Kengo Sushi & Yakitori — Restaurant in Toledo

My wife and I were looking for something special to do for our ten year anniversary. We both love sushi, and have exhausted the local supply of new sushi restaurants in town - or so we thought.

Enter Kengo. I have to put in a brief disclaimer here: if you enjoy your sushi cheap and plentiful, and can gain just as much enjoyment from an all-you-can-eat sushi bar at the Chinese buffet, DO NOT try Kengo. It will absolutely ruin all other sushi for you. If, however, you are ready to have your mind completely blown, your horizons broadened, and all other sushi (or food in general, for that matter) taste like a cheap imitation, Kengo is the place for you!

We opted for the Omakase experience, and I truly can't recommend it enough. Yes, it is expensive (I had to sell my favorite Taylor guitar to fund this little outing - no joke), but it is worth every last penny.

The atmosphere of this restaurant is top notch. It is insanely small, lending it a very intimate feel. For Omakase, you are seated at a 5 person bar in the back, where Kengo himself awaits you. A quick side note here: this guy is 90% of the experience. He was extremely personable and informative, yet he remained unobtrusive. I have never met a chef who is more invested in the satisfaction of his guests. Top notch gentleman, no doubt about it.

Now, on to the food. I wish I could tell you I remember each course, what every sauce was called, and what the garnish was for each. Unfortunately, I can't - and it wouldn't help if I could, because he switches it up daily. What I can tell you is that this was the most unique dining experience of my life. There were flavors involved here that were nothing short of euphoric. Over the course of two hours, Kengo hand crafted the most delicious morsels you can imagine. From duck and scallops to beef tongue yakitori and five or six different types of nigiri - each new course felt like my taste buds were being enlightened. The first bite literally almost made me emotional.

To wrap it up, this has set the new standard for what a dining experience should be. Every single aspect of this meal was on point. It is pricey, sure, but you are paying for an eating experience you won't find within anywhere else around here - and one that rivals anything you could find in a big city.

It may take me a year to save up enough cash to visit Kengo again, but you rest assured, I...

I've dined at this restaurant twice - once as a regular customer and once for the omakase course. The food here is undeniably excellent, deserving of five stars. However, I must address the service, which leaves much to be desired.

During my first visit, I encountered significant delays in receiving our dishes. What made this experience even more frustrating was that the table next to us appeared to be friends with the owner-chef, resulting in prompt and friendly service for them. Meanwhile, our table, along with others, languished in waiting.

Hoping for a better experience, I returned as an omakase customer. Unfortunately, my second visit reinforced the initial negative impression. While the omakase service was reasonably paced, it became apparent that the restaurant prioritizes omakase customers (or the owner's friends) over other diners. While this isn't inherently problematic, it does imply that regular patrons, or ichigen-san, may not receive the same level of attention or service.

In summary, the food here is exceptional and deserves five stars. However, prospective regular customers should be prepared for potentially uneven treatment compared to omakase, or their favorite, patrons. Also, the music...

Wow what an experience! The fun started from the moment we walked in, we were greeted with the traditional Japanese welcome from the crew. They were loud and brought a certain energy to the restaurant. Expect a wait if you don’t reserve a table during peak times. The place is small but it plays a crucial part to the experience. The right space and limited seating really adds to the quality of Kengo. There is a reason why Kengo can keep the rent when the seating is so limited, and it’s because of the quality of the sushi and other foods served here. Also expect to pay a higher price for this quality of fresh fish for an inland market. We were a company of 3 our check came to almost $250. Highly recommend pork belly! It was so good we ordered it again. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, they can even speak Japanese and they seem to love the culture as well. Next time I would really love to sit with the chefs and have them serve me, that experience is $98 per person. Great restaurant, great food, great staff, and a great place to...