Zum is my new favorite sushi place on the Monterey Peninsula. My wife and I ate lunch here yesterday and was thrilled with the freshness and value of this small sushi bar and restaurant. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We sat outside on their small patio.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server was helpful and friendly. We ordered hamachi carpaccio (4/5) to start. It was fresh but pretty basic compared to other sushi restaurants' preparations. We ordered 3 rolls off their special roll menu: the XXX (4/5), Iron Man (5/5), and the Red Tiger (5/5). The Iron Man was my favorite. It had a unique creamy topping that was crunchy, sweet, and had bits of shellfish. Very unique and super tasty. Good service, well made fresh and unique sushi rolls, and the cheapest sushi on the Monterey Peninsula. 5-stars for the value in this area known for higher prices. Check this place out! read more

Great value for what it's worth. Quality was good. Our server was kind. Food came out at a reasonable time. Not mad at all for what we got. Would recommend for a chill decent priced meal. read more

We are visiting from out of town and asked our AI assistant, Gemini, for a sushi spot in the area that offered great freshness and value without breaking the bank. Gemini nailed it by recommending Züm Sushi as the top match. If you are looking for a flashy, high-end tourist trap, this isn't it. But [[HIGHLIGHT]]if you want a cozy, casual atmosphere, great service, and excellent portions for the price, this place is a gem.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We came in to celebrate our 20th anniversary, and the staff couldn't have been nicer. The sushi chefs were incredibly warm, and when they heard it was our milestone, they unexpectedly treated us each to a side of tempura shiso spicy tuna on the house. We ordered the 9-piece Deluxe Chef's Choice Nigiri (pictured in the boat). For a beachside town, the quality was great for the price, the fish was very fresh, and the portions were highly satisfying. If our travels ever bring us back to Monterey, we would definitely drop in again. Highly recommend if you want great sushi without the inflated resort prices! read more

Züm Sushi - 9-Piece Deluxe Chef's Choice - Japanese Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

During a getaway weekend my wife and I visited here in Monterey. Interestingly a wine tasting place in Carmel highly recommended this place for dinner since we were staying in Monterey. When we arrived at about 6pm Saturday street parking was easy. For those not used to summers in Carmel/Monterey always being a jacket or hoodie. We got sat immediately and enjoyed our food and experience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was quite crowded with a nice vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My wife ordered her custom specialty roll to include Ebi while I ordered specialty salmon roll and Salmon hand rolls. read more

Züm Sushi - Our sushi and hand rolls on a boat platter. - Japanese Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Amazing quality fish with nice service. Took some time to get our order but everything was very fresh and the rolls are generous. Their Ikura is very good and fresh which is always a hallmark of a good sushi place. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The boats used for serving are cute![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Sun Sushi satisfied our sushi cravings! [[HIGHLIGHT]]We had a doggie with us so we sat outside. They have heaters for those cold nights![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service is friendly and fast. The food comes out quick as well! Our rolls were good but nothing special. The toro was also fresh but not an amazing cut. Still, we enjoyed our food and would return to try other rolls another time. read more

Züm Sushi - Toro - Japanese Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Excellent quality sushi, extremely quick service. We also had THE BEST HAMACHI CARPACCIO EVER!!!!! Wish I had taken a photo. This is the place to come for sushi when you're in Monterey. Next level quality. Highly recommend!! read more

Züm Sushi - Spider roll - Japanese Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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12/27/25 Iron man with soy paper, Crunchy roll, Chicken teriyaki roll with soy paper, and the J roll. Such an adventure in superb coastal sushi. 1/16/26 The Iron man with soy paper (again), the Lion King, and the Mixed Zone roll. We loved the Lion King and how all of the flavors marry so well with each other. The baked salmon, spicy may, the "secret" sweet sauce, tobiko, creamy crab and avocado. All sooo good. But my favorite was the mixed zone. It just tasted so fresh and so clean (big ups, Outkast). The inside has creamy crab, cucumber, and avocado and it was topped with spicy tuna, crunchies, spicy mayo, and sweet sauce. What a great way to round out our day of cycling!! read more

Züm Sushi - Outdoor flora near their oh so sumptuous fire pit. - Japanese Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Had heard that this was the place to get the best sushi in town. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Service was friendly and we were seated right away at our choice of tables in this small but quaint restaurant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Got a sake and beer to share and two rolls to start. Can't deny loving our two rolls being served on a little sushi boat. Decided to get one more roll. Saw on some reviews that the Lion King was a good option. TBH, we didn't love it. But they were kind enough to put the sauce on the side for us. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I think the worst part was just before the final roll was delivered to our table, the restaurant became overwhelmed with the chemical smell of a cleaning product. It was super off putting and we couldn't wait to depart.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] A somewhat unfortunate way to end our first visit...may be the last. read more

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Good sushi. Good service. They were really crowded when we got there and we thought we might not be able to get a seat, but the wait staff was really nice and was able to find us something. The sushi came in these cool little boats -- I've never seen them before and they felt very unique to them. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It seemed to be a well-frequented place, and everyone seemed happy there.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice atmosphere, holiday vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My family enjoyed their meal. read more

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9/10 Amazing sushi, fresh and enjoyable from start to finish. Starting with the sashimi, which was incredibly fresh and delicious. Every piece was well-prepared, with clean, precise cuts that really stood out. The Tekka maki rolls were also fresh and flavorful; however, some of the cuts weren't as precise, causing a few pieces to unravel. Still very good overall. Service was fast and efficient despite how busy the restaurant was. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The seating is on the smaller side, with tables fairly close together, but it was still comfortable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Züm Sushi - 16 pcs Sashimi and three Tekka Maki - Japanese Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

We ended up here after a horrible start at Crystal Fish and it was meant to be. As soon as we walked in the wonderful staff greeted our party of 3 and had us seated immediately. They kept checking on us and even took our 8 year olds order before we were ready (she was ready). The rolls were amazing and we also ordered miso soup, a house salad, and the chicken teriyaki plate to go. Amazing, fast, friendly, service. read more

Züm Sushi - XXX roll, lovers point, and chicken teriyaki - Japanese Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

This is a good sushi spot, and everything that we ordered was good in terms of flavor. We ended up ordering 3 rolls and it was about enough for 2 decently hungry people. Service was great; [[HIGHLIGHT]]even though the restaurant was fairly busy and a bit crowded, we were always able to get someone's attention.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I will say, don't come expecting anything exceptionally fresh (even though it is located right by the sea) -- this is a pretty standard place. The taste is about equivalent to what you can find farther inland. read more

Züm Sushi - Three rolls - Japanese Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Waiters and other staff were very friendly and helpful! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was very comfortable and the decor and temperature was perfect.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We got seated without delay around 530pm and glad we did as people had to wait after that. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They do have a nice outdoor area with outdoor heaters and a fire table - to wait or to eat outside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food was great, but Eel was slimy which we didn't know was regular or not. Went with 7 other people (party of 8). read more

Züm Sushi - The restraint - Japanese Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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What a great little local spot! My wife and I were celebrating our minimoon with a nice sushi dinner after a day on Cannery Row and fell in love with Züm right away. We sat at the bar and were immeditely introduced to the incredibly kind and easygoing sushi chefs behind the counter. They engaged in small talk before and after our meal, while also allowing us time to read the menu and later eat in our own company. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was sweet watching them interact with a regular who sat next to my wife and I at the bar, a musician who plays jazz at an Italian joint down the street every Thursday.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] He sang The Four Seasons under his breath and was happy to engage with his fellow barmates. We introduced ourselves and then he gave us marriage advice and told a couple jokes. It was one of the most pleasant little interactions we've had in awhile and felt so immersive to the local scene. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The service and vibes were overall immaculate--not to mention the cozy nooks of a house-turned-Thai-turned-sushi restaurant giving it a homey feel.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Then there was the sushi itself served on wooden boat platters. The scallop, bluefin, and fatty tuna sushimi were well portioned and buttery smooth. The Lover's Point and Seaside special roles were also fresh and savory. Best yet was the kindness of the owner himself, working the sushi bar and sharing rare samples of halibut fin when preparing our Hirame. I've never had such unique raw fish before and really appreciated him giving us that opportunity. The miso soup was beautifully balanced to kick it all off, too! Between the exemplary and kind service and top notch sushi, I cannot recommend it enough! read more

We were visiting the aquarium for the day and needed dinner. Using the trusty old Yelp app to hunt for a solid sushi/ramen place and this place popped up. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant itself is formerly a little house. From the outside it's very cute and charming.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior isn't spacious but they make the most of it.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We were seated right away thankfully as the kiddo was getting hangry. Ordered the hamachi lovers roll, seaside roll and a sake maki roll. The kiddo had the special udon bowl, with shrimp tempura, veggies and tofu. Our sushi rolls were okay-nothing spectacular but okay. We should have ordered our seaside roll without lemon slices because that really wasn't necessary... but given the demographic we saw in the restaurant, we understood why. My kid INHALED his udon and there was plenty of goodies that even both my husband and I were eating some. Service was attentive and efficient. They brought everything pretty quickly so they have great systems in place. read more

I've driven / walked by this place many times, an older home remodeled as a restaurant. It required a few steps to climb. I was always curious about this restaurant, then a friend recommended this on social media. Then another friend posted a pic and said how much they enjoyed, so I had to check it out. I'm really glad I did! My friend had recommended the bento which she ordered again. It looked marvelous, generous portions of tempura and teriyaki salmon (there are several other choices) accompanied by a salad and a scoop of rice. There was enough for her to take home leftovers. I decided to try their chirashi sushi (I asked the server if she recommended it, of course she did, not my brightest inquiry). I've never had such thick pieces of sashimi! Quite tasty, served with a portion of seaweed salad and just enough warm rice (the way it should be). I was very satisfied, indeed! Service is outstanding, friendly and prompt. I'm so glad I checked out the old white house, looking forward to my next meal! read more

Züm Sushi - Thickest pieces of sashimi I've ever had in a chirashi sushi. - Japanese Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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1. The hamachi sushi was an A and BIG! 2. The spider roll was B- but then I'm not a fan of mayo+crab. Also, every "spider roll" I've eaten involves baby hard shell crabs and this didn't. Boo on me for not properly reading the menu I guess. 3. The salmon bento was a solid B. 4. The UNI was an B+. Could come back again. read more

I've been to Zum Sushi twice now while visiting Pacific Grove. Both times I ordered takeout, and the experience was consistent--good, but not great. The sushi is fresh and reasonably priced, but nothing really stood out in terms of flavor or presentation. On the plus side, the packaging is solid and travel-friendly, which I appreciated. It's a convenient option if you're in the area, but next time I'll probably try another sushi spot nearby just to compare. Zum Sushi is decent, but I'm still looking for that standout sushi experience in Pacific Grove. read more

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Sushi by the beach (ish) 5/5 stars because staff were super accommodating Pretty solid! I didn't have to wait too long on a Saturday around 3pm. It's a small restaurant with a good amount of street parking. * I got: - Salmon Lover Roll: this is as it. Having raw fish now inside the roll and outside is what I've been craving. Wish they carried mango sauce tho.. 5/5 stars - Tuna Onigiri: meh. The Tuna was flat. Not the freshest 2/5 stars The staff were wonderful! I don't eat dairy so they were able to swap out my cream cheese which was nice. I'd definitely come back! read more

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Absolutely stunning! The food was so good. The calamari was fresh and plain udon my little got was so flavorful. As we were walking up to the restaurant this woman came running out yelling at a man that just left. As we got closer we heard her yelling "you forgot your card". So on first impressions - great customer service! She took great care of us and ensure my little got her food out first. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a smaller more intimate space but very welcoming to families of littles.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Also excellent music choice.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] When we are in the area again, we will be back! read more

Züm Sushi - From bottom to top: King Kong, Hamachi Lover and Lovers point - Japanese Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Service was great! They look great care of us. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We sat out front on the patio.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Started with miso soup and steamed gyzoa. Both were delicious! We loved all our rolls. The lighthouse and the Iron Man were standouts. read more

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I stopped in for a quick bite at the sushi bar after a three-hour drive from the Bay Area. It's a small restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, so plan accordingly if you're going on the weekend. The staff were all friendly and helpful. I trusted the sushi chef to recommend the freshest fish. The hamachi was amazing!! I also had an unusual roll that was served on a small boat. I would definitely go back the next time I'm in the area and craving sushi as the quality was excellent and the prices were reasonable. read more

Züm Sushi - Toro and Hamachi - Japanese Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

I came here for dinner during a work trip with a coworker based on the good reviews. I had the Katsu and a lion king roll. I liked both and the gyoza were really good as well. The staff were friendly and the food came out quickly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have both inside and outside seating areas.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I recommend giving them a try! read more

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Perfect place walking distance for our family to enjoy a delicious fresh lunch during our Aquarium visit. One woman on staff was doing everything during lunch and was so friendly and attentive to everyone even amidst the busyness. The attention to detail along with the love and care can be tasted with each bite. I still think about how perfectly crisp the chicken thigh skin was on top of my udon. A detail that made me want to replicate at home. read more

I had a disappointing experience. I was greeted by a young lady who was really attentive and nice. However our server, I believe our server's name was GG, or whatever her name is. She wasn't very friendly and came across as having a negative attitude throughout our visit with an accent that was hard to understand. The food was good except the rice being sticky and my sushi falling apart as I expected much better customer service. read more

Hidden gem sushi spot. You can easily spot the establishment as it is always crowded with lots of people waiting outside. Parking though, is something else We tried visiting last night but wait was 3 hours lol. We revisited this am and ordered too much (always). Everything was delish and would return to try other items. read more

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I'm giving this place 2 stars because I was surprised to be charged $1 for a 3 small slices of lemon. I've eaten at many Japanese restaurants and have never been charged for something as simple as a slice of lemon. While I understand businesses may have policies for extra items, charging $1 for a slice felt excessive and left a negative impression. Unfortunately, that experience affected my overall visit. read more

I've been twice in the last month. Both times, service was consistent and friendly. All rolls come out on a small boat which is not necessary but fun. I didn't get any special rolls but the simple rolls are still delicious. The Monterey was my favorite both times. read more

Go early. They get busy and it's not a big place. So large parties of 6 or more would be hard. No reservations. You put your name down when you get there. Street parking. I love the rainbow roll My son loves the spider roll. My daughter loves the caterpillar roll -veggie. Husband loves the hamachi rolls. Bento box is ok. First time the salmon was super melt in your mouth. Today wasn't like that. I like that they also have plain udon for a decent price. Great for kids. read more

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Great restaurant with a fun atmosphere, quick service, and very tasty food. I don't have a good feel on the food prices of the area, but they felt fair for fresh sushi. Chris was amazing, preparing many orders while chatting and describing his experience starting as a dishwasher and working up to becoming an experienced sushi chef. Had a great time and the atmosphere was relaxed as I got to chat a bit with the others at the small sushi bar. Would highly recommend for anyone looking for a fun meal with tasty sushi options. read more

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We love everything about this place! We have eaten there a few times and find it to be consistently delicious. The servers are kind and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the ambiance is quite peaceful.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

We enjoyed the food at a 4 star rating. The seating is pretty close to other guests making it feel super cozy, or intrusive depending on your neighbors. 3 stars The menu seemed to elude many guests as I heard repeats of the necessity to clarify the menu that lunch specials were not served on Saturdays. If this has to be repeated for 3 out of 4 guests, maybe it's time to rewrite the menu? 3 stars The service was a 3, although fast to take orders and deliver, the way plates were delivered was questionable (thumb inside the bowl nearly touching the food.... Not good- especially sushi) The fish in the chirashi seemed fresh and of good quality. The sake selection was good. There are other sushi places to try in the area still. If they work in the service, they might earn another star. read more

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Delicious sushi! I was in the area for 2 days and ended up eating here back to back lol. My favorite was the PG Daddy, it's a fried roll with different kinds of fish in the inside and a sweet sauce on top. The flavors work so well together, it's delicious. I also tried the Spider-Man roll and the XXX roll. Both were pretty good, the XXX roll was very spicy. read more

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The rolls are the best! I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner tonight. The place had some work done I think as it looks brighter and feels warmer. Service is always excellent and fast. read more

Züm Sushi - Light House Special Roll and Rainbow Special Roll - Japanese Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

We got here around 1:25, they close at 2pm and then reopen for dinner later. The server was really kind and she remembered me from the day before. The service was great. It was busy but still not too loud and it's a nice ambiance. I have been here twice for lunch and both days it did not disappoint. I got the lunch special, 6 prices of assorted fish, tuna roll and I picked miso soup. The fish was fresh. We also got the seaside roll. It comes with a piece of lemon and gives it a bit of like a refreshing feeling. I will go back. read more

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Love their sushi! Can't remember which ones we ordered but I remember that we finished everything! [[HIGHLIGHT]]This place is pretty popular so it can get crowded on the weekends.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Will definitely be back. read more

We started with the gyoza and tempura appetizers. Gyoza: I liked that you could choose whether you wanted fried or steamed gyoza. We went with steamed. Unfortunately, it seems like it may have been a tad underdone. But the flavors were great. Tempura: most of the tempura I've had is a bit more delicate/light. This seemed like they used panko bread crumbs so it was a bit heavier. Good taste, just not something I'm used to. My husband loved it. For dinner we had the chicken teriyaki and Nigiri. I typically order a roll at a sushi restaurant but I couldn't find any I liked that had REAL/only crab meat vs "creamy crab". I like to taste the fish not a bunch of mayo. So I ended up with chicken teriyaki which I've never been disappointed with at a Japanese restaurant. Chicken teriyaki: overdone, tough and a lot of gristle and fat. Nigiri: The best part of the meal was the hamachi and maguro nigiri which were both very good and fresh tasting. Nigiri / Sashimi is fresh - but big, big pieces overwhelming the rice. There's just something about sitting at a sushi restaurant and watching a sushi chef perfect the piece of fish that is atop Nigiri. That was not done here with the huge pieces. read more

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The sushi was delicious and fresh! We tried 4 rolls and loved them, and they came out in a cool sushi boat.

My favorite sushi spot in the 831! [[HIGHLIGHT]]This sushi spot is in a cute location within walking distance of Cannery row, The Aquarium, and Lover's point.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The sushi is always delicious and fresh. I can't remember the name, but the salmon with lemon roll is my favorite. Staff is very fast. Even on a packed Friday night, they can get you in and out in 45 minutes. read more