This is a high end sushi spot in downtown-ish San Mateo. Omg this is amongst the BEST sushi I've had in the bay!!! It's such a hidden gem I almost don't want to review it. They have an omakase special that's about $60 something (it is SO worth it) and then they also have nigiri, hand rolls, and cut rolls you can select a-la-carte. Everything is so good and the nigiri cuts are really generous. It's a small-ish spot so best bet is to get a reservation. The staff are so friendly and everything just feels so authentic. read more

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This is the third time we have gone to this restaurant, and we always come for special occasions. Today was going to be our 10-year wedding anniversary, and the last time we went was, I think, our five-year anniversary. I think we have decided to make this our permanent anniversary restaurant, as everything is perfect here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We love the vibes, the food, the people, and the price.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Not much more can be said about the food. If you look at all their reviews, the sushi and fish quality is on par with what we have had in Japan. They aren't so pretentious where the prices are something ridiculous that you see in the Bay Area. As we were paying, they found out that it was our anniversary, and it was nice of them to give us a special cheesecake dessert at the end. read more

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Sushi Maruyama is tucked on the outskirts of downtown san mateo with plenty of street parking around. My partner made reservations the day before and we got to be seated at the counter. What we ordered; 8pc omakase $63 each Hamachi jalapeño roll $13 Crunchy roll $16 King salmon truffle hand roll $15 We loved every single piece of the omakase! I felt every fresh cut was hand picked very well. We ordered other rolls thinking we needed more full but omakase was enough as the rolls didn't satisfy us as much. Will definitely come back for the omakase again! read more

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Awesome unassuming spot in downtown San Mateo with amazing sushi and a whole menu of Japanese options. So great. read more

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Went here last night to celebrate my anniversary and absolutely loved it. The food was incredibly yummy (I highly recommend the $63 omakase nigiri + any of the handrolls). We sat at the bar and the sushi chefs served us each piece one at a time, which we loved. The service was also amazing. One of the servers was soooo sweet and even gave us a complementary dessert at the end of our meal; she even said goodbye to us outside the restaurant and she really made our night. I highly recommend stopping by Sushi Maruyama if you ever get a chance; you won't regret it! read more

Sushi Maruyama - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

My favorite high end sushi place in the bay. The service is always excellent and the quality of their fish is unparalleled for the price. I love their specials menu as well. Tried the Engawa for the first time and it was so fresh buttery and it melted in my mouth. My family opted for the preset omakase meal which was also delicious with beautiful presentation. My personal favorite is their king ora salmon nigiri, the fish melts in your mouth and the cut of the fish is thick. Would recommend making a reservation, I have never walked in as they are always busy. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I would say it's a moderate sized restaurant and the decor is pretty and creates a comfortable ambiance for dining there.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Parking can be a bit difficult but if you drive a few blocks over there usually is metered street parking. The staff is so friendly and thoughtful, really makes dining here memorable. read more

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What a fantastic sushi spot in downtown San Mateo! We were blown away by all the nigiri we ordered. Everything was super fresh with great flavor and texture. We wouldn't order the Octopus Karaage or the Miso Black Cos again. The octopus was chewy and the cod was good, but not as flavorful as other places. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The service and ambiance is fantastic.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Get a reservation well in advance as they're usually booked up at least a week out. We'll be back to try more of their menu. read more

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Miss the service and quality of food in Asia after your recent trip? This is the place to go. We've been here several times and the sushi is delicious every time. Service is also superb with attention to details like offering a bucket to put your bag in underneath your chair. I heard tables next to us commenting on the amazing service as well. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is small and super popular so make sure you call to make a reservation if you're planning to come at a peak time.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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I came here to celebrate my promotion to a Senior Analyst at my work with my family and it was such a treat! We ordered the black cod marinated by saikyo style miso, chicken karaage, omakase ($54), and a few hand rolls. People will say omg its so fresh here, but Sushi Maruyama serves extremely quality fish. A lot of the omakase offerings were buttery and flavorful and the food came out fast. I also appreciated that they allowed my family and I to stay a little after closing. To celebrate my promotion, they gave me a complimentary beer and desert :) I can't wait to come back here! read more

Thanks to TikTok this restaurant was high on my list to check out and it did not disappoint! We originally came for their affordable omakase pricing and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of fish and quick service. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant itself is a bit on the smaller side but still is able to accommodate tables/bar seating so a reservation is highly recommended![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] There is no online booking system so you must call to make a reservation during their operating hours. I will definitely be returning - great spot. read more

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A local sushi restaurant in downtown San Mateo . We went on a weekday ( Tuesday night ) by 7:30 pm . It was very hard to find parking . My friend dropped us off and he drove around to soar for an empty spot . This restaurant is so popular and it is fully booked from opening to closing ! San Mateo is a safe and friendly city . [[HIGHLIGHT]]The inside is cozy and neat .[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Waiters are attentive and polite. One of us ordered the premium nigiri omakase with 8 pieces of fish sushi and one egg dessert . The other two friends ordered different items from the paper menu. King salmon sushi's were absolutely delicious. The fishes were thick and big pieces and the chef put a brush of sauce on it to enhance the taste . It has no fishy taste and the texture was smooth and melted in your mouth . Scallop and Hamachi sushi were great too . I did not appreciate my jumbo giant shrimp tempura $18 for two . The shrimp was not even jumbo size ( like what I had in Honolulu) and the batter for the tempura was just so so , not great as I expected . Live Manila clams miso soup $6.59 was also a disappointment. The miso base was too thin , inside had no seaweed , tofu or other ingredients like the one I had in Honolulu restaurant. I would skip it next time . I gave this restaurant a five stars because of the freshness of the sushi and service . read more

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This place had been on my list for YEARS before I finally had a chance to come by a few weeks ago. You typically need to call same day for a reservation when, but we managed to get a walk in. At first, we were turned away as the restaurant was fully booked, but as we were walking away the manager(?) called out to us and said if we thought we could eat in less than 45 minutes (before the next reservation came in) she would be happy to let us in. We were surprised and already so grateful for her kindness in squeezing us in, but before we left she kept apologizing at the end and invited us to come back next time with a reservation so she could make up for the rush. There was nothing to apologize for--we were elated we could try it out! Onto the FOOD! We ordered their omakase nigiri set, along with a couple appetizers (spicy tuna crispy rice cake, A5 wagyu carpaccio), a crunchy roll, and a grilled black cod dish. To be honest, I wasn't the biggest fan of the omakase--but it hit about right for its price point, and was fresh though a tad heavy on the wasabi. The wagyu carpaccio was also solid but not particularly standout. However, the other items were absolutely delicious! We absolutely loved the crunchy roll, and the spicy tuna crispy rice cake was unique and delicious with a fantastic combination of contrasting textures! The black cod also started my husband on a black cod ordering streak where he started ordering black cod everywhere we went after this (to his constant disappointment) because the black cod here was so good We will definitely be back with a reservation so we can try more dishes with more time alotted! Highly recommend! read more

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Came here with a few friends after work and waited for a bit as it is a smaller restaurant. Some of us ordered the omakase set as pictured. Others ordered the individual nigiri. The taste was spectacular, give me 14 of em right now. I loved the salmon, scallop, and carpaccios. I am definitely excited to come back. read more

Sushi Maruyama - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Delicious sushi and omakase set. I have been to this place once and needed a reservation. This place blew my mind the first time I tried it. The omakase set is quite worth it in my opinion. The fish is fresh and the scallops are one of the sweetest scallops that I've had. I would definitely go back again for the omakase. The waiters are super nice and attentive. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The vibes are great inside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I truly enjoyed my time at Sushi Maruyama! read more

Sushi Maruyama - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Best fish around. Go here. We love the big fatty tuna. It's unreal and melts in your mouth. Everything has been delicious, I can confirm it doesn't matter what you order, you'll love it. Tight space so you have to CALL and RESERVE!! They always respond to voicemails to confirm reservation. read more

Sushi Maruyama - Our favorite--big fatty tuna. Melts in your mouth. And a5 wagyu truffle carpaccio - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

One of our favorite sushi restaurants in the area! We come every once in a while when we crave a really good omakase that doesn't break the bank (although the price has unfortunately crept up slowly over the last few years, but with the quality or what you get it's worth it!) Came for a small birthday dinner on a Wednesday night, we called a few days ahead to make a reservation. They were decently busy and had a reservation right after us but we had a full 90min. It's a small space with no outdoor seating, but the tables fit well and it doesn't feel loud. We ordered a few things to share. The shishito peppers were great, just the right amount of salt. The unagi omlette was also very soft and a good portion size to share. The omakase was delicious as always, with the young yellowtail, striped jack, and unagi nigiri being the standouts. The service is quick and nice and classic Japanese. They even give you a basket for your bags, just like in Japan! read more

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I don't want to be that person but I feel inclined to write this due to the unprofessionalism. I tried to call to inquire about what they offer, if do any birthday specials, or if they have a table for 2/13 or 2/14. My partner's birthday is on Valentine's Day so I'm trying to be flexible and proactive as best as I can. And even if they aren't taking reservations for vday, I would've appreciated info for another day. So they didn't pick up the first time, but I received a call back shortly. As I was explaining and barely mentioned my partner's bday is on vday, the lady interjected and said "oh no sorry we don't do Valentine's Day" and hung up. I didn't even get to finish what I was inquiring about/ask if they take walk ins on the day of. It is unfortunate because I really wanted to give this place a chance but not sure anymore. Someone will have to convince me another time. I've worked full houses at a sushi restaurant before and I don't even do that no matter how busy. read more

Very rude staff, showed up at 5:40 to a mostly empty restaurant, and was rudely turned away for having no reservation. We have been here more than a handful of times getting full course omakases and extra pieces on top but after this interaction I won't be returning. Learn some customer service. read more

We came here today to celebrate my daughter's birthday -- she loves Japanese food, especially omakase, and this spot came highly recommended by my cousin. The restaurant is small, lively, and was packed when we arrived, but the atmosphere felt warm and welcoming. Every staff member we interacted with was extremely friendly, helpful, and genuinely sweet. As a bonus, we were able to snag one of the parking spots right in front -- which is definitely a plus, since parking can be a bit tricky in parts of San Mateo. We ordered four omakase sets (8-piece Nigiri Sushi & Egg Castella), and each bite was delicious: * Japanese Tai Snapper * Bluefin Tuna * Japanese Striped Jack * Hokkaido Scallop with melt-in-your-mouth uni -- the best piece, hands down! * Japanese Butterfish * Fatty Bluefin Tuna (Toro) * Kelp-Cured King Mackerel * Japanese Sea Eel * Egg Castella -- more like a dessert, light and fluffy Everything was beautifully seasoned, so you really don't need soy sauce or wasabi, though some pieces do shine even more with a quick dip. We also ordered the fresh oyster with ponzu and yuzu sauce -- absolutely amazing, so fresh and flavorful. The staff was so thoughtful and brought out a surprise Japanese cheesecake for my daughter, drizzled with a yellow sauce (not sure what it was, but it was so good!) and even sang her happy birthday. Such a sweet touch that really made the night special. The hot tea they offer is excellent, a rich green tea with a clear matcha taste, and of course they have water as well. Overall, the service was top notch, the food was outstanding, and the price is fantastic for omakase, especially in the Bay Area. We will definitely be back! Highly recommend. read more

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Sushi was very good! It's a small place so reservations are a must! Because of the size of the place, it's a bit rushed for dinner so if I wouldn't go here if you were planning to spend hours socializing. I would def come back here to eat or grab take out! read more

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Nice place to eat. The omakase was a very fair price and the restaurant was warm and lively. The wait staff is very friendly and attentive and the food came out quickly. I recommend the otoro uni hand roll- that was my fav! Def make a reservation to get seated faster. Would recommend read more

Sushi Maruyama - Omakaze and sake - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Wow happened upon this place as a walk-in and didnt know u typically need a reservation. They dont use a booking app so reading reviews i think u need to call in - they said a week in advance was best. We got lucky as a reservation cancelled so as we were out the door going to the next restaurant the nice lady actually hollered at us that there was an availability so we hurried back! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior is not big, simple, wooden Japanese style.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] There r 2 chefs and looks like most everyone ordered the omakase. I'm different so i ordered a la carte trying to add up to the cost of the omakase and i was pleased with my experience and the things i ordered. I was surprised how good it was. The fish was soo soft, well prepared, (marinated?) my nigiri pieces came pre sauced and u can opt in or out of the wasabi. I opted out and added my own. Wow the fish was phenomenal and maybe better than some $$$ omakase experiences i had. The tuna, salmon, a5 and uni piece were my fav. The sweet shrimp was so good too. Not only the fish but also the creamy tofu cold and the shishito peppers were very tasty. There were 2 very spicy peppers out of all of them so watch out. The creamy tofu was soo fluffy creamy yumm! Service was great , loved their refillable tea service and i felt like i was eating at a $$$ omakase place for $$ the price. Def want to come here again. read more

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Love their omakase and nigiri!! I've been here twice already and all their fish is so fresh and high quality. Service is attentive and I recommend to call ahead to make a reservation as they get pretty busy. My favorites include the king salmon, Toro, and scallop and uni nigiri. Highly recommend this spot :) read more

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The Omakase is always great there, my favorite from the 8 course was the anago. They always update the menu based on seasonal availability of the fish, so its very good. It's more of an eclectic style of sushi but still enjoyable if that is your style. We also had these fried greeneyed fishes that were stellar. They were incredibly well seasoned and perfectly crispy. The wagyu-tacos are also a must get everytime I go. I got a snow crab handroll that wasn't quite what I expected but the salmon truffle handroll is amazing. We got the green tea ice cream for dessert and they also gave us a yuzu cheesecake that was delicious. It somehow tasted like passionfruit and yuzu. I'd go back again for that cheesecake! read more

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Would give this more than five stars if I could. Absolutely worth it. The omakase is so worth, I usually add a few more pieces. The service is immaculate -- everyone from the chefs to the servers is genuinely friendly and welcoming. If you're with someone who doesn't eat sushi, the hot food options are also phenomenal (miso eggplant is so good). And don't skip dessert, the white chocolate panna cotta is a must-try. Highly recommend making a reservation, they don't usually have walk ins available. read more

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Still one of the best sushi spots I've ever had! Never a disappointment. Ordered the omakase and every dish was such a delight, melts in your mouth, would order a second time type of sushi! I will say my favorite was the bluefin tuna. Literally melted in my mouth and was so simple and pure. If you do order appetizer, order the wagyu tacos! Love love love this!! Ordered it before and had to order it again! And got a second round! Crispy crunchy and just a lot of good flavors as you keep chewing. So good! My experience again was overall satisfying! The service was again impeccable and everyone is so nice and friendly! It is a small place and fills up quick. Reservations are a must! read more

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Phenomenal sushi! Came here for my birthday dinner, and was blown away by the quality of the fish. Presentation was top notch, staff was friendly, and most of all, food was delicious. Ordered the omakase and had the staff explain the types of fish and suggested order to eat. [[HIGHLIGHT]]A true Japanese experience![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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I was very excited to bring my boyfriend here for his birthday! The omakases were super fresh. We weren't super full, but the meal was still great. We were amazed at how quick the service was. We were pretty much in and out within 30 minutes. Definitely book a reservation ahead of time! read more

Sushi Maruyama - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I'm from Delaware, and we have sushi and sashimi bit the quite of the fish are not as good. The food were good. I tried the extra fatty tuna and that was great, melt in your mouth. Unfort6they don't have fatty salmon. I was only able to try mostly a piece of each of the sashimi because I would have ordered $200 worth of fish myself if I ordered enough for myself. Overall, I would recommend this place if you're not that hungry. read more

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I made reservations for dinner with a couple of friends since we wanted to try their $63 omakase. It came with 8 pieces, and everything was incredibly fresh! We weren't full from the omakase, so we decided to order a few hand rolls each on the side as well. The service was amazing, and the lady was so kind and sweet, she offered us a slice of cheesecake at the end, which was delicious too. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is quite small and very popular, so I'd recommend calling ahead for reservations.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Next time, we want to sit at the chef's counter![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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Been looking forward to trying this place for awhile! Highly recommend making a reservation because I was turned away last time doing a walk-in at opening. The overall experience was a mixed bag. They took about 20 minutes to take our orders after we were seated. The staff was very apologetic, but this had already soured our experience. On the bright side, the nigiris here are great! Everything was amazingly fresh. I opted for the sweet shrimp add-on too. The appetizers was a miss for us. We didn't expect the fried oysters to be soaking in the vinegar - no crisp texture or hot oysters. The scallop tacos was also a miss. The tacos are small and the scallop... even smaller. I do see the charm of this restaurant though. The staff are Japanese and the menus are handwritten daily. Our experience seems like a little one-off. I hope everyone have a good experience here. read more

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This place is a bit small but gets packed. Highly recommend making a reservation! We had a reservation for 4 at 7:30pm on a Wednesday night but for some reason they didn't have space for us. We ended up waiting 5-10 min. Not a great first impression, but they more than made up for it with their excellent service, starting with a complementary plate of edamame. Throughout the whole dinner, they were really attentive and regularly refilled our tea. The fish dishes were the best. I tried the omakase sushi ($54), mini sashimi fish tacos ($16), and king salmon hand roll ($13). We also had some questions about the items, and the waiter was able to answer them. I would not get the chicken karaage ($14) again. It was juicy but also rubbery. Just stick with the sushi when you go here. read more

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Absolute best sushi in Bay area. Be prepared to make your wallet weep because you're going to want to keep ordering one after another. 10/10

Great sushi spot with many different fish options and friendly service. From what I can tell, fresh fish, authentic flavors, and different options (omakase, cold and hot plates, rolls, hand rolls, and such) This place is almost always packed and reservations are needed so make sure to call ahead! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]I've walked by this place so many times, and they're always crowded![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Went here for my birthday dinner, and it was so so so good! The sushi was top notch, and so fresh! The rolls were delicious - the crunchy roll and jalapeño one were my favourite! Previous reviews said they liked the wagyu beef tacos but I did not think it was worth the price. The green matcha tea with free refills was so good, and I'd highly recommend stopping by! read more

Came here for my birthday after my partner made a reservation for us. We were part of the first seating and within the first 10-20 mins, it was a full house! So be prepared and reserve a spot if you wanna stop by (at least on a weekend). It was a little intimidating for me because I only recently began eating raw fish. However, Sushi Maruyama was soooo delicious!! We ordered the Omakase set, 2 A5 Wagyu Nigiri, 1 Ora King Salmon w/ Truffle Hand Rolls (not pictured), 2 buri nigiri and Agedashi Tofu. For all the nigiri and hand rolls, the rice was very nicely seasoned and had a good amount of wasabi. The fish and seafood were all so tender. I loved the different ways the fish was prepared and seasoned. The Wagyu nigiri was so buttery and soft. And the agedashi tofu was a nice warm dish to add to our table. The omakase set was for sure the star of the show. It displayed an amazing variety of flavors and all for $54. It's a great deal! The service was great! The servers all paid great attention to everyone. I can't wait to go back! read more

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I've been wanting to try Sushi Maruyama forever, and it did not disappoint. The A5 wagyu carpaccio was easily the star of the night...melty, rich, and perfectly balanced with a pop of yuzu and a delicious added crunch. I could've ordered a second if I hadn't already over ordered. From there, we dipped a little with the scallop carpaccio. The "sizzling oil" ended up just feeling greasy, and it lacked flavor overall. But the hand rolls and nigiri turned things right around. Standouts were the chu toro, kelp-cured king mackerel, and wild young yellowtail. All incredibly fresh and packed with flavor. Gobo fries were fine, but I preferred the truffle edamame to start. And who needs dessert when you finish with grilled Japanese eggplant with house-made sweet miso? It was beautifully done! Perfect texture and umami-rich flavor. The service was quick & friendly. Important to note that the table limit is 1 hour. Maybe because they are a tiny spot. Though it's small, I didn't feel cramped. Can't wait to go back. read more

Sushi Maruyama - Scallop carpaccio...bland & greasy - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This is without a doubt the BEST sushi experience I've had and it's not close. I've had omakase quality sushi a few times in Japan and this was just right there in that level. For just $54 that was AMAZING! Most omakase experiences start at $220+ per person. We had the $54 omakase Ordered 2 pieces of A5 Wagyu nigiri Additional 2 pieces of the wild yellow tail And the agedashi tofu with mushrooms It may not completely fill you up but you can always order more pieces afterwards. My favorite piece at the time was surprisingly the Jumbo Wild Yellowtail I loved it more than the fatty tuna (Otoro), which is normally my favorite piece of fish. Impeccable service there was always someone around to clean up our empty plates and refill our hot tea. All servers super friendly too and very quick. I can't wait to come back here with my gf and try out more of the menu! read more

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Best quality and tastiest cuts in the peninsula, hands down. Omakase is on point. So is their nigiri and hand rolls. Toro handroll with Hokkaido uni, baked crab hand roll, king salmon hand roll with truffle are all exceptional. Love the negi toro roll and hot plates as well! Staff is super friendly and have made really good sake recommendations. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Both the table and the bar experience are great options.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Place is very cozy, make sure to make a reservation as it books out days in advance.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Always a hit - they have such fresh fish and great omakase selection that it's a must order. They have a fantastic miso eggplant and the crispy rice with tuna are also musts for me. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is small and lively but feels very cozy and not too loud.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff are incredibly friendly and they are so responsive for reservations and accommodations! Highly recommend - the prices are decent for sushi at this quality in the area. read more