It's been a long time coming--I'm not sure why it's taken me this long to put this into words. We've been coming here for 8 years, and it's more than just a sushi spot to us. This is where my husband and I learned to truly appreciate nigiri--the simplicity, the quality, the intention behind every piece. There's something special about knowing the fish is always sustainable, always fresh, and always treated with so much respect. The nigiri is consistently top tier. Our forever favorites: masu, bincho, hotate, ama ebi --and toro belly or uni when we're lucky enough to catch it. And we can't skip the starters: smoked collars, shiitake tempura, miso soup, and that chipotle lime edamame we crave constantly. Even the vegan rolls are insanely good, and the Godman roll? Truly unforgettable. But what really makes this place ours is the people. The chef and his team have become some of our favorite humans in Chico. Every visit feels warm, familiar, and full of joy--like being welcomed back by family. Walking through those doors always feels like coming home. read more

Food was great. But service was so slow. And our waitress didn't do much to keep us updated. I don't think I'd come again but come try it once. Just don't have hungry kids. read more

Located in downtown area with limited parking . Cute restaurant with rolled dollar bills in the brick walls. Different. Got seated fast but service after that took awhile . Sushi was good but the teriyaki chicken had way to much sauce on my meal . My coworker had too little . Pricing was great . read more

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Great food but sometimes the service is lacking, I don't think they have enough staff to support busy hours. Every time I go I tend to wait longer than I anticipated. However the food is always a 10/10!! read more

Vegan sushi heaven! We stopped in here after seeing how many vegan options they had & it did not disappoint! Fast service, nice decor, & delicious food. For starters, we went with miso soup & vegetable tempura. Then we ordered two sushi rolls, which were absolutely to die for! I let my husband do the ordering so I can't quite remember what we got, but I can't forget how yummy it was. Definitely plan on coming back next time we are in town! read more

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Bay area people who think you'd never have sushi in a small town, think again. This place is utterly fantastic! The atmosphere is done perfectly and the service is insanely fast. The food is genuinely fantastic and reasonably priced. If you're looking for a great date spot this is a really good one! read more

Amazing sushi, great vibe, great service, best vegan shushi i know of. tofu tuesday is a screamin deal! read more

Fresh seafood, sustainability sourced by the owner. Fair prices and quality food. Such a nice owner & friendly staff. Clean, open restaurant, good crowd, located in downtown area. Nice place for dinner, would return & recommend read more

Aonami - El Camino - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

Best sushi in Chico! It's been almost a year since my last review, all I have to say is that it gets better every time I go. I ordered the Chefs choice Chirashi don, gyoza, and Saba nigiri. Everything was delicious, I ended up eating pretty quick while trying to savor every bite. The service is quick and I always enjoy watching Chef Jimmy prepare the sushi. read more

Aonami - Chirashi don - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

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Always delicious food at great prices. We stop here regularly. Love the vegan options. I'm not even vegan but I like to have "sushi" without the raw fish. Lol. Be prepared to wait a little while for them to make your order. Also, sometimes, they close without much notice. Check the Facebook page. Rec the 5th Roll! read more

SOOO GOOD. I love it. Not sure what was in my roll but it was great. First time eating in chico so this really made my experience good. Service was good, the waiter was lovely! read more

Aonami - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

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Excellent flavors, worth the wait! High quality food, happy we tried it out. The staff are friendly, and the vibe is great here

Tofu Tuesday! Everything is so yummy! Serving size is generous! Service is excellent. Good prices as well. read more

Our server, he was so pleasantly and knowledgeable about what they are serving! The food and the ambiance of the place reminds me of an Asian style of family times! read more

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The best sushi in Chico! Excellent, fresh fish and yummy flavor combinations. I've never been disappointed.

Second time, this time I came with a friend My friend got the teriyaki tofu, he liked it I tried some vegan rolls cause its tofu tuesday!!! I got 1st and 6th, wish they had better names lol. Idk where the inari came from, it was good all in all. Still doesnt taste as good as other sushis I've had but the more I think about it, its probably just cause I bought the cheap stuff. Humboldt and elm roll were both cheap sushis same with these vegan rolls. You get what you get. As a cheap sushi, its pretty good. Next time I'll try to get the higher end sushis on their menu since I think thats where they shine Miso soup as an appetizer was standard again, on the house again woohoo Veggies tempura is good quality (I personally dont get much out of veggie tempura but thats just me), tasty sauce as well Some extra note: Tofu tuesday, you get anything related to tofu on a discount Whats weird is that on the receipt, it said tofu tuesday for one of my sushis and my friend's tetriyaki tofu bowl but I still paid full for my other tofu sushi, I didnt bother questioning cause I was with a friend. We kept talking about all the money stuck onto the walls lol. The wall is like a wishing well. No we didnt take any of it, and I expect no respectful person would either. I dont think even the workers are taking it As I've thought more about it, I dont think my previous score of 3 star is fitting, maybe I was just extra pessimistic that day, I dont think I can give a 5 star until I get a really good sushi from them tho so 4 star it is Also, yelp being weird, if you wanna see pics from my old review, elm roll, humboldt roll, ice cream mochi, and the menus, you should be able to find it in the photos of yelp, just filter through recent not many yelpers around so it should be most recent read more

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Been here twice. 1st time food was 4/5 and service was 4/5. 2nd time food was the same but greeter was rude and staff seemed angry. Too many other sushi places to try so won't be coming back unfortunately. read more

The only vegan sushi in town worth going to, I'm such a fan of all of their rolls and I'm not even vegan! But they have something special about the way they make sushi, 10/10 recommend any of their vegan rolls but specifically the 70 and the Megan! read more

We are vegans and Aonomi has delicious options for us. And they have these amazing deep fried mushrooms. The staff is great too. We always look forward to eating there. The only downside is that the acoustics are not great and if the restaurant is packed it is a little on the noisy side. But, they play great rock and roll music from my era at just the right volume so it doesn't interfere with a conversation. Highly recommend them. Think this is my second well deserved good review. read more

Vegan-Forward. Stunning. Fresh. Vibrant. I haven't written a Yelp review in a long time. I once spent a lot of time doing them. Once i realized how restaurants are over-leveraged by the platform, though, I stopped providing my content for free. Every now and then, though, the story and food of an establishment compels me to cross the line I've imposed upon myself; Aonami created that conundrum. I should start by identifying that I've been a vegan for over 12 years. I'm also a resident of the North State, having lived here for more than 12 years. Up until the last two and a half year, I also worked in between Redding and Chico running a labor organization's footprint in Northern California. I am quite embarrassed, with all the previous being said, that I never knew about Aonami. Vegan sushi is relatively new to me. Since my wife and I weren't sushi eaters before becoming vegan over a decade ago, I suspect we never really were interested in investigating vegan options in these establishments. What a terrible mistake. Since discovering vegan sushi, we have found a whole new niche of delicious, fresh and filling vegan foods. In just a few months, I have enjoyed vegan sushi in the Bay Area, on the east coast, and now, in of all places, Chico, just 25 minutes from home. Without question, the version we enjoyed last night in Chico was the best. Not to say the others weren't also amazing...but neither compelled me to do what I'm doing now: writing a review. The rolls we ordered, the '2nd' and '70', were utterly jaw-dropping. In the '2nd', the addition of tempura lemon to the equation was profoundly effective. The rolls were flavorful on a scale words cannot describe, marrying so many layers of sweet and spicy, sour and decadent. The other dishes we ordered, from appetizers like Tofu Q and Veggie Gyoza to a pan-fried noodle dish, were all good in the own right, too. The portions were large, the small details were addressed, and they were pleasant to enjoy. The rolls, though...those were on another level. As testament to the love this place has for providing a stellar experience to their customers, one of the Itamae chefs recognized it was our first time in the establishment and whipped up something special: a complimentary 'one-bite' roll for my wife and I. It was a concoction of smoked tofu and additional layers of vegan goodness, presented beautifully. It was divine. I can say without question that the vegan sushi rolls we enjoyed last night at Aonami were the greatest vegan fares we've had in Chico since moving to the North State over a decade ago. There are other great options in Chico for vegans...but nothing reaches the level Aonami does. This place would be, as a stand alone vegan sushi place (Aonami offers traditional, non-vegan sushi, too), highly regarded. In fact, if the owners of Aonami allowed their vegan offering to be the foundation for a whole vegan restaurant in places like Washington, DC, New York City or San Francisco, Aonami would be world renowned; that's how good it is. It is simply shocking that a place of this caliber has been operating in Chico, right under my nose, for so many years. I feel like a fool for not visiting until now. There is frankly nowhere I would now rather dine on an evening with my wife than this establishment on 2nd Street in Chico. I cannot wait to return. read more

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We came in after seeing the reviews on Yelp and Aonami did not disappoint! We shared the house unfiltered sake, cucumber noodle salad and the Salmon Hole and Chestnut rolls. Service was great, and food was amazing. We will be back! read more

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Had a big party with special needs diets and Jimmy was the man! Had about $250 worth of sushi to go. It was delicious and I was very pleased with the experience. read more

Aonami is my favorite sushi spot in town. Their miso soup is really good. The Gilman roll is amazing, I get it every time. Intimate table seating, or sit at the bar. Service is always, always impeccable. read more

First time here, as we are trying out all the different sushi places in Chico. I had never heard of or noticed this place, but the yelp reviews were great, so we went. Tables were full but there was space at the bar so we were immediately seated. We ordered the Elm roll to split, and it was amazing! They served miso soup, on the house, which was nice. Staff were all attentive, and service from the waitress was quick. read more

I'm a vegan- i love the vegan selection, especially the 2nd and the 70th. the shishito peppers are ‍

I was on a nice date with my bf. The server did her job. I gotta say, I was pretty disappointed with my meal here. The noodles I ordered were like, seriously burnt to a crisp. I mean, they tasted like someone left them on the stove for way too long. When we told our server, she explained that they were pan fried. We couldn't finish the dish because of how strong the charcoal flavor was that left a bad taste in our mouth. Overall really unable to eat the food. Paid 16$ for these noodles. Pic included. read more

Aonami - Burnt noodles and carrots - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

Excellent food; fun service; great atmosphere. Fantastic experience at this downtown spot. read more

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Not sure why I've been avoiding this place for so long. Well, part of the reason is they're only open for four hours at a clip. The rolls were really good not as saucy as the pics on their page. Maybe they've reeled it in a bit and refined their rolls since those pics were taken. I'm not a huge fan of the mayo sauces which may be why I was kind of avoiding this place. Our waitress was really personable and attentive. She got everything right and was very informative when I asked her about the menu and how they were sustainable. The rolls were good. I'd say 4 starts normally but 5 stars because of the sustainability factor. The noodles were also really good. All and all this was a nice dining experience. We'll be back to enjoy other menu options soon =). I'll take some pics next time read more

As a vegan I would absolutely recommend this place. Lovely selection of plant-based, as well as gluten free options. It's a cute little building with a casual vibe, not too loud but certainly not stifling either. As far as service goes our server was kind and enthusiastic. I went with meat-eating companions and they thought the food was just as delicious as I did. There's something for everyone here. read more

Aonami - Chico Creek Vegan Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

Closed with no explanation and no posted hours during normal business hours. Very disappointing attitude toward the Yelp community. read more

Aonami - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

It's very strange to say this because I live in Southern Ca and we have great sushi restaurants but this is some of the best sushi I have ever eaten. They use only sustainable fish. Tried a roll with pumpkin and it was AMAZING. However the porkbelly noodles were OUT OF BOUNDS! Guy Fieri reviewed Banshee way back in this little town, but dude needs to come back! Fabulous service, thanks Patrick for your Saki suggestion. Not at all what I was expecting for Chico in Butte County. read more

This place is an absolute hidden gem in Chico. Never in my wildest dreams I would have thought that some of the better quality fish I would eat is in a sushi restaurant here. To say the least, this place will give your favorite local/hometown sushi spot a run for its money. On top of that the service was fantastic! The owner, Jimmy, is one good dude. It was very apparent that he didn't just strive to please the customers, but he also manifested a good and humble attitude towards his staff. He's a man who doesn't seem like he's in this business solely for money, but for the simple fact of making delicious sushi for all who visit. My waiter - Patrick - was also very kind, sociable, and patient. I enjoyed my first meal there so much that I returned for a second consecutive night. Again, the food and service did not disappoint. Whether you're a local or just visiting (like me), this place should definitely be on your list! Go and meet the great people that run the show and support their local business! read more

This restaurant was amazing. My fiance and I were looking for somewhere to get vegan sushi and they had a lot of reasonably priced, delicious rolls. We also got garlic edamame and a veggie noodle entree. The staff was very nice and the overall ambiance was great. I will definitely be back! read more

As I was attending the college in Chico, this was the first restaurant I fell in love with. For the next five years, it remained my top recommended restaurant to anyone who asked. They have the right idea -- sustainable sushi, amazing recipes/combinations, veggie rolls. They are thoughtful and conscientious about the fish they use, so it's no surprise that the fish at this restaurant is top tier. read more

Always great the place is my number one go too spot for top notch grub. Jimmy great job man read more

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Aonami is fantastic, I'm never disappointed when I crave sushi and stop in. The sushi is fresh and I feel better knowing that their sushi is sustainably sourced. I highly suggest trying them out if you haven't yet! read more

Sorry, not sure where all the great review came from. We were in the area for my sons graduation. We decided to find good sushi place and based on the stars we decided to try it. We were a party of five. I should have walked out after I noticed that the sushi refrigerator was mostly empty. Anyhow, they sat us down and we ordered our drinks the Garlic/Chili Edamame, the shrimp tempura. The edamame was extremely dry, the shrimp tempura was very good. I ordered the chefs choice sushi, it was mediocre and very disappointing. The rest of the family ordered rolls-based on the waiter's recommendations and my wife ordered the teriyaki Chicken-they all thought the food was lacking taste. overall this place in my opinion is not a 4 -5 star, 3 at the very best. I'm from SOCAL, so maybe my expectations are a bit higher when it comes to Sushi. Another note is, they do not include wasabi or ginger with your sushi, you have to request it! I have never been in a sushi restaurant that you have to request Wasabi and Ginger. All and all the waiter was nice and attentive, but I wouldn't visit this place again. read more

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My husband and I were having a really rough day with evacuation from the fires in Oroville and decided to treat ourselves to a nice dinner. We came about an hour before closing and didn't get our food until closing, and it ended up being someone else's order. My husband ordered a Chef's Choice roll, so when it came with a name we didn't recognize, we figured that was the roll the kitchen made. We waited for the other roll we ordered, not eating anything, and realized this time that the name wasn't right. Our order had gotten mixed up with the people behind us, who had already started eating. Julia was amazing and offered to get us mochi ice cream and drinks on the house. We didn't end up leaving until over 30 minutes after closing, and the restaurant was still busy. Julia was so kind and helpful despite having to stay late, and our food ended up being delicious. We will definitely be back, despite the hiccups! read more

Earlier on this week we came in for our favorite sushi in town, at Aonami. Jimmy is always the best and consistently have had no problems getting fresh & excellent rolls & food here. Also it's always clean & generally a lovely time at Aonami. Unfortunately the last few times I've been in, I've been stuck with the same server. He's probably about 5'10, I think his name may have been Gabriel but I didn't catch it. Initially my partner and I were discussing what rolls we might like, and our server said he would return shortly to give us another moment. He then communicated to the kitchen that we wanted both of those rolls, so we ended up paying for an extra roll. He also was fairly inattentive and dismissive, giving us almost no time to discuss with him what we would like for entrees/starters. We still tipped because we didn't want to short the rest of the staff, but I've been rather appalled at the lack of quality service from this particular gentleman. We will obviously be returning; I certainly hope someone will speak to him about his room for improvement. 2 stars for service, 5 stars for everything else. read more

My whole family loves Aonami. Their omakse roll is the best in our opinion because we love the innovative delicious surprises the Chefs bring to the table every time!!! You can go in for a quick snack or a full dinner and it's always inviting and delightful. read more