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Korean owned nice Japanese restaurant in Coquitlam.
This awesome restuarant is owned by koreans...which make the best stone rice in Greater Vancouver. It may be expensive, but it is worth it. The sashimi is fresh and the love boat combo has a variety of things including:
.sashimi
.sushi
.2 miso soups OR @ 2 salads
.shrimp
.other...
The restuarant is huge, and it is impossible for you to not have a seat, but the number of waiters/waitresses are not as surplus as the restuarant itself. The entrance is really nice because there is a small pond and huge rocks for you to sit on. There is also a tree.
This is one of the best restuarants for me.
I dine here all the time when I'm craving non authentic Japanese.
Food is always pretty consistent, fresh sashimi and I only had an upset stomach once after eating here.
Sometimes dinner does not arrive at the same time. Friendly staff and host.
I've tried most of the Japanese restaurants in this area. I feel pretty safe eating their food and for this reason I will return here when I'm craving Japanese.
Cannot say anything bad about this place, though cannot say that it is outstanding. Just average. Food was good. Though salmon nigiri sushi was a bit too dry, like it has beeen prepared in advance and been sitting on a counter for some time. But spicy tune sashimi was very good.
Cannot complain about their service either. They were prompt and friendly.
Overall nice place.
I've been eating here since it first opened (approx. 7 years) and the food has always been consistently good. In fact, I believe it's the best in the Tricities. Their prices are higher than other Japanese restaurants in the area but you get what you pay for as the quality of the other places isn't as good. The service is always friendly, the decor is nice, and it's quite a large restaurant, so you're not sitting uncomfortably close to the table beside you. The large influx of Japanese restaurants in the area in the past couple of years seems to have hurt their business as it was very quiet tonight (Saturday night). I've been trying all the other new Japanese restaurants in the area but after my experience tonight at Akari, I will continue to support them again as their food is that much better!
sushi quality of this restaurant is slowly but surely deteriorating.
i've been to this place at least 10 times.
first time i went there, about 2 years ago, food was fresh, well decorated, and served quickly.
then it's been a steady downfall since to the point where i said 'ok, that's enough'.
i ordered a salmon sashimi and i could tell right away that it's been sitting out for a long time.. it was dry outside and also tasted funny.
we complained but the waitress pretended to not understand english.
i don't know what's going on with this place (maybe now they switch sushi chefs too often) but i'd never go back again.
it's too bad since i really like the ambience and convinience (only 10 minutes drive from my place).
Me and my friends have been coming here for years. The decor is so modern and earthy, the staff are unbelievably friendly and the food is absolutely delicious. The spicy tuna roll is my favourate, it is sweet, spicy and perfect! The sashimi is always delicious. They even offer their sushi rolls and nigiri with brown rice now for a little extra cost. It tastes similar and is more healthy. It is a little bit more pricey than some Japanese restaurants, still only $4-$5 for most rolls but they are also a little bit bigger, many with 8 pieces.
Best Japanese food restaurant in the Coquitlam/Port Coquitlam area for sure!
I've been to this restaurant on countless occasions, and have yet to be disappointed.
I am Japanese, and for a restaurant Korean-owned, I have to give props to them! The food is great! I say this because I've been to some restaurants, that seem like they tried to mimic the same taste in other restaurants, but fail. And the quality is just disappointing. Akari is a great with their food! Their service in the beginning was alright, but they have hired some new staff that are quite impressive and full of energy!
I went there on one occasion for my mother's birthday, and wanted to surprise her with a dessert! I had left the table and ordered the dessert at the front desk to the lady. Shortly after I sat back at my table, the lady came back with a bowl of raspberry-white chocolate icecream with a sparkler candle on top! I was truly impressed with how far they went!!
I have no regrets coming to this restaurant, and will continue to be a frequent customer! =)
I tried Akari 4 times now, 1 lunch and 3 dinners. My impression is that its food quality has decreased a little, it was excellent when it first opened. I last tried it in April and the sushi and sashimi weren't really fresh and tasty. Price is still reasonable though.
The decor is great, very roomy and service is also great.
Its location is pretty convenient, in the same mall as Winners, Superstore and the Brick, you can easily find parking.
I have been to Akari a couple of times when it opened years ago. My family had a good impression that in fact the sashimi was very fresh and they have the blue fin tuna ( even though it was super expensive) I went again just two nights ago, man, this place was really pissing me off. Not to mention the service was slow, they were in fact ignoring their customers. Maybe the restaurant was really too big for them to handle. Even we waved like elementary school students, they just walked past from another aisle, but still didn't bother paying attention to us. The food was really slow, that I agree with previous review, really really slow. Good thing I didn't go in with hunger. But it was really upsetting when there were three chefs standing at the sushi bar, and still couldn't manage to send out orders within reasonable time. About the value, I don't know, there are a couple of new Japanese restaurants that are with good food quality and lower price, so I decided I would not pay the price they charge here anymore. This place is definitely going downhill....
I went to Akari about nine months ago, and everything was outstanding. However, I went there two weeks ago, and disappointingly, the food has gone downhill. I ordered the deluxe sushi entree, it wasn't bad, but also wasn't great.
Service is still fast like before, and the decorations are the same.
On a side-note, the sign inside the front of the restaurant had Korean text on it, and they had spicy tofu on the menu - this might be a sign that it is not in fact, truly authentic, for all the purists out there (I am not one).
We frequent this restaurant atleast 3-4 times per month, because there are certain menu items that they do better than any of the japanese restaurants around. That being said, the quality seems to have gone down hill since they launched. There are good days and bad days, especially when it comes to how they prepare chicken.
Also, they have some of the worst service around. "Clueless" would probably be the best description.
Oh, and don't try to send anything back. They don't seem to know how to handle that. One time my partner didn't like the soup so he sent it back and asked for something else. The woman just stared at him not knowing what to do (it was as if we had just done something obscene). 3 minutes later 2 other people came back to the table, they were carrying the same soup and they were looking at us and muttering incoherent questions and comments. They didn't go away until my partner told them they could charge us for it (which they did)
I go to Akari every now and then when I'm craving some Japanese food. Honestly it's not cheap to eat there compared to other Japanese restaurants but I really like this place. I have probably visited over 10 times and was never disappointed. I have gotten udon, donburi, lots of different fish, appetizers and even the deserts at different occasions but I never had a problem with any of the food. I especially enjoyed the Crazy Spicy Tuna Roll and the Banana Spring Roll for desert.
Okay. Again it's a not bad sushi place in Coquitlam area. Been there few times but stopped going now. Even tho the food isn't bad but need to wait a long time to get service, food and bill. At first coming in thru the door, you do not get attention right away, or 5 mintues afters you came in. Perhaps the place is too big for them to see customers coming in.
I do like their sushi and udon and their combos but its' too pricey plus the bad service and the long wait. Now they're not as busy as before too. Not sure if it's their service that got them or what. Im sure it's not the food.
Pretty average all around.
Was good food, I will go back.
I try to go during lunch, as the dinner boxes are over priced.
I tried the Okonomiyaki, having tried it once at another establishment and liking it. Main issue, I don't eat shrimp and this thing was full of shrimp. My mistake for not asking what they put in their okonomiyaki, and partially theirs for not listing it either. If you like shrimp and okonomiyaki, you'll love this! lolz.
My husband and I went here on a romantic dinner. Though the ambiance is nice, the restaurant was nearly empty and we waited over 30 minutes for our first dish. The food was alright but it is really overpriced and the service is not friendly.
We do not feel the need to ever return to this restaurant and do not reccomend it over other local sushi choices.
Food: Like the title says, they have the best volcano rolls ever! It's a little expensive for 6 pieces of sushi ($13.95) but there's a lot of spicy tuna sashimi with it. Their rolls are always very yummy, but their nigiri sushi pieces could be better. The sashimi that's placed on top of the rice is a tad small for the price you pay there. I can get much larger pieces with less rice much cheaper at other places, so that's something they should work on. Their sashimi's just like the ones I get from most Japanese places so it's nothing special. One time their toro was still frozen when it arrived and on the same night, some of our sashimi was definitely not even as fresh as the ones you get at crappy restaurants like SuiShaYa down the street. That was a big disappointment. Their kitchen food has always been good to me the few times I've ordered bento boxes.
Service: The servers are really nice every time my friends and I go. Sometimes they kind of forget you for a while, so don't drink your tea too quickly or ask for your own pot because they will forget you after you get all your food.
Ambiance: It's a newly renovated place and it looks wonderful. Everything is clean and pretty.
Overall: Food prices are a little steep if you just want good Japanese food in this part of Coquitlam. The rolls have always been amazing to me so I'd go back when I don't mind paying about $10 on average for good maki. Service is good enough and ambiance is just so pretty.
Food: The food quality has gone a bit downhill from when it first opened up. The proportions are good but the food is not always fresh. The sashimi seemed as if it's been sitting out for a long time.
Service: It's a big restaurant but there were only 2 servers. They are polite but are slow to greet you at the door and don't have time to fill your tea.
Value: The lunch combos are definitely worth the price for all the food you get. A bit overpriced for separate orders though.
Ambiance: Very nice and relaxing. Soft music playing in the background.
It is very rare for a little known restaurant owned and operated by Koreans to spend so much time in the details in their food and especially renovation.
When you first walk through the door, you'll feel that you're no longer in Canada. The atmosphere takes you to another dimension. It actually looks a lot like a high class Japanese restaurant once inside.
While the food was large portion and well priced, it may take the waitress a moment to finally notice you when you're at the door even thought the restaurant is half empty most of the time.
Akari is an authentic Japanese restaurant offering classic japanese staples such as sushi, sashimi, tempura, gyoza, udon, teriyaki, and maki and all are prepared with care and attention to detail. Food quality is excellent for the most part and care is always taken in the presentation. Many of the specialty maki have a terrific visual impact.
While not the cheapest sushi you will find, the quality is excellent and the ingredients are always fresh. I have got to say though that the tempura here is probably the best there is...period. I have had it perhaps a dozen different times and it has never, and I mean NEVER, been greasy. The coating is always crisp and the flavour extremely light. Perfection. Sushi and sashimi are very good as well and their California rolls are giant-sized. Other specialty maki are on the menu and all have a flavor and texture uniquely their own so experiment! You will have fun trying them all.
The restaurant itself is located between a Winners and Superstore on the eastbound side of Lougheed Hwy in Coquitlam. People coming from the east along Lougheed can make a left on Westwood St and then enter the parking lot from the side entrance near the Superstore Gas Bar. Inside, the setting is distictly Japanese with private rooms, and tables separated with rice paper dividers. It is bright and cheerful and and the service staff is always friendly.
If you're looking for very tasty Japanese food and don't mind paying the slight premium for quality and presentation, Akari is your best bet. Don't forget to order the tempura!
First of all, you've gotta try their okonomiyaki. All I can say is YUM YUM YUM! They stuffed that thing with loads of seafood ie. scallops. It's a bit expensive but it's definitely worth your money. They serve you with a pretty filling portion. You can share and it would cost you approximately $10 per person. They have nice rooms too, if you want privacy.
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