Iwayama Sushi and Da Big Kahuna Bistro
5500 S Simms St,Ste C, Littleton, CO, 80127
Iwayama Sushi and Da Big Kahuna Bistro Menu
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Address :
5500 S Simms St,Ste C
Littleton, CO, 80127 - Phone (303) 948-1199
- Website https://www.iwayamasushi.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Samuel W.
Had dinner here last Wednesday on a recommendation from a business friend while on a trip to Denver. I had a California roll and something awesome called the Paradise Roll which was unreal and delicious. However, for my entree I had the Teriyaki Chicken and by the far the best Teriyaki Chicken I've ever had in my life. Not that I order it that often but it was pure taste. However, the also give you a side of Macaroni Salad which is also out of this world good, I wish I had the recipe it! Anyways, this place is not huge so get there early but I'll be back on my next trip to the area.
(5)Jennifer W.
After years of living in Littleton, my husband and I were looking for a new place to eat and we stumbled across Iwayama Sushi. It was a Saturday night and very busy, but we were able to get a table after waiting only 5-10 minutes. I couldn't decide what to eat and I was starving (minimal breakfast and no lunch) so I decided to order two things to try - the garlic chicken and the daily special, a burrito made with Kalua pork. My husband is a big sushi fan so he went with a variety of rolls and nigiri. I LOVED both of my dishes! The garlic chicken was juicy and extremely flavorful, and the macaroni salad that came along side it was great. The Kalua pork burrito was so good - the pork had that awesome smoky flavor and was very tender. The servings were huge and there was plenty for leftovers. My husband really enjoyed his sushi and commented on how fresh the fish tasted. The service was friendly and the atmosphere was nice. We appreciated the Hawaiian hospitality and plan to come back often.
(4)Jamie L.
I don't want to add my glowing review for Iwayama, because then it'll be busier every time I go there. But... Sigh... I have to. It's a gem of a find in an unassuming strip mall in suburban Littleton. I love the Chirashi (see photos) ... Lunch is around $14 and Dinner is $21.50. Right in line with where it should be. Hubby liked his Salmon Teriyaki too, and since he isn't a huge Mac Salad guy... BOOM! I get the Mac Salad! Can't beat it. This past time, we tried the Banana Egg Rolls for dessert. YUM! Bananas and White Chocolate fried in egg roll skins (they weren't wonton wrappers, more like spring rolls) and served over Vanilla Ice Cream with Chocolate Syrup. Yes, Please! Try Iwayama for Lunch or Dinner... You won't be disappointed... But promise me you won't tell anyone else how great it is!
(4)Dan M.
Wow! Lee and team do it BEST. A+ quality fish, specialty sauces, art, creativity and Lee's culinary expertise will inspire even the most discriminating sushi connoisseur. Wish we didn't live so far away from this Littleton gem (Larkspur for us) or we would be weekend regulars! Aloha and Mahalo to Lee and the Iwayama Sushi Bistro Team! Yelpers will love this place! Dan & Roberta
(5)Jason H.
This place is good. The Kahlua pork is awesome and a big portion. Sushi is decently spicy, and I do like spicy. The Big Nasty roll is very tasty. All in all, food is excellent and the servers are nice. Surprising find in a little corner shopping center.
(5)Justin W.
One step into Iwayama and you'll feel like you walked into an episode of Cheers. The first hello and smile you'll get is from owner and chef Lee-San. Lee pretty much knows every one of his customers by name. Lee's not your typical sushi chef - He is decked out with heavy duty protective eyewear (why wouldn't he be??), a smile plastered to his face, constantly multi-tasking, and engaging in conversation with someone at the sushi bar the whole time. Ask for a recommendation and he might tell you to try the Juicy Lucy - a half pound burger filled with american cheese, grilled onions, tomatoes, and lettuce. Wait, where am I again? That's right, about every 15 minutes in between making rolls you'll hear Lee call up for a Juicy Lucy. He says you should see the young baseball players come in after a game for a burger and to see their face light up when they see the burger is bigger then their face. One thing Lee brings to the table is his heritage from Hawaii and their fresh Wahoo. In fact, he drizzles a pesto over the top and serves it sashimi style. No wasabi needed my friends. Just sit back and let the flavor explosion start as you realize this is not your average sushi joint. In fact, Lee has his fish flown in fresh from Hawaii - one thing you'll immediately notice as you go from fish to fish, and fish to fish - oh the fish! The specialty rolls will blow your mind. At about $15 a roll you'll be happy you tried them. I can't even tell you what the secret sauce was on some but it made me speechless. Back to the burger - they do an 80/20 combo and mix the meat themselves - nothing frozen here friends. After making a 1/4 patty they add 2 slices of american cheese, then add another 1/4 patty on top and mold that baby together. I wish I could keep this a secret but it legitimately made my list of top 10 burgers I've ever had. The bun - good. The beef - good. The grilled onions - good. The cheese rolling down your face - gooooooood. Concluding thoughts - save a few bucks every week and take your wife here for a date night every week. A happy mouth + a happy wife makes a great life.
(5)Lucy L.
This place is legit! The owner is from Hawaii and he has some Hawaii dishes on the menu. You will have to order the fish tacos. It is out of this world ! We also ordered the nigiri kaki katsu (fried oyster ) it's yummy ! I am so glad we found this little corner restaurant that has fresh authentic sushi. love it ! We will come back again for sure.
(5)Max C.
When we first saw this place from the outside, I have to admit, we did not expect much. In fact, at first, I thought that we may have come to the wrong place, since nothing indicates the Hawaiian delicacies that can be found inside. However, they can most definitely be found here! This place can satisfy most of your cravings from the Big Island. The Kalua pork is simply amazing! Garlic Chicken looks so good that it should be on a magazine cover. Take a peak at the menu or the pictures for some of the other treats they offer, just try not to drool too much :D With some plate entrées, you may request two half portions of protein instead of one, if can't make up your mind ;) The staff is extremely helpful and friendly. I would highly recommend!
(5)Jennifer B.
Love this place! Delicious, high quality sushi. In addition to sushi they have great steak and awesome burgers so if not everyone in your family likes sushi it is a great place to go for all.
(5)Alex L.
No one greeted us when we walked in. A couple waitresses motioned us to walk their way in order to be seated. Food is excellent without a doubt. Our service was really good. Our waitress checked on us at the right time each time. The sushi chefs must've been having a bad day. Everyone behind the sushi counter had a stoic and almost unwelcoming look. Not sure if they were concentrating too hard or whatever. Everything we ordered was excellent. Everything from sushi to salad and everything else was good. This place is definitely good but a further drive for most people. As many people said prices are definitely on the higher end. I'm stuck in the middle cause the beginning and end of meal wasn't memorable but we might make another go around in the distant future.
(3)Aimee P.
Lee makes some delicious food and his sushi is wonderful. The Walu is a must. White fish with a ginger topping. It melts in your mouth...so good. Our favorite rolls are Italian stallion ; shrimp tempura, fried asparagus and spicy tuna and the Francesca roll spicy tuna with jalapeño tuna on top! Lee makes a fabulous cheeseburger. I know cheeseburger at a sushi restaurant but it's really delicious. You also MUST have his coconut cake. It's dense but not rich. It's truly amazing.
(5)Jason W.
Really great food. Skeptical when it came to the sushi, but very flavorful. Loved the hawian pork. Not bad prices either. Even brought my kids a complimentary slice of coconut cream cake. Will be back
(5)Alex T.
It's so nice to have great sushi on the southwest side of town. Chef Lee serves it up along with a touch of Aloha. That's right you can get some of your Hawaiian favorites here too. Try the butterfish when available. The service is friendly but this place is no secret, so they are quite busy. Their loco moco was delicious along with the Patrice roll and the low carb lollipop role. If wine, beer or soda doesn't pair well with your sushi then try a fruit punch. Its great either way.
(5)K N.
Oh man. One of my new favorite places ! The Kalbi is the BEST. The marinade is tangy and it comes with rice and macaroni salad - the macaroni goes so well with the meat! I also had a California roll, which was good, They make their California Roll the standard way with the crab salad instead of the bland crab stick. Their Shrimp Tempura roll was perfect. Most Japanese restaurants will serve the tempura cold, but this was warm and delicious! The service was good and lunch time on a week day isn't too bad!
(5)AJ B.
This place is a gem, and an especially remarkable find in an area dominated by chains. We've been coming for years and are happy to see how much Chef Lee's business has grown. My favorites: bahama mama sushi roll, garlic chicken, and coconut cake. Everything I've eaten here has been great.
(5)Rama W.
Have to start off by saying that this is the best sushi and Hawaiian BBQ restaurant in Littleton! We went on a Friday night and waited nearly an hour to get a table. It was definitely worth the wait. Our order: 2 orders of Walu sashimi (the best dish since we had to order another one after devouring the first serving) 1 Fransisco Roll 1 Italian Stallion Roll 1 Rainbow Sashimi 1 Gyoza 1 Loco Moco Sushi was very fresh and just as good as Sushi Den! Yes, that's correct, Sushi Den. The fish was fresh and the creations are unique. Like the Walu Superwhite Tuna sashimi topped with ginger pesto and ponzu. The Italian Stallion had spicy tuna with avocado, asparagus and tempura shrimp. Aside from the sushi, the Loco Moco was great as well. Tender ground beef patty with a perfectly fried egg and savory gravy over rice. This place is small and on Friday and Saturdays make sure you arrive early because it gets packed quick. If you're in a hurry, don't bother paying a visit. They are a staff of 4 with only 2 people running the kitchen. Chef Lee has a very cool and relaxed attitude towards his dinner service. If you're lucky to get a table, sit back and be patient because the reward is incredibly delicious.
(4)Hannah S.
Best sushi in Colorado. Hands down. Even on their busiest days, they are well worth the wait. Me and my boyfriend will be making the commute back here to eat once we move out of Littleton. It's that good!
(5)Teri K.
I've only had the kal bi so far and.... Oh man, I did not leave a single piece of food on my plate when I was done The Mac salad was amazing and the beef was marinated to perfection! Definitely recommend this place
(5)Nikki D.
Holy moly this place is delicious! The shopping center is very deceiving but inside you get great food and wonderful service. I've never had Hawaiian food before my visit but I can't believe I've been missing out on it. I only tried one sushi roll but it was delicious as well. Can't wait to go back! :)
(5)Megan S.
I can't believe I lived down the street from this place for six years before trying it out.. I weep for all the delicious sushi and fish tacos I missed out on eating. Really great sushi... And no "for the burbs" qualifier needed. Fish tacos are super delish. And their specials.. Ever changing and always good. My husband also loves their special cakes.. I never have room to try them. Add in super friendly and welcoming staff.. It's great!
(5)Micah M.
I've been to Iwayama probably a dozen times. Every time the sushi has been fantastic, truly. The best sushi in SW Denver that I'm aware of. Their fish is really what makes the difference. The reason why I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is A) the atmosphere is a bit cramped and drab, and B) service is always friendly, but SLOWWWW. I think they are on permanent island-time here. Still, worth the wait when you want the best of Littleton.
(4)EB F.
Best plate lunch in all of Colorado - so traditional Hawaiian it's crazy. A tiny awesome little gem in a tiny little strip mall in Littleton - what a find!
(5)jeannie e.
This is so good--friendly, authentic, delicious, unpretentious neighborhood haunt. Ono!
(5)Bill S.
Yelp came through again, we were in that area and looking for a place for dinner. Lots of good reviews on Yelp. Seated right away, orders taken and food served promptly. I ordered the Sort Ribs, my wife ordered Kalua Pork. Came with the traditional two scooped of white rice and great macaroni salad. Both meals were very good. We were pretty full but had to try the Coconut Cake that so many on Yelp raved about, it was as good as described. It's too bad this is so far away fro where we live but I'm sure we will return.
(4)Sam H.
This is some great sushi. Highly recommended if you are in the area. Don't think twice based on the location. You will not be disappointed. I gave the chef.. who is the owner... free reign and he made a very unique roll with tempura asparagus, jalapeño, topped with beef teriyaki, crab, and fried onions. It was awesome!! He also created a very unique lunch special that was delicious. I'm going back whenever I'm in town.
(5)Emily G.
The best sushi for the price in denver. Don't let the random name or Hawaiian name throw you. I'm a seasoned sushi lover, and this place is a great find. Amazing sushi for a very reasonable price. In my honest opinion, it beats sushi den, rice, and all those uppity places. It's small, so get there either early or late or else you will wait a while. My only problem? It's closed on Sunday.
(5)M D.
Paradise Roll is to die for! Oh my god! It just melts in your mouth. A must try!!! Rainbow Roll was also yummy. Ahi Jalapeño was also delish. Nice and light. Just wish the jalapeños had some spice to it, would've been perfect. Italian Stallion was is amazing. Perfect crunch and flavors all rolled into one. Lastly, we finished off with some Coconut Cake, which was perfect! Moist and not sweet at all. Overall, this place is amazing. Delicious food with amazing service. Will be back for sure! :)
(5)Gwen R.
Best sushi! I always made the trek to sushi den and discovered this place in my neighborhood. You will be very satisfied. The coconut cake is to die for -so save room after your dinner. What a gem!! Love love this place.
(5)Sarah W.
I have been living in Littleton my entire life and never knew this place existed. What a shame!!! All of the staff members were extremely friendly, the food was amazing, and the coconut cake.... there are no words. That is simply the best cake I have ever had in all of my life. Yummmm. I will be going back for sure!
(5)Todd L.
This small restaurant, tucked in a corner of a strip mall, has great food. Our family's Kalua Pork and Chicken Katsu were excellent- the Katsu was light and fried perfectly, and the Pork was full of flavor. The Teri Beef had a great taste and fell apart in your mouth. I had the Loco Moco, and it's the best I've had outside of Hawaii (Da Kitchen, in Maui, might be the only better I've had). Often restaurants just brown some meat and toss a scoop of barely heated brown gravy on top; Iwayama mixed the gravy throughout (so you don't have dried rice on the bottom) and put a real, honest-to-goodness tasty burger on top. If they pay attention to the little things on a dish this simple, it speaks well to the rest of their menu. We did not try the sushi but all agreed we'd go back. This place gets busy- on a Tuesday night it was full with a line outside the door, so plan accordingly. Even with that, we had friendly, fast service.
(5)Rene H.
Wow, we drove from Ridgway, CO looking for something different! We hit the jackpot! We had very nice greeting and waiting a few minutes. This place was packed. We didn't know what to order but the table beside us told they came here every Friday night. We ordered what they suggested and it was delicious. We took a piece of coconut cake to the hotel for dessert later! Best sushi we've had in Colorado!
(5)Kirk D.
Great place with very friendly staff and the combination of sushi and Hawaiian food is interesting but it really works. Small and intimate setting. If there's a wait they'll encourage you to grab a drink at Chatfield's and they'll call you when your order is ready. Great customer service.
(4)Jason L.
I am a taco lover and connoisseur and believe that the fish tacos at Iwayama are as close to perfection as I've tasted. After consuming 1000s of fish tacos in my life, these delicate taste explosions are even better than I could have dreamed of a fish taco tasting. The fish was phenomenal. Light, crispy, flavorful, perfect. The salsa was the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. The sauce added texture and flavor without overpowering the dish. Ono! The staff is friendly and the interior is clean and modern. A hui hou Big Kahuna!
(5)Salvadorian S.
I order combo mix Hawaiian plate chicken & steak. It was delicious but over priced $15 a plate (dinner) & meat had too much teriyaki sauce. It was a takeout order. My husband & I ended up cooking more rice at home to be able to eat the meat because of the overwhelming teriyaki flavor. I went to this place because it was closer to home than the place we usually go for Hawaiian. The other place gives us more meat for our money but it's a drive. The people here were friendly & nice. The restaurant was super clean. I could see myself in a date here eating sushi. I might come back when I don't want to drive for Hawaiian but I would ask for teriyaki sauce on the side.
(4)Illuminated A.
Great place, good sushi and unique Hawaiian dishes. Owner is friendly and always there. Don't like that they play tv and movies in the restaurant while you dine, it's not great for mood. That's the reason I only gave 4 stars.
(4)Hanh P.
This is acceptable for this side of town... But I have to be honest. The sushi was ok. The hawaain food was ok. We had the kalbi beef... Overpriced for the meat u get (I rather have really Korean kalbi)... Rice and Mac salad on the side, we ordered musubi... Well what do u expect when u order spam musubi anyways. I would much rather go to Denver for my sushi, salamon, scallop , tuna and yellow tail were decent. Anyways.. this place was PACKED the entire 2 hours we were there. Not really good for a big group at all. Had fried bananas for dessert... $6... Really? Wasn't even a full banana. Doubt we''ll be back. Not worth wait and cost for ok food.
(3)Jake D.
Awesome sushi. Had the spicy Tuna roll and fish tacos. Both tasted fresh! I will be back.
(4)Macy M.
Yum!! Sushi was delicious and the service was great. Def. will go back to try their Hawaiian food
(4)Jennifer E.
Loved loved loved this place. Went Valentine's Day evening without any kind of reservation. Waited for maybe 10 min to sit. Sushi was amazing! The specials were the best. So going back again for the burritos and tacos next time.
(5)Wendy K.
We have gotten take out 4 times and eaten in 1 time since May. The first time we got take out and had never been there before. We got the Kalua pork and kali plates. We absolutely loved he Kalua pork. I've never been a fan of macaroni salad but the kids loved it. Not a big fan of the kalbi, it was a little fatty. We also and spicy tuna rolls which we loved. We ate in on a Saturday at 4:30, we wanted to get there early since we brought our kids. The staff was so nice and gave our daughter the little chopstick holders, which she had so much fun with. The poke was the best we have had outside of Hawaii. We ordered the Kalua pork again for the kids and for us to have a bite. We ordered many sushi rolls and enjoyed them all. The next time I ordered take out, I looked at reviews on yelp and we ordered garlic chicken and Katsu dinner plates. The garlic chicken was really good, a little sweet and the kids favorite by far. We will order it for the kids going forward. The Katsu was a little dry, but the dipping sauce was a unique flavor and we ate it all up, but probably won't order it again. Take out again for when my parents were in town. They had just returned the week before from a trip to Hawaii and my dad was telling me how he had eaten poke every day they were there. We got 2 orders of poke and it was a hit with everyone. We finally have menus on our fridge so we can try out more sushi. We have just been getting spicy, tuna for take out because it's good and I can never remember the names of the specialty rolls.
(5)Joulez P.
One of my local favorites! Baked mussels and teriyaki salmon are flavorful. The owner Lee is a very friendly guy as well.
(5)Christian M.
We really thought the quality of sushi and rolls was very good relative to most others in Colorado. The price seemed slightly higher than others, and the location and interior decor is below average. I would give the sushi 4-stars, and the atmosphere and price a 2-stars. Overall, 3-stars for me. We will probably come back again.
(3)Shawnee M.
I have no complaints about this place. the sushi was amazing. I had the chance to try rainbow, salmon, and spicy tuna roll. everything was very tasty and was cooked very well!
(5)George S.
OK.... Read the reviews and knew this was one the places I wanted to hit. When I drive up I had to do a recheck. It looked a typical strip mall. But I reread the reviews and decided to take the plunge. Having been to both Hawaii and Japan I was curious. The staff recommended the Hatsumago sake (very good). I ordered the shrimp dumplings, 9 piece sashimi appetizer an a bowl of rice (excellent). My only regret is that I saw the Hawaiian food and was too full to order. The menu had items that I am familiar with on my trips to Oahu I might be back for lunch before my plane takes off and get my Hawaiian fix before November!
(5)E K.
It is entirely possible that I can survive in Denver now after discovering this local place! While I don't recall ever having loco moco served in a bowl, it is about as perfect as I can remember and the Kalua pork was amazing as well. Lee, the owner, had just smoked some pork and shared it with us. He also shared some Portuguese Bean Soup. No ka oi! My tummy left satisfied eating local grindz. Went back the next day with colleagues from Canada and locals from California who know good Hawaiian food. We all went and while we left SUPER full, we couldn't wait to visit again. My colleagues have since returned and said that of all the food they ate while in Colorado, this was NO KA OI! Mahalo to Lee and the staff. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Sarah C.
It was our first time here and it did not disappoint. The sushi was amazing and the Hawaiian bbq went really well with everything. The dining area is small but well worth the wait. We will be coming back.
(4)Marge S.
I love the sushi at this restaurant. Both the traditional sushi and the creative rolls. It's easy to eat gluten free here too! We ate at 5:00pm and upon leaving at 6:00pm there was a line outside, waiting to get in. Deservedly. I love the super white sushi, and the Spanish mackerel was amazing. The scallops were okay, not remarkable, but everything else was awesome !!! Nice staff too.
(5)Mike R.
I live next door to this place and I had no idea. When I heard they had Hawaiian lunch plate I was so excited. I went on a Friday night and they were packed. 1/2 hour wait so we went next door for a beer. Got back and seated right on time. The server was friendly and helpful. And the food... fantastic. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Michael K.
Warm sushi. Gross. Take out. Made it gross. Tried ordering delivery which is what they had listed on all of the review sites, they dont deliver. They take long vacations, whenever we try to order from them they are closed. Disappointed with food.
(3)Cindy L.
Really tasty Hawaiian food. The Loco Moco is the best I've tried outside of Hawaii. This is a small restaurant and it can get busy, so I recommend going early to dinner. We all loved the Kalua Pig and Chicken Katsu as well. We haven't had the sushi yet, but we'll be back to give that a try too.
(5)Jeanna L.
We had the big nasty, unagi and cucumber roll, and spicy tuna. We were only impressed. The price was great and the rolls were amazing.
(5)Lina S.
Absolutely phenomenal! A Hidden gem! Lee, the owner is the man! He is what all restaurant owners should aspire to be like. His staff was so friendly and attentive. My boyfriend and I shared a few things, the spicy edamame was perfectly seasoned. The kahlua pork was melt In your mouth delicious. That coconut cake will change your life!! You must try it! I will crave that cake forever now.
(5)Sara L.
What a great find! Who knew there would be such good food hidden in a remote suburb of Denver?! Right when you step in the door you know this place is legit--it's ran by this happy Hawaiin gentleman, ready to suggest yummy selections from his menu. One of such suggestions is the fish tacos. Best I've ever had! Fresh, juicy, and an absolutely perfect combination of texture and flavor with the mango salsa and avocado. I had the kalua pork and garlic chicken combo lunch plate the next day and that was amazing too! It's a passage to the islands I tell ya! I look forward to this place when my work requires me to travel to Denver... have gone back for lunch every time I'm in town.
(5)Miguel G.
This is my go to place for fast DELICIOUS food! I love the teriyaki beef lunch plate with rice and macaroni salad! The loco moco lunch plate is great too.
(5)Marianne L.
First time here, and we're sure to come back. The garlic chicken that everyone raves about is wonderful. I mean this in a good way: it's like chicken nuggets for adults. The macaroni salad is delicious. The rice is perfectly cooked. My husband wanted to try the Kalua Pork, which was a lot more salty than expected. We're not sure if it's supposed to be that salty...(I say no, he says maybe). We probably won't order it again, but we are looking forward to our next outing here! A great find.
(4)Camilla H.
Garlic chicken and the Paradise Roll are ON POINT! Fish Tacos were bomb too!! Flavors were vibrant and well balanced. Definitely a new favorite. Worth the 30 min drive. 7:30pm on a Friday night and the lines are forming. Get here early if you don't want to wait to long. Place seats less than 40.
(5)Cat S.
love love love this place we found for birthday dinner! The restaurant is on the small side (so our group of 13 had to sit separately), but I love the atmosphere that the small space gives. The food.. wow. Everything I tried was spot on. The sushi melted in your mouth, garlic chicken was light and crispy, loved the sushi specials. I ordered the butterfish dish and ZOMG. LOVE! It was so perfectly flavored!!! Others in the party ordered juicy lucy (which looked amazingly juicy, so perfectly named), kalua pork, even some more sushi. And again, everything was amazing. Finally, the service was awesome. Everyone was super friendly and accomodating for such a big group. This is a must return.
(5)Phil M.
Great place to eat. The sushi was fresh and probably some of the best I have ever had. Also ordered the Saki. For the price they give you a decent size bottle.
(5)Jim S.
UPDATE (9/12/14): Well here it is only two weeks later and I have already been back. I just had to try the fish tacos (see the picture in the photo section that someone posted). All I can say is delicious! They had a little bit of kick to them and the fish was wonderful. I foolishly ordered some sake nigiri too, because it was so good last time; it came first and was fantastic. I was beyond stuffed, the taco plate is plenty (3 tacos), but the sushi was too irresistible. I will certainly be coming again soon. Original review: I am a sushi novice, however I know what I like, and I really like Iwayama! I can't believe we haven't been before, it is so close to home. Damn it....I have been missing out for too long. My wife and I came for lunch today and I can't wait to come back. The food was delicious and quite reasonably priced. I am already looking at their menu thinking of what we should try next time.
(5)Wesley B.
Don't let the strip mall, dive'ish exterior decor fool you, this is some of the best sushi in Denver and the Hawaiian food is amazing. I normally dislike Cali rolls, but they are to die for here. Great sushi place!!!
(5)robert s.
I love this place. There are a lot of regulars there which tells me a lot. The owner/chef was on the front lines working the crowd. He had some cool off the menu items that i will try next time i go in. I am at that age where i prefer quality over price. This that type of place.
(5)M J.
This was my first time eating here. The sushi was really good but the service was HORRIBLE. There was three of us in our party, two ordered sushi rolls and one person ordered Hawaiian. The chicken teriyaki came out first while the two of us waited 15 minutes for the sushi to come out. I told the server to bring our sushi rolls out as they got made and not bring out the seven rolls all at once. She did not accommodate our request. One sushi chef was making all the rolls while the other chef stood by. The chicken was chewy, not the best meat. The scallops did not taste the best either.
(2)Alicia J.
When we first moved to Denver, this was one of the first sushi places we tried, and we loved it. The food was awesome, the service was great and it was close to home. The prices were right, too. The last time we went, we were disappointed. The garlic chicken everyone seems to rave about was almost inedible. It was like eating deep fried chicken fat - chewy and soaked in grease. It just had a bizarre texture that I can't really put into words - suffice to say, we weren't fans. And, we found that the sushi rolls we got (basics, always spicy tuna and salmon) were lacking and very light on the actual fish. So, it wasn't a good experience. But, I wanted to go back again, give it another try. So, we did just that tonight. Unfortunately, the experience was just as bad. We had a spicy tuna, spicy salmon and a tuna roll. The spicy rolls were seriously lacking in fish. Like, there was hardly ANY fish in them. I don't expect them to have fish pouring out of them, but the avocado and cucumber were 80% of the roll, and that's not okay. To make matters worse, I kept getting bites of sinew and gristle, as though they aren't cutting the fish properly. Shortly after we started eating, our waiter came over and asked how things were. I gave him an "ehhhhhhh" and the wavering hand that indicates things are only so-so, and his response was, "Great, glad everything is good" and then he walked away. So, basically, asking for the sake of asking, but not even listening to the response. When another waitress came over to take our plates, she also asked how things were. I said, "Honestly? Not great." And, I told her how we were trying to give it one more shot, and how little fish had previously been in the rolls, etc. I also pointed out that I had gristle in my fish and that there was a chunk of it on my plate that she could even see. She apologized and said, "Well, I hope you come back again so we can make it up to you!" And, I said, "That's what /this/ visit was." No discount, no concern over the issues we had, just "Oh, so sorry, come back again!" We won't be. I didn't expect them to comp my check, or anything, but even just having the manager show some concern (I don't even think the waitress told him that we had complained)... The prices are right and the atmosphere is nice, but I like some fish in my sushi rolls, and this place is straight stingy.
(2)Kristine P.
My favorite sushi in Denver and one of my favorite restaurants overall! This place is tucked away in a shopping center off of Simms and and a few blocks north of Bowles. Whenever I'm craving good sushi, this is where I come. They have daily sushi and entree specials everyday. I always like to check the specials before I decide what to order. They always like to change it up and I always look forward to trying the different/unique sushi roll flavor combinations. They have a menu that includes Hawaiian/Asian dishes like loco moco, pork katsu, and kal bi (korean short ribs). Go check out this hidden gem in the burbs!
(5)Tom J.
This little sushi dive is fantastic. We've been to all of the sushi restaurants in the area and although I can't pronounce the naIwayama is the best. Gotta get the ahi poke.
(5)Carissa D.
Top 2 Best Sushi. Ever. We are on the lookout for a better local spot and I think we have found it! This restaurant is tucked away in a small strip mall in Littleton. The place was packed on a Thursday evening; the only spots left without waiting was at the sushi bar. It's a small restaurant but very cozy. We ordered 5 rolls & some saki. Sitting at the bar, the sushi chef was very nice & he confirmed our order with us. The rolls are bite-size which I greatly appreciate & prefer because of my braces. My man had commented that the spicy tuna was the best he had ever eaten & very fresh. We ordered a special roll that was a Cali but deep-fat fried; their tempura batter is thin, light & crispy. I believe I also experienced the best roll I've ever had - the Paradise Roll (salmon & cream cheese, baked & fried). You must order this roll if you visit; it's to-die-for. To top it off, the price was spot on. $43 for 5 rolls & saki. You can't do much better. they had it all - taste, quality, location, variety. I would like to try their Hawaiian BBQ & other non-sushi items. This would also be a good place to go if you have someone in your party that doesn't eat sushi. I will def be going back more. It's gonna be hard to not choose this place when my first experience was so good! Give it a try, let me know what you think!
(5)Oliver W.
....This place needs NO introduction and is DA bomb. It lives up too and then SURPASSES all DA reviews. All I can say is Lee is absolutely awesome and so is their food. Such friendly, positive and energetic individuals throughout. We could have closed our eyes and randomly picked anything and it probably would have tasted fabulous. We had their Olympic Special and Italian Roll. Ok...(as I wipe the drool from daydreaming about the flavors packed into the Olympic roll) ...this might be...hmm this IS the BEST tempura goodness I've ever placed in my mouth. Im always hesitant to try something new when it comes to sushi because so much can be a hit or miss but this was a direct hit. My wife and I both just sat back, chewed and let the Olympic coma take over... The only visual that comes to mind is Jason Bateman in The Switch. IF you haven't seen this movie...my man, *SPOILER ALERT* and his son become quite audible when enjoying good food! That was def us... Just a great experience overall and the fact that its hidden away in this strip mall is PERFECT. Yes the restaurant is small but I think that is a definite benefit because their quality of food was allowed to shine through...I would write more but I think we are going to get ready and visit DA Big Kuhuna again (SIKE...they're not open on Sundays!). Great vibes from this place...One of our favorites thus far! ENJOY!!
(5)Jayce Y.
Sushi was amazing. The owner is very friendly and the staff have really good hospitality. I recommend the jo Jo rolls and the paradise rolls if you like sushi. Also the nachos are delicious I recommend everyone try them.
(5)Riza H. C.
Though at first I was nervous to introduce this establishment to my frens, I am glad I did. Here was why I was nervous, a couple of weeks back before the event scheduled, I called Iwayama. The caller who received the call, told me that THEY DO NOT ACCEPT RESERVATION ON A FRIDAY OR SATURDAY evenings. But I told her, expect a PARTY of 12 to 15 people on Sarurday March 19th 2011 for a 6:30pm dinner. Then when I arrived on that evening, from what I heard from my friends, the waitstaff told them, there was NO reservation made under my name. HELLO???... Okies, I settle my cool, and go with the flow despite still being all "nervous". The group ordered the food. The kitchen was indeed swamped with all orders from other patrons that evening. Man this place is indeed jam-PACKED. From what I could recall I had these for my dinner @ this establishment : * Shiromi Nigiri * Kani Nigiri * Kaki Katsu Nigiri * Kaibashira Nigiri * Kaiba-Mayo Nigiri * Unagi Nigiri * Tobiko Nigiri * Eggplant Nigiri Specialties of the House * Ahi Jalapeno * Fish Tacos * Baked Mussels * Tai @ NZ Sea Bream and Fish Taco. I was slightly dissapointed when they ran out of some of my favorites, but oh well life goes on. Another slight disappointment, some of the Nigiri or the food I ordered, have more "citrus" dressing or lime or lemon after taste. All in all, though things went well. Some of the food came out on a timely manner but some last minute decision food took slightly slower but I can understand why that evening. One of my frens who is Japanese was indeed pleasantly surprise with regards to this establishment on what they had offer. Even one of the waitstaff is Japanese. Thank you Iwayama, your waitstaffs and crew for making that evening, enjoyful for my friends and I to have a feast at your establishment.
(4)Julie D.
I went here when they first opened, the owner was very friendly. I asked about the sushi menu and he told me he can make whatever I wanted even if they didn't have it on the menu. Sushi is good and service was amazing
(5)James K.
Holy crap!, what an awesome place with authentic Hawaiian food! We just had lunch and it was probably the closest to real Hawaii food in all of denver! We had the garlic chicken and a loco moco along with a spider roll and it was so good! The flavors, texture, spices, etc were perfect! I've (I think) tried every place in denver that claims to serve Hawaiian and iwayama big kahuna's is the best I've tried! The only thing that was not good was the drive; we live in westminster and it took us about 45min to get there. Although it was totally worth it. When we are in that part of town, we'll make sure to stop by again! Definitely go and try it, you won't be disappointed!
(5)Shelley F.
I thought the food was amazing. Every roll we tried was really good. However, the service sucked. Our waitress was so un friendly, she could have cared less abt anything. I think I would try it again but that was very disappointing. I also wish they would flag the sushi rolls so u know what your eating. Really hoping the service is better next time.
(4)R P.
I LOVE this place! We have tried a total of 3 sushi restaurants on this side of C-470 and find Iwayama to be the best. I would drive from anywhere in the metro just to eat here. The staff are friendly and the sushi is delicious. They often have specials which are so tasty even a non-fish lover like myself will chow down without the soy sauce or wasabi. The gyoza are also fantastic. We love it so much it's our regular sushi spot. We only wish we could go more often!
(5)Angie M.
The food here is fantastic! Wish it were a bigger place but beggars can't be choosers. The chefs are quick and the entire staff incredibly nice and helpful. If there isn't room to sit, order it to go!
(4)Mike M.
This is one of my favorite places in the metro area. Sushi is sublime and all the Hawaiian dishes are excellent. A big mahalo to chef Lee and the staff!
(5)Rho T.
Um, how about IWAYUMMY!!!! I come from the Bay Area, California...where we have sushi joints WITHIN sushi joints and we even have Hawaiian restaurants....BUT...I'll tell you what we don't have. We don't have Iwayama or Da Big Kahuna and for that, I CRY. CRY!! They fly in fish from Hawaii and Japan. Let me repeat that, FLY. Like really? That alone is 5 stars. Fresh fish = Da best dish. You readin this Lee? I used "Da". Even though I'm a Katonk. We ordered: Edamame - served hot, topped w/some sorta sea salt...not that yellow umbrella holdin chick Shake (Salmon) Sashimi - Fresh off Hawaiian Airlines (I joke, but could be true) Rockcod Nigiri - Ditto Kaiba - Mayo (Scallops/mayo) Nigiri Dirty Po' Boy Roll (on the specials menu board) Deep Fried Oysters/cali/topped w/mango salsa - Who doesn't like deep fried oysters. The salsa made this roll though. Butterfish Misoyaki (appetizer on the specials menu board) O.M.G. This fish was BUH-TER-REY. And the skin was perfectly grilled to crispy perfection. Die. Miso Soup (w/extra tofu for the Baby girl) Teriyaki Chicken - classic Garlic Chicken - It tasted like candy. Chicken candy. with Garlic. Kal bi (Grilled Korean Style Short Ribs) MmmmmmMmmmmmMMmm It had just the right amount of pink and fattiness. For a mixed plate, there were about 3 huge servings of the ribs, cut in half. We were rushing because we had a Giants/Rockies game to get to, but if it weren't for the game I would've cleared out their kitchen....and Lee, the owner, is so personable you'll lose track of time just chatting with him. I thought my friends would be deprived of good food like this when they moved to Denver, but I guess the jokes on me. Now I'm I-kawawa for Iwayama. (if you understood that, you my peoples!) One unfortunate thing, is that they close at 9pm. So if you're a nite owl, you better flip the script for this place...it's worth it!
(5)Cory N.
Awesome place. Small business with big flavors. People that are writing upset BC a certain dish wasn't available one day should realize this isn't Chilis. This is quality fresh food. Lee the owner is a nice and accommodating chef. His creations are amazing! Go try and enjoy!
(5)Rowell A.
Great food especially the garlic chicken. Great service Lee! Mahalo
(5)Brittany G.
My fiance and I tried out this place last night. We both love sushi but I was craving some Hawaiin inspired food. I ordered the teriyaki chicken and my fiance ordered Da Big Nasty and Lobster/Bacon sushi rolls. Right off the bat, my fiance was not happy that the sushi pieces kept falling apart on him as he carried them with his chopsticks to a plate of soy sauce. The rice on the outside of the rolls was not sticky and constantly fell off the rolls. I finally offered him my fork after I saw him struggling - it was all he could do not to pick up the sushi roll pieces with his hands since none of them would stay together. We eat sushi quite often and have never, ever experienced sushi rolls falling apart. Anyway, my teriyaki chicken was GREAT and I almost finished the entire plate by myself. The chicken was juicy and moist, and the mac salad and rice went really well with it. I will definitely come back for the teriyaki chicken, and there were some othere interesting entrees on the menu that I would like to try, but I doubt we will eat the sushi here again.
(3)Kim M.
OK - I really have to comment on how good this place is. Went there with my family and we had 4 sushi dishes (rbi shrimp, cali mix - like in california roll and asparagus tempura) salmon nigiri, calif roll and soft shell crab and all were good. My sister in law had the pork (fabulous) - tasted like BBQ, but really moist and tender. I had the 3 grilled fish tacos and they were the absolute best!!! Grilled white fish (large portions, cabbage, spices, mango salsa. I ordered without sour cream - they did not need it. My brother and sister in law loved the coconut cake (recipe from the mother of the owner - made from scratch). They loved that too.
(5)Kim S.
Back again so my husband can try the Meat Jhun!! Finally getting Misoyaki Butterfish! Freshest sushi in CO!
(5)David L.
The sense of self-import here is really annoying. The last time I was in they were missing one of the flagship items, the slow cooked pork dish. They did not apologize or act sorry at all. Major disappointment. I live close so I'm sure I'll have another shot at it. Overall the food is good but overpriced. I don't know what the "best sushi in Denver" posters are talking about and should have their Yelp accounts revoked.
(2)Justin J.
Love this place! Their kalbi is phenomenal as is their hawaiian mac salad. They started using a different sauce for their teriyaki beef last time we were there which my fiancee was not too fond of, but their sushi is top notch as is the rest of the food!
(5)Emilee D.
Three words: Super Fresh Fish! Three more words: Wallet Won't Break! I came here to shove down on some local food from Hawaii and sushi. I'm very skeptical about places claiming to serve food from Hawaii as it usually consists of dishes containing pineapples or covered in teriyaki sauce. Or even worse, getting nasty sweet pickles in your macaroni salad (ahem: fakey Hawaii bbq place in Boulder). However, Iwayama's did not disappoint. We ordered shumai for starters, then the pork katsu and kalbi entrees. Off the sushi menu, we chose the suzuki nigiri (striped sea bass), ahi poke, and Philly roll. The food took forever to come out, but that could have been due to the place being packed and only three guys in the kitchen (two making sushi and one grilling). The shumai was good, but it would've been better had there been shoyu instead of that nasty-tasting cheap soy sauce that most restaurants love to buy. I really loved the suzuki! The flavor was so clean, it was as if the fish melted in your mouth. The ahi poke was really good, too. The freshest ahi I've had in this land-locked state. Unfortunately, by the time I got to it, I was so stuffed that I didn't really get to savor the flavor. Did that stop me from trying a piece of Philly roll? No, I'm a glutton. It was tasty, but nothing special. The entrees came with a lot of food. It comes with two scoops rice and one scoop of macaroni salad. Typical plate lunch style. My kalbi was a bit on the fatty (non-grisly) side which is how I actually like it. It was very tender and well-seasoned. The macaroni salad was made just right and the rice was calrose aka sticky rice. Awesome, just like back home! I tried a piece of the pork katsu and it was okay. I prefer chicken katsu as it's less dry. With its friendly service, freshest fish in town, family feel, and authentic local Hawaii food, I'll definitely be back to sample the rest of the menu. The greatest thing about this place? No pineapples came anywhere near my food!
(4)Stephen C.
Amazing place. Lee is an artist and some sort of culinary wizard. Very fun specials, creative sushi of textures and tastes that just make me & my family happy every time we go. The staff is friendly and welcoming, and do not miss the desserts. This place has it all.
(5)Elle M.
It's small and popular so it can get crowded. You are going to hear your neighbors entire conversation whether you want to or not. Sushi is good, but service can be really slow.
(3)Geoff K.
Seriously fresh, seriously delicious sushi. Iwayama is unique in that they're always changing up the menu. Always something new to try, which is fun. Their sushi is amazing! Try the coconut cake if it's available!
(5)Sarah J.
This place is UNREAL. I have been to most of Denver's "top" sushi places, and Iwayama is on par or better than all them. The menu is creative without being over the top, and the ingredients are fresh. Can't wait to come back soon!
(5)Mari A.
I have been here twice now. The kitchen food is amazing, I love the Kalbi plate! Yum the macaroni pasta is delicious, so much so that I wanted to order an extra to take home! Sushi was disappointing though. Thickly rolled and the flavor was just not there. Had two special rolls, and sashimi. Will not be ordering sushi there because I have found better elsewhere and the price is a bit steep for the quality. But will definitely be back for delicious hot plates!
(4)Erin T.
The sushi was phenomenal- it was so good, in fact, that I was ashamed that we had been driving past Iwayama for the past five years to go to another sushi place. The service was a little inattentive. The sushi chef seemed to know everyone by name and get everything we asked for. The waitress rarely came around to refill waters, did not take drink orders, or do anything a normal waitress would do serving someone at a sushi bar. On a side note - they did have gluten free soy sauce and were very accommodating in respect to my gluten free order.
(4)P D.
Wow...just stopped in. Sushi was excellent. Already can't wait til I come back to Denver area...and I come from a coastal community.
(5)Mo C.
BEST SUSHI IN DENVER!!!! Yeah, I said it. You Sushi Den disciples have obviously never been to Iwayama. Sushi Hai, pshaw. Iwayama imports their fish from Japan & Hawaii. It is amazingly fresh. Our entire table was impressed. A couple of us kicked off our meal with some spamsubi. Fantastic! I had the sashimi appetizer, which is a 9pc chefs choice and mine happened to be salmon, tuna and mackrel (yum!). That and a spicy tuna roll and I was completely stuffed. Be prepared for the check, though. The fish is fantastic, but comes with a price tag. My meal was over $30, but worth every penny! The owner/sushi chef was super nice and chatted us up while we were waiting for the rest of our party, exchanging tips on good middle eastern and moroccan restaurants. Our server with the mohawk was super fun and attentive. Overall, it was a great experience & great food. I'd highly recommend this place. The only drawback is that it is a bit difficult to find. The sign is very small and it's a bit hidden in a small shopping center, so it's easy to drive right past it. But, take the time to find it.
(5)Kim L.
Yum! Yum! This place is small but it rocks! We were there last night for dinner & the restaurant was busy all the time. The food is good, the price is great & the best is the service from Shana our waitress :) Will be back soon!
(5)Kim K.
Best sushi ever! Can't wait to go back and try the Hawaiian dishes. And the coconut cake is simply one of the most amazing desserts I've ever had.
(5)Bob S.
Expensive. Nobody minds paying a bit more for something really superb. None of us, though, enjoys subsidizing the very expensive dishes. I think a bit of this is going on at Iwayama, and that is too bad. Besides being a sushi restaurant in a strip shopping center, the big draw for Da Big Kahuna is where it gets 'da fish from: Hawaii and Japan. It is flown in each day. But when shown a fish no larger than a couple of angel fish put together and told it cost $8 to fly him in, well, I had a closer look at the menu prices. Is $9 for garlic chicken a bit pricey (includes two scoops of bland, white rice and a couple of tablespoons of macaroni salad)? How about Pork Katsu (a fried pork cutlet served with a thickened Worcester sauce) for the same? A hamburger and fries (Da Big Kahuna Burger) for $10? A pork burrito (Da Kalua Pork Burrito) smothered in green chili and mango salsa for $11? For lunch? I can pretty much get the same at any Chinese restaurant nearby, with more abundant sides, for about a dollar less. Am I paying that dollar more so somebody else can eat that $8 fish (likely marked up 100% or more)? The question has to be asked. Sushi is always an expensive proposition. It is exotic, made with expensive ingredients (it's not like we grow seaweed in Denver, I don't think), and requires special chef skills to prepare. I think those prices are fair. But, the rest is pricey. As far as flavors go, I loved the garlic chicken. Though the portion was small, it may be the best garlic chicken I've ever had. The rice was bland, and the mac salad nearly as. If I had not also eaten the knock-out shrimp tempura roll ($8), I would have walked out hungry. The Katsu pork was a big disappointment. Though it had a nice crunch from the panko breadcrumbs, the cutlet was overcooked and tough. Again, the sides were bland rice and almost-bland mac salad. No sushi that day. Finally, as for the Kahuna burger, I have to say "so what." It's a burger. You get a choice of fries, house salad, or mac salad. Having had the mac salad before and wanting something more substantial with the burger, I took the fries. It was totally forgettable. Now, here's the thing. I feel really bad giving this review. I genuinely like the karma of Da Big Kahuna. Even if the food I had was bland, tough, and overpriced, the place and its people have a nice vibe. Will I go again? I don't know. I would like to try the Kalua Pork for dinner sometime. But, I can't see paying $13 for pulled pork, bland rice, and mac salad. They need to put more flavorful, well-prepared foods on the plates, with more substantial portions. They need to figure out how not to subsidize the airborne fish with a pork cutlet. Fair is fair. I wish them well, and hope they figure this out. Mahalo!
(3)Laszlo V.
What can I say that hasn't been said? This place was shown to me by a friend and is and always will be one of my Wife and I's favorite places to get a bite and great service. there's nowhere to start with what menu items I like best but right now I am thinking Cheeseburger, no. French fries, no. Tuna Nachos, no. Sushi, no. Wait, Yeah Tuna Nachos. lol.
(5)James C.
The sushi is great, and the small location and menu ensure the food is fresh and the kitchen well managed. Overall it is a great place to go just be aware it gets busy in the evening and the waitstaff can get swamped quickly.
(4)Charmaine K.
Bored on a Saturday night so set my mind to look for some Hawaiian food closer than Windsor... Found this place on Google and it looked good on yelp so decided to give it a try... man was that a right decision! Let's start with the appetizer... I had to try the ahi poke, I WAS in a Hawaiian restaurant after all... It was the dry poke with sea salt (no sauce) and it was love at first bite... I've tried ahi poke from at least 4 other places in Colorado, and none come close... had their edamame also and the spicy sauce was pretty good too... My bf ordered "da big kahuna burger" and I ordered the garlic chicken... the burger was huge and awesome... for that 10 minutes that my bf inhaled the burger, that burger was the only love of his life.... ohh and the fries... the crunchy, hot, golden fries.... my garlic chicken came shortly after and that was pretty good too... although at this point I'm already mostly full from just the appetizers and stealing bites of burgers and fries... Didn't have a chance to try their sushi this time but then again there are plenty more food on the menu we'd like to try.... (also the reason for the temporary 4 stars instead of 5, but that can easily change as I try more food from them) oh and did I mention the friendly and helpful staff? the prices were reasonable too... all those food and the bill came out to $40 for two with leftover for lunch the next day... although this is a bit out of the way for us, it's definitely worth the drive... We will go there again for sure and next time, I'll bring friends and a bigger appetite! P.S. Happy hour from 4:30 to 5:30 Mon-Sat, close Sundays...
(4)Nick B.
Had a Hawaiian roommate for 4 years in college and he would love this place as much or more than I do. The plate lunches are yummy and remind me of an upgraded L&L (Hawaiian chain). little pricey but overall really really tasty, especially in such a suburban area
(5)Monica C.
This is by far the best sushi in Denver. Everything is so fresh and presented beautifully. Chef lee knows how to pair the perfect combinations of flavors to create an explosion if deliciousness in your mouth. Ahi poke is my favorite, danielle's roll is really good and of course you have to try paradise roll. If you're not much if a sushi fan, they still have great Hawaiian entrees, try the garlic chicken!
(5)Steve I.
Our hands-down favorite sushi/Hawaiian restaurant. The fish is always excellent quality and freshness and the variety of other menu items is refreshing. Barbeque, burgers, specials ... my only complaint is that my stomach isn't big enough to have everything every time we go!
(5)Lily T.
I really want to love this place but I can't. My husband and I have been going here for a few years now because it's so close to our house. We always get take out so I can't review how it is to dine at the actual place. Is it the best sushi I've ever had? No. Is it convenient? Yes. Over the years there have been 2 occasions where we felt like we shouldn't go back..but here we are...still going back b/c it's so close to our house. One occasion was where the tuna was not a good cut of meat. It was really chewy and almost inedible. The second time we thought we both got food poisoning. Of course we don't really know but 2 days later...yup, running to the toilet (we never go out to eat so we just assume that this is why. my kitchen is spotless!! haha). The waitress is friendly and the boss...meh. It's small inside and they have other things besides sushi but I've never tried it. We'll still probably go back b/c we're too lazy sometimes to drive over to Okinawa. But our overall feel for the food is just OKAY.
(3)Jesse K.
Fantastic SUShi.... Have had some of the freshest sushi in the Denver area, right here! Understaffed on some nights may cause a bit of a wait, since some tables are not cleared yet -- but all in all, a great experience in addition to some awesome sushi!
(4)Tim F.
Love this place. My wife did not like sushi before Iwayama.
(5)Stephanie S.
Delicious! Great sushi and the fish tacos were yummy too!
(4)Bryan H.
The digs are interesting, yet I've found you can't judge a book by its cover especially when its hard to find affordable rent for a thriving business. This looks to be a gold mine and although there's not much to do in close proximity, although if you are near Clement Park, Chatfield, on your way to Red Rocks its worth the jaunt to have FRESH & AMAZING food. I like the hawaiian influence to their dishes and although my first sushi experience was at Hapa, I wish it had been here. Don't get me wrong Hapa did a great job with the fusion of Hawaiian/Japanese food, yet like a singer song writer beginning their career in coffee shops and dives I'd rather see them at those dives and shops because it more intimate, thus I give you Iwayama!!!
(4)Rebecca R.
We always have the sushi because it's just so fabulous. We keep promising ourselves we will try the Hawaiian dishes one of these days, but can't resist the pull of the sushi. However, last time in, I asked for some Macaroni Salad and it is the best friggin' macaroni salad I've ever had. I ordered about $20 worth to go so I could take it to a bbq the next day. I almost didn't share it. I love it love it love it, and will order it every time without a doubt. I'm certain it goes with nigiri and a Vegas roll. Yum!!
(5)John K.
Wow! Came across this gem tonight as I was on the west side of Denver and looking for a good place for some grind. Very cool sushi/Hawaiian food restaurant. Yelp produced this absolute diamond in the rough in a strip mall! The owner and head sushi guru is Lee. I asked Lee to drum up a sampler of the house specialties and he produced the following three: Big eye tuna Salmon Lee style White Tuna special Take my (and Lee's) advice...order the exact three things and you won't be disappointed! I also had to sample the Hawaiian side of the menu. Got a wonderful, authentic garlic chicken plate lunch complete with rice and Mac salad...felt like I was back in the islands. All fantastic! I highly recommend!
(5)J A.
Ok, I've only been here once and it was only for lunch but thought I would chime in. I ordered the gyoza and the garlic chicken Hawaiian plate lunch. From reading other reviewers, I was anticipating the garlic chicken and the macaroni salad. Well I'm sorry to say it was only okay. But I can only compare my Hawaiian plate lunch with 8 Island in Boulder. The rice and mac salad at Iwayama was just okay compared to what I've known before. I think they just gave me the same rice they use for sushi and the mac salad was ho-hum. The garlic chicken had a dynamite sweet garlic taste but the texture left something to be desired. That being said, at $9 the plate lunch was priced pretty well for what you get. The reason I gave 4 stars so far based off a lackluster lunch was the gyoza. It's the best I've ever had. And the dipping sauce that came with it was BOMB!! I ended up dipping most of my garlic chicken in the gyoza sauce. I am going to return with my wife for dinner and we'll tear up some butterfish and some sushi, then I hope to return to yelp and slap down a five star rating for this joint. It definitely has potential. I went at 1pm and there was still a handful of tables full of folks taking down sushi and some Hawaiian plate lunches. The owner obviously knew a few of the people, as he talked casually with them like they were regulars. The restaurant was clean and inviting.
(4)Bryan M.
Interesting and cozy restaurant with something for just about everybody. I hear the sushi is great, though I suggest the spicy chicken!
(4)Lindsay A.
I love the Fuji Apple Salad and California rolls...and my husband likes their "real sushi" ;)
(5)Joy J.
The Chirashi is crazy-good! Service was very prompt, kind and not overly attentive. I enjoy going there and my non-sushi folks do too. Iwayama is a great little joint for big flavors.
(4)Jessica M.
We weren't sure about Iwayama because of the location. How good can sushi be in a strip mall? BUT once we tried it, we knew that the food spoke for itself. Fresh fish, fabulous new twists on sushi, Mexican, desserts, and the basics. The owner combines Hawaiian, Mexican, Sushi, Japanese, and American food into one of a kind blow your mind flavors. Lee just created "The Juicy Lucy", a tremendous cheeseburger that has so much flavor, you don't want to put it down between bites and you'll need washcloths for your hands afterward. The Aji Jalapeno is a must have, as are the fish tacos, and the Khalua Pork. Once you try this place, you'll keep going back for more.
(5)S C.
Hands down, the best sushi in Denver without the snooty attitude of some of the other popular sushi restaurants. The only problem is deciding what to get, everything on the menu rocks. My husband & I usually go for a little surf & turf action and order the amazing Juicy Lucy hamburger along with a few rolls from the special menu. Amazing doesn't even describe it!
(5)Ellen K.
My friend, Karen, said this place had received five stars (she didn't remember from whom) so I agreed to try it again. I was very pleasantly surprised and have increased my rating to four stars. The place was packed (it was late Saturday afternoon). The sushi was fresh and the wait staff was friendly, helpful, and prompt in delivering the food. They even had some unusual combinations of sushi (which I didn't try but for which I give them kudos). The sushi didn't taste like spam this time (g). I'll give this restaurant another shot until it, eventually, disappoints me as all sushi restaurants in Denver tend to do.
(4)Tim T.
We love this place! the sushi is always fresh and very testy! Decor is a less then desirable, but hey I am there to eat good food.
(4)Hermes A.
very great sushi, loved the area and owner was very friendly
(4)Davin M.
I had been craving Hawaiian food since my honeymoon, and a good friend of mine suggested that I go this place. I kept putting it off because there was a local place that served adequate enough Hawaiian food for me. Until they closed down. So I had to find a new place, and thank goodness I found Iwayama Sushi. This little gem is tucked into a corner in a small, and not well maintained, shopping center. The sign above only says SUSHI. Needless to say I didn't expect Hawaiian food. But we go in and are greeted immediately even though the place is packed. We sit and order a Spicy Tuna Roll, Short ribs, and Katsu Pork. All three of them were amazing. The Short ribs were definitely my favorite. I could go on and on about this place. But just go and try it out yourself, it's worth the drive.
(5)Melinda L.
Littleputians! Come over here! I have something to share! Something delicious! Yes, over here in this little strip mall, next to the dry cleaner and Tae Kwon Do studio. Come in! Thanks for joining me. Now sit down and prepare for sushi AWESOMENESS. We'll start with some gyoza, and some ahi jalapeno sashimi, thank you. Oh, and a towel for my hands? Wonderful. Mmm mmm. Now some maguro, sake, a rainbow roll perhaps...or a spider roll, some spicy tuna, maybe one of the specials...that works too. Ahh, my belly is satiated with some delicious fish. I could have had one of the wonderful Hawaiian dishes too, but nah, this is where me and the boyfriend come every Thursday night specifically for sushi. Thank you, Lee, for another wonderful evening. See you next week. Oh, and official review from the Denver Post: denverpost.com/food/ci_6…
(5)D H.
Just stopped in again today for lunch. Today's special, the spicy tuna roll with habenero sauce rocks! The owner and chefs of this neighborhood hotspot was as always super friendly and made sure our visit was a good one!
(5)Angela L.
Great sushi - Hawaii influence...
(5)Amanda D.
This place is great! I love sushi and have never found a place on the west side of town I really enjoyed until now. The sushi was quality and the service was great. The fish tacos were also amazing, best I've ever had. I love the variety of items on the menu. I will definitely be coming back here on a regular basis.
(5)Stephanie K.
Can we say YUM! Very good sushi! Fresh fish, good service. The dessert was not so good. It had been frozen and thawed in the microwave. You could taste the freezer burn. DO NOT let the dessert experience or the look from the outside detour you from eating there. VERY GOOD SUSHI!
(4)Lynn W.
Came here on a friday afternoon for lunch. The place is small with about 8 tables but nice decor. The seating positions allowed you to see well into the kitchen so you had a good view of the restaurant supplies - stacks of cups, plastic containers, etc. My major issue was the lack of music. You could only hear the hum of the kitchen vent hood. We ordered the spider roll and the rainbow roll. The food is good but not outstanding.
(3)Cilou L.
I came here for the sushi but left with the Kal-bi and Garlic Chicken combo. The garlic chicken is decent, just needs a little more garlic taste. The Kal-bi, however, is all fat! That was disgusting. But everything else was good. I will definitely be back to try the sushi. And the service was great! Super nice people in there and the owner is actually from Hawaii. Ya bra!
(3)