Restaurant Japon

I had the worst experience ever at Japon. I have been there at least a dozen times, and my experience on 3/30/2012, was by most the worst DINING experience of my ENTIRE LIFE. The sushi bar looked disgusting, and I have pictures to prove it, the service was deplorable, and the host was rude. I asked to speak with a manager, but was told one was not available. I demand some sort of reply! more

I've tried so hard to like the sushi here (because everyone else does) but I simply can't. First, the atmosphere. It's very cramped...I was sitting with my date and felt the constant swish of people walking by me because there is so little room to move around. Add to that a constant cold chill coming from the back and it made for an incredibly uncomfortable evening.\r \r Then, the sushi itself: non-descript, gummy. It was such a disappointment! Top that off with a waitress who looked at me like I was speaking Farsi when I asked her which wines were available (since I never got a wine list I had to rely on her)...disaster. My date had to basically tell her to bring me anything red since she was so baffled.\r \r The food here is not so off-the-mark that I would never return...however with so many other options for sushi in the metro area this will definitely not be my first choice. Pros: impressive selection of drinks Cons: parking is impossible, cramped seating, freezing cold! more

We sat at the sushi bar so that we could watch the food be made, and the chef was incredibly nice and even gave us a free sample of a seafood salad. Our glasses were never empty, and the waiter was very pleasant. The diablo roll was hands down the most amazing sushi ever, and the other 5 we tried were close behind. I will go back many times, and highly recommend it. The atmosphere isn't too formal. We went for our anniversary expecting it to be a nicer place (having only heard about it), but the food made up for that. Pros: Best sushi I've ever had, chef was very nice, great service more

Japon has the BEST sushi in Denver. We have been coming here for years now and we LOVE it! Their waiters and sushi chefs are always friendly, the service is prompt and the food is top notch! My personal favorites are the Hawaiian roll, the spicy tuna roll and the salmon hand roll. And their California roll can't be beat. It's simply the best! I highly recommend this place to everyone!! If you go early, during Happy Hour, it's more affordable! Pros: everything Cons: I wish it was closer to my house! : ) more

We've eaten here twice for dinner at sushi bar and it's great all around. Great service and the sushi chefs give you personal service hard to find elsewhere. The sushi chef overheard my husband talking about it being my birthday and arranged for a nice birthday treat at the end of our dinner at no extra charge. The freshness of the fish is comparable to any coastal town, I read they get seafood delivereis daily. Very clean and a good atmosphere. Tucked away in a cozy strip mall makes for a nice walk after your meal. Decent pricing and nice Happy Hour selections as well. Pros: Ambience, Parking, Service and Pricing Cons: Can get crowded late more

All I can say is WOW!! This was my first time there and I absolutely LOVED Japon!! Their service was outstanding! We sat at the sushi bar & had the honors of having Mickey chef for us! He did such a wonderful job with everything! His presentation was georgous, he didnt serve everything we ordered right away, he waited till we were almost done with one plate and then started on our next one! What needed to be cold, was cold and what needed to to be warm, was warm! PERFECT! The Diablo was splended, and the Kobe beef was to die for!! I thought I was in love with Salmon before... the King Salmon took me over the edge! (Imagine what silk would taste and feel like if it were eatable and that is their King Salmon). Really enjoyed the Scallop. We tried just about everything and each time I tasted something, there was a different taste & experience involved! The pieces were huge! And the prices were very fair! I have to say I enjoyed the cheaper box of Sake (that was chilled) compaired to the $10 more box of Sake that was not. The fresh Wasabi and homemade Soy Sauce (which is made fresh with Sake every 2 days) was so good! Not salty, which made me happy because I use low sodium soy sauce but my brother liked it just as well. They order their fish fresh EVERYDAY and keep a very tight ship! \r THANK YOU SOOO MUCH! CONGRATULATIONS ON CATERING THE DNC AND GOOD LUCK!!! \r SEE YOU AGAIN SOON FOR MY ANNIVERSARY! Pros: King Salmon, Diablo, Hand Rolls, Kobe Beef, Spicy Scallop, chilled Sake, Homemade Soy Sauce, fresh Wasabi Cons: the wait, but they have a bar! So many choices, you just want them all!!! more

Love their sushi. The Diablo Roll is soooo good! But their wine list is really atrocious. Nothing but cheap, dirt-tasting wine, and I've mentioned it to them numerous times and they don't seem to care. Otherwise, though, we really like it. Pros: Diablo Roll & best tempura anywhere Cons: wine list & service is inconsistent more

\r Some of the best sushi not just in Denver, but anywhere. Expertly prepared! Be sure to pay attention to the homemade soy sauce - truly a great match for the fish. SIt outside on the patio for happy hour and people watch on Gaylord - a great time! more

Since their remodel a couple of years ago, the atmosphere has vastly improved. No stuffy sushi chefs here - just frienldy staff and great company. Most importantly, the fish is PERFECT and a good value compared to any other top-notch sushi joint. more

Do you remember when Japon was a tiny hole in the wall? No more. Japon has never looked better. The space is open, airy and modern with views of the sushi bar from almost every seat in the house. The food is great and in particular, I would highly recommend the lunch. Try the bento box options - great value for the money. I agree with some of the other reviewers that the service is consistently slow, and I do wish they would work on that. However, the staff is friendly and helpful - a far cry from the pathetic servers at the Sushi Den - which makes for a pleasant experience. Pros: The food is good - esp. lunch Cons: service can be slow more

I have to say I enjoyed their sushi and sake. I sat at the sushi bar and enjoyed the conversation I had with the Japanese sushi chef (I am Japanese, too). It wasn't a busy night, but our waiter kept rushing me and my date by bringing the check (we weren't done) and repeatedly returning to see we had already paid (God, don't you hate that?) When my date got up to use the restroom, I asked the waiter if he were ending his shift soon and wanted to close our tab, to which he replied no. I spoke with the owner and told him that I was annoyed by the rushing. The owner spoke Japanese and apologized for the poorly trained waiter. I'm glad I said something. But my overall experience at Japon was just ""okay."" I'm pretty sure I'm not going back there again. It simply wasn't a fun place. There are many other sushi places in Denver, so I recommend that you try them first before you go to Japon. Pros: Decent food Cons: Poor Service more

Too pricey for the quality of the food. I'm a sushi-lover, and to me It' was nothing special for sushi. The atmosphere was really nice--it looked expensive to keep up a place like that, but maybe that's why the food is expensive? Service was terrible. We waited forever to order or to refill tea. The wait-staff was most of the time unavailable and/or not paying attention. more

I first went to Japon for my birthday and fell in love with the place! I eat sushi a few times a month and this is one of my favorites in Denver! The sushi is always fresh with excellent fresh fish, ginger, and wasabi! The atmosphere and decor is beautiful. The servers are sometimes slow but there is a bar in the back that is great about getting you any drink that you need right away. Pros: Happy hour all day on Monday is a great deal! Cons: Service is average at best. more

We have gone to Japon 4 times now. We keep giving it a chance because it is within walking distance but they continue to fail to impress us. This place is in a good spot and really needs to step it up. Our first plate of sushi came with no wasabi or ginger. My ""cold"" sake came luke warm, and although the carafe had a compartment for ice, I had to ask to get some. The Tuna was OK, Spicy Tuna roll was mushy, Miso Cod was average. With prices near Sushi Den and Hapa, the quality, attention to detail, and overall experience dont compare.\r \r Atmosphere is nice but everything else needs an upgrade. Pros: Good atmosphere Cons: Average sushi at high end prices more

Love the location of this trendy little sushi restaurant (water fountain behind the sushi bar is neat!). I have always enjoyed the sushi here. It is perfect for celebrations or for a romantic date night. The sushi can get a bit pricey but well worth the money. Love the Japon rolls! Yummy! Parking can be difficult during peak times. Pros: Japon rolls and location Cons: Parking more

I've been to Japon on a few occaisions now and will continue to be an avid fan. If you happen to sit at the sushi bar and get Mickey, consider it your lucky night...your experience will be especially great! The sushi chefs are very attentive to your satisfaction. The table service is always friendly, but sometimes very slow. The difference between Japon and ""the others"" is they recognize that and will work very hard to make you happy. The agadashi is worth seeking out and the diablo roll (I think I'm butchering my spelling) is AMAZING!! The atmosphere is contemporary but warm and inviting, and the charm of the surrounding area adds to that. Also, the price point is very inexpensive compared to other places. All of this contributes to why I drive over an hour every week to go there...what can I say? I get cravings! Easily my favorite sushi joint so far. Pros: Great sushi, attentive service, reasonably priced Cons: Service can be slow, especially when busy (but is that any different from anywhere else?) more

I really like the sushi and thought the salmon teriyaki was very fresh and cooked great. However, we were seated at the sushi bar and the sushi chef only gave us half our order filled other orders that came way after ours first. He kept saying, your order is coming, and ever filled it. After eating half of my regular meal, I told him to forget it that I didn't want it. My husband ordered the tofu steak, it was mushy and he hated it. But we loved the sushi and would go back again. Was not impressed with the service at all. The restaurant gets busy on weekends. The drinks were good too. Pros: Good sushi Cons: bad service more

I came here on a Sunday night for a rather early dinner. The restaurant wasn't too crowded but definitely got busier as the evening went on. The atmosphere is great. The wall of water is almost hypnotic. The sushi is fresh and tastes great. Pros: fresh sushi Cons: kind of slow service more

I usually order sushi - which has never faltered in quality to me. After trying ALL of the well-known sushi restaurants in Denver I have always found the fish to be extremely fresh and highly recommend Japon to my friends. They have a great assortment of rolls, the unagi has none of that rubbery fat that you find in other locations, the California rolls use real crab (without the bits of shell I found in another location) and the tobiko has to be my favorite. The Gaylord location still retains its cozy, neighborhood atmosphere close to Wash park, with great modern designs like the cool circulating water wall behind the sushi bar. What I really like best is the non-pretentious factor that other locations have. I feel comfortable here and able to relax. Overall, its one of my favs in Denver. Pros: very fresh fish, hip design, cozy Cons: parking more

Hands down the best quality sushi in town - we'll be back for sure! Not that the others are bad - there's nights when we do enjoy the other usual suspects (Sushi Den, Sasa, etc.). Though Japon may not be as trendy/romantic as some others (though the water walls behind the bar are cool), the quality/freshness of the sushi is second to none! If you're looking for the highest sushi experience, Japon is it! Pros: High Quality, Fresh Food, Seated quickly Cons: Turn down the lights more