Standing Room Only

An authentic sushi and sake house n Kentucky?! You bet your wasabi....get there now for a unique experience

Omg what a hidden gem. I feel sooo blessed to even have even found this place.Everything with the sake flights was AMAZING!! This is a must stop for me every time I come to Lexington. Get everything with sake flights.!So fricking amazing.

I instantly fell in love with this spot the second I walked in the doors. Everyone was standing around the counter being served yummy Japanese food and drinks. It was such a great time! Thank you.

Some of the most creative and delicious Japanese styled food I've had in USA. Soy quail eggs, horseradish beef and cheese plates were favorites. The plants around the outdoor seating area were well manicured and seating was cozy. Owners very friendly.

One of the coolest gems in Lexington. Definitely one of those places in Lexington you want to take visitors/guests to. Chill, cozy, good drinks and food. A real feeling of warmth, peace, and belonging energizes this place. The owners are very hospitable and nice. Good place to meet new folks. Just make sure you buy drinks before the food (which is amazing, btw, just don't let the owners know I said so!)

I really struggled with whether or not to write this review, but ultimately decided I'm not fearful of too many people starting to flood this place and it losing any of the 'secret' appeal. They've been open for about three years, which is consistent with how long I've been hearing rumors of its existence. The owners used to have another place in town - Yamaguchi's on a Codell Drive - but they grew tired of the 'restaurant' atmosphere and wanted to bring a more authentic Japanese concept to Central Kentucky. Apparently in Japan one of the most treasured times of day is unwinding after work with lots of alcohol and very little food; in fact, one of the tenets of SRO is you MUST order a drink! As you would expect, they have a wide variety of sakes to choose from (including the new local sake from The Void), as well as domestic and international beers. But no seats or bar stools. Remember: SRO = standing room only! 10-12 people would comfortably fit around the bar. They also have a small menu (~8 items) of traditional Japanese 'tapas,' for lack of a better word, i.e. small plates. We tried the bottom half of the menu, and absolutely loved the stir fried mustard greens. They were unlike anything either of us of ever had before, completely savory with a moderate spice level. I also really enjoyed the pepperocini cheese tofu pouches; sounds weird, but reminded me a little of Jet's Pizza turbo crust. The cucumber with garlic miso was refreshing, but I didn't care for the quail eggs, I think it was something in the sauce that turned me off. Outside there is a quiet garden with standing tables and also more of asit down picnic type area, with great tree cover and twinkle lights. As you would expect for such a niche experience, it was expensive, but if you're in the mood for something different or entertaining out of town guests or just looking for a treat, this is the spot.

10/10 - We walked in and found ourselves in a Japanese delicacy. Get the hot sake and the tuna fish. It was an experience that made the night so great. Will definitely be back soon.

This place is so cool. One of the most fun concepts I've encountered. A place to order sake and small plates. Then repeat! The food was excellent and fun and the sake selection is amazing. The bartender was super friendly as well. We had a great time and was probably the highlight of our trip to Lexington.

Owners are extremely rude, especially the man. Be aware that the service will be terrible. I can't believe they treat their customers so horribly. I don't think they realize they are in the service industry. Be aware that when you go here, the owners (the two behind the counter) are the worst.

Amazing. This is an amazing place to enjoy a great environment, amazing drinks, and they might (wink) have some amazing snacks. Just to make sure I am clear on this post it is not a restaurant to get a meal. This is a one of kind place that you have to come experience. Follow them on instagram to find out what they are about.