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Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
2549 Santa Clara AveMon-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Mon-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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:sigh:
Great, great experience here.
The gf & I tried Kamakura for the first time tonite & LOVED it!
(We officially have a new 2nd favorite Japanese restaurant in Alameda!)
We shared the Ichiban Special (spring roll, salmon teriyaki, sashimi, California roll, miso soup, salad, and tempura). which was definitely enough grub for the two of us (almost too much!).
Delish, delish, delish..!
- We especially like the tempura & salmon teriyaki!
Everything was tasty & yummy. Price-wise it's fair, though a little more than our favorite, Kai's, and the portions are a tiny bit smaller.
Classy/elegant atmosphere yet not overdone.
Biggie: EXTREMELY good service here!!! Like, super super friendly. Nice, sweet, courteous, warm, welcoming... etc. The crew stand outside and see you off after you've finished your dinner. WHAT OTHER restaurant does this?!
The ending complimentary plum wine was the perfect touch.
We SHALL return!
This is my regular sushi restaurant! The sushi is fresh and fantastic and the prices won't bankrupt you if you need a nice little Tuesday dinner out. I think the quality is really great for the price. Some of my favorites are their fresh Uni, saba nigiri and sake nigiri. They also have new creative rolls for you roll lovers - the Po' Boy with deep fried oysters pretty much rocks. There are several others that I've never seen on another restaurant's menu (and believe me, I've tried most every sushi place in the Bay Area!)
Also the staff are attentive and the owner is almost always in the restaurant greeting people as they come and go. It feels friendly and welcoming, the food is excellent and it's not overpriced! What's not to love?
WOW! 0.o
This was the only word that could come out of my mouth after every dish we ordered here (it was really *that* good AND i was too busy eating my next bite to think further). :D The second I step foot in the restaurant - I totally thought I was in Japan again! Quaint and homey atmosphere, immediately greeted by a friendly Japanese hostess! (Yes folks, this place is actually own and operated by Japanese people - shocking I know!!!)
Here's what we ordered:
- Ahi Tuna Tataki (dinner entree served w/ miso soup, salad & rice): ridiculously FRESH tuna seared just barely on the side served w/ their special wasabi sauce - delish!!!! Even though I was practically in tears by the end of the night from the overwhelming spiciness of the sauce...but it's totally worth it! ;)
So I've been sick of eating rolls drenched w/ sauces (ahem...but not here at Kamakura)
- Govenator Roll (be warned that if you're weak sauce towards spicy food - do not order this!) fortunately I was w/ my good friend who loves spice as much as i do so.
- Passion Roll (similar to your typical rainbow roll except up a couple nodges!)
Very nice touch at the end where they offer a tiny glass of plum wine...deeeelish!!! If you want *real* authentic Japanese food, look no further people, this IS the place to be!!! ;) Cheers!!!
I went out and tasted all the 'great' sushi places in Alameda and have to say hands down Kamakura is my favorite!
The freshest sushi, the noodle dishes stay really warm, you never feel rushed and yes its smaller but the fact that it is family run adds to the charm.
Kamakura has great sushi and for a reasonable price.
I have an allergy to shell fish and have to be…
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Best sushi in Alameda, hands down.
Every town has one and Kamakura gets the prize!
The owner is a sweet old Asian lady, usually in the restaurant on any given night and takes much pride in her business. The food is very tasty, fish is always fresh and the place is clean and cozy.
I'm in love with their miso soup! I love how they put tempura flakes in it giving the soup a nice texture to its great taste. My favorite dish is the chirashi. Its beautifully put together & tastes amazing.
Ive been here over 100 times, sometimes even 2 or 3days a week. Unfortunately I'm not in the area as much anymore, however this place has my heart & I will keep coming back.
Kamakura don't change a thing...you are the best!
Mediokura.
Free plum wine?
Big portions?
Kamakura was a big surprise for me.
Service was a solid A and the food I think is more authentic than most other Japanese Restaurants in the area. I had the California and the Spider Roll and there were great.
The seafood is very fresh
I would come back for sure when im in the area!!
I was pleasantly surprised with this restaurant. My BF and I came here after I picked him up at Oakland airport. Its in a cute building in Alameda.
I like the decor! Very clean.
We ordered the tempura, beef, and a couple of rolls. Prices are really good here. They even gave us a complementary glass of Japanese wine at the end of our dinner. Friendly service. I would definitely return.
Kamakura's grub
a glimpse of eternity
and some free plum wine
Im like in love with this place =]. really good rolls and the portions are really filling. i`ve been here like 3 times ish and i`ve had good experiences throughout all. Really delicious and i love the alaskan fantasy rolll. i like getting candy at the end hahaa, but i think thats only night time.
Truly delicious! The food is beautiful and tastes phenomenal!
The service is good. A real treat and a great place to go for a date.
I took my mom here for her birthday after reading the great Yelp reviews. This was - by far - the best Sushi we have had this side of Sushi Sam (San Mateo) - better than many of my meals at Ozumo (and about 1/2 the price).
When we got there around 6:00 - on a Monday - it was busy... every table was full. By the time we left at 7:30, the place was full with a line of people waiting outside - did I mention that it was Monday!
The owner was wonderful - she provided a special birthday card along with the birthday treat for my mom (a great touch) - at 85, she's still going strong (only missed 2 days of work this year!).
The service was fantastic - glasses were never empty for long, plates never lingered empty on the table. We also found a long lost friend - former owner of a great Pho / Japanese Restaurant in Hayward right off the 880 - who had gone back to work at Kamakura!
What I really liked about Kamakura was that it was not a shrine to the Bento Box! They had a wide variety of dishes, sushi and rolls and a small small section dedicated to the Bento.
A final note, this place is VERY kid friendly. Kid plates and bowls, utensils and glasses all for kids.
This is our new place for Sushi and Japanese food!
This is a place I go to when I wanna go somewhere special for sushi. The quality of the fish is fantastic, and their rolls are really tasty, creative and big!
The place is kinda crowded, so if you decide to go on a Friday or Saturday night, go early so you can sit by the time you're hungry. It's definitely not the cheapest restaurant, but it's reasonably priced for the quality of the food.
I just went here yesterday.
it was delicious.
it was pretty small place,
the lady in the front greeted us
and then we ordered
i forgot what we got, but the good was delicious
and at the end they served us plum wine
which was a plus.
it was really good
love this place,
i think its better than sushi house. :)
They have good aga-dashi tofu. The sushi is alright. The sashimi is ok, sometimes not the greatest.
I've only tried a few Japanese restaurants back home in the Bay Area, and Kamakura is definitely one of the better ones. Their teriyaki chicken (in my opinion) is the best I've had in the Bay thus far. The sauce is thick (the way it should be) and the chicken is nice and juicy. Their sushi is good here too. I wouldn't say it's the best sushi, but I don't think you'd feel disappointed. The owner is quite lovely too and she's been in the business way before I was born. (Over 25 years.) I think that's a little incentive to give it a try. She must be doing something right! Just my two cents!
Busy busy busy - that's a great first impression when we walked in. Fortunately, there were two seats at the bar and we gladly bypassed all the other people waiting at the front.
Service was very friendly, although it did take several attempts to flag someone down to take our order. After that initial snafu, everything else was copacetic. To start, the chef put down a complimentary little app. When I mentioned that I couldn't eat raw (argh argh argh), he quickly switched out the raw app for a yummy cooked shrimp and smoked salmon melange atop crunch sliced cucumbers. Mmm!
My salmon teriyaki and tempura were solid and hubs seemed to enjoy his chicken teriyaki and tempura. I was originally worried that the portions might not be enough because our food came on large plates with lots of white space but it was plenty. Miso soup and salad were excellent as well.
For dessert, we were brought complimentary sliced orange segments and plum wine. I will gladly sit at the bar for that kind of attention again!
I like that they usually open the door for their customers. If you are with one other person & they seat you next to the windows you may be cramped some. The fish is so fresh & the rolls are so tasty & unique. I really enjoy the unfiltered Saki. Very reasonable prices for sushi & alcohol. The restaurant is usually very busy so the service isn't the greatest. The free mini glass of plum wine is nice at the end of the meal.
The only possible way that I could get fresher sushi would be for me to eat my salmon alive. Seriously, freshest sushi I have had in quite some time. It even passes the "sashimi test." What's the "sashimi test?" If it's good quality fish, it can be eaten alone. None of this 'roll up in seaweed, deep-fried, mashed with avocado, and topped with spicy mayonaise' bull%$#@. EAT THE RAW FISH BY ITSELF! Trust me. You can.
I was served efficiently by a team of wait staff. It was kinda like how the genie in Aladdin multiplies and becomes omnipresent; service coming at you from all directions.
I also liked the shot of plum wine and the slices of watermelon that come with your check.
I was pleasantly surprised by this place that I discovered by accident while driving home.
Went here based on reviews...and also cause they were the only place open till 10pm. I liked the food. It was good. My favorite was the grilled seabass appetizer. We also got the lobster roll, sashimi, scallop roll, and chicken teriyaki. I would go back again...it's better than the other sushi places I've been to in the area. (still haven't found the best though) The service was friendly, and I liked the complimentary shooter plum wine for dessert they gave. The bill was to be expected. I thought it was reasonably priced. I thought it was nice to see the grandmother (I believe) say goodnight to us as we were leaving the restaurant.
Went to lunch at Kamakura with my dad last week. My burgeoning sushi palate definitely appreciated the superiority of this place, and as I begin to value quality over price I have to say I see more trips to Kamakura in my future.
I just got back from my step-dad's birthday dinner at Kamakura and I'm stuffed in the best possible… Read more »
The food and service are excellent...
But the fifth star is earned here due to Faith Yamato, who does the little things to make us customers stay loyal...
The goal for 9/1/09 was to find a really really good sushi place in Alameda. My brother and sister-in-law tell me that Sushi House is a sure bet, but I went with Yelp reviews to guide me. The place closes at 10pm. We got there late (around 9:25pm) since I had to commute all the way from Daly City and because Alameda popos are strict about the speed limit. The staff made us feel at home and they stayed open way passed 10pm. Already off to a good start.
Now onto the food. Since it was a birthday dinner, we ordered a lot. This included the Passion Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, Po' Boy Roll, Raiders Roll, 2 Maine Lobster Hand Rolls, and the The Governator Roll! Everything was more than delicious. The seafood was fresh, the decoration was fantastic, and every bite produced an "OMG, this is so good" culinary sensation. Our favorites were the Passion Roll, Raiders Roll, and the Maine Lobster Hand Rolls. Forgot to mention that this was a dinner for 2 and so we left feeling like we ate for a family of 4. The Governator Roll was good, but it was hella spicy. I ordered it because it had cajun crawfish among other bullying ingredients. Even those who love spicy food will feel the heat. The fire aftertaste lingers. If lots of spice makes you sweat, then you might pass on it. I felt like I was in a Bikram Yoga class.
The decor is average, but the food and excellent customer service is memorable. I will never forget how the staff (the 3 on the floor, including the owner who is lola status) walked outside and bowed to us at the same time showing their appreciation. They might of spoke in Japanese as they said farewell, I'm not sure, but I loved the food and I will be back again. Some restaurants have sushi chefs grunt words when you come and leave, but the bows make you feel like royalty. This place should be reserved for like a 10th date or when you think he or she is a keeper. You have no idea how much I love eating sushi...Kamakura is now one of my favorite sushi restaurants in the bay!
Good authentic Japanese food made by real Japanese people. When you walk in you are greeted in Japanese by the owner, an older lady who's always all dressed up. She thanks you when you leave too. I haven't been here in a while so don't know if she's still there, but the hostess is a younger Japanese woman who wears a lot of makeup, big bulky gawdy jewelry and very short skirts. I'm sure the perverted white men customers with an Asian fetish enjoy gawking at her. But seriously, the food here is good and I'll keep eating here if I'm in the neighborhood.
The food is excellent and became one of our family favorites. A beautiful handmade card was given to my sister-in-law for her birthday and the service was very attentive. It really is one of our family favorites.
I LOVE THIS PLACE. Food is excellent, service is GREAT. I remember coming here on two different occasions; both experiences did not fail to please. Free plum wine after dinner! And portions are plentiful and decently priced.
But what got me was the customer service. Upon leaving, all the servers stood outside and bowed as I exited. I felt like a celebrity!
Still better to come here than the wait at sushi house for an hour or whatever for a table! I been here a few more times, well lately I been trying out sushi. And the sushi I had here was average. i ate at a sushi place in monterey, ca and it hella good. Got to try to find out what the name of that place is. Anyway, the fish is alright (eel, fried prawn) but the rice seem mushy. I get the complimentary sake shot this time, it's sweet and delicious! And the presence of the owner is a delight, she said bye to us in japanese as we left! I think!
I been here two or three times. Service is alway friendly. The food at this japanese restaurant is… Read more »
better than the last visit.
portions are just about the right size!!!
genuine japanese greeting when walking into the restaurant. small entrance, terrible for kids that run around and crowded the entry...
2 rolls, a combination plate and a noodle bowl for only $35 bucks!
dinner is cheap there and we did not have to wait long. there is also complimentary plum wine for the grown ups and botan rice candy for the younger ones.
more like 3 and a half
the waiters/hostess are all very nice
HOWEVER
it's darker than a cave in there.…
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I hold a birthday party for my friend there. This place was quite normal restaurant but the service was GOOD! Before the party, I let them know I would hold a birthday party in your restaurant. Though I could not made reservation, there were enough seats for my 7friends and we didn't order so many dishes, they gave a gorgeous Green tea ice cream with special decoration to my friend. They even sing a birthday song for my friends!
Egg plant and fried tofu (agedashi tofu) was nice in addition to yummy sushi! Recommend you to order it!
I go here so often that it's due for a review. The sushi is, by far, the best in Alameda (Angelfish ranks pretty close). Whenever my fiancée, others, and I go there, we are greeted with personable service from the moment we walk in to the moment we exit. The wait for a table on a Friday or Saturday night, especially for a large group around 6-8 as is usually our case, can get as long as 30-45 minutes. But, once seated, they promptly take your order, and deliver the items in a timely, reasonable manner. Never fails every time I visited. While you wait, you can catch some sports that they always show on the HDTV right above the sushi bar.
They have a good variety of sushi, standard and fun combos, that is just excellent across the board. Their spicy tuna rolls are not anemic in size, but they taste mighty good. I like the Governator roll, which includes fried crayfish and jalapeños on top, marinated in a spicy sauce that puts the spicy tuna to shame in terms of ability to singe your nostrils. If you like salmon nigiri, go with the sockeye salmon, which is deeper in color and richer in taste. Other items in our regular rotation include the passion roll, the rainbow roll, and amaebi. Even the standard California roll is really good.
At the end of the meal, they will serve each of you a shot of plum wine compliments of the house. As you and your party leave, the staff will line up outside the door, and each one of them will bid each of you in the party "goodbye" or "goodnight". Even after patronizing this restaurant so many times, this level of service, and the consistency, never gets old.
As a bonus, my fiancée's young nephew always gets free ice cream or candy personally delivered by Faith, the proprietor. If it's a birthday celebration, the staff will come to your table to sing "happy birthday", although I find the singing to be sort of funeral-like rather than the peppy, giddy variety. Nonetheless, they mean well.
Love this place. They have the best Japanese food in town. Their rice is the best I tasted anywhere. Their miso soup is tasty. The owner Akiko comes and greets us at our table when we visit and offers us some plum wine when we're done. The staff is nice and friendly. I took my wife there after eye surgery. When we left, all the waiters and host, greeting us outside with a bow. It was very nice experience and makes you feel special. We'll be coming back.
When I first moved to Alameda in 1997, I ate here a decent amount (once or twice per month) and enjoyed the experience. However, like many other people, I pretty much stopped eating here when Sushi House opened. I returned last night for a dinner with friends and was reminded why I liked this place in the past.
First and foremost, the service is top notch. You will ALWAYS be greeted at the door, and usually there is someone to literally open the door for you as you leave the place when you conclude lunch/dinner. Also, you will more than likely be offered free plum wine at the conclusion of the meal. Finally, the owner of the restaurant is almost always in the waiting area to talk with the customers.
The food is good too. All of the chicken entrees are outstanding. The chicken karaage is very crispy and I love the sauce that accompanies the chicken. The chicken teriyaki is tender and not overcooked. The miso soup is not salty (which is a problem at most other Japanese restaurants). Finally, I haven't tasted the Alaskan Fantasy roll, but some family members and friends have told me it tastes great.
There is no parking lot for this place. You can street park on Santa Clara Ave or Broadway.
Warm but not overly-attentive service. Nice ambience but a little on the cramped side. Great, Japanese-quality (yeah that connotes a standard of quality) sushi. I don't order teriyaki, battered stuff, or chicken at a Japanese restaurant though. A reliable good time and an always-welcome institution in Alameda.
Kamakura is one of the best sushi spots in the East Bay. Try the Governator roll if you like spicy, and the Udon soup is amazing. The fish is always fresh, and the service is always great. Good for dates!
On the down side, you may have to wait quite a bit to get a table during the busy times IE: weekend evenings, but only if you're with a group of more than 4. But I think it's worth it.
This is based on take out only.
I ordered a variety of nigiri and rolls for take out. The packaging looked cheap, like the Safeway type of sushi packaging. My girlfriend and I ordered 3 rolls and a sushi dinner. We're both pretty sure that the rice was OLD. The rolls and sushi fell apart while picking them up with our chopsticks. There was no flavoring on the rice either. Didn't taste any vinegar...just old, crumbly rice.
I've been to Kamakura several times with co-workers and it was good. Maybe they have a different sushi chef for take out orders only. All I have to say is that my gf and I ended up throwing away about 1/4 of our order. There was no point of calling to complain since we live in Oakland and were not willing to drive back there.
2 stars because I liked the place when I dined in and the prices are very reasonable.
Tried this place for lunch.......packed, but got a seat at the sushi bar....friendly, efficient service......had the lunch special rolls n sashimi...... very good but i left feeling like I should've eaten more..... I'll try it again for dinner... nice decor, a little cramped ( the COMPLETE opposite of Katsu !) ....nice crowd, I can see why it's so popular...the 120 year old owner is cute
I've been to Kamakura three times so far and have liked everything I'e eaten.
I love the Yasai Tempura because the veggies are sliced very thinly so there isn't a lot of water content so the batter doesn't get soggy. The miso soup is also super yummy (it has tempura flakes in it).
Additionally their wasabi is not on the weak side. yay! i love it when my eyes water :)
Please decline the plum wine; it tastes like cough syrup. Wish I was a kid so I could get the Botan Rice Candy instead!
Great Sushi, great service. Been 20+ times at this point and have never had a bad experience.
Good service pretty good sushi
Five stars for the cut rolls - taste quality, size, and price -, kind and friendly chefs, complimentary plum wine at the end of the meal, and the nice lady that seems to run the place. Also; a menu with pictures? Yes please!
Four and a half stars for the atmosphere; big screen TV at the cozy sushi bar, street parking is ample. Lots of waitresses to flag down for service.
I give their nigiri four stars; it's tasty, especially with their sauces (garlic sauce in the albacore nigiri was great), and the cuts are respectable, but I've had slightly 'fishier' sushi.
Highly recommend this place for their rolls; the basic ones are about $5-$7 - well worth it. My girl and shared had a rock n' roll (eel, avocado), cajun crayfish roll, and one of their specialty rolls - Alaskan Fantasy - which was $12.95, but HUGE and delicious. With two orders of the albacore sushi with garlic sauce our bill came out to $37 and we were STUFFED.
Alameda, CA
Category: Japanese
Alameda, CA
Category: Sushi Bars
Alameda, CA
Category: Japanese
Alameda, CA
Category: Sushi Bars
Alameda, CA
Category: Sushi Bars
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