Kengo Sushi & Yakitori

This is a true gem, never would have guessed Toledo would be home to one of the best Japanese dining experiences in the Midwest but here we are. Truly exceptional in all facets. Service, dishes, attention to detail, the omakase style just puts it on another level. Add this on your bucket list, it's a must. Fine folks of Toledo, you have no idea how lucky you are to have such an experience. Or perhaps you do! Can't wait to go back.

The food tasted good. Nothing bad, but definitely not worth what I paid or the 2 1/2 hour drive I made. Omakase is $125, not the $95 listed on google maps. For that price I'd expect the best but some of the pieces I got were basic and all were small. Then, at the end, I finally started getting some sushi, and it wasn't packed, so it fell apart as soon as I picked it up. If you're in Cleveland, try Ginko. I kept comparing them and, in the end, wished I'd gone there again.

I've dined at this restaurant twice - once as a regular customer and once for the omakase course. The food here is undeniably excellent, deserving of five stars. However, I must address the service, which leaves much to be desired. During my first visit, I encountered significant delays in receiving our dishes. What made this experience even more frustrating was that the table next to us appeared to be friends with the owner-chef, resulting in prompt and friendly service for them. Meanwhile, our table, along with others, languished in waiting. Hoping for a better experience, I returned as an omakase customer. Unfortunately, my second visit reinforced the initial negative impression. While the omakase service was reasonably paced, it became apparent that the restaurant prioritizes omakase customers (or the owner's friends) over other diners. While this isn't inherently problematic, it does imply that regular patrons, or ichigen-san, may not receive the same level of attention or service. In summary, the food here is exceptional and deserves five stars. However, prospective regular customers should be prepared for potentially uneven treatment compared to omakase, or their favorite, patrons. Also, the music is too loud.

Solo diner visiting Toledo, and just called if Kengo had a vacant seat in their Omakase bar. Thrilled that they did. The reviews were spot on. Excellent and friendly service. The atmosphere is busy and fast paced as it is a small restaurant. The Omakase that night was a combination of new things I have never had before, plus some yakitoris and nigiris. Pricey but well worth it. Great area in downtown Toledo and right beside the Mudhen’s stadium. The owner also owns a Ramen place next door as well as another restaurant in Toledo’s casino. Definitely will do all of them!

Truly a hidden gem in the Midwest. The price point and the quality of the food is out of the world. This place is so popular so there’s always a long wait. Come put your name down early in the day if you’re in the area, then come back at dinner time. I liked almost everything I ordered from them. The sushi are great, I do like the fish more than the wagyu. If you’re not early enough, they run out of a lot of options too. Yakitori wise I love the beef tongue and pork belly a lot, but not so much the short rib. The grill madai head is also really good and plenty of meat. I haven’t had a chance to try their omakase yet, since it’s a little hard to book, but their a la carte is already amazing.