Teppay Japanese Restaurant

They close at 2pm after lunch. I didn’t know that. But the waitress made sure to let me know. It’s ok. Complementary salad. Small and tasty. Miso soup is delicious. Small menu and not a lot of choices. But good fresh sushi.

One of the better sushi restaurants in Houston. Went for lunch with a client. Service was fast and fish was really fresh. Will be back when I’m in that part of town.

I went with my Japanese father in law to this restaurant and was immediately impressed by the cozy and nice ambiance. We sat at the sushi bar and ordered some sashimi. Immediately I knew this place was amazing. The fish was so fresh. My wife and I were befuddled with how much better their fish tasted than anything we had ever eaten before. The green tea was also very good. The sushi chef/​owner gave us all a free roll at the end of the meal and was super friendly.
Simply the best sushi we have ever had. Go check this place out!

Teppay is one of my go to restaurants for sushi fix. Cooked food are great. I had the chirashi and my wife had the beef udon soup. Fish is very fresh. Broth was tasty on the udon. We went there late so no wait. I would have given 5 stars but there was some confusion and we got the chirashi first before our edemame. Waited a bit for my wife’s noodle… And they forgot our spider roll which came last. Otherwise, service was great. Friendly staff. All Japanese which is a plus when I’m going for Japanese food.

Stick to the sushi. Very disappointed in the Skewers, meat tough and came long after other courses.
Service –1, they barely acknowledged you.

Teppay is one of the few authentic Japanese restaurants in Houston and does stand out because of it. I really like their Chirashi because of the great thick cuts of fresh fish and great sushi rice they give. They get pretty busy for dinners so its best to make a reservation beforehand.

Service is terrible! We ordered chef’s special sashimi combo and the serve just told us the price was around $ 40!
But when we got the bill the price was 50%more than the price she told us~the price was $ 63! It’s not make sense lol~
And when she bring the combo to the table, she didn’t even tell us what kind of fish in the combo lol~
The most thing that she said tonight was I don’t know!
I like the Ramen most~

It’s been a while since I stop going to Teppay. I’m glad that I’ve found better.
Tonkotsu Raman we found Ramen Jin that specialized in it and have much richer broth and egg cooked to perfection, & much more friendly owner. It’s also way better than the one in Chinatown. So –1 for Teppay.
The sushi in Teppay is also fresh and the service and wait time are always bad. It is when you cannot afford 2 hours minimum for dinner that it slowly fall out of fashion. –1 here again
This place is run by Japanese and very authentic atmosphere. They somehow are not very welcoming to family with baby. –2 here!
It’s unfortunate for this joint to be irrelevant for us. Hope you have better experience to share.

Excellent sushi — made just right with fresh fish and rice just a little warm. The service was excellent, very friendly. I also had the ramen, asked to make without pork and they obliged. Green tea ice cream also good.
One negative was the green tea — tasted like it hadn’t been mixed properly. But everything else was great and I will be back for sure.

Teppay is operated by Japanese owner and sushi chefs, and the atmosphere is an intimate mom-​and-​pop sushi shop. Most of the waitresses are also Japanese who are courteous but could be short at times. The raw seafood here is always very fresh and well-​prepared, but the cooked selection is just okay. Weekend nights are typically pretty busy at the restaurant, especially if you have a large party. The service can also be slow on busy nights, and they are not open on Sundays. So, plan ahead! They have ebi (sweet shrimp) and uni (sea urchin) when they are in season. They also deep fry the heads of the shrimp for you when you order ebi nigiri, so be sure to ask them for those if you are interested. Overall an authentic Japanese restaurant when you are not in a rush or suffering from major hanger (yes, hunger + anger) pangs. Many customers are regulars from the Tanglewood and nearby neighborhoods, and it is always fun to sit at the sushi bar to watch the chefs prepare your food.

Teppay is, hands down, my favorite Japanese restaurant in the states.
I spent 7 years getting my professional training in Houston and also enjoyed finding the best places to dine.
There are many different types of ramen and broth. Everyone naturally will not like the same kind. I happen to prefer the tonkotsu here, as it is almost identical to what I had in an Akihabara restaurant several times during my stay in Tokyo.
Hoping to discover some defining feature of their broth so I could find it elsewhere (now that I live 3 hours from Houston), I once asked our waitress how the broth was made. She said it is made over 3 DAYS! I’ve seen other places advertise how many HOURS it takes them to make their broth. Who knows what other culinary feats occur here that I will never discover. .. an exceptional experience every time!
On top of that, the entire place is authentic. The décor – even the closeness of quarters – is right out of Tokyo. Even what we Americans consider inattentive and slightly brusque service is in line with how it is in Japan.
Planning a trip to Japan?. .. Come here a few times to get your training wheels.

Been here a few times and the food has always been great. While the ramen is good, it is not usually the highlight of my meal — it is the sushi /​sashimi that makes this place. It is always so fresh and they have otoro, which is the best part of the tuna. Be prepared to pay a higher price though, but it is worth it.
Service is usually excellent. If you are sitting at the sushi bar, you’ll get to watch the chefs prepare your meal. There is an older Japanese lady waitstaff who is genuinely interested in making your experience a positive one.

more I eat out in Houston, the more surprised I am that some restaurants here are more expensive if nit the same as NY… I got the sashimi special here; 11 pieces of fish (salmon, tuna, sea bass, yellow tail) all very good but I can find a better deal in Brooklyn! I like that it’s a small space; I like that the staff all speak Japanese and speak Japanese to me though they prolly assume I don’t understand it… there’s something that makes a Japanese restaurant legit bc there’s the elderly Japanese woman running the show.

I came here for lunch time since my boyfriend usually frequents this place during work lunch. He warned me that the service is below a typical Japanese restaurant.
When we went in, I noticed it was mostly Asian people, which is usually a good sign. We sat by the door but they blast the AC here so I was freezing half the time.
I ordered the bento box with chicken, I thought it’d be grilled but it’s an Asian fried chicken (not really breaded) that was fried too long since it was very tough. They also give you tempura, potato salad, rice, a couple of other things I’m not sure what it was. I also comes with miso soup as well.
The service is okay, not the worse. They don’t really attend to you and they don’t clear the table of empty dishes (note that this actually helps them more than us by reducing the amount of work they have to do later!!!)
Overall, I’m not really wowed, the bento box was quite expensive (~$ 14). I’d like to come back for sushi and update my review since that’s what my boyfriend says it’s good for.
Pros:
— Quiet setting
Cons:
— Service
— Too cold, need to turn down the AC

This review is only for the Omakase!!!
This place reminds you of an authentic Japanese restaurant!!!
Although the restaurant may be small, it’s more intimate. The interior has bamboo style looking walls, almost as if you were in a Japanese house or tea room. It’s beautiful.
How do you know when you’re at an authentic Japanese restaurant? All the sushi chefs are Japanese, and majority of the people dining are. As well as some of the staff. Maybe it was just that one time I went, and I guess I get easily impressed.
My friend and I always sit at the sushi bar when it comes to Omakase style! This place was actually my first time doing Omakase and there’s no turning back! For those that don’t know, Omakase is basically the chefs choice. You’re entrusting the chef that they’ll make fantastic choices of nigiri and which ones will complement each other. You’re trusting the chef to pick his best out of all of the common nigiris and that you’ll take every bite WITHOUT soy sauce. Basically, you’re not getting your usual. Lol
Price varies on the amount. This places does the style where you can tell them how much you want and they’ll base it off of that. There is no limit, however, they do have a limit of their fresh fish so they kind of run out of ideas to give. My friend and I got 14 pieces and they plated everything on a board. It was beautiful. Every bite was heaven. Like I said, Omakase is very pricy but so worth the money. The quality of the fish is fantastic. Plus, it’s a way to try new things, rather than sticking to your usual Cali rolls. Lol
Definitely love this place. If I was seriously rich, I’d do Omakase every week.

This restaurant is cozy, homey and it makes you feel like you’re in Japan! If you have the time then rsvp because the restaurant is pretty small and it does get crowded at peek hours. It’s a mom and pop kinda shop so expect the service to be slow but the staffs are nice. You know the place is authentic because majority of customers are Japanese :)
Ramen (⁴⁄₅) — I loved the noodles texture and the both was light and flavorful. It was not as oily as others I have tasted. The pork was cooked different than other places but it was a good thing… less fatten:)
Chopped scallops and uni sushi (⁴⁄₅) — fresh and delicious.
Rock n roll (⁴⁄₅)
Clams (3) — it was decent, nothing special.
Sakura mochi (3.5÷5) — It was soft, warm and inside was red bean. I gave it all rating because I’m so use to the ice cream kind.
Over all, I really enjoyed this place and can’t wait to try the other items!

Teppay Sushi is one of the better sushi establishments in Houston. I usually come to this location for lunch time on the weekdays, and I am usually pretty happy with the food quality. They have a good lunch menu which consists of a variety of meals from Tonkotsu Ramen, Katsudon, or Sushi/​Sashimi. I would say, you are safe to order anything here, but avoid the Bento Box. I would give this place a 5-​Star rating if their service was better, but don’t expect much. I have never been here for dinner, but I will update this review once I check it out.
Pros:
–Value
–Private parking lot, plenty of spaces to park
Cons:
–Service is lacking, which is unusual for a Japanese restaurant (waiters/​waitresses must be friendlier, they need to clear finished dishes off the table, etc.)

Don’t let the Skechers Outlet location fool you, because this is where you would find one of Houston’s most authentic sushi places!
I was honestly dubious as I was pulling into the parking lot, but all doubts were gone when I saw the decked-​out storefront that reminded me of a traditional sushi restaurant you would see in movies. The interior was even more hardcore in terms of vibes of authenticity. I had a feeling that I made the right choice by coming here.
However, I was a little surprised by the pricing even though I was already expecting to pay with my soul. Even Teppay’s lunch menu is slightly above average without any significant discount; for example, the sushi special (8 pc nigiri and 3 pc tuna rolls) is $ 25 and each 2-​pc nigiri order is already $ 6 or 7 on average. Be prepared to spend a little more than you usually do at normal sushi places!
Was the food worth the slightly higher pricing? Certainly!
The tonkotsu ramen ($ 12), the mega-​classic Japanese ramen, was absolutely solid! It was not at the Ippudo level, but it was still one of Houston’s most solid ramen and perhaps the most authentic choice in town. The ramen broth has a perfect amount of saltiness and creaminess that serve as a great testament to its quality that could be achieved only through a tedious slow-​cooking of pork bones. The thick-​cut char siu and fish cake were the main highlights that complemented well with the nice firm ramen noodle and the terrific tonkotsu broth. However, Teppay’s broth is slightly lighter, which can be a good thing for those who are afraid of the richness and a bad thing for those who want a more flavorful experience.
The sushi was delicious as well. My order of sake ($ 5.50) and saba ($ 4.50) was meticulously prepared by the chef at the bar before it was sent to my table, and the taste of these sushi revealed not only the heart that the chef has in preparing these few pieces but also the restaurant’s high standard for fresh fish. Although the sushi were more expensive than I have anticipated, I was very happy with the quality.
Overall, Teppay is an excellent sushi restaurant that wins major points for authenticity in both its menu and décor. Unfortunately, its slightly higher price is a huge deterrent for me to visit frequently. I highly recommend this sushi restaurant for you and my friends to try at least once to experience Houston’s most authentic Japanese dining.
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tl;dr version:
1) Houston’s most authentic Japanese restaurant
2) One of the most solid Japanese ramen in town
3) Fresh, top-​notch sushi at slightly higher prices

Over the weekend, my friends and I were doing a food crawl around the west side of the Galleria and Sushi was on our mind. After a little Unilocaling, we found this gem!
If you enjoy authentic Japanese fresh sushi, this place is for you. If you like heavy American sauce loaded sushi, this may not.
The restaurant is owned by Japanese peeps so they keep the place very traditional! It’s been here for over 20 years (at least from what the signs said on the door).
Squeezed in between a Sketcher Outlet store and a T-​mobile store, if you were to drive by the plaza you wouldn’t even notice it. That’s until you park next to it and realize that their restaurant entrance is constructed in a Japanese style (must see pictures). The interior continues the traditional Japanese restaurant theme. You can tell the owners really paid attention to the looks of the restaurant. Overall, the restaurant is fairly small and it does get crowded but once you sit down you’ll enjoy your experience. The menu is in Japanese with English translations.
The menu selection is large but again it’s more on the traditional side of rolls that you’ll see. So no american style sushi here (e.g. no special spicy mayo sauce). You are there to taste the fresh fish so there are no distractions!!!
Because this was our third stop that night, we had a small order. We had their fatty tuna roll, avocado roll, and their traditional fried chicken (can’t remember the name for the life of me — and not the tonkatsu).
The sushi tasted fresh and simply melts in your mouth!!! It was a great way to close our food crawl. Things that we will try in the future is their sushi combo (essentially a selection of their nigiri) which looked so fresh when other patrons ordered it. Their ramen also looked super delicious!
In the end I would definitely go back and have a nice dinner in the near future :)
Overall Restaurant — 4 stars
Food — 5 stars
Selection — 4 stars
Location — 3.5 stars
Wait staff — 4 stars
Feel and look — 4 stars
Price — 4 stars

My husband and I came at 7:30pm on a Friday night and waited for about 30 minutes. I had no idea it was that busy. I heard alot about their ramen and their fresh sushi so that’s exactly what we got.
Food:
Tonkatsu Ramen — it was mediocre compared to NYC, but compared to other places in Houston it’s above average. I did have to add quite a bit of the japanese seasoning and white pepper to enhance the flavor. The char siu didn’t have the grill flavor. The broth was one of the highlights — you can tell it was cooked for hours and hours because of the richness. ³⁄₅ stars
Chirashi bowl — great variety of sushi over a bed of seasoned rice. It was extremely filling. It had great presentation. The sushi chef personally brings the finished bowl to you (no other places has the sushi chef walk your chirashi bowl to your table and greet you in Japanese). The sushi was fresh. I highly recommend this if you like raw seafood. ⁴⁄₅ stars
Chicken Karage — subpar, it consisted of 4 small pieces of fried chicken. It wasn’t crispy or anything and there was no sauce to accompany it. ¹⁄₅
Spicy scallop roll — it was delicious! it ranks as one of my favorite places for the spicy scallop roll (#1 is at Sushi Miyagi) ⁴⁄₅
Service: The chef’s service impressed us. The waitresses were nice. It was busy so they couldn’t pay as much attention to us that we liked. They did respond whenever we waved to them.
Price: Tonkatsu ramen ~$ 12 Chirashi $ 28 Chicken karage ~$ 5 $spicy scallop ~$ 7