Our first visit to Izakaya Tori on a busy Friday night wasn't ideal - the wait stretched over an hour. But with rave reviews calling it one of the best sushi spots in town, we knew we had to give it another shot. Our first waitress' recommendations, the Lotus Root Chips Guacamole and Garlic Butter Wild Mushrooms, were tasty but not particularly exciting. This time, with friends in tow, our Izakaya Tori experience did a complete 180. Seated promptly, our server was incredibly friendly and even extended the happy hour specials for us despite arriving just after closing time. We dove into a delicious selection of dishes, starting with the gyudon, a comforting bowl of savory beef simmered in a rich broth over fluffy rice. The tofu fried rice was a revelation - perfectly seasoned and packed with fluffy vegetables. The star of the show, however, was the sushi. The dancing crab roll offered a delightful explosion of textures and flavors - the crisp tempura shrimp paired beautifully with the creamy avocado and the subtle sweetness of the crab. The fantasy roll, a chef's creation, surprised us with its innovative combination of ingredients, each bite a burst of unexpected yet harmonious tastes. The daily special roll, however, wasn't quite as impressive. While the ingredients were fresh, it tasted more like a standard $8 roll and didn't quite justify the upcharge. Izakaya Tori's ambiance is fantastic. The décor is stylish and inviting, and I'm curious to try the floor seating area that evokes a traditional Japanese home experience. Our only minor snag was being tucked into a corner, which made getting the check and drink refills a bit slower than ideal. Despite that, the delicious food, friendly service, and wonderful atmosphere at Izakaya Tori have definitely won us over, and we'll be back for sure! We'll just stick to the amazing happy hour specials and the creative sushi rolls next time.

7/12/24 Update - Visited twice in two days, got all of the following items and they were all great: - Chicken Karaage - Agedashi Tofu - NY Strip - Eel - Chicken Thigh - Pork Belly - Kimchi Cream Udon Surprisingly, the restaurant was even more packed and lively on Thursday night than on Friday night. Shout out to Sam and Cat and amazing service! Will be coming back again for sure.

I went with my son and his girlfriend, I've been meaning to try it for some time. I loved it! Pros: - Attentive and friendly service - The food is incredible. We tried different items to get a good mix of everything and all of it was delicious. - Fun ambience, it's lively and there's a lot to look out. - Super clean. Cons: - It is cramped and if a party happens to be sitting behind you, completely drunk and calling each other names, that will be the only thing you can focus on.

Stumbled upon Izakaya Tori by accident one night, but I think I've found my new favorite spot for sushi in Tampa! This place has such a cool and cozy vibe on the inside, and the food was superb! Some notable favorites were the edamame, miso soup, izakaya special roll, and double tuna roll. They also have an extensive kitchen menu if sushi isn't your thing. The service was excellent, and we particularly liked sitting at the sushi bar.

I love this place so much! The decor in here is so cool. Lots of cute little anime references including some miniature statues (I found the Demon Slayer corner that was really cool). Also, the sushi is amazing. My rolls tasted so fresh and were very well made. If you're a spicy tuna fan with a little crunch, I recommend the Fantasy Roll. I really enjoyed our apps too, although I'd go back for the Geso (fried octopus legs) over the guac. Definitely venture out and try some of their sake selections - we loved the strawberry nigori but I'd love to try the others as well. The service was good - the place does get pretty busy most days but it didn't take us long to get seated. Also, the restaurant is located in a smaller sized shopping mall with limited parking so keep that in mind.

I go here so often, and every time it's great. Food is delicious, servers are nice, and ambience is great. Would highly recommend the gyudon beef rice bowl, kimchi cream udon, and lychee cocktail. (Although pretty much everything here is great!) My only complaint is the location and subsequent horrible parking situation. Blegh!

Pros: This is one of the few restaurants in Tampa where you feel like you're not just in a strip mall. It's intimate yet not cramped. It feels like a real izakaya from what I've seen/read about Japan The tapas or small plates are very good. I chose this place because of the hubbub about these. Normally I just get maki rolls but I was intrigued. I ordered the Shishito Pepper which was grilled and quite hot but yummy 5/5 The eel skewer was so buttery smooth and the sweet teriyaki esque sauce complemented it well. It was my favorite item that I ordered. 5/5. The Passonfruit Salmon roll had a nice texture and sweet kick 4/5. The spicy tuna was good if not a bit small 4/5. The service was prompt and courteous. Cons. Closed Sundays and there is very limited parking It is very popular and the maximum seating is around 25-30. Most parties were large groups.. I got here at Friday at 12:10 and when I left at 1:10 it was packed. Get there early for whatever meal you want to eat. Overall: A different type of Japanese restaurant. I would definitely order a mix of small dishes and maybe 1-2 rolls and share it amongst a group. Everyone should try go here at least once

My friend Yui who's Japanese and recently moved to Tampa, FL brought me to this establishment. The line was a bit long, however for a good reason. The restaurant remains full of customers who want to dine in. I enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant along with the selection of food. There is a large selection and it appeared to be one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants you can experience in the south. My friend Yui loves it and her approval is what I was expecting. The service from the staff was great too. Everyone inside seemed to be impressed and happy. A diverse group of people were there. I cannot wait to come back again and am jealous of Yui.

Came on a Saturday night with my 2 teens and were excited to try a variety of items. We got teriyaki garlic edamame, miso soup, ginger salad, Japanese curry, double tuna roll and kimchi udon. Also got a yuzu cocktail. Yuzu cocktail was really good would have liked to try summer breeze which was raspberry and yuzu but they were out of it. Yuzu was refreshing and perfect amount of tart. We ordered food and it was really fast coming out. My probably least favorite was edamame but still great flavor just missing the spice and wow factor. My daughter got the kimchi udon and I may have stolen quite a few bites it was amazing. Ginger salad had great fresh dressing and was as I expected. Double tuna roll had great flavor and really well made. Japanese curry was full of flavor. Would love to go back and try more. We did end with matcha crème brûlée which I would highly recommend it was perfect end to meal. Service was also amazing we never waited for anything and waitress was so helpful with all our questions (so glad she suggested udon we would definitely come back just for that dish). Parking is tricky but don't let it discourage you from visiting this gem. Inside is comfortable with plenty of room and great layout. Also, for a Saturday night our wait was about 15 minutes which is amazing!

So so so impressed with the food here! This place was packed on a Monday night, but we still managed to get seats before closing. Highlights of the meal: Eggplant skewers Scallop skewers Medium Pacific Oysters Spicy scallop hand roll Wouldn't order again: Mentaiko fries Kimchi udon