Masa Sushi

Very possibly my favorite restaurant in Marin county. The red dragon roll is a grand slam & the sashimi is always top, top quality.

A Taste of Tradition at Masa's Sushi During our last visit to Novato, we decided to have lunch. Walking by Masa's Sushi, we noticed they were getting ready to open in 10 minutes. So, we walked around the block and returned when they were open. We had our puppy with us, so we opted for outside seating. It was chilly, so they turned on the two heaters near us, and we were all set. I later learned Masa's Sushi in Novato is a popular local restaurant founded by Masayuki Okugawa, a skilled sushi chef passionate about traditional Japanese cuisine. The restaurant is renowned for its fresh, high-quality ingredients and authentic flavors. Today, Masa's Sushi is guided by Chef Takatoshi Toshi, a highly respected sushi chef trained under Okugawa. Our server, a very professional young man, explained a couple of items on the menu and answered a few questions we had. We started with Miso Soup, which was delicious, and shared four pieces of Salmon and Yellowtail Nigiri. Needless to say, the nigiri was fresh and tasty. For the main course, I chose Kakiage Udon, and my significant other chose Miso Black Cod. Both dishes were very well presented, tasty, and satisfying. Although my partner is not a big fan of Cod, she really enjoyed her choice. As for the Udon, it was one of the best ones I have had in recent memory. This was a very pleasant experience, and we will definitely visit Masa's Sushi next time we crave food in Novato.

Love this spot! The dishes are tasty, unique and presented beautifully. The servers are really attentive and kind. The ambiance is elevated and I loved the open kitchen concept so that you can watch the chefs’ craft. Will definitely be back, thank you Masa!

Masa used to be our favorite sushi restaurant in Marin. Opened by an exceptional sushi chef from Sushi Ran, we would often sit at the sushi bar and be wowed by his creations. Accordingly, we were looking forward to visiting again last night. Upon arrival, I didn’t recognize any of the sushi chefs, non were Japanese or even Asian. Now, to clarify, you don’t need to be Asian to be an excellent sushi chef. However, you need to be well trained over a period of many years to be even a decent sushi chef. This should have been an indication: did this restaurant change hands and we missed it?? On to dinner: The shishito peppers and the cauliflower apps were very good. Everything went down hill from there. The fish in the chiller in front of us looked old - discolored and old and tasted that way. More than once the fish was cut incorrectly and as a as result was chewy. The rice - so important to good nigiri - was all wrong - dried out and also chewy. In sum, very disappointing and we will NEVER go back.

This restaurant is not cheap, but considering the quality of the ingredients it is a great value. Places like Nobu and Morimoto charge 3 times as much and the food here is just as good if not better. Our server Tony was very friendly and attentive, he gave great recommendations on what food was most popular and their specials. We look forward to going back, ordering the chef's menu, and tasting some sake from their amazing list.

Japanese food has always been our favorite food. Service was excellent. The fried calamari was a bit over fried. The negi toro come in a different size, more like a roll and lack a bit of that small sized flavor. Personally , also prefer the sushi rice to be a bit more sour. Prices were a bit on the high end.

I was expecting significantly better food for the price I paid. The service was fine, nothing great nothing bad, and the actual restaurant is very nice and has good outdoor seating. The food was NOT good. I should of known because their menu has spelling errors the restaurant didn't notice and all other people who have reviewed it didn't notice either. Tartare is spelt with an E, not tartar. The tuna also wasn't even a tartare, it was a paste, almost like it was blended together. It was a tasteless mushy roll with the only texture coming from a piece of cucumber and ginger (in a roll?). The gyoza was frozen gyoza and tasteless (so was the sauce it came with). I felt like I got scammed paying $15 for 6 pieces of frozen gyoza. Unfiltered lukewarm tap water isn't the best thing to serve to customers unless they enjoy the taste of chlorine.

The quality of the food is great, fish is fresh. The servers are attentive. Pricey but worth it.

I just stoped by this restaurant and I had the wagyu sushi dish and it was delicious as hell! I'm definitely coming back here. -Agent Ochoa.

Lunch at Masa's was amazing My chirashi was as I expected, great omakasa, kudos to the chef very traditional Chirashi with my favorite Ikura and delicate fish. Visit with girlfriends was lovely Great service from the lady's Everyone was happy with their meal but I was the happiest Thank you!!! I will be back for lunch again

Surprised this is so highly regarded, perhaps it is because the Novato food scene is defined by their fast food across the freeway. Ordered a few simple rolls to-go. Packaging, which is very important for to-go stuff, seemed good enough and relatively clean. The sushi? Ehhhh. With the Avocado already blackening in every roll.

2019 Michelin Good reviews This is what brought me to Masa's. The above three stars sums up my experience. The service was friendly and attentive and food was brought out quickly. Restroom is clean, restaurant appeared well kept. The food: ordered a bento box and sashimi lunch, shumai appetizer, and green tea. Greet tea was nice. The shumai... hmmmm, strange texture (mushy) and nearly no flavor. Even with adding soy/wasabi.... not a good choice. The bento was ok. Typical bento one might find anywhere. The sashimi was disappointing. The sizes of the fish were pretty small and uneven. Many of the pieces were marinated, why hide the flavor of the fish?? I couldn't find the Michelin in the food at all. Not one to recommend, nor repeat visit. Not the worst, but failed expectations.

Solid food. Sure, like others said, it's overpriced for what it is. But being the best in Novato without much competition, it is what it is. For someone who often eats sushi and sashimi though, I'd say the food is a solid 3/5. Tuna sashimi tasting: 3 thin pieces for $25. Quality was OK, nothing to write home about. It's what you'd get at an average restaurant in San Francisco. Sushi rolls: good quality, just really small and a tad sparse. Gyoza was yummy! Nice crisp and delish chili sauce. It's just sooo small. Service was friendly but super slow. We had such a wait in between dishes, the waiter spilled my wine and didn't bother replacing it, and getting our check took forever. We canceled our last dish and went home.

Started 2024 off right! Popped by for lunch and still delicious as ever. Super fresh fish, great value for their Chirashi sashimi lunch with perfectly seasoned rice and carefully selected ingredients.

Went here with my wife on a Thursday evening, no reservations, we were able to get a spot at the bar. We ordered: Dynamite Roll (6pc) - Great roll, flavors paired well with each other, but it wasn't spicy at all (the menu says spicy scallop) - that's the only thing I would have changed. Futo Roll (5pc) - Decent roll, prepared nicely. Had a good crunch to it, the mushrooms were a nice touch paired with the shrimp. Overall I did like the roll, but it was a *little* bland. Seafood Kakiage - Hadn't tried this before, was a nice improvement on your standard tempura order. Very fresh, crunchy, great flavor. Edamame - Served hot, lots of salt - perfection. Miso Soup - Ordered, but it never came. Had to request it off the check. Total was $76 I think, marked down to $66 without the two miso's. If I was reviewing the food alone, I'd say 4/5 stars. My review however has to take into account the bad service. Everyone was very nice, we were seated and drinks brought out very quickly, same with our food. However, there are three significant things that I have to dock stars for on my review: 1) When we sat down both my wife and I found hair wrapped up in our napkins/silverware. Pretty gross, wasn't just a single strand either. 2) Ordered Miso Soup but it never came. 3) We had to wait 20 minutes after our plates were cleared to get the check, that's a crazy amount of time for a small restaurant that wasn't full. Nearly the same amount of time we spent ordering/eating. If you're going to charge significantly more than any other sushi restaurant in the area, you should ensure that the experience feels like you're getting what you paid for. The food was delicious, but I won't be returning mainly because the price doesn't match what you're getting. If the bill was $20 cheaper I'd be happy with what we got. Bummer.

Masa's is a surprisingly haute restaurant in Mayberry RFD-ish Novato. Don't think you're gonna get out of Masa's on a budget. It's pricey. The fish is very fresh, and the selection is varied. All that you want in a delicious sushi experience. We have eaten at Masa's a couple of times, and I would go back, but it's an unusual combination of storefront restaurant and special occasion prices. The thing that we found most-off putting is that the floor seemed dirty. It's a very grey and black and looks as if it's unwashed. It is a real contrast to the usually bright and pristine atmosphere of fresh fish, sushi restaurants.

Legit Omakase sushi with specialty fish truly hard to find. Chef Masa was like a dad to me and his son David who is head FOH currently, always like a brother to me for the last 10 years. After chef masa retired and chef Taka took over, the game changed. Much respect to chef Taka and of course chef masa is the best my favorite, I appreciated his Japanese comfort style with high end ingredients at a friendly neighborhood spot. Chef Taka has turned it up Michelin style with an added extensive line of rare fish and specialty items with premium quality and price. Both very respectful. If you want to have the most real deal Japanese sushi experience outside of Tokyo, come to masa and order sushi Omakase and let chef Taka do his magic, you won't be disappointed.

The best Japanese restaurant in Novato. Fresh sashimi and delicious ramen! The service is good and it's a good place for family and friends gatherings. We will definitely come back again for the chirashi!

Solid 3.5 stars. Service was quick and personable, as the interior of this place is very small and intimate. If we go again, we'd definitely try to get a spot at the sushi bar to watch the work in action. Otherwise, the sushi was quality stuff, with our favorite being their hamachi and hamachi toro nigiri. I would pass on the ramen if we went again as the broth was heavy on bamboo flavor, with no bamboo actually in the soup. If you've never had bamboo, it's very earthy and good in small quantities. As much as I hate to say this, I might also skip the amaebi if Taka isn't there. We had a couple of pieces, and one of the heads was definitely over fried. Everything else was pretty spot on, though some pieces were too heavy on wasabi. Again, wish Taka were there.

Miso black cod is my favorite add side of rice and you've got the perfect healthy meal.

Nope! 8 very small and thin pieces of "not fresh" sashimi $50.00. I don't mind paying for quality food but this was not. This restaurant has really gone down hill. Raising prices to a ridiculous level for low quality sushi. Sad for Novato we no longer have a decent sushi place.

Great menu, delicious food, and nice service! Our family came here for lunch on president's day. We ordered sashimi lunch, bento with salmon, udon, and ramen. All four of us enjoyed our meal. We'll be back!

LOVE LOVE LOVE - this is an amazing restaurant - pricey, but delicious and worth it. Clearly people don't mind the cost, because it's always packed. The service is excellent, the chefs are talented, and we love the new patio outside. The space is a little tight inside, but it doesn't matter once you taste the food.

This place is exceptional and Novato is lucky to have it. Please eat there so it stays open!

Ordered "Ishikari Style Hokkaido Miso Ramen" ($25?) . The soup was delicious! Harmonious with noodle, which was very important. But for me Japanese, it was weird... I was wondering why that was "Ishikari style" ... I thought that soup was supposed to be salmon based, not polk-broth soup ... could be a new style in Hokkaido now!

I don't usually leave reviews but tonight was supposed to be special. Our go to spot was closed. Wait was longer than expected for only 2 couples in the place. I got the 25 piece Omakase. 5 pieces of 5 different fish. Not that great variation. Slices were too thick and 3 out of every 5 pieces were still frozen. Kinda like eating ice cream... I left 7 pieces still to defrost and checked out. Disappointed in "Chef's choice" for the Market Price.

Second time coming here with my coworkers and both times everything was so good! I chose the lunch Chirashi bowl which comes with different types of raw fish, scallop, and the sweet egg (not sure what it's called) over rice and omg it was so delicious! I don't know how they prepared the rice but it was so yummy. Fish was also super fresh and scallop was so soft that it could melt in your mouth! It was a really big portion for lunch time and it came with seaweed salad and miso soup. I also ordered a side of seaweed salad not knowing that it already came with the dish. I wish the server would have told me so I did not need to order another side. We also shared some calamari and we loved the sauce so much. Presentation of all the dishes were very nice. Inside of the restaurant is a bit small and I felt a little crowded but they also have an outside seating. Service was good. They made sure our water got refilled the whole time. I wish they had more non alcoholic drink options. I chose the jasmine green tea and it was good but no refills on that one. This place is a bit on the pricey side but the quality of the food and the service is really good. I highly recommend this place for anyone who's craving Japanese food. I would definitely come back here to try other dishes!

Great food and service. Able to get a seat ~ 6:30 as walk-ins. Friendly host and wait staff. Clean. Food was delish!

Kinda pricey for the amount you get but it's pretty good. I got the negi hama roll and it was super yummy. Was kinda thrown off that the rice is brown but it's not brown rice lol. Also got the mixed tempura and I have never had a chili that was a tempura so that was interesting but also not my favorite. I like how they use shredded carrots because the texture is different. Good service but different workers kept taking my plate away and I had to keep saying I wasn't done.

So happy to have found this little gem in Novato! This was my first time here, as I was recommended to try out this restaurant by a friend due to their Michelin star rated sushi chef, and boy did they not disappoint! I came on a Thursday evening and the place was fairly busy, but not packed, and we were seated right away for outdoor dining. Our server, Christian, was BEYOND amazing! His attention to detail, thoughtfulness, attentiveness, and overall energy made the whole night that much more special! As soon as we were seated, he made sure to turn on our heaters before we got cold, and got us started with drinks right away! He kept checking in on us to see how we were doing, pre-planned orders in the kitchen to ensure a constant flow of food throughout the whole evening, and made sure there was never an empty glass on the table! He knew what we wanted and was always 3 steps ahead, anticipating what we'd need and when we'd need it. The food - wow, just wow! Every single dish I tried was so delicious, perfectly seasoned, and the texture on all were superior. You can really tell the quality of the fresh seafood, and there was not a single dish that disappointed. The calamari and toro tataki stands out most to me, and the oysters were on point as well! My must try recommendation is the fried corn! Absolutely blew my mind. I have never had corn like this - lightly fried yet crisp, well-seasoned and flavorful, and so crunchy! Unfortunately I did not get to take a photo of that as that was immediately eaten as soon as it was set on the table. Overall, I had an amazing night, and will certainly be coming back to dine here more often!

Came in with low expectations since I haven't had many great experiences with sushi in the Marin/Sonoma county. Was surprised at the quality of the fish and the Sushi lunch nigiri options. Pricing for lunch is very affordable for quality. Would definitely come here for a ten piece tasting when I have more time to enjoy myself with a nice beer or sake. The nigiri is 1 pc, which is not what I'm used to but for the quality is understandable. Staff is very nice and the seating options is good. Will definitely be back for lunch and thinking about coming monthly to treat myself. This place is right below hana Japan in Rohnert park regarding quality, which is saying a lot because they're the only other top quality sushi place in the two counties.

Been coming here my whole life and have always really enjoyed it. Recently have started coming for their lunch - they have some specials that are a great deal and you get to taste a variety of items. Their lunch bento box is my favorite - so much food! The servers are also super kind and friendly. A perfect spot to grab a bite!

What a wonderful journey!! We had the Omakase menu and what a treat! I recommend Masa's to anyone who wants to be transported to Japan. The food was simply beautiful - both artfully presented and so tasty. GO HUNGRY AND BE OPEN TO THE EXPERIENCE! You won't regret it. What was so special was how Chef Toshi Was so invested in our thoughts and comments. There Were more than a few moments I caught his excited expectant pause as he passed us the next beautiful dish - it was just cool. So go!! Drink Saki too. I didn't do the tasting menu but they will make recommendations from their menu that speak to your taste.

Nice atmosphere. Pleasant wait staff. Sushi is fresh and delicious but portions are on the small side. Food is medium to high priced. I have a significant allergy to beer and don't care for white wines. A glass of red wine (4oz) starts at $23. A glass of sake starts at $25. These drink prices are very over priced compared to the menu. Certainly they can carry some cold sakes that are not so expensive and purchase an over the counter wine red wine (?La Crema) for $20 and serve for $10-15 a glass. Please consider this Masa. Paying $50 for a sushi roll and glass of wine or sake in Novato is very very high.

So yummy!! I love that this is located right in downtown Novato. Their udon is amazing as well as their sashimi and nigiri. Looking forward to my next visit!

For the most part, everything we ordered was good. We ordered mostly nigiri entrees as we always do from this establishment because we love experiencing the notes of the different flavor profiles that you can get when you isolate the experience versus ordering a sushi roll with all the different components. Given that we visited them on Memorial Day, we knew They would be busy but the crowd was manageable and it was easy to get service. For a menu that is priced as high as theirs, I expect top notch quality for all entrees. I believe the kitchen staff at least should have a reign on what's presentable and what's not, what's edible and what's not and do quality control from there. Comments about specific items: The uni was not fresh - it tasted putrid and like bile. This isn't an item that most people will order so I understand that they probably don't have a fresh rotation of this product in their kitchen. The amaebi, the "sweet shrimp" was dressed with a topping of fish roe which wasn't necessary. It really confused the senses as we were hoping for the sweeter experience but the fish roe threw it all off. Less is more. Simplicity is key with most of these items. When we ordered the ayu "sweet fish" - we were really hoping for more of a pure experience but they charbroiled the surface, all you could taste was the propane. The tuna, salmon, and hamachi were all great - I'm sure these are most commonly ordered so the rotation was fresh. Service was great. On a normal day I think they would probably have fresher ingredients but I'm a bit disappointed on the delivery of items that weren't fresh - for clients to consume. Again, it's not their fault, because of the circumstances. They did the best they could given what they had. For the location, it was convenient as we live in town. For price, it's higher than most sushi spots around the area which is why I expected more from this venue. Ambience is nice, and their clientele is definitely more upscale - hence why they can afford these higher prices. I am more experienced with the offerings they have in South Bay, San Francisco and even Florida so I have much higher expectations. Don't order the uni unless you know when they received the order. Santa Barbara probably has the best uni in northern Californian - it doesn't need to travel all the way here from Japan. It should be sweet and buttery when it's fresh without the taste brine or the ocean. If you order the sweet shrimp, maybe pass on the fish roe unless it's super fresh. I give this place a 3 star because the value is lacking; but if you're ordering sushi rolls you should be good, and most of their nigiri pieces are on point. Thanks to the waiter for listening to what we had to say. The only other issue was that we were charged 2 orders of Sapporo- when we didn't even drink. Those were removed after making the point. The water said we ordered sake - but we ordered sake (salmon) not alcohol. Sapporo is a beer (not rice wine) - not sure how that was confused on the ticket. Anyway we will probably Be back again and will give them another chance. Nice establishment.

Omg the best sushi ever! So much better than sushiRan! Super expensive but worth every penny!!!! A must try!

Maybe the best sushi in Marin, and in Novato! All of the cured fish is amazing, and the appetizers are a nice way to start the meal.

First time at Masa and definitely will not be the last! It's a hidden gem in the North Bay. Nigiri is served individually, not in pairs, so keep that in mind. It can be a bit pricey. Their fish are fresh and seasoned well. The actual sushi (the rice) is cooked properly (unlike some places where they don't have the right liquid to rice ratio and it falls apart). The service is fantastic. Very attentive without being too much in your face. We were lucky to have been seated early as this place gets packed. I would definitely recommend this place and I would be back to try more stuff next time.

We met some friends for dinner and they picked Masa's since we were all craving something a little healthier than what we had been eating for the holidays. As we arrived, we were enamored by the quaint small town feel of Novato. Of course it didn't hurt that the street was decked out for Christmas with twinkle lights in the trees. Thankfully there was a table available for us as we were surprised to see the place so busy at 5:30 on a Monday night. We ordered some beers and proceeded to pick an assortment of rolls to share. We chose the Crunch Roll, Rainbow Roll, Red Dragon Roll, and Negi Toro Roll as well as an order of Shishito Peppers. The peppers arrived quickly, artfully arranged over a bed of what seemed to be daikon radish slivers with shaved bonito on top. While I was a bit shocked there were only 6 peppers in the order ($10), they were absolutely delicious. (But only 6 peppers for $10.....wtf?) The bonito shavings were large, smoky, and loaded with flavor providing the perfect bit of umami to the mild bite of the peppers. We quickly devoured them as well as the delightful daikon salad that was flavored by the sauce the shishitos were tossed in. The rolls arrived soon after, an impressive feat considering how busy they were. The Crunch Roll ($19) was a favorite of the table, both presentation-wise and flavor-wise. The eel melted in your mouth along with the avocado, and the crunchy topping of aonori tempura provided the perfect contrast in both texture and flavor. Our second favorite was the Red Dragon Roll ($19) which was essentially a shrimp tempura roll topped with spicy tuna, a common combination that hits all of the right notes. The Rainbow Roll ($17) had a lovely assortment of fish on top, but the inside was a nice surprise of fresh crab meat which we were not expecting. Lastly, the Negi Toro Roll ($16) was our least favorite though still tasty. It was a smaller roll of only 5 pieces consisting of fatty bluefin tuna and scallions. While the tuna was everything you would expect from the fatty belly of the fish, it really needed something else to make it pop other than scallions. Overall we had a wonderful evening. The service was top notch, the fish was super fresh, and the chefs were cranking out the rolls quickly. While I was tempted to knock off a star for the measly six shishito peppers, the overall meal was definitely 5 stars in my book.

Let me start with the food, which is key for any restaurant. The sushi was fresh. The rice was loose, not sticky as it is supposed to be for sushi and sashimi. The spicy tuna roll was bland. The 3 piece tuna and 3 piece yellowtail were tasteless. I give the food 2 stars at best. Second, consider drinks. The sake was excellent (5 stars). I would return for more sake but not order any food. Third, the wait staff were very friendly and fast (4 stars), but the hostess was very inexperienced and wanted us to wait 20 minutes to sit down in order to let the waitstaff catch up (1 star). After 5 minutes, I talked to the manager and explained that we would be happy to sit at a table w/o service but not stand around. He seated us immediately and we waited 15 minutes before being waited on, which was fine. Overall service was 4 stars. Summary: this is an overpriced restaurant with very mediocre food and decor that one would expect from a take-out sushi restaurant. There are many such take out restaurants at 1/2 the price.

I hadn't been in a while and it wasn't as good as I remember. I'll go again and order differently just with slightly lower expectations. Nothing stood out this time other than the mayo sauce with the calamari. The server was nice but forgot part of our order.

My new favorite place in Novato, high quality food, great service, attention to detail, and zero pretentiousness, allowing you to focus on the dining experience.

First off...the food here is excellent. Some of the best sushi you'll ever have. I'm giving a 2 star review because of the service...and this is why. Called in for take out and they hit me with a mandatory 20% gratuity. I asked why and I was told it was because they had to pick up the telephone. Picking up the phone takes away from the service of sit down customers and the gratuity helps to pay wait staff, bussers, dishwashers, etc.. Getting take out is the most basic aspect of any restaurant. You make food, I come get it, and you charge me money. There is absolutely no reason for tipping to be involved in this transaction...especially for such a silly reason as picking up a telephone. I'll be withholding my business until this policy goes away. Gonna be hard since the food is so good!

Excellent sushi spot with lots of vegetarian appetizers and probably the best miso cod dish I've ever tasted!!

The food is quite good; very fresh fish though the uni seemed a little dry. Rolls are good but not huge so you do order more. They don't oversauce roles, which I appreciate, and none of that mayonnaisey stuff. Run of the mill miso soup and sides like oshitashi. I can't afford to eat here, which is really saying something, because I go out to eat a lot, and I'm not exactly broke. One piece of Toro or hamachi costs nine dollars. A glass of saki will run you $24, and wine around $17-$18. I took two friends out to dinner here. None of us drank alcohol, and the tab was 182. For three people to eat not very much sushi. Am I nuts? Seems excessive, but maybe this is the new normal. I'm sure there are people in Marin County who can afford to spend close to $200 for a fairly regular meal, but I'm not one of them. Won't be back.

Ate lunch here. All entrees tasty and service excellent. Bento box excellent taste all items, Chirashi bowl excellent, sashimi excellent, servi e of removal empty dishes very good even tho we sat outside. Nice small town dining experience.

Hands down the very best restaurant in Novato. With no other even coming close. Masa's would stand out in any large city in the States. Gracious service and off the charts fresh sushi. It's always fully booked so if you're not there right when service starts make a reservation

We hadn't been to Masa's for years as it was humdrum. We were pleasantly surprised with top notch fresh and original sushi and a delightful chef. We recommend sitting at sushi bar! Soon to open new park let will be nice addition to grant Avenue.

I have to start with "wow"! What an amazing culinary experience! We had a sashimi plate with a selection of melt in your mouth fish, with a star of blue fin tuna cured in red wine. Every bite was beyond fantastic. We also had a Red Dragon maki roll, with tamboura prawns and spicy tuna on top. The combination of the textures and flavors was perfect. The fish tasted so fresh, like it was caught today! We are still talking about it hours later. If I could give them more than 5 stars, I would! Good service, good selection of Sake and over all a very memorable experience!

Best sushi place in NorCal. Been searching for for years and finally found you. So please don't change!

MS: it's a choice along the main thoroughfare of Novato, where the irish pubs and italian offerings etc are considerable. If the hankering is for sushi, MS is a good choice - it's not inexpensive, but the offerings are myriad. We partook in a udon chicken noodle dish, along with the red dragon roll, ebi and unagi - as noted by others, only one piece, rather than two from the experiences from Tokyo to San Diego; as well, we had a delicious salmon skin sushi that was unique and nicely done, as were all the dishes. While the staff were good, it was particularly surprising how they were hustling for both inside and outside patrons meals, and although the noodles were delivered initially to the wrong table, they eventually got to us. The strong suit were the good flavors of the offerings without question. It's a good alternative for the area, and happily within reach in the downtown sector.

This review is based off of my first visit to Masa's. I wish they had a 3.5 stars as I'd give it that rating. PROS: High quality fish, with varieties that aren't offered at many sushi restaurants (barracuda, red wine cured fatty blue fin tuna, cherry leaf cured McFarland Trout, etc) Professional sushi chefs who know their fish and care about presentation. I also appreciate when the sushi chef's are in professional uniform. Sushi menu notes origin of fish and whether wild caught or sustainable, as well as whether certain ingredients are organic. I wish more restaurants did this. Excellent rolls (of the ones we tried: Spider, spicy scallop (Dynamite), and Futo.) Delicious authentic bottomless green tea (Warning: If you are sensitive to caffeine and come here for dinner, don't drink too many cups of it.) CONS: LIGHTING: Really suboptimal. Bright LED, which made us feel like we were eating in a corporate cafeteria. The art on the wall is nice but they really need to higher a lighting consultant. SERVICE: Okay. Various people came and went. Great on tea refills and clearing plates. Our first waiter asked if there is a dish we'd like first. I asked for a dumpling soup and one other. Towards the end of the meal, both dishes still hadn't come. I had to remind them of the two dishes, which ultimately finished the meal. COST: Very high. ONE piece of sushi can run you $6-$12 or more, depending on which cut of fish. We found it more cost effective to order rolls. FOOD: We loved the rolls we got. The fish on the sushi was delicious but we ordered much less than usual due to cost. We also had some dishes that were disappointing, noted below. The Spinach Ohitashi: Premade and refrigerated, which is fine. It's served in a warm broth. The outside was warm and the inside was cold. We would have prefered a more consistent temperature through the spinach, which was flavorless. The broth was decent but I prefer Japanese restaurant Cha-Ya's dipping sauce that comes with this dish. We wouldn't order this dish here again. The Dumpling Soup: I'd give it a B. The dumplings were a little mushy and we didn't like the super thick sweet soupy base it came in, which reminded us of a Japanese gravy. We both wouldn't reorder this. Calamari: WAY TOO over-fried, like fried onions. I thought that because this is a high end sushi place, that the fried calamari would be lightly battered and still tender, with outside crunch. But it was deep fried and too salty. I wish I had sent it back. Both my boyfriend and I woke up with stomach aches this morning (which almost never happens) after last night's early dinner (which involved no alcohol and no desert.) We both think it was due to the calamari dish. Take home: Given the number of sushi places around, if we want to go big, we'd rather go to Sushi Ran. We would come here for the rolls, preferably at the lunch hour, to avoid the night time weird lighting.

This is one of the top 3 Japanese restaurants in Marin and the only good Japanese restaurant open for lunch. Everything here is great. My last time here I had the Chirashi bowl and my GF had the cod bento box.

I'm so glad Novato has a great restaurant! So often I have to go to Petaluma or city for some nice meal, but Masa is wonderful and won't disappoint you:)

Food is great. Ambiance is nice, service was VERY slow, and it was among the most expensive sushi restaurants I've ever eaten in. You should not pay over a hundred dollars per person and leave hungry. I didn't feel very happy with the experience.

We tried Masa's sushi and we were NOT disappointed! I travel to Japan frequently for work and this is a next best when home in the states. The sushi chef was friendly, knowledgeable and delightful to chat with while we ate. The sushi tasted fresh, served at the right temperature and I can't wait to go back!

Most people rave about the food right off the bat when reviewing a restaurant, but I'd like to take the time to recognize the restaurant manager, David, first. After having the opportunity to visit Japan a few years ago, the thing that I endear most about it's culture is the amount of respect the people have for one another. The importance of self discipline and the pursuit of perfection is also prevalent in their lives. David has clearly inherited these traits as I noticed this the day I met him. The service he provides resembles the type you get at Michelin starred restaurants. If he doesn't know your name, or only knows your first name, he will only call you "sir" or "m'am". If he knows your last name, you can count on him addressing you by that. I've asked him many times to just call me "Jack" but he is very persistent and consistent with addressing people very formally. He is extremely knowledgeable about the variety of fish being flown in from around the world, and seems to have a fantastic palate for sake. He works hard to ensure you have a very enjoyable experience. Great guy overall! David, much respect to you sir! But please see me as a friend now and call me JACK! Now on to the food....oh the food. My buddies and I prefer Omakase when dining at sushi bars. To us, this is the best way to enjoy real Japanese sushi. We were blessed to have Lance as our sushi master today. We started with 20 different nigiris, and really appreciated that he kept the preparation of each piece very traditional. Most had just a splash of nikiri, while others where complimented with salt, lemon or yuzu drops, caviar, etc. Every fish was fresh, and tasted very unique. The rice was also perfectly seasoned. Adding all of those elements together gives you harmonious feelings in your tastebuds. After our meticulously planned course was completed, we were asked if we still had room for some of Lance's "freestyle." I am glad we said yes! Out came three additional courses you would usually see at a tasting course meal. Wow....he masterfully married different ingredients in these dishes to display his unique creativity. The last dish he referred to as a "mini chirashi" was out of this world. We finished off the meal with a refreshing dessert of green tea and black sesame ice cream. Before ending this review, I want to give a shout out to their other sushi master chef who is a female (I apologize but I have forgotten your name). She was also phenomenal during our first two visits. She had her unique spin on certain dishes, and man were they oh so good. I hope to experience the technique of the owner of this restaurant one day. We haven't met yet, but you are next! I can't wait to go back. Kanpai!