Wabi Sabi Express

Obviously this place is favored for its convenience, location, and reasonable prices, but don’t expect authenticity or high quality food. I’ve tried a few different items here (phở and sushi bowls and sushi) and none of them were impressive. They just fill you up and that’s about it

I can’t speak to their hours but I went for lunch around noon and the shop had a long line and packed seats. It looked to be popular with Mayo Clinic faculty/​staff so I decided to give it a try.
I really enjoyed my beef phở. I put in a good amount of sriracha but could still taste the spices in the broth. It tasted like a standard phở dish. I could have done with more cilantro and some lime but it is just a counter after all. Serving size was what I expected for $ 8.
The free cucumber infused ice water is nice as well.
The most difficult part of the experience was trying to find a seat. The food court really fills up over the lunch hour.

Oh Wabi Sabi, how I wanted to like you. However, the first time I went there, your sales clerk informed me that you were closed. When I asked what time you closed, you said 2pm. Sadly, it was 1:15 and when I told the clerk that he just reiterated that they closed at 2 and they couldn’t serve me, sad. Next time I went, I came in at lunch time and order some PHO to go. Up until now, I didn’t know you could mess up that dish, but you did. If you’re going to continue as a restaurant, I’d recommend that your clerks learning to read a clock and stop selling PHO. Maybe I’ll try your other stuff in the future and see if all your menu is the same.

Went for the first time yesterday and to be honest, was not impressed. Went specifically for the ramen as they are the only ramen joint in town that I know of. I ordered the Shio Ramen which had crab and fish balls. The broth did not taste like ramen at all (tasted more like phở broth) and the noodles were exactly like other Unilocalers described, the 20 cent kind you can buy at any Walmart. I also ordered the calamari salad which was decent.
I will end up going back again but not to try the ramen, but to try their sushi bowls. Maybe I’ll have more luck with those!

Great quick sushi lunch and extremely personable owner! He takes pride in his work! The seaweed salad and nigiri is well made, next time I’ll have to try the phone!

Delish!!! Perfect for lunch time in the busy downtown skyway!

My boyfriend and I eat here for lunch all the time. It is conveniently located, and the sushi is typically decent. However, yesterday, he ate a spicy crab roll that made him incredibly sick. It is obvious that the fish was old or poorly handled, as he became ill almost immediately after lunch. I would think twice… and then decide no… before eating here again.

No, no, NO! Perhaps I ordered the wrong type of ramen, but the Tonkotsu Ramen I had did not have the culinary skills or the passion that was described by another Unilocaler.
The broth is the most defining aspect of any noodle bowl! Broth is made with care by simmering on the stove for hours and then having the correct accompanying ingredients added to enhance the delicate flavors. I watched in utter horror as the cook added an unidentified grey powder to a measuring cup of hot water that was eventually poured over my poor innocent noodles. At this point I knew I could have saved myself the $ 8 and brought a 75 cent bag of instant ramen to work instead.
Not surprisingly, the broth lacked any flavor at all and what was even more disappointing was that the shitake mushrooms were only partially reconstituted from their dried state and inedible. Blech!

Right above Mac’s. Great stuff and fast. I’m from Austin TX and hard a hard time finding it. The people are cool and helpful. Good Food!!!

Moved back to Rochester after 5 years and was looking to see if any of the Japanese-​Hibachi restaurants had Ramen. Not the Maruchan-​75-​cent-​instant one– The ACTUAL Japanese Ramen with fresh vegetables, broth, and less salt/​sodium.
I had pretty high standards when it came to Ramen. Being in the East Coast/​Big cities a lot the past 5 years, I was introduced and love ramen! So I searched (Google) for a restaurant that serves it and this restaurant came up. I tried one of their ramen bowls (Started with an «N») and sure enough, it was very delightful! It’s got Bok Choy, Green Onions, Fish Balls, etc– all fresh and it was flavorful. I also had a conversation with the owner and he was telling me all about his years developing and mastering his Ramen recipes. You can tell he really puts his passion to his culinary skills.
I highly recommend this place if you’re into Ramen (Japanese Noodle Soup– similar to Vietnamese Phở). If you haven’t had real Ramen, this place will definitely get you hooked!

Never again. I wasn’t expecting high quality sushi from this place — that’s asking a bit much for a place that only has to-​go service, but good god, they have the worst sushi I’ve ever eaten.
First off, they charge ten dollars for nine pieces of sushi.
Secondly, they managed to mess up all component parts of said sushi. The rice was soaked with vinegar, and the fish was incredibly mushy and tasted very off. I wouldn’t be surprised if the fish was a week old, honestly.
If you’re looking for a sushi lunch in downtown Rochester, look someplace else.

The ramen was very filling but lacked some flavor. Needs a splash of fish sauce or something, lol. I added some soy sauce which made it taste good. The sriracha was extra spicy which I like. The pork and egg were really good. The sushi was good but they didn’t have sushi rice, just brown rice which is a weird texture. I liked the filling of the Philly roll and the outside of the scorpion roll. I’d probably go back to try the other ramen they have just cause I love noodles and they’re the only ramen place in town!

I love this little hidden gem of a lunch location in the First Avenue Food Court. If you haven’t been, GO! The food court is located between Salad Brothers and the sky way, across from the entrance to Newt’s. The prices are great, the sushi is good, and the service is friendly. On Monday’s miso soup is only $ 1 (and is a very generous portion), and they have a variety of sushi rolls, bowls, etc. I’ve only been there twice, but I recommend the spicy tuna roll. Very tasty! But with such a diverse menu, you could eat here every afternoon and rarely have the same thing twice.