Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Akira Seabright in Santa Cruz

4.4 (198) 1222 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, United States

Categories

Sushi restaurant
Asian fusion restaurant
Japanese restaurant
Vegetarian restaurant

Location on the map

Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, California, US

Phone: +1 831-600-7093
Site: http://akirasantacruz.com/

Opening hours

Monday:11:30 AM–9 PM
Tuesday:11:30 AM–9 PM
Wednesday:11:30 AM–9 PM
Thursday:11:30 AM–9 PM
Friday:11:30 AM–9 PM
Saturday:11:30 AM–9 PM
Sunday:11:30 AM–9 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.4

198 Reviews for Akira Seabright 2024:

Review №1

2023-08-15 17:57:23

Had a relaxing evening with friends and enjoyed the sushi for the first time and it was good . They mark the sushi which contains Raw or uncooked fish . Thoroughly enjoyed the experience

Review №2

2023-11-15 07:38:29

Great local spot that gets busy. They have an interesting sushi roll menu. I personally come here for the skirt steak teriyaki donburi or bento box.

Review №3

2023-10-21 05:15:07

My favorite sushi in Santa Cruz!! Always fresh and plenty of flavor. They have a ton of options! And Tuesdays is all night happy hour.

Review №4

2023-10-26 15:55:42

Not a bad sushi spot if youre in midtown. Food was good with a lot on the menu to choose from. Definitely has a Santa Cruz vibe with graffiti and skateboards. Prices were pretty standard for sushi in the area. They have another location in Aptos, but I havent made it over there yet. Overall, pretty good.

Review №5

2023-12-02 21:34:31

Friendly staff, cool place, but just didnt enjoy any of the food. The miso soup was too fishy, the tempura and Katsu dishes had no seasonings and were just oily, and none of the nigiri was good quality. Hope they adjust the prep of the food in the future.

Review №6

2023-08-28 17:52:41

Sister told me about this place and we got take out. The T-Pain is absolutely delicious never wanted it to end. Got the Silence of the Yams and Skirt steak Bento too. Everything was fresh and flavorful. I live in SJ but will definitely be back to get it again. My sister got seafood rolls which were delicious as well. My new favorite sushi spot. Worth the drive to get it.

Review №7

2023-05-22 15:21:01

We stopped for lunch on a Saturday and this was our favorite meal of the trip! No wait and we sat at the bar. We had the ninja sticks and three rolls the waiter recommended including Natural Bridges & Golden Gate and they were delish!

Review №8

2023-07-03 06:03:27

The karage was delicious — really great fried chicken with a spicy cream sauce and an orange dipping sauce. We got 2 sushi rolls; both were really unique and excited flavors. They were fairly busy so we waited a while for our takeout. I would 100% recommend this place, just make a game plan and call ahead before you’re hungry!

Review №9

2022-05-20 02:07:46

Lively sushi spot in Santa Cruz that was pretty busy for a weeknight and not too loud where you couldnt enjoy a conversation with your companions. The rolls we had tried here that were our favs are the Soquel Avenue and the Akira Roll. I also had the Nigi Combo, it was very good but not the best Ive had, you wont go wrong here either way.Service here was excellent, our waiters tended to us and made sure our drinks were always full and that we enjoyed our meals. Would definitely come back again if looking for sushi in the area.

Review №10

2023-10-13 17:46:32

The service and place are great. I got the chicken katsu and ebi tempura Bento dinner, was hefty portion, lasted me two meals. The salad was great and miso soup on point. My lady got a roll that was great as well, some of the rolls are just wayyy to big in my opinion and too much lemon, garlic, basil, cream cheese etc type ingredients, some people may be into that but not for me. The fish is fresh lot of options.

Review №11

2021-12-15 22:55:08

Delicious (and massive!) sushi rolls! Came here for lunch during the weekday and ate at the bar. I got the Natural Bridges roll, Oishi roll and the cucumber sunomono. All tasted so good! The roll pieces were a little too big for me but I made it work.

Review №12

2020-08-13 17:29:39

Covid update:Takeout only as of July 31. Place orders by phone or in person. They have an ongoing 20% lunch discount (12–4pm)! The veggie rolls—particularly the ones with Ahimi tuna—are still delicious, just not as pretty eating from a takeout box :)---BEST vegan/vegetarian sushi Ive had. Happy Hours are 4-6pm and 9:30-10:30pm, everyday! Try their Veggie Poke (using vegan tuna from Ocean Hugger Foods). They have a whole page of Veggie Rolls - I recommend Mushaboom (sweet) and Silence of the Yams (spicy). Theres a shared parking lot behind that can get busy for dinner.

Review №13

2023-07-27 00:53:24

Super long wait to eat. Not much room. The food is good. Im not much of a sushi guy. I dont think I will be going back if its just my choice, if like a friend only wants to go there maybe.

Review №14

2023-08-04 02:16:28

This is the single best sushi place Ive ever been to. They had flavor explosions. They had purist simplicity. They had some delicious warm sake my body is still processing. And they had a super chill down to earth waiter who put up with soooo many questions and comments from me. This place was so good I havent even tried the shoot off location in Aptos and Im already team Akira Santa Cruz. If you dont go here and you want sushi, youre dumb 🤷

Review №15

2023-08-20 20:28:58

I got the Golden Frieza(no cream cheese), Calamari on happy hour, and the sojo+soda drink. Incredible, I would have never tried steak inside of sushi before but that combo is to die for. Worth every penny! Will be back next time I visit!

Review №16

2020-01-11 16:34:25

Sushi was fresh and delicious! I like that they have a huge variety of sushi to choose from, including many vegetarian options. Many complex combinations that I had never heard of. The service was great also. Only downside was the loud banging music makes it very hard to talk to other people at your table. Over all a good experience, I would definitely come back!

Review №17

2023-06-20 19:19:20

Great sushi, kind and open to questions hosts, and the atmosphere was great! Id definitely recommend going. The dynamite roll is a great option for those new or unsure about sushi. Its a tasty and safe option.

Review №18

2020-10-12 06:18:59

Fresh, delicious, exciting! We visited on October 3rd was open for take out only.Tried Baby Yoda and Stormtrooper, Dranken Monkey 🐒, unagi donburi, Maximus Salmon hand roll. Everything was JUST amazing!

Review №19

2023-07-04 02:33:10

Great 🍣 sushi.. parking in the back

Review №20

2023-07-18 20:07:37

My favorite sushi place in Santa Cruz. They have lots of quirky, specialty rolls if thats a thing you’re into. Also great happy hour. Love the atmosphere here as well

Review №21

2023-08-10 13:06:59

Some of the best sushi I have had! Definitely get their Mushanomb and T-Pain. So good! They have a very extensive vegetarian/vegan menu.We got our order to go and ate it by the beach watching the sunset 👌

Review №22

2022-03-11 20:22:04

Placed was packed when we arrived, waited around 40 minutes, but it was worth it! Started with the Gem of Akira, highly recommend this avocado deliciousness. Then we moved on to The Kind and Dynamite rolls - both equally great. Check it out, just be prepared to wait!

Review №23

2023-02-18 18:42:39

On point sushi. I dont like rolls. The Nigirizushi is definitely delicious. Great spot for a quick lunch or dinner as long as its not too busy.

Review №24

2021-12-30 03:33:41

Don’t order Nigiri. I ordered the Sushi Lunch and the Nigiri in it is a huge disappointment. The rice is undercooked and totally plain without any flavor. Nigiri is supposed to be made with sumeshi: rice + vinegar + salt + sugar.The rolls are okay. Do taste a little bit plain. Would be better with less rice outside.Miso soup tastes wired.2 stars just for the friendly staffs. 0 star for the food. Can’t believe I even have waited for 30 minutes to get this kind of food.

Review №25

2021-05-16 21:32:53

After seeing a very terrible review on Trip Advisor I was reminded of how touch-and-go restaurants can be to any given individual. Certainly its possible for one person to have only bad visits while others have only good ones, but heres a positive experience I had today:Sat down right at 11:30, server was very friendly and knowledgeable and checked on us several times. I thought the days of being waited on like this were gone in the 90s. She knew exactly how to modify our order since we dont exploit animals for food, which was rare and comforting. We had 4 vegan rolls and a kids bento box. Got a call from the misses, we had to bounce in a hurry, and the check was paid in 60 seconds. Eazy Peezy!Wished they had more IPA on tap but the food was very solid. I hope they can repeat it when we return.

Review №26

2023-01-03 16:02:13

Third time at Akira. The sushi/nigiri is really good. This is becoming our dining hall away from home when traveling for work. Its freezing cold in the winter, eat with coat and hat on, sorry. But if you order tea and the delicious miso soup youll warm up. Music could be less loud and the whole place a bit cleaner, but the staff is cool and sweet.

Review №27

2023-06-09 00:53:47

Akira use to be my go-to sushi in town. It was fresh and delicious. In the last year the quality has gone way down, while the price has gone up. The fish tastes old, and they over-sauce everything! Don’t waste your money or your time in-line.

Review №28

2023-08-25 02:24:19

Ghis is probably the best sushi I have e er hD! A d I hhave been eati g sushi for 50 years, visited Japsn 13 times, and eaten at Nobu Matsushitas restaruants since 1982. The hamachi was butter and delectable, and they not only had both maguro and tiro lean bluefin, but adlo chu toro and oo toro belky cut bluefin! We opted for the fatty ( but less fatty) chu toro, which 1) most places cant get, 2) was reasonably priced at $12 for two pieces of nigiri, and was melt in your mough buttery delicousness !We have li ed i Seabright since 2021, but just disco erd this gem, and it it is now clearly our go to sushi restaurant! Superb!

Review №29

2023-10-30 09:24:00

Loved it cant wait to go again Me and my daughter were there on college night muy buen sushi

Review №30

2022-11-23 21:11:39

Great place for sushi and beer. Wonderful service, loved all the art on the walls.

Review №31

2022-01-14 02:11:18

We travel often & my wife loves to try sushi from different places. We assumed Akira Seabright Sushi was going to be good, but it wasnt. With all honesty this sushi was very plain and lacking in flavor for everything that is consisted of. Normally I do not mind the loss, but have in mind they were an avg of $40 for 2 rolls, for which we didnt even want to finish. I wouldve been happier with Safeway sushi... still amazed on how there was a 2 hour wait just for us to be upset with our food, what disappointment and how sad. Still debating on whether I should go back to retry or just save the money? Always willing to save the money & go to a local small business. Your choice now to decide.

Review №32

2023-09-05 21:53:54

Best sushi, miso and mochi we‘ve ever had. And we had some really good one‘s before. Amazing experience. Highly recommend

Review №33

2022-02-07 01:26:36

Hands down best sushi place Ive been to in the area. The Kind roll was sooo delicious. I also got an order of the shrimp dumplings and they were too good. Definitely will dine here again and soon.

Review №34

2021-10-09 21:39:38

The food was good but their service was not. Getting the menu to the table took forever, and the orders arrived to the table very slow.

Review №35

2023-08-31 20:53:14

Dang! They really don’t skimp on the Chirashi Donburi! (Pictured.)

Review №36

2022-12-09 05:43:40

Really tasty. Got the house roll...Akira and an amazing tuna trio. Busy but good service. Recommended.

Review №37

2023-03-24 14:21:27

Absolutely adore this spot. The quality of food was superb. The flavors spot on. I ordered a hot plate. Service was top notch and visited an appropriate amount. The art was entertaining and the music soothed my ears. I was on my date night. A practice where I take myself out. Since I was alone I sat at the bar. I only miss the experience where I get to order directly and interact with my chef while at the bar 🤷🏼‍♀️🍣🔪. Definitely will be back.

Review №38

2019-03-23 08:02:31

Most awesome sushi and more! Fantastic flavors, creative combos, fresh ingredients, and, heck, they even serve delicious local cider. Happy hour is hopping from 4:00 to 6:00 and for late night dining.

Review №39

2023-07-09 19:35:28

Its a nice place to get vegetarian sushi. They dont distinguish vegan options uniquely but theyre there.

Review №40

2020-01-21 21:45:25

Wonderful vibe, great food, clean restaurant and friendly waitstaff. Dined here for lunch, and had the bento box lunch special with vegetable tempura. It was lite, crispy, flavorful and bountiful. Included miso soup, salad, and rice. My first visit and I will return.

Review №41

2019-08-03 04:59:41

Its the sushi spot in Santa Cruz, the food is on point & never disappointed. Rare that a sushi spot serve an IPA, but these guys do! 🍺🤟They offer 2 happy hrs each night.The 4 star rating is because of the wait to get seated

Review №42

2018-11-10 06:21:50

The rolls are good. The price not so much. For the same price Id rather go to Mays Sushi a few blocks down the road. I will say that their Spicy tuna roll is super good(its spicy).

Review №43

2023-03-18 15:37:21

Fantastic sushi place with great staff. Party of four and everyone loved it. The sashimi was amazing. Had many rolls, some spicy some not, all great. Kind of a hole in the wall feel but works. Definitely on the list of regular places for us to go out to.

Review №44

2021-07-06 02:12:09

It was busy but the service was fast. The chef will honor requests on the nigiri chefs combo which was AWESOME and only $20

Review №45

2023-06-05 22:42:12

This is a great local sushi spot with good energy and food. I enjoy sittings at the bar and having the chefs curate rolls based on the ingredients that I enjoy.

Review №46

2020-02-13 05:53:08

Still think they serve best salmon sashimi of all Japanese restaurants in Santa Cruz. Those Japanese sodas are very good. Little pricey for the entree but other than that its my favorite place to eat salmon sashimi

Review №47

2021-07-02 20:19:24

Big portions of food!! I ordered 3 item bento Box and I got a huge chicken steak, tempera and 6 pieces of sashimi, great quality too!!

Review №48

2023-01-21 06:36:04

Not a safe, friendly location for families!Simply not worth the hassle. Friday evening check-in 6pm, advised to return for seating at 7pm. Finally, seated at 730pm. Service was good, but birthday plans scrubbed by delayed dinner. Then they attempted to charge a 20% gratuity. Abusive language by homeless patron using the bathroom. Not a safe location for families and young children to be waiting outside while there is a delay in seating.

Review №49

2023-09-04 23:27:28

OMG... delicious sushi and so many different rolls to choose from. First roll I had with steak in it!

Review №50

2022-10-24 01:16:55

Dropped in for a late lunch and I was surprised at the quality AND quantity of our rolls! I was in heaven a few months ago when I ordered the wonder woo roll, but this time it was a tiny, bland, nothing special roll. Same for the other rolls we ordered. $60 for 3 rolls with edamame and I left hungry.If that had been the first time I went there, I would never return. What happened? New sushi chef? If so, please review their work and their training! I want to go back and be impressed, as I have been in the past. Thank you for listening.

Review №51

2023-03-26 02:04:24

Great food. Service was good. It was a little busy so wait time on getting our check and to cash out took a bit. But food came fast and they checked up on us. Over all would eat here again for sure.

Review №52

2020-11-29 02:55:49

Took over 2 hours to finish a takeout order that was supposed to take one. Ridiculous. Only three tables. Unmasked people standing around drinking beer beside the people forced to wait in the takeout line. There were two very long lines; one for takeout and a different one to ask why the freaking takeout was taking so long. My picture is of the second line. Who knows what the food tastes like, Im still waiting inline.

Review №53

2022-12-18 02:58:43

I have to agree with all the positive reviews, this place is pretty good. I went there for the 1st time with my dad and son on a rainy day. We all loved it. The fish was very fresh and they dont skimp out on it, our server was very helpful and extremely nice. Overall a great dinner, will definitely go back and I highly recommend.Cheers

Review №54

2023-06-29 05:53:51

Excellent and innovative dishes, not traditional, but very good. The whole family had a great meal.

Review №55

2023-02-17 21:53:26

Wait service was very nice and attentive, but I wasnt a huge fan of the food I got. The sashmi was alright, but instead of a whitefish like sea bass or yellowtail, they served oilfish (escolar), which Im not particularly familiar with. It tasted alright, but they apparently contain a high level of indigestible fat and the FDA does not recommend its consumption. In addition, the spicy tuna roll I had had very little flavor, and the rice was really dry and hard. I cant recommend this place in good conscience, and probably wont be visiting again.

Review №56

2020-08-16 20:19:13

Awesome super fresh fish for takeout. Hopefully I can dine in someday soon. Keep up the awesome work! And thank you for the 20% off for lunch.

Review №57

2023-03-03 02:57:00

Delicious, well-executed sushi in a fun property.

Review №58

2023-06-30 03:32:06

Pretty solid and really fresh. Could be the best sushi in Santa Cruz

Review №59

2023-08-05 02:29:36

Gluten free options are NOT actually gluten free. Not good for those with Celiac disease or high sensitivity.

Review №60

2023-04-05 01:48:12

4/4/23 after 3 years living in SC. finally got round to check it out. got 2 rolls, an appetizers, and desserts. cali is basic and yam tempura is alright. veggie tempura is good as well then the dessert was normal. how other restaurants keep the mochi ice cream VERY cold, this wasnt very cold as i thought. still good, i actually like it almost room team as most mochis im used are how it suppose to be. i liked it. overall, the restaurant was coo. very crowded at 5pm. so plan what ya wanna do.

Review №61

2017-04-21 05:22:02

Akira was voted best sushi in Santa Cruz - and they deserve it. Their sushi rolls are large, creative, fresh, and delicious. I would recommend to any sushi lover and anyone who still needs to be convinced about the glory of sushi.

Review №62

2023-06-28 05:13:01

Delicious. Everyone else that came with me got full and I stole the rest of their rolls lol.

Review №63

2019-05-13 21:51:46

Food was amazing with fresh fish and a taste that you cant get anywhere else

Review №64

2022-05-21 21:02:17

The Gangman style sushi (vegan) was OMG good. Edamame was perfect. Cute place. Perfect sushi!

Review №65

2022-03-26 17:57:03

The sushi rolls have generous portions of fish, which is great considering many sushi spots have maintained or even raised prices but lowered the amount of fish and ingredients inside of rolls. On a Sunday night around 7:30PM the wait time was around 20 minutes. We were seated at the bar and it was a fun experience to watch the chefs make the rolls.

Review №66

2022-09-18 19:11:22

I really like this place and Im going to give it 4 stars because Ive had so many delicious and interesting sushi rolls here, and have never felt like the fish isnt fresh.One thing though, take your time reading through each sushi roll description carefully and make sure its something you will enjoy because they are pretty expensive and unfortunately some of the rolls can be hit or miss.I have yet to try the nigiri or sashim so Ill try that next time.The bento box portions looked huge when I saw the table next to me order them, but I feel like if youre going to Akira you have to get special rolls.One time we went during happy hour which only saves a couple bucks in total, and we tried something with salmon skin in it and it was too fishy for my taste.I think Akira could be closer to 5 stars if they improved their seating and added a little more liveliness to their service.

Review №67

2022-06-27 00:02:01

When I think of my worst restaurant experiences this place definitely stands out. If convenience, food quality, and fresh fish matter to you, I can’t recommend this place.We went on a day with a 45 minute wait. The restaurant is located in a tiny sliver of a room with loud club music. Feels like eating in a crowded hallway. Our server was too busy and didn’t give us menus for 15-20 minutes? Then ordering and waiting for the food took another 40 minutes. We didn’t bother to wait for the check and got up to flag someone so we could leave immediately.The sashimi was okay but not fresh tasting…the katsu was a nightmare - all batter and no chicken??? The rolls were good since it mostly tasted of yummy sauce.I guess if you just like eating saucy sushi rolls and love the loud music and chill vibe, this place is for you.

Review №68

2022-08-21 18:26:50

Akira is not bad but it could be a lot better. The rice is under seasoned, too much rice per roll, and many of the rolls fell apart. The fish was mediocre quality. Spending $50 per person to try many of their rolls and some nigiri, I was not impressed.I may give them another try, maybe it was an off-day. If I go back and it is a better experience, I will update my review. My guess is that this place attracts people because of the vibe and not because of the sushi quality.

Review №69

2023-07-04 03:39:16

Great food, good service. Small restaurant, but worth trying.

Review №70

2022-11-15 23:35:51

Great service. Get the Tokyo Tower roll. It’s good.

Review №71

2023-02-25 21:37:39

Super delicious diverse menu that isn’t too big and not too expensive. The fresh fish was perfect and large portions make this an easy choose when in the city.

Review №72

2023-07-07 02:11:17

Great atmosphere, very fresh, delicious appetizers and rolls.

Review №73

2023-09-23 16:05:01

Omg if u love sea food check them out

Review №74

2022-06-16 04:22:37

Wish I could give an opinion on the sushi, service, or facilities, but I never had the chance to experience them. Stopped by on a Friday night, entered the door facing the street, and walked past four empty tables and approximately six empty seats at the bar. Waited in the back foe the hostess, only t be told they weren’t accepting anymore walk ins. She was polite about it, but when I mentioned the empty seating, she just politely reiterated her former statement.I understand that places get busy, especially on the weekend, but there was no line. There were empty tables. While they may have had reservations foe the rest of the evening, it’s a bad look to have so many empty seats and turn away guests. And if they were short on waitstaff, that stil doesn’t affect service at the bar.I had read reviews that this was the best dicho in Santa Cruz. We traveled from Prunedale, 36 miles away. We should’ve made a reservation, which is why I didn’t leave one star. I wasn’t even going to leave a review except for the fact that I saw someone else leave a review with a very similar experience. Obviously this wasn’t a one time occurrence.Sadly, I won’t get the opportunity to write a review for their food, service, or establishment because I won’t be returning.My advice: make a reservation, because the hours of operation are fluid depending on the evening.

Review №75

2022-02-11 19:52:48

This spot was a tragic dissapointment. After waiting for about an hour, we were finally seated. The food was mediocre, fried tofu and tempura vegetables were completely flavorless and served with a broth that tasted like warm water. The bento dinner was more of the same, overpriced and severely lacking any flavor or candor. Our waiter checked in on us maybe once. In the end we paid over $200 for a meal that sucked.

Review №76

2022-05-20 19:48:38

Very friendly staff. Their tuna is fresh and has a nice soft yet bouncy texture. Also I dont see escolar often and tend to stay away from it as its usually tasteless, but these guys escolar... Im not sure what they do differently or if its a freshness thing but it was very sweet and buttery from here.

Review №77

2019-11-11 03:18:25

We picked this location for dinner one night during our weekend stay at Santa Cruz. We ordered specialty rolls and few items from the happy hour. Seaweed salad from happy hour menu was very generous size and quite well done. We savored the specialty rolls. Layers of nuts, rice, buttery avocado and fresh fish had a good balance of taste and textures. We will come back to this place again and recommend it for those who are looking for laid back place with good food and service

Review №78

2019-07-06 01:51:30

For being close to the beach everything is fresh and surprisingly cheap. The portions are large as well.

Review №79

2019-01-14 05:49:06

Lovely little restaurant with both traditional sushi fare and modern, creative combinations. Happy hour is a great time to visit, especially late night. A little pricey but amazing quality. Lots of vegetarian options, too! If you cant decide on a roll, get the Akira Roll. Its good a little bit of everything all rolled up into one dish!

Review №80

2021-10-14 15:39:15

Great sushi, impeccable service. We ordered the hot green tea and were pleasantly surprised that they refilled it just as diligently as the water.As vegetarians, we really appreciate the large vegetarian roll menu!

Review №81

2018-04-16 20:11:38

Good for a late night spot. Must be a local favorite because even at 9 pm there wasnt an empty table. We grabbed a seat with only a short wait. Prompt, friendly service. Not a lot of help when asking about menu items but it is what it is. I do believe they have a regular crowd.The food was good, rolls were a little more rice than I like but the fish was fresh, and delicious.A definite turn off for me...having animals in eating establishments. (cute or not) I LOVE my fur-babies, (profile photo says it all) but I certainly dont feel the need to tote them through restaurants while I, and others hope to enjoy our meals.I wish venues and patrons widely respected others who may not share their view on indoor dining with four legged friends.

Review №82

2021-09-15 20:17:18

This place was bomb!! Lots of GF options. We ordered the T-pain roll and Double Dragon roll.

Review №83

2019-12-27 14:20:37

The happy hour here is great. Get there early because the wait can be long and you could miss happy hour waiting for a table. The fish is fresh and there are a large variety of rolls. I always receive great service from the servers and chefs at the sushi bar.

Review №84

2021-03-14 18:34:16

Delicious sushi, but they really need to have more than 3 tables on the patio

Review №85

2023-04-03 16:27:16

Great environment for dining and conversation. Always excellent food and service. Love the Sapporo beer on tap

Review №86

2017-07-07 04:53:42

Hands down the best sushi joint in Santa Cruz! Their ingredients are fresh with a mix of the new and traditional. The rolls offer an incredible variety that are wildly creative and absolutely delicious, my fiancee and I have been working our way through the whole menu. They have great starters and a nice drink menu, and the atmosphere is hip if a little busy. I cant recommend them enough!

Review №87

2021-10-12 04:04:11

Wait to get in was 20 minutes. Wait for a server was another 10 minutes. Wait for our food was another 40 minutes. A bad choice for a restaurant if you’re hungry.The miso soup did not taste like miso…? The chicken katsu is cut so thin that all you’re eating is fried crisps. The tempura is very bland. The rice was super dry. The chef’s choice sashimi tasted old. The special roll we got tasted good but the lemon flavor helped mask the old fish taste.If you like to spend lots of money on expensive American style sushi, this place is great. Otherwise I’d recommend going to Miyuki or Naka Sushi for better fish and service.

Review №88

2019-12-28 08:11:15

Best damn sushi and service you could ever hope for

Review №89

2021-08-07 23:27:08

When I tried to place my take out order, they acted very annoyed that I even called them. Definitely not friendly here. Then, they told me an hour and 20 min to prepare a small order for 2 people. When I got there, there’s over 20 employees hanging around ...counting tips and chilling. There were only 2 tables at 4pm and no other take out bags sitting out. When I asked why the wait was so long, she said they get backed up.....hmmm...no customers and no other people there when I was picking up. A 2nd bad experience here. Then, they added nearly 10% packing fee for takeout. I don’t mind but I want to know in advance.

Review №90

2020-01-15 05:49:05

One of the most fun places to go for sushi in the Santa Cruz area. Even though the food served is not traditionally Japanese, it certainly is tasty! At times you might wait around longer to be served than you like, though once the food comes, you find that it was worth the wait.This is a fun place to bring a date or to just eat on your own. The sushi chefs are wonderful and the owners a credit to their community. Come in at any time, though happy hour is a great time to find a good meal at an affordable price. Draft sake is a nice addition to your meal. If you prefer, the beers are all to be well received.

Review №91

2021-11-22 15:48:29

Waited over an hour for our food. Waters were never refilled, sat at the bar and watched them put Tupperware on top of unwrapped raw fish. When our food finally came it was mediocre and very pricey. Very disappointing overall.

Review №92

2017-05-16 06:42:04

Friendly staff, good drink selection, and yummy food! The menu was a bit daunting at first, but my server recommended the Santa Cruz roll and it was AMAZING. My friends roll was pretty tasty too. We will definitely be back. :)

Review №93

2022-07-27 23:37:31

Nothing but great vibes all around. The food is well put together and flawless taste. Highly recommend to stop by when in Santa Cruz. It gets busy on weekends, therefore I suggest getting their early.

Review №94

2023-07-03 01:09:57

Sub pair sushi.Calamari was good.Beware of the bacon by the sea roll

Review №95

2023-01-03 03:03:21

Food took 40 minutes during rush hour, salmon and chicken slightly over cooked. Rice is decent but miso quite salty.

Review №96

2019-09-25 16:22:01

Expect to wait, even on a Monday night. Wait staff is excellent (although the break schedule is strange, you have one waitress at the beginning and end and another in the middle), food is very fresh with lots of options, including vegetarian and vegan. My go to roll is always the eel (unagi) and this is one of the best Ive ever had. They do not skimp on the meat, the rolls are overflowing. Generous portion sizes. We will be back!!

Review №97

2021-12-06 23:00:34

Ordered lunch here for the lunch special and when I went to pick it up they charged me the full dinner price. When I informed them of their mistake, they had me wait over 40 minutes so they can remake the lunch order to reflect the price. After waiting 40m I requested a refund where they then told me I had to wait 3-5 business days. Their online pricing was 16 sumthin and they charged 22 and said there was a surcharge, but their website said nothing of the sorts. Poor customer service.

Review №98

2023-04-11 00:28:31

Usually good… had the Hunter roll for the first and last time on Friday… still crapping my insides out.

Review №99

2019-05-19 21:16:16

Had lunch here. Chose a special roll and it was delicious! Their vegetarian choices are creative and unique. I ordered one of those too.The prices were fair and the service was quick and friendly.Would recommend 10/10 ⭐️

Review №100

2022-08-21 07:02:54

Got the Midori Michi veggie roll which was fantastic! Great vibe and food! A lot of the rolls have an interesting fusion flair to them, will be coming back to try as many as possible!

Review №101

2023-04-16 22:57:11

We had a tasty lunch here. The handrolls were great as was the salmon collar.

Review №102

2023-06-29 21:23:46

Very busy for a good reason. High quality food.

Review №103

2021-06-16 23:27:18

I’d like to tell you if the food was good or not, but I never got a chance to try it. I went there about an hour and a half before closing (7:30) and was told that they wouldn’t take any more dine-in customers. Which shouldn’t have been a surprise considering there are only 3 small tables and they’re all outside. It wouldn’t have been such an annoyance had I not been waiting in line for 25 minutes before someone finally spoke to me and told me that they couldn’t seat us.

Review №104

2021-08-25 20:33:12

Had birthday dinner from here last night to go. Everything in our order was correct. Husband and I got bento boxes and our kids each got a bento box. It was soooo good! The teriyaki steak was great. Our kids are picky and they loved their bento boxes too. Thanks for making my birthday more special!

Review №105

2022-12-17 01:21:19

They have best vegetarian sushi I’ve ever had in my life and crave it ALL the time. The BEST. Also the Gaia roll is IT 🔥

Review №106

2018-10-02 22:52:42

Five stars because I am comparing Akira to other Santa Cruz sushi restaurants. The fish here is fresh and they have a wide selection for nigiri. If you like over the top combo rolls, this is your spot. However, they do the essentials well. The uni is always good and I love the sides, especially the squid salad. Ive been here more than 10 times. There is usually a wait and there isnt much interaction with the sushi chefs at the bar, but the atmosphere is fun and lively. Good sake and wine selection. All in all Akira is a perfect spot before or after a show at the Rio - fortunately they are open past 9!

Review №107

2019-08-04 08:53:55

Sushi was pretty weak and overpriced. Not really much else to say. The takoyaki was cold. Never had one cold, but it was cold. Maybe it was microwaved. Also, the menu was a mess to navigate unless you already knew fish names in Japanese. Dont go here. Its not horrible but dull. Also, why they garnish everything with stale cabbage? This place gets no nuts from me.

Review №108

2018-03-11 00:16:08

Love this Sushi place!Food is high quality and the variety of rolls are amazing...check out all the vegetarian rolls! Could eat fish for over 30 years so was my go to foe veg rolls and now! Not allergic to seafood and can have everything on the menu.You have to try this place, gor the food yeah but also for the staff and the atmosphere.ENJOY!!

Review №109

2019-12-12 09:05:35

Most creative vegetarian sushi Ive ever seen! The ghost shell and mushaboom rolls had such complex flavors. I wouldnt have thought the combinations would work, but they did! I will definitely be going again and will definitely be bringing all the vegetarians I know.

Review №110

2022-03-04 00:12:17

Pretty good food here!

Review №111

2017-08-24 01:42:08

Definitely A+ sushi. Very fresh with large portions. House made sauce that was delicious. The sushi chefs were super cool, I like their aesthetic. Our server was nice enough but super awkward, but the amazing food made up for it!

Review №112

2023-11-23 03:28:16

Great place. Tasty food

Review №113

2019-01-05 04:06:03

Have been here several times and its safe to say this will be our go-to Sushi spot in Santa Cruz. The fish is fresh n delicious and of good quality. Staff is great and service is fast. And how about that late happy hour! Please dont come here its too busy already ;)

Review №114

2023-11-08 07:08:39

Food wasnt very hot when it was delivered.

Review №115

2021-08-28 23:22:50

Awesome lunch as sushi with sake

Review №116

2021-04-06 22:02:42

Great sushi. The best in Santa Cruz or for miles around. My go to lunch spot! Due to popularity they get very busy on the weekends (so maybe plan ahead / call your order in!)

Review №117

2021-08-23 02:13:16

I thought I would try the vegetarian rolls and they were amazing. Great flavors, beautiful presentation and wonderful service. My new favorite place for sure! Yummmmm

Review №118

2021-08-26 23:33:53

Great place, we had appetizers and like 8 different sushi rolls. Everything was incredible and I will definitely go back when Im hungry in Santa Cruz!

Review №119

2019-12-19 18:09:41

Busy and almost, but maybe not quite worth the wait. The fish was fresh, if it was a bit over priced. The staff was either over run, understaffed, inexperienced, lazy or all of the above. The presentation of the dishes was amazing but not enough to make up for the overall experience.

Review №120

2018-03-20 01:14:33

Best fish in town by a long shot. If you want rolls or fried stuff it’s obviously going to cost more than places that buy cheaper fish. Do yourself a solid- order sashimi and be amazed that fish can taste/feel like butter.

Review №121

2022-01-28 07:42:30

Excellent service. Even though we had a big group. Great fusion! Good mix of traditional and western. Fair prices. Very nice inside. Great art work.

Review №122

2017-02-18 00:11:19

This is without a doubt one of the best sushi places in all of Santa Cruz County in my personal experience. Always worth the wait. Akira has great prices that will fit any budget. The atmosphere is awesome, Akira is always my destination for sushi in Santa Cruz!

Review №123

2019-03-23 23:24:08

Great sushi, you can tell the chefs have a lot of creativity that goes into some of the crazier dishes! The O-Face is my personal favorite!This place can be super loud but that’s just cause it’s so popular!

Review №124

2018-12-30 03:17:32

First and foremost, food here is fantastic! Service - good, atmosphere-good, price - good. Menu is unique w a vegetarian slant. Not your average Japanese restaurant, they put a twist on their food that elevates it. My new go-to in Santa Cruz..

Review №125

2019-11-20 19:34:15

This is, in my opinion the best sushi joint in Santa Cruz. I can’t say there isn’t a single thing I’ve ordered that didn’t taste amazing. They have a lot of options from basic to specialty rolls. Even vegetarian and stuff for the friend who isn’t a sushi fan (steak rolls, California rolls, tasty appetizers, etc). Some of my personal favorites are the Seabright Special, Santa Cruz, White Dragon, Hawaii, and Eternal Sunshine. Their Miso soup is the best I’ve had too. House salad has a tasty dressing on it as well. Service and staff are usually on point. Only downside is busy and a small restaurant space. They have a second location in Aptos as well. Check them out, I’m sure you’ll like it.

Review №126

2021-11-24 02:37:50

Unique rolls, wonderful experience. Its what you want from a sushi place in Santa Cruz-- funky, chill, delicious. We sat at the sushi bar and had a blast watching them.

Review №127

2014-05-24 05:22:29

Akira Sushi rocks! Definitely one of my favourite sushi spots in Santa Cruz. Nice artistic ambiance with a classy and unpretentious feel. Delicious food, excellent service, fair prices and an awesome selection of well crafted veggie rolls! Also, last but certainly not least... 2 happy hours every day!

Review №128

2019-07-03 02:56:56

Really unique and delicious rolls with plenty of vegan options! Vegetarian/vegans must try! Rad paintings all over and they play loud hip hop, very atmospheric. Probably not a good restaurant for kids because theres allot of spicy food and loud music.

Review №129

2018-05-19 06:04:12

In a town with a lot of good sushi options, Akira still stands out. With a great selection of rolls, and in particular spicy rolls that pack some serious heat, they set themselves apart. Throw in the local art adorning the walls and the solid music bumping, Akira is a great twist on your standard sushi spot. Definitely worth checking out!

Review №130

2019-04-02 11:38:11

The kinda hip place for sushi. Tattoos, piercings, beards, dreadlocks, black denim, spectral hair colors, a few skateboards parked and propped against the wall, neo-retro pinup and tattoo style framed artwork adorning the walls... all commonly seen of the environment, patrons, and staff at Anita Sushi. Small groups of friends unexpectedly run into more friends and recount the events of last night or last weekends blurry outings as they gather in line in the small inside waiting space, and less congested, brick-paved outside waiting area, for their turn to be seated for Akiras early evening food and drink happy hour and, their just slightly less crowded later-night happy hour. Theres a lot going on in the relatively small restaurant, with servers weaving through the tight spaces between the coming and going patrons, and people squeezing past one another, some trying to get in to get their names on the seating list, others trying to get into the single stall restroom, and others making their way out with the lethargic, post-sushi Satisfaction Saunters. All are talking over the heads, shoulders, and vocal directions of one another in friendly exchanges, albeit at a sometimes elevated and distracting volume.With all there is to see and hear during the busy times at Akira, one thing less common is the presence of the Japanese sushi chefs one might expect. But the skills of the predominately young, non-traditional chefs, many sporting tattoo-covered arms and pierced faces, are up to par with those from whom their culinary craft was derived.The service is decent, with consideration for the size of the space and the crowd. The servers tend to be predominantly young females, and there are some instances where experience may be lacking and the volume and pace of the environment distracting to staff. But this is a friendly, lively place for familiar people and neighborhood locals to enjoy good sushi, company, conversation, and libation, and any minor service oversights can be easily overlooked in the shadow of enjoyment.The food itself it quite good and fairly reasonably priced. But, as everyone seemingly has strong individual opinions and preferences in sushi, I leave my description centred on the experience as a whole, and leave you to delve into the experience of the cuisine independently.But I think youll find it very good!Cheers!

Review №131

2013-08-03 16:26:48

I cant eat sushi at any other place after I came here. Their Sashimi is super fresh and their rolls are just exotic. They know how to take care of their customers. Their foods are always well made. I particularly recommend the Shrimp Sticks for appetizer. Theyre amazing and super delicious! Plus, theyre spicy and thats a bonus! If youre a spicy-food nerd, ask the sushi chef for Habanero sauce. It really boosts up the deliciousness of your dish. But dont attempt to eat that sauce if you cant handle the real spicy. Itll set your tongue on fire.Another thing I like about this restaurant is that the sushi chefs are so fun and the servers are friendly. Any sushi lover will keep coming back here for sure, once they try their sushi and experience the service.

Review №132

2021-02-20 04:59:07

Have loved Akira for years, but sadly their quality has become intolerable. Teriyaki chicken was burned on the outside and yet still raw on the inside- this is after waiting 1.5 hours for pickup. Rolls are messy and taste/ look sloppily thrown together. Edamame was slimy and cold, Save your money.

Review №133

2017-10-26 03:08:31

$10 Cake fee??? Had a group of 6 adults and a couple of kids. We brought in our own cake and were charged a ‘cake fee’ for plates and forks. Really?Sushi was top quality and price was Ok. Service and time to get our food was really bad. It took 1.5 hrs for sashimi to come out! Probably won’t come back.

Review №134

2023-06-20 02:25:45

Loved the sushi.The atmosphere is so/so

Review №135

2019-07-01 23:48:34

This place is so good! Usually the wait is up there, but definitely worth it. The food has always been delicious and the fish is fresh! One of my favorite spots for sure.

Review №136

2017-09-12 16:15:38

Ive heard from several people that Akira was worth trying, so we went for it. First impression- wait staff was friendly but this place is very loud and makes you feel claustrophobic. I kind of felt like I was in a Metro station. Weird art on the walls, except for the nice stained glass in the window. We ordered some pretty basic sushi but it took wayyyy too long and was just ok. Definitely didnt give me that warm fuzzy post sushi feeling I was looking for.

Review №137

2017-08-27 22:56:43

I got the Akira meal for $23 and it was amazing. So much food. One roll was a challenge to figure out how to eat, but it was beautiful.Our server was pretty awkward, but the food alone gets a 5*. There was also a 5 minute or so difference between when my girlfriends rolls came out and when mine did, I wish they had given them to us at similar times so we didnt have to just watch each other eat.We also got the Calamari and the Tnt sticks on the happy hour menu. The Calamari was highly breaded, but they were good pieces. Be warned though, they give you a just a tiny bit of sauce and if you ask for more there is a hidden charge for it.Overall though well definitely be back, the prices were great on the combos and the happy hour appetizer menu is sizeable.

Review №138

2021-07-12 21:31:30

Not the most fancy sushi ever but good portions, fast and easy with kids or loud parties. Loved the sushi, fish was fresh and miso soup was on point. 😋

Review №139

2023-09-12 05:56:55

Incredible restaurant. Get the dumplings!!

Review №140

2020-02-09 09:24:09

ALWAYS FANTASTIC! The BEST Nigiri in town in my humble opinion.Great service....truly artistic food creation and presentation.Not to be missed in my humble opinion .Come here, and enjoy a fantastic meal and atmosphere.

Review №141

2018-01-23 03:05:13

Best sushi ever. Awesome sushi chefs each with their own amazing style and flare. Fresh fish and creative rolls. Try the shrimp sticks and the Soquel Ave Tell! Yum

Review №142

2019-10-19 14:10:44

Overall it was meh...hot, crowded, non attentive server, waaaay over priced! Got the Unagi Don and didnt pay attention to the price because we have NEVER paid over 15$ anywhere else for that dish, well dang! 24$ for it here!! We were a little shocked when we got the bill! The miso was way to salty too. Took forever to get our bill and pay it, our waitress had dissapeared, had to finally ask another server to get it. Oh and TMI, but we both had the runs that night too. Wont be returning to this place ever.

Review №143

2023-09-23 01:29:49

Fresh Santa Barbara Uni was over the top!

Review №144

2018-10-26 17:36:22

4 stars only because they dont list allergy ingredients. My friend whose deathly allegic to nuts they topped our ice cream mochi with sesame and peanut crumbs without telling us or having it on the menu. I had to taste test it for her and I dont like peanuts either. I have to remember myself whenever I go back here to say no peanuts bc they like to top a lot of stuff with it for decoration. Other than that I love it here. Good food and the happy hour menu is the time to go. One of the top places in santa cruz especially for price.

Review №145

2019-08-05 05:01:18

My daughter and I walked into their restaurant and it was real hot inside. This made me a bit nervous, considering i like Sashimi. It was busy though so I figured stuff likely wasnt sitting around long. We both have been sick as dogs and I barely made it to the bathroom after driving 45 min home. It couldnt have been anything else, we hadnt eaten all day, except crackers. I havent been this sick in years. 🤢 Im pretty sure it was the high temp in there. Ugh

Review №146

2017-06-10 05:42:05

Best sushi in town. No gimmicks, just tasty food that comes out pretty quick even when theyre busy (which they most always are). Be prepared to wait a little for a table during peak hours, but its worth it!

Review №147

2018-10-12 14:47:06

The Hamachi nigiri was great, but the rice was undercooked and lacked flavor. The rolls were good, if a bit cluttered. A lengthy wait but the waitstaff was kind enough to give us a complimentary edamame.

Review №148

2019-09-04 17:08:04

Akira has the BEST vegetarian sushi in town. This, in conjunction with their great service make them a great bet for any occasion. Favorites: The Shrine and Silence of the Yams

Review №149

2016-12-09 06:36:18

The bento dinner is really worth it and the waiters have always been lovely, only reason I might dock a star would be the wait time to be seated but thats not the restaurants fault per se (Its just popular). If youre expecting a quick date spot Id try to get there earlier than dinnertime so as not to wait longer than 15 minutes.

Review №150

2015-09-18 15:29:29

Donna and I have been to several places serving sushi and Akira is far better. For appearance and freshness there are none to compare. Went in wearing a shirt from s competitor and left with a new Akira shirt. Thank you for good food and good service.

Review №151

2019-04-17 23:02:58

They have great quality food and really nice service and even some great vegetable based sushi rolls! Have been going here for years and plan to continue to do so!

Review №152

2012-07-03 04:34:39

2 happy hours per day! Come after 9:30pm and enjoy Akira poppers and Kirin on draft. What I think I love most is that 75% of the rolls have macadamia nuts, so yummy. Really, really good sushi and a fun, neighborhood vibe.

Review №153

2022-10-08 02:17:40

Always great tasting Sushi. Not my favorite place for ambiance, but not bad.

Review №154

2021-08-14 23:04:09

Amazing! Had the karaage, edamame, sashimi dinner, unagi donburi, and dragon scales special. Everything was incredible and very fresh! Staff was friendly too - great experience

Review №155

2019-07-07 17:06:11

Fast and busy, can get loud. Staff are great. Doors are mostly always open, bring a blanket it gets cold. Food is also very good with vege and GF options they are serious about in preparation. A little pricey.

Review №156

2016-10-14 05:13:01

With the hour wait and the reviews I expected excellent sushi. Maybe I should have known better with not a single Asian in view and the Anglo sushi guys in plastic gloves. But hey, ever hopeful. The nigiri sushi was tasteless & mushy. Not crisp and fresh. How do you make tuna, toro, & yellowtail all look & taste the same?

Review №157

2023-09-13 14:12:03

Great food, lots to choose from

Review №158

2017-08-04 03:48:53

When we got there they were super nice, but we did have to wait a good lengthy time, but like any good roller coaster it was a quick 3-5 minutes when I demolished those sushi rolls, they were definitely worth the wait.-Miguel, 14 year old sushi lover from Chicago

Review №159

2022-10-29 03:04:16

Fun and delicious creative rolls! I love the skirt steak bento box 😍 so yum

Review №160

2021-07-03 17:18:17

Definitely among the top sushi spots in the area. I have always enjoyed having them in our area and am looking forward to sitting down there again once the covid thing is through

Review №161

2017-07-29 18:13:40

Great place to enjoy fresh sushi and really tasty, out of this world selection of incredible fresh ingredient combinations!! I Love and highly recommend the Kogan roll. Give it a try when you visit!!

Review №162

2019-11-15 06:45:43

Great Sushi! Good service and a nice ambiance!

Review №163

2018-08-03 09:21:22

Well, it’s not genuinely good sushi but if you’re not asian I guess it would be the best sushi of your life. Not even owned by Japanese people so that should at least say something.Anyway, the environment is very hostile (the hipster decor is an uncanny way to make your eating experience bizarre) if you’re young and a person of color. They definitely favor white people especially in their 30s most likely due to the fact they’ve never had real sushi before.

Review №164

2023-07-28 07:56:21

Good rolls and the staff are amazing!

Review №165

2018-06-12 18:00:25

The sushi is no that good out of the four rolls I tried only one was good. The service was bad as well. We waited more then 30mins for our food, there wasnt many people at the restaurant and they had a lot of server and sushi rollers. I dont recommend this place.

Review №166

2020-01-29 03:25:39

One star service. Four star food. Ive been coming here often for many years and its always delicious, but it is by far the slowest food service in town. Even if I call the order in its usually ready 10 minutes after they say it will be. They often dont answer the phone even when Ive called multiple times in a row.

Review №167

2018-06-30 20:21:49

I love Akira. They have an excellent selection of sushi, with many vegan and vegetarian options. They often are crowded, especially on weekend nights, so be prepared for a slight wait.

Review №168

2019-05-29 18:58:42

Wow! Wow! Wow! Go see Mark at this insanely creative sushi house here in SC. They know what they are doing and they go the extra mile to make each plate of food special. They use a spiralizer tool to cut veggies into long curly strands to top the plates. Was so impressed w our pile of curly cucumbers that Mark went in the back and brought it back out for us to see it. Who does that? Mark at Akira, thats who. Art work is fun, interesting and colorful. Enjoyed looking at it all during dinner. Happy hour choices are generous and extensive, but we also ordered off regular menu cuz so many other things to try. Try the Escobar roll w jalapeno!!

Review №169

2016-08-01 03:03:05

Horrible. I have been to this place many times and really liked the quality of the food and had reasonable service. I always have tipped and been polite when eating here. I was just seated at the sushi bar after asking for a table. I was told that there wasnt an available table. As I was seated at the sushi bar by the incredibly off put and rude hostess there was a wide open 2 person table. When I had asked earlier I was told the wait was 40mins. Not going to go back here. A shame to me as its the only sushi place I found of reasonable quality in santa cruz county.

Review №170

2017-09-19 04:13:44

Awesome veg roll options and weve enjoyed the few fish things weve ordered. Discovered Akira a year ago and its been in regular rotation ever since.

Review №171

2017-08-09 05:58:25

The best sushi eating experience of my life thus far. The jalapeño poppers were spectacular. Also, the raw ahi tuna plate with aioli sauce and jalapeños was divine. Mark does a great job!

Review №172

2017-02-20 01:19:56

Long wait to get in sometimes... but totally worth it! We always get The Creature and Akira Rolls when we come here - definitely recommend those two! So delicious and filling!

Review №173

2017-01-14 04:00:46

Sushi is alright with creative options, but the atmosphere is horrible. Really loud, cramped, and there were lots of screaming kids even on a Friday night. Long wait too and no reservations.

Review №174

2017-01-16 16:16:23

The wait is usually about 30-45 minutes after youve ordered; so come patient, and get yourself ready for the best sushi in California.Yeah, you ready that right. And yeah, Ive been around.

Review №175

2019-08-15 19:08:34

I was pretty impressed with this place! Their miso soup is sooo good! They have a lot of vegetarian and speciality rolls and have fairly good service as well. The only negative thing is it is a little expensive but still a good experience.

Review №176

2016-10-31 21:06:48

Our favorite sushi restaurant in Santa Cruz. Their sushi is always fresh, and their flavor combinations cannot be beat! If youre looking for sushi in Santa Cruz, this is the best.

Review №177

2017-06-26 23:38:37

Interesting rolls but my favorite was the salmon sashimi. Very tasty place but make sure you skip the miso soup. Not the best. But overall, a great sushi restaurant!

Review №178

2018-01-29 04:03:47

Akira has tasty sushi and good beer. This is a great date place or friends night location. There is usually a wait, but its totally worth it.

Review №179

2020-08-09 03:47:04

The rolls are meh. 1.5 hours waiting. Friendly stuff that’s why 2 stars

Review №180

2015-12-14 01:36:51

My only complaint is that the specialty rolls are too big to fit in my mouth. So...not really a complaint! Youll leave Akita stuffed and satisfied.

Review №181

2018-09-12 20:54:55

Hands down, one of my favorite sushi spots. I have been wanting to go and didnt have much of a chance. Im so glad the opportunity came along. Ill definitely be back.

Review №182

2018-03-30 15:27:48

I really wanted to give this place a 5 star... food is great and staff is friendly but after we’ve received our food, the waiter never seems to check in on how we’re doing. I always have to flag someone down even for the bill

Review №183

2021-11-04 21:19:14

Awesome sushi and California Japanese food, place is very into Fetty wap too if that is your thing. Great place to get dinner or lunch.

Review №184

2018-04-04 15:43:50

Amazing food; especially, their homemade salad dressing. The atmosphere was creative with the art work and the staff was friendly. The restuarant is on the list to visit while in the area.

Review №185

2021-05-25 01:46:07

Got the nigiri plate and 2 specialty rolls. Food was really underwhelming/bad and staff was not friendly. Disappointing experience. If you do decide to go, do not get the Krab!

Review №186

2016-11-27 00:33:25

One of my favorite sushi restaurants in Santa Cruz. They have lots of inventive rolls, but my favorite is the fresh sashimi and the Hamachi kama. Lots of beer and wine choices too!

Review №187

2022-02-09 07:52:35

Some of the best vegetarian sushi Ive had! Really interesting flavours and fresh ingredients.

Review №188

2018-09-03 03:06:37

I love this place! I will serioulsy drive from Gilroy to get my grub on when here on biz. Ive been to both but I do prefer the one in Santa Cruz even though there is always a wait.

Review №189

2022-03-06 05:24:29

So disappointing! Salty miso soup, over breaded shrimp tempura, boring tuna roll and salad. Won’t be back.

Review №190

2021-05-11 06:00:17

Loved this salad. Will definitely come back...

Review №191

2023-01-22 17:45:30

Great food, small restaurant, oven rediculously long wait times.

Review №192

2022-02-25 02:22:56

Amazing vegan sushi rolls. The crispy bits on the Rainbow Dragon really make it a world class piece of art.

Review №193

2016-05-20 04:41:11

Akira is bomb! Wednesday is their happy hour and I havent ever ordered something I didnt like. Service is also fast and kind.

Review №194

2018-02-18 19:50:30

I Love Sushi they have a great variety of different types of sushi on the menu to choose from the waiter was really nice and does that was meant was clean and up to par.

Review №195

2018-12-04 04:22:16

Awesome menu. Prompt service even when it was busy. Fish was fresh. Tempura was crispy. House sake is very smooth.

Review №196

2016-08-13 23:43:30

The foods great, their rolls are exceptionally creative and I usually have a good experience here but its been getting a bit crowded lately which can be difficult since they dont take reservations.

Review №197

2019-05-08 07:58:23

Hot sake and mouthwatering sushi! My boyfriend took me there and I have been waiting to go back ever since. Im not from the area but it is a must ever time I visit!

Review №198

2017-06-15 00:29:18

Great happy hour offers. The tempura was amazing. The sashimi was good but not amazing. The price was good for the quality and quantity.