I've been going to nationals for 10 years. I used to go every Thursday after high school and get the cucumber roll, with avocado, I was vegan at the time. You come in and you know it's a Mom and Pop, tucked away in the down town of Carson. The have a nice little sushi bar that gets very busy on Friday's. They have had the same chef for years. He's fast and super creative. When I asked for the fire roll and shrimp and the "select fish" he was like how about some krab and spices scallop, I was like that sounds awesome. My rolls to note were the fire and the breakfast. Love the breakfast, have sweet tamago, (egg omelette). The fire was really good, and the scallops were super yummy! Plus the hot sauce on top :), Also, fun thing to note, they have real elk sauce, most places skimp on this. Tried the loma rolled made special with scallops also really good, the prices are really good and I left happy. Great sushi place for vegans as well. Always finish with the fried green tea ice cream! It has a pillowly tempura inside that's crisp on the outside. DELICIOUS! read more

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They have a great staff. They were all nice and attentive. We had delicious sushi here. The Nevada roll is my favorite sushi roll. Snapper with stuff is delicious I suggest ordering it. Tempera upside down shrimp are always delicious. This is the best sushi around. read more

It is awesome that they are open during the pandemic, and their Ayce specials for takeout are very generous ( 2 apps, 4 rolls for $23.95). We didn't have to wait to long for them to call and let us know our order was ready ( 4 apps, 8 rolls) which was awesome. The Philly roll was hands down ny favorite, tou just can't go wrong with smoked salmon! The other rolls we got were good( Nevada, Vegas & Everest) but I was a little grossed out to find that a lot of the shrimp hadn't been deveined. The breading on the crystal shrimp was also a little thick and crumbly. The rolls were well proportioned though and made for easy bites with a small amount of rice which is always good, and they all looked lovely. We'll for sure be back for that Philly roll and were super stoked that 1 appetizer of their muscles came with 6 of them! Their Gyoza were also pretty tasty and we loved the sauces they provided with them. read more

Good place to grab some sushi when visiting the capital of Nevada, and I don't know why you would visit Carson City except for...? Hahaha, well we were at Lake Tahoe and the wife and I decided to take a little drive and just visit Carson City to say "been there, done that"! Not knowing it was a good half an hour drive down to Carson City from South Lake Tahoe, so we ended up Yelping for some sushi place and the reviews were very accurate on this place. The sushi was good and they offered all you can eat, which I couldn't pass up since it will be another half hour to an hour drive back since it will snow that night. So better fill my tummy up with enough sushi to keep me warm. So I ordered the usual Philly roll, Spicy Tuna, Tempura roll, and some local rolls like Nevada roll, Fire roll and other rolls. I think I ate about $60 worth of sushi just myself and I only paid $18 for it!!! It seems the locals come here too, which is a good sign, the chef pretty much knows most of his costumers usual order. The place needed more lighting and the bathroom was outside the restaurant, overall I would come back to this place again if I ever visit Carson City again for...? read more

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The AYCE concept is interesting - it's ALL YOU CAN EAT, not ALL THE BEST FOOD YOU CAN EAT. So therefore, I rate this a sold 3 stars with the following notes: Lunch was $15.50. Lots of choices for rolls, but noted that a lot that of the choices combined fish with cream cheese. Ew. Just. EWWWW. I could only manage 3 specialty long rolls and one hand roll. None was outstanding in that HOLY SHITAKE! or Come To Jesus way, but it killed the hunger pangs all right. Unlike other places, you could order while you still had one or two pieces left - rolls were made quickly. Ambience was breathtakingly bad. In an odd dive bar kind of way. I liked it. I like having a 99 cent fat buddha staring at me. I'm weird like that. Come here if you are hungry and need to fill up the belly. Don't seek the exotic. read more

One word. PHENOMENAL. I have been to so many sushi restaurants in Reno and Carson City. This is hands down the best one I've been to. I wasn't sure what to expect because the place is in a small unassuming strip mall. There's no seating right now. I took my order home. The fish is very fresh. The rolls are delicious. The ratio of fish to rice is very good. The spicy mayo could be spicier. They forgot to include my cucumber salad but I'll get it next time. I'm happy to say there WILL BE a next time - because with the exception of one other sushi restaurant, this is the only one I would return to. The others just aren't good enough for another visit. If you're looking for a very reasonably priced takeout sushi meal, this is a fantastic option. read more

Don't let the looks from the outside scare you! :) I'll start this review out by saying I'm NOT a sushi aficionado. I'm not one of those who happily boasts that all-you-can-eat sushi places lose money on me. In fact, I rarely went to all-you-can-eat prior to finding National's, because I would only eat about 5 or 6 pieces and be done. When my husband would want all-you-can-eat at a Minden restaurant, I'd make sure someone else went with us who loved sushi, and I'd order pad thai. Not so, here. I can't get enough of it. Even the day after we go out for all-you-can-eat, I want more the very next day and that is very rare for me. Yes, it's small inside. Yes, the bathroom is inconveniently located outside. If you're looking for something high-end and fancy, this isn't it. However, if you're someone who's not typically a huge sushi fan, this just might be the place for you. There's a lot of cooked things, for those of us who are not into sashimi, but there's also the raw stuff if that floats your boat. I like the different flavors and options, and admit that the dishes with crystal shrimp are my faves. We've also had great experiences with the staff there. They're always very accommodating, and will make us whatever specialties we ask for, including a garlicky baked oyster platter that was absolutely incredible! I think a lot of the attitude you get in smaller places like this is dependent upon the attitude you give. Go in with an open mind and you just might find a new place to love. read more

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Sorry guys, but very disappointing. The sushi roll had no flavor, the chicken in the teriyaki was dry and overcooked and I have had better sauce out of a bottle. Thanks goodness the shrimp tempura was good or I would have gone to been hungry. read more

If you love great sushi for a good price Nationals is where it's at. I found out about this place about a year ago and have been going here for sushi ever since. The food is always fantastic, and fast. The serve is always polite and everyone is always friendly! The only place I'll bring my friends to for sushi, the only down side is there not open Saturday and Sunday. Other then that I would recommend everyone come try this place (: you won't regret it read more

National's Cafe - Japanese Near Me - Carson City, Nevada

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This is one of our favorite sushi places in town. Nothing fancy in terms of decor, but the food is great, prices are fair, and the staff is friendly and attentive. read more

Best sushi place in Carson City, for quality and variety. Clean, affordable and welcoming is how I would describe it. Always my go to when I in need of some fresh raw fish to sooth the soul. read more

Always have an awesome time at this place. Mario and his staff is very responsive and have awesome service. Sushi fish is always fresh . 5 stars. Wish they were open for business on Weekends though read more

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I'm not sure why this place only has 3 stars. I'm a sushi snob -hands down! True, it's the most unassuming place. Looks super sketchy without question, but my boyfriend has been patronizing this place for years, we both are HUGE sushi people -everywhere we travel to, first thing is to seek out the best sushi spots. So when he wanted to bring me here, he gave me fair warning that I was not going to want to eat there, but he swore it would be worth it. He's never let me down and he didn't! I couldn't get over how fresh the fish was for one and 2, their rolls were UNBELIEVABLE! Honestly, for the BEST experience, let the chef make what he wants for you. He'll ask you why you like and then works his magic!! If you like salmon and crab, ask him for "The Rooster" other than sushi, the baked oysters are SUPER good too. I don't think you can go wrong with anything at this place!! read more

This was our first ever visit to this cafe. We were not greeted and after a few minutes I asked a chef if we could pick a table. He said yes and we had good service. We were not in for sushi today. We are searching for a good teriyaki chicken bowl. The flavor and lunch price was good. Our only complaint was that the chicken was in large 1.5 inch x 2.5 inch pieces. We tried to use the chopsticks but were unable to bite through the large pieces. The small restaurant is next door to a casino. The cigarette smoke coming through the wall was not pleasant. read more

The sushi is by far the best in Carson City. Service is fast and friendly, the sushi is fresh and tasty. The head chef made a special habanero/soy dipping sauce that was outstanding! Rice to fish ratio is on point and the rolls were the right size with perfect bite sized cuts. YUM!! read more

Great fresh sushi and staff is friendly and on top of it. They do half rolls which I love because you get variety without over ordering. They noticed I didn't like a roll I ordered, that I was just going to eat to not cause any inconvenience. They asked me if I wanted a new one without me saying a thing! Quick service also, you can definitely get in and out on a lunch break. read more

3/5 for the food, was okay but not great... 1/5 for service, from the time we sat down to the time we got our drink order was 40 mins, food came shortly after. We had to ask multiple times for things and the crew moved around at a snails pace the entire night. Likely will not come back. read more

Best in Carson. Love there Nevada roll The chefs are nice and on top of making food quickly read more

Hey y'all!!! Finally found a place nearby that is fantabulously tasty and reasonably priced! Sushi is fresh and well crafted. Atmosphere is quaint. Place is very small. But I'm sure will grow soon!!! This place is GOOD! I alway go to Reno. But this place has me staying home!! Thank you!!! read more

National's Cafe - Japanese Near Me - Carson City, Nevada

We have been to Nationals's Cafe a few times now. Rarely does super quality and affordable pricing come together in a business, but I can say without hesitation this family makes it happen every time. We love the Tahoe and Philly rolls. The miso soup is great. I will have these folks provide food for the Grand Opening of the Vasefinder Museum in the fall. Yummy!!! read more

Nationals is by far the best sushi in town, only down side is they aren't open on the weekend. the nationals roll is to die for!! our favorite place! read more

The place seems a little unkempt. Not dirty but just off a little in some odd way. The people seemed nice enough but it's always strange to me when anyone other than Japanese are preparing sushi.. It's kind of like Indians preparing & serving Italian food. I just feels a little unauthentic, and it is...... The part that put this review under a generously given 3 Star review is the fish and the rice. The flavor wasn't necessarily off which is a great relief as I would habe boogies rigjt rhen and there but fish any sushi restaurant should never be served at nearly room temperature, nor should the rice be served while almost steaming hot.. This was a first to me, hot rice on like warm fish???? I have been eating sushi since 1991 & anyone who is a sushi aficionado knows that room temperature fish can be deadly..... I should have said somrhing gor stopped eating and left. I only had a quarter of what i would nesrly eat as I just couldn't get past the tepid fish and overly warm rice. Again, the people were very friendly & the food tasted ok, Hence the 2 stars. read more

This place has amazing food and friendly service. We will definitely be going back. I absolutely love their Lupita roll!

This is absolutely hands down the best sushi place in Carson. It has the freshest fish, the fastest, nicest service, and the best prices (for all menu items and all-you-can-eat sushi). Do not let the outside of this little place fool you. The chefs here have a great deal of experience, having worked for Sushi Teri and Wasabi for years before starting and owning their own business. Their combined experience has to be at least 60 years if not more. No, maybe they don't make "traditional" Japanese sushi, but what they do make is delicious and fun. I promise you, these three chefs know what they're doing. Unlike what the ONLY 1-star poster said, the service is blazing fast, the sushi rice is cooked perfectly, and the rolls are made more expertly than anywhere else in this little town. I have never, ever seen anyone wait more than a minute, if that, for a roll. In fact, once they put so many rolls in front of me I had to beg their mercy and ask them to slow down! :D I don't get to come here often but I stop by whenever I'm in town and the chefs always remember me. The last few times I came in, they handed me my favorite roll as I was sitting down!! It's the first one I always order when I come in. They remembered that and actually started getting it ready when they saw me pull up. Considering I only stop by here every few months, I think that's freaking impressive. I watch how these guys interact with regulars and they're always smiling and giving them "special" fun rolls and/or sauces that are off-menu. When they find out you like a particular fish, they'll make you great off-menu rolls with it. If you're feeling adventurous, tell them what ingredients you like and say "surprise me!" I've done that and ALWAYS been happy with what they come up with for me. Every time I come by, these working owners have have done something new and improved on the inside decor. These guys may be "quiet", but they are never ever rude, and maybe they don't initially show a lot of "personality" but that's because 1) it's true, English is not their native language - not that it ever gets in the way of ordering - so they don't talk a lot, and 2) they're too busy making awesome sushi to put on a ridiculous show for pompous people who seem to want that instead of good food. They know most people who enter their doors want good sushi, fast. So they put their heads down and make it. What's wrong with that..? Any customer with half a taste bud and a good heart can see these owners care very much about their restaurant, their sushi, and their customers. Which is more than I can say for any other sushi place in this town. This place rocks and it's my #1 choice for Carson, hands down. read more

Ok folks. Seriously. Do any of you EAT sushi for real? Sushi is supposed to be pretty, fresh and tasty. We came here only because Genghix Fusion was not open yet and had to get on to other stuff. Came one other time too because they were open on Sunday and no one else was. First impression. From first time coming was way too much deep fried!!! Today's impression. Although the tuna sashimi was fresh all ten pieces were maguro. I expected at least two to be hamachi. None. The presentation was half way. Served on lettuce. Tuna was flopped on top criss crossing every which way. No order to it. Many thin slices of lemon were a good idea but they were placed clumsily. They could have and should have taken more time. The miso soup that came with the sashimi was flavorless. The sunomono was super thick slices. Not right. Not right at all. I've been eating sushi since 1978, back in Los Angeles. I've seen some really good sushi. This was the worst. My husband could not even eat his scallop hand roll. The rice was sticky the wrap gooey and the whole thing fell apart. read more

I visit my sister in South Lake Tahoe quite a bit, and apparently the guy who owns this place used to work at their favorite sushi place in Tahoe... so they dragged us down the hill tonight so we could taste all the wonder that is National's Cafe. OMG The. Flavors. Are. Amazing. Creations I've never seen before. Tastebuds filled with happy. My sister and hubby said "I've never see you enjoy sushi before." Which is a little true and a little untrue. Most of the time I play it rather safe, and here I tasted everything, because after the first bite of cilantro, siracha, lemon slice, eel sauce, fried calamari, scallop, crab delight.. or whatever it was... I was just so pleased we had chosen all you can eat. Which is a bargain by the way. Go tomorrow night. __________________ only negative... fluorescent lights in the kitchen are a little bit glare-y when the sun goes down completely... so just eat at dusk :) read more

I tried two other sushi places in Carson City this week and have determined that I'm a National's loyalist :) Their rolls have turned me into a sushi lover. I let them make me their creations and have yet to be disappointed. Unfortunately, it means I need to do more running for exercise so I can indulge myself again! Revisited... I rarely go to National's now since I have a new favorite in Carson. I do still think that they are one of the better places in town though so I'm going to lower my score to 4 stars. More rice and less fish are what prompted me to go elsewhere. read more

We got there right when it opened on Monday morning. But no leftover sushis from last week - they make it all fresh as you order it. I ate there several days ago and am planning to return next week too - it's out-and-out delicious. They have a lot of their own concoctions with local names. Big rolls of sushi with toppings on them. It's $15.50 per person for lunch, more for dinner. It's worth it. EDIT: I lied. I actually returned the same week. I tried a couple new items, neither of which I liked as well as what I had the first time, four days ago. So I proceeded to order a couple of my previous items and stuff my face with them. Yummm. Didn't notice this before, but they also have a menu featuring a few non-sushi items such as teryaki chicken rice bowl. read more

Haven't been here in a couple years, that being said, i cannot believe we haven't been here in years. The sushi was delicious. When we ordered, it came out very fast. I highly recommend Nationals. read more

I visited this sushi stop about a year ago, and still dream of the delicious Nevada Roll. MMMMM...Perfection. I'm drooling just thinking of it. The most immaculate balance of flavors: Shrimp tempura+jalapeno+cilantro in a roll topped with lemon slices and yellowtail=Mouthwatering goodness. I must go back before I die. read more

Best in Carson at the moment. Good price - better at lunch. Great Unique sushi's. the Mexican owner and chef puts a great spin on spicy sushi. --RibChamp read more

Honestly my favorite sushi bar in Carson! The foods great, people are nice! Not much you can ask for! But honestly the prices are perfect for the area and the quality of there food is good and they actually care about what you want and how everything tastes. read more

So im in Carson City with my brother and he tells me he wants Sushi.. After stumbling around in a parking lot with his cell trying to find an open Sushi place on a Monday he gives up and says " Thats it im just gonna eat what we have at home". And trust me the food at his house from the holidays has been incredible.., but you can only eat turkey, ribeye, and ham so long. So we take off and im deflated, in more than just one way, about not getting to have sushi. So i decide to take the reigns.. I call Nationals to see if there open... Viola.. Ive been here so i know whats possible and the service is good and Sushi is fresh and Spicy cause thats the way my brother and i like it. Most people complain about the ambience, i understand but am not so snobby when it comes to fresh and tasty.. read more

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Still the same food I remember. Small hole in the wall, but the chefs are extremely friendly. One benefit for me is that they are extremely accepting of small children. When you walk in their walls are covered with sushis pictures - pretty typical of a sushi restaurant. You have the choice of sitting at the bar, or one of few tables they offer. Since we had our kids we sat at a table. Service was quick, and definitely great. The sushi was perfectly colored, and the right texture. You can always tell when things say out too long, due to the increase in grittiness. Definitely didn't have this problem here. The rolls have a nice Mexican flare, which is a great difference to most restaurants out here. On top of that, the prices are right. Definitely a competitor in the sushi area. Only complaint is that it was dimly lit, and had a weird smell. If it wasn't for those two things, it would have been a 5/5. read more

I love these folks. We have been getting takeout since COVID 19 began and every meal has been outstanding. We use to drive to Reno once a week for sushi, but they have filled in the gap and have grown to love them. Supper friendly and they have been awesome every time. They care about their business and the products they serve. Thanks for all the great food! read more

Very poor customer service and Sushi is very disappointing. Much better places to eat Sushi in Carson City. They also do not go by their posted hours! read more

It's such a small, unassuming little building with an exterior decor reminiscent of a convenience store that we initially didn't know it was a restaurant and passed it several times. Once my friend and I noticed it however we couldn't resist the novelty (and we were starving) so we popped in. What a treat!! The chef was very friendly, the inside very welcoming and peaceful and the sushi was delicious. The egg rolls are to die for. The service bar has photos of the rolls behind it which is invaluable for indecisive people like me. Or for sushi virgins. I'm not in Carson much, but that's where I'll be when I am. read more

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I really wanted to like this. I really do. The fried ingredients were slightly soggy - I don't believe the oil was hot enough. The food itself seemed bland - many of the rolls had very similar flavors. When our party arrived, they weren't very busy. Yet the service was slow - we had to ask twice for teriyaki sauce due to the waitress spending more time with a customer's baby than providing service. This was our first time visiting, as well as our last. read more

National's is by far the best sushi place in Carson City! Mario was behind the counter and was quick and attentive. He hooked us up with the special rolls not on the menu and everything tasted so fresh and yummy, I will definitely be going back soon. My new favorite! read more

Mexican Sushi is the best way I can describe the unique combination of flavors featured in some of the rolls we tasted last night. My cousin and I, craving for sushi, and relatively new to the area went to National's based upon the stellar reviews posted on Yelp. Good thing we had the yelp reviews to fall back on because when we drove up and saw the place we almost turned around. Both the exterior and interior of the this place is downright skanky-looking. Clean, but pretty funky. In fact, my cousin said her and her husband would drive by and joke about how scary the place looked and were amazed that it was still in business because who in their right mind would eat (especially raw fish) at a place like that. Ah Grasshopper, never judge a book by its cover... Also don't let the fact that every employee in the place appears to be Hispanic rather than Asian throw you, the delicious sushi just goes to show the inaccuracies of stereotypes. The only real criticisms I have (aside from the general lack of aesthetics) is that they (the employees) weren't really welcoming at first. When we indicated to the host/buss boy (?) that we were a party of two he left my cousin and I at the door for two very uncomfortable minutes while he cleared two places at the sushi bar, and didn't give us the option of sitting at a table (which I would have preferred). It was also very unclear as to how much the rolls cost individually, leaving us to feel as if we had to do the $18.50 All you Can Eat option. I have never before had All you Can Eat, and although doing something new was fun, I don't relish eating until I feel as if I am carrying around a five pound Sushi baby in my stomach for the rest of the evening. Anyway, next time I go I will inquire about the cost of the Nevada Roll and probably just order one (they are quite big). Also, the Fire Roll is pretty interesting...rice, variety of raw fish, hot sauce, cream cheese rolled up in seaweed and deep fried with tempura batter on the outside then garnished with sesame seeds, green onions, and more hot sauce, yum! read more