Shaka Sushi and Cocktail Bar — Restaurant in Alys Beach

Please check out this hidden gem ⭐️ off Highway 98 toward Destin! Without giving any prior notice and not knowing the restaurant was on the smaller side, a group of 15 of us headed to Shaka for sushi and drinks before visiting the new Dolly Parton attraction in Panama City Beach.

Upon arrival, we were greeted with warm smiles and a refreshing breeze from a giant fan, much needed on such a humid day. Despite having no reservation, the staff seemed genuinely happy to see us. We were immediately seated, which was amazing. The manager up front quickly organized a plan to fit all 15 of us at one table without splitting the group, a small but kind gesture that did not go unnoticed.

We were soon greeted by Nick, who made us feel incredibly welcome and helped make the entire dinner stress free with his patience and attentiveness. He was extremely interactive with each member of our group, making everyone feel like they were getting personal service. His banter was fun and he had impressive knowledge of the menu. After bringing out all of our drinks, he stood at the end of the table and held what turned into a hilarious question and answer session. He entertained every question we had, no matter how silly, and made sure the kids felt comfortable ordering for themselves.

When it came time to place our orders, we mentioned we would like to split the bill into five separate checks. Nick said it would be no problem at all and even came up with a fun number game to sort it out. What could have been an inconvenience turned into a mini family game while we waited for our food.

The food came out quickly and we were very impressed by the kitchen’s efficiency. Our appetizers were delicious. The avocado hummus was a table favorite and the wonton chips were perfectly crisp. Nick had excellent menu knowledge; he could list ingredients off the top of his head and helped steer us based on our preferences. I mentioned I liked spicy food and he recommended the Maverick Roll, which did not disappoint. He also suggested his personal favorite, the Brown Butter Crawfish Roll, which we tried and absolutely loved.

If you are looking for a great spot to bring the family, Shaka is a must. They even have chicken tenders for the kids, although fair warning, no ranch but honestly, what do you expect at...

This place is overpriced for what you get. My husband, my daughter, and I ate there tonight. We had the children’s pork fried rice, the seafood noodle bowl (surfer soldier), the shrimp teriyaki, the red flag roll, and the Shangri la roll. We also had Sapporo beer and an old fashion.

The children’s pork fried rice had over done dry and hard pork and the rice was not particularly warm.

The seafood noodle bowl had about six shrimp in it and no other seafood visible. The noodles were mushy as if they were completely over done. And generally the entire taste was very bland.

The shrimp teriyaki had about eight shrimp. The dish came out ice cold. there was about a teaspoon of teriyaki sauce.

The two rolls we had were just OK. They seem to have a weird sweetness to them that I have never found another sushi restaurants.

The old-fashioned had a maraschino cherry. That should be enough to say for anyone who is familiar with an old fashion. Other than the poor cherry selection, the old fashion was generally too sweet and clearly was not made with awry or didn’t have enough bitters.

I cannot emphasize enough that the pricing of this restaurant absolutely did not deliver. I would not recommend this restaurant for their food quality.

However, their waiters and service staff were great and very nice. This one star is completely on the quality of the food.

I can honestly say my family will not return here, again, not due to the staff but due to the incredibly poor...

Disappointing Experience at Shaka Restaurant

I recently ordered a to-go meal from Shaka Restaurant, and unfortunately, my experience left much to be desired. Despite being promised a quick pickup, I ended up waiting for an extra 10 minutes past the designated time. This delay was just the beginning of my disappointment.

The first item I tried was the steam dumplings, which arrived cold. To make matters worse, the shrimp in the dumplings tasted bad, indicating that it may have been past its prime. Moving on to the main courses, I had ordered fried rice and steak. However, when I got home, I realized that they had forgotten to include these items in my bag.

Returning to the restaurant to rectify the missing items, I was handed the fried rice and steak, but to my dismay, they were also cold. The steak, in particular, had an unpleasant taste, almost as if it were made from old meat.

Overall, my experience at Shaka Restaurant was disappointing. The combination of delayed service, cold food, and poor quality steak left me with a negative impression. While the prices at Shaka may be on the higher side, the subpar food and service do not justify the cost. If you're looking for a place to enjoy overpriced food that falls short on quality, then Shaka might be the place for you. However, if you value timely service and delicious, fresh meals, I would recommend...