This is by far the finest sushi in riverside / Avondale. I have one word for you: tatami mats! Sure, I haven't tried any of the other places but this is soo good. Actually, I went to sushi cafe one time but only had rice since it was Wednesday and every foodie knows fresh fish arrives on Thursdays. I sincerely recommend sake house.
(5)
Quy M.
This place is awesome, the only place I go for good Japanese food and sushi. Highly recommended.
(5)
DJ S.
Sushi is my go-to food. I love it! Sake House continues to deliver quality sushi, great service, and reasonable prices. Definitely superior to any other sushi joint in the area.
(5)
Maureen D.
This is one of the few restaurants nearby the hotels on the west side of the river in Jacksonville. There were not many customers there when my party of 8 arrived, so we were seated right away. Several ordered sushi/sashimi, several hot dishes. All were served promptly and correctly. Staff was attentive and polite.
(3)
David B.
You should eat here now. They make the best sushi here. Ha. Haiku, bitches
(5)
Maryagnes J.
What a pleasant little surprise. This restaurant is on a side street and has a small front. But it's big on flavor inside. The service was excellent. I didn't want to eat a lot, so I got the Tuna Tataki (which was an extremely generous portion), Edamame, and a half portion of Softshell Crab rolls...very delicious. Hubby got the Sushi Regular (8 pieces) and gave it high marks. Highly recommendable restaurant!
(5)
Heather H.
We got take out from here... So maybe I need to try it again in house. We got three of the specialty sushi rolls. I love sushi. Like stuff my face with sushi love. But I didn't finish this. It had a weird flavor in each roll and just didn't taste fresh. We also got the chicken Katsu. It was like a frozen breaded chicken breast. The hibachi vegetables and fried rice were alright, nothing special. We started with the dumplings and those were alright too. Overall it was mediocre at best and I was disappointed, especially since the reviews built it up so much. Still looking for a great sushi spot in jax. I'll have to try this again sometime but unfortunately it's not it for now.
(3)
Charles S.
Sake House is a pretty average sushi restaurant in my opinion. Sushi is priced lower than other sushi places in the area, and it shows in the size and presentation of the rolls. I usually come here to eat a lot of Sushi. There are other better sushi options in the area in my opinion.
(3)
Steve T.
Decent. If I was back in my native San Jose, CA or Los Angeles, CA, this place would be a 2-star. The rolls are reasonably fresh and tasty, but nothing to rave about. If someone asked for good sushi, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place, but I wouldn't be super excited about it either. The sashimi was clean, and it tasted pretty good, but I would have really preferred it to be served colder, or on a bed of ice. Overall, like the other reviewers said: not fantastic, but not bad either. I haven't gotten around Jax enough yet to know if there's any other better games in town.
(3)
Caitlyn F.
In a town with dozens and dozens of options for sushi, we are pretty picky when it comes to where we choose to pick up our chopsticks. We stopped in to Sake House before catching a movie at Sun-Ray for a date night, and ended up being really glad that we did. The atmosphere is low-key and leans more toward the traditional side than the modern when it comes to decor. The service was fantastic from the time we walked through the door; our waitress was patient with us and gave plenty of recommendations for sake, appetizers and rolls. We started with the beef tataki; with fresh, very thinly sliced slivers of beef in a light, sweet teriyaki sauce. Then came the tower of rolls; we had trouble deciding between all the great options and were pretty hungry so we ended up ordering four. Our choices were the Jimmy Smith, the Red Dragon, the Godzilla and the Manhattan roll. If you're a sushi purist and don't like a lot of toppings or sauces on your sushi, this is not best option. However, we enjoyed the rolls and didn't think they were too "overdressed" as you could still taste the freshness of the fish and additional ingredients. The prices were very reasonable ($8-$10 a roll) and the rolls were pretty large and not skimping on any ingredients. We'll definitely be back the next time we are in Five Points.
(4)
Mary B.
Where is the button for 20 stars? I have loved Sake House since I was a young teenager trying to find myself in five points. Their sushi is top notch. They take pride in the details and the plate comes out looking gorgeous! Make sure to get their soup because it is savory and satisfying- just the right combination of saltiness! The first time you check in with yelp you get a free appetizer- good deal!
(5)
Leah A.
Very nice sushi restaurant located in Five Points. My bf took me here for my birthday dinner because we wanted to try something other than our regular sushi spot in Avondale. Based on other reviews, we decided to go for the Samurai, Annie and Dragon rolls. The bf, who prefers to eat sashimi because he's a native Californian and somewhat of a sushi snob, ordered several pieces of the sushi a la carte but then shared my rolls with me. We were seated in a booth without wait on a Thursday night around 6pm in the backroom. The place was clean and nicely decorated. Our table was right next to the sushi bar so we got to salivate while we saw other orders coming out. The waitress gave us a complimentary appetizer of jalapeno crab sticks lightly fried tempura-style. A fabulous surprise and a sweet gesture! Then, they quickly brought us our soups which were also excellent. I had the clear soup and he had the miso. It was a nice starter just to get our appetites wet. Next, came our rolls and sushi. The presentation was very festive and the rolls were generous and tasty served with plenty of ginger and smiles! We devoured it all! At the end of our dinner, they brought out a small bowl of fresh cut watermelon to share. Overall, we really enjoyed our experience here. The food was yummy and the atmosphere--very nice and spacious. The staff here is friendly and accommodating and our orders came out without too much wait. It was a nice change and for about $40, we would definitely come back here again. :)
(4)
Sd M.
Amazing food, kind staff. The sheshimi is amazing and so fresh. I love the out of control sushi roll. The taste is awesome.
(5)
Susan S.
The decor here is really nice, we were a large group, and put in the back room so we had alot of space to spread out and laugh too loud! We ordered drinks and were brought out a complimentary order of the jalepeno with crab and i think cream cheese..it was crunchy and spicy and amazing.. I have one friend that doesnt eat any seafood, and she orders chicken tempura with lo mein..all the rest of us ordered sushi, and one of us (me..sigh) ordered enough to eat another full meal the next day for lunch! The portions were good, the food was fresh and presented really well and the service was great.. One in our group gave in to peer pressure and ordered a single piece of octopus..just to see what it was going to be like..well because we are a group of goofballs, and the waitress pronounced it with an R, as in octorpus, we had her say it a few times over ..and we laughed pretty hard afterwards..the "octorpus" came and my friend wasnt able to even fully bite into it without gagging.. I really liked all the food i tried, as well as the "super dry" beer, which i asked the server how it was and he said ..."its very dry" I would go here again, as its location is great and there wasnt a single disappointment!
(4)
Guillermo P.
Just horrible! They got one star because the house soup was good. The sushi was dried and the rolls had no favors. The wasabi look like a dried out play-doh even though it taste it ok. The service and the atmosphere was ok but if you want sushi get out of Jacksonville.
(1)
Allie P.
Finally I can give a great restaurant review... Located in the "trying too hard to be a Boheme hipster" and "why the hell is it historic again?" Historic 5 Points in Jacksonville, Sake House is a gem. Walking distance from interesting shops, Cummer Museum and parks for hobo watching, Sake House is a lovely place to grab a cultural (as in exotic) bite to eat. Atmosphere is quaint with a Chinese lullaby CD that plays on a loop. Servers are pleasant. Bathrooms are decent. Food presentation is great, and I'm talkin' about the f*ckin' sushi. Take all the pictures you want because it'll be gone in seconds. My 'rents & I usually order the Crazy, JB, & New York rolls. Seriously, there's a sh*t-ton of a selection. There's also this jalapeno tempura appetizer thing, jalapeno keni, I think it's called and it's divine. On a good pay-day, I would usually get a Hibachi grilled something--chicken, beef, shrimp.. Comes with a side salad and Miso soup. Also ask for extra shrimp sauce because you can use that on EVERYTHING. The tempura side orders are delish too. Anyways, I'll give them a 5 since I'm feeling generous. Oh and they've given us freebies, so good karma on them I guess.
(5)
Timothy B.
With a wide selection of delicious sushi, as well as appetizers and hibachi, Sake House is a regular stop for me. The prices are fair, the portions are generous, and the staff is very friendly and attentive.
(4)
Jasmine J.
The 2nd best sushi placee in jacksonville all of their sushi is pretty good the shrimp hibachi is also good . its a very nice relaxing place if you want to sit down and eat. I come here all the time.
(5)
Samantha K.
After living in riverside for over a year, I finally made my way into sake house and I'm glad that I did. Within my first visit, I came back an additional two times if that tells you anything. I do want to point out though that my review is based on take out experiences only. Regarding the sushi, I found it to be delicious and taste very fresh. They also have a long list of special rolls if you're into them like I am. The price was a little more than I am used to paying, but honestly I don't mind. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I also noticed, which is very neat, is that they have a separate section where you can sit on the floor to enjoy you're meal when dining in. Very authentic (I think?). Anyways, it's pretty cool either way. This is my new go to spot for sushi in riverside. Great atmosphere and food.
(5)
Alex G.
Very clean, food is good! Sushi fresh and tasty! Service is vey nice. Better then most sushi places in town
(5)
Hannah M.
Very good, pretty expensive for the portion size, but quality is excellent. If you don't feel you need to leave a restaurant completely miserably stuffed(like most people do) then this is an excellent choice. Frankly we left very satisfied, but we just don't plan to eat at these prices all of the time.
(4)
Erin K.
Overall a good experience. The staff are hospitable and the food was good. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Caron S.
The atmosphere is what gives Sake House that fourth star for me, and the sushi is pretty good. Not amazing by any standards but tasty. There's better sushi in Jacksonville (I'm looking at you Crazy Sushi, Yashi Sushi, Wasabi & Fuji on Roosevelt) but the clean interior, wooden floors -- and ceiling -- and glowing yellow lighting really add to the experience. The tempura was okay. The presentation of the sushi was nice and overall taste is good. Our server was friendly and pleasant.
(4)
Pete K.
I haven't tried the sushi, but the terriaki chicken was rough. Im taking about major farts coming out afterwards for hours. The chicken looked like a frozen slab of mystery and I the whole thing was submerged in a lake of "sauce". My friend liked the sushi and said to be nice on the review, which is why I still gave this place 3 stars.
(3)
Mary H.
My favorite sushi in Jacksonville. The food is always good, the staff are always nice, & I like the ambiance.
(5)
Rich T.
I was walking with a friend through the Five Points area of Riverside looking for some place interesting to go when we spotted The Sake House and detoured that way. I had not entertained the idea of sushi in a while, but as we entered the brightly lit dining room, I made a visual sweep of the sushi bar and its contents. It looked rather average in all capacities to me, so I kept on walking into the second dining room. It's important to me when I enter a restaurant to see who might be performing the magic on my potential plate. I think of it as adding an interview to the atmosphere that satisfies my mind and my culinary experience. As a reference, I believe sushi bars are particularly strong in the raw blend of artistic expression and scientific precision that a chef must display and that even the most benign thing on the menu, such as a "California Roll", should be both enticing and exciting with effort applied. There were some telling signs of what I was getting myself into when I saw #2 yellow pencils with check sheets on the table, next to the main selling point of the venue: the menu. Pencils mean that one can order a lot without seeing it, as if to provide a check list to the chef. It devalues the romance of ordering process to me. I like to gently push waitresses and sushi chefs (just a little) with the subtle hand gestures to imitating the creation of sushi. It tells them that I know what I am talking about, but it also conveys my passion to the process. When our orders arrived, I inspected the stunning array of sashimi of the "Deluxe" line that I had ordered. It's arrangement in a hierarchy of a salad mountain was interesting, but it wasn't emanating in Crayola-color. I could plainly make out the different fish varieties, but....the first taste did nothing for me and it did everything for me: it had been frozen. The next taste of something different was the same: no life to the fish, it had been frozen too. I went through the platter without improvement. While dissatisfied with what I had just gone through, my friend generously offered some of her plate of grilled meat and vegetables. It was overly salty, which raised another flag to me that the salt was covering up something, but i decided rather than dissect the food anymore, that it was time to go. As we left the Japanese styled venue, my friend reminded me that I might have been too harsh in my criticism of the place and that i couldn't compare here to some of the illustrious places i might have been in New York, Miami, or New Orleans. I disagreed as I know there are plenty of restaurants here in Jacksonville, FL that are performing a masterful work on every plate to earn their bread and butter as good as anywhere in the USA. In my opinion, The Sake House isn't one of them.
(2)
Shantelle P.
Great place for a date night. The servers are friendly. The food was delicious. I would suggest trying the crunch sushi. It is a fried sushi roll with cream cheese, salmon, and scallions drizzled with shrimp sauce. However, I was not all that thrilled with the fried rice. I would definitely go back again.
(4)
Brad P.
I came here with a friend after Hawker's was too packed, and glad I did. We both enjoyed some of their beers, as well as the hot and cold sake. All were very tasty. If you've never tried cold sake before, definitely do so, but make sure you get some of the better stuff. I can't remember exactly which cold sake we ended up with, as we ordered the Nagasake and, because they were out of it, tried to give us the Nagasake plum wine....ewwwww. When we told them there's no way we're drinking that, they substituted it for a nice cold sake. I had the Five Points roll and the Spicy Girls roll, neither of which were spicy. They were decent enough, but for the first time ever, I've had to resort to dipping them in soy/wasabi sauce to get some more flavor out of them. My buddy ordered a roll, as well as a bunch of sashimi (raw fish.) It was awesome! So much of it was tender, like butter, I could have eaten the whole thing. I'm glad to say I finally tried octopus, but I definitely didn't enjoy the texture of it. So, get the rolls if you're a lover of them, but you're missing out if you don't order the sashimi.
(4)
Josey W.
5 Stars because it is reasonably priced. We measure sushi restaurants by their Dragon Roll. This one is very good. My only suggestion if you are reading this Sake House is to put a little more creativity into it. It should be shaped like a dragon, not eight pieces neatly packed together. We had the Steak Hibachi also and it was well done and attractively presented. Two large beers, Dragon roll, Two steak dinners +tip $60. I'm happy. Bonus...when you are sitting inside it looks like there is a giant eagle attacking across the street.
(5)
Jim L.
I like this sake house restaurant too. I had the tuna rolls and salmon with cream cheese roll awesome
(5)
Remee A.
This place is beautiful and clean. The service is quick. The food is absolutely beautiful, it takes sushi to another level. One of the best places that I have had sushi in Jacksonville.
(5)
Michael C.
Pleased with the miso soup and salad(I truly forgot what I had as my main dish, which is never, ever a good thing). Service and pricing was ok. Location is excellent.
(3)
Ashley J.
Legitimately one of my favorite restaurants. Their sushi is delicious and fresh, the salad is amazing, the soup is good, even their hibachi is great. I literally haven't tried anything here that I don't like. Service is consistent and the staff is friendly. I LOVE THIS PLACE.
(5)
Katie C.
Sake House does not disappoint! I stopped here to meet some friends after leaving the Jags game Friday night. I was beyond starving and they had been seated for a while, so I immediately flagged our server down. I ordered a hot sake and a Dragon Roll, which is my go-to when I'm too hungry to think about it! It arrived within ten minutes looking delish; nice and crunchy with cool, green avocado on top. I don't remember much after that except feeling warm and fuzzy as I popped scrumptious pieces in my mouth and sipped sake. Yum! Our server was pleasant and efficient throughout the meal, and the atmosphere was cool with the option to sit in in-floor, wooden booths. I left Sake House feeling full, happy and ready to hit the town!
(4)
Lindsay H.
Good quality, especially for price. Always fresh. Never had a bad experience. Eaten here and the San Marco location several, several times. Always been happy :) Samurai roll is the best!
(5)
Amer A.
Fine sushi spot in the Five Points area. The food is allright. The ratio of fish to rice is on the weak side. The service was friendly. Split seating areas with a busy section on the Lomax St. side and quite (?overflow area) on the Margaret St. side with traditional Japanese seating.
(3)
Jan J.
First visit for the family and I. The decor was beautiful, as was the food. We had Hibachi all around. The wife had chicken, our oldest son had the steak, our daughter had the shrimp, and I had the"Any 2 items" which was chicken and steak. The baby shared from everybody else's plate since he doesn't eat much. The sake was great. The only negative is that the portions were too small. At Akaya Sushi & Grill, they serve good sized portions. So I hope they'll see this and take note. Otherwise, excellent job.
(4)
Win R.
Too much fish on display, likely dated. Deluxe sushi tray was bland and tasteless...w/dry rice. I'll not return here!
(2)
Julie A.
Yes, I am on a sushi kick lately. As for Sake House, this is possibly the most creative sushi I've ever had. Their Annie Roll is the best! Tempura shrimp, cucumber, cream cheese, wrapped in seaweed and rice and topped with scallions and roasted almonds -- ALMONDS!?? Yes, almonds. This is my new favorite sushi flavor. Lol. I'll be back. They got me with the bait. Drat! Anyhow, my ex's girl would appreciate it here. They make their rolls tightly wrapped and extra delicious. The dynamite roll was superb. Just the right amount of fried ratio to hot spicy flavor. No, my mouth wasn't burning, but the spice was mighty tasty -- just the way I like it. Prices were similar to Crazy Sushi (another favorite of mine). One of my rolls was $7, the other was $6. I overheard some girls eating nearby saying that their teriyaki sauce was sweet. Oooh. Sounds interesting. I'm coming back for that sauce! Quit your strange and persuasive ways, Sake House! Lol.
(5)
C O.
No complaints. Everything tasted delicious. Would definitely go again.
(5)
Hilary L.
Sake House, this location, is the first Sushi place in Jacksonville that I truly really enjoyed. Jacksonville isn't know for their sushi, oddly since they are such a coastal town, but this place knows how to do sushi right. They have a nice atmosphere, I enjoy the seating areas with the drop seating on the wooden paneling and the outdoor seating is also nice. They have a nice selection of sakes and Japanese beers, as well as a pretty extensive menu. My favorite items are the Mexican roll [tomato, fried grouper, jalapenos... yum!] and the Dynamite roll [deep fried roll with salmon, crab and asparagus and spicy sauce], but pretty much anything you order is going to be tasty! If you feel adventurous, try the Salmon Roe appetizer. If you don't feel adventurous, the Gyoza and the Edamame are both delicious. And try the house sake. It's great! I have had a bad experience at the other location regarding an error in billing [got billed way more than I was supposed to, as in $175 more, and it took a few hours to correct], but the waitress was new and I will leave it at that. Good sushi and nice restaurant, definitely worth checking out!
(4)
Tom I.
Good quality sushi...seriously. Roles were tad small and need more innovation. Black dragon roll wasn't exactly the best. Service was fast and friendly. Outside seating is perfect since the area is so deserted at night and no traffic. My clients and I had great time ordering sushi and sake all night. service was fast and friendly, highly recommended.
(5)
R. G.
I'm really surprised by the other reviews of this place as I can't imagine anyone thinking this is great sushi. It's not terrible...just slightly below average. Now I think it is important to consider the reviewers past experience with sushi and I will say that I've spent most of my life eating sushi on the West coast. I guess if you've mostly had sushi in Jacksonville, this place might rate higher than below average (probably more like 3.5 stars for the Jacksonville area). For what it is worth, here's my opinion of the place. Pros: -good atmosphere -reasonable prices -some outdoor seating -located in great, walkable neighborhood Cons: -few roll options involving raw sushi -rolls appeared to be haphazardly prepared (i.e., rolls weren't rolled tightly and fell apart easily). -my rolls (Tokyo, Crazy Tuna & House roll) were somewhat bland and didn't taste like they were made with fresh seafood (more like several days old, frozen and thawed) -the waitress came to our table to deliver our menus while speaking on a cell phone. I'm sure not all their staff do things like this, but I thought it was unprofessional. Bottom line: if you have to eat sushi in Jacksonville, this place is about average and you could probably do a little better going someplace else. If you are just in town visiting, skip sushi altogether and get some BBQ.
(2)
Janel S.
I went to Sake House when visiting my sister in Jacksonville, because I read several positive reviews. I should've paid more attention to the negative ones. It wasn't the worst sushi I've ever had, but it's certainly not saying much about the kind of sushi you can get in Jacksonville if people think this is the best. Everything about the place was just sort of average. Our waiter was very nice, but inexperienced. This wasn't really a problem except when we had a question about the sake, and he wasn't able to answer. There were several other employees there, and we were the only customers at that point, so it would've been nice if one of them could've answered our question instead of just sitting around. He also forgot about one of the dishes we ordered, and remembered only after bringing out the rest of our meal, at which point we didn't want to wait any longer for a dish that was supposed to be an appetizer. The sushi was just ok. As others have said, the rolls were quite small, and nothing particularly special for their prices. The lack of raw fish options was also something I've never seen before. Nothing about the food wowed me.. it wasn't especially fresh, or innovative, or well put together. If you're looking for a great sushi experience, you won't find it at Sake House. But if you're just looking to satisfy a craving, and want a roll or two at lunch, you could do worse.
(2)
Jibreel M.
Sake House serves reasonably delicious sushi from an ideal location right in the middle of Five Points. A front dining space leads to a spacious back room that has more tables along with an area of booths sunken into the floor (to eat at these means removing your shoes - awesome!), then an outdoor patio that overlooks Margaret Street. They have a comprehensive menu and fine service. The quality here is on par with Sushi Cafe down the street, it's just a matter of personal taste when deciding where to satisfy a sushi urge. I prefer Saki House, with it's cool interior and location in the points to a mini-mall location facing a Starbucks.
(3)
Kevin C.
The food there is ok. Nothing special
(2)
Jodi C.
Sake House is in the 'hood, so this is one of my sushi hangouts when I need to get my sushi on. We have always had good service there and enjoy their specialty sushi rolls. W3 - the Sunshine roll is really good - it's a combo of avocado, tuna, eel sauce and a light coating of tempura. Decent prices make this a great every day place for sushi.
(4)
Natalie L.
I looked on yelp to find the place and the doorman at my hotel also recommended it. It was a short walk (no cab necessary...yea!). I was seated at a small table and was given the menu. It was unclear who was actually my server, but I never needed for anything...a big plus. I ordered two small rolls and a special roll (St Johns Center Roll). I was very pleased with the special roll and I'm glad I noticed the small tent on the table because it wasn't listed on the paper to submit your order either. All in all 5 stars for food, and three for organization and service so I went with a four. I would recommend if you are looking for your sushi fix!
(4)
Katherine M.
I'm not going to pretend I'm any expert at sushi but I've tried others sushi places in Jacksonville and I just keep coming back to Sake House. The atmosphere is nice and relaxing, and they recently updated the seating area in the sushi bar room so it's even cozier than before. Their specialty rolls are amazing and i'm a big fan of the annie and crunch roll which are on the cheaper side but still delicious. Not sure about the habachi. I never order that stuff anymore because it's just all the same to me, but this is my go to place for sushi and it has been for years now.
(5)
Kelly C.
Not a bad little place. Been here a couple of times and they're pretty consistent in their food and service. The price is reasonable and their sushi is pretty decent. It's not amazing so don't expect something straight out of Tsukiji! I can't compare it to other places around here as I haven't been to any other sushi places but for Jax, this is probably about the best you'll get.
(4)
Andy L.
Decent... not fantastic, but not bad.... just OK. Kind of a midway between 2 stars and 3 stars. The lunch specials are not that much of a deal, so I'd just get a regular roll and you'll probably be happier about your lunch.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Kamish H.
This is by far the finest sushi in riverside / Avondale. I have one word for you: tatami mats! Sure, I haven't tried any of the other places but this is soo good. Actually, I went to sushi cafe one time but only had rice since it was Wednesday and every foodie knows fresh fish arrives on Thursdays. I sincerely recommend sake house.
(5)Quy M.
This place is awesome, the only place I go for good Japanese food and sushi. Highly recommended.
(5)DJ S.
Sushi is my go-to food. I love it! Sake House continues to deliver quality sushi, great service, and reasonable prices. Definitely superior to any other sushi joint in the area.
(5)Maureen D.
This is one of the few restaurants nearby the hotels on the west side of the river in Jacksonville. There were not many customers there when my party of 8 arrived, so we were seated right away. Several ordered sushi/sashimi, several hot dishes. All were served promptly and correctly. Staff was attentive and polite.
(3)David B.
You should eat here now. They make the best sushi here. Ha. Haiku, bitches
(5)Maryagnes J.
What a pleasant little surprise. This restaurant is on a side street and has a small front. But it's big on flavor inside. The service was excellent. I didn't want to eat a lot, so I got the Tuna Tataki (which was an extremely generous portion), Edamame, and a half portion of Softshell Crab rolls...very delicious. Hubby got the Sushi Regular (8 pieces) and gave it high marks. Highly recommendable restaurant!
(5)Heather H.
We got take out from here... So maybe I need to try it again in house. We got three of the specialty sushi rolls. I love sushi. Like stuff my face with sushi love. But I didn't finish this. It had a weird flavor in each roll and just didn't taste fresh. We also got the chicken Katsu. It was like a frozen breaded chicken breast. The hibachi vegetables and fried rice were alright, nothing special. We started with the dumplings and those were alright too. Overall it was mediocre at best and I was disappointed, especially since the reviews built it up so much. Still looking for a great sushi spot in jax. I'll have to try this again sometime but unfortunately it's not it for now.
(3)Charles S.
Sake House is a pretty average sushi restaurant in my opinion. Sushi is priced lower than other sushi places in the area, and it shows in the size and presentation of the rolls. I usually come here to eat a lot of Sushi. There are other better sushi options in the area in my opinion.
(3)Steve T.
Decent. If I was back in my native San Jose, CA or Los Angeles, CA, this place would be a 2-star. The rolls are reasonably fresh and tasty, but nothing to rave about. If someone asked for good sushi, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place, but I wouldn't be super excited about it either. The sashimi was clean, and it tasted pretty good, but I would have really preferred it to be served colder, or on a bed of ice. Overall, like the other reviewers said: not fantastic, but not bad either. I haven't gotten around Jax enough yet to know if there's any other better games in town.
(3)Caitlyn F.
In a town with dozens and dozens of options for sushi, we are pretty picky when it comes to where we choose to pick up our chopsticks. We stopped in to Sake House before catching a movie at Sun-Ray for a date night, and ended up being really glad that we did. The atmosphere is low-key and leans more toward the traditional side than the modern when it comes to decor. The service was fantastic from the time we walked through the door; our waitress was patient with us and gave plenty of recommendations for sake, appetizers and rolls. We started with the beef tataki; with fresh, very thinly sliced slivers of beef in a light, sweet teriyaki sauce. Then came the tower of rolls; we had trouble deciding between all the great options and were pretty hungry so we ended up ordering four. Our choices were the Jimmy Smith, the Red Dragon, the Godzilla and the Manhattan roll. If you're a sushi purist and don't like a lot of toppings or sauces on your sushi, this is not best option. However, we enjoyed the rolls and didn't think they were too "overdressed" as you could still taste the freshness of the fish and additional ingredients. The prices were very reasonable ($8-$10 a roll) and the rolls were pretty large and not skimping on any ingredients. We'll definitely be back the next time we are in Five Points.
(4)Mary B.
Where is the button for 20 stars? I have loved Sake House since I was a young teenager trying to find myself in five points. Their sushi is top notch. They take pride in the details and the plate comes out looking gorgeous! Make sure to get their soup because it is savory and satisfying- just the right combination of saltiness! The first time you check in with yelp you get a free appetizer- good deal!
(5)Leah A.
Very nice sushi restaurant located in Five Points. My bf took me here for my birthday dinner because we wanted to try something other than our regular sushi spot in Avondale. Based on other reviews, we decided to go for the Samurai, Annie and Dragon rolls. The bf, who prefers to eat sashimi because he's a native Californian and somewhat of a sushi snob, ordered several pieces of the sushi a la carte but then shared my rolls with me. We were seated in a booth without wait on a Thursday night around 6pm in the backroom. The place was clean and nicely decorated. Our table was right next to the sushi bar so we got to salivate while we saw other orders coming out. The waitress gave us a complimentary appetizer of jalapeno crab sticks lightly fried tempura-style. A fabulous surprise and a sweet gesture! Then, they quickly brought us our soups which were also excellent. I had the clear soup and he had the miso. It was a nice starter just to get our appetites wet. Next, came our rolls and sushi. The presentation was very festive and the rolls were generous and tasty served with plenty of ginger and smiles! We devoured it all! At the end of our dinner, they brought out a small bowl of fresh cut watermelon to share. Overall, we really enjoyed our experience here. The food was yummy and the atmosphere--very nice and spacious. The staff here is friendly and accommodating and our orders came out without too much wait. It was a nice change and for about $40, we would definitely come back here again. :)
(4)Sd M.
Amazing food, kind staff. The sheshimi is amazing and so fresh. I love the out of control sushi roll. The taste is awesome.
(5)Susan S.
The decor here is really nice, we were a large group, and put in the back room so we had alot of space to spread out and laugh too loud! We ordered drinks and were brought out a complimentary order of the jalepeno with crab and i think cream cheese..it was crunchy and spicy and amazing.. I have one friend that doesnt eat any seafood, and she orders chicken tempura with lo mein..all the rest of us ordered sushi, and one of us (me..sigh) ordered enough to eat another full meal the next day for lunch! The portions were good, the food was fresh and presented really well and the service was great.. One in our group gave in to peer pressure and ordered a single piece of octopus..just to see what it was going to be like..well because we are a group of goofballs, and the waitress pronounced it with an R, as in octorpus, we had her say it a few times over ..and we laughed pretty hard afterwards..the "octorpus" came and my friend wasnt able to even fully bite into it without gagging.. I really liked all the food i tried, as well as the "super dry" beer, which i asked the server how it was and he said ..."its very dry" I would go here again, as its location is great and there wasnt a single disappointment!
(4)Guillermo P.
Just horrible! They got one star because the house soup was good. The sushi was dried and the rolls had no favors. The wasabi look like a dried out play-doh even though it taste it ok. The service and the atmosphere was ok but if you want sushi get out of Jacksonville.
(1)Allie P.
Finally I can give a great restaurant review... Located in the "trying too hard to be a Boheme hipster" and "why the hell is it historic again?" Historic 5 Points in Jacksonville, Sake House is a gem. Walking distance from interesting shops, Cummer Museum and parks for hobo watching, Sake House is a lovely place to grab a cultural (as in exotic) bite to eat. Atmosphere is quaint with a Chinese lullaby CD that plays on a loop. Servers are pleasant. Bathrooms are decent. Food presentation is great, and I'm talkin' about the f*ckin' sushi. Take all the pictures you want because it'll be gone in seconds. My 'rents & I usually order the Crazy, JB, & New York rolls. Seriously, there's a sh*t-ton of a selection. There's also this jalapeno tempura appetizer thing, jalapeno keni, I think it's called and it's divine. On a good pay-day, I would usually get a Hibachi grilled something--chicken, beef, shrimp.. Comes with a side salad and Miso soup. Also ask for extra shrimp sauce because you can use that on EVERYTHING. The tempura side orders are delish too. Anyways, I'll give them a 5 since I'm feeling generous. Oh and they've given us freebies, so good karma on them I guess.
(5)Timothy B.
With a wide selection of delicious sushi, as well as appetizers and hibachi, Sake House is a regular stop for me. The prices are fair, the portions are generous, and the staff is very friendly and attentive.
(4)Jasmine J.
The 2nd best sushi placee in jacksonville all of their sushi is pretty good the shrimp hibachi is also good . its a very nice relaxing place if you want to sit down and eat. I come here all the time.
(5)Samantha K.
After living in riverside for over a year, I finally made my way into sake house and I'm glad that I did. Within my first visit, I came back an additional two times if that tells you anything. I do want to point out though that my review is based on take out experiences only. Regarding the sushi, I found it to be delicious and taste very fresh. They also have a long list of special rolls if you're into them like I am. The price was a little more than I am used to paying, but honestly I don't mind. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I also noticed, which is very neat, is that they have a separate section where you can sit on the floor to enjoy you're meal when dining in. Very authentic (I think?). Anyways, it's pretty cool either way. This is my new go to spot for sushi in riverside. Great atmosphere and food.
(5)Alex G.
Very clean, food is good! Sushi fresh and tasty! Service is vey nice. Better then most sushi places in town
(5)Hannah M.
Very good, pretty expensive for the portion size, but quality is excellent. If you don't feel you need to leave a restaurant completely miserably stuffed(like most people do) then this is an excellent choice. Frankly we left very satisfied, but we just don't plan to eat at these prices all of the time.
(4)Erin K.
Overall a good experience. The staff are hospitable and the food was good. I will definitely be back.
(4)Caron S.
The atmosphere is what gives Sake House that fourth star for me, and the sushi is pretty good. Not amazing by any standards but tasty. There's better sushi in Jacksonville (I'm looking at you Crazy Sushi, Yashi Sushi, Wasabi & Fuji on Roosevelt) but the clean interior, wooden floors -- and ceiling -- and glowing yellow lighting really add to the experience. The tempura was okay. The presentation of the sushi was nice and overall taste is good. Our server was friendly and pleasant.
(4)Pete K.
I haven't tried the sushi, but the terriaki chicken was rough. Im taking about major farts coming out afterwards for hours. The chicken looked like a frozen slab of mystery and I the whole thing was submerged in a lake of "sauce". My friend liked the sushi and said to be nice on the review, which is why I still gave this place 3 stars.
(3)Mary H.
My favorite sushi in Jacksonville. The food is always good, the staff are always nice, & I like the ambiance.
(5)Rich T.
I was walking with a friend through the Five Points area of Riverside looking for some place interesting to go when we spotted The Sake House and detoured that way. I had not entertained the idea of sushi in a while, but as we entered the brightly lit dining room, I made a visual sweep of the sushi bar and its contents. It looked rather average in all capacities to me, so I kept on walking into the second dining room. It's important to me when I enter a restaurant to see who might be performing the magic on my potential plate. I think of it as adding an interview to the atmosphere that satisfies my mind and my culinary experience. As a reference, I believe sushi bars are particularly strong in the raw blend of artistic expression and scientific precision that a chef must display and that even the most benign thing on the menu, such as a "California Roll", should be both enticing and exciting with effort applied. There were some telling signs of what I was getting myself into when I saw #2 yellow pencils with check sheets on the table, next to the main selling point of the venue: the menu. Pencils mean that one can order a lot without seeing it, as if to provide a check list to the chef. It devalues the romance of ordering process to me. I like to gently push waitresses and sushi chefs (just a little) with the subtle hand gestures to imitating the creation of sushi. It tells them that I know what I am talking about, but it also conveys my passion to the process. When our orders arrived, I inspected the stunning array of sashimi of the "Deluxe" line that I had ordered. It's arrangement in a hierarchy of a salad mountain was interesting, but it wasn't emanating in Crayola-color. I could plainly make out the different fish varieties, but....the first taste did nothing for me and it did everything for me: it had been frozen. The next taste of something different was the same: no life to the fish, it had been frozen too. I went through the platter without improvement. While dissatisfied with what I had just gone through, my friend generously offered some of her plate of grilled meat and vegetables. It was overly salty, which raised another flag to me that the salt was covering up something, but i decided rather than dissect the food anymore, that it was time to go. As we left the Japanese styled venue, my friend reminded me that I might have been too harsh in my criticism of the place and that i couldn't compare here to some of the illustrious places i might have been in New York, Miami, or New Orleans. I disagreed as I know there are plenty of restaurants here in Jacksonville, FL that are performing a masterful work on every plate to earn their bread and butter as good as anywhere in the USA. In my opinion, The Sake House isn't one of them.
(2)Shantelle P.
Great place for a date night. The servers are friendly. The food was delicious. I would suggest trying the crunch sushi. It is a fried sushi roll with cream cheese, salmon, and scallions drizzled with shrimp sauce. However, I was not all that thrilled with the fried rice. I would definitely go back again.
(4)Brad P.
I came here with a friend after Hawker's was too packed, and glad I did. We both enjoyed some of their beers, as well as the hot and cold sake. All were very tasty. If you've never tried cold sake before, definitely do so, but make sure you get some of the better stuff. I can't remember exactly which cold sake we ended up with, as we ordered the Nagasake and, because they were out of it, tried to give us the Nagasake plum wine....ewwwww. When we told them there's no way we're drinking that, they substituted it for a nice cold sake. I had the Five Points roll and the Spicy Girls roll, neither of which were spicy. They were decent enough, but for the first time ever, I've had to resort to dipping them in soy/wasabi sauce to get some more flavor out of them. My buddy ordered a roll, as well as a bunch of sashimi (raw fish.) It was awesome! So much of it was tender, like butter, I could have eaten the whole thing. I'm glad to say I finally tried octopus, but I definitely didn't enjoy the texture of it. So, get the rolls if you're a lover of them, but you're missing out if you don't order the sashimi.
(4)Josey W.
5 Stars because it is reasonably priced. We measure sushi restaurants by their Dragon Roll. This one is very good. My only suggestion if you are reading this Sake House is to put a little more creativity into it. It should be shaped like a dragon, not eight pieces neatly packed together. We had the Steak Hibachi also and it was well done and attractively presented. Two large beers, Dragon roll, Two steak dinners +tip $60. I'm happy. Bonus...when you are sitting inside it looks like there is a giant eagle attacking across the street.
(5)Jim L.
I like this sake house restaurant too. I had the tuna rolls and salmon with cream cheese roll awesome
(5)Remee A.
This place is beautiful and clean. The service is quick. The food is absolutely beautiful, it takes sushi to another level. One of the best places that I have had sushi in Jacksonville.
(5)Michael C.
Pleased with the miso soup and salad(I truly forgot what I had as my main dish, which is never, ever a good thing). Service and pricing was ok. Location is excellent.
(3)Ashley J.
Legitimately one of my favorite restaurants. Their sushi is delicious and fresh, the salad is amazing, the soup is good, even their hibachi is great. I literally haven't tried anything here that I don't like. Service is consistent and the staff is friendly. I LOVE THIS PLACE.
(5)Katie C.
Sake House does not disappoint! I stopped here to meet some friends after leaving the Jags game Friday night. I was beyond starving and they had been seated for a while, so I immediately flagged our server down. I ordered a hot sake and a Dragon Roll, which is my go-to when I'm too hungry to think about it! It arrived within ten minutes looking delish; nice and crunchy with cool, green avocado on top. I don't remember much after that except feeling warm and fuzzy as I popped scrumptious pieces in my mouth and sipped sake. Yum! Our server was pleasant and efficient throughout the meal, and the atmosphere was cool with the option to sit in in-floor, wooden booths. I left Sake House feeling full, happy and ready to hit the town!
(4)Lindsay H.
Good quality, especially for price. Always fresh. Never had a bad experience. Eaten here and the San Marco location several, several times. Always been happy :) Samurai roll is the best!
(5)Amer A.
Fine sushi spot in the Five Points area. The food is allright. The ratio of fish to rice is on the weak side. The service was friendly. Split seating areas with a busy section on the Lomax St. side and quite (?overflow area) on the Margaret St. side with traditional Japanese seating.
(3)Jan J.
First visit for the family and I. The decor was beautiful, as was the food. We had Hibachi all around. The wife had chicken, our oldest son had the steak, our daughter had the shrimp, and I had the"Any 2 items" which was chicken and steak. The baby shared from everybody else's plate since he doesn't eat much. The sake was great. The only negative is that the portions were too small. At Akaya Sushi & Grill, they serve good sized portions. So I hope they'll see this and take note. Otherwise, excellent job.
(4)Win R.
Too much fish on display, likely dated. Deluxe sushi tray was bland and tasteless...w/dry rice. I'll not return here!
(2)Julie A.
Yes, I am on a sushi kick lately. As for Sake House, this is possibly the most creative sushi I've ever had. Their Annie Roll is the best! Tempura shrimp, cucumber, cream cheese, wrapped in seaweed and rice and topped with scallions and roasted almonds -- ALMONDS!?? Yes, almonds. This is my new favorite sushi flavor. Lol. I'll be back. They got me with the bait. Drat! Anyhow, my ex's girl would appreciate it here. They make their rolls tightly wrapped and extra delicious. The dynamite roll was superb. Just the right amount of fried ratio to hot spicy flavor. No, my mouth wasn't burning, but the spice was mighty tasty -- just the way I like it. Prices were similar to Crazy Sushi (another favorite of mine). One of my rolls was $7, the other was $6. I overheard some girls eating nearby saying that their teriyaki sauce was sweet. Oooh. Sounds interesting. I'm coming back for that sauce! Quit your strange and persuasive ways, Sake House! Lol.
(5)C O.
No complaints. Everything tasted delicious. Would definitely go again.
(5)Hilary L.
Sake House, this location, is the first Sushi place in Jacksonville that I truly really enjoyed. Jacksonville isn't know for their sushi, oddly since they are such a coastal town, but this place knows how to do sushi right. They have a nice atmosphere, I enjoy the seating areas with the drop seating on the wooden paneling and the outdoor seating is also nice. They have a nice selection of sakes and Japanese beers, as well as a pretty extensive menu. My favorite items are the Mexican roll [tomato, fried grouper, jalapenos... yum!] and the Dynamite roll [deep fried roll with salmon, crab and asparagus and spicy sauce], but pretty much anything you order is going to be tasty! If you feel adventurous, try the Salmon Roe appetizer. If you don't feel adventurous, the Gyoza and the Edamame are both delicious. And try the house sake. It's great! I have had a bad experience at the other location regarding an error in billing [got billed way more than I was supposed to, as in $175 more, and it took a few hours to correct], but the waitress was new and I will leave it at that. Good sushi and nice restaurant, definitely worth checking out!
(4)Tom I.
Good quality sushi...seriously. Roles were tad small and need more innovation. Black dragon roll wasn't exactly the best. Service was fast and friendly. Outside seating is perfect since the area is so deserted at night and no traffic. My clients and I had great time ordering sushi and sake all night. service was fast and friendly, highly recommended.
(5)R. G.
I'm really surprised by the other reviews of this place as I can't imagine anyone thinking this is great sushi. It's not terrible...just slightly below average. Now I think it is important to consider the reviewers past experience with sushi and I will say that I've spent most of my life eating sushi on the West coast. I guess if you've mostly had sushi in Jacksonville, this place might rate higher than below average (probably more like 3.5 stars for the Jacksonville area). For what it is worth, here's my opinion of the place. Pros: -good atmosphere -reasonable prices -some outdoor seating -located in great, walkable neighborhood Cons: -few roll options involving raw sushi -rolls appeared to be haphazardly prepared (i.e., rolls weren't rolled tightly and fell apart easily). -my rolls (Tokyo, Crazy Tuna & House roll) were somewhat bland and didn't taste like they were made with fresh seafood (more like several days old, frozen and thawed) -the waitress came to our table to deliver our menus while speaking on a cell phone. I'm sure not all their staff do things like this, but I thought it was unprofessional. Bottom line: if you have to eat sushi in Jacksonville, this place is about average and you could probably do a little better going someplace else. If you are just in town visiting, skip sushi altogether and get some BBQ.
(2)Janel S.
I went to Sake House when visiting my sister in Jacksonville, because I read several positive reviews. I should've paid more attention to the negative ones. It wasn't the worst sushi I've ever had, but it's certainly not saying much about the kind of sushi you can get in Jacksonville if people think this is the best. Everything about the place was just sort of average. Our waiter was very nice, but inexperienced. This wasn't really a problem except when we had a question about the sake, and he wasn't able to answer. There were several other employees there, and we were the only customers at that point, so it would've been nice if one of them could've answered our question instead of just sitting around. He also forgot about one of the dishes we ordered, and remembered only after bringing out the rest of our meal, at which point we didn't want to wait any longer for a dish that was supposed to be an appetizer. The sushi was just ok. As others have said, the rolls were quite small, and nothing particularly special for their prices. The lack of raw fish options was also something I've never seen before. Nothing about the food wowed me.. it wasn't especially fresh, or innovative, or well put together. If you're looking for a great sushi experience, you won't find it at Sake House. But if you're just looking to satisfy a craving, and want a roll or two at lunch, you could do worse.
(2)Jibreel M.
Sake House serves reasonably delicious sushi from an ideal location right in the middle of Five Points. A front dining space leads to a spacious back room that has more tables along with an area of booths sunken into the floor (to eat at these means removing your shoes - awesome!), then an outdoor patio that overlooks Margaret Street. They have a comprehensive menu and fine service. The quality here is on par with Sushi Cafe down the street, it's just a matter of personal taste when deciding where to satisfy a sushi urge. I prefer Saki House, with it's cool interior and location in the points to a mini-mall location facing a Starbucks.
(3)Kevin C.
The food there is ok. Nothing special
(2)Jodi C.
Sake House is in the 'hood, so this is one of my sushi hangouts when I need to get my sushi on. We have always had good service there and enjoy their specialty sushi rolls. W3 - the Sunshine roll is really good - it's a combo of avocado, tuna, eel sauce and a light coating of tempura. Decent prices make this a great every day place for sushi.
(4)Natalie L.
I looked on yelp to find the place and the doorman at my hotel also recommended it. It was a short walk (no cab necessary...yea!). I was seated at a small table and was given the menu. It was unclear who was actually my server, but I never needed for anything...a big plus. I ordered two small rolls and a special roll (St Johns Center Roll). I was very pleased with the special roll and I'm glad I noticed the small tent on the table because it wasn't listed on the paper to submit your order either. All in all 5 stars for food, and three for organization and service so I went with a four. I would recommend if you are looking for your sushi fix!
(4)Katherine M.
I'm not going to pretend I'm any expert at sushi but I've tried others sushi places in Jacksonville and I just keep coming back to Sake House. The atmosphere is nice and relaxing, and they recently updated the seating area in the sushi bar room so it's even cozier than before. Their specialty rolls are amazing and i'm a big fan of the annie and crunch roll which are on the cheaper side but still delicious. Not sure about the habachi. I never order that stuff anymore because it's just all the same to me, but this is my go to place for sushi and it has been for years now.
(5)Kelly C.
Not a bad little place. Been here a couple of times and they're pretty consistent in their food and service. The price is reasonable and their sushi is pretty decent. It's not amazing so don't expect something straight out of Tsukiji! I can't compare it to other places around here as I haven't been to any other sushi places but for Jax, this is probably about the best you'll get.
(4)Andy L.
Decent... not fantastic, but not bad.... just OK. Kind of a midway between 2 stars and 3 stars. The lunch specials are not that much of a deal, so I'd just get a regular roll and you'll probably be happier about your lunch.
(3)