Ozumo Santana Row — Restaurant in San Jose

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...

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...

Came here for my first date night in a year since having my son. Boy was I excited. Any mom who has been home for a year with a new baby and house full of kids can relate. What a mistake. Was hoping for an amazing food experience and got nothing near. We ordered two drinks, the giddy geisha was delicious and loved the lychee. The other, not so good, but it looked so pretty. For food we had the cod fish. It was not fresh and not cooked thru. Tasted burnt of the outside and jelly like on the inside. The sauce was strange, it was kind of sour. The menu made me think it would be sweet. One bite and that was it. Everything was cold. We also ordered the A5 wagu, 5oz…$140 for that plate. Definitely not quality meat, for sure not wagu quality, and not worth anything near the price we payed. Again, one bite and done. At this point I was starving. The sever forgot my dragon crunch roll ( which was the first thing I ordered) and when I asked about it he brought out a roll that didn’t look like what I thought I ordered. No avocado, no snow crab meat no unagi. When I asked if it was a dragon crunch like I ordered he said it was. When I questioned where the avocado and unagi and snow crab were, he told me they were mixed up inside. I took a bite, sure enough it was not what I ordered. It had spicy mayo all over it and if there is anything I can’t have, it’s spicy food. Even the slightest bit of spice sends me into horrible feeling. I should have listened to myself. We did order fries, and they were hot and satisfying. Super yummy with the furukake. Unfortunately I will never return for the food. Granted we did have to take a super late reservation because of our baby, so maybe the kitchen was not so hot at the end of the night, but damn, no excuse. Especially for a $300 bill. I expected excellence in that food. Nope, not even close. Super disappointing. We told our server and he comped the fish. On a serious note tho, I don’t think this...