I'm not really a raw fish connoisseur, but I must say I am a true fan of Katsu Sushi House. Yesterday was my birthday, 4 July, and after a long day at the beach, the plan was to retain our primo parking spot and eat dinner at Sushi House before the fireworks. NO amount of convenience could've made me stay and place its importance over my comfort after I entered that place! (Don't even get me started.) We searched and searched for another place to eat, but for whatever reason, people decide to close on my birthday, so we "settled" upon Katsu, having gone in there briefly prior to get a feel for its Energy and style. The people seemed nice enough, so why not? Why not, indeed! The food was great, we had at least 3 people waiting on us hand and foot, the menu extensive, and prices reasonable. But what really blew me away was the royal treatment I received after they learned it was my birthday! I hesitate to go further, lest it's not par for the course, and I wouldn't want to put the owner in an embarrassing situation and feel pressured to repeat his actions every time it's someone's birthday, but suffice to say, we'll be back. We live, unfortunately, too far away, at the moment, to go as often as I'd like, but we hope that will change soon enough! Katsu Sushi made my birthday even more enchanting and special than it already was this year!
(4)
Lisa D.
A friend and I wanted to grab something fresh within walking distance from my house. Yikes! our meal was barely edible. We ordered 2 miso soups, 2 seaweed salads, avocado roll, and spinach and dipping sauce, and tea. Her tea had a gnat in it, the spinach was rolled and looked like 2 turds, the avocado roll, I had to sneakily spit it out so my friend didn't see my disgust. The miso and salad were good, also the green tea cheesecake. Service was good. The bill was $40. I don't recommend this place.
(1)
Nobbi L.
Despite the new definitions, I just can't give this place only 2 stars. The service and the ambiance was really great. It was a Saturday night, I just got back from 2 days working in Modesto, Jack is on business in PHX before being jobless as of Oct. 31, and I had to take our housemate to dinnner (not really, I just have to take care of him.) He had heard good things from a local gay social network about this place. Queens often have bad taste! (Just like our straight brothers & sisters.) I agreed to go. The problem is the food! Or our ordering. The only thing I really was my sunomono. The sauce was tart and sweet at the same time and the cucumbers had soaked up some flavor. But even there the ebi did have more of a fish flavor than it should. My salmon skin hand roll also wasn't really good. Rather than thin crispy/crunchy skin, it contained thicker limp "sticks" of something. The nori was chewy and tough. I was in the mood for some non-sushi stuff. Rather than going for the usual teriyaki or tempura, I saw something like chicken with spicy sauce. I imagined something along the lines of Korean BBQ chicken. My mistake. What arrived was closer to Hungarian chicken paprikas minus the cream than to an Asian delicacy. I just ate a few bites. If I were just to rate the food, it would get 1 star.
(3)
Kevin H.
Can we not throw birthday parties here? hahaha, im gonna only order Tuna Roll or Salmon Roll, cuz I'm always disappointed whenever I order anything else. If it weren't for so many birthdays being celebrated here, I would never come again cuz theres much better in Alameda. (No...i wouldnt go to sushi house instead, its just as bad quality-wise) Chef special sushi and sashimi was definitely the worst and cheapest quality in fish I've ever had for a chef special. I'm sure the rolls are fine, but im not a roll person and of course when you drown it in sauces its gonna taste good.
(2)
L W.
They are miss with a few hits. The worst thing a sushi place can do is make bad rice. Sometimes the rice is hard and that is just bad. Other than that the food is ok. If you don't want to spend the time waiting for Sushi House then you could give this place a try. The service is actually pretty good. I have had a few things that I didn't like and when I told them, they either took it back and fixed it or did not charge me for the food. I go here when I am lazy and don't want to go to the other side of town for sushi.
(3)
Gregory S.
I was very disappointed in the quality of sushi here. From the appearance of the outside, you'd think that it was a quality place to eat. The only thing that I was impressed with was the Host that was wearing a "Peace" bracelet. She was very friendly, and quite honestly, the only reason I sat down. I ordered the rainbow roll and the Philly Roll. When they arrived, both were luke warm and tasted terrible. I wanted to check my email while I wanted and found the Katsu WIFI. I asked the server for the password. She stated they didn't have wifi. I said that I see the Katsu Wifi. She said, its locked and I don't know the password. Ok, her tip was just cut in half. She didn't check on me until I was eating the last piece of sushi. And Id needed water. I will not be back. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR. Make the extra effort to drive to Knob Hill and eat at New Sushi King. It Fresh, Larger portions, and you'll pay half what you'll pay at KATSU EWW maybe they should call it Kats EWW.
(1)
Nonyah B.
i asked for raspberry ice tea and the waitress answers with a " oh yes we have ice tea", comes back with regular un sweeten iced tea. i told her i didnt want the drink and asked for a sprite instead, when the sprite arrived it tasted SUPER FLAT! i told her about the horrible tasting soda and she answers with "oh.. yea.. its because they turned down the gas"... WHY WOULD YOU SERVE SODA TO YOUR CUSTOMERS IF YOU KNOW ITS FLAT?!??!?! i told her i didnt want the sprite either and just wanted ice water instead. when the water came, there was no ice and little bits of somethings floating in my water. i complained again about my drink and told her that i just wanted a cup of ice and just drank a can of orange soda i had in my car. love the food but CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKS!!!!!!!
(3)
Betty R.
Pretty good sushi. I've had better but not bad. Went there last night on a date with the boyfriend it was pretty empty and once we put our order in the food came quick. I would go back again.
(4)
Raymond Z.
i used to work here when i was in high school back in 2004-2005, business was good, though the management was kinda sour (the owners always ask "what happened?" when things go wrong. and the sushi bar DOES NOT cooperate with the servers. By now, I'm pretty sure the management changed at least twice. Last time I went in with my brother, it was just ridiculous. 1 star for location, have their own parking lot 1/2 star for price 1/2 star for portion/quality -1 star for service (i know it's a big time for girls to look pretty at all times , but it's not necessary for the waitress to have heavy perfume on. going back with the black and white is just fine. -1 star for atmosphere (it's just cold in there, not lively enough, although the bathroom is indeed very clean)
(2)
Lis M.
Went on a Friday afternoon and that place was dead. Should've known that was a bad sign from the get go. My friend and I ordered the unagi roll, rock n roll, and a bay scallop. I knew that the bay scallop required baking but I did not expect to wait more than 30 MINUTES for it! Our 2 different waitresses acted surprised that it was taking so long and swore it was just coming out, then checked back one last time and asked if we wanted to just cancel the order. NO, wtf, I ordered that roll because I wanted it, why would I cancel the order now that I waited more than 30 MINUTES for it!? When the roll finally came the waitress tried to shut us up by offering free ice cream for the inconvenience but i asked to speak to the owner instead to express the unsatisfactory service we had. HE also insisted to apologize with ice cream so we had to basically beg for a discount from the bill and i think at the end he took it from the waitresses check. wtf. All in all the rolls were decent, priced the same as sushi house, and they only took 12 MINUTES to make a bay scallop. I will not return to this place. I'd rather go back to sushi house and wait 30 minutes to get seated then to wait for my roll.
(2)
MJ S.
Its Friday night! I just got paid, and I'M HUNGRY!! Cruised by Sushi House, but the line was out the door. Where else can we go? We decided to try Katsu Sushi on Webster. Oh cool, its open late! Well, it's nearly deserted...But we decided to give it a try. I ordered miso soup, edamame, spicy tuna roll and the GoGo Roll. The Plus side: The soup and edamame came almost instantly. The rolls were HUGE! The Negative side: Even though it was nearly deserted and there were 3 servers, I finished all my tea and was waiting and waiting for the server to come back, and when she FINALLY did, I asked for a water. She came back with a boiling cup of water. Um, thanks? The rolls were mediocre at best. So bigger really isn't better, and the rolls were huge but they weren't very good. The spicy tuna was spicy, but it had some inedible bits of fish scales in it! The GoGo Roll was better but nothing special. I don't think I'll be back. Service was good when I finally got the attention, but hard to come by. Quality of food was pretty low. Meh. We should have stood in line at Sushi House. :/
(1)
Michael O.
The service sucks, but the sushi is ok. My family and I have been coming to Katsu since 2006. In the span of over six years the service is sporadic. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, depending on which waitress you get. The sushi has been pretty good for us. We order the samething every time. My wife loves the cherry blossom, my son loves the lion king, and I love the yami yami roll. I wish they could be better on service, but reading other reviews they just suck at it.
(3)
Andrew Y.
It's pretty close to where I live so we thought we'd try it out. We got our food to go. It felt a little expensive. 3 rolls and sashimi cost $38. The roles good, but one of them was flipped on it's side, the fish on top had fallen off. Oh well. There were decidedly less people at this restaurant than Sushi House. We'll try this place again.
(3)
Will S.
The only word that I can use to describe this place is "WOW", and not in a good way!!!! I was greeted upon entry and seated very quickly by 1 of the 2 servers. The location was quite large but with few people during the late lunch crowd. I hate writing negative reviews, especially when a restaurant seems to be trying but I'd have to say, they FAILED miserably. After seating, I was ignored and didn't get the server's attention to take my order for about 15-20 mins. All the while, no water, not follow up, no nothing. Keep in mind that this was during Wednesday lunch which means that I needed to get back to work in a timely manner. I allotted an hour for lunch but ended up taking over an hour. If the system allowed me, I would give it negative stars. Since the system requires I select a star measurement, I'm selecting 1 star. If I had a choice, I would select negative stars! After the initial long wait, the server finally took my order. I ordered the Chirashi and was very excited until I received my order. The Chirashi was served in a tiny square bowl, with very little sushi rice and even smaller pieces of sashimi. I've ordered Chirashi from many different Japanese restaurants in the greater Bay Area and I have to say that this order was the worst ever. All Chirashi sushi slices were sliced into french fry style slices, into strips if you will. All the strips equated to about only 4 conservative sashimi slices. I felt gipped and short-changed. My minimul amount of food was VERY over-priced for the amount. That coupled with the service, I'd have to say, "STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE"!!!! I will never come back to this place. Don't say I didn't warn you!!!!!
(1)
Mario B.
Good sushi and good customer service. Unlike Sushi House in South Shore you don't have to wait as long to be seated. It's pretty much immediate. The food is just as good also.
(4)
Sarah O.
I went here for an awesomely awkward lunch with the boyfriend. Not Katsu's fault, it's the result of having lunch after fighting then not seeing each other for like 4 days. Blah blah blah, boo hoo. I had eaten here once before when I was vegan and I ordered some special items that weren't on the menu. They charged me outrageously for an avocado and shiso roll, but I think the girl that rang me up was new and wasn't sure how to price it. It's all good, she was ridiculously friendly. This time I ordered agedashi tofu, and the veggie roll. The boyfriend ordered the bento box with tuna sashimi and some chicken thing, and the tempura roll. I really like their agedashi tofu, they don't leave out the green onion like other places and they don't put the tofu in a swimming pool of sauce, which makes the batter all soggy. The veggie roll was good too, typical stuff. Oshinko, kanpyo, gobo, cucumber, shitake. I think that's everything... I liked the tempura roll as well. Normally I don't, and I can't exactly pinpoint what made this one better but I enjoyed it. The tuna sashimi looked really good, however I didn't try any. I've heard people say this place is pricey. I didn't think so. And if you're eating at a sushi place that's hella cheap, you might want to question the quality of the fish. Good quality sushi fish isn't cheap.
(4)
Tu-Anh N.
If you don't want to wait at Sushi House, then this is I guess the place to go...if you have extra money on you Also, if you want a nice romantic dinner where its not noisy and plenty of room on your table for food. The food is good, I love their rolls with the spicy sauce on them. However, the portions are smalller than a lot of places. The presentation is nice though (maybe that's why). The service it great, everyone is so nice, friendly, and humble. The setting is decent, but their mural is hideous. But I give them credit for trying... I like their tempura ice cream a lot. Instead of deep frying a huge scoop of ice-cream, they split it into 4 pieces with whip cream and a bit of chocolate syrup over it. I don't' go here anymore because of the price. But I like it.
(4)
Victor G.
katsu sushi was a former sizzler's. to fill up space, there are two groves of fake bamboo stalks running up to the ceiling colored purple and green. flatscreens showing informercials. huh? one long wall and impressionist paint splashed on it. not impressed. music: lite rock sampling: -chirashi over rice (14.95) 8 pieces of small rectucular fish, one ebi and 2 slices of tamago. -lettuce salad with french dressing -miso soup? stramge tasting. not miso taste. -cold water and tea served. -rice tasted a little cold, probably a day old. temaki(hand rolls): -small slices of fish, not super fresh, not big enough to taste fish. -ritual greeting of patrons on arrival and departure. -good service, questionable food. -free parking in lot -left when they were "busy" to avoid gratuitous "thank you". -katsu classic example of j fakeness, fakery pretty poor in fact. -went looking for more sushi but decided against it.
(2)
Sandip J.
I am a vegetarian so I usually have the Sansai Udon noodle soup and it is consistently very refreshing and of good taste. Sometimes I eat the veg sushi and it is good too. Also good service. Would definitely recommend it.
(5)
Lissette G.
Food is wonderful. The staff is friendly. The owner is always sweet to my kids, giving them a toy or lollipop, but always asking me first. It is a family favorite of ours. The only thing is when they are busy, the service isn't stellar, but that is most places. The prices could be better, but not too bad, that I still favor this place over any other sushi place in Alameda. The sushi is awesome!!!
(4)
Jack B.
This place is not good for sushi because sushi was so small and expensive what you got!!! You are not gonna expect from them.
(2)
Michael L.
Decent food, decent price and decent service. If your in Alameda and want sushi but don't want to wait like other sushi restaurants, then come here. you'll get what you paid for. food is decently price and the food has never been awful. Lion King Roll (B) Bento Box's (B) Chirashi (B)
(3)
glen p.
From the outside Katsu looks like just another restaurant on Webster street in Alameda. But once you walk in you can tell that it is much more than that. The atmosphere is quiet, and relaxing. There is an abundance of options on the menu. The staff was always ready to help us without hovering over us. The large room has two nice and very long bamboo and water feature planters that separate the room, giving the place a nice ambiance. The food was even better. I had the Red Dragon roll which is a California roll with spicy tuna ebi and tobiko. I tried three other rolls that I will tell you about later. Katsu was a very nice surprise and I can't wait to go again Red Dragon Roll 3.0 star rating California roll topped with spicy tuna ebi adn tobiko. This dish tasted great and was not too spicy. What I liked about all of the rolls is that you can easily taste the individual ingredients. Go Go Roll 4.0 star rating Shrimp tempura spicy crabmeat avocado wrapped with crunch and sauce. Don't worry I didn't order all spicy dishes. I think the funny name grabed me. The shrimp was very nice and the crabmeat really completed the dish. Spider Roll 4.0 star rating Deep fried soft shell crab, avocado and cucumber. I loved this dish. It's surved hot and after taking a bite it just melts in your mouth.
(4)
Ava C.
It's understandable when a restaurant is super busy and you do not get enough attention from the wait staff because they are preoccupied helping other customers. However, the night that we dined at Katsu, we were one of only 2 tables there, so no excuses to be ignored all night, right? The waitress only came by to take our order and bring us our food, but never checked in to see if everything was OK or if we needed anything else. Our glasses were empty and we wanted to order additional dishes, but we could not flag down the waitress as she was not even looking towards our direction. I finally got frustrated and went to her across the room and advised her that we've been trying to get her attention, and we wanted to order more. No apologies. She just took my order, and brought the food. You'd think that she'd make sure that she'd keep an eye out in case we needed anything else? Nope. We were ready to pay the bill and needed to-go boxes, and yet another ordeal to find the waitress. This is unacceptable. I grew up in the area and really want to support local businesses but this insane. How do they stay in business when they treat people like this? We joked about a "dine and dash" bc they were so inattentive that they'd probably not even notice! I really wanted to not leave a tip to prove a point, but decided against it. The food was mediocre at best and the back area where we were seated had a ton of fruit flies in the air. We had to keep swatting to get them off our food, which makes us really question this establishment's cleanliness.
(1)
Shiggles B.
Decent fish, etc. for the price. Very nice staff and good service. Great ofr to-go food too!
(4)
Cj G.
Used to love this place :( It's right around the corner and had much better service than sushi-house.... until recently. It seems as though the quality has dropped in the past year and the service has taken a serious nose dive.
(2)
Bay A.
The ingredients for sushi were not fresh, over all amount was less compare to other sushi restaurants, the waitress was not friendly at all.... We would never go back again. Only highlight was cool bathroom.
(1)
Nicole T.
Went here last night for the first time. It's within walking distance. I was hoping for amazing but I'll go with decent. I had sake (salmon) nigiri & the yellowfin sashimi. My friend got the assorted sashimi. The fish was like I said decent, I've definitely had better and larger cuts would have been nice. The rice wasn't japanese style not sure what it was. The miso soup was disappointing and my salad was swimming in dressing, it would have been good had it had less. (much less) my friend decided she wanted to get an order of uni (sea urchin) it was not fresh it was bad. We sent it back to which the waitress responded "well it's raw fish" completely disregaurding the fact that everything we ordered was raw as if we were unaware. I've been eating sushi my whole life and I know what it's supposed to taste like. Don't insult me by assuming I dont know what I'm talking about. I then suggested she taste it. (she had it removed from the bill) when they brought us the bill she told us again the uni was fresh I'm not sure who she was trying to convince us or herself. Other than that the service was good however there was only one other table in the restaurant. I would go here again if I really didn't feel like driving somewhere and wanted sushi but it will never be my first or second choice.
(2)
Renee N.
Came here for lunch today with dad. We walked in half an hour after opening; everything inside is clean and well decorated, but I could've done without the piped in Christmas music and the looping infomercials on the giant hanging plasmas. When arrived, however, we were greeted with enthusiastic hellos from the chefs and the hostess. The menu is decent, and I really liked the Nigiri Mix deal--8 pieces of Nigiri for about $13. I ordered it (no eel, please) and my dad got a bento box with teriyaki beef and tuna sashimi. Both came with miso (a little heavy and salty for my liking) and salad (standard and fine). The servers who attended to us were gracious and considerate, checking in to refill tea and remove plates as necessary. The fish was good, which is the main issue when choosing any sushi house. My nigiri mix had hamachi, tuna, salmon, shrimp, tofu, another hamachi, some fish I didn't recognize, and another fish I REALLY didn't recognize (but dad said it was probably calamari). Everything was good (though I don't think I'm a calamari girl) and fresh and the pieces were big. I tried dad's beef and was unimpressed, but I have weird responses to cooked things in the presence of sushi--kind of a, "Why would you choose THAT when THIS is available?" response. Dad liked it fine. This was my second visit (the other was over a year ago) to Katsu and all in all it's a solid sushi choice.
(4)
Jerome L.
I give credit to Katsu for being (I think) the only sushi restaurant on Webster St. Props. When you first enter Katsu, the interior of the restaurant is quite nice. The service is not a concern because they are quite friendly and quick when you need something. The sushi is okay, but not spectacular by any means. They do give a good portion of sushi, but the sushi quality is mediocre. They have a wide variety of sushi that come along with pictures. I think that's about it. I only gave it three stars because it's nothing that wows me. However, the sushi is affordable and good to eat. I still need to try their bento boxes and other foods to make a more concrete decision. But as for the sushi, I just give it an okay.
(3)
Donny N.
The majority of complainers about Katsu on Yelp! seem to be worried the place has an aesthetic & they aren't getting a good value or something. I bet most West Alamedan's were more happy with the Sizzler that used to be here. The joint is practically a haven in West Alameda, which is known more for it's fast food and little greasy spoons. While not the world's most incredible sushi, it's certainly passable, and one would pay lots more for similar fare across the bay in San Francisco. I myself was delighted to discover Katsu, which likely pays big rent for it's big space with it's own parking. Overall the prices are not out of line, considering the space, portion sizes and and the quality is fine. You could take a "sophisticated palate" pal here and I would bet they would not be appalled or grossed out. I've eaten here a few times, even with a picky kid, and no one ever had any real complaints...I just order a big Korean beer and enjoy the place... so should you... Then if it's Friday or Saturday walk across the street behind the diner to the Lucky JuJu Pinball Gallery
(3)
Sarah C.
GNARNIA. If you don't know me and you don't know what gnarnia means, let me explain. The evolution of gnarnia started with the word "gnarly" and progressed to the lazier form "nar nar". One day I experienced something so disgusting and incomprehensible that I said it was the "Chronicles of Narnia". For copyright reasons I chose to spell my favorite word to describe the grossest of the gross as "Gnarnia". Katsu is gnarnia. Terrible service. Terrible Miso soup (how can one screw up Miso?). Fishy spoiled salmon. Just gross!
(1)
Tira W.
One of my all-time favorite sushi places. When we lived in Alameda we came out here at least once a week and now whenever in town this is a place we always hit up. The Alameda roll is amazing, as is most of their specialty rolls. Whenever we had guests in town I made sure to take them there. None were ever disappointed. It's hard for me to try other rolls there since I love the Alameda so much, but when I have I'm pleased with all their delicious concoctions. The service is sometimes hit or miss, but the rolls are always great. Good for a fun night out or easy take-out for a night in.
(4)
wildhippychile d.
Uh oh. No es bueno. Last week, we had the misfortune of going to dinner at the same time as a large group of birthday party-goers. Despite the fact that I saw numerous servers on the floor: (i) our tempura appetizer came long after we received our rolls, despite the fact that we'd asked to receive it first; (ii) the server was RUDE RUDE RUDE when I asked her if the tempura was already in process (I was going to cancel it if not, considering we were about 1/2 done with our entrees); (iii) it took forever to obtain our drinks; and (iv) one of our rolls looked terrible and fell apart as soon as we tried to eat it. What happened, Katsu? I may not return to get the answer.
(1)
L. W.
Out of all the Sushi places in Alameda this one would be at the bottom of my list to eat at and I've eaten there several times. Pros: big nice restaurant, friendly servers, parking. Cons: The food is ehh.
(2)
Morgan K.
I am totally surprised everybody hates this place. I went just yesterday and it was excellent! My boyfriend and I got 3 separate sushi rolls, which came out of the kitchen extra fast and were absolutely delicious!! Our server was very nice and the place was hella clean. When we were done we ordered deep fried tempura ice cream, which came out on a platter with four huge ice cream balls topped with dollops of whip cream and hot fudge. THE FOOD WAS BOMB. Will return, this place made me so happy!
(5)
Jakob S.
DO NOT ORDER FROM HERE!! My office ordered lunch here last week and everyone who had the sushi, and there was quite a variety, got sick. Which means, their entire cooler was tainted. Not worth it, head over to Park for some decent sushi.
(1)
Pon J.
I don't like this restaurant . Because bad service. I went there today. I order the phone and i picked up food. So i tried to eat but NO RICE , NO MISO SOUP AND NO SPICY SAUCE. And not fresh fish. I really feel bad. I think nobody checked what people ordered and they don't care costumer's.I never never go back again. i waste my money . If u don't want to waste money that don't go!! i am actually zero star.
(1)
Larry H.
This place is awesome from the service to the sushi! Plus I can walk there so there's that.
(5)
Meggy H.
We go to Katsu Sushi on a fairly regular basis, maybe once every few months, as it's about a 30 second drive from our apartment. The menu is perfectly acceptable, if you are a super sushi snob, don't come here, but if you're craving Japanese in Alameda and just trying to have some miso soup and a few innovative rolls after a long day at work then come on down. I always order the spicy tuna hand roll and the playboy roll, and Rob always orders the fried scallops. The food is consistently okay. We haven't had any issues with not so fresh sushi (we all know that happens sometimes) yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if it happened one day. All in all, worth a shot.
(3)
Gladys D.
Very nice and classy space with Modern Decor. Decently priced for the amount of food that you get. The rolls are a lot smaller than im used to, but delicious all the same Overall average good sushi place...nothing too fancy, they just give it to you straight. and....there's no huge line like at sushi house =)
(3)
Yu W.
I'm surprised too in a good way about this place. The mis-communication between the waitresses also happened. They approached us twice without knowing we have been served. It was quiet and not may guests in there. The Sushi were OK but not impressive. I guest the owner must read some of our review and improved the service.
(3)
Deanna A.
My go-to weekday Japanese spot near the Posey Tube. I know there are a lot of Japanese restaurants on Park Street all the way to South Shore. I haven't tapped into any but haven't had a need to yet. The sushi is consistent. They have a good assortment of signature rolls like the Crunch roll. You can customize your handrolls very easily. The udon noodles are nice and plump. Its all about the tempura udon! Bento boxes are packed. Staff are all the cutest japanese girls that just smile at you and make you feel welcome. Its clean and has a parking lot. During basketball season, they play the warrior games. So, no complaints.
(4)
Nickel C.
Delicious fresh sushi and a large variety for special rolls. They have the freshest white tuna i've had in quite some time.
(4)
Suzanne B.
I was about to call this a weird little place - but it's not little. It's actually rather cavernous and has several odd art installations inside. I cannot comment on the sushi (I don't eat sushi and yes, I've tried it several times and no, the next time is not going to make me a believer) but did try the udon. Which was also odd. Portion size is standard (large bowl) and the version I ordered came with tempura veggies and shrimp on the side. Tempura was crispy and varied. The udon was...well, I already said odd. It was sweet. Yeah, I know - not what I was expecting. The service was...how do I describe this? Everyone was perfectly pleasant when they made eye contact, however they seem to have raised not making eye contact to an art form. All the servers seemed to take whichever path would put them in contact with the least number of filled tables. None of our dishes were removed and we had to flag down someone to get our check. Since I'm not a sushi fan to begin with, I don't think this place will become part of my regular rotation any time soon.
(2)
Kim D.
Caveman and I tried this place; an acquaintance raved about it - and sadly, we were totally underwhelmed. The servers were... ditzy, and couldn't seem to keep track of what we'd actually ordered, in addition to letting my hot tea cup go completely DRY, even though they weren't even at 1/4 capacity. It seemed like there were so many service staff, running around, looking harried and frantic... in a nearly empty restaurant... which was weird. They were kind of stressing me out, actually. Caveman decided to deviate from his Paleo/Gluten-free diet, and was rewarded with a completely disappointing shrimp tempura roll, which was utterly lost beneath a MOUNTAIN of tempura bits. Like, you literally could not see the roll beneath the stuff. I ordered conservatively - none of the rolls seemed innovative; just the standards. The decor is on the gaudy/slick side, and the multiple mounted flats screen TV's aren't really conducive to a "nice" evening out for dinner. But if you love California Rolls with Krab, or want to fill your belly while you're drinking with your frat brothers, then you'll like it here. Actually, Baby Sister would like it here. She's 25, on a budget, and inherited the German drinking-genes from [our] WASPy parents... and can drink like a fish. She's thinking about getting married to her girlfriend, and when I asked if where she was going to register, she responded, "I don't know... we need everything." Then, I giggled and suggested that she should register at BevMo... and she was absolutely thrilled. "Dude, that would be totally awesome; we'd have the raddest home bar ever!" And also, she's not a super-informed foodie - I say that with love.
(2)
Kristine A.
The sushi is NOT fresh. The ikura (big orange fish eggs) were litterally popped. LOL! they weren't bright in color and round as in new! aaand extra extra salty, meaning its been sitting around for a while. The udon (soup with fat noodles) took HELLAAAA long to make. My man was getting very frustrated because they brought out all our sushi rolls and not the soup...... when they did bring it, after how many minutes, they forgot the spoon. C'mon-- how u gon eat soup without the spoon. Their customer service is very slow even though the place is HELLA DEAD-- not crackin at all. No offense to our little young waitress, she was sweet and all, but can't speak English that well.
(1)
Kathy K.
Went here on a recommendation--very disappointing. The sushi rice is not made with rice vinegar and saki, so the sushi, while fresh, fell flat. The PA system was blatting obnoxious, dated, and just plain bad Christmas music.
(2)
Ferdinand T.
I have been going here lately and it has been much better than it was when it opened up years ago. The staff is nice and friendly. The atmosphere is nice and I am always satisfied when I leave.
(3)
C C.
Had dinner here last night (and about 8 other times) and I love it. Last night we ordered the Lion King roll, PlayBoy Roll, Caterpillar, miso soup, and green tea ice cream. All delightful. The Lion King roll is baked and is a nice alternative to the regular rolls. The other two rolls were standard fare and also tasty. The service is good, staff are friendly, seems pretty clean, and food does not take forever to come out. Food always looks nicely arranged on plate as well. I have also ordered the bento box with tempura, sashimi, teriyaki chicken and that is also very good. Overall I am bummed more people do not favor Katsu. It is nice because it is not packed all the time and you can get in and get out quickly and it is pretty quiet so you can unwind and enjoy the meal...
(4)
Mathew C.
I really like this place. I never see a lot of people in here which is surprising. Their sushi is fresh and the udon bowls are delicious.
(4)
Tiffany E.
I came here once because Sushi house was crowded and Kai's was renovating. I thought, hey Katsu looks pretty nice.. Let's go there for dinner. Wrong. Decor looks nice, food sucks. I ordered three rolls... but four rolls came on my plate. By the time I noticed, the waitress did not offer to take it off my bill. What could I say? I ate half of it already before I brought it to her attention. The super california roll was sad. It was small and something I could have made. Instead of having a imitation crab salad like everyone else has it in their california roll.. They used a stick of imitation crab meat to make their sushi.. how lazy was that? Food seemed overpriced for the quality I was getting. No next time for me.
(1)
M B.
I'm surprised this place manages to stay open all these years. I've driven by all the time and decided to give it a try base on my friend's recommendation. HUGE MISTAKE! Of course this is the same person who uses Starbucks as a comparison reference for coffee --should have know better!
(1)
Erik H.
Very good sushi. The only complaint I have about the place is the service. Sometimes it's decent but the majority of the times I go there it takes forever to get a server. The last time I went we waited 30 minutes trying to signal the waitress for our bill. My wife finally got up and paid up front. A little overpriced compared to other places but convenient to me.
(4)
Lefty R.
I have dined here 3 times with mixed results. I stuck with the bento box today, mostly cooked food which was good. The tuna sashimi was ok, but I'll continue to steer toward the cooked food. Plenty of parking and a large space so seating is almost always available. Service can be a wee bit slow.
(3)
Kaitlin D.
My friend and I came here and ordered three delicious rolls: the super spider, the blond bombshell, and the Alameda roll. The rolls were well sized and tasted wonderful. The server seemed a bit preoccupied with a larger group and we had a little difficulty getting water refills, but anyone who has worked in a restaurant knows that a hectic table is bound to cause these types of problems. The bill was brought promptly and we went home with happy tummies :) I will definitely be going back!
(3)
emi s.
It was pouring down rain today, I've been sick for a solid week with some sort of upper respitory fungi thingy, and I had been craving Japanese food. We saw the place and against my boyfriend Michael's better wishes, we went in. We were seated immediately but I was nonplussed to see that although it was lunchtime, there was only one other table filled. After staring at the menu and deducing that the place wasn't owned by Japanese (obvious erros like "Don Katsu", "Poki", and something that was supposed to end in an "i" was a "y"), I ordered the Yami Yami Roll which consisted of crab, tempura ebi, tobikko cream cheese. Michael ordered the Unagi Roll. I made mention of the prices and remarked that a similar sashimi boat in Sacramento cost my dad around $40 for my birthday. The rolls came. To my surprise, mine had a sort of unagi type of sauce on it, which did not reflect that in the photo. The rice was rubbery, the roll itself was cold, even the ebi was ice cold. The tobikko wasn't real tobikko, it was the stuff that comes from shrimp and it's just not crunchy. Besides the poor quality of the food, we had to wait almost 20 minutes for two rolls. I remarked that we should go to Wiernerschnitzel down the street and fill the hole that would've been filled had the food been good here. The bill came to $15.76. I did not leave a tip, which Michael objected to but I was adamant. Once we were out of the restaurant, Michael made the comment that he had never seen me jet out of a place so quickly. I fired back that my hunger was leading me in a different direction than what I had originally planned. Side note here: I'm not in the habit of stiffing the tip because I've had to work hard myself. But when the service is that shitty and slow, I couldn't even leave a penny. Had Emi had a few sake's in her, she would've been mellow and conceded that everyone had to make a living. But stone cold Emi is just not any fun when she gets poor food and poor service within the span of a meal.
(1)
Laura D.
You know, sometimes I forget what NEVER to order from a particular restaurant, and then dumb me orders it again months down the road... I had lunch at Katsu today and ordered the Spider Roll. Just thinking about the just molted little guy, at his most vulnerable, tempura battered and deep fried made my mouth water. At Katsu, the crab is pre-made and served up to you cold and along side it the same roll is the fake stuff!! Blasphemy!! I tell you that combination of flavors of the real and the fake was vomitous. Yes, I am still burping up bits of Krab with a "K". It is expensive at Katsu too. Over $24 for my lunch! I had the Spider Roll mentioned above, Unagi Nigiri, and Maguro Nigiri and an iced tea to drink. The one saving grace I will give this place is the Unagi, which is quite good. Then again, how can you really screw up bbq eel?
(2)
Jim Y.
Decent sushi but far from the best. Depressing service but the beer was cold. Good location so I will be back.
(3)
Anne M.
I'm torn about this place. On the one hand, it's nice to have a decent Japanese restaurant in West Alameda so that we don't have to go all the way to the other side of the island. However, on the other hand, earlier this year, we saw a MOUSE in the restaurant. (Half the restaurant saw it.) The owners knew we saw it and didn't bother to apologize or make up for it. It didn't seem to bother them as much as it bothered me. We didn't go back for for many months. We recently went back and luckily didn't see any rodents... I hope that was just a one time occurrence.
(3)
Alexandra C.
The sushi in this place is great! I like the decor, simple yet modern and the food is delicious. I always have the Playboy roll and it never disappoints, the fish is super fresh and tasty. I also like that you don't have to spend a million dollars to actually feel like you ate something. Service is good, the waitresses are friendly and helpful despite evident language barriers. either way you love them after you order a glass of wine they bring you what appears to be about a 1/2 gallon glass.... full to the rim I still don't get why everyone has to shout hello (or at least that's what I think they yell) in Japanese every time someone walks through the door... Seriously, if you walk out to your car 3 times; 3 times they shout out when you walk in..... 4 stars for food decor and service, 5th star for the huge glasses of wine they serve!
(5)
Min L.
Good hwedopbop (sashimi-salad over rice) and decent rolls. Service was a-ok but not great.
(4)
Radha X.
Amazingly, the owner and sushi chefs seem to be japanese... The food is good. Rolls are much smaller in size compared to Sushi House and the price is again...the same. But the fish is much fresher, so i like to get the sashimi or nigiri items here better. The waiter/ess seem a little clueless. It seems that I get this one asian waiter and he just forgets all my orders. I see him scribbling onto his note pad when he takes my order, but he doesn't punch it into the system? I dunno. I always have to re-order things from him. But all in all, I go here cuz the food is good, and there is usually no wait in line.
(3)
Daniel L.
Update: Went back again it was just as bad. With all the options in Alameda there is no reason to go here: not a bargain, mediocre service, mediocre food. I have tried almost every sushi restaurant in Alameda and this one is either the worst or second worst one. Yes, the ambiance is nice and spacious but you got to wonder why it is always empty. That is because the rolls are not worth eating. The were very small. The person we went with called them anorexic. We have been wanting to give them a second try but don't know if it is worth it to spend $50 to be disappointed again. Oh, the service was pretty bad too considering there was maybe 2 other tables being served at the time.
(2)
Bb M.
Food was good and the serivice. Ordered the sashimi with rice and it was huge portions! Yumm!
(4)
C B.
Been here twice now and the food is amazing! We love the spicy sushi, especially the: Dynamite Roll Go-Go Roll Sushi Girl Roll Best Sushi Place in Alameda!
(5)
Joe D.
One on the best places in alameda for sushi. Service can be slow occasionally but otherwise i would say excellent. Very nice atmosphere and adequate parking. :)
(4)
Moh S.
Service here is lousy and careless, I won't go into boring details of what happened but everytime it's something. Sushi is ok, not the best. I only go to Katsu when I feel lazy driving to the other side of the island for Sushi House or Kamakura. Too bad because the location and design is pleasant.
(3)
Angela K.
This is my fourth time dinning here. The first three visits were great. No problems. But this evening, the waitress was taking a long time to serve our meals and seem to forget our dishes until we asked for them. I was surprised when I got sick probably 20 minutes after eating the meal and had to run to their bathroom. Anyways, I don't know if I want to eat here again...
(3)
Will A.
I like Katsu because it is a little quieter, a nice selection of rolls and entrees as well. I think Sushi House is a different experience, and for some people that works. For sports fans, they have a ton of tvs in the place to watch.
(4)
Savana M.
The service is hit or miss. Either you feel very alone the entire meal, or you are bombarded with several people asking you the same questions over and over, like if I needed more water. I swear four seperate people came up to me within 5 minutes asking me if I needed a refill the last time I was there. But I also remember times when they've been nowhere to be found. It's always chill, never crowded. I LOVE the vegetable tempura. They give you nice thick slices of veggies which is a must for crispy and moist tempura. Plus the appetizer gives you sooo much. I am a vegetarian so I can't attest to the sushi. I always get avocado rolls which you can't really mess up. And, yeah, it's pricey, but find me a sushi place that isn't.
(4)
Shanelle M.
After a drunken Sunday in the park and some random roaming we decided that sushi was the way to go for out late night snacking! We went here and were not thoroughly impressed with the menu initially but after getting our food and tasting it! Whoa! This place had some of the best sushi I've had in a long time! Highly recommended.
(4)
Jen J.
I have had almost every item on their menu and I have never had a bad sushi roll. I recently tried a newer one called "mexican roll" which sounds a little odd but it was amazing and spicy. I eat here atleast twice a week and even when I feel like a hermet and get it to go it looks excellent. They are sooooo much better than overpriced unfriendly sushi house on southshore.
(5)
Delilah P.
Bad, bad, bad. Should have known from all the misspellings on the menu. Terrible service - waited for almost 30 minutes at an empty table after ordering. No water, no drinks, no place settings. It was not busy at all so there was no excuse. I still don't know why we didn't just get up and leave. When our orders arrived, they were both completely wrong and the wait person couldn't understand us when we asked her to correct them. This building has housed many different failed businesses and it seems like this one's next. Just plain awful. Oh yeah, and it was totally overpriced on top of it all.
(1)
Will I A m.
I give the sashimi and nigiri 4 stars. Service and sushi rolls 3 stars. Not sure if this place has it's ups and downs but I had very fresh sashimi and nigiri unlike other yelpers. Tried the boat, first time a sushi place gave 3 rolls as part of the boat. Fills you up more but I don't know if the deal would have been better to get sushi and sashimi. Plus, the boat was a bit pricier than other places. $60 for something that feeds about 3 people. Their rolls are ok. The size of the rolls are small. For specialty rolls that are close to and above $10, the rolls shouldn't be small. Some of the rolls were a little thicker like the size of a futomaki. we had samurai and dragon. can't remember the others.
(3)
Winst D.
Warning: If you TRULY like sashimi and nigiri, DO NOT GO HERE. DON'T listen to the other reviewers!! WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT!! 1 order of Chirashi 1 order of unagi nigiri 1 large asahi = $30!?!? One of the most unsatisfying meals I've ever had at a japanese restaurant. I think the majority of the people who review on here don't have a clue to what good sushi is. Seriously...you really consider KAI'S a sushi joint!?!? You're delusional. These guys barely even know how to properly cut the fish!!! If you want real sushi, go to Yume on Park St. if you want cafeteria Americanized Japanese food, go here. They close at 10pm, and at 10:05 they were already stacking up their chairs on the tables! At least the beer was cold...
(1)
Jennifer G.
Miso is decent. Sushi is fair. But what is up with the fruit flies that swarm around the tables? That's annoying (not to mention gross). Bottom line: this is a great place if you want cheap eats and don't care about ambiance. Bad idea for a first date.
(3)
tracy l.
Service is good. tempura was fried perfectly, chicken udon was regular. the rolls could be better......
(3)
Melanie N.
You know, Alameda is a sad excuse for an island...I mean, when one thinks of islands one thinks Hawaii, Bora Bora, Tahiti, Bahamas...not Alameda (this coming from a girl who used to live on Treasure Island!!) But I digress, yet again...I really have a problem with that and shall seek therapy in reading worthy Yelp reviews. But enough about that, I'm here to take about Katsu Sushi. My friends and I ended up here last night as we needed a quick place to eat before heading over to The Paramount to see Morrissey. We walked in and there's nothing really noteworthy about the decor. It's clean, it's linear. We sat down at the sushi bar and luckily it was slow so the service was fast. I was so happy that they had my favorite seaweed salad. I can seriously live off this stuff and it did not disappoint! I think it goes by the Wakame salad here. I also had the "crazy roll" which was essentially just a spicy tuna roll, fried with a spicy sauce on top ...some of the names are a bit mad, but hey, it's the Japanese! (And I can say this because I'm Japanese....I know my peeps!!) The waitresses were kind and attentive, the sushi chefs were chatty and quick! I don't frequent Alameda that often, but you can bet that every time I'm there to visit my friends I'll suggest to eat here! :-)
(4)
Camille K.
I loved Katsu for a brief period back in 2007. Their sushi became inconsistent soon after. That being said, I returned to Katsu on a Monday evening when I had a hankering for sushi and Yokohama was closed (Yokohama does not open on Mondays.). I was the only guest at the sushi bar and there was one busy table in the back. The waitresses were very quick to take my order before I had time to settle in and open the menu. I almost felt rushed to make a quick decision. Again, you can't order directly from the sushi chefs even when you are seated at the bar and they can hear you. You must order from the waitress. I ordered two orders of nigiri sushi and a Hea Bum....I don't know its proper name. Check the menu under sashimi bowls or whatever and you will find a giant bowl of assorted sashimi over rice, radish, seaweed and such. I had a fine meal this time. I would probably only return if I were craving sushi on a Monday and had no desire to commute from The West Side for it.
(3)
Siobhan M.
Great service and delicious food. We went here for our anniversary and it was a last minute idea that worked perfectly. Parking is available and the staff was really nice an we didn't wait at all. Highly recommend salmon teriyaki and sushi deluxe
(5)
Sunny S.
Katsu is now one of my favorite go to sushi spot! My kids love this place cause they give those kids trays with little mini compartments in them. The decor is beautiful, feels like were in a high end restaurant. Service is great, waitresses got the right attitude always greeting us with a big smile, but as for the food coming out, its expected to be a long wait because what do you expect? Sushi isn't like fast food where it comes within a seconds lol its food art being made by hand, and I for one can say I made sushi myself before and it took twice as long. As for the food DELICIOUS for those of you who love to eat the cook sushi they have a lot of selections here. I ordered the kinkong roll it was nice and crispy outside and soft inside and the special sauce was absolutely delicious. Also I got the yami yami roll because of the cream cheese in it, finally something thats different from Philadelphia roll, really delicious! Next time I come again I'm going to try the dragon roll.
(5)
Barbara C.
Have eaten here a few times. The food itself isn't too bad - they have some pretty and tasty sushi rolls, although the rice doesn't hold together very well and makes eating them (especially their bigger rolls) difficult to eat. Service for us was just okay. A couple of the times I have visited here, more than one server attempted to take our order, causing a little confusion because we had to tell them once or twice that someone already took our order. Once, a friend arrived just after we had sat down and a server came over to take her order but didn't check that none of the rest of us had placed our orders, and then walked away leaving the rest of us hanging. We had to flag one of down to take the rest our orders. At least the staff seem to be knowledgable about their food and were helpful in telling me what's in some of the rolls. Prices are pretty reasonable, too. So not bad of a place to eat.
(3)
Dean C.
8/26/15: Unlike some other reviews have noted, service here was fine. Our waitress was pretty nice and honest to us. In fact, I would say I appreciated the service quite a bit. But unfortunately, this was some of the worst sushi I've had in a long time, and that includes some pretty substandard ones to date! 1. Agedashi Tofu $5.50: I know it doesn't say "tempura" in the name, but I assume that's what they were going after, and if that's so, their tempura coating is horrible! It's much closer to mushy soaked corn starch than fried, not anywhere close to crispy. The bottom pieces soaking in the sauce were totally mush. Only the top resembled anything fried. Flavor was alright though, despite the texture. 2/10. 2. Una Tempura Roll $9.95: Basically california rolls with shrimp and topped with unagi (eel). We really wanted unagi, and it was supposed to be the star of this, but wow...... this is The Worst unagi I have ever had. Ever. Very thin. Missing the skin and outer finish. It's like no unagi I've ever had. The avocado looks stale too, though not brown yet. Shrimp was alright. The whole thing sucked hard. 2/10. 3. Hea Dup Bap $16.95: I wanted Chirashi, but this was interesting. Never seen this before. Think Korean Bimbibap, but with sashimi instead of meat. They have shredded cucumbers and some other veggies, but my favorite was the seaweed--great combo. And of course the standard bimbibap sauce. Unfortunately, again, wtf with the sushi/sashimi??? Little diced portions of cheap sushi. Very little. And not that fresh either. Sigh. So amazingly stingy. I mean come on, if you're gonna add sashimi, add enough so I can taste it right? Charge more if you have to--better to be expensive than to be a not-so-expensive bowl of mediocrity. 2/10. Again, I cannot stress this enough--I dunno what the deal was with all the other negative reviews of the service, but the waitresses were fine to us. But the food........ the owners should get out of the sushi business. 1/5 #sushi
(1)
Hannah A.
I should know by now not to take risks with sushi. Against my better judgement , I followed my friends here last saturday night. For starters, the images on the menu looks like it could be found at any mall food court in the early 90's. The whole scene felt like a gimmick. Like an obvious excerpt from a how-to guide on cheap asian franchises . Not unlike the general aesthetic of the place, the food was overwhelmingly disappointing. I tried to play it safe and order some basic rolls but at the end of my meal I was bartering more than half of my food for bits of safer alternatives like subpar chicken teriyaki and chewy tempura veggies. With Yokohama literally a block away, there is no reason why I would ever choose to eat here again. "Eek!Methinks not".
(1)
Angela H.
Came here for the first time after our favorite pho restaurant was closed on a Sunday. I chose the jungle roll, which piqued my interest because of the seaweed salad on top. I also choose the sushi boy because it was spicy and had salmon (two of my faces). I thought both were good. My boyfriend had a bento box dinner and got a lion king. I tried one of the lion king rolls, and thought it was just okay... There was a little too much mayo for my taste, but that seems like a trend at many sushi places now. However, most times a lion king comes with six pieces; this one came with eight. That was something I liked, but I would have preferred fewer pieces with larger slices of salmon. Oh well! Over all, not a bad dinner. Total price including sodas was $53.00 One more thing: I thought the parasols as decor were gorgeous!
(3)
Agnieszka K.
Last night was my first visit which is going to be my last. Service was really bad. They were gone and not reachable after we placed our order. We were walking around looking for them. ***Most importantly*** Rolls had no soul, all too bland!
(1)
Robert T.
My wife and I were seated in the corner with the torn seat and chipped plaster, which was enough to gross her out. After no water, tea, menus, or greeting after 15 minutes, we left. The place was 3/4 empty, and it's easy to see why. At least there's parking. Maybe we'll give them a second chance some other day. Until then, It's Sushi House or Yokohama.
(1)
Marcelino M.
I love this place! The staff is always really friendly and the Yami Yami roll is delicious! Great food and service keeps me coming back
(5)
Noelle H.
Both times I've been here, I've left underwhelmed. I feel the rolls are overly dressed with sauces and sloppily made that they fall apart as soon as you pick them up. There's nothing particularly bad, but there's nothing that makes it stand out either. Especially for the price. Service is friendly. Maybe for lunch it's a better deal than dinner?
(3)
Ivana Y.
This is my go-to spot whenever Sushi House is too packed and I don't feel like waiting an hour for a table. The rolls here are just okay. I like that they're small and bite size, but some of them are lacking flavor. Service, is also a bit slow.
(3)
Javier P.
This place has a lot of seating space. The decor gives out a Japanese atmosphere that is nice. Friendly staff, decent prices, and enough parking. I ordered the chirashi sushi and I was a bit disappointed. The presentation seemed off. I'm used to seeing and having chirashi sushi in a round bowl. It was served in a squared bowl and it didn't look as enticing as on the menu and rice was cold. It was still good I'm just not fond of cold rice with my sushi. I was going to give Katsu Sushi a 3 star, but I'm giving it 4 stars because I love the variety and price on the lunch sushi bar & sashimi menu. I can't forget the 3 item bento for $12.95. Other places sell it between $14.95 & $15.95. Definitely coming back!
(4)
Christene Joy M.
The first time I was here, I was thankful that I was fed. The second time I was here, I was disappointed, but at least thankful that I was fed. I was initially impressed by their outside and indoor decor. Outside, they have a spacious parking lot, and inside, they have a lot of seating as well as beautiful decorations. Then there was the food. Because the second time around was the deal breaker, I will just describe that visit. My boyfriend and I came in during their lunch hours. We were thinking bento boxes sounded like a great plan, so we went in. We were seated quickly and was given enough time to choose what we wanted; however, I knew they wanted us to choose faster because they were going to close for their break between lunch and dinner. For myself I got a tempura and sashimi bento box, which was not too bad actually (maybe thicker slices of sashimi would have been better). My boyfriend ordered salmon teriyaki and gyoza, and he was not happy. In fact, it was disappointing to taste and see that the salmon was not fresh because of how watery it tasted, which also meant it did not hold a lot of flavor. Externally and internally is looks great, but when it comes to the quality of the food, it could use a little more work.
(2)
Cindy M.
Ambiance: Very spacious & AMAZING Japanese decorations! From samurai swords to lucky cats to Japanese umbrellas, this place definitely gets perfect score on their wicked decor! It was not at all packed during this Wednesday night, but hey, less people = more attention for us!~~ I'm not complainin' ;) Service: Quick! Friendly! Awesome! Food: Dragon roll - Yummmmm~ You can never go wrong with eel & avocado. Sauces were great too! Tempura roll - A little bland to me but still good! Although, I wouldn't be the one to order this roll. Deluxe Spicy Tuna roll - This was my choice and it was my favorite out of the three we tried! Who doesn't love raw fish?! -Hush people who really don't like raw fish- THIS WAS DELICIOUS!!! Price: ~$29, not bad! We had a $30 gift certificate so it was free of charge for us! Of course we left the nice waitresses tip though. :) Tip: Go for the deluxe spicy tuna roll or anything with avocado! (Disclaimer: I might be slightly biased here because I'm obsessed with avocados.) Conclusion: Everything tastes better when its freeeeeee~ Nom nom nom nom. The sushi here is tasty! Although, my only complaint is that I had a slight bad aftertaste after eating the rolls. Maybe it was just me? Oh well! B/c the sushi rolls were so yummy, I'll overlook the weird aftertaste! Try this place out if you're around!
(4)
Wendy G.
Went here because Sushi house was jam packed. I have mixed feelings about this place. Highlights of out meal: shrimp tempura, squash tempura, tempura roll, OMG roll, and lion king roll. My kids ate these and said they were good but still did not finish their rolls. Misses: they don't use real crab! I only found this out while eating a roll. For the same price you pay for a roll at other sushi restaurants, why would you want to taint a sushi roll with the fake stuff?! I did not see imitation crab written on the menu... Our waitress was a bit impatient and when she accidentally placed her thumb in my sister's tea when she was placing a roll on our table, she apologized but did not replace the tea! Gross!!! She also did not know her sashimi so was no help when trying to order a particular type of tuna. She ended up recommending the wrong tuna which was not only pricier but also had a fishy odor. We went there yesterday and to their credit, I am diarrhea-free one day later!!!
(2)
Nick T.
Summary - waited over 20 minutes before leaving and after not being tended to. I would have given two stars, but I was not given the opportunity to evaluate anything beyond the lack of service. I walked in with my family at 7:01. We stood aimlessly at the door for a solid 30 seconds before we were tended to: strike one. The three of us were seated at 7:03 with one menu before we flashed down a server for more menus. We were given one more menu: strike two. THREE other families were seated and tendeded to This included water, table setting, and order placement. Meanwhile, we received none of this: strike three. I walked up to the manager 7:30 and asked why we were not served yet. I pointed to our table and asked who the server was, and he had no idea. We decided to leave. This was literally a waste of time and I would advise not to waste yours. Go next door, Kamakura, even sushi house! The service is just too clueless to bear.
(1)
Rayleen H.
Great place great food nice people. Clean and quiet. Great place to come for a lunch meeting
(5)
Morgan H.
Line: none Drinks: only had water and hot green tea. The tea was perfect! Appetizers: the house salad dressing is soooo delicious!! Miso soup is good too Entree: I had the bento box with salmon teriyaki and gyoza. The salmon was very good! I could have eaten another one. The gyoza was bad, I had to have my boyfriend finish it for me. Sushi rolls: we had Arizona roll, usa roll, and titanic roll (in order from worst to best) titanic is definitely delicious. In it's defense, we asked for the Arizona roll without the spicy sauce it usually comes with, so maybe that's why it had no taste. But I could only eat one because it wasn't tasty at all. The fish didn't taste fresh. Wait time: we were the only people in the restaurant and it took awhile for the salads to come out, but the actual food didn't take too long. Service: attentive, but only because they wanted to go on break, and wanted us out of there Overall: not the best sushi place in alameda, and I would probably not come back again just for the titanic and salad. Go to kamakura
(3)
Art O.
Not very good. My buddies from SoCal wanted to eat before we played some pinball up the street so this was the most convenient spot to hit up. My gut was telling me not to go here but I didn't want to wander around finding something to eat. Even though we were a party of four, the middle-aged woman up front only gave us two menus. We are also only given settings for two as well. When the young waitress came by and we told her, she had this look as if a question mark were above here head. I know, I didn't understand it either. We ordered some rolls and they were ok at best. Not exactly huge portions and they just seemed sloppily made overall. No care whatsoever. On top of this, they didn't even give us dipping bowls for the sushi! That's never happened either so asking for them seemed very bizarre. It also took a while to track down the servers to get all the things I mentioned above. If you're super hungry and you're close by then I guess you could come in but you better be pretty hungry and be willing to put up with some nonsense.
(2)
Matt W.
The owners are extremely rude and downright insane. After using the parking lot to unload music equipment for the neighboring fireside lounge, staying less than five minutes, and being nothing but polite, the owners screamed and cursed at us, then put on a smile and greeted guests as we parked across the street. Maybe they were having a tough day, or maybe theyre simply just a bunch of assholes. Didnt try their sushi, probably tastes like diarreha. Do not give them your money.
(1)
Greg F.
I live close and really wish this restaurant had better food. The sushi is meh, the Japanese food follows suit. The service was great and the prices were fair... I don't know how to make the place better other than possibly better ingredients.
(2)
Geli T.
Food is great ...their bento box is my fave!I had my daughter's baptism reception there and everything was awesome!All our guest liked their food.Would recommend this place for party receptions!
(4)
Jen T.
My go-to sushi spot. Great fresh food, good service, and awesome cheesy love songs.
(5)
Olivia W.
Origato! I came here with a party of 24 people on Tuesday evening. The restaurant was practically empty so I'm guessing it's not a popular sushi restaurant in Alameda. I'm sure all the sushi eaters are at Sushi House. Everyone was sharing so I was able to try the Bento Boxes, Titanic Roll, Sushi Boy Roll, and Super Tuna Roll. Super Tuna Roll was huge and it only cost $8.95 for 10 big pieces. This was my favorite roll of the evening. If I come back I'll probably order that. Titanic Roll wasn't tragic like the movie. If you like tempura inside your sushi then you'd probably like this. Sushi Boy Roll was my least favorite. It consists of imitation crab, supposedly spicy salmon, and avocado. The Bento Boxes is packed with food. You can choose either 2-3 main dishes for your Bento. The interior of the restaurant is very modern and clean. Unlike Sushi House where they're cluttered and messy. Service is about the same as Sushi House. The waitresses aren't very attentive to filling up drinks and you have to ask for plates if you're planning on sharing. I prefer when sushi restaurants provide plates on the table so you don't have to ask. Prices are reasonable. If you're looking for a subtle sushi place this might just be the place for you.
(3)
Paul O.
This place is one of my favorites in Bay Area. Usually very un-crowded atmosphere and tables are spaced nicely to have a quite private dinner if desired (crowding usually turns me away even from best restaurants). Food is always good. I've been coming here for two years now, and was never disappointed with food quality and taste. Place is also nicely decorated without going overboard with decor, creating light and "airy" atmosphere. Only had an incident once, when we waited for our food for over an hour, never got it and left hungry and pissed. I think they had some issues with a new waiter or something, because we weren't the only ones who left in anger that day. When I went back there a couple weeks later, that waiter was no longer there (haven seem him since), the hostess remembered us, apologized again and service was back to what Ive always expected. I'm glad I held off on leaving a bad review on the spot that day, because things like that happen to the best of places, and what's important is that it wasn't a trend, but rather an isolated case.
(4)
lucie l.
The only reason why I come here is because of it's close proximity to work and their parking lot. If not, I would not come here. I just ordered take-out...chirashi...and I barely got any fish and it is tasteless. This is the last straw for me. HORRIBLE! If you want less than mediocre sushi and like it's convenience, go ahead and give it a try. Otherwise, I suggest you go elsewhere. The sushi place down the street is even better than this!
(1)
Jenni R.
Mediocre to lower quality sushi. Probably wont return.
(2)
A L.
Just moved to Alameda and live very close to Katsu, so my husband and I figured we'd give it a try before reading reviews on Yelp or asking anyone for advice for sushi in Alameda. The sushi was not good at all, the service was bad, and there's just no point in ever going back. I have no idea how they stay in business since there are some pretty great options in Alameda. And the fact that the place is nearly always empty when we drive by (as it was the day we went, July 4th), it just boggles the mind how they can still be open and pay the bills. We sat down and asked the head chef for recommendations. We're big on omakase style sushi, trusting the chef, but this guy didn't even know where the uni came from. That was a huge red flag. So I kept it simple and ordered chirashi and my husband ordered a few pieces of nigiri, and the quality of it all was just not good, not even close. We know a lot about sushi, we've eaten sushi all over the US and in many other countries, and one of our closest friends is a 3rd generation sushi chef from Japan. So you just have to trust me when I say Katsu is not a good place to eat sushi. Maybe the other non-sushi food is better, we were the only ones at the sushi bar, and the other 10 customers in the place were all at tables eating non-sushi items, so they must know something we don't. But the service is so bad there's no reason to go back and try the non-sushi food.
(1)
Lachelle J.
Pleasantly surprised. The service was EXCELLENT and the sushi was delish! We will definitely visit again.
(4)
Tony M.
Great sushi place. Sushi is always fresh, staff is very attentive and friendly. Only complaint is price. Other than that, I would recommend this place to any sushi fan.
(5)
Kathleen W.
The only decision I was capable of making that evening was deciding that I wanted Japanese food ... so after a wet and cold practice, we came through the tunnel for a late night dinner here. Don't let the pictures in the menu fool you ... what you see is not always what you get. We ordered the enoki wrapped beef ... though it was more like beef with enoki on top. I ordered the sukiyaki which wasn't bad. Timing on stuff was awkward and we ended up canceling some of our dishes ... which was fine because the portions were generous. It satisfied my Japanese food craving, but not such a memorable place that I'd look for an opportunity to go back.
(3)
Erick W.
expensive looks better in the picture...
(1)
Greg G.
Unfortunately I was only somewhat impressed by Katsu. I had never tried the place, but i reluctantly took the entire family here for my Moms birthday since i needed a new place to Yelp. Katsu had been here in Alameda for a while, but I'd just never gotten around to trying it. I honestly didn't know much about this place, except for the fact it used to be the old Sizzlers, lol. The things that just didn't do it for me were this- One, the waiter staff was sub-par. They were all quite friendly, but i couldn't get a refill on my water to save my life. The restaurant was NOT packed at all, and the waiters would just never visit my table. Two, and much more importantly, the sushi was sub-par as well. I hate to sound rude, but I've had better sushi from Safeway than from here. The slices were cut so thin, i could hardly taste any part of the sushi... it was just unimpressive. I also had a bowl of udon which wasn't bad. One good thing I'll say is for a party of 6 people, our bill came out to only about $70. This is really good considering everyone got an entree and we bought 3 sushi rolls for the table.
(2)
Tricia B.
Terrible. Worst sushi ever. Rubber fish, cold rice, lousy service to boot. Imagine Rosie O'Donnell...
(1)
Kai S.
After reading many reviews (more bad than good) on this place, my gf, myself & some friends ate here tonight. OUR EXPERIENCE: The interior is very nice, clean & well decorated. The service was friendly, sweet & efficient. I got the Poki Roll (seaweed salad atop spicy tuna roll.. 8 pcs I believe) which was BOMB! Gf's salmon teriyaki on the bento box was good (but she preferred Kai's) and the Cali roll left some to be desired (more rice than anything else). Our friends were pleased with their food as well. They have TOFU teriyaki which is cool... haven't seen that before! They also seemed pleased with their tempura. The miso soup & salad were both good. Main complaint: The prices! Definitely a little high....... BUT: They have a lunch menu which rocks! Our other fav place on the island doesn't, so this could be our new fav Japanese LUNCH location to save a little money and still have a great experience. Also they're closer to us!
(4)
Soo Jin K.
Do you ever have one of those days where you're so hungry that you settle for sub-par sushi? Well, Katsu is definitely one of those places to run to, when the stomach is growling and YOU KNOW, there's not a line. From the outside, it's beautiful. I thought, "really, the sushi can't be THAT bad, can it?" Well, I was partly right. The menu looks plentiful, similar to Sushi House, with about a buck or two more expensive. I decided on a couple of rolls: the bad boy (or something like that with spicy salmon) and this crunchy roll. When my food came out, the bad boy roll looked yummy; however, the crunchy roll, no joke, looked like they threw the whole bucket of crispy tempura bits all over the plate. My entire place was covered in the crispy crap. I had to dig beneath layers of tempura madness to find my sushi. It was overwhelming and stressful. I can't believe they did that! Whatever happened to simplicity kids? Nevertheless, the food was underwhelming to say the least. I probably won't eat there again. Not like Sushi House is that much better, but at least, I won't feel like a lost loner praying for consumable sushi.
(3)
Jocelyn C.
I have nothing BAD to say!!! The decor looks fantastic! Walls too! Friendly staff & some of the sushi rolls are in a creative shape! On my birthday they gave me free ice cream. Not to mention a free gift!!! This place rocks! Other restaurants gives out free dessert on your bday, but a GIFT?! Wow! This is the best sushi place I've EVER been to! Katsu Sushi is now my FAVORITE Japanese Restaurant. :D.
(5)
Kevin A.
Looking for a decent place to have Japanese food, when them out. Sukiyaki was very good! The sushi was just ok, and the service though slow, was friendly. Would def try it again.
(3)
Mom S.
The staff is so friendly and welcoming. Everyone we walked by, who was working, greeted us as we were escorted to our table. I did not have to look for someone to refill my tea. Even though there were a lot of people we were able to place our order quickly. The food was very good and fresh tasting. I was not a big fan of the teriyaki beef, but I couldn't stop eating the teriyaki chicken. I will be back.
(4)
Holla F.
Was looking for an alternative to Sushi House and came here for family dinner Sunday nite instead. Ordered the 3 item Bento..not bad, tasty but pricey for $16. Also ordered 3 other rolls, which mostly small and fell apart when biting into it. I might go back if I don't feel like rude Sushi House service. Service here is much better and considerate of our needs, perhaps b/c it's not as busy.
(3)
Jamie C.
went on a sunday night. my first impression was the environment was dead and quite. not many people in the restaurant maybe four other tables being occupied. our party ordered the lion king roll, the spider roll, chicken katsu, beef udon noodles, and chicken don. the lion roll was okay, nothing special. the spider roll was missing that crispy light crunch, it was over battered and you couldn't even taste the crab. the chicken katsu were super thin slices. the beef udon noodles were average, the beef was tough and chewy. the chicken don was probably the best thing we ordered, it came in a huge bowl with chicken and veggies on top of rice with a sweet marinade. definitely big enough for two people to spilt with maybe a small side order of something else. the service was mehh, for most of the night our glasses were empty, we had to keep asking for more refills.
(3)
Davey R.
It's ok. Katsu has a very attractive restaurant inside. I love those kinds of fitting rooms created by boarded blinds; here they have them with an electric light glow. When we came, it was underpacked, and kind of uncomfortably warm. The hostess was nice and ushered us towards a corner. The menu is huge, and they come right out and say on it that there are party boats for upwards of about $120! Tons to choose from, so if you're a new partaker of Japanese fare, you should probably try somewhere else. The food even looked beautiful. But taste-wise, there was just nothing that stood out, nothing that was too tantalizing for words. Tons of Japanese food to choose from in Alameda, but I'd first try somewhere else before coming back here. Nice people all in all.
(3)
Alyssa G.
The spicy tuna roll was alright, edible (that may be a little mean). Their nigiri is also good but they are definitely lacking some freshness. I usually just get take-out because I eat it at work so I expect them to not take too long at fixing up my order. Usually they are very nice and welcoming, let me sit at a little table and get something to drink while I wait for my order. The price for the food is a little high, considering the quality of the seafood. Their selection is good, but not great.
(2)
Craig B.
Ah, Katsu, a West End restaurant in an old Sizzler restaurant (the architecture is unmistakable), a restaurant we return to despite its issues. Better Half and I have eaten here many times. The food is dependable - we usually get bento box combos - and the decor is simple and effective (except for the pompously designed bathrooms). Parking is always plentiful - rare in Alameda. One problem seems to curse our visits to Katsu - out-of-control children that ruin the dining experience. For some reason, Katsu attracts indulgent parents who think it's acceptable for their children to scream, run around the restaurant, and, in one case, try to climb up the windows while screaming. Each time this happens the parents - and staff - ignore it, despite the stares and comments from other diners. It's like going into a Chuck E. Cheese's with sushi instead of pizza. We like the place - it's convenient and consistent - but if the staff cannot maintain an atmosphere conducive to a positive dining experience, we will look elsewhere for Japanese food. It's not like there's a shortage of such restaurants in Alameda.
(2)
Austin J. A.
We arrived to a sweltering-hot, non-air-conditioned restaurant with only three tables of customers (including ours). We waited, and waited, and waited, and waited after being seated. Nobody acknowledged us, and nobody bothered to take our order at least twenty minutes later. Six staff members were within sight, four of whom were talking, flirting, texting, leaning on the sushi bar. Since the host had brought us water and tea when she sat us, we left ten bucks on the table when we left, disgusted, and hungry. Get your act together, Katsu. However, we won't be around to celebrate any of our potential future successes.
(1)
Carlos C.
Not sure how authentic it is, but it's pretty decent food. I tried the different sushi rolls. I plan to come back for the service alone. All the staff attend to my needs that night. While the food wasn't memorable. I wouldn't mind returning again. Kudos to the staff!
(3)
Mimi P.
Im not exactly sure why this place has so many bad reviews. And i do hear alot of bad things about it. Recently i took my little brother to katsu for dinner. We ordered a 2 choice dinner bento box , chicken teriyaki and tempera. The chicken was well made with very yummy sauce. Nothing really bad to say about that. For myself i ordered a GO GO roll and sake nigiri . The nigiri was fresh and tastes great! Go go was not bad at all ! I had a really good experience there. The waiter and environment there was nothing but great. Its not my favorite place to go to for sushi but i wouldn't mind coming here again.
(4)
Mary C.
Their Lion King may not be as good as Sushi House's, but the Poki roll, Spider Roll, and Salmon hand roll were all great. The salmon just melts in your mouth, super fresh. And the rice was perfect. Service is fantastic, very attentive and accommodating. Never felt rushed. Beer choices: Asahi, Kirin and Sapporo. Get the plum wine! Other plum wines don't compare. Should've taken a picture. Wonderful neighborhood spot.
(4)
Lucia M.
Went to Katsu on a Monday noon and ordered sashimi. I am a big sashimi fan and as such, I can tell the difference between "fresh fresh fresh" fish from "not so fresh but not bad either". Basically this place charged me high quality sashimi and gave me barely decent one. I could have gotten a better option for less price at another sushi place in the island. Not sure if it was because it was Monday. Only reason why I gave it 2 instead of 1 star.
(2)
Mack S.
I think Alameda is the best place to go if you are looking for excellent Sushi bars. I am writing my first review about my favorite. Katsu sushi. Their fish tastes more fresh than all the sushi bars in alameda. I personally am a Sashimi lover. I strong lay recommend their Saba Sashimi dinner combo.
(5)
Michelle S.
Every time I come here I have been let down. Service is friendly and fast, but the rolls are bland.
(2)
Robin H.
Truly a sad excuse for a restaurant. This was my second visit. Both times the wait staff was out to lunch. Cold dishes arrived warm and hot dishes arrived.....warm? Who's managing this place anyway? With so many wonderful Japanese Restaurants around the Bay Area, don't waste your time and money here. You can do WAY! better.
(2)
Neko M.
THE Worst Japanese food on earth.
(1)
Vicky T.
Went there with my brother, baby sister , and mom. We each brought quicklys from across the street and they took our milk tea away because the owner had a fit. =_= the waitress was nice about it and refrigerated our drinks but seriously? The portion are small and expensive. Just drive to the next town over. Its not worth it.
(1)
Julia C.
Suuuure!!! The place looks like a Japanese delight from the outside... But if it's one thing I hate is COLD/OLD food. The boss treated us to some lunch today in lieu of the fact that we all have to be here a day after Thanksgiving. Mighty nice of them. I've always wanted to try Katsu because it's in close vicinity of my workplace. But, at the risk of sounding like an asshole THANK GOD I DIDN'T SPEND MY OWN MONEY ON THIS PLACE!! I ordered the 3 item bento (my typical go-to order since I don't pretend to be a sushi connoisseur) with the Salmon Teriyaki, CA Rolls and Tempura. No lie. Everything was cold but the Miso soup and The salad?? Seriously. The Salmon was super cold, as cold as the CA Rolls. The Rice was super cold. And the CA rolls... Now just to share a tid bit about myself, my mom always taught me NEVER to waste food. But I have to say after a few bites that I took so that I didn't seem ungrateful, I tossed ALL of it. The rice they used for the CA rolls was old and stale. Like I stated earlier, I don't pretend to know a whole lot about sushi, but I know rice and cooked salmon aren't supposed to be cold and rice used to roll sushi isn't supposed to be old. I can feel myself getting ready to throw up. EW! Never again. Avoid this place. Overpriced and gross.
(1)
Michael C.
I found the service mediocre and the food fast food quality. I do not plan to return.
(2)
Liv A.
My friend's boss recommended this place to my friend, so we decided to give it a try. Katsu is on the other side of Alameda....the less ventured side on Webster. It has it's own parking lot which is nice so that you don't have to pay for the meters during the daytime. We ordered a variety of rolls and also tried the mussels. We all agreed that everything was just average. Maybe my friend's boss knows something we didn't. I may give Katsu a try again if I was in the neighborhood, but wouldn't go out of my way to eat there.
(2)
Jaclynn S.
I ordered take out lunch for a co worker and me. I got the sashimi lunch. Here's a break down of my order: The salad was fresh, the dressing a bit mayonnaisey The meso soup was cold and not flavorful The really sad part is the sashimi. It was warm (with cold soup, lol) and the hamachi was literally crunchy on one side and fishy. I didn't eat any more of it. The rice was good Overall this place was over priced and not good quality. I am a bit disappointed. Although this place has always been over priced there wasn't a real quality issue. On the plus side my order was ready when I got there.
(2)
Erik C.
Not bad at all My wife and i took take away yesterday and it was a great dinner I have to say that few of the rolls was full with maio
(4)
F A.
The sushi was good only when I had gone earlier in the day. I've come here about six times so far, and have a pretty solid perception about Katsu. The manager is an older guy who also prepares sushi at the bar. He is very rude; tried handing me a plate of nigiri that he prepared right infront of me at the bar, but quickly withdrew it the instant I look up at him. He was too prideful to hand it over to me, and seemed like he wanted to put set it on the counter for me to take myself. Anyways, he quickly turns around and sets my sushi on the table behind him that doesn't even have a bar, and rings the bell for the waitress to bring it over, but no one comes. I wait an extra 15 mins before getting to try the rolls, not nigiri, that I had ordered. So I eat my entire order but still no nigiri. The food/sushi here isn't bad but it isn't good either. The manners of the staff REALLY SUCKED, and I was served very late. I am a wealthy guy from Asia but this place is overpriced for what you get, and that is lack of service, waste of time waiting, and pretty hasty/rude staff. Go next door, yoko Hama has better sushi and lower price due to a less overhead. So I order the check and they are like "did you receive your nigiri?" In a tone of voice that suggested playing stupid. I wait, No JoKe, 25 mins just for them to correct the bill after they scoped out the nigiri on the table behind the manager, and brought it to me warm and very soggy, ew. I put 0$ tip and leave with a smile on my face because of it. BAD SERVICE AND BAD STAFF! They get no stars
(1)
Debbie C.
Nice atmosphere, great food, huge servings and for the price we drive from Orinda to eat here!
(5)
Sailor P.
Good luck getting ur food..... Sashimi. Waited 1 hour for our raw fish. Service was terrible.
(1)
Ken P.
I like the place. I know better than to go when the weather is warm - either they don't have A/C or they don't use it. Anyway, the bento box lunches are cheap and good, the lemon roll is excellent and for some reason I got the chicken wings there and they were awesome. Not the greatest sushi in the world, but inexpensive, good service and never crowded.
(4)
Jack K.
It just okie for some of the new Japanese Sushi, but the serving size of the sushi role is really littile and basic which might not be enought for the regular single order. As result, we ordered one more serving for the extra order. Wont suggest to go, and will not back again. Feel sorry about this restaurant. =(
(2)
Jose H.
My brother and I We try dragon roll it was pretty good we order ca seafood salad it was awesome , very good service , clean and quiet
(4)
Jennifer H.
Big parking lot! That's a plus. Came here for the first time earlier today. My friend had recommended this place over Sushi House, so my other friend and I gave it a shot! Their parking is big and very roomy which is a good thing. Street parking in Alameda always filled up, fast! Anyways, we walked in and got greeted by one of the waitress. She was super friendly and cheerful. Their menu is biggggg, so take your time and enjoy the pictures while you're deciding on what to eat! Everything looks delicious and yummy . So, I've ordered a Lion King / Spider roll and miso soup. The miso soup was okay, but the rolls were fresh and delicious! Although the size of the rolls are smaller than other sushi's restaurants but they're reasonably fair and filling. Oh yeah! They also have Korean ribs and etc.. May want to try that next time. The workers were very attentive and kind. The price is fair too! I would come back and recommend this restaurant over Sushi house anyday! I am satisfied and would be back.
(5)
Melissa B.
This place is where I always went if Kamakura was too busy. Easy to get in. You can sit at a table or the bar. The food is good. Good sushi, Good Bento, Good Noodles and you can get served all at the same time with a larger party.
(5)
Clem C.
If you love yourself, do not eat here. The server brought us water with paper residue in it. After we asked for a new water she brought us a water with very visible spit. We ended up sharing the untainted water. We came in 15 mins before they closed and ordered two miso soups and two rolls (sushi boy and lion king roll). I asked her for another miso soup to go and she told me they were making fresh miso soup and didn't know if there would be any more... This made no sense to me, but she told me I couldn't have miso soup to go. The sushi rolls were so so. This place sucks.
(1)
Lynn L.
Sushi here is ok. I often go for lunch. I usually love sitting at the sushi bar and ordering directly from the chef, especially when dining alone. Katsu doesn't allow that so sitting at the bar feels weird when there's no interaction with them. Quality of sushi is ok and there's a nice selection of rolls but not sure I'd go back for dinner.
(2)
Cece G.
Love love love it here! The owner is very nice and all his staff ate very accommodating! Talk about great food and clean restaurant.... They got it! The price of their food is adorable! You get good deals with their be to box! The portion is really generous! Come and try it here!
(5)
Scott T.
I had to wait over 25 minutes for my food during a regular weekday lunch (Wednesday). It took them about 10 minutes just to take my order and bring tea. The food is just okay. They have one sushi chef making all the sushi for the entire restaurant and two waiters. The place seats about 70 people. Go figure. The best affordable Japanese restaurant is Geta off piedmont. I will not return. EVER
(1)
Maya G.
One star for HAIR in my tempura broccoli. Also for the horrible service in dealing with the problem and making me wait about 15 min for my check. They did give me a free coke but it doesn't make up for the above.
(1)
anna a.
The service deserves more than one star - the staff was quick and polite. However, the GO GO Roll made me GO GO to the bathroom all night! I call it barf-arrhea. When you are barfing and having diarrhea at the same time. I just can't ever go back there. Even thinking about it makes me want to gag.
(1)
Christina B.
I am not sure why this place doesn't have better reviews/more stars. Service when we go is always awesome and the food is a very good rival to a place I used to eat in Antioch. I'm super happy that its just down the street and its quick (and that my boyfriend picked this for our first date).
(5)
David A.
Loved the Bento Box, two item the Tempura and salmon was great. We also had the sushi which was flavorful. They also provided assistance with our Vegan request. Great service too!
(5)
Eunhee L.
I went here for dinner around 7PM with my friend. The restaurant size is pretty decent, but only 6-8 people were having dinner. I ordered go go roll because I can't have cucumber and menu didn't say there is cucumber. But I got go go roll with cucumber in it instead of avocado without telling me anything. Also the restaurant wasn't busy at all and there was three waitresses, but no one took care of us.
(2)
Joyce L.
Our friends from Alameda brought us here. Prior to sitting down, our friend had informed us that the food isn't consistent. The service was really slow. I felt that the sushi was a bit small in size. My tempura was cold and the shrimp was small. I wasn't too impressed with the miso soup and hot tea either. The hot tea had no flavor at all. The only thing I loved about this establishment was the interior design.
(2)
Jessica D.
Looks like this place is a hit or miss place. Fortunately, our visit was splendid. The sushi was delicious and very good portions. We sat at the sushi bar and ordered food no problem. The waiters were very attentive even though they seemed pretty stressed out. Overall, I will definitely return!
(4)
vi l.
If you want good sushi and service go somewhere else! Have you ever had food so bad you are upset when you leave? Well this place is worst than that. Stay away!
(1)
S V.
I'm not sure if I would return here again. The sushi tasted all right, the radio played "soft hits" from the 80s-90s. I heard the building used to be a Sizzlers and I thought it still had that kind of vibe. It just wasn't that special, I give it a solid 2 stars.
(2)
Diane N.
$3 extra for brown rice! Husband ordered the tempura/beef teriyaki bento box & was happy with the tempura but found the beef a bit tough. I ordered a spicy scallop handroll -- it was OK. I also had the gol bi, Korean short ribs, dinner. Beef was tough & too fatty & a bit bland. Very nice friendly staff. Nice clean restaurant.
(3)
Pierre C.
I have eaten at katsu several times over the past few years. I find the portions and quality to be excellent. I have eaten at other over rated sushi houses in Alameda, and I keep coming back to Katsu because it is consistent, the price is fair and the service has always been attentive - whether it's to go, dine in, or delivery. Not only have I personally had great Sushi/Sashimi dishes, but it is the only restaurant I feel comfortable bringing my kids to on a regular basis. It is very spacious, which is nice when you bring two children (i'll let you all in on a secret of parents - we hate sitting next to people when our kids get loud, we used to go out to relax and we know how annoying loud kids can be. We feel just as disturbed of not more when one of our kids act up.) So here it is nice to sit away from the crowd and they do a good job of spacing people throughout the restaurant. I usually order their special rolls, I noticed someone said that the rolls were loose - I suppose - if you are used to ordering rolls from other restaurants that are typically 6 pieces and the size of a roll of quarters (maybe dimes), you may have a hard transition to the rolls here. Many rolls are MASSIVE, 8-9 piece rolls, flowing with scrumptulescent goodness, ad topped off with fun garnish. They do a great job with the menu too - it shows pictures of almost every roll - and they are very precise in delivering on expectations. I was not going to review Katsu, but after seeing how badly it has been reviewed, and typically sounding snobbish and rude, i felt I had to give them a fair review. Hope you give them a chance, it really is a great place to go have some decent sashimi/sushi, etc. - is it a luxurious den reminiscent of Hiro? no. but it is a great local sushi place - what else do you need?
(4)
Sky ..
The sashimi cuts are a bit thinner. The freshness and taste are ok, nothing special. A bit too overpriced for being under-impressive.
(3)
Miss X.
My husband and I love this place! The employees are super nice, they keep everything clean and modern but nice looking, ample parking oh and the food is GOOD. Highly recommend the vegetarian bento box because you will get a bit of everything yummy and it is very filling even for a big eater like myself. Their hot green tea is good and their green tea cheesecake is GREAT. Seriously, do yourself a favor and try it. It's served chilled and with a drizzle of chocolate. Their sushi is also good and beats going to the sushi house in south shore that is ridiculously packed and loud stressful. 5 stars :)
(5)
Tara S.
Clean and modern interior! I think that Webster St. dining establishments lack that a lot of the time, but not here. I got the veggie roll sushi and it was very slimy and not tightly packed, making it weird to eat. Hubby got the box. The teriaky tofu was good tasty- but wish the tofu was firmer. I think they use silken which sorta is melty.
(3)
Samantha S.
I may or may not be a glutton for punishment... I came back to Katsu for some much needed California Roll and Tempura (it's one of my comfort foods)... and wait for it... IT WAS DELISH... not 1, but 2 times in a row, now!! I hereby revoke my previous review and submit to you a new outlook on Katsu Sushi. :) P.S: I hear from other locals that the attitude of the owner has drastically improved, I think I saw a smile, too!
(3)
Doctor G.
My Chirashi Sushi was a real disappointment. They could not have sliced the sashimi any thinner. I am used to chunks of sashimi with my Chirashi Sushi bowl, not thinly sliced raw fish. What a way to save money and increase profit. And the sushi rice with the Chirashi Sushi wasn't really sushi rice with rice vinegar and sugar. It was just regular steamed rice. What a disappointment. Service wasn't that great either. The servers were nice, but it seemed disorganized. We had to repeatedly deal with numerous servers with various issues all night. Two servers to get a table, two servers to get drinks. They forgot our little dishes for the soy sauce and our party did not get served with our meals all at the same time - not even close. What happened here? Used to be much better.
(2)
Michelle D.
Good service and great speed! Had our food within 10min of ordering. Lots of options to choose from and not too expensive! My only complaint was it was slightly cold inside (but I'm always cold)
(4)
Suzy G.
I just read another person's review that reminded me of something. Several times when I've been here in the past, I've ordered a roll at the sushi bar and watched them whip out a pre-made roll wrapped in cellophane from below the bar and try to fake like they've just made it. I even had an argument with the waitress one time when I tried to reject the roll and told her I wanted one that was made fresh. "This fresh! This fresh!" Yikes...
(2)
Misti W.
My husband just brought home teriyaki chicken. It is completely dry - no teriyake sauce at all. I added a pic to the picture section. Now I am by no means an expert - but shouldn't TERIYAKI chicken have TERIYAKI sauce??????? I mean c'mon - it's in the freaking name! Like a cheeseburger with no cheese. Hello? Only giving 2 stars because they offered us 20% off a future visit. But if this is their idea of acceptable food, I won't need that discount cause there won't be a next time.
(2)
Clarke H.
Mediocre sushi, terrible service. Atmosphere a little clunky. Much better fish to be had close by.
(2)
Tony G.
Can't say I was impressed by this place. Presentation was good but fish was not fresh. Also, some of the ingredients were obviously the cheapest packaged stuff you can buy at cash & carry.. Service was friendly but atmosphere was a bit tacky. There are much better options for sushi in Alameda.
(2)
Felicia E.
This place is pretty good. The only thing I don't like is that the shrimp tempura is pre cooked and then toasted to warm up a lot. I hate getting a tempura roll and you bite into it and the shrimp is not even hot or crispy...what's the point. 1/5 times its the warmed up in the toaster oven stuff but when you do get lucky and get a freshly fried still hot and crispy one it's great...but who wants to take that chance over and over. I did ask them about it once and I was told...That's the way they do it and that was my last time ordering that dish from there. Other then that I like most of the other dishes...
(4)
Eddie A.
This place is like our back-up sushi place. they forget about you once you place your order.. and the rolls aren't that great, kinda bland..
(3)
L H.
I debated between a three and four on this rating. I had the sashimi; some was better than others. For this location, in Alameda, I'd expect better, so I ended up giving it a three. At the end of the meal, after paying, they brought a chef's special roll for a bonus. It was pretty good and I appreciate the free food, so I moved the rating to a four. The atmosphere is nice and the service was good. The food was okay. I have to say I considered bumping up the review to a five when witnessing a customer treat one of the waitresses in a very racist manner. She handled it with grace, but should not have had to. The review of the customer is a -1. I would not have blamed them for refusing him service and asking him not to come back. This maybe even would of got me to move it to a 5 rating.
(4)
Xuankieu T.
I love the interior desigin of this place, with bamboo, chinese umbrella, wall painting of trees, and a piano in a middle. Even the restroom is painted with peach blossom on the wall. Highly recommend the Lion King rolls and the roll with cucumber wrap around it (forgot the name). I thought their price are quite cheap for sushis.
(4)
Jessica T.
The bestest and I usually do a friday night dinner at Sushi House in Alameda. For reasons I will explain in my review to Sushi House, we have decided to no longer eat there. We tried Katsu at the suggestion of my masseuse who's business is across the street. Firstly, it's great that they have a parking lot. Upon entering the restaurant we were greeted by an employee and immediately seated. The overall experience was great. Our waitress was attentive and very nice. The prices are reasonable and the food was amazing! What I love about this place is that they aren't worried about how many people they can cram in the place, they just want to make sure the consumer has a great experience. If you want to relax and have an amazing meal, I suggest coming to Katsu. They will take care of you.
(4)
Scott L.
The rolls are ok, Hwae Dup Bap (Korean Fish Salad with Spicy Sauce) is better than Sushi House's, Age Dashi Tofu is very good with a lot of tofu pieces, and the Chicken Karrage is a-ok but does not beat Kamakura's. The service however is very poor. We went on a Friday night and they had 4 waitresses and 1 waiter. They all looked busy; but they never seemed to accomplish anything. Lots of walking around, straightening up the chopsticks and the paper dinner mats. However, they seemed to be looking but not comprehending that empty tea cups and water glasses should be filled without the Customer asking. We had to ask twice for tea and water. This should never happen. We have been here twice in one month and the service has not improved.
(2)
Leah A.
I've been coming here pretty often and have always left happy. A lot of people say Sushi House in Southshore is really good, but I prefer Katsu better. The food is better and they have a bigger menu. Also, there's no wait! Sushi House takes FOREVER and the service is so much better at Katsu. They're fast and friendly whereas at Sushi House, I feel like it takes forever just to get a refill on some tea or water. I've tried a lot of items on their menu and everything is good. Prices are decent. Always my go to if i want sushi in this area.
(4)
Winnie G.
Finding plastic wrap in food is not okay. Finding plastic wrap with raw meat inside your udon noodle soup is absolutely unacceptable. This is what happened, thinking that I'd take my momma out for lunch at Katsu, a place that I once upon liked going to. We ordered the udon and some rolls. The service was mediocre because we walked in and seated ourselves. It took about half an hour for our food to get out, which seemed strange enough since there was barely anybody eating. So my moms soup comes out and I noticed something floating in it. After some poking around it was plastic wrap with raw meat IN HER SOUP. That'a disgusting. I called the waitress over and she's like oh, thats just part of the soup. UHM, I THINK NOT. It took about 10 mins and two other waiters to convince her that it was fault of the restaurant. Then she took it away and just said I'll make you another one. No asking if I would like something else. No apologizing. Now what makes you think I would want anymore food coming from anywhere within restaurant?? No. Told we didn't want anymore food and just take it off our bill. She has the nerve to say no we can't do that. Only can give you more food. By this time, I was done and raging. I told her to call the manager and let me talk to them because you're not charging me for something unsanitary and offering me more food from your kitchen. You should have been happy I wasn't calling the health department! Finally, the manager said to take it off and I paid and left in a huff. Never going back probably because next time, I wont be alive to do so if I kept eating there. Raw meat?! Plastic wrap?? No just no. They have a bathroom and parking lot. The only upside I think.
(1)
Shawna P.
This place was ok.. I ordered ice tea, it turned out to be a peach/mango flavored tea (totally not what i wanted, i dont like flavored teas), wish the menu stated it was flavored.. The miso soup was really good! I also ordered a bento box and everything was fresh and tasty.. We might go back if we are in the area.. :)
(3)
Jose O.
3 1/2 stars tops, 3 on most days. As a vegetarian my selection at a sushi restaurant is very limited. The main vegetarian attractions such as the Avocado and Cucumber rolls aren't known as crowd pleasers. The rolls lack of flare along with lack flavor may have something to do with its popularity. Katsu's menu is considerate of vegetarians and labels all appropriate options with a cute little leaf next to the name. I've tried all of the listed options and nothing really stands out. The sake has always been kind to vegetarians and it doesn't fail us now. Be adventuress, take a pint of Sapporo or Asahi and drop a shot glass full of sake into the mix. Don't stop drinking until your glass is empty. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. You'll take me in the morning. Enjoy. Veggie options: Miso soup Avocado Maki Kappa Maki (cucumber roll) Vege sushi Vegetable tempura Agedashi Tofu (fried tofu) Edamame Goma Ae Tofu Teriyaki San Sai
(3)
Desiree L.
Not happy after I ordered sushi and teriyaki beef plate. I specifically asked for sushi to come out as an appetizer before our meal. Instead they bring out my plate and my friends plates we finish eating our dinner and then they bring the sushi out after I have finished my meal. They even charged me extra I don't understand why they would do that. I want another sushi that is on time not 30 minutes after I ordered my meal. Please explain why you would do this to me? I did give this place 5 stars before then but for your terrible service and no sushi I am downgrading you to two stars! You are a sushi restaurant for god's sake it's really not that difficult to serve sushi before a meal! I have never got bad service until now!
(2)
Esther R.
This place is nice, but not great. I came here for a birthday party with a big group of people. This place is huge and there are lots of seating available, so it's ideal for parties, space-wise. Other than that, it's not that special. I got the Rainbow Roll, which was decent. I think they use a lot of mayonnaise in their CA rolls, which I didn't really love. But the fish was fresh. I just felt the roll was kind of small and not filling (at least for me. Granted I can eat lots and lots of sushi and still not feel satisfied...I can't help it - I love sushi!). The Rainbow Roll cost $10. I really wanted to get sashimi, but this place seemed pricier than I'm used to. It's not ridiculous or anything - I've just been spoiled by Katana's (in Sunnyvale) sashimi special where you can get 20 pieces of sashimi for $21 (here, it's $30). Service was good. Waitresses were accommodating and the food came out fairly quickly, so that's a plus. It's not my first pick for sushi places - most likely, I'd come back if someone else suggests it (or we throw more birthday parties here, like Kevin H said :P).
(3)
Rick B.
delicious sushi and good prices. ordered the King Kong Roll and it was delicious! the 007 Roll was also good and fresh-tasting. edamame was good. the waitress was friendly, service very good, and food came out quickly. A+
(5)
Hugh L.
i have been here many times. food is not that bad but i don't like their attention towards the customers. the boss is hella rude to her employers as well as the customers. She is always yelling at her employers whenever i went here.Im not gonna come here as long as they keep this attitude.
(2)
Susan N.
Flew into Oakland Airport on Super Bowl Sunday and wanted to find a quiet place to eat ... dinner, away from all the sports-oriented hoopla. Stumbled on Katsu, which was quiet, spacious, and had a nice ambience. (As a concession to sports fans, a TV was on without the sound. However, the patrons were more interested in good food.) I had the Tonkatsu dinner and my dining partner had the Chicken Katsu dinner. We enjoyed the miso soup and salad and I liked the brown rice option. The food was good and we will likely return to try out some of the other dishes.
(3)
Todd H.
I go here occasionally because it's the only place in town that isn't packed on the weekends, and I like the quiet. The service is pretty good, but the food is mediocre at best. The sushi is pretty bland,even the supposedly spicy items, but the biggest sin is the cold rubbery tempura. Tempura should ALWAYS be cooked to order, NEVER reheated.
(2)
Rachel W.
The food here is average. I have to share my biggest first time shock in a Japanese restaurant. So, I ordered their super tuna roll, excited by the fact that it came with three types of tuna, one of them being spicy tuna! Spicy tuna is one of my fav's, but not at this place! I'm also a fan of wasabi! Maybe it's just me, but I like to assume that "Spicy Tuna" is SPICY! And that wasabi is hot! To my displeasure, I was served a roll with spicy tuna that a two year old could eat, and wasabi that didn't deliver a tear to my eye, or a burn in my sinuses! Call me strange, but I look forward to these reactions when eating spicy tuna with wasabi! I thought maybe the wasabi was old. So I asked our server, and to my shock, she said "That's how most of the people like it that come here, they complain when it's to hot"! Are you kidding me?????? What kind of sushi place is this???? Never ever have I been served wasabi made to please anyone that cannot handle the real deal! The sushi chef overheard me, and whipped up some real wasabi for me. I'm still in shock that a Japanese restaurant in Alameda would change up such a common side item to appease to any certain groups palette. I'll have to find a new sushi spot that I don't have to make a ridiculous request for something that should already be!!!
(3)
.Hon H.
I have come to the sad conclusion that I will never eat at East Ocean Restaurant. I've tried several times, and have always been beaten back by the massive number of people waiting for a table, the wall of sound, and the parking situation. I have officially given up. I made that decision yesterday after coming to EA for lunch. It was the usual madhouse, and I just said screw it. We figured we'd go to the Viet place a couple of blocks away, but it was CLOSED. Crap. Now what? My hon of hons husband saw Katsu and suggested that we go there. I was surprised he suggested Japanese, but figured since he was starving he'd eat any cuisine. Katsu was a nice surprise. The place is huge, super clean, and nicely decorated. The bathroom was overthetopcraziness, but again, super clean, which I appreciated. Service was very friendly and efficient, but they never did ask us if we liked our food No big deal. I had an spicy tuna hand roll, which was kind of mixed. The tuna was fresh, but was chopped into a paste which was kind of weird. The roll itself had lots of great sushi rice, fresh seaweed wrapping, and a cluster of radish sprouts, which I always love. My hon of hons husband had one of the Korean dishes - bbq pork - for his meal. He got an enormous portion of pretty spicy, lean pork, and a couple of dishes of banchan. I ended up with a bento box with the teriyaki tofu, which was absolutely delicious. It must've been braised or deep fried, judging by the texture, and was served with cabbage, mushrooms and onions, all bathed in a not too sweet teriyaki sauce. My bento box also included a salad, miso, some picked veggies and a bowl of rice and I left the restaurant sated and happy. I might go back for the udon, which smelled really good. This place is nothing spectacular, but at least you can actually EAT there, which is more than I can say for East Ocean.
(3)
Cath M.
I think this place had at least 3-4 "new management" since it came about. The servers changed (that's how we know) but so far, the food is great. Quality and quantity is definitely better than Sushi House! I got the boy hooked on their udon and he usually gets sometime type of sushi...while I get my tomago fixed! Yes...I need my eggs! =P
(4)
Destry H.
Awesome spot...very friendly fast service!
(4)
J H.
I've ate at Katsu numerous of times. On every visit I had fresh, fantastic sushi. Portions weren't bad and nor was the price. Everything else tasted great but the portions were okay. I was a little skeptical because every Japanese restaurants I've been to, somehow loses it's quality. To my wife and I, Katsu's quality has been great... So far. Also, this is another Japanese restaurant that has the "Volcano" that Wasabi in Oakland has (see my Wasabi review). Katsu's version is called the "Bay Island Roll." This is our new Japanese/Sushi go to. AND THEY HAVE PARKING! No need to park on the streets.
(4)
Omar T.
Katsu Sushi! Formerly Pizza Hut! (at least that's what the building looks like it was) So I ventured to see! wow Sushi on the go while watching ESPN! on a raised Flat screen! Food: ordered the dinner 3 combo bento box! maguro sashimi, saba shioyaki, and California rolls, served with salad & miso dressing, and an orange slice, and rice. The maguro, faded dark red to a pinkish color showed it frozen, which was average. the California rolls were nothing to talk about. The saba shioyaki was actually good. It was a pretty descent portion broiled nice tender and tender slightly salted. I was actually surprised it was less bony than I was use to. Setting: Very nice and clean which made dining very relaxing. Elegant black walls with red trim was eye pleasing. Tables and booths surrounded the sushi bar with Thick bamboo structures nicely pillared in the middle, while glass wall shelves decorated with vases and 2 katanas fashioned the back wall. Service: prompt, pleasant, and courteous
(3)
Leanne V.
i'm not quite sure why i keep going back here. convenience, perhaps? must be convenience. because not only is katsu a total rip-off (i'll easily drop $70 on takeout for two people), but the rolls are so disgustingly large i can barely make it through one without that gnarly stuffed feeling kicking in. lots of kewpie sauce paired with quasi-fresh fish makes for a not-so-great sushi experience. granted, sometimes you just want to eat some crappy americanized sushi, but i always end up regretting ordering from katsu by the time i put the chopsticks down.
(2)
Gwen H.
I don't eat much sushi so can't really give a review of that. My daughter [she's a teen, eats an adult amount] and I each got a combo plate [it was @ about $13], and we should have just split one because it was a ridiculous amount of food. Big freaking hunk of salmon, a large serving of rice, plenty of salad, a bowl of miso, and a full appetizer's worth of gyoza. My boyfriend has no taste buds and thinks the mark of a good restaurant is the amount they pile on your plate, so he was in hog heaven but I was wary because IME it usually turns out to be that places that give you that much food do it to cover up that they're using cheap, nasty, old ingredients I am glad to say this wasn't the case here, it was a pretty good cut of salmon and everything was fresh and well made, and we'll definitely be going back.
(4)
Emily L.
I think Katsu has the best sushi in the whole Bay Area. Love love love this place!
(5)
Will H.
I agree with most other reviews. The decor of the place is not bad. Only may be it is a bit on the empty side. The food is very average, but it took forever to arrive. There were only 3 others tables besides us. I ordered sake but the waitress forgot and I have to ask for it. Funny thing is all (3) waitresses have time to hang out and joke around. But no time to service us. After all the negative reviews, do you think they'll get the clue??? ...THE SERVICE SUCKS...
(2)
N. T.
Stopped by for lunch for the first time recently. I've passed by many times over the years. I ordered uni, salmon skin temaki, and I something else which I can't remember. The food was just ok, so I won't be going back. Aside from the nori which was nice and toasty, the rest was underwhelming. My impression is that they aren't busy enough to have good turnover on their sushi ingredients. The staff there are nice though. Oh well...
(3)
KH G.
Feening for ramen, I searched for a place in Alameda. A review for Katsu came up so I immediately grabbed my keys and went. Little did I know that the review was written two years ago, so they don't have ramen anymore. NO RAMEN! aughhh!! Got a bento box instead. Food was ok, service was ok, decor was ok.
(3)
Marie R.
My husband and I come here at least four times a month! I stick with the same old thing, sake toro (fatty salmon) appetizer (about 7-10 pieces), the miso soup, and either the phily roll (salmon, cream cheese, avacado) or the hamachi (yellow tail tuna) nigri. Portions are good, and prices reflect current market for some (like the sake toro) and inexpensive for the majority of dishes. We've brought our family here many times and are recognized on sight, not only by the waitresses, but the main sushi chef Leo, and the owner, Richard. They are a friendly and happy group! Sometimes you do need to stay on top of your waitress for drink refills, but the age old rule applies, the way you treat others, they will treat you! We love the look, the big screens (always willing to change the channel to watch a different game than what is on) and the soft rock that relaxes us after a long day!
(5)
Ahmed S.
Have been here several times for lunch, and it's been okay. Options are limited in Alameda and this place is sadly the best it gets. Sashimi is good, large portions, $16 a plate though for lunch. I only keep on returning due to lack to sushi options in Alameda. I like it, but still not very impressed. Service is great, but sometimes that is just not enough. Parking is free though, not common in Alameda.
(3)
Tommy P.
Not a bad place. I love their lightings. I don't think any other restaurants in Alameda have better lighting and the atmosphere the setting provides, and the waitresses always greet me with friendly smile. So why the three stars? Food. As much as Japanese food has gotten inflated and whatnot, Katsu's price for the taste is little exaggerated. The food really doesn't have a GREAT taste. Maybe it's the dine-in that we're paying for. Hmmm....they should mention that on the menu and I would be less frustrated with the pricings. Oh please don't get the bowl. its salty.
(3)
Kygia B.
Been here twice this month with my coworkers... Nice restaurant, plenty of seats, not too packed during lunch, service was eh.. had to remind them for tea several times, and one time the waitress drops a bunch of our edamame, she just laughed, apoligizes, and walked away... Hmph! Anywho we had some rolls, it was alright... can't really remember much about it. But the donburi's... Chicken and beef were both awesome! The vegetables were tasty! I wish I knew how to make it. If you're craving rolls, I wouldn't recommend Katsu.
(3)
david c.
Most people think of Sushi House for the best sushi in Alameda but I have to disagree. Katsu has great atmosphere and is way easier to deal with. I don't want to have to wait an hour for dinner on a Wednesday night and you'll always get a table here. The wait staff is always friendly and for those that do not eat sushi... their Teriyaki is better than any Japanese restaurant around.
(4)
Thao L.
Well...Katsu is definitely a fancy place. Easy on the eyes, beautiful decor. Although, the service was friendly, they were overly pushy, and while the waitress was serving the tea, she spilled everything onto the table....Yeah, she apologized, but she didn't try to clean it or offer napkins. The sushi--Sushi house doesn't exactly offer the best service, but the sushi is pretty good. The Lion King roll at Sushi house is nice and proportional, and at a great price point. While katsu, is completely different, they offer half the size compared to sushi house and about 4-5 bucks more. I feel cheated every time I eat there. I have to say it is a great atmosphere, for maybe a light dinner. If your trying for a bargain this aint the place to go! Stick to Sushi House if you want a bang for your buck.
(2)
Ron C.
My co-workers and I have been going to this place for years. They used to have a sushi boat setup where you can select your Nigiri off a boat that goes around the bar but it is no longer there. The bento boxes at Katsu are large. I recommend getting the 3 item combos, but be aware that you only get 3 pieces of sashimi. The sushi is hit or miss with regards to freshness. Katsu is a great place for a large group of people, yet intimate enough for a couple. There is never a wait here since it seems most people go to Otaez down the street.
(3)
Susan H.
I came here on a weekend hoping for some great japanese food. The rolls we got were ok, not memorable at all. We got a sashimi lunch, the tuna texture wasn't quite right, like maybe it's been thawed and refreezed and then thawed again.... just not right, even my favorite salmon sashimi wasn't up to par.
(2)
Mary E.
Well...now I know why this huge restaurant with plenty of parking is never crowded. They have awful food. My daughter and I went over the weekend and had the worst California rolls ever. They were made with tons of mayo and fake crab meat and were warm. The Chicken Teri was overly sweet and the rice was just a big pile of mush. Maybe we just ordered the wrong things but we will not be going back.
(1)
Nadja R.
I think these guys are just great! I've eaten here many times and the food is always excellent. They are missing that last star for sometimes having lackadaisical service. Tonight I couldn't decide, do I want the seaweed salad, or another roll? Oh, look at that, a roll with seaweed salad on it! And it was delicious. Their udons and ramens are good, sushi and sashimi are excellent, good agedashi tofu, wonderful tofu cheesecake- kinda limited on the selection of hooch, but I can forgive them that.
(4)
Jeanne D.
We went here to eat , when we were taking a break for the pinball museum, which is across the street. My son got the Teriyaki Steak plate, I got Teriyaki beef and Tempura, My friend got chicken teriyaki and tempura, We had gyoza's to start, Great food. Restaurant wasnt crowded when we arrived , but started getting busy when we left.
(4)
T S.
I've been going to Katsu over Sushi House ever since I found out about it. I like it there. The food's good, and the service is good most of the time, compared to the other place on the other side of the island. Service is generally quick, but sometimes they lack attentiveness. Overall though, I enjoy going there. I think their green tea tempura ice cream has lost some quality over time though. The last time I had it, it tasted pretty generic with ice crystals, but good portion for the price! For sushi, love it! Chicken donburi- Yum! I'd go back again and again. Wish they had cocktails! But only beer and sake...
(4)
Martine F.
I like this sushi house the best in Alameda... I think the rolls are a perfect size not monster size and loose like the Sushi House on shoreline. Plus they have excellent service and are always on time with their to go order estimate. Fresh fish and great wasabi!
(4)
Benita S.
Katsu is the best sushi place in Alameda, second is Sushi House in South Shore. Kai's comes in a close third for their chicken katsu. If you haven't been since they changed ownership (I think it use to be called Sushi Boat), you should definitely give it another shot. The service is great and the ingredients are fresh. I tend to go for nigiri or sashimi, so I'd know if they were using day old fish.
(5)
Nicole T.
We've eaten here many many times and really liked it for a few reasons: 1) The food is pretty good 2) The glasses of wine are generous and reasonably priced 3) Free parking 4) Theres always space so we never have to wait. We've kept going back but have been thinking lately that each time our experience has been less and less satisfying due to the service. Last night was the icing on the cake. I cant guarantee that we'll be back again. The service was just bad! She literally not just forgot to bring 4 different things we ordered, she said we never ordered them. We asked 3 different times for more napkins, she would bring 2 at a time. We had a toddler with us and really needed more than 2 napkins. She then just disappeared. And we had to get up and ask someone for our check as she was no longer helping our table. Im thinking we'll be finding somewhere new from here on out. We love Sushi and its a big treat but when youre out spending decent money for a meal, you want to walk away feeling satisfied and happy.
(3)
Anthony A.
Katsu has competent Japanese food, including good sushi. It's a little pricey, but that's to be expected at Japanese restaurants. I've never had bad food here, but it's also not the best Japanese food ever. I've not experienced any of the bad food issues other reviewers have. The place is almost never full, even though the main room has a decent amount of space between tables, which is nice. The service in said main room is generally reasonable - not the most attentive, but you don't get ignored. However, they keep trying to sit people with kids behind the sushi bar - an area with a few tables along the Webster Street side of the building. Don't let them seat you there. Every time I've been seated in that area, the service was incredibly inattentive, to the point where I've had to make a nuisance of myself on occasion to get served. I make a point now of asking to be seated in the main room when I arrive, so that I will get decent service.
(3)
MG H.
Moderately priced, great service, clean, nice atmosphere with the bamboo and tree paintings, very relaxing. I recommend the "Oh Yeah!" fried maki roll.
(4)
Irene S.
This place does have pretty decent sushi. There is a good selection of rolls and the prices are reasonable. I did notice the little flies around so keep an eye on your food. I am not sure if it is because I was sitting close to the entrance on Webster Street side of the establishment. The service is very attentive, though, so I am giving it 4 stars for that.
(4)
Randy O.
I think this place recently changed ownership - for the worse. I think the last time I went here was about 6 months ago, and back then, I would give it 3 stars or so. But yesterday, I went there with my family and it was horrible! I think the chef doesn't know anything about Japanese food - he's probably not Japanese either. Here's what they did wrong: 1. put hot tea in a metal cup without any handles. Yeah, it's called conduction, and that would make your hand almost burn if you touched the metal cup. Those metal cups are for cold water! They said they didn't have any other tea cups. Go buy some real Japanese looking ones. 2. The california rolls were horrible. Even I can make them. They forgot to put mayonnaise in it, and it was dry. Also, didn't look anything like the menu, not even close. They were sparse on the avocado. It was a thin slice, rather than the usual sized chunks you get in any real Japanese restaurant. They were ugly too. 3. The rice in the other sushi rolls were stale. 4. The udon was the most fake udon I've ever seen. They put beef briskets that you usually put in Vietnamese pho into the Japanese udon! And to top it all off, everything was overpriced. For a 4 piece roll, it was like $9.95. Also, the kid's dinner menu was $9.95 - absurd. Don't go there. I'm not ever going there again.
(1)
Paul P.
Decent neighborhood sushi place. For those dinging this place read "sushi place". the fish is good quality, prepared masterfully. The other japanese fare here is marginal at best so look elsewhere for sukiyaki, noodles, yakitori, etc. Great service to and oddly i think they have the best TV's on Webster. I ended watching game 7 of the ALCS here. As for misspellings in the menu, i take that as a great sign that the place is authentic. why you would use grammar/spelling a harbinger of a dining experience is beyond me. Good luck with that. Oh, maybe try writing out a menu is japanese and see how you fare. That'd be fun to see.
(4)
Michael S.
This place simply rocks! Me and my gf walk in and we are immediately greeted. The place has a few people, but I like this because I really dislike a place that is packed and crammed. The waitress immediately serves tea and asks if we are ready to order. The environment is very Zen and calm. The dining is just as sincere with bamboo scenery and pleasant views. The Sushi is VERY fresh and prepared well. If you ask, you get a refill of tea almost immediately (in the past I have gone here, they just pour and fill your glass without asking). They are not all in your face and let you have conversation without any disruption. The food is wonderful, and trust me, I have had many dishes from their menu in the past. The best thing I enjoyed about this place (and I really need to write about it) is the fact that you can have a wonderful and enlightening meal, without all the wait and banter of too many people in the house. Enjoy!! BONZAI!!! :-D
(5)
Kerri B.
My brief comments are these: Katsu is open til at least 10pm (which is a rare and happy thing for Webster St); the sushi has been excellent each time I have eaten here; the prices are decent and reasonable, even if not super cheap; the service is friendly and efficient; and the decor is (oddly) dramatic and entertaining. I came from the City and its great sushi, and I am a totally-picky eater and lover of sushi. I admit I was a little afraid of Katsu because it seemed consistently empty. Once I tried it, I was won over. I have tried it several times since then, and have found the sushi to be consistently delicious and fresh. I like Katsu more than Kamakura and Yellowtail and as much as Sushi House. I know you know what these comparisons mean in the world of Alameda sushi restaurants. Katsu really is good...I hope some of you out there will give it a try. I am routing for Katsu because our friendly Webster St. businesses need our support. If you are a resident of our side of the island, please check this place out. If you are a Park Street person, expand your horizons and check out life on the other side. You can start, as we most often do, with drinks at the neighboring Fireside Lounge, which is just about the best bar of all time as far as I am concerned. Support your local west side businesses!
(4)
Andy C.
My wife put it best: "Well, the salad was good". There are good, and great sushi restaurants in Alameda. This isn't one of them. The rice was cold and dry, and they lack any sense of aesthetics. I've seen prettier sushi at the grocery store. GIven the lack of quality, the prices are ridiculous.
(1)
Wooptydoop L.
1. I've been there for about 10 times now. Their rice is not cooked 80% of the time. Imagine choosing rice grains. 2. What is good: when you order the Bento Box, they have the bestest Tuna for the 20-something sushi restaurants I've tried in the Bay Area. Sometimes I go there and get their Benton Box because it's the onlything that's tastes ok, and their tunia is fabulous. But their other stuff is quite below-average. 3. Price: For $15, a chirashi only has 4 kinds of fish, versus at least 8 from Ray's Sushi in Hayward and even more from Angel Fish on Bay Farm Island.
(2)
genevieve p.
edit (5/24/08): bumping it down to 2.5 stars. my last entry said give it a try, BUT upon visiting this place just now, i remembered how incredibly small the rolls are. so, do give it a try ONLY if you're not used to the huge rolls from sushi house. i mean, not only were these rolls incredibly bite-sized, but i'm used to the 8 pcs/roll and this place only gives you 6 for most of them. no bang for the buck AND no party in the mouth. don't be fooled by the pictures on the menu! also, edamame was overcooked and chicken karaage was waaaaay oily. ------------------------------ 4 stars - The last time I ate here was probably a few months back and I have to admit that while the sushi here is not great, I still like it here because it's hardly ever packed to the point where I have to wait 30+ minutes for a table. Honestly, Katsu is my back up when I don't want to wait at Sushi House. The decor is nice and they have newer dining sets. And because it's not as packed, service is never a problem for me. I say give Katsu a try.
(3)
Diana W.
If I could give a negative number of stars, I would. The service was lousy and slow! The food was awful. I had a bento box lunch which included watered down miso soup, greasy tempura, and dry, overcooked grilled saba. We waited for over a half hour before our food arrived. We barely had time to eat a few bites before going back to work. On top of the long wait for our food, we never had our tea cups refilled. When we asked about our food, they assured us it was coming soon. It finally arrived 10 minutes later. We ran out of time and had to have our food packed to go. We won't be going there again!
(1)
Edmund G.
Wonderful service, excellent sushi and even better mochi! Generous portions and fresh ingredients. I highly reccommend Katsu. Try the spicy tuna rolls...ask for them extra spicy. You won't be dissapointed.
(5)
Kat S.
Sushi is mediocre, service is hit or miss. But they are pretty nice considering my kid always throws a tantrum when we are there.
(3)
Allie W.
The first and last time I went I ordered the chicken teriyaki and when it came I got this huge plate with 6 small slices of chicken stacked on top of each other like the cook was trying to build a house out of them. I believe that the majority of the price you pay for the food is towards aesthetics rather than quality and quantity and in my opinion thats definitely not worth it.
(2)
Pikachu P.
Nice place but the food is okay. We came here because parking is convenience. I've tried their chicken teriyaki, was ok; tried their sukiyaki, the beef was too thick...
(3)
Richard Y.
it was okay.. service sucks but the food is alright
(2)
Joss H.
Growing up on this island (yes! It really is an island!), I've watched this little location go from a Sizzler restaurant to Sapporo sushi, a sushi-boat type restaurant, and now Katsu. I'm not a fan of sushi, but my family and friends are, so we dined at this restaurant quite often - sometimes even three times a week, at least when it was "The Sushi Boat Place", as my sisters and I referred to it. To be honest, I usually only go to Japanese restaurants for the green tea, the miso soup, and the green tea ice cream. Yeah, yeah, I know I'm missing out blah blah blah. Since I've been living in Long Beach for the past four years, I learned that our little Sushi Boat Place had recently turned into Katsu Sushi. My mom doesn't go here much often anymore, and says it's just OK now. But when I was in town last week, my friends and family and I went for dinner and it wasn't bad. It was busy that Wednesday night, but they had room for all ten of us around 8:45 pm, without a reservation. They were playing cheesy songs like the Titanic one (oh, you know which one I'm talking about!). The table wasn't all smooshed and crowded, so everyone had room for however many rolls and/or plates we ordered, and we ordered a whole lot. It wasn't at all difficult to hear the conversation going on at the other end of the table, so nobody felt left out (except maybe the boyfriends of my sisters and girlfriends, haha...aww). The timing for the arrival of our food was reasonable, but not so fast that you wondered how fresh it really was. My tempura dinner was yummy, and the shrimp wasn't over-coated with batter. Nobody complained afterward, or at least they didn't whine to me! Some of us had food to take home as well. It was about $18 per person including tip. Not bad. We'll definitely come back.
(5)
Bella I.
Great service and the food was fabulous.
(5)
Rachel L.
I've definitely had better sushi. Firstly the converted Denny's interior is hideous. I feel like I'm sitting in a freaking school cafeteria. Sushi is passable but I was very annoyed that they put rice to fill out my veggie roll! I mean, come on...are vegetables that expensive?!?! The wakame salad was the one bright spot in my meal, good and a large portion. The bento boxes seemed outrageously priced. Didn't seem like a good value to me. I would not come here again if it was my choice.
(2)
Stephanie D.
I wish I can update my review with the total opposite of my first from a 4 right down to a negative 4. Haven't been here since my last review and the fam and I were looking forward to treating ourselves to dinner at Katsu tonite. We walked in about 7:30pm when from what I remembered should have been a packed house. There were about 4-5 tables occupied. This should have been a warning for us to make a complete uturn right back out of the door. I'll cut to the chase...(the eats). We ordered 5 rolls, ama ebi, sake toro, ika nigiris, a child's beef teriyaki, combo tempura dinner and an unagi donburi. To sum up all of the sushi........it was 10 times as small as it used to be, way beyond the lowest grade fish you can find, and the sushi rice umm it was offensive to say the least. The child's dish included beef teriyaki that had the same texture as my puppy's snack treats to the point where my toddler was gagging because she couldn't chew through it. My son's unagi donburi has the stench of an old burned dried out sponge. As for the tempura combo dinner it was the size of an appetizer sized order. What happened to this place?! We sat in amazement trying to get past ourselves without being rude. When the bill came it was $124.36. WHAT!! The 3 adults at the table immediately had to try to stop ourselves from falling over in disbelief over how the prices were raised and the food was the biggest let down. Fine whatever we just wanted out and quick before one of us had a meltdown. As we loaded the car and said our goodbyes to our dinner guest we hear "Excuse me Excuse me" from across the lot. Turns out the $124.36 we were charged for the crappiest meal ever was mistyped when ran through the credit card machine. It was actually $142.36. WTH!!!! As if we needed to be shoved off a ledge they come chasing us down outside of their establishment to make up the difference for their mistake. Pathetic. I understand why all the loyal Katsu fans now boycott the place.It's simply terrible. Save yourself the headache, stomach ache, dignity & most of all CASH. Keep on driving by, head over to Kamakura or Sushi House for decent sushi on the island.
(1)
Alan D.
the corner shot as i would call it! the food is good cant complain. would rather come here than sit out in front of sushi house for an hour just to get seated. but here @ katsu the ambiance is cool. nice place to take the family out for a few good rolls. what gets me is every time we come here they don't have toro! you come to a sushi place and there isn't toro! that just sucks lol! other than that the staff are polite and its not to far from us. prices are reasonable but could probably hire a few more people to help out and wait on tables or @ least hire someone to refill your water lol! check it out if you want. everyone has there preference's to me its all about the freshness and quality.
(4)
Garrett M.
I've been eating here often over the past few months, and never once been disappointed. The food quality is excellent; fresh ingredients, perfect seasoning, and presentation that often makes you feel guilty for destroying a work of art. But that guilt always fades with the first bite. Katsu also apparently believes in satisfying the most hungry customer without emptying their wallet; for under twenty dollars including a generous tip, you will either leave completely full or with a take-home box. The atmosphere is relaxed and interesting. Compared to Sushi House's terrible crowds and almost industrial hurried atmosphere, Katsu is a solid winner with food on the same level if not better.
(5)
Sherilyn T.
compared to sushi house, this place deserves 5 stars...but since i've only been here once, i will reserve the flexibility to add the additional star upon my next visit. some of the reviews here warned about the customer service, so we were skeptical going in. but we got rather great service....although they could have been a little more attentive with the hot tea refills. other than that, the waitress made great recommendations, the other service staff was extremely friendly, and place overall looked nice and clean - a step up from the old sizzler it use to be. we ordered the small sushi boat- filled with tons of sashimi and sushi rolls and some additional house rolls on the side. i must admit, the salmon sashimi was fairly fresh compared to sushi house and the plethora of other mediocre sushi spots. the rolls are relatively cheaper than sushi house and comparable in size. they had some pretty unique names for their rolls...(ie. playboy, sushi girl). i'm convince i've found my permanent sushi house replacement.
(4)
sandy l.
oh my god! i cannot believe what these people are talking about! this place is absolutely AMAZING! this place rocks! the servers ARE extremely good and they are so nice they refill everything and always checked on us, i got bento box and lion king roll and it was delicious! their decor was so good compare to other alameda sushi places i've been to! OVERALL THIS PLACE ROCKS! I'm definatly coming back!
(5)
Bryan Y.
its rare that you find a decently priced sushi restraunt with decent food. this place suprised me because it's been a whie since alameda had an alternative to sushi house. i reccomend this place for big parties too.
(4)
Belinda L.
My husband and I come here almost every week. We both love the sashimi here. They have absolutely the freshest fish on the Island, especially when you compare to the other places in Alameda, and we've been to them all. They also give healthy portions at a reasonable price. Another reason they've become our favorite place. Give them a try, especially if you're into sashimi.
(5)
Peter W.
same level as Sushi House
(4)
Mr. B.
The food was decent , but the service was terrible. Its funny because the service started off good , then about 15 minutes later 3 Alameda cops came in and the 2 waiters started completely ignoring us ,and the people on both sides of us. The waiter and waitresses even stopped smiling. As if we all dissappeared. Its a trip cuz their attitudes totally changed and they stopped smiling and being so nice. I regretted going there and will never return. Dont spend your money here. No wonder it was so empty in there. Sushi spots come a dime a dozen, go to Berkeley or Kiki's in Frisco, cuz this place sucks.
(2)
paul p.
sushi is decent but don't make it your main dish. bento boxes passable for lunch. the atmosphere is friendly (though, ESPN sometimes can be a little loud). servers are courteous and my tea cups never run dry. this place is uneventful, i've been here many times; quality is consistent. parking is plenty.
(3)
N W.
Better than Sushi House across the Island. I have eaten here numerous times and consistently had great sushi rolls and great service at a reasonable price.
(4)
Kazoua T.
I have been here a handful of times because the restaurant is convenient and there isn't a wait but the sushi is not that good. It is okay. For the price that you pay, it really isn't worth it. We only go there because it's close to the bf's house. For $13.95 you can get a 3 choice bento box. I had the Tempura Roll and the Spider roll last night and they were alright. Not worth the money. The miso soup and tea is good though. I would have to say...if you want bento boxes, they're pretty decent here but expensive. If you want sushi, don't go here. Oh and the California Roll that came with the bento box was one of the worst ones I've had. How can California rolls be dry?
(2)
Kenna B.
I was craving Udon on a Sunday night. Decided on Katsu, as they have easy parking. I popped in, ordered the vegetable tempura udon. There are plenty of attentive wait staff. It came out quickly, and hot. Got it home and discovered crisp and not too oily tempura, tasty dipping sauce and thick udon noodles under an elegant array of fresh vegetables in broth. All in all, an excellent experience. I will definitely get this again.
(5)
Gina D.
The best part about this place is that you never have to wait for a table and the food is solid. All the staff are pleasant and attentive. The rolls are a little pricey but still tasty.
(3)
Elaine M.
The outside does no justice for the inside decor. The inside was nice clean and spacious. Our waitress was kind. Unfortunately the food was generic. I was unhappy with their chicken teriyaki, just dry chicken slathered in tropical sauce. The tilapia had a very fishy taste but wasn't half bad. The gyoza was ok. Not great. Just wasn't great. Hope to give it a go in the future.
(3)
Ellias M.
The food was good but the service totally poor. I guess it's because I'm black. One waiter sat me and my girlfriend down and it took 15 minutes before a different waiter came over to take our order. It took forever for them to bring our bill after eating. I'm surely never gonna go back again. #TreatAllRacesEqual!!
(1)
Danny V.
Stopped by here on new years day because another place was closed and we were in the mood for sushi. Stopped in and got the bento lunch box with chicken teriyaki, tempura and California roll. It was a pretty generous portion and filled me up. The tempura was great, chicken teriyaki was tasty and California roll was decent, nothing special as far as a California roll goes. I'd def come back for lunch sometime. Its a good sushi spot in Alameda
(4)
Mai N.
Katsu is decent. The rolls are flavorful. The prices are decent, not too expensive. Ive been here on a Friday night and it had a fun vibe, but also wasnt too crowded. I would come here again if I were craving sushi and didnt want anything too fancy.
(3)
Ryan V.
Some pluses: nice wait staff. Clean environment. Nice decor. Quick service and lots of tables. Cons: just bad sushi. Something tastes off about the rice. Presentation is fine but I was served the worst avocado roll I ever had. Just flavorless even with soy sauce and wasabi. I live down the street and I probably won't be back.
(3)
Diana L.
Nice place, nice service. You know how sometimes you just have a really big sushi craving and even "ok" sushi would hit the spot? Well... sadly, the sushi from here did not. Wasn't terrible, and it was a decent size, but left me pretty underwhelmed and unsatisfied... not sure why.
(2)
Maggi K.
I remember when Katsu used be a great place for sushi! Sadly, their quality has gone down drastically over the years. Every time I go, I feel like their sushi has shrunk while prices continue to increase. The last time I went, the agedashi tofu was horrible - what was supposed to be the crispy tofu skin was goopy and not crispy at all and the dashi dipping sauce was bland. Yokohama around the block is much better!
(2)
Dream D.
bad service, doesn't not acknowledge, I sat the the table for 5 mins. and I still didn't receive a menu so I walked out.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Lily S.
I'm not really a raw fish connoisseur, but I must say I am a true fan of Katsu Sushi House. Yesterday was my birthday, 4 July, and after a long day at the beach, the plan was to retain our primo parking spot and eat dinner at Sushi House before the fireworks. NO amount of convenience could've made me stay and place its importance over my comfort after I entered that place! (Don't even get me started.) We searched and searched for another place to eat, but for whatever reason, people decide to close on my birthday, so we "settled" upon Katsu, having gone in there briefly prior to get a feel for its Energy and style. The people seemed nice enough, so why not? Why not, indeed! The food was great, we had at least 3 people waiting on us hand and foot, the menu extensive, and prices reasonable. But what really blew me away was the royal treatment I received after they learned it was my birthday! I hesitate to go further, lest it's not par for the course, and I wouldn't want to put the owner in an embarrassing situation and feel pressured to repeat his actions every time it's someone's birthday, but suffice to say, we'll be back. We live, unfortunately, too far away, at the moment, to go as often as I'd like, but we hope that will change soon enough! Katsu Sushi made my birthday even more enchanting and special than it already was this year!
(4)Lisa D.
A friend and I wanted to grab something fresh within walking distance from my house. Yikes! our meal was barely edible. We ordered 2 miso soups, 2 seaweed salads, avocado roll, and spinach and dipping sauce, and tea. Her tea had a gnat in it, the spinach was rolled and looked like 2 turds, the avocado roll, I had to sneakily spit it out so my friend didn't see my disgust. The miso and salad were good, also the green tea cheesecake. Service was good. The bill was $40. I don't recommend this place.
(1)Nobbi L.
Despite the new definitions, I just can't give this place only 2 stars. The service and the ambiance was really great. It was a Saturday night, I just got back from 2 days working in Modesto, Jack is on business in PHX before being jobless as of Oct. 31, and I had to take our housemate to dinnner (not really, I just have to take care of him.) He had heard good things from a local gay social network about this place. Queens often have bad taste! (Just like our straight brothers & sisters.) I agreed to go. The problem is the food! Or our ordering. The only thing I really was my sunomono. The sauce was tart and sweet at the same time and the cucumbers had soaked up some flavor. But even there the ebi did have more of a fish flavor than it should. My salmon skin hand roll also wasn't really good. Rather than thin crispy/crunchy skin, it contained thicker limp "sticks" of something. The nori was chewy and tough. I was in the mood for some non-sushi stuff. Rather than going for the usual teriyaki or tempura, I saw something like chicken with spicy sauce. I imagined something along the lines of Korean BBQ chicken. My mistake. What arrived was closer to Hungarian chicken paprikas minus the cream than to an Asian delicacy. I just ate a few bites. If I were just to rate the food, it would get 1 star.
(3)Kevin H.
Can we not throw birthday parties here? hahaha, im gonna only order Tuna Roll or Salmon Roll, cuz I'm always disappointed whenever I order anything else. If it weren't for so many birthdays being celebrated here, I would never come again cuz theres much better in Alameda. (No...i wouldnt go to sushi house instead, its just as bad quality-wise) Chef special sushi and sashimi was definitely the worst and cheapest quality in fish I've ever had for a chef special. I'm sure the rolls are fine, but im not a roll person and of course when you drown it in sauces its gonna taste good.
(2)L W.
They are miss with a few hits. The worst thing a sushi place can do is make bad rice. Sometimes the rice is hard and that is just bad. Other than that the food is ok. If you don't want to spend the time waiting for Sushi House then you could give this place a try. The service is actually pretty good. I have had a few things that I didn't like and when I told them, they either took it back and fixed it or did not charge me for the food. I go here when I am lazy and don't want to go to the other side of town for sushi.
(3)Gregory S.
I was very disappointed in the quality of sushi here. From the appearance of the outside, you'd think that it was a quality place to eat. The only thing that I was impressed with was the Host that was wearing a "Peace" bracelet. She was very friendly, and quite honestly, the only reason I sat down. I ordered the rainbow roll and the Philly Roll. When they arrived, both were luke warm and tasted terrible. I wanted to check my email while I wanted and found the Katsu WIFI. I asked the server for the password. She stated they didn't have wifi. I said that I see the Katsu Wifi. She said, its locked and I don't know the password. Ok, her tip was just cut in half. She didn't check on me until I was eating the last piece of sushi. And Id needed water. I will not be back. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR. Make the extra effort to drive to Knob Hill and eat at New Sushi King. It Fresh, Larger portions, and you'll pay half what you'll pay at KATSU EWW maybe they should call it Kats EWW.
(1)Nonyah B.
i asked for raspberry ice tea and the waitress answers with a " oh yes we have ice tea", comes back with regular un sweeten iced tea. i told her i didnt want the drink and asked for a sprite instead, when the sprite arrived it tasted SUPER FLAT! i told her about the horrible tasting soda and she answers with "oh.. yea.. its because they turned down the gas"... WHY WOULD YOU SERVE SODA TO YOUR CUSTOMERS IF YOU KNOW ITS FLAT?!??!?! i told her i didnt want the sprite either and just wanted ice water instead. when the water came, there was no ice and little bits of somethings floating in my water. i complained again about my drink and told her that i just wanted a cup of ice and just drank a can of orange soda i had in my car. love the food but CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKS!!!!!!!
(3)Betty R.
Pretty good sushi. I've had better but not bad. Went there last night on a date with the boyfriend it was pretty empty and once we put our order in the food came quick. I would go back again.
(4)Raymond Z.
i used to work here when i was in high school back in 2004-2005, business was good, though the management was kinda sour (the owners always ask "what happened?" when things go wrong. and the sushi bar DOES NOT cooperate with the servers. By now, I'm pretty sure the management changed at least twice. Last time I went in with my brother, it was just ridiculous. 1 star for location, have their own parking lot 1/2 star for price 1/2 star for portion/quality -1 star for service (i know it's a big time for girls to look pretty at all times , but it's not necessary for the waitress to have heavy perfume on. going back with the black and white is just fine. -1 star for atmosphere (it's just cold in there, not lively enough, although the bathroom is indeed very clean)
(2)Lis M.
Went on a Friday afternoon and that place was dead. Should've known that was a bad sign from the get go. My friend and I ordered the unagi roll, rock n roll, and a bay scallop. I knew that the bay scallop required baking but I did not expect to wait more than 30 MINUTES for it! Our 2 different waitresses acted surprised that it was taking so long and swore it was just coming out, then checked back one last time and asked if we wanted to just cancel the order. NO, wtf, I ordered that roll because I wanted it, why would I cancel the order now that I waited more than 30 MINUTES for it!? When the roll finally came the waitress tried to shut us up by offering free ice cream for the inconvenience but i asked to speak to the owner instead to express the unsatisfactory service we had. HE also insisted to apologize with ice cream so we had to basically beg for a discount from the bill and i think at the end he took it from the waitresses check. wtf. All in all the rolls were decent, priced the same as sushi house, and they only took 12 MINUTES to make a bay scallop. I will not return to this place. I'd rather go back to sushi house and wait 30 minutes to get seated then to wait for my roll.
(2)MJ S.
Its Friday night! I just got paid, and I'M HUNGRY!! Cruised by Sushi House, but the line was out the door. Where else can we go? We decided to try Katsu Sushi on Webster. Oh cool, its open late! Well, it's nearly deserted...But we decided to give it a try. I ordered miso soup, edamame, spicy tuna roll and the GoGo Roll. The Plus side: The soup and edamame came almost instantly. The rolls were HUGE! The Negative side: Even though it was nearly deserted and there were 3 servers, I finished all my tea and was waiting and waiting for the server to come back, and when she FINALLY did, I asked for a water. She came back with a boiling cup of water. Um, thanks? The rolls were mediocre at best. So bigger really isn't better, and the rolls were huge but they weren't very good. The spicy tuna was spicy, but it had some inedible bits of fish scales in it! The GoGo Roll was better but nothing special. I don't think I'll be back. Service was good when I finally got the attention, but hard to come by. Quality of food was pretty low. Meh. We should have stood in line at Sushi House. :/
(1)Michael O.
The service sucks, but the sushi is ok. My family and I have been coming to Katsu since 2006. In the span of over six years the service is sporadic. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, depending on which waitress you get. The sushi has been pretty good for us. We order the samething every time. My wife loves the cherry blossom, my son loves the lion king, and I love the yami yami roll. I wish they could be better on service, but reading other reviews they just suck at it.
(3)Andrew Y.
It's pretty close to where I live so we thought we'd try it out. We got our food to go. It felt a little expensive. 3 rolls and sashimi cost $38. The roles good, but one of them was flipped on it's side, the fish on top had fallen off. Oh well. There were decidedly less people at this restaurant than Sushi House. We'll try this place again.
(3)Will S.
The only word that I can use to describe this place is "WOW", and not in a good way!!!! I was greeted upon entry and seated very quickly by 1 of the 2 servers. The location was quite large but with few people during the late lunch crowd. I hate writing negative reviews, especially when a restaurant seems to be trying but I'd have to say, they FAILED miserably. After seating, I was ignored and didn't get the server's attention to take my order for about 15-20 mins. All the while, no water, not follow up, no nothing. Keep in mind that this was during Wednesday lunch which means that I needed to get back to work in a timely manner. I allotted an hour for lunch but ended up taking over an hour. If the system allowed me, I would give it negative stars. Since the system requires I select a star measurement, I'm selecting 1 star. If I had a choice, I would select negative stars! After the initial long wait, the server finally took my order. I ordered the Chirashi and was very excited until I received my order. The Chirashi was served in a tiny square bowl, with very little sushi rice and even smaller pieces of sashimi. I've ordered Chirashi from many different Japanese restaurants in the greater Bay Area and I have to say that this order was the worst ever. All Chirashi sushi slices were sliced into french fry style slices, into strips if you will. All the strips equated to about only 4 conservative sashimi slices. I felt gipped and short-changed. My minimul amount of food was VERY over-priced for the amount. That coupled with the service, I'd have to say, "STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE"!!!! I will never come back to this place. Don't say I didn't warn you!!!!!
(1)Mario B.
Good sushi and good customer service. Unlike Sushi House in South Shore you don't have to wait as long to be seated. It's pretty much immediate. The food is just as good also.
(4)Sarah O.
I went here for an awesomely awkward lunch with the boyfriend. Not Katsu's fault, it's the result of having lunch after fighting then not seeing each other for like 4 days. Blah blah blah, boo hoo. I had eaten here once before when I was vegan and I ordered some special items that weren't on the menu. They charged me outrageously for an avocado and shiso roll, but I think the girl that rang me up was new and wasn't sure how to price it. It's all good, she was ridiculously friendly. This time I ordered agedashi tofu, and the veggie roll. The boyfriend ordered the bento box with tuna sashimi and some chicken thing, and the tempura roll. I really like their agedashi tofu, they don't leave out the green onion like other places and they don't put the tofu in a swimming pool of sauce, which makes the batter all soggy. The veggie roll was good too, typical stuff. Oshinko, kanpyo, gobo, cucumber, shitake. I think that's everything... I liked the tempura roll as well. Normally I don't, and I can't exactly pinpoint what made this one better but I enjoyed it. The tuna sashimi looked really good, however I didn't try any. I've heard people say this place is pricey. I didn't think so. And if you're eating at a sushi place that's hella cheap, you might want to question the quality of the fish. Good quality sushi fish isn't cheap.
(4)Tu-Anh N.
If you don't want to wait at Sushi House, then this is I guess the place to go...if you have extra money on you Also, if you want a nice romantic dinner where its not noisy and plenty of room on your table for food. The food is good, I love their rolls with the spicy sauce on them. However, the portions are smalller than a lot of places. The presentation is nice though (maybe that's why). The service it great, everyone is so nice, friendly, and humble. The setting is decent, but their mural is hideous. But I give them credit for trying... I like their tempura ice cream a lot. Instead of deep frying a huge scoop of ice-cream, they split it into 4 pieces with whip cream and a bit of chocolate syrup over it. I don't' go here anymore because of the price. But I like it.
(4)Victor G.
katsu sushi was a former sizzler's. to fill up space, there are two groves of fake bamboo stalks running up to the ceiling colored purple and green. flatscreens showing informercials. huh? one long wall and impressionist paint splashed on it. not impressed. music: lite rock sampling: -chirashi over rice (14.95) 8 pieces of small rectucular fish, one ebi and 2 slices of tamago. -lettuce salad with french dressing -miso soup? stramge tasting. not miso taste. -cold water and tea served. -rice tasted a little cold, probably a day old. temaki(hand rolls): -small slices of fish, not super fresh, not big enough to taste fish. -ritual greeting of patrons on arrival and departure. -good service, questionable food. -free parking in lot -left when they were "busy" to avoid gratuitous "thank you". -katsu classic example of j fakeness, fakery pretty poor in fact. -went looking for more sushi but decided against it.
(2)Sandip J.
I am a vegetarian so I usually have the Sansai Udon noodle soup and it is consistently very refreshing and of good taste. Sometimes I eat the veg sushi and it is good too. Also good service. Would definitely recommend it.
(5)Lissette G.
Food is wonderful. The staff is friendly. The owner is always sweet to my kids, giving them a toy or lollipop, but always asking me first. It is a family favorite of ours. The only thing is when they are busy, the service isn't stellar, but that is most places. The prices could be better, but not too bad, that I still favor this place over any other sushi place in Alameda. The sushi is awesome!!!
(4)Jack B.
This place is not good for sushi because sushi was so small and expensive what you got!!! You are not gonna expect from them.
(2)Michael L.
Decent food, decent price and decent service. If your in Alameda and want sushi but don't want to wait like other sushi restaurants, then come here. you'll get what you paid for. food is decently price and the food has never been awful. Lion King Roll (B) Bento Box's (B) Chirashi (B)
(3)glen p.
From the outside Katsu looks like just another restaurant on Webster street in Alameda. But once you walk in you can tell that it is much more than that. The atmosphere is quiet, and relaxing. There is an abundance of options on the menu. The staff was always ready to help us without hovering over us. The large room has two nice and very long bamboo and water feature planters that separate the room, giving the place a nice ambiance. The food was even better. I had the Red Dragon roll which is a California roll with spicy tuna ebi and tobiko. I tried three other rolls that I will tell you about later. Katsu was a very nice surprise and I can't wait to go again Red Dragon Roll 3.0 star rating California roll topped with spicy tuna ebi adn tobiko. This dish tasted great and was not too spicy. What I liked about all of the rolls is that you can easily taste the individual ingredients. Go Go Roll 4.0 star rating Shrimp tempura spicy crabmeat avocado wrapped with crunch and sauce. Don't worry I didn't order all spicy dishes. I think the funny name grabed me. The shrimp was very nice and the crabmeat really completed the dish. Spider Roll 4.0 star rating Deep fried soft shell crab, avocado and cucumber. I loved this dish. It's surved hot and after taking a bite it just melts in your mouth.
(4)Ava C.
It's understandable when a restaurant is super busy and you do not get enough attention from the wait staff because they are preoccupied helping other customers. However, the night that we dined at Katsu, we were one of only 2 tables there, so no excuses to be ignored all night, right? The waitress only came by to take our order and bring us our food, but never checked in to see if everything was OK or if we needed anything else. Our glasses were empty and we wanted to order additional dishes, but we could not flag down the waitress as she was not even looking towards our direction. I finally got frustrated and went to her across the room and advised her that we've been trying to get her attention, and we wanted to order more. No apologies. She just took my order, and brought the food. You'd think that she'd make sure that she'd keep an eye out in case we needed anything else? Nope. We were ready to pay the bill and needed to-go boxes, and yet another ordeal to find the waitress. This is unacceptable. I grew up in the area and really want to support local businesses but this insane. How do they stay in business when they treat people like this? We joked about a "dine and dash" bc they were so inattentive that they'd probably not even notice! I really wanted to not leave a tip to prove a point, but decided against it. The food was mediocre at best and the back area where we were seated had a ton of fruit flies in the air. We had to keep swatting to get them off our food, which makes us really question this establishment's cleanliness.
(1)Shiggles B.
Decent fish, etc. for the price. Very nice staff and good service. Great ofr to-go food too!
(4)Cj G.
Used to love this place :( It's right around the corner and had much better service than sushi-house.... until recently. It seems as though the quality has dropped in the past year and the service has taken a serious nose dive.
(2)Bay A.
The ingredients for sushi were not fresh, over all amount was less compare to other sushi restaurants, the waitress was not friendly at all.... We would never go back again. Only highlight was cool bathroom.
(1)Nicole T.
Went here last night for the first time. It's within walking distance. I was hoping for amazing but I'll go with decent. I had sake (salmon) nigiri & the yellowfin sashimi. My friend got the assorted sashimi. The fish was like I said decent, I've definitely had better and larger cuts would have been nice. The rice wasn't japanese style not sure what it was. The miso soup was disappointing and my salad was swimming in dressing, it would have been good had it had less. (much less) my friend decided she wanted to get an order of uni (sea urchin) it was not fresh it was bad. We sent it back to which the waitress responded "well it's raw fish" completely disregaurding the fact that everything we ordered was raw as if we were unaware. I've been eating sushi my whole life and I know what it's supposed to taste like. Don't insult me by assuming I dont know what I'm talking about. I then suggested she taste it. (she had it removed from the bill) when they brought us the bill she told us again the uni was fresh I'm not sure who she was trying to convince us or herself. Other than that the service was good however there was only one other table in the restaurant. I would go here again if I really didn't feel like driving somewhere and wanted sushi but it will never be my first or second choice.
(2)Renee N.
Came here for lunch today with dad. We walked in half an hour after opening; everything inside is clean and well decorated, but I could've done without the piped in Christmas music and the looping infomercials on the giant hanging plasmas. When arrived, however, we were greeted with enthusiastic hellos from the chefs and the hostess. The menu is decent, and I really liked the Nigiri Mix deal--8 pieces of Nigiri for about $13. I ordered it (no eel, please) and my dad got a bento box with teriyaki beef and tuna sashimi. Both came with miso (a little heavy and salty for my liking) and salad (standard and fine). The servers who attended to us were gracious and considerate, checking in to refill tea and remove plates as necessary. The fish was good, which is the main issue when choosing any sushi house. My nigiri mix had hamachi, tuna, salmon, shrimp, tofu, another hamachi, some fish I didn't recognize, and another fish I REALLY didn't recognize (but dad said it was probably calamari). Everything was good (though I don't think I'm a calamari girl) and fresh and the pieces were big. I tried dad's beef and was unimpressed, but I have weird responses to cooked things in the presence of sushi--kind of a, "Why would you choose THAT when THIS is available?" response. Dad liked it fine. This was my second visit (the other was over a year ago) to Katsu and all in all it's a solid sushi choice.
(4)Jerome L.
I give credit to Katsu for being (I think) the only sushi restaurant on Webster St. Props. When you first enter Katsu, the interior of the restaurant is quite nice. The service is not a concern because they are quite friendly and quick when you need something. The sushi is okay, but not spectacular by any means. They do give a good portion of sushi, but the sushi quality is mediocre. They have a wide variety of sushi that come along with pictures. I think that's about it. I only gave it three stars because it's nothing that wows me. However, the sushi is affordable and good to eat. I still need to try their bento boxes and other foods to make a more concrete decision. But as for the sushi, I just give it an okay.
(3)Donny N.
The majority of complainers about Katsu on Yelp! seem to be worried the place has an aesthetic & they aren't getting a good value or something. I bet most West Alamedan's were more happy with the Sizzler that used to be here. The joint is practically a haven in West Alameda, which is known more for it's fast food and little greasy spoons. While not the world's most incredible sushi, it's certainly passable, and one would pay lots more for similar fare across the bay in San Francisco. I myself was delighted to discover Katsu, which likely pays big rent for it's big space with it's own parking. Overall the prices are not out of line, considering the space, portion sizes and and the quality is fine. You could take a "sophisticated palate" pal here and I would bet they would not be appalled or grossed out. I've eaten here a few times, even with a picky kid, and no one ever had any real complaints...I just order a big Korean beer and enjoy the place... so should you... Then if it's Friday or Saturday walk across the street behind the diner to the Lucky JuJu Pinball Gallery
(3)Sarah C.
GNARNIA. If you don't know me and you don't know what gnarnia means, let me explain. The evolution of gnarnia started with the word "gnarly" and progressed to the lazier form "nar nar". One day I experienced something so disgusting and incomprehensible that I said it was the "Chronicles of Narnia". For copyright reasons I chose to spell my favorite word to describe the grossest of the gross as "Gnarnia". Katsu is gnarnia. Terrible service. Terrible Miso soup (how can one screw up Miso?). Fishy spoiled salmon. Just gross!
(1)Tira W.
One of my all-time favorite sushi places. When we lived in Alameda we came out here at least once a week and now whenever in town this is a place we always hit up. The Alameda roll is amazing, as is most of their specialty rolls. Whenever we had guests in town I made sure to take them there. None were ever disappointed. It's hard for me to try other rolls there since I love the Alameda so much, but when I have I'm pleased with all their delicious concoctions. The service is sometimes hit or miss, but the rolls are always great. Good for a fun night out or easy take-out for a night in.
(4)wildhippychile d.
Uh oh. No es bueno. Last week, we had the misfortune of going to dinner at the same time as a large group of birthday party-goers. Despite the fact that I saw numerous servers on the floor: (i) our tempura appetizer came long after we received our rolls, despite the fact that we'd asked to receive it first; (ii) the server was RUDE RUDE RUDE when I asked her if the tempura was already in process (I was going to cancel it if not, considering we were about 1/2 done with our entrees); (iii) it took forever to obtain our drinks; and (iv) one of our rolls looked terrible and fell apart as soon as we tried to eat it. What happened, Katsu? I may not return to get the answer.
(1)L. W.
Out of all the Sushi places in Alameda this one would be at the bottom of my list to eat at and I've eaten there several times. Pros: big nice restaurant, friendly servers, parking. Cons: The food is ehh.
(2)Morgan K.
I am totally surprised everybody hates this place. I went just yesterday and it was excellent! My boyfriend and I got 3 separate sushi rolls, which came out of the kitchen extra fast and were absolutely delicious!! Our server was very nice and the place was hella clean. When we were done we ordered deep fried tempura ice cream, which came out on a platter with four huge ice cream balls topped with dollops of whip cream and hot fudge. THE FOOD WAS BOMB. Will return, this place made me so happy!
(5)Jakob S.
DO NOT ORDER FROM HERE!! My office ordered lunch here last week and everyone who had the sushi, and there was quite a variety, got sick. Which means, their entire cooler was tainted. Not worth it, head over to Park for some decent sushi.
(1)Pon J.
I don't like this restaurant . Because bad service. I went there today. I order the phone and i picked up food. So i tried to eat but NO RICE , NO MISO SOUP AND NO SPICY SAUCE. And not fresh fish. I really feel bad. I think nobody checked what people ordered and they don't care costumer's.I never never go back again. i waste my money . If u don't want to waste money that don't go!! i am actually zero star.
(1)Larry H.
This place is awesome from the service to the sushi! Plus I can walk there so there's that.
(5)Meggy H.
We go to Katsu Sushi on a fairly regular basis, maybe once every few months, as it's about a 30 second drive from our apartment. The menu is perfectly acceptable, if you are a super sushi snob, don't come here, but if you're craving Japanese in Alameda and just trying to have some miso soup and a few innovative rolls after a long day at work then come on down. I always order the spicy tuna hand roll and the playboy roll, and Rob always orders the fried scallops. The food is consistently okay. We haven't had any issues with not so fresh sushi (we all know that happens sometimes) yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if it happened one day. All in all, worth a shot.
(3)Gladys D.
Very nice and classy space with Modern Decor. Decently priced for the amount of food that you get. The rolls are a lot smaller than im used to, but delicious all the same Overall average good sushi place...nothing too fancy, they just give it to you straight. and....there's no huge line like at sushi house =)
(3)Yu W.
I'm surprised too in a good way about this place. The mis-communication between the waitresses also happened. They approached us twice without knowing we have been served. It was quiet and not may guests in there. The Sushi were OK but not impressive. I guest the owner must read some of our review and improved the service.
(3)Deanna A.
My go-to weekday Japanese spot near the Posey Tube. I know there are a lot of Japanese restaurants on Park Street all the way to South Shore. I haven't tapped into any but haven't had a need to yet. The sushi is consistent. They have a good assortment of signature rolls like the Crunch roll. You can customize your handrolls very easily. The udon noodles are nice and plump. Its all about the tempura udon! Bento boxes are packed. Staff are all the cutest japanese girls that just smile at you and make you feel welcome. Its clean and has a parking lot. During basketball season, they play the warrior games. So, no complaints.
(4)Nickel C.
Delicious fresh sushi and a large variety for special rolls. They have the freshest white tuna i've had in quite some time.
(4)Suzanne B.
I was about to call this a weird little place - but it's not little. It's actually rather cavernous and has several odd art installations inside. I cannot comment on the sushi (I don't eat sushi and yes, I've tried it several times and no, the next time is not going to make me a believer) but did try the udon. Which was also odd. Portion size is standard (large bowl) and the version I ordered came with tempura veggies and shrimp on the side. Tempura was crispy and varied. The udon was...well, I already said odd. It was sweet. Yeah, I know - not what I was expecting. The service was...how do I describe this? Everyone was perfectly pleasant when they made eye contact, however they seem to have raised not making eye contact to an art form. All the servers seemed to take whichever path would put them in contact with the least number of filled tables. None of our dishes were removed and we had to flag down someone to get our check. Since I'm not a sushi fan to begin with, I don't think this place will become part of my regular rotation any time soon.
(2)Kim D.
Caveman and I tried this place; an acquaintance raved about it - and sadly, we were totally underwhelmed. The servers were... ditzy, and couldn't seem to keep track of what we'd actually ordered, in addition to letting my hot tea cup go completely DRY, even though they weren't even at 1/4 capacity. It seemed like there were so many service staff, running around, looking harried and frantic... in a nearly empty restaurant... which was weird. They were kind of stressing me out, actually. Caveman decided to deviate from his Paleo/Gluten-free diet, and was rewarded with a completely disappointing shrimp tempura roll, which was utterly lost beneath a MOUNTAIN of tempura bits. Like, you literally could not see the roll beneath the stuff. I ordered conservatively - none of the rolls seemed innovative; just the standards. The decor is on the gaudy/slick side, and the multiple mounted flats screen TV's aren't really conducive to a "nice" evening out for dinner. But if you love California Rolls with Krab, or want to fill your belly while you're drinking with your frat brothers, then you'll like it here. Actually, Baby Sister would like it here. She's 25, on a budget, and inherited the German drinking-genes from [our] WASPy parents... and can drink like a fish. She's thinking about getting married to her girlfriend, and when I asked if where she was going to register, she responded, "I don't know... we need everything." Then, I giggled and suggested that she should register at BevMo... and she was absolutely thrilled. "Dude, that would be totally awesome; we'd have the raddest home bar ever!" And also, she's not a super-informed foodie - I say that with love.
(2)Kristine A.
The sushi is NOT fresh. The ikura (big orange fish eggs) were litterally popped. LOL! they weren't bright in color and round as in new! aaand extra extra salty, meaning its been sitting around for a while. The udon (soup with fat noodles) took HELLAAAA long to make. My man was getting very frustrated because they brought out all our sushi rolls and not the soup...... when they did bring it, after how many minutes, they forgot the spoon. C'mon-- how u gon eat soup without the spoon. Their customer service is very slow even though the place is HELLA DEAD-- not crackin at all. No offense to our little young waitress, she was sweet and all, but can't speak English that well.
(1)Kathy K.
Went here on a recommendation--very disappointing. The sushi rice is not made with rice vinegar and saki, so the sushi, while fresh, fell flat. The PA system was blatting obnoxious, dated, and just plain bad Christmas music.
(2)Ferdinand T.
I have been going here lately and it has been much better than it was when it opened up years ago. The staff is nice and friendly. The atmosphere is nice and I am always satisfied when I leave.
(3)C C.
Had dinner here last night (and about 8 other times) and I love it. Last night we ordered the Lion King roll, PlayBoy Roll, Caterpillar, miso soup, and green tea ice cream. All delightful. The Lion King roll is baked and is a nice alternative to the regular rolls. The other two rolls were standard fare and also tasty. The service is good, staff are friendly, seems pretty clean, and food does not take forever to come out. Food always looks nicely arranged on plate as well. I have also ordered the bento box with tempura, sashimi, teriyaki chicken and that is also very good. Overall I am bummed more people do not favor Katsu. It is nice because it is not packed all the time and you can get in and get out quickly and it is pretty quiet so you can unwind and enjoy the meal...
(4)Mathew C.
I really like this place. I never see a lot of people in here which is surprising. Their sushi is fresh and the udon bowls are delicious.
(4)Tiffany E.
I came here once because Sushi house was crowded and Kai's was renovating. I thought, hey Katsu looks pretty nice.. Let's go there for dinner. Wrong. Decor looks nice, food sucks. I ordered three rolls... but four rolls came on my plate. By the time I noticed, the waitress did not offer to take it off my bill. What could I say? I ate half of it already before I brought it to her attention. The super california roll was sad. It was small and something I could have made. Instead of having a imitation crab salad like everyone else has it in their california roll.. They used a stick of imitation crab meat to make their sushi.. how lazy was that? Food seemed overpriced for the quality I was getting. No next time for me.
(1)M B.
I'm surprised this place manages to stay open all these years. I've driven by all the time and decided to give it a try base on my friend's recommendation. HUGE MISTAKE! Of course this is the same person who uses Starbucks as a comparison reference for coffee --should have know better!
(1)Erik H.
Very good sushi. The only complaint I have about the place is the service. Sometimes it's decent but the majority of the times I go there it takes forever to get a server. The last time I went we waited 30 minutes trying to signal the waitress for our bill. My wife finally got up and paid up front. A little overpriced compared to other places but convenient to me.
(4)Lefty R.
I have dined here 3 times with mixed results. I stuck with the bento box today, mostly cooked food which was good. The tuna sashimi was ok, but I'll continue to steer toward the cooked food. Plenty of parking and a large space so seating is almost always available. Service can be a wee bit slow.
(3)Kaitlin D.
My friend and I came here and ordered three delicious rolls: the super spider, the blond bombshell, and the Alameda roll. The rolls were well sized and tasted wonderful. The server seemed a bit preoccupied with a larger group and we had a little difficulty getting water refills, but anyone who has worked in a restaurant knows that a hectic table is bound to cause these types of problems. The bill was brought promptly and we went home with happy tummies :) I will definitely be going back!
(3)emi s.
It was pouring down rain today, I've been sick for a solid week with some sort of upper respitory fungi thingy, and I had been craving Japanese food. We saw the place and against my boyfriend Michael's better wishes, we went in. We were seated immediately but I was nonplussed to see that although it was lunchtime, there was only one other table filled. After staring at the menu and deducing that the place wasn't owned by Japanese (obvious erros like "Don Katsu", "Poki", and something that was supposed to end in an "i" was a "y"), I ordered the Yami Yami Roll which consisted of crab, tempura ebi, tobikko cream cheese. Michael ordered the Unagi Roll. I made mention of the prices and remarked that a similar sashimi boat in Sacramento cost my dad around $40 for my birthday. The rolls came. To my surprise, mine had a sort of unagi type of sauce on it, which did not reflect that in the photo. The rice was rubbery, the roll itself was cold, even the ebi was ice cold. The tobikko wasn't real tobikko, it was the stuff that comes from shrimp and it's just not crunchy. Besides the poor quality of the food, we had to wait almost 20 minutes for two rolls. I remarked that we should go to Wiernerschnitzel down the street and fill the hole that would've been filled had the food been good here. The bill came to $15.76. I did not leave a tip, which Michael objected to but I was adamant. Once we were out of the restaurant, Michael made the comment that he had never seen me jet out of a place so quickly. I fired back that my hunger was leading me in a different direction than what I had originally planned. Side note here: I'm not in the habit of stiffing the tip because I've had to work hard myself. But when the service is that shitty and slow, I couldn't even leave a penny. Had Emi had a few sake's in her, she would've been mellow and conceded that everyone had to make a living. But stone cold Emi is just not any fun when she gets poor food and poor service within the span of a meal.
(1)Laura D.
You know, sometimes I forget what NEVER to order from a particular restaurant, and then dumb me orders it again months down the road... I had lunch at Katsu today and ordered the Spider Roll. Just thinking about the just molted little guy, at his most vulnerable, tempura battered and deep fried made my mouth water. At Katsu, the crab is pre-made and served up to you cold and along side it the same roll is the fake stuff!! Blasphemy!! I tell you that combination of flavors of the real and the fake was vomitous. Yes, I am still burping up bits of Krab with a "K". It is expensive at Katsu too. Over $24 for my lunch! I had the Spider Roll mentioned above, Unagi Nigiri, and Maguro Nigiri and an iced tea to drink. The one saving grace I will give this place is the Unagi, which is quite good. Then again, how can you really screw up bbq eel?
(2)Jim Y.
Decent sushi but far from the best. Depressing service but the beer was cold. Good location so I will be back.
(3)Anne M.
I'm torn about this place. On the one hand, it's nice to have a decent Japanese restaurant in West Alameda so that we don't have to go all the way to the other side of the island. However, on the other hand, earlier this year, we saw a MOUSE in the restaurant. (Half the restaurant saw it.) The owners knew we saw it and didn't bother to apologize or make up for it. It didn't seem to bother them as much as it bothered me. We didn't go back for for many months. We recently went back and luckily didn't see any rodents... I hope that was just a one time occurrence.
(3)Alexandra C.
The sushi in this place is great! I like the decor, simple yet modern and the food is delicious. I always have the Playboy roll and it never disappoints, the fish is super fresh and tasty. I also like that you don't have to spend a million dollars to actually feel like you ate something. Service is good, the waitresses are friendly and helpful despite evident language barriers. either way you love them after you order a glass of wine they bring you what appears to be about a 1/2 gallon glass.... full to the rim I still don't get why everyone has to shout hello (or at least that's what I think they yell) in Japanese every time someone walks through the door... Seriously, if you walk out to your car 3 times; 3 times they shout out when you walk in..... 4 stars for food decor and service, 5th star for the huge glasses of wine they serve!
(5)Min L.
Good hwedopbop (sashimi-salad over rice) and decent rolls. Service was a-ok but not great.
(4)Radha X.
Amazingly, the owner and sushi chefs seem to be japanese... The food is good. Rolls are much smaller in size compared to Sushi House and the price is again...the same. But the fish is much fresher, so i like to get the sashimi or nigiri items here better. The waiter/ess seem a little clueless. It seems that I get this one asian waiter and he just forgets all my orders. I see him scribbling onto his note pad when he takes my order, but he doesn't punch it into the system? I dunno. I always have to re-order things from him. But all in all, I go here cuz the food is good, and there is usually no wait in line.
(3)Daniel L.
Update: Went back again it was just as bad. With all the options in Alameda there is no reason to go here: not a bargain, mediocre service, mediocre food. I have tried almost every sushi restaurant in Alameda and this one is either the worst or second worst one. Yes, the ambiance is nice and spacious but you got to wonder why it is always empty. That is because the rolls are not worth eating. The were very small. The person we went with called them anorexic. We have been wanting to give them a second try but don't know if it is worth it to spend $50 to be disappointed again. Oh, the service was pretty bad too considering there was maybe 2 other tables being served at the time.
(2)Bb M.
Food was good and the serivice. Ordered the sashimi with rice and it was huge portions! Yumm!
(4)C B.
Been here twice now and the food is amazing! We love the spicy sushi, especially the: Dynamite Roll Go-Go Roll Sushi Girl Roll Best Sushi Place in Alameda!
(5)Joe D.
One on the best places in alameda for sushi. Service can be slow occasionally but otherwise i would say excellent. Very nice atmosphere and adequate parking. :)
(4)Moh S.
Service here is lousy and careless, I won't go into boring details of what happened but everytime it's something. Sushi is ok, not the best. I only go to Katsu when I feel lazy driving to the other side of the island for Sushi House or Kamakura. Too bad because the location and design is pleasant.
(3)Angela K.
This is my fourth time dinning here. The first three visits were great. No problems. But this evening, the waitress was taking a long time to serve our meals and seem to forget our dishes until we asked for them. I was surprised when I got sick probably 20 minutes after eating the meal and had to run to their bathroom. Anyways, I don't know if I want to eat here again...
(3)Will A.
I like Katsu because it is a little quieter, a nice selection of rolls and entrees as well. I think Sushi House is a different experience, and for some people that works. For sports fans, they have a ton of tvs in the place to watch.
(4)Savana M.
The service is hit or miss. Either you feel very alone the entire meal, or you are bombarded with several people asking you the same questions over and over, like if I needed more water. I swear four seperate people came up to me within 5 minutes asking me if I needed a refill the last time I was there. But I also remember times when they've been nowhere to be found. It's always chill, never crowded. I LOVE the vegetable tempura. They give you nice thick slices of veggies which is a must for crispy and moist tempura. Plus the appetizer gives you sooo much. I am a vegetarian so I can't attest to the sushi. I always get avocado rolls which you can't really mess up. And, yeah, it's pricey, but find me a sushi place that isn't.
(4)Shanelle M.
After a drunken Sunday in the park and some random roaming we decided that sushi was the way to go for out late night snacking! We went here and were not thoroughly impressed with the menu initially but after getting our food and tasting it! Whoa! This place had some of the best sushi I've had in a long time! Highly recommended.
(4)Jen J.
I have had almost every item on their menu and I have never had a bad sushi roll. I recently tried a newer one called "mexican roll" which sounds a little odd but it was amazing and spicy. I eat here atleast twice a week and even when I feel like a hermet and get it to go it looks excellent. They are sooooo much better than overpriced unfriendly sushi house on southshore.
(5)Delilah P.
Bad, bad, bad. Should have known from all the misspellings on the menu. Terrible service - waited for almost 30 minutes at an empty table after ordering. No water, no drinks, no place settings. It was not busy at all so there was no excuse. I still don't know why we didn't just get up and leave. When our orders arrived, they were both completely wrong and the wait person couldn't understand us when we asked her to correct them. This building has housed many different failed businesses and it seems like this one's next. Just plain awful. Oh yeah, and it was totally overpriced on top of it all.
(1)Will I A m.
I give the sashimi and nigiri 4 stars. Service and sushi rolls 3 stars. Not sure if this place has it's ups and downs but I had very fresh sashimi and nigiri unlike other yelpers. Tried the boat, first time a sushi place gave 3 rolls as part of the boat. Fills you up more but I don't know if the deal would have been better to get sushi and sashimi. Plus, the boat was a bit pricier than other places. $60 for something that feeds about 3 people. Their rolls are ok. The size of the rolls are small. For specialty rolls that are close to and above $10, the rolls shouldn't be small. Some of the rolls were a little thicker like the size of a futomaki. we had samurai and dragon. can't remember the others.
(3)Winst D.
Warning: If you TRULY like sashimi and nigiri, DO NOT GO HERE. DON'T listen to the other reviewers!! WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT!! 1 order of Chirashi 1 order of unagi nigiri 1 large asahi = $30!?!? One of the most unsatisfying meals I've ever had at a japanese restaurant. I think the majority of the people who review on here don't have a clue to what good sushi is. Seriously...you really consider KAI'S a sushi joint!?!? You're delusional. These guys barely even know how to properly cut the fish!!! If you want real sushi, go to Yume on Park St. if you want cafeteria Americanized Japanese food, go here. They close at 10pm, and at 10:05 they were already stacking up their chairs on the tables! At least the beer was cold...
(1)Jennifer G.
Miso is decent. Sushi is fair. But what is up with the fruit flies that swarm around the tables? That's annoying (not to mention gross). Bottom line: this is a great place if you want cheap eats and don't care about ambiance. Bad idea for a first date.
(3)tracy l.
Service is good. tempura was fried perfectly, chicken udon was regular. the rolls could be better......
(3)Melanie N.
You know, Alameda is a sad excuse for an island...I mean, when one thinks of islands one thinks Hawaii, Bora Bora, Tahiti, Bahamas...not Alameda (this coming from a girl who used to live on Treasure Island!!) But I digress, yet again...I really have a problem with that and shall seek therapy in reading worthy Yelp reviews. But enough about that, I'm here to take about Katsu Sushi. My friends and I ended up here last night as we needed a quick place to eat before heading over to The Paramount to see Morrissey. We walked in and there's nothing really noteworthy about the decor. It's clean, it's linear. We sat down at the sushi bar and luckily it was slow so the service was fast. I was so happy that they had my favorite seaweed salad. I can seriously live off this stuff and it did not disappoint! I think it goes by the Wakame salad here. I also had the "crazy roll" which was essentially just a spicy tuna roll, fried with a spicy sauce on top ...some of the names are a bit mad, but hey, it's the Japanese! (And I can say this because I'm Japanese....I know my peeps!!) The waitresses were kind and attentive, the sushi chefs were chatty and quick! I don't frequent Alameda that often, but you can bet that every time I'm there to visit my friends I'll suggest to eat here! :-)
(4)Camille K.
I loved Katsu for a brief period back in 2007. Their sushi became inconsistent soon after. That being said, I returned to Katsu on a Monday evening when I had a hankering for sushi and Yokohama was closed (Yokohama does not open on Mondays.). I was the only guest at the sushi bar and there was one busy table in the back. The waitresses were very quick to take my order before I had time to settle in and open the menu. I almost felt rushed to make a quick decision. Again, you can't order directly from the sushi chefs even when you are seated at the bar and they can hear you. You must order from the waitress. I ordered two orders of nigiri sushi and a Hea Bum....I don't know its proper name. Check the menu under sashimi bowls or whatever and you will find a giant bowl of assorted sashimi over rice, radish, seaweed and such. I had a fine meal this time. I would probably only return if I were craving sushi on a Monday and had no desire to commute from The West Side for it.
(3)Siobhan M.
Great service and delicious food. We went here for our anniversary and it was a last minute idea that worked perfectly. Parking is available and the staff was really nice an we didn't wait at all. Highly recommend salmon teriyaki and sushi deluxe
(5)Sunny S.
Katsu is now one of my favorite go to sushi spot! My kids love this place cause they give those kids trays with little mini compartments in them. The decor is beautiful, feels like were in a high end restaurant. Service is great, waitresses got the right attitude always greeting us with a big smile, but as for the food coming out, its expected to be a long wait because what do you expect? Sushi isn't like fast food where it comes within a seconds lol its food art being made by hand, and I for one can say I made sushi myself before and it took twice as long. As for the food DELICIOUS for those of you who love to eat the cook sushi they have a lot of selections here. I ordered the kinkong roll it was nice and crispy outside and soft inside and the special sauce was absolutely delicious. Also I got the yami yami roll because of the cream cheese in it, finally something thats different from Philadelphia roll, really delicious! Next time I come again I'm going to try the dragon roll.
(5)Barbara C.
Have eaten here a few times. The food itself isn't too bad - they have some pretty and tasty sushi rolls, although the rice doesn't hold together very well and makes eating them (especially their bigger rolls) difficult to eat. Service for us was just okay. A couple of the times I have visited here, more than one server attempted to take our order, causing a little confusion because we had to tell them once or twice that someone already took our order. Once, a friend arrived just after we had sat down and a server came over to take her order but didn't check that none of the rest of us had placed our orders, and then walked away leaving the rest of us hanging. We had to flag one of down to take the rest our orders. At least the staff seem to be knowledgable about their food and were helpful in telling me what's in some of the rolls. Prices are pretty reasonable, too. So not bad of a place to eat.
(3)Dean C.
8/26/15: Unlike some other reviews have noted, service here was fine. Our waitress was pretty nice and honest to us. In fact, I would say I appreciated the service quite a bit. But unfortunately, this was some of the worst sushi I've had in a long time, and that includes some pretty substandard ones to date! 1. Agedashi Tofu $5.50: I know it doesn't say "tempura" in the name, but I assume that's what they were going after, and if that's so, their tempura coating is horrible! It's much closer to mushy soaked corn starch than fried, not anywhere close to crispy. The bottom pieces soaking in the sauce were totally mush. Only the top resembled anything fried. Flavor was alright though, despite the texture. 2/10. 2. Una Tempura Roll $9.95: Basically california rolls with shrimp and topped with unagi (eel). We really wanted unagi, and it was supposed to be the star of this, but wow...... this is The Worst unagi I have ever had. Ever. Very thin. Missing the skin and outer finish. It's like no unagi I've ever had. The avocado looks stale too, though not brown yet. Shrimp was alright. The whole thing sucked hard. 2/10. 3. Hea Dup Bap $16.95: I wanted Chirashi, but this was interesting. Never seen this before. Think Korean Bimbibap, but with sashimi instead of meat. They have shredded cucumbers and some other veggies, but my favorite was the seaweed--great combo. And of course the standard bimbibap sauce. Unfortunately, again, wtf with the sushi/sashimi??? Little diced portions of cheap sushi. Very little. And not that fresh either. Sigh. So amazingly stingy. I mean come on, if you're gonna add sashimi, add enough so I can taste it right? Charge more if you have to--better to be expensive than to be a not-so-expensive bowl of mediocrity. 2/10. Again, I cannot stress this enough--I dunno what the deal was with all the other negative reviews of the service, but the waitresses were fine to us. But the food........ the owners should get out of the sushi business. 1/5 #sushi
(1)Hannah A.
I should know by now not to take risks with sushi. Against my better judgement , I followed my friends here last saturday night. For starters, the images on the menu looks like it could be found at any mall food court in the early 90's. The whole scene felt like a gimmick. Like an obvious excerpt from a how-to guide on cheap asian franchises . Not unlike the general aesthetic of the place, the food was overwhelmingly disappointing. I tried to play it safe and order some basic rolls but at the end of my meal I was bartering more than half of my food for bits of safer alternatives like subpar chicken teriyaki and chewy tempura veggies. With Yokohama literally a block away, there is no reason why I would ever choose to eat here again. "Eek!Methinks not".
(1)Angela H.
Came here for the first time after our favorite pho restaurant was closed on a Sunday. I chose the jungle roll, which piqued my interest because of the seaweed salad on top. I also choose the sushi boy because it was spicy and had salmon (two of my faces). I thought both were good. My boyfriend had a bento box dinner and got a lion king. I tried one of the lion king rolls, and thought it was just okay... There was a little too much mayo for my taste, but that seems like a trend at many sushi places now. However, most times a lion king comes with six pieces; this one came with eight. That was something I liked, but I would have preferred fewer pieces with larger slices of salmon. Oh well! Over all, not a bad dinner. Total price including sodas was $53.00 One more thing: I thought the parasols as decor were gorgeous!
(3)Agnieszka K.
Last night was my first visit which is going to be my last. Service was really bad. They were gone and not reachable after we placed our order. We were walking around looking for them. ***Most importantly*** Rolls had no soul, all too bland!
(1)Robert T.
My wife and I were seated in the corner with the torn seat and chipped plaster, which was enough to gross her out. After no water, tea, menus, or greeting after 15 minutes, we left. The place was 3/4 empty, and it's easy to see why. At least there's parking. Maybe we'll give them a second chance some other day. Until then, It's Sushi House or Yokohama.
(1)Marcelino M.
I love this place! The staff is always really friendly and the Yami Yami roll is delicious! Great food and service keeps me coming back
(5)Noelle H.
Both times I've been here, I've left underwhelmed. I feel the rolls are overly dressed with sauces and sloppily made that they fall apart as soon as you pick them up. There's nothing particularly bad, but there's nothing that makes it stand out either. Especially for the price. Service is friendly. Maybe for lunch it's a better deal than dinner?
(3)Ivana Y.
This is my go-to spot whenever Sushi House is too packed and I don't feel like waiting an hour for a table. The rolls here are just okay. I like that they're small and bite size, but some of them are lacking flavor. Service, is also a bit slow.
(3)Javier P.
This place has a lot of seating space. The decor gives out a Japanese atmosphere that is nice. Friendly staff, decent prices, and enough parking. I ordered the chirashi sushi and I was a bit disappointed. The presentation seemed off. I'm used to seeing and having chirashi sushi in a round bowl. It was served in a squared bowl and it didn't look as enticing as on the menu and rice was cold. It was still good I'm just not fond of cold rice with my sushi. I was going to give Katsu Sushi a 3 star, but I'm giving it 4 stars because I love the variety and price on the lunch sushi bar & sashimi menu. I can't forget the 3 item bento for $12.95. Other places sell it between $14.95 & $15.95. Definitely coming back!
(4)Christene Joy M.
The first time I was here, I was thankful that I was fed. The second time I was here, I was disappointed, but at least thankful that I was fed. I was initially impressed by their outside and indoor decor. Outside, they have a spacious parking lot, and inside, they have a lot of seating as well as beautiful decorations. Then there was the food. Because the second time around was the deal breaker, I will just describe that visit. My boyfriend and I came in during their lunch hours. We were thinking bento boxes sounded like a great plan, so we went in. We were seated quickly and was given enough time to choose what we wanted; however, I knew they wanted us to choose faster because they were going to close for their break between lunch and dinner. For myself I got a tempura and sashimi bento box, which was not too bad actually (maybe thicker slices of sashimi would have been better). My boyfriend ordered salmon teriyaki and gyoza, and he was not happy. In fact, it was disappointing to taste and see that the salmon was not fresh because of how watery it tasted, which also meant it did not hold a lot of flavor. Externally and internally is looks great, but when it comes to the quality of the food, it could use a little more work.
(2)Cindy M.
Ambiance: Very spacious & AMAZING Japanese decorations! From samurai swords to lucky cats to Japanese umbrellas, this place definitely gets perfect score on their wicked decor! It was not at all packed during this Wednesday night, but hey, less people = more attention for us!~~ I'm not complainin' ;) Service: Quick! Friendly! Awesome! Food: Dragon roll - Yummmmm~ You can never go wrong with eel & avocado. Sauces were great too! Tempura roll - A little bland to me but still good! Although, I wouldn't be the one to order this roll. Deluxe Spicy Tuna roll - This was my choice and it was my favorite out of the three we tried! Who doesn't love raw fish?! -Hush people who really don't like raw fish- THIS WAS DELICIOUS!!! Price: ~$29, not bad! We had a $30 gift certificate so it was free of charge for us! Of course we left the nice waitresses tip though. :) Tip: Go for the deluxe spicy tuna roll or anything with avocado! (Disclaimer: I might be slightly biased here because I'm obsessed with avocados.) Conclusion: Everything tastes better when its freeeeeee~ Nom nom nom nom. The sushi here is tasty! Although, my only complaint is that I had a slight bad aftertaste after eating the rolls. Maybe it was just me? Oh well! B/c the sushi rolls were so yummy, I'll overlook the weird aftertaste! Try this place out if you're around!
(4)Wendy G.
Went here because Sushi house was jam packed. I have mixed feelings about this place. Highlights of out meal: shrimp tempura, squash tempura, tempura roll, OMG roll, and lion king roll. My kids ate these and said they were good but still did not finish their rolls. Misses: they don't use real crab! I only found this out while eating a roll. For the same price you pay for a roll at other sushi restaurants, why would you want to taint a sushi roll with the fake stuff?! I did not see imitation crab written on the menu... Our waitress was a bit impatient and when she accidentally placed her thumb in my sister's tea when she was placing a roll on our table, she apologized but did not replace the tea! Gross!!! She also did not know her sashimi so was no help when trying to order a particular type of tuna. She ended up recommending the wrong tuna which was not only pricier but also had a fishy odor. We went there yesterday and to their credit, I am diarrhea-free one day later!!!
(2)Nick T.
Summary - waited over 20 minutes before leaving and after not being tended to. I would have given two stars, but I was not given the opportunity to evaluate anything beyond the lack of service. I walked in with my family at 7:01. We stood aimlessly at the door for a solid 30 seconds before we were tended to: strike one. The three of us were seated at 7:03 with one menu before we flashed down a server for more menus. We were given one more menu: strike two. THREE other families were seated and tendeded to This included water, table setting, and order placement. Meanwhile, we received none of this: strike three. I walked up to the manager 7:30 and asked why we were not served yet. I pointed to our table and asked who the server was, and he had no idea. We decided to leave. This was literally a waste of time and I would advise not to waste yours. Go next door, Kamakura, even sushi house! The service is just too clueless to bear.
(1)Rayleen H.
Great place great food nice people. Clean and quiet. Great place to come for a lunch meeting
(5)Morgan H.
Line: none Drinks: only had water and hot green tea. The tea was perfect! Appetizers: the house salad dressing is soooo delicious!! Miso soup is good too Entree: I had the bento box with salmon teriyaki and gyoza. The salmon was very good! I could have eaten another one. The gyoza was bad, I had to have my boyfriend finish it for me. Sushi rolls: we had Arizona roll, usa roll, and titanic roll (in order from worst to best) titanic is definitely delicious. In it's defense, we asked for the Arizona roll without the spicy sauce it usually comes with, so maybe that's why it had no taste. But I could only eat one because it wasn't tasty at all. The fish didn't taste fresh. Wait time: we were the only people in the restaurant and it took awhile for the salads to come out, but the actual food didn't take too long. Service: attentive, but only because they wanted to go on break, and wanted us out of there Overall: not the best sushi place in alameda, and I would probably not come back again just for the titanic and salad. Go to kamakura
(3)Art O.
Not very good. My buddies from SoCal wanted to eat before we played some pinball up the street so this was the most convenient spot to hit up. My gut was telling me not to go here but I didn't want to wander around finding something to eat. Even though we were a party of four, the middle-aged woman up front only gave us two menus. We are also only given settings for two as well. When the young waitress came by and we told her, she had this look as if a question mark were above here head. I know, I didn't understand it either. We ordered some rolls and they were ok at best. Not exactly huge portions and they just seemed sloppily made overall. No care whatsoever. On top of this, they didn't even give us dipping bowls for the sushi! That's never happened either so asking for them seemed very bizarre. It also took a while to track down the servers to get all the things I mentioned above. If you're super hungry and you're close by then I guess you could come in but you better be pretty hungry and be willing to put up with some nonsense.
(2)Matt W.
The owners are extremely rude and downright insane. After using the parking lot to unload music equipment for the neighboring fireside lounge, staying less than five minutes, and being nothing but polite, the owners screamed and cursed at us, then put on a smile and greeted guests as we parked across the street. Maybe they were having a tough day, or maybe theyre simply just a bunch of assholes. Didnt try their sushi, probably tastes like diarreha. Do not give them your money.
(1)Greg F.
I live close and really wish this restaurant had better food. The sushi is meh, the Japanese food follows suit. The service was great and the prices were fair... I don't know how to make the place better other than possibly better ingredients.
(2)Geli T.
Food is great ...their bento box is my fave!I had my daughter's baptism reception there and everything was awesome!All our guest liked their food.Would recommend this place for party receptions!
(4)Jen T.
My go-to sushi spot. Great fresh food, good service, and awesome cheesy love songs.
(5)Olivia W.
Origato! I came here with a party of 24 people on Tuesday evening. The restaurant was practically empty so I'm guessing it's not a popular sushi restaurant in Alameda. I'm sure all the sushi eaters are at Sushi House. Everyone was sharing so I was able to try the Bento Boxes, Titanic Roll, Sushi Boy Roll, and Super Tuna Roll. Super Tuna Roll was huge and it only cost $8.95 for 10 big pieces. This was my favorite roll of the evening. If I come back I'll probably order that. Titanic Roll wasn't tragic like the movie. If you like tempura inside your sushi then you'd probably like this. Sushi Boy Roll was my least favorite. It consists of imitation crab, supposedly spicy salmon, and avocado. The Bento Boxes is packed with food. You can choose either 2-3 main dishes for your Bento. The interior of the restaurant is very modern and clean. Unlike Sushi House where they're cluttered and messy. Service is about the same as Sushi House. The waitresses aren't very attentive to filling up drinks and you have to ask for plates if you're planning on sharing. I prefer when sushi restaurants provide plates on the table so you don't have to ask. Prices are reasonable. If you're looking for a subtle sushi place this might just be the place for you.
(3)Paul O.
This place is one of my favorites in Bay Area. Usually very un-crowded atmosphere and tables are spaced nicely to have a quite private dinner if desired (crowding usually turns me away even from best restaurants). Food is always good. I've been coming here for two years now, and was never disappointed with food quality and taste. Place is also nicely decorated without going overboard with decor, creating light and "airy" atmosphere. Only had an incident once, when we waited for our food for over an hour, never got it and left hungry and pissed. I think they had some issues with a new waiter or something, because we weren't the only ones who left in anger that day. When I went back there a couple weeks later, that waiter was no longer there (haven seem him since), the hostess remembered us, apologized again and service was back to what Ive always expected. I'm glad I held off on leaving a bad review on the spot that day, because things like that happen to the best of places, and what's important is that it wasn't a trend, but rather an isolated case.
(4)lucie l.
The only reason why I come here is because of it's close proximity to work and their parking lot. If not, I would not come here. I just ordered take-out...chirashi...and I barely got any fish and it is tasteless. This is the last straw for me. HORRIBLE! If you want less than mediocre sushi and like it's convenience, go ahead and give it a try. Otherwise, I suggest you go elsewhere. The sushi place down the street is even better than this!
(1)Jenni R.
Mediocre to lower quality sushi. Probably wont return.
(2)A L.
Just moved to Alameda and live very close to Katsu, so my husband and I figured we'd give it a try before reading reviews on Yelp or asking anyone for advice for sushi in Alameda. The sushi was not good at all, the service was bad, and there's just no point in ever going back. I have no idea how they stay in business since there are some pretty great options in Alameda. And the fact that the place is nearly always empty when we drive by (as it was the day we went, July 4th), it just boggles the mind how they can still be open and pay the bills. We sat down and asked the head chef for recommendations. We're big on omakase style sushi, trusting the chef, but this guy didn't even know where the uni came from. That was a huge red flag. So I kept it simple and ordered chirashi and my husband ordered a few pieces of nigiri, and the quality of it all was just not good, not even close. We know a lot about sushi, we've eaten sushi all over the US and in many other countries, and one of our closest friends is a 3rd generation sushi chef from Japan. So you just have to trust me when I say Katsu is not a good place to eat sushi. Maybe the other non-sushi food is better, we were the only ones at the sushi bar, and the other 10 customers in the place were all at tables eating non-sushi items, so they must know something we don't. But the service is so bad there's no reason to go back and try the non-sushi food.
(1)Lachelle J.
Pleasantly surprised. The service was EXCELLENT and the sushi was delish! We will definitely visit again.
(4)Tony M.
Great sushi place. Sushi is always fresh, staff is very attentive and friendly. Only complaint is price. Other than that, I would recommend this place to any sushi fan.
(5)Kathleen W.
The only decision I was capable of making that evening was deciding that I wanted Japanese food ... so after a wet and cold practice, we came through the tunnel for a late night dinner here. Don't let the pictures in the menu fool you ... what you see is not always what you get. We ordered the enoki wrapped beef ... though it was more like beef with enoki on top. I ordered the sukiyaki which wasn't bad. Timing on stuff was awkward and we ended up canceling some of our dishes ... which was fine because the portions were generous. It satisfied my Japanese food craving, but not such a memorable place that I'd look for an opportunity to go back.
(3)Erick W.
expensive looks better in the picture...
(1)Greg G.
Unfortunately I was only somewhat impressed by Katsu. I had never tried the place, but i reluctantly took the entire family here for my Moms birthday since i needed a new place to Yelp. Katsu had been here in Alameda for a while, but I'd just never gotten around to trying it. I honestly didn't know much about this place, except for the fact it used to be the old Sizzlers, lol. The things that just didn't do it for me were this- One, the waiter staff was sub-par. They were all quite friendly, but i couldn't get a refill on my water to save my life. The restaurant was NOT packed at all, and the waiters would just never visit my table. Two, and much more importantly, the sushi was sub-par as well. I hate to sound rude, but I've had better sushi from Safeway than from here. The slices were cut so thin, i could hardly taste any part of the sushi... it was just unimpressive. I also had a bowl of udon which wasn't bad. One good thing I'll say is for a party of 6 people, our bill came out to only about $70. This is really good considering everyone got an entree and we bought 3 sushi rolls for the table.
(2)Tricia B.
Terrible. Worst sushi ever. Rubber fish, cold rice, lousy service to boot. Imagine Rosie O'Donnell...
(1)Kai S.
After reading many reviews (more bad than good) on this place, my gf, myself & some friends ate here tonight. OUR EXPERIENCE: The interior is very nice, clean & well decorated. The service was friendly, sweet & efficient. I got the Poki Roll (seaweed salad atop spicy tuna roll.. 8 pcs I believe) which was BOMB! Gf's salmon teriyaki on the bento box was good (but she preferred Kai's) and the Cali roll left some to be desired (more rice than anything else). Our friends were pleased with their food as well. They have TOFU teriyaki which is cool... haven't seen that before! They also seemed pleased with their tempura. The miso soup & salad were both good. Main complaint: The prices! Definitely a little high....... BUT: They have a lunch menu which rocks! Our other fav place on the island doesn't, so this could be our new fav Japanese LUNCH location to save a little money and still have a great experience. Also they're closer to us!
(4)Soo Jin K.
Do you ever have one of those days where you're so hungry that you settle for sub-par sushi? Well, Katsu is definitely one of those places to run to, when the stomach is growling and YOU KNOW, there's not a line. From the outside, it's beautiful. I thought, "really, the sushi can't be THAT bad, can it?" Well, I was partly right. The menu looks plentiful, similar to Sushi House, with about a buck or two more expensive. I decided on a couple of rolls: the bad boy (or something like that with spicy salmon) and this crunchy roll. When my food came out, the bad boy roll looked yummy; however, the crunchy roll, no joke, looked like they threw the whole bucket of crispy tempura bits all over the plate. My entire place was covered in the crispy crap. I had to dig beneath layers of tempura madness to find my sushi. It was overwhelming and stressful. I can't believe they did that! Whatever happened to simplicity kids? Nevertheless, the food was underwhelming to say the least. I probably won't eat there again. Not like Sushi House is that much better, but at least, I won't feel like a lost loner praying for consumable sushi.
(3)Jocelyn C.
I have nothing BAD to say!!! The decor looks fantastic! Walls too! Friendly staff & some of the sushi rolls are in a creative shape! On my birthday they gave me free ice cream. Not to mention a free gift!!! This place rocks! Other restaurants gives out free dessert on your bday, but a GIFT?! Wow! This is the best sushi place I've EVER been to! Katsu Sushi is now my FAVORITE Japanese Restaurant. :D.
(5)Kevin A.
Looking for a decent place to have Japanese food, when them out. Sukiyaki was very good! The sushi was just ok, and the service though slow, was friendly. Would def try it again.
(3)Mom S.
The staff is so friendly and welcoming. Everyone we walked by, who was working, greeted us as we were escorted to our table. I did not have to look for someone to refill my tea. Even though there were a lot of people we were able to place our order quickly. The food was very good and fresh tasting. I was not a big fan of the teriyaki beef, but I couldn't stop eating the teriyaki chicken. I will be back.
(4)Holla F.
Was looking for an alternative to Sushi House and came here for family dinner Sunday nite instead. Ordered the 3 item Bento..not bad, tasty but pricey for $16. Also ordered 3 other rolls, which mostly small and fell apart when biting into it. I might go back if I don't feel like rude Sushi House service. Service here is much better and considerate of our needs, perhaps b/c it's not as busy.
(3)Jamie C.
went on a sunday night. my first impression was the environment was dead and quite. not many people in the restaurant maybe four other tables being occupied. our party ordered the lion king roll, the spider roll, chicken katsu, beef udon noodles, and chicken don. the lion roll was okay, nothing special. the spider roll was missing that crispy light crunch, it was over battered and you couldn't even taste the crab. the chicken katsu were super thin slices. the beef udon noodles were average, the beef was tough and chewy. the chicken don was probably the best thing we ordered, it came in a huge bowl with chicken and veggies on top of rice with a sweet marinade. definitely big enough for two people to spilt with maybe a small side order of something else. the service was mehh, for most of the night our glasses were empty, we had to keep asking for more refills.
(3)Davey R.
It's ok. Katsu has a very attractive restaurant inside. I love those kinds of fitting rooms created by boarded blinds; here they have them with an electric light glow. When we came, it was underpacked, and kind of uncomfortably warm. The hostess was nice and ushered us towards a corner. The menu is huge, and they come right out and say on it that there are party boats for upwards of about $120! Tons to choose from, so if you're a new partaker of Japanese fare, you should probably try somewhere else. The food even looked beautiful. But taste-wise, there was just nothing that stood out, nothing that was too tantalizing for words. Tons of Japanese food to choose from in Alameda, but I'd first try somewhere else before coming back here. Nice people all in all.
(3)Alyssa G.
The spicy tuna roll was alright, edible (that may be a little mean). Their nigiri is also good but they are definitely lacking some freshness. I usually just get take-out because I eat it at work so I expect them to not take too long at fixing up my order. Usually they are very nice and welcoming, let me sit at a little table and get something to drink while I wait for my order. The price for the food is a little high, considering the quality of the seafood. Their selection is good, but not great.
(2)Craig B.
Ah, Katsu, a West End restaurant in an old Sizzler restaurant (the architecture is unmistakable), a restaurant we return to despite its issues. Better Half and I have eaten here many times. The food is dependable - we usually get bento box combos - and the decor is simple and effective (except for the pompously designed bathrooms). Parking is always plentiful - rare in Alameda. One problem seems to curse our visits to Katsu - out-of-control children that ruin the dining experience. For some reason, Katsu attracts indulgent parents who think it's acceptable for their children to scream, run around the restaurant, and, in one case, try to climb up the windows while screaming. Each time this happens the parents - and staff - ignore it, despite the stares and comments from other diners. It's like going into a Chuck E. Cheese's with sushi instead of pizza. We like the place - it's convenient and consistent - but if the staff cannot maintain an atmosphere conducive to a positive dining experience, we will look elsewhere for Japanese food. It's not like there's a shortage of such restaurants in Alameda.
(2)Austin J. A.
We arrived to a sweltering-hot, non-air-conditioned restaurant with only three tables of customers (including ours). We waited, and waited, and waited, and waited after being seated. Nobody acknowledged us, and nobody bothered to take our order at least twenty minutes later. Six staff members were within sight, four of whom were talking, flirting, texting, leaning on the sushi bar. Since the host had brought us water and tea when she sat us, we left ten bucks on the table when we left, disgusted, and hungry. Get your act together, Katsu. However, we won't be around to celebrate any of our potential future successes.
(1)Carlos C.
Not sure how authentic it is, but it's pretty decent food. I tried the different sushi rolls. I plan to come back for the service alone. All the staff attend to my needs that night. While the food wasn't memorable. I wouldn't mind returning again. Kudos to the staff!
(3)Mimi P.
Im not exactly sure why this place has so many bad reviews. And i do hear alot of bad things about it. Recently i took my little brother to katsu for dinner. We ordered a 2 choice dinner bento box , chicken teriyaki and tempera. The chicken was well made with very yummy sauce. Nothing really bad to say about that. For myself i ordered a GO GO roll and sake nigiri . The nigiri was fresh and tastes great! Go go was not bad at all ! I had a really good experience there. The waiter and environment there was nothing but great. Its not my favorite place to go to for sushi but i wouldn't mind coming here again.
(4)Mary C.
Their Lion King may not be as good as Sushi House's, but the Poki roll, Spider Roll, and Salmon hand roll were all great. The salmon just melts in your mouth, super fresh. And the rice was perfect. Service is fantastic, very attentive and accommodating. Never felt rushed. Beer choices: Asahi, Kirin and Sapporo. Get the plum wine! Other plum wines don't compare. Should've taken a picture. Wonderful neighborhood spot.
(4)Lucia M.
Went to Katsu on a Monday noon and ordered sashimi. I am a big sashimi fan and as such, I can tell the difference between "fresh fresh fresh" fish from "not so fresh but not bad either". Basically this place charged me high quality sashimi and gave me barely decent one. I could have gotten a better option for less price at another sushi place in the island. Not sure if it was because it was Monday. Only reason why I gave it 2 instead of 1 star.
(2)Mack S.
I think Alameda is the best place to go if you are looking for excellent Sushi bars. I am writing my first review about my favorite. Katsu sushi. Their fish tastes more fresh than all the sushi bars in alameda. I personally am a Sashimi lover. I strong lay recommend their Saba Sashimi dinner combo.
(5)Michelle S.
Every time I come here I have been let down. Service is friendly and fast, but the rolls are bland.
(2)Robin H.
Truly a sad excuse for a restaurant. This was my second visit. Both times the wait staff was out to lunch. Cold dishes arrived warm and hot dishes arrived.....warm? Who's managing this place anyway? With so many wonderful Japanese Restaurants around the Bay Area, don't waste your time and money here. You can do WAY! better.
(2)Neko M.
THE Worst Japanese food on earth.
(1)Vicky T.
Went there with my brother, baby sister , and mom. We each brought quicklys from across the street and they took our milk tea away because the owner had a fit. =_= the waitress was nice about it and refrigerated our drinks but seriously? The portion are small and expensive. Just drive to the next town over. Its not worth it.
(1)Julia C.
Suuuure!!! The place looks like a Japanese delight from the outside... But if it's one thing I hate is COLD/OLD food. The boss treated us to some lunch today in lieu of the fact that we all have to be here a day after Thanksgiving. Mighty nice of them. I've always wanted to try Katsu because it's in close vicinity of my workplace. But, at the risk of sounding like an asshole THANK GOD I DIDN'T SPEND MY OWN MONEY ON THIS PLACE!! I ordered the 3 item bento (my typical go-to order since I don't pretend to be a sushi connoisseur) with the Salmon Teriyaki, CA Rolls and Tempura. No lie. Everything was cold but the Miso soup and The salad?? Seriously. The Salmon was super cold, as cold as the CA Rolls. The Rice was super cold. And the CA rolls... Now just to share a tid bit about myself, my mom always taught me NEVER to waste food. But I have to say after a few bites that I took so that I didn't seem ungrateful, I tossed ALL of it. The rice they used for the CA rolls was old and stale. Like I stated earlier, I don't pretend to know a whole lot about sushi, but I know rice and cooked salmon aren't supposed to be cold and rice used to roll sushi isn't supposed to be old. I can feel myself getting ready to throw up. EW! Never again. Avoid this place. Overpriced and gross.
(1)Michael C.
I found the service mediocre and the food fast food quality. I do not plan to return.
(2)Liv A.
My friend's boss recommended this place to my friend, so we decided to give it a try. Katsu is on the other side of Alameda....the less ventured side on Webster. It has it's own parking lot which is nice so that you don't have to pay for the meters during the daytime. We ordered a variety of rolls and also tried the mussels. We all agreed that everything was just average. Maybe my friend's boss knows something we didn't. I may give Katsu a try again if I was in the neighborhood, but wouldn't go out of my way to eat there.
(2)Jaclynn S.
I ordered take out lunch for a co worker and me. I got the sashimi lunch. Here's a break down of my order: The salad was fresh, the dressing a bit mayonnaisey The meso soup was cold and not flavorful The really sad part is the sashimi. It was warm (with cold soup, lol) and the hamachi was literally crunchy on one side and fishy. I didn't eat any more of it. The rice was good Overall this place was over priced and not good quality. I am a bit disappointed. Although this place has always been over priced there wasn't a real quality issue. On the plus side my order was ready when I got there.
(2)Erik C.
Not bad at all My wife and i took take away yesterday and it was a great dinner I have to say that few of the rolls was full with maio
(4)F A.
The sushi was good only when I had gone earlier in the day. I've come here about six times so far, and have a pretty solid perception about Katsu. The manager is an older guy who also prepares sushi at the bar. He is very rude; tried handing me a plate of nigiri that he prepared right infront of me at the bar, but quickly withdrew it the instant I look up at him. He was too prideful to hand it over to me, and seemed like he wanted to put set it on the counter for me to take myself. Anyways, he quickly turns around and sets my sushi on the table behind him that doesn't even have a bar, and rings the bell for the waitress to bring it over, but no one comes. I wait an extra 15 mins before getting to try the rolls, not nigiri, that I had ordered. So I eat my entire order but still no nigiri. The food/sushi here isn't bad but it isn't good either. The manners of the staff REALLY SUCKED, and I was served very late. I am a wealthy guy from Asia but this place is overpriced for what you get, and that is lack of service, waste of time waiting, and pretty hasty/rude staff. Go next door, yoko Hama has better sushi and lower price due to a less overhead. So I order the check and they are like "did you receive your nigiri?" In a tone of voice that suggested playing stupid. I wait, No JoKe, 25 mins just for them to correct the bill after they scoped out the nigiri on the table behind the manager, and brought it to me warm and very soggy, ew. I put 0$ tip and leave with a smile on my face because of it. BAD SERVICE AND BAD STAFF! They get no stars
(1)Debbie C.
Nice atmosphere, great food, huge servings and for the price we drive from Orinda to eat here!
(5)Sailor P.
Good luck getting ur food..... Sashimi. Waited 1 hour for our raw fish. Service was terrible.
(1)Ken P.
I like the place. I know better than to go when the weather is warm - either they don't have A/C or they don't use it. Anyway, the bento box lunches are cheap and good, the lemon roll is excellent and for some reason I got the chicken wings there and they were awesome. Not the greatest sushi in the world, but inexpensive, good service and never crowded.
(4)Jack K.
It just okie for some of the new Japanese Sushi, but the serving size of the sushi role is really littile and basic which might not be enought for the regular single order. As result, we ordered one more serving for the extra order. Wont suggest to go, and will not back again. Feel sorry about this restaurant. =(
(2)Jose H.
My brother and I We try dragon roll it was pretty good we order ca seafood salad it was awesome , very good service , clean and quiet
(4)Jennifer H.
Big parking lot! That's a plus. Came here for the first time earlier today. My friend had recommended this place over Sushi House, so my other friend and I gave it a shot! Their parking is big and very roomy which is a good thing. Street parking in Alameda always filled up, fast! Anyways, we walked in and got greeted by one of the waitress. She was super friendly and cheerful. Their menu is biggggg, so take your time and enjoy the pictures while you're deciding on what to eat! Everything looks delicious and yummy . So, I've ordered a Lion King / Spider roll and miso soup. The miso soup was okay, but the rolls were fresh and delicious! Although the size of the rolls are smaller than other sushi's restaurants but they're reasonably fair and filling. Oh yeah! They also have Korean ribs and etc.. May want to try that next time. The workers were very attentive and kind. The price is fair too! I would come back and recommend this restaurant over Sushi house anyday! I am satisfied and would be back.
(5)Melissa B.
This place is where I always went if Kamakura was too busy. Easy to get in. You can sit at a table or the bar. The food is good. Good sushi, Good Bento, Good Noodles and you can get served all at the same time with a larger party.
(5)Clem C.
If you love yourself, do not eat here. The server brought us water with paper residue in it. After we asked for a new water she brought us a water with very visible spit. We ended up sharing the untainted water. We came in 15 mins before they closed and ordered two miso soups and two rolls (sushi boy and lion king roll). I asked her for another miso soup to go and she told me they were making fresh miso soup and didn't know if there would be any more... This made no sense to me, but she told me I couldn't have miso soup to go. The sushi rolls were so so. This place sucks.
(1)Lynn L.
Sushi here is ok. I often go for lunch. I usually love sitting at the sushi bar and ordering directly from the chef, especially when dining alone. Katsu doesn't allow that so sitting at the bar feels weird when there's no interaction with them. Quality of sushi is ok and there's a nice selection of rolls but not sure I'd go back for dinner.
(2)Cece G.
Love love love it here! The owner is very nice and all his staff ate very accommodating! Talk about great food and clean restaurant.... They got it! The price of their food is adorable! You get good deals with their be to box! The portion is really generous! Come and try it here!
(5)Scott T.
I had to wait over 25 minutes for my food during a regular weekday lunch (Wednesday). It took them about 10 minutes just to take my order and bring tea. The food is just okay. They have one sushi chef making all the sushi for the entire restaurant and two waiters. The place seats about 70 people. Go figure. The best affordable Japanese restaurant is Geta off piedmont. I will not return. EVER
(1)Maya G.
One star for HAIR in my tempura broccoli. Also for the horrible service in dealing with the problem and making me wait about 15 min for my check. They did give me a free coke but it doesn't make up for the above.
(1)anna a.
The service deserves more than one star - the staff was quick and polite. However, the GO GO Roll made me GO GO to the bathroom all night! I call it barf-arrhea. When you are barfing and having diarrhea at the same time. I just can't ever go back there. Even thinking about it makes me want to gag.
(1)Christina B.
I am not sure why this place doesn't have better reviews/more stars. Service when we go is always awesome and the food is a very good rival to a place I used to eat in Antioch. I'm super happy that its just down the street and its quick (and that my boyfriend picked this for our first date).
(5)David A.
Loved the Bento Box, two item the Tempura and salmon was great. We also had the sushi which was flavorful. They also provided assistance with our Vegan request. Great service too!
(5)Eunhee L.
I went here for dinner around 7PM with my friend. The restaurant size is pretty decent, but only 6-8 people were having dinner. I ordered go go roll because I can't have cucumber and menu didn't say there is cucumber. But I got go go roll with cucumber in it instead of avocado without telling me anything. Also the restaurant wasn't busy at all and there was three waitresses, but no one took care of us.
(2)Joyce L.
Our friends from Alameda brought us here. Prior to sitting down, our friend had informed us that the food isn't consistent. The service was really slow. I felt that the sushi was a bit small in size. My tempura was cold and the shrimp was small. I wasn't too impressed with the miso soup and hot tea either. The hot tea had no flavor at all. The only thing I loved about this establishment was the interior design.
(2)Jessica D.
Looks like this place is a hit or miss place. Fortunately, our visit was splendid. The sushi was delicious and very good portions. We sat at the sushi bar and ordered food no problem. The waiters were very attentive even though they seemed pretty stressed out. Overall, I will definitely return!
(4)vi l.
If you want good sushi and service go somewhere else! Have you ever had food so bad you are upset when you leave? Well this place is worst than that. Stay away!
(1)S V.
I'm not sure if I would return here again. The sushi tasted all right, the radio played "soft hits" from the 80s-90s. I heard the building used to be a Sizzlers and I thought it still had that kind of vibe. It just wasn't that special, I give it a solid 2 stars.
(2)Diane N.
$3 extra for brown rice! Husband ordered the tempura/beef teriyaki bento box & was happy with the tempura but found the beef a bit tough. I ordered a spicy scallop handroll -- it was OK. I also had the gol bi, Korean short ribs, dinner. Beef was tough & too fatty & a bit bland. Very nice friendly staff. Nice clean restaurant.
(3)Pierre C.
I have eaten at katsu several times over the past few years. I find the portions and quality to be excellent. I have eaten at other over rated sushi houses in Alameda, and I keep coming back to Katsu because it is consistent, the price is fair and the service has always been attentive - whether it's to go, dine in, or delivery. Not only have I personally had great Sushi/Sashimi dishes, but it is the only restaurant I feel comfortable bringing my kids to on a regular basis. It is very spacious, which is nice when you bring two children (i'll let you all in on a secret of parents - we hate sitting next to people when our kids get loud, we used to go out to relax and we know how annoying loud kids can be. We feel just as disturbed of not more when one of our kids act up.) So here it is nice to sit away from the crowd and they do a good job of spacing people throughout the restaurant. I usually order their special rolls, I noticed someone said that the rolls were loose - I suppose - if you are used to ordering rolls from other restaurants that are typically 6 pieces and the size of a roll of quarters (maybe dimes), you may have a hard transition to the rolls here. Many rolls are MASSIVE, 8-9 piece rolls, flowing with scrumptulescent goodness, ad topped off with fun garnish. They do a great job with the menu too - it shows pictures of almost every roll - and they are very precise in delivering on expectations. I was not going to review Katsu, but after seeing how badly it has been reviewed, and typically sounding snobbish and rude, i felt I had to give them a fair review. Hope you give them a chance, it really is a great place to go have some decent sashimi/sushi, etc. - is it a luxurious den reminiscent of Hiro? no. but it is a great local sushi place - what else do you need?
(4)Sky ..
The sashimi cuts are a bit thinner. The freshness and taste are ok, nothing special. A bit too overpriced for being under-impressive.
(3)Miss X.
My husband and I love this place! The employees are super nice, they keep everything clean and modern but nice looking, ample parking oh and the food is GOOD. Highly recommend the vegetarian bento box because you will get a bit of everything yummy and it is very filling even for a big eater like myself. Their hot green tea is good and their green tea cheesecake is GREAT. Seriously, do yourself a favor and try it. It's served chilled and with a drizzle of chocolate. Their sushi is also good and beats going to the sushi house in south shore that is ridiculously packed and loud stressful. 5 stars :)
(5)Tara S.
Clean and modern interior! I think that Webster St. dining establishments lack that a lot of the time, but not here. I got the veggie roll sushi and it was very slimy and not tightly packed, making it weird to eat. Hubby got the box. The teriaky tofu was good tasty- but wish the tofu was firmer. I think they use silken which sorta is melty.
(3)Samantha S.
I may or may not be a glutton for punishment... I came back to Katsu for some much needed California Roll and Tempura (it's one of my comfort foods)... and wait for it... IT WAS DELISH... not 1, but 2 times in a row, now!! I hereby revoke my previous review and submit to you a new outlook on Katsu Sushi. :) P.S: I hear from other locals that the attitude of the owner has drastically improved, I think I saw a smile, too!
(3)Doctor G.
My Chirashi Sushi was a real disappointment. They could not have sliced the sashimi any thinner. I am used to chunks of sashimi with my Chirashi Sushi bowl, not thinly sliced raw fish. What a way to save money and increase profit. And the sushi rice with the Chirashi Sushi wasn't really sushi rice with rice vinegar and sugar. It was just regular steamed rice. What a disappointment. Service wasn't that great either. The servers were nice, but it seemed disorganized. We had to repeatedly deal with numerous servers with various issues all night. Two servers to get a table, two servers to get drinks. They forgot our little dishes for the soy sauce and our party did not get served with our meals all at the same time - not even close. What happened here? Used to be much better.
(2)Michelle D.
Good service and great speed! Had our food within 10min of ordering. Lots of options to choose from and not too expensive! My only complaint was it was slightly cold inside (but I'm always cold)
(4)Suzy G.
I just read another person's review that reminded me of something. Several times when I've been here in the past, I've ordered a roll at the sushi bar and watched them whip out a pre-made roll wrapped in cellophane from below the bar and try to fake like they've just made it. I even had an argument with the waitress one time when I tried to reject the roll and told her I wanted one that was made fresh. "This fresh! This fresh!" Yikes...
(2)Misti W.
My husband just brought home teriyaki chicken. It is completely dry - no teriyake sauce at all. I added a pic to the picture section. Now I am by no means an expert - but shouldn't TERIYAKI chicken have TERIYAKI sauce??????? I mean c'mon - it's in the freaking name! Like a cheeseburger with no cheese. Hello? Only giving 2 stars because they offered us 20% off a future visit. But if this is their idea of acceptable food, I won't need that discount cause there won't be a next time.
(2)Clarke H.
Mediocre sushi, terrible service. Atmosphere a little clunky. Much better fish to be had close by.
(2)Tony G.
Can't say I was impressed by this place. Presentation was good but fish was not fresh. Also, some of the ingredients were obviously the cheapest packaged stuff you can buy at cash & carry.. Service was friendly but atmosphere was a bit tacky. There are much better options for sushi in Alameda.
(2)Felicia E.
This place is pretty good. The only thing I don't like is that the shrimp tempura is pre cooked and then toasted to warm up a lot. I hate getting a tempura roll and you bite into it and the shrimp is not even hot or crispy...what's the point. 1/5 times its the warmed up in the toaster oven stuff but when you do get lucky and get a freshly fried still hot and crispy one it's great...but who wants to take that chance over and over. I did ask them about it once and I was told...That's the way they do it and that was my last time ordering that dish from there. Other then that I like most of the other dishes...
(4)Eddie A.
This place is like our back-up sushi place. they forget about you once you place your order.. and the rolls aren't that great, kinda bland..
(3)L H.
I debated between a three and four on this rating. I had the sashimi; some was better than others. For this location, in Alameda, I'd expect better, so I ended up giving it a three. At the end of the meal, after paying, they brought a chef's special roll for a bonus. It was pretty good and I appreciate the free food, so I moved the rating to a four. The atmosphere is nice and the service was good. The food was okay. I have to say I considered bumping up the review to a five when witnessing a customer treat one of the waitresses in a very racist manner. She handled it with grace, but should not have had to. The review of the customer is a -1. I would not have blamed them for refusing him service and asking him not to come back. This maybe even would of got me to move it to a 5 rating.
(4)Xuankieu T.
I love the interior desigin of this place, with bamboo, chinese umbrella, wall painting of trees, and a piano in a middle. Even the restroom is painted with peach blossom on the wall. Highly recommend the Lion King rolls and the roll with cucumber wrap around it (forgot the name). I thought their price are quite cheap for sushis.
(4)Jessica T.
The bestest and I usually do a friday night dinner at Sushi House in Alameda. For reasons I will explain in my review to Sushi House, we have decided to no longer eat there. We tried Katsu at the suggestion of my masseuse who's business is across the street. Firstly, it's great that they have a parking lot. Upon entering the restaurant we were greeted by an employee and immediately seated. The overall experience was great. Our waitress was attentive and very nice. The prices are reasonable and the food was amazing! What I love about this place is that they aren't worried about how many people they can cram in the place, they just want to make sure the consumer has a great experience. If you want to relax and have an amazing meal, I suggest coming to Katsu. They will take care of you.
(4)Scott L.
The rolls are ok, Hwae Dup Bap (Korean Fish Salad with Spicy Sauce) is better than Sushi House's, Age Dashi Tofu is very good with a lot of tofu pieces, and the Chicken Karrage is a-ok but does not beat Kamakura's. The service however is very poor. We went on a Friday night and they had 4 waitresses and 1 waiter. They all looked busy; but they never seemed to accomplish anything. Lots of walking around, straightening up the chopsticks and the paper dinner mats. However, they seemed to be looking but not comprehending that empty tea cups and water glasses should be filled without the Customer asking. We had to ask twice for tea and water. This should never happen. We have been here twice in one month and the service has not improved.
(2)Leah A.
I've been coming here pretty often and have always left happy. A lot of people say Sushi House in Southshore is really good, but I prefer Katsu better. The food is better and they have a bigger menu. Also, there's no wait! Sushi House takes FOREVER and the service is so much better at Katsu. They're fast and friendly whereas at Sushi House, I feel like it takes forever just to get a refill on some tea or water. I've tried a lot of items on their menu and everything is good. Prices are decent. Always my go to if i want sushi in this area.
(4)Winnie G.
Finding plastic wrap in food is not okay. Finding plastic wrap with raw meat inside your udon noodle soup is absolutely unacceptable. This is what happened, thinking that I'd take my momma out for lunch at Katsu, a place that I once upon liked going to. We ordered the udon and some rolls. The service was mediocre because we walked in and seated ourselves. It took about half an hour for our food to get out, which seemed strange enough since there was barely anybody eating. So my moms soup comes out and I noticed something floating in it. After some poking around it was plastic wrap with raw meat IN HER SOUP. That'a disgusting. I called the waitress over and she's like oh, thats just part of the soup. UHM, I THINK NOT. It took about 10 mins and two other waiters to convince her that it was fault of the restaurant. Then she took it away and just said I'll make you another one. No asking if I would like something else. No apologizing. Now what makes you think I would want anymore food coming from anywhere within restaurant?? No. Told we didn't want anymore food and just take it off our bill. She has the nerve to say no we can't do that. Only can give you more food. By this time, I was done and raging. I told her to call the manager and let me talk to them because you're not charging me for something unsanitary and offering me more food from your kitchen. You should have been happy I wasn't calling the health department! Finally, the manager said to take it off and I paid and left in a huff. Never going back probably because next time, I wont be alive to do so if I kept eating there. Raw meat?! Plastic wrap?? No just no. They have a bathroom and parking lot. The only upside I think.
(1)Shawna P.
This place was ok.. I ordered ice tea, it turned out to be a peach/mango flavored tea (totally not what i wanted, i dont like flavored teas), wish the menu stated it was flavored.. The miso soup was really good! I also ordered a bento box and everything was fresh and tasty.. We might go back if we are in the area.. :)
(3)Jose O.
3 1/2 stars tops, 3 on most days. As a vegetarian my selection at a sushi restaurant is very limited. The main vegetarian attractions such as the Avocado and Cucumber rolls aren't known as crowd pleasers. The rolls lack of flare along with lack flavor may have something to do with its popularity. Katsu's menu is considerate of vegetarians and labels all appropriate options with a cute little leaf next to the name. I've tried all of the listed options and nothing really stands out. The sake has always been kind to vegetarians and it doesn't fail us now. Be adventuress, take a pint of Sapporo or Asahi and drop a shot glass full of sake into the mix. Don't stop drinking until your glass is empty. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. You'll take me in the morning. Enjoy. Veggie options: Miso soup Avocado Maki Kappa Maki (cucumber roll) Vege sushi Vegetable tempura Agedashi Tofu (fried tofu) Edamame Goma Ae Tofu Teriyaki San Sai
(3)Desiree L.
Not happy after I ordered sushi and teriyaki beef plate. I specifically asked for sushi to come out as an appetizer before our meal. Instead they bring out my plate and my friends plates we finish eating our dinner and then they bring the sushi out after I have finished my meal. They even charged me extra I don't understand why they would do that. I want another sushi that is on time not 30 minutes after I ordered my meal. Please explain why you would do this to me? I did give this place 5 stars before then but for your terrible service and no sushi I am downgrading you to two stars! You are a sushi restaurant for god's sake it's really not that difficult to serve sushi before a meal! I have never got bad service until now!
(2)Esther R.
This place is nice, but not great. I came here for a birthday party with a big group of people. This place is huge and there are lots of seating available, so it's ideal for parties, space-wise. Other than that, it's not that special. I got the Rainbow Roll, which was decent. I think they use a lot of mayonnaise in their CA rolls, which I didn't really love. But the fish was fresh. I just felt the roll was kind of small and not filling (at least for me. Granted I can eat lots and lots of sushi and still not feel satisfied...I can't help it - I love sushi!). The Rainbow Roll cost $10. I really wanted to get sashimi, but this place seemed pricier than I'm used to. It's not ridiculous or anything - I've just been spoiled by Katana's (in Sunnyvale) sashimi special where you can get 20 pieces of sashimi for $21 (here, it's $30). Service was good. Waitresses were accommodating and the food came out fairly quickly, so that's a plus. It's not my first pick for sushi places - most likely, I'd come back if someone else suggests it (or we throw more birthday parties here, like Kevin H said :P).
(3)Rick B.
delicious sushi and good prices. ordered the King Kong Roll and it was delicious! the 007 Roll was also good and fresh-tasting. edamame was good. the waitress was friendly, service very good, and food came out quickly. A+
(5)Hugh L.
i have been here many times. food is not that bad but i don't like their attention towards the customers. the boss is hella rude to her employers as well as the customers. She is always yelling at her employers whenever i went here.Im not gonna come here as long as they keep this attitude.
(2)Susan N.
Flew into Oakland Airport on Super Bowl Sunday and wanted to find a quiet place to eat ... dinner, away from all the sports-oriented hoopla. Stumbled on Katsu, which was quiet, spacious, and had a nice ambience. (As a concession to sports fans, a TV was on without the sound. However, the patrons were more interested in good food.) I had the Tonkatsu dinner and my dining partner had the Chicken Katsu dinner. We enjoyed the miso soup and salad and I liked the brown rice option. The food was good and we will likely return to try out some of the other dishes.
(3)Todd H.
I go here occasionally because it's the only place in town that isn't packed on the weekends, and I like the quiet. The service is pretty good, but the food is mediocre at best. The sushi is pretty bland,even the supposedly spicy items, but the biggest sin is the cold rubbery tempura. Tempura should ALWAYS be cooked to order, NEVER reheated.
(2)Rachel W.
The food here is average. I have to share my biggest first time shock in a Japanese restaurant. So, I ordered their super tuna roll, excited by the fact that it came with three types of tuna, one of them being spicy tuna! Spicy tuna is one of my fav's, but not at this place! I'm also a fan of wasabi! Maybe it's just me, but I like to assume that "Spicy Tuna" is SPICY! And that wasabi is hot! To my displeasure, I was served a roll with spicy tuna that a two year old could eat, and wasabi that didn't deliver a tear to my eye, or a burn in my sinuses! Call me strange, but I look forward to these reactions when eating spicy tuna with wasabi! I thought maybe the wasabi was old. So I asked our server, and to my shock, she said "That's how most of the people like it that come here, they complain when it's to hot"! Are you kidding me?????? What kind of sushi place is this???? Never ever have I been served wasabi made to please anyone that cannot handle the real deal! The sushi chef overheard me, and whipped up some real wasabi for me. I'm still in shock that a Japanese restaurant in Alameda would change up such a common side item to appease to any certain groups palette. I'll have to find a new sushi spot that I don't have to make a ridiculous request for something that should already be!!!
(3).Hon H.
I have come to the sad conclusion that I will never eat at East Ocean Restaurant. I've tried several times, and have always been beaten back by the massive number of people waiting for a table, the wall of sound, and the parking situation. I have officially given up. I made that decision yesterday after coming to EA for lunch. It was the usual madhouse, and I just said screw it. We figured we'd go to the Viet place a couple of blocks away, but it was CLOSED. Crap. Now what? My hon of hons husband saw Katsu and suggested that we go there. I was surprised he suggested Japanese, but figured since he was starving he'd eat any cuisine. Katsu was a nice surprise. The place is huge, super clean, and nicely decorated. The bathroom was overthetopcraziness, but again, super clean, which I appreciated. Service was very friendly and efficient, but they never did ask us if we liked our food No big deal. I had an spicy tuna hand roll, which was kind of mixed. The tuna was fresh, but was chopped into a paste which was kind of weird. The roll itself had lots of great sushi rice, fresh seaweed wrapping, and a cluster of radish sprouts, which I always love. My hon of hons husband had one of the Korean dishes - bbq pork - for his meal. He got an enormous portion of pretty spicy, lean pork, and a couple of dishes of banchan. I ended up with a bento box with the teriyaki tofu, which was absolutely delicious. It must've been braised or deep fried, judging by the texture, and was served with cabbage, mushrooms and onions, all bathed in a not too sweet teriyaki sauce. My bento box also included a salad, miso, some picked veggies and a bowl of rice and I left the restaurant sated and happy. I might go back for the udon, which smelled really good. This place is nothing spectacular, but at least you can actually EAT there, which is more than I can say for East Ocean.
(3)Cath M.
I think this place had at least 3-4 "new management" since it came about. The servers changed (that's how we know) but so far, the food is great. Quality and quantity is definitely better than Sushi House! I got the boy hooked on their udon and he usually gets sometime type of sushi...while I get my tomago fixed! Yes...I need my eggs! =P
(4)Destry H.
Awesome spot...very friendly fast service!
(4)J H.
I've ate at Katsu numerous of times. On every visit I had fresh, fantastic sushi. Portions weren't bad and nor was the price. Everything else tasted great but the portions were okay. I was a little skeptical because every Japanese restaurants I've been to, somehow loses it's quality. To my wife and I, Katsu's quality has been great... So far. Also, this is another Japanese restaurant that has the "Volcano" that Wasabi in Oakland has (see my Wasabi review). Katsu's version is called the "Bay Island Roll." This is our new Japanese/Sushi go to. AND THEY HAVE PARKING! No need to park on the streets.
(4)Omar T.
Katsu Sushi! Formerly Pizza Hut! (at least that's what the building looks like it was) So I ventured to see! wow Sushi on the go while watching ESPN! on a raised Flat screen! Food: ordered the dinner 3 combo bento box! maguro sashimi, saba shioyaki, and California rolls, served with salad & miso dressing, and an orange slice, and rice. The maguro, faded dark red to a pinkish color showed it frozen, which was average. the California rolls were nothing to talk about. The saba shioyaki was actually good. It was a pretty descent portion broiled nice tender and tender slightly salted. I was actually surprised it was less bony than I was use to. Setting: Very nice and clean which made dining very relaxing. Elegant black walls with red trim was eye pleasing. Tables and booths surrounded the sushi bar with Thick bamboo structures nicely pillared in the middle, while glass wall shelves decorated with vases and 2 katanas fashioned the back wall. Service: prompt, pleasant, and courteous
(3)Leanne V.
i'm not quite sure why i keep going back here. convenience, perhaps? must be convenience. because not only is katsu a total rip-off (i'll easily drop $70 on takeout for two people), but the rolls are so disgustingly large i can barely make it through one without that gnarly stuffed feeling kicking in. lots of kewpie sauce paired with quasi-fresh fish makes for a not-so-great sushi experience. granted, sometimes you just want to eat some crappy americanized sushi, but i always end up regretting ordering from katsu by the time i put the chopsticks down.
(2)Gwen H.
I don't eat much sushi so can't really give a review of that. My daughter [she's a teen, eats an adult amount] and I each got a combo plate [it was @ about $13], and we should have just split one because it was a ridiculous amount of food. Big freaking hunk of salmon, a large serving of rice, plenty of salad, a bowl of miso, and a full appetizer's worth of gyoza. My boyfriend has no taste buds and thinks the mark of a good restaurant is the amount they pile on your plate, so he was in hog heaven but I was wary because IME it usually turns out to be that places that give you that much food do it to cover up that they're using cheap, nasty, old ingredients I am glad to say this wasn't the case here, it was a pretty good cut of salmon and everything was fresh and well made, and we'll definitely be going back.
(4)Emily L.
I think Katsu has the best sushi in the whole Bay Area. Love love love this place!
(5)Will H.
I agree with most other reviews. The decor of the place is not bad. Only may be it is a bit on the empty side. The food is very average, but it took forever to arrive. There were only 3 others tables besides us. I ordered sake but the waitress forgot and I have to ask for it. Funny thing is all (3) waitresses have time to hang out and joke around. But no time to service us. After all the negative reviews, do you think they'll get the clue??? ...THE SERVICE SUCKS...
(2)N. T.
Stopped by for lunch for the first time recently. I've passed by many times over the years. I ordered uni, salmon skin temaki, and I something else which I can't remember. The food was just ok, so I won't be going back. Aside from the nori which was nice and toasty, the rest was underwhelming. My impression is that they aren't busy enough to have good turnover on their sushi ingredients. The staff there are nice though. Oh well...
(3)KH G.
Feening for ramen, I searched for a place in Alameda. A review for Katsu came up so I immediately grabbed my keys and went. Little did I know that the review was written two years ago, so they don't have ramen anymore. NO RAMEN! aughhh!! Got a bento box instead. Food was ok, service was ok, decor was ok.
(3)Marie R.
My husband and I come here at least four times a month! I stick with the same old thing, sake toro (fatty salmon) appetizer (about 7-10 pieces), the miso soup, and either the phily roll (salmon, cream cheese, avacado) or the hamachi (yellow tail tuna) nigri. Portions are good, and prices reflect current market for some (like the sake toro) and inexpensive for the majority of dishes. We've brought our family here many times and are recognized on sight, not only by the waitresses, but the main sushi chef Leo, and the owner, Richard. They are a friendly and happy group! Sometimes you do need to stay on top of your waitress for drink refills, but the age old rule applies, the way you treat others, they will treat you! We love the look, the big screens (always willing to change the channel to watch a different game than what is on) and the soft rock that relaxes us after a long day!
(5)Ahmed S.
Have been here several times for lunch, and it's been okay. Options are limited in Alameda and this place is sadly the best it gets. Sashimi is good, large portions, $16 a plate though for lunch. I only keep on returning due to lack to sushi options in Alameda. I like it, but still not very impressed. Service is great, but sometimes that is just not enough. Parking is free though, not common in Alameda.
(3)Tommy P.
Not a bad place. I love their lightings. I don't think any other restaurants in Alameda have better lighting and the atmosphere the setting provides, and the waitresses always greet me with friendly smile. So why the three stars? Food. As much as Japanese food has gotten inflated and whatnot, Katsu's price for the taste is little exaggerated. The food really doesn't have a GREAT taste. Maybe it's the dine-in that we're paying for. Hmmm....they should mention that on the menu and I would be less frustrated with the pricings. Oh please don't get the bowl. its salty.
(3)Kygia B.
Been here twice this month with my coworkers... Nice restaurant, plenty of seats, not too packed during lunch, service was eh.. had to remind them for tea several times, and one time the waitress drops a bunch of our edamame, she just laughed, apoligizes, and walked away... Hmph! Anywho we had some rolls, it was alright... can't really remember much about it. But the donburi's... Chicken and beef were both awesome! The vegetables were tasty! I wish I knew how to make it. If you're craving rolls, I wouldn't recommend Katsu.
(3)david c.
Most people think of Sushi House for the best sushi in Alameda but I have to disagree. Katsu has great atmosphere and is way easier to deal with. I don't want to have to wait an hour for dinner on a Wednesday night and you'll always get a table here. The wait staff is always friendly and for those that do not eat sushi... their Teriyaki is better than any Japanese restaurant around.
(4)Thao L.
Well...Katsu is definitely a fancy place. Easy on the eyes, beautiful decor. Although, the service was friendly, they were overly pushy, and while the waitress was serving the tea, she spilled everything onto the table....Yeah, she apologized, but she didn't try to clean it or offer napkins. The sushi--Sushi house doesn't exactly offer the best service, but the sushi is pretty good. The Lion King roll at Sushi house is nice and proportional, and at a great price point. While katsu, is completely different, they offer half the size compared to sushi house and about 4-5 bucks more. I feel cheated every time I eat there. I have to say it is a great atmosphere, for maybe a light dinner. If your trying for a bargain this aint the place to go! Stick to Sushi House if you want a bang for your buck.
(2)Ron C.
My co-workers and I have been going to this place for years. They used to have a sushi boat setup where you can select your Nigiri off a boat that goes around the bar but it is no longer there. The bento boxes at Katsu are large. I recommend getting the 3 item combos, but be aware that you only get 3 pieces of sashimi. The sushi is hit or miss with regards to freshness. Katsu is a great place for a large group of people, yet intimate enough for a couple. There is never a wait here since it seems most people go to Otaez down the street.
(3)Susan H.
I came here on a weekend hoping for some great japanese food. The rolls we got were ok, not memorable at all. We got a sashimi lunch, the tuna texture wasn't quite right, like maybe it's been thawed and refreezed and then thawed again.... just not right, even my favorite salmon sashimi wasn't up to par.
(2)Mary E.
Well...now I know why this huge restaurant with plenty of parking is never crowded. They have awful food. My daughter and I went over the weekend and had the worst California rolls ever. They were made with tons of mayo and fake crab meat and were warm. The Chicken Teri was overly sweet and the rice was just a big pile of mush. Maybe we just ordered the wrong things but we will not be going back.
(1)Nadja R.
I think these guys are just great! I've eaten here many times and the food is always excellent. They are missing that last star for sometimes having lackadaisical service. Tonight I couldn't decide, do I want the seaweed salad, or another roll? Oh, look at that, a roll with seaweed salad on it! And it was delicious. Their udons and ramens are good, sushi and sashimi are excellent, good agedashi tofu, wonderful tofu cheesecake- kinda limited on the selection of hooch, but I can forgive them that.
(4)Jeanne D.
We went here to eat , when we were taking a break for the pinball museum, which is across the street. My son got the Teriyaki Steak plate, I got Teriyaki beef and Tempura, My friend got chicken teriyaki and tempura, We had gyoza's to start, Great food. Restaurant wasnt crowded when we arrived , but started getting busy when we left.
(4)T S.
I've been going to Katsu over Sushi House ever since I found out about it. I like it there. The food's good, and the service is good most of the time, compared to the other place on the other side of the island. Service is generally quick, but sometimes they lack attentiveness. Overall though, I enjoy going there. I think their green tea tempura ice cream has lost some quality over time though. The last time I had it, it tasted pretty generic with ice crystals, but good portion for the price! For sushi, love it! Chicken donburi- Yum! I'd go back again and again. Wish they had cocktails! But only beer and sake...
(4)Martine F.
I like this sushi house the best in Alameda... I think the rolls are a perfect size not monster size and loose like the Sushi House on shoreline. Plus they have excellent service and are always on time with their to go order estimate. Fresh fish and great wasabi!
(4)Benita S.
Katsu is the best sushi place in Alameda, second is Sushi House in South Shore. Kai's comes in a close third for their chicken katsu. If you haven't been since they changed ownership (I think it use to be called Sushi Boat), you should definitely give it another shot. The service is great and the ingredients are fresh. I tend to go for nigiri or sashimi, so I'd know if they were using day old fish.
(5)Nicole T.
We've eaten here many many times and really liked it for a few reasons: 1) The food is pretty good 2) The glasses of wine are generous and reasonably priced 3) Free parking 4) Theres always space so we never have to wait. We've kept going back but have been thinking lately that each time our experience has been less and less satisfying due to the service. Last night was the icing on the cake. I cant guarantee that we'll be back again. The service was just bad! She literally not just forgot to bring 4 different things we ordered, she said we never ordered them. We asked 3 different times for more napkins, she would bring 2 at a time. We had a toddler with us and really needed more than 2 napkins. She then just disappeared. And we had to get up and ask someone for our check as she was no longer helping our table. Im thinking we'll be finding somewhere new from here on out. We love Sushi and its a big treat but when youre out spending decent money for a meal, you want to walk away feeling satisfied and happy.
(3)Anthony A.
Katsu has competent Japanese food, including good sushi. It's a little pricey, but that's to be expected at Japanese restaurants. I've never had bad food here, but it's also not the best Japanese food ever. I've not experienced any of the bad food issues other reviewers have. The place is almost never full, even though the main room has a decent amount of space between tables, which is nice. The service in said main room is generally reasonable - not the most attentive, but you don't get ignored. However, they keep trying to sit people with kids behind the sushi bar - an area with a few tables along the Webster Street side of the building. Don't let them seat you there. Every time I've been seated in that area, the service was incredibly inattentive, to the point where I've had to make a nuisance of myself on occasion to get served. I make a point now of asking to be seated in the main room when I arrive, so that I will get decent service.
(3)MG H.
Moderately priced, great service, clean, nice atmosphere with the bamboo and tree paintings, very relaxing. I recommend the "Oh Yeah!" fried maki roll.
(4)Irene S.
This place does have pretty decent sushi. There is a good selection of rolls and the prices are reasonable. I did notice the little flies around so keep an eye on your food. I am not sure if it is because I was sitting close to the entrance on Webster Street side of the establishment. The service is very attentive, though, so I am giving it 4 stars for that.
(4)Randy O.
I think this place recently changed ownership - for the worse. I think the last time I went here was about 6 months ago, and back then, I would give it 3 stars or so. But yesterday, I went there with my family and it was horrible! I think the chef doesn't know anything about Japanese food - he's probably not Japanese either. Here's what they did wrong: 1. put hot tea in a metal cup without any handles. Yeah, it's called conduction, and that would make your hand almost burn if you touched the metal cup. Those metal cups are for cold water! They said they didn't have any other tea cups. Go buy some real Japanese looking ones. 2. The california rolls were horrible. Even I can make them. They forgot to put mayonnaise in it, and it was dry. Also, didn't look anything like the menu, not even close. They were sparse on the avocado. It was a thin slice, rather than the usual sized chunks you get in any real Japanese restaurant. They were ugly too. 3. The rice in the other sushi rolls were stale. 4. The udon was the most fake udon I've ever seen. They put beef briskets that you usually put in Vietnamese pho into the Japanese udon! And to top it all off, everything was overpriced. For a 4 piece roll, it was like $9.95. Also, the kid's dinner menu was $9.95 - absurd. Don't go there. I'm not ever going there again.
(1)Paul P.
Decent neighborhood sushi place. For those dinging this place read "sushi place". the fish is good quality, prepared masterfully. The other japanese fare here is marginal at best so look elsewhere for sukiyaki, noodles, yakitori, etc. Great service to and oddly i think they have the best TV's on Webster. I ended watching game 7 of the ALCS here. As for misspellings in the menu, i take that as a great sign that the place is authentic. why you would use grammar/spelling a harbinger of a dining experience is beyond me. Good luck with that. Oh, maybe try writing out a menu is japanese and see how you fare. That'd be fun to see.
(4)Michael S.
This place simply rocks! Me and my gf walk in and we are immediately greeted. The place has a few people, but I like this because I really dislike a place that is packed and crammed. The waitress immediately serves tea and asks if we are ready to order. The environment is very Zen and calm. The dining is just as sincere with bamboo scenery and pleasant views. The Sushi is VERY fresh and prepared well. If you ask, you get a refill of tea almost immediately (in the past I have gone here, they just pour and fill your glass without asking). They are not all in your face and let you have conversation without any disruption. The food is wonderful, and trust me, I have had many dishes from their menu in the past. The best thing I enjoyed about this place (and I really need to write about it) is the fact that you can have a wonderful and enlightening meal, without all the wait and banter of too many people in the house. Enjoy!! BONZAI!!! :-D
(5)Kerri B.
My brief comments are these: Katsu is open til at least 10pm (which is a rare and happy thing for Webster St); the sushi has been excellent each time I have eaten here; the prices are decent and reasonable, even if not super cheap; the service is friendly and efficient; and the decor is (oddly) dramatic and entertaining. I came from the City and its great sushi, and I am a totally-picky eater and lover of sushi. I admit I was a little afraid of Katsu because it seemed consistently empty. Once I tried it, I was won over. I have tried it several times since then, and have found the sushi to be consistently delicious and fresh. I like Katsu more than Kamakura and Yellowtail and as much as Sushi House. I know you know what these comparisons mean in the world of Alameda sushi restaurants. Katsu really is good...I hope some of you out there will give it a try. I am routing for Katsu because our friendly Webster St. businesses need our support. If you are a resident of our side of the island, please check this place out. If you are a Park Street person, expand your horizons and check out life on the other side. You can start, as we most often do, with drinks at the neighboring Fireside Lounge, which is just about the best bar of all time as far as I am concerned. Support your local west side businesses!
(4)Andy C.
My wife put it best: "Well, the salad was good". There are good, and great sushi restaurants in Alameda. This isn't one of them. The rice was cold and dry, and they lack any sense of aesthetics. I've seen prettier sushi at the grocery store. GIven the lack of quality, the prices are ridiculous.
(1)Wooptydoop L.
1. I've been there for about 10 times now. Their rice is not cooked 80% of the time. Imagine choosing rice grains. 2. What is good: when you order the Bento Box, they have the bestest Tuna for the 20-something sushi restaurants I've tried in the Bay Area. Sometimes I go there and get their Benton Box because it's the onlything that's tastes ok, and their tunia is fabulous. But their other stuff is quite below-average. 3. Price: For $15, a chirashi only has 4 kinds of fish, versus at least 8 from Ray's Sushi in Hayward and even more from Angel Fish on Bay Farm Island.
(2)genevieve p.
edit (5/24/08): bumping it down to 2.5 stars. my last entry said give it a try, BUT upon visiting this place just now, i remembered how incredibly small the rolls are. so, do give it a try ONLY if you're not used to the huge rolls from sushi house. i mean, not only were these rolls incredibly bite-sized, but i'm used to the 8 pcs/roll and this place only gives you 6 for most of them. no bang for the buck AND no party in the mouth. don't be fooled by the pictures on the menu! also, edamame was overcooked and chicken karaage was waaaaay oily. ------------------------------ 4 stars - The last time I ate here was probably a few months back and I have to admit that while the sushi here is not great, I still like it here because it's hardly ever packed to the point where I have to wait 30+ minutes for a table. Honestly, Katsu is my back up when I don't want to wait at Sushi House. The decor is nice and they have newer dining sets. And because it's not as packed, service is never a problem for me. I say give Katsu a try.
(3)Diana W.
If I could give a negative number of stars, I would. The service was lousy and slow! The food was awful. I had a bento box lunch which included watered down miso soup, greasy tempura, and dry, overcooked grilled saba. We waited for over a half hour before our food arrived. We barely had time to eat a few bites before going back to work. On top of the long wait for our food, we never had our tea cups refilled. When we asked about our food, they assured us it was coming soon. It finally arrived 10 minutes later. We ran out of time and had to have our food packed to go. We won't be going there again!
(1)Edmund G.
Wonderful service, excellent sushi and even better mochi! Generous portions and fresh ingredients. I highly reccommend Katsu. Try the spicy tuna rolls...ask for them extra spicy. You won't be dissapointed.
(5)Kat S.
Sushi is mediocre, service is hit or miss. But they are pretty nice considering my kid always throws a tantrum when we are there.
(3)Allie W.
The first and last time I went I ordered the chicken teriyaki and when it came I got this huge plate with 6 small slices of chicken stacked on top of each other like the cook was trying to build a house out of them. I believe that the majority of the price you pay for the food is towards aesthetics rather than quality and quantity and in my opinion thats definitely not worth it.
(2)Pikachu P.
Nice place but the food is okay. We came here because parking is convenience. I've tried their chicken teriyaki, was ok; tried their sukiyaki, the beef was too thick...
(3)Richard Y.
it was okay.. service sucks but the food is alright
(2)Joss H.
Growing up on this island (yes! It really is an island!), I've watched this little location go from a Sizzler restaurant to Sapporo sushi, a sushi-boat type restaurant, and now Katsu. I'm not a fan of sushi, but my family and friends are, so we dined at this restaurant quite often - sometimes even three times a week, at least when it was "The Sushi Boat Place", as my sisters and I referred to it. To be honest, I usually only go to Japanese restaurants for the green tea, the miso soup, and the green tea ice cream. Yeah, yeah, I know I'm missing out blah blah blah. Since I've been living in Long Beach for the past four years, I learned that our little Sushi Boat Place had recently turned into Katsu Sushi. My mom doesn't go here much often anymore, and says it's just OK now. But when I was in town last week, my friends and family and I went for dinner and it wasn't bad. It was busy that Wednesday night, but they had room for all ten of us around 8:45 pm, without a reservation. They were playing cheesy songs like the Titanic one (oh, you know which one I'm talking about!). The table wasn't all smooshed and crowded, so everyone had room for however many rolls and/or plates we ordered, and we ordered a whole lot. It wasn't at all difficult to hear the conversation going on at the other end of the table, so nobody felt left out (except maybe the boyfriends of my sisters and girlfriends, haha...aww). The timing for the arrival of our food was reasonable, but not so fast that you wondered how fresh it really was. My tempura dinner was yummy, and the shrimp wasn't over-coated with batter. Nobody complained afterward, or at least they didn't whine to me! Some of us had food to take home as well. It was about $18 per person including tip. Not bad. We'll definitely come back.
(5)Bella I.
Great service and the food was fabulous.
(5)Rachel L.
I've definitely had better sushi. Firstly the converted Denny's interior is hideous. I feel like I'm sitting in a freaking school cafeteria. Sushi is passable but I was very annoyed that they put rice to fill out my veggie roll! I mean, come on...are vegetables that expensive?!?! The wakame salad was the one bright spot in my meal, good and a large portion. The bento boxes seemed outrageously priced. Didn't seem like a good value to me. I would not come here again if it was my choice.
(2)Stephanie D.
I wish I can update my review with the total opposite of my first from a 4 right down to a negative 4. Haven't been here since my last review and the fam and I were looking forward to treating ourselves to dinner at Katsu tonite. We walked in about 7:30pm when from what I remembered should have been a packed house. There were about 4-5 tables occupied. This should have been a warning for us to make a complete uturn right back out of the door. I'll cut to the chase...(the eats). We ordered 5 rolls, ama ebi, sake toro, ika nigiris, a child's beef teriyaki, combo tempura dinner and an unagi donburi. To sum up all of the sushi........it was 10 times as small as it used to be, way beyond the lowest grade fish you can find, and the sushi rice umm it was offensive to say the least. The child's dish included beef teriyaki that had the same texture as my puppy's snack treats to the point where my toddler was gagging because she couldn't chew through it. My son's unagi donburi has the stench of an old burned dried out sponge. As for the tempura combo dinner it was the size of an appetizer sized order. What happened to this place?! We sat in amazement trying to get past ourselves without being rude. When the bill came it was $124.36. WHAT!! The 3 adults at the table immediately had to try to stop ourselves from falling over in disbelief over how the prices were raised and the food was the biggest let down. Fine whatever we just wanted out and quick before one of us had a meltdown. As we loaded the car and said our goodbyes to our dinner guest we hear "Excuse me Excuse me" from across the lot. Turns out the $124.36 we were charged for the crappiest meal ever was mistyped when ran through the credit card machine. It was actually $142.36. WTH!!!! As if we needed to be shoved off a ledge they come chasing us down outside of their establishment to make up the difference for their mistake. Pathetic. I understand why all the loyal Katsu fans now boycott the place.It's simply terrible. Save yourself the headache, stomach ache, dignity & most of all CASH. Keep on driving by, head over to Kamakura or Sushi House for decent sushi on the island.
(1)Alan D.
the corner shot as i would call it! the food is good cant complain. would rather come here than sit out in front of sushi house for an hour just to get seated. but here @ katsu the ambiance is cool. nice place to take the family out for a few good rolls. what gets me is every time we come here they don't have toro! you come to a sushi place and there isn't toro! that just sucks lol! other than that the staff are polite and its not to far from us. prices are reasonable but could probably hire a few more people to help out and wait on tables or @ least hire someone to refill your water lol! check it out if you want. everyone has there preference's to me its all about the freshness and quality.
(4)Garrett M.
I've been eating here often over the past few months, and never once been disappointed. The food quality is excellent; fresh ingredients, perfect seasoning, and presentation that often makes you feel guilty for destroying a work of art. But that guilt always fades with the first bite. Katsu also apparently believes in satisfying the most hungry customer without emptying their wallet; for under twenty dollars including a generous tip, you will either leave completely full or with a take-home box. The atmosphere is relaxed and interesting. Compared to Sushi House's terrible crowds and almost industrial hurried atmosphere, Katsu is a solid winner with food on the same level if not better.
(5)Sherilyn T.
compared to sushi house, this place deserves 5 stars...but since i've only been here once, i will reserve the flexibility to add the additional star upon my next visit. some of the reviews here warned about the customer service, so we were skeptical going in. but we got rather great service....although they could have been a little more attentive with the hot tea refills. other than that, the waitress made great recommendations, the other service staff was extremely friendly, and place overall looked nice and clean - a step up from the old sizzler it use to be. we ordered the small sushi boat- filled with tons of sashimi and sushi rolls and some additional house rolls on the side. i must admit, the salmon sashimi was fairly fresh compared to sushi house and the plethora of other mediocre sushi spots. the rolls are relatively cheaper than sushi house and comparable in size. they had some pretty unique names for their rolls...(ie. playboy, sushi girl). i'm convince i've found my permanent sushi house replacement.
(4)sandy l.
oh my god! i cannot believe what these people are talking about! this place is absolutely AMAZING! this place rocks! the servers ARE extremely good and they are so nice they refill everything and always checked on us, i got bento box and lion king roll and it was delicious! their decor was so good compare to other alameda sushi places i've been to! OVERALL THIS PLACE ROCKS! I'm definatly coming back!
(5)Bryan Y.
its rare that you find a decently priced sushi restraunt with decent food. this place suprised me because it's been a whie since alameda had an alternative to sushi house. i reccomend this place for big parties too.
(4)Belinda L.
My husband and I come here almost every week. We both love the sashimi here. They have absolutely the freshest fish on the Island, especially when you compare to the other places in Alameda, and we've been to them all. They also give healthy portions at a reasonable price. Another reason they've become our favorite place. Give them a try, especially if you're into sashimi.
(5)Peter W.
same level as Sushi House
(4)Mr. B.
The food was decent , but the service was terrible. Its funny because the service started off good , then about 15 minutes later 3 Alameda cops came in and the 2 waiters started completely ignoring us ,and the people on both sides of us. The waiter and waitresses even stopped smiling. As if we all dissappeared. Its a trip cuz their attitudes totally changed and they stopped smiling and being so nice. I regretted going there and will never return. Dont spend your money here. No wonder it was so empty in there. Sushi spots come a dime a dozen, go to Berkeley or Kiki's in Frisco, cuz this place sucks.
(2)paul p.
sushi is decent but don't make it your main dish. bento boxes passable for lunch. the atmosphere is friendly (though, ESPN sometimes can be a little loud). servers are courteous and my tea cups never run dry. this place is uneventful, i've been here many times; quality is consistent. parking is plenty.
(3)N W.
Better than Sushi House across the Island. I have eaten here numerous times and consistently had great sushi rolls and great service at a reasonable price.
(4)Kazoua T.
I have been here a handful of times because the restaurant is convenient and there isn't a wait but the sushi is not that good. It is okay. For the price that you pay, it really isn't worth it. We only go there because it's close to the bf's house. For $13.95 you can get a 3 choice bento box. I had the Tempura Roll and the Spider roll last night and they were alright. Not worth the money. The miso soup and tea is good though. I would have to say...if you want bento boxes, they're pretty decent here but expensive. If you want sushi, don't go here. Oh and the California Roll that came with the bento box was one of the worst ones I've had. How can California rolls be dry?
(2)Kenna B.
I was craving Udon on a Sunday night. Decided on Katsu, as they have easy parking. I popped in, ordered the vegetable tempura udon. There are plenty of attentive wait staff. It came out quickly, and hot. Got it home and discovered crisp and not too oily tempura, tasty dipping sauce and thick udon noodles under an elegant array of fresh vegetables in broth. All in all, an excellent experience. I will definitely get this again.
(5)Gina D.
The best part about this place is that you never have to wait for a table and the food is solid. All the staff are pleasant and attentive. The rolls are a little pricey but still tasty.
(3)Elaine M.
The outside does no justice for the inside decor. The inside was nice clean and spacious. Our waitress was kind. Unfortunately the food was generic. I was unhappy with their chicken teriyaki, just dry chicken slathered in tropical sauce. The tilapia had a very fishy taste but wasn't half bad. The gyoza was ok. Not great. Just wasn't great. Hope to give it a go in the future.
(3)Ellias M.
The food was good but the service totally poor. I guess it's because I'm black. One waiter sat me and my girlfriend down and it took 15 minutes before a different waiter came over to take our order. It took forever for them to bring our bill after eating. I'm surely never gonna go back again. #TreatAllRacesEqual!!
(1)Danny V.
Stopped by here on new years day because another place was closed and we were in the mood for sushi. Stopped in and got the bento lunch box with chicken teriyaki, tempura and California roll. It was a pretty generous portion and filled me up. The tempura was great, chicken teriyaki was tasty and California roll was decent, nothing special as far as a California roll goes. I'd def come back for lunch sometime. Its a good sushi spot in Alameda
(4)Mai N.
Katsu is decent. The rolls are flavorful. The prices are decent, not too expensive. Ive been here on a Friday night and it had a fun vibe, but also wasnt too crowded. I would come here again if I were craving sushi and didnt want anything too fancy.
(3)Ryan V.
Some pluses: nice wait staff. Clean environment. Nice decor. Quick service and lots of tables. Cons: just bad sushi. Something tastes off about the rice. Presentation is fine but I was served the worst avocado roll I ever had. Just flavorless even with soy sauce and wasabi. I live down the street and I probably won't be back.
(3)Diana L.
Nice place, nice service. You know how sometimes you just have a really big sushi craving and even "ok" sushi would hit the spot? Well... sadly, the sushi from here did not. Wasn't terrible, and it was a decent size, but left me pretty underwhelmed and unsatisfied... not sure why.
(2)Maggi K.
I remember when Katsu used be a great place for sushi! Sadly, their quality has gone down drastically over the years. Every time I go, I feel like their sushi has shrunk while prices continue to increase. The last time I went, the agedashi tofu was horrible - what was supposed to be the crispy tofu skin was goopy and not crispy at all and the dashi dipping sauce was bland. Yokohama around the block is much better!
(2)Dream D.
bad service, doesn't not acknowledge, I sat the the table for 5 mins. and I still didn't receive a menu so I walked out.
(1)