The best Sushi in Santa Cruz County. I've been going to Naka for about 20 years. Since they were further down 41st. Never disappoints. Always friendly and feels like home. Get the traditional nigiri. Largest bites ever.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sean Gandhi
The sushi is terrific. The service is even better. Very friendly and welcoming place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Erin Westall
We were excited to try this place out! Unfortunately, this place lacks the craft of good sushi and instead gives you gigantic pieces of fish with no artistry whatsoever. Even our nagiri wasn’t cut correctly leaving the tough skin on the side that you couldn’t chew through.
If you are in to giant slabs of fish then this is the place for you… If you are expecting a top notch sushi place with excellent rolls and amazing food do not go here. Our whole sushi loving family left feeling very grossed out. The staff was wonderful and I feel bad leaving a negative review but I wish someone would have said this so we would have had a heads up!
I have never seen a sushi place like this in my life and never ever thought I could feel grossed out by too much fish but that is what happened tonight.
If you do go, go very easy on the ordering and don’t expect much in the way of flavor combos or pairings.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
Kristen Williams
We thoroughly enjoyed our experience here! The food is absolutely incredible and the portions are large, thanks for the warning on the menu! I will be recommending this place to friends and family. The owners and staff were lovely as well!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amanda Shack
Best sushi in town, no doubt. Hours can be tough but you make it work for the best. This place is about the fish! They don't mess around with the fancy dancy dazzlers. Keep it simple and fresh
Mikkimikkimikki
This was one of my worst dining experiences ever. Shameful and so embarrassing for the employees. I have seen other so-called "chefs" throw tantrums at their employees, but not from the sushi bar in the middle of the restaurant. This was because I had to send back a simple roll I had ordered gluten-free but arrived covered in tobiko. Shameful is the only way I can describe the way the drunken owner/"chef" screamed on and on, in Japanese, at my poor server - with the rest of the staff cowering while all the customers watched uncomfortably. He refused to remake the roll. We paid for the sashimi and sake, have our condolences to the server and left for good. There are plenty of sushi restaurants with kind and competent ownership in Santa Cruz county, go to one of those.
Michelle regelsperger
Traditional Japanese sushi. Naka and his family are fantastic. The freshest fish you’ll find in Santa Cruz. Great atmosphere. Sashimi is fantastic Rolls are large because there traditionally eaten with your hands. This is the only traditional Japanese sushi in the county.
Josh Gonzalez
Love this place. I’m a frequent business traveler to Tokyo and Kyoto. Naka makes me feel like I’m back. Great experience. Quality fish and amazing staff. Check it out if you’re an out-of-owner or a local who has never been.
Mikaela T
The chef refused to give us unagi sauce. Also the poor kid serving us was terrified to ask the chef for the unagi sauce. I've never been to a place that serves sushi that's this big. If you like sushi like that and you don't need unagi sauce go for it but it's insane that they straight up say no to giving you sauce. I also would like to add that the fish is farm fish which is gmo af and there charging so much for it. At least serve wild fish for that price. It’s also crazy to me how the owner responds to people and is still in business.
I'm not a rookie sushi eater I eat sushi multiple times a week from Rumble Fish in SV but was in Capitola and a friend recommended this place. But she hadn't been here in 3-4 years since she moved away. She was super disappointed in her favorite appetizer which is fried chicken. She also said that the rolls never used to be this big when she came.
THE BEST sushi in Santa Cruz!!! Amazing quality and humongous cuts, and the owners are rad!
Aliyah Davis
Great price for the amount of food that you get. Our server Bren was so attentive and kind.
Matt McMillan
This place has the most incredible fish I have ever had anywhere. It is the absolutely of the highest quality. Period. And Naka and Keiko are the real deal.
This place is not to be missed. Bottom line.
Bill MacEwen
The best sushi I have ever had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Will
Absolutely fantastic sushi. And the spot is perfect- simple, chill vibe and super clean. Service was quick, attentive and friendly. And the sushi was soooo tasty - fish so fresh the meat was still quivering. Some of the best I've ever had!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Custom Hamachi Hand Roll, Tuna, Nigiri
The best Sushi in Santa Cruz County. I've been going to Naka for about 20 years. Since they were further down 41st. Never disappoints. Always friendly and feels like home. Get the traditional nigiri. Largest bites ever.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The sushi is terrific. The service is even better. Very friendly and welcoming place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We were excited to try this place out! Unfortunately, this place lacks the craft of good sushi and instead gives you gigantic pieces of fish with no artistry whatsoever. Even our nagiri wasn’t cut correctly leaving the tough skin on the side that you couldn’t chew through.
If you are in to giant slabs of fish then this is the place for you… If you are expecting a top notch sushi place with excellent rolls and amazing food do not go here. Our whole sushi loving family left feeling very grossed out. The staff was wonderful and I feel bad leaving a negative review but I wish someone would have said this so we would have had a heads up!
I have never seen a sushi place like this in my life and never ever thought I could feel grossed out by too much fish but that is what happened tonight.
If you do go, go very easy on the ordering and don’t expect much in the way of flavor combos or pairings.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
We thoroughly enjoyed our experience here! The food is absolutely incredible and the portions are large, thanks for the warning on the menu! I will be recommending this place to friends and family. The owners and staff were lovely as well!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best sushi in town, no doubt. Hours can be tough but you make it work for the best. This place is about the fish! They don't mess around with the fancy dancy dazzlers. Keep it simple and fresh
This was one of my worst dining experiences ever. Shameful and so embarrassing for the employees. I have seen other so-called "chefs" throw tantrums at their employees, but not from the sushi bar in the middle of the restaurant. This was because I had to send back a simple roll I had ordered gluten-free but arrived covered in tobiko. Shameful is the only way I can describe the way the drunken owner/"chef" screamed on and on, in Japanese, at my poor server - with the rest of the staff cowering while all the customers watched uncomfortably. He refused to remake the roll. We paid for the sashimi and sake, have our condolences to the server and left for good. There are plenty of sushi restaurants with kind and competent ownership in Santa Cruz county, go to one of those.
Traditional Japanese sushi. Naka and his family are fantastic. The freshest fish you’ll find in Santa Cruz. Great atmosphere. Sashimi is fantastic
Rolls are large because there traditionally eaten with your hands. This is the only traditional Japanese sushi in the county.
Love this place. I’m a frequent business traveler to Tokyo and Kyoto. Naka makes me feel like I’m back. Great experience. Quality fish and amazing staff. Check it out if you’re an out-of-owner or a local who has never been.
The chef refused to give us unagi sauce. Also the poor kid serving us was terrified to ask the chef for the unagi sauce. I've never been to a place that serves sushi that's this big. If you like sushi like that and you don't need unagi sauce go for it but it's insane that they straight up say no to giving you sauce. I also would like to add that the fish is farm fish which is gmo af and there charging so much for it. At least serve wild fish for that price. It’s also crazy to me how the owner responds to people and is still in business.
I'm not a rookie sushi eater I eat sushi multiple times a week from Rumble Fish in SV but was in Capitola and a friend recommended this place. But she hadn't been here in 3-4 years since she moved away. She was super disappointed in her favorite appetizer which is fried chicken. She also said that the rolls never used to be this big when she came.
Authentic Japanese Sushi
Always fresh!
Restaurantji Recommends
THE BEST sushi in Santa Cruz!!! Amazing quality and humongous cuts, and the owners are rad!
Great price for the amount of food that you get. Our server Bren was so attentive and kind.
This place has the most incredible fish I have ever had anywhere. It is the absolutely of the highest quality. Period. And Naka and Keiko are the real deal.
This place is not to be missed. Bottom line.
The best sushi I have ever had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely fantastic sushi. And the spot is perfect- simple, chill vibe and super clean. Service was quick, attentive and friendly. And the sushi was soooo tasty - fish so fresh the meat was still quivering. Some of the best I've ever had!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Custom Hamachi Hand Roll, Tuna, Nigiri
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