Sad to see many 1-star reviews for this place. I won't doubt any of these Yelpers' viewpoints so I'll speak from my own experience. Staff: I saw a total of 4 workers here. The head chef, the waitress, and 2 workers in the back kitchen. It may be true that their small operations may affect service and make it hard to make a reservation. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt because from what I have seen from my 2 visits here, the chef and waitress are friendly though it does seem they are quite busy so they need to focus on getting the job done and may come off as standoffish. The head chef, Shiro-san, is hardworking yet always willing to engage in conversation (did you know he's a triathlete??). I've met folks who have been frequenting Akaoni for over 25 years. That's saying something. $135 Omakase // Getting a Reservation: You can only get omakase via reservation. It is true that you may need to call many times just to get through, but it was worth it to me. My favorite dishes from omakase were ankimo (monk fish liver), kanpachi (amberjack), shima aji (striped jack), uni (sea urchin), kaki fry, cod, salmon nigiri, and homemade tofu. Quality: I'm from South Bay and there are no good sushi restaurants in my area. While maybe not as fresh as the sushi you'd get in Japan, Akaoni's selection is way better than anything I'll find in South Bay. Even my friends who have been here rave about Akaoni. I know the clams are sourced from Monterey (local!) and the scallops and uni are sourced from Hokkaido (the best!). TIPS: * There are NO SIGNS so it's easy to miss! Akaoni is in-between Grasing's + Art WeMe Contemporary Gallery. Brown door. Peer inside the window for what's obviously a sushi restaurant and you've found it. * You need a reservation for omakase. * Be patient when trying to call on the phone to get a reservation. * $20/person minimum. * Street parking is free after 6pm. read more

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Super fresh sushi! The cut of fish is nice thick and juicy. Japanese steam egg is very good. I recommended this sushi chef. He work with a passion, very traditional. read more

The food that I got was good enough, but don't think it's worth what you pay. The sushi chef didn't even wash his hands after grabbing the menu I was keeping just in case. Then, he wiped off the sushi bar table where the menu was sitting before going back to preparing food without washing his hands. read more

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Eating at Akaoni is a privilege. This is the best sushi I have ever had in my life. It is so good here that it will ruin mainstream sushi restaurants for you-as it should because honestly, sushi is not worth paying for unless expertly executed-this is what you receive at Akaoni-perfectly executed sushi by a master. I have been eating here for many years and have never once been disappointed. This a small, unassuming restaurant that is run by a husband and wife team-They do not take parties larger than four and reservations are needed. Always excellent. I see reviews for rude service and as a local this has never been my experience. It is difficult to get a reservation here, communication can seem short or crisp to the uninitiated. I feel that some people are entitled and just expect to be overly cajoled, coddled when they dine out-If this is you, please go elsewhere. read more

I don't know what others seem to be doing wrong here, but I made a reservation a month in advance, arrived on time, and was graciously seated and served. We ordered nigiri to start, and two rolls to finish, and both my husband and I agree this is some of the highest quality sushi we have had in California. The fish is superb, the rice wonderful, and we found the service very traditional and respectful. We will absolutely continue to come here any time we're in the area, it's a little pricey, but you're paying for the INSANE quality. Definitely worth a splurge! read more

Akaoni - That BLUEFIN though! In the back- maguro, hamachi, sake, ikura, and anago nigiri. They also serve a true wasabi blend, which is awesome! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carmel, California

I would not recommend this place. We had a group of six 2 adults and 4 kids and she would not serve us. Not sure what's her reasoning but it was quite rude. read more

The omakase is in my top 3 for sushi! 10 courses to include ice cream at the end. We started with an appetizer that had oyster, abalone, and king salmon. The next thing was an assortment of sashimi that ranged from toro to kenmedai. Tempura, steamed egg, fried fish, and more traditional sushi kept coming. The best bites were the marinated maguro and the finishing bowl of chopped up negi toro with uni on top! I was worried that I would not be full by the end but I was pleasantly surprised. The chef told us the best way to consume each piece no soy sauce for certain dishes which really heightened the attention to detail and speaks to his expertise in honing his craft. Service was impeccable and we never waited for the next dish. I have been to some sushi places and it takes a long time to get dishes or have water refilled. Definelty will be coming back. Although it's a little pricey at $145 per person worth it for special ocassions. Pro tip: Be sure to call ahead to reserve. You can't just pop in expecting to do omakase. read more

Really neat place with a husband wife restaurant combo. We ordered the fried tofu, mixed tempura, sashimi, sushi, and the soft shelled crab roll. The tempura was tasty though the pieces were a little too big so they were a little hard to eat. All of the fish that we had were very fresh and delicious. I do wish that for the sushi that less wasabi was used because it could be overpowering in some pieces. The tofu was good but nothing special. The soft shelled crab was also pretty good. read more

Hands down the best sushi in Monterey! Their sashimi is crazily fresh and delicious. Spicy tuna roll is the best spicy tuna I've ever had. I usually always asks for no wasabi in my sashimis and don't care for the ginger on the side, but theirs are unusually good. We have tried MANY sushi places in the Monterey Peninsula and ALWAYS come back to Akaoni. read more

Akaoni - I mean C'mon...how beautifully delicious is this?!!? - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carmel, California

Open sign. Plenty of a eating available. Turned away at door by staff who asked me what I wanted (at a restaurant?!?) and when I asked for a table or the bar said, "No. we're waiting on 6:30." Rude and disrespectful. read more

Akaoni is the absolute worst restaurant I have ever attended! Their customer service is disgusting! My dog would not even eat their food. Overall do not recommend, If you don't want to be sick in the morning, never go. read more

We had an amazing experience here tonight. I did a deep dive on the reviews for this place and was a little hesitant to try and get a reservation for the next day.I know some people say it can be almost impossible to get in. However, I called only once yesterday to make a Friday reservation for tonight and was able to get it reserved no problem. She was kind when she answered and told me all of the times available when I asked. My fiancé and I showed up an hour early on accident and they still seated us right away. The chef was having friendly conversation with regulars at the sushi bar and there was pleasant chatter, not silent like I have seen in other reviews. I have never had such fresh tasting fresh. Even the rice was delicious. We ordered the chirashi bowl, toro, uni, and scallop of the specials board. The toro was SO GOOD, we ate it up before I could take a picture. Overall, I will definitely be back. Such a wonderful experience. read more

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This place is EXCELLENT! This place is pretty much reservation only so make sure to call in advanced as we watched quite a few people get turned away :( They also have lunch hours on a few days of the week but I cant recall when. The fish was very fresh and the quality was fantastic. Waiter was very polite and kept my water topped off. Definitely worth the price and checking out if you're at Carmel by the sea and craving quality sushi. read more

Akaoni - Jyo Sashimi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carmel, California

I can't even express how disappointed I am. We flew from NJ and came to Carmel by the seas. I heard good reviews of this restaurant. We walked in, and both husband and wife said we can't service you. There were more than 5 seats at the bar and a few tables of 4 available. They said they can only take 3 so we can't not be seated. Thank you, we take our business elsewhere. - If I could put no star I would. read more

This place doesn't get the attention it deserves. And I'm ok with that. This is another one of those Carmel-by-the-Sea gems that seems to get passed over for the bigger, more showy sushi bars. And I'm ok with that, too. Amidst the sumptious sushi, sashimi and authentic Japanese cuisine, you will endeavor to taste all that is good and precious here on the peninsula. Don't forget to check the specials board: the oysters can't be beat, and the uni is to die for. Be smart. Make reservations. read more

It took us a while to find this place. I didn't realize that a lot of restaurants and businesses in Carmel don't necessarily have an address with a number in it. It tells you it's at the corner of Mission and 6th Street and I guess it's your job to look for it in the vicinity. We eventually found it and went inside. It was very small and we were the first customers in there. We decided to sit at the sushi bar. The sushi chef and the other 2 staff seemed really flustered. After our drink order was taking I asked the chef if he had omakase. He responded with "first customers no omakase". Hubby and I looked at one another really perplexed. Did he mean the first customers through the door or did he mean first time customers? What is the logic in that? I perused the menu for a while and then asked him the question on my mind.... First customers through the door or what? He said "I don't do omakase for first time customers, maybe after few times". He then said that he doesn't know the customers' taste so he doesn't do omakase. I took a deep sigh. I felt that the fact that I asked for omakase meant I was willing to try everything. I've never had an experience like this before. Usually, even as first time customers at a restaurant requesting omakase, the chef will ask us if we eat everything and if there are things we don't like and then go ahead with the omakase. I just found it really weird that this chef was so abrupt with regards to not serving us omakase. I decided to just order. We started off with some hamachi and kampachi. I also ordered items off the specials board: homemade tofu, toro, mirugai, fresh scallops and red snapper which was supposedly imported from Japan. I also ordered some vegetable tempura for the young man, as well as some miso soup. The first to hit our plates were the hamachi and kampachi. The fish was very fresh with nice flavors. I especially liked the kampachi because it had a really good texture. Mirugai was crunchy and toro just melted in the mouth. What really blew us away were the fresh scallops. We ended up getting 2 orders of these. The 'lips' of the scallops were tossed together with julienned zucchini and squash and presented to us on jumbo scallop shells. It was really nice that they found a way to use the scallop 'lips' and not waste it as it is just as flavorful as the scallop itself and has great texture. The imported red snapper had a nice chew factor and the chef seasoned it so we didn't need to dip it into the soy sauce. Since I'm a huge fan of uni I got some of that too -- very creamy with tons of umami. I had 3 pieces of this. The home made tofu arrived in a little hotpot style pot and bowls of seasoned soy with scallions were given to us. The chef then scooped the delicate tofu into the bowls and presented it to us. It was the most amazing tofu I've ever had. It was soft and smooth and almost broke apart upon touch. Very impressive. I then saw something being brought out of the kitchen and asked the chef what it was. He said it was hijiki (seaweed) cooked with carrots and tofu. We said we'll have some. It was cooked with mirin and because it wasn't overly seasoned, the natural flavors of the hijiki was very apparent. I liked how these items weren't readily found in restaurants we're accustomed to. In terms of quality I'd say it is really in line with that of Ikko or Murasaki, however, there isn't a lot of variety. I asked the chef if there was anything else we'd not tried and he said 'halibut' so we tried that too. I enjoyed it. In fact, I enjoyed everything we had. I asked if he had amaebi and he said it was frozen. I appreciated that he was up front about that. I passed. Apart from the lackluster personality of the sushi chef, I'd say the food experience was definitely stellar. Our meal came to $112 before tip -- hubby had a beer -- so it wasn't too expensive for the quality we received. I highly recommend it for those who love great sushi.... Just don't expect banter from the staff and you'll be just fine. read more

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Best sushi place i've ever had so far. I called them on Thursday noon and luckily they had one reservation open at 5pm the same day. Their sashimi is so fresh that you can taste the sweetness in each piece. The lady and her husband were very nice, unlike most of the review i've read on yelp. But i'd suggest call before hand for reservation because the place is quite small, so it's understandable that they turn down some walk-ins. read more

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Real, authentic, simply made sushi made by a sushi chef who you can tell takes pride in his craftsmanship. Do not walk into this place and ask for California rolls or other flashy specialty maki rolls, this is NOT that kind of place. If you appreciate a simple and delicious real Japanese style meal, this is where you go. Don't be the douche bags that come in looking for bento boxes and California rolls. My husband and i made reservations because this place is tiny and they seem to plan their dinner service around these reservations and not walk ins. You may be able to squeeze in some time if you walk in, between reservations. But we tried once before and learned our lesson. Their house made tofu is amazing. Again, simple yet delicious. I've never had tofu like that in my life! It is so clean tasting, very light and delicate yet satisfying. More than enough for 2 to share. The sushi was the perfect ratio of fish and rice. You'd think this is easy to do but even my favorite sushi restaurants usually put too much rice. These are probably smaller pieces than what you might be used to at any old sushi place. But to me, this is perfection. The fish tasted fresh and we ordered few different things to get a taste of everything. It was more than enough to fill us. I would highly recommend this place if you appreciate sushi not just as food, but as handcrafted art. The sushi chef is legit and created a beautiful meal for us. Maybe next time we will do the omakase, which I understand you need to reserve in advance! There are not many spots like this. I can't wait to go back! read more

Akaoni - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carmel, California

We've picked 4 food items from the menu and two drinks, waitress said that we need to order minimum of $60.00.( she is standing there and calculating my order I guess) I was very surprised,, Why am I forced to order more?? I've paid for the drinks and left. I also own a business, I couldn't tell my customer such a thing! Spend this much or I don't serve you.They didn't like my $44.00 order. Shame on the owner of this restaurant!! I mean it!! Ungrateful people!! read more

Who knew nestled in Carmel was this amazing Japanese chef? I've had my fair share of omakase and never did I imagine that one of the best I'd experience would be in Carmel. No offense to Carmel, but I don't associate authentic Japanese cuisine with Carmel. We had reservations for two omakase sets and even though we were half an hour early, they seated us immediately. The chef was incredibly nice and respectful. Every time we complimented his food, he genuinely expressed gratitude and was prideful in his work, which is well-deserved as the 15 items presented to us were so well crafted. Each piece of ingredient in each dish was a specialty from somewhere in the world and he isn't just saying it - you *can* taste the quality! I do have to note that occasionally even with high quality sushi/sashimi, I experience a little bit of an upset stomach afterwards, which is really my own sensitivity to foods. I was a little worried when we were served sashimi, then a piping hot bowl of miso soup with fresh clams, followed by green tea ice cream. Typically, the succession of alternating heat upsets my stomach but this didn't! Amazing! I have to say the order picked by the chef is meticulously thought out and I appreciated it. One of the best omakase I've ever had. It's definitely my favorite place in Carmel now. We will be back. Originally we wanted to try some other items on the menu that they're known for but with how full we were after our dinner, we just couldn't stomach any more food. Believe me, if it fills me up to the point where I cannot take in anymore, you're getting fed well! Can't wait to return! read more

It's the best in the Greater Bay Area. Totally brought me back to Japan. We are dining there again in less than two weeks. Can't wait!!!

THE best spider roll I have had in the world! The sushi chef is the Japanese version of Seinfeld's Soup Nazi. The staff are nearly mute, and the Japanese server appears to have battered woman syndrome. The food is top notch but the attitude of the chef and the robotic servers ruins the experience. Too bad. read more

The food here is amazing! It's a small little gem in downtown Carmel, maybe with less than 25 seats. If you want fast service then don't come here. This place is not your eat and run mill. It is a place where you enjoy the food and maybe your company, because there will be some waiting involved. There is only one sushi chef, one server and make be one person in the back of the kitchen cooking. We didn't make reservations on a Sunday evening, we were lucky because after being in the restaurant they had to tell the customers to come back later. I had the assorted sashimi, uni (sea urchin) and halibut (hirame) from Japan. The uni was creamy, smooth and the subtle rich sweetness of the flavor just lingers in your mouth. By far when I crave uni I come here. Other unis from different oceans/area are gritty and have have a sour flavor. This place ruined all other sea urchins for me. The hirame was soft and milky. I savor end every piece as long as I could. My other sashimi was above average. Never been disappointed. The wait is definitely worth it. read more

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By far, THE BEST sushi place on Monterey Peninsula. This place is probably the only place as authentic and as fresh as to you were getting sushi in Japan. After reading other people's review, I made sure I had a reservation; was seated promptly. I can see why other people may feel they have bad service as they will only open up to you if you truly appreciate what they offer. Husband and I both had $60 Omakase Nigiri dinner. Toro was so delish, literary melted in my mouth. We also had fried squid ($10) and Broiled salted mackerel ($10) as our appetizers. All very tasty- the quality was just like we would get in Japan. After completed Nigiri dinner, I also ordered Mackerel Nigiri and Ankimo (monk fish liver $9) both very good as they can get very stinky and fishy as it gets non fresh. Chef Shin gifted my husband and I "Green Tea Ice cream". Oh I wish I was hungrier but still so so tasty- not overpowering with excessive amount of sugar and could taste the real matcha which I loved. Will definitely be coming back! Wonderful experience! read more

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Best sushi experience in Monterey county. Love that it has a exclusive vibe to it. Order everything on the menu and thank me later.

Amazing sushi and quiet atmosphere. Hard to get a reservation, but i believe it's required.

Walked in at around 6 pm not sure what to expect as I did not do any research - just wanted to get some sushi and this place that looked like a $15/head joint on yelp popped up. It was a half empty restaurant (half of the bar, half of the tables were empty). Very simple and somewhat dingy interior - eerily quiet as if nobody wanted to talk in a volume beyond a whisper. The surly sushi chef and the two ladies in the back of the room wiping plates did not bother even looking my way or saying a single word. After a few minutes wondering if someone would say something or even make eye contact, the chef said very rudely "DO YOU HAVE RESERVATION?" while still not even looking up and I just walked out. Very odd experience and makes you wonder why anyone wants to pay so much money to be treated like trash? Quite an embarrassment to Carmel and Japanese people in general. Anyone who had this experience here, please go to Japan and experience how actual Japanese restaurants treat customers - they'll surely appreciate the money you spend there unlike this sorry excuse for a sushi restaurant. read more

I am a regular here. Have not been to Carmel for a little while and right now they do take out. Since they were not open for dining we had gone to a different sushi restaurant in Monterey earlier in the week. It was rated 4.7, and was terrible. On the other hand, I am shocked that Akioni only gets something like a 3.7 or 3.8 rating. This is definitely the best sushi restaurant in the Carmel area. Very fresh and consistent - amazing. Extremely small. I think people are put off sometimes by how small it is and maybe the prices, which are high. Overall if you want great sushi this would be a great place to go. read more

The uni redefined what uni should be. Same for the toro. Understated elegance and amazing, high quality fish. Would go every week if we could. read more

Akaoni - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carmel, California

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Not too accommodating. Food is mediocre for Japanese natives. I'd rather recommend Toro for quality vs. price.

Excellent sushi, excellent soft shell crab appetizer, teriyaki salmon, edamame. Yoko always follows up after orders complete, all OK. Sushi Chef, owner, Shin, always there for customers--questions, friendly conversation. Have been a customer 28 years. A couple of months ago, I accidentally knocked over my water glass, spilled water on table and floor. Shin immediately came over and wiped up my mess. read more

Very rude. I understand this place is so popular and sometimes is fully booked. However they don't even let me finish my words and hang off the phone while I as still talking. What kind customer service it is? read more

Wanted to try a different sushi place before leaving Monterey. Found this gem. Small restaurant wasn't too packed. But delicious everything was fresh. The yellow tail collar is delicious Nice big collar juicy and fresh. Every fish I ordered was fresh. Very impressed Their uni is super fresh, toro is good too, the clam soup is great on a rainy day. Definitely coming back. Service is good too. Not too many sushi places with good service due to language barrier. read more

Akaoni - Sushi Bars Near Me - Carmel, California

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This place has the best quality fish I have ever eaten. Melts in your mouth fresh. You pay for what you get . Prices are above average but not ridiculous. It's well worth it. Will be back. read more

Best Japanese restaurant in California. Freshest fish, no fuss, just truly great sushi and wonderful dishes like homemade tofu, and perhaps the best tempura in California too. read more

Hands down THE best food experience! I did the Omakase dinner (you need to book ahead) and this is one food experience that I will think about for years to come. Everything I ate was delicious... the fish was fresh and melts in your mouth. Everything was 100%. If you ever find yourself in Carmel, make sure you reserve a table at Akaoni. If you can, I highly recommend you do the Omakase dinner. I spent about $200 total with tip and I will gladly spend that much again when I go back to Carmel. The owner and sushi chef was a delight! He explained every single dish that I ate and shared the coolest stories about his training in Japan and his experiences owning a restaurant in Carmel. I was fortunate enough to be able to watch him make every single dish -- all works of art! I love Akaoni and will definitely be back! read more

IF YOU AEW HUGRY, COME HERE FOR RUDE WAITRESS AND OK SUSHI Come here for lunch yesterday and food was decent. Don't really care for the shrimp tempura roll but the bento box was decent but not filling. The waitress was not warm and borderline rude but I decided not to make a deal of. Came back for dinner (very close to my hotel) and this time I asked to sit by the window (they were not busy) and the same waitress rudely said no and pointed to the seat at sushi counter. Her rudeness really put me off. No pleasantries from the moment I walked in. No smile. Just a very pissed off attitude. I turned and walked out. What would any business hire rude staffs like her really is a unfortunate. read more

Awful customer service. Hostess hung up on us twice as we were asking questions trying to make reservations. It doesn't matter how good your food is, you cannot treat people like that. Shame on you. You are pretty off spending your money at another establishment who can communicate with customers in welcoming manner. read more

Friends, tomodachi, countrymen--gather round and let me tell you a story. It's a story about a man named Nozawa who created a very special sort of experience back in La La Land (in the valley), where Japanese ometenashi (hospitality spirit and etiquette) was turned on its head, and rudeness, contempt, total disregard for the customer in every area other than food (and even then...) was to become his brand identity. And it worked. People flocked from all over California to be abused. They liked it. They still do. The so-called Sushi Nazi was born. And our friends here at Akaoni continue this tradition of having foolish, no-nothing gaijin dine in front of them, and aim their heads up the ass of terrible attitudes, disinterested service and an utter collapse of Japanese culinary and cultural traditions. Takakura-Ken is spinning in his grave. So is Uesugi Kenshin. Years ago, this would have almost amused me. No longer. I am disgusted and furious with this sort of behavior. I've lived in a Japanese area for years and spent much time traveling throughout Japan on business and personal matters. And while there are some fools even in the Land of the Gods who will occasional behave this way--it is rare-- and they could never maintain a livelihood unless they have a pandering momo like David Gelb to make a documentary about them (Jiro...). This is NOT Japanese style. This is NOT Japanese culture. This is just a miserable man and his wife, or at least two actors playing miserable people, who aim to metaphysically spit in the face of Americans who are too dumb or too mentally infantile to understand that they are being abused. Perhaps this is something germane to California itself, where you the citizen are responsible to the State and not the other way around. Was the food good? Kind of. Yes. Some of it was delicious. But to eat in the equivalent of a totalitarian's library, where breathing, talking or even thinking too loud might set him off twitching and then tossing you out--is utterly ludicrous and makes for a terrible experience. Never eat here. And if you do, and you enjoy it, it's either because you are so desperate for abuse that you need professional help or your entire philosophy of life is morally inverted. Lastly, the ONLY reason that I didn't get up and walk out is because I was with guests. But I will never forget this man and his 'lovely' wife. And if I have the ability to, I will be back. With a large party of happy, loud and drunk people. And look forward to seeing our Taisho spin his head around a la Rosemary's Baby, and spit wasabi-flavored pea soup over all of us, in front of my lying eyes. read more

Excellent fresh fish served in a traditional setting. Dour, unsmiling sushi chef who maintains his composure-unsmiling, unemotional-"judge me by my presentation and the quality of what I serve you, NOT my personality". Small venue, reservations required, excellent service. This was the best sushi experience we have had in the Monterey Bay Area in 20 plus years. read more