SUMO By Nambara

I’ve been here a couple of times — not by choice. First time, we called for reservation, the lady basically yelled at us. She said «we don’t take reservation for lunch». Then we showed up, the hostess asked if we had a reservation. What??? She said to call for reservation next time. LOL
Anyway, the wait was ok — about 15 minutes. Food was ok but very little. We each had a small bowl of rice & a choice of meat — the meat was very little as well. I felt like stopping somewhere for some food after we left there because we were still hungry. It came out to be $ 30+ for each person. That’s too little food for the price.
I don’t recommend this place unless you feel like paying a lot of money for very little food.

The wait was long. The staff was friendly. The food is average and WAY overpriced. You have to pay extra for rice. $ 63 with tip for 2 adults to eat steak/​chicken hibachi with rice. One of us had water the other a soft drink.

Unless you are prepared to wait and spend lots of money for no reason, don’t bother. Lots of other places in Wichita.
I’ve never thought that SUMO was all that… and yesterday confirmed that when we went to celebrate a birthday. I called on Friday and said I had a party of 10, they said they won’t do a reservation unless it is 12 or more… I thought that odd, but got 2 more people to join us. We checked in at 7:30 (all 12 of us), and the hostess said the table only holds 10. I said then what is the point in telling me you will do a reservation if I have 12 people. She just stared at me like I was crazy, then asked if it would be okay if 2 people sat at another table. I said of course not we are all here for a birthday, and repeated what I was told on the phone… She said, well 4 people could eat at another table if those 2 don’t want to eat by themselves. Again, I was dumbfounded by her sheer stupidity and we should have left right then. But said NO, we aren’t doing it that way. Then we waited, and waited, and waited some more… I finally got mad after watching them seat party after party (who arrived after us), and we had waited almost an hour at this point.
We finally got seated at 9 pm, and didn’t even get soup or salad until 9:30… By the time our food was cooked it was about 10:30. The food was marginal (rice was the best part, but how hard is it screw up rice?)… The bartender took pity on our table since he had watched us wait, and had served us drinks during that time, and helped rush drinks, food, silverware, out to us. All in all, it was just another miserable experience at an overpriced Japanese grill. The manager who was on duty was apathetic, the hostess was just too young and inexperienced in customer service, which set the mood for the whole evening.
Our table spent at least $ 750 total in food, drinks and gratuity, and we were treated by the manager like we were totally expendable. Wow. Never will go back and should anyone even mention going to Sumo, I will tell them this story.

My family and I went to Sumo’s last night (Monday night) and despite being decently busy, our group of 8 was seated right away! We each ordered something to be cooked on the grill, including steak, shrimp and tofu, and also had sushi. All the food was absolutely fantastic and cooked perfectly and our chef was funny and great at his job. Our server was also very attentive and our drinks were constantly replenished. In addition to the rice, vegetables and grill item, you are treated to both chicken broth soup and ginger vinaigrette salad prior to your meal and sherbet ice cream afterwards. We had a great experience overall and the amount of food and the price was perfect! Definitely recommend Sumo’s for a party to have a great time and to celebrate :)

This is my favorite sushi restaurant and hibachi grill! When the kids are with us we go hibachi. I get either the tuna steak, barely seared with sesame seeds, or I get the tofu that they put this great sweat sauce on. There’s so much fried rice that we just share with the kids and haven’t had to buy them their own meals yet.
If they’re not with us we relax and just go for sushi because you get seated a lot faster. It’s fantastic! They always have special rolls on the marker board — go for those. For desert we always get a baked alaska — it comes out on fire, it’s sweet and creamy and just writing about it makes me want to go back out.
They do get really busy on weekends so call ahead the day before if you might want to go there. Or just be prepared to wait. The hostesses always seem totally overwhelmed, one time we went there and the hostess just looked stunned at us, said they were TOTALLY booked up and she had no idea how long it’d be, she was practically trying to turn us away but looking around, I’d seen it crazier, and we didn’t mind hanging out at the bar for a bit, so we said put our name down and we’ll see what happens. Well in 45 minutes or so, they called our name! So just go for it, the chefs know how to keep the tables moving!

We came knowing the experience would be kabuki style — but you can’t advertise yourself as a sushi bar when your primary attraction is grill-​side dining. The food was okay, the sushi very gamey, the prices outrageous, the front-​of-​the-​house so slow and out of touch we nearly left before finally being seated. This was an experience we don’t want to have again, especially when there are better SUSHI options in this heartland town.

If you’ve read any of my other reviews, I am on a mission to have sushi in each new city I travel to. So I read the reviews before going to dinner.
Walked up, it was busy. Walked in and asked for the sushi bar, was seated right away. Server was rather prompt in greeting me, and took my wine order. Brought the glass to me and offered it on the house. Not sure why, but OK. I am not one who will turn down free wine… EVER.
Couldn’t decide on rolls and asked for suggestions. He provided suggestions that I was already considering. Great! Made my selection and waited. Within 10 minutes the sushi chef brought my rolls over.
The rolls were decent. Not great. Not bad. The only negatives: one roll had crunchier on it that seemed stale, no biggie. The other roll was a bit more warm than expected for an uncooked roll. The chopsticks were sadly too cheap. I kept getting splinters in my mouth. That ain’t fun, let me tell ya.
Here comes the bad part. Finished wine. Wanted another glass. Finished rolls. Considered dessert. It was almost half an hour before the server returned to check on me. He asked if I needed anything else, I explained I WANTED to order another glass, but would instead opt for my check so I could go. Well low and behold, he had my check in hand. Laid my card down and waited several more minutes for it to be retrieved.
To address people’s comments about this being an expense sushi choice, please let me invite you to buy sushi in Dallas. MUCH more, so of course I felt the pricing was fair.
I will add, I don’t think the server neglected me on purpose. He was clearly overwhelmed because in addition to the sushi area he was waiting on a tepanyaki table. They seemed to be in dire need of help. The hostess seemed bothered by being there. Will I be back? Doubtful. Will I recommend? Doubtful.
The sushi journey continues…

What is the point of call ahead seating? Never once have I EVER been seated at the time I have called in for. Also the store is severely under staffed every single time I’m there. Great food but the service is atrocious.

I went there with my family straight up 5PM, no reservations. That’s ok, because we asked to just eat sushi and sit in the middle (not at a hibachi table). The hostess sat us down in an empty restaurant. A few minutes later, a waiter wandered up and started wiping down our table. I would think this would happen before 5PM, apparently not. He left without saying a word.
We sat there for close to 15 minutes. After 10, it became a game to see if anyone would show up. At 15, we grabbed our coats and left. This is the first time I have experienced this kind of, err, service, so I was speechless. I don’t feel it’s my job to hunt down the help and asked to be served. Walked out the door, nobody said a word.
I had eaten the sushi several months previous. It was ok, nothing better (or worse) than anywhere else in town. More expensive, I guess, but nothing remarkable. I had the spicy tuna roll and the Unagi. Based on other reviews, they have an issue with service. This is nearly as important to me as the food.
I will never return.

Sat in the sushi section. The food was pretty good, but the service on the other hand…

As always the food is great!!! I had a medium teriyaki steak, add on shrimp & all of the good veggies they give!!! I did just find out you can order a large salad!!! I love their salad so I will definitely be ordering one the next time I go! Our chef was good, not the best I’ve had but the food typical always taste the same no matter which chef cooks it! Half price martinis on Tuesday!!!

Well first off, I laughed out loud when I saw the post stating «it’s not Tokyo or Hawaii», really? No, it’s really Wichita. Anyway, As you will see in numerous reviews, not a place to have a quiet date or working lunch, lots of noise. I knew it was going to be bad when they brought the apps with no napkins, chopsticks, anything. Seriously, 10 minutes later, I stop someone and she actually tells me, «Oh, she’s probably real busy».
The fish is low to mid-​grade 100% previously frozen, absolute minuscule pieces, truly the smallest cuts I’ve ever seen. $ 15 for 5 pcs ¼″ x 1″ squares of previously frozen Hamachi?
It’s the first ever I’ve been served, cough, cough «sushi» and had to request ginger. We ordered everything at once including fried rice. Keep in mind that there are at least 12 habachi tables, but what do you think took the longest to receive? Yes, after we were completely finished and looking around, the waitress stopped, and we asked about the rice. We were told that it’s because of the chef rotation and some other BS, but then shortly thereafter, guess what shows up, the rice.
Soooo, finish the fried rice and ask for the check, and she brings it right out. I place my card in the book, and we wait… and we wait… and we wait… and we wait… and we wait, literally 15 minutes later she comes back. So I ask you, what kind of tip do you think I left?

Amazing! Harry our chef made the night. Good food, reasonable drinks and just fun. great atmosphere. Wonderful service. A must do if in Wichita. I’m gluten free and I mentioned it I was accommodate with a wonderful tasty gluten free chicken dish.

Walked in and waited to be greeted.
Put my name in and was offered the bar or sushi bar to wait for my turn to be seated. We chose to sit in the bar to wait.
We attempted to get the attention of the bar tender several times before she walked over with a seemly bad attitude. We ordered two Dr. Peppers. My glass had food stuck to the outside. I then attempted to get the bar tenders attention again with no luck. I paid the bill in cash and it was sitting at my table for over 15 mins.
My name was called to sit at the grill and followed the girl to the seats. I was handed a menu that was dirt, sticky, and it looked like a truck had rolled over it from the deformed shape.
If you want a meal that will fill you up, this calls for you to a la cart your meal to get the bigger portions. This will then double your cost of a standard meal. The girl who helped take our order did not understand my questions.
The soup was brought out in a plastic bowl with a plastic spoon. Really? In the bottom of the bowl was no more the 15 pieces of something I do not know. There are 12 pieces of rice in the bottom.
The cook at the grill next to ours has on what looks like pajamas. These have stains and are baggy.
The people at our table finished their soup by just drinking it from the plastic bowl.
The grill still has standing food from the last time it was used. Rice, pees, some kind of sauce and parts of some type of meat are along the edges and in the middle of the grill. Again… really?
Waiting between the plastic bowl of broth and dinner times at 22 minutes.
A salad was placed on my plate that I will be eating from. Really? Why would you put the bowl on my plate I have no idea where that bowl has been sitting. The salad had standing water in the bottom.
The cook did not clean the grill before he started cooking the food.
I have no silverware and was not offered chop sticks. I had to stop someone standing near the table to be helped. The fork that was given to me was wet.
The fried rice was pre made. They fried up 3 eggs then mixed them in to the pre made fried rice. If I wanted pre made fast food I would have gone through the drive through. Where is the traditional cooks that prepare your food in front of you. Why short cut this experience? My bowl of rice was placed on my plate I eat from. Really?
The shrimp are under sized and thin. The shrimp taste fishy and are gritty from not being cleaned properly.
My vegetables are warm and undercooked.
Overall this is not an experience this is just BASIC.

Food is great but service has gone down hill over the years. Experience just isn’t like it was. Recommend the volcano chicken, they will add to filet and lobster. Fried rice is fantastic. Sushi quality isn’t good and don’t recommend. They need better hostess team and cooks.

I cringe by the thought customers who dine here thinks this is authentic Japanese steak house.
I am not being a snob but I get the creeps with phony Japanese accent and words hollered by the chef while clanging the knife and spatula on the griddle. I rather hear the Asian and Hispanic chef holler in their native tongue.
Flipping the shrimp tails onto the chef’s hat with a spatula is a complete imitation of «Benihana restaurant» and it is so seventees.
It must be tough to operate a authentic Japanese restaurant in Wichita but with ever globalizing world, and with all the international businesses in Wichita, I hope customers can recognize what is genuine Japanese.
I think the owner is Japanese and I sure hope he can maintain food and atmosphere that is little more authentic.

While I enjoy eating here, we usually come as a group and it is disaster. They don’t do reservations and tell you they offer call ahead seating, which is just to appease you and get you to commit. Your get in line when you get there and it is usually and hour. So don’t come if you have a group and need to get somewhere on time. If you have time to wait and get attitude from the hostess who never seems to understand your frustration, have at it.

Have to agree with some of the lower ratings on Sumo. Unfortunately this once great and stylish habachi grill has gone downhill. The entire menu is overpriced, the service is standard, the sushi below average… disappointing visit last month.

I feel like an uncultured redneck when I try to order sushi but Sumo does a great job of making it easy. Having a girlfriend that is a big sushi fan doesn’t hurt either. We started the night with a couple of their signature cocktails and seaweed salads. We ordered two veggie 10 plates, a crabby mermaid, & captain crunch. They were all delicious! I had a good time trying to relearn using chopsticks. There were groups of people around cheering for the chefs at the hibachi grills with flying spatulas and an occasional flame uproar. They have a full menu but I’ve only ever had the sushi.

I’ve eaten here before and the food was good hence me coming back.
The 1 star goes to who I assume was the manager and the reason why we left with no food the other night… Called for a reservation; great they gave us a time. We showed up ten minutes early checked in and headed to the bar for a drink. 45 minutes after our reservation time my date goes up front to see how much longer the wait. The manager asks his name and looks on the list (its very obvious our name is crossed out). He then proceeds to tell us that there are a lot of other tables waiting to be seated in front of us. My date explained that we had a reservation. and the manager proceeded to explain to us that it was our fault they don’t take reservations and we just need to wait. After a long discussion and the manager being very adamant that it was our fault we proceeded to leave and the manager watched us go without a word. Tacky bud sorry.
Sumo all i wanted was your food and I’m still confused why our name was crossed out?