Sakana Eindhoven — Restaurant in Eindhoven

So I went for the first time to try Sakana. I asked for a table outside, there were just two tables occupied. It was 8:00 p.m. and they told me they end orders at 9:00 p.m. Fair enough, 1 hour should be sufficient to order and finish. The waitress explained me how it works, either you order "a la carte" or you pay for "all-you-can-eat". I asked "a la carte" since I know this is enough for me. Usually "all-you-can-eat" model is about lots of rice and long waiting times in between your "rounds". So I ordered from the menu, trying to get close to the €20 so it would not be a waste of time and enough food for me. I ordered a beer and 5 minutes later I got one of the dishes I ordered... A snack of Tako Yaki, after finish I ordered another beer and getting it, nothing else happened. I stayed unnatended for at least 1 and a half hours. After 10 more minutes a lady brings the bill with all I have ordered... Except I have not seen any of it but the snacks and the two beers. €22.60 bill, and I told them I did not receive the rest. She went inside and the waitress comes back and ask if this was the correct bill. I said: "No, this is what I ordered but I only got the two beers and the Tako Yaki"... He said he was checking in the kitchen but after one and a half hour wait, you are not hungry anymore. I asked for the check of what I ate and paid. They just said "sorry" and charged me. Being sarcastic... "What a show of respect for wasting my time". Order the "all-you-can-eat" if you go there to fill with rice and mediocre sushi...

I visited the restaurant last Friday after reading some good reviews, and unfortunately, it did not live up to expectations. Upon arrival, we were offered two options: the all-you-can-eat menu for around €36 or à la carte, which we chose.

However, the food was a major disappointment. The sushi rice was inconsistent—sometimes it was overcooked, other times undercooked, and there were even pieces that seemed to have been cooked days ago. To make matters worse, some of the sushi pieces were almost frozen, while others appeared to have been deep-fried, which completely ruined the freshness and texture.

I also decided to try octopus sushi, something I had never seen before, and it was like eating a piece of rubber—completely unappetizing.

At some point, I thought, okay, a few beers are going to save the day, so I ordered a Japanese beer called Asahi (I believe I'm spelling it right). Unfortunately, they didn’t bring it cold—the glass was hot from the dishwasher, and the beer was served at room temperature, making the experience even worse.

Given the reputation of the restaurant, I expected much better. Sadly, I won’t...

A Japanese friend of mine recommended this restaurant, so I decided to visit — and I was very satisfied with the experience.🍣🍜🍹

I've been feeling a bit homesick and missing authentic Asian food, and this place truly delivered. The atmosphere also reminded me of being back in Asia, which added to the overall experience.

Since it's an all-you-can-eat sushi place, I honestly didn’t expect much in terms of quality. However, the sushi was surprisingly fresh and delicious. The rice portions were small, which allowed me to try a variety of different pieces — something I really appreciated.

My husband usually doesn’t enjoy raw fish, but even he found the sushi fresh and ate quite a lot. The shrimp tempura was also very tasty.🍤💫

The staff were all very polite and attentive, which made the meal even more enjoyable.

From now on, this will be my go-to place whenever I’m craving sushi....