Just off Main Street, we sought refuge from the chaos of the wine walk and stumbled into a serene, cozy dining experience. We started with the mushroom miso soup, which was extremely comforting on such a cold night. We ordered the Firefly and the Albacore Delight rolls. Our waiter suggested swapping the California for spicy tuna on the latter, and I'm incredibly thankful for that recommendation. Also, Stevie Wonder ate here. read more

Banzai Marina - Firefly Roll - Japanese Near Me - Ventura, California

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Cute spot just off the main drag. We made reservations and when we arrived we found a table with my name on it, nice touch. Instantly greeted by head shush chef and our waiter came right over and asked for our dink order. Great hot green tea followed by menus. We loved the salmon sashimi but the rolls we just meh. The highlight of our dinner was when. The sushi chef came to the table and asked if we wanted to try some "real" wasabi. We had asked for more wasabi and he figured it would be nice if we had some fresh shaved table side. It was amazing! Great time was had and we will be back. read more

The food was amazing! I've had a lot of different sushi restaurants and banzai marina has the best sushi I've ever had! The garlic roll was especially great and I recommend. The service was so accommodating, and they let us sit outside at the reservable table because they had a last minute cancel. The atmosphere was so calm and me and my group watched the sun set. If you're thinking about coming you should! read more

Banzai Marina - Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Ventura, California

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We love Banzai Marina always fresh sushi you can make a reservation and the service is always consistent.

Fantastic staff was super kind and loving. Food is phenomenal and way better quality than normal sushi places. This place is top tier. Huge gluten free selection and they are willing to make anything gluten free I was blown away. Coming back again. I recommend it so much our waiter was incredible and the manager was very kind. We were very well taken care of read more

Banzai Marina - Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Ventura, California

Pretty solid restaurant! Ordered the Sashimi dinner. Spicy tuna was delicious! Salmon was great, tuna was above average, the rest were good but not sure what they were so I wish they went over what each of the fish were. The miso soup was amazing and the salad was not good. Overall solid meal for the price. read more

Los Angeles out-of-towner visiting for the weekend with my cousins and I have to say, this place was good! Service was nice and friendly, we were attended by three different people and they were all nice. The restaurant was clean, cute, and there was no wait. I'm a nigiri girl when it comes to sushi (hence the instagram handle) so this review will be focused on that. My cousins got the combination plate, which had a nice variety plus a california roll. I don't love california rolls and I prefer sweet shrimp to regular ebi, so my other cousin and I opted to share pieces. Everything was fantastic, especially the uni and the sweet shrimp!!! No bitterness to the uni, just pure sea-flavored buttery sweetness. The sweet shrimp came with the head perfectly crispy. These two were my standout pieces. We had one piece, the spanish mackerel, that was good but a little over-sauced. The toro and salmon were both solid and tasty. I was not as much a fan of the tuna on wonton chips (tuna tower?) it was okay, but a little dry. The spicy tuna crispy rice had decent flavor but the rice was strangely gummy. I don't think i'd recommend either of these appetizers, but I WOULD recommend the shishito peppers. Those were excellent!! We also got handrolls, my favorite being the spicy yellowtail. Something about the spicy creamy sauce was perfectly balanced, not too much at all. The unagi handroll was also delicious and both were generously portioned. Interesting to note that the sushi all comes cut in half. I've never had a place do this before, but the man taking care of us informed us that it's to make the bites more appropriately sized, and that all the sushi is actually weighed for uniformity! I thought that was kinda cool. I feel like I'm a little spoiled by the sushi out in LA, but if I were local I'd definitely come here again, especially for the handrolls. read more

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Consistently Excellent Sushi in the Heart of Ventura Banzai Marina has quietly become one of my favorite sushi spots in all of Ventura County. The fish is always incredibly fresh, the chefs clearly take pride in their craft, and the menu strikes that perfect balance between creative rolls and traditional favorites. The Kumi Roll is a must -- rich, flavorful, and just the right amount of heat. I also always go for the yellowtail sushi, which is consistently fresh, buttery, and expertly cut. What I love most is the consistency. Whether you're dining in or grabbing a quick bite, the quality never drops. The chefs are friendly and talented, and you can tell there's real care put into every plate that comes out. The location is another bonus -- tucked right in downtown Ventura, it's perfect for a pre- or post-beach meal, or even a casual dinner out. If you're looking for top-notch sushi, unique rolls, and a laid-back, coastal vibe -- Banzai Marina is it. read more

Banzai Marina - Yellowtail sushi - Japanese Near Me - Ventura, California

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Banzai Marina is a local gem that I regret having taken so long to try. Seriously this place is amazing and shoutout to Yelp Elite Berta for her review and putting this spot on my radar. Phenomenal lunch prices and super fresh sushi. I came here purposely for lunch on a weekday as I had been seeing different reviews and pictures for how great their lunch specials are here and I left impressed. First off this sushi joint is a local staple, loved coming in and seeing all of the regulars and people who know the staff well. This is definitely a quick in and out lunch break spot. The restaurant itself is super cute and quant, transports you to Japan. Staff were super friendly and kind. I was seated right away and staff member Nikki was amazing. She was super sweet and didn't skip a beat. She was so good at checking in, clearing plates and getting me in and out with no issues. Loved her fun personality and appreciated her A+ service. The lunch specials are truly an amazing value! $15 for soup, salad, an eight piece California roll and three large cuts of nigiri. Unheard of anywhere else. The sushi was super fresh and their portions are big as I mentioned above. I really appreciate that even though it is a lunch special they aren't cutting on the portion size or skimping. This is truly an amazing value and I will always come here for lunch now, especially because the food is so good. I also ordered a side of their pork gyoza and they were heavenly. The spicy and sweet little dipping sauce that they gave with it was perfect. I'm still dreaming their albacore Nigiri and would love to come back to try some of their fancy rolls. This restaurant is a slam dunk and I'll definitely be a regular here now when on this side of Ventura. The staff make this place but I'm also happy to say you can get reasonable prices not far from the ocean and some super quality sushi. If you haven't come here, definitely give them a try and you won't be disappointed. read more

This place is still my favorite sushi restaurant in Ventura. Yugi is truely an artist. read more

Banzai Marina - Yuji with another beautiful creation. - Japanese Near Me - Ventura, California

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Stumbled on this place while walking around Downtown Ventura. We were greeted by a waiter and seated promptly. The restaurant is rather small and we were given the last table in the whole place. We ordered the garlic edamame for our appetizer and decided on ordering a sashimi platter, and a sushi platter for our entrees. Edamame was great and flavorful, decent quantity too. Sashimi platter and Sushi Platter were also decent in size - Fish tasted fresh and sliced were not too thick or thin, just right. The fish to rice ratio on the sushi was perfect in my opinion. Both entrees came with miso soup and salad, both were good additions. Overall I'd give this place a solid 8/10. Service was great, ambiance is very mellow, and food was well portioned. My only complaints are in regards to the price of the edamame, which came out to a whopping $9.50 and the spicy tuna in the sashimi platter. Sushi and sashimi plates I felt were reasonably priced (sashimi plate was $34, sushi was $28) considering the quality of the fish and also location, but ten bucks for edamame was a little much. The Spicy tuna felt like a poor addition to the platter, I would've preferred the option for another fish, cut whole, as opposed to tuna slop. It felt off eating "outside of a roll" and was practically the only thing left on the plate. I do think I'll come back here if I'm in the area! read more

Banzai Marina - Sashimi and Sushi platter - Japanese Near Me - Ventura, California

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My family was out and about today and trying to figure out what we wanted to eat for lunch and when I was talking to my friend she recommended that we go eat here! She gives me the best recommendations! This place is great! We were there for their lunch special which is 11:30-2pm! We made it there at 1:20 we were seated at their patio. We waited for a table inside for a few minutes. Meanwhile Claire was lovely! She brought our drinks and brought us menus so we could place our orders meantime a table indoors became available. Once our table was ready we sat down and our food was out quickly! We started with the miso soup and that was perfect and steaming hot just how I like it! I ordered their sushi special and that was so fresh! My husband ordered their garlic chicken lunch special and my kids had their teriyaki lunch special. The portions are generous which we love! The kids had leftovers. The inside of the restaurant is so cute!! I love all the Japanese decorations! Everything is so clean. I'm sure my family and I will become regulars here! read more

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Super cute place. We came here on an early Saturday evening. Services was genuinely friendly. Food came out in a timely manner. Food was delicious! Be sure to call for reservations if you really want to come here. read more

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They have the best baked lobster roll, I've tried so far. Plus their sashimi is excellent.

A lovely restaurant tucked in a historic building that serves authentic and delicious Japanese food. Tempura is crispy and sushi is awesome. I really enjoy the sashimi there as the fish is so fresh! Servers are all friendly and attentive, and there's a free parking structure across the street. They only have limited tables so do come early or make a reservation! read more

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Phenomenal sushi and staff! Everything is delicious, recently ventured into the sardines. read more

Banzai Marina - Japanese Near Me - Ventura, California

Atmosphere was okay. Waitresses were nice, and asked if reservations were made. We were walk ins. Seated fairly immediately. My issue with this place is the sushi felt overpriced for what you ended up getting. After looking over the menu a few times these rolls peaked the most interest. Albacore delight, dragon roll, Kumi, and Philadelphia.Albacore delight roll (4.5/5), 1/4 rolls had was very good, but 21.50, roll could have had shrimp tempura, and some more cucumber. Instead it was albacore on a California roll. Kumi roll (3.5/5) this is a heavy fish roll, but the shrimp tempura kinda overpowers the fish. Wish there was a little bit more of a freshness to this roll. Dragon roll (2.5/5) was just okay. Eel and avocado on a California roll. Wishing there was a bit more crispness/ freshness to roll. Last roll was Philadelphia roll (1/5), it just felt kinda warm/ room temp, and not fresh.It felt very soft in mouth, missing freshness, and crunch. Ginger and wasabi served. Ginger kinda tasted funky, like it had been sitting /bottom of barrel. Maybe ginger should be served cold, fresh. Soy sauce kinda bitter. Not sure if that is normal. Overall I feel like the menu for rolls is lackluster, and needs to be redone/ or refreshed. Won't be coming back. Pictures are of rolls and of menu as of 2026 March. Overall if you are a sushi lover, I wouldn't recommend coming here. Left not satisfied, still hungry after. read more

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My husband and I came in spontaneously on a Friday evening without a reservation and thought we'd give this place a go. They were booked but went out of the way to set up a table for us outside. Date nights aren't as frequent with a one year old at home and this was a special one. Sushi was some of the best I've ever had, definitely best in Ventura and the staff were super friendly. Will be back. Thank you :) read more

I'm obsessed with the simple yellowtail sushi pieces. My only wish is the wasabi isn't as hot as I'd like. My friend orders the shrimp tempura jalapeño roll with albacore on top... not on the menu but it's divine and pictured here. read more

Banzai Marina - Toro - Japanese Near Me - Ventura, California

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Great sushi! The place is really nice inside and super clean! It doesn't feel cluttered like most sushi places. Friendly staff. I highly recommend. read more

Went to dinner at Banzai Marina the other night. It's a small and intimate place that serves awesome sushi! We ordered some appetizers and highly recommend getting the mahalo ahi. It's a combination ahi, cucumber and avocado salad with a delicious dressing. The tuna on fire is also a great appetizer. It's ahi tuna covered in a spicy chili sauce. For the main course, we went with the sashimi dinner. Every slice was fresh and flavorful. It's a great plate for one a also can be shareable. The dragon roll was a personal favorite and the eel was perfectly baked. Our server was awesome a checked on us to make sure dinner went well. Overall, dinner went well and Banzai Marina is a hidden gem in Ventura! read more

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Food was very good but on the pricey side. Our waiter was excellent including convincing us to order more. We wanted to give him an extra tip but the Asian owners came by and took th cash tip before he could get it. When we asked that the waiter get it one of several Asian owners said "we share it with all of us" which is apparently why they quickly got the money. They frankly didn't serve us. Since there's at least 4 owners in the family, so why not give it to the "help"? As a fairly large business leader myself, I'd never do this to my employees. Is this a cultural thing not to trust the employees? Not coming back and I'd recommend don't work here. read more

Best sushi in Ventura. Always fresh ingredients and innovative rolls. Good service and charming chef!

Stunning! Everything was stunning. The food, the people, and the esthetic. My kids fell in love with this restaurant. One of them is already asking to come back for his birthday! I got miso soup and added a little soy sauce, and it was perfection! We had garlic chicken, seafood, and fried oysters. Everyone loved their meals. Pooma was our server, and she was incredible. The smallest bit of trash didn't stay on our table for more than a minute, and Claire had the best smile and really enjoyed seeing people love their food. What a sweet place. Total family or date night vibe. I can't wait to back. read more

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I never right reviews, but my experience at Banzai was beyond disappointing. From the moment we walked in, the staff seemed disinterested and borderline rude (the older gentleman behind the bar). We weren't greeted properly, and it felt like we were an inconvenience rather than welcomed guests. There are too many great sushi places out there to waste your time and money at one that treats customers like this. I won't be returning. read more

Quick Summary Great food, great prices, and great service. Their lunch specials and happy hours are fantastic. Easy parking at the parking structure. Best sushi spot in downtown Ventura. Food- 5 stars Their weekday lunch specials at 12.99 keeps me coming back. The sushi is fresh, portions are good, and the value is splendid. I recommend the fried oysters as well. Pacing was perfect as well to fit into the lunch hour. Happy hour is fantastic as well! Service- 5 stars Our servers were fantastic. Very attentitve without being overbearing. Bottom Line Banzai Marina checks every box: great food, service, and value. It is one of my favorites in downtown Ventura read more

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My family came into town, and I wanted them to try out our favorite spot in Ventura. We called ahead to make a reservation for 6:30 pm. However, when we arrived at the restaurant on time, they informed us that the party at our table was taking longer than usual. They apologized and gave us a new time for 7:00 pm, mentioning that they had tried calling but had the wrong phone number. Hungry and thirsty, we waited for almost 50 minutes. Finally, fed up, we asked the waiter what was going on. They told us they didn't know when the table would be available and that they were unsure how much longer we'd have to wait. To make matters worse, we saw other people being seated before us, even though they had just arrived. I reached my breaking point and asked why three guys were seated before us when they had just come in. Supposedly, they had a reservation, but I'm not sure if that was the truth. They were being served beverages in the outside patio before they were brought in and we weren't offered anything while we waited for our reservation. The icing on the cake was seeing a table for eight remain empty the entire time we were waiting. Upset, we decided to leave and found another place just one block away. The sushi at Maki Sushi was fantastic--fresh, big portions, delicious miso soup, and very attentive service. Don't waste your time here--head over to Maki Sushi instead! 500 E Main St Ventura, CA 93001 United States read more

Inexperienced server and understaffed took away from standard lunch special menu with typical rolls, sushi and usual lunch crowd , The fish is fine and beautifully prepared by skilled sushi chefs . Pleasant ambience., read more

I live for banzai's weekday lunch specials! Great prices and a large portion, I always leave here happy. There are so many lunch combos and they are all served with rice, miso soup, and a salad served with a divine orange dressing (maybe ginger based!). I usually order some combination of the following: Salmon teriyaki w/ tempura Chicken teriyaki w/ spicy tuna roll Sesame chicken w/ ca roll Hand roll combo with a ca roll & salmon roll It can get busy during lunch so I try to come right at 11:30 when they open. Great service, there's seating indoors and outdoors, and there's a parking structure across the street on Santa Clara or you can park on chestnut and walk on over. read more

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It was the most delicious sushi/ sashimi I've had. Impeccably and beautifully presented, the highest quality ingredients, and outstanding service. We can't wait to go back! read more

I called and they said they would not do to go order becuase it was too busy. If I came in they could do it. I drove over and went in and and when I asked to do to go order they said the boss said no to go orders because it was too busy. I asked if this was the owner who said that and they said yes. I have never heard of such a thing. Would love to hear back from owner on why this policy exists. read more

Impromptu date night Friday. Got lucky and was able to grab a table before dinner rush came in. There was only one waitress and bus guy but they made it work. The food came out a few dishes at a time. The garlic edamame, outstanding. The kumi roll was tasty. We ordered some Yellowtail sushi which could've been great but they snuck a kiss of wasabi which I was not a fan of. I know its hit or miss and some places but now I know for next time to hold the wasabi at our table! We'll be back read more

We moved to Ventura a month ago and have already been to Banzai Marina three times. Sooooooo good!! Their garlic edamame is the best I've had. I loved the Crunchy Roll so much I've ordered it every time. My partner's had the Grilled Teriyaki Salmon, Sesame Chicken, Marina Roll, and the Red Dragon. He has loved everthing except the sauce on the Red Dragon. Not horrible, just wasn't his thing. I think this might be my favorite sushi place. read more

Love love love banzai. Really good sushi spot in downtown Ventura. It's small and cozy. Definitely recommend the yellowtail belly & the kampachi, both so good. The Albacore roll is also great! We always have the same waitress and I adore her! I forget to get her name. read more

Banzai Marina - Japanese Near Me - Ventura, California

Banzai is probably the best sushi restaurant in Ventura. I usually order Sashimi dinner followed by a few nigiri sushi. The owner/chef is from Japan, as I'm from Tokyo Japan so I think my opinion is accurate. Great service with friendly staff. read more

Banzai Marina - Sashimi and tempura. Cold sake is Karatanba. Sorry, sashimi is part eaten. Haha, I always forget to take a picture before I take a bite. - Japanese Near Me - Ventura, California

I ordered takeout sushi and I cannot wait to come back and enjoy some delicious sushi at the restaurant. I ordered the lobster dynamite and crunchy roll. I am very pocky with my sushi and this was amazing sushi rolls! I loved each one and I love how everything was separated for my take out order. The woman who took my take out order was very kind and sweet so amazing service! I saw pictures and can't wait to visit them in person because it seems like a beautiful restaurant. read more

Banzai Marina - Japanese Near Me - Ventura, California

They have the best service! Everyone is so sweet and helpful Definitely try their green tea tempura ice cream. Very creamy and yummy. read more

We picked up a to go order. The lunch specials were reasonably priced. Wonderful customer service! read more

Banzai Marina - Lunch Specials as of August 20, 2024 - Japanese Near Me - Ventura, California

Food was fresh tasting and for a really good price! Friendly service and very clean place. The lunch specials are crazy good deal. Evening time is harder to get into without reservations but worth it! read more

Banzai!! Banzai!! Great spot in Downtown Ventura to get some fresh sushi. I had passed by it many times, but it wasn't until my wife thought about it that we went to try it. Very fresh and generous portions. I got the Garlic Chicken and California roll lunch special and it was outstanding. The flavors were there and I had leftovers for dinner. I also loved our server's kindness and high sense of service, her name is Claire and she was the epitome of excellent customer service (although the other servers that assisted were very nice as well). I loved their music selection, very chill and pleasant. Their decor was also great, with cool Japanese artifacts and paintings that transported us back to Japan (we went there this year and we loved it). Definitely worth to go back and if you haven't been there yet, then banzai your way to sushi heaven! read more

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