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    Sawa Sushi

    3.8 (289 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndSushi Bars, Japanese, Seafood
    Closed 6:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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    Phillip S.

    Sawa is always a joy to enjoy and his 30+ years of being open shines through. This is the best sashimi you will have in the south bay. Highest quality of fish (flown in from Japan), and his home made (from scratch) are a perfect complement to his fish. Sake lovers will find sake you can only get in Japan.

    A better cut of hamachi which I don't remember the name of, with a huge dollop of ikura, flavoured to perfection.
    Sue J.

    What you read on the reviews are all true- it's what you like I guess. I did not do my research, walked in, and was totally caught off guard. I was stiff and closed off and reading reviews frantically at the bar and was questioning my friend's choice of restaurant. After a bit of time, I put the phone away and let myself experience. I had a good time. The chef is super funny. He liked that I spoke Japanese a bit I think, and we had a lot of fun. It definitely was a different experience. A 4 star because it was so fun, but I need a bit more in my meal. I'm glad everything is super fresh and excellent- and these days, sourcing is so important. I will never forget my meal at Sawa.

    Uni
    Daniella X.

    If you are a lover of sashimi, this Sashimi Omakase restaurant is highly recommended! The owner is a knowledgeable and interesting guy who mentioned that his restaurant is invested by NVIDIA's CEO Jenson Huang. Later, it was discovered that NVIDIA's videos can also be found on the restaurant's website. Thanks to the recommendations from some tech celebrities, various well-known figures in the industry often visit the restaurant, even including the CEO of my company. So, there is a chance that you might meet some big names while dining there! The vibe is very chill The cuisine is mainly centered around sashimi and sauce, without any main courses, making it a paradise for carb-free enthusiasts! The sashimi is incredibly fresh, using high-quality ingredients. The chef will serve you what he thinks is best, with a total of 6 courses, each with its own unique characteristics and generous portion size. The sauces are also specially made, including Hokkaido scallops, salmon, salmon roe, tuna, sea bream, clam, sweet shrimp, and mochi ice cream for dessert. You will definitely feel full but not heavy, as there are no carbs in the dishes.

    Shao-Lon Y.

    This is one of the best restaurants I've eaten at in my life! Steve is extremely fun and social and makes great food. As long as you come in with an open mind, you'll love whatever he makes you. It's a little pricey, but you're not only paying for food, you're paying for the entire experience. Talking with Steve and him changing the menu to suit your tastes is part of the amazing experience. He literally gave our party an entire tray of uni, a tin of beluga caviar, and the biggest Wagyu steak I've ever seen. Everything made the meal completely worth the price!

    Flory A.

    My husband brought me here for my birthday, we had the whole place to ourselves . It was one of the best, if not the best sushi I have had. If you're trying to get rolls and California rolls , this is not your place. Go to Safeway and get sushi there. This is the place to come when you want to experience REAL Japanese food. Come with an open mind - it is a restaurant for foodies only . Ps. I have never liked uni , however, after trying the uni here I have to say I have changed my mind. Amazing experience , amazing chef.

    Sawa Sushi is serious, no-compromises omakase sashimi. The owner knows his craft and knows the fish. My wife and I have been to Sawa a few times now - Valentine's day plus a few more weekends. Each time, we've been surprised with the exquisite quality of the sashimi and skill of the chef. Come here if you want: 1. Serious sashimi - reservations are needed because the chef will literally fly in fish from Japan the day of your meal to serve it to you that evening 2. An extensive sake selection 3. A skillful, highly knowledgeable chef who will spoil you all evening with excellent food and commentary

    Tasha S.

    While we have only just discovered the beauty of Sawa, the quality of sashimi is simply unparalleled to anything we've had in Silicon Valley. Delectable, melt in your mouth, incredible. Steve is wonderful - a character worthy of an entire story for himself. He's been so gracious, welcoming and friendly each time. Cannot wait to be back.

    Gigi K.

    Came here on a Friday night and we were so lucky. The other group canceled last minute so we had the whole restaurant to ourselves! Sawa (owner and chef) was so friendly and engaging from the moment we walked in. We were able to have a natural conversation with him as he served us our meal. Dinner was served classic omakase style and the chef decided what we ate. All the courses were DELICIOUS! We had fresh fish shipped in from Japan paired with Sawa's personal sauce creations. Everything was so well balanced and the cuts of fish were so meaty, sweet, and decadent! The sauces that were paired were unique but not overpowering. My favorite had to be the Hokkaido uni! I was hesitant at first as I'm normally a sushi fanatic and this place only serves it sashimi style but I have no regrets. I got to taste huge chunks of fresh fish uniquely prepared. It really didn't need the rice. We'll definitely be back as having a local omakase place in South Bay at this quality is AMAZING!

    Scallop
    Ying X.

    Legitimately some of the best sushi I've had, on par with the best in Japan. My husband and I made a booking for 6pm to celebrate our anniversary. The shop is located in a strip mall-type plaza, and is VERY unassuming (on the plus side, easy parking!). Once you go inside, the layout is very similar to your standard Japanese restaurant, sushi bar on one side and a few tables surrounding it. We sat at the sushi bar a few seats away from another couple (the restaurant was otherwise empty and our chef was very good about following covid precautions). The omakase here is served as sashimi instead of nigiri (so no rice), but you get VERY generous slices. The fish is SO fresh (our uni was packaged and flown from Japan literally yesterday) and flavorful, my taste buds experienced more flavors than I thought existed. Our chef also makes his own sauces and you can truly taste that there's something special about the sauces. Never had anything like them before. And I truly do mean generous portions, the fatty tuna and uni course was bigger than my fist (see pictures). Our other favorite courses were the scallop and sakura-masu (similar to salmon but much fattier and more flavorful). The meal is very pricy ($500 for the standard course and we also got an extra one that was added on), but you definitely get your money's worth. I haven't been so happy and satisfied with my sushi in years (prob since my last visit to Japan). I really want to come back next time I'm in town, but the owner says he might be retiring soon. Regardless, I'm so glad I had the chance for this experience! Anyone looking for legit omakase NEEDS to come check out Sawa.

    Tako!
    A C.

    It's been over 20 years and I love Sawa Sushi still! Mr Sawa squeezed me in last minute as a solo diner since I was shopping in the area. So kind of him. Also I was one of his frequent customers in year 1 when he opened and I was living in the area. Everything was oiishi! He asked me if I had any dietary restrictions. I said no and then continued with examples of things I did like... he heard heard Uni and then went off and opened up his "treasure box" from Japan. It was amazing!!!! Think of ahhhhhwwww sound in movies when they open a box and then it glows... I swear I heard the sound of angles and boy did it glow... He set me up with 3-4 courses before the uni course w/ otoro-chu toro! I was getting so full! I literally ate up every little thing on each plate before the uni course. The first course was the cold scallops with chilled Japanese cucumber + radish... the next course: Salad with Sakura fish. Delicious and the dressing was amazing with a dusting of power made from 72 different dried beans (imparts a slight roasted nutty flavor). His flavors all his own custom concoctions or Japanese imported (the wasabi was from Niigata) . And the cuts were more than generous! In the end I had to take 3 pieces home because I just could not eat another bite. But that means yummy midnight snack! While I was there, a Sake specialist entered and I learned a little more about all the super premium sake that Sawa carried at the restaurant. I was driving back up to SF after dinner, so I did not drink anything but water. I'm sure I would have enjoyed the dinner a lot more if paired with some smooth clean cold sake! Next time!

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    2 years ago

    The food there is not a kosher or halal for Muslims community. And The service is okay.

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    The foood there was not a kosher or halaal for Muslims community over all. . . . .

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    2 years ago

    The food there is not a kosher or halal for Muslims and Arabs. The service and the ambiance are okay. . .

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    Marufuku Ramen - Cupertino - Marufuku Ramen Cupertino

    Marufuku Ramen - Cupertino

    4.5(947 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$
    Kid friendly
    Locally owned & operated

    The food was really good, and is still good after I microwave it at home. The service was also…read moreamazing, they were very nice and caring. This place was also very clean and organized. I definitely recommend this place.

    Came here for dinner on a Tuesday night. They were busy and the wait was not too long. It did help…read moreto have the Yelp waitlist. It's small cosy place. We ordered the Chicken Karaage, Gyoza, Hakata Tonkatsu and the Chicken Paitan. We wanted to order the Chicken Paitan DX but we were told that their grill was not working so they could not grill the chicken thigh that came with the DX order. The soups came in bowls that were irrgular shaped and colorful. Everything tasted good. The chicken Karaage was generously portioned and tasted great. My son devoured them in no time. The Hakata Tonkatsu had a very rich, well developed broth that was so delicious. Might have been a little too rich for me as I was not able to finish the meal. The chicken Paitan was also delicious but the broth was a lighter broth. Our gyoza order did not come until much later in the meal. We had to remind our waiter that we did not get our order. This dish, gyoza, was disappointing. It did not look like it was homemade - looked more store bought. We didn't care for the taste with the dipping sauce that came with it. Not sure if this was because we had the heavier broth first. It just fell flat after the robust and rich hakata tonkatsu meal I had. Service was friendly. The waiter and manager(?), were apologetic that the gyoza order was delayed (or forgotten?). They also apologized for their grill not working that day. I would definitely come back here to try the other items on their menu.

    Photos
    Marufuku Ramen - Cupertino - HAKATA TONKOTSU DX

    HAKATA TONKOTSU DX

    Marufuku Ramen - Cupertino
    Marufuku Ramen - Cupertino - CHICKEN PAITAN DX

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    CHICKEN PAITAN DX

    Kura Revolving Sushi Bar - Aburi Salmon with Miso Cream Cheese

    Kura Revolving Sushi Bar

    3.5(2.8k reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    The whole revolving sushi concept makes it really interactive and exciting, you get to just grab…read morewhatever catches your eye, which makes it perfect if you like trying a little bit of everything. The food was fresh, and there were a lot of options to choose from. Service was smooth and efficient, and everything felt well organized even when it was busy. The ambiance is casual but lively, which adds to the overall experience. Overall, such a solid spot for sushi and something a little different. I'd definitely come back again!

    We went to Kura Revolving Sushi Bar around evening time after our neighbors recommended it to us,…read moreso we were excited to try it. Unfortunately, the experience was disappointing, and we did not enjoy it as much as we hoped. Food: We tried the rainbow roll, Kura roll, spicy tuna roll, hamachi nigiri, negitoro, salmon toro nigiri, and premium American beef nigiri. Unfortunately, none of them tasted good to us. The fish did not taste fresh, the rice was way too sweet, and the premium American beef nigiri tasted very off. We visit sushi restaurants often, and we have never experienced rice that sweet before. The conveyor belt items also did not seem fresh, and you have to ask for wasabi because it is not provided at the table. Service: The host was welcoming but other than that, it did not really feel like there was much service. Most of the ordering is done through a tablet, but the tablet was placed too high, so it became tiring and uncomfortable to keep our arm up while switching between pages. When we asked the server for help, they just told us to use the tablet, which was frustrating. The tablet also did not clearly explain what was inside each item, so it was hard to know what we were ordering. Ambience: The restaurant felt more exhausting than enjoyable. Because there was very little server communication and everything depended on the tablet, we felt disconnected from the whole dining experience. The menu also needs improvement because many sushi items felt too similar, and there were not enough options for someone who does not like shrimp but enjoys tuna and other fish. Overall, we were disappointed and will not be back.

    Photos
    Kura Revolving Sushi Bar - The revolving sushi bar seating

    The revolving sushi bar seating

    Kura Revolving Sushi Bar - Instagram: TianTianEats

    Instagram: TianTianEats

    Kura Revolving Sushi Bar - Revolving sushi bar area

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    Revolving sushi bar area

    Ramen Hajime - kiwami Spicy Miso

    Ramen Hajime

    4.6(681 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$
    Established in 2020
    Free parking

    Food is always amazing and service is stellar. The ambiance is also really nice, even though the…read morerestaurant is on the smaller side. The absolute BEST ramen spot in the bay. Just make sure to get there early as wait times for a table may vary on the day and time you visit as well as your party size. (The food is 1000% worth the wait)

    Heard good things about Ramen Hajime, so decided to give it a try on a Saturday around 12:45pm. We…read morejoined the waitlist on the kiosk - there was about a 30 minute wait, and we got a text when our table was ready. Good amount of vegan options! I got the Kiwami Vegan extra spicy and my friend got the Kiwami Tonkotsu spicy (adding spice costs 50c more) and we received our food after 20 minutes. Kiwami Vegan (5/5): This was delicious! The curry broth and the plant based meat were well seasoned and the yuzu gave the dish a nice citrus kick. I love spicy food and usually feel like ramen is not spicy enough, but this was the perfect level. Noodles were tasty and there was a good noodle to soup ratio. My friend gave the Kiwami Tonkotsu a 4/5 and said it could be a bit more flavorful. She tried some of my Kiwami Vegan and said she would order that next time instead Overall, amazing vegan ramen! Although there isn't a vegetarian option, the vegan option is plenty flavorful on its own and I didn't feel like I was missing anything. Ramen Hajime now joins Marufuku Ramen in my list of favorite ramen shops in the bay. I would definitely return!

    Photos
    Ramen Hajime - Kiwami Shoyu

    Kiwami Shoyu

    Ramen Hajime - Hajime Ramen - inside

    Hajime Ramen - inside

    Ramen Hajime - Chicken Karaage Style

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    Chicken Karaage Style

    Gochi - Cupertino - Instagram @aintgotnothingbutbodyfat

    Gochi - Cupertino

    4.0(2.4k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    MILG (Man, I love Gochi). Updated review as this is my third time here and the first time I tried…read morethe wafu miso caesar salad. Definitely not a standout dish, but the rest of the meal was delectable. Sometimes, you don't need vegetables during dinner. Had to order the hamachi carpaccio, unagi meshi, and green tea creme brulee as per usual, but the Nikomi hamburg was a pleasant surprise! The flavor profile is deeply reminiscent of a HK pork chop baked rice if juicy pork meatballs were used. The service is always friendly here and our food came out quickly! My only minor gripe was the pacing as we had 3 dishes on our small square table at one point in the meal. I understand though, since they clearly had a busy night ahead as the restaurant filled up quickly after 7:30 PM. Ambience is kind of loud due to the chatter and closely spaced tables. They really try to maximize the seating here. Make sure you wear socks in case you end up being seated in the carpet area.

    Today, to celebrate my aunt's 60th birthday, we came to a restaurant that they used to visit often…read more Since it's a Japanese restaurant, the hostess immediately led us to the tatami seating area. My aunt asked if we could sit at a regular table instead, and the hostess asked whether we had any medical reason. I felt offended at that moment, and I also believe it's inappropriate and potentially unlawful to ask that kind of question. On top of that, while we were still eating, they brought us the bill halfway through the meal. Even though we understand there is a 90-minute dining limit, the whole experience made us feel like they were trying to rush us out. This is definitely not a place we would come back to or recommend to friends.

    Photos
    Gochi - Cupertino - Cute wall

    Cute wall

    Gochi - Cupertino - Unagi meshi

    Unagi meshi

    Gochi - Cupertino - Tori Kara Age

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    Tori Kara Age

    La Casa Mia

    La Casa Mia

    3.9(768 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    a decent place for fusion pizzas and pasta, they also have 10% from 5:30-6:30pm Friday-Sundays…read morewhich seems like most people come for we got - takoyaki: pretty typical takoyaki, and pretty flavorful and crunchy, but seems like they skimp on the octopus, it was mostly bready batter - mentaiko mayo mochi cheese pizza: was pretty good but the potato seemed to not fit in the pizza and had no flavor - uni pasta: the sauce was great, pasta was cooked perfectly, big portions, I think the uni was seared or cooked which made it taste different than what I'm used to (less of a fresh sea-like taste if that makes sense) others- - meat sauce pasta with pork cutlet: apparently good, but not super memorable - spicy carbonara: apparently it was pretty good - mentaiko cream spaghetti

    I used to love the food here, which makes this experience even more disappointing…read more Tonight, I arrived around 7:10 PM with my husband. We ordered our favorite appetizer first and then placed the rest of our order. There were both a female and a male server, and neither of them made us feel welcome at all. The male server did not write anything down while taking our order and barely responded when I spoke. He gave no acknowledgment whatsoever, so I honestly could not tell whether he even heard me. It felt like the staff simply wanted us to leave as quickly as possible because the restaurant closes at 8 PM. We even rushed through our meal and made sure to leave before 8 PM out of consideration for the staff, yet we were still treated like an inconvenience the entire time. What shocked me the most was the hygiene issue. The black-haired female server at the counter near the entrance dropped a small stainless steel basket used for checks onto the floor, stepped on it with her shoe, then picked it up with her hands and placed it back without cleaning or sanitizing it. After that, she never washed or sanitized her hands, yet continued touching napkins, utensils, and setting tables. That is completely unacceptable, especially in a restaurant. To make things worse, my husband ordered a soju cocktail, and the male server placed the alcoholic drink directly in front of me even though I am visibly 9 months pregnant with a very large baby bump. He said nothing and walked away. Not once did the staff say "enjoy your meal" when serving our food. They never checked on our table even once afterward, and we never received any water or napkin refills. The only time the male server came back was after cleaning the restroom to tell us the kitchen was closing. If customers arriving after 7 PM are such an inconvenience, then please put a sign on the door telling people not to come in after that time. And most importantly, please teach your staff proper hygiene and basic customer service. This was one of the most unwelcoming and unsanitary dining experiences I have ever had.

    Photos
    La Casa Mia - Interior

    Interior

    La Casa Mia - Baguette ($6 with up to 3 free refills)

    Baguette ($6 with up to 3 free refills)

    La Casa Mia - Salmon pasta

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    Salmon pasta

    Amami Shima Sushi - Shoyu ramen lunch $14.50

    Amami Shima Sushi

    3.8(1.2k reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$$

    I feel that overall the food is fresh and portion sizes good, but there wasn't a lot of effort put…read moreinto presenting them. The Chirashi bowl overall was good, but it felt that they just put some sashimi next to a pile of rice and called it a day. The rice wasn't really well seasoned, and so it didn't feel like a cohesive dish. That same feeling persisted with the whole squid, and the sushi roll that we ordered. If you come in expecting to have a some fresh fish and be full after, then this is a good place. But it just lacks that bit of attention to detail to have me wanting to come back all the time.

    Didn't have a great experience here with both underwhelming service and food. I wouldn't want to…read morecome back. I had two issues with the service. First, I made a reservation on yelp but forgot to mention it to my friends. I was the second to arrive and my friend was already seated so I joined her. Later the server came by asking if we had a reservation which I said I did, then she complained in Chinese to my friend "I asked you earlier and you had said No. I had set up the table for it already". I found it pretty rude since the restaurant was half empty and just because she had the utensils and water out, shouldn't be a big deal. My second issue is that I ordered explicitly with "no wasabi and no green onions". Then, of course my sushi roll came with full of green onions on top. I said "I asked for no green onions" and the server said "but this is already made", expecting me to just accept it as is. My friends all heard me clearly ask when I ordered too. I said firmly that I would like it remade, which then they brought it back and I saw the original server who took the order glare at me and gestured towards me. This was ridiculous treatment. The food was not good either. I tried the Salmon Lover Roll ($17) and Sake Nigiri ($8). The salmon nigiri was a joke because as you can see from the photo it was tearing and falling apart. It was also cut so thick which just felt very unrefined. Thicker fish is good to a degree but it was too extreme and made me think it was due to lack of skill from the sushi chef. The salmon roll was not great either because the salmon skin in the middle was coated so much I just tasted the coating and not the fish anymore.

    Photos
    Amami Shima Sushi
    Amami Shima Sushi - We are now open for lunch 11:30am to 2:30pm, 4:30pm to 9:00

    We are now open for lunch 11:30am to 2:30pm, 4:30pm to 9:00

    Amami Shima Sushi

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    Sawa Sushi - sushi - Updated May 2026

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