Sushi Kuu

Nice busy restaurant in the okay buddytown of Visalia. I wanted to eat sushi since there were many Mexican restaurants around. I wanted something different. I looked on Yelp and found this place. So we decided to check it out. We walked in, and it was pretty busy, but we sat down right away. The server was nice. Took our drink order right away. We ordered a tempura bento, sushi bento, tofu, and garlic edamame. The food came out pretty fast! Edamame was hot and had lots of garlic. The tofu dish was okay. I just wish the sauce came separately cause it made it soggy. The tempura bento box came with a pile of tempura, California roll, rice, and salad. The tempura was delicious. Battered perfectly and nice and crispy. The sushi bento was good. Choice between California roll or Spicy tuna and 5 pc nigiri. I chose spicy tuna. The fish tasted fresh. Spicy tuna roll was like any other place, but the nigiri was yummy. Nice thick slices of fish and not too much rice. Service was good. She checked on us a few times. I would recommend this place if you are craving sushi and don't want mexican or sandwiches.

We learned our lesson arrive early or be patient. The food is absolutely worth the wait. Everything was incredibly fresh and full of flavor. I’m usually picky about nigiri, but every piece had me excited for the next. The service was excellent, and the overall vibe of the restaurant made the experience even better. We’re already planning our next visit, this time with friends, so we can explore even more of the menu. Can’t wait to go back!

Great food, great atmosphere, solid spot for getting any popular japanese dishes. I had salmon teriyaki and it was great. The sushi was fresh and flavorful. Service was friendly and fast.

The establishment provided a truly pleasant dining experience. The pristine environment felt welcoming and comfortable. Attentive service enhanced the overall enjoyment. Each dish was expertly prepared and delicious. It was a memorable meal from start to finish.

Fresh sushi meat. Very busy. Price is the higher than most other sushi restaurants but the fish is also fresher.

My fiance and I come here as often as we can. You can never go wrong with any recommendations from Chef Albert and all their friendly servers like Michelle. This place is unlike any other sushi spots around here!

I love Sushi Kuu and I would love to come more often with my kiddos. The staff was amazing and so accommodating to our little one. My one recommendation is to have a Koala Changing Table in the bathrooms to support those with little ones. I was super sad when neither bathrooms had one! Would love to see one of these put in, thank you!

Whenever we travel to this town, stopping by this sushi restaurant is a must. The dining experience here is truly upscale, thanks to the owner's artistic approach to sushi-making. He takes great pride in sourcing his fish directly from Japan, and you can taste the freshness in every bite. The sushi roll collection is not only extensive but also incredibly flavorful. It’s a delight to see the original owner crafting the sushi himself, showcasing both skill and passion for his craft. However, I must mention a concerning aspect of our visit. We observed an employee handling fried shrimp with her bare hands, transferring them into dishes without gloves. This was repeated multiple times, which was off-putting, especially since the sushi chefs, including the owner, were all following proper hygiene practices by wearing gloves. Overall, while the sushi remains a highlight and the quality is impressive, I hope the restaurant addresses the cleanliness concerns to ensure a consistently enjoyable experience. We’ll definitely return for the sushi, but we hope to see improvements in food handling in the future.

Wow, I loved this sushi place. Super clean, fish is fresh. The salmon sushi was *chefs kiss* I felt really safe here, and I'm very picky about sushi. So happy Visalia has a good sushi spot. Good service too.

Service, any service, even bad service is better than no service. Long wait to get seated I can understand. More than 45min after ordering and all I have is iced tea to show for it. Wait , food just showed. Still , ridiculous. That being said the food is very good, no doubt. But the wait time for our food was simply not acceptable.

I was in Visalia for work for 1 day so I asked some locals where the best sushi was, and luckily they told me...Sushi Kuu! A very memorable experience. The waitresses are top notch and are quick to please. You never have to wait long before ordering or getting another drink. This place gets busy fast so make sure to get there at 4:30 when they open. Otherwise you might have to wait until a different day. Very pleasing to sit at the bar and watch the chefs work their magic. Thank you sushi kuu!

Wow! This is one of those "I'd give this place 6 stars if I could" kind of reviews. This place is killer. Headed over from the Convention Center with a friend and colleague for lunch during our conference. The place was already bustling and quite full upon our arrival just before noon. Greeted and seated promptly. Fabulous! We opted for the hamachi kama (collar) for our appetizer and it was incredible. Meaty, super smoky and just so tasty. Yum! We agreed on two rolls: Lemon Drops and Fourth of July. Both fantastic! The Lemon Drops was bright and citrusy while the Fourth of July had a spicy kick and a satisfying crunch. They complemented each other really nicely. The fast and friendly service continued throughout our visit. Even though they were busy, we received our orders promptly and we never felt rushed. If you like sushi and find yourself anywhere remotely near Visalia, do yourself a favor and get yourself to Sushi Kuu. I'm certain you'll be glad you did.

We came to Sushi Kuu during a dark, rainy weeknight just before Thanksgiving. The inside was bright, loud and festive. Packed crowd with maybe a 15-minute wait. Excellent layout with spacious booths along the perimeter, open kitchen in the back, and even art displays of samurai armor and cherry blossom trees in the front. Food and service were great. I'm continuously surprised you can get excellent sushi in unexpected places, from strip malls to conference catering in Norman, OK. The nine-piece nigiri comes in a 3x3 wooden tray like a tic-tac-toe board with seriously fresh fish and well-seasoned fish. Their wasabi is actually fresh, which is uncommon in most USA sushi places. The unagi and inari were both worth getting as well. The Bento boxes come with lots of food, and you can't go wrong with the Teriyaki chicken with tempura veggies. My wife also commented that the ramen was also solid - savory milky broth with lots of fixins. Definitely recommend! Parking can be a bit tricky and its unclear whether they take reservations.

A place that should be on everyone's list. If you're not from the area this place is worth the trip from Fresno or Clovis. If you're a person from Tulare or Visalia and you've never been then same on you because you are missing out. This place is always good and consistent. They're always busy so the word is out. The rolls, the sashimi, bento boxes, and appetizers are must orders. The service is always impeccable. For this visit we got the sashimi platter, spicy tuna, popcorn chicken, chicken teriyaki bento box, and another roll that I can't remember but it was topped with eel. My kids love it here as does my wife also. If you don't come, oh well more for the rest of us.

Sushi kuu has good sushi good service and the ambiance is nice. Service is very efficient and they try to get your food out as quickly as possible. The food is always fresh and the selection is good.

Everyone in our party enjoyed the food and for the price there was a lot of food included in the bento boxes. I'm not much of a sashimi eater but I tried the cherry blossom and liked it a lot, the fish was nice and soft. We also ordered a sparkling yuzu drink (alcoholic) and really enjoyed it. Overall the service was welcoming and friendly, the atmosphere was nice and relaxed, a very good choice for a dinner with friends or a date night

Wow! This sushi was amazing. I was in town and was very impressed when we came by to try some of the rolls! First off the tempura was perfect. Very crunchy and delicious. My favorite item was the new new, it was crispy rice with spicy tuna. We also got a crunch roll and Harley roll. The Harley was so zesty, I hadn't tried anything like it before. The quality of fish was fresh and very good, the service was great too. It was a Thursday night and very busy, but we were seated within 25 minutes.

I could argue that this was the best meal I have ever had. If you are in the area this is an absolute MUST! If you care about yourself at all you will get the nigiri.

Favorite sushi and ramen in town! The spicy katsu pork ramen was so flavorful and yummy! Highly recommend the heat and firebomb sushi roll! I would skip the teriyaki chicken next time as I wouldn't recommend it. Everything was great just my personal preference. The staff was so nice and attentive! Which made our experience so enjoyable. The family can't wait to go back.

We love sushi, there's a couple of good places in town, but sushi cook has been my favorite lately. If you enjoy the taste of fresh fish without all the extra layers of sauces, this is our favorite place get yourself a sashimi set and some hot green tea, delicious meal and wonderful atmosphere inside. Servers are all very friendly and food is delicious. Mid-week for dinner is better for us so we don't have the crowds, it can get a little bit loud on Fridays and weekends.

Best Sushi in Visalia and best Ramen in the valley. This is one of the few spots that offer fresh Oh Toro, melt in your mount wagu of tuna. You will want to order a separate order for everybody at the table as it is hard to share! Read a lot of stellar reviews about the ramen so I ordered the pork belly ramen. Noodles were cooked perfectly, broth was rich and tasty, and the pork belly was perfection. Is it the best in the valley, can't say I have found any better Nice location on Main Street, parking can be tricky but persistence will pay off. Get there early to avoid the line, very popular spot!

The best sushi in town, hands down. The service is always great, all the servers come to help, they are not assigned designated areas. The ambiance is very Japanese and modern. The freshness of the fish is consistent. The best sushi in Visalia, it is worth the wait

Per usual this place does not disappoint. Always busy so make sure you come right at 4:30 when it opens since they don't take reservations! The servers here are kind and attentive and the atmosphere is always buzzing! The food is consistently delicious! We got the pork ramen, the Katsu ramen, all the nigiri sushi, spicy cucumber salad, and more A great place to celebrate special occasions ~

Food was fantastic and so fresh! Service was on point. Every waitress that walked by our table asked if we needed anything throughout our dining experience. Food came out in a timely manner. We never had to wave anyone down to ask for extra this or that. Love this place! Highly recommend.

2.5 Stars Pros: Neat and clean dinning area. Okay service. Cons: Food was pricey for food quality and portion size. Food was eh.

The best Sushi you can find in all of California! Albert sources the best quality fish that's just incomparable to anywhere else! Our favorite the O-Toro, just melts in your mouth. The ambiance is so beautiful and they have the friendliest staff. We've really enjoyed coming here over the years!

My husband was mistakenly given the wrong pickup order, and we didn't realize it until we were home and had started opening it up. I called right away, and they told me I could come pick up the correct order -- but no one told me to bring the incorrect one back. If it was that important, why wasn't that mentioned on the phone? When I arrived, they refused to give me the food I had already paid for because I didn't return the other order (which had already been opened in our home). I honestly wondered if they planned to reuse it, which is concerning. Worse, it felt like they didn't believe me -- as if I was trying to get extra food on purpose. That was insulting and really disappointing, especially since the mistake wasn't ours. I ended up taking my correct order and later received a voicemail from one of the staff members apologizing. She admitted they were in the wrong and said it was actually the cooks who had refused to release the food, not her -- even though the staff had handed out the wrong order to begin with. While I appreciated the apology, the situation was handled very poorly. I won't be back. They lost a loyal customer over a single meal -- which cost them much more in the long run.

Extraordinary sushi in Central Valley. NY quality on food, reminds me Morimoto style and taste.

This is the place to go to if you are looking for authentic Japanese food! It is fortunate for the Visalia, CA area to have Albert (Chef & Owner) to settle in Visalia, CA after stints in Las Vegas and New York! For authentic there isn't a Japanese restaurant between the Bay Area or L.A.! I always sit at the sushi bar to converse with Albert on what is fresh (most coming from Japan) that day and visiting with other Diners. One time there was someone visiting from San Francisco and it was his first time and he commented that there was no place in S.F. that compared to Sushi Kuu!! Albert brings in so much variety of fresh fish that every time is an Experience!! He makes 3 Specialty hand rolls that are served more open like a taco because he wants you to see what's inside. Albert makes all his own sauces and dips himself (not sharing with the Staff) because he wants to keep them "secret"! He makes his own house made wasabi and sho-yu! I don't usually order the rolls but I do recommend the Green Goblin!! It is a different roll you can't get everywhere! It has salmon in it (I don't care for farmed salmon- I prefer wild caught) So I substitute King Salmon instead and named it "King Goblin" and both are topped with jalapeño and a secret light citrus sauce! So good!!Everything tastes so flavorful and fresh that it's hard to have favorites! I'm posting a picture of his "Special List" to show the variety that he brings in mostly from Japan that Albert fillets himself and the varieties change by Season so try something while it's available!! Try the Super Oh-Toro "seared" sashimi style! It will literally melt in your mouth and by searing it - it brings the oil and flavor out! Also Albert makes a red oil with crunchy that you add to the fish! Oh so good!! If you are a sushi & sashimi fanatic or even ramen lover come here! The aju or broth he makes for his ramen and noodles are flavorful! Sushi Kuu also has many different beer from Japan and a large selection of sake!! Sit at the bar and meet Albert so you can appreciate his craft! "Tell him Tony sent you and he will know that you are a connoisseur of sushi delicacy Kam-pai!!!

What a refreshing gem in Visalia. The sushi quality is comparative to some of the best restaurants I've visited in larger cities. Parking was a struggle despite it being a Thursday evening and they were bustling. We waited 30 minutes and were seated at the bar as a smaller party. The staff were incredibly attentive and smiley throughout our meal. The food took 15 minutes to arrive and I was delighted in how clean and meticulous the kitchen was. =ORDERED= *Chirashi: this bowl was incredibly generous and fresh. Each piece was tender and fatty. The yellowtail, fatty tuna and albacore were my favorites. The sauces were applied sparingly and I liked how they were more complex than the typical spicy mayo. The selection of 10 different fish was more than enough to satisfy anyone. The rice was warm, slightly sweet and vinegary. *Miso Soup: came with the chirashi bowl and was a warm, salty starter. *Scallop Nigiri: plump and sweet. The chilled mollusk paired well with the rice. Loved the bite each piece had. *Rainbow Roll: loved how each piece had a thick slice of fish. The inside was stuffed with avocado and imitation crab. A nicely executed classic, shining light on their spread of tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and whitefish. A must visit spot for any sushi lover. Pricing was reasonable for the quality, especially for the chirashi bowl. The ratio of rice and fish was perfect. Surprising to find such high quality seafood in the Central Valley but I'll be back regularly for my fishy cravings.

What was good enough to make my rating 5 stars? Well, everything. Celebrating my birthday today, we elected to have our biggest meal of the day (in the south, we call that "dinner", no matter the time of day) at Sushi Kuu which had been recommended by a friend. We decided to do dinner at 1:00 P,M., to get our meal at the back end of their lunch service time - as late as possible, but still have an hour to do it in. We arrived at 1:00 P.M. and were immediately greeted by happy enthusiastic wait persons, who took our drink orders and then helped us through an unfamiliar menu, answered our questions with patience and knowledge which allowed us to decide on our meal out of an immense array of choices. We started with the best seaweed salad I have found anywhere near here, then two rolls - 1 each of Green Goblin which has a nice citrus flavored sauce and salmon Lovi with a savory garlicky sauce dribbled on it. Both were delicious. Also an order of Oh-Toro super fatty bluefin nigiri sushi. Although it was very good. I think I would have preferred the less fatty regular bluefin. After enjoyingly devouring these dishes, I additionally ordered the Spider roll. Primarily to get the soft shell crab experience. It. too, was delicious. A wonderful meal split and equally enjoyed by both my wife and myself. A fitting birthday dinner. To keep the day and the Japanese food theme going, we decided to take home a Chirashi Don bowl for evening supper. It was so full of food. We kept it overnight for a meal the following day. It was wonderful. Totally recommended. Fantastic food and service with okay prices eaten in a beautifully apportioned setting, creating wonderful ambiance, was the highlight of the day. We'll be back. Hope to see you th

Went in around 5 on a Saturday night and there was no wait! Service was great and we got some great recommendations for rolls! Also ordered yellowtail nigiri which was really fresh and the rice was perfect. Overall, the freshness is great and the combination of ingredients add depths of flavor. Definitely can't wait to come back!

We were passing through Visalia and we were craving for sushi. I found this place and gave it a try crossing my fingers to be good. I can recommend it 100%, food is delicious, the place is nice and clean, and the personnel is attentive. Waitresses always checking that we were good and we didn't wait long to get our food.

Tried out this place because it is the top rated Sushi spot in town. It did not disappoint! Everything we ordered was great! Costumer service was great and kind too! The place is nice; a little hidden. I'd love for the menu to have pictures tho! Otherwise it's great!

This continues to be a solid place to eat. They open on Saturdays at 4:30. This was our second time trying to get in because the first time we arrived at 5 and there was a 30 minute wait. Yesterday we were in line before they opened and yay!! We got in! Wonderful fresh sushi!

Went here on a busy Saturday evening. Put our names down for the sushi bar since that tends to be quicker. Since this place is located next to a brewery we were able to go next door while we waited. The wait was no more than 15 minutes. Good was amazing, we got 2 sushi rolls and teriyaki chicken entree which was plentiful for 2 of us to share. The beer selection is good. :)

Honestly, some of the best sushi I've ever had! I ordered the Nemo & Gyoza. The setup in the place is so cute, cozy and intimate. Definitely a place for family or date night. Sadly, the service was mediocre. My empty glass sat empty for atleast 20 minutes. But in all fairness, it was close to mid-afternoon closing time and I'm sure they had a ton of side work. It's just you know, when you pay for a pricey lunch you want everything to be spectacular!!

The inside is bright and clean. Do t let the outside fool you. The service was lovely and they were very efficient and took our drink orders as soon as we sat down. The green salad was excellent. It had a carrot ginger dressing and was perfectly dressed. The only thing that kept them from getting 5 stars was that the beef bento was DRIPPING in sauce. It was drowning. I couldn't even taste the beef because it was so saucy. If I was to get it again, I would get it on the side.

Honestly me and my gfs favorite place to have sushi in Visalia I had there nigiri set every piece of fish tasted very fresh the spicy pork ramen is amazing as well our go to appetizers is the Agadashi tofu it's super savory and warm and the owner and staff have always been super helpful throughout the dinner making sure we are taken care of

I got the Sashimi Bento box to go. It was great, even the tempura was crispy after a ten minute drive back. I want to go back a couple times a week and try everything on the menu.

Boyfriend and I were in town for the grand opening of Daiso and decided to stop by Sushi Kuu after doing extensive research on yelp. And it was worth it! Probably my favorite sushi spot in the Central Valley now? Will have to come again to confirm. Food: 5/5 Appetizer: potato croquette (so good! Would come back just for these!) Nigiri: Otoro (decent), Hokkaido scallop (decent); House Cured Mackerel (fav!), Amberjack (yum!); I'm picky with otoro and scallops which are typically my favorites but they are decent for Central Valley. Sushi: We got a pick two, shrimp tempura and spicy tuna (both good basic rolls) Service: 4/5 Good service. We were there on Saturday around 11:30am. They were already busy! Everyone was very nice. One of the waitresses didn't really know the menu, and said she was new. I needed to repeat my order a few times but maybe I just talked too fast. Ambiance: 5/5 Nice interior. Very warm and inviting!

It was 7:30pm on a Saturday night. Super busy and packed. I would recommend to make a reservation. We were seated after 20 minutes though, not too bad. We ordered salmon and bluefin tuna sashimi, a pair of flounder nigiri, volcano and caterpillar rolls. The sashimi came with 5 pieces. Decent quality and cut. The tuna was sliced smaller than usual but fresh. Salmon was good and fresh. The rolls were tasty, too. My only complaint is that the rice of the rolls was mushy. Overall, a nice restaurant with good quality fish selections in the valley for someone who wants to have their sushi fix! The ambiance is typical Americanized Japanese restaurant. Light-colored wood furniture with Japanese style tableware and deco. Sitting next to us were a couple who appeared just on a first date, so I guess a date night would work!

5 star for taste, minus 1 star for price. Best sushi I've had in the valley, but pricey. More expensive than many good sushi houses in Bay Area.

*5 stars for a reason !!!! Wow I'm blown away by the quality of food at this restaurant. Without a doubt a Hidden gem in this little town. We normally come to Visalia once a year for work, and previously was not able to dine at this Resturant because it was closed the date we were in Town. Now having Dine here, it makes it really hard to dine at other restaurant. Authentic Japanese flavours, very fresh and high quality seafood. We ordered : Pork Ramen ( Spicy) - 5/5 ( comes with salad ) Broth has a rich deep pork red miso flavour, I've chosen the spicy version and I'm glad I did. It's not overly spicy but has a hint of warm spice that goes well with the deep miso flavour. Pork has that rich smoky taste, soft and fatty. If im being picky the only thing they need to work on is the Egg. Butterfish Roll - 5/5 Very delicious. Roll has a slight ponzu flavour but it wasn't over the top. Presentation was beautiful. Fish was soft and had a very light smoky taste. Chirashi Don - 5/5 + Comes with your choice of salad or miso soup OMG! The quality in this dish is amazing. Chefs really spent their time and effort matching each fish with a seasoning. The fish quality is high, they don't give you just the average selection ie.(chopped Salmon/chopped Tuna) Like other restaurants do, but give you an assortment of high quality seafood. *a Must order* good for sharing too since they give you 2 of each type of fish Service was great as well! Not pushy and everyone helping each other out, it was a very comfortable atmosphere. Highly recommend!

Me and my friends enjoy coming here. We make a trip down from Fresno when we can because the sushi here is the best in the valley with reasonable prices and many fish options. The staff is always attentive and welcoming. I would recommend this place to any sushi lover.

Wow. This is top tier sushi and vibes. I went in to pickup my togo order and I need to go back just to eat in there. The people were friendly, didn't rush me and it was fast service. I got the Pumba roll and the Kurobota Pork Sausages and they were phenomenal. Pumba had this garlic salmon on it and I couldn't get enough. Everything was so fresh. I wish they were in Fresno. I will be back.

The best sushi restaurant in the area hands down! My husband and I always come back to Sushi Kuu. Great service, amazing sushi/ramen/apps, and great vibes.

Literally the best sushi in the Central Valley let alone Visalia. Friday night I shared a sashimi dinner with my significant other. The waitress took time explaining each offering. I can't express how FRESH the sashimi was-- like it was right out of the water and filet cut immediately. There is a difference when it comes to "fresh" fish and the sushi chefs ability with a knife. I enjoy Gozen and Osaka but hands down quality of product Sushi Kuu wins.

Awesome sushi rolls after a day of playing in sequoia national park. Super friendly servers and the ambiance is casual which was nice.

Food was delicious and beautiful, like ART!! Service the best! Interior is very nice, and very clean!!!

Would give 3.5 stars, the inside of the restaurant is very nice and pretty to look at. Ordered the Gyoza, curry ramen & pork ramen with the tiger roll. The pork ramen was delicious, just very fatty , I had ordered a side of rice but they forgot it :( the curry ramen was bland eggs were overcooked and the spice level was not spicy at all which is bothersome because you can't adjust the spice either. The girls working are doing a good job I believe I seen just 2 waitresses during lunch peak.

Fantastic food and service. Sat at sushi bar so enjoyed watching all the dishes be assembled. Would come here again no question.

5 stars and double it! I came here for the first time this past weekend and sat at the sushi bar area. The service was great - friendly & attentive. The interior was a good balance of casual and intimate, great for a quick lunch spot with friends or a date night for dinner. We ordered the popcorn shrimp appetizer. You could tell it was fresh and flavored from the batter through to the shrimp, it came with a spicy mayo, very tasty, plenty for sharing for two and a great way to kick off the meal. We ordered the firebomb and the volcano roll. The firebomb was so yummy with that cilantro and hint of lemon, wow, definitely would recommend this roll as a must try! The baked volcano roll was also very delicious. You could tell everything was very fresh!! The kitchen was clean, everyone behind the counter was kind and it seemed so orderly. Kudos to the team, you guys are doing amazing sweetie I'm excited to visit again soon!!

Our second visit for dinner last night (Valentine's Day), long line waiting for doors to open, and worth every minute. Again we sat at the counter to watch Chef/Owner and his crew create their epic rolls and nigiri. We enjoyed another delicious fresh flavorful dinner. The service was friendly cheerful and consistently efficient. We will be back again!

First time trying Sushi Kyushu and it did not disappoint. We tried Harley's and it was fabulous.

I absolutely love this place. I've been going since before they moved to downtown. I have no had better sushi than the sushi here. I've tried different menu items and have not been disappointed. Everything from their sushi, appetizers, ramen, ect. is phenomenal. It is the perfect date night place. Service is always great as well. I love that you can put your name on the waitlist and hop over nextdoor for a drink while you wait. I highly recommend this place.

Sushi Kuu is a hidden gem in Visalia. I was in the area hiking for my birthday weekend and came here for the glowing reviews. They did not disappoint. The service is great and the fish tasted clean and fresh. I was most surprised about the onion shreds in the spicy tuna roll that completely elevated the rolls for me forever. If I'm ever in the area again, I would definitely come back!