SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa — Restaurant in Santa Monica

3 Things You Must Know Before "Eating" at Sugarfish.

1. Sugarfish is essentially the McDonalds of Sushi. They provide you a menu that contains the #1, #2 and #3. You can order some ala carte items but they seem to discourage that.

2. The wait staff has a built in tip, it's clearly disclosed on the menu. The problem is that this means that the staff really doesn't care about being even mildly friendly. I don't mean nice in the southern grandmother kind of way, but we felt extremely rushed, it was a little weird. When the hostess pointed our table out, she told us to go over there, unlike most restaurants where you are shown to your table. See #1, this really felt like a Japanese fast food restaurant.

3. This is a "sushi" restaurant. Not to be confused with sashimi. If you want sashimi, that's just too bad. They carry many different species of fish and they will serve them to you as sushi but they will not serve you sashimi (except for Tuna and 2 other less common fish). I asked genuinely if they had pre-made all of their sushi and that was the reason for the no-sashimi rule, the waitress was not amused. See #2.

I know I said "3 things you must know" but now that you've gotten this far, here are some bonus tips.

4. We ordered the edamame appetizer and we counted 12 soy bean pods on the plate. We would have happily paid more for a serving that would actually feed two adults, but we were so busy laughing that I couldn't get the waitresses attention before we finally left the restaurant. It was seriously comical. We are not snobs nor do we expect large portions, these were comically small servings.

5. We arrived at 6:30pm on a Monday, waited an hour for a table. They don't take reservations (we actually think that is pretty great, but ymmv). When we sat down and asked about sashimi we were told they were out of everything but Tuna for Sashimi. They really really really just want you to order one of their numbered combos. See #1.

Honestly I never write this kind of awful review but it was hands down the most hilarious and worst restaurant experience I have had in my entire life. It was as though the soup nazi from Seinfeld had opened a sushi place in Santa Monica and at one point we genuinely looked around wondering if we were perhaps on camera. Unfortunately we were not, so we walked down the street to one of the many other sushi restaurants and had a perfectly mediocre...

Sugarfish Santa Monica

Sugarfish is everything you expect out of a great sushi restaurant and then some. I had heard about this restaurant by several of my LA friends but decided to go to this location in Santa Monica rather than the one near USC due to its proximity to the Pier and 3rd Street Promenade.

WAIT TIME & SERVICE On a Friday evening, 6pm to be exact, we were very lucky to have just barely beat the dinner rush because we were seated the moment we arrived. Had we come any later, wait times would have been upwards of 30 minutes. The wait staff was pleasant but relatively nonexistent during my time here. My date and I waited for a good five minutes before a server even came to greet us and offer us menus and water. They are a relatively friendly staff, however, so don't let that fool you! Because it was our first time dining here, our server took the time to recommend us certain entrees of our liking.

FOOD I decided to go for the "Trust Me Lite" and my date opted for the "Trust Me" combination, which consists of a variety of sushi rolls like salmon, albacore, yellowtail, sashimi, and more. The difference in options was the quantity and the Lite cost $20 for 4 sushi PIECES, 1 plate of sashimi, and 1 roll while the Trust Me cost $30 for double the amount.

If there is any way to describe the taste of their sushi, the word that comes to mind is PHENOMENAL. I enjoy eating sushi but typically do not enjoy eating raw fish (I know, kind of a contradiction!) however when I bit into my tuna sashimi I was pleasantly surprised. Each bite was very tender and fresh and the sushi rolls had warm white rice. The rice was unlike any kind I have ever had and definitely complements the fish itself. The hand roll was neatly crafted and left me wanting more.

OVERALL PROS AND CONS Pros: amazing sushi quality, ambience is nice Cons: expensive prices, small portions, long wait times At the end of the day I would highly recommend Sugarfish to anyone looking for a decent sushi stop. Would I recommend it to college students? Probably not, especially if you're looking to get your money's worth in quantity. But if you want to go for an authentic sushi restaurant with exceptional taste then this restaurant is the place for you.

I definitely plan on coming back...

Hands down, this is the best sushi and rice you’ll ever have no question about it! Whether we’re dining in or grabbing takeout, the quality is consistently outstanding and keeps us coming back again and again.

When dining in, the atmosphere is relaxed yet refined, with a strong attention to detail that enhances the entire experience. The sushi is always fresh, beautifully prepared, and bursting with flavor. You can truly taste the craftsmanship in every bite from the quality of the fish to the perfectly seasoned rice, which is some of the best we’ve ever had anywhere.

What really sets this place apart, though, is their takeout experience. They don’t just throw your order in a standard to-go box and call it a day. Instead, they package everything with so much care and intention. The sushi is placed in a beautifully organized box, and they even include thoughtful instructions on how to best enjoy each item at home. They’ll tell you which sauces pair with which rolls, how to prep certain items if needed, and how to preserve the integrity of the dish something you rarely see from any restaurant.

This level of dedication to both flavor and presentation, even when you’re enjoying your meal from your own kitchen table, is incredibly impressive. It’s clear they take pride in what they serve, and it makes every visit (or takeout night) feel like something special.

If you’re a sushi lover or even if you’re new to it this place is a must. It’s truly a gem that delivers every single time, and we feel lucky to have it as a go-to favorite. Five stars...