If you're in Carmel by the Sea and are craving authentic sushi, you have to try Akaoni. Same proprietors and chef for decades. Always fresh fish. Make sure you check the daily fresh fish choices. Uni, ama ebi, mackerel, etc...they're all good and they are all masterfully prepared and served by a true sushi master. Enjoy. read more

solid omakase. the fish is fresh, the rice is nicely seasoned. the fish and rice ratio was good for the sushi. we also ordered sashimi platter. very fresh, buttery fish. i thought service was great. it's ran by an old couple the husband is the sushi chef and the wife is the server. i read some reviews service wasn't great but i thought they were attentive answered all my needs. it's a pretty small restaurant, nice date spot. it's good place for conversations, we can hear ourselves talk and close enough to each other. read more

See all

Yum! Everything was fresh and delicious. I had the clam miso soup and the chirashi, and enjoyed both. Dining here felt like being in Japan again. read more

Akaoni - Chirashi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carmel, California

We were craving sushi and found an amazingly good little restaurant in downtown Carmel called run by a husband and wife team. He was the sushi chef and she was the hostess and server. The fish was incredibly fresh and his cuts were perfection. All of the sashimi on our platter was from Japan. The fish literally melted in our mouths. You def don't need soy sauce here. I read other reviews where people mentioned that the service was very unfriendly. That wasn't our experience at all. Kindness and respect go a long ways. It's a really small and intimate place. We had two orders of their softshell crab dish which I will be dreaming about. read more

See all

Akaoni is my favorite Japanese restaurant in California. The food & quality reminds me of being in Japan. It is a cozy little restaurant in the heart of Carmel, run by Chef Shinichi Yamada and his wife who works as the waitress. I love that he makes all the sushi. It is made with such intensity, care & passion. He is laser focused on every sushi he makes. They use the best quality seafood. All seafood comes from local waters or Tsukiji Fish Market (Tokyo Central Wholesale Market) daily. The sushi here is real sushi. Appetizer: 5/5 * complimentary edamame * Shrimp tempura, so delicious and melt in your mouth crispness. The size of the single shrimp is twice the size of usual shrimp tempuras. Sushi: 5/5 * 10 piece chef's choice: I put my trust in Chef Yamada. And i'm glad I did. The 10 piece he masterfully made was perfect. Every piece of fish was so fresh. Perfect rice to fish ratio. He makes sushi the way they make it in Japan. The seafood shines not the rice or sauce. The yellowtail was rich in flavor & tender. The toro simply melted in my mouth. The hamachi is so buttery and good. I loved the saba (mackarel). I saved my favorite for last, Uni (sea urchin) from Hokkaido. White board specials from Japan: 5/5 * Uni from Hokkaido * Scallop * Spanish mackarel from Chiba * Shima aji (skip jack) from Kagoshima tips: * The sushi is made with perfect precision & passion. Try eating it without soy sauce to enjoy the true flavors. The chef has already taken care of the flavor. * Order from the white board specials. The seafood offerings are super fresh. I love ordering the Japan specials. Drink: 5/5 * Asahi: Super cold beer with a frosted glass. Nice touch... Ambiance: 5/ 5 * Restaurant has very limited bar seating and tables. I think there are only 5 or 6 tables. It is very intimate. I prefer this. It just allows the chef to completely focus on the orders. The orders are not rushed. I love that. Service: 5/5 Chef Yamada's wife is the waitress. She was nice and the service was simple and just right. Overall: * This is my favorite sushi place in California. This intimate restaurant holds a Michelin star. But they are humble in their achievment. I feel peace in this restaurant. Chef Shinichi Yamada and his wife are quiet, hardworking and the food they offer is of superior quality. Looking forward to coming back again... read more

See all

So if you haven't been to Japan this is the next best option. If you have been to Japan then this will feel very familiar. See you can win both ways. After living in the area for several years I finally took a chance at Akaoni and was rewarded with one of the best Japanese meals I ever had. I've been lucky enough to get to Tokyo three times in the past and enjoyed all my experiences. Having Akaoni literally in my own backyard is an unbelievable treat. Lots of other Yelper's preceded me and I strongly agree with most all their comments--most all very strong positive experiences. Some perceived cultural issues with the husband/ wife owners? Our own experience was very normal in that we were greeted "warmly " and offered seating without a reservation. We did go early to avoid any issues and there were none. A single woman came in 45 minutes later started asking questions to the chef and got a semi cold responses. He's trying to make sushi and wants to know if their phone number is on the internet. Come on people... he explained politely "reservations required. I think some folks think the owners are rude. Not so based on my experience. Food was over the top both in taste, freshness, and presentation. I didn't want to get booted for taking too many pics. LOL. Go but make a reservation and have a good time. It's not fancy, it's not intended to be fancy- they just care about the food they serve. You will not be disappointed. One note-- we spared no expense with our selection of mostly Japan fish plates. Generic Saki about $35 for 2. The total was $250 with tip. read more

See all

This is a small restaurant run by a husband and wife. The husband is the sushi chef and the wife is the server. They are both very good at what they do and super welcoming. It is difficult to reserve ahead of time and if they are busy they probably will have trouble answering the phone. This place probably needs to be booked beforehand. My wife and I ordered one of everything on the menu from Japan. The experience is more like omakase than just normal sushi. A lot of the fish comes from Japan and the quality is high. When we got our bill at the end it felt like robbery so we left a large tip. If I am ever in Carmel again this will be one of the first places we visit, just a really awesome restaurant. read more

See all

Best sushi in this part of California! It's a legit Japanese restaurant run by a Japanese couple (hope I'm not just assuming). We started off with edamame on the house. This is almost unheard of nowadays cuz everyone's always charging. They did have a 0.25% assessment added on so I guess this covered it? We both opted for the omakase and was happy to see uni included. These other guests changed their order after seeing ours. Would definitely come here again! read more

See all

Spent a few days in Carmel and this little gem was highly recommended by a local. She said the fish was as good as Japan. For someone that eats sushi about 5-10 a month I had to try it. So happy we did. It's a small restaurant ran by a husband and wife who take pride in ownership. If you can, try to sit at the bar Fish was fresh, service was great. This will be my go to stop everything I visit Carmel. read more

Gatekeep-Worthy Sushi of Carmel Even the standard sashimi sets felt like I was being treated to an omakase experience. I wanted to keep this place to myself so bad, but it's too good to not share with you all! Typically, reservations are recommended and VERY difficult to get as they don't answer the phone (it's an older Japanese man and woman, please don't spam them lol) I walked in at 5:30 pm on a Friday, and it was fairly quiet, no reservation needed :) Jyo Sashimi Platter 9/10: Wow, I think this was the $50 platter, but it felt very fair and premium. Delicious cuts of salmon, yellowtail, and a few fish that I didn't recognize. The salmon tartare style side was also DELICIOUS. I've never enjoyed sushi so much while having zero idea what I was eating. Uni Nigiri and Toro 9/10: Uni was a little bitter, not sure where it was sourced from, but it didn't taste like Santa Barbara's for sure! However, i got 1 piece of Toro and it was sooo rich and absolutely melted. Beer was also nice. See pics for all their menu :) Quaint interior with nice traditional-looking decor. read more

See all

A weekday walk in scenario! Otoro was super good with its chilly temperature in both nigiri and handroll format. Real wasabi was so good with the 10 pc chef's choice. The chawan mushi was also cooked so perfectly that it was super silky with the shitake's fragrance really tantalizing in that dish! Watching the egg's jiggliness was my overall joy for the evening. Uni (Hokkaido?) was sweet and had a polite amount of creaminess. I love negi toro handrolls when pickled daikon are added. Right amount of tiny pickled taste throughout to make it addicting and not too rich to enjoy! Definitely the highlight. Overall very fresh and delightful for a Tuesday night. read more

See all

Wish there was a negative star. If you're visiting Carmel by the Sea and you don't look like you don't have 3 generations of family wealth then you won't be allowed to eat here. LOL We tried making reservations online & call (no answer). We walked to the restaurant to see if we can get seated because there were so many empty tables but the rude waitress just shook her head no & walked away. Absolutely disgusting behavior. Take your money elsewhere. There's better sushi restaurants anyways with MUCH MORE FRIENDLY service. read more

We love this place! If you want a traditional style Japanese sushi meal, this place is it. My wife and I ordered a chirashi bowl, chef's sushi choice platter, and extra sushi pieces. The fish is fresh, the rice is seasoned, and the plating is thoughtful and just like I remember it in Japan. I was not expecting it at all, but the chef's choice had TWO pieces of toro and a piece of uni. My wife and I love traditional sushi and have had a few omakase experiences. Even though this wasn't it, it's not far off, minus the catered service and multiple course experience an omakase experience brings. If you're not into traditional sushi experiences, don't come expecting fancy rolls covered in sauces. That's not the vibe at this place. It's intimate and meant for "old school" sushi vibes. The couple are definitely from Japan and have a very stoic vibe to them, but I'm used to it. You may even have to get their attention (Just like in Japan! I freakin love it lol). They turn people down at the door if you don't have a reservation to keep the restaurant's intimate atmosphere, but if you're lucky someone might have cancelled and they may have an opening. Take it for what you will, but we love this place and will definitely be back! Just bummed we didn't start coming earlier! read more

Akaoni - Scallop, toro, tamago, and uni sushi. Ordered these in addition to our chirashi and chef's special sushi platter. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carmel, California

I brought my partner here as a part of their birthday weekend and we both really enjoyed the meal. We arrived right at opening and were seated immediately. The place is nicely decorated and has a casual feel. The space is relatively small and the bathroom was even smaller. Staff were really responsive and kind. The food was so fresh and delicious. To tofu was a unique experience and was so silky. Yum! Man, the texture of the fish was so good and definitely worth the trip--an incredible value. I hope to one day bring my family here! read more

See all

Absolute perfection. Our favorite sushi restaurant in California. Just a phenomenal experience.

My 2nd favorite sushi spot in all of Monterey County. Atmosphere makes you feel like you're in Japan & eating the exact same quality. Waitress & sushi chef make you feel right at home as well. Ordered the salmon sashimi, shrimp tempura roll, Dungeness crab roll, and the spicy tuna roll. Everything was delicious but my favorite from that plate was the Dungeness crab roll crunchy a bit spicy and perfect sized. The toro sashimi was perfect quality, cut and size. Will be back time and time again. Good job Akaoni! read more

Akaoni - Salmon sashimi (right), shrimp tempura roll (left front), Dungeness crab roll (left back), spicy tuna roll (far left) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carmel, California

See all

Very cute cozy place with lots of windows and natural lighting. It's very easy to miss as there is no obvious sign. My husband was craving sushi so we decided to try this place out as it was very well reviewed and the photos looked good. The reviews and photos didn't capture how amazing the food was here. Note this is mainly a sashimi, nigiri place without the typical bento boxes and rice sushi rolls. If you are into bento boxes or traditional California/dragon rolls, this is not the place for you. This place has high quality cuts of fish that are perfectly seasoned and plated for you. We ordered the homemade tofu along with a variety of negiri pieces. The homemade tofu was a creamy, melt in your mouth delight. The sauce it comes with is magical. Initially I thought it would be too salty, but it's a perfect balance of flavor that elevates this dish. I would come back just to eat this tofu. We ordered a few of the special negiri from Japan, my favorite is the salmon, toro, and shipjack. Each bite was so good, I wanted more. Def would come back here when in the areA. It's a cute mom and pop shop, so if you want to be in and out, this may not be the place for you. They also have omakaze, but you need a 3 day reservation so they can prep all the right ingredients Pro fact: they have a minimum of $30/person and all guests have a 0.25% assessment for the Carmel restaurant improvement district. read more

Amazing experience! We came here for a birthday dinner and it was absolutely magical. We had the broiled fish and the 10 piece sushi. Fish was fresh and magnificent. Service was kind of prompt and the restaurant itself is very quaint and clean. Loved dining here and already cannot wait to return! read more

Akaoni - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carmel, California

See all

Quick take: unique experience If you are looking for a unique experience, then this is it. Trying to make a reservation was a task. Reading other Yelper reviews we already knew to keep trying until our attempts were answered. Once we reached a live person we were able to make a dinner reservation for a Tuesday night. Once we made the reservation the person on the other end just hangs up and ends the call. Also, knew this from reading other Yelp reviews. The restaurant is located inside a very unassuming building. No signage, name, or anything on the windows. Once inside we waited to be seated. Service was nice and efficient. A lot of regulars dine here. Seems like the owners closer the restaurant during the holidays and recently returned to work. The tempura was really good. We ordered the chirashi and it had a good variety of sashimi. We ordered a roll and saba. Very full from what we ordered. Fish was very fresh. Quality is pretty good. read more

See all

A solid choice for sushi. The fish tasted fresh, and the rolls were well-prepared. Service was a bit slow. Still, a good place for sushi lovers. read more

Akaoni - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carmel, California

on 6/26 we had the pleasure to enjoy the sushi served at this restaurant. This was our 3rd visitation. The preparation and serving of the sushi offered by the chef is unmatched in Northern Ca. We have enjoyed sushi around the world. This restaurant stands with the best of them. G. Glasgow read more

My entire experience was incredible. The assorted sashimi plate was outstanding, best sashimi I have ever had. The service was quick and polite. read more

My wife and I had a reservation for the omakase dinner and it was a delight. The chef presented and prepared a wonderful meal for us while detailing the menu as he served it to us as well as show us proper sushi eating etiquette. We never had to wait on refills of beverages and food was always fresh. The staff here was very attentive. We loved the small restaurant and felt like it was the closest to being in Japan while being in California. Getting a reservation is hard because the staff and restaurant are small, but if you can take the time to do so, you won't regret it. We are already planning our next outing here. read more

Came here wanting to get sushi spontaneously, and I have to say I found a hidden gem. My boyfriend and I got the omakase/chef's choice, which was $70 for 10 pc. There were two toros, scallop, Hokkaido uni, salmon, red snapper, shima aji, kanpachi, spanish mackerel, and yellowtail. The fish tasted so fresh and high quality. They were all super thick cut and fatty. It was all so so good. Btw, it seems like all the bad reviews complained about the service, but my experience here was pretty good. The waiter and the chef were both friendly to us. We didn't make a reservation, but we went right when the restaurant opened so we were able to get a seat. A couple who came later got turned away because the restaurant was full. I definitely recommend making a reservation since there aren't that many tables inside! read more

Akaoni - omakase - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carmel, California

I have eaten here about 15 times over the last year and a half or so, "without" a reservation. I usually just walk in mid week at 5pm like on a Wednesday when it's totally dead. Anyway the last 2 times I came here I was "turned away." The lady just shakes her head no and points to the door. The restaurant was practically empty both times. So not sure what I did wrong or if they're picking and choosing their customers or what. I've always left a 20% tip for them, I order well over their $30 per person minimum. My average check is at least $60. And I've definitely run up $100 checks in the past. I never order any substitutions and I never ask for anything during the meal. I just sit there quietly at the bar. So I was quite shocked because I've never had this experience before. I eat out often and worked in the restaurant industry for a number of years. So getting the cold shoulder from them out of nowhere has been very disappointing. It could just be they don't like parties of 1, I'm not sure. The only reason I can come up with is they must want people who are going to run up hundreds of dollars on their check, so they're trying to pick and choose only those customers that will. Just today I was there at 5pm, I was turned away, ate at a different restaurant, walked past theirs an hour and a half later, their restaurant was more than halfway empty on a Wednesday so they totally could have served me. Just can't figure out what it is with them. But can't imagine they get enough clientele midweek anyway. It's always practically dead in there if u come midweek. I know it's just the husband and wife (2 man show) for the whole restaurant. I guess this one is for the history books. It's a shame cuz their sashimi is good. But can't get past the rotten service. read more

This place is the best! Great food and authentic ambiance. The best Japanese food in Carmel by the Sea

A night of stars pt1: Akaoni If you've been reading my reviews you'd know you're about 3 months in with babygirl. You take pride in the fact that date night above all else is time to eat. And eat well. The reviews are all true, they won't answer the phone, forget about an open table link to schedule a reservation. It's just not that kind of place. Call, keep calling, be respectful of course and if by silver linings chance someone picks up, you're in for treat. We ordered, as you should, two of each of everything on the white board. Refined sushi at this level is not supposed to be "fresh" as it ages depth, texture and complexity evolve, from once a piece of prized amberjack flown straight from Chiba, to now a complex work of art. There is something to be revered here. Pay not attention to the well deserved star that is Michelin, but the artistry of a man at his craft. read more

Akaoni - White board only please - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carmel, California

See all

Quality sashimi; great kitchen food. This is real Japanese cuisine. We are regular customers. Not easy to book a table and not for big crowds. read more

This place is a gem!! I believe they've been open for over 20 years. Best sushi I've ever had. Be sure to call ahead to make a reservation read more

See all

Hands down best sushi spot in America -- for this price and quality of fish, you can't get this anywhere else. I'm actually very shocked that their overall yelp rating is not higher. This place Reminds me of a little intimate omakase spot in Japan! Service is not the fastest but given that it's just one person doing the service, it's understandable. The high quality food is what gets the job done. Also their clam miso soup is amazing, please get that from their specialty menu! Make sure to make reservation over the phone well in advance. read more

Akaoni - 10 piece nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carmel, California

The restaurant doesn't open until 5pm which is a good indicator of a traditional Japanese restaurant but no one answers the phone to see if reservations are needed. We stopped in an empty restaurant sans one occupied table of hipsters. The waitress who seems to be the chef's wife asked if I had a reservation. I said no. She said come back in an hour and walked away without asking for my name. The patrons that were there let out a pejorative guffaw in unison ending in a snort ( like Joe could you NOT have a reservation). Given the level of pretension and the clientele it draws. We decided not to come back. NO SUSHI for you...one year!!! read more

I think this place rates high because there aren't too many Japanese restaurants in the area. Service, is okay, but they definitely aren't bubbling over with joy to serve you. The first thing they say when you walk in, is not hello, but do you have a reservation. We did, so it was fine and we were seated. The sashimi is fresh and that's probably the only reason to come here. We also ordered the dungeness crab roll. It was okay but not super special. The fried tofu, I thought would be more like agedashi tofu but it's cubes of fried tofu with a mushroom/onion gravy that just wasn't spectacular. The tofu was so hard it didn't absorb much of the gravy, so came off bland. We also got the sukiyaki which for the price, is meh. It's like every other sukiyaki just super overpriced. Would I come back...probably not, save my sushi cravings for a bigger city and better option. read more

I heard about Akaoni from a YouTube video, and I had it in my list of places to try while I was in the area for my birthday a couple months back. Since our travel plans were fluid, I called in the morning of to make a reservation for dinner, and we were lucky that they could accommodate us. Upon arrival, there are no signs on the building, so look out for the white building with large windows. If dining there, you'll often see people peering into the windows to see if they're in the right place or just to look at your food! It's a tiny restaurant with an even smaller staff, but it seemed like many patrons were regulars. We also saw a lot of people get turned down to be seated as walk ins, so I highly recommend calling in advance for a reservation or you can make a reservation in person. I opted to get the 10pc nigiri, while my partner got the chirashi. We also got a Dungeness crab and avocado roll, and my partner opted for some nigiri a la carte. Presentation was lovely, and the food tasted even better. The fish tasted fresh and delicious. The Dungeness crab roll was also so good - highly recommend if they have it as a special when it's in season. The specials board has plenty of seasonal goodies. Service was quick, and though it's just a two person team, we got our food quickly and waters refilled constantly. Would definitely come back if I'm in the area again! read more

See all

I was so impressed with the sashimi at this restaurant. Every piece was sliced perfectly, and the fish tasted incredibly fresh. You can tell they use high-quality ingredients, and it makes all the difference. read more

Akaoni - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carmel, California

Sushi rice tasted authentic (which is hard to find) and the fish was properly sliced. The fish was diverse on the chirashi. We called ahead and made a reservation just in case. read more

Akaoni - ちらし寿司 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carmel, California

See all

Leaving this review before even eating. Called this place multiple times for weeks with no answer. Came at 5pm on Thursday. One couple and nobody at the sushi bar. Super unfriendly lady would not let my 9 yo son and me sit at the sushi bar. Wouldn't say why. After multiple times asking she said no kids. Even when I asked if we could eat fast and get omakase. We've sat at sushi bars all over the world many far nicer than here. read more

I honestly don't even know how to begin writing a review for them. I am blown away by the quality, service, and I am absolutely returning to Akaoni when I have the chance! I booked the omakase course for our 6 year anniversary dinner since we were staying around the area but then it turned to an engagement dinner! My fiancé had some initial doubts about coming since it seemed like such a hole in the wall and when we walked by it- it doesn't appear like much. However, that was all changed when we went in and sat down. The chef was super nice and meticulously prepared every dish with thought and concentration. When he placed each piece on our plate, he would explain what it was, where it's from, and the best way to eat it. The ingredients were imported from Japan and you can really taste a difference especially with the uni he brought out! I tried to keep count of all the pieces we were eating but ended up losing count towards the middle. Since it was our first omakase experience, it was a different dining experience from what we were used to but we really enjoyed it and we can't wait to come back here! read more

Amazing 10 piece sushi! Really large juicy pieces of seafood. The grilled eggplant was delicious too! 100% would come back next time we're in carmel. read more

On their menu it states you MUST spend 30 dollars per person. No way am I taking MY money to a place that wants to control my budget! Their sushi is not that great and their service sucks. read more

I almost hate to write reviews when we find new restaurants that we LOVE. We are afraid to make them too busy where we can't get in. This was some of the best and freshest sushi we have ever eaten! It's a tiny place, but it's fantastic! read more