Soseki Cafe

Great place for sushi and poke bowls. Our family agreed this was some of the best sushi we have had in a long time outside a major metropolitan area. Service was quick and servers were super nice. They were short staffed so certain things were unavailable, which is understandable in our current environment.

I feel obliged to write a review because the food and service were exceptional and simply excellent! I would give them 10 stars if I could! The quality of the ingredients are noticeably high, the food is fresh and authentic. I am shocked I have not been here before and we will certainly be returning. Thank you so much for such an amazing experience.

Tori no Kaarage - It was nice and crisp! It is dark meat with the chicken skin fried with it. Came with a sweet sauce. Overall I don’t think I would get this again just because it didn’t “wow” me. It’s also not the traditional kaarage I’m used to. Sushiritto - Honestly it’s more “bang for your buck.” It made me full and feels like the quantity of two rolls in one sushiritto. The ingredients complimented well with each other and I’d definitely get it again!

When I didn't know where to eat at mealtime, my friend recommended this restaurant to me and said it was his favorite restaurant. Curry Fries: The curry was super tasty, and the fries were very flavorful, they attracted a lot of attention when they were served, I saw several people ask the waitress and then order this as well. It was delicious and filling, worth a try. Teppanyaki Noodles steak: this seems to be one of their specialties, not seen in other places, the steak is very tender, my friend also liked it, he said he would come to order this next time. Poke bowl: a feeling of eating a big bowl of sushi, very delicate and delicious. Tako-Yaki: super tasty, after eating it, I packed one more for my roommate. Miso soup: I love this soup, it looked like just simple tofu and seaweed, but it tastes very sweet and fresh, I like it very much. Vegas: the taste of fried rolls with hot sauce, sweet and spicy, so delicious. We also ordered two boba milk teas with a nice pearl texture. Their business is very good, not many dine-in people when we came, but lots of take-out, I saw their tables full of take-out bags, assembly line-like packing. I didn't order any of the burrito or gyudon recommended by my friend, I just couldn't get all of them, and for the two of us, we were too full to eat. This restaurant has a great selection of flavors, super large portions, and inexpensive. The environment is very good, the waiter is also very nice. I will come back next time.

Really not sure how anyone would qualify their sushi as amazing. ours was offputtingly moist and gummy on the outside, and there was basically no flavor to them. The one my wife ordered had something shredded on the inside that was so dry it made it impossible to actually chew and swallow. We've had similar rolls other places and never had that issue. The karaage was way overcooked. The last 1/4 of it was unchewable. The tako-yaki was ok, I liked it well enough. Octopus in it was overcooked though. The miso soup was really good actually. The only big standout was the chicken teppanyaki. That was actually very very good. As for speed, the food came out quick, but the appetizers came out last. Completely backwards from how it should be. Also, they don't have drinks like normal places do. You go to a cooler and pay per item of course they're overpriced as well The atmosphere of the place is loud and almost comes off as a dive bar. They had boxes of supplies lining the wall, cleaning supplies sitting on the floor, etc. The service is ok. Waited 20 minutes with no one around for the lady to come get our order. We've literally had more attentive and better service at all you can eat sit down restaurants or what some may call "low-brow" places. Don't get me wrong though, everyone was friendly, but being friendly isn't the same as giving good service. Was it the worst food ever? No. Was it remotely worth the prices they're charging? Definitely not. Again, I'm really not sure what kind of places these other reviewers have gone to that were so bad that this place is considered "the best around". We'll definitely not be going back. Parking: Parking garage is literally across the street so at least that wasn't a big deal. It was cheap too.

This place is absolutely incredible. My date and I were thoroughly impressed with the quality of food, presentation, and overall vibe. I got a poke bowl and a sushi burrito, both were delicious. I also tried the takoyaki and it's the best I've had so far. It was cooked correctly and had great flavor. It's hard to get takoyaki right but they hit the nail on the head. They also have a mini convenience area where you can get snacks and drinks. I really recommend giving this restaurant a try! Parking is super easy too, it's right by a parking ramp.

Great food and even better service. These people are great. We have a food allergy in our group and they were all over it checking for us and helping us choose items. Really friendly. I would highly recommend this place. Parking: City parking garage available across street and street is easy to cross. Use the hotel drive thru The Graduate if you need to drop people off.

Nice staff. Great food. Wide variety of options from sushi to ramen to Mongolian. Beer and Saki available. I had the Teriyaki chicken rolls- highly recommend. Staff wears masks and you are expected to as well.

I love the sushi here. Haven’t been here in a while, but I would still recommend this place to anyone who likes sushi. It’s cute and I’m downtown so you can get a quick bite after class.Food: 5/5

Awesome beautiful sushi, fresh fish, friendly and quick service. Wondered why I only heard about this place just recently, probably the best sushi place in Iowa City. The seared white tuna nigiri was awesome!