Sushi Damu, PAYCE — Restaurant in Tustin

I visited here for the first time today on June 11th 2024, and I decided to get the 45 dollar AYCE.

Service: 2 star -The restaurant was not even half full, and with a busser, two servers, and a host, things were going way too slow. I had to call someone multiple times to get orders rolling, and I had to ask multiple times to get my appetizers, only to be told later on that they were "out".

Food: 1 star -Nigiri was VERY VERY poorly made. Rice was disintegrating, wasn't formed at all, and looked like a six year old made it. Also, 3 sushi chefs and it took 15+ minute each time to get... 5-6 pieces of Nigiri to my table, each time. I ordered some appetizers, Takoyaki and Baked Mussels. Takoyaki was bland, cold, and feels like it was taken out of a frozen bag and microwaved for 30 seconds, also there was so little sauce on it that it felt like I was eating raw flour mixture.

Baked Mussels... oh boy.. This thing was beyond repulsive. It wasn't cooked properly, and way too big for an appetizer. It also tasted very stale, and I couldn't bring myself to finish it. I ended up sending it back and told them to not bothering make me a replacement.

The people who worked here looked miserable and didn't want to be there. It took way too long to get simple things, and no one was even remotely close to being attentive. Table was dirty, and I had to wait 10 minutes just to get soy sauce on my table.

It was the most unpleasant experience I've had with a sushi restaurant so far. I've had better experience dining at a fast food sushi restaurants with a sleepy high schooler acting as the cashier+host.

Dear owner(s), if you are reading this, please note that I am not writing this review in attempts to get compensation or free food (as I made it clear to my host when I was complaining) . I was so beyond disgusted that I felt compelled to write this review. Please train your staff and back house properly. My experience at this establishment was just dreadful and pathetic. I generally leave minimum 20% of my check as tip, even up to 50% if the dining experience is good, but at this establishment, I left 0%. Even a pity 5 dollar tip seemed undeserved.

Needless to say, I will not be back. If their service is this pathetic and poor at down times of the day, I do not even want to imagine how bad it must get during...

Disappointing Experience at Damu: Great Food Marred by Poor Service

As a dedicated Google reviewer and food blogger, I was eager to share my experience at Damu, a renowned sushi spot in town. Having visited for the second time, my expectations were high for both service and cuisine. Opting for the premium package priced at $45, I anticipated a delightful dining affair.

On the culinary front, Damu did not disappoint. The quality of the food was commendable, meeting the standards I had heard so much about. However, my dining experience took a sour turn due to several shortcomings in service.

Firstly, the pace of service was disappointingly slow. But what truly soured the experience was the demeanor of our server. Throughout the meal, her attitude was unwelcoming, and every request felt like an inconvenience. This lack of hospitality detracted significantly from what could have been an enjoyable evening.

To compound matters, we were unaware of the restaurant's strict 1.5-hour seating limit, a detail not communicated to us upon arrival. Imagine our surprise when, after an hour and a half of dining, we were abruptly informed by our server that our time was up, and we were expected to settle the bill and vacate our seats immediately. This abruptness left us feeling rushed and unwelcome, with the added frustration of having to pay for uneaten food due to the time constraint.

Seeking clarification, we addressed our concerns with the manager regarding both the restaurant's policies and the server's demeanor. Unfortunately, the manager's response was disappointingly dismissive, offering only to speak with the server without addressing our broader concerns. To add insult to injury, the same server handled our bill, further highlighting the lack of accountability within the establishment.

In summary, while Damu impresses with its culinary offerings and inviting ambiance, the poor service detracts significantly from the overall dining experience. My ratings reflect this sentiment: Food receives a modest 2 out of 5, the atmosphere earns a respectable 4 out of 5, but service, unfortunately, garners a dismal 0 out of 5.

In conclusion, while Damu may excel in certain aspects, potential patrons should be wary of the inconsistencies in service that mar an otherwise promising...

We wanted to venture out from our normal AYCE spot, and Sushi Damu came in top searches with the best reviews. We jumped in line on Saturday at around 4:45pm and got a table for 4.5 quite quickly, though I’m sure we beat the crowd as the seats were quick to fill as soon as we sat down. They do not take reservations, but do utilize the waitlist function on Yelp! For dinner AYCE, each adult was costing $40pp, pretty standard to our usual spot, but menu wise is smaller than what we’re accustomed to. They also don;t have sashimi added to this price, but for another $15, you can add cuts of sashimi to your AYCE round!

Sushi Damu overall experience was average. Food was just okay. Salmon cuts were fresh, and you can tell; YUMMY. I’d recommend the salmon handrolls and both the smoked and regular cut of salmon nigiri, along with yellowtail and saba. Those were delicious! Aside from that, every other roll had either cream cheese, imitation crab meat, or an overpowering sauce that covers up all the fish taste. We had starred maybe 4 rolls that were actually fish and not imitation. Disappointing rolls. The appetizer menu was also pretty small. Notable items were the Sashimi Salad and the deep-fried squid tentacles.

Service was give or take. They’re trying a new way to deliver better service to tables, with stands that hold green and red signs. Our sign was green, like all night, and we still needed to waive over our waitress. Also side tip, make sure you check your receipt at the end of the meal, we were 4 adults, with 2 babies, under 3 years old, and we were charged for both of them the standard $7 kid price, with an added 18% gratuity charge. I had emailed and wanted to know if it was standard practice, which they reassured it was not and was quick to try to rectify, but for anyone else dining with kids, maybe double check!

Overall, the experience was average. Food was nothing to make me whine over. I think we’ll stick to our usual place next time we’re down for AYCE again,...