Sharaku — Restaurant in West Bloomfield Township

Let me start by saying there's a difference in feeling between saying the time is "4:45", for instance, vs. "quarter to five". The difference, I think, is the hour you emphasize, the one you're considering yourself closer to.

I mention this because I found myself regretting that we do not rate things like that, too: I don't want to give it 4.75 stars, because it wasn't "good, plus". I'd want to give it quarter to five stars, because it was only a bit short of perfect.

I got the chirasi for lunch. It was the best tuna I've had in my life, and I've been eating sushi a long time. Everything else was very good. The whole vibe was very spare, which was lovely, even though it was in a strip mall. The menu has maybe 15 options for lunch, and one side of the menu was entirely in Japanese.

The chirasi was a little more expensive than it had to be, I'd venture, but they're doing a thing here. My impression was that most people don't come for the sushi, not for lunch, anyways. They mostly come for the ample soup and noodle bowl options.

I don't know that I'll come back, mostly because it's a bit of a trek for me, but I think Sharaku totally accomplishes what it's trying to do. If you're looking for a lovely ambience that's interesting and subtle, and a hot bowl of soup or a cozy, low-key romantic night out, this might be the place for you.

I'm still looking for Michigan sushi that'll blow me away, though. Is it too...

Recently, I came here for lunch, and the service was great. Even though some of the sashimi were still somewhat frozen.

However, during my last visit for dinner, I couldn't even get a seat at the sushi bar despite the restaurant being empty. I was told the seats were for 6:30 and it was only 5:30. I was also told that they only had a small table in the corner if I wanted. Now, I've been to Japan and know how they can treat a foreigner, but never would I have imaged it would occur in the middle of nowhere in the middle of Michigan. Perhaps, in Miami, we're it's more pretentious or L.A. or maybe NYC, but not in the middle of Michigan.

Is the food good? I can only tell you that my $100 lunch was alright. I normally spend 2x that on dinner, but never had the opportunity.

Followup: I can honestly say that my previous review may have just been an isolated incident. I've returned several times since then and have been seated accordingly and treated extremely well.

Please note that Sharaku is by far the most authentic Japanese restaurant you will find anywhere in Michigan. During my last 2 visits this month, the sushi chef and staff have been everything I'm accustomed to at a traditional Japanese restaurant; not to mention that they have items on the menu that I rarely find outside of Japan. If you're in the Detroit area, it's most definitely worth the...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely Outstanding Sushi Experience!

I cannot say enough great things about this sushi restaurant! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a warm welcome and an ambiance that felt both elegant and authentic. The atmosphere was truly special—dim lighting, beautifully crafted décor, and soft traditional music that transported us straight to Japan.

The sushi itself was exceptional. Every piece of fish tasted incredibly fresh, almost as if it had just been caught that morning. The cuts were perfect, the rice was seasoned just right, and the presentation was stunning. We tried a variety of rolls, nigiri, and sashimi, and each bite was better than the last.

The service was equally impressive. The staff was extremely kind and attentive, always making sure we had everything we needed without being intrusive. What really stood out was the personal touch—the manager even came over to check in on us, making sure our experience was nothing short of amazing.

If you’re looking for authentic, top-quality sushi with outstanding service and a wonderful atmosphere, this is the place to go. I’ll definitely be...