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    Temaki Joint

    4.9 (26 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 9:30 PM
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Temaki Joint Photos

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    Kenneth P.

    Temaki Joint sits above a pho restaurant in Boulder, almost daring you to overlook it. Great omakase has never been about flashy dining rooms or impossible reservations. It's about the person standing behind the counter. Chef Duy Pham is that person. He spent years helping shape Colorado's most respected sushi restaurants, but this tiny counter might be the purest expression of his craft. People love to argue about where the best sushi is in Colorado. They're asking the wrong question. The best sushi is wherever the best chef happens to be. Right now, that's here. Chef Pham chases not just pristine fish, but the kinds of ingredients you rarely see outside Japan or top sushi counters. This isn't an introduction to sushi for someone looking for spicy mayo and cucumber. It's a satiation for people who've wandered through the markets of Tokyo, lingered over meals in Hokkaido, or still think about that unforgettable bite they had in Okinawa. The meal unfolds one piece at a time, with Chef Pham guiding you through each course. He tells you where the fish came from, why it was prepared this way, and what inspired it. The server is there to make sure you're comfortable, but the evening belongs to the chef. By the end, it feels less like a dinner and more like spending two hours with someone hopelessly obsessed with doing things the right way. Eight seats, no distractions, just extraordinary food and a chef who genuinely wants to see your reaction behind each bite. Go for a date night. Go to celebrate something worth remembering. Or go simply because you love food enough to experience the pinnacle of sushi. One last tip: if the conversation drifts toward Pokémon, lean in. Chef Pham has plenty to say about that, too.

    'everything expensive' - otoro, fois gras, fois gras fat, uni, shaved truffles and creme fraiche
    Anh N.

    Tamaki Joint is one of those places you almost don't want to tell people about because part of the magic is how intimate it feels. It's hidden upstairs above a pho restaurant with just about 6-8 seats at the sushi bar, so every meal feels personal. I've been lucky enough to eat Chef Duy's omakase over the years at Foraged, Hana, and now here. He somehow keeps getting better. What stands out isn't just the quality of the fish. It's how much heart goes into everything. Chef Duy loves talking about food, sustainability, and making the most of every ingredient. Nothing gets wasted, and you can taste that level of care in every course. Don't skip dessert either. He makes those himself and always wants to share a little extra. Come hungry. This isn't one of those omakases where you're stopping for pizza afterward. Chef Duy makes sure everyone leaves happy, full, and already thinking about their next visit.

    Uni handroll

    Best sushi experience in Denver! Every meal I've had prepared by Chef Duy Pham has been unforgettable and this visit was no exception. He takes the time to walk you through every ingredient and explain the thought behind each bite, and his passion for his craft truly shines through. My favorite bites of the night: Seafood Chowder Ootoro topped with foie gras, uni, and truffle Aburi Ora King salmon Uni handroll (LOADED with uni) If you're looking for one of the best sushi experiences in Colorado, Temaki Joint is a must visit! Quality ingredients, incredible attention to detail, and an unforgettable dining experience every time!

    Cute water glasses
    Sara M.

    Have to give them credit for a small opening space to test Boulder. Partnering with space Pho Kitchen has had for years but underutilized, they partnered in a way for Temaki Joint could operate upstairs and Pho Kitchen could cook and serve downstairs. So not really a pop up as originally presumed and that they would be temporary here. They close next week on the upstairs patio but will reopen in a month after remodeling the upstairs interior space to serve more. Gojd to know they will not be any farther away. The food was very good. I don't drink sake and was not in the mood for wine or spirits but know they have an extensive offering. We did have a selection of their temaki rolls though uniquely shaped, rather than cone shaped, they are columnar, like a grill, this gives and even distribution of flavors and textures with each bite. One consequence is that you need to keep track of your rice as it can sometimes slip out of the nori. But I loved the concept, I had the yellowtail tail with cilantro, forgoing the jalapeño. The fish was fresh and tender. I also had the sautéed mushroom hand roll, never before had a non fish hand roll. They were sautéed and very tender Asian mushrooms and very tasty but slippery! My third hand roll was Japanese Snapper, similar to red snapper, with plum purée and shiso. I'd love to have this seasoning with a different fish that was a bit more tender. But it was fine with this for flavor. My husband had the blue fin tuna hand roll well as the Hokkaido Scallops. He also had the blue crab negiri. Once they reopen, we will be back. Parking is really easy behind the building . The chefs were friendly and there were a few other diners in this slightly hidden space.

    Octopus sashimi
    Hanh P.

    I was lucky enough to try out Temaki Joint at the soft opening. We had a sampling of the most popular dishes. There was a ton of people so it was hard to get a true feel for the dining experience on a normal day. The truly special experience was when I came back on my own with a couple friends. We were 1 of 2 parties dining, pretty quiet night as they've only been open for 2 weeks. Being that 2 of 3 of us were new there... we asked the chef if he could order us what he recommends. There was an octopus carpaccio that was phenomenal. We ordered a big bottle of Little Sumo sake (we wanted best bang for the buck). Chef helped give us a little experience in the sashimi section, nigiri section and we ended with handrolls. It was a perfect sprinkling of the menu. I am the omakase Queen... as I've tried all the omakases in Denver. And I would say this is the best. Why? Well it's more personalized to the size of your group and your ability to eat without losing the quality. Our bill came out to $300 for 3 people... $90 was in alcohol. That's just unreal for this type of dining these days. I've had Duy Pham's omakase before... and although it's always exquisite... I tend to tap out 3/4 of the way through his menu. Now... he has it so you can stop at any point and he will alter his recommendations to your personal taste. In the past it was... this is your package. I feel like this experience was much more curated to our group specifically and that was awesome. All of us plan on coming back and sharing this experience with more people.

    Tiffany C.

    We had an amazing omakase experience with Chef Duy! The creativity, service, fresh fish, and thoughtfulness in every bite was incredible. Everything was so delicious and we couldn't believe how each course could get better and better. It was awesome to sit at the sushi counter and chat with the chef and learn about him and his background. We can't wait to frequent this place!

    Get this Sake, it paired perfectly with our sushi
    Hon L.

    Have you ever woken up the next morning still thinking about what you ate the night before? I usually don't--but this place had me craving it all over again. There's something about that deep, rich umami layered with complex flavors that just stayed with me. Maybe it was the sake... but honestly, it was the sushi. Every bite lingered in the best way. The real reason? Chef Duy's creativity. Each piece felt intentional, perfectly balanced, and completely memorable--like a small work of art. New to the Boulder sushi scene, let me introduce you to Temaki Joint. The menu is refreshingly simple and focused on what they do best: incredible hand rolls. They also offer a mini omakase, which I highly recommend if you want a curated experience. Standouts for me: scallop, shrimp, bluefin tuna topped with unagi, and blue crab temaki--each one packed with flavor and executed beautifully. The miso soup, elevated with a variety of mushrooms, is a must--don't skip it. We also tried the aji appetizer, and it absolutely delivered. Safe to say... I'm already planning my next visit--with the goal of trying everything else on the menu.

    Amy N.

    Wow!!! I am obsess with this place. So many great flavors. It's not like anywhere I've been before. The flavor profiles are so delicious, I'm still dreaming of them. Love the creativity in the dishes, the freshness of all the ingredients. This will be my favorite go to spot to take my friends and family. Service was amazing as well. The environment is cozy and intimate. Just absolutely perfection.

    Otoro wrapped around Uni with Caviar...so rich, so delicious

    Without question, the best omakase in Colorado! The unique seafood (Spanish BARNACLE...who knew?!?) The fusion of French with Japanese (foie gras and caviar), the freshness of the seafood (fresh not frozen scallops) and the culinary skills and delicious flavors of chef duy pham!

    Fresh Santa Barbara Uni

    Fantastic! We will be regulars here. By far the best sushi in Boulder. I didn't take any photos other than of the fresh uni, because I was enjoying the meal so much. You will not regret coming here... they have fresh fish, great variety and amazing service. We sat at the bar and it was very aesthetic, clean, modern and the sushi chefs were so friendly! 1000000/10

    Jasmine Y.

    This was an amazing experience. Low-key casual vibes, reasonable prices, and outstanding service. Chef Duy gave me the most amazing omikase experience. My dining companion did the chef's choice of handrolls. Both experiences did not disappoint! Don't sleep on this place! I am still dreaming about the omikase here.

    One of the most memorable omakase experiences I've ever tried. What made it truly special wasn't just the quality of the fish (which was exceptional), but the chef's unique perspective. Chef brought unexpected twists to traditional sushi that somehow worked beautifully. Think delicate nigiri topped with fried scallions, touches of XO sauce that added depth and umami, and even moments of indulgence like lightly torched foie gras. Even the fundamentals were elevated--he makes his own blend of soy sauce and experiments with his own version of yuzu kosho, adding subtle, personalized layers of flavor to each bite. The meal felt less like a standard omakase and more like a creative tasting journey. You could sense the chef's personality and story behind each bite. If you're open to sushi that pushes boundaries while still respecting tradition, this is absolutely worth experiencing.

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    19 days ago

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    29 days ago

    Mediocre and small portion of food for ridiculous prices. Sorry not going to work for me.

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    1 month ago

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    21 days ago

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    Ask the Community - Temaki Joint

    Review Highlights - Temaki Joint

    Chef Duy never ceases to amaze me with his ability to create such well balanced, innovative, and delicious dishes.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

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    This is such a cute Japanese restaurant. Really nice ambiance. Great place for a date or to go with…read morefamily. Servers were extremely friendly and they have a button you press when you're ready to order/want the check which was really convenient. Food came out fast. My favorite sushi was probably the salmon nigiri. It was extremely buttery and fresh. Also the eel was great. I wouldn't recommend the maki/rolls as much as the nigiri. They also had a lot of options that weren't sushi like ramen, salad, rice dishes, okonomiyaki, and more. Definitely some menu items you can't get at any Japanese restaurant. I would definitely recommend coming here.

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    Forgot what roll this was... It was pretty good.
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    We got Bang Bang roll and Sumer roll for togo. It's delicious!

    Temaki Joint - sushi - Updated July 2026

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