Asaka Japanese Restaurant

Amazing sushi, service, and atmosphere! I recommend arriving early on the weekends or making a reservation. There were people lined up about 15 min before they opened, which should tell you how great this place is!

Asaka is family owned by a father and daughter. Their craft for sushi and quality food really shows.
The Happy Hour prices were such a great deal. The seaweed salad was a light and refreshing start to dinner. The Uni was in season and was such a treat! The hand rolls were so fresh and fun. This is definitely some of the freshest sushi I have had in Indiana! I look forward to returning!

Visited 7 months ago

This is the best sushi I've had in the Midwest!! The flavor pairings are artfully crafted, and there are so many options to choose from! They have a chef's choice menu where you choose the amount of sushi you want and list your preferences and the chef will curate a unique menu just for you. This is a really great way to try a lot of sushi if you're not sure what you like. We are still exploring the rest of their menu, but the other offerings have also all been good so far. The price is so so so reasonable - they have a happy hour menu where you can get discounted rolls and even their other menu options are reasonably priced! If you don't have a reservation, you will be waiting a while for a seat, but it's definitely worth it! Either come on Thursday or message them in advance on social media to get a reservation. I can't recommend this place enough, it is our favorite sushi restaurant!

Visited 3 months ago

I tried here for the first time on a Friday night. Their ramen was rich and warm, you can order extra noodles for $3, which was well worth the money. The Las Vegas Roll is shown in the picture, it is a deep fried roll, and I loved it. You might have to wait a little before you are seated because seating is limited. But I would highly recommend this place.

Visited 8 months ago

I have been here for several times and I like it. BUT today I came alone and I felt so bad with the service. I waited for 10mins to made order, waited for 20mins for 10pcs sashimi and 35mins for a roll. The urchin is out of stock and nobody even mentioned it until I asked. At 9pm, my another order of the grilled salmon never showed up and I was asked to complete the payment. It was vey slow and obviously other tables were faster than me. No idea of any reason, it is because I am with myself? Extremely disappointed! I will not come again.

Visited 4 months ago

We went for happy hour. Amazing deals on huge pieces of fish. The tray we got was gigantic. They did miss a few of our rolls but it was ok in the end.
The only reason why I am rating them so low in service was multiple other people's food was delivered to our table. Had to ask multiple times for drinks or rice. But I think the main reason is because they never dropped off the check. We asked multiple times and ended up going to the hostess stand to get it.

Visited a year ago

The place is nice and small. There is always a wait to get in, we waited around 30min for us two to get a table (we got there around 5:30, and got sat at 6pm).
The workers and our server were super nice, but I feel like a little understaffed in general (for example, there was only one sushi maker when we were there).
Food was really good. We came during the happy hour, where the sushi, hand-rolls, sashimi, and nigiri were priced very cheap. But during that time there will be a wait for the sushi to come out since many tables will order it during this time.
Atmosphere is nice and cozy, and also very clean.
Overall, I recommend this place for good Japanese food, and cheap happy hour sushi. Definitely will come back for sure.

Visited a year ago

Best sushi 10/10. Super busy tho so expect a wait. Worth it tho!

Visited 9 years ago

Honestly, since I moved to Indy, I had struggled to find a great sushi place. This place was finally the first place I came to, that I liked a lot. Will continue to go here any time I want sushi. They honestly have great deals on happy hour.

Visited 9 months ago

Very homey, food taste very good and fresh, made it especially tasty because of the reasonable pricing!! A must try when in Indianapolis! Try the salmon skin as well!

Visited 2 months ago

Stumbled on this spot by way of Instagram. Definitely glad I have gone and since the first time I have been I have brought both family and friends. The end result of the visit(s) was the food and atmosphere were excellent. This spot is definitely one of my new favorite go to’s for sushi, ramen and other food!

Visited 3 months ago

Best sushi 10/10. Super busy tho so expect a wait. Worth it tho!

Visited 3 months ago

This is the best sushi I've had in the Midwest!! The flavor pairings are artfully crafted, and there are so many options to choose from! They have a chef's choice menu where you choose the amount of sushi you want and list your preferences and the chef will curate a unique menu just for you. This is a really great way to try a lot of sushi if you're not sure what you like. We are still exploring the rest of their menu, but the other offerings have also all been good so far. The price is so so so reasonable - they have a happy hour menu where you can get discounted rolls and even their other menu options are reasonably priced! If you don't have a reservation, you will be waiting a while for a seat, but it's definitely worth it! Either come on Thursday or message them in advance on social media to get a reservation. I can't recommend this place enough, it is our favorite sushi restaurant!

Visited 3 months ago

When visiting the city for the PRI show we always invite vendors to dine with us for dinner. The beer and saki flows but what makes Asaka special is the food. My partner is Japanese and he orders dishes that are both on and off menu. No one leaves without a full belly and deep satisfaction. Food is authentic and service is top notch.

Visited 3 months ago

Sushi and ramen here are good. Service is a little slow but allows enough spacing for good conversation.

Visited 4 months ago

Visited 4 months ago

I have been here for several times and I like it. BUT today I came alone and I felt so bad with the service. I waited for 10mins to made order, waited for 20mins for 10pcs sashimi and 35mins for a roll. The urchin is out of stock and nobody even mentioned it until I asked. At 9pm, my another order of the grilled salmon never showed up and I was asked to complete the payment. It was vey slow and obviously other tables were faster than me. No idea of any reason, it is because I am with myself? Extremely disappointed! I will not come again.

Visited 4 months ago

Asaka shines with excellent food and, a friendly staff. The best place in Indianapolis for sushi. Curry and katsu don are standouts. Their ramen is super as well.

Visited 4 months ago

Visited 4 months ago

best chicken i’ve ever had!!! 🥳🥳🥳🤩🤩🤩🤩

Visited 4 months ago

Friendly stuff, family style restaurant.

Visited 4 months ago

Visited 5 months ago

Best succi ever.

Visited 5 months ago

l live in San Francisco and come to visit family in Indianapolis. This place has good, fresh fish! The prices are incredibly reasonable!! I would highly recommend this restaurant. The decor is very traditional, Japanese bistro! Service was perfect!

Visited 5 months ago

Visited 5 months ago

This sushi spot is one of the few options in Indy, but it really doesn’t live up to the hype. The food quality is decent at best, but it lacks the vibrant flavors that sushi lovers crave. Some of the fish is still frozen or has been frozen for too long, leading to a watery taste that’s far from fresh. The rice is served cold, which is a huge disappointment; in Japan, nigiri is typically presented warm, allowing the delicate flavors of the fish and seasoned rice to meld beautifully on your palate. Here, you’re left with a texture that feels more like ice on rice, leaving you longing for the rich umami and subtle sweetness that fresh sushi should deliver.

As for the service, it’s been noted in numerous reviews that it’s far from ideal. Expect to wait over an hour and a half for your food after ordering, leaving you to starve if you just ordered sushi or nigiri. To top it off, they pressure you to leave a tip on their POS machine, watching to see if it meets their expectations. The tipping options are 20%, 25%, or 30%, which feels unreasonable given the subpar food and service. It’s tough to justify such a high tip when the experience doesn’t match up.

Visited 5 months ago

Went on a Sunday so no sushi, but ordered sashimi that came frozen on the plate. When I told the server she said "that's how they send them to us" and rolled her eyes at me. Ramen was good which is why I gave more stars. But, we were also seated in a secluded back corner and on top of being rude the servers for both tables seated in the back took at least 10 min to come by to take the order and were non existent after the food came out. Not thrilled.

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

This place is so good I almost don’t want to tell people about it and keep it to myself 🤣 absolutely amazing sushi, great service, great atmosphere. It’s a must try in Indy.

Visited 6 months ago

The best sushi in Indianapolis. The food is very authentic. There are Japanese customers here every time we visit.

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Love Asaka! Their spicy ramen is top tier and the authenticity is unmatched. The happy hour sushi is also to die for.

Visited 7 months ago

We went on a Friday evening around 7:30 PM and it was not too crowded. We did reserve before. If you are into Sushi then this is the place. I liked the Miso soup and the Curry beef.

Visited 7 months ago

Refused service at 9p because they had “run out of sushi rice” explained we did not want sushi, then we were given other excuses. Drove up from South side; never again.

Visited 7 months ago

Amazing sushi, service, and atmosphere! I recommend arriving early on the weekends or making a reservation. There were people lined up about 15 min before they opened, which should tell you how great this place is!

Asaka is family owned by a father and daughter. Their craft for sushi and quality food really shows.
The Happy Hour prices were such a great deal. The seaweed salad was a light and refreshing start to dinner. The Uni was in season and was such a treat! The hand rolls were so fresh and fun. This is definitely some of the freshest sushi I have had in Indiana! I look forward to returning!

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

I tried here for the first time on a Friday night. Their ramen was rich and warm, you can order extra noodles for $3, which was well worth the money. The Las Vegas Roll is shown in the picture, it is a deep fried roll, and I loved it. You might have to wait a little before you are seated because seating is limited. But I would highly recommend this place.

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

I don't usually write reviews because I don't care enough to, but I LOVE this place. I've been going here for years and their food is amazing and consistent every time. The staff are always incredibly friendly and helpful and I've never had a negative experience. The vibe in the restaurant is really nice too. 10/10 definitely recommend this place. If you like Japanese food or are new with it, definitely go here!

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

Got the garlic ramen and it’s fine, not impressing but tasty.

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

Love these little hole in the wall places. Best spicy tuna roll in the city. Everything was fresh and delicious. Server Erin and the rest of the crew are friendly and attentive. You gotta try this one.

Visited 9 months ago

I recently visited Asaka and found the food to be decent, with a variety of options. However, the service was unfortunately below par. The staff seemed inattentive and unresponsive, which made the dining experience less enjoyable. Additionally, I was surprised to see that a 20% tip was automatically added to the bill. While I understand that tipping is customary, I believe it should be left to the discretion of the customer based on the quality of service received. Overall, I hope the management takes steps to improve their service.

Visited 9 months ago

Honestly, since I moved to Indy, I had struggled to find a great sushi place. This place was finally the first place I came to, that I liked a lot. Will continue to go here any time I want sushi. They honestly have great deals on happy hour.

Visited 9 months ago

Best Sushi in Indianapolis

Visited 10 months ago

Asaka has unbelievably delicious vegan sushi! not to mention their veggie tempura and and yummy drinks as well

Visited 10 months ago

Best Japanese food in the area!

Visited 10 months ago

Visited 10 months ago

The place is nice and small. There is always a wait to get in, we waited around 30min for us two to get a table (we got there around 5:30, and got sat at 6pm).
The workers and our server were super nice, but I feel like a little understaffed in general (for example, there was only one sushi maker when we were there).
Food was really good. We came during the happy hour, where the sushi, hand-rolls, sashimi, and nigiri were priced very cheap. But during that time there will be a wait for the sushi to come out since many tables will order it during this time.
Atmosphere is nice and cozy, and also very clean.
Overall, I recommend this place for good Japanese food, and cheap happy hour sushi. Definitely will come back for sure.

Visited a year ago

My recent visit to Asaka was disappointing on several fronts. Despite the pleasant ambiance, the service left much to be desired. The waitress seemed more engrossed in chatting than attending to customers, leading to delayed orders and low-quality food that lacked authenticity. What truly dismayed me was the evident disappointment from her upon seeing a 13% tip (their tipping amount starting at an unreasonable 20%). She shook heads after she saw the tip amount. It’s disappointing that service professionals react negatively to gratuity. Overall, my experience was unsatisfactory, and I won't be returning. I hope management takes these concerns seriously and works towards improving both the food quality and professionalism of their staff.

Visited a year ago

I ordered spinach sesame from the appetizer menu, asaka ramen, and asaka rolls. I thought the spinach sesame would come out first since it's an appetizer right, but no. The ramen was out first, and nothing out until my partner finished the ramen! I am hangry at this point for real, both my sesame spinach and my sushi took so long for them to make.

Absolutely off about their timings of sequence. Ramen tastes good (luckily) hence the 4stars on this review, but their sushi and nigiri taste mediocre, fish slices on our nigiri was also off proportion (fish way bigger than the rice), meanwhile the sushi roll fell off when we tried to pick it with our chopsticks

Last, please kindly inform one of your waitress (asian with glasses) to NOT slam the plate in front of our face. I don't care how busy you are, but slamming plate in front of your customer is wrong!

Visited a year ago

가성비 짱. 근데 좀 오래걸림

Visited a year ago

Ramen 😕👎👎👎
Sushi 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Visited a year ago

Great food that's well worth the wait. The tonkatsu ramen and Spider Roll were delicious. If you go during the start of happy hour, be prepared to wait some but it obviously didn't affect my review. :) I'll be back.

Visited a year ago

We went for happy hour. Amazing deals on huge pieces of fish. The tray we got was gigantic. They did miss a few of our rolls but it was ok in the end.
The only reason why I am rating them so low in service was multiple other people's food was delivered to our table. Had to ask multiple times for drinks or rice. But I think the main reason is because they never dropped off the check. We asked multiple times and ended up going to the hostess stand to get it.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

It took us over 2 hours, closer to 2.5, to be seating, waited on, served the food, and the check. It was long stretches of just nothingness, not even eye contact made. Awful service in general, not worth the food.

Visited a year ago

Food is just alright, but the service was terrible. They have very odd rules regarding reservations (need to “pre-order” sushi via Instagram or Facebook DM) that was not made clear. When we arrived the owner(?) tried to turn us away, saying that since we did not pre-order, we lost our reservation.

The waiters were great, the host/owner was not.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Best sushi, atmosphere, and servers! I love it.

Visited a year ago

Best quality sushi and authentic Japanese cuisine in town!

Visited a year ago

We used to love this restaurant. They have amazing food, but their service has really gone downhill in the last few years. It’s gotten so bad that if we’re in the mood for Japanese food, we no longer consider Asaka as the first option because you can never predict whether they’ll accept you in the restaurant or accept your takeout order. There is usually a wait to be seated because they only take reservations for a couple of time slots. When you’re dining in, be ready to also wait (whether it’s to get your first drink order placed or to get your food). For takeout, this is never consistent. You could call one day and place an order without a problem, but then be denied another day and told they are not accepting takeout orders that day because the restaurant is too busy. It is also extremely frustrating how they post so much on social media about their business hurting and urging customers to support them, but they continue to deny customers that want to support them and who have supported them for so many years. I hope they change some of their business practices soon because this inconsistency in service could be their downfall.

Visited a year ago

If you want great sushi, at the expense of the worst service you’ve possibly ever experienced, Asaka is for you. However, if jumping through endless hoops and waiting forever for food sounds like a terrible experience, you’d be right. I’ve loved Asaka’s food before but it’s just not worth the horrific service and requirements to get good sushi I could get anywhere else. Had a party of 10 that wanted to go for a family Christmas dinner. Called and was told that for larger parties, we cant schedule same day of, but it had to be at 5:30 the following day. Oh, and for larger orders, I had to “pre-message” them before our reservation with our explicit order. I thought all those steps were annoying, but the food was good, so I complied, and the next day I messaged them on Instagram with my party’s order. Right when they opened, I called to make sure they got our order. They did… but because I had messaged them at 12:22pm, they couldn’t serve us… because they needed the order BEFORE NOON… a requirement that was never expressed or communicated to me. So my entire Christmas party had to scramble with a new reservation. I and all my other previous Asaka-loving party members will never be back.

Visited a year ago

Asaka is the only place in Indianapolis with authentic Japanese cuisine, period. The staff is knowledgeable, the kitchen turns out amazing food, and the sushi bar provides beautiful cuts of sushi you can't believe. I take my friends and family as much as I can. A+

Visited a year ago

Waited 90 minutes for a ramen to be served. Left the place after waiting for 90minutes. The place wasn’t even busy. Not going back again.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Hands down the best Japanese restaurant in Indiana. I've been coming here for 10+ years and it does not disappoint. You'll probably run into plenty of Japanese people here (perhaps all in Indiana) because their food is so authentic. They seem to be understaffed lately, so service can be slow and there's probably a line to get in. However, it's worth the wait. Remember to hide your valuables in your car, as it's not the safest part of Indy for sure.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

The food is delicious, but the restaurant frequently runs out of the special items listed on the board, and sometimes even regular menu items. The service is friendly, but it can be slow at times. Occasionally, you may not receive what you ordered. Additionally, the chef decides which sushi to include in the special rolls most of the time.”

Visited a year ago

Asaka is a definition of a good sushi restaurant. Fish is always top quality. “Asaka Special Sushi Dinner” is definitely special and not just a bunch of ingredients stuck together. Excellent quality and portions!

Visited a year ago

Food: Happy hour sushi options are very cost-effective, but all other menus are mediocre. I personally rate fried menu options as bad. For instance, their tempuras are not battered correctly, and if you happen to order tried food during busy times, your tempuras will be disgustingly soaked in oil.

Service: Initially, it was not bad, but due to the high volume of customers, they are not able to help you. If you order a refillable beverage, you always have to bring a waitress's attention. They used to be good 5 years ago, but now they only check your table if you try to stop them.

Tip: You CANNOT order sushis on Sunday.
Always pre-order your sushi before open time, and use Instagram.
Due to the high volume of customers, your pre-order will most likely be your last order; it will take another 30-40 min to get another round of sushi items.
Always call in or DM for a reservation; they may not take your reservation ─ Their standard is pretty unknown ─ but it is better than being stuck in the open queue.

Last Visit: For my last visit, their communication with the customers was abysmal. I was told that my seat would be ready in 30 min, but I was seated an hour later, then it took another 30 minutes to order the food and another hour to get the actual food. Some menus were even unavailable, and I was not advised while waiting. What is the point of being seated anyway if you can't provide the food in a timely manner? I understand there was a large group of Japanese customers, but you must shut down the store for the rest of the customers if you can't serve them properly.

Overall: I have been visiting Asaka for over 5+ years since I was in college; they are famous for budget-friendly or cost-effective sushi options. However, every aspect of this restaurant has plummeted due to the increasing number of customers and the management's decision to take customers beyond their capability. I used to testify this restaurant is one of the most reasonable sushi restaurants in the Midwest region, but I will not recommend this restaurant to anyone anymore.

Will I revisit: Probably with the pre-order happy hour sushi and around opening time only, but not for any other food items. I am already looking for alternative restaurants, but it is indeed hard to beat their cost-effectiveness.

Visited a year ago

Breathtaking 🤗❤️🤗

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Great people and amazing food ! I always recommend this lovely spot to anyone searching for good Japanese food & sushi ! Everything about Asaka is comforting and I hope you give them a try !

Visited a year ago

Best sushi ever!!!

Visited a year ago

I no longer live in Indy, but when I’m back in town visiting, Asaka is ALWAYS on the list, always. I now live in a city full of the best sushi, and I still dream of Asaka… 🙌🏼✨🤤

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

We love Asaka! From sushi to their cooked menu is always amazing. We love their curry, ramen, salmon teriyaki and of course all the sushi!!!

Visited a year ago

I have been eating at Asaka for over 15 years and I can confidently say it is the best sushi in Indianapolis. Nina is a wonderful chef and her family has built something truly special for the community. My family and I use any excuse to make a reservation- Father’s Day, birthdays, I even went after my high school graduation and every single time it is a lovely experience. I highly recommend visiting Asaka 💌

Visited a year ago

The most authentic sushi you’ll find outside of Japan!! Have to make a stop here every time we are in the city. The food is amazing, the staff is incredible, and the value can’t be beat! Plus, it’s a small family business where you can feel the love in the atmosphere and taste it in the food!

Visited a year ago

Delicious sushi! Never disappoints.

Visited a year ago

I love Asaka, always have and always will. They’re a small, no frills, family-run Japanese restaurant. Be patient with the staff, they’re a pretty lean team.

Visited a year ago

The food is always amazing. Our favorite place in Indy for sushi. Very relaxing vibe.

Visited a year ago

I have been coming to Asaka for nearly 6 years. It is the only place I will eat sushi at in Indianapolis. Their rolls and nigiri slices are HUGE. Aside from sushi their ramen is also incredible and many other non-sushi items on their menu. If you happen to go in on a Sunday when they aren’t serving sushi you will not be disappointed by everything else they have to offer :-)

Visited a year ago

I used to love this restaurant. This was our favorite place to dine until about a year ago. I have given this place multiple attempts in the past year and it turns out the same experience each time since.

Unheard of wait times (for 2 people). Extremely slow service. Wrong food orders.

We dined in last night. I believe we saw our waitress two times in total. We received a wrong item, we waited over 20 minutes for someone to come back by so we could inform them of the mistake. That was also when they were bringing out our sushi order so there was no point in asking for the correct item.

The nigiri was okay. Quality has definitely changed. The sushi rolls were pretty good though!

I think this is our last go around here. We try and support local small business in our area but, it’s really hard to take a 2 hour chunk out of the night just for dinner that is sub par with service and the quality of food. Maybe I have just gone on nights where things weren’t going great over the past year.

The prices here are great! The food is normally pretty good. Something has changed over the past year though.

Visited a year ago

Good food but the wait was just too long. 1 hour to get a table for 6 and another for sushi to arrive 🤷🏻‍♂️

Visited a year ago

Sashimi is fresh. The price is affordable. The decoration of the restaurant is similar to what I saw in Japan. Although the food is tasty, it is not an authentic Japanese one.

Visited a year ago

It was terrible experience. The sashimi was full of icy. The Katsu Don was over temperatures cooked that it lost juicy. Considering the price, it is not worth to go

Visited a year ago

Has been our family's favorite restaurant for over 20 years. Great food, good prices, and good service from a friendly staff. I'd call this a small niche restaurant.

Visited a year ago

インディアナポリスの数少ない日本料理店です。寿司が食べられますが、日本よりは味は落ちます。ハッピーアワー前は安くなります。

Visited a year ago

I’m rating this based on the sushi and the ramen. The ramen is the best in town for significantly less than other ramen spots. I’ve tried most other ramen spots in Indy and this just delicious, no-frills-attached ramen. The broth is fantastic and the noodles are perfectly cooked.

The sushi is easily the best in town. A lot of sushi restaurants in the states go heavy on the rice and light on the fish. Asaka does not have that problem. The sushi is beautifully proportioned and beautifully fresh.

We’ve had mixed results with the other menu items but most of the dishes are still very good and you can’t really find them at other restaurants in Indiana.

As far as the service goes - while it can slow down a bit on busy nights, we often go on Thursday or Sunday and never have a problem on those nights. Note that sushi options are limited on Sunday, so that’s a good ramen night.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited 2 years ago

good sushi but wish they were also open for lunch. takes a while to order and get your food but still love it overall.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

This is the best sushi restaurant in town. The service can sometimes be spotty but the food is always great. I come for the sushi. But the asaka ramen is decent as well.
My only complaint, please turn on the AC when it’s 100 degrees out. We are pouring sweat in here! 🫠

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Absolutely one of the best restaurants regardless of style or cuisine. Exceptional folks with perfect service & flawless présentation of delicious plates & offerings.

Visited 2 years ago

Still haven’t found better sushi in the USA! 🍣🍱

Visited 2 years ago

Great authentic food and atmosphere! Felt like I was back home in Japan :)

Visited 2 years ago

Worst service. Never had a server. I waited for a server all the time like a meerkat. False check. More than I ordered in the check and no apology. It totally ruined my important dinner. Never ever visit here.

Visited 2 years ago

Best sushi in Indy! All their food is sooo good. Service is a little slow sometimes since they are a small business but definitely worth the wait.

Visited 2 years ago

Excellent authentic Japanese food!! Would go back!

Visited 2 years ago

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
I recently had the pleasure of dining at Asaka Japanese Restaurant, and I must say it was an exceptional culinary experience from start to finish. As a lover of Japanese cuisine, I had high expectations, and Asaka certainly exceeded them in every aspect.
Ambiance and Decor: The restaurant's ambiance was serene and inviting, with traditional Japanese décor elements creating a cozy and authentic atmosphere. Soft lighting, bamboo accents, and comfortable seating contributed to a relaxed dining environment. Whether you're dining with friends, family, or having a romantic dinner, Asaka sets the perfect mood.
Service: The service at Asaka was impeccable. The staff was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. They were eager to answer questions, provide recommendations, and cater to any dietary preferences. The dishes were served promptly, and the servers ensured that we had everything we needed throughout the meal.
Menu and Food: The menu at Asaka is extensive and offers a wide variety of classic and innovative Japanese dishes. From sushi and sashimi to hot dishes like tempura and teriyaki, there was something for every palate. The freshness of the ingredients was evident in each bite, and the presentation of the dishes was both artistic and appetizing.
We started our meal with a selection of sushi rolls, and they were simply exquisite. The fish was incredibly fresh, and the rice was perfectly seasoned. Next, we tried the miso soup and seaweed salad, both of which were bursting with flavor. For the main course, I opted for the sashimi platter, and it was a delightful assortment of various fish cuts, delicately arranged on a bed of ice. My dining companions chose the teriyaki chicken and beef, and they were equally impressed with the tenderness and taste of their dishes.
Dessert: To end our meal on a sweet note, we indulged in some green tea ice cream and mochi. The desserts were a delightful blend of traditional and modern, showcasing the restaurant's ability to innovate while respecting Japanese culinary traditions.
Price: While Asaka Japanese Restaurant may not be the cheapest option in town, the quality of the food, service, and overall experience makes it worth every penny. The prices are reasonable for the high standard of cuisine and service provided.
Overall, dining at Asaka Japanese Restaurant was an unforgettable experience. The combination of authentic flavors, elegant presentation, and warm hospitality sets it apart from other Japanese restaurants in the area. Whether you're a seasoned Japanese food enthusiast or trying it for the first time, Asaka is the perfect destination to savor the best of Japanese cuisine. I can't wait to return and explore more of their delightful menu.

Visited 2 years ago

Very busy, but not as long a wait for food as some reviewers have had. Good quality, good portions. Price feels accurate. Staff is busy but friendly.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Let me star with, my wife and I used to love this place up to yesterday. As we when to celebrate my daughters 13 bday , we waited for a little over an hour to get a table. We were told that a table was leaving soon and that that would be our table, we waited outside as the place it's really small and more people were waiting. My wife gets a call, she answered and nobody responded on the other side so she goes inside to let them know we were ready and then she was told. Sorry you didn't answer so we gave your table to another family that just got here. The call was not even a minute and she was only about 15 to 20 feet outside, that's bad business practice, may be they know they are popular so they feel that they can treat clients however they want. So we would never go back to this place. And for sure we won't recommend it to friends anymore.

Visited 2 years ago

Great food, great service!! The nicest staff I have encountered here in Turkey, the chicken and rice was also amazing!

Visited 2 years ago

The best ramen I've found so far. Broth had excellent developed flavor and noodles were perfect. I also really enjoyed the oshinko (Japanese pickles) I've never had a chance to go to Japan but have watched a lot of cooking shows where people have gone to izakaya and I felt like I had found one right here in Indy. I wish there was one on the Southside, there are many more things I want to try!

Visited 2 years ago

One of the best sushi places I've been to in the states. Affordable happy hour and top notch quality. You cant find any tuna more fresh than this place for their price. I was a regular when I was a purdue student and even now I visit everytime I go to Indiana.
I live in Austin, TX now. I really hope we have a place like Asaka here, I would visit every weekend

Visited 2 years ago

As a lover of Japanese food & sushi, Asaka has been my go-to sushi restaurant in Indianapolis for the past 8 years. Their sushi is fresh and tastes better than 95% of other sushi restaurants in Indy. Their dishes taste authentically Japanese and are made with fresh ingredients. Their happy hour on sushi ensures you are not only getting great quality fish, but at a wonderful price. (See photos below)

I’ve loved coming to this restaurant with family and friends. The reason I’m unable to give Asaka 5 stars is due to their poor service & staffing issues. The restaurant has undoubtedly gained popularity since I started dining here 8 years ago- which is great! However, the service poorly reflects on the full potential of the restaurant and its future success.

Tonight, we had a reservation for 5 pm and we were sat promptly, however we were not greeted by a waitress once seated until about 5:20 pm. We sat there for about 15 minutes unacknowledged. Then, we were asked by two different waitresses, two minutes apart, for a drink order. The wait staff is often seen scrambling around chaotically to fulfill guests’ needs. The staff is undeniably hard working and trying their best to cater to the needs of their customers- however, the disarray adds stress and tension to an otherwise peaceful dining experience.

The disorganization and lack of communication amongst the staff is difficult to observe. I love this restaurant, so I hope they can staff it appropriately in the future so that their staff communicates better, and so that customers can receive better service and the level of attention that is needed.

*This review is based off of a pattern I have observed and not a one time experience.
**If you order sushi expect to wait at least one hour.

TLDR: I am highly satisfied with the quality of the food, but am increasingly displeased with the service provided.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

It’s pretty a nice place to have authentic Japanese food around Indy downtown. However it’s extremely hard too book ahead especially at weekend evening. So plan ahead!

Visited 2 years ago

Extremely disappointed. We wanted to go out with some friends and my husband went in and explained we need room for our twins babies. They would need to be in a stroller (not a large one by any means) or two high chairs. They wanted to us (4 adults and 2 babies) in a tiny corner. My husband did not want to do that as it would block the way for other people. It’s very disheartening and felt discriminatory towards my children. We used to love Asaka and now we will debate on coming back even by ourselves.

Visited 2 years ago

日本の居酒屋そのもの
寿司、ラーメン、ビール、焼き魚などなど日本の居酒屋で食べられるものがそのまま食べられる。
寿司はしっかりした握りが食べられる。
日本のビール・日本酒・焼酎も飲める。

Visited 2 years ago

Delicious Japanese food at great prices... Get the ramen! :)

Visited 2 years ago

First of all the food was good and the staff is really friendly but we had to wait an 1hour to receive our food.

Visited 2 years ago

Great Food! Great Staff!

Visited 2 years ago

Just wanted it to be known they don’t serve sushi on Sundays.

Visited 2 years ago

love this place, really amazingly fresh sushi with really fine selections of fish cuts such as the fatty tuna. and price is unbeatable during their happy hr, BUT the service is wayyyyy too slow ! Plan to spent at least an hr waiting for food, they do not have enough staff to accommodate everyone and the ones they do have is young and inexperienced. Good food tho.

Visited 2 years ago

Really good food, good service, left me full and warm afterwards. Would recommend this restaurant.

Visited 2 years ago

If you LIVE ABOVE A SMALL SUSHI SHOP IN TOKYO then I would forgive you for skipping Asaka. Otherwise you need to get over here RIGHT AWAY. The sushi is prepared (by hand) as it would be overseas, so be prepared to wait - and then to eat a SURPRISING AMOUNT of HIGH-QUALITY fish. I wish I had room enough for you to hear about all the different ramen and udon dishes, with earthy umami broths and noodles PERFECTLY cooked. The drinks are ones you won't find anywhere else in the city. Get ready for your mouth to feel like it's in Japan.

Visited 2 years ago

Really good sushi and kitchen menu. There's some unique things other places don't have on the kitchen menu. I wish it was easier to order takeout.

Visited 2 years ago

Haven't been here in a while, but it is always a great experience!!! :) 😁

Visited 2 years ago

Incredibly underrated, amazing staff and delicious sushi. Been eating here for years, only reviewing now since I wanted to keep this lovely spot secret lol! Highly recommend.

Visited 2 years ago

First of all make sure you go early to put your name down for a table! This place is a Japanese food paradise in Indy. We tried a ton of different sushi - I think all sushi here tastes amazing. We also tried 2 appetizers - a fish cake combo and takoyaki, both were absolutely delicious! The house sake is just $3 and very tasty and boozy! Please visit this place!!

Visited 2 years ago

The food was authentic

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Happy hour on weekend was good! Make sure you go early and be on the line a bit before 5pm since many people would wait and seats are limited.

Shrimps are better than fish.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

My FAVORITE Japanese restaurant in Indy. So authentic and wonderful price. Especially they have happy hour!!!! The staffs here are all so friendly like your friends 😊😊😊Please stop by and give it a try.

Visited 2 years ago

Delicious authentic sushi. Price is on the higher side so be prepared (try to go during happy hour and get there early. Seating is limited and very tight.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Amazing atmosphere that makes you feel welcome and comfy! Best sushi in town and happy hour is just fantastic! Must try

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Best sushi in town! Our family has been coming here for years! We love Asaka so much, the food is amazing!!! We will never go any other place for sushi.

Visited 3 years ago

This place has great sushi, but you'll need to come early if you don't want to have a long wait; that was the only thing preventing me from giving it 5 stars. The sushi is on point, but it can get extremally busy.

Visited 3 years ago

Too good. Best food and best Ramen. Best Japanese restaurant hands down.

Visited 3 years ago

This used to be my favorite restaurant, but now that you can't make reservations, there's almost always an hour long wait or worse. Once you get in, it takes about an hour to get food too. The staff is very friendly and the food is great, but you have to plan for the wait.

Visited 3 years ago

I've been exploring different types of food for about 2 years now. I had a taste for Ramen even though my first two ramen experiences were not so great but that's the territory with trying new food. Asaka did not disappoint and I don't think I will be having ramen anywhere else from now on. I had the Adana Ramen and upgraded to spicy. Soooo good! I knows everyone goes here for sushi so I can't wait to try that next!

Visited 3 years ago

They wouldn't let me get take out at 8pm on a Saturday but we're perfectly fine with me dining in xD

Visited 3 years ago

Food and staff here are amazing. Sushi chef and owner are super nice and great to talk to! Don't be afraid to strike a conversation if you're a regular!

Visited 3 years ago

Our favorite restaurant in Indy. Great food

Visited 3 years ago

Asaka is delicious. I always get a seaweed salad and several sushi rolls on their happy hour special. One of our favorite places to eat! Note, you get a slight discount if you pay your bill with cash.

Visited 3 years ago

Definitely some of the best and most reasonably priced Japanese food in Indy. We arrived just in time for their sushi happy hour and was overwhelmed by the many different rolls that you could get on that menu. After ordering many different types, we established that the spicy snapper roll was our favorite. We ordered some really tasty sake with our rolls which was a great compliment to the fresh rolls that we had. We were still hungry after our rolls so we picked up the Japanese beef curry with soba noodles. The curry was delicious and soba noodles had just the right amount of “chew”.

Visited 3 years ago

Sushi was good. But piece of steel string (seems from dishwash scrub) came out on wood plate and almost ate it.

Visited 3 years ago

Best sushi in Indy and the rest of the menu is treated with the same reverence.

Visited 3 years ago

Food was good. Tasted great, presentation was lacking.

Service was borderline criminal.

First time here and did not know what all came in the sushi order the table placed. We were served another table's (larger) food and was charged for it even after management was made aware of the mistake.

Took a long time, even after requested, to get any refills.

Refused to split check.
------‐---------------
Spouse went last week and had similar experience. Food for some guests came out very delayed.

Visited 3 years ago

Average fresh sushi as expected but it took over an hour wait between the soup & salad and sushi.
No one in the management came out to apologize for the wait. When the bill came, they automatically discounted for cash and asked us to pay in cash. We thought the 10% discount was for the long wait.
I would only go back if there is no wait for the average sushi and customer service.

Visited 3 years ago

Love this place. Worth any wait time, staff is amazing and hard working. Very high quality and authentic sushi for an amazing price! I go as much as I can

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

This is the place for happy hour nigiri! So delicious! The pieces are so fresh and generous! Our boys love the Asaka ramen as well!

Visited 3 years ago

TERRIBLE service!!! You either have to wait an hour for a table or an hour at the table. This has been my issue the last 3 visits I’ve made. Also, they DONT have 50% of their sushi menu EVER!!! DONE with this place!!!!

Visited 3 years ago

The best Japanese restaurant in the U.S.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

久々の訪問
相変わらず日本と同じ感覚でご飯が食べられるのは嬉しい
けど味噌汁が多分沸騰させちゃったのか、お店の人も熱そうに持ってきてかわいそうでした
すぐに飲めないくらい熱かったけど(笑)
インディアナにいったときにはまた行こうと思います

Visited 3 years ago

Probably the best sushi in Indianapolis. It was such a laid back atmosphere and all the workers are fantastic. I'll drive from the Southside just to go here.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Thank you for accommodating me as a solo diner. I flew in for the big race from Tucson, Arizona so I only had one chance to stop in. I try to grab a bowl of ramen from every city I travel to.

The food was very good, the quality of the salmon was phenomenal! Friendly and fast service. Highly recommended.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

This place is absolutely the best sushi I have ever eaten! And that includes traveling around Japan. How lucky we are to have such a place in Indianapolis. Quality fish, large portions, and reasonable prices. And the service is excellent. They all seem like family. I highly recommend Asaka for your next meal!

Visited 3 years ago

I think it looks like the chef has been changed. Nigri and roll and hand roll used to have less rice, thicker and fresher fish. But it’s not anymore. Is there anyone who knows when he comes back..?

Visited 3 years ago

Old Asaka > new Asaka. Great sushi but terrible service and rude owner. Used to love going here but all has gone downhill. Will not be returning.

Visited 3 years ago

I don't know how many there are real Japanese restaurants in Indianapolis, but this is one of them. Real deal for sure.

Visited 3 years ago

So the food was good, but we sat awhile to get our sushi and then sat awhile trying to get our check fixed... Which they couldn't fix apparently?? They could only split it in half, mind you there were three of us. There's other things I could complain about, but I will say the food is great. I recommend for a date, as long as you can be patient. Dining in groups could get complicated 😬

Visited 3 years ago

Food excellent, good service, though the owner rude. I will never go back!

Visited 3 years ago

Hands down best Sushi in Indianapolis.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Honestly this place is such an absolute joy to eat at. Put your order in ahead of time by messaging the store on Instagram with a reservation and you basically have 0 wait time for your food. Even walk-ins are great and timely for your food. Your portions are absolutely insane for a sushi restaurant but most of all, it feels great supporting a small local restaurant. They have a great social media interactions with their customer so definitely follow them on Instagram! They're always doing their best to put our great service and food so this place just need more people to discover it! Even if it means I gotta wait a little longer for my food.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Relatively inexpensive.
Food is over-rated.

Visited 3 years ago

Quality and prices are incomparable in the Indy area. We are visiting on a monthly basis and are always enjoying our time!

Visited 3 years ago

Super ramen!!!

Visited 3 years ago

Super delicious!! The fried red snapper appetizer was pretty good, but the Sushi really took front stage. The shrimp tempura roll was my favorite - a great spicy flavor as well as lots of crunch! Same for the shrimp hand roll - I wish we’d ordered one more to take full advantage of the “limit 3 rolls per person” rule! All of the sushi tasted very fresh and well prepared.
When we got there it was around 6:15 on a Saturday and we waited for about 45 minutes for a seat, but we were still allowed to use the sushi happy hour menu (5-7 daily) because of the time we arrived. These were a great deal, about 4.99 for a roll and 2.99 for a hand roll.
The setting is really really cute and relaxed. It’s definitely an authentic experience, especially since they definitely don’t badger you, but rather you need to grab the attention of a server. They are busy but highly efficient. And the food never took that long to show up. I also love how the green tea was complimentary.
I would love to return to try more of their menu!!

Visited 3 years ago

Authentic and delicious, with a large menu of a diverse variety from cooked fish to sushi to ramen and udon and more! We ordered simple sushi rolls this time given our company, but we’re excited to try the more complex rolls when we return.

Visited 3 years ago

Awesome japanese food and fair price!

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Literally the best sushi I've had. Get the $5 roll. They are delicious! Staff is friendly too. Definitely recommend getting a reservation as they are always busy.

Visited 3 years ago

Beyond spectacular sushi. Would like to see yellowtail on the happy hour list, even if more $$$.

Visited 3 years ago

Amazing lunch experience! Highly recommend a stop in. Price allows you to try a lot or order a chefs selection for a great suprise. Prices are outstanding and the staff is great.

Visited 3 years ago

Most authentic Japanese food I’ve had in the US! We did not order sushi but had a few traditional Japanese dishes and they were excellent, and very affordable. Tried to go at 5PM on a Saturday, put our name on the list and didn’t get called until 2 hours later but it was worth it.

Visited 3 years ago

Great sushi, they were running a sign-in waiting list when we went. Wait wasnt too long and it prevented the venue being over crowded.

Sushi was great!

Visited 3 years ago

Stellar sushi, really comfortable/peaceful atmosphere, and you can’t beat the happy hour prices. Asaka just got themselves a new regular! :)

Visited 3 years ago

wow food was great!! sushi was delicious highly recommend!

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Everyone comes here for the sushi. They have a great Happy Hour deal on sushi, but the hidden gem is the Japanese Beef Curry. It is absolutely incredible. I highly recommend it. They do take reservations. It’s a good idea to send them a Facebook message to get a reservation. This place can get really busy, but it is worth the wait.

Visited 3 years ago

We waited for a long time at the front door and nobody help. The staff told us they only offered LIMITED TO GO ORDER. BAD EXPERIENCE

Visited 3 years ago

Asaka is simply put not only the best Sushi restaurant in Central Indiana, but the best overall Japanese cuisine restaurant. I can't say definitively as I don't get to southern Indiana all that often, but I suspect it may be the best in all of Indiana. Sakura is it's only true competition in the city, obviously, I would steer people trying to choose towards Asaka.

I've been coming here for years and absolutely love it. I recommend reservations at least two days in advance. Bon Appetit!

Visited 3 years ago

best japanese restaurant in indy

Visited 3 years ago