Sushi Sam's Edomata

This place an absolute gem! The squid legs were perfectly crispy and flavorful—a true delight. Their mouth-watering rolls are crafted to perfection, each bite bursting with fresh, vibrant flavors. The sake selection is fantastic and pairs beautifully with the meal. Whether you’re stopping in for their unbeatable lunch specials or indulging in a cozy dinner, Sushi Sam never disappoints. Highly recommend for sushi lovers!

Absolutely fantastic experience! The sushi was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Each piece was crafted with care, and the variety on the menu was impressive. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable, making great recommendations. The ambiance was perfect for a relaxed dining experience. Definitely one of the best sushi spots I’ve been to—highly recommend!

I have been coming to Sam’s for sushi for 20+ years and they are well known for their hand rolls. And last night we got treated to a lot of great off menu items that are simply delicious and great pairing with sake. Spicy tuna handroll is my favorite, followed by the Unagi handroll. Seared Toro was great as usual. It is a happy place and can get loud as it gets later into the night.

It is one of the best Japanese restaurant. It has been around for over 36 years. They are famous for their fresh sashimi and many type of cooked Japanese food. There are also famous for their omakase. They also changed ownership as of yesterday. One of the biggest problem is getting seats or reservation. They are always booked sometimes overbooked. On the weekends if you don't have a reservation. Don't bother. You are not able to get a seating. Now they only take reservation except for Friday and Saturday lunch. There's also the issue of the owner Sam. He is over 70 years old and sometimes I don't even see him at the restaurant. When he is not there I felt the quality of the food is less than before. We visited the place today, I can say their overall qualities are about the same. But some items they no longer offer or no longer on the menu. They also increase the price on some items by offering only one piece vs two pieces like before. They are only open from Tuesday to Saturday evening and Friday and Saturday lunch.

One of my favorite restaurants in San Mateo! Definitely get the sashimi bowl (first pic) if you are there for lunch. You get a big bowl of salmon, tuna, shrimp sashimi along with tamago (sweet egg omelette), diced mushroom and a small piece of una. Such a rich flavor! The set also comes with miso soup and hot Japanese tea. You can all of these for only $30! What a deal in the Bay Area! The second picture is their lunch set #3 ($50), which I personally don’t think is as good of a deal as the sashimi bowl (unless you are big fan of special sashimi pieces)

I went to Sushi Sam's with a few friends for dinner on a weekday. From what I've heard, you have to call them and make a reservation ahead of time. They don't have an online reservation system. The place was busy when we went there. My friend and I tried their omakase and also ordered some other dishes separately. Their omakase price is not mentioned on the menu, so you'll have to check the prices with the staff when you are there. The omakase includes 8 pieces of nigiri and a homemade dessert (you get to pick your desseet). If you have any allergies, then you can tell the staff, and they can substitute that for a different nigiri option for your omakase. Our omakase was $70 per person for 8 pieces of nigiri and a dessert. Each piece of nigiri came with a thick cut of fresh fish. Our omakase included 1. Rosy seabass 2. Wild yellow tail 3. Bonito 4. Smoked Spanish mackerel 5. Bluefin tuna 6. Black cod 7. Mackerel pike 8. Uni 9. Chestnut cream roll cake (season dessert) Every nigiri in the omakase was delicious, and I was pleasantly surprised by the dessert. I'm not a big chestnut fan, but this dessert was really good. The flavor of the chestnut wasn't overpowering, and the cake was light. I also tried their unagi, albacore, and hamachi nigiri. Albacore and hamachi nigiri were extra salty. A5 wagyu nigiri was good, but it came with a thin slice of wagyu beef. The chili dog (spicy tuna) was pretty good as well. Overall, it's a great sushi restaurant to try in the Bay area if you haven't already.

Another favourite Sushi Bar/ Omakase in San Mateo, California, Sushi Sam's Edomata . Sushi Sam's offers a large nikiri of fresh ingredients, there are various of fish/ seafood to choose from and they come in big pieces full of flavours! There are rolls and other Japanese popular dishes too in case you wanna try them . I love the cozy and informal yet friendly and warm atmoaphere here. It feels like we are at the Japanese fish market! . So glad to be back and see familiar faces of the staffs too! ☺️ . 📌 @sushi.sams . . #mmwhattoeatincalifornia #mmsiliconvalley2023 #jkjmloveomakase

I didn't have a big feast as I only ate solo. The food served is authentic and you can find dishes that are popular with Asians and probably not among the non-Asian patrons. I am showing photos of an "unusual" dish that was excellently done and be highly recommended for connoisseurs who desire natural sources of calcium and minerals. Be reminded to make reservations before visiting as this place is very busy, especially during non-weekdays.

I recently visited Sushi Sam's Edomata in San Mateo to celebrate a friend's birthday, and it was an unforgettable dining experience. Even though we had a reservation, we faced a slight wait due to the bustling nature of the restaurant, reflecting its popularity. Attempting to get bar seating for our group of four proved challenging given the crowd, but it was a small hiccup in an otherwise fantastic evening. The atmosphere at Sushi Sam's is vibrant yet intimate. Despite its small size and busy environment, the space is well managed, ensuring it never feels cramped. The chefs, including Sam himself, add to the lively atmosphere. They were engaging and fun, even exchanging rounds of beers with us, which added a personal touch to our celebration. The service was exceptional, particularly from Calvin, a seasoned server who expertly guided us through the seasonal menu. His detailed explanations of each fish and thoughtful travel tips for our friend's upcoming trip to Japan were highlights of our service experience. The food at Sushi Sam's is nothing short of amazing. We opted for the omakase, and every dish was a hit. The sushi boasted a perfect rice-to-fish ratio, with each piece of fish being soft, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The steamed egg was particularly memorable--earning the chef's kiss from me and being the highlight of the night. Sushi Sam's thrives on its seasonal menu, offering different experiences with each visit, which I find incredibly appealing. This dynamism, combined with stellar service and exquisite food, makes Sushi Sam's Edomata a must-visit for sushi lovers and anyone looking for a top-tier dining experience in San Mateo.

Busy and popular restaurant. I came right at opening and there was a line and they were full in the first 30 minutes. Inside is a typical Japanese decor. The staff are efficient in dealing with a busy restaurant. We tried a bento box, a sushi meal and a rainbow roll. Everything was fresh and delicious. I recommend the bento box so that you can get multiple items. Excellent restaurant and I can see why it's one of the best in the area.

Excellent sushi. Taking off a star just because it was impossible to get a reservation by phone - in person is the way to go. Make your next reservation while you're in the restaurant. Also they then made us wait a long time after our reservation time, 30-45 minutes, to let the other group finish. No pager system so we waited around outside in the cold and checked every few minutes. I'm not sure it was *that* good to warrant the trouble, but I would go again only if we had nothing else planned, which unfortunately was not the case for this first time, which made the whole experience very stressful. But I appreciated the staff trying their best and enjoyed the food once it finally came.

This is a neighborhood gem with super friendly service. The staff have terrific memory and will always remember you (even if they don't know your name)! Love the fresh nigiri that's expertly cut with just the right amount of rice and seasonings (never overpowering the flavor of the fish). We always go for the special fish highlighted in their menu with a few classics like Kampachi, salmon, which they always have. 6-8 pieces always seems like the right amount followed by some amazing desert that I definitely recommend to round out the meal. The dessert never feels too sweet or too heavy. The only challenge you'll have is making a reservation!

An old favorite that never fails to satisfy. If you crave sushi, this is a Bay Area best!

5/5 for all categories. This place was fast, high quality, and affordable. I stopped here for a quick bite before dropping off my mom at the airport and we were in and out in 20 mins. Highly recommend this spot and will return!

This place did not disappoint! Some of the best nigiri and quality fish I've been blessed to experience. RESERVE IS A MUST, and even then, it may not always be guaranteed. TLDR, my girlfriend and I called at least 70+ times for 3 days straight and were finally able to connect to someone. Fast forward to the meal, we were seated next to 3 tables of "friends" of the waiters and chef. There, the workers were boasting how they would cancel other people's reservations to take their friends seats. I get it. Business is business. The food speaks volumes and I would happily go again and again. But it is quite unnerving as a guest.

I love Sushi Sam's in downtown San Mateo. I came here on a Tuesday night and the place is so packed! It's a very affordable sushi place and the fish are really fresh for the price. There are also many choices of sushi and rolls to choose from but also other rice and noodle bowl options. I would give this place a solid 9 and would recommend getting their sushi rolls and nigiris

It is definitely good price to value sushi in the Bay but maybe I had too many sushi it didn't WOW me. The fish was very fresh and the slices were very thick. Favorite was probably the young bluefin tuna and the fried calamari. Unfortunately our server messed up a bit - we had ordered three additional things but one they forgot to put in, one they forgot to make and the other was never written down. It was fine because we were full anyway and they were generous gave us a free dessert!

This is the best affordable sushi restaurant in San Mateo! The owner and workers are super friendly and their service is impeccable! The wait can get long here so I recommend coming at non-peak hours or making a reservation (especially for larger parties). Our favorites are the salmon and amaebi nigiris! Their fish is fresh and delicious! We also love ordering the caterpillar roll and tempura udon. Green tea is complimentary and it pairs perfectly with the sushi.

The service was good. The sushi was very fresh and super delicious. Def a staple in san mateo downtown area! It's more of a traditional take so you will not find rolls as other sushi places! The wait is long just fyi. The place is kinda small!

Super lowkey and delicious sushi spot! Sushi Sam's is a casual spot, but they offer awesome sushi at a reasonable price. I came here and ordered a variety of sushi. My favorites were the blue shrimp, toro, and scallops. They have a good selection of rolls as well, the dragon roll came in really big pieces. All the selections were so fresh and each order came in two pieces so it was great to share. I also enjoyed their dessert a lot! I got a white miso parfait but it was actually like an ice cream

Visited this spot on a weekday and experienced a lengthy wait. Booking a reservation in advance would be a good idea. Despite the busy servers, they managed well, and the had an extensive array of options. An excellent choice for sushi lovers. Definitely a cute spot for a date night.

Long lines always indicate that a spot is good. This place is always jam packed regardless of the day, but thankfully you are able to make reservations ahead of time. Service is some times a hit or miss but the food is stupendous in terms of the freshness and flavors. HIGHLIGHTS: California rolls- I know, I know. Basic. But this is literally the BEST California rolls you can get. The butteriness of the real crab immersed in the mayo just makes each bite so delectable. Akumutsu- black throat sea perch is my all time favorite fish and it is very hard to come by. The fattiness of the fish just melts with each bite. Hokkaido Uni- The orange hue is a giveaway on how fresh the gonads are and it doesn't have a pungent aftertaste. Honestly, everything you can't really go wrong with anything on the menu here. Dreaming of my next visit back already.

This month, I went here 3 times. Sushi Sam's Edomata is one of the best sushi restaurants in the Bay Area and here's why: QUALITY FISH for good value FRIENDLY SERVICE without making you uncomfortable CHEF SAM is a cool ‍ And is there more you need? I love high end omakase/kaiseki places, but you are paying for an experience and sometimes I just want to go somewhere casual while satisfying my fish craving. Their omakase was surprisingly filling and had my favorites: uni, toro, and sawara amongst others. Also where do they find their workers? Because every single one of them is just great, 11/10. Maybe it's age or introversion, but I'm sick of the pretentiousness of fine dining and my server having to fold my napkin when I leave for the restroom. I'm here for the food and the vibes. I always feel so happy here during and after meals. No wonder it's always packed. Please reserve in advance or go at opening time I love this place

Finally got to try Sushi Sam's after so long of waiting for them to be open during the times I'm in San Mateo! It definitely did not disappoint. While the line can be long and service slightly slow, that's all worth it when you try their fresh rolls. We ordered the chefs omakase and it was a perfect blend of everything I like in seafood. From uni, to scallop, to shrimp you get a wide array of different nigiris. The omakase is a bit small-portioned though so I do recommend you order some additional rolls if you go this route. Will definitely be coming back.

DEFINITELY RESERVE AHEAD OF TIME, AND DO IT IN PERSON! Otherwise you'll have to wait like 2 hours. I came into the restaurant a week ahead to reserve a time, and even then they only had 2 slots left. They don't really answer their phone, so you're better off coming in person and reserving for yourself. On to the food: We ordered the omakase ($76/person for 8 pieces), and my main takeaway was some pieces were homeruns, while others were pretty forgettable. If a piece has yuzu, keep in mind that yuzu has a STRONG flavor profile, so the fish will become an aftertaste. If you really prefer to taste the pure flavor of the fish, you may be better off without omakase. I don't think I'd order omakase again because I'm not a big fan of yuzu overpowering fish. The butterfish and uni were my favorites from the omakase. I also enjoyed the scallop, toro (mega juicy and fatty), and shrimp, even if the shrimp was kind of overpowered by yuzu. We also got a smoked Philadelphia roll, which was great! I think they add some kind of mushroom or vegetable to add some crunch, and it's nice considering cream cheese and smoked salmon have both very soft, creamy textured. I also got classic salmon nigiri; you can never go wrong with a classic here. The desserts that came with out omakase were nice too! I really liked the goat cheesecake with fig; the goat cheese came through loud and clear, and the graham crumbs on top added more depth of flavor and some crunch. The hojicha cheesecake wasn't anything special, in my opinion. I would love to try the peach earl grey mousse someday. Service was 100% great. Servers were so friendly and welcoming. You can tell they care a lot about the customer's experience. Will always recommend this place to anyone who's visiting. (Just, you know, I'll tell them to first make a reservation at the restaurant in person.)

A gem in the neighborhood. The interior is unassuming with a modest sushi bar tucked in a corner. The place is always busy but the staff keeps the flow under controlled. It worked well that you don't feel rushed and gets to enjoy your meal. The food is very good! They have a large selection of sushi and specialty items and a good selection of kitchen prepared à la carte. So if you're not much of a sushi enthusiast, you can basically build your own bento box! The fresh oyster and sashimi combo were so fresh and delicate. The tempura and spider roll were very good as well. We ended the meal with the hojicha tiramisu. It was the bomb!!! It was so smooth, delectable, and delicious! I regretted sharing it!

Located in busy downtown San Mateo, this is an outstanding Japanese restaurant! Traditional preparation and high quality seafood. Be sure to try call in for a reservation, as this place is very popular. In fact, we had a 5:00 pm reservation and learned that the fresh oysters were already sold out(fortunately, they spared one order for us). Highly recommend their 8 piece sushi omakase. Loved their agadeshi tofu: fried tofu in warm broth. Their chawan mushi is another great starter, steam egg with chicken, fish cake.

Seriously some of the best sushi I've had. We got the Chef's Choice Omakase which was so incredible! Each piece of fish was truly a work of art and had the most unique flavor profile. Highly recommend sitting at the bar if you can - watching them craft these was amazing. The Dragon Roll and the Rainbow Roll were both delicious as well, but the omakase was definitely the highlight. Small place, but the service was good and food came out very fast!

Did you know that Sushi Sam's is open for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays? Whereas it's not easy to get walk-in seating in the evenings at Sam's, it's a little easier during lunch time and the vibe is more chill, which we enjoy. During COVID, they would make their limited supply bara chirarshi once a year, and we'd always jump on it; I'm so happy they now offer it on their regular lunch menu. In addition to the fresh and perfectly cut fish/shrimp/tamago that top the dish, the rice is also prepared just right, evenly mixed with mushroom and bean curd bits that make this dish OUTSTANDING. As I ate it today, I was literally savoring each bite, loving every bit of it. Their beef curry is good too; excellent comfort food, especially on a cool day.

Of all the sushi places in food forward downtown San Mateo, Sushi Sam's is easily the most popular of the bunch. Even on a random weekday, the wait can be pretty long if you don't have a reservation. While the interior decoration can be best described as very genrically American Japanese style, the food was terrific and one of the better spots in the bay for me personally. There looked to be a good amount of different daily specials and items, so your mileage on items may vary. We ordered: * Fresh Oysters - 8/10: a little too acidic with the sauce even for my taste, but the oyster was super fresh and plump * Super Sam Special - 5/10: kinda salty, but was a good filler since I was really hungry * Fish Akadashi - 8/10: should've added the clams instead of the fish since it was pretty flavorless, but the soup itself was hearty and warming * Albacore Tataki - 8/10: loved the onions on top, but wish the fish was seared a bit more to impart more flavor * Omakase - 10/10: one of the most value ($67 pp) omakase that I've had with some our favorites being the fatty tuna, shrimp, and scallops * Dessert - 8/10: both the green tea tiramisu and goat cheese were a great cap to the meal, also not too big either If you don't mind either reserving a table ahead of time or waiting, then what awaits you is a great sushi joint with friendly service, fresh sushi, and great portions. I would highly recommend the affordable omakase set for each person and adding a roll, appetizer, and/or specials for variety.

This has to be my new favorite sushi spot. The service was great and cut of nigiri we had was perfection. I appreciated when the servers would suggest which cuts didn't need soy sauce. Those pieces were seasoned perfectly. We ordered the hojicha tiramisu for dessert and it was so good. Save room for dessert if you go! Special shout out to the uni. I don't know what it was but it was the best I've had (in California) so far.

Absolutely amazing food. I personally do not like fish but I still had an amazing experience. The wagyu sushi was amazing. My boyfriend and father loved the fish. The server was very kind and worked very hard. Everything is very fresh.

Really great experience with super great food! We got the omakase, two rolls, two deserts (complimentary with the omakase) the agedashi tofu, and a fried fish appetizer! The omakase comes with a detailed background of where the fish came from which I thought was super cool! The chef who prepared it comes out and tells you what ocean these are from and asks you questions. It is sorta like a tiny globe trot with a meal which is one of a kind. The fish itself was very well prepared and fresh-- personally, my favorite was the Spanish mackerel! I also loved the Hojicha tiramisu! The flavor was decadent and light and it was well prepared. The age dashi tofu is a must-try-- the flavors are amazing and very unique. Street parking is plentiful but it can be hard to find! Due to popular demand, it is always very busy but if you're itching for sushi, do go!

please don't come for me..... I don't think the Bay truly has AMAZING mouth watering sushi spot compared to Vegas, SO-CAL because You literally have to smother your sushi in soy sauce and wasabi... if thats your opinion of good then OKAY! BUT this place literally is the EXCEPTION! Mouth watering, melt in your mouth sushi that stands on it's own! I didn't dip once, each item came with instructions from the chef, it was truly chef kiss! It was such a fun date night, we sat at the sushi bar & had so much fun! FIVE STAR SERVICE for not so five star price?... sealed the deal for me. Don't skip the dessert... trust me soooo good! Really wish we didn't share it haha

Extremely busy place in San Mateo for dinner. The restaurant feels and smells like a pretty old place and the workers seem really busy. The wait time was extremely long here. I came with 9 people all of whom had ordered the 10 piece Omakase with some add ons while I ordered the Chirashi Sushi. I enjoyed my Chirashi, I loved how they seasoned the rice and all of the fish had great quality, especially the hamachi. It took over two hours for the omakase to come out completely, and the people I was with waited over half an hour for the second half of their sushi to begin coming (it also came one piece at a time) so overall we spent way too long of a time here. I am guessing that this service speed was the reason why the wait time to get seated was so long as well. The extremely slow wait times for the food to came out is why I would hesitate to give this place five stars. Apart from this, the service and waiters were friendly.

Yes, my coworker introduced us, stopped by had several kinds of sushi. Pretty fresh and authentic you can imagine and the service was decent enough for us to satisfy. One thing they only take reservation during weekends so please be careful on this part. Lucky us there was room a for us to Get an accommodated. Ambience did not have much either modern or authentic atmosphere, but acceptable.

Sadly this place is not what it use to be. They require reservations to eat. Ok that's fine. But every time I call, they always say call back when we close I'm too busy. Annoying but fine. So I call back and no one picks up. There's really no point to dine here if they are so unwilling to help. Within the times I have called, reservation could have been done by now. I even tried to call during their designated Togo period which is 4:30-5. After 38 calls for 20 minutes. No one still picks up. GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! San Mateo county is full of sushi restaurants, don't bother going to one who can't even bother to pick up the phone.

Came at 8pm on a weekday and we were lucky there was no wait. Ordered a bunch of different things but my favorite were the hamachi nigiri and the oysters. We also got the super sam special, which is just the sam special but with crab. Yummy high quality sushi for a very reasonable price - definitely will be back again!

Living in the Peninsula for long enough, I admit I've been late to the Sushi Sam(party in your mouth). Last month, I finally tried out this well established restaurant in downtown San Mateo. We arrived about 15 mins before they opened on a Saturday evening and a nice young man came out to see if we had reservations, which we didn't. He looked almost confused and said, oh I think we can squeeze you in and then quickly disappeared. Right around the time they opened their doors, he came back out to check on the now large line down the sidewalk. I could hear the far majority of the patrons stating, yes I do have a reservation. After he circled back to us at the front of the line, he told us to follow him in. I felt like I won a small lottery at this moment. I wouldn't say the rest of my meal was anti-climatic(maybe it was a tad bit). The pieces of fish I ordered were soft, fresh, and felt amazing in my mouth. I shall return in the near future.

Finally got a reservation with some friends at Sushi Sam's! We ordered the omakase. Each dish was explained thoroughly by our waiter, telling us where each fish came from and how it was prepared. Some standouts were the uni which came from Hokkaido, the scallops which had a sweet taste to them, the smoked mackerel which I've never had before, and the toro. My favorite was probably the kanburi which had a nice yuzu flavor. Apparantly it's only available for about a month and its just a bigger yellowtail. The dessert, hojicha tiramisu was a great end to the night. Overall, very happy with the service and food. The ambiance and staff are all very welcoming.

They clearly don't need your business but for whatever reasons prefer to WASTE YOUR TIME under pretense that they do take-out. I called every 1 to 2 of minutes for take-out starting at 430p. Someone finally picked up at 448p only to leave the phone off the hook. I can hear the in the background a man asking a woman in Cantonese "are you going to take that call?" She laughed then he laughed. After 2 minutes I hung up. Called back and at 451p she picked up and said "um let me check..." and within 5 seconds said "we're actually at capacity for take-out orders" DON'T BOTHER. This has been going on since the pandemic and reported by multiple other people so it's highly likely the owner is aware.

I was brought here for a friend's birthday. I had no background on the place, pretty much just showed up. EXPERIENCE We walked in with a group of 8 people. We all ordered different things. Some getting the omakase, some ordering a la cart nigiri, some ordering rolls, and some ordering udon. Our food came out quite slowly. The a la cart came out quite quickly. Half of the omakase came, but there there was an almost 2 hour break until the second half started to come out. We ended up being there for about 3 hours, and there was a huge lul where food did not appear. We saw many servers, they were very busy, they kept saying the food will come. I think they were just really busy. They did basics like refill our tea and water. They gave us a dessert on the house, but like just one. Seemed lackluster. FOOD (3.5/5) Chirashi (Salmon, Octopus, Tuna, Shrimp, Tamago (egg), Yellowtail, Seared Butterfish (?) with yuzu toppings, and fish flakes, cucumber and mushrooms over rice) - I got one one piece of of salmon, tuna, shrimp, and butter fish, kind of disappointing for the price. The butter fish (just a guess) was so delicious! I wish they listed the fish that was served. The rice box with fish flakes and veggies was quite tasty. First time seeing the fish served in another container than the rice. I think overall the taste was good, I guess I expected more for the price. (4.5/5) Sakuramasu (Cherry Trout nigiri) - slick and tastes very ocean-y. (5/5) Akamutsu (Rosy Seabass nigiri) - really smooth and buttery texture with yuzu juice (5/5) Hojicha Tiramisu - delicious! I loveee hojicha, and making it into a tiramisu, I haven't seen before. OVERALL I think the quality of the fish is good. The price is a bit high still. I think the service is where this restaurant really suffered. I understand we had a big party so it would take time, but having such a huge gap where no one was getting food for over 30 mins to an hour of time is ridiculous. Also the omakase was just paced so poorly, that at some point we just wanted to leave. I would not come here again with a large party. Probably a smaller one would be fine.

Favorite sushi spot in San Mateo. Price for Nigiri here is affordable for the quality. You can get 10-12 pieces for under $50 if you mix the standard nigiri with their specialty nigiri. Expensive still, but I'd say every piece is omakase quality! I always love getting the Amaebi (sweet shrimp) nigiri because the shrimp tastes amazing plus they fry the shrimp head as a bonus little dish.

I went to Sushi Sam's with a few friends for dinner on a weekday. From what I've heard, you have to call them and make a reservation ahead of time. They don't have an online reservation system. The place was busy when we went there. My friend and I tried their omakase and also ordered some other dishes separately. Their omakase price is not mentioned on the menu, so you'll have to check the prices with the staff when you are there. The omakase includes 8 pieces of nigiri and a homemade dessert (you get to pick your desseet). If you have any allergies, then you can tell the staff, and they can substitute that for a different nigiri option for your omakase. Our omakase was $70 per person for 8 pieces of nigiri and a dessert. Each piece of nigiri came with a thick cut of fresh fish. Our omakase included 1. Rosy seabass 2. Wild yellow tail 3. Bonito 4. Smoked Spanish mackerel 5. Bluefin tuna 6. Black cod 7. Mackerel pike 8. Uni 9. Chestnut cream roll cake (season dessert) Every nigiri in the omakase was delicious, and I was pleasantly surprised by the dessert. I'm not a big chestnut fan, but this dessert was really good. The flavor of the chestnut wasn't overpowering, and the cake was light. I also tried their unagi, albacore, and hamachi nigiri. Albacore and hamachi nigiri were extra salty. A5 wagyu nigiri was good, but it came with a thin slice of wagyu beef. The chili dog (spicy tuna) was pretty good as well. Overall, it's a great sushi restaurant to try in the Bay area if you haven't already.

To be honest, I was disappointed with my experience here. Was their fish fresh? Yes, but it wasn't the best. Their service was... confusing? No one helped up, we had to find someone anytime we needed to order or ask for the check, and even when we flagged someone down it seemed like they could not be bothered. Nothing looked appealing, but I tried it anyway, after trying the unappealing items, some were good and some were ok (still edible but wish I ordered something else) and my stomach started aching almost instantly after starting our meal. I'm really hoping we had an off experience, but I can't say I would risk coming back.

amazing food and flavors, beat quality fish and ingredients. the servings and sushi sizes are generous so don't order too much like us! For appetizers, I recommend sake steamed clams, and wagyu beef curry (giant serving for $20, definitely can have it as a meal). We also liked kisu tempura (japanese whiting fish) is good and fried well. Live oysters (from washington) are flavorful and fresh to cleanse your palette. The grilled squid is good too and the tentacles are crispy but huge (a bit salty). Salmon skin salad was too much mayo sauce, salmon a bit dry - skip it. The fried shrimp head for ordering amaebi and blue shrimp sushis were my favorite! Uni from hokkaido was so fresh. Toro definitely super fatty and yummy. Arctic char was so flavorful. Highly recommend if you like Salmon. Blue crab special was so fresh as well. Most special sushis come with ponzu, yuzu, shoyu already so no need to dip in more soy sauce. Call in advance to reserve a table, be prepared to come for the 5PM first seating. They have high chairs available.

I feel like I need to update my review to 5 stars because I absolutely love Sushi Sam's. It's my favorite sushi spot of all the places I've tried because of the value (omakase is still a great price for the amazing, fresh, seasonal fish you get + dessert) and its offerings. I've never had a bad experience here. The fish is fresh, and it's seasoned well. Some of the rolls can be pricey, especially given the size, but some are also a steal - it's all about balance, right? I also love the amount of other hot dishes they offer and that their menu changes daily. Their desserts are also always on point. I'm still dreaming about the goat cheesecake with figs I had last year! The waitstaff is quick and on top of things, even though they're busy. They're also friendly, funny, and hospitable. The wait can get crazy, but call for a reservation or come by before they open and you'll be able to snag a seat in a timely manner.

Came here before a movie. My date and I were trying to find an old sushi place I use to go to when I went to college in San Mateo. Couldn't remember where it was so we decided to walk around and find another sushi restaurant. We ended up walking by sushi Sam's and I said sure let's try it. We walked in and we got sat immediately at the bar. It was a bit cold so I ordered hot sake and the waiter took off and got that for us while we settled down and looked at the menu. We ordered some rolls, hand rolls, oysters and tempura udon. Everything was sooo delicious!! We ended up ordering seconds. So glad we stumbled upon this cute place

Wow. Just wow! The quality of seafood here was top tier. The sweet and refreshing Hokkaido Scallop with yuzu tobiko on the chefs special omakase was by far my favorite with the seared toro nigiri as my close second. However every single bite I had was dreamy and delicious . Service was great! We were super curious about the sashimi we were trying and the servers were more than happy to share their knowledge with us. Also to note for those wanting to come by, dinner is reservations only so you might want to plan ahead and call in early (not during store hours). If you're not able to get a reservation or you're feeling sushi in a whim, weekday lunch is a good time to stop by.

I think my experience here was not that great, because of the waiter. We were on the waiting list, and since it was a long wait, we were walking around, waiting for their call, but we missed their call. We did call back immediately, but they didn't answer, so we walked back. I think I prefer to get a text to get there 10 minutes before or something. Anyways, when we got back, the waiter was making side comments to other customers, because he was going to seat them, but we ended coming anyway. Under his breath he was talking about the missed phone call, but with a weird attitude. It was just weird, but we already waited for awhile anyways, so we took the table.. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have sat us if we were late or something, because I know this place gets busy. Moving on, we both got the Omakase set, it wasn't that memorable to me, probably because of the distasteful service. It made me forget how the fish tasted, and that is pretty sad lol

Finally got to eat here and unfortunately didn't quite get the hype. Fish was pretty pricey and I didn't taste anything special enough on freshness or quality to justify a return visit. The curry was probably my favorite dish of the night.

This place is a cut above the rest, a 10/10. I usually hate raw fish and just prefer the cooked/friend rolls, but this place is one where I will eat whatever they serve.

Great omakase! I had the omakase here with a group of 4 on a Tuesday. This place is always packed so be sure to make a reservation beforehand (check their IG account for reservation info). The omakase had a combination of fishes from around the world. The fish for the omakase was thick and super fresh. For the omakase I had, there were fishes from Iceland, Spain, Kona Hawaii, and Japan. Besides the omakase, we also tried a few of the nigiris and seasonal specials which were delicious as well. The omakase is finished off with a choice of dessert from their menu. We tried all the ones they have and they were light and a perfect note to finish off the meal. The staff here are very attentive and nice. They are very knowledgable in the fish and their origins. The place is clean and spacious; it's great for family, friends dinner, or special occasions. Note that you can't dine in for too long as there are reservation time slots.

Every roll was high quality and perfect! Wagyu roll, toro roll, blue shrimp, Japanese butterfish. We ordered dessert lemon tart which was amazing but def a smaller portion. Very kind staff and the chefs seem like they take joy in what they do. You can feel that joy and love in the food! Can't wait to try tiramisu next time! they were out.

Food was Amazing , service was a little slow though . Worth try . Reserve in advance .

I heard so much about this place before and I was very excited someone who's frequent here since 1988 opening suggested we go here for dinner. Due to their size, it's not really suitable for a large group. They only had two servers on the night we visited and they were working hard. We ordered several appetizers and then ordered sushi omakase plus extra. Based on the menu I read afterwords, omakase comes with 8 pieces but we were served with 12. So they must have something that's not on the menu. Their food is probably the best sushi in the Bay Area. Each piece was prepared to perfection. I was told not use soy sauce as sushi is prepared with own flavor. Ingredients are top quality, their style reminded of me one of the sushi place I went in Fukuoka a long time ago. I hope I have another chance to come back here when I didn't have to drive. I see great list of sake on the menu here.

Super family friendly environment you can ask for. All the chefs and customers have fun and drink together. You can expect a whole restaurant pack with regulars where all the staffs know all the customer. I had a few ala carte and 8 pcs of omakase. Very nice and fresh quality of fish! The toro hand roll and unagi hand rolls were amazing to the point i had to order 2nd round of that. Highly recommended! Ps. You have to try the almond tofu and almond pana cotta

Went back after 9 years. We just moved back to the Bay Area. This used to be our favorite go to for sushi. Took my Mom and it was not as good as before. Host was not nice nor welcoming when taking our name for the waiting list. Waitress barely spoke to us but magically became chatty and nice when she brought the bill. We will not go back. So many other sushi restaurants that appreciate the business and are nice to the customers.