Best sushi I've ever had - hands down. The food was so fresh and flavorful, and the atmosphere was super fun and welcoming. The whole place just has a really good vibe. Jared truly made our experience. He was so friendly, attentive, and made us feel right at home from the start. You can tell he genuinely cares about customers having a great time, and his energy really stood out. Our waiter also knew the menu really well, which made everything easy. They gave awesome recommendations and helped us try a few new things we ended up loving. Can't recommend this spot enough- great food, service, and all-around experience for great sushi! read more

Lunch with my daughter at Big Tuna was nothing short of amazing! From the moment we walked in, the vibe was warm, welcoming, and had that "we're about to have some seriously good sushi" feeling. We kicked things off with a bowl of perfectly salted edamame, the kind that makes you keep saying, "Just one more," until suddenly the bowl is empty. It pairs well with their branded hot sauce. Then came the sushi feast, and wow! Fresh, colorful, and plated like edible art. The rolls were as delicious as they were beautiful (the kind that makes you pause mid-bite just to appreciate the moment). My daughters rolls we awesome, she let me try them,, and let me tell you, the balance of flavors - from creamy avocado to fresh tuna and crunchy tempura - was spot on. Every bite felt like a little celebration. And the Saba? Absolutely melt-in-your-mouth perfection. I adored the coconut shrimp roll, who would have known? Big Tuna has that rare combo of great food, friendly service, and a menu that makes you want to come back just to try everything else. If you're ever in Chico and craving sushi, this place is a must! #FreshAndFlavorful #SushiDoneRight #ItsTheLittleThings #BigTunaMagic #ChicoEats #FamilyLunchGoals read more

Fantastic Sushi Experience! I had an amazing experience at Big Tuna Sushi. The sushi was incredibly fresh and beautifully presented -- every bite was packed with flavor. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made great recommendations. The Yellowtail, Salmon and Bluefin belly sushi was insane! The atmosphere was clean, relaxed, and perfect for both a casual dinner or a special night out. Easily one of the best sushi spots in the area. Can't wait to come back! read more

Big Tuna Sushi Bistro - OMG! We flew in for the weekend and ate here twice. Had sushi, ramen and chicken curry. Amazing. We complimented the staff several times. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

Food was good, the servicer was great. However kinda upset that two couples sat down after us and way served way before us. Did not make me happy. Do better Big Tuna. read more

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Our favorite local sushi place. We love taco Tuesdays the tuna Japanese tacos are so good. read more

Big Tuna Sushi Bistro - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

unfortunately my husband and had a disappointing experience Saturday 1/31 I have an extensive background in customer service and was less than impressed by the hostess. She had dark hair and wore glasses. There was a 15 minute wait to be seated and we were put on the list with 3 couples in line before us (totally fine I have no issue waiting) Then 2 more sets of people enter and also join the list. This hostess over the span of 45 minutes sat everyone over us. Including who I assume was a friend of hers with a man. I approached the hostess and asked to see where I was on the list I could see on her clipboard everyone she had seated was crossed out and there my husband and I were near the middle of the page so it was not an issue of getting names mixed up. When I confronted her and asked why so many people after us on the list were seated she could not explain. She ensured me I would be seated next, I sat back down with my husband and she approached and said "I'll make sure to get you an app or a drink on me" I'm sorry but for an hour of my time an "app on me" is not enough. Her demeanor was so off putting through the entire interaction. Because of her another couple also left. We left. Highly recommend going somewhere else. For better service alone Chalking it up to this, as a business owner myself I would want to know if my employees were misrepresenting my business. And I believe this employee was. read more

Big Tuna is my 'go to' restaurant in Chico. The food is prepared with care and has never given me reason to doubt the quality of the food or the integrity of the staff. This is a great first date restaurant because it is a good size dining room (not too big or packed with too many tables) allowing a relaxed conversation. It is good for folks with diminished hearing (my Mom and my buddy who served as an artillery soldier) because the noise is manageable. You can also get a lot of food by picking multiple little dishes or sharing a box or multiple course meal for the size of your party. If you have not been to Big Tuna because you don't believe in eating uncooked fish you are missing out on a great little joint with many food choices that are complex and so very tasty - which are cooked. Do yourself a favor and don't miss Big Tuna. read more

The sushi tacos were delicious and unique. The prices here are very affordable. The traditional sushi is pretty average. Staff was very friendly. read more

Big Tuna Sushi Bistro - Tuna Sushi taco and spicy pepper crab taco. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

Super good sushi. Loved the sushi tacos!! Enjoyed a nice lunch and everything was fresh and yummy. read more

Big Tuna Sushi Bistro - Our meals - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

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The sushi was delicious! Our waiter Bailey was so helpful & patient as we didn't know what to order. We will be back read more

Found thid sushi spot when we were in Chico during college orientation. It's a fun lively spot pretty well priced. It's definitely not the best sushi we've ever had but we had a good time and the service was friendly. read more

Best happy hour in town! Big tuna never disappoints - my personal favorites are Lion King, Crunchy roll, energy and spicy tuna taco. They are kind, attentive and friendly. I always feel welcome and I hope they continue to be successful in Chico! read more

Big tuna is our go to sushi bar. Sometimes service is slow but be patient because good eats are coming your way no matter what you order.

I can't say enough about the experience that Jarrod, Big Tuna's general manager provided for my middle school students who have been learning Japanese customs. We had a 3 course lunch with soup, salad, Japanese Tacos (the hands-down favorite) and a main course with 4 signature rolls, Chicken Teryaki, Chicken Curry and authentic Ramen noodles. read more

I heard this was good so i tried it for the first time Waiter was not friendly at all. Food was very small rolls high prices needs alot of improvement in customer service. Will never go back. read more

Had lunch here was literally in the restaurant for 30 min and smelled so deeply like spoiled fry oil I had to go home and change my clothes. The odor still persistent I washed my hair to finally eliminate that disgusting smell. Given they recently (past 5 years) renovated you would think they would have installed proper ventilation. Absolutely disgusting. I know from speaking with wait staff that the owner is a cheap awful human being. Will be avoiding this restaurant and izikaya. Gross people and gross operations. read more

Absolutely amazing! The service was impeccable; we were greeted with smiles and promptly seated, and our waiter was quick to offer wine pairings. The seafood was incredible--everything from the clam chowder to the baked cod was perfection. The restaurant itself had a wonderful ambiance, with a chic nautical feel that made it feel like we were dining by the beach. Can't wait to return! read more

We had a pretty wonderful dinner at Big Tuna this past weekend! We were seated pretty quickly, but the two parties that walked in behind us were quoted 15-20 mins, so we must've got their last available table. As he sat us, the host said that our server was slammed, so essentially... "bear with him". Our expectations were tempered, and the service was just about what you'd expect with that kind of warning. The good: the food was phenomenal. We ordered edamame for the table. I got for myself miso soup, green salad with chicken, and a California roll. My boyfriend got two Japanese tacos (they looked so good!) and a few "grown up" sushi rolls that he quite enjoyed. The not so good: the service was a miss. In his defense, our server WAS slammed. Not sure if they were short staffed or if they routinely over-seat their servers to that degree... but we paid for it with extended periods of empty water and soda glasses. This was my first time here; with food that good it's worth the risk of another dinner with slow service. So, we'll be back! read more

As a person who has been a customer since their opening month, worked there in my college years (and saw how the sausage was made), and visted recently when I was back in town; I can happily say they haven't lost a step. As a local Izakaya for freshness, price, and authenticity Chico is lucky to have this place. read more

Time has not been good to Big Tuna. increasingly expensive and increasingly worse quality of food. used to love this place but man has it declined read more

This is my go to location for sushi. They have a nice and comfortable restaurant, good selections, ample bar space. I like their store next door too! I like getting the chef special or the coconut shrimp roll! Prices are reasonable. Service is always great and quick. read more

Big Tuna Sushi Bistro - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

Food was yummy. And the servers are very attentive. Our go to place whenever we come to visit my daughter at school.

Best sushi in Chico, great happy hour, awesome staff that are knowledgeable and super friendly! This is an absolute staple - highly recommend to anyone that hasn't been to big tuna read more

I was greeted immediately, and was told I could sit anywhere I'd like, so I chose the sushi bar. I asked the two nearest sushi chefs what they each liked from the menu, and I ordered one roll of each. Delicious and spicy just the way I like it. Service was prompt and the food came fast. read more

4.5 stars. For the value this place is decent. 1 big complaint. If you have food allergies you would separate the orders. They combined raw with cooked. For the value. This is a good place to eat. 3 stars miso soup. Broth was bland. It did have tofu, seaweed, and onions which all made it better. But the broth was bland. 3 stars Yakitori chicken. $5 not bad for the price. Small portions. Chicken was really dry. Sauce was tasty. For the price it's not bad. 5 stars mixed tempura. 2 pieces of shrimp that tasted good. The veggies were also good. Everything tasted good. $8.95 good deal. 5 stars California roll. Tasted good. Nice portions for $6.50. Good deal. 5 stars maki plate. $18.50 seemed expensive. The portions were big. All things considered this is a deal. It wasn't amazing but very good for the price. read more

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We went to celebrate a special occasion, but we go quite frequently. Our evening was ruined by rude service. When we walked in, I said hello to the hostess. She did not smile or say hello, just, "How many?" We got no service, while others around us, who were seated later, were seen to. When a server finally came to our table, she just looked at us, so I said, "We'd love some service." Her response was, "Well, I have a lot going on." WTAF? We left, and will not be going back. Big Tuna management: do something about your customer service. read more

Amazing spicy tuna Japanese taco! My first time having something like that and the "taco" shell (tempura coated eggplant) was simply delicious and so crispy! Definitely will have to come back for more. Also had a rainbow roll and thought the seafood tasted fresh, but found portion size to be small compared to other sushi spots I've been to. Such a big menu to choose from and will make sure to try more when I visit again. Great atmosphere! read more

Big Tuna Sushi Bistro - Spicy tuna Japanese Tacos - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

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Not bad, but not the best in town. Nama Sake or Aonami is better in town. The fish is fine, it's the inconsistency of their sushi rice. Sometimes it's good sometimes it's mushy. Sometimes the rice to fish ratio on the nigiri is fine sometimes it's too much rice. I'll still eat here because it's close to work for lunch, but not my number one choice. read more

Good service and good food. Happy hour is nice. We have been coming here for years and we are not disappointed.

Great food! Good prices. Check out their Japanese tacos. The rolls are yummy! All in all, very good.

I've had them when they are excellent and when they are not so excellent. This is not a "consistently 3 stars in quality" rating. This is a "sometimes 5 stars, sometimes 2 stars rating." The first times I came here, 5 stars. Service was excellent, one of those interactions that feels so good that you feel uplifted for a while afterward and remember her. The next time, completely mediocre and there are some dishes that are just Really Not Good (the one that stands out the most is actually their flavored edamames, which, come on, get it together. Like, they use your standard vinegar-y hot sauce in it. Not my thing.). One of my biggest priorities with local places is *consistency*. Consistent they are *not*. Personally, when places are inconsistent, I end up having buyers remorse and it puts a bad taste in my mouth. Dining out has become such an expensive service that it's pretty unacceptable in my eyes to not consistently provide top notch experiences. I've been here 3 times and my star rating varies each time. Sometimes it will be too warm and uncomfortable in the building. One time I got otoro sashimi and there was still a bit of frozen middle, which, come on I'm telling to fool myself that I'm eating extremely fresh fish. The ocean is not nearby but it's mere hours from Chico. All in all, would I go here again? Yes. Do I find myself itching to go here? Not at all. I'll drive the hour and a half to Mikuni in Sac and Roseville instead. read more

I'm a little late in my review, but I wanted to be sure to sing the praises of the restaurant. I have been to some note worthy sushi restaurants in my travels. I will say Big Tuna Sushi Bistro is among them. The menu easy to navigate. There are familiar classics for those who don't want to go off the safe known path. And then there are other options for those who are adventurous to explore. I've been to small towns where the sushi has had a fishy taste, signaling it's been kept too long. However, even though Chico is a college town, quality has not been sacrificed at Big Tuna. This is a credit to their Chef. Each time I sat in a little corner at the sushi bar to watch the culinary brigade make their specialty. The restaurant was usually packed like sardines. But the Chef's team is well trained and accustomed to handling a sustained dinner rush. Each offering was beautifully prepared and looked as appetizing as the last. And even through all this chaos, the Chef still took time out to educate me about the fish and the offerings. Needles to say, the food was delicious. I typically would get the sushi or sashimi sampler. It was the closets thing I could get to an omakase-style offering, aside from their Omakase Roll. Each offering at each visit did not disappoint. On other visits, I tried various items. The Salmon Bomber roll, the Chico roll, the Italian roll, the vegetable tempura, and the Shishito Peppers are the offerings that immediately come to mind because I ordered them often. I felt like I was eating the quality of a meal I could get at Uchi, Uchiko, Sugar Fish, and Nobu, all right here in the college town of Chico, CA. Whatever the magic this restaurant has cultivated here, it is my deepest desire that it supported and cultivated so I may visit it again to have another memorable culinary experience. read more

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No surprise here, just another great review of the sushi. Pictures included. Lots of Ordered the sushi chef sampler plate which comes with side salad and miso soup. Also, got the Alaskan roll, an order of oh toro and hot saki with some beer and water to wash it down with. No wait for a table or sushi bar, great service and very tasty fresh , high quality read more

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Love big sushi! The food is always good. If you haven't had the taco before, I would totally suggest it! Taking it to go was easy and was just as good as dine in. read more

Big Tuna Sushi Bistro - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chico, California

Love the sushi tacos kind of small but good. Not my favorite place to eat, but my husband love their sushi so he took me for lunch yesterday. and I ordered the top robin beef. It was so salty. I couldn't eat it. The noodles little chewy I would not recommend the top. Robin . I won't be going there anytime soon. There's nothing like top. robin in the Bay Area. read more

Wow!!!!! What a transformation this great spot has gone through. They are so much larger and beautiful. Having sake and Omakase roll. Each roll can be very different based on your preferences. The staff are still very friendly and accommodating. I'm still in shock at the improvement in this great spot. Wow !!! Almost forgot to mention the wonderful sushi. Without saying excellent excellent excellent. read more

Excellent service by their entire staff. All employees were masked. Very nice atmosphere (other than the somewhat loud background disco music). Hidehiro cocktail was good. Poke salad (I choose it with albacore) was very nice. $17 (January 2022). Salmon Teriyaki Don was tasty. $12.50 Hamachi Kama was great $11.95 Fried Calamari Roll was good $6.50 The Shishito peppers were excellent $6.50 I feel Big Tuna is an asset to the Chico restaurant scene and we'll be back. Management: if you read this .... please (pretty please, with sugar on it) :-) get rid of the disco background music. read more

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Look, I'm not expecting a place that was at the harbor 6am choosing the freshest fish possible to serve at a 5 star sushi spot. That's just unfair- but sushi places like this I'm hoping to indulge on guilty pleasure non traditional rolls and not burn a hole in your wallet. This place has those rolls, like dragon rolls and tempura shrimp rolls, but as you can see on these photos for the most case they are just drowned in sauce. Especially for the price I'm hoping to be able to enjoy the quality of the seafood, but especially the chefs choice was just drowned in sauce (and way too much spicy chili oil) Even the rolls without as much sauce like the red shrimp roll was just not satisfying. For $13 the value is just not there - the shrimp tempura did not have a proper crunch, it actually had a off putting texture of tempura that had sat around too long. Just one example of a miss at the bat. The Japanese taco - come on just look at it. Fried and drenched in sauce but not in a guilty pleasure love it kind of way. More so in a way that I had to look at myself in the mirror to reevaluate my lunch choices. read more

My favorite restaurant for years! The prices have increased, but the atmosphere has also expanded and become much more fun. I've been coming here since all my college friends worked here way back in 2014, and I'm still enjoying the same rolls in 2025. Prices are still incredibly reasonable, I think the roll prices have only increased about $1-2 over the past 10 years! It's definitely my favorite sushi restaurant in town. The staff here is always great and we always have a lot of fun coming here. read more

I haven't been to this place since the remodel! It's a really cute date night place. The sushi was so fresh! I got the salmon bomber and it was loaded with salmon and garlic! read more

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