AKAI Sushi — Restaurant in Oklahoma City

Atmosphere

Rich blacks, bright reds, and accents of gold bring warmth and energy, complemented by subtle Japanese motifs like wood accents and minimalist art that reflect Japan’s cultural heritage. With elegant concrete floors and an open layout, the space has an upscale, energetic vibe that feels more social than intimate.

Service

Brandon provided service for the evening, bringing not only warmth and engagement but also deep knowledge of the menu, Japanese culture, and the spirit of Akai. With every course, he replaced plating and silverware seamlessly, never missing a beat in refilling water glasses.

Salmon Sushi Pizza

Featuring salmon, American Gothic pizzetta, ponzu aioli, truffle oil, and microgreens, this pizza boasts a generous portion of salmon sashimi, with each bite unfolding in layers. It begins with the bold, earthy aroma of truffle oil, then shifts to the sweet, tangy middle notes of ponzu aioli. Finally, the delicate richness of salmon emerges, leaving a subtle warmth that lingers on the palate.

Eggplant

Featuring dengaku miso, chives, and edible flowers, the eggplant arrives like a confit. Each bite opens with notes of char, followed by a blend of sweet, salty, and savory flavors from the nutty sesame, sweet miso, and rich oil, a decadent and slightly indulgent experience. While it’s a heavier dish, with a bit of oil left on the plate after each bite, the preparation is so well executed that the oil complements rather than overwhelms the eggplant.

A5 Wagyu Nigiri

White Sturgeon Caviar is the cherry on top of this fire-blasted, perfectly rare beef that melts in your mouth, leaving a rich, luxurious vapor trail waving euphoria from head to toe. The salty, slightly briny caviar adds a delicate dance to the Wagyu, as these two ingredients, both at the height of perfection, offer a truly transcendent bite.

Akai Sampler

Otoro, Chu-Toro, Sake (Salmon), Kanpachi, Ikura, Hotate (scallop), Tomago (egg), Hamachi, Tai (red snapper), and Cherry Blossom Roll (jumbo lump crab, avocado, cucumber, tuna, yellowtail, yuzu, yuzu yogurt, and crispy onions are the embodiment of omakase. Beautifully cut and meticulously prepared sashimi, nigiri, and sushi arrive in pristine condition. Flavors ranged from subtle to bold, tantalizing the taste buds each step of the way.The salmon and toro sashimi stood out. The cherry blossom roll combines savory, salty, and sweet notes, with textures that are firm, soft, and satisfyingly crunchy.

Turf Crispito Taco

Wagyu beef, jalapeno, and a tomato ponzu are the stars of this inventive dish, combining exceptional ingredients that work seamlessly together. Rich, buttery flavor from the Wagyu is balanced by middle notes of tomato before sweet ponzu finishes the bite. The taco is crafted with a crispy shell that offers the palate textural contrast.

Salmon K-Pop

Salmon tataki, karashi su miso mustard, kizami wasabi, and crispy onion lead the charge. Delicately seared salmon is the star, balanced by a subtly sweet miso mustard and mirin. Wasabi brings gentle heat, rising up and tantalizing the olfactory senses. Crispy onion provides a satisfying contrast, adding texture and depth.

Black Cod

An outstanding traditional Japanese dish featuring saikyo miso, shishito pepper, and hajikami. Each bite unfolds with a captivating flavor profile: charred, sweet, savory, and tangy notes from the miso glaze contrasted by the almost Wagyu-rich cod. Bright, tangy notes rise from the peppers.

Matcha Creme Brulee

A lovely balance of sweet, slightly bitter, and earthy notes are a “matcha” for dessert. Especially when matched up with delicate, neutral matcha ice cream on the side. The crispy, burnt-sugar on top of the brûlée adds a pleasing contrast of charred and sweet flavors. However, the dessert didn’t live up to the procession before it due to custard that had split and become curdled, killing any chance for the silky texture creme...

We decided to celebrate our anniversary here and as soon as we got to our table we were greeted with a pretty card and nice note which I thought was so cute! I’d say it’s hard to find really good service in the city most of the time but our server and everyone on the staff helping each other out were excellent. I believe Becca (so sorry if I spelt it wrong) was our server and she was simply the best on all service levels - kind, considerate, attentive, friendly, good timing, and genuine. The tables were just a little too close for my liking and the large menus taking up a decent size of the table overstimulated me a little bit. Now with the food - first of all, the A5 wagyu nigiri with the gold flakes was extremely delicious and it just melted in your mouth. Absolutely bonkers. The sushi rolls are experimental, fresh, and rolled very well (rice ratio is 👌). The sashimi platter? Wow, so well worth it. Great cuts of fresh and super clean fish. Also loved the yellowtail carpaccio, especially with the garlic crisps, it was citrusy and savory. However, didn’t care for the karaage chicken since it was dry and considerably small portioned. The Sake flight was a wonderful experience and definitely enough booze for just two people enjoying their dinner! That gluten free brownie with the matcha ice cream? Heavenly. Warm. Perfect dinner cap. We definitely splurged on our dinner and I had high hopes of having a good experience here and we had a great one to say the least. Absolutely worth...

this place is AMAZING! hands down the best japanese restaurant in the okc metro. I crave it!!!

first off, the interior is stunning. it’s the perfect balance between upscale and cozy. i honestly don’t think I’ve been to another spot in the area with better ambience than AKAI.

the service is always top tier. i’ve been several times now, and every staff member has been knowledgeable, kind, professional, and genuinely personable.

sitting at the sushi bar is my favorite—you get to watch your food being CRAFTED.

starters: the edamame and spicy snow crab miso soup were both phenomenal. also pictured are the turf crispito tacos—my date loved them! personally, they weren’t my favorite, but they were still tasty.

rolls: • shogun – so good. don’t let the cucumber wrap fool you—it’s super refreshing & packed with flavor. • rainbow roll – a classic, but favorite. consistently bomb. *remains my go-to favorite. • any nigiri – always incredibly fresh. • p’okie master – not my top pick, but still very good. the crispy gobo was a great touch.

drinks: the old fashioned… wow. truly the best I’ve ever had. smooth, flavorful, and dangerously easy to drink. i’d order it every time.

dessert: the mochi is flown in from ny and it’s to die for. perfect texture and excellent flavor selection—10/10. i’ve also tried the brownie with matcha ice cream. the brownie was just okay, but the matcha ice cream? a must.

20/10 recommend. i’m actually hoping to go back tonight! AKAI is such a fantastic...