The Buzz Sushi

Fabulous vegan sushi! The employee at the counter welcomed us and took our order. And then the food started rolling! We enjoyed a veggie gyoza and cucumber salad to share, the had the Cuerno de Chivo and Rainbow Goblin rolls. Fabulous. I really didn't realize at first that everything was vegan. Delicious! Fun, funky vibe with an amazing amount of seating for such a compact restaurant. Fun stop!

Great food and service!! Both rolls we got were really good! They were also nice about making some accommodations with ingredients. Can tell they take pride in their sushi and I respect it! Great experience would come again!

KDG

Walking the ‘mean streets’ of Santa Cruz, we stumbled into this delightful little sushi spot. Our kids loved the wall art and assortment of knickknacks everywhere. It’s quaint, but charming, flooded with personality. The employee that helped us was super friendly, cordial, and helpful. They have an interesting menu filled with a variety of options! The HoChiro Roll was a standout as it was covered in Hot Cheetos dust and Hot Cheetos. Keep in mind that seating is limited both indoors and outside, so avoid peak times if you want to be seated quickly. Grok says this: Opened about four years ago (around 2021), it’s run by a passionate sushi chef named Tavo, who emphasizes artistic expression through his rolls. The restaurant combines a casual dine-in experience with a market-style to-go section, making it versatile for quick grabs or relaxed meals. It’s celebrated for its inclusivity, offering a wide range of gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and non-vegan options—including a standout “vegan fish” that’s silky and flavorful, mimicking real seafood without the raw fish concerns. The vibe is eclectic: think Dragon Ball Z-inspired decor mixed with contemporary hippie aesthetics, creating a fun, welcoming atmosphere.

Casey McCarthy

Came to Buzz Sushi on Halloween and I have to say this place is great. I ordered the Santa Cruz and the Philadelphia and both rolls were delicious, I was impressed by how fresh everything tasted. The restaurant itself is unique and feels like a place that you can bring friends or just pop in for a quick lunch. I also had a strawberry mochi and it was incredible. They lay the mochi in what I'm assuming is whipped cream and then top it with some sort of sweet sauce/glaze that is incredible, honestly the best mochi I've had. Great food, great service. Definitely recommend.

Yannet 831

My favorite sushi place in town! Fresh, delicious, full of flavor — don’t get me started on their habanero sauce. Do yourself a favor and eat here :)

Rachael Sylvester

We had a great time at this sushi place & market. The staff was super friendly & the food came out quickly. When something was out of stock (scallops), the chef came to talk with us about a substitute. They handled allergies quiet well. Perfect for vegans - we’ve never seen so many vegan options at a sushi place. The storefront also had vegan products like vegan honey!

Kenna Farley

YUMMM! I’ve been looking and looking for a sushi spot to fill my vegan belly and cravings since I moved here and I found it at The Buzz! We ordered the Bulma, Alcatraz Escape, Fishy Phillies, and the Rainbow Goblin. SOO good

Deepika Sharma

Excellent Sushi! Highly recommended for vegans and vegetarians. I ordered the vegan Omakase and it was mind blowing. The chef is highly skilled and the owner is really sweet. Will definitely come back!

Lukasz Zbylut

Great food, decisions vegetarian sushi. Good service. The restaurant smells like industrial cleaner, which is not very pleasant.

Anne Margaret White

Fabulous vegan sushi! The employee at the counter welcomed us and took our order. And then the food started rolling! We enjoyed a veggie gyoza and cucumber salad to share, the had the Cuerno de Chivo and Rainbow Goblin rolls. Fabulous. I really didn't realize at first that everything was vegan. Delicious! Fun, funky vibe with an amazing amount of seating for such a compact restaurant. Fun stop!

S D

Great food and service!! Both rolls we got were really good! They were also nice about making some accommodations with ingredients. Can tell they take pride in their sushi and I respect it! Great experience would come again!

Best sushi in Santa Cruz! A mix of flavors in a roll that will have you wanting more. Service is friendly and warm. Atmosphere is funky and unique. We love the new flavors the sushi chef has come up with. Not your average rolls you see and I LOVE they cater a large selection of vegan friendly menu items (YES!) If you're in the area definitely make it a date night to check out. They open until 9pm which makes it work for our schedule sometimes coming from out of town.

Delicious, creative, ample selection of vegan sushi & appetizers. We had the BBQ tofu and two vegan rolls. All beautifully plated. The ambience was super relaxing and inviting. We had an awesome meal, and the staff was super nice. Highly recommended!

Amazing vegan sushi! They have non vegan as well. I remember going to their old location 2 years ago, then I visited them again when driving through Santa Cruz. The owner remembered me! I loved eating the “Cheating Myself”, “All Mine”, and one with mango and cream cheese that I forgot the name of. Great service and great taste! Will definitely come back next time I’m in Santa Cruz.

Phenomenal and creative rolls. We had a mix of vegan and fish options and all of them were to die for. Normally I’m left wanting for more with veg rolls but the Valerian Roll blew my mind. Great presentation as well, if only I grabbed a photo before I dug in!

Best sashimi I have had in a while. It's a small place but so worth eating there. Staff are very nice and the whole vibe is great. The pricing is affordable as well.

Make sure to stop here. Excellent service. Very friendly. The food was not only delicious, but felt clean and digested well. TONS of VEGAN options even though it’s not a vegan restaurant

Anastasia Liikala

Best sashimi I have had in a while. It's a small place but so worth eating there. Staff are very nice and the whole vibe is great. The pricing is affordable as well.

Mickey McConnell

Amazing vegan sushi! They have non vegan as well. I remember going to their old location 2 years ago, then I visited them again when driving through Santa Cruz. The owner remembered me! I loved eating the “Cheating Myself”, “All Mine”, and one with mango and cream cheese that I forgot the name of. Great service and great taste! Will definitely come back next time I’m in Santa Cruz.

Sarah K. Michael

Delicious, creative, ample selection of vegan sushi & appetizers. We had the BBQ tofu and two vegan rolls. All beautifully plated. The ambience was super relaxing and inviting. We had an awesome meal, and the staff was super nice. Highly recommended!

Jack Michael

Make sure to stop here. Excellent service. Very friendly. The food was not only delicious, but felt clean and digested well. TONS of VEGAN options even though it’s not a vegan restaurant

Maria

Best sushi in Santa Cruz! A mix of flavors in a roll that will have you wanting more. Service is friendly and warm. Atmosphere is funky and unique. We love the new flavors the sushi chef has come up with. Not your average rolls you see and I LOVE they cater a large selection of vegan friendly menu items (YES!) If you're in the area definitely make it a date night to check out. They open until 9pm which makes it work for our schedule sometimes coming from out of town.

Lilly Stuecklen

Phenomenal and creative rolls. We had a mix of vegan and fish options and all of them were to die for. Normally I’m left wanting for more with veg rolls but the Valerian Roll blew my mind. Great presentation as well, if only I grabbed a photo before I dug in!

Canaan Lewin

The food I had here last night was so good, I’m still thinking about it the next morning. The vegan menu was so outstanding and creative, I am really looking forward to coming back to try more. Great service, cute atmosphere. Highly recommend.

Richard Randall

I've been 4 or 5 times and everything I've had was amazing! The staff are very friendly too. This is my go-to sushi spot in Santa Cruz and is my default recommendation whenever I need to suggest a restaurant. The nagiri and sashimi are my favorites. The veggie menu is also extensive.

Robert Wilson

A nice sushi place with lots of options all made to order. As well as your standard sushi they offer vegan and vegetarian options which are just as good as their standard sushi. Overall it is a nice place to grab some sushi rolls and share with friends, or to treat yourself while downtown.

I appreciated the large vegetarian/ vegan menu. I ordered the 101 East and Alcatraz rolls, and the Alcatraz was better. The vegan salmon initially threw me off because of its texture and appearance. 😅 The prices were a bit high and comparable to prices in SF.

Delicious rolls and plenty of vegan and gluten free options! Great spot to check out in downtown Santa Cruz

M.

I appreciated the large vegetarian/ vegan menu. I ordered the 101 East and Alcatraz rolls, and the Alcatraz was better. The vegan salmon initially threw me off because of its texture and appearance. 😅 The prices were a bit high and comparable to prices in SF.

Margaret

Delicious rolls and plenty of vegan and gluten free options! Great spot to check out in downtown Santa Cruz