- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Sushi Masa
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
5363 Camden AveSan Jose, CA 95124
(408) 265-3232
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Thu-Sun 11:30 am - 2 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
170 reviews for Sushi Masa
Review Highlights
"make sure to try their tempura ice cream oh my god so good."
(in 12 reviews)
"Probably the freshest sushi & sashimi in town."
(in 41 reviews)
"Found the $40 sashimi love boat for 2."
(in 4 reviews)
Loading...
170 reviews in English
-
Review from LeeMan L.
San Jose, CA
Updated - 11/20/2011 1 photo
If you want a cozy and Japanese feeling, then you need to come here.
I always sit at their Tatami section tables. It's my favorite thing to do.
I love their Green Tea, and not to mention their best Tempura Ice Cream Dessert.
Keep up the good work!!!
Will be coming here more and more and more...1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/31/2011
I came here with my friends and this place is just as traditional as it can get for a Japanese… Read more »
-
-
Review from Caroline T.
San Jose, CA
8/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
So sad to do this because I this restaurant used to be my go to around this area. Not only has the food diminished in quality but they never have anything on their menus anymore (especially hamachi kama)! However, the main reason for the one star is due to my horrible experience with a waitress (wish I got her name).
My mom ordered salmon. They forgot to make it so it came out when everyone else was done with their meal. When it came out, we all began to ate it and upon first taste, we HAD to spit it out. The fish wasn't fresh with an overwhelming fishy taste. My father told the waitress and she asked us if she could taste it! She took her fingers, broke into the fish, and ate it right in front of us. THEN, she proceeded to try to convince us that it's not bad. First off, YOU DON'T DO THAT!!! Second, IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT ANOTHER CHANCE after YOUR FINGERS were in our food. I was shocked and disgusted. Never again. -
Review from paula a.
San Jose, CA
Updated - 2/8/2012
Under new ownership and it still rocks! The sushi is fresher than ever, mouth watering. The Saki list has totally added upscale choices for you connoisseurs. I took a new friend here and I swear we just gushed over how fresh the sashimi was. I think the sashimi is even better. The new owners are both wonderful ladies and treat you like family. They are always making sure we are taken care of and do their best when this place gets busy busy busy. This is a long time place for me and I am glad the quality has not gone down, but actually UP!
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
7/28/2011
If you are uptight and expect to be waited on like royalty, stand in line. If you want awesome… Read more »
-
-
Review from jill s.
San Jose, CA
1/29/2012
We checked out this place last night with our friends (who are regulars) and it was amazing. The sushi was perfect! Enjoyed sitting at the bar watching the sushi chefs. The owners were very nice and personable.
-
Review from Alex L.
Fremont, CA
2/3/2012
They have some of the freshest fish in the area. I'm going back again just for the special chirashi. This is one of the few places that have real authentic Japanese food. Even the ginger they give you is high quality!
-
Review from Kristen B.
San Jose, CA
1/8/2012
Food has always been good. Under new ownership and great service makes it even better!!! Thanks for a great birthday dinner!!!!
-
Review from Chris V.
San Jose, CA
11/30/2011
I've been here a couple times for dinner and I definitely love the atmosphere. It's got a nice and calm, authentic Japanese feel. I had the deluxe chirashi sushi, and the entire dish was great. There was large variety of different fish, and it was very fresh. Whatever they do with the sushi rice is amazing. Even the pickled vegetables that come with it were delicious.
Sushi Masa is also one of the few places around here that actually has okonomiyaki, and it did not disappoint. It comes to your table nice and piping hot. Even though it's listed on their menu under appetizers, it's pretty gigantic and can easily be eaten as a whole meal. I'd come back again just for it. -
Review from M. G.
San Jose, CA
1/21/2012
We heard about this sushi restaurant and gave it a try today. They have a very good business. Customer waited in-line for dinner. First, I like the interior design of the place. Second, the waiter/waitress took a good care of the tables (refill hot tea, change plates for appetizer, entrees, desert, etc) even though they were busy. The most important thing is the sashimi was very fresh- the fish was melting in my mouth. Mmm... In the end, we got the best green tea tempura ever! Overall, we had a great time and I will definitely visit again.
-
Review from Varian L.
San Jose, CA
12/10/2011
Sorely disappointed -- Hard-to-find restaurant that servers below-average rolls for an above-average price.
I was surprised to find this restaurant has gone down significantly in quality since I last visited a few years ago (perhaps new management / owner?). Rolls look homemade, the rice in the rolls tasted dry, and were all pricey to boot! The only thing that salvaged our dinner (which, by the way, we could not finish due to the taste) was the (fried) tempura ice cream.
I would not return in the near future, if ever. =( -
Review from James L.
Mountain View, CA
11/18/2011
My wife had friends who raved about this place, so we tried it with them one night after work. We found the staff to be very friendly, and the food is great. Julie, one of the owners, spent time educating us on how to order a good Saki, which really enhanced the meal. This seems like a great friendly local sushi place, a bit out of the way for me but well worth the drive.
-
Review from Elaine S.
Irvine, CA
7/16/2011
I come to this place every time I'm in the bay area. It's super close to my house and I probably love it for the most obscure reason ever.
Their salad dressing.
I don't know what's in it, but it's amazing. Their food is pretty legit and their sashimi is usually pretty yummy. They have awesome lunch combinations although it does take a while for them to prepare the food.
But salad dressing... Worth it. -
Review from hung l.
San Jose, CA
10/14/2011
I love the environment and food at this place. Pretty cool things to look at when you go inside. I usually go on Monday or Wed after work where there's a cute hostess. The food is always good here every time I go. The beef yakiniku is my favorite dish there, its just so flavorful. The Tempura ice cream is also very yummy, too!
It's a good place to have a date for a nice peaceful setting. -
Review from Emilia V.
7/5/2011
My parents requested to go to dinner at a sushi restaurant, and put me in charge of picking something nearby. Well, ok. Let's try this place.
I like the layout, and that the staff wears kimonos. I didn't like that it smelled like bathroom and that the rolls menu was pretty limited. The rolls we did get all tasted the same, but the nigiri was fresh which is important obviously. It just wasn't exciting, and next time I look for sushi in the hood, I'm going elsewhere. -
Review from Christina B.
San Jose, CA
6/17/2011
My father in law LOVES this place and it's pretty good.
My husband and I used to share a special dinner with LOTS of food before we had kids and that was always a fun date. -
Review from Tiffany C.
San Jose, CA
8/23/2011
Sushi Masa has fresh fish sushi. Their udon and bowls are good as well. I usually order the Hamachi Donburi which has a special sauce. The fresh fish over rice is quite yummy. I second the salad dressing is quite good. Wonder if there is a recipe for it.
The restaurant is pretty close to me. I don't generally order chicken teriyaki or beef teriyaki because that's not a traditional Japanese food.
It's too bad that some of the others have had bad experiences. I think for a neighborhood sushi place, it has great fresh fish for its sushi dishes and the location is very convenient for me. -
Review from Joyce H.
San Diego, CA
3/11/2011 3 Check-ins Here
My (rather opinionated) mom is always raving about how fresh the sashimi is here - that's saying a lot since she's an incessant critic. Naturally, here is where I could finally acquire a taste for raw fish...
We love ordering their rainbow roll and their hamachi donburi. Absolutely stunning! (in appearance and in taste!)
Fresh and beautiful food, makes an excellent sushi restaurant. -
Review from Joy S.
San Jose, CA
8/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love this place! I come here mainly with my mom because it is nearby and there really aren't that many decent Asian restaurants in the area. My parents have been taking me here since I could remember, so I have a lot of memories of this restaurant growing up. It is the most authentically Japanese restaurant visually,wise. They have waiters dressed in traditional Japanese attire and there are sections of the restaurant with bamboo flooring and private rooms where you have to take off your shoes for for larger parties. The restaurant is sprinkled with Japanese furniture and accents of Japan, which makes the place feel so wonderful. Last time I came, they even had someone playing a Japanese zither, a koto, at the enterance, which is a large piece of wood with 20-30 strings that are plucked, kinda like a flat Asian harp.
I always come for dinner and their bento boxes are the best. Their teriyaki chicken is juicy but has a little crunch to it from grilling to chicken. They have the best salad dressing for their salads, I don't know what it is, but it is great! And they put a lot of tofu and seaweed in their miso soups too. They put great care into their sushis and you can definitely taste the quality. I've only tried their Philadelphia and Spicy Tuna rolls but they were both sooo good.
Growing up as a kid, I loved going there because they have a good kid's menu where you get a bento box and kids get green tea ice cream too. I think they have the most green tea tasting ice cream around. It's a great place to take your family or even just have a relaxing meal with good company. -
Review from Gabby G.
San Jose, CA
7/29/2011
Every time I go to Sushi Masa I sit at the sushi bar because Masa himself is great! The fish is always fresh and he makes recommendations about what is the freshest of the fresh. He will also make anything you want. If you're feeling creative, let him know and he will customize a roll for you. Once he has seen your face a few times he will drop off tasty little bites of thing he has whipped up for you to try. I always have a great time when I go there and leave feeling full and satisified!!
-
Review from Robin R.
Mountain View, CA
8/2/2011
Love this place! Great food and great people. I especially enjoy sitting at the bar with Masa!
-
Review from Jaime O.
Milpitas, CA
2/20/2011
FIRST BEST favorite. Just us at the bar; time with masa - priceless.
We had everything, Masa made whatever he wanted for us. It was great Masa buys his fish fresh from a distributor in SF. FBF -
Review from Becky W.
San Jose, CA
8/30/2011 2 photos
Really just average.. and slightly overpriced. I had their unagi don and chirashi and just wasn't impressed. The presentation of the food is nice though (even for takeout). The one good thing about this place is that its super close to my house. So I would probably come here again for takeout when I'm craving sushi and feeling incredibly lazy.
-
Review from Linnea E.
9/1/2011
It's good food. Some days it smells a little strong in there. I hate that they don't have to go menus or an online menu. We tend to order take out, and it's a pain to figure it out sometimes. Love the chicken dishes, kids love the terriyaki, bf loves the sushi. My biggest disappointment with the food is the salad of all things... dressing is gross. We've eaten in a few times - service is ok. Not many offerings for Japanese in the area, and this one is worth a try.
-
Review from Dawna T.
San Jose, CA
7/19/2011
How does this place even get past 3 Stars? Such a disappointment. My family and I have been going to this place occasionally for years because of the convenient location! However as time passes by, the quality of the service and food have really gone downhill.
Food: B-... Based on Chicken Teriyaki, Beef Teriyaki, Spider Roll, California Roll, Tempura Udon, Shrimp Tempura, Salad, Miso Soup. Your typical sushi and teriyaki bento box type of restaurant. The Chicken and Beef Teriyaki leave much to be desired-- to make up for the tasteless and unbearably firm beef they just pour a gallon of teriyaki sauce over it making you think you're eating yummy chicken and beef. Disappointing. The rice is okay (something I can make at home really) and doesn't really give you that "Japanese kick." The miso is also too powdery and comes in a tiny down-sized bowl, what am I 6 years old? However on a slightly brighter note, their salad and udon are delicious. The salad and the dressing are good together (I think it's some sort of thousand island, correct me if I'm wrong!). Although the portions of the mushroom, tofu, etc. are small, the udon's soft noodles and rich broth is a pleasure to eat. However I would've been happier if my bowl was filled with more yummy accessories! Onto the ROLLS, I don't know how to say this other than the rolls here are TOTALLY Blah!!! The California Roll is tiny and always poorly made (they include it in your lunch specials A-C). The Spider Roll is even more abhorring-- for about $10, you are getting this dry, little portions of crab roll that they throw in together! SAVE YOUR MONEY-- Don't get the ROLLS!!! Just liking the Udon here isn't enough for me to come back, I am sorry!
Drinks: A-...Based on the Green Tea, I have NO IDEA what the tea is but I always drink it here! Ask for your complimentary green tea that comes in a cute, Japanese cup!
Location/Ambiance: B-... Located in a decent-sized plaza, there seems to be a lot of parking but near the restaurant there's almost always nowhere to park! Inside the restaurant, the interior decorations are very authentic Japanese-like. There are Asian walls, bamboo railings, mask frames, and even have floor tables where you must take your shoes off. Place is fairly clean but very small. There is a small sushi bar as well.
Service: C-... Yes I love elderly people-- I really do. But that isn't enough for me to give above C grading for this restaurant's service. I usually come during lunch so there's these two Japanese ladies- one middle-aged and one elderly. The elderly lady with the ponytail usually serves us and I am okay with her performance. The middle-aged lady with the glasses however is extremely unprofessional and all-up-in-your face! Ex. My mom ordered another lunch special, in addition to our previous order. We usually order the lunch special with tempura so I thought it was strange when it didn't come out. We called the middle-aged waitress and she tries to argue with us about not having the tempura. My mom is okay with it and I kinda am like 'Ok whatever don't give us our tempura' feeling at this point. Then she has the audacity to grab a menu and try to point at it shoving it in my face explaining that there is #1-3 and A-C and the differences. OKAY LADY, I am NOT Dumb! I know there's a difference, I thought we had ordered the one with tempura since that is what we USUALLY Order! Sorry that YOU Messed up our order and even told me to order the "right one" next time. WHAT?! Instead of trying to show-up, go serve your other customers! Regardless of who is serving btw, they are always slow and seem to disappear on you. My family always tries to get their attention but they whisk away faster than you can blink your eyes. I don't understand what takes them forever to serve and to make your food. If you don't have a lot of time, DON'T BOTHER coming here!
Prices: B... Prices are typical. Lunch time is $7+ and Dinner costs a bit more. But for the horrible service and mediocre food, I would rather go somewhere else.
TL;DR? Mediocre food. Horribly SLOW Service! Average-ish Prices. Save Your Money and go SOMEWHERE ELSE!!! -
Review from S K.
San Jose, CA
Updated - 11/9/2011
went ther tonight for a dinner, thinking how good it was last time we ate there. But two orders did not come same time, came as i was almost done with my meal. My mom's was chirashi sushi and mine was teriyaji. Then the rice was not cooked well and sushi rice was too vinegarite. Not sure if they have new chef, but i won't go back.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
11/14/2010
Sushi was good. fresh and rice was cooked right. but the service was really slow and i can not say… Read more »
-
-
Review from Natalie L.
San Jose, CA
6/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Everything we tried was superior. We ordered the nigiri plate, fresh salmon hand rolls, spicy tuna & avocado roll, and (omg) the tempura ice cream. I'm so glad we moved into this neighborhood. We were there on a Wednesday evening, a little empty but excellent service and food. We will be back...soon!
-
Review from L B.
San Jose, CA
2/2/2011
FRESH FRESH FRESH FISH! I was really blown away by the fresh taste of all the fish. The tuna sashimi and spicy tuna roll was almost buttery with its texture and taste.
At first i didn't think that the menu was that extensive in terms of the sushi options, but everything we got was very high quality. They did not have all the crazy exotic rolls, which are fun, but all the sauces and spices probably normally cover up lower quality fish.
Sushi Masa did not need anything over the top because the sushi fish it self was so flavorful!
The dinner size rolls are really big, 10 pieces i think, so ask for the "Sushi Menu" to order just a few smaller rolls.
Staff was very friendly and the atmosphere and decorating was very well done. -
Review from Thera G.
Santa Clara, CA
10/10/2011
This is the best sushi experience of my life. Masa n Julie r amazing people. I just barely started experimenting with sushi n this place is by far the best I've tried. The sushi is the freshest possible n the other stuff I tried like the lobster tempura, beef tataki, salt pepper chicken, n tempura ice cream were just as incredible! Definitely a must go place I will be back for sure!
-
Review from Chris O.
8/15/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Finally a place with actual Japanese people on staff that know how to make and serve good Japanese food.
We came by on a Saturday afternoon and had tons of sushi along with some appetizers, and all of it was four star goodness. The wakame salad was good, miso good, tempura tasty. The sushi rolls and nigiri were both very good, the nigiri being large, good cuts and the rolls were proper (no blended mush spicy tuna, this had chunks and a real sauce).
The service was very friendly, they even left the whole pot of tea at the table so we have as much as we wanted and yet she still checked often to make sure it wasn't getting low. I really like the ambience and design of the place, very traditional Japanese decor.
This is the only real Japanese food I have found in these parts. -
Review from Annie N.
7/13/2010
This is probably your best bet in South San Jose for fresh slices of fish and seafood. They serve almost the exact same things at lunch and dinner but dinner comes at a heftier price. As for lunch, make sure you budget enough time as service here tends to be slow. But they are very nice people so it makes it hard to complain.
I always go for the chirashi. If I'm feeling adventurous, I'll upgrade to the special chirashi. This is a bowl of rice topped with fresh slices of fish. The special comes with more expensive items like uni. The best part about their chirashi that you don't find in most places is the pickled vegetables that comes with it. I love Japanese pickled vegetables ever since my first encounter with them in Kyoto.
This place has a very unique ambiance. It is decorated like an indoor garden. There is one section with No masks hanging on the wall, which can be scary to some. I found it to be cool. I like the booth area where they hang two katanas and a golf club?!
Good for a date or a long enjoyable lunch. If you want faster food, sit at the bar.Listed in: Great Japanese restaurants in…
-
Review from Cameron G.
Milpitas, CA
4/28/2011
Sushi Masa is my favorite sushi restaurant. The years of skill Masa has is second to none. He is a true master. If you love sushi and want the true sushi experience then this is the place for you. I drive from Milpitas at least once a year for the last 10 years to go and sit at the bar to watch the master work.
-
Review from Pamada K.
Sunnyvale, CA
12/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
I wish Yelp would really let you do 1/2 stars. I'd honestly say, if I was solely basing this on food, it would be 2 1/2 stars, but since the service was pretty good, I'm leaning more towards the 3 stars.
Though, to be honest, I don't think we'll be coming back. This pretty much falls in the "Meh, I've had better" category.
Dinner:
- Shio-yaki (Broiled Makrel)
- Love Boat: Sushi platter
So the Shio-yaki wasn't bad. It was my first time having it, and I thought it was pretty good. Though my bf thought it could've been saltier. The Sushi Love Boat platter is probably the perfect amount of food for two people with an appetizer. But the fish itself was really uneventful. Everything seemed really bland, and I felt like they put too much wasabi on the nigiri pieces to compensate for the lack of flavor. The salmon had a fishy after taste to it as well. My entire meal pretty much tasted like rice vinegar and wasabi.
My biggest gripe is probably that everything was only available in either large platters or dinner size (with salad/rice/fruit). I'm not sure if this was a dinner thing since that was the time we'd had gone, and its different for lunch, but you couldn't order rolls individually. Actually the Shio-yaki was a dinner platter as well. We asked if we could just get it without the dinner and the waitress had to make up a price to make it an "appetizer". Which i DID appreciate though - hence the extra 1/2 star.
I don't think we'll be coming back. Our meal total ended up being around $50, and for an extra $10 more I can get a mind-blowing orgasmic meal at Ocean Blue. :) I'd rather spend the extra $10. -
Review from Rebecca S.
San Jose, CA
2/18/2011
In an area overcrowded with fast food restaurants and the standard chains (PF Chang's, Red Lobster, Chevy's), Sushi Masa is a gem for sushi lovers. I think the best quality is the interior which have a lot of wood accents, and traditional Japanese design qualities (ie. the cute tanuki's!).
- I wanted to order the omakase dinner but it is only available for a party of 4 or more so I had to settle for the house nigiri sushi platter combination. This combo comes with a soup and salad which is not impressive at all. The best part of the meal was the very fresh fish quality. I'm kind of a "sushi b*tch" so if I say the fish is good, it's good. The uni was nutty, just how I like it without the iodine taste. My only grip was that the chu-toro was cut up, mixed with some mayo sauce, and made into a gunkan which I did not understand since toro is divine by itself.
-Agadashi tofu= normal and average tasting.
-Service is very good.
-Price is reasonable.
My advice is to skip the cooked food and just order the nigiri sushi. Would not recommend Sushi Masa to those looking for "jive-ass-rolls." -
Review from Emmie N.
Milpitas, CA
8/25/2010
One of the better Japanese restaurant around here. A Japanese restaurant filled with Japanese people, always a good sign b/c you know its LEGIT.
This place serves FRESH FISH, perfect for sashimi lover like me. I usually order the Chirashi (rice topped with slices of fresh sashimi).
If it wasn't so far from my house, I would definitely come here more often when I'm craving sushi/sashimi. -
Review from Shaun C.
3/22/2010
So here I am, continuing my search for the greatest sushi ever, and I found myself at Sushi Masa a couple days ago. I have to be honest this was my least favorite so far. Everything was better everywhere else. The only saving grace was the miso soup which was very good. The sashimi was ok, not very fresh, and overall the quality was better everywhere else, the tempura was slightly soggy, and the dragon roll lacked flavor. Though I can't say I have a favorite yet, I do know it is not Sushi Masa.
Sorry, 2 starsListed in: Best Sushi in the South Bay
-
Review from Tia F.
Campbell, CA
7/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
I have been going here for a better part of my life. When I was a kid, my dad would take me and my sisters here for sushi about once a week or every other week. I have since lost my love for sushi itself, but lucky for me, they have other tasty choices.
Their tempura is amazing and i love their yakitori and gyoza appetizers, but the best and my favorite part about this place is their tempura ice cream dessert.
A large portion of green tea ice cream is enrobed in cake and then fried in tempura batter. It is AMAZING.
You definitely need to try this place!Listed in: Date Night
-
Review from Osos I.
Los Gatos, CA
8/2/2010
Masa's is one of the best Sushi resturants in the Bay Area, The fish is always top notch and Masa's experience in sushi preperation is the best I've seen in the states. Unfortunately nothing beats fresh fish from Tsukiji, but this is pretty close.
Ask Masa for the Omakase and he'll take care of you.
I personally prefer to stay away from the non traditional rolls which have become very popular outside of Japan, but thats a personal choice. I'm more of a pureist.
I highly recommend Masa's for sushi! -
Review from Ken K.
8/17/2007 1 photo
Thanks to Alice Y for this find!
22 year old restaurant Sushi Masa is in one of those typical "non descript suburban strip malls" just a few minutes off the 85 on Camden Ave. The restaurant name lettering design may be a visual turnoff especially if you are not a fan of the Hong Kong Phooey Chop Suey Kung Fu Fortune Cookie style fonts that you see at Chinese restaurants from the 50s in the USA and what might invoke thoughts of Mann's Chinese Theater in Hollywizzle Southern Cal.
The inside and the food, however is a different story. The restaurant is dimly lit, and decorated to look like a mix of an old Japanese temple, dive bar, log cabin, and a bit old style Benihana-esque. What was amusing was that the sushi counter section that seats 10, was exactly adjacent to the restaurant's alcohol bar, and adjoined!
Owner and sushi chef Masa-san hails from Kobe, Japan (Nobu K please take note!) and looks more like an older rock and roll fellow. But make no mistake, this guy is serious about his food and very down to earth. While it seems he was not classically trained in Japan (reflected also in his nigiri crafting, which isn't bad, but it isn't the gourmet authentic style some might be looking for), he comes from a family line of chefs.
Masa-san asked me what I wanted, so I took a chance, and said to him "omakase, shimasu". To which he nodded, and then he asked me "Nihonjin desu-ka?" and I immediately replied "No, but I eat like one" in English ;-) I suppose only a few of you will find this amusing.
So what followed was a series of 1 piece nigiri's, and some cooked mini dishes at the end.
Appetizer: small sunomono of a little pickled cabbage with a small piece of shimesaba. Hit the spot, nice freebie.
chu toro - A nice meaty and smooth piece. Surprisingly decent for this part of town.
ebi - Uh, cooked prawn? But wow this was freshly cooked or boiled but it was not cold or hot. Could this be what true Japanese kurama ebi freshness tastes like? Very impressive...it wasn't overcooked either.
ika - Masa-san made several cross cuts. It had the exact texture like aori ika. I inquired further and he told me it was...."Kenzaki" ika (or something like that.
uni - I checked out the container in his case. Santa Barbara uni for sure but the lobes were solid and clean. It must have been high grade stuff. But instead of serving it as gunkan sushi, he put it on a piece of shari, and the whole thing on a wrapper like a freakin SEE'S CANDY! I wasn't sure what to do with it, so I ate the thing like a See's Candy and left the wrapper behind. Masa-san then said "oh you can eat that!" I asked "so it's made of nori??" and he said "yeah". Holy cow! I overheard the sous chef talk to the waitress in Japanese, with the word "see's candy" in English. Obviously talking about my odd maneouver... Well the wrapper didn't taste like paper, thank gawd. See picture.
tako - normally not a fan, but I'm so amazed at the taste and texture. The way he cut it (thin). It actually tasted REALLY good! As good as Ino Sushi's. A light brush of the sweet sauce (not very heavy) made this memorable
scallops - Hokkaido Hotate. No wonder everyone moans with pleasure.
unagi - thick meaty piece. Better than the cheap supermarket stuff I've had at home.
ikura temaki - Masa san goes to the back where his little refrigerator was. Takes out a container and I see the ikura in a dark sauce. I smiled so big you wouldn't believe. Ikura no shoyu zuke! Marinated in soy sauce and sake. This man was a genius and knew to give me the hidden stuff. Marination was decent, a great effort. I really appreciated that.
Hamachi - fatty belly cut. Farmed kind, above average.
mirugai - It was a cut off the tip or the top, couldn't tell. Very soft and fresh piece. I got another piece later, but it was simliar to torigai in texture but unicolored. Didn't ask though.
himo-kyu uramaki - OMG. Masa-san made me a Jiveanese Ass Fusion roll! A nice long piece of mirugai himo, cucumber, those small Japanese wild carrot thingy's, shiso, and made an INSIDE OUT (uramaki) roll, a few squeezes of Sriracha (Rocket Sauce), and a little of the sweet unagi sauce. Holy cow.... whacky, creative, it was actually good!
saba - as one yelper mentioned, like oizisushi. HUGE piece of saba, rectangularish cut, molded to look like a roof over the rectangular shari. Piece of kelp on top. Pseudo Battera, but it was nice (not the best construction).
tako sunomono - very artfully plated in a square white bowl. The tako was marinated, could not tell in what but it was soft. There were other greens in it.
ni-gyu suji - for lack of better description. Virtually identical to Sushi Sam's version of Wagyu Suji (beef sinews with meat and tendons, stewed to perfection). Amazing stuff, especially the tendons that tasted like fat.
I was so full already, but he made me a deep fried flounder (karei). Very much appreciated but I could not fully enjoy it. $58 ish -
Review from Randy F.
10/21/2008 7 photos
A big thanks go to sushi guru Ken K. for his recommendation of Sushi Masa.
I truly enjoyed my dinner today at Sushi Masa. Located in a strip mall like so many South Bay sushi establishments, Sushi Masa had several characteristics that made it stand out for me.
First, I was delighted with the quality of the nigiri here. In total, I had 7 orders (or 14 pieces) and I found every one to be fresh, tasty, and several to be eye-openingly good (hirame, hotate, and buttery hamachi).
Second, the vibe is casual. As I sat solo at the sushi bar, the chef politely asked me what I felt like, asked me a few questions, and made suggestions. Never once did I feel intimidated or overwhelmed. I simply asked him what was fresh today and since I liked everything he mentioned, I had one order of each. Though he was busy preparing many dishes for the table clientele, I never felt neglected. To be honest, when you go to many sushi places where chefs have developed relationships with older clients, you feel like the new kid on the block. It's hard to break in. I didn't feel that way here.
Sushi Masa and fellow South Bay Sushi on the Run (in Los Gatos) are probably close in quality, but the sushi chef here was much more approachable and friendlier. As someone that barely knows the names of all the nigiri types, (but still likes high quality selection), the casual atmosphere and open nature is a good match. I can see myself returning, learning more, and becoming even more comfortable....I've been told that's what the goal should be when you interact with a sushi chef.
Third, despite what I considered to be my generous order, the prices were very reasonable. I never asked about price and simply agreed to suggestions the chef had that I thought I might like. The fact I wasn't merely given the priciest cuts or the one in bulk garnered my trust. I will feel more comfortable letting him choose my sushi in the future because I had no complaints about any of the choices today.
Finally, the location is perfect. Minutes from work, on late nights, I think Sushi Masa will be the place I turn to. Their selection is quite good (though they did run out of toro as I arrived) and I loved how generous the slices were.
Of note, sitting at the bar, I was offered tea, but no miso soup or other appetizers. Many clientele like to order the Masa special, which is a very popular combination of a sushi boat, teriyaki, and more. The chef admitted people liked it cause it was a bargain.
BTW Sushi Masa accepts American Express and I can't really express how happy that makes me. As the end of the year approaches, I have some spending benchmarks to reach (to reach Amex Elite). With Sushi Masa, I now have a top notch sushi place where I can still fulfill that goal (unlike Sushi Tomi, Sushi Sam's or Sushi on the Run).
Thumbs up! Definitely one of the top sushi places in the South Bay.Listed in: Long Live Sushi! (and You!)
-
Review from David L.
San Francisco, CA
5/7/2008
There are soooo many sushi places around its ridiculous.
Everyones copying everyone else and lets face it we are spoiled in the bay area with fresh fish so you could probably have a good experience playing eeny meeny miney mo. If this were Nebraska it would be an entirely different story.
So what makes Sushi Masa stand out? Friendly sushi chefs, old lady waitresses that will flirt with you (okay...that I flirt with), and portion sizes. Totally fresh fish at a pretty good value.
I also base my sushi restaurant ratings on how the Uni tastes. If the Uni sucks then the entire experience is ruined. Masa has fresh Uni so I know the rest of the ingredients are fresh.
Davids bottom line. SAKE to me!! Fresh uni, fun waitresses, good value! One of my top 5 sushi places in the area. -
Review from Dianna D.
San Jose, CA
3/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Delicious traditional sushi, wonderful staff. The sushi chefs were great to watch in action. Everything is exceptionally fresh!
