Well, two years ago I ended my first review by saying, "You haven't seen the last of us Kazama Sushi! We will be coming back a lot!" Safe to say, we meant it. Two years later, Kazama has become our go to sushi spot. My wife and I have been back more times than I can count and it's one of those places where we already know we're going to leave happy. The sushi is consistently fresh and delicious, the sauces are amazing, and the spicy garlic edamame is STILL one of my favorites. We've tried plenty of different rolls since that first visit and have found quite a few favorites along the way. The service has also continued to be friendly and welcoming every time we come in. We love the hole in the wall vibes this spot gives. I always think the best compliment you can give a restaurant is becoming a regular. We said we found our new favorite spot two years ago and Kazama has definitely earned that title. Still an easy 5 stars from us! read more

Kazama Sushi - Tropical Salmon Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Claremont, California

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Visited Kazama for a quick date day lunch with hubby. Located in the courtyard by the theatre and near the hotel. This sushi place has plenty of lunch specials and things to offer as well as an extensive menu. The menu can be seen by scanning the QR code on the table. Our server was attentive and helped us order. Due to time we ordered a couple of the lunch items. We got the tempura plate that comes with a shrimp tempura cali roll. The tempura was all very fresh, as was the roll that came with it. The other thing we got was the gyoza combo pate. That came with spicy tuna and Cali roll and some pieces or gyoza. The meal was served with miso soup. Because it was a date day we should have sat at the bar for more privacy. The tables are a little too close in my opinion so you can't have a private conversation. The place is tiny but the sushi was good enough tasting to where I'd go back for a lunch plate again. I'd also try their specialty rolls. read more

Kazama Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Claremont, California

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I constantly drive by this place and have been wanting to try it for some time. We went last night, on Friday night around 8:15/8:30. We walked in thru the door closest to the street. As we walked in we waited a couple minutes until a waiter approached us. She asked if we wanted inside or outside. We said outside (didn't realize there was an outside). She told us to go straight to the back. We go to the back and this young man is there, we say we want a table. This older Asian man (we believe might be the owner or a manager because of his rude demeanor) steps in and says if we have our name down. We said we don't that we had just walked in and were told to come back here. He seemed flustered said there were 2 people in line and then proceeded to say, "no you are sitting inside." He began to scurry us back inside. I was confused at was happening as his tone was very rude. I asked him "im sorry, what is happening?" He said "you are sitting inside." During this interaction, I realized that the seats outside had a nicer ambiance as there was live music so I understand why there was a wait. But it was rude the way he handled it. I normally would leave any establishment if I was treated this way but we were on a date night and had other plans at 10 so we decided to stay. Once he sat us down inside, We waited a while before we got asked for our drink order. We put our food order in and it took approximately 30 mins to come out. At most sushi restaurants they stagger your food. Here, I observed they gave each table their whole order before moving on to the next which is probably why we waited so long for our food. We ordered the Washington roll, Innout roll, Salmon delight, Hawaiian roll and yellowtail nigiri and salmon belly nigiri and oysters. They brought that all out at the same time for our small table for 2. The portion of the nigiri was generous and the quality was good. The size of the rolls were pretty big. Too big for one bite. The rolls kept following apart when picking them up. The oysters never came out. When we were close to done eating our waitress finally checked in, asked if the oysters came out, I said no. She apologized profusely. We said she could cancel the order and she did. There was this older lady that was bringing out our food, I asked her for spicy mayo and she just stared at me. I thought it might have just been me but even my partner noticed the weird interaction. Every single interaction at this restaurant was very off putting. The food was decent, not worth the experience in my opinion. My partner manages businesses as a living so he has an eye for things. He had things to say about their cleanliness. He also observed a waiter sneezing into his hands. He normally gives a lot of grace but he was the first one to say he will not be coming back Which he hasn't said about a restaurant ever. read more

Bummer to have to lower my rating but the inconsistency has become frustrating. I imagine there may be several chefs and I'm not opposed to personal style but when the inconsistencies include sub par plates it's not ok. For example, we love the vege roll and it usually has seaweed salad and lots of good stuff on it yet last month our arrived with mostly lettuce and nothing interesting. We thought it was an anomaly until yesterday when we had one of our favorites, the salmon skin hand roll and it came with salmon skin that was undercooked, not crispy. We enjoy the restaurant and love the hamachi collar so we're not giving up yet, just keeping our fingers crossed. read more

I asked for sushi and this is where my friends brought me =D. We were seated immediately, because they're regulars. Small intimate seating area with soft lighting and music playing; cozy place and it makes a great meet up or date spot. Garlic edamame to start, yum! My friends knew what they wanted and I had an idea.... Spicy tuna over fried rice cake and they had it!! Their version of what I wanted is huge!! =o. Thick rice cake piled with spicy tuna, avocado and a slice of jalapeño - delicious!! Their real crab wrapped in cucumber was delicious and I don't eat real crab regularly! Washed it all down with delicious iced green tea served in mason jars. No way I could finish everything there; packed up out what left for snacking later! Looking to satiate sushi craving? Kazama Sushi, y'all come check it!! read more

Kazama Sushi - Karaage chicken with dipping sauce, garlic edamame and iced green tea! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Claremont, California

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The sushi was great no complaints. The service was ok. I wanted to order more but my server disappeared. And by the time somebody came to check on me, I was already done eating and was over it. The new server was nice though. read more

Kazama Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Claremont, California

Came here for a group dinner with friends. Was a little worried about the size of the restaurant because we were a group of 9 but they were able to seat us outside. Didn't mind seating outside since the weather was nice. The rolls were bigger than what I'm used to. So you're definitely paying for good quality food. Also drank the Yuzu Highball but it was watered down so won't be ordering that again and will try for another drink. I forgot our server's name but he was great. Kept checking up on us and made the overall dinner experience very pleasant. read more

Kazama Sushi - Tiger roll, Spicy Baked Salmon roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Claremont, California

Food: Food was a 5/5! Fresh with large portions. I order the sashimi salad, spicy edamame, and large miso soup. Hubby order spicy tuna rolls and vegetable tempura. The edamame was real spicy and heavy with garlic, just like I like it! Service: 4/5. Started off a little slow. About a 10 minute delay before they took our order. The sushi chef had to flag down the hostess for us. Ambience: pretty small and tight, but clean and cozy. We sat at the bar. Overall, I can see why this restaurant is highly rated. We will be back and give another chance on the service. read more

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It was a smaller site with wall to wall people- so we had to sit at the bar. Initially we had to wait 10 minutes and we weren't helped and the sushi chef asked us Were we ready- he then summoned the waitress. This part wasn't too cool, but idk ‍ Watching the sushi chefs cook was a treat and they were polite and friendly. We had some good items and the food here is great ! We had an Asahi beer, the spicy garlic Edemame, veggie tempura, spicy tuna rolls, a soup and a Sashimi salad- very tasty food!! read more

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I have driven past Kazama Sushi at Village Plaza in Claremont on many occasions. I would say to myself, I'm going to eat there one fine day. Well, that fine day has arrived. I was on a solo date with moi. Love to dine with self always! Staff was very welcoming upon entry. Service was top-notch throughout the evening. I went all out on my dining experience. I couldn't resist, but to order the best sushi rolls, sushi + ramen bowls, and iced green tea. Let's just say I was hungry LOL. Everything was amazing! Seaweed salad was the best I've ever had. Between the two sushi rolls, I enjoyed the Carribean Roll more. I think it was the sweet onion that put it over the top. TASTY! Chirashi Bowl had fresh fishes in good cuts. YUM! Ramen Bowl had savory broth and tender chashu pork with all my favorite toppings. DELISH! Refreshing Iced Green Tea was in a large glass. YAY! I dined liked a queen. I would do it again. Of course, I had to pack the leftovers to-go plus order some to-go for my daughters. Overall dining experience was wonderful. Definitely would come back again. If you haven't tried Kazama Sushi, add it to your list to try. Dine-In: *Seaweed Salad - marinated seaweed with sesame oil & seed *Carribean Roll - In: spicy crab meat, avocado, cucumber/ Out: salmon, lemon, sweet onion, cilantro with sweet sauce and cilantro sauce *Old Town Roll - In: crab stick, shrimp tempura, avocado/ Out: seared salmon belly, sprouts, garlic ponzu, tobiko *Chirashi Bowl - Chef's select fishes over sushi rice *Miso Ramen Bowl - Japanese ramen noodle soup with chashu pork, egg, corn, ginger, green onion & seaweed *Iced Green Tea To-Go: *Chirashi Bowl *Miso Ramen Bowl Btw, free parking can be found at the nearby parking garage or on the streets. You may enter this restaurant from the front entrance or the back doors. Besides inside seating, limited outside seating is available near the back entrance. read more

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Outside dining in the patio on a cool summer evening. Enjoyed the Philadelphia roll & garlic edamame. Didn't care for the crunchy scallop, for the scallop itself was hard & too crunchy, it tasted like fish sticks to me. The hand roll sans the scallop was fine. The peach green tea was refreshing. Friendly staff. Came to check on us every now & then. read more

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Kazama has consistently been one of the best sushi restaurants in the area. Great customer service, quick and friendly. Love all the food here read more

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The waiter was really nice and very professional. I ate out on the patio area. It was a perfect day. Very wheelchair accessible setting, as long as you don't need the restroom. Food choices: Eel hand roll and grilled salmon salad. The grilled salmon on the salad was cooked to perfection. The salad was baby mixed greens with a ginger dressing. I recommend asking them to serve salmon on a separate plate. Very tasty dish. The eel roll was not my favorite. The eel was mushy and flavorless, it was overcooked. The sweet ponzu helped a bit but not enough. The rice was over cooked as well, it was gummy and soft. I only ate three pieces of my roll. The iced tea come in giant mason jars and it was refreshing. Overall I will eat here again for the quality grilled salmon and maybe a bento dinner. read more

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Great customer service, sushi came out in a timely manner and was delicious. Highly recommend!

Three friends decides to grab lunch after pickleball. So they pick Kazama Sushi, which has been around for a long time according to my friends. Service is quick and pretty good since it's mostly running by 2 people. I ordered lunch special set of tonkatsu and mixed tempura. Tonkatsu is slightly too dry, and mixed tempura too. Portions are really generous. Taste is good. I also try a piece of my friend's soft shell sushi - it's good size and tastes yummy. The vibe is very traditional Japanese restaurant. It's right at Claremont village area so parking could be a bit difficult. read more

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Good quality sushi at a nice neighborhood spot in Claremont. They have both inside and outside seating. We sat outside as the weather was a perfect. Service was fast and the staff was very accommodating. We had some appetizers (garlic edamame and salmon collar), a couple of rolls (dragon and spider) and then some sushi (fatty tuna, salmon belly, and uni). All great quality. Overall 5 stars. read more

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Chaotic environment. Low grade food. They need updated physical menus because they have a QR code menu. The food itself was not the best quality and was overpriced. $9 nigiri is criminal. Definitely catered to a younger, less experienced sushi eater. A lot of the staff was also a bit rude, our server did her best to help us though. A roll we got claimed it had real crab however it didn't taste that way and pretty sure it was mixed with another fish. read more

Got the surf n turf and the poke crunch roll! So much bang for your buck! Really enjoyed the service and food here! Restaurant is a little small so may want come here at a less busy time if you have a bigger party. read more

So late on this review but I went here a month ago, the sushi was so fresh! Our waitress suggested to my friend and I the seared salmon nigiri with chili oil on it since she saw that we liked salmon. We ordered it and oh my god she was soo right. SEARED SALMON NIGIRI WITH CHILI OIL--ended up being our favorite and it was so delishhh. read more

Kazama Sushi - Salmon nigiri, seared salmon nigiri with chili oil - Sushi Bars Near Me - Claremont, California

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Service took awhile and they forgot one of our order. We're already done eating and my daughter already losing her appetite only then her food came. Spicy tuna jalapeño was good though. read more

Kazama Sushi - Tonkotsu plate - Sushi Bars Near Me - Claremont, California

Always such a fabulous experience. We usually sit outside since we bring our fur baby and each time the service is great. Sushi is always fresh and delicious! read more

Kazama Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Claremont, California

Super yummy spot!! We got the sashimi salad and dinner combo platter. the salad was very filling for me and the platter was perfect for my boyfriend. the fish is so fresh! The service here is fantastic!! Super nice and they make you feel well taken care of. The restaurant is on the louder side and packed inside. The outside seating has heaters for the colder nights. Will definitely come back to this spot. read more

Kazama Sushi - sashimi salad - Sushi Bars Near Me - Claremont, California

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We've been loyal customers at Kazama Sushi in Claremont for years, which is exactly why today was such a letdown. The restaurant wasn't even busy, yet we were treated like we were invisible. It took about 20 minutes just to have our order taken while our server (wearing glasses) repeatedly sat down and socialized with a couple near the wall--full conversations, multiple times--without so much as a simple "I'll be right with you." I ordered hamachi collar and clam sushi, and my partner ordered the sashimi plate. The collar was dropped off by back staff (not our server), my partner's sashimi came out much later, and 45 minutes in I still hadn't received the clam sushi. So we're eating at different times, watching our server give all her attention elsewhere. Slow happens. Being ignored is different. Today felt disrespectful, and it completely ruined what's usually one of our favorite spots. If we come back at all, we'll be sitting at the counter--because apparently a table gets you forgotten. read more

Kazama Sushi - 20 minute collar - Sushi Bars Near Me - Claremont, California

The fish was nice and smooth, came in decently large sizes and the oysters tasted amazing! Great service as well with a cozy atmosphere! Overall will come back again for more! read more

Kazama Sushi - Oysters, Chirashi bowl, House special roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Claremont, California

A fan favorite in college town and after this visit I can see why. The portions are big and even though the sushi was mediocre I get it. Budgeting these days is a must and if you're going to try get more bang for your buck then why the heck not. The place is usually crowded so you're forced to stand in the doorway all in other people way. That's annoying. The menu is really big, like Cheesecake Factory big. If you are a foodie you kinda know what that means. The service was ok and the place looks really worn down. The sushi bar was sticky and it took awhile to get my order. I ordered their Salmon Collar which was decent along with their Monkfish Liver and Sashimi bowl. Those two items were also decent. I tried to like this place but it just wasn't cutting it. Yes I feel bad with the rating but that's what my tastebuds say. And that's my take on this, Peace, I'm out. read more

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Food 5/5 Every sushi roll I've tried here has been incredibly flavorful and satisfying! This place is definitely one of my top sushi spots. I especially loved the House Special Roll, a must-try if you're a fan of albacore. On this visit, I ordered the Fantasy Roll, and it did not disappoint. It was delicious, packed with flavor, and absolutely worth the price. The miso soup was also rich and flavorful, a perfect start to the meal. For dessert, I had the green tea ice cream, which was super tasty and a great way to end the experience. Highly recommend! Customer Service 5/5 The staff were friendly and attentive. I usually ask for extra sides, and the waiter brought them out without any hesitation. It didn't feel like a bother at all, which I really appreciated. Ambience 5/5 I've only ever sat outside at the back of the place, and I really enjoy the ambiance. It's a great spot to relax and have a meal. Cleanliness 4/5 Only judging from the outside, the staff makes an effort to wipe down the tables regularly. Wait Time 5/5 I've consistently experienced quick and efficient service. Cost 4/5 In my opinion, the cost is reasonable given the quality and flavor. Rolls are priced at $17 and up, but they're quite large; one roll is usually enough to fill you up. Just a heads-up: they do charge for sides. For example, a side of jalapeños was $1.00. Something to keep in mind! read more

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Had lunch with my parents at Kazama Sushi in Downtown Claremont and simply put, this place is amazing! Very small space with seating for about 20 people inside (including space at the sushi bar), we were welcome with a very friendly greeting and allowed to choose a table to our liking. The weekend afternoon was about half full of hungry patrons. We ordered a large selection of specialty rolls, including The Dynamite (Baked scallop, shrimp, crab, mushroom with masago & sweet sauce), Popcorn Lobster Roll (In: crab meat, avocado out: tempura langostino, masago, green onion, sweet sauce), Las Vegas Roll (In: mixed fish (tuna, salmon, ono, spicy tuna, albacore), cream cheese, eel, avocado out: masago, green onion, sweet sauce), and Monkey Brain (Deep fried japanese mushroom, spicy tuna, real crab & sweet sauce. The service was efficient and the servers were on top of the tables, ensuring great service. The rolls were quite delicious, large and very well-priced. Great flavors, very fresh seafood and some interesting combinations I hadn't experience before. There are two restrooms, and plenty of street or free structure parking within a short walking distance. If you are in the Claremont area and craving great quality sushi at an affordable price, check out Kazama. read more

Overall, it's a pretty good sushi place. The quality of the fish is good. Their portions are fairly generous, but their prices are also on the higher side compared to other sushi bars we typically visit. We recommend this place and we will likely be back on occasion. read more

I came here to try to break free from one spot and rumble fish and was pleasantly surprised. This might actually be the best in the area if I may so myself ima give it 5 stars because every single thing I ordered was solid. owner Specialty rolls are all great, salmon carpaccio great. salad great miso great. Oysters were great. staff was cool. read more

You can't go wrong choosing anything from the vast Kazama sushi menu! The portions are quite generous, the fish very fresh and presented well. Shout out to Marley our server!!! So friendly, chatting with us, and basically reading our minds more than once, anticipating what we'd ask for! Thanks, so much, Marley! read more

Claremont Hidden Gem! I've seen this place numerous time driving by but my husband and I were looking for a non-AYCE place near us and came across this spot. Cute place with both inside and outside seating. Considering it being a Monday night the place was packed when we walked in at 6:10 PM. We sat at the bar and ordered our beers first and then we opted in for their deluxe sushi dinner. Food was superb and their deluxe sushi is worth your money. You get assorted 11 premium sushi which you can't get for $39.99. Other places will charge you at least $80 to $100 per person for something like this. Sushi chefs and servers were so welcoming there especially us being korean. They were extra nice to us. Definitely will be visiting them again for their sushi. Quality was amazing and service was over the top too. Any locals who crave good sushi at a reasonable price this is the spot. Parking can get tricky but you have street parking or structure. Great date night spot and must try. read more

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It's been 9 long years since I've been here! Just had dinner with my daughter and Kazama Sushi is still the best sushi in the IE. They have premium ingredients such as fresh wasabi, sweet shrimp and monkfish liver. Then, those ingredients are prepared the right way. The owner, Chris Choe, still provides excellent friendly service! I need to come back soon! read more

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My first time here and it won't be my last... Well deserved 5/5 Stars!! I wish I had taken pics of the sushi rolls when our server brought to our table but I dived right into tasting and being in the moment :0 Let me start with the cold Peach Tea served in a big jar- it was perfect! Not too sweet nor heavy on the Peach flavor. This tea was well balanced and refreshing. They offer a variety of other cold flavor teas as well. The In n Out Roll was my first order, if Salmon is your favorite fish, this roll is for you. It has fresh salmon outside and inside. I also ordered a Shashimi plate. It included fresh cut thin slices of Tuna, Salmon, Yellow Tail, Albacore, and Blue Fin Tuna. This plate can serve 2 people. Smaller plated portions are offered as well. Both orders were delicious, fresh, and plated beautifully! This sushi restaurant is located in the heart of Old Town Claremont. It's welcoming, great atmosphere, sushi chefs and servers are friendly and helpful. They offer indoor and outdoor seating. I walked in on a Tuesday close to 7pm and luckily I was seated right away. The restaurant had a good amount of customers, it was busy. I can only assume the weekends are way busier along with a wait time. Definitely returning! read more

All my husband could say the whole meal was "this place is legit" lol, and it is! Very delicious food. Super flavorful, and the sushi is so fresh. Ambiance was chill and quiet. Like a little hidden gem. And service was good too, no complaints. We're big sushi lovers so we're happy to find another place that tastes so fresh and flavorful. We'll be back! read more

Kazama Sushi - Takoyaki - Sushi Bars Near Me - Claremont, California

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A bit of a belated review but necessary so that I won't have to ask myself "What was that good nigiri place in Claremont called again?" Such delicious nigiris...possibly the best in the IE by far for nigiris alone. Rice was not mushy or dry, the fish was fresh (no stomachache or food poisoning is always be try much appreciated). The fish to rice ratio was perfect, not too much rice and not skimpy on the fish. Rolls and bento boxes are enjoyable enough. Good portion and service. Looking forward to going back again! read more

Had a great first time for dinner! The cozy restaurant was bustling yet we were seated and served right away. The miso soup came out piping hot. The salad from my bento box was fresh and had a tangy flavorful dressing. The salmon teriyaki was one of the best I've had! The quality and portion size were surprising in comparison to other restaurants I've been to recently. My husband's chirashi bowl met his approval and he was extremely impressed with the yellowtail collar. It was a nice size and the meat was perfectly cooked! The service was attentive and friendly. We will be back I'm sure! read more

This is without a doubt my favorite sushi spot in all of the IE, potentially even Southern California. It's locally run with a wonderful staff who welcome you the moment you walk through the door. The sushi is delicious and fresh, and portions are large for the price. I've enjoyed everything I've ever ordered from their extensive menu. They have a cute outdoor patio and casual atmosphere that's welcome to families or a date night. read more

Kazama Sushi - Sushi boat - Sushi Bars Near Me - Claremont, California

We were visiting from out of town and stumbled upon this restaurant! The quality of the fish was really nice. All of the rolls tasted really good. My only feedback is that it was a little bit too much rice for us so we ended up removing a lot of it and push it to the side honestly though one roll each would've been perfect. We got three. We're definitely come back. read more

Kazama Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Claremont, California

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Were sushi lovers so we tried a new spot in Claremont. We were a group of 8 so we sat in their outside back patio. Plenty of shade and seating. The host was a little dry at first but once we sat down things went smooth. Quick to get our order and bring us water. Everything was fresh and flavors were nice. The portions were a larger than we're used too so we could have ordered less and been ok. For sashimi orders, the size is definitely worth the price. For the sushi, big portions are filling. But over all we had a great experience and the food was delxiojs read more

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Date night with the hubby... this place is usually packed but we came closer to closing and got lucky- seated asap. Food: our go to: miso soup, in n out roll, fire roll, house special roll, and a small sashimi. Price- $85 Service: was pleasant and quick Ambiance: cool chill spot read more

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