21 Best Japanese Restaurants near Seaside

“I have been eating at this establishment for years and no matter if it’s really busy or I’m going in for a takeout. their service is always awesome. They are so friendly. The food is awesome and I can’t say enough about this restaurant.“

“We had a pretty good experience. The steak and shrimp entree was very yummy and cooked well with the rice and vegetables! Edamame was also really good.

The sushi was not prepared well, too big and the rice was falling apart. The salad was okay but the dressing was too sweet. And all the food was served to us within 5 minutes. It should have been spaced out better.“

“We tried the lunch specials—the BBQ Ribs ($23) and Bulgogi ($23)—which stand out as some of the most affordable Korean options in the area. Both dishes delivered solid, well-balanced flavors and were straightforward, easy to enjoy, making them well-suited for lunch. Each order includes three personal side dishes that rotate seasonally. Small place so seating is limited.“

“Great place! Food, service, and atmosphere is excellent. Water doesn't taste like from the tap. I walked in with a friend and got a booth. Staff is super friendly and attentive. My go-to is the unagi donburi. I highly recommend this place!“

“today an amazing couple paid for our tab. We are a family of 6 trust when I say our bill was not cheap. Thank you so much and may God bless. The service is always great, the food is always on point.“

“Very happy to have Maido Sushi here in Marina. Staff is friendly, food is tasty, and it feels like an actual cafe you would find in Kyoto or some parts of Tokyo having visited. Thank you :3!“

“Delicioso 🤤 cuando lo disfrutes con las personas adecuadas para ti 🥰🥰🥰“

“I love this place... simply the best!“

“Picked up the Sushi Special and Zaru to go from New Tokyo Restaurant in Marina, and it hit the spot.
The service was incredibly fast and friendly right from the start. Both items were excellent—the sushi was fresh and well-prepared, and the Zaru was refreshing and perfect for a takeout meal.
It’s a solid, reliable spot when you want great Japanese food without the wait. Highly recommended!“

“Excellent sushi restaurant in downtown Monterey. Fresh, great service and fun atmosphere.“

“Fun sitting at the Sushi Bar! Great team, great service, and of course great food!“

“I just want to say absolutely delicious food! I usually always back myself out of ordering new things but I decided to order this noodle soup with things I thought I’d like. When the soup arrived and I tried it, it was DELICIOUS! Our appetizer of fried vegetables w/shrimp was absolutely delicious. Both sushi rolls we ordered were great! Usually California rolls can be more on the basic side and have less of an enhancing flavor but they did such a great job with the seasonings and toppings! I was very happy with my meal. We were visiting out of town and I said we had to stop by!
It does it get packed, we went about 6 o clock and we had to wait outside for seating for like 15 minutes. Then we go seated and our food came in roughly 15 minutes as well. My food didn’t come out at the same time as my partners as I had hoped, so we just waited.

Overall, the staff was friendly and most importantly the food was delicious. Would 100% recommend to family and friends!“

“Akaoni is one of my favorite restaurants and serves the best sushi that I've had in California. We personally make trips to Carmel-by-the-sea just to eat here, so if you are a sushi aficionado, I genuinely think you should try squeezing in a visit. One time, I ate here prior to a big interview, and my stress just melted away.

Yes, you need a reservation to eat here because they have a limited amount of space and work to make the atmosphere peaceful and calming. I think that some folks misinterpret their directness as rudeness, but I personally feel that they are polite and provide excellent service. Our experiences here have been positive and memorable.“

“Susie was very good. We got three rolls and a hand roll all were excellent. We also ended up getting two rolls to go. Sushi was served in cute sushi boats. The staff was amazing. They were having issues with their electricity that night But we’re very accommodating. Service was excellent and fast.“

“We loved our experience at the Flying Fish. The owner and the staff were so welcoming and friendly. Our meals were delicious and the banana sundae dessert was amazing! I think it will be hard to come back to Carmel without having a meal there. Highly recommend it.“

“We came in expecting a simple sushi spot, but this place completely surprised us.

The presentation is absolutely beautiful — every dish is decorated with so much care, and all the little details make the food feel even more special and delicious.

The courtyard is also cozy and has such a unique atmosphere — it honestly feels like you’ve stepped somewhere far away from the city for a while. We truly loved this place and left impressed. Definitely worth visiting.“

“Excellent food!!! It beats what we had in Maui recently.“

“exelent service and the food it's grate.“

“The regular bowls are plenty of food. We split 4 bowls between 2 adults and 3 kids and have a ton of leftovers. Actually pretty solid value. Teriyaki chicken and steak were the best, large pieces cooked weklll. Katsu chicken was just a touch dry, most likely because the cut was thinner. Orange chicken wasnt our favorite, the orange tasted a little burned. White and fried rice very good. Noodles were good. Vegetables were good, maybe a little heavy on the cabbage. Ordered online to go, food was ready on a Friday night before the estimated time. Would eat here again. 1 less star on the atmosphere because the place has that generic upscale fast food look that every place has these days. But plenty of tables and employees working hard.“

“My wife and I will be paying a visit to the Presidio in a few weeks. We have many fond memories there from 1986/1987 when I was a Polish student and she was a Czech student, both of us U.S. Army. We met there and were married in Pacific Grove on our lunch hour. In our minds it's a magical place (and a superb language school) that expanded our horizons. We're returning to the U.S. after many years overseas.“

“Friendly staff, excellent food.“