Yuki Sushi Santa Clara — Restaurant in Santa Clara

This is one of my sister's favorite places. And having come here several times, I can understand why. She is a regular here, and seems to know the waiting staff very well. It's not too different than watching. Cheers and seeing the staff greet Cliff and Norm when they walk through the door. Despite this, I'll be as unbiased as I can about this review.

The restaurant is located in the corner of a small shopping block in the prune ridge shopping center in San Jose. The establishment consists of two dining rooms, one in the front and one in the back with the one in the back having a back entrance and being smaller than the main room. In order to get to the main room from the back room and vice versa you'd have to pass through the area where the back kitchen is and the food is prepared, which is a bit odd for them to even allow that transition, but would also explain why. Why sometimes if you come to the front they tell you to go around the back so you don't have to walk through that space to get to your seat. Interestingly enough, the bathroom is also located in the same space, which means you will see the inner workings of the back kitchen if you need to visit the restroom.

Otherwise, this is a good place. The quality of the food is high, the servers and the staff are very attentive, and the experience is cozy without feeling commercial. I especially like their agadashi tofu, and their udon bowls feel bigger than I typically see at Japanese restaurants. The menu selection has a good amount of variety, and you can get all different forms of Asian alcohol here including Asian beers, and of course, sake. I imagine they do sake bombs here, but I've not seen or done it. With the staff being such good friends with my sister, they always come over to do sake shots, which I think I prefer over the bombs because the sake tastes good on its own. This is bottled sake, and not the warmed kind. So it is a bit of a different experience.

There isn't much to say outside of that. I probably am biased coming here because I get positive vibes from the way they treat my sister, but my overall feeling of the spot is local, cozy, good service, quality food. I believe this is what you'll get if you decide to dine here and will not come away...

This is for my May 7th visit or I should say non eating visit. 😡 I have been eating at Yuki Sushi for over 20 years and have been a good repeat customer and bring friends and family to the restaurant. But I must say throughout the 20+ years the food and service have been deteriorating but to me it's still in good category. I don't normally complaint but today I was being very rudely treated. They open at 4:30 pm but today they were already full in 15 min. They do have a sign up sheet with time of arrival. There were two other groups with 3 and 2, I was the 3rd on the list with only one person. In 20 min there were no new groups signed up on the waiting sheet and the first 2 tables were seated. I patiently waiting for my seat. Then a woman came with 2 little kids, within 2 min, the server called out their name and asked them if Tatami is OK. I immediately asked what about me I have not been seated and he shrugged his shoulders and said sorry then continued to let them in. This made me extremely upset. I do understand that on the paper it said they're three and I am one but look at the time he should know I waited a long time and they just arrived. Besides the table is not super big. I went in and complained then walked out the restaurant. No apology from anyone. From now on I will think twice about going to this restaurant and will not recommend...

Do you remember the tv show Cheers?

The theme song rings in my head, "Where everybody knows your name And they're always glad you came You want to go where people know People are all the same You want to go where everybody knows your name"

Every time I come here, (which has been only a handful of times, because I don't live closeby), but it never fails...every single time, the servers always greet their regular clients by their first names. And you can tell by their interactions, that it's mutual. That this place is an establishment in the neighborhood and customers are treated like family. So refreshing to still have that personal touch and care.

Now, let's talk food. Sushi is fresh every time. Their lunch specials are DA BEST! Love the bento boxes and wide selection of choices you can mix and match to your heart's content.

Now the best reason to keep coming back for more is the PRICE. For their quality of food and excellent customer service, their prices are not crazy overpriced like some of other newer restaurants.

So, even if I have to drive further to come here, it is totally worth it! Yuki Sushi has been my go-to place for weekday lunch meetings. And I plan on sharing with my friends, so they can experience it for themselves.

My goal is that I'll be a regular here too and one day, they will...