My boyfriend and I celebrated our anniversary here. My boyfriend reserved in advance for the course, but the omakase bar experience has to be booked way in advance. After we were seated, we didn't need to order anything, but there was a QR code to see the menu or look at additional items (sake pairings etc) and drinks. For drinks: While the server brought complimentary champagne to celebrate, we had to try the cocktails. We ordered the lychee and the yuzu one and they were soo good! I prefered the yuzu and my boyfriend preferred the lychee martini. Set course was great, we didn't have to wait long between each item. The fish was really fresh, I loved the flavors and unique fish. The rice was seasoned very well. They give you ginger to cleanse your palette between nigiri. Mango dessert was really fun and unique. I liked it a lot. read more

Thought the place was really good. The chief was pretty engaging and funny too. We got the 16 course meal and compared to other places I thought that was great value. I know their menu does change depending on the season. As a sushi enjoyer though I've got experience fish I never go to try. I thought the openers and ending was just as good as the main course. We had 2 chief, and both of them were great. The servers were awesome too. They explained what each dish was which was p cool. Loved the japanese decor and bar going inside too. My personal favorite (outside of otaro and wagyu) was the red snapper. The shrimp opener was pretty awesome too, sweet and fresh tasting. Also the desert was great considering I do have a basis for mangos. Their sake flight, is something I'd recommend too. ONE thing I didn't enjoy was their scallop and uni dish. Normally I do like them but together it wasn't doing it for me. My friend did like it though. Great experience, would come again for a special occasion. Note: First time having Omakase read more

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Good entry level omakase experience! I've never had omakase before and wasn't looking to spend too much to try it for the first time, so I decided to try this place for my anniversary with my partner after hearing rave reviews. The customer service here is exceptional, they're all really nice people and very attentive. Booking a reservation was super easy online. We did the table experience and while the restaurant isn't huge, it's the perfect size for an intimate dining experience and it's well decorated. With the table experience, you get everything that the bar experience would get except the chef isn't serving it directly to you. Servers bring each course to your table after you finish each plate. For the food, every course was delicious! However, the portions are small. Great quality and the presentation is really nice, but if you have a bigger appetite or you're coming here starving, you will still be hungry at the end and probably will order more items à la carte. It does get expensive when you do this. I probably ended up spending as much as a more premium omakase, but the options we chose were really tasty so I don't have any regrets. Overall this was a great first omakase experience and I would come here again! It's really cool how they change up the menu every month. read more

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I came here with my girls and had my first omakase experience. The area it's located in isn't the nicest, but the inside was really cute and intimate. I think it's a nice place for a date night or to celebrate a special occasion. I enjoyed the subtle flavors in each dish and how nothing was too overpowering. The servers were also attentive throughout our meal. Overall, I really enjoyed my first omakase experience and would definitely come back! read more

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Came here with my fiance for his birthday and we opted to sit at the bar! We made reservations prior and I would definitely recommend doing this instead of a walk-in. The staff was very friendly and attentive to your needs. Parking was relatively easy since it has a lot but can get busy since there are other businesses around. The restaurant is modern and has a nice wine cellar in the front displaying some of their nicer bottles. Chefs were amazing and was able to tailor the amount of wasabi if you ask and didn't mind the change which is a plus ! Quality of the fish was great ! The sauces were made well- my favorite was the yuzu kosho! My fiance loved the speed of the omakase- for me it was a little too fast. We loved every piece that came, we even ordered extras off the a la carte menu (10/10 for this lol). We definitely will be coming back to this place! Chef tole us that they rotate their menu every 8th of the month so be on the look out on instagram ! read more

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There was a lot of waiting but the food was decent and service was really nice and friendly! We were seated 15 minutes after our reservation time. We got the omakase and added uni handrolls and ocean trout nigiri. Like another review mentioned, it took over half an hour for just the first 3 courses. The restaurant seating interior looks like some kind of cafe that was redone to try to make it look like a restaurant. It's not the best omakase we've had in the area but it was decent especially for the price! read more

Blue Pagoda - Uni handroll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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Service was 12/10 Food 8/10 Price 7/10 First of all, the service was GREAT. The staff was attentive and friendly throughout the entire meal. As for the omakase itself, the quality and price were pretty average compared to other omakase spots in the Bay Area. The alcohol menu was also noticeably on the pricey side. But the dessert was a major disappointment. After enjoying a really good omakase, I was honestly expecting the meal to end on a high note. Instead, we were served what tasted like a cheap, flavored cream puff. It felt completely out of place with the rest of the meal. I wouldn't have complained if they had simply served a good-quality matcha ice cream or something simple. But this dessert was so underwhelming that it actually interfered with the flavors I had just enjoyed and left a bad taste at the end of an otherwise good meal. Dessert may seem like a small part of the experience, but when you're paying for an omakase, the last bite matters. This one unfortunately brought down my overall impression of the meal quite a bit. read more

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An incredible place and an amazing omakase experience at the sushi bar. We've known Chef Lang for quite some time, since back when we used to order sushi from his restaurant. Tonight was absolutely wonderful - the food, the service, the restaurant design, everything. We had such a great time and will definitely be coming back. Every single dish was a 10/10. Some were so delicious that we actually had to order them again! The cocktails were outstanding as well. Thank you for such a memorable evening! read more

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The omakase here was delicious! Nigiri was melt in your mouth yummy. Every single dish was great but my favorite was the egg custard , chawanmushi and Wagyu nirgiri. Would definitely recommend and will be back! read more

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Probably one of the best Omakase values in the Bay Area! Blue Pagoda is a very unassuming venue tucked away in the corner of a shopping plaza. While it's not the best I had, the entire experience was brilliant. I don't think there is a better value around. Parking was not an issue, with plenty of spaces in open lot, although it does tend to get crowded during peak hours. The interior decor is minimalist and elegant. I'd call this a medium size venue with a decent amount of seating inside. Personally I'd opt to sit at the bar...always For those seeking intimacy with a view of the chef's craft, the sushi bar offers an elevated experience. Each dish was prepared and presented one by one, allowing you to witness the artistry and precision of every slice, every flame, and every delicate garnish as it happened before our eyes. #Omakase: Appetizers: ~ Monkfish liver pate mousse with seaweed crisps - 5/5 sold buttery and melts in your mouth. ~ Chasu pork - mustard that clears your nose just like wasabi ~ Matsutake mushroom with shiso vinegar sauce - Matsutake mushroom matcha ~ Japanese Tai with Yuzu Salt - 5/5 (Sea bream snapper with Citrus Salt) Japanese Red Snapper ~ Shima Aji with Ume Sauce - 5/5 (Striped-jack with Plum paste) A very pleasant, sweet finish. ~ Hokkaido it's scallops arlet put fish eggs 5/5 Sweet succulent! ~ Smoked Kanpachi with Nam Jim Sauce - 5/5 (Smoked Amberjack with Thai Nam Jim sauce) Jalapeno Cilantro Yuzu Their specialty. ~ Hon Maguro Akami with Nori Sauce - 5/5 (Bluefin Tuna Lean cut with Simmered Kelp in Soy Sauce) Blue fan tuna with seaweed sauce 5/5 So good Fatty ~ Zuke Hon Maguro Chutoro with Kizami Wasabi - 5/5 (Marinated Bluefin Tuna Chutoro with Pickled wasabi) Medium Fatty Tuna w/ wasabi 5/5 ~ Hon Maguro Otoro with caviar - 5/5 (Bluefin tuna Fatty belly with caviar) Fatty Tuna with caviar - 5/5 and Gold Flakes ~ Fatty tuna roll with marinated salmon eggs - 5/5 ~ A5 Japanese Wagyu Beef with Yuzu Pepper A5 - 5/5 Peppery, melts in your mouth Undeniable value... Brilliant experience Cheers! read more

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Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 The Wagyu omakase was a cute experience! All of the courses were very yummy. Service was phenomenal! The server was very attentive and had very good recommendations. The mustard was a bit overpowering in the Wagyu sando but everything was very pleasant. Would definitely recommend this experience! I can't wait to come back to try the regular omakase. read more

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Came here for a birthday and my party left feeling that it is too expensive. The interior is open and loud, but for a place with food so expensive we expected it to be more formal and quiet. Based on just the food, it is not worth it. Should be much cheaper for $70pp. The fish was fine, but the meal itself wasn't super well thought-out and I wasn't much impressed by most of it. Not for me, won't be returning. read more

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Service: it took over 30 minutes to get through the 3 opening mini bites, and over an hour before getting through the first 4 nigiri pieces. I was truly hungrier in the middle of dinner than when we arrived Food Highlights: - wagyu with yuzu pepper nigiri, I don't generally like Wagyu nigiri but this was good - chutoro nigiri - rice in the mini don (not nigiri) Food overall: - the nigiri sauce pairings were not as balanced as they could have been. For example, the Thai sauce was good on its own but overwhelmed the fish. Grated chili daikon sauce didn't pair well - majority of the fish quality was mid - the non nigiri items were overly simplistic - felt like it was just items put on the same plate but not integrated together read more

This is a more broadly accessible omakase experience, priced at $118/person at the sushi bar (maybe $10 less at a table) and consists of 4 appetizers, 9 nigiri sushi, a squid rice with soup, and a small dessert. Before getting into the food, let's talk about the location and inside decor. The location is not the greatest in terms of seeing it from the outside - it's in a rundown strip mall that looks like it's definitely seen better days. BUT, once you get inside, it has its own atmosphere and is well decorated and has none of the run down vibes of the exterior surroundings. So that's good - the presumably cheaper rent is probably one way to make this more affordable. We sat at the sushi bar, which I think is worth the premium. It's just more like a traditional omakase experience where the sushi chefs explain what they're serving and put the nigiri on your plate in front of you. The chefs seem to be having a good time and engage with you in a friendly way. Of the four appetizers, I liked the fried fish (crisp and tasty) and the first one (was it a crudo, I'm not positive). The snow crab chawanmushi (I labelled it soup in the picture, sorry) was good too. Only the mashed ahi mixture (not pictured) was only OK - vaguely fishy. The nigiri were all good, but more conservatively sized. Smaller rice balls and relatively thin pieces of fish - some places give you a big hunk/mouthful, but these were modestly sized. Again, probably a concession to the price point. But all tasted quite good and some had nice touches like caviar topping with gold leaf and the like. I didn't try to upload pictures for all 9 nigiri - it just seemed like a lot and I'm sure other people have uploaded pics of the ones I missed. The baby squid rice was a bit subpar - the rice just didn't have a lot of flavor, not the squid. The miso soup was standard/normal. The dessert was nice, light, and not too sweet. To be honest, I was a little hungry after the meal was over. It's hard for me to say whether it was that I had a light lunch and lots of wine throughout the afternoon before I had this dinner, or just that the courses while plentiful, were small. Among all the omakases I've had, this is probably in the middle to maybe slightly below the average. But I'm still rating it 5 star because it's also less expensive than the average omakase, and I think that counts for something in terms of making this more accessible to people as well as giving you the option of having a nice omakase meal without busting the bank even if you do like to occasionally really go all out and spend $250-300+ on something that's really exclusive and special. This has a bit more of a mass production vibe to it. For example, the chefs were making larger quantities of nigiri and storing it in metal containers as shown in one of my pics. Why? I'm not sure, because I don't think they pulled from those for anyone at the bar and I don't recall seeing them pull from there for the tables either. So that was a bit of a mystery to me since I don't think they have take out. But it didn't bother me - it was just something you wouldn't see normally. So I can recommend this as a relatively affordable omakase that's served in a pleasant environment with friendly service and chefs. read more

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Came here for the first time to celebrate my husband and my birthdays, together with our daughter. Blue Pagoda was recommended to me by Yelp's algorithm. After looking at the reviews online, I made a reservation for 6:30pm last Saturday, even though it was at the corner of a strip mall kind of out of the way for us. The restaurant was pretty full when we arrived and we're seated at the bar promptly. The place was decorated beautifully with large bonsai trees, hanging Japanese umbrellas, and bamboo lamp shades. The tables and bar seatings were kind of tightly packed, though. It's more of a busy and fun restaurant vibe vs the usual relaxing higher-end omakase vibe. Service was friendly and we're given a QR code to scan for the menu. Out of the 4 appetizers, I liked the snow crab chawanmushi the best. It was warm and mild with a nice consistency, and not fishy at all. The 9 nigiri selections were not bad. Fish was fresh and flavorful. Just nothing too fancy. I liked that they use brown rice, and each piece had a different sauce. Besides spraying edible gold dust on the wagyu nigiri, Chef also sprayed some gold dust at us and on the back of our hands. It seemed that he was having as much fun as we did. The only disappointing dish was the firefly squid rice in the warm course. The whole dish was pretty bland and the firefly squid internals bursting in your mouth was an acquired taste we didn't really care for. The complimentary soufflé cheesecake slices for our birthdays were a nice touch, and the cherry blossom mousse dessert with multiple layers inside was done really well, too. Overall, this was a very affordable omakase served in a fast pace. It's still very enjoyable if you set your expectations right. My daughter actually preferred this vs a more refined, slower pace omakase. I think it's worthwhile to pay a little extra for the chef-led experience at the bar vs getting the courses in waves at the table. Unfortunately, their bar seating was really uncomfortable for me with short legs. I never had that problem at other omakase restaurants nor bars, though. read more

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Omakase in the North San Jose! I couldn't believe the price point for the offerings and great service. I'm already planning a trip back soon! Long overdue review as I dined in during the soft opening. I was excited to find reservations on short notice during the dinner rush. Food / Drinks Dined in for dinner and as a part of the omakase meal, this is what was served: Snow Crab Chawannmushi Toro Tartare Topped with Caviar and Flaked Gold Soft Boiled Octopus Smoked Kanpanchi with Nam Jin Sauce Hokkaido Scallops with Karasumi Japan Tai with Yuzu Sauce Shima Aji with Ume Sauce Salmon with Mentaiko Mayonnaise Bluefin Otoro with Kimchi Radish Sauce Zuke Bluefin Chutoro with Kazami Wasabi Okinawa Mosukuzu Miso Soup Unagi Rice Bowl Yuzu Cheesecake (complimentary for special occasion) All of the omakase items were fresh, aesthetic with the plating, and a great deal for a 13-course meal around $100 per person in the bay area! Would highly recommend visiting! Drinks Lychee Noah-Rita Matcha Sake The drinks were light and refreshing. Both were garnished with drink toppers such as lychee, mint leaves, and strawberry slices. Location / Parking Formerly a dental office turned omakase fine dining for a fraction of what you would pay elsewhere! Same plaza as Dai Thanh Market and a couple of doors from Tram Coffee 4. Parking can be limited during the dinner rush if you're looking to park near the storefront. Customer Service Excellent customer service was provided throughout the dining experience as many of the staff were attentive. The owner, Noah, even stopped by to check in and was a small world that we have a shared network of people we know. Ambiance Dimly light ambiance with zen-like aesthetic and neutral decor. There's bonsai trees, a custom bamboo bar, and wine cellar. read more

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Blue Pagoda has become one of our favorite sushi spots, and after several visits, it's definitely earned a well-deserved 5-star review! My husband and I have experienced both the 13-course Kamikaze omakase at the sushi bar and regular table dining, and every visit has been consistently excellent. If you're looking for an interactive dining experience, I highly recommend sitting at the sushi bar. Watching the chefs prepare each course makes the meal even more enjoyable. One thing we really appreciate is how easy it is to make a reservation. The staff is always welcoming, attentive, and happy to offer recommendations based on your preferences. They genuinely make you feel taken care of from the moment you arrive. The 13-course Kamikaze menu is an incredible value for the quality you're getting. Even better, they rotate the menu every month, which keeps every visit exciting. It's refreshing to return to a restaurant knowing you'll get to try new creations instead of the exact same meal each time. Every piece of fish we've had has been exceptionally fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. The restaurant itself is absolutely gorgeous. You can tell they put a lot of thought into the design and atmosphere. The modern aesthetic creates an inviting space that feels upscale while still being comfortable. They also offer a fantastic cocktail menu along with an impressive selection of sake. My husband and I enjoy trying different sakes, and while quality sake isn't inexpensive, the selection here is well worth it. Parking is generally easy, though it can get a little busier since it's located near a popular supermarket. Even so, we've never found it to be much of an issue. Blue Pagoda is truly a hidden gem in North San Jose. Between the consistently fresh sushi, rotating omakase menu, beautiful ambiance, excellent service, and great drink selection, it's a place we always look forward to returning to. We can't wait for our next visit! read more

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My partner and I came here for Valentine's Day and we left really disappointed. They've charged premium prices for an incredibly mediocre experience. There were a lot of little details that took the experience from "nice omakase restaurant" to "chaotic sushi roll factory". The restaurant has a bar for omakase and then a bunch of tables on the side, which is an interesting setup. They've packed the tables to seat maximum capacity and so the layout of the restaurant feels a little odd, like a large room with a sushi bar in the middle. No separation. Your eye is drawn to watching the people eat at the bar or at the very bright restaurant logo hanging on the oddly green leafy wall. The omakase courses were okay. I did like the fish quality and the treatment of each piece. But it was hard to focus on the meal because servers kept rushing around all the tables. Like I said, the restaurant is essentially an open layout so for Valentine's Day weekend, so you could see like 10 servers LITERALLY RUNNING around. There is absolutely no reason a server should be RUNNING in a restaurant, much less a restaurant at this price tag. The entire meal just felt super chaotic and there were so many small details that were completely overlooked for a "nice" restaurant. We purchased a $160 bottle of sake and it came lukewarm. The sake cups were not even chilled. The bottle was put into an ice container and we had to wait 15min before we could even drink it (it was still not very cold) Servers were sprinting yet hard to flag down. The soaps and candles in the bathroom all had very obvious price tag stickers still attached to it. Some of these details are very small but they come together to show how little care has been put into the ambiance of this place. I know it was Valentine's Day weekend but it does not excuse a subpar experience. If anything. The experience should've been enhanced. All the diners were kicked out of their spot 90min on the dot to make room for the next wave of diners. It was a chaotic sushi roll factory. read more

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Had lunch here and agree with my fellow Yelpers that the price point for this Traditional Japanese omakase style restaurant is worth the vibe. Let's talk ambiance first. The restaurant from the outside is unassuming in that there are no flashy bells and whistles. In fact, the windows are blacked out from the outside so you can't even look inside if you're walking by. On that note, while it's a bit dark inside -- they did a good job with the decor. With touches of Japanese culture influence, it is certainly an inviting space to set the tone. Next, about the service. I think these guys prefer reservations (which we did not have one) as they were a bit ruffled to sit us down as a walk-in. We were told the kitchen needed to be informed that there were additional diners which makes sense but I just thought the awkwardness of the sushi chefs staring at us by the door shouldn't have been necessary. Finally, let's talk food. The artistry behind the premium and seasonal ingredients were impressive. Every small bite described on the preset menu translated well via the chef's vision and execution. Some flavors were bold and exciting while others were elegant and intentional. All fish were exceptionally fresh -- almost to par with my omakase dining experiences in Osaka and Kyoto. We were told the menu changes monthly so I look forward to a future visit. read more

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This was my first omakase experience and I had a wonderful time! We had a party of 4 for a birthday. It was easy to make a reservation ahead of time. All of the food was DELICIOUS! I was very happy with the menu. Our server explained each dish perfectly. I added a bunch of photos, i would say my favorites were the nigiris! All of the nigiris were VERY fresh. I would definitely reccomend this spot if you are looking to splurge. From what i have heard, this was a good price for omakase... I am generally pretty frugal with my money - so thats why I gave them 4 stars instead of 5. Overall, a great spot if you have the funds! read more

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Came here for an anniversary and left with a great impression! The staff, food and experience was amazing. We were seated at the bar for the omakase experience. The chef was fun to chat with as we learned more about the fish, origins, etc. I loved every dish and I am a picky seafood eater so I was nervous at first but I was impressed!! The tuna and hamachi were my favorite and just melted in my mouth. The pairings with the pepper sauces went so well too. They did a great job introducing a variety of dishes to try with different pairings that went well. For our anniversary they gave us complimentary champagne with a little show. The workers were really attentive too especially when I accidentally spilled a water glass on the table, they pulled our chairs out to clean it and were nice about it. read more

We came here to celebrate a birthday and chose the Omakase dining experience. Everything met our expectations--the service was attentive, the food was great, and the pricing felt very reasonable for the quality. One of the highlights was learning that the chef is from Osaka, which made the experience feel even more authentic, almost like being transported back to Japan. We would definitely recommend it. read more

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I'll start with, this is a great place with awesome food and service. The only odd thing is its location. You wouldn't be able to tell from the outside that it's an omakase restaurant. The interior is small but just right for this kind of dining experience. As for our meal the omakase had 16 courses and each were excellent. The fish and all the ingredients were fresh and unbelievably tasty. I thought about listing out all the things we ate but figured a picture of the menu would be better, so go look at the picture! :-) We had a nice conversation with the Chef at the end of our meal. We found out they change 40% of the menu on the 8th of each month. That should keep things interesting and new. We also had a few cocktails but we couldn't post pictures of them. Yelp stopped me at 20 pictures! :-) but if you like flavorful but not too strong drinks you will like the ones here. We had a lychee like margarita, blueberry tequila drink, and a yuzu lemon cocktail. All really good. We will definitely be coming back. We heard that they had a Cherry Blossom special recently where it was 26 courses! We definitely want to come back to try one of their specials. read more

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Sushi bar omakase experience at $100/head is a steal. Restaurant offers bar and table seatings. Bar seats are $10 extra per person but highly recommended. Nicely decorated with bamboo umbrellas Omakase Starts with 4 appetizers including sweet shrimp roasted pork belly, toro toast, ika chawanmushi Follows with 9 pieces of nigiri Choice of two different uni from Japan for add on Sea eel rice and miso soup Finishing with mango ice Cocktails are pretty but on the lighter side. I had Ane San a yuzu ice cream with vodka is quite unique read more

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Food: good flavors. Fish quality just meets the bar , didn't wow us for omakase grade standards. Disappointed the Wagyu was only two pieces of hotpot style and not tender at all. The highlight was the cherry blossom dessert. Service: disappointing as the servers would only select who they tell the background stories of each dish to. Like they'd only be super friendly to specific people or tables... Ambiance: super loud when we were there, definitely not your typical Japanese calm tranquil peaceful vibe. Like full of loud laughter and chatter. More like an American pub style. For the price of $300 per person and then added tax of $50+ and then a tip on top of all that. Not worth it. Way too over priced, poor service, and noisy. No thanks. read more

Blue Pagoda - Menu - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

This restaurant had a full sushi bar and a bunch of cocktail tables to fill the restaurant. For some reason I expected it to be more traditional sushi bar style restaurant but it definitely had a more modern feel with tables coming in and out, not the traditional time seating with the entire guests eating the same course at the same time (ex: 5pm seating, 7pm seating, etc.) Right away we were greeted with so much love from the host, to our server, and the sushi chefs. Everyone was very friendly and made us feel welcomed. The host, maybe he was also the owner, gave us a little bit of history on the chefs which I felt like was a nice touch in making us understand the hard work and mastery from their experiences. Overall the entire omakase course was amazing and surprisingly cheaper compared to other omakase places I've been to! We had soooo much fun with our chef who sprayed us with a crazy amount of gold dust which I feel like draws a lot of attention to this restaurant. Every piece was very flavorful and the perfect amount of fish to rice ratio. My group and I ordered the strawberry matcha cocktail with no alcohol ;) and it was the BEST strawberry matcha I have ever had. I promised my friend I will come back with her when she's in town so I cannot wait to come back to this place. read more

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I'll spare everyone the play-by-play and stick to the highlights. At $108 per person (table seating), the overall experience was.. just aiiiiight. Our server told us not to use soy sauce because the chef had already seasoned each piece with his own blend and added the perfect amount of wasabi. That's a bold statement. Nigiri: The fish didn't taste noticeably fresher than other omakase spots I've visited around the Bay. Some pieces were on the dry side, and the rice lacked that subtle soy-seasoned punch you'd expect. The texture was decent, but instead of being light and fluffy, it leaned a little flat, like rice that had already been out for a good minute. Soups: The miso soup was...confusing. It had tofu and wakame, but somehow tasted mostly salty with very little actual miso flavor. They also added mushrooms, which felt like unnecessary. The chawanmushi was enjoyable, but the edamame mixed into the custard was a strange choice. Every bite became, "Creamy custard.. oh, a bean." Dessert: The hojicha ice cream had a nice roasted flavor, but it arrived frozen solid. Not "firm." I mean rock solid hard. We were handed pointy spoons and ended up chipping away at it like I was given picks to mine for gold. Even our server admitted we'd have to wait for it to soften. If the recommended serving method is "please be patient," maybe let it sit in the back for another minute. Yes, this is one of the more affordable omakase experiences around, but it never felt like a destination-worthy meal. To top it off, they started playing music near the end of dinner. Personally, I prefer omakase to feel quiet, intimate, and focused on the food--not like I'm attending to a rave. There are better omakase options in the Bay for the money. I'd skip this one. read more

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Parking: terrible. Honestly one of the most congested and poorly organized parking lots I've ever had the misfortune of having to park in. Tbh this alone doesn't make any of these places worth visiting.. Ambiance: I think the sushi bar is well designed but everywhere else gives a somewhat forced faux fancy vibe Service: my wife checked in for us ahead of time (bc of the terrible parking) and the management had the audacity to argue with her for the fact that she had a shellfish allergy...some solutions were to either have her box and take home the omakase (which she can't eat regardless of the setting) or to give those dishes to me... I made sure to note her allergies when booking the reservation and yet they tried to blame my wife for not giving them a notice ahead of time to make other arrangements. thankfully they adjusted and made substitutes and our waitress was nice and the management tried to be attentive afterwards Food: some of the high end tuna pieces were very delicious but some of the garnishments and the appetizers had a "fusion" style taste to it that made it feel inauthentic. Ultimately, if you're looking for a large course omakase within this price point and don't mind having inauthentic flavors and ambiance then this is a decent choice. However, if you want solid sushi and are willing to pay a little more for better quality, I would say go to a different spot. 2 stars because the chefs seem solid and the wait staff tried their best read more

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Blue Pagoda is great. The foods were good. The fishes were very fresh. They have a great selection of drinks as well, from cocktails, beers, to sake. The service is beyond amazing. Jason was so attentive, helpful, and always make sure we had everything we needed the entire night, while helping a number of other tables as well. The vibe was vibing, chill. We like the interior decor. We will definitely be back. read more

Blue Pagoda - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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I almost wanted to not share a review to gatekeep this restaurant, but I also found it on Yelp, so...I was not expecting a lot because the prices seemed too good for omakase in the Bay Area. In a very unassuming plaza, it's bright and warm and superb service from beginning to end. I made reservations for 4 on Yelp on a Saturday at 5 PM. I accidentally cancelled it and had to call to make sure my reservations were still valid. Thankfully it was as I saw their reservations were lined up all throughout the holiday weekend. Jason the server took great care of us and very knowledgeable of the dishes and drinks. I had the sake flight and they were all so crisp and paired with the omakase dinner perfectly. The 4 appetizers they start you with are okay, minimal, and I was really excited for the chawanmushi, but the yuzu flavor was way too prominent for me. If it didn't have the extra citrus, it would've been perfect. The nigiris were all very good. As a salmon lover I was bummed not to see it on the menu, but the ocean trout was very similar and a favorite of the night. All of the tuna nigiri was exceptional as well, and really loved the gold dust they played around with. The A5 waygu was pretty good as well. I was also impressed with the personal sized ramen they provided, the chashu was tender and flavorful and a perfect portion size at the end of the meal. Our sushi chef was also very courteous and explained each dish well. It was hard to hear him at times as it gets quite loud in this restaurant, which may be a drawback from the true omakase experience. The matcha ice cream was more icy than creamy but still a nice touch to the end of the meal. As they have been open since August, I imagine more and more people will be dining here and I for sure will definitely be back. For the current price point, I left happy and full! read more

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Love that there is an omakase place closer to home. For $108pp (if you sit at the bar), otherwise $98 at a table, it's a decent price for 5 appetizers, 9 nigiris, a warm dish, and a dessert to finish. I enjoyed each piece, but was not overly full. I even ordered an extra piece of chutoro. Each of the nigiris were good, but none of them really stood out to me. Of course, my favorite piece was the otoro, which literally melts in your mouth. I did enjoy the chashu ramen after the nigiris. This is different from other omakases and it was a nice way to end the course before the dessert. Cocktails were really good too. I got the Blackberry pineapple tequila sour, and it was nice and refreshing. My friends got the Aimee-Tini (which is like a martini and came with olives stuffed with truffle and caviar). It was interesting. The lychee Noah Rita and Ane-San, both were good too. Service was great. They were very attentive and took our dishes away quickly, refilled our waters, and our sake cups. We did the 5:30pm reservation, and it was pretty empty. We did hear it gets crowded later, so recommend coming early and making reservations. We do like the interior, very modern looking and simple. The wall of liquor is impressive. Definitely will come back in the future when they change their menu. Parking is easy, as there is a open lot. read more

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4 star for deco and service, 3.5 star for food. It's our friend's 4th time visiting, and this time is a girls night out. This place is getting popular very quickly as they started to run 3 dining sessions. Ours is 5 to 6:30, and the second one ends at 8 and the last one starts at 8. When we tried to make reservations online, only 8pm was available on Yelp. So we were lucky to get a 5pm seating. Since the place is inside a busy plaza with a supermarket and some local stores, I was pleasantly surprised at its decorations. It was zen, warm color tone and the Blue Pagoda sign was visible in a few places. Service was good as we were greeted right away, each guest was offered drinks immediately (hot tea is not free, $5 per person with unlimited refill), each dish was introduced and dirty dishes were collected right away. Since it's omakase, we were offered a bit of everything. Not every dish is good to my palette, hence the 3.5 star. Appetizers: - Matsutake mushroom with shiso vinegar sauce: not my favorite. The sauce didn't bring out the goodness of the mushroom. -Monkfish liver pate mousse with seaweed crisps: a better dish. Monkfish mousse was held inside the seaweed crisps. The crisps can be crispier and crunchier, but this is not bad and a good creative way to cook monkfish liver. -Soft shell crab tempura with citrus mustard: good. Fried soft shell can never displease. -Ikua and Snow crab chawanmushi: not a successful dish. The steam egg was too watery, and the orange peel inside was too strong that it did not let the seafood flavors come out. We were presented with a wet wipe to clean our hands before moving onto the next section. Nigiris: They are generally better than the appetizers. The ingredients are fresh and the sushi rice has this glutenous sticky but distinct texture that holds the sushi together. The sushi were all seasoned already, so I did not eat them with soy sauce. With the varieties of sauces, even though I did not prefer certain elements such as plum, the taste balances each other well enough that I have no complaints about any of them. First plate: -Sea bream snapper with citrus salt - Striped-jack with plum paste -Smoked Amberjack with Thai Nam Jim sauce Second plate: -Ocean Trout with Black turffle -Bluefin Tuna Lean cut with Simmered Kelp in soy sauce -Marinated Bluefin Tuna Chutoro with pickled wasabi -hon Maguro Otoro with caviar Third dish: Toro Futomaki Fourth dish: A5 Japanese Wagyu beef with yuzu pepper tamagoyaki Warm Course: -Chashu Ramen: The portion is small, not a big bowl. lol....but the 2 slices of chashu are good, soft and flavorful with a ring of fat. The noodle and broth is average, not much of a texture. Sweet Ending: -This is seasonal as my friend experienced different dishes each time she came. This time was some green tea sorbet with plum powder sprinkled on top and frozen blue berries in the middle. I think the dish lacks sweetness and maybe over frozen. Not a sweet ending for me. Overall, the meal of $99 + $5 tea is a good value proposition in the bay area with this kind of ambience and service. read more

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I just got home from Blue Pagoda 15 minutes ago and OH. MY. GOD. I've had omakase maybe 6 times now but this was absolutely the best experience I've ever had, and it's at such an affordable price. I've spent much more for far less or just ok omakase. But this place blew my socks off in just the first few dishes. I was wowed more than once and was texting all my friends by the 4th dish that "holy shit, Blue Pagoda is hella good". Not a single mediocre dish, every thing was delicious. My favorites of the night: --Ocean trout with Black truffle sauce - delicious cold piece of fish with a flavorful truffle sauce that had a nice thicker consistency to it and a kick of yuzu? Only the second dish of the night and at this point I was already like DAMN. I'm still full but if I was hungry and if they had it à la carte I would order it 15 times. --Japanese style fried oyster - came with tartar sauce and matcha salt --Aonori and Snow Crab Chawanmushi - delicious, warm, hearty, with real pieces of crab. --Smoked Amberjack with Thai Nam Jim sauce - I guess this is a Thai sauce but honestly when I ate it it reminded me of some mexican salsa. Still very good, unique, and tasty --Marinated Bluefin Tuna Chutoro with pickled wasabi - melted in my mouth --A5 Japanese Wagyu Beef with Yuzu Pepper - also melted in my mouth, citrusy and even a little spicy. I plan to come back for every special occasion! Anniversary, wife's bday, my bday! It looks like they constantly update the menu too so it's not just the same stuff every time. Service was stellar as well. Everyone was so kind and the interior was very clean. They have great decorations, almost feels like the inside of Maestros with the whole drink room, and a huge bonsai(?) tree inside. Even the bathrooms were very clean and well decorated. The price was just right but and there was a lot of food. I was so full I honestly almost yacked in the bathroom lol. Also drank too much. I like the preset menu because you know what youre getting or you can reference the menu when you get home and are looking at pictures. Because they were telling me what the dish was and half the time I could barely hear them since it was lively inside. I do tend to have that issue at other omakase places though. They'll tell me what the dish is but I can't hear or understand so I just eat. But then it makes it harder to remember for next time what I liked. read more

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I came to Blue Pagoda for a solo Saturday dinner and had such a lovely experience! There was initially an issue with my reservation through Yelp, but the restaurant called me right away and was still able to accommodate me at my requested 5 PM time. They even gave me complimentary champagne as an apology, which I thought was incredibly kind. The restaurant itself is beautiful, intimate, and elegant. I chose the omakase, beginning with the Prelude. The sweet shrimp with black truffle sauce was one of the few misses for me. I love shrimp and enjoyed the truffle sauce, but the shrimp had a slightly fishy taste. The toro tartare on crispy lotus root was fresh with a great textural contrast, although I wanted a little more flavor. The standout was the lobster tempura with matcha salt--perfectly seasoned, hot, crispy, and delicious. Next was seasonal chawanmushi with abalone. I loved the creamy egg custard and the abalone, although it was a little bland for my taste. Still, it was warm and soothing. Then came the the nigiri progression. You receive four pieces at a time and are instructed to eat left to right, using ginger as a palate cleanser. Everything is already seasoned by the chef, so no soy sauce is needed. First flight: * Madai + sakura salt: SO fresh and perfectly seasoned. I almost rolled my eyes into the back of my head. * Shima aji + ume: I expected sweetness but got a delicious tart plum flavor that complemented the fish beautifully. * Hirame + chili daikon: Loved the tang and little kick of spice. * Smoked sagoshi + Thai nam jim: One of my favorites! Lightly smoky with a tangy, almost BBQ-like sauce and a little kick. Second flight: * Hokkaido hotate + uni: As a huge uni fan, I loved this. The uni melted in my mouth and the scallop was incredibly clean and sweet. * Hon maguro akami + nori sauce: It's hard to go wrong with good bluefin tuna. Another banger. * Zuke chutoro + fresh wasabi: Fatty tuna and fresh wasabi--excellent. * Otoro + caviar: Premium fatty tuna, caviar AND 24K gold dust. Rich, buttery, incredible, and quite literally tasted expensive. The nigiri progression finished with A5 Wagyu + yuzu pepper, and OMG. I was blown away by the quality of the Wagyu. Absolutely spectacular and one of my favorite bites of the night. Afterward, they offer an à la carte menu if you're still hungry. I added A5 Wagyu nigiri with caviar and the 6-piece chef's sashimi selection with smoked Spanish mackerel, tuna, and snapper. Everything was incredibly fresh and I was very happy I ordered both. For the hearty finale, we received an unagi tempura mini don + mushroom miso soup. The unagi was AMAZING--moist and tender inside, crispy outside, with just enough unagi sauce over a small portion of rice and edamame. The mushroom miso, unfortunately, was too bland for my taste. Dessert was an adorable mango-shaped thin white chocolate shell that you crack open to reveal mango mousse and custard. It was pleasantly tart and not overly sweet, which was a nice way to finish the meal. I also ordered the blackberry-pineapple tequila cocktail, which was excellent. Service was wonderful. Courses were paced beautifully, plates were continuously cleared without ever making me feel rushed, and my water was always promptly refilled. Everyone was attentive throughout the entire experience. Not every course was a personal favorite, but the highs were VERY high--especially the nigiri, A5 Wagyu, sashimi, lobster tempura, and unagi tempura mini don. I also really appreciated how kindly they handled the reservation mix-up. Their omakase menu changes monthly, so I'm already interested in coming back to see what they create next! read more

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Highly recommend the omakase dinner experience here. The staff are so friendly and super accommodating. We were greeted with a warm welcome and it really sets the mood for the rest of the night. Can't talk enough about the food. It was curated perfectly and well balanced. All the flavors worked well with one another. It was very fresh and keeps you wondering what flavor bomb would come next. I definitely would recommend getting their drinks. Maybe two while you're at it. It's so refreshing! Noah you did a great job with the lychee margarita! I love the decor of this place. It's so unique and tranquil. I also appreciate the bathroom. They had lotion for you and a full length mirror. So well thought out! Will definitely be back here. read more

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From start to finish- we had the most fun experience and didn't want to leave! Blue Pagoda is such a gem, a beautiful and cozy vibe that we felt like we were on a mini vacation as we were celebrating a special occasion. We reserved special seats at the chef's Counter for our omakase meal! Omakase is so organized and they really take their time to teach you what about what you're eating. Every single bite was AMAZINGGGG! So delicate yet complex, everything full of UMAMI! All of rhe Chefs were engaged with their guests and super friendly! They even dusted US with gold powder! The cocktails were dangerously delicious! Our host/server became our best friend lol They were so sweet and gifted us champagne for our special night! We felt so loved! read more

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I'm so happy I found this place, a true hidden gem with a beautiful ambiance. It genuinely felt like stepping into Japan from the moment we walked in. We made a reservation and there was a small seating mixup, but they reached out days in advance to resolve it. When we arrived, they were incredibly accommodating, provided excellent service, and seated us right in front of the head chef, which made the experience even more special. The sake flight was a fantastic selection, ranging from light to sweeter sakes, and each one paired beautifully with the meal. This was a 16-course experience, and I loved every single course. You can truly tell they take their time serving fresh food with thoughtfully curated flavors, from the silky steamed egg, to each piece of handcrafted nigiri, the mini ramen, and even the dessert. The hostesses, servers, and chefs elevated the experience even further. Everyone was warm, friendly, and made sure we felt well taken care of throughout the evening. I can't wait to come back and experience their new menus in the upcoming seasons! read more

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Recently landed in San Jose, we were looking for an experience not just dinner. We received word of a place that is low key but top notch. We were suggested to try "Blue Pagoda" a relatively new spot but feels like a traditional Japanese Omakase Restaurant. We sat down at the main sushi bar where the chef presented everything one by one as he made them for the entire restaurant. Flavors outstanding, service was great, "Rose" was helpful. Now we also found out that the restaurant has a few great drinks that you don't find everywhere. One the Amy Tini a take on a traditional Dirty Martini with caviar and gold flake. It's strong but ladies after a hard days work I am sure it's your drink. The other was something called "Ane-San" I am not normally into mixed drinks but it was excellent. Great atmosphere and service and decorated like a traditional Japanese restaurant. Check this place out right away, you will need to make reservations as they have two sittings a night. read more

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My wife and I went booked lunch (via the Yelp app) at the sushi bar on a Friday. They just opened the 12 pm slot a couple of weeks before as dinner was always swamped. This new omakase place located inside a strip mall was raved to us by our daughter and son-in-law. The interior design with the bonsai shaped faux trees and bamboo ceilings we noticed while entering only heightened our anticipation of what was to come. Our chef, who was Japanese, crafted the fresh nigiri with authority and was impressive to watch from beginning to end. The dishes served from the kitchen were also very tasty. Every item tasted superb and balanced. The A5 topped with caviar & gold flakes and the Monk Fish Liver were indeed the notables among our 16-course meal. I had the premium sake pairing which was three 2 oz cups ranging from sweet & smooth to dry & full-bodied. Service was excellent and friendly. We didn't feel rushed and had time to savor the food. This crew genuinely cares about creating an experience at Blue Pagoda. We left with full bellies. Blue Pagoda is indeed one of the new restaurants in the South Bay to be at. read more

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This place came highly recommended by our daughter and son in law. Reservation is a must if planning to dine during weekend dinner. We made a reservation for Friday lunch time and I believe it's way better as you're not rushed or more time is spent by the chef's. Table service choices are either dining room and sushi bar. For the Omakase Dining room experience it is $99 per person while the sushi bar experience is $108 per person. We chose the sushi bar experience and hubby did the premium sake flights for $45. We were told as well that they change their menu every month. Our Omakase experience is a 16 course meal as follow: APPETIZERS (Seasonal, refreshing and crafted to awaken one's palate) Monkfish liver with shiso vinegar sauce Grilled Chasu with mustard sauce Matsutake mushroom tempura Black truffle chawanmushi NIGIRI SELECTION: (handcrafted with premium cuts and authentic technique) Japanese Tai with Yuzu salt - sea bream snapper with citrus salt Shima Aji with Ume Sauce - striped-jack with plum paste Hokkaido Hotate with Karasumi - hokkaido scallop with japanese bottarga Smoked Kanpachi with Nam Jim sauce - Smoked Amberjack with Thai Nam Jim sauce Hon Maguro Akami with Nori Sauce - bluefin tuna lean cut with simmered kelp in soy sauce Zuke Hon Maguro Chutoro with Kizami Wasabi - marinated bluefin tuna chutoro with pickled wasabi Hon Maguro Otoro with caviar - bluefin tuna fatty belly with caviar Negitoro maki A5 Japanese Wagyu Beef with Yuzu Pepper WARM COURSE (hearty and comforting with refined simplicity) Black Cod miso yaki Don Miso Soup SWEET ENDING (a delicate conclusion to your mindful culinary journey) Chef's Dessert Selection - deep friend fish shaped red beans pastry in lychee sorbet Parking is not a problem. I consider this as one amazing Omakase experience. They are still on their soft opening. They opened back in August and is now gaining popularity in the South Bay. read more

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