Ikigai Sushi Hibachi and Poke — Restaurant in Pinellas Park

I’m leaving 5 stars for who they were but not who they have become. This used to be my go to for Vietnamese everything. The pho was amazing and the vermicelli bowls were my favorite thing in all of st Pete. I came here 1-3 times a month for all they had to offer. As of last week they no longer have anything Vietnamese, they have replaced immaculate delicious cultural food with bland basic hibachi that belongs in an overpriced food truck. It breaks my heart to write this when I’ve had so many amazing meals that I have loved here. Christopher Nolan said it best “You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain”. Ikigai (生き甲斐) is a Japanese concept referring to "a reason for living" or "one's purpose in life", seems ironic now as I feel the reason and purpose has been lost. I just hope it can be found before it’s too late. I’m not sure what has lead to this but my most recent meal tasted like the beginning of the end. As I write this I realize that this will be the last time I think of Ikigai as a place to order from or do date night at. The business card on my fridge will serve as a tombstone for what I lived for in the before time. I wish them all the success in the world going forward but not like this, it’s just not right. My heart is heavy today as I long for the crispy pork in my otherworldly vermicelli bowl, oh how it made my tummy sing with delight. Anyways, come on down and judge for yourself. As for me, I must say goodbye old friend, please take these 5 stars as a parting gift, you’ll always have a special place in my heart and the hearts of many more. I’ll be looking at flights to Vietnam while I fight through the tears to get the Ikigai taste that I so crave. What...

Really great, we've been here 3x. The sushi is fresh, good quality, and and even better price. They have appetizers which either include sushi or can work for friends who don't enjoy raw fish, sushi rolls, sashimi, and poke bowls. 3 pieces of salmon sashimi is $4, and pictured in my photo is 4 orders of salmon sashimi, plus a summer roll (no rice roll). They have water bottles, soda, beer cans/bottles, and sake as options to drink in a fridge. We plan to keep coming back!

They have a Nintendo switch, N64, smash tournaments, and some simple family board games. It's very casual and all the staff are friendly and they crank out lots of orders quickly.

Only things I wish would be different is if they would have water cups in addition to bottled, though the water bottles only cost $1. Also wish they would have miso soup as an option. Poke bowls are heavy on the sauces you choose, so if you want a lot that's great, if you only wanted a little get it...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We had an incredible experience at Ikigai! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere, complete with fresh flowers that added a lovely touch to the clean dining room and bathroom.

The service was nothing short of excellent; the staff truly went above and beyond to accommodate a special order due to an allergy, which they included “on the house.”

The food was absolutely delicious! We tried a little of everything- from the bao to pho and lots of rolls and bahn mi. Each dish was beautifully prepared, bursting with flavor, and clearly crafted with care.

As if that wasn’t enough, our young son was treated to a delightful surprise—a pack of Pokemon Oreos, along with two of the most amazing Ube cookies we have ever tasted!

It's safe to say that the next time we're in St. Pete’s, Ikigai will be our go-to spot.

Can not think of a time that we have enjoyed a meal out as much as this...