Sushi Neko — Restaurant in Queen Creek

Sushi Neko is more of a Grubhub and DoorDash dispensary than a sit down restaurant. If you are looking for a proper Japanese restaurant and know proper sushi, you might be disappointed. The place is very busy and most locals like the food. There are four small tables inside and a few outside (no heaters for winter diners or fans and misters for summer). Last night, my young son and I went there together to give it a try. We ordered seaweed salad, gyoza, mixed tempura (2x - shrimp, asparagus, sweet potato, zucchini), kids chicken teriyaki, salmon nigiri, hamachi nigiri, and a Cali roll. First, they use California sushi rice, not Japanese rice. The rice was not seasoned properly or maybe not at all. It had the taste, texture, and moisture content of rice that was prepped early in the day rather than made as needed. Sushi Neko is a small place, so I understand the need to prep in advance. The salmon and hamachi cuts atop the rice were fresh and typically American in size. Neither nigiri preparations included wasabi on the rice/under the fish. People who are experienced with genuine Japanese cuisine will not consider this good nigiri. This place appears to do a brisk business with American style rolls that you wouldn’t find in a genuine Japanese restaurant. Not saying this is bad, just try to help people understand what Sushi Neko serves. The seaweed salad was standard food service pre-made. Not bad by any means but again, not made on site. Same for the gyoza. The tempura was heavier and more oily than the light, flaky tempura you will find in a Japanese restaurant like Murata in Portland, OR or at Sushi Ota in San Diego. Finally, and since this is really a take-out place, when eating at the restaurant, expect to be eating out of take out containers and contributing a lot trash to...

Easily my favorite sushi place in the east valley. The service is solid and the sushi is excellent. Prices are reasonable, happy hour and daily specials are a good way to try new things.

The angy hamachi is the perfect blend of flavors and the first sushi roll that I don't think is improved with wasabi (fresh or paste), soy sauce, or any other garnishes. It is spicy but well balanced.

The creamy cali is also an amazing roll that everyone in our family enjoys. It is a little sweet but tastes great as is, with wasabi (especially fresh) and soy sauce. Our six year old eats one of these herself every visit.

There are other great and good rolls but these two are staples of every visit and worth the extra attention.

The kani is held to the rice with a bit of seaweed which is different than most of the places I have eaten it at. It does make it tricky to get some wasabi in between the two but is still good.

Only down side is that they need a bigger place as when it is busy there might be a 30-45min wait. There isn't a lot of waiting room, a few seats inside and a couple outside. They don't use any notification systems (i.e. text, vibrating pager, etc.) so it can be tricky to walk around while waiting. It isn't enough to deter us from eating here, the food is more than worth the wait, but it might mean there is advantages to getting there before the dinner rush or hunger...

I LOVE THIS PLACE!! That being said, I DO wish they offered Salmon Skin Maki and Uni. My favorite roll is the Alaska. The Angry Hamachi is really good too, as well as the Sunkissed. ALSO, if you ask for LESS RICE, THEY LISTEN!! I just moved here from Sacramento two months ago and this was my very first meal out here after we drove 16 hours. The young kids working here are very professional, courteous, respectful and just really nice and friendly. They know what they're doing, compared to a lot of other kids who work at other places. I love all the cat decorations they have and my mom loved their beef teriyaki bowl and calamari. This place is a little small so if we all continue tonsupport them, maybebl they'll expand or move to a bigger location. This is the best sushi you can find in QC. Sushi Creek is another sushi place in QC but lacks professionalism, energy and their rolls are way too small; I probably won't go back there again! It's all about the CATS and Sushi Neko!!! Neko is "cat" in Japanese!! Highly recommend this place! Go NOW-it's pretty...