Went on Valentine's night so wait time was about an 1 hour! Service was good but we both didn't get our drinks that we ordered--so we just stuck with the water... some of the food was very good! Especially the croquette and yakisoba! Very fresh! Gyoza was okay. Very busy night but the atmosphere was warm and pleasant! read more

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Had lunch here on Saturday for a birthday celebration. Arrived a few minutes before they opened at 11:30AM. Their dining area quickly became fully occupied. I was eyeing for a large serving of sashimi and sushi, but nothing on their standard menu caught my attention. I requested for another menu with a variety of sushi boat options. We opted for thieir first offering. These boats are described as a serving for two. We initially thought we would have to place another order, but that wasn't the case. It includes (pair of each) bowl of rice, salad, and miso soup. I do commend their sushi rice. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. I also love their beer on tap pitchers! My party don't mess around. We were the only table drinking before noon! Many years ago, Akebono was reputable as being the best in Sacramento. That was a long time ago and likely at another location. I'm out of touch whether they have changed ownership. Regardless, they have proven their worthiness in the city of Sacramento today and hope they maintain to be that way going forward. read more

Akebono - Sapporo beer although in a Asahi pitcher. - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I've been here a few times and always felt 50/50 about this place, so I decided to give them another shot. On a Friday night, I walked in with 40 minutes left before closing, thinking they'd be happy to serve me. However, the experience was disappointing. As soon as I walked in, the waitress looked at me, then at someone in the back, and told me, "Sorry, we already did our last call." This was the first thing she said--no greeting, no offer to place a to-go order as an alternative. I nodded and said, "Okay," but as I walked to my car, the situation didn't sit right with me. To test the inconsistency, I called them to place a to-go order. The person on the phone said, "Sure, what would you like?" I explained I had just been told it was last call and couldn't order, and they apologized, saying they were still accepting to-go orders but not dine-in. I asked why the waitress hadn't offered me this option and why I was essentially turned away. The staff then offered for me to come back and place an order, but by that point, my appetite was gone. Before this experience, the food was just okay. I had the seafood ramen, but I wouldn't recommend it--there are better options on the menu. The sushi is hit-or-miss; some of the fish seemed fresh, while others didn't. As for service, they were slow in the past, but this recent experience felt downright rude. This might be my last time visiting, but if I do return, it'll only be to try the chicken katsu curry. read more

The hamachi lover and salmon lover were great! Big pieces of sashimi and great balance of fish on the rolls. Perfectly filling. Quick attentive service! The interior is bigger than I thought it was. They were showing the niners game on a tv and a projector in the back. read more

Akebono - Hamachi lover - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Their sushi was good, 4 stars for that. Service was friendly but not attentive when they got busy. Honeymoon roll 4/5 Veggie tempura 4/5 Salmon blossom 4/5 Cheese ramen 3/5 Hamachi nigiri 4/5 Was a little let down when I was expecting a modern, trendy place based on the pix but got dated, rough around the edges, in need of a good cleaning (sticky floors, dirty chair legs). Nothing compelling me to return especially since it's a bit of a drive. Not crazy about the plaza it's in either. read more

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What happened? Traditionally our go to for Japanese food. Service is still good and attentive. However the food has taken a dive and is expensive for what you get. Sukiyaki had tough meat and way too sweet. However Donburi seems to be good value and portions. Udon noodles were good but small portions. The "back" room has been repainted and looks nice. Maybe should have stuck to the sushi and sashimi. read more

I decided it was high time for a return visit after having come here ages ago. That Crazy Crab roll was a mouthwatering delight. The service was quick and courteous. I happened to go during a period of relative calm. I plan to return and give other rolls a shot. read more

Akebono - 9/19/24 Crazy Crab Roll - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

Years ago Akebono was a great place. It's gone downhill with the new owner. The Katsu was overcooked and even appeared to come as a packaged product. The Sashimi was not fresh and, mushy and un-edible. We were presented our bill before our food was served and were rushed out. This was a bad experience and I'm writing this review to forewarn customers so they don't suffer the same disappointment as we did. read more

We just discovered this place recently. The place is clean and the staff were really nice. I ordered the chicken katsu with curry. Definitely brought me back to Japan. Will I come here again? Definitely read more

Akebono - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Went here with my family after visiting the zoo and it was delicious. The staff was very attentive, the prices were great and the food was very fresh. We will come back read more

Came here on a Monday night due to a friend's recommendation, and sweet Jesus this place is amazing. I appreciated the artwork and wall decors, and the restaurant was very spacious. Service was good and quick. I like to judge sushi quality by their hamachi (Yellowtail), especially since salmon and tuna are very common. So my main order was the Hamachi lover's - and I was elated to see and taste the quality. In fact, the hamachi at Akebono is comparable to some of the more expensive spots in Los Angeles and San Diego. We were also told the California Roll (which I never order) was made with real crab (rather than imitation crab made from pollock scraps). So we ordered one, and it also did not disappoint. Good to try if you're in the area. The fried croquette was also delicious, and pairs really well with the light Japanese beers. Definitely a good combo for apps. I will definitely come back, hopefully sooner rather than later! read more

My family and I have been coming to Akebono for over 15 years. We kept coming here despite the restaurants changing hands through multiple owners over the years. I've never felt the need to write a Yelp review before, but we're hoping the restaurant will fix this. This review is not about the service, but specifically 2 dishes: We frequently order the sesame chicken dinner and the karaage chicken appetizer when we dine in at Akebono. The sesame chicken was incredibly dry and sort of hard and chewy. The batter looked and tasted different than it previously was, not sure if the recipe had changed or if it was simply overcooked. But what really baffled us was the karaage. I've been ordering (and making) karaage for many years and never have I ever seen ANY restaurant serve karaage pre-sliced. It was also incredibly dry and chewy. We probably should have sent the food back, but it was really busy and we just trumped this up to hopefully a one-off experience. However, please either fix your recipe or stop overcooking the meat, we're almost ready to write off Akebono for future food gatherings. But as for the other food, it still seems okay. But having dry, hard and chewy meat is not ideal for the elderly and children. read more

Akebono - Overcooked sesame chicken - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Good sushi and friendly staff! A spot my family always loves to go to! They also have other yummy items on their menu. read more

Akebono - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

Came here for dinner with my family for the first time. It wasn't super busy for an Easter Sunday and we were seated right away. The restaurant is much bigger inside than it looks! We ordered one of the love boats for 2 ($70) with sashimi & nigiri. It came with 2 salads, 2 miso soups, & 2 bowls of rice. The sashimi was so fresh & they gave nice, THICK slices! I was very surprised and preferred the fresh sashimi and nigiri over the additional rolls we ordered! Our waitress was kind and attentive as well. We left very satisfied and would definitely come back! read more

Akebono - Sushi boat - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

We stopped by here to get a quick bite. Staff were friendly, the inside was pretty spacious. We've ordered two rolls and individually ordered our own meals. Food came out fast. I got their tonkatsu lunch box. It came with miso soup, rice and salad. Wished the soup was hot, it was just luke warm. I like a HOT miso soup! The tonkatsu was lightly fried, but I didn't like the sauce it came with, it was just to tangy and sour. It was overpowering! My husband got their Champon ramen, he said everything was overcooked, the portion were huge! You get a lot of food in a big bowl! My son ordered their black garlic ramen, he liked it. The portions were good, food a bit pricey, but that's inflation for you. It's like that wherever you go. read more

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I absolutely love coming here. Inside the ambiance is really nice. All the workers are super sweet and patient. And theyre for the most part, very quick with getting your order taken and provided right away once cooked. (Unless of course theyre busy, but theyre still very nice) I love coming in person, but for the first time i did take out. I did not expect the food to be as good as it was. I thought it would be missing the magic. But oh boy i was wrong. The food was still just as good as i remember it going in person and the serving size is pretty big. I will always come here, and always recommend this place to others. read more

Akebono - California roll and dragon roll - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Akebono has been a family favorite for forever! Service is always quick and friendly, and the food comes out fresh and delicious every time. I have many a sushi boat photo in my camera roll. We're always seated in a timely manner. I love the fish seat cushions in the waiting area. Their ramen is generously portioned and delicious, especially the black garlic. We love their fish kamas (collar) with rice! Tender and so flavorful. Their sushi, obviously, is the star. Fresh, delicious, and so many varieties to choose from. I've probably had almost every roll- I love their rainbow roll and anything with salmon. Much love! read more

Akebono - Shoyu ramen - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

Akebono is an well established Japanese restaurant. Ramen, Sushi, curry, tempura, combination dishes are just some menu items. Have ordered combination plates which used to resemble a Bento meal for years. But in past year, their meal is shrinking in size. Normally a busy place and profits ought to be decent but puzzling Why combination meals are shrinking. read more

I stumbled onto this place. I wanted to eat Saba Sashimi, but it wasn't on the menu. Instead, I had Saba Shioyaki, lightly salted, grilled mackerel. I have eaten a lot of Saba in the last 50 years in both Japanese and Korean restaurants, but this was the best Saba - no, it was the best tasting fish I have ever eaten. If you like Saba, you need to try this restaurant! read more

We went here for lunch for my Mother in Laws Birthday. We got there right when they opened at 11:30AM since they didn't take a reservation. There were other people already waiting to get in to. They fit us with no problem. We noticed from past experience that it's hit and miss here. Sometimes it's not good but today was ok. I got the Chirashi Sushi and it was fresh and not bad. The wife got the chicken fried rice which everyone loved. She ordered the Honeymoon roll. Wow it was big. Can't eat this one in one bite. I loved the sauce on it and it had really good flavor. We liked it a lot. All of the other families meals turned out good and our bill was over $240 for 12 of us so pretty good. We will come again. read more

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***There is no air conditioning*** we thought we'd go out to dinner to cool off during the heat wave but there was no cool air here, that was rough. Otherwise great experience. Food was 5/5. We did the bbq albacore which they served with seaweed salad that you don't see at other restaurants and I liked that. We did combo tempura, not too much batter and nice and crunchy. I had the chicken katsu curry which was delicious and a huge plate of food. My husband did the salmon sushi combo which he also enjoyed. Would definitely come back to try some of their noodle dishes. read more

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After driving past this place for years, I finally stopped in for a bowl of tonkatsu ramen. I wish I had before. The ramen was good. It had a nice rich broth, soft boiled egg, lots of fresh veggies and a heaping helping of chewy noodles. I particularly enjoyed the egg because it was slightly sweet and the red ginger because it wasn't as sharp as regular ginger. Perhaps because it was pickled. I was a little disappointed because they were out of BBQ pork. I chose chicken as a substitute but it wasn't all that great. A couple pieces seemed somewhat tough and dry. Which seemed strange because they were in a soup. The staff was great. They were super friendly and used traditional Japanese greetings when I arrived. They served my quickly and were attentive when I had questions. The restaurant has some great Japanese decor with beautiful flower murals in the back room. I really got a kick out of the fish steak style seat cushions in the lobby. Check out the picture! read more

Akebono - Tonkatsu ramen - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I wouldn't recommend the challenge ramen. I was hoping for a more flavorful and spicy bowl after reading the reviews but I'm gonna say it disappointed me. The broth tasted more like a stew then a ramen broth. read more

Came here after a long day and was craving something light. The service was fast and my group was seated immediately. It was a little quiet on a Saturday night but that was ok with me but the place is bright and feels like it could get really busy on other nights. A friend recommended that I get the soba noodles for something light. I ordered the hiyashi oroshi tanuki soba since it had a lot of ingredients going into it. It was pretty good and has a lot of variety if you want something balanced. Overall it was a great experience and I will have to come back to try their other offerings. read more

Akebono - Interior looking from front entrance - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

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We do date night there once a week. Never disappointed. David gives us a special treat on occasion.

Everyone is polite, friendly and respectful. The food is amazing and we've been back many times. It gets busy but not noisy.

How I have not written a review for Akebono is beyond me as I've literally been coming here for probably almost 10-15 years as it's a family favorite. Growing up I would always get the champon ramen which is so filling and split that with a family member. My favorite rolls here are probably the dream come true and the honeymoon roll(love how the fish is fresh and they don't skimp out on it here). Not gonna lie the price has really gone up over time unfortunately but if you do have enough people the sushi boats here are AMAZING. Service is solid as well as they check up on you consistently and are friendly. Ambience can vary depending on the hour but this place is worth a shot if you're in the area! read more

This place has in my opinion some of the best sushi and sashimi in Sacramento! I am a little bit of a snob about my sushi. My favorite sushi / sashimi is scallops. If a restaurant doesn't serve them or doesn't have good scallops on the menu, I am automatically a little concerned. I will probably not go back to that place again. I also am not a fan of sushi swimming in sauce. I have found that to be the case at an expensive trendy chain in town. I don't eat there either. I have never had anything from Akebono that is not absolutely delicious! Service is good. read more

Akebono - Scallop nigiri - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

Family favorite every time. Portions are great, and food is always quality-made. Staff are ALWAYS kind and helpful. Our family favorites are the Rainbow Roll, Salmon Sashimi, Yellowfin Tuna Sashimi, Black Garlic Ramen, Beef and Chicken Teriyaki Combination with Assorted Tempura. My daughter loved the cold noodles and assorted tempura together, and she's a picky eater. read more

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Great food & great service. This is my 3rd visit so I'm hooked! This time I did the Chicken Katsu Dom dish which came out out nice & hot with full of flavor. read more

I think this is my new favorite place to get sushi. I first tried them several weeks ago, and now it seems like I'm there every week! I've gotten to try the Dream Come True roll, Honey Moon roll, Fire Salmon roll, lunch chirashi, sashimi appetizer, and mixed tempura appetizer. Their entrees can be on the pricier side, but the servings are generous and the ingredients are high quality (fish is super fresh). My favorites out of what I have tried so far are the Dream Come True and Honey Moon rolls. The Dream Come True was a HUGE roll, which was unexpected. It came with large pieces of fish. If you like sashimi, you'll love this roll, because it was pretty simple overall, but had good variety of fish and it was fresh tasting. The Honey Moon roll was also huge, and it was good because some of the filling was fried, and I enjoyed that. Great balance of fried and raw fish. The Fire Salmon roll was good, but for someone who loves raw salmon, this wasn't my favorite. It featured cooked salmon throughout the roll, and was not spicy at all, even though there are 2 chili signs to indicate the spice level. The sashimi appetizer has 7 pieces of fish (3 kinds of fish), and it was pretty standard sashimi. The mixed tempura appetizer is a bit small, but the batter was really good. It came with 2 pieces of shrimp, 1 broccoli, 1 sweet potato, 1 carrot, and 1 bell pepper. Thought it was interesting that they added bell pepper, since that doesn't seem like a standard tempura vegetable. As a tip, if you're planning to order the omakase sashimi from the appetizer section, you will name the price. I wasn't familiar with that concept in that you name the price you're willing to spend and they create the dish based on that... the ballpark price that the server mentioned to us was $100-$200. Service is really nice. Between here and Sushi Q (which is also good, and has been pretty popular), I think I like Akebono more! read more

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This place is still really good. I always get their ramen when I come here. Always get the gekikara ramen which is always flavorful and full of chicken and veggies and mushrooms. The noodle portion is perfect. read more

First time trying Akebono and was very impressed. Quality of the fish is . Prices and portions are reasonable too. We ordered the albacore and salmon lovers, Katsu don, pork belly ramen We left full and happy! service was great and they have a big space for birthdays and big parties. read more

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Friends had recommended this place and I'm so happy I finally got to try it!! We went during lunch so we were able to order from the lunch menu. I got the sashimi combo for lunch and all their cuts were so fresh and thick! It came with a side of rice and I was definitely full after the meal. There was also a large parking lot outside which was helpful and convenient as well! We did come on a Monday for lunch but there was plenty lot of seating and we didn't have to wait! Do make sure to check their hours though because they do close in between lunch and dinner. The servers were attentive and I definitely had no complaints! Will be back to try more thin( in the future! read more

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My girlfriend and I have been coming here for a while now. We always try to order different dishes, but we always need to get our favorite Wow Roll. This time we had the Wow Roll, Rainbow Roll, and the Double Crabby Roll (one of the specials of the day), a Takoyaki appetizer, and the Hamachi Toro nigiri. The Takoyaki has to be some of the best in town. The Hamachi was very refreshing and the rolls are great like usual. I cannot wait to keep exploring the menu. Service was great and the waiter super friendly. Most places rush you and almost make you feel like an inconvenience; almost asking "how dare you ask me to do my job?". So it's a definite plus. Always good and fresh. read more

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Service is fast, attentive, and quick! Ambiance is chill, with a mom & pop kind of vibe. It almost feels nostalgic when you walk in to the restaurant. Food is consistent, so you always know you're going to get a good meal. I normally get ramen, but since I went for lunch, I opted for a Bento Box instead. read more

Akebono - Sushi/tempura combo bento - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

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My sisters we eat here sometimes on sushi Sunday or sushi Saturday and it's bomb! Love this place! Everyone is so nice! Great place to chat and enjoy food! Also very pleasing to the eye! read more

Hands down one of the best sushi restaurants I've been to in Sacramento area. We got there around 5:45pm on a Wednesday night to a quiet and intimate dinner scene. The wall decor combined with Hoshizoraga Utsuru Umi playing over the speakers. The sushi was ok, but we really came here for the chicken katsu curry. Surprisingly, not many restaurants have this on their menu. As it turned 6:00pm, the tables began to fill as people slowly trickled in for their midweek dinner. There appeared to be only one waitress and one bus boy who was assisting with drinks. The women served everyone with grace and ease and even had time to check on us every now and then before we closed out. Overall, the experience was great and a nice place to feel transported for an authentic feeling Japanese experience read more

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I've visited Akebono in the past through a work function and have visited a couple times afterwards. A few days ago, I came here with my sister and her kids for lunch. Sunday lunch was incredibly busy but it probably didn't look like it because upon entering, there was no one seated in the front of the restaurant. I had totally forgotten that they also have another space in the back with more tables. We stood there for quite awhile, were greeted by a host and he left to go do something. As it turns out, they were seating everyone in the other room. The host came back and seated us. This room was packed. As we sat down, they appeared to be short staffed because there was only 1 waitress (wearing red) taking down the orders. Normally, there are more waiters/waitresses (wearing red) that are hustling around. All the tables in this room were practically taken, so it was quite busy. We believed they seated everyone in the back for easier tracking. Yes it was a bit of a wait for them to take our orders, but the food came out quickly. My sister and her kids all got the black garlic ramen noodle. They have ordered this before and love it very much. I believe whenever they come, they only order this ramen. However, they think that the portion size may have shrunk just a bit. The bowls were pretty big the past few times they went and were never able to finish their bowls. This time, they finished. My niece believed there were more noodles, less broth, & less veggies than before. I was feeling quite full because I had eaten a slightly filling breakfast prior so I wasn't that hungry. I knew I wanted something different, something refreshing, and light. I know that's hard to come by at a restaurant, but if you look carefully, it's there. I decided to go with a cold noodle! I chose the Hiyashi Chuka which is actually for 2 people. It is a cold ramen noodle with veggies, pork, shrimp and sauce. When it came out, the plate was big. I didn't think I would finish it, but I did. It was that good! I learned that you have to mix it up really well to meld all the flavors together. If you just pick it piece by piece or a little at a time WITHOUT mixing, it tasted bland in some parts and salty towards the end, no flavor, no oompf. The wasabi adds that special spicy kick to the noodles. Again, mix that wasabi in a little at a time and mix well because if you don't, well...you can find out what happens. Overall, I was really happy with my order and definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something different than the usual sushi or hot ramen. The servers were all very attentive despite it being so busy. They stopped by our table a couple of times to refresh our water and removed any empty bowls and plates. When we left, we did see a few people being seated in the front and by this time the lunch crowd rush had already left. I would have liked it if we sat in the front of the house since it's more spacious & open versus being cramped in the back. But I completely understand the thought process that went into their seating arrangement. read more

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A long time favorite of mine that I haven't visited in a while. Stopped by recently and the food is still just as good as I remember it. Service is friendly and the restaurant is really clean and nicely decorated! They have expanded the location and offer seating in the back. The large rooms in the back are down a hallway so they are 'hidden' but very nice for larger groups. Did you know you can add spice levels to your ramen? I've never experienced that before until they suggested it and it made a difference. Yummy! read more