Oku is some of the best Sushi IN THE COUNTRY. Yes I said it, we have had sushi in japan, in vegas, at the best spots and oku ranks right up there with them for nigiri and sashimi. The rest of the menu is pretty good but the quality of the fish is outstanding. Service is pretty slow, but whatever the food is consistantly excellent. Highly recomment, worth every penny. We have been back probably a dozen times since they have opened. read more

Outstanding Sushi. Great service and stunning view of the Pacific. Quality and innovative dishes.

This place is packed, so sat the bar on the roof. I was impressed with the quality choices Otoro and rolls. I also had hand roll and flatiron steak. Seems to be a great date spot. I also love the oxacan mezcal old fashioned. I will come back with reasonable pricing. read more

Oku - Flat Iron Steak - Sushi Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Posting this review about a month after going for a birthday. The food was fantastic. We enjoyed everything we got but I think the lollipops were the favorite. The crazy rich Asian roll was also bomb. Drink wise the hidden dragon was the standout for me. Tasted essentially like a lychee margarita. We were there for sunset and it was awesome. A bit cold but they had plenty of heaters which kept it comfy. No complaints about the service either. Overall, really enjoyed it and would definitely like to go back. read more

Oku - View from upper balcony - Sushi Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We stopped here one evening just before closing to grab a bite and we were very pleased they let us in. The waitress was super friendly, polite, and helpful. Although they were preparing to close, they did not rush us or make us feel unwelcomed. It was a great experience, and the food was delicious. The restaurant was clean, great location, nice view, professional courteous staff. read more

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Definitely would go back, from the staff to the food, everything was excellent! The staff was very attentive and made our experience that much more enjoyable. The sashimi pieces were cut generously. The fillet was perfectly cooked to our medium rare liking and the truffle made the dish even better. Everything we had was amazing and can't wish to go back with the beautiful view. read more

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Great selection of high end sushi and the ramen was great as well. We will definitely try again when we go through Santa Barbara

So I visited Oku at a friends recommendation and BAM! Best sushi, staff, and manager for our experience. My date and I had a stunning meal and even got a porcelain Cat cup souvenir. The wagyu steak was addictive. Date told staff it was my BDay and he did his thing (golf clap). Definitely make a reservation, it gets busy! read more

Oku - Cat Cup! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Can't wait to go again!! Excellent sushi sashimi and tempura. Only downside is the Santa Barbara water, but they cant help that. Bring bottled water with you. read more

Went to Oku the other night and had an awesome time. First off, I recommend sitting up top on balcony. You get a great view of the ocean and Stearns Wharf! The sushi was excellent and some of the best in SB. I ordered the Rainbow Roll, a variety of different fish which include salmon, tuna, yellowtail and shrimp, the Snake Roll, which is made of eel and avocado, and the Spicy Salmon Roll. I recommend each one and will be on my list of rolls I order next time I dine at Oku. Our server, Jamie, made the dinner even more enjoyable with his positive and friendly attitude. The entire staff for that matter had great customer service and will take care of you throughout the night. Overall Oku is a great dinner experience with great food and a iconic SB view! read more

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4.4 nice ambiance and attentive staff. The cauliflower appetizer was unique w toasted Korean flavor and very Yummie. Remember to dip it around the sauce sound the bowl . Carpaccio tuna was excellent and so was 805 roll. The carpaccio sauce was so good laced w the caviar and other fish eggs we used it as a dipping sauce for the 805 roll! read more

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Yesterday was our first time at Oku restaurant. The waitress guided us to a back room, devoid of coziness, soul, or character, so we requested to sit in the bar area which at least had some life in it. The entire place has concrete floors, and shiny black granite table tops, adding to the icy atmosphere. After sitting there for 15 minutes, we went up to the hostess asking what the procedure is to order food. She was surprised and said she would send the waitress right over. We both ordered filet mignon. The filet and mashed potatoes would have been excellent apart from the fact both were served less than luke warm. The filet was very tender and already pre-cut. There were 2 types of Pinot Noir, one at $14/glass and one at $19/glass. We tasted both and the $14 one was sour tasting. The $19 wine was adequate but definitely way too pricy for a mediocre tasting wine. The place was very cold, but luckily I was wearing a winter coat which I kept on the entire time. My boyfriend was only wearing a light jacket which was barely enough to be comfortable. Suggestions: make sure that hostess alerts waitstaff that new customers have come in, put in wood flooring, add tablecloths, offer a reasonably priced, drinkable Pinot Noir (Lincourt comes to mind), turn the heating on so customers are warm, serve the food hot, not barely warmed up. read more

Food was fresh and excellent, Service was more than the typical sushi place. Each dish was served by a different wait staff and they explained each dish as they brought it to the table. The prices were high, but I'm sure it's for the food presentation and excellent service. Not an every week go to sushi place, but good for special occasions. read more

Oku has it all - stunning views, delicious drinks, and amazing food! We had a 5:30 patio reservation and enjoyed an amazing sunset plus it wasn't too busy yet. We each started with the Sake Mule which was so refreshing and paired perfectly with the Blistered Shishito Peppers, which I didn't even get a picture of because they were so amazing. Next time I might have the whole app to myself! The sauce is amazing and it was a perfect mixture of some spice but oh so savory. Spicy edamame was also delish too. For our main we sheared some sushi. The yellowtail shashimi melts in your mouth and all of the rolls were equally tasty, but the Sunset Roll was my favorite. My hi dad had the ramen and really enjoyed that as well. We finished our wonderful evening with Oku Lychee Martinis (loved it) and shared the Yuzu Citrus Cheesecake - perfect finish and we walked away with full, happy bellies. read more

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First off, the food was amazing. Everything we ordered was some of the best we've ever had. Gyoza, sushi lollipops, specialty rolls, ramen, etc... and dessert was great too. We sat upstairs on the patio with a great view of the ocean and pier. the service was fast and friendly without being MIA or hovering. A little pricey but worth it! read more

WOWOWOWOW The miso soup was so thick and flavorful. I've been craving it since. The Newton had the best tuna on top that melted in your mouth. I 10/10 recommend!! The interior was decorated for Valentine's Day and looked beautiful! read more

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Tina Takaya has created a beautiful restaurant with the best sushi in Santa Barbara plus exceptional service and ambiance. Located on Cabrillo Blvd you get can get a hard to beat California classic beach view. Our waiter Tyler was very attentive and knowledgeable. He gave us his suggestions on sake and the Heavensake Junmai Ginjo Azul was a perfect pairing with our sushi. The asian fusion dishes give you many great options to chose from. Believe it or not, my personal favorite dish is crispy Korean cauliflower. My friend had an entire one to herself and got another to go! If you are looking for a roll, the Crouching Tiger Roll does not disappoint and, of course, the sushi is world class. Tip - if sunny, make a reservation and ask for a table upstairs on the railing or if downstairs ask for table 34. Tip - valet parking is behind the building and there is a door into the back of the restaurant. read more

Oku - Beautiful sake at a great value. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

OKU: Couldn't ask for a better evening, excellent food and service with a great view. I had made reservations for my friend and I on a Sunday at 7:45. When we arrived the restaurant was completely full. We were seating on the second floor patio with a view. Our server Lanea was fantastic, super friendly and attentive. We order cocktails while deciding what to eat. We tried a new Sake for us, SOTO, which was excellent, along with my Red Lily. We ordered Blistered Shishito Pepper and Tempura Soft Shell Crab for appetizers. The rest was traditional sushi choices we love: Uni, Salmon, Sweet Shrimp, Tuna, Yellowtail and Masago. All the food came out fresh and all tasting great. Atmosphere: typical Japanese restaurant with wonderful patio. Service: excellent. Food: excellent. read more

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We usually give a 30% tip and this time, though we didn't think a tip was deserved, we still left 10%. We might as well have been invisible. One of the runners took our plate before we were done without asking. The reviews were so good that we expected fantastic sashimi. It was far less than anything we have ever had. Lazy Acres has better fish than Oku. Maybe the reviews were based on the location - clearly not the food. So disappointing. Shocked that it got so many positive reviews. We didn't care about the price, but the fish was better at the supermarket. read more

We had a reservation and came in early and were able to sit right away although we were not able to get the outside second level we reserved. We had great food and great service. Will definitely recommend this restaurant while in Santa Barbara. read more

Stumbled upon this place while visiting the area for work. The view was amazing on their rooftop area. The food was good but not the most amazing roll. Crazy rich Asian roll was "market price" - $40 and in my opinion the other rolls I had were better and half the price. Still would come back, excellent service. read more

Oku - Crazy rich Asian roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

First time visit , friends have told us about it , we decided to celebrate our wedding anniversary with casual date night there , some of the dishes we ordered were outstanding and had that wow factor, cocktails were great, classics with an Asian twist , we enjoyed those. I would've liked to get a better table upstairs, I made the reservation via Open Table and requested "with a view" also answered to the question about being that a "special occasion " I noticed other tables had "ThE " view and stayed empty for a while even after we were getting our order, I would like to know how to crack the code to sit there next time, less cramped than our table, I had someone coughing behind me and it was getting a bit annoying, people before me was watching some game on the phone , I just didn't need to participate on other people's night out lol I'd definitely go back to try other dishes and their ramen.Our server Amanda was very nice and despite being busy and having all the tables on our area , she kept checking on us and our orders.. read more

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Managed to snag 3 seats at the bar on a Friday night without waiting. The Everybody Loves Raymond roll is a must. The nigiri was also fresh and delicious. The otoro was by far my favorite. If you are looking by a spot to eat by Stearns Wharf, this is it. read more

Oku was incredible! The sushi was outstanding. The views were immaculate. The crowd was kind. The service was outstanding! Peter was our server and he was the best--so attentive so kind--he had great suggestions and kept the martinis coming! The views were directly of the ocean and palm trees. I highly recommend sitting upstairs on the balcony. The crazy rich Asian roll and the rainbow rolls were my favorite. The everybody loves Raymond roll was a second best contender. Peter really did make our experience even more enjoyable so kudos to having a stellar team member on your team. read more

Oku - My fav, uni - Sushi Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Rooftop dining with a nice ocean view and terrific food... what more could you ask for? The edamame and spicey dipping sauce that came with it was a big hit; the sauce was a table favorite and we asked for more so we could have it with our rolls as well. The miso soup was delicious. The Lava roll was terrific and spicy! The garlic filet mignon was tender and tasty. My wife appreciated the gluten free menu options (ask the server for help on this). We shared the blended Zinfandel, which was surprisingly good! Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant. Make reservations and ask for the rooftop seating. read more

Very nice service, great view of the bay, the fish was good, but the nori used was stale and hard to bite through. If they'd fix their nori, I'd give it four stars. As is, won't be back here again. read more

Ambiance: nice indoor ambiance. Trendy. Pretty light colors. Outdoor is ok. View of ocean Drinks: drinks were not tasty and had a bad alcohol to drink ratio. Too much alcohol. Tasted like rubbing alcohol Food: perhaps i am LA spoiled but the sushi was meh. Didn't taste as fresh and flavors were lacking Service: great service read more

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Had a wonderful night out with some friends tonight at Oku, and I'd highly recommend the rooftop seating area for a nice view! We had a reservation beforehand so it wasn't long before we were seated. We started off with some cocktails: the china rose and sake mule. The china rose honestly tasted like just Prosecco but the presentation was nice. The sake mule was a delicious blend of ginger and sake though! As a shared appetizer we got the yellowtail carpaccio with garlic ponzu, and it was delicious! The fish tasted fresh and the garlic ponzu was an amazing addition. I personally ordered the everybody loves raymond roll which was also delightful. The tuna poke was an interesting addition but did not overpower in flavor. We left very satisfied with the food, and I'm looking forward to coming back! read more

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Went to Oku to visit one of the best GMs in SB, Rich. He toured me and my husband and found a seat on the patio so my dog didn't have to wait in the car. I was impressed by EVERYTHING! The service was top notch. Food was elegantly plated and f-ing delicious. Three decor was modern class and cool. Hubby and I can't wait to cruise again! read more

Oku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This is a very mid in terms of service & food. This is the first restaurant I've ordered shishito pepper & it was terribly soaked in soy sauce so it was very very salty. None of the food we order stood out that would make us come back. Also was seated in the front with high traffic when there was plenty of seats upstairs outdoor. Won't be back read more

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You definitely need a reservation to eat here, but it's very simple to do online. The hostess here are very nice and accommodating which makes the restaurant a great welcome. Their food is delicious! I love their sashimi and garlic noodles are delicious. With the Santa Barbara weather, being outside for dinner is beautiful and during sunsets you get an amazing view of the sun setting along the beach. read more

Oku - mike wazowski roll and 805 roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This has to be my favorite Sushi spot in SB! They never fail me, & I've been here various times. The staff is on point & so is the food! I love how upscale the environment is, there's plenty of seating and the entire layout of the place is truly beautiful. Beachside, with many outdoor heaters including a nicely lit interior section. How could I back to anywhere else? Everything I've ordered from here is truly a 10/10 from the sushi rolls, sashimi, noodles, & appetizers. Be sure to save room for desert! All of them are great & this is my first choice to celebrate someone's birthday in SB. read more

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A really chill atmosphere here at Oku! A party of 5, we made reservations to sit at the bar. We ordered as we go. The wagyu truffle gyoza was a really great appetizer. It was melt in your mouth great and crispy on the outside. The tempura was also another classic that was hot and crispy! For the sushi we ordered scallop, toro, ankimo, ahi, kanpachi, hamachi and eel. All were very fresh. The sauce on top of each fish were a good flavor in addition to the flavor/texture of the fish. I really recommend oku to try out! Unfortunately, I was super excited for the food that so forgot to take a quick snap! The pink lily cocktail is also a nice refreshing drink! read more

Oku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I'm from out of town and this place is always a must-go-to for me. Food is great and the service and staff are amazing even during their busy times! I love that you can get different ambiance depending on where you sit--my partner and I have tried every room and have enjoyed the upstairs patio the most. I recommend: - apps: crispy korean cauliflower, xo grilled shrimp - rolls: david's addiction, crouching tiger, mike wazowski - drinks: china rose and plum wine - dessert: tiramisu Expect to spend ~$100 for 2 people for 2-3 sushi, 1-2 drinks, and a dessert. I also recommend making a reservation. They've been super accommodating with our table requests and are seated within 5-10 mins of reservation time--we always come 5 mins earlier than our reservation time though. read more

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Creative sushi rolls with one of the best rooftop views in downtown Santa Barbara! The nigiri was also really fresh here and I really liked their uuni in particular. Long lines and parking can be a pain so make sure to book reservations! read more

#1 Advice, make a reservation! The food and service is awesome, it as a lovely view of the beach. Great cocktail and Wine list, with Vegetarian and Vegan options. Considering all the facts, a very affordable and great value for money. read more

Beautiful place across the beach. The snake roll was amazing and I would definitely come back here. Service was fast and excellent

So glad my UCSB kid picked this place! She's vegan and had a few choices here, but there were lots of options for us omnivores. The vibe is somewhat upscale and hip, but also friendly and fun. Started with cocktails, the tropical drink in the kitty mug was cute and refreshing. But the food is the star here. Enjoyed some sushi, sashimi and the crispy cauliflower, all very fresh and delicious. Near the ocean, we got a gorgeous moonlit evening. Very popular/busy so get a reservation or get there early and be prepared to wait. Challenging parking. read more

Loved it here!! When I walked in, I asked to be seated in the prettiest area and they sat me on the roof overlooking the beautiful view (and they were so friendly!). I asked the waiter what he recommended and he said the sushi lollipops which were amazing! The otoro nigiri was melt-in-your-mouth good & the wagyu gyoza was filling and yummy. Great way to spend a night in Santa Barbara! read more

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Excellent spot with excellent food- I had been putting off going to Oku as I believed it to be all hype, but surprisingly it was fantastic! We ordered three rolls, all delicious and exceptionally fresh. They were on the smaller side, and warning, the "spicy" items are veryyyy spicy. Of course the price you pay is for the views, but we weren't left hungry. Expect to pay about $100 for two, if that. Wonderful spot to take people from out of town read more

Oku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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