Kata Robata

"No one compares with Kata Robata when it comes to nigiri and sashimi, especially when the Upper Kirby spot offers a $28, eight-piece chirashi bowl at lunch. The Japanese sushi and grill restaurant serves each chirashi bowl with eight types of expertly sliced fish—two pieces each kind—sushi rice, and all the pickled, spicy, and savory toppings you could want. And at $1.75 per piece, the bowl, along with other sashimi bentos and sushi rolls, is the ultimate lunch bargain, whether you grab a solo bar spot or want a quick meal to break up the work day." - chelsea thomas, gianni greene

"Verdict: With a menu full of nothing but hits—everything from buttery nigiri, to wagyu katsu sandwiches, to paper-thin slices of octopus crudo—we get why seats at this Upper Kirby classic are hard to come by. And thanks to the canonically cool-tempered staff, the dining experience at this Japanese spot feels smooth and easy. Until it’s time to decide who gets the last piece of grilled hamachi kama." - gianni greene, chelsea thomas

"If you’re more of a low-key, quiet birthday type—someone who wants to eat incredible food in peace, either alone or with a very select set of people—an omakase experience or sushi bar seat at Kata Robata, one of the best sushi restaurants in town, awaits you. Because during the omakase, the nigiri is the center of attention, not you. So relax and indulge. Just make sure to call ahead for an omakase reservation at the sushi bar. " - gianni greene, chelsea thomas

"Sushi bar and izakaya Kata Robata not only holds it down as one of the best restaurants in the city, it also serves up some decadent and delicious bowls of ramen. For those into the classics, try the spicy soy ramen, with a light but savory pork and soy milk broth, great for slurping after a chirashi bowl or alongside a whiskey highball. Or get fancy with Kata’s lobster and crab ramen topped with thick hunks of claw meat, lump crab, and egg noodles. While sharing is caring at Kata, we suggest snagging a bar seat and having a bowl solo. " - gianni greene, chelsea thomas

"On any given night, the sushi counter at Kata Robata in Upper Kirby is always packed. Raw fish freaks know Kata fires on all cylinders when it comes to nigiri, sashimi, or the coveted omakase experience (which you have to specifically reserve). Sushi is all about temperature, and Kata nails it. Here, no matter if you’re sitting at the sushi bar or one of the dreamy sunken booths across the restaurant, the vinegar-sweet sushi rice always arrives slightly warm, the expertly cut fish always slightly cool—the perfect bite. " - chelsea thomas, gianni greene