Had such a great experience at Utzutzu. The food was seriously delicious--everything felt really thoughtful and balanced without being overcomplicated. You can tell a lot of care goes into both the flavors and presentation. The vibe is low-key but still feels special, like a spot you'd bring a friend you want to impress but still be comfortable at. Service was warm and attentive without hovering, which I appreciated. Overall just one of those meals where nothing missed. Already thinking about when I can go back. read more

Small intimate setting that really feels tight knit. Each seating is only 8 people! Chef Hiroto was amazing with his knife skills. The fishes were very fresh. Tasted like he just caught them from the ocean! Also love that they're available on Resy. Hope to be back for a special occasion! read more

Fantastic 8 seater omakase spot tucked away on the second floor of a small building on Park st. The chef and staff were super friendly, punctual and the experience was so intimate and delicious. I think the amount of courses was perfect (about 15?) and everything was simple, fresh, and paired well with the beer/sake selection. They even gave us a cute little sign on our dessert to acknowledge our anniversary. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for the an affordable but extremely delicious omakase spot in East Bay. Note that parking might be a bit tough since it's street parking. read more

Been wanting to check Utzutzu out for a while. Finally went with friends and it was a great experience because we had the whole place to ourselves. The chef was very informative and super fun to watch as he rolled up our sushi bites. I was a bit worried about our seating arrangement as I was sitting super far from the person I was sharing a sake bottle with. HOWEVER, the waiters had us covered and refilled our cups as soon as it was looking low. Great experience. read more

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I've been wanting to try this omakase place for the longest time. Finally found someone to go with to enjoy this delicious meal with me. This omakase came with many dishes, almost 20. The price was great, especially for someone who isn't sure whether they'll enjoy omakase style meals. The fish tasted amazing. The staff and the chef were incredibly friendly. Our seating was late at 8pm and it was only me and another friend, which was kind of awkward for us, as we felt all the attention were towards us. The place was smaller than I expected inside but it was comfortable. The place is a bit difficult to find. It goes through a small door and leads upstairs to the restaurant. Parking was not too difficult to find either during that time. It's probably not my most favorite omakase spot but for the price, you can't beat it. read more

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I came here with my boyfriend to celebrate our anniversary, and it was such a special experience. The space is small and cozy, with seating for only about 10 people. We booked online, and it ended up being just the two of us for the tasting so it felt very intimate. We enjoyed a 13-course menu featuring incredible fish like barracuda, golden eye snapper, fatty tuna, and uni. The standout for me was the A5 wagyu nigiri - slightly seared and melted in our mouths. To top it off, they surprised us with a little jelly dessert to celebrate our anniversary, which was such a thoughtful touch. The food was excellent, the service was attentive, and the overall experience was memorable. It was such a perfect way to celebrate for a couple of sushi lovers! read more

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Delicious fresh fish! Price is great for the quality/amount you get. Nice sake selection. Dessert was pretty simple and memorable, but we came for the nigiri which was great so we'll be returning! read more

My bf took me here for my bday. This place is a hidden gem for sure (literally). They have an unmarked stair case leading to their restaurant. Reserve online - they have two seating services of 8 people at 5:30 pm and 8:00 pm. Cost is $145 per person. Everything was so delightful and well put together. Loved every bite and there was a lot of them. The chef described every piece wonderfully so you know what you are eating. I was very full and happy leaving the restaurant. I would definitely come back for celebrations! read more

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Intimate little sushi spot in alameda that only seats 8 people at a time. We came for friday night dinner and took us maybe 5 minutes to find a decently close parking spot. The entrance is kind of hidden in that you need to walk up an unmarked set of stairs to get to the entrance. Highlights: Kanpachi, All the tuna (akami, chutoro, otoro), Botan Ebi, Toro handroll Misses: I felt like some of the bites could have used a bit more salt/flavor or some more vinegar/sweetness in the rice to contrast the fish a bit more. Especially for the wagyu piece, the meat was quite fatty but needed a bit more salt to really make the fattiness shine. read more

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Didn't get Chef Joji but instead one of his assistant chef. He is Japanese which is a plus since you don't ever want to eat at an omakase place opened by non-Japanese. IMO, no one should shell out this much money but getting temu omakase, no matter how many stars they get. Ambiance and service was attentive. At this price point, utzutzu is really a place for people who wants to explore the world of omakase. It's not really for folks who expects a certain taste and what specific things they want to eat. Even so, the fish quality is just average in the bay area omakase realm. The nigiri is a bit too small to really taste the sweetness of the fish. Most if not all sushi chefs press down with 2 fingers. He does it with one. So that tells me the piece of fish is not cut as wide as it should be. Uni was also bit average, nothing to write home about. Not as sweet as I expect since it was from Hokkaido. Only fishy piece was the saba which didn't have ginger or onions on top. For people looking to try out omakase for the 1st time, please try other great places in the bay area. Same goes for folks who has been tothe best and most popular omakase joints here. read more

This place was very intimate And very much worth the money and experience. The chef was very outgoing and knowledgeable Food was top grade! Must book on the resy app read more

Utzutzu - Little bit of some nostalgic decoration. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

Utzutzu is a hidden omakase gem located in Alameda, and it's a dining experience worth checking out. As a local who grew up in Alameda, I have always heard about this tucked-away sushi spot upstairs on Park Street but haven't gotten a chance to check it out until recently and I'm impressed. There is no signage on the outside, but once you find the stairways up to the restaurant, you will be greeted by a friendly server. The fish and ingredients used were incredibly fresh. Sweet shrimp, wagyu, and seabream were my favorites of the night! For the price of $145 per person and the quality you are getting, I think it's really reasonable, especially when compared to other omakases in the Bay Area. You get a good amount of food, but at the end, there is an option for you to add extra pieces for an additional cost. The chef is transparent about the pricing and makes sure you are okay with the price before making your extras. The vibes were quite intimate with retro decor in the waiting area. I think the furniture is a bit worn down, but it gives the restaurant some character. Since each seating only seats 7-8 guests, it was nice to be up close to the chef as he made the nigiris. I would definitely be back read more

I had such a wonderful omakase experience here at Utzutzu, I really cannot believe this hidden gem exists in the East Bay. This place is literally hidden, I've been up and down Park St all my life and never knew, or could have ever guessed there would be an authentic omakase right above. The experience is extremely intimate, the space seats 8 comfortably. The chef prepares everything in front of you. Both chef and staff were wonderful and gave clear descriptions of what each course consist of. The food was beautiful, both in terms of presentation and flavor. The fish was high quality and extremely fresh. I was so stuffed before the meal was over, this was truly worth every penny! The amount of food was insane, it felt like it was never ending. Getting a reservation was quite easy - it makes me sad to think that this will not always be the case as more people come to discover them, but I definitely think they deserve to blow up and gain more recognition. Will 1000000% be returning! read more

Exceptional cuts of mind blowing fish - and at the right bite sized servings so you finish each bite savoring the flavor and mouth feel easily. The sushi chef is very kind and mindful, noticing all the details and making the most top notch sushi selection flown from Hokkaido. Some notable selections: tako, torched black sea bream, shrimp, okra ... A well curated selection. Superb. Highly recommended. The price isn't bad for the super high quality and personal service a read more

Alameda is a little island that has so many hidden gems my friend who was born and raised here brought me. She frequented this place when it had the original owners and was a take out place as well. This is an omakase I would do again and dream of the day I can go again. It's small and only has sushi bar seating so make sure you make reservations. I loved the selection of fish as they were very unique or fish I haven't tried before and executed perfectly the uni chawamushi is something I wish I could have a whole pot of. Looking for this restaurant is easy to miss as it's almost unmarked and on the 2nd floor. read more

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Favs were the sweet shrimp, uni, waygu and toro nigiri! Wish there were more desserts. IG: @sierra_notnevada read more

Utzutzu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

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A fair-valued okimari (like omakase, but with more than just sushi) counter in a very-hidden (unmarked and up a flight of steep stairs) location that is substantially cheaper than similar-quality spots in San Francisco. Nothing stood out as extraordinary, and the fish selection was exactly what you'd expect (shima aji, hotate, uni, different types of tuna, and wagyu). The chef is friendly and attentive to the guests; he's working solo, with two servers working mostly on water/alcohol, and bringing out the non-nigiri dishes. It's a wonderful restaurant that doesn't necessarily surprise, but if solid sushi at an affordable price is what you're craving, and you don't want to deal with the nightmare that is parking in San Francisco, this is a great option. read more

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WOW. The food here is super high quality! Absolutely worth the price. The space is even smaller than its sister restaurant Delage, though it wasn't hard to make a reservation. Food isn't as photogenic as it is at Delage but felt more worth it--seemed like portions were bigger and the focus is on quality of fish rather than its display. Service is great. The staff and chef indulged us by answering all our questions about their food/process. read more

Utzutzu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

Another wonderful experience at Utzutzu. Dinner here is always such a treat, one that I eagerly anticipate from the moment we make our reservation, a month in advance. I love that this place is still a relatively hidden gem in Alameda. The eight-person seating per service makes for a perfectly intimate omakase experience. Service is refined, with a quietly attentive staff that observes in the background, and are quick to anticipate and respond to guest needs, but never hover over you. I am picky about where we go for sushi, and when you're eating raw fish, you should be; quality is everything. The quality of the fish at Utzutzu is excellent, and really comes through in the flavors, texture, and appearance of the bounty of seafood you will be tasting here. The price per person is currently $145, which for as many courses as you get, is a deal. Extras are, of course, extra. My favorites this time around included: -Amberjack -Golden Eye Snapper -Toro hand roll There are too many individual courses for me to list here, but check out my pics for many of the standouts. We ordered an extra serving of the amberjack each, which we agreed was one of our very favorites. I do wish the dinner service was longer, though I completely understand they only have two seatings a night, and need to stay on a schedule. But I could easily stay for another hour, ordering extras. Thank you to the Chef and staff of Utzutzu for another special, memorable meal. Already looking forward to our next visit. read more

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Food: 5/5 superb!! Been coming here for the past two years!! Always quality cuts and the flavor mmmm!!!!!! Will be coming back!!! Service: 4/5 could be more on top of wiping the sushi plate. Aside from that staff is engaged in refilling the tea and water Ambiance: 5/5 cozy little chic spot read more

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Dined here when it was Ume but haven't dined here under the new ownership as Utzuzu. We came here recently on a Friday for a birthday celebration after making reservations on RESY for the 5:30pm seating. Their other seating is for 8pm. The restaurant is obscure on the second floor with no name on the outside or at the door. The sushi counter sits 8 for the omakase, so it is quite cozy with your fellow diners which were fellow Alamedans as well. After the servers take you drink orders, the chef arrives and welcome us and show us the types of fish/seafood and its origin that he will be preparing. He asked if anyone had allergies. Two patron were allergic to shrimp and uni so the chef provided them with another item during that course. It was a 20 item meal that consisted of Black Goma & Kabocha, Nanbanzuke, Sumiso-ae, Uni Chawanmushi, Akadashi, 14 nigiris, including blue fin tuna, kampachi, spot prawns, Hokkaido scallop, saba, toro, ocean trout, salmon, tuna hand roll and wagyu beef, and a Hojica Pudding for dessert. You can order additional items as add-ons. The meal was very enjoyable and delicious. Service by chef and staff was friendly. The seafood were fresh and you can taste the quality. A nice omakase experience in little Alameda! A hidden gem. read more

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If any restaurant in Alameda has the potential for a Michelin star, it's Utzutzu. I must have walked by this place a thousand times over the last 10 years and never even knew it was there. It feels like a secret, exclusive club because it's located above some storefronts on Park Street. You enter through an unmarked door, head up the stairs, and suddenly, you're in a tiny omakase spot that seats only eight. The setting is intimate, with a front-row view of the chef at work. I loved how personal the experience was. Throughout many dishes (I lost track!), we heard the chef's stories--his Okinawan roots, his family, and fishing in his hometown. Every dish had an explanation--where the ingredients came from, how the fish was prepared, the nuances of each bite. It wasn't just a meal; it was an experience. And even when I encountered a texture or flavor I didn't personally love, I still appreciated every moment of it. Two things hold it back from being a full 5-star experience. First, each dish could use just a little more pop--something to elevate the flavors just a bit more. The plating was beautiful, but some dishes needed a stronger finish. Second, while the small space adds to the intimate charm, it also feels a little too dark and could really use a refresh. That said, the service was impeccable--attentive but never hovering. Pro Tips: - Reservations can be tough to get, so check Resy often. - This is an omakase place, which means it's the chef's choice--you eat what the chef prepares. Every night is different. If you need control over your meal, this isn't your place. - There are two seatings per night: 5:30 PM and 8:00 PM. If you're late, you'll miss plates. - Finding the entrance can be tricky: look for a door directly to the left of Mommy's Trading Post, then head upstairs. The address is on top of the door. If you love omakase and are up for an intimate, chef-driven dining experience, it's absolutely worth a visit. read more

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Utzutzu in Alameda offers a decent omakase experience, but it doesn't quite hit the high notes I expect for the price point. Please note that they don't have any signs, so finding this restaurant can be tricky if you haven't been here before. Utzutzu is located on the 2nd floor, so you'll have to take the stairs on the left side of the building to get to the restaurant. Utzutzu provides a very intimate dining experience with a seating space for 7-8 people. Their focus on minimalistic Japanese esthetics becomes evident the moment you step inside the restaurant. Their service was good and fast. The dishes were coming out back to back once we started. Thankfully, our server was very attentive and made sure that our glasses were full and the counter was cleared before the next dish came out. Our omakase experience included - 1. Black Goma-Ae (Japanese asparagus with black sesame) 2. Kabocha (winter squash) 3. Nanbanzuke (sea trout) 4. Nigiri pieces (8) - opah, striped jack, barred knifejaw (ishigaki dai), horse mackerel, bluefin tuna, amberjack, spot prawn from canada (or golden eye snapper if you are allergic), ocean trout belly with yuzu 5. Sumiso-ae (seaweed salad with octopus and miso vinegar sauce) 6. Uni Chawanmushi 7. Nigiri pieces (6) - scallop with citrus juice,marinate mackerel, toro, wagyu with garlic chip and radish, uni, cooked squash roll 8. Akadashi 9. Mango sisho sorbet Overall, the fish in each nigiri was fresh, but the cuts were small & thin. There weren't any unique or complex flavors that stood out. Some nigiri pieces were better than the other, but mostly because of the fish itself. The whole omakase experience definitely sufficed our hunger because we got plenty of dishes. However, it fell short as far as the flavors go. Looking back at it, each item that we tried was decent, but none of the items left us craving for more. read more

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Came on a Sunday and was lucky to get 2 open seats online 3 days prior. Small upstairs room, ventilation is not great here and place is quite old. Seats 8 people. I'd rate the omakase 2/5. Service was 4/5. Used the same ingredients (mint Perla leaves or something) in most of the sushi and the cuts aren't the most expensive. Servers were very aware of refilling drinks, bringing more condiments like ginger, and ensuring the plate for next sushi was clean. Very respectable and intimate setting. read more

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Utzutzu is an amazing experience that I feel that everybody needs to try at least once. My partner and I picked this spot because we wanted a nice experience to celebrate our anniversary. We have never tried an intimate experience like this when it comes to dining. This is one of those places you have to go a little out of your way for to find but it's more than worth it. The staff/servers were incredibly professional and kind. The menu pricing was very reasonable and the portions served were perfect in my opinion. The chef was very friendly, watching him put together each course was amazing to see. My partner had a shellfish allergy and they were very helpful about giving her alternative options when certain foods she couldn't have were served. Every single dish was amazing, I tried my best to savor each piece/dish. My favorite dish was the octopus with a mustard sauce. My partner was given a variation of said dish with bluefin tuna. Like I said, they were very accommodating for allergies. The chutoro: to die for, the wagyu: incredible. I would highly recommend anyone to come and give utzutzu a shot, not just for the ambiance and amazing staff but for the incredible food. I will be coming here again. read more

Utzutzu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

I really wanted to like this restaurant due to the other reviews. I also had super high hopes for this place but unfortunately was disappointed. I've been to a handful of omakase spots in the Bay Area but this place just didn't meet my expectations. First, the pieces were fairly small. I never had an "mmmmmmm" moment. The chefs hands were always wet after washing, didn't dry his hands at all. I also noticed his fingers weren't the cleanest. Half way through, it almost seemed as if he was rushing. There didn't seem to be any technique when brushing the fish. The fish also also not cut the best. It still had a lot of fat or left over skin? Not sure what to call it. Anyways , it was a cute and intimate spot. The servers service was nice. read more

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Best omakase experience I've ever had! First, was very easy to book 2 spots for 8pm within a week. Chef Hiro and his team took excellent care of us, very attentive to detail with everything. We were served 7 courses along with 12 pieces of Nigiri, all of which hand prepared by chef in front of us. Chef Hiro was very dedicated to his preparation and it is very clear he spent many years training in his field. This experience is truly a hidden gem. We had an excellent time and will be coming back for our special occasions! read more

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WHEN: Thursday @8pm The set up is that there are 2 seating times: 5:30pm and 8pm. So expect around a 2 hour experience. The total number of seatings they sit at each time is 8 people. Quite intimate, but not in a bad way. It's been only a little over a month since I've been here. Reason? Well the first time I went was suppose to be for my sister's birthday but she ended up going into labor. So here we are, in hopes it would be a different menu since I was just here. It was not, but that's okay! It'll be new for my sis. Okay it wasn't 100% the same, but majority was. PARKING: It took some minutes but my sis was able to find parking right in front. With it being already after dinner hours, street parking shouldn't be difficult and it should be free (after 6pm) Since Dec 2, 2022 the omakase set menu increased from $125 to $145. We each ordered 2 different Sake of the day, one being $13 and the other $15. For some reason they charged us $15 for both, but with that total at the end, I was not gonna bring it up. It was a total of 22 items, and in one round where they gave us an option for one or the other, we asked for both! That became an $18 extra us each. All in all my sis and I had a nice time. When its a celebration they had a lovely sparkly candle on top of the dessert that is already included. I think this place is worth coming out to--a wonderful hidden gem in Alameda. You dont need to go all the way to SF for a wonderful omakase experience. The service was stellar and the chef was super nice. read more

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Wonderful experience! The chef was kind and skilled in his craft. Nigiri was fresh and flavors were good. It was a good amount of food too, which is rare for many high end omakases. We've dined at many Michelin omakase restaurants in the Bay Area, Vegas, and Miami-- this was a great deal! We def plan on returning read more

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Utzuzu was a lovely omakase experience with great food. It almost feels like you have to search for your way in because there is no sign and the front where you walk up is unassuming! We had 15 nigiris with other various appetizers. This was the first time I had wagyu and all of the fish selections were fresh with beautiful pairings such as with ponzu or citrus. It was definitely a special experience with great service and a nice and knowledgeable chef. read more

Utzutzu - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

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Tried Utzhutzu for the first time this past weekend for significant birthday, with a party of 2. There were a total of 7 of us seated at once for the 5:30pm seating. See pics for specific menu for that night. Price: $145 per person (includes tea, but does not include other drinks, other add on nigiris, does not include tax/tip). Whole experience is about 2 hours. Pros: - Really good sushi chef, a lot of variety of fish, and really good quality of fish of every piece. I believe it was 20 courses total, with 14 different nigiris. One of them was a choice between an uni nigiri or a chu toro handroll. - Really upstanding service, the 2 waiters were really on top of cleaning our plates, keeping waters and teas filled (our cups were never empty), and checking in with how we were feeling. - My favorite fish was the brown sugar-cured saba (mackerel?) and the wagyu beef nigiri with garlic chip, and the chu toro handroll. Delicious. - The green tea they served was REALLY good, and I like that you don't have to pay extra for it. -I like the intimate setting, that it only seats 7-8 at a time at the counter. I'm VERY glad our seating time only had 7 people, because I imagine it would be very cramped with 8. (I also felt bad that the chef had to keep reaching around the barriers to serve the fish). - I liked the variety of nigiri! Had the classics like amaebi, otoro, wagyu, red snapper, etc. All the flavors were pretty solid. - Decent bang for your buck - I would say the price is pretty typical of East Bay/Bay Area, and there were a lot of courses and we didn't leave hungry. - I like that 20% tip isn't automatically mandated/included so you can tip what you feel is adequate. Cons: - everything was a little more soy sauce heavy/forward than I prefer. I tend to not like when a the soy sauce is dripping off the nigiri, because then it makes it hard to eat it the "classic" way with your hands (ended up having to resort to chopsticks). I also feel like there's too much soy sauce if there's a lot of sauce left on the presentation plate after you grab it. - While the fish was very solid and the flavors were good, there I didn't consider it super unique or phenomenal. - While the space is intimate, it was not very ergonomic or very easy to find. There's no signage (which may be intentional maybe? speakeasy style?) so you really have to look for the address number. 2 steep staircases, a small waiting area, and bathrooms that are far down a narrow hallway if you have to go mid-meal. The counter stools were also kind of hard to get out of since the sitting space was quite cramped (depending who you're seated next to). Not a huge "con" but just a thought/feedback. - I felt like the chef didn't explain as much about the fish, where it came from, or introduce himself / his training very much (which was totally fine - but it made it more of a regular fine dining course meal than an omakase experience). - Nigiri portions felt a little small - but I guess it was made up for with the number of courses It overall was a lovely experience and the service really was impeccable - but the taste and experience didn't have me clamoring and eagerly awaiting my next time to come. However it was a really lovely way to celebrate my birthday, and the birthday candle in the dessert was a nice touch. read more

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Went for the omakase (chef's choice, pre-fixe) dinner here with my wife for her belated birthday. We had a wonderful time! We made reservations through Resy, and everything worked out fine. The restaurant is on the second floor, which gives it a homey feel. The clear distinction from the street made it feel like a short trip to Japan. The room is small but carefully catered. They were playing some 70's rock-and-roll in the background. The food was amazing. It was a 7-course dinner with dessert. The two courses of nigiri consisted of 14 types, with fish from different regions of Japan. It also included a nigiri with wagyu beef - grade A5 of course. The chef gave us a preview of all the fish as an introduction. His knifework was phenomenal. It felt like a dinner and a show. My favorites were the maguro, scallop, and amberjack. The Wagyu was good too. It was seared with a blow torch for a medium rare. The uni chowanmushi (custard) was delicious as well. It's an expensive meal for sure, but one that is unforgettable. read more

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I came here for a date night and found the residential-looking entrance a bit surprising (as I'm sure many have mentioned). We went up and sat in the waiting area until they sat all of the groups at the same time (the latecomers got seated when they arrived). The service staff was pretty nice and attentive. The chef described the nigiri we were going to have and mentioned it was a total of 15 nigiri pieces. I liked the Kokuryu "Daiginjo", their Daiginjo of the day, and the Kinpira Gobo. The nigiri were all good (though not the best), and I enjoyed having the soy sauce painted on the nigiri because it ensured you got an even amount of soy sauce across the whole nigiri. I found the Sumiso-ae to be a saucy refreshing respite in between the nigiri courses. Additionally, I loved the Uni Chawanmushi. It felt comforting because I absolutely love steamed egg. I also liked the Akadashi, which was basically hearty miso soup. We were supposed to have Peach Jelly for dessert, but I think we got something else because the server mentioned it was supposed to taste like a lemon drop. It was a little odd - slightly minty and also citrusy, but not enough to get the tang. Since this is a dining experience, it does take a good amount of time. Our reservation was at 7 PM, and we finished around 10:15 PM. I had a good time and thought the overall quality was good, but I felt like I spent a little more time and money than I would've liked based on quality and ambience. However, I'm happy they use cloth napkins and mostly reusable dinnerware, though I hope they will use reusable chopsticks instead of disposable ones in the future. ECO NOTES (Dine-In) Dine-In Dishware: Reusable plates and bowls Napkins: Reusable cloth napkin Utensils: Single-use wooden chopsticks Water cups: Stemless wine glasses (made of glass) read more

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A unique, intimate, and delicious experience. Utzutzu is simply special. 8 chairs at a sushi bar per service and a clearly passionate sushi chef showing off great skill and great experience. Rather than describe it in too much detail, the best advice I can offer is that you visit and try it yourself. I can't wait to go back. read more

This is the hidden gem Omakase restaurant I need to drive 1.5hrs but it worth my time read more

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I have to say that I truly appreciate the level of care and the service provided. Every dish was really tasty and prepared in presented in an elegant and artful manner. But I'm not dying to go back to talking about dining there like it is a must-try experience. I always enjoy a good Omakase dinner but I found the items to be a little mundane. Boring would be too rude and a bit of a mischaracterization because all the items were really good, but maybe not that inventive or not offering that wow factor. There's but in understated, traditional style here but if you're looking for a meal to knock your socks off, a return to here isn't what would come to my mind. read more

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Updated review since the "vid". So still excellent sushi with a new chef. Everything is almost the same. Here are the differences: it's not Joji and Ana is the main difference. Also the basic price per person has jumped a lot, a whole lot and the portion sizes are way smaller. So more expensive for smaller portions.... not good. Is it still a great experience and a nice night? Yes, but it's just not like it once was. I guess Thomas Wolfe was right, You can't go home again. Since the gov'ment decided to shut us down and control us we are all still figuring out where we are and how we fit. Still worth going. Only us long timers will know the difference. Also, I offered to buy the staff drinks after dinner and was rebuffed. Bad form on their part. read more

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Coincidentally, four out of the four parties that dined at the eight person sushi restaurant today were celebrating birthdays. It is the fourth time we have patronized this restaurant since they opened and it is my husband's birthday, at his favorite sushi place. Reservations need to be made few weeks in advance, and he was anxiously looking at the calendar for the dates. Unfortunately, we got the late seating which is a little tiring for us since we are early birds in eating, but the early seating at five is hard on a Friday night. To find the restaurant, just look for the building number because there is no signage. Two sets of steep stairs then turn right into the small sushi space. The host will check you in and ask you to sit on the sofa or seats if you are early. They will beckon you to a seat when the time strikes eating time, in our case today was 8pm. I recommend asking for the seats nearest the kitchen for the best views. The plastic partitions that separated diners from Covid in the tight spaced bar last time are now leaning against the wall but the staff still wears masks. They say that utzutzu has lost some of its hype because of the switch in sushi chefs but I can't tell the difference. It's still as good to me. There are two waiters this time plus the sushi master behind the bar. The show is intriguing with a presentation of the fresh seafood before it is sliced, the slicing, the forming, the garnishing, the torching, and the presenting. The chef loves feedback and praise but it's usually very restrained and quiet amongst the diners who like to keep to themselves. There is little plate of ginger as a palate cleanse and a finger wipe to be used in between sushi pieces that they encourage you to eat with fingers. There are a few cooked dishes like the asparagus and kombocha appetizer, the chestnut ginkgo and mushroom chuwanmushi topped with uni, the long marinated Scottish trout, and the fish head broth with tofu skins and zucchini. I prefer the raw stuff and there are many pieces of fish, scallop, urchin, octopos, and clam, hand crafted in front of you. Many diners, like me, like to take photos of the show. There is a sake and beer menu, no wine. We usually order a bottle which they store in a stone container and pour for you as you go along. They are also good at filling empty water glasses. The bar seating is tight. You really have to navigate yourself out of the bar stool to go to the restroom. This is located at the end of the long hall, one male and one female toilet, both asking you to turn the lights off after you leave. The waiter cleans your sushi platter once of the sauce and spills. The sushi master asks if anyone has allergies before we begin. He also asks if anyone wants more at the end. This time was the perfect amount of food. Last times was too much and they don't have takeaway boxes, so I brought my own Tupperware this time in case! There is street parking but we took a lyft since we were enjoying a bottle of sake. The dessert this time was a mango shishito sorbet which was refreshing but too coconut for my taste. My husband ate both with glee. The birthday foursome got candles and glitter happy birthday signs in their dessert bowls. As of January 2024 the menu is $145 a person plus tip and tax and drinks are separate. This is regardless of age, so if your kid can sit through the whole meal, the price is the same. Not vegetarian friendly. Pescatarian friendly, only one beef slice. read more

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The Food I have only visited a handful of omakase places. But a friend was able to get a reservation at Utzutzu, so I wanted to give this place a try. Once we settled in our seats, the chef presented us with the fish that he will be preparing for the night. Few friends and I decided to try out their Sake of the day, which was the Nagurayama "Gekkyu". They presented the Sake in an aesthetic glass, it was not bad, though I prefer some of the sweeter sake. As the courses began, they were as follows... - Kinpira Gobo (braised burdock root), with asparagus topped with saffron - Nanbanzuke (marinated fish, with a slight citrus taste) Nigiri - Isaki (伊佐木 / Chicken Grunt, soft and have a slight crunch) - Shima-aji (縞鯵 / Striped Jack, hint of lime zest) - Ishigakidai (Knifejaw, smooth with a slight chew) - Horse Snake Mackerel - Golden Eye (Deep Sea) Snapper (hint of roast flavor, not overdone) - Black Seabream (almost melt in mouth) - Maguro (leaner cut but still fresh) - Amberjack (balanced with yuzu kosho) - Saba (topped with sweet kelp) - Ocean Trout - Sumiso-ae (miso and vinegar dressed with cucumber and octopus, sweet and refreshing, octopus have a slight chew, but not tough) - Uni Chawanmushi (steamed egg custard, topped with Hokkaido uni, along with shitake, spinach, and ginkgo nut) Nigiri - Scallop, Torched (slight burnt bitterness) - Shrimp From Canada (fresh, almost melt in mouth) - Otoro (delicious) - Toro Hand Roll - Tamagoyaki (the right sweetness) - Akadashi (miso soup with zucchini, mushroom, and tofu skin) - Peach Jelly (slight sweetness, not overpowering) The Miscellaneous The Utzutzu restaurant is a bit tucked away. There is no sign other than a door number, and you will know you are in the right place once you go up the stairs. The inside greets the guests with a small lounge area while they wait for their reservation. They have a sushi bar that just seats 7 people. It gives a more personal experience with the chef I believe. The service and staff were good. You know they put attention to detail when they fold the clean wipe so it is easy to use. The menu has a good variety of dishes to keep it interesting. Reservations open around 1 month in advance, it's still hard to get seating, so reserve early. All in all, the food was delicious, and quite the array of selections. Would recommend and would also want to return again. read more

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My partner and I went for our anniversary on a Wednesday night for the 8 PM seating and were lucky enough to be the only patrons for that night. It made the whole experience so much more intimate and memorable, as Chef Shiro is a charming person to chat with and get to know along with David who was the waiter for the night. Chef Shiro is also very willing to substitute any of the nigiri for another piece of your choice, as my partner does not eat beef and went for the Toro (fatty tuna) in place of the wagyu beef nigiri. Incredibly unassuming no frills ambiance as others have mentioned. The courses served were definitely less flashy and 'instagram worthy' than other omakase experiences, but that's because all the emphasis was on the quality and preparation of the food. Whereas other omakase spots try to grab your attention with wild creations, Chef Shiro at Utzutzu likes to keep it more traditional but takes so much care in putting delicious food in front of you. He thoroughly explained each part of the course as well as each piece of nigiri that he served and was always waiting in excitement to see our reaction to each bite. No gimmicks, no distractions, just some of the best nigiri you'll ever have. To top it all off the mango sorbet at the end had a cute little "happy anniversary" decoration and Chef Shiro wished us a heartfelt happy anniversary many times throughout the night. We even got to take home the printed and handwritten menus for the night. Overall such a fantastic experience and would definitely recommend to any sushi lovers looking for a special dinner experience. Unfortunately only got pictures of our dessert as we were very engaged and off our phones during the rest of the experience lol! read more

Utzutzu - Mango sorbet, bottle of Sake, menus we got to take home with us. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alameda, California