10 Best Japanese Restaurants in Santa Cruz

“Junko is wonderful - the best! 🍣🍱😋“

“HIDDEN GEM Best ever! So you HAVE to give this place a try! Alex was our server tonight. She was excellent. Food was amazing. Prices fantastic. Choose over Akira all day long, no wait ... reservations for party larger than 4 but sushi bar is stellar!“

“An amazing spot for sushi! Their selection was unique and varied and the service was lovely! The amount you’re given is great too. The cooks and employees were incredibly sweet. Seating isn’t an issue; I personally appreciate the little tables inside, and there’s additional seating outside. Wait time was also reasonable for the amazing quality of the food. Please support this business! They deserve it!“

“Go, because you will love the food, the delightful owners who make it, and because this is my family’s favorite Santa Cruz restaurant for evening dine-in and take-out.

The ingredients are fresh and freshly made in-house, the portions are generous, and vegetarian, vegan, and every other dish I’ve tried has been delectable.

The owners (always there!) are skilled, knowledgeable and happy to explain their cuisine, so you will enjoy your meal.

My favorite menu items are:

1. Ceviche- A lime-lover’s dream paired with chilled sweet potato and large kernels of corn, served chilled, as well as freshly roasted- imagine fresh, lightly toasted, corn nuts with an addictive nutty flavor.

Rolls- Yam, Gilroy, California- all tested and retested many times.

Sashimi- you can't go wrong with the generous Hamachi and Maguro plates.

The homemade house salad dressing and hot Peruvian tea are also tasty.

There is a cheerful vibe here. Larger parties may want to call ahead, as the venue is cozy, with tables seating 2-6 people.

We spend $20-40 per person depending on whether we dine in or get our food to go.“

“Very fresh sushi and for the price it's very good! Definitely recommend coming in“

“Visiting from out of town and my husband picked this place. As a studio Ghibli fan I loved the art on the walls. It was very creative and welcoming. We ordered rolls that were super good. The prices vary but I felt like they were affordable for a nice night out.“

“We stopped in on October 11 during happy hour. Being from Michigan, we did not know what to expect. Our daughter, now an Aptos resident, said this was her favorite place for sushi. We could see why! The flavors and variety of items were excellent. Best of all was our server Isabell. She was great; friendly, attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. Great food, great service. Thank you.“

“Great spot for some sushi. I had one of the sushi platters and a California roll. Both were great. The Japanese soda was also a nice treat. They do have a little bit of parking at the back of the restaurant, which is awesome since otherwise parking would have to be on the street #recommended #bechego“

“Absolutely the best noodles and soup I've had and probably best restaurant period. Everyone in my friend group adored it. Everything from the soup, to the chow mein to the curry and the wings was delicious. My bubble tea was great also. If you're in town you gotta stop by at Betty “

“Amazing food! Friendly service! You’ve got to see the Waterfall at the bar on Friday and Saturday evenings. Sake bombs for everyone!“