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Category: Sushi Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: North Berkeley
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I've been here once and had uni for the first time. Let's just say it made a believer out of me and to this very day, I will compare that first uni experience at Sushi Sho with every other uni experience. But overall, the entire meal was absolutely amazing. Everything we ordered was fresh and made to absolute perfection.
As for them closing down, let's just say a part of me died the day I found out. I've been told they're looking for a new location, but for the time being, I will shed a few tears in Sho's honor out of respect for every future piece of sushi I consume.
NOOOOOO!!!!
IT'S CLOSED???
This gangsta knew how to cut his freakin fish.
I'm a sad panda now... =(
UPDATE: People are telling me that the owner is looking for a new location ... stay tuned !
************************************************** ********************
THIS PLACE IS CLOSED... FOR GOOD!
I'm writing in to confirm what Yushan K. wrote on 8/22.
I have no idea when this place officially closed since there is NO signage that explains it at the front door, there is no phone greeting that explains that they are permanently closing its doors.
This is how I had to find out:
My bf and I had decided to get our sushi sho fix since it had been a while. Last time we came, they posted that they were out on vacation. So this past Saturday night, we tried again. We got there early ... we waited at the usual time (5:30pm) to start waiting in line to get first seating at 6pm. We were lucky to find parking right in front of the door so we just waited. Usually there is a line of people waiting but this time, there were none. We found this odd since it was a Saturday night afterall. After waiting till around 6:15pm but there were no sign of any chances that the restaurant opening this evening. Then, a waiter from the restaurant next door came out to tell us that Sushi Sho is actually permanently closed...the lease had ended and I guess they didn't renew it.
I know that I'm not their top regulars but my bf (who had been a long-time patron of theirs) and I felt disappointed that there was no warning what so ever and very little explanation on their storefront to explain the permanent closure.
Is it too much to ask for a "thank you" note on the door ?
Is it too much to get a "sorry we have closed permanently"?
Perhaps, even a warning to the restaurant's patrons of when the last evening was so that we could make it there for ONE more meal and bid farewell in our own way.
It was all disappointing ... sad ... we will miss this place and all the memories that it gave us.
People thought this was:
Searched on Yelp for sushi in Berkeley and Sushi Sho popped up número uno so I gave it a shot. The place is pretty quirky, you walk inside and the atmosphere is very hushed, there is a large sign with lots of important information...
You can only sit at the bar, 8 seats. There will be a wait. Must order at least $25 per person. Only one sushi chef and one server.
I decided I could live with the rules.
The nigiris varied in quality, some were amazing some so-so. I noticed there was "pressed salmon sushi" on the menu, so I gave that a try too. The chef had explicit instructions on how to properly eat the pieces (tips: don't dip the first bite in soy sauce, don't eat fish side down) and went on to explain how this type of sushi preparation is popular in Osaka (his home). It was a fun change of pace from just nigiris and rolls.
So while the nigiris weren't entirely flawless, the intimate sushi experience was a memorable one. 4.5 stars, 5 rounding up!
People thought this was:
I can't believe this place is closed :-( My stomach and my heart weep salty tears of sadness. Come back, Sushi Sho!
Best sushi I've ever had. Hands down. Yeah, I'm looking at you, Oishi (I used to live near Boston).… Read more »
Mmm...
Ooo...
Ahh...
Mmmmmmm...
Those were the sounds I was making as I bite into each of Aki-San's delicately crafted nigiri last week.
I quickly picked up my blackberry and updated my facebook status: "I am having the best sushi in my life." Comments popped up one after another. "Where?" "Take me!" "Please recommend!"
It was truly one of the best sushi dinners I have ever had. It was as good as, if not better, than the ones I had in Japan. Aki-San uses the freshest and highest quality of fish, offering an authentic and traditional sushi experience.
The maguro started us off light. The oh-toro melted right in my mouth. The saba was marinated perfectly with a fantastic texture. The smoked-salmon is Aki-San's specialty and my absolute favorite on the menu. He smokes the salmon himself and the flavor is indescribable! The uni was fresh, sweet, and like no other I have tasted before. The ungai that came at the end of the meal, as it is the warmest and heaviest, ended the meal on just the right note. No extra wasabi and almost no soy is needed, the nigiri are perfect as they are.
There are also a variety of maki and a pressed sushi that is made with either saba or sake available. I ordered it just to see Aki-San make it. It's fun to watch! And the monk fish liver? There was not a strand of garnish left in the bowl when we were through.
Last night, I suggested Sushi Sho again for a middle of the week pick me up dinner and the boyfriend needed no persuasion. Aki-San asked us when we sat down "Coming back so soon?" I smiled and replied, "Not soon enough."
People thought this was:
The fish is tender, fresh, and pretty good. Not the best salmon I've had, but it was pretty good. I really enjoyed the eel, but then it is also my favorite fish. The service was warm and friendly. The sushi chef was a bit rude to me, but the server (his wife, I think) is very friendly.
It is a small place and run by only two people. This is not a good place if you're in a hurry. You'd most likely have to wait at least 20 minutes before sitting down. It is VERY expensive. We're not coming back because even though it's good, it's not THAT good for the price. I expected more for what they charge. Be prepared to spend at least $60 for two people. We spent $70 and was still a bit hungry afterward.
i love it here, especially when everyone at the table is a regular. then i try and order a ton of food, avoiding the lame default choices most people get, to make everyone else look bad.
it's also fun when everyone except 1-2 are regulars, cause you might get to see aki-san interact oddly with them.
waiting in line is also a hoot, cause clueless people queue up not realizing there is only 8-9 spots, already taken. there's much hostility against non-regulars and casual walks-in (who walk out cause nobody bothers telling them the shop is full).
true story, this old guy regular told a women with a toddler that sushi sho was only "OK". he was waiting 30 minutes before opening. after a queer look from me, he explained he didn't want her brat to ruin his dinner. AWESOME.
People thought this was:
My last review was about Vanessa's Bistro, just up the street on Solano, raving about their complete lack of pretense. Unfortunately, I have to say that Sushi Sho seems to have built its fame and reputation on it. I'll be honest; the food here is not bad by any means. The sushi is fine and I mean, just fine. But it's certainly not extraordinary. My last experience there was overshadowed by the pretense of Aki-san the chef as well as the people around us who seemed to think that getting a spot in the 8-seat a night restaurant garnered them VIP or exclusivity status. And I admit, when my fiancé and I were finally able to wait the 45 minutes and get seated at the bar, I felt like we were up for some of the best sushi of our lives. Because really, how could that much exclusivity, hype and loyal fan following not deliver the most amazing sushi meal?
That's entirely the problem. A seat a Sushi Sho seems to have been mistaken for a diamond where rarity makes it more valuable. I say it only sets you up for disappointment; and that's exactly what happened. Our favorite types of nigiri are uni (sea urchin roe), sake (salmon) and hatote (scallop) so that's what we started with. The uni was fresh but ordinary. However, the sake flesh gave with the push of my finger, holding the indent, indicating to me that it was at least a few days old. It didn't have that bright, translucency of fresh fish, nor did the hatote which had a dull sheen and a slightly fishy flavor.
Adding to the disappointment, I had to sit two hours, not entirely by choice it just took that long to get the rest of our order, listening to a mother son duo dining next to me drone on and on about his Harvard education and how his higher erudition and palette won't allow him to eat sushi anywhere else - only to be followed up by mackerel that was cut unevenly and had part of the bloodline still left on it.
I really wanted to love this place, especially since I live so close by. I wanted it to be that secret, special sushi place that only I and locals knew and raved about. But I just don't' think average sushi served under excruciating pretense is something I'm willing to commit three hour of my life to.
People thought this was:
Very, very good sushi. I really enjoy myself every time we come. The chef, Aki-San, is very funny and entertaining. Although he picked on my hubby a bit the last time we went for eating his cold fish wrong.
Always very fresh and his cold smoked salmon is out of this world good. He makes it himself.
He did give us the sad news that they will be closing in a couple of months. So if you want to try this place, I'd go now.
One warning is that they only serve a few people an evening as they have a very, very small staff. If you don't want to wait an hour or risk being turned away, go very early in the evening.
People thought this was:
If you come here, and you want the best stuff, don't order omakase! (I don't know why other people write that here in these reviews) You won't be getting the best nigiri like o-toro, uni, amaebi, etc. Just saying "Omakase" at Sushi Sho does not prove to the chef you know how to eat your sushi.
If you ask the sushi chef what's good, he'll tell you everything. It just depends on your taste. Try asking someone nearby what's good. If you're lucky, they are a regular here, and they'll offer you their suggestions on what you should try. Or, order your own stuff - sashimi/nigiri are all great. Just trust your instincts, try something new, and go for it!
People thought this was:
We go once every week. Sometimes two, three times a week.
We've been going to Aki-san for a while…
Read more »
I've been going to Sushi Sho for over twenty years. Sometimes Kawata-san is unduly upset by breaches in sushi etiquette and sometimes he just shrugs it off.
I don't consider it a great honor to have a seat at his bar. I consider it a simple pleasure that precedes a perfect meal. This is the best sushi I have ever had in my life. I agree with many here that the saba is fantastic. The ankimo is OK, not my fave. Kawata-san's tare is quite good and I relish it on the unagi.
The disappointment (and low ratings) from other Yelpers stems (I think) from a lack of understanding. Many people go out expecting to get "served". Kinda like, "Where the hell is my caterpillar roll? I always get a caterpillar roll!" Sushi Sho works best when there is a symbiosis between the chef and the patron. Many people are in a hurry nowadays and waiting two hours for a table is too long for them. They lack the patience or desire to wait that long.
And then there's the etiquette; the placement of the chopsticks, the non-rubbing of high quality chopsticks, never asking the chef for a drink, the check or appetizers, etc.
Sushi Sho provides me a getaway from the stress of everyday life, and the food centers my spirit surrounding it with peace. I enjoy my time at Kawata-san's establishment and look forward to the next time I can visit.
People thought this was:
Aaron's Big Eat East Bay: 100 Things to Try Before You Die
http://www.yelp.com/li...
#4 - Unagi nigiri at Sushi Sho
People thought this was:
Me: Everything was delicious! I think we have enough room left for just one thing. Chef's choice,… Read more »
Sushi Sho has closed in the Solano Street location. Aki-San will be reopening in a new location after he fixes up the new place. Hopefully that will only take a few months because we are suffering serious sushi withdrawal without him. There really is nowhere else to go for sushi of his caliber.
People thought this was:
Sushi Sho is, without question, the best sushi restaurant in the East Bay or San Francisco. You… Read more »
There is now a note on the door saying that they are trying to reopen nearby in a new location.
People thought this was:
Sushi sho. Come for the sushi. Stay for the comedy. Aki-san is awesome. You NEED to chat with him. Hopefully he isn't too busy. Ask him a question, he'll tell you what he's gonna tell you, tell you, then tell you what he told you.. A great public speaker!
If you're new to the sushi bar environment, talk to the chef. Not sure how to eat? Just ask him. He'll be glad to teach you. He'll also be very glad to teach you how to eat nigiri properly and use wasabi. One hellova educational night for me.. (why DO you use wasabi?)
Be prepared to wait it out. If an order of fish is delayed, can't open on time, wait it out. If you missed the first round of seating, wait it out. When you order your appetizers, wait it out. When you finish your appetizer, wait it out. Order you sushi, wait it out. We actually played a game of Go while waiting for a spot in one of the tables to the side. Order appetizers to kill the time. Talk to the other customers at the bar. The social dynamics is so much better with the whole bar talking to each other.
If you're not gonna order omakase style try these:
Salmon (sake), then the smoked salmon in that order. Then ask him about it.
Uni is the freshest I've ever had it. (Freshest on this side of Solano *har har*)
Unagi is roasted and glazed when you order it
Scallop is sweet and tender. and from Hokkaido
Goin back when my wallet recovers... (3 people. 1 beer, 2 appetizers, 3 omakase, 3 chawanmushi, 7 nigiri... 220 after tip)
PS. DO NOT expect a quick dinner. We probably stayed there a good 2 hours.
People thought this was:
Simply put, I love coming here. I like the decor: exceptionally clean and serene with soft Japanese style instrumental music (last time they played "La Mer" - bonus points). Upon entering, if you closed your eyes you could easily fool yourself into thinking you were in an Eastern style health spa. I greatly admire the chef/owner's dedication and interaction with his customers. And finally, having never been to Japan, I know this is the best sushi I have ever eaten.
Nigiri is the star of the Sho: don't come expecting a caterpillar roll or some other creation that would have most Japanese asking "What is all this stuff on my fish?" The nigiri is a good size, elegant, clean and delicious. Aki-san has quite the selection of fish and the quality is top-notch. He refers to the cold-smoked salmon as his house specialty, so give it a try. A quick tip: when you order a selection of nigiri, Aki-san will usually prepare and arrange the pieces in the order he suggests you eat them (i.e. lighter to heavier, colder to warmer). In addition to the nigiri, he offers some simple and familiar rolls. These have always been good, but I always opt for nigiri over them when given the choice. Definitely worth a try is his pressed sushi: rice and fish (either mackerel or salmon) are assembled in a plastic box and then pressed with a special piece, resulting in tightly-packed sushi rectangles. It is something different and tasty, so I recommend it. I also highly recommend trying a special appetizer such as hamachi collar or one of his various salads. The details he puts into the preparation (the garnishes are edible and the sauces are homemade) really make them quite unlike what I've seen at other restaurants.
The concept of 'Omakase' has been debated in several reviews for this place. I think it is important to remember that 'Omakase' does not translate to "tasting menu." If the chef doesn't know you, he is going to give you "safe" pieces of sushi and likely will avoid selections suited towards more particular tastes (e.g. uni, toro, etc). I suggest on your first visit to order what you want to try and save "Omakase" for when he knows you better. Like a true sushi chef, Aki-san values his regulars and learns their tastes. I have been enough that he doesn't remember my name, but knows what I like. Funnily enough, last time he guessed I was one of the chefs from Gregoire (for regulars of that place, he was thinking of the cook in the blue baseball cap.)
I have always found Aki-san to be friendly and in a humorous mood. I know some reviewers have been off-put by the pride he takes in his work, but I think it's a good thing. Frank Lloyd Wright said "Early in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose honest arrogance and have seen no occasion to change." And that is the state of mind I want in a chef. It's important to understand that he is making sushi because it is his passion. And he wants his customers to respect the quality of their meal and eat it properly (he'll tell you how if you say it's your first time.) He is aware this has gotten him a reputation and I've heard him ask first-timers if they know that he is the "crazy chef."
Of special note to yelpers: Aki-san is rather aloof towards yelp. He's aware his restaurant is highly rated and that it has almost tripled his business. Counter-intuitively (and humorously) he laments this enviable position. He says it keeps him too busy! Several times he has wondered out-loud "Why does Yelp call me? We are just a husband and wife restaurant. We don't need to advertise."
Finally, some useful information: This place has no tables and no to go. They serve 8 at a time at the bar. You can either get their before 6pm and wait or do what I do. I show up between 8:00 and 8:30 after some of the first customers have left and I have never had to wait more than 15 minutes. Sadly, Aki-san's landlord increased the rent so he didn't renew the lease and is planning on closing shop June 2009. He wants to open another, if he can find the right property (he wants smaller!). So, go see the Sho while you still can.
People thought this was:
I went there for the first time last night after seeing the hype on yelp. I got there really early, around 5:40ish to get the first round. The place didn't open until 6:20 pm. Aki san was still preparing for the counter in the back. The place is clean, and traditional. After waiting for about 10-20 minutes at the counter, Aki san's wife came and took our appetizer order. My impression is that she needs to smile a little bit more. However, I am here for the food, so I will not dwell on the air of coldness that exudes from her. Aki san is much more jolly. I really enjoyed watching him make sushi. The fish are all very fresh and Aki san takes his time to make his dish.
What we had:
Chawan mushi
Moriawase Sushi Combo - pretty good, but later realized that it may be better if we just skip this because we ordered lots of nigiri. Its good nonetheless. (The maguro is so goood!!!)
Nigiri
Hamachi - Tasty, as expected
Salmon - Very good ;-)
Scallop - I like this the best!
Uni - YUM, I like how he add wasabi on top of the uni.
Saba - Never tried it before because I am afraid of the fishy taste. I like it a lot.
Amaebi - Good, fresh and sweet.
Tamago - I really enjoy this one.
Degi toro (aka toro handroll) - hmmm....yum yum yum
The bill was really expensive, but we also had lot of food. However, next time I come, i'll know what to order.
I did not ask for Omakase like what many yelpers suggested. The reason is because I feel it could really be hit and miss. There is no way that the chef knows what the customer like (if this is your first time there). I feel Omakase is best when you frequent the place and that the chef know what your likes and dislikes. Otherwise, the chef can always give you the stuff that he has the most of. WIth that said, I do plan on revisiting this place once my wallet recover :-)
There is no doubt that there are better sushi restaurants around the bay area, but in Berkeley, I would say this is the best place.
People thought this was:
We finally made it back after nearly 6 months of dreaming of the food here, dying to know what the saba (mackerel) tasted like, and wanting another slice of that deliciously delicate tamago (sweet egg omlette).
We started off with a wakame salad and tako salad, the wakame with cucumber and seaweed, the tako with slices of octopus sliced on the bias and cucumber, both dressed with the same mouth-happy sesame dressing. The tako was not rubbery by any means but very tender, with a slightly sweet n' briny flavor. I think Jolly Roger wanted to drink the dressing.
I was so curious about both the saba and the Bateira pressed sushi (since we got saba, I chose the samon version) I had to order it, and I was not disappointed. Like only a few restaurants where I can close my eyes and blindly pick anything on the menu and never be disappointed, Sushi Sho delivered. The saba was rich with fish-oil but not fishy by any means, and not oversaturated with vinegar. The pressed sushi was pleasing to watch him assemble, the marinated sweet/sour kombu on top and the shrimp powder in the middle visually interesting and adding different layers of taste to each bite. He instructed us on how to get the best flavor by taking the first one sans soy sauce, the second with just a slight amount in one corner, etc.
The rest of the meal was of course superb. Each piece of sushi was just the right size so you can put he whole thing in your mouth, and still be able to chew, and taste without being obscene or feeling like you have to swallow half of it unchewed. The rice is perfectly seasoned and held together so it gives you enough time to transport it to your mouth before separating.
AKI-SAN KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS UMAMI.
People thought this was:
I give Aki-san10 stars for knowing his way around my tastebuds. Not only that, but he knows how to… Read more »
For the succinct lowdown, see the kevo m. review. I'll just add that I'm giving the food four stars, but I'm not giving stars for anything else. The nigiri I had was absolutely delicious, and it is in my neighborhood - so why don't I come here all the time?
The only thing that keeps me away is the wait, and the fact that the wait is contrived. He can run his business any way he wants of course, and he doesn't need me as he has a steady stream of devotees every night. But if the sushi nazi would just stop with the ego trip already and hire another sushi dude, we could sit at the tables that they have, but won't let you sit in. It's sort of a WTF.
Also, one time he made me eat the garnish. It was a little bit humiliating. Damn those sushi nazis, why do they have to make such good sushi?
People thought this was:
This place is sort of a hidden gem that serves really, really ridiculously good sushi. I was very impressed because it's better than the reviews give them credit for. Absolutely the BEST unagi and hamachi I have EVER had. Ever. The pressed sushi was also delicious; I don't know of any other Japanese restaurant that serves this.
Although quite a bit pricey, it's well worth the money. I haven't found another special occasion to "treat" myself to such nice sushi, but I definitely have plans to go again and try more stuff on their menu--from what I tried last time, I really don't think anything they serve could actually taste "bad". It's a must-try for all sushi-lovers!
People thought this was:
Yes the wait can be long in this tiny restaurant. Yes Aki-san does conjure up "Sushi Nazi," but in the best way. Yes the menu is limited, but everything on it is going to be top notch. Aki-san's standards are so high, he will not buy fish if it does not meet his criteria. So sometimes your favorite will not be on the menu that day.
All the nigiri is terrific, especially hamachi, hirame and scallop. His unagi is the best in the Bay Area. He spends three days making the delicious, subtle sauce, and I dream about it.
Sushi sho is the real deal.
People thought this was:
I've lived by Solano Ave for over 5 years now, yet never thought twice about coming to Sushi Sho even though I walked and drove by it all the time. So after reading all the hype about Sushi Sho on Yelp, my friend and I decided to venture out and experience the wonder that is the "Sushi Nazi" himself for ourselves.
So earlier this week, my friend and I lined up to get a seat, and let me tell you, we got a sushi experience that was nothing short of AMAZING.
At fifteen minutes before opening, we were the first people in line. By the time they opened, there were five of us, and soon after, nine. Even though they say they can only serve eight, the last party had three people, so the chef let them all dine together instead of making one of them wait.
We started out with miso soup, salads and drink. The wife came around the bar systematically in the order that we lined up (so it's literally first come first served) in and took our order, while the husband, Aki, prepared our food inside.
My friend and I decided to share everything, so we started out with a deluxe plate, which included 8 pieces of nigiri and a tekka maki. This is one of few Japanese places that I've been to where they actually put a of wasabi in between the rice and the fish, as they traditionally do. We also ordered a hamachi maki and uni nigiri. I highly recommend the uni here; it's the freshest and it melts in your mouth! I've had uni many times before and most of them have been downright foul, but Sushi Sho's is firm, yet light and airy, doesn't have a toxic taste or foul odor, and didn't appear to be *melting* (uggggh... I'm lookin' at you, Sushi House) before you even put it in your mouth!
In our second round, we ordered a sashimi combination plate and some amaebi nigiri. Amaebi! It was beautifully cut. And the sashimi was so fresh, awesome and beautifully plated. We watched him cut the vegetable decorations right in front of us. Nothing is pre-made.
We ended up dining here for a little over two hours, as did some others. I don't know exactly how much it cost because my friend snatched the bill from me (thanks, Jenny!), but I'm assuming it was somewhere between $100-$120, and for what we consumed and experienced, it was worth every penny.
And the "Sushi Nazi" isn't really a nazi; he's actually a nice fella who has really high standards for his food (unlike the soup nazi on Seinfeld who only possesses one of these qualities), which I have no problem with!
Man, I'd come here so often if I were more fiscally irresponsible, but for now, it'll just be my special occasion restaurant :)
People thought this was:
Another place that's Mom-approved and worth the trip across the bridge.
Order the battera. Nom nom nom...
I went here for the first time yesterday and will definitely be coming back. The chef was very helpful in educating our party on how to eat sushi and the reasons for doing so. I love that he wants to know what you order ahead of time so that he can serve each type of sushi at the appropriate moment for the best tasting experience possible. The service is impeccable and since there are only ten seats or so, it was cozy and intimate.
Things I had:
Miso soup with fat mushrooms
Scallop nigiri (this was SO GOOD)
Yellowtail nigiri (drools)
Ohne Toro/Blue fin tuna belly nigiri (my favorite dish of the night, probably the best piece of fish I've ever put in my mouth)
Cold-smoked salmon nigiri (very, very good)
Tekka makki
Salmon bateira/pressed sushi
Mackerel bateira (also, a favorite)
Overall, the best sushi experience I've ever had, from the conversation with the chef to taste, everything about Sushi Sho was wonderful.
If you don't get to the restaurant a few minutes before it opens, expect a wait time of 45 minutes or more depending on how slow the first round of customers eat. It seems like a long wait, but we were at the restaurant from around 9pm to 11:30pm including about a 45 minute wait, but what's a 45 minute wait really when you're about to be served exceptional sushi?
People thought this was:
I'd like to tell you that this is the worst sushi I ever had. ICK! NASTY!!! HORRIBLE! DONT GO THERE!
But... I cannot even though Aki-san suggested I do just that to make sure that my favorite sushi place doesn't get swarmed by Yelpers.
This place is just plain awesome. It's the way sushi should be. Server properly and with the proper instruction I never got in all of the years I've been eating sushi. This isn't just a regular sushi place where you order a bunch of rolls and much on them. It's an interactive sushi-learning environment. The fish is so fresh that it doesn't need all the typical gunk we throw on there.
I suggest you try the AMAZING cold smoked salmon. I don't even like smoked salmon but this... is... AMAZING! Last time I was there I got daring and tried the Unagi (sea urchin). I suggest you try it too! YUM! Tastes like a fresh spray of ocean topped with cream.
Anyway, I still suggest you don't go there because my wait will be longer but really.... It's a must try...
People thought this was:
Sushi Sho was wonderful! I hate though that it's a decently large sushi spot, yet they only open up 8 seats at the bar- what the heck!? So..if you want to get a spot here for dinner, either come when it opens, or come after 8..or else you'll find yourself waiting for 1+ hour.
The sushi chef though, is a pretty entertaining guy and will talk to you. The wife is OK, not that friendly but she does her job and always comes to check on you.
The food is great...they have the BEST tamago though..I was shocked how huge it was, but it was SOO good. Order it LAST. It's pretty sweet so it goes great at the end...
1.) Food taste - 5 stars
2.) Cleanliness, freshness - 4.5 stars
3.) Presentation - 4 stars
4.) Location/price - 3 stars
Location is kind of weird, you have to park in the neighborhoods or if you are lucky, you can get a spot on the street right in front of the restaurant. PRices are standard.
5.) Service - 4 stars
I would most def come here again.
People thought this was:
When I walked in, 1st thing the sushi chef said to me,
" We don't have regular Japanese Dinner."
I was like, " ?"
and,
He pointed out a seat that he wants me to sit.
Super Clean Long Counter. about for 15 people.
Nice simple decor, very calm & quiet.
The waitress was nice too, very moderate.
I ordered,
Saba, w/ fresh squeezed lemon juice over was nice.
Maguro,
Ika,
Hirame,
Hamachi=Buri
I usually don't order Hamachi, it's not my kind of fish, but Katsuo wasn't available. But the Hamachi was from cultivate kind, I think most Hamachi is from Hamachi farm because the meat is white, it calls "Buri" in Japanese.
I had to ask him to make sure, " What is this?"
The sushi chef said, " That is Buri."
I had to order twice for the "Buri".
He replayed, " Yes, this is really good one."
Buri is out of season actuary, the best season should be before spring. But it was great even from farm.
I had to finish w/ Tamago, as I said to order.
He replayed, " How about Anago?"
I said, " OK"
He has a great tempo to make Nigiri.
He clapped every time right after finishing one Nigiri.
He keeps his Nigiri very simple and great combination of Shari and Neta that True Sushi should be.
I think I have learned the difference between good Nigiri is, I can tell by seeing and eating Saba. All Pseudo Sushi places I went, they just don'y know how to make a good moist vinegared mackerel nicely rolled over Sushi rice.
And their sweet Sushi rice is only great for Jive Ass Roll.
So, I end-up eating 8 kinds, + Nameko ( small wild mushroom) Miso shiru + small beer = $49.80
Every time I was in a sushi bar with Japanese Sushi chefs, They all say how the sushi industry changed so badly. So as this chef.
He said politely, " It's sad but hardly any real sushi place in San Francisco, isn't it? People doesn't know that Sushi is Rice."
He is right about that.
Begin w/ Oshibori.
End w/ Agari.
The Agari was Gyoku-ro.
Perfect.
His menu is very simple.
He keeps simple-good-Sushi tradition.
I was one of 8 other customers and no one was speaking out loud.
This is, truly, the Great Real-Sushi-Bar.
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I understand the hype. I do, I do.
I've never had uni so good! Creamy and sweet, and not at all briny! The scallops were amazingly sweet as well (as they should, but most folks don't know how to do it right anyway).
Oh, and uh, the son is amazingly beautiful. Please, may I have another? I felt like a deer caught in the headlights each time he asked me if I wanted anything else... LOL. If only there was a different menu I could choose from.
I didn't eat as much as I usually do, but hey, it was great and I was full. mmmm mmmmm good!
It was a little weird lining up 40 minutes before they opened. I can understand why they seat only 8 people at a time. Guess how many people work in a family-run place?
Did you know that women are traditionally not sushi-chefs because they purportedly have warmer hands? So...if it wasn't for the son (who is leaving for school again), we would have had an even longer wait for our amazing meals.
Delicious. I shall be back. I'm saving this place for a third-date kind of situation.
People thought this was:
I was sceptical at first. I showed up right before 7 on a tuesday night. When I walked in, there was a sign saying that ther are only 8 seats, but there were only 7 people at the sushi bar, so I was in luck. Everything seemed too quite for the longest, but when the couple next to me (I was on the end) left, the rest of everyone else starte talking to each other and to Aki-san. All of the sushi was delicious. I had the Nigiri Dinner, some tuna, some Uni (Sea Urchin), and the Cold Smoked Salmon. I had never had Uni before, and I really enjoy it here, but I have no basis for comparison (from what the others told me last night, its pretty gross elsewhere). The Nigiri Dinner was great also, although the prawn was a little dry, but that was the only bad piece all meal. The best though was the Cold Smoked Salmon. Normally, my favorite is Tuna, but this salmon was amazing. Definitely get this.
great experience. don't miss it.
People thought this was:
This place is fantastic. My husband and I went with a couple of friends who are regulars. They had been hyping up the place for months and although I trust their opinion as die hard foodies - I was slightly skeptical. One has to be when it comes to Sushi - you just never know.
We waited outside for 20 minutes or so - having arrived just before 6pm (their suggested open time). We were told that this is a usual occurrence and I didn't mind because something about the place intrigued me and I kind of knew I was in for something special.
We were finally seated and I asked my friend's for recommendations. They named off a handful of items - which we ordered. From the first bite- I was in heaven. The sushi is absolutely the highest quality and the presentation - although quite simple - is very elegant.
I could recommend something right now - but really - you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. We ordered 9 items and every one of them was perfect. This place definitely ranks up in the top 2 sushi restaurants I have been to in my life (including ones in Japan).
Sushi Sho is the Tekka Sushi of the East Bay. These are the similarities:
Sushi nazi - check
minimal seating - check
good sushi - check
his wife appears to be the waitress - check
No teriyaki chicken- check
No white people - check (just kidding)
The service was just a little too slow for my taste. But to his credit - once the sushi started coming, it came quick. I'm not expecting fast food. But I do expect to be eating within 30 minutes of being seated.
This is one of those places where you come to enjoy the good food and good company.... not so much to fill your empty stomach.
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Warning: this place is closed!! Too bad I didn't get to go before it happened.
This is as good as it gets when it comes to affordable sushi (meaning ~$50 a person)
I went here three times in one week before, and I consider myself quite a sushi snob.
First things first:
- Come with one other person. Any party larger than two and seating is going to be a problem. And that's assuming you get there 5:45ish.
- Be patient, sometimes Aki-san is ready to go and sometimes he doesn't show up for twenty minutes.
- His wife is mean, she doesn't smile and the first time I went there and tried ordering she gave me a wtf look. This won't ever change
- FISH ONLY (at least that's what she makes sure to communicate to you when you walk in)
Couple tips to make your trip more enjoyable:
- Tell them you've been here before. That way you wont get sushi nazi-ed by Aki-san. If you tell them you've been here he wont watch how you eat like a hawk. Doesn't really matter for me but helps your guests out a lot if they don't know how to eat sushi properly.
- Order omakase. you might think you don't have the rapport or whatever with Aki but really the omakase here really means "everything good." Once you order his wife will be like "nigri or sashimi" (I do nigri every time), and then "how many pieces". I usually say 10 to 12 orders - 20 to 24 pieces. I'm not sure why but she always gives me a weird look when I say orders so if you say pieces they'll understand that 24 pieces = 12 each per person. Then she'll ask "anything you don't eat" and I just say I eat everything.
- Order an appetizer. This is the one thing that I usually don't do here but then I see other people eat things I've never seen before and then I regret it.
- Don't be shy with questions. We saw some purple things and asked Aki what they were. He said pickled garlic and gave us some. I've asked him questions like why does he score the skin on certain fish. Ask him things you can't Google because he is a wealth of information.
- If you're Japanese, speak Japanese. You'll get a lot better service this way.
- If you're hungry, order more. Count the number you've had so you know when your omakase order is over. They don't really say anything. A good tip is if you're having unagi/anago then the order is finished.
- Be prepared for a lot of wasabi. He uses it quite liberally. For the most part its the fake stuff you can buy in the stores...more on that later.
- Be patient. One time he disappeared for 20 minutes. Everyone went WTF? but then he came back with a whole fish (a fluke). He asked people if they wanted the best part and basically took the fish, scalped the muscle off and served it to us fresh. Pretty ridiculous if you ask me, since its not like we paid extra for the freshness.
I had a complete review of the fish but then yelp stopped me at 5000 characters so here's the summary.
Maguro/Tuna - Standard. He serves yellowfin, bluefin, and albacore, so if you care might want him to classify which you're having.
Hamachi/Yellowtail - Standard
Sake/Smoked Salmon - Make sure to get it
Sake/Salmon - Very good, a bit fattier than any other place I've had
Tuna/Toro - Very good. I'm not a toro fan but this one was very buttery, almost too buttery
Aji/Spanish Mackerel - Prepared with ginger and asian shallots, but he also sometimes adds his own sauce. Good/Different
Tai/Red Snapper - Get this also. Tai is pretty common but his fish is different than most.
Scallop - Very good. Big piece, raw but not too soft
Clam - Standard
Hirame/Halibut - Boring, skip
Mackrel/Saba - This is the best saba I've had. prepared in salt and then vinegar, it tastes slightly cooked but 100% raw
Ami ebi/Sweet shrimp - Best I've had as well, slightly smaller than fish portions
Uni/Sea Urchin - RIDICULOUS. Santa Barbara AAA grade, uses FRESH wasabi on top (as opposed to the store bought kind in the rest of the fish). Holy cow go for this alone
Anago/Unagi (Eel) - Get both to taste the contrast.
He has other fish that I've only had once or twice and which are seasonal so its hard to comment on those.
Price: $45-70 after tax/tip, I usually get 12-15 pieces.
People thought this was:
Aki-san serves purist's sushi. He shops for the fish himself, built the bar and restaurant trim himself, and, now that his son went off to school, prepares the sushi himself (his son used to help, occasionally).
I think they may have have a couple non-sushi entrees here, but if you come, get sushi. I would suggest letting him select for you.
The sushi is top-notch, but don't neglect Sushi Sho's greatest asset: Aki-san! Ask him about fish. Ask him about the different eel he serves. Ask him why he puts wasabi in his pieces and doesn't serve it separately. Ask him what he thinks makes good sushi.
Ask him to enjoy some sake with you if you like him and his soul-filled shop as much as me.
I think a good three stars come from the food and two stars come from service.
I'd like to preface my review by noting that with so many good reviews, it is possible that this was really just an off night for Sushi Sho. But for my group, we had a pretty poor experience. Sushi Sho for me got two stars for food and none for service.
The first thing is Time:
We were one of the first 8 (that's the total amount they sit), but we still didn't sit down until 6:30, even though they supposedly open at 6:00pm (we called to check earlier about their hours).
We didn't get our appetizers until 7:15pm. So it was an hour and 15 minutes before we had any food or drink... and we were the early ones!
Finally at around 7:30pm, the first 4 people began to be served, but we didn't start to get our food until 8:00pm, two hours of waiting.
The second thing is the Food...
We ordered edamame for an appetizer. About half were frozen and the thawed ones were mushy and not very tastey.
For dinner, we ordered the Omakase, as per recommendations from yelpers. I'd say about 5 of the 9 peices were top quality delicious fish. The scallops from Hokaido were amazing and the Ika, squid, was also incredible. Half of the "Chef's choice" however was disappointing. One would think that with the Chef's choice, you'd get some interesting, dynamic fish options. We had two kinds of salmon, the maguro was not toro but just plain maguro, and unagi. The fish was fine, but that's not what I came here for. I can get decent unagi and maguro at any sushi place around. I want Uni where it is good and saba thats done right.
We wanted to order other things after the Omakase, but the Chef disappeared for 20 minutes and we had been there for 2.5 hours that we decided to just leave hungry.
The third thing... Attitude.
It felt the entire time sitting there that we were third rate. The Chef kept making comments like, " you guys don't understand what I'm saying, huh?" (when he was speaking Japanese to another guest). Apparently he didnt bother to talk to us long enough to know that two of our party are Japanese and grew up in Japan and could understand perfectly well.
Also -He didnt explain anything about any of the fish. We we all looking forward to having that type of interaction with him, but he was not interested in talking.
Well, anyway. I know this is harsh, but we felt that after $150 and 2.5 hours at "the best sushi place in the bay area," we would have left more knowledgeable about the sushi and fish we were trying and at least not hungry...
Like I said...it could have been an off night, but I don't think I'll be back to find out...
People thought this was:
everyone better eat up! looks like this place might be closing, soon :(
http://sfbay.craigslis...
People thought this was:
It's true. This is the best Sushi in the San Franciso/East Bay area.
No teriyaki, tempura, bento…
Read more »
My experience...
My husband and I walk in...it's our first time here. We read some great yelp reviews so we figure...why not? There are about 4 people already at the bar. The waitress comes up to us and says we should probably come back some other time if we want to get served. OK...STRIKE ONE. She tried to get us to leave a few times but that gave me even more room to stay. A total of 6 people tried to come in after us and she pulled the same move.
She wasn't kidding...it took forever. I figured it was worth the wait since there really aren't any other sushi places in the area. The quality of the fish did look very good. We finally get our food and the portions were pretty minimal. I take a bite of my roll and all of a sudden my nostrils start to burn and my eyes water. Apparently they put wasabi in all of their rolls. He put as much wasabi as one would put avocado. We ordered 4 different rolls and all of the were the same. I wanted to hurt someone. By this point we were so hungry and we had already waited enough time. We figured it wasn't worth telling him to make it all over again. STRIKE TWO!!!
Next...the bill comes. It wound up being about $50 a person. If they would have given me the meal for free I wouldn't ever eat here again. I am wondering where most of the reviewers on here have gone for sushi before...I think they lack some experience. So, price was my STRIKE THREE.
This was probably their way of trying to get people not to come back since they were so adamant about us leaving along with everyone else that came in. So....I would say that if you ever go here, stay clear of the rolls and only do sashimi. But my best advice would be to stay far away. Go into the city if you want some good sushi..unless you want to leave this place hungry and miserable.
People thought this was:
This was an amazing experience despite the long wait before we got served. Note: seating is only at the sushi bar and it only seats 10 people...so get there early!!
Thanks to yelp, we found this place after sake tasting in Berkeley last Saturday. Since the place opened up at 6pm we decided to walk up and down Solano ave and thought we would stake out the place at 5:45pm. Lo and behold, we didn't realize that a line had already formed by the time we got there. Not realizing they only serve 10 people at a time, we were bummed to find out we were #9, 10, 11 and 12 :( - no wonder no one else waited in line after us, they knew! hehehe However, we were told we could sit inside and wait if we wanted to (and have drinks and salad while we waited)..but it would be at least an hour or more to get seated.
Long story short, instead of waiting at one of the side tables, we perched ourselves at the sushi bar and thought that at least 2 of us could start eating first while the other 2 at the end just waited. But it seemed that the chef and his wife felt pity for us, they decided to serve us too!! That was really awesome of them!! It still took the chef about an hour and half to serve us our sushi but this place is definitely worth the wait! The appetizers were generous in size and tied us over until then.
We had numerous orders of the following:
* Wakame: seaweed and cucumber salad (the best I've ever had!! could definitely had 2 orders by myself!!)
* Ebi salad: shrimp and cucumber salad (my friend said it was delicious...the shrimp was delicate and sweet)
* Hiya-yakko: cold soft tofu with scallions and dried bonito shavings and rice vinegar dressing (great dish if you love tofu)
* Bateira pressed sushi (salmon): marinated salmon and vinegar rice pressed together with special sweet and sour seaweed on top (AWESOME!!!)
* Edamame: served cold and probably could've used a bit more salt
* Sashimi (Himachi): the slices were generous and delicious
* Nigiri: sake, maguro, unagi, scallop, himachi (even better than the sashimi, i swear ;)), toro - albacore belly, and uni
Although another line started to form for the second seating of the night, the chef and his wife never made us feel bad while we took our time...and believe me, my party kept on adding to our order..so I'm pretty sure those who were waiting were probably cursing us. :)
Overall, this dining experience lasted about 3 hours for us so if you have time to spare and really want to enjoy and savor your sushi, I'd highly recommend this place. I would definitely come back again! The prices were reasonable too...for the 4 of us, we were expecting our bill to be around $250 but were pleasantly surprised when our check came out to about $178 without the tip! :) Happy Sushi!!
People thought this was:
This sushi place is definitely what the reviews say it is. It is really high quality sushi. Some of the freshest, most delicious, sushi I've ever had! Their fish is firm, fresh, chilled perfectly, and sliced delicately. They don't have any generic rolls or bento boxes, so don't go there if that's what you're in the mood for. There is only one chef and they only serve 8 people at a time. You get a really personal and intimate sushi meal this way, a great place to go on a date. The wait was really long, but it was worth it.
Cons: Everyone praises about how the chef is so friendly and loves to educate people on sushi but when I went there he was busy talking to people who seemed like regulars. He only talked to us maybe once or twice so that was kind of disappointing. I had a hard time deciding what kind of sushi to order and the staff wasn't very helpful with giving suggestions. I would have given this place 5 stars if the staff had been friendlier.
The prices are really high, but it's REALLY high quality sushi so I wouldn't expect any less.
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Neighborhood: North Berkeley
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: North Berkeley
Category: Delis
Berkeley, CA
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Category: Japanese
Berkeley, CA
Category: Restaurants
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