Kingdom Sushi — Restaurant in Jacksonville

My boyfriend wanted to go here for his birthday, so I made a reservation for tonight. First red flag: it's 6:15pm & there's barely any customers, so immediately I'm kind of suspicious. We're seated right away and the server explains the menu. We both decide to do the AYCE (regular), since that's what this place is known for. As we begin looking, we notice that a majority of the sushi rolls are salmon and cream cheese - another red flag. I start with the salmon nigiri prepared with the chef's recommendation, wasabi & a bit of truffle oil, my boyfriend gets tuna nigiri. The first plate our server brings out is not our order - the server apologizes and brings out a "gift" from the kitchen from the chef. It was a deep fried roll with a bunch of fried kale on top. It was okay, but definitely fried too hard. We finally get the nigiri and they're both atrocious. The slices of fish are thin, chewy, and warm; the rice is gluey and over-seasoned. After taking his first bite, my boyfriend says "I can't eat this," so I try it. The tuna has an extremely metallic taste. If I was not ordering the chef's selection under the AYCE menu, I'd be even more pissed because not only is the fish bad, you can barely taste the add-ons. The only other thing I ordered for myself was the salmon carpaccio with ponzu & basil, which actually tasted nice, but the slices were sloppy, which when combined with the awful nigiri, gives the impression that this place doesn't care about quality, which is insane when you're serving raw fish. My boyfriend ate a few more things after I was done. The philly kani roll was 90% rice, edamame was strangely tough to eat, and the spicy tuna roll was grey?! I don't know if they used canned tuna or what, but I wouldn't even try it. He also ordered the dulce de leche roll & got some churros for free for his birthday, which was sweet. Our server Ally (sorry if spelling wrong) was very attentive and kind and I have no complaints about her. The overall vibe of the place was pretty off though. Seemed like there was a "body-guard" type dude who was literally just watching everyone in the restaurant (AYCE is "no waste") - please believe me when I say none of this food is good enough to steal. At the end of the night, the manager (I think?) rang us out & gave us a QR code to do a Google review which I thought was a bit pushy. As we left there was food all over the floor. Mind you, there was never more than 4 tables sat while we were there. I don't think this is the kind of review they were hoping to receive, but I genuinely would not eat at this place again if they paid me. For over $100, the experience was highway robbery, especially considering I only ordered 2 things. This restaurant is not at all like how it presents itself online. I'm not expecting god-tier food from an AYCE place, but we both left still hungry and apologizing to each other for ever coming here, and hoping that we wouldn't get sick. When you advertise an elevated AYCE sushi experience, yet can't even compete with the standard sushi places in town, something is not right. I sincerely hope no one gets sick from their...

Kingdom Sushi: A Royal Feast in Jacksonville

If you're searching for sushi perfection in Jacksonville, look no further than Kingdom Sushi. This hidden gem is not just a restaurant; it's a culinary experience that will leave you speechless.

From the moment you step inside, you're transported to a world where flavors reign supreme. The sushi here is nothing short of phenomenal. Each roll is a masterpiece, crafted with the freshest ingredients and an attention to detail that borders on obsession. The fish melts in your mouth, the rice is perfectly seasoned, and the combinations of flavors are both innovative and harmonious.

But what truly elevates Kingdom Sushi from excellent to extraordinary is the service, particularly from our server, João. In a world where good service is becoming increasingly rare, João stands out as a beacon of hospitality excellence. His knowledge of the menu is encyclopedic, his recommendations are spot-on, and his attention to detail is impeccable.

João doesn't just serve; he curates an experience. He anticipates your needs before you even realize them, keeps your drinks full without being intrusive, and makes you feel like royalty in this sushi kingdom. His warm personality and genuine passion for the food make dining here a joy.

The ambiance complements the food and service perfectly - elegant yet comfortable, allowing the star of the show (the sushi) to shine. Whether you're a sushi aficionado or a newcomer to Japanese cuisine, Kingdom Sushi and João will ensure you have an unforgettable dining experience.

In a city with no shortage of dining options, Kingdom Sushi stands head and shoulders above the rest. It's more than just a meal; it's a gastronomic adventure that will have you planning your next visit before you've even finished your last bite.

Five stars doesn't seem enough for this royal treatment. Bravo to João and the entire team for creating...

I don’t usually write bad reviews, but the food here was so bad in the price so expensive I felt compelled to let people know before wasting money here.

I went here with my wife and two others for Mother’s Day for the all you can eat sushi. The menu for the AYCE is pretty limited given the $40 per person price tag. The menu is also VERY cream cheese heavy. Nearly every item is doused in cream cheese or filled with it. If it’s not cream cheese, it’s mayo or a thick overly sweet eel sauce on everything. I’m a fan of unique rolls, but guava jelly on it makes no sense. Random leaves of arugula make no sense. Some will differ on their “odd rules,” but the only unique rolls they had were terrible. There are also some truly random items that seem South American or Hispanic inspired. If done well, I’d understand it but it was mostly just thrown in there (though the ceviche was probably the best thing we ate)

Most importantly, all the food was comfortably average or down right bad. Classics like spicy tuna roll and California rolls were incredibly dry. Fried rice and yakisoba noodles were dry and seemed like they had been sitting for some time. ANYTHING with the description “grilled salmon” had canned salmon that was the consistency, texture and taste of canned tuna, as pictured in my picture below. Multiple rolls had this in it, and it was downright atrocious. I can’t believe someone green-lit that to be on the menu once, much less multiple times. The only good thing I had was the dessert and cocktails.

Service was fine. Our server Mari was good though she could have helped traverse the menu a little better. But it’s been a long time since I went to a restaurant and felt swindled. The food was terrible. Apparently it’s popular to some people, but I wouldn’t return for the half the price. Save your money, save the calories, eat at literally any other...