The absolute WORST customer service I have encountered. NEVER AGAIN. There is a CHEMICAL SMELL but I actually was ok with this place until I received the worst customer service ever. I was waiting for my husband to have dinner and thought I would wait at the bar downstairs, THEIR BAR! A waitress, rather aggressively stopped me before entering the restaurant restroom- for customers only. I said I would be eating there, I was a customer. She said I could only use the bathroom downstairs. You could tell she was eager to start a battle. I proceeded to use the restroom anyway.

She then yelled about which stairs I was using but there were no signs. It was bizarre how heated she got. The waitress got very aggressive and even found me downstairs 20 min. later to literally scream at me when I was telling my husband why we weren't eating there. She couldn't even hear what I was saying so it was obvious she just wanted to yell more. I asked her repeatedly to walk away from me, but she refused.

I maintained my calm but the woman wouldnt lower her voice. We're new to b-more so I felt disappointed bythe fact that this waitress could get away with this. Nobody stepped in except for the bartender who apologized. AWFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!

Total dive bar, but with sushi. I highly recommend going to karaoke on saturday night. The karaoke machine is korean, I think, and it plays the most random videos you can think of behind the lyrics to the song. One minute it might be showing people on a beach and the next clips from japaneese B-movies. Also, be prepared to hunt for the song you like, the book is only organized by song title.

All in all a pretty cool joint though. Also has a cozy little couch tucked away in the back that's good for getting away from people for a little while.

Aloha has become a staple sushi joint for me. I only go to the downstairs bar though. The $1 menu is the best sushi deal in town and the nagiri is some of the freshest around. Sure, you'll find better but not for a buck. The bartender is always helpful and friendly and the place seems like a very local place as most people who come to the bar seem to know the place well. Always relaxed and the rolls are very consistant. Some of the best spicy tuna as well which is one of my grading points for any new sushi experience. It's also interesting to have quality sushi in a dive bar atmosphere. It works.

I love Aloha for their $1 menu. Anytime you go almost all nigiri is a dollar. A Dollar, as in one. They also have some tasty rolls - the Aloha Roll is a personal favorite and highly recommended. They're willing to split checks as long as you let them know at the start, so it's a good place to share a meal with friends without worrying about the cash.

Aloha truly seems to be a neighborhood dive bar, with a sushi angle. But what you want to catch is the happy hour in the bottom bar area. In fact, I've never eaten upstairs, but I don't know how much difference that makes, as the food comes from upstairs anyway.
So, go the the bar on the bottom and suck up your fill of nigari, shrimp, wings, and a couple of averaged price rolls.
Specials include $1 nigari, $0.35 wings and shrimp, $1 Bohs, 1/2 price drafts and domestic beers. Simple rolls run $5, and the speciality rolls are in the $10 range. Sushi was fresh, altho not extrodinarily presented, or exceptionally creative. But the owners are nice, and most patrons at the bar seem to be repeats and regulars. That alone speaks volumes.
On Friday & Saturday nites is karaokee.
I just liked that it was a dive bar that served sushi. But I'm a little simple that way... :)