We arrived around 7 p.m., and it wasn't too crowded. The restaurant was spacious and there was plenty of seating. We ordered three dishes: a California roll, shrimp fried rice, and a flavored tuna dish. Everything was delicious, but the fried rice especially stood out. As a Chinese person, I can honestly say it was the best fried rice I've had since coming to the U.S. Juan took our order, and he was very polite and funny. He also made some small talk with us during the meal, which made the experience even more enjoyable. He was a really interesting and friendly person. The food came out quickly, all of the staff were very nice, and the prices were reasonable. The restaurant also had a great atmosphere. Overall, we had a really enjoyable experience and would definitely recommend this place! read more

Nami Restaurant - Shrimp Fried Rice California Roll - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Amazing staff, very clean and welcoming. Best crab cake I've ever had, the shrimp egg rolls are amazing. The steak sandwich literally melts in your mouth. Great location, highly recommend. 10/10 read more

This is a must visit restaurant. I went with my husband had a great ambiance and a little something for everyone! I enjoyed clam chowder as an appetizer which wasn't the traditional chowder but very delicious! For my main meal i had the bolognese pasta which was savory and good portion! My husband had chicken fried rice and it was amazing had a slight kick and also wasn't traditional it gave a kimchi taste to it and also had a good portion! Our server was Pedro! He was amazing made recommendations was nice and not overbearing Overall a great experience we will be back! read more

Nami Restaurant - Bowl of Clam chowder - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

Good place next to the portola Hotel and the auction. It opened Aug 2025. It's pretty good Our food was lukewarm and they didn't have sushi anyway we were not happy party of seven read more

See all

We had such a wonderful experience at Nami, and a huge part of that was our server, Pedro! I was dining with my daughter and her friend, and Pedro's kindness, positive energy, and excellent service made our visit especially memorable. He gave us great recommendations, was attentive throughout our meal, and checked in at just the right times. What really stood out to me was his ability to gauge the dining experience. He carried wonderful conversation without ever being overbearing and seemed to naturally know when it was a good time to chat and when to simply let us enjoy our meal. That kind of awareness and genuine hospitality means a lot to me as a customer. Nami's menu is such an interesting fusion of Japanese cuisine along with classic Italian dishes carried over from their previous business. Although Cibo is definitely missed, its essence has not been lost. There's something really special about seeing pieces of what people loved about Cibos continue while Nami develops an identity of its own. They also have a great breakfast and lunch menu with plenty I'd still like to try. Thank you, Pedro, for making our experience so enjoyable. We will absolutely be back! P.S. the lavender lemon drop was delicious! read more

Nami Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

3.5 stars $18 Tonkotsu: if they replaced the sad strips of pork with actual charsiu, added some nori, bamboo shoots, a few other garnishes, a proper tare and aroma oil, this would be a pretty darn good miso based tonkotsu ramen. I quite enjoyed the tiramisu though. read more

Nami Restaurant - Tonkotsu Ramen - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

I attended a small event at the restaurant shortly after it opened. I remember Cibos... a dark & cozy Italian restaurant with lots of tiny nooks and crannies for intimate dining (and carpet). Nami owners gave the restaurant a new look to match the Japanese-Italian fusion theme. It works perfectly. Owners have some other restaurants in the area, but this one has its own vibe with a top 10 location in downtown Monterey, near the Wharf area... and just steps away from the conference center. There's tons of parking in the local garages. Forget street parking as it's limited AND it will limit your experience at Nami since you'll watch your watch instead of enjoying your meal. Waitstaff is skilled and plucked from other local restaurants. F&B is a tough business, but when your team is experienced your odds at success improve greatly. Bathrooms are good sized and clean - no changes here, but why change perfection. Bar has a separate entrance & a stage where live music is performed. Depending on where you sit in the restaurant, you can hear the music - especially with the more open-concept design. Cocktails are yummy, but there's plenty of non-alcoholic options, too. Al fresco dining available, too - great for people-watching. The menu is nice & priced to compete with the other restaurants. I have a soy allergy and would never go to this type of restaurant if it wasn't for a pre-fixe menu. The limited menu options meant the the chef could customize my meal. THANK YOU Overall.. 10 stars. Sorry, Yelp, 5 is just not enough. read more

See all

This was quite a treat! Amazing food and cocktails! Nami Restaurant has only been open for a few months, and I expect it to be the go-to restaurant in downtown Monterey if you're looking to impress a date and enjoy a romantic evening out! The very unique Asian fusion menu, which at first doesn't sound or look appetizing, becomes amazing and flavorful with that first bite! You must start off with a drink, and the Lavender Moon Drop is a great start. For appetizers, the two must-tries are the Spicy Gyoza Soup if you like a little kick of spice (this has you covered) and/or the Aji Tuna Sashimi, which is amazing and melts in your mouth. As an entree, the one dish that at first read didn't catch my eye as tempting but was amazing and great tasting was the Butternut Squash Ravioli. You will not be disappointed! The walnut-crusted chicken with the nutmeg cream sauce makes this dish a must-try! Amazing atmosphere, Love the diverse menu and great service. I will definitely be back again. read more

See all

Christian was our server and did an amazing job! Very accommodating and gave great recommendations. We will be back :) read more

Nami Restaurant - Tempura roll - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

We came here for a work dinner and let me just say our service was amazing! The staff took care of us and even let us stay after closing while we were talking. I ordered some different appetizers for our group: the cheese bread, crab cakes + shrimp eggrolls. I didn't get to try the cheese bread but the shrimp egg rolls were really good, the crab cakes didn't have much crab in them to be honest. Our group ordered a bunch of different entrees, I got the tikka masala seabags which was honestly ok. The seabass was good and flaky but the sauce, bokchoy and rice didn't go together (IMO). Overall, I wasn't super impressed with the food but again our service was really good so just for that, I would go back and probably try a pasta or something. Also, i will say our espresso martini were pretty good! Not super sweet and really smooth and creamy. read more

Nami Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

I was thrilled to be invited to a fairly new location with a very seasoned team at Nami restaurant in downtown Monterey. This was a lovely culinary experience with a delectable menu, great vibes, soulful music and great company. The service was impeccable. The servers were on point friendly and eager to help it definitely was noticeable How happy and excited the team was to have the event. It was very much appreciated as far as their enthusiasm and eagerness to help. The restaurant is the old Cibos -a long-standing Italian restaurant with a beautiful backstory, and the new ownership did not let the memory die. They are honoring the beautiful woman who started the restaurant still to this day, admirable to say the least. And I would not want to forget to say congratulations on a third location . That's passion -as the owner stated the Restaurant business is pretty hard - from what I can see their love and ambition is leading the way to perfection here... you think Italian Japanese what the heck is going on but folks it works! They have renovated the restaurant so it is so much brighter. It is such a open space the evening light set the mood for a wonderful evening with a very talented singer playing live music as we heard the stories of how the old Italian woman kept this location feeding her community for years,And the new ownership is keeping the location, hustling and bustling. I was very excited that this yelp event was set up how it was. It was definitely experience . The yelp swag was definitely a nice touch. I used my bag the following day for work for lunch. Our gracious host and area leader Alex Really outdid herself. I really enjoyed the evening. My niece was so excited to experience this with me(awesome Nina points) The food was phenomenal. The starters were three appetizers: an Asian salad that was just perfect not too sweet and the presentation was very appealing. There was tuna sashimi, and it was my absolute favorite thing of the night. The sauce was tantalizing. The tuna was extremely fresh and just melted it in your mouth. Pro tip :save some of your wonton strips from your salad and put it on the tuna omggggg ! And don't even get me started with the spicy gyoza soup... the spiciness was perfection. It was not too spicy. It was the absolute right amount- a bigger bowl of the soup and an order of the tuna would've been a complete meal for me and I would've been so very happy. Everything else was just cherries on top. Our selection that we decided on for the main course was the tiki masala Seabass The balsamic glaze on the side of the plate is so important, it elevated the dish in an unexpected delightful way Overall, the event was wonderful. The location is beautiful. The service was impeccable. Again I am so thankful that I was able to attend this event. I will definitely be back with my husband and probably my mom and definitely my niece (Again) P.S get the tuna and thank me later! (it's really that good) read more

See all

The staff at Nami was great & friendly. They are also extremely dog friendly & have a dog friendly menu which is served in a bowl. The restaurant itself is nice. Drinks are good and reasonably priced. The fusion parts of their food didn't mesh well. The butternut squash ravioli with the components of the dish felt like they said, hey let's make it Asian with some soy sauce seasoning, bok choy, and carrots. Did not enjoy it and would recommend. The steak was great and cooked as we ordered. The mashed potatoes were pretty to look at and tasted like mashed potatoes. We would recommend this. Everything is reasonably priced as well considering the area. I would come back only for the friendly everything (staff, for dogs, for kids) & drinks. read more

See all

I had a great experience at Nami. There was live music and the atmosphere was great. Our server, Pedro, was awesome! He was so attentive and friendly. My food was delicious and espresso martini was 10/10! Would definitely recommend. read more

Aloha This restaurant is a great location, in the Heart of Monterey! Great atmosphere for breakfast! Juan are server was on point! Really good breakfast menu, had something for every pallet at the table! read more

See all

Absolutely abysmal Service and two of the entrées were un edible the fillet and the Seabass. Perhaps it was because it was during car week and they were really busy. I don't know but very disappointing experience read more

This restaurant is a huge step up compared to what it used to be under a different name! Food was great quality and the service was excellent. Big shout out to our server Elijah who gave us great recommendations and was very charming to talk to- he made us feel super welcome and cared for! I had raw oysters and the teriyaki bowl with skirt steak for lunch and all was delicious. My only recommendation would be for more variety in their cocktail list; they had mostly sweet/floral options for specialties so a bit of expanding there would be my only notes for improvement. read more

Stephanie and the team provided amazing, friendly service on top of tasty drinks & delicious food. I had been celebrating my birthday with a group of 14 for dinner, and all of us could not be more glad we chose Nami. 10/10 read more

Great cocktails - loved the crab cakes - ordered the wagyu hamburger and steak sandwich. Super tasty. And the live music - excellent!! Highly recommend lunch here read more

What a spectacular evening filled with fun, friends and flavors as we gathered at Nami for a culinary presentation of "Japanese Fusion with a Taste of our Italian Past" a Yelp Elite Event in Monterey. This fairly new restaurant to downtown Monterey, Nami was created by passion for flavors by owner Dudley, his co owner and amazing chefs and staff. Not only is Nami featuring a menu with such items shown in the photos but also featuring sushi dishes, fresh seafood dishes, steaks, pizza and recipes for pasta as a tribute to the previous restaurant owner Rosa and her specialty Sicilian dishes. Not just a passion for flavors Dudley took it further showing recognition to the previous dishes cooked in the same kitchen respecting the spirit of Cibo Italiano and Rosa. Honor, Respect and Passion for flavors is what I saw last night and tasted in the amazing dishes prepared by the staff. Hats off to our charming, gracious and hard working Ambassador Alex for bringing this event together and introducing Dudley and staff who created this tasting testimony to flavors. Let's begin; with a great cocktail to prepare our palette was a Lavender infused Vodka Lemon juice Moon Drop. So tasty and refreshing. Several starters to choose from keeping the light but refreshing groove was the Asian salad with crispy fresh vegetables, crunchy noodles, citrusy mandarin oranges in a light sweet ginger dressing. C'mon! Next changing our tasting adventure was a Spicy Gyoza Soup with some kick! It is spicy but full of bold flavors. Fresh corn and green onions accompany the beef broth with other fresh vegetables. Outstanding! Cooling down our palette next was Ahi Tuna Sashimi over ginger wasabi dressing with cucumber and green onion ribbons. Side of thinly sliced ginger and a bissle of wasabi. This is how we start our meal and my palette, mouth and mind are very happy right now. I can taste the passion and vision in the prep by the chefs. We each ordered one of the Entrees so we could both taste the dishes featured. The Butternut Squash ravioli in a nutmeg cream sauce highlighting sweet corn, bok choy, pine nuts and parsley with walnut crusted chicken was an inspiration by Rosa and served regularly at Cibo. This dish was so good and done so well I can't begin to explain the flavor explosion, you have to taste it yourself. Lastly was the Tika Masala Sea Bass with a wonderful Tika masala sauce in which I was told took a long time to get the perfect flavor inspired by Dudley's passion for flavors. Served with jasmine rice and an artistic blend of Olive oil, basalmic vinegar and fresh parsley. The evening brought a parade of flavors combined with fusion, prepared with love and inspired by passion of old and new. The decor of the dining room was both new tech with humble charm and colorful artistic pieces to add splashes of color. Staff is very friendly and helpful with anything you need to complete your dining experience. Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch as well as dinner. All I can say is when you are in Monterey you have to visit Nami and experience the charm of this restaurant, with so much to choose from I don't think you will be disappointed. Bon appetitto! read more

Thank you to Juan the bar tender for making great cocktails! We stoped in at a weird time for some drinks and had great service. read more

Nami Restaurant - Great drink - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

The Shrimp Scampi at NAMI was absolutely worth it. The shrimp were large, plentiful, and incredibly fresh. The sauce was rich and flavorful with a nice kick of spice that wasn't overpowering, and the pasta was cooked perfectly. The portion size and quality fully matched the price point. Service made the experience even better. Milan was fantastic -- personable from the moment I walked in, asked about my weekend, shared some history of the restaurant, and checked in consistently throughout my meal. He was truly a delight from start to finish. Overall, a great experience -- highly recommend if you're in Monterey. read more

Nami Restaurant - Shrimp Scampi - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

The service is super friendly and we love the outdoor patio in the sunshine. Good food beautiful location downtown Monterey come check it out read more

Nami Restaurant - Sakura sparkler - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

Vacationing in Monterey, we decided to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday dinner at Nami. We had a reservation for 7:15 pm, and when we arrived, we were surprised to see that the restaurant was mostly empty, especially since the streets outside were packed. The decor was beautiful and had a very upscale, aesthetic atmosphere. Our server was friendly, attentive, and checked on us frequently. The drinks were decent, but nothing memorable. We started with four oysters. Being in Monterey Bay, we expected exceptional seafood, but unfortunately, they were the opposite. The oysters were chewy, and dry, almost as if they had been sitting out for a while. Next, we ordered the ahi tuna. When the food runner quickly set the plate on the table, the sauce splashed all over the table and onto my blouse. Accidents happen, and she did apologize and clean the table, which we appreciated, but it felt like something that could have been avoided with a little more care. The ahi tuna itself- also chewy and dry. We did not finish either appetizer. For our entrees, we both ordered the filet mignon, and my boyfriend added a lobster tail. The filet itself was cooked perfectly, but the lobster was extremely overcooked and tough. Unfortunately, the side dishes also missed the mark. We were looking forward to the mushrooms, but they were soggy and had an almost sour, stale flavor. The entrée was served with au gratin potatoes with a side of thick brown gravy, and the flavors simply didn't complement one another. Instead of feeling like a thoughtfully composed dish created by a chef, it felt like several unrelated flavors placed together on one plate. The overall experience reflected that same feeling. Nami seems to prioritize aesthetics and presentation over the quality and execution of the food. One additional issue was that our table was noticeably unstable. Every time my boyfriend tried to cut through his steak and lobster, the table wobbled so much that I had to hold it steady. That's not something I would expect at this price point. Our bill came to over $250 before tip, and for that cost, we expected the food and overall dining experience to reflect that price. Overall, this was a disappointing birthday dinner and I felt really bad because I was the one who chose this place. While the atmosphere was beautiful and our server was kind, the quality of the food and attention to detail simply didn't justify the price. Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend Nami for a special occasion or fine dining experience. read more

Nami Restaurant - Entrance area - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

We've been meaning to try this restaurant since they opened and today was that lucky day. From the service to the quality of food, this place hit all the right notes. We tried the sashimi, sea bass coconut shrimp and scallops. Everything was flavorful and delicious. The ambiance was romantic and fun, and we're looking forward to our next visit. read more

This was the best food I've had all year. The ribeye was cooked to perfection, with a delicious char and served with garlic butter. Our Scallops were so tender you can cut it with a spoon. Every drink we had was crafted so deliciously. The restaurant had live music that turned our meal into an experience. Stop by and you will not be disappointed. Extra thanks to Pedro for the amazing service. read more

Food was amazing and the ambience was perfect. Our waiter, Pedro was very on top of things, gave us space but checked in often, gave us time to talk and we didn't feel rushed at all. The drinks are different but really good, I'm not a big drinker but I liked every drink I had on their cocktail menu. Overall, it's a really good place for dinner and lunch too. We have been a handful of times overall and it's worth the visit every time. Definitely give it a try, you won't be disappointed. read more

Nami Restaurant - Sakura Sparkler - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

Another excellent meal at Nami. My wife and I both had the butternut squash ravioli with chicken and loved it! The sauce has a blend of mixed pepper, nutmeg, and a hint of sweetness. Our server Pedro was friendly and knowledgeable. A lovely evening! read more

Nami Restaurant - Butternut squash ravioli with chicken - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

My husband and I made a reservation at Nami on a Friday night, and we haven't stopped raving about it since. We're so excited to finally have a fusion restaurant like this in Monterey, it's been long overdue! If you're dining with someone indecisive, this is the perfect spot since the menu has something for everyone, including some great vegetarian options. From the moment we stepped inside, we loved the ambiance and decor it immediately set the vibe for our date night & from the moment we arrived, we were greeted right away and felt welcomed and comfortable throughout our entire visit. We started with the calamari, crab cakes, and vegetable tempura, and all were excellent choices. The calamari was uniquely paired with fried bell peppers, fennel, and lemon pieces, which worked surprisingly well together. The aioli on the side had a nice kick that elevated the dish. The crab cakes tasted incredibly fresh from the bay and were complemented beautifully by the lemon sauce and caramelized onions. The vegetable tempura was another highlight, with a great variety of veggies, each lightly battered and perfectly crispy without feeling too heavy. For our entrees, I ordered the miso egg drop tofu soup with a California roll and hubby had the ribeye. The miso soup was easily one of the best I've tried and the California roll was satisfying and filling. The ribeye was cooked to a perfect medium rare; tender, flavorful, and paired wonderfully with the chimichurri and peppercorn sauces. What really stood out to us beyond the food was how attentive and accommodating the staff were. Overall, this was truly a 1000/10 experience. If you're on the fence, just give it a try.. you don't want to miss out on a place like Nami! read more

See all

I stumbled upon this new restaurant in Monterey the other day and I was pleasantly surprised. This place is beautiful, perfect for a date night or meeting up with friends and family. They have a great bar, and a great location right next to the Portola Hotel. I was not crazy hungry so I had some apps. The shrimp egg roll was amazing! A must try. The calamari was crispy and tender. I've been a waiter for a long time and I want to shout out Pedro for his amazing service. He is kind, efficient, and knows exactly when to show up. All in all I had a great time and will definitely be back! Thanks Nami for showing me a great time ! read more

See all

Found a metal twist tie in my salad. Order the tonKatsu Ramen with extra meat and it was very sparse meat and it was more like shredded pork than TonKatsu. Don't recommend this place unless you're ok with mediocre food. read more

Such a gem! Food was amazing! Service was great! And the staff were so attentive and nice. Good music and overall a really great place. My family genuinely enjoyed this restaurant from the Sea bass to oysters and sushi! Milan the waiter was awesome! read more

See all

We ordered the calamari and fish tacos the first night we were here and it was so good! the only place that we tried this weekend that wasn't disappointing tbh. They were also very accommodating as we had a cat,dog, and wheelchair with us :) We are leaving tomorrow so we are gonna go back one last time read more

Nami Restaurant - Calamari - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

I went there for some dessert and cocktails for a girls night and was blown away. The place was beautiful, the service was remarkable, the cocktails were out of this world (we each ordered a diff one and tried them all!), and the desserts were perfection. Cannot wait to go back and try their dinner. read more

Nami Restaurant - Dessert & Drinks - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

I wonder about a chef who puts Brussel sprouts with salmon teriyaki... and the shrimp spring rolls were seriously too greasy... Service was fine. Music was too loud for our taste. read more

Came to Namis for Valentine's Day on a last minute trip and really loved the ambience. The rigatoni is delicious!! The staff is amazing and super nice. read more

Nami Restaurant - Ambience - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

I came here on a Saturday to have some pregame drinks and apps with my girl. We had the Cinnamon Sunset Cocktail, Sakura Sparkler, Espresso martini and a local draft IPA. For the apps we tried their calamari and crab cakes and we shared a medium-well ribeye entree. Everything was spot on. They had live music tonight we enjoyed. The Bartender definitely knows what she is doing-they don't skimp out on the drinks! Our server told us that the owners also operate Pangaea Grill and Sur at the Barnyard in Carmel so it is no surprise everything was this amazing. Very great and attentive service, everyone was so friendly. read more

See all

We received a warm welcome to this new establishment. The decor and lighting are pleasant and the bar area was inviting with a few tv's, music and comfy little booths, high top tables, or bar seating available. We chose a booth in the bar, ordered a couple of drinks which came in pleasant, square glassware. Rum & Diet Coke was $14 each. We expected we'd order some small bites but instead, couldn't pass up the butternut squash ravioli dish. After ordering, we were asked if we'd like bread for the table and were surprised to be charged $5 for it in the end. The dish was unexpected, full of flavors we'd never had before yet we were pleasantly surprised by how delicious it was. There were strips of breaded, well-seasoned chicken atop 8 small, yet divine raviolis in a cream sauce, $28. Not a 5 star meal for the price, but unique experience and typical pricing for this area. read more

See all

Cannot say enough about Pedro our waiter. Truly warm and welcoming. Always goes above what I expect for service. Knows how to take care of people. Food here is excellent. Wish more people would go! You will not regret the time you spend here. You will want to go back not only for the food but for the family feel you get from the staff team. You can actually watch the restaurant working together. It's pretty cool. read more

What a fantastic find in downtown Monterey! Nami Restaurant completely exceeded our expectations and has quickly become one of our favorite spots on the peninsula. The atmosphere is upscale yet relaxed--stylish decor with cool multi-genre art on the walls, sculpted lighting, a big bar, and that semi-open kitchen that adds a nice energy without being overwhelming. It's perfect for a date night, family dinner, or just soaking up the vibrant Monterey vibe right in the heart of downtown. Definitely recommend you won't be disappointed. Thank you team Nami Love Nicholas G read more

The food was good. The service by Juan was excellent. The place was neat and clean. read more

Nami Restaurant - Lobster and steak. - Seafood Near Me - Monterey, California

See all