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The All-You-Can-Eat menu should have a disclaimer:
WARNING: RICE
Unless you like:
1) maki consisting of primarily panko bread crumbs forming an inner fish ball
2) nigiri consisting of razor thin slices of fish atop giant balls of rice, or literal columns of rice with uni, masago, or ikura merely painted on top...Then I would absolutely stay away from this place. The interior and facade have changed, but it is still AOI, only they dont force you to eat every grain of rice on your plate before ordering more.
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Seeker19104
Jul 17, 2009 07:49 PM
Four Chowhounds enjoyed their AYCE Sush tonighti: One with a hat, one with curly hair and glasses, one with a cane, and the gentleman of the group.
Delucacheesemonger gave a very accurate description of the restaurant above:
Fish seems good... My only negative as mentioned is the rice is very heavy and filling without much vinegar to lighten it. l liked better than Genji and Fuji, have not been to the other two. Not as good as Bluefin. Staff is super friendly and competent.
The menu offered a wide variety of maki, nigiri, and hand rolls which kept coming at a regular pace. Much more elegant than other AYCE sushi I've had which was put out on a buffet or was limited to hand rolls only. The decor is fairly subdued, not at all the hipster atmosphere of the former Aoi at that location.
Table talk turned to the possibilities of other Chowhound dinners. A suckling pig at Amada seemed to pique the interest of our diners with the thought that others might enjoy sharing that meal. Chowhounds, start your engines!
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re: Seeker19104
sockii
Jul 18, 2009 11:41 AM
It was really great meeting some fellow Chowhounds last night! Aki's AYCE deal is definitely a step above its former incarnation's (Aoi) version. I'll definitely go back another night when I'm really hungry. Nice selection for AYCE and decent speed on getting orders out, even if there were a few hiccups in getting what exactly was ordered along the way.
So how about a thread for an Amada meet up? I'd be game for it some time in August...
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re: sockii
mlplyons
Jul 18, 2009 12:05 PM
And so am I. I must say it was nice to meet some fellow hounders in person and put a face to the names here. I agree with sockii that Aki's AYCE was somewhat above the usual AYCE fare. And delucacheesemonger, I am definitely in for the roast suckling pig dinner. . . . (and the pizza trip) . . . .
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Seeker19104
Jul 12, 2009 07:23 PM
Two Chowhounds would like you to join us for AYCE sushi dinner on Friday, July 17th at 7:00P.
Respond here or to Seeker19104@yahoo.com
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Aki Japanese Fusion & Saki Bar
1210 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA›7 Replies-
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re: mlplyons
Hi,
I am thinking about going one night for dinner. Is this place worth our time and money? I like Kisso, Zento, Genji, and Fuji Mountain. Does it compare favorably to these places? I'm wondering if we should be going to kisso instead? Would like your honest opinion. But, it must be decent if fellow Chowhounders are meeting up for a dinner? I'm not a fan of AYCE places. Thanks.-
re: phillyjules
Delucacheesemonger
Jul 14, 2009 09:58 AM
Fish seems good, the yellowtail last had was not the normal one l expect, but perhaps will change next time. My only negative as mentioned is the rice is very heavy and filling without much vinegar to lighten it. l liked better than Genji and Fuji, have not been to the other two. Not as good as Bluefin. Staff is super friendly and competent.
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re: mlplyons
Seeker19104
Jul 16, 2009 07:26 PM
Our reservation is made. I will be wearing a straw hat with a broad brim. See you soon!
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Delucacheesemonger
Apr 28, 2009 12:59 PM
The buffet is now all the time. Did it this week, was very good, no complaints other than l ate way too much. Still 24.95
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re: mlplyons
Delucacheesemonger
Jul 12, 2009 06:25 AM
Every day, all day. My only proviso is the rice is very dense, filling and lightly vinegared. Thus when l get an unagidon or chirashi, l leave a lot of rice. Glad to go with you and meet a CH. My email is on my info page.
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re: Delucacheesemonger
mlplyons
Jul 12, 2009 09:03 AM
Hey, thanks for the quick response. That is very good to know-unbelievable price and seven days/week. I remember a place in Arlington, VA that had a similar deal but nevertheless had that same exact price about 15 years ago (it was, however, acknowledged as the best ayce sushi in the Washington area at that time).
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re: mlplyons
Delucacheesemonger
Jul 12, 2009 09:27 AM
May be best AYCE in Phila, but a very low bar. Went to Bluefin last week, no AYCE, but very high level selection and execution on sashimi. Off to Yasuda next week, yippee.
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re: Delucacheesemonger
mlplyons
Jul 13, 2009 03:29 AM
I agree about the bar being very low but forget all about that. Yasuda? Now I am salivating and, dare I say (even for a fellow hounder (egads!)), jealous. I hope you're sitting at the sushi bar. Maybe the big guy himself will serve you . . . . Yippee is an understatement, sir.
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Delucacheesemonger
Apr 13, 2009 09:07 AM
Went for lunch 4/10. Had an excellent unagi don with good salad, great service, inexpensive price. Even came with extra pickled vegetables. Will go back for the AYCE, Wednesdays and Sunday all day for $24.95. Anyone care to try with me, let me know.
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I found a review on this site called Getyourfoodon.wordpress.com
They look like a start-up site for food reviews, but their review of it was pretty good.
"The all you can eat menu comes with a soup and salad, which were both average. But does the sushi deliver? You betcha! The all you can eat menu offers a wide variety of maki, nigri, and hand rolls. Certain items are $2 extra–such as the scallop sushis. Some of the standouts include the white tuna, salmon, and squid nigri and the spicy tuna maki was wonderful also. The fish-to-rice ratio was surprisingly generous, so we give high marks to Aki for that."
It looks pretty good, i definitely wanna go there one time especially for the all you can eat.
Here's the link to the full article.
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re: DonSagiv
juice
Mar 4, 2009 10:57 AM
Unless I am wrong, I think this is the old AOI sushi spot. It's like an old 80's rock bar w neon along a metal fence and an old pick up coming out of the wall? Maybe they changed the decor. When I first moved here, I use to go quite because of the price, but the sushi was mediorce at best. Maybe its better. It use to be $20 A-Y-C-E.
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re: juice
sockii
Mar 5, 2009 04:14 AM
That's what I was going to say. I used to go to the old AYCE at AOI back when I was in gradschool in the '90s but haven't been there in ages. My friend and I used to go because it was cheap, not because it was especially good sushi. Sometimes the service would take forever as well, so it was a balancing act of ordering enough at a time that you weren't waiting endlessly for a few pieces, vs. not over-ordering and then getting charged extra for any pieces you didn't eat.
I'd be curious to know if it's better now...though generally my one rule of thumb used to be not going for sushi on Sundays on Mondays, and one wonders/worries if Sunday AYCE is their "clean out" night or something, hence the deal...
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saturninus
Mar 2, 2009 06:41 AM
I've ordered their $9 lunch - 2 rolls and soup or salad - quite good. Definitely less expensive than Kami (and they haven't been open since December).
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