23 Best Japanese Restaurants near Carmel By The Sea

1 Akaoni

4.0 Good 168 Reviews

6th Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea

• Take-Out
• Delivery

“Simply the best. This is the place that the real real food aficionados in our area go for sushi. The freshness and the quality is amazing. Atmosphere is very understated but I love it. You are here for the food, not for glitz. Try the soft tofu. Eggplant fantastic and the fish is amazing.”

2 Flying Fish Grill

4.6 Superb 328 Reviews

7th Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea

• Take-Out
• Delivery

“My wife, our friend who lives here and I went to Flying Fish Grill restaurant and had the best experience we have had at a restaurant. We were greeted by Rich from front of house with a warm welcome and he immediately recognized where we were from our phone area code. The restaurant is very cozy and you almost feel you are in their house. The waitress Brandie came by quickly and took our drink orders and explained the highlights of the menu and answered our questions. Before we were barely settled we had a basket of fried wontons and salsa which were crisp and delicious. Oh my gosh, I think the three of us hit the trifecta. I had the haddock in parchment paper with a miso and fermented black bean sauce which, it turns out, Brandie described very well. My wife had the Ying and Yan salmon which she loved. Our dear friend had the ahi tuna with pepper which she loved. Gerry (Jerry not sure) served the dishes with charm and banter which we appreciated. The service was expedient yet we never felt rushed. Again, we loved our experience at the Flying Fish Grill restaurant and highly recommend it. I would never call myself a foodie expert but it was certainly the best seafood choices and flavors I have had in a while. I made a point to ask all their names as they were all at the top of their game. Kudos to the chef behind all the food as he certainly knows how to make the magic.”

3 Sushi Heaven

4.3 Superb 212 Reviews

Dolores Street, Carmel-by-the-Sea

• Take-Out
• Delivery

“ushi Heaven in Carmel is an absolute institution and one of those special places that has been part of the community for years! In a town filled with incredible restaurants, Sushi Heaven continues to stand out for its amazing food, genuine hospitality, and unforgettable dining experience. The sushi is always incredibly fresh, beautifully prepared, and absolutely delicious. There's a reason this place has been around for so long. The quality, consistency, and attention to detail are exceptional, and every visit feels like something special. What truly makes Sushi Heaven extraordinary is David, the owner. David is simply amazing! His warmth, passion, and genuine love for his guests are what make this restaurant so much more than just a place to eat. He makes you feel like family, and that personal connection is something you just don't find very often anymore. Sushi Heaven represents everything I love about Carmel: incredible food, wonderful people, and local businesses with real heart and character. It's places like this that give a community its soul. One of the best sushi experiences you can have, and a restaurant I will continue to support for years to come. Thank you, David, for making Sushi Heaven such a special part of Carmel!”

4 Toro Sushi

4.0 Good 447 Reviews

Carmel-By-The-Sea

• Take-Out
• Delivery

“Fun sitting at the Sushi Bar! Great team, great service, and of course great food!”

5 Harumi

4.4 Superb 258 Reviews

1760 Fremont Boulevard Suite 4, Seaside · 5.99 miles

• Take-Out
• Delivery
• Drive-Through

“Harumi Sushi in Seaside is such a wonderful spot! The food was absolutely delicious, fresh, and quickly prepared. You can really tell that care goes into the quality of the food.The service was also fantastic, everyone was friendly, welcoming, and attentive, which made the whole experience even better. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, making it a great place to enjoy a meal with family or friends. Id would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for delicious sushi, great service, and a warm atmosphere in Seaside. I’ll definitely be coming back! 🍣❤”

6 Maido Sushi Cafe

4.8 Superb 80 Reviews

265 Reservation Road Unit U, Marina · 11.52 miles

• Delivery

“Very happy to have Maido Sushi here in Marina. Staff is friendly, food is tasty, and it feels like an actual cafe you would find in Kyoto or some parts of Tokyo having visited. Thank you :3!”

7 Zum sushi

4.5 Superb 283 Reviews

159 Central Avenue, Pacific Grove · 4.44 miles

• Take-Out
• Delivery

“This must be the best sushi I have eaten in California in a really long time. The fish is extremely fresh, and the portions are generous. They focus on the fish and not the amount of rice. All the seasoning is so on point, and they keep it real without adding a ton of sauces or other distractions. I would come back any time when I'm in town. It can get busy during dinnertime, so either make a reservation or be prepared to wait for a little bit. They do offer outdoor seating.”

8 Wakatobi Japanese Grill Hibachi and Sushi

4.5 Superb 258 Reviews

1130 Fremont Boulevard Ste 102A, Seaside · 5.16 miles

• Take-Out
• Delivery

“Accommodating and helpful staff! We were visiting from out of town and surprised to find a halal restaurant in Monterey. The food is delicious. We came as a family and they even found some crayons for my 4 year old. The portions are generous and the hibachi steak with noodles was especially good.”

9 BADA KITCHEN

4.4 Superb 56 Reviews

880 Broadway Ave C-5, Seaside · 5.55 miles

• Delivery

“We had dinner here and the end of last month California Rolls , Bibimbap & Tteokbokki all of it was really good but I really wanted to say thank you to the employee who was so sweet to my daughter and gave her a little sea otter plush my daughter loves it and it was such a sweet and kind gesture so thank you so much to the girl working the night shift on September 26th bless you”

10 Ocean Sushi Deli

4.4 Superb 199 Reviews

165 Webster Street, Monterey · 3.26 miles

• Take-Out
• Delivery

“I love this place... simply the best!”

11 Ichi-Riki Japanese Restaurant

4.4 Superb 273 Reviews

1603 Del Monte Boulevard, Seaside · 5.42 miles

• Take-Out
• Delivery

“I had never been here before until my boyfriend took me a few months ago. We come here pretty often now. Servers are always super sweet and attentive. Vibe is a little dark, moody and quiet. We came on Thursday around 5:30 or 6pm. The food fills my heart and stomach 💛. To drink we had Suigei Junmai Daiginjo sake and water. For food this time we had the spicy tuna roll, Dream Eater roll (a special), two orders of ocean trout sashimi and unagi. I forget to take a picture of the unagi. We ALWAYS order it at the end as if it's a dessert, so good! 😋 It's sad that I have lived here so long and had never come here before until this year. Highly recommended by this stranger. Delicious.”

12 Sapporo Sushi & Steakhouse

4.4 Superb 367 Reviews

3 Municipal Wharf 2, Monterey · 3.69 miles

• Take-Out
• Delivery

“Delicioso 🤤 cuando lo disfrutes con las personas adecuadas para ti 🥰🥰🥰”

13 Crystal Fish

4.5 Superb 380 Reviews

514 Lighthouse Avenue, Monterey · 4.17 miles

• Take-Out
• Delivery

“By far the best sushi I’ve tried in Monterey! The sushi is so fresh, soft, and literally melts in your mouth. Definitely a must try! If you want to try the same sushi in the picture, go to the sushi bar and ask for SAI. Tell him, “I want Miguel’s Secret Sushi.” He knows exactly how to make it and has it written down on a piece of paper.”

14 New Tokyo Restaurant

4.3 Superb 159 Reviews

3170 Vista Del Camino Circle North, Marina · 11.52 miles

• Take-Out

“Picked up the Sushi Special and Zaru to go from New Tokyo Restaurant in Marina, and it hit the spot. The service was incredibly fast and friendly right from the start. Both items were excellent—the sushi was fresh and well-prepared, and the Zaru was refreshing and perfect for a takeout meal. It’s a solid, reliable spot when you want great Japanese food without the wait. Highly recommended!”

15 Sushi Kuma

4.3 Superb 166 Reviews

414 Alvarado Street, Monterey · 3.45 miles

• Take-Out
• Delivery

“Excellent sushi restaurant in downtown Monterey. Fresh, great service and fun atmosphere.”

16 Sushi Time

4.3 Superb 241 Reviews

1153 Fremont Boulevard, Seaside · 5.2 miles

• Take-Out
• Delivery

“today an amazing couple paid for our tab. We are a family of 6 trust when I say our bill was not cheap. Thank you so much and may God bless. The service is always great, the food is always on point.”

17 Keoki's Hawaiian Barbeque

4.5 Superb 238 Reviews

3170 Vista Del Camino Circle, Marina · 11.52 miles

• Take-Out
• Delivery

“Excellent food!!! It beats what we had in Maui recently.”

18 Presidio of Monterey

4.6 Superb 41 Reviews

1759 Lewis Road, Monterey · 3.52 miles

“My wife and I will be paying a visit to the Presidio in a few weeks. We have many fond memories there from 1986/1987 when I was a Polish student and she was a Czech student, both of us U.S. Army. We met there and were married in Pacific Grove on our lunch hour. In our minds it's a magical place (and a superb language school) that expanded our horizons. We're returning to the U.S. after many years overseas.”

19 Japanese American Citizens

5.0 Superb 4 Reviews

424 Adams Street, Monterey · 3.49 miles

20 Nami Restaurant

4.4 Superb 81 Reviews

301 Alvarado Street, Monterey · 3.54 miles

• Take-Out
• Delivery

“I didn’t take any pictures, but I ordered the butternut squash dish. It has a lot going on, but it all works together. My daughter ordered the vodka Pennie the best that I’ve ever had. My husband ordered the clam chowder hands-down it’s the best in Monterey. We also had sushi. I had raw oysters. This place is underrated.”

21 Ocean Sushi Deli

4.2 Good 62 Reviews

2701 David Avenue, Pacific Grove · 3.66 miles

• Take-Out
• Delivery

“Friendly staff, excellent food.”

22 Teriyaki Madness

4.3 Superb 197 Reviews

110 General Stilwell Bldg B 102, Marina · 9.73 miles

• Take-Out
• Delivery

“I always have my Mad delivered. Watch for their free delivery Tuesdays, actually going on now. The food is so tasty, always hot, my special instructions are always met, and the delivery is on time every time. If you haven't tried it, you should, you won't be disappointed!”

23 Benihana Monterey

3.9 Good 278 Reviews

136 Olivier Street, Monterey · 3.69 miles

• Take-Out
• Delivery

“exelent service and the food it's grate.”