I always knew that I wanted a tattoo of flowers. I've searched for a tattoo artist, but I couldn't find anyone who could tattoo the flower that I wanted. It was only until I saw my cousin's portrait tattoo that I knew I found my tattoo artist at Da Wei Tattoo. There are a lot of skilled tattoo artists and then there is Da Wei. There aren't enough words to describe how talented Da Wei is. He is a unique tattoo artist; he is a creator. I appreciate how passionate Da Wei is with his work. Da Wei is not intimidating or pretentious at all, despite having so many tattoo awards! He is friendly and personable. I feel like I'm at home at his tattoo shop. As his guest, I'm a co-creator instead of another customer. Da Wei helps me translate my vision into real-life through beautiful and intricate artwork. He always goes above and beyond to research and curate and present the perfect tattoo. I love peeking inside his office to see what concepts he is working with and what he's creating next. As a creator, Da Wei is light on his fingers. He is gentle, careful, and considerate. He always makes sure that I feel comfortable and that I'm confident with his work before, during, and after my tattoo sessions. Da Wei is also communicative and transparent. Each session is like another consultation. He will let me know if something will or won't work. He also makes suggestions, but is neither pushy about it. I never regretted any of his suggestions; that's how much I trust him! Da Wei chose the perfect placement for my tattoo where I can appreciate and admire it. I love the details of each individual lily. Each lily has its own characteristics and beauty. The colors are also vibrant and compliments not only my complexion, but my personality. I had a hard time searching for a tattoo artist because flower tattoos were considered too basic. It's true; flowers are simple. Anyone can tattoo a flower, but it takes a special kind of artist like Da Wei to turn something common into something classic. The most skilled chefs are the ones who've mastered the foundational sauces. I know that my tattoo is one-of-a-kind because Da Wei created it with his vision, my vision, and personality in mind. Da Wei Tattoo is not a one stop tattoo shop, it is a gallery of lifetime artwork. You'll know what I'm talking about once you visit the shop. read more

Dawei Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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One of the BEST PORTRAIT Artists in California!!! Hands down Dawei is very Talented!! And also very professional!!!

Da Wei is a legendary artist. If you are looking for a next level tattoo artist who is passionate about his craft, this is the guy. This is truly master level application and accuracy, with the portfolio and award rack to back it. The whole experience was epic, and I can't imagine getting tattooed by anyone else now. I was lucky enough to get a full sleeve from him and I could not be happier with the result. I had a general concept, and Da Wei chose the imagery and layout. It was an effortless collaboration and we were both genuinely excited about the project. Lily was a pleasure to work with, and was very flexible with scheduling. Be patient, as work of this quality takes time. Let the man do his thing and you'll leave with a legendary tattoo. read more

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Da Wei's work speaks for itself and I was so happy with how my upper arm tattoo turned out. I came with a fairly complex design and Da Wei was able to create an incredibly detailed piece that looks exactly like I pictured. It's a great comfortable atmosphere in the shop and the convenience store next door doesn't mind if you walk in to buy a drink with your shirt off on a tattoo break :D Lily was awesome to work with as well; super nice, always worked around my schedule and made sure the amount due was clear from the beginning. She even was able to get me weekend appointments which is extremely helpful and rare in a tattoo shop when balancing work. Amazing artists and shop, worth every penny! read more

Dawei Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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I got my first tattoo here with my friend, a simple outline of a heart ($80). Lily was super nice and friendly! We called in asking for price estimates and then set up an appointment with her, a couple hours after our call. I was super nervous because I didn't know what to expect but she made me feel very welcomed and assured me it wouldn't be too bad. The outline hurt the most and I barely felt the shading. Update: it's been about 2 months since we got out tattoos here. My friend's still hasn't healed correctly and mine took quite a while too. One side of my heart is not as smooth. You can't really tell unless I stretch out my skin in that area but for sure isn't as great as it could be. I plan on getting it touched up by a better artist somewhere else. It definitely wasn't worth the price. read more

Da Wei's work really does speak for itself. Lily will get you set up and as long as you come in with a positive attitude, have a good idea of what you want, and are flexible, you'll get your piece done here. I recommend this place to everyone. Both Lily and Da Wei do a good job in trying to make you feel comfortable during the experience. I had a couple different artistic changes during the booking period and Lily was very flexible. My advice if you want a Da Wei style piece: 1. Price is secondary to art. Most art is like this, and those who will appreciate the work most won't worry about the price. It's on you forever, so take some pride in paying for what you want. This is an investment after all. 2. Relax. You're nervous, they're nervous, everyone is nervous and it doesn't help. Be patient with booking, be clear with what you want/expect. Don't do something because you feel pressured either. Take your time. read more

Dawei Tattoo - Shoulder+Upper arm piece. Entirely custom headdress on portrait. - Tattoo Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Super happy with my complete experience at Dawei Tattoo. I had waited a long time before pulling the trigger on my 1st tattoo and I'm glad I chose this shop. I wanted a half sleeve and was confident after doing the research this shop was going to be able to do what I wanted. I brought my concept to Dawei and Lily and they added the composition to make my piece flow into a seamless piece of art. Lily was very accommodating with my timeline. We worked together to make sure I could get the tattoo done in the time frame I needed. The shop is clean and stocked from floor to ceiling with a bunch of awards giving you a glimpse of Dawei's accomplishments. My experience started with a consultation with Lily. She was very knowledgeable about what would be needed to make my tattoo a reality. Her estimate of the hours needed was extremely close to the actual number of hours it took to complete my tattoo. I did have a bit of sticker shock when I was given what the piece would cost. However, I had waited a long time and decided to pamper myself. It takes a real professional (in my opinion) to make a hand look good and not come out looking like a bunch of sausages. I also wanted an extremely detailed timepiece. I later met with Dawei where he showed me some ideas based on my original concept and I went over what I like and didn't with him. Once he knew what he was working with he went to work on a full-sized hand drawing of the template. I was encouraged by Dawei's excitement at the idea of my piece. He made it seem as if the idea was something he wanted to do which in turn gave me the warm and fuzzies that he would put some effort into it. I was worried about how the different pieces I wanted in the tattoo would transition to a complete piece that flowed as one. This is where I believe Dawei the artist came through with flying colors. The drawing was better than I could have hoped for. My tattoo took 4 long sessions of drilling to complete. While I was there I would see other people come in to get work done by Lily who is also an artist at the shop. I watched her prepare the environment for the people to coming. The set up was professional, clean and had attention to detail. I felt confident that this level of detail was spent in my preparation as well. Dawei is all about concentrating and making the piece as good as could be. Don't expect a lot of chit chat while he is drilling on you. I appreciated this. I wanted him concentrating as much as possible. In the end, the experience with entire team at Dawei Tattoo was positive and professional. read more

Dawei Tattoo - My tattoo from Dawei - Tattoo Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Da Wei is a master of his craft. He has a Fine Arts background, and years of experience in tattooing. I found him through a parent I don't personally know in my kid's school. This parent had his arms full of intricate tattoos all over and they looked great. I stopped him and asked where he got his tattoos done. He said "Da Wei in Santa Clara. He is the best." Compared to Da Wei's big scale, realistic work, my request was very humble. I got a 4-inch-long script tattoo done. He did it faultlessly. Text is sharp, crisp. Color is just right; not too much or too little ink. I am happy. Scheduling was easy and straightforward thanks to his assistant Lily. I'd go back for future tattoos, and I'd recommend him wholeheartedly. read more

After all the hype with Kat von D and her "amazing" portraits, I thought I'd try to book an appointment with her to get a memorial portrait of my mom done. It wasn't impossible to get an appointment with her, but I found the process to be too time-consuming, and plus I didn't want to drive all the way down to LA just to get inked by her. So I searched online for an exemplary portrait tattoo artist in the South Bay, and lo and behold, but who did I find? Da Wei! He is an award-winning artist, with portraits being his specialty. Just check out his online gallery, or go into his shop, and see examples of his artistry. Lily, the shop manager and the other artist in residence may come off to some as a little abrasive, but I think you just have to know how to relate to someone with a "big" personality. Personally, I found her to be extremely affable, opinionated and direct -- and there is nothing wrong with that! Da Wei is very soft-spoken, and does leave most of the talking to Lily, but he does speak English. He is a very sweet man, and like Lily, if you make conversation with him, he will chatter back. The price I was quoted for my memorial tattoo of my mom was $1180 -- $980 being the flat rate, plus an extra $100 for a full-frontal view of her face, plus an extra $100 because she has long, wavy hair in the photo. A little above my price range, but if you are a true tattoo art collector, then you know that you are not just paying for the ink, but the artistry and skill that goes into putting that piece on your body. The first phase of my tattoo was completed on March 7, 2008. I was supposed to go back in 3 weeks later to have it completed, but I found out I was pregnant during those three weeks, so we decided to finish it after I had my baby. You know that initial needle prick that you anticipate with every tattoo -- the one that sets the tone for the hurt that you feel during the session? Well, Da Wei's hand is very light -- the COMPLETE OPPOSITE of the hand of the artist who did my first tattoo, Pinky Yun (of Dragon Tattoo). I marveled throughout the entire session at how UN-painful Da Wei's technique was. Of course, it did hurt when he had to go over the parts that had already been inked, but that is par for the course. My baby daddy watched on the sidelines as Da Wei worked, and every once in a while, he would shake his head in amazement and mouth little comments to me, like, "He spent FOREVER on her eyes -- they are UNBELIEVABLE." When Da Wei patted me on the shoulder and told me, "Okay, my friend, half done -- go look!" I sprang from my chair and scurried over to the full-length mirror. What I saw instantly brought tears to my eyes. There was my beautiful mother, in all her youthful glory, staring back at me. Any anxieties or doubts I may have had about the price immediately vanished. This was worth every penny -- and then some... I've uploaded a photo of the first phase of the tattoo. Can you believe it was only 60% finished? Some portraits that are 100% finished don't look NEARLY as good as the portrait of my mom! P.S. If you go to Da Wei's website and click on Portraits, then go to page 76, you'll see the photos of my mom's finished portrait. read more

Dawei Tattoo - Memorial tattoo of my mom....phase 1 (by Master Portrait Artist Da Wei Zhang) - Tattoo Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Let me start off by saying that I do NOT have any tattoos. However, I must admit that I have always been a fan. I just never knew what to get. The common practice would be to have your zodiac sign etched onto your skin, and it just so happens that mine is the coolest, most majestic of them all. This is actually what lends to the problem. The thing is that EVERYONE and their grandma has this design, even though they were not born in that year. I know many others of my birth sign who are all irritated by this as well, but what can we say? They all want to be cool like us. Of course, I am talking about the ever so popular dragon. Besides, it seems like these days you are more rebellious by NOT having any ink on your body. I don't think I know of more than five people under the age of 25 without at least one piece of art somewhere on display. Having a single tattoo won't do anymore. In order to stand out, you must literally be bombed out from head to toe like Crying Freeman to garner any attention. I'm not sure if I'd be willing to go that far. With that being said, should the day ever come that I make up my mind, Da Wei Tattoo is the place I will visit. Let me give you a bit of background. I met both of the owners, Da Wei and Lily, at one of the real estate developments I used to work at. They were both some of the kindest and professional clients I ever had. I would have never guessed that this was their line of work (not that most tattoo artists are bad). They are definitely NOT your stereotypical Carey Hart/Ami James lookalike tattoo parlor owners. For starters, they are both Chinese, which is a rarity in the industry. Lily is your middle-aged HK pop star diva type, all decked out in flashy attire and perfectly applied make up. Da Wei is a Northerner, very tall with a commanding presence, but extremely polite and respectful. It all started a few years back, when Da Wei was visiting the US to showcase his art - traditional Chinese canvas paintings. Lily, whom he had never previously met, already being the savvy business woman that she is, saw plenty of potential in his skill. What exactly did she have in mind? Obviously, as we all know, painters don't make jack until they are pushing up daisies, so Da Wei wasn't exactly ballin' out. He was willing to listen to what she had to offer. Now, tell me, what is the only type of artwork that you can actually make money doing? Comics? Well, other than that... Yes, you got it, and the rest, as they say, is history. Although initially unsure if it was the career field he wanted to delve into due to negative stereotypes, Da Wei soon discovered that he was a natural at tattooing, especially since his specialty lies with lifelike portraits. In addition, he is just as talented with many other facets of art. Just a small sampling from his website will indicate that he is rather proficient at what he does. Before long, Da Wei Tattoo rapidly ascended the ranks to become one of the more popular tattoo parlors in the South Bay, having been featured in countless magazine articles and trade shows. I don't know when and if the day will come that I go under the needle myself, but whenever someone mentions a slight interest, I always give a recommendation in Da Wei's direction. None of them have ever been disappointed. Getting a tattoo at some other parlor can be a daunting experience, especially when bombarded by freaks covered top to bottom with demonic caricatures. Fortunately, Da Wei and Lily make sure your experience is nothing but a pleasurable one. In the world of tattoos, they are definitely one of a kind. Isn't that what it's all about? P.S. For those interested in getting Chinese character designs, wouldn't it be advisable to have it done by someone who actually knows what he is writing? You certainly don't want to end up on Hanzi Smatter (http://www.hanzismatter.com). read more

I finally got my first tattoo here by Da Wei after booking 3 months in advance! My coworker had recommended him for his detailed black ink work, and since i'd been wanting to get a tattoo in memory of my grandma for years... I finally bit the bullet and decided to get my grandma's Japanese crest (mon). My friend came with me, and when we arrived Lily and Da Wei were incredibly friendly and comforting (they even had their daughter with them). Lily set me and my friend up to face a small portable TV while I got my tattoo on my forearm -- watching Black Swan, haha. Da Wei was quiet, but was able to modify the design to have the right amount of spacing quickly and extremely accurately. The process was extremely painless, and my tattoo's line work weeks later looks amazingggg and healed really quickly. I'm so happy with it (Sorry mom, I know you think i'm a "biker chick" now). It was really pricey, but like everyone says the ink is permanent and you want quality and someone you can trust. read more

Dawei Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Dawei is one of a kind. I traveled from North Carolina for this tattoo. I did the same 18 years ago. He leaves a true work of art on your skin. He's super talented and also a great person. He's the only person I've allowed to tattoo me over the last 18 years. The pics say it all. read more

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Da Wei & Lily are great! Though I don't live in the Santa Clara (I live in Seattle), I decided to get tattoo'd during a family trip to the San Jose area. I found Da Wei through some internet searching, and after a phone interview and some e-mail exchanges. When I finally met Lily and Da Wei in person, they were very professional and friendly during the consultation - unlike a lot of tattoo artists, Lily and Da Wei are honest about their work and will tell you if a certain design/ color won't work. Da Wei is a true artist, and combined the ideas I brought with his own expertise, creating an original work of art - a half-sleeve Chinese lion-dog with my father's name written in old Chinese "seal script". In total, it was a 14+ hour project spread over 4 sessions. As others have mentioned, here are some tips if you decide to get inked by Da Wei & Lily: 1. Have an idea about you want done, and bring in some samples! It'll help you a lot during the consultation. 2. Check out their online gallery. That'll also give you ideas, especially about placement as well - where you want the tattoo done will definitely affect the size and shape of the art. 3. If you're serious about your project, pay on time! Da Wei & Lily charge a fair price for the business that they run - people balk at spending money to set-up appointments and get more detailed drawings done, but for tattoo artists, time really is money! Paying part of the project fee is a sign of respect and shows you're serious about getting it done. Thanks again, Da Wei and Lily! When I'm ready to get more ink in the future, I'll definitely be back. Oh and another bonus for those of you who might have some Chinese American background - Da Wei speaks fluent Mandarin and Lily speaks fluent Cantonese. ;) read more

Dawei Tattoo - Tattoo by Da Wei Tattoo. - Tattoo Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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Just wrapped up my first piece from Da Wei. He tattooed Archangel Michael on my forearm. I did a lot of research on artists in the Bay Area who were skilled in realism. I'm very glad I found Dawei's shop. He is one of the most skilled artists I've ever seen and worked with. You pay a bit of a premium but you will definitely get the quality and attention-to-detail you pay for. He's a world class artist and a genuine guy. He makes you feel comfortable and splits up your sessions so you're comfortable and so he can provide the best quality possible. Lily is his assistant and she was awesome. She would answer any questions I had and communicated very effectively. I highly recommend this place. read more

Awesome! Da Wei is one of the best tattoo artist money can buy. Lily is the coolest and she's got some skills too. If you want a good tattoo and are willing to pay the price, all I can say is "you get what you pay for." Besides, a tattoo will be there forever so you should get the best one available! I can't wait to go back and have Dai Wei fill up my arm. Check out their online portfolio too! read more

Dawei Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

I have been going to Da Wei and Lily for nearly 19 years now. Lily has done all but one of my tattoos. I love the work, and get many compliments. The prices are well worth it, for the quality that is given. Lily and Da Wei are both very friendly and professional. Lily books all of the appointments for the shop and is very honest when explaining not only the pricing, and how long their waitlists are, but also any other questions you may have. After having been a longtime client, I got my very first piece by Da Wei completed in May 2016. I love my Yoda, which is the first piece in the process of creating a Star Wars sleeve out of my right leg. read more

Dawei Tattoo - Yoda-on my right leg, the first of many to complete my leg sleeve - Tattoo Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Horrible customer service, much rather go somewhere that they actually respect people. Wouldn't give my money to them.

Loved my Rose tattoo! I felt very comfortable and I liked the experience! I would definitely will come for more! Thank you! read more

Dawei Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

This being my first time having a tattoo, I came upon this shop located in Sunnyvale. When I first called to schedule my appointment, my call was answered by Lilly. She was very helpful with all of my questions and concerns. Once I went to my first appointment, I was welcomed by Dawei, he was my tattoo artist. I showed him what I wanted, but to my surprise he came up with a better picture but he never once drew away with what I showed him. He knew exactly what to present to me and I was blown away. He is an extraordinary individual, he listened to me, he drew, I told him the color, he drew. This individual knows what he is doing. He worked with my schedule, my time, he never quit on me. We took breaks, but always communicating with each other in what he was going to do next. As you can see by the pictures shown, he is very talented, very detailed, and passionate about his work, and skills. I highly recommend Dawei to anyone who is looking for extraordinary work, one of a kind piece, and originality. I am more than content, there are no words to explain this experience. I am not done with my sleeve, I will continue with Dawei, we already started to add to my sleeve, we will continue working, experiencing together in creating this master piece of art. read more

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Da Wei is an incredible artist. His work is unsurpassed and he spends a good amount of time getting the design right. He also has a wonderful demeanor and makes the process of getting inked as enjoyable as it can be. My first half-sleeve was in memory of my maternal grandparents, my second is in memory of my paternal grandparents. Because both designs were so personal to me, Da Wei really took great care to get them right. Lily is the manager of the shop; she was incredibly helpful - she answered questions thoroughly, made sure that I had all of the information that I needed about the process, products, expectations, tattoo after-care, billing, and meaning behind the art. Both Lily and Da Wei and incredible people and serve their customers well! The price is more expensive than other artists, but I am so pleased with the results, that I'm ok paying a bit more for the quality. I'll be completing both sleeves over the next 1-2 years, with Da Wei controlling the needle. Highly recommended! read more

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Saw Dawei this morning for an old school Sailor Jerry Eagle. It is the usual great job done by Dawei! This is my 4th tattoo from Dawei, and I get many compliments on his work. Especially when I am in Asia and they see my Celtic Cross that Dawei did. Now I have to figure out what will be my 5th from Dawei... Dawei and Lily are super nice, and of course very, very good! read more

Dawei Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

Da Wei is the best! I sent in a few ideas of what I wanted and he was able to design my tattoo and I love it. He is so nice and made me feel very comfortable. It's so important to feel comfortable with a tattoo artist, especially getting such a large piece. I definitely recommend Da Wei. read more

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Just got another tattoo done by Dawei, even though this is already my second one from him... im still really impressed with his work like it was my first one. The detail and skill... if you want a tattoo that will get you praises.. then Dawei is the artist you want to go to! Lily, his partner is also very accommodating, from scheduling, to reminders, all the way to making sure you have enough comfy pillows while getting inked. Thank you Dawei and Lily for another awesome experience! You guys are the best!!! read more

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First of all, I have read most of the negative feedback and MOST of them are based on price and/or Dawei's busy schedule. 1- you get what you pay for and the AWARDS covering his walls speak for that. 2- Obviously he is Very Busy,DER-he is THAT GOOD! I live in Nevada and flew in JUST to get his Masterpiece! This surpassed my expectations, Blew My Mind on how he captures your soul and places it on your skin, for all to see! Lily is a gem, who walks you through the process (something a simple phonecall cant do), she listens to you, pays attention to your vision, and interprets it onto paper to give to Dawei. I have been getting tattoos from Dawei for OVER 25years, Lily and Dawei work effortlessly together. I came for my first sitting for Jessica Rabbit and saw my dream piece come to life. First pass was awesome, tonight the second pass from Dawei brought my Dream to life...BUT ONLY BETTER THAN my mind could express. A MASTERPIECE, a WORK OF ART, a GEM...For ever.. Thank You Dawei and Lilly Love,Tigger read more

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I hate to do this, but I have to give a negative review. First I'd like to say that I highly respect Da Wei's work, and he alone definitely deserves five stars for his artistic abilities. However, Lily did two of my tattoos, and I was incredibly disappointed for a lot of reasons. 1. She wrote the WRONG WORDS on my arm. I wanted "Dear God, Please make me a bird so I can fly far, far far away from here". Instead she wrote, "Dear God, Please make me a bird so I can fly fly far, far away from here". Yeah, not only did she write the wrong word, but even the word was correct, the comma would have been in the wrong spot. 2. The lines were uneven. When I went back in to complain, they tried to convince me that the lines were straight and that the writing made it look uneven, but I saw the writing in the book and it did not look like that. I also went into other shops that ALL told me my tattoo looked sloppy and carelessly done. She also did text on my inner wrist at an earlier date...it was so uneven that the first letter is half an inch lower than the last. 3. The spacing between the words was uneven. 4. She put an end quote, but no beginning quote. I know that this is an easy fix, but it just goes to show that there was not nearly enough care put into a tattoo that she wanted $250 for. 5. The letters weren't consistent...the first "fly" looked completely different than the second. Each individual word looks nice, but overall it looks sloppy. They were very accommodating when I went back in, but I did not like that Lily kept trying to convince me that my tattoo was still "grammatically correct" and that the lines were perfectly straight and that she had me check to see if it was straight enough. I am not an artist, and it is not my job to know whether or not a tattoo on my arm will be straight. And even if the way she wrote the tattoo could be okay, the point is she messed up BIG TIME, and she just got lucky that I can make it work. They gave me $150 back, and Da Wei is a phenomenal artist...those are the only reasons I think she deserves the one star. I would highly recommend Da Wei, BUT DO NOT LET LILY TOUCH YOUR SKIN!!! read more

First, let me state that I did not get a tattoo here, so this review is not regarding their work quality. My issue is the pricing. I got a quote for a tribal band for my bicep for $880. Lily said this is due to 2 hours of prep making the stencil and 6 hours of tattooing. I already knew exactly what I wanted, so design was not an issue. I ended up going to Humble Beginnings in San Jose (renowned for their tribal work) and got the exact same tattoo that Lily and I had discussed for $380. I will say that the new Da Wei studio in Sunnyvale is very nice and clean. Also, Lily was very helpful and friendly. I suspect pricing is high due to higher rent. read more

Da Wei Zhang is one of the best portrait tattoo artist in California. Former studio art teacher turned tattoo artist. What a great resume! The moment you walk into the shop you'll notice accolades from several tattoo conventions around the national hanging from the walls. The atmosphere is very welcoming. Definitely not your typical tattoo parlor and Da Wei is MOST definitely not your typical tattoo artist. A quite, humble man, with no visible tattoos, who literally looks like a college professor. There was something comforting about his look because it had an undertone that he was all about skill, technique, and precision when it came to his craft. None of that pretentious tattooed "bad ass" look. Da Wei was booked for about a month before I got tattooed. Very light on the needle and he takes his time...maybe too much time. Be prepared for more than one session. Pricing is EXPENSIVE ($980 for a 6in x 4in portrait just to give you an idea) But well worth it, especially for something as difficult as a portrait on your skin. If you want the best you gotta invest! After two sessions, my portrait tattoo came out DOPE! It was way better than what I expected. It's so realistic it's almost scary. If you're looking for a great portrait tattoo artist in the bay area hit this guy up! read more

i'm about 3 years late on my review. not sure why it took me so long...maybe i was waiting for the thousandth compliment. i swear this tattoo gets more attention than kanye west and kim kardashian and for good reason. i chose da wei specifically for his craft, knowing after months of research, that he specialized in realism & portraits (the last thing i wanted was a slightly deformed depiction of my late mother). when i first met da wei he came across as very humble. he went right to work and after two sessions i was beyond pleased to see that he not only nailed it. he was able to recreate the beauty that my mother was. take it from me...the man knows what he's doing. trust him. trust his needle. and you will leave there with an artistic piece worth more than what you pay for. read more

Dawei Tattoo - portrait tattoo: first session. - Tattoo Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

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I got my very first tattoo at De Wei from Lily when I was eighteen. I was happy with it until it finished healing and I realized the lines were uneven widths and the overall line quality was so poor that my current tattoo artist actually laughed. Lily charged me $225 for a tattoo that is about two square inches. The tattoo is a photocopy of a necklace pendant I have. It is a cluster of three stars. Just the outline. She only had to enlarge the picture. We were supposed to have a design consultation before the actual tattoo ate and Lily was late to the appointment and had also forgotten the design to show me. I live about half an hour away so, needless to say, I was unhappy about driving there for nothing. So not only did Lily waste my time, she also overcharged me for a dinky tattoo that should have cost maybe $60. Another one of my friends got a tattoo from her with the same problem. Too much money for too little quality. My new tattoo artist has since touched up the old tattoo. read more

A long time ago, I walked into a tattoo parlor and there was a sign that read "Good tattoos don't come cheap and cheap tattoos don't come out good". That's really true. I've been a fan of Da Wei's work for years, but knew he was very expensive. So I've been putting off going to him until now. With him, you really do get what you paid for. Good tattooist never come cheap. Well in a nut shell, I lost my daughter a couple of weeks before I came in for a consultation and really wanted to have her portrait inked. So the only person that came to mind was Da Wei. After explaining to them what had happened, they handled the situation with such empathy. They made me feel very comfortable, so we moved forward. I just got my memorial tattoo done today and I am really amazed and happy how it turned out. It was faster than I expected and he covered a lot of the details within a couple of hours. I still have another session to put the finishing touches. I've never had a tattooist tell me to come back. Usually they do it all in one sitting if it isn't super big. But he takes his time and wants it to be perfect. I can totally respect that. All I needed to do was describe what I wanted. Provided him a few pictures and he worked his magic. He knows what he's doing, so I just let him have free range on the other details. Although he would ask me what I wanted, I would ask him what he thought would look best. I put a lot of trust that he'd do an amazing job and he delivered. He's light handed and extremely gentle. But tattoos still hurt when hitting some areas, so don't think it won't. He is well worth every penny and I am EXTREMELY HAPPY. read more

I do a lot of stupid things in life...getting a tattoo was probably one of them. It's been over hmmm 5 years now and I am still quite content with my "sad fairy" tattoo on my back. Da Wei replicated the art piece beautifully, with the detail and shading, I was really satisfied. Although it was very pricey, it was definitely worth it, my tattoo has only faded minimally They say you get hooked after your first tattoo but I guess I haven't got one since, I almost got another one a while ago but I think having one big tattoo on your back is plenty enough. Once I find a picture, I will post. read more

First, i have to admit that Da Wei as a Tattoo artist is freaking awesome, his work is incredible. The reason why i give them such a low rating is because i think he has a problem with his ego and that lady that works with him is very rude. I stopped by to see if he could continue a piece that i had already started, and when i asked him he kinda got upset or offended i think, and told me to go and get it done somewhere else, i kept my cool and tried to joke around to see if he would do it, but he refused and then that other lady that works there got involved in the conversation, she was very rude and kinda yelling, she pretty much ask me to leave.......not very nice of them......i am kinda disappointed, cause i tough he was cool...... read more

I'm just going to say this review is for Da Wei and not Lily, whom I never met and seems like I wouldn't want to meet after reading some of the other reviews here. Anyways, my dad took me here for my first tattoo on my 18th birthday. I had a design in mind for years, and we ended up deciding to actually go on a whim that day. I read alright-reviews on yelp and thought I'd check it out and give it a try. From what I can tell in the shop it looked like Da Wei is a phenomenal traditional artist. His drawings have clean, smooth lines and I felt pretty confident that this would be a great guy for my tattoo. I got a molecular structure tattooed on my ribs. What I feared the most about this tattoo is that it consists of letters and a LOT of STRAIGHT lines. Meaning, if any lines were uneven, crooked, or not completely straight, the whole tattoo would look like crap. Not to mention, it was on my ribs, which are bumpy -- yeah I was afraid my tattoo would get botched. Luckily, my tattoo came out PERFECT. The lines are all completely even, completely straight, and all the same thickness. The entire thing took about 40 minutes and I was only charged $75, which was a lot cheaper than the quoted $150 minimum I got from a few other tattoo shops before I came here. I haven't got any tattoos here since, but it's still a great place to check out and see if you like it. read more

Da Wei took amazing care of me and my vision, as did Lily. From the first time I stepped in there I could tell how much knowledge and experience they have. I came with a basic idea of how I wanted the tattoo to be and Da Wei turned it into a masterpiece. I couldn't be happier. Six sessions à three hours later I went home with this. It's well worth the investment. I already miss our deep dive focus sessions. Really a special find. read more

Dawei Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

20 years old. I was 20 years old when I decided to get my first tattoo, which was a back piece of a tiger. It took 8 hours, 4 sessions, painful as heck, but worth every moment. The price itself is painful, but totally worth it because you can trust he will give you the best he possibly can. He's a quiet guy with light hands but his work screams quality work! Thanks to him I've been lucky enough to be on the cover of a tattoo brochure. And even till this day, I'm still getting compliments on it.. It is such an honor getting work done from him...he is worth it!!!!!!! read more

I had a flesh colored tattoo inside my left wrist that read as the number 69. Now obviously, at least I HOPE it's obvious, that the person who did this tattoo made a mistake. What really happened is that I asked for a light pink cancer sign tattoo 2 years ago, the guy mixed together hot pink and white on the spot, and a week later when my tattoo healed, it became obvious that it was flesh colored and not pink, except for one line which my co-workers just recently confided to me they mistook as a suicide attempt (jokingly I hope) when I told them I was going to Da Wei's to fix it. Da Wei's shop is very conveniently located. I'm sure everyone knows where Tofu House on El Camino is? They're right next door. Lily, (probably his wife? didn't confirm) was a trip! She is super sweet and asked if I ate bc she's scared I would faint, probaby thought it was my first tattoo lol. She did kinda remind me of a HK pop star with the way she dressed. She was also excited that I spoke in Cantonese and started to talk to me about Hong Kong, etc, until Da Wei was ready to help me. She is also a really good tattoo artist, I watched her work on another girl's back while I was getting my tattoo fixed. Da Wei was definitely a surprise. I expected a gangsta with tattoo sleeves, instead I got a sweet middle-age Chinese man who is super soft spoken and wears glasses, more like an engineer than anything really. This time I chose a more "tribal" cancer design which CANNOT be mistaken as a 69. We applied, reapplied, then applied the markings again on my wrist to line it up with my sad mistake, (I swear if it was me I would've thrown me out of the shop but he was uber patient), then he proceeded to spend HALF AN HOUR when any other artist would've spent 5 minutes. Da Wei is extremely detailed, and is careful to go over every little bit of his work to make sure it's absolutely perfect before he will let you go. If you need more proof of his tattooing prowess, just check out all the portraits he has up on the wall of the realistic full back tattoos he's done, along with the tons of recognition he gets from different tattoo magazines. I'm extremely happy with my wrist now, after scowling at it for 2 years, and would recommend anyone to Da Wei if they want a tattoo done right, new or otherwise! read more

First off, Have you ever wanted to feel like a celebrity? Well then, I would recommend getting a tattoo from Da Wei! I can't begin to tell you how many people stop and ask me about the work that Da Wei blessed me with. There have been countless people that have said, "I not big fan of tattoo's but your tattoo's are amazing/beautiful or look like a painting". Da Wei put his heart and soul into my piece and it shows. I guarantee he will do the same for you...That's the kind of guy he is. He takes pride in his work and i guarantee you will not be disappointed with any tattoo you get from Da Wei! Not only is his work amazing but Da Wei the man is super kind, friendly and a pleasure to be around. Da Wei...I can't thank you enough for making my experience a great experience and the amazing work that i will have for the rest of my life! Let me tell you a little about my experience with Lilly. First off, Da Wei and Lily make a great team! Lilly will do you consultation and during my consultation she was so nice and informative. Not only was she very nice but she also made every effort in my opinion to accommodate my crazy schedule even with their crazy shop schedule. Thank you Lily for getting my sleeve done before my birthday!!! You are A+ in my book! I see a lot of people saying the quotes were pricey, too expensive or whatever but with a tattoo, you get what you pay for. In my opinion, Da Wei's work is priceless and worth every penny that i spent! Again, you will not be disappointed with his work and will not need a cover up (more $) with in a few years or worse yet, need to have it lazered off (even more $$$$$). Just do it right the first time and go see Da Wei... and remember, "you get what you pay for" but with a Da Wei your piece it will become priceless! I know mine did! Thank you Da Wei And Lily! I'll be back in a year when the Twins are two! read more

I have been wanting a tattoo for years! I finally committed to getting it on my golden birthday. I was very nervous and researching all the tattoo places in San Jose. A coworker mentioned Da Wei and I went to yelp and read all the reviews. I quickly added it to my top three list and drove to all of the locations to get a feel for it. When I went to Da Wei I was met by Lily who was a sweetheart. She quickly understood what I wanted and said it would be easy. She squeezed me in an appointment after tattooing a whole tiger on a guys back! My little wrist tattoo wouldn't be a problem. When the day came, I brought my entourage since it was my birthday and I was nervous. Lily was very nice and could see I was nervous. She talked me through it but was very receptive to my pain tolerance. My friends say that she might have stopped early because she could see that I was white as a ghost and about to pass out! ha ha She was SO nice even thought I was being a baby. She quickly grabbed me water and started to fan me, since it looked like I was going to pass out. The tattoo was amazing and it still looks great to this day. Its everything I wanted in my tattoo, but most of all the experience was memorable. I would highly recommend going here for your first tattoo, whether that be a big tiger on your back or a small wrist tattoo. Loved this place! read more

Really personable artists here... nice and clean environment (they use disposable needles). They have a wide variety of images to choose from, can help design something special if you have an idea in mind, or can tattoo a design you create for yourself... Very flexible, and decently priced, great quality tattoos! No pain. and they talk you through the entire process. read more

"Portrait work is nothing to mess around with, and when I went looking for an artist to memorialize my dogs, I knew I had to be picky. I own a dog training company in the South Bay, and a client of mine came in with the most stunning portrait of his dog on his forearm. He referred me to Da Wei, and I've been nothing but pleased in my experience so far. The portraits he did of two of my dogs are on point, realistic, and capture their individual personalities. We are only partially done with the piece, and I'm already thrilled. Thanks Da Wei!" read more

Dawei Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Sunnyvale, California