AMA Sushi

The Best Sushi in Santa Barbara, According to a Local Writer | Eater LA

"Ama Sushi’s executive chef, Scott Yonamine, is surprisingly soft-spoken for someone who regularly leads omakase in a setting with a Las Vegas-style soundtrack. His menu is simple and fresh, focusing on the finest seafood sourced locally or from Tokyo’s Toyosu Fish Market. The menu changes seasonally and often reflects bright citrus, rice from Northern California, and fresh wasabi from Half Moon Bay. Live freshwater eels are flown in regularly from Japan and prepared by the team. The toro with grated truffle is an indulgent pairing that Yonamine learned while training at the celebrated Musashi by Aman in Tokyo. Dine à la carte for more nigiri, sashimi, or rolls like the spicy tuna Woman of the Sea with king salmon and a side of citrus tamari ponzu." - Meaghan Clark Tiernan

"Located at the Rosewood Miramar, AMA Sushi is straight out of Japan. The name is a nod to the famed female divers and the space resembles a typical Japanese house with a moody nautical appeal (think dark wood walls with lantern-like light fixtures and a scalloped sushi bar). Then there is the edomae-style sushi, available à la carte or as an omakase. It's worth going all in on the omakase to sample the chef's artistry, which begins with a trinity of bites from soba noodles and fried eggplant to sesame tofu. A seared scallop with wasabi vinaigrette paves the way for nigiri, with standouts including rich New Zealand king salmon and kamasu, a Japanese barracuda finished with a red chili paste. Black sesame cheesecake is a solid finish." - Michelin Inspector

The 25 Best Restaurants In Santa Barbara - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"Ama Sushi is another restaurant on the Rosewood Miramar property but lacks the breathtaking ocean views you'll find at Caruso's. However, you get something equally great: an intimate omakase experience at a fairly reasonable price. For $185 per person, you're served a 15-course dinner featuring high-quality sashimi, meaty Hokkaido scallops, and yuzu-infused firefly squid. There's also a nice balance of flavor throughout the meal, from a light applewood-smoked kanpachi with seaweed salt to soy-marinated bluefin tuna topped with a pile of grated mullet roe. And there's an optional $130 sake pairing if you care to partake." - brant cox, sylvio martins, cathy park

The Best Restaurants in Santa Barbara, According to Eater Editors | Eater LA

"Inside the dreamlike Rosewood Miramar Beach hotel, Japanese-trained chef Scott Yonamine prepares a menu highlighting seafood from the Santa Barbara coast and the Toyosu Fish Market in Tokyo. The stunning dining room is modern and intimate with a $185 per person omakase or select a la carte dishes like the sake kasu marinated black cod fished from local waters. The Oubaitori cocktail is a superstar martini with Haku Vodka, dry vermouth, plum, lychee, and chamomile." - Mona Holmes

Ama Sushi - Review - Santa Barbara - Santa Barbara - The Infatuation

"Ama Sushi is another restaurant on the Rosewood Miramar property but lacks the breathtaking ocean views you'll find at Caruso's. However, you get something equally great: an intimate omakase experience at a fairly reasonable price. For $145 per person, you're served a 15-course dinner featuring high-quality sashimi, meaty Hokkaido scallops, and yuzu-infused firefly squid. There's also a nice balance of flavor throughout the meal, from a light applewood-smoked kanpachi with seaweed salt to soy-marinated bluefin tuna topped with a pile of grated mullet roe. And there's an optional $130 sake pairing if you care to partake." - Sylvio Martins