Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Naka Sushi in Capitola

4.4 (119) 1200 41st Ave, Capitola, CA 95010, United States

Categories

Sushi restaurant
Asian restaurant
Japanese restaurant
Restaurant

Location on the map

Capitola, Santa Cruz County, California, US

Phone: +1 831-479-9620
Site: http://nakasushi.org/

Opening hours

Monday:Closed
Tuesday:Closed
Wednesday:5:30–9 PM
Thursday:5:30–9 PM
Friday:5:30–9 PM
Saturday:5:30–9 PM
Sunday:5:30–9 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.4

119 Reviews for Naka Sushi 2024:

Review №1

2023-11-09 05:31:42

Absolutely amazing. Possibly the best sushi I have ever had in my life.

Review №2

2022-03-25 14:47:21

Great little sushi bar with izakaiya standards as well. Cute Japanese couple running the place. The Sumo they have on TV is not from the current tournament sadly but its fun to see some of the guys who retired in the last couple years back on the dohyo. The sushi and sashimi pieces are big and fresh. The Age Dashi Tofu was good although the sauce was a little light. Nice quaint atmosphere, Hiroshige prints on the wall. If you live locally and want a go-to sushi spot, you cant get more authentic than this!

Review №3

2022-08-17 00:55:42

Some of the best, freshest, and most delicious sushi Ive had. The sushi master is amazing. The sashimi and nigiri size are MASSIVE. Unagi Don is some of these best out there in the area. Highly recommend if you want to splurge a little but worth every penny.

Review №4

2022-07-28 06:10:32

Visited Naka Sushi and was pleasantly surprised at the authenticity of the dishes I ate. Im half Japanese and recently lived in Japan for 2.5 years. The sushi chef, Naka-san, trained and worked in Japan and is a legit sushi chef. The Nigri portions of fish are huge and thick! It is actually 2 or more pieces of Nigri in 1. If you love unagi, their specially wood plank grilled technique makes their unagi the best I have ever eaten and that includes in Japan. Sooo good! Also, the salad and miso are on point! I drove 45 minutes from Monterey the next day to eat there again!!! Best in the entire region!

Review №5

2018-11-28 19:26:44

The owners are very nice, the sushi is good quality, the sumo wrestling on the TV was unique, and I love giant koi fish decal and pictures on the walls. However, the roll selection pales in comparison to the other local sushi bars such as Sushi Garden, Mobo, I Love Sushi, and Akira, who all have large selections of very creative rolls. I would also like to have more normal size roll options rather than the double size ones that normal humans cant eat in one bite.

Review №6

2023-05-22 01:02:18

Very good quality fish. The ratios of rice to fish on the nigiri is something I’ve never seen before. Normal ball of rice but probably 3x times the size of fish. I accidentally ordered the amount I normally would at other restaurants only to discover the sizes. They do note a warning on their menu but I didn’t think that applied to the sushi portion of the menu. I personally did not care for a mouth full that big of fish but as I mentioned the quality was very good.

Review №7

2023-08-27 00:57:55

Can not wait to try Naka! I ordered from Mobo and was sorely disappointed in soMany ways..Mobo pricing is deceptive and they charged me 20% gratuity FOR A TAKE AWAY!!!! Only ordered a couple of rolls and nigiri and it came out to $95!!!! And the sushi was sloppily rolled, tasted way less than fresh..I can’t wait to try Naka!After four of my friends from Santa Cruz told me that they will not go to Mobo again, they urged me to try Nakasince they know that I lived in Japan and can have realistic expectations of what sushi should taste like and how much it costs….there was zero excuse for Mobo to treat their customers like this and tack on a 20% gratuity for take away.

Review №8

2017-04-26 18:05:56

Great sushi spot! Cute atmosphere, nice decorations inside. The nigiri is to die for; great fresh fish, huge amount, the nigiri is totally worth it!!!Nice staff, fresh good food, great sushi rolls!

Review №9

2023-02-28 20:11:55

I really enjoyed and appreciated the nigiri. The small rolls were exceptional. In general, the fish seemed extremely fresh. I found eating their large, house specialties very difficult to eat. The rolls were just so big they made it impossible to enjoy the eating process. The rest of our experience was fabulous.

Review №10

2023-09-16 05:32:29

We were looking forward having dinner at this restaurant after a long drive. However, when we arrived to the restaurant almost an hour before closing time, we were greeted by the employee saying “I have had lots of customers today, I am tired, the restaurant is closed”. Sounds just like a great service.

Review №11

2018-10-16 10:09:52

Best sushi in Santa Cruz. Large fresh, tasty, delicious portions. Always good and the service is far better then most resturants in town.

Review №12

2017-07-25 22:24:44

Best sushi in the bay area. Naka is a true master and his product is unbeatable. Wait can be long sometimes because he is the only sushi chef but I promise you its worth it.

Review №13

2019-09-22 04:59:12

One of the best sushi Ive ever had. Ill come back every time Im in the area!

Review №14

2022-10-14 16:12:20

I have never eaten at a sushi restaurant that serves the size portions this place did. The staff was nice great atmosphere very clean and the food was amazing. I definitely recommend this place if you’re a sushi lover you’ll be glad you did.

Review №15

2023-08-14 00:45:39

Denied takeout for walk in customer due to being too busy, yet only two parties were seated in the restaurant and no line of customers knocking down their door.

Review №16

2022-01-31 03:30:24

Best sushi in the whole Bay Area! Yes, including SF!Freshest quality you can get, presented in style, and so so yummy, it melts in your mouth! Naka-san’s sushi is the BEST! ❤️🥰 But don’t bother going there if you like Fusion cuisine - they only have authentic Japanese food🥰

Review №17

2022-07-09 03:35:37

Most dismissive and unhelpful staff ever. I politely asked if they would change their gloves to make a vegetarian roll since I have a shellfish allergy. The waiter had the audacity to tell me they wont change their gloves because theyve been doing this for 50 years and theyre not willing too accommodate for anyone.They should be changing their gloves in between each roll anyways for sanitary reasons but to straight up be denied service is ridiculous. They will put my sushi roll on a separate plate but wont change their gloves when they make it. Their sushi is way overpriced too. Save your money and go somewhere better.

Review №18

2019-06-01 04:43:58

Legit authentic Japanese. Named after Chef Naka this is one of the best sushi dinners I’ve had and the biggest and best unagi hands down - see photo.

Review №19

2022-11-03 03:38:23

It was tasty. But most rolls were$17-$24 each. 4 big pcs in each roll, I hate trying to bite such big rolls they fall apart. I like to be able to put whole piece in mouth!

Review №20

2020-01-18 03:20:04

I’ve been eating sushi for most my life in many high end restaurants as well as small establishments all over the States and abroad. Naka is a standout in all aspects of traditional Japanese cuisine. The restaurant is very clean and well cared for. Naka prepares the fish beautifully and the portions are large. Only the freshest of ingredients are used. Not to mention an excellent sake selection. When comparing this to any other sushi restaurants in the Bay Area this is my number one.

Review №21

2019-10-09 19:06:31

A very welcoming restaurant. Great sushi...it was fresh and tasty. Big rolls and portions, so bring your appetite and a friend or two. The servers were attentive which is always a plus. Intimate space, so dont think of talking bad about your dining neighbors...they will hear. Theres one restroom and it was kept clean.

Review №22

2023-08-27 01:53:53

Impossible to order. We tried two days in a row and we hang up on us after saying something impossible to understand …

Review №23

2019-01-04 05:21:40

Unagi was the size of a small steak and melted in my mouth

Review №24

2018-02-20 04:00:59

Amazing food, a bit pricey. Probably the best sushi Ive ever had. Huge pieces of fish, well seasoned rolls, (a little heavy on the Wasabi on a couple of them). Good sake too, they actually have good menu descriptions, and they serve in these really interesting traditional cedar boxes as cups.

Review №25

2018-09-26 18:10:02

Salmon wasnt the good quality I expect from a sushi restaurant. Spider roll was amazing but you cant put one piece in your mouth like most sushi rolls. We were there for over an hour before we finally got our food. People came in 30 minutes after us and were served 30 minutes before us and left long before we got our food. Not sure if they forgot about us or what the problem was. There are much better sushi places in the area!

Review №26

2017-02-01 06:47:31

Liked the decor, employees were very friendly, roll was delicious, nigiri left a little to be desired.

Review №27

2019-02-17 17:30:12

Naka is the best sushi in Santa Cruz. They also have amazing entree options. Nakas ingredients are always high quality and fresh. I have been eating here with my husband for many years and I have never had a bad meal here.

Review №28

2022-05-05 04:15:55

Authentic sushi place. The rolls were delicious! It was a pleasure to meet Naka and his wife. Thank you for such great food and kindness!

Review №29

2021-12-30 18:09:46

I really had my hopes up when I ordered from here based on the photos and reviews. I dont know if they had a substitute sushi chef for a Wednesday night but the sushi rice was soggy and mushy, the rolls were made in such comically large sizes that you couldnt pick it up with a chopstick and the nigiri was also all about quantity over quality. Im really hoping that it was a very off night.

Review №30

2022-05-04 17:25:27

Changing my review after we were made to wait 2h before our order was even started. They gave us some edamame 20min before bringing the check to make up for the experience and then got mad when I did not want to leave a tip.

Review №31

2017-08-08 22:29:38

A bit pricey for basic nigiri. However it is worth it! The freshest fish I have ever had in a sushi restaurant. I highly recommend their take on the spider roll. Exceptionally excellent unobtrusive service.

Review №32

2021-05-06 18:19:41

The tamago was well made. Loved the freshness of all the nigiri ordered. I would love to try the traditional Japanese dishes if they ever return to the full menu. Thank you for the delicious meal!

Review №33

2018-04-01 03:20:54

I have eaten Sushi all over the USA. If you like Sashimi or Nigiri this is the place for you. This is THE best sushi that I have ever had anywhere.Rolls Meh, cant speak to that, I dont eat them, other than the occasional hand roll.But if you go to Naka, be respectful and enjoy awesome Sushi.The best I ever had.

Review №34

2018-09-01 02:35:55

A long-time family run sushi place, this is where Hubby and I go when we are around. Naka still expertly makes the sushi himself! They serve soft drinks and tea in addition to Sakes, and we get miso soup too. We highly recommend this family-friendly restaurant! !

Review №35

2018-07-17 05:58:38

By far the best restaurant and Sushi in Santa Cruz area. Shasimi is fresh and delicious. The temaki hand rolls are very tasty with generous amounts of fish. All of the rolls we have had are excellent too. Try the Unagi, you will not be disappointed.

Review №36

2018-10-25 13:27:40

Dont go here.... Locals only... Small place with limited seating, but its the best fish around. Delicious!!! This is more of a traditional nigiri sushi bar with a few rolls, but not the crazy list of rolls served at other sushi joints. Try the Japanese curry too.

Review №37

2020-02-06 06:25:04

Rude sushi chef. The fish tasted like it was old . The only thing that was good was the waiter. If anyone knows sushi they would know this guy has no idea what he is doing try miyuki up the street or even akria even though Akira is not traditional at least you can get fresh fish with out an attitude.

Review №38

2019-12-23 04:46:08

This place is amazingly good. Always the freshest fish, the kindest staff, and a great atmosphere. I highly recommend it. Easily the best sushi in SC county.

Review №39

2020-06-08 15:13:52

Best sushi in Santa Cruz and one of the top places in the Bay Area. Fresh and well prepared fish. Amazing unagi. Theyre set up for takeout during Covid19 and the operation is very efficient and well thought out.

Review №40

2018-05-07 05:03:21

If I could give more stars, I would. Classic dine-in Japanese sushi. Traditional service at the counter or table service. Naka is family owned, operated by a lovely couple, headlined by Nakasan at the bar with devades of experience on 41st street. Literally the place my spouse took me on our first date twenty years ago, but now fancy. Bigger than normal servings, making up for the high modern prices. Japanese sushi-chef-is-right service, wasabi in the nigiri, sumo on the tv, delicious fish you would have trouble finding better. Try the handrolls for a fancy version of a street cart treat. Places rarely stay the same over the years but Nakas has managed it, only geting better with age.

Review №41

2022-02-18 04:11:58

Best sushi & sashimi my husband and I’ve ever had! Even over hawa’ii. Just absolutely loved the family service. Yum!

Review №42

2018-10-01 05:40:41

Best sushi in the Santa Cruz area by far. Generous portions, beautiful presentation, and always very fresh fish. The restaurant is run by a wonderful couple that are very friendly and care about their customers.

Review №43

2018-09-08 03:57:40

Good, traditional Japanese-style sushi. Noisy on a busy Friday evening. We waited a while to order, and with just one sushi chef, quite some time for our food to come.

Review №44

2020-01-22 06:25:34

I had the sashimi which was only average but cost 40 bucks. No reason to come back. They also seem to be in a hurry because I think they wanted to close even though closing time wasnt for another half hour and there are other customers in the restaurant.

Review №45

2018-10-12 16:11:19

Awesome sushi! It was a little on the busy side but totally worth it. A restaurant thats not busy on a weekend concerns me just a little so theres a reason. The tuna was fresh and prepared perfectly.

Review №46

2017-05-18 04:10:23

Lovely traditional sushi spot where a small family makes incredible stuff. Nigiri, sashimi and maki are Nakas specialties but they also have revolving specials of Japanese classics like Yudofu (Japanese hot pot) and fried chicken. The fish is as fresh as can be and the rice is made by the master to perfection. Dont mess with anything less than Dr Naka himself.

Review №47

2022-02-18 03:21:39

Came here because of the reviews, but apparently i missed something. Definitely not for me way to pricey for the amount of food they give you. What a shame and im still hungry 😕.

Review №48

2017-07-22 02:46:13

Delicious nigiri. Enormous! Sake salmon was amazing, so was the hamachi. Spectacular aesthetic. Friendly courteous staff. Family friendly. Naka-san is a true artisan.

Review №49

2021-08-23 02:15:18

Posting this in summer 2021, beware this place is NOT open for dine-in despite their google listing and website. We called multiple times to make sure they were open for dine-in and they didnt answer every time. I hear the food is great but couldnt try it, because we didnt want to wait 40-80 minutes for takeout

Review №50

2020-10-28 10:23:12

Absolutely the best, freshest, probably most authentic sushi on this side of the hill. If you like sashimi, this is the place for the best fish.

Review №51

2018-11-21 19:53:14

Hands down the best and most authentic sushi in town. Our family favorite. Naka San is a true master of his craft.

Review №52

2022-03-24 03:06:13

10 stars. Great quality, awesome service, reasonable pricing.Largest pieces of nigiri Ive ever seen.

Review №53

2019-02-10 03:16:21

This is probably my favorite restaurant in the world...period! Amazing fish, huge portions on the nigiri, and really great people. Always an awesome experience, definitely try the hamachi!

Review №54

2017-04-30 04:45:18

Supreme sushi chef Naka is knocking out delicious dishes, delivered tableside with sublime service. Get there early, lines sometimes form before they open and I now know why!

Review №55

2018-12-19 18:44:27

Best sushi in all of santa cruz. Its expensive but if you dont mind its so worth it. The portions are huge and the fish is always fresh

Review №56

2022-02-28 05:08:31

Naka sushi is really great small little restaurant seats about 20 but great food amazing staff just really nice place to get amazing suchi

Review №57

2021-09-24 00:39:21

SUPERB quality sashimi here. This is the real deal and I would compare the quality of sashimi to Amy high end restaurant in NYC

Review №58

2021-12-30 03:42:06

Best sushi in the Bay Area. HUGE pieces of the freshest fish. Naka is the real deal.

Review №59

2018-03-18 02:56:49

Best quality sushi in Santa Cruz, especially if you are looking for the basics, like huge pieces of perfectly prepared very fresh nigiri.

Review №60

2018-08-13 19:17:02

Excellent sushi experience.Top quality fish with generous (even for the US) portions.

Review №61

2018-12-03 04:48:22

Excellent customer serve. Reminiscent of being in Japan. Portion size is bigger than you expect for nigiri. Easy to over-order but oishii!

Review №62

2017-03-05 00:48:04

By far the best sushi, based on quality of fish, in Santa Cruz and maybe the whole Monterey Bay. Generous portions too!

Review №63

2019-04-07 07:40:30

I dont see why its so well reviewed the menu said caution large portions but the were small service iffy at best complete let down

Review №64

2018-02-01 15:14:27

Best Sushi in Santa Cruz county without question. If you question that they are the best, you are wrong! Naka is the real deal.

Review №65

2022-09-04 15:26:42

Best sushi Ive had in a long long time.

Review №66

2017-08-13 02:22:08

Such good place. Authentic Japanese sushi. Big meals. I eat a lot of sushi and this was exceptionally good.

Review №67

2020-10-09 15:33:07

One of the best in town! Owned by a Japanese couple. Great service and great fish quality.

Review №68

2018-06-29 03:49:14

Good sake selection and large portions, but for this price point I would expect higher quality fish.

Review №69

2021-05-09 16:27:32

Out of all the sushi places, Naka is a few that does it like an art and enjoys the process of making the art.

Review №70

2018-02-23 05:59:37

The best sushi Ive eaten in California. Fresh, authentic, and remarkable.

Review №71

2017-04-09 04:16:12

Tuna wasnt fresh and the combo wasnt very interesting in the selection of fish. The rolls are huge, which makes it awkward to eat.

Review №72

2019-03-07 02:08:42

The sushi here rules! Its high quality stuff and authentic for sure.

Review №73

2018-04-12 15:52:21

Excellent little family restaurant. Continuous sumo wrestling on monitor by the sushi bar sets precisely the right tone.

Review №74

2020-02-19 04:58:36

Food was mediocre. Heavily over priced. $17 for only a 4 piece roll.

Review №75

2018-03-04 03:40:07

Service was okay, food was okay. Roles were very large and hard to eat; it seemed like the spider role had a whole fried crab in it.

Review №76

2020-10-29 00:49:09

Best sushi ever. Naka is the best kept secret in California.

Review №77

2019-11-19 23:50:02

Best sushi Ive had in the United States.

Review №78

2019-11-15 03:27:27

Fantastic sushi, great service & nice cozy atmosphere.

Review №79

2017-05-27 12:57:13

Flavorful, fresh sushi. Pieces were too large for my taste though.

Review №80

2019-12-16 20:25:38

Different and quality food, the only drawback was large roll pieces were hard to eat

Review №81

2022-02-26 03:07:44

Overpriced — but big pieces of fish — slow — just OK

Review №82

2020-02-01 02:53:40

Amazing quality. Best Ive had so far in my time in California.

Review №83

2018-01-04 03:56:23

Fantastic. Top 3 ever. The fish is just perfect! Well done.

Review №84

2019-02-01 05:58:41

This is my favorite sushi and favorite restaurant in town. Thanks for being the best.

Review №85

2022-03-28 04:03:44

We love your sashimi! Thank you!!

Review №86

2022-11-18 07:09:18

A great authentic Japanese family restaurant!

Review №87

2020-06-04 22:10:47

I ate here befor and the food was good but the staff is extremely rude now

Review №88

2018-02-22 06:04:11

Best nigiri and sashimi in Santa Cruz area.

Review №89

2017-06-16 20:46:59

Naka makes exceptional sushi. Always an interesting crowd.

Review №90

2019-04-02 04:29:20

Best sushi in the county (probably).

Review №91

2018-08-05 03:49:45

Prompt service the food was delicious great portions suchi good brah

Review №92

2019-07-29 17:12:36

Great food, great service, feels like home.

Review №93

2019-02-25 03:02:42

The people are really nice, and the food omg is really good

Review №94

2017-07-02 02:01:08

Best sushi Ive ever had!

Review №95

2017-11-17 00:19:21

Best sushi in the county! And possibly the state!!!

Review №96

2022-03-26 03:15:56

Don’t miss out on this experience.

Review №97

2019-03-28 03:19:39

For an authentic Japanese experience, this is the place to be. Unbelievable Sake selection.

Review №98

2020-02-20 03:54:24

Great food. Extremely fresh!

Review №99

2017-10-31 15:25:21

Best sushi in Santa Cruz!

Review №100

2018-08-29 04:33:04

Different, good quality. Value for money.

Review №101

2022-05-09 21:18:17

Its realy good

Review №102

2018-08-18 17:31:51

Very delicious! Loved it!

Review №103

2017-05-03 06:23:33

The best ever yellow fin sushimi

Review №104

2017-07-12 04:24:50

The best.

Review №105

2017-10-01 08:49:17

Went by myself. Excellent.

Review №106

2021-12-22 14:24:35

Yummy and quick service

Review №107

2017-12-30 06:20:20

Best fish in town

Review №108

2020-01-10 02:03:26

Best sushi in town

Review №109

2017-12-28 20:22:54

The best tasting sushi

Review №110

2019-10-07 18:24:33

Excellent

Review №111

2018-02-20 23:54:00

Best sushi around

Review №112

2020-03-06 16:47:01

Always a treat.

Review №113

2017-09-09 08:05:14

Traditional Japanese restaurant.

Review №114

2019-10-29 17:06:22

Great place

Review №115

2019-07-18 05:24:44

Ssssssssso slow…

Review №116

2018-07-01 01:22:56

Delicious restaurant

Review №117

2023-12-10 17:46:16

If youre looking for an authentic Sushi experience, prepared and served by a Itamae... this is the place. Portions are large - so one nigiri serving is really like two. The fish is fresh and deeeelicious and prices are fair for the portion size. Some of the best sushi Ive had ever. The Salmon was bright and fresh, Yellowtail was like butter and the grilled Unagi was the best Ive ever had, not some tiny piece covered in sauce but large, grilled to perfection and lightly sauced.Update: Just visited again last night and I cant rave enough about this place. Its, without a doubt, the best sushi in Santa Cruz, and perhaps the best sushi Ive ever had anywhere - including Hawaii.

Review №118

2018-05-26 04:52:57

The food was very good and the waiters were very nice. Its not cheap but the price is reasonable for the food. The portions look very small but are completely sufficient and rather too much.

Review №119

2022-09-23 22:47:46

The food wasnt that bad, but its the worst service. I do not recommend it.