Kotoyama Ramen & Sushi

Went today, Sunday night, around 6:30pm. EXTREMELY slow service. Restaurant had only 2 tables of customers at our arrival so I’m not sure why service was so terrible. Seems the staff were too busy hanging out in the kitchen (see below). When we got seated, we waited at least 15 min until a waitress (Asian woman) stopped by to give us water. Then we waited 15 min more until another waiter (high school looking Asian guy) took our order. 2 other tables who arrived after us got their orders taken within 5 min. Also the high school guy was always wearing 1 latex glove (food prep?) while taking orders with the tablet. Food safety is a concern. We both got ramen (#1 and #5) and it took another 15 min to get our food and it was warm, not hot, as if our ramen were sitting on the counter and forgotten. Meanwhile, the other 2 tables got their food in less than 10 min (yes, I timed it). One table got ramen and sushi and the other got bentos and ramen. All of this restaurant’s ramen use the same broth except for seafood and vegetarian ramen so it’s not like all of our tables had totally different ramens. I’d like to add that both tables were white families. Table of 4 and table of 2. We were a table of 2. Waitress stopped by, only once the entire time we were there, to check if we needed anything but we were already finished with our food so it was really, really late into our meal. Our waters needed refilling but we just wanted to finish up and get out of there because we were so annoyed with all the waiting in a near-empty restaurant on a Sunday night. More waiting. For the bill. We were just sitting there at the table with empty bowls and no one stopped by even though we heard the staff in the kitchen laughing and joking around. I don’t think they realized how loud they were all talking especially some girl who kept yelling “you know! You know!”. Waitress didn’t even stop by with the bill. We waited at least 20 min for her. We ended up going to the register to find someone. Will not be coming back and will tell all of our Zionsville and Indianapolis friends to avoid this place because the service was so bad. Unless you’re white…

Went today, Sunday night, around 6:30pm. EXTREMELY slow service. Restaurant had only 2 tables of customers at our arrival so I’m not sure why service was so terrible. Seems the staff were too busy hanging out in the kitchen (see below). When we got seated, we waited at least 15 min until a waitress (Asian woman) stopped by to give us water. Then we waited 15 min more until another waiter (high school looking Asian guy) took our order. 2 other tables who arrived after us got their orders taken within 5 min. Also the high school guy was always wearing 1 latex glove (food prep?) while taking orders with the tablet. Food safety is a concern. We both got ramen (#1 and #5) and it took another 15 min to get our food and it was warm, not hot, as if our ramen were sitting on the counter and forgotten. Meanwhile, the other 2 tables got their food in less than 10 min (yes, I timed it). One table got ramen and sushi and the other got bentos and ramen. All of this restaurant’s ramen use the same broth except for seafood and vegetarian ramen so it’s not like all of our tables had totally different ramens. I’d like to add that both tables were white families. Table of 4 and table of 2. We were a table of 2. Waitress stopped by, only once the entire time we were there, to check if we needed anything but we were already finished with our food so it was really, really late into our meal. Our waters needed refilling but we just wanted to finish up and get out of there because we were so annoyed with all the waiting in a near-empty restaurant on a Sunday night. More waiting. For the bill. We were just sitting there at the table with empty bowls and no one stopped by even though we heard the staff in the kitchen laughing and joking around. I don’t think they realized how loud they were all talking especially some girl who kept yelling “you know! You know!”. Waitress didn’t even stop by with the bill. We waited at least 20 min for her. We ended up going to the register to find someone. Will not be coming back and will tell all of our Zionsville and Indianapolis friends to avoid this place because the service was so bad. Unless you’re white…

My friend and I had a wonderful experience at Kotoyama in Zionsville. Our server checked in immediately but gave us space to deliberate over the menu. We split several appetizers and she kept track of and confirmed how we wanted to divide them up on our bills. Water was refilled and food came out very quickly. We are excited to come back! The sushi was excellent!

My friend and I had a wonderful experience at Kotoyama in Zionsville. Our server checked in immediately but gave us space to deliberate over the menu. We split several appetizers and she kept track of and confirmed how we wanted to divide them up on our bills. Water was refilled and food came out very quickly. We are excited to come back! The sushi was excellent!

Amazing place, very clean and orderly. Wonderful atmosphere and decorations, quick and helpful service. Broth was rich, noodles were cooked well. The American Dream Roll was great, and I enjoyed the sauce on the Char Siu Buns. Would come again.