Something has changed... employees, management, ownership and or the quality of their food. I used to rave about bamboo fish and it was definitely a go to for me. Recently, I ordered food through a delivery service, the restaurant messed up on the order (did not include an entree) when I called them they asked me to contact GrubHub for a refund. I didn't want a refund, I just wanted my order... anyways, I drove to pick up annoyed because I had already paid for delivery. I finally arrived back at home and began eating my meal immediately something was different compared the the handful of times I ordered from them. Chicken tasted cheap, sushi rice was hard and the quality of the meat tasted so different. Not too sure that I would be spending my money there again. read more

Looks like these guys just took over the location and brought a new menu and new people. The fish is super fresh. I will be back. The menu is huge! Update: back again. Same feeling as above. read more

Bamboo Fish - Wow. Chef's Special was amazing. Beautiful presentation and the fish was some of the Freshest I've had. - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

My phone had a hard time getting to their menu so they handed me a ratty looking tablet. It worked though. Agedashi was pretty good. Stickier than most places. Sauce was decent. Spicy tuna hand roll was a good size. Could have been a tiny bit spicier. Rice was just ok. Not very fluffy or flavorful. Draft beer could have been a tad colder... read more

Bamboo fish is our family's go to for birthdays. Usually we'd get a large table in the back of the restaurant, but during COVID times we have resorted to takeout. They take orders/payment by phone, which I personally don't love as much as ordering through websites. However, thats a very small issue since I enjoy their sushi so much. Most recently, my family ordered two Chef's Specials, the Super Star, Super Ninja, Super Spider, and Temptation. I highly recommend the Chef's Special for anyone ordering sashimi, as they present you with their freshest options for the day. As for the specialty rolls, they are beautifully presented and taste delicious, and I've never been disappointed when trying a new dish! I can't wait to eat here in person again, and wish the best for this business through COVID times. read more

My sister and I dropped in for lunch recently and were treated very well by the husband and wife team at bamboo fish! Delicious, fresh, and vibrant flavors. I loved the jalapeño and lemon tops of my roll choices, and look forward to coming back! read more

The best Japanese food in Almaden Valley! Well, there aren't many options but hey, this one does the job. We usually order once every 2 weeks and we've been living in Almaden Valley for 5 months now. We've tried various rolls and they're all good. We usually also order a bento box with mixed tempura and California rolls and salmon teriyaki and all good as well. We've always ordered it to go but we should really try eating at the restaurant because it's nice inside. The staff is friendly and fast. Family owned and ran. While the wife works the front, I believe the husband works the sushi bar. They have 3 boys too like us. From the husband-wife team to the other staff members - they're all nice and work fast. Fast is key for us impatient people that need our food now. read more

We are new to area and we're really excited to learn about a sushi spot nearby. However, we likely won't be back :( I've never experienced such flavorless sushi before - literally, it's like it had been sitting in the fridge all day. This was reminiscent of all you can eat sushi that you know is mediocre quality - it didn't make sense. The sushi looked like it would taste delicious, but there was no flavor on the plate whatsoever. I don't understand. Not even the fried crispy roll tasted like unagi sauce, nor the mango roll tasting like mango. We were bummed to say the least. I don't understand the rave reviews, but we'll still be searching for our normal go-to spot. read more

WOW-something has drastically changed with the food quality. Very disappointing. Had not been to Bamboo Fish for a while and was craving sushi. Seemed like the ingredients used to make the rolls was not fresh. The rice was horrible, very hard and when picking up the piece it fell apart. not a nice way to enjoy sushi. I used to always enjoy opening the take-out container and admiring the beautiful presentation. Well, I will say it wasn't beautiful this time. Looks like they have a new sushi chef.... Let's face it making sushi is an art form. Another interesting tell-tale sign was the place was empty at 6:30pm on a Saturday. Kind of sad, as my family has been supporting this restaurant location since it opened. My husband and I had our first date here 30 years ago!!! I hope they get it together. read more

I love Bamboo Fish! My husband and I come here one to two times a week, and we have been coming here for about a year or more now. We love the atmosphere, it's very chill. We mainly sit at the bar and the owner Yong is always there making awesome Sushi dishes. His wife is super sweet and the service here is always genuinely kind and have great personalities. Also, the other customers are always friendly and fun to meet as well. This place is full of good vibes. I had my 31st birthday party dinner here and it was so nice for 20 of my family members to enjoy my favorite restaurant and for all of them to tell me how great they thought it was too. The sushi is delicious and reasonably priced. It's a little hidden gem in the almaden valley and my absolute favorite place to eat. Come here without being in a hurry and just enjoy a chill place with great food and wonderful people. read more

Bamboo Fish - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

We visited Bamboo Fish regularly BC (before COVID). Sushi is good and service is accommodating. Very very disappointed with staff DC (during COVID). Picked up a $100 togo order only to see the sushi chef's mask on the counter. When asked if the chef wears a mask, the cash register operator, replied "off and on". What? He's preparing uncooked food without a mask?!? This isn't the first time I have seen employees without a mask DC. But, it will be the last. read more

Prepare to have a masterful understanding of cheap farm raised sushi as there are no photos and the staff is fairly unwilling or lacking understanding of the menu to explain. I was hoping for a better experience. read more

Bamboo Fish really pleasantly surprised me, everything we tried was really delicious. We tried the jalapeño crunch roll, futo maki roll (veggie), fried green veggie roll(veggie), the Yammy yam (veggie) and a bento box. The bento box came with chicken+beef teriyaki, and veggie tempura. Everything was great, I think my favorite thing was actually the vegetable tempura. Definitely recommend. read more

Bamboo Fish - Jalapeño bomb- fried soft shell crab roll - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

I met my date here for dinner on a Tuesday. This was one of her favorites places to eat sushi. The parking lot was small, but there were plenty of spots to park. We had a reservation for 7pm and there were quite a few people here with only a couple tables available. The menu had a lot of choices and I loved how there were pictures of the specialty rolls here. It made the decision on which one to order easier because there was a visual of how it should look like. These are the same as the website which was great because you can do extra research before coming over. We ordered the Combination Tempura ($8.95), the Santa Teresa roll ($14.95), The Volcano roll ($15.95), the Sake & Hamachi Sashimi ($23.95) and the Karatanba ($13.95). Our food came out somewhat quick and were all staggered so that gave us some time to work on what we had. The Combination Tempura was okay, but I would think it would be hard to mess up tempura. The Santa Teresa roll was good, the Volcano roll was delicious, and the Sake & Hamachi Sashimi was not bad. The Karatanba was good even though I don't drink sake often enough to compare it with something else. Good place for sushi! Come check it out! read more

See all

My hubby and I came here and ordered the spicy garlic edamame, stuffed jalapeno, yellowtail crudo, baked scallop roll, and last but not least...temptation! We ordered a bunch because everything on the menu looked so good! Spicy garlic edamame: 5/5 its so addicting once you've had 1. It definitely has a back of the throat spicy kick. So beware those of you who aren't a big fan of spicy foods. Stuffed jalapeno: 5/5 honestly...I absolutely love chacha sushi's stuffed jalapeno, but THIS..blew me away. Everything was perfect, from texture, to portions of the stuffing, to sauce. I highly recommend! Yellowtail crudo: 5/5 I don't even need to explain this appetizer, just get it if you're a fan of raw fish! Baked scallop roll: 5/5 We could've passed on this and tried a different roll but since my man loved his baked rolls we got it. Its not bc we didn't like it, its just bc we always get this roll. Lol Anyways, what makes this baked roll different from the other sushi restaurants that we've been to is bc they actually put a huge slice of scallop, not this baby ones. And it came out very warm! Temptation: 5/5 this roll was recommended to us by our server and it was absolutely amazing!!! Definitely must try! Service: On top of it! Very attentive and nice. Environment: Cozy Japanese/American vibe read more

See all

We've been coming to Young's place the last couple of years (ever since that first review) and we've always been very happy and pleased with our experience here. Though we usually get something from the sushi bar (nigiri/sashimi -- and always always so so good), we have had some items from the menu that has been just as great. The seafood ramen is the bomb. Yes, it is spicy. It is made korean style, so if you're not familiar of the red chili spice that they like to use, it's got quite a bit of kick to it. Pro tip: it's great with soju which helps with the spice. The blue fin tuna kama that they have on the menu is to die for. If you plan your visit a head of time, you can give them a call and let them know about half an hour prior to your stop so they have it ready. They grilled ours to perfection and it was so flavorful. If it's one thing we really like about Bamboo is that you are really well taken care of. If you're more well versed in the sushi universe, asking for something not on the menu is welcomed. Alternatively, if you aren't and usually go for the staples, you won't be disappointed either. read more

We came here to try out a new sushi spot and were NOT disappointed. The place is small and cute, a plus in our minds. We sat at the bar to get that first-hand experience, watch the chefs at work, and enjoy a delicious meal. What we got: - Hamachi Sashimi (6pcs) - SUPER expensive. Other places I go you get 10 pcs for $2 cheaper. However, the fish was fresh and cut very nicely. - Bento Box - he loved it, ate the whole thing. Great selection of tempura. Chicken wasn't dry! - Pink Dragon - delightful! The roll was very full in terms of ratio and it was very filling! Watching the sushi chef while we ate was very relaxing and we didn't feel rushed at all. The place is clean, simple, and welcoming. The service was excellent. It was a bit pricy compared to some of the other places we go, but we will still be back! read more

We came here for dinner Tuesday May 29th. This is the ultimate hidden gem in almaden. We waited way too long to try it. The fish is amazing quality, the kitchen food is top notch, the service is great. I prefer a seat at the bar to get a look at the action and it doesn't disappoint. Looking forward to being a regular at this spot. We had: Nigiri: blue fin, albacore, toro, inari, unagi. All absolutely fresh and amazing. The tuna on crispy rice. This dish is redonk. One of the best things I've ever eaten. Shishito peppers - traditional preparation. Delicious and fresh. Rolls - tri color roll and custom avocado cucumber jalapeño roll. Beautifully prepared, super fresh and tasty as hell. The sushi chef gave us a little taste of some sliced yellow tail with a sprinkle of truffle oil and some ponzu at the end of our sushi course. Insane flavor combo, worked beautifully. Highly recommend this establishment. There is soul in the preparation and quality. It's in my permanent rotation. UPDATE: went back a week later. Even better than the first time. read more

Bamboo Fish - Blue fin, albacore, toro, inari, unagi. Amazing quality. - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

Really bad place to eat the owner, workers are really disrespectful when it comes to service, theres a restaurant call sushi koya couple miles down thats 10x better with excellent service!! read more

My husband and I love this place and come here at least 2-3 times per month, lately it's been every weekend. The service has always been really great, and the food has been lovely. We haven't eaten anything other than the sushi rolls and we've liked them all, some more than others:) Our favorite rolls are: Mixed Zone, The Volcano, Super Ninja, Bonfire, Maui, Bamboo Roll, Titanic, Slow Burn and J+R. read more

Horrible Service not sure how they are able To getaway with the service they provide. The food was not that great either will never go back to or recommend this place at all!!! read more

Great, friendly service! Restaurant ambiance was cheery, clean and fun. Fresh fish and good portions! Will absolutely be back or order take out! read more

I just keep coming back! Take out or in the restaurant, the quality of food and ease of service/delivery is maintained. Some favorites of mine: miso soup, pacific roll and the crispy rice with spicy tuna. read more

Seems to be like your average Korean run sushi restaurant. Nothing to complain about here! The fish tastes fresh, they play sports games on tv for you to watch while you eat (quietly enough that non-sports fans won't be disturbed) and the service is pretty good. My only complaint would be that no one came to offer us the check when we clearly had been finished eating for a while, but they did let us split the check into 3 separate bills. If you're in the area, its worth a try, but with so many other restaurants around, I wouldn't go out of the way to visit here. read more

We really like Bamboo Fish. The food is reliably fresh most of the time. We've had an occasional hiccup with food or service, but it's rare and not common. Employees are ALWAYS nice and kid friendly. We appreciate the hard work they do and always leave good tips for being kid friendly. Solid and reliable, it's great to support a local business like this. read more

We were in the area for a party yesterday and stopped by for dinner. I found out that the Korean owner used to work (manager?) at Mizu on Winchester and now he's opened his own place. We like Mizu, so that was reassuring. Waiter Jun was very friendly, keep checking back to help us out. Additionally, other staff were checking in with us. I agree with other Yelpers that service is legit good here. SHRIMP TEMPURA - This looked good in the picture on the menu--couldn't resist. Nicely done, shrimp lacked a bit in flavor, but the batter was nice and served hot out of the fryer. Enjoyable. Would order again. HAMACHI CRUD0 - Every sushi spot does this dish now with the jalapeno. I think Nobu in LA started the craze, and everybody followed. No complaints here. The truffle oil (and maybe truffle salt too) made the difference. Delicious, would order again. HAMACHI CHEEK - Waiter recommended this one. It was a winner--thin strip of cooked fish, served in the shape of an "S". Soft, melt-in-your-mouth, delicate flavor. Would order again. ASSORTED NIGIRI SUSHI - Quality of fish def checked out. Generous on the slice portions. (Hamachi, Toro, Salmon, Albacore) Again, no complaints. MISO SOUP - Miso soup was on point. I'm not from this area, but I think this is a good place to get your sushi groove on. They have a whole variety of creative sushi rolls on the menu. If rolls are your thing, I think you'll be happy here. But they definitely proved they can do more that rolls here. The nigiri sushi was completely respectable. read more

See all

A cozy little Japanese restaurant in the corners of South San Jose, Bamboo Fish is an authentic place with delicious and wonderfully presented Sushi, great choices of beer on tap, and excellent dumplings (steamed gyoza). Hot tea is always a pleasant experience at a japanese restaurant, and this was no different. I loved the wall hangings and the various japanese art influences. Eating at a japanese restaurant is more than just satiating the belly, it's taking in the ambience and their wonderful culture. It's places like these that make me want to visit Japan someday. The servers were fantastic. I just wish they had more ramen choices. read more

Super delicious! Really impressed with the Salmon Lover roll and their fresh lemon slices that paired with the raw salmon. Lion King and Sweet n Spicy were the family favorites, but wouldn't order Firecracker again because it was a little underwhelming. Calamari overpriced! read more

Bamboo Fish - Sweet and Spicy Roll, Salmon Lover Roll, Fire Cracker Roll, Lion King Roll, Fried Calamari Rings - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

I have been going here even before the new owner took over. The old chef was great but the new chef is even better. The new chef has years of experience and has many different channels to get fresh fish daily. A couple of days ago, I went here and ordered tempura at 8:50PM, 10 min. before their closing hour. The server informed me they already dumped the cooking oil. I was a bit disappointed but realized they use fresh oil every single day. Some places do not change oil every day. Anyways I highly recommend this place for anyone who is looking for great sashimi/nigiri or rolls. Keep up the good work!! read more

Bamboo Fish - Assorted sashimi by the chef - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

Update: rolls have been much better our last few visits. Service has also improved! See new photo. We love the convenient location and friendly service. Eh. Just ok. New ownership has meant more rice, less fish. Service is always friendly, but seems understaffed. We will keep coming back since it's so close, but not as frequently since the rolls are mostly rice. read more

Bamboo Fish - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

Solid sushi spot in Almaden when you're not looking to spend a ton and you want a few good rolls. The poke nachos are bomb and there are so many different rolls that you really can't go wrong. A more casual option if you're deciding between here and Almaden Sushi. read more

Bamboo Fish - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

I've been here a few times and delighted every time. We always start with the Hamachi Crudo. My favorite part is the truffle oil on this dish. All the nigiri has been top notch quality. The hamachi, sake, tako, blue fin tuna, tuna belly, hotate (scallops) and uni are delicious! Make sure you order some cold sake or beers on tap. One day I will need to order the ramen or udon dishes. Until then, I'll keep travelling across town from North San Jose to visit Ninja Sushi. Trust me, it's worth the drive. read more

See all

Good sushi and good service at Bamboo Fish! We had the agedashi tofu, cucumber salad, the A's Roll, and the Pacific Roll. We order the agedashi tofu at every sushi place we visit, and this was one of my favorites. The coating was delicious and the sauce had some subtle sweetness to it. Highly recommend! The sushi was good as well. The fish was fresh, as were the veggies (and the mango!). I would say the A's Roll was lacking a bit in the sauce department. When you say it has two sauces on it on the menu, I expect to taste them a bit more. Prices were pretty par for the area. There are some cheaper places in the Willow Glen area (not super far from here), but these prices are pretty average. I don't live in this area, and I won't be traveling there specifically for Bamboo Fish. But I would certainly go back if I was in the area! read more

There's another sushi spot walking distant to where I work but I would rather drive 4 to 5 blocks down beacuse service is always great. The staff here are very friendly and welcoming and the food here is delicious!!!!! I come here for my lunch most of the time and I love it because I never hit the lunch hour rush. Come check this place out! You won't be disappointed. read more

Bamboo Fish - Waiting for my udon seafood soup. Yum!!!! - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

I DoorDashed from here and ordered a bento box with salmon sashimi, tuna sashimi, and takoyaki. I received a phone call from the girl at the restaurant explaining to me that I actually couldn't order 2 sashimi sides(door dash gives you the option to do so, but you can't!), and recommended me the sake maki instead, so that way I would have tuna sashimi and still have salmon! She was super nice and so helpful! Customer service really is great even through the phone! In regards to the food, it was absolutely delicious! The bento box came with miso soup and a salad, and was the PERFECT amount for me to get full! Everything was fresh and delicious, I really enjoyed their takoyaki! Will definitely order from here again! read more

Bamboo Fish - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

Ok i am finally updating my review from last year. although I was very sad and disappointed to see Steven and his wife sell the restaurant i am happy to see that Young and the team have continued the exceptional quality and service they started. The menu is very close to before, but the specials board has some really nice additions. I highly recommend the Hamachi Crudo. Yellow tail sashimi with an essence of truffle oil. OUTSTANDING!. The fish quality is still outstanding and presented perfectly. I always find the service attentive and but not overbearing. I cannot recommend this place enough to anyone that wants premier sushi, a fair price, great service and REALLY cold beers on tap. read more

Unagi didn't taste too fresh-- seemed over cooked while over a cold roll that didn't seem exciting. California roll was typical and good. Probably will try one of their special rolls later on to see if they pack more flavor since they're close by and have been on a search for a good sushi place that's close by. read more

It's a ok. First off it was Sunday at lunch and there was one waitress being the host and the waitress was waiting on 6 or more tables by herself. There were two men at the sushi bar but I felt like only one needed to be there. We got the beef, chicken, salmon teriyaki which were ok. My beef was mostly charred and burned. The salmon felt like salmon jerky. Everyone was waiting for their food or the check or for something. It's not her fault though. Hopefully they are more fully staffed the next time we visit. read more

We got take out the other night, ordered 5 rolls and sashimi. All were excellent. Can't wait for COVID to end to rejoin the atmosphere..keep up the good work Yonge read more

If you want to sit in for service- don't. The take out orders will take priority over you. Food isn't bad, service was abysmal. No menu, online only, no tea refills dishes not removed from table took nearly 40 minutes to get our food. Sad. read more

Fresh and delish! Cozy atmosphere and very clean. Great family or date night place in Almaden!