh, high-quality ingredients!! The lunch prices here are reasonable, plus there is a 10% discount for military members. Only down side here is the lunch time wait- it's a small joint, with a small staff and it can get fairly pack here at the lunch hour. Getting service and getting food will take a while. Other than that, this place is awesome!!! Great, authentic Japanese food for a decent price- Win-win situation for me :D
(4)Mindi A.
Great place for fresh, delicious, and innovative sushi!
(4)Weymar O.
Says is a pretty good restaurant for Dayton. I had the tempura udon. The udon and the soup were average and the tempura tasted a little funny but it wasn't bad. The sushi however, impressed me. Maybe the best in Dayton and as good as any restaurant on the west coast. Overall I could definitely recommend this for lunch or dinner.
(4)Ashley D.
Saya is everything you can expect from a 3 star restaurant serving sushi in a landlocked state. If you're used to fresh-caught gourmet sushi served with a flourish on conveyor belts by chefs who don't speak a word of English, you're going to be a little disappointed, but if your basic understanding of the Japanese Language is limited to songs sung by Styx (or you're stuck in Ohio and hankering to meet that sushi craving), welcome to a tour de force for your tastebuds. Personal favorites are the spicy tuna and the big mouth specialty roll. The staff is always welcoming a friendly and the sushi is always fresh and yummy. The Veggie tempura is also an excellent choice. Friends of mine have enjoyed the Soba noodles and the Bibimbap (which comes with more Kim chi than you can shake a chopstick at). Not to mention they do call-ahead take out. Definitely a winner in my book and the best location for sushi with options for your less culinarily adventurous friends in the Fairborn area.
(4)Elaine M.
I ordered the bibim bap in the stone bowl, and just as another reviewer had stated, it was scalding hot--which was perfect because I absolutely LOVE it when the rice becomes crispy. The portion, however, was a bit smaller than I'm used to, and it didn't have the same abundance of veggies that I would have expected... but it was delicious, nonetheless. The service was great. The servers were super attentive and friendly. Overall, this is a good quality place and I'd definitely come here again, but I don't know if I'd be able to say that this place is on the same level as the Korean restaurants I'm used to in New York and New Jersey, but then again, I suppose it's not really fair to compare, considering the Korean population there is exponentially greater than in Ohio.
(4)Pinky R.
Wanted udon or ramen they only have udon. I was skeptical at first but it was pretty good. Probably best you'll get for is area.
(4)Angel B.
I was looking for a place to have a nice, quiet dinner after a long week, and this was just the place. The restaurant has an unassuming feel, and the service is excellent. I ordered sashimi and sushi that were both very good for what I was expecting from Ohio. The prices were reasonable (with a 10% for all military members). Nothing about the meal particularly jumped out at me, but I would come back here.
(3)Brandon S.
Can't comment on the food. We sat for about half an hour and no one waited on us and attempts to flag down a waiter were ignored or shrugged off. They weren't even that busy. The place was half full at most.
(1)Harley D.
We used to love Saya. Think it's under different management, as looked like an older Caucasian male came out to talk to one table for some time. (Never said hello to our table, even though there were only three tables in use). The usual ajumma and agassi were no where to be found. Where to begin? We think the previous owners were having troubles, but definitely not the same place any more. Server was cold, inexperienced and basically useless. He gave our sushi rolls to another table--several minutes later they realized the error, and just brought them straight to our table. (I wouldn't have taken them then, but the rest of the family was hungry.) They've watered down their hot rice paste (if that's what it is now) so much it's in a ketchup squeeze bottle--it should never be that thinned, and very little flavor. Sushi rice was hard and cold. They brought back the same fish on newly made rice. The rice was better, but THE SAME FISH? And the fish was nearly the smallest, thinnest sushi I think I've ever had. Their chapchae is completely different and no where near authentic. The dol sot bi bim bap was hot, but served without a spoon to stir it, and with very few, flavorless additions besides rice. By the time I got the spoon, which I asked for when it was delivered, the bottom of the rice was nearly burned. We used to love all the side relishes, but only the cabbage kimchi was barely edible, with no flavor but just heat. To top it off, they charged me for two iced teas when asked if I needed a refill to my not-yet-empty glass, and the second one was cloudy (where the first was clear). What was the difference in just 20 minutes? The price increases I could understand, but not with the simultaneous huge drop in quality. For reference, I lived in Korea for a year, and Hawaii for six, so have had LOTS of Korean and Japanese food to compare. Nope, after many years of enjoyable employees, personal recognition, polite and attendant staff, and outstanding Korean and Japanese food, we'll not be back.
(1)Tanya S.
Just had dinner here tonight. I just moved to Dayton from Texas. I'm always on the lookout for decent sushi and yummy Korean food. This place looked promising due to the reviews and off I went. The place was not busy for most restaurant's standards but it was busy enough that the employees were running around and there seemed not to be enough employees for the amount of customers. Either way, after a few minutes of standing around I was finally seated at the bar area. I heard a lot of Japanese from the sushi chefs so I got excited for a second. But they were really Korean and knew a few words in Japanese... meh. Either way, the sushi rice was properly cooked! This is my main complaint whenever I go to sushi restaurants... the rice! There's nothing you can do about the fish when you live in a land locked state but if you mess up the rice then that is unforgivable. Not here... sushi rice is good! I ordered some basic tuna, salmon, and yellowtail nigiri to get me started. After that I ordered the Dolsot Bi Bim Bop. ... my favorite Korean dish. It was delicious and the the stone bowl was extremely hot...! It still was not as good as the Bi Bim Bop I used to order at my favorite Yakiniku restaurant in Japan, but close enough. Although the service was a little slow, all the employees were extremely nice and hard working. I will definitely visit again.
(4)Kerry L.
The food is quite good, but if you don't have a man at the table, the service is negligent at best.
(3)John M.
We don't visit nearly as often as we should - the people are super nice and the food is very good. Tonight we had a bunch of sushi and some yakisoba, dumplings, miso, etc. Everything was very good, the server was alone and very busy, but still very friendly and apologetic. T The JH roll is the jam for sure - not traditional by any means but fantastic nonetheless. You should go here and support this cute little place that you'll miss if you blink as you go by in a part of town that you wouldn't expect it.
(5)Greg W.
Is it healthy to live solely on sushi? I've searched Dayton for every sushi serving establishment I could find and Saya recently bumped my favorite spot to become #1. Every piece of sashimi and nigiri I've tried has been very fresh while the rolls provide a great mix of flavors. The sushi chefs put a lot of pride in their work and, if you ask, are happy to make you a custom roll suited to your tastes. I second the comments on how friendly the staff are at Saya. The location might be out of the way for some, but it is worth the drive.
(5)Enam D.
They always have fresh food and amazingly friendly! I would recommend it to anyone :)
(5)Johaun C.
probably the closest thing to decent korean food in dayton. in other words, generally not very good korean food (duk mandu gook isn't even on the menu). BUT, the O-sam dol sot bibimbap that i ordered was exceptional--hands down, best dish on the table. the stone pot came out RAGING hot which i love (yummy bits of crispiness ensued). all in all, if you're REALLY jonesing for some korean, go to columbus.
(3)Yan K.
Good Korean food, well worth a visit, though I haven't tried their Japanese selections yet.
(4)Sophia K.
Having been to nearly every Sushi place in town, I was excited when Saya opened up so close to work. I am mad that it took so long to try it. The staff was very friendly, service was quick, and the food was excellent. If you order $10 worth of sushi, you get salad and soup for free. Although too full to indulge, we also were offered free dessert! I had never tried lobster before in a roll but it was very good, with asparagus and drizzled with eel sauce.
(5)Ty M.
I'm not quite sure what the hype is all about...just ate here with my family, and I swear that I'm not ever going back. My wife bought a $7 noodle soup and I literally got instant ramen noodle soup with those small square vegetables that you get from those $0.99 Korean Hot & Spicy Instant noodle soup. I inquired about it, and they told me that it is in fact instant ramen. I bought a $8 tempura udon, and I got 4 battered vegetables (no shrimp). They told me that shrimp is too expensive so they only serve it during dinner, and it'll cost me $10. I also got their $13.50 "Lion King" sushi roll upon their chef's recommendation...EPIC FAIL. the sushi came crumpled and falling apart, and the taste was just off. Never again. Stay away.
(1)Jack M.
Yep, the management changed and so did the food. The White House roll is gone, the signature JH roll now has eel sauce on it, skip it. Asashi in Riverside is better for authentic Japanese and if you can get past its dive appearance, Yongs Cafe further down on Kaufman has the best Korean food in town...seriously!!!!
(1)Honora M.
I have eaten at many Japanese and Korean restaurants in the country specifically in NYC and when I lived in LA for 10 years. Hands down this is my favorite because of the QUALITY fresh fish. I can't believe I am in Fairborn, Ohio! The staff is even more wonderful than the food if it's even possible. The sweetest, friendliest staff who know their customers faces and greet you like family. Another perk, free WiFi, a great excuse for me to go do some studying/work while dining on delicious sushi and sipping on some hot sake. Finally, if I remember correctly, Saya salutes the men & women in uniform by giving 10% off (if they are are in uniform). Love Saya!
(5)Mike B.
New chef, quality not the same. Ate there the day after their chef left for a new job. New chef didn't hold up to the standards I had experienced before. Haven't been back since. Hopefully, they quality/tastes have returned.
(3)Laura V.
Love this place, small dining room and it's always hopping at lunch time. Their mango roll is fantastic, and I so miss that I don't work down in this area anymore, just simply because I don't get to eat here. Sometimes the service can be a little slow or discombobulated, but the sushi is SOOOO worth it.
(4)Linds M.
This has become one of our places to get sushi. Staff is wonderful and the sushi is superb! We have never had a roll that was questionable or less than perfect. Thank you Saya for being consistently wonderful!
(5)David D.
Score. Stopped in for quick dinner alone. Had the Tempura and Gyoza appetizers and a Big Mouth Roll. Light batter on tempura, good gyoza and the Big mouth roll (tuna, crab, and avocado) was terrific. Service was okay. I will go again.
(4)Danlei W.
I use to like their lunch special~ the lunch box had a lot of side dishes. I love the side dishes more than the main course for a lot of Korean Restaurant. I am quite disappointed when they get rid of a lot side dishes for the lunch box. There's no longer clear noodle, no Korean Style omelet, no other random stuff that was mentioned in the previous review. Please give my favorite clear noodle back, Saya!
(3)Lynn V.
Good sushi, food isn't bad either. Just slightly expensive.
(3)Dan N.
I love this place - This is where I'm going to get my lunch/dinner fixin' since my favorite Korean/Japanese place is back in Texas. Ordered the Bulgogi (Bulgoki on the menu) Box and it was more than I expected. It came with Salad, Tamago (egg), another egg dish, 2 california rolls, Chap Chae and some kind of chicken, savory fruit salad, bulgogi and rice. I also ordered the Mango roll (it's basically tempera shrimp roll with mango slices) not expecting to get a lot with the box. All the dishes were great and I wanted to go again for dinner but my co-worker wants to go so we're going again next week. Hospitality was great when I walked in, all the waitresses and waiter were attentive especially when it packed after I came in. Parking was cramped as I was leaving from lunch - it was packed too!
(4)Eleanor B.
I'm so excited that for the first time there is a Japanese restaurant close enough for me to go to during lunch in the Fairborn/Beavercreek area! Not only that, they serve Tempura Udon noodle soup as a lunch special and I would've paid full price! I'm such a fan! Sushi or sashimi is delicious and if you happen to want Korean food instead, their beef bulgogi box lunch is wonderful. You can make various people happy if they don't want sushi for lunch!
(4)Adrienne B.
I can't stop eating here. I think I have an unhealthy obsession with this place. My friend and I went here for dinner last night and I couldn't decide what I wanted and the server was suggesting "new" rolls and I had tried them all. At the end of the night she said "see you soon" with a knowing smile like a drug dealer would... I only go for the sushi but by far this is as good as it gets for me. I have tried others in the area but for price and quality this is hands down my favorite. My favorite rolls are the White House Roll which just melts in your mouth, the Mango Samba Roll, and I've become a new fan of the Candy Cane Roll. But really I've never met a roll there I don't like. And the sashimi appetizer...oh nom.
(4)Tif C.
We've never had the sushi here but the Bulgogi Bento Box is pretty decent. You get quite a bit of food for a low price. It's always packed during weekday lunch because of the close proximity to Wright-Patt AFB. Since I grew up in a Korean household, almost every restaurant falls a little short of my expectations when it comes to Bulgogi /kimchi. The staff can sometimes be a little harsh. One afternoon the waitress literally said, "hurry up" when we were making our order. That threw off the whole experience. Overall it's a decent place to eat if you are going more for the food itself and not the atmosphere.
(3)Courtney C.
I visited Saya last year for the very first and very last time. Now I know it may seem unjust of me to be posting a review about this place so much later, but I'm still pretty upset over it all. The fact that I'm still bitter about my one-time dining experience here is saying a lot. I met up with a few friends, and the meal started off fine. Our server was nice, and we got our drinks and food out in a prompt manner. After that, it went downhill. After we got our food and drinks, we were maybe there for a good hour. All of our waters were empty, not a single offer to refill, and after we were done eating, we just decided to chat and wait instead of tracking down our waitress. 15 minutes after we're done eating, we start to question if our server has just completely forgotten about us. The restaurant's small, and the entire time we've been there (+1hr), there's been a total of 4 tables, one of which had just arrived at the end of our meal. There is literally no reason why in the span of over an hour, a waitress with 3 very calm tables can't check up on us, refill our glasses, or bring us our check. Now this is where I feel guilty, because I went and tracked down the first person I could find, which happened to be the owner. She was super sweet and apologized to me. She then went straight to getting our checks together for us. Unfortunately, my mind was already made up about this place. Servers are one of those things that for me can really make or break a restaurant. Maybe if the place had to-die-for food, I would be willing to try it again...maybe.
(1)Janelle F.
This used to be me and my best friends fave spot. We have noticed lately how small the portions are and how the prices have risen. Less food and more money? What happened Saya !? It's unfortunate because the people who work there are very nice but we probably won't be back because it's not Worth the extra $$
(2)Kev L.
Very very dissapointed in this place. Went there over a visit (Scoping out the Dayton area) naturally trying the few ethnic options available. I ordered the Kalbi Tang soup. I have to say it was by far the worst versión I have ever had in my life. I have made Kalbi Tang at home (Im not even Asian much less Korean) and my versions crushed this straight T.K.O. My version is nowhere near the standard im used to getting at other Korean establishments. The one here was very VERY salty, bland, and lacked any soul. The ingredients were of poor quality. The banchan here was a 2 out of 10. The Kimchi was okay, sweet and not overdone, but the other examples of Daikon radish were so tiny, I mean the portions of Banchan were smaller than what you would serve a stingy three year old. And when you pay the kind of cash you pay for Korean food, you aren't expecting banchan that takes up 10% of the dish. My wife ordered the Japche which was decent and did have good taste. A buddy of mine also ordered the Bulgogi. The Blgogi did have good flavor, was sweet and had plenty of onions. The cut of meat was not the best but was tasty. I will give this place a try down the line next time I am in town. This palce has to make my potential future life in Dayton bearable!!!!
(2)Melissa D.
I really hate lowering my rating as I love Saya and the people that work there, however, the past few times have been disappointing. I never see Sushi chefs behind the bar anymore and they seem understaffed most days. I wanted to order my favorite roll last time we went but it wasn't available. Apparently it left with the Sushi chefs. :( We usually have to wait 5-10 minutes before ordering as there is only one person working the dining room AND the Sushi bar. The sushi rolls seem to have shrank in size as well. Not the masterpieces I had become accustomed to. Saya - I do hope you are able to obtain new chefs and waitstaff and uphold the quality that so many of us have come to expect. I can't quit you, but I will have to find another place for sushi for a while. :(
(3)John K.
I am giving this restaurant 1 star. We come to the restaurant from time to time but the last visit was the last straw for us. We had yellowtail, salmon, unagi, and another sushi roll. The rolls were okay but the other sushi was so small, the smallest I have ever seen at any Japanese restaurant I know. The waitress blamed it for not letting the sushi chef know that we are Asian b/c "Caucasians like smaller fish portions and I forgot to tell him we had an Asian customer". Huh????? I was disgusted that we were given after having been a multi-visit customer and was so mad I even left them our points/reward card never to come back again. Avoid!
(1)John H.
Ramen is delicious, spicy but can still taste the scallions and other ingredients. Sushi is always good. Potstickers and shrimp dumplings are great!
(5)Tom E.
This used to be one of our favorite sushi spots. Dinner last night was poor service and poorer food. Don't know if the place changed hands or what. Almost looked like one person doing food and one waitress who was also bussing tables. Probably won't go back.
(1)Ian H.
I came here for lunch on a workday, and thought the prices were too high for the quality of food and service. My Korean spicy pork tasted ok, but attention to detail throughout the meal was not good. It took a long time for a server to come to the table, and I was unable to get a drink refill even after asking. It is a minor complaint, but my miso soup bowl wasn't served completely full (again, attention to detail). When competitors are charging $4 or $5 less for lunch, you would expect things to be a cut above here, which they are not. My lunch came with some California roll, which was not very good (they also forgot to bring it to me at all, which they did correct on their own). I noticed the prices for other basic sushi rolls were higher than other places I've seen in Dayton. All in all, JY Bamboo in Fairborn is a better value choice for lunch, with some similar offerings.
(2)Sophia F.
No idea what the fuss is about. We went by on a day when the sushi chef had been caught in Michigan by a snowstorm, so only ordered Korean food. A good indicator of a Korean restaurant that is not actually meant for Koreans: no Korean anywhere on the menu. This is mediocre-to-crummy Korean food, especially for the price (more than $12 a meal). The bulgogi was too sweet, and the banchan was frankly terrible--tiny servings, a terrible selection (kimchi, kkakdugi/radish kimchi, cucumbers, and dongchimi/slightly pickled radish), and flavors that managed to be incredibly bland and under-seasoned at the same time as they were slightly off/old. If this was the only Korean restaurant in Dayton, it still wouldn't be worth the trip. Stay home, look up some recipes online, and do it yourself. I guarantee it will taste better.
(1)Jed M.
This a Japanese/Korean fusion restaurant, but its talents lean more to Korean than Japanese food. Every Korean meal has been authentic and savory, and I've enjoyed every bite of them. I ordered the sushi only once and the portions seemed small compared to Akashi and high in price. I love the atmosphere though and the waitstaff is fantastic. I sat around talking with my buddy once and they gave us a few rounds of the Korean side dishes as a nicety (after our meal). I wouldn't expect that every time, but it left a very good impression.
(4)Cobra K.
Korean run Japanese/Korean restaurant. Came in and ordered the Sashimi Lunch Box for $10.95. Came with everything...miso soup, salad, glass noodles, tempura, sashimi, sushi rolls and other random things. No cohesion to the dish really...just a little bit of everything. Not bad and the sashimi was decent. 10% discount for AD Military.
(3)Courtney V.
They recently changed my favorite roll (J.H. Roll) to barely any of the delicious spicy mayo crab on it unlike the generous helpings of it in the past. I mean it's only imitation, at over 12$ a roll I think you can afford to not be so skimpy. Extremely disappointed and won't be going back anytime soon till they fix it. They are apparently trying to cut costs, but in the WRONG places. My advice to them would be-don't fix something that was never broken.
(2)The Stray K.
My husband and I use to come here frequently for the sushi and the Korean menu, and the service was great and the food worth the menu price. In thr last couple months the ownership had changed and one can quickly tell. We went in one night and ordered sushi and Korean entrees. The sushi came very quickly and it was pretty tasty ( but we were also starving) and we waited for 40 mins for our entrees. Not a single person came to check on us, but they did come to take our empty plates. I made eye contact with a few waiters but they were all too busy to come. Finally one came to ask if we wanted anything else and we informed them our meals haven't come at all. We find our ticket for thr meal wad not turned in. The boss informed us that the food was ready, apparently ready meant another 20 minutes. They arrived in to go boxes, we took thr hint. As if this experiece wasnt bad enough, we paid for the sushi because the gift certificate bought during previous management was no longer good. So we were out of money there as well. I do not intend on returning there till managememt changes. I dont recommend this place under current management at all.
(1)Valerie W.
Ohhhhhhhh, you KNOW you've got me when I start planning my next meal(s) before I'm even half way done with what's on my plate!!! So glad I got this Grupon and FORCED Mr. "Meat and Potatoes" to venture out with me on a chilly Sat. night to get some of the BEST Japanese/Korean food I've had this side of...ummmm....Queens, NY!! Lots of options-- I went for seaweed salad (yum!) and a couple of super fresh sushi favorites, then skipped over to Korea for some steamy beef bulgogi. He LOVED his chicken tepanaki (skewered w/ EXCELLENT marinade!) app. and beef teriyaki dinner! SUPER fast service, very helpful wait staff who patiently answered all our questions, and very reasonable prices... What more could you ask for?!? If they were just a bit closer to home, I'd be there (almost) every day!! YUM...
(4)Angel M.
LOVE this place! Sushi is delicious and not overpriced with beautiful presentation. Service is always fantastic and fast.
(5)Cassie W.
Used to love this place! However I think it changed ownership recently and it has gone downhill. Was in yesterday and ordered sushi. Had to send it back because there was hardly any fish at all on it! It was almost entirely rice and avocado. It was brought back to me having hardly changed. At $24 for two rolls, I expect a lot more than to leave still hungry. They've gotten super stingy while leaving the prices the same, and the quality just isn't what I remember.
(1)Christopher G.
Seriously...awful. Will never go here again. They failed to tell me that iced tea refills are NOT free, AFTER I had 4 refills. Sushi is probably the worst I've had in the Dayton area. I've been here before (a couple of years ago) and I remember when I ordered Kimchee stew it came with pork. When going recently, my stew had NO pork. I asked the manager about it and they said that they now charge extra for the pork! Not to mention the bowl that the stew came in was 1/4 the size it was last time I went and the the price has stayed the same! Avoid at all costs.
(1)Katie S.
I really don't know what happened to this place. I mean, it used to be my go-to for sushi and had the best tempura I've ever had. But lately, the food has been CRAP!!!! I don't know, maybe new management? I recently ordered the shrimp tempura box for lunch and i can honestly say I'd rather eat roadkill. Atleast the service was friendly. If you're looking for sushi, I suggest trying Osaka or JY Bamboo.
(2)Jeneane B.
This restaurant was recommended to a group of us who were traveling for business in Dayton. I was largely unimpressed with both the salad and the sushi I had. I ordered a spicy tuna roll with a starter salad. The salad was very over-dressed and sour, and the sushi was much more rice than filling. The two people I dined with ordered Korean style dishes and were both pleased with their meals. Based on my dining experience here, I would say that it's worth trying the Korean dishes, but get your Japanese fix elsewhere.
(2)Annie P.
Family had Korean for lunch. Service was awesome like it should be. Food was okay...something was lacking in every dish. Not enough side dishes as we hoped. Will return to try different dishes...maybe the sushi. Tried again. Returned a couple times because of great friendly service!
(3)Willis W.
Pretty good Korean fare, I usually enjoy the spicy squid entree they have...
(4)Corey M.
A great choice for high quality sushi, at a good price. Every piece of sushi I have ordered here has been consistently very good. I haven't found a special roll that knocks my socks off yet though. To me, that is what earns the fifth star. However, I have found some of the appetizers and sides to be stand outs. I really enjoy the vegetable and shrimp tempura, seaweed salad, and miso soup. It isn't that they are different or more creative than other places, just made with more care. I haven't seen this restaurant filled to capacity, but business is consistently growing. there is a cosmopolitan mix though, a mixture of many Asians, black, and white people make up the clientele.
(4)Anita Y.
I was expecting a place that was a little more "special" on the inside because of what other review said, but what I got was a plain and simple restaurant. Guess I wasn't expecting the small town approach to restaurant decor and ambiance. (Why the hell not I ask myself, I KNEW I was in Fairborn!) It felt just a bit claustrophobic because there were no windows. But this is a KOREAN place after all. To make up for the drab inside, the food was pretty tasty! I had the Kal-bi and had enough for leftovers. A perfect balance of sweet and salty. The meat was super tender! We also ordered the Dol Sat BiBimBob--served in a hot stone bowl. I've never had it this way, and liked what I tasted. It could have used a bit more meat....and the yolk was cooked hard. I prefer all the gooey goodness of a runny yolk to be dripping and oozing over the rice as a tasty rich sauce. We had a Mango Salmon roll, and another roll with tempura yam and crab. Yum di Dum! The other food thing I was disappointed in was the traditional side dishes; we were given 4, but piggy me wanted much more....like we get in Denver and Chicago... 7 or 8 dishes? The side dishes were kim chee, a pickled pickle dish, another red spicy pickled turnip/daikon dish, and a seasoned bean sprouts. Tasty enough....but MORE PLEASE! Especially since my Kalbi had no veggies. 4 people for under $100. including a large hot sake. Not bad. I'll give this place a 3 chopstick rating. What you gonna do with that single chopstick-I have no idea.
(3)Michael M.
I love Saya. Quite possibly my favorite sushi place in the Dayton area. The staff is very personable and the food has never let me down. It can get busy at times, but the service has done an admiral job keeping up. The one time that I felt service was inadequate I received free sake and a spicy tuna hand roll! The sushi tastes great, and I personally love the ginger salad dressing on the free salad (soup too!)
(5)Ryan P.
The Chicken Yakisoba was quite good, but a bit greasy and salty. My two toddler girls had a blast eating the noodles! Also tried the Spicy Chicken in a Korean spicy sauce. This was much better than the Yakisoba and it's safe to say that this will be a "go-to" item on the menu for my wife and I. We ordered it medium, but it still had quite a kick to it. Also tried the Big Mouth roll (spicy tuna, spicy crab and avocado inside with masago). The presentation and care given to the sushi this time around was a bit lax, but I had a ton of spicy tuna mix, so I was willing to let it slide. Saya delivered (not literally) another delicious meal!
(4)Adele D.
Very,Very good Korean and decent Sushi. Service is friendly,but frequently very slow. This restaurant can get crowded at lunch and dinner times,but the bulgogi makes it all worth it. They have traditional and veggie options for nearly everything!
(4)Kevan C.
We usually eat lunch here. Have always had good service and the food has been great. They are always friendly. The crowd I go with always get multiple rolls and eat way too much. I would definitely recommend trying this restaurant.
(4)Michael K.
Place was packed but can't understand why. Service was bad, never refilled our drinks and took forever with the check. I'm Korean so maybe my mistake for coming here but the food sucked, Japanese or Korean.
(2)Ralfion R.
Saya is great restaurant here in Fairborn. It's close to Wright State University, and the staff are incredibly friendly. Service is also fast. My group of 20 friends ate there and our food arrived at a reasonable speed. The food is delicious and most importantly, affordable. I love it. I highly recommend the JH roll or the Kalbi. The ice cream is also great. I'm not much of a fan of the O-Sam Dol Sot Bibimbap. I've ordered it twice and the squid was rubbery. I do recommend the regulat Dol Sot bibimbap. For appetizers, I love the chicken yakitori. Again, great restaurant, great service!
(4)Sandra S.
My absolute favorite Japanese Restaurant in the Dayton area. I've been going there regularly for over 2 years and always sit at the Sushi bar. Be brave try the specials or let them surprise you with something creative. They are wonderful people and very friendly. After how often I go, they treat lil me almost like family always asking after my now adult children.
(5)kellie c.
This place has the best bulgogi! Also, try their volcano roll, it is so good! This is actually the only good meal I had in the Dayton area.
(5)John F.
Solid 4. While my beef boolgogi was a bit bland, they served it as a lunch with a sushi roll, dumplings, & salad.
(4)Heather D.
Not sure if they are under new management, a new chef, or what. I ate there yesterday and it was different. The tempura was different, the box was different, no one got a tiny piece of wasabi to go with the California rolls in the boxes. My food was still good, but I'm going to have to go back and only order some rolls to see how I really feel.
(4)Neko C.
Saya is my go-to Japanese food fix in Dayton- thus far, everything I have ordered here has been superb and pretty authentic. The tempura udon is great- proper broth and noodles YES! (I wish I was joking when I say that some restaurants use ramen noodles in their udon...Fail.). The tonkatsu is delicious- the pork was cooked perfectly and the breading wasn't too soggy or burnt. And their sushi selection is wonderful- love the fresh, high-quality ingredients!! The lunch prices here are reasonable, plus there is a 10% discount for military members. Only down side here is the lunch time wait- it's a small joint, with a small staff and it can get fairly pack here at the lunch hour. Getting service and getting food will take a while. Other than that, this place is awesome!!! Great, authentic Japanese food for a decent price- Win-win situation for me :D
(4)Mindi A.
Great place for fresh, delicious, and innovative sushi!
(4)Weymar O.
Says is a pretty good restaurant for Dayton. I had the tempura udon. The udon and the soup were average and the tempura tasted a little funny but it wasn't bad. The sushi however, impressed me. Maybe the best in Dayton and as good as any restaurant on the west coast. Overall I could definitely recommend this for lunch or dinner.
(4)Ashley D.
Saya is everything you can expect from a 3 star restaurant serving sushi in a landlocked state. If you're used to fresh-caught gourmet sushi served with a flourish on conveyor belts by chefs who don't speak a word of English, you're going to be a little disappointed, but if your basic understanding of the Japanese Language is limited to songs sung by Styx (or you're stuck in Ohio and hankering to meet that sushi craving), welcome to a tour de force for your tastebuds. Personal favorites are the spicy tuna and the big mouth specialty roll. The staff is always welcoming a friendly and the sushi is always fresh and yummy. The Veggie tempura is also an excellent choice. Friends of mine have enjoyed the Soba noodles and the Bibimbap (which comes with more Kim chi than you can shake a chopstick at). Not to mention they do call-ahead take out. Definitely a winner in my book and the best location for sushi with options for your less culinarily adventurous friends in the Fairborn area.
(4)Elaine M.
I ordered the bibim bap in the stone bowl, and just as another reviewer had stated, it was scalding hot--which was perfect because I absolutely LOVE it when the rice becomes crispy. The portion, however, was a bit smaller than I'm used to, and it didn't have the same abundance of veggies that I would have expected... but it was delicious, nonetheless. The service was great. The servers were super attentive and friendly. Overall, this is a good quality place and I'd definitely come here again, but I don't know if I'd be able to say that this place is on the same level as the Korean restaurants I'm used to in New York and New Jersey, but then again, I suppose it's not really fair to compare, considering the Korean population there is exponentially greater than in Ohio.
(4)Pinky R.
Wanted udon or ramen they only have udon. I was skeptical at first but it was pretty good. Probably best you'll get for is area.
(4)Kymberlei T.
We had the pot stickers and spicy chicken dinner. The food was excellent, just not for me. But if you like sushi you need to come here! This place was very busy even for lunch on the weekend.
(4)Tanya S.
Just had dinner here tonight. I just moved to Dayton from Texas. I'm always on the lookout for decent sushi and yummy Korean food. This place looked promising due to the reviews and off I went. The place was not busy for most restaurant's standards but it was busy enough that the employees were running around and there seemed not to be enough employees for the amount of customers. Either way, after a few minutes of standing around I was finally seated at the bar area. I heard a lot of Japanese from the sushi chefs so I got excited for a second. But they were really Korean and knew a few words in Japanese... meh. Either way, the sushi rice was properly cooked! This is my main complaint whenever I go to sushi restaurants... the rice! There's nothing you can do about the fish when you live in a land locked state but if you mess up the rice then that is unforgivable. Not here... sushi rice is good! I ordered some basic tuna, salmon, and yellowtail nigiri to get me started. After that I ordered the Dolsot Bi Bim Bop. ... my favorite Korean dish. It was delicious and the the stone bowl was extremely hot...! It still was not as good as the Bi Bim Bop I used to order at my favorite Yakiniku restaurant in Japan, but close enough. Although the service was a little slow, all the employees were extremely nice and hard working. I will definitely visit again.
(4)Kerry L.
The food is quite good, but if you don't have a man at the table, the service is negligent at best.
(3)John M.
We don't visit nearly as often as we should - the people are super nice and the food is very good. Tonight we had a bunch of sushi and some yakisoba, dumplings, miso, etc. Everything was very good, the server was alone and very busy, but still very friendly and apologetic. T The JH roll is the jam for sure - not traditional by any means but fantastic nonetheless. You should go here and support this cute little place that you'll miss if you blink as you go by in a part of town that you wouldn't expect it.
(5)Katherine S.
The worst bulgogi I've had, but we also had Jeyook bok um which was really good. Service was pretty good. The lights were so bright they about burned our pupils. The sides were pretty much tasteless. The Kimchi was weird tasting. The radish was tasty while the only other two sides were bland. In Dayton, I prefer Sima. In DC area, Heebeen.
(3)Steve V.
Second time here. Great solidly prepared and presented Korean and Japanese food. Next to WPAFB... Why go to a chain?
(4)rebecca b.
Saya has a good ambiance and nice sushi. I've only eaten at the sushi bar for lunch. They graciously avoid putting my food allergens into the sushi even though one is soy. I don't have them on my list for food allergy-friendly restaurants because there was a bit of a language barrier issue the first time I went there. I totally understand that it is a lot to expect Asian restaurants to accommodate people with food allergies as well as other restaurants do. The sushi is good, and it's a good deal. The vegetable roll is $4 - $1.50 cheaper than grocery store vegetable rolls but fresher. I recommend Saya for sushi.
(4)Cassie C.
Kal bi. Kal bi. Kal bi!!!! That's all I could say after eating this extraordinary dish. It was so tasty! I have been dying for some delightful Korean since I left Philadelphia (there was this korean barbeque that I used to drive 30 minutes outside the city just to go there). The sweet-salty combination was right on and I loved their kimchi-spicy, flavorful, and a wonderful companion to the richness of the short ribs. The staff is warm and friendly and they give a 10% discount for military-SCORE! If you are in Dayton, Saya is worth the trip to Fairborn!
(4)Celeste M.
Been here twice, got a boxed lunch both times, can't say I was particularly impressed with either. Food wasn't terrible but it certainly wasn't as good as people keep raving, and service is super slow. Not worth it, in my opinion.
(3)Nicole G.
Best sushi around! Everyone is friendly there, can't beat it.
(5)Latoya L.
Yummy, Yummy, Yummy! I travel alot so Yelp helps me big time and they didn't fail me again! Great Bulgogi! Good Kim-chi and killer sushi! A must go to if your near Wright Patterson AFB!
(5)Wesley D.
I've had a fair amount of sushi and Saya is definitely one of my top choices for quality and price, definitely the best in the Dayton area. The staff is always extremely friendly and accommodating. They have many creative specialty rolls. My recommendations are the Mango Samba, Chili Dai, and the Air Force Roll. Note: Mango Samba and Chili Dai are not on the menu, so be sure to ask for it specially.
(5)Chris W.
Great authentic Korean food with great service!
(5)Angel B.
I was looking for a place to have a nice, quiet dinner after a long week, and this was just the place. The restaurant has an unassuming feel, and the service is excellent. I ordered sashimi and sushi that were both very good for what I was expecting from Ohio. The prices were reasonable (with a 10% for all military members). Nothing about the meal particularly jumped out at me, but I would come back here.
(3)Brandon S.
Can't comment on the food. We sat for about half an hour and no one waited on us and attempts to flag down a waiter were ignored or shrugged off. They weren't even that busy. The place was half full at most.
(1)Harley D.
We used to love Saya. Think it's under different management, as looked like an older Caucasian male came out to talk to one table for some time. (Never said hello to our table, even though there were only three tables in use). The usual ajumma and agassi were no where to be found. Where to begin? We think the previous owners were having troubles, but definitely not the same place any more. Server was cold, inexperienced and basically useless. He gave our sushi rolls to another table--several minutes later they realized the error, and just brought them straight to our table. (I wouldn't have taken them then, but the rest of the family was hungry.) They've watered down their hot rice paste (if that's what it is now) so much it's in a ketchup squeeze bottle--it should never be that thinned, and very little flavor. Sushi rice was hard and cold. They brought back the same fish on newly made rice. The rice was better, but THE SAME FISH? And the fish was nearly the smallest, thinnest sushi I think I've ever had. Their chapchae is completely different and no where near authentic. The dol sot bi bim bap was hot, but served without a spoon to stir it, and with very few, flavorless additions besides rice. By the time I got the spoon, which I asked for when it was delivered, the bottom of the rice was nearly burned. We used to love all the side relishes, but only the cabbage kimchi was barely edible, with no flavor but just heat. To top it off, they charged me for two iced teas when asked if I needed a refill to my not-yet-empty glass, and the second one was cloudy (where the first was clear). What was the difference in just 20 minutes? The price increases I could understand, but not with the simultaneous huge drop in quality. For reference, I lived in Korea for a year, and Hawaii for six, so have had LOTS of Korean and Japanese food to compare. Nope, after many years of enjoyable employees, personal recognition, polite and attendant staff, and outstanding Korean and Japanese food, we'll not be back.
(1)Greg W.
Is it healthy to live solely on sushi? I've searched Dayton for every sushi serving establishment I could find and Saya recently bumped my favorite spot to become #1. Every piece of sashimi and nigiri I've tried has been very fresh while the rolls provide a great mix of flavors. The sushi chefs put a lot of pride in their work and, if you ask, are happy to make you a custom roll suited to your tastes. I second the comments on how friendly the staff are at Saya. The location might be out of the way for some, but it is worth the drive.
(5)Enam D.
They always have fresh food and amazingly friendly! I would recommend it to anyone :)
(5)Johaun C.
probably the closest thing to decent korean food in dayton. in other words, generally not very good korean food (duk mandu gook isn't even on the menu). BUT, the O-sam dol sot bibimbap that i ordered was exceptional--hands down, best dish on the table. the stone pot came out RAGING hot which i love (yummy bits of crispiness ensued). all in all, if you're REALLY jonesing for some korean, go to columbus.
(3)Yan K.
Good Korean food, well worth a visit, though I haven't tried their Japanese selections yet.
(4)Sophia K.
Having been to nearly every Sushi place in town, I was excited when Saya opened up so close to work. I am mad that it took so long to try it. The staff was very friendly, service was quick, and the food was excellent. If you order $10 worth of sushi, you get salad and soup for free. Although too full to indulge, we also were offered free dessert! I had never tried lobster before in a roll but it was very good, with asparagus and drizzled with eel sauce.
(5)