Akai Hana Info
Amenities
Service options
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Delivery
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Takeout
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Dine-in
Highlights
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Great tea selection
Popular for
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Lunch
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Dinner
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Solo dining
Accessibility
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Wheelchair accessible entrance
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Wheelchair accessible parking lot
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Wheelchair accessible restroom
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Wheelchair accessible seating
Offerings
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Alcohol
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Beer
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Cocktails
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Coffee
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Hard liquor
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Healthy options
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Small plates
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Vegetarian options
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Wine
Dining options
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Lunch
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Dinner
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Dessert
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Seating
Amenities
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Restroom
Atmosphere
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Casual
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Cozy
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Romantic
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Trendy
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Upscale
Crowd
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Family-friendly
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Groups
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Tourists
Planning
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Dinner reservations recommended
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Accepts reservations
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Usually a wait
Payments
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Credit cards
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Debit cards
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NFC mobile payments
Children
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Good for kids
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High chairs
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Kids' menu
Parking
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Free parking lot
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Free street parking
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Parking
Best KPortal Reviews
So crowded.
Things we liked were the sashimi catch of the day, the tempura and tofu. Some misses were the volcano sushi, it was drenched in mayo. Salmon skin hand rolls were really tough to eat and flavor was kind of off.
The atmosphere was probably my favorite thing about this dining experience. It feels high end and the decor is lovely. While I’m not a huge fan of Japanese food itself, I really enjoyed my dish! The server suggested the sweet bean dessert which I wasn’t into but my partner was!
Go-to place for Japanese cuisine, and I love the group of restaurants in this center, but this is most formal dining of the ones there.
I have quite a few favorites from the menu, usually getting a dinner box, but the Yakiniku is one I haven't had in awhile.
I was treated appropriately and the service was prompt, I didn't have time to finish my tuna roll appetizer, before my entree came out.
The salmon don and miso soup were fine. The grilled salmon head and red dragon roll were tasty. The veggie and shrimp tempura was a little too battered and oily, and the dipping sauce lacked flavor. The service was excellent - friendly and efficient.The overall experience was perfect for an SF native craving Japanese food after a couple months in a small Ohio town.
Akai Hana, for decades, has been consistent when it came to their quality, cuisine, presentations, menus, service and reasonable higher pricing. Prior to last night's dinner, I dined here pre-covid. Boy has it changed, and not for the better. Presentation on couple dishes were ok, mediocre. I expected better!Other dishes were a shocking disappointment. The quality, presentations and taste plummeted. The prices increased considerably. I'll gladly pay premium prices for quality entrees, but I did not receive quality entrees, just premium prices. 4 pieces of uni was $50. The sushi Chefs claimed it was grade A gold uni. First off, uni is my most favorite sashimi! I order uni from Catalina Offshore Products, Gold (grade A). Look it up and compare to what I received (pictured). It was melted slurry, which would be grade C (Vana), used for flavoring soups and other dishes. Grade A sashimi is never that way, shaped nor formed. It should be in tact completely. The sushi Chefs tried to convince someone with experience otherwise. Very disappointed, very upset, felt they were belittling my knowledge and intelligence. Then there was the $38 hot pot soup (pictured). Terrible and messy presentation, as though they threw together in one bowl, other diner's left over scraps! Overcooked, tough and dry fishes. The proteins were unbearable. Fishes should have been soft and flaky, melt in your mouth. The udon noodles were overcooked and lost its popular whitness and springy texture. There was more cabbage under the sad pile of udon then anything, which was also overcooked. The broth was flavorful enough but was given very little... it's a soup, pour more broth! The smelts were smaller and less amount served since pre-covid. The very small bowls of rice were half full, served with entrees. Not enough rice for entrees and they told me that if I wanted more rice, they would have to charge extra. Compare the rice bowl to my spareribs dinner entrée ($37). It was ridiculous lol, for that price, how about giving at least a full small bowl of rice! ???? Our server was very friendly, pleasant, attentive and awesome ($40 tip). Very polite young gentleman. He made this discouraging dinner tolerable. After dinner, went straight to Tensuke Market! Bought variety of sashimi and other delectable food items! Ate some in the car on the drive home (over and hour!). I didnt eat much of my dinner, sadly. As far as the soup and uni... did not eat neither! Left hungry and discouraged. Ended up a dinner out cost twice as much lol (Akai Hana + Tensuke Market) I'm sure other items on Akai Hana's menu may taste fine, however, the cost has risen unreasonably. Quality and Pricing should be a balance. In my experiences in the past (dined here many dozens of times, pre-covid), I ALWAYS looked forward to the drive here (well over an hour!), no matter the long distance, no matter the pricing, it was the quality, presentation and service that made me come back. I'm very disappointed that my favorite Japanese restaurant is no longer that. The dishes, the presentations, the quality do not taste, feel or look AUTHENTIC JAPANESE to me anymore ???? I'm use to premium quality in real, authentic Japanese cuisine. Japanese chefs and owners take pride in what they cook, prepare and serve. I dont know what happened? I still would, but hesitantly, recommend dining at this establishment. Perhaps your food experience may differ my last visit? Just a heads up, make sure your wallet's fat with cash or filled with credit cards... wait till you receive your bill lol ???? Enjoy and Bon Appetite! Arigatōgozaimashita! Godspeed everyone ????
The food was good overall but if you are looking for a traditional sushi counter experience this might not be the right place.
The place fills up so it’s a good idea to make reservations.
The food was very delicious and our server was very attentive and pleasant. We had two kids with us and he asked if we wanted little chopstick helpers for them and of course the kids were excited to get them. I got the bibimbap and that was excellent. I got it in the stone bowl and that made the rice on the bottom crispy, which gave it a nice texture. The vegetable tempura was great too. My children loved the gyoza and my girlfriend got the oyakodon. She loves that dish and whenever we go to Columbus, which isn’t very often, she gets it from here because this is the best place to get it from. Overall, we had a pleasant experience with great food and great atmosphere.
Think you have to go to California for authentic Japanese? While Akai Hana has "Americanized" sushi etc on the menu, they also do excellent sashimi dishes and tempura as good as anyone. Sure, I'd love to be enjoying this in Kyoto or at the fish market in Hakodate, but to find this level of quality on the eastern fringes of the American Midwest? Akai Hana scores big. Great staff at the sashimi counter, so definitely try to get a seat there.
Low carb? Keto? Carnivore? Paleo? Akai Hana has choices and choices to suit your personal nutritional style!!
Quick Facts About Akai Hana
Today
Opening Hours
| Sunday | 02:00 AM - 08:00 PM |
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| Monday | 02:00 AM - 09:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 02:00 AM - 09:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 02:00 AM - 09:00 PM |
| Thursday | 02:00 AM - 09:00 PM |
| Friday | 02:00 AM - 09:00 PM |
| Saturday | 02:00 AM - 09:00 PM |
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