Kurama Omakase

My new favorite resturant in Keene! (Was Local burger right around the corner which is also great). The food was amazing and the sushi was best I've had. The crispy rice is great and the fish just melts in your mouth. The waitress was so nice and accommodating. She made a chopstick combo that worked for my 2 year old to use. The eel was also amazing! 10/10!!

Visited a year ago

Omakase has replaced the old Tokyo Express, and so I feel I must give the new place a proper review update.

First off, we were greeted by Gab, hostess and wait staff extrodenaore. She is extremely personable and friendly. But this only adds to her personality as she is also knowledgeable. When our food was delivered, (I ordered the "Trust the Chef" platter) she had excellent knowledge of what the chef prepared.

The restaurant itself is brighter and more inviting than the old Tokyo Express was (see pictures) and everyone there seems like they want to be there!

Over all an amazing experience and a recommendation for anyone that's in the mood for good sushi alwith a pleasant atmosphere!

Still 5*****

Visited 7 years ago

Update: I also ordered the Trust the Chef and Uni sushi. If you like traditional Japanese sushi. Definitely go with it. The chef will make slices in front of you to keep the freshness (if you sit at the bar).

Try Japanese lofi music next time. It helps create a relaxing atmosphere.

You can find Americanized sushi and Japanese sushi here. I preferred the latter. However, the interior is a bit different from the photos I see on google maps. By the way, the music isn’t a good fit for the vibe.

Visited 2 years ago

How you rate this restaurant just depends on what it is that you're looking for. It's got by far the best quality sushi in the area. My mom said it's the best fish she's had since she lived in Japan. It's the only one that uses real wasabi (most use a horseradish paste that's been dyed green). It's also got some great appetizers. The crab rangoons are the best you'll come across, the gyoza's on point, and this is the only place i've been to in New Hampshire that serves takoyaki. What they specialize in is omakase, which is when the sushi chef makes and serves you a multi course meal. It's definitely an experience.

Now, the downsides. It is, of course, expensive. The omakase costs over $80, not including drinks or the tip. Make sure you ask the price before buying anything listed as "market price" because they have some very expensive imported ingredients and you don't want to be blindsided by the bill. There's usually only one sushi chef making multiple meals so service can be a little slow. Lastly, they didn't do a great job on the non food aspects of the restaurant. Their best tasting Japanese beer and sakes aren't on their beer and sake list. Their bathroom looks like it belongs in one of the cheapest restaurants in town, not one of the most expensive. All this being said, if what you really care about is just high quality japanese food, this is the place for you.

Visited 2 years ago

Always an incredible dining experience at this sushi restaurant. The freshness of the fish sourced from Japan's Toyosu Market truly sets it apart. Kevin’s omakase experience is nothing short of amazing, rivaling some of the best establishments in New York City. A five-star gem for sushi enthusiasts!

Visited 2 years ago

Don’t judge a restaurant by its outer appearance. Once inside, you will be swept away to Japan for an hour or so.

The professional and patient server chose the right sake to accompany our culinary adventure, and brought us our outstanding specials first: the tender, flavorful Wagyu beef and the buttery sweet Hokkaido uni appetizers (so yummy that I ordered a second). The takoyaki (try it!) was scrumptious and our Toro Crispy Rice and Eel Avocado rolls were fresh, perfect, and gorgeously presented.

Enthusiastically recommended—a five star experience in an unexpected location.

Visited a year ago

Our second visit, our second wonderful experience. Service remains incredible, sushi is absolutely stellar. The omakase service rivals those found in major cities. The atmosphere is exactly what one would hope for in this style of restaurant- relaxed, upbeat and friendly with the sushi chef in the center of it. Highest possible recommendation.

Visited 8 months ago

Wow! What a great experience. So glad we stopped here on our visit to Keene. We got the Tuna Sushi entree and the Angry Dragon Roll and it was out of this world- featuring bluefin tuna from Spain. Quite possibly the best tuna I have ever had hands down. Since moving from Hawaii to the northeast, it’s been over 12 years since I’ve had sushi of this quality. Can’t wait to come back and try more! Our server was so incredibly nice, checked in appropriately and made us feel very welcome. 12/10!!!

Visited a year ago

Excellent sushi! Everything we have tried has been amazing. I highly recommend the "Trust the chef" experience. Not very fancy ambiance but the food makes up for the lack of frills by far.

Visited 6 months ago

Food was fresh and delicious, especially the gyoza and the Kurama Roll. The chef was polite and friendly but was also having to serve as waiter which was a lot to juggle for them. Will try again next time we're in Keene and craving Sushi!

Visited 6 months ago

Calming music...Great staff...Sushi selection excellent

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

Our second visit, our second wonderful experience. Service remains incredible, sushi is absolutely stellar. The omakase service rivals those found in major cities. The atmosphere is exactly what one would hope for in this style of restaurant- relaxed, upbeat and friendly with the sushi chef in the center of it. Highest possible recommendation.

Visited 8 months ago

Absolutely astounding sushi….the quality is divine, high level, five star, art for food…in a tiny cellar like room. Waitress is also as kind as can be and makes it all a wonderful experience!!

Visited 9 months ago

Absolutely amazing. The best service and food anywhere.

Visited 9 months ago

Omakase has replaced the old Tokyo Express, and so I feel I must give the new place a proper review update.

First off, we were greeted by Gab, hostess and wait staff extrodenaore. She is extremely personable and friendly. But this only adds to her personality as she is also knowledgeable. When our food was delivered, (I ordered the "Trust the Chef" platter) she had excellent knowledge of what the chef prepared.

The restaurant itself is brighter and more inviting than the old Tokyo Express was (see pictures) and everyone there seems like they want to be there!

Over all an amazing experience and a recommendation for anyone that's in the mood for good sushi alwith a pleasant atmosphere!

Still 5*****

Visited 10 months ago

It was a good sushi place, but when we went a few days ago, the experience was very uncomfortable. The waiteress was very loud and created an uncomfortable atmosphere. The sushi rice was very mushy, and when we mentioned it, the chef and the waitress discussed it very loudly, raising their voices. They remade the sushi, and it was good, but the atmosphere was very loud even though there were only a couple of customers there.

Visited 10 months ago

Quiet atmosphere, friendly staff, and great sushi. Took a little while to get menus to order but it was a short wait. We will be back again.

Visited a year ago

Delicious food and great service! Fish is fresh and everything tasted incredible. Great great service we loved it!

Visited a year ago

Amazing service, quick food and fair prices. Quite an unbeatable combo in all honesty, come to this resteraunt!

Visited a year ago

Outstanding service and amazing flavors.

Visited a year ago

My daughter and I had a great first experience here. The sushi was delicious and our server Gap was so friendly and fun to chat with. We will be back again!

Visited a year ago

Sushi and service are amazing. Highly recommend the omakase service - every bite is better than the last one. Service just couldn’t be better: fun, knowledgeable and attentive. Would give a sixth star if I could.

Visited a year ago

So good. Friendly service. Fast.

Visited a year ago

My new favorite resturant in Keene! (Was Local burger right around the corner which is also great). The food was amazing and the sushi was best I've had. The crispy rice is great and the fish just melts in your mouth. The waitress was so nice and accommodating. She made a chopstick combo that worked for my 2 year old to use. The eel was also amazing! 10/10!!

Visited a year ago

5+ stars, amazing authentic food, great service, very friendly and timely. Will be going often!

Visited a year ago

Prepare to be amazed.

Visited a year ago

This place is such a hidden gem!!! The food is absolutely delicious, I truly mean this, best sushi we've ever had. The waitress, Gap, is the sweetest woman there is. You won't find a better place. THEIR FRIED RICE SUSHI ROLLS are to die for. I've never had or seen such a thing and it takes sushi to a whole nother level. 10/10

Visited a year ago

awesome hole in the wall sushi place serving really high quality fish. the waitress was super sweet. And they seemed to have a good combination of “cheffy” options and reasonably priced classics

Visited a year ago

Lots of passion in making their food, best service I’ve ever had at a restaurant. Any restaurant.

Visited a year ago

Only sushi I eat now. Authentic and delicious.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

We ordered a chefs choice and the chef gave us a 5 star plate. Really delicious fish, made with care and love. Amazing and friendly service. All around lovely experience. Thanks you guys! We will definitely be back.

Visited a year ago

Amazing customer service! Really happy friendly environment and the food was amazing I will definitely be returning for more thank you so much

Visited a year ago

Don’t judge a restaurant by its outer appearance. Once inside, you will be swept away to Japan for an hour or so.

The professional and patient server chose the right sake to accompany our culinary adventure, and brought us our outstanding specials first: the tender, flavorful Wagyu beef and the buttery sweet Hokkaido uni appetizers (so yummy that I ordered a second). The takoyaki (try it!) was scrumptious and our Toro Crispy Rice and Eel Avocado rolls were fresh, perfect, and gorgeously presented.

Enthusiastically recommended—a five star experience in an unexpected location.

Visited a year ago

I rarely review a sushi place until I've visited more than once, because some places are a ten one visit and a two the next. But the sashimi here is so divine, I will be surprised if it isn't a consistent thing. The miso soup was different than what we're used to with a stronger seaweed flavor, but that wasn't bad. It was delicious and refreshing. Our server said they make it to order,which probably is why it had such a fresh flavor. They have unfiltered saki, which I had never had before, but I enjoyed it. It has a different mouth feel than the sake I'm used to and it was amazing. We finished off the meal with some amazing mochi.
The service was unparalleled. I will definitely be back, probably very soon.

Visited a year ago

I just had the best omakase experience! I've been to some top spots in Boston and NYC, and this place holds its own! The chef's skills are on point, and the atmosphere is cozy and intimate. What really makes it special, though, is the welcoming staff.

If you're looking for a unique dining experience, don't miss Kurama Omasake It's a total gem in a small town, 5 stars!

Visited a year ago

Great food and good service. Went for our son’s birthday very good with our granddaughters too. Thank you

Visited a year ago

The hand rolls were just what we were looking for, and our server was funny and friendly.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

The quality of fish here is outstanding. Still shocked there is a Omakase restaurant in Keene, these are typically only found in large cities like Boston or NYC.

Visited a year ago

Incredible sushi! Totally surprised. On par with the best I’ve ever had and I’ve been to Japan more than a couple times.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Fresh, delicious, inventive sushi and excellent service. We loved everything!

Visited a year ago

Amazing Amazing AMAZING experience. My family and I came in about an hour before closing. The atmosphere was absolute beautiful and calming. Service was great and food delivered very shortly after order. Sushi was authentic and most importantly, DELICIOUS. Best sushi I have ever had, and i frequent many sushi restaurants. Kumara roll was an absolute winner. The waitress was incredibly kind, cheerful and funny. 100% give this place a try. You will not be dissappointed. Cheers.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

This sushi is phenomenal- and the service is so incredibly warm and welcoming. Get a bottle of sake to share with your table- you are in for a GREAT time if you eat here.

Visited a year ago

Easily the best sushi I’ve had in keene in all my days.

Visited a year ago

Ong! Unbelievable food.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

This place is absolutely AMAZING!!!! tiny little whole in the wall sushi bar. Very personal experience, not to mention the service/server. She was AMAZING!!! super funny,friendly and very outgoing. Couldn't ask for better, my first time here but I will certainly be back. Not to mention the sushi and beer was top notch! Felt like being in a little piece of Japan without the 16 hour flight. HIGHLY RECOMMEND 10 outta 10

Visited a year ago

The place is good. Friendly wait staff. Only 4 stars because this isn't my kind of food so I was limited with what I could get.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

What a delicious place!! Great service

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

My son just did a take out order and I have to say I’m so disappointed. All he got was a sushi roll, 2 waters, and 2 spicy sauces. The bill was $28! The roll is so tiny, they were out of water bottles but still charged us, and the spicy sauce was $1 ea (not listed on website) and they were both 1/4 full. And to top off the disappointment the top on his container wasn’t on right and he dropped the whole roll on the floor.

Visited a year ago

Amazing sushi and omakase in the area!!! The best and fresh fish for sushi quality grade. This is our favorite place. The owner, chef, and their staff are amazing. 🍣🍱 #foodie #sushi #omakase #japanesefood #yummy #delicious

Visited a year ago

Very welcoming and inviting restaurant! The staff is so sweet and friendly. Ordered the crab crunch roll, negi roll (fattiest bluefin tuna), and salmon avocado roll. The fish is so fresh! Absolutely delicious and had to come back for a second round in less than 24 hours! Highly recommend!

Visited a year ago

Wow! What a great experience. So glad we stopped here on our visit to Keene. We got the Tuna Sushi entree and the Angry Dragon Roll and it was out of this world- featuring bluefin tuna from Spain. Quite possibly the best tuna I have ever had hands down. Since moving from Hawaii to the northeast, it’s been over 12 years since I’ve had sushi of this quality. Can’t wait to come back and try more! Our server was so incredibly nice, checked in appropriately and made us feel very welcome. 12/10!!!

Visited a year ago

If you’re in Keene and looking for sushi… this is the best BY FAR. In fact, people come from many miles around to get their sushi, sashimi and an incredible Omakase experience. Be prepared for a pricey menu, but if you appreciate seriously fresh and seriously thoughtful raw seafood, this is your spot.

Visited a year ago

Best sushi my partner and I have ever had! The Omakase was like a culinary journey, you could tell how much thought and creativity the chef put into each bite. The quality of the ingredients was so good, I have never had fish that just melted in your mouth like that, and the house made soy sauce was great. Nicest, most friendly service, she made everyone in the restaurant feel welcome even though it was a busy holiday and the staff had to work hard. Just the service or the food would make this one of the best places to eat in Keene but together, it’s unreal, I can’t rave about it enough.

Visited a year ago

Best Sushi in NH. Quiet and peaceful. The waitress is the best I've had anywhere. Ever. Period. I'll be going every weekend I can

Visited a year ago

Delightfully surprised by the quality of the fish. Had been skeptical on omakase outside of New York City but this place is legit. Particularly impressive with Chu-toro. The chef and the waitress were both friendly

Visited 2 years ago

Always an incredible dining experience at this sushi restaurant. The freshness of the fish sourced from Japan's Toyosu Market truly sets it apart. Kevin’s omakase experience is nothing short of amazing, rivaling some of the best establishments in New York City. A five-star gem for sushi enthusiasts!

Visited 2 years ago

My favorite Sushi place in Keene. Super nice team and reasonable prices.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Wonderful food, great service, and a relaxed atmosphere...Try it, you will like it!

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

No fancy drinks

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Update: I also ordered the Trust the Chef and Uni sushi. If you like traditional Japanese sushi. Definitely go with it. The chef will make slices in front of you to keep the freshness (if you sit at the bar).

Try Japanese lofi music next time. It helps create a relaxing atmosphere.

You can find Americanized sushi and Japanese sushi here. I preferred the latter. However, the interior is a bit different from the photos I see on google maps. By the way, the music isn’t a good fit for the vibe.

Visited 2 years ago

This place is absolutely amazing! Best sushi this side of NYC! Not only is the quality of the more famous cuts (Toro) far beyond anything else you'd find in Northern New England, but they have amazing options that I had never tried (Japanese barracuda) and were of the same high quality! Seriously, if you are looking for a big city sushi experience in rural New Hampshire (and at rural New Hampshire prices) I can't think of a better place to spend an evening!

Visited 2 years ago

New ownership. I'm sure it will be incredible once the conversion is complete!

Visited 2 years ago

Usually order the gyu don beef here and it is very good. The service is very friendly too. I would suggest portion for the gyudon and of course serve it an actual bowl and not on a plate. Wish they would add yaki soba to the menu or ramen.

Visited 2 years ago

I had lunch with my friend at Kurama Omakase. The lady that was serving us was so positive and caring. She really seemed to love her job and that made my day. She was very attentive to our needs, always offering to refill our drinks and making sure we were happy above all else. I've never experienced such great service in years. The food was amazing, too. Definitely recommend this place.

Visited 2 years ago

Glad we found this place!! My wife and I used to eat sushi at Trappers in WA, but haven’t found any places back here that are comparable until now. The food was great and the staff was very friendly.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Best sushi and service I've ever had. I've become a regular and I love it

Visited 2 years ago

Update: We came for the omakase and it was delightful. The staff are fabulous and I had a great time.

We ordered the Trust the Chef sushi& sashimi to go because we're not dining inside right now. It was DELICIOUS and I will definitely be coming to this place again to try omakase.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

We had the best meal here on a Sunday! The staff there is so kind and welcoming. Our waitress was a delight. Despite some of the criticism on previous reviews about the atmosphere, we really found nothing wrong with it. They had nice music, good lighting, booths that were comfortable, and a clean bathroom.
The sushi was amazing. Super fresh and expertly crafted. Appetizers were flavorful! Yummy sake. Coming from living in Boston for a long time, the only cuisine we’ve been missing in the area has been sushi. At last we’ve found good sushi in the Keene area! We are certain to be repeat customers.

Visited 2 years ago

My husband and I dined here and he was sick because he had the seaweed salad and the miso soup and said the tofu in the soup “tasted off”. Not coming back here again. A shame because the atmosphere was great and the people were so sweet.

Visited 2 years ago

Went here tonight with my fiancé and we both loved this place ❤️ the customer service was fantastic and we felt welcomed in. The food was amazing and we had to get more to go since we were so full 🥰 if we didn’t have to go back to our state I’d go here all the time 🥹 I love this place i definitely recommend!!!

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Phenomenal omakase dinner. Absolute gem of a location. Dont let the outside fool you, you will be impressed. Friendly staff was a big plus!

Visited 2 years ago

An all-around lovely dining experience.

Visited 2 years ago

Amazing sushi in the middle of Keene. Everything was amazing. Go here and try it. Everything we ordered exceeded expectations by a mile and was maybe some of the best sushi I have had in time.

Visited 2 years ago

This is by far one of the best sushi bars my girlfriend and I have been to in NH. We have been to many places from top to bottom of the state. The service was excellent by far and the chef was friendly. I am highly recommending this place to anyone.

Visited 2 years ago

This place is amazing. I enjoyed the Chefs Choice Sashimi and a few other things. It was fresh and SO good. The staff was very friendly and the dining area was clean and relaxing. You get what you pay for and I can't wait to go back! 👍

Visited 2 years ago

The sushi was the best we have had in years. It is like being in Vegas for a delicious sushi. Very fresh and amazing taste! Finally, Keene has a great place to have dinner! We met a couple who travels over an hour from MA who could go to Boston, but chooses Kurama Omakase for their sushi fix. That is a great compliment! They are the best and looking forward to going again!

Visited 2 years ago

Always a pleasure coming here, there's so much to try. It's my favorite sushi place!
Some reviews from others seem to be comparing poorly done Japanese food as the best, and this place weird or whatever. I couldn't agree less with that. One of the best sushi spots in the area. Beautifully executed

Visited 2 years ago

Our party of six had the Omakase experience -- watching the chef make each piece was amazing. Very expensive, but the quality of the fish and the wagyu beef was entirely worth it. The staff was so friendly and accommodating.

Visited 2 years ago

We had several Maki rolls, which were:
Tuna and avocado
Salmon and cucumber
Shrimp tempura
Spicy crunchy yellowtail
Avocado and cucumber

The ones with the crunchy stuff were tastiest.

I would go back if someone really wanted to go, but I would not seek it out.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

This is by far, the best sushi I have ever had in my life. I would have never expected it, we got the lunch omakase and it was better with than anything I have ever had. The flavor profiles, the quality and the service is unmatched. Nobody else was in the restaurant and this is not going to be the case for long. This chef is not supposed to be here in Keene NH he should have his own restaurant in NYC etc. I live 2hrs away and will be driving here just for the next experience; if you haven’t tried it do yourself a favor and go! 10/10

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Awesome little sushi spot hidden away in Keene. Really great sushi selection and some good appetizers to choose from. I highly recommend the takoyaki.

Visited 2 years ago

Hands down the best sushi in the area. The food is delicious and the weight staff was very friendly. They have a great selection of sushi and things that you can't always get another places. Don't be fooled by the small restaurant, the food is really good at is worth a trip in to take a look and enjoy some really good Japanese sushi. We will definitely be back

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Fresh sushi I'm keene, nh would give 10 stars if was an option. Staff is excellent and friendly makes me feel at home

Visited 2 years ago

Very friendly waitress and great service! A bit pricy but it’s well-made sushi with quality ingredients.

Visited 2 years ago

Everything was phenomenal. All authentic Japanese, the sushi was fresh, immaculately prepared. The staff was attentive and polite. I would rate it higher if I could. The only thing is if you don’t like sushi you don’t have many options. But the sushi is top notch and is what you should come for. The ambiance also complimented the meal, elevating the experience.

Visited 2 years ago

Fantastic new Omakase, sushi restaurant in former Tokyo Express location. Renovated interior seating and Omakase bar. Catherine and I love sushi and finally a real deal in Keene! Great Chef Kevin and server Fiona serving up the freshest Japanese food and fish that rivals the best in Boston and beyond.
They overnight fish directly from Japan and it shows.
A must try, some might say expensive however your paying for fresh high quality fish. Who wants to mess with fish less so….?
On another note careful of the reviews here, Google never deleted the former Tokyo Express reviews bringing them down.

Visited 2 years ago

How you rate this restaurant just depends on what it is that you're looking for. It's got by far the best quality sushi in the area. My mom said it's the best fish she's had since she lived in Japan. It's the only one that uses real wasabi (most use a horseradish paste that's been dyed green). It's also got some great appetizers. The crab rangoons are the best you'll come across, the gyoza's on point, and this is the only place i've been to in New Hampshire that serves takoyaki. What they specialize in is omakase, which is when the sushi chef makes and serves you a multi course meal. It's definitely an experience.

Now, the downsides. It is, of course, expensive. The omakase costs over $80, not including drinks or the tip. Make sure you ask the price before buying anything listed as "market price" because they have some very expensive imported ingredients and you don't want to be blindsided by the bill. There's usually only one sushi chef making multiple meals so service can be a little slow. Lastly, they didn't do a great job on the non food aspects of the restaurant. Their best tasting Japanese beer and sakes aren't on their beer and sake list. Their bathroom looks like it belongs in one of the cheapest restaurants in town, not one of the most expensive. All this being said, if what you really care about is just high quality japanese food, this is the place for you.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Excellent food, and the staff was very welcoming.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Decent sushi place in Keene NH.
Place is very simple and plain.
The sushi was fresh and tasty.
The rolls I ordered were very simple. I've ordered them at other places and they just were prepped a little differently but the taste was there so.

Visited 2 years ago

We ordered takeout on a Wednesday using their online ordering, was very easy, no notes. Their fancy sushi rolls are on the pricier side (Though they sound very good), how ever we were really satisfied with their basic Maki Rolls, full of tasty fish and well priced. Will go again, likely in-person, to enjoy the quiet dining setting.

Visited 2 years ago

Excellent sushi, great staff. Just a fantastic hole in the wall type place.

Visited 2 years ago

I went for the first time this weekend, and got probably the best sushi dish I've ever had. Exceptionally fresh, and very carefully prepared. They were not very busy and service wasn't quick, but it was absolutely worth the wait and I can't wait to go back.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Best sushi in New England. Had an amazing time and the staff is even better. It's a calm, quiet, and relaxing place as well as high quality, clean and my new favorite place to go. 🫶

Visited 2 years ago

Fantastic food, fresh wasabi, real shiso leaves, truffle topped, caviar topped, seasonal fish from Japan. What else could you ask for.

Visited 2 years ago

I would only recommend this place if you had all the time in the world. Went for early dinner and it took 40 min just to get our sushi. Normally i wouldn't leave a negative review but after 10 min we were finished and it took another 36 (i timed it) before i had to flag down the waiter down to pay. If the place was busy i would understand but that was not the case.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Another amazing Omakase! This place is the amazing. It is my special occasion go-to

Visited 2 years ago

Place smells bad and everything is overpriced. Big step down from what used to be here.

Visited 2 years ago

Amazingly good! We have been going to You You, which I still highly recommend, for years. But this place is just that much better!

Visited 2 years ago

Came here on a whim. The best shushi I've had in New Hampshire! Very authentic. Staff was nice and the food was great! Will visit again!

Visited 2 years ago

I just recently started going after they changed menus and the sushi is wayyyy better!! Best sushi I've had since I went to China! In fact, they have raised my expectations for sushi and I refuse to go anywhere else. Each fish is seasoned with an oil, zest, or some other accent and even the rice just melts in your mouth. The flavor is out of this world!! They can have all of my money haha!! I tell everyone about this place now. I hope and pray they will continue to make the sushi and sashimi like this

Visited 2 years ago

Wish it was more affordable but honestly can’t get enough of this place! The only downside is the spicy rolls aren’t spicy at all but all it takes is asking to adjust it for your order. Service is always quick and outstanding.

Visited 2 years ago

1:30pm on a Friday. First time dining since ownership, staff, interior makeover, and name change.

The restaurant looks like it's still under construction. Wires hanging everywhere. Exposed prep area and tools. The black painted ceiling tiles look like they were walked on. Filthy. Music was coming from a corner and the completely wrong genre as another reviewer wrote.

Service was inexperienced. Asked for black pepper, got pepper in the same tiny dish you put the sly sauce in. Then didn't get another one to pour the soy sauce in. No salt shakers? Never brought my beer order, either.

The house ginger orange salad had what appeared to be bagged lettuce and the ginger dressing seemed runny and store bought.

The yellowtail in the rainbow roll smelled like fish, but I risked it and most of it tasted and smelled good.

Visited 2 years ago

We are repeat customers. Don't be fooled by the modest storefront. This is the real deal. Very pleased with our meals. Extremely fresh fish and impressive selection. Rolls were well constructed - well balanced and seasoned nicely. We will be back.

Visited 2 years ago

I had my first Rose Milk Tea, first sushi, first oyster, first ice cream mochi here. Also the first sashimi. The rose milk tea in particular was a life-changing experience. I left a different person that day. And ugh!! The ice cream mochi was so good!! Waku waku

It was a little dark, but clean!

I haven't stopped craving salmon sashimi or rose milk tea since having it here. It's been like 2 years.

Visited 2 years ago

Incredible Omakase, would recommend to everyone I know

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Perfect little lunch gem. Delicious rolls. Chill atmosphere. Biggest downfall, sold me the the first pour off the draft.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Wow! This was an incredible experience we did the Omakase service at the bar and it was so delicious, relaxing, entertaining and perfect! We have been eating sushi since the 80’s literally all over the world and I can honestly say this is the best sushi I have ever had. I would drive to NYC(3 and 1/2hours) for this meal and it is in Keene!!! Everyone must try you will not be disappointed!

Visited 2 years ago

WOW! We had omakase here and I highly recommend it! Hands down, The BEST sushi I have ever had. (Probably one of the best meals out I’ve ever experienced — just magical!) Flavorful, ultra fresh, masterfully prepared. Each bite was balanced and divinely delicious. The chef is an artist.
Please support this quality hidden gem in Keene. You will not be disappointed.
The a la carte menu looked amazing as well—Can’t wait to go back! Thank you!!

Visited 2 years ago

Best thing I have eaten by far in along time.

Visited 2 years ago

It was my day off and I had an appointment at the vet in Claremont and, you know, I wanted to make a trip of it and take myself out for lunch/dinner. So I periodically get into Yelp and just check around and see if there is something “promising” out there that is new or that I might have missed. Imagine my SURPRISE to discover an omakase spot in Keene! I was excited.

I finished up at the vet Wednesday afternoon and drove over to Kurama Omakase. I arrived shortly after 5pm and parked in one of the spots on the street right outside. Kurama looked very empty, but the “Open” sign was lit, so I went in.

Now! Here’s the thing. I REALLY want to support Kurama Omakase because they are the ONLY restaurant anywhere in Vermont or New Hampshire (that I know of) who are even attempting to offer Omakase. From what I could gather, the sushi chef is also the owner. Which is another thing I REALLY want to support. In all honesty, Kurama is the only restaurant I have ever been comfortable even trying to eat Omakase at in VT/NH. These are big things. I would like more people to be able to experience Omakase and Kurama is out here making that happen and doing a good job at it.

The sushi counter is very nice, big, roomy, L shaped. A good number of people can sit and have Omakase. The Omakase being served here is Edomae style. Which is the oldest, most traditional style developed in Tokyo area (before refrigeration). The focus in Edomae is individual pieces of fish (sushi) that have been “flavored” in some way. My Omakase at Kurama included classic flavors: freshly zested lime, truffle, fresh shiso leaf, etc. Pieces were well executed. Flavors were good. Fish was good.

I, personally, don’t love Edomae style. What I love is all the crazy, “fusion” type creative combining of ingredients to make bites that are deeply layered with flavor and texture. But I also get that the market for that kind of Omakase does not yet exist in Keene, NH. The only thing I’m going to “ding” Kurama on with their Omakase is serving a pre-made, frozen mochi ice cream as the dessert portion of an $85 meal. That’s not okay.

However! The SHOWSTOPPER at Kurama was the Crispy Rice roll that I had after my Omakase. I decided to order something off their regular sushi menu to give it a try. The Crispy Rice roll is deep fried sushi rice with your choice of chopped fish (I chose salmon), guacamole, scallions, roe, Teriyaki sauce and spicy mayo. DELICIOUS!!! Also wonderful mix of textures. Great mouthfeel. GET THIS ROLL.

The real problem at Kurama is the atmosphere. It’s not great. The team needs to work on maintaining and professional workplace. Of course this is a problem that can be fixed and if you came with a group of people it would not matter as much. And if you get take out it won’t matter at all. But it was not a great Omakase experience for me to dine alone. They should work on that. If you are offering an elevated dining experience, like an $85 Omakase in Keene, NH, the ENTIRE experience needs to be elevated. Kurama needs to STEP UP their service in the dining room.

Visited 2 years ago

I’d say this is the best food in Keene. The ingredients are so fresh and the meat just melts in your mouth. It sets a new bar for sushi. The staff is super friendly too. I highly recommend omakase (set dinner at the bar). You won’t regret it!

Visited 2 years ago

Baller food, great staff, good drinks, amazing prices

One of the best places I've found since I moved to Keene. Can easily rack up a decent bill here because the food is so good, but never too bad because you can't beat the prices. Always a good time and good vibes here.

Edit 1/9/23: the 5 stars I left were for Tokyo Express, NOT kurama omakase. I will not eat at Kurama Omakase due to the absolutely offensive comments the owners made about bring "real" Japanese food to the area, when the previous owner actually lived in Japan.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Still feels like they haven't moved in.
Portions are a little small. $80 to feed 2. If you stick with only sushi.
Best sushi in the area, I used to live in Japan, this place is for reals.

Visited 3 years ago

Great service great food. One of the best sushi places I've ever eaten at.

Visited 3 years ago

Extremely good sushi! Highly recommended

Visited 3 years ago

Best sushi in Keene! The special rolls are delicious and well-crafted, and the crispy rice rolls are a creative indulgence! Sashimi is high quality. Haven't had such great sushi since moving out of Brooklyn two years ago. Great bar area. Great music. A little too bright.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Best place ever. Fish is flown in from Japan. Very fresh Sushi chefs worked in NYC, lots of great dishes. Great sushi that you can't find outside of a larger city.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Came in here on a whim, and wasn't disappointed! Food was delicious, waitress was cute, and it felt really authentic. They were out of a couple things but it was near closing time on a Sunday so completely understandable! I'm not sure if the waitress was wearing a maid like outfit because it was uniform or just because she wanted to but like I said it was cute. Also, it's not like a maid cafe but just a nice touch. I don't think they have their liquor license yet but it's not a reason to not go.
I guess my only down side is that it was on the pricy side, but worth it!

Visited 3 years ago

Really good sushi, fresh fish, something you wouldn't expect to find in Keene

Visited 3 years ago

Fish is so fresh!! Food are great. Can't wait to come back.

Visited 3 years ago

Best sushi I've had since I've lived in Japan. Thank you. Generous fish in rolls. Very fresh. Good rice seasoning. This is where we will go for sushi from now on!

Visited 3 years ago

Delicious creations and beautiful presentation! Very excited to have an omakase restaurant in Keene

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

I've only ever had sushi and the chili soup at this spot, but they were both incredible in flavor and quality. The chili soup in particular is unique and worth going to the restaurant for. I've also had the rose tea, which was delicious, and the person I was dining with got sake in very generous portions (great for a cold day). Ambience could use work, and it's obvious that this is mostly a take-out focused restaurant since the owner (?) who waited on us was also answering phones and pick-up orders. I personally didn't mind that she didn't try to chat with us, and liked having a quiet place to have dinner. Over all, great food with some standout dishes in a quiet environment.

Visited 3 years ago

Five stars for the food. It was amazing. Very fresh with lots of flavor. I only gave three stars because the service was not very good. She really made us feel uncomfortable and that we were an inconvenience for coming in.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

After ordering 3x, the sushi was the shining aspect. Unfortunately being skipped on quantity of sushi was a problem, the look given upon pickup was disdain almost struck me as racism/stereotypical assumption about Americans. We returned despite the weird vibes and I tipped previously hoping for a different outcome following, and was met with a check and a pen when I was checking out, with a similar look of disdain. Ultimately the food was decent but the service was crude.

Visited 3 years ago

❤❤❤

Visited 3 years ago

Maki Combo 3 is exceptional. We love this small sushi restaurant right off Main Street.

Visited 3 years ago

Best Sushi in Keene. Hard to beat the Angle Roll

Visited 3 years ago

Place was empty, took 20 mins for a few pieces of sushi to land on my table. And the pieces were honestly half the size of any nigiri I've ever had. I'll never come here again.

Visited 3 years ago

Their fried rice is the best! Everything else is mediocre, cheap meat and frozen veggies.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

forgot my fortune cookies but food was ight

Visited 4 years ago

There was a hair in my food. The staff were very cold and dismissive. The food I ate before I noticed the hair was just okay. My water glass was incredibly dirty.

Visited 4 years ago

likely the worst experience at a restaurant i’ve ever had… chicken teriyaki was an undercooked slice of chicken with a sauce drizzled on it, drinks were disgusting and the rice was very oily. half of us got our food while the other half waited 30 minutes for their meal. by the time we were all done eating we still hadn’t got any of our sushi. they had their small children bringing menus to tables and moving chairs around for them. when i attempted to ask our server for a fork (we were never given any) she said “sorry no” and walked away. service wasn’t great & it was obvious they couldn’t have cared less about any of the people eating. wouldn’t recommend.

Visited 4 years ago

Love the food. Their fried rice is amazing! Prices are really good too!

Visited 4 years ago

Many items on the menu can be made vegan. The food that I ordered was very good. Would highly recommend if you happen to be in the Keene NH area.

Visited 4 years ago

The food gets five stars. It was amazing and the menu had more variety than a lot of typical sushi places. Four stars cause the wait staff was very inattentive but not rude.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Great sushi at a great price! Friendly and prompt service.

Visited 4 years ago

Favorite sushi place in the area.

Visited 4 years ago

What a lovely restaurant to order from! I have ordered takeout on 3 separate occasions. Each time, the food is delivered in a timely fashion, with kindness and care from the person delivering the food. I have ordered variations of sashimi/sushi, maki rolls and appetizers. Everything is absolutely STUNNING and delicious. I try new pieces each time, and am more excited with each experience. I was unaware of a coupon of free edamame over a certain amount of purchasing, yet the restaurant still honored the coupon and gave us free edamame (which was just as delicious as the rest of the meal)! I cannot wait to order from here again, and plan to many more times in the future! :).

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Great food as always cheap as well! Nice quiet place

Visited 4 years ago

Awesome sushi, seafood soup.

Visited 4 years ago

A delightful place to fully experience the Tokyo menu!

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Hole in the wall sushi place with high reviews? I'll bite... Oops..

Service was not good. I won't say bad but 100% not friendly or even pretending to give a darn about us. Never even came around asking if everything was ok, refill of drinks, offer water or anything.

Soup was decent, can't complain here.

Sushi.... It was not bad for the price. Nothing to write home about but the price was fair and a decent selection.

The drinks.... Omg, 100% the worste drinks we have ever had at a restaurant, ever... Scorpion bowl tasted like watered down hawaiian punch and the mai tai? I don't know how to even describe it besides awful. Tasted like they squeezed a room temperature caprisun into a glass.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

This has been the best sushi restaurant I have been to by far. It had a very calm and quaint setting to go with delicious food. I got the sashimi platter because I love plain raw fish and I could taste the quality difference. If I could I would give this place 6 stars.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

First time having sushi! It was a great experience really good food And we under 10mins for our food to made! Will be going back!

Visited 5 years ago

sickening... ordered vegetable fried rice to be delivered and it came as plain white rice with 2 pieces of broccoli on it... i called and complained and she told me to order “seafood” or “chicken” rice next time instead... makes no sense. i’m just confused

Visited 5 years ago

I have ordered take-out lunch from Tokyo Express virtually every single day for the last six weeks and will continue to do that. Excellent food, fast service. Very authentic, and the seasonings are just right. AND the lunch "deals" are amazing. Today I am having Beef Noodle (I chose Udon) that comes with rice and Miso Soup. SO MUCH FOOD. $11.95. 2-roll lunch with miso soup and salad: $7.95. 3 rolls same soup 'n salad? $10.50. FAST delivery and always super hot (when appropriate, like my noodles today). My office is just a couple of blocks away, but still, we get delivery about 20 minutes after ordering. How do they do that? And.. today included an order of Edamame on the house. Very easy to order online. Thank you, Tokyo Express, and a Happy New Year to you all!

Visited 5 years ago

Great price for fresh food.

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Great sushi, delivers really quickly, very nice people

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

This is such a cool place tucked away in Keene. Surprisingly, there are a lot of vegetarian options for a sushi place. We got the fried rice, the vegetarian rolls and the food was amazing. The staff was kind enough to explain everything to us and were very quick with service. A Must visit place!!!

Visited 5 years ago

a hidden gem for awesome Japanese food in Keene NH!!

Visited 5 years ago

Strong drinks (let them know). Great food, fast, friendly service.

Visited 5 years ago

Delicious Japanese food is here!!!

Visited 5 years ago

Very friendly and served amazing food. Not overly sweaty or salty.

Visited 5 years ago

We order delivery from Tokyo Express far more than we can afford to, but we can’t help ourselves; the food is great, it always arrives reasonably quickly, and we’ve only had good interactions with the people delivering it.

Visited 5 years ago

Decent sushi at a fair price. No inside dining yet but the take out is OK.

Visited 5 years ago

美味しくて本物。 キーンで最高の餃子。

Visited 5 years ago

Delicious as always.

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Pleasantly surprised! Very yummy sushi and everything tasted fresh and prepared with heart. Try the Rose Fruit Milk Tea and Fried Pineapple!

Visited 5 years ago

Great place to get sushi with large variety. I ordered some random stuff I had never had before. Wasn't my favorite, but my boyfriend ordered far more safe and his sushi was fantastic! High key reccommend this hole in the wall place. Good quality sushi as well

Visited 5 years ago

First time eating here tonight, late Valentine's day date for the boyfriend and I. Everything we ordered was great, especially the tempura fried ice cream. So good! We will definitely be back.

Visited 5 years ago

The sushi is the best we've had in the area. Small bite sized rolls made as they should be!

Visited 5 years ago

Visited 5 years ago

Sushi is always really good here, although sometimes the hot food leaves something to be desired. Not the best place for a quiet meal as it's usually frequented by groups college kids with no volume control, but it's my favorite sushi place in town.

Visited 6 years ago

Food is always amazing every time! This is my favorite place to eat in the area!

Visited 6 years ago