Kaiko Sushi Bar & Japanese Restaurant

Hubby and I frequent this place a couple of times a month. Being busy parents of four, the late night menu/hours is a blessing to us with reasonable prices. I enjoy $2.00 wells, drafts and house wines. The service is awesome and the food is great for being the only late night place in this part of town. Friday nights they have karaoke, which is really fun when I come with the girls. When we get our sitter, It gives my husband and I much needed time to enjoy ourselves. This is "our place" when we want to relax, enjoy good food, conversation and a cool environment. It's great for date night after 10pm because we don't spend more than $45.00 (tip included) for drinks, an array of food, and a cozy environment. My kids love this place too and they have many options to introduce the kids to some Asian fare. This isn't exactly a "Family Restaurant" and I actually discourage bringing young kids here. Not because it's a bad environment, but crying infants, screaming tots and really ill mannered children ruin a nice dinner for other diners. If you have well mannered, foodies, that value family time and meals then this is a great spot! I highly recommend this as a neat "right of passage" sushi experience!

This place has changed since Charlie sold it. I've been back 3 times and the sushi doesn't taste the same anymore. It's disappointing because the service used to be great, friendly, and now it just feels so cold inside and just unfriendly.... just some people working passing the time. It's sad but true... sushi isn't the same.

This sushi place is a must see! Very large place with sit down, take out, and sushi bar! So many options to choose from and you will not be disappointed! The eel for an appetizer is so amazing! The rolls are all tasty and very unique. I was unsure about the quail eggs but they were so good!

One fish, two fish. Raw fish, cooked fish.It's not Chinese, nor Japanesebut what is that language that I hear?The misfitting decoration won't hint that it's Vietnamese to my ear.So once you get past that they're not from JapanThe review of the fish is the task that's at hand.The fish was freshThe taste in my mouthLeft me wanting to like itBut my head in the cloudsI wasn't sold by the food itselfBut Charlie the chef was entertaining if nothing else.I'll be back again for another tryI believe in the upsideof the food that's why.One more chance at the food extra stars they could earn.As General MacArthur promised the Filipinos:"I shall return!"

Love Love Love the food....The ambiance, the Staff ...And Charlie !!!!!!!! Honestly some of the best/freshest sushi I have had, comparing this restaurant sushi throughout the United States!!!!

This is my favorite sushi restaurant in the Greater Tampa Bay area. I grew up in Tarpon Springs and went to high school in Tampa. Every time I come home to visit, this is the only restaurant on my must-go-to list.Sushi is perhaps my favorite meal-food, so I've had a lot of sushi in my days. Since graduating, I've lived in Miami and Boston. I visit Orlando so often I may as well say I've lived there. Same with NYC. I've found very few sushi places as good as Kaiko. If you want good, fresh sushi, this is it, folks. Nothing too over the top fancy like most sushi places these days.Charlie keeps it simple and oh so delicious.Order the Scott Roll. It's only on the specials board, not on the paper menu.And if you make it to dessert, the fried ice cream is pretty damn good too.Also, if you adore the sushi as much as my friends and I do, there's a special tip jar above the sushi bar to show your appreciation.

I can only assume the people who claim this to be "the best sushi in the Tampa Bay area" are very limited in their experience.The sushi here is (all caps) "MEH". It is servicable. It will not disgust you. However, you may be a bit disgusted when you are paying the bill at the end of the night and feeling that sense of regret that comes with paying top dollar for mid-grade eats.I won't use this as an opportunity to plug the 4-5 other places I know that are head and shoulders above Kaiko in quality, value and taste. A Yelp search can take care of that. After my last visit (my 4th time at Kaiko, trying to give it every possible chance at success due to my friend's addiction to the place) I called it quits. I think it gets a lot of attention from devoted regulars who enjoy Charlie (the head chef?) and keep going despite there being countless better, and more consistent, options.

Food: The sushi was the worst I've had. I'm not saying that vengefully or anything. It's just a fact.Service: We preferred a booth, but they would only give us a table. They were not busy, and there were three unoccupied booths that simply needed to be cleared. Ambience: a large rat scurried across the dining room and into the kitchen. No frigging joke. My wife literally shrieked like a cartoon.

I've been to a lot of sushi restaurants in a lot of places, including Hawaii... and this is still my favorite.Everything is so well-made and delicious. They just expanded to a bigger store and I'm so excited for Charlie! He deserves it. I've been eating here since I was probably 11 or 12 and I'm now 26 and it's my first stop when I come home to visit my family!Try the spicy conch roll. The texture is amazing and so is the taste!

This really is my favorite sushi place... and I've been to MANY, MANY sushi places around the states. As others say, it's pretty small... only 6 tables, 2 booths, and the sushi bar... and depending on the time you can be in for a wait.... but I think the smallness makes the experience more personal. The employees are VERY friendly, the quirky sushi-ish and Japanese decorations will keep you talking, including a wall filled with signed pics of celebs who've eaten there.As for the sushi... delicious! You don't even need soy sauce; the seafood flavors stand out. Ask Charlie (sushi chef) to just surprise you and he'll always deliver some really tasty creation.If I could change something, it'd be the location so it's closer to Tampa, the chopsticks to something less cheap, and maybe make it bigger without getting rid of the small atmosphere.PYRA SAYS: Duh... I've already said it. I've been to many, many sushi places but this is my favorite.