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    Sawa Sushi

    3.8 (290 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndSushi Bars, Japanese, Seafood
    Closed 6:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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    SAWA SUSHI ATMOSPHERE

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    Annie K.

    Omg i cried on Valentines Day bc my bf booked this place for our dinner. Omakases are my fav dining experience and sparse bc they r pricey. So i hadnt had one for awhile and was so excited he booked an omakase. I was unsure bc of some neg reviews. And i like rice with my raw fish so i was wondering if it would be an experience i would enjoy. We arrived late bc bf got off work late, i had called earlier to inform him. We questioned whether we were booked and had each couple confirm thru their phone number. The reservation process is all manual thru text. Already i was not feeling good. The restaurant does not have a nice ambience. It wad freeeeezing cold inside. The chairs were not comfortable. I was all dressed up and felt for nothing ambience wise. The plates have no rice which i expected and it did not feel good in my stomach eating raw cold fish each plate with too much sauces also acidic. My stomach did not feel rested and he had no hot tea either bc he said his gas is broken. I only had one or two bites of 3 of the plates. I only liked the wasabi rice crackers on one plate for some carbs. Opted out on Uni cos he prob charges hella more for that. Prob not worth it. He knew i was not pleased but bf asked for a box to go for all the fish i didnt eat. Automatic 18% grat included and was $430 for both of us. Ridiculous and the nerve.

    Phillip S.

    Sawa is always a joy to enjoy and his 30+ years of being open shines through. This is the best sashimi you will have in the south bay. Highest quality of fish (flown in from Japan), and his home made (from scratch) are a perfect complement to his fish. Sake lovers will find sake you can only get in Japan.

    A better cut of hamachi which I don't remember the name of, with a huge dollop of ikura, flavoured to perfection.
    Sue J.

    What you read on the reviews are all true- it's what you like I guess. I did not do my research, walked in, and was totally caught off guard. I was stiff and closed off and reading reviews frantically at the bar and was questioning my friend's choice of restaurant. After a bit of time, I put the phone away and let myself experience. I had a good time. The chef is super funny. He liked that I spoke Japanese a bit I think, and we had a lot of fun. It definitely was a different experience. A 4 star because it was so fun, but I need a bit more in my meal. I'm glad everything is super fresh and excellent- and these days, sourcing is so important. I will never forget my meal at Sawa.

    Uni
    Daniella X.

    If you are a lover of sashimi, this Sashimi Omakase restaurant is highly recommended! The owner is a knowledgeable and interesting guy who mentioned that his restaurant is invested by NVIDIA's CEO Jenson Huang. Later, it was discovered that NVIDIA's videos can also be found on the restaurant's website. Thanks to the recommendations from some tech celebrities, various well-known figures in the industry often visit the restaurant, even including the CEO of my company. So, there is a chance that you might meet some big names while dining there! The vibe is very chill The cuisine is mainly centered around sashimi and sauce, without any main courses, making it a paradise for carb-free enthusiasts! The sashimi is incredibly fresh, using high-quality ingredients. The chef will serve you what he thinks is best, with a total of 6 courses, each with its own unique characteristics and generous portion size. The sauces are also specially made, including Hokkaido scallops, salmon, salmon roe, tuna, sea bream, clam, sweet shrimp, and mochi ice cream for dessert. You will definitely feel full but not heavy, as there are no carbs in the dishes.

    Shao-Lon Y.

    This is one of the best restaurants I've eaten at in my life! Steve is extremely fun and social and makes great food. As long as you come in with an open mind, you'll love whatever he makes you. It's a little pricey, but you're not only paying for food, you're paying for the entire experience. Talking with Steve and him changing the menu to suit your tastes is part of the amazing experience. He literally gave our party an entire tray of uni, a tin of beluga caviar, and the biggest Wagyu steak I've ever seen. Everything made the meal completely worth the price!

    Flory A.

    My husband brought me here for my birthday, we had the whole place to ourselves . It was one of the best, if not the best sushi I have had. If you're trying to get rolls and California rolls , this is not your place. Go to Safeway and get sushi there. This is the place to come when you want to experience REAL Japanese food. Come with an open mind - it is a restaurant for foodies only . Ps. I have never liked uni , however, after trying the uni here I have to say I have changed my mind. Amazing experience , amazing chef.

    Sawa Sushi is serious, no-compromises omakase sashimi. The owner knows his craft and knows the fish. My wife and I have been to Sawa a few times now - Valentine's day plus a few more weekends. Each time, we've been surprised with the exquisite quality of the sashimi and skill of the chef. Come here if you want: 1. Serious sashimi - reservations are needed because the chef will literally fly in fish from Japan the day of your meal to serve it to you that evening 2. An extensive sake selection 3. A skillful, highly knowledgeable chef who will spoil you all evening with excellent food and commentary

    Tasha S.

    While we have only just discovered the beauty of Sawa, the quality of sashimi is simply unparalleled to anything we've had in Silicon Valley. Delectable, melt in your mouth, incredible. Steve is wonderful - a character worthy of an entire story for himself. He's been so gracious, welcoming and friendly each time. Cannot wait to be back.

    Gigi K.

    Came here on a Friday night and we were so lucky. The other group canceled last minute so we had the whole restaurant to ourselves! Sawa (owner and chef) was so friendly and engaging from the moment we walked in. We were able to have a natural conversation with him as he served us our meal. Dinner was served classic omakase style and the chef decided what we ate. All the courses were DELICIOUS! We had fresh fish shipped in from Japan paired with Sawa's personal sauce creations. Everything was so well balanced and the cuts of fish were so meaty, sweet, and decadent! The sauces that were paired were unique but not overpowering. My favorite had to be the Hokkaido uni! I was hesitant at first as I'm normally a sushi fanatic and this place only serves it sashimi style but I have no regrets. I got to taste huge chunks of fresh fish uniquely prepared. It really didn't need the rice. We'll definitely be back as having a local omakase place in South Bay at this quality is AMAZING!

    Scallop
    Ying X.

    Legitimately some of the best sushi I've had, on par with the best in Japan. My husband and I made a booking for 6pm to celebrate our anniversary. The shop is located in a strip mall-type plaza, and is VERY unassuming (on the plus side, easy parking!). Once you go inside, the layout is very similar to your standard Japanese restaurant, sushi bar on one side and a few tables surrounding it. We sat at the sushi bar a few seats away from another couple (the restaurant was otherwise empty and our chef was very good about following covid precautions). The omakase here is served as sashimi instead of nigiri (so no rice), but you get VERY generous slices. The fish is SO fresh (our uni was packaged and flown from Japan literally yesterday) and flavorful, my taste buds experienced more flavors than I thought existed. Our chef also makes his own sauces and you can truly taste that there's something special about the sauces. Never had anything like them before. And I truly do mean generous portions, the fatty tuna and uni course was bigger than my fist (see pictures). Our other favorite courses were the scallop and sakura-masu (similar to salmon but much fattier and more flavorful). The meal is very pricy ($500 for the standard course and we also got an extra one that was added on), but you definitely get your money's worth. I haven't been so happy and satisfied with my sushi in years (prob since my last visit to Japan). I really want to come back next time I'm in town, but the owner says he might be retiring soon. Regardless, I'm so glad I had the chance for this experience! Anyone looking for legit omakase NEEDS to come check out Sawa.

    Tako!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The food there is not a kosher or halal for Muslims community. And The service is okay.

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    2 years ago

    The foood there was not a kosher or halaal for Muslims community over all. . . . .

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    2 years ago

    The food there is not a kosher or halal for Muslims and Arabs. The service and the ambiance are okay. . .

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    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

    3.8
    (2k reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Food: 10/10 Ambiance: 10/10…read moreLocation: 9/10 Service: 9/10 This Gyu-Kaku location is a go-to for me. On a hot, summer night, eating in the back patio and enjoying a pint of beer with some friends is a chill social night out. And if I want to get my fix of BBQ, sometimes Gyu-Kaku is the place for me hit up. This location currently has a promotion going on for their AYCE menu which is available on weekdays and lunch time on weekends. They also have a lunch menu available on weekdays! My husband and I tried their Premium AYCE menu which included 45 items consisting of an array of sides and main meat options. Today, we were served by our waiter, Choi, who -- although busy on his feet --was very swift at taking our orders and communicating information to us! Everything tasted as expected: flavorful and delicious! Each meat comes with its own marinade, ensuring that each bite offers something mouthwatering for your tastebuds. I really enjoyed the Sweet Soy Tare Toro Beef & the Miso Yaki-Shabu Beef. Out of all of the sides we tried, I must strongly recommend you get the Spicy Addicting Cucumbers!!! I know the AYCE menu is nothing particularly new for Gyu-Kaku, but it has slowly trickled through the different branches over time. This will be another reason why we end up going back here! That and the Spicy Addicting Cucumbers. Check out their menu. Consider a reservation on busy days!

    Food was good, but the service was practically nonexistent on a busy Saturday evening…read more We chose the AYCE option and were seated in a corner, but the staff rarely came by to take our orders. We ended up spending around 50% of our dining time sitting with empty plates, just waiting for someone to come over so we could order the next round.

    Photos
    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

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    Ramen Hajime

    Ramen Hajime

    4.6
    (686 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$
    Established in 2020
    Free parking

    Heard good things about Ramen Hajime, so decided to give it a try on a Saturday around 12:45pm. We…read morejoined the waitlist on the kiosk - there was about a 30 minute wait, and we got a text when our table was ready. Good amount of vegan options! I got the Kiwami Vegan extra spicy and my friend got the Kiwami Tonkotsu spicy (adding spice costs 50c more) and we received our food after 20 minutes. Kiwami Vegan (5/5): This was delicious! The curry broth and the plant based meat were well seasoned and the yuzu gave the dish a nice citrus kick. I love spicy food and usually feel like ramen is not spicy enough, but this was the perfect level. Noodles were tasty and there was a good noodle to soup ratio. My friend gave the Kiwami Tonkotsu a 4/5 and said it could be a bit more flavorful. She tried some of my Kiwami Vegan and said she would order that next time instead Overall, amazing vegan ramen! Although there isn't a vegetarian option, the vegan option is plenty flavorful on its own and I didn't feel like I was missing anything. Ramen Hajime now joins Marufuku Ramen in my list of favorite ramen shops in the bay. I would definitely return!

    I can understand the hype at this place. My first (sometimes only) bowl of ramen at any ramen place…read moreis normally tonkotsu. Being a broth lover, I can assess the authenticity of a ramen place by tonkotsu broth. And this place really does an excellent job in delivering a savory fatty bowl of tonkotsu ramen. I also added duck breast to mine. $6 for 4 pieces of duck breast is actually no bad of a deal, especially considering the quality of the duck breast slices. They were not super thick, but got enough bite in there for you to enjoy the texture of the duck meat. It was not overdone and did not lead to a less than desired rough sandy texture. Rather, it was possibly slightly undercooked. The skin was intact and the fattiness from duck skin just brought so much joy to every bite. I savored every bit of that in silence. Service was good, servers were attentive enough. Make sure to go in and put your name down on the tablet device. Do not wait outside "in a line" cuz they only call people by the tablet.

    Photos
    Kiwami Shoyu
    Kiwami Shoyu
    Hajime Ramen - inside
    Hajime Ramen - inside
    Chicken Karaage Style

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    Chicken Karaage Style
    Gochi - Cupertino

    Gochi - Cupertino

    4.0
    (2.4k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    We had a wonderful experience at Gochi in Cupertino! The food is creative, interesting, and a fun…read morechange of pace from the traditional sushi experience. We usually go to Tanto, which is owned by the same group, so it was exciting to try Gochi's fusion-style dishes and explore a different side of their cooking. A big highlight of our visit was our server, Samira. She was incredibly competent, friendly, and attentive. She knew the menu inside and out and could explain exactly what was in each dish, including how many pieces came with each order. Her recommendations were thoughtful -- instead of encouraging us to over-order, she suggested ordering a few dishes first and then adding more depending on how we felt. We really appreciated that advice because fresh sushi and many Japanese dishes are best enjoyed right away and don't reheat or travel well. Great food, excellent service, and a team that genuinely cares about the dining experience. We'll definitely be back!

    Though the plaza it sits in isn't particularly eye-catching, Gochi is an aesthetically lovely…read morerestaurant with a Japanese-style interior. The parking lot isn't massive, but finding a spot isn't difficult, if my experience is anything to go by. Solo and duo diners are usually seated at normal tables, but large parties have the option of sitting in shoes-off washitsu rooms with tatami mats. The menu is very large, with specific sections condensing their vegetarian & gluten-free offerings. You get a paper menu detailing their specials, and the rest of the menu is accessed through a QR code (which I am personally not a fan of). True to its self-identification as a Japanese fusion tapas spot, the menu ranges from sashimi to soba to risotto korokke to pizza and so on. I recommend eating family-style with a group, as portion sizes are definitely tapas-sized, and trying a little bit of a lot is the best way to experience what Gochi has to offer. Though the atmosphere is great for a date night, the two-seater tables are set up very close to each other, so there won't be much privacy. Most of the dishes I found to be good, but perhaps not exceedingly impressive. The yuzu ceviche was stellar, with fresh fish and a strong citrus flavor, but the accompanying potato chips were a little thick and lacking salt. The sashimi was beautifully presented and fresh, but the pieces were a little smaller than I had expected. The risotto korokke was alright as well; the sauce was great, but the risotto inside was a little bland. Overall, I thought this to be a decently enjoyable experience. The atmosphere is great, the service is good, and the food is varied and interesting. The dishes range from being pretty affordable small dishes to a little too pricey to be worth what you get, so I'd definitely spend a little extra time perusing the menu. I will likely return to try some of the other items in the future.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Unagi meshi
    Unagi meshi
    Hiyashi Somen

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    Hiyashi Somen
    La Casa Mia

    La Casa Mia

    3.9
    (773 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Tried this lovely Japanese-Italian fusion spot in the Bay Area for the first time. We tried their…read moremochi pizza-Mentaiko Mayo Mochi Cheese Pizza. I love mochi, so I was really curious how it would work on a pizza. It actually worked surprisingly well. The chewy mochi added a unique layer of texture to the crispy crust and paired nicely with the other toppings. We also had a variety of pastas, both seafood and meat. The portions-especially the seafood and pork cutlet-were generous, and I really enjoyed the subtle sweetness in the meat sauce. The blueberry yogurt drink was beautifully presented. The little heart-shaped container held syrup that you can pour over the ice to turn it into flavored shaved ice, which was a fun touch. The matcha parfait was also tasty and a great way to end the meal.

    Great good and great service. The server offered the children jelly while waiting for the food, I…read morepersonally think that is such a kind act that excited the kids and looking forward for the meals. The servers are very attentive and the wait time for the food is barely 10 minutes. Very efficient. The meals are great, the baguettes came with refilled. The whipped butter is light and creamy. I kept wonder if a drizzle of honey could amplified the taste. Pizza and pasta are obviously very taste and chewy. The restaurant is very nice and cozy as well, a mixtures of Japanese and Italian cuisines. It's a cutesy and vibrant, perfect for date. Overall, I think it's a wonderful experience and meals. Very unique concept!

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Salmon pasta
    Salmon pasta
    Baguette ($6 with up to 3 free refills)

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    Baguette ($6 with up to 3 free refills)

    Sawa Sushi - sushi - Updated July 2026

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