I've loved Joy Sushi for 10+ years and sometimes even make the trek to San Mateo to get a comforting sushi fix. They currently have a promo celebrating 25-years by offering 25% off their sushi rolls. AMAZE! We got the filling rolls: Lion King, Baked scallop, Samurai, and mercy. All were amazing, but 2 baked rolls was a bit much for 2 people. Service is fast and they have downstairs and upstairs seating. read more

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Good and affordable sushi spot in San Mateo. I usually come here with my family. We always get a bunch of the rolls to share, veggie / shrimp mix tempura. The service is always fast and friendly and usually not a wait read more

Joy Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

I love their Tempura!!! We always share their Bento Box with Tempura (super yum!!), Beef Teriyaki and Salmon Teriyaki. Love the charred flavor and the perfect doneness. Not into their Tonkatsu's. Our current favorite roll is the 49er's roll. Love the crunchy fried soft shell crab and shrimp tempura along with unagi. The dosage of their sauces tend sweet, but is perfect when I scrape them off to taste. p.s.: We go elsewhere for fresh raw fish. read more

Joy Sushi - Bento Box with Tempura, Beef Teriyaki and Tonkatsu - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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My family and I are big fans of Joy Sushi! They have a promotion right now (5/23/26)--all rolls are 25% off to celebrate their 20th anniversary. I love their iced lemon water. Always so refreshing. We ordered edamame to start. It was a little overcooked and too squishy for my liking. Nicely salted. My mom ordered the agedashi tofu and futomaki and she enjoyed both. My dad ordered the samurai roll. He said it has everything he likes - salmon, tuna, unagi, and Joy special sauce. I ordered the edamame gyoza and sweet potato roll. I love the dipping sauce that comes with the gyoza. I even dipped my roll into it. For my roll, the sweet potato is fried on top of a cucumber-avocado roll which adds some nice texture and crunch. Service was fast and waiters were friendly. We will be back again! read more

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Prices have gone up like crazy--everything is at least 20% more. And seriously, $10 for instant noodles? That's hard to justify. The rice portion was surprisingly small too. On top of that, the food just lacked flavor--there's nothing authentic about it as Japanese cuisine. Overall, it feels like a total rip-off for what you get. Definitely not coming back. read more

Joy Sushi - I have never seen a rice that small in a bento box - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Joy has been my goto place for sushi since they opened over a decade ago. Been coming here both dine in and take out 1-2 times a month. The speciality rolls are still as big as ever. The prices have been going up since covid but you still get a solid large roll compared to other places with the same price but smaller rolls. I realized something on this last order. I normally order through YELP which takes me to some third party site or order direct through their website. Sometimes it would ask me to pay at checkout and sometimes I would pay at the restaurant when I pick up. I don't know why. I think depending on which site I go on. FACT: Do not order from through Door Dash. They will charge you an additional $1 per roll. Even Grub Hub is a little shady. Some rolls are $1 more also. Order direct from the Joy website and you will get the best value! read more

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The giant cruiser boat for four was really filling and fresh. We got a mix of fish and it hit the spot. Service is always good here. They have expanded their sushi rolls which are all pretty hearty and fresh. read more

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Came here with some gfs for a nice bento box lunch on a Wednesday afternoon. Got here around 11:30 and was surprised to find it so empty! We wanted to sit upstairs but i guess cuz it was so empty they wanted to keep everyone downstairs which is understandable. It was pretty mellow since most of the tables were empty. The staff was nice and the food wasn't bad. Especially for 14.95 for two items. Can't find a deal like that nowadays. I guess they stopped the $10 lunch deal which would have been a nice choice. I had a mixed tempura and chicken katsu. The tempura was crispy and I not too battery and there was even an onion! The katsu was nicely breaded and moist. Friends had salmon and sushi and they commented that the salmon was moist. The staff was accommodating as they were nice enough to give us small containers to bring the salad dressing (on the side) and tempura sauce to bring home with our leftovers. Will definitely come back for lunch when craving a bento in downtown San Mateo. It's give it a 3.5 star total for lunch. read more

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Came here on a Tuesday evening and the restaurant was not super crowded. The menu is very large with a good variety of different types of rolls. The inside is not that loud so conversation is easy to hear. The waitstaff checked in with us and kept our water glasses full consistently. I got the Paul Blossom Roll, and wow are the rolls large at this restaurant! The roll was wrapped in so much salmon, and they do not overpack their rice. I was very satisfied just after the one roll. The quality was fine, nothing to write home about but it was tasty and plentiful. Pretty solid sushi spot without breaking the bank! read more

Joy Sushi - Paul Blossom Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Came to Joy Sushi for a quick lunch and saw they had a $10 lunch special being promoted on the window, so decided to give it a try. When I sat down and was given the menu, I didn't see the $10 special, and honestly was too lazy to go back out to look at it again, and decided to go with the two item bento box with my favorite combo, beef teriyaki and pork tonkatsu for $14.99. The food came out pretty quick, and when it arrived, I was amazed at how big the portions were. For my big appetite, this was plenty of food. It was enough for two small meals, but I ate it all in one sitting anyways. The beef teriyaki was tasty but a tad chewy. The pork tonkatsu was crunchy and the meat was still a little juicy. I think for the price point though, this a one of the better values for lunch in the area. Definitely wouldn't hesitate to come back read more

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My choice of sushi in the crowded sushi choices in San Mateo downtown. Good variety, portion, decently fresh, and good prices. It's not top quality but very good quality and taste for a meal. read more

Joy Sushi is tucked along a street that feels a bit quiet and worn, and from the outside, it doesn't scream excitement. Inside, the restaurant is modest and simple, offering two dining areas--one downstairs and another upstairs. We visited around 1 PM on a weekday, and the place was fairly quiet with just one other party seated. I believe I ordered the Negi Shiro Toro Roll, Spider Roll, and Foster City Hand Roll--all of which were flavorful and well-prepared. My mother had the Salmon Bento Box, which she found to be tasty and well-cooked. We also ordered calamari as an appetizer, but had to remind our server since it didn't arrive until we were nearly finished with our meal. Once it came, it was crispy and flavorful, though my mother had some doubts about its freshness. Service was friendly but a bit forgetful. Ambiance-wise, the restaurant has a darker, understated vibe that might not be immediately inviting, but it's quiet and comfortable enough for a casual meal. Overall, the food was great with some standout rolls and satisfying variety. Despite a few minor hiccups, I'd say this spot earns a solid 3.75 to 4 stars--definitely worth a visit if you're in the area and craving sushi. read more

Joy Sushi - Calamari - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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3.5 on overall for this establishment. Eaten here once, but during covid this was one of the regular spots for sushi for pick up, let me breakdown everything we had and how it all faired If you are sitting inside spot is homey, clean, not loud. The staff was polite and responsive Chili Garlic Edamame - good filler as an appetizer, not spicy for my taste but for my kids especially my daughter said it was spicy mind you she is 9yrs old lol Miso soup - for my daughter, standard taste, piping hot Chicken Kaarage - piping hot, flavorful Sweet & crispy chicken wings - flavorful, definite something you get to share for parties of 4 or more Paul Blossom - tuna, avocado, salmon to pretty to eat, delicious roll a definite must sample Tiger Roll - standard, filling and flavorul Prawn tempura - piping hot, airy, if you love tempura sample their's Tuna sashimi - decent flavor, portion also decent food ***1/2 most part decent food all around price $$ service **** helpful and attentive ambiance **** clean, not loud read more

Joy is a safe bet for sushi in San Mateo. We used to go there quite often when the kids were younger as they love their sushi rolls and pricing is fair. Last Friday night, we went to Joy for dinner as the other two restaurants that we wanted to go have 10 - 15 tables in the waitlist ahead of us. We were too hungry to wait and decided to go to Joy. Kiddo had a poke bowl which he likes it, although it's surprisingly spicy even for me. The spicy tuna is indeed spicy!! I had a Tonkatsu which is alright. Hubby ordered two rolls and he likes both of them. All in all, it's a quick and decent dinner. The servers are nice and efficient. 4/5 read more

Joy Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Food is NOT fresh. You can taste sourness. We both got diarrhea later. Also we didn't order raw fish. Can't imagine the quality of raw food

We found little Joy in these $10 specials. You get what you pay for sometimes at these family outings. 1. Ramen-Tasted like it's from the package. Nothing but a few greens and very salty broth. 2. Chicken Bento was super dry and hard to eat. The California roll was fake crab and the rice was gummy and cold. 3. My unagi roll with soft shell crab and an additional charge for real crabmeat was also a dissapointment. Cold softshell crab, cold eel, weird tasting cheap canned crab. Not worth the $20. 4. DIY poke bowl. Probably the best out of the four. Decent size with okay fish. I will say the waiter was amazing in the sense that he didn't write anything down and got all our orders right. Slow service though and a charge for a to go box. Can't say we'll be back. read more

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This is a usual spot for my family and I, you can never go wrong with Joy Sushi! We came an hour before closing, service was quick but not pushy considering they were closing soon. We ordered a good amount of food, I recommend getting the Sashimi Deluxe, you really get to taste the freshness of the fish. Also ordered 3 rolls, the rolls are bigger than most places so keep that in mind when ordering. The interior is roughly updated but that doesn't diminish their quality of food. We're typically seated upstairs where there is a bigger seating area. Enough from for our toddlers to explore when they're done eating and their parents are still eating. read more

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Joy sushi has been a staple for me year over year! My husband is allergic to fish and he can still find a variety of items to eat. While there might be a slight wait during dinner, it's definitely worth it! My faves here are the spicy salmon roll, lion king roll, kappa sashimi and the vegetable tempura. While it's very laid back and no fuss it's a solid casual dinner spot! read more

My go to sushi spot in San Mateo when I want quick service and delicious rolls. Love all their choices and there's a lot of them. Staff is very friendly as well. read more

Don't order takeout here if you want food quickly. I ordered off their site and they estimated 20 min and it ended up being ready 50 min in after I placed the order. They prioritize DoorDash and other apps versus their own website and loyal customers... read more

Who got food poisoning today? You guessed right! We've been coming here for well over 10 years and never had a problem. Food is what you'd expect from your typical Japanese restaurant, nothing amazing but nothing terrible. I don't know if it was the spicy tuna roll or salmon skin but oh man. It's especially fun when you're taking a timed exam and have to get up and use the restroom for awhile . . . I may be overreacting, but why take a chance? The food tasted normal too. Oh well good luck! read more

Fire bento box ... beef and chicken and the assortment of tempura good food reasonable dinner price read more

Joy Sushi - Bento Box - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Joy Sushi is by far the best All You Can Eat sushi place I've ever been to. The service is great and the food comes out very fast. I eat here atleast once every week. Its a must try if you are in the area. read more

We sat downstairs which was definitely not the place to be as it fills up with delivery people waiting to pick up orders. It's chaotic and not at all what a restaurant experience should be. The service was cold and rushed, not a smile was seen and seemed a bit on the rude side. The chicken katsu wasn't cooked correctly so the batter was literally falling off the chicken which is something I've never seen Katsu do. The worst part is anorexic tuna rolls, it's made with minced tuna which means there's probably a filler and not pure tuna. Subpar dining experience that left a bad taste in our mouths. Sorry, I cannot recommend this restaurant. read more

Joy Sushi - Katsu not battered correctly (see review) - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Food is Always Good!! Got the seafood soup tonight.. It tasted good.. But..you guys should take the tips off the shrimp!! I asked for no mussels in my soup, but it had some.. Not a terrible review..just do better next time!! Thank you.. read more

I went here on my day off and ordered the joy roll, soon tofu soup, and hamachi hand roll. The food was decent nothing too out of the ordinary the hand roll came out pretty fast but the tofu soup and joy roll took a while. The service was okay. The restaurant itself had very dim lighting and there is a downstairs and upstairs area for seating. read more

Joy Sushi - Joy King Roll, SOON TOFU SOUP() - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Continues to leave out items from orders. I keep hoping they will get it right because they used to be better. It's my own fault hoping that yesterday I would have had all the items in my order. Just say no read more

Joy Sushi in Downtown San Mateo on B Street between 1st Avenue and Baldwin is TOTALLY the bomb!!! All three of the baked sushi rolls are absolutely great! They are: Baked Lobster Roll, Joy Scallop Roll, and Joy King Roll. All three of them get a five star rating for great taste. Well worth your money. read more

Yum! Came here for my birthday dinner and left very satisfied. My friend and I ordered 3 rolls - the Mercy roll, the baked lobster roll, and the baked scallop roll. Every single roll was incredibly filling and stuffed with meat. The fish was fresh and the prices were really reasonable. There is plenty of seating and the wait staff is very accommodating and kind. I will definitely be back to Joy Sushi! read more

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I'm living for this place. Food, service, staff and ambiance was perfect. I'm just visiting from LA but I wish I lived nearby. read more

Joy Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Have not been to Joy in awhile. It will be a long while before I am back. I had the lunch sashimi,sushi combo. The best thing was the salad. Miso soup was ok. California roll was ok, but a lot of filler. Tuna sashimi was tasteless, not bad, but just tasted like it was a cheaper quality fish. Sushi was not really edible. The shrimp tasted metallic, whitefish I spit out. I left about 1/3 of the sushi/sashimi that was in the combo as I was leery of how my stomach would react to it. read more

Joy Sushi - Sushi, Did not taste fresh or look great - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

This is my go to sushi spot! I have come here many times and the sushi rolls and sashimi are always fresh. Service is great as well. I usually get their sake lover's plate. This restaurant is great for eating sushi on a budget. They have great prices for the amount of food you get. read more

Joy Sushi - Sake Lover 's Plate and Hamachi Lover 's Plate - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Our friends recommended their sashimi for freshness. It was a good choice to come here. Gourmet Sashimi $42.95 - all fishes were thick and fresh, it was great that it also came with a good quality CA roll to fill up with carbs, good value. Hamachi Kama $15.95 - had a lot of meat on it, cooked to tender, nice char grill taste, I felt the spicy sauce overly drowns out the fresh fish taste, so I did not use it. read more

Joy Sushi - Gourmet Sashimi set - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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We ordered pick up from Joy tonight and food was tasty. I need to remember to take pictures before we eat! Got a CA roll 2x spicy tuna hand rolls (love these), Dragon Roll, Cal Train, In and Out, and Volcano for a fried roll all for about $85 + tip. Those seem to be our preferred rolls most of the time. It was a lot of food and easily fed four hungry people. Joy is good sushi for the price and when we dine in it is a fun place with courteous staff. We usually eat up stairs and have some sake and beer but tonight was a late dinner so skipped the dine in experience. We/I have been here at least 15 times and can't seem to remember to check in. It is our go-to sushi - teens like it and you don't need to pull up a brinks truck for the bill. It is not the best sushi in the area but bang for buck - it is hard to beat. read more

Joy Sushi - empty to go containers - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Great service, friendly staff and very tasty sushi! The pieces are a little too big, but honestly, who's complaining?! lol :) Can't wait to come here again soon! read more

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This place is worth the drive. When we feel like having flavor sushi with a good drink this place is our go to. Staff here are friendly and help you with any drink specials they may have. The place can get crowded but I haven't experienced a long wait. read more

Great price with nice stuff and fast service! Came here on a Tuesday for an early dinner for a party of 4. We got seated right away upstairs. The restaurant is quite dim inside and loud when it's full. I love how extensive the menu is and how there are many photos for reference. We ordered 5 rolls to share and it was more than enough for the 4 of us. The portion of the rolls was very generous but the fish portion was small. There was a good ratio of filling to rice and everything tasted fresh. read more

We came here for lunch around 11:30 AM on a Saturday. There were ample tables open for outdoor dining. We were promptly greeted and we got to choose our own seats. We were served a small salad with a light sesame dressing along with a small bowl of miso soup. We ordered the calamari fry as a started followed by 3 sushi rolls: red dragon roll, geisha roll, and shrimp tempura deluxe. The calamari fry (3/5) had a great flavor profile, but was a little over fried so the calamari texture was extra chewy. The red dragon roll (4/5) had a good proportion of unagi to avocado per bite. The sushi was filled with cucumber and shrimp tempura inside topped with a lot crab along with tobiko on the outside! Great soft texture inside followed by a slight firmness from the unagi on the outside. Pretty tasty! With the unagi sauce, we didn't even need to dip it in soy sauce. The geisha roll (3/5) was our least favorite. The fish on the outside was fresh and delicious. However, the jalapeño toppings were very thick and the spicy sauce made it less enjoyable. The spicy sauce was quite sweet. Not much of a spicy factor. This also had cucumber and crab inside with unagi sauce as well as their spicy sauce. Lastly, we had the shrimp tempura deluxe roll (5/5). The shrimp tempura, crab, and cucumber were delicious. This was our favorite especially with the spicy tuna topping! Great place to satisfy a sushi craving. This place has great deals for sake + beer as well! read more

Joy Sushi - (From top down) Geisha Roll, Shrimp Tempura Deluxe Roll, Red Dragon Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Joy Sushi continues to be my favorite sushi place in town! Typically I order online but we have dined in a couple types. I have not experienced any issues so far, and I hope it stays that way. My personal favorite is sunshine roll. I love the slices of lemon on top. The only problem I have is parking. I get frustrated looking for street parking but it is worth it! read more

Joy Sushi - From left to right: Samurai, Sunshine, dragon, and lobster (not cooked) - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

It's conveniently located more north of downtown San Mateo so parking is a bit easier. Service is usually really good here. I usually do take out and every time the rolls have been pretty good. This place will not use the highest grade seafood, however it does not skimp on quality and quantity. The rolls are huge!! We got the spider roll and the bay scallop along with two miso soup and even had left overs. read more

Joy Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California