The food is always very tasty-I love the combination entrees and the bento lunch boxes. The food is never cold or skimpy-you'll never go away hungry. I have to eat here at least once while I'm in town. read more

Came here on New Year's Day and it was amazing. Fast service, but not too fast that it was suspicious (you know?). All four of the rolls that we ordered were great. I don't think either of us could really choose a favorite of the four. Not a fancy place. Lighting is very bright, it's not a dark and moody date spot. Just a really solid sushi joint when you want yummy, fresh sushi at a good price. read more

Crystal Fish - Top left: yellow eyed monster. Bottom left: mama Mia. Middle: green goblin. Right: (special) kiss of fire - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

I know that tempura isn't really an item for to go dinners, but...when I have a craving I gotta go for it! Second time eating tempura from here to go. But everything is to go these days. As long as I eat as soon as I get home it retains delicious flavor. Can't wait for this pandemic to end and eat at the restaurant hot and fresh. They have their to go system down really well! It's not super expensive but not super cheap either. I heated the soup up at home. The salmon was good and the side salad had my favorite miso ginger dressing. I am saco the roll for lunch. Such good food and I overloaded on carbs with the rice. Call ahead, it takes 15 minutes on a week day. The last time I ordered to go it was a weekend & took a little longer. One of my favorite sushi spots in the area known as New Monterey. Lots of rolls on the menu. Next time, spicy tuna for this lady. Happy Yelping. read more

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Now I understand why everyone in Monterrey loves this place. Even though they are busy, the moment you walk in you are enthusiastically greeted by the attentive hostess. I think the best thing Crystal Fish has going for it is the service. There is a genuine spirit of service at this humble sushi place. The sushi is hefty. Each cut roll seems to have an extra portion of sashimi on top. Although it's generous, I'd say the cut rolls were a bit too big for me. I think next time I'd opt for a more basic tuna roll or sashimi. The ambiance is very pleasant and upbeat. There was a nice mix of clientele, from dates, to indiciduals, to families. You get a good feel for the cross-section of Monterrey here. read more

The Miso eggplant is delicious and the staff friendly and attentive don't recommend delivery things are frequently missing but in house is wonderful and delicious and priced well read more

A gem. Hands down some of the best sushi I have ever had. So fresh and flavorful, i didn't even get pictures of it all before we ate. Service was quick and attentive and will definitely be back for more. read more

Crystal Fish - Shrimp tempura roll - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

It's not the most appealing Japanese restaurant, especially with Cannery Row just a few blocks away. But it's definitely worth a try and a great way to avoid the crowds and long wait to be seated. Their food was decent, no complaints at all! It's a solid Japanese restaurant that will satisfy your Japanese food cravings. What impressed us the most was the service Lisa provided us. It was hands down the best service we've ever had at any restaurant! She was amazing and so alert and prompt with everything! Her service was so genuine. She catered not only to the adults but my toddler as well--playing with her and talking with her while she served us. She was very patient and understanding of my daughter who was messy and would unintentionally drop things as she ate. She wasn't just nice to us but to all the tables she served. It's rare these days to find servers who'll interact with you so genuinely and wholeheartedly. She really wanted the customers to enjoy their meal and their time at Crystal Fish! We really appreciated the service Lisa provided us during our dinner. One thing I did enjoy was their fried banana with green tea ice cream, (no photo of it, ate it way too quickly as soon as it arrived)--the banana was sweet, crispy on the outside, but soft on the inside. It was a nice dessert after our meal. read more

Crystal Fish - Chicken karage - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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We are traveling in the area and enjoyed dining at Crystal Fish in Monterey. The food was excellent and so was the service. We ordered a chicken teriyaki bento box, beef ribs bento box and udon noodles. The price was reasonable. There's lots of free parking near the restaurant. read more

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The owners changed a year ago. I loved the service from the old owners. So hesitant. The prices were a little on the pricey side. I will say that the food was excellent. The absence of the owners (San Fran) was felt. There was a lack of sitting on the edge of your seat with service overall. My server did not check on me. And when I mentioned this to her she didn't respond. However, the male Indonesian server was on top of it and I gave a separate tip to him. If the owners were present, I doubt this would happen. And the locals here are spoiled. I'm not sure about the longevity of this place. Not many locals here. As I said the food was excellent and the Indonesian male server the same! read more

Date of Visit: 7/29/22 Solid sushi -- nothing fancy. We had a few assorted rolls and everything was fresh and reasonably priced (especially for the area). I likely wouldn't consider Crystal Fish for a date or special occasion, but for a quick sushi fix -- it'll hit the spot. read more

First impression of the place is not great, small tables, looks like the place could use a refreshed interior, but the food was phenomenal! Great service. Our waiter even told us the ingredients for their "out of this world" spicy garlic sauce we had on edamame. Portions are huge, flavors wonderful. I will definitely go back. read more

Pricier than I would've liked, but wasn't too surprised considering how touristy the area is. Would highly recommend the uni shooter - super delicious and a fun way to eat uni (+caviar/egg yolk). The sushi rolls were similar to what I've eaten in other places but still tasty after a day trip drive read more

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I celebrated my birthday here, and it was a great choice. The best seafood place in the town with a fair price. We ordered tempura and sashimi sample for starters, they were so amazing. The sashimi came with couple different fishes, super fresh and tasty. The tempura was perfectly, no greasy taste. And great variaty of veggies. Sushi was yummy, and delicately placed. Everything was just perfect. When I received the bill, I was competetly shocked for the price, two starter and two mains with extra 4 pieces of sushi, only costs 87dollars ( I like to emphasize all we ordered comes with lots of beautiful fresh raw fish). While when I went to any other sea food places in town, the bills are typically over 100 dollars. We will certainly come back many many times. And thank you again for the super experience ! read more

Crystal Fish - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Good service. But the food is a bit odd. The ingredients are fine but nigiri and the rolls have bizarre ingredient ratios and look like they were prepared and cut by a roommate who is trying to make rolls for the first time. I didn't expect nobu quality but I have just never seen such preparation before at any sushi restaurants. If you don't have any experience with sushi then this will not bother you. They seem like well meaning folks who are not well trained read more

Crystal Fish - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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The reviews we read were very good for this sushi restaurant. We drove by and we're not very impressed, but agreed to go in and take a look. The dining room is unassuming, but with sushi, you're going for the fish rather than the room, and since there were several tables with patrons on a Thursday night, we decided to order dinner. The menu had many creative rolls which were tempting. Another reviewer said the sake list was good and normally I'd have gone that route, but the had pitchers of draft beer, so we started with a pitcher of Sapporo and the tempora appetizer. Both were good. My daughter ordered a kappa roll (cucumber) and an order of ebi (cooked shrimp). Both looked ok. I ordered toro sushi and it was a generous cut and both tender and flavorful! Best I've had, even though the rice was a little hard and dry. Maybe they did that to complement the tender fish? Also ordered an Alaskan roll (salmon and avocado) and a tekka roll (tuna) and both were delicious. For dessert we ordered green tea tiaramasu, and it was very tasty. The counter staff didn't look up when we left so I didn't get to thank them. read more

Crystal Fish - Green tea tiaramasu - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

What the most important thing for a Japanese restaurant is fresh fish. I ordered the sashimi lunch and seared blue fin tuna appetizer. Both of these are super fresh and delicious! Very kind server, and chopsticks are very delicate, free for using and one dollar per pair is worthy to take it home. Not a fancy place but very clean sushi bar. read more

Crystal Fish - sashimi lunch - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Solid sushi and Japanese menu. Everything tasted very fresh. I appreciated how the gyoza were not deep fried but pan fried. I had the green salmon roll which was delish! Husband had the sashimi dinner which came with a lot of food. Servers had to be flagged down a few times but they were busy. read more

Amazing food great service even better lunch deals!! Pink lady handroll was so so so good. Will be coming back !! read more

Consistently good. And if something is not, they'll promptly rectify. Service is always very good to excellent. For a change I ordered the short rib dinner - it was awesome - be sure you have some dental floss or waterpik to remove the pesky pieces that find there way between your teeth (I know ... I know ... sounds a bit weird, but you'll thank me) Lunch? Of course ... Enjoy read more

Oh Crystal Fish, how I missed your Dragonball Z and sashimi! Street parking was not a problem, food came quickly, excellent service, and my favorite items to order - Dragonball Z (crispy, flavorful!!) and sashimi (super fresh) was exactly as I remembered it, if not better. Great, casual ambiance with a mixture of friends, students and families all there. Definitely a food highlight everytime we visit Monterey! read more

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Consistently great food and service, with an efficient pickup process! I've lived a few blocks away for more than 4 years now and Crystal Fish continues to be my go-to sushi spot. While it isn't the best sushi I've ever had it is certainly the best in the area, made by skilled chefs using quality ingredients. Service: Admittedly, I usually get food to go but on the handful of occasions in which I've eaten in the restaurant it was always great. You can expect friendly and effective service even when it's busy. On that note, do keep in mind that it can get pretty crowded during weekends or during the tourist season. Food: Solid selection of standard and innovative sushi options. As I mentioned before the ingredients are also great which you can really taste in the less complex rolls or the sashimi/nigiri. Ambiance: Nothing too special here but you certainly wont be upset or disappointed. The interior is what you would expect a sushi restaurant to look like. Clean and pleasing but no frills. read more

Crystal Fish is a must visit spot in Monterey! We stopped by here late on Saturday after walking by it the night before. We had a 10-15 minute wait but it was worth it. The staff was attentive and friendly. All our rolls came out very delicious and we didn't have to wait very long. read more

Crystal Fish - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Great selection in this old school sushi spot. Real crab option ($3) and real wasabi paste ($3) make this a special spot read more

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We were looking For a Japanese restaurant and found this one. It's right on the main drag, but there was plenty of parking right out front. The place doesn't look like much on the outside but on the inside it has traditional Japanese furnishings and is very nice. Our server was excellent. She was very attentive and also let us take our time, deciding what we wanted. This is the first restaurant I've been to in a long time that actually has pitchers of beer. The rolls were really large. Almost hard to fit one bite in your mouth. The specialty rolls were delicious. I would come back. read more

Great food. Had the bento box and hand roll special. Everything was good from the fried tempura to the salmon sashimi. Was hoping service is better, but they were pretty crowded when I went. I recommend this restaurant. read more

Our second time here in a month. I may have even Yelped this the last time I was here, but felt their rating should be raised to 5 stars as this visit they really outdid themselves. This is a popular place for Sushi and their fish is very fresh and local. Despite how busy they can get the staff are always welcoming and friendly. If you arrive without a reservation they can usually accommodate your party in a reasonable amount of time. There is very little space near the front door so you will have to stand outside or wait in your car, and be sure to keep checking the list. We actually had two servers, and they switched in the middle of the meal, might have been due to the busy night. Both Lisa and Pam, I think she said her name was, were very attentive and on top of things. Unbeknownst to us the party next to us secretly paid for our dessert which we did not figure out until much later after we had left. We started with the Agedashi Tofu appetizer which is deep fried giving it a very interesting texture coupled with a nice dipping sauce: plenty to share. Our meal consisted of the combination, and I chose the sushi rolls and nigiri. California roll (2 pieces) and salmon, tuna nigiri (3 pieces). I chose the beef short ribs as my entree which reminded me of my favorite Thai short ribs as they had a similar flavor. This is accompanied by Miso soup and rice so a very hearty meal with plenty to take home. My friend ordered the unagi (eel) and Cherry Blossom - salmon and snow crab along with a Yellow Eyed Monster featuring Yellowtail, tuna and salmon. All beautifully presented, and a very generous portion. We finished with our complimentary green tea cheese cake courtesy of fellow sushi enthusiasts which we took home to enjoy. The entire bill came to $74.00 before tax and tip including hot green tea. I considered it a reasonable price as we left with enough food for another complete meal. Definitely put Crystal Fish on your list if you are looking for the best Sushi with locally caught fish, Monterey has to offer. read more

Crystal Fish - Celebrating A Birthday - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Servers just know what we wanted to order.... they heard us talking & brought it. Deliciousness in a bowl & plate!! The customer service is the star!! It was a busy night & our meal was delayed, but we enjoyed each other's company & the ambience. We had soup, tea, long rolls, sashimi, appetizers, noodles, & dessert. The bill was less than we expected which meant that we were able to tip extra for the excellent food & service. Stop by & see for yourself. The fresh ingredients & clean restaurant - and the staff - make dinner fun & pleasant. I'll return! read more

Crystal Fish - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Used to come here quite a bit with friends before COVID. With a group of varying size, price was usually the leading factor, with ease of getting seated being a close second. Quality of food was not spectacular but consistent, service however was inconsistent - it helped to come on days when a server knew you. Went there recently with family, one of whom was an octogenarian. In spite of making reservation ahead and arriving on time, the table wasn't ready. Approached a waiter and was told to wait for 5-10 minutes. Flagged down a waitress 10 minutes later and was told she'd find out more (but never revert with any info). Some time later, a third waitstaff approached us with a waitlist and asked for our names. What? 15 minutes past our reserved time?? With an octogenarian on her feet and in the wind all this time??? For sure this place has an convenient location, and the food is moderately priced. But with such disorganized, inattentive, and uncaring staff, who would want to go back, especially given so many good sushi restaurants in the area? read more

This is my favorite Sushi Restaurant in Monterey area. You will not be disappointed if you just come here for dessert because the Deep Fried Cheese Cake is AMAZING. Chimichanga roll is large deep fried (I'm apparently addicted to things fried) roll that is savory and rich with flavors. The #1 Roll (it's not the first item on the menu) has a sweet chili sauce that enhances the roll making it one of my favorites. Oh, and for starters we had the Dragonball Z...yes another deep fried item. It's two deep fried rice ball piled with fresh fish and avocado. See you there! read more

Crystal Fish - An order of Deep Fried Cheese Cake and Ice Cream w/Caramel and Chocolate sauce - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Fresh fresh fresh!! My soldier son loved the sushi options. Clean inviting place. Excellent service. read more

Crystal Fish - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

We've eaten at Crystal Fish 3 times. Each time, it has been a great experience. There's usually a wait, but it has never been longer than 20 minutes. The interior is open and it is quite lively - always packed! The sushi and sake prices I think are very reasonable, so you don't have to break the bank to enjoy lunch or dinner here. I'm always impressed by their special fish available (see photo), which rotates often. However, during the past couple of visits here, almost every one of the special fish were sold out when we tried to order. That made it a bit frustrating. I'd suggest that once the kitchen runs out of a particular dish or fresh catch, that it be crossed off the menu so as not to disappoint patrons who have been waiting outside in the cold. With that said, what we were able to enjoy was above average quality. The amaebi was superb as was the scallop nigiri. Given its accessibility location-wise and price-wise, I think Crystal Fish is a solid choice. read more

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After a visit to Monterey's lovers cove and you feel like sushi, come over to Crystal fish! I got the sushi, but udon is available as well as many other entree options. The sushi rolls here are very unique and creative. They were both very complex in description but clean and crisp. Loved the mango in the sunset roll! The environment was nice, but the restaurant seemed to be a little understaffed. Workers worked as fast as they could though and were very nice. read more

Crystal Fish - Sunset Roll - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Loved this spot for years! Changed owners, the food is still good. Prices rose since the pandemic, like many places to survive, but never went down ... it is not impossible to get in at mealtimes anymore. Friends and family dine on special occasions, and for lunch now, sigh... When you get to go try the sashimi salad with soba noodles-a beautiful meal and excellent way to power up your day with greens and protei. read more

Crystal Fish - The best sashimi salad with cold soba noodles-it's a CRAVE! - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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This was the one restaurant in Monterrey we actually enjoyed. A humble mom-and-pop vibe, locals spot; its casual, comfortable, staff are nice and food good. Note, the menu is pretty large but it seemed (Americanized) roll-focused. Pan Fried Miso-Marinated Black Cod and Dragonball-Z were our favorites. Restaurant was practically full when we got there around 8PM so be prepared for a wait. read more

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Fish is fresh and menu offers a variety of cuts for everyone. Coming from SF, the prices are quite reasonable! There weren't any "wildly different/special" fishes in the omakase but all the cuts were pretty delicious . They open at 5pm so our group arrived and waited at 4:45pm. We had a larger party and they accommodated quite well. Once the order was placed, we waited about 45minutes for the rolls but that might have been because all tables were seated and they kindly arranged all the rolls onto one plate. Next time I'll ask them to plate as the rolls are prepared so shorten the wait time. We dined out for a friend's birthday dinner and to my surprise, they gave the birthday boy a hat, free pitcher of beer and birthday song, it was amazing! This was one of my first birthday dinners since covid so I was very impressed and loved the hospitality. I miss these types of experiences! We need more of these! Loved the food and enjoyed the kind, patient and friendly service. read more

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Repeat of our initial visit to Crystal Fish in Monterey! FABULOUS! Today's Server was Milan. Professional, great customer service and a wonderful sense of humor...KUDOS Milan, you do it RIGHT! Meanwhile, again the food was DELICIOUS! We ordered: Beef Short Ribs 4/5 (Delicious, but "lite on the plate"), 3 orders of Dragon Balls 5/5 (MUST TRY-FABULOUS), Fried Oysters 4/5 (4x - HUGE, YUMMO), Hamachi Teriyaki 4/5 (Delicious, but again..."lite on the plate"), JP KFC 5/5 (MUST TRY-FABULOUS). Since my first review, nothing has changed regarding the interior condition issue (reason for "missing" Star). Don't let this stop you from enjoying this dining experience because if you do...well, you and yours will be missing out on a culinary treat! On this occasion...in this Yelper's opinion, AGAIN, the Crystal Fish in Monterey, CA (on a WONDERFUL REPEAT) truly earned this 4 Star "highly recommend" review! read more

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Crystal Fish has become a local institution since opening in the early 2000s. The food is consistently very good to excellent, with the fish that plays a starring role coming from both very nearby (Monterey Bay) and very far away (Tokyo's famous Tsukiji fish market). The service is generally great. It's deservedly popular, but turnover is quick and there's good counter seating, so it's generally feasible to walk in without too much of a wait. Highly recommended read more

Crystal Fish - Ocean trout served as nigiri - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

I am a foodie and life long sushi fan (77 years of age, who began enjoying sushi in 1976) In the past, Crystal Fish was my 'Go To' location for sushi. After the change in ownership (the original Japanese owner), things are no longer as authentic and the expected attention to detail is missing. If you are new to sushi, you might not notice or care. For those who do, keep searching. read more

Easily some of the worst sushi I've ever had in my life. I'm embarrassed that I ever decided to eat at Crystal Fish. Zum Sushi and Sakura are infinitely better sushi spots. read more

Stop what you're doing and get yourself to Crystal Fish in Monterey ASAP. This small sushi joint is an absolute hidden gem that will leave your taste buds singing with joy. I ordered the Sexy Roll (which, let's be honest, is a pretty bold move for someone as uncool as me), and was it ever worth it. This roll had multiple kinds of fish and flavors all packed into one, and each bite was like a party in my mouth. I also tried the avocado roll and plum paste roll, both of which were so good that made me question why I ever said I didn't like seafood. But let's talk about the nigiri - holy mackerel (literally). Crystal Fish is incredibly generous with their fish portions, and each piece of nigiri was like a little slice of heaven. And to top it all off, the green tea ice cream was the perfect way to finish off the meal. As someone who usually has a "I don't like fish" perspective, I have to say that Crystal Fish has completely changed my tune. This place is amazing all around, and I can't recommend it enough. Just make sure to arrive a few minutes before they open for dinner if you want to get seated immediately and avoid the line outside! read more