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    Koba Sushi

    4.4 (191 reviews)
    ModerateSushi Bars
    Open 5:00 pm - 8:00 PM

    Koba Sushi Photos

    Business Info

    KOBA SUSHI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Koba Sushi

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    E.J. A.

    Been coming here for possibly over 20 years! It's always a treat! This is one of the few Japanese owned and operated locally owned sushi bars in town! The freshness, pride and commitment is very apparent! WeKoba !

    Omakase plate

    This place was great! I usually never leave Yelp reviews, but there isn't as much info available online for Koba as a lot of other places. They open at 5pm and fill up quickly. I arrived at 4:45 and there were already 7 people lined up in front of me. My friend and I got the last two seats at the sushi bar (two people ahead of us chose to sit at one of the 4 tables inside). I have tried to go on other days when I didn't show up right at 5 and was told that it would be about an hour wait. We both opted for the omakase. I haven't had a ton of different types of sushi (usually just a spicy tuna roll fan) so I didn't necessarily know what I would be getting myself into. After ordering, we were asked if everything was ok/any allergies. We were first given a bowl of miso soup. It was incredible. Miso soup seems like a relatively simple dish, but this one somehow tasted better than any other ones that I've had. Almost coincident with soup was an appetizer described as "potato." It tasted like radish, with some greens, caviar, and sauce. It was very good. Next our plate of sushi arrived. I thought the omakase would be served course by course, but it came out as all 10 pieces on a large plate. Our waitress told us the ten pieces, starting from the top left going clockwise were: 1. Bluefin tuna (marinated with soy sauce, don't need to put any extra on) 2. Halibut 3. Salmon 4. Skipjack 5. Amberjack 6. Scallop 7. Sea urchin 8. Toro (fatty tuna) 9. Squid 10. Pike The bowl in the top right corner was "baby sardines." I enjoyed almost everything. I wasn't a fan of the sea urchin, due to a combination of a unique texture with a strong seawater flavor. The squid was pretty chewy, but had a good taste. The baby sardines didn't taste like much, just slightly salty? Everything else was great! The halibut had some wasabi and maybe a mint leaf. Very interesting flavors. The skipjack had a bit of a smoked flavor. The bluefin, toro, and salmon all had great flavor and texture. Everything tasted very fresh. While working through the omakase, we saw a different plate that someone had ordered which included the eel roll. It looked great, so after we finished when our waitress asked if we would like anything else, we asked for an order of the eel which was two pieces. It was amazing! The sauce on it was wonderful and it was a great piece to end the meal on.

    Love the saki!
    Rebecca G.

    FIVE STAR WORTHY for sure! Why did it take us so long to find you Koba? I'm not kidding! This little hidden gem here in Ventura is AhhhMazing! A tiny place, with only like 4 dining tables and maybe 6-8 seats at the sushi bar...and street parking only. The service is amazing! The gals are absolute dolls! They offer a simple menu, some popular appetizers and very limited roll options but here? it's all about the fish! Honestly? We've tried many local sushi bars but NONE come close to their fish! Fresh and flavorful beyond comparison! Just to give you an example, we tried the yellowtail, albacore, halibut, Spanish mackerel, Japanese scallops and uni (sea urchin) EVERYTHING was awesome delicious! For the sushi snobs Search no more!! And with all that said I highly recommend coming here!

    Want to talk about great food for a great price?? Koba sushi for Happy Hour is your spot! Had to wait 30 minutes, didn't mind at all because I heard it was worth it. They weren't lying. Had 2 Sapporos, garlic soy beans, and 3 big well served rolls that were amazing! Specially the heatwave roll, yumm!! The chefs and the whole staff were great and super friendly, great ambiance! Will definitely go here 2 to 3 times a month!!

    Timothy A.

    Probably my favorite sushi along the coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Super fresh, tasty fish. It's all about the fish. No "playing dress-up" here. Just good fish. The service is great. The atmosphere, at least when I've gone, is mellow. I live in Santa Barbara, but when I crave sushi, it's worth driving the 45 minutes to Ventura.

    Brianna E.

    Tbh it's overpriced for what you're getting and how simple the menu is. Is the fish good? Yes, but they really only offer basic rolls and sashimi. No special rolls are on the menu, so if you're looking for a good specialty roll with multiple flavors, go somewhere else.

    SCALLOP
    Jeffrey A.

    My neighborhood sushi bar serves traditional and fresh sushi. Always a pleasure to dine here.

    Wendy L.

    FYI closed until 1/11/23. The reviews and pics look good, I can't wait to try this place!

    Eel, shrimp and spicy tuna roll - SO FRESH

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    1 year ago

    Very authentic, great service. Our GoTo place for Sushi. This is where we always go when family comes to town.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    One of the few restaurants in Ventura where you can get a delicious and intimate omakase experience for under $100. Definitely worth it!

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    3 years ago

    Delicious and the staff is incredibly kind. Looking forward to when I can come back again. A hidden vta gem!

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    3 years ago

    Excellent traditional Japanese style sushi and great selection of drinks! Best sushi restaurant in the town.

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    3 years ago

    Simple, super tasty, high quality cuts of fish. Great small family restaurant atmosphere. Eat here!!

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    Koba Sushi Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Koba Sushi

    My hubs used to go here a LOT, but we now live out of state. I'd like to take him there for a surprise visit (provided that Toshi is still there!) Can someone please confirm the hours of operation for me?

    Tuesday to Saturday. 11:30 am to 1:00 pm… Read more

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    Seaward Sushi

    Seaward Sushi

    4.0(201 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    very teeny spot with cute decorations and ambiance, not too busy on a tuesday evening but i can see…read morehow it could get busy fast with only a few tables and bar seats. we made a reservation online. our server was helpful and attentive when needed. small selection of beers and sake. the food was awesome! my top two rolls were the santa paula roll and my sancha roll. the rolls were huge and the individual pieces were big too! great flavors and fresh fish! miso soup was decent, not my favorite ever. would happily go back and reccomend to anyone! the sashimi and nigiri options seemed a bit more vague on the menu/ mostly bundles of assorted fish options, but i'm sure they would give you whatever you request. we stuck to rolls so didnt encounter this as an issue.

    Id like to start this review by mentioning that the store is definitely under new management. As…read morepreviously this restaurant would be a 4.5. But times have changed and so have the food. We ordered 5 things, 2 rolls, one meh, the cherry blossom, one expectedly good, the crunch (reliability good across all locations unless something is seriously wrong) And finally one so bad that it was sent back after my father and I tried one, the Thomason. My father ordered the chicken katsu, one worthy mention is the oiliness of this along with it being significantly more bread than chicken. Gyozas (fried) were equally oily and the sauce being entirely unflavored, in favor of more oil. Finally ambiance, leading back to the first point, it's certainly new management, as previously, the ambience was immaculate, the staff were mostly Japanese, the songs were good, and while the seating was certainly cramped, it felt natural in a very Japanese way. Now the previously mentioned tight-quarters is quite glaring, as the music is the classic mix of pop and rock that fills places with no identity, the staff are mostly Mexican, and while I have nothing against that, its quite weird to be in a Japanese restaurant listening to Spanish. Unfortunately I am one who reviews only when something extremely interesting happens with the food and location, and the interesting happenstance at this restaurant is how much it is not worth your time or money anymore.

    Photos
    Seaward Sushi
    Seaward Sushi - Red roll

    Red roll

    Seaward Sushi - Mike Roll with no rice.  Delicious!

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    Mike Roll with no rice. Delicious!

    Maki Sushi - Chirashi bowl, very average but nonetheless. The miso that came with it had very fresh green onion and tasted better than instant.

    Maki Sushi

    3.5(361 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Wasn't a huge fan of the roll... got on the top and the roll itself was cold. Just a weird combo…read morefor mouthfeel. The flavor was alright. I wouldn't get this again. I'd like to come back and try something else. The atmosphere was great. They're were pretty packed. Service was good.

    I've eaten at Maki Sushi several times, usually for lunch, and it has become one of my go-to spots…read morein downtown Ventura. They have a great outdoor seating area and plenty of comfortable indoor seating as well, making it an easy choice whether you want to enjoy the sunshine or sit inside and relax. The menu has a lot to offer, and everything I've tried has been incredibly fresh and beautifully presented. I love their classic sushi rolls and sashimi--every piece of fish is vibrant, colorful, and packed with flavor. The rolls are tightly made, the hand rolls are put together really well, and the overall quality is consistently excellent. The location, right on the corner of Main Street and California Street, is perfect if you're already spending time downtown or planning a night out. It's a fantastic spot to start your evening before heading to nearby shops, bars, or the beach. Prices are very average for a sushi bar, especially considering the quality, and the staff is always friendly, attentive, and helpful. A solid choice for fresh, delicious sushi in Ventura. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    Maki Sushi
    Maki Sushi - Scallops (this was a fav)

    Scallops (this was a fav)

    Maki Sushi - Unfiltered Sake

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    Unfiltered Sake

    Sumo Japanese Restaurant

    Sumo Japanese Restaurant

    3.6(1k reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    I've always known about Sumo's super popular HHours. Went for my first visit, and the space is…read moremodern and bright. Feels very contemporary and not like a darker wood ambiance of more traditional Japanese sushi places. This place must generate most of their business from their super packed HH. Once 5pm hit, it got noticeably busier, and by 530pm- fully packed. Sumo is maybe one of the few places that allows takeout of their HH items because they know how crowded they get. That is generous of them. I think their prices are among the most affordable for HH sushi around this area and everything was fresh. I am not picky sushi rolls person, but I would guess their sushi quality is average, made for mass consumption and general public, not for people who really want Japan level top grade sushi/ sashimi. Service: it all depends. Most of the servers are college aged young women. So a lot of them huddle and talk during busy HH time while they constantly scan the busy entrance for new diners. It can take awhile for someone to actually come take your order; we were lucky our server was pretty sweet natured. But in general I don't get the vibe that most of the servers are very focused about their jobs. But with busy HH, warm and friendly service isn't a priority. We're here for the HH deals and fresh affordable sushi. For these points, Sumo delivers. The ambiance: modern and bright, not my first choice. I prefer more low key settings. I think if I came to eat solo, eating at the sushi bar would be a pleasant experience, if I came before 5pm rush.

    I came here once for their reverse happy hour…read more Everyone who assisted my friend and I were nice and helpful. Main reason I am giving Sumo a 2 star. I ordered their seaweed salad and their rose roll. It was okay. Nothing mind blowing, but I did get food poisoning from it. It was the only thing I had ate which is how I know it was from this. I know some of my friends enjoy coming here, but I will not be coming again.

    Photos
    Sumo Japanese Restaurant
    Sumo Japanese Restaurant
    Sumo Japanese Restaurant

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    Strange Beast - Spicy tuna sushi

    Strange Beast

    4.2(173 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    Strange Beast is definitely a one of a kind bar, but Nick (the bartender) is definitely a one of a…read morekind bartender! I stopped by a couple of days ago, and forgot to post a yelp on the great experience I had with Nick! Not only did he educate me on their cocktail list, but he helped on a personal level with his conversation skills! I wasn't have the best day, not the best couple of weeks. Sitting at the bar top with Nick helped me feel okay again! Great drinks and great personality! Check them out!

    Came here for dinner with my husband and was in awe! Cute romantic dimly lit restaurant with lounge…read morevibes, cool Japanese retro type art, fun cocktails, beautiful bar and tasty Asian food. Their SPICY EDAMAME is addicting! They add the perfect amount of spice and hint of sugar, highly recommend! The DUCK RAMEN was great too! Everything was cooked perfectly and tasted fresh. Loved the enoki mushrooms and yolky boiled egg. Also tried their Godzilla and KAIJUrolls- both were tasty. My husband is not a fan of kewpie mayo so we had it on the side. TIP: ORDER a side of SRIRACHA and a side of GARLIC CHILI OIL. Dipping your sushi in both of these will take your tastebuds to another level!! DRINKS: It was hard to decide between all the different choices. Millennium Falcon Fizz was delicious- reminds me of a Scooby snack, comes with a foamy top. They give you a bottle of water which is nice, but the waitress forgot to give us a refill when we asked for it. Other than that, the staff is friendly and did a good job checking on us. If you're in the area check it out!

    Photos
    Strange Beast - Beautiful bar

    Beautiful bar

    Strange Beast - Spicy tuna roll,  Godzilla Roll, Scallop Handroll

    Spicy tuna roll, Godzilla Roll, Scallop Handroll

    Strange Beast - Bao Bun for Dim Sum Thursday

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    Bao Bun for Dim Sum Thursday

    Sushi Fresh Ventura - Diablo Roll

    Sushi Fresh Ventura

    3.5(389 reviews)
    3.2 mi
    $$

    I have no idea how I have missed reviewing this spot…read more We go to and work at the California Strawberry Festival every year coming from Mesa, AZ. It used to be in Oxnard, and we had a tradition of a group of us going out on the Saturday night of the two-day festival. It then moved to Ventura so it could use the county fairgrounds and be a larger gathering of people at the annual event. Since it moved, we decided to find a new place to eat. Originally, we picked out about three different places, from Yelp, of course. Drove to the first two and they were crowded with limited to no parking. So, we all ended up at Sushi Fresh and have not looked back. Great staff inside. Greeted and felt welcome from the start, we now look forward to returning and seeing the same smiling faces each visit. You know it is a terrific place when the staff does not have high turnover. The food is fantastic. The sushi rolls, edamame, etc. are wonderful but the best part is how many items they have that are not sushi, in case you come in with a group of diverse eaters. Personally, I go for the dinner box - pick any two entrees and it comes with rice, soup, salad, and your choices. I usually get a teriyaki chicken and a sesame chicken, but this time went with the teriyaki and a Mexican Roll. Loved it. Already looking forward to our next visit, next year. Highly recommend this place to friends and family year-round even though we get in just once a year. Totally worth it.

    I'll admit it, have recently gotten into sushi but have no idea what I am ordering. So this time I…read moretook an expert, my "unofficial adopted mother". She recommended this place as one of her favorites in town. When we arrived the host greeted us with a warm welcome and sat us down. When it came time to order I tried to order a Tiger Roll, remember I am a newbie. He wasn't aware of that but was real cool about it and didn't make me feel ignorant. He made other suggestions and we decided on three rolls (Crazy, Dragon, Snow) and they were all good. I really enjoyed the eel sauce on the Crazy(?) roll and I believe the Dragon roll was very close to the Tiger rolls I have been ordering. Again I have no idea what I am doing so I may have mixed up the names of the rolls. The place was very clean and cold which was very pleasant and relaxing. The host/server was also very attentive and nice. We already have plans to return and try more rolls. Hopefully, I'll see some of you there.

    Photos
    Sushi Fresh Ventura - Not so busy at 5:30pm on Friday

    Not so busy at 5:30pm on Friday

    Sushi Fresh Ventura - Philadelphia Dream Roll

    Philadelphia Dream Roll

    Sushi Fresh Ventura - Exterior of Sushi Fresh Ventura

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    Exterior of Sushi Fresh Ventura

    Koba Sushi - sushi - Updated May 2026

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