11 Best Japanese Restaurants in Santa Cruz

“Junko is wonderful - the best! 🍣🍱😋“

“Incredibly good food. I got their Volcano roll, and it was to die for. We also got more of their traditional dishes, and they were equally as delicious. Definitely worth the stop, as it'll be on our regular list when we visit the area.“

“Best sushi in Santa Cruz. Most innovative rolls we have had in a long long time. We opted for the real seafood rolls as opposed to the vegan fish this time but I can't wait to go back and try those next. Great service, food and price. We will definitely go back for more...“

“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!“

“This is a great place with excellent sushi and great attention to detail. We normally do take out. However there is a large patio with tables behind the Octagon and I had lunch sitting in the sunshine.
The menu is very good and good selection including cooked and vegetarian rolls.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Wow, super surprised at how incredibly good this place is. Quality of the sushi flavors was similar to what you get at higher-end places. Way affordable for darn good sushi! Highly recommend this place! We got the Titanic, Santa Cruz, Salmon Skin and Lion (this order in the picture).“

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

“Look, it’s not fine dining and maybe not the best for a romantic date night. But if you want a reasonably priced, decently portioned, tasty meal, it’s perfect! Food is terrific for what it is. It might take a try or two to figure out your favorite dish, but it’s worth the experiment. Once you find your order you’ll want it every week!“

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