Goten of Japan — Restaurant in Sunderland

After being hustled to a habachi table by the two owners, our group (reservations highly recommended, by the way, they are super busy, even 25-years after my first visit!) was seated, and that was when I noticed the smell of old grease and food. The edge of the table was sticky, and the room of 8 habachi tables looked the same as 25 years ago. The ambience isn't what you are going for, it's the show. Our server, Brenna, was very attentive, and took time to check with each one of us to be sure we were taken care of. Brenna did not overlook my daughter, as most wait staff do with young children, but got down real close to hear what my daughter had to say or ask, which was sweet and appreciated. Our habachi cook was Damien, sporting a red cap as opposed to the black ones worn by the seasoned cooks. And Damien was both witty and sincere. He barely had to look at our selections once to know what each of us preferred, asking once around to confirm who was getting what, whereas the seasoned cooks kept staring at their paper customer choices over and over and asking what other people wanted. Damien was professional and attentive as well, and even laughed at my habachi -table-slapstick-humor, as I was making food jokes (for instance, when one shrimp fell out of the middle of the hot surface, I said aloud, "well, looks like that one wants to head back to the ocean") and kept the humor going for a while. Damien went above and beyond, with less noisy yelling than the rest of the cooks, but with greater precision and personal connection. Great job Damien and Brenna! They both get an A+ for their efforts. But my 3 stars is aimed toward the cleanliness and smell of the Goten restaurant. Management could hire a cleaner regularly to take...

We went here for dinner. We waited for our food for an hour and a half. We only ordered two sushi rolls that we never got. We watched multiple takeout orders and people at the sushi bar get served who sat down after us get their food. I should note the people at the sushi bar sat down 30 minutes after we arrived . Finally we decided to ask for the check because our food was simply not being made (I could see the sushi bar from our seat). The waiter then overcharged us for what we had ordered. The waiter allegedly told the owners of the restaurant what happened and there was no apology from any of them except the waiter who clearly had no control over what was going on. It was me and my fiancé‘s one year anniversary to make things worse. It took them 45 minutes to even get sake to the people sitting next to us. The people sitting next to us only got their food once we complained and asked for the check. By far the worst most disrespectful service we’ve had in the last five years. I’m shocked the owners were OK with how they treated us. I’m shocked that the owners would allow this situation to happen while they were both working. Never going back, highly recommend that anyone who wants to actually eat be careful where they sit, because apparently if you’re not at the sushi bar they don’t care at all how...

Goten of Japan is an absolute gem in Sunderland if you’re looking for a memorable dining experience with cultural flair and incredible food.

We visited to celebrate my girlfriend’s birthday, and from the moment we arrived (right as they opened), the atmosphere was welcoming and full of energy. While waiting for a hibachi table, we started with some amazing fusion sushi, fresh sashimi, and delicious cocktails. The flavors were bold, fresh, and creative—each bite felt like a flavor explosion.

Once we were seated at the hibachi, the show began—and it was unforgettable. The chef was talented and entertaining, creating a fun and lively experience while preparing our meal to perfection. The hibachi dishes were flavorful, well-portioned, and cooked with precision.

A huge shoutout to our server, Sony, who truly went above and beyond to make sure my girlfriend felt special on her birthday. Her attentiveness and thoughtful service added a personal touch that made the night even more meaningful.

Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just want an exciting dinner with top-tier Japanese cuisine, Goten of Japan is the place to go. We’ll definitely be...