Sushiitto — Restaurant in El Paso

Incredibly disappointed considering how much it was marketed as a more upscale sushi restaurant.

For context I had a reservation at 5:00pm for the “igloos” outside since it was colder and seemed like a fun way to celebrate.

Bar (2/5 Stars): We arrived 15 minutes early and decided to have a drink. The drinks list was extensive and included all the usual cocktails. When I ordered drinks for the fiancé and I, we were told they were out of ginger beer. On our second try, I ordered two of a different drink; only one arrived. It was later told to us that the bartender needs a translator because he doesn’t speak English. Not a problem, it is El Paso after all. However, the fiancé is Mexican and I speak enough to get by so not being told was a little annoying. Once that was cleared up, I order one of the (only two) beers on tap, the bartender fumbled around for five minutes to get a new keg tapped. Overall, it was just a very awkward way to start the meal.

Ambiance and Setting (3/5 Stars): The building is new and the restaurant is even newer. Very modern and contemporary. The music could be described and club like rhythmic tones. It was slightly loud but not overbearing. Probably one too many seats at the bar as it was tough to get in and out of the high chairs. The seating at the sushi bar seemed less about experiencing the art of making sushi and more about squeezing in a couple extra seats. Spacing between tables was normal. The two options for hibachi was nice; however, they only seat six.

Table (2/5 Stars): When we decided to go to our seat (i.e. igloo) on the patio, the host and a waiter helped get our drinks to the table. The path to the igloo was convoluted due to the abundance of patio seating that clogged any hopes of a clear walkway. The igloo at first seemed nice, but upon a brief examination was in rough shape. Unless your 4’10”, expect to squat pretty deep in order to get inside. What little white Christmas-like lights they had hanging inside were dangling down and never actually turned on. Many of the igloo’s poles were out of their sockets or just missing. No heat inside the igloo (December is El Paso still gets cold). No music. To be fair, this part of the review is strictly about the igloo so if you can avoid it, do.

Service (1/5 Stars): For a restaurant that is trying to be more upscale, the service was at best awkward and at worst embarrassing. The waiter (and most of the staff) must be inexperience and it really showed. We had no menus for almost 20 minutes. After we requested silverware, the waiter told us that it was the Host’s fault for not setting the table. The homemade sauce brought out with the soy sauce was said to “go good with any dish that had rice”. So all the dishes? My second drink was 15 minutes late. He blamed the bartender. Never did receive the extra ginger and spoon we requested. Every interaction was a huge wildcard. To top it off, he handed me the card reader with 22% tip already inputted. I put this more on the management as it’s clear there isn’t much of a standard of training program for the waitstaff.

Food (3/5 Stars): We ordered the edamame, miso soup, two rolls, a rice dish, and the fried ice cream. Overall the food was nothing spectacular. Sushi rolls were a little loose. One of the rolls had macha (chili oil) in it and was intense. The fried ice cream was probably the best part. Overall, the menu was a bit light on the sushi with only 18 special rolls and a handful of a la carte options. Over half the rolls had cream cheese in them which if you’re like me doesn’t think it belongs. I understand it’s El Paso and that including that in sushi is popular but again it’s suppose to be more upscale so it was definitely disappointing to not see a more refined menu.

In conclusion, this restaurant needs a lot of work. Maybe we will go back in 6 months once they have had time to refine the areas mentioned above. Until then, we will stick to other sushi options in El Paso where the quality is about the same or better and I don’t have to pay...

So the food was good but a bit overpriced. This is definitely the kind of price you would pay if you lived right by the ocean and they caught the fish and slapped it right on your table. But the simple fact that they probably get their fish shipped to them and then have it prepared for you days later to still charge. That price is still kind of steep. For five people, including two kids, they came out to $290 before tip

I don't really see the 290 being a bad thing because I was able to have an experience with the wife and kids and the mother-in-law put her $290. There is a lot of things I could have done and still had good food

There's another sushi place called the sushi place. Who is also very good, very tasty and at the same quality has this restaurant before a fraction of the cost

I will admit I get green tea hot had every sushi place I go to and this was the only sushi place that I noticed did actual dried tea leaves had almost looked like they packed them themselves and I had to wait 15 minutes for those tea leaves to drain so that I could have some green tea and it tasted very very good

So there is premium feel and premium service leaked throughout the experience. But again it didn't really carry all the way through

We ended up getting the tonkatsu ramen soup and the servings were really low, especially for the $20 price point. Had sober lake. They charge $18 and the bowl is much bigger and filled to the top with way more noodles. Again, the food was good, but if you're going to pay $20 noodles don't cost that much. You can fill the bowl and the broth doesn't cost that much either. You can feel the bowl with that as well.

The environment is very fancy. I would say it's two stories below. Ruth Chris. From the nicest places I've been to Ruth, Chris looks the nicest has good lighting and has a beautiful wine cellar when you walk in and there's steaks are immaculate. It is expensive there but not once have I eaten there and thought this isn't worth it. At this place, like I said I did enjoy the food but the soup servings were very minimal

We did end up taking the matcha cheesecake which wasn't bad. It was a bit gelatinous so if you are squeamish with textures you may get grossed out by it. But cheesecake is usually very creamy and sticky and has some weight to it. This was very solid and thick and did carry a good taste of matcha blended with that cheesecake, but the texture was a bit off for most people who are...

Our dining experience at Sushito was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we arrived, the team’s commitment to customer service was evident and truly next level. Every staff member from the chefs to the crew, the bartender, and our server they all worked seamlessly to make sure we had a phenomenal time.

Andrea, our server, was hands-down one of the most attentive and knowledgeable servers we’ve ever encountered. She walked us through the menu with ease, recommending the best sushi rolls, and ensured we never had to ask for refills on our drinks or water. Isabella, the bartender, created some of the most incredible drinks we’ve ever had, including a standout Japanese Old Fashioned that rivaled high-end establishments in other cities. Honestly, she’s a master at her craft, and I would recommend having her train other bartenders to reach her level of expertise.

Miguel, the manager, truly went above and beyond. Despite a delay with our reservation we were seated about an hour after our original 7 p.m. time, he made sure we were comfortable and well taken care of. He checked in on us several times throughout the night, ensuring everything was perfect. The transition from the bar to our table was smooth and well-handled, thanks to his attentive leadership.

The teamwork at this restaurant was remarkable. Other servers stepped in to clear plates, refill drinks, and maintain the flow of our experience, making sure nothing was overlooked. One of the chefs, Alexis, even came out to greet us and check on the quality of our food a rare and thoughtful touch. By the end of the evening, another server came over to thank us and clean up our table, leaving us feeling genuinely appreciated. Dominic also ensured everything was squared away as we closed our tab, making sure we were completely satisfied.

As someone who frequently dines out and travels, I can confidently say that the service and flavors at Sushito far exceed the typical dining experience in El Paso. It’s rare to find a team so in sync, with each person giving their absolute best. The food, drinks, and hospitality made us feel like royalty.

I would gladly return and even consider hosting a private event here, knowing I’d be in such capable hands. Thank you to Andrea, Isabella, Miguel, Alexis, Dominic, and the entire team for making this an unforgettable evening. The whole crew was out of this world. I highly recommend Sushito to anyone looking for an extraordinary...