Amakara

Still a win for me! Note: all parties must be there to be seated so lie to your late friends 😅 Now for the food: Beef wrapped asparagus: perfectly balanced savory to acidic flavors Tako salad: this was a miss for me, was wayyyyyyy too salty, I had to take my friend's rice to eat it with Lemon salmon roll: fresh and citrus taste Grilled edamame always a must! Maitake mushrooms make a great side! Tried a few drinks off their summer menu, Calipso something , good but was a little sweet for me. Friend got the espresso martini made with vodka and has a great ratio of foam.

New remark. — If you haven’t tried it yet, the grilled edamame is a must—it’s absolutely delicious and unforgettable. Be warned, though: once you’ve had it here, every other sushi restaurant’s warm salted edamame will will disappoint you. Nothing else quite matches the flavor of the grilled edamame. - This sushi restaurant serves food so fresh you almost feel guilty eating it—like you just robbed a fish of its retirement plan. Every roll is carefully put together, which is comforting, because nothing ruins an evening faster than sloppy raw fish. Even the “safe” choices, like a California roll, taste disturbingly good for something invented so people wouldn’t panic about seaweed. I’ll admit, I’m not a sushi expert. My talent stops at the rolls. But even I can see this place is on another level. The specialty rolls that come out from behind the bar look like decadent funeral arrangements for fish—extravagant, dramatic, and almost too beautiful to eat. Almost. The chefs clearly take pride in their work, crafting plates that look like edible art and taste like a last meal request done right. Whether you’re the type who clings to spicy tuna for dear life or you’re adventurous enough to order something that looks like it could bite back, this place delivers. Think of it as the perfect spot to celebrate life while quietly acknowledging you’re eating something that very recently had one.

The presentation was impeccable, and the flavors were harmoniously balanced. Each dish was fresh, savory, and profoundly gratifying. Every item we selected was served at the optimal moment, featuring rich textures and bold seasonings that exemplify the kitchen's meticulous craftsmanship. The ambiance was lively yet refined, creating a sense of occasion without crossing into formality. This establishment distinguishes itself prominently among the Japanese restaurants in the East Bay.

Good place for Japanese food. Great service and nice ambient. Clean restrooms and bar area to watch sports. We were for lunch and it was great. Definitely we'll come back for dinner to see how is it going 😊.

We’ve been to Amakara several times, and today was probably our last. We were immediately seated (no wait post-lunch rush on a Saturday at 1pm), but found ourselves sitting for 15+ minutes without any acknowledgment from wait staff or offered any water to our table. We ultimately chose to leave. This review still gets 3 stars though, because when done right regarding food and service, Amakara is amazing, and that had been our experience from the beginning when they were at their original location. However, we felt that things were just not the same for us since the move and continued coming giving Amakara multiple chances.

The overall rating currently doesn't do this place justice. We ordered multiple appetizers and sushi rolls. The service was extremely fast and the food was out of this world good. Bummer they don't allow reservations, but we only had to wait 15 minutes for a party of six during peak dining hours on a weeknight.

I had a really nice time at Amakara. The sushi selection is fantastic, and their wings are seriously awesome! It’s a lively spot, but still very kid-friendly, which was a big plus for us. The staff were super friendly and the service was spot on. All in all, a great place to enjoy a meal with the family. Definitely worth a visit!

The quality here is just so apparent to the food, staff, and right down to the napkins. We randomly chose this restaurant so I did not expect it to be this stinkin good y’all!!! The miso soup alone has so much flavor I could eat that every single day! It was rich and silky like excuse me?!?! Then my husband and I shared the Mother’s Day pork belly which again was insanely flavorful. My husband had the udon noodles with a shrimp tempura roll which he loved. We both ordered Mother’s Day menu drinks that were extremely well made and tastey. I took my spider roll home because I was too full but I just know it’ll be as good as everything else today. We sat at the sushi bar with Nicolas as our waiter today. He was the right amount of attentive and made our experience here. 10/10. This will definitely be our new date spot literally no contest. I also want to add a shout out the the sushi makers at the bar! They were so fun having amazing energy.

This is a sushi spot to go to if you're looking for not only good food but also a nice ambiance to bring friends and family. There is typically a wait on weekends but overall food was good and our server was attentive.

This place is nice. There is a full bar on the side where you can sit and get drinks while you wait for your table. There can be a wait as this place can be very busy. Prices are decent when you consider how fresh/good the sashimi/seafood is. My favorite appetizers are the agedashi tofu, sesame seared ahi tuna, and oysters on the half shell. Toro, hamachi toro, uni, sake toro, and amaebi are so good and fresh. Drinks are tasty and not too pricey. Servers are attentive and check on you often. Parking can be tricky because most of the parking is in the parking structure under the apartments, but you have to park in the retail spaces. I keep wanting to come back each time I come here :)

WOW! My new favorite sushi spot! I have seen this place from years because I love going to Half Price, but have never been until recently. I am very disappointed in myself of the time spent not going here because it's amazing. Came here with my son and his father. Since it was all our first time we tried a lot of different items. We got the mixed tempura, 2 steamed buns (char shu and chicken katsu), the takoyaki fries, the dragon roll and the caterpillar roll. Yum, I love the variety of the tempura 2 of each item, I never had tempura asparagus before and it was delicious. The fry was good and the veggies were all well cooked through. The steam buns were truly the stars of the show. They did not skimp on the meat for the char shu and it was moist and delicious. Two words for the chicken katsu bun: SO CRISPY! It was so good, the best katsu I have ever had. The buns are a MUST when you come here. The takoyaki fries were a let down. Seems like it would be a good idea for non-adventurous eaters but just too much going on. There was a lot of bonito flakes on top which if it's your thing then you would be in heaven. Crab meat in a dragon roll?!? Nah, not for me. They used real crab meat but it was a mixture of crab and not just the meat. I took out the crab from my rolls and it tasted great without. Quality caterpillar roll. Overall great experience dining wise and food wise. Very well attentive waiters and bussers. Got seated right away and the food came pretty quick. Located in a plaza that's a luxury apartment complex. Street parking; there is a parking lot behind the restaurant but it's the parking lot for the complex so not sure if it was okay to park. Pricing was standard for any sushi place and it's worth every penny.

The review count and stars for Amakara are well warranted! My first visit to this Sushi restaurant happened a few Sundays ago. We casually strolled in for lunch and were seated within 15 minutes- we had no previous reservation. The restaurant is quite large with lots of seating areas and a sushi bar area. Upon being seated, our table was clean and already had silverware and cups of ice cold water. The menu is quite extensive and large, but I knew what I wanted- sushi! It was my wife and I, so we ordered 4 rolls and 1 appetizer. Considering how large the portions are, this was plenty of food for two people. We were not disappointed with any of the food. It was all very fresh, tasty and fulfilling. It was impressive how quick the food came out. The service was really good and fast. Our waters were always refilled and ordering additional items was easy. We ended up getting hot tea at the end. Pricing is fair for what good sushi costs, especially in this inflationary period we are living in. I would absolutely be back and will refer family & friends to Amakara.

I recently visited Amakara in Pleasanton to partake in their Happy Hour menu, which runs from 4 to 6 p.m. The selection of sushi, appetizers, and drinks was fantastic. I had a lychee martini, a rainbow spicy roll, the chef's nigiri special, gyoza, and another sushi roll from the main menu. Everything was delicious and fresh. Our server, Hannah, was super awesome--attentive and knowledgeable, she made excellent suggestions. We sat at the sushi bar, and the ambience was vibrant and exciting. The sushi chefs provided fun conversations, adding to the overall enjoyable experience. I highly recommend checking out Amakara, especially during Happy Hour!

Came here on a Sunday at 1pm and we were seated immediately. Our server was Chris. He was friendly and attentive. The place is spacious and you can see the busy kitchen in the back. They have awesome ventilation system because it was not smoky inside at all and you won't end up smelling like food afterwards. I had the lychee martini and it was good. We also ordered the soft shell crab and the mix tempura. I wasn't impressed, there was too much batter. Also they could have been crispier. The tempura shrimp tasted like it was prepackaged. The saba shioyaki was delicious. Big servings and plenty of rice. No miso soup included. The presentation was lacking. It looked like a home cooked meal as opposed to restaurant quality meal (see photo). We also had the Hawaiian delight roll, spider roll, and the spicy crunchy rainbow roll. They were all just fine. Nothing spectacular. Overall the food was good but not amazing, service was fast and friendly, although the young lady in the front desk should probably say "thank you" to customers as they leave, instead she was busy on her cellphone. We paid $147 for our meal (2 people), not including tip.

This place is fantastic! The inside is gorgeous with a great atmosphere. There's a sushi bar area if you don't want to sit at a table. The inside is beautifully decorated and modern. We ordered two drinks, two rolls along with the poke nachos. The poke nachos were delicious and came with seaweed salad mixed in with a sauce and tuna, along side freshly fried wonton chips to scoop the poke. This was by far our favorite! The rolls were large and the fish was fresh. The drinks were strong! The spicy margarita was very delicious and had a strong kick. The service was great and quick. The only thing we didn't like is we asked to split the bill with cash and card, and they were too lazy to split the bill for us and made one of us pay the whole bill on card and asked us to pay the cash to the other person. I think that was really unprofessional to ask someone to pay the whole bill because you're unwilling to split the bill at the register. Especially since this place is a little on the pricey side. But overall the place was amazing and probably one of my favorite sushi places in town so far!

Hands down the best Bay Area Sushi spot. The fish is always fresh. The portions are decent. They have implemented the Yelp waitlist which is a huge plus considering the wait time due to their popularity. The bar has many options. In addition to Sushi they have other Japanese food items. The space is a bit loud but it's decorated nicely. Walll arts are amazing.

We immensely enjoyed our meal tonight. The Sake Toro and Toro tasted fresh and the image shows 5 pieces served. The Spicy Crunchy Rainbow Roll was indeed spicy and crunchy and flavorful (slightly overpowering green onion). Unfortunately, the beef tomato curry was too watered down and the pork tonkatsu lacked crunch and meat. I wouldn't recommend it for the price especially. I had pretty good experience with my server. He was helpful in recommending items, explaining terminology when asked. Thanks! Packed and lively ambiance with a bar corner. Dim on the inside with lots of natural light.

4 star for sushi, less for other items. Came here for lunch with customers. It was very busy for lunch. We ordered edamame, takoyaki, pork belly for appetizers, and various others for mains. I got the sashimi plate with a spicy tuna roll. The fish was very good, extremely fresh and was well prepared. The teriyaki had large portions, and came with separate slabs and soup. Overall pretty decent place for Japanese.

Food quality here is 10/10 and the ambiance inside is an elevated, modern feel. Didn't get to experience a sit down meal since we ordered takeout but the staff who rung us up was very helpful and recommended some of her favorites. I'm glad we went with these recommendations because this was a super good dinner!! I appreciate how they have rolls you can't find anywhere else. We got the Italian dragon roll which has pesto, tomato, and other things you usually don't find in sushi but it tasted amazing! Only criticism I have is the wait was pretty long -- around 40-50 minutes. We went on a Tuesday night and they were still really busy so I guess that's good for business but we just waited a long time.

Amakara is still our favorite place in the tri-valley for sushi. When we can swing it, we try to get there in time for happy hour - of the few times we've done it, there always has been a table for us. Their happy hour menu is quite generous with plenty of options! From the Happy Hour menu we order the grilled edamame, sashimi, assorted maki, jalapeño hamachi roll, and drinks. We also got the mixed sashimi but we thought the sashimi set was better so next time we'll stick to the sashimi. Then we usually order Katsudon or a bowl of udon to share from the regular menu. We like it enough where we still go regular dinner hours if we cannot make the happy hour time - but we do try to show up around 5pm to avoid a wait since they are popular.

Giving five stars to the table waiters/waitresses and food! My go-to is the tempura asparagus roll. It comes with a very generous roll and delicious side salad. The rainbow roll is also delicious! Super fresh fish and lots of flavor will all of the different components. The vibe is pretty chill. A lot of people get dressed up to go here, but you can also get away with a super casual outfit! I've ever gone here in workout clothes for a quick bite and never felt out of place. ** Please Note: Don't sit at the bar. I've been here multiple times, as I used to live right across the street, but the bar service has been terrible every single time. My friends that come often also say the same. I didn't want to knock them any stars due to this, because everything else is fantastic. The bar workers are just unfriendly and seem like they absolutely hate their job :(

Exquisitely hand crafted sushi rolls, drinks and apps. Came here to celebrate my friend's birthday and had a wonderful experience. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive, she also brought my friend a tempura ice cream for his birthday. The ambiance was nice and vibrant, really intriguing paintings and choice of furniture. One of my favorite sushi places in the Bay Area!

The service was excellent! Our server listened to what we wanted and even made sure to ask questions when we made a dietary request. She didn't have to, but she was kind and considerate enough to verify. My friend had requested tamari sauce and when we were ordering other dishes, our server asked to make sure we didn't want gluten free because the another dish wasn't gluten free. My friend likes tamari(which is gluten free) but only for the taste and not any dietary restrictions. I thought it was so considerate of the server to ask in case there was a health issue! The food was served quickly and it was so fresh! The chicken wings are absolutely amazing!!!! They are a must have and I can't wait to get them again. I took off one star because I wish the rolls had a bit more flavor compared to other places, but they were tasty enough! However, we will definitely be back to Amakara again and again!

I went back to try out Amakara again and had a great experience. There really isn't that much seating but it is worth the wait. I brought a baby and they had this cradle rocker that holds the car seat and I thought that was super innovative of them to provide it. As for the food, the tempura was so delicious and lightly fried. The rainbow roll was definitely the favorite as was the dragon roll. One of the rolls we got was listed as spicy but it truly wasn't that spicy. Prices are a little higher than average but totally worth it for the quality of the fish.

It was very busy on Saturday night around 6pm. Thank goodness for the Yelp reservation system! We had to wait only 10 minutes once we got there. The restaurant's atmosphere was lively and the noise level was pretty high. I had a combination sushi which had 5 different sushi and a roll of your choice. My choice, a Unagi roll was very good. Also sushi was cut thick with small portion of rice. I prefer that to small fish and lots of rice. Unfortunately, we were disappointed with the service. I understand it is very busy. So, wouldn't it be wise to give finished customers the check quickly so that new guests can get seated who were waiting for a long time? It took 10 plus minutes to get our waiter's attention and another 10 minutes to get our check. Also I noticed that our next table had to wait for about 30 minutes to order their meals.

Finally tried amakara after they moved locations! Parking is a little rough. I love the full bar and the modern feel of the new space. It was pretty packed for a Tuesday afternoon. The food was amazing. You must try the handrolls. The lunch special was such a good deal and so much food. I had leftovers for dinner! Sushi ans sashimi was so fresh and delicious.

The food itself was okay, if anything the service in my opinion was the best part. It's definitely a place I feel like I would go to more so for the drinks than the food. Overall from the thoughts of my family as well it doesn't sound like they would enjoy coming back. We were a little disappointed considering this place had very good reviews.

My favorite Japanese restaurant! Service is always 5 stars and food is consistently good! My favorite is the spicy poke (gives a good kick) and the karage chicken. Also would recommend the tempura udon! My husband loves the grilled edamame and red dragon roll. Sashimi is always fresh and happy hour is worth it! We recommend this to everyone and they all love it too!

My experience at this restaurant was unfortunately underwhelming. Kicking off with the oyster shooters, they seemed to be marred by an overpowering taste of sugar and soy sauce, something you wouldn't typically expect from such an offering. The pervasive sweetness seemed to also infiltrate the rest of the meal, lending an almost teriyaki-like flavor to dishes that shouldn't taste so sugary. The oyster shooters, for instance, tasted more like a serious mismashed concoction of sugar and soy sauce and the overall taste of the dishes was uniformly saturated with a teriyaki-like sauce, rendering the food soggy and overly sweet. It felt like a chain restaurant trying to mimic fusion cuisine, rather than a Japanese spot. Indeed, the quality of the food did not align with traditional Japanese fare and was very pricey as well. The service was fine and attentive but the ambiance was also quite peculiar and very loud with folks shouting (similar to a pub).

Nice ambiance with modern decor and attentive service. Spacious but we came on a Friday night with a group of 10 and the wait was 40 min. Totally worth the wait. We were pleasantly surprised with how generous the portions were and how fresh the raw seafood was. Mixed sashimi vs chirashi bowl: price is the same. Variety of seafood is a bit different. A bowl of rice came with the mixed sashimi as a side while chirashi bowl has the rice at the bottom of the same bowl. We felt the amount of seafood is more in the mixed sashimi than the chirashi bowl. (Forgot to take a picture of the chirashi bowl for comparison). Overall, both choices had quality seafood. Unagi rice (forgot to picture). Surprisingly enough, it came with two big filets. Good flavor and great portion. It could totally feed two people! There was limited street parking but ample parking in the structure behind the restaurant. We would totally return if we are in the area again.

Used to be a favorite spot of mine before they moved, but now that they're in a fancier category with the updated interior, I feel like the quality has gone down. The chirashi was extremely fishy and the ramen just okay. With the abundance of Japanese spots now, I think I'll check other places first before defaulting to Amakara from now on.

The food was great, the regular salmon maki, sake sashimi and takoyaki--we would definitely get if we ever go to this place again. The rolls that we got were alright, just not our cup of tea. I think the major things that really threw us off is the loudness inside and the menu. I understand sometimes it's the restaurants vibe but we were almost shouting at each other across our table and with our server it was that loud. The menu really just confused us. Seriously tho, Amakara, no shrimp tempura on the menu? And the shrimp that came with the mixed vegetables tempura was the size of my pinky and then the parking situation--we gambled our vehicle on the other side of the street hoping it won't get towed while we were eating ! Would I go back? Yes. But this is definitely not going to be my first choice.

I came here on a whim on a Saturday afternoon when we were craving cold soba on a hot day. This place is about 10-15 minutes from the Livermore outlet mall. While there was no wait, the restaurant appeared pretty full ~2 PM. Upon entering, the space was very clean. There was a full bar and sushi bar to the left with an additional seating space to the right with a mix of tables and booths. Food was great! We ordered: Yume-mosa (4.5/5): Refreshing, tasty cocktail. I love yuzu and I love umeshu, so it was a delicious combination. Ramune soda vibes for those that like sweet cocktails that mask the taste of alcohol. Martini Espresso (4/5): Pretty good, not too sweet. Tempura cold soba (5/5): The presentation was great and the dish was pretty sizable. The soba noodles were cooked to perfection and it included grated daikon, horse radish, tempura flakes and green onions. The tempura came with a mix of shrimp and vegetables. It was sooo yummy and perfect for the hot day today. I kept telling my partner that this soba was better other restaurants I've been to that specialize in soba. I would 100% make the trip back to Livermore for the soba alone. Jalapeño Hamachi Roll (4.5/5): We wanted to order additional rolls on top of our soba and jalapeño hamachi is always a safe choice. The fish tasted very fresh! I appreciated the ratio of rice and ingredients - they were quite generous with the hamachi as you can see in the photo. Lime Scallop Roll (4/5): This was a pretty unique roll for me. I am a scallop girly, through and through. But I usually prefer simply scallop sashimi or nigiri (with just the rice). This roll included cilantro, avocado, tomato and was topped with a slice of lime. The combination of ingredients is not usual my preference but it was a unique take that somehow worked pretty well. To be honest, I enjoyed it much more than I expected! Tasted very refreshing, but my partner described it as pico de gallo with scallop. I'd probably order this again at some point after trying other rolls on the menu. Service (3/5): The staff was overall friendly. Overall, this was a great experience with yummy food and drinks! I am looking forward to my next visit so I can enjoy their cold soba again!

Came here with friends on a Thursday evening and we were seated right away (there's a lot of space, so we were seated even with a lot of diners already eating). Staff and Service: - Our waitress was nice and she kept us updated when food would be coming out Food and Drinks (forgot to get a photo of the drinks): - Spicy Pineapple Margarita: safe for those that are a little sensitive to heat. This wasn't spicy, but it was flavorful - Cherry Blossom Roll: this was okay - nothing special, but it wasn't bad - Lemon Salmon Roll: the same as what some restaurants refer to as a 49ers Roll. The lemon always adds good flavor to this - Edamame: good seasoning and flavor on these - Desserts: I forgot the name of each of the desserts we ordered, but they have a few to choose from. They also had a Valentine's dessert special menu going on. I didn't know my ice cream came with chocolate (didn't say anywhere in the description), so I wasn't able to eat most of it. The tempura ice cream could be split amongst two people if you're not wanting a ton of dessert Miscellaneous: - There isn't a parking lot for this restaurant, so you'll need to find street parking or take a risk parking across the street at other businesses Overall: The food was decent - not bad, but nothing special. This is by no means an authentic Japanese sushi restaurant, so just a heads up in case that's what you're looking for. This place is good for family, groups, etc.

Amakara is one of my favorite restaurants because of their AMAZING food, great service and consistently immaculate experience. The food is always fresh and made to perfection. 5 star experience every time!

YUM- the food is very tasty and fresh here, especially the nigiri and sushi. My girls and I wanted a sushi reunion and we wanted to try the new Amakara location. It was packed with a 35 min wait! Ambiance was spacious and modern inside- love the wall mural of the sumo wrestler with the nigiri ferris wheel. We ordered the following: -Bottle of nigori sake -Grilled edamame -Chicken karaage -Chicken katsu bao -Chashu bao -Red Dragon roll -Shrimp Mango roll (subbed ebi for Salmon) - my favorite! -Chili Spider roll -3 sets of Toro (Chu-toro, Toro, Salmon and Hamachi) - highly recommend - they were all buttery deliciousness! Docked off a star for the slow service, although our server was nice and explained they were short-staffed. A roll we ordered was also forgotten but we had enough food with leftovers. Prices are a little higher but everything we had was super delicious- I'll be back!

Best sushi I've had in the Bay Area. Friendly sushi chefs make quality recommendations. Pricey but worth it for a classy date night.

It's been awhile since I visited Amakara and first time at this new location which is more modern, spacious, with a variety of new menu items and wonderful drink options. Met up with a friend for a weekday lunch and definitely, the way to go with no wait and more leisure dining. Ordered a few items and none disappointed: :: Salmon Skin Salad - crispy skin with a touch of salt with mixed greens, thinly sliced onions, cucumber, marinated gobo (burdock...thought they were micro carrots lol), bonito flakes and tossed with a citrus dressing. Loved the flavor and textures of this salad! Great recommendation George! :: Italian Dragon Roll - shrimp tempura, unagi, sliced tomato, panko on some pesto and balsamic. Yeah sounds odd but it works! :: Amaebi - sweet raw shrimp with fried heads. Perfect and fresh! Atmosphere is wonderful, service friendly and welcoming. No drinks this visit but plenty of items for me to want to try with another visit. Pricing on the higher side. Only issue was the seating for 2 near the sushi bar. Table was a bit small and cramped and good if you got 3 dishes max. Parking may be a bit tricky: small parking lot and garage for retail (not residents only). Some street parking

I really enjoyed the food at Amakara. The service was amazing, and the ambience is nice. I also like their bar setup; they have televisions facing you at whichever side you sit at. Lastly, parking was easy because they have a parking garage that is free of charge.

The ambiance is so welcoming !!! Great communication with the hostess :) We got seated fairly quick (we came before the rush) Our server Kenson was so swift and great with recommendations!! He checked up on us quite frequently, that in itself was very impressive! I always come here with my family, I absolutely love the service, the aesthetic, and the quality of food!!! Definitely would recommend the sashimi salad

Delicious lunch with my bestie! We arrived right at 11:30am when they opened to get a seat without waiting. It got busy fast. Shared a bunch of things, Jasmine Pearl Tea, we each had a Miso Soup, Veggie Tempura and a couple specialty rolls, Shrimp Mango Roll and SSS Tuna Roll. Lots of food and leftovers to take home. Our server Arielle was the sweetest, great suggestions and super efficient. I can't wait to come back for a fun dinner! Photo is of the 2 of us with our pups, photo taken at another time, we were so into our yummy lunch we forgot to take a photo.

Love everything we ordered here! A bit pricey but if you are a sashimi lover, you will und why. It's totally worth it. Even the service, ambience and presentation. The only thing I didn't like is there's no reservation. So we had to wait over an hour outside in a cold. We came Saturday night.

Will travel for sushi! I saw Amakara on a Check Please, Bay Area episode, and the rolls looked delicious. Since I was in the East Bay, I decided to stop by and pick up some items to try. They weren't busy at 3:30pm on a Sunday, and it took less than 15 minutes for my order to be ready. I tried: -Golden Shrimp Roll (Panko Fried Shrimp, Snow Crab, Cucumber, Avocado, Spicy Mayo, $13.50, https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=rRDRlJsnNuWDzLkzLxV_nw&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg): They didn't skimp on the fried shrimp; however, this roll didn't have much flavor, and it may have been missing the spicy mayo. California Roll (Crab, Avocado, Cucumber, Tobiko, $11.50, https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=0HWXGFpYx3m5w4jranie8A&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg): I didn't like the cucumber in here, and the crab mix didn't have much flavor. The ingredients seemed fresh; however, I've had better rolls at other sushi places. Their specialty rolls are priced on the higher side, and it could be that those are the rolls to go for. The ambiance inside looked really nice though, and their decor was new/modern. I would return to try their specialty rolls if in the area. Parking was difficult to find since I only saw the spots in the apartment complex area behind the restaurant, but there could have been another lot to park in.

BFF recommended this place, and it did not disappoint me. Food was fresh and delicious. Service was attentive between delivering dishes and taking plates away by the staffs. It is located near downtown Dublin, and condos above the restaurant. I like the industrial high ceiling decor dining ambiance. It is always good to come in 6-8 group of people. So we could order a lot of dishes to try. We could not even get to the sushi part as we were full. The 20-piece sashimi was devoured before I took the photo. Unagi rice was highly recommended, and the eel quality and taste was excellent comparing with others. We did not consume alcohol, and it average $50 per person after 20% gratuity added. It was more than 20% since it was added after tax, but we did not mind as the staffs provided great service. Overall it was a great dining experience, and we will return again!

10,10,10 across the board! I have had a craving for sushi and have been unable to try anything since moving into the area. I was pleasantly surprised by Amakara. From the amazing service to the great food and drinks. When we arrived it was pretty busy but we did not wait very long to get a table. Waiters were super friendly and helpful in deciding on drink choices and was very appreciative when they immediately took my order back after I realized I ordered my role not fried the way I usually get it. I was a little nervous about asking the waitress if there was anyway to cook it just a bit and they said no worries we will make a new one. That alone was enough for me to rave about the restaurant. I can't wait to be back when my sushi craving kicks back up.

We were on our way to SFO when we got hungry, so I had my boyfriend search for a good place to eat for dinner. He asked if sushi was okay and, of course, who can say no to sushi? We decided to try this place because of all the good reviews in Google and Yelp. As a first-timer tip, dont wait until the weekend to go because you will be waiting for a long time. It was Thursday night, and the place was very busy. Thankfully, we were seated right away at the sushi bar. We ordered Double Jalapeno and Spicy Sesame Seared Tuna - both were "supposed to be spicy," but neither one was spicy. They were really good and flavorful. The fish were fresh, and everything was made to perfection. If you're just looking for a night out with a great atmosphere, then it is worth paying a little extra. But really, sushi is sushi.

I used to come here as a kid at their old location and I remember it being just okay. I've been to their new location a handful of times recently and it has been great! Like others mentioned, it's a bit overpriced, but they do have a lunch special on weekdays that's a pretty good steal. Their sesame chicken is yummy, their mixed sashimi tastes fresh and the cuts are pretty thick, their uni trio sampling different unis was amazing. I like the layout of their new space, and being able to watch sports games on their TVs while enjoying my meal is a plus.

When we got here, it was 9:00 pm and there was a pretty big line. Luckily, there were seats at the sushi bar so we sat there within minutes. We decided to share a bunch of items and I enjoyed the karaage chicken and tempura (it was average for me). The calamari had a good flavor to it, but I don't care for tentacles or really thick pieces, so this wasn't something I cared for. They had an awesome lychee vodka cocktail and a great bar. I there's a lively vibe to this place and it's pretty rock in'. I'd totally come back.

I will willingly drive 45 minutes just for Amakara - definitely some of the best sushi in the bay. I'd say it's casual dining...you can get away with sweats, lol. We went on a Thursday night and the wait was about 20-25 minutes for sushi bar seating. I've done both to go and dining in, and both experiences are good! You can't go wrong with the steamed edamame, chef's nigiri special, double jalapeño, and spicy crunchy rainbow roll. Sushi is fresh and flavorful! I've heard their dessert is good, but haven't had the chance to try it since we always get too full from the sushi. Word of caution - portion size is actually pretty large so for 2 people who can eat well, this was the perfect amount of food.

The sushi here is very fresh and delectable. The amount of options they have are seemingly endless. I love the ambiance of this place because it ranges from working professionals to families to single people like me dining alone. I usually sit at the bar. The service is hard to engage initially but once you get their attention they're very friendly and accommodating.

We had a great experience at Amakara, because of our server Kenson . The food was good but Kenson made the experience amazing. He was a very attentive , he was always coming by to check on us. When we first walked in, the hostess wasn't very welcoming but Kenson made the rest of the our dining experience memorable. We will definitely go back.

Terrible service. Waited 1 hr to get seated, then waited 30 minutes and no server. Had to ask for one and still took a long time.

We were a table of 7 and didn't wait long for a table. Parking situation is a bit difficult. The takoyaki fries are a pass, its just fries, bonito flakes and a little mayo. Hard pass. Sashimi was delicious, very thick pieces. We got the sashimi for happy hour. Katsu-don was good, perfect ratio of sauce and topping. Large portion of the Katsu-don.

Came early for dinner and caught the end of Happy Hour. The quality of fish is always excellent at Amakara and everything was delicious. Valerie was our waitress and the service was great! I recommend coming early to beat the rush and enjoying some items off the happy hour menu.

i came here on a wednesday night around 7 pm with a group of 4 and was surprised to find that there was a 50 minute wait. while waiting, we drove to boba bliss to get boba. the restaurant had unique menu items such as oyster shooters. i personally didn't try it, but my friends did. i shared the chili spider salmon roll and the cherry blossom roll. the rolls were surprisingly filling, as i was only able to finish 3/4 of my portion before feeling like i was in a food coma, so you definitely get your money's worth. i didn't get to take any photos of the inside, but there was a large wall painting. overall the ambiance was great, it felt a little on the fancier side but still had affordable prices.

You can never go wrong with Amakara. I know I have reviewed them several times and will continue to rave! The seafood is perfect in all its forms. My favorites: Italian Dragon, Sesame Seared Tuna, Cherry Blossom and Shrimp Mango... I love the service there, it's always fun to sit at the sushi bar and watch them work but if you're at a table, Hannah is by far my favorite server! They also treat and care for their staff well - and for that, they also get my loyalty! The ambiance - this is the only space I have a mild struggle. It is LOUD! tables are small and close together, if they could manage some purse hooks or a coat check to keep items safe and off the floor I would appreciate that!

I recently dined at Amakara, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience. The Rainbow Roll was a burst of flavors, with its fresh assortment of fish and avocado, beautifully presented. The Caterpillar Roll was equally delightful, with its eel topping and creamy texture. What truly stood out, besides the delectable sushi, was the impeccable service. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and ensured a memorable dining experience. One thing to keep in mind is that Amakara tends to get busy early, around 5 pm. So, I'd recommend getting there early to secure your spot and savor the sushi without any hassle. Overall, Amakara is a must-visit for sushi lovers, offering both delicious rolls and top-notch service.

For all you sushi lovers out there this is my go to spot and after coming here a lot, you have to go on Thursday. Thursday they get their weekly fish shipment so you can get all the specialty items before they're gone and it's also a bit less crowded. This is my goto "fancy dining" spot. The interior decor is pretty nice and of course it's sushi! The sushi and rolls here are really good. My favorites are the red dragon and spicy sesame seared tuna. And my hard-core sushi and sashimi friends say the fish quality is really good for their specialty items. My only major gripe is that the food does take a long time to come out sometimes. Expect to be here for like 2 hrs. And if you go during dinner service expect a huge line after 5:30pm.