Huku Japanese Bistro — Restaurant in Davis

Me and my girlfriend went to this place often for dinner but we had a nightmare service experience yesterday. Some reviews may had mentioned it was about the seating, or the issues at the host stand.

We arrived around 5:30 PM to a mostly empty restaurant with no visible wait. Expecting the usual greeting and seating assistance, we stood in the entrance area for approximately 3-5 minutes.

Despite making eye contact several times with the short-haired, middle-east looking hostess at the front desk, she did not acknowledge us or offer assistance. No staff member approached to guide us during this time.

Eventually, I approached the hostess to ask about seating. She informed me we needed to use a self-service kiosk for the waitlist – which was surprising given the numerous open tables and the absence of an initial line. By the time we reached the kiosk, a small line had formed, and we became third in queue. We observed the first two parties immediately being seated upon signing in, confirming tables were readily available, yet we were required to use the kiosk first.

The same hostess later seated us, displaying noticeable impatience in her manner. While this wasn't ideal, the core issue was the initial confusion and lack of proactive assistance upon arrival.

I understand the whole situation could be just me not signing the kiosk but how about training the staff to greet and help people who had no idea what was happening and was wandering in your hall. There would be no negative review if I simply get something like "sorry for the wait" or some respectful manner. The experience ruined an important dinner for me and I hope no one would be treated the same if...

Our group, eight families came together for a memorable dinner at Huku Japanese Bistro in Davis. Friends had raved about how delicious the food was and insisted this was the perfect place for a special gathering, so we made a reservation. From the very beginning, any worries about accommodating such a large group disappeared.

The service was outstanding. Our waiters and waitresses checked on us often, always with a smile, making sure we had everything we needed. Their professionalism and kindness made us feel genuinely welcomed.

We ordered a wide variety of dishes, including Sashimi Moriawase, Short Rib, Sushi & Sashimi, Salmon Skin Salad, Teriyaki Chicken Bento, and a Nigiri Combo. In fact, we ordered so many more dishes that I can’t even remember them all because nearly every single item on the table was worth mentioning. The sashimi and short rib stood out with their remarkable freshness and flavor. Every bite truly reflected the use of the highest grade ingredients and the freshest fish.

The atmosphere also impressed us, an upscale yet cozy decor that felt both elegant and comfortable. The restaurant even uses a robotic delivery cart, which added a fun and modern touch to the dining experience.

Huku Japanese Bistro exceeded our expectations with its combination of top-tier Japanese cuisine, warm hospitality, and welcoming atmosphere. If you’re looking for a truly exceptional Japanese meal in Davis, I wholeheartedly...

TL;DR - Sub-par food at slightly elevated prices.

We stopped by Huku on a Friday night. It was around 6 p.m., and the restaurant was about half full. It wasn't very long before we were greeted and seated by the friendly staff.

For our meal, we ordered their 18-piece Sashimi Moriwase, Dragon Roll, and Ikura nigiri.

The sashimi meal came with a salad and miso soup. The salad was fresh and tasty, but the miso soup had a sweetness that we really didn't care for. It was the first time we had miso soup that was sweet. The soup was very off-putting.

The rest of our food arrived shortly after. There were some hits and misses. The Sashimi Moriwase was mostly a hit, except their sushi rice is horrible. Firstly, the rice was dry, a bit hard, and lacked any hint of tang from the vinegar. The rice was more like steamed rice you normally get at Chinese restaurants, which was a shame. The rice for any sushi restaurant should be one of the most important aspects you get right.

The rice also ruined the Dragon Roll. The Ikura nigiri was also a disappointment because that too had a sweet flavor. I'm not sure why both the miso and Ikura were sweet, but it really threw me off.

I would only recommend Huku for their Sashimi. If that's not your thing, then this restaurant should be a pass. Such a shame because the...