"Japan food" on i-drive

by Roaming Panda

In an unassuming shopping plaza on the back streets of International Drive, you'll find a generic storefront labeled "Japan Food" aka Aki Restaurant where you will actually find some pretty good Japanese food for really good prices. It doesn't get more "hole-in-the-wall" than this, aside from Aki and a barber shop and some other store, this shopping plaza is empty and just a place for big buses to park. Yet Aki is a surprising little gem headed by a little Japanese guy that's just as unassuming as the plaza he's in. I found this place to be really charming just because of how plain it is. There's a a private karaoke room off to the side, a really small sushi bar, and a few small bookcases full of Japanese Manga from the 90's. 

The menu is really unique and offers quite a few dishes you won't see too often in more mainstream Japanese/Sushi restaurants. And if you're not quite sure what everything is, there are pictures next to each menu item to help you figure it all out. And best of all, did I mention everything is really cheap? And they have a cheap sushi happy hour too. Quality-wise it's not the best sushi or best Japanese food I've ever had, but really when you consider the price, the eclecticism of their menu, and just the "home-y" feel of the place, it's worth the try. 
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Try some "Japan Food" at Aki Restaurant.

Small and quaint.

If you can read Japanese, grab a Manga off the shelf.

Sushi appetizer. Nice assortment for about $6.

Ramen sans the fish cakes. Nothing to write home about but it's cheap and hits the spot.

Beefy Teriyaki dinner with noodles and a Japanese potato salad. Generous portion and beef was tender and flavorful. Comes with a miso soup.

Kaisen Don (sashimi rice bowl). Packed full of tuna, salmon, conch, and octopus then topped with ginger, wasasbi, crab mix, and masago. Won't see this at too many places. Really good and affordable!