Awaji Izakaya

Adding this my list of recommendations! We decided to finally try this place on a Wednesday. We didn't wait long to be seated. The staff was very friendly & we really enjoyed our time here. As for food- we ordered the ika geso karaage, tuna tartare, chef ly's sample skewers, unagi don, assorted sashimi sampler, white dragon roll & devil roll. The spicy lychee martini had an amazing twist to it- spicy then sweet, then spicy again. Our first time here did not disappoint!

Was very skeptical of the hype but I was wrong. I'm curious get back and dig deeper into the menu, see what sushi options offer, and hit a few more unique apps. On a first impression, excellent attention to creativity with classic dishes. Love the seating design as well. Mainstays hit well with steak as solid as any in the city. Apps were really interesting and packed with flavor (fried wasn't just fried, and the multiple fried items didn't all taste the same. Unfortunately, a rarity in the city at time.)Love the depth of bar options. Dessert was great and I hate dessert 9/10x. Above all, (and to be fair) only so much can be spoken to on a single visit, the quality of food across so many categories is the most impressive of all.Also, quite possibly the best hospitality from a staff I've experienced in 20 years. Recommend a reservation. Lots of people are curious to experience what's happening here, and rightfully so.

We drove up from S.W. OKC for lunch, and I was disappointed they don't serve the Yakitori for lunch! Our waitress was sweet but did not know how most dishes tasted, did not know which sashimi was which, which was disappointing for a well regarded sushi restaurant!The sashimi sampler was not bad (we got the special one for $58 with scallops and toro, and added salmon sashimi), but not super special. The best roll was definitely the tempura fried soft shell crab!! Wow!! I would order a double order next time!The most disappointing roll was the rivalry roll- it has spicy tuna but the spice is mainly wasabi flavored and I'm not a huge wasabi fan! (Spicy mayo though- anytime!)Overall, I would like to go back to try their yakitori and udon dishes, but otherwise not worth an 1 hr round trip for sushi.

Soooo.... For what it's worth, I recently moved to the area but have lived all across the country and traveled all over the world. More importantly, I am japanese and have been raised eating japanese food and have been to japan countless times. Not expecting much from eating japanese food in a land-locked state, I went in with low expectations. Ambiance: 5/5Food: 3/5Authenticity: 2/5 ..."hey i visited japan and i loved it so much i opened a restaurant!" vibes (see below) Service: 5/5Would I come back again? Yes. just for the skewers and nothing else. We tried a myriad of items but the yakitori skewers were probably the item you should only get there. The other japanese entrees are not authentic. More than anything, it felt like someone who went to japan for a summer "fell in love with the food" and "tried" to replicate with no proper training seemed to be the food fair on the entree category. Here's why: Yakisoba was not yakisoba. that was far from yakisoba. it was as weird as it got. do not get it. Yakitori: while the yakitori skewers were large and decent, overall i had no issues with the skewers. My biggest gripe...why dont you have shichimi or ichimi spices that is A MUST at any yakitori place? There's no skewer discard cups either. We tried the saigon wings and they were fine. nothing to die for. deep fried wings. Sushi we tried the sweet shrimp but both my parents who was with me was wondering if it was actual sweet shrimp or not as it looked and tasted like normal shrimp. I had squid sashimi which was what it is. If you're craving japanese food, depending on the food fare, I'd divide and conquer based on the restaurants. If you want skewers, go here. If you want a fun ambiance, def go here. If you want sushi, consider Tokyo, Takaramono, or Akai If you want quick fast and mix of stuff, go to Inaka I think they are doing the best they can so i'm not here complaining or expecting much. This review hopefully will help those who if they are contemplating where to get some japanese food, they have some options to consider. We appreciated the service, ambiance, and skewers.

Daughter's lunch pick. Glad we raised her to know good eats. The Gyoza was very good, but the Miso was even better. My wife said her entree was different, but just ok (can't remember the name). Our daughter enjoyed her dragon roll. I had the beef noodle soup. It was good, but even better after adding chili oil. Very nice interior with main seating separated from bar. Our server was friendly and helpful in selecting menu items.

I've been here four times now and each time I've had great conversations with the owner/chef. He is super responsive to feedback and is a humble and honest guy. My complaints overall have been minor and more about fine-tuning than any serious issues.Last visit, I had:Volcano Roll - Good, exactly what you'd expect.Karage Chicken - Good, exactly what you'd expect.Gyoza - I've eaten Gyoza since I could walk and this is one my favs. I could eat like 30.Saté Beef Tenderloin Udon Noodle Soup - The broth was flavorful and hearty. The chewiness of the noodles and mushrooms along with the signature shiitake pungency made it really satisfying to eat. It was also visually stunning, which made me continually burn my mouth as I grew impatient to devour it. The next morning my leftovers made a delicious hangover meal.All in all, although I had some criticism in the past, I appreciate the current state and direction of Awaji. As I live only a few minutes away, I have a vested interest in the success of this restaurant but I have confidence with Chef Ly at the helm.

I am so lucky to have an authentic Japanese culinary experience down the street from me. I say this because Awaji is not a place to skip!You would never think walking into Awaji that the mood is exactly what you would expect at a Japanese restaurant. It's set up so cozy and being in a strip mall, you would never expect it. Got to try a lot of different dishes and I can say that everyone was impressed by the flavors. If you like edamame and garlic, you should definitely order it. The volcano roll? Soooooo delicious. I'm not a big sushi person but wow, I would totally go for the volcano roll here. The teriyaki was good, but what stood out for me was the Uyakodon. I got the chance to try an authentic homemade version from a friend and have been on the hunt for something similar. Awaji hands down delivered on such a homey flavorful dish! It's my hubby and I's go to dish now. It's just that good for us when we want that hit home rice meal. The karaage, dumplings and curry dish was also so tasty. You seriously can't go wrong ordering anything here. Definitely now a staple for us with also being so close! A must try place!

Everything I tried was delicious and I cannot wait to go back! Sammy roll, volcano roll, chicken karaage, spicy garlic edamame, and dumplings....yum! This might be my new favorite Japanese restaurant! Check out the happiest hour specials from 4pm to 6pm!

This spot is my new favorite spot to grab sushi in OKC. It melds the spirit of a cozy eclectic pub into a sushi restaurant and I'm here for it! We came without reservations, we didn't know it was that kind of restaurant, so we grabbed a seat at the bar rather than waiting for a table--great decision. We had access to the full dinner menu and got to watch the opening of the 2024 summer Olympics with our fellow bar patrons and bar tenders-great memories made, for sure. The sushi was great. We went with the bartender's recommendations. Admittedly, I don't remember which rolls we ordered, but they were great. We also tried the pan fried potstickers and devoured those savory little treats quickly. Based on our first sushi experience, I'd love to try more of their menu. Big cities are often at the forefront of culinary innovation so it's surprising when dining here as it feels like you've been transported out of Oklahoma and landed in big city life. I'm here for it, lol! We'll definitely be back with a resy in hand, of course, so we can try the dining room experience. But don't forgo dinner at the bar, it doesn't disappoint.July 2024

What a fantastic elite event! The owners were gracious and generous with the portions that they provided for us. We all had such a great time. I enjoyed the community and fellowship with my elite friends and new elite friends. The food was superb. The chicken was delightful. I thought the seasoning of the fried rice was excellent and the appetizers were eloquently presented. I will return with family and friends. There's adequate parking outside. I would not have expected this nice of a restaurant in a little strip but hey, I love little surprises like this.