Sushi Katsu — Restaurant in Akron

Two items serve as testament to how much I really wanted to savor what I hoped would be a good experience of Japanese food in this Northeastern OH eatery.

First, I called to check on its hours just be disappointed with a voicemail message that the place was closed even though hours listed on the internet for Wednesdays suggested otherwise. After striking out on another option nearby, I tried again just on the faint hope that the machine had simply been left on by mistake. Miraculously, this "hail mary" resulted in a young lady picking up the phone and affirming that they indeed were open until the relatively late hour of 9 despite snowy weather conditions.

Second, after driving 15 minutes from my hotel and relying solely on my GPS to get there, I was sorely disappointed to cruise by the address listed on my device and finding no such shop at least as evident from the road. Pulling into the parking lot to re-calibrate on dinner plans, I happened upon a small sign which pointed towards to back of the building. There, I found a small entrance leading from what I thought was an alleyway into the establishment.

Once settled in, I was glad a serendipitous series of events had led me to Sushi Katsu. Deciding on my old tried-and-true, I order the Chirashi with an included bowl of miso soup.

The miso soup was delicious and, unlike many watered down bowls sampled at other Japanese restaurants, loaded with lots and lots (and lots) of seaweed. I guess it depends on taste but I absolutely love seaweed since it was something my own grandmother cooked to perfection and herself ladled into bowls of miso soup in my youth. The picture below doesn't do it justice. Albeit to say, it was delicious!

The Chirashi was also fantastic. I did not get the large bowl of Chirashi (opting instead for the mid-sized version) but even that was more than ample with a multitude of cuts. What impressed me the most, strange as it might seem, was the care the chef had taken to slide not just the fish but also the accompanying cucumber and carrot pieces.

Altogether, this was one of the most satisfying entree/soup combos I've had in a Japanese restaurant in quite a while (notwithstanding the outstanding Taiko in SoCal).

Five out of five stars for excellent execution of Japanese cuisine in this small, almost unnoticeable eatery in Akron OH. Be sure to look for it in the "back alley" so you don't miss...

Disappointed. Understaffed again. This is my third and final review. I am not eating here again. The standard seems to be only one sushi chef and one server. Even at half capacity, you'll have to wait a long time for service and your food. The food is good, but not worth the frustrating wait. Additionally, this is the second time in a row that they were out of the food I wanted to order. This time, it was ramen. Below is one of my previous reviews.The shame is that it'd be so easy to resolve by hiring another person.

Food is good, but sometimes understaffed. I've eaten here three times, and the sushi is good and made with care. Some dishes, like the baked crab, were over seasoned and honestly disappointing.

Two of the three visits, and the staffing was reasonable/appropriate. My first visit, the restaurant was packed, so I took a seat at the sushi bar, and service was reasonably delayed due to how busy it was. Second visit, the place was nearly empty, and service was prompt. Third visit the place was half empty, but the staff struggled to keep up. It was a long wait for everything, including the basics, like a glass of water and even just to get a pen to mark my order. Once ordered, the wait for my sushi was extraordinarily long. Perhaps if you're sipping sake or wine, the wait wouldn't feel as excruciating. As it was, I needlessly waited with an empty water glass in a half empty restaurant. I had considered leaving a few bucks for the water and walking out. It's a shame because my previous experiences were good. I hope it's just a hiccup in their staffing.

Also, I was flatly told that they were out of gyoza. No offering of a substitute appetizers. Hell, I wasn't given time to even browse the menu for a second option. "We're out. It'll be in on Thursday," then zoomed away with the order I was allowed to place. But again, this may have been an isolated incident, I'll probably give them...

While I haven't had every single item on the menu yet (mainly because I can't NOT order their ramen) I have nothing but good things to say about this place. It's small, which I like, and cozy. The food is absolutely spectacular. Every sushi roll I've had has slapped, and the ramen is out of this world good. I haven't had ramen as good since I went to Seattle. And they have a proximity to the source advantage. The bar seats let you see the food being made which is cool and fun - and the main chef, Tin I believe, is a very kind and generous man - and very talented. The rest of the staff is also quite pleasant to interact with, always smiling even when it's hectic and busy. People are kind and sweet, but not overly so in a "I have to be nice to you cause it's my job" kinda way, like some bougie places can be.

I literally cannot recommend the ramen enough. Life changing. Awe inspiring. Mouth watering. SO good.

Personally, I think you should go on a weeknight first if you've never been - having the place a bit more empty and slow gives you the chance to absorb your surroundings and talk with the people who make this place work - and that's arguably the most important part of the experience.

Great spot, 30+ Years...