A gem of a restaurant tucked away in Castro Valley. Took my mom here to celebrate her birthday and had a lovely experience. The chef and the staff were all super attentive and kind, and even provided some complimentary sips which were like nothing I’ve ever tasted. This was our first proper omakase together, but it won’t be our last. Everything was prepared masterfully, super fresh, and very tasty. We even opted for a couple of extra bites which were well worth it. Dining like this is a nice treat once in a great while.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: House Made Ice Cream with Red Wine Infused Apple, Hotate Scallop
Bryan Duggan
One of the best sushi places in the bay! You'd never guess there'd be an omakase restaurant like this in this shopping center, but they're punching way above their weight class. The service is incredible, and the food is delicious! I feel like the texture of the sushi really sets it apart from even other higher end sushi restaurants. This place is a hidden gem!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Akami Bluefin Tuna
Thea
Fantastic food and excellent customer service! Will return
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
G B
Great dining experience. Very expensive and the reservation system is a hassle. It matched our expectations and was similar to the Michelin star restaurant experience. You really must like Japanese cuisine and raw seafood to appreciate the menu. The sake selection is great too. The service was exceptional. The place is simple in some random hole in the wall space.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Erika M.
Overall was a pretty good experience. Food was so good!! variety of small dishes. Plates were so pretty tho. Portions are small, and you may not be full; but could add extra pieces; which our bill ended up more than $500 for 2 ppl without alcohol. Service was pretty good. Everyone were frendly and attentive.
Oliver A.
Wonderful experience. I went here with my girlfriend for our Anniversary and was treated with excellent service. The blue fin fatty and lean tuna was prepared right in front of us and complemented well with some sake. I never felt so relaxed eating sushi with nice music playing in the back. Our chef was a pro with such smooth movements making the sushi and explaining each element of the pieces. Book ahead of time. 10/10. Will be coming back
Tiffany Oda
(+) Very nice ambience. Tiny restaurant with a few tables and the chef's counter.(+) High quality fish, nice sized nigiri.(+) I really liked their hot tea that they served.(-) I think some of the supplement options should have been included in the actual omakase. I felt like it was a bit of a forced upsell to have some of these items not in the main omakase.(-) I really didn't appreciate a 20% service fee on the bill that was explicitly marked as "Not a tip". So they're asking for effectively another 20% marked on top of that, paying 40-ish percent of the entire cost of the meal in fees? If you're going to charge a service fee, just include it in the price of the omakase.Unfortunately even with supplements added on, my husband came home and ate leftover pizza because he was still hungry. It was a nice dining experience but I don't think we will be returning.
Food was undeniably amazing, but the service could've been better. The intimate setting at the bar allowed for an engaging experience watching the chef craft his creations. The omakase menu, priced at $125 per person with a $50 deposit, offered a generous 16-course selection. The freshness of the fish was apparent in every bite, and I enjoyed the variety of flavors. We also ordered hot tea ($5), which included free refills. Halfway through the course, the chef surprised us with complimentary white grape tea. It's worth noting that there is a mandatory 20% service fee added to the bill.My favorite pieces:- Hirame- Sanma- Chu Toro- Hokkaido UniFeedback:The service, while friendly, could have been more attentive. Our hot tea wasn't refilled as promptly as we would have liked, and there were moments when we finished our tea, waiting for a refill. Also, there was a lack of attention to detail in wiping the serving plate between each nigiri. While this didn't impact the taste, it would have added a nice touch to the presentation.
Masha G.
My friend and I came here on Wednesday night and quite honestly, I wasn't sure what my expectations were. I used to spend a lot of time in Castro Valley years ago, and it wasn't the most "foodie" of places. We arrived for the second seating of the night at 8pm, and were seated at the bar. We were walked through the experience and got to watch the chef prepare everything throughout the night, which was really fun!The sushi itself was great, and the fact that it was an interactive and intimate experience made it so much better!Neither my friend nor I chose to drink, but we did get hot tea, that was refilled constantly (thank you!) and we each ordered two supplements, bringing the total to $200/person once the 20% service charge was added. I'm not complaining about the price in any way as the sushi was delicious and it's nice to have a splurge once in a while! My favorite items were:*Oddly the crab and tomato was amazing - mostly due to the tomato!*Amaebi - I always love sweet shrimp, and this was no exception!*I loved the squid because the rice came warm and it was a departure from the rest of the courses*Ikura - the little bowl of okra and rice was delicious! *Loved the chu toro - I'm not a huge fan of o-toro, but the chu toro was the perfect kind of buttery*Also loved the scallopThe only thing I thought was garbage (sorry) was the avocado pudding. And I almost forgot, I loved the ginger and wasabi! That was pretty fresh and delicious and we also appreciated getting an extra "course" that was toro with liver shavings.Again, would recommend for special occasions!
Finally tried an omakase experience near me!! No longer need to drag my feet to SF or South Bay lol. Omakase is served at sushi restaurants in Dublin, but nothing beats watching the chef work his magic from the bar. Love watching the mastery in assembling the nigiri, cutting the fish, and grinding fresh wasabi. Omakase ($125 per person): A $50 deposit per person is required when you book your reservation, and it's refunded to you before you pay for your dinner. Our menu today was 16 courses, not including the 2 complimentary courses (a tuna belly nigiri and lavender yuzu drink) which amount to about $8 per dish. So worth it in my opinion especially for the quality!! I regret not adding a salmon ($7) or scallop ($10) supplement.Service was exceptional. A 20% service charge is automatically added to your bill, which shouldn't be a surprise since it's mentioned on the physical menu as well as the website where you make your reservation. I still tipped a little extra as a thanks to the waitress (sorry I forgot your name!!) and manager Sunny who were both so friendly. You are offered tea or water before you're served, and the tea (genmaicha or hojicha) is $5 with consistent refills. Parking was plentiful since it's located in a plaza near Castro Valley Bart. Ambiance was perfect, there was gentle instrumental music and it didn't feel noisy even with 3 occupied tables next to the bar. I would definitely come back for another special occasion! Or order one of their takeout bentos ($75) :)
Lauren Bennett
LOVE THIS SPOT! Great sushi. Very rare selection of nigiri. Would highly recommend. It’s a hidden gem for sure!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
sumi seo
Omakase sushi in nay area!Good price and shikomi.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Elle Dee R.
I had never heard of this place until this year. And then I've had the good fortune to dine here TWICE! It's certainly a special occasion restaurant (unless you're rolling in $$$, then do make it one of your go-to spots!) The customer service is sublime. It is an ultra-cozy place that does NOT want to fill it up to the brim. Meaning, that while it is on the small side, there is plenty of space for customers because they keep occupancy to a minimum. So they absolutely know you're name, are extremely observant, and attend to all your needs. The food is DELICIOUS and, yes, expensive.
Jaemin L.
Came here for mothers birthday a few years agoIt wasn't bad, nothing too crazy though and we ended up ordering quite a lot extra because food wasn't a lot. I guess I'd rather go to a different omakase spot for the same price -- I'm not sure if it's worth it overall, but location isn't bad if you're in the east bay
A gem of a restaurant tucked away in Castro Valley. Took my mom here to celebrate her birthday and had a lovely experience. The chef and the staff were all super attentive and kind, and even provided some complimentary sips which were like nothing I’ve ever tasted. This was our first proper omakase together, but it won’t be our last. Everything was prepared masterfully, super fresh, and very tasty. We even opted for a couple of extra bites which were well worth it. Dining like this is a nice treat once in a great while.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: House Made Ice Cream with Red Wine Infused Apple, Hotate Scallop
One of the best sushi places in the bay! You'd never guess there'd be an omakase restaurant like this in this shopping center, but they're punching way above their weight class. The service is incredible, and the food is delicious! I feel like the texture of the sushi really sets it apart from even other higher end sushi restaurants. This place is a hidden gem!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Akami Bluefin Tuna
Fantastic food and excellent customer service! Will return
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great dining experience. Very expensive and the reservation system is a hassle. It matched our expectations and was similar to the Michelin star restaurant experience. You really must like Japanese cuisine and raw seafood to appreciate the menu. The sake selection is great too. The service was exceptional. The place is simple in some random hole in the wall space.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Overall was a pretty good experience. Food was so good!! variety of small dishes. Plates were so pretty tho. Portions are small, and you may not be full; but could add extra pieces; which our bill ended up more than $500 for 2 ppl without alcohol. Service was pretty good. Everyone were frendly and attentive.
Wonderful experience. I went here with my girlfriend for our Anniversary and was treated with excellent service. The blue fin fatty and lean tuna was prepared right in front of us and complemented well with some sake. I never felt so relaxed eating sushi with nice music playing in the back. Our chef was a pro with such smooth movements making the sushi and explaining each element of the pieces. Book ahead of time. 10/10. Will be coming back
(+) Very nice ambience. Tiny restaurant with a few tables and the chef's counter.(+) High quality fish, nice sized nigiri.(+) I really liked their hot tea that they served.(-) I think some of the supplement options should have been included in the actual omakase. I felt like it was a bit of a forced upsell to have some of these items not in the main omakase.(-) I really didn't appreciate a 20% service fee on the bill that was explicitly marked as "Not a tip". So they're asking for effectively another 20% marked on top of that, paying 40-ish percent of the entire cost of the meal in fees? If you're going to charge a service fee, just include it in the price of the omakase.Unfortunately even with supplements added on, my husband came home and ate leftover pizza because he was still hungry. It was a nice dining experience but I don't think we will be returning.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Dinner review. Omakase.OMAKASE MENUSAKIZUKESawara AburiTako Sakura-NiIwashi ShioyakiTakenoko SunomonoNIGIRI (PART 1)Kohada Gizzard Shad Hirame Olive Flounder Sumi Ika Spineless Cuttlefish Seiko Gani Female Snow CrabGohanIkura ShoyozukeNIGIRI (PART 2)Buri Wild Yellowtail Akami-Zuke - Bluefin Tuna (Lean) Tsuri Aji - Jack Mackerel Kinmedai - Golden Eye SnapperOWANAkadashi MisoCASTELLA TAMAGOSponge Egg CakeMIZUMONOTofu Ice CreamSUPPLEMENTHokkaido Bafun Uni-Sea Urchin $25 (Top Grade)O-Toro - Bluefin Tuna (Fatty) $15Engawa - Fin Muscle of Flounder $12 (Limited)Muki Hotate - Scallop $10Overall, "I'm a fan."
Food was undeniably amazing, but the service could've been better. The intimate setting at the bar allowed for an engaging experience watching the chef craft his creations. The omakase menu, priced at $125 per person with a $50 deposit, offered a generous 16-course selection. The freshness of the fish was apparent in every bite, and I enjoyed the variety of flavors. We also ordered hot tea ($5), which included free refills. Halfway through the course, the chef surprised us with complimentary white grape tea. It's worth noting that there is a mandatory 20% service fee added to the bill.My favorite pieces:- Hirame- Sanma- Chu Toro- Hokkaido UniFeedback:The service, while friendly, could have been more attentive. Our hot tea wasn't refilled as promptly as we would have liked, and there were moments when we finished our tea, waiting for a refill. Also, there was a lack of attention to detail in wiping the serving plate between each nigiri. While this didn't impact the taste, it would have added a nice touch to the presentation.
My friend and I came here on Wednesday night and quite honestly, I wasn't sure what my expectations were. I used to spend a lot of time in Castro Valley years ago, and it wasn't the most "foodie" of places. We arrived for the second seating of the night at 8pm, and were seated at the bar. We were walked through the experience and got to watch the chef prepare everything throughout the night, which was really fun!The sushi itself was great, and the fact that it was an interactive and intimate experience made it so much better!Neither my friend nor I chose to drink, but we did get hot tea, that was refilled constantly (thank you!) and we each ordered two supplements, bringing the total to $200/person once the 20% service charge was added. I'm not complaining about the price in any way as the sushi was delicious and it's nice to have a splurge once in a while! My favorite items were:*Oddly the crab and tomato was amazing - mostly due to the tomato!*Amaebi - I always love sweet shrimp, and this was no exception!*I loved the squid because the rice came warm and it was a departure from the rest of the courses*Ikura - the little bowl of okra and rice was delicious! *Loved the chu toro - I'm not a huge fan of o-toro, but the chu toro was the perfect kind of buttery*Also loved the scallopThe only thing I thought was garbage (sorry) was the avocado pudding. And I almost forgot, I loved the ginger and wasabi! That was pretty fresh and delicious and we also appreciated getting an extra "course" that was toro with liver shavings.Again, would recommend for special occasions!
Restaurantji Recommends
Finally tried an omakase experience near me!! No longer need to drag my feet to SF or South Bay lol. Omakase is served at sushi restaurants in Dublin, but nothing beats watching the chef work his magic from the bar. Love watching the mastery in assembling the nigiri, cutting the fish, and grinding fresh wasabi. Omakase ($125 per person): A $50 deposit per person is required when you book your reservation, and it's refunded to you before you pay for your dinner. Our menu today was 16 courses, not including the 2 complimentary courses (a tuna belly nigiri and lavender yuzu drink) which amount to about $8 per dish. So worth it in my opinion especially for the quality!! I regret not adding a salmon ($7) or scallop ($10) supplement.Service was exceptional. A 20% service charge is automatically added to your bill, which shouldn't be a surprise since it's mentioned on the physical menu as well as the website where you make your reservation. I still tipped a little extra as a thanks to the waitress (sorry I forgot your name!!) and manager Sunny who were both so friendly. You are offered tea or water before you're served, and the tea (genmaicha or hojicha) is $5 with consistent refills. Parking was plentiful since it's located in a plaza near Castro Valley Bart. Ambiance was perfect, there was gentle instrumental music and it didn't feel noisy even with 3 occupied tables next to the bar. I would definitely come back for another special occasion! Or order one of their takeout bentos ($75) :)
LOVE THIS SPOT! Great sushi. Very rare selection of nigiri. Would highly recommend. It’s a hidden gem for sure!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Omakase sushi in nay area!Good price and shikomi.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had never heard of this place until this year. And then I've had the good fortune to dine here TWICE! It's certainly a special occasion restaurant (unless you're rolling in $$$, then do make it one of your go-to spots!) The customer service is sublime. It is an ultra-cozy place that does NOT want to fill it up to the brim. Meaning, that while it is on the small side, there is plenty of space for customers because they keep occupancy to a minimum. So they absolutely know you're name, are extremely observant, and attend to all your needs. The food is DELICIOUS and, yes, expensive.
Came here for mothers birthday a few years agoIt wasn't bad, nothing too crazy though and we ended up ordering quite a lot extra because food wasn't a lot. I guess I'd rather go to a different omakase spot for the same price -- I'm not sure if it's worth it overall, but location isn't bad if you're in the east bay