Located at Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort, Kimonos is an award-winning sushi restaurant that offers an authentic experience for a wallet-savvy price. And because it’s only open from 5:30-11:00PM (times may vary from my visit), it’s a dinner-exclusive deal that comes with complementary karaoke; thematically, its late hours make it the perfect hangout pad after a night stroll around the Boardwalk area.

Kimonos offers a professional atmosphere in a fun, entertaining package. One might call it a shogun’s dining experience, but at a samurai’s price.

My first impression of the decorum exceeded expectations. Kimonos features rich, dark colors intermingled with golds, whites, and autumn reds. Amidst lanterns, antique photographs, and flower arrangements are the namesake kimonos which hang from the ceiling in full, bloom-and-weave-patterned splendor.

For a more authentic dining experience, Kimonos offers low tables and near-to-the-ground seating; when I went for the first time with a group of friends, however, we were seated at a more traditional dinner table in order to accommodate our size. If there’s one thing you must take with you to Kimonos, it’s friends, especially friends who enjoy sushi. That way, you can order many different kinds of sushi and have it delivered on a single, shared plate. There’s much less savoring to go around if you eat alone.

Once seated, I picked up the warm, moist, scented handtowl (oshibori) in front of me and proceeded to heat up my hands.

My party selected a variety of appetizers and sushi rolls to sample. I prepped myself with a warm bowl of Miso Soup—savory, light, and peppered with the slightest dazzle of scallions. While waiting on my sushi roll, I also tasted some of the Egg Drop Soup, finding it thicker and with a more pronounced flavor, permeated with a spike of cilantro. Both soups were satisfactory and without the cloudy, over-bearing flavor of lower quality soups I’ve tasted alongside other restaurants’ sushi.

Fortunately, my group was seated alongside the itamae’s (sushi chef’s) counter and I was able to watch him slice, dice, and roll together the fresh ingredients of our pending dinners. One thing I love about Kimonos is its active presence. Guests can see the sushi cabinet from almost any seat, and the waiters and waitresses went out of their way to ensure my friends and I had a pleasant and fun dining experience. The good old Disney magic definitely presented itself in the genuine smiles and playful banter between our table and the restaurant staff.

After a modest wait time—which passed quickly over soups and other appetizers—our sushi arrived, all served on one platter. This allowed us to share each other’s selections and sample a bit of everything. I quickly helped myself to a bit of Rainbow Roll, Banzai Roll, and Bagel Roll and poured some soy sauce into my tray for dipping.

Kimono’s Bagel Rolls are much larger and thinner than the standard-size sushi roll; this, however, allows it to contain more of the individual ingredients—smoked salmon, cream cheese, and cucumber. It’s a wide roll that, at first glance, seemed difficult to fit into my mouth, but the endeavor was more than worth it. This Bagel Roll is juicy, crispy, fresh, and creamy, and I only regret I didn’t take more of them from my friend’s plate.

Made up of spicy tuna, sweet eel, and velvety avocado, the Banzai Roll surprised me with its savor. This roll is zinging with life and among the best eel rolls I’ve yet allowed past my teeth. Pleasantly, Kimonos’ eel is neither chewy nor crunchy, and holds a perfect balance between sweet succulence and moist meatiness.

Kimonos is one sushi restaurant I’d gladly return to again… and again… If you’re in the Boardwalk area, or staying at the Swan and Dolphin, then it’s the only obvious answer to your dinnertime stomach growls.