Sola Ramen and Sushi — Restaurant in Columbia

My husband and I loved our time here but there are a few things that made the experience less than perfect. The restaurant itself is beautiful and very comfortable. Cute tables, love the decor, the mood lighting, the tea lights at the table were perfect.

I do have some qualms about the food. We ordered the steamed shumai as the appetizer, a large portion of the green apple sake, the Columbia roll, the valentine roll, a salmon nigiri (2 piece), and the beef rich garlic ramen made spicy. We also had a green apple martini and an espresso martini.

For service: our server was kind, just little things like not quite knowing the menu and waiting on them to remember drinks at the bar. He also forgot our ramen. It came out a full 20 minutes after the sushi and at that point the noodles were overcooked, not hot, and soggy.

The food: the shumai and the sushi were INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS. I prefer a raw traditional roll (the valentine) and it delivers. The mango is a perfect addition to the roll. The salmon nigiri was buttery and sweet. My husband likes a cooked roll (the Columbia roll) and he LOVED it. The lobster salad MADE that roll. Where we fell short was the beef garlic ramen. On top of having to wait 20 minutes for it past our other entree, it was… not as described. The sliced beef that was supposed to come in the bowl? Was chashu (pork). The broth was supposed to be beef based. It was clearly pork. As someone who rarely eats pork, I know the difference. Unfortunately we had a time constraint and I forgot to photograph the ramen. It was basically identical to the tonkatsu broth. While it was delicious, it was not what I ordered and the price difference is roughly $3. For the $138 we spent, I would hope to at least get the ramen I ordered, even if it was late and overcooked at that point. Additionally, the picture of the same attached is of the large. For the amount received, it seems a bit highly priced.

All this to say we will be back. I hope to see the serving and kitchen staff learn their menu a bit better. The sushi chefs are on...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely Outstanding – A True Dining Experience

Sola Ramen & Sushi in Northeast Columbia is absolutely amazing! From the moment you walk in, the Asian-inspired atmosphere sets the tone for something special. The staff is genuine, attentive, and highly professional—there are plenty of them, and it shows in the seamless service that makes this a true dining experience.

We started with the bao buns, which were perfectly soft and flavorful—a great way to begin the meal. The seared salmon with spicy crab roll is in a league of its own: incredible flavors, textures, and freshness that made every bite unforgettable. The Angry Dragon Maki roll was not only delicious but also stunning in presentation—easily one of the best sushi rolls we’ve ever had. Even the way they present the wasabi and ginger is unique and memorable.

For the main course, the curry chicken katsu ramen was pure perfection. The noodles were cooked just right, the katsu chicken was crispy and full of flavor, and the curry broth was so rich and aromatic it rivaled some of the best Indian curry dishes we’ve had.

From freshness to quality to presentation, Sola delivers on every level. If you’re ready for a dining experience that goes far beyond just a meal, this is a must-try restaurant. Conveniently located at 185 Earth Rd, Elgin, SC, Sola Ramen & Sushi deserves to be at the top...

A mostly satisfying experience with standout savory dishes, especially the Eel Cucumber Maki and Tonkotsu Ramen. The flavors were generally well-balanced and thoughtfully executed. Prices are affordable, which makes the quality even more impressive. The dessert was the only real letdown. I’d definitely come back for the mains, but I’d likely skip the sweets next time.

It would be great to see donburi added to the menu—something like a classic gyudon or unadon could add more variety and round out the rice-based offerings nicely.

My Orders:

Takoyaki – 8/10 Lightly crispy on the outside and soft inside. A solid rendition, though it didn’t stand out as exceptional.

Eel Cucumber Maki – 10/10 Absolutely perfect. The balance of flavors, the freshness of the ingredients, and the presentation were spot on. Will definitely come back for these.

Tonkotsu Ramen – 8/10 Rich and flavorful broth with noodles cooked to the ideal firmness and thickness. It came very close to being perfect, but there was a subtle depth or element missing in the flavor that I couldn’t quite pinpoint.

Banana Chocolate Cake – 3/10 Unfortunately, this one didn’t hit the mark. The icing was overly sweet and reminded me of Hershey’s chocolate syrup with a slight liquor aftertaste. While the core of the cake had promise, the overall...