BY MIKE PUCKETT

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The Ginza Japanese Restaurant is located on San Felipe between Fountain View and Augusta. Ginza Houston has been proudly serving traditional Japanese food and sushi in the Galleria area since 1975. The proof is in the pudding as they say. I have been enjoying this Houston landmark for years.

The Ginza restaurant was one of the very first Japanese restaurants opened in Houston before sushi became such a trend.  The variety of quality sushi, sashimi, rolls and traditional Japanese food along with a few crowd-pleasing modern sushi rolls are what they are known best for.

The Ginza Japanese Restaurant has a classic Asian décor and several private rooms if you have a group and they can host parties of up to 20 guests. Their private Tatami rooms are a great way to celebrate any special event and they provide kimonos, traditional Japan-style robes, for guests dining in their Tatami rooms.

The menu at the Ginza Japanese Restaurant has so many options to choose from. On our visit we enjoyed a little bit of everything. Don’t get jealous, it’s just the way we roll, pun intended. Ha! I recommend you try a little bit of everything as well. It makes the experience that much better.

We decided to try the Spicy Edamame, Baked Mussels, Spicy Shrimp Shumari, Shrimp Tempura Platter, Katsu Don, Fiesta Roll, Jose, Doreen Roll, Sashimi / Sushi Combo Plate and Amaeba Sushi. Everything was as fresh as it gets. I recommend you decide on the flavors you like best and order that, but my two favorites were the Fiesta Roll and the Jose Roll. You will love them both… I promise.

The Fiesta Roll is built to perfection with shrimp tempura inside and topped with spicy tuna, jalapeno, avocado, mayo and crunchy crumbles. I absolutely love shrimp tempura, so that is how it all starts out. The spicy tuna and jalapeno avocado really put it over the top. If you like spice, then you will love this roll. But, understand it’s not too spicy… just the right amount of heat to make your taste buds tingle. I like that!

My next favorite was the Jose Roll which includes fried crawfish, spicy mayo, masago inside topped with salmon, crunchy crumbles and sereno peppers. Another spicy roll, but again, not too spicy. Everything on this roll is so fresh. You won’t find the fishiness you might find at some sushi restaurants. I must say that the Ginza Japanese Restaurant has this roll down to an art. I guess that is what you get when you have been creating rolls since 1975. Practice makes perfect as they say… and that is exactly what they have perfected here at this wonderful restaurant. You just can’t go wrong.

It has been years since I experienced the Ginza Japanese Restaurant, and nothing has changed. The sushi chefs here are all about the details. You can taste it in every bite. No matter what you are looking for, Ginza has you covered. I recommend you jump in your car and head on over. You will be glad you did.  

Enjoy!Good Eats Houston Recommends…

Spicy Edamame

Baked Mussels

Spicy Shrimp Shumari

Shrimp Tempura Platter

Katsu Don

Fiesta Roll

shrimp tempura inside topped with spicy tuna, jalapeno, avocado, mayo, crunchy

Jose Roll

fried crawfish, spicy mayo, masago inside topped with salmon, masago, crunchy and sereno peppers

Doreen Roll

Sahimi / Sushi Combo Plate

Amaeba Sushi

PHOTOGRAPHY: MIKE PUCKETT