Sakura Bistro

Loved it here and the Angry Fish roll is the go to! The staff were very nice.

Quality sushi! Everything was delicious and they give generous portions. Staff was super friendly. Sakura will now be my go-to.

Sakura Bistro has been around for well over a decade. They're in Oakland Chinatown in the Pacific Renaissance Plaza which has an underground parking garage connected. They inside is clean and has a good vibe that can handle small or larger groups. Over the years before COVID-19, I'd go there for food and to watch Warriors Games because they have a big projection screen and some other TVs. There food is good, their sushi and raw fish are fresh. Sushi is never cheap, and you probably wouldn't want to have super cheap raw fish/sashimi, but it's not super outrageous either. A few years ago they house a Szechuan Chinese restaurant in their place, I never really found out how it works (does the owner own both restaurants, or some other partnership?) but now that means you can order both cuisines from the same menu. They also have a pretty good beer selection behind the standard Japanese beers. Check them out.

A nice restaurant with a good bento box special! I got the three items (tempura, sashimi, salmon teriyaki) and everything was great! Tempura wasn't oily, sashimi was thick and the salmon was moist. I also liked that the teriyaki wasn't super sweet or thick and the salmon wasn't drowning in it. The service was really nice and they kept my water glass full. Not too many people for a late Thursday lunch, but it's a pretty large restaurant and seems like it could hold large parties. Will definitely be back!

We got the spicy beef noodle soup and the soup dumplings and both were absolutely fantastic. The soup was perfect for a cold blustery day. Tasty, spicy, and warming! Would absolutely go here again. Also love that it's a weird restaurant-inside-a-restaurant situation.

Had a great lunch with my girl here the other day big 🍣 rolls good sake and she was so excited. So also heard they're happy hour is bangin gonna try soon!

This place is legit. Great fish, atmosphere. Happy hour has great deals. Will be going back tonight

I live just 5 blocks away and I always come here for great sushi and service. Today I ordered over the phone and had issues with a coupon. Kevin the owner honored it and made it right. Will continue to come and support this business! You rock!

UPDATE: this is my update after a year of coming here.I love this place. It is consistently good and fresh all the time. Best rolls: Sake toro roll (salmon belly), Angry Fish, negitoro. The sushi chef is committed to great quality of food and preparation. Their fish comes fresh every morning. You can't go wrong here. they are great, and they also validate parking. Yes, they have a happy hour that includes both food and drink. Also, the servers are awesome! Very attentive and open to suggestions!

Sakura Bistro Sushi & Sake Bar is hands down one of the best sushi spots I’ve ever been to! From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted by a cozy yet modern ambiance that makes you feel right at home. The staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, making the dining experience even more enjoyable. The sushi is top-notch, with fresh, high-quality fish that melts in your mouth. The variety of rolls they offer is impressive, from classic favorites like California rolls to creative specialty rolls that you won’t find anywhere else. The sashimi is just as amazing, beautifully sliced and perfectly balanced in flavor. If you’re a fan of sake, they have an excellent selection that pairs perfectly with your meal. The portions are generous, and you definitely get your money’s worth. Whether you’re here for a casual dinner or a special occasion, Sakura Bistro will never disappoint. Highly recommend to anyone who loves great sushi and a welcoming atmosphere!

I’m completely floored that this place isn’t packed, with more reviews, and 5 stars. I’ve known of Sakura for at least 7 years. Time for a review. The fish is sublime! Fresh and generous in size. Incredibly personable service. I moved away from Oakland and I have been daydreaming about coming back. Sam is behind the sushi bar. Alyssa is front of the house, and the manager Kevin is inviting and kind and I witnessed him visit every table in the restaurant in a non-obtrusive way. The restaurant sits on the second floor of small shopping center in Oakland’s Chinatown, they’ve added some Szechuan cuisine, can’t attest for those dishes, but the Sushi is FIRE. Not sure what you’re doing Oakland, Sakura Bistro is the jam. P.S Toro is usually delivered Wednesday/Thursday;)❤️

The sushi rolls and sashimi were excellent. Fresh, sushi grade fish. Friendly staff and great dining atmosphere.

Great food, great atmosphere, friendly staff. The ambiance is very Japan-like. It has seating for larger groups as well as seating for parties-of-one by the sushi bar. The only suggestion is for their $8 cheesecake slice- it’s by far the stingiest slice ever (see pic). I wish it was a bigger slice because I do think it’s homemade and It’s a really good cheesecake slice but it’s just a disappointing amount. Although, I shouldn’t complain because their happy hour is the best one in town. The happy hour is borderline free. I’ll be back with my family next time I just will not order the cheesecake.

This place is delicious!! So authentic and reasonably priced. Also really nice staff and cute interior. Get the fish tacos!!! So delicious

Stopped by here for lunch and they did not disappoint. Best hamachi sashimi I've ever had! Also got some salmon sashimi that was wonderful. Ordered a Titanic roll which was great. Shanghai soup dumplings were okay but a little sweet for my liking. Rainbow roll and the ruby fat roll were pretty good as well. Overall awesome visit and would absolutely go again.

I have no idea why this place only has a 4.3! The service is top-notch, the food is phenomenal, and the menu has something for everyone Cooked or raw sushi, and great entrée options. Plus, their weekday happy hour is the best in town. Don’t sleep on this spot!

Clean restaurant, friendly staff, quick service. Ordered the 3-Item Bento Box lunch special. For my three options, I got Teriyaki Beef, Chicken Katsu, and a California roll. The box also came with rice, salad and miso soup. Everything was extremely delicious. Definitely coming back when in the area.

I was doing a videoshoot in Chinatown and my colleague and I decided to stop in for lunch. The place wasn't packed and the service was speedy. The menu was vast and had a non expensive lunch menu. I went with the 3 category meal which is a lot of food. I was unable to finish in one setting. Aside from the food being fresh and tasty, the atmosphere and ambience is calming yet has a smooth jazz culture feel to it. It also happens to be a bar. I can see myself coming back to this place in the future. If you're in the mood for sushi and are in the Chinatown area, I highly recommend you stop by.

This is my favorite Japanese/sushi restaurant in Oakland; I go all the time. Great lunch specials, amazing happy hour ($1 oysters), fresh fish & rolls, and clean restaurant. Love that it's one block from Broadway (Downtown Oakland and BART)!

Everything was awesome! We were highly impressed and the Uni I haf for my birthday was top notch

Excellent food and service at this fine establishment. We got the chef special 16pc sashimi and the meat quality is very fresh. Sushi rolls are excellent especially the crazy dragon roll. Portions are fair for the price point. I also recommend the seafood fried udon.

Luke Miles

Sakura Bistro Sushi & Sake Bar is hands down one of the best sushi spots I’ve ever been to! From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted by a cozy yet modern ambiance that makes you feel right at home. The staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, making the dining experience even more enjoyable. The sushi is top-notch, with fresh, high-quality fish that melts in your mouth. The variety of rolls they offer is impressive, from classic favorites like California rolls to creative specialty rolls that you won’t find anywhere else. The sashimi is just as amazing, beautifully sliced and perfectly balanced in flavor. If you’re a fan of sake, they have an excellent selection that pairs perfectly with your meal. The portions are generous, and you definitely get your money’s worth. Whether you’re here for a casual dinner or a special occasion, Sakura Bistro will never disappoint. Highly recommend to anyone who loves great sushi and a welcoming atmosphere!

Raelyn Maxwell

I’m completely floored that this place isn’t packed, with more reviews, and 5 stars. I’ve known of Sakura for at least 7 years. Time for a review. The fish is sublime! Fresh and generous in size. Incredibly personable service. I moved away from Oakland and I have been daydreaming about coming back. Sam is behind the sushi bar. Alyssa is front of the house, and the manager Kevin is inviting and kind and I witnessed him visit every table in the restaurant in a non-obtrusive way. The restaurant sits on the second floor of small shopping center in Oakland’s Chinatown, they’ve added some Szechuan cuisine, can’t attest for those dishes, but the Sushi is FIRE. Not sure what you’re doing Oakland, Sakura Bistro is the jam. P.S Toro is usually delivered Wednesday/Thursday;)❤️

Jesse Brown

The sushi rolls and sashimi were excellent. Fresh, sushi grade fish. Friendly staff and great dining atmosphere.

mrjvg94

Clean restaurant, friendly staff, quick service. Ordered the 3-Item Bento Box lunch special. For my three options, I got Teriyaki Beef, Chicken Katsu, and a California roll. The box also came with rice, salad and miso soup. Everything was extremely delicious. Definitely coming back when in the area.

Martin Szerszen

This place is delicious!! So authentic and reasonably priced. Also really nice staff and cute interior. Get the fish tacos!!! So delicious

M J

Great food, great atmosphere, friendly staff. The ambiance is very Japan-like. It has seating for larger groups as well as seating for parties-of-one by the sushi bar. The only suggestion is for their $8 cheesecake slice- it’s by far the stingiest slice ever (see pic). I wish it was a bigger slice because I do think it’s homemade and It’s a really good cheesecake slice but it’s just a disappointing amount. Although, I shouldn’t complain because their happy hour is the best one in town. The happy hour is borderline free. I’ll be back with my family next time I just will not order the cheesecake.

Mike Smith

Stopped by here for lunch and they did not disappoint. Best hamachi sashimi I've ever had! Also got some salmon sashimi that was wonderful. Ordered a Titanic roll which was great. Shanghai soup dumplings were okay but a little sweet for my liking. Rainbow roll and the ruby fat roll were pretty good as well. Overall awesome visit and would absolutely go again.

Yashika Bethel

I have no idea why this place only has a 4.3! The service is top-notch, the food is phenomenal, and the menu has something for everyone Cooked or raw sushi, and great entrée options. Plus, their weekday happy hour is the best in town. Don’t sleep on this spot!

Gregory Collins

I was doing a videoshoot in Chinatown and my colleague and I decided to stop in for lunch. The place wasn't packed and the service was speedy. The menu was vast and had a non expensive lunch menu. I went with the 3 category meal which is a lot of food. I was unable to finish in one setting. Aside from the food being fresh and tasty, the atmosphere and ambience is calming yet has a smooth jazz culture feel to it. It also happens to be a bar. I can see myself coming back to this place in the future. If you're in the mood for sushi and are in the Chinatown area, I highly recommend you stop by.

Jennifer L

This is my favorite Japanese/sushi restaurant in Oakland; I go all the time. Great lunch specials, amazing happy hour ($1 oysters), fresh fish & rolls, and clean restaurant. Love that it's one block from Broadway (Downtown Oakland and BART)!

badelvis79

Everything was awesome! We were highly impressed and the Uni I haf for my birthday was top notch

Jing Li

Excellent food and service at this fine establishment. We got the chef special 16pc sashimi and the meat quality is very fresh. Sushi rolls are excellent especially the crazy dragon roll. Portions are fair for the price point. I also recommend the seafood fried udon.

Christine Uyemura

A nice restaurant with a good bento box special! I got the three items (tempura, sashimi, salmon teriyaki) and everything was great! Tempura wasn't oily, sashimi was thick and the salmon was moist. I also liked that the teriyaki wasn't super sweet or thick and the salmon wasn't drowning in it. The service was really nice and they kept my water glass full. Not too many people for a late Thursday lunch, but it's a pretty large restaurant and seems like it could hold large parties. Will definitely be back!

C Squared

We got the spicy beef noodle soup and the soup dumplings and both were absolutely fantastic. The soup was perfect for a cold blustery day. Tasty, spicy, and warming! Would absolutely go here again. Also love that it's a weird restaurant-inside-a-restaurant situation.

The food quality was great and I didn't have to wait long for my lunchtime order or nigiri and unagi fried rice to arrive. I hadn't been in a couple of years, so, I was glad to see that they had improved.

The best shrimp tempura. Light and crispy! Every roll was made to perfection and I have traveled the world. The service is top of the charts. Kind courteous and friendly. I made sure to talk to the manager and express my happiness with the service from his team. The team here is true serviced based team and treat the customers like gold. Best food. Best service. I highly recommend Sakura!

The restaurant is great and the food is fresh. Everything tasted great and well prepared. The servers are friendly and attentive and they kept our table clean the entire time. There are many sake options to choose from. Highly recommended.

I recently came here and it was an unforgettable experience from start to finish, parking was easy, and live music too. The moment you walk in, you are greeted with the warm, inviting aroma of fresh ingredients and the serene ambiance reminiscent of a traditional Japanese setting. The menu is nothing short of exceptional. Every dish we tried was a masterpiece, both in presentation and taste. The sushi was incredibly fresh, practically melting in your mouth, and the sashimi was sliced to perfection. Service was impeccable, attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. Our server guided us through the menu, offering excellent recommendations and ensuring that everything arrived promptly. The attention to detail, from the delicate garnishes to the perfectly balanced sauces, is what sets this restaurant apart. It’s clear that the chefs take immense pride in their craft. Whether you’re a sushi and sake lover or just someone looking for an authentic and elevated Japanese dining experience, Sakura is a must-visit in Chinatown I left genuinely impressed and already planning my next visit. For anyone who appreciates delicious Japanese cuisine, this restaurant is a 5-star gem.

Craig Barry

The best shrimp tempura. Light and crispy! Every roll was made to perfection and I have traveled the world. The service is top of the charts. Kind courteous and friendly. I made sure to talk to the manager and express my happiness with the service from his team. The team here is true serviced based team and treat the customers like gold. Best food. Best service. I highly recommend Sakura!

Kamron Conover

I live just 5 blocks away and I always come here for great sushi and service. Today I ordered over the phone and had issues with a coupon. Kevin the owner honored it and made it right. Will continue to come and support this business! You rock!

Sakura sushi combo and mixed tempura. Excellent portions. Great selection of creative rolls which I will go back to try. Tempura batter wasn't very crispy or flavorful.

lunch special is such a great deal! fresh sushi & sashimi. highly recommend if you're looking for a quick, affordable lunch.

Two restaurants in one. Japanese and Szechuan. Interesting combinations. I tried the spicy chicken wings. They are indeed spicy but quite tasty. Good services.

It was our first time eating here and we ordered quite a few dishes that tasted great. The surprising dish for me was the Scallops on a half shell with a delicious flambé and sauce!

All the dishes were tasty, soup dumplings were a little disappointing and there was no julienned ginger in the vinegar dip😅 We also ordered the dry pot dish (extra spicy, my husband said the spice was not unbearable and just right) which the most memorable! Lots of options to mix and match:) and meat was fresh, as well as well sized pieces The third dish we chose was the mouth numbing fish fillets, very light in flavors (not very numbing at all) All in all we would come back for the dry pot dish but will try new dishes also! Sushi choices also looked plentiful and fresh👍🏼

Stopped in the order Bento for takeout. Alisa was very welcoming and provided perfect service. We only waited for takeout but was offered seating and water. Food was just okay. Tasted old and average quality.

The food here is seems to be decent and priced well, but could be better. I had the chicken katsu and ice cream for dessert. There was salad and miso soup before the chicken katsu and rice. The salad had way way too much dressing. About a third of what I got would've been plenty. Also, the dressing was like a syrup. The miso soup was as expected. The chicken katsu was really tender and came with some sauce. It was delicious and there was a big plate of it. The rice it came with was cooked well. They ran out of cheesecake and my server said ice cream is the only dessert they had. It was average vanilla ice cream. The whole restaurant, including the restroom, was pretty clean. They seemed a little short-staffed and I did have to wait about ten minutes between dishes. My total was $26.35 before tip and seemed like a fair price. Overall, my experience was pretty good, but could've been better.

Robby Vang

Stopped in the order Bento for takeout. Alisa was very welcoming and provided perfect service. We only waited for takeout but was offered seating and water. Food was just okay. Tasted old and average quality.

Bandana Garg

Ordered from the lunch menu with 3 options - beef teriyaki, spicy salmon roll, and chicken katsu. Comes with soup and salad. The food was good and decent portions. Also got the fish tacos which were very different and good.

Neal

The food here is seems to be decent and priced well, but could be better. I had the chicken katsu and ice cream for dessert. There was salad and miso soup before the chicken katsu and rice. The salad had way way too much dressing. About a third of what I got would've been plenty. Also, the dressing was like a syrup. The miso soup was as expected. The chicken katsu was really tender and came with some sauce. It was delicious and there was a big plate of it. The rice it came with was cooked well. They ran out of cheesecake and my server said ice cream is the only dessert they had. It was average vanilla ice cream. The whole restaurant, including the restroom, was pretty clean. They seemed a little short-staffed and I did have to wait about ten minutes between dishes. My total was $26.35 before tip and seemed like a fair price. Overall, my experience was pretty good, but could've been better.

Overall love the sushi here, it’s so delicious. However everytime I have gone they have been exceptionally slow with pick up orders. I have waited over an hour for an order placed for pick up

Super glad the were open on November 24. Staff was friendly. I ordered a sake toro roll and Golden Scallop Roll. They were both bland and no spice. The scallop roll was mushy. The place seemed popular, maybe I just ordered the wrong thing but I would not give it another try. I used the restroom and it had a plastic ring on the toilet, the machine to change the plastic was broken....

Surprisingly decent food.Sashimi is fresh and the service is quite attentive.

+1

Sushi temperature too cold, seaweed salad a little on the sweet side. Ikura has been marinated....so no ocean flavor. Soup dumplings, gummy on the inside. Unagi a little too fishy tasting. The saving grace...the Miso soup.

Extremely slow. I was one of two customers in the restaurant, and an of sashimi, miso, and plain rice took 40 min to be served. Food was good though.

Ordered a Chong Qing chicken and fuqi fepian. For the price, $11.95, I was expecting the fuqi feipian to be a bit bigger than a little appetizer dish. The Chong qing chicken isn’t what I expected at all. It tasted like generic fried chicken like you could get from t4 but with a bit of mala spices on it. Pretty disappointing overall but not “bad”. This place has the same address and pick up spot as Sakura bistro. If you like that place, maybe you’d like this one. I wasn’t too impressed with their Japanese food either and have no idea how one kitchen could serve two different diverse menus well.

Wanted to like it. I've passed this place a few times and hadn't had the chance to try it. My daughter and I stopped for lunch after her gymnastics class. I ordered Chirashi Don, which is usually a tasty and light meal with an assortment of sashimi and other items that add flavor. The tuna pieces were still frozen in the middle and the picture I shared doesn't capture the gray edges to what should be a pink fresh slice of fish. The octopus was just too tough to chew on. My daughter enjoyed her chicken teriyaki and California Rolls and mango ice cream. The sides that came with my order, salad and miss soup, were unremarkable. I could eat them but they just weren't as satisfying as I've had before. I'm not motivated to come back for dinner.

I walked into Sakura Bistro today expecting a decent sushi experience, especially since it’s located in a prime spot in Chinatown. It was my first time here, and I even brought my coworkers because the place looked spacious and promising. Big mistake. No one greeted us when we walked in — not a single hello or acknowledgment — except for the kind sushi chef behind the counter (the only person who seemed to care). We waited about 10 minutes just to be seated. Allegedly the owner, lady with long black hair tied up had absolutely no smile and the worst attitude I’ve seen in a restaurant owner. If having customers makes you “too busy,” maybe running a restaurant isn’t the right job. You’d think a business owner would at least appreciate people choosing to dine at her place — especially when there are plenty of better options nearby. Honestly, 90% of restaurants in Chinatown taste better and treat their guests with actual kindness. To top it off, we waited over an hour (yes, 60+ minutes!) before a single dish came out. And when it finally did, it was wrong — not once, but twice. If you value your time, money, and sanity, skip Sakura Bistro. This was one of the most disappointing dining experiences.

Katrina Rosalie

I walked into Sakura Bistro today expecting a decent sushi experience, especially since it’s located in a prime spot in Chinatown. It was my first time here, and I even brought my coworkers because the place looked spacious and promising. Big mistake. No one greeted us when we walked in — not a single hello or acknowledgment — except for the kind sushi chef behind the counter (the only person who seemed to care). We waited about 10 minutes just to be seated. Allegedly the owner, lady with long black hair tied up had absolutely no smile and the worst attitude I’ve seen in a restaurant owner. If having customers makes you “too busy,” maybe running a restaurant isn’t the right job. You’d think a business owner would at least appreciate people choosing to dine at her place — especially when there are plenty of better options nearby. Honestly, 90% of restaurants in Chinatown taste better and treat their guests with actual kindness. To top it off, we waited over an hour (yes, 60+ minutes!) before a single dish came out. And when it finally did, it was wrong — not once, but twice. If you value your time, money, and sanity, skip Sakura Bistro. This was one of the most disappointing dining experiences.