Utzutzu

Wow - what a special place! The ambiance, atmosphere, service, and attention to detail crafted in each course is perfection. The sushi chef is so talented and does an excellent job at pacing each course / nigiri bites. The fish is mostly imported from Japan with a few pieces from the PNW. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a fun elevated sushi experience. Definitely worth the splurge in my opinion! Can't wait to go back again soon.

The omakase itself was a nice experience, I really enjoy hearing about the meals and watching the skilled preparation. I feel like the presentation of the food and the preparation were amazing, very relaxing and full of a refined art. The nigiri was really good and I also enjoyed the fish soup, uni, squid, miso soup and the pudding. The chef responds really well to basic respect and makes it known. He is skilled in his craft and has years of experience. At one point he was pretty angry at another loud couple who had shown up late and were talking loudly as he introduced the meals, only to ask him to repeat himself. He seemed to have a lot on his mind. I want to start this complaint by saying that they apologized immediately when I brought it up, but it seems like I should mention it. In the reservation, I clearly stated that I had a minor mint allergy and my guest had a strong allergy to pine nuts. Again in the lounge (we showed up early), I was asked my allergies and I stated I have an allergy to mint. At the bar again the chef asked me what I was allergic to and I said mint. The preparation of one of the nigiri had a mint leaf in it, which gave me a very mild reaction compared to normal, just a buzzing of the inside of my mouth followed by a light itching of the inner mouth and throat and then an hour or so later a light gut paint/irritation, so nothing crazy. It was a Japanese mint leaf as well, so I got lucky. The only other thing to me that was a bit strange was that the sake is served in plastic glasses. The sake itself was delicious.

The Food I have only visited a handful of omakase places. But a friend was able to get a reservation at Utzutzu, so I wanted to give this place a try. Once we settled in our seats, the chef presented us with the fish that he will be preparing for the night. Few friends and I decided to try out their Sake of the day, which was the Nagurayama "Gekkyu". They presented the Sake in an aesthetic glass, it was not bad, though I prefer some of the sweeter sake. As the courses began, they were as follows... - Kinpira Gobo (braised burdock root), with asparagus topped with saffron - Nanbanzuke (marinated fish, with a slight citrus taste) Nigiri - Isaki (伊佐木 / Chicken Grunt, soft and have a slight crunch) - Shima-aji (縞鯵 / Striped Jack, hint of lime zest) - Ishigakidai (Knifejaw, smooth with a slight chew) - Horse Snake Mackerel - Golden Eye (Deep Sea) Snapper (hint of roast flavor, not overdone) - Black Seabream (almost melt in mouth) - Maguro (leaner cut but still fresh) - Amberjack (balanced with yuzu kosho) - Saba (topped with sweet kelp) - Ocean Trout - Sumiso-ae (miso and vinegar dressed with cucumber and octopus, sweet and refreshing, octopus have a slight chew, but not tough) - Uni Chawanmushi (steamed egg custard, topped with Hokkaido uni, along with shitake, spinach, and ginkgo nut) Nigiri - Scallop, Torched (slight burnt bitterness) - Shrimp From Canada (fresh, almost melt in mouth) - Otoro (delicious) - Toro Hand Roll - Tamagoyaki (the right sweetness) - Akadashi (miso soup with zucchini, mushroom, and tofu skin) - Peach Jelly (slight sweetness, not overpowering) The Miscellaneous The Utzutzu restaurant is a bit tucked away. There is no sign other than a door number, and you will know you are in the right place once you go up the stairs. The inside greets the guests with a small lounge area while they wait for their reservation. They have a sushi bar that just seats 7 people. It gives a more personal experience with the chef I believe. The service and staff were good. You know they put attention to detail when they fold the clean wipe so it is easy to use. The menu has a good variety of dishes to keep it interesting. Reservations open around 1 month in advance, it's still hard to get seating, so reserve early. All in all, the food was delicious, and quite the array of selections. Would recommend and would also want to return again.

Probably the best fine dining experience in Alameda. Hidden away with no signs in a small space that only serves 8 people at a time with only two sittings a day. Ridiculously amazing sushi, most of it directly from Japan. The hand rolls are probably the best I’ve had state side. Highly recommend. Try to keep it a secret but it’s too good. Book far in advance. Spots go quickly. $110 fixed price excluding drinks and extra rounds.

best omakase in the bay! 🍣🌁 Chef was awesome and explained the origin of everything, and the sauces. Super small seatings - only 7 people per seating - so get on resy and reserve a month in advance! You can expect to pay ~$150/person, take about 2-2.5hrs, 15+ dishes, and they have an extensive sake menu too! Be prepared to taste amazing things you have never tasted before!!! Btw - Reservations open 30 days before at midnight! don't make the mistake I did and fall asleep lol... the person answering the phone is super nice and directs you to resy anyways 😅🍣🗓

Had a great Omakase dining experience with Chef Joji. I was surprised this little hidden gem is in Alameda bc we always drive past it but never noticed it. PROS -Incredibly fresh & melt in your mouth sushi -simple but beautiful presentation -enjoyed the menu and chef’s selection of fish -This is probably one of my favorite spots for Omakase -I liked the limited seating arrangement -great location -everything was perfectly balanced and didn’t feel heavy/rich tasting. It was just the right amount of food and I was content. :)

Where do I begin? This is the 1st official omakase I've had with my entire family. Prior to this night I've had some drinks with my boyfriend and also my cousin alongside Chef Joji. His dish with the "uni" like look of carrot puree is delightful! I'm so glad my family got to experience. I know I'll definitely be back!

I would think the food is just average in flavor. The ingredients are fresh and good quality. However the nigiris themselves are too boring for me. Most of them are dominated by soy sauce flavor, and I can’t taste more layers than that. When there is less sodium then I could get a sense of the taste, but basically are from the ingredients themselves. The ambiance is good and the service is good. Parking is very convenient compared to SF.

Dined here when it was Ume but haven't dined here under the new ownership as Utzuzu. We came here recently on a Friday for a birthday celebration after making reservations on RESY for the 5:30pm seating. Their other seating is for 8pm. The restaurant is obscure on the second floor with no name on the outside or at the door. The sushi counter sits 8 for the omakase, so it is quite cozy with your fellow diners which were fellow Alamedans as well. After the servers take you drink orders, the chef arrives and welcome us and show us the types of fish/seafood and its origin that he will be preparing. He asked if anyone had allergies. Two patron were allergic to shrimp and uni so the chef provided them with another item during that course. It was a 20 item meal that consisted of Black Goma & Kabocha, Nanbanzuke, Sumiso-ae, Uni Chawanmushi, Akadashi, 14 nigiris, including blue fin tuna, kampachi, spot prawns, Hokkaido scallop, saba, toro, ocean trout, salmon, tuna hand roll and wagyu beef, and a Hojica Pudding for dessert. You can order additional items as add-ons. The meal was very enjoyable and delicious. Service by chef and staff was friendly. The seafood were fresh and you can taste the quality. A nice omakase experience in little Alameda! A hidden gem.

A fair-valued okimari (like omakase, but with more than just sushi) counter in a very-hidden (unmarked and up a flight of steep stairs) location that is substantially cheaper than similar-quality spots in San Francisco. Nothing stood out as extraordinary, and the fish selection was exactly what you'd expect (shima aji, hotate, uni, different types of tuna, and wagyu). The chef is friendly and attentive to the guests; he's working solo, with two servers working mostly on water/alcohol, and bringing out the non-nigiri dishes. It's a wonderful restaurant that doesn't necessarily surprise, but if solid sushi at an affordable price is what you're craving, and you don't want to deal with the nightmare that is parking in San Francisco, this is a great option.

Food: 5/5 superb!! Been coming here for the past two years!! Always quality cuts and the flavor mmmm!!!!!! Will be coming back!!! Service: 4/5 could be more on top of wiping the sushi plate. Aside from that staff is engaged in refilling the tea and water Ambiance: 5/5 cozy little chic spot

Came on a Sunday and was lucky to get 2 open seats online 3 days prior. Small upstairs room, ventilation is not great here and place is quite old. Seats 8 people. I'd rate the omakase 2/5. Service was 4/5. Used the same ingredients (mint Perla leaves or something) in most of the sushi and the cuts aren't the most expensive. Servers were very aware of refilling drinks, bringing more condiments like ginger, and ensuring the plate for next sushi was clean. Very respectable and intimate setting.

Utzutzu in Alameda offers a decent omakase experience, but it doesn't quite hit the high notes I expect for the price point. Please note that they don't have any signs, so finding this restaurant can be tricky if you haven't been here before. Utzutzu is located on the 2nd floor, so you'll have to take the stairs on the left side of the building to get to the restaurant. Utzutzu provides a very intimate dining experience with a seating space for 7-8 people. Their focus on minimalistic Japanese esthetics becomes evident the moment you step inside the restaurant. Their service was good and fast. The dishes were coming out back to back once we started. Thankfully, our server was very attentive and made sure that our glasses were full and the counter was cleared before the next dish came out. Our omakase experience included - 1. Black Goma-Ae (Japanese asparagus with black sesame) 2. Kabocha (winter squash) 3. Nanbanzuke (sea trout) 4. Nigiri pieces (8) - opah, striped jack, barred knifejaw (ishigaki dai), horse mackerel, bluefin tuna, amberjack, spot prawn from canada (or golden eye snapper if you are allergic), ocean trout belly with yuzu 5. Sumiso-ae (seaweed salad with octopus and miso vinegar sauce) 6. Uni Chawanmushi 7. Nigiri pieces (6) - scallop with citrus juice,marinate mackerel, toro, wagyu with garlic chip and radish, uni, cooked squash roll 8. Akadashi 9. Mango sisho sorbet Overall, the fish in each nigiri was fresh, but the cuts were small & thin. There weren't any unique or complex flavors that stood out. Some nigiri pieces were better than the other, but mostly because of the fish itself. The whole omakase experience definitely sufficed our hunger because we got plenty of dishes. However, it fell short as far as the flavors go. Looking back at it, each item that we tried was decent, but none of the items left us craving for more.

A wonderful experience, atmosphere Quaint, food amazing, Chef entertain guests and answers question and explains where and about the fish. The amount of food served was just right couldn't have eaten more even if I wanted. The meal is Expensive $145 per person, but worth it, however if anyone needs drinks a meal for 4, cost us $1000 with tip and tax a bit much even for a special celebration. Service is above and beyond. Door to restaurant is unmarked no elevators, lots of small stair steps great for working up an appetite and later walking off the meal. This was an experience of itself.

Went for the omakase (chef's choice, pre-fixe) dinner here with my wife for her belated birthday. We had a wonderful time! We made reservations through Resy, and everything worked out fine. The restaurant is on the second floor, which gives it a homey feel. The clear distinction from the street made it feel like a short trip to Japan. The room is small but carefully catered. They were playing some 70's rock-and-roll in the background. The food was amazing. It was a 7-course dinner with dessert. The two courses of nigiri consisted of 14 types, with fish from different regions of Japan. It also included a nigiri with wagyu beef - grade A5 of course. The chef gave us a preview of all the fish as an introduction. His knifework was phenomenal. It felt like a dinner and a show. My favorites were the maguro, scallop, and amberjack. The Wagyu was good too. It was seared with a blow torch for a medium rare. The uni chowanmushi (custard) was delicious as well. It's an expensive meal for sure, but one that is unforgettable.

Tried Utzhutzu for the first time this past weekend for significant birthday, with a party of 2. There were a total of 7 of us seated at once for the 5:30pm seating. See pics for specific menu for that night. Price: $145 per person (includes tea, but does not include other drinks, other add on nigiris, does not include tax/tip). Whole experience is about 2 hours. Pros: - Really good sushi chef, a lot of variety of fish, and really good quality of fish of every piece. I believe it was 20 courses total, with 14 different nigiris. One of them was a choice between an uni nigiri or a chu toro handroll. - Really upstanding service, the 2 waiters were really on top of cleaning our plates, keeping waters and teas filled (our cups were never empty), and checking in with how we were feeling. - My favorite fish was the brown sugar-cured saba (mackerel?) and the wagyu beef nigiri with garlic chip, and the chu toro handroll. Delicious. - The green tea they served was REALLY good, and I like that you don't have to pay extra for it. -I like the intimate setting, that it only seats 7-8 at a time at the counter. I'm VERY glad our seating time only had 7 people, because I imagine it would be very cramped with 8. (I also felt bad that the chef had to keep reaching around the barriers to serve the fish). - I liked the variety of nigiri! Had the classics like amaebi, otoro, wagyu, red snapper, etc. All the flavors were pretty solid. - Decent bang for your buck - I would say the price is pretty typical of East Bay/Bay Area, and there were a lot of courses and we didn't leave hungry. - I like that 20% tip isn't automatically mandated/included so you can tip what you feel is adequate. Cons: - everything was a little more soy sauce heavy/forward than I prefer. I tend to not like when a the soy sauce is dripping off the nigiri, because then it makes it hard to eat it the "classic" way with your hands (ended up having to resort to chopsticks). I also feel like there's too much soy sauce if there's a lot of sauce left on the presentation plate after you grab it. - While the fish was very solid and the flavors were good, there I didn't consider it super unique or phenomenal. - While the space is intimate, it was not very ergonomic or very easy to find. There's no signage (which may be intentional maybe? speakeasy style?) so you really have to look for the address number. 2 steep staircases, a small waiting area, and bathrooms that are far down a narrow hallway if you have to go mid-meal. The counter stools were also kind of hard to get out of since the sitting space was quite cramped (depending who you're seated next to). Not a huge "con" but just a thought/feedback. - I felt like the chef didn't explain as much about the fish, where it came from, or introduce himself / his training very much (which was totally fine - but it made it more of a regular fine dining course meal than an omakase experience). - Nigiri portions felt a little small - but I guess it was made up for with the number of courses It overall was a lovely experience and the service really was impeccable - but the taste and experience didn't have me clamoring and eagerly awaiting my next time to come. However it was a really lovely way to celebrate my birthday, and the birthday candle in the dessert was a nice touch.

My partner and I went for our anniversary on a Wednesday night for the 8 PM seating and were lucky enough to be the only patrons for that night. It made the whole experience so much more intimate and memorable, as Chef Shiro is a charming person to chat with and get to know along with David who was the waiter for the night. Chef Shiro is also very willing to substitute any of the nigiri for another piece of your choice, as my partner does not eat beef and went for the Toro (fatty tuna) in place of the wagyu beef nigiri. Incredibly unassuming no frills ambiance as others have mentioned. The courses served were definitely less flashy and 'instagram worthy' than other omakase experiences, but that's because all the emphasis was on the quality and preparation of the food. Whereas other omakase spots try to grab your attention with wild creations, Chef Shiro at Utzutzu likes to keep it more traditional but takes so much care in putting delicious food in front of you. He thoroughly explained each part of the course as well as each piece of nigiri that he served and was always waiting in excitement to see our reaction to each bite. No gimmicks, no distractions, just some of the best nigiri you'll ever have. To top it all off the mango sorbet at the end had a cute little "happy anniversary" decoration and Chef Shiro wished us a heartfelt happy anniversary many times throughout the night. We even got to take home the printed and handwritten menus for the night. Overall such a fantastic experience and would definitely recommend to any sushi lovers looking for a special dinner experience. Unfortunately only got pictures of our dessert as we were very engaged and off our phones during the rest of the experience lol!

This is the hidden gem Omakase restaurant I need to drive 1.5hrs but it worth my time

I have to say that I truly appreciate the level of care and the service provided. Every dish was really tasty and prepared in presented in an elegant and artful manner. But I'm not dying to go back to talking about dining there like it is a must-try experience. I always enjoy a good Omakase dinner but I found the items to be a little mundane. Boring would be too rude and a bit of a mischaracterization because all the items were really good, but maybe not that inventive or not offering that wow factor. There's but in understated, traditional style here but if you're looking for a meal to knock your socks off, a return to here isn't what would come to my mind.

Coincidentally, four out of the four parties that dined at the eight person sushi restaurant today were celebrating birthdays. It is the fourth time we have patronized this restaurant since they opened and it is my husband's birthday, at his favorite sushi place. Reservations need to be made few weeks in advance, and he was anxiously looking at the calendar for the dates. Unfortunately, we got the late seating which is a little tiring for us since we are early birds in eating, but the early seating at five is hard on a Friday night. To find the restaurant, just look for the building number because there is no signage. Two sets of steep stairs then turn right into the small sushi space. The host will check you in and ask you to sit on the sofa or seats if you are early. They will beckon you to a seat when the time strikes eating time, in our case today was 8pm. I recommend asking for the seats nearest the kitchen for the best views. The plastic partitions that separated diners from Covid in the tight spaced bar last time are now leaning against the wall but the staff still wears masks. They say that utzutzu has lost some of its hype because of the switch in sushi chefs but I can't tell the difference. It's still as good to me. There are two waiters this time plus the sushi master behind the bar. The show is intriguing with a presentation of the fresh seafood before it is sliced, the slicing, the forming, the garnishing, the torching, and the presenting. The chef loves feedback and praise but it's usually very restrained and quiet amongst the diners who like to keep to themselves. There is little plate of ginger as a palate cleanse and a finger wipe to be used in between sushi pieces that they encourage you to eat with fingers. There are a few cooked dishes like the asparagus and kombocha appetizer, the chestnut ginkgo and mushroom chuwanmushi topped with uni, the long marinated Scottish trout, and the fish head broth with tofu skins and zucchini. I prefer the raw stuff and there are many pieces of fish, scallop, urchin, octopos, and clam, hand crafted in front of you. Many diners, like me, like to take photos of the show. There is a sake and beer menu, no wine. We usually order a bottle which they store in a stone container and pour for you as you go along. They are also good at filling empty water glasses. The bar seating is tight. You really have to navigate yourself out of the bar stool to go to the restroom. This is located at the end of the long hall, one male and one female toilet, both asking you to turn the lights off after you leave. The waiter cleans your sushi platter once of the sauce and spills. The sushi master asks if anyone has allergies before we begin. He also asks if anyone wants more at the end. This time was the perfect amount of food. Last times was too much and they don't have takeaway boxes, so I brought my own Tupperware this time in case! There is street parking but we took a lyft since we were enjoying a bottle of sake. The dessert this time was a mango shishito sorbet which was refreshing but too coconut for my taste. My husband ate both with glee. The birthday foursome got candles and glitter happy birthday signs in their dessert bowls. As of January 2024 the menu is $145 a person plus tip and tax and drinks are separate. This is regardless of age, so if your kid can sit through the whole meal, the price is the same. Not vegetarian friendly. Pescatarian friendly, only one beef slice.

WHEN: Thursday @8pm The set up is that there are 2 seating times: 5:30pm and 8pm. So expect around a 2 hour experience. The total number of seatings they sit at each time is 8 people. Quite intimate, but not in a bad way. It's been only a little over a month since I've been here. Reason? Well the first time I went was suppose to be for my sister's birthday but she ended up going into labor. So here we are, in hopes it would be a different menu since I was just here. It was not, but that's okay! It'll be new for my sis. Okay it wasn't 100% the same, but majority was. PARKING: It took some minutes but my sis was able to find parking right in front. With it being already after dinner hours, street parking shouldn't be difficult and it should be free (after 6pm) Since Dec 2, 2022 the omakase set menu increased from $125 to $145. We each ordered 2 different Sake of the day, one being $13 and the other $15. For some reason they charged us $15 for both, but with that total at the end, I was not gonna bring it up. It was a total of 22 items, and in one round where they gave us an option for one or the other, we asked for both! That became an $18 extra us each. All in all my sis and I had a nice time. When its a celebration they had a lovely sparkly candle on top of the dessert that is already included. I think this place is worth coming out to--a wonderful hidden gem in Alameda. You dont need to go all the way to SF for a wonderful omakase experience. The service was stellar and the chef was super nice.

A unique, intimate, and delicious experience. Utzutzu is simply special. 8 chairs at a sushi bar per service and a clearly passionate sushi chef showing off great skill and great experience. Rather than describe it in too much detail, the best advice I can offer is that you visit and try it yourself. I can't wait to go back.

Utzuzu was a lovely omakase experience with great food. It almost feels like you have to search for your way in because there is no sign and the front where you walk up is unassuming! We had 15 nigiris with other various appetizers. This was the first time I had wagyu and all of the fish selections were fresh with beautiful pairings such as with ponzu or citrus. It was definitely a special experience with great service and a nice and knowledgeable chef.

We had a wonderful, reserved birthday dinner, but the chef lambasted us after service, on the street, for bringing a newborn child to the venue. If you do not want a child at your restaurant, refuse to serve us, or post proper signage. Don't wait until after we have paid you! Complete lack of respect.

Updated review since the "vid". So still excellent sushi with a new chef. Everything is almost the same. Here are the differences: it's not Joji and Ana is the main difference. Also the basic price per person has jumped a lot, a whole lot and the portion sizes are way smaller. So more expensive for smaller portions.... not good. Is it still a great experience and a nice night? Yes, but it's just not like it once was. I guess Thomas Wolfe was right, You can't go home again. Since the gov'ment decided to shut us down and control us we are all still figuring out where we are and how we fit. Still worth going. Only us long timers will know the difference. Also, I offered to buy the staff drinks after dinner and was rebuffed. Bad form on their part.

Great food... awesome service. Very small little place but so intimate. It can be remodeled a bit as it feel a bit dates and old... but you will love the food

Place is unique, it's like stepping into someone house. We kinda confused to find the entrance door but there is stairs up to halls and they got big sofa and seatings to just chill around and socialize, the dining place is more on the left side of it near the windows. It's quite and intimate vibe. Services know their timing and kept it very neat and well mannered. Food and experience with the chef story 9.6/10 However, omakase is for the experience. So after the dining, we get our asses to irish pub for some fish n chips lol

A set of old tile stairs from an unmarked entrance will take you into a small intimate 8 seater space filled with nice 80s pop makes for a nice vibe. Service through out the evening was friendly and timely without being overbearing. Everything offered from the set menu was executed with perfection, from the temp of the sushi rice to the thoughtfully curated seasoning went in or on each piece of the nigiri. We had the opportunity to order more extra new nigiri or revisit favorites, we did both with zero regrets. Only thing could have been better was the shiso mango sorbet, the ice crystals were noticeable and made the sorbet texture less than creamy, but the flavor was still very yummy! 10/10 recommend, and I look forward to coming back!

Best affordable omakase in the Bay Area. The fish quality is high while the price is amazingly low. It only has 6 seats so it is so hard to get a reservation. But once you get to try this place, every cent is worth its value. The environment is intimate and it is hidden on the second floor of residential area so it might be hard to find. Will definitely eat here again, if I can get another reservation

We enjoyed another exquisite dinner at Utzutzu, this time as an early celebration of our 9-year anniversary. Since our last visit, a new Chef has stepped in, so we weren't sure quite what to expect this time around, but once again we were blown away. The omakase was incredible. Every course was delectable, but my favorites included the amberjack, trout, otoro, and Wagyu. Great sake list, and the staff is happy to make suggestions. The service was impeccable. The staff paid attention to every detail, and service flowed along flawlessly. Yes, you can say I'm a fan girl of Utzutzu - and for good reason. It's truly worth it. Reservations aren't easy to come by, so plan ahead and book well in advance on their online reservation system. You will be glad you did. We're returning very soon.

I came here for a date night and found the residential-looking entrance a bit surprising (as I'm sure many have mentioned). We went up and sat in the waiting area until they sat all of the groups at the same time (the latecomers got seated when they arrived). The service staff was pretty nice and attentive. The chef described the nigiri we were going to have and mentioned it was a total of 15 nigiri pieces. I liked the Kokuryu "Daiginjo", their Daiginjo of the day, and the Kinpira Gobo. The nigiri were all good (though not the best), and I enjoyed having the soy sauce painted on the nigiri because it ensured you got an even amount of soy sauce across the whole nigiri. I found the Sumiso-ae to be a saucy refreshing respite in between the nigiri courses. Additionally, I loved the Uni Chawanmushi. It felt comforting because I absolutely love steamed egg. I also liked the Akadashi, which was basically hearty miso soup. We were supposed to have Peach Jelly for dessert, but I think we got something else because the server mentioned it was supposed to taste like a lemon drop. It was a little odd - slightly minty and also citrusy, but not enough to get the tang. Since this is a dining experience, it does take a good amount of time. Our reservation was at 7 PM, and we finished around 10:15 PM. I had a good time and thought the overall quality was good, but I felt like I spent a little more time and money than I would've liked based on quality and ambience. However, I'm happy they use cloth napkins and mostly reusable dinnerware, though I hope they will use reusable chopsticks instead of disposable ones in the future. ECO NOTES (Dine-In) Dine-In Dishware: Reusable plates and bowls Napkins: Reusable cloth napkin Utensils: Single-use wooden chopsticks Water cups: Stemless wine glasses (made of glass)

The Food I have only visited a handful of omakase places. But a friend was able to get a reservation at Utzutzu, so I wanted to give this place a try. Once we settled in our seats, the chef presented us with the fish that he will be preparing for the night. Few friends and I decided to try out their Sake of the day, which was the Nagurayama "Gekkyu". They presented the Sake in an aesthetic glass, it was not bad, though I prefer some of the sweeter sake. As the courses began, they were as follows... - Kinpira Gobo (braised burdock root), with asparagus topped with saffron - Nanbanzuke (marinated fish, with a slight citrus taste) Nigiri - Isaki (伊佐木 / Chicken Grunt, soft and have a slight crunch) - Shima-aji (縞鯵 / Striped Jack, hint of lime zest) - Ishigakidai (Knifejaw, smooth with a slight chew) - Horse Snake Mackerel - Golden Eye (Deep Sea) Snapper (hint of roast flavor, not overdone) - Black Seabream (almost melt in mouth) - Maguro (leaner cut but still fresh) - Amberjack (balanced with yuzu kosho) - Saba (topped with sweet kelp) - Ocean Trout - Sumiso-ae (miso and vinegar dressed with cucumber and octopus, sweet and refreshing, octopus have a slight chew, but not tough) - Uni Chawanmushi (steamed egg custard, topped with Hokkaido uni, along with shitake, spinach, and ginkgo nut) Nigiri - Scallop, Torched (slight burnt bitterness) - Shrimp From Canada (fresh, almost melt in mouth) - Otoro (delicious) - Toro Hand Roll - Tamagoyaki (the right sweetness) - Akadashi (miso soup with zucchini, mushroom, and tofu skin) - Peach Jelly (slight sweetness, not overpowering) The Miscellaneous The Utzutzu restaurant is a bit tucked away. There is no sign other than a door number, and you will know you are in the right place once you go up the stairs. The inside greets the guests with a small lounge area while they wait for their reservation. They have a sushi bar that just seats 7 people. It gives a more personal experience with the chef I believe. The service and staff were good. You know they put attention to detail when they fold the clean wipe so it is easy to use. The menu has a good variety of dishes to keep it interesting. Reservations open around 1 month in advance, it's still hard to get seating, so reserve early. All in all, the food was delicious, and quite the array of selections. Would recommend and would also want to return again.

This is a true experience among experiences. The food and drinks were beyond delicious and carefully handcrafted for each person. Highly highly recommend.

There is no language to describe this experience. Save up for a splurge but you will not be disappointed. All gaijin style, roll oriented sushi pales like Top Ramen compared to this spot. Wish the patrons made an effort other than Bro sweats & baseball hats but youth is wasted etc. Service is amazing, ambience funky which I love. Life changing.

I took my husband here for his birthday. It was a major disappointment. First off, the entrance is unmarked portions are tiny! very thin, small pieces of fish. half were bland or very fishy. example, hotate nigiri was 1/3 slice of a whole scallop. chef was kind and service was great. but for the price i paid ($145 pp), not worth it.

Great value for high quality sushi in the bay. First thing I want to disclaim is that it's super intimate, like shoulder to shoulder with other patrons. The food and service are fantastic but other company can make or break your experience (patron next to me got drunk). Other than that, an amazing experience. The omakase was still amazing, definitely more traditional and simple. We had a memorable night and left satiated.

Utzutzu made me feel like I was in Japan because the place is so high quality but humble - in fact, there was no sign for the place so we spent a good few minutes observing the sidewalk before deciding to walk up some stairs with the feeling that what we're looking for might be on the other end. And it turns out we were right. As my boyfriend and I entered the waiting area, another couple was already waiting on the velvet settee, and it wasn't long before we got our temperatures checked and led to our seats. The night was definitely very intimate - there were just 3 couples including ourselves, and the only people to serve us were the chef at the bar and the server. There were small slips of paper in front of us that showed the menu for the day and a fact sheet about the wagyu and house sake. As someone who's been to omakase a few times I won't add too much to the conversation. Of course the fish was delightful, sometimes basted with an additional thin layer of flavorful sauce or topped with a few expertly tweezed garnishes. The funniest part of the night was when my boyfriend realized to his surprise and delight that each course labeled "nigiri" on the menu was not just one piece of nigiri, but rather a series of many nigiris, served one at a time on the stone tablet in front of us. "The price makes more sense," was his awed remark. As a drinker I was also quite delighted by the lightly sweet junmai daiginjo they served to me in a goblet etched with delicate florals. Our favorites of the night were the chu toro and wagyu. I'm finding more and more that having a delicious attentive meal while the rain beats on the windows outside is so cozy and wonderful. The weather outside was frightful but the omakase was so delightful. And since we'd no place to go, shishito tamago chutoro!

It is a great place to celebrate special occasions. The food and the service are excellent. We will definitely come back in the future.

Wow! This place is comparable to Jūni - its fish choices and quality. Just amazing for the price. Came here for our anniversary, my husband has been wanting to book this place for the longest time, and they finally had a cancellation. The place itself is very hidden and secretive, can easily be missed. Reminds me of Japan! There are only 6 seatings with 2 staff (including the Chef). We really enjoyed our dinner here and were impressed at the quality and quantity. We added the Chef's hometown sake to pair with our meal and it was delicious. I am not a Sake person at all but hearing this from me... that's something! The server was really good with service at the beginning but after about 15 minutes, he disappeared in the kitchen and we had to ask the Chef twice for tea and Sake refills. I would definitely recommend getting your Omakase fix here.

No idea why yelp says they're closed on Thursday! Amazing luck for my party though as we had a private seating tonight! Tonight, as with the the other times we've visited, the food and service were among the best we've had in the Bay Area. Add the opportunity to have a casual chat with the chef and staff over the remnants of our sake helped elevate this night to another level.

Amazing food, service and ambiance. The fish were great quality and the experience overall was top notch.

Each piece served was carefully cut and prepared in front of our eyes. More than just an amazing journey in subtle taste profile varieties, we were delightfully introduced to the most amazing textures that betray the top quality and freshness of each fish and ingredient. The shrimp was perfectly buttery, springy, and sweet. The toro and amberjack melt on contact with your tongue. On top of this, service and chef were really friendly and eager to explain recommendations and origins of everything on the menu. The ambience was nice and intimate. For an omakase meal there we came away from the experience full and well satisfied. Highly recommend. I don't know if this place is handicap accessible. There's a steep flight of stairs that leads to the nice dining area.

Reservations are hard to come by so definitely recommend setting up notifications on Resy for cancellations or to basically stalk the site for when new dates open up. Looks like usually booked out 1 month barring cancellations. **As of August 2022 Proof of COVID Vaccination Required** As others have mentioned there is no sign outside, you just find the address and walk up the stairs (which are a little steep so be aware if you have any mobility needs.) There's a nice lounge area to wait until you are seated. Service was exceptional, very friendly, helpful and courteous staff. The chef was also very friendly. This was my friend and I's first omakase experience and it did not disappoint. While I'm sure I misheard the chef explaining a couple of the nigiri it didn't matter because everything was delicious and fresh. They offer selection of imported sake and other beverages to go with your meal. Every piece of fish was very fresh, pieces that were scorched were done so perfectly with just the hint of the char. Nothing was overwhelming at all. The uni was amazing and imported from Hokkaido. Dessert was quaint but also perfect portion. With individual pieces you don't notice that you're actually eating enough to be full (15 pieces of nigiri total as well as starter dishes and "intermission" dishes) but we left very satisfied. Highly recommend the experience either for a special occasion or just to have the experience if you love fish.

This place only takes 7 people per seating (2 seatings/night) so getting a reservation can be tricky, one tip is to join Resy's wait list, I've successfully booked it twice using that. Food was outstanding and service was very personable and attentive, very reasonable price for omakase (currently $125/person) but you get so much food - 19 pieces in total! I actually left this place feeling full. A must try!!

Incredible craft and fresh ingredients and absolute joy. The setting is very intimate and you can chat with the sushi chef and staff to learn more about the food and its sourcing in a way that felt genuine and difficult to come by. The attention to detail in the food and service is impeccable (like imperceptible movement by staff to not distract you from your food or conversation).

A very decent omakase place located in Alameda. We made reservations about a week or two in advance. To actually get to the restaurant, you actually need to walk up a short flight of stairs since it's on the second floor. The interior is really interesting as if it's a 1 bed/1 bath converted into a restaurant. There's a small living room that you can sit in while you wait and the room/atmosphere in that area is dark but the actual space you sit in is super well lit. It's a mood and I enjoyed it. When your sitting at the chef's counter,there's only 7 seats and they have petitions between you and the chef and even between parties! The food: it's fantastic! The fish is so fresh and delicious. The chef is great and checks in with you as the meal goes on. Each bite is a bit small but in part because you eat 15+ bites. I was so full at the end and I didn't even eat the dessert. The only reason I knock down this place one star is actually the dessert. The flavor just wasn't my cup of tea. It was a mango coconut shiso sorbet. It just wasn't my jam and it led me to have bias as it was the ending of the meal. With that being said, I love this place and definitely will be coming back. Everything else was impeccable - service & food.

Had a great Omakase dining experience with Chef Joji. I was surprised this little hidden gem is in Alameda bc we always drive past it but never noticed it. PROS -Incredibly fresh & melt in your mouth sushi -simple but beautiful presentation -enjoyed the menu and chef's selection of fish -This is probably one of my favorite spots for Omakase -I liked the limited seating arrangement -great location -everything was perfectly balanced and didn't feel heavy/rich tasting. It was just the right amount of food and I was content. :)

What a hidden gem in Alameda downtown! The environment in restaurant looks like Yokohama at 1980s. We are impressed by the outstanding meal and sushi selections. $125/ppl including 3 appetizers, 16 pieces nigiri, 2 sides, 1 soup, 1 Tamago, and 1 dessert, which is super valuable for omakase in the Bay Area. Every single bite is very enjoyable! We love it!

I came here because the reviews were phenomenal. And while the experience wasn't bad, it was upstairs, intimate, small, parking was fine, getting the reservation wasn't too bad ... the food itself left something to be desired. Perhaps I'm a bit picky, but when you're paying these prices for the omakase meal, I feel like you have the right. To me, Utzutzu was a bit glorified Amami. Amami is famous for its $39 (now $44?) omakase of 9 or 12 pieces (I can't recall...) however, most of the pieces, I'd say 90% were white fish. A white fish variety. Utzutzu was the same. Except much pricier. Every piece was some kind of white fish, while it was seasonal, there was a distinct lack of variety in the offering, and flavor wise it was a little more plain. I think the craft is good, the experience is unique, but I would not come back based on the offering alone.

Came here as a birthday celebration and this is definitely one of the coziest omakases I've been to. It's tucked away on the second floor in downtown Alameda and the staff and chef were all so friendly. Dishes were mixed between traditional and non-traditional (e.g. okra) but I appreciated the meticulous thought behind each dish. This chef definitely takes you on a fun creative ride. Dishes were lighter on the front end but I was so stuffed by the end (there were 15 nigiris alone not including the other dishes like the salad or soup). Really loved the cozy and intimate vibe and overall definitely recommend as an omakase in the Bay to try. The price is also comparable (if not more affordable) than others in the SF Bay Area.

My husband and I eat raw fish often and love it, so we were looking forward to trying this place. Everything seemed good during a meal, but we both suffered from diarrhea for 3 days afterward, we highly suspect it was from eating at Utzutzu (contamination from something unclean?). We are well traveled and can tolerate almost all food.

Was a wonderful experience with attentive service. The only thing my partner and I didn't like was the Mango dessert. It was inedible.

The food was ok, definitely not worth the enormous price. The restaurant and bathrooms are quite shabby as well. That wouldn't have bothered me if the food was spectacular, but it wasn't anywhere near spectacular. It was just ok. The dessert - a mango shiso sorbet - was pretty bad, just kind of chunky and mushy and not a pleasing flavor.

Booked through Google Which the restaurant says they don't use. Restaurant turned us away. Then called us a month later to tell us that we had a Resy reservation and charged us $400 for not showing up. Clown shoes

My friend organized a birthday party for his wife and rented out the place. Luckily, I got an invite! We all had dinner here on Thursday, June 6th at 8pm. Below is the omakase menu we had. June 2019: Okimari $105 per person *Surinagashi *Sashimi *Chef's Sushi Selection *Shishito, Akaebi *Chef's Sushi Selection *Miso Soup *Mango Sorbet So from my notes (yes, I take notes!), we had: corn soup, kampachi (amberjack), sardine, sea bream, lean blue fin tuna, carrot (which I believe looked like uni), torigai (cockle), tiger prawn, saba (mackerel), okra, copper river salmon, a hand roll, matcha, tamago, etc. And of course, I ordered extra servings of uni! And I believe otoro as well. Everything was so fresh and so pretty! The sushi chefs were also very fun and informative. I was that girl that kept asking what is this, so I could recap in a review. We also ordered 3 bottles of sake which I enjoyed. Alcohol always makes the party more enjoyable right? I believe we had the following bottles below, all 1.8L. *Daiginjo: Kokuryu "Ryu" Fukui pref ($27/$81/$250) *Daiginjo: Dawazakura "Yukimanman" Yamagata perf ($32/$95/$185) *Ginjo: Kokuryu "Junmai Ginjo" Fukui pref ($16/$47/$90) Great spot to have an intimate birthday dinner. And wonderful food and service! What more can you ask for?!

Omakase that's definitely on the pricier end but definitely worth every cent. It's always wonderful to be able to sit and watch a master at work.

If I were to have the gift of omakase, I'd go every week. Nina S. and I were on a mini omakase frenzy around May and we decided to hit up the obscure and highly-rated Utzutzu in Alameda. When you arrive, once you see a green awning just go through it and upstairs- you'll find the small intimate space that only seats around 8. Reservations are required. $105/pp for around 8 courses, with a couple of chef freebies. We were seated after nursing some soju and cider in the waiting area. Chef Joji was expertly cutting some delicious pieces of fish and preparing our first courses. We had a fun group - blame it on the a-a-a-a-a alcohol. Sometime during the meal there were some Beyoncé references. Anyway, on to the food- I thoroughly enjoyed the overall meal, highlights were the medium fatty toro, toro handroll, amberjack, - I wish I can remember the rest but trust me- the quality and freshness were on point. There is even an option to order more a la carte pieces if you're still hungry. I was pretty satiated, but who can say no to another toro hand roll? Chef Joji was nice, attentive and humored our inquisitive group. I plan to take my family here sometime- super hungry now!