Takumi Sushi Ramen&Lounge

So let me just start out by saying: I HATE EATING TAKE OUT FOOD. I hate every aspect of the experience. I hate that the food sat. I hate that the food had to travel. I hate eating out of plastic. I own my own restaurant. I cook for people A LOT of hours every week. That last thing I want to do is eat food that was cooked half an hour ago out of a plastic container when I get to eat another restaurant’s food.

But! I have been completely unsuccessful, in the past three years, at convincing my parents to eat lunch out. They LOVE to order lunch and then bring it home and eat it. And we discovered Takumi during Covid when you actually could not eat in the dining room anyway. So I think that makes it even harder for me to convince them to go out and eat inside a restaurant for lunch when I’m visiting them from Vermont.

All that to say that one of the five stars of giving Takumi is for their sheer grit and hustle and professionalism during Covid (they took orders online and over the phone and there was completely contactless pick up in their vestibule) and how that has carried over in these Post Covid Times. You can EASILY place your order online and then Takumi calls you to get your credit card info for payment. I’m assuming that saves them the RIDICULOUS fees so many of these ordering platforms charges restaurants.

That star is also for the fact that I have been physically unable to eat inside. But I’d definitely like to…

Every time we’ve gone to pick up our lunch it has always been ready. We’ve never had to wait. Not even when they were just BUSTING OUT the take out during Covid.

Not once has our order ever been wrong.

Sushi/Japanese Cuisine has come a long way in Branford in the past 20 years. And Takumi is really excellent for a town on the Shoreline in Connecticut. They have a pretty extensive sushi menu (cut rolls, handrolls, meals, combos, etc.) . But they also have Soups, Salads, Hot Appetizers, Cold Appetizers, Tempura dishes, Rice Bowls and Noodles, Donburi Lunch Specials, Kitchen Entrees and Ramen! Meals all come with a choice of soup or salad (and there is actually a variety of options for each).

I had some cut rolls over Covid. They were perfectly good for take out sushi (not my favorite thing). The Miso Soup and Clear Soup (which is Vegan - the menu notes which items are vegetarian and vegan if it is not obvious) are both very good.

Since we’re only ever eating take out I do steer away from rolls. Because I have standards regarding my nori…

However! The thing I get over and over again is the Salmon Skin Salad. Sooooooo good. It is a salad of cucumbers and tomatoes and greens (today it was baby spinach) topped with a generous portion of strips of crispy salmon skin. I also ordered the seaweed salad (generous portion on bed of Iceberg) and basically mixed the two salads. DELICIOUS!

We had the Pineapple Fried Rice (chicken, shrimp, raisins, pineapple, egg, veggies) which is very good, similar to Singapore Noodle flavoring with some curry in there, but not spicy at all. Generous portions of shrimp and the other ingredients.

Edamame is always very good. Perfectly steamed.

I ordered a Sushi Entree: Sake Don. Which is Salmon Sashimi over a bed of sushi rice with Japanese Pickles. I’m going to be honest. There was SO MUCH SALMON I almost couldn’t finish it. Which is basically straight up Crazy Talk for me!!

Good Food. Good Service. Huge Menu with something for everything. I am happy to support Takumi in Branford!

So chic and great food. Looked clean and server was very nice.

i’ve only ordered takeout from this place but i will say they serve the best katsudon i’ve ever had and it’s a great portion aswell

Love this place, great sushi and drinks. Always a good choice to have dinner out and priced are reasonable

Gourmet and most importantly FRESH! Everything is so delicious and they really do a great job with presentation. One of our favorite sushi places

The best sushi around! The quality of the fish is excellent- so fresh, the salmon melts in your mouth. We have been here twice and each time have enjoyed the creative menu as well as the lovely presentation and attentive service. Love this place💚💙💛🍣

This place consistently has some of the best sushi I’ve ever had. Decided to try the chicken teriyaki lunch special. They did not disappoint. Comes with a soup or salad too.

Great restaurant, fresh sushi and delicious appetizers and non sushi entrees. I'm a big fan of their ramen and fried rice as well. The ambiance is always cute for date nights or girls nights and the service is always on point. Highly recommend.

Amazing place for a date night. Phenomenal sushi and best takoyaki we have ever had!

The sushi here is innovative and delicious. We were blown away by the summer roll, don't miss it. Over all it was an excellent experience in a stylish and trendy environment. We will be back again.

First time here and it was fantastic! Fish was very good and fresh tasting. The pork gyoza were fantastic and not oily at all. The ramen was also well done with a savory broth that had all the right elements to it and the noodles were cooked perfectly!

This is THE place to get sushi in Branford. Their high class Sushi Chef's personally prepare your food as you ordered it. You might have to wait a bit, but it'll be worth the wait. If you're not into sushi they also have a wide variety of Ramen and other Japanese cuisines to delight your pallet. The music is jazzy and upbeat; which provides the most amazing ambience while you eat your specially prepared meal. They have a full bar and plenty of exotic drinks to your liking. A definite 5 star visit, this is a definite must for any local our traveler looking for a great place to eat sushi! Well done!!!

I love this place so much! The Ramen and Sushi are absolutely wonderful, all of their desserts are delicious especially the banana tempura, and the female staff members are so kind and happy as they are beautiful. Eating here is always a treat to me and I will continue to come here for a long time.

Absolutely the tastiest, freshest, and best presented sushi in the greater New Haven area. Hands down.

Wow did this place take me by surprise. I wasnt expecting the exceptional flavors the restaurant was able to produce in every bite of their food. I was about to head to NY for great ramen when I stumbled upon this lil gem in my own backyard. The marriage between ramen and sushi make this place a must see for yourself.

Hands down the best Asian food in Branford. The prices are EXTREMELY reasonable. The drinks are delicious and my mojito was only $10. Couldn’t believe it.

Everything is very fresh and the inside of the restaurant is clean.

I highly recommend this place to anyone who regularly enjoys Asian cuisine.

Ordered a variety of sushi, Ramen specialty bowl, homemade Shumai, side of noodles, and fried ice-cream: everything was delicious!! Overall food quality is really good. Highly recommend. Only drawback: a bit longer wait times than typical. Everything is top quality and worth the wait. The drinks are strong and tasty.

Update: in person sushi was great tonight. Definitely a repeat.

Nice place. Good food. We liked the sushi and Ramen offering.

Beautifully prepared food! Always fresh & delicious. Relaxing atmosphere.

EDIT 9/13/21 - Just would like to commend them on their wonderful service. Always a great experience whether dining in or for takeout! I've been a regular here for well over a year not once has my order been messed up. Everything is always so yummy!

Great food. Not only beautiful but delicious. I wish the had better signage I think they would be busier. Slightly had to find, but worth it!