Kanda Sushi — Restaurant in Thousand Oaks

My wife and I have travelled the world, lived in many cities and are sushi snobs. Since moving back to the area, it has been an absolute challenge and disappointment with finding great quality sushi and omakase that is not insanely overpriced and underwhelming.

Then we found Kanda Sushi. It is in a bit of a strip mall like most things out here. It is unassuming at first glance and traditional in its style and selections.

It is not the cheapest option but well worth the price when you consider that the quality is super high end fish from Japan and locally sourced west coast (Santa Barbara Uni & Ebi and Seattle Peuget Sound Kumomoto Oysters).

Every single piece was fresh, flavorful and does not require soy or wasabi - it melts in your mouth! You can tell that the chef and staff really care about what they do and maintain highest quality and service.

Our Omakase was about $140 per person for about 16-18 pieces of some of the freshest sushi I have had in quite some time!

If you want a bunch of rolls with weird sauces, pickled bits, cream cheese and fried stuff - this is not the place for you. You will be denied service and honestly deserve it.

But if you want a traditional experience with a real chef who respects quality and the craft - give Kanda a chance and be prepared to drop $100+ per person for an incredible experience.

We will be returning again and again to join earlier in the day with even fresher and more bountiful options since the menu is sourced daily.

If you cannot splurge for a bottle of Kubota - go with the Kikusui (chilled) as a great option.

Thanks chef & kanda staff -...

I've tried sushi at every good sushi place in Ventura County and this place has the absolute best quality sushi. You will not find fancy rolls here all gunked up with sauce so that you can't tell if you're eating good sushi or road kill. Kanda is a very traditional Japanese-style sushi bar. The star here is nigiri sushi. It's pricey but worth every cent.

The chairs at the sushi bar are very comfortable. And that's definitely the preferable place to sit, not at a table. There's always good conversation to be had with the longtime, faithful clientele. And good sushi recommendations. Good place to impress a sushi-loving date if you've got the dough.

Omakase (chef's choice) is a great choice here. You can choose an upper limit dollar amount or just indicate when you are full. Be prepared to be amazed.

If you go to any top end sushi bar in L.A., some of which only serve omakase be prepared to have the chef tell you what you're going to eat & how to eat it. If you want rolls drowned in eel sauce, etc. there are plenty of places that do that, don't come here...

I had high hopes. I love sushi. Server was very nice, but she didn't take our order for 20 minutes. Everything took forever. It was strange, the menus say they are traditional and take there food seriously, but it was really bad. The fish was dried out and flavorless. The rice was over cooked. I was really let down. The only good thing was the saki. I don't know what's going on there. It was over all a very bad experience. I would not go back. Maybe it was a bad night? I'll check back and grab a hand roll later and possibly update my rating, I don't like to leave...