I called the day before and made a reservation for 7 ppl on Sunday at 12:30 pm. When we got there on Sunday, they didn't open until 1:00 pm. Luckily, we were able to wine taste next door while we waited (thank you Daverle). Once we were seated, the service was fine and food was good. read more

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good food but terrible service. my group has been turned away multiple times for coming in "too close to closing" despite us coming in around 8:30pm when they supposedly close at 10. also, ordering takeout from here is a nightmare. plenty of other sushi alternatives around read more

Kuma is amazing the sushi is really fresh. The place does get a bit busy fortunately I put my name on the waitlist early so it was quicker but the ambiance and the quality of the fish making the place a must try! I would highly recommend it. read more

Best. Sushi. Ever. Seriously, ever!!! I've eaten sushi all over the world. No need to travel anywhere but Kuma's in Montery. I will be back every night I'm here visiting!! read more

Kuma - Auggy roll and salmon skin roll. - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Food was good! Service was quick. Lots of customers to little sushi chefs so rolls may take a bit longer but that's fine! Would recommend for a quick bite read more

Best place for sushi. The servers are amazing and the owners are super personable. This is my absolute favorite restaurant and love coming here for a fun time/nice date!! Definitely recommend coming. The salmon sashimi is sooo buttery and delicious. Their drinks are also fantastic. read more

Nice, casual ambience. Service was very good. Food was good. It was a little loud with background music.

This used to be our go to place for sushi in Monterey for the past 2 years. We had always had great atmosphere, great service and great food & cocktails there. We went back tonight and their sushi and overall food quality had dropped from 5 stars to 3.5. We ordered a lot from appetizers, nigiris and rolls. All were slightly above average but not the same quality we had experienced previously. Their cocktails and service were still excellent. Not sure if this is due to change of management/ownership or chefs. read more

Great sushi place in local Monterey downtown. The calamari served with a side of avocado Mayo is crispy and better than most calamari "starters" i tried. I ordered calamari as an appetizer because it's the most typical item on the menu. Plus my toddler (Niece) approved of the calamari sticks because she doesn't like using utensils. I recommend an upgrade on silverware. The employees were kind enough to return my sisters bag, so this place is a gem for that. Recommend: calamari, phoenix roll it's fire like literally lights on fire. The Spanish bay roll consist of raw fish and doesn't have rice like conventional sushi rolls, but thought it was different. read more

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Waited almost an hour for our food. There was a plate sitting on the counter for 40 minutes and we joked that they were going to bring it to us, they did but five minutes later came back to take it away. Waiter said "oh you already started eating it?" And made it sound like my fault he brought me the wrong food. He spent all night avoiding us and apologizing to his two other tables (one left). He never came to check on us, my girl spilled some of her drink and he never came to offer us napkins or refills. Not worth the wait or the price. read more

Kuma - My girlfriend finished her sushi before my order finally arrived on a wooden slab for some reason. An hour wait for this and a hand roll - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Was looking for a late night place for dinner and my boyfriend and I were so glad to come across this place! The hostess and server were so sweet to us! We ordered nigiris and rolls and everything was so fresh and delicious. The owner came up to everyone's table to ask how everything was which was really nice. We're from San Diego but would definitely come visit again in the future! read more

The sushi here was phenomenal as expected! Waiters were also super nice and welcoming -- thank you so much for the great service! We ordered - Heavenly Roll - Sun's Roll (my personal favorite) - Dragon Roll - Phoenix Roll read more

Kuma - Phoenix Roll - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

This downtown location seems like it has had quite the turn over over the years but I believe (and hope) KUMA is here to stay! We came here on a Friday night and were immediately greeted by the door. Our server was very attentive and personable, the rest of the floor staff always came by to check on us to clear our plates and refill drinks, and chefs behind the bar seem like they know exactly what they're doing. Everything we ordered was beautifully presented and plated, and tasted exceptionally fresh and unique. We ordered the Sashimi Zensai, Yellowtail Carpaccio, and Shishito Peppers to start as appetizers before moving onto the I'm So Excited Roll, Spanish Bay Roll, Salmon Skin Roll, Yaki Udon, and Chicken Yaki Soba all paired with 3 bottles of cold sake. Between the four of us, this was just enough and kept us satisfied. Everything tasted wonderful. The citrus yuzu dressing they use in their carpaccio distinguishes them from the usual basic ponzu you find elsewhere and the cherry tomatoes were definitely the ~cherry~ on top if you're into that. The Spanish Bay Roll was so fresh! It came wrapped in daikon/radish without any rice and the balsamic reduction was *chef's kiss*. It was also a delight to finally find a restaurant in the area that offers a shishito pepper appetizer! Overall, super excited about this new gem. There's no doubt we'll return. Another reviewer also mentioned an echo and I agree, so also keep that in mind if you're dining indoors. read more

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Tasty sushi with a creative menu and excellent service! It's near some fun art galleries and has a good vibe. The piping hot tea was a plus. Restrooms were so-so. Overall positive experience! read more

Went on a Friday night and was quite busy. I ordered a bowl of Miso Soup which I found to be a bit salty. However ended up ordering a Shrimp Tempura Roll and was just right-Good portion! A glass of Sapporo beer helped me enjoy my sushi! It took a while for our food to be served but our Server acknowledged this and apologized for the wait. Overall the staff was very nice and accommodating as soon as we entered the door. Ambiance was quite noisy that night and very hard to hold a conversation with my friends. Bar was busy, too but all of the staff was very nice and attentive. I would recommend-prices are reasonable and food is pretty good. read more

Fantastic service, fantastic food! Would definitely recommend this 5 star sushi restaurant.

This place is really nice Inside and comfy! But the food is really they taste and delicious... Highly recommend ! read more

Best sushi in Monterey!!! You had better make reservations. The platters are a really good deal for a party of 4 or more. And of course the flaming Phoenix roll is epic. Everything was fresh and well prepared. The new owners have really turned this place around in terms of quality and atmosphere. read more

This place is a must try if you live or are visiting Monterey Bay... the freshest, tastiest , and most profound sushi in Monterey by far. Kuma is me and the ladies favorite Sunday dinner spot and has been since the new owners purchased the business. Super friendly outgoing staff make the environment welcoming to all. JUST GO!!!! read more

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Well we were so hungry so we went to eat at Kuma. The Dragon sushi roll was very fresh and delicious! The miso soup was also good. I usually don't like miso soup that much. It was yummy. Then the salad. It was ok. Not the usual yummy Japanese dressing. Then came the Korean BBQ short ribs. My favorite at Korean restaurants. I was happy to see it on their menu because the Korean restaurants were closed or soon to close. BUT! The meat was tough and tasteless. Not Korean at all. So disappointed. And when the waitress asked if everything was good and I mentioned the short ribs were not Korean and were tough and tasteless, she merely said @ok". So obviously rote question "is everything ok?" Oh and the tea. Was told it was Green tea. Then why was it orangey? Of it's a mix of green and jasmine who does that? The tea was tasteless Ora's my husband said "dishwater" Won't be returning. Also the bathrooms were a mess. Though, the sushi was really really good! read more

Food was great and the service wonderful. I indicated it was a bday celebration on my reservation and the server made a cute ice cream dish with a candle. Overall a good experience. read more

Delicious! Great quality sushi, excellent service, nice vibe, convenient location in downtown Monterey, one block from Portola / Marriott. Highly recommend!! read more

Delicious, fresh sushi at a reasonable price. Expect a wait. The table next to us was so loud we couldn't hear anything, but they were celebrating a 21st and were clearly drunk. Kinda wish the manager would have told them to dial it down a notch because it made it fairly miserable for others with the tables being close to each other and the acoustics in the building being super echoey. Overall, good food and good area . read more

An amazing sushi experience. If you're looking for fresh, authentic rolls and fish, look no further. We had 20 people in our group in town for Car Week and our group made 4 separate trips to Kuma throughout the week. The staff is super friendly and attentive and made great recommendations. The owner is an awesome guy and can do sake bombs like a champ!! I will be back when I'm in town again for sure. read more

Kuma - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Creative rolls! The baked salmon roll is always delicious. Service is always attentive. Kitchen works to ensure beautiful presentation:)

Elena was great! Efficient service and so friendly! Great recommendations for a group for an indecisive people.

The vegan roll was amazing! It was so flavorful. The miso soup is gigantic for only $2. I was shocked by how big the soup was! I highly recommend this place. read more

Kuma - Vegan roll - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Kuma serves the freshest sashimi and sushi! We had the 20 piece combo sashimi platter, Uni, Salad, the Sun sushi roll, unagi sashimi and maguro sashimi. Everything was extremely fresh and delicious! We also has several servings of hot sake. The restaurant was lively; everyone was having a great time. The owner, Dillon is very personable and takes the time to speak with his customers. The staff was helpful and provided excellent recommendations! We will be returning! read more

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Went to kuma for valentines dinner Made reservations and was seated right away The atmosphere was nice and clean and not to loud Service was on point Meal is as good as always will be back soon read more

One of the best nights of Sushi I can remember. Picked this restaurant more or less for location however we were so pleasantly surprised by extremely fresh Sushi including the best baked muscles bar none. The service was also excellent even with a packed house. Highly recommend read more

Excellent customer service however sushi was NOT good. We tried the Unagi, Spider, Tuna, Salmon Skin, and the Spanish Bay and were very disappointed. read more

Kuma - SPANISH BAY ROLL - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Came here to Monterey a few months with my boyfriend for our anniversary. My boyfriend was craving sushi and we ended up finding this location on yelp! Sushi was amazing and so was the staff. The rolls had a delicious, yet distinct flavor compared to other rolls I've tried back home. Had a great time thanks to the manager, making our mini vacation even more memorable. read more

Had dinner here night before last. Staff is very friendly and accommodating and the sushi was fresh and well made. When our sushi was taking awhile, the waitress offered us miso soup which was lukewarm but tasty. We ordered a couple specialty rolls as well as nigiri sushi and sashimi. Took awhile to get them, then they brought them out quickly all together. Would have appreciated better pacing there. These were all minor infractions and not enough to deter me from coming back. They have a great menu. They have the capability to be GREAT. read more

We had tickets to the Golden Gate Theatre to see a show. Kuma was right across the street, so we decided to grab a quick bite. We were craving sushi. OMG, were we in for a big surprise!! We sat at the sushi bar. The ambiance of the restaurant was very welcoming. Then we ordered and every dish they brought out was awesome!!! We got the Apollo sushi roll. WOW, we loved it. Then we ordered the Katsu Chicken Entree and the Korean bbq short rib entree. Jeeeezzz was it gooood! All the way from the salad to the entree's. The short ribs were amazing. The sauce was sooooo good. The katsu breading on the chicken knocked it out the park and last but not least ALL the servers and the service was spot on. We will definitely be back when we come to Monterey! read more

Kuma - Sushi bar - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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Amazing rolls, guys at the sushi bar r very cool, fresh & delicious!! Cool vibe as well read more

Delicious sushi and excellent service. Cute place downtown Monterey. Small outdoor eating area. Need propane for heaters though. Service was on point and food did not disappoint. Place was very busy with Saturday night crowd. Will return soon. read more

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Be prepared to wait...for a loooong time! Almost 1hr wait to be seated on weekday and another 40 min to get food after placing an order. Sushi was good, but ridiculously long wait for our food ruined the whole experience. The ice in my Sprite tasted like pure chlorine, it was impossible to drink. read more

This was hands down the BEST sushi i've ever had!! My fiancé and I had the Akuma roll and the Crunchy roll - so fresh and filling!! The staff were very friendly and accommodating, and the restaurant is very clean spacious. We will be coming back here during our next visit :) read more

Kuma - Akuma roll and Crunchy roll - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

Great fish. And they have real wasabi! (Be careful). Seems easy to get a table. Ambiance is fine. Restaurant is bigger than you'd think.

This sushi restaurant is terrific! The foods are awesome, both non-spicy, cooked rolls for kids, such as Tiger and Lango baked rolls, and spicy, sashimi rolls such as Eileen's Supreme and Up In Smoke rolls. We enjoyed matcha ice-cream as well. The restaurant is spacious, staff was nice, and reservation through Yelp was easy. Most importantly, the price was fairly reasonable for a touristsy area. As an Asian who's eaten at lots of sushi places, I highly recommend this great restaurant in Monterey. read more

Kuma - Langostino baked roll - Japanese Near Me - Monterey, California

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