Cafe Japon Restaurant

In Short – Before the proliferation of sushi spots throughout Houston, Cafe Japon was considered one of the best. Happy hour and lunchtime specials are appealing and the menu is chock-full of interesting options like negima (grilled rib eye rolls), steamed king crab legs with seaweed sunomona salad, and lobster dumplings. For dessert, try green-tea ice cream, ginger-infused creme brulee, or seasonal Asian sorbet.

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:: The restaurant's lobby fills quickly during the dinner hour, leaving few places to sit and wait.

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User Reviews (40)

ambiance	100.0% positive	“The service staff was friendly, and the atmosphere is quite nice.” “It was loud, therefore not romantic at all, though the decor was pretty.” “The ambience was romantic at the dining area as well as the sushi bar, although the dining area is where to be for romance.” “The atmosphere is a very romantic, low lighting envoronment.” “Makes the place look real cozy and comfortable.” “good price and sushi (for the price you pay) so nice and quiet also and romantic.” “Love the cozy setting and service.”
drinks	50.0% positive	“The happy hour drinks $3 U CALL IT was not helpful in making us leave.” “The ambience was romantic at the dining area as well as the sushi bar, although the dining area is where to be for romance.” “The drinks were DISGUSTING.” “The sushi bar is great by yourself to relax and read.”
food quality	88.59999656677246% positive	“Even the sushi guys had good spirits.” “However, where do you find $1.00 sushi and $1.95 rolls, and decent sake on Kirby Drive?” “Cheap lunch with big portion for some dishes.” “The ambience was romantic at the dining area as well as the sushi bar, although the dining area is where to be for romance.” “Their vegetarian rolls are filling and tasty.” “The waitress was friendly and very attentive, but food was slow.” “Houstonians need to be aware that Ginza is the best sushi in town.” “order seafood udon for lunch.” “Mediocre sushi, but it's ok because the service is really slow.” “good price and sushi (for the price you pay) so nice and quiet also and romantic.” “The sushi is always great tasting.” “Their sushi is very fresh and their rolls and hand rolls are very imaginative and tasteful!” “If you want superior customer service and good food, I would stay far away from this restaurant.” “The sushi was fresh and perfect and the rolls were huge and also perfect.” “Good food and good times, I'll definately go back.” “enjoyed the rolls and the combo soup.” “This is a nice, inexpensive sushi spot.” “Great service, great fish, great price.” “Highly recommended for a great bite of sushi.” “This is one of the few sushi places I have been to that actually has excellent sushi options for vegetarians!” “this place decent compare to other sushi places.” “We then proceeded to eat the less than mediocre sushi we had ordered with the server never comng to our table to ask if everything was ok.” “Best sushi for the price in town!” “recommend this place for sushi-lovers who don't like to compromise on the quality or prices.” “the sushi was decent, but i had a whole lot better quality elsewhere.” “The service is always good and the food is always fantastic.” “If you want good sushi (fresh, large portions, priced right) go to Ginza.” “The sushi bar is great by yourself to relax and read.” “The sushi is fresh, the servings are large, and the manager is very customer-oriented.” “We both know good sushi.” “bad service, poor hygiene & smell, bad music, BAD management who dont answer e-mails about bad service, slow food even though we were he ONLY people there!” “We've eaten good sushi.” “The sushi rolls were good but not great.” “The food is great.” “Great, creative sushi, good price, open late.” “Seems like these guys are just comparing Japon to their favorite sushi joint and not plain rating it.” “think the sushi here is wonderful.” “dont recommend this place, there are three other sushi restaurants right in the area: Azumi Sushi, Rickshaw Bambu (definitely recommend), Bambu Lounge, Sushi King, Tokyohana Grill & Sushi Bar,.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“Sushi is excellent - great creative menu (ask what is off the menu), good portions for a great price.” “Comparing to other similar restaurants, this one is priced about the same, has a decent selection of unique rolls, and has been consistently good.” “This is one of the few sushi places I have been to that actually has excellent sushi options for vegetarians!”
overall	100.0% positive	“Basically, we were extremely pleased be dinning at our favorite restaurant.”
return potential	100.0% positive	“It was so unprofessional and I would never go back or recommend the place to other people.” “Good food and good times, I'll definately go back.”
service	61.39999866485596% positive	“The manager, Jesse is very nice.” “However, when I think a restaurant has bad service then it really is THAT BAD, and this restaurant is one of those.” “Just 1 critic, I hope the sushimen are nice and friendly, too.” “Great service, great fish, great price.” “The service is always good and the food is always fantastic.” “The sushi is fresh, the servings are large, and the manager is very customer-oriented.” “My waitress was nice and took alot of time to help me.” “Love the cozy setting and service.” “The people have always been friendly.” “If you want superior customer service and good food, I would stay far away from this restaurant.” “The service staff was friendly, and the atmosphere is quite nice.” “The waitress was friendly and very attentive, but food was slow.” “Mediocre sushi, but it's ok because the service is really slow.” “It was so unprofessional and I would never go back or recommend the place to other people.” “We then proceeded to eat the less than mediocre sushi we had ordered with the server never comng to our table to ask if everything was ok.” “USED to be best happy hour prices, always bad service” “bad service, poor hygiene & smell, bad music, BAD management who dont answer e-mails about bad service, slow food even though we were he ONLY people there!” “The manager was not helpful and even took my complaint falsely thinking that I was complaining about the service.” “The service was incredibly slow.”
value	91.66999816894531% positive	“The sushi was fresh and perfect and the rolls were huge and also perfect.” “recommend this place for sushi-lovers who don't like to compromise on the quality or prices.” “Do yourself a favor - If you must eat here, don't pay full price.” “Sushi is excellent - great creative menu (ask what is off the menu), good portions for a great price.” “If you want good sushi (fresh, large portions, priced right) go to Ginza.” “Great service, great fish, great price.” “USED to be best happy hour prices, always bad service” “This is a nice, inexpensive sushi spot.” “Best sushi for the price in town!” “Great, creative sushi, good price, open late.” “good price and sushi (for the price you pay) so nice and quiet also and romantic.” “Good price for the quality and quantity.”
wait time	13.329999446868896% positive	“The service was incredibly slow.” “Mediocre sushi, but it's ok because the service is really slow.” “Service can be slow sometimes though.” “The waitress was friendly and very attentive, but food was slow.” “bad service, poor hygiene & smell, bad music, BAD management who dont answer e-mails about bad service, slow food even though we were he ONLY people there!”

10/08/10

I like this place:)

by blue eyed80

Altough I read some really bad reviews about this place I can say nothing more than good things...

I was there already 3 or 4 times and I always enjoy my time there. Place is huge and thanks to that factor tables are in a good distance from each other.

It's a quiet place - no loud music and I love that - I can talk to my friends without hurting my throat and I can hear them.

I can't say much about sushi cause I don't like this kind of food but my husband and my friends always say it's good so I believe them:)

I always come for a delicious chicken teriyaki and a dessert I really LOVE - chocolate mousse - it's so good!

We always had nice waitresses - no complaint about the staff.

Only "but" is that they count a tip to the bill - I would prefer to decide by myself how much I give. I simply don't like this manner of counting tip automatically (I always give tips).

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09/28/09

USED to be best happy hour prices, always bad service

by montrosetx

I've been going here for about five to six years. When I first began coming there was nothing to complain about. Great service, great fish, great price. Gradually though, I began to notice the quality of service go down. I have atleast twice waited for over an hour to get my food with maybe six to seven other tables all together in the restaurant. I've had orders forgotten and received my fried dishes cold at times. Needless to say, I kept going back for their prices. Happy hour ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. That was one of the ONLY things keeping me around. Well, I'm sorry to say they recently ditched this offer. HAPPY HOUR ALL THE TIME - NO MORE. They not only went back to their regular happy hours, they shortened it by 30 minutes a day. Can't get anything past 6:30 on most evenings.

Do yourself a favor - If you must eat here, don't pay full price. Try to manage making it for happy hour. That's all it seems worth for now.

Pros: consistent fish quality, worth it when it's happy hour
Cons: slow, unattentive service even when they're empty

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05/26/09

VERY IMPRESSED!

by TexREgal

I have been driving past this place for forEVER! The sign never grabbed me, Miyako and Sushi King are close by, and i had never heard about this place otherwise... The chef's combos are genius, flavors are fabulous, happy hour till late, can't go wrong... PLUS, they were playing smooth jazz the whole time, I lingered for a while and will have some excellent leftovers tomorrow! The sampler is great if you do appetizers...

Pros: Specials, Combos - so different, unique, and yummy!
Cons: Didn't know it was this good sooner

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05/15/09

terrible restaurant

by daisylee

i worked at cafejapon for less than 2 weeks as a server. they prepare salad with fingers. they just grab everything without gloves or tools. as well as the miso/daily soup... it's disgusting. oh, they grab(with fingers) lemon and put it into water and iced tea , too. the boss and manager(female) are the meanest ppl i've ever worked for.

Pros: no
Cons: no sanitation

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05/03/09

THE WORST SUSHI - EVER EVER!!!

by PhoenixStarr

bad service, poor hygiene & smell, bad music, BAD management who dont answer e-mails about bad service, slow food even though we were he ONLY people there!

came her second time to see if they were just having a bad day before - NEVER AGAIN. and i NEVER complain!

Cafe Japon Restaurant

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Editor's Tips

10/08/10

I like this place:)

by blue eyed80

09/28/09

USED to be best happy hour prices, always bad service

by montrosetx

05/26/09

VERY IMPRESSED!

by TexREgal

05/15/09

terrible restaurant

by daisylee

05/03/09

THE WORST SUSHI - EVER EVER!!!

by PhoenixStarr

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