Sakura

The food was soo good, the service was amazing and welcome. In general a great experience

I had an amazing experience in this restaurant, the food is wonderful made by the owner, I ate the best miso soup. The owner is super friendly.

Chloe Cave

Proper Japanese food! This place is owned by the most welcoming owner we've ever met. Sashimi was fresh and delicious - they definitely take pride in the food they're serving. If you're after some quality real Japanese food, this is your place.

Brieana Hermanson

I've lived in this area my whole life and for some reason have never been to this gem of a restaurant- probably because lighthouse is the worst street in the world to park but honestly after this dinner I'm willing to fight for it. Ordered two of the special sushi and sashimi combo and a sashimi dinner set and all I can say is WOW!!! Fish was melt in your mouth fresh. I didn't ask what the specific fishes were but I'm pretty sure it was maguro and white tuna plus the most delicious salmon belly I've ever tasted. Dinner set is more than enough for one person, comes with a salad and delicious miso soup with udon noodles. I wanted a FEAST when I ordered and I certainly got one for an excellent price. The owners are very sweet and I hope to actually eat inside the restaurant one of these days but I'm very thankful for such beautiful take out. It felt very special , can't wait to go back 💓

Huy Han

First of all, this restaurant is a family-owned business for more than 30 years!!! Nowadays it is very hard to find Japanese sushi rolls that are made by a Japanese chef. You will definitely feel the pride while enjoying Japanese sushi at Sakura in Monterey. FYI you may spend longer time here as the food is made to order and well prepared by the restaurant's two talented Japaness chefs.

L Hoffman

AMAZING experience first time. The owners are so welcoming it felt like being home with my family. Amazing food, and affordable for the area. Fresh sushi and great options to try from. Definitely will be back for more. Great thanks to Jaido and Kozu (I hope I’m not butchering their names too much)

Anoush

Very delicious mom and pop-run sushi restaurant. Our new favorite go-to sushi restaurant! Keep in mind they've been there a while a need more help but we're very glad we went there. <3

Ian Burgos

Sakura is an amazing sushi spot for anyone in the Monterey area. The chef is very nice and makes superb quality sushi. He even gave us some free shirts right before we received our check. We will definitely be coming back!

River Wilde

You don't go here for a quick meal. You go here with close friends for a laid back evening of good sushi and conversations. The ambiance is straight out of a Tarantino movie. The drinks are cold, the sushi is fresh, and the service will be as warm to you as you are to them.

Jennifer Simons

Cute, charming restaurant run by an older Japanese couple. Interior is much cuter than Crystal Fish next door. They were incredibly sweet and sushi was fresh and delicious! Try the scallop sushi and hot tea. My fiancé got the vegetable tempura and also really enjoyed it.

David Wu

Kazu is a legendary sushi chef with over 30 years of experience on the Monterey Peninsula. He is a local treasure for sure!!

Chris Parsons

Wow. One of the most charming experiences at a restaurant I can remember. Most of the time, sushi places feel hyper sterile and a little impersonal, with the boats towing bowls, constant tv golf, and the laughter of the sushi chef, Sakura gives a feeling of coziness and warmth. The food is authentic, simple, and well-prepared. I had the best Unagi since my time in Tokyo. Despite being affordable, portions are generous and still thoughtfully arranged. I’m addition to being a talent with the knife, the proprietor prepares his own promotional screen prints. Plainly an artist, anyone visiting Monterey would be wise to visit him for a delicious meal, some conversation, and a bit of restoration.

Kas Law

The food was soo good, the service was amazing and welcome. In general a great experience

Gabriela Klaser

I had an amazing experience in this restaurant, the food is wonderful made by the owner, I ate the best miso soup. The owner is super friendly.

Such a warm welcoming atmosphere; the food & presentation is top notch. Worth my money every time! Gosh I hope they reopen soon!

Shelli P.

Such a warm welcoming atmosphere; the food & presentation is top notch. Worth my money every time! Gosh I hope they reopen soon!

Great little cozy restaurant. Sushi is very good. No reservations accepted and he will close if he gets too backed up with orders. The couple seems to have hired a waitress and they all work as fast as they can, but they still need another itamae. You might wait 1-1.5 hours for your food if you come when it is busy. The phone also rang and rang with no one answering it. Overall nice experience (we went before it got busy). It felt very authentic and reminded me of Japan.

Liked the experience. Run by an older couple, the food was at their pace. The entrance looks a bit neglected, and the interior needs cleaning. Walls too. The potstickers were very soft wrapping but delicious gingery pork inside. The tempura had a very thick coating that was not crisp. The combinations have value. My chicken teriyaki tasted like fish though. Everyone else at the table enjoyed their grilled salted mackerel, tuna roll, spicy tuna roll, and California roll were tasty.

I'm so glad I stopped by this place! It was late on a Sunday night ~9PM and this was the only sushi place open. The service was a little bit slow but the food came out in a reasonable amount of time. The sushi chef was so kind and welcoming and talked to us for a minute when he served us our rolls. I believe I ordered the Sakura Deluxe and the Sukura Special #4 roll and both were fresh and had big chunks of fish. I could tell they made the spicy tuna in house and it tasted amazing with just the right amount of spice. The tempura sauce was warm when they served it and the miso soup was not too salty. Overall very good experience and food!

The sushi boats are actual floating boats! It was fun to have dinner served to us on a floating boat. Fun place but a little run down. Sushi was decent and service was a bit slow otherwise did hit the spot.

Chrystal Byrd

Great little cozy restaurant. Sushi is very good. No reservations accepted and he will close if he gets too backed up with orders. The couple seems to have hired a waitress and they all work as fast as they can, but they still need another itamae. You might wait 1-1.5 hours for your food if you come when it is busy. The phone also rang and rang with no one answering it. Overall nice experience (we went before it got busy). It felt very authentic and reminded me of Japan.

Debbie Cusic

Liked the experience. Run by an older couple, the food was at their pace. The entrance looks a bit neglected, and the interior needs cleaning. Walls too. The potstickers were very soft wrapping but delicious gingery pork inside. The tempura had a very thick coating that was not crisp. The combinations have value. My chicken teriyaki tasted like fish though. Everyone else at the table enjoyed their grilled salted mackerel, tuna roll, spicy tuna roll, and California roll were tasty.

Francine Wong

I'm so glad I stopped by this place! It was late on a Sunday night ~9PM and this was the only sushi place open. The service was a little bit slow but the food came out in a reasonable amount of time. The sushi chef was so kind and welcoming and talked to us for a minute when he served us our rolls. I believe I ordered the Sakura Deluxe and the Sukura Special #4 roll and both were fresh and had big chunks of fish. I could tell they made the spicy tuna in house and it tasted amazing with just the right amount of spice. The tempura sauce was warm when they served it and the miso soup was not too salty. Overall very good experience and food!

bartellj

The sushi boats are actual floating boats! It was fun to have dinner served to us on a floating boat. Fun place but a little run down. Sushi was decent and service was a bit slow otherwise did hit the spot.

Pretty basic rolls that you you would find at most sushi spots (i.e. rainbow roll). Cozy feel to the place though.

The vegetable Raman was very good. But they over charged me. Veg Raman and tempura shrimp/veg was 37.50

Jihnel Santo Domingo

Pretty basic rolls that you you would find at most sushi spots (i.e. rainbow roll). Cozy feel to the place though.

Dale Buys

The vegetable Raman was very good. But they over charged me. Veg Raman and tempura shrimp/veg was 37.50

These people are very hardworking and nice despite not always seeming polite. This however is not good customer service. The food takes ages, and the food may be authentic but perhaps only a 6/10 in taste. Most Sushi places are an easy 7.5 or 8. The man is also constantly drinking, and they never answer the phone. It just rings and rings. I know because I heard it ring for two hours after I had called them prior to arriving. Come here if you can afford the wait for average sushi at somewhat high costs. As I write this review, I am contemplating my life decisions.

Freddy Toscano

These people are very hardworking and nice despite not always seeming polite. This however is not good customer service. The food takes ages, and the food may be authentic but perhaps only a 6/10 in taste. Most Sushi places are an easy 7.5 or 8. The man is also constantly drinking, and they never answer the phone. It just rings and rings. I know because I heard it ring for two hours after I had called them prior to arriving. Come here if you can afford the wait for average sushi at somewhat high costs. As I write this review, I am contemplating my life decisions.