It's rare to find a meal that leaves you truly stunned and speechless but Sushi Tanaka did exactly that. An absolute showstopper of a meal from start to finish. This reservation took a full year to secure and I would gladly wait another year to experience it again. The hardest reservation in Ventura County? Without a doubt. Worth it? YES doesn't even begin to cover it. Dining at Sushi Tanaka is an experience in itself, especially in the presence of a legend like Chef Sei Tanaka. He is warm yet serious, focused yet playful and his dishes speak volumes. Every bite is layered with personality and skill. On the night we came in, my dearest friend Leslie and I had the entire restaurant to ourselves. I can't explain how we had an entire seating to just us but it was magical and intimate. We dinned on 18 courses, each one a surprise more delicious than the last. You just sit back and the chef chooses each bite for you. We've never had octopus so impossibly tender it melted in our mouths. Ice cold sake, warm fish soup, literally I could go on and on about this meal. Choosing favorites feels almost wrong because every course was exceptional, but if forced, the Santa Barbara uni on wagyu, Japanese scallop, Sea bream, and Toro with uni were some of the most impressive and unforgettable bites I've ever had. Never did I imagine that the best sushi I've ever experienced in Ventura County would be found in Simi Valley, but here we are. What an absolute treasure this city holds. I truly hope everyone gets the opportunity to support and experience this extraordinary omakase at least once in their life. read more

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Bougie, the sushi is so good!! Located in Simi Valley where you would never guess Michelin quality sushi would exist. It's quaint, with minimal seating, you need reservations to eat there but it's worth the $$$. read more

I know people may underestimate the odds of 5 star quality in Simi Valley. But it exists and this is the place! Whether you're in the neighborhood or driving in from LA county. This is worth the coins, gas and time. When you get there it is the one sushi chef and whoever else has a reservation. The night was filled with delicious kanpachi, salmon, uni, oyster, caviar, scallop, nigiri, tuna and so much more. It was a couple of hours of endless sushi, sashimi, salad and even some miso soup. It is not an easy reservation to get but totally worth it about $100 or more per person but it's alot of food. So make sure to make room. Great for a dat or a group of friends. The chef is so patient, kind and he explains every dish. He also has a nice playlist of blues music playing throughout our dinner. It helps to take you into a different place. 10 out of 10 i recommend. read more

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The food here is exceptional. If you can get a reservation, go. Don't complain about driving to Simi Valley or about anything else. The food will be the best sushi you have ever had. Note: that you must pay in cash. read more

Dining at Sushi Tanaka truly is an experience. The omakase meal takes about 2 hours and each dish is beautifully presented and has the most amazingly fresh flavors and taste. You can only make reservations through Instagram DM, and the chef only does one seating per night. The bar seats 6 so you can reserve for you and friends or for less if available. It's cash only so be prepared with at least $200 per person (omakase is $150 + drinks + tip). read more

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I stopped by Sushi Tanaka the other night and walked out feeling pretty puzzled. The staff was friendly and the place had a nice, relaxed vibe, so I was hoping the food would match that. I ordered nigiri and received only 1 piece for ten dollars. Most good sushi places provide 2 nigiri pieces for that price. It was fresh and tasted alright, but it just didn't have that special pop or enough substance to make the price feel worth it. I kept thinking I could get something similar elsewhere for less. I didn't have a bad time, but it didn't leave much of an impression either. It's an okay spot if you're already in the area, just not a place I'd go out of my way for. read more

This is the BEST omakase I've had in the US, it reminded me of the omakase I had on my trip to Japan. The fish quality is so fresh-- it's really rare to get sushi this fresh. Each sushi piece was so unique and had flavors I haven't tasted before. The chef was very attentive and took care of us while simultaneously preparing the next course. He was so kind and took great care to make sure our experience was exceptional. Would definitely return and recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

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Such a great experience and a hidden gem in Simi. If you want to experience real traditional sushi and not just crazy western rolls, this is the place. read more

Chef Sai is an incredible talent who brings a world-class Omakase dining experience to an unsuspecting strip mall in Simi Valley. He only does one service per day, six people at a time. You sit at the bar and watch him do everything right in front of you. He's a one man show. It's very impressive and you truly feel like you're experiencing something special. As of others have mentioned, you pay in cash and it's $150 per person + tip and the cost of drinks. He serves beer, wine, hot tea, and soda. This is inexpensive considering the quality of the fish and the amazing artistry of Chef Sai. People complaining about needing to have a reservation don't understand that this is meant to be an experience and not an everyday sushi spot. Go to Sugarfish for that. Send him a DM on Instagram and just be patient - he'll get back you eventually. This is worth the wait. read more

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Great food and great experience. I would for sure visit again! Highly recommend this place.

My first visit to Sushi Tanaka was about 10 years ago and after all these years Tanaka still maintain a 5 star rating which proves Chef Sei is indeed a sushi legend, and now I am super exciting to try Chef Sei sushi again to refresh my memory. The main difference now is Sushi Tanaka take reservation in Instagram only, cash only, and chef is a one man show with no waitress and kitchen assistants. Each night has one reservation up to 6 guests only and tonight my party of 4 is the only group dining there, I really enjoy the atmosphere and the privacy there, I can focus on my sake pairing with Chef Sei's fantastic omakase. Chef Sei does not strictly follow the traditional Edomae style sushi making. He takes more free style, adding all sorts of his own creativity, non-traditional flavor combinations into his food preparations. You will find sashimi dishes with olive oil and fruit, nigiri sushi top with black salt, phenomenal sauces, and other condiment which added complexity in each bite. I really have limited knowledge of words to describe about Chef Sei except that he is excellent and I'll let my pictures to tell a thousand more words. Each trip to Tanaka is a memorable meal. Chef Sei is skillful, experienced and excellent at what he does. Without any corkage restriction, time limitation like those so call high end sushi restaurant, Sushi Tanaka offers a much relaxing and fun experience to not just dining but also sake and wine tasting, definitely one of my favorite wine and dine sushi restaurant. read more

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The best hidden Omakase gem in the world!!! You'll get a very intimate sushi experience with unique fresh fish. You'll have the opportunity to watch Chef Tanaka prepare your meal right in front of you. You'll have an amazing experience that touches all of your senses. read more

Exceptional! In every way! Food, service, experience, ambiance.. its all incredible. Highly recommend

Finally was lucky enough to score a reservation here and I promise the only reviews that say anything bad are from people who haven't eaten here. Best omakase for miles and a true wonder how it's in Simi valley. The chef uses incredible techniques and is very knowledgeable throughout giving a guide through the whole tour of sushi. Simply incredible read more

What a special experience. It was just our party of five so it was such an intimate experience with chef Sei. Every bite was perfect. The fish quality was unparalleled. His delicate use of yuzu, pepper, salt, wasabi, smoke and oils made for perfectly balanced everything. I'm not an uni girl but those who were loved it. We had skipjack, Spanish mackerel, tuna, toro, salmon, a small white fish I can't pronounce or spell, oysters, caviar, uni. There was an incredible appetizer of fish wrapped around Asian pear with arugula salad. Chef Sei is very quiet and busy the whole time but I wanted to know more about the origin of Sushi Tanaka. Truly special, thank you chef. read more

I tried to get a reservation here for weeks. The owner would not reply to my Instagram messages as instructed to confirm a date. I showed up during business hours and he was cleaning up. The door was locked (8pm) and he seen me knocking and just ignored me and refused to answer the door. I guess this guy is too busy to care about all of his customers. read more

World-class sushi, a must-try! I heard about Sushi Tanaka while dining at a Michelin star sushi restaurant in Encino. I thought if the restaurant was recommended by other sushi connoisseurs, I should at least give it a try. Located in Simi Valley in an outdoor shopping center, the sushi restaurant is a small family-owned establishment and the owner serves as the chef and waiter. Due to the limited staff and space, all patrons have to make advanced reservations. The best way to contact the chef is to send a DM to the Instagram account of the restaurant. In addition, it is best to make your reservation well in advance. For my birthday dinner, I made my reservation 60 days in advance and still could not get a reservation for my actual birthday. I had to settle for a different date. The restaurant serves sushi in an omakase style, starting with a light appetizer with fresh green and seafood. Afterward, you will be served about 10-12 individual sushi. My favorite is the toro served with gold leaf, which is a work of art in itself. All the fish is extremely fresh and all the entrees are served at an excellent pace. The whole dinner takes about 2 hours, and it gives sufficient time for the guests to enjoy each dish to the fullest. The cost for the dinner is $120 before tips. If you order other beverages, it will cost more. The restaurant only takes cash and so be sure to stop by an ATM before heading over. I found the cost of $120 to be an excellent value for the quality of the food and service. Since the restaurant sits about 6-8 people, the ambiance feels intimate and relaxed as well. Highly recommend! read more

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Good sushi, Good vibe. Good service. It is not inexpensive but I feel it's a solid value. I would go back.

Chef Tanaka is a legend. Food was unreal. Who knew Simi valley had a good omakase ! Never driving to DTLA again when I have Tanaka in my backyard !! Highly recommend to anyone who wants a great omakase experience with GREAT quality fish ! Already made a reservation to come back. Cannot wait for my return ! THANK YOU CHEF ! read more

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Yelp made the correction. Business was never close. For some certain reason a yelper reported that Sushi Tanaka was closed but as you can see we had a fantastic omakase meal here. (2/18/2022) So to make reservations you will have to message Chef Sei Tanaka on his Instagram @sushi_tanaka give him a few dates that you would like to go and give him some time to respond. Restaurant could only seat 6, sushi bar only. Calling the restaurant is useless because he's not going to answer during business hours. Chef is a one man show so he's the chef/server and also cleans up. I'll tell you what Simi Valley you guys have great sushi restaurant here. Chef Sei is fantastic. Chef omakase is excellent at $120 it's a steal if this was in LA I guarantee $150 + easily. The only downside it's cash only for now. Let's start with Chef Sei shari (rice) this was good just a bit over done but we'll season. Other than that everything was fresh and delicious. OMAKASE: Here are some of the highlights. 1) Kurodai with Japanese Pear and Arugula Salad: Excellent light crisp and refreshing. Kurudai/Japanese Pear perfect combination. 2) Toro Tartare: Just melts in your mouth. Fatty goodness. 3) Ama-Ebi: Sweet with a little hint of truffle. Delicious 4) Tako: Amazing. This was one of the best Tako I had in a long time. So tender. 5) Katsuo: Delicious. 6) Toro: Excellent. 7) Seared Toro/Uni: Always been a good combination. Overall we enjoyed everything that Chef Sei had to offer.I can't say enough how lucky Simi Valley is to have Tanaka. You have a Chef that is decided to do all the work. Until next time Chef. Thank you for a great meal. read more

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I can't give less than 5 star though I think there are a few improvements to be made. First off, the omakase is flavorful and beautiful. I had a hard time hearing what each item was because the music was kind of loud. Also, with 6 people and one chef, service took a long time. Plan on 2.5 hours. That's probably traditional but I just like a little quicker. I love that the meal started with a small salad. I didn't ask for a drink menu but I'm fairly certain it's limited to beer and sake. It would be awesome if there were some craft cocktails. The chef seems incredibly nice and for the service and food I think the price is reasonable. read more

Chef Sei always deserve 5 Star rating in what he served and presented. High quality fish and always taste amazing. Tanaka is my first sushi experience and that pretty much ruined everything else sushi. Once you try the best you can go back it's understatement. Still by reservation thru Instagram @sushi_tanaka as username and send him a message. On to photos and you will know what amazing sushi is all about and at amazing price. read more

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Taste: 5 Creativity/Authenticity: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Service: 5 Bang for your buck: 5 If you're looking for the best sushi in Simi Valley possibly the best in all LA look no further!! Took me 5 months to get a reservation here with Covid but I finally got to try the famous sushi master Tanaka san who is recommended by my favorite sushi chef yoji san so this was exciting! Be patient is all because it's just the chef, no staff and please don't expect sushi rolls covered in sauce and mayonnaise ! I recommend the omakase and it's cheap compared to other top sushi spots! $120 per person vs $300 at asanebo! Will return if I can get another reservation read more

Wow!!! I have eaten at many sushi restaurants and omakase. To say that this was the best is an understatement. Such a gem hidden in Simi Valley. read more

The most amazing sushi restaurant in Southern California. Definitely worth the drive to Simi Valley.

I basically don't even have the words to adequately describe how amazing this place was. It took 3 months to get in a reservation but it was more than worth it!!! Every single bite was amazing and the flavors just built on each-other beautifully!! Each time we thought that bite was the most delicious we've ever had, the chef made something even better! It was an experience in itself and one I can only hope to experience again! read more

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They said we're only taking reservations. Was very rude about it. It was very smoky in there was glad to leave read more

Always a fav spot for the fam. Food is great, service is great and feel good when the meal is done! Love this spot

So hard to get a reservation. Went to IG and requested a table. Never got a response. Nothing. Went to the restaurant and was told to scan the QR code located on the door. Did that. Took me to this weird video subscription site. Almost fell for it when it started asking me for my credit card info. So obviously, the QR code they have posted outside their door has been compromised. Tsk, tsk, smh. Just want to try Tanaka Sans sushi. Why is it so hard? read more

Getting a reservation can be a bit hard, since at this time you need to reach out to the business via Instagram. If you manage to make a reservation, this place is totally worth the money. At the moment due to being short staffed (due to COViD), their omakase is the only thing available and the price changed from $100 to $120 pp. I've had omakase at quite a few places in the past and I can say that this is one to remember. The chef takes his time to make your experience memorable and every course/piece is beautifully crafted. The quality of the fish is top notch and it rivals much more expensive omakase I hope to see this place run at fully capacity soon read more

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Parking: lots of parking in this plaza You have to make a reservation in order to come here. We came on a Friday night for a 6:30p reservation and was seated at the bar. We were one of the first ones to get there and ordered a small sake. We did the $100 omakase, it comes with 3 appetizers and 13 pieces of sushi. It's a very intimate dinner with only 7 seats, and the pieces that really stood out to me that night was the blue crab with Uni and truffles! Yum, the combination was so delicious and umami. Everything was very good and the meal ended with a piece of tomago. I had a good experience and really enjoyed it. 10/10 would recommend! read more

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He is back!!! Good as ever. They are only taking reservations by Instagram at the moment. So, follow Sushi Tanaka on Instagram and send them a DM. Everything was still top notch. For $100, it is absolutely the best Omakase in LA. Unless you're willing to pay 300-500++, you won't find anything better. Instagram: Sushi_Tanaka read more

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There are meals and then there are experiences. THIS was an experience! Each piece hand crafted in front of you by the most incredible sushi chef I have witnessed. The fish was so fresh that you could literally taste the difference between this and any other sushi place in LA. My wife and I live an hour away but this was worth the drive without any hesitation and we can't wait to visit again! Absolutely a 10/10. Check out the photos we captured read more

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I've read some of the reservation reviews and have to say we were treated with upmost consideration, very kindly and professionally. We walked in not knowing of their reservations only policy and they couldn't have been nicer to us. We will make reservations and look forward to the experience. Just a shock for simi valley, but enlightened! read more

Would rate it higher if I could book another dinner via phone or website. Best experience you can have.

The OMG best Sushi in California! Pricey, yes. Worth it, absolutely! Booked months in advance, Chef Tanaka hand makes the best in sushi right in front of you. This is my second time going and I'll be back again! read more

The ima jade meal was fantastic. Everything was so fresh and delicious. I would highly recommend dining there if you want great sushi in Simi Valley. read more

The best sushi I have ever had in my life. We booked way in advance, but well worth the wait. It's a very small space and very intimate. We had a group of 6. Keep in mind, yes it's expensive ($150 per person), but you do get your money's worth. Alcohol is not included in the rate per person, so keep that in mind when you go. Music was excellent and the chef was really professional and kind. This is the bougiest meal I have ever had. It is served piece by piece and its all the chef's choice. Every single piece he served was of the highest quality. 100% recommend. No regrets. read more

Okay I don't ever recommend this establishment!!!! Today I thought why not try it is sushi bar. Well I walked in aproximarley 5:45 ish and I was going to sit down at the sushi bar and the sushi chef started being one of the most biggest POS I have encountered and starting yelling at me do have an reservation. I politely said no sir. This POS instead of saying it nice starts yelling you can't eat here without an reservation!! I was soo embarrassed and stunned!! I quietly said wow what makes this place sooo worthy!! All I can say I own a decent size company and I never turn away any project!! Rest assured I know many and mean many people in simi valley and I will be sure to.let them.all know to never go this place!! Very said B V Simi Valley read more

The atmosphere was super intimate and chef was super friendly and attentive. Every dish is a work of art that please ur eyes and palate. Beautiful and delicious. I would totally go again and recommend everyone to at least try once! Thank you chef! read more