NOKU Bistro And Sushi Bar — Restaurant in South Bend

The FOOD That single star I gave it is shelf out of pity. It was by no means earned. SO,… as you may clearly observe from the photos, I was hungry. Not to worry, I won’t gain any weight tonight. That is because 2 hits later I’m still hungry. Everything is so bereft of flavor that I am in no way inspired to eat.

Actually, the reason I ordered so much is that I was a 30-minute drive from home and in a hurry to get there so ordered a small buffet believing I was guaranteed to find amongst these at least one dish that I would prefer. I did not.

At six feet tall and a heaping 168 pounds even if I could eat this munch I’m unlikely to put on weight. I would simply burn it off. I’ll have much more to say about the food later but first this:

The SERVICE NOTHING says “We really don’t care” like not correctly fulfilling one’s order. I ordered — and was charged for — 3 orders of brown rice and a “hand roll”. My bag contained none of that. They did however, throw in one small container of white rice… which is free, while brown rice is an up-charge. While we’re on the subject of charges, the hostess placed a pen and paper on the counter and hurried off needle I could sign it. So I gave them a pity star for service. One more thing before I get back to the food:

The ATMOSPHERE Although I ordered takeout, I did feel the vibe when I stepped inside to retrieve my order. Boring and unhappy.. In addition to the lone pity star I did give them an actual star simply because I stayed in my car until I was certain my order was ready. I entered the sound of raindrops hitting the windshield.

Finally, more about the FOOD “APPETIZER: A morsel or two taken ahead of the main course to stimulate the appetite”. I began with the California Roll. In one of the photos it’s the two things each with three sections reminiscent of the body of a large ant. I cannot remember what it’s supposed to be made of because I could not discern any ingredient. (Referring to menu) Certainly not the “crabstick” listed as the first ingredient. Maybe there’s supposed to be a skewer once used to procure the crab from the murky waters. In any event, these in no way reminded me of California. On to the Crispy Spicy Salmon Roll, which was in fact none of those, although it does emit an unpleasant odor of fish. Appetizing, they were not. Still searching fire simmering I was willing to eat I moved on to the Pad Thai Chicken. They should call this dish Pad Thai Noodles because that’s about all I found in there. Interestingly, stuck to the underside of the lid are a few scraps of dark green stuff that probably is overcooked cabbage. Those must have been inadvertently dropped there from a serving utensil headed for someone else’s order because I found no cabbage, green nor white, in the dish. There are very few small scraps of something that doesn’t taste at all like chicken, nor anything else. There is no sauce.

SPEAKING of sauce, tempura sauce is mentioned so many times in the menu that I truly expected that they “put that stuff on everything”. They did not. However, they did put two very small tubs of liquid in the bag. I did not order any sauce, tempura or other, yet it seemed like they are really pushing that tempura sauce so I hoped it would give some flavor’ to everything. First I poured just a bit of it on some noodles and tasted it only to find that it is merely some cheap and very salty soy sauce.

SURELY the troops would save the day I hoped. Apparently General Tso’s Chicken comes from a single manufacturer and is distributed to every restaurant in our great nation. Only that could explain why it seems always to taste the same everywhere. NOKU must be an upscale restaurateur because only they are allowed to serve this unique version of General Tso’s Chicken which is absolutely free of flavor.

Aha! Perhaps I am mistaken in declaring Noku food to be devoid of taste. Note, 3 hours after sampling and rejecting 2 meals and 2 side dishes I have a distinctly unpleasant taste in my mouth. Literally, as well as...

I can say with full confidence that south bend has a new hit spot that everyone should try. The level of service and food quality is on par with fine dinning establishments I have visited across the United States.

The server (Jevonte) was vary professional and helpful for us since it was our first time there. He made us feel welcome and made great recommendations for our mains and sushi roles. He was vary attentive and was vary knowledgeable about the menu.

Starting with the appetizers, we had the lobster rangoons were the best we have ever had. The filling was sweet and savory with nice portions of well prepared lobster.

Next we had the tuna tar tar. The brilliant mind behind this new take on tar tar transcended my taste buds to the same level if not higher than the tar tar at cafe Navarre.

The shredded tuna was mixed with Japanese panko to great a smooth sponge like texture that retained and absorbed all of the flavors from the tuna and soy sauce. It was topped with perfectly ripe slices of avocado, caviar, and a raw quail egg. When mixed together at the flavor combinations transport the diner to island paradise of fresh seafood flavors and creamy earthy tones. 5 out of 5 would recommend.

For our mains I had sushi rolls made with thinly sliced beef wrapped around green onions on a bed of scallions and topped with what I can only fathom as home made teriyaki sauce.

The beef was so tender my chop sticks would plug the rolls in half and the veggies were perfectly cooked and crisp. The bed of scallions were perfectly cooked to keep their crush and also absorb the flavor of the sauce that dripped to the bottom of the plate.

The sauce, the main star of star of this dish. This sauce tastes like it is straight out of a moms kitchen. Something that has been refined and handed down through the generations perfecting its self with each iteration. The consistency and viscosity was perfect to stick to the beef but still be thin enough to absorb by the rice and onions.

If this sauce was not made in house then I would buy a life time supply from the comspny that makes it.

My guest had the beef and broccoli in brown gravy. The beef was also extremely tender and the broccoli was the freshest I have ever had at any establishment I have reviewed. It was perfectly steams and retained its crunch perfectly. The brown sauce of this dish was also amazing too. The subtle combination of simplistic seasonings allowed the broccoli to shine while also supporting it.

For a meal ended we had the snow mountain roll. This roll as far as I am concerned put every other sushi place in South Bend and Mishawaka to absolute shame. The outer layer was perfectly chilled while the hot tempura shrimp retains its head. The rice coating was thing and contained generous amounts of fish and other fillings.

During the course of the evening both the manager (Makyiyo) and the server (Jevonte) ensured that we had a great experience and inquired about the quality of our food and service. The employees here take they positions and quality seriously and are step above the rest.

On a side note the water they serve is crystal clear and left no after taste which most city water leaves.

My guest and I were happy we chose this new place and plan on returning. I personally plan to switch all of my client and business dinner to this establishment because the value you get for what you pay here trumps most other places in the area.

We also learned this rare is a one of a kind non franchise which this review supports full heartedly. We need more unique gems like this and less cookie cutter franchise restaurants.

But to just testify again how good the food was at Noku. The flavors of every dish were so intense and perfectly balanced it felt like my soul transcended out of my body and was able to high five god for being this gift of Noku to this plain...

UPDATED REVIEW~ I recently dined at NOKU Bistro And Sushi Bar and had a mixed experience. The sushi was fresh and delicious, and the sake was still as delightful as ever. The Haru Maki spring rolls were a standout, and the hibachi noodles and fried rice were flavorful and satisfying.

However, my dining experience took a turn when we ordered the General's Chicken, which was severely overcooked. Upon bringing this to the attention of the staff and requesting a replacement, we were informed that it's cooked a certain way and pre-cooked before being tossed with sauce, which was disappointing to hear.

We decided to try the Beef Negimaki instead, but it took over 20 minutes to arrive at our table. When it finally did, we were disappointed to find it to be completely fat and tasteless, especially considering its $20 price tag. When we attempted to address our dissatisfaction with the dish, the staff initially refused to remove it from our receipt, insisting that we pay for it despite our intention not to eat it. It wasn't until we mentioned leaving a negative review that they finally obliged.

Overall, I couldn't help but feel that the kitchen staff may have been upset about our complaint regarding the General's Chicken, as the quality of the replacement dish was subpar. Unfortunately, this experience has left me hesitant to return to NOKU Bistro And Sushi Bar in the future.

ORIGINAL REVIEW~ NOKU Bistro And Sushi Bar offers a delightful dining experience that tantalizes the taste buds and soothes the soul. From the moment we stepped in, we were greeted with a serene ambiance and the subtle beats of popular music, setting the stage for a relaxing meal.

The hostess, doubling as our waitress, was a picture of courtesy, promptly seating us and taking our drink orders. Our culinary journey began with an appetizer spread featuring the tantalizing California roll with spicy mayo and the exquisite dragon roll, complemented by the delightful crunch of lobster rangoon. Each bite was a symphony of flavors, leaving us craving for more.

For our main course, we indulged in the lunch special General Tso's chicken, a culinary masterpiece that redefined our expectations of this classic dish. The perfectly balanced flavors, combined with tender chicken, made it a standout. Accompanied by hibachi fried rice, every mouthful was a journey to culinary bliss.

To wash it all down, we sampled a selection of beverages, including a small sake that packed a delightful punch, and refreshing lemonade and iced tea.

The atmosphere was serene, the staff attentive and kind, and the cleanliness impeccable. Our experience at NOKU Bistro And Sushi Bar left us eager to return, perhaps for the tempting all-you-can-eat option. Truly a gem worth savoring...