There are not much good Japanese restaurants in Ojai area and for that reason, this restaurant will be good to casually dine-in to satisfy your sushi cravings. I ordered lunch special - 3 rolls with salad and miso soup. All of them were $18 which was AMAZING DEAL for portions of food. Mine included fried California Roll, Spicy tuna roll, and Philadelphia Roll. It was honestly a lot of food for that price. However, rolls did not have outstanding flavor highlights. Pretty mid. However you get at least what you expect. - Flavor: 3/5 - Service: 4/5 - servers were nice - Price: 4.5/5 for lunch special. Not sure for dinner menus - Ambiance: casual dining with outdoor seatings If you REALLY desperately in need to sushi, go-ahead but if you can drive for food, I would rather go to Ventura to get some decent Japanese food. read more

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Despite the picture on the menu, the Bulgogi dinner had little meat for the price. It was mostly carrots and onions. My wife and I ordered at the same time. My meal came in reasonable time. My wife's sashimi salad never came out. After some 40 minutes, the waitress came to our table asking if there would be anything else. We had to explain to her that my wife never got her meal. She then brought a salad that must have been sitting out all that time. My wife was beside herself as raw fish can easily go bad in this time. They eventually brought a new salad, so we ended up eating 50 minutes apart. They offered us free dessert; however, this was like adding insult to injury. They should not have charged for the meal. This was an unacceptable experience. We will never return. There is a new Japanese restaurant called Izakaya Full Moon that we will visit instead. read more

Sakura Ojai - Bulgogi dinner that was mostly carrots and onions. - Korean Near Me - Ojai, California

We did a day trip to Ojai and of course being Asian, we are going to look for Asian food. My bro in law found this spot on Yelp and it was a great choice ! Amazing lunch specials, massive portions, and tasty too! We stuffed ourselves silly ! Not too crowded on a Sunday lunch, right across the street from the farmers market, nice service , clean bathrooms. Def will be our go to for Japanese in Ojai read more

Sakura Ojai - Bento box lunch special - delish! - Korean Near Me - Ojai, California

The sushi rolls here are beautiful, fresh, and clean eating. They have such a big menu with lots of special rolls and some great Korean food options. It was great to come here on a hot summer evening to sit in the AC and enjoy the clean and quiet ambiance. The service was attentive and pleasant. The sushi chefs were smiling and appreciative. The prices are typical. This is a solid spot for sushi in Ojai. read more

Sakura Ojai - Korean Near Me - Ojai, California

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I really enjoyed the ramen here. The broth was a chicken base with veggies and rice noodles. The sushi rolls were even better. I think the restaurant is very clean. The service was good. For being such a small restaurant I think they lived up to their previous ratings. I would come back here. read more

Sakura Ojai - Ramen - Korean Near Me - Ojai, California

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The sushi tasted good but they got the order wrong for takeout but by the time we could tell we had already driven back home 30 minutes away so we just ate whatever type they gave us read more

Wow, so amazing-- TOTALLY hit the spot. We got the Spicy Ramen with Veggies which was so scrumptious my 11 year old ate every last noodle and veggie. We also got a Chicken Shoyu ramen and spicy tuna crispy rice. Even their California roll was really done well (and I don't say that lightly). Then the bite of frozen cheesecake they give at the end- YUM. I eat out a ton in LA and all over the world. Genuinely surprised read more

Came here on Saturday for a quick bite. They have excellent lunch specials! I ended up getting soup, salad, 6 pieces of chef's choice nigiri, and my choice of a special roll all for $20! I couldn't finish it all and had a second meal later with the leftovers. The service was excellent, I was the first one in the restaurant and felt very welcomed. I chose the Sunshine roll, I am still dreaming about this roll today and I wish I lived in town so I could get it on a weekly basis. It comes with spicy crab, avocado, salmon, and lemon with some sort of delicious sauce. I wish I lived in Ojai so I could go to this restaurant more often. Both indoor and outdoor seating is available. read more

Overall the food was surprisingly good! Not exactly authentic but still good! 4.5/5 The Spicy Chicken was listed as both "Teppan Yaki" and "Korean Food" but honestly tastes like Chinese food. Still great though! Came out on a sizzling plate with a small side of rice. 5/5 Agedashi tofu was lightly fried and the skin stayed with the tofu (didn't fall off and didn't make the tofu too difficult to cut). Seemed to be served with tempura sauce? Unique but good 4/5 Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna had great texture but was missing something - would've been improved with eel sauce or another sauce. Instead, it was served with what seemed to be watered down soy sauce. 3/5 Garlic Tuna Roll. Had fried, crispy garlic and fresh garlic mush. Too much garlic mush soaked the rice and made the roll too soft 4.5/5 Crunch Roll smelled and tasted amazing!! It was different than normal crunch rolls but great! 5/5 sexy spicy salmon crunch roll (not pictured) was amazingly fresh and so so good (and I'm not normally a salmon person)! My favorite dish of the night!! Service was good for the most part! Our servers were mostly attentive although it took a couple asks for get a second pair of chopsticks for the two of us. read more

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Another really lovely meal here. We didn't realize how vast the menu was and the sushi was very fresh and tasty. I also had a chicken entry from their teppan menu (they also have a small teppan table in the back) and it was ok and was a generous portion. It's the only sushi place in town we've ever tried and it was just 2 blocks from our Airbnb so on a rainy night it was the perfect spot. The owner is super friendly and visits all the tables and likes to give out hugs, so there's that too! read more

I rarely write reviews but thought it was necessary, got seated right away and service was good, food came quick but the chefs and waitresses were cold. Regardless of that I'm just bummed with the quality of food and the price, we got 5 rolls and all of them lacked quality fish and were mostly rice. Bummed as I heard this used to be the spot but I guess down hill is what it has become. read more

Love to eat here. Sushi is expensive overall so don't expect a discount here. The place is welcoming and does have outdoor seating. The service is done mostly by young kids who are inexperienced but they do a good job. The place is clean and welcoming. Food is fresh for sure and very tasty. Didn't give them a perfect score because they are little more pricey than other places. read more

The food is delicious and plentiful! Prepare yourself to bring home left overs! Service was spot on, as well. I was quite pleased with the entire experience and I am someone who eats at a wide array of restaurants on a regular basis. I consider myself well versed and a 5 star review means a lot. read more

Amazing and fast customer service, Great food. i had the Bento box and it was really good. Nice atmosphere!!

Came across this hidden gem by accident after trying to find parking for another restaurant, and we are glad we did. Sakura Ojai is located on Matilija just one block off E. Ojai (Hwy. 150). The atmosphere of this charming restaurant is very comfortable. There are a number of tables for both small and larger groups along with some seating directly at the sushi bar. The service was very friendly & efficient. There is a TV on, but they had the sound turned down that helped to keep the atmosphere tranquil and conducive to enjoying the dining experience. They offer Japanese and Korean fare. The menu has an excellent selection of over 20+ appetizers, numerous salad options, along with fresh, tempura, vegetable, baked, & regular rolls. Also, Sushi Bar Special Entrees with individual sushi and sashimi options, along with soups & ramen. Korean options include bibimbap, bulgogi, and teriyaki. The prices are reasonable for the quality of the food. This seating our selections included: Cherry Blossom - tuna, salmon, albacore, escolar, crabmeat, avocado and wrapped in cucumber - no rice. It was beautifully presented and exceptionally flavorful. Tuna tower - spicy crab, spicy tuna, topped with Ahi tuna, masago, avocado, & crunch, on a bed of crabmeat - no rice. This dish is amazing eye candy, as well as an explosion on the taste buds. It was almost too beautiful to consume. Absolutely delicious. Dancing Shrimp - shrimp tempura and crabmeat, covered with a cream sauce and baked, topped with sesame seeds. The creamy texture of the baked combination melted in our mouths. And, Spider Man - deep fried soft shell crab with teriyaki sauce; beautifully presented on the plate drizzled with a sauce to resemble ocean waves. Absolutely delicious. All the dishes were very delectable, and created by a very skilled chef(s) with a beautiful artistic flair. Even after finishing the four dishes we wanted to try more, but were so full. It was impossible to try everything on the menu. We will be back to do so as they offer an amazing number of cuisine options. read more

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The food has always been fresh & delicious. Their sweet shrimp, sashimi, awesome mushroom appetizer & udon soup is the best we've had in Ventura/ Ojai. Nice chefs & owner. Busy & lively ambiance. Highly recommend for a night out or takeout. read more

Usually pretty reliable service. Not often a line out the door, I prefer the Yammy Yammy roll to the mamachita. The salmon is just better. Yammy Yammy pictured here. read more

I had great service at Sakura, I saw my server working very hard all by himself and the sushi was amazing, my server was a blonde guy who was great... but I honestly felt bad for him. I am only giving four stars because I saw the owner act disrespectful towards him when he was working basically all by himself. Kind of unbelievable how management would allow only having one guy serving, bussing and hosting all by himself on a busy Thursday night. I respect the wait staff here but not what the owner is doing. Will only come back for the great service. I hope the owner knows he should appreciate his staff keeping this restaurant going. read more

Happened upon this spot while waiting for a concert to start at The Libbey Bowl. Such a great find! The Awesome Roll really is awesome. I have some special dietary needs, and they were very accommodating. The service is friendly and casual, like all of Ojai feels to me. Prices are reasonable. I've already been there twice in just one month, and I live 50 miles away! I'll definitely be back, and will even go out of my way to eat here again. read more

Horrible service and when you order something and bring a different roll, I said this isn't what I ordered, they left it at the table we never ate any of it. We asked for our bill and they left the item on the bill, we asked if it could be taken off since we ordered something different, they never brought the other roll we ordered, we didn't want to be rude and keep asking. The server looked at us and said umm I have to ask the owner if it can be taken off, 20 mins later(they only had 2 tables) still waiting for a bill. The server brings the bill and tossed it on our table. Definitely won't be back!!! read more

Stop by this place to see how the food was it was ok for what I ordered and staff was very friendly and made sure we where ok.

My friends have raved about Sakura for a number of years, so when we were in Ventura and I wanted sushi, she said "Well, for sushi, we have to go to Sakura in Ojai" it was my opposite direction from home in Santa Clarita, but I didn't hesitate. Best sushi I've ever had. Not only was it beautiful, but perfectly prepared for consumption. Fresh fish, top sushi grade cuts, ample portions and well priced. Can't wait to go back! read more

Sakura Ojai - As wonderful to eat as it looks! - Korean Near Me - Ojai, California

First the good: We got seat right away and sat outside. It was kinda busy but it got cold so the waiter let us move inside. There were four of us. We waited for about 50 minutes for our food and still didn't get anything. There was a a couple of got seated 20 min after us and got their food. We asked when will we get ours and if it doesn't show in 5 min we're going to leave. So my order shows up, a Bento box in 5, but the others have to wait. My order was missing my california roll and tempura dip sauce. The tempura sauce was not that at all, but ponzu sauce. So I asked for replacement and they bring out hot soy sauce. The rest of the food arrive and the ramen for my friend looked nothing like ramen, no egg, no seaweed. I finally get my spicy tuna roll but they didn't bring any wasabi. It was nothing special, supermarket quality. The waiter then said two of the chefs had to go home because they got covid, which I didn't believe but worse, made me uncomfortable to be there. The last order, just one spicy scallop roll shows up 80 minutes later and it was just god awful. The place was busy and they had a lot of orders. If your chefs are sick, then tells us and let us know. When I told the manager that the tempura didn't have any sauce she said they ran out. There was no attempt to make good, like offer a discount or anything. If it was during covid I wouldn't have paid and walked, but I know that there are stories of restaurants getting screwed so I just paid and tipped, and just won't ever go back. You have been warned! Expect the least, worst dining experience with no attempt at hospitality. read more

Great sushi and great service, and open later than most places on a Sunday. I have to post 10 more characters to post this review

Two young women greeted us with smiles at the door and allowed us to pick our table. We arrived around 1130, before the lunch rush. Everything on the menu looked divine, but we narrowed it down to spicy edamame to start - great choice! I had Nigori sake, and my date had a large Sapporo. I had the vegetarian Ramen, and added an egg while my date had a chicken mushroom yumminess with fried rice and vegetables. She is a dork and doesn't like mushrooms, so I enjoyed every single last morsel of them. Service was great and food was perfect, especially for a cold rainy day. Spicy Garlic Edamame read more

Food was good and nice location but what really stood out was the beautiful blonde boy who sat me at my table and served me. His name was Asher and his service was impeccable!!! He was so kind and gave me great service! Definitely going to be coming back for Asher!! read more

The food was 10/10, absolutely immaculate! The service was excellent and employees were all very welcoming. Definitely coming back soon! read more

Sakura Ojai - Two young sushi lovers visiting the town of Ojai. - Korean Near Me - Ojai, California

Second time trying Sakura as we didn't feel like driving to I Love Sushi in Ventura. It was a Friday evening, a lot of hustle and bustle going on, but there were a few empty tables so we were seated fairly quickly. It was extremely noisy and somewhat chaotic as 3 different people came to wait on us at different times. Despite the apparent chaos our food came rather fast. The salmon sashimi was less expensive than other sushi restaurants but you only received 5 reasonably sized pieces. It was just OK - not as creamy as the first time at Sakura. The golfer hand rolls are a take on the golf pro hand rolls at I Love Sushi but they're lacking the eel sauce and aren't nearly as good. The rainbow roll and Highway 33 roll were of good size but tasted just average. Next to our table we're 2 adult couples (60ish age range) who apparently had too much beer or sake and were so loud it was obnoxious. Their lack of consideration was shameful. The restaurant has concrete floors and a hard ceiling. The noise level was so bad my wife had to tear off pieces of her napkin and use them for ear plugs. Overall, service gets a "B", food gets a "C+", ambiance gets an "F minus minus minus". read more

Loved it! First time there & I ordered take out. Easy front row parking made it easy for me to run in. Food was delicious! It's a slippery slope with takeout sushi but this was a hit! I didn't find it to be terribly priced either! 2 rolls & a salad for $35! read more

We are locals, this is our go to for consistently good Korean inspired Asian cuisine. It's family owned and the couple who run this are lovely & kind & such hard workers. I love supporting our local restaurants and this one is special. We love the sushi and our go to is the bento box dinners, usually I have spicy chicken. It's always good. read more

We would leave zero stars if we could. As a lifelong resident in Ojai, we've gone to Sakura for years, but we won't be returning. The service is terrible and we've had to leave without ever ever being served on more than one occasion. We've watched as tables near us were served drinks, appetizers and main courses even though they were seated well after we were. We barely received our drinks and finally left frustrated and hungry. No excuse for that to happen on two visits only a couple of months apart. read more

Service has greatly improved. The sushi was excellent. The servers very attentive. Glad I came back.

Unfortunately the sushi was not memorable. The service was ok. Got my food relatively fast. But at the end of the day I found the food lacking in flavor and the fish wasn't incredibly fresh. Was hoping for a better experience. read more

After being gone from the area for almost 10 years, returned to Sakura's new location had me wondering if it would still be my favorite sushi restaurant. Survey says, it is! I was so excited to introduce my spouse to the Wild Thing and other "Eddie's creations," and they were just as amazing as I remembered. Spirit was great, and although we didn't get to say to Claire, we had a wonderful early dinner. read more

So disappointed. The only reason for two starts and not one is that we've previously experienced years of great food here, including from the previous location. However, the service and quality have both gone down hill. Three weeks in a row I've waited well beyond the pickup time given for online orders, only to receive rolls that are a much lesser quality than before with a higher price point. Tonight I placed an online order, to be ready in 25 minutes. I arrived and was told, as usual, that my order wasn't ready. After waiting for 30 minutes I approached the staff again (of course as they avoided eye contact with me the entire time) and they discovered that my sushi rolls had been sitting there, ready to go, for 20 minutes! TWENTY MINUTES my SUSHI sat out on the counter and their solution was to throw in some free edamame. I'm disgusted and disappointed and will be ordering sushi from Hakane from now on. read more

Sakura has become a Friday night tradition in our house. The Albacore Delight, Wild Thing, Philadelphia Experiment and spicy garlic edamame are *chefs kiss* I look forward to it all week. The food is consistently good with fresh ingredients. The staff is always very friendly and helpful. read more

So I was in Ojai for a week and managed to eat here 3 different times, once at the bar and takeout twice. The cherry blossom roll was beautiful and perfect and totally stole my heart with its yummy goodness. Tuna, salmon, albacore, snapper, crabmeat, and avocado wrapped in cucumber...no rice, because rice sucks. The takeout was salmon sashimi, veggie tempura, and cucumber both times. So good. . Seriously go here. read more

Sakura Ojai - Salmon sashimi and cucumber salad - Korean Near Me - Ojai, California

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Best sushi place for 100 miles. Reasonable prices, generous portions and great service and great owners AND they have great Korean food and Teppan-Yaki. My favorite place in Ojai... come over and join me! What are you waiting for? read more

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Sakura has really gone downhill in the last 5 years. I've frequented Sakura for years always hoping they will turn it around. The quality of their food is poor. It honestly makes me feel terribly nauseous after I eat it. The prices have gone up considerably and the quality has gone down. The rolls are mostly rice and barely any fish. The last 5 times I've ordered take out, they always get something wrong. Today, for example, I ordered a hand roll combo and they gave me a cut roll combo (which is more money). I have an avocado allergy and even though I explicitly say this when I order, they always seem to put avocado in the rolls anyway. They've also forgot to put soy sauce, ginger, wasabi, and chopsticks in for my to-go orders. With so few options in Ojai for sushi, I have gone back to sakura time and time again but today reminded me that I've had enough and have to just save my sushi cravings for when I go into Ventura to avoid feeling sick and ripped off. For the price, there are too many other great restaurants in Ojai to spend your money at. read more

Oh boy, what a mess. Unprofessional gaijin trying to be funny. Food was very pedestrian and was really cafeteria like. Luke warm miso soup and the sushi rolls were small and anemic. Knife skills were lacking and the ambiance screamed generic and "don't come with expectations". As stated before, maybe we have higher standards coming from San Francisco, but for the prices, expected more, much more. Maybe the cooked food would have been better. But then again, would not expect it to be. read more