Sumo San — Restaurant in Almaty

Today I visited this „restaurant“ in Almaty with my friends, and unfortunately, I have to give it a 1 out of 5 rating. We chose this restaurant based on its reputation for delicious Japanese cuisine, and I was particularly excited to try their Takoyaki, which is my favourite dish, that I used to try everywhere I travel to. However, it turned out to be a huge disappointment.

Firstly, we were told that Takoyaki was not available that day, which almost made us cancel our order and choose another place (what would the best idea). But in couple of minutes another employee came and asked if i know how to prepare takoyaki myself, cause this dish has to be made by guests on their own with the special grill they would provide. It sounded interesting and fun at first, but it turned out to be a disaster. The employees ended up preparing the dish THEMSELVES on our table, which was awkward and very dirty. Despite the fact that we were trying to take this situation as positively as possible, the atmosphere was ruined 🥲. Moreover, they forgot to add oil to the grill, and we ended up with 1 Takoyaki on the floor 15 burned ones that were not soft or tasty as they should have been.

When we informed the staff that we could not eat the dish and would not pay for it, I was told by the administrator: "Listen, girl, it's dish for lovers". So I invited her to taste this wonderful dish 🥲 After she fastidiously tasted the most unburned piece, she suggested that we pay at least 50% for it, which was unacceptable given the situation. The entire experience was ridiculous, disappointing and not fair from all the angles.

Although some other dishes were not bad and even tasted good, the incident with the Takoyaki (which should be definitely excluded from menu) and the poor response from the staff overshadowed any positive aspects of the restaurant. Overall, I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to enjoy nice food and service, as the lack of respect towards guests was...

Sumo San in Almaty is a delightful spot for Japanese cuisine. The restaurant offers an array of fresh, flavorful dishes, including a notable selection of sushi and sashimi, crafted with high-quality ingredients. The atmosphere is both cosy and inviting, making it a great choice for any dining occasion. The service is attentive. A standout feature is their generous portions, which is great if you prefer sharing meals. Additionally, the salads are particularly scrumptious, bursting with flavours. While vegetarian options are somewhat limited, the available choices are well-prepared. Overall, Sumo San delivers a satisfying dining experience, and reservations are recommended to secure a spot in this...

Firstly, I don’t normally review on Japanese restaurants cos from my travel experiences all over Asia and Europe,, it’s always good if not great. This was a total disappointment! I had ordered the grilled eel, the holy grail of Japanese cuisine. Imagine my disappointment when my grilled eel came. The presentation was bad.. 2 pieces on top of a small box of rice . At the side was some ginger and a few pieces of thick omelette, I tasted the eel It was soft and mushy. It was definitely not grilled and no unami. Just bland and when you pick it up with your chopsticks it just breaks up. No wonder they put it on top of the rice. Oh! and the price of the ‘grilled eel’ was...