Sushi tortatatora is delicious Sushi tortatatora is nutritious It's sushi that pops in your mouth The glisining meat melts in your delicious trout The beams of light that come out the rolls melt your face The taste takes over your taste Your face turns into sushi Everything around you looks really looks like sushi the sushi controls your every move Gobbling that sushi every time you move 5/5 super delicious yah yay read more

This spot has changed ownership a few times over the past few years, and it's been inconsistent across owners. Despite our concerns, we have continued to try it every few months - while the place has always been adorable and the fish tasted fresh, the preparation and logistics have been inconsistent. We tried it when the current owners first took over (~Fall 2025) - the ordering and pickup process was improved, but the cuts and care to the sushi needed some work. After trying again in January 2026, I think they've ironed out the wrinkles and seem ready to rock. Hoping the current ownership sticks around, because it's nice to have a solid, cute, no-frills spot in the neighborhood! read more

Everything is always so good. A real neighborhood spot too. Staff is always friendly and makes you feel at home.

I was visiting from out of town and stopped in for a bite of sushi, with my daughter, and they didn't disappoint. Cute place with attentive service and great food! The fish was supper fresh and the presentation was lovely. read more

Sushi Totoro - Chirashi-Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Over the last 5 years Sushi Totoro seems to have changed hands a couple of times but the food has remained mostly the same: reliable and a good value, but not crave worthy. It's an odd thing to say but the rolls might be too big -- getting two orders is almost too much food for two people so I don't order any nigiri. There's complimentary miso soup. It's fine but unremarkable. Lina has tuna, salmon & avocado inside the roll with hamachi & albacore on the outside. Think everything or rainbow roll. There's macadamia nuts on top. My normal order. Summertime has spicy tuna, shrimp & cucumber inside with hamachi & salmon on top. Also quite good. I used to get the UCSC which had crab in it but I didn't see it on the menu last time. We tried the Protein roll which substituted rice paper for the sticky rice so has less carbs. Something was off for me in the texture. Not my thing. The sake belly was also a little disappointing. I had expected it to be richer in flavor and more buttery. It was chewier. The ambience is fun -- lots to look at on the walls -- and the servers are quite nice. The sushi is a good value; just not high end. read more

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Yasss. This place still hits the spot like it did years ago. The quality has not changed a bit. I really enjoyed the fantasy roll and the sashimi here was incredibly fresh. I love the name of this place because Totoro is just so darn cute. It brings back memories of a simpler time, yet I also relish in making new memories too. It's tucked away in the corner of a small mall, so be on the look out for it. read more

Sushi Totoro - Me N u ;) - Japanese Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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While in Santa Cruz, Sushi Totoro is a short walk away. It's a small place, sometimes can. be crowded. The food is consistently good, the staff generally friendly (sometimes the servers can get a little overwhelmed when a bunch of Doordash/phone orders come in). A great selection, some unique items. read more

Our family of five popped in 30 minutes before they stopped serving lunch and close down before dinner service. They graciously welcomed us and our meal could not have been better. Everyone is studio Ghilbi fans so the cute tie in on the menus are wonderful. My son got the Among us roll. It was delicious. Everyone else got fresh sashimi and the cooked teriyaki was also excellent. Everything was fresh, service was immaculate. Over all the best sushi experience we've had. read more

Sushi Totoro - Japanese Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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There is a parking lot directly in front of the restaurant. The sashimi cuts were very large. We also ordered some roles that were very heavy on rice and not so easy find the fish inside. Service was good. read more

Sushi Totoro - Japanese Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Still 4 stars. They've updated their space, and they have some really fun artwork on the walls now of some of their different rolls. Although I did enjoy the old look, I do think that the new one is more inviting and easier to see in general. The Westside roll was the winner of the evening. But the A$$ Hole was also super good. Miso soup still comes included. Yay. It's not a big place and they do tend to get pretty busy. read more

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The rolls are generous and the bites are huge (they could cut them in half...literally enormous). Love the miso soup that is served as soon as you sit down. Always friendly staff. We love coming here at least 2x a month. I recommend the Vegas roll! read more

We stop here typically on our way down from the City on Highway 1. We've always enjoyed the fare and will continue to stop here whenever we take this route down. We love sushi, so we don't patronize places that don't know what they're doing! These folks know what they're doing. read more

Food: the rolls tasted fantastic! They also offer miso soup which is very nice. Service: the staff is very helpful. Ambiance: it's a ghibli-themed decoration, which is very cute. Yet the restaurant is not very spacious. read more

I'm a fan of the anime movie Tororo, and when I saw this place on Yelp, the name caught my attention. What impressed me was the attention to detail from the movie, which they incorporated into a sushi drawing theme that I found absolutely adorable. We ordered the Takoyaki as an appetizer, which was just okay, but the Little Bomb was extremely good. For special rolls, we had the Rainbow Roll, which was vibrant in color and tasted good, and the Summertime Roll, which was my favorite. The waitress here really friendly, Count me in as a fan of this place. read more

Sushi Totoro - Rainbow Roll n Summertime Roll - Japanese Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

It was a great experience the entrance is not impressive, but you will be surprised! Everything we order was so delicious and the presentation was spectacular . The service was amazing I'll definitely will go there again. I highly recommended if you go to Santa Cruz you gotta give this place a try. read more

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Amazing! Delicious Poke Salad, outstanding creative and large rolls, Fresh Fish, spicy scallop roll, Crunch roll. Jalapeño poppers, Grilled Teriyaki Salmon. Outstanding selection on Menu, Great service a little wait but totally worth it. Fresh ingredients. Owner & sushi chefs make excellent rolls. Great atmosphere. Try it read more

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The prices listed on their website are quite different than those quoted when I called to place an order by phone. Though I asked if the prices on the website were current--and was told that they were--many of the prices were actually substantially higher. I spoke with the owner, who said that the website (sushitotorosc.com) actually belongs to the former owners. The ownership changed in May, 2024: a year and a half ago. In order to see the current menu--with the current prices--you have to somehow "know" you must go to Instagram or Facebook. This information is NOT available anywhere on Google or other search engines. The owner was dismissive and unhelpful, and refused to make any concession with respect to prices. I was very disappointed as we have had many great meals here in the past, but I will certainly not be ordering from Totoro again... read more

My go to place for lunch and japanese. Love their lunch bento box. Fast service, delicious and good portions for be value cost. Nice ambience and seeing a lot more locals there since they had the grand reopening with new staff and team. read more

My favorite sushi spot in Santa Cruz. They've got funny names for their sushi rolls, leading me to order something different every time I go. And I've enjoyed it every time I've gone. read more

Honestly not worth it. Not worth your time or your money. The prices are way too high sitting at 20 dollars per roll and that was not the highest price. When the food DID come out it was very bland, the California roll was the most flavorful. Not a good experience at all. The wait time was also horrible, waiting to order took 20 minutes and the food took 20 minutes as well. The place is small and you sit next to everyone with barely any space to move or sit. read more

Service was quick, sashimi quality and quantity above average, sashimi pieces were extra thick, it was fabulous. 品質は素晴らしかった read more

Sushi Totoro - This is a chirashi for $27.50 USD October 2025. "12" pieces....so they didn't count the egg, shrimp, pickled daikon or salmon eggs. 美味しかった - Japanese Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Yummy! They made my roll the way I ordered it. The server was friendly and the food was good. Love the paintings. It's a vibe. read more

Sushi Totoro - Philly roll with jalapeno - Japanese Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I've dined here many times 10 years ago as a UCSC student and loved this restaurant. I'm revisiting this restaurant 10 years later and it is still just as amazing as I remember it. I absolutely love the Adios Roll and Sweet Potato Fries! Also, the portions are pretty big when it comes to the sushi rolls and they're presented aesthetically as well. I personally do not recommend the Agedashi Tofu though. Would definitely come back here in a heartbeat if I'm in Santa Cruz again. read more

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Great selection and very good cuts of fish! Cute, small spot to grab lunch and walk down to lighthouse point or up Mission St. Pretty affordable for the student budget as well! read more

Sushi Totoro - Sammy's Pick 3 and Pick 2 combo with Spicy Fried Tofu and Garlic Edamame - Japanese Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Decent spot! I ordered the teriyaki chicken lunch special. It consisted of chicken teriyaki, rice, and a California roll. What worked: -- pretty tasty! I thought the rice in the California roll was nice and soft and the teriyaki chicken was good -- good portion size -- cute spot! Lots of photos on the walls and the theme was fun -- they gave me a free sticker! There's nothing more exciting than that What didn't work: -- my only complaint is that I wish the meal came with a fresh element. Both the chicken and the California roll are pretty sweet so I feel like it needs something fresh or acidic to create balance read more

Sushi Totoro - Lunch Special A - Japanese Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Even better than before! I've been twice recently and thrilled to go back. I always get the salmon sashimi and it was top notch. Also I got the unagi over rice for the first time and it is all sorts of goodness. The ginger is so tasty, do they make it? So perfectly seasoned and crisp. Next time I am getting the spicy sashimi bowl. It's funny, but yesterday was the first time I could read the other wall and now I must try it! read more

The new owners really improved the quality of the rolls. Great atmosphere -- sad to see the old Polaroid wall gone, but the new wall art is beautiful. I loved the small details like the squiggle for ucsc students and the mini games to pass the time while waiting. read more

Sushi Totoro - Japanese Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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A mile from downtown you'll find this outstanding lil' sushi restaurant in Santa Cruz. Atmosphere sported young music vibes and the staff were all friendly and patient. This casual dining experience was delicious. read more

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The MISO BOWL Hello. It's better than a handshake or a traditional bow, better than a hug or a fist bump. "Welcome! Can I bring you some water and a MISO BOWL?" That's how you're greeted here in the world of Totoro. And man is it good. No sooner were we face-in-bowls than the frosty LOCAL ipa's were served, making the festive rivalry and thoroughly happy dining din even happier and dinnier. SOS: The rolls were so damn good, we had to go a second round...because there's nothing better than being Stuffed On Sushi. THE ROCK - 5+ Stars THE DRAGON - 5 THE PHILLY - 4.5 Round Two: THE LIBERTY BELL - 5 THE ROCK (see above) THE RAINBOW - 5+ and a second LOCAL Hazy IPA for good measure. This is living large. As Mizayaki would say; (well, possibly, anyhow) "Pop in and let us Roll you, neighbor." read more

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Love this place! Their sushi is the best I've had in a long time, fresh, flavorful, beautifully presented, and absolutely worth coming back for. read more

An adorable, delicious, friendly restaurant for Totoro fans! What a gem! Many Totoros in store big and small, and the black boards show cute drawings. Delicious bento boxes and salmon. So glad we discovered this place in Santa Cruz. It's truly one of a kind. There's a big furry Totoro surfing on the ceiling! Extensive menus. A small minus is the disgusting toilet in the back. You have to exit the restaurant, go outside, go all the way around the building to the back, to find an unwelcoming iron door. read more

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Stopped here on the way home from the beach. The restaurant is pretty small maybe a few tables. The bathroom is also located outside. The staff were super attentive and sweet. Food was delicious and fast. Will definitely be stopping here again in the future. read more

Under the new ownership, Incredible service and amazing quality and quantity! We loved the big roll, the Golden California, and the pink Dragon! read more

Sushi Totoro - The big one! - Japanese Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Tasty food, big portions, and super affordable. The lunch bento comes with free miso soup and way more rolls than most places--like an extra full plate! Nice wall art and convenient location near downtown Santa Cruz and UCSC. Great value! Finally services are excellent. read more

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First of all the ambiance is lovely and refreshing. Although it is busy, it is everything you want in a Japanese "studio gibili" vibe. It lacks in customer service. The employees failed to properly communicate with each other so our wait at the table was extended. The sushi was very fresh and delicious. Absolutely will be coming back next year. #LetsDigIn read more

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Amazing food and great atmosphere. There are incredible art drawings on all the walls all inspired by studio gibli. The food is reasonably priced and large portions. Highly recommended. read more

Wow what a turnaround! I had been to this place two times in my 12 years in Santa Cruz and was not impressed. We just went back now that it's changed ownership and the food was top notch! I ordered the sashimi dinner (albacore, maguro, yellow tail, and salmon). My husband ordered an unagi roll, salmon nigiri, yellow tail nigiri, and chicken yakitori. The portions are huge. We took almost all of the yakitori home. The place is small so not good for groups bigger than 4, and I wouldn't be surprised if there's a wait once word is out about how good the food is. Prices were very reasonable, actually lower than what I think you would expect for the portions and quality. I would not be surprised if they raise the prices soon, but even if they do I would go back because it was worth it. read more

If you're into mostly rolls then this place could be for you. But if you're a sashimi person then you'll be disappointed like me. Since the switching of owners I've tried this place 3 times now. Each time was a disappointment, dry and bland sashimi, and ended with an upset stomach. The first two times I got delivery, and everybody knows that food is not as good when you get it delivered. So I decided to go in to see if my opinion would change. I got the Godzilla roll and the sashimi dinner. Super generous cuts with the sashimi, very thick slices. But the quality is NOT there. Idk what it is...freshness maybe? The tuna and albacore were dry, like they were frozen for too long or something. The Godzilla roll was good. Went home and had a very upset stomach as with the first two experiences. I very rarely get upset stomach from sushi. So I really think they have bad quality fish. read more

The food is always so good here and the vibes are so cute. They draw Totoro chalk art all over the walls and there are usually fun little games you can play within the art. I bought one of their shirts too and it's so cute!! Last time I was there, the waiter had misheard our order and brought us the wrong sushi roll, but when he realized what happened he apologized and gave it to us for free!!! And the roll we did want came out pretty quickly after that, and ofc it tasted amazing. I love sushi Totoro read more

Such a cute place! I've been a big sushi lover for a while & Sushi Totoro seriously has the best sushi I've ever had. The portions were huge, with the same prices you'd pay for smaller portions at other places. Plus, the presentation was SO pretty and detailed. The workers were extremely kind, and the new management even came to speak with us. I'm a huge My Neighbor Totoro fan and have been excited to try this place for a while, and the experience was ever more fantastic than I expected! Can't wait to come back with my friends :) read more

Sushi Totoro - (The West Side Roll) - Japanese Near Me - Santa Cruz, California