Utzutzu in Alameda

Wonderful experience and everything was incredibly fresh and well-prepared. Will go back again and again. Worth the price, without question.

Portions are tiny! very thin, small pieces of fish. half were bland or very fishy. example, hotate nigiri was 1/4 slice of a whole scallop. chef was kind and service was great. but for the price i paid ($145 pp), not worth it.

Had a great Omakase dining experience with Chef Joji. I was surprised this little hidden gem is in Alameda bc we always drive past it but never noticed it.PROS-Incredibly fresh & melt in your mouth sushi-simple but beautiful presentation-enjoyed the menu and chef’s selection of fish-This is probably one of my favorite spots for Omakase-I liked the limited seating arrangement-great location-everything was perfectly balanced and didn’t feel heavy/rich tasting. It was just the right amount of food and I was content. :)

Probably the best fine dining experience in Alameda. Hidden away with no signs in a small space that only serves 8 people at a time with only two sittings a day. Ridiculously amazing sushi, most of it directly from Japan. The hand rolls are probably the best I’ve had state side. Highly recommend. Try to keep it a secret but it’s too good. Book far in advance. Spots go quickly. $110 fixed price excluding drinks and extra rounds.

Where do I begin? This is the 1st official omakase Ive had with my entire family. Prior to this night Ive had some drinks with my boyfriend and also my cousin alongside Chef Joji. His dish with the uni like look of carrot puree is delightful! Im so glad my family got to experience. I know Ill definitely be back!

We had a really special evening here. Much like many spots in Japan, this is tucked away up some nondescript stairs with no signage; youre not going to end up here by accident. Its very small, with room for 8 diners at the sushi bar. The decor is minimalist and tasteful. The sushi chef showed us all the fish we would eat and provided its provenance. Each bite was perfect. If youve declined to head into the city for a fancy omakase meal because of cost, this may be able to fit your budget. Plus, it was 80s music the whole time. I really want everyone to go here because its clearly a labor of love and I want to see this spot and places like it succeed. Get a reso. You wont regret it.

Personal and refined, Utzutzu does service to every cut of fish or shellfish, every rubric of cuisine, every miniscule detail on display. The food shines magnificently, the service edges on brilliant, the nuance details the microscopic, and the experience transcends. I could not ask for a greater joy. 100/10, I would happily die here.

It was a really amazing meal. Thank you Chef and everyone. All together there was about 20 or 21 items handed to us to eat. About 14 nigiri + 7 other dishes. The first an impressive Oyster Shooter had real gold leaf in it. My personal favorites were the Scallop, Wagyu, and Shrimp Nigiri. Chef uses unique flavors like yuzu, lime, garlic chip, flavored salts, to really make this a 5 star meal. The value for the cost is amazing. I dont usually eat so much fish so I was struggling to finish it all. But it was really an amazing dinner. Uni has never appealed to me, until my time a Utzutzu. To finish we were given a Mango Sorbet with maple, coconut and shisho leaf. It was unique and refreshing and a wonderful finish to the meal. The Happy Anniversary signs in the sorbet were nice as I had forgotten I put it on the reservation. But they remembered.The menu changes often, monthly or even daily. Dont be picky here. Just sit back and try new things. If you have allergies let them know 2 days in advance ideally. But it was very nice that chef asked us if we had any allergies or items we didnt want to eat as we were seated.There is only 6 seats total (at the sushi bar). It is very intimate and you feel like you are dining as a group. Seatings are at 5:30 and 8pm and reservations book up 6 weeks in advance. Because of the small space it felt almost inappropriate to take photos. We just enjoyed the moment but here is 1 photo for memories sake. I always keep the Menu information.

A nondescript door and an unimpressive stairwell lead you up to a surprisingly swanky room with a sushi counter. The $145 prix fixe menu gave a lot of nigiris, a lot more than I expected and I felt very full by the end, I think we were served about 15-20 pieces. It was very high quality and each one was unique and delicious. I highly recommend this!

Incredible sushi spot- 5 stars doesn’t do this place justice. It’s probably the best sushi I’ve ever had including on trips to Japan, and all around the world. This place is incredible. If you want the classic experience, this is the place.