Kamakura Japanese Restaurant

The rice was overcooked! Even the simplest rolls looked as if they were thrown together blindfolded. Honestly, it felt like the place wanted to get rid of its customers rather than feed them. And the baked mussels? A culinary trap — steer clear at all costs.

My family and I had a delightful dining experience at Kamakura Japanese Restaurant in Los Gatos, and we were particularly impressed with the cleanliness of the establishment. The dining area was spotless, with tables and chairs meticulously arranged and free of any debris. The floors were well-maintained, and the overall ambiance was inviting and comfortable. The restrooms were also exceptionally clean, which added to our positive experience. The staff at Kamakura took great care in ensuring that all surfaces were regularly sanitized, and we noticed them frequently cleaning high-touch areas. This attention to detail made us feel safe and well-cared for during our visit. The presentation of the food was also impeccable, with each dish served on clean and attractive tableware. The overall cleanliness of the restaurant contributed significantly to our enjoyment of the meal. In addition to the cleanliness, the quality of the food and the friendly service made our visit to Kamakura a memorable one. We highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a clean and welcoming dining environment with delicious Japanese cuisine.

Their sashimi has a huge potion and the fish is very fresh. Their rolls are also have great taste. Service is fine.

This has nothing to do with Sushi, the fish is way too thick, the Taste and texture is not good at all. The fish seems to be prepared in large batches it is kind of industrial made food.

Summer 2021. Walking with my husband along Santa Cruz ave. to have lunch in another restaurant and we decided to change the option: The almost 93F were perfect for sushi. We sat outside under the gallery ordered Edamame, Hawaiian poke California roll and Philadelphia roll. The service was fast and smiling, the prices were good. I highly recommend this place, probably coming back this weekend.

Sushi was very good. Sat outside on a beautiful spring day. Service was very fast. They had my roll out within about 4 minutes. Couldn’t believe it. Sashimi was great, too, but the pieces were personally too big for me to eat. Should have been cut in half. Having said that, I’ll go back next time I want sushi in Los Gatos. Give it a try and judge for yourself.

Delicious food and great service. We sat outside on a warm day & it was very quaint & quiet. The sushi was delicious & also huge! Great prices for the amount of food received. Will be coming back again!

It was very crowded on a nice Saturday afternoon, both indoor and outdoor seating was packed but they quickly found us a table! I had their traditional Jaoanese Bento box with Saba Shioyaki & Salmon Sashimi combo and my husband enjoyed the Sashimi Sampler.

Really good food and service . Good quality fish and in a nice part of downtown. I like the Justin and the Sex and the City. The tempura is fire also. Salmon and hamachi especially good quality but those r just my favs. Lowkey expensive but it's Los Gatos so that's expected.

Fresh and delicious sushi , beautifully presented! The service was attentive and very friendly, and the atmosphere made the meal even better. Definitely one of the best Japanese spots in the area -- will be back soon!

I'm giving this place two stars because of their lack of accommodations on folks who might have medical problems. Let me explain. There's this fish that many sushi restaurants serve called escolar or butterfish. While cheap and tasty, it can cause anal leakage in some people. Yes, you heard that right. Because of the anal leakage potential, Japan banned serving escolar! I ordered the combination sashimi and when it came, I was horrified to see the escolar on my plate (I had learned of my body's intolerance the hard way). Every single sushi restaurant that has served me escolar, upon learning of my issue, has switched the escolar to any other fish at no extra cost. I asked the staff at Kamakura to switch out the escolar due to my medical condition and they would only do it if I paid extra. The staff said their policy is that any changes from the default will cost extra. Because escolar tends to be cheaper than other fish, I pressed the staff and after much prodding they admitted that escolar is much cheaper than any other fish they could replace it with. I understand the restaurant's policy on order changes but medical exceptions (especially for something as gross as anal leakage) should absolutely be granted. Inside was well decorated and service was good. Portion size was also good.

This is one of our spots for a casual, quick lunch. The service is generally friendly and quick. The atmosphere is decent though they could make the bathrooms a bit nicer. The food overall is good with standout sushi (nice large, delicious, and fresh pieces of fish). The bentos are ok, not great. Average meat and tempura. The soups are ok too... not great. So if you're looking for good sushi this is the place.

swung by this nice spot that my family likes to go to every once in a while for nice japanese food. the serving sizes for the bento box are incredible - for $22 you could get three main entrees like teriyaki, sashimi, sushi or tempura. the interior looked very wooden and traditional and the staff are quite attentive. although the food quality might not be the highest, the price and serving sizes sure are worth it!

The food was so delicious and the portions were huge!!!! The service was perfect! And the ambiance was understated and comfortable. We will be back!

The sushi rice was a little too sweet for me. The nigiri pieces were rather large, which was fine, but a bit difficult to eat. The bar stools should have some back support too. Little hard to eat at the bar without the back support.

Nice regular sushi place. Good service. Nice quality. Good serving sizes. Friendly staff. Allow you to sit outside which is awesome in the summer. Good choices.

Have been going here for years and it is consistently good. It gets one less star only because there are locations where I feel the fish is fresher in other parts of San Jose.....BEST house salad in the game though!

Stopped by here Saturday afternoon and luckily didn't have a wait! We ordered the Philly Roll, Viagra Roll, Cucumber Salad, Baked Mussels and the Giant Roll. Everything tasted pretty good! The sashimi on top of the rolls was very fresh and big portion. There were both indoor and outdoor seating and all the dishes came out super fast! It seems like this restaurant is very family friendly. Staff members were also very friendly. Would definitely recommend stopping by for a quick bite!

I've been here several times and have really enjoyed each dining experience. The service is amazing, they are very courteous and watching to see if you need anything during your meal. The food is very good and generous. They have inside dining - the upstairs opens up if they get crowded, as well as outside dining. I really enjoy the lunchtime bento box meals. If you get an opportunity for a midday meal, I recommend this, as it is customizable and has everything you'd want.

My son ordered Gyoza and Maguro . He said it was superb. We ate it. He's recovering from a slight sports injury and I think this was just what he needed to help him heal. Thank you

Had lunch here with three other buddies yesterday. The ambiance is cozy for a Nice little restaurant. The service was pretty much on par, probably could use more help since the wait staff had to run around, but even though they were, they were spot on with their service....Bravo for them! Food was delicious! We ordered four monster rolls plus two lunches to share. Tempura and Tonkatsu dishes were shared between the 4 of us. Crispy and light tempura batter and just the perfect crunch and juiciness with the Tonkatsu. Good food, good drink and excellent company! Definitely be back

The sashimi here!!!! This is one of the best sashimi places in our area no doubt. The first time I ordered the sashimi plate I was SHOCKED. The sizes of the slices are huge! You really get a lot of bang for your buck. Just look at the photos. I don't always love tuna, sometimes it has that weird taste, but not here! I loved the taste of their tuna, none of their sashimi tasted fishy. Everything was so fresh. I've also tried their rolls, very amazing. The service is very friendly, the food comes out quick. One thing though is the restaurant is a little small, they have seating after you go up some stairs but I noticed because of the size of the restaurant it did get kind of loud when you sit up top. I'd sit outside for the best experience, if the weather permits it.

Cozy sushi place in downtown los gatos. Their lunch special (the bento box) is such a steal! Miso soup, salad (dairy free), 4 pieces of sashimi (tuna & salmon), gyoza, and rice for $21! Quality of food was really good, excellent service, and easy parking. Will be back!

This place was a random walk in after our winery tour. We have walked on that street several times but never tried this hidden gem of los gatos! It was our second dinner (failed attempt at a different restaurant prior)... unexpectedly our second rendezvous was a success! The rolls were so delicious and the sashimi was so thick and fresh! Definitely have to return to try all of their menu! The service is great. The servers are so kind and accommodating. The ambience isnt anything special but I can tell the place is clean and tidy from looking at their kitchen and washrooms:)! Highly recommend this place if you are strolling around los gatos for some rolls!

This has always been one of my favorite sushi spots. I've never gotten a roll here that I didn't like. While this restaurant is on the pricier side compared to some other sushi restaurants in the South Bay, the sushi is fresh and seems to be pretty high quality. Also, the nigiri is/are HUGE! I recently came and ordered the unagi and hamachi nigiri, they were $9 each (per 2 pieces) , but the amount of fish that was provided absolutely made it worth the price. I also ordered the crazy roll recently, and that roll was overflowing with fish, it was fantastic! The restaurant itself is fairly small with no frills, just sushi and quick service, while still remaining thorough and friendly. There's almost always people waiting when I come in, so it's nice that they work to get you in and out quickly so you don't have to wait too long.

Overrated and overpriced food Rude waitresses who were both in a hurry to close the restaurant after lunch and hurry myself and guest out. The sushi has a disgusting over abundance of mayonnaise in the California roll or any of their rolls which have imitation crab meat. Sashimi did not taste fresh. There a better sushi restaurants in the area with better quality sushi/sashimi and pleasant friendly staff.

Couldn't be happier with the good food & stellar sevice & crisp beer I ordered. I ordered sashimi, a sushi, roll, and two pieces of Nigri. The food came out pretty fast, the environment was nice, not too warm not too cold, cool, decorations around the restaurant. High ceiling with nicd lighting! I sat by the window, and asked the waiter, if my order seemed like too much for one person, he gave me appropriate suggestions which I appreciated and took into consideration when ordering. Really great price too, the food I ordered was definitely enough for two people, but I had just worked out for three hours, so I was in dire need of calories. once again, aaaamaaazing quality on the fish. One of the best sashimi I've tasted. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting Monte Sereno or Los Gatos, or just looking for a great bite of Japanese food. 5/5!

Kamakura is our go-to place for great sushi! See pic for a sumptuous soft-shelled crab roll we recently devoured (May5)! We also get hamachi nigiri and sometimes get spicy tuna hand rolls - everything has always been excellent! I highly recommend going! And say hi to Stacey & the two Ellie's... tell 'em Brian sent you... they're the best!

Love the Kamakura Salad. Quick service, both Togo and Eat in. Everyone is nice and the fish is so fresh!

Service is delightful, food comes quickly and is arranged beautifully with filling portions. Lovely outside dining area, great for people watching and for taking in the lovely summer weather. 5 stars rating would've been given for a fresher quality of fish, otherwise everything was great! Would highly recommend the sashimi!

Great food, large pieces, quick and attentive staff, prices are about average, kind of high like everywhere However... The noise in the restaurant is so incredible that you cannot really carry on a conversation easily. I left feeling sort of stressed and uptight. I can't wait to get outside to the quiet. If the owners put up some cloth tapestries or cushions on the benches, anything to absorb sound it would be an improvement.

Walked in without a reservation on a Saturday afternoon and was easily seated. They have the option for indoor or patio. All the fish looked super fresh. The sushi was average and felt one note. I wish the Godzilla roll had more texture. It was super soft. The miso was delicious. If I'm in the area I would consider trying this place again in hopes of a more exciting roll or one of their noodle dishes

I was very happy with the freshness of each piece and their rolls were very good. I was very impressed with the size of each cut of sashimi .... Very generous cuts! But our server Grace was very friendly and attentive and she definitely made our dining experience awesome. She sat us in the upstairs loft which was pretty nice and quiet.

I've been here multiple times always satisfied with the service and sushi. The salmon sashimi plate is amazing and very fresh. Will be back here again soon!

We were craving sushi so we stopped at Kamakura for a late lunch. There's both outdoor and indoor seating and bathrooms onsite. A free parking lot is nearby or there is limited 30 min street parking in the area. We ordered miso soup and split three rolls: Mt. Diablo (salmon, cream cheese, jalapeños - tasted a lot like a lox bagel in sushi form), Godzilla (fried soft shell crab, spicy tuna, eel), and the rainbow roll (California roll with an assortment of fish). I felt the rolls were fresh and very creative, but the first two were a bit too much for our palates. We enjoyed them but felt like one or two ingredients could've been removed and it would've still been a good roll. The rainbow roll on the other hand was a bit bland. Service however was excellent - they were very attentive and refilled our waters frequently. In terms of value, these rolls were pretty pricey at around $20 per roll. If I came back I would get a simpler roll, but these were fun to try!

Food is ok, nothing special. Service is very mediocre and ambiance is very underwhelming.

Sushi was fresh the soft shell crab roll was my favorite. I would say nothing stood out as impressive, maybe better for lunch. Service was prompt matcha ice-cream was yummy. Not what I expected for Los Gatos.

Love this place one of my favorite Japanese restaurants I go to all the time. Foods are amazingly delicious and the service is phenomenal. Highly recommended for everyone to try Thank you for all the great service and amazing foods you have offered.

Love their food, and especially the service. Everything is perfect!!!! I was seated outdoor, which was quite noisy, but anyway - I loved everything!

We were around the aera during labor day weekend. And traffic kept getting worse and worse. So we decided to stop and take a bite and then get back on the road heading to Santa Cruz Beach. We kept it simple and choose the bento box. I choose the 2 item bento box which comes with soup & rice. The options you can choose from are Beef teriyaki Chicken teriyaki Salmon teriyaki Tempura 6 piece California roll Goyza Something soba The beef teriyaki was a bit tough to chew. But the sauce was nice. I felt the sauce was more on the citrus side. The salad was bland. There was not enough dressing to the salad. The salad was watered down which then made the dressing bland. The California roll was nice but I noticed some browning spots on the avocado. They gave another of ginger and Wasabi. But I wish the Wasabi was the freshly grated one. But over all not bad for the price. I had also emptied my water cup but no one bothered to fill it back up. We had to physically ask in order to get more water.

Excellent sushi with great customer service in an amazing location. What's not to love?!

Amazing food and wonderful service! I always have a great time here. My son said his tempura was "cooked to perfection"

This is my favorite sushi place! The portions of fish are always super generous and it always tastes fresh, with no fishy taste. The salmon nigiri is my favorite, and the piece of fish is big and thick, with not too much rice. It is perfectly rich and fatty. I also like to get the crazy roll, which has lots of fish and avocado. We also got the sex and the city roll which had salmon, scallop, and shrimp tempura, and was also pretty good. The food also always comes out fast. Overall, the quality and portions of the raw fish are amazing so definitely give this place a try!

Writing this after coming back from the ER and currently recovering from being the unlucky person within my group that we decided to dine here for dinner that ended up with food poisoning from my salmon handroll. As much as the atmosphere and service is nice and warm, just be wary on ordering their raw fish items if you don't wish to end up suffering from food poisoning unless that is a gamble worth taking to the ER. Definitely won't be coming back here again.

Friendly staff, not too crowded in the early afternoon. Solid portions of fish and other dishes. Only wish the dishes were more flavorful.

Good foods in downtown Los Gatos with indoor and outdoor seating. I came here on Saturday for dinner and there was no waited around 7 PM. It was nice to sat outside watching people drive pass by as you enjoying the warm weather in the bay area. The restaurant is between a North Vietnamese and a Thai restaurant to it. I order the unagi rice bowl was good. It comes with a lot unagi and rice, definitely shareable. The Godzilla roll was very good, salmon sashimi and unagi on top of the roll. The chicken katsu was crunchy outside and trendy white meat inside. The Hawaiian poke was the lease favorites since the tuna chunk was huge and the sauce was too salty. Everything was good and the services was okay.

Just went to this restaurant the other day and ended up with a violent bout of food poisoning, the worst I've ever had. The ratio of fish to rice on the nigiri was bad as well, the fish was way too thick and impossible to eat. Will not be coming back.

Sushi is fresh, the portions are generous and good quality. Service is great. This is my go to place.

Things have really turned around here. It's now become my go-to place for Friday lunches for a quick bento box. I'm not sure if they had a turnover in staff, new chefs, but it's become reliable in terms of consistency, service, etc.

Love Kamakura. I've been coming here for years... took a little break while living out of town but recently made it back. Nothing has changed, and if it's even possible it might have gotten better. All of the rolls are amazing. Double dragon is always a favorite. Playboy roll is also bomb. Wonderful service and experience all around.

The worst sushi experience of my life. I am shocked this place is even in business. Disgusting

I was here for lunch recently and had an amazing experience. First off the wait staff were super friendly which always makes a big difference. The food was great! The avo cucumber roll was very good. I got the bento box with sashimi and tempura and everything from the soup, salad to the fish was exceptional. The portions were very generous and the sashimi was fresh, delicious, and giant. Each piece was like a slab and what would have been ~3 pieces at another sushi spot. I am a huge fan and will be back...often.

Kamakura is my favorite sushi spot in the Bay Area, especially in South Bay. This is my go-to spot in Downtown Los Gatos! It's never too busy, the staff is friendly, the fish is so fresh. Aside from their sushi, the other dishes like gyoza and teriyaki are delicious. We like to order to-go as well, and while unfortunately they only offer pick-up, it makes sense given how fresh their dishes are. Chirashi ($37.95) - excellent, super fresh and high quality. It's obvious they have a great fish provider. Gyoza ($11.95) - really tender and full of filling, so delicious. The sauce is also really tangy and a great complement. California roll ($8.50) - the best California roll I've tried anywhere, hands down. So creamy and a really great, simple flavor. I get it with cream cheese in place of avocado! Philadelphia roll ($9.50) - another classic roll, done to perfection! Mt. Diablo roll ($20.95) - every sushi restaurant invents their own specialty rolls, and I love this one in particular at Kamakura! It's spicy, filling, and packed with toppings. So great!

My girlfriend brought me here for my birthday and loved the food! There is plenty of outdoor seating and the fish is very fresh! I got a roll with real crab and salmon on top. Also got 2 house salads and veggie tempura. Would def come back!

Never disappoints! My go to in Los Gatos! Baybridge roll is my fav! Need to try other dishes I keep eying other guests enjoy. Patio is nice in the summer. Inside is simple. Service is super quick.

This. Is. My. Favorite. Sushi. Spot. I have been coming to get sushi at this cute little Los Gatos restaurant for years with family and friends (everyone I take here ends up coming back with their own family and friends). The service is incredibly fast, ample menu, and standard sushi prices. My favorite rolls are the Lion King (Baked salmon and sauce over California roll) and Mt. Diablo (Salmon, cream cheese, avocado topped with salmon, jalapeño) but you really cant go wrong with any roll because of how fresh their ingredients are. They recently renovated their patio so it is very nice to sit outdoors on warm days. We came for my mom's birthday with a big group and sat outside with some heaters in the fall time. Kamakura never fails, 10/10 recommend!

Quiet sushi restaurant in downtown Los Gatos with quick service, very clean, polite, indoor and outdoor seating, they take cash and also credit i think. I got one order of salmon nigiri, it was good. Ice water came quickly on a warm summer day. I went on a weekday lunch, not that many people it was quiet and calm a great experience.