Welcome to Sakura Monterey
Sakura Monterey offers an authentic taste of Japan nestled in the heart of Monterey, California. Operated by a charming elderly couple, this cozy eatery embodies a warm, welcoming atmosphere that reflects traditional Japanese hospitality. Guests rave about the fresh seafood, including expertly crafted sashimi and delectable rolls, all made with locally sourced ingredients. Highlights include the soft shell crab and the bento boxes, which come beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. With the intimate setting and attentive service, every visit to Sakura feels like a heartfelt dining experience, making it a must-visit for sushi lovers and newcomers alike.
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574 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey, CA 93940 Hotline: (831) 373-1767
Welcome to Sakura Monterey, a charming gem nestled in the heart of Monterey, California. Situated at 574 Lighthouse Ave, this authentic Japanese restaurant has captured the hearts of both locals and visitors alike. Known for its welcoming atmosphere and deliciously fresh seafood, Sakura Monterey delivers a dining experience that goes beyond just a meal; it’s a taste of tradition.
The restaurant is helmed by a delightful elderly Japanese couple, whose warm smiles and personable service create an inviting environment. It’s a place where the chef, who boasts over 36 years of experience, takes the time to connect with guests, ensuring that everyone feels like part of the family. Many patrons rave about his dedication to the craft, making it evident that at Sakura, you're not just another customer—you're a treasured guest.
From the moment you walk in, you’ll be greeted by the soft glow of lanterns that set a warm, cozy ambiance. The decor resonates with a classic "hole-in-the-wall" vibe, providing an authentic Japanese dining experience that is often hard to find. You might even find yourself seated at the sushi bar, where the chef serves your food on charming miniature boats, adding a playful twist to an already delightful experience.
- Signature Dishes: The star of the menu includes an assortment of sashimi priced at $22.95, showcasing the freshest catches of the day.
- Teriyaki Offerings: Indulge in various broiled options like Tuna Teriyaki, Saba Shioyaki, Chicken Teriyaki, and Tuna Shioyaki, each offering a delicious glimpse into Japanese culinary arts, with prices ranging from $14.95 to $15.95.
- Appetizers: Start your meal with mouth-watering options such as the Hamachi yellowtail tuna, Yakitori skewered chicken, or the light yet satisfying Tempura.
Customer reviews often highlight the freshness of the seafood, with many praising dishes like the Ama Ebi and Chirashi, noted for their exceptional quality. Others recount delightful experiences with the California roll and tender hamachi toro, cherished by those who seek an authentic taste of Japan right in Monterey.
After your meal, savor a delightful almond cookie on the house, a sweet touch that leaves a lasting impression, as noted by guests who have frequented Sakura. The personal touches—from the kind service to the chef’s engagement—create a level of hospitality that transcends typical dining experiences.
In summary, if you're seeking a place to indulge in fresh, authentic Japanese cuisine, combined with a cozy atmosphere and personal service, look no further than Sakura Monterey. With consistently positive feedback from patrons like Ralph B., Jessica T., and Wendy T., it’s clear that this little restaurant is a treasure worth visiting.
Phone: (831) 373-1767
Hours: Open daily from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM (call ahead for availability, as the restaurant may close temporarily for large orders).
Join the many who have felt the warmth of Sakura Monterey and allow it to become your go-to place for delicious sushi and heartwarming experiences in Monterey!
We love this place! Always a good meal here! Golden roll is my favorite. We have tried almost everything on the menu and everything is good.
A small mom and pop restaurant located just off Cannery Row! Me and my friend visited yesterday for dinner after spending all day at Monterey Bay Aquarium. It wasn't busy, so we were able to be seated immediately. They have 3 TV screens playing, but the restaurant is actually fairly quiet overall (which I usually prefer bc it's better for table conversation). I ordered a dinner bento box, which comes with miso soup, rice, salad, and 2 meats. For me 2 meats, I got chicken teriyaki and a California roll (8 pcs). I really liked the miso soup and California roll! I wish I had gotten a different meat besides the chicken, but it was still pretty good overall. My friend ordered 2 sushi rolls and they were cutely decorate with mini umbrellas! When we got the check, they served us almond cookies and they were really good! Shout out to our server who was really nice and dealt with our shenanigans! The food was served fairly quickly as well, so we were happy with that. Would come back again!
So here is what I care about when it comes to sushi; fresh seafood that smells good; more protein than rice; good flavor. This place checks all my boxes. It was dead quite when we got there, which scared me, but it turned out amazing. Chef came out and chatted with us and is just so awesome. Knew the sushi place in our town (auburn) and was just so personable. Really enjoyed our dinner.
Kazu was always so friendly and just a sweet man! We got the sushi and nigiri combination to share. It was a LOT at a very reasonable price and we loved the hamachi toro and unagi nigiri! The rice was a bit too sour and since I'm not eating much rice, I would probably ask him to cut the rice next time. I love the yellow tail and next time I'm going to have the scallop, rainbow roll with tempura, and their other variety. Met Josh, another friendly customer who is like a son to kazu And it was a very nice and great experience! We also bought more California roll to go for on the road back to the Bay area :) He's open everyday from 5:00 to 11:00 but he will be closing for a day or two or when he has corporate big orders for catering. So best to call first before coming in.
We were dying of hunger at 9pm and were looking for a quick bite when we saw this little, warmly lit place. We walked in and were greeted with a wave of warmth from inside, both physically and by the smiles of the owners, a cute elderly Japanese couple. We sat at the bar and had a great conversation with the owner/sushi chef who boasted over 36+ years of perfecting the sushi craft! He even showed us the fresh catch of the day "toro" tuna, which is locally sourced! Good we ordered was the Sashimi Platter which came with a house salad + ginger vinaigrette and miso soup. Be mindful, the owners also are the only staff so add some time to your restaurant-ing plans (they are meticulous, really 'take their time'). Overall great experience and would love to visit again when we vacation in the area. TLDR: Highly recommend, great atmosphere, authentic cuisine, lovely owners!
In town for a conference and decided to have dinner here again last night. Place is busy for a Monday evening. Ordered an Ama Ebi and Chirashi. Food is still fantastic, Ama Ebi is fresh as can be, fried prawn head is nice and crunchy and prawn it self is nice and sweet! Chirashi is much much better than the one I had at Morimoto's in Napa, fish is fresher (hamachi is one of the best I had), portion larger and sushi rice is spot on! After dining, I chatted with the chef/owner. What a delightful guy! I mentioned to him that he gave my son a shirt 7 months ago, he got super excited and handed me another shirt for me this time! This will definitely be a go to when in town!
I heard good things about this restaurant from a colleague and what sold me was that this place is Japanese owned and operated with a reasonable standard price. I loved the "hole-in-the-wall" vibe I got from this place. And loved that the chef/owner was really upfront about the back up they were having from a party of 10+ ppl. Seeing as how he was the only chef there, I wanted to be patient and wait for it. The restaurant is dimly lit from little lanterns and had an authentic feel to it. Service was still pretty good for how busy they were and we were taken care of and checked in on. At some point, the chef himself came to deliver updates on our orders whenever he delivered a part of our order. The staff was overall pretty engaging. Head chef was like seeing my own grandpa working in his old chefs attire. Quite heartwarming. The rolls were really simple and really yum. The sashimi tasted fresh and cool which was really refreshing during a heat wave. I would definitely come back for the vibes again.
If you want sushi after 9pm your options are very limited. We went to a movie and hubby wanted sushi after. I had been here eons ago. Tonight we arrived about 8:30? Definitely a local spot. I think the sushi chef and the waitress gal are the owners- which is pretty cool. We ordered a Rainbow roll, 2 Philadelphia rolls and a negihama roll. All was tasty. The green tea is HOT. I mean borderline scalding, so watch out for that. Service was slow, but honesty I didn't mind one bit. This place just feels cozy and a spot you could linger over some rolls, some beverages and good company.
My boyfriend and I are visiting from Chicago and we came here after reading the reviews. There is a sushi place very close to here but we are SO glad we came here instead. The reviews are right- this restaurant is ran entirely by an elderly Japanese couple. They are so hard working and welcoming and the vibes in here are immaculate. We seated ourselves near the sushi bar. I highly recommend sitting by the boats especially if it isn't busy. It was a pleasure chatting with the owner and he sent our orders down the boats which was entertaining in itself haha. We enjoyed the atmosphere so much we stayed and had a couple Sapporo beers, which they served us with chilled glasses. Before we left, the owner brought out a giant bottle of sake and gave us and another couple sake glasses and we all drank together and toasted! He even asked us all of our shirt sizes and made sure we left with merch! We love the shirts we got and will cherish our memories here. I cannot recommend this place enough. If you're looking for an authentic, friendly experience as well as fresh sushi you MUST come visit Sakura.