Kihachi Japanese Restaurant
2667 Federated Blvd, Columbus, OH, 43235
Kihachi Japanese Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Columbus for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2667 Federated Blvd
Columbus, OH, 43235 - Phone (614) 764-9040
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Opening Hours
- Mon :6:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Dave C.
Best most unique food in Columbus. Pork cheeks are heaven. I believe they are always on the menu. If they have Sea Bream with grapefruit get that as well. If you have an adventurous soul mate, do the omakase dinner for a very romantic experience. Call a couple of days ahead so the chef can get something special. Note to expense report...they don,t take Amex
(5)Naiying C.
My first omakase to celebrate a special event and it was a pleasant experience. That night there were only 9 customers there so it was pretty intimate and quiet. The servers were all really nice and explained the dishes to us. We had about 10 courses, the sashimi was the best(fatty tuna yum) and the whole fried fish was the most interesting because you eat the whole thing including the insides which had an acquired taste. Overall, enjoyable and left very very very full.
(4)Ying X.
I really, really, really (repeat that about 50 more times) wanted to love this place. Honestly, I could have loved this place. It could've become my favorite restaurant in the entire Midwest. I even almost thought it was comparable to some of the good sushi places I frequent in San Francisco (*gasp* I know, right??). Oh, Kihachi. You briefly made me so, so happy, and then you made be incredibly, incredibly sad (and very annoyed). Why???? Let's actually talk about what happened. I had a friend visiting from SF, and he was curious as to whether Columbus offered omakase. That's when we stumbled upon Kihachi, so we made a reservation. Previous reviews of this place (on yelp and other websites) priced the omakase at around $95. Fairly reasonable. The servers were friendly, but the pacing was incredibly awkward. At one point, we waited almost 20 minutes between courses so that the chef could prepare a la carte items for non-omakase tables. Other times, I would be barely halfway through my course before the waitress brought out the next course (and no, I wasn't being slow eating. There was probably about a 1-minute lag time between those courses). Rather than simply waiting until I was done with my present course to bring out the next dish, she planted herself right next to me and watched me uncomfortably hurry to finish my present course so that she could put down the next one. Absolutely ridiculous and awful. I felt like I was being an inconvenience to her, and that is not something you should be feeling ever when dining out. In terms of the actual food, we had some big hits (most of which came out earlier on) and some incredibly large misses. To begin, here's what they did right (or mostly right): Chawanmushi (steamed egg garnished with shrimp, ginkgo root, spinach, chicken, and fish) - very creamy and smooth; served at a perfectly pipping hot temperature, and the different ingredients just blended together in a wondrous mouthgasm. Unfortunately, I only got to experience the mouthgasm for half of it, because this was the dish during which our waitress decided to stand next to me and stare me down as she waited for me to hurry and finish up. Thanks a lot, lady. Sashimi (tuna, uni, sea brean, fluke, yellowtail) - very large slices served over ice, incredibly fresh and fatty, and really highlights the chef's talent with raw fish. If I ever come back, I would probably just order sashimi a la carte. Bozushi (box sushi with kelp, a garnish leaf, fish, rice, capers, and lime on the side) - it had so many different dimensions of flavor, and you get three pieces! Another dish I'd recommend a la carte. Dessert (matcha green tea mochi stuffed with red bean paste) - this combination is pretty stand, but the mochi had a very strong green tea flavor matched by a red bean paste that doesn't either fade behind or overwhelm the matcha. Now, onto what went wrong...which is pretty much everything else. The rest of the dishes were, at best, palatable and unmemorable and, at worst, absolutely disgusting or a complete letdown. My main complaints are geared toward their fried ayu fish that was so overly salted that I actually ion-burned your mouth (try enjoying your meal when you can actually feel the skin on the roof of your mouth peeling away as the cells shrivel up from the overload of salt) and the tempura, which was served half lukewarm and half cold. The chef had fried one of the tempura items (lotus roots stuffed with shrimp paste and dipping sauce), then left for about 5-10 minutes to do something else, before returning to make the other component of the tempura (angelica sprout). In that time, the lotus roots cooled down, and it also took them so long to bring out this tempura dish that even the angelica sprout was at best mildly warm when we bit into it. Tempura isn't supposed to be served cooled! That makes the breading soggy and gross, which was exactly the case here. I'd tell you more about what I didn't like with the remaining other dishes, but they were just that forgettable. When the check came, we saw that the price per person was $135. Okay, at a *good* omakase place, you can justify charging that much, but with a place that serves you multiple courses of unimpressive food (or food that has cooled down from sitting out too long) and paces the food so awkwardly that you can't take the time to properly enjoy your food... never again! You can almost rationalize $95, but $135? No way! To add insult to injury, they also tacked on a 20% service charge...for incredibly sub-par service. In summary, we paid about $350 for one of the most disappointing omakase I've ever had in my life. You might have the best sashimi in Columbus and one of the best chawanmushi I've ever had (so there's where your two-star rating comes from), but you didn't even let me enjoy those dishes properly. Omakase isn't just about the food, it's about the overall experience, and you definitely ruined that for me.
(2)Adam R.
Quick summary: food was good/as expected. Visit Customer service and waiters attentiveness was poor and lacking. Alcohol fairly pricy. Food also pricey. Expect minimum $20/person.
(3)Bender R.
Very good sushi, and the quality is surprisingly great. The other dishes were good as well. The ankimo was really good. The rest of what we had was standard izakaya fare, and was okay. Ordered black cod collar (off the menu), and was okay too, nothing to rave about aside from the fatty deliciousness you should expect. We sat next to the kitchen. The chef is kinda scary. Very serious, and good at what he does, obviously. Amazing knife set.
(4)Neal F.
Holy crap one of the best culinary experiences of my life! I'm pretty sure we will be seeing it on No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain this spring!
(5)Jim T.
We stumbled on this place a coupe years ago looking for an Indian Grocery (which had closed). This is the real deal when it comes to Japanesse food, ie it's not Sushi. In fact we had to get help ordering, as we had never seen authentic Japanesse food before and couldn't read the menu. The closet comparison I can make is Tapas, but Japanesse food. Small delicious dishes. Honestly, I can't remember what we had but we still talk about eating there.
(5)David D.
Wow what a find in Columbus. This is a real-deal authentic Japanese restaurant with excellent fresh fish, good variety, and outstanding cooking and knife skills to boot. The maître'd is a little overly formal, but the isn't a trained smiles type of restaurant. Once you plop down at the counter and act like you know what you're doing the personnel are friendly even engaging. I started with a maitake mushroom soup, which was very sophisticated and full of shrimp, fish, mushrooms (of course), and gingko not. Loved it. Next up was chef's assortment of sashimi. This is the highlight here, as the pieces are expertly cut, the fish selection is top notch (think toro uni and amaebi), and the garnishment are quality (real wasabi seaweed and shiso leaf). Kumamoto oysters were fresh and bright. Hamachi Kama was the most savory. Served with real ginger, grated radish, and ponzu sauce. The real kicker here was the large portion and the perfect broiling. Crispy skin and succulent meat. Exactly how it should be done fresh. Second sashimi course was tako, ika, and toro from another part of the tuna belly. As good and interesting mix of textures. The ika was seared for a little more caramelization. The one misstep was the tempura lotus root which was a little low brow for me. I threw in the towel in mock protest! :) Anyway an outstanding restaurant I cannot recommend enough for the discerning foodie.
(5)Carl A.
"Do you know how much food we can get at Taco Bell for the amount we spent at Kihachi? It could be wheelbarrows of Chilitos. Makes ya think." -me, to my girlfriend, after I took her to dinner at Kihachi for her birthday. For the record, she LOVES Chilitos (or as they're known these days, Chili Cheese Burritos. **pouring out a salsa packet for my homie, the long gone Columbus-area Zantigo**). On the flip side of that record, I wasn't comparing the elaborate and delicate delights of Kihachi with stuff you get from Taco Bell. I was merely stating that when you go to Kihachi, and order 9 (!) SMALL PLATES OF FOOD, and then, when the server doesn't come back to bring you more food, you think "Dammit, no more plates coming?? Well, then, we may as well order entrees now, for our REAL dinner...", it's gonna cost you. Is it worth it? Oh, hell yeah...well, if you like Japanese food. And not "Check it out! Onion Volcano! AND HE THREW A SHRIMP AT ME!"-Japanese food. If you're interested in getting steak...don't come here. If you want a nice piece of salmon and some tempura vegetables, again, don't come here. I'm not saying that stuff isn't on the menu. It is. And I'm not saying that stuff won't be good. It probably will be. If you do come here, don't get anything off the main menu. Instead, pick out stuff from the "small plates" menu. Will there be stuff on there that will be completely foreign to you? You betcha. But that's where the fun is. That's where the chef works his magic. If you get the chance, take a seat at the counter, instead of a table; then you can view the chefs' work on your dishes. This is when you'll realize how much skill goes into what you're about to eat in 1.25 bites. For instance, Razor-sharp knives cut paper-thin limes to be intricately placed between fresh, perfectly-cut rectangular pieces of sea bream. There are no sour cream guns used here. Not that those are bad or anything. I've noticed some reviewers have mentioned that the staff at Kihachi are rude, and service is poor. My experience was perfectly fine, but there was a slight hiccup. I made reservations at 8pm for counter seat. Upon arrival, the hostess said they were not ready yet, and kindly asked that my girlfriend and I take a seat at the bar. So we did, and we had some saké. After 5-10 minutes, we were seated. No big deal. Maybe I got special treatment because I was Asian? Does that happen? I honestly don't know, but I'm sure it could. And I'm sure the opposite could occur, that someone gets poor service because they aren't Asian. But that would be kinda racist, right? Which brings me to a fun incident that happened while I was there. Seated at the counter with us were two older white couples, clearly enjoying their steak and salmon with tempura vegetables. As the chef prepared one of our 9 (!) plates, a woman got the chef's attention. "Excuse me," she asked, "do you know [insert Asian name here]? He looks like you." Oh. No. You. Di. Int. But yes, she did. It's a good thing that the chef took it in stride, and replied with a grin and a wink, "Because we all look the same, huh?" "Oh no...that's not...I mean...you look alike, maybe you're related...?" Again, not a good thing to say. I know Yelp isn't the best place for a lesson in race relations, but if you've made it this far in reading my long-ass review, why not? Non-Asian people: don't ever ask some Asian person if they know another Asian person you know, just because they're both Asian. I don't go up to random white women and say, "Hey, are you friends with the cashier at Banana Republic? She kinda looks like you." Why? Because that makes no sense at all. Anyway...perhaps the people who got bad service were just assholes. Or maybe they just got bad service. I don't know. All I can say is that my experience was great. Also great? Taco Bell's Chili Cheese Burrito aka Chilito.
(5)Tiffany W.
My boyfriend and I were looking for some good Japanese restaurants around Columbus, and had seen very good reviews for Kihachi, so we decided to give it a try as a fancy dinner one night. We were not disappointed and are happy to write a review about our excellent experience here. If you'd like to go, either make a reservation on a weeknight, or call more than a few days in advance for weekend seating. The seating area itself is small, and it seemed to be pretty popular for groups. If you enjoy seafood, you'll find some very fresh and amazing options. We opted to order a bunch of tiny side dishes, and then split one order of the Nabeyeki udon. The dishes are prepared when ordered, and they come out as they are ready (so mostly cold dishes first, then the hot dishes later). We enjoyed the grilled pike, grilled mackerel, salmon roe, fried lotus root with shrimp paste, fugu, and udon. We didn't particularly enjoy the shrimp sashimi (but that was more of a personal thing because it was very fresh but not really our thing). We opted not to go for alcohol since it seemed too pricey. Everything in general is on the pricey side but it's not unreasonable for the quality of food. The environment was very relaxing, quiet, the waiters are pretty helpful in making recommendations. We'll be back!
(5)Artur O.
I heard about this place from some one that loves food and my expectations were high. After my sashimi dish I was already speechless and everything that I thought I new about food and fresh sashimi went out the window with a bang. I am very jealous we don't have chef Kimura In Chicago ! We have chef Takashi:) But this is a totally different experience to be able to watch chef cutting sashimi !!! AmaiZing !!!! Thank you for this !
(5)Sihui C.
This restaurant has truly lowered our awareness of disgust. Terrible service. Servers with bad attitude. Food just so so but the price is ridiculously high! We asked for tea for more than 4 times but the service was always slow. One of the elder servers was extremely rude. Never been in a more disappointing restaurant before. We'll never come again and hopefully patronage will stop visiting here!
(1)J.J. C.
I came in here with my mom close to the end of the opening time, and the staff accommodated us. We had udon noodles - I had the Nabeyaki Udon, and my mom had the duck udon. I've had Nabeyaki udon here and there and it's been "okay". But here, what stood out to me was the flavor of the mushroom. it was phenomenal! So savory! It's worth it. The broth was very rich too. This was fantastic. The duck udon was very delicious as well. The soup was very savory and plentiful. The staff was fine. A little slow, but I did come at the end of the day. Try the nabeyaki udon. The mushrooms are amazing. :o
(5)Helen H.
I was really looking forward to trying this restaurant. The service was so terrible which totally ruined my appetite. My boyfriend and I went for the first time and request to sit at one of those Japanese style table. The old lady was so rude and didn't give us the table we want. There were plenty of empty tables and it was pretty late at night. We left with a bad mood.
(1)Leslie L.
This is the best restaurant in Columbus, hands down. Also the best Japanese restaurant I've experienced outside Japan. We enjoy it for the biggest "splurge" events of the year. Recommend: Call a few days ahead to request a private room and the seasonal specialties: å£ç¯€ã®æ–™ç† Kisetsu no ryÅri Chef Mike will ask: How many people? 10 dishes each, right? We then request only 7 dishes per person, but usually end up with more. The charge is $10 per person per dish (ordered). He then special-orders the ingredients from Japan. This is an entire evening's entertainment -- the dishes come forth, one at a time, each served on marvelous examples of Japanese ceramics, stoneware, porcelain, bamboo, presented by a kimono clad server giving a description of the dish and ingredients. Excellent beer, wine and saki. Don't look for Buckeye sushi rolls! Guests who are fussy eaters shouldn't worry, since the dishes are accessible, even for the squeamish, and all are TASTY. This isn't just a great restaurant - it's one of the highlights of living in Columbus Ohio, near Honda America headquarters!
(5)Stephanie M.
Very authentic Japanese restaurant. Wonderful food, terrible service. Ambiance: We called ahead and made reservations based on yelp reviews, and that proved to be very useful. The restaurant is very small with a short kitchen bar, a couple of private Japanese tables, and a few four top tables. The inside is clean and very nice, especially when seeing the location is at a strip mall. We sat at the bar and could see how every dish was meticulously prepared. Food: Chef's choice sashimi $30 - very fresh and delicious assortment, very small portions (note they serve sashimi but no sushi rolls) Nabeyaki $13.99 - udon noodles with seaweed, egg, mushrooms, chicken, shrimp tempura all simmered in clay pot. Yum! Watch out though, it's super hot Duck soba $16.99 - very flavorful broth, somewhat oily and fatty for my taste (but expected for duck) They had many small appetizers sent out that looked delicious. We are planning to go back and try those next time. The food is definitely overpriced for the portions you're getting, but it's backed up with authenticity and freshness. Service: Super rude waitress, abrupt, bothered by any questions asked. Maybe it's a cultural difference? Maybe she hates her job? Even when asking the seasoned chef for suggestions, he seemed exasperated. The quality of the food makes up for this though. Considering everything, the food was so delicious that we'd go back again.
(4)Amanda C.
Very unique experience in Columbus, delicious and worth the price! I would go again anytime.
(4)Naoya T.
Okay, the food here is good. But I think the service is not as pleasant as Yoshi or Basho. It seems like they have their favorite customers, and when we occasionally go there we get this look and not as good treatment. The food is awesome. I do wish Yoshi or Basho has some of the food that Kihachi carries. But negative side of Kihachi is they don't have Sushi. So if you are sushi lover, this is not place for you.
(2)Wynne W.
The food here is excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed everything we had there tonight. There are items on the menu that I have never seen anywhere else. We had soft shell crab, some kind of boxed sushi (served with lime slices), ice fish tempura, and duck braised in tamara sauce. Why only 3 stars then? There were also some odd things about the restaurant. Our reservation (for 2) was at 6:00 (right when the restaurant opened) and even though it was not full, we were seated at the bar instead of a table. I happen to like bar seating so didn't mind but still thought it was odd. The menu was extremely confusing. Couldn't tell what was an appetizer and what was a main course. They were mixed together in two columns across two pages in no particular order or category. I had to ask several times if something was an appetizer or a main course. They really need to redo this menu. When I finally settled on the braised duck as my main course, I asked the server what it was served with. She said nothing. For 17.95 and a single small portion, you'd think it would at least come with white rice. She said I had to order the rice separately if I wanted it. So I ordered a bowl of white rice and a side of spinach since the duck was not served with anything. The food took a long time to come out. The first thing to come out was not our sushi appetizer but my side dish of spinach in a very small bowl. So I just let it sit there till the sushi appetizer came out and then finally the main course. Again, the food was delicious but service was odd. Staff was very polite but not experienced in customer service. When we finally finished dinner, we waited a long time for the check. When someone finally came around, I asked for the check but was instead handed a dessert menu. I did not want dessert so had to wait again till the server came back and we said "no dessert, just the check." Oh, and if you want a glass of white wine and don't like chardonnay, you are out of luck. Even with the off customer service, I would probably go back to try other things on the menu (as long as not in a hurry to get somewhere after). If I was just rating this place on the food, I would give 4.5 - 5 stars.
(3)Paul S.
We went tonite to dine. Did not appear too crowded. Clearly tables were available. We were informed by a rather elderly female that since we did not have reservations we could not dine there. Incredibly rude. We shall never go back. Bad service and rude people do not make a restaurant thrive and indeed shall make it fail.
(1)Megan W.
Amazing food and wonderful service. All prepared with great care. Get whatever is on special. We had the grilled ayo and it was tremendous
(5)Joel F.
My girlfriend had just moved down the street and we stopped to get dog food next door. We walked in and there were zero (zippo, goose egg) amount of people at 6pm. The hostess comes out and says there's no way we can get in unless we have a reservation or come after 8:30pm. Keep in mind it's just my girlfriend and I and we even ask about sitting at the bar. The hostess refused service and when we pressed her about writing a review on Yelp she started to change her tune. At that point, we were so disgusted that we left and went to the Indian place next door. Some restaurants just have too much business or arrogance.
(1)Genevieve F.
I am a huge Japanese food lover and have been my whole life. I came to Columbus to visit my boyfriend who decided to take me here as a special treat, having heard that it's one of the most highly regarded Japanese restaurants in the city. Unfortunately it was overall a disappointment. First, when we first walked in we were overwhelmed by the smell of cigarette smoke that pervades the restaurant. Second, the food: We had the sea cucumber, monkfish liver, mixed sashimi, and duck soba. None of the dishes stood out, and I wouldn't order any of them again. The sea cucumber was fun to try, but it was so chewy that it felt like biting down on to thick rubber bands. I literally couldn't bite through some pieces and had to swallow them whole. The monkfish liver was tasty, but nothing very special. Of the mixed sashimi (fluke, tuna, squid, octopus, yellowtail and sea bream), the yellowtail was the only with much flavor - the sea bream, tuna and fluke were largely tasteless, and the octopus was more tough than it should have been. The squid was nice, but I wouldn't order it again. Finally, the duck soba. This dish was good, but felt quite heavy, as the broth was loaded with bonito and other fish flakes and full of duck fat. My boyfriend really enjoyed it, however, and of all the dishes this is probably the one I would most be okay with eating again, though I wouldn't order it myself. Third, and most importantly, the service: we first sat in the dining room because the bar was full, but we asked to move to the bar once some space opened up. The waitresses were very nice and accommodating and allowed us to move. It was fun sitting at the bar and being able to watch the chefs in action. It was a father-son operation, which I really enjoyed, and we talked to the son quite a bit, which we really enjoyed. The biggest disappointment of our whole dining experience, however, was how long it took to get our food. Our three starters (the sea cucumber, sashimi and monkfish) were served maybe 30 minutes after we put in our order, which felt a bit slow, but not terribly so. Once we were close to finishing the dishes, we decided we wanted one more plate of food and put in the order for the soba. It then took OVER AN HOUR to be served this last dish. The restaurant was not at capacity, and once our dish was started (we saw the chef make it, so I know), it only took about 10 minutes to receive it), so there's no excuse for such slow service. I did notice that the chefs were preparing 4 orders of omakase for one table, and I think that they simply prioritized those customers above everybody else, as I saw them shuffling around the order tickets and cranking out more time consuming, numerous plates of food for omakase service. Given that we dropped a fair amount of money and that some customers should never be shifted aside to cater to others, I was quite frustrated by the situation. And both the waitress and chef were fully aware that it had taken far too long for us to get our food - they apologized when serving our final plate, but beside a simple apology did nothing to remedy the situation. Personally, if it was my restaurant and I realized that I had kept a customer waiting over an hour for a final plate of SOUP, I would have comped them a drink or dessert just to make up for the error. Given the mediocre food, terrible service, and relatively expensive price tag, it's hard to give this any more than 1.5 stars, and they only get 2 for accommodating our move up to the bar and for the friendly son working the kitchen.
(2)Tsuyoshi T.
Food was awesome. That was real Japanese taste. sashimi is fresh, and very tasty. However, hospitality was not good. I don't know why we feel they looked down on us. Because we were too young? We are Japanese? I don't know. Again food itself was taste very good, but even we paid $200- for 2 people, they made us feel vey bad. I've not back to Japan for long years, so I really wanna feel Japanese hospitality and taste. We came to Ohio from Indiana for just for this purpose, but they betray us. We are so sad. I won't never come back to this restaurant. Never. 味ã¯ã¨ã¦ã‚‚良ã‹ã£ãŸã®ã§ã™ãŒã€æŽ¥å®¢ãŒæœ€ä½Žã§ã—ãŸã€‚ ä¹…ã—ã¶ã‚Šã«æ—¥æœ¬ã‚’æ„Ÿã˜ãŸãã¦ä¼ºã„ã¾ã—ãŸãŒã€å‘³ã¯ã„ã„ã«ã‚‚ã‹ã‹ã‚らãšã€æ°—分ã¯ã¨ã¦ã‚‚悪ããªã‚Šã¾ã—ãŸã€‚ã‚‚ã†ã€ã“ã®ãŠåº—ã«ã¯æ¥ãªã„ã¨æ€ã„ã¾ã™ã€‚ åŒã˜ãŠé‡‘を払ã†ãªã‚‰ã€ã‚ãˆã¦æ—¥æœ¬é£Ÿã˜ã‚ƒãªãã¦ã‚‚ã€ä»–ã®ã„ã„レストランã«è¡Œãã“ã¨ã‚’ãŠå‹§ã‚ã—ã¾ã™ã€‚
(2)Hiroyuki Y.
Service was terrible. One elder wateress are very rude. Food was not worth for the price. I will not come back again, never.
(1)Divya R.
An answer to all my prayers. I really enjoy seafood and one of the biggest downsides of moving to Columbus was knowing that I was cut off from access to fresh fish. But the chef here solved it and the bill weren't close to what I make in a day, this would be home. While the udon is great, watching the chef create magic by getting a seat at the bar is spectacular
(5)M M.
This place ranks within top 5 Japanese restaurants I have been in the US (Please note I used to live in Seattle, Southern Cal and Northern Cal so I am used to eating very good Japanese food). Minor issue is that menu is relatively small.
(5)Steve L.
First off I have to say I'm slightly embarrassed to say that this was truly some of the best Japanese/sushi I've ever had. Take this as you wish, this is coming from someone who truly enjoys the art and has eaten at some the the best in the world. I am also not fond of giving 5 stars to a Japanese/sushi bar. AMBIANCE: The restaurant is located in a nondescript strip mall. When one pulls up the first thought that runs through your head is "where the heck am I going to eat raw fish??? The parking lot is dim, there is an Indian restaurant to one side and a smoke shop on the other. When you first walk in you notice that they truly care about the Japanese culture. From tables to traditional Japanese private floor seating to the simple colors and wall coverings it is clear that their main emphasis must be on the food. SERVICE: As many if not all the reviews on here have described the service as poor at best, I however did not experience this. The restaurant was about half full. The waitress was quiet yet friendly. My sake glass never sat empty more then a few minutes nor did an empty plate sit in front of me for very long. I personally enjoyed the alone time with my food as I had the pleasure of watching the chef cook in front of me. FOOD: Considering that I knew a bit about this restaurant before I even walked into the doors (and no it wasn't from reviews solely) I knew and hoped that I would experience food magic... Boy-O-Boy was I not disappointed! I left it to the chef to choose my courses, this is a custom I am fond of at specialty restaurants. Most of the items I was told would be coming from the chefs specials and favorites. 1ST COURSE: Ankimo (Monkfish liver) - I have to admit, this is one of my guilty passions. There is something so right about eating the rich taste of monkfish liver, and this dish did not disappoint. The ankimo was plated as two thick slices, topped with ponzu, green onions and a small but satisfying taste of roe. 2ND COURSE: Broiled Sea Whelk (sea snails) - This is the first time I have enjoyed whelk outside of the UK and Europe. The plate came with 4 whelks still in their shells, lightly seasoned then broiled. This was a unique surprise that I was happy to see the chef serve, as it is very unlikely that I would have ordered this on my own. 3RD COURSE: Mixed Sashimi - Extremely well cut and plated... freshness of the fish is always my number one concern when it comes to raw fish, I didn't have a single worry about this here. As I watched the chef meticulously prepare my plate a few feet in front of me, I couldn't help myself from salivating. I am a huge believer in letting the chef do their art and at no time am I going to mess up some superb fish with added soy sauce. With the last statement being said, I truly enjoyed my fish as it was intended: RAW both in cooking style as well as choosing to not add condiments. - Yellowtail Toro - Melt in your mouth goodness. Toro is always one of my favorite parts of the fish and for obvious reasons. Unfortunately, most places seem to mess it up, not here. The fish was not freezing nor warm. The color was a perfect medium pink with the usual white marbling wanted in a piece of tuna belly. Did I mention that it melted in my mouth! - Yellowtail (hamachi) - I was told by the chef that this was flown in from Japan, and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised. Hamachi was my first love, truly was. I still remember having my first bite and thinking it couldn't get any better. Well... 20 something years later and it has. This was some of, if not the best hamachi I have had to date. A perfect mix of light colors to your typical pink at the top. - Geoduck - This was unique as my sushi adventures go. By no means is this the first time that I've had geoduck, but by far the first time I've had it at a Japanese restaurant. I was expecting your typical clams when I saw my plate, but was shocked when the chef explained what it was. My shock continued as I ate my first bite. It was a nice change from the typical sea clams that you typically get with sashimi. Much like you would expect, it is a bit tough and slightly chewy. Luckily the chef knows what he is doing with a knife, before it is plated he takes the time to score the clam and ever so slightly flatten it with the side of his knife. This was a needed change from the rich favors of the tuna. - Uni (Sea Urchin) - Typically outside of coastal areas I try to stay away from eating sea urchin. As I had enjoyed everything thus far and the chef had prepared it for me (would you go to grandmas and not eat the food she has taken time to prepare for you) I scooped up the Uni and ate it. To my surprise it was good. Not as salty (fresh ocean water) taste as I typically like, but none the less a very good specimen. - Fluke (flounder) - Thinly sliced almost see through. Great, that is really all I can say. 4TH COURSE: Yummy! Don't remember exactly what I was served, but I was not disappointed!
(5)Eugenia S.
Amazing authentic japanese cuisine! Love it and couldn't find any better place.. Prepare to spend about 50$ a person though.
(5)Leah H.
Amazing, relaxing, adventurous dinner. Sea cucumber toothsome texture with balanced flavors. The bbq eel w vinegar and seaweed was a highlight. Don't miss the beef sashimi w pine nuts...very satisfying... Braised duck w hot mustard was aromatic and w a wonderful combo of hot and comforting...Seth was an amazing server..very knowledgeable and great timing...not for a quick dinner but will accommodate carry out
(5)Nicolas D.
This place is outstanding! I've spent hundreds of dollars on sushi from the best places in New York and Los Angeles and this place is incredible!! I had some of the best sushi at Kihachi. I came with my girl last night and we had a feast. Tried a bunch of things. I'm usually not a fan of sea urchin, but the urchin I had last night on my sashimi sampler was incredible! So fresh, so clean, so delicious. Amazing. I can't rave enough about this place. I heard about it because it was quickly featured on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations (Season 6, homeland) and so I was curious. He got it right! I highly recommend this place. Can't wait to come back to Columbus to go to Kihachi again. Enjoy!
(5)Dihlin W.
Quite a but of hype here. One star for authenticity, another for the chef. But, the service is definitely not deserving of praise. Furthermore, the quality of food is not entirely a class of its own. While Japanese food is easily attainable in Columbus, kihachi is certainly not unique. The fare is simple, but too simple. Just did not see the value.
(2)Joyce K.
Went with my husband for the Omakase course dinner for our anniversary. Very cozy restaurant, expect to stay and enjoy dinner for a while, we were there for almost 3 hours. The Omakase had 9 courses of seasonal dishes, beautifully done, very tasty and artistic. Great experience! Strawberry ice cream is bomb. Amazing Chef team.
(5)Jiaqi G.
I heard about this restaurant that it is the Best in Columbus so I tried to Call for reservation. A girl picked up my phone and asked me to wait. I have been held for like ten minutes and no one continue the booking with me. Really BAD impression and makes me don't want to go to this place.
(1)Adam R.
Everything about this place was truly incredible. I don't give out 5 stars very often, but this place deserves it. You need to come here to eat some traditional Japanese food. I recommend sitting at the bar to watch the chefs prepare the food. WOW! What an experience. I was blown away by their preciseness, professionalism, and courtesy. I could not imagine a better place in the Columbus region. I tried about 6 small dishes/sushi boxes. Get the pork! Get a sushi box even if your not a huge sushi fan. Don't get the cold noodles. The noodles were the only thing I didn't like because i was expecting it not to be so seaweedy tasting. It was probably just me and not the noodles. If your not a jap newbe like me, you would probably say they are amazing. I can't wait to go back. I want to try the duck soup!!!!!!!
(5)David F.
Not only is this the absolute best place for Japanese food in Columbus- it now has bumped a James Beard awarded & five star, 3-diamond formal french restaurant in a major city as the best meal I've ever had. Its a very traditional looking place, and I'm kinda glad it doesn't have the "trying too hard" super-chic thing that too many places have at the expense of the food. The omakase was perfect. I think the only thing lacking a tad in comparison to the aforementioned french restaurant is that the servers refilling water and clearing dishes just weren't timed as well as they could have been. The chef and his other staff behind the bar however were amazing.
(5)Laura C.
I took a major risk and brought my boyfriend here for his birthday. I had been eyeing this place for months then forgot about it. As his birthday approached, I was stressing trying to find he perfect place as he has lately been disappointed by some rather highly reviewed establishments. He's super picky about sushi and fish (lived in Alaska and has shellfish allergy) but my gamble paid off. I had reservations for a Thursday evening but the place was empty except a private room. We sat at the bar, which I recommend. We loved watching the chefs and asking them questions. We ordered 8 "small plates" throughout our evening. I would say after 6 we were decently full and really shouldn't have ordered more than 7. We had everything from mushrooms, shrimp, lotus root, bamboo, tuna, press box sushi, and noodles. The hardest part about dining here is picking what to order - so many amazing options. The pork cheek is a must! Some of the best pieces of meat I've ever had I. My life and very generous on the portion size for only $7 or $8. We were impressed with how fresh the fish was. I watched the chef cutoff and throw away undesirable end pieces. They are very detailed and meticulous with every single dish. Their special small plates now come in an English printout which was very helpful. I want to come back and have a sashimi plater and their duck soba! I had braced myself for bad service and a drawn out dinner but it was anything but. We has both the older lady and a college aged woman waiting on us throughout the night. My water was refilled at least 6 times without promoting. Plates were taken away once we were done with each dish. While we did take nearly 2 hours for dinner, we enjoyed our time. 8 dishes, 3 beers, tax and tip ran about $130. By the time we left around 845pm the place was bustling. Not full, but no need that night for a reservation. I agree the room off the entrance does smell of smoke from the cigar shop next door. However, sitting at the chef bar completely eliminates that issue. This is on my short list of places to return to in the near future.
(5)Catherine J.
What a fun experience! When making my reservation, the gentleman on the other end of the line made sure to inform me that this ISN'T a sushi joint, nor a steakhouse. I thought this was a bit odd, considering I hadn't indicated I thought either one. I wonder if they've had problems in the past with customers coming in, it not being what they expected/are used to, and then leaving... but it made me a little embarrassed. Embarrassed that either he THINKS Columbusites are like that, or embarrassed because Columbusites ARE like that. Either way. Anyway, they do have sushi but this isn't the focus. We didn't order any sushi, and instead embraced the Japanese-style small plates. So awesome. It was like eating edible art. We ordered 4 dishes in all, and they split perfectly between two people for each dish. Even though we ordered them all at the same time, they brought each dish out one at a time, giving us the opportunity to experience and appreciate each one. They also chose the optimal order to bring them, in my opinion. We had (in order): - Braised whole baby octopus - Lotus root stuffed with shrimp pate - Grilled yellowfin tuna collar - Soba with duck Each dish contained not only thoughtful preparation, but thoughtful presentation. Everything was presented in a bowl EXACTLY right for it. In fact, you can see a rack of various types of bowls and dishes in the open kitchen-- it's like food stylist's dream. I wish I had that variety at home. I made a reservation, but they didn't seem to check it off a list when we arrived. We were seated at the bar. I would have liked a table, I suppose, but watching the chef cook was fun too. The real coveted spot would have been one of the rice paper mini-rooms. We weren't offered one, and the whole place stayed empty for the entirety of our meal (8 pm reservation), which surpised me. When we sat down, we were given a beverage menu and a regular menu. Things are largely handwritten, and largely in Japanese. I saw only sake listed by the glass. I was interested in a bottle. I asked our server if they served any sake by the bottle, and she said "no, only by the glass." I asked her which of the ones listed were warm sake, and she said they had a house sake, served warm, and that it came in either a small or large bottle (not listed on the menu). Okkkaaaayyy... seemingly discordant answers, but I ordered a large bottle of the warm house sake to share and it was great (at least I thought so-- warm sake is an acquired taste, and I'm not sure my dining mate agreed). We had two servers, one Japanese and one Caucasian. I relied heavily on our Caucasian server to explain the long list of specials, as they were only written in the menu in Japanese. Except for the soba with duck, we ordered exclusively from this menu of specials, which consisted of 18 items that she had to read through, one-by-one. Overall, I'd say the service was fine. They answered my questions and were attentive about clearing the plates. However, if you can't read Japanese, at least, your Kihachi experience requires some patience (and asking lots of questions!). The menu, on its face, is not going to give you all the information, unless you can read Japanese. I felt like they disregarded the reservation, a bit, by sitting us in the corner at the bar in an empty restaurant. So... polite and efficient, but I didn't feel a warm vibe or encouraged to experience all of what Kihachi has to offer. Cost-wise, I was pleasantly surprised. I was braced for a much heaftier bill. The four dishes (comfortably filling two people), and a large bottle of house sake ran me about $63 (sans tip). I'm not going to say this was CHEAP by any means, but I thought it was excellent value for the uniqueness of the tastes and the labor for each dish. My wallet could have done worse in a less-outstanding establishment.
(4)Moses S.
OK, first off, this place is FREAKING awesome. My friend and I had the monkfish liver with fluke sashimi, baby octopus, the yellowtail sashimi special, and my buddy had the soba duck soup and I had the udon duck soup. Everything tasted like fresh mana from heaven. i kid you not. the presentation was quite beautiful, the food was fresh, and the taste was on point. If you want traditional japanese food, go here. If you want your philly roll or dragon roll, just roll on by, cuz this ain't for you. The only con (if I had to pick and choose) is that there's only this old grandma that is the server, so it takes her some time to get to you and she's not so attentive. She gave us drink menus, then 10 mins later asked us what to drink, then 10 mins later gave us drinks and the real menu, then 10 mins later to get our order, etc. all in all, we were there for almost 2 hrs, but i didn't really mind. If you have good company, it's no biggie.
(5)Kathleen M.
I saw this restaurant on No Reservations and have been dying to try it. It did not disappoint. We sat at bar which has the small kitchen in front pf you. It was amazing watching the chef prepare the different cuts of fish. I had two of the specials the Geoduck belly in.miso and the grilled hamachi. I loved the miso sauce for the Geoduck. It was more like a mustard sauce. The hamachi was grilled perfectly. The whole experience was very sublime and I would go back many times!
(5)Richard P.
When my wife's Japanese colleagues recommended Kihachi after we had first moved to Columbus, my immediate thought was, "Who eats upscale Japanese food in a strip mall in the suburbs?" Yeah, I was pretty naive about Columbus back then. Kihachi is one of the best restaurants in Columbus, and one of the best Japanese restaurants in the US. We would come here a lot more than we do, but my wife insists we save it for special occasions. So I've become good at creating 'special' occasions. Enough has been said by other posters to cover practically every aspect of Kichachi, so let me humbly offer a few pointers for fellow Yelpers who aren't that familiar with this particular kind of restaurant: - You don't need to make a reservation, but it doesn't hurt. We've walked in when the place was half-full, and the lack of a reservation stressed out the head waitress. Not that that really matters, we come here on a whim lots of times without any problems. - The tatami rooms are worth it, at $2 a head. If you're here and ordering kaiseki-style, that's the smallest amount you'll pay for anything, and the tatami is a lovely part of the overall experience. - Yeah, the service could be better. But with food this good, I don't really care, as long as the food arrives. - It's not a Japanese-style steakhouse, it's not a sushi restaurant, and it doesn't serve the more conventional fare you might find at Akai Hana. Don't go to Kihachi looking for that style of food. - At its heart, Kihachi is about kaiseki-style food; that is, immaculately prepared, beautifully artful dishes ordered ala carte and shared amongst diners. Go with people you like sharing food with, order dishes to share, and plan for a leisurely meal. They have more conventional dinner sets, but you'll be missing what's really wonderful about them if you go that route. - Following on that point, some of the best food are the specials, which they only write in Japanese. Why they don't translate it is beyond me. Bring a notepad, or a good short-term memory. They'll tell you them in English, but there are at least twenty, which is always a memory exercise for me. The specials change according to season. - Finally, a few dishes worth trying, if you're going the kaiseki route: Lotus & shrimp paste 'sandwiches' - shrimp & fish cake sandwiched between wheels of lotus root, deep-fried and served with a dipping sauce. Absolutely lovely. One of the items on the specials menu, but they always seem to have it. Box-pressed sushi - usually mackerel or sea bream; delicate and a much more subtle preparation than any roll sushi you've likely had elsewhere. Saga tofu - this is on the main menu, but the name doesn't tell you anything. It's tofu that has been mashed up with bits of vegetables, and then deep-fried in a big ball, served in a delicate broth. Not an easy dish to find in the US, and one of our favorites. Seafood - whatever they have on the specials menu, it's going to be good. It's according to season, and frequently changes. Chazuke - rice with a green tea broth, it's a good way to end the meal (your starch will typically arrive at the end of the meal, after you've eaten all the main dishes). This is a nice dish when you're sick or hungover, but it works perfectly well as the last entree. Yeah, I said Yakitorium's is better, but that doesn't mean Kichachi's isn't very good. Deserts - their homemade green tea ice cream is great, and in the growing season they make their own strawberry ice cream, which is exquisite. Sorry, Jeni's, you run a close second...
(5)Luan N.
Kihachi is way over-priced for the quality of the food. The thinly sliced hirame should have a slight cruch like fugu (blowfish skin) but none of that here. The age-tofu was soggy. The sashimi in the mini-chirashi was just rancid. I'm not kidding you, I could have picked up refrigerated sashimi at Tensuke market sitting all day for half the price and still tasted better. The only dish that was mediocre was the pork katsu. Bill came close to $80. The worse thing about the experience was service. Just the inattentiveness of wait staff was ludicrous. Took about 10 minutes just to get a menu. About 30 minutes to receive each dish. I think we spent almost 2 hours to get 4 dishes. I'm kinda ashamed as a Japanese person to witness horrible service like this. I always tip well. A minimum 15% even is service is frustrating. But this time Honeybadger don't care! I left a 5% tip and ran, never to return!
(1)Beth S.
Just wow. Closest thing to Tokyo is right here, in this tiny little 10 table strip mall restaurant. Don't come here something ordinary. Be patient, and just enjoy the experience. That's about the best advice I can give for this little slice of nirvana. The boy and I came here for my birthday dinner, no reservation. (I suppose they're expected- this place being as small as it is.) It was a Saturday night, and we went all out ordering. Sake, Kirin, appetizers, dessert. The fish didn't even taste like Columbus sushi. It just melted in my mouth. I've never had sushi like this in Cbus before. I can only imagine that this is what sushi is like in Japan. The only con: the (one) server looked stressed out and seemed rushed. She was hesitant to tell us the food would take a while. This being a relaxing evening for us, we kept assuring her that that would be fine by us. I almost wanted to tell her to relax! Towards the end of the two hour meal she did seem to chill and went into detail explaining the desserts to us. This is a special pace for special occasions.
(5)Shu Jin S.
If there was a way to give this place a 6 star rating for food, I would. I was in-town for a series of business meetings and my co-worker said we just had to try this place, it was on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservation after all. Oh, it's also in a strip mall. And apparently Honda has corporate offices in the area. Here goes nothing! We were seated at a regular table upon arriving, but ended up convincing them to give us one of the rooms (we were a large party) and it was worth it. Word to the wise, the menu is in Japanese. We decided to let them bring us food until we couldn't eat anymore. They base most of their recipes on seasonality and everything was fresh, delicious and amazing. BEST Japanese meal I've had outside of Asia. Must make up a reason to come here again.
(5)Olivia Z.
7 pieces of 2cm*2cm*0.3cm eel cost 16 dollars. I think it was pre-made, and the flavor was the same as ones in supermarket. The service was the worst. Dishes here were innovative and good looking, but I do not feel the quality is also first-class. Small portions usually made customers feel special. The service here "amazed" me. I made a reservation at 7:30pm and still spent at least 10 min standing at the door waiting to be noticed.
(1)Tina H.
This restaurant is a REAL Japanese. You'd experience similar food/ style in Japan. In another word, it is not Americanized. So don't expect same menu as other ordinal Japanese restaurant you can find in North America. The chef is licensed in Japan for Japanese cuisine. I strongly recommend this restaurant. It can be pricey, but worth every penny. Try Yomogi Dango for dessert. It comes in a packet made with bamboo leaf. So much fun and excitement to open the packet. The Dango itself is a herb scented chewy rice cake with sweet red bean paste inside. My favorite. By the way, one of the waitress (the elderly lady, wife of the chef?) has an attitude. It is unfortunate that this restaurant has her as a server. She is a real joykill... I recommend sushi counter seat to have a good view of chefs cooking artistic Japanese dishes.
(5)Jack M.
After the reviews I had very high expectations. Have to admit, I was disappointed. The Omakase required 2 days advance so that started my evening off wrong. The sea cucumbers were very small and the vinegar was overpowering. The tempura was good and fresh, and light like it is supposed to be. The fried oysters were large and tasty. The tuna rolls were average, the miso had a fishy aftertaste, and the Donkatsu meat was very poor quality, very chewy and gristly. The wine and Sake list is VERY high priced, and the food a little overpriced in my opinion. I have lived and eaten all over the world, and have had Japanese as good or better in places like Dayton Ohio (Akashi). Do yourself a favor and skip this one.
(2)Karl S.
Wow, just, wow. I saw the No Reservations episode Bourdain did here and have to agree with him, this place is amazing. Easily the best meal I have had in Columbus. The Berkshire pork cheek just melts in your mouth and the sashimi is to die for. Remember that the server here will blend into the background, because they are not the focus, so don't expect prompt service. Also, a meal there can take 2 hours, so go for the whole experience. The two chefs work with grace and its really magical to watch them. We are truly blessed to have such a gem in our humble Midwest town. And don't be scared by the price. If you are budget conscious, you can still escape Kihachi with your wallet and enjoy an amazing meal.
(5)Steve R.
We visited Kihachi at the request of my Mother-in-Law without knowing where exactly we were headed, she had just given us the address. It took a few moments upon arrival to get my head around exactly what Japanese restaurant would be located in a strip mall off of the dreaded Sawmill Rd. Lets just say the understated location and facade is the only "negative" I can think of. Our host John was very helpful and friendly. He explained the ordering process to our party of 8 first timers. We all ordered (2) small plates with at least one item off of the Chef's rotating handwritten menu that John translated for us. I do not speak Japanese, nor did I expect the staff to speak perfect English, therefore I was patient and did my best to decipher some of the items he had trouble explaining to us. Of the dishes that I can remember... - Mussel Shashimi - Shrimp stuffed lotus root - Shiitake mushroom and tofu soup - Monk Fish - ect.... In addition we ordered a few bowls of sticky rice and a few Kirin Ichibans to share. I have not always been the most adventurous diner, however I enjoyed every single dish as they were brought to the table. This is a process, so be prepared to spend some time, I think there was probably at least an hour between our first dish and our last dish. As far as price, the dishes can vary greatly, we simply split our bill 8 ways and we felt that the price was spot on with the quality and the service.
(5)Nicole M.
Dear Lord, I love this place! We just returned for our second time in order to revel in Chef Kimura's tasty creations. Everything is delicious, delicate, and so so so good. Highlights this time: Soba with duck, braised pork belly, and the crowning glory: Monk fish sashimi.
(5)S. O.
Authentic the food may be, but rude senior waitress (owner's wife?) and ridiculously slow and inattentive service completely takes away any positive thoughts about the dining experience here.
(1)Roderick C.
I'd been intimidated from going until I found friends who knew how to order an Omakase dinner without risking having to take out a second mortgage. It earned its rave review by No Reservations' Anthony Bourdain: perhaps the best restaurant in Central Ohio. Our 9 course tasting menu, composed masterfully by Chef Kimura as we sat at the sushi bar, each dish had us waxing poetic. It helped that my fellow diners were well-known by the chef, so he knew he didn't have to steer to safer dishes. It was totally worth the $100 per person (plus tax, tip, and drinks), though be warned: If you don't discuss the price before ordering, you might be writing a blank check, since the cost can balloon to twice that and more, as Kihachi clearly caters to the Honda expense account crowd.
(5)Alexa A.
Came here for my birthday. Amazing, amazing sushi. Best I've ever had stateside. But they know it, and it's dang pricey. Still, utterly delicious. If you go, order off the specials menu.
(5)Jacob C.
service attitude is poor. serving size is small. food is okay, not the best. but most expensive one in town for sure. If you are not all about enjoy the environment, dont go to this place.
(1)David L.
Food: 4 Decor: 4 Service: 2 I came here with my friend, Sophia L, for dinner. We arrived around 6:20pm without a reservation, and it was relatively empty, save two legit Japanese booths. We opted for two small dishes and two entrees, which was the perfect amount. 1. Sea cucumber with citrus vinaigrette and citrus peels, 8 yelp.com/biz_photos/uuUr… Okay. Taste was all right, and the texture was interesting. It was a bit tougher than I expected and came in a little glass bowl. 2. Crispy soft shell crab, 12 yelp.com/biz_photos/uuUr… Not bad. About 5 leg pieces of nice, crunchy, and pretty tasty crab. Went really well with the lemon, although it came with a miso broth for dipping as well. 3. Nabeyaki noodles with tempura shrimp, 14 yelp.com/biz_photos/uuUr… Pretty good. She really liked it, and it had a lot of things in it. Noodles were quite good. 4. Soba with yam, 14 yelp.com/biz_photos/uuUr… A bit disappointed. The soba was delicious and one of the best I've had, but there wasn't anything else besides the soba and the broth. I expected to see yams in my bowl, but there wasn't a single one. I guess it was supposed to be with the broth? I could kind of taste it in the soba noodles. Decor-wise, this place is one of the most legit Japanese restaurants I'v e been to. Everything from the booths to lamps to shoes outside the booths was authentically Japanese. Service, however, was fine until after the soft shell crabs were served. There was a solid 30 minutes before the noodles were brought, which was annoying because we were hoping to get out of there by 8pm. Instead, we ended up leaving around 8:30pm. Total was $51 after tax. Slow service, but would come back again for the food. Neat to know that Anthony Bourdain came here before. Apparently the Chinese restaurant next door took pictures with him?
(3)Mary S.
I recreated my inactive Yelp account just so I could review Kihachi. I went to dinner last Friday with my boyfriend to celebrate our anniversary, and was completely wowed by this restaurant! As a disclaimer, I am not a Japanese cuisine connoisseur by any means, but what I experienced at Kihachi is definitely one for the books. First of all, Kihachi is located in a weird strip mall in a sort of hidden location. I was really freaked out by this but the interior decor makes up for the odd location. Inside, Kihachi is small and is decorated simply yet classy, exactly how I like it. The walls are lined in private rooms that you can reserve, but my boyfriend and I decided to eat at the sushi bar. I would recommend eating at the sushi bar, because you have front row seats on observing the sushi chefs at work! I would suggest ordering about 5 or 6 tapas plus an entree for two people, as they are really small. David (my boyfriend) and I had the following: -Soybeans -Tempura -Fatty tuna sushi -Baby octopus -Shiitake mushroom and tofu soup - Duck with soba (the entree) Overall, Kihachi was an incredible place that I am definitely going back to! I was so overcome by the textures and tastes that I left my meal in sweet intoxication. I would highly recommend the baby octopus above all of the courses we had. Forewarning, this place is pretty pricey and the courses aren't paced as well as they could be, but for this food, I can definitely wait a few minutes.
(5)Michael U.
When I last visited Kihachi - almost 2 years ago despite it being less than a mile from my door - I stated "from the moment you enter the door to the moment you leave the experience is challenging yet simplified, complex yet refined, formal yet fun, and all-in-all wonderful." but after that visit I'm afraid I fell out of love with the simple elegance of simplified cuisines and raw fishes...between work, studies, and living in the Midwest where there is a logistic limitation to the freshness of the fish I'd spent more time honing my palate in the formal realm of America's best restaurants while on vacation than enjoying a culinary diamond in the rough in my own back yard. With that noted, I have to say I was excited when a colleague suggested a return visit to Kihachi - it is not often a friend has the money or inclination for such a place. Planning around our schedules we decided Tuesday at 6:00 - the restaurant's Mon-Sat opening time - would be ideal and arrived before the sign flipped from closed to open. The first persons to arrive in the restaurant we opted for counter seating and the restaurant quickly filled behind us - a situation no doubt somewhat due to Bourdain's recently aired episode of No Reservations (actually filmed in November.) Greeted by the same two ladies who functioned as my translators/servers on the last visit water was filled promptly and service was exactly on par with previous, though items progressed from the kitchen slightly slower given the large crowd. Selecting between the "set menu" and the daily specials we each opted for four courses and then sat back to chat and watch Chef Mike's masterful knife work. Sitting next to a pair of Japanese females the chef showed his preference for the language of his ancestors talking almost exclusively with the pair throughout the meal - he certainly seemed more personable on this visit than last. For our first courses my dining companion ordered the baby octopus of my last visit while I opted for something new, a food I'd not yet encountered - the nightly special of Sea Cucumber with Melon, Lemon, and Seaweed in garlic soy broth. With a texture somewhere between Octopus and an actual cucumber I found the mildly sweet and snappy protein quite excellent while the mélange of sweet, sour, and salty in varying textures provided for a very appealing contrast - a well thought out dish, and a memorable one as well. Our second courses would see my dining partner get two courses - the geoduck with miso and scallions (another dish I ordered on my previous visit) and the chef's arranged tempura plate of fried japanese sweet potato, pumpkin, lotus root, shrimp, and octopus. For myself, the second course would entail my favorite dish of the night - a simple Otoro Roll with Ginger and Wasabi. Wound tightly and with just enough wasabi to add some heat the Fatty Tuna Belly was amongst the best I've had anywhere - and at $20 for twelve pieces much cheaper than I've had anywhere, as well. Arriving shortly after my second course would be another sushi dish - this one much more interestingly paired. A box-style sushi that was interesting to watch the chef prepare, Sake Sea Bream with Lime and Mint would prove a very intoxicating concoction - the sweet fish painted with a bit of sake and the other constituents exuding hints of a mojito, but tamed enough by the savory fish and mild rice to prevent any one flavor from dominating the plate. Paired with a passion fruit infused soy sauce this dish was excellent. Chatting some more while the burners were firing and the kitchen was working at a rapid pace we watched multiple other items come from the kitchen - fried mushrooms stuffed with shrimp, pork cheeks, a fried soft shell crab, amongst others. Shortly thereafter our main courses would arrive - simple, straight forward, salt-grilled Ayu. Served whole with the head on we each started from the tail and dissected upwards (tricky with chopsticks) identifying glandular meats as we went along. Salty, savory, perfectly crisp skin - and with liver and cheeks that trumped even the flesh...my only advice would be order this but skip the stomach. When it was all said and done the four courses, tax, and tip rang in at just over $50 - certainly not cheap to say the least, but certainly not for a meal that you can find anywhere else in Columbus either. With all the debate going on about Bourdain's strip malls and Applebee's comment I still contest that I largely agree - but I'm also glad there are places like Kihachi in town to keep those of us who want a bit more from our cuisine happy. At some point I need to come back for the Omakase - perhaps when Uni season is back. Sushi restaurant or not, I still contest that Kihachi is the only place worth visiting for raw (or minimally cooked) fish in Central Ohio.
(5)Brady S.
Had the soba with duck and fried oysters; wife had grilled salmon and veggie tempura. Both were good dishes and the service was excellent.
(5)Justin B.
Fish spooge. I've now been there, and done that. My impression of Kihachi is right in line with pretty much everyone else who's been here. This is Columbus? The one in Ohio? Columbus? It took longer to walk from my door to the car than it took me to drive here. With apologies to Jeni Britton Bauer's impeccable ice cream parlor, this is my new gold medalist in town for exciting, challenging, unusual fooding. I am almost ashamed to admit that I didn't care for a couple of dishes, and in fact hated one. I pretty much take this as a personal failing. As daring an epicure as I'd like to consider myself, a few thing I may have not been ready for. I won't bother to name that dish, as I can find no fault with its preparation which by all available evidence was prepared with great care. I made the mistake of coming in on a lark. Although they had tables available they were initially hesitant to seat us. It appears they work on a tight time table. The initial service was very slow to start (as we were warned, so I'll give them a pass) but once they got rolling with us it was flawless. Make a res. Do it now.
(5)Stephanie K.
Oh Kihachi I want to love you so so bad. I really do want to give you 5 stars, but I was honestly let down. I was so excited to try this place after seeing the stellar Yelp reviews and that No Reservations episode. My experience started with walking into a freezing restaurant. It remained pretty much chilly the entire meal. I ordered the chef's choice sashimi platter, seaweed with vinegar sauce, and tuna shitake tofu hotpot dish. The chef's choice sashimi platter consisted of 12 pieces of a variety of fish. Tuna, jack fish, sebring, and sea urchin were the picks of the day. Those 12 pieces were a whopping $28! I have no problem paying good money for good food, but the sashimi just didn't blow my mind. The seaweed had a great texture, but was drowned in the most sour vinegar that overpowered the taste of seaweed. The hot pot dish was probably my favorite. The broth was excellent and had great complex flavor. The pieces of tuna were tender. It was good, but again, my mind wasn't blown. I fully expected to have a foodgasmic experience here. :(
(3)Khan Z.
Went there twice, other things are quite good, but the steam duck with sake, OMG, is just mind-blowing bad.
(4)Jason M.
Every delicious food will be ruined if waited more than one hour. twice.
(1)Brian D.
The wife and I hit Kihachi for the first time last night for our anniversary. After reading a few comments about bad service, I was somewhat hesitant to select this restaurant for our anniversary. We sat in one of the private rooms and the service could not have been any better. Our waiter helped navigate us to the perfect special dishes and always kept the water glasses full. The food also came out timely. Beyond the great service, the food is just incredible. As many people had recommended, we stuck primarily to the specials list of appetizers. One after another, the dishes just amazed us. If you enjoy unique dining experiences and are stuck in Columbus, this is definitely the place for you.
(5)George Y.
If you want a california roll, shrimp tempura, or some cook flipping scallops in his chef hat benihana style, then this is not for you. Kihachi offers unique (or to the Japanese patrons, authentic) tapas sized Japanese dishes in a somewhat hidden, nondescript strip mall on the northwest side of town. Wonderful little place with normal table seating, a bar, and tatami mat rooms. I've been here twice and I'd take a tatami rooms anyday because it gives you a chance to relax, sit back, eat and really enjoy the food and company in a private space. Since the dishes are somewhat smaller, we ordered quite a bit. They were all very tasty, and the ones I can recall are the mushrooms stuffed with shrimp, the fried rice ball in broth and the grilled mochi for desert. You need to be adventurous and avoid the traditional stuff, no other restaurant that I know of in Columbus serves what Kihachi serves. And the menu changes, based on what ingredients the chef has purchased. They can make rolls, nigiri, etc. but that's not what has made them famous. Service-wise our waiter was pretty attentive. He was caucasian and spoke Japanese. He helped translate the entire Japanese menu for us (the menu had about 20+ items on it). Now realize that you may not come out of Kihachi stuffed like you would coming out of Hometown Buffet. And Kihachi is definitely pricier then your normal Japanese restaurant. But if you're willing to go beyond the california rolls, then definitely check this place out.
(4)Ozzy C.
I'll start with the only negative I can think of. The service is slow. If you want faster service here, be from Japan and speak Japanese. If you're like the rest of us though you can still sit at the bar and have one of the most authentic Japanese dining experiences anywhere, let alone in Columbus, Ohio. The fish is killer fresh the tofu homemade. The uni preparation is to absolutely-samurai-sword-yourself-in-the-stomach for. Two words: tuna collar. Do go with an open mind. Do try a bit of everything you haven't heard of. Don't come when you're broke. Don't be afraid to enjoy something new. You just might feel like you're in Kyoto and not next to a billiards in a shopping mall in Ohio.
(5)Jurgen J.
Kihachi is one of the better authentic Japanese restaurants in Columbus. Prior to dining here, i have prepared myself for the long wait of food. One of my friend told me that he waited over an hour the ramen. And his claims were all valid. I waited on average 30 minutes between courses, i order around 6. The meal started with the fluke sashimi and fish liver. I've never had the fish liver before, but it's good. It's a texture is soft and rich, but a lot lighter than duck liver. The second course was steamed duck with sake. It is served with soy sauce combination and wasabi blend. The duck was perfectly cooked and the wasabi blend (i think it was wasabi and mustard) added extra flavor. then another 30 minute wait..... The third course was the pork cheek. This was the highlight of the meal. It was delicious. juicy and so flavorful. The forth course was braised sea eel. This one was one of my least favorite. It was basically unagi, braised with eggs and vegetables. The braising reduces both the texture and the flavor of the unagi. It was really bland. The fifth course was the beef tataki. This one is classic dish done well. The beef was really fresh. The sixth course was one the rice with the. It was ok. In conclusion, some are good, some are bad. If you really want to try this place just remember to eat something first and research what to order. If the wait is not such a pain, i would be going to this place more frequently.
(3)Christine A.
Do not mistake Kihachi for a Japanese steakhouse or a sushi bar. Think of it more like Japanese tapas. The 'tapas' menu is extensive, hand-written mostly in Japanese and cryptic English. The daily specials are written only in Japanese with prices next to each item; the waitress pointed to that menu and translated everything for us verbally. Everything was delicious. We especially liked the duck dish and the wasabi marinated pork. Not only did they taste good, the texture was lovely. The blue toro sushi roll was pretty good. My cousin got a noodle soup (not sure which exactly). My mouth is watering thinking about it. There was something along the lines of "fermented pork". If you get past the saltiness, it was actually pretty good. Definitely an interesting experience. Make it more interesting and reserve a tatami room in advance.
(3)Lori P.
I have been hesitant to write this review. I am a foodie, and want to love this place... I will keep trying to love it, but I am not there yet. I have traveled all around the United States and lived on Maui for a few years, so I have tasted some food. I love Asian food, so I was very excited for the reviews of this authentic Japanese restaurant. I actually heard about this place from a friend of mine in Michigan who saw it on No Reservations and wanted to drive down here to have dinner there. I told him we would check it out first. I was excited for an adventurous menu, and even one I couldn't read, and that is just what I got. I went there with my parents who are also adventurous eaters, and we ordered whatever the server told us to get. Honestly, we couldn't really understand her, so we weren't too sure what we ordered, and I can't really remember now. Nothing was memorable except the check and the slow service. It was not crowded, but took almost 2 hours to order, eat and leave. This seemed like an excessive amount of time. The food was just OK, but not a good value for the price. I will go back, as I believe in the rest of you who find this place amazing, but so far, I am yet to be impressed.
(3)Ariel B.
Authentic it may be, but the service is not, and the food is just okay. I had two fellow foodie friends in town this weekend and had eagerly awaited such an opportunity to go to the much revered Kihachi. Maybe all the hype that has spun off from Anthony Bourdain's praises has shrouded some peoples eyes from the reality of the experience. I am also willing to admit that we may have gone on an off night. However, this time, Tony, I disagree. I am not a boring eater. I am an exciting eater. I will eat anything, and I will often like it. I eat a ton of authentic Japanese, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese food as they are my absolute favorites. I even like Durian for god's sake! The experience started out pleasant with reservations and a tatami room, stepping in after leaving our shoes outside. Fifteen minutes go by and water is served and menus materialize. Another 15 minutes go by and the waitress comes to take our orders. She asks if we want to specials in English and acts annoyed when we says yes. She then storms out of the tatami room and does not return for another 15 minutes during which time she hurriedly explains the specials in English. At this time we are still excited about the food. If Kihachi was packed or we were slurping back sake I would have easily forgiven these time delays. We proceed to order baby octopus, fermented squid, some fatty tuna, some giant prawns, and multiple other items on the menu including two fish specials. The waitress is incredulous of our selections and asks us several times if these are the things that we would like to order or would we rather have something else. Hello? I think I know what I'm ordering. Another 50 minutes go by and the waitress at long last brings the dishes-- all of them at once. Not one at a time and not appetizer before entree. Yes, it is all edible. Yes, it is all pretty, but so are the things that you can get at kroger's sushi station or fish section. That doesn't mean they always taste good. We eat almost everything, but are left wanting more and not in a good way, hoping that every bite would fulfill all of our expectations and make up for the service which verged on insulting. After all of this, the plates are cleared and we patiently wait another 30 minutes for our bill and are not asked about dessert, drinks, etc. Essentially we are ignored. Then come the bill. Behold! There is an extra charge for the tatami room. We did not ask for the room ahead of time or at arrival. We were also not told there would be a charge for the room. We were seated in the room despite the fact that there was space at regular tables. Ugh. Kihachi I want so badly to love you, why do you do this to me? I won't be going back. :(
(1)Bob T.
Simply outstanding. All of the dishes have an attention to detail that exists in few restaurants nowadays. The entire staff is always friendly, helpful, and truly take pride in what they do. Bravo!
(5)Lauren H.
So far, this is the best Japanese food I've had in Columbus. This is not a steak house. This is not a sushi bar. This is small, elegant plates served in an authentic atmosphere with tatami rooms. I don't recommend Kihachi for the non-adventurous eater. For starters, the menu is (hand!)written half in Japanese, half in rather cryptic English, so you're exactly sure what you're getting. But when the food arrives, it's gorgeous, employs plenty of umami, a lot of finesse and little fuss. This, to me, is the essence of Japanese anything. It's a little pricey, but well worth it for the amount of attention and care put into every plate. If you want gallons of food for your dollar, go down Sawmill to Genji (another fav of mine, but for completely different reasons). If you want an elegant dining experience, irasshai!
(5)Chris W.
Overpriced medicore food with disinterested service. Edit: and it just doesn't improve in later experiences. I've seen better places than this go out of business. Save your $, go down the street to City Bar-B-Q
(1)Allyson L.
Kihachi is high-end Japanese. Don't go here expecting to get egg yolk sauce and fried rice. It is an exclusive place that serves only high quality sushi and well crafted Japanese dishes. The place fills up quickly so it is best to get reservations. Also be warned that it is expensive. The last time we went there we dropped a couple hundred dollars for 3 people (business expense). But it is worth it. The service is slow but you are meant to take your time and relax. This is not an in and out place. The decor doesn't match the price but the food does not disapoint. I definitely recommend it.
(5)stephen s.
Here's the thing about Kihachi The main focus of the restaurant is appetizer. Does it mean that the main courses not good ? No, they are great. It just means that the chefs will serve all of your appetizers first, one by one, before they cook your main course and that is why sometimes it took so long for your food to come out. Imagine this... you came with your friend, you decided that you just want to eat the main course, but your buddy ordered 3 kind of appetizers and a main course. What will happen is you have to wait for your friend's appetizers to be served first before your dinner came out and... there goes an hour of waiting for you. Therefore it is recommended for you to share the food or order for the group so that nobody have to wait for too long. Maybe the idea of sharing food is strange for you, but in Asian culture we usually share food with families and friends. Considering Kihachi is an Asian restaurant, maybe you should try to share the food. So here is my suggestion: 1. Come in a small group 2. Preferably go there on Monday to Thursday 3. Share the food/order for the group 4. Sit at the bar that is the best seat in the house 5. Have fun, enjoy your food while chatting with your friends Lastly, I often eat in Kihachi, based on my past experiences, the food does not take that long to come out. The last time I ate there, I came at 6 p.m, we ordered 7 appetizers with 2 entrees and we finished in 7.30 p.m. Which is not bad considering the amount of our orders. In my opinion come here if you want to spend time with your friends while having great food. p.s: if you want to know my opinion of Kihachi food, please take a look at my past review of Kihachi
(5)Michelle M.
This place blew me away. Yes it's a little far from my downtown stomping ground, and yes it's in a strange strip mall, but the CRAVE article convinced me to try it. The restaurant has several seating arrangements: bar (the food kind not the drink kind), tables, and low tables (where you take your shoes off and sit cross legged). At first I was disappointed to be seated at the bar but it ended up being the perfect spot. My boyfriend and I watched in awe as the chef very calmly and efficiently turned out order after order of the most beautiful dishes I've seen. Everything we got was absolutely amazing. I ordered the mushroom and shrimp tempura and the udon. My boyfriend ordered duck, their version of beef carpaccio, and tuna tar tar. And let me just tell you about the wasabi. We watched as the chef ground it from a root that still had living shoots on it. I will never be able to eat any other wasabi again. A truly amazing gem.
(5)Keith M.
My boyfriend read about this place somewhere and had been trying to get me to go for months. We finally went last Saturday night and it was one of the best culinary experiences I have ever had! We ordered the chef's special, which you must make reservations for in advance. It is truly the most authentic Japanese meal I could imagine. This is far removed from sushi or Japanese steakhouse fare. Apparently the chef's special is as expected, different every time. Our meal consisted of 9 courses with an average of 3-5 items on each plate. I couldn't even try to describe them all but I will point out a few highlights. There was a plate of sashimi that included some delicious fishes I had never had before at any sushi restaurant. There were two soup-like courses that both were delicious and delivered completely different textural experiences. One course had a sushi-like preparation of two kinds of Kobe beef seared over rice with a wasabi mustard... probably my favorite of the whole meal. I ate a full prawn for the first time, antennae and all, and had my first experience with geoduck and abalone each of which were prepared very well. Overall a phenomenal experience I would definitely go back for again and again if I could afford to.
(5)eliza k.
My friend and I would scrape all our $$ together to go here during our time in college. Amazing Japanse food! I still have not found anything to compare to it & I now live in CA. Like other reviewers said, forgo the dinners and order a bunch of small plates AND whatever specials there are for the nite. One time we had a lobster sashimi, which was good but then the lady hostess offered to use the left over lobster to make us a lobster miso soup! OMG phenomenal! So was the live , freshly fried eel. I really could go on and on.... Do yourself a favor, and go go go, its worth every penny!
(5)Sam B.
Five stars! Just went there and it was as good as always. I ordered from the a la carte menu, which provided more variety than their dinner menu. It is matsutake season right now and I had a delicious matsutake soup in a teapot. And wow, box pressed sea bream sushi is amazing. The wait staff was especially wonderful. She took the time to translate each and every one of the specials into english and was very attentive throughout the night. She even offered us the menus again for a second round of food. Anyway, great Japanese food, great service, can't get any better than that.
(5)Don B.
My wife and I took her two younger sisters to Kihachi last night to celebrate my birthday and introduce them to the experience. All four of us have traveled internationally, and while we are not hardcore "foodies," we do enjoy nice meals and appreciate quality. We had been here once before, in December 2010, for our anniversary and really enjoyed it then also. From the opening dish of sea urchin, sea cucumber, and another tasty treat I didn't catch the name of, my sister-in-laws were in love. We had ordered the Chef's Choice, which must be reserved a couple of days in advance, so each course was a surprise. The chef continually made us ooh and aah with his presentation and the food itself left us often speechless or uuummmming our appreciation. Just some highlights: soft shell crab, the best sashimi I have ever tasted, duck with a dab of hot mustard, fresh water shrimp, and the finish: Hawaiian Blue Prawn with black lava sea salt. All wonderful. As many other reviewers have said, this is a traditional Japanese restaurant. I read the reviews mentioning service issues and didn't really give them much mind, but my wife was a bit irked last night. Her tea was only refilled once and she had to ask several times for water during our nearly 3 hour stay. The rest of us ordered alcohol, and we were fine. I am willing to deal with some service problems when the rest of the experience is as great as it is, but some of you may be more concerned about that. Having ordered the Chef's Choice, which is very pricey $400 for four of us, and ordered off the à la carte, I would recommend just ordering à la carte items. You can save some money that way. Order a variety and be adventurous. On the other hand, the Chef's Choice exposes you to items you may have never heard of or thought to try, so that should be part of the consideration. To sum up, my wife is perturbed by the service she received but is still willing to go back, and I think the food is so wonderful I'd serve it myself and drink water from the tap if they made me. One last note, sit at the counter. Watching the chef use his knives on fish is like watching an artist paint.
(5)Danielle F.
I have been to Kihachi twice. I was sent with high expectations - neither time was I disappointed. I had similar meals both times. As others have stated, the focus is the appetizers - the appetizer menu is considerably larger than the entree menu. The entrees have large portions and are not that expensive ($8-20 - very affordable). The appetizers and desserts, on the other hand, are very small, pricier, and while the entrees are good, the appetizers and desserts are what really impress. In my two trips, I have tried their edamame, press box sushi (two kinds - a mackeral and snapper), abalone sushi, and tempura vegetables. The edamame is incredible (being so simple, I'm not sure how it was so much better than any edamame I've had anywhere else, but it was somehow a cut above). The abalone was not great - it was just too chewy and without a lot of flavor (characteristic of the dish, not the chef). Tempura vegetables are pretty standard, and these were too - good, nothing extraordinary. The pressbox sushi were highly recommended by a professor, and they exceeded all expectations. It has been to long since I had them for me to attempt to describe them in any detail, but I will say they are pressed with citrus - which really adds something special. The pressbox sushi are in the "specials" section of the menu - written only in Japanese - so listen when the waiter is describing them. I've had two entrees - teriyaki steak and a small bowl of sashimi with rice. Both came with miso soup (delicious) and a small salad with a delicious house sesame-based dressing. The steak was a generous size, and very tender. The sashimi was also excellent. I've tried a few of the desserts. I highly recommend the herbal mochi. Mochi is a rice dough, in this case filled with a (sweet) bean paste, wrapped in a banana leaf, and grilled. If you haven't tried mochi, no description will really suffice to describe it - I highly recommend trying it. They offer three kinds of mochi for dessert, the herbal was my favorite. As others have noted, the service is not impressive. Planning on being proactive / slightly aggressive about drink refills will be to your benefit. Do not come here if you are in a rush. This is a place you make time for, schedule in advance, and enjoy as the focal event of the evening. Do so, and you -will- enjoy it. :)
(5)Howie O.
What a cool place!!! It is in a strip mall, but when you walk in the door, you know you are in the midst of Japanese restaurant greatness. They have cool side rooms, small tables or you can eat at the bar. We "chose" to eat at the bar because we didn't have reservations and even though the place was empty, all of the tables were spoken for. Note to self: Get reservations next time. Eating at the bar allowed us to watch the crazy cooking that was going on. The chef made something I had never seen before - tile fish head was what he said it was when I asked. I shared a couple of dishes with my group. The assorted sashimi was some of the best I have had, fried oysters were amazing, duck soba was delicious and the bbq eel on rice was wonderful. Expect to have a heafty bill at the end of the evening, but you will be full and happy.
(5)Isham K.
My girlfriend goes to Ohio State University, and no surprise to anyone, but Columbus Ohio isn't exactly known as a foodie Mecca. After seeing Anthony Bourdain rave about this place on an episode of "No Reservations" we were determined to try this authentic Japanese restaurant...in Ohio... The first three times we went by it was closed, little did we know it's only open 6 - 10pm Monday through Saturday. Finally I called them yesterday and I think I spoke with the Chef. I had heard rumors about an amazing Chef's Special and requested that for the reservation. Apparently you need two days advanced notice, but they were very accommodating and told us they'd take us on the same day. The service was impeccable and explanations of the various items very helpful. Now on to the meal. It was a 9 course Japanese magic carpet ride. Each course consisted of seemingly EXTREMELY AUTHENTIC Japanese cuisine. The flavors were all very light and refreshing and the mix of soups, salads, sashimi, shellfish, beef, pork, abalone (i'm sure i'm forgetting something) were perfectly timed. The accenting, plating and overall presentation of the meal was delightful. The seafood quality was unlike anything I've tasted in any restaurant or sushi bar before. By far, the highlight of my meal was the Wagyu Beef Nigiri accented with scallions and coming in second the whole (head and tail included) deep fried Hawaiian Blue Prawn accented with black lava salt (I assume from Hawaii as well). A few other highlights: Monkfish liver, King Crab, Octopus, Squid, Giant Clam, Indigenous Nuts, Roots and other vegetables, Abalone and Pork Cheek. Go back, even if you've never been.
(5)Amanda H.
I called on Friday to make a reservation for the following Monday for a party of 6. I was denied. I was told that they already had a party of 6 and they did not have enough staff to accomodate another! I told the person on the phone that I would be taking my business elsewhere and they said okay. I am still in disbelief that a restaurant would turn away a party making reservations!! I don't care what people say about this place, unfortunately I will not be attempting again to try it!
(1)Reid G.
Don't go here expecting Sushi. This is Japanese, not Sushi. They have some Sashimi on the menu, but this is cetainly not a focal point. After arriving, I quickly realized why there is on menu available online. All handwritten, with the specials written in Japanese (the server explains each one...in English, of course). Decor is close to non-existent, and the experience quickly takes you away from the confines of the room. I recommend sitting at a chair in front of the chefs. I would pay the price of admission simply to watch them work. Their motions are focused, not loud and hurried. Periodically the head chef would check in to see how my meal was or make a suggestion on how to eat the course. Don't expect to eat here in less than an hour and a half. I have a much more difficult time describing the food in words. So fresh that every components tastes like it was just harvested or handmade...probably because it was. Get an appetizer and an etree and you won't have to think about food until the server serenades you with the desription of their peach specialty. I'm still not sure what it was, but it was superb. I don't even live in Columbus, but now I have a reason to look forward to my next work trip. Go here. Now.
(5)viv l.
Kihachi is really something special. And it's special because A) the flower arrangements are all fresh (twice a week!), done in house, by the owner's husband, according to traditional Japanese aesthetics, B) there's virtually little to no English anywhere, and C) due to (B), the wait staff will patiently translate every single one of the 12 to 16 daily specials fastidiously written on the post-it in the "appetizers" menu. Kihachi is really more of a Japanese tapas restaurant than a steakhouse or sushi joint. There is virtually no sushi on the menu and when making reservations, the lady will tell you, in no uncertain terms, that they are not a steakhouse. Instead, think of Kihachi as an upscale izakaya. Okay, *really* upscale izakaya. With extraordinarily fresh fish specially flown in, just for you. We were a group of six, we knew that the only thing to do when faced with the dinner & appetizer menus was to immediately dismiss the run of the mill dinner menu. Seriously, don't even look at it. The "appetizer" menu is really what the kitchen excels at. And we went straight for the kill: we ordered one of everything from the post-it note. Salt baked fresh ginkos. Horse mackerel sashimi. Tuna & toro rolls. Salted fish jowl. Berkshire pork cheek. 3 veg + shrimp = box of 4. Giant grilled shrimp. Jackfish sashimi. Sea veggie tempura. Braised geoduck. Jackfish & horse mackerel nigiri. Everything from flavors to presentation was impeccable. I had two transcendental moments that night: horse mackerel is my new favorite fish for its buttery, velvety, texture; and wasabi is not the end all be all accompaniment to sushi cuz yuzu (kumquat) in soy is nuanced and refreshing. I'm a lucky girl for having had the dining experiences that I've had. But I am especially lucky for having great friends who convinced me to give Kihachi a chance. Because this is truly a world class restaurant in an unassuming strip mall in the middle of suburban Dublin. (And it's even better when you win a bet so your friend has to cover your share of the bill!!! Thanks Drew!!)
(5)Wen-Chi Y.
It was recently featured on Travel Channel... However, it is definitely, hands down, the best in Columbus. Pricey? DEFINITELY!! but it is the best!! We had been going to this place since my college days.. and the chef is wonderful... Chef's selection? always the best to go. Make it a special treat & overlook the $100 per price tag, you will be VERY happy at the end. Get to know the chef, really... he will fan out some of the "special" shipments that normally reserved for their regular Japanese customers for you! Once you gone Kihachi.. you will never turn back to the funky regular Japanese food that you find around town.
(5)Heather C.
So I have to admit something, I am sooo not cool or hip enough for this restaurant! My husband and I thought we were getting sushi, such as rolls, the only sushi I eat. When we walked in we loved the place, the tables are great and it looked really nice! Well the authenticness of the place set in when we were handed the menu. There were 16 items only written in Japanese. The nice host/server explained all of the items but I was still lost. Luckily we picked a couple tempura, soy beans, eel, and a couple other dishes that turned out to be excellent. The really shocking thing was the soft shell crab, which was a whole crab. Shocking for me. The food was good, just over my head for sure! So if your looking for authentic Japanese and know what to order, try this place for sure!!!! Hopefully if I return it will be with someone knowledgeable and experienced with authentic Japanese food!
(4)Aaron A.
After the showcase on "No Reservations", I decided to take a peek at what the fuss was about. I wasn't disappointed. Wonderful cuisine - fresh ingredients, flavorful meats, and well prepared/presented dishes. Service is slow, by American standards, but is appropriate for Japanese cuisine. We had an issue with our food though - we were told that the dish I ordered (GeoDuck) was sold out. This was after an hour wait - which would mean if I ordered something else, it'd likely be another hour wait... oddly enough, they had one left. It was quite tasty. Had the braised pork as well - another tender, flavorful and well prepared dish. It was so tender I was able to cut it with my chop sticks. All in all, worthwhile, and I'll be going back - great quality and authentic, just like the other reviews.
(4)Ken B.
I enjoyed the food I ordered, but only had one thing that found outstanding. It was the shitake mushroom with shrimp. When they came, they look like balls with one side baked mushroom, the other side was minced shrimp coated in sesame seeds. The two sides were fused together, I'm not sure how. It came with dipping broth. Delicious! Don't sit in the room to the right as you walk in the front door, unless you like the smell tobacco smoke. The cigar shop next door seems to be the source of the offensive odor.
(3)Jasmine M.
I can't believe we did not discover this authentic Japanese restaurant earlier! This is REAL Japanese food! Food is fresh, well prepared and extremely tasty. I just wish that we could come here everyday but it's a bit too pricey for me. However, you get what you pay for here! The whole experience, the authenticity, quality and flavor is worth every penny. Everything is prepared so delicately. Ignore what the other Yelpers say about the service. Why rush, when you are enjoying such a wonderful meal??? This is not an assembly line! They have items on the menu that changes daily depending on what fresh fish/ produce they have. I heard that some items are flown to them. The duck soba is my all time favorite. Although there is only one waitress, she takes the time to explain each daily special to you and makes everything sound so yummy. Writing this review makes me crave for the food so badly. In fact, I think I'm calling them to make a reservation for tonight right now :) Keep on eating, diners!
(5)Weifei Z.
People who think they've had the best sushi in Cbus elsewhere have not been to Kihachi. The service is slow, but the food is something to meditate on. I chewed really slowly to savor the flavors. The slow chewing might also be due to the fact that it's an expensive place, but oh so worth it.
(5)Mykola B.
Kihachi is probably the best restaurant in the Columbus area, but be warned: this is not a casual sushi joint. When you come to Kihachi it's for an authentic and exquisite japanese culinary experience. You'll be here for a couple of hours. The staff is friendly but not as quick as you may be used to - the unspoken assumption on all sides is that diners at Kihachi are there for a leisurely evening, and the staff will err on the side of giving you space. As for the food - holy crap! You have three options here: 1) You can do a traditional appetizer + entree meal, which is reasonably priced and guaranteed to be delicious. 2) You can stick to appetizers, racking up a potentially impressive bill while simutaneously trying a wide variety of flavors and combinations. 3) You can, if you order a few days in advance, request an "Omakase" - or chef's choice. They'll give you a price-per-head, and then you'll just show up and enjoy a ridiculous 9-course feast that will leave you satisfied and inspired. Most of the food I've had here has been exquisite, but a few items stand out as worth trying: 1) If you are looking for a simple entree, you may be tempted to avoid anything as pedestrian as Chicken Teriyaki. Don't avoid it. It's a singular experience: the meat is cooked to perfection, and seasoned with a Teriyaki sauce that will forever color the way you experience teriyaki flavor. Subtle, smokey, excellent texture - you can't go wrong. 2) If you're looking for some appetizers, give these a try: - Mushrooms stuffed with shrimp pate - amazing texture, great flavor. - Braised Pork Cheek - if they have their braised pork cheek, order three. The meat is tender and flavorful, with a chewy and rewarding texture. It's served with garnish vegetables, each of which changes the flavor of the pork in subtle and interesting ways when eaten together. - Sea Bream Pressed Sushi - Sea Bream sushi prepared with a wooden press, which forces the sushi and the rice together around some herbs in the middle. This is probably the single best sushi dish in the city, I think. - Toro Maki - A tuna roll prepared using the premium fatty belly meat of the tuna fish. They don't always have this, but if they do don't balk at the price tag - order it and enjoy it. Every bite melts in your mouth, and it redefines the whole idea of a tuna roll.
(5)Tom P.
Went to this place looking for something unique and was blown away. Only order off the special menu (all in japanese). The waitress was very patient and described each dish to us multiple times since I continued to forget what she said. It's all small plates off the special menu and ordering 2-3 per person is adequate. It continues to change, so if you want to try gourmet japanese food and have grown tired of sushi this is the place to go.
(5)Nan L.
At the risk of sounding snobbish, most people impression of Japanese food is sushi or worse Japanese steakhouse. Kihachi is neither, and one of the few places that's truly Japanese restaurant. When you walk in the door and see the ikebana, scrolls, and traditional tatami mat knee down dining area separated by screen doors (not the fake sit down area to accommodate people not accustomed to sitting on the floor), you know the owner is catering to a limited audience (I'm guessing the executive Honda oversea employees). (as a note they do have regular seating). The food was in one word amazing. I don't think I'll do justice describing it myself. The hostess was extremely patient and went through the entire special menu (which was in Japanese) in details describing the ingredients and some of the more exotic cooking methods. I'm usually hunting good eats on a low budget. However I won't hesitate recommending Kihachi knowing the price of meal is going to break the bank since it's worth every penny.
(5)Tom H.
Just finished dinner, having taken my son out to celebrate his new job. We had the 11-course chef's tasting meal, the best of its kind since I was in Tokyo years ago. It was marvelous, from the opening sea crab salad to a woodsy mushroom and tofu soup, soft-shell crab topped with a grated daikon broth, superb sushi and sashimi, a marinated grilled pork dish, and home-made strawberry ice cream with sweet black beans for dessert. I know, that's not all 11. But it was a wonderful experience, well worth the price.
(5)Georgios D.
Did not even get to taste the food! We are big fans of izakaya and Japanese cuisine and could not pass the opportunity to go to this place while visiting Columbus. We arrived (my wife, my 1 year old and myself) to an empty restaurant with only a couple of people sitting at the sushi bar. We were greeted by a server and after a couple of minutes the hostess came to show us to our table: a table in a 6 x 3 feet space by the entrance, basically 4 walls and a table, separated from the rest of the store: a horrible little closet that they had put to use in order to have an extra table. Since the restaurant was empty, I reminded her that we had made a reservation. She replied that this was the table they had reserved for us. We told her that we would not stay and left in disbelief. While we were getting in our car, she run out to the parking lot to tell us that a table had somehow "magically" become available (i.e. they did not think that we would leave and figured that they did not want to lose that money). I respectfully (though a series of insults and name calling would have been more appropriate - that's just not me) declined. I don't care what your claim to fame is or how good (you think) you are. People come to you restaurant to spend their hard earned money and to have fun for a couple of hours. Maybe they they did not like that we had our kid with us, maybe they did not like our faces, or maybe the just do not care about their clients. It really does not matter. You people are a joke and nobody should waste their time or money with you.
(1)Jon B.
This is perhaps the finest restaurant in Columbus, period. My experiences here have been outstanding each and every time. Not one trip to Kihachi has left me feeling unsatisfied. The first time I entered the establishment, I had to muster all of my courage to take a seat and place my order. Everything was confusing, new, different. I felt out of my element, but I stuck with it. Fast-forward to the present, and I'm as much a regular at the business as my meager income allows. I would gladly dine at Kihachi once a week, and with their oft-rotating specials, I would never grow tired of the experience. Indeed, something about the environment puts my soul at ease. The pain and stress associated with a wasted Midwestern life are stripped from me as I pass beneath the lintel of the door, a fitting preparation for the pure, perfect foods awaiting you. Dine here tonight. Don't delay. The staff is as wonderful as the food, and they will be infinitely patient as you acclimate yourself to the exotic array of comestibles available -- remarkably -- in an unassuming Columbus strip mall. Thank you, Kihachi. You "get it."
(5)Thao T.
I know there are mixed reviews about the service at Kihachi, but we had such a fantastic time. Our server was so knowledgeable and honest about his recommendations, and he made sure that we were comfortable and happy from the start. The food was really good. I was so glad it wasn't the traditional sushi / hibachi restaurant, and I had fun trying new things. And it wasn't nearly as expensive as I expected!
(5)Zeytin Y.
This is a truly authentic Japanese restaurant with much to offer. I would recommend sitting at the bar, though do not expect a full scale sushi bar. It is where you can sit and watch all your food being prepared. The menu includes some sushi courses, but go for appetizers and dinner items... They are as authentic as they can get outside Japan. To the best of my knowledge, there are no restaurant in Columbus area that offer shabu shabu. I have been told by the waitress that they can prepare it if you give them 24 hour notice. So, let's crack down, shall we... THE GOOD: Well, pretty much everything is tasty. I would strongly recommend soba and duck in broth and their tempura. As for appetizers, I'd say go for the special items. The waiters go great lengths to describe each item. They do not carry these items year around and they are very good. If you are not too afraid of strong tastes, try the fermented squid. They have a full bar as can be expected. THE BAD: It is an upscale (taste and originality-wise) Japanese restaurant, and therefore, appetizer portions are small. If you are looking to filling up on appetizers, you are looking at $30+ per person. Appetizers plus a noodle dish would be a tasty and cheaper choice. THE UGLY: To my surprise, simply nothing... When the food is so delicious, I forgive pretty much any small flaw.
(4)Kim S.
If this is authentic Japanese then I will stick to our Americanized version! Service was SLOW, food took forever, and the restaurant smelled so much like cigarette smoke our clothes smelled like we had been in a smokey bar!! Will never go back!
(1)Veronica W.
This place is the best, and VERY authentic. The waitress' are very attentive and willing to offer advice on what you should order. There are many things on the menu that I have never heard of, nor would I necessarily order on my own, but was recommended by the staff, and it was all amazing. I have never had bad service, or food, and I have been here many times. I LOVE THIS PLACE. It would be best to make a reservation before you show up.
(5)J S.
I had one of my top 5 meals of my life here. It is a bit pricey but worth every bit in my opinion.
(5)John C.
Recently went to Kihachi for my 20th wedding anniversary. Again the food was excellent. Sat at the bar, ate some unbelievable tekka maki and some toro sashimi. Had soba with duck. The broth is subtle and warming to the soul. Got there a little late in the week and two of the weekly specials were already sold out, so I settled for the seabream pressed sushi, And by settled, I mean savored every bite of what has gradually become my favorite raw fish dish on the planet. I cannot describe the flavor combination, you'll just have to try it. I almost forgot the braised snapper head with daikon. Food for the soul without a doubt.
(5)Edric H.
U have to wait more than 2 hours if u r walk in. Also the American server is very unfriendly and told us that - "you have to wait if you r walk in ! We r not the normal restaurant" Whf?
(1)Foodie W.
We had the opportunity to sit at the bar just in front of the chefs while they were preparing our food. The old Japanese chef is extremely friendly and it was interesting to see him preparing our food. The food here is very delicate and pure Japanese food. The only downside is the menu ... most of their daily specials are written in Japanese and the waitress who explained the menu to us went too fast and we did not catch all she said. The chef was kind enough to offer to translate for us if needed (at that time, the restaurant was not so busy yet). Price wise is on the high side. Even though the food is good, I personally feel it was a bit pretentious with lots of decor/details .. thus, making the price higher. Akai Hana is still our preferred choice for sushi and Japanese food.
(4)F Z.
The only thing that is keeping me from giving Kihachi 5 stars is the service. While one of the two servers was polite and friendly, the other one was impatient and rather rude. The graciousness and attentiveness of the servers over at Akai Hana cannot be found here. Aside from that, Kihachi offered a great variety that sent me straight to gustatory heaven. My friends and I decided to abandon the dinner menu and opted for the appetizer/small plate instead. It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that this restaurant is pricey, but trust me, it's quite worth it (if you can overlook the service.) From the baby octopus to the steamed duck with sake to sushi, I think we covered quite the spectrum. Homemade ice-cream and mochi balls were the perfect ending to a satisfying dining experience overall. Leave your conservative eating habits at the door and prepare to indulge in an adventurous meal... although I still refuse to try raw oysters. Yuck.
(4)Lisa C.
My hubby is Japanese and to him Kihachi is as authentic as it gets. Maybe even better! Everything there is spectacular. The food melts in your mouth. It takes longer than other places because of the length it takes to prepare high quality food and the prices are high but you are getting the best ingredients in Columbus! We love it there, it's our favorite restaurant. We always get the Niku no Tataki for the appetizer (among other things) and I love their Chicken Teriyaki. It's so juicy and tender. EVERYTHING is great!
(5)Tim T.
ABSOLUTELY the best Japanese restaurant in Columbus. I found myself thinking, am I really in Ohio right now? I felt like I was back in NYC or LA, eating at a favorite neighborhood place...that is until I looked around to see a few "Ohioans" with their scarlet and gray sweatshirts eating the teriyaki chicken. There were so many better things on the menu: -Braised pork cheek: a bit chewy, but nice flavor -Charanmushi! Wow, finally a place in Columbus that has it. -Toro (tuna) and Kampachi (a jack fish) sashimi: SO SO good, the toro melted in my mouth like butter. -Roasted ginko nuts: Interesting! It went well with beer. -Udon w/ duck: executed well. -Braised duck: just ok. -Kumamoto oysters: Excellent quality and slightly sweet, not briney. -Braised pork belly: one of the BEST of dinner. -Mochi and sweet red bean: just ok. The net: Not the best food in the U.S., but definitely the best Japanese Columbus has to offer. Service was just ok, but who cares?! They were busy and I appreciate that they are not overstaffed or staffed by people that don't KNOW Japanese food. It's like being served by family there. TT
(5)K S.
Wow~! Very authentic Japanese food! I'd say it is one of the best in midwest region. I was told the chef has trained in Kiyoto area, and sources his fresh fish from Tsukiji market in Tokyo. Though be willing to pay for higher price for the food and high quality dai-ginjyo sake. I was lucky to go there with my clients (under expense accounts), but the bill came in roughly $100+ person after trying and enjoying various sake. I've since visited the restaurant several times and I'm always pleased with the food and service. And No, I did not order sake to keep the bill under control :-)
(5)Jason S.
A close friend decided recently to say farewell to Columbus and head off to greener (and warmer) pastures. So where to you take someone for their last big meal in the area? What if that person worked for a Japanese company for nearly a decade, lived two years in Japan, and will eat just about anything you throw at him? In Columbus, the answer is simple. You take him to Kihachi. When you arrive, you'll receive two menus. One is a wide page laminated to look about like a child's dining table mat. The other is a bound two-pager with small plates and hand-written nightly specials. I probably don't have to tell you which to order from given the description, unless you're looking for something typical. The soba with duck, beef teriyaki, chicken teriyaki and unajudon (eel over rice, an excellent newbie staple) we ordered to share from the kids' menu were all well prepared, with high quality, flavorful ingredients. But given the price of admission and to challenge the palette, I recommend ordering primarily from the small plates menu. The challenges come in many forms at Kihachi. We had some less experienced Japanese food eaters in our midst, so we didn't dig so deep for odd experiences. No shirako for us (look it up; you probably wouldn't order it either, though I mean to at some point). From what we did order, the uni wasn't of the highest quality but was still deeply flavored, while a round of sweet, small oysters was well-reviewed. The braised unagi, as noted elsewhere, isn't the kitchen's strongest dish, the unagi losing much of the flavor battle to the broth and egg. A late-ordered round of fried pork tenderloins came perfectly crisp and piping hot, making most of us after the first guinea pig debate how long we could stand to wait before burning our mouths. Finally the sea bream was a revelation: delicately textured fish with a mojito tint on a rectangular block of perfectly cooked rice. As beautiful a presentation as any Japanese dish I've had this side of the Pacific. To round out the meal, I ordered everyone at the table a piece of otoro, forcing the Japanese novices to give one of the ultimate Japanese delicacies a shot. We ended up with chutoro instead, which is less fatty than otoro and thus less melt-in-your-mouthie. The head chef even peaked around the corner to our table to see if we enjoyed it. Excellent flavor, expertly cut and an ample level of creaminess to the meat. Getting that cut this fresh in Columbus is a feat. One of these days I hope to come back and eat Omakase, Japanese for "entrust", where diners put themselves in the hands of the chef for the night. Be prepared for an incomparable experience for Columbus dining but to drop a Benjamin in the process. This is perhaps the very best Japanese restaurant in a city full of quality options. I might decide to go other places if I want a cheaper meal or just sushi, but the myriad delicacies on offer at Kihachi will still be on my mind.
(5)Eliza L.
Absolutely love this place! Menu is creative, they have baby octopus, monk fish liver, toro sashimi or whatever is in season! I highly recommend this place for sushi.
(5)