Samurai Restaurant

Great meal, nice atmosphere, and service was good.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

DUDE
This place is real deal, AJ is an authentic G slangin some incredible rolls and good times/convo

Best Salmon Roe I've had in a long while. In and out with very friendly service.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Old Tahoe style but sushi was bland. No spice. Wait for food was long but not busy for that maybe Just take out order? Either way. This is a pass

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 4

Called to place a takeout order for miso soup and a tuna roll and was told it would take 2 hours, asked to just order the soup as that is usually premade and ready to go but was told it would take an hour… needless to say went elsewhere.

3.5 overall. The food wasn't great, but not bad either. The ambience was nice and the service fast and friendly. Giving it a 3.5 because the food was a bit overpriced in terms of quality and portions. This seems to be a common thing about sushi restaurants in South Lake Tahoe, Reno is a much better deal when it comes to sushi/poke.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

Got 4 rolls to go to start our vacation, it was about $80. Which is a ridiculous amount of money to begin with but that’s how sushi is priced generally everywhere. My problem was that all the rolls we ordered were supposed to come with some sort of siracha mayo or eel sauce. None of them came with any sauce. The food would have been good if the sauce was on it because now, it’s just super dry sushi. We got packets of soy sauce but that’s not even close to the same thing. Actually really disappointed right now. Especially for $80. Called to complain and whoever answered the phone couldn’t have cared less. Offered to give it to us if we drove the 20 minutes back. How about a free roll or something? Actually ruined my entire meal. I normally would never complain as I bartend full time and am in the industry. I just feel like for that much money maybe PAY ATTENTION to the food you’re making and KNOW WHAT THE DESCRIPTIONS ARE ON YOU'RE MENU. Underline, bold- YOU’RE MENU. Considering this a waste of money since I enjoyed it SIGNIFICANTLY LESS than I would have had it been made correctly.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 3

Service: 1

Hidden gem in Lake Tahoe. Stopped here for lunch after a soccer match, and our family loved it. Sashimi appetizer (12 pieces) is a great and delicious value. Kids enjoyed the tempura, and AJ’s Roll is pretty special. Other rolls are delicious too. Service is good, and ambiance is simple and nice. Unlike many other restaurants in the Lake Tahoe area, the prices were fair for what you get. I would recommend checking this place out.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

Sushi Spotlight: Y3K Roll, Jalapeño Tamaki, and the Tahoe Roll

The meal began with a golden, crispy tempura—light and delicate, with just the right amount of crunch. A great palate opener without being too oily.

The Y3K Roll was a standout: baked scallop and shrimp wrapped in seaweed, delivering a warm, savory bite. The balance of saltiness and rich baked seafood flavors was spot-on. The seaweed wrap added a subtle layer that complemented the warm seafood filling without overpowering it.

The Jalapeño Tamaki Hand Roll brought heat and creaminess together with salmon, tuna, jalapeño, and cream cheese. The cream cheese gave it a smooth texture that cooled the jalapeño's spice just enough, while the mix of fresh fish added depth. It’s bold, indulgent, and definitely for those who like a kick.

But the highlight? The Tahoe Roll—a personal favorite. Loaded with tuna, yellowtail, salmon, shrimp, and avocado and this roll is all about fresh, vibrant flavor. I always opt for the regular seaweed wrap instead of soy paper, which gives it a more classic satisfying bite. It’s a fresh, balanced roll that checks every box.

You must try the fried banana dessert. Throughout my whole sushi eating career, this is the best fried banana dessert I’ve had.

Ambiance is beautiful with a fire pit in the center of the restaurant. Staff is friendly and makes you feel welcome. This is the best sushi spot in South Lake Tahoe!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Excellent experience

Fresh sushi, amazing staff and cozy!
Thanks for keeping your restaurant warm, love the new menus!

Fantastic sushi, good prices. Pretty loud when busy - hard to have a good conversation.

I have eaten here several times under the previous ownership. This is the first time I've been back in several years.

Tonight on the board, they had specials such as sea trout and Chu Toro. I would rate both of them as average. They both tasted like they were previously frozen. In my opinion, this restaurant was better under previous ownership.

Our food and server were outstanding. My only complaint is that one of us was served significantly sooner than the other.

Best Sushi in Tahoe.