Kona Jack’s Fish Market & Sushi Bar

There should be something between «meh» and «a-​ok,» if you ask me – like «average.» Average, in this diner’s opinion, perfectly suits Kona Jacks. We celebrated a birthday there not long ago. What we found good was the service and the great aquariums scattered around the dining rooms — endlessly fascinating for the kids.
What we found kinda average was the sushi (we split a tiger roll, which I found to be not quite as fresh as I’d expected, and a lot more bland. The ginger was generous, but the wasabi? come on, people, not everyone is afraind of wasabi!
When it came to the entrees, the place let us down. One of us had the cashew salmon stirfry with a cup of clam chowder. The other had the Mona Kona Miso (a big bowl of soup with, supposedly, tuna). Brown rice wasn’t available for the stirfry (though they had a «pilaf» that was suspiciously brown). The serving was large enough for a lunch at home the next day. Unfortunately, it was so salty as to be nearly inedible — and the clam chowder was much the same.
The Mona Kona Miso serving we received had two measly chunks of tuna, each about a one-​inch cube — not particularly generous. It was also… well, the best word is «bland.» But at least it wasn’t terribly salty. The veggies were crisp, sort of, and the udon-​style noodles were fairly tasty, though the soup was mostly broth. On the whole, we’d have preferred a bit more «solids» in there.
We didn’t pick the restaurant, and we aren’t likely to go back again. Perhaps if they had a menu with some healthier options and laid off the salt, but heavens, that was enough sodium for a week. We didn’t feel as though we got our money’s worth, except maybe on the salt.

Two things I like eating the most is Seafood and Mexican food. Now when a place can make a bad ass fish burrito (they call it a fish taco for some unknown reason), i’m a true happy camper. That’s what they did here. I had it blackened. They use cod for this. The rice was SPICY! no joke! but it was really good. The black beans mixed with the salsa was spot on. Well worth the $ 13.50. The person who served it says they serve it a lot. I don’t doubt that for one second. My wife had the grouper. Grouper being one of my favorite fishes was delicious. It was perfected breaded and was accompanied by an awesome lemon/​wine sauce. Get there before noon to beat the lunch crowd.

The good: the food was good, and the waitress brought some strange blue drink.
The bad: I ordered water… but I’m game little blue drink.
The ugly: please listen to the customer, don’t wear white shirt with jet black bra, and don’t worry so much about picking up the tip from empty table.

Went here on New Year’s Eve. I have been here before but it’s been a few years. It was not as I remembered. I was not wowed by anything. Everything was just ok and I’m writing this place off

Visited Kona Jack’s for lunch today with a client. I must say the service was certainly an improvement over my last visit in September of this year. Waitress was very on top of things from the beginning and was certainly not a bother to any of us. My order was prepared correctly and overall, I had a good experience this time around.
Thanks!
Adam

As close to the coast as you can get in Indy. Daily specials are always good, but so is the Sushi. They have a fresh fish market here so you can take it home for preparing. Specialty drinks are crafted to please and the atmosphere makes you want to jump on a plane for Key West.

I really enjoyed visiting this restaurant for lunch recently. We sat next to the large aquarium inside so we got a front row seat view of the fishes in there.
If you visit, try their house salad with the ginger dressing. It is unique to any salad I’ve had, and is very tasty.

Really disappointed in the sushi: prices are up 50% from our last visit a year + ago, and my Dragon Roll didn’t resemble what I remember. I also got a $ 9 rice paper sushi with huge amounts of kale (?). Awful. The clam chowder I’d give 5* because it was loaded with shrimp, lobster bites and so wonderfully rich. Service from Cheyanne was also 5* — quick, friendly, sharp and professional. I was all geared up for my ‘sushi fix’ so that’s why the 2* rating.

Overlooked stir fry. Frozen vegetables in the quinoa. Head lettuce salad. ??? Do they think it’s the ‘70s?

Went back a week ago, the food was just as great and the waitress was so friendly. I highly recommend the Hoosier sushi and Dunn sushi! We also visited Jack Après, next door, and the local band was awesome

I hesitated on this place because it’s wedged in a strip mall. The build out inside looks like 1980s Daytona beach. Über cheesy. However, food was top notch. Sushi is very fresh and well prepared. Definitely the best I’ve tried in indy thus far. Crushes naked chopstix and Wild Ginger.

We came here to destress during finals week. We sat in the nice outside area. It was very dirty at our table, which was what bothered me the most. The menu that was brought out had something sticky on it. We almost left, but I am glad that we didnt as the food was pretty good.
The menu is gigantic, there is seriously something for everyone. I got a giant sushi platter, the large sashimi combo, and it was way too much for just me– I ended up taking a few pieces home for my cats.
I also ordered the miso lalo style and it was really good. I like sashimi, but I would have happily had more soup!
My boyfriend ordered the seafood fettuccine. It was actually really really good, and I usually do not care much for pasta. He also got some seafood gumbo. I took one bite of it and did not like it at all, but he really liked it.
They brought some bread out, and we ate the bread with some of the sauce leftover from his fettuccine. They also had a yummy whipped, seasoned butter.
The service leaves something to be desired. Everyone was brusque and the waitress didnt seem to be a big fan of any of the food which made me nervous.
We did not get dessert but we might next time, the menu was pretty tempting.

Why bother posting a review??! Everyone loves this place, so it’s like preaching to the choir.
KJ’s is the best fish on the North side (except for the über-​expensive fancy-​schmancy place at Keystone at the Crossing). Super fresh, generous portions, gracious and unpretentious wait staff. And they sell raw fish to prepare at home, too. (Sushi or regular.)
Yum!

As a native to Indianapolis, I feel like I probably should have been to Kona Jack’s years ago… For whatever reason, today was my first trip to this Hawaiian-​themed, sushi and fish, market and restaurant.
I dined with a KJ veteran, and she raved about the fish dishes– her favorites being the Asian Ahi, the grouper, and the fish and chips. I, however, never get sushi, so I indulged in 2 of their soy paper rolls– the Spicy Shrimp Bubba Roll and the Caterpillar Roll. Both were very good and filling. The Caterpillar Roll was particularly spicy! Just how I like it! Another dining companion had the Soft Shell Crab Roll and the Eel Roll. He enjoyed his meal as well.
All in all, I was very pleased with the food and service. We dined for lunch, and it was packed! My only complaint would have been on the cost– a basic California roll is $ 8.50, which seems pretty pricey given the ingredients. Luckily, this was a work lunch that could be expensed :)
On your way out, be sure to grab a pocketful of their key lime pie candies! Yum! Mahalo, y’all!

I was a loyal customer of KJ’s for 10+ years, even when, over the few years, the quality of services was lacking. Quality of service was never more apparent than recently when I was treated is a dismissive and patronizing way by a hostess. The mistreatment was regarding a misplaced reservation. I was calm and spoke softly while trying to find out «what happened» to my reservation. Instead of being treated politely, I was dismissed and smirked at repeatedly by the woman. When I brought this to situation to the manager’s attention, he merely said «sorry.» So, I left. A few days later, I brought this situation to the owner’s attention through an email. His response was totally lacking in sympathy or heart, or the desire to have me return.
Service is a reflection of leadership. If leadership does not care (or cares sporadically), then there is no impetus for the servers and wait staff to provide quality service either. My friend and I went across the street to Granite City, and were treated so well from the second we approached the front door ! What a totally different customer service model. I know KJ’s does not care that they lost me as a customer. That is very obvious.

Very unfriendly staff.
Food wasn’t that great either.

I always feel like I forget about Kona Jacks, but I’m so glad when someone suggests it. It’s one of the few good seafood places in town, and the only one on the north side.
Not only is this a great place to go for fresh seafood and sushi, but they also have a fish market where you can swing by and take some fresh fish to go.
This place gets 4 stars instead of 5 because sometimes the service can be a bit slow and the décor feels a bit kitchy, but it certainly isn’t enough to deter us from returning.

This is a very underrated restaurant. It doesn’t get a lot of buzz, but it should. When someone asks you to name a seafood restaurant in Indianapolis, they invariably name the place downtown, or, heaven forbid, Red Lobster.
No, this is really the place to go for fresh seafood on the north side. It’s so fresh, in fact, they have a fish market inside.
The space is also very cool as there are huge aquariums everywhere. Bring the kids and they’ll be enthralled as you have a relaxing (and delicious) meal.

Main dining room for a visit with family, sushi bar for a solo quick stop. Calamari salad is my usual staple, but today’s venture into Kona Miso was a clear success. Heaping with seafood and chunks of chicken on top of thick noodles floating in salty broth with a sprinkle of sesame seeds on top. Piping hot.
Fast, friendly, unobtrusive service. In and out before the rest of the evening errands. Well fed and refreshed.

I was torn between a 3 star rating and a 4 star rating. After dinner last night I’m still trying to figure out my true thoughts.
Here are some of my thoughts
1.) Sushi is great
2.) seafood décor is good
3.) service was okay
4.) for a seafood place, shrimp cocktail was weak.
5.) reminded me of how lucky we were to live in Chicago and be able to frequent Bob Chins.
Ordered over 100 worth of food and no bread since we didn’t order a meal. This brought the meal down to a 3 star for me. It’s the little things.

Un excellent restaurant de fruits de mer (seafood) avec une déco très agréable et reposante agrémentée d’aquariums remarquables.
J’ai mangé un de mes meilleurs pavé de thon dans ce resto, avec une sauce à base de peanuts butter. Les entrées toutes aussi réussies, un service comme ce qui se fait de mieux aux US, bref foncez si vous aimer le poisson. Les prix sont corrects en plus.
NB: Kona Jack’s fait aussi sushi bar.