We really liked this place. Be sure to sit at the hibachi table and ask the chef to entertain you. They are masters at it. The food is delicious. Very tasty and fresh sushi. Nice staff and great service. Highly recommend.

First time for me but definitely not the last time. The food is delicious and the service was awesome. Would certainly recommend.

Love this. Great bar area, super great bar tender. Also great food. It overall a great place.

Hands down our favorite hibachi restaurant! We drive over an hour just to come to Samurai! Amazing food and service and the ambiance is incredible!

My favorite place in the 518. 💯❤️💃

+1

Looks can be deceiving, The outside looks old and to my surprise the inside has a cool retro hibachi vibe. The food is NEW FRESH FRESH FRESH. The food is amazing. The miso soup and salad to start were delicious. I wish they sold the dressing in bottles. The poke bowl was probably the best one I ever had. Albany thank you for the surprise 90/100

Great service and good quality. Large portions and a good selection of choices on menu items Can’t wait to eat here again

We have been going to Samurai since shortly after they opened. We celebrate all our significant life events there and will continue to do so. Top notch food. an extensive menu and wonderful cocktails. I can't praise Jerry too much. He has created a place that one can experience many different things. I was actually srenaded with "Happy Birthday" in Italian once there. Update: Christmas 2025. Stopped by to get some takeout for lunch and was surrounded by the wonderful smells of the food being prepared. Jerry met me at the door offered me tea and spent some time that he really didn't have. I always recommend this establishment to everyone because it feels like family.

Second time there, food was great as expected. Just got some sushi to go, the price/proportion was great. Definitely will be back.

The house special lo mein is this best I've ever had. Shrimp, steak, chicken, vegetables in a with smokey delicious lo mein noodles - awesome!!!

Great food. We go there everytime we are in Albany

Arrived in Albany for work and was pleasantly surprised that this restaurant was in front of my hotel. I had sushi and crab Rangoons to-go. Both were excellent. I may just book this hotel from now on just to eat here!

Amazing sushi here!! We WILL be back!!! Love the atmosphere and the owner Jerry was awesome!!!!

Food was really good. Hibachi was so entertaining!!! I had a few sushi rolls!!! My food was super satisfying and my son had some Hibachi that was sooo good!! A little pricey though. If you eat here you are eating a high quality meal and paying for one as well

It's always a great time with amazing food and service.

First time in the area. So glad we found this resto open on a July 4 (2025). The Salmon Teriyaki Bento Box at $23 did not disappoint. Serving was big compared to what we are used to in the NYC Metro Area. Staff was friendly and ca attentive too. Will return. Adding this in my list of food choices when in Albany + I-87.

Best sushi in the area! Great staff, friendly and knowledgeable. My favorite!

Great food! Great atmosphere! Great Staff ! Great time! Will definitely be returning

Have been here many times and always have a great hibachi dinner. At the end of the night our chef made a very cool ring of fire show. Highly recommend this as your hibachi spot in albany

Highly varied menu and exceptional service from the staff. Wish I knew about but this place sooner!

I have been to this restaurant numerous times and can say it is amazing. The prices for the amount of food you get are spot on. And the staff are so sweet. I take my children here as it's a great family, date, or just night on the town spot. It caters to whatever type of person you are. Great vibes, dishes, and drinks. Definitely recommend it to anyone

My favorite Japanese hibachi! Great food and service for the money. Even table options are great.

It was amazing. The rice, noodles, vegetables, steak, and chicken were perfect. The service and atmosphere were outstanding. Waitstaff were attentive and asked if anyone had food allergies immediately after sitting down. chef was very engaging. 100% going again.

Good food and nice service. We got Tomyum and miso soup, house fried rice, Samurai delux (sashimi and sushi boat) and finished with red bean ice-cream. Sashimi is fresh and juicy.👍

+4

The perfect stage for an amazing evening! It was my birthday, and Leo, our hibachi chef, made sure everyone knew it—haha! Watching him cook right in front of us was mesmerizing. His skill, precision, and sense of humor added so much excitement to the meal. Leo made sure to involve everyone at the table, creating an experience that was as entertaining as it was delicious. If you’re looking for great food, fun entertainment, and exceptional service, Samurai is the place to go. I can’t recommend it enough for special occasions or just a fun night out.

First time here I always pass it and didn't to try it today it was so good food the service great.

First time coming here with family food was amazing. Staff was fantastic i definitely recommend To friends and family you will Enjoy🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

Food is so fresh and service is amazing and fast. Drinks are tasty and also come out quick

+1

Great place, dined for lunch. Very reasonable for special lunch box . Terrific variety of food.

Very pleased with the food from Samurai. Sushi platter was wonderful. They made one meal gluten free, upon request. Not clear about their soy sauce tho. If the online ordering does not work, just go in person, order. They bring out your pickup order fairly quickly. They know the online ordering doesn't always complete. 🤷‍♀️ i tried two different ways. Failed. Going in person was more time, but worth it.

My daughter was driving past this place and we decided to stop in for some food. It is warm and inviting with an extensive menu. The drinks we ordered were delicious and well made. The food was delicious. The prices very reasonable. It was definitely a nice experience. We must return soon.

Great happy. Bartender was great. Spicy tuna roll was fresh, would recommend

Samurai was my “go-to” restaurant after work for the past 6 months while working in Albany. In addition to the food being delicious, the bar was cozy, happy hour menu was fantastic and the service is second to none. The owner, Jerry, is extremely nice, out going, and welcoming (but never annoying or over-bearing). He really values his customers and is passionate about his business. This is so much better than any of the chain restaurants on Wolfe St. If you’re looking no for a nice place in Colonie, come here

Absolutely LOVE THIS PLACE and Jerry and JP!! Amazing food. Amazing staff and people. Very friendly staff. They are very personable and friendly. Food is Stellar!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you for an amazing enjoyable dinner!! Highly recommend this restaurant!!!! We always have a blast when we come here. I plan to be back very soon. Love this place.!!!!!! Amazing bartender! Jerry and JP! ! Feels like family here! Thank you Jerry!!!! ❤️

Great presentation! Good quality! Definitely recommend to locals and visitors for dining choice. 👍👍

Came here on a Monday at 8PM with a Groupon deal with 3 friends. The restaurant wasn’t too busy, so we got a hibachi table to ourselves. The show was very enjoyable, and the food was delicious. Accommodating to my allergies. Steak was perfectly cooked. Strong martinis. Lots of leftovers. Very happy with everything, will return.

The price and selections for lunch special are great (there are plenty of choices and the price is affordable). The food and drink were tasty and great. The staffs are very nice.

This has become our go to place for sushi and plum wine. Never a wait. Service is prompt. We've even taken the kids. Highly recommend. We've never had a bad meal.

+6

Leo was our chef - easily the most skilled and prismatic hibachi chef I've ever had the pleasure of being served by.

Bartender was awesome and sushi was great. Highly recommend the black swan roll!

This was my first visit to a Japanese restaurant and experience was great Loved the hospitality and the food... Lot of vegetarian options...

+6

We like this place. Good food. Great service. We come here once every 2 weeks for dinner

I’ve dined at this restaurant many times. Every time I have dinner the meal is great. The quality, quantity and service is exceptional. The meal is always consistent with no issues. I do wish the restaurant would see more traffic during the week. Small businesses always will outperform the big chain restaurants. Can’t say enough good things about the place!

The food tasted superb. Had the curry lunch box which included soup, salad, sushi rolls, entree, and rice. The curry was mild and not too spicy. Plenty of good food at a low price. On a Monday, the restaurant was not busy and the service was excellent. Nice restaurant but has obvious wear hence the 4 star rating for atmosphere - clean but needs a lot of touch-up paint.

What fun we had! Great experience, the chef was amazing and engaging.

Everything was great! Very fresh tuna! Some of the freshest I've had. Soup, kimchi, sushi roll and tuna app were all excellent. Had a Japanese mule and that was very tasty as well.

+6

Ordered pick via Uber eats. Seamless transaction . Food prepared & ready at scheduled time . B1G1 side promo . Soup & salad typical hibachi steak & chicken cooked per instructions (I requested no shrimp) . Others have mentioned the bland rice but I thought it was fried quite well 👍🏼 Noddles & dinner were fantastic ! I just wish a few more veggies and slightly less carbs with the hibachi dinner. But overall great portions Silverware & napkins provided but lacked chopsticks . I wouldn’t hesitate to return . Happy new year y’all , keep up the reviews to help this traveling nurse too 👌🏼😁

We come here frequently for birthday and family celebrations and have had a wonderful experience every time. The chefs are incredible at entertraining and making the kids laugh. They really go out of their way to make the the birthday kiddo feel special. The food is also delicious and plentiful and they are great at making accommodations for preferences and allergies. We love it!

Brian Malloy

Excellent food and lots of it. Big place with plenty of room. Staff was excellent. Loved this place.

Carly O

This place is amazing. I ordered a white sangria to drink - delicious. Appetizer was crab ragoons - 10/10 can’t wait to order again. Filet mignon hibachi - THE BEST. The filet is soo tender. Good portion. Took half home for another meal. I can’t wait to come back here !!!!

MARCELO CHARLES PEREIRA

This is the best sashimi and sushi combo I've ever had. The fish was fresh and expertly sliced. I'm very impressed with the quality and skill of the sushi chef. I also enjoyed an amazing hot sake that was both affordable and delicious. Definitely, I will return.

Emma Hans

The sushi was amazing! Super fresh. We also had BBQ squid and shumai that were above average. Service was outstanding too.

Olivia Abucot

The crew were amazing and the food heavenly! We had so much fun. And they have pretty much reasonable prices.

+2

Jenn T

This is the best hibachi restaurant in the capital region! The waitstaff are attentive and the chefs put on an amazing show! The food was also delicious and their portions are so generous that you are guaranteed to have leftovers for lunch! They put yum in yum yum sauce!

Michael Caro

Everything was great about this place will be going back food was very tasty and had alot of flavor the cook was great on entertaining kids loved it

Monea George

The restaurant had a nice chill, relaxing vibe, and the food was on point. Staff was very courteous

Ashlee Duclos

I have been here 3 or 4 times before for sushi and all was tasty. This week I went with a group for hibachi for my son’s birthday and they did not disappoint! Our hibachi chef really played into the hands of my 4 and 6 year olds. In addition to cooking a great meal and entertaining us with his skills, he made a balloon monkey for the birthday boy. They also brought an ice cream desert with mochi and a sprinkle with my little guy loved! I had a spicy jalapeño tuna and Philadelphia roll with an order or tuna and salmon sashimi, in addition to a lychee martini. Delicious and fresh! Highly recommended.

Sunshine’s Reviews

Food was super delicious. Great Hibachi show. One waitress was great the other waitress not so much. Great lunch specials.

Christina Vankeuren

Food was amazing and you get so much from the hibachi order! We had so much fun at the hibachi table celebrating my husbands birthday. My mom and I ordered the house hibachi and my husband ordered the emperor special. I just wish the waitress paid a little more attention to the beverages and keeping them full.

Kali Walsh

(Doordash order) Great order! My fiancé & I both had the hibachi two combo (chicken & steak) all very good! The chicken on both combos were a little overcooked (I got this same order last week too and the chicken was the same. Overcooked, but still good!) The sauce thats used was a little runny both times, as well but was not an issue for either of us since neither of us typically use a ton of sauce! Veggies, protein & rice / noodles all very good! Flavoring good, cook good & not hard to digest! Ginger carrot side salad & clear soup both also very yummy! Additionally got an order of pork & chicken pot stickers which were also both delicious! Since we ordered doordash both times, unsure of entertainment aspect of the hibachi but clean location, nice staff & quick doordash orders! Will absolutely visit or order from again!

Terri Smith

We dined here after my niece's graduation. Great atmosphere!!! The food was delicious 😋 I had red snapper, which was grilled to perfection!! The chef was Awesome and very entertaining!! The other staff were friendly as well. The bartender made delicious drinks 🍸🍷🍹 We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I will definitely return!!

In Albany for business, and thought I would try Samurai since it was down the street from my hotel. Definitely a bang for your buck, and good quality food, too. 👍

Typical Japanese Teppan Table experience with no mishaps. Appreciated the free Saki Squirt in my mouth from the Chef... never had that before.

Good hibachi. Free refills and good portions of food. The food is flavoured.

Food was delicious. Had enough for two servings. The rice needs a little more flavoring. It’s a bit bland. Other than that nice portion and great.

Just about the average hibachi experience here. Our chef was friendly and responsive to our comments/requests.

Dinner was very good. The music is a little loud for me, but not bad. Good spot to visit.

Satisfying appetizers and flavorful entrees cover the gamut of this menu. The sashimi is to die for and the entrees provide just the right amount of food. The beverage selection provided good variety; I recommend the organic sake. I will come here again.

Sushi was good but the pad thai was not as good as I have had other places. Food did come out fast

We had a very good experience at Samurai Japanese Restaurant — the food was tasty and clearly made with quality ingredients, which made our meal enjoyable. Many reviewers also mention fresh, well-prepared dishes and a wide menu selection that includes sushi and hibachi-style options, with generally positive comments about the food overall. The service and staff were friendly and kind throughout our visit, which we appreciated. While our server could have been a bit more attentive at times, overall the service was good and added to a pleasant dining experience. For accessibility, most of the restaurant was manageable with a mobility device. However, the bathroom was tight, and the second dining room (without hibachi tables) isn’t accessible, so that’s worth knowing before you go — especially if accessibility is a priority for your group. One small suggestion would be to improve cleanliness and reduce visual clutter in certain areas. We felt some spaces could be tidier, even though the food prep and dining areas we saw looked clean overall. In summary, Samurai offers very good food, friendly staff, and a nice atmosphere, but with a few areas where improvements could make the experience even better.

Celia Gottlieb

Very good run of the mill Japanese food. Fast service. Decent sushi. Loved the inari. Waitress was coughing quite a bit and I was bothered by her sanitary precautions (I.e. not covering mouth). Was happy with my meal. Huge serving of miso soup for $3!

Yu-Gene Chen

Super friendly staff who are very attentive. I wanted to try this place out and compare it to another specialty tempera.Restaurant that I was at recently. The tempora was good here, but not quite as good as the tempora specialty restaurant.I was at earlier in the week ( but also in a different state...) prices were excellent. An especially great place for lunch - not crowded, quick service, easy parking. I think people don't realize they are open for lunch. We were the only ones there.... so maybe a little bit of a secret, but I'd rather them get the clientele and stay in business because they're pretty good for the tempura. I did not try the sushi but I have also had their hibachi in the past, which was excellent.

Food was good, but not great, though they have some different options compared to other places. The seafood soup is fantastic, but clear soup was quite underwhelming. Kimchi was good and the sashimi was as well. Service was lacking, unfortunately. I will come again, but it isn't my first choice!

I only had non sushi thing here so that is what I'm going to talk about - over all it is ok, but the meat is really dry and they didn't do a good job for their fried food. A bit disappointed

The food had hair in it. They replaced it but we found another hair in a second dish. 😓

The food is always great, but the treatment of black people is appalling. I spoke to the manager and they know how they were treating myself and my kids. I unfortunately won't be back.

Getting sushi from a Chinese restaurant is kind of like buying tacos in Canada. It might be ok, but usually there are better options. Upon arrival, a customer two tables over loudly announced, "That's it! I'm out! Just saw two employees leaving the restroom without washing their hands...". I pressed ahead and ordered a couple of sushi rolls as the wait-staff stood nearby chit-chatting in Mandarin. The rolls were not bad, except they were heavy on cream cheese and light on flavor. Prices are standard, but that's too much for mediocre sushi.

There have been some pretty high standards set for hibachi in the area, and I was not at all satisfied with our chef. Our children love the "show" of hibachi, we value the cleanliness of our chef. There was food all over the place even before serving. I believe the standard should be met all across the board for all chefs at this establishment, lest the experience be inconsistent.

I didn't really care for this restaurant. The sushi tasted bland. It was beautiful but still bland. My friend also agreed with this. I gave 3 stars for the ambience and the staff was friendly. I don't not anticipate on eating here again.

たなかすみ

To be honest, the food was scrumptious during. I went there everyday during my three day staying in Albany. Salmon was fresh and the food was in big portion. However, the two waitresses speaking in mandarin were horrifying. One slap the bill hardly just because I did not make her keep the change. She asked me rudely: Do you want change. The third day, the other chinese waitress served me. She refused the the tipping and pushed back the money. okay fine. The owner was nice.

+14

kuldeep kumar

Went here for dinner on Saturday night around 10. The place was empty and we were the only customer. We got the mango sushi roll and the crazy sushi roll to start. Then I got the crazy noodles with chicken. The sushi was excellent. Highly recommend the crazy sushi roll it had a caviar like topping. The crazy noodles with lo mein noodle was good if you like slightly spicy food. I recommend trying this. Because we were got there at 10 and the restaurant closes at 11, the hibachi section was closed and only regular dining was available. Our server was hurrying us and we had to order quickly. The food came quickly. Nice and clean restaurant , will go there to check out the hibachi again.

+4

Food was bland at best. I had steak and lobster. Steak was supposed to be rare. It was raw. He finished cooking the lobster then poured a thick sauce on it and put it on my plate. The sauce was sickeningly sweet. Worst Hamachi restaurant ever.

Food is okay... but not perfect. The fried food is too drive. Little selection for deserts.

Frederick Bradbury V

The food was bland. Service was great.

Kallen Heermance

Idk it wasn’t bad but it wasnt good … the sushi like come on price chopper got better sushi … and something about the steak teriyaki it wasn’t flavorful… the potstickers wasn’t a fan of either and I love those.. the espresso martini was the best thing I had! It wasnt horrible but I wouldn’t choose to come back …

Bilal Yasar

We made a reservation for 10 people and arranged a hibachi table. When the first 5 of us arrived, they told us we couldn’t be seated until everyone was there and made us wait at the door for 10 minutes. The staff had difficulty understanding us, and their attitude was rude. In terms of food quality, I think this place is mediocre. Aside from the cooking and fire show at the hibachi table, there is nothing remarkable in terms of taste or quality. Despite this, the pricing is on par with high-end restaurants. I’ve been here twice in the last five years, and I don’t think I’ll be coming back.

First of all the food was horrible. I've eaten at many japanese steakhouses and I must say that this was one of the worst. My first clue should have been that there was barely anyone there on a saturday evening. However, I was traveling home and wanted someJapanese food. This... was a big disappointment. The only positive I can say is the service was very good. But then again they didn't have any other customers to wait on.

terrible experience and I go there alot. waited 30 minutes for a chef and there was no service so it wasnt busy. one short lady hovered over us while eating grabbed our plates with food on them. I didn’t get a refill until food was past done i didn’t drink it still got charged. the moment our food was done we were offered to go boxes then we had to wait 20 minutes for our we check and had to ask workers for our bill. I’m always willing to tip but to tip yourself $17 is insane when the service was terrible.

It was one of our favorites until today. We used to celebrate birthdays in this restaurant. They had some very nice and friendly staff members before. We went there for a late lunch this afternoon. One of the staff members was so rude without any reasons. Others hardly showed up. We would like to order more soup, but couldn’t find anyone nearby. That meant we had to go to the front desk to order it. We usually give 18-20% tips. We didn’t give any this time. The last time we didn’t tip any was years ago, never thought we would do it in this restaurant. Very disappointed.

Ew. Ordered for pick up. Food was incredibly disappointing. Softshell crab was way over priced for the quantity given and should never be black under the batter. Sushi was bland and had a homogenous flavor. Texture (other than spider roll)was homogenous as well. Also, why the hell was there lettuce in my spider roll? Ew. Go to Wasabi just down the road for better food at a lower price.