Located in the Pacific East Mall in El Cerrito. Went here last week after watching the Warriors beat the Rockets. Loved the fact that they close near midnight at 11:45 pm. Went here around 10 pm. We had the Donburi Rice Bowl, Salmon Fried Rice, and Shabu Shabu. The Donburi was pretty good. I had the beef option. The beef was very tender and flavorful. The gravy was wonderful. It was not too salty and the flavors meshed well with the beef and the rice. The portion was generous. It was good enough to share among two or three people. It was served with miso soup and a salad. The miso soup was pretty good as well. The Salmon Fried Rice was pretty tasty. The salmon was cooked well and tasted good. The rice was cooked nicely and the ingredients meshed well together for a wonderful dish. There was some seaweed in it as well as some fish roe. The Shabu Shabu was good too. My first time trying it. It was nice to have the heating device on our table to cook the soup. Loved the assortment of veggies in the soup and the noodles. The meat was pretty good along with the tofu pieces. The portion size was good enough for two to three people. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience at Kaoru. Glad to have stumbled here after the Warriors game. I'll definitely come back to try their other items on their menu. read more

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I've been coming here for a few years now and I'm sad to admit that it has really gone downhill and I may have come here for the last time. Don't get me the wrong, the quality of the food is still decent, especially the rolls but the service definitely leaves a lot to be desired. Just recently, they implemented a mandatory 18% gratuity, regardless of the group size. I feel this has led to slower and poorer quality service by the waitstaff since they are not incentivized to perform well. The worst part is probably the prices. I understand with COVID, there has been inflation everywhere but this place has raised their prices more than 50% for some items that simply makes them not as competitive with other restaurants in the Pacific East Mall. read more

This has been my go to sushi place that I order from. The chirashi is my usualngo to, however my last order that tuna did not seem as fresh. We also get some rolls like the spider and the lucky. The bento box here is also a good option. read more

Kaoru Sushi - Chirashi - Japanese Near Me - Richmond, California

The fish is fresh, some innovative rolls, nice/fun ambiance, and service is good. A bit pricey considering how much competition is around, but pretty standard for 99 Ranch where everything is expensive. One star removed for the sneaky mandatory "service charge" of 15%, which they then have the gall to total in along with taxes BEFORE they pre-calculate the percentages for the "tip" suggestions (which starts at 15% of course). If I would have paid my usual 20% tip without looking carefully, my overall tip for service would have been upwards of 40%. No. If a does a mandatory service charge, they should just remove the tip field or note that you can add a bit more (without ridiculous inflated numbers) to bring it up to what you like (which I did, to total around 20%). read more

we used to really like this place, it was our go to sushi place in our neighborhood. we didn't mind the price because the food was so good. recently the quality has plummeted. takoyaki: burned. miso salmon in the bento (pictured): cooked to death, inedible it was so over cooked. miso salmon also carries an additional charge so we paid extra to throw this away miso soup (pictured): so saturated and undissolved miso paste naruto roll: used to be so good! don't know what happened but the inside ingredients changed, it had something spicy in it and the cucumber was really thick. the other roll we ordered was fine. feels like we won't be back tho. read more

Kaoru Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Richmond, California

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Been dining here regularly since they opened and today was the first time I noticed that they have started adding an 18% gratuity no matter the party size. I did happen to see it on the menu prior to ordering (they put a sticker on the front page that probably very few people read that has their corkage fee and other info on it). Today also happened to be the very first time service wasn't excellent, which I attributed to some take-out orders being picked up, but now I'm not so sure. I think it is a pretty crappy policy to take the choice of gratuity out of the customers hands. I always tip 20-22%, but I will not add any additional tip here on top of the service charge. As long as prices don't go up more, and the quality stays the same, I will still continue to dine here. The portions for lunch plates are enough that I have leftovers so I don't end up feeling ripped off. Just beware as you're filling out the CC slip because they still have those tip check boxes! read more

My mother-in-law ordered teriyaki short ribs, my son ordered beef udon, wife ordered chicken namesake and I had the sukiyaki. Portions were large but taste was a little bland. Service and ambience were ok. I was disturbed by the 15% mandatory service charge and then they ask for tip on top of that... I don't think I'll be coming back because of the service charge. read more

If you're craving sushi and wanna try something new, do NOT go to Kaoru sushi unless it looks like there are people ACTUALLY working. It was my second time there and the service was HORRIBLE. The sushi was okay. Would've tasted better if all my food came out on time. I sat and waited for 15 minutes between each sushi roll, and my aunt and I had only ordered 3. We ordered sashimi as well, but the fish was not fresh. It was chewy. read more

Wow another great sushi place in the Richmond/el Cerrito area. Dog sitting for some friends this weekend and I had to find a place to eat. I was craving sushi and this place came up after a quick search of good places near by. Wanted something with a nice kick to it and I always want to try the lion king roll if available. This place offers the coveted (?) lion king and queen rolls! Lion king is typical, delicious baked roll, but the lion queen has spicy tuna inside and baked salmon on top. Delicious!! You can taste the fresh ingredients in both rolls which makes a huge difference in taste. Totally worth the $30 I had to shell out to get them. The only issues I had with this place were that I went early afternoon on a Sunday with maybe one other customer there, ordered online, and I still had a pretty long wait--took about 45 minutes from the time I ordered to the time I got my food. I still think it was worth the wait but they didn't give me like an estimated time for when I would be able to pick. Not a huge issue just something to note. Also, this place is inside a little mall that I had no idea existed until I went to go pick this up. Highly recommended! read more

Kaoru Sushi - Lion Queen Roll (left) and Lion King Roll (right) - Japanese Near Me - Richmond, California

When you go at night, this place is so cold and uncomfortable. Service was mediocre because the food didn't arrive all at once, my wife's dish came last and had to eat by herself because everyone had finished. Waiter seems unfriendly, she needs to smile. The food was slightly above average. Unsure we will return. read more

Great place with the excellent sushi rolls.It was delicious. Hands down one of the best sushi place i have been too.

This was the worst sushi I have had in years. The sake was slimy and even the spicy tuna tasted not fresh. My himachi sushi was slimy and tested not fresh also. Every sushi place I've eaten at over the last 5+ years has served fresh fish. This fish was so slimy, not fresh. How dare they serve such unfresh fish. I am nauseous as I'm writing this. read more

If I could give negative stars I would. 1/1/24 at 7pm, was in mood to try sushi so found this place. No line and restaurant was half full. Stood in front seat for 5 minutes while was ignored because server was busy. Finally got seated and another 6 minutes passed without even being brought a menu. Host / server fully forgot about me. Not even a water brought to table. I left for a different place. This customer service sucked hence the review. Wish I could have at least seen the menu. read more

HORRIBLE food. Super slow service. Ridiculous prices. We got take out for Valentines Day. Ordered four rolls and a few nigiri. Total came out to $160. The rice was over vinegar-y and packed too tightly. Fish tasted like low grade and wasn't cut properly so it just left an unpleasant feeling in the mouth. Very fishy. The Bay Bridge Roll has a weird taste to it. The avocado tasted like it was seasoned which isn't typical. Toro nigiri was tough...like cmon. Lion king didn't even taste baked. People were even asking for their tip back or leaving while we waited for our takeout order. read more

Saddest looking and tasting Lion king sushi roll I ever had in my life. Never coming back again!!! read more

Kaoru Sushi - I order lion king sushi roll. Doesn't look or taste anything near it. It was just nasty!! Never coming back again!! - Japanese Near Me - Richmond, California

This place has generous portion and decent service but the food is overtly sauced. If you order anything that might have a dressing or a sauce on it, do yourself a favor and ask them to go either light on the sauce or put sauce on the side.... Huge extensive menu. Don't order chicken katsu. read more

This place is bomb. Everything that I've has here has been a hit. Been here a many times and haven't been disappointed. Brought the wife, coworkers, and friends from out of town and they just love the food here. The sashimi taste fresh, the rolls are delicious. I highly recommend this place. read more

Kaoru Sushi - Blackjack Roll - Japanese Near Me - Richmond, California

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Not sure when they opened but the sushi was good! Big rolls so don't order hungry or you'll have plenty left over. The bowls were good portions and filling. Really didn't care for the miso soup but the salad with house dressing was addicting. They have a bar to serve alcohol so whenever we can start to eat indoors this will be a good spot to get food, drinks, and enjoy company! read more

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Waited 50 minutes for a chawan mushi. No explanation or apology from the waitress. There is a 15% mandatory service fee, and they asked for tips on top of that. I support mandatory service fee because it's better for the waiters, but they should not be asking for additional tips on the check. (I've been to restaurants with mandatory 15% and they put a stamp on the tips field that says "tips already included".) What they're doing here is ridiculous. They're basically counting on you not looking at the check carefully and tipping on top of it. read more

Very yummy Japanese food! Kaoru is a small restaurant in the Ranch 99 mall in Richmond. Very nice ambiance. A little pricey but the food is exceptional. Tuesday is $1.00 per Oyster on the half shell day. I have gone a few Tuesdays. Oyster's on the half shell are double that price these days. The oysters are super fresh! read more

The lunch specials were very good but when i came today, they had replaced their menus with a QR code you need to scan with your phone, and everything cost $2 more. I know that all costs are rising, but it just seems like they're paying for this unnecessary tech addon that i don't want and passing the cost on to me. I won't be back. read more

Super randomly located but the sushi was really tasty. Reasonably priced as well. The sashimi was super expensive so that was probably not worth $20 for a few small pieces of sashimi. They we great because they were able to accommodate a table did me with my puppy also so that was really cool too. read more

Visited the sushi place for a lunch outing with my wife and friend . I will always recommend anyone to this sushi establishment because of the taste and quality . I decided to try the blackjack roll ( sushi wrapped with black rice). This sushi never fails . I love how they have hand sanitizers at the tables . I would continue to recommend this eatery for anyone who loves sushi read more

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The food came out a bit slow, but the sushi is incredibly fresh. Definitely worth it.

I was really hungry for some Japanese food today. Fortunately, I remembered this little gem in Richmond. I ordered the Spicey Hamachi roll. It was fairly spicey and had a nice amount of very fresh tasting Hamachi. My main course was the grilled mackerel fish. It comes as a lunch special for 15 dollars. It came with an excellent salad, steamed rice, and some steamed edamame beans in the shell. The mackerel was grilled perfectly and ws a good-sized portion. The service was efficient and prompt. read more

Kaoru Sushi - Grilled macarole, steamed rice, edamame beans, salad - Japanese Near Me - Richmond, California

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I've ordered takeout from here and it's always been hit or miss. When it's good, it's REALLY good and when it's bad, it's truly inedible. We decided to eat in the restaurant after a couple bad takeout orders to give them one last shot. It was horrible! The COOKED salmon teriyaki was RAW, not a little bit pink, straight up sashimi on the inside with a char on the outside. We were polite and asked for them to finish cooking. They did but there was no apology, no comment at all. The hand rolls were cold and SOGGY. How?!? When they are made to order. I can only assume they made them at the beginning of our meal, forgot about them and then brought them out after they'd been sitting around for a while. I love unagi but it smelled and tasted really fishy. I couldn't eat it and ended up bringing it home for my dogs. read more

The restaurant looked excellent. The people are very friendly. The food we ordered was fantastic. This was the second time we ordered food here. We did like the sushi from this restaurant. We definitely would like to order more food from this restaurant again. I do recommend to give this restaurant a try. read more

Great Lunch Today and Great Service from Staff. White Tiger Roll Miso Soup Next Stop Here will be For Dinner. To Dine In. Always Enjoy Dining In, Relaxing. read more

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Kaoru Sushi is keen on presentation regardless if it's take-out or dine in. If you're looking for more of a Americanized/Japanese Sushi place, this is it (or at least what we've had). We've tried and recommend the veggie platter, lion queen, Godzilla, dragon, veggie lover, and the farmer market roll. Each of them was great, and if you're focusing more on a vegetarian diet this place is perfect. Also another bonus, they have a customer loyalty point system. We've been there twice and will definitely be back. Also, I was so hungry both times and failed to take a picture. :) Wait times can be 30-45 minutes, but we'll worth the wait. read more

Don't let the exterior fool you. Very nice experience. Warm atmosphere. Great food. Never go to fast food again for lunch. Chicken Katsu perfectly cooked and crispy along with the Miso Salmon in a bento box. Looking forward to bringing guests for lunch and dinner. Nice find.. read more

Looks so authentic, however not really Japanese food. Tempura, chicken wings heavily panko-ed . Bento lunch sloppily put together. I love Agedashi Tofu- but theirs had no dashi , was overfried till tofu was tuff. Usually Agedashi is lightly dusted with rice flour and fried so there is Mochi-like covering on the tofu and it sits in a dashi with slivers of nori,green onions and a little bit of Bonita flakes. So disappointing, my regular restaurant was closed and was hoping Kaoru sushi would be another good place to eat. read more

Ate at this place a few times and now its time for a review. I love sushi and frequently go in my hometown Sacramento. I was in the area and craving some good sushi. I usually eat only sashimi and tempura. If you happen to be near here come give it a try, the Ambiance makes me forget where I am, and you know that's what an experiences is all about. Forgetting where you are and let the food tell the story read more

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Best sushi ever. So fresh, incredible portions, super rich. My favorite place in the Bay, and I am picky about my sushi! Highly recommend the lion queen roll, dragon roll, and Tokyo roll!! read more

Decent food but very put off be the 'service charge' on the bill and on top of that they want a tip! Buyer beware.

This is a hidden little gem, unless you go to Ranch 99 then you probably already know. They have great food at good prices. I had the curry with pork and my friends had the spider roll, spicy tuna roll, miso soup and sea urchin. The curry was mild for me, but it was still tasty. The pork was tender. I tried a piece of the spider roll and it was really good. My friends really liked the other dishes that they had. The staff was masked and wore gloves the whole time and they disinfected tables and chairs between guests. read more

Definitely a gem in the Albany/El Cerrito area. Portions are great and the price is reasonable. I've ordered the Chirashi twice, once for lunch and then for dinner tonight and both experiences has been wonderful. read more

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Don't be a fool like me and overlook this place! So glad we finally gave this place a try and wowow, we can't wait to go back! The food is so fresh, good portions and best part = reasonably priced! Service was quick as well. I'm eager to try their lunch specials next time. We just moved to the area and now we're going to be regulars at this place. read more

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If you noticed it, you're probably right! In fact, this restaurant's menu is 90% similar to that of Yoshio sushi on San Pablo Ave. There is donburi here that doesn't exist over at Yoshio. Meanwhile, Yoshio is open until 12:30a, while this place closes when the 99 ranch plaza closes. I ordered what I enjoyed at Yoshio, which is the white tiger roll, and it still got the same taste. So come here if you live closer to here and are craving Yoshio. If you rather prefer the tatami mat seating of Yoshio, then Yoshio is a 4 minute drive from here. read more

Craving udon so came here after reading several good reviews for udon. I ordered Yosenabe udon and my companion ordered Teriyaki udon. We also ordered vegetable tempura appetizer. There was good variety of seafood but the prawn in the Nabeyaki tasted old (very fishy), the white fish was very dry (despite being in a soup noodle). Nothing was very special abou the Teriyaki udon. Both udon broth was very weak and not flavorful, only the udon texture and vegetables were acceptable. I asked for some ponzu sauce to dip my very dry fish in, and it's the sweetest yet most uncharacteristic ponzu I have ever had. The tempura was ok but dipping sauce was also very weak (seems watered down) and could use more minced daikon, so was terrible for dipping. There was potential but the weak broth and dipping sauce, less than fresh seafood, sweeter than necessary ponzu left us dissatisfied overall. read more

The food was really good but the customer service is really bad. It takes forever to get the check for when you want to leave. Other than that, the restaurant is pretty good. read more