Moving to Texas has been one of the best things I have ever done, however, one thing that I do miss about living in Southern California is the access to countless great restaurants inspired by food from around the world. While I have traveled all over Texas, not many restaurants have wowed me, sure there are many places that are good, some that are even great, but none that impressed me to the point I would become an active evangelist for the eatery. That is until I was invited out to try Roka Akor in Houston.
Roka Akor is a Japanese Sushi and Robatayaki Steak house, the menu is a contemporary take on classic Japanese dishes as well as exciting Euro-Japanese fusion recipes that offer diners some truly unique. As someone who has spent a fair amount of time in Japan, I am always interested in seeing US restaurants versions of classic Japanese cuisine. In addition to Houston, Roka Akor has restaurants in Chicago, San Francisco, and Scottsdale, so if you can't make it Houston, you should at least attempt to visit one of their other locations.
After the first course was served I knew we were in for a treat, the attention to detail, the quality of the ingredients, and the presentation were all on point. Our waiter also selected an excellent Sake, Houraaisen, which had a sweet almost fruity taste that paired well with our mostly seafood courses.
One thing you quickly learn about food in Japan is they have incredibly high standards for food quality, which is why you can get some pretty amazing sushi even at inexpensive restaurants. This level of commitment to quality is what has always made food in Japan stand out to me, and Roka Akor has kept that high standard, from the choices of meats and preparation to the attention to detail when plating. When it comes to amazing meals I have had all over the world, I would put Roka Akor in the same league as the multi-course Michelin Star meals I have had prepared by renowned chefs like Michael Tusk and Nick Stefanelli... just without the fuss.
After an incredible evening, it was easy to see why Travel + Leisure named Roka Akor “Best Sushi Restaurant in the U.S.” and Bon Appétit listed them in the “Top 10 Sushi Spots in the United States.” So far, Roka Akor is at the top of my list for 2019's best restaurant in Texas.
If you would like to learn more or book a reservation for your own Omakase experience visit rokaakor.com.
Although Jennifer and I were invited to dine at ROKA AKOR, all opinions and photos featured in this article are our own. Also, read Jennifer's take on Roka Akor on GrowingUpTexas.com.
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