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    The Shoya

    4.6 (90 reviews)
    ModerateSushi Bars, Japanese
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order The Shoya Takeout or Delivery

    The Shoya Photos

    THE SHOYA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Happy hour specials
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - The Shoya

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    Reviews With Photos

    Chirashi Don
    Han W.

    I enjoyed my Chirashi Donburi! I thought the plating was really nice. The ingredients were fresh, crisp and flavorful. The wasabi was potent but enticing and prepared well. It was overall a great meal at a slightly higher price point ($30-50 per person), perhaps expected for sushi.

    The beef I removed from the Udon noodle soup after seeing how gross it was.  Riddled with fat blobs.  Yuk!
    Debra G.

    Worst Udon I've ever had. I ordered the veggie udon but wanted beef added. The broth wasn't even that tasty. VERY skimpy on the veggies, just WAY overcooked carrot, WAY overcooked to the point of almost disintegrating zucchini, and a very little amount of cabbage. That's it. And sparse. The beef they added was disgusting. Looked like little pieces of a cheap fatty cut. The little taste I had was tough and most pieces had a lot of fat. Gross! We will not order ever again.

    Chirashi bowl
    Glenn L.

    We came in on a Sunday night and had another great meal. What stands out is all of the little things done right. For example, the wakame salad tasted fresh, not like it was scooped out of a pre-made container. We also had the chicken karaage, which was not just fried chicken. The chicken was juicy and lightly coated but still nice and crispy. The chirashi don was a great selection of fish over rice. Even the miso soup had a fresh taste.

    Vacay 2026
    Megan C.

    GOING ON VACAY APRIL 9 to APRIL 16 (2026)! Cheaper to eat in... $8 cheaper in my case! (Not including the tip haha) Ordered chirashi online (mandatory $1 convenience fee). I thought the rice wasn't good... soft and very sticky whereas other parts were crunchy. BUT 2 other folks (1 in which is a pet but a human in my book) states the rice is on point...they do put some simple seaweed furikake on top. -1 2 pieces of everything. 2 of the fish wasn't fresh at all. -1 Salad was bright, crisp and green with a delicious sweet honey mustard like dressing. Miso soup wasn't too salty and included seaweed plus tofu. Props to including soup to go! (As well as the salad!). +1 Wasabi looked fresh and not the tube kind. +1 SERVICE: pickup was set for 1230pm and I arrived at 1239pm. I don't know if it's inflation or the current situation, but on a SATURDAY at half past noon... there was NO one dining in... the staff just handed me the bag. It was cool though that as you walk in, although completely blocked by a wooden divider (and seeing no humans), they immediately shout the Japanese welcome greeting :) VIBE: Honestly I wouldn't dine in either haha but I legit just ate in their parking lot (had too many errands and a scheduled appointment). WISHED THEY PROVIDED A SHOYU CUP OR A SEPARATE COMPARTMENT TO PUT THE SHOYU AND WASABI! -1 Located in a completely "desolate" plaza with a Thai place next door-ish. Lots of parking at your disposal! +1 Would I come back? Probably not. Sushi rice was the downfall. Perhaps they reheated it since there was no one present... no idea. But it was bad. Thankful I didn't order anything else to say the least.

    Dragon
    Carmen C.

    Get you all of these! Especially the double hamachi and Romeo and Juliet and shrimp lollipops is a MUST I like sauce on the side of the plate so if others want the sauce they can do so, I don't so I asked for it on the side Dip sushi in wasabi and soy sauce I like to do top layer fish with it first before dipping the sushi with rice and filling on another bite Much more manageable Beef teriyaki if you like it more cooked then ask! The sesame on the top is a nice touch to add a Smokey flavor A5 wagyu nigiri get you this Mmmm The Smokeyness is on point! They use sandalwood with the blowtorch to cook the beef and it is such a nice touch and addition It's not overdone either Amazing service and accommodating to changes in sauce on the side or whatever you may need just ask!

    Omakase Plate
    Amanda S.

    Top tier sushi restaurant that opened about 7 months ago. Since discovering this gem, we have been back countless times trying more dishes. Their quality and originality is much elevated above your basic sushi restaurant, much more like you would expect in Japan. The family that runs the restaurant is always great about answering questions about their specials and different sushi to try. My husband has been discouraging me from leaving a review as the restaurant is small (about 10 tables) so as the word keeps getting out sometimes there can be a wait for dinner on the weekends. Some of our favorite dishes so far include: 10 piece omakese combo, Kamakaze Roll, Tempura, Miso Black Cod, Truffle Hamachi, Cherry Boom, Hokkaido Scallop, and their freshly made wasabi.

    Melt in your mouth roll
    Sandy C.

    First time here and it was absolutely delicious. There are so many different rolls to choose from, including veggie rolls, plus a great selection of appetizers. The restaurant itself is extremely clean, and the staff was incredibly friendly, helpful, and welcoming from start to finish. We started with the toro sashimi, and they were not stingy with the slices at all - which I truly appreciate. We all work hard for our money and want a great experience, and this definitely delivered. We also ordered the garlic edamame, which came out perfectly hot and flavorful. For rolls, we tried the Melt in Your Mouth roll and the Pleasant Hill roll, and both were absolutely amazing - fresh, well-balanced, and truly lived up to their names. Overall, fantastic food, great service, and a wonderful first experience. I can't wait to come back and try more rolls. Highly recommend checking this spot out!

    Chris Y.

    The Shoya has taken over where Dragon's Spring Chinese restaurant used to be located, and is basically next door to Saneh Bangkok, which is also a newer spot that's opened. If you need a more mainstay location to help you track where this is, it's located in the same shopping center as T'zunun, which is at the very end of this little center. The Shoya isn't a huge shop, but does have plenty of seating available (around 10ish tables) and some seats at the sushi bar too, but won't be able to seat too many. The service here is pretty good, though I've always come here when they've not been busy so I can't speak to how it is why they get slammed, especially considering this place is smaller so it may happen more often than not on times like weekends. Just a bit of background, for those who come to The Shoya and feel like a lot of the staff, the chefs behind the sushi bar feel real familiar, is because they probably are if you're someone who has been to Okini. The people who started The Shoya are basically the old crew that used to be at Okini. However, don't let that fool you, as what they offer at The Shoya is going to be different than Okini. Food at The Shoya is definitely more focused on a more modernized approach than you would have seen at Okini, or other typical sushi spots. Presentation themselves certainly is one thing they like to do here, as their food is either plated prettily, or they'll be presented in a cute box, holders, or something else. They do have a specific lunch menu here, and it's also offered on weekends too which I appreciate because sometimes I just want to go here on a weekend. The lunch menu isn't huge, but it'll have all the essentials such as sushi, sashimi, and bento box options (beef teriyaki, chicken teriyaki, chicken katsu, etc.) which comes with soup and salad. And pricing wise since it's a lunch menu, reasonable for sure. The bento boxes for those that aren't as adventurous, is a nice option here, especially if you make it for the lunch pricing. Their non sushi food options are done well here. The chicken teriyaki is tender, the chicken katsu is fried well, the beef teriyaki is cooked well and tender, and the soup is decent, while the salad with the dressing is yummers. Great option for those along for the ride with your sushi eating friends but you can't do seafood. The handrolls here, particularly since there's a cheap option for lunch on the lunch menu, is a nice deal as their handrolls here are pretty good. I've tried all of them and they've been good. Recommendations of one to try for sure is the unagi which comes warm. The others I've tried and are good as well. We've tried quite a few sushi rolls here, and they're all decent, though the standout was the aburri salmon roll. That's probably the better one out of the bunch. The unagidon comes in a cute box, and has a good amount of unagi inside, and they use plenty of unagi sauce so it does indeed seep into some of the rice below. A bit pricier of course, but if you like unagi I'd give it a try here. The sashimi bowl here was good, the fish was fresh and tasted good. No specific complaints, but come on, that uni speck is laughable, lol. But it is what it is, so be ready to be disappointed uni fans! What's the verdict? The Shoya is a nice spot for sushi that offers fresh fish, a good lunch special menu, and good service. They certainly are a place that likes to add more flare to what they do with their food, and makes it look pretty, and the taste of everything to back it up at least. While the lunch menu is a good affordable option for sushi go'ers, it's not the cheapest around but comparable to the two other sushi options literally just down the street from this spot, though some of the rolls will be quite pricey. Recommend to go for lunch and utilize the lunch menu. It's become one of my new go-top spots, so no complaints.

    Jolly Tumbly
    Emmeline W.

    One of our new favorite sushi spots in Pleasant Hill. Hoooooly cow is the fish fresh here or what. I haven't been this impressed with a casual sushi place in a long time. My partner came across The Shoya on Yelp, after noticing it had fewer reviews than most. Naturally, we had to try it immediately. Seated within 5 mins on a Monday evening, no reservation. Staff are warm and attentive. DANCING SALMON: A+++. So mouthwateringly good. The yuzu miso makes the whole dish-- perfectly savory and tart. JOLLY TUMBLY: Great hamachi and tobiko. Uber thin layer of rice to really focus on the fish~ SAKE DON: You can taste the salmon quality-- super tender, fresh, and flavorful. Even the rice was exceptional. I love a good donburi ^_^ Super excited to take my friends here!!!

    Menu
    Rachel M.

    We came, we conquered, and we are obsessed. Cute intimate new sushi bar in Pleasant Hill with high quality fish and ingredients. Took a bit to flag our server but she got everything we ordered quickly and she thoroughly explained our dishes. Highly recommend ordering the fresh fish- the quality is buttery tasty deliciousness! -Sake toro -Hamachi toro -O-toro -Kurodai -Tai (from Japan) -Kamasu (special) The melt in your mouth and pleasant hill rolls were also yummy and would love to try the other rolls as they all sound so good. I'd love to try the bento entrees too so will definitely have to come back!

    Snow White and Crab Coast Roll
    Patrick L.

    Forgot to review first time when we were dining in house but service was great and they have kid friendly environment. This time we ordered take out and the food is just as good. We got a Hokkaido Don, teriyaki chicken, and a Snow White and Crab coast roll. The sushi rice is some of the best I have ever tried - soft/fluffy and perfectly seasoned. The wasabi seems like it's freshly ground and the fish is very fresh. The only thing that caught is off guard is the Snow White roll, it has tempura shreds on top and it wasn't listed in the menu - but it's still good. Will come back again and try their other dishes.

    Hokkaido don
    Rita W.

    Really good in terms of variety, price, and quality! My fam came here around 1pm on a Saturday for lunch, and they were pretty busy. We waited a few mins until a clean table was ready for us. One of the first things we noticed was the decor- a sushi bar in one corner that looked pretty traditional-ish, and other decor that consisted of records / albums (nirvana, Beatles, bob dylan, oasis, etc.) and movie posters (pulp fiction, etc.). They were playing several Beatles songs, and then it switched to queen, the eagles, Pink Floyd, and others around those music categories. Pretty interesting! They have various menus and gotta ensure you have it all cause there's good stuff on all of them, from appetizers, rolls, entrees, specials, drinks, etc. There were so many rolls I wanted to try, but ultimately decided on their Hokkaido don which is a rice bowl with yellowtail, salmon, scallops, uni, and ikura - practically my fave raw items at Japanese restaurants. The bowl itself was good, but not the best I've had. The fish, ikura, and scallops were pretty good and the wasabi quality is better than most around the area. The uni on the other hand didn't taste really fresh, but what can I expect for such a bowl lol. The kids each got their own chicken udon and they said they enjoyed that. My son liked his California roll, and thought some inequality in sizes was funny. My daughter liked the chicken karaage, and I had some too, and it was really good. Dark meat with that sauce it came with... delicious and good crisp. The husband got a lunch bento with tonkatsu and beef teriyaki, and he finished it all. It came with the standard miso soup, salad, rice, and the tonkatsu came with some sauce. I can't wait to go back to try the rolls- there were at least 7 I'm super interested in, so looking forward to trying all of those!

    Starter salad
    Robert C.

    We stopped by for a post-golf dinner. We were seated immediately as we were pretty early, but the place filled with up pretty quickly. Friendly staff, interesting decor: Gone with the Wind poster, early Americana framed pics near our table. Ordered the garlic edamame, albacore carpaccio, and the Dragon Roll as starters. Everyone ordered beef teriyaki combo entrees. The small starter salad was nice and chilled with a tasty miso dressing. Miso soup had good flavor but could've been a tad hotter. The beef teriyaki was really good. The sashimi (salmon, tuna) was fresh and had great presentation with ice. Fried gyoza was tasty and cooked well. This spot is going in our rotation.

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    Wow! This place has amazing sashimi! Great staff, great food, and, awesome throw back music!

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    Ask the Community - The Shoya

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    Hakashi Sushi Bar & Grill

    Hakashi Sushi Bar & Grill

    4.3
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    I've been wanting to try this place out for a while now and finally got the chance. I went during…read morehappy hour and was seated right away. The deals for happy hour are pretty good. Salmon Crudo (5/5); This was the only item that I order for happy hour. The ponzu really brought out the amazing flavor of the salmon Cherry blossom roll (5/5): They ran out of blue fin tuna so it was replaced with albacore. They were also nice enough to give me a discount. The roll was great. Tempura udon (5/5); The tempura was perfectly battered and the udon was comforting. I enjoyed my experience here and shoutout to the chef for the fried crab on the house

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    Omakase
    Toyosu

    Toyosu

    4.4
    (457 reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Casual dining

    Strolled into to Toyosu for lunch and got the Hokkaido don and chirashi lunch special to share with…read moremy mom. The fish was fresh and tasty. I especially loved their salmon in each of the bowls. It tasted nice and fatty and creamy. I loved the other fish as well though! I also felt that they did their tamago very well. Typically when I get tamago I feel like other restaurants don't get the texture correct and it can come out overcooked/rubbery so I don't end up finishing it. The tamago here was the perfect texture and the flavor/sauce made it really delicious. The texture of the rice in each bowl was great as well. The servers were both really nice and attentive throughout our meal which is always appreciated. I highly recommend sitting outside on the patio if the weather is good! Luckily, the patio is fully covered so the sun doesn't beat down on you which is great!!

    The service was really fast, and everyone working there was friendly. Everything tasted fresh and…read morewas well made. What we didn't realize before going is that they have a very unique menu. They don't really serve the classic sushi rolls we were expecting. We mainly went because my daughter really wanted sushi, but unfortunately she didn't like the options they had and barely ate anything. I also found the portions on the small side. The prices themselves weren't unreasonable, but they felt a bit high for the amount of food you get. That said, I personally enjoyed what I ordered. It just wasn't the kind of sushi experience I was expecting. I guess this visit taught us that next time we'll check the menu first instead of choosing a sushi place based only on the ratings.

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    Omakase nigiri $40
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    The best Urchin in Walnut Creek!!!
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    Honda Sushi

    4.4
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    This was close to our hotel and we got there about 40 minutes before they closed at 8 pm…read more Staff friendly and it was pretty quiet since it was almost closing time. We got the dinner bentos with 3 items for $36. Portions were huge and with the miso soup, salad and complimentary gyoza, it was a lot of food. One bento is easily 3 meals for me. Food was tasty. BF had beef in his bento that he said was it was a little tough. The tempura was crunchy and tasty-3 pieces of shrimp and various vegetables. One table was celebrating a birthday and they gave them a birthday cake and played the drums for him which was cool. I would definitely come back to try more.

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    Honda crunch on the right
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    The Shoya - sushi - Updated July 2026

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