Amazing service and foodC great outdoor ambiance. It was really warm inside to dine indoor, so decided outdoor was best. Overall great experience and the food was delicious and flavorful! read more

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Finally got to try the Akira in our neighborhood area. Came here for lunch for a change from our usual go to Japanese. Two of us ordered Bento Lunch Boxes: * 3 item Combo Bento with Teriyaki Skirt Steak, Combo Tempura and Grilled Salmon -- Skirt Steak was tasty and good in parts, but some pieces were a bit grisly and chewy. Tempura was somewhat disappointing...a bit greasy and the shrimp was miniscule where 2/3 of the piece was pure batter and you could barely taste any shrimp. No tempura sauce offered. Grilled Salmon was a generous portion, but a bit overcooked and dry. Mixed Green Salad and rice served as standard sides. * 2 item Combo Bento Box with Sashimi and Grilled Salmon - The sashimi is probably their strongest point. It was tasty and fresh. Grilled Salmon was again a bit overcooked and dry. I got double salad instead of white rice. Also interesting to note that my 2 item Combo came with an additional side of edamame that our 3 item Bento didn't. Complementary miso soup was rather bland. No brown rice option for those avoiding white rice. They charge for green tea, and there was an upcharge for my double side salad (but I wasn't warned) -- incidentally, all this plus complementary edamame for the table are still free at Sushi Garden. Ambiance indoor & outdoor were rather uninspired, but their outdoor patio is pet friendly. Service was good. Friendly and attentive. Overall not so impressed and I think we'll go back to our regular preferred Japanese haunt at Sushi Garden down the road. read more

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The service here was AMAZING. We came here to celebrate a friend's birthday and walked away with such a positive experience! Our server Brittney was so sweet and even brought out a birthday dessert to and the night, despite none of us mentioning it. I would recommend Akira to anyone looking for a yummy sushi roll and great service. Outdoor seating was pleasant and indoor seating available as well. Reasonably priced food and drinks for sure read more

What a gem! It is pretty rare a place is open all the way through lunch into dinner. Post appointment we were hungry and decided to come here because sushi garden closes at 230. Glad we made the trip! The staff here is so nice! They answered all our questions and made some great suggestions. I recommend checking out the Happy Hour specials in the back that starts at 2 pm Monday-Friday. The SO got the calamari Happy Hour special and it was a good balance of fried calamari and jalapeños. He also liked the sauce that came with the order. He also got the sushi lunch special and everything was fresh. I was not that hungry so I just got the aloha roll and some green tea. The tea was constantly refilled without asking and the 8 maki style rolls was just enough for me to feel full. There are plenty of vegan rolls and items that do not require a lot of modifications. The birthday party next to us got a matcha dessert that was in four slices and looked pretty delicious- keeping that one in the back of our minds for next time. There is both street parking and a parking lot. They have an outside patio with heaters, counter and table seating options. read more

We came here before for dinner and it was great. I happened be in town again and thought I would pop in with my daughter. They are certainly consistent which is something I look for in a restaurant. Its so disappointing when you hit up a place because you had a good experience and then you don't the next time. Akira delivered and then some. The food is beyond excellent. The staff are all super nice and communicative. Nick was our waiter and he was super kind. This place is so kid (family) friendly. The kids menu has lots of options and they are very accommodating to dietary preferences. We will for sure come back. I also want to add that we are vegetarian and they have a whole page and then some of options. I can't praise this place enough. No pics because we ate the food before I could get some, but they also have great presentation. Thanks for having us! read more

***Updated review***So my daughter wanted sushi for her birthday dinner and on a rainy night we headed for Akira. We were a group of 6 adults and a toddler. Service was fast, professional and welcoming. Annie was on top of it during the whole meal. The fish was exceptionally fresh and of course, the pork gyoza were delicious. We had a variety of rolls, tempura and I had my usual Omakase. All wonderous. The only thing I would recommend to the kitchen is go light on the unagi sauce. It was a fun and delightful meal and our special thanks to Annie and the young man who helped her rotate all the empty plates etc to make room for more yummy fish. Many thanks and see you again soon. read more

Akira Aptos is our absolute go-to sushi spot. We are big sushi eaters and Akira is a fantastic spot, both for great sushi, excellent, fresh fish, creative rolls, and they aren't afraid to make something special and honor requests. The servers are friendly and efficient. The prices are very reasonable. Seating both inside and outside is great. It's always hoping, full of locals, and the popularity is no surprise. Also, the family who owns the place is absolutely delightful and great at recognizing regulars. We so appreciate this spokt. Highly recommend the Akira roll, spicy dragon, kama collar, J poppers. Honestly, though, there really isn't anything that isn't delicous. read more

My Macho Hamachi at Akira Aptos. 2:30 pm. No compromise to some limited lunch menu...7 days a week. If you want to know about my Hamachi, it was plentiful and delicious! read more

Akira Aptos - Hamachi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Aptos, California

Amazing ambiance & good vibes. The fish is very fresh and everything is always delicious. We come here very often and the service is always spectacular. Especially if you ever have Britney or Bob as your servers. The chefs are so talented and Hugo knows how to make some very tasty, delicious rolls! read more

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The sushi is about as good as you can get in our area. The service is subpar at times because they are so busy and always appear to be under staffed. I tried on two occasions as well to phone in an order and no one answered the phone because they were so busy. It's too bad that during busy hours they are unable to accommodate phone orders. The ambiance is OK and the place is clean. read more

Love akira!! Always sooooo good, staff is great. Just very unfortunate most of their veggie rolls have nuts that contain almond , which means not a lot of options for someone who is vegetarian and has an allergy. Wish there was a way to change this! PLEASE consider an option of just macadamia nuts read more

They never answer the phone for call in orders. I have tried several times. Just not worth the hassle. Especially when sushi garden is right up the street read more

Favorite Santa Cruz area sit-down sushi spot. Many vegetarian rolls and other veg menu items. All of which that I've tried are very tasty, with my favorite being the Yuri roll. Staff is friendly and attentive. Restaurant seems clean and taken care of. IMO the only thing that would improve it would be an expanded cocktail menu. read more

The food is amazing and delicious, the ambience is just as great and comforting. The service of the food is awesome and the presentation is great as well. 10 out of 10 l highly recommend. (: read more

We love Akira. We don't live in town, but we're up here once a month and it's always in the rotation to go (it's one of my father in laws favorite places). My husband has been really enjoying getting the chicken teriyaki bento box with a Philly roll, our daughter always chows down on salmon teriyaki box (which by the way is a HUGE kids portions with rice, tempura and potstickers), and I've come to find I love the Call Me The Hunter and Natural Bridges rolls. So fresh and tasty! This last time we also tried the poke and that was great too. Service is always friendly, but it is on the smaller side and there are very few tables so sometimes you can wait a little bit. We've never had that big of a problem though. Cool spot with open kitchen where you can see everyone at work and interact. Will continue to come back month after month! read more

My friends and I got a takeout order last week and the hostess Tara was very sweet. and so helpful. Our food (Alaskan roll, midtowner, Cali roll, etc) were great and I definitely recommend. read more

Akira in Aptos is pretty great and I thought I'd point that out here. We are regulars at Rumble Fish in Scotts Valley, which I consider to be the gold standard of sushi in our area, but thankfully they are closed on Tuesdays (and when I say thankfully, I mean I am happy for Luna and her crew getting a night off). My wife and I tried Akira in Aptos for the first time the other night and we had a nice meal. Warning that it can be a little bit pricey if you just want nigiri, but I think we unlocked a super high value proposition that's on the menu, which is their sashimi entree dinner. $30 for 12 pieces of beautiful, fresh hamachi, miso soup, a pretty substantial & excellent salad, a sublime selection of Japanese pickles (!!!), and a side of rice. Really couldn't have been happier There are tiny bit off of the beaten track (entrance is in the back of that center where the Warmth Company is), but the payoff is that it is not mobbed in there and you can have a nice relaxed meal in what I consider to be an appealing atmosphere. Also note that parking is good, and a nice outdoor dining patio is also available. Hope you get to check them out read more

Came here for my birthday dinner in November! Everything was fantastic! Great gluten free options! And the biggest rolls I've ever seen! Service was fantastic too, wish I could remember his name but he was super tall lol definitely come here if you are gluten free! I have celiac and had no reaction. Yay! read more

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Cannot handle to go orders instead of walk in's... same same but wouldn't even take a to go order at Aptos and Santa Cruz said 75 min + At least at Santa Cruz they would take the order... going downhill fast What a way to run down loyal customers read more

The ambiance on the outside deck was lovely. Unfortunately, it took over 45 minutes for the first course of miso soup to arrive, and once again, unfortunately, it was barely tepid. The actual lunch arrived even later, and only after we had gone into the restaurant to check on the order at least twice. We won't be coming back to this establishment read more

Akira is a smallish restaurant with a limited number of tables, as well as sushi bar seating. There are a few tables on the front covered patio. Even though it was the busy lunch hour, we were greeted warmly and seated quickly. There is a large and varied menu to select from. We chose the Agedashi Tofu and the steamed pork gyoza for our starters. The Agedashi was prepared as Dōfu - the tofu was perfectly crisp with a dusting on the outside, and silkenly firm on the inside. The gyoza were steamed to perfection, with a nice thin, firm skin, and the pork filling juicy. Our server, LaMaya, waited until we finished our first courses before bringing over the entrees. The service was efficient. Our selections for entrees included the Tropical Poke, and the lunch Sashimi Combo appetizer (9 pieces). The tropical poke was similar to what some eateries call a Tuna Tower. It was built-up with Daikon radish on the bottom then avocado layered with plenty of pieces of mango, and topped with chucks of seared tuna, shredded beet, masago, and dressed with Unagi sauce. It was fantastic, with it's fresh tropical taste. The lunch Sashimi combo appetizer consisted of three thick slices each of salmon, yellowtail and ahi tuna, garnished with cucumber & shredded beets.The fish was fresh, firm and melted in our mouths. Akira's hours are: Wednesday - Monday 12 pm - 9 pm, with a Happy Hour from 2 pm - 5pm; Closed Tuesday. They are located in a small hidden mini-mall just off Soquel Drive. It is hard to locate, but well worth seeking out. read more

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Came here for a quick bite to eat while in town for a seminar. We were pleasantly surprised to find that they have a ton of options for rolls. They also have an entire page dedicated to vegan sushi rolls which you don't see very often! We were also pleased to find out that they have happy hour every single day from 2-5pm! We will definitely come back for more. What I drank: miso soup What I ate: baby yoda roll and the assorted sashimi 5/5 recommend read more

I LOVED this place because they had an entire page of vegetarian rolls that were the bomb ! One had sweet potato crisps on top, so good! Service was good too! The only complaint I have is the smell of fabuloso was too strong . We were there early when they first opened so it was probably stronger at that time . I can't wait to go back here next time I'm in Aptos . read more

First time I discovered this Akira with my gf it was literally more than amazing. Went back a couple weeks later on a date and was not very stoked on the sane rolls. Consistency is key to me. read more

My friend lives local and we finally tried this spot out. We were hesitant due to others reviews. I'm glad we did because we had a wonderful dinner and experience. We loved the nigiri !!!!! We found each piece to be flavorful and fresh. I would highly recommend coming here for fresh nigiri and fish. They have a fresh fish bar and prepare in front of you (if you sit at bar). We got a selection of nigiri, miso soup, cold sake and mochi ice cream. 10/10. Our server was friendly and attentive. read more

Akira Aptos - Sushi Bars Near Me - Aptos, California

We went with our family of 8. We ate outside and they gave us a heater which helped keep us warm. The food was good. We all got different things. The salmon was excellent. Those that got sushi loved it loved it, and I got a Bento box which was artistic and delicious. read more

Akita is tucked away in middle of downtown Aptos. But it's worth going. My husband had the Akita roll, he enjoyed it. Since it was happy hour I had gyoza and TNT sticks, we split tempura. That was the only thing I wasn't to happy about, it had shrimp tempura, but shrimp was maybe 2 inches long, yet it was about 5 inches long. It was a lot of fried batter. The rest of the vegetable tempura was fine. The service was good, our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable, but all the staff was great. It was a beautiful warm fall day so we ate outside, they have a nice little dining area outside, but they also have dining indoors. We definitely want to return for more sushi, oh and they have a great playlist. read more

The service was good but unfortunately the food was so bland. We ordered agadashi tofu that looked yummy but had no taste. I thought it was me until I ordered and ate the tempura. Blah it was mostly tempura and little shrimp and veggies. I've heard a horrible rumor that the Aptos community like bland and not so spicy food. Ridiculous! I can't believe the food here is Aptos standard! read more

Akira Aptos - Edamame appetizer - Sushi Bars Near Me - Aptos, California

If you come to the Aptos location make sure you have Gade! Great customer service with a great personality making your dining experience that much better! BTW, I'm a vegan and my Midori Michi is always amazing and my non-vegan friends ALWAYS love mine! But I add fresh jalapeños on the outside, fresh mango on the inside, and have the roll tempura style. Amazing! read more

Our server moon was the sweetest person in the world. She was so kind and had such a great attitude. She gave my friend and i so many compliments and she was just so kind. Great sushi and a very nice location!!! read more

Akira Aptos - Amazing food!!!! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Aptos, California

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If I could give this place a 0, I would. My husband and I waited so long. We never got asked if we needed anything. People came after us and they got their food and drinks first. Once we received our sushi it tasted so bitter and the rice was gross. We tried to finish eating it but we couldn't. DON'T come here! I'm sure there's better sushi places with quality and service out there. Beware the charred edamame. The whole thing was burnt not even edible. read more

Friendly staff, parking lot, gluten free menu options well marked, gets busy so be aware. Outside seating on nice days. read more

Akira Aptos - Sushi Bars Near Me - Aptos, California

I came here for lunch today.I got their two item bento box.My two items I chose were the teriyaki salmon and the California roll.Both were very yummy.The box also came with rice, edamame,miso soup and salad with a very delicious miso salad dressing.I also ordered a diet coke.Eveyrhing was very tasty.The service is good here as always.I recommend this place read more

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Excellent service from host to sushi server. Fresh nigiri hamachi was great. Fun Bento box too!

I have eaten at Arika's a few times. I like the Bento Box and Tropical Poke. The food is consistently good. The service is really hit or miss. The menu choice and quality of ingredients good, but the service needs to be improved. I had to get up from table to remind the server a few times for utensils and the bill. Their attitude reminded of Portland, Oregon where it's an inconvenience to have customers and treating them poorly is cool. Since there are the sushi houses in the neighborhood I think I'll go to other places. When there is a lot of competition in the area, treating customers as if they are an inconvenience doesn't win return business. I think I'll wait till this group of servers phase out before going back. If I go back at all. Hostelry, its good but not good enough to go out of your way for. read more

After spending a lazy day at Rio Del Mar Beach, we took our sunburned faces to what ended up being one of the best Sushi and Japanese places I have found during my get-away-visits to the coast. (40 min. drive from Santa Clara) Our server, Maddie knew her stuff, was friendly, (like family) informative, (she really knew the menu describing items in such a mouthwatering way) I have my favorites, the menu is extensive but at a new place I like to untie the hands of the chef to be creative. AARON did NOT disappoint! Who'd a thunk that HAMACHI, drizzled with a little basil/olive oil, topped with jalapeno slivers, thin sliced lemon would have such an explosion of umami in one's mouth. When sushi is that good I like to thank the chef personally... he was very humble and gracious with very cool body/art too : ) Everything Aaron and Maddie suggested was a "flavor bomb" YUM!! I loved it when one of my rolls came in an artfully decorated special plate for my Birthday The outdoor tables were cozy and we had a nice sunset...Already planning my next visit to this fabulous place! Mmmmmmaybe I'll see ya there! read more

Akira Aptos - Special Birthday Artistry - Sushi Bars Near Me - Aptos, California

So delicious! Fresh yummy sushi! Never actually dinned in but it's always good Togo always order when I'm in town!

My husband and I really like Arika's veggie rolls at Seabright restaurant and it's the best ever. We have had two times from Aptos restaurant and it was terrible. I definitely not recommend that restaurant. If you can, please order from Seabright, you will thank me latter. Aptos manager, please provide better training to your staff. read more

Hands down my favorite sushi place in the area. Amazing and innovative selection of rolls. Good local wine and beer selection. Awesome staff. read more

I'm giving 3 stars because on a regular basis, I've been pleased with Akira. Though this time the rolls were soaked and swimming in special sauces. So much that i couldn't taste anything but the sauce. Was like a puddle of sauce under the rolls. The tempura green tea ice cream is pretty delicious, but the ice cream is hard to scoop. It comes with chocolate drizzle and whipped cream. read more

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