Sushi Ai

Tony Rodriguez

The service was honestly worth noting. The young girl who served us was quick and getting after it! No hesitation to serve. And she served with care and attention. Besides her, you noticed the other staff were really trying to do their job well. Great staff and good food 💯

Staff was kind and clearly loved their business. The food was super tasty and the portions were hugeeee. We got the udon noodles and only were able to eat half the dish so I also get a tasty treat tomorrow. The atmosphere was awesome and the service was insanely quick especially for a busy day. Would recommend I will definitely be coming back.

We are from out of town and just happened upon this place and decided to eat here because the place next door was too busy and I am so glad we did! I was shocked when I went back to read the reviews and it was poorly rated. Our food came out quickly, was really good and very generous portions--Salmon Terriyaki with rice, salad, miso and sauteed veggies--I had no idea it came with all that. And my Salmon was moist but crispy and so flavorful!! Food was good, service was fast and kind and we sat outside and they came over and offered to turn the heater on, I am so happy!!! Spicy garlic edamame was so good too! Great specials, good service and a variety of options. Both my boyfriend and I loved it and we eat Sushi all the time! Highly recommend!

Let’s get straight to what matters most: the sushi. Every single piece I tried was beyond fresh, expertly prepared, and bursting with flavor. The balance of textures and flavors in each roll was nothing short of perfection. Unlike many places that overload their rolls with sauces to mask lower-quality ingredients, This place allows the natural beauty of the fish to shine. The spicy tuna roll was one of the best I’ve ever had—perfectly spiced with just the right amount of heat without overpowering the delicate taste of the fish. The salmon avocado roll was incredibly creamy, with buttery salmon that practically melted in my mouth. And don’t even get me started on the yellowtail scallion roll—it was a masterclass in simplicity done right, highlighting the pristine quality of the fish. For those who love crunch, the shrimp tempura roll is a must-try. The tempura was fried to crisp perfection without being greasy, adding just the right amount of texture to every bite. The restaurant also offers a fantastic selection of specialty rolls that take classic flavors and elevate them with unexpected yet complementary ingredients.

Sushi Ai is a hidden gem! We’ve been going here for more than 5 years, and it never disappoints. The sushi is always fresh, beautifully presented, and bursting with flavor. The staff are incredibly friendly and attentive, making every visit a pleasure. Whether you’re craving classic rolls or creative specialties, this spot is consistently amazing. Highly recommend!

Don't pay attention to the bad reviews about Brandon. We almost didn't try this place because of that. But we did. He's the last person that would be rude! He was so nice and helpful!! The food was rockin! Super fresh too!! So glad we came!

Melanie

Good price, delicious sushie. My favorite place 😍

Tabitha Evans

Staff was kind and clearly loved their business. The food was super tasty and the portions were hugeeee. We got the udon noodles and only were able to eat half the dish so I also get a tasty treat tomorrow. The atmosphere was awesome and the service was insanely quick especially for a busy day. Would recommend I will definitely be coming back.

Stacee Flinn

Don't pay attention to the bad reviews about Brandon. We almost didn't try this place because of that. But we did. He's the last person that would be rude! He was so nice and helpful!! The food was rockin! Super fresh too!! So glad we came!

May-Rose Reece

We are from out of town and just happened upon this place and decided to eat here because the place next door was too busy and I am so glad we did! I was shocked when I went back to read the reviews and it was poorly rated. Our food came out quickly, was really good and very generous portions--Salmon Terriyaki with rice, salad, miso and sauteed veggies--I had no idea it came with all that. And my Salmon was moist but crispy and so flavorful!! Food was good, service was fast and kind and we sat outside and they came over and offered to turn the heater on, I am so happy!!! Spicy garlic edamame was so good too! Great specials, good service and a variety of options. Both my boyfriend and I loved it and we eat Sushi all the time! Highly recommend!

Brianna Cheng

Let’s get straight to what matters most: the sushi. Every single piece I tried was beyond fresh, expertly prepared, and bursting with flavor. The balance of textures and flavors in each roll was nothing short of perfection. Unlike many places that overload their rolls with sauces to mask lower-quality ingredients, This place allows the natural beauty of the fish to shine. The spicy tuna roll was one of the best I’ve ever had—perfectly spiced with just the right amount of heat without overpowering the delicate taste of the fish. The salmon avocado roll was incredibly creamy, with buttery salmon that practically melted in my mouth. And don’t even get me started on the yellowtail scallion roll—it was a masterclass in simplicity done right, highlighting the pristine quality of the fish. For those who love crunch, the shrimp tempura roll is a must-try. The tempura was fried to crisp perfection without being greasy, adding just the right amount of texture to every bite. The restaurant also offers a fantastic selection of specialty rolls that take classic flavors and elevate them with unexpected yet complementary ingredients.

Hauling-4-U “Hauling-4-U”

Sushi Ai is a hidden gem! We’ve been going here for more than 5 years, and it never disappoints. The sushi is always fresh, beautifully presented, and bursting with flavor. The staff are incredibly friendly and attentive, making every visit a pleasure. Whether you’re craving classic rolls or creative specialties, this spot is consistently amazing. Highly recommend!

Coming into this establishment, You'll notice you go up to the counter to order. There are several sushi rolls to choose from. After we ordered, we received an order number to take to our table. We didn't have to wait too long before receiving all the rolls. They came pleasantly presented with a side salad. Each roll was flavorful and perfectly sauced. I would come back here when we are back in the area.

For the price, it's great sushi. The Tempura crunch roll, spider roll and CA rolls are my favorites there. Comes with a salad. Service has always been good. Try the spicy mayo, eel sauce and of course wasabi and soy sauce. Seating inside can be a bit small but the outdoor seating is better. At night the outdoor heaters keep you toasty. But bring a coat just in case.

Relatively inexpensive sushi, also has classic teriyaki and bulgogi. Food is what you'd expect, good but not great. Cut above fast food sushi places. They did a nice salmon skin role... by request.

Decent quality food with adequate service in a casual walk-up environment. The Salmon teriyaki was overcooked, but the price was right so I can't complain. The bento box option provides a lot of food at a fair price. It's exactly what you would expect from a strip mall fast food Japanese restaurant.

Busy, but still great service and speed. Ordered tonkatsu and lots of sushi rolls. Very quality and delicious. Easy to eat too much. Great way to dine before a movie!

Takeout order. Food was good and was ready on time.

A solid option if you are in the mood for decent, no pretenses, student-focused Japanese food. Great prices for the portions you get, and the teriyaki dishes are not burned, unlike most serious, fancier Japanese cuisine establishments I have visited thus far, at least in California. Great, courteous service.

This place is very unique. They have no prices listed on the menu board. The lady that waited on me was very nice. I got the three-piece combo with chicken teriyaki, California roll and gyoza. It comes with salad, white rice and miso soup. It's a lot of food for around twenty bucks. I easily split it with my son. Overall definitely a good place for quick Japanese food. We'll be back.

Food is usually good but last time I ordered takeout the Styrofoam container had a hole in it where it touched the fried fish so I couldnt eat the item.. Please be careful when handling hot items, consider a temperature safe alternative to styrofoam..

Pretty good sushi but pricey for an order at the counter kind of place. Tiger roll was tasty.

Isabel Arias Ponce

Food is usually good but last time I ordered takeout the Styrofoam container had a hole in it where it touched the fried fish so I couldnt eat the item.. Please be careful when handling hot items, consider a temperature safe alternative to styrofoam..

Jay Tkachuk

A solid option if you are in the mood for decent, no pretenses, student-focused Japanese food. Great prices for the portions you get, and the teriyaki dishes are not burned, unlike most serious, fancier Japanese cuisine establishments I have visited thus far, at least in California. Great, courteous service.

* dnainsb

This place is very unique. They have no prices listed on the menu board. The lady that waited on me was very nice. I got the three-piece combo with chicken teriyaki, California roll and gyoza. It comes with salad, white rice and miso soup. It's a lot of food for around twenty bucks. I easily split it with my son. Overall definitely a good place for quick Japanese food. We'll be back.

Greg

Pretty good sushi but pricey for an order at the counter kind of place. Tiger roll was tasty.

BLUF: food was decent, but I thought I got shorted on my order and they were only willing to make part of it right. So.... The food was pretty good. The place had 3.8 stars on Google so my expectations weren't super high. It's order at the counter. They have good specials. I came with my kids and ordered 5 rolls over 2 combos and an extra roll, plus some food to share. I noticed we didn't our side of rice, and when I started looking, I only counted 4 rolls. I checked my text message receipt and it only had the total and tip. ( I know it's counter service only but I tipped 15%). Everyone had been friendly, but when I pointed out I thought I only for 4 rolls one of the people at the counter printed the receipt and went over everything, saying they brought me all of it. I was pretty sure I figured out which roll was missing but they argued with me. I succeeded, because they were insistent and I wasn't 100% sure. Then I pointed out my missing rice also.... And they apologized and said they would bring it. I asked my kids, and they thought we'd only gotten two on the combo plate also. I'm disappointed because it would have been so easy for them to say " we brought you everything, but we could being you another roll, or you could buy another roll". But instead it was just " you're wrong" Anyway, I wish I could take back my tip.

Lorissa Brezovic

BLUF: food was decent, but I thought I got shorted on my order and they were only willing to make part of it right. So.... The food was pretty good. The place had 3.8 stars on Google so my expectations weren't super high. It's order at the counter. They have good specials. I came with my kids and ordered 5 rolls over 2 combos and an extra roll, plus some food to share. I noticed we didn't our side of rice, and when I started looking, I only counted 4 rolls. I checked my text message receipt and it only had the total and tip. ( I know it's counter service only but I tipped 15%). Everyone had been friendly, but when I pointed out I thought I only for 4 rolls one of the people at the counter printed the receipt and went over everything, saying they brought me all of it. I was pretty sure I figured out which roll was missing but they argued with me. I succeeded, because they were insistent and I wasn't 100% sure. Then I pointed out my missing rice also.... And they apologized and said they would bring it. I asked my kids, and they thought we'd only gotten two on the combo plate also. I'm disappointed because it would have been so easy for them to say " we brought you everything, but we could being you another roll, or you could buy another roll". But instead it was just " you're wrong" Anyway, I wish I could take back my tip.

Was craving sushi and ordered a spicy tuna roll and a salmon roll. The rolls have literally each a speck of fish each and barely tasted like fish because the lack of it. Was pretty cheap tho (15 dollars for all) so maybe i’m just getting my money’s worth.

It's kind of like a fast food sushi place, it's pretty good really. They have a special on hand rules on Mondays and that's a great time to go. Plus it's in a shopping court near Costco and home Depot so it's a great place to get a little snack when you're out there.

In the plaza by the movie theater. One of the people behind the counter is rude, no doubt. We've been twice and it's not that she's just having a bad day. Check out the whiteboard by the register for specials. For prices and special rolls, there's a folding paper menu on the counter by the register. They have sushi, udon, gyoza (pork and chicken mix, here), tempura chicken cutlets, chicken teriyaki miso soup... Sapporo, sakes, fountain drinks, and more. The flavor is comparable to other Japanese restaurants I've tried in California. The tea is bag tea, though, not a house/family blend. This little place gets busy quick and there's only one register, so come early before the dinner rush. The ordering system is counter style, but then you're through the line you're free to select a table. Our order came out in less than 10 minutes, but we showed up right before the rush (set your expectations realistically). They have had to raise prices due to covid, unfortunately. But they still get busy and have some limited seating out front thanks to the spacious plaza.

We had the udon soup it was disappointing.

I really like their teriyaki chicken bowls ($7) and my friends seem to like the actually sushi well enough. My only complaint is that for some reason they don't give you eating utensils with your food. They're up near the counter but I always forget to grab them and then I have to go get them.

Staff friendly. Nice atmosphere. Food is variable; the seaweed wrapping the rolls feel rubbery. This odd chewy texture detracts from the experience. Rolls with little seaweed are good, otherwise it's overwhelming.

The teriyaki bowls are pretty good and the tempura make a good side if you are too hungry for just the bowl, but not hungry enough for the bowl and a sushi roll. The service is usually good and when it's empty the food comes out quickly.

The food is about what you would expect for a walk up and order restaurant, not bad at all if you like Japanese style food, but also nothing you will be telling your friends about tomorrow. The problem with this place is the service. Twice in seven visits the staff has mixed up our dine-in order as a takeout order. It wasn't until we realized we had been waiting too long and asked where our food was, that our order was discovered in a stack of take out orders waiting to be picked up. I understand that everyone makes mistakes, but this is a systematic problem. In this most recent instance, the couple who ordered right before us for dine-in saw what happened to our order and discovered their food getting cold in the takeout pile as well.

Ordered on ubereats, got the bento box which is supposed to include miso soup and got tempura veggies instead. The salmon on top of the philly rolls was warm and overall the food was just underwhelming. The gyoza was the only thing I enjoyed

My experience was very brief. I visited there four times before.The size of the hand rolls and sushi was mini in presentation. Very small. I guess in order to maintain profits they have to cut serving sizes. Very unfortunate, I won't be going back. Have to look for another sushi spot.

All was decent until… the ramen. I ordered the spicy ramen, and when it came out I instantly could tell it was instant noodles. The smell, the look, the taste, the msg and the overdose of sodium. Ramen was 0/5 stars, never will I ever again for the price. The rolls were decent, deserves a 3/5 stars. If you know a thing or two about fish and sushi, I don’t recommend this place.

FRED MENDOZA

My experience was very brief. I visited there four times before.The size of the hand rolls and sushi was mini in presentation. Very small. I guess in order to maintain profits they have to cut serving sizes. Very unfortunate, I won't be going back. Have to look for another sushi spot.

N L

All was decent until… the ramen. I ordered the spicy ramen, and when it came out I instantly could tell it was instant noodles. The smell, the look, the taste, the msg and the overdose of sodium. Ramen was 0/5 stars, never will I ever again for the price. The rolls were decent, deserves a 3/5 stars. If you know a thing or two about fish and sushi, I don’t recommend this place.

I have never not finished sushi before - I did not finish any of the rolls we got. The salmon nigiri was tough and chewy, the dynamite roll was so soggy that I might as well have ate pond scum. The veggie tempura was cold and soggy yet somehow the highlight of the meal? The fish quality was mediocre at best, and we will be lucky to not be vomiting tonight.

Came in here because our little one was craving sushi , we stopped by ahi sushi because we found it on maps it was our first and last time going there. They took over 30 min to do 1 California roll and a teriyaki combo absolutely absurd, quality is ok , prices aren’t bad, but if your looking for a better service Los agaves and mesa burger have much faster service and are right next door even when busy, especially if your little ones are hungry and don’t like to wait so long. Definitely not worth the long wait !

I got water and found a cockroach in my water from the machine will not be going back

Ordered delivery, only found out when it arrived that a la carte sushi is $8 for only two pieces, insanely overpriced. Food tasted fine, but assuming you don't want to end up hungry, go or order somewhere else, like Sushiya in Isla Vista.

We ordered through door dash and either door dash or the restaurant screwed up the order and we only got one of the 5 items. We called the dasher and they said we had to call the restaurant so we did and they were very rude then hung up on us multiple times while we tried to sort out how to get the order corrected. I understand that door dash is a middle man but you think they would want to at the very least try and make it right.

This was my first time at this sushi place, and I wanted to try it out bc I heard good reviews on how cheap they were. They have competition bc there are plenty of sushi joints in the area, however, when I went to order I asked for help with the menu on what is the best and the lady didn't suggest anything. She looked like she wanted to ring me up and be done with it instead of suggesting a few of their populars or "daily specials". I ended up ordering two special rolls and my total came up to $26.67 with having to order under the eyes of the lady at the counter. As I was waiting for my food, I noticed that there was a daily specials board and there was a california, spicy tuna, cucumber roll with a soda and miso soup all for $11.99. She could have suggested that to me to get things moving instead of waiting while I struggle for what's best. I then asked if I could get that instead if they haven't completed my order and she had attitude and said my order is already done and pushed it to me without saying anything else. I suggest that she be fired before she runs this business down, since the owner probably doesn't know what's going on with customer service when they're not around. This was the first and last time I will be at this place, the sushi looks rushed anyway since it took 2 minutes to make.

Food was cold and undercooked. Waitress was very rude. Tables are small and barely fit one plate, yet as the woman brought each dish over, she placed it on too of unfinished plates. Portions of food were unbalanced. Side salad and rice-which were not in the order description- dominated the plate, whereas the main entree was small and messy. Do not recommend eating here.

Horrible service, they even offered me a free Teriyaki bowl if I gave them a good review. They specified that it had to be a good one, even though my honest opinion was not good. I refused because I was done eating already. Now on the food, the salmon on my roll was discolored and tasted as if it had been sitting out for a long time. The miso soup was over salted, I did not finish half of my small bowl. Next, the staff was very rude to me when I asked them for the simplest help. The restaurant was overall dirty and most of the tables did not get bussed throughout my whole time eating. When I asked for the supervisor, he was also very rude to me and he told me if I didn't like it, not to come to his restaurant. I do not recall his name, but he was a caucasian gentleman with brown hair and a cross chain. He looked like a soundcloud rapper, cubic zirconias and all. Honeslty, I did not expect him to be in charge. Later, I was told the owner lives several hours away which is probably why the store does not get the attention it needs. Personally, I hate to give this place a 1 star review because I am a good person, but I have to be honest here. I highly DO NOT recommend going to Sushi Ai. Originally, I came because I saw it had decent reviews, but now I think I know why. 2 thumbs down.

Ordered through Door Dash (but door dash would only let me leave a 5-star review smh). The delivery was fine but the food was disgusting. Microwaved food tastes better. Tempura Udon is usually my favorite food in the world but I took one bite of this place's and threw the rest out. The vegetables were completely wrong and not at all authentic. In addition, they were about 10x as big as they should have been. The tempura was disgusting and again the vegetables used were not at all like what's in authentic tempura. A waste of time and miney

I ordered through door dash. 2 of the 4 items that I ordered arrived. The door dasher said on the phone she couldn’t help me and I had to manage it through door dash. The app glitched out, so I called the store. They spoke in broken English and then hung up on me. Wow.

I wanted sushi ordered from a young lady there she thought I wanted Sashami but Jose said no sushi. I said I wanted 6 pieces of that. We went onto our order. I received my seaweed and regular salad my BF had the Bento box. We waited and waited finally my BF went to counter to find out where my sushi was. She said she was confused and didn’t order anything, so my BF ordered. Knowing they made a mistake you would think they would get my sushi to me. We waited almost 35 minutes and watched 10 customers get served. You could hear the young lady and Jose arguing as to whom was going to bring me the plate. Jose brought me a Shashimi salad. I said it’s not what I wanted. After eating only the tuna on top. We went to the counter to talk to Jose. Not only was he extremely disrespectful to me and said I was loud he accused my BF and I for making the young lady cry. We never said anything to her. Jose said he was the Manager. Let me tell you he didn’t offer an apology and after the talk he said he was even thinking of refunding us but didn’t. The worst customer service with uneducated college kids. I do Marketing in our Healthcare System. I’m all about Customer Service and people. I will take my business elsewhere where your treated with respect and dignity.

This was my first time eating here and will definitely be my last, the food is way too expensive. Then to top it off the quality of the food was not great either and rolls looked like they were made by a 3 year old, and would fall apart when trying to pick it up. Food was so bad that I didn’t even finish it and threw the rest away, which I have never done. A waste of $60 for 4 different rolls. There are much better sushi places around here.

We got the family boat and everything in it was terrible. We all came home with stomach aches and heart burn. Would not recommend the food here.

Brandon was the most disrespectful person I ever met, he took my order wrong and joke about it with the chef and made fun of me believing I did not understand Spanish. As I was leaving I mention to Brandon how dissatisfied I was with his bad attitude and service and he laughed once again. This guy has a nasty mouth and thanks to him I will never come here again . Hope he gets proper training soon or a reality check . Stay away from this place unless you want to be disappointed.

It was my first time visiting this place and I felt like the cashier Brandon was making fun of me. He asked me 4 times for my order details while joking in Spanish with the chef. This guy need a proper education and maybe an English class. I am very upset about this guy . Please avoid this place.

Andrea Elias

We got the family boat and everything in it was terrible. We all came home with stomach aches and heart burn. Would not recommend the food here.

Noel Murillo

This was my first time eating here and will definitely be my last, the food is way too expensive. Then to top it off the quality of the food was not great either and rolls looked like they were made by a 3 year old, and would fall apart when trying to pick it up. Food was so bad that I didn’t even finish it and threw the rest away, which I have never done. A waste of $60 for 4 different rolls. There are much better sushi places around here.

Tiffani White

It was my first time visiting this place and I felt like the cashier Brandon was making fun of me. He asked me 4 times for my order details while joking in Spanish with the chef. This guy need a proper education and maybe an English class. I am very upset about this guy . Please avoid this place.

María Strong

Brandon was the most disrespectful person I ever met, he took my order wrong and joke about it with the chef and made fun of me believing I did not understand Spanish. As I was leaving I mention to Brandon how dissatisfied I was with his bad attitude and service and he laughed once again. This guy has a nasty mouth and thanks to him I will never come here again . Hope he gets proper training soon or a reality check . Stay away from this place unless you want to be disappointed.