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Shimizu Sushi

4.1 (913 reviews)
Closed • 12:00 pm - 2:15 PM, 4:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Updated 3 months ago

Order Shimizu Sushi Takeout or Delivery

Shimizu Sushi Photos

Business Info

SHIMIZU SUSHI ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Classy
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Shimizu Sushi

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Reviews With Photos

Inside beer
Max K.

Authentic Japanese Sushi place with great selection of sushi, nigiri's, sashimi, soups, ramen, and teriyaki meals. Cramped Small inside good for small groups, couples, casual dates. Food is fresh and delicious with pretty dressing. Flat entry good for seniors and accessible. It's getting busy quick so expect lines or long wait.

Ameebi, Mendocino, Fire Cracker
Edrian D.

Testing, testing, may I have your attention please... Sushi gem found in Oakland! Pro Tip - Make a reservation, limited seating and this place packs up pretty quick! Table for 6 @6:30. Bill came to about $50 a person. Great sushi places cone far and few between, but this place hits! Came with a few friends for dinner to catch up and boy we were in for a treat. Chicken teriyaki bento - this is perfection, nothing beats that perfectly cooked chicken. It was super moist and fully cooked through. The teriyaki sauce is most definitely house made - perfectly glazed with the right amount of sweet and salty. And of course how can you go wrong with veggie tempura. Nom nom nom nom nom The rolls on today's menu were: Flaming Dragon - was definitely a show stopper! The chef came out of the kitchen with the roll a blazing and we were caught off guard. A little dazzle dazzle :spirit fingers: The roll itself had deep fried shrimp in the middle rolled in rice with salmon and tempura shakes with some type of spicy bbq sauce. Lord oh lord I can eat two of these to myself. Mendocino - consisted of spicy tuna, avocado, salmon, cucumber and tobiko. Super smooth with a kick! Fire Cracker - on to more spicy (yes we love spicy) spicy scallops spicy cucumber and tobiko! Tobiko makes everything better with that fresh umami burst. Ameebi - who doesn't like sweet shrimp? And yes eat the head! All in all, solid 5 and will definitely be coming back. Not to mention, the staff were super nice and didn't bother you. They were attentive and knew exactly when to approach the table. I would recommend this place as a gathering for small groups or a fun family dinner. Possibly date night with the partner. Cheers!

Lion king and flaming dragon rolls
Yee W.

We came here around 4pm ish on a Saturday night. Our friend treated us to dinner and recommended this sushi place. The restaurant was nice and clean, small but had a good amount of tables. It wasn't busy when we walked in and were seated immediately. We did a family style, mostly sharing so we ordered California roll, lion king and flaming dragon. Two bento boxes, one was beef and the other was teriyaki chicken. The flaming dragon was cool because it came out on fire. Everything tasted delicious. The bento boxes had a great amount of selection of food for the price. Service was good. They also have stamp cards and Tuesday is double stamps. I wouldn't mind coming back again.

Son Hang W.

The waitress very nice. Beer short ribs, flaming dragon and Venus rolls are so yummy. Scallops and salmon are very fresh.

Joyce L.

A solid 2 star Japanese restaurant. Was surprised by their overall 4 stars rating. For a $23.50-25.50 bento box, I expected more. The taste was meh and yet, they only gave you a few pieces of meat. More importantly, the sashimi quality was subpar, tasted like a C/C- grade quality. Was definitely disappointed and will not return.

Bento box with beef galbo and salmon sashimi
Phil L.

I've been here multiple times for sushi since 2016 to now and I have been well served by this restaurant's tasty food. Their sushi is pretty solid. The bento box has plenty of food, but the galbi/short rib was a bit modest (portion wise) to my liking. Service was attentive and friendly, ambiance was very modest and centralized in simplicity, where simplicity is best. I would come here more often if parking wasn't such a hassle (yes they have a parking lot but it's small)

Lion King, best sushi.
Neema C.

We love the foods (ordered bento boxes and sushi), the service and the unique Japanese decorations. We appreciate the fact that it's one of the few authentic Japanese restaurants in the East Bay. Love love love.

Nicole M.

This place is so yummy. It is a bit small so definitely plan to either way or try to make reservations whenever possible or if if you're able to take it home to eat. The place is small, but cutely decorated inside. The staff is extremely accommodating.

spicy killer cross section
Blu M.

Really tasty spot for sushi in the Piedmont area! Shimizu Sushi is conveniently located on Piedmont Ave in Oakland, in close proximity to a lot of cute shopping and best part, Fentons for dessert! I came here with my mom for a nice meal to catch up with each other and we both totally found a new favorite spot. We went around 6 pm and we did not have to wait long to be seated; about 10 minutes. The staff were really nice and super on everything. the restaurant itself is not too big and has a cute vibe. It is a stand alone restaurant with nice decoration, so it made for a perfect experience. We got 4 rolls (Venus, spicy Juno, delicious, and spicy killer rolls) 2 types of tempura (soft shell crabs and veggie combination). All were incredibly good! My favorites had to be the soft shell crabs, spicy killer, and spicy Juno rolls. The quality of the fish is really fresh and the taste is spot on, especially in the albacore. I appreciate the fact that these rolls were quite sizable. Specialty rolls deserve to be big! These ones did not disappoint. The rice to fish ratio was great as well. Flavors were balanced and nothing overpowered the actual flavor of the seafood, which is a must! Just right :) The tempura were all really good too. The batter was friend perfectly and the oil tasted clean, which is so so important. Great with a squeeze of lemon! Shimizu is a fantastic spot for some fresh fish. If that floats your boat, you gotta give this place a try.

Emily J.

I wanted to love this place but unfortunately it completely missed the mark. The biggest issue was the price, I am all about paying for high quality sushi but this was mediocre at best for a marked up price. The sushi rolls were bland and way too big. When we split them apart it was a little bit better but there was absolutely no flavor. One role had hot sauce just d dumped on top, It didn't help that the sushi chefs were watching TV on the big screen behind the counter for the majority of the time. My older daughter ordered the beef udon and it was almost inedible. Small pieces of gelatinous beef floated on top. Large chunks of vegetables bobbed up like drowned fish. It was just a mess in a massive bowl. Again, the worst part was getting a bill for two rolls and a bowl of udon for 70 dollars. I hope either the price goes down or the quality goes up.

Chicken teriyaki bento box with tempura and gyoza
Hannah L.

Absolutely delicious!!!!!!!!! I LOVE their bento box! The chicken teriyaki was amazing and I love that they give tempura and gyoza with it! It is also very nice that they give you 3 options for the bento boxes so instead of gyoza you can get sashimi or a California roll instead of you prefer. My fiance got the flaming dragon roll which was so cool because it actually was on fire (see video). I have never seen this before! He also really enjoyed it! Soooo good!!! Highly recommend! The service was great, friendly and fast. Very nice ambiance, nice and clean.

Outside. Storefront. Freestanding building. Landscape orientation. 0.7x zoom.
Daniel B.

I give Shimizu Japanese Cuisine three stars. It's not bad. My sister introduced us to this place. She comes here when her and her husband's go-to sushi joint, the Judoku Sushi location in Rockridge, is closed. That said, I think the two restaurants' hours are largely the same. I think Shimizu has slightly more seating, especially inside. Both places are popular and we've had to wait at both. Coincidentally, on the night we visited Shimizu, my sister recognized one of the sushi chefs from Judoku working here. We visited on an ordinary Monday for dinner. Around 6:25pm, the dining room and sushi bar were full. Unlike Judoku Rockridge, Shimizu has no outdoor seating. However, something that's nice about Shimizu (and that Judoku Rockridge doesn't have) is free dedicated parking. Shimizu has a small paved lot with about seven spaces. We got lucky and were able to snag one. We wrote our name on a paper waitlist at the check-in table inside. Party of six. We waited about 40 minutes. We had to wait outside on the sidewalk with a couple other groups. We finished dinner and left around 7:50pm. At that time, the dining room was still full, to give you a sense of how busy it was. Shimizu Sushi opened in June 2010. This is a simple, humble neighborhood sushi joint. There's no pretense about it. It's a no-frills experience. The dining room was cozy and seats were placed closely together to maximize space. At dinnertime, the menu featured a wide variety of sushi rolls plus common types of nigiri and sashimi. I didn't notice any specials except for an Uni Shooter (which we got - more on that below). In addition to sushi, there was a decent variety of Japanese appetizers, entrees, and bento boxes. There's also a touch of Korean on the menu with BBQ Beef Short Ribs (a.k.a. galbi, $15.50 a la carte, about $25 as part of a bento dinner) and a Spicy Fish Bowl (a.k.a. hoe-deopbap, $32.50). Here's what we got: Appetizers * Agedashi Tofu ($9.90) - deep-fried tofu, radish on top with tempura sauce * Pan Fried Gyoza ($11.50) - 6 pieces of pan-fried potstickers Udon * Nabeyaki Udon ($17.90) - chicken, fishcake, egg, noodles, and vegetables in broth; shrimp tempura served on the side Sushi & Sashimi * Chirashi ($32.50) - chef's selection of fresh sashimi, served over sushi rice Nigiri (price per 2 pieces except for Toro) * Hamachi ($8.50) - yellowtail * Tai (8.90) - red snapper * Toro (market price = $9.50 per piece) - fatty tuna Shimizu Special Rolls * Ladybug Roll ($17.50) - salmon, avocado covered with scallop, avocado, tobiko Shimizu Spicy Rolls * Mendocino ($17.50) - spicy tuna, cucumber with salmon, avocado, and tobiko on top * S.O.S. Roll ($18.50) - spicy tuna, yellowtail, radish sprouts covered with spicy salmon, jalapeno, and tobiko Special * Uni Shooter ($11.90) Drink * Marble Soda ($4.95) - Ramune Japanese soft drink; my niece chose strawberry flavor Everyone at the table got miso soup, included with our orders. My nieces devoured their miso soup, Agedashi Tofu, and Pan Fried Gyoza. These are good, safe choices that suit almost any palate. Shimizu's Agedashi Tofu and Gyoza were standard and didn't stand out from the same dishes at other Japanese restaurants. The Nabeyaki Udon was A-OK. The portion size was generous and there was a good balance of ingredients. This was a fairly simple and straightforward comforting dish. If you like udon, you should be satisfied with it. I was a bit underwhelmed with the Chirashi, but I'm also spoiled by my neighborhood izakaya back home in Atlanta ( https://www.yelp.com/biz/ginya-izakaya-atlanta-4 ). When I ordered it, I requested no shrimp due to my shrimp allergy. My Chirashi came with three pieces each of tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and albacore tuna plus two pieces of tamago (cooked egg). These are the cheapest, most basic kinds of sushi. For a Japanese restaurant in the Bay Area, I expected more variety. Also, the quality of the tuna wasn't great. The fish was still a bit too frozen and the texture was off. That said, all of the fish slices were nice and thick so I'll give them that. I recognize Chirashi can vary widely from restaurant to restaurant and even from day to day at the same restaurant, so it can be a bit of a gamble. The Hamachi, Tai, and Toro nigiri were all pretty solid as were the Ladybug, Mendocino, and S.O.S. rolls. I'm not a big rolls guy, but I do love nigiri. I think this place does a nice job with both nigiri and rolls, so you probably won't be disappointed there. Aside from the tuna in the Chirashi, I thought the quality of the fish was good and fresh. The Uni Shooter was interesting. It had uni, tobiko, spring onion, and other ingredients. It was a savory shot. Service was excellent. Kristine was our server and she was terrific. Shimizu has a loyalty card at dinner. You get one stamp for every $25 spent. After 10 stamps, you get $10 off.

Inverleith F.

It's not often that we eat sushi but when we do, Shimizu is the place to go in Piedmont Avenue in Oakland. The fish is the freshest around and the tempura is crispy yet delicate. Hubby had ordered the tempura as a starter and it is a generous basket of fried goodness. The vegetables are all generously sliced and cooked just right. Vegetables included broccoli, pumpkin, sweet potato, asparagus and zucchini. When my bento came, there was more tempura including a shrimp. It was a generous portion as well. The tuna sashimi had three nice slices that just melted in my mouth. Hubby really enjoyed his roll which was not too spicy at all. Fish was very fresh and flavorful. The place is small and the staff is attentive and nice. They have a small parking lot which has lots of warnings about not having any valuables visible. Unfortunately this is the state of Oakland so be street smart okay? Do support this great local business. Your tummy will be happy!

Melting albacore

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Page 1 of 23

Ask the Community - Shimizu Sushi

Are they open during May's shelter in place?

I saw when I picked up my dinner tonight that they are now open 4-8:30 daily! Takeout only obviously. I just order by phone and it's ready when I get there.

Are you guys open during SIP?

They are now open 4-8:30 daily. Order by phone and pick it up, though I've seen people order outside.

Which day is double stamp day?

Tuesday!

Do they offer sashimi on AYCE menu?

Yes they have great Sashimi, not sure what you mean by Ayce

Does it have air conditioning?

Yes!!

Do they have real crab or just imitation?

They use imitation crab, but real crab is available upon request (extra charge).

What's the parking situation like, if any?

The restaurant has a small parking lot. There are around 10 spaces including a handicap space. Commercial metered parking on Piedmont Avenue with residential parking on the side streets. Parking can be a challenge at times on busy Piedmont Avenue.

What time is lunch on Saturday/Sunday? Meaning when is the period of time that certain food is cheaper because it's lunch pricing?

They open for lunch around 12 and stay open for dinner. I was there at 3 on a Saturday and there were other tables too.

View All 10 Questions

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4.0(730 reviews)
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In the past have ordered here via DD but recently was super impressed with the hamachi kama! It…read morewas a complete entree! Carrots, bok choy, bonito, sliced scallions, it was visually appealing, huge portion, fresh and cooked well. Sauce was like a watered down teriyaki, prefer ponzu, but I never really dip, preferring just a squeeze of lemon. Ahhh-mazing.

A solid sushi spot right off the freeway with plenty of menu options to choose from…read more FOOD: 8/10 My partner pointed out something that ended up being pretty accurate: the menu items marked as "popular" really do seem to be their signature dishes. I decided to venture out and order something that wasn't one of those items, and honestly, I was underwhelmed. (Spoiler: it was the scallop roll.) It just wasn't for me. That said, their sashimi sets are fresh, and their baked rolls are consistently good, so I'd recommend sticking with those. SERVICE: 9/10 Friendly, attentive staff who made for a pleasant dining experience. AMBIANCE: 9/10 The restaurant is very clean, but my favorite part is the outdoor patio. The East Bay-inspired murals add so much character, and the fresh flowers make the space feel inviting. They also have outdoor heaters when it gets chilly, so it's a great spot to enjoy a meal outside. Parking can be a bit of a pain, but overall it's still a solid sushi spot that I wouldn't mind coming back to.

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RnR Sushi & Bowls - Elvis roll

RnR Sushi & Bowls

4.3(677 reviews)
0.2 mi•Piedmont Ave, North Oakland
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We grabbed a bite here on a Friday evening before catching a movie across the street at the…read moretheatre. The serve was good and the restaurant seemed busy with all hands on deck. I enjoyed watching the staff hustle to deliver a satisfactory experience meanwhile enjoying the space with my fellow patrons. We had a poke bowl and a roll

R&R Sushi and Bowls is hands down my favorite sushi spot in the Bay Area! The fish is always…read moreincredibly fresh, the portions are super generous, and every meal we've had here has been consistently amazing. Our favorite rolls are the Dragon Roll, Alameda Roll, and Warriors Roll, but honestly, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. If you're not in the mood for sushi, do yourself a favor and order the teriyaki chicken bowl, it's my favorite teriyaki chicken anywhere. I order it regularly, and it's always cooked perfectly. And I have to give a special shoutout to the house salad. It might sound silly to rave about a salad at a sushi restaurant, but the salad and the dressing are absolutely addictive. I don't know what they put in that dressing, but it's seriously that good. The outdoor patio in the back is another reason we love coming here, especially when we want to bring our dogs along. Great food, friendly service, and a relaxed atmosphere keep us coming back time and time again. If you're looking for incredible sushi in the Bay Area, R&R Sushi and Bowls should absolutely be on your list.

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Kirala - Lunch special Bento box

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3.9(1.9k reviews)
2.3 mi•South Berkeley
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We had to wait about 20 minutes for a table of 4 but the staff was super nice and it was a Friday…read morenight. For food, I got Gyoza and baby back ribs to start. Both absolutely delicious. Then for mains , got steak teriyaki and salmon nigiri. Unfortunately the steak was incredibly tough and hard to chew. The salmon was delicious. The steak quality was very poor.

Still all these decades later, Kirala meets the mark. We sat at the sake bar in the back with two…read morekids and it worked well. Service by Taka was great - attentive and quick. Only lag was when we ordered 2 nigiri at the end and it took a really long time but I think the sushi chefs lost the order or something. Delicious sukiyaki, chicken skewers, cold tofu, salmon rolls, hamachi sashimi, Ikura and uni, tuna and Ikura nigiri, and hamachi Kama (not sure why they charge $21 and then $7 for a large when it is two small dollars that came out though). Decent wine selection - Chardonnay was good. Restaurant itself is fairly loud, especially with a baby that kept crying. But it might have been crying because it was loud. Owners should consider the Constellation System by Meyer Sound to make the dining experience more enjoyable for patrons. As this is a longtime bastion of Japanese food in the Bay, they should really invest in the sound portion of their restaurant. Prices have gone up since the last time I was here but it's not totally unreasonable. Good quality food and service. Love this place.

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Shimizu Sushi - japanese - Updated October 2026

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