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Stopped by the nice town of Carmel, was craving some good sushi and stumbled upon this place. Read the reviews on Yelp and people had talked highly about this place. We ordered some sushi and some chicken katsu basically, and honestly the food was pretty good but the portion of the chicken katsu was a little small. I didn't like how the salad pretty much filled the bowl, when there was barely any rice. The flavoring of the chicken was quite flavorful, and I loved the sauce that they had on the top. The sushi we ordered was actually pretty good as well, I only wish that the shrimp tempura would've came out hot instead of basically being cold. Overall; the whole vibe of the restaurant was actually pretty nice but it was quite small inside so definitely make a reservation if you plan on going during the busy times.
It was a busy Monterey Car Week, but we got seated immediately and service was great. I enjoyed the dragon roll, however, I thought the yellowtail hand roll mediocre.
First time stopping by today, and it was a great dining experience! Everyone who works there is great and the sushi was absolutely delicious! Will definitely be back to enjoy more!
8.7/10 Ordered the Chef's Choice Sashimi and Tekka Rolls, both were excellent and definitely hit the spot for a sushi craving. Starting with the Tekka Rolls, they were neatly prepared with no rice falling apart, holding together really well. The presentation was simple and classic. The tuna wasn't the brightest in color, but it still tasted fresh and enjoyable, delivering that straightforward, traditional maki experience. The Chef's Choice Sashimi was the highlight of the meal and a must-order. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, with clean, delicate flavors that made each bite something to savor. It was hard to pick a favorite piece because everything was consistently good, and it honestly left me wanting more. Presentation was also well done and appetizing. Service was excellent fast, attentive, and efficient throughout the visit. The ambiance was busy, but the restaurant still felt clean and well-managed, with a lively, energetic sushi spot feel.
Tasty and fresh sushi! The temaki was just okay (soggy nori and it looked thrown together) but all the other fish and dishes were excellent. The service was good. The wine list was good too. We'll be back for more for sure!
Service was great. Our server Kristen was very friendly and accommodating to our dog. Food quality was missing. The rolls were decent but came in small portions. Geisha- cucumber was refreshing Carmel-too much sauce, didn't get to taste the spicy tuna My partner who loves sushi ordered a poke bowl and that was one of the worst bowls ever she had. The fish wasn't fresh at all, it tasted like it came from a freezer and thawed. The rice was cooked well and the bowl ended up looking mushy. We don't mind paying for high quality sushi but this wasn't it. The price is above average but failed to deliver.
Toro is an absolute gem in Carmel. The moment you walk in, you're met with a warm, welcoming atmosphere and a stylish, modern vibe that immediately sets the tone for a great meal. It's intimate without feeling crowded and has that perfect Carmel charm. The food is outstanding--fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. Whether you're ordering sushi, small plates, or one of their signature dishes, everything feels thoughtfully prepared and balanced. You can really taste the quality of the ingredients, and the menu offers just the right mix of creativity and comfort. The service is another highlight. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive in all the right ways. They're happy to offer recommendations and make you feel genuinely taken care of throughout your meal. Overall, Toro delivers a memorable dining experience from start to finish. It's the perfect spot for a relaxed dinner, a date night, or a special evening out. Highly recommended if you're in Carmel and want something delicious and elevated without being pretentious.
first time here. nice place and service is ok. for foods: * sake braised beef short rib: taste is mediocre for me. the mashed potatoes is great but need to put a bit more of the beef sauce. the steamed broccolini and asparagus are ok * hamachi kama: mediocre, without the sauce on the side, the taste will be plain. suggest to put a bit salt and pepper on top for a bit flavor * wagyu shishito peppers: thought that will get small slice of wagyu inside but it turned out ground beef. expect to get five of them, like written on the menu, instead of just four. suggest to give a bit salt for flavor instead of just togarashi overall, will say it is just ok. i will say this restaurant is more of japanese fusion instead of authentic. overall, a bit pricey but may be because in tourist area. three stars at this moment...
First time visiting here and decided to try it for our 16th wedding anniversary. Carmel was where I wanted to "locally" go (it was about an hour drive). I was craving for sushi and unfortunately against all the good sounding reviews, this place did not fulfill my itch. Appetizer: 1. shishito peppers and calamari (The dipping sauce didn't hit. It was a little muted. Decent but nothing memorable. ) 2. Hampshire Carpaccio (The presentation did not allow for each piece of Hamachi to stand alone and perform. I didn't like the rose petal layout.) Drinks: Shi: this had egg white and blackberry among a few other ingredients. (They had me at egg white. ) It was a pretty drink. Meal: Nigiri Sushi - standard. Nothing exciting. Our server was attentive and sweet. We had a good day in Carmel *my first time visiting*. (I did appreciate they had outside seating and allowed pets. )
The place was cute and service was good. The food itself was subpar. 8 piece Nigiri combo was bland and some of the fish was dry. Definitely did not taste fresh or high quality. Tasted like grocery store pre made sushi at best. I was quite surprised given that the place had an overall 4 star Yelp rating.
I've been to this spot a few times and it's quite a hit! Great selection of delicious Japanese food and often with a modern twist. The sashimi is my favorite and is extremely tasty. The tempura had a good vegetable variety and I enjoyed the dipping sauce it came with. The crispy rice with salmon was a lot more intricate than I was expecting and took the enjoyment out of it for me unfortunately. The servers are great - knowledgeable, friendly, and so attentive! There's indoor seating or a nice upstairs outdoor patio for larger groups. Will be back next time I'm in the area :)
I came here for lunch with friends, and we decided to sit outside since the server told us it would be an hour wait for indoor seating. That was totally fine with us because the weather was nice. Unfortunately, the service really missed the mark. It took a while for our server to greet us and bring water, and when we finally got it, one of the glasses had a piece of hair in it. We couldn't even let her know right away because she didn't come back to check on us, we had to flag down a different server to get a clean glass. Then, when our food finally came out, one of the dishes, the Sake Braised Short Ribs was missing the mashed potatoes, which it normally comes with. The server casually mentioned there weren't any mashed potatoes after bringing the plate out, instead of giving us a heads-up so we could choose something else. My boyfriend was especially disappointed since he was really looking forward to them. Overall, our server seemed uninterested and like she didn't want to be there at all. The service was honestly pretty bad, and it really affected our experience. I don't think I'll be coming back.
The ambiance was nice but the freshness of some of the fish wasn't great. We had the chirashi bowl, tempura, carpaccio, beef and reed roll, and crispy rice the yellow tail was a bit fishier than we were used to, but overall the freshness of the scallops, and other fish wasn't great quite nice. The crispy rice was good, but was drowned in the sweet and sour sauce and it was hard to taste the fish it was topped with. The beef and reef roll was nice, without the wagyu on top. The way the wagyu was cut and charred was just a strange texture and had an overall burnt taste to it. The tempura was very good tho, and I would recommend that.
2 months ago
After taking my pup to the beach, we decided to have lunch here at Toro. We were promptly greeted by the hostess and seated immediately in their pleasant patio area. Our server James was amazing. He had great knowledge of the menu and recommended a sushi roll they had on special. He was even super cool with my dog, Cash. I had the Tuna Togarashi roll, along with some nigiri. Sushi was delicious, and it tasted fresh. My boy Cash had the chicken & rice bowl off their dog menu. He scarfed it down in seconds! I was expecting a generic sushi experience, but got great food, impeccable service, all while sitting in a beautiful patio area. I will definitely be back in the near future, and so will Cash! read more
Our second time dining at Toro in Carmel-by-the-Sea was just as enjoyable as the first! We sat outside on the patio, and the weather was absolutely perfect. We've made reservations through OpenTable both times and have been seated quickly. We started with a salad, edamame, and cocktails while enjoying the beautiful setting. Our server was attentive, and the service throughout the meal was great. I ordered the Tuna Togarashi roll, which had shrimp tempura, avocado, and snow crab on the inside, topped with tuna togarashi, unagi sauce, and green onions. It was absolutely delicious,fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. My husband is vegan and tried the shiitake mushroom and kappa maki rolls. While they were fairly basic veggie rolls, they were good and met his needs nicely. Overall, Toro is a great spot for fresh sushi, attentive service, and a relaxing atmosphere. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in Carmel! read more
Amazing service, incredibly fresh sushi and a lovely Carmel-By-The-Sea vibe. We ordered a chef's choice Sashimi which had an assortment of fish, uni, eel, scallops and egg. The sake flight was absolutely delicious if you're in the mood to experiment. In quintessential Carmel fashion, the spaces to eat were as varied as the menu. Love this place and can't wait to go back to try more food! read more
8 days ago
Stopped by the nice town of Carmel, was craving some good sushi and stumbled upon this place. Read the reviews on Yelp and people had talked highly about this place. We ordered some sushi and some chicken katsu basically, and honestly the food was pretty good but the portion of the chicken katsu was a little small. I didn't like how the salad pretty much filled the bowl, when there was barely any rice. The flavoring of the chicken was quite flavorful, and I loved the sauce that they had on the top. The sushi we ordered was actually pretty good as well, I only wish that the shrimp tempura would've came out hot instead of basically being cold. Overall; the whole vibe of the restaurant was actually pretty nice but it was quite small inside so definitely make a reservation if you plan on going during the busy times. read more
12 days ago
It was a busy Monterey Car Week, but we got seated immediately and service was great. I enjoyed the dragon roll, however, I thought the yellowtail hand roll mediocre. read more
8 days ago
First time stopping by today, and it was a great dining experience! Everyone who works there is great and the sushi was absolutely delicious! Will definitely be back to enjoy more! read more
8.7/10 Ordered the Chef's Choice Sashimi and Tekka Rolls, both were excellent and definitely hit the spot for a sushi craving. Starting with the Tekka Rolls, they were neatly prepared with no rice falling apart, holding together really well. The presentation was simple and classic. The tuna wasn't the brightest in color, but it still tasted fresh and enjoyable, delivering that straightforward, traditional maki experience. The Chef's Choice Sashimi was the highlight of the meal and a must-order. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, with clean, delicate flavors that made each bite something to savor. It was hard to pick a favorite piece because everything was consistently good, and it honestly left me wanting more. Presentation was also well done and appetizing. Service was excellent fast, attentive, and efficient throughout the visit. The ambiance was busy, but the restaurant still felt clean and well-managed, with a lively, energetic sushi spot feel. read more
3 months ago
Tasty and fresh sushi! The temaki was just okay (soggy nori and it looked thrown together) but all the other fish and dishes were excellent. The service was good. The wine list was good too. We'll be back for more for sure! read more
Service was great. Our server Kristen was very friendly and accommodating to our dog. Food quality was missing. The rolls were decent but came in small portions. Geisha- cucumber was refreshing Carmel-too much sauce, didn't get to taste the spicy tuna My partner who loves sushi ordered a poke bowl and that was one of the worst bowls ever she had. The fish wasn't fresh at all, it tasted like it came from a freezer and thawed. The rice was cooked well and the bowl ended up looking mushy. We don't mind paying for high quality sushi but this wasn't it. The price is above average but failed to deliver. read more
9 months ago
Toro is an absolute gem in Carmel. The moment you walk in, you're met with a warm, welcoming atmosphere and a stylish, modern vibe that immediately sets the tone for a great meal. It's intimate without feeling crowded and has that perfect Carmel charm. The food is outstanding--fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. Whether you're ordering sushi, small plates, or one of their signature dishes, everything feels thoughtfully prepared and balanced. You can really taste the quality of the ingredients, and the menu offers just the right mix of creativity and comfort. The service is another highlight. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive in all the right ways. They're happy to offer recommendations and make you feel genuinely taken care of throughout your meal. Overall, Toro delivers a memorable dining experience from start to finish. It's the perfect spot for a relaxed dinner, a date night, or a special evening out. Highly recommended if you're in Carmel and want something delicious and elevated without being pretentious. read more
22 days ago
5 months ago
first time here. nice place and service is ok. for foods: * sake braised beef short rib: taste is mediocre for me. the mashed potatoes is great but need to put a bit more of the beef sauce. the steamed broccolini and asparagus are ok * hamachi kama: mediocre, without the sauce on the side, the taste will be plain. suggest to put a bit salt and pepper on top for a bit flavor * wagyu shishito peppers: thought that will get small slice of wagyu inside but it turned out ground beef. expect to get five of them, like written on the menu, instead of just four. suggest to give a bit salt for flavor instead of just togarashi overall, will say it is just ok. i will say this restaurant is more of japanese fusion instead of authentic. overall, a bit pricey but may be because in tourist area. three stars at this moment... read more
First time visiting here and decided to try it for our 16th wedding anniversary. Carmel was where I wanted to "locally" go (it was about an hour drive). I was craving for sushi and unfortunately against all the good sounding reviews, this place did not fulfill my itch. Appetizer: 1. shishito peppers and calamari (The dipping sauce didn't hit. It was a little muted. Decent but nothing memorable. ) 2. Hampshire Carpaccio (The presentation did not allow for each piece of Hamachi to stand alone and perform. I didn't like the rose petal layout.) Drinks: Shi: this had egg white and blackberry among a few other ingredients. (They had me at egg white. ) It was a pretty drink. Meal: Nigiri Sushi - standard. Nothing exciting. Our server was attentive and sweet. We had a good day in Carmel *my first time visiting*. (I did appreciate they had outside seating and allowed pets. ) read more
The place was cute and service was good. The food itself was subpar. 8 piece Nigiri combo was bland and some of the fish was dry. Definitely did not taste fresh or high quality. Tasted like grocery store pre made sushi at best. I was quite surprised given that the place had an overall 4 star Yelp rating. read more
I've been to this spot a few times and it's quite a hit! Great selection of delicious Japanese food and often with a modern twist. The sashimi is my favorite and is extremely tasty. The tempura had a good vegetable variety and I enjoyed the dipping sauce it came with. The crispy rice with salmon was a lot more intricate than I was expecting and took the enjoyment out of it for me unfortunately. The servers are great - knowledgeable, friendly, and so attentive! There's indoor seating or a nice upstairs outdoor patio for larger groups. Will be back next time I'm in the area :) read more
I came here for lunch with friends, and we decided to sit outside since the server told us it would be an hour wait for indoor seating. That was totally fine with us because the weather was nice. Unfortunately, the service really missed the mark. It took a while for our server to greet us and bring water, and when we finally got it, one of the glasses had a piece of hair in it. We couldn't even let her know right away because she didn't come back to check on us, we had to flag down a different server to get a clean glass. Then, when our food finally came out, one of the dishes, the Sake Braised Short Ribs was missing the mashed potatoes, which it normally comes with. The server casually mentioned there weren't any mashed potatoes after bringing the plate out, instead of giving us a heads-up so we could choose something else. My boyfriend was especially disappointed since he was really looking forward to them. Overall, our server seemed uninterested and like she didn't want to be there at all. The service was honestly pretty bad, and it really affected our experience. I don't think I'll be coming back. read more
Business owner information
Kristen R.
Hello Lily,…
3 months ago
The ambiance was nice but the freshness of some of the fish wasn't great. We had the chirashi bowl, tempura, carpaccio, beef and reed roll, and crispy rice the yellow tail was a bit fishier than we were used to, but overall the freshness of the scallops, and other fish wasn't great quite nice. The crispy rice was good, but was drowned in the sweet and sour sauce and it was hard to taste the fish it was topped with. The beef and reef roll was nice, without the wagyu on top. The way the wagyu was cut and charred was just a strange texture and had an overall burnt taste to it. The tempura was very good tho, and I would recommend that. read more
7 months ago
Cute sushi place in the heart of Carmel By The Sea. We stored by since my husband was craving sushi- good choice for us because the sushi was fresh and delicious. I can't remember the names of the sushi that we had- probably had too much sale at that time,lol but overall, good food and service. Not too pretentious or over the top. I would eat here again read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
Visited Toro in Carmel with a group of friends during our weekend getaway--and even though I'm not typically a seafood fan, this spot totally won me over! I stuck to their non-seafood dishes, and wow--every bite was full of flavor and beautifully presented. Seriously impressive. I couldn't resist trying a tiny piece of their fried salmon roll ( not sure what it had but it had spicy mayo and tempura inside) after hearing all the buzz--one bite, and I was convinced. The salmon was high-grade, fresh, and perfectly cooked. I never thought I'd say this, but I might officially be a sushi lover now! The ambiance was warm and inviting, and the service was friendly and attentive--without being over the top. I left full, happy, and already planning my return visit. Would definitely recommend - whether you're a seafood skeptic like me or a sushi aficionado, you'll leave satisfied. I know I'll be back next time I'm in town! They have teriyaki chicken bowl options too! I def will try next time!! read more
1 year ago
Toro was "omg." Uni was "woaaaaah." Every single bite at this gem was "supercalifragil..." well, you get it. In 2 words - Simply AMAZING! Felt as if we were eating at a Michelin recognized restaurant, like a Bib Gourmand! Parking is typically at Carmel downtown - find whatever spot nearby is available and walk from there. This restaurant was surprisingly right next to Carmel's Secret Garden that we couldn't find! How lucky is that?! Hidden gem for sure. Ample seating both inside and outside with heaters to keep you warm (gets cold and windy at Carmel by the Sea, as I'm sure you're aware), excellent service and friendly staff, ambience perfect for all occasions, and savory bites from start to finish! We had the Sashimi Moriawase, Toro nigiri, Uni nigiri, and Hawaiian Pokémon Bowl with salmon (for our 2 girls - well more than enough to split between a 3 and 4 or old). Toro and Uni? Prestige quality and Bib Gourmand worthy! My wife and I split the Sashimi Moriawase - was such a delicacy of top quality fish variety that we were practically in sushi heaven! It comes with 2 bowls of sushi rice and 2 miso soups so don't fret about that. Highly recommended to stop by this gem and will absolutely be a pit stop every time we visit Carmel by the Sea! read more
8 months ago
Came here for dinner and ordered the $125 moriawase, which was described as featuring "premium fish."(with belly and toro) Unfortunately, the fish quality did not match that description. Most of the selections were fairly standard, and the only item that truly stood out was the beef. We weren't really full afterwards, so we ordered a Philly roll ($15), which is typically a $8-10 item elsewhere. Some of the rice was actually hard, which is something I've never experienced at a sushi restaurant before and is unacceptable at this price point. It's clear you're paying mostly for location and atmosphere. The bayfront setting is nice, and many diners seem willing to eat outside even in drizzle, but if you're looking for sushi quality that matches the pricing, this place is very overpriced and overrated. Might be fine for vibes, but not for serious sushi. read more
Get your reservation!!!! They get extremely busy even if it doesn't feel like it. We had a reservation and still had to wait outside for 20 mins, when there were open seats throughout so most likely was a staffing but we still came during the lunch rush, so it is what it is. I don't think service was amazing, again maybe because there is understaffing. They were polite and friendly, but we didn't have sauce plates and thought maybe they don't have them here. So we went through a whole meal with our soy sauce all over our plates which is fine, but when another couple sat down next to us, before they even ordered someone noticed and gave them the sauce bowls. Rolls were great, but definitely feel like you can get the same quality elsewhere for a fraction of the cost. Also got the edemamme and agedashi tofu (definitely get some appetizers). read more
10 months ago
My brothers and i came here after going to the aquarium, its a little messed up but tasted so good. The dynamite roll had a lot of sauce and blended into the spicy tuna the greasiness tasted so good to me. I didnt eat the hamachi but my siblings thought it tasted ok. The salmon seared roll is my favorite, it has a really strong balance and it was so good. read more
1 year ago
I found this spot while searching for restaurants in Carmel, and I'm so glad I stopped by! The sushi was fresh and delicious. I shared the Tuna Roll, Spider Roll, and Shortts Crunch Roll, and my favorite was definitely the Spider Roll! The restaurant has two indoor dining areas plus a patio. The vibe is chill and casual with staff that were super friendly. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area! read more
2 months ago
11 months ago
We made a reservation and were seated right away when we arrived. Our waiter was very nice and asked the chef questions when we had them regarding ingredients in certain options. The good was delicious. We had so many nigiri, we also had the tempura veggies and chicken katsu. Unfortunately they ran out of scallops during our visit. Great drink selection. The space was small and cozy. Beware of flies, they keep the doors open so it's inevitable unfortunately. read more
4 months ago
The sushi was amazing and fresh. We had the Chefs Special and it did not disappoint. We also had the specialty roll Beef and reef, it was sooooo gooood!!! read more
1 year ago
Tried this spot out because I was in town and boy does it get busy during dinner time. Overall the service is nice and hospitable. I sat by the bar and was greeted many times just by them passing by (I do think they need a hook to put our bags). It's also quite big as they have a second building in the courtyard. For the food, I had the Uni shooter (5/5) - Slightly salty but definitely would get again! Everything was strong and flavorful but not too much alcohol Spicy tuna crispy rice (3/5) - This was a little disappointing. It wasn't bad but really wasn't anything to commend Sushi sampler with tuna rolls (5/5) - Great fun selection and it's a lot more filling than you would think! read more
4 months ago
Great patio, great service, great food! Checked all the boxes. Heaters on the patio felt great, even on an otherwise cool day read more
29 days ago
Business owner information
Kristen R.
Hello Roxann,…
1 month ago
all their food is so tasty!! so delicious, mind blowing. i wanted to get some other items as seen on yelp but i guess they changed their menu but nonetheless so tasty. i will definetly come back, everything is made to perfection and the aesthetics are really there too. service was nice a bit slow but good and nice. seating outside and inside as well. read more
29 days ago
Business owner information
Kristen R.
Hello Albert,…
The food was exceptional and we had the luxury of sitting inside on such a brisk evening. Our server was so sweet and attentive. We ordered a few appetizers, sushi and a dessert. I would love to see more dessert items as we were not a fan of the matcha ice cream. Our only complaint was the bathroom. Incredibly cramped in the back and pretty filthy. Other than than a fantastic experience, read more
We love Toro! Whenever we are in Carmel we have to stop! Our dog loves his sushi too! They have doggie bowls with chicken and rice or salmon and rice. This time we got him some salmon and hamachi nigiri (no wasabi of course) and think he loved that even more! Our favorite is the poke bowls. I had mine with hamachi and tuna today. My husband had the salmon and hamachi. Both we did spicy. Delicious! We also started with the tempura to share. Very generous portion. We love the outside patio with our dog! The service is great even when busy. Highly recommend a reservation as when we first started coming we would walk in and have to wait. But with reservations we can now just sit down! Thanks Toro! read more
1 month ago
1 month ago
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More info about Toro
Dolores Between 5th And 6th
Carmel, CA 93921
Directions
(831) 574-3255
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https://torosushicarmel.com
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Ask the Community - Toro
Is this restaurant dog friendly on the outside patio?
Yes! Brought my pup. They're very dog friendly, brought him water, and have a dog menu. Simple, just rice and chicken, but much appreciated
Any vegan gluten free options?
Yes! We are happy to make custom vegan or vegetarian rolls from the sushi bar. Other vegetarian items include: edamame & vegetable gyoza, edamame, house salad, sunomono, seaweed salad, futomaki roll.
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Toro - sushi - Updated August 2026
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