Steven Card

Arrived right at 1130am on a Thursday and there was a small group waiting for it to open. By noon, most of the tables were full. Can't imagine dinner or a weekend. When I arrived at 1130 there was only one waiter and one host and they quickly became overwhelmed and service kind of dropped as they were swamped. Backup arrived at noon but by then they were already behind. I sat at the counter and was privy to the waitstaff interactions and could tell they were STRESSED. I went in pretty blind and chose the "Don't think, just eat." lunch which was their most expensive omakase style. That all being said.... The food was the reason I came and it was the star. It was phenomenal. Every piece of sushi was so flavorful and amazing. I loved the homemade ponzu sauce and there wasn't a single piece that I didn't enjoy. Highlights were the salmon nigiri with the sesame seeds and all the different tuna. Wow. Also I was very impressed with how transparent their menu was in terms of saying exactly what type of fish it was and the waitstaff made sure to clarify if they were out of the typical fish and replacing it with another. Most diners wouldn't have known the difference but the transparency was cool to see. I would 100% return. While I loved the omakase I ordered, I sat next to someone who got the Nozawa Trust Me. I did get a few extra pieces from the special menu that they didn't but it wasn't too much more quantity. I'd likely just order the Trust Me next time and maybe add on a couple extra fairly-priced a la carte nigiri. 5 stars!!

+6

Алина

What a gem. Only few blocks from the beach, parking with discounted rate is babble right next door for $4.50. Pleasant simple ambiance. Very much quality fish and tasty chips execution. First time here I enjoyed $59 chef’s special. A surprise, makes it easy not to choose any rolls or sashimi. All came so delectable with variety as well as filling. You won’t be hungry after this. 16% service fee is included as this is no tip establishment. Highly recommend. The prices are reasonable for Santa Monica, I’d say even very attractive. Kind service and clean place.

+9

Ms May

I recently dined at Sugarfish in Santa Monica and had an incredible experience with their Trust Me menu. Each course was a delight, but the salmon in particular was absolutely delicious - fresh, buttery, and full of flavor. The whole Trust Me concept is perfect for those who love sushi and want to be surprised by expertly crafted dishes. Every piece felt like it was made with care, and the quality of ingredients really stood out. The ambiance was relaxed yet elegant, and the service was attentive, making it a wonderful dining experience from start to finish. Highly recommend to anyone who appreciates high-quality sushi!

+3

Ana Radar

Sushi is soooo good, fresh and great texture, just melts in the mouth. 🤤 One of my favourite west coast sushi joints so far. Price is fair and service is friendly and straightforward. The yuzu albacore is my favourite, the yuzu sauce goes so well with the fish. They also use warm sushi rice which creates a unique mouthfeel for the sushi. Thanks so much to Cam for creating a special experience here! Bonus: It's a non-tipping establishment so another great reason to come here!

+7

Ummey Karim

This place is a 10/10! Sushi is fresh and melts in your mouth like butter. The presentation is perfect. This is the Nozawa Trust Me $40 to-go box shared between my fiancé and I. This was obviously the best car meal we’ve ever had. Exceptional!

I came to the establishment with a friend on a whim. We were walking through Santa Monica and enjoying the beautiful weather and sugar fish had just opened. I'm a big fan of sushi and I have never …

Great location in Santa Monica kinda small and intimate like most sugarfish locations. Great service and great food as usual! The salmon sashimi is my favorite! Yum!

Great location in Santa Monica kinda small and intimate like most sugarfish locations. Great service and great food as usual! The salmon sashimi is my favorite! Yum!

Great location in Santa Monica kinda small and intimate like most sugarfish locations. Great service and great food as usual! The salmon sashimi is my favorite! Yum!

Great location in Santa Monica kinda small and intimate like most sugarfish locations. Great service and great food as usual! The salmon sashimi is my favorite! Yum!

Sugarfish in Santa Monica? It's giving 'rich aunt who only eats clean and exclusively dates architects' energy.\n\nFrom the moment you walk in, it's sleek, calm, and minimal in that "don't ask for …

The food was great!!! Enjoyed almost everything we had! Wasn't to die for but was certainly amazing quality and the service was easily 5 stars will how attentive they were!! \n\nIt was very noisy i…

The food was great!!! Enjoyed almost everything we had! Wasn't to die for but was certainly amazing quality and the service was easily 5 stars will how attentive they were!! \n\nIt was very noisy i…

Tried various sugarfish spots and the quality is always there. Between their own omakase sets and their specials, there is always something delicious to get. service is always top notch, didn't go …

Definitely worth the hype that they get the ambience inside is beautiful and their food literally melts in your mouth. It's amazing!!!

Workers are complete angels, the service is outstanding! Food is delicious and well prepared, and the atmosphere is such a refreshing experiences. Definitely recommend!

Sugarfish is hands down the best-tasting and best-priced sushi you'll find anywhere. The fish is always top quality, and the rice--warm, slightly vinegary, and never stale or cold like at most plac…

Sugarfish is hands down the best-tasting and best-priced sushi you'll find anywhere. The fish is always top quality, and the rice--warm, slightly vinegary, and never stale or cold like at most plac…

I've eaten in and I've also gotten it to go. The sushi is a lot better if you dine in because the rice is warm and not cold-ish. They also make it right before you eat it which makes a big differen…

Very reasonably priced, and was pleasantly surprised with the cost given the quality of the food. Loved the tuna dish. \n\nWe arrived before the doors opened because we were advised the queue would…

Very reasonably priced, and was pleasantly surprised with the cost given the quality of the food. Loved the tuna dish. \n\nWe arrived before the doors opened because we were advised the queue would…

Top 5 sushi I've ever had near Santa Monica. Tried shrimp nigiri & salmon nigiri. So simple, but very very effective.\n\nThanks to great service from Brian...

So fire. I love coming here after Pilates. Good service and clean storefront. Bathrooms have unscented and scented soap for eating. They serve quickly as well.

Fantastic service, consistent quality and chill atmosphere. Highly recommend. Will go again.

I love how this place has a no tip policy. The food was fresh and the restaurant is clean. Came here for a first date. I'd come back anytime.

This place does not take bookings. We rocked up at about 7.30 on a Sunday evening & waited just a few minutes. It is very popular with the younger generation. Its big attraction for us was the "Leave…

This place does not take bookings. We rocked up at about 7.30 on a Sunday evening & waited just a few minutes. It is very popular with the younger generation. Its big attraction for us was the "Lea…

Yum. This place is incredible.Famous for great seafood this restaurant delivers their promise. The wait-staff was nice.

Yum. This place is incredible.Famous for great seafood this restaurant delivers their promise. The wait-staff was nice.

Yum. This place is incredible.Famous for great seafood this restaurant delivers their promise. The wait-staff was nice.

We tried the omakase menu and were blown away! The sushi was amazing and offered at a great price. Sugarfish is an excellent spot for quality and value. Loved the experience and will definitely be …

We tried the omakase menu and were blown away! The sushi was amazing and offered at a great price. Sugarfish is an excellent spot for quality and value. Loved the experience and will definitely be …

This is a very famous sushi place and you can understand why when you eat there. Read about the founder of the restaurant and his unique attitude. Take the tasting menu.

The sushi is some of the best I have ever eaten - fresh, innovative and beautiful. The “fixed menu” was well worth it - providing a nice mix of sashimi, sushi and rolls. Absolutely worth it.

This reviews for Sugarfish were spot on! the sushi an sashimi were fresh and amazing. we can't wait to return. Some of my my friends are back to Santa Monica JUST for Sugarfish!

This place is AMAZING! Just order one of the Trust Me menus, sit back and enjoy. Delicious food, excellent service!

It was very good. Amazing food, top service and a nice atmosphere. We tried the tasting menu „trust me“ and I really would recommend it.

Incredible sushi. Some of the best I have ever had at an incredibly reasonable price. You won’t find miso soup or other typical Japanese dishes here. This is a sushi and sashimi restaurant. And…

We loved our dinner! We had to wait about 40 minutes on the app for seating but it was worth it! We had Nozawa choice. The quality was fantastic! Highly recommend. Masks and distancing strictly enf…

Great menu and service, easy to order omakase or Ala cart and the prices are very fair. My most recent visit, our server was top notch, treating us like royalty. They take walk ins (no reservations required). They also allow dogs. Though I am a dog guardian and lover, I found it completely unappetizing to have 2 (different parties) dogs inside such a small venue. This restaurant has so much to offer and be proud of, it could be a bit more discerning with guests. The dogs were not service animals, and it took away from my overall rating.

Zartosht

I was in town on business and decided to try Sugarfish for a take out order. I ordered Organic Edamame, Salmon Eggs, Uni (sea urchin gonads), 2 cut roll with Lobster and Yellowtail Sushi. Everything was well prepared and tasted pleasant. But to be honest, I just did not understand the crazy hype and prices. They even add a bunch of other fees (almost 20%) to all orders, even carry out. As for the vibe, it’s always jam packed. So be prepared to wait, even on weeknights. Inside it is pretty loud. All in all it is a very nice and elegant restaurant with bar, with not a lot of seats, so it adds a lot of character.

Jack C Sung

Sugarfish Santa Monica continues to deliver excellent quality fish, which is always the highlight of the meal. I also appreciate that they didn’t include “sushi” in their name, because what they serve is very specifically fish on rice, not traditional sushi—and they do that extremely well. That said, it still feels a bit overpriced for what you get, even considering the quality. The service was also a bit chaotic during my visit. Plates came out unevenly, and they didn’t bring ginger to my friend for quite a while, even after asking—an issue for someone who really enjoys it. Overall, great fish, good experience, but not without small flaws. Four stars.

Michael Ortali

Overall: recommend. It's a chain so I was hesitant at first, but this ended up being a pretty great stop on our LA trip. Tip: the fish was quite cold (more than it should). Give it a couple minutes before taking a bite so it's more room temperature. You'll get more flavor. Avoid using their soy sauce, it's too salty. $35 for an Omakase menu is a good deal. You'll get to try different kinds of fish and dishes. The rice was perfectly executed, perfect texture, and great flavors. The downsides were the rolls. They weren't interesting and didn't have that much flavor. I understand it's a filling dish, but having something different could be nice. The environment was quite nice. Beautiful interior design.

It's fine? I don't really get why it's so popular. The selection of fish isn't super interesting and it's not especially cheap. I know it's intentional, but I think the rice is too warm and makes f…

Sugarfish is a pleasant place to dine. The staff is friendly, the service quick. But top-tier sushi it is not. The rice doesn’t stick together, meaning that every time you pick up a piece of n…

An absolute treat to return to Sugarfish and their high standards and reasonable prices of pre-Covid times. We had missed everything about this place. and were delighted to be seated immediately a…

James Brown

I've been to this location (and a bunch of the others) a bunch of times and this time, I was genuinely disappointed. The fish quality was good as always, and maybe it was lunch or the first table they served, but the rice quality, temperature and form was TOTALLY off. The rice was cold, the rice was meh and the rice fell apart on every piece. I've never had this happen before. You come to SUGARFISH for the rice! I hope it was a 1 time thing and I'll definitely go back to try it one more time, but maybe lunch is the wrong time to go? We'll see. I'll edit this after I go back. 😞

+3

Khoi Pham

Got the "Nozawa Trust Me" set. It wasn't bad, but wasn't particularly outstanding neither. Tried a separate pink lobster nigiri, and that was decent too. Overall, I wouldn't recommend going out of your way for this, although if you are already in the area and need a reliable last minute option, this spot would be a decent choice.

+4

Trying hard to give this a balanced review. \n\nMy daughter found out about this place on TikTok and really wanted to come here since we are staying in Santa Monica and it has crazy good reviews.\n\n…

It’s walk in only so that’s what we did. We were 5 people so never easy. We were told 30 minutes but ended up over an hour. Our expectations were high but not met. food was of average quality. Ever…