Kuma Ani

This place is so refreshing after Sushi X, where you’re eating in the dark and guessing at what is what, and whether you actually got everything you ordered. Kuma Ani is clean, well-​lit, with friendly and fast service (there have been a few times we’ve had to wait, and in those cases, the place was packed). The food is fresh, the staff tells you what each roll is, and the price for AYCE is quite reasonable. My only wish is that they had a bar area, where you could get fountain beverages (soda/​tea is bottles or cans) or a liquor license, as this is a favorite place for my birthday.

For some reason, I just don’t see myself going back to this place for sushi again. Coming from somebody with a family who owns a branch of sushi restaurants in the NYC area (Brooklyn and Staten Island), I would like to think I hold some sort of expertise for Japanese cuisine. I’ve frequented this place twice, and initially, I thought the sushi was fresh, and the rolls were made well together. However, the second time coming here just wasn’t that great. Fish wasn’t that fresh and my boyfriend and I found it hard to finish most rolls we ordered. We do enjoy the appetizers they have to offer and think all of them are delicious. Also, this place beats the AYCE at Sushi X in Latham by a mile.

I have been coming here since they opened, and they continue to deliver the freshest and most delicious sushi in the Albany area. Today, I stopped in for the three roll lunch special – it was amazing! Three large rolls for under $ 12. I often eat-​in as well and am consistently impressed with the ambiance and service. This place is, hands down, my favorite local restaurant. Keep it up!

What a genuine surprise in Albany, especially for a place that advertises «All-​you-​can-​eat Sushi.» I have a stigma against anything that is all-​you-​can-​eat. Midwest childhood memories of endless steam tables of unmentionables comes to mind. With sushi, I couldn’t even imagine what they were serving. I am very happy I decided to go in.
Kuma Ani was recommended to me, but I have to admit when I saw «all-​you-​can-​eat» advertised in the window, I had second thoughts and I almost walked to Saki Bar.
They offer a regular menu and an all-​you-​can-​eat a la carte menu on a sheet of paper with a pencil, so you can check off what you like. The menu is abundant with all the expected offerings, including octopus, squid, and rolls galore (maki, hand-​rolls, and specialty rolls). All of these are included in the price of $ 20.99.
There is polite mention on the menu to order as much as you want, but to eat all that you order. Fair enough. I ordered edamame, seaweed salad, 10 pieces of sushi, and two spicy tuna hand rolls. The sushi was very well prepared and the size of the sushi is smaller than other sushi restaurants in Albany. However, the size of the sushi is much closer in proportion to finer NYC sushi restaurants.
The sushi rice was prepared just right, with medium grain rice and the right amount of seasoning. Since the sushi was «the right size» to enjoy and not overeat, I finished off what I ordered and tried the Crazy Tuna roll. Eight mouth size pieces of fresh fish, avocado, and spicy tuna on top. I ended the meal with miso soup.
The décor is clean and open, pine wood, and nice size booths. There were a few couples on dates, and two larger parties with kids that seemed to be enjoying themselves. The staff was very friendly, and they even charged my iPhone while I was eating.
They don’t offer adult beverages and I don’t drink, so they get 5 stars from me for quality, «the right portions,» clean bathrooms, $ 20.99 and they charged my phone. Very nice for the price!

The best sushi I have had in the capital region. Granted, my expectations were not high for an AYCE sushi restaurant in upstate NY (they’ve been tempered by the likes of Sushi X), but this place is really close to our apartment so we decided to give it a shot. I was blown away.
They unfortunately don’t have sashimi (my favorite) on the AYCE menu, but that’s understandable, especially for $ 21. However, the nigiri was outstanding, with a generous meat-​to-​rice ratio. The fish was fresh, flavorful, and skillfully presented. We have tried the sashimi at virtually every sushi restaurant from Albany to Saratoga, and I think this was the highest-​quality fish I’ve had since moving here.
We also got a few basic maki rolls, which were equally delicious, with large pieces of meat inside. The 2 specialty rolls we tried were good, but nothing to write home about — next time I’ll stick to the nigiri and basic rolls. The quality of meat is the thing that really shines about this place, so no need to mask it with a bunch of sauce and other stuff. The gyoza was not great, but Tanpopo has raised the gyoza bar so high that my opinion might be skewed. The seared tuna appetizer was delicious.
The food was slow to come out, so don’t come if you’re in a hurry, but our server was friendly and helpful.
All in all, a surprisingly excellent meal. We will definitely be back!

This was our first visit and we had a lovely time.
We entered through the back entrance where the off street parking is located and when we walked up front we were immediately greeted and offered a table.
Our party of four had one child and three adults. We did a mix of ordering off the all you can eat menu and items off the standard menu.
I personally do not eat fish however everyone else did and said how much they enjoyed their selections. I ordered the chicken katsu app, peanut avocado maki, and cucumber avocado maki. I felt like they had a nice offering for vegetarians and those who do not like fish. I really enjoyed both my rolls.
The only other sushi place I am a real fan of in the area is Mr. sushi in Guilderland and now I am so happy to have found a place closer to home which is beautiful, has great service and reasonably priced sushi selections for both me and my fish eating friends.
I’d like to mention one more time how pretty this place is and how kind everyone was. We really had a great visit and look forward to going back. The fact it didn’t break the bank is just a bonus!

Mmm it’s definitely a closer spot than Sushi X. The menu didn’t offer the same items from Sushi X. However, their bento boxes are an awesome deal! It comes with soup & salad!

My favorite sushi spot in town. Best deal in town. The quality of the nigiri is very good.
I come here a lot so here’s to trick to get your food as fast as possible.
–order nigiri and appetizers first on one sheet
–order no more than 2 – 3 rolls at a time on a second sheet.
They like to give you the food all at once so if you order smaller portions they’ll come out faster

I am on the edge for giving 3 or 3.5 stars. If you want to stuff your face with nigiri sushi, maki, some fried or steamed Japanese goodies, and salads, this is the place to go and it won’t break the bank. Situated on the New Scotland strip of restaurants, you can treat yourself to this all-​you-​can-​eat (AYCE) lunch for 14.99 or dinner for 20.99.
The atmosphere is simple and clean, with nice wood tables and seats. There are booths and regular table seating while a few of the booths are actually quite large and in a «U-​shaped» form which allows more seating. I believe they close for about an hour between lunch and dinner for food prep so don’t get there for the dinner menu before 430pm!
The lunch menu appears to have very similar items to their dinner menu, but in each case, seems to have less options than it’s AYCE competitor… but also at a slightly lower price point. The dinner AYCE menu does not include drinks (no tea), desserts (ice cream or tempura banana), or sashimi (which is my favorite). The nigiri sushi and maki are appropriately made with proper fish to rice ratio. You’ll be able to get as many paper menus to fill out what you would like to order but if you leave food left uneaten they say they will charge for it a la carte. I preferred the steamed appetizers over the fried ones (shumai and gyoza) but really enjoyed the takoyaki and chicken katsu. There are a few items that stand out more than the others, but overall I do think they are just on par with other Japanese restaurants in the area. The portions are small but it is all good… just order more if you want to.
Just keep in mind, this isn’t the place to go if you are looking for top quality fish and authentic Japanese cuisine, but it is a great place for fulfilling quick sushi and snack dreams… but do consider that I have pretty high standards for Japanese food. I’ll be enjoying this buffet every now and then but I won’t be frequently indulging in such gluttony.

Very clean, great sushi, and awesome price!!! My friends and coworker recommended and I love it!!! I visited for lunch and dinner and both time I had a great time! Dinner time was clouded so I recommend to make a reservation and take your time. (Don’t expect quick service)

Sushi was on point today. We decided to get sushi after a morning ice skating in Albany. Came here based on Unilocal recommendations we saw another sushi place two doors down but decided to come here, glad we came in. Came for lunch around 1:30 PM on a Thursday, the sushi (nigiri) was amazing. Service was a tad bit slow and I felt that it was too crowded either. A larger party came in during lunch for a birthday but our waitress was attentive. There was a bit more rice on the rolls I ordered than I would have liked. For appetizers their Gyoza was delicious and I had a seaweed salad. My husbands house salad was covered in way too much dressing it was poured in excess. My Alaska roll was pretty much cucumber so that was a bummer. Shrimp tempura roll was big and filling. I think this business is doing a great job there is parking in the back which is convenient. This place is close to my work so I can see myself coming here for my sushi cravings.

Best sushi around Albany
I come every time in town
For 20 $ all you can eat is a steal
Sushi is fresh as can be unlike how other all u can eat places tend to be

For being an all you can eat sushi restaurant, they are pretty damn good. The best all you can eat in the Albany area (better than Sushi X and Blowfish). Also, they are $ 5 cheaper than the other two places. Compared to the other all you can eat placeS, they seemed more fresh and tastier! Only reason not 5 stars, because I’ve had better sushi but still very good! Lastly, they don’t not have an liquor license for the people who do like to have a drink with dinner.

I remember reading the chapter on a NYC sushi joint by Ruth Reichl in her book «Garlic and Sapphires» to where I couldn’t stay home a second longer. Needed. To eat. Sushi. No time for disguises.
If you want to eat your fill there’s no better deal this side of downstate than Kuma Ani (which, according to Google translator, means «Kuma Ani» in English). You can order all you can eat off a special lunch menu of anything listed (soups, salads, tempura, sushi, hand rolls, etc.) for just $ 14.99. Pass me the pencil — Zena needs a hit.
The miso was good, nothing extraordinary. The California Roll a bit gushy from the avocado (probably a bit too ripe) but very nice. The sushi was excellent — fresh fish, perfectly seasoned rice, lovely presentation, with bites that even fit into smaller mouths in one go (mine is big but small too, if you get me). The vegetable tempura is highly recommended — crispy and hot, with big pieces of fresh veg (broccoli, carrot, zucchini, etc.). Tea is green at $ 1.50 for a bottomless cup.
What impressed me most was how quickly we were served. I can’t tell you how many times I feel like I’ve waited way to freakin’ long for sushi to be served, but they have enough guys behind the counter to keep things moving along. Our server was attentive, kind, and gracious. All you can eat lunch for two with tea, including tax and tip was $ 44.
I’m full. I’m going back to work now for a nap.
Love, Zena Goddess of Fire

This place is very nice! I had their «all you can eat» lunch and wasn’t disappointed. From the outside the place looks small, but when you come inside it is spacious and with a lot of natural light.
The food was delicious, the fish was fresh and tender. And just $ 15! Waitress was polite and helpful. Really, nothing bad to mention!
Deserved 5 stars from me.

Utterly delicious going down, but not so great coming back up about an hour later.
Menu is very creative and I hoped I had found a treasure. Unfortunately I became ill shortly after consuming a rocket roll and two pieces of white tuna nigiri.
As I mentioned above– they tasted great. But I’m not interested in risking a return visit.

This is not an authentic Japanese restaurant! You can tell by eating the rice quality that comes with their sushi or rolls. The rice grain itself is not fat enough and it did not live up to the soft sticky standard of Japanese sushi rice. I felt like this is a regular brand rice being cooked in a rice cooker with mild vinegar and sugar. The chef has a nice presentation with their rolls and the rolls technique was pretty good; however, some of them fell apart by the time I dipped it in the soy sauce.
I can smell the old oil fragrance from the tempura shrimp roll. The fish quality is good but not the best that I’ve had! Cuz of the rice, i would only recommend eating sashimi which is pieces of fish only (no rice). Do not try spicy salmon hand roll ever cuz its mushy salmon mixed with spicy sauce (siracha?) and fried tempura crumbs … at least not for my taste, too oily for me. They also tend to put a lil bit of fried tempura crumbs in their rolls too if you deconstruct it carefully which makes the rolls a bit oily for my taste. Another thing is … do not order the green tea either … bad quality and would be a waste of ur money
Here is what you should order: sashimi (salmon, white tuna), miso soup (kudos cuz its not salty like in many other restaurants), grilled squid, seaweed salad, Chinese like appetizers, cooked food in bento box. Avoid fried stuff if you don’t want to smell the old oil in ur food.
Not a great Japanese Sushi restaurant but maybe a good Chinese high end one? ;)

While I feel the local sushi scene has become majorly over saturated, the quality and vibe of Kuma Ani makes it a welcomed addition to the New Scotland strip. Though I considered only giving it 4-​stars for this reason, both of my experiences with this restaurant have been excellent.
The ambiance and décor is fresh and provides some much needed light to an otherwise dark, sometimes cavernous block of dimly lit restaurants. Kuma Ani offers quite a bit of space inside with rows of tables, booths, and the sushi bar itself for seating. The waitstaff were attentive throughout, very friendly, and gracious.
The sushi is good. I wouldn’t say that it blew me out of the water, but sushi rarely does. What counts is that the fish is fresh, appropriately portioned, and well executed. Kuma Ani scores high in each of those areas.
If you’re in the area and in the mood for sushi, this is the place. Kudos to the Kuma Ani team for creating a comfortable, modern, and approachable space on the New Scotland strip.

Do we really need another sushi restaurant in this area? Not really. Well, this place will feature exotic items not found in other sushi restaurants. Yeah well, other places have tried that. Not enough patrons eat the exotic stuff, it gets thrown out. You have to call ahead now to see if they have it. Who wants to do that when you’re in the mood for sushi. Not I.
The owner, realized this, pivoted and decided to go with the AYCE option. (judging by the makeshift sign that was hanging in the back entrance) Probably the smartest move, as Sushi X in Latham is shit, and my former go-​to place, Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse on central closed. (I have not tried Blowfish, as they offer AYCE) The rolls with the zippity do da sauces are great, and have never questioned the freshness of the nigiri/​sashimi that you can order. I definitely recommend this place for the AYCE option.
Quick tip: If you have a party of 4 or more, but want a sushi boat presentation, instead of individually ordering on separate sheets, just have one person mark down what everyone wants, or pass the sheet down after you’re done. This will let the sushi chef know to use a large plate/​sushi boat.

Despite feeling a bit disloyal to Sake Café (one of our favorite Japanese restaurants in Albany, just a few steps away from Kuma Ani), we decided to give this new all-​you-​can-​eat sushi joint a try anyway… Just to see what the buzz was about…
The menu is similar in format to Sushi X in Latham, another all-​you-​can-​eat restaurant. They also have a regular full menu available for diners. A limited selection of soups, salads, and appetizers, as well as sushi, rolls, hand rolls and specialty rolls are available on the $ 20.99 menu. The offerings were a little more exciting than Sushi X’s menu which is a little heavy on the fried appetizers. Our favorite dishes tonight included the ikayaki (grilled squid), pepper tuna salad, sashimi salad, and lightly pan-​fried gyoza.
The sushi itself was good quality fish and nice portion sizes, but the chef is a little heavy-​handed with the use of sauces. My eel and cucumber hand roll was a little too sweet for my palate, and some of the delicate fish flavor in other rolls were drowned out with various mayonnaise-​based sauces. Overall, though, there was a nice selection of rolls to choose from. The restaurant is very new and clean, and the staff was friendly and attentive. I will happily alternate visits between Kuma Ani and Sake Café in the near future!