This was my first time to Sushi Garden since the ownership changed hands a while ago. I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed. The sushi was fresh & delicious. So good in fact that we ate mostly sashimi/traditional sushi as opposed to special rolls. It is easy to hide mediocre sushi in a fancy roll covered in sauce, but when the sashimi appetizer is so good that you decide to have more sashimi for dinner, you know you're in the right spot. Service was great, & everything we ordered was delicious. My favorites of the evening: hamachi sashimi appetizer & spicy tuna poke. It is great to have a legit sushi spot in south-side. My only question after leaving was: "why isn't this place packed??"
(5)
Brandy K.
Decided to try this place on a whim. It is nice looking from the outside, and very cute inside as well. Service is slow, and the food is nothing remarkable. I had a california hand roll, a dragon roll, and the accompanying salad. It was all just average tasting and very slow service. When I went in I was ravenously hungry and in desperate need of some quick food! I thought I was going to expire before it arrived. When it did arrive, it was quite dissapointing, butI was just to hungry to not finish it. I won't be going back. I've talked to several friends and they all say the same. There are many better places.
(2)
Bridget G.
So, the food was good, we got it quickly. Owner was nice but holy.cow, our waitress, small asian girl with bangs. Was so rude. She raised her voice at us and was so impatient the second we walked in. I will be back but if I get her I will request different. So rude!! I had the shrimp and veggie tempura, was really good. My sister had the rainbow roll and I tried some, was really fresh and tasty. Our mom had a katsu bowl and she really enjoyed it.
(3)
Scott H.
If I travel back to Alaska I will make a point to stop in and eat here again! Very good, not even mad I spent like $20 on one roll! I actually went back again before I left. The sushi chef was awesome! The sushi bar was full and he would make random rolls and let everyone try a piece!!!
(5)
L P.
The service was pretty good and the food was yummy too. Their prices were pretty expensive. Some examples - $10 for only 6 pieces of gyoza and $25 for kalbi. They gave us a small little plate of edamame as a free appetizer (there were 4 of us and it was probably the size of one serving) and when we asked for more we had to pay $7 for a large plate of it. And another part I was disappointed at was no free refills on shirley temples. My husband joked that since it's on the south side of Anchorage they cater to the rich people, LOL. Overall it was okay, it definitely wouldn't be my first choice to go if I was craving for sushi.
(3)
Christopher B.
I wish I could give these guys 6 stars. This place is OUTSTANDING. I just had the dragon roll again and tried the veggie tempura roll and I wanted to chew on the plate when I was finished. I always sit at the bar for the little extra treats and service. LOVE IT. everything here is top shelf. If you love sushi you must come here!!!!
(5)
Cory P.
The food here is solid. I've been 3 times each time truly hoping the service would improve. I'm no princess, I can handle an empty water glass but we're talking rude! And slow! Like 10 minutes to water and 30 to miso (with a half dining room) (and then they forgot our order) slow. Foods good if you're thick skinned with lots of free time. Prices are on the high side, or maybe they just seem that way after the wait. Frankly, even from far south Anchorage, just drive to Haru or The Dish - it'll be faster, cheaper, and way friendlier.
(2)
Jess R.
A bit pricey, but innovative and creative rolls here. I'd you sit at the bar, the sushi chefs are very friendly and willing to create/modify items to your taste.
(4)
Joseph L.
Kalbi was good but their chicken teriyaki was dry as heck. This was also the first place I've been that served part of their chicken teriyaki dish with bones wings. I thought the atmosphere was pretty neat with their booths and service was all right. My overall experience was average at best.
(3)
Mary C.
**EDIT** I decided to give Sushi Garden another try... again very pleasant people -- but not the best service. We had a baby with us and they tried to seat us at a raised table, I asked for a normal table so that the baby could sit in a high chair -- so she said we'd have to sit over 'there' (which was a crappy plastic table rather than nice wood, in the back by the kitchen) EVEN THOUGH THE RESTAURANT WAS EMPTY (they had ONE other customer) -- she could have sat us at any number of acceptable nice tables. Ok whatever, I'll over look the rude placement. The baby didn't feel that great, so all she wanted was her mom. The waitresses continually interrupted our meal to coo and poke at the baby. The baby wanted NONE of the attention, she ignored, or pushed them away, or hid her face (she doesn't feel good, leave the poor kid alone!) I could barely take a bite without another visit from a waitress poking at the baby, let alone have an important conversation with my dinner mate. Great rolls, the salad was better but the soup was luke warm. WHY do I go anywhere besides the Dish for sushi in this town? Seems every time I do I am disappointed. **FIRST REVIEW** This used to be my favorite sushi spot until the fire shut it down, when they reopened it was never the same. Wonderful service, good rolls, nice atmosphere - but the hijiki is just so-so, miso soup is weird and ever since they changed their salad dressing I haven't liked it much. Best place in South Anchorage, but I will make the drive to the Dish every time because they hold my heart now.
(3)
Destiny S.
I absolutely love this place! The only reason I give it 4 stars is because some of the lady's that work there are not very friendly, plus they take advantage of them speaking another language...so they will speak English until it comes to you having an issue with something on their end. Then they don't understand what you are saying. and it's a little pricey
(4)
Chip A.
Went in the middle onf the day were the only ones in the place. The sushi is very good, but the service was unfriendly and very inattentive. A real shame. It was almost like we were imposing on them. I will try one more time before we give up on them.
(3)
Kaitlyn J.
I tried Sushi Garden on a whim, and I sure am glad! It's the best sushi in town, and the sushi chefs are true masters at the art. I was very happy to sit at the sushi bar and have the pleasure to talk to the chef, Kevin. The rolls I ordered were made to perfection. I had two hand rolls- SMT and spicy tuna...both fresh tasting and delicious. On my way out I told the waitress I was so happy to find a great sushi bar, and I would be back soon with my husband....we went back within that same week. One thing I love is when a sushi place gives you a warm cloth as a gesture of hospitality, and this place does! We ordered 4 rolls (can't remember the exact names) and all of them were awesome. The hubs is hard to impress, and he and I were delighted with the service and goodies! On our way out I got a sweet hug goodbye from waitresses...a lovely gesture at the end of a fantastic meal! This is officially my go to place for sushi...even though I live 30 minutes away!
(5)
Tris W.
I feel really bad writing bad reviews let alone for this place seeing that they have gotten so many great reviews. I tried Sushi Garden Friday night for the first time after work with one of my girlfriends and sadly to say, TOO much sauce! I ordered my 2 favorite rolls-- the crunch roll and volcano roll. The crunch roll wasnt too bad but the volcano roll was just rediculous. I posted a picture on here of all the sauce on the plate after i removed the sushi and put it onto an empty plate just to show you all. $16 for one roll & the $14 for the other and $8 for a glass of wine & I had no desire to take a to-go box even though I only ate half of my sushi. Same goes for my girlfriend who had the Waikiki Roll & the Volcano Roll as well. She had been there before & said it was better. Being that it was my first time, I was very disappointed. I'll give it maybe one more try & perhaps sit at the bar area?? What I did like about Sushi Garden was the decor & the private side booths. I still prefer Dami & Ronnie's. Sorry!
(3)
Is Y.
I really like there hijiki salad appetizer. I usually get it and a plate of mixed tempura items with rice and the miso soup and salad. For an occasional splurge I get the shrimp tempura plate, the shrimp are quite large (6) and if paired with a sushi roll it offsets the $21 price of the tempura. Sushi is good and fresh. Rice bowls for lunch are a good choice. My next try will be one of their noodle soups, which I saw another diner receive and it looked great. Service is generally quick and courteous and they accommodated my take-away very quickly.
(3)
J F.
Horrid. We have been here several times over the years and it was okay before, the rolls were expensive but on the larger side. I ordered the crunch roll today and the shrimp in it was raw. It was completely covered in soggy tempura bits and the roll itself was cold and soggy. The rice was too wet and gummy. I ate one bite before noticing the raw shrimp and wouldn't eat another bite. My husband got the jb roll and although he's gotten it several times before and liked it, said it was the worst sushi he's had in anchorage. It had a nasty tasting sauce on it that wasn't on it before and his rice was soggy as well. Then they just scooped tobiko on the top in chunks so he had to use a fork to scrape it off. I asked the lady as we were leaving if the chef was new and she said no, she'd have to "really talk to him about this". Never going back. This place has gotten worse and worse over the years and now it just seems unsanitary and careless. Try Haru or Pete's instead.
(1)
Sam F.
Pretty pricey, but a pretty extensive menu. No fountain soda. The sushi was good but had a lot of sauce, so if you don't like that style this might not be the best place. Service was whirlwind fast, almost too fast, but friendly. The tempura plate was so expensive but you get a lot of food and it was very well done. The most memorable part was the tempura Oreos. These sound strange but are so good!
(3)
Cory O.
Ahh, Sushi Garden, my childhood home away from home. I'm biased about this place for a few reasons. First, it is actually pretty decent sushi on the Southside. That's rare. Hell, finding decent ANY kind of food on the Southside used to be a hassle! Secondly, my mom knows the owners and I got plenty of extra food to take home everytime I came. And finally, there is just something so homey about the place. It is small and cramped but still retains an aura of comfort. They have the (tiny) obligatory sushi bar where you can hang out with the masterminds behind the rolls. They have regular booths available and even private rooms. The food is always fresh and the waitresses are competent. With all the little sushi joints popping up on the Southside, I thought that the restaurant would take a hit, but really the quality here is so much better than many of the new places that the regulars just keep coming back. Sure it doesn't look as fancy as some of the newer places, but quality is quality. I can't wait to go home and get some fresh fish again!
Takes Reservations : Yes 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 : Hipster Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Adam H.
This was my first time to Sushi Garden since the ownership changed hands a while ago. I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed. The sushi was fresh & delicious. So good in fact that we ate mostly sashimi/traditional sushi as opposed to special rolls. It is easy to hide mediocre sushi in a fancy roll covered in sauce, but when the sashimi appetizer is so good that you decide to have more sashimi for dinner, you know you're in the right spot. Service was great, & everything we ordered was delicious. My favorites of the evening: hamachi sashimi appetizer & spicy tuna poke. It is great to have a legit sushi spot in south-side. My only question after leaving was: "why isn't this place packed??"
(5)Brandy K.
Decided to try this place on a whim. It is nice looking from the outside, and very cute inside as well. Service is slow, and the food is nothing remarkable. I had a california hand roll, a dragon roll, and the accompanying salad. It was all just average tasting and very slow service. When I went in I was ravenously hungry and in desperate need of some quick food! I thought I was going to expire before it arrived. When it did arrive, it was quite dissapointing, butI was just to hungry to not finish it. I won't be going back. I've talked to several friends and they all say the same. There are many better places.
(2)Bridget G.
So, the food was good, we got it quickly. Owner was nice but holy.cow, our waitress, small asian girl with bangs. Was so rude. She raised her voice at us and was so impatient the second we walked in. I will be back but if I get her I will request different. So rude!! I had the shrimp and veggie tempura, was really good. My sister had the rainbow roll and I tried some, was really fresh and tasty. Our mom had a katsu bowl and she really enjoyed it.
(3)Scott H.
If I travel back to Alaska I will make a point to stop in and eat here again! Very good, not even mad I spent like $20 on one roll! I actually went back again before I left. The sushi chef was awesome! The sushi bar was full and he would make random rolls and let everyone try a piece!!!
(5)L P.
The service was pretty good and the food was yummy too. Their prices were pretty expensive. Some examples - $10 for only 6 pieces of gyoza and $25 for kalbi. They gave us a small little plate of edamame as a free appetizer (there were 4 of us and it was probably the size of one serving) and when we asked for more we had to pay $7 for a large plate of it. And another part I was disappointed at was no free refills on shirley temples. My husband joked that since it's on the south side of Anchorage they cater to the rich people, LOL. Overall it was okay, it definitely wouldn't be my first choice to go if I was craving for sushi.
(3)Christopher B.
I wish I could give these guys 6 stars. This place is OUTSTANDING. I just had the dragon roll again and tried the veggie tempura roll and I wanted to chew on the plate when I was finished. I always sit at the bar for the little extra treats and service. LOVE IT. everything here is top shelf. If you love sushi you must come here!!!!
(5)Cory P.
The food here is solid. I've been 3 times each time truly hoping the service would improve. I'm no princess, I can handle an empty water glass but we're talking rude! And slow! Like 10 minutes to water and 30 to miso (with a half dining room) (and then they forgot our order) slow. Foods good if you're thick skinned with lots of free time. Prices are on the high side, or maybe they just seem that way after the wait. Frankly, even from far south Anchorage, just drive to Haru or The Dish - it'll be faster, cheaper, and way friendlier.
(2)Jess R.
A bit pricey, but innovative and creative rolls here. I'd you sit at the bar, the sushi chefs are very friendly and willing to create/modify items to your taste.
(4)Joseph L.
Kalbi was good but their chicken teriyaki was dry as heck. This was also the first place I've been that served part of their chicken teriyaki dish with bones wings. I thought the atmosphere was pretty neat with their booths and service was all right. My overall experience was average at best.
(3)Mary C.
**EDIT** I decided to give Sushi Garden another try... again very pleasant people -- but not the best service. We had a baby with us and they tried to seat us at a raised table, I asked for a normal table so that the baby could sit in a high chair -- so she said we'd have to sit over 'there' (which was a crappy plastic table rather than nice wood, in the back by the kitchen) EVEN THOUGH THE RESTAURANT WAS EMPTY (they had ONE other customer) -- she could have sat us at any number of acceptable nice tables. Ok whatever, I'll over look the rude placement. The baby didn't feel that great, so all she wanted was her mom. The waitresses continually interrupted our meal to coo and poke at the baby. The baby wanted NONE of the attention, she ignored, or pushed them away, or hid her face (she doesn't feel good, leave the poor kid alone!) I could barely take a bite without another visit from a waitress poking at the baby, let alone have an important conversation with my dinner mate. Great rolls, the salad was better but the soup was luke warm. WHY do I go anywhere besides the Dish for sushi in this town? Seems every time I do I am disappointed. **FIRST REVIEW** This used to be my favorite sushi spot until the fire shut it down, when they reopened it was never the same. Wonderful service, good rolls, nice atmosphere - but the hijiki is just so-so, miso soup is weird and ever since they changed their salad dressing I haven't liked it much. Best place in South Anchorage, but I will make the drive to the Dish every time because they hold my heart now.
(3)Destiny S.
I absolutely love this place! The only reason I give it 4 stars is because some of the lady's that work there are not very friendly, plus they take advantage of them speaking another language...so they will speak English until it comes to you having an issue with something on their end. Then they don't understand what you are saying. and it's a little pricey
(4)Chip A.
Went in the middle onf the day were the only ones in the place. The sushi is very good, but the service was unfriendly and very inattentive. A real shame. It was almost like we were imposing on them. I will try one more time before we give up on them.
(3)Kaitlyn J.
I tried Sushi Garden on a whim, and I sure am glad! It's the best sushi in town, and the sushi chefs are true masters at the art. I was very happy to sit at the sushi bar and have the pleasure to talk to the chef, Kevin. The rolls I ordered were made to perfection. I had two hand rolls- SMT and spicy tuna...both fresh tasting and delicious. On my way out I told the waitress I was so happy to find a great sushi bar, and I would be back soon with my husband....we went back within that same week. One thing I love is when a sushi place gives you a warm cloth as a gesture of hospitality, and this place does! We ordered 4 rolls (can't remember the exact names) and all of them were awesome. The hubs is hard to impress, and he and I were delighted with the service and goodies! On our way out I got a sweet hug goodbye from waitresses...a lovely gesture at the end of a fantastic meal! This is officially my go to place for sushi...even though I live 30 minutes away!
(5)Tris W.
I feel really bad writing bad reviews let alone for this place seeing that they have gotten so many great reviews. I tried Sushi Garden Friday night for the first time after work with one of my girlfriends and sadly to say, TOO much sauce! I ordered my 2 favorite rolls-- the crunch roll and volcano roll. The crunch roll wasnt too bad but the volcano roll was just rediculous. I posted a picture on here of all the sauce on the plate after i removed the sushi and put it onto an empty plate just to show you all. $16 for one roll & the $14 for the other and $8 for a glass of wine & I had no desire to take a to-go box even though I only ate half of my sushi. Same goes for my girlfriend who had the Waikiki Roll & the Volcano Roll as well. She had been there before & said it was better. Being that it was my first time, I was very disappointed. I'll give it maybe one more try & perhaps sit at the bar area?? What I did like about Sushi Garden was the decor & the private side booths. I still prefer Dami & Ronnie's. Sorry!
(3)Is Y.
I really like there hijiki salad appetizer. I usually get it and a plate of mixed tempura items with rice and the miso soup and salad. For an occasional splurge I get the shrimp tempura plate, the shrimp are quite large (6) and if paired with a sushi roll it offsets the $21 price of the tempura. Sushi is good and fresh. Rice bowls for lunch are a good choice. My next try will be one of their noodle soups, which I saw another diner receive and it looked great. Service is generally quick and courteous and they accommodated my take-away very quickly.
(3)J F.
Horrid. We have been here several times over the years and it was okay before, the rolls were expensive but on the larger side. I ordered the crunch roll today and the shrimp in it was raw. It was completely covered in soggy tempura bits and the roll itself was cold and soggy. The rice was too wet and gummy. I ate one bite before noticing the raw shrimp and wouldn't eat another bite. My husband got the jb roll and although he's gotten it several times before and liked it, said it was the worst sushi he's had in anchorage. It had a nasty tasting sauce on it that wasn't on it before and his rice was soggy as well. Then they just scooped tobiko on the top in chunks so he had to use a fork to scrape it off. I asked the lady as we were leaving if the chef was new and she said no, she'd have to "really talk to him about this". Never going back. This place has gotten worse and worse over the years and now it just seems unsanitary and careless. Try Haru or Pete's instead.
(1)Sam F.
Pretty pricey, but a pretty extensive menu. No fountain soda. The sushi was good but had a lot of sauce, so if you don't like that style this might not be the best place. Service was whirlwind fast, almost too fast, but friendly. The tempura plate was so expensive but you get a lot of food and it was very well done. The most memorable part was the tempura Oreos. These sound strange but are so good!
(3)Cory O.
Ahh, Sushi Garden, my childhood home away from home. I'm biased about this place for a few reasons. First, it is actually pretty decent sushi on the Southside. That's rare. Hell, finding decent ANY kind of food on the Southside used to be a hassle! Secondly, my mom knows the owners and I got plenty of extra food to take home everytime I came. And finally, there is just something so homey about the place. It is small and cramped but still retains an aura of comfort. They have the (tiny) obligatory sushi bar where you can hang out with the masterminds behind the rolls. They have regular booths available and even private rooms. The food is always fresh and the waitresses are competent. With all the little sushi joints popping up on the Southside, I thought that the restaurant would take a hit, but really the quality here is so much better than many of the new places that the regulars just keep coming back. Sure it doesn't look as fancy as some of the newer places, but quality is quality. I can't wait to go home and get some fresh fish again!
(5)