Toroko Sushi — Restaurant in San Antonio

Toro'ko Sushi 2/5 stars

Located next door to a "Delicious Tamales" establishment; the only other visible place in the center being the Sonterra medical offices.

Only ordered 4 things. 1 out of 4 was good. It was $75 for a 21 Piece Sashimi. I understand this is the affluent Stone Oak area, but seriously there are so many less pricey & higher quality sushi places in town! Even in Stone Oak!

We drank Sapporo + hot tea, which was fine. Nothing to note there. A cute tiny little place, one room only, nicely decorated; minimalist. We were seated quickly, given menus, one with pieces of sushi and soy sauce on it. Bad first impression. Could have asked for another one, but we let it go. Things mostly went downhill from there. (Everything except service, which was pretty good.) The main attraction, the sushi? Disappointing. Then considering the $150ish bill with tip? Gravely disappointing.

21 Piece Sashimi (yellowtail, toro, fatty toro, bluefin, salmon, escolar, tako): Admittedly, this was quality sashimi. Fresh, kept cold, plated beautifully. Padded with plenty of shaved daikon and cucumbers. But for $75? This was not $75 quality.

Shrimp Udon: Came with a handful of extremely thin slivers of carrots and leeks (even when we specifically ordered the dish sans leeks) and their "specialty" udon sauce that our waiter said was "like a sweet soy sauce". Yes, and it was appalling. Far too much mirin in it; far too sweet. Like barbeque sauce on thick spaghetti. Then the shrimp. Now, tail-on or fully peeled is a debate that can always be had (personally in camp no-shell-no-tail), but that was not the issue today. Every kitchen should have a stance, not be on the fence (or possibly neglectful); we had four with no tails and one with! And we had to pay $12 for this? Not to mention, it might be wise for the menu to indicate "stir fry" before "Udon" on the menu, since by and far the most expected fish to come out would be an udon soup, not dry.

King Lobster Roll: A special for the night, the presentation was lovely, but what littles lobster there was in the roll was unfortunately overpowered by whatever other sauces were added. The waiter mentioned some other seafood in the roll, but none of us could discern what they were. Mediocre.

Mochi Ice Cream (Green Tea, Mango, Strawberry): Tasted like any good quality store bought mochi ice cream. Yay.

Conclusion? They saved all there prowess for the high-ticket items, leaving the regular menu items to the drain. So my 2 stars? Maybe too generous.

Not interested in ever coming back. Too bad. It's a cute place and the service was...

Always looking for a good sushi restaurant in San Antonio, had to try this new place in Stone Oak. Came in early on a Sunday afternoon and was a little worried as it was completely empty. However, realized it was that odd time between lunch and dinner. Walked in and was immediately greeted and given the option of any table I preferred. Kimberly was our waitress and she was very friendly, attentive, and helpful.

The menu had a good mix of sushi, nigiri, rolls, appetizers, and some Japanese comfort foods. Started off with the Spicy Tuna Tower, Fried Soft Shell Crab, and a few Japanese beers. Food came out within 10 minutes and was able to browse the menu over the drinks. Both were prepared and presented very nicely. They were very attentive to the details which is a major part of Japanese dining; presentation is everything.. Luckily they both tasted as good as they looked. Soft Shell Crab was very crispy and had plenty of meat. The Spicy Tuna was a nice tower of rice, imitation crab, avocado, and tuna surrounded by different tobiko and sauces. Tuna was fresh, tobiko was tasty, and the sauces provided a nice amount of spice.

For the meal, ordered the Black Mamba roll, Toro'ko Special roll, yellowtail sushi, and uni sushi. Presentation was outstanding as it was presented on a bridge serving dish that was garnished well in style, color, and spacing. Very nice decorations from the ginger, carrots, flowers, etc... The rolls were good, filled with fresh fish, and held together well. The yellowtail sushi was a nice cut of fresh fish. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the uni. It had a frozen taste and not the buttery, creamy taste you expect from uni. However, I know there's a high food cost with uni and it probably doesn't move much, especially being at market price. To close out, tried the Banana Tempura. It was also plated and presented with detail. The bananas had a nice crispy tempura outside and soft bananas on the inside. They went well with the sides of strawberries and vanilla ice cream.

Overall, good dining experience. Service was very good, food was fresh, great presentation and attention to detail. Definitely a good option for sushi in...

Toroko Sushi (Stone Oak) - Where Your Taste Buds Go to Achieve Nirvana

I walked into Toroko Sushi expecting a casual sushi night. I left questioning everything I thought I knew about happiness.

Let's start with the Lemon Special Roll--a roll so good, I briefly considered writing it into my will. If citrus had a masterclass in how to elevate sushi, this roll would be the guest lecturer. The lemon slices on top aren't just a garnish; they're a VIP pass to the freshest, most balanced bite of sushi you'll ever have. It's like the sushi chef looked into my soul and said, "I know exactly what you need." And he did. If this roll had existed in the Middle Ages, knights would have gone on quests for it instead of the Holy Grail.

Then there's the Seared Salmon Roll, which is essentially what happens when salmon reaches its final evolutionary form. If regular salmon sashimi is a house cat, this seared version is a majestic lion, draped in umami glory, prowling through a jungle of perfectly seasoned rice. The slight char from the sear gives it a smoky depth, and the sauce drizzled over the top? I don't know what it is, but I suspect it contains at least three of my childhood dreams coming true.

The service? Immaculate. The staff treats you like royalty but without the weird "yes, my lord" energy. Water glasses never hit empty, rolls arrive with a flourish, and they don't judge when you order more food than should legally fit on your table.

The ambiance? Equal parts sleek, cozy, and "I could definitely pretend to be an international sushi critic here." Soft lighting, a peaceful vibe, and sushi so good it makes you reevaluate your life choices.

Final verdict: If you live in San Antonio and haven't been here yet, you might want to reassess your priorities. If you have, then you already know--Toroko Sushi isn't just a restaurant. It's an experience. And one I plan on repeating as often as...