4 of us came in on a Thursday night and it wasn't busy at all, only one other table of 2 besides us and they left before we even ordered. Through our whole time there ppl only came in to pick up orders, no one else ever came to dine in. Upon hearing of this place it is referred to as a "Food Hall", typically that means multiple restaurants inside a giant hall and they're all individually operated. However this is not that. This is one restaurant that has 4 different menus, all very similar foods, some items even repeated on the different menus. There were 2 people up front & some workers in the kitchen. You scan the QR code on the table and get to ordering, the menu is long so take your time scrolling through. You add things to your cart and can keep the tab open or check out right away. All 4 of us decided to do individual checks so we each ordered on our phones separately. The food started to come out and it was served via robot. I don't prefer the robots at many restaurants because it seems lazy and less inviting. If it's busy and you need extra help delivering food to tables I get it, but when we are the only people in the store & the 2 workers behind the counter are on their phones the entire time, some interaction & an actual server would help the ambiance. Watching the kitchen employee load all the food onto the robot and waiting for the robot to come over to us 10 feet away just seems pointless. Especially if they want you to tip at the end, you hope that it only goes to the kitchen crew at that point. The food was pretty good, curry was well flavored, the sauce for the chicken katsu was sweet & thick, most katsu sauces are on the saltier side so I really enjoyed this. The ramen was pretty basic but still enjoyable and the 3 appetizers were good as well.
Richa Nanavati
Vegetarian options: Veggie and vegan noodle soups are available
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dim Sum
Jason T.
Don't be fooled by the cheap street art decor and robot server, this place is not worth your time. The food was dry and nobody checked on our table. We ordered and paid by an app, so there was no incentive to provide us any service. Alameda has many good Japanese restaurants, try any other one.
Michael R.
My dinner left much to be desired. The place was a bit dirty and the staff didn't seem too thrilled to be there. I decided to order a gyudon, but it was a major letdown - dry, chewy, and definitely not worth the price. No one checked on us to see how the meal was. While I usually root for small neighborhood spots, this one just didn't cut it. Here's hoping they step up their game for both their sake and the diners'.
Anita C.
Our go-to when I need some Asian comfort food. It's got a bit of everything - Chinese dim sum, Japanese cafe food and noodle soups, and sushi. I appreciate the dim sum while my 2.5-year-old loves that as well as the cafe food. She'll say it's "So yummy!" while scarfing down the soboro don, haha. So it's always a good day when we have SAGA Kitchen for dinner. We usually do takeout since honestly, that's how I can actually access the miso soup if it comes with the meal. (There was one time I could not get the miso bowl top off and I gave up instead of getting help or burning myself, while eating with my toddler.) The service isn't terribly attentive especially if you're in the separate dining room, which works for people who'd rather be left alone when they eat. With a toddler, that's harder. The last time we were there, they were also playing explicit rap music, haha. Not a big deal to me personally, but something to note if you want to bring kids. Despite that, it really is my go-to and my toddler LOVES it, so all the stars!
Jason Allan R.
I debated about the number of stars I wanted to give this place: on one hand, the nigiri selection I ordered were all EXCELLENT (the ankimo was especially good). The staff is very friendly and the vibe in there is really chill. HOWEVER....the lion king roll was served to me cold. It was also on the smaller side. Any sushi house worth their soy sauce should know that the lion king roll is baked and served hot, and larger than most rolls. I would eat here again but I'll get my lion king fix elsewhere (hint for any staff that reads this..go to Sushi House on park street to see how the lion king should be prepared and served and you'll see what I'm on about.
Wanda Reynolds
Egg drop soup with veggies +extra green onions 5/5Customer service 1/5- the Asian young lady with blonde hair @ the front should not be in the restaurant business. She was rude and light weight disrespectful as I tried to place my order she literally looked at her phone the entire time, gave me the most awful stare when she did look up, and walked away. Hopefully the owner's will put her in the back of the house, if they want repeat customers.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
Michel D
The food here is good, but they're totally overwhelmed by their delivery orders. You order and pay upfront from your phone and for the service too, which is done by a robot (super fun if you're with kids). No one comes to check on you and ask you if you need anything, you clear your own table, so what's the 20% service fee for? And the wait is long, the food does not come out together either, so it's awkward for the dining group. I would not recommend eating here (as in in the dining room), but I'm sure it's fine for delivery, it looks like that's what their priority is anyway. I wish they would be upfront about that when guests walk in.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
Nadav M.
I enjoy it. My brother likes this place for his Tonkotsu ramen. I've had some of their sushi rolls and other smaller dishes. Tonkotsu ramen Miso soup Golden dragon sushi roll. Tonkotsu ramen has great presentation. The Naruto is there. Miso was nice and comforting. The flavour is alive with flavour. The golden dragon was savoury. Enjoyed the Japanese bbq and the mixture of avocado and protein. Vibe is nice. Very hip and contemporary. The robot is fun. Would be nice to have a television from the lounge area or a mirror. It's a bit pricey, but from time to time it's nice to come here. Service is on and off but at this place it's fine. Everything went smooth. Water and one time cups are provided.
Cynthia M.
Food is amazing melts in your mouth.Taste of everything is so fresh. Best sushi ever!!!!
We've been coming to this location for over 10 years, so are open to liking new offerings for lunch and dinner at a different restaurant. The concept of many menus is fine-- the menus are a bit overwhelming and disorganized to scroll through via app (no paper menus. Food is fine. Standard dumplings, sushi, soup, noodles. There is basically no customer service element. We tried to ask questions last time we ate there and they just motioned to the menu. So there will be no contact or discussion. The space and prices are set for more contact though-- it's not counter service. So there is a mismatch here. The dining experience is up to you. More water? Take your pitcher to the kitchen and ask. The two dining rooms aren't connected so it's a bit of a weird setup. Kids like the cat robot that brings the food. That is the main reason we go back. The cat robot. This could be so much better.
Rocky Kahn
Fresh tasting fish (omakase=chef's choice), friendly owner/sushi chef, robots for the kids, what more could one ask for...Kid-friendliness: Robots
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omekase Sushi Set
Linh S.
An interesting concept of dining in Alameda! We eat in Alameda a lot but mainly Park or Webster Ave. I was surprised to see a restaurant off the busy streets. In-person dining is available in their main restaurant or next door - there is plenty of seating. We are a family of four (with an infant) and ate in the next door dining room. I didn't think it was too cramped for a Wednesday evening. I think there were 2 other patrons there during that time. Menu options were interesting, as you can choose from different types of food. My favorite were the salted egg yolk buns! My daughter loved the kitsune udon as well.We returned on a Friday night for takeout and it was a seamless experience! Happy to return to Saga whenever we're back in town!
Jessica H.
Like the other reviews have stated, this place is more of an Asian food hall than your typical restaurant. You order and pay for your food using the QR code and the robot brings the food to you. Utensils and sauces are self serve. Found this place on tik tok and was drawn in by the variety of food options and aesthetics of the place, but I was pretty disappointed by the food.What we ordered:Crab Cream Croquette (3/5) - All I tasted was the cream filling and I couldn't taste the any crab in here at all. It wasn't bad, but I would prefer less cream and more crab.Chicken Karaage App (3/5) - You can't really go wrong with this dish but I wish it was a bit crunchier on the outside. Other than that, this is just your typical karaage. Shanghai Pan Fried Bun (1/5) - I was the most disappointed by this dish because it's one of my favorite dishes but also the worst pan fried bun I've ever had. I don't know if they even fried it because the whole bun was soft and there wasn't any soup inside. This was basically just your regular bun with some meat inside.Kurobuta Katsu Sando (5/5) - This was my favorite dish out of everything we ordered. The katsu was tender and the bread was nice and soft with slightly toasted edges. Also felt that the slaw and sauce paired very well together. If you're gonna order one item from here, order this!Treasure Box (3/5) - I liked how big the sashimi pieces were but the fish didn't taste that fresh to me. Not bad, but could be better. Special Kaisen Don (3/5) - Same as the treasure box, the fish was not bad, but I wish it was more fresh. Overall, this place is aesthetic and offers a variety of different food options on their menu which is nice, but I wouldn't recommend coming here if you're looking for good, quality food. Also if you're looking for good service, that's basically nonexistent here lol
Selena Stirlen
COVID restrictions gone too far. The ordering experience was completely frustrating - you order completely on an app and you can’t even access the menu without providing personal info. The app then asks you to pay with a tip for not interacting with anyone and the food being delivered on this weird robot. Sushi was basic and with such an frustrating overall experience- I don’t recommend.
4 of us came in on a Thursday night and it wasn't busy at all, only one other table of 2 besides us and they left before we even ordered. Through our whole time there ppl only came in to pick up orders, no one else ever came to dine in. Upon hearing of this place it is referred to as a "Food Hall", typically that means multiple restaurants inside a giant hall and they're all individually operated. However this is not that. This is one restaurant that has 4 different menus, all very similar foods, some items even repeated on the different menus. There were 2 people up front & some workers in the kitchen. You scan the QR code on the table and get to ordering, the menu is long so take your time scrolling through. You add things to your cart and can keep the tab open or check out right away. All 4 of us decided to do individual checks so we each ordered on our phones separately. The food started to come out and it was served via robot. I don't prefer the robots at many restaurants because it seems lazy and less inviting. If it's busy and you need extra help delivering food to tables I get it, but when we are the only people in the store & the 2 workers behind the counter are on their phones the entire time, some interaction & an actual server would help the ambiance. Watching the kitchen employee load all the food onto the robot and waiting for the robot to come over to us 10 feet away just seems pointless. Especially if they want you to tip at the end, you hope that it only goes to the kitchen crew at that point. The food was pretty good, curry was well flavored, the sauce for the chicken katsu was sweet & thick, most katsu sauces are on the saltier side so I really enjoyed this. The ramen was pretty basic but still enjoyable and the 3 appetizers were good as well.
Vegetarian options: Veggie and vegan noodle soups are available
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dim Sum
Don't be fooled by the cheap street art decor and robot server, this place is not worth your time. The food was dry and nobody checked on our table. We ordered and paid by an app, so there was no incentive to provide us any service. Alameda has many good Japanese restaurants, try any other one.
My dinner left much to be desired. The place was a bit dirty and the staff didn't seem too thrilled to be there. I decided to order a gyudon, but it was a major letdown - dry, chewy, and definitely not worth the price. No one checked on us to see how the meal was. While I usually root for small neighborhood spots, this one just didn't cut it. Here's hoping they step up their game for both their sake and the diners'.
Our go-to when I need some Asian comfort food. It's got a bit of everything - Chinese dim sum, Japanese cafe food and noodle soups, and sushi. I appreciate the dim sum while my 2.5-year-old loves that as well as the cafe food. She'll say it's "So yummy!" while scarfing down the soboro don, haha. So it's always a good day when we have SAGA Kitchen for dinner. We usually do takeout since honestly, that's how I can actually access the miso soup if it comes with the meal. (There was one time I could not get the miso bowl top off and I gave up instead of getting help or burning myself, while eating with my toddler.) The service isn't terribly attentive especially if you're in the separate dining room, which works for people who'd rather be left alone when they eat. With a toddler, that's harder. The last time we were there, they were also playing explicit rap music, haha. Not a big deal to me personally, but something to note if you want to bring kids. Despite that, it really is my go-to and my toddler LOVES it, so all the stars!
I debated about the number of stars I wanted to give this place: on one hand, the nigiri selection I ordered were all EXCELLENT (the ankimo was especially good). The staff is very friendly and the vibe in there is really chill. HOWEVER....the lion king roll was served to me cold. It was also on the smaller side. Any sushi house worth their soy sauce should know that the lion king roll is baked and served hot, and larger than most rolls. I would eat here again but I'll get my lion king fix elsewhere (hint for any staff that reads this..go to Sushi House on park street to see how the lion king should be prepared and served and you'll see what I'm on about.
Egg drop soup with veggies +extra green onions 5/5Customer service 1/5- the Asian young lady with blonde hair @ the front should not be in the restaurant business. She was rude and light weight disrespectful as I tried to place my order she literally looked at her phone the entire time, gave me the most awful stare when she did look up, and walked away. Hopefully the owner's will put her in the back of the house, if they want repeat customers.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
The food here is good, but they're totally overwhelmed by their delivery orders. You order and pay upfront from your phone and for the service too, which is done by a robot (super fun if you're with kids). No one comes to check on you and ask you if you need anything, you clear your own table, so what's the 20% service fee for? And the wait is long, the food does not come out together either, so it's awkward for the dining group. I would not recommend eating here (as in in the dining room), but I'm sure it's fine for delivery, it looks like that's what their priority is anyway. I wish they would be upfront about that when guests walk in.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
I enjoy it. My brother likes this place for his Tonkotsu ramen. I've had some of their sushi rolls and other smaller dishes. Tonkotsu ramen Miso soup Golden dragon sushi roll. Tonkotsu ramen has great presentation. The Naruto is there. Miso was nice and comforting. The flavour is alive with flavour. The golden dragon was savoury. Enjoyed the Japanese bbq and the mixture of avocado and protein. Vibe is nice. Very hip and contemporary. The robot is fun. Would be nice to have a television from the lounge area or a mirror. It's a bit pricey, but from time to time it's nice to come here. Service is on and off but at this place it's fine. Everything went smooth. Water and one time cups are provided.
Food is amazing melts in your mouth.Taste of everything is so fresh. Best sushi ever!!!!
Restaurantji Recommends
We've been coming to this location for over 10 years, so are open to liking new offerings for lunch and dinner at a different restaurant. The concept of many menus is fine-- the menus are a bit overwhelming and disorganized to scroll through via app (no paper menus. Food is fine. Standard dumplings, sushi, soup, noodles. There is basically no customer service element. We tried to ask questions last time we ate there and they just motioned to the menu. So there will be no contact or discussion. The space and prices are set for more contact though-- it's not counter service. So there is a mismatch here. The dining experience is up to you. More water? Take your pitcher to the kitchen and ask. The two dining rooms aren't connected so it's a bit of a weird setup. Kids like the cat robot that brings the food. That is the main reason we go back. The cat robot. This could be so much better.
Fresh tasting fish (omakase=chef's choice), friendly owner/sushi chef, robots for the kids, what more could one ask for...Kid-friendliness: Robots
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omekase Sushi Set
An interesting concept of dining in Alameda! We eat in Alameda a lot but mainly Park or Webster Ave. I was surprised to see a restaurant off the busy streets. In-person dining is available in their main restaurant or next door - there is plenty of seating. We are a family of four (with an infant) and ate in the next door dining room. I didn't think it was too cramped for a Wednesday evening. I think there were 2 other patrons there during that time. Menu options were interesting, as you can choose from different types of food. My favorite were the salted egg yolk buns! My daughter loved the kitsune udon as well.We returned on a Friday night for takeout and it was a seamless experience! Happy to return to Saga whenever we're back in town!
Like the other reviews have stated, this place is more of an Asian food hall than your typical restaurant. You order and pay for your food using the QR code and the robot brings the food to you. Utensils and sauces are self serve. Found this place on tik tok and was drawn in by the variety of food options and aesthetics of the place, but I was pretty disappointed by the food.What we ordered:Crab Cream Croquette (3/5) - All I tasted was the cream filling and I couldn't taste the any crab in here at all. It wasn't bad, but I would prefer less cream and more crab.Chicken Karaage App (3/5) - You can't really go wrong with this dish but I wish it was a bit crunchier on the outside. Other than that, this is just your typical karaage. Shanghai Pan Fried Bun (1/5) - I was the most disappointed by this dish because it's one of my favorite dishes but also the worst pan fried bun I've ever had. I don't know if they even fried it because the whole bun was soft and there wasn't any soup inside. This was basically just your regular bun with some meat inside.Kurobuta Katsu Sando (5/5) - This was my favorite dish out of everything we ordered. The katsu was tender and the bread was nice and soft with slightly toasted edges. Also felt that the slaw and sauce paired very well together. If you're gonna order one item from here, order this!Treasure Box (3/5) - I liked how big the sashimi pieces were but the fish didn't taste that fresh to me. Not bad, but could be better. Special Kaisen Don (3/5) - Same as the treasure box, the fish was not bad, but I wish it was more fresh. Overall, this place is aesthetic and offers a variety of different food options on their menu which is nice, but I wouldn't recommend coming here if you're looking for good, quality food. Also if you're looking for good service, that's basically nonexistent here lol
COVID restrictions gone too far. The ordering experience was completely frustrating - you order completely on an app and you can’t even access the menu without providing personal info. The app then asks you to pay with a tip for not interacting with anyone and the food being delivered on this weird robot. Sushi was basic and with such an frustrating overall experience- I don’t recommend.