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Samurai

3.9 (311 reviews)
ModerateSushi Bars, Japanese
Closed Closed

Samurai Photos

Business Info

SAMURAI ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Samurai

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Reviews With Photos

Uber sake.
Rachel H.

Quick update for Samurai Mill Valley, our pick over Sushi Ran locally for a creative take on Japanese cuisine, rolls and nigiri. It's been a solid staple for us in terms of meeting a sushi craving. Favorite items include: Hamachi crunch, the Una Mega Three Roll, the Hokkaido Spice Roll and nigiri offerings on the daily menu. Hamachi Crunch features seared hamachi & steamed spinach with crunchy pops of rice cracker & a creamy ponzu dressing, and can be addictive. Our favorite rolls incorporate citrus and tasty sauces. The Hokkaido Spice Roll has steamed asparagus, fresh orange, avocado, and on the outside has Hokkaido scallop, spicy tuna, a kaiware sauce with spicy cream. The Una Mega Three roll has an eel, avocado and mint center and outside has fresh salmon, tuna, yellowtail and shaved lemon slices a with sweet tare & white-miso sauce. Nigiri cuts are generous and fish is reliably fresh and flavorful. Pluses include: creative and fresh ingredients in a small town setting. The main negative: a no- reservations policy which can mean a long wait.

Hamachi collar
Richard W.

We were glad that Samurai stayed open until 9:30 during the week - later than most other places in Mill Valley. Pretty massive list of menu items. I whittled it down to the following: Tahini Tofu Salad Tofu, avocado, organic green, tomato, and radish sprout with tahini red miso dressing. Great mix of ingredients with the kind of dressing that can be the star of the show, but I'm not sure how serving the dish untossed helps - the presentation is rather drab. Hamachi Nigiri - 2pc Yes, not being super creative here, but I wanted to get a baseline on quality and portions and it did not disappoint. Melts like butter. Nice portion size. Hamachi Crunch Seared Hamachi and steamed spinach with rice, cracker and creamy Ponzi dressing. What a unique dish! It looks like couscous but it's better - little crunchy bits in a heavier nutty sauce. They probably had too much sauce to balance the fish slices - which come seared but hard to tell behind the tan colored sauce. The flavors jump out, and this is a must order for newbies. Sakekawa hand roll Salmon, skin with cucumber, radish, sprout, scallion, and burdock root. I think it was the root that gives a hint of off-putting nutmeg that distracts from the salmon. The presentation is gorgeous, however. Hamachi Collar Yes, we did end up eating hamachi three ways! This one was a clear winner - the grilled collar, thinly seared to a light crunch and juicy supple in the middle. You don't really need the light ponzu sauce imho. Portion size impressive. For $13.5, simply a steak. Overall service was courteous and responsive. Any request was met with a quick return. For food quality and menu originality, this one is a tough call between 4-5 stars. That's all...

Pickled cucumber
Joyce S.

Restaurant was a bit crowded but also cozy for a rainy day. We had about a ten minute wait before being seated. Staff were responsive and hospitable, prompt with service but also polite to give us time to look over the menu and to decide what we want to order. They checked in with us a few times during our meal to make sure we have everything we need. We ordered the seafood yosenabe and the beef sukiyaki. The beef sukiyaki can also come as a set, with added miso soup and tempura. I loved the yosenabe broth, had a good balance of flavor. Seafood was cooked and noodles were al dente. No shrimp in my dish but I got a large piece of scallop, some clams, fish and veggies. The sukiyaki broth was overly sweet for me, but had a good amount of beef and veggies with both clear noodles and udon. Both dishes came with a generous serving of pickled cucumbers and a bowl of rice. Portions were also generous. I brought home a little less than half of my portion and was happy to reheat it for lunch the next day.

Gohar K.

Saturday night with family while on a weekend trip to Mill Valley we ended up here for dinner. We enjoyed our food very much, the service was great. The rolls were delicious and the fish fresh. A lot of options for rolls and sashimi. I loved the jimbo maki roll. Ordered a second Jen. Overall a great place to dine at, a bit small and gets really crowded but a great ambiance.

Stinson roll, Dragon roll and spicy tuna roll
Emily G.

One of the best sushi restaurants in the bay! Seriously stumbled upon this restaurant after a trek to Muir Woods and I was met with great service and fresh sushi rolls. This easily became one of my regular spots. I'm leaving CA and had to celebrate one of our last meals here. The Stinson maki is 10/10 and love the eel and avocado roll in the dragon roll. I always love spicy tuna and they have a tasty one with fresh tuna and a nice sesame oil flavor.

One of the best sushi places in the bay! The sushi taste so fresh! The rice is always perfectly cooked! The roles are nice and packed and stable they don't fall apart! The owner and workers are always so kind & ready to help or get anything you need! It is a small place so it does feel a bit crowded and on weekends there usually a 20-30 minute wait but it's all worth it!

suppose 2b ton katsu , taste as if it's DRY pork chops . sauce suppose 2b katsu sauce pic salty teriyaki sauce ,

Suppose 2b ton katsu , taste looks as if it's DRY PORK CHOPS , was given salty teriyaki sauce in place for the katsu sauce . Very disappointing

Uni nigiri
Stacie V.

My new fav sushi spot in Marin! I snagged a seat immediately at the sushi bar on a Friday evening. The staff is extremely attentive. Prices are reasonable considering the quality which is a rarity nowadays. The place was loud and very family friendly. Lots of crying kids... I'd recommend getting takeout if the wait is too long and eating at a neighboring picnic table near the parking lot.

a close up of a menu on a table
Kiyomi W.

Came in on a Saturday night around 5:15. It wasn't too busy then around 6 it was packed and super loud. This place is really cold so bring a jacket. It made the dinner a lot less enjoyable and I heard a couple ask if they could turn on a heater and the waitress didn't even let the dude finish and she said no. Got the crazy horse roll and negihama roll. My friend got the 15 piece sashimi, cherry blossom roll, and 49er roll. The food is pretty good and the fish is fresh! The sashimi came out kind of fast and then we waited another 20 minutes for the rolls. I'd rate the food 5/5 but the experience as a whole wasn't a 5/5. So getting togo is probably the better option.

Beef sukiyaki
Ken D.

Average food, but good enough to eat at since it's the only Japanese restaurant in town. I had the beef sukiyaki. It was served In a regular porcelain bowl. The broth was decent but it was super simple. Lacking in cabbage and only came with a little bit of clear noodles. Sukiyaki is traditionally served in a shallow clay pot, not giant soup bowl. My friend ordered 2 rolls and the pork gyōza. I tried a piece of gyōza just 5 minutes after it came out and they were already cold. Would not be a first choice of restaurant to visit, but if I were in the area and really craving Japanese food, I could give it another try.

Edamame, Nigiri - Hamachi, Maguro, Bincho Maguro, 49er roll, Crazy Horse roll, and Spicy Scallop roll.

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

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9 years ago

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7 years ago

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3 years ago

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7 years ago

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

Best sushi in / around mill valley for sure! We regularly order take out from here and are always happy with the quality and service!

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2 years ago

Great food. Reasonable prices. I really recommend this place. I would like to go back again.

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

The best sushi place in Marin- the service may be too good because I am usually done being served quickly. Recommend the Stinson roll.

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8 years ago

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5 years ago

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3 years ago

The best sushi in Bay Area!!! Definitely worth waiting in line for The service is also good!!

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2 years ago

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5 years ago

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3 years ago

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8 years ago

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10 years ago

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3 years ago

Great sushi spot. Fish was fresh, price is very reasonable, ambiance is casual and relaxed and servers are nice. 5 stars!

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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6 years ago

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9 years ago

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3 years ago

Best sushi place I have found in Marin that doesn't break the bank- fresh fish and delicious rolls. I like the Stinson beach roll.

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3 years ago

Food was not great but service was friendly. Pretty low grade fish but not unsafe. Ordered rolls, seaweed and edamame

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

Really great sushi. They are always busy so be prepared to wait. Fun atmosphere, so many great choices to choose from and easy parking.

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

Love this hidden gem. The have amazing hand rolled sushi. Their tempura is great too.

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6 years ago

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4 years ago

The food is excellent and nicely priced! Always busy! Call for reservations before 4:00.

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Samurai Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Samurai

Do we need to make a reservation for 3 people tonight at 6pm 03/22/24?

They do not take reservations for less than parties of four.

Do they still use that amazing sesame mayo in their rolls?

Yes

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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