Restaurant Review: Miyako - Washington

Miyako is a sushi bar and Japanese restaurant with two locations in Houston, although only the location on Washington Avenue will be the subject of today’s review. In operation since 1978, they have been creating a unique blend of modernism and tradition in every aspect of the business from the food to the decor. The mission statement for their business is to satisfy the ever-changing cravings of us Houstonians, while maintaining the “utmost quality, originality, and freshness of their cuisine.” They make big promises, but can they deliver? Read on to see if the experience held up to the expectation of their lofty goals.

Experience & Ambience

One worthwhile note about this restaurant is that they validate parking in the garage attached at the back of their building, which makes finding parking a breeze. That is certainly something that I can appreciate, especially on Washington Avenue. There are a few other businesses located in the same complex, of which Miyako is probably the easiest to miss. Their simple sign and nondescript exterior is easily obscured by roadside trees, but the interior is far more impressive in terms of décor. The style inside is very modern, with various patterning and texturing on the walls and ceiling. Various forms of suspended lighting hang around the dining area with the sushi bar and chefs at the center. Shining black tables and slightly weathered chairs fill the floor of the seating space, while one wall totes floor to ceiling windows that let in plenty of natural light to brighten the space. Upon entering, a host will walk you from the entryway to your table, where you will have your choice of their menu. As your waiter arrives at your table, he can also validate your parking as you place your order.

Prices & Rating

As far as prices go, sushi is often more expensive than your average meal with rolls going for as much as or even over $20 in some cases. While Miyako’s sushi rolls are not inexpensive with most signature rolls ranging from $11 to $16, there are a number of options in the $10 or less range during happy hours from 3-7PM weekdays. This does make it more affordable than the average sushi spot, especially during happy hours, where you can also get cocktails from $7 to $10. While sushi is the restaurant’s focus, they have several options for larger plates that are much more economical in terms of portion size and pricing. The fried rice, ramen, or stir fried dishes are substantial enough to fill your stomach for only $10 to $16 per person. If sushi is your goal, you can expect it to cost between $16 and $30 for 2-3 rolls.

All around, Miyako is a restaurant that I have to give my highest recommendation. The interior has a nice design to it and there are a number of more affordable options, including a long list of cocktails for only $10. Further still, their signature rolls are anything but basic with well rounded flavor profiles, and excellent use of texture. The traditional options mixed with the more fusion oriented ones offers a nice variety between the dishes that will certainly have you coming back to try a few more.

What To Order?

Sushi
As their name suggests, their sushi is the focal point of the restaurant, and it does not disappoint. There are tons of options on the menu including sashimi, nigiri, and hand rolls, but their maki style rolls are the most impressive choices. There are a lot of options to choose from, so here are some favorites. The Crunchy Maki Roll or the Crispy Spicy Tuna Roll can satisfy the craving for simple rolls with a nice crunchy texture, while the Crazy Caterpillar Maki, Chilango Maki, or El Pacifico Maki Rolls are a bit more extravagant with a well balanced pairing of flavors and textures in each bite.

Stir Fried Noodles
Among their many options for noodle dishes are stir fried Yaki Ramen (pictured above) with mixed vegetables, thin ramen style noodles, and your choice of meat from beef, chicken, shrimp, or combination. The other stir fried option, Yaki Udon is made instead with thicker udon noodles that still come with mixed vegetables and the same choices of protein. Both dishes are brought to your table in a steaming stone bowl, which is quite the spectacle.

Ramen
The other half of the noodle menu is filled with a variety of different ramen dishes. Each item has its own flair to it, but the Tonkatsu Ramen with pork chashu, seasoned eggs, bamboo shoots, fish cakes, green onions, and nori is perhaps the most solid choice.

Fried Rice
The Hot Stone Ginger Rice is the stand out option among their fried rice dishes, made with tomato, basil, red pepper, ginger, corn, onion, egg, and your choice of protein from chicken, beef, shrimp, or combination all in a hot stone bowl to keep your food warm and nicely seared.