Ginya Izakaya — Restaurant in Atlanta

For fans of fiction, passionate bookworms, and anime lovers alike, this restaurant is nothing short of a dream come to life. Imagine stepping into a scene ripped straight from your favorite anime—the kind where vibrant food glows with life and energy. From the moment I crossed the threshold, I felt like I’d been transported into the heart of an anime like Naruto. The ambiance, the details, the aromas—it all came together in a way that felt surreal.

As I entered, the first thing that struck me was the smell. It wasn’t just food—it was an invitation. The rich, layered aromas danced in the air, wrapping around me and guiding me toward my seat as if I were under a delicious spell. The décor was equally captivating. The walls were a tapestry of nostalgia, adorned with signed memorabilia, iconic images, and collectibles displayed in pristine glass cases. Everywhere you looked, there was something to marvel at—pieces of culture that told stories of the past while celebrating the present.

The restaurant also boasts a fully stocked bar, blending American classics with Japanese staples. Whether you’re into cocktails, sake, or just trying something new, the bar offers a little of everything. Even as someone who doesn’t drink often, I could appreciate the variety and the artistry behind the offerings.

I wasn’t alone on this adventure—I brought along a group of friends and my girlfriend. As it was our first visit, we collectively decided to go big and order a little bit of everything. Our table soon became a smorgasbord of incredible dishes: Rainbow Roll Sushi, Tonkatsu, Takoyaki, Taiyaki, Tempura Green Tea Ice Cream, Tonkotsu Ramen, and Chicken Karaage. Each dish was a masterpiece, crafted with precision and bursting with flavor.

I have to admit, I’m not a huge fan of seafood, so there was one dish I didn’t enjoy as much as the others. However, I could tell it was impeccably fresh and skillfully prepared. For anyone who loves seafood, this place would be absolute heaven. The other dishes, especially the fried items, were phenomenal. Everything was fried to golden perfection—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and never overly greasy. The Green Tea Tempura Ice Cream was the star of the show, a perfect blend of creamy sweetness and delicate green tea flavor that left me craving more.

The service here deserves a spotlight of its own. Every staff member exuded warmth and attentiveness. Even those not assigned to our table would stop by to ask if we needed anything or to check if we were enjoying ourselves. Their camaraderie and teamwork were inspiring—it was clear they took pride in their work and genuinely cared about every guest’s experience.

The restaurant was buzzing with activity, yet the energy was uplifting rather than chaotic. Thanks to our online reservation, we were seated quickly despite the packed house. It’s no wonder this place draws such a crowd—it’s a sensory overload in the best possible way.

What truly stood out to me was how this place managed to exceed expectations in every way imaginable. It’s rare to find a restaurant that nails every detail, from food to atmosphere to service, but this one did it effortlessly. It set a new standard for what dining should be: not just a meal but an immersive experience that engages all the senses.

If you’re an anime fan, a lover of rich flavors, or someone who simply appreciates excellent service and vibrant culture, you owe it to yourself to visit this place. And even if anime isn’t your thing, don’t let that stop you—the food alone is worth the trip. Don’t just walk here—run, fly, teleport if you have to. This isn’t just a restaurant; it’s an adventure. One I’d gladly embark on again and again, a...

[Location/Ambiance]: Location: On the same side of Little Azio within the Berkeley Heights strip, right by the Northside Dr NE.

Parking: Spacious.

Exiting: If you are trying to make a left out of the center, it's best to cut behind Ginya on the right and exit to Bellemeade Ave NW. There you will have the light to assist you.

Inside: The decor is very similar to Shoya's but feels a little more cramped. White Walls and dark wooden tables and chairs matching the wall siding and trimming. I feel that majority of the tables are for two. Large groups will be better suited for the private rooms if available.

[Service]:

For a cold Sunday evening there were groups of 2-3 people waiting before us, and more coming after. In the middle between the sushi bar and hostess / bar area are benches for people to sit and wait, while looking over the giant size menu. The server doing double duty as the hostess, quoted us about 15 min wait time. We were seated within 10 mins. I think they under estimated how much people were wanting to get out of the cold and enjoy a warm bowl of ramen, because they seem understaffed that night.

After ordering, our food arrived within 15-18 mins staggered from the appetizers and entrees. Water refills were a bit lagging. Maybe if we ordered saki, they were would have catered to us more like the table next to us. Which had 2-3 bottles between a Japanese couple. Order the complimentary matcha green tea and water so you won't be thirsty.

[Food Highlights]:

Seaweed Salad - $4 - Looks can be a little deceiving as they garnished it with strips of dark dried seaweed on top of a bed of some kind of greens. Once you get the dried seaweed out, it's business as usual. Taste and presentation wise.

Tuna tartare - $8 - An ingredient from this is not on the menu I believe, but our server did advise us that it contains nuts. Hard to tell as the tuna and any seasoning masked the minced pieces. Walnuts I guess? Missing was avocado for Ginya's version. It's a little odd just due to the nuts texture wise I feel, in between the slices of tuna. Worth a try, but I'm not too big a fan.

Ginya Don - $17 - Thick slices of tuna and salmon, escorted with bbq eel with a slight coat of sweet eel sauce atop a mound of rice. My friend was gracious to satisfy my bbq eel craving and share that portion with me. She seemed stuffed munching down the fish and didn't make too much of a dent into the rice. This is pretty filling.

Miso Butter Corn Ramen - The broth, with the mixture of miso and butter (yes, actual butter) comes out tasting pretty hearty I think. I think if adding a few dabs of hot sauce or similar condiment could take this up a slight notch. I just have a big craving for chashu pork, so I skipped out on the tan tan pork this visit. Worth a try if you can't handle spicy ramen.

Taiyaki - $8 - A pair of "baked" fish shaped street food, with a red bean filling. Pretty balanced on sweetness. If you aren't feeling the ice cream, try adding an apple or persimmon slice on each bite. Worth a try if you want more of an Asian dessert.

{Summary}: I agree with most of the other yelpers reviews, this sister store has almost an identical menu as Shoya Izakaya in Chamblee. Which I take as good, for anyone ITP that doesn't want to travel further for modestly priced Japanese food. One thing I do notice, they have more options for ramen. Service could use some improvement once they figure out their flow of customers. Overall, I still enjoyed the experience. 3.5...

If i could give 0 stars i would. food was good. service was the worst ever. i ordered 2 california rolls, 2 fried dishes and 2 sushi rolles or whatever they call them. My other friends ordered 3 rolles, salad, and 2 hot dishes. they bring up california roll and another sushi roll on the same plate for 2 different party members. so i was ok no big deal i just seperated them. then about 5 10 minutes later they bring another persons dish. 5 minutes after that another persons dish. meanwhile i am still waiting on my california roll to come out and my hot dish along with my daughters dish. they bring hers out and leave. mind you we are around 30 minutes now and my water glass sits empty and i have yet recieved anything. they bring both dishes for my other 2 friends. so i am still waiting. so i decide to flag a waiter down and say hey where is my food. he says the dishes i ordered take longer so i was um i ordered a california roll and you have brought 4 different rolls out so far and i have yet to eat anything. 5 minutes i get my roll and 10 minutes i get my hot dish had to flag a waitress to get more water.

i tell this to the manager all he says we are backed up. they had less then 30 people in the place 1st of all. 2nd them being backed is not my problem. specially when i got my food the sushi roll and hot dish when everyone in my party basically finished their food. i tell them i come to eat with them not to watch them eat and them have them wait and watch me eat. he proceeds to give me 10% off i was like yea whatever i expected 50% off or at least 25% and a desert something. yet all i get is a manager making excuses to y i never got my sushi roll along with others. and had to wait over 30 minutes to get my hot dish i ordered instead i had to watch them eat and they had to wait around and watch me eat.

last time i ever go there my best advise do not go there as well due to the mere fact that if they cant serve u in a decent way and time they wont hold themselves accountable and look at the money they lose to say yea we messed up here is a 50% discount or here is a voucher for your next visit. nothing 0 zip.

lol looking at some other reviews apparently another person had the same issue with them serving food for a party staged and she watched her party members ate while waiting...