Aka Japanese Cuisine Hours: See Profile   1460 Eldridge Pkwy Houston TX 77077 281.558.8900 You might also be interested in these:     Japanese Restaurants    ZIP 77077 Profile Description: Experience the traditional and modern Japanese Cuisine at West of town. The great design of our sport bar, lounge area, dining, sushi bar and delicious food will make your visit unforgettable.   Add Review PROFILE     MY REVIEW: - Good service: fast and attentive. It takes less than 10 min for our appetizers to come out and as we finished them, the entrees were ready. The waitress came back time to time asking if we were doing okay. - Decent food but a bit over price. We ordered wasabi shumai, avocado eel roll, unagi don, beef teriyaki, and tempura ice cream. The wasabi shumai is absolutely a MUST TRY!! (Thanks one of the reviewer who recommended it). However, the rest of the food wasn't as impressive. The sushi and the eel were regular. I liked the rice of the unagi-don a lot thou, no wonder they call it "pearl rice". The beef was absolutely a mistake. It was tough and the sauce didn't really go with the meat. The ice cream was like eating regular ice cream with bread crumbs. I'd had better tempura ice cream at Thai C*ottage. I'll try the house signature rolls next time. Until then, I give a 7/ 10 for food here. - Nice atmosphere, great for couples. Don't sit too close to the sushi bar because people tend to talk loud and there's a TV. NAME: Iluvfood SUBMITTED: 7/30/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 07/30/2008 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: The last two times we tried to go recently, to go to the resturant it was closed on a Sat night for parties. What's that all about at least you could do take out. (Just a food for thought.) Love, love, love, love it all, and for someone who does not like raw fish ,that is defintley a home run. NAME: countycometotown SUBMITTED: 1/5/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 01\05\08 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: Really? I still love this restaurant and have never had bad food or service. IMHO, nothing has changed since I started coming about 18 months ago. In fact, I've been here three times in the last thirty days and sushi is still as fresh and brilliant as it was the first time I came. I come here mostly for lunch and while it can be crowded, the waitstaff is very attentive and never skips a beat. Still my favorite - still the best. NAME: amham SUBMITTED: 9/14/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 9/2007 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: I completely agree with Fred's review. I thought the exact same thing! Aka was my absolute favorite place to eat. The sushi has NOT been good lately. It's such a shame because I used to come here at least once a week. I've also had troubles with the waiters. On my last visit, I had to wait nearly 15 minutes for my waiter to even ask me what I wanted to drink. Where did the good sushi and service go? I hope the lady who owns this joint takes care of the problems ASAP. I'd like to start going back here like I used to... if nothing changes, I'll be going to A*tami in Katy instead. NAME: sushisushi SUBMITTED: 8/24/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 08/07 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: it is a great place for couples, they have nice decor n ambiance. service was not bad either. however, i find their foods are just about average while price are quite high. i was disappointed with the lobster that we ordered. it looks great, but the taste is just so so...i don't think i am going to return again. there are better japanese foods somewhere else NAME: LH SUBMITTED: 8/18/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/06 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: This has been one of our favorite resturants to go to but recently the sushi hasnt been the quality that it used to be. It seems more fatty and not as fresh. The last 2 times I have been there, it was not very good. Now I hesitate to order sushi. I hope it goes back to the way it was, for now I'll just order an entree. NAME: Fred SUBMITTED: 8/14/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 8/2007 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: Normally great sushi and service. This evening there were only about 5 couples in the entire place. With this in mind the waiter took 10 minutes to place my order after coming back to confirm it twice. It took an additional 20 minutes to receive my dinner salad, I never received my miso soup, and when the entree arrived, it had the wrong sides and took another 5 minutes to receive a knife to cut the steak. The couple next to me had a worse time than I. In an hour and half they still had not eaten, and when they asked to speak to the manager, he sent back a rookie waiter on his behalf. I certainly hope this is not a sign of unfortunate changes. Will consider trying it one more time. NAME: Jules SUBMITTED: 4/3/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: April 2, 2007 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: Average sushi. Restaurant appeared clean and well kept. More of a couples, older adult type of place, not a family restaurant. Good place to take a date. Typical meal will cost you about $10. $20 if your hungry. NAME: yamadude SUBMITTED: 3/3/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 02/2007 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: I swear that Aka makes the best sushi in Houston! My boyfriend and I come here to eat/order take-out every 1 to 2 weeks. The Godzilla rolls are to die for!!! They are a little pricey but worth every cent. Aka also offers other unique (and yummy) sushi choices. The entrees are also delicious, though I usually stick to ordering sushi. My only complaints about Aka are... The spiciness tends to vary when you order spicy sushi. I like my sushi spicy, yet sometimes my order arrives very mild. Also, waiting for the bill can be time consuming. Other than that, this place is great!!! NAME: sushilover SUBMITTED: 1/13/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 1/12/07 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: My wife and I go there almost once a week. Brilliant sushi, original and colorful rolls (try the Crater or Godzilla if you like them spicy) and friendly staff. I have tried the some of the so-called best sushi in town (U*ptown sushi, R*a sushi, R*ickshaw, Z*ake...) but they can't compete with the quality & price of AKA. I only find S*asaki (Westheimer/Fondren) to be at same high level if you're looking for more traditional Japanese restaurant. AKA is your safest bet if you are craving for sushi without emptying your savings account. NAME: Ze Drag SUBMITTED: 12/20/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/2006 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: Ok, let me just say, YUMM! In simple terms, this is a great little place, very relaxed atmo, helpful waitstaff, delicious food. What more do you need? My husband and I are admittedly rather new to sushi. We picked up on it a couple of weeks ago and are hooked! We've been trying local places and until last night, we hadn't found one we were dying to try again. Aka is everything we wanted! Our waiter was wonderful! When looking at the dizzing array of house specialty rolls, we were a bit lost, but he swept in and suggested The Crater and the Bricktown... amazing, is all I can say. We're not big eaters, so we started with edamame, had the two large rolls, and a finishing bite of sea bass we were pleasantly stuffed and happy to sip some tea and relax. We went on a Tuesday night, were seated instantly and it was very quiet, not many patrons that night. The booths were huge and private, wonderful for a few close friends. Overall, this is a place we'll be back to time and time again. This is a don't-miss place. Thank you Aka! You've got our hearts and our tummys! NAME: Tami SUBMITTED: 11/15/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/06 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: Ok place. The portions are generous, but the style is more Chinese than Japanese. I'm not sure why all the compliments about the decor -- it's plain minimalist post-modern with a wall fountain in the entrance. The sushi and bento lunches are a good value, although they do not have some of the more traditional ingredients such as Gobo and Takuan. The service is friendly if not a bit abrupt; they could do with about 2 more waiters for the volume of customers they have. NAME: Sam SUBMITTED: 11/14/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/2006 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: We went for lunch on a Sunday afternoon and were seated in a booth overlooking the sushi bar. The decor is beautiful. Very contemporary and eye-pleasing. We ordered the sushi maki plate and the sashimi plate. Both were outstanding. Very fresh and tasty. The manager came by during the meal and noticed that we had not yet eaten our whitefish on the sashimi plate. She insisted that we not eat a bite until she could bring us a bit of panto (sp?) sauce. We tried it and it was delicious. The sauce was a perfect match for the whitefish. This is the kind of attention to detail that will definitely have us coming back. NAME: JJ SUBMITTED: 8/6/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 08/2006 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: Moved back to Houston to west side of town, couldn't believe we found a great Sushi place right across the street! Some of the freshest fish we've tried, and very friendly, helpful staff. They have a frequent diner card, too. Decor is beautiful and modern, but not intimidating. Great selection of boutique Sakes, and lots of menu selections for those, like my wife, who don't do 'raw'. NAME: garywise SUBMITTED: 5/4/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: April 2006 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: The food is always great, the decor is modern sheik and very interesting. The is a good mix of entrees even for those that don't like sushi. Lunch is reasonably priced and the portions are filling, but not over done. NAME: silkcitykid SUBMITTED: 2/3/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 02/06 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: Read previous reviews, noted was what recommended and off we went. A party of 4 and avid lovers of Japanese food. The resaurant is beautiful, Perfectly lit and a feeling of mystery just when you enter. A very nice Japanese welcome for us and we were seated in a booth overlooking the sushi bar. Our waitress, was like an angel. She was so service minded, courteous, sociable and attentive that we had to give her 100%. We ordered the rainforest sushi - excellent. A hands down favourite. Some many different flavours and a really nice after sesame taste. The shrimp with eggplant was also innovative and tasty. The tuna and salmon sashimi were also very fresh and tasted very good. We ordered the lobster tail, the scallops, the beef tenderloin, the salmon and the lamb as entrees. Out of all this we still came away with the impression that the appetizers were not to be missed. The salmon had a wonderful flavour with a ginger tone which was very nice, however, we were a little dissapointed with the taste of the wasabi mashed potato. 5 large flasks of sake later, it was time for dessert. We had the banana tempura with ice cream. Nothing out of the ordinary but still good. The manager of the restraunt also made her rounds and was genuinely interested to hear what we had to say about the food. We gave our comments and she took the time to listen and to give her comments. Much appreciated. We enjoyed our dinner at AKA and think the sushi was outstanding. We will definetely go back. NAME: disedise SUBMITTED: 1/22/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 1/2006 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: Nice ambiance. Took our 3 toddlers there and the staff was very patient with us. Sliced rib-eye on the hot rock was excellent. Wife did not have chance to eat lobster special before the kids and mom had a meltdown. Kids loved to play in the waterfall at the entrance. NAME: Nearby neighbors SUBMITTED: 12/10/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/05 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: We have visited AKA twice. On out first visit which was a Saturday night we had the gindara (very well done, buttery, not too strong of miso flavour) and the fried shiso leaves stuffed with shrimp and mushrooms - very delicious. The waitstaff was great, very friendly, very helpful. On our 2nd visit, which was during an Astros game, things were a little different. Our young sever seemed unconcerned and rushed us to the point that we became uncomfortable requesting further help. AKA has great potential and I would hate to see them negatively affected by immature waitstaff. Anyway, we brouhgt 2 friends with us - they loved the lambchops. We also tried to short ribs, which I thought were a little too bony. We will back to try the kaiseki meal. We haven't had one since visiting Kyoto. NAME: keiocorp SUBMITTED: 11/10/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/05 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: As I walked in I was taken away by the unique water wall at the entrance. The decor and contemporary design of the interior made it an exciting place to dine. The staff was hospitable and polite. I highly recommend lamb chops and sushi. Open until 11 on Friday and Saturday!! .....a hidden treasure... NAME: Jess SUBMITTED: 11/6/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/03/05 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: The restaurant is beautiful, and the staff are all very friendly and accomodating. As a Japanese-trained Sushi/Japanese Chef with a few years experience I am always delighted to hear "Irashaimase!" (Welcome!)when walking into a sushi dokoro. It warms my heart and it's difficult not to chime in myself when I hear when other diners enter the restaurant. I have to admit that maybe their minds were on the MLB playoffs when we dined there last. Menu items had changed styles in ingredients and preparation since the last time we were in. I understand that this is the prerogative of the "Taisho" (Head Man/Boss)but if a dish clearly does not have the taste or presentation that is demanded, it is just not that dish anymore. Other times we have dined the "Nasu no Dengaku" (Broiled eggplant with miso) was amazing with great saikyo miso flavor. This particular time the eggplant looked like it had "StoveTop Stuffing" on it and tasted similar. I know Aka can do better. Saba sashimi that I had still had the skin on. Easy oversight, but a big no-no. I was with friends and family and did not want to make a scene, otherwise I would have asked for a replacement order. When I was a beginning apprentice I made this mistake, and my teacher would scold me severly for the oversight. Don't get me wrong. Andy Nguyen's review is a great and truthful one. Room for attention and growth? Yes. Great food? YES! Try everything to include things that are foreign to you. BIG plusses are that there has never been any annoying loud discotek music. Sushi bars should not be quiet as a library, but nor should they be a dance club. A dull roar is great. Aka is a great happy medium. Well worth adding to your list for regular dining. Enjoy! NAME: Chef Dutch SUBMITTED: 10/24/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/21/2005 ? FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: Aka has finally hit it's stride! Took a friend there to show off what I'm convinced was "a slumbering dragon" just waiting to be awakened. And, boy did it wake! We were greeted by a raucous "Irrashaimase!!!" (Japanese for "welcome") when we first stepped in, by the always smiling, friendly staff who seemed much more assured and assertive this time 'round. The decor was sharp yet rustic and the ambiance was warm and inviting. You settle comfortably in your seat (according to them, each chair and piece of furniture was handmade), as the lapping sound of their waterfall (a huge wall of water separating the entrance from the dining area) lulls and relaxes you. Excellent "Chi" flow here! Were it not for the obligation of entertaining my dinner companion, I easily pictured myself at their corner bar during happy hour with my buds watching the latest sporting event on their two large, flat-screen TV's. The menu itself overflowed with a sanguine confidence in delivering quality dining that would make even the most passionate of poets blush; using verbage written with allegorical flourishes, such as: Island of the Red Sea - Tara Beet Meuniere Delicate filet of fresh cod or "Catch-of-the-day," lightly fried and set adrift on a vivid beet radish and tomato-based sea. My stomache growled. Our lovely server "Susan", an enthusiastic and good-natured young lady, was always attentive, kept my glass of beer flowing and provided wonderful recommendations for our dining experience. I was elated to find that they'd finally perfected their Hotate Hors D'oeuvres. Previous experiences ranged from the ho-hum to "Please send this back". This time they were absolutely wonderful! The grilled scallops (Hotate) were warm and savory, contrasted by the cool sriracha mayo topping, it created a veritable explosion of flavors in your mouth. Believe me, add it to your list of "Must Try" appetizers. "They serve lamb chops here?" I prithee...DO order their lamb chops. Succulent and bombastic! The nest of bok choy that cradled them were luscious. Needless to say, I made almost shameless quick work of it, then washed it all down with a nice Japanese lager. The sushi was fresher'n fresh. I've never been a fan of sushi myself, usually just tolerated it merely to create a facade of my faux hipness...due for the most part, to the prevailing lesser quality of sushi that is available here in Houston, it just never really clicked with my hungry-man-meat-&-potatoes palate. But, Aka has converted me! I'm now a bonafide sushi connoisseur! The "Rainforest" roll is unlike any that I've ever seen or had. Made with spritely, crisp vegetables, it's rolled in what they called - "Marbled White Nori Seaweed". Who's ever heard of white seaweed?! Deeeelish! I highly recommend it! To reinforce my lofty claim of Aka's superiority, my dinner companion, a lovely young lady whose profession in the IT field allowed her to travel all over the country, admitted that besides one in Wisconsin, Aka's cuisine and savvy sushi creations were definitely the best she's ever had. If you haven't been there yet...I wouldn't envy you...'cus you're missing out on some of the best Japanese fusion cuisine in town. 5 stars! NAME: Andy Nguyen SUBMITTED: 10/8/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/05 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: I agree, the decor is marvelous. Servers, still need more assertiveness and attendance to the customers. Food has been very "good" or "bad" - I live out of Houston but when I visit, friends and I come to AKA; I've been here about 3 times now. The first time I came, they had a girl sushi chef. She was very cute and easy to talk to, modest about the place and such while the other sushi men kind of kept to their side of the bar and neglected the rest. Food at this time was wonderful, I got what the Sushi girl (I think her name was Joy?) recommended and it was splendid. My friends ordered a full menu and enjoyed themselves. This time around, I feel the food just isnt quite as good as the first time. Won't say I'm not coming back, but hopefully portions and food preparation gets better in this booming restaurant NAME: Jason K. SUBMITTED: 9/14/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 9/13/2005 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: Amibiance and great looking staff. I couldn't ask for better service and quality of the sushi was by far the best I've ever had in Houston. You rarely can find places like these in H-town. I'm ashamed to say that this place has made me a sushi snob. But hey, if you've had the best why settle for anyhting less. NAME: Tina Le-Kartadjoemena SUBMITTED: 9/3/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 8/0 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: Love the decor and ambience. Excellent service and super friendly staffs. Food is great and they are one of the few in town that serve good quality sushi and sashimi. Thumbs up! NAME: LC SUBMITTED: 8/23/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 08/2005 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: I ate here the same night and found nothing "freezer-like" in the veggies! Our waitress also consulted the menu to answer and we also wrote it off as nothing extraordinary in a new place. The decor is calming and exciting to me. Love the small raised bar in the corner. I highly recommend calamari sauteed in butter and soy sauce, tempura shrimp, and the Tara Beet Meuniere fish of the day. My friend decided on the smller $2 cup miso soup expecting the larger servings to be too much with all the food we were ordering. We're celebrating Friday with their lunch specials. Hope everyone tries this place for themselves. It's a westside asset. NAME: ED SUBMITTED: 8/11/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: Aug 10 2005 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times ©Copyright 1991 - 2008 B4-U-EAT.COM. All rights reserved. Design and database by B4-U-BUY