

Contemporary bistro & bar offering sushi, small plates & teppanyaki meals, plus a robust sake menu.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 17803 La Cantera Terrace #1104, San Antonio, TX 78256
Phone: (210) 239-6610
Website: http://www.unikojapanesehouse.com/
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Welcome to UNI’KO Japanese Lounge
UNI’KO Japanese Lounge (@unikojapanese) · San Antonio, TX
where Japanese dining meets San Antonio nightlife! On … – Facebook
Reviews
***update***
We came back for dinner a few days later and again was a 10/10 we ordered mostly the same except instead of the Lobster roll we got the kara! Wow!
At the end of the day, if you want my opinion, go somewhere else.
The Sushi is amazing here! I had the Sushi Tower and, of course, a Moscow Mule (W/Lavender)!
My friend had and Eel roll a the Romeo & Juliet roll with chicken fried rice and seaweed salad! Fun night! If you haven’t tried this place, you’re missing out!
We visited Uni’Ko Japanese Lounge in San Antonio today, February 24, for lunch, and I can confidently say this was one of the most disappointing dining experiences I’ve had at a so-called Japanese restaurant.
From the moment we walked in, there was a strong sewer smell that immediately set a bad tone for the meal. Unfortunately, things only got worse from there.
We started with a miso soup, which arrived lukewarm at best—not the comforting, hot soup we expected. Then, we ordered the Sunomono cucumber with octopus, but the octopus was so rubbery and chewy that we had to send it back to the kitchen. Shockingly, they still charged us for it at the end of the meal.
For sushi, we ordered two rolls and requested the usual accompaniments: ginger and wasabi. The waitress informed us they had no ginger—which is unheard of in a sushi restaurant, especially one charging $39 per roll. Then, when the wasabi arrived, it was nothing like actual wasabi—it looked more like chimichurri (see picture). To add insult to injury, they charged us $3 for this so-called wasabi!
The combination of bad food, terrible service, a disgusting smell, and high prices makes this place a complete waste of time and money. I would never return, and I strongly suggest you avoid this place if you value good sushi and decent service.
Final Verdict: Overpriced, overrated, and unacceptable.
One standout detail was the fresh gourmet wasabi served, much better than the cheap green paste that is usually cut with horseradish. It added a genuine kick to each sushi bite. The saba (mackerel) was also highlight—bold with that strong fish flavor; strong like sardines but much better tasting. If you’re not a fan of intense seafood, this might not be for you, but for me, it was excellent.
The uni (sea urchin) sourced from Santa Barbara, CA was nice, though it came with a premium price tag, which is understandable given the long journey to reach the plate. While it didn’t quite match the sweetness of the Uni I’ve enjoyed in Santa Barbara, it was still a treat.
The one disappointment was the absence of ginger, which one typically uses to cleanse the palate between the different cuts of fish. That said, the cocktail I ordered was perfectly balanced and a complement to the meal.
For a place that is land locked, the sushi didn’t disappoint.
The miso soups was probably the best.
I had miso soup, chicken fried rice, beef yakitori, the select roll and and a Hanataki plate (idk if I spelled it correctly)
Beef in the yakitori was so dry and chewy I just sent it back. It was not very flavorful either.
Chicken in the fried rice was a bit dry too. The fried rice overall was flavorless as well. Could use more butter, salt, and some umami. And maybe a different style of rice. Rice was a long grain. Personally I prefer short grain rice for fried rice.
The hanataki plate wasn’t bad. I picked off the jalepeños and cilantro but that’s a personal preference of mine. I didn’t want the seeds of the jalepenos and the cilantro to overwhelm the dish. The sashimi itself was decent quality. A bit on the tangy side but I like tangy flavors a lot. Probably the second best dish. Had I stopped at the miso soup and this one I might’ve left satisfied but because I decided to try a variety of the rest I left disappointed and $95 less.
The roll was meh. The sushi rice was dry. Seems to be a trend at the place. Everything is dry and lacking flavor.
There are other places better than this place.
Umiya is better than this place. At least they’re a bit fresher and have more flavor and way cheaper.
The service was good and the restaurant itself is beautiful and located in a great spot. The food is subpar. Will not be back again. It’s out of my way to begin with and I was trying a new spot so it’s off my list of places to try. It’s on my list of places to never go back to now tho.
They don’t take the bottle to your table, also you have to go to the bar yourself to ask for ice refills. Prices are higher than other bottle services around, and they charge a 20% “big party fee” (8 people) + tip. Yeah no thanks, didn’t even want to order another round.
On the good side the music is good