Ginza Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Owings Mills

Ginza is a delightful discovery for anyone craving authentic Japanese cuisine at an unbeatable value. Nestled in an unassuming location, Ginza offers a nostalgic journey back to the traditional Japanese eateries of old. The décor, reminiscent of a classic Japanese setting, transports you to another time and place. Despite its dated appearance, don't be misled by the vintage style—the establishment is impeccably clean, maintaining a cozy and inviting ambiance.

From the moment you step inside, the staff at Ginza welcomes you with open arms, exuding warmth and eagerness to serve. Their attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction are evident, making every dining experience special. Our visit was primarily for the sushi, prompted by my quest for a genuine all-you-can-eat (AYCE) sushi buffet. Ginza splendidly meets this need with their AYCE sushi option, priced at an astonishing $17.95. Unlike typical buffets, Ginza serves sushi fresh to order from a menu. This method ensures each piece arrives at your table pristine and freshly made, enhancing the flavors and overall dining experience while reducing food waste—a thoughtful touch.

The menu prices are generally very reasonable, with even their hibachi/teppanyaki offerings at just $25. It’s hard to pinpoint any drawbacks at Ginza, unless one prefers ultra-modern interiors or formal service attire. The only minor hiccup was a slight inconsistency with the sushi preparations due to different chefs, which led to unexpected extras in our order—not that we were complaining in an AYCE setting!

While the AYCE menu excludes certain items like nigiri and combo entrees, these are understandable omissions and can still be ordered à la carte if desired. We visited during a quieter time, which meant some ingredients were unavailable, but the staff's proactive approach in offering alternatives ensured our experience was not diminished.

The quality of the food at Ginza is truly exceptional. The meal commenced with a delightful noodle broth and a fresh green salad dressed in a tantalizing yum-yum sauce, setting a high standard for what was to follow. The sushi, particularly the salmon nigiri, was a standout, melting tenderly in the mouth. The dragon roll was equally impressive, featuring a harmonious blend of salmon, tuna, and avocado. Additionally, the tempura shrimp in the Maryland roll was freshly prepared, providing a perfect crunch that complemented the succulent fish.

The attentive service at Ginza is worth noting. Staff members were consistently friendly and responsive, ensuring we were well cared for without being intrusive—a fine balance that they mastered gracefully.

Exciting Side Note: Ginza also offers a unique catering experience called "Backyard Hibachi," which I am eagerly looking forward to trying at my next birthday celebration. This service promises to bring the excitement and flavors of teppanyaki right to your home, making for an unforgettable event.

Final Thoughts: Ginza is more than just a restaurant; it's a portal to traditional Japanese hospitality and culinary excellence. It has proudly stood for over 20 years, offering a tranquil escape from the bustling modern eateries. Here, priority is given to quality ingredients and guest experience over contemporary aesthetics.

For those in search of superb sushi, friendly service, and a serene atmosphere, Ginza is a must-visit. It might not cater to seekers of cutting-edge design, but if your focus is on enjoying exceptional food in a comfortable setting, Ginza promises a memorable experience.

5/11 Tonight we swung by to try their Teppanyaki experience, and it didn't disappoint. We went for the Filet Mignon Teppanyaki, a steal at $20, and it was a good-sized portion. The meat was cooked perfectly—juicy and tender, although not quite at the level of the priciest filet I've ever had. The veggies were cooked just right. Unlike some other Japanese places that overload you with rice and veggies, Ginza got the balance. I also discovered their Tatami room, which got me excited to...

Horrible experience chef did not cook vegetables with the hibachi steak and shrimp we was only served with half noodles and meat the miso soup tasted like seafood mop water the lemonade tasted sour and bland either alcoholic drink did not have nothing in it the hibachi table experience was awful he dropped the spatula twice did not do the onion volcano and again no vegetables were served it was only myself and my daughter attending for her birthday in the whole restaurant no one was in there huge language barrier with the chef … only reason for 2 stars will be for the meat the shrimp was fresh and steak was cooked well and even though it was empty I like quiet so those are the only 2 good things the server did apologize for the experience but definitely not worth my 65 dollar bill for 2 never visiting again it was my third and last time they failed me……….. just to update my experience on January 29th.I was invited back by the manager and the experience wa s the best from the soup, salad and the hibachi dinner experience with the chef it was just what u asked for.The food was delicious the severs were so sweet and accompaning,to the manager and the servers I thank them so much for the invite back because I definitely will be back.Thank you again no photos this time because I ate all my food 😊 changed from 2...

Years ago they had an amazing lunchtime sushi buffet deal. I thought maybe they still did so I went. OOPS!!

Now they have a very poorly formulated"all you can eat" deal. They give you a sushi list with two areas xd out, and tell you you can order anything under $10. It makes NO sense. You have to order whole rolls. The old way was MUCH better.

I ordered soup. It was FLAVORLESS. I ordered a salad. It was soaking with water and the nasty dressing was all liquefied.

I ordered 3 rolls and not one of them had any real flavor. And when they say they give you crab meat, it was crabstick.

They offered me seared tuna. It was overcooked so the way through, served cold (out of a refrigerator) and caked in black pepper.

The guy serving was nice but.... cmon dude.... put on clothing that is commensurate with being a food server. Baggy pajama looking pants and a dirty tshirt? Not okay.

Haven't been there in many years. Won't be going back.

Edit: Thank you, Ginza, for the response. I note that it came over a year after my initial review. There is nothing i need from you. As i posted, your restaurant is no longer at a standard where I would visit again. The quality was so poor in every regard that there's no real reason to return. I wish you luck in making improvements, but honestly you all don't seem to care...