Decided to take my boyfriend here for his birthday dinner, and it was both of our first times here and we will definitely be back again! The inside is small and intimate, and the decor is so cute. It was happy hour when we went around 6:30pm which was nice. The gyoza and takoyaki were tasty, the sushi was fresh, and the ramen was amazing! The Mi-So Hot Ramen's broth was both creamy and spicy which I loved, and you could tell the noodles were made fresh too. The service was great, and our waiter was attentive too.

WHEN I TELL YOUUUUUUUUUUUU.... THIS IS THEEEE SPOT!!! I mean... I dream about this place when I'm not here First and for most, the space.... A VIBE... Secondly the food... FRESH, FLAVORFUL, & DELISH! I mean truthfully, THE BEST Asian food in Tampa in my personal opinion. Service is great and fast paced. I mean this place takes you on a journey from when you enter to when the food touches the taste buds. I love you Izakaya Tori

hands down this is the #1 sushi bar in tampa, fl! i lived in tampa for 2 years 2012 2014. this place has been around here for about 2 years according to the staff. i'm back in tampa to visit friends, for work, and on the job hunt. izakaya tori is hands down the best sushi restaurant in tampa, fl! thanks to: sushi master andy, joel, moss, vyvy & ms. alice! thanks to all the rest of the staff as well for being a part of the best sushi on florida's southwest coast! don't delay you gotta sushi here! don't forget the skewers!

Came here for lunch on a Friday at 11:30am opening, and the parking lot was full, take note! The restaurant was full at noon, and I had to wonder where everyone parked. You should be good if you have a handicapped placard though. Ambience was very nice, nice new decor. Lots of menu choices including a 2 sided Lunch Specials menu, which I ordered a Pork Belly Donbury, $14.99, as most were. It comes with your choice of Miso soup or a ginger carrot salad, and that's what I had, a generous and tasty portion. Tee pork belly was nicely cooked and seasoned, not too fatty, with a thick sauce over sushi rice green veggie. I really enjoyed it, and a nice size portion, almost finishing it. Lunch buddy had Yellow Curried Chicken, and she enjoyed it. I would definitely come back again.

Finally visited Izakaya Tori. It wasn't super busy at 5pm. Sat at the sushi bar and enjoyed every minute. The sushi was fresh and really good. Not the absolute best sushi I've ever had, but it was definitely good. I had the Izakaya Roll, Spider Roll, Dancing Crab Roll, Yellowtail Jalapeno Roll, and the Yummy Roll. I liked the ambiance but the place is really small. I'd go back again, but I do think there are better places in the area for sushi. Just a note - they have sake and beer, not a full bar.

Our first visit to Izakaya Tori on a busy Friday night wasn't ideal - the wait stretched over an hour. But with rave reviews calling it one of the best sushi spots in town, we knew we had to give it another shot. Our first waitress' recommendations, the Lotus Root Chips Guacamole and Garlic Butter Wild Mushrooms, were tasty but not particularly exciting. This time, with friends in tow, our Izakaya Tori experience did a complete 180. Seated promptly, our server was incredibly friendly and even extended the happy hour specials for us despite arriving just after closing time. We dove into a delicious selection of dishes, starting with the gyudon, a comforting bowl of savory beef simmered in a rich broth over fluffy rice. The tofu fried rice was a revelation - perfectly seasoned and packed with fluffy vegetables. The star of the show, however, was the sushi. The dancing crab roll offered a delightful explosion of textures and flavors - the crisp tempura shrimp paired beautifully with the creamy avocado and the subtle sweetness of the crab. The fantasy roll, a chef's creation, surprised us with its innovative combination of ingredients, each bite a burst of unexpected yet harmonious tastes. The daily special roll, however, wasn't quite as impressive. While the ingredients were fresh, it tasted more like a standard $8 roll and didn't quite justify the upcharge. Izakaya Tori's ambiance is fantastic. The décor is stylish and inviting, and I'm curious to try the floor seating area that evokes a traditional Japanese home experience. Our only minor snag was being tucked into a corner, which made getting the check and drink refills a bit slower than ideal. Despite that, the delicious food, friendly service, and wonderful atmosphere at Izakaya Tori have definitely won us over, and we'll be back for sure! We'll just stick to the amazing happy hour specials and the creative sushi rolls next time.

7/12/24 Update - Visited twice in two days, got all of the following items and they were all great: - Chicken Karaage - Agedashi Tofu - NY Strip - Eel - Chicken Thigh - Pork Belly - Kimchi Cream Udon Surprisingly, the restaurant was even more packed and lively on Thursday night than on Friday night. Shout out to Sam and Cat and amazing service! Will be coming back again for sure.

Pros: This is one of the few restaurants in Tampa where you feel like you're not just in a strip mall. It's intimate yet not cramped. It feels like a real izakaya from what I've seen/read about Japan The tapas or small plates are very good. I chose this place because of the hubbub about these. Normally I just get maki rolls but I was intrigued. I ordered the Shishito Pepper which was grilled and quite hot but yummy 5/5 The eel skewer was so buttery smooth and the sweet teriyaki esque sauce complemented it well. It was my favorite item that I ordered. 5/5. The Passonfruit Salmon roll had a nice texture and sweet kick 4/5. The spicy tuna was good if not a bit small 4/5. The service was prompt and courteous. Cons. Closed Sundays and there is very limited parking It is very popular and the maximum seating is around 25-30. Most parties were large groups.. I got here at Friday at 12:10 and when I left at 1:10 it was packed. Get there early for whatever meal you want to eat. Overall: A different type of Japanese restaurant. I would definitely order a mix of small dishes and maybe 1-2 rolls and share it amongst a group. Everyone should try go here at least once