Mori Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar

I’m only giving one star because on the rare occasion that all planets are aligned and the heavens have parted, this place can be decent. But, that’s about 10% of the time.
Having a Japanese grandmother, I know good Japanese food. Unfortunately, Valdosta leaves much to be desired in that particular department. On one occasion visiting Mori, the wife and I came in about 10 minutes after they had opened, the hostess did not want to seat us in the sushi bar because it was not her section, so we were ignored and told that we had to wait for the waitress that had it as her section to come seat us. 10 minutes later, after standing in the front watching several servers walk by and ignore us, we left. On another occasion, we were actually seated at the bar, ordered some Beers and sushi. Now, I actually make my own sushi, having been taught by my Japanese grandmother, but on the occasion, I enjoy other people making it for me. I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how any respectable sushi chef could serve someone sushi, with bad seaweed. It’s virtually impossible to do. You know what good seaweed looks and feels like to the touch. Long story short, we were served bad sushi. Really really bad sushi. I cannot particularly recall every horrible experience we’ve had here, but being limited on Japanese establishments, we bite the bullet and hope that one time it will be better. After this, we will not be back. I’ll make my own, or get it from the amazing sushi chef on base.

The food is okay but the staff needs to learn the native language. It makes ordering much easier.

Everytime I come to town I eat here. Really good food and the service is always friendly and fast.

Ya know, Valdosta does not have a lot of choices in Sushi and as far as sushi goes– this really is probably the better of the other options in terms of sushi. But in the 20 years I’ve been stopping in here, the service and «attitude» of the sushi chefs… well, just SUCKS!!!
I graduated college here 30 years ago and my daughter lives in town so she and her hubby wanted sushi. So we went here. The Sushi bar is a little room off to the right away from the hibachi tables. So we go in at about 8, there are only about 4 – 5 tables with people in there– but more tables are covered in dirty dishes and the place was a mess. So we squeeze inbetween some dirty tables and did get approached pretty quick by our waitress. Then it went further down hill. I’m a sashimi guy, fresh raw Tuna is my pick– but went for the rainbow roll and party in your mouth rolls as this was the taste of my kids.
I only eat sushi with Shiracha– no Soy– (I’m old, no salt) and my daughter likes the spicy mayo– no soy. So they both ordered soup to start and we ordered a few rolls and very clearly said we need shiracha and spicy mayo. Got our beers, and soup came, no silverware. Looked around, and really only saw dirty tables… but fear not… there were some set ups at the bar so rather than wait another few minutes for our waitress to make an appearance, I went and got it from the bar.
The sushi comes and I remind our server (not a waitress now) to get our shiracha as we were tired and wanted to eat and go home. We waited… waited… no «server», tried to call her down as she was out singing happy birthday to tables not in the sushi section– and finally went to the sushi chef and asked for some shriacha and spicy mayo. This is after he dodged eye contact for about 15 seconds– then he looks at me and hatefully said– ask your waitress. I said I did– 2 – 3 times !!! He didn’t even look up and continued to look down and I said again– can I get some Shiracha… nothing… I was pissed and really wanted to stick a chop stick in his eye!!! But I’m not a violent guy.
So went back to the table and it was at least another 5 min before our waitress had to be flagged down again– and said we need our stuff NOW!!! So who did she go to-​? The sushi guy I asked and he gave it to her. What an ASS!!!
She brought it, we were able to eat now and we did, got the bill and left. So why write a book in an area that is stuck in a time warp? Just because!!! I would die for a great, dynamic, energetic fresh sushi bar in Valdosta but this is VALDOSTA!!! This was my home for 4 years, I love Valdosta but sometimes when you are here you just live with it. For Visitors coming in, I don’t know what to say. Be prepared to enter the twighlight zone and drink a lot and it seems better. But for 20 years, I’ve got the same crappy service, and most of all– what I call ATTITUDE from the sushi chef. A GOOD sushi chef engages with the customer, points out what is fresh, asked what you like, upsells you to try as many things as possible, and knows his stuff. I’m not sure they guys even speak English and we know they’re not Japanese … (most are Indonesian in GA) but last night– they just flat out pissed me off. When you have to use Publix as the second best option– at least you can get friendly service for pre made– albeit on site– sushi. Not the same. Oh yeah, and PEPSI!!! Really !!! Are they owned by Taco bell??? This is GA!!! Ok, I’m done.
Will I come back? Maybe once again in the next 5 years if my kiddos want sushi.

Valdosta GA. Population 56,000. One notable Japanese Restaurant and that is Mori Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar. Full Hibachi dinner room and a full bar. Restaurant is also part of a strip mall. Sushi and Sashimi are fresh and delicious. The Hibachi is the standard that one will see everywhere in the U.S. however the quality and taste of the food was impressive. The pricing was in mid-​range. 2 People with a full flight of drinks and wine along with Sushi& Sashimi for two plus 2 sushi rolls and desserts cost us only $ 82.00. The service was impeccable. I loved it so much that I went there two nights in a row to have dinner.

I love sushi! Unfortunately I live in Valdosta and we don’t have a NOBU. My choices that I trust include Mori and Publix. Yep I just typed that! Mori is a family owned local business that has become my home town sushi fix. They have a good selection of rolls and I will eat certain things –tuna, white tuna, red snapper, yellowtail– sashimi here. Kids can eat sushi or hibachi at the sushi bar. Their hibachi is really good! We usually only eat in the sushi bar though. It can get very crowded, everyone knows it’s the best in town, so go a little earlier on the weekends bc sushi bar is not huge and will get backed up.

I was nervous because of the mixed reviews on this place, but when I asked the two tattooed locals that i saw In the parking lot if I wanted to eat here, they said «you want sushi? Then hell yeah you want to eat there!» So eat here I did, and I’ll do it again.
This place does not look pretty on the outside, but it’s actually really nice once you get in the door. I sat down at the sushi bar for dinner. My sushi bar neighbor, Daniel, suggested the Party in your Mouth roll — at first I thought he was just being pervvy, haha, until I saw it on the specials board. It was DELICIOUS. I also got the California roll, and it was really big!
I’ll be back here next time I’m in town — hopefully Daniel will too! Haha. ;)