Aya Sushi — Restaurant in Bellaire

I’m actually confused if they’re paying for these 5 star reviews because this restaurant was anything but. This was by far the worst omakase experience I’ve had. At $800 for the premium experience for 2, I would have been better off going to HEB. The experience was terrible from the start. We made reservations for the sushi bar for the omakase experience and could not be accommodated there because the restaurant poorly managed the timing of the individuals sitting at the bar. With 23 different courses, not a single one blew me away nor tasted high quality. Even the Waygu was unimpressive. I could barley stomach three of the dishes. The spicy cod tasted rotten and extremely salty and the egg white dish in a mason jar tasted cheap and overwhelming. The smoked tuna featured on their Instagram page was nothing out of the norm and in fact, was overcooked. We had 3 different servers bring us food throughout our meal and this was after requesting a “vibrant server” when the hostess asked when entering. By course 23, we couldn’t figure out which server was supposed to be the “vibrant” one. I also expect there to be a uniform level of service at a restaurant featuring a $800 meal. I shouldn’t have to tell you the type of personality I’m looking for. Our primary server asked if we’d like to get fed faster than the 1.5 hours allotted for the omakase experience. This rubbed me wrong as I’m clearly not here to rush an $800 meal. We said “just bring them on out as they come!” Needless to say, we were there for ~3 hours beginning to end. The main server was young and attentive but nervous and poorly explained the dishes in a way that was enticing. The chef never came to see us despite us being 1 of 3 parties in the dining room in the 3 hour period. The Saki pairings were probably the best part of the meal, but the descriptions were extensive and held little meaning in regards to the meal they were paired with. The pairings started off slow and by course 15 nearly every dish had a pairing to a point where it was difficult to digest. The table remained fairly messy throughout. The plates were difficult to pick up with chopsticks and often fell apart, the sauces were nothing unique (Ponzu on 4 dishes), and the fish tasted average quality at best. I actually inquired about what differed with the premium experience and the answer was that some fish was imported unlike the regular omakase experience where the fish was from the U.S. Truthfully, it all tasted like it was from the Gulf of Mexico. I always look forward to the Toro and it wasn’t the slightest bit impressive. There is absolutely no comparison to spots like 5KinoKawa and Neo. Complete Instagram catfish. The ambiance was average. The music was loud. The servers were not well presented and customer service was poor. The sushi chef looked like the life of a party ready to take shots at the bar instead of a Michelin grade chef. Aside from never acknowledging us until we left, he bounced around the restaurant with Christmas lights around his neck. Several servers were posted at the hostess stand behind a wall texting throughout the night. Our server left the building before ever picking up our final check. The seating that was available did not accommodate a true omakase experience. The extensive reach across the booth to grab any plates or glasses disturbed the ambience. I have yet to sit down for an omakase experience and hope that I was on the final dish already but that was definitely the case at Aya. We asked at least twice, “how many more plates are there?” because we were over the experience. The restaurant doesn’t even have a sign outside but instead, a paper banner hanging on the patio. It had all the tall tell signs. Don’t...

Upon entering Aya Sushi, the interior was the first thing I noticed. It was beautifully decorated with hints of dark green.

After getting to my seat, ther server immediately greeted us and provided us with the best service ever! She knew everything about the menu, had great recommendations, and was funny, as well!

I went for lunch and ordered the PREMIUM 7PC CHEF'S CHOICE + | CLASSIC MAKI, which came with a soup and salad. There were two dressing options for the salad: onion or sesame. I chose onion while my significant other chose sesame. After trying both, I think sesame is definitely better and more flavorful. The soup was also good and was different from any of the soups I had in previous sushi restaurants.

After the soup and salad, the sushi came out, and it was DELICIOUS! They were all beautifully garnished, and the salmon and tuna pieces (my favorite) melted in my mouth. I liked every single piece and had no complaints. Everything was fresh. I got the spicy sake maki, and it was delicious, too! The lunch suprisingly filled me up, and I was full by the end of my meal. I also tried a bite of my partner’s tonkotsu, and it was nicely proportioned with a soft crisp.

I came with a group of friends and my significant other to celebrate the engagement of our friend, and the server kindly asked us what we were celebrating and handed us a coffee layer cake, which was amazing. The coffee layer cake was dark and rich, and it was very nice of them for unexpectedly giving us one.

Overall, I think the lunch specials were definitely worth it and was a good deal. Their service was also phenomenal, and I would definitely come back...

My boyfriend found this gem of a restaurant to celebrate my birthday. Immediately upon arrival, the entire staff welcomes you with a smile and a traditional Japanese greeting. Everyone is highly skilled in their trade, from the waitress, to the mixologist, to the chef, and to the chef assistants. Every single staff member is absolutely amazing. Their attention to detail is immaculate. Their chef, Yoshi made us feel right at home, with a warm smile, and he shared with us so much of his knowledge from Japan. Not only did I savor and enjoy every last bite but I also learned so much! Yoshi’s Japanese cuisine is literal art, and he mesmerized us by his unique blend of flavors. Every bite was unique and delicious. The chef assistants handled every course with precision and care, and worked amazingly fast. It was as if we were also getting a cooking show at dinner. Truly an art form. Our waitress also left us speechless by how knowledgeable she is and her skills to memorize every single course that was handed to us was just amazing. Their mixologist made a special mocktail customized just for me as I didn’t know exactly what I wanted. Our lovely waitress asked me what I was looking for in a drink, so I told her something savory, citrusy, and not overly sweet. With those few words, the mixologist created a special blend of flavors to create the perfect mockail. Honestly, the best mocktail I’ve ever had! If I could give them 100 stars I would. We will definitely be coming back. I want to thank every single one of them for making our first omakase dinner so special!

P.s. Their bathroom is amazing! Definitely instagramable, perfect...