A friend recommended this restaurant for the the Ton Ton Men. Top score! Great flavor, decent noodles and massive. I had multiple rolls and the grilled hamachi and all were good. I don't know why people are complaining about the service. Great service! Fast and attentive and other servers asking if we needed anything. The down point was for the smell and the floor. It had a cleaner smell that I don't care for from my days in restaurant work. The floor was sticky despite the cleanser. Basic strip mall with great parking. read more

My friends had lunch there and the party of five asked for separate checks. One person paid with a credit card and the rest in cash. My friend watched the waitress stack the 5 trays and left to process payment. Waitress returned and told them she was missing one payment. The party insisted that they all paid. The manager came to the table and told them they had to pay before they leave. Again, the party insisted they all paid. One of the ladies asked,"Are you saying that we're lying? There's security cameras in this room. Go review the footage and you can see the proof that we all paid and the waitress took the trays." Apparently the security cameras weren't functioning as he wouldn't look at the footage. The manager wanted to charge the missing payment to the person who used a charge card for her payment and the group told him that was not acceptable. The dispute went on for 30 minutes and customers at a near by table kept turning around and looking at us. The manager stepped away again and returned shortly with the missing payment saying that he found it under the cash register! There was no true apology, no effort to compensate the group for the embarrassing behavior and accusations. Clearly it was the waitress' mistake and she didn't apologize to the group. This is unacceptable behavior from the manager. Knowing this happened yesterday, I will no longer dine at Akebono. Very poor customer service. read more

Terrible Service Again!!! We will NEVER go back. We've been going to this restaurant for years, and the service has steadily declined over the past few years. Unfortunately, our Christmas Eve dinner was the final straw. Our family of 11 had the worst service we have ever experienced. The pacing was beyond unacceptable -- my husband finished his entire meal before my brother was even served. We repeatedly asked where the rest of the food was, and every time we were brushed off with a lazy "we'll check on it." No follow-up, no urgency, no apology. The staff clearly couldn't care less. What made it even worse was the attitude. It felt like from the very beginning they knew they didn't have to try. At the end of the meal, we requested that the service fee be discounted at the very least, since we essentially received no service at all. Despite acknowledging the issues, they still charged us the full service fee. It took some back forth with the manager for him to agree to give a 10% discount. No accountability. No professionalism. No respect for long-time customers. After years of loyalty, we will NEVER go back. Save your time, money and sanity, and go elsewhere. read more

They couldn't have chosen a better name for the Dream Come True roll, because it truly is such a dream come true to taste this delicious roll. It has all the cuts of fish, which makes it so worth it. Feels like getting sashimi inside the roll!! Every bite felt like a dream and couldn't stop talking about it after getting home! Also, I enjoyed the other dish we got such as the creamy albacore for appetizers and the soba tempura noodles. The tempura was perfectly fried! Overall, Akebono remains at the top of the list for best sushi spots in the Sacramento area! read more

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Akebono is one of those spots I keep in rotation because the portions actually match the price. I've had their sushi rolls, ramen, and curry, and out of everything on the menu, I keep coming back for the sushi rolls and the curry. It's just good value for what you're paying. The restaurant is clean and has ample room, which makes it a great option when you're going with a group. We usually have no problem getting seated together, but I'd still recommend calling ahead during peak hours just to be safe. Parking usually isn't an issue either, at least at night. Overall, it's a dependable spot when you want a comforting meal, solid portions, and prices that still feel reasonable. read more

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Ive been coming here forever and i have had recent check in but this last time i wanted to update my review. I love all sushi rolls here but my go to is the dream come true roll. It's one of those rolls that's twice the size of a regular roll for $22.95. I feel like the sushi wasn't as fresh as it once was and the roll which I thought was gigantic shrank in size. While there we also ordered the steak lunch box and the steak was not hot and small portions. The service is so and so and feel like the place has changed, for me anyhow. read more

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Very sad to write this review because we've been going to Akebono for years and it has always been our go to sushi spot in Sacramento. This visit was so disappointing. The fish was way too overcooked, and the portions inside the rolls were much smaller than usual. The photo included shows both the akebono and ichiro rolls - the fish inside are completely white and cooked to the point of being flaky. If you compare this image to previous reviews of the same rolls, you can see the difference - the fish used to be lightly seared but still had its color and texture. read more

Akebono - Ichiro roll and akebono roll - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

Celebrated a birthday here! It has been a long standing tradition for them but was new to me. I was excited to see what all the excitement was about. We had a triple roll (devoured before picture)! We also had the katsu chicken and shrimp and veggie tempura. The servings were generous and the everything was delicious! We had leftovers and were able to enjoy some tempura and chicken for lunch rhetorical next day. They have seating around the sushi bar, in the front and a buffer room in the back. The staff were attentive and the service was quick. read more

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A very popular sushi restaurant! Came here with my cousin for dinner to try and branch out from our usual spots. The sushi was tasty and they have tons of options. It was very busy the day we went but they have a lot of seating to accommodate. The staff were nice and the restaurant definitely has a high busy kind of energy to it from the decor to how many people were there. Have only been here the one time, so I want to come back to try some other options. The roll I got (sorry can't remember the name) had fresh sliced lemon on top which I love. We did get one roll that had cream cheese in it and it honestly was too much cream cheese that we poked it out. Would come back! read more

Akebono - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

Sushi craving? Ramen craving? Or how about a bento box? Come here for your Japanese fix. They have an abundance of options and none disappoint. read more

Akebono - Never can go wrong with a rainbow roll. - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

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This is a good spot to check out for sushi however I do love coming here for the ramen! I've dined in a few times and enjoyed the experience with how nice and friendly the staff are. Placing an order is easy and you get your items in a reasonable amount of time. This restaurant is clean and I love all of the decor inside. There's plenty of parking in the lot so you do not have to worry about that. I highly recommend you check out Akebono for a wonderful meal! read more

Our go-to for Japanese food! Love their sushi, particularly their awesome rolls. The kids are fans of their katsu curry and katsu don. Service was ok on a Saturday night. It definitely wasn't busy at all; however, for some reason the sushi rolls took forever. Practically arrived when the kids were almost done with their dinner. The restaurant is always clean and pretty spacious. The service is usually good. Maybe it was an off night for them? read more

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Came here for udon. Will come back for the sushi. Ordered the udon, bento box, and a spicy tuna roll. Udon was ..... very underwhelming. The chicken is straight up boiled breast. Tough. Dry. Flavorless. Broth was lacking in flavor. Noodles were good but can you really mess up noodles? Safe to say I will NOT order this again. Bento box was good. Nothing crazy. Wish the meat portions were a bit bigger but then again it is a bento box. Chicken katsu was juicy unlike the chicken in the udon. Spicy tuna roll was DELICIOUS. Fresh fish everything wow. Will definitely be back to try the sushi. Bill was about 65$ so average dinner price. Service was quick but nothing outstanding as they were very busy. Lots of extra seating the back. I'll be back to try more of the rolls but will be avoiding the udon. read more

Akebono - Udon - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I'm not overly impressed, but the food is okay. I think the sushi might be better than the ramen. You can tell how "precious" their broth is when they overfill your bowl with soup. Based on the high ratings I was expecting more, but the few times I've been here it's been average. Nice sized parking lot for Freeport area. Inside is big enough to accommodate large groups. read more

Akebono - Tonkatsu Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

This restaurant is our family favorite and have dined here for many special occasion. Service is always great, staff are always pleasant. My Go To: Dream Come True - this doubles the usual sushi roll and my favorite roll! It has everything which maybe a turn off for some but not for me. You can't go wrong with any of their dishes. Portion is above average! Photos were from our latest visit: 4/12/25 read more

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I got the akebono roll and tried my friends nigiri and shoyu ramen. The move here is definitely fresh fish, I wouldn't suggest the akebono roll because it was kinda dry, but I suggest the chef's choice nigiri. I also wouldn't recommend the shoyu ramen. This place is definitely expensive, so I would advise to get sashimi or nigiri here because it is very fresh and generous portions. Service was fast and friendly. It is spacious inside and clean. read more

Akebono - Akebono roll - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

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The tempura here is amazing! They offer a great value lunch. We had a combination of tempura and sashimi or sushi, served with miso soup for just $21. I really like their interior design. While waiting for our order, we could enjoy the beautiful Japanese paintings (Nihonga) on the wall! read more

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What happened Akebono? You use to be our go-to Japanese restaurant. Disappointed in lack of service. Shrimp tempura & chicken katsu plate, was average. Don't get me started on the soft shell crab order. 1 crab the size of my palm cut into 4, for $13.95?! Going to need a new Japanese restaurant! read more

Akebono - $13.95- soft shell crab. - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

Craving sushi while in sac and went to this place with my family. Walking in, it seems like a very normal sushi restaurant, but when you walk towards the back there is more seating. I imagine this place would be great for big groups. Service was good. Food came out fast. We came during lunch time on a Saturday and the lunch menu is over by 2:30pm. We ordered chicken katsu with curry, beef teriyaki, chicken teriyaki, the honeymoon roll, and the dream come true roll. Chicken katsu was great, nice and crispy and curry was tasty, good flavors and not overpowering. Chicken teriyaki was also good, while the beef teriyaki was tasty but a small portion. The tempura was thick and crispy. I would have preferred it to be thin. The sushi rolls were delicious and ginormous. It reminded me of sushi burritos. Would like to come back next time and try the ramen. read more

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I've eaten at Akebono for a decade and I have tried most of their dishes. Akebono is the real thing. They are authentic and grateful for having their customers supporting them. Unlike many other Japanese restaurants, Akebono is not overly commercialized. Their taste and high quality is always consistent even during the pandemic years. Their udon is always fresh and the broth is good for the soul. Their rice dishes are fulfilling, my favorite is the Katsu Don with breaded deep fried pork, onions, soy sauce broth, and eggs. Their rolls are not saturated with sweet or spicy toppings and I can taste the sushi. Their appetizers come out fast. As for other dishes, I like the Hamachi Kama. Their restaurant is generally clean and the music is soft allowing our party to hear each other. Their servers are polite and often check up on our table. read more

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Ambiance: A large Japanese restaurant with many seats. Service: Amazing! Gone many times and each time they treat you with respect and incredible speed. Food: Akebono has amazing food with large portions. As we have gone on many occasions I will describe one of our visits. In this visit we got the Sea steak and Tan Tan Men. The portions are massive for the price. The sea steak had a lemony and salt soy sauce that complimented the seared tuna. The tuna had a beautiful sear and a nice texture. The Tan Tan Men was salted well with appropriate noodle texture and a balanced and flavorful toppings. Note: Akebono is an amazing restaurant but it is not going to be the best Japanese food you've ever had. It is consistent and will always satisfy you. read more

Akebono - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I come to this restaurant every time I come to Sacramento. WTF? Hispanic women behind sushi bar working. Can't speak English and absolutely no idea how to make traditional sushi!! I have loved This place, manager didn't even know what we wanted. Thank goodness for Banszi restaurant for the traditional sushi I had hoped to get. Akebono is no longer the restaurant it used to be. I will not recommend it to anyone who is Japanese or who has ever had true Japanese food. read more

This has been my go-to mom and pop Japanese restaurant. Lately, their sushi has dropped in quality and increasing in price. However, I suppose this is a sign of the times. My favorites are their kitchen entrees and appetizers. They serve big portions that you'll have trouble finishing. Their bento boxes, lunch or dinner, really shine. I dare say they also have the best damn agedashi tofu in Sacramento. read more

After going to Akebono's for years, I will never go there again! Last Friday I took my family there for dinner. The Sashimi was not of great quality, the tuna was mushy, stringy with a watery flavor. To their credit they offered to make it again and that too was terrible. They offered to take it off the bill but I told them it was ok since we had eaten half of it. I tried to contact them to discuss the experience today, 12/23 @ 6:00pm only to have a rude girl answer the phone and hang up on me. I asked to speak with the manager and she kept asking what for, I told her I needed to discuss something with him/her and her response was they are busy. I said well you can have them come to the phone or I'll just write a yelp review, she said write the review. Then she hung up on me and when I called and asked for her name she refused and said " I'm not gonna tell you my name" and hung up. Too bad because had they really took their customer service seriously, they would have welcomed the call and used the constructive criticism as a means to correct their product. I still left a tip not punishing the staff for poor quality food. This could have all been avoided, train your staff better! read more

Akebono - Proof, and I still left a 20% tip, service was good food was terrible. - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

A friend recommended this spot to me and I was so glad she did! I was super shocked with just how good all the food was! I tend to judge a place by the miso soup & 10/10 would recommend theirs! We ordered a lunch box which was super filling and generously portioned and a tuna extreme roll (no albacore). That roll was SO good! I'd get it again & again. My friend got a gyu don! And she said it was super yummy! The service was quick and they were very helpful with all our questions and needs. I should have expected the inside to be big but I didn't realize just how big it was inside. It was clean and comfortable! Overall, I am excited to come back again! read more

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Food was large portions and tasty. We ordered Japanese curry tonkatsu and teriyaki chicken tempura bento box. Large portions. Service was excellent. Open seating. Our server greeted us and brought us water as soon as we sat down. She gave us time to look over the menu. Walls had Japanese art on display. read more

Akebono - Chicken teriyaki tempura, and tonkatsu Japanese curry - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

Akebono is always fresh, flavorful, and good portions. Loved the crispy chicken bento with sweet teriyaki glaze and the beautifully presented sushi roll topped with crunchy tempura bits. Friendly service Akebono is an easy favorite on Freeport. read more

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Was craving sashimi and decided to give this spot a try last night. I ordered the sashimi combo and the tan tan men. The sashimi was fresh and delicious and it came with rice, salad, and miso soup, making it a perfect portion for two of us to share. The tan tan men had a super flavorful broth, and the ground pork was a nice touch. The inside of the restaurant was surprisingly spacious. Loving the picture decorations on the walls - cozy and charming, they really added to the nice atmosphere. The servers were friendly, and the food came out really fast. Great service overall. Definitely planning to come back again! read more

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Very nice staff and clean restaurant. Did an online order on their website which looks like it could use an update with putting photos of the specific rolls next to the rolls or on their link so you see exactly what you're ordering. Dream come true roll is a monster and delicious and the Akebono was decent. In the end it was over $44. That's a little pricey for what you get. read more

Akebono - Dream come true roll (left) and Akebono roll (right). - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

This place is surviving on the legacy that was akebono. I remember when this had quality fish, chefs with pride in their product with kind servers. Now, the fish is DRY, discolored, drenched in sauce to mask it all. The establishment is filthy, and sewage smell is pungent through the hall way. This was a weekly spot as it's in our neighborhood, quality cannot justify the price. read more

We had lunch with large group of friends. Back room has ample seating for large groups. Decorated with blossom theme. I tried the chicken katsu curry, recommended by friend. The portion size was huge! The texture of the chicken katsu with the creamy curry was perfect combination. Potatoes and carrots bathed in the curry. Very comforting dish. There could've been more carrots and potatoes, but it was good to have adequate curry sauce for rice and chicken. Service was good. Waiter took drink orders, then came back to answer menu questions, and took food order. It took a bit for food to come out, but once plates started to come out, everyone got their food quickly. Water glasses were refilled often. Gratuity added for large groups of 6 or more. Reservations for large groups recommended. This place is a favorite among the locals. Will be back to try other dishes. Overall, good experience! read more

Akebono - Chicken katsu curry - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

I owe you an apology, Akebono - I wasn't really familiar with your game. Even though I've looked up a fair number of Sacramento restaurants to try, I don't recall ever seeing Akebono show up on Yelp. Which is actually rather surprising - considering how many reviews this place has, you'd think they would've shown up at some point. Then again, with a couple of friends each suggesting separately that we come here for our group dinner, perhaps it was inevitable that I would make my way here at some point regardless! At an initial glance, when we first stepped inside, nothing about Akebono really stood out. In almost every way, it looks like your typical neighborhood Japanese restaurant. However, it didn't take long to see why they thought this place would be great for us - between how big the parking lot is and the number of tables they have for large parties, it was a breeze to get seated even without reservations. Similarly, the menu is HUGE! Granted, that's not always a good thing, but it's impressive just how much they have to offer - hot and cold appetizers, sushi and sashimi options, bento boxes, donburis, curry dishes, Japanese fried rice, cold noodles/soba, fried noodles/yakisoba, and seventeen(!) types of ramen and udon. -- AGEDASHI TOFU - Deep Fried Tofu with Special House Soy Sauce...$8.95 This looked pretty average, but it tasted great! The tofu looked a bit pale, but the batter was crispy and the tofu had a nice bounce to it. I would've liked some grated radish and/or a bit more green onions, but this was still good as is. -- CHICKEN KARAAGE - Deep Fried Chicken Nuggets...$11.95 One of the priciest Karaage dishes I've had, but also one of the largest. so it evens it out a bit. I don't love how the chicken was cut after it was fried, but at least they were crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. It could've used a little more seasoning, but it was fine otherwise. -- WOW ROLL - Shrimp Tempura Topped with Scallop, Avocado Dip, Black Tobiko, and Spicy Mayo Sauce...$17.95 The inside of the roll felt pretty bare with just shrimp tempura in it, but this was pretty solid. The rice was decent, the scallops tasted fresh, and the avocado was perfectly ripe. In all, everything complemented each other well. -- MIXED TEMPURA APPETIZER - Deep Fried Shrimp and Vegetables...$12.95 There may not have been anything particularly special about this, but it was pretty good. The batter had a very nice crunch to it, the tempura wasn't very oily, and there was a good mix of vegetables to go along with the shrimp. -- SALMON NIGIRI...$7.95 As nice as it was to look at the size of the salmon, the color of it certainly wasn't. The dark tinge was a bit unsettling, but it smelled fine, the texture was okay, and, most importantly, it didn't taste off. Unlikely I'd get this again, though. -- PINK LADY ROLL - Shrimp Tempura and Snow Crab Wrapped in Soy Paper Topped with Scallop, Tobiko, and Cream Sauce...$17.95 In hindsight, perhaps I should have got something different, as this is really similar to the Wow roll. That said, this was just as good. The snow crab went well with the scallop and shrimp tempura, though I wish there was more of it. -- CHICKEN KATSU CURRY with Vegetables over Rice...$17.95 Honestly, did not expect this to be so MASSIVE! The portion of rice and curry is quite generous and tasted great. The katsu wasn't heavily breaded and the chicken was fairly moist, but it was odd seeing just only a few chunks of carrots and potatoes. As far as service goes, it was terrific - all of the workers were super friendly across both of our visits (came back to try more of the gigantic menu). They warmly greeted us, came by often, and the food came out relatively quick, even for our larger group dinner. While Akebono, presumably, isn't the most acclaimed Japanese restaurant in Sacramento (I'd guess that distinction goes to Kru?), it's got plenty of its own merits. Most of what we've tried has been solid, the menu has something to offer for everyone, service was terrific, and coming here, even if you're in a large group without a reservation, is ridiculously convenient. They may not blow anyone away, but I imagine it'd be hard to find a ton to complain about either. All in all, THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded up. read more

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This is a historic Japanese restaurant in Sacramento, now ran by their second generation. It has very fresh sashimi and sushi , plus the deep fried oyster , tempura shrimp , squid hands are all excellent . The combination for lunch and dinner are similar items , but lunch is a much better price .The grilled fish / salmon are also good but I think the ramen are under average. It has an inner room with flower decoration on walls for party . Lots of parking and convenient location . read more

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This is a great casual spot with lots of options for Japanese food. My go-to is the Dream Come True, which packs in lots of fresh fish in a massive roll for a reasonable price. We also enjoyed the crispy, non-oily mixed/combo tempura appetizer. The tempura is predominately vegetable with 2 pieces of shrimp, so we'd recommend the other tempura options if you're looking for more meat. The curry pork katsu was nothing special and could've benefitted from a stronger curry flavor. The portion of katsu could've been increased to match the overwhelming amount of rice and curry. Service is fast, friendly, and attentive. There are 2 TV screens for additional entertainment. Overall, a solid place for couples and families alike. read more

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Love that this place has so many vegetarian friendly options! I ordered an agedashi tofu don because I've never seen such a twist on this dish. It was pretty good with acceptable portion size. Would come again to try their sushi because I'm curious about the quality and authenticity of it. read more

Akebono - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

Since I already reviewed this place I'll make it quick Katsu curry: it was a gigantic plate. The picture doesnt do it justice. You might think its little food but its just compared to the plate its looks little. It still beat me up, I couldnt finish it. They gave you spoon, and chopsticks was already there before. Katsu was crispy, nice crunch to it. It was long and thin. Me likey. Curry was curry. Rice was japanese rice. The normal stuff I like. The carrot just a little interesting difference, so they were huge, like the potatoes and they only gave you 2 of each. Carrots were cooked to like the between of raw and cooked. Has mostly the texture of cooked carrot but also a subtle texture and taste of what a raw carrot would taste like. I thought it was unique and not bad at all. Its rare to see this kinda texture. I didnt try the potato, i planned to eat it last and I couldnt finish the dish. Extra Water is automatic, right when u get to your table, they already have lemon water for you Straw is not automatic Chopsticks is also default There is a sushi bar Default is they usually send you to the room in the back to dine Splitting bill is easy Getting takeout for katsu curry, they'll give you a box for food and a water tight cylinder container for the sauce 5/5 read more

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Enjoyed the Agedashi Tofu Don the first time I came here and had to try again when I was in the area. Still so good and will always be my favorite from this place. This time also tried the tako sunomono and the spicy tuna and unagi temaki (hand rolls). Enjoyed everything and will definitely come back for the sashimi which I wanted to try, but passed on it this time around. Would like to also try the rolls. There is a nice open dining area when you enter and there are more tables in the back. Busy when visited, but service was fast and great. They keep checking on you and make sure your water is filled. Thank you. read more

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Overall, I'd give Akebono a 3.5 for taste, bumped up to 4 stars for nice service & ambiance. Dishes I tried: - Nabeyaki Udon: great portion and well-seasoned broth (not too salty), nice selection of toppings. My one critique is the chicken was on the dry, chewy side. - Fire Salmon Roll: a decent-sized roll with balanced flavors. The salmon tasted very fresh! - Spicy Tuna Roll: overall a bit too salty for my taste. The food was solid, but I do think Akebono's pricing is on the high end compared to spots with similar quality. So, if you're just looking for quality Japanese cuisine, price aside, Akebono is a decent option. read more

Akebono - Udon - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Overall, akebono is a solid choice. We had the sushi boat B and it was good. Presentation 9/10. Sushi rolls 8/10. Each roll did have a ton of rice so that is why I rated it lower. Next time I would order rolls separately. My favorite is the dream come true. read more

Akebono - Sushi boat b - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

Was exciting to try out this restaurant seeing how busy it was when we first walked in. Unfortunately was disappointed in the overall quality of food. Ramen was lacking in flavor, chasu was tough and dry. The sushi rice was hard on the lemon blossom and the soba was mediocre at best. read more

Akebono - Lemon blossom roll - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

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