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.“

“Really great sushi, so many good rolls to choose from!! I will definitely be back to explore the menu some more. Service was great too, the owner served us and was so welcoming and friendly, I'd go back just for the vibe even if the sushi was only standard quality.“

“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!“

“Favorite sushi in santa cruz. they are responsive and friendly, and their fish is very fresh!! melts in my mouth everytime. they are a local Japanese family who take very great care of their customers. they see me often and know me by name and say hi even if i dont order from them.

very fair prices / portions for sushi in this city. always filling for me. i love their orange chicken and teriyaki plates, they both come with a delish miso soup. they are a staple for abbott square and a must have.“

“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.“

“The food was incredible, the service was impeccable, and the Ghibli decor was so adorable! I was lucky enough to get there shortly after their dinner hours started. As I was leaving every table was full because this place is delicious. I overheard a child saying, “I could eat just this for the rest of my life!” I agree!“

“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!“