Ozu

My fiancé and I went to Ozu for lunch recently after a friend referred us fairly heavily. The parking situation is…bad. Street parking is not available, and there are maybe 10 spots total for the whole restaurant. As for the dining experience, the food was good not great, but the prices were very high. We both got bento boxes and I got a soda and the total was $50!! Also, the bento box was a bit far from what I have known a bento box to be, mainly due to the fact it didn’t come in a box or square plate. I think calling it a fish and rice bowl would be a lot more accurate. Overall, the experience was ok. We might come back to try some other menu items, but this place is way too expensive for a counter service lunch spot. If I’m going to pay $50, I want to be waited on.

I recently visited OZU in Santa Fe, NM, and my experience was a mixed bag. The restaurant is housed in a metal building, which unfortunately amplifies noise and creates a noticeable echo, making conversations a bit challenging. The service was also a bit slow, which was a minor frustration. The clientele was an interesting mix of millennials, hipsters, and expats, giving the place a lively, albeit somewhat niche, atmosphere. For my meal, I ordered the Kaisen-don not what they called it but, that is what I know I had. When it arrived, it looked quite ordinary and plain. The rice was cooked well and had a small squirt of rice wine vinegar, which was a nice touch. However, the salmon was only sort of fresh, and I noticed a bit of brown spotting on top, which was a bit concerning. In terms of pricing, OZU is a bit more than one would expect for such a simply prepared meal. In short, I would classify this place as primarily for the young, hipster crowd. While the food was not too bad, it wasn't outstanding. In my opinion, there are other Japanese restaurants in Santa Fe that serve better quality, quantity and presentation of Japanese style food at comparable or even cheaper prices than OZU.

Impecable! The place is tiny and seating is highly sought after. They've just started serving dinner, at least on Fridays, and it feels like The Place To Be!! Exquisite beef tartare dish and great sake. I'm sure I'll be back to try the rest of their selections!

After moving away from Santa Fe, Ozu is what I dream about the most. It’s like a breakup. Just the best Japanese food, the owner is highly skilled along with his staff, and the salmon… to this day I dream about the salmon. I cannot recommend their food enough. In a decade or however long, I imagine Ozu achieving a Michelin star easily, and hopefully I can return and take quiet pride that I ate here when it was still so under appreciated! Also, cute market

Delicious Salmon and Cod in today's Bento Boxes. However the cold cooked pumpkin pieces with inedible seeds was not at all enjoyable. The salad was good as was the rice. Ordering Miso soup to begin our meal was a real fantasy. The soup came at the very end of our meal. Sad. And because it was a Friday and around 1pm, the Cafe' was quite crowded. One would imagine that having been in the food industry, this place would be more efficient. But it isn't. So go with no expectations and you can enjoy dining, even with outside tables. Also, a bit pricey. But I am happy that they are using all compostable bowls and dishes, except for the plastic forks. And the inside is quite stark. Carry on.

Amazing change of pace in Santa Fe food scene. There isn’t much Asian cuisine in the desert so we were stoked to find this tiny Japanese spot. The yellowtail was super fresh and we were dying for rice (for some reason the rice had a bit too much water but it still hit the spot). The onigiri were huge and enjoyable. The place has limited inside seating but people were enjoying the beautiful spring weather at outside seating.

Great Japanese mini-market and lunch spot on Lena Street! The umeboshi onigiri and bento boxes were great. I picked up this yuzu & green chili paste to try at home! Stoked to have a new lunch place in the neighborhood, thank you Ozu for being here!

Ozu is awesome. I lived in Japan for 25 years, and the food at Ozu is every bit as delicious as the food you get in Tokyo. Try the hamachi don, the salmon bento, the various onigiri. All so good. And they are expanding the size of their shop.

Popped in for a quick snack this morning. Tried the sake (salmon) onigiri. It was BIGGER than what I have gotten other places. And it was delicious. NO "fishy" taste. And it was served in a COMPOSTABLE TRAY! We just moved to Santa Fe (FINALLY!) I'll DEFINITELY be back to try other dishes when I am more hungry. They also have a nice selection of Japanese cooking supplies & ingredients. Well curated & you can tell there is CARE taken with the cooking.

I ordered Togo but the food maybe better when dining in. The restaurant was packed when I walked in. The hand rolls were soggy/ seaweed was mush/ stuffed with too much rice. The salmon bowl was ok. I would give it another try but dine in instead.

I've tried to go a several times because it looks really good! However, I have a crab allergy and they always have at least one dish that has crab in it on their menu; not usually a problem right? It's a problem with Ozu apparently, they refuse to make any accommodations, won't even attempt to not poison me -- asking, "well, how bad is your allergy?" it's bad enough, not worth risking my life to try Ozu. Maybe someday...

Incredible addition to the Santa Fe food scene. The owner's passion shows through the quality of the food. Simple, focused menu. Had the miso soup and salmon bento box. The salmon was SO delicious, accompanied by probably the most delicious rice I've ever had. I actually bought a bag of it! Their wall of Japanese items was a nice perk too! So excited to see the restaurant bloom over the next year. Very clean, simple ingredients that are cooked with incredible care. 10/10 will be back soon!

Super fresh and delicious Ikura and Hamachi Rolls! Crisp Nori and lightly seasoned rice, both served at a perfectly warm temp. Soooo satisfied my sushi craving! Best Sushi and Miso Soup since leaving CA, THANKS!

Upon entrance the smell of not so fresh was not pleasant. Service was adequate, the size of the restaurant was a little too small for my comfort. The plus side was the sale of Japanese cookbooks as well as prepackaged treats. This place is in my opinion overpriced for what they are offering.

The hand rolls were delicious and the spot is near a lot of art spots. The food was brought to you despite the smaller inside which was nice. Very local small vibe and prices were reasonable for the portions. The open kitchen and small staff (3 people) were a fun experience to watch.

This is my favorite place to eat in Santa fe. It's a quick bite, it's a good spot for a date, and it's a good spot to chill with friends too, or just by yourself. I go here after I go hiking mostly. The chef's are talented and they make the food right in front of you. I love this place .

I can't believe nobody has reviewed Ozu yet, but I am happy to be the first! This small restaurant is such a great addition to the Lena Street area and Santa Fe as a whole. The main focus seems to be on Japanese hand rolls, but everything we tried was great. The blue crap sunomono temaki is just amazing -- the crab flavor is great and the mayo mixed in adds some moisture and delicious additional flavor. The sake onigiri was also great -- the king salmon was so flavorful. We also enjoyed the hiyashi salad - the dressing is fantastic (and the lettuce mix was also great). The miso soup was also good, but not as good as the other dishes. So excited to have this business in Santa Fe and we will be going back often.

Stopped by today for lunch while I was in Santa Fe. Oh my, after 15 years in Hawaii eating a lot of Japanese food, this rates right up with some of the best I have had. I had the Sake Bento, even though normally I don't care for salmon. The king salmon in this dish was just amazing! So tender and tasty. I highly recommend you stop by if you have not yet and give this place a try!

Wow! Super cute place. Stopped by for a super quick light bite and this was delicious. I got the miso soup (nice and warming) and the hamachi hand roll. The fish was fresh, the seaweed wrapper nice and crispy, and the sushi rice was perfect. Great flavor! People were friendly, and the place was really nice and clean. It's small, but they had nice outdoor seating (still limited) that was great on a sunny day. I know I already said this, but I was really impressed by how clean and fresh this place seemed. Definitely recommend ozu!

Stopped by this lovely spot during a recent trip to SF. I ordered the two handrolls on the menu and was impressed by the freshness and portion-size, especially for the price. My friend ordered the miso soup, which was also delicious, and the vegan bento box, which was super interesting and satisfying. The employees and chef are so friendly and the vibe was great - clearly a place the locals frequent! I highly recommend it for an healthy and flavorful lunch.

Place is awesome. I lived in Japan for 25 years, Ozu is legit delicious Japanese food. And very nice staff.

Delicious, intimate, authentic! I'll be returning again and again. The food was fabulous and the staff was very kind and welcoming.

After a few weeks of seeing Ozu pop up in my feed, I was finally able to stop by. I'm so glad I did! What a cool little place with absolutely amazing food. The fish was so fresh and the staff were very friendly. Definitely try this place out if you're in Santa Fe. I had the sake onigiri, blue crab sunomo temaki,and miso soup. LOVED every bite.

Fantastic!! I don't know much about Japanese food, but a good friend brought me here and we tried one of everything. While I have my favorites based on personal preference, everything on the menu was amazing! I've been back 4-5 times on my own...it's become a go-to for me after the gym, and the food is super consistent. The location/ambiance is small and simple, no need for anything more when the food is so tasty. The owner is super nice and welcoming. It has a small-scale, local vibe which is super refreshing for Santa Fe. It feels very authentic. I will definitely continue to support this small business, and am looking forward to seeing it thrive!

This place would be great if they used proper service ware. Why the to go containers in a world full of trash?