tl;dr Already thinking about the next time I can go! Great variety on the menu, with sashimi, rolls, udon, tempura, and more! The 3 person sashimi & role plate was definitely the star and something I'd come back for. I took my parents here for my father's birthday, and he loved it! We ordered a variety of things, udon, tempura, sashimi, chicken karaage, and a chirashi bowl, and everything was delicious. All the fish was high quality, smooth, no random stringy bits, and not fishy smelling. The portion sizes were great - it never felt that they were skimping out. Sushi Koya is our go to in this area now! We can't wait to go back. read more

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I've been trying for so long to find a new go-to sushi spot in SJ lol. We stumbled across Sushi Koya on a whim while scrolling a bit on Yelp and decided to take a chance. Luckily for us, it was absolutely worth it! We called in for takeout about 15-20 minutes out from the restaurant and everything was ready by the time we arrived. Initial impressions: I was glad that we got takeout lol. There were essentially little to no parking spots and the restaurant was PACKED. Line out the door and an even larger queue inside! It did feel a bit cramped but fortunately I was just in and out. Service was great too! We got the Lion King and a sashimi platter. The lion king was SOOO good. I always get worried ordering this at new sushi spots because I feel like it can be a hit or miss (especially when they load waaay too much spicy mayo on it lol) - this roll had the perfect amount where it wasn't too overpowering. The ingredients tasted fresh too! As for the sashimi platter - every piece was thick and fresh. I'd definitely come back for takeout! Make sure you call ahead of time. read more

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The servers here are very friendly and casual, and the atmosphere is okay. It's good for a quick dinner, and I haven't had trouble finding seating before, despite the establishment being on the smaller side. It's not particularly pricy, and the food is pretty solid. My partner mentioned that some of the fish didn't taste the freshest in the sashimi platter, but honestly I didn't really notice too much. I thought the food was solid--it didn't blow me out of the water, but it was satisfying and worth the visit. I like that you are served complimentary miso soup--it is salty but hits the spot for me. They also give you a little rewards card with stamps for every $20 you spend, but honestly it's more for fun than anything for me because the reward isn't really worth much to me. It's a minimal reward! But it's fun. Overall, I'd say this is a spot I am very open to coming back to. Not sure if I'd recommend it highly, but I'd definitely suggest it as a spur-of-the-moment dinner spot. Might forget the card though. read more

It was mid for me. Maybe I ordered the wrong sushi rolls? It just didn't hit the spot for me. I love sushi hut it wasn't my fave. From the outside, this place looked kinda small but the inside was bigger than I thought. Limited parking spots though. I parked at McDonald's and walked over. The team here are friendly and welcoming. Decor is so kawaii. I like the loyalty stamp card. For every $20 spent before tax, you get a stamp. 10 visits = $10 off the next bill at Sushi Koya (dinner time only). Great way to incentivize others to revisit. I ordered the Let your Man Go // Crunch Roll (?). Kinda basic and ok. I wasn't blown away. I did do take out and the wait wasn't that bad. The team seems to be efficient. Seems like they get a lot of phone orders too. There is bar seating where you can watch the chef make your rolls. Overall, I would only come back if I was in the area and craving a quick bite for some sushi. read more

Sushi Koya - Loyalty stamp card - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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Tried Sushi Koya in San Jose and it definitely lived up to the hype Everything tasted super fresh and well-prepared. The fish quality really stood out--clean, buttery, and melted in your mouth. You can tell they take pride in what they serve. The rolls were nicely balanced, not overloaded with rice, and the flavors complemented each other perfectly. Service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing, which made the whole experience even better. The vibe inside is cozy and relaxed, perfect for a casual dinner or even a date night. Prices are reasonable for the quality you're getting, especially compared to other sushi spots in the area. Overall, a solid go-to if you're craving fresh sushi in San Jose. I'll definitely be coming back to try more from their menu! read more

Sushi Koya - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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Sushi Koya was highly recommended to me by my friend and dare I say--the food did not disappoint. The restaurant itself is pretty spacious however parking is very limited. I'd suggest carpooling if possible! I was pleasantly surprised that they offer miso soup as a complimentary appetizer, which by the way was so good! I really enjoyed having some in between bites as it helped wash down any heaviness from the rolls. We ordered: Negimoto Maki (5/5): I absolutely looove tekka maki as well as yellowtail. So when I saw this, I just had to give it a try. It's a yellowtail maki with green onion. My friend and I both thought that it was super delicious and clean-tasting. We even ordered another plate after! Flaming Dragon (5/5): When they said it would be lit on fire--they REALLY meant it. Not only was the presentation amazing, the roll itself was packed full of flavor. There was a perfect amount of creaminess, smokiness and a little kick. If you know me, I almost never get baked rolls but I'd take this over a Lion King roll anydayyy :) Tokyo Fire (3.8/5): The super crispy tempura shrimp was my favorite part of this roll. Everything else was good but it didn't stand out to me as much as the Flaming Dragon did. 49'er Roll (2.7/5): Unfortunately this roll was lacking on sauce. Normally I don't mind my rolls without sauce but the rice was too mushy for me and it was thickkk. Overall, solid spot for sushi. I'd say it's better than Cha Cha Sushi! Definitely give this place a try, you won't regret it. read more

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Walked in on a Friday evening and the wait was about 5 minutes for two people. It was super busy inside but the staff is super friendly and efficient. There is also a complimentary Tang juice bar you can serve yourself! We got The Almaden and Raiders. The Almaden is a roll with seared albacore with garlic sauce. Literally heaven in my mouth. 10/10, I'll be dreaming of this roll. Raiders is a shrimp lover's dream. It's a California roll with imitation crab, tempura shrimp, topped with fresh shrimp. Saucy as well! Overall, awesome experience! Chefs at the bar were conversational and fun. Would come back! read more

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Went to Sushi Koya for lunch around 1pm with my husband and honestly did not expect much walking in but wow I was soooo wrong. The place looks small from the outside but once you're inside it's actually very spacious and comfortable. When we arrived it was pretty slow but not long after the restaurant filled up quickly which should have been my first sign that this spot was good. We were greeted and seated immediately which I loved and they also offer complimentary miso soup which was such a nice little touch to start the meal! I love sushi and have tried so many sushi spots but Sushi Koya really stood out. This is one of those places where you don't think it's going to be that great at first but the food is goooood. Like pleasantly surprising good. We ordered a few rolls along with a sushi platter. The Flaming Dragon roll was such a fun experience because it literally flames up right in front of you. You don't see that very often and it was so cool to watch. Because of that the roll had a smoky flavor which was really interesting and different. We also ordered the sushi platter which was the chef's choice of nigiri and it was amazing. The fish pieces were huge fresh and tasted so good. Allen's Roll completely took the cake for me. It was super flavorful and the seaweed salad inside was a huge plus since I love seaweed salad. The Tokyo Fire Roll was okay and not bad at all but it just didn't stand out as much compared to the others. As it got busier there seemed to be only one waitress taking care of everyone so the service was just okay but honestly the food made up for it because we were so full and happy by the end. Overall Sushi Koya is definitely worth checking out if you love sushi and want a place that surprises you. I would absolutely come back and already know what I'd order again next time! read more

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Strong 4.5 stars for a long overdue update for Sushi Koya! I've brought many people here, including a whole new group tonight, including one person trying Japanese food for the first time. Ever! I made a reservation over the phone a few days ago. The table wasn't ready when I arrived, but the restaurant had plenty of tables, so they quickly pulled two tables together. Our server was friendly, patient, and even took some pictures for us. Even with the varying food preferences, I knew Sushi Koya had plenty of options so everyone would find something to enjoy. 5 out of 7 people tried bento boxes tonight. #Protip--Sushi Koya will let you customize your bento, as one of my friends wanted to get gyoza instead of CA roll in her Bento #2. They said that was not a problem. In addition to multiple bentos, our table got a salmon skin roll, a Saba dinner, CA roll, and a Spicy Tuna roll. Note, the vegetables were tempura, but the shrimp were more of a panko deep fried, not actual tempura. I'm sure why that was, but it was noticeable. Everyone enjoyed their large portions and tasty food. We only had one hiccup with our order, but they fixed it right away. Great job, Sushi Koya! You have 6 more fans after tonight! I looked up my notes, and I have six other visits I didn't update here on Yelp, so I'll get on those soon... read more

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I would definitely comeback to Koya for their delicious Lion King Rolls and Deep Fried California Lover. Portion is quite big for the price, they also give complimentary miso soup, love it so much. But I will skip on the chicken karaage and shrimp tempura roll next time, their chicken karaage is more likes orange chicken imo, the batter that they used was definitely not likes any other chicken karaage I had, and seems like they use katsu sauce for dipping which i found so strange. The shrimp tempura roll was average - tasted pretty similar to the one that you get from Safeway at their Deli section just a little bit fresher. I'm honestly think Koya did way better job with their baked/deep fried rolls than regular traditional rolls. Store ambience and decoration is alright, wish it could be a little bit brighter. Service was friendly was food came out fast, parking can be a little bit tricky due to the parking lot structure but they do have their own parking lot. read more

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This is the go to place for some quick sushi every time my girl gets in their cravings, especially there's her pregnancies. This is the spot we hit California road smashing The go-go is another hit read more

Sushi Koya has always been my go to! I usually get the teriyaki chicken bento box because the amount of chicken you get and gyoza's is totally worth it! I love how the chicken is sauced evenly and the rice is soft and fresh. We also decided to get the tempura banana ice cream and it was the right amount of sweetness! Everyone here is also so friendly and the ambiance is very social! read more

Sushi Koya - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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We stopped by this sushi place few weeks ago and place some take-out orders for dinner. They have a large menu with many varieties and we picked quite a few. The place is small but also offer bar seatings. Staff and service was great and they only had one host/server serving everyone. We all enjoyed our food though the rice was a bit soggy/overcooked. The sashimi quality was not that great but their rolls overall were good. If I live in the area I would come here for their rolls and bento box and unagi. They don't have takoyaki on their appetizer menu though. read more

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The food is delicious and worth savoring. Every time I go eat there, they always greet me with a smile and wait time for a table is usually 5-15 minutes. Service is great! Fast service and they always try to keep up with the customers. The atmosphere is nice and organized, it is not messy or like some restaurants where they have everything piled up together. I would definitely recommend this place! (I'm not a big raw sushi fan but let me tell you, their food will definitely satisfy your taste buds!) read more

Good parking, nice interior. Affordable, definitely worth your money. The fish is great quality, thick cuts, and melts in your mouth. What we ordered: - Sake (salmon) Sashimi - favorite, my go-to. Thickest cute of salmon I've ever had - Crazy For You - (salmon, tuna, fish) lots of fish, giant roll, thick cut read more

Sushi Koya is exactly the kind of sushi spot that reminds you why you love good Japanese food. From the moment we stepped in, the vibe was welcoming -- clean space, relaxed atmosphere, and a staff that clearly knows what they're doing. We ordered the sushi platter, the Flaming Dragon roll, and a couple of other items. Everything we tried was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented: Sushi Platter - An excellent variety of cuts with great texture and balance. The fish tasted clean and vibrant, the rice was seasoned just right, and each bite felt intentional. Flaming Dragon Roll - A standout. Bold flavors with just the right amount of spice, perfectly balanced with the creamy and crunchy elements. The presentation was fun without being gimmicky, and it delivered where it counts -- taste. Service was friendly and attentive throughout. Even when the restaurant got a bit busy, the team stayed on top of things, refilling waters, checking in, and keeping orders flowing. We never felt rushed or overlooked. What stood out: * Fresh, quality sushi across the board * Creative rolls that actually deliver on flavor * Attentive service in a comfortable setting Best for: Date nights, group dinners, or anyone craving excellent sushi in San Jose without the pretense. Whether you're a seasoned sushi lover or just getting into it, this place has something to impress. Would definitely recommend returning to explore more of the menu--especially the chef's specials. read more

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Sushi Koya was basically good - staff was nice and the sashimi was good! Prices were what you'd expect as well. The vibe was very casual with lots of rainbow accent lighting which looked good! The person I went with is from Japan and they seemed to think the rice was prepared in a non-Japanese way, if that matters to you. I'd consider going again! read more

While Sushi Koya may appear unassuming from the outside, it is absolutely one of my go-to sushi spots in the area. The servers here are friendly and efficient, and I appreciate that you receive complimentary miso soup with your meal. I highly recommend any of their rolls that come with mango, as they are all very delicious. I also really like their Bay Scallop roll. Their seafood tastes nice and fresh, and I always leave here feeling satisfied. You can't really go wrong with anything you order from here. Parking can be a little tricky though since there's limited spaces, but you can also park in the shopping center next door and walk over. Come check this place out!! read more

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A nice sushi spot near South-ish SJ! Parking can be tough because the lot is small. I had to parallel park on the side of their fence where other cars were. The inside is nice. Standard sushi restaurant decor. The wait staff are really quick about getting you seated and bringing out the waters. They were pretty nice! The sushi itself is good. I ordered their sushi and sashimi item and I really liked it. The fish tasted fresh and I felt like they gave a good amount of fish. My friends got their other specialty rolls and they said it was good. Overall, if I'm in SJ again, I'd come back. Pretty good sushi and service. Only weird things are the parking and the restroom is outside. read more

Sushi Koya - Sushi and sashimi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

I always come here for sushi and bento boxes with my friends! I love the flaming dragon roll and it is very cool to see. The fried bananas and green tea ice cream is also our fave dessert to end the meal. Service is very fast! The parking is never an issue and we are always quickly seated. read more

Sushi Koya - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

Wholefood sushi is 100% better than this place. The sashimi dish was not edible. Sushi rolls were tasteless. And their wasabi came in a tube. read more

Last night was my second visit to Sushi Koya, and just like the first time, the place was already buzzing about an hour after opening! They have a QR code ordering system, but there's also a waiter checking in, which is super convenient. I forgot to take a picture of the short rib dinner (our absolute favorite and honestly the main reason we come back), but it's a must-try. A couple of notes: the bathrooms are located outside the restaurant, and the parking lot is on the smaller side. Also, a little bummer -- they don't make their tamago in-house. But overall, the food and vibe keep me coming back! read more

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FOOD was good! I ordered the crunch roll and lion king. Both were yummy. My friends ordered the 49er roll. They bring you miso soup to start. SERVICE was up to my standards. They refilled our water and brought new napkins. You can use two credit cards to split a bill. AMBIANCE is cute inside. They have a bar area to sit or traditional seating. They have cute lantern decorations outside. They're located next to McDonald's. They have their own small parking lot. It wasn't too loud inside. I didn't have to yell to hear my friends talk. GENERAL I would come back here. read more

Sushi Koya - Crunch Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

Amazing food and amazing service at a great price! Their food style is a bit more fusion with some experimental dishes that combine interesting flavors and I loved it! The servers were so kind and accommodating. There was plenty of parking if not in the direct lot but also in neighboring lots. The restaurant had a dimmer, fun ambiance to it. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Came here to celebrate a birthday. We ordered hot tea which was pretty good. It was too crowded and the vibe was unpretentious. Food: We ordered the sashimi sampler, the Pablo Escobar roll, spicy dragon roll, scallop roll, and a teriyaki roll. Everything was fresh with generous portions--definitely a highlight. Service: It took about 15 minutes before we were able to place our order, and the dishes came out at different times. Our server was okay--not especially attentive, but no real complaints either. Ambience: Quaint and comfortable. A nice, relaxed vibe overall. Good enough for a return visit. read more

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Nice sushi place in SJ. I had a cup of complimentary Tang when I came in. It was busy and lively. We were seated almost immediately for our party of 5. The service was good and everyone enjoyed the food. We had the Pablo Escobar rolls, Scallops, Sashimi, cucumber salad, The chicken teriyaki and other dishes also. Well cooked and nice portions. Fairly priced and easy. See you soon. read more

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Aww, this place was actually so cute and very pleasant. The interior was ambient I must say. Sushi was awesome too!! And the workers were so kind and friendly and easy to speak to. Our server was a sweet lady who was very happy and smiley with us! Very professional indeed. read more

The food here is great. Got the monstar roll it is really large, it felt like it was about 3 rolls in one. Had really good flavor just hard to eat. The parking lot is small but there is additional parking close by. It was 81 outside and it was pretty hot inside the restaurant if you're going on a warm day. read more

Sushi Koya - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

This is only my second time coming here but I forgot how good it was! The rolls and appetizers are very filling and tasteful. I came around 6:30pm and was seated right away! But if you come a little later, expect a long wait time. Decorations were very cute and cozy. And the waiters were very nice. Bathrooms are outside but they are very clean in my opinion. read more

Sushi Koya - G.G. Bridge Roll & 49ers roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

Tried a new sushi spot in search of my regular spot. This place wasn't too bad. Upon sitting we were quickly served water and miso soup without having to ask. The miso soup was hot and delicious, not too salty or watery. Got some garlic edamame for appetizer and it was flavorful but a little too oily toward the bottom. We ordered the spicy tuna crunch roll and bay scallop roll (baked). Both were very good and fresh. I would order them again. And I'd likely try this place again. Service was good as well. read more

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My family sushi spot for the birthday occasions. Delicious speciality rolls & bento box. Good quality beef, chicken, & salmon teriyaki with generous servings. I like their choices of vegetable tempura, I think their batter changed recently. Most recent visit it was more battered and hard crusted than the traditional flaky tempura. Wasn't much a fan this time. It is small so make sure you're there early or off hour. Very nice service. read more

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Solid food for the price. Wait staff were very friendly and attentive. Parking lot and inside on the smaller side, but tables spaced out reasonably. Ordered: Sashi special Jumbo 30pcs for $45 (4/5)Most cuts were good with a like one or two that were ok. But that many piece for the price hard to beat. Bento 3 with chicken teriyaki, tempura and sashimi (3.5/5). Defiantly not cheap on the chicken or tempura. Chicken was good, but could have used a bit more char flavor. While tempura overall was good, for some reason the shrimp were of a different fry, almost like they were the frozen kind. None the less bento is worth a try if you're not in the mode for rolls. Over all would definitely come back and try more of the menu, especially the rolls since they has some interesting ones read more

Sushi Koya - 3. Chicken Teriyaki, Tempura, Sashimi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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Stumbled upon sushi Koya with a quick Yelp search and man, the reviews were not wrong! Im super impressed with the price point and quality of the food! It is also important to know that our server was super friendly, smiled all the time, and just kept checking on us. We had their salmon sake don and bento box. Their portions are also super generous.! read more

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We love the restaurant! Foods are delicious and not crazy overpriced. Get it a shot if you are thinking of trying it. read more

Sushi Koya - Inari, Philadelphia Roll (8 pieces) Sexy Lover, baked scallops - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

Food was not that great Fish not fresh Sushi rolls are too big and not made well - falling apart Edamame & salad are stale Wasabi was on a tube !!! And too spicy for me. Never going back to this place read more

(SJ) Food: Monstar (9.6/10)-Deep fried shrimp, crab meat, spicy tuna, fresh water eel, covered with fried seabass,topped with spicy poki salad. The name absolutely fits what it is. It is way bigger than it looks on the picture. I could not finish it by myself. Thinner rice content which I like because you can really taste the diverse ingredients on the place. It has a nice crunch from the friend shrimp which added texture to its size. Flavor is there. don't really need to add soy sauce. I just wish it had a little bit more spice which is my only critique Setting: for a small venue I like the set up. You can see the chefs making your meal and some of the ingredients are out for display. Indoor only Service: great service for it being very busy. We were seated quickly though. Our server was attentive and we got our requests immediately Price: it is expensive but worth it for the quality Parking: not a lot of parking at the actual spot so you most likely have to park at the neighboring stores read more

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The good: This was delicious! It's a new favorite. My family had a craving for sushi today but the place we normally order from was closed so we got to try this amazing spot. We ordered to go ahead online and tried a variety of different specialty rolls and sashimi. The sashimi options were plentiful and varied a lot. The fish was fresh. I tried herring in herring roe for the first time and that blew my mind. It was crunchy and sweet and not at all what I expected it to be. It wasn't fishy at all. The presentation was beautiful. The rolls each had unique flavors that differed from one another. I liked the rolls with fresh lemon and seared smoky flavors. My toddler enjoyed the sticky ikura. Their menu offered tons of options. Everyone in my family enjoyed the meal. The bad: It's pricey but that's understandable. There was a bit of a wait for our pickup order. The interesting: The exterior looks like an old Taco Bell or Mexican food spot. read more

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Back here again to celebrate end of the year, we ordered our favorite roll, Garlic Roll, and tried some new dishes. Beef teriyaki bento, tempura and CA roll: 4/5 Big portion enough for two people sharing. Tempura was crunchy on the outside and moist inside. The beef was kinda chewy and overcooked. Shio Saba dinner special: 5/5 No words can describe this magnificient dish!!! San Jose Deep Fried Roll 3/5 Not really a fan of this one. Each slice was so big that it was soggy inside after being deep fried. Also it was supposed to have cream cheese but I barely could taste it. The roll itself was just so bland. Service was good as always, really attentive even though the store was super busy. The store was recently renovated (I guess), with new paint and decoration. Now it looks well-lit and has more Japanese Izakaya vibe. read more

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If I'm craving sushi I go here! My go to order is the 49er roll which is a lemon salmon roll! The staff is super polite and works fast to get you your order. With complimentary miso soup, the rolls are delicious and reasonably priced. I love coming to Koya for the holidays because they decorate the restaurant with lights. read more

Sushi Koya - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

The rolls were amazing, full of flavor snd just the right amount of heat! The service was curteous and quick. I was a little disappointed in the green tea cheese cake but other than that the entire experience was great! Definitely one of the better spots in SJ! read more