Samurai Blue Sushi & Sake Bar
Ybor City, Tampa
Restaurant in Tampa, United States
The Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
Samurai Blue Sushi & Sake Bar is the easy Ybor City choice when sushi, sake, late dinner flexibility matter more than a formal tasting-menu experience. It suits dates, small celebrations, pre-night-out meals; choose dinner over lunch if the sake-bar side is part of the plan.
About Samurai Blue Sushi & Sake Bar
Samurai Blue Sushi & Sake Bar is a Tampa venue with verified hours that cover weekday lunch windows and evening service throughout the week. The confirmed details are direct: casual dress, lunch hours Monday through Friday, later closing times on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
Because the verified public details are limited, the safest way to plan is around the schedule rather than assuming a specific menu format, service style, price point, or reservation pattern. Use the hours below as the main decision point, check the venue directly for current menu, booking, service details before making plans.
Samurai Blue Sushi & Sake Bar hours in Tampa
Verified hours are Monday and Tuesday from 11:30 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 11 PM; Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 12 AM; Friday from 11:30 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 1 AM; Saturday from 5 PM to 1 AM; and Sunday from 5 PM to 11 PM.
For readers comparing Tampa plans, Samurai Blue Sushi & Sake Bar can be considered alongside Bernini of Ybor, James Joyce Irish Pub & Eatery, La Creperia Cafe @ Ybor City, Barterhouse Ybor, The Bricks. Choose based on the kind of evening you want, then confirm current hours and availability with the venue.
Where it fits in a Tampa night out
The practical advantage is timing. Weekday lunch is available Monday through Friday, while evening hours run every day, with the latest closing times on Friday and Saturday. Dress code is casual, so there is no verified need to plan around a formal attire requirement.
For a wider Tampa shortlist, use Our full Tampa restaurants guide, then branch into Our full Tampa bars guide. Other Tampa dining options can help you compare the right fit for the same day or evening.
If Samurai Blue Sushi & Sake Bar is on your shortlist, treat the venue name and verified hours as the grounded planning information. For anything more specific, including menu details, drinks, pricing, reservations, takeout, delivery, or dietary accommodations, check the venue's official channels before you go.
Planning details
- Location
- 1600 E 8th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605
- Website
- samuraiblue.com
- Phone
- +1 813 242 6688
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Samurai Blue reads like a neighbourhood izakaya transported to Ybor City: a sake-forward sushi bar that leans into regulars and repeat visits rather than tasting-menu formality. The tone is relaxed and familiar, with a service rhythm shaped by people who come back so often servers and staff anticipate their orders. It deliberately avoids the sterility of omakase counter ritual, preferring a more approachable, communal feel. The result is an intimate, cozy place that sits comfortably alongside Ybor’s rowdier dining staples while offering something a bit more considered than a grab-and-go roll joint.
Best For
This is a place built for after-work drinks, late-night rolls and repeat visits: patrons come alone or in small groups and stay for sake and familiar plates. It works well for casual hangouts and group dining where conversation and shared plates take precedence over formal pacing. Regulars set the tempo here, so expect an easygoing evening where the kitchen responds best at certain times. The bar-leaning format and neighbourhood focus make it a dependable stop for locals and visitors seeking an authentic, relaxed sushi spot in Ybor City.
Ordering Tips
Pay attention to the unwritten menu: long-standing patrons often have go-to orders that don’t appear on the printed list, and servers at Samurai Blue recognize those preferences. If you want the most attentive kitchen service, aim for the evening window when the write-up notes the kitchen is most responsive. Lean into the sake program alongside signature rolls — the Spicy Roll, Mexican Roll and classics like Seaweed Salad and Blue Crab Rangoon are reliable picks. Ask staff about house recommendations; frequents often get seat and dish preferences honored without having to ask.
Planning details
Location
Also consider
If this is not the right fit
Pick Bernini of Ybor if the table wants Italian and a more classic celebration dinner. Pick The Bricks if the group wants a casual Ybor meal with less emphasis on cuisine format.
Restaurant context
How it compares in Ybor City
Choose Samurai Blue Sushi & Sake Bar when the decision is sushi plus sake in Ybor, especially for a date or small celebration that needs an easy reservation path. Bernini of Ybor is the better fit for Italian comfort and a more classic dinner feel, while Barterhouse Ybor makes more sense for a broader American meal.
For casual value, La Creperia Cafe @ Ybor City and The Bricks are easier daytime or low-key choices. James Joyce Irish Pub & Eatery is the pick when the group wants pub energy over a composed sushi dinner. The tradeoff is simple: Samurai Blue is stronger for a themed dinner plan; the others win when the night is more casual or cuisine-neutral.
Explore Tampa
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Samurai Blue Sushi & Sake Bar guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Samurai Blue Sushi & Sake Bar
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Samurai Blue Sushi & Sake Bar | Tampa | No published awards |
| Bernini of Ybor | Tampa | No published awards |
| Barterhouse Ybor | Tampa | No published awards |
| La Creperia Cafe @ Ybor City | Tampa | No published awards |
| James Joyce Irish Pub & Eatery | Tampa | No published awards |
| The Bricks | Tampa | No published awards |
How Samurai Blue Sushi & Sake Bar Tampa compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I book Samurai Blue Sushi & Sake Bar?
Verified booking requirements are not available here. Samurai Blue Sushi & Sake Bar is in Tampa, its verified hours include weekday lunch and evening service throughout the week. Check the venue directly for current reservation or walk-in guidance.
Is Samurai Blue Sushi & Sake Bar good for a special occasion?
That depends on what you want from the occasion. The verified facts confirm casual dress and evening hours every day, including later hours on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. For a different Tampa plan, you might also compare Bernini of Ybor, James Joyce Irish Pub & Eatery, or another nearby option.
What should a first-timer know about Samurai Blue Sushi & Sake Bar?
Samurai Blue Sushi & Sake Bar is in Tampa. Verified hours are Monday and Tuesday from 11:30 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 11 PM; Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 12 AM; Friday from 11:30 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 1 AM; Saturday from 5 PM to 1 AM; and Sunday from 5 PM to 11 PM. Dress code is casual.
Is lunch or dinner better at Samurai Blue Sushi & Sake Bar?
Use the verified hours to decide. Lunch is listed Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM to 2 PM, while evening hours are listed every day, with later closing times on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. For a different kind of Tampa outing, La Creperia Cafe @ Ybor City or The Bricks may also be worth comparing.
What are alternatives to Samurai Blue Sushi & Sake Bar in Tampa?
Other nearby options to compare include Bernini of Ybor, James Joyce Irish Pub & Eatery, The Bricks, Barterhouse Ybor, La Creperia Cafe @ Ybor City. Check current hours and offerings directly before choosing.
