Really charming and cozy spot, like a Japanese restaurant you'd see in Kyoto, all wood, and everyone who works there is so nice. Got the almond-crusted sea bass and the tower appetizer and really wasn't enthralled for the price. Recommend skipping the sea bass, which was good, but tasted like a very expensive Chinese seafood dish, and the tower, which is really just a scoop of rice and crab, and getting the halibut instead which looked so good at the table next to us. Still on the hunt for a great dinner spot in Carmel so if you know a place, message me! read more

Flying Fish Grill - Japanese Near Me - Carmel, California

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I knew I was in for an experience from the moment I walked downstairs. The nikumaki instantly got my taste buds at attention and the pan fried oysters did not disappoint. Abalone was tender and the sauce flavorful, however the almond crusted sea bass was the Star! The banana tempura was the perfectly light desert to finish. The crew was so friendly, everyone stopped to talk to us and made us feel like family. I can't wait to go back and try more! read more

I love this place so much!! Anytime I come to Carmel this my favorite restaurant to dine at. The staff is exceptional and so friendly. Rich sat us at our table and said he noticed our 310 phone area code and asked us about the fires and if we were ok. Such a sweet man. Then our server Honza was amazing and so silly, and made the night very fun! We later found out that he was the new owner! The food was exceptional. I had the halibut and my husband got the abalone which was one of the most delicious things I have ever had in my life! The restaurant is so cozy and such a magical place! read more

There are lots of great restaurants in Carmel. But when it comes to seafood, Flying Fish Grill is the place that you must experience. Their decor is more like an underground restaurant that you find in Japan with each table separated by wooden panels. It's cozy and intimate. As for the food, you don't find sushi or other traditional Japanese dishes. It's more like a fusion of Japanese flavors on fresh seafood cooked or grilled perfectly. Love the visual and how beautiful each dish is plated. The recommended Almond Sea bass (signature dish) and special of the day dish (Fried Abalone) were amazing (but a little pricey). Our group also love the Rare Pepper Ahi and Seafood Pasta dishes. The appetizers (shrimp and vegetables tempura and calamari) were good but not great. Especially the calamari, it was a little bland and chewy. Our serve was very friendly, prompt, and attentive. She was also very helpful with one of our guests gluten free needs. Overall, a great dining experience with exceptional dishes. This will be our go to place when we are in Carmel. read more

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A great place to visit and enjoy a great dinner. Rich and Jerry were fantastic. We enjoyed being told the history of the restaurant. We had almond crusted sea bass. It melted in your mouth. Cooked perfectly. They offered complimentary wonton skins with a homemade "asian salsa" that was very tasty. For dessert, we were treated to a small green tea sundae! Thank you Jerry! We would highly recommend this restaurant! Make a reservation is suggested, but during the weekday, they got non reservations folks in. read more

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Highly recommend this restaurant for many reasons.....ambience 100%, Service 100% and lastly Halibut Black Bean amazing! 10/10 would recommend this place and meal read more

We have enjoyed this restaurant for over 15 years and not only does it not disappoint but it's better than ever. We had the ahi and black cod entrees. They were prepared and presented perfectly. Add outstanding service, Tony, and a great conversation with the owner made for a great evening. Oh yeah, prices at under $33 made or dining experience even better. We Strongly recommend read more

Amazing food and service the miso black cod and sea bass are stellar! The wait staff was so much fun and the wine was priced excellently! One of my favorite hidden gems in Carmel. read more

Flying Fish Grill - Black cod - Japanese Near Me - Carmel, California

We had Flying Fish Grill for dinner. The calamari was (4.7/5.0) super soft and not chewy at all. It paired well with the provided sauce and was super flavorful. Top three from all the calamari we've had. The artichoke (4.5/5.0) was plain and meaty, and came with two dipping sauces. The chips and salsa were homemade. The chips were thin and crunchy. The salsa 4.0/5.0) was a little sweet, which was unique but didn't really mesh with our tastebuds. The seafood clay pot (4.7/5.0) was delicous, well worth it for two people. It's a little hard knowing when things are cooked but everything cooks within minutes given that the slices are thin. The scallops and squid were sooo soft and melted as I ate them. The server was extremely welcoming and told us stories of the restaurant and it's original owners. Our water cups were always refilled and we were offered additional veggies/tofu for our seafood clay pot. The restaurant was located downstairs with no apparent natural light. It was dimly lit and completely made of wood, which helped create a more unique and charming experience. read more

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Brandi is the very best Ask for Brandi next time you go !!! Flying fish such a great place Great food Great service read more

We just celebrated our Anniversary at Flying Fish Grill last weekend. The service was exceptional and the food was great as always. Lovely cozy atmosphere for a perfect night out. read more

The skinny: Appetizers were excellent Entrées a bit overhyped The jolly: Our group of 6 adults and 2 kids went for an early dinner at 545p. The restaurant is down a flight of stairs and essentially under the Carmel Shopping Plaza. The lighting is very dim, creating the feeling like you are in a lantern-lit hold of a ship. The servers were friendly and accommodating, other guests seemed nice also (waving at the toddler and laughing at his antics). Appetizers- The fried wonton skins and salsa we're delicious. The garlic-ginger edamame was hot and oily and flavorful (but you need to eat it the way they want- using your lips/teeth to squeeze the beans out of the pod). The calamari was surprisingly soft (in a pleasant way), and the sauce was very bright. Entrees- Those in our party who had the seafood hot pot thoroughly enjoyed it. Other dishes were ordered that seemed to be enjoyed. The almond sea bass was good. But it was not worth the $50 we paid for it. When i eat sea bass, i expect buttery, rich bites. This was not that. Maybe it got overcooked due to the almond coating? The yin-yang salmon was just ok. My wife did not enjoy the high amount of sesame on the fish. The fish seemed properly cooked, though. This was our second time eating here in the past 6-7 years (only nearby 1 week/year). We would not recommend it highly, but the food is decent. Just do not read so many Yelp reviews that you raise your expectations too high like i did. read more

Flying Fish Grill - Almond Seabass. I enjoyed it, but it was less good than i expected and what the price suggested. - Japanese Near Me - Carmel, California

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Food: The seafood clay pot was pretty lackluster compared to the almost $80 price tag. The hotpot was only warm and it was hard to fully cook the fish. It wasn't until we were halfway done that a server tried to turn it up. There was also inclusion of a garlic creme sauce with the hotpot which seemed strange. Service: There is a 3.5% surcharge for paying with card which was unexpected but seems common in Carmel. Service was slow. When asked to come back in 5 minutes we did not have a server check on us again. 20 minutes later we had to get up and ask someone for the check. 10 minutes later we finally received it. Ambiance: The room was very dim. Also, some screws were sticking up from the wood crossbars above the booths. The plates need a refresh as some of the designs were almost completely worn away. Would not come again. Edit: Owner seems to laugh at those who leave bad reviews. Very unprofessional and rude. I have never had an owner say they were laughing at someone for having a bad experience before. I have since reduced my rating from 2 to 1 star. read more

Flying Fish Grill - We are still at the restaurant and laughing at your review -Jan P Business Owner - Japanese Near Me - Carmel, California

We kind of fell into this place and it ended up being a total find. I can't give enough credit to the staff, ambiance and the FOOD. We ordered the crab tower and the clay pot. Fantastic! read more

Ambience - check. Not the best but it's charming. Service - check. Again, not the best service I've ever experienced but it was fine. We dined on a Friday evening and were seated promptly without a reservation. Waters were quickly brought out and our server took our order quickly. Everything that we ordered came out correctly and the food was spaced out well. Except tell me why it took longer to grab a can of sprite than a bottle of Sapporo? Not a big deal. The real let down was the food. It was definitely not inedible but honestly just really disappointing. We had the California tower as an appetizer and it was super bland. Also, the avocado that it came with was already browning. For our first main, we had the $75 abalone special. For us, it just had too much breading, it was over cooked and the flavors just didn't come together. For our second main, we had the almond crusted sea bass. The fish was cooked well and it was nice and flaky but again, too much outer coating and weird sauce that i personally think should come on the side so it doesn't just soak into the whole dish. Mashed potatoes were fine. Overall, just very underwhelming for almost a $200 bill. read more

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Food, amazing, service excellent. Loved our booth. Nice wine selection. Prices competitive. Reservation at the time we wanted.

My mistake for not reading carefully. I saw the restaurant cuisine is Japanese and thought sushi, it is not. But since I was seated, I decided to check it out. The restaurant quaint and I like it. I ordered the scallops & shrimps curry. It was supposed to be serve w fettuccine but I asked for rice instead. Excellent move, the dish was delish !!!! I will return next time I am in the area. read more

The service was amazing and the sea bass was probably the best I've ever had. California tower appetizer was so good. Definitely recommend this spot. So comfortable and inviting. read more

Flying Fish Grill - Sea bass - Japanese Near Me - Carmel, California

Flying fish grill has turned into one of our favorite locations to go to for a date night. The dishes are delicious, the staff is extremely nice and polite, and I think the price fits the quality of the food that you are getting. Our personal favorites to get are the Rare peppered ahi pasta and the Seafood pasta. If you have to pick, definitely get those items as they are tasty, but they also don't feel too heavy. I will say that the place is kind of small, so I would recommend calling to get a reservation. Speaking of which I would like to apologize again for not cancelling my reservation during Valentine's Day of this year, which I still feel bad about. But overall, definitely a place to visit to eat if you are in the area! (Note. the picture descriptions with prices are pulled straight from the website for reference) read more

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Wow wow wow. The food here is the bomb! As many times as we go to Carmel, had never been Had a bit of a time finding it below level in a mall, but once down the stairs is a cozy zen little place Owner was great but the FOOD was a 10!!!! read more

Great fresh seafood and service. Never disappointed went we stay in Carmel. I had seafood pasta and my husband had ahi. All came out perfectly read more

Went to Monterey for the weekend with my girlfriends to celebrate my birthday. Was looking for a good place to eat and found this restaurant in Carmel, only about 15 mins away from our hotel. Reservations are a must because it gets very busy there with many locals and regulars in attendance. They have inside and outside seating available. Inside is a bit more quiet dining but a cute atmosphere. Our server Tony was great so was the guy up front. I didn't catch his name but he also came to check on us and even chit chatted which was nice. So the menu was a perfect proportion of food available and also there is one item so far that we know is not on the menu that they have available...let me tell you what we had: Deep fried wonton chips with house salsa: Okay, these are the best wonton chips I have ever had...not because I love wonton chips alone but because the SALSA was amazing!!! It was so hard not to order more since it was the free appetizer they served prior to anything else you ordered. I mean, it really was super good. Oysters on the hal shell (not on menu): they don't serve it with a bunch of fancy sauces but they give you ponzu on the side with chilli oil. Also...save that salsa! It also is amazing on the oysters, which were fresh and so tasty! Calamari: The calamari itself was ok, a little chewy, but the sauce it came with, amazing. It made it taste all the better. YIN-YAN SALMON: Oven roasted, sesame seed crusted, soy-lime cream sauce, angel hair pasta, flying fish roe garnish - This was theost tasty salmon I have ever had. Their sauce was ahhhhhmazing! I didn't want pasta so I had it with couscous instead but it was still soooo YUM. I would try it with the pasta next time to get the full adventure. ALMOND SEA BASS: Almond crusted sea bass, pan-fried, whipped potatoes, chinese cabbage & rock shrimp stir-fry - my friends said this was delish. They said for the sea bass alone, it melted in their mouth, and again the sauce it came with was awesome! That was it! I am definitely going back when in town and you should try it out too. Also the servings are pretty big, between the four of us, we could have shared one plate to two people. Depends on your appetite though. Don't let the yummy wonton chips ruin it for you..lol read more

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There are few places with as welcoming and enjoyable ambiance as Flying Fish Grill. From the first minute I stepped into the restaurant, my friend and I were welcomed and escorted to our table. The food was delicious. We had the halibut and the flavors and taste were wonderful. We celebrated my friend's birthday and the wait staff could not have been more celebratory ! A good idea to make reservations ahead of time. read more

This was highly recommended by a friend of ours, however we had a long wait till we get seated, and it turns out the place is cramped and the food is overfried tasting very bland. read more

What a beautiful restaurant and incredible food! Spent a Saturday evening here after making a reservation few weeks in advance. Located in downtown Carmel. Seating is very dark and cozy, and the food was incredibly tasty! Think of a combination of Japanese food mixed with fresh seafood - and this is your place! Ordered scallops and halibut, both amazing in flavor, and ended with their famous banana dessert. Overall a very nice restaurant and so glad to try it out! read more

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I first reviewed Flying Fish ten years ago, but have been going there even longer - when it was called Shabu Shabu. Back then, I let their shift away from a Japanese-centric menu affect my rating, but I've realized: it is one of the few destination restaurants in my life, and that matters much more. My wife and I plan our trips to Carmel around eating here. The menu is small and every dish satisfies. The service is understated and anticipatory. We love this place so much we tell friends about it. Strangers too - if we like them. It's a timeless, serene oasis that bears visiting again and again. read more

This is an amazing taste experience from first bite on. Everything was a unique experience of blended tastes that are masterful culinary creations. We loved the edamame. The sea bass was the best in life. The chops and salsa were exceptional. The halibut was so so so so good and we are on to dessert with no doubt, it will be as good as everything else. I mean -- way beyond good! This is going to be one of my favorite restaurants in Carmel. It will be one of my priorities to come here every time I visit Carmel. . Omg just had the banana hot fudge sundae -- wow! My husband actually licked the bowl. -- It was so good. The service was caring and considerate and kind. I'm read more

Oh my! We went to Flying Fish for the first time this past week and it was amazing! The food was phenomenal. I had the almond crusted fish, which is their signature dish and it was delicious. I am not a fish person but I will order this dish every single time I go. The atmosphere is adorable, there is a fireplace and it is cozy and the owner was walking around and talking to everyone which was so sweet and very much appreciated. Highly recommend this gem in Carmel. read more

We were very excited to get a reservation on the same day. But, it was not necessary at all. Maybe it was crowded prepandemic, but not so right now Black bean Halibut. This was highly rated, but honestly overrated for me. The blackbean on top of the fist was super salty to my taste. Almond crusted Seabass on mashed potato. The fish was insanely good. The crust was crispy and flavorful. My only gripe is the mashed potato. Although it went well with the fish, it tasted like instant potatoes. The Shrimp curry soup was tasty and hit the spot. But nothing special about this soup at all. The quality of the shrimp in the bowl was meh. We also ordered Fried calamari for appetizer. It came with some type of chili aoli sauce. I kept tasting the sauce and could not figure out what's in it. The star of the night was the complimentary wonton chips and ginger salsa. That's right, ginger salsa. Try it and you'll get hook. The other stars of the night were the staffs. Tony, our main server was great. The way he presented the menu set a high expectation. Unfortunately, the food did not performed. He mentioned the menu has not been changed for 20years. I totally can taste that. This may sounds harsh, i feel that the cook needs to look around to update their 20yrs old dishes. I'm talking about the taste not menu. read more

Flying Fish Grill - Shrimp Curry Soup. Tasty, watery and meh quality of shrimp. - Japanese Near Me - Carmel, California

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Covid outdoor dining: one star for the service, the food was disappointing. Asian fusion can be so awesome and My seabass was way too salty (from the sauce) and since rice is swimming in the salty sauce I barely touched it. So that was almost $30 just for this piece of seabass. Friend's ahi pasta is less salty, high in use of sesame oil, which she felt like it tasted like Asian styled sesame oil soup noodle dish and enjoyed it as such. Not to mention there is no outdoor lighting except a little camp light they give each table. No candles at the table . No string lights above. Outdoor dining has been the way and will continue to be; this lack of lighting where it felt like we are eating from the sidewalk is a jarring unpleasant experience. read more

Flying Fish Grill - Cod with rice - Japanese Near Me - Carmel, California

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I highly recommend Flying Fish. They are so kind and the food is top notch. Also, don't leave without trying the warm banana sundae!

Was really excited about this restaurant but unfortunately the food was very bland. The decor was also a bit depressing.

As a local, one of my very favorites! I like the quaint, galley-like atmosphere with 'all hands' friendly and eager to please! Waitress Christina is delightful and love owner Hosa's (apologies if I got it wrong) dry sense of humor! It's a fun game to guess the origin of his accent! And, oh, the grilled salmon is wonderful! read more

A rainy but beautiful Good Friday on the coast topped off with a wonderful dinner here - so sorry but we didn't think about photos as we had a great little nook to ourselves and the background music was pleasant but didn't interfere with our conversation. Service, for the entire evening, was exceptional with more than one person stopping to ensure we were happy. Fresh fried wontons with an equally fresh salsa perked our appetites and the artichoke appetizer arrived with two tasty dipping sauces. We stayed on menu - I had the cod and my bride had the halibut - check the menu for the details. As I have lived near our surrounded oceans for my entire life, I know fish and, they hit both dishes out of the park. We will be back. read more

Had to call to make reservations. Hint: Make reservations in advance! Honza took my reservation during the day, well before the restaurant was open. I then needed to change the date and he was able to accommodate that change. Then I tried to make it at an earlier time on the day of the reservation but they were booked solid. When we arrived there was a crowd of people around the top of the steps and a sign asking people to wait up there. It was a bit confusing and Honza was flustered trying to help everyone at once. but apologized for the wait and confusion. With dining now upstairs in the courtyard area as well as downstairs the food servers and he have to move around and through the people waiting. (I think a clipboard where people can sign in would make people more relaxed that someone would know they were there. And if it had a place to mark reservation time or walk-in, he could glance and say there are no available times left.) But... it is well worth the wait. We had another impeccable meal. They serve crispy won tons with an Asian salsa. We started with fried oysters and moved onto the tempura. Both had mouth watering flavors and textures. Fried oysters were served on oyster shells with a wonderful sauce below them. The tempura was lightly battered and crispy. The shrimp was delicious and each vegetable cooked perfectly and dipping sauce plentiful and flavorful. Next was their salad with a citrus miso dressing that is refreshing. I used the won ton chips with that also. Lastly, we shared the almond crusted sea bass which is really one of the best sea bass recipes anywhere, and we have had it in five star restaurants in many places across several states. The crust is crunchy and as the fish sits on a bed of delicious mashed potatoes, it keeps the crust crisp while the bottom and the mashed potatoes sit in a most flavorful sauce with cabbage and shrimp. Our server, Christina was delightful and attentive. Honza was working hard busing tables, his eyes roaming every corner to make sure all was well. He apologized again for the beginning chaos, and now that things had finally slowed down, his charm and smile were back. Extra tip: Parking over July 4th weekend was crazy hard to find. There is a public parking lot on Market and 8th that during the day was full but at 8 pm had space. The paid parking garage in the Carmel Plaza was full day and night when I was there. Maybe Uber or Lyft? read more

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This place is small and reservation is a must! It's a very good Japanese restaurant that serves fresh fish. They give you fried wonton with their house red sauce that looks like a salsa but it's not. It's so good. They give that while you wait for your entree. I ordered almond sea bass as it was highly recommended. It melts in your mouth that is how fresh the fish is. It comes with Napa cabbage with a little sauce. Overall I give this sea bass a it's so delicious. The seafood pasta is also a famous order. Overall this restaurant offers nothing but the best! read more

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Dinner at one of our long time favs in Carmel- The Flying Fish. Love this place and it's the spot to go for a legit Cali meets Japan experience. They seem to be known for their shabu shabu (next time!!) as that was the popular order. Everyone gets "chips and salsa"- wonton chips with a ginger tomato salsa. We stuck to our favorites- started with the grilled artichoke with wasabi aioli and. Ginger soy vinegarette. Perfectly cooked tempura'. Seared ahi dish- a bit too much sauce. Yin Yang salmon- a must order with creamy noodles. And the dish of the night- fermented black bean halibut in parchment with bok choy mushrooms, a slaw of zucchini and a traditional Japanese rice ball. Finished with the tempura banana ice cream sundae. Yum! read more

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Scallops were perfectly cooked, sweet and fresh. Halibut was tender and flavorful. Both were among the best dishes we've had in Carmel. But the best part was Tony - he is the gold standard of servers. Truly a wonderful dining experience! read more

Ate at the Flying Fish based on recommendation from our hotel, and the food didn't not disappoint. We had the edamame appetizer, the Black Cod and the Sea Bass. The food and service was top notch. If visiting Carmel I highly recommend considering adding Flying Fish as a dinner stop. read more

Flying Fish Grill - Alaskan Black Cod - Japanese Near Me - Carmel, California

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Just a great restaurant! Food, service and ambience absolutely outstanding! The prices for what I consider to be a top rate restaurant were very reasonable for the quality and experience, by no means inexpensive but, I thought very reasonable. Our family of six had 6 items from the first course menu, all delicious and entrees selected were grilled salmon, black bean halibut and three of us had the seafood clay pots. We will be back the next time we are in the area! read more