Kumi Ko — Restaurant in San Luis Obispo

One of our go to Sushi and Japanese food restaurants in SLO for many years. Top quality fish, including for all options for nigiri and sashimi. Everything we have tried is excellent.

Our top 5 favorite/goto sushi rolls are:

Cherry Blossom Roll Hawaiian Roll Dragon Roll Grand Tasty Roll Kumiko Roll

We have tried many of their offerings but due to a mild shrimp allergy in the family tend to avoid dishes/sushi rolls with shrimp or at least shrimp that is easy to pick out if the roll for the one family member. Portions are of good size, and always fresh and excellent. All the standard sides for a sushi place are very good, with no disappointments ever for us. The only dish I heard less than positive feedback on from people I know is the baked green muscles, so if this a fav for you maybe don’t order at any of smaller sushi restaurant in SLO.

The Kumiko Boat is a excellent choice, if are less of a raw sushi fan, order a extra California, Crunch or spicy tuna roll with it to turn that extra roll into an amazing extra custom rainbow roll for the sashimi pieces, it also comes with 2 midi soups, order more at under $2 ea if a bigger group, and comes with a decent size combo salad that includes seaweed salad, cucumber salad, and in out order what I think was smoked octopus salad, anyway it was delish, and I’m sure subject to chefs choice changes. Sashimi pieces are thick, most if sliced thinner and in half could be used to top 4 basic roll pieces.

DISHES WE FREQUENTLY ORDER: (⭐️ = on our families favorite, 2-3 of starred choice with every order we make 😋):

⭐️ Tempura (mixed or vegetable) ⭐️ Edamame Kumiko vegetable roll Cucumber salad Poki salad ⭐️ Dragon Roll Salmon tempura roll Golden California or Golden tempura roll Rainbow or Rainbow crunch roll ⭐️ Grand tasty roll ⭐️ Hawaiian roll ⭐️ Cherry Blossom roll

And also in the family favorites frequently ordered items. (Good, yet nothing special either):

⭐️ Gyoza ⭐️ Miso soup Teriyaki (any type)

We typically order take out or delivery but have enjoyed eating restaurant on several occasions and always enjoyed. If a special occasion. Can think of a couple of alternatives that reservations in SLO & Pismo as alternatives for special occasion dining atmosphere.

All in all...

We went there for a late lunch and got the lunch special 'bento box'. That is it in the picture, good deal, nice assortment of goodies. 3 kinds of Japanese pickled vegetables, miso, rice, assorted tempura, cutlet, cut roll. We almost could have gotten one and split it. They also have a really good deal on happy hour. Nice neighborhood Japanese restaurant.

Look farther down and you will see another picture I took of spicy Seafood Ramen and Spanish mackerel sashimi, they were terrific.

Edit: Went back again for that Spanish mackerel combo and more, wow. That mackerel was one of the best fish dishes we had ever eaten. The entire fish is prepared as sushi/sashimi, and the bones and head are fried up. We at every bit. My compliments to the chefs.

This is now my favorite...

I wasn't able to try their sushi, which I do know is what they are known for, so my review may be a bit biased. I ordered their undon noodle soup with chicken, mixed veggies, and mixed tempura on the side. Their tempura was pretty good. It was crispy and not oily! My favorite one was the pumpkin! Their borth on the other hand was not as good. There wasn't enough flavor. It felt like an under seasoned chicken broth soup (I think I tasted more of the cabbage than anything else). Also, my friend had the spicy ramen, and she said it felt like she was eating the packaged Shin ramen. We did also share the crab cucumber salad, which was good. The cucumber was very pickaly and the crab was just immitation, but the size was good! The service was also amazing! Our waiter was incredibly nice and...