Ozumo Santana Row

I don't enjoy writing reviews like this, but I want to be honest about our experience at Ozumo in Santana Row. I took a friend for dinner, his first time there, and we both love sushi. While Ozumo in SF has consistently impressed, this location fell short during our recent visit. It takes a really bad dining experience for me to give two stars because I'm extremely generous with my reviews.

Our meal was slow to arrive, and our server was often absent, making it clear they were understaffed. We also noticed that the authentic Japanese sushi chefs were no longer working there, and rather than three chefs on a busy Sunday, there were two young men behind the counter, making the wait long.

The food quality was another disappointment. The sushi rice lacked proper seasoning, and the fish wasn't as fresh. The tempura, including the shrimp heads on the ebi, was oily and soggy rather than light and crispy, likely due to the oil not being hot enough when they fried it.

Even the miso black cod, once one of my favorites comparable to Nobu's, was a letdown. Not seasoned well and overcooked.

We were understanding when both our tea pots were missing their lids. Obviously a small sign of mismanagement when simple things aren't rectified in ordering new pots.

Sadly, this will be my last visit to this location. I'll stick with Sanraku, my preferred sushi spot in the South Bay, which offers better quality and similar value.

The ambience was okay, though nothing special. They've changed the decor and lighting so many times throughout the years.

Parking has become a hassle, especially during the holiday season. After two free hours, it's $2 per hour, totaling $6 for an evening. The new parking system, which requires scanning a QR code and entering your license plate and credit card information before leaving, was confusing and inefficient. Even though the system is meant to speed things up by scanning your paid license plate, you end up waiting behind people unfamiliar with the process using their credit card, which slows everything down at the exit gate. There needs to be bigger signage explaining the process because the frequency of new daily tourists will never be familiar like the locals.

Visited 4 months ago

My girlfriend and I were excited try this place because we didn't see anyone in it. After this review you can see why.

SERVICE - We first sat down and our waiter took our drink order and recommended the hanabi. So we ordered the hanabi and a veggie tempura. The hanabi took about 10 minutes. We were brought out a shrimp tempura but we refused it because we ordered a veggie so they took it back. That is fine but then after at least 10 minutes later our waiter comes back and asks "you guys didn't want the shrimp tempura anymore?" lol why ask that. We finally also ordered our entrees after that. We get our tempura finally and they were missing some of the veggie specified in the menu. It's fine but if it's specified in the menu I expect it to be there. Just put assorted veggies in the description. The tempura was good until my girlfriend ate some raw batter in the bell pepper. I'm lucky I took a picture because when I told the waiter he took the plate away so fast. He thought an ice cream dessert was a reasonable fix. We barely saw him the whole time we were at the restaurant until his friend left we started seeing our waiter more.

FOOD - the Hanabi was hard to eat. The avocado was stuck to the plate. The ponzu was good and the yellowtail was good too. The tempura was not as described on the menu. The tempura sauce didn't really have too much flavor. One piece of the tempura was raw. Udon was sweet but the tempura flakes made it good. The noodles were over cooked, they didn't have a bounce to them. The ramen was ok just go to ramen nagi. The noodles were over cooked also. The toppings were good tho. Negitoro flavor tasted muted. The cucumber over powered everything. There was a laughable amount of green onion. Free ice cream was good had an orange jam with it that made it taste great.

AMBIANCE - Looks nice and modern but food and service couldn't justify it.

Save your money go somewhere else

Visited 7 months ago

Hands down, some of the most creative sushi and cocktails I have ever had. There was much attention to detail on aromatics and you could tell that the restaurant really cares about it's food presentation and flavor pairings. The specials were amazing. The hostess was great and considerate of noise, spacing people out as necessary. However, the wait staff was very disorganized. Multiple times four of the servers would come one after the other, sometimes in less than a minute to check on us. It felt as if they were battling for the table. There were strange instances where servers would try to take our plates, when we were still eating because of the lack of communication about us ordering more between the staff. The drinks took forever and sat at the bar while the bar tender and server talked with other customers. Service is iffy, I'll have to try it out again a different day of the week! Amazing food.

Visited 5 months ago

Hands down the best Japanese spot we have been to in the Bay! We took my sister and brother in law who are big sushi lovers (and a little picky) so I was nervous about what they’d think but they absolutely loved it!!! The fish felt very fresh and of great quality, they had very creative sushi rolls, excellent ambiance and service!

Visited 3 months ago

Have visited Ozumo a few times and quality is a hit or miss.
The last time we visited, the quality was not what I was expecting for the price you pay at a “high end” restaurant.
Dishes are beautifully created and served and the restaurant can get very loud during peak times.

Visited 9 months ago

Located in a charming setting, this sushi place offers a pleasant dining experience both indoors and outdoors. The cozy outdoor seating, complete with heating, rivals the inviting atmosphere found inside, which boasts a welcoming bar area. While the food is good, it falls short of being exceptional. Despite a diverse menu featuring a variety of sushi options, including classic rolls, there's a lack of innovative dishes to excite the palate.

However, the service leaves something to be desired. Though adequate, there's room for improvement. Our experience was marred by small oversights, such as not being asked our preferred size for sake and having to request water refills. Additionally, our table was missing a soy sauce cup, highlighting a need for better attention to detail.

Overall, while the ambiance and food quality make this sushi spot a decent choice for a casual meal, its service shortcomings prevent it from truly standing out among its competitors. With some tweaks to its service standards, it has the potential to elevate the overall dining experience.

Visited a year ago

The food was so good, especially the premium bluefin tuna belly sashimi and the a-5 wagyu nigiri. Service was really great.

Visited 6 months ago

Great Sushi/Nigiri place in Santan Row.
Crispy salmon was decent - salmon was great but rice was not as good. Overall, we enjoyed fresh fish.

Sake was bit on the expensive side but good quality.

Staff was friendly and attentive. Overall, I recommend this place.

Visited a year ago

We had dinner on Christmas Eve, the dishes tasted great, the ambience was warm and cosy, and priced on the higher side.

Visited 2 months ago

Excellent sushi and great service from waiters and chef

Visited 2 months ago

This place is excellent 👌🏼

Visited 3 months ago

Happened to order from Ozumo the other day and the rolls were beyond amazing. To top it off they definitely listen to their customer requests and make sure that they do as has been requested. Happened to order the Red Dragon and Demon slayer rolls (with a special request for Extra Ginger which was generously entertained :) ).

Fresh ingredients and the perfect art of making the rolls results in an amazing meal which can only be topped by ordering more meals and rolls in particular from Ozumo.

The pricing can get a bit better as there is definite competition in this space but you definitely get your money's worth with every bite.

Got to go back or order for more!!

============= New Review=============

We recently ordered from Ozumo in Santana Row through Uber Eats and were thoroughly impressed with the quality and flavors of their sushi rolls. We tried the Honcho, Aburi, and Yaki, and each dish exceeded our expectations.

Aburi: This roll featured a delicious combination of salmon and spicy tuna, paired with cucumber and shiso for a refreshing crunch. The wasabi tobiko added a subtle heat and texture, while the spicy aioli brought everything together beautifully. The lightly seared salmon added a rich, smoky note that elevated the roll.

Honcho: A true highlight, the Honcho roll combined shrimp tempura and snow crab as a base, topped with layers of spicy tuna, salmon sashimi, and avocado. The finishing touches of spicy aioli and unagi sauce created a perfect balance of creaminess and sweetness.

Yaki: Another favorite, the Yaki Roll included Scottish salmon, snow crab, and avocado, topped with spicy mayo, unagi sauce, tobiko, sesame seeds, and chives. The flavors were bold and well-balanced, with a satisfying mix of smoky, creamy, and slightly sweet notes.

Despite being a delivery order, the food arrived fresh and carefully packed, retaining its presentation and quality. It’s clear that Ozumo takes pride in ensuring their food delights customers, even when dining at home.

If you’re craving high-quality sushi with bold, balanced flavors, Ozumo in Santana Row is an excellent choice. We look forward to ordering from them again alongside paying them a visit sometime soon!!!

Visited 3 months ago

Hands down the best Japanese spot we have been to in the Bay! We took my sister and brother in law who are big sushi lovers (and a little picky) so I was nervous about what they’d think but they absolutely loved it!!! The fish felt very fresh and of great quality, they had very creative sushi rolls, excellent ambiance and service!

Visited 3 months ago

Noisy. Quality has suffered significantly in the past 8 months. Was the best sushi around when i visited last. Tonight it's subpar! Missing fresh flavors. Checked with others at table and they wont return. High prices doesnt mean high quality. As a foodie, im disappointed. Soy was watery and flavorless even after 3 change outs. This place unfortunately is slipping.

Visited 3 months ago

Visited 3 months ago

Visited 4 months ago

Great food

Visited 4 months ago

Liked the Wagyu sushi. Good in general.

Visited 4 months ago

Visited 4 months ago

I don't enjoy writing reviews like this, but I want to be honest about our experience at Ozumo in Santana Row. I took a friend for dinner, his first time there, and we both love sushi. While Ozumo in SF has consistently impressed, this location fell short during our recent visit. It takes a really bad dining experience for me to give two stars because I'm extremely generous with my reviews.

Our meal was slow to arrive, and our server was often absent, making it clear they were understaffed. We also noticed that the authentic Japanese sushi chefs were no longer working there, and rather than three chefs on a busy Sunday, there were two young men behind the counter, making the wait long.

The food quality was another disappointment. The sushi rice lacked proper seasoning, and the fish wasn't as fresh. The tempura, including the shrimp heads on the ebi, was oily and soggy rather than light and crispy, likely due to the oil not being hot enough when they fried it.

Even the miso black cod, once one of my favorites comparable to Nobu's, was a letdown. Not seasoned well and overcooked.

We were understanding when both our tea pots were missing their lids. Obviously a small sign of mismanagement when simple things aren't rectified in ordering new pots.

Sadly, this will be my last visit to this location. I'll stick with Sanraku, my preferred sushi spot in the South Bay, which offers better quality and similar value.

The ambience was okay, though nothing special. They've changed the decor and lighting so many times throughout the years.

Parking has become a hassle, especially during the holiday season. After two free hours, it's $2 per hour, totaling $6 for an evening. The new parking system, which requires scanning a QR code and entering your license plate and credit card information before leaving, was confusing and inefficient. Even though the system is meant to speed things up by scanning your paid license plate, you end up waiting behind people unfamiliar with the process using their credit card, which slows everything down at the exit gate. There needs to be bigger signage explaining the process because the frequency of new daily tourists will never be familiar like the locals.

Visited 4 months ago

Hands down, some of the most creative sushi and cocktails I have ever had. There was much attention to detail on aromatics and you could tell that the restaurant really cares about it's food presentation and flavor pairings. The specials were amazing. The hostess was great and considerate of noise, spacing people out as necessary. However, the wait staff was very disorganized. Multiple times four of the servers would come one after the other, sometimes in less than a minute to check on us. It felt as if they were battling for the table. There were strange instances where servers would try to take our plates, when we were still eating because of the lack of communication about us ordering more between the staff. The drinks took forever and sat at the bar while the bar tender and server talked with other customers. Service is iffy, I'll have to try it out again a different day of the week! Amazing food.

Visited 5 months ago

Visited 5 months ago

The food was so good, especially the premium bluefin tuna belly sashimi and the a-5 wagyu nigiri. Service was really great.

Visited 6 months ago

The salmon nigiri and sashimi was good.

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

Good restaurant
Nice ambience
Great service
(Not many vegetarian options)

Visited 6 months ago

Great restaurant and food is delicious. Overall a great experience.

Visited 6 months ago

Tiny...TINY pieces of sushi/sashimi for a LOT of $. I wouldn't bother.

Visited 6 months ago

For is very good, but Santana row pricing. Dark like a cave so adjust your attendance accordingly

Visited 7 months ago

My girlfriend and I were excited try this place because we didn't see anyone in it. After this review you can see why.

SERVICE - We first sat down and our waiter took our drink order and recommended the hanabi. So we ordered the hanabi and a veggie tempura. The hanabi took about 10 minutes. We were brought out a shrimp tempura but we refused it because we ordered a veggie so they took it back. That is fine but then after at least 10 minutes later our waiter comes back and asks "you guys didn't want the shrimp tempura anymore?" lol why ask that. We finally also ordered our entrees after that. We get our tempura finally and they were missing some of the veggie specified in the menu. It's fine but if it's specified in the menu I expect it to be there. Just put assorted veggies in the description. The tempura was good until my girlfriend ate some raw batter in the bell pepper. I'm lucky I took a picture because when I told the waiter he took the plate away so fast. He thought an ice cream dessert was a reasonable fix. We barely saw him the whole time we were at the restaurant until his friend left we started seeing our waiter more.

FOOD - the Hanabi was hard to eat. The avocado was stuck to the plate. The ponzu was good and the yellowtail was good too. The tempura was not as described on the menu. The tempura sauce didn't really have too much flavor. One piece of the tempura was raw. Udon was sweet but the tempura flakes made it good. The noodles were over cooked, they didn't have a bounce to them. The ramen was ok just go to ramen nagi. The noodles were over cooked also. The toppings were good tho. Negitoro flavor tasted muted. The cucumber over powered everything. There was a laughable amount of green onion. Free ice cream was good had an orange jam with it that made it taste great.

AMBIANCE - Looks nice and modern but food and service couldn't justify it.

Save your money go somewhere else

Visited 7 months ago

came here for happy hour. the food menu was very limited and portions were small. however the cocktails were tasty.

Visited 7 months ago

Everything is good except the bland Nagasaki noodle

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

The food is worth it, the service is very hospitable and didn’t mind reseating us after we had gotten a table but wanted to move to a booth, the place can get a little noisy so definitely get the tables closer to the entrance if you’re sensitive to loud noises.

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

Exceptional!

Visited 8 months ago

Good place.. Just found it lil bit expensive for what we ordered.. Anyway still clean place regarding the area.. Not easy to find a nice sushi place in Sunnyvale and san jose

Visited 8 months ago

Have visited Ozumo a few times and quality is a hit or miss.
The last time we visited, the quality was not what I was expecting for the price you pay at a “high end” restaurant.
Dishes are beautifully created and served and the restaurant can get very loud during peak times.

Visited 9 months ago

Received what looked like a rock on my sushi and decided to inquire what was served because I didn't see rocks on the sushi menu and the chef didn't know what it was either so it was referred to as a foreign object. Glad I didn't accidentally bite into it and break a tooth.

Also, tiny slivers of fish, tons of rice so eh for the price? Not great.

Also expect to see added surcharges, luckily that's being banned July 1st so hopefully the employers will be responsible for their own employees health care benefits.

Also had to get my own water and soy sauce cup, left waiting forever when I was clearly done, really sad I wasted what was supposed to be a nice dinner on this place.

Now I know where not to go at least.

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 10 months ago

Visited 10 months ago

Terrible staff members. They need to reconsider who they hire.

Visited 10 months ago

Visited 10 months ago

Visited 10 months ago

4 stars only because it is expensive a bit, but all other is good)

Visited a year ago

At Ozumo Santa Row, we had an excellent service from Rosie S, who was really friendly and made us feel welcome. My daughters and I had a wonderful time, and the food was delicious, too!

Visited a year ago

Great Sushi/Nigiri place in Santan Row.
Crispy salmon was decent - salmon was great but rice was not as good. Overall, we enjoyed fresh fish.

Sake was bit on the expensive side but good quality.

Staff was friendly and attentive. Overall, I recommend this place.

Visited a year ago

Sunday late afternoon in October of 23. Just found my recipe. Had good memories of an excellent dining with my daughter and the other woman I love. The whole dining experience was perfect as it should be.
We had Dragon Crunch, Futomak i, Honcho, Sunomono, and Dohyo. All were satisfied.
Thanks.

Visited a year ago

food is ok, service is polite but almost non existent..

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

The deco is modern, the shrimp tempura are crispy and light. The Sakura cocktail is well prepared with tasty flavors, but the dry lemon on the side seems extra (a waste). The waiters keep asking if we want to order more before we finish what we ordered. 🙄

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Will, our server was awesome and made amazing recommendations in regards to their menu. Andrew the GM gave us a great seat and good conversation prior to seating us for our meal. Definitely a memorable experience and will expect to be coming back often for future dining experiences!

Visited a year ago

As you enter the restaurant you get to see the bar. Seems small but is actually quite spacious in the back.
Staff is friendly and happy. Our server seemed to enjoy working here.

Well to start off the food was delicious. I forgot the exact names for the food but I had the fish. The drink was flavorful and smooth to give a buzz. The sushi was Delicious.

Visited a year ago

Really wanted to love this place. I like it, but the food left me not entirely satisfied. Good service and fun ambiance. Food was a bit boring to me. Prices aren't terrible for Santana Row. I'd go back, but it's not a favorite.

Visited a year ago

Yummy

Visited a year ago

Place looked nice and walked in — asked if any tables for 5. Hostess said “no”. And that probably not another table until 9 pm. Okay. Sat night. Understandable. But the place looked a bit empty. So went on Open Table. Found a reservation for 730, 745 …

Why were we not let in? Because we were not a “cool and hip family”? Did the Hostess make a mistake? Or maybe OT was wrong.

Unfortunate overall.

Visited a year ago

Ambiance is nice, but can be a bit loud inside. Our server was nice, attentive, and didn't rush us at all despite it being a busy Friday night. The food didn't impress us. You can get better quality roles for cheaper at smaller sushi joints. We ordered two roles and two total glasses of wine for $100. We would have ordered more if the roles were better quality. Most of the stars are given for the staff and ambiance

Visited a year ago

Located in a charming setting, this sushi place offers a pleasant dining experience both indoors and outdoors. The cozy outdoor seating, complete with heating, rivals the inviting atmosphere found inside, which boasts a welcoming bar area. While the food is good, it falls short of being exceptional. Despite a diverse menu featuring a variety of sushi options, including classic rolls, there's a lack of innovative dishes to excite the palate.

However, the service leaves something to be desired. Though adequate, there's room for improvement. Our experience was marred by small oversights, such as not being asked our preferred size for sake and having to request water refills. Additionally, our table was missing a soy sauce cup, highlighting a need for better attention to detail.

Overall, while the ambiance and food quality make this sushi spot a decent choice for a casual meal, its service shortcomings prevent it from truly standing out among its competitors. With some tweaks to its service standards, it has the potential to elevate the overall dining experience.

Visited a year ago

Me and my mom went to eat at Ozumo today and we ordered a couple of food and was only served appetiser. I also ordered a Ramen and a Wagyu Robata which was not served. Our server is the young Asian dude. We were waiting for a long time and finally followed up to an Asian lady who told us that we didn’t order the Ramen and Wagyu Robata, the Asian guy clearly asked me even how I want my steak and I told him medium well. She then told as that our tab was probably lost, then how come our appetiser were served. This is so disappointing, we already lost our appetite from the long wait so me and my mom just left.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Great food and the service was great. The atmosphere in the place was brilliant, really lively.

Visited a year ago

Why was I charged a Healthcare benefit charge.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Too crowded, customers are like shouting at each other. This is considered to be a high-end restaurant. The food was really good. But it would be better if the restaurant was private and quiet. Service was bad. My food was served 15 mins earlier than my husband's.

Visited a year ago

We went for a late lunch and had a wonderful experience! The hot tea with a round of the Saki Sampler with a big bowl of Pork Ramem was perfect to start! I couldn't resist getting a Dragon Roll and an Unag Roll... my favoritesi! We also had the dessert, a very light flavored tasty cheese cake that paired very nicely with the green tea! Highly recommend this place if your want to relax and enjoy a tasty Japanese meal!

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Chef Johnny is the reason I started liking sashimi. He introduced me to phenomenal flavor combinations that I’d have never thought to try

Visited a year ago

Best place on Santana Row. Fresh with amazing range of flavors. Highly recommend, will be back again.

Visited a year ago

Pretty restaurant with INCREDIBLY TERRIBLE SOUND PROOFING AND PEOPLE LITERALLY SHOUTING AT EACH OTHER!!! Sushi is very high priced but nothing special. Rolls that were supposed to be spicy weren't. Tuna tartar was not made fresh - it was taken from a refrigerator and, thus, served too cold. Servers either hover over you or can't be found when you need something. BTW, I've never been to a noisier restaurant!!

Visited a year ago

Lovely spot to dine after a movie!

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

The atmosphere was nice. Unobtrusive and calm music. All tables are located at a sufficient distance from each other so as not to hear other people. The staff is friendly and helpful a lot. Our waitress helps us with dishes and tells us about all the dishes.

I love the Giddy Geisha cocktail (18$). It's smooth and has a pleasant taste and smell. The balance of all ingredients is perfectly mixed.
I ordered tonkotsu ramen (21$). My rate is 4 from 5. I would like a richer broth. I rather felt a lot of seasonings, but it didn’t seem to me that this was a single concept. Chashy pork (1 piece) was cooked well. The noodles were tasty, but they were a bit sticky in the bowl. I would like to eat it without difficulty and without wasting time separating it. The soft cooked egg was delicious.

Thank you for the great service and delicious food/cocktails.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Pro:
They take the tail off the shrimp tempura.

Cons:
Everything else.

Inside is unbelievably noisy. If you enjoy leaning halfway across the table and yelling "what?" to your partner all night, you'll love it.

Our waitress completely ignored three separate requests, despite acting like she was on it:
* Salt for the Shishitos
* Spicy mayo for the Kushiyaki
* Tiny soy sauce bowls for Sushi (which seemed to be the default on every table except ours)

The apps came fairly quickly, and were average. The beef part of the Kushiyaki was delicious.

Then we had an insane 60 minute wait for the two rolls we ordered. This paired well with the atmosphere that made communication difficult.

I'm fairly sure they either forgot about or lost our order until we told the waitress we were leaving if it wasn't out in the next 10 minutes. 8 minutes after that, we finally got our food.

The dragon roll, typically my favorite at every Sushi place, was somehow the most bland 'specialty roll' I've ever eaten.

There's a lot of amazing restaurants in Santana Row. This, unfortunately, is not one of them.

Visited a year ago

I set my expectations for this restaurant as a Japanese fusion restaurant and I like it. We went there for lunch. The Australian wagyu beef set was pretty yummy. Chicken karage, tempura and hamachi appetizers are cooked well too.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

So many gluten free options! And the soy sauce on the table was gluten free! They didn’t have to bring out a separate dish of it for me!

Visited a year ago

Went to the restaurant as we were having a family get together for the holidays. We had a reservation, were seated pretty quickly. Gave our order as we had an event after dinner

Food came out intermittently, so some people had food, others were waiting.

One person in the group did not get their food, and the wait person did not come by for some time. In letting the wait person know that one order was not received, they checked and said the order was given to another table, and had to remake the order and would waive that charge.

We had two people order the tonkatsu, the meat was pretty dry and pretty chewy. The rice served was gummy and not enjoyable.

Overall not a compelling experience.

Visited a year ago

Nice waitress. I wish they had more options, and they need to overhaul their desserts. Our cake was so dry and burnt. I felt so uncomfortable trying to eat it because I felt bad. Most definitely need better options in general.

Visited a year ago

The service was slow the food came at 30 minute intervals the drinks are over priced and the food quality was average.

Visited a year ago

Awesome tempura, ebi and other rolls. Plus, the specialty Geisha cocktail was smooth. And, our server, Chanel was great!

Visited a year ago

Good place for hanging out with friends and good foods

Visited a year ago

Food is ok service very poor

Visited a year ago

Rosie is amazing! She offers the utmost in customer service and makes me feel extremely welcome and catered to! She checks on you, offers on point recommendations, and is professional.

The food is great here- wonderful sushi, Japanese steak, and other curated dishes with the perfect flare of modern and authentic Japanese cuisine.

I would truly recommend this place and Rosie as your server!

Visited a year ago

I enjoyed eating sushi at this place. It was fresh and the presentation was nice.

Visited a year ago

This high end place has a lot of potential. Our server was very friendly and stopped by often to check on us. The vibe and atmosphere and pricing perfectly suit Santana Row. All the food was delicious and the raw fish tasted very fresh as expected. But the one disappointment was the sashimi included in the sushi teishoku set. 2 of 5 pieces were reasonable slices, but 3 of 5 were very thin and underwhelming in comparison. While the manager came by and explained that the sashimi is correctly thin for this "tasting" set, props to him for replacing it with another 3 pieces, decently sliced. When you're offering a premium dining experience, Ozumo should be more careful not to underwhelm with their sashimi presentation.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Mid-tier udon at a surprisingly nice and spacious restaurant off Santana Row

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Everything was perfect.

Visited a year ago

I ordered the sashimi plate. The fish is cut as the thinnest slight you could ever imagine. They are not even any exotic sashimi. Just regular salmon and tuna. Extremely slow in service and the taste is below average. Will never return. Not recommended.

Visited a year ago

Went there this past Friday night ago for dinner. We were started off as we would expect, but the service kept getting bad. At first, we got our 2 Miso soups as we had ordered, followed by the fried chicken. Had to wait until someone actually brought us plates to eat in afterwards. Then explicitly had to ask for eating utensils as they were still not provided.
Entrees were served then. You would expect a sushi restaurant to provide you with soy sauce with sushi, but nope! Had to wait 10ish min before we were able to ask someone.
After everything was done, bill arrives with Mandatory health surcharge of 5%, which is not mandatory at all. No one in Samara Row charges that. I didn’t look at the bill until after I had paid and tipped to realize the health surcharge, along with the fact that they charged me for 3 miso soups instead of 2.

Brought it to the notice of waitress, and she said “I am sorry. I will revert the extra miso soup charges back to your card”. It never happened. Scamming me out of this little extra money implies that this is a general practice that is usually gets ignored because of it being an upscale restaurant and people not actually looking at their bills because they simply trust them.

Visited a year ago

The sushi taste fantastic, service is mediocre, waiters don't really care about customers, ambiance and location are great AND very pricey!

Visited a year ago

Great ambiance, especially near the bar. The staff was so nice and the dishes tasted as good as they looked.

Visited a year ago

The sushi chefs at Ozumo are the backbone of this establishment, and their expertise shines through in every dish they create. Their mastery, precision, and attention to detail are evident in the beautifully presented and meticulously crafted sushi pieces. It's a sheer delight to watch these skilled artisans in action as they effortlessly handle knives, expertly craft sushi rolls, and artistically arrange the fish on plates. Dining at Ozumo is not only a treat for the taste buds but also a feast for the eyes.
Ozumo adds to the overall enchantment of the dining experience. The soothing decor, elegant and cozy seating, and friendly staff make you feel instantly welcomed and relaxed. The sushi bar seating one of my personal favorites offers an opportunity to interact with the sushi chefs, enhancing the experience by providing a glimpse into their creative process.
Thank you, David and Pedro, you made my experience unforgettable.

Visited a year ago

Super overpriced for the food they offer. Definitely not the best sushi we ate, not even close, paid $100, remained hungry after the dinner.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Fine but so pricey

Visited a year ago

The food is always amazing. This time me and my girlfriend sat at the bar where Andres provided us the best service ever. Next time you go ask for Andres or sit on the right side of the bar.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

I don't know why this place isn't more popular! The food was fantastic. Most of the menu is Japanese small plates. Each dish was unique and had well balanced, subtle flavor profile. Even the rolls were delicious. I usually find the ones in most other Japanese restaurants in US to be too sweet or overloaded. Here, they were perfect! I'll be back to try the other dishes.

The music could be better.

Visited a year ago

I really wanted to like this place due to its location. However, the service was terrible. The hostess didn’t seem to be interested in the concept of service at all. No emotions. I expected more from Ozumo since it appears to be a fancier sushi restaurant than other sushi places. Though the restaurant was 80% empty, it was so hard to ask for anything. Our waiter was the only bartender at Ozumo and I almost felt bad for him. He wasn’t a waiter. I asked him for recommendations and the response was something I would receive from a fast food chain.. Futomaki was great! The scallop appetizer was a bit fishy but wasn’t too bad. The deep fried roll wasn’t good (almost like cheap grocery store sushi) terrible presentation and taste. The Grilled salmon jar was great too. But the tempura udon was too salty and the tempura wasn’t impressive.

Also, they are cutting corners with Tamago nigiri. I ordered two pieces and it seems like they cut one tamago piece into two very thin pieces. I’ve never seen Tamago nigiri this thin even from a cheap sushi restaurant… please don’t do this. Customers know..

Ozumo really needs new hostess and more experienced wait staff (because a bartender shouldn’t be a waiter…) I almost think it’s possible to turn this place around but again it was disappointing to be back here after 2 years. I was hoping that it has changed.

Visited a year ago

Tried the umeshiro sushi, the Japanese seaweed salad, grilled eggplant dish and the chocolate and matcha cake.
Best dishes were the Japanese seaweed salad, grilled eggplant and the chocolate cake. Highly recommend.

Visited a year ago

Visited 2 years ago

They put 5% 'SJ health mandate' on our check. When we asked about it they said it's their added tax to not have to rise prices.
When I mentioned this would be fraud, the amount 'vanished' from the check and the manager was very apologetic.
Food was mediocre and overpriced for the quality.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Delicious sushi in a cool setting!

Visited 2 years ago

Very good japanese restaurant in the middle of Santana Row. Staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. Fish is of great quality and the presentation is good. Good alcohol selection.

Visited 2 years ago

Fantastic food, quality in every dish. Had multiple starters, sushi, wagyu...wow .

Visited 2 years ago

Great sushi. Service could be better. The host is pretty responsive and quick. But the waitstaff takes their time to approach. It’s a little pricey, but I like sushi here.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Santana Row prices. Fish items are just ok, but the steak tartare appetizer is amazing! Ps you get better service at the bar ;)

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Loved the sushi here! A bit on pricier side, but every bite was delicious!

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Amanda was awesome and the food and drinks were amazing!

Visited 2 years ago

If you can avoid it, just avoid it. There are tons of better Japanese restaurants than it.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Grilled Salmon delicious. Ozumo roll savory. Great ambiance. Definite do again. My family loved it.

Visited 2 years ago

Wow wow and wow..need I say anymore..great food..excellent salad nice cuts of meats

Visited 2 years ago

This was our first time to dine at Ozumo Santana Row, and our overall experience was just OKAY. Allow me to break it down for you.

The food was spectacular. Amazing food. Kudos to the chef and the kitchen crew.

However, after our server took our order (in a clockwise fashion around our rectangular table for 7), there was some confusion when the food arrived. The waitstaff delivering the food DID NOT know where each dish was going and for whom.

The food arrived in spurts, in the wrong way. There was a wild delivery mix of soup, appetizers, and mains. Not necessarily in that order. Some appetizers even arrived AFTER we got our mains.

Lastly, both my wife and I ordered the miso soup. I ordered mine from the start, and since my wife liked it when mine was delivered, she ordered one for herself. When her soup arrived, there was no soup spoon. So I gave my wife my spoon to use while I called the attention of one of the waitstaff to ask for one. I was shocked (more like shooked) to see that he was holding the spoon with his thumb nestled nicely in the INSIDE of the mouth of the spoon. Needless to say, I did not use the spoon and called a different waitstaff to retrieve a new one for me.

It is still a wonderful restaurant to go to, simply because it is blessed with an obviously talented chef and a kitchen crew who deliver amazing food. Even if it is downright pricey.

The ambiance is slightly above average. I requested a nice, quiet spot to celebrate my daughter's birthday and that they accommodated accordingly.

The service, no matter how jaw-dropping the food is, leaves much to be desired and basically just obliterates all that good food from your palate.

Visited 2 years ago

Great chicken karaage, gyozas, tuna tartar. The black cod is simply amazing. The sashimi platters were very fresh and we had good sushi rolls. There were 10 of us and everyone loved it. Definitely on the pricey side though.

Visited 2 years ago

The food was very good but extremely expensive.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

I am revising my review. After returning again and getting another disappointing experience, the manager came by noticed both my expression and the poor craftsmanship of the sushi chef. He took it back to the kitchen and came back with food that is definitely worth the price. I am very hopeful that Mark will be able to turn the restaurant around.

Old Review from 2022:

Ozumo is ok. Their atmosphere is decent and their service is fine. However, both the quality of their cuts of fish and the skill that it is prepared is sub par. Almost any mid-tier serious Japanese restaurant would do better.

Rolls are unevenly cut, not bound properly, and falling apart. When they do, you can tell that they used cheap ends instead of solid cuts. Rice doesn't bind the rolls well properly and when it comes to Japanese restaurants, if you can't do rice properly it can't be successful.

I went on a Tuesday, so they might not have good chefs on staff that day, but even if the apprentices were preparing this they definitely need more training. I have been there about 5-6 times over the past few years, but am pretty much disappointed each time.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

A bit overpriced but food quality not bad, good sake selection, but it's not close to the SF location.

Visited 2 years ago

Delicious and fresh food, with great drinks, and an unbelievably awesome staff!

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Adrian, gave us superb service as well as everyone else. Very happy employees and quickest service ever, like magic! Food was delicious, except get the salad dressing on the side, too much.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Food not good at all, even if the food was priced cheaper. If you want a great atmosphere then come here for that but not the food.

Visited 2 years ago

We had the best experience here! We sat by the bar and got taken care of the general manager, Mark, who was gracious enough to explain a few different sake opinions to us.we love sake but never know how to pick one we know we’ll like. He was so helpful. I got the flight, it was delicious!! Mark even wrote down the names of some of the sakes we liked that we can get at home. The food was amazing as we thought it would be! It seemed like there were a lot of regulars here, which was a great sign. We will be back for sure!

Visited 2 years ago

I was expecting an interactive sushi bar when we sat there. I guess they were so busy the chefs didn't talk to us at all. The tuna nigiri was not great. My coworker had a fancy roll which was much better. They seemed to forget about us because we sat for a long time before our order was taken. $122 for dinner and drinks for two people. Not worth it for the mediocre experience. Sorry, I'm usually positive but it was hard to be happy about this experience.

Visited 2 years ago

Service is good as well as location. Food is not greate and heavly overpriced. Sushi taste like in Safeway . Ozumo good for to social vibes with cocktails but do not eat there.

Visited 2 years ago

Not the worst otoro and uni I’ve had, but they were not the best ones for sure. For $24/ 2 pieces I think we can all expect a bit more for the taste.
The food was mid, but the service was terrible. The waiters keep gathering together chitchatting and I had to wave them down many times before finally getting noticed. Would not come back here.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Really excellent food and excellent service. Be sure to bring your Platinum card :-)
Had a great role and Nagari. Recommend the lemonade 🍋

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Went in on a Monday to try "one of the best happy hours on the Row". We were one of about 5 tables. We did not initially get a happy hour menu so had to ask for one. Tried to order the happy hour draft and was informed they were out and was not offered an alternative; starting to feel like a bait and switch.

Food came out quickly and had a nice presentation. Portions about what you'd expect for Izakaya.

Stylish quiet atmosphere except it sounded like someone in the kitchen was constantly pounding on something, which got to be a bit annoying after a while.

Tldr: might go back if I happen to be in the area and other places have a long wait. Would not make a special trip to go back.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Brandon was very professional to serve our table, manager, Anthony, was courteous, and I want to say this restaurant is lucky enough to have those awesome manpowers. Food was great, I dined in with my co-worker we enjoyed every item we ordered. Will come back.

Visited 2 years ago

Super fresh seafood. Excellent atmosphere and service. Prices reasonable for quality.

Visited 2 years ago

Yummy sushi, sashimi and rolls. Service was quick.

Visited 2 years ago

Two portions of rolls and a glass of white wine according to the menu cost $ 60. The result is $ 100 (before the tip). When paying, I chose the option: print out the receipt. But they didn't bring it to me. I wasn't alone and I didn't start a showdown. Has left. But I feel very disgusted.

Visited 2 years ago

For a restaurant that is more on the higher class side, I guess I was expecting the food to taste much better. I wouldn't say it was bad, just fell short of my expectations. The miso soup that we ordered came out lukewarm. I like my soup served hot, so that was disappointing. My friend and I joked about asking them to warm up our soup in the microwave oven. The cod fish was fresh but taste wise was just ok. Dumplings were just ok too. I think out of all the things we ordered, I enjoyed the brussel sprouts the best, and for a brussel sprouts dish to be the best tasting one at a Japanese restaurant........ Hmm.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

The food was amazing! Sushi felt fresh and had great portions. Would highly recommend their Hitokuchi and Karaage as appetizers. Could've ordered a 2nd round of those.

Only downside to the night was it felt like our waiter forgot about us. Didn't take our order after apps and we had to ask someone else because we were waiting for too long. Also out of the hour we were there we only had 1 water refill and even then we had to ask someone else that wasn't our actual waiter.

With all that in mind, would definitely come back for the food!

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Pretty bad service. We were there for lunch and I had to literary ask the waitress to wait till I finished asking her about the menu. She kept trying to leave. Food was pretty mediocre too

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

The sushi is absolutely delish!

Visited 2 years ago

Food is good but very pricey. The cost/value balance is out of line. $50 for 10 pieces of Sashimi. A $200 meal, while nice, was not fulfilling.
I would not recommend.

Visited 2 years ago

$$$ !
portion is very small , probably only good for dating or drinking!

Visited 2 years ago

Two times going here. Both times the wait staff was overwhelmed and couldn't take very good care of us. The place wasn't very busy

Visited 2 years ago

Great service , but sushi could have been better

Visited 2 years ago

Located in Santana Row closer to Tatum Ln next to Scotch & Soda. We walked down Santana Row twice trying to decide what to eat and Ozumo just kept calling us in lol.

To start, I had their "Sunomono" which is a Japanese Seaweed and Cucumber Salad. As entree, I had their "Tori Teriyaki" with a side of white rice and it was so delicious. My husband tried a variety of their rolls but he really liked their "Aka Dragon". Prices are competitive and portions are perfect.

The restaurant is very clean and organized with great ambiance. Shout out to our amazing server, Jason L. who was extremely attentive and helpful with the menu, he made sure we had a good time.

Overall, we had a great experience at Ozumo and will return when we're in town.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

お値段はかなり高めで、サービスは素晴らしいけれど、実は何を食べているか全然わからない日本料理です。デートにはぴったりのお店ですね♪

Visited 2 years ago

Food was mediocre and prices were honestly not worth it. The reason I give this place one star is the service. The service was absolutely terrible and unless if you purchase an expensive wine or alcohol drink, be expected to be “last priority”. Our server couldn’t even bring over more water. If the server can’t bring water, they shouldn’t be a server at all. The server was Agustin A. and he was a terrible, and I mean absolutely terrible server. Also be aware of a “SJ health mandate fee” and after seeing travel videos, I am seeing that this is nothing but a scam in some restaurants for a bogus fee. If it’s not a scam, then it’s clearly a forced gratuity, which is not right as the customer, we should have the right to tip however extra much we want and NOT feel pressured. They say it’s “mandatory” but I’ve seen travel tip videos that you can actually request the fee to be taken off if you ask. Highly disappointed and never will return again!!

Visited 2 years ago

Short Ribs, Cocktails, Sushi rolls and more were all perfect. Excited to return

Visited 2 years ago

Crispy rice is a must try. Disappointed with the warm sake though and hence the 4 stars.

Visited 2 years ago

I have nothing but amazing things to say about this sushi resturaunt. It is more of an upscale restaurant with an amazing atmosphere. I really want to impress about the service, they were very attentive, checked on us often, and was super fantastic to interact with. I came here with a larger group and the thing that really got me was that after we all ordered, 90% of our food came within MINUTES. We were all shocked and quite overwhelmed with food. The food... the food was perfection, I enjoyed every bite and it was worth every penny. Do note that due to it being a upscale resturaunt, pricing is higher than normal, but I do feel that for a special occasion it is WELL worth the visit. Thank you and I'll be sure to visit again when I'm back in the area!

Visited 2 years ago

Sat down for 20 minutes nobody came to the table. Not even a glass of water! Finally, someone came after repeatedly requesting and said ”sorry I don’t know I have your table and I can rush your order.” Ok then I am sorry, I’ve got no order and bye bye :)

Visited 2 years ago

Very good and top quality! My wife and I normally don’t write many reviews, but after enjoying our dinner and enjoying the atmosphere, we had to write one before we left. Very very good!

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Overpriced and under seasoned. Also it’s more like a regular restaurant than izakaya.

Visited 2 years ago

Nice place. Ordinary food.

Visited 2 years ago

Food was very good. Nothing to say there. However, be ready to pay lot of money for what you're getting.

Especially since the place seems to runs some kind of scam, because they charged us with an extra fee they call "San Jose health mandate". We Googled this and found no such thing called San Jose health mandate. So, on top of charging tips up front with the bill, they also added an extra fee that don't exist.

Visited 2 years ago

Located in the heart of Santana Row, this Japanese restaurant has an intimate yet chic atmosphere. Their food is not only beautiful but also delicious. I visited recently with 3 vegetarian people and they all found something good to eat. Nice place.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Never had a bad ozumo experience. Waiters are prompt and nice and friendly, seating is always quick, drinks are good, sushi is GREAT LOVE IT, always have crazy time (in a fun way)

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Probably the best sushi place in san jose. Good quality fish and food. Service was fast and knowledgeable.

Visited 2 years ago

Kind and generous service. Food was pricey but worth it. Try their wagyu rib-eye - the sauce is delicious! I would definitely go again.

Visited 2 years ago

Adrian was the most amazing server! He was attentive, informative, and hospitable. He gave thoughtful recommendations and took really good care of us throughout the meal. Food and drinks were great, especially the salmon, uni and truffle oil appetizer, yum! I wish there was ever more uni on it though 😁

The only thing that didn't taste quite right was the yellowtail belly sashimi. It was really good, but the color, texture, and flavor seemed more like a regular cut. The salmon belly, however, was super good!

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Nice environment for business lunch. Food is just okay. For the same price point, there are other options with better grade Sashimi.

Visited 2 years ago

Great little spot we ate outside and it was a nice day. We ordered the fried whole fish which was fun to eat but has tons of bones, some toast with caviar and chopped tuna, grilled brussel sprouts, garlic noodles, ceviche with chips, fresh cucumber in soy and chili sauce and parmesan fries. The truffle dip thing was to die for. I would literally want to order buckets of it and put it on everything it was so good. I think the only thing which was just okay was the ceviche and chips. Everything else was worth it and delicious. Great little spot but def pricey.

Visited 2 years ago

Good Japanese restaurant in the heart of Santana Row.

1. Chicken Karaage and Ebi tempura. The chili aioli sauce in tempura is on the spot!
2. Ika furai, Dragon crunch and Ozumo rolls.

Ambiance: Excellent
Food: Excellent
Service: Excellent

Visited 2 years ago

dishes was only a $15-30/person quality , but sell for $50-70 / person price . Location good, entrance design nice , dining space design ok. Only think to back for lunch box. And won’t choose here anymore if I want a good Japanese dinner

Visited 2 years ago

Great Japanese food. Very knowledgeable server we had.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago