Mom and pop restaurant with old world charm. Cool decor, just a hint of music, no TV (thank goodness) and excellent food. We love the sushi rolls here (try the spicy roll, unagi, and smoked salmon among others), the sashimi, pickled daikon radish and savory egg custard. Their sushi rice is perfectly sticky and seasoned and the wasabi, wonderfully pungent (not watered down, like in some places). Wonderful local business- the kind I like to support. Open at 3 PM- in between lunch and dinner when other places aren't. Very reasonably priced and v. tasty.
(5)
Daniel H.
It's your normal American-Japanese faire which you can find in a million places, but I liked these guys. The donburi bowls were very good, the miso soup and salad were fine, and the prices for lunch were fantastic. Plus the server was an extremely sweet lady. It's good/not great food overall, but they're nice and inexpensive so I'll come back if I find myself in Provo again.
(4)
Cheryl R.
Man... I used to go to Osaka like once a week... One of the very few things I miss about Provo, Utah. Prices are awesome.. food is pretty good.. The owner/server/host is the cutest and friendliest woman. I swear she remembered how I like my order even after a 3 or 4 year "vacation" from Osaka.
(5)
Valerie P.
Sigh. I've held off on writing this review because I'm conflicted about it. I really really wanted to like this place and they did have good flavors and good service... BUT halfway through my meal, I found a piece of steel wool in my food and sesame seeds in a salad with no sesame in it. Not sure where either of those came from but they did really put a damper on my desire to eat anything else. They seem like a great place and I'm sure it was just a mistake, but still. Not the best. Maybe I'll go back sometime and give them another chance.
(2)
Richard L.
Meh. I've experienced better.
(2)
Tyson B.
Osaka is another hidden gem in Provo. It may be hidden to some people, but lost in the row of old restaurants in center street in Provo, I would have never noticed it unless my friend had taken me here. I walked in and it was dead silent. It was rush hour, and there maybe 2 or 3 other people in there. Decorate with authentic decor, it is a quaint and cute little place. I love it there. Upon walking in, directly on your right there is a wall of autographs of local and worldwide celebrities raving about how good this place was. This was a good sign. I was greeted right as I walked in and immediately taken back to my booth. The menu here is pretty standard, but the food is far more than that. I had the Gyoza - and they are the best I have EVER had. I believe it comes with a plate of 6 and the dipping sauce is one of the best matched sauces I have ever tried. I honestly thought about just ordering a few more appetizer plates of Gyoza, and they are cheap too. I had the teriyaki beef rice bowl. Rice with tempura vegetable layered with cooked to perfection teriyaki beef. I was in absolute heaven. I can't wait to go back here and try more of their rice bowls and authentic dishes. The food came reasonably quick, my water was kept full to the top the entire time, and the woman who owns the restaurant was constantly checking on us to make sure we were having a good experience and that everything was to our liking. I'm looking forward to going back here and sharing my experiences of the other dishes here. I will keep you posted, but until then, go try Osaka!
(4)
Chase H.
I got the tempura ebi (fried shrimp) and yanikunana (or something like that) for $13 i expected more their was barely any meat and nothing really tasted good i wont be back.
(1)
Gina H.
Tempura was greasy and vegetables were old and weathered. Lemon on plate had to have been a week old. Chicken teriyaki was dry and not hot. Waiter did not seem to care. Won't be back ever!
(1)
Jason B.
You know that scene in Harry Potter where they go to a brick wall, and the bricks all muck about and open to reveal a secret street in London? Well, if Provo had one it would go to Tokyo instead of London, and instead of brick it would just be glass doors, and the doors would say "Osaka". Whenever a character uses an arcane means of transport, all his clothes fall off because crazy Japanese cinema. It's quiet inside. Too quiet. Not enough sake. The lunch special I got was good. I forget the name, but it was meat and tempura--tempura means one baby carrot cut into quarters and one martini olive. What there was was good. Also, I was attacked by Ronin. I consider that a plus. Only complaint, and it's really a silly one: the benches are adorned with little pillows like they would sit on in Nippon, but these are sown the the bench making it IMPOSSIBLE to slide in. Next time I'm taking a katana.
(3)
Danton S.
the miso soup has tricky look to it, but its ok.. I had been working around drywall all day so to see the silt in the bottom of the bowl of miso was displeasurable, but that's my issue not the fault of the sweet Japanese. I too also really like the bowls they offer. Bowlsd of rice that are price like 7.99 and contain a choice of either steak, chicken or pork. the sushi menu isn't humongous...but is cheaper than other sushi restarants closeby. I had the squid...whatever its called. Next door is the Lotus. it offers a buffet...as does the taste of india a little bit farther down the same road....both for 9.95.
(3)
Bryson S.
One star is too generous for Osaka (pronounced O-SUCK-AH because it's so terrifyingly disgusting!) It was so bad I was finally forced to create a Yelp account to review it. My first yelp review, it's long, but read it to know what you're in for. The wife and I went here for a date night. It's hard to find sandwiched between two or three other Asian restaurants with even worse reviews. So we thought it would be alright. Walked in and no one greeted us for two minutes and the place was empty except one other couple. Always a bad sign, especially on a Saturday night!The place has a gross non food related smell which was another sign to just leave. But alas, we didn't... We were seated and had no idea what to get, the menu yelp has is wildly inaccurate. I asked the waitress about a few things and she had no idea. We ordered a couple recommended dishes. The miso soup I almost spat right out of my mouth. The salad was lettuce from a bag with a dressing that did make me spit out. The waitress took our food that we hadn't taken more than one bite of; she seemed like it was the norm. We ordered a Vegas roll, it had been fried earlier and reheated. It was bad by sushi standards and just gross overall. We ate it because we were starving. I ordered the chicken teriyaki and at 9.95 I got as much gross food as my wife who ordered a kids meal yakisoba at 6.50. It came out and it was some weird fried tempura batter rings which I think they think are like onion rings, gross old carrots tempura fried, and a small portion of teriyaki chicken. The sauce was runny and I had to dump the small amount of rice on top. My wife didn't eat her rice stating it was gross. She ate her yakisoba until she got a grisly piece of what we hope was chicken. It was just gross tasting, all of it. On top of it all the service was terrible. She took our forks that we had left in the salad and never brought new ones. We asked and she brought one for my wife and I ended up grabbing one of the nearby table. There was no one else there so no big deal. She would disappear for long periods of time. When she would come back she was very rude through our meal. She brought the check out with our main course which was a forced reminder of how much I was paying for honestly the worst food I have paid to eat anywhere in the 10+ countries I have been. 25 bucks just staring me in the face the whole time I was eating the gross teriyaki. I have never wanted to dine and dash so bad. I just felt so cheated. Osaka does not have food worth paying for. I am dissapointed in all the yelpers who gave this place good reviews. We left hungry and sick to our stomachs. Part from the food, part from the price and part from a waitress who never once said, welcome, how was it, thank you or have a nice day. She just showed up took the check brought it back, told me to sign and walked away... The food is gross but palatable, barely. It's lack luster and over priced. No wonder no one else was eating there.
(1)
Ming L.
We always come here at late evening, because there is not many good Asian restaurants that open pass 9:30 Pm. This place is pretty good, and the price is also great! the only downside is the service are little bit slow. But overall this place is recommended!
(4)
Elizabeth R.
I freakin love this place! Great sushi, great sashimi, and great service! It's also not too spendy...which makes it even better!
(5)
Cameron L.
TLDR; I recommend Osaka for great Japanese food and great atmosphere. The food was great! I was told Osaka was the most authentic Japanese in Provo and they weren't too far off. I had the katsu curry and was completely satisfied! My group shared some sushi and it was pretty good too, not a lot of filler rice. The atmosphere is pretty great too. Not loud at all and the lighting makes it look nice for a downtown Provo restaurant. My only complaint is that the service the night we went was incredibly slow. There was only two other groups there but the waiters were having the hardest time helping us. Could have just been a bad night for them.
(4)
Randy J.
Service was slow. Sushi rolls were tiny. Everything was bland. Not terrible, just not good. Price was high for such mediocrity. Cut that in half and I'd say it was worth it. Plenty of open tables on a Friday night, though.
(2)
Rosa A.
Delicious and great prices ! My favorite thing however was the amazing service i got from the server and hostess! Definitely going back! !
(5)
Zina B.
I love Osaka, it's Japanese comfort food, lovingly prepared by Nancy, the sweetest proprietor ever.
(4)
D'Artagnan H.
Osaka has a very nice ambiance with traditional japanese music playing softly in the background and the choice of sitting at a booth or in one of the 2 tatami rooms. For our meal, had the Geoza & tempura to start. Chicken katsu curry, teriyaki chicken & salmon donburi for thr main course. Everything was wonderful, including the staff who were all very friendly. Nancy was always smiling, knew everbody & seemed always know what they wanted to order. To top it all off, it was unbelievably, reasonably priced. Definitely will be coming back & bringing friends and family to this great place!
(5)
L B.
I haven't been here in awhile and only stopped in because for the life of me I could not find "Sora Asian Dining". Osaka is always quiet and I was the only diner for awhile, the space is nice and the service friendly. I had vegetable tempura that was okay and chicken donburi, it was suppose to have egg but it was missing. When I first started eating it the tempura onions and charred chicken was tasty but after awhile I couldn't continue because the sauce overpowered everything else and most of the chicken was overcooked and hard. Might be awhile before I return again but not bad.
(3)
David C.
I love the food here and the service. They also have a really awesome set up which is a great place to take a date.
(5)
Tu M.
Wow. This place is pretty near the worst Japanese food I've ever experienced. The service: We entered the restaurant later in the evening. It was completely empty except for a group of young, college-aged looking kids paying at the front. Instead of greeting us, motioning us to sit down, or at least waving at us in some sort of acknowledgement of our existence, the kid at the front ignored us for a good ten minutes while he had each individual in the group of college kids pay. First WTF moment of our dining experience at Osaka. Finally, we were seated. The decor is tired and run-down at best, by the way. After several minutes, we were finally brought menus. Many minutes later, we were asked for our order. Mind you, at this point, we were the only people in the entire restaurant and were considering walking out. Since we were starving, however, we (regrettably) decided to ignore the WTF feelings inside ourselves, suck it up, and stick it out. The food: We ordered simple rolls that came with miso soup (California and Tempura), as well as shrimp ngiri....wow. We ordered these items, because the place was so rundown that we were worried the seafood was probably not trustworthy...As feared, the food was pretty awful. Not entirely inedible, but definitely two days old, packaged discount grocery-store quality sushi at best. We ended up not even daring to touch the shrimp, because its freshness was extremely questionable. All in all, this place is pretty pathetic. I think it has positive reviews are simply due to the fact that it's one of a limited selection of sushi restaurants in an insular, landlocked part of the country. Anyone who's ever been exposed to real sushi or even truly fresh seafood would never want to eat here. Do yourself a favor and pass on this place.
(1)
Derek N.
Gyoza was awesome. Chicken teriyaki tanburi was awesome. Nancy was awesome. Waitress was awesome. Koi fish were awesome. And most importantly of all, my water glass never got empty. 5 stars.
(5)
Siara C.
I love the atmosphere here. It's a place I like to go with the husband when we want a quiet dinner and we aren't in a huge hurry. They have traditional Japanese seating options for a more cozy experience, but the large booths are super comfy as well. It's not super slow, but they only have a couple employees so if it's busy it can take a while. I like the food here. The sushi isn't my favorite, but there is no sushi I love in Utah County. I would say its as good as any others around, but I don't normally order it. I always love the tempura and the tea rice-- a delicious grilled salmon over rice with some kind of magical spice mixture. Perfect portions at extremely reasonable prices. It's one of those things I crave. And it comes with a pot of green tea in the most adorable metal tea pot. I'm a sucker for a cute tea pot-- what can I say. The Japanese lady that runs this place is so awesome. Seems like she hosts, cooks, and does everything else. And she always tells me I'm pretty which, now that I think about, might be MOST of the reason I like Osaka.
(4)
Angie B.
Atmosphere is great! Food is alright. Its a step up from some other Provo sushi places I've been. Staff is friendly. Miso was delicious and the perfect temperature!
(2)
Scott R.
This was first place I was introduced to Japanese food.I really love coming here while in the area. It is simple but tastes great every time. I usually order the chicken donburi bowl. It's a basic rice bowl with vegetable tempura on top. The sushi could use some improvement. But for the price it isn't bad at all. The owner is from Japan and is one of the great things about coming here. I will be back for sure.
(4)
Lee H.
I should have known better than to take a risk on sushi in Utah. In an effort to avoid a meal at the TGI Friday's next store to my hotel, I found myself in the very quaint downtown area of Provo. After seeing multiple Japanese restaurants lined up on the same street, I settled on Osaka. The waitress was very Japanese. So Japanese, in fact, that she barely spoke English. Good sign. I ordered the agedashi tofu dish to start and it was decent. Silky tofu, lightly fried, swimming in a broth of dashi. Yum. Now, on to the sushi. I ordered the Olympic roll, not only because it sounded like a good combo of flavors, but also because I appreciated the local Olympic pride that Osaka clearly holds. The roll came to my table and it can only be described as unrecognizable as sushi. I'm not exaggerating. It was a blob of messy mayo-based dressing with some fish and rice sticking out of the disheveled looking seaweed. I decided to brave it and hope for the best and also pray that I wasn't going to be sick during my day of meetings the following day. I made it through dinner and I was able to function the next day in the meetings without any adverse reactions from my Utah sushi experience.
(2)
Ivani C.
Love this restaurant !! Best Japanese food in town !
(5)
Robbie P.
I've lived in Japan and I know good Japanese food. This is not good Japanese food. This is not good food, period. And it's such a waste, considering how pretty the decor is. Just put that energy into the food and you'd have a great place. Also, they deep fry everything. If you leave your keys there and come back, they'll be deep-fried. If you don't keep an eye on your kids, you'll have tempura bobby and suzzy.
(1)
Jennifer S.
One of our favorite spots for lunch. It's quiet, cool, and inexpensive. The food is consistently good, and beautifully prepared.
(4)
Debra A.
I love it. Everything about it. Once you get past the front desk and waiting area, you forget you're on one of the busiest streets in Provo. It's calm and beautiful. And the food is excellent. I'd eat there everyday if I could. Correct portion sizes. Lots of choices but not too. Yum. I love their salmon, wantons and miso soup.
(5)
Jean W.
I'm a long-time fan of Osaka. Located in a small spot on Provo's busy Center Street, it's a staple for good reason. They display the autographed photos of mostly local celebrities who have partaken of Osaka's goodness and care enough to say so. The interior of Osaka is beautiful and authentically Japanese. They provide a couple of private dining rooms featuring tatami mats and all anticipated trappings providing a convincing experience for diners. Decorative Japanese flags/tapestries abound in the decor, making the place feel like you are really dining in Osaka. The owner is Japanese, and she never fails to recognize and chat with her regulars. Even though my visits are now months apart, if not years, she approaches me every time with a huge smile, letting me know she's pleased that I returned. She's absolutely delightful. Osaka's food has never missed for me. Do. Not. Miss. their gyoza - it's possibly the best anywhere. In case you uncover your inner Gyoza Fiend by trying it, they offer a supersized Gyoza entree so you can literally gorge yourself on it. Oh yeah... My favorite entree selection is their Chicken Teriyaki Donburi - so expertly prepared, and it arrives at your table just as advertised on the menu. A great amount of food for the price (lunch portion is under 5 bucks!). I would also recommend their Udon and Yakisoba selections, as well as their tempura (a veggie side of which comes with the uber-affordable Donburi bowls). The sukiyaki and tonkatsu entrees are also fabulous! Their cooked Japanese food is among the best I've ever had. One thing Osaka really knows how to do properly is rice. Whether it's sushi rice or entree rice it's always perfect, and SO delicious! The sushi is not the best I've had, which means I don't typically order it here. I personally think they tend to either over-sauce or under-sauce their Maki, depending on the roll. But I have friends who rely upon it each visit, and seem rarely disappointed. Lastly, it may sound odd, but there's something magical about the ice water at Osaka. I haven't figured out if they're adding some illegal substance to it, or whether it's simply the consummate refreshment to squelch your umami-induced thirst, but it's the best ice water anywhere. And they do a great job keeping it full. I've always loved Osaka, and never hesitate to drop in and grab some legit Japanese cuisine when I'm in the area. I also wouldn't hesitate to recommend that you do the same. You'll thank us both.
(4)
Dan J.
Very nice atmosphere. Clean, cozy, intimate setting which is great for a date night or a small group. The food is pretty consistently good all-around. If you're just coming for sushi then I would recommend a more sushi-specific place. Their sushi is fine but not amazing. You'll get more for your money at lunch (the price doubles at dinner but the portions don't). Love their miso soup, gyoza, and donburi. I believe the owner is the main cook/waitress. She was very nice and polite, and kept our water glasses filled.
(4)
Nicole K.
I thought I would give this place a shot after reading some of the other reviews. Save yourself the disappointment and just go to Kyoto. I ordered jasmine tea (good), miso soup (meh), seaweed salad (smelled iffy; a bite confirmed it wasn't good), spicy tuna (ok, but questionable), Philly roll (salmon didn't taste right). The garnish on the plate included two lemon wedges that looked like they'd been sitting out on the counter for a few days. Not appetizing. At. All.
(1)
Js S.
Love this place. They have been around since our married kids were small. Very quiet. Excellent, authentic Japanese dishes. The most expensive entree is maybe $6. I love the sukiyaki and the rice bowls. Most entrees come with either miso soup or a small salad. Do not come here if you are in a hurry. There is usually one older woman serving the food. Sweet, sweet, lady. But not super fast. I'm totally okay with this, because the restaurant is usually quiet, with soft music playing in the background. Also the sushi is not very good. Stick with the entrees and start with the gyoza and edamame, which are fabulous and very cheap.
(5)
Summer S.
I've lived in Provo for 10 years now, and have never been to this restaurant! I was actually pleasantly surprised at how well the food tasted. (we had sushi: the philadelphia and vegas roll. We also had this steak entree. The sushi was okay, but the steak entree was very good) There are paper rice rooms in the back, where you can sit down and eat on the floor, for a more authentic experience. The owners are actually from Japan, so the food holds more undisputed credibility. When leaving the store, there are actually pinned-up autographs of celebrities who have been there. It looks like Bruce Willis, Marie Osmond and even Larry King has been there. The salad and miso soup we had was good; the sesame dressing that comes with the salad was delicious. As for the service, it does take longer to order and get your food, but the price of the food and drinks weren't bad at all. I'm a fan now.
(4)
H. W.
We went there for lunch last weekend. Lunch is pretty cheap and tasty. I wouldn't say it's the best Japanese restaurant, but I'd say I haven't had this tasty Japanese food at this price around Salt Lake area.
(4)
Dave C.
Everything I ordered here was not anything exciting. I ordered gyoza, japanese meatballs, and some weird soup thing. the gyoza: I have had a lot better and can personally make it a lot better and I am a white American boy from San Diego. Japanese meatballs left me speechless. They had no meat and were some weird dough/bready things. Both my buddies I went with likewise did not really enjoy the them either. Soup was the best part of the three but it is the reason it gets 2 stars instead of 1. So that is not saying much.
(2)
Joe L.
There are two Japanese restaurants on Provo Center street and this is my preferred location because their cuts of meat tend to be a little better. They serve sukiyaki in the pot and will give you a raw egg if you ask for it. They have a room with tatami mats in the back. It is run by Japanese people. The service can be slow. If you eat there enough you will befriend the owner. I lived in Japan for two years and this is authentic.
(4)
Ana Lee H.
Dinner meals range between $10-$13, and medium rice bowl dishes range between $6.50-$8.50. The food is pretty good. The atmosphere is romantic and comfortable. We're glad we tried it.
(3)
Dan P.
This place has become the default Japanese restaurant for my friends and I in Utah County. They have a wide selection of tasty food at a very reasonable price. (I like the donburi- get a katsudon, gyudon, etc for about six dollars, including miso soup and salad). I usually order some mugicha (wheat tea, often compared to burnt toast, weak coffee, or cigarette butts. Mmm....burnt toast. And they bring you your own teapot!) Throw on a couple pieces of nigiri sushi with it, and you'll have yourself a nice dinner. Most nigiri is a dollar per piece. Sure, it's not run by actual Japanese people, but hey, they make a tasty katsu. One thing- avoid the inari sushi...not so good.
(4)
Elizabeth R.
I freakin love this place! Great sushi, great sashimi, and great service! It's also not too spendy...which makes it even better!
(5)
Cameron L.
TLDR; I recommend Osaka for great Japanese food and great atmosphere. The food was great! I was told Osaka was the most authentic Japanese in Provo and they weren't too far off. I had the katsu curry and was completely satisfied! My group shared some sushi and it was pretty good too, not a lot of filler rice. The atmosphere is pretty great too. Not loud at all and the lighting makes it look nice for a downtown Provo restaurant. My only complaint is that the service the night we went was incredibly slow. There was only two other groups there but the waiters were having the hardest time helping us. Could have just been a bad night for them.
(4)
Randy J.
Service was slow. Sushi rolls were tiny. Everything was bland. Not terrible, just not good. Price was high for such mediocrity. Cut that in half and I'd say it was worth it. Plenty of open tables on a Friday night, though.
(2)
Ming L.
We always come here at late evening, because there is not many good Asian restaurants that open pass 9:30 Pm. This place is pretty good, and the price is also great! the only downside is the service are little bit slow. But overall this place is recommended!
(4)
Rosa A.
Delicious and great prices ! My favorite thing however was the amazing service i got from the server and hostess! Definitely going back! !
(5)
Zina B.
I love Osaka, it's Japanese comfort food, lovingly prepared by Nancy, the sweetest proprietor ever.
(4)
L B.
I haven't been here in awhile and only stopped in because for the life of me I could not find "Sora Asian Dining". Osaka is always quiet and I was the only diner for awhile, the space is nice and the service friendly. I had vegetable tempura that was okay and chicken donburi, it was suppose to have egg but it was missing. When I first started eating it the tempura onions and charred chicken was tasty but after awhile I couldn't continue because the sauce overpowered everything else and most of the chicken was overcooked and hard. Might be awhile before I return again but not bad.
(3)
David C.
I love the food here and the service. They also have a really awesome set up which is a great place to take a date.
(5)
Tu M.
Wow. This place is pretty near the worst Japanese food I've ever experienced. The service: We entered the restaurant later in the evening. It was completely empty except for a group of young, college-aged looking kids paying at the front. Instead of greeting us, motioning us to sit down, or at least waving at us in some sort of acknowledgement of our existence, the kid at the front ignored us for a good ten minutes while he had each individual in the group of college kids pay. First WTF moment of our dining experience at Osaka. Finally, we were seated. The decor is tired and run-down at best, by the way. After several minutes, we were finally brought menus. Many minutes later, we were asked for our order. Mind you, at this point, we were the only people in the entire restaurant and were considering walking out. Since we were starving, however, we (regrettably) decided to ignore the WTF feelings inside ourselves, suck it up, and stick it out. The food: We ordered simple rolls that came with miso soup (California and Tempura), as well as shrimp ngiri....wow. We ordered these items, because the place was so rundown that we were worried the seafood was probably not trustworthy...As feared, the food was pretty awful. Not entirely inedible, but definitely two days old, packaged discount grocery-store quality sushi at best. We ended up not even daring to touch the shrimp, because its freshness was extremely questionable. All in all, this place is pretty pathetic. I think it has positive reviews are simply due to the fact that it's one of a limited selection of sushi restaurants in an insular, landlocked part of the country. Anyone who's ever been exposed to real sushi or even truly fresh seafood would never want to eat here. Do yourself a favor and pass on this place.
(1)
Derek N.
Gyoza was awesome. Chicken teriyaki tanburi was awesome. Nancy was awesome. Waitress was awesome. Koi fish were awesome. And most importantly of all, my water glass never got empty. 5 stars.
(5)
Siara C.
I love the atmosphere here. It's a place I like to go with the husband when we want a quiet dinner and we aren't in a huge hurry. They have traditional Japanese seating options for a more cozy experience, but the large booths are super comfy as well. It's not super slow, but they only have a couple employees so if it's busy it can take a while. I like the food here. The sushi isn't my favorite, but there is no sushi I love in Utah County. I would say its as good as any others around, but I don't normally order it. I always love the tempura and the tea rice-- a delicious grilled salmon over rice with some kind of magical spice mixture. Perfect portions at extremely reasonable prices. It's one of those things I crave. And it comes with a pot of green tea in the most adorable metal tea pot. I'm a sucker for a cute tea pot-- what can I say. The Japanese lady that runs this place is so awesome. Seems like she hosts, cooks, and does everything else. And she always tells me I'm pretty which, now that I think about, might be MOST of the reason I like Osaka.
(4)
Lee H.
I should have known better than to take a risk on sushi in Utah. In an effort to avoid a meal at the TGI Friday's next store to my hotel, I found myself in the very quaint downtown area of Provo. After seeing multiple Japanese restaurants lined up on the same street, I settled on Osaka. The waitress was very Japanese. So Japanese, in fact, that she barely spoke English. Good sign. I ordered the agedashi tofu dish to start and it was decent. Silky tofu, lightly fried, swimming in a broth of dashi. Yum. Now, on to the sushi. I ordered the Olympic roll, not only because it sounded like a good combo of flavors, but also because I appreciated the local Olympic pride that Osaka clearly holds. The roll came to my table and it can only be described as unrecognizable as sushi. I'm not exaggerating. It was a blob of messy mayo-based dressing with some fish and rice sticking out of the disheveled looking seaweed. I decided to brave it and hope for the best and also pray that I wasn't going to be sick during my day of meetings the following day. I made it through dinner and I was able to function the next day in the meetings without any adverse reactions from my Utah sushi experience.
(2)
Ivani C.
Love this restaurant !! Best Japanese food in town !
(5)
Robbie P.
I've lived in Japan and I know good Japanese food. This is not good Japanese food. This is not good food, period. And it's such a waste, considering how pretty the decor is. Just put that energy into the food and you'd have a great place. Also, they deep fry everything. If you leave your keys there and come back, they'll be deep-fried. If you don't keep an eye on your kids, you'll have tempura bobby and suzzy.
(1)
D'Artagnan H.
Osaka has a very nice ambiance with traditional japanese music playing softly in the background and the choice of sitting at a booth or in one of the 2 tatami rooms. For our meal, had the Geoza & tempura to start. Chicken katsu curry, teriyaki chicken & salmon donburi for thr main course. Everything was wonderful, including the staff who were all very friendly. Nancy was always smiling, knew everbody & seemed always know what they wanted to order. To top it all off, it was unbelievably, reasonably priced. Definitely will be coming back & bringing friends and family to this great place!
(5)
Scott R.
This was first place I was introduced to Japanese food.I really love coming here while in the area. It is simple but tastes great every time. I usually order the chicken donburi bowl. It's a basic rice bowl with vegetable tempura on top. The sushi could use some improvement. But for the price it isn't bad at all. The owner is from Japan and is one of the great things about coming here. I will be back for sure.
(4)
Jean W.
I'm a long-time fan of Osaka. Located in a small spot on Provo's busy Center Street, it's a staple for good reason. They display the autographed photos of mostly local celebrities who have partaken of Osaka's goodness and care enough to say so. The interior of Osaka is beautiful and authentically Japanese. They provide a couple of private dining rooms featuring tatami mats and all anticipated trappings providing a convincing experience for diners. Decorative Japanese flags/tapestries abound in the decor, making the place feel like you are really dining in Osaka. The owner is Japanese, and she never fails to recognize and chat with her regulars. Even though my visits are now months apart, if not years, she approaches me every time with a huge smile, letting me know she's pleased that I returned. She's absolutely delightful. Osaka's food has never missed for me. Do. Not. Miss. their gyoza - it's possibly the best anywhere. In case you uncover your inner Gyoza Fiend by trying it, they offer a supersized Gyoza entree so you can literally gorge yourself on it. Oh yeah... My favorite entree selection is their Chicken Teriyaki Donburi - so expertly prepared, and it arrives at your table just as advertised on the menu. A great amount of food for the price (lunch portion is under 5 bucks!). I would also recommend their Udon and Yakisoba selections, as well as their tempura (a veggie side of which comes with the uber-affordable Donburi bowls). The sukiyaki and tonkatsu entrees are also fabulous! Their cooked Japanese food is among the best I've ever had. One thing Osaka really knows how to do properly is rice. Whether it's sushi rice or entree rice it's always perfect, and SO delicious! The sushi is not the best I've had, which means I don't typically order it here. I personally think they tend to either over-sauce or under-sauce their Maki, depending on the roll. But I have friends who rely upon it each visit, and seem rarely disappointed. Lastly, it may sound odd, but there's something magical about the ice water at Osaka. I haven't figured out if they're adding some illegal substance to it, or whether it's simply the consummate refreshment to squelch your umami-induced thirst, but it's the best ice water anywhere. And they do a great job keeping it full. I've always loved Osaka, and never hesitate to drop in and grab some legit Japanese cuisine when I'm in the area. I also wouldn't hesitate to recommend that you do the same. You'll thank us both.
(4)
Dan J.
Very nice atmosphere. Clean, cozy, intimate setting which is great for a date night or a small group. The food is pretty consistently good all-around. If you're just coming for sushi then I would recommend a more sushi-specific place. Their sushi is fine but not amazing. You'll get more for your money at lunch (the price doubles at dinner but the portions don't). Love their miso soup, gyoza, and donburi. I believe the owner is the main cook/waitress. She was very nice and polite, and kept our water glasses filled.
(4)
Danton S.
the miso soup has tricky look to it, but its ok.. I had been working around drywall all day so to see the silt in the bottom of the bowl of miso was displeasurable, but that's my issue not the fault of the sweet Japanese. I too also really like the bowls they offer. Bowlsd of rice that are price like 7.99 and contain a choice of either steak, chicken or pork. the sushi menu isn't humongous...but is cheaper than other sushi restarants closeby. I had the squid...whatever its called. Next door is the Lotus. it offers a buffet...as does the taste of india a little bit farther down the same road....both for 9.95.
(3)
Bryson S.
One star is too generous for Osaka (pronounced O-SUCK-AH because it's so terrifyingly disgusting!) It was so bad I was finally forced to create a Yelp account to review it. My first yelp review, it's long, but read it to know what you're in for. The wife and I went here for a date night. It's hard to find sandwiched between two or three other Asian restaurants with even worse reviews. So we thought it would be alright. Walked in and no one greeted us for two minutes and the place was empty except one other couple. Always a bad sign, especially on a Saturday night!The place has a gross non food related smell which was another sign to just leave. But alas, we didn't... We were seated and had no idea what to get, the menu yelp has is wildly inaccurate. I asked the waitress about a few things and she had no idea. We ordered a couple recommended dishes. The miso soup I almost spat right out of my mouth. The salad was lettuce from a bag with a dressing that did make me spit out. The waitress took our food that we hadn't taken more than one bite of; she seemed like it was the norm. We ordered a Vegas roll, it had been fried earlier and reheated. It was bad by sushi standards and just gross overall. We ate it because we were starving. I ordered the chicken teriyaki and at 9.95 I got as much gross food as my wife who ordered a kids meal yakisoba at 6.50. It came out and it was some weird fried tempura batter rings which I think they think are like onion rings, gross old carrots tempura fried, and a small portion of teriyaki chicken. The sauce was runny and I had to dump the small amount of rice on top. My wife didn't eat her rice stating it was gross. She ate her yakisoba until she got a grisly piece of what we hope was chicken. It was just gross tasting, all of it. On top of it all the service was terrible. She took our forks that we had left in the salad and never brought new ones. We asked and she brought one for my wife and I ended up grabbing one of the nearby table. There was no one else there so no big deal. She would disappear for long periods of time. When she would come back she was very rude through our meal. She brought the check out with our main course which was a forced reminder of how much I was paying for honestly the worst food I have paid to eat anywhere in the 10+ countries I have been. 25 bucks just staring me in the face the whole time I was eating the gross teriyaki. I have never wanted to dine and dash so bad. I just felt so cheated. Osaka does not have food worth paying for. I am dissapointed in all the yelpers who gave this place good reviews. We left hungry and sick to our stomachs. Part from the food, part from the price and part from a waitress who never once said, welcome, how was it, thank you or have a nice day. She just showed up took the check brought it back, told me to sign and walked away... The food is gross but palatable, barely. It's lack luster and over priced. No wonder no one else was eating there.
(1)
Critical T.
Mom and pop restaurant with old world charm. Cool decor, just a hint of music, no TV (thank goodness) and excellent food. We love the sushi rolls here (try the spicy roll, unagi, and smoked salmon among others), the sashimi, pickled daikon radish and savory egg custard. Their sushi rice is perfectly sticky and seasoned and the wasabi, wonderfully pungent (not watered down, like in some places). Wonderful local business- the kind I like to support. Open at 3 PM- in between lunch and dinner when other places aren't. Very reasonably priced and v. tasty.
(5)
Daniel H.
It's your normal American-Japanese faire which you can find in a million places, but I liked these guys. The donburi bowls were very good, the miso soup and salad were fine, and the prices for lunch were fantastic. Plus the server was an extremely sweet lady. It's good/not great food overall, but they're nice and inexpensive so I'll come back if I find myself in Provo again.
(4)
Tyson B.
Osaka is another hidden gem in Provo. It may be hidden to some people, but lost in the row of old restaurants in center street in Provo, I would have never noticed it unless my friend had taken me here. I walked in and it was dead silent. It was rush hour, and there maybe 2 or 3 other people in there. Decorate with authentic decor, it is a quaint and cute little place. I love it there. Upon walking in, directly on your right there is a wall of autographs of local and worldwide celebrities raving about how good this place was. This was a good sign. I was greeted right as I walked in and immediately taken back to my booth. The menu here is pretty standard, but the food is far more than that. I had the Gyoza - and they are the best I have EVER had. I believe it comes with a plate of 6 and the dipping sauce is one of the best matched sauces I have ever tried. I honestly thought about just ordering a few more appetizer plates of Gyoza, and they are cheap too. I had the teriyaki beef rice bowl. Rice with tempura vegetable layered with cooked to perfection teriyaki beef. I was in absolute heaven. I can't wait to go back here and try more of their rice bowls and authentic dishes. The food came reasonably quick, my water was kept full to the top the entire time, and the woman who owns the restaurant was constantly checking on us to make sure we were having a good experience and that everything was to our liking. I'm looking forward to going back here and sharing my experiences of the other dishes here. I will keep you posted, but until then, go try Osaka!
(4)
Chase H.
I got the tempura ebi (fried shrimp) and yanikunana (or something like that) for $13 i expected more their was barely any meat and nothing really tasted good i wont be back.
(1)
Gina H.
Tempura was greasy and vegetables were old and weathered. Lemon on plate had to have been a week old. Chicken teriyaki was dry and not hot. Waiter did not seem to care. Won't be back ever!
(1)
Valerie P.
Sigh. I've held off on writing this review because I'm conflicted about it. I really really wanted to like this place and they did have good flavors and good service... BUT halfway through my meal, I found a piece of steel wool in my food and sesame seeds in a salad with no sesame in it. Not sure where either of those came from but they did really put a damper on my desire to eat anything else. They seem like a great place and I'm sure it was just a mistake, but still. Not the best. Maybe I'll go back sometime and give them another chance.
(2)
Richard L.
Meh. I've experienced better.
(2)
Cheryl R.
Man... I used to go to Osaka like once a week... One of the very few things I miss about Provo, Utah. Prices are awesome.. food is pretty good.. The owner/server/host is the cutest and friendliest woman. I swear she remembered how I like my order even after a 3 or 4 year "vacation" from Osaka.
(5)
Jennifer S.
One of our favorite spots for lunch. It's quiet, cool, and inexpensive. The food is consistently good, and beautifully prepared.
(4)
Debra A.
I love it. Everything about it. Once you get past the front desk and waiting area, you forget you're on one of the busiest streets in Provo. It's calm and beautiful. And the food is excellent. I'd eat there everyday if I could. Correct portion sizes. Lots of choices but not too. Yum. I love their salmon, wantons and miso soup.
(5)
Dave C.
Everything I ordered here was not anything exciting. I ordered gyoza, japanese meatballs, and some weird soup thing. the gyoza: I have had a lot better and can personally make it a lot better and I am a white American boy from San Diego. Japanese meatballs left me speechless. They had no meat and were some weird dough/bready things. Both my buddies I went with likewise did not really enjoy the them either. Soup was the best part of the three but it is the reason it gets 2 stars instead of 1. So that is not saying much.
(2)
Joe L.
There are two Japanese restaurants on Provo Center street and this is my preferred location because their cuts of meat tend to be a little better. They serve sukiyaki in the pot and will give you a raw egg if you ask for it. They have a room with tatami mats in the back. It is run by Japanese people. The service can be slow. If you eat there enough you will befriend the owner. I lived in Japan for two years and this is authentic.
(4)
Ana Lee H.
Dinner meals range between $10-$13, and medium rice bowl dishes range between $6.50-$8.50. The food is pretty good. The atmosphere is romantic and comfortable. We're glad we tried it.
(3)
Dan P.
This place has become the default Japanese restaurant for my friends and I in Utah County. They have a wide selection of tasty food at a very reasonable price. (I like the donburi- get a katsudon, gyudon, etc for about six dollars, including miso soup and salad). I usually order some mugicha (wheat tea, often compared to burnt toast, weak coffee, or cigarette butts. Mmm....burnt toast. And they bring you your own teapot!) Throw on a couple pieces of nigiri sushi with it, and you'll have yourself a nice dinner. Most nigiri is a dollar per piece. Sure, it's not run by actual Japanese people, but hey, they make a tasty katsu. One thing- avoid the inari sushi...not so good.
(4)
Jason B.
You know that scene in Harry Potter where they go to a brick wall, and the bricks all muck about and open to reveal a secret street in London? Well, if Provo had one it would go to Tokyo instead of London, and instead of brick it would just be glass doors, and the doors would say "Osaka". Whenever a character uses an arcane means of transport, all his clothes fall off because crazy Japanese cinema. It's quiet inside. Too quiet. Not enough sake. The lunch special I got was good. I forget the name, but it was meat and tempura--tempura means one baby carrot cut into quarters and one martini olive. What there was was good. Also, I was attacked by Ronin. I consider that a plus. Only complaint, and it's really a silly one: the benches are adorned with little pillows like they would sit on in Nippon, but these are sown the the bench making it IMPOSSIBLE to slide in. Next time I'm taking a katana.
(3)
Nicole K.
I thought I would give this place a shot after reading some of the other reviews. Save yourself the disappointment and just go to Kyoto. I ordered jasmine tea (good), miso soup (meh), seaweed salad (smelled iffy; a bite confirmed it wasn't good), spicy tuna (ok, but questionable), Philly roll (salmon didn't taste right). The garnish on the plate included two lemon wedges that looked like they'd been sitting out on the counter for a few days. Not appetizing. At. All.
(1)
Js S.
Love this place. They have been around since our married kids were small. Very quiet. Excellent, authentic Japanese dishes. The most expensive entree is maybe $6. I love the sukiyaki and the rice bowls. Most entrees come with either miso soup or a small salad. Do not come here if you are in a hurry. There is usually one older woman serving the food. Sweet, sweet, lady. But not super fast. I'm totally okay with this, because the restaurant is usually quiet, with soft music playing in the background. Also the sushi is not very good. Stick with the entrees and start with the gyoza and edamame, which are fabulous and very cheap.
(5)
Summer S.
I've lived in Provo for 10 years now, and have never been to this restaurant! I was actually pleasantly surprised at how well the food tasted. (we had sushi: the philadelphia and vegas roll. We also had this steak entree. The sushi was okay, but the steak entree was very good) There are paper rice rooms in the back, where you can sit down and eat on the floor, for a more authentic experience. The owners are actually from Japan, so the food holds more undisputed credibility. When leaving the store, there are actually pinned-up autographs of celebrities who have been there. It looks like Bruce Willis, Marie Osmond and even Larry King has been there. The salad and miso soup we had was good; the sesame dressing that comes with the salad was delicious. As for the service, it does take longer to order and get your food, but the price of the food and drinks weren't bad at all. I'm a fan now.
(4)
H. W.
We went there for lunch last weekend. Lunch is pretty cheap and tasty. I wouldn't say it's the best Japanese restaurant, but I'd say I haven't had this tasty Japanese food at this price around Salt Lake area.
(4)
Angie B.
Atmosphere is great! Food is alright. Its a step up from some other Provo sushi places I've been. Staff is friendly. Miso was delicious and the perfect temperature!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Critical T.
Mom and pop restaurant with old world charm. Cool decor, just a hint of music, no TV (thank goodness) and excellent food. We love the sushi rolls here (try the spicy roll, unagi, and smoked salmon among others), the sashimi, pickled daikon radish and savory egg custard. Their sushi rice is perfectly sticky and seasoned and the wasabi, wonderfully pungent (not watered down, like in some places). Wonderful local business- the kind I like to support. Open at 3 PM- in between lunch and dinner when other places aren't. Very reasonably priced and v. tasty.
(5)Daniel H.
It's your normal American-Japanese faire which you can find in a million places, but I liked these guys. The donburi bowls were very good, the miso soup and salad were fine, and the prices for lunch were fantastic. Plus the server was an extremely sweet lady. It's good/not great food overall, but they're nice and inexpensive so I'll come back if I find myself in Provo again.
(4)Cheryl R.
Man... I used to go to Osaka like once a week... One of the very few things I miss about Provo, Utah. Prices are awesome.. food is pretty good.. The owner/server/host is the cutest and friendliest woman. I swear she remembered how I like my order even after a 3 or 4 year "vacation" from Osaka.
(5)Valerie P.
Sigh. I've held off on writing this review because I'm conflicted about it. I really really wanted to like this place and they did have good flavors and good service... BUT halfway through my meal, I found a piece of steel wool in my food and sesame seeds in a salad with no sesame in it. Not sure where either of those came from but they did really put a damper on my desire to eat anything else. They seem like a great place and I'm sure it was just a mistake, but still. Not the best. Maybe I'll go back sometime and give them another chance.
(2)Richard L.
Meh. I've experienced better.
(2)Tyson B.
Osaka is another hidden gem in Provo. It may be hidden to some people, but lost in the row of old restaurants in center street in Provo, I would have never noticed it unless my friend had taken me here. I walked in and it was dead silent. It was rush hour, and there maybe 2 or 3 other people in there. Decorate with authentic decor, it is a quaint and cute little place. I love it there. Upon walking in, directly on your right there is a wall of autographs of local and worldwide celebrities raving about how good this place was. This was a good sign. I was greeted right as I walked in and immediately taken back to my booth. The menu here is pretty standard, but the food is far more than that. I had the Gyoza - and they are the best I have EVER had. I believe it comes with a plate of 6 and the dipping sauce is one of the best matched sauces I have ever tried. I honestly thought about just ordering a few more appetizer plates of Gyoza, and they are cheap too. I had the teriyaki beef rice bowl. Rice with tempura vegetable layered with cooked to perfection teriyaki beef. I was in absolute heaven. I can't wait to go back here and try more of their rice bowls and authentic dishes. The food came reasonably quick, my water was kept full to the top the entire time, and the woman who owns the restaurant was constantly checking on us to make sure we were having a good experience and that everything was to our liking. I'm looking forward to going back here and sharing my experiences of the other dishes here. I will keep you posted, but until then, go try Osaka!
(4)Chase H.
I got the tempura ebi (fried shrimp) and yanikunana (or something like that) for $13 i expected more their was barely any meat and nothing really tasted good i wont be back.
(1)Gina H.
Tempura was greasy and vegetables were old and weathered. Lemon on plate had to have been a week old. Chicken teriyaki was dry and not hot. Waiter did not seem to care. Won't be back ever!
(1)Jason B.
You know that scene in Harry Potter where they go to a brick wall, and the bricks all muck about and open to reveal a secret street in London? Well, if Provo had one it would go to Tokyo instead of London, and instead of brick it would just be glass doors, and the doors would say "Osaka". Whenever a character uses an arcane means of transport, all his clothes fall off because crazy Japanese cinema. It's quiet inside. Too quiet. Not enough sake. The lunch special I got was good. I forget the name, but it was meat and tempura--tempura means one baby carrot cut into quarters and one martini olive. What there was was good. Also, I was attacked by Ronin. I consider that a plus. Only complaint, and it's really a silly one: the benches are adorned with little pillows like they would sit on in Nippon, but these are sown the the bench making it IMPOSSIBLE to slide in. Next time I'm taking a katana.
(3)Danton S.
the miso soup has tricky look to it, but its ok.. I had been working around drywall all day so to see the silt in the bottom of the bowl of miso was displeasurable, but that's my issue not the fault of the sweet Japanese. I too also really like the bowls they offer. Bowlsd of rice that are price like 7.99 and contain a choice of either steak, chicken or pork. the sushi menu isn't humongous...but is cheaper than other sushi restarants closeby. I had the squid...whatever its called. Next door is the Lotus. it offers a buffet...as does the taste of india a little bit farther down the same road....both for 9.95.
(3)Bryson S.
One star is too generous for Osaka (pronounced O-SUCK-AH because it's so terrifyingly disgusting!) It was so bad I was finally forced to create a Yelp account to review it. My first yelp review, it's long, but read it to know what you're in for. The wife and I went here for a date night. It's hard to find sandwiched between two or three other Asian restaurants with even worse reviews. So we thought it would be alright. Walked in and no one greeted us for two minutes and the place was empty except one other couple. Always a bad sign, especially on a Saturday night!The place has a gross non food related smell which was another sign to just leave. But alas, we didn't... We were seated and had no idea what to get, the menu yelp has is wildly inaccurate. I asked the waitress about a few things and she had no idea. We ordered a couple recommended dishes. The miso soup I almost spat right out of my mouth. The salad was lettuce from a bag with a dressing that did make me spit out. The waitress took our food that we hadn't taken more than one bite of; she seemed like it was the norm. We ordered a Vegas roll, it had been fried earlier and reheated. It was bad by sushi standards and just gross overall. We ate it because we were starving. I ordered the chicken teriyaki and at 9.95 I got as much gross food as my wife who ordered a kids meal yakisoba at 6.50. It came out and it was some weird fried tempura batter rings which I think they think are like onion rings, gross old carrots tempura fried, and a small portion of teriyaki chicken. The sauce was runny and I had to dump the small amount of rice on top. My wife didn't eat her rice stating it was gross. She ate her yakisoba until she got a grisly piece of what we hope was chicken. It was just gross tasting, all of it. On top of it all the service was terrible. She took our forks that we had left in the salad and never brought new ones. We asked and she brought one for my wife and I ended up grabbing one of the nearby table. There was no one else there so no big deal. She would disappear for long periods of time. When she would come back she was very rude through our meal. She brought the check out with our main course which was a forced reminder of how much I was paying for honestly the worst food I have paid to eat anywhere in the 10+ countries I have been. 25 bucks just staring me in the face the whole time I was eating the gross teriyaki. I have never wanted to dine and dash so bad. I just felt so cheated. Osaka does not have food worth paying for. I am dissapointed in all the yelpers who gave this place good reviews. We left hungry and sick to our stomachs. Part from the food, part from the price and part from a waitress who never once said, welcome, how was it, thank you or have a nice day. She just showed up took the check brought it back, told me to sign and walked away... The food is gross but palatable, barely. It's lack luster and over priced. No wonder no one else was eating there.
(1)Ming L.
We always come here at late evening, because there is not many good Asian restaurants that open pass 9:30 Pm. This place is pretty good, and the price is also great! the only downside is the service are little bit slow. But overall this place is recommended!
(4)Elizabeth R.
I freakin love this place! Great sushi, great sashimi, and great service! It's also not too spendy...which makes it even better!
(5)Cameron L.
TLDR; I recommend Osaka for great Japanese food and great atmosphere. The food was great! I was told Osaka was the most authentic Japanese in Provo and they weren't too far off. I had the katsu curry and was completely satisfied! My group shared some sushi and it was pretty good too, not a lot of filler rice. The atmosphere is pretty great too. Not loud at all and the lighting makes it look nice for a downtown Provo restaurant. My only complaint is that the service the night we went was incredibly slow. There was only two other groups there but the waiters were having the hardest time helping us. Could have just been a bad night for them.
(4)Randy J.
Service was slow. Sushi rolls were tiny. Everything was bland. Not terrible, just not good. Price was high for such mediocrity. Cut that in half and I'd say it was worth it. Plenty of open tables on a Friday night, though.
(2)Rosa A.
Delicious and great prices ! My favorite thing however was the amazing service i got from the server and hostess! Definitely going back! !
(5)Zina B.
I love Osaka, it's Japanese comfort food, lovingly prepared by Nancy, the sweetest proprietor ever.
(4)D'Artagnan H.
Osaka has a very nice ambiance with traditional japanese music playing softly in the background and the choice of sitting at a booth or in one of the 2 tatami rooms. For our meal, had the Geoza & tempura to start. Chicken katsu curry, teriyaki chicken & salmon donburi for thr main course. Everything was wonderful, including the staff who were all very friendly. Nancy was always smiling, knew everbody & seemed always know what they wanted to order. To top it all off, it was unbelievably, reasonably priced. Definitely will be coming back & bringing friends and family to this great place!
(5)L B.
I haven't been here in awhile and only stopped in because for the life of me I could not find "Sora Asian Dining". Osaka is always quiet and I was the only diner for awhile, the space is nice and the service friendly. I had vegetable tempura that was okay and chicken donburi, it was suppose to have egg but it was missing. When I first started eating it the tempura onions and charred chicken was tasty but after awhile I couldn't continue because the sauce overpowered everything else and most of the chicken was overcooked and hard. Might be awhile before I return again but not bad.
(3)David C.
I love the food here and the service. They also have a really awesome set up which is a great place to take a date.
(5)Tu M.
Wow. This place is pretty near the worst Japanese food I've ever experienced. The service: We entered the restaurant later in the evening. It was completely empty except for a group of young, college-aged looking kids paying at the front. Instead of greeting us, motioning us to sit down, or at least waving at us in some sort of acknowledgement of our existence, the kid at the front ignored us for a good ten minutes while he had each individual in the group of college kids pay. First WTF moment of our dining experience at Osaka. Finally, we were seated. The decor is tired and run-down at best, by the way. After several minutes, we were finally brought menus. Many minutes later, we were asked for our order. Mind you, at this point, we were the only people in the entire restaurant and were considering walking out. Since we were starving, however, we (regrettably) decided to ignore the WTF feelings inside ourselves, suck it up, and stick it out. The food: We ordered simple rolls that came with miso soup (California and Tempura), as well as shrimp ngiri....wow. We ordered these items, because the place was so rundown that we were worried the seafood was probably not trustworthy...As feared, the food was pretty awful. Not entirely inedible, but definitely two days old, packaged discount grocery-store quality sushi at best. We ended up not even daring to touch the shrimp, because its freshness was extremely questionable. All in all, this place is pretty pathetic. I think it has positive reviews are simply due to the fact that it's one of a limited selection of sushi restaurants in an insular, landlocked part of the country. Anyone who's ever been exposed to real sushi or even truly fresh seafood would never want to eat here. Do yourself a favor and pass on this place.
(1)Derek N.
Gyoza was awesome. Chicken teriyaki tanburi was awesome. Nancy was awesome. Waitress was awesome. Koi fish were awesome. And most importantly of all, my water glass never got empty. 5 stars.
(5)Siara C.
I love the atmosphere here. It's a place I like to go with the husband when we want a quiet dinner and we aren't in a huge hurry. They have traditional Japanese seating options for a more cozy experience, but the large booths are super comfy as well. It's not super slow, but they only have a couple employees so if it's busy it can take a while. I like the food here. The sushi isn't my favorite, but there is no sushi I love in Utah County. I would say its as good as any others around, but I don't normally order it. I always love the tempura and the tea rice-- a delicious grilled salmon over rice with some kind of magical spice mixture. Perfect portions at extremely reasonable prices. It's one of those things I crave. And it comes with a pot of green tea in the most adorable metal tea pot. I'm a sucker for a cute tea pot-- what can I say. The Japanese lady that runs this place is so awesome. Seems like she hosts, cooks, and does everything else. And she always tells me I'm pretty which, now that I think about, might be MOST of the reason I like Osaka.
(4)Angie B.
Atmosphere is great! Food is alright. Its a step up from some other Provo sushi places I've been. Staff is friendly. Miso was delicious and the perfect temperature!
(2)Scott R.
This was first place I was introduced to Japanese food.I really love coming here while in the area. It is simple but tastes great every time. I usually order the chicken donburi bowl. It's a basic rice bowl with vegetable tempura on top. The sushi could use some improvement. But for the price it isn't bad at all. The owner is from Japan and is one of the great things about coming here. I will be back for sure.
(4)Lee H.
I should have known better than to take a risk on sushi in Utah. In an effort to avoid a meal at the TGI Friday's next store to my hotel, I found myself in the very quaint downtown area of Provo. After seeing multiple Japanese restaurants lined up on the same street, I settled on Osaka. The waitress was very Japanese. So Japanese, in fact, that she barely spoke English. Good sign. I ordered the agedashi tofu dish to start and it was decent. Silky tofu, lightly fried, swimming in a broth of dashi. Yum. Now, on to the sushi. I ordered the Olympic roll, not only because it sounded like a good combo of flavors, but also because I appreciated the local Olympic pride that Osaka clearly holds. The roll came to my table and it can only be described as unrecognizable as sushi. I'm not exaggerating. It was a blob of messy mayo-based dressing with some fish and rice sticking out of the disheveled looking seaweed. I decided to brave it and hope for the best and also pray that I wasn't going to be sick during my day of meetings the following day. I made it through dinner and I was able to function the next day in the meetings without any adverse reactions from my Utah sushi experience.
(2)Ivani C.
Love this restaurant !! Best Japanese food in town !
(5)Robbie P.
I've lived in Japan and I know good Japanese food. This is not good Japanese food. This is not good food, period. And it's such a waste, considering how pretty the decor is. Just put that energy into the food and you'd have a great place. Also, they deep fry everything. If you leave your keys there and come back, they'll be deep-fried. If you don't keep an eye on your kids, you'll have tempura bobby and suzzy.
(1)Jennifer S.
One of our favorite spots for lunch. It's quiet, cool, and inexpensive. The food is consistently good, and beautifully prepared.
(4)Debra A.
I love it. Everything about it. Once you get past the front desk and waiting area, you forget you're on one of the busiest streets in Provo. It's calm and beautiful. And the food is excellent. I'd eat there everyday if I could. Correct portion sizes. Lots of choices but not too. Yum. I love their salmon, wantons and miso soup.
(5)Jean W.
I'm a long-time fan of Osaka. Located in a small spot on Provo's busy Center Street, it's a staple for good reason. They display the autographed photos of mostly local celebrities who have partaken of Osaka's goodness and care enough to say so. The interior of Osaka is beautiful and authentically Japanese. They provide a couple of private dining rooms featuring tatami mats and all anticipated trappings providing a convincing experience for diners. Decorative Japanese flags/tapestries abound in the decor, making the place feel like you are really dining in Osaka. The owner is Japanese, and she never fails to recognize and chat with her regulars. Even though my visits are now months apart, if not years, she approaches me every time with a huge smile, letting me know she's pleased that I returned. She's absolutely delightful. Osaka's food has never missed for me. Do. Not. Miss. their gyoza - it's possibly the best anywhere. In case you uncover your inner Gyoza Fiend by trying it, they offer a supersized Gyoza entree so you can literally gorge yourself on it. Oh yeah... My favorite entree selection is their Chicken Teriyaki Donburi - so expertly prepared, and it arrives at your table just as advertised on the menu. A great amount of food for the price (lunch portion is under 5 bucks!). I would also recommend their Udon and Yakisoba selections, as well as their tempura (a veggie side of which comes with the uber-affordable Donburi bowls). The sukiyaki and tonkatsu entrees are also fabulous! Their cooked Japanese food is among the best I've ever had. One thing Osaka really knows how to do properly is rice. Whether it's sushi rice or entree rice it's always perfect, and SO delicious! The sushi is not the best I've had, which means I don't typically order it here. I personally think they tend to either over-sauce or under-sauce their Maki, depending on the roll. But I have friends who rely upon it each visit, and seem rarely disappointed. Lastly, it may sound odd, but there's something magical about the ice water at Osaka. I haven't figured out if they're adding some illegal substance to it, or whether it's simply the consummate refreshment to squelch your umami-induced thirst, but it's the best ice water anywhere. And they do a great job keeping it full. I've always loved Osaka, and never hesitate to drop in and grab some legit Japanese cuisine when I'm in the area. I also wouldn't hesitate to recommend that you do the same. You'll thank us both.
(4)Dan J.
Very nice atmosphere. Clean, cozy, intimate setting which is great for a date night or a small group. The food is pretty consistently good all-around. If you're just coming for sushi then I would recommend a more sushi-specific place. Their sushi is fine but not amazing. You'll get more for your money at lunch (the price doubles at dinner but the portions don't). Love their miso soup, gyoza, and donburi. I believe the owner is the main cook/waitress. She was very nice and polite, and kept our water glasses filled.
(4)Nicole K.
I thought I would give this place a shot after reading some of the other reviews. Save yourself the disappointment and just go to Kyoto. I ordered jasmine tea (good), miso soup (meh), seaweed salad (smelled iffy; a bite confirmed it wasn't good), spicy tuna (ok, but questionable), Philly roll (salmon didn't taste right). The garnish on the plate included two lemon wedges that looked like they'd been sitting out on the counter for a few days. Not appetizing. At. All.
(1)Js S.
Love this place. They have been around since our married kids were small. Very quiet. Excellent, authentic Japanese dishes. The most expensive entree is maybe $6. I love the sukiyaki and the rice bowls. Most entrees come with either miso soup or a small salad. Do not come here if you are in a hurry. There is usually one older woman serving the food. Sweet, sweet, lady. But not super fast. I'm totally okay with this, because the restaurant is usually quiet, with soft music playing in the background. Also the sushi is not very good. Stick with the entrees and start with the gyoza and edamame, which are fabulous and very cheap.
(5)Summer S.
I've lived in Provo for 10 years now, and have never been to this restaurant! I was actually pleasantly surprised at how well the food tasted. (we had sushi: the philadelphia and vegas roll. We also had this steak entree. The sushi was okay, but the steak entree was very good) There are paper rice rooms in the back, where you can sit down and eat on the floor, for a more authentic experience. The owners are actually from Japan, so the food holds more undisputed credibility. When leaving the store, there are actually pinned-up autographs of celebrities who have been there. It looks like Bruce Willis, Marie Osmond and even Larry King has been there. The salad and miso soup we had was good; the sesame dressing that comes with the salad was delicious. As for the service, it does take longer to order and get your food, but the price of the food and drinks weren't bad at all. I'm a fan now.
(4)H. W.
We went there for lunch last weekend. Lunch is pretty cheap and tasty. I wouldn't say it's the best Japanese restaurant, but I'd say I haven't had this tasty Japanese food at this price around Salt Lake area.
(4)Dave C.
Everything I ordered here was not anything exciting. I ordered gyoza, japanese meatballs, and some weird soup thing. the gyoza: I have had a lot better and can personally make it a lot better and I am a white American boy from San Diego. Japanese meatballs left me speechless. They had no meat and were some weird dough/bready things. Both my buddies I went with likewise did not really enjoy the them either. Soup was the best part of the three but it is the reason it gets 2 stars instead of 1. So that is not saying much.
(2)Joe L.
There are two Japanese restaurants on Provo Center street and this is my preferred location because their cuts of meat tend to be a little better. They serve sukiyaki in the pot and will give you a raw egg if you ask for it. They have a room with tatami mats in the back. It is run by Japanese people. The service can be slow. If you eat there enough you will befriend the owner. I lived in Japan for two years and this is authentic.
(4)Ana Lee H.
Dinner meals range between $10-$13, and medium rice bowl dishes range between $6.50-$8.50. The food is pretty good. The atmosphere is romantic and comfortable. We're glad we tried it.
(3)Dan P.
This place has become the default Japanese restaurant for my friends and I in Utah County. They have a wide selection of tasty food at a very reasonable price. (I like the donburi- get a katsudon, gyudon, etc for about six dollars, including miso soup and salad). I usually order some mugicha (wheat tea, often compared to burnt toast, weak coffee, or cigarette butts. Mmm....burnt toast. And they bring you your own teapot!) Throw on a couple pieces of nigiri sushi with it, and you'll have yourself a nice dinner. Most nigiri is a dollar per piece. Sure, it's not run by actual Japanese people, but hey, they make a tasty katsu. One thing- avoid the inari sushi...not so good.
(4)Elizabeth R.
I freakin love this place! Great sushi, great sashimi, and great service! It's also not too spendy...which makes it even better!
(5)Cameron L.
TLDR; I recommend Osaka for great Japanese food and great atmosphere. The food was great! I was told Osaka was the most authentic Japanese in Provo and they weren't too far off. I had the katsu curry and was completely satisfied! My group shared some sushi and it was pretty good too, not a lot of filler rice. The atmosphere is pretty great too. Not loud at all and the lighting makes it look nice for a downtown Provo restaurant. My only complaint is that the service the night we went was incredibly slow. There was only two other groups there but the waiters were having the hardest time helping us. Could have just been a bad night for them.
(4)Randy J.
Service was slow. Sushi rolls were tiny. Everything was bland. Not terrible, just not good. Price was high for such mediocrity. Cut that in half and I'd say it was worth it. Plenty of open tables on a Friday night, though.
(2)Ming L.
We always come here at late evening, because there is not many good Asian restaurants that open pass 9:30 Pm. This place is pretty good, and the price is also great! the only downside is the service are little bit slow. But overall this place is recommended!
(4)Rosa A.
Delicious and great prices ! My favorite thing however was the amazing service i got from the server and hostess! Definitely going back! !
(5)Zina B.
I love Osaka, it's Japanese comfort food, lovingly prepared by Nancy, the sweetest proprietor ever.
(4)L B.
I haven't been here in awhile and only stopped in because for the life of me I could not find "Sora Asian Dining". Osaka is always quiet and I was the only diner for awhile, the space is nice and the service friendly. I had vegetable tempura that was okay and chicken donburi, it was suppose to have egg but it was missing. When I first started eating it the tempura onions and charred chicken was tasty but after awhile I couldn't continue because the sauce overpowered everything else and most of the chicken was overcooked and hard. Might be awhile before I return again but not bad.
(3)David C.
I love the food here and the service. They also have a really awesome set up which is a great place to take a date.
(5)Tu M.
Wow. This place is pretty near the worst Japanese food I've ever experienced. The service: We entered the restaurant later in the evening. It was completely empty except for a group of young, college-aged looking kids paying at the front. Instead of greeting us, motioning us to sit down, or at least waving at us in some sort of acknowledgement of our existence, the kid at the front ignored us for a good ten minutes while he had each individual in the group of college kids pay. First WTF moment of our dining experience at Osaka. Finally, we were seated. The decor is tired and run-down at best, by the way. After several minutes, we were finally brought menus. Many minutes later, we were asked for our order. Mind you, at this point, we were the only people in the entire restaurant and were considering walking out. Since we were starving, however, we (regrettably) decided to ignore the WTF feelings inside ourselves, suck it up, and stick it out. The food: We ordered simple rolls that came with miso soup (California and Tempura), as well as shrimp ngiri....wow. We ordered these items, because the place was so rundown that we were worried the seafood was probably not trustworthy...As feared, the food was pretty awful. Not entirely inedible, but definitely two days old, packaged discount grocery-store quality sushi at best. We ended up not even daring to touch the shrimp, because its freshness was extremely questionable. All in all, this place is pretty pathetic. I think it has positive reviews are simply due to the fact that it's one of a limited selection of sushi restaurants in an insular, landlocked part of the country. Anyone who's ever been exposed to real sushi or even truly fresh seafood would never want to eat here. Do yourself a favor and pass on this place.
(1)Derek N.
Gyoza was awesome. Chicken teriyaki tanburi was awesome. Nancy was awesome. Waitress was awesome. Koi fish were awesome. And most importantly of all, my water glass never got empty. 5 stars.
(5)Siara C.
I love the atmosphere here. It's a place I like to go with the husband when we want a quiet dinner and we aren't in a huge hurry. They have traditional Japanese seating options for a more cozy experience, but the large booths are super comfy as well. It's not super slow, but they only have a couple employees so if it's busy it can take a while. I like the food here. The sushi isn't my favorite, but there is no sushi I love in Utah County. I would say its as good as any others around, but I don't normally order it. I always love the tempura and the tea rice-- a delicious grilled salmon over rice with some kind of magical spice mixture. Perfect portions at extremely reasonable prices. It's one of those things I crave. And it comes with a pot of green tea in the most adorable metal tea pot. I'm a sucker for a cute tea pot-- what can I say. The Japanese lady that runs this place is so awesome. Seems like she hosts, cooks, and does everything else. And she always tells me I'm pretty which, now that I think about, might be MOST of the reason I like Osaka.
(4)Lee H.
I should have known better than to take a risk on sushi in Utah. In an effort to avoid a meal at the TGI Friday's next store to my hotel, I found myself in the very quaint downtown area of Provo. After seeing multiple Japanese restaurants lined up on the same street, I settled on Osaka. The waitress was very Japanese. So Japanese, in fact, that she barely spoke English. Good sign. I ordered the agedashi tofu dish to start and it was decent. Silky tofu, lightly fried, swimming in a broth of dashi. Yum. Now, on to the sushi. I ordered the Olympic roll, not only because it sounded like a good combo of flavors, but also because I appreciated the local Olympic pride that Osaka clearly holds. The roll came to my table and it can only be described as unrecognizable as sushi. I'm not exaggerating. It was a blob of messy mayo-based dressing with some fish and rice sticking out of the disheveled looking seaweed. I decided to brave it and hope for the best and also pray that I wasn't going to be sick during my day of meetings the following day. I made it through dinner and I was able to function the next day in the meetings without any adverse reactions from my Utah sushi experience.
(2)Ivani C.
Love this restaurant !! Best Japanese food in town !
(5)Robbie P.
I've lived in Japan and I know good Japanese food. This is not good Japanese food. This is not good food, period. And it's such a waste, considering how pretty the decor is. Just put that energy into the food and you'd have a great place. Also, they deep fry everything. If you leave your keys there and come back, they'll be deep-fried. If you don't keep an eye on your kids, you'll have tempura bobby and suzzy.
(1)D'Artagnan H.
Osaka has a very nice ambiance with traditional japanese music playing softly in the background and the choice of sitting at a booth or in one of the 2 tatami rooms. For our meal, had the Geoza & tempura to start. Chicken katsu curry, teriyaki chicken & salmon donburi for thr main course. Everything was wonderful, including the staff who were all very friendly. Nancy was always smiling, knew everbody & seemed always know what they wanted to order. To top it all off, it was unbelievably, reasonably priced. Definitely will be coming back & bringing friends and family to this great place!
(5)Scott R.
This was first place I was introduced to Japanese food.I really love coming here while in the area. It is simple but tastes great every time. I usually order the chicken donburi bowl. It's a basic rice bowl with vegetable tempura on top. The sushi could use some improvement. But for the price it isn't bad at all. The owner is from Japan and is one of the great things about coming here. I will be back for sure.
(4)Jean W.
I'm a long-time fan of Osaka. Located in a small spot on Provo's busy Center Street, it's a staple for good reason. They display the autographed photos of mostly local celebrities who have partaken of Osaka's goodness and care enough to say so. The interior of Osaka is beautiful and authentically Japanese. They provide a couple of private dining rooms featuring tatami mats and all anticipated trappings providing a convincing experience for diners. Decorative Japanese flags/tapestries abound in the decor, making the place feel like you are really dining in Osaka. The owner is Japanese, and she never fails to recognize and chat with her regulars. Even though my visits are now months apart, if not years, she approaches me every time with a huge smile, letting me know she's pleased that I returned. She's absolutely delightful. Osaka's food has never missed for me. Do. Not. Miss. their gyoza - it's possibly the best anywhere. In case you uncover your inner Gyoza Fiend by trying it, they offer a supersized Gyoza entree so you can literally gorge yourself on it. Oh yeah... My favorite entree selection is their Chicken Teriyaki Donburi - so expertly prepared, and it arrives at your table just as advertised on the menu. A great amount of food for the price (lunch portion is under 5 bucks!). I would also recommend their Udon and Yakisoba selections, as well as their tempura (a veggie side of which comes with the uber-affordable Donburi bowls). The sukiyaki and tonkatsu entrees are also fabulous! Their cooked Japanese food is among the best I've ever had. One thing Osaka really knows how to do properly is rice. Whether it's sushi rice or entree rice it's always perfect, and SO delicious! The sushi is not the best I've had, which means I don't typically order it here. I personally think they tend to either over-sauce or under-sauce their Maki, depending on the roll. But I have friends who rely upon it each visit, and seem rarely disappointed. Lastly, it may sound odd, but there's something magical about the ice water at Osaka. I haven't figured out if they're adding some illegal substance to it, or whether it's simply the consummate refreshment to squelch your umami-induced thirst, but it's the best ice water anywhere. And they do a great job keeping it full. I've always loved Osaka, and never hesitate to drop in and grab some legit Japanese cuisine when I'm in the area. I also wouldn't hesitate to recommend that you do the same. You'll thank us both.
(4)Dan J.
Very nice atmosphere. Clean, cozy, intimate setting which is great for a date night or a small group. The food is pretty consistently good all-around. If you're just coming for sushi then I would recommend a more sushi-specific place. Their sushi is fine but not amazing. You'll get more for your money at lunch (the price doubles at dinner but the portions don't). Love their miso soup, gyoza, and donburi. I believe the owner is the main cook/waitress. She was very nice and polite, and kept our water glasses filled.
(4)Danton S.
the miso soup has tricky look to it, but its ok.. I had been working around drywall all day so to see the silt in the bottom of the bowl of miso was displeasurable, but that's my issue not the fault of the sweet Japanese. I too also really like the bowls they offer. Bowlsd of rice that are price like 7.99 and contain a choice of either steak, chicken or pork. the sushi menu isn't humongous...but is cheaper than other sushi restarants closeby. I had the squid...whatever its called. Next door is the Lotus. it offers a buffet...as does the taste of india a little bit farther down the same road....both for 9.95.
(3)Bryson S.
One star is too generous for Osaka (pronounced O-SUCK-AH because it's so terrifyingly disgusting!) It was so bad I was finally forced to create a Yelp account to review it. My first yelp review, it's long, but read it to know what you're in for. The wife and I went here for a date night. It's hard to find sandwiched between two or three other Asian restaurants with even worse reviews. So we thought it would be alright. Walked in and no one greeted us for two minutes and the place was empty except one other couple. Always a bad sign, especially on a Saturday night!The place has a gross non food related smell which was another sign to just leave. But alas, we didn't... We were seated and had no idea what to get, the menu yelp has is wildly inaccurate. I asked the waitress about a few things and she had no idea. We ordered a couple recommended dishes. The miso soup I almost spat right out of my mouth. The salad was lettuce from a bag with a dressing that did make me spit out. The waitress took our food that we hadn't taken more than one bite of; she seemed like it was the norm. We ordered a Vegas roll, it had been fried earlier and reheated. It was bad by sushi standards and just gross overall. We ate it because we were starving. I ordered the chicken teriyaki and at 9.95 I got as much gross food as my wife who ordered a kids meal yakisoba at 6.50. It came out and it was some weird fried tempura batter rings which I think they think are like onion rings, gross old carrots tempura fried, and a small portion of teriyaki chicken. The sauce was runny and I had to dump the small amount of rice on top. My wife didn't eat her rice stating it was gross. She ate her yakisoba until she got a grisly piece of what we hope was chicken. It was just gross tasting, all of it. On top of it all the service was terrible. She took our forks that we had left in the salad and never brought new ones. We asked and she brought one for my wife and I ended up grabbing one of the nearby table. There was no one else there so no big deal. She would disappear for long periods of time. When she would come back she was very rude through our meal. She brought the check out with our main course which was a forced reminder of how much I was paying for honestly the worst food I have paid to eat anywhere in the 10+ countries I have been. 25 bucks just staring me in the face the whole time I was eating the gross teriyaki. I have never wanted to dine and dash so bad. I just felt so cheated. Osaka does not have food worth paying for. I am dissapointed in all the yelpers who gave this place good reviews. We left hungry and sick to our stomachs. Part from the food, part from the price and part from a waitress who never once said, welcome, how was it, thank you or have a nice day. She just showed up took the check brought it back, told me to sign and walked away... The food is gross but palatable, barely. It's lack luster and over priced. No wonder no one else was eating there.
(1)Critical T.
Mom and pop restaurant with old world charm. Cool decor, just a hint of music, no TV (thank goodness) and excellent food. We love the sushi rolls here (try the spicy roll, unagi, and smoked salmon among others), the sashimi, pickled daikon radish and savory egg custard. Their sushi rice is perfectly sticky and seasoned and the wasabi, wonderfully pungent (not watered down, like in some places). Wonderful local business- the kind I like to support. Open at 3 PM- in between lunch and dinner when other places aren't. Very reasonably priced and v. tasty.
(5)Daniel H.
It's your normal American-Japanese faire which you can find in a million places, but I liked these guys. The donburi bowls were very good, the miso soup and salad were fine, and the prices for lunch were fantastic. Plus the server was an extremely sweet lady. It's good/not great food overall, but they're nice and inexpensive so I'll come back if I find myself in Provo again.
(4)Tyson B.
Osaka is another hidden gem in Provo. It may be hidden to some people, but lost in the row of old restaurants in center street in Provo, I would have never noticed it unless my friend had taken me here. I walked in and it was dead silent. It was rush hour, and there maybe 2 or 3 other people in there. Decorate with authentic decor, it is a quaint and cute little place. I love it there. Upon walking in, directly on your right there is a wall of autographs of local and worldwide celebrities raving about how good this place was. This was a good sign. I was greeted right as I walked in and immediately taken back to my booth. The menu here is pretty standard, but the food is far more than that. I had the Gyoza - and they are the best I have EVER had. I believe it comes with a plate of 6 and the dipping sauce is one of the best matched sauces I have ever tried. I honestly thought about just ordering a few more appetizer plates of Gyoza, and they are cheap too. I had the teriyaki beef rice bowl. Rice with tempura vegetable layered with cooked to perfection teriyaki beef. I was in absolute heaven. I can't wait to go back here and try more of their rice bowls and authentic dishes. The food came reasonably quick, my water was kept full to the top the entire time, and the woman who owns the restaurant was constantly checking on us to make sure we were having a good experience and that everything was to our liking. I'm looking forward to going back here and sharing my experiences of the other dishes here. I will keep you posted, but until then, go try Osaka!
(4)Chase H.
I got the tempura ebi (fried shrimp) and yanikunana (or something like that) for $13 i expected more their was barely any meat and nothing really tasted good i wont be back.
(1)Gina H.
Tempura was greasy and vegetables were old and weathered. Lemon on plate had to have been a week old. Chicken teriyaki was dry and not hot. Waiter did not seem to care. Won't be back ever!
(1)Valerie P.
Sigh. I've held off on writing this review because I'm conflicted about it. I really really wanted to like this place and they did have good flavors and good service... BUT halfway through my meal, I found a piece of steel wool in my food and sesame seeds in a salad with no sesame in it. Not sure where either of those came from but they did really put a damper on my desire to eat anything else. They seem like a great place and I'm sure it was just a mistake, but still. Not the best. Maybe I'll go back sometime and give them another chance.
(2)Richard L.
Meh. I've experienced better.
(2)Cheryl R.
Man... I used to go to Osaka like once a week... One of the very few things I miss about Provo, Utah. Prices are awesome.. food is pretty good.. The owner/server/host is the cutest and friendliest woman. I swear she remembered how I like my order even after a 3 or 4 year "vacation" from Osaka.
(5)Jennifer S.
One of our favorite spots for lunch. It's quiet, cool, and inexpensive. The food is consistently good, and beautifully prepared.
(4)Debra A.
I love it. Everything about it. Once you get past the front desk and waiting area, you forget you're on one of the busiest streets in Provo. It's calm and beautiful. And the food is excellent. I'd eat there everyday if I could. Correct portion sizes. Lots of choices but not too. Yum. I love their salmon, wantons and miso soup.
(5)Dave C.
Everything I ordered here was not anything exciting. I ordered gyoza, japanese meatballs, and some weird soup thing. the gyoza: I have had a lot better and can personally make it a lot better and I am a white American boy from San Diego. Japanese meatballs left me speechless. They had no meat and were some weird dough/bready things. Both my buddies I went with likewise did not really enjoy the them either. Soup was the best part of the three but it is the reason it gets 2 stars instead of 1. So that is not saying much.
(2)Joe L.
There are two Japanese restaurants on Provo Center street and this is my preferred location because their cuts of meat tend to be a little better. They serve sukiyaki in the pot and will give you a raw egg if you ask for it. They have a room with tatami mats in the back. It is run by Japanese people. The service can be slow. If you eat there enough you will befriend the owner. I lived in Japan for two years and this is authentic.
(4)Ana Lee H.
Dinner meals range between $10-$13, and medium rice bowl dishes range between $6.50-$8.50. The food is pretty good. The atmosphere is romantic and comfortable. We're glad we tried it.
(3)Dan P.
This place has become the default Japanese restaurant for my friends and I in Utah County. They have a wide selection of tasty food at a very reasonable price. (I like the donburi- get a katsudon, gyudon, etc for about six dollars, including miso soup and salad). I usually order some mugicha (wheat tea, often compared to burnt toast, weak coffee, or cigarette butts. Mmm....burnt toast. And they bring you your own teapot!) Throw on a couple pieces of nigiri sushi with it, and you'll have yourself a nice dinner. Most nigiri is a dollar per piece. Sure, it's not run by actual Japanese people, but hey, they make a tasty katsu. One thing- avoid the inari sushi...not so good.
(4)Jason B.
You know that scene in Harry Potter where they go to a brick wall, and the bricks all muck about and open to reveal a secret street in London? Well, if Provo had one it would go to Tokyo instead of London, and instead of brick it would just be glass doors, and the doors would say "Osaka". Whenever a character uses an arcane means of transport, all his clothes fall off because crazy Japanese cinema. It's quiet inside. Too quiet. Not enough sake. The lunch special I got was good. I forget the name, but it was meat and tempura--tempura means one baby carrot cut into quarters and one martini olive. What there was was good. Also, I was attacked by Ronin. I consider that a plus. Only complaint, and it's really a silly one: the benches are adorned with little pillows like they would sit on in Nippon, but these are sown the the bench making it IMPOSSIBLE to slide in. Next time I'm taking a katana.
(3)Nicole K.
I thought I would give this place a shot after reading some of the other reviews. Save yourself the disappointment and just go to Kyoto. I ordered jasmine tea (good), miso soup (meh), seaweed salad (smelled iffy; a bite confirmed it wasn't good), spicy tuna (ok, but questionable), Philly roll (salmon didn't taste right). The garnish on the plate included two lemon wedges that looked like they'd been sitting out on the counter for a few days. Not appetizing. At. All.
(1)Js S.
Love this place. They have been around since our married kids were small. Very quiet. Excellent, authentic Japanese dishes. The most expensive entree is maybe $6. I love the sukiyaki and the rice bowls. Most entrees come with either miso soup or a small salad. Do not come here if you are in a hurry. There is usually one older woman serving the food. Sweet, sweet, lady. But not super fast. I'm totally okay with this, because the restaurant is usually quiet, with soft music playing in the background. Also the sushi is not very good. Stick with the entrees and start with the gyoza and edamame, which are fabulous and very cheap.
(5)Summer S.
I've lived in Provo for 10 years now, and have never been to this restaurant! I was actually pleasantly surprised at how well the food tasted. (we had sushi: the philadelphia and vegas roll. We also had this steak entree. The sushi was okay, but the steak entree was very good) There are paper rice rooms in the back, where you can sit down and eat on the floor, for a more authentic experience. The owners are actually from Japan, so the food holds more undisputed credibility. When leaving the store, there are actually pinned-up autographs of celebrities who have been there. It looks like Bruce Willis, Marie Osmond and even Larry King has been there. The salad and miso soup we had was good; the sesame dressing that comes with the salad was delicious. As for the service, it does take longer to order and get your food, but the price of the food and drinks weren't bad at all. I'm a fan now.
(4)H. W.
We went there for lunch last weekend. Lunch is pretty cheap and tasty. I wouldn't say it's the best Japanese restaurant, but I'd say I haven't had this tasty Japanese food at this price around Salt Lake area.
(4)Angie B.
Atmosphere is great! Food is alright. Its a step up from some other Provo sushi places I've been. Staff is friendly. Miso was delicious and the perfect temperature!
(2)