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    Kuma

    4.3 (444 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Waitlist - Kuma

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    Kuma Reservations

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    KUMA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Loud
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Kuma

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    Reviews With Photos

    Phoenix Roll
    Angelica H.

    We ended up here after Alvarado brew had a 1+ hr wait and it was a GREAT pivot! Prickly pear marg was a fantastic start, strong and sweet Our rolls came quickly, best of which were the Sun roll and Phoenix (fun fire at the table!) Best of all was the Toro tuna belly sashimi!!! Our server Jaiden went above and beyond recommending this, telling us how to eat it, and even bringing over a special wasabi for us to try!! Ambiance leaves something to be desired, but Jaiden's service and the toro sashimi was the BEST! Definitely visit for fresh sushi when you're in Monterey

    YAKI GYOZA
    Rachel M.

    Sushi was yummy! Happy they had room for our party of 7. Service was pretty prompt even when the place got packed soon after we arrived. Spacious interior and a separate room for private party. Agedashi tofu and the sushi rolls (Aspen, Sun and Whole-Hearted) were delicious and I'd highly recommend for a good variety. I appreciated the freshness of the fish, rice to fish ratio and creativity of each roll. They also have vegan rolls. Prices were a little elevated for the smaller portions of sushi - $18 and up for each roll but they were tasty enough. There's 60 min street parking nearby.

    Aspen roll
    Julie S.

    Really good sushi in Monterey. This is located in downtown Monterey and we stopped in because our original destination had a huge wait. Kuma had a few minute wait. This place is really family friendly, and there were a lot of people with loud kids on a Saturday night around 6. It was also really packed, so the servers were running around getting everyone everything pretty quickly. I thought they were very pleasant and energetic. They have an interesting variety of sushi rolls, including some vegetarian and vegan selections. I felt like the serving size was pretty large, and I ended up taking some home. All the fish was fresh and high quality. A very enjoyable dinner!

    Chrissy J.

    5 STARS !! Don't believe the 4.3 stars. The quality of fish used is 5 star. The size of the sashimi is huge! Not bad quality huge but great-melt-in-your-mouth huge slices. Waitress was so sweet. Staff were so nice. We got salads and miso soups and that comes with big entree orders and the soul was in a big bowl. Salad dressing was amazing.

    Jennifer G.

    I stopped in for a solo dinner on a Weds night. The restaurant was only half full so I was attended to very quickly. The service was pleasant and prompt throughout my visit. There is a small bar with some seating when you first walk in, and then a medium sized dining room with a sushi bar as well. I ordered the scallop blossom appetizer ($10) and the Spicy Paula roll. I felt the roll could have been a little spicier to warrant the pepper label. But it was fresh and delicious. Overall I was happy with my visit and would return.

    The rolls just kept coming
    Pamela F.

    Two friends/colleagues and I skipped out of a nearby conference to chow down on sushi and were so stoked on Kuma! We had good service and even scored some free sake when one of the wait staff misunderstood a request (likely because the dining room is so loud! not great acoustics because it's so cavernous, but bright and welcoming, too). I have to admit that I was a little intimidated by their extensive menu, but we loved pretty much everything we ordered. Left stuffed and satisfied!

    Mai T.

    This place has decently good sushi. I tried their edamame, sashimi, Spanish Bay roll (riceless), unagi roll, and salmon skin hand roll. Fish tasted fresh and was presented well. The place does't have a typical restaurant layout. The front part is rather dark and feels like a bar lounge. When you enter the back, it is a large airy space with plenty of tables. The tables are far apart so there is no crowded or intimate feeling. While a bit on the pricier side for sushi, it is on par for its downtown location.

    Stephanie C.

    Really friendly service, but kind of slow with the food. Got the platter with 8 rolls. To be honest, they all tasted kind of the same. It wasn't bad, but it was a lot of California-roll flavors. And there's a lot of sauce, so you're tasting the sauce more than the fish. Will try their chirashi next for something a little simpler.

    Andrew B.

    Since my last visit the food quality and service has improved. We came to love the simple cut rolls.

    Food
    Ramsay K.

    Good sushi at a reasonable price for a downtown area. The ambiance was decent, but nothing to write home about. Service was very fast which was awesome, but the waiter was a tad bit rude.

    $65 Love Plate for 2 with an add on of fried squid (Ika)
    Cindy N.

    If you're ever in Monterey County, be sure to check out my absolute favorite sushi bar called Kuma! This is our 2nd time coming to this restaurant and we will keep coming back. The "Lover Plate" for 2 is an especially good deal that features Chef's Choice of a special roll, 8 pieces of Nigiri, 2 hand rolls, 4 pieces of gyoza and wakame seaweed salad -- all for $65! You let the server know what you like and don't like and they will customize the meal for you! Kuma gets 5 stars for SAFAV: Service Ambiance Food Alcohol Value for Money For more food recommendations of restaurants rated 5 stars for SAFAV, check out my IG: https://www.instagram.com/cindythechomper?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

    Panko Crusted Calamari
    Kat A.

    We were in Monterey for Spring break and was checking out where to eat. This place was one of the few restaurants that was open pass 8 and we weren't disappointed . The place was pretty packed for a Monday night. There were only 3 servers which is why there was a little wait. But they were very accommodating specially Dylan! He made sure we were well taken care of. The food was amazing and tasted fresh. Our favorite was the Yama Roll and the dancing shrimp! It blew our minds!! We've never tried anything like that before. The place was family friendly. We hope to come back the next time we visit Monterey.

    Bella N.

    I finally went inside after only ever ordering their sushi from the wine bar next door, and the inside was not at all what I expected. The space feels more like a multipurpose ballroom than a traditional restaurant. It is one big open room with very high ceilings, tables and chairs spread out across the floor, and the sushi bar set up along the back wall. There is even a disco ball on the ceiling and a projector, so I am guessing they host other events or maybe karaoke nights that I just did not know about. Aside from the surprise of the interior layout, everything else was great. Our server (I think his name was Ridley (I don't have the receipt anymore sadly), though I might be butchering that) was friendly and on top of things. Drinks came out quickly, the sushi quality was exactly what I am used to from past orders, and I really have no complaints about anything we ate. Just updating my review to share some photos and give a better sense of what the inside looks like, but the food itself is still consistently good.

    Delicate hamachi belly and hamachi sashimi

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    Kuma Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kuma

    Do they take Reservations?

    Yes, I made a reservation a few weeks ago.

    What days are they open? Are they open for lunch?

    No, I wish they did though, because I would be there for breakfast. They open at 5 pm.

    Is this place dog friendly?

    No they are not. There is no outdoor seating.

    View All 6 Questions

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    Crystal Fish

    Crystal Fish

    4.1
    (1.5k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$
    Wheelchair accessible
    Sports on TV

    Legit . I'm sitting…read morehere right now writing this review because it is SO good!! The fish is so fresh, it's so smooth, it's so EVERYTHING you want sushi to be! I added cream cheese and macadamia nuts to my roll and it's just amazing. Quick friendly service. My food came out fast! The combo of the lemon and cilantro is killer! Can't wait to come back

    ***TO GO ORDER*** First time visit to Crystal Fish and it…read morewas a solid experience. Highlights: 1. Service - Despite being a to go order, service was still first class. Order was double checked, chopsticks, napkins, wasabi, ginger, all the sauces were packed nicely Order was prepared in about 18 minutes, which was 2 mins faster than the expected 20 mins. Perfect! 2. Hot Food - Chicken Katsu, Salmon Bento box - Both were huge, cooked well, and held up on our walk back to our hotel where we ate on the patio. Expect being full!!!! 3. Salmon Salad - Solid set of lettuce and a generous portion of fresh salmon, highly recommend if you like fresh greens + salmon 4. Side Salad - Not only a solid serving of greens, but cherry tomatoes, broccoli, and a bunch of other nice finds completed the salad Room for improvement: 1. Chirashi - Rice was bland and the cuts of fish were 1/4" thick, which is not a great way to enjoy sashimi 2. Sushi Dinner - Overall, solid, except for the hamachi. It was rancid. I hope this was a one off. NOTE - The CA Roll and other fish were fine, but the hamachi had gone bad Overall, I'd go back, but focus on the hot food.

    Photos
    Crystal Fish
    Chirashi- very fresh!
    Chirashi- very fresh!
    Veggie tempura, firecracker roll, tuna poki bento box

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    Veggie tempura, firecracker roll, tuna poki bento box
    Züm Sushi

    Züm Sushi

    4.3
    (845 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Zum is my new favorite sushi place on the Monterey Peninsula. My wife and I ate lunch here…read moreyesterday and was thrilled with the freshness and value of this small sushi bar and restaurant. We sat outside on their small patio. Our server was helpful and friendly. We ordered hamachi carpaccio (4/5) to start. It was fresh but pretty basic compared to other sushi restaurants' preparations. We ordered 3 rolls off their special roll menu: the XXX (4/5), Iron Man (5/5), and the Red Tiger (5/5). The Iron Man was my favorite. It had a unique creamy topping that was crunchy, sweet, and had bits of shellfish. Very unique and super tasty. Good service, well made fresh and unique sushi rolls, and the cheapest sushi on the Monterey Peninsula. 5-stars for the value in this area known for higher prices. Check this place out!

    We are visiting from out of town and asked our AI assistant, Gemini, for a sushi spot in the area…read morethat offered great freshness and value without breaking the bank. Gemini nailed it by recommending Züm Sushi as the top match. If you are looking for a flashy, high-end tourist trap, this isn't it. But if you want a cozy, casual atmosphere, great service, and excellent portions for the price, this place is a gem. We came in to celebrate our 20th anniversary, and the staff couldn't have been nicer. The sushi chefs were incredibly warm, and when they heard it was our milestone, they unexpectedly treated us each to a side of tempura shiso spicy tuna on the house. We ordered the 9-piece Deluxe Chef's Choice Nigiri (pictured in the boat). For a beachside town, the quality was great for the price, the fish was very fresh, and the portions were highly satisfying. If our travels ever bring us back to Monterey, we would definitely drop in again. Highly recommend if you want great sushi without the inflated resort prices!

    Photos
    A
    A
    Züm Sushi
    The restraint

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    The restraint
    Nura Sushi & Island Grill

    Nura Sushi & Island Grill

    4.2
    (184 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    It's a nice restaurant, they play hip music and the staff is absolutely amazing and super…read moreattentive! That was my favorite part. As for the food, I felt like it's overrated. I've had significantly better sushi than what they served at similar value. They do not have a drink menu since they have such limited options. It's unfortunate that is so difficult to find above average food in Monterey Bay. With that being said, I still enjoyed my visit and had a wonderful time.

    Nura is an interesting place. Not quite Japanese, not sure "island" they're referring to. We came…read moreon Sunday night. It was busy but there were pletry of tables. Servers were fast and effecient. The soups and salads came first and they were OK. We ordered the gyoza udon, chicken teriyaki, chiarshi and a tempura roll. First of all the udon offerings included kimchi udon which I've never seen in a Japanese restaurant. It's obviously some Korean-Japanses concoction. The udon included a couple of diced carrots and brocolli. So kinda an American-Japanese concoction. 1* The chicken teriyaki was chewy and flavorless. Tasted boiled, not grilled. Rice, salad ok but really kind of hard to screw up. 2* The chirashi and tempura roll were a little better. The tempura roll was at least edible but I noticed the pieces were not evenly cut. One was 1/3 the size of the others. If you know sushi, that's a cardinal sin. Also, no wasabi or ginger served iwth any of the dishes. 3* So if you're looking for something resembling real Japanese food Nura ain't it. Won't be back.

    Photos
    Chef's Special with scallops, tuna
    Chef's Special with scallops, tuna
    Feast for eyes and taste buds!
    Feast for eyes and taste buds!
    Nura Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, and Lovers Point Rainbow Roll

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    Nura Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, and Lovers Point Rainbow Roll
    Toribashi

    Toribashi

    4.0
    (478 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$
    Healthy dining
    Established in 2018

    food is absolutely delicious. their rice bowls are underrated. the staff is always super nice too!!!read more

    Welp.. We finally had the chance to return to Monterey.. As we were squeezed for time, we chose to…read morecome to Toribashi tonight. Parking was only mildly challenging, as a space opened up after only a single lap around the block. Inside here, you'll find a busy place with a few tables and individual bar-style (partitioned!) paired seating along the walls adjacent to the kitchen in the middle part of the restaurant. Order up at the self-serve order kiosks, tap in your table/counter number, and they bring out your order in a couple of minutes. We had six of us in our party, and most of us kept it simple by ordering the default Tonkatsu Ramen with different customizable options. Most all of the ingredients in this order were on point - The Chasu Pork Belly was tender, thick and delicious, ramen noodles nothing special, but generally stil on point, as were the bamboo shoots. However, the co-star/centerpiece of the Tonkatsu Ramen other than the Chasu Pork slab should be the broth, but sadly the broth was far far TOO salty which overpowered the other flavors in the broth. Chasu Pork 4.8/5, Tonkatsu Ramen 3.1/5. Service was good as everyone was hustling hard in the kitchen, along with attentive bussers/waitstaff to quickly turn tables. They take good care in wiping down the tables here. If I return, I'll just get the Paitan Ramen like I did in years past, as that seemed less salty. Then again the Paitan soup base begins with the same chicken+pork soup base as the Tonkatsu Ramen. I hope Toribashi will step back up to their former glory.

    Photos
    Beef Rice Bowl
    Beef Rice Bowl
    Tan Tan
    Tan Tan
    As ahi for the win

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    As ahi for the win

    Kuma - japanese - Updated August 2026

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