My close friend and I originally wanted to meet halfway for lunch to catch up. She's from the Bay and I'm from Sacramento but we ended up choosing a spot in Davis, and I'm glad we did. Food: Everything we ordered was fresh and beautifully presented. The sashimi platter was high quality with a great variety, and you could really taste the freshness. The sushi roll was flavorful with a nice balance of textures, and the ramen had a rich, savory broth with just the right amount of spice. Even the drink was refreshing and well-made. Service: Service was good. Our server checked in on us regularly, made sure our waters were always refilled, and gave us enough space to enjoy our time without feeling rushed. Ambiance: The atmosphere was clean, modern, and cozy. It had a relaxed but slightly upscale feel. I was shocked when I walked in. We had mainly been focused on the food when choosing where to go and didn't pay much attention to the ambiance beforehand. But it's okay. It was a nice place. Perfect for catching up with a friend or even a casual date. The decor and lighting made it feel welcoming. Overall, it was a really enjoyable experience. Good food, attentive service, and a comfortable vibe. Definitely a place I'd come back to. read more

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This is my second time dining here, and my experience wasn't as great as the first time. The ambiance and service is still great, but I was disappointed with the Chirashi bowl. During my first visit ordering the Chirashi bowl, the cut of the sashimi was thicker and the bowl came with Uni. This second time around, I felt they skimped on the sashimi making the slices a lot thinner and the bowl didn't come with Uni. Yes, I was disappointed because I live 7 hours away and was looking forward to a similar experience from the first time I came. Consistency is key for me, so not sure I'd want to order the Chirashi bowl next time. read more

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Excellent quality. Sashimi was fresh and they had quite a variety including Hokkaido uni which was delish. Cooked items were prepared well. Only thing that was a little disappointing was ankimo. Not a traditional preparation. Usually the ponzu cuts through the fattiness and makes this dish. They served it with guac and taro chips which didn't work so well. We also appreciated the variety of mocktails. Service was attentive. They didn't have udon which was a little unusual. So we got ramen instead but didn't come out until we were finished with the meal. Restaurant itself was modern, clean, and nice. Would definitely recommend. read more

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This spot has a beautiful interior and service was impeccable. We arrived around 11:15am on a Sunday and it was quiet and peaceful. We both tried the chirashi bowl and loved it! The fish quality is very solid. I usually am not a big fan of tuna, but this one was super fresh and not fishy at all. Usually tuna is on the mushier side, but this one was so glossy and firmer like salmon. There was so much care in preparing this and it shows! Beautiful presentation and love that it included radish, lemon, and lime slices. The variety of fish is also well noting. There were 2 that were seared. I'd recommend eating the mackerel near the end since it's a stronger flavor and can overpower the others. Highly recommend trying this spot! It's a great balance between an elevated lunch or dinner spot without breaking the bank. read more

Show Izakaya - Chirashi bowl - Japanese Near Me - Davis, California

My husband and I came here for our anniversary. We wanted someplace fancy, but didn't want to leave Davis. We didn't have a reservation and it was semi-busy so there was a wait as expected. Pleasantly surprised when they checked in on us during the wait (which didn't feel that long) and offered us bottled water while we waited! Not at all expected and such a nice touch! I enjoyed the quiet ambience and the fresh flowers at the table. Service was very quick! The waitress recommended a drink (I think it was yuzu jello shot?) that was very good! It felt like an adult boba drink. :) I ordered the chiraishi since that's my go to whenever I don't want to think. Everything in it was delicious and fresh with just the right ratio of rice to fish. And I normally don't enjoy the seaweed salad these come with because of the fishy taste, but this was a very clean tasting seaweed salad. Husband got chicken katsu curry and he enjoyed it. It had a little spice to it. No pic cuz it tasted better than it looked. There's a parking lot literally across the street so even though it's downtime, parking won't be terrible. Overall, it's a nice place to go to if you want to spend a little more for a nice night out in Davis. read more

Show Izakaya - Chiraishi - Japanese Near Me - Davis, California

Fancy and fresh! The fish was delicious, and every roll was beautifully prepared and full of flavor. You can really taste the quality in each bite. The presentation was just as impressive as the taste, making the whole experience feel special. A great place to celebrate special occasions. If you're in Davis and craving sushi, this spot is definitely worth checking out! read more

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This restaurant was no disappointment. Walking in you can boldly see it was an upscale establishment. The lighting shown on all the finer details within. There were fresh flowers on every table, topped off water glasses with a small dish of soy sauce. The food was phenomenal. We ordered Truffle Himachi, Ikura with Quail Egg, Sunset Roll, and the Hwy 80 Roll. For the drinks, a Cucumber Cooler and archivo Premium Ale. The pictures will make your mouth water. I also recommend each patron request Ponsu Sauce and Unagi sauce for dipping, you won't regret it. The staff was so very friendly and never let our waters or our dirty dishes sit. A few downsides. This is an upscale restaurant where you pay premium prices for food and at the very least on an evening service I'd expect cloth napkins instead of paper. When I went to the restroom at the end of our meal, I saw both stalls that had broken toilet paper dispensers and had to compensate with a small toilet paper stand. One stall even had an out of order sign but was unlocked. Kinda disappointing when each table is possibly spending over $150. read more

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Parents stopped by to visit me at school and happened to choose an amazing spot! Each dish was super fresh and looked amazing. The service was great--all the way down to the pace at which the dishes came out. My water was refilled more times than I can count, and the deserts were a great surprise at the end too! The interior is super bright and clean. During the spring they have a 9-course omakase special if that interests you. Would definitely recommend for a special occasion! read more

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Wanted to try Show Izakaya since they opened. They get pretty packed on the weekends so we had to wait half an hour for a seat. Miso soup: A Very good Miso soup! Lots of seaweed and tofu. Salad: B Had a sweet miso dressing, I thought it was pretty good. Chicken karaage: B- Decent, big chunks of chicken. The coating they use is flower so it's not as crispy as the ones made with potato/corn starch. I like the spicy mayo they serve it with though. Chicken yakitori: B+ Slightly sweet from the marinade/sauce and quite juicy. It has green onion on the skewer as well that goes well with the chicken. Chicken katsu curry: B- Curry tastes good. The chicken could have used some more salt. It was very tender though. Saba shioyaki: A Loved this mackerel! Easily my favorite dish here. Served with grilled lettuce which was kind of weird but I like the fish and the sauce. Edamame: C+ We didn't order this but they gave us a massive bowl of edamame that had garlic and chilies on it. It was alright. Service is pretty good here and rather attentive. It's a bit pricey but I'd say the quality of food is good when compared with other Japanese restaurants in Davis. read more

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This is probably the best place to go for Ramen in the YOLO County area. Ambiance is very pleasant as the decor is very modern and very clean. The service was very good. The only hiccup we had was getting the wrong bill. Ramen was very flavorful and the gyoza was pretty tasty. I would definitely come back here for Ramen but not sushi. My husband and daughter didn't really like the sushi. read more

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Excellent food in taste, quality and appearance. Great services with professional and friendly staff. It was a bit formal environment, but very cozy and welcoming. Prices are good as well! read more

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came looking for a simple meal and food was pretty average. the basic rolls are not exceptional in taste or size. everything was bit underwhelming for the price - we got the steak teriyaki, philadelphia roll, king california roll, and chicken yakitori because they were out of sasami yakitori. my king california roll had a shell in it. both rolls were a bit too fatty and also inconsistent in size which I wasn't expecting. miso soup and salad for the teriyaki were pretty good. chicken yakitori was an insanely bad choice as it was super basic and $10 for four chunks of chicken. the best item was the steak teriyaki, with various vegetables and a good amount of steak. but I noticed that they don't give you a choice of doneness so we got well done with one slightly rarer piece. the steak itself was half tough + fatty pieces and half tender, so that's even more inconsistency. ambiance was pretty good and the service was polite but super inefficient. we waited fifteen minutes in between ordering and getting the miso soup/salad, then fifteen minutes for our food, and then after eating it took thirty minutes for the check to be processed, AND we had to get up to get a random server's attention to even ask. this restaurant is like mid food, pretty quality ingredients and okay taste but with massive shrinkflation to account for the location/interior. if you want to have a fancy date for the sake of having a fancy date, come here. don't come here if you're into satisfying, well-executed cheap eats because you won't find any of that here. read more

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Stopped by since it look swanky. It's a very nice date spot but kinda pricey for college students. Our waitress was great! Super friendly and attentive. Hiyayakko - 10/5 stars - this is one of the best tofu dishes I've ever had, the tofu was very good and the sauce was strong in umami Hwy 80 Roll - 5/5 - loved this roll! Everything tasted fresh and it was not very spicy, the unagi was very well made Overall, great place to go on a date but it is pricey! read more

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Modern blended with traditional. The menu has a lot of modern twists and takes on Japanese cuisine without losing respect for traditional techniques and recipes. Best of both worlds. We got two cocktails. Tokyo linen and yuzu margarita. Tokyo linen stays out a little more with a more distinct and unique flavor profile but the yuzu margarita is super good as well. For food we got: Ankimo: monkfish liver. It's served with avocado and crisps. The combination over a textural contrast as ankimo and avocados are creamy and rich. Hotate nigiri and uni nigiri: both fresh and beautifully presented! Love! Sashimi platter: chefs choice. This offered me an opportunity to learn about new fish. We were able to enjoy some premium cuts with its according accompaniment. Dynamite roll: it's got Deep Fried Shrimp, Crab Salad, Spicy Tuna, Scallop, Tobiko. Everything I love in one roll. This is a hit for me love it. The place is clean and nicely decorated. Service is friendly and fast. They are also very knowledgeable when we had questions on which fish is which. I would say the quality and taste justifies the high price point. Perhaps not my everyday sushi spot but definitely a special treat worthy kinda place! read more

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Food was delicious and amazing. This place is a gem and I would strongly recommend the hamachi truffles. The service was great and attentive. Ambiance gives a fine dining vibe and very clean. It wasn't busy when we came, but I would recommend calling and recommend making a reservation by calling the restaurant. read more

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Wandered in on a random Saturday night and sat at the bar. A pleasant surprise! Good food and very friendly people. Thank you!

Be careful coming here. Found bones in sashimi and fish did not taste fresh. I felt kinda disgusted after eating. They refunded us for plate with bones in sashimi, so that was good service. Bathroom did not even have soap. This restaurant needs better oversight. read more

Best ramen I have ever had. I ventured in for lunch on a rainy day, just steps from my hotel and ordered the black garlic tonkotsu ramen. The pork was crispy. They included plenty of vegetables like corn, bean sprouts, and seaweed. Their house tea is a jasmine tea with roasted barley for only two dollars. Lovely ambience and service. read more

Show Izakaya - Black garlic tonkatsu ramen - Japanese Near Me - Davis, California

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Service was really great! Our waitress was so knowledgeable about the menu and was really nice. Ambiance is fantastic, as well. Unlike most spots in Davis, this restaurant is decorated nicely and reminds me of the trendy places I used to go to at home in SoCal. It looks picture perfect! The food, however, I wish matched the upscale vibes. I had the snow crab nigiri and wagyu nigiri for a light dinner. The snow crab was very tough and flavorless, so it might've been overcooked. The wagyu was cooked well and melts in your mouth. I also had a cocktail that was essentially an espresso martini with matcha foam--I really liked it but my friend thought it was too strong for her taste. My friends mostly thought their rainbow rolls and the fish quality were underwhelming too. Overall, a nice place for cute pics and for that trendy restaurant vibe! But the food is okay at best. read more

Show Izakaya - Wagyu nigiri, rainbow rolls, and not sure - Japanese Near Me - Davis, California

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Primo corner location in Davis, CA. We visited during their soft opening with high expectations. Service provided by Summer was pretty good but you can tell she hasn't down this before. She had a great attitude, be patient with her. Food wise, it was pretty much a let down... The miso soup was ok, it's kinda hard to screw up but we had another restaurant ruin it. Chirashi was basically dressed four different types of sashimi. No shrimp nor egg, it was pretty skimpy. They had an interesting item on the menu named to Riceless Roll, we went for it. It wasn't bad. Tofu skin wrapped crab (imitation) salad, fish, mango, and avocado. We would get this again. Chicken Karaage was ok, nothing special, just Japanese fried chicken fried well and lightly seasoned. Agadashi tofu was terrible, we sent it back. Nice and Christy on one side but hard on the other side. This was an interesting opening as less than 1.5 blocks away is a Northern California sushi restaurant chain with high marks. AND a omakase restaurant located at the other side of the same building. I'm being very generous with three star due to just opening. Good luck! read more

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Service was good. Staff were nice and checked in on diners. Only reason why I'd give them a star. Moving onto the bad: The rice for their unagi don was overcooked to mush. It was close to congee in texture and disappointing with every bite filled with a clump of soft rice. Don't understand how they could cook the rice so badly. It's on the same level of bad as Latitude dining commons sushi rice years ago. From the two times I've gone to this restaurant. It seems like they try to do something different to the food, but they're not good at the execution. They served ankimo pan fried/seared and the edges came out overcooked. They've served chawanmushi with a clam in the center. The shell's still on, so it's confusing hitting a shell halfway into the chawanmushi. Even worse is that they didn't clean the clam meat, so it's still sandy and gritty. The meat was so crunchy and made the rest of the meal off-putting. For the prices they're charging, the quality is not there and I wouldn't go back because I know I'd be disappointed again. What's the point if you can't even cook rice properly? read more

Show Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Davis, California

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Restaurant decor an ambiance is excellent, modern, spacious and well decorated. Seating was comfortable but not a fan of news channel on big screen tv in nice restaurant, otherwise a quiet space. Servers were very well trained, smiling and attentive, helpful and engaged. Old fashioned was with quality Bourbon and mixed nicely but the Margarita was missing a tequila flavor and tasted as if the bartender missed the customary taste test of all ingredients, which should not have happened as there was only two tables occupied in the entire restaurant with no one at the bar. The garlic edamame were delicious but an easy kitchen prep. The Japanese spinach was amazing and the topping was very flavorful and unique . The Toro Tartar was delicious and the plating was beautiful, elegant but some fat sinews should have been pulled out before plating (fish belly). The Volcano roll had jalapeños on top but they had no flavor, and the roll needed more dressing, it was not as flavorful as it should have been given the spicy tuna and other ingredients. The Riceless roll was outstanding with mango and very tasty, making the Volcano roll seem dull in comparison. So it felt overall like a hit and miss dinner for the price and perhaps that is the challenge of being in a University town where less expensive meals are more popular and makes having such a wide variety on the menu more difficult to maintain quality. Hopefully it was an off day as it was a Holiday (MLK) and perhaps the top chef was off. For now, Mikunis is the better Davis option IMHO. read more

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Update, we went again on 13Sep2025 and on 17Sep2025 Service, food, and the ambiance continue to remain top notch. Summer gives great recommendations, provides excellent service and especially takes the time to remember everyone's preferences. Additionally, most importantly to us, she also takes note of our food allergies. We have always loved each and every single one of our trips to Show Izakaya and we recommend this restaurant to all of our friends and family. read more

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Visiting from LA/OC. Fresh and was quite pleased with the quality and ambiance. Let the pictures speak for themselves... read more

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Went here for dinner when they first opened and had a great experience. Recently went back for appetizers and a beer, was presently surprised with how friendly the staff was. The food was consistently great both times and the ambiance is slightly upscale but not too out of reach. Felt comfortable rewearing my Carhartt. read more

The restaurant was nice and clean and we were seated immediately. Our server was Summer and she was super sweet and friendly. My husband really enjoyed the chicken skewers and our 10-month old loved the Agedashi tofu. We only got two rolls of sushi but they kept us full with just enough room to try the yuzu cheesecake. The dessert was probably my favorite part of our dinner. It was absolutely decadent. It was our first time trying the restaurant and we can't wait to go back to try the other items on the menu. read more

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Excellent service, creative and fresh fish, unique offerings, tablecloths and fine stemware (which was unexpected). Altogether a fine and delighful evening! read more

Everything about this place is 100%! Went for a Sunday lunch with girl friends. Quiet in there that day but the ambiance is very relaxing and the interior is beautiful! Our waitress was great and the food, OH MY! Everything was DELICIOUS! We had the A5 Wagyu that you grill on a hot stone. Melt in your mouth goodness! The yakitori selection we had were all tasty, sushi roll was also excellent and the drinks were yummy. We left so happy that we found a gem of a restaurant in Davis. Will definitely go back! read more

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Nice newly decorated restaurant. Very spacious dining area. Had the dragon roll and the chirashi don. The dragon roll was pretty decent, but nothing to rave about. Good quality but pretty standard. The chirashi don was fresh but a bit small compared to some other places. Overall, it's good and I'm glad I tried it. Solid place. read more

Show Izakaya - Dragon roll - Japanese Near Me - Davis, California

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we really liked this restaurant! probably the best quality sushi there is in davis. it is new, so the service isn't the best and they seemed a bit confused and nervous when we asked questions. regardless they were very nice. the truffle hamachi and nigiri were really good. the fish overall was delicious. it was a bit overpriced for the service, but food was very yummy. would come again! read more

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There are no gimmicks here. Just straight ahead izikaya dishes carefully made with high quality ingredients. There is a thorough cocktail and wine menu. Showa is a smallish space, so reservations are a good idea during the week and probably a necessity on Friday and Saturday. There is a sizable sushi bar. read more

WOW FACTOR? Yes, this is a beautiful and comfortable restaurant. Server Jasmine was excellent. HAVE AGAIN: Salmon (sake) was delicious. Miso soup and hot tea were very good, as expected. NOT HAVE AGAIN: The caterpillar roll featured unagi but had so much avocado that I could not taste the eel. Disappointing. The dragon roll had the unagi on the outside and looked really good - go for the dragon roll next time. read more

Food was good but the service we got does not justify the price they're charging Hostess/waitperson was very unfriendly did not smile once all night to a point made us uncomfortable read more

Have driven past this new restaurant around Davis and was fairly curious. The food was good for the most part, tried various starters which were the chicken karaage, shrimp tempura, soft shell crab and miso soup. The tempura was probably my favorite, those who were with me loved the soft shell crab that two were ordered. The miso soup was so-so and had way too much green onion but may be preferable for others. I had the chicken teriyaki plate and it was good, I did find it delightful. As for the service, it was slow and 100% could have been better. There was one other person in the restaurant so that was surprising and a bit frustrating. It only improved a bit after our server switched from a shift change. Things took a long time to come out so order the bulk of what you'd like from the start. When we ordered seconds or more of other items, it'd be way way later. The ambiance was pretty nice. Definitely more upscale compared to everything else in Davis. I'd say this is one of those restaurants where you try it once but not really to come back to, unless it's to dive into the omakase. read more

Best sushi I've ever had! The sesame Mont Blanc was not my favorite although I typically really like black sesame desserts, next time I'll try the green tea cheesecake or ube ice cream. Really want to try the ramen, the table next to us had that and also the chicken katsu curry which they said was incredible. Really nice music and ambiance. Will be back soon! read more

Really, really nice meal here. Show Izakaya is a delicious place to enjoy some high quality sushi. Inside is quite nice for the atmosphere, tables are spaced out enough to keep the dining experience quiet and enjoyable. Our servers were very attentive and quiet helpful. Incredibly delicious food, thank you Show Izakaya. read more

Great ambiance, great service, great food. Ordered the Nasu Dengaku, Ika Geso, Nabiyaki Udon, and Unagi Don. Amount of the food was good for three. Forgot to take picture for the udon lol read more

Show Izakaya - Nasu Dengaku - Japanese Near Me - Davis, California

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I was a bit blown away by this place. White table cloth but prices were very reasonable. In actuality that would never have me posting a review, it's all about the food and this was some of the best sushi I've ever had. Highly recommend! read more

I stayed at the hotel next door for the evening and I was really curious about this restaurant. Ambiance and the service was nice. The restaurant had a bright atmosphere. I sat at the bar and enjoyed several dishes. I had the beef and pineapple skewers, chicken skewers, chicken karage, and the lamb chops on a bed of Bucatini Pasta (red pasta sauce and some pesto was dressed with the dish). I did have some iced tea too, but this tea had some roasted aromas of barley/rice. It was good. All dishes were executed great. Wasn't too sure if the under seasoning was to exemplify the natural taste/texture, but they came out great. (watching salt level, lol.) The wait staff was very accommoding and very attentive. I would come back and enjoy the other dishes. I came about 5ish and the restaurant quickly filled up. They did give me a 10% discount because I stayed next door. Good place for a date before the movies across the way! read more

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We went to Show Izakaya recently to try it out because we are always looking for good restaurants in Davis, and they are rare. OK, for starters, the food is definitely the best Japanese in Davis, and the presentation is absolutely beautiful (I've included some pictures). However, I probably won't be returning because there are a few issues. 1) the wine list is horrible and way too expensive. There was only one chardonnay listed at $88 and it was of poor quality. 2) get a refrigerator, the white wine was served warm. 3) How about a full bar? So, you can see, I have my priorities. Also, I forgot to mention, Jasmine is a great server and the restaurant needs a new playlist - the muzac just doesn't match the vibe. read more

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