We have been regular customers of Samurai for over 10 years since we moved to Marin. My wife grew up in a coastal region of Japan, and one of her family members is a fisherman. Both of us were raised with sushi as part of everyday life, so we are admittedly quite selective when it comes to traditional Japanese food. With that context, I am delighted to give five stars to Samurai. The owner, Brian, not only knows how to make excellent sushi, but truly understands Japanese culture as well. Dining here is not just about eating sushi -- it's about how the food is prepared, presented, and served. That philosophy is clearly shared by his entire staff. The quality of the fish is consistently excellent. We usually order from the "today's specials" written on the whiteboard, and today's bluefin tuna was genuinely toro grade. At many other sushi restaurants, the same quality would easily cost twice as much. Samurai offers exceptional, opportunity-grade sushi at prices that are surprisingly wallet-friendly. We highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who appreciates authentic sushi made with care, skill, and respect for the culture. read more

Good quality fish with favorites: Sashimi:Hamachi, Toro, Unagi & the usual starters Miso soup & hand rolls. Given new enterees to the local Japanese restaurant scene i tend to judge by the thickness & freshness ofthe sashimi & sushi & Samuri still qualifies for top 10 yet has dropped a few knotches below Sushi Ran & new entrant MJ's. I do recommend Samuri! read more

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Quick update for Samurai Mill Valley, our pick over Sushi Ran locally for a creative take on Japanese cuisine, rolls and nigiri. It's been a solid staple for us in terms of meeting a sushi craving. Favorite items include: Hamachi crunch, the Una Mega Three Roll, the Hokkaido Spice Roll and nigiri offerings on the daily menu. Hamachi Crunch features seared hamachi & steamed spinach with crunchy pops of rice cracker & a creamy ponzu dressing, and can be addictive. Our favorite rolls incorporate citrus and tasty sauces. The Hokkaido Spice Roll has steamed asparagus, fresh orange, avocado, and on the outside has Hokkaido scallop, spicy tuna, a kaiware sauce with spicy cream. The Una Mega Three roll has an eel, avocado and mint center and outside has fresh salmon, tuna, yellowtail and shaved lemon slices a with sweet tare & white-miso sauce. Nigiri cuts are generous and fish is reliably fresh and flavorful. Pluses include: creative and fresh ingredients in a small town setting. The main negative: a no- reservations policy which can mean a long wait. read more

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We were glad that Samurai stayed open until 9:30 during the week - later than most other places in Mill Valley. Pretty massive list of menu items. I whittled it down to the following: Tahini Tofu Salad Tofu, avocado, organic green, tomato, and radish sprout with tahini red miso dressing. Great mix of ingredients with the kind of dressing that can be the star of the show, but I'm not sure how serving the dish untossed helps - the presentation is rather drab. Hamachi Nigiri - 2pc Yes, not being super creative here, but I wanted to get a baseline on quality and portions and it did not disappoint. Melts like butter. Nice portion size. Hamachi Crunch Seared Hamachi and steamed spinach with rice, cracker and creamy Ponzi dressing. What a unique dish! It looks like couscous but it's better - little crunchy bits in a heavier nutty sauce. They probably had too much sauce to balance the fish slices - which come seared but hard to tell behind the tan colored sauce. The flavors jump out, and this is a must order for newbies. Sakekawa hand roll Salmon, skin with cucumber, radish, sprout, scallion, and burdock root. I think it was the root that gives a hint of off-putting nutmeg that distracts from the salmon. The presentation is gorgeous, however. Hamachi Collar Yes, we did end up eating hamachi three ways! This one was a clear winner - the grilled collar, thinly seared to a light crunch and juicy supple in the middle. You don't really need the light ponzu sauce imho. Portion size impressive. For $13.5, simply a steak. Overall service was courteous and responsive. Any request was met with a quick return. For food quality and menu originality, this one is a tough call between 4-5 stars. That's all... read more

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Restaurant was a bit crowded but also cozy for a rainy day. We had about a ten minute wait before being seated. Staff were responsive and hospitable, prompt with service but also polite to give us time to look over the menu and to decide what we want to order. They checked in with us a few times during our meal to make sure we have everything we need. We ordered the seafood yosenabe and the beef sukiyaki. The beef sukiyaki can also come as a set, with added miso soup and tempura. I loved the yosenabe broth, had a good balance of flavor. Seafood was cooked and noodles were al dente. No shrimp in my dish but I got a large piece of scallop, some clams, fish and veggies. The sukiyaki broth was overly sweet for me, but had a good amount of beef and veggies with both clear noodles and udon. Both dishes came with a generous serving of pickled cucumbers and a bowl of rice. Portions were also generous. I brought home a little less than half of my portion and was happy to reheat it for lunch the next day. read more

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Saturday night with family while on a weekend trip to Mill Valley we ended up here for dinner. We enjoyed our food very much, the service was great. The rolls were delicious and the fish fresh. A lot of options for rolls and sashimi. I loved the jimbo maki roll. Ordered a second Jen. Overall a great place to dine at, a bit small and gets really crowded but a great ambiance. read more

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One of the best sushi places in the bay! The sushi taste so fresh! The rice is always perfectly cooked! The roles are nice and packed and stable they don't fall apart! The owner and workers are always so kind & ready to help or get anything you need! It is a small place so it does feel a bit crowded and on weekends there usually a 20-30 minute wait but it's all worth it! read more

Samurai - Sushi Bars Near Me - Mill Valley, California

One of the best sushi restaurants in the bay! Seriously stumbled upon this restaurant after a trek to Muir Woods and I was met with great service and fresh sushi rolls. This easily became one of my regular spots. I'm leaving CA and had to celebrate one of our last meals here. The Stinson maki is 10/10 and love the eel and avocado roll in the dragon roll. I always love spicy tuna and they have a tasty one with fresh tuna and a nice sesame oil flavor. read more

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Super delish! Kind & thoughtful service. Got us seated quickly, updated us when dinner was running slightly behind. Great communication and over the top great food. Will be back asap. read more

The rolls here are so delicious. We used to be very loyal to another place in town and after recently getting some fun rolls from Samurai, it has now become our regular thing to get early sushi dinner like around 5 PM get it to go and it is so delicious. The restaurant is always so busy, I can't imagine eating there although I would like to ~this is the next best thing. Ambience of the restaurant is busy so I kind of rather eat at home but I feel like I don't get certain traditional meals that are probably better had in person there. The previous owner of this restaurant was so dedicated to his craft when he passed away it was very hard for me to eat here when the business sold. But these guys are the next generation doing their new thing and I definitely have come to appreciate their fresh takes on sushi! It's nice to see the Original Samurai Costume in the entryway from the original owner, it's that bit of nostalgia of old Mill Valley and the original owner of Samurai. Stand out rolls/unique bites are: Stinson Maki Lion King Spicy Shiso-Sake Crunch read more

Went at 6:00pm on a weekday and it was packed. But that didn't impact the fantastic service we received as soon as we sat down. The food is very, very good. We started with seaweed salad and had two fantastic rolls. It's been a few days so I don't remember which rolls we had but two was enough and that is not usually the case for us. We cannot wait to come back and try some of the other tasty looking items on the menu. read more

Samurai is the best sushi spot that we were so lucky to find. We are new to Marin County and we immediately needed to find our next go-to sushi spot. We went to probably 4 spots before we found Samurai, and it's conveniently located about 10 minutes from our home. Samurai offers a very authentic Japanese experience with top notch service and vibes. The only down size is how cozy it is and that they do not accept reservations. Regardless, we will keep coming here! read more

Suppose 2b ton katsu , taste looks as if it's DRY PORK CHOPS , was given salty teriyaki sauce in place for the katsu sauce . Very disappointing read more

Samurai - suppose 2b ton katsu , taste as if it's DRY pork chops . sauce suppose 2b katsu sauce pic salty teriyaki sauce , - Sushi Bars Near Me - Mill Valley, California

friendly staff, the chef was amazing and made us an special roll that wasn't on the menu, absolutely delicious! Totally worthy of the 5 stars! read more

My new fav sushi spot in Marin! I snagged a seat immediately at the sushi bar on a Friday evening. The staff is extremely attentive. Prices are reasonable considering the quality which is a rarity nowadays. The place was loud and very family friendly. Lots of crying kids... I'd recommend getting takeout if the wait is too long and eating at a neighboring picnic table near the parking lot. read more

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Samurai continues to be a great, local Japanese restaurant with friendly, efficient service, a clean, attractive dining area (2 sections), and a small sushi bar. The food is always fresh and attractively prepared. We shared the cucumber salad--excellent--not drowning in dressing--crisp and very fresh. The miso soup was tasty as was the rice. The rolls were excellent! Great flavor combinations and prepared with lots of fish and less rice than many places. The sashimi assortment was my favorite. Generous, very fresh, served with radish, lemon, but no wasabi. We had to ask for wasabi as none came with any of the sushi or sashimi. The tempura combo was okay. The soy sauce tasted a little off. Maybe it was just us...Same with the pickled ginger. I'm usually a huge pickled ginger fan, but this was a little odd. All in, a delightful dinner and we will go back. read more

Came in on a Saturday night around 5:15. It wasn't too busy then around 6 it was packed and super loud. This place is really cold so bring a jacket. It made the dinner a lot less enjoyable and I heard a couple ask if they could turn on a heater and the waitress didn't even let the dude finish and she said no. Got the crazy horse roll and negihama roll. My friend got the 15 piece sashimi, cherry blossom roll, and 49er roll. The food is pretty good and the fish is fresh! The sashimi came out kind of fast and then we waited another 20 minutes for the rolls. I'd rate the food 5/5 but the experience as a whole wasn't a 5/5. So getting togo is probably the better option. read more

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Everything is perfect. The sushi bar is staffed with amazing people, making authentic and fresh sushi. Love the fresh salmon sushi, the crispy salmon skin maki, the hamachi tempura. Even the teriyakis and Katsus are great. I crave the spinach miso for starters. Maybe the only think I would think could be improved is the sukiyaki, it's extremely sweet. Would love it with thinner noodles instead of udon. What a gem of a spot. read more

Average food, but good enough to eat at since it's the only Japanese restaurant in town. I had the beef sukiyaki. It was served In a regular porcelain bowl. The broth was decent but it was super simple. Lacking in cabbage and only came with a little bit of clear noodles. Sukiyaki is traditionally served in a shallow clay pot, not giant soup bowl. My friend ordered 2 rolls and the pork gyōza. I tried a piece of gyōza just 5 minutes after it came out and they were already cold. Would not be a first choice of restaurant to visit, but if I were in the area and really craving Japanese food, I could give it another try. read more

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My husband and I get takeout from here like twice a month. Great fish for a good price. Our usual order is Edamame, Nigiri - Hamachi, Maguro, Bincho Maguro, 49er roll, Crazy Horse roll, and Spicy Scallop roll. read more

Samurai - Edamame, Nigiri - Hamachi, Maguro, Bincho Maguro, 49er roll, Crazy Horse roll, and Spicy Scallop roll. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Mill Valley, California

Delicious and fresh nigiri! Stopped by for a last minute dinner on a Saturday night, and was pleasantly surprised at the homey yet authentic feel of this restaurant's beautiful interior. Loved that this place is small with a sizable bar area to watch the chefs at work. The lighting alone looks so simple yet beautiful, perfect for date night as well as small groups. Cute and charming! We ordered several different kinds of nigiri, as well as the chef special. Sometimes it's fun to leave it at the hands of the chef and not know what you're going to get! Nevertheless, everything was so delicious and the fish was so buttery that each piece melted in my mouth. I used to only order sushi rolls until I was introduced to the amazing world of nigiri and sashimi. The simplicity of it makes the fish really shine, and now I'm obsessed! read more

Our regular sushi spot. Here once a week this is our order : shrimp tempura appetizer, miso soup and enoki mushroom soup for me, spider roll, nigiri: maguro (always), saba, hamachi, kanpachi, and last but not least the zuke sake. Washed down with a large Sapporo and the best staff around to make it all happen. Always busy and always worth the wait which moves quick! read more

Good food, but pretty bad service on our recent trip. First, the server took fifteen minutes to take our order. Then, two of our party got their food quickly... and the third had to wait almost thirty minutes. Tables that were seated after us got their orders first. Seems like the third order was not put in with the others. read more

Our local favorite. Reasonably priced, consistently good. We've often done takeout, occasionally eat in - small busy place.

Excellent food and service! Our family of four enjoyed a Saturday dinner here. The winner was Kaisen Chirashi, followed by Unaju. Nabe Udon tasted a bit unusual, too sweet for our taste. Will definitely be back but skip the udon. read more

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My mouth is watering. I'm waiting in my car to pick up my order and I am so excited. I miss this restaurant a lot. I moved to SF and now I only work in Marin. Work usually is finished way before their open time of 5:30pm so I haven't had the time to stick around to get take out. Today I worked late and first thing I did as I drove of the parking lot is call Samurai Sushi to place my order. I have been coming here for years and it is one of my favorite sushi spots in Marin. The food is delicious and some dishes I've only seen done here, which keeps me coming back even more. The Hamachi Crunch and Nigiri Moriawase are two of my favs. Hamachi on a bed of steamed spinach and crunchy little round crackers with a sauce that is to die for. Yum. Nigiri Moriawase is a collection of 10 chefs choice nigiri. Always delightful! I also always check to see if the Uni Don is available. They mix their rice with pieces of tobiko, salmon roe, seaweed salad and sesame seeds. Mmm. So so so good. So yeah, support them. They rock. Quality, delicious food and locally owned. I can't get enough and am waiting with bated breath until restaurants can have indoor seating again. Thank you Samurai Sushi for your consistent deliciousness. Customer for life right here. read more

By far the best sushi in Marin. It's a cozy place, no reservations so usually people waiting as soon as they open. My husband and I try to go at least once a week to sit at the sushi bar. The fish is always fresh and the customer service is great! read more

Order was ready for pick up when they said teriyaki plate was a little lacking in sauce and size could of used more sauce rice and chicken and chicken was over cooked and the veggies weren't cooked at all. Sushi was alright but again they all seemed a bit lacking in size and ingredients. read more

Had a great dinner with my mother tonight!!! It was the first time I had sushi and it was the California roll. I love the taste. The service was highly professional. Being here you got to love an authentic Japanese ambiance. Can't wait to eat here again!!! read more

This is such a great place to eat. Sushi is fresh and they are cut in the bigger side, but still very fresh. I've been here twice now. Plan on continuing to go back. The staff are awesome. Highly recommended. read more

TIP: Make reservations, this place is extremely busy. We failed to make reservations but were lucky to get in when someone no-showed..on a Thursday night! Nice atmosphere. Off street parking available. Extensive menu. Good service although we seemed a little rushed by our server. I had the Tonkatsu and was disappointed. Instead of a single breaded cutlet, they serve it as nuggets, which means the ratio of breading to meat is increased. It was also very dry. The sashimi was excellent as were the California rolls. Nice selection of beer, I had a Japanese Red Ale that was delicious. I was also dissapointed that they only serve cold bottled Sake. Warm Sake with tradition serving cups would have been a wonder compliment to the meal. Prices are reasonable. read more

Hands down the best sushi in Marin. AND the people that work there are simply the best, always helpful and always seem to get it right. I usually go at least twice a week read more

Food was tasty and service was terrific. It was pretty crowded at the bar, but that's not a bad thing.

Best sushi restaurant in the North Bay. I had the best birthday omakase dinner here with my parents and their friends. The best salmon nigiri of my life! Highly recommend!! Thank you to the owner and chef for one of my favorite meals this year. read more

Imagine going here for so long and enjoying your sushi, and then you get a piece of plastic on your sushi to-go. Okay not a big deal if it happens the first time. Restaurant was apologetic and accommodating a year ago when it happened. Well guess what, happy anniversary, now we get a 4 inch piece of plastic to go with our Stinson Maki. Want to know how reckless and stupid these errors happen? I will tell you, the chef making the sushi wraps the roll in plastic wrap, then shapes it with the bamboo mat. What he's supposed to do after is REMOVE THE PLASTIC WRAP BEFORE CUTTING. Clearly this is not happening and this is how you get plastic in your food, and a spouse nearly choking on such a long piece of plastic. Check your food when you eat here everyone, because the kitchen is reckless and quality control is on par with gas station sushi. As for me, it's SAYONARA SAMURAI. read more

Samurai - Plastic in the Stinson Maki sushi. Y'all need to pay better attention when you're making sushi. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Mill Valley, California

The taste was fine but the rolls we got were very small for the price. So that was a huge let down. Wanted to love the place. read more

Even though Mill Valley is not quite known to be a dining destination, it harbors this little gem to my delight. Samurai sushi always has fresh fish, the service is quick and unproblematic (you can tell the people who run this restaurant do a good job keeping talent, they are always fully staffed, with at least 15 people working at all times) it's a small place, but the seating arrangement takes advantage of the entire space. Give me the chefs choice and a cold Sapporo and you'll make my day any day! The only thing to keep in mind is that they don't take reservations, so be th ere early or willing to wait 30 mins. Luckily they offer a cozy waiting area. read more

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My husband and I have been going to this place several times since our first date, (many years ago) and I always forget to write a review. The food here is always fresh and amazing. People are welcoming and kind from the moment we enter to the end. Service is great, servers are nice and discreet, polite and knowledgeable. They offer Great quality and selection of seafood, Delicious and clean flavors. Delicious appetizers, miso soup, mixed tempura, vegetable gyoza, seaweed salad, edamame, sushi, sashimi, rolls and even the warm dishes, like the baked eggplant are very good. We love to seat at the bar and have our small corner. We order everything on the menu. And we never get disappointed! A carafe of sake a saporo beer and the tempura ice cream. It's always a perfect balanced meal. We feel satisfied and happy even in the worst day. I can't ever say good enough of this place. We love it read more

Samurai is our favorite sushi spot in Marin! My fiancé and I frequent go. Every time we come in the staff behind the sushi counter welcome us and say goodbye. Yes they are packed, understandably, and it's also a small restaurant. The Stinson Maki roll is something we order every time! I highly recommend it. The staff are great, especially given how busy they always are. I understand everyone has a different palette and occasionally bad experiences happen, but some of these one star reviews seem condescending and entitled. I look forward to my next visit to Samurai! read more

Take out orders beware! We have been loyal customers of Samauri for 15 years, eating there once a week on a regular basis. Even through the pandemic, staffing challenges, long wait times, inflation price increases, we were there. On our visit this week, I noticed the bill was higher than normal (we order the same thing each week), so I asked for the itemized receipt. Lo and behold there was a $10.40 charge for takeout. We asked what the charge was for and they said... the paper containers. Wait, what? You mean the paper container that cost you maybe .30 cents? As a reasonable human being, and loyal patron, I'm willing to put up with a lot, but this was the straw that broke the camels back. I'm sorry Samurai, but you've grossly miscalculated this one. We will not be returning, nor will I be recommending you anymore. Price gouging is never OK. read more