Ozumo Santana Row

Fantastic experience at Ozumo Santana Row. The food was excellent, very fresh and full of flavor. We had shrimp tempura, crispy rice with salmon, edamame, and a couple of salmon rolls, and everything was perfectly cooked and well seasoned. Service was outstanding. Our server was very friendly and attentive, and the chef even came out to introduce himself, which made the meal feel personal and welcoming. The atmosphere is cool and low key with a beautiful patio area, lanterns, and a relaxed vibe that works great for a date or casual dinner. Parking is convenient with a structure in the back, and you can sometimes find street parking if you are lucky. There is easy access for disabled guests as well. Overall a wonderful experience and I would definitely come back and recommend it to friends and family.

A Lively Cozy Izakaya when you want to experience Japanese vibes on a whim after shopping at Santana Row on a Chilly Evening. A warm Junmai Sake started off the festivities. She liked the rich dashi Udon with succulent Shrimp, Mushrooms and Nori. The side of tempura added a nice crunchy twist to the experience. Absolutely had to have a Sake Nigiri Sushi and it was fresh as ever. Warm lighting added to the authentic feel of the place. I’m already thinking of returning back with a bunch of friends for Happy Hour Sashimi Nigiri SakeBombs 🇯🇵

I went on a Saturday, had reservations for 6 pm. It wasn't crowded at all. We were seating right away outside, which is a quaint little area with heat lamps above you. Service was a tad slow in the beginning, but friendly. I've been here a couple years ago and always loved the food. I ordered an espresso martini and like 20 min later the waitress comes back with the other drinks saying they were out of the espresso martini then left the table. I didn't want to go through the long wait again so I just got a Diet Coke which they serve in cute little glass bottles. I ended up getting the Midori salad with the sesame dressing on the side, and an order of chicken yakatori. I would get this meal again it was super good, I loved the chicken!! Putting the chicken in my salad was also incredible. Garlic edamame was soooo good too!

There is "Employer Living Mage Surcharge 4%" on the check. Teriyaki Flank Steak, the first time they sent to us, it's over-cooked, my husband could taste the bitterness on the steak and it's so hard to chewy. So I talked to the server, she asked the chef to re-make it for us. It's better on the second plate. Roasted Mushrooms, I really don't know what to say?! It tasted like raw mushrooms. It's like they just steamed mushrooms, but not steamed thoroughly. But it should be roasted, not at all.

Very good fresh, tasty food, great atmosphere, especially their super soft, warm chocolate velvet cake😋

Great location. Food was amazing and I really enjoyed the outside seating area.

Definitely overpriced. I really wanted to enjoy the food, but it was very average. The menu sounded great on paper, but the flavors didn't land. Even the shishito was bland. The chicken skewer was probably the only tasty item, but it was too small a portion. The chutoro (bluefin tuna belly) had a fish scale which wasn't pleasant. The desserts were also disappointing. We ordered the basque cheesecake (which tasted good initially but then got very eggy) and the mouse (it was not the soft mouse. It was hard, almost like frozen icecream with strawberry sorbet and none of the flavors came through). The service was good though, they were quick and attentive. The ambience is also good. Would've returned if the food was good, but its not worth $100 per person.

We stood at the door waiting to get seated for ~10min. Should’ve just walked off then. Took 20min just to even bring us the menus, another 10 for water. Food came out fast but that was the worst spicy tuna i ever ever had! FYI the tables next to us was visited by the same server atleast 5 times. Barely any tuna, pickled somethat was way too salty. The volcano roll could be better. Drink was ok- looked pretty tho. Very disappointed with the service as well as the food. Not worth it. Walk around and almost every other place to eat around santana is top tier.

This place is the real deal sushi wise, but also does a great job with fusion entrees. Service is terrific! Recommend the Chu (fatty) combo, and the starters are amazing.

Overall: B-/C+ Had a few rolls (rainbow, spider, and a specialty roll), tofu, karaage chicken, and tempura udon. Food quality was mid and the rolls were on the smaller side. Great ambiance for happy hour, so could see myself going back there with colleagues for a drink.

I went on a Saturday, had reservations for 6 pm. It wasn't crowded at all. We were seating right away outside, which is a quaint little area with heat lamps above you. Service was a tad slow in the beginning, but friendly. I've been here a couple years ago and always loved the food. I ordered an espresso martini and like 20 min later the waitress comes back with the other drinks saying they were out of the espresso martini then left the table. I didn't want to go through the long wait again so I just got a Diet Coke which they serve in cute little glass bottles. I ended up getting the Midori salad with the sesame dressing on the side, and an order of chicken yakatori. I would get this meal again it was super good, I loved the chicken!! Putting the chicken in my salad was also incredible. Garlic edamame was soooo good too!

Everything about this place is amazing. The ambiance. The staff. The food quality and flavor. All top notch. This was our first time dining here and the wait staff offered some recommendations. We ended up getting a few rolls and some edamame. This was a great date spot and we'll definitely be back!

While staying in San Jose for a work trip, I visited Ozumo with a friend on a weekday. The food and service was solid, though there was a billing issue that we managed to get resolved the following day! We started the meal with the kakuni and the hanabi as our small plates, and both were delicious. The kakuni (braised pork belly) was so tender, and the hanabi dish was fresh and flavorful. For our mains, we decided to share the dragon crunch roll, ozumo roll, and yaki udon with beef. Both of the rolls were very good and not too overly saucy as these types of specialty rolls can sometimes be. The yaki udon was also good but not as much of a highlight as the rest of the meal was. Once my friend and I had paid our bill, I realized later that night on my receipt that they charged us for an entire bottle of alcohol when all we consumed was water. I ended up going back to the restaurant in person the next day and they kindly refunded us which was nice.

Sat in patio area. I got the Taste the Row prix fixe -- it's a shot of sake, then karaage, then 3 pieces of nigiri, then a honcho roll. 5/5. I'm no sake expert and don't much care for alcohol, but that was a super smooth shot -- refreshing and light. Karaage -- haven't encountered karaage like this before. Undeniably crunchy, yet without the jab-the-cheek mouthfeel. Nigiri was perfect temp, rice prepared well, fresh, delicious. Honcho roll -- good, huge roll, my only complaint is that it felt over-sauced. Overall, the prix fixe's a STEAL for $50. It's really a little too much food for 1 person, too. Waiter was personable and on top of things in general, tho it would've been nice if they'd cleared dishes as we progressed. Table became cluttered with empty dishes. Would definitely return!

What's up: Dinner with the coworkers. Sushi was suggested and we ended up here! Parking: We took an Uber. Parking was limited. Environment: We had a large party so reservations were made in advance. We were placed in one of the rooms and had more privacy. Restrooms are located towards the back of the restaurant, and clearly marked. The staff were pretty awesome as well with their service and recommendations. What was ordered: - Edamame (good) - Gyoza (good) - Nigiri/Sashimi (yummy) - Rolls (yummy) - Kokuryu Ginjo "Black Dragon" Sake (good) - Wakatake Daiginjo "Demon Slayer" Sake (a bit dry for me but still good) - Dessert (mochi, chocolate lava cake was yummy and it came with ice cream) Yay/Nay/Meh: Overall, the food and drinks were delicious. Staff members were friendly and came by often to check up on us. They also gave us tons of recommendations that we went with and they did not disappoint. Credit cards are accepted.

Something changed within the last 4 years or so. Ozumo's been consistently inconsistent for me. I've had stellar nights and lackluster nights; none better than the time I wrote my first review 4ish years ago. Somewhere in the middle is where I hope they end up eventually but for now, I gotta bump this down. Came here for chirashi bowls, beer, and karaage tonight. Chicken batter was average, a lot of small pieces, red yuzu kosho sauce tastes more like just a flat mayonnaise. After eating the chirashi bowl, I couldn't help but feel that I would've had a better meal at any poke place instead. Apart from the salmon, the fish didn't taste of the high quality I remembered. I had to dip each piece in soy sauce. The wasabi had zero kick whatsoever - I ate several bits straight up and no flavor so it must be old. Rice wasn't seasoned very well. My friend's was sugary and mine was more plain. Vinegar ratios are off. Felt like some lazy bowls. While it wasn't a bad meal, it's just far off from even my last decent Ozumo experience. Prices do appear cheaper now though so maybe it's an intentional change in quality to draw in more people. Either way, I'll reflect fondly on my best nights here, but I probably won't be back for a while. 3/5

I always love coming here and this time I'm sharing how wonderful my experience has been. The food is always immaculate and I love the delicious sushi and drinks that they serve. The servers were very helpful when it came to choosing new dishes to try and I definitely appreciate that. The service never disappoints because we're always sat immediately whether or not I have a reservation. The ambiance of the restaurant is very chic and clean environment and definitely one of the hidden gems in Santana row.

We went for sushi dinner last night and we chose to sit out. We had a great server and she was very friendly. The ambience was amazing! Let's talk food, we ordered garlic Edamame, Japanese soda for kids, a glass of red wine and cocktail Tokyo Vice. For main course we ordered sashimi Himachi Benitora Speciality rolls and classic rolls Ozumo Rainbow Sekitori Spicy tuna California Drinks and edamame were good! I really enjoyed Tokyo Vice- it's 10/10 Now sashimi- they were melt in the mouth experience Sushi rolls- I would say they were average and not great. Spicy tuna was too salty, sekitori didn't taste good. The worst of all is the in house soy sauce it was so salty that it ruined the taste of everything. I will not list this as a keeper, and wouldn't recommend for sushi.

Diego was an excellent server & gave some recommendations that I couldn't turn down. Location is great, the heart of The Row (Santana Row) & the window seat was great to people watch & see the game on the TV. The ONLY think I somewhat enjoyed the Gyoza & the Kairiku Roll & Volcano Roll was tasteless & not worth the price whatsoever, I am always willing to pay high price items IF THE FOOD IS FLAVORFUL & DELICIOUS. One thing I did like for sure was the drink called Cherry Picker. I will not be going back & wish I could have just gone to my local Mom & Pop's Japanese restaurant that has been around over 30 years in Santa Cruz. Now that place would kill it in The Row! Oh, almost forgot to mention the Tempura Udon was good, but was missing something that I just cannot put my finger on, sadly.

We didn't have a reservation but were seated pretty quickly on a Friday night! We ordered a tuna flight and some rolls which were tasty but I'm not sure if the prices justify the taste. It's an elevated dining experience and a great spot for a dinner date.

Service is great and the interior is nice and roomy. Good space between tables, so you can have private conversations. gyoza (3/5): the green veggies at the bottom for decor weirdly over-powered the dumpling. wish it was crispy at the bottom, it was cooked like soup dumplings. midori salad (5/5): the sauce was really good, compliments the salad well and the pear and was super nice. would recommend! large portions too and nice side for the tempura and chicken. teriyaki tori (chicken) (5/5): very tender and the sauce wasn't too tangy or tart. the side of rice and squash was nice, and the cucumber was super refreshing! took a second to realize the squash wasn't a mango. tempura udon (3/5): tempura is on the side so it doesn't get soggy, big plus, and the noodles are perfectly soft. soup base was nearly bland, but I would say simple. aburi (3.5/5): good, but wouldn't get again. as a sauce hater, the sauce was pretty mild and the texture didn't throw me off. i would rather get a spicy tuna roll next time since this wasn't special and is more expensive. dragon crunch (10/5): so delicious! extra tempura crumbs on the side to "dip" into. The tempura is so delicious and wasn't oily. Nice ratio of rice. Perfection, 10/10, get it! rainbow roll (3.9/5): good, but the fishes didn't stand out? Couldn't taste the difference california (2/5): not a fan... should've been the easiest to execute. i can't even explain what wasn't good, just so lackluster. tekka maki (1/5): small portion, which was nice since it wasn't good. so bland; at least the other bad rolls has condiments and assistance with avocado etc.

The food was so fresh and delicious! Every single dish I had was delicious. I also had some pickled veggies and they were sooooo good. We got great service and the ambiance was super chill. Of course parking is crazy because it's on Santana Row but will definitely be returning.

Came here with my boyfriend since I was gifted a generous Ozumo gift certificate. We almost walked past it because the entrance is somewhat hidden at night and I did a double take to make sure it was the right place. The place was pretty empty when we entered. What we got: kyushu karaage (3/5) -- solid crunch and aioli but I thought the chicken could have been juicier..also the way they cut the chunks made each bite kind of stringy but my boyfriend thought it was good rainbow roll (4/5) -- snow crab is nice, but I think too delicate. It felt very fancy, but I don't think it is as good as a normal california roll with each of the fish dragon crunch roll (4/5) -- standard roll with exception to the snow crab, which I still found to be drowned out by the unagi sauce, eel, and avocado negitoro roll (4/5) -- unique to me, the quality of the bluefin tuna was good and was my first time having shiso...something about the ingredients combined made for a very pleasant bite and the ratio of rice to filling was good, but you get only 5 pieces of this?! aburi roll (3/5) -- very heavy on the sauce, kind of masked the rest of the flavors in the sushi roll. also just hot, less spicy and lacked flavor expensive overall, and tab was covered by mostly the gift card, but I believe with tax, the full meal was ~$115. Based on other sushi experiences, I would consider this overpriced considering you could get comparable quality and more enjoyable rolls elsewhere in the Bay. I doubt I will be returning though it was nice to try.

I have been to this restaurant many times over the last 6 years. I do really like the ambiance with the indoor and outdoor seating, as well as nice bar seating. The service is always excellent and the servers are on top of their knowledge of the menu. The food itself is very good, but I would not necessarily say great, especially given the price. The miso soup is $7 and for me it is more citrusy than I like. I have tried a many miso soups, and some of the best ones I have had have been as low as $2. The quality of the fish is excellent, and the rolls are well made. The udon noodles are also just okay as far as flavor goes. Either way, it is a restaurant in Santana Row I enjoy.

I haven't eaten at this place since it was formerly Blowfish, so it's about time that I gave Ozumo a try. I made reservations for 2 on a Saturday at noon. Since I arrived when the restaurant opened, I had free range to sit wherever I want. I opted for a high table by the front window so that I could take in the sunshine and fresh air and people watch. Our server was friendly but not particularly attentive. I felt like he wasn't observant either. My friend, for example, was running very late due to a family situation. I asked him for a 2nd table setting, which he grabbed from the nearby table, but he didn't bring out a water glass for her nor a tea glass. I offered her my own drinking glasses until we could finally flag him down for assistance. Food was fine. There wasn't anything really special about the dishes I ordered. I liked the big and firm pieces of Agedashi tofu, but the dashi broth tasted bland to me. The mushroom dish was flavorful, and the mushrooms were meaty and filling. We both got the matsu sushi platters, which was what I expected. I love kurodai, so it was a treat seeing it as part of the dish.

Everything is amazing. The food. The atmosphere and best of all world class service. Run dont walk to Ozumo. John Del Rosario and crew represent excellence in Japanese cuisinie.

My partner, friends, and I dined here to conclude a fun weekend on a Friday evening. We made reservations through OpenTable, which I highly recommend to guarantee a table, especially since Santana Row tends to get busy during the weekend. INTERIOR/ SERVICE The design is tranquil and simple, creating a pleasant atmosphere. The service was attentive and friendly. FOOD * Yaki Roll * Futomaki Roll * Ozumo Roll * Shishito Peppers * Ozumo Fries (forgot what the exact name was) We enjoyed a selection of sushi and small plates, and I appreciated the effort put into the presentation. The dishes were not only visually appealing but also fresh and flavorful. I had such a great time here! It was my first visit, and I really loved every moment of it. I'll definitely be back to try more from what menu has to offer.

Came here for dinner last night and I was really impressed. We came a little after 5pm(no reservation) and were promptly seated. It's happy hour from 5-7 which is nice. I liked that their menu was clearly labeled for what is vegan or dairy free. Our server Sean was awesome! He asked if I had any dietary restrictions and he made some good suggestions after I told him I'm vegan and dairy free. The edemame gyoza and veggie hand rolls were SO GOOD! I also loved their espresso martini. Super yummy! The vibe was very welcoming and even a manager stopped at our table to make sure we were having the best time. This is definitely my new favorite restaurant in Santana Row and I've been telling all my friends. 10/10 expirence. Can't wait to go back!

Expensive but loved every bite. The place was spacious.. plentiful seating and not at all busy on a Sunday during lunchtime. The waiter was attentive and provided suggestions when I asked. And the size of the roll was perfect... not heavy on the amount of rice and you can actually taste the different flavors of the roll. The salmon was fresh and the hamachi hanabi was delicious.

Came here on a random Monday and it happened to be happy hour. I think HH is from 5-7. We had come around 630pm. I got myself a specialty cocktail of some kind of green margarita - the entire cup was filled with ice but the drink was good and refreshing and in the HH menu We got a specialty roll of spicy tuna and salmon and avocado and they were good. Didn't like the bluefin tuna, don't think I would recommend it Service was decent. Would come back for drinks and food again

Overall this was a very good sushi & Izakaya spot! We ordered the gyoza, karaage, o-toro nigiri and honcho roll. The gyoza looked and tasted freshly made and the meat had great flavor; the karaage was pretty standard but I personally loved the yuzu in the aioli; and the o-toro was super tender and buttery. The honcho roll was good but a little disappointing, as I thought the spicy tuna and spicy aioli would have more of a kick. The flavor profile was a little flat, and just tasted sweet from the shrimp and unagi sauce. Nothing blew me away but we had a solid meal! We sat at the bar and the service was quick. As for the ambiance, the restaurant had a modern Japanese aesthetic, it was nice but still relatively casual, clean and busy without feeling overly crowded. I thought the price point was on par for what this restaurant offered, and I would definitely come back!

Good food and service No fake crab meat here and all real ingredients The girls are friendly and the foods delicious ! I will be back when I'm in town !!!

Great experience. Ulises is our bartender. He is super friendly, nice & helpful. His drinks are the best. Highly recommended him. Please request him when you come there

Visited this place a couple days ago and let me tell you, it gets BUSY around the evening so make sure to have a reservation. Dishes came out fairly quick but the drinks took a little longer to come out since the bar was busy. Ambiance is very tight knit but cozy. Vegetable tempura was lightly battered, yet crispy and complimented well with the sauce. The miso soup looked small in portion but it was flavorful and the perfect appetizer to save room for some more dishes. The rolls were also small but filling and flavorful. The service was friendly and fast. Perfect to go for an occasion yet a bit overpriced. It is in Santana Row so be ready to spend.

TLDR: Solid place for sushi, with an awesome outdoor patio in the heart of Santana Row! Service was awesome when we came. He was so attentive and friendly, and made us feel really cared for. We ordered: NEGITORO ROLL: A little on the fishier side, but I did enjoy it with soy sauce! YAKI ROLL: This had Scottish salmon, snow crab, and avocado. Very creamy with the unagi sauce! VEGETABLE TEMPURA: Plentiful, generous portions, and very fresh! AGEDASHI TOFU: Excellent fluffy crisp on the outside, but we wished the tofu was a little more...special? Silky? The inside felt like it was just normal tofu, but still good! I love a sushi restaurant that has outdoor seating! Dog friendly too. This place is on the fancier, pricier side, with the rolls being ~$20 each but I guess it is to be expected given the location!

I came here for a birthday dinner and really enjoyed it. The price point is not that expensive considering it's in Santana Row and the portions were not tiny either. I got the 8 piece nigiri set which came with 2 additional hand rolls. For $45, it was a pretty filling set. We also got grilled hamachi collar which was surprisingly good. The appetizer was ok, this was the only item that felt overpriced. It's just 5 pieces of fish with the skinniest sliver of avocado on the bottom (which is impossible to pick up with chopsticks). They have really interesting Japanese style cocktails. I'd recommend the shogun sour which is their version of a whiskey sour. They also gave me a free birthday dessert.

My husband and I came here for happy hour after a movie at CinéArts and so happy we did! Happy hour goes until 5:00 p.m. on the weekends; it's always fun to find a place that has HH on the weekends because it's not super common. Apps were $8 and cocktails were $9; my husband's beer (Kirin) was $6. Pretty reasonable! We ordered the edamame gyoza and salmon skin hand roll. Both were pretty good! I enjoyed my cocktail (umeboshi plum) and we ended up ordering a California roll ($16) which wasn't on happy hour but sounded yummy. They use real crab and the avocado was fresh! The servers and hosts were all nice and the restaurant is stunning! There are lots of little corners and areas for different number of groups.

Yesterday, I visited a sushi place with my friend. It's located in a great spot on Santana Row, which is beautifully decorated with lights and a Christmas tree for the holidays--very cute! The restaurant was very clean and quiet, likely because not many people dine in on Thursdays. This was a huge plus for us. The sushi was mind-blowing--I've never had such delicious sushi in my life. Everything was incredibly fresh. We also ordered cocktails: an Aperol Spritz for me, an Ichigo 75 for my friend, and a mocktail. My friend loved her drink, but mine was just okay--a bit watery. The downside, though, is the price. For our order of a California Roll, Yaki Roll, Avocado Roll, 2 Aperol Spritzes, 1 Ichigo 75, 1 mocktail, plus tips, we paid $146.66. I wouldn't say we were full either, as the portions were quite small. However, I still recommend this place for a nice date night.

I don't enjoy writing reviews like this, but I want to be honest about our experience at Ozumo in Santana Row. I took a friend for dinner, his first time there, and we both love sushi. While Ozumo in SF has consistently impressed, this location fell short during our recent visit. It takes a really bad dining experience for me to give two stars because I'm extremely generous with my reviews. Our meal was slow to arrive, and our server was often absent, making it clear they were understaffed. We also noticed that the authentic Japanese sushi chefs were no longer working there, and rather than three chefs on a busy Sunday, there were two young men behind the counter, making the wait long. The food quality was another disappointment. The sushi rice lacked proper seasoning, and the fish wasn't as fresh. The tempura, including the shrimp heads on the ebi, was oily and soggy rather than light and crispy, likely due to the oil not being hot enough when they fried it. Even the miso black cod, once one of my favorites comparable to Nobu's, was a letdown. Not seasoned well and overcooked. We were understanding when both our tea pots were missing their lids. Obviously a small sign of mismanagement when simple things aren't rectified in ordering new pots. Sadly, this will be my last visit to this location. I'll stick with Sanraku, my preferred sushi spot in the South Bay, which offers better quality and similar value. The ambience was okay, though nothing special. They've changed the decor and lighting so many times throughout the years. Parking has become a hassle, especially during the holiday season. After two free hours, it's $2 per hour, totaling $6 for an evening. The new parking system, which requires scanning a QR code and entering your license plate and credit card information before leaving, was confusing and inefficient. Even though the system is meant to speed things up by scanning your paid license plate, you end up waiting behind people unfamiliar with the process using their credit card, which slows everything down at the exit gate. There needs to be bigger signage explaining the process because the frequency of new daily tourists will never be familiar like the locals.

Everything is always so perfect & delicious. Everyone is so sweet & helpful from the minute I walk in. Every time I come inn treated like a vip. The host, bar tender, servers, busier. Chefs are amazing. Management keep doing what you're doing. 10 starts. four thumbs up . Ambiance always on point. LOVE Thank you

This place's sushi is so good! The wagyu & otoro nigiri are definitely expensive but I highly recommend trying it if you come to this restaurant. As someone who didn't enjoy raw fish much before and only ate california rolls, this restaurant changed my mind.

Right when we walked in we felt welcomed. They greeted and sat us right away. Our server David was awesome and attentive. He gave us great suggestions for drinks and food. The prices were great because we went during happy hour, we went on a Friday around 5pm and it was perfect out... not busy at all. Just starting to get busy towards the end of our dinner and we were there for a while. I would recommend this place for a night out for drinks our just to grab a bite with friend ands family! Thank you David for a great experience, we will definitely be back.

Nick, thanks for your time this evening on menu recommendations. Please bring back the purple humus my date wish you still had, I'm a hummus connoisseur! And thank you Aleta, Uli, and Diego for the killer Irish Mules! All the food was amazing and thanks to the Chef for making the Yaki not baked!!! And thanks for having my Giants on!!!

We went after a lunch rush on a Saturday. Place was pretty empty and we were seated right away. Food also came without a wait. Tofu dish was pretty good but don't know how it was presented in a bowl with minimum soup. We liked it though cuz the taste was good. Rolls were ok as well. Need to come in a group so that we can try more of their rolls.

Loved the service Food is great and tasty The tea was not that impressive The ambiance is quite and relaxing

*3.5* My friend and I came around 3pm on a Saturday and it wasn't super busy. Our order was taken at a timely manner and our food arrived promptly. The staff had let us know of happy hour and we happily ordered a few items off of it. The vibes were nice, not too loud, and nicely dim. Food: - Umeboshi cocktail: Did not taste any salted plum. The Sakura vermouth made it super floral and the after taste wasn't pleasant. - Chicken skin skewers: Umami, crunchy, and slightly sweet. 10/10 - Takoyaki: Inside was way too mushy and exterior was a bit soft. Didn't give off authentic takoyaki. 5.5/10 - Wagyu Tarutaru: Quite bland and too creamy? Since the wagyu is already fatty, the added avocado didn't do much, but take the fatty and creaminess over the edge. We got tired of it after a couple of bites. 4/10 - Juryo Sushi Platter: We chose to do nigiri for the platter and the amount of rice to fish ratio was perfect. The fish was fresh and delicious. Our personal favorites were the salmon, hamachi, scallops, and fluke. One small thing - wasabi was lackluster and did not pack a punch. 9/10 - Hotate (scallop) and Salmon Belly Nigiri: They were delicious. Still thinking about it. The salmon was just slightly seared and had all the right fattiness. The scallops were large, sweet, and bouncy. 10/10 Prices were pretty high, but it is located in Santana Row so it is expected.

This is the best sushi restaurant in San Jose and we have tried many. The sushi, sashimi, and kobe beef are fresh, tender, and excellent quality. We like to order one or two plates at a time so we can enjoy each dish. Last night our waiter SEAN was excellent in checking in on us, making sure we had what we needed and giving us time to enjoy our food and conversation. We sat at the sushi bar and watched Pedro and Steven crank out beautiful sushi rolls and sashimi plates. As an unexpected surprise, we were gifted an extra plate of yellow tail sashimi and a free dessert. I love this restaurant and you can't beat the location in Santana Row for beauty and ambiance.

My go-to sushi spot in downtown San Jose fresh sushi rolls, relaxing atmosphere, yummy appetizers

O V E R V I E W: i went for my sister's birthday celebration on a friday evening at 6:30 pm! it was decently packed, but we had a reservation so we got seated right away. the ambiance of this restaurant was perfect. the low-lit lights and overall decor of the place was beautiful. the happy hour menu was also offered all-day today which was a pleasant surprise. F O O D: garlic edamame: 10/10. this was DEEELIIIICIOUS! the garlic & salt combo was everything. we ate those up immediately. volcano fries: 10/10. ALSO SO BOMB?!!!! omg. this was the only happy hour item and it's a must-have. i believe it was drizzled in unagi sauce & there were salmon skin flakes surrounding it, making the best flavorful combo there is. due to happy hour this was only $8! so worth. rainbow roll, dragon crunch, yaki, & ozumo: 7/10. i'd say all the sushi rolls were pretty average. nothing stood out to me as AMAZING, but if i had to choose one of these to eat again it would be the Ozumo. it was the most flavorful to me. sake sashimi: 8/10. i was craving sashimi & this satisfied it. i am not an avid sashimi eater so I'm not sure how this is in comparison to others but i thought it tasted fresh & soft! I'd get it again. A D D I T I O N A L: in the reservation, we said that it was my sister's birthday and they actually bought out free ice cream dessert!!!!!! it's not pictured in this review because my sister didn't wanna be shown lolol, but it was vanilla ice cream + orange syrup and strawberries. SOOO SWEET OF THEM TO DO!!!! we really didn't expect that to have happened. 10/10 service. our server (his name started with a J... I forgot), but shouts out to him because he was such a genuine guy and felt like he went above and beyond as a server! super sweet staff in general.

Located right in the heart of Santana Row below Hotel Valencia - location and ambiance is amazing here. Very trendy and usually music during peak times / weekends. The food is good and fresh - presentation is there. portions are smaller. Wait staff changes like all restaurants, but I haven't had a bad experience here yet.

The ambiance is nice, the service is questionable, and the food is hit or miss. The biggest reason I'm giving it 2 stars is because of the service. We were sitting in the middle of the room, by the bar, and we could overhear the staff talking badly about the other customers. They didn't say anything bad about us per se, but hearing the way they talked about other diners totally ruined the mood and is very unprofessional. He also did this for our WHOLE meal and it wasn't just a one off about one customer. To be fair, it was mostly one server doing this, but the fact that none of the other servers stopped it kind of seems like that behavior is condoned. I'm just shocked that they would behave this way when they are literally in the middle of the restaurant where everyone can see them. In terms of food, the Brussels sprouts blew my mind! They are really good and one of the best I've had in the Bay, highly recommend!! In terms of sushi, it was okay. We got 2 rolls and it did not taste very fresh or interesting. The drinks were really good though, the flavor combination was great! The restaurant is also very well decorated and in a great location. We were seated quickly without a reservation so that was nice. I think without the issue with the staff, I would have rated this place higher.

Roll with the Punches Located at the bottom floor of the Hotel Valencia, this Santana Row Ozumo is their second location, with the original being in SF. This Japanese izikaya** spot is known for their vast selection of sake, Kobe beef, and robata grilled items, as well as the usual sushi/sashimi options one finds at the typical sushi restaurant. The Good: *Reservations via their website & OpenTable *Certified official Kobe Beef® *Dog-friendly outdoor dining *Not a particularly large menu, but big enough that everyone should find something. We arrived with a party of seven and had no issues with even the pickiest folks. *coughcough*Mysister*coughcough* *Carissa's grilled salmon dish was cooked perfectly. *I really enjoyed the Honcho roll, as it was well-put together and had a great balance of flavors. *Nothing to complain about with the Chirashi bowl, as all the fish was fresh and tasty. The Meh: *My brother ordered the ramen, and I took a few sips of the broth, and I wasn't too impressed, but he didn't know better, so yeah. *Not a fan of their miso soup, as it was too kombu forward and lacked that sweetness that miso lends to a dish. Normally, I'd never complain about the miso soup, but they actually charge ($6) so it's fair game in my book. *Prices are, well, this is Santana Row, right? So, yeah. *Parking can be a bit of a bear, but only if you try and park in the closer garages. My advice is to park in the farther garage by the movie theater. Yeah, it's a bit of a schlep, but people watching is part of the fun here at The Row™. The Ugly: *Service was pretty good at first until all the main courses arrived. Which was the problem, as not all the mains arrived as *someone* was still missing theirs. So we waited... and waited... finally, I had to get up to look for the waiter, only to find him yucking it up with the hostesses. The food finally arrived and he gave some cockameme excuse about "... they were just cutting up the fish fresh, and that's why it was late." Right... Just say, "Sorry, we fucked up." And we can move on. I'm not a fan of being bullshitted. Conclusion: Maybe one of the better sushi spots we've eaten at in the South Bay, but the prices, location, and sus service give it a big downgrade in my book. **Izikaya is basically a Japanese version of a pub

We have been coming to Santana Row for a decade but our first time at Ozumo. We came for lunch on a Friday to celebrate our anniversary and there was no wait and plenty of seating. The service was great but took a while because of limited staffing. We ordered the fried chicken appetizer which was spectacular. We ordered three rolls which all were delicious. I also ordered tempura udon to go for a friend I was visiting afterwards. The restaurant has a moody ambiance with natural light and dark walls. I didn't think it was kid friendly which is why we chose it for our date lunch but I did see a baby across from us (no sign of high chairs but I didn't ask). It is pricier than most sushi places but you are paying for the location.

The food here is amazing! I got the honcho roll, and it tasted so fresh and delicious. We got a wagyu taru taru and we also enjoyed how soft and flavorful it was. Goes amazing with the rice paper chips. The Burikama was so yummy. It's hamachi that is cooked on a coal grill. It had such a delicious smoky flavor and melted in your mouth. This place has me drooling!

I noticed rice for sushi here is definitely not authentic Japanese rice. It was longer looking grains and not sticky. It's like basmati rice use as sushi rice. Pretty sad cause I was very looking forwards for cravings. 2 sushi rolls (futomaki roll & spider roll) later!

Good service Good sushi rolls Good ambiance But Stinky bathroom, which was also out out of paper towels

Food food food - can't say enough good things about the food. We got the wygu steak, 4 sushi rolls and 2 of their desserts and wow. Definitely going back.