Sushi Hayakawa Reviews

DISCLOSURE: I've known the owner chef since 2000 and have been close friends over the years. I'll start with this: more people are able to appreciate the subtle intricacies of the Japanese cuisine today, and no offense intended but if California roll is your "choice" sushi, or you dunk other pieces heavily into soy sauce, you're likely not the intended audience here. Like with any cuisine, there's culture and history behind how the food is prepared, how it's intended to be consumed... so if you're willing to learn it can be a great experience. With that said, the food is fantastic. By far the best in the region. I'm not 100% confident in the back kitchen staff, but there're always room for improvements, right? It's now increasingly difficult to get a reservation at this establishment, but with good reason. He's made some strict(er) rules to enter the place, too, but consider... his intent is to bring authenticity to the Southeast, and as with any respected establishment, sometimes you have to make tough changes; for instance, to have less seating and make some changes to the menu. I applaud his willingness to take on this challenge, and further in trusting in his customers that people will understand the genuine and authentic gastronomic experience.

I was so disappointed in this restaurant. If you can get past the lack of ambience or any sense of style, you will be astonished by the pricing...over $175 a person. This was a set menu that they insisted on because we had large party. Maybe this would have been okay if the food had been better. They insisted on charging for one of our party even though she couldn't make it. And they put a tip onto our deposit. All this makes for a disagreeable transaction. But again...had the food been good....And yes, there was sake involved.

The five stars are so so true. This is the best sushi I've ever had in my life. Everything is so fresh and flavorful and truly just made sushi click for me (Ohhhhh, THIS is what its supposed to be like...). We came with two friends without reservations on a Saturday night. We waited about 20 minutes and got a table in the middle of the room with the best waitress ever. She did a terrific job explaining the menu and specials to us, and most importantly, getting us excited about our foodie adventure at Sushi House. We had so so much sushi, but stand-out items included: Gyoza: so simple, yet truly the most amazing ones I've ever had in my life. Yummity. Hawaiian Spicy Tuna Roll: a special of the night, but OMG, so fresh and amazing and delicious! Special BTB Roll: Oh heavenly day, this was the piece de resistance in my book. It is the mots delicious sushi roll with its own little special sushi hash brown. What the what awesomeness. Hubby and I had some straight up sushi that was killer, but I can't even remember what it was. It was just perfect. Even the soy sauce here is special. And if you love Sake, you'll be in heaven here. Best part? Our bill was waaaaaaaaaaaay under what we thought we'd spend. For the quality of the fish (so fresh!) and the quantity of food & beverage, I feel like we got a killer deal. This is, hands down, the best sushi in Atlanta. Quit wasting your time elsewhere and GET HERE. So delicious and fresh and everyone is so happy! The worst part is that now I'm in love with a Japanese sushi eating game show - I swear I'll go back to Sushi House just to watch more! YAY YUMMY SUSHI!

First of all, there are plenty of great sushi restaurants in Atlanta (Eight Sushi Lounge, Tomo, Umi)...Seconly, THIS IS BUFORD HIGHWAY. Paying $60 for 1 sushi roll is insane. The prices were ridiculous - $8 for 1 piece of nigiri, $50 for another sushi roll, $15 for another piece of nigiri.....ridiculous. I eat at a lot of sushi restaurants and I know authentic sushi. While the sushi here is indeed good, the service was very slow and indifferent. We had to ask for our glass of wine 3 times. This restaurant is trying to establish itself as very exclusive and presents an attitude to match. We saw them turn away customers who didn't have a reservation when there were plenty of empty tables. The menu is uber expensive and frankly not worth it. We saw another couple come in (they have less than 8 tables, all apparently reserved) and after ordering sake, becoming so astonished at the ridiculously high prices, they got up and left. My recommendation would be to find another authentic sushi restaurant (we passed many on the way to get here) and save your money.

Went for wife's birthday on May 12th....complete and utter dissapointment....sushi was average and that is being generous. Way overpriced...we spent over 200 dollars and only had two glasses of wine. The restaraunt and chef portray themselves as sushi purists but in reality the quality and presentation is mediocre at best and the location is in a dump strip mall on Buford highway. Mac Donalds offers better value. Spend the money and go to Umi or any place else than this overpriced charlatan of a sushi restaraunt.Not worth the time or money to visit this ugly little fish chop shop on ugly Buford highway....never again.

I follow itamae Hayakawa-san for many years (Haru Ichiban, RuSan’s, and MF Sushi to name a few). Sushi House Hayakawa is not just the very best sushi restaurant in Atlanta, it's one of the best in the country. I'm a frequent guest here, and never ever was disappointed.

If you are a pure sushi lover, then this is for you. It's pretty simple here. They source fresh seafood from all over the world, roughly 75% from the cold waters of Northern Japan, where the Owner/Sushi Master is from. It truly is a match made in heaven. If you want to go top shelf, try the special Omakase dinner for $195. We ordered off the menu and went with as many recommendations as the Sushi Master suggested. It was truly spectacular seafood. This place is tucked away in the corner if a strip mall and it is pretty bare bones inside except for the wooden bar. The emphasis here us on the seafood and it is really special!!

This was by far the best sushi I've ever had, and I make it a point to try sushi restaurants wherever I go. The rolls were fantastic, spicy tuna and this fancier version of a California roll were very good. Softshell crab may have been the best roll. The veggie tempura was decent - the vegetables are seasonal and would probably be even better in the summer. The sashimi was the highlight of the meal, and usually I prefer the rolls. The uni was very fresh. The quality of the salmon and tuna was very good. However, the best thing we ordered was the warm eel sashimi. It takes some time to get it, so don't forget about saving room. Another reason I say that is because the pieces are very large. Actually, most of the rolls are larger than I anticipated. Very fun, casual atmosphere: chef with a megaphone and Japanese tv in the background. Worth the trek to Buford Highway. Great dinner! Will definitely return next time I am in town.

I absolutely agree with everything suede2 as to say about the restaurant. Great food and great service. It was simply by happenstance that I discovered this gem, having just finished up a day of business meetings and heading for Chattanooga. For several days afterward, I had to tell everyone about how wnderful the food was. I will always stopp in when I am in that area...

Can't really say enough good about this restaurant. They treat you really well and they have some of the best sushi - presented in an awesome way. Taste is excellent, and adult beverages are great.

The soy sauce here is strong, the ambience intimate sushi house. Friendly waiters and orders arrived quickly. Would recommend if you're on this side of town - unexpected discovery in a Georgia strip mall. Recommend the crunch mall. Blue crab soup was tough to break the shell of the crab with chopsticks or fingers.

We lived in Japan and other places where many great sushi restaurants are. We love Japanese food especially sushi and sashimi. We found the Sushi Hayakawa thru review of Atlanta eatery review, however our experience was not to the level it was presented in public. This sushi place is overly hype and overly rated for its quality and services. Tuna sashimi, sushi and rolls were not fresh and has fishy smell. We complained but the chef said it is seasonal flavor of tuna. I never heard of that kind of comments from Japanese chef when fish smells. This place practices INSTITUTIONAL FRAUD. Their practice of charging almost $24.32/ head as a deposit and then only reflecting it as $20 / head on your final bill is designed to gross up your cost without you realizing. They will attempt to give some confusing explanation that involves a lie about a credit card machine. Total price was $220 plus $72.96 for the sashimi and other food weren't good and it was NOT WORTH IT for the price of $300 for this quality of sushi. The service and ambiance was nothing. If anything, it is a joke. This whole experience with everything was poor. Sushi from Kroger is probably better than this place. I love sushi and lived in Japan and have eaten all kinds of unique assortment of sashimi and sushi and other Japanese delicacies. I have had so many amazing experiences but this was not one of them.

Compare to all those fancy restaurants in the prime real estate area, this little Japanese restaurant is located in a average neighborhood shopping center just outside I285 and I85. The price is high, average $50 per person and take no reservation. You have to go early ( they open at 5pm Wed-Sun) before 6pm or you have to wait long time to get seats. The atmosphere is average small Japanese restaurant compare to other Japanese around the region. The highlight is the food. The Japanese owner(Mr Hayakawa) take serious pride to have the best quality fishes for sashimi and sushi. You can't find more fresh and tasty fish in town than this place and you will, in my opinion, get what you paid for. I have been to many Japanese restaurants around the world. Even though this is not the best Japanese restaurant I have been to, I still would rate this restaurant in the top 5 of my choices. But if you are in Atlanta and want to have a top rated sashimi and shshi, then this is the place for you.

Sushi House Hayakawa is the place to go for the freshest sushi/sashimi in the area. The restaurant is very small, and the policy is reservation only. You get a two-hour window, and four of us were able to eat plenty and love the sushi during that time frame. Yes, the prices are high, very high. But the food was wonderful, particularly the sushi. We tried a couple of cooked items, and liked them less -- but the quality of the sushi more than made up for the "OK-ness" of the other items. As you'll see in other reviews, you might see empty tables during your visit. But the two-hour reservation window might explain that. Tables that were empty when we arrived were occupied by the time we left. We found the service to be good -- nice, though quiet, servers. The owner/sushi master came to our table late during our visit to ensure everyone was happy -- and we all were. It's a good place to go for a special occasion; you just can't spend that much money often. But if you crave the freshest sushi in Atlanta, Hayakawa is the place to go.

After visiting Sushi House Hayakawa several times before the remodel, I was looking forward to experiencing the new smaller restaurant. I have to say, I was very disappointed. Big signs let you know its reservation only. I called a few days before and was able to easily get a reservation. The restaurant was 50% full the entire time we were dining. The host turned away a party of 6 with the restaurant 50% full. Food was very good but nothing outstanding. Not a fan.

I had dinner here Sunday night and it was great. It is a small restaurant tucked away in the back of a shopping center. I would recommend making reservations as it looked like it filled up quickly. I sat at the sushi bar. My service was good. I thought the sushi tasted extremely fresh and was prepared very well. I did not try any sake but they seemed to have an extensive amount to choose from. I would be happy to come back here again.

Nice little authentic Japanese place. Everything tasted good and looked right. Server forgot our order and we waited abt 45 min for the sushi. Otherwise def a good place

Excellent and unusual food, prepared with great care. Beautiful interior, friendly, helpful service.

We enjoyed our experience tremendously. The attentive staff, amazing food & jovial sushi bar conversation made a lasting impression. Will return!

This was a treat! Great Sushi, Sake and fun. Their rolls are amazing and very well presented! Very simple and beautiful. I will be back to this restaurant again, and hopefully soon. I love good Sushi and this was the best I have since my absolute BEST in Hawaii. Being on the East coast and in Buford, GA... I think they are doing great! Would highly recommend! Get there early, they fill up quickly and the waiting area is small and uncomfortable. If you get there to late to make it right in, get a glass of wine and enjoy your dinner mates.

Over the years I have been to many, many Japanese restaurants all over the world including in Ginza, Tokyo. One thing common to most of the Japanese restaurants - at least for me - is customer orientation. But not at Hayakawa. On a lazy Sunday evening with not too many people eating there, it took forever to get what we ordered. My wife ended up getting her food first after a long wait and she was finished by the time when my food came. This was the first time in my life that I considering not leaving any tip for the waitress. Since she was not really at fault, I left the minimum 15% but... The food at least was decent but I would not rate it a 5. 3.5 on food and 1 on service. One of the worst experience in recent memory.

I was in town with a group of friends, and we had a reservation for 7, and when we got there, we were told that we couldn’t order a la carte, and there was a 5-course set menu that we would be getting. Was thoroughly disappointed in what we got, it was wayyyy too much food, and there were no real standouts. Plus, it cost each of us a lot. I don’t mind spending good money on sushi, but when you spend a lot and then don’t enjoy it, that’s a bummer. I will say that the staff was super nice and super friendly.

Because we don't want you finding out about this place...it is too small to get big. The restaurant is unassuming. There is a tv playing interesting/strange Japanese programming. You might have to wait 45 minutes if you don't have a reservation. There are Japanese people eating in there that you might not understand. Please avoid this place at all costs. We love it...so don't go there...just skip it, please.

This place is always great and always crowded. Service is excellent and the sushi and rolls are outstanding.

This was a special occasion, my husband's birthday. It has been several years since we'd been to this excellent restaurant, and all I can say is it's gotten even better. Chef /owner Hayakawa has transformed his place from a more 'Americanzed' sushi restaurant with creative, novel new combos of excellent raw fish to a traditional, authentic Japanese sushi house serving the dishes he'd serve in Japan. He imports much of his fish daily from Tokyo's major fish market and each piece, each dish is exquisite. If you eat sushi, you'll recognize almost everything offered on the menu, and you'll find, as we did, Chef Hayakawa's version is the best you've ever eaten.

I love sushi, though I'm often happy with mid-grade or even budget options. Sushi Hayakawa was an altogether new experience for me. This was hands down the best sushi I've ever had. Fish and other seafood that melted right in my mouth. Not a single item had an overly-fishy smells or rubbery texture, which can often happen when middling chefs try more challenging dishes. The non-sushi dishes were equally as delectable. The service was impeccable, with all dishes explained clearly as they were brought to us. This is definitely a special occasion restaurant, as prices are quite steep, but I think it's absolutely worth the money.

This is an excellent place to have the best fresh Sashimi. Mr. Hayakawa serves the top quality fish and we enjoy them so much. Too bad they are temporarily closed. I call them & the owner told me they are renovating the restaurant & reopen in early January. I am looking forward for the re-opening of the restaurant to have my best Japanese meal in Atlanta again.

If you want simple, incredibly fresh, succulent raw fish, this is the place to go. The meal did end up being a bit more expensive than planned, but could be done for much cheaper without a whole bottle of good sake, and without the Toro sashimi, but I'm so happy I included those too things on my first trip there. We tried a sampling of dishes including the wasabi octopus, which has very strong wasabi flavor and excellent raw octopus texture. The Toro simply melted in my mouth. Without a doubt, I tasted the best salmon I have ever had that night: simple, clean, sweet, and fresh. He does the rice well, the egg sushi was great, and I tried raw shrimp for the first time. It is not a particularly fancy place and the service is nothing spectacular, but the courses were timed well, we were seated as soon as we arrived, and most importantly the food was simply outstanding. If you are looking for a fancy place with lots of flare in the presentations, and a little more creativity, Tomo is a great option but is pricier. If you want just the best fish you've ever put in your mouth with fewer frills, you have to come to Hayakawa.

Getting tired of American Japanese? You need to try this place. They just completed renovation and now they only focus on traditional Japanese. If you are a fan of rainbow roll, dragon roll or something like that, this is not the right place for you. I am so glad Atlanta has such a hidden gem and I have to say hands down the best fish I ever tasted! Uni, especially, are fresh air transported from Hokkaido, so do some of the other fishes, e.g yellow tail and tuna. Def need to make a reservation before you go there. They only take reservation through phone from 3 to 5pm; Sunday I think it is 2-4pm. Not cheap at all but I will go again.

We have been on a quest to hit every sushi restaurant in Atlanta. This is one of the two best, and I would say the best. Tough to get a reservation, not great for a big party, but the product is excellent.

I'd heard a lot about this place so I'd been dying to try it. It was a really expensive Uber ride from Morningside so I won't be doing that again. The sushi was good, but not memorable and still VERY expensive. Atmosphere not commensurate with the prices.

This restaurant was recommended to me through foursquare and I am glad I decided to check it out. The restaurant is located in a neighborhood shopping plaza that has a lot of restaurants and businesses. But this little restaurant is amazing. The service I received there was very helpful and I wish all restaurants had two people serving you. Michael had really good suggestions on what I should order. Per his suggestion i ordered Torched Salmon Roll and Grilled Octopus Pancake Balls - Takoyaki. Both were really fresh and perfect. I also ordered the Green Tea Ice Cream was perfect way to end the night. The prices are moderate and the restaurant serves a variety of sake and alcohol. Keep in mind--they have a minimum of $30 that you have to spend to pay with a credit card!

In Atlanta, it is rare to find a high end sushi place, with the freshest fish and a variety of authentic Japanese dishes. Also, the chef (Hayakawa) is Japanese, is actually a trained sushi chef and offers Omakase, ("chef's menu,"), the chef's selection of the contents of your dish based on what the best ingredients and combinations are. All these are very rare in the south. We tried several dishes: Ankimo and Hotate (monkfish liver and scallop), crab miso soup and ikura don (salmon eggs), sashimi omakase 2 (for two people), 2 eel nigiri and green tea ice cream in mochi for desert. Everything was exceptionally good. The prices are on the high side, but the quality and the taste are worth the extra dime. It is a small restaurant, typical of real Japanese places. Call a few days ahead for reservations.

Very high quality sushi. Interesting dishes, we had sea urchin mixed with seasoned rice that was amazing. The sashimi Melba in your mouth. Very unusual and excellent salmon roe dish with rice -awesome. Very expensive, so not your day to day sushi place, but great for special occasions. We had excellent service. Also fun to be at and watch the sushi bar. An apprentice chef was Caucasian as was our water, but both were well trained and well versed. Would have rated it a 5 but for the high prices

Since I have moved to the Atlanta area I found it hard to find a good sushi restaurant...yes there are average places but from what I am used to...and and average sushi place around here would be below average elsewhere...until I came to Sushi Hayakawa...wow this place is amazing, the experience is almost as good as the sushi itself...the quality is above most good restaurants I have eaten in...Now Sushi Hayakawa is going to make it even more difficult for me to eat sushi elsewhere Bottom line 5 Stars

I have tried Japanese food in New York, Los Angeles, Raleigh Durham, Michigan, and Barcelona. Hayakawa in Atlanta is the best I have ever had, and it is consistently fabulous. Fortunately I live between Chamblee and Doraville and have may pick of dozens of Asian restaurants along the Buford Highway. The sushi at Hayakawa is innovative and artistic, but the other Japanese dishes are also scrumptious. try the black cod soup with the special California roll, or the ever popular rainbow roll. make your reservation well in advance, or get there by 5 pm for open seating. the place is always packed with happy people.

This is the second time that I have visited this amazing restaurant. We sat at the sushi bar and asked Chef Hayakawa to order for us.....and he did not disappoint! Amazing shashimi, sushi and my favorite dish....salmon roe marinated in his special soy sauce over sushi rice......unbelievable! Sitting at the sushi bar is a must! Not just for the food experience but to sit and talk to Chef Hayakawa. Only six seats available at the bar and you must make reservations. Can't wait to go back!

Sushi Hayakawa is a beautiful restaurant tucked away in a funky strip mall. It is a good idea to make a reservation to secure a table. We managed to get in during a slow time. The staff was very kind and super helpful. I would have preferred to sit at the bar, but reservations are practically required to sit at the bar and see the chef at work. The sushi is high quality and probably the best I've ever had. It was an expensive dinner, but the experience was totally worth it.

Possibly the best sushi I've ever had. Wonderful place for a special meal. Very glad we made the drive.

This restaurant is a winner! They have the softest most delicious sushi ever! The staff was so knowledgeable and friendly- they really cared that we had a great experience. The torch salmon, two types of sea urchin, and soft shell crab were the three best items we are!! I dreamt of how great this sushi was- please forget the Buckhead sushi restaurants and travel to Buford Highway for this gem:)

Quality- outstanding. Chef- inventive and personable. Flavors- to die for. Pricey and worth every penny.

Was in Atlanta just for the night, looking for something not too far away from the hotel. Researched Trip Advisor and found this place. Looked like a 50/50 so decided to try it for my self and see if the reviewers were accurate. As far as the food was concerned, GREAT. Fresh, good, and relatively fast considering the restaurant was full to capacity. Service, not so much, BUT, given there were NO seats available, not bad. There 7/22 at 5:30 PM. I would DEFINITELY recommend this place but maybe NOT good for large groups (they have 3 areas with seating for about 8) but DEFINITELY good for smaller groups and business dinners... some of the SAKI can be VERY expensive so be a little careful choosing.

My favorite sushi restaurant in Atlanta, Sushi Hayakawa, reopened today after a 6-month renovation. The materials on the wall are new as is the ceiling in the sushi preparation area. A stylish wooden sushi bar is in place. The restaurant has less seating than before. The sushi bar runs across the preparation area but no longer is the "L" shape that allowed additional seating on the side. The staff appears to be much smaller than before, with Mr. Hayakawa preparing the food solo (although I was told a second chef will be joining soon). The only returning employee appeared to be Yoku, who always warmly greets the customers. The menu weighs a lot less; an explanation on its cover talks about the changing taste of Atlanta sushi diners but touts the food's authenticity. Mr. Hayakawa told me that Americanized dishes are out. He said, "No more mayonnaise on rolls." The menu no longer has "regular" miso soup, only "clear miso soup" and "dark miso soup with clams;" the spicy tuna roll, one of my sushi mainstays, is gone. The new menu is limited, but the choices continue the tradition of Mr. Hayakawa's creativity. He told me that the menu will constantly change. Some things have not changed, however. Everything is so, so fresh. And everything is incredibly delicious. I mean to-die-for delicious, melt-in-your-mouth delicious. My sashimi dinner included the most amazing uni I have ever tasted. I followed up the sashimi with a yellowtail roll containing scallions and spicy tuna, and I was in heaven if only for a minute. Sushi Hayakawa has never been a frequent dinner place for me since I can spend over $100 there without even trying. But going there every so often has made it a special culinary experience.

An interesting restaurant with a broad menu, but I can only speak for the sushi. We ordered omakase sashimi and a nigiri platter. Some of the it was admittedly sublime, but much of it was frankly of average quality at best. At these prices, the quality should have been higher. Frankly we were disappointed after all the positive reviews here.

Saba Hako Sushi and Torched Salmon Roll were very good. The servers are always very friendly. I wish they had a larger choice of appetizers on their menu.

if you hankering for sushi, let it be the star of your meal & come here. First dined here as a "walk-in" and had a 45 min wait. Now we make reservations a week ahead of time and get seated immediately. Tonight we had scallops, fried octopus balls, and crab miso soup. The chirashi bowl has also been great.