Kyuu-juu — Restaurant in Cleveland

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Kyuu-Juu with a group of six friends, and it was easily one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in Cleveland. I made a reservation in advance (highly recommend if you’re coming with a larger group), and from the moment we walked in, the staff was warm and welcoming. The space itself is gorgeous, and we were seated outside in a beautiful patio area that even had its own restrooms—super convenient.

The menu is designed tapas-style, with smaller plates meant for sharing. I’d definitely suggest ordering a rice dish or two to anchor the meal, then layering on a mix of the small plates. The rice bowls, priced around $16–25, were surprisingly filling on their own. What really impressed me was how smoothly the staff rotated dishes in and out so our table never felt cluttered, even with lots of plates coming through.

The food itself was phenomenal. The sushi was some of the freshest I’ve ever had in Cleveland—the fish is flown in from Japan, and you can truly taste the difference. The hamachi with the sauce they use was my personal favorite. The yakitori and sirloin were cooked to perfection: tender, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Dessert was equally impressive—we tried the crepe cake and fruit bowl, both as beautiful as they were delicious.

My partner loved that the drinks menu featured authentic Japanese imports, including his favorite Kirin beer. We even had a great conversation with the owner, who shared more about their beverage sourcing, which added such a personal touch.

Parking was easy with both street options and a nearby corner lot. For those interested in their omakase experience, it’s held upstairs in an intimate setting with only about eight seats, typically booked out at least a month in advance. Service for omakase runs about three hours—definitely on my list for next time.

Yes, the price point is on the higher side, but between the exceptional quality of the ingredients, the artistry of the presentation, the incredible service, and the stunning atmosphere, Kyuu-Juu is absolutely worth it. I’d call this a 100/10 dining experience, and without a doubt one of Cleveland’s most...

💰💸 $47 = $18 for a bite of Saba 🐟 + $18 of a sip of Umeshu (plum wine) 🍷

I came to Kyuu-juu excited to support a new, local business with authentic Japanese food (something Cleveland has been missing), but I left hungry, heartbroken, and disappointed 😔...

Insane prices & small serving sizes. I don't care if the food came from outer space 🌌

Born and raised in Cleveland and having lived in rural Japan for 6 years, I was thrilled to see an authentic Japanese restaurant finally open here. I show my support the best way I can: by spending what little I have and sharing honest reviews to uplift small, local businesses. But this wasn’t that.... This was gentrified luxury dressed in Japanese aesthetics, planted in a neighborhood where people are literally sleeping on the sidewalks outside—likely displaced by the 300% increase in rent and home prices in the past decade. And now ridiculous food costs.

The space is beautiful. The service was kind. The food tasted great. But I'll never come here again unless I become a millionaire.

They seem to expect customers to sit for hours ordering dish after dish, but at $15–$65 a plate, who is that for?? Certainly not for the average Clevelander making $32k a year (avg household income).

This place is catering to the wealthy, taking advantage of a gentrified neighborhood, and monopolizing a market that’s starved for real Japanese cuisine. They’ve wrapped the entire operation in a deceitful bow of “authenticity,” with luxury pricing, and sleek aesthetics to mask what this really is: an exclusive, performative experience with no cultural integrity.

Beautiful place. Attentive staff. Delicious food. But deeply, deeply out...

I wasn’t going to leave a review. I was simply not going to come back. However, after reading other reviews I was shocked to find out a 20% gratuity was added to the bill. I’m sure this was stated on the menu in the smallest font. My boyfriend took care of the bill so I didn’t look it over and we paid in cash. I try to leave the tip so I guess I wrongfully assumed like 99% of restaurants the tip wasn’t included to a 2 person party and I tipped off the total on the bill. In other reviews the restaurant has commented on this as if it’s a common practice but I’ve never been charged a 20% service fee for a two person party. Personally working in the industry I always verbally tell guests that a service fee is included on large parties. I think it’s the respectful thing to do. Overall we ended up leaving a 40% tip unknowingly. And the cocktails… I’ve been to many restaurants in places like San Francisco, New York City, Boston, etc. and I’ve never seen cocktails cost this much. On average a cocktail here costs $20. I understand this restaurant is supposed to be nice and not for everyone but the prices just aren’t worth it. The hostess was kind at least. I guess at the end of the day it’s my fault for not scouring the menu or carefully looking over the bill before leaving a tip. I hope this helps someone else...