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August Moon Sushi Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
3555 Clares StSte M
Capitola, CA 95010
(831) 464-9898
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Rom H. said: "Great place. We enjoy the food , service and the theme, Need to promote and support this environment friendly Restaurant Going again today for lunch." read more »
60 reviews for August Moon Sushi Cafe
Review Highlights
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"great couple run this small great place." In 4 reviews -
"Also, the miso soup is the best in town." In 6 reviews -
"They TOAST THEIR OWN SESAME SEEDS." In 3 reviews
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60 reviews in English
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Review from Ari R.
Santa Cruz, CA
3/8/2012
first of all as mentioned before. The little old couple ROCK. they are so adorable and funny! The woman has amazing customer service and the man rolls pretty damn fast!!!
I had Miso and it is the best miso by far that ive ever had. ( i am addicted to miso). It tastes like nothing ive ever had before. The broth is darker and a little bit thicker, they also use tiny slivers of white onion which added great flavor I wasnt expecting. Also had my standard order of Philly roll, rice and tea. Just wonderful. My boyfriend had the gyoza (sp?) and said it was the best he ever had. He also had two rolls one with tuna, another with salmon both with avocado. Roll portions do seem a smidge smaller, but its so great and cheaper then the other places its worth it to order 2 and take what you cant eat home if your a light eater like me.
This is our new sushi place forsure , so glad we finally tried it!!! -
Review from Lizzie S.
2/3/2012
Very fresh fish, friendly & fast lunch service. I LOVE little family owned hole-in-the-wall spots like this. Just the simplicity combined with the freshness would keep me coming back when I am in town, but a smiling face in front of a person who acts like the actually care? Especially when all mom-like she tries to get you to clear your plate? I love.
Chrirashi sushi 5 star (VERY fresh)
Green salad 4 star (i prefer ginger dressing to kewpie mayo-sesame dressing)
Service ALL the stars -
Review from J. M.
Soquel, CA
5/9/2012
This is a great little restaurant!! I wanted a light lunch yesterday, and ordered the California Roll and miso soup. Both were wonderful - the miso soup was really good, and chock full of seaweed and tofu bits. Calif. roll was made with crab (not crab-compatible fish, as my brother in law calls it) that some places use.
Owners are friendly and the woman even came running out into the parking lot to bring my sunglasses, which I had left on the table. -
Review from Amy Y.
9/16/2011 5 photos
I want to give this place a 4 stars but alas the fish isnt the best quality. It's a pity. The service is warm, the owner is the master chef that cuts your fish right behind that counter, it had that old school little restaurant around the corner vibe that I missed from my childhood.
Cooked items are probably pretty good- I do see a lot of people who ordered that and they looked good. -
Review from Timothy C.
Washington, DC
8/3/2011
August Moon is one of those places where the strength is good, classic sushi and then after that they really don't have much going for them. The decorations and layout are weird, the couple that runs it are a little bit too much, and the iced tea is gross, even with 2 sugar packets.
But the sushi is great! We got spicy tuna rolls, Eel, and a California roll and it was a perfect lunch for two. The iced tea ruined it for me, but my wife loved it. Maybe next time I'll get Coke. -
Review from Emily A.
Santa Cruz, CA
4/23/2011
Sheesh, I really hate to write a bad review, especially because the couple that runs this place is just so nice and welcoming.
I walked into this place last week for lunch and thought about having a sit-down meal, but the place was just so small, it was kind of awkward, so I told them I would take it to-go. I ordered the chicken teriyaki (simple, or so I thought...). Unfortunately, the chicken teriyaki, which came with the side salad, was about $7, and I needed to spend at least $10 to use my Visa. So I decided to also order a broccoli roll. Together, both items were $10.75. It took about 7-10 minutes to get my order ready, as the sushi chef was helping one other customer before me.
When I got home, I was really sad to find out that the broccoli roll was just okay. But the really disappointing part was realizing that the chicken teriyaki was made from poor-quality meat, and tasted cheap and rather bland, even with the sauce. I took a few bites, trying to like the chicken, but I was so grossed out that I just ate the rice and threw most of it away. The accompanying salad wasn't good either because the dressing was runny and tasteless.
Again, the owners were sooo nice, but I just have never had a sushi place mess up something as simple as a chicken teriyaki dish! I went to I Love Sushi a few nights later for dinner, and realized how bad the chicken teriyaki was at August Moon when I Love Sushi served me theirs.
I normally hate trendy restaurants, but I am going to stick with I Love Sushi from now on, because they're always dead-on. Sorry, August Moon, I tried. -
Review from caio m.
San Francisco, CA
1/1/2012 1 photo
Absolutely great sushi, melt in your mouth fresh fish, made by a bonafide genuine Japanese couple. Excellent Chirashi sushi dish, killer Miso, even my hard to please vegetarian fiancée found yummy food. Highly recommended.
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Review from Amy K.
Santa Cruz, CA
4/7/2011
I rarely eat out due to finances, but when I can, I love getting take out here. I can't imagine getting bad service here. In fact, I was so happy with both the food and service, I have brought out of town friends and my father here to eat.
No matter how long between visits, the sushi chef always remembers my love of tamago! I have NEVER been charged extra or given a hard time for spicy sauce. In fact, the one time I couldn't decide because of a single ingredient difference, he suggested a custom roll with the ingredients I wanted, and I did NOT get charged extra.
I have to wonder if some of these folks that have gotten bad service have themselves been rude or condescending, like too many people are towards people in the food service industry.
In fact, my stomach is growling right now thinking of their delicious food! -
Review from Tony N.
Highland, CA
1/28/2011
Atmosphere: I walked into august moon to find it to be very small. About 5 small tables and the sushi bar with room for like 4 people so definitely not a place for big groups. Decor is casual and they have some asiany old folk tunes playing.
Service: Ok service. I was the only person in this place so no suprise there. The owners are a nice asian couple who greeted me with a smile upon walking in. They HAI at at the end of every sentence but I seriously doubt they are japanese. It definitely felt like they were putting up a front to make it more authentic which is fine. Didn't get any of the banter or nice convo everyone else was talking about and it wasn't like they were busy or anything. No I wasn't looking like a hobo or give them any sort of negative vibe.
Food: I came here expecting traditional sushi which means delicious fresh fish on rice without all the americanized foofoo rolls (which I do enjoy sometimes.) BUT to my dismay, what I found was some really mediocre sushi..... I ordered nigri style salmon, tuna, eel, and a roll. I should've known if they didn't have any type of toro on the menu then thinking legit nigri was out of the question. But I had to learn the hard way. The fish wasn't very fresh. Tuna wasn't good at all. Eel was actually ok. Salmon didn't have that buttery smooth texture and actually had a hint of old fish flavor which I found heart breaking and stomach wrenching. The roll had a laughable tidbit of fish in it. No wonder it only costs 4 or 5 bucks for most of them. Quality wise this place is just a notch over what you can get at safeway in the morning.
Price: Inexpensive for the rolls is good BUT nigri is like 2-4 bucks for mediocre fish is NOT COOL.
Recommendation: I'm never coming back. I normally leave a sushi joint feeling good and happy like a junkie who just got a hit but my stomach was feeling queasy and I seriously thought I would be spending some quality time on the toilet later that night (which I didn't). Would've tacked on another star if the owners were friendlier or if the food was any better or if the portions were larger. Three strikes! Sorry August Moon but I tried to like you. You're just an awkward kid with so so tastes and don't give enough back. -
Review from Lex F.
Portland, OR
3/5/2011
August Moon is a homey, tiny place in a strip mall. But they make delicious sushi rolls, miso soup, gyoza, and nigiri. Try their amazing barbeque'd eel.
The woman is from Taiwan and the sushi chef is from Yokohama, Japan. Which might explain some of the other reviewers' confusion as to authenticity. Very friendly service. -
Review from Daddy O.
Long Beach, CA
Updated - 2/4/2009
Here's a haiku that was inspired by the restaurant:
yummy fresh fish but
endless mom and pop banter
interrupts all meals.Listed in: Santa Cruz Sushi A-Z
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/13/2007
This place is great!
Mom and Pop all the way. The owners really make this place special. There are… Read more »
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Review from Pumpkin K.
Santa Cruz, CA
8/21/2007
I was hesitant to yelp this place because my grandparents run it and I thought, "I'll be offended if people say anything mean about them." Ok, they are not ACTUALLY my grandparents, but they sure acted like they were. The owners, a retired couple, run this place. He slices the fish, she waits the table and makes the non-fish dishes. That's all the help they got, so it's pretty small.
Jeremy had only been here once or twice and as soon as he walked in they were saying, "Yay ! You came back! Come have some food!" like he was their long-lost grandson. Then he started to feel guilty for not visiting in a while and the grandma-figure told him reassuringly, "You very busy!" They are just the sweetest people ever, and I really want to just put this entire restaurant in my backyard so that whenever I am blue (or hungry), I can just walk back into the August Moon In My Backyard and my non-grandparents can make me feel better with miso soup, raw fish, and sympathy.
Of course the food is great, too, or it wouldn't be getting five stars. -
Review from Ryan H.
Oakland, CA
10/6/2007
August moon shining
Like a heavenly tuna:
Godzilla ecplised.
No more Pink Godzilla for me. Fresh fish + hole-in-the-wall feel + super friendly Japanese grandparents running the place = happy tummy. Take my advice and get the rainbow roll.Listed in: Authentic Ethnic in Santa Cruz, Eat this restaurant
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Review from Davis D.
Alhambra, CA
5/3/2009
Definitely a cute little sushi cafe. Don't come in here expecting a full-blown Japanese restaurant, but a cute little spot where you can get some good rolls on, or maybe a nice bowl or rice and chicken. The owners themselves are also a cute little Asian couple who are very outgoing, and definitely make and effort to make their customers smile whether it is through their short-story telling about random subjects, or through their deliciously made sushi rolls.
I've had the dynamite, eel, and Boston roll from here. I've also had the chicken teriyaki and chicken yakitori here. I found everything to be delicious EXCEPT for the yakitori, which seemed like they pulled it out of a package, microwaved it, and poured some teriyaki sauce over it. But if you stay away from that, you'll find yourself eating some pretty good stuff!
Oh, and their salad dressing is AWESOME.
Prices are ridiculously fair. $3-6 per roll, and $6.25 for a FAT portion of chicken teriyaki, rice, and their house salad. If you order to-go, they seem to be more generous. Overall, this is a cute little spot that you should support over the bigger sushi establishments in the Santa Cruz area. Definitely a keeper and I hope that they stick around... -
Review from Scott R.
Santa Cruz, CA
2/8/2008
Think of the goofiest, happiest, most outgoing couple you know... ok, got em? Now picture them 55 years old. and Japanese. There you go - - those are the owners of this joint. So, this "retired" husband and wife, who have owned several restaurants in the past, opened this joint to "keep him busy". As such, they are *determined* to have fun, keep prices low, and try to remember every customer's face.
It was just the fiance & I, and one other couple in the joint, with several to go orderers coming and going. This left ample time for the wife to amusingly chat us up. Her and her husband are just so happy and enthusiastic. *Every* sentence out of her mouth begins and ends with at least one "Hai". Definitely fun and amusing.
We had three types of rolls and some sashimi, and it was all very good, not to mention hillbilly cheap.
Located in the Capitola mall one door down from the Bed Bath & Beyond, you wont mistake the location for a scene in 'Geisha'. And inside, its small, very light on atmosphere, and heavy on fluorescent lighting. None of that matters. You will leave here with a smile, a full belly, some cash in your wallet, and a determination to "Come back soooo!!" -
Review from Pouria Y.
San Francisco, CA
2/12/2009 2 photos
You won't find better sushi in the cruz. Trust me. But also let me qualify. If you're looking for a whole lot of detractors and fillers in your sushi you won't like this place.
They don't have anything that's deep fried. All the flower arrangements are made by the owners. They care about quality. Best sushi rice in the area. They TOAST THEIR OWN SESAME SEEDS. The Udon here is to die for.
The Goma Ae is great. The servings sizes are realistic and the fish is delicious. They won't have it there if it isn't. I love this place.Listed in: Sushi in it's various…, Top Restaurants
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Review from Matt C.
Santa Cruz, CA
9/24/2011
My favorite place to get sushi in the area. I like the Boston Roll and the Spicy Hamachi. I visit this place so often my whole family is on a first name basis.
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Review from Ana F.
Roseville, CA
11/18/2009
Based on Yelp reviews we decided to drop by for a quick sushi lunch.
We both agreed that the sashimi was probably in the top 3 we'd ever had (Tuna/Salmon & Yellow-tail). It was fresh and delicious. We picked up a few different rolls, I forget what they were called but one with a spicy salmon and one with Unagi (eel) and they were all wonderful. The toasted sesame seeds on the rolls were a nice touch.
The icing on the cake was the gentleman working. I believe he was the owner because he said that we caught him on the last day they were going to be open for a month because they were leaving on a trip to Japan. He was as nice as can be and was super friendly about letting us practice our (poor) Japanese speaking skills on him.
Nice job Yelpers. That place was great. Look forward to stopping in again after the new year.
P.S. Sashimi that fresh when the NEXT day they are going to be closed for a month? Now THAT is a quality establishment. Not the usual scenario. -
Review from Cecile C.
Santa Cruz, CA
10/27/2007
I am also reluctant to post a negative review after reading all of these positive ones, but I have to say, I didn't find this old couple to be very friendly and I'd have to agree with Nivram's review that the food just doesn't compare to Takara's, Mobo's, Pink Gozilla's or Shogun.
When we ordered water, miso soup and a bowl of rice for my friend's 2-year old daughter, the owner barked at us that she didn't want a mess! And, when Dylan got down off my lap to stretch his legs a bit, the other owner barked, "careful! careful! That's another customer!!!" from behind the sushi bar (luckily, the other customer wasn't bothered one bit by Dylan saying hi to him and he responded with an "it's ok. He's not hurting anything...").
We never got our order of inari either, so when I informed the "grandma" of this, she got really annoyed and started barking "OK OK! You check the bill. $17.90! OKAY???!"
Each time we got barked at, I kept thinking, "good thing I'm not THEIR kid..." (in fact, I kept my mouth shut about the hair in my soup!), so it's especially interesting that so many other customers felt like they were getting good grandkiddy treatment (on the other hand, maybe they're just better with non-toddlers).
Can't say there's any incentive left for me to go back there ever again. The food won't keep me coming back and those "grandparents" sure were the least toddler-friendly couple I've experienced in a restaurant yet. -
Review from Lynn H.
Pacifica, CA
11/26/2009
After hearing raves via Yelp about this hole in the wall, I came here with some friends from out of town. Sure, its a cute tiny hole in the wall, and it is clean. I was greeted with a smile and even the traditional greeting "irasshaimase." And "hai, doozo" while being seated. The menu was pretty straightforward; options for vegetarians and carnivores.
Just an FYI, I've read on Yelp that the owners are real Japanese from Japan? I have to correct this misinformation; they may greet in elementary Japanese, but they cannot carry a Japanese conversation. They do speak Chinese though, which I'm pretty sure isn't the language of Japanese natives.
While ordering food, I kindly asked the waitress how big the maki rolls were in the Vegetarian Combo. Her answer? She screamed at me "I CANNOT MAKE THEM THIS BIG OR ELSE ITS $40" while gesturing an big "o" with her two hands. Not the answer to my question, but before I could say anything she'd already stormed off.
The service/ambiance made us very uncomfortable. There were 5 of us, but only 4 of us ordered because one wasn't hungry. The waitress refused to give my friend water and threatened to charge us because "water isn't free." What really got on my nerves was that the couple argued in Cantonese for the duration of our visit. I've been a server before, and one of the most important things in being a professional is leaving those problems at the door. So here we were, trying to enjoy dinner and have a nice conversation which was impossible to talk over this!
The food was somewhere between "not horrible" and "okay." Sushi really isn't hard unless its done artfully. The sushi tasted okay, but the execution looked like the first time I'd rolled a maki-- sloppy and the sushi knife could have used some sharpening for a beautiful clean cut. My friends got bentos while I ordered a vegetarian sushi combo. My friends said the chicken teriyaki was moist and well seasoned. They told me this when we could finally talk outside of the restaurant in peace.
I'm NEVER coming here again. The place was cute, the food was ok, portions were good, but the service/abuse was a HUGE turnoff. I am truly embarrassed for bringing my friends here. -
Review from Jeremy P.
Santa Cruz, CA
8/29/2007
After my third visit, I realized that this place cures me of my home sickness. It's like going over to your grandparent's house for dinner when you haven't been for a while.
"Hello!"
"Oh, Konechiwa! How are you? Where you been? You must be so busy! How are you? oh, good. that so good, so good to see again please sit I bring you tea!"
"oh! uh, haha. I'm fine. No, yeah. No, I'm good. Yes, busy I guess. Okay. Wow, what a welcome. Thank you!"
Great people.
Even better sushi (10 pc nigiri is right on. Combined with a couple of choice rolls)
Miso is nice and hot, everytime.
Hot, slightly salty edamame.
Terrific prices.
Feel-good times.
Happy mouth..uh, rhymes. -
Review from Emily H.
Prunedale, CA
9/26/2008
I've walked by this little place dozens of times without giving it a second thought. In Santa Cruz, we are blessed with a cornucopia of fabulous sushi and I'm a creature of habit so I usually just go to my favorite places when I want sushi. When my boyfriend suggested we try August Moon I wasn't super enthusiastic but agreed to give it a try.
The menu at August Moon is fairly limited and they don't offer the fancy combinations of maki that places like Sushi Garden do. Their fish, however, was quite fresh and the rolls tasty. The prices were extremely reasonable, the rainbow roll being the most expensive at $9 and the rest between $4 and $5. I'm looking forward to trying the dinner specials which also look like a bargain. For me, a Japanese dinner wouldn't be complete without mochi and I loved the way they cut it up into little wedges and served with toothpicks.
If that was the extent of my review of August Moon I'd probably give it around 3 stars but what makes this place such a treat is the adorable married couple that operates it. The owners were both so sweet and genuine and it made the experience enjoyable with an authentic feel that places like Mobo and Takara lack. I loved how many times we were thanked, and the small ways that they went out of the way to make us feel comfortable and enjoy our sushi dinner.
I will definitely be back to August Moon, and while I'll stay true to some of the others, this one will be high on my list of local sushi places for awhile.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Groovy K.
Capitola, CA
4/26/2008
I had read the reviews of this place and thought it would be a great place to go to.
I was a bit perplexed about the location. It is in a strip mall, in the same one as Trader Joe's. When we walked in, the decor was set up to not have a view of the parking lot. However, the lighting in this place in marginal at best. This place is small with about 6 tables and a sushi bar. It was quaint.
We were greeted by our hostess/server. She was kind of funny. I felt that she was kind of putting on an act, it was entertaining. She kept on topping off our beer when I didn't want anymore.
The food was good. It was what I expected from a sushi place. We had 1 soup, a large beer and 6 rolls that were on the less expensive side. A vegetable roll was about 2.50 and the other rolls were about 4 bucks. I was surprised that it came to 40 bucks but it adds up. We put a limit on our sushi because we could have easily eaten another 40 bucks worth to be full.
It was nice being close to Trader Joe's, we went there had samples and bought some dessert.
In closing, this place was fair. I asked my partner if he would go back. He said that he would rather go someplace else instead which I agree with. This place was OK, I am glad we tried it to at least say that we have been. -
Review from Marama K.
San Francisco, CA
6/14/2010
Pluses:
- The sushi chef was very nice.
- The sushi was good.
Minuses:
- The lady/waitress was very rude. She came to take our order and I wasn't ready so I told her I needed a bit more time and asked her for some water. Her answer: "You order first and then you get drinks." I then ordered the Chicken Skewers as an appetizer. Her answer: "No, I don't make that on Saturdays".
- The chicken was tough and flavorless.
- No bathroom -
Review from Hugh Y.
3/26/2009
Friggin cute lil place, if I do say so myself.
Like other ppl have said, the owners here are awesome. I dunno how they treat the older adults that frequent the place, but when my gal and I went they treated us like their own kids! What great service. The lady owner would go on tangents about how ppl eat every last grain of rice and etc. She's a keeper.
The food is pretty good, but the portions are a lil smaller than we wanted them to be. However, the food is prepared with more lovin' than I Love Sushi or Pink Godzilla, since there are like 4 tables in the whole restaurant. We got some normal rolls and also the cooked Teriyaki Eel on rice. The eel was fugen BOMB. I never tasted eel so delectable.
Support this place instead of the cooler, hipper sushi joints in town. -
Review from Ziru C.
Albany, CA
11/4/2007
I need to get back into writing reviews, and I'm very glad to write about this place. I'm so happy to have found this place (through Yelp!) because it makes me so happy to come here. Well, except one time (to be explained later).
I've come here more than a couple of times so far and have been very satisfied with the food and the service. My favorite rolls to order are the Negihama, the Rock & Roll (or the San Francisco, which is basically a Rock & Roll with crab, taste a little sweeter), and the Russian. I've had their Sashimi Dinner and tried some of my friend's Chicken Teriyaki Dinner. I felt like I enjoyed the sushi better than the dinners (though my sashimi was AWESOME, so fresh and so delicious). Definitely a better deal as well.
I love that their rolls are on the small size because I'm able to get the whole thing in my mouth without it falling apart and having to eat the remains separately. I don't mind that they use lots of sesame seeds either. It just works for them, not so much for other places.
So the time that made me really sad was when we got there around 8:30 and they were closed, even though the sign says they close at 9. Later, my friend and I found out that it's because they run out of rice closer to the end of the night. They don't make new rice when they run out, because it would all be left over and would not be so good the next day (refrigerated sushi rice = gnarly).
I think that it is cute that a couple own and run the place. They are so adorable and have always greeted customers kindly all the times I've been there. I definitely want to be a regular at this place, because there are so many and it's so nice for them to ask how our day was, etc. -
Review from Marc B.
Santa Cruz, CA
9/29/2011
I had to sign into Yelp for the first time in years to write this review because I can't stand all the liars and haters on here. I don't believe the owner of this place would ever yell at someone with a kid! That would not happen. And they are really Japanese! What an absurd insinuation to make. Wow. I take my two daughters to this sushi place whenever we get the chance because the old couple who run the place are so cute and nice. Also, the miso soup is the best in town. Go figure. The prices are very low and the sushi is average but prepared with love and in case you've never been to a real amazing sushi place know this: there isn't any great sushi in santa cruz, period. That includes Naka. It's still yummy to get sushi in town and I love Shogun, Naka, and Sushi Garden as much as the next guy, but they are second-rate at best. Also, it is amusing to see how many people talk about the size of the cuts in their reviews. Why don't you just go to the farmers market and get some tuna and salmon and hack it up at home? I love doing that! It's awesome, but anyone who simply wants "big slabs of fish" knows nothing about good sushi. It's a little deeper than that.
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Review from Khanh T.
9/9/2008
Damn, I forgot what I ordered here but it was mediocre. ....
Ok, now I remember.
The sushi pieces were tiny and weren't even that great. I ordered 2 rolls.
My Chicken Yakitori was very dry.
I think the only thing I enjoyed about their food was their miso soup.
Their miso soup has very smooth tofu, like silken tofu or something! Very good, but I think that may be the only thing that's good about this place.
:/ And that the owners are very friendly as well.
I rather go somewhere else for my sushi. -
Review from michael b.
Chatsworth, CA
4/19/2008
I just signed up for Yelp to write a review of this place.
I really can't find any faults with this establishment. First off, the owners are extremely friendly and accommodating. The husband makes the sushi and his wife waits on the customers. She is sweet and likes to chat with the regulars or anybody with a friendly face.
The sushi is extremely reasonable in terms of price. I had the sashimi dinner, which comes with 3 different types of fish, for about 12 bucks. That's about what it costs for 1 type of sashimi at different joints.
This place is super small and holds only about 10 or 12 seats so it's not for those of you who are looking to be loud and rowdy and do saki bombs. If you are looking for tasty, low priced sushi with extremely nice owners than this is the place for you.
P.s. don't pay attention to the person who wrote a bad review because they didn't accommodate their kids. Sushi is not for kids, don't bring them here or any other sushi place. Don't rate this a 1 because you had to take your kids with you. -
Review from Emily F.
Burlingame, CA
6/10/2008
So my friend and I were craving sushi but at a REASONABLE PRICE. We yelped and this place seemed to be the popular vote.
As everyone noted, the owners were an older couple that greeted us with nothing but smiles and hospitality.
Yes, the place is small and holds about 20 people total but the atmosphere is cozy.
I was really craving a bento box but this place served mainly sashimi and rolls. They did have chicken teriyaki and udon though! I ended up ordering a combo of the 3 rolls (pacific, california and one more that i forgot the name of) but that came out to be about $12. All of their rolls were around $4-5 dollars for 6 pieces which is a really good deal compared to all the other sushi restaurants in Santa Cruz!
My friend ordered the chicken teriyaki bowl and its was delicious. It tasted a bit healthier than most other places since the chicken seemed to be grilled without any oil or any such condiments (plain) and then they did not put too much teriyaki sauce over it which is perfect! This was about $7.
Another note, this restaurant does not serve anything fried so when they mean sushi, sushi = healthy meal!
My order of the 3 rolls were good and though they weren't HUGE rolls, I had to take most home so their quantity is definitely enough!
I will definitely come back here for cheap, good and healthy sushi! -
Review from Cheryl M.
Boulder Creek, CA
9/5/2008
August Moon is a real find. The owners are wonderful and friendly (which is a treat in this area). They truly make you feel welcome here. The sushi is very good for the price.
Don't expect over-the-top, imaginative maki. But, the price is great and the food quite good.
I will eat at August Moon whenever I am in the area, and tell others that it is a great meal for a very good price. -
Review from Barbara J.
Redwood City, CA
7/22/2010
OMG! Super yummy sushi! The sushi guy is really good and I enjoyed his recommendations. My favorite sushi is spicy tuna - I think it is a great test - and this was some of the best.
I have only been here a few times, but will make more of an effort to stop again.
BTW, the waitress was super nice and friendly. I was wary because of other reviews. Maybe she gives back what she gets???? In past visits (twice before) I do not recall service being anything but service so it must not have been bad - that I would remember! -
Review from Blake W.
Santa Cruz, CA
Updated - 3/5/2011
This place has great rolls! Nice maki size, good, fair prices, AND fresh fish.
Note! There is no fried anything here, so tempura or sushi with fried ingredients are not available. Don't worry the quality is good here, and it won't be missed.
I really don't know if the owners are Japanese or Chinese, apparently quite a few reviewers here are not convinced that the couple who runs the place is Japanese.
The service is very shall we say... attentive?
Perhaps, so much so, that it border lines neurotic! Here I go...
For instance, on one occasion, the wife/owner/waitress must have been sipping a little heavily on the sake that evening, because she held us up at the end for 15 minutes talking endlessly about something I believe to do with life and relationships, and not one recognizable word! All we could do was sit there and listen without a single pause.
A request for a side of spicy mayo as usual is never appreciated and miraculously never came today. :)
I told her before I am willing to pay, but she doesn't charge me for it, and gets annoyed. I really believe this to not be an overbearing request, with a very simple solution.
Another example, they forgot to make a roll that we ordered and we brought it to their attention, no big deal, but for the remainder of the meal what ensued was nervous laughter and profuse apologies over and over again. Yeesh!
Bottom Line: Great Sushi Place and Good Prices, but not so enjoyable atmosphere.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/27/2009
I haven't tried every sushi restaurant in Santa Cruz, but I think decent sushi is hard to find here… Read more »
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Review from Jim M.
Santa Cruz, CA
9/4/2008
August Moon is simply great, I have been going here since this place first opened. When I walk in the door I am welcomed by name, and I feel like I am part of the family. This is one of the best 'mom & pop' sushi establishment I have ever visited. The sushi chef/owner is very experienced and the quality comes through with every bite of his sushi creations. If you want to eat traditional Japanese sushi this is the place to go. To add to the ambiance the owner usually has some pretty cool instrumental enka music playing. There are always beautiful flower arrangements on display.
My favorites include: Unagi bowl (unagi over rice, topped with furikake, with pickled daikon and mayonnaise on the side), and the Moon and Stars Roll (unagi, avocado, & macadamia nuts)
While this place is small and humble, there is no mistaking it is full of love. -
Review from davey e.
Sunnyvale, CA
10/15/2009
Great Food!
Friendly staff! Attentive service!
I highly recomend! -
Review from Lisa Ann P.
Santa Cruz, CA
1/24/2009
At first glance this appears to be a little hole in the wall that most would walk by and think twice before going in. So that said I wasn't expecting much, but was I wrong! This little place is great! Not too pricey either! The rolls are small but had such great flavors! Besides I always think they are easier to eat when they are rolled smaller. The people that work there are so nice too, making sure you enjoyed what you were eating, and great conversation after the meal! I will most definitely come back here again!
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Review from Melissa C.
Scotts Valley, CA
2/25/2011
I wish I could give ZERO stars. My experience with them felt like some sort of discrimination. I tried to go in with my two VERY WELL BEHAVED children, and was turned away immediately because "one person cannot have two children". I thought it was a joke and stood there for a minute confused before they barked at me again. My quiet, sweet, soft-spoken 2 year old's eyes welled up with tears as we walked out "sushi? mommy?..." she was just as confused as I was.
I called a friend as I fought back tears myself. I am not a single mom, but my husband was at work. I frequently dine with my two kids with no problems... in fact we went straight to Pink Godzilla, had a great meal and told everyone about our experience earlier. -
Review from V. L.
La Jolla, CA
9/5/2007
This is the best place in Santa Cruz for sushi!!! I am a sushi snob and this is the first time I have written a review publicly but I've decided to because the sushi and service here is just THAT excellent! This is a small place (like 6-7 tables and 4-5 seats at the bar). The owners are a lovely older couple and are the nicest friendliest most accommodating people ever. Every time I come here, they make me feel like I've just come home. Besides the atmosphere and service, the sushi is GREAT! The prices are really cheap for sushi and the portions are very reasonable, if not, even larger than most places in Santa Cruz that charge a lot more for not much quality. This is a place where it is easy to become regulars. They even sometimes allow ordering off of the menu! The level of spiciness, in my opinion is just right. I highly recommend this restaurant!
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Review from Salty D.
Santa Cruz County, CA
7/22/2009
Pro's: Clean, great food, good price, good service.
Con's: Limited seating, closed on Sundays.
Summary: By far my favorite sushi joint in the area. Beats Takara and Pink Godzilla hands down. Food quality is inline with Mobo's, but the service is better/quicker. -
Review from Jesse D.
Santa Cruz, CA
5/8/2008
OH August Moon. You, are a wonderful little sushi restaurant. I'm surprised I hadn't written a review yet! This lil mom n pop (literally) restaurant is great, and the owners are VERY friendly. Small, cozy atmosphere, you feel right at home. The ordering system is easy, you get a little paper and you mark how many of what you want. Everything else you order from the waitress/owner. The sushi chef/owner is also very friendly. The sushi is excellent, and they don't have a deep fryer so I'm not tempted :) They seem to recognize and know everyone that comes in there, and I feel like I should buy them a gift of some kind. They are always great and generous. and might I add - affordable nigiri!
