Our daughter suggested this place, hadn't been before. We just loved the location, ambience, and the food! The staff was incredibly attentive, and everything coming out of the kitchen looked amazing. I had miso soup, mixed tempura, and pickles. Very eclectic but everything was delicious, maybe the best miso soup I ever had and that's saying somthing. I'll be back and soon to check out more of the menu. read more

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Okay... I have to say, the Japanese food situation in Marin can be a little rough....BUT Kuro Nami was such a pleasant surprise. Everything felt fresh, thoughtful, and elevated. They have a really interesting spin on their dishes, especially the rolls. The house roll was my favorite and honestly stood out compared to most places around here. Service was superb! super attentive, warm, and welcoming without being overbearing. You can tell they really care about the experience. They just opened recently, so everything is brand new and the decor is clean, modern, and beautifully done. There's also plenty of parking (huge plus in Marin), and it's located in such a cute part of San Anselmo, which makes it perfect for a little walk before or after your meal. Overall, such a great addition to the area. Definitely coming back. read more

Kuro Nami - Japanese Near Me - San Anselmo, California

I loved Kuro Nami and would frequent this spot if I lived nearer! It's located in the heart of downtown San Anselmo, just two doors away from sister-restaurant, The Baan Thai (also delicious). We tried a bunch of menu items for a relaxing lunch and loved the beautiful presentation, and of course the clean, fresh, and flavorful ingredients: Agedashi Tofu - 4 pcs of deep fried tofu with seasoned soy sauce *my favorite appetizer! Gyoza - 2 pcs of pan-fried pork dumplings Crispy Rice Sushi Bites - 5 pcs of fried sushi rice topped with spicy salmon, sesame seeds, serrano pepper, tobiko *I hadn't tried these before and I'd been missing out. Tonkotsu Ramen - creamy pork broth, wheat noodles, roasted chashu pork, soft boiled egg, black fungus mushroom, pickled, ginger, scallions, menma(bamboo), corn The setting has a clean, Japanese aesthetic. The service was welcoming, informative, and attentive. I'll be back! read more

The Sushi and Sashimi are fantastic here. It's a step up from normal sushi. Everything we've ever gotten, including the Rolls, has been really good. The location is really cute and has kind of an old timey, tiny, comfy vibe to it. The staff has always been nice. This is one of my picks for Marin sushi for sure. read more

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Been to Kuro Nami a few times for both lunch and dinner! Definitely one of my go to spots when I want to treat myself during/after a long day. Food is a bit pricey but you get what you pay for (quality fish). Very nice spot and bougie enough to bring someone you want to impress ;) Its easy to have conversations in here since it doesn't get too loud in. Staff is very friendly and welcoming. Dessert here is a must! read more

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The place is modern and dark. Mood lighting! We ordered the bara don, crispy rice sushi bites, and the sake citrus roll. Everything was delicious. Generous portions of fish for the bara don. We had to take the rest to go! Sit by the sushi bar, it's so fun to watch the chefs. read more

Kuro Nami - Sake citrus - Japanese Near Me - San Anselmo, California

First time visiting this restaurant under the current ownership after receiving a gift certificate from our adult kids. We were so pleased with everything from our greeting at the door to every dish we received. We arrived early on a Friday night (5:30pm) and the restaurant already had lots of customers. There was an option to eat outside (covered seating) or inside. We opted for inside. I did note that the tables felt a little close together, but noise levels were low enough that it was easy for us to carry on a conversation. So what did we choose when we had $100 to spend? Our server was extremely helpful, giving us guidance to make sure we ordered enough food without overdoing it. We started with an appetizer, an order of Dashimaki Tamago, which we remembered fondly when visiting Japan and watching street vendors making it. It's essentially an omelette with very thin layers, folded multiple times and cut into sections. Very tasty, with a subtle sweet sauce. Then shrimp tempura, five large very hot and crispy perfectly fried shrimp with a nice dipping sauce. We also each had a bowl of flavorful miso soup. Then we had two signature rolls... Ocean Roll (tuna, salmon, yellow tail, cucumber, scallion) and Wink Roll (red crab meat, avocado, cucumber topped with unagi, avocado, unagi sauce, sesame seed). My favorite was the Ocean Roll... my least favorite the Wink Roll due to the unagi which often consisted of just very rubbery skin with no meat. We also had a pot of fragrant jasmine tea, and a plate of delightful cheesecake (two small slices) topped with yuzu sauce (delicate lemony flavor). Throughout our server was very attentive, removing or rearranging dishes to make sure our small table could hold everything, and also pacing the delivery of the plates so we were never overwhelmed. We ended up taking home some of the Wink Roll for the following night's dinner, plus half of the cheesecake. Total bill, including tax and tip, came out to $127 for the two of us. I was happy with this, knowing that this was a bit of a splurge dinner for us. We'll definitely return! read more

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Kuro Nami provides unique Japanese dishes worth checking out in the San Anselmo area. Recently named the Best New Restaurant by the Marin Independent Journal Readers Choice for 2025, Kuro Nami was definitely on my bookmarks. According to their bio, the restaurant owners had a deep passion for Japanese food and their idea was to honor Japanese tradition while pushing the boundaries of the cuisine. There were definitely interesting offerings many of which were good. Here is what we ordered: Kani Miso (4.5/5): A build your own roll with a beautiful presentation! I especially enjoyed the grilled miso mixed with the crab over the open flame to provide an almost creamy cheese like texture. My only wish were that it had something to provide a little counter balance like a crunch or acid. Kuro Nami Roll (3.5/5): Another almost deconstructed roll? Layers of raw fish overlay wrapped sushi. Around the edges are a rich slightly sweet soy sauce. It definitely looked nice and tasted great together, but also felt a little gimmicky. Soft Shell Crab Tempura Salad (4/5): Great salad with a strong wasabi dressing to give a kick. The crab was fried well to provide a nice textural crunch. My only complaint was that there was not enough crab! Dashimaki Tamago (3.5/5): A standard tamago with a nice balance of salty and sweet. It felt a little bit watery but it was still good. The service was quite good. The servers were attentive offering suggestions and refilling water regularly. They even did something special for the birthday we were celebrating. Free street parking was available when we went after 6pm. Overall, Kuro Nami has interesting Japanese dishes worth revisiting and amazing service to boot! read more

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Great sushi, great service, beautiful space. It's definitely not cheap although the lunch special timing is generous and solid for sushi prices. Definitely feels pretty upscale inside. Great date night or birthday spot. Village Sake in Fairfax is also great but getting a table is a pain, try Kuro Nami, you won't regret it :) read more

Brought my yoga teacher here for lunch yesterday. She had the bento and I had the tomato ramen. My yoga teacher loved Kuro Nami so much that she wants our yoga group to come in about a month! So glad!!! read more

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We've come here twice now. Both times the food and service were excellent. The only difference was today we came for Kuro Namis first happy hour! As if you needed a reason to go back, now between 3:30-5 select food and beverages are discounted. read more

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Service was great, food looked good, and honestly eveything was good except for the price. There are lunch specials available thru the week, but still pretty expensive in terms of money for value. Ordered tempura shrimp (2pc) - batter was not too good, slightly soggy and wasn't crispy. Also ordered the vegetable tempura (5pc) - same as the shrimp, not crispy enough - selection was 2 pcs of small eggplant, 2 pcs asparagus of some sort, and 1pc sweet potato Chashu pork rice, 5pc good roasted pork, came with a lot of rice. Tuna Don - 5pcs tuna sashimi on sushi rice. Crab butter DIY hand rolls - pretty good, nice for the gram, but an expensive dish - comes with rice and roasted nori read more

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What a great dining experience. As soon as we walked in, we felt welcomed, and that a fine dining experience was about to unfold. The staff is very attentive and sweet. We loved the patio ambiance with the white flowers on the ceiling. My partner chose the beautiful Takeshi roll and Chu-toro tuna. I chose nagiri: Hotate scallop, tobiko flying fish roe, and unagi BBQ eel. Everything was so fresh, and the texture heavenly--so much so where you put down your chopsticks between bites to savor the flavors and textures. We both chose the Imayo Tsukasa Black Junmai sake--so smooth, dry, and complex. Their menu provides tasting notes. For dessert, my companion chose the yuzu cheesecake--with a well-balanced, lemony flavor; you can drizzle a caramel sauce over it. I had the Warabi Mochi with soybean--it was served slightly warmed and almost melted in my mouth. It was even more amazing with a delicate maple syrup sauce over it. Their menu is so extensive--we look forward to visiting again soon. read more

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Our old ramen place just got bought out by a new person and it was just meh. So we googled moped and yelped "ramen places". Kuro Nami popped up and was on a Yelp list to try. As we decided to give it a try we were immediately welcomed with super friendly staff. We saw the ramen pictures but didn't realize until we sat down that they only sell/serve ramen ONLY AT LUNCH TIME. That's not very helpful. We still decided to try the restaurant. At first glance the location is very ascetically pleasing, (I always am on the fence about that. I feel that it's either going to just be ok since it's insta worthy) and I was correct. The food was just OK FOR THE PRICE WE PAID. The staff was really nice and accommodating. Location is nice as well. A lot of street parking. The location is "very Insta", so clean and presentation is nice. food: miso spice crab pasta (my friend said she was underwhelmed with it and it didn't have a hint of spice) shrimp tempura sake maguro Agedashi tofu hiros roll side sushi rice (it didn't taste like the other 'sushi rice" I have tried but it was just OK) drinks: kuro nami I am still disappointed that it's only a lunch time ramen. But there must be great things since they got a 2025 award for food. guess we came on a off day read more

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Romantic and enjoyable atmosphere, impressive food presentation, and welcoming accommodating service. We enjoyed our visit here. On a rainy Sunday afternoon, it wasn't crowded and we opted to sit in the patio, which was fully glass paned, and the flowers hanging from the top set a lovely romantic atmosphere. We were even more delighted when they offered to turn on the heat. Our server was friendly and considerate to check on with us several times, making sure we had enough time to browse and order. The photos and unique menu items we saw drew us to this place...but we loved that the food came out just like in the photos, very aesthetically pleasing. We ordered the tonkotsu ramen and the hambagu. The ramen was tasty! They did not skimp on ingredients, and the noodles soaked up the broth, which was light yet flavorful. My partner really enjoyed the hambagu, but he did notice parts of it were juicy and other parts are a bit We ended our meal with the warabi mochi coated with matcha. The mochi came warm and the powder was strong, semi-bitter too, not sweetened. If the matcha powder was less strong, I would have just eaten the mochi as is without the syrup. Hence the brown sugar added sweetness for balance. But I would add just a little bit of syrup first and then adjust for how sweet to your liking. The mochi itself was very fresh and the texture was perfect though. If I come back again, I think I would try the soybean coated mochi. We found out that the restaurant only recently started to open for lunchtime, so if you are in town, I'd recommend checking it out for a nice lunch date or a nice dinner! read more

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I used to go here back when it was Sushi 69, and I'm so glad I checked it out again as Kuro Nami! I got the salmon citrus roll and it was super refreshing, really clean flavors and great quality fish. Beautiful interior with outdoor seating, friendly staff, definitely worth a visit if you're in San Anselmo. I'll be back for sure!! read more

Kuro Nami - Japanese Near Me - San Anselmo, California

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Kuro Nami serves high quality fish, with a welcoming staff and pleasant service, in a classy little restaurant in San Anselmo. Upon entering, you'll see photos of different cities in Japan. Take me back to Japan! I digress...I've dined here twice, the last being a quick lunch with my son. Check it out - that quick lunch was PHENOMENAL! I had the Hokkaido uni nigiri (melted in my mouth), and sashimi. The fish was so fresh, the uni so sweet and made me feel for a second that I was, indeed, in Japan at the fish market. YUM. Even the miso soup, so flavorful and packed with umami. I can't wait to go back. If you're looking for fresh fish, service with a smile and kind staff, come dine at Kuro Nami. I can't wait to go back read more

Kuro Nami - Sashimi - so fresh - Japanese Near Me - San Anselmo, California

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The fish was right. Cut clean, laid down easy, no tricks. Just skill. Tuna deep and red like dusk. Hamachi soft as a lie you want to believe. Rice warm, vinegared just enough to carry it. The crab pasta with mentaiko shouldn't work. But it does. Rich, salty, strange in the best way. You keep eating because your brain can't place it, and your mouth doesn't care. The shrimp kakiage--light, crisp, chaos in a nest. Sake arrives cold. Clear and sharp. No need to dress it up. Service, always friendly, moves with cheerful precision. Jackie owns the place. Same guy who runs Baan Thai down the block. You can feel it. There's vision here. Restraint. Pride. Say hey. He's not loud about it, but he's building something worth sitting down for. read more

Beautiful space - lovely staff - awesome food - incredible for Marin County. Cool music, great vibe, and genuinely the nicest people ever. Special kudos to the female sushi chef! read more

Kuro Nami - Japanese Near Me - San Anselmo, California

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I had a sushi craving and showed up without a reservation. They set up a table for me. The food and service were good. It's a lovely restaurant. read more

It's a beautiful Sunday nice weather and nice food in a nice town I'm so blessed.. this place is beautiful and clean and cozy .. I was there first time with my boyfriend I love the drinks and service was sweet and gentle .. thank you for all positive clean energy and lovely service. BoonBoon read more

Kuro Nami - Spicy scallops - Japanese Near Me - San Anselmo, California

Went here for a birthday celebration with my loved ones & had a blast!! The spot is super cute and aesthetic, we went with all of the hostesses recommendations and they were great. All of the fish here was so fatty and fresh and we finished it off with the jelly affogato. Thank you Kuro Nami! read more

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Let's take a moment of silence for Sushi 69, the previous restaurant that started it all... Kuro Nami, you had big shoes to fill taking over this beloved sushi joint and you did not disappoint! I even appreciate how you kept some of their original sushi rolls on the menu for patrons to continue enjoying - looking at you Hiro's Roll and Explosion Roll. Arigatou! In addition to the rolls, we also tried the Kani Miso, a do-it-yourself handroll that consisted of scrumptious portions of crab in a delectable miso sauce along with a bowl of sushi rice and seaweed sheets. My friends first heard about this in a TikTok video - thank you social media for sharing the must-try dish! It was perfect for sharing among our table of 4. Dessert was consumed before a photo could be taken, but the matcha warabi mochi with brown sugar was the perfect way to end an already fabulous meal! Service was top notch! The servers were all very friendly and hospitable. We had a small dog with us and she was welcomed in their cute patio space, which was warm and cozy during the winter evenings. We cannot wait to return and experience another memorable meal. So happy that Kuro Nami has taken over! read more

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I've been wanting to try this place and finally got the chance. It's a small venue and fills up quickly, so reservations are highly recommended. It's fusion, so may not be the most ideal option for traditionalists. The vibe is fun, the quantity very generous, the prices competive and best of all, the service is exceptional. JT, Monroe, Josie, Alice, Sarah and everyone at the restaurant were amazing. I'd go back just for the people, and the food is also very good. As an added note, get the fresh wasabi. It makes a huge difference compared to the fake stuff that comes out of a tube. read more

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Nestled in a little nook of San Anselmo, my boyfriend and I came to Kuro Nami to grab dinner before making our drive back to Santa Rosa. When first walking in, we noticed how elevated and grand the ambiance of the restaurant was. It looked brand new and felt incredibly intimate as we were one of maybe four parties at the restaurant but that was not a problem. When looking over the menu, the staff were all incredibly helpful in giving their recommendations and sharing what is popular/what they like. We ended up ordering a few things being the Karaage, Hamachi Kama, Crispy Rice Sushi Bites, Shrimp Tempura and the Takeshi roll. Most everything was delicious but if we're going to be particular here, the only two dishes we had any issues with were the Crispy Rice Sushi Bites and the Takeshi Roll. No issue with quality one can be rest assured but the Sushi Bites needed an extra dousing of extra soy sauce to get some umami into it while the Takeshi was just a bit on the bland side for the two of us as the shiso leaf was really the only flavor profile standing out. Other than the little food notes here, Kuro Nami in my opinion is a place I would not hesitate in returning to because of the wonderful service and the quality of the food was epic. read more

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LOVE this place. Everything about this restaurant is amazing from the host's attentiveness to the spectacular food. I had the Hiro's Roll and the Sake Sashimi and both were delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Had lunch with my teen son after basketball, he was craving sushi and this hit the spot. We used to go to Sushi 69 and would order for pick up during the pandemic for special occasions. We were sad to see Sushi 69 leave but Kuro Nami is now our new favorite spot for Sushi in Marin! The atmosphere was relaxing (playing jazz music, which was OK, but I would prefer traditional Japanese instrumental music or pop) and the staff, friendly and inviting. My son loved his green tea that came in a beautiful pot. I had a delicious black label chilled sake. The sake was incredible but I'm really particular about the vessels items are served in, and I would've preferred a smaller traditional ceramic or even glass sake glass rather than a wine glass. We always start with Ikura when we are out for Japanese food and this was best (next to our travels in Japan) we have had locally. We also shared the Takoyaki, a rich appetizer (two small Japanese pancake balls with a mayo based sauce, and Bonito flakes) that normally I wouldn't be interested in, but my teen loves it so not only did we start with it, but he ended with another order for "dessert"! We decided to do the sushi lunch special that included a really nice salad with a miso dressing and also miso soup. Some Japanese restaurants use plastic plates and bowls, I expected ceramic and or wood and that is what they use here at Kuro Nami. I was happy about that. We both did the classic role combo lunch special, where you can pick two Maki rolls. We were both incredibly impressed, not only with the freshness of the fish, but the quality of the rice. I have been known to walk out of Japanese restaurants that serve (dyed) pink ginger because I feel like this is an indicator of a "we don't give a damn" attitude but this spot cares & serves pure delicious ginger. I could eat an entire bowl of it. My husband was out of town, but if he had been with us, he would have ordered three times as much and I can't wait to go back as a family and try more of the sushi! If you are craving sushi, I highly recommend this spot. read more

Kuro Nami - Ikura and sald - Japanese Near Me - San Anselmo, California

Overall C: Akira roll, Hamachi, Gyoza, seaweed salad, 'mocktails' that are really glorified juice drinks; seated immediately on a warm fall evening. Appreciate the care and technique that goes into the dishes, but pretty sure we didn't get what we ordered as the rolls did not include tempura. Environment clean, staff pleasant but service slow, perhaps as we were the furthest seated table around the outdoor patio, ontop of a busy walking path. Among the lowest rated of Marin sushi restaurants we've tried, so prolly not returning as even farther out Fairfax is better. read more

Kuro Nami - Japanese Near Me - San Anselmo, California

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Kuro Nami recently opened last year by the owner of Baan Thai, Jackie. This spot used to be Sushi 69 so it's awesome a new sushi place has opened here. As you walk through the front door you might be greeted with a warm smile from the host Michael or hostess JT both wonderful people who care about what they do. They greet you as you enter through the Noren Japanese curtain into a hip relaxing atmosphere with dark slate walls and jazz music playing. I typically sit at the tables with family or friends but this evening I sat at the bar since I came on my own. I ordered the Kuro Nami cocktail right off which is a light refreshing drink with flavors of crisp coconut, pineapple, lime and is made with sake. I then moved on to the miso soup which is always a must for me and can vary greatly in taste and quality from restaurant to restaurant. This miso I find well balanced light, sweet and salty and I enjoy it every time I come. I then had the raw Takowasa which is marinated octopus with wasabi and both me and my son love it for its velvety, soft, and crunchy texture with a sweet and spicy flavor. I then ordered the Hamachi Toro, which was sweet and delicious as it melted like butter in your mouth. The chu toro had a mild buttery flavor with a little more firmness than the O toro. The umimasu was sweet and light and the kinmedai was good too. I typically have tamago or unagi for desert but opted for the Japanese uni tonight which was sweet and slightly salty like the ocean. A few more items to mention are their tomato ramen which I think would be great with a Japanese grilled cheese sandwich! The tomato ramen is excellent and probably one of the best ramens in my opinion in the area! The staff has also put up with me and my request for jasmine ice tea, so light and delicious! Overall excellent service, good food, and nice relaxing atmosphere that makes this place a favorite for me and my son. read more

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Kuro Nami was such a phenomenal find! I was searching for a cute date night spot in Marin County and came across this restaurant on Yelp. From the moment I walked in, I was impressed by the modern yet cozy interior reminding me of being back in Japan. One of the standout items on the menu was the Kani Miso, which looked so unique that I had to try it. After my first visit, I was hooked and knew I had to bring my sister, since we both love a great Japanese spot. Between both visits, we tried the Kani Miso, Hiros Roll, Kuro Nami Roll, Maguro Don, and Takeshi Roll, and every single dish was outstanding. The fish was incredibly fresh, and the Kani Miso was cooked to perfection. If I lived closer, I'd be here weekly! This place is an easy 5/5 for me. The staff were also very attentive and sweet. read more

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I had a bento set for lunch today, and I really enjoyed it. Everything was beautifully arranged and tasted great. The food was clean and fresh, and you can tell a lot of care was put into the preparation. The price was very reasonable, and the portion was generous. I was very full and satisfied with everything. read more

Kuro Nami - Bento set - Japanese Near Me - San Anselmo, California

Finally checked out this new establishment in downtown San Anselmo. The i tried the yuzu cocktail which was very good but the food missed the mark. The marinated octopus was raw and never having this protein this way, wasn't my cup of tea. The seaweed salad was bland and the sushi missed the mark. I found bone and shell in some of the offerings which ruined the dishes. The only win was the seared mackerel nigiri which was very tasty. All in all I wasn't a fan and won't be back. read more

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Everything was pretty clean and cozy. Food is fresh and delicious and they have nice staff. It's kids friendly but not easy to find parking. Also they don't have internet if you need to go somewhere to work and eat. read more

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Great sushi spot! Loved the kani miso- so complex and delicious. Rolls were great including the spicy scallop roll. The fish quality was excellent and service was friendly and attentive. Will definitely come back! read more

Kuro Nami - Japanese Near Me - San Anselmo, California

The food is wonderful. They have unique items and a wide menu. Very authentic in its delicious flavors and refined presentation. Each morsel is work of art. Very warm, friendly relaxed atmosphere. read more

Kuro Nami - Japanese Near Me - San Anselmo, California

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All I remember is the crispy sushi rice bites with salmon. I could have eaten another plate! Also tried the hamachi collar. So delicious, loved the sauce. Lots of gluten-free options. read more

Kuro Nami - Crispy sushi bites - Japanese Near Me - San Anselmo, California

The atmosphere and service were great. I ordered the recommended specials and the food was good but not as good as I was expecting. I will try it again though when in the area. read more

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If you have not tried Kuro Nami lunch sets you are missing out. Great portions, extremely delicious , great price, and the most amazing service. This restaurant really knows the difference of hospitality is just a notch above customer service. Every person I have brought to Kuro Nami they have all been very impressed ! Please take time to go and try this new Japanese restaurant in San Anselmo ca. Jackie and his team are so welcoming , caring, attentive, and just know how to make you feel so welcome. Please bring back the California Roll with Unagi on top. A fan favorite of our San Anselmo community members. read more

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Great service and food! The outside patio was nice and warm on a cold day too! I would definitely go back again! All the food i ordered did not disappoint! Started off with the crispy rice sushi bites and crispy mentaiko crab pasta. Both were great way to start. Then had the kani miso. That was really good and the portion size was good too! That could be a meal on it's own! Had the Hiro's rolrolll and Explosion roll, both were good! Portion size was great for 4 people too! I had their special A5 Waygu nigiri, that took me back to eating Waygu in Japan. For dessert had the warabi mochi, the matcha one. The brown sugar to put on top wasn't super sweet which was good! The mochi came out nice and warm and it was perfect texture. Wasn't too chewy at all! The texture was how I had it in Japan too! Everything there was great quality! read more

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I had high hopes for Kuro Nami but I have to agree with the reviews that state that the rice in the rolls is terrible. The rice was overcooked, mushy, and gelatinous. It also was not seasoned well. There rolls are all generous in size but they all fell apart upon being picked up ( I am a native chopstick user so I don't think it was user error) so I am not sure if it's the rolling technique or the ingredients not being packed enough. The rice to roll filling ratio was also a little high for me. Other than the rolls, the other items we had were decent though the pace of our dinner was quite slow. We arrived at 5pm, there were 3 of us, we ordered 3 appetizers and 3 rolls and did not leave until almost 6:30pm - with most of the time spent waiting for the rolls. I think they were overwhelmed with take out orders. read more

Kuro Nami - Patio - Japanese Near Me - San Anselmo, California