Miyako Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Huntsville

A disclaimer: I don't eat sushi. I want to try it one day...but I'm not there yet, lol. And sushi very much seems to be the "thing" to get here. So this review is for non-sushi items.

So. This was the birthday dinner spot of choice for one of my friends a few weeks ago. She invited us (me + husband) and about 6 other people. I think there were about 10 of us there in total. My pal made the reservation in advance and our table was waiting for us when we arrived. They were pretty busy on a weekend evening so I'm glad she made the reservation since our party was so large.

Parking was a paaaaain. They share a lot with a motel and a bar and all the interconnected lots are both tight/hard to maneuver and are also showing signs of age with some bumpiness and potholes. We finally parked closer to the motel and walked over.

The interior of the restaurant seemed clean. The menus were pretty extensive and I had a hard time selecting what I wanted. Eventually everyone arrived and I had to make a call. Wound up with an order of gyoza as an appetizer and then the beef hibachi entree for myself. Since it was a birthday party, I also got a glass of Riesling. I was surprised, but pleased, to find a Riesling at a Japanese restaurant, since half the time I can't find one at American restaurants, but it was a pleasant find! I enjoyed the wine, too, though I'm hardly a connoisseur. Husband got a pork katsu dinner box, iirc.

Our dinners were fairly slow to come out and, perhaps more frustratingly than that, they were brought out at different times. Those of us who ordered hot food / non-sushi were served much before those who got sushi. I assume they were backed up on sushi prep since that's what most people seem to order, but I felt bad chowing down on my meal before it got cold while others waited another 10 minutes or more to be served.

The food was okay! The best thing to me was the gyoza. Nice chewy dumplings with savory dipping sauce. I didn't have room for the typical salad with ginger dressing but I did manage a few spoonfuls of miso soup. It wasn't the best miso I've had in town but it was alright. The steak in my hibachi bowl was a little on the tough side, but the fried rice was cooked well and so were the veggies. Say what you will about yum yum sauce, but I personally love it, and Miyako's was tasty. Sling some of that on the steak and rice and you can't be too unhappy!

I don't recall husband saying much about his dinner other than agreeing with me that it was just okay for him. His meal came with sushi, I think, and he didn't comment on it, but they weren't speciality rolls so I'm still not sure we can really judge.

The birthday girl seemed happy with her sushi dinner, and that's absolutely what matters most. Perhaps I'll return when I've developed a taste for the dish...

Hope you guys are ready for this level of cuisine in Huntsville, AL. I was completely impressed with this place. The absolute best sushi spots in the city, hands down, and top 5 restaurants I've been to in Huntsville. I have mixed feelings about leaving this review because I feel that this place is a best kept secret, but they really deserve praise for their efforts, so here we are and here we go!

FOOD We ordered several types of sushi. I think it was 6 rolls in all accompanied by a shrimp box that was extremely flavorful. Every single bite of every item was great and presented their own purpose on the plate, but the techniques used created cohesion in that box. (I should have taken pictures, but I was to busy eating). The sushi rolls were so nicely presented, that my closed minded date, who only eats California rolls, tried salmon, yellowfish, and eel based rolls...Its an understatement when I say these people are artful masters. I really enjoyed every part of the meal.

SERVICE We had three waiters attending to our section as a team. Usually, that doesn't work because tables tend to get unintentionally neglected. This place had a highly motivated team and we were not left wanting at all. The wait wasn't long, and the service was awesome. One waiter was mistaken as rude, but we found that she just had trouble with English and she was new. She turned out to be a very nice person with a big heart. The two other waiters were upbeat and energetic without being over the top (hard to find that balance). Drinks were filled in a timely manner. The cuisine level was checked. Our questions about sushi and ordering were answered without the usual disdain waiters have in Huntsville. Overall, they out professioned the other restaurants we've been to.

ATMOSPHERE As if all the attention to detail for food and service was not enough. The restaurant is clean, quiet, and classy. You walk in from all the noise of the overpass and it all melts away. It seems as if you could eat, Fall, asleep and drift away. No rushed or pushy feel to this joint. I love it!

PRICE How they are able to present this level of cuisine and keep the price reasonable, I have no idea, but I left a big tip to show my appreciation for the experience. The price allowed me to do so. These people...

Miyako has just reopened their establishment for dining-in and my friend (who kindly bought my lunch) thought it was a good chance to catch up on their progress. They made great use of their "down time" the past few months and have completely redecorated their dining room. The new look is super-inviting. The interior is simply beautiful. The natural woods used inside are very inviting and even calming, very conducive to enjoying their sushi and other fare (like the poke, miso soup, salad and beverages). They have an extensive sushi menu AND they now offer a lunch special that includes miso, salad and choice of two rolls from the lunch list for only $11.95. They also offer the full sushi menu if you want to venture off the reservation. We had a variety of sushi rolls and everything was delicious. We began with an "appetizer" of white tuna nigiri. This was a first for me and i really enjoyed the white tuna! It is so mild and the texture is buttery-creamy, mildest tuna I've eaten and I will try it again! Might be a new favorite! I enjoyed a Crunchy California Roll and a Spicy Shrimp Tempura roll. They tasted so fresh and the serving temperatures were perfect. Of course, the presentations were attractive and appetizing! I had enough to be satisfied and bring some home for a late snack! We had glasses of plum wine for "dessert". Sweet, slippery mouth feel and very generous pours! If you haven't been to Miyako (or if it's been a while), I highly recommend you make your way to the south side of Huntsville and become reacquainted with this hidden gem! They are open for lunch, then take an afternoon break before reopening for dinner. Come enjoy one of the best Japanese restaurants in town. And just to note: all the employees exercised the precautions we have come to expect during...