Typical Japanese restaurant. Service is terrible. If you go there right before they open lunch or dinner, Waitress will stare at you and she does not seem to be happy with her job. Friendly service with smile is always important to show to customers. I would not recommend this place read more

Such a cute little place with some fantastic sushi! I've been several times (most recently: last night), and have always enjoyed the food. Great quality fish and rice, and very well crafted. The service is always great too. The highlight of our meal was definitely the uni! Melts in your mouth. I look forward to coming back! read more

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The service here is absolutely horrible! It seems the server and chef are also the owners. They are very rude. No smile or greeting as I walk in. The server basically makes me walk to her at the back of the restaurant to request takeout. While I am talking to her, she shouts at me, "SHUT THE DOOR" because it was left ajar by accident. So I shut the door and walk back to her. She hands me a menu and literally, as I was flipping it open she tells me to order. Ummm...could I have a minute to decide? I apologize for inconveniencing you! She takes my order with an attitude like she's doing me a favor and tells me it will take 25 mins. We decide to check into our hotel and my husband runs out to get the food. When he gets back, we discover that one of the items we ordered for our son is missing and replaced with another item we did not want. My husband runs back to the restaurant and the server claims that no, this is what we ordered. We would have to wait again for the item to be made. No apologies or efforts to fix their mistake. We decide to pass, it's not worth it. Overall, Akaoni was a terrible experience. The food tasted decent but then I got a bad stomach ache afterwards. Do yourself a favor and avoid this place. read more

I was really nervous going here because of the bad reviews on their customer service. I'll start by mentioning my husband is Chinese American and I'm Japanese American. We went quietly and respectfully into the restaurant for lunch. I admit the service wasn't outgoing and over-the-top, but they were respectful back to us and they were friendly. The Japanese waitress asked us how our meal was, and while we were leaving, the sushi chef and waitress both told us "thank you." It was a way better experience than what I had expected. The food of course was awesome. It was the best saba I have ever tasted. The sushi was also fresh and clean. I would definitely go back there next time we are in the area. read more

My wife and I visited Akaoni, on 5/12/2018. To begin, if you dont have a reservation by phone or walk up, then you will not be eating. If you do get a seat, sit back and get ready to have your taste buds marinated in umami. 1. We began with the house made tofu soup. It was creamy, satifying and comforting. The flavors were miso, sesami and a slight tart, but well balanced. 2. We moved on to cooked yellow tail with daikon and... Umami. When you cannot describe how good something is or how good it makes you feel when you eat it, then umami is the flavor. I like daikon s a vegetable and this by far a great way to have it. 3. Next we had the 8 piece selection, it was served nigiri style. I did not catch the names of the selected fish, but, the portions per serving were cut generously. The select cuts were well balanced in; sushi rice, fish and wasabi combination. The sushi rice is prepared very well here (which is a big plus). 4. We finished with cuts of: unagi, tako, saba, salmon and tamago. I recommend the unagi as your "closure bite". The chef takes great care and consideration with your meal. You will not be set up for failure in Akaoni. Try the house special sake with your cuts of fish, the 16oz was good enough for 2 people to share within an hour. The serving staff was a single person taking and delivering your order, but, everything arrived in a timely manner. We will return when we visit Carmel again. read more

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10 pc. Chef selection was bomb! So fresh - melts in your mouth. Also the way they do their vegetable and shrimp tempura so delish! You've gotta check this place out when in Carmel! read more

We've tried a number of local sushi places and it's no contest, this is the best. The Michelin guide isn't joking when it describes Akaoni as "no-frills" with its friendly two person staff, but the sashimi assortments showcase the unbelievable freshness of their excellent cuts of fish. Very obviously a mom and pop operation, there is limited seating, so if you are trying to dine in with a larger group maybe look elsewhere (Toro nearby is also very good and has a buzzy atmosphere friendly to dining in, along with a large outdoor seating area). But, if your mission is to simply eat the best, most authentic sushi in Carmel/ Monterey, look no further. read more

I have used yelp for years to read reviews and see pics but my experience at Akaoni is what has prompted me to actually write a review. I wish I could give this place a zero. Other Asian yelp reviewers' comments about owners' terrible service to Asian customers mirrors my experience here. I was dining alone for dinner, walking in 10 minutes after opening. 1 table was seated, with 1 carry out order taking place. I was left waiting near the door without anyone acknowledging me for a good 2-3 minutes. Finally I got seated at the bar by the waitress. When asked the difference between the 10, 12, and 14 piece sushi plates, the chef yelled at me. His exact words: geesh, you want to know everything!? Ummm, yes, I do. Whenever non-Asian customers arrived, the chef or waitress immediately welcomed them. The first Asian couple that entered after me were told by the chef that there are no tables. That's it. No offer like, can you come back in 1-2 hrs, but just NO. The next customers were non-Asian and they were told, please come back around 8pm. What?!? WTF. I was the only Asian customer dining at the time and was completely ignored, except for when they wanted to give me the bill. This is not a matter of poor service. It's just pure racist behavior. And I'm not a service snob. I'm okay with Asian restaurants with terrible service but excellent food. I'm also not new to grumpy Japanese sushi chefs. If the sushi were high quality, I would not be as upset. However I found the nigiri to be overpriced and lacking flavor. Every nigiri piece was mediocre except the amaebi. read more

This is a unique restaurant which offers the best sushi in the area. The fish is top quality, preparations are traditional and very well executed, and the service is excellent once you are seated and dining. The environment is unassuming and pleasant. The true gems are routinely the specials. Check the board and enjoy. For the uniqueness: It can be difficult to get a reservation, and my best success comes from the local advantage of walking by and asking for a date (while getting a look that very much indicated I will not be seated in my dog walking or sweaty jogging state). Substitutions or modifications are not allowed, so trust the chef. Lastly, they value the experience of the restaurant as a whole over any single diner, and I think are more willing to be confrontational over rude behavior than the average American expects. Many of the 1 star reviews give me the impression of unpleasant people who were surprised to see their attitude reflected to them. The bad: yes, it is hard to get reservations and their very small staff will prioritize work in the restaurant rather than answering the phone. I'm not sure what interactions the racist allegations in some of the reviews sprung from, but I have not seen that sort of thing while dining (caveat being I am a white male local). read more

This place has horrible serviceand no matter when you call for a reservation, they always seem to be booked for a party or some type of event. Unless you like dinner at 5pm (btw they open at 5:30p) good luck! read more

I haven't traveled the Seven Seas or even stepped foot in Japan and by no means am I a sushi expert. In fact I don't even like sushi all that much. I go with friends because everyone in California seems to have a major hard on for sushi. I have eaten more bad sushi than I care to remember. So far in my life I can count the total number of times I have had really good sushi on one hand: once at Kitsho in Cupertino, again at Wazuzu in the Encore Hotel in Las Vegas (where I had the sweetest most delicious uni ever in the desert!), and now at Akaoni in Carmel. After having sushi at Akaoni I have come to the following realization: my friends who love sushi will probably eat anything and I was right to not like it! In fact, I once dated a guy who had a friend who told him that me not liking sushi should be a major deal breaker. To that 'old acquaintance' I say, "Screw off with your bad sushi. You have no taste Sir. I have tasted heaven at Akaoni. I get it now. I love good sushi." Normally I can stomach a few pieces of fatty tuna sashimi and then I'm on to rolls. At Akaoni I was a sashimi eating maniac. Everything was so fresh that no wasabi or soy was even needed! We had uni nigiri, maguro, toro, and the best sashimi of the night was the red snapper (also the best sashimi of my life so far). We also dined on the fried tofu appetizer, daikon steamed with chicken broth, we finished with some broiled mackerel...and then of course the obligatory tea and green tea ice cream. I'm looking forward to my next visit with much anticipation. Thank you Akaoni for turning me into a bona fide sushi lover and for making me realize I should trust my own taste buds and not the pretentious sushi whores in my social network. I know what's up. read more

They are a traditional sushi spot and it's amazing. The fish is incredibly fresh and the chef's omakase choices are always excellent. The vibe is small and intimate and the service is friendly. read more

Great sushi very fresh ingredients and a treat for any one who truly appreciate sushi. Which means if you are there for a California role you Amy be disappointed. Go for unique ingredients served fresh by a master sushi chef. read more

A Day in My Life. Theme - Getting over Jet Lag, Part 5 Ell and I got back to Carmel around 4:00 PM. I did some house chores and fought the urge to sleep. I wanted to eat at Akaoni at 5:30 PM, which is when they open on the weekdays. Akaoni, for me, is about sushi and sake. They offer the best sushi in Carmel, better than Hanagasa, Robata, and Sushi Heaven. It's a small restaurant at the corner of Mission and 5th Streets in Carmel. They only have 25 seats in the restaurant (3 x 4 tops, 1 x 6 top and 7 seats at the sushi counter). Even though Akaoni offers various kinds of donburi, udon, tempura, and so on, it's the sushi that I truly appreciate here and the excellent selection of Japanese sake. I ordered the chirashi zushi which featured plentiful slices of fresh halibut, maguro, salmon, yellow tail, octopus, spicy tuna, clam and a raw prawn over sushi rice in a black lacquer box. It was garnished with shiso and shredded daikon and wasabi with a heaping clump of gari (pickled ginger) tucked away in a corner of the box. It was great and went well with a hot chuubin of Nihonshu. After finishing dinner, all was right with the world. I was ready to meet my friend, Patrick, at Il Fornaio for early evening drinks. read more

I read a lot of reviews saying the owner and wife are rude, blah blah blah. I also read most reviews praising the quality of the food despite the service. Me and my wife walked in around 11:30am on a Saturday morning. The hostess pointed to a table and we were promptly provided menus. Ordering was fast; food came out quick. I didn't have any complaints about the service. The hostess and chef were polite and obviously took pride in their work. This is not a place like Benihana's where you expect the chef to put on a show and entertain people. Quiet? Sure, but it's probably a cultural thing and not intended to be mean. I had the 3pc sushi bento box (also came with 2pc of each tuna maki, spicy tuna roll, and cucumber Maki). The sushi was good, but what really kicked my ass (in an awesome way) was the Toro. Granted, I have never had Toro before, but the thing just melted in my mouth like an Eddie Van Halen guitar solo lol. Will definitely come back again the next time me and my wife are in town. read more

Made a reservation for dinner and arrived 20 minutes late due to the car shows going on and being completely unable to find any parking. Walked in and said we were here and apologized for being late due to the parking and the owner yelled at us "no, out!!!!" Couldn't tell you how the food was! Went next door instead and had a fabulous meal. We were told by several people that they had the best sushi in town but that the owner was crazy a la Seinfeld's "soup Nazi"and that they called him the Sushi Nazi! read more

great toro and housemade tofu. the waitress and sushi chef are super sweet. the way the chef slices the abalone sashimi shows great knife skills! i loved the aji, ankimo, uni, oysters, and toro. the little dish of appetizer before your meal was fine, but i didn't care for it. reservations highly recommended, don't be late. read more

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After reading the glowing reviews here and elsewhere about the food here we were really looking forward to it. Many reviews mentioned vegetarian options so we weren't worried about the veg-heads in the party. I knew we were in trouble the minute we walked in. The tiny place was only half full. The chef looked up at us like he was going to throw the knife at us and the hurried server glanced at us like we were lepers. We were well dressed and I checked to make sure my fly wasn't open. The vibe was just thick. Kind of a "this place is for a handful of local regulars and we don't want or need your business kinda vibe". Against my gut feeling, we sat down and looked at the menu. When the unsmiling server came over we had the audacity to ask about vegetarian options. There was no seaweed salad and only one veg roll. When we asked if we could customize some rolls we were told no. There was a language barrier and all answers were yes and no. I take that back, all answers were just NO. NO we dont want your business. NO we won't make you anything to eat even if we have all the ingredients right in front of us. No, no, no. I looked at my friends and I didn't even have to ask...Do we want to stay here we are not welcome or wanted? The answer was clear...NO. read more

Wow, #2 rated resturanted in all of Carmel on tripadvisor.... really? There's many things to be in awe of in this part of Cali but the food on this entire peninsula has disappointed me time and time. The sushi is edible, tofu was the highlight. Service is stiff as the Carmel crowd, very elitest and unfriendly towards visitors. The 2 second stare and then turned head in opposite direction, could you get any more rude? There should be a sign that says, "Locals Only". read more

If I could - I would give this place ZERO. The owner and his wife are possibly the rudest $&@#'s on the face of the Earth. I'd like to give them each a slap on the face. Funny thing is - only rude to other Asians. They told Asians to come back later when there's 'space' but gave tables to any non Asians who walked in afterwards. read more

They have super fresh sashimi from Japan and their steam claim will make your stomach very happy!! read more

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This is the most authentic Japanese sushi I've had since I lived in Tokyo. No cream cheese, no jalapenos, just the natural flavors of high-quality fish, wasabi and rice, made the way they do it in Japan. Carmel has a hidden treasure in this little place. Those giving this restaurant bad reviews wouldn't know good sushi if it slapped them across the face like a wet tuna. Please go to Sushi Heaven and leave this place for people who can enjoy the cuisine. read more

The Best. Turn off your cell phones, act respectfully, and appreciate the art that is being shared with you. This is NOT a California roll, sake bomb, Japan-o-merican joint with quirky rolls and stupid specials. This is real Japanese cuisine. If you're from LA looking to create your own menu, go back to LA and create your own menu. Make sure to look at the special board. The Best... read more

The only sushi worth eating. No weak ass "sushi" covered in fat sause and syrup like the rest of the crap in carmel.Hard to believe the low quality of food in town as a whole. Guess tourist are not too picky. This is the real deal. Quality is what you get...period. Do yourself a favor if you care about what you pay for. read more

They have issue with Asia people. We been going there for a while, each time for two of us we could spend over $150.00 the owner and the wife never says hello or thanks always cold and with attitude. But if white custom coming, you can see the different how they treated them, nice and warm with respect. We always walk away with lousy felling and unwelcome. not sure why they are so mean to Chinese, We keep order lot of expensive stuff and very polite to them , and they just treated us like dirt for no reason. read more

*Great sushi, poor service*(Japanese reviewer) I was born and raised in Japan. I have been to many authentic sushi restaurants in my life. The fish I ate here was very good. I'd say best quality in Monterey. (I had better in San Diego or NYC) If I compare the ones in Japan, I'd say it's pretty good but not the best quality. Abalone was good (for US standard) but it's small. We eat much bigger and better in Japan. I think the chef and the waitress don't speak much English. When my English speaker husband called the restaurant, she hang up on him after she didn't understand what he was saying. While we were eating, she picked up the phone and told the person on the phone "too loud. Can't hear." And then hang up on the phone again... My husband and I looked at each other and whispered "I guess that's what happened earlier!" Overall, one of the best sushi/sashimi in Monterey. Bad customer service but if you don't have to ask any questions, and know exactly what you want... I'd say go for it! read more

Akaoni - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carmel, California

The restaurant is warm and clear. We ordered on the bar table because of no reservation for dinner.The food is the best and most fresh,looks like the fabulous one.Everything is the good,the price is expensive. read more

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"HIs job is to make the best sushi, not to make friends" noted a fellow diner, who had driven from Santa Cruz to feast at Akaoni. Apparently, the chef/ owner is an absolute rock star on the sushi scene, but isn't big on smiles. Trust me, the food is totally worth the straight-faced service. This is serious sushi. You don't have to pretend you're in Japan here...you basically are. The restaurant is tiny, 25 seats total. It's very quiet and intimate, a whispered noise level. The menu is written in Japanese with loose English translations, so be adventurous and order anything with a "chef's selection". We asked the locals what was best and ended up with most of the daily specials - spanish mackerel, fresh crab roll, black seaweed salad with homemade tofu. Everything was fab. It's amazing how the scariest looking piece of fish can taste like butter when prepped by a pro. He even cooked our mackerel bones after we finished and turned them into a crispy snack. Whoa, that was a first. Everyone gets a complimentary scoop of green tea ice cream, which is even better than a smile in my book! Thanks for keeping it real, Akaoni. read more

So fresh, simple, clean. What needs improving is the service staff. One waitress looks likes she's terrified - at everything. I've been several times, she doesn't indicate she's seen me before. I am always very respectful and mention that I'm glad to be back - NOTHING! I've been told there was no space available when I've seen several. Sashimi that tastes like it was caught that morning! Very small (maybe 30 seats), but I would not hesitate in recommending. read more

I don't know how good their sushi is but they are so fxxxing rude, including the chef. We entered the restaurant - it's a small restaurant by the way- and the chef saw us, didn't say anything, so we stand there a couple of minutes, no one says anything, and finally the chef looked at us and asked, "Did you make a reservation?" We said no, then he said, "No, No!!" .....and that was it. If your attitude sucks, you'll never be able to serve good food to customers. read more

Amazing quality Japanese cuisine. This is not a sushi place nor a place for happy hour sake bombs, people yelling at you as you walk through the door and Crazy sauces on made up rolls. He is truly a skilled chef and I get the feeling he doesn't care too much to have the place packed and make a bunch of money. If a table is reserved he won't seat you which I find admirable. Make a reservation, be respectful, prepare to drop some money, don't expect anything but authentic Japanese food and don't ruin the quality with a bunch of soy sauce. read more

5+++++ There is something about simplicity in Japanese food that distinctly makes its quality the essence of....wow what the hell i'm i writing. That was a surreal moment. Akaoni is one of the the best muthaf**in sushi restuarants in the Western Hemisphere. I usually judge a sushi place, by my main sushi staple checklist, tai, kanpachi, uni and toro. Does is melt in your mouth? yes Smoothness? yes Other contaminate flavors other than the fish? no Is it too fishy? no Is it cut to perfection? yes What other exotic fish do they have? yes It was all there, Akaoni is truly a 5. The quality of the food is just amazing, mmmmmmm!!!!!!!! And this is why i'm a bad reviewer. I can't even describe how good it was. read more

Wow. Nice attitude lady. No prob waiting for a table of 4, but the eye roll was unnecessary. And when you say 45 minutes with a table of 4 clearly at the end of the meal...not cool. I even said we'd wait...then she bumps it to 1:15 mins. Can't support this no matter how good your food might be. Blows my mind that so many others said the same thing. I don't get the hate...especially in the beautiful area here. read more

I am a very long time sushi person. Plus / minus / neutral on Akaoni. Plus: Chef is very knowledgeable and takes great time / pride in his creations. They offer specialty creations other than standard sashimi and sushi that I have never experienced. I plan to return to try every one of these items and I suggest you do as well. Superior presentation. Neutral: Most of the fish is superior, some average. Live Monterey prawns in the tank! Minus: Chef and staff are dour to the point of being funereal. Chef didn't even look up when he was complimented on the food. Very standoffish to the point that the atmosphere in the entire restaurant is affected. Don't go here for fun. It's not fun. Go here to enjoy the food and speciality items, but be prepared to be underwhelmed when it comes to atmosphere; both physical and personal. read more

This is within walking distance of my parents' house. Some of the best Japanese on the Central Coast-- but it comes with a hefty price. A small almost hole in the wall in Carmel, this place has amazing customer service... The family who owns the place is friendly and remember faces. Their bento box is about 50 bucks-- but is literally a four course meal. Their fried oysters are to perfection, their sashimi is some of the freshest around. I love their miso-- I recommend their red bean ice cream for dessert. They have some good vegetarian options as well-- last time I went for dinner they offered a broiled eggplant. Call in advance-- they have about 7 seats at the Sushi Bar and about four tables. read more

So being surrounded by fish all day and the ocean breeze, I was craving Japanese fiercely. Looking at the handy dandy map our b&b gave us, we peered for minutes to find something that would fit the bill. Akaoni turned out to be our restaurant and oh what a fine choice we made. We had a bit of an adventure trying to find the restaurant on foot. Looked round and round in the area before someone was kind enough to lead us there. When we got in and sat down, I was starving! I wanted to order the entire menu but I showed some restraint. I only ordered a quarter of it. I ordered the Unagi Roll, Rainbow Roll, NegiHama roll, Tuna Sashimi, Fried soft shell crab, broiled yellowfish with teriyaki sauce. BF washed it down with some Asahi beer while I drank chilled Otokoyama Daiginjo. Mmm. We relished every bite until we were too full to eat any more and then had more pieces. This restaurant is small but absolutely delicious. My favorite restaurant of the trip so far! I totally recommend this to anyone who's going to Carmel to check it out! read more

If you know what Omakase is, then this is the place to go. Proper Japanese sushi. Super quality. read more

Akaoni - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carmel, California

WARNING this is a Japanese restaurant and NOT a fake Japanese food trough with sauces that overwhelm the taste buds. I requested the chef for a Omakase as it was my birthday. Got a bottle of great Junmie Digingo sake made by Kubota in the Niigata prefecture. Really good stuff, clean, dry and short finish. Soon the procession began. Oyster was the first course and it was sublime. The flavors and presentation was so on point. The chef made a course of fresh Tofu that was creamy and out of this world. Salmon skin. Head on Shrimp. Tuna Sashimi. ......I have to say the knife skills of the chef was so good. Sashimi was cut to show case the fish and the quality was very good. Surprising that he could do such a good job here in Carmel and not in San Fran or LA. How did he get such quality fish? The Chef is reserved and not your garden verity clown cook who yells or sounds a drum or worse makes all his employees say silly words. Again please do NOT go to Akaoni if u want a spicy tuna roll or California roll. If u want to throw a sake shot into your beer then Akaoni may not be the place for you. If you like Japanese food and want to try a Superb place without paying through your nose or if you want New York Times 3 star quality food with out going to New York ( as I lived, breathed and dined in the city for 15 years ). Respect the ingredients. read more

This Restaurant is hard to find - no sign, no numbers in their address. It is actually on Mission between Grasings Coastal Cusine (which is at the corner of 6th and Mission) and a Florist further up Mission. The Bento Box was really good. The Chicken Katsu was outstanding as the batter was light and crunchy and not over cooked. The Broiled Salmon in miso sauce was also excellent. Their homemade Tofu is a very nice side dish and the maki sushi comes with just the right amount of rice (on the delicate side). Cost about $15. My wife said that it's the best Chicken Katsu she has ever had. Lunch is from about 11:30 am to 1:00 pm so, no Bento Box after 1:00 pm. The restaurant was noticeably quiet. As usual, when in Carmel expect to have to drive around to find parking. read more

Well we tried to like it. John, my son loves sushi. He has had them all in Monterey and between us we have it once or twice a week. Our least favorite is here. No connection with the chefs, lousy service, and the food was just plain strange. John and I ordered 3-4 different rolls and we did think they were even edible. We did not order any more rolls, paid the bill then went to Sushi Heaven.......ah......sushi at last! For us........stay away......even Yama Sushi is far superior to this place. Expensive. It should not be here long. read more