Inakaya Japanese Restaurant: Authentic Sushi and Sashimi Experience in Columbia, SC

Went for lunch. Service was great, restaurant is clean and well decorated. Staff is very friendly. Sushi is good, not great but a good value and came out quickly. I got the sushi deluxe and it was plenty of food for me. I would definitely recommend this as a lunch spot or a casual date.

Good food and service. Pleasant staff. Loved the sushi log Wish you stayed open at 2 pm

During a recent trip to Columbia to visit my parents and family, my aunt expressed an interest in getting dinner at Inakaya Japanese Restaurant. Initially, I was reluctant, since I live in Honolulu, where quality Japanese food options are endless. I wasn't convinced that sushi in South Carolina could be a great option, but I was wrong, this places rocks. The service was very pleasant and attentive. Our server, who may have been an owner, demonstrated professionalism and hospitality that I rarely experience regardless of where I dine out. Although a small joint, the atmosphere was authentic and welcoming for both the date night crowd and families as well. The portions were much larger and cheaper than I've grown used to living in Hawaii, which is a HUGE benefit. My kids think that everything in the entire state of South Carolina is "on sale" and I totally understand the sentiment. I would venture here again without reservation. Get your sushi on ... enjoy!

Great service and great food! The head sushi chefs should be tenors - they welcome patrons with a huge, deep bellowing welcome! Awesome experience - will be here weekly as I am from out of town, but working here for the foreseeable future. So this will be my stop for great sushi!

Inakaya is outstanding. My family is friends with the staff. Since we are Asian, I've tried everything they serve there. The food is both quick and delicious. We always order a boat filled with a variety of dishes, and it tastes amazing.

Service was friendly and the ambiance is very authentic. Love the eel rice here, great texture of the fish and nice sauce. Wish that the appetizer and the main dish have a bigger portion for the price we paying, overall it's a great restaurant!

Night out with my gym group. First timer ... well lit on the inside and the decor is very traditional ... started off with an Apple Sake and the others ordered Peach. Both sakes were bomb they said the peach was sweet but to me it was perfect ... For my appetizer I ordered the baked mussels and they were amazing. The cheese and sauce were the perfect combination ..... I also ordered the seafood salad which was plated nicely but was toooooo much lettuce ... the dressing was a great mix ... the Godzilla roll and dragon roll was the sushi of choice ... both were amazing ... overall great night def will be back

The food was all great. We all loved everything we ordered there and we each ordered different things. The servers and the cooks and the sushi makers were all seriously perfect. They were the nicest and best servers ever. They made it a great vibe in there. This a place anyone should go eat at if you're in Columbia.

We chose Inakaya Japanese Restaurant based on its great reviews, and were not disappointed! On a Saturday night, our party of 3 got seated right away. The interior was spacious, with Japanese-inspired decor, including a display case of antiques. There was seating available at the sushi bar, where you can watch your food be prepared, but we opted for a table. For starters, we ordered the Shrimp Shumai, Baked Mussels, and Oily Tuna Sashimi to share. I'd never seen Toro/Fatty Tuna be called "Oily Tuna" before, but it was delicious. It tasted fresh and high quality. The Shrimp Shumai were very standard, and expectedly tasty. We really liked the Baked Mussels, as well, which were prepared with spicy mayo and masago. For my entree, I got the Pink Panther Roll, which was very good. I ended up picking off the jalapeños on top, because the jalapeño mayo was spicy enough. Other than that, the flavor combination was great. My friends also enjoyed their Fiesta Roll and Takoyaki Roll. Service was quick and incredibly friendly! Our server was so sweet, proactively poured refills of my Iced Tea, and gave us helpful recommendations. She advised that their Mochi Ice Cream wasn't the best, and recommended the Fried Cheesecake instead. She also requested that the Fried Cheesecake be cut into 3 pieces, although it usually comes as two. Pricing was also super reasonable - would return!

Inakaya is one of my go to spots for great sushi. I've experienced great service via takeout and dine in. The prices are very reasonable and the ingredients are fresh. The sushi rolls are made to order so be prepared to wait. However, the rolls are worth it. The customer service is always consistent. We were greeted upon arrival, ordered was verified for accuracy and we were thanked. I recommend this restaurant