I went here for dinner last night with family and friends. The staff and food were both fantastic. First of all the sushi was fresh and subtle and seemed to rely on the quality of ingredients (although I am not super in to this the aesthetics were amazing, they made butterflies out of carrots, designs on plates, apple fans, everything looked very cool). We had sashimi, rolls, salmon tartar, cooked tuna neck (hamachi khan I think) - all were fantastic. The inside and ambiance were enjoyable as well. We had a one year old with us and they were very nice to him - the staff is so friendly!!
(5)
David C.
The presentation of the food very nice. Great staff with a unique sushi menu.
(5)
Ria H.
I just move to the area not too long ago and Im always cautious when eating sushi somewhere new, but this place has past the test. On top of that the hibachi show keeps the hubby happy (hes a big kid). Customer service always friendly each time Ive eaten in AND when doing pick up.
(5)
T A.
Came here for the first time on my birthday...LOVED it! Yummy food and close to home-doesn't get better than that!
(4)
Jen C.
So many employees smiled at me as I walked in that I felt like a celebrity. The food is delicious, fresh, and reasonably priced. Also, I don't know why it's so hard to find a sweet potato roll in the bay, but Sumo's is delicious! You should take a date here. I guarantee they will go out with you again.
(5)
Amy R.
Hands down, best sushi I've had in a really long time. My husband & I stopped in on the way home from a weekend trip...we were seriously craving sushi. From the beautiful presentation to the freshness of the fish to the excellent service and very creative rolls, everything we had was so delicious! We will definitley be making the trek down here again...its that good!
(5)
Terry S.
Gorgeous inside. Excellent service. Awesome food! Try the Volcano salad and Dragon Roll! You won't be sorry!
(5)
Chris P.
This is a great place. They have great sushi, with decent prices. The spicy tuna roll is a must try!
(5)
Linda K.
So happily surprised, food was fresh, beautifully plated, and great service. Wish it was not so noisy, but everything else was perfect. If you like sushi, this is somewhere you need to try.
(4)
Melissa S.
This was my first time at Sumo -- the outside of the place isn't much to look at -- but inside is BEAUTIFUL! The food and service was outstanding! If you are looking for a great dinner out -- or maybe just drinks -- this place is wonderful. I would encourage you to give it a try!
(5)
Rebecca M.
Went to Sumo Sushi House for teppanyaki last night with my family (party of 6) to celebrate a birthday and belated Father's day. We had a reservation for 5:00pm and we were seated immediately. Most of us ordered the steak/filet mignon and shrimp combo and it was delicious. The beef was cooked to perfection, full of flavor, and very tender. My mother in law ordered the Hibachi Salmon and said that it was the best she has ever had. Each dinner order includes soup, salad, and hibachi fried rice. There was not an extra charge for the fried rice like a most teppanyaki style restaurants. The food portions were generous. Prices for our menu items were about $2.00 cheaper than what we have paid at other teppanyaki places in the area. Our chef was friendly and really knew what he was doing. The support staff was attentive and made sure our beverages were full and empty plates cleared from the table right away. Last but not least.... when I have eaten at other restaurants like this I have found that I leave the place smelling like I rolled on the table with the food while it cooked, sometimes right down to my undergarments. That was not the case with Sumo Sushi House. After enjoying my delicious dinner I would have felt confident in going to the movies, concert, etc. without worrying that everyone around me could smell what I had just eaten. This will definitely be my go to place for future family celebrations.
(4)
a j.
We've eaten here about five times now, and each time the food is delicious and beautifully presented. This is the place Livermore has been missing...good sushi for a fair price. We will continue to be regulars here. The owner Cindy is very sweet and genuinely cares about making her customers happy. All of the servers are friendly and courteous. Definitely eat here...just save us space at the sushi bar...!
(5)
R H.
The beef fried rice was amazing, best I've ever tasted. The moonlight and angry roll was delicious. The staff was also super friendly. It was our first time and definitely coming back!
(5)
Jeff G.
We have eaten at quite a few sushi restaurants and Sumo Sushi House ranks among the top. The fish is fresh and sliced perfectly. They have innovative rolls that bring out the flavor of the fish. The yellowtail jalapeno appetizer is not to be missed. The price is very reasonable. The service was excellent and always with a smile. We look forward to many future visits!
(5)
Smarty P.
We headed out on a cold rainy night to try Sumo based on the reviewrs comments on YELP. We are glad that we did! The wait staff was attentive and quick and the kitchen prepared food quickly- so it was perfect for our hungry group. The quality and preparation of the fish was excellent and the restaurant is contemporary yet cozy. The fried banana dessert was OK but the tempura ice cream very good.
(3)
Dani C.
Was hesitant to go here. Looks shady on the outside. Inside was beautiful and very clean! Went with another couple and three kids for dinner. Ordered 5 different rolls, some appetizers and terriaki boxes for the kids. Food was excellent! Everything was very, very good and beautifully presented. Service was great too. Will be going here. Instead of another popular sushi place in Livermore. Very satisfied customers!!!!
(5)
Jim S.
Livermore Sushi Lovers, you need to go check out Sumo Sushi House. You will be plenty surprised that this location now supports one of the best Sushi places in the Tri-Valley.
(5)
Renee P.
Giving them a downgrade because, while I still love some of their sushi, experience has taught us two new things. First, they don't seem to actually marinade their cooked dishes. Chicken teriyaki tasted like they just poured a canned teriyaki sauce over chicken. I was also unimpressed with the beef appetizer we tried, for likewise low flavor. The second thing is kind of a biggie: they cannot seem to master the art of timing the food - bringing it out in dribs and drabs as they have it ready. You might get an appetizer and one persons entree, and someone else in your group may wait an extra 10 minutes for their food. Or the entree may come after the first roll, etc. I've gone there several times, and they really are one of my go-to places, but I think service quality and the need to be in the mood for the items they make well makes this a second-rate option, rather than my go-to for sushi in Livermore. For better overall quality and service, we visit hanabishi. The decor there isn't fancy, but they are consistently high quality and good service.
(3)
John P.
I've been to this place a couple times already, and I love it. the interior is remolded and looks quite nice from what used to be there. I sat at the sushi bar both times I've been there. I was treated to a complimentary appetizer and was treated great by the whole staff, excellent, friendly service. The sushi chefs, if that's what you call them, are amazing at what they do. Very attentive to details, and have great designs on the plates. However, the most important par is the sushi itself. The quality of the ingredients they use is up there. Everything I've had so far has tasted amazing. As far as prices go, I tink they are pretty fair. To be honest, the number of different restaurants that have occupied the building it is in has changed so many times that I really was not expecting this place to be great. I was absolutely one hundred percent wrong. I want this place to stay for the long haul
(5)
john c.
We were skeptical since this place has gone through so many changes. We tried it and we are pleasantly surprised. They have some very unique dishes like sashimi pizza and each plate is decorated with Stencil artwork made from Sauces. They are giving Kawa sushi some serious competition.
(4)
TARA B.
Place is amazing. Service was great, food was delicious, and the deep fried green tea ice cream capped off the night. Although decently populated with our diners, the noise level was very comfortable. Although we were a party of three, it would be a nice place for a large group or intimate night for two! Will definitely be back :)
(5)
Bunnee S.
Awesome! Have eaten here twice and loved it both times. I am already addicted to the volcano salad and everything we tried was great. Beautiful presentation, fresh, flavorful ingredients and friendly staff. Keeping my fingers crossed that Sumo stays around for a long time!
(5)
Karen M.
First let me say my family and I love good sushi. Sometimes hard to find, having said that, Sumo's is great. The food was fresh, tasted great and was presented beautifully. The staff was very friendly and attentive. We will definetly go back.
(5)
Livermore L.
The service was extremely attentive. The food was fresh and served very attractively. Portions were adequate. Our over all experience was good enough to come back again and again. The atmosphere is actually one of the very finest in Livermore. We hope more people will patronize and keep this fine restaurant in business !!!
(4)
S. S.
Was just passing by Livermore on our way home, so we picked the closest Japanese restaurant available. Looked nice enough from the outside & interior was nice as well. The food ended up being about average so I have no complaints about the food. However, it took a long time to place our order (& only after we flagged them). Also our soup/salad didn't come out until we asked for it. Then to top it off, there was a piece of hair in our rice. So overall, the service was pitifully slow yet they made no offers to compensate us. The people seemed nice enough, but we will not go back here again.
(1)
Dna B.
What a great place to come and enjoy great sushi, awesome environment, excellent staff and A***** menu. We are hooked. DnA
(5)
Johnny N.
Don't need to say much but if you LOVE sushi then you MUST eat here. They have great presentation, the food is excellent, clean environment, friendly service staff, and the sushi chef even has items that's not even on the menu that will WOW you.
(5)
Susanne R.
Came in for lunch today with hubby and friends. We were immediatly greeted and taken to the dining room. Our hostess asked if we wanted a table or booth and we took a booth near the window. The area where we were seated was nicely decorated and I really liked that if you were at a table, your neighbor was not right next to you. We were waiting for 1 more person to show up and that kind of threw their rhythm out of whack.. We kept getting asked if we were ready to order by several of the staff. We did ordered Edamame while we waited for our friend. Tea came quickly as did the nice warm Edamame. My husband wanted more salt on them, but I thought they were just fine. The last person in our party arrived and they came over after giving her enough time to look at the menu. We ordered a couple of seaweed salads, Sashimi lunch, sashimi & sushi combo, Chirashi and more. The menu is a lot of pictures with minimal descriptions which had us wondering about the content of some items.. The soup and salad came out quickly with the exception of mine as I asked for the dressing on the side for my salad. She commented that she would bring my salad in a bit. It came without too much delay. The tea was non-stop. Each of the servers for the area would come by and fill the cups. I was a bit disappointed that we got our tea in coffee mugs instead of more traditional japanese stoneware. Our main courses came out and they looked just like the pictures.. WOW they were beautiful. The GREAT thing was they tasted as good as they looked. For the Shashimi lunch and the combo lunch - they came with a flashing LED light under the ice or under the grated daikon for a nice effect. FUN !! They seemed to be a bit higher in price than Kawa but the serving size was good. We'll definitely be coming back and I understand too they are going to put in Hibachi grills in soon ....
(4)
Luke B.
Honestly, the food wasn't that bad to deserve two stars. But the service was the worst I've experienced in the area. We made a reservation and waited 45 minutes past our time. The food came out in bits, some people in our group finished before others got their food. We were only a party of 6!
(2)
Con N.
I don't get the 4.5 stars this place has. I've dine at many sushi restaurants, and this place is one of the more average ones when considering the quality and taste of sushi. It's definitely not run and operated by Japanese. That in itself is already a no-no to me. However, the service is pretty good. The servers were nice.
(3)
Daphne M.
Great food, but the service often leaves something to be desired. Not a great place to go unless you have time and don't need a lot of attention. Great with a coupon though!
(4)
Lauren P.
Pleasantly surprised! If you live in Livermore, or drive by this location, you know that there have been about 17 different "restaurants" that have gone in this building over the past few years. I have never been inclined to go to any of these due to the fact that none of them stay around long enough to even think about. My husbands family wanted to go out to dinner and chose this spot. I was a little apprehensive at first because of the history, but off I went! The interior is VERY nice. I was so surprised at how it looks inside. They have a big dining area, a teppanyaki area coming soon (which I am so excited about) and a BIG sushi bar. I don't eat sushi, or seafood for that matter. I ordered Chicken Teriyaki and it was so delicious! It comes with veggies, rice and soup or salad. I didn't care for the salad dressing so much, and the salad had about 1/2 cup of water at the bottom of the bowl, so it was very.... wet. The service was good but a little strange. We had few different servers throughout the night, but everyone was very helpful and the drink refills kept coming. My husband ordered a sushi plate... Some tuna roll... But my favorite part is the awesome decoration they did on the plate... It looked like some type of syrup or sauce that was used to "draw" on the plate. Very pretty. They also have a frequent customer type card. Every $35 you spend, you get a punch, and once you fill up your card, you get $40 off your meal. Not too bad if you eat here a lot Wil I come back here? You bet. The food and service was awesome.
(4)
R L.
This place is great!! Food is great. Price is great. What else can u ask for?
(4)
Jerry W.
I have been to Sumo several times and enjoy the presentation of food and service. Usually have a good time. Last Saturday there was a wait, so asked if we could be added to list for the next table. Said they didn't have a list. They would remember us. OK? Heard another group there before us say they had been passed over already, so wasn't so sure about not having a list. Service was great, though and food didn't disappoint.
(4)
Sonalika P.
Didn't love it......something was missing.....my sophisticated sushi pallet was missing the familiar flavors.
(3)
lisa b.
We've been to Sumo a few times in the past couple of weeks. Their sashimi is as fresh as fresh can be and is divine. On our last visit hubby decided to order sushi instead. The rice was under cooked and ruined the rolls. He was pretty disappointed and will probably stick to the sashimi from here on out. That''s our only complaint out of all the visits.
(4)
Arian R.
Best sushi In Livermore or even the east bay....Very Artistic when it comes down to the food!
(5)
Randy C.
Wow! In the wake of at least half-a-dozen failed chinese buffets, this place has so far bucked the trend! A refreshing take on your typical Japanese restaurant, Sumo Sushi offers sushi and sushi rolls presented in beautiful and imaginative presentations! Some things we tried included the salmon pizza, rock shrimp tempura, naruto rainbow roll, golden gate roll, and ankimo (monkfish liver)!! Everything was delicious and plated exquisitely! Service was also great, although we were the first ones there for lunch, so I'm not sure how service fares during the dinner rush, especially with how intricate some of the dishes looked. But... I'll be happy to find out the answer myself!
(5)
Wayne R.
Food was good, but service was terrible. We arrived just before 8pm to a sign that said "please wait to be seated" but no host/hostess. There were plenty of empty tables and extra staff behind the sushi bar, but we were ignored. I finally asked a passing employees if there was a hostess and he left to get the woman. Our waiter seemed like he preferred we weren't there. No personality whatsoever. But the food was very good and came out pretty quickly. I hope they train their staff better so that they have a longer run than other restaurants in that location.
(3)
Nancy F.
We stopped in with intentions to eat dinner but once we ordered our rolls we decided we didn't want to order anything else. The california roll and spicy tuna roll were the size of a quarter with the thinest layer of rice on the outside. I have never seen anything so small! We also ordered a roll with lobster on top (i forgot the name) but it was also a disappointment. Yes the plating and decor was nice but not enough to impress us.
(2)
Katie B.
i felt compelled to write a review because of some of the low ratings I saw. Sushi: I'm no expert, but yes, more than likely this is Americanized sushi. Are you truly expecting authentic Japanese sushi with the highest grade sashimi in suburban Livermore? How about if you just enjoy it for what it is: tasty food with great presentation. I like the Lady Gaga roll the best. My one complaint is that some of the rolls aren't tight enough which makes for difficult eating. Teppanyaki: the food was very good, even the filet, which is saying something since I'm not a huge red meat person. The chef was late, but did a great job once he got there. Service: A little spotty, but usually not bad. I've had several visits where I had reasonable service, a few where I had good service and one where they were pretty slow. Of note, the restaurant is newer and more spacious than any of the other sushi places I've been to in town.
(4)
Tracy S.
LOVE THIS PLACE! We have been here almost a dozen times so far. The habachi grill is super, with large portions and they don't charge extra for the fried rice. Service has always been super. We have also done the sushi side, beautiful presentation and very tasty and again super, friendly service. Also the lunch habachi menu is a great deal.
(5)
Goldilocks J.
Went for dinner the other night with friends. They are Livermore residents, so they were very skeptical about the place, since they said this location was cursed. Well, I think the curse has been broken. We ordered so much stuff, that I forgot all of what we ate, and I forgot the grab the receipt so I could be accurate with the names of the rolls. Suffice it to say, it was all great! I was really impressed by the quality and flavor of the food. Most of all, I was impressed by how beautifully everything was plated and served. The sushi chefs truly take pride in their work, and everything was a work of art! Beautiful and tasty. I would definitely go back again. Great place!!
(4)
Lisa L.
This place has only been open four months, but this was amazing sushi!! We had the seafood martini appetizer, maki combo and the Alligator roll. Fish was very fresh and presentation was awesome. Staff was friendly and attentive, we will definitely be going back!
(5)
Kaila D.
I was always skeptical about this place since the previous restaurants never lasted. When I finally gave Sumo Sushi a try, I was impressed. The fish was so fresh! The freshest fish in Livermore. I don't care if I have to pay a few more extra dollars, it's definitely worth the price to pay for fresh fish. Favorite new sushi restaurant.
(5)
Kim A.
Love this place!! My kids have always enjoyed Benihana's but when we moved to Livermore, there wasn't one around. This place is every bit as good but much better prices. I don;t eat sushi but my husband and daughter do and have really enjoyed everything they have ordered.
(5)
Sarah B.
I'd moved to the area recently and wanted some take out that wasn't pizza or burgers. I love sushi, so we decided to give this place a try. The food was fantastic, and even in takeout containers it was beautiful. This was some of the best sushi I'd had in a long time. We walked up to the front desk, and placed our order. While we were waiting the hostess chatted with us about the renovations they are going through (putting in a teppanyaki room). She was very friendly and pleasant. We didn't have to wait very long, and I would not have minded waiting longer. The lobby was well decorated and comfortable. I'm looking forward to coming here again and staying for dinner instead of take out.
(5)
Peter S.
I went here this saturday for lunch and they were charging dinner prices for the bentos. I feel I got ripped off because it was $20 just for the bento box and it was just ok. I'd go back for the tempenyaki but wouldn't go for the sitdown dinners.
(3)
Lola H.
I came here with our family one night, and the first obstacle we came across was the fact that we didn't have a reservation. I would think for most restaurants you could just walk on in and be seated without a reservation-especially for a Friday night. Peeking inside while we were waiting, there were plenty of tables, so I was very perplexed about that. If you're from Livermore, you know about the countless ownerships at this location beforehand. If you're apprehensive about its stability, I believe that it's safe (for now) to say that it's in pretty stable condition. One interesting detail I noticed though was that they wrote down seating in a notebook...with the computer right there? Hey, whatever keeps you guys organized, just get me and my family a table. Then, we waited about 25 min. to be seated. Smaller groups just walked right on in, was it our larger group? Even so, they could just put two tables together. There are a lot of young waiters/waitresses who appear to be "decent" in serving, though not completely clueless. We were seated, but we ended up having to split our family into two, one was in the booth, and our half was at a table. It was around almost 8, and there were other parties finishing up, some people were at the, um, how would you say, the bar where they cook right in front of you (for that you have to order from a special menu or else you can't eat there, and that menu is pretty pricey). Our waiter was okay, but in my opinion, ingenuine. It was as if we were just more tips for her, and I would have appreciated a bit more of a personal connection. Alright, I'm not asking you to be our friend, but let's just act more human, kay? The menu looked, okay, and I ordered the dinner box. The sushi just really didn't stand out to me, and the food is not actually authentic Japanese. There isn't too much technique. The time to get the food out took a while, especially longer for sushi rolls. My dinner box was pretty good, consisted of steamed rice, teriyaki salmon, tempera-battered and fried veggies and sweet potatoes, two spring rolls, and two fried shrimp. It will fill you up, but I believe it's around $17. You should definitely split this with someone. The soup, well, was just soup, it prepared me for the box. Our waitress never rushed us, and the atmosphere was pretty good. I liked it. It was calming, and had you loosen up. I would definitely come here again, but be prepared to spill out a little more money than you normally would. It gets pricy-er than other restaurants. Learning my lesson, if you plan to come in a larger group, make reservations, if you're in a hurry.
(3)
Catherine C.
My husband and I were nervous to try this place out since it changed names so many times but I'm so glad we did. This place blows all of the other sushi houses in Livermore out of the water. Their menu has a lot of variety, the food is delicious (we had the Alligator roll, Out of Control roll and the Mango Cucumber (?) roll), presentation is awesome, prices are reasonable, decor is updated and nice, and best of all, their service is great. I loved it so much that I returned for lunch two days later with my cousin (who is also a sushi lover) and I can't wait to take a couple of my co-workers back next week.
(5)
Olivia C.
For Lunch, it is very very good. I got 9 big Salmon lunch deal for $10. Cool presentation, fresh fish and nice good looking big cut! Maybe some potential for the soup to improve.. but overall for Salmon lover, it is a very good place to go. Will go back again and again...
(4)
Melika A.
So, I met my ex-boyfriend here tonight. Yes, a date with the EX! The interior of the dining area of the resturaunt has been nicely remodeled in an overall modern design. Food: alligator roll- Yummy, the flavor of the grilled salmon & the miso sauce along with the melding of the other ingredients .. it was really good! The new style spicy tuna was served in individual spooned servings. We both were quite surprised at the thoughtful pairing of the texture, to the delicate flavor combination. Each bite of both dishes were really delicious... Because the flavors and textures were so good , we were overall pleasantly satisfied . The Food Presentation - very visually appealing . Also note- M-Th $1 sake!! I would definitely recommend this place ! C'mon people - support a new local business!! Try it out. Keep an open mind ..it maybe different than your other Sushi places. Notice the textures & the flavor combinations. LOL, end note- the EX & I have decided to meet hEr e again one day soon.
(4)
Katrina G.
Great sashimi! I didn't care for the rolls however I am not a roll consumer so do not take my word. Helen is the best server! Some of the others not so great. But standing next to Helen everyone else will seem blah! The side salads dressing is nasty though I wish they had that peanuty dressing. Oh well. The presentation is great. Very creative!
(5)
David L.
I love sushi and this place is one of the best around. Very elegant but casual. The staff is great especially sitting at the bar area. Fresh fish and very nice plating. Nice job guys. See you soon.
(4)
joanne r.
has to be the worst meal i have ever had ... to start it off seemed very chaotic wasnt sure where i could sit for what i wanted to order. the manager helped me out. At that point i had to keep going to him for questions as there was no server managing the sushi area that i could see once in a while they would come by. I was craving lobster and i have to tell you I have never ever left lobster behind but i did tonight. it was so high in sodium and really was over powered by whatever sauce they use, the best part of my meal were the veggies. this is the second time i have been there , the first time when i went i got food poisoning and thought a couple years later should all be good. I spent 45.00 on a glass of wine and a horrible lobster dinner and the service was the worse. I guess if you are sushi fan this may be the place to go all i wanted tonight was lobster and couldnt even finish it. Their menu is very pleasing to the eye but the food and the presentation i got tonight of my 35.00 lobster looked like a mesh of who knows what nothing about it was pleasing.. :-( I would give them no stars but i guess 1 will suffice
(1)
CAM C.
Finally a restaurant that will stay! Awesome service and great sushi... I have to admit I was a bit hesitant to come in based on prior restaurants that have been here in the same location, but on the inside it looks nice! I look forward to coming back again and again. Cindy and Eric are a couple of the owners and take great pride in their product! Cheers to Sumo!
(5)
Diane W.
chicken yaki noodle soup was average
(3)
Richard A.
Our first trip here. Although this location has been a jonah for all previous attempts at buffet type fare, these people have hit it right, wth full service and excellent presentation and food.. Service was excellent, and the presentations were as good as it can get, & included a picture in sauces on my wifes plate. Extraordinary! The ambiance was wonderful, The prices were very good. The only down side is that they do not yet have steaks yet, and I was in the mood for that. However the Chicken Katsu was very good. My wife had several sushi dishes and liked them all. I may be generous with the 5 stars given the absence of the steaks, but when they get there I am sure it will be excellent too. We plan on eating there regularly, steaks or not.
(5)
Matt T.
Great food and great staff! We've eaten there on several occasions and have never been disappointed. The food is great. As a matter of fact, prior to coming to this restaurant, I was not a big fan of Japanese food. This place definitely changed my mind. The staff is courteous and attentive. After a few visits they knew what we liked to order and drink. They were also great at making suggestions off their menu and have never been wrong. As for the food, simply put, it's delicious. The artistry that goes into the presentation of their Sushi is second-to-none. I've had Sushi is Hawaii, Las Vegas, San Francisco and at other places all over the bay area. I've never seen it prepared with the style, attention to detail, and taste like they do it here. Suffice it to say, if you like Sushi and Japanese food, and live in the Tri-Valley area, this restaurant should be at the top of your list.
(4)
Nick C.
This location has always proved troubling for all proprietors, but the new owners/management has done an outstanding job of providing an upbeat atmosphere and dining experience with great food. We thoroughly enjoyed sitting at the bar and watching the sushi chefs do their thing. We also enjoyed the plate decorator who makes wonderful designs on your plate for beautiful visual impact. Finally, the sushi was excellent and well prepared. We will be back.
(5)
Marvet B.
I have mixed feelings. The food and service were wonderful. The problem was the over charge and they still shorted us by .35. I would go back again definitely but make sure you look at your bill.
(4)
Allen A.
WOW! I ate at this place for a snack before dinner, and but I ended up eating my entire dinner here! The suss is plated very nicely, it's fresh fish, made fresh, good service, very creative food! The best part is that it's cheep and we got five coupons when we left! Eat here! This is the best sushi place for miles!
(5)
Chaya R.
This place was a fantastic surprise! Food was amazing delicious and creative. The service out standing! I'd highly recommend this gem of a restaurant!
(5)
Barbara L.
My new favorite sushi restaurant !!!! The sushi is delicious. The plating is beautiful and very photo worthy. The teppan yaki part of the restaurant is well done, with the chef being engaging and entertaining while the food tastes great. Not a cheap date but not outrageously expensive, totally worth it.
(5)
Tiffany K.
The sushi here is terrible. We ordered three rolls all of which were lukewarm and barely palatable. The sushi rice was not the right flavor or the right texture. The sashimi had a weird texture in addition to being too warm. Out of all the Japanese restaurants I've been to this is by far the worst. One of the few times such a well reviewed restaurants on Yelp has disappointed. Will never visit again.
(1)
Brittany N.
I love this place. It makes for a great date night and there never seems to be a very long wait. You can do the hibachi-style tables, or sit on the sushi side, but you can order either (or both) from each side of the restaurant. I like doing the tepenyaki meals, usually shrimp, or my boyfriend and I get the larger meal and split it (adding a side or appetizer) - that's when I don't sit at the hibachi grills, although, I have a feeling that they would still allow this at the hibachi tables. The mochi dessert is delicious, and keep an eye out for coupons in the ValPack you get in the mail. :)
(4)
Kay K.
So disappointed! Sumo Sushi had been one of our favorite sushi spots due to its convenience (location) and creative rolls. However, we had recently also started going to another place in town that had much higher quality fish. Today though, my son wanted to go specifically to Sumo because he has a couple favorite rolls. It will be the last visit. I ordered the sashimi bowl and it was horrible! I actually had to spit out a piece of the red snapper, as it tasted like cleaning product. The salmon was slimey, and there was one other type of fish (not sure what it was) that was super-fishy smelling. I couldn't get past the first bite. My son's roll had tuna on top, and they had not trimmed off the skin so it had a layer of skin along the edge of each piece. Inedible and unappetizing. If the restaurant doesn't care about the quality of the fish or the preparation, there is no reason for me to go there.
(1)
Ivy M.
Sumo Sushi "was" one of my favorite Sushi Spots this side of the Bay. They've recently changed ownership and management aaaaand the Sashimi isn't as fresh as it was and their prices also changed. Oh well! Not goi g to be recommending them anymore either.
(2)
Molly M.
I'm not sure how they did it, but somehow Sumo Sushi has stepped up it's game and wormed it's way into my heart. I was taken here on a lovely evening by someone who recommended we try it out. At first I had an "ehhhh..." attitude about it, but the last time I had come here was just to order take out, so I figured it was worth another shot. And it was! The rolls are amazing and reasonably priced. I would have never known if I hadn't gone a few days ago. I'm so glad we tried it. :-) Plus, a few of my friends and family said it was no good, but I will have to update them on the most recent experience. Sumo has improved a lot since the last time any of us have gone here. Crunchy Dragon Roll was delicious! But my favorite was probably the Rainbow Roll (since I'm a raw fish fiend). They came out pretty fast too. Along with good company, good food, and a good night, I would say Sumo could become one of those places I would gladly visit on a regular basis. I had such a great time. :)
(4)
Hayley H.
Very mediocre sushi and the restaurant was hot!! When its 90F outside, you look to escape to the AC during lunch, but this place had their front doors wide open so all the heat was coming in! Also...the fish in my sushi was room temperature. That's a recipe for food poisoning if I've ever seen one.
(2)
Christina L.
Back from my road to from LA to SF. We stopped by here for dinner because there was traffic. There was a 10 minute wait even though the restaurant seemed to be fairly empty. SERVICE: The host was okay. She wasn't too friendly, but wasn't rude either. The waitress was super friendly, attentive, and professional. FOOD: Volcano Salad - I didn't really like the fake crab that came with this salad. It tasted funny. But overall, I did like the dish. The only thing is that i felt there was way too much dressing on the salad, which gave me a really heavy feeling afterwards. Naruto Rainbow Roll - This roll was a carb free roll. I actually didn't like it too much because I felt there was too much going on. They had a few different raw fish along with some avocado slices wrapped in cucumber. The sauce that came with it was pretty good though. Overall: I liked this place and definitely would like to come back again. But I think I would stick with their regular rolls.
(4)
Kristen W.
My family and I used to love this place. It was our go-to sushi restaurant since we lived nearby. That was until an unfortunate incident last year. I ordered a glass of water with lemon. Midway through our meal, I took a sip and what I thought was a lemon seed came up my straw. I spit it out only to find that it was NOT a lemon seed, but rather a PINCHER BUG. It was in my glass and, consequently, in my mouth. Disgusting! I spit it out onto my side plate and we notified the waiter. They all had no idea how to respond. One took my water glass and replaced it... Leaving the plate with the pincher bug (which was still squirming... Yes, totally disgusting). In the end they gave us 10% off of the meal. Seriously? I lost my entire appetite and didn't even get my meal for free? Sad to say this experience ruined it for us...
(1)
Stacie H.
We are regulars because its fast and never too crowded. So, for the first time finally reviewing. If busy, the staff always make us feel rushed. Asking to clear plates when we arent finished. When we first starting going here I would have rated 5 stars. But I feel over the years the restaraunt has heen declining in quality. The hibachi room is a totally different review and have done a couple times and gad been an ok experience. Just lacked chefs/cooks. But it was graduation night and busy. I don't like the soup that comes with the bento box dinners. Should stick with standard Miso. Also the dressing on the salad has a gross texture. Lumpy and nit good flavor. I havent eaten either times thinking the 2nd time I'd give it another try...unfortunately not good and same quality. Overall just an ok sushi restaurant. Bonus has room for large groups!
(3)
Taylor K.
We came to this restaurant for a friend's birthday dinner and it was great! We were surprised to find out that the owner of our all time favorite Japanese Restaurant (Kobe Japan in Pleasant Hill) just took this place over. We sat at the hibachi table- and our experience was great. Everyone loved their meal & the experience. We were the last ones in the restaurant and we never felt rushed at all. Loved this place!! Next time we are in Livermore this is on our list.
(5)
John C.
We tried ordering a lunch bento box from the menu but we were told that lunch was not available on weekends. The lunch menu had no day or time restrictions, so we were very frustrated. The unfresh food we did get was very mediocre in taste with an overload of salt and pepper. Without the salt and pepper, I'm sure the food would be very bland. The place was very empty on a Sunday afternoon. There were more flies than customers. There were so many employees, but the service was lacking. The staff seems like they are a whole bunch of lost foreign children not knowing what to do or how to speak English. With so many other better quality Japanese restaurants in the area serving fresher and more delicious foods, we definitely will not be returning to this restaurant.
(1)
Joyce D.
I'll start off by saying that I am really surprised about the bad reviews for this place because every time I ate here I left happy. I have gone to Sumo about 4 times since I learned about it through Yelp. I even had my birthday dinner here a couple of weeks ago. My family decided to do tepanyaki while I ordered sushi. Everything turned out great! The chef, food and service=5 stars. Also, their food comes out beautifully plated that it almost makes you not want to touch it! Overall, I recommend this place, especially for a big party. This restaurant is huge and is well staffed. My mom loved that the servers were very nice and attentive.
(5)
Sandi L.
I have been a regular for the last two years. I am half Japanese and was raised on oriental food. I was delighted to find Sumo Sushi and enjoyed many of the dishes on their menu. It was enjoyable to watch the Sushi chefs who prepared great sushi presented in a beautifully artistic way. Those previous young men were obviously well trained and the sushi they made was equal to Sushi I've enjoyed in Japan. So it is with sadness I write this review. During my last visit it was obvious that the standard was somewhat lower. My Tekka/cucumber roll was poorly made. The seaweed did not even meet to cover the roll and the rice was falling out. The deep fried tofu usually has a ponzu sauce. It was cold inside and the sauce was flavorless. I asked about the other chefs, and was informed they were no longer employed by the new owner. 2 stars for the excellent service, but none for the quality.
(2)
Spencer G.
Great variety on the menu and delicious food! I tried the Alligator Roll and while it wasn't my favorite, it was prepared well and I certainly finished it! I also had another roll that was very very good. Nice service and very reasonable prices.
(4)
Erik A.
I will start by saying that I've watched this restaurant evolve from Crazy Buffet, 4 ownerships, and now Sumo. The owners are definitely doing something right to stay in business. Food is great, especially teppanyaki. Service is great and the wait is not long. If I have to knit pick, I will say that their street sign needs a huge face lift. It is an eyesore. Otherwise I recommend this restaurant to all.
(4)
Anthony S.
For such a sizable establishment, I'm highly disappointed at the service. Our server was reasonably pleasant upon arrival but was nonexistent once we ordered. Daughters raspberry tea was brought after reminder and also after we got all food. When food began to come, sushi and tempura came before appetizers and salads. Part of the food was completely missed. Not a great experience but the food was decent.
(2)
Miran C.
You will find ample parking and ample seating at Sumo Sushi House. But sometimes, waiting for a table at Wasabi Grill will give you much better experience because the sushi is much fresher. Presentation is very festive and exciting, but the freshness isn't always there. But the good news is that there are a lot of non-sushi items such as udon/soba noodles, fried rice, teriyaki dishes, bento boxes, etc. Even their dessert menu is extensive. Next time I go, we will probably just get non-sushi items.
(3)
The cool guy B.
Worst service ever, I usually come here once a month but never again. 15 min to place a drink order, 20 min to get a drink. Wtf come on. This place needs help!!
(1)
David H.
They put lights on your sushi plates! That alone pushes this place over the top! Well priced, fresh and delicious sushi. Service is excellent, and the sashimi and sushi boats come with a bright little cube of light to spruce it up. All seriousness though, the sushi boat for two is really good here; good value and delicious sushi and rolls. Also try the BBQ squid if you can!
(5)
Kelly L.
WARNING! Oh my, worst and most dangerous dining experience of my life. First time there last night and we decided to do the Hibachi room where they cook in front of you. I'll get right to the point. The cook used the metal spatula on all the raw meat, including the chicken, then he took a knife out of a holster on his belt, cut up the 1/2 cooked chicken with it and all the other meats, put the dirty knife back in the holster (OMG I don't even want to think of the bacteria in that holster) and then proceeded to use the same metal spatula that had the raw chicken on it to serve the food on the plates. When we saw this we got up and walked away from the table and informed the manager. The manager just seemed lost. We should have known when we tasted the salad dressing to leave, it was sour and chunky. We will never go back. They also appear to have quite the inspection report with lots of food safety violations: acgov.org/aceh/food/rest…
(1)
Jose L.
Disgusting under the new management for a month. I'm literally sick on my way home. The portions are smaller and the presentation really worse. I used to love this place and it is so disappointing to see what they have done to it. I always sit at the bar and the quality of the fish they use on the rolls is disturbing. Never will go back
(1)
Miss V.
Worst food. Overpriced. Seed weed salad tasted like nail polish. Sent it back with no compensation. Waitress gave me dirty look on the way out. Don't eat here.
(1)
Janneane J.
Came here for dinner and it was alright. The restaurant itself is pretty big and presented nicely. There's a bar and plenty of tables and large TVs. It was not busy at all when we came. The menu didn't have many sushi selections (in my opinion) and my menu looked like it was about to fall apart. My bf also specifically requested our daughters food to come first but his came first and hers took a while to come. They seem to have A lot of employees but I only saw about 2 really taking orders and our food also took a while to come. The little salads dressing was not very good and the soup was like room temp (I like it hot). the sushi just didn't taste very fresh. Kinda sad since I have been craving sushi lately and that wasn't how I wanted to fulfill my craving. Our server was nice and seemed to be working hard to do his job right. We ordered two rolls, shrimp udon (which my daughter and I liked), sashimi, and kids menu chicken hibachi. We got a lot of food, all for $60. However the food quality didn't taste like it was worth $60, sorry.
(3)
B B.
Went here for my friend's birthday dinner and it was really good. We had the hibachi style dinner and they most adequately served our large party of 15 people. They served everything very quickly. The salad and clear soup we started with were very good! The fried rice was next and that was delicious. I personally had the half steak and chicken and it was all very good! Our chef was super fun and entertaining as well. I will be back! Highly recommend
(5)
Minerva L.
Super disappointed. This is no longer my favorite place. I went for habachi for lunch, and the server was super sloppy and food was everywhere. Maybe because it was lunch and only two people ordered habachi, but still, I would expect better service. The meat on the other hand were big and juicy. The veggies were poorly cut, and the rice was too bland. I prefer Bennihana even though they put hecka butter in their rice and their meat is smaller in portion. I ordered the tuna dumplings and those were still good. The tuna tartar was not how it was, it lost a slight touch to it. The rainbow naruto roll was not good at all. The cucumber was white and not green, so it had a super bland taste. It didn't have that fresh crisp taste to it. Very disappointing. The soft shell crab was really good! I wish I had more, it was super crispy and light. The out of control roll needed to be in more control because it was super boring and the rice was super hard. Not delightful at all. All that food was 140 and that is super expensive as I could of gone else where. Not a great father's day weekend.
(3)
Rachel S.
I've driven by this place 200 times, but I have never stopped in to eat here. I wanted to eat at a teppenyaki restaurant, but didn't want to go to the same place that we always do. This was on the way home, so I thought "Lets try it out". When we arrived at the restaurant, there was actually a lot of people sitting in the sushi side, a few at the sushi bar, no one at the actual bar and two tables (three including the one that we sat at) at the teppenyaki tables. The waiter came over right away and took our drink orders. They have free refills on sodas, which is nice. A lot of these places do not offer that. The family that was sitting at the table with us ordered sushi rolls. We weren't feeling that adventerous, as usually these meals can fill you up pretty quickly. My three daughters all went with the hibachi chicken kids meals and I went with the chicken and shrimp combo meal. All of the meals came with soup and salads. I enjoyed both, although their soup was a "clear soup", which differs from miso soup (I'm not exactly sure how) because they had both soups on the menu. It did taste different (from miso, seasoning missing, I'm guessing), but it was still good. Our chef came over to the table, maybe 10 minutes after we received our soup. I had realized that when he brought out the rice that I didn't order fried rice. I told him that and he said that all meals come with fried rice, awesome! The show was standard, but our chef was a better one than I've seen at most places. He was also talkative, which is always a plus...you are selling your personality when cooking in front of people. The food was good, he cooked everything good and it was seasoned nicely. We were all very satisfied with what we received. Our total for our meals came to $65, which actually, in my opinion is on the lower side for this type of meal. I liked this restaurant too because the teppenyaki room seemed more open than most places...I didn't feel clastorphobic in anyway. Hopefully this place stays around for awhile, my girls and I very much enjoyed our dinner here. Our friends live down the street, hopefully we'll be back soon with them!
(4)
David B.
Great value, sashimi was good and the rolls were not oversized. I'd give this place a 3.5 rating if it was an option.
(3)
Allie M.
Nice people, big space. Food is not horrible, but is also not amazing. It really depends on what type of person you are. Are you a young couple that has knowledge of the bay area and what it has to offer? Well then this place u would probably laugh at, unless, like me, you have taken the plunge and decided to sacrifice your old life in SF for a new one with space and a paid for house in the far bay area/wine country!!. (i mean u know what you are signing up for,kind of, right?) Anyways, yes if you are already established here, have kids, and it is not really about the food itself anymore, this place is great! I just wanted to warn any young couples in the area that think 4 and a half stars on yelp in livermore, equal 4 and a half stars in san francisco, or oakland, because they do not!!!
(3)
RJ D.
Well, we tried to get a table but didn't get past the waiting area. Not that there were any people waiting, but the punk at the front desk told us that he was busy with something and that we'd have to wait. WTF!? He was doing something on the computer and totally ignored us. Then one of his friends walked in and they had a joyous time BS ing. You've got to be kidding me! We waited 20 mins. And then a waiter came up front and told the few people in the waiting area to sign a list. Then he ran off. Another 10 mins and still no table. And the joint was empty. We left in disgust and went to Sushi Zone on East Ave. got seated right away and had a wonderful meal. If you're hungry and don't want to be ignored by the little ass at the front desk go somewhere else in Livermore. I've included a pic of the guy at the front desk so everybody will know WHAT he is. They don't deserve the 1 star I gave them.
(1)
Hilton C.
Food is not fresh. They even serve my son and brownish avocado in his California Handroll. To much sugar in their sauces. Shrimp tempura and Eel is also overcooked. I'll go somewhere else
(2)
Esther H.
Eat here only if you enjoy smelly old fishy sushi for dinner! It's overpriced & disgusting. Try Roppongi downtown or Amakara in Dublin.
(1)
Sean N.
As I see in a recent review, I too used to LOVE this place! We would go there 2 - 3 times a month! It was always outstanding. Then it went under new management a few months ago. The first two times we went there under the new management the sushi and sashimi was not as good; not as fresh. One of these times my tuna sashimi was tough and chewy. The last time we went there (and it will be the LAST time) my daughter got food poisoning. She was sick about four hours after eating there and had not eaten anything else all day. So disappointing. Time for us to find a new favorite sushi place! Be warned!!
(1)
Ali P.
The food is amazing here! I've had both the sushi rolls and the teppanyaki, which is where they cook in front of you. Each sushi plate looks like a work of art. They are beautifully decorated, and always taste very fresh. For the teppanyaki, it's a lot of fun a great with groups. The chefs are all very entertaining and interact with the table pretty much the whole time! Very fun experience, and delicious, fresh cooked food! My only complaint is that when I came a couple weeks ago, our server just seemed like either he was having a really bad day, or reeeally didn't want to be there. I understand as humans we all have our days, but I felt that he was practically avoiding our table by taking smoke break after smoke break. It took forever just to get the check. Finally another waitress ended up taking care of us til the end, while still having her other tables to tend to. So we really appreciated that and gave her a nice tip just for the extra effort. She didn't have to take care of us, but she took the initiative and we left happy. On top of that, she was very friendly and apologized for the delay on her co-worker's part. Will definitely be coming back. Maybe better staffing is a good idea, or we just look out for this guy to wait our table... °~°
(4)
T R.
Best hibachi we've had since moving to the area. We will be back for hibachi again and then to try the sushi bar. The food was good and included fried rice. The scallops were great as was the shrimp, steak and filet.
(4)
emily h.
We love sumo!! Have been coming here for a couple years since we moved here. Service is always awesome and never had a disappointing meal. Favorites are moonlight roll, volcano salad and lion king roll.
(5)
Lorrie M.
I am a little surprised that I am giving this spot 4 stars. I mean, I usually don't like places like this. After all, it's extremely trendy, extremely fusion and everything comes out that looks more visually appealing than perhaps it tastes. When I saw some of the things on the menu, I was dreading it ... but hey, the prices were actually reasonable so I figured why not. I was definitely surprised because I liked some of the fusion items we ordered, and our orders of Chrashi (not recommended) and Sashimi Deluxe (recommended!) were so fresh! The fish actually tasted great, wasn't too cold, too warm, too strange, or fishy. I enjoyed the meal overall and they actually did use sushi rice for chirashi which even some Japanese restaurants that are more authentic don't use. This place is definitely off-putting but the ingredients are good and their appetizers are creative. Recommended for lunch, dinner, and perhaps for a date as well!
(4)
Angie W.
I Absolutely love the rolls here. They are not only displayed nicely on the trays, they are delicious..
(4)
katie r.
Came here for my best friends bday and had the best time! Food was delicious and service was so good! We all had a really fun time! Cindy went out of her way to make our experience the best!! I would recommend this sushi and habachi steak house to all of our friends and anyone that wants to have a great night eating out!
(5)
Gary F.
Afterwhile the food in this restaurant went downhill I'm sorry to say. The sushi started tasting old and the presentations got weaker and weaker. Hard to stay consistent and make a profit I'm sure. We don't go there anymore.
(3)
Kerry M.
I've had sushi at a minimum of 60 restaurants and this by far is the best! They have come up with some very unique dishes that I haven't seen elsewhere. Yellow tail, cappuccino, jalapeno, Sriracha, topped with a caper, who thinks of combinations like this? Well it is excellent! Now while I gave the food 5 stars, the staff is a little slow, but that's something they can improve easily. If you want the most unique sushi experience ever, give it a try!
(5)
Anna P.
Sumo is fantastic! We love the hibachi grill and take everyone we can when they are in town. it's a little pricey but the quality is excellent. I have a gluten allergy and they actually know what that is and use gluten free soy sauce for cooking my meal. The chefs are so talented and fun. You get dinner and a show
(5)
Sidney H.
I am disappointed that I frequent Sumo Sushi at least 2-3 times a month and I have a frequent card that I present. My average spend is $50-$60 a visit and I presented my customer loyalty card along with a 10% coupon from Valu-Pak. Cashier tells me that I can not use both one or the other....My bill was $65 and they would not give me one punch on my loyalty card for my bill. You get one punch for every $50. For this I give you a 3 star rating.
(3)
S G.
Great service. Yummy food. Excellent presentation. . Great happy hour prices on drinks. Awesome find! We will definitely be back.
(5)
Riki N.
Volcano salad: bomb. Alligator roll: bomb. Moonlight roll: bomb. Service: not that bomb. Prices: not that bomb. This place changes hands often as I understand, so I hope Sumo can weather the storm and make it work. A good place for groups.
(4)
Khris H.
Service sucked....they don't even have enough people to service you. Asked if we could sit at the bar and was told that they didn't have enough staff to take orders tonight. Very disappointed!!!
(1)
Sarah D.
Another great Christmas at the sumo house! We tried the rock shrimp for the first time this year. OMG. There is some crazy sauce on it that reminds me of the honey mustard at Wiener schnitzel! I know that's sounds crazy (maybe weird and awful?) but holy crap it's AMAZING.
(5)
Jessica S.
Always enjoy this place! Quiet dimmed lit environment with great food. A little on the pricey side but you definitely get what you pay for! Servers are Always great and answer all my dumb questions. Always a come-to spot in Livermore. Happy customer :)
(4)
Christina L.
This place is surprisingly good for a japanese restaurant in the middle of livermore. I'm big on appearance and the design for each roll is different and unique! We had one where they put a color changing light in the middle of the plate. Also, all the seafood was really fresh and they don't drench the sushi with sauce like some other sushi places do. The tofu appetizer was pretty good, too. The only con is that the wait time can get pretty long so I suggest that you make a reservation beforehand.
(5)
Jazmin P.
The food was really good. However, the service is a different story. When we arrived we ordered two appetizers and beverages. The waiter came back with one appetizer and two waters (not what we ordered). I then placed an order for my beverage again and he apologized and said he did not remember me ordering a beverage. He then took our food order. Brought back all food and still no appetizer. He then began to tell us that our food was not displayed with flowers because the chef didn't like him and that they were going to fist fight each other. TMI! At the end of our meal came the appetizer! Too little, too late. We asked for our bill and had to wait 10 minutes for him to bring it so we gave him a form of payment right away to speed up the process. He took my card and disappeared again. We asked his coworkers where our waiter was and THEY DIDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH! They just looked at us as we attempted to explain that the waiter was missing with my card. We then got up and walked to the front of the restaurant to asked to speak to a manager. The host explained her manager was in New York. We asked who is on duty? She said the manager on duty ALSO did not speak English and would be unable to help us. The food was good but for $90 I spend on a meal for two and the time I spend listening to our waiter talk about his problems with the chef..NOT WORTH IT! Never again.
I left this place feeling happy but not necessarily satisfied with the sushi choice. Not sure if i'll be back again. let's get to the +/- (starting w/ three stars) (+1) Colorful menu full of pictures! I know i sound like a little kid - but honestly I eat with my eyes first so please show me a picture of what i'm ordering (+1) Fun plating of the Sushi rolls (+1) VOLCANO SALAD - soooo goood! (-1) The rolls have very minimal amount of fish - especially the Rainbow Naruto, i really was expecting "get in my belly" fish but rather got a mouthful of cucumber (-1) The spicy tuna on top of our volcano roll had the weirdest dry texture. Not pleasant (-1) Overall somehow felt like we missed out on either the good rolls or something. Not sure if it's because the waitress didn't have any suggestions but it was very mediocre. If i'm in Livermore again I might give this place another shot but wouldn't come here normally.
(3)
Kymberly F.
Really really good sushi, staff and waitress horrible. I was walked by 3 times and not asked for help, then after 10 minutes served.
(3)
sallie n.
Found them on GrubHub. They got a couple of items wrong in my order. Luckily we had enough food for everyone. But being a Japanese food place, they gave us NO soy sauce and NO tempura sauce. The order was not ready at the time specified. 20 mins late. The food was pretty ok though.
(2)
Thomas H.
It is OK the fishes to be a little low grade, but it's a little less quality for the price. But, fishes are fresh and properly prepared, friendly and prompt services, and well presented. What else can you ask more? I am a regular here.
(4)
Cori S.
The place had some picture of the sushi on the window that looked amazing, we had to try this place out. We sat at the sushi bar and saw the fish, looked really fresh. The yellowtail jalapeño appetizer was amazing. Tried the gyoza which was booked perfectly and came with a sauce on the side that was really tasty, not sure what is was, quite different from other places. For rolls we had Rainbow Naturo roll, wrapped with thin cucumber instead of rice and seaweed. So fresh! Avocado salad, presentation flawless, taste maybe not for everyone. Tuna Amazing roll was ... Simply said .. Amazing. Everything was presented so nicely, and service was fantastic. We will definitely be back next time we come to Livermore to go wine tasting
(5)
Karen G.
I've only been here once for a birthday, and I keep saying I'll go back but haven't had the chance. I'm all about the visual and presentation of food, so the first thing I loved was that their menu was packed with images of their food/rolls. This made deciding on what I wanted easier. They did not disappoint when the food came out either - all the dishes looked so pretty! The one thing that stood out the most to me were the spicy tuna wontons. These had cream cheese inside with some sauce, and were delightfully crispy! I ordered several things, because thanks to their visually appealing menu, I wanted everything I saw. I know the rolls were very good, both in taste and size, and there was one that I ordered that had this yummy mango sauce on top. From what I remember, the service was good. But since we were a pretty large group, I couldn't get a fair assessment of that. But seriously, try this place out. I just looked up the menu again to see if I could remember what I had ordered, and my mouth is watering. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Alex L.
We enjoy coming here for the teppanyaki. It is typically pretty empty but the food is yummy for the price. It's about half the price of bennihana. That makes it more reasonable for a regular evening. I'd recommend the food but not the atmosphere.
(4)
Claire M.
Updated (again). I used to love this place, but it seems like the rolls have recently changed from how I remember them. I used to like the Sumo roll, but the last couple of times it's tasted different and almost smelled sour. My family thought it was just the sauce, but if you are eating raw fish, it's not a smell you want to be aware of. Seemed to be smaller portions of fish on the roll, too. Giving it 3 stars as my family enjoyed their courses. Based on my last two experiences, I'd have given it 2. Hope they get their act together again.
(3)
Toby H.
Live near by here and love this place, sushi is amazing and fresh and the service is fast and friendly. .. you can't go wrong and I would decently recommend you pay a visit. Love it: )
(5)
Cammie W.
The menu had lots of good quality pictures, which is helpful when it comes to the different sushi rolls. The food presentation was extremely nice. We got the regular sashimi, which can in a big bowl of ice and a color changing light at the bottom. The salmon tasted amazing. The two rolls that we got were pretty good too but I would say presentation ranks higher than the actual taste. The service was really good. Everyone that helped us at some point of the meal was very nice and attentive. Even though we went close to closing time, they did not make us feel rushed at all. It is a lot bigger than most sushi restaurants around the area. There were two medium sized tv's that was on a sports channel. There's a bar area, regular tables, and booths for you to choose from. Their parking lot is kind of creepy at night. I definitely would not feel safe if I had to walk back by myself.
(4)
Dottia B.
Great sushi not to expensive went there on the weekend at an odd time. Service was good. Delicious tuna roll and my husband had the lady gaga roll which he really enjoyed.
(4)
Christopher M.
I have been here a few times in the past couple of weeks. New neighborhood... New sushi spot. The service is casual. The food is good... Not spectacular, but good. The menu is diverse and multi-ethnic-Asian. I like their food don't get me wrong. Honestly, I have been enjoying sushi for two decades minimum. I would like to think that I have eaten some of the finest sushi in the most expensive dining environments in the Western Hemisphere. I have certainly paid tabs in the 4 digits price point, for sure. Not to discount some amazing experiences In the 2 and 3 digit price range, by any means. My point is this... There is nothing more off putting than when a "sushi Chef" tries to tell you Escarole is Shiro-Maguro? C'mon? Seriously?
(3)
Seliya G.
Sushi was not that fresh and all the chefs and workers are Chinese not Japanese. I guess I shouldn't have expected that much for Livermore. The workers were very nice though. We chatted with them about recognizing the different kinds of fish and what were our favorites and such.
(3)
Courtney K.
I'm definitely a fan, let's just hope I can afford to go back! Pros: - Beautifully plated food (I eat partially with my eyes I think) - Sashimi was actually good! - Service was friendly and attentive - The drinks sounded fun and different! Cons: - I didn't love the beef appetizer, maybe just not my thing! - There definitely are a lot of sauces on some of the rolls, but they're the type of rolls people order when they don't care about fish anyways! - A little pricey but we ordered by picture off the fun menu, we weren't really paying attention to cost at the time
(4)
Emily G.
Great sushi... Delicious, colorful and artful presentation.. Great service... Must try and you will not be disappointed.
(4)
Adam S.
Great food, great service! My only gripe is with the "chefs choice" on the assorted sushi and sashimi boats. Unless you want to pay a surcharge, you're at the mercy of their selection...which is fairly standard. However, on this occasion I received ALOT of "super white tuna" and "white tuna," which is actually Escolar or Snake Mackerel. I refuse to eat any sushi labeled as such due to health concerns, which are unknown to most. See link: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/…
(3)
Angela C.
I'm very sad to have to write this review because I had come here so many times with my boyfriend and his kids to enjoy the habachi. Took my girlfriend here last week for lunch (it was her first time and I had been telling her how much I enjoyed it the many times I had come). We ordered some salads and a few sushi rolls that were very tasty and my friend was impressed. The trouble came when we tried to pay the bill... I only ever eat at Sumo when I receive coupons in the mail because I feel better about spending my money when I know I'll be happy with my food choice as well as my 10-15% off. The waiter said that my coupon was expired. The date was ripped so I actually couldn't tell what date had been there and I explained that I come there very often with friends and family and I am a loyal customer- I also explained that I had used expired coupons before and it was never an issue. I asked the waiter if I could please speak with the manager to see if he would allow me to use the expired coupon. The young man left and returned a moment later and said to me "Will you come talk to the manager?" I was confused because usually the manager politely comes to the table. My friend (who is the manager of a well-known store) politely told him that as a manager he should be the one to come to us. When the manager came out he refused to accept the coupon because it was 5 days expired. FIVE DAYS. My friend asked the manager point blank, "So its more important for you to save your 10% than to keep a loyal customer and a potential new customer?" To my amazement he said, "Yes. Sorry I will not accept it" and walked off. We paid our full ticket and we still tipped our waiter well (after all... wasn't his fault)... But I left feeling slightly embarrassed and humiliated. Not how I want to feel at the end of a nice lunch. I don't think I will be going back after the way the manager spoke to my friend and me. I'm not sure if he's a new manager because I have never had trouble like this before, but as long as he's there I won't be. Hope the $7 bucks he got to keep was worth it!
(1)
Carol P.
OMGoodess, Soooo many choices of sushi dishes that don't have rice!! I love it!!!!!!!!! Had the Rainbow Naruto Roll smothered in Sarancha! Many other great dishes I don't have to change! It was delicious and fresh! Feels like San Fran in Livermore! YEY!
(4)
Monica F.
SCORE: 2.5 STARS. I never go up to Livermore since the last time i modeled for a Bridal Fashion show downtown. How funny too....because after that bridal show, my ex and i ended up at this very place for some asian buffet.... AND guess what... Yelping for sushi around the area with 4 stars; i ended up at this same establishment. It is very Non-Japanese as you enter. The same seating booths was not even upholstered. The place was dead. *bad vibes...but we went anyway* The prices were pretty much the same as the ones you can buy from SJ or SF... BUT... in this place, you don't get your money's worth. The Specialty rolls are only special because they are lit. yes. some glow in the dark sh*t they put to make it all fancy. oh! and because the plates are heavy as hell and fancy. The taste is EH. The raw fish slices are small and thin. The rolls are TINY. This is not a legit SUSHI place. I ask the people who gave this place 5 stars to drive to San Jose or San Francisco...or look at my "I LIKE IT RAW" list for REAL sushi. If you're Japanese and come here, you'll probably burn the place down.
(2)
Desmond T.
3.5 stars really. This is probably one of the better sushi places in the Tri-Valley area. Livermore isn't known for having good Asian cuisine, especially sushi. This place is very very spacious. One side of the building has the Hibachi grill and the other filled with tables and a big sushi bar. Service was good. Refilled water as soon as the cups went half empty. Here's what was ordered: Saba nigiri [$4.5]: Good, not too fishy or dense Tuna Pizza [$11]: Good, very flavorful with lots of sauce and avocado. They could change the cracker. Pretty pricey for what it's worth. Lady GaGa Roll [$13]: Pretty good. The spicy mango sauce adds a nice touch. Alligator Roll [$14]: Pretty good. Somewhat reminds me of a Lion King roll, but not as overly saucy. Out of Control Roll [$13]: Mediocre. Little to no flavor. It doesn't taste as good as it the menu describes it. --------------------------------------------------Â-- Presentation is truly amazing here. They make little designs with sauce which makes the dish look more appealing. This place isn't bad. If I'm in the area and feeling like getting sushi, I wouldn't mind coming here.
(4)
Steven S.
This sushi bar was highly recommended and #2 yelp find, big mistake. The place is clean with very nice staff but this is not a "real" sushi bar restaurant. I should have just paid for my bill for my beverage but I gave it try. The hamachi Kama was nice but then came the salmon....was told it was wild and it was obviously not, and it went down hill from there. They even have a sample of something on a Pringles chip-yuck! If you want a roll you might like it but if you want sashimi keep looking
(2)
Kyle L.
Pleasantly surprised on the quality of food and above average service. Would definitely eat here again!!
(4)
Fish Y.
this is one of those examples of look better than its tasted. The sushi roll plating is pretty but overpowered by heavy load of sauces. When there too many sauces, you can't taste the fish. We ordered 3 rolls, all of them tasted like same. And a red flag raise when you use Masago instead of Tobiko on rolls. The sushi rice is not prepared right, tasted not right. I don't blame them, the chefs are all young fellas with their New Era hats, very talented in terms of plating/painting skills. I assume they have art background, but the taste is off the mark by a lot. Sashimi plate's plating was beautiful, with heavy load ice underneath in a flower bouquet plate, with some fancy led light, but the fish was slice very small, more like a 2:1 ratio, 3 slices you actually getting 1.5 slice, like a appetizer size. Tasted ordinary. I think the overall experience is not bad, the young chef has heart but imo lack of understanding of Japanese cuisine. like have to realize adding a LED light doesn't make the fish taste better. If put more effort in elevating the taste, this place can be good. Art skills are not culinary skills after all.
(3)
tiffany b.
Second time eating Sumo Sushi. First time was to-go.. husband and I got mostly rolls which we're decent. Just left this restaurant and never coming back--I knew we should have gone to our regular... Kawa Sushi! Considering I'm pregnant and cannot eat raw food, I ordered the seafood teriyaki... the photo looked so good it convinced me to order it. When it came out, it looked nothing like the picture on the menu. The only veggies were a few baby sized zucchinis (barely enough for my 1 year old). Yes it came with scallops, shrimp, salmon, and lobster, but everything except the scallops was overcooked! And everything including scallops was underseasoned, I ended up putting soy sauce on my food-fun. And the salmon I served my 1 year old was so dry she gagged on it, lol. Wow. On top of that, the rice was hard. Really? How do you mess up sticky rice? Even my daughter hardly ate it (and she loves rice). My husband and dad got rolls/sashimi, which they said were o-k. Then came the best part of the dinner... telling the waiter I had a 10% coupon - straight from their restaurant's website. He said he had to check with the manager because it was on my phone. Not only did he check with the manager, he brought my phone with him. Weird but okay. He comes back and says it had to be printed and proceeds to ask me if I CAN PRINT IT?!!! LOL Are you kidding me?! Hahaha oh yeah I forgot there's one in my purse. Give me a sec. Any by the way Sumo, your stupid coupon says "present coupon only." Doesn't that mean I just have to show (or "present") it? Hmm, whatever, your loss... I'm headed back to Kawa Sushi. Oh yeah, I'm pregnant therefore you're only getting 1 star instead of 2.
(1)
Morgan Richelle M.
One of my ultimate favorite types of restaurants to eat at is Hibachi Grills. I just love 'em. This place is new, and had great reviews on good old Yelp, so we headed over here after starving half the day since we knew we were about to be stuffed. Two sushi rolls and two entrees later- we were almost crippled from over-eating, but it aint no thang. Hibachi shrimp = A+. Hibachi chicken = A+. Hibachi Steak (filet mignon) = A+. California Sushi Roll = A+ (according to the BF... cause I don't like sushi). We will be going back here for sure. Be sure to use your Yelp deals when you check in here!
(5)
Alena W.
I have shunned this ever-changing and always-failing house of culinary confusion for the last decade. But, at last, something delicious and seemingly successful has arrived! I ate at Sumo last night with my mom and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. They did a good job with the interior and I liked the long sushi bar. Our waitress was very friendly and was excellent at helping us make our selections. We shared the Volcano Salad, the Moonlight Roll and the Rainbow Naruto roll. I enjoyed every bite. I had a small sake ($1!) and a large Asahi and my mom had a glass of red wine. We used a 15% off coupon and, with a very generous tip, we each paid $30. A bit pricey but worth it. I'm looking forward to my next sushi fix!
(4)
Setareh A.
We didn't have the most positive experience last time, which I shared in my review. Within a week of that review, the manager, Cindy, contacted me. She was very concerned and eager to remedy my experience. She offered me a certificate if I wanted to come back. Last week, I had a friend in from out of town and we wanted Sushi. We just wanted to get take out so we could watch Law and Order and eat sushi. I called to place the order and spoke with Cindy. She was very accommodating and accepted my certificate even though it's been a while. My order was ready when she said it would be. The sushi was delish. The miso soup and salad were also delish. And there was no issue of regular roll vs hand roll like last time. Sumo Sushi has redeemed itself and we will return to our favorite sushi spot once again.
(5)
Andrew K.
Place is huge - a little bit of deferred maintenance, i.e. broken toilets. The hibachi was good. Generous portions. Great salad dressing. Sushi was truly sub bar. IMITATION CRAB STICK FOR CALIFORNIA ROLL? Oh for shame! This place has potential -- needs one of those Takeover shows.
(3)
Mrs. G.
Spicy tuna roll a were very good, could have used some avacado or something extra. Prices weren't too steep either.
(4)
Micaella M.
Consistent and delicious. It's pricey but worth it. I am really happy they have made that location work, every other business seems to go there to die. Keep up the good work Sumo Sushi! And for special occassions it's great doing the Tepanyaki!! They do a really good job!
(5)
Debbie C.
Great atmosphere, great service, exquisite presentation, fresh fish, couldn't ask for better sushi in Livermore. We go at least once a week.
(5)
Grace M.
Service and quality have gone down. We were taken to our table and no one came and got our drink order for at least 10 minutes. Finally we ordered and our appetizer came out cold (gyoza). I notified the wait staff and she took it back and it was cold again! On to our entree, my sister's order came about 10 minutes before mine, and by the time I was done, she was almost done with her meal! Quality of fish was ok, I've had better at other sushi restaurants in the area. Will not be returning, better options elsewhere.
(2)
Michelle A.
I ordered take out from here a few months back and was totally unimpressed. I felt I was getting Kawa sushi prices for grocery store sushi. I didn't plan on coming back, but went last night for a friends birthday. It was off the hook! We had a large party so we ordered a lot of food. We started off with the calamari rings, edamame and volcano salad. The salad was amazing. For dinner I ordered a spicy tuna roll and the Tuna Amazing Roll. Amazing was right! It was delicious! I didn't give five stars because our server wasn't very professional. He made it clear to us that he was just too lazy, tired and busy to give orders to the right person....he handed them to us over a divider and had us pass them down. He said he was too busy to change the TV channel. What? Despite the poor service, the food was good enough that I will be back. I'm definitely a Sumo convert and can see what all the great reviews are about! I can't wait to go again! So happy that a great restaurant has finally settled into this location!
(4)
Jen M.
3rd time here if I could give ZERO stars I would! Horrible service!!! 1st visit good teppanyaki but long wait and not busy (we were only ones there).2nd visit regular table dry bland food 3rd visit walked in and the man behind counter was on his phone and asked us to take a seat and wait to be seated WHILE he was on his phone!! As we waited saw a man in teppanyaki looking around like he was waiting for service,bad sign! We walked out!!
(1)
David M.
OK. Food. OK service. Overpriced Nothing special
(2)
Rachelle W.
This review is LONGGGGGG overdue. I've since moved out of Livermore, and miss Sumo Sushi so much. Every time we went, we were greeted by friendly and attentive staff, seated quickly and the food was amazing. We literally never left disappointed in anything that we had there. The servers were always so polite, even when asked a ton of questions or special requests. With the regular coupons they offered and the frequent visitor program, you always knew you were getting a deal. I loved date nights at Sumo! You will definitely not be disappointed. Go get your sushi on at Sumo. LOVE!
(5)
Rick L.
The last time I visited this location, it was an all you can eat Asian buffet. Yuck. I didn't get sick, but the food was... well... bland to the extreme. The decor was period Denny's. So I was surprised when I walked into Sumo for lunch today, with its very tasty decor and modern touches (a good start when ordering raw fish). Being the tightwad that I am, I ordered the $10 chicken teriyaki box lunch. I was very pleasantly surprised by tasty miso soup and a crisp salad, followed by a perfectly grilled chicken breast on a bed of onion strings in a zingy (not too sweet) sauce, a scoop of rice, a nice spring roll, and a better than average California roll. Hot green tea added another $1.50. OK, the lunch items weren't the best I've ever had. The chicken was slightly on the dry side, but the presentation was perfect. The exterior had a slight crunch to it, and the teriyaki sauce was really nice with the onion accent. The rice was a tiny bit watery, not the typical sticky Japanese rice found in most sushi establishments. But it was perfectly edible, and tasted good. The spring roll was also delicious, a nice crunch to the exterior, while remaining moist inside. The three pieces of California roll were very well executed, and it looked like real crab to me. I ate everything, and am still pleasantly full five hours later. Happy tummy. You could do a lot worse, especially at Sumo's very reasonable prices. Or you could hit a fast food burger chain and save two or three clams, but why? Sumo had fresh offerings, well prepared, and attractively served. I'm surprised at some of the negative comments, which don't seem to consider the very real meal bargains available here. I didn't patronize the full bar (lunch, remember?), but it looked inviting. I'll be back.
(4)
Naomi A.
Good spot for funky rolls and appetizers. Was a little worried at first since its a bit off downtown, but was definitely worth the stop. Food - Rock shrimp tempura and crispy calamari - both nice and crispy with a tasty sweet and spicy sauce - Alligator roll, American Dream roll, and Moonlight roll - all nice and fresh, but many of the rolls have similar ingredients so they start tasting a bit similar - Nigiri - all nice and fresh, good fish cuts and appropriate amount of rice
(4)
Tom M.
Really enjoyed the food and atmosphere. Hibachi prices are reasonable, sushi rolls are on the higher priced side but the quality and freshness of the fish is superior. I also enjoyed how the sushi rolls were not super heavy on the rice. Good sushi rolls just need enough rice to hold them together. This place doesn't use rice as a filler but as structural component. The only reason this place doesn't get 5 stars is that I sat at the bar waiting for our table and there was no bartender to be found. The, what I image was the owner had to pour our drinks. Highly recommended.
(4)
Scott B.
I was here on 2/6/15 and experienced absolutely terrible service. We sat at the sushi bar and as I learned you order from the waitress not the chefs behind the bar. Every time I needed something I literally had to get out of my seat and flag down someone. I gave them a chance to come over.. about 20 minutes between getting up and flagging a waitress down each time. At least the sushi was not too expensive and tasted pretty good.
(2)
Susana G.
Beautiful plating but the taste did not match their food artwork. No hurry to come back here, there are too many sushi places to choose. The 3 star rating is for our server who was a great server. I do have to say this place is a big improvement from that buffet style restaurant that used to be there.
(3)
Reg T.
When you first glance at the menu, it's all in English, made me wonder how "authentic" is this Japanese restaurant. The English menu had me wondering whether their "Tuna Roll" item, would be a Tekka Maki. So I ordered the Tuna Roll, and noticed one thing immediately, the sushi rice wasn't made properly, it seemed like it was just plain rice, and didn't have rice vinegar, sugar or salt for seasoning, as I usually don't dip my sushi in soy sauce so again it's very noticeable. I also ordered a spider roll, keep in mind, I've always tried spider rolls at different sushi restaurants and they are all nearly the same; however, the one at Sumo Sushi House was different in a bad way, if there were canned soft shell crab I think they used it....blah. Likewise, similar items I've ordered before were different in a bad way, such as their Titanic Roll...blah. There are a few positives, like free private parking, free water, the staff was friendly enough, and drinks good enough, so 2 stars for that... Bottom line, this is a type of Sushi / Japanese restaurant that has gone Apple Bee's style...once you see several flat screen TV's you'll realize this isn't authentic so adjust your expectations or drink up like you're at Apple Bees.
(2)
C T.
When you eat sushi, it's the quality of the fish that matters most. Duh, as my 11-year-old would say. Sumo has high quality, fresh fish, and serves it in traditional rolls as well As some of newfangled fancy ones. I recommend the Spicy green roll (spicy tuna topped with seaweed salad), though the Philly roll was good, too. They all were. My son is also a big fan of the udon. The downside is the service, which can be uneven. Each of the two times we came in, service was slow: very slow the first time but only slightly the second. And since they gave us a free CA roll, that made up for it. So, come here for good sushi, but be prepared to be patient.
(4)
Misty C.
The uni wasn't fresh and its rice was warm . . . fresh out of the rice cooker warm. I also ordered udon which took an hour to arrive and tasted like Top Ramen. Like another said, come here if you like old stinky fish.
(1)
Melissa R.
The sushi here is the TRUTH! The rolls here are very creative and oh so good! The service here is great too. If I eat shellfish I break out it to a ball of hives....it's a mess. I mentioned that to our server and she was extra cautious in her recommendations and made substitutions for us. Rolls I would get again - Alligator: lots of saucy goodness on this bad boy - Lady Gaga: the jalapeño on top of each piece is devine!
(5)
Kelsey J.
Awesome lunch! Only downside is we went on a Saturday and they don't have any lunch specials on weekends so the bill was a little high but high quality sushi I will take a high bill or food poisoning any day of the week. The staff was great, really knowledgeable and patient (poor grandma didn't know what she wanted). I have a severe avocado allergy so it was great to go somewhere and express that and have the staff actually listen. Made it through lunch without my throat closing-4 stars just for that. We got miso soup for the table which was hot and full of flavor. Grandma ordered a side of rice and shrimp tempura, which was perfect, the batter was delicious, everything was perfectly cooked and the order was huge-4 or 5 shrimp, broccoli, zucchini, potato, sweet potato, and one more vegetable that I can't remember. I ordered some salmon sashimi which was really fresh, mom ordered california rolls which was good as well. I ordered a spicy tuna roll which wasn't spicy but still good and mom ordered an avocado roll (whatever.) and she really enjoyed that and again even though there was avocado on hers, none was on mine. Much appreciated. I live in Sacramento but I would definitely swing by next time I'm in town.
(5)
Adriana B.
For the love of God, why does this place have high ratings. I did not like any of my hibachi food. I love hibachi and eat it all the time in NY and this was NOT up to par! The meat and steak did not have a lot of seasoning. The shrimp tasted weird. The best part of dinner was the lobster. The rolls were decent, even though it took them 30 minutes to bring them!
(3)
Stacie K.
First off, I should start by saying this is the first review I've ever written. I'm not much of a review-writer, but found this dining experience review-worthy, and I would have loved to read a review like this before having to experience it first-hand. I've had many hibachi experiences, and I might have to say this was the worst hibachi to-date. Maybe we should have took heed to the fact that we were the ONLY ones there in a larger place at 7pm. The other thing that was quickly brought to my intention was the sink on the hibachi side that just seemed out of place and unsanitary. The food itself was okay, but kind of sparing with the quantity versus how pricey it was. I pray it was the waitress's first day ever serving, (I sadly don't think that was the case). The hibachi dude dropped his spatula (twice), and an egg, when it wasn't intended. It was so bad it was awkward, especially when he tried to light the fire a few times. THEN we realized we still had not gotten our sushi, and noticed the waitress chatting away at the bar that had STILL not checked on us. We had to address the sushi that was MIA to the hibachi cook, since the waitress still had not come back. She finally brought it without the ginger and wasabi, so I had to get up and go ask at the sushi bar since the waitress had not come back to ask how we were doing. After I got the ginger and wasabi, she finally came back over and we had needed more drinks and chopsticks. There were three of us; two rolls, and she asked, "how many chopsticks do you need?" I think I need not write anymore and can end on that.
(1)
Alex C.
I am not going to lie, I have been going to Sumo for a three years now and I still really enjoy this place. For me, I think it is the best Sushi place in Livermore. (I know I know, It's Livermore!) The decor is very nice and clean. The food presentation is always very impressive and it helps that the food is always very good! For App's I love the Rock Shrimp Tempura the Crispy Spicy Tuna Wonton & you have to try the Fresh Oyster Shot YUMMM! I love some of the rolls they make here and my favorite rolls are the American Dream, Tuna Amazing Roll, Volcano Roll, Black Angel Roll and the Crazy Roll. If you like Habachi or tempanyaki style then try it at Sumo. The Hibachi is always really good. This is not a Sushi place to party at the sushi bar and do sake bombs with the chefs place. The chefs are colder here than other sushi places, but it does not bother me. I have fun with my friends at the sushi bar regardless. I highly recommend sitting at the sushi bar for faster service. The service sitting at a table top or booth is sometimes a little slow. I have never had lunch here so I can not comment on that.
(4)
Steve A.
Im going to bump this another star. Went in yesterday to pick up take out since I was in the area and it was near closing time. The lady in the front desk was very helpful and very courteous! The sushi actually tasted a lot better than what I remembered it. Still a little too high on pricing in my opinion.
(3)
John B.
My girlfriend said it was the best sushi she's had and I agree! We ate so much at lunch ... 3 different rolls, miso soup, edamame, 5 different sushi pieces and it was all fantastic! I could have kept eating. Lunch time is great because it's quiet, not crowded and the service is fast. The Tuna Amazing Roll was amazing! California Roll was delicious Titanic Roll was fabulous My new favorite sushi place ... Love!!
(5)
Carole S.
Gotta bump Sumo up to five stars after another delicious dinner. Service has been consistently good, too. Not the greatest ambiance- big, bright restaurant- but everything else is so good. Presentation is exceptional, and your dish will typically have a beautiful little picture or design on it, created with different sauces. The BLACK ANGEL- a specialty roll that is not always on the menu- is OUT OF THIS WORLD! I am shocked by some of the one and two star reviews. After eating at Sumo approx ten times, I can honestly say that we've never had a bad meal at this restaurant, nor have we ever gotten less than "decent" service.
Awesome place for large groups to party but serious foodies need not apply. Menu was visually appealing with plenty of color photos to help patrons make their dining decisions. Food was fun but definitely not authentic. Portions were generous. We sat in the hibachi/teppanyaki section because we wanted the theatrics of the teppanyaki chef. Great choice. We had 16 people in our party so we had 2 chefs on 2 grills. Chef Ethan tried really hard to engage both the kids and adults in our group. He went all out with his culinary gymnastics when he found out we were celebrating a birthday. I didn't catch the name of the second chef. I got the filet mignon and scallops. The beef was tender and cooked a perfect medium rare. My scallops were huge and were nicely seared, if a bit salty. My vegetables were on the right side of al dente, tender with a slight crunch. Our group had several complaints about the food and service. First, the birthday girl is allergic to shellfish. Our server was informed but somehow, our nameless second chef didn't get the memo. He cooked the shrimp correctly by cooking it last to avoid cross contamination. However, he then proceeded to serve our birthday celebrant and ended up contaminating her beef. Personally, I had an issue with the rice. It comes out in one cold slab of precooked white rice. The chef must then fry the rice on the grill, thoroughly breaking down the carb mountain while mixing it with a plethora of condiments including soy sauce and margarine. I had a huge portion of rice but it needed more mixing and stirring because I still had meatball sized chunks of cold rice. Third, the salad was drowning in dressing. I think the dressing came with the lettuce and not the other way around. I also had some issues about the service. We were a large party of 15 with 3 generations of family and friends. Our server was overwhelmed. She eventually got help but the extra servers just seemed to confuse rather than help the situation. It was partly our fault since it took us forever to get settled and all we wanted to do was chat instead of review the menu. However, once she had taken our drink and appetizer orders, it took 30 minutes just for our drinks to arrive. We are not newbies to teppanyaki so we ordered some apps from the kitchen to tide us over until chef arrived to prepare our main course. However, I think our server forgot to fire our appetizers. The first of our appetizers didn't arrive until another 30 minutes later, as we were eating our main course. Some of our apps were completely forgotten. We had to remind the server that some of our food was missing. Also, 2 people in our party ordered sushi that didn't come out until halfway through our meal. It was a good thing the teppanyaki chef gave us plenty of food so we could share our meal. Lastly, our waters were refilled but I never got my iced tea refills despite several requests. The meal ran for over 2 hours. We had to skip dessert since it was way over the kids' bedtime and they were getting cranky. If we didn't all have so much fun just hanging out, catching up and befriending the 3 strangers at the table that were not in our party, I would have downgraded the restaurant even further. As it is, I think 2.5 stars is a fair rating.
(2)
Ann G.
Horrible experience. We always looks for new sushi places to add some variation to our sushi restaurants list, so we stopped here after a costco run for lunch. The place is huge but it was totally empty at 1pm. Now we know why. At least 3 sushi chefs spotted behind the sushi bar but sushi was very sub par. Fish WASNT FRESH AT ALL, tasted 5 days old and ewww. We ordered a $15 roll with seared tuna. The tuna was clearly stale when the roll arrived. We pointed this out to the waitress and she had the main sushi chef come "straighten" us out. he said it tastes funky because the fish is seared and it is our fault we chose that item. We had eaten one out of 8 pieces of sushi and he did not have the courtesy to offer us an alternative. Instead argued about how rightly the dish was made. What a pompous idiot. We sent the roll back and STILL PAID FOR IT. The yellowtail sashimi we ordered was delicious and the only thing worth consuming. We ordered another round of it. Their menu needs to offer 3 piece and 6 piece options instead of 2 piece and 3 piece options for sashimi. 3 pieces is like barely a taste of the product. Another sushi roll we ordered was also okayish - pretty sub par proteins. Teaches us to stay away from desolate sushi restaurants built in the same lot as a storage facility. When the turnover isnt much, they cant keep the quality and freshness of the food up to mark. Even costco or safeway sushi woulf taste better and cost wayyyyyy lesser. Wont be back. Ever. Even if they offer free sushi.
(1)
Leticia R.
I don't think I will ever return to this restaurant. Overpriced and mediocre. Upon arrival the place is not very appealing. We only went there because I had bought a local guru coupon. The inside is actually not bad. Pretty modern and clean. I ordered a water once we sat down and it tasted like gross tap water. I thought maybe a hot tea would help clear the nasty taste but that tasted burnt. Since I am expecting I can't have sushi so instead I ordered an appetizer and udon soup. The appetizer was some cream cheese salmon wontons. Very bland and not very good at all. The soup was a mixture of veggies and chicken, but the broth was lacking something and the flavor was just not there. My boyfriend ordered two rolls. The one that the bartender suggested as his favorite was terrible and the other roll was pretty good. I am just speaking for my bf as I could not try these myself. Even with our $20 coupon our bill was still $40 and I didn't even have any sushi. I was a little upset we spent a date night and that amount of money on bad food. I will say the service was very good, but they only had a few people there around 5:30pm for dinner.
(2)
Teresa K.
What a disappointment!!! Wish I could give them a negative star! Made reservations and still couldn't get in until almost 7:55. Took us the first time to a Hibachi table that people were still eating.. Made us wait in the hallway for 10-15.., finally sat us with no menus! Waited another 10 minutes for a waiter!! Finally decided to stay and ordered everything at one time... Soup came out cold! Ruined a birthday for my daughter! Walked out!! I look at Yelp reviews all the time.. This is seriously bad service for a Restuarant! There are many choices DO NOT choose this one!!!!
(1)
Mark M.
Great Place! Entire menu is really good and also the hibachi. I am not sure why this place is not packed at all times. The prices are reasonable and service is great.
(4)
Hannah S.
We read reviews and went for lunch as Salmon lunch sounded fabulous. The menu didn't say the lunch special is not available on weekends so we were looking at the menu. The server came to our table and said the lunch specials are not available on weekends. So I said it should mention that on the menu. Her response was "we dont need to!" You are right but a more tactful answer would be appreciated. Well we didn't feel like sushi so we all ordered from items from the kitchen I had Tempura; the batter was twice as big as the shrimp and veggies. And the oil was not fresh. My hubby and the kids all ordered noodles and they said they were ok at best. Sushi reviews are very good so we should have had sushi but I would not eat the dishes from the kitchen here again.
(1)
Joti S.
I must say that each time I come here I am never disappointed. The best sushi in town, and service is perfect! I love the variety of sushi, there is something for everyone and the food is fresh and absolutely the best!
(5)
Stephanie C.
I went here yesterday with my boyfriend. Meeting a group of people for a birthday dinner. We walked in and there was barely any customers there. We said we're here with a group that is already here. They were so confused and didn't understand what we were saying. Huge language barrier. Lol they kept asking us what area we wanted to go for the two of us and we said a group of 4 with a table where the chef cooks in front of us. Had to explain in detail so I thought. But they still didn't understand. They have menus in their hands like we are going to be eating alone...ugh. Lol so we just walked back a few feet and there they were. No one else in the room. Literally the only customers in the building. Food was pretty good. Rice was a little overcooked. And the cook was cool. But I'm giving three stars because a lot of the hosts/waiters don't know English very well. I'd like to be at a place that doesn't get confused as well as confused me. I literally thought we were at the wrong restaurant after a little while trying to communicate back and forth.
(3)
Pamela B.
We have been here several more times and the servers have been much more personable. 5 stars for sure! The food continues to be consistently excellent and we are enjoying sampling the creative sushi dishes. This place is very kid friendly which kind of sucks for people like us. I am continually amazed at how many lazy parents do not teach proper restaurant manners. It may make it easier for them to be lazy but it is really annoying and distracting for other diners. I notice it more here than anywhere else. It's not necessarily the fault of the restaurant but it would be nice if they suggested to these people that their children not use the restaurant floor for a track meet. Looks like this location might have found a business that sticks! We certainly hope so.
(5)
Mrs S.
Ive frequent this place many times with no complaints , the service is awesome & the food is amazing , Up until last week . My friend wanted to sit at the sushi bar great experience ! I was watching all the guys make the rolls , One guy was walking from the back kitchen with a plate of tempura shrimp & He dropped one !! looked around and placed it back on the plate ! Im discusted I will never eat there again !!!!!!!
(1)
Leah D.
UPDATE 10/12/12 So after writing this initial review 8 months ago, Sumo has officially become our go to sushi place & now tepannyaki dinner spot! We have been there now for 2 large group parties (after our suggestion) that have been great & everyone loved it. We have taken family & friends of all ages & they have all loved it. I have had girls night & date night here too! Guess you can see why I am the current Yelp dutchess of Sumo haha! There are coupons in the mail, Local Gruv deals, a frequency card & $1 sake m-th to cater to the frugal foodie too! The new tepennyaki was so great, the room is very nice & you can tell they put a big investment into it! The service, presentation & value are all still great all around! Feb 2012 - initial review The reviews on Yelp were right! We couldn't believe that one of the restaurants that opened in this same spot was actually great! We loved everything we ordered & loved the details of our whole dining experience: *Clean lines with furniture & style *Seating is spaced out so well....they have large tables for 8 all set up already for large groups making it a great place to have a celebration dinner there & the booths and tables are large so it feels intimate when you are eating...the restaurant it HUGE *The menus were beautiful! *The food presentation was impecable They have a lot of options for how you can order. They have the regular rolls, specialty rolls, bento boxes,etc. They also have a combo meals with 2 or 3 rolls with just soup and salad which I think it SO perfect & hadn't see that small of a combo before. Great service from start to finish & they had 4 sushi chefs working so food was brought out timely as well. We will be back VERY soon! Thanks Sumo & we hope you keep your quality food, service & style up as time goes on. We will be sure to pass the word on & send customers to you.
(5)
Jon Z.
Will give it a few stars for the presentation but as far as the sushi went, I don't believe any stars should be given. The seaweed was rubber, wayyyyy too chewy and the tuna just didn't taste right.. Along with the mango sauce being really sweet. Reminded me of eating cereal. I got the AMAZING roll.
(2)
Jenn Q.
Food reviews to follow ...
(4)
R Z.
I was a regular customer at Sumo Sushi. My wife and I enjoyed the friendly staff and quality sushi. However, there has been a change in staff and management recently which has led to some negative experiences. None of the sushi chefs smiled or even greeted us when we sat down. The wait staff seemed incredibly disorganized. On top of everything, the sushi was not fresh and did not taste the same. I really hate to say it, but the service and food quality has went completely downhill. We will not be coming back here
(2)
Marcella J.
$45 for the sumo deluxe dinner plate, but good god it was a lot of food. They had tons of normal priced things too. We just decided to go big for a birthday dinner and we were not disappointed.. Our chef Eason was awesome..! Our filet was amazing, scallops were probably the best I've ever had in my life. (And I'm a scallop snob.) It's definitely a lot of food for your money. Job well done guys.. :-)
(4)
Free P.
Unbelievable! I really wanted to like this place but after experiencing the terrible customer service there isn't anything that could get me to come back. We decided to try this place for dinner since we received a coupon in the mail. The food was mediocre and pretty expensive ($75 for 2). We were the last party to be seated and the server took a long time to come take our order and even had the nerve to tell us we needed to hurry with our order since they had already began serving the others at our table. We promptly ordered and never received one of our drinks. When we had to ask for it towards the end of the meal our server looked annoyed and reluctantly brought it to us. After the meal the party of 3 next to us received their credit card back way before the rest of the table. They signed and left. Then our credit card made it back to the table only it wasn't ours. It was the card belonging to the party that was long gone and as it turns out they left with our card. When we went to the front to try to get things figured out they called the manager. The manager and employees spoke amongst themselves never once even looking at us or speaking in English. The only thing the manager bothered to say was that he was sorry and he said it with very aloof expression. From start to finish this place was a train wreck. Don't waste your time!
(1)
Louie F.
I have no clue why this place has 4.5 stars... It's your standard, mass-produced, over-sauced and fried rolls joint. Whoever says this is "quality sushi" hasn't enjoyed the real deal before. How can you even tell once the roll is deep battered, fried and topped with a gallon of spicy mayo and eel sauce? When you walk in, the first thing you notice is that that restaurant is huge and empty. There are what seems like 20 sushi chefs who greet you as you're guided to your table, yet it takes 20-minutes for your food to arrive every time you order. The prices are also fairly exorbitant for rolls that contain California krab filling as their main ingredient. Most rolls average between $14.00-17.00, which can get expensive. I feel that there are a ton of half-off sushi places these days serving way better quality. The service was ridiculously slow. It takes forever for the food to arrive and the servers visit your table maybe once every 30-minutes. Being from Southern California, I was out of my element and relied on Yelp to find this place. Perhaps the NorCal tastes are just different than what I'm used to, but I see absolutely no reason why this place deserves almost 5 stars for mediocre food. 2 stars: "Meh, I've experienced better."
(2)
John B.
The curse has been lifted! I think making this place NOT a buffet place has done wonders. Wifey and I were skeptical about coming here because of the previous buffet incarnations however this was shattered after the first bite of the salmon sushi pizza. Further rolls we ordered were elegantly and artistically placed with the food arriving quickly. Wifey ordered 2 roll deal ($8.50) and I ordered the 3 roll deal ($12). Both came with miso soup and salad. Rolls were very good (check pics). Highly recommend this place.
(5)
Chester H.
Really enjoyed the alligator roll, paradise roll and the tuna amazing roll. Don't forget to order the volcano salad!
(5)
Cindy Y.
Alright, needless to say, the quality of the sushi is really good. I could tell that each roll is made with a lot of care and finely decorated. However, I feel like the prices are way too high. Most of the plate comes with a fancy design, and there aren't many pieces that come with each roll. My family came here, and we were barely full afterward. Sadly, they don't have the lunch bento box specials on weekdays (which is what we came for...), but I think that deal is pretty good. It comes with california roll, spring roll, white rice or brown rice (yay for healthy options!), miso soup, and salad. Although I can't say much about it, since I didn't have it, I feel like that deal is pretty good. You can choose from teriyaki to tempura to katsu to saba/sushi/sashimi. What we did get were the Out of Control Roll and Volcano Roll. I would recommend the Volcano Roll. This comes with shrimp tempura, avocado, spicy tuna, and crunchy bits on top with eel sauce. It was pretty good. I love how soft the spicy tuna on top was in contrast to the crunchy bits. The seaweed used was really fresh and the rice was high quality as well. There was also this deal--2 rolls for $8.50 and 3 rolls for $12. We got 2 rolls for $8.50 originally, but my mom was still hungry, so we ordered another roll for $12. For these rolls, they're pretty much just ordinary (none of the fancy fusion-esque type of rolls). We got the Philadelphia Roll and two Spicy Tunas. The spicy tuna was pretty good, so if you like that, I highly recommend it. We also got the Katsu Don, which was just okay. Nothing too special. The breading wasn't super amazing (crunchy and freshly fried)--kind of soggy and soft. There was also egg that covered the rice, which I liked. I'd say if you're looking for quality, go for something else. But this was decently priced and kind of helped us fill us up. This came with breaded pork w/ vegetable & egg over rice and was about $8.50. Definitely a lot better priced than the rolls. Overall, the place is pretty nice if you want to go for a nice lunch/dinner. It's not crowded and you can have a nice meal there. But it's definitely a bit pricey, so watch out for that. The quality is pretty good, although I can't say that it's worth the money. You can probably find something better for a better price elsewhere.
(4)
Dean D.
Seriously avoid this place. Kinda expensive, derived sushi, poor service, and cheap ingredients. If this is the best that Livermore has to offer then just avoid all sushi in the area. I think we can do better.
(1)
Debra E.
Awesome children selections!! I loved the jalapeno yellowtail appetizer. The spicy salmon tartar was sooooo yummy. Great sushi and great service! Will definitely be back!
(5)
Will L.
A very nice interior for a sushi place. The specialty rolls lacked crunch and the rice was soggy. I was very disappointed with the sushi overall. I will not go back
(2)
Jiries S.
Very good, I was pleasantly surprised. Food was excellent. Little pricey, this place would be packed if the prices were normal. Staff was friendly, place was clean.
(4)
Michael L.
Dont go there. It's a bust.
(2)
Dominique O.
GOOD FOOD BAD SERVICE. Not enough to bring me back. Mcdonalds offers better service! What a disappointment. We chose this location over Hana because it was wayyyyy closer. It was my first Hibachi experience. Showed up on a Saturday around 6 not so busy but the wait was 20 min which was fine, we had to wait for the rest of our party. 45 min later hungry and irritated we get our table. Then they serve us soup and salad and take our order and we had to watch two other tables get a fun show and another 30-35 min later we finally got service after a 20 minute wait turned into almost a hour n a half. Why would you only have two chefs on a SATURDAY? The 1 star is for the fun show, it was good and the food was bomb! The second star is for the BUSSER BOY who was extremely nice and went out of his was to check on us and was very apologetic. To top it all off with more waiting, we used a coupon the busser gave us since they didn't offer any type of condolences and they can't even figure out the math. They were scrambling up front and it took 3 employees to figure it out. Needless to say I won't be returning I'll try the drive to Hana or one of these other places in dublin.
(2)
Liz S.
Things here were a hit or miss: Very americanized sushi (and obviously not japanese owned); everything has a sauce that is loaded with either sugar or mayo. Some things were pretty likeable, such as the sushi martini. Other things like the tuna cappuccino (what? What even is that) were just downright weird. The presentation was pretty, the sashimi didn't taste bad, and the servers were nice. The quality was lacking for sure.
(3)
Lauren R.
Nothing amazing, but mediocre sushi. I would give it 2.5 stars for the sushi and 3 stars for the service. The inside of the place is pretty nice. There is a huge sushi bar and also the tepanyaki room. The bathrooms were not the cleanest, but the rest of the restaurant was clean. My husband ordered a spicy tuna roll, some sort of rolled beef appetizer, and rock shrimp tempura. His review was that the tuna was ok, but not spicy enough. He felt that the beef in the appetizer was not very good quality. The shrimp tempura was mushy and the shrimp were not deveined very well. I had an avocado roll and sweet potato roll which were both tasty. The price is pretty standard for a sushi restaurant, maybe a little on the cheaper end. Service was good. They were attentive and refilled tea and water as needed. I don't think we will be back. It does not compare to the sushi places we have been to in Santa Barbara and Hawaii, but for Livermore it does its job.
(3)
Dawn D.
Worst meal in a very long time. Food was awful and service was WAY worse! Never been treated so rudely in my life! Food was cold with small portions and of low quality. Sushi was loosely wrapped and chicken was cooked so hard I needed a knife. Watched a waitress actually push a pregnant lady into a woman with a walker! Could not get out of there fast enough. Bathrooms were low-grade for a "fancy" steakhouse. Parking is almost non-existent. Only thing going for it- it's a new restaurant so the atmosphere feels clean. Wouldn't return for a free meal!!!!
(1)
Eugene S.
Food is mediocre at best, I believe it is not Japanese owned. While the hibachi was filling it was mild, with actual tiny portions of seafood (my group nearly all ordered the sumo deluxe: lobster, shrimp, filet mignon, and scallops). Rolls were decent but more from decoration than actual taste but all of this would be forgiveable. If the server didn't start to fight me with the most sarcastic of all voices about their coupon and how it works. I won't get into the details of it, but when a server refuses to bring out a manager and argues with you for the best of 10 minutes while refusing to give in to common sense... Suffice to say I tipped them about 3% just to round out my bill to a 'zero'. It can be a decent experience that is cheaper than Benihana's for an experience + mild Americanized Japanese fare. But the service is horrible. Beyond horrible. I hope the owner sees this review and actually does something about it because were I in a worse mood I may have threatened litigation or called the police. Word of advice. Stick to Cattlemen's if you're in Livermore, you can get better and cheaper Japanese food in a plethora of places in the Bay Area, why waste your time here for high prices and shitty service?
(1)
Rio Christian S.
I've been here couple times. And i love this place ! I love the teppanyaki, most of the food pretty tasty, and the performance of the sushi are outstanding ! And my favourite always goes to 3 item choices, i love their salmon skin hand roll, philadelphia roll, but they put too cucumber, i hope they gonna reduce it. So the food and the service were awesome !
(5)
Jeff P.
Quality Sushi and large portions are what best describe Sumo Sushi. The service and great, but the price is a little high. After shopping at the Paragon Outlets, my wife and I were famished. We jumped on Yelp to find high rated restaurants near by. Sumo Sushi popped up and we proceeded to the restaurant. Upon our arrival I was surprised to see a Sushi Bar restaurant and on the other side Hibachi. They have both at Sumo Sushi. We decided on the Sushi restaurant half. I ordered a chicken bento box and a dragon roll, my wife ordered two sushi rolls. There was so much food that my wife had to take some sushi home. The bento box was great and gave large portions. The chicken was light and the teriyaki sauce was just right. The sushi was above average, the ingredients did not taste fake or artificial. It all tasted fresh. I will definitely return to Sumo Sushi when I'm in the area.
(4)
Kristi W.
We chose this sushi bar based on Yelp reviews and we were extremely disappointed. We enjoy sushi restaurants with a Japanese ambiance and this restaurant was lacking. This review is for the Sushi side, we haven't eaten on the Hibachi side. The sushi side was very large and filled with uncomfortable booths. It gave off more of a waffle house vibe than a Japanese vibe. Once we saw the place we thought about leaving, but figured the food must be why the yelp rating was so high. We were wrong. Chicken tempura and Gyoza's were average. My husband ordered the Aligator roll and thought it was good not great. I ordered the chicken teriyaki entree. The chicken was rubbery and the teriyaki sauce was thin. My husband loves sushi and I love Japanese food, so we have tried alot of Sushi restaurants in the East Bay and the Central Valley. This restaurant was one of the worst we have ever been to.
(2)
Jimmy T.
Managament said it was ok to use coupon before meal. When we were done with meal, we were told that coupon is not valid for big group with multiple credit cards. Coupon in question is a coupon on their site (coupon does not say anything about muliple cards) : sumo4193.com/imgae/sumo%…
(1)
Charmaine L.
Love this place. It's very clean. The service is great. Food is fantastic!
(5)
tammy H.
I came here quite frequently before, it was fine. Food was good. However, we came again last month, they told us the wait time is 30 min, and I looked inside the restaurant, they are not even half full! I asked them why we need to wait so long, they said they only have two servers. Then we took off to another restaurant. Now it's more than one month later, we thought give it another try. We came on Wednesday night, same thing! And when I looked inside, I saw 3 sushi chefs just standing inside the bar! So we took off! We are not coming back! Also my friend said they recently eat there, they had reduce their portion as well.
(1)
Nicole S.
Ok, my new favorite sushi house in town. Staff friendly, prices are a bit high but by not too much. Clean open atmosphere. Food was excellent. I think if there prices were a bit lower, the place would be packed.
(5)
Patricia S.
Went there last night with 2 of my friends. I started with the Volcano salad. It looked like a piece of art. It was so delicious, it was fresh, light and the crab and avocado taste was wonderful. It was pretty big and was only $8. I then had the alligator roll and so did one of my friends. It was very good, fresh, tasty. My mouth is watering thinking about it again. I couldn't finish the last 2 pieces last night, I was so full. That roll is $14 which is not bad at all considering how big that roll is. My other friend opted for the scallop dinner which came with rice and veggies, this was huge and she ate it all. Our bill needed up being $102 after 3 glasses of wine $5 each and a big sake $2 so I was able to use my $20 coupon!!! I am going back on Fri with my boyfriend to use my remaining $10 coupon. Cannot wait. And I will keep going there, the coupon was just the added bonus....came right in the mail :-) Love this place, hope they do better then the other ones before and hope they are to stay :-)
(5)
Teri S.
I would also say that I hope the curse is gone for this establishment! Sumo sushi has hopefully found it's home! I'm REALLY glad we checked this place out. The interior is so wonderful and gorgeous. The service was so friendly and great!! (way better then Kawa). And the food was fantastic. I will definitely be returning - to me it's the new best Sushi place in Livermore. And the reason they go some bonus stars....they gave my 2 year old niece a strawberry mochi for being so adorable. It was mine & my husbands bday and we got a tempura banana and tempura cheesecake (OMG) with a candle and Happy Bday sung to us! LOVED it!!
(5)
Brooke K.
I'm torn because it's almost two different restaurants, and they are NOT the same rating. So I'll go in the middle with 3 stars! We've done the "Hana Japan" style (sorry, don't know the term!) once, and it was not the best experience. Because they only have one chef doing it, you have to wait a while for a table to fill. Or in our case, shove everyone at one table. Very uncomfortable. They didn't refill the drinks, they forgot half my mom's meal, and it took over 20 minutes to get the check, and then another 10 at least after they took the credit card to come back. Very frustrating. The sushi part of the restaurant we've done about 5 times and all in all has been an enjoyable experience. They are a little cucumber crazy with their rolls, but I just request a substitution. And then we've always had issues with the front desk - no one is ever there!! Just the other night we waited 5 minutes before finally my husband went and talked to a bartender (who clearly saw us waiting) and asked to get a hostess. We'll go back since it's one of the only places my husband will eat sushi (NOT for the other part), I just wish they would improve on a few things!
(3)
james s.
saw some mixed reviews prior to going tonight. I thought the place was excellent. I took my family of six for hibachi. my 3 yr old twins loved it. food was great and service was superb. we will go again for sure.
(5)
Jonathan G.
Sumo Sushi never disappoints. Missed out on the all you can eat sushi during grand opening month, but have been a regular since. From dates to large family gatherings, this is my go to place. I've enjoyed the dining area, and teppanyaki area, but absolutely love the sushi bar. My favorites are the sushi and sashimi for two, the lady gaga roll, and the banana boat desert. Also, if you have the pleasure of running into the manager Cindy, she always asks about the family, as well as recommendations on new dishes. They also have a punch card if you go often.
(5)
K S.
Been here a half dozen times. Sushi is acceptable. DO NOT bother with trying to get teppanyaki. Have tried a few times, had horrible results. Had a reservations again and again they made us wait over 30 minutes at a table without even water. Got up and left. Will not be back anytime soon, if ever.
(2)
Michael S.
Quite bad. We tried this place after seeing the 4 star rating on Yelp. Most of the reviews must have been for the sushi. We ordered 4 meals from the kitchen, and 3 out of 4 were not good at all, 4th was just marginal. This place is not authentic Japanese. The owner and chefs would benefit by visiting a true Japanese restaurant to learn how the food should taste. This is not it. Udon was awful.
(1)
Chia L.
Wow. I was uber scared to come here after having watched the parade of failures come and go. But I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by Sumo Sushi. Inside the spacious restaurant is a wide open bar where the sushi chefs make your food to-order. The atmosphere is chic, almost unfitting for the Livermore area... The pricing is high for this area, but the fish is fresh and plating is nice. They drew little sakuras on my plate hehe. What I ordered: nabeyaki udon, unagi don, sashimi regular,Ikura nigiri, and Alligator roll. I really liked the alligator roll because the sauces were interesting: one was sweet and tangy and the other spicy. The sashimi had 5 different types of dish, served on a bed of ice and garnished with orchids and some vegetable carvings. The nakeyaki udon was hm.. good, but kind of just normal. Udon was nice and chewy though and the soup base was flavorful but a tad salty. The unagi don... was disappointing. The rice wasn't well-cooked, a bit hard and not at all chewy. The unagi's bones were not treated properly, and thus not tender enough. The Ikura was all good. However, I really disliked the service! Our waiter gave me this attitude when I tried to order Ikura nigiri as if he were the all-knowing sushi chef and I was some frog that just climbed out of a well and had no idea what the hell sushi was. He asked me, "do you want your ikura sushi or sashimi?" "Sigh, rice or no rice?" he added impatiently. I was left confused since I had no idea how anyone would eat ikura sushi... so I looked at him and said, "You mean.. just spoonfuls of salmon roe? What?" I gave up trying to listen to his non-explanations and just went with ikura nigiri, but not before he gave me a judgmental look. Even before that, I had asked if they had unagi don, and mistake on my part, I tried to explained it via "eel on rice" since I didn't know how serious this place was about their Japanese terminology... yet. He promptly gave me a "OH, you mean unagi don." Next time, when I ordered nabeyaki udon he even said, "Ok, it's noodles, noodles in soup, ok?" THE HELL MAN. UGH. I'm pretty sure, growing up in Taiwan meant that I've eaten plenty of authentic Japanese food so that I know what udon noodles, unagi, nigiri, sushi, sashimi are... And even if I didn't, it doesn't warrant that kind of attitude! That would totally turn people away from trying new foods. That's a no-no.
(3)
Corina V.
I went here with my best friend. We felt like trying out a new place & left very happy to have had a great meal. The food is really good. The chefs were on point & overall the service was great. I recommend this place for sure. I now go there very often!!
(5)
Philbert W.
Today was the 3rd or 4th time I've been to Sumo. I still haven't been disappointed. Had a group of 10 for a birthday lunch. Service was fast and friendly. Food came out quickly and was delicious. Group got a variety of sushi rolls and bento boxes for lunch. As others say, the food presentation is fantastic for the sushi rolls. When we sang happy birthday, our server said we should have told them earlier. She then told us that she would give the birthday girl a free dessert. She came out with two plates of fried bananas that the entire group got to share. A+++. Don't let this graveyard of previous buffets deter you from coming here. This place is nothing like the places that went out of business. Oh, and signs say that teppanyaki grill is coming soon. Definitely looking forward to that.
(5)
Joseph G.
I've been there twice. The first time was great - it was dinner with a packed restaurant, not long after opening. The sushi was a little overpriced and took a long time to get out, but the quality was killer. The alligator roll was worth going back for alone. The second time was probably a few weeks later, for an employee lunch, when the place only had a dozen or so tables going. It took at least 45 minutes to get the first roll, and over an hour to get all of it. I can understand that at Paxti's, where everyone is fighting to use the oven, but it's pretty hard to justify when you've got a couple sushi chefs serving less than ten tables. Maybe I'll go back and give them a third try, at some point, but not any time soon.
(2)
Ken Z.
I ate here last night for dinner and I have to say that I am personally impressed with everything that's been presented. I cannot tell you how many 'sushi' type places that I've eaten at where the ordered item appears nothing like they way it's been described, fortunately this place is not like one of those places. Whatever you order be sure that it will arrive the way you've expected it; possibly even over meeting your expectations. Yesterday my order went straight to the meat and bones of the menu, if they can prepare good quality Ikura, Uni, and salmon skin everything and anything else can remain uncivilized! -Not to mention their tempura is clean and clutter free.
(5)
Makenna S.
This place gets 5 stars for consideration of my food allergies ALONE. The food was also beyond awesome and the ambiance and service were really great. I normally stick to sashimi when I get sushi because I know what's in it, but their rolls looked too good to pass up. We got the Lady Gaga roll and the Alligator roll (sauces on the side to be safe, which they were nice about) and the Philadelphia roll and either the Spicy Tuna or Spicy Salmon roll (I don't remember which; it was really good but I was freaking out over how good the LG and Alligator rolls were and got distracted). I'm really glad we went with the rolls, because they were SO good! The fish was fresh, and there was a good portion of it in every roll. The rice was a decent quality, and the other ingredients were good too. I also had my first uni shot... weird, but delicious! Glad my date suggested it. I'm allergic to soy, which makes going out to restaurants a real bitch. Sushi is even more difficult. Our waitress was AMAZING. She went above and beyond, more than any server I have ever had. She asked the kitchen about soy content in things I didn't think of (thank goodness, because it turned out there was sneaky soy in those dishes), and all of the servers were perfectly attentive. Trust, there is nothing worse than being violently ill with a food allergy reaction. I'm eternally grateful for servers that show that level of concern. I never expected to find good sushi in Livermore, and I'm spoiled from living in the City... but I was impressed. I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Angie E.
I always worried every time a new restaurant or name would pop up in this space cause they never seem to last long but somehow I heard it got better. Tonight was horrible. We had the worst servers ever, paid no attention, and we had a party of 7 and one of them didn't speak English very well so it was extremely hard to communicate. We had a couple people at our table who were regulars and they were so upset by tonight's service that they said they'll never be back. Two gals got the wrong food, not what they ordered at all, and none of it came out together so we have everyone eating at different times, half of us got salad/soup first, others got entrees first then salad/soup. It was just a really odd experience. And my teriyaki chicken was AWFUL!!! That's all I order, cause it's what I get and hard to screw up but this was just horrible, looked horrible, tasted horrible. And one of the gals ordered something to go for her hubby well in advance and that barely made it at the end when we were ready to leave. It was just hands down horrible and the manager who was there tonight wasn't very good at making it right with all the problems. It's just sad that I was hoping to like it and yet just a fail in my book, both in service and food. Won't be going back, but never been before so I'm not missing it.
(1)
James F.
Short and simple.. Outstanding! Friendly, fun, tasty and good value. Glad they are here, The people that work here really seem to care and the place is spacious and comfortable. We talked to the owner and she was very kind. I wont say what the other positive reviewers already said. I will add that they have a good local wine list too. I feel for those that had a bad experience. It happens,, but in MY experience, this place truly is a very good restaurant all around.
(5)
Mazie H.
Food is not that great. Sashimi is definitely not fresh here. I've had my share of fresh sashimi, and this place taste like its been frozen. Never had sashimi with so much water inside. Gross!
(1)
Angela B.
We wanted sushi tonight and I have been wanting to try this place for awhile. Service here is very pleasant and fast. We ordered the volcano roll, the lady gaga, the mango avocado and the spicy salmon roll, all of them were great!!!! I will definitely be back to try the other rolls, and they are going to be doing teppanyaki soon! I really want to try that here.
(5)
Jenny C.
Fantastic food, service, atmosphere, and customer service! The prices are very reasonable and I highly recommend! I just moved out of the area, and will miss this restaurant the most! When I come back to visit, this is where I will be!
(5)
Brave E.
I'm disappointed with the Futomaki. Typically, this is a vegetarian sushi and I was also told by the waitress that it's just vegetables. However, it turns out that they make it with imitation crab meat. Good Futomaki has shitake mushrooms. Other sushi rolls are decent but not great.
(2)
Marissa P.
I've been here twice and I absolutely LOVE ordering steak with a side order of noodles at the hibachi section! The cook does crazy techniques and its very entertaining! I will be coming here almost every weekend! Everyone who loves steak or sushi should try this place out! :)
(5)
Michele M.
The quality of the food is quite good, but the atmosphere and service is always outstanding. The variety and creativity of the rolls have swayed me to order more rolls here than I typically enjoy at a sushi establishment. The Rainbow Naruto, which is made without rice, has a refreshing casing of cucumber, surrounding a kaleidoscope of fresh fish. Have I had superior quality fish elsewhere? Sure, but the complete experience at Sumo is one that is a welcome, cosmopolitan addition to Livermore.
(5)
Tony R.
I wanted to celebrate my Mother's 70th birthday at a nice sushi restaurant. I checked out a number of sushi places on Yelp and this place seemed to have some pretty good reviews. This place PROVED TO BE A REALLY NICE RESTAURANT! The place is clean, well decorated and the servers (Cindy and Helen) were very friendly and attentive. My family enjoyed Sumo Sushi and my Mom suggested we come again -- I agree! :-)
(5)
Fandk D.
-Ordered the spider roll, but got a lettuce roll with very little soft shell crab. -sushi rice was too dry - other rolls were over priced - saw them pre slicing fish for rolls like you see at buffets. - Wasabi Bistro beats this joint by a mile!
(2)
wanda f.
Great service and great food. Party of 6. 5 of us don't eat raw fish and that's ok. We all ordered the Salmon dinner box. Very good. 1 person is GFand carries her own soy sauce. There were a few sushi items she could eat and she loved it. I would go there again.
(4)
Riza F.
We came here for my mother in laws birthday dinner and we all loved it! The food was divine, service was quick and efficient, beautiful entree presentation and the atmosphere is most cozy. Now I don't have to go too far from home for delicious Japanese food. Glad we tried this place and we'll definitely keep coming back. Two-thumbs up Sumo!!!
(5)
Ted G.
My boyfriend and I were driving back to LA from SF and we decided to stop for lunch. I yelped and y'all sent me to Sumo, which is gem of a restaurant in suburban Livermore. The sushi rolls are outrageously gorgeous; someone at Sumo knows more than a little about artful presentation. I had the Iso Fantastic, which was a fantastic soy-wrapped spicy tuna and tempura roll. My boyfriend's tempura udon soup was delicious, too. And we had a combo platter, too. Yeah, we ordered too much. But we managed only to pay $57 for sushi than in SF or LA wouldn't have been as good and would have cost $100. Awesome.
(4)
Alysia W.
I came here for dinner tonight with high expectations due to all the 5-star reviews on here but sadly I didn't receive that same experience that everyone is raving about.. This place is usually packed when I drive by so I was suprised to see that the lot was only 1/3 full on a weekend night.. As soon as we walked in we were greeted by the hostess and seated right away.. The first thing I noticed about this place is the nice decor and how fancy the menus are compared to traditional sushi houses.. The prices are $1-2 higher than normal and everything on their menu has a twist on it that implies a white-washed asian restaurant.. But what do you expect in Livermore? I asked our waiter for the sushi menu because I didn't believe that there weren't more rolls than what was listed on their full menu and encountered some confusion.. The first time I asked the waiter he tried to point out that there were more items in the back of the menu but it wasn't sushi, so I asked him again if they had a sushi menu and he said "yes".. So I said "so you DO have a sushi menu?" and he said "no" so I asked one more time "you DO or you DON'T have a sushi menu?" and he said "no".. Of course I was confused because I had been given different answers each time so this led me to realize that our waiter was incompetent.. Not to mention that we didn't understand what the hell he was saying 75% of the time because he had a heavy accent and spoke so fast.. The next big problem with Sumo is the amount of time it takes for your food to get to you.. The restaurant was barely filled so I don't understand why it took 5 sushi chefs 20+ minutes to get our 3 rolls out to us.. They had a fancy design on each plate that they had crafted out of sauce which was nice but it made me think "is this the reason why it took them so long to get my food out?".. When we went for our second round of sushi we didn't want to have to wait so long again so we told them to please not design our plate this time.. The sushi came a bit faster this time but it still had a design on it.. Our waiter asked us "was that fast enough?".. I'm not sure what my options were there because if I had said "no" (which was the truth by the way) then what could he possibly do about that? Nothing.. So I was forced to lie and say yes just so he would go away.. Even then it took a ridiculous amount of time to make a basic Philly roll and 1 Alligator roll.. I probably could have made it faster myself.. For some reason the two end pieces of the Philly roll had wasabi on it too.. Idk if the sushi chef accidentally touched it with his wasabi hand or what but that was disgusting.. And lastly, our waiter gave us the bill but the person who returned it to us was someone entirely different, and they didn't even bother to walk around the partition to hand it to us.. The anonymous guy snuck up behind my friend (we were sitting in a corner booth) and tried to give it to her over the partition.. Creepy, and he scared my friend half to death! I would much rather take my money over to Kawa Sushi on 3rd Street.. Cheaper, great tastes, and no frills! Just the way I like it.. The highlight should be the food not the fancy sauce design that I won't even be eating.. For a sushi place I think they're a little too upscale and need to tone it down to a more relaxing and family friendly environment.. My 1 positive comment about this place? Fresh fish.. You've got that going for you but it's not enough to get me to drive back here again.. I would've gave them 3 stars but the service alone doesn't deserve that so they're getting 2 only because of the quality sushi..
(2)
Anshul N Eypsa T.
Great Sushi! Hot Sake for $1 is awesome!! Loved their Moonlight Sushi. It is one of the best Sushi places in Livermore!!
(4)
Kristen K.
So after the Crazy Buffet, the Yummy Buffet, The First Buffet, and Sanmola (and a few others) there is finally a great restaurant in this location! I was really impressed with the Sanmola remodel but the food was only so-so and with 'All you can Eat Sushi' signs outside, it was obvious that people would assume it was the same type of restaurant it has been for the past few years and I knew it was doomed. Now that it is under new ownership as Sumo, it really is a great restaurant! The first time we came in, we sat at the bar and right away they gave us complimentary taco-sushi appetizers...small but tasty, and free is always appreciated :-) The staff is extremely polite and attentive and the sushi chefs are seriously artists! Each plate they prepare looks UH-mazing, complete with illustrations and flashing lights! Overall the fish is very fresh and they have some really great combo rolls. So far I've tried the Valentine(heart shaped!), Lady Gaga(party sushi!), Sex on the Beach, quite a few other rolls, and the Sushi-Sashimi combo. Everything has been really great! The prices are on par with other japanese restaurants and it's definitely the nicest sushi place in town, so it's definitely worth it. Also, because it's so spacious, it's great for large groups. I will definitely be coming back regularly and I hope the good word gets out about Sumo so that this poor restaurant can stop running through different owners every other month! If you're looking for Japanese in Livermore, try this place out! PS Monday-Thursday they have a $1 Sake special!...sooo, see you there?
(5)
Mary N.
Can never go wrong with eating the sashimi. Waiter was extremely nice
(4)
Dee T.
Not bad for a sushi place. Love their taste. Wouldn't mind going back with friends or family.
(4)
Kathleen R.
Definitely our new favorite Sushi Place! The fish is fresh, and the rolls are outstanding. They are also reasonably priced and you can always get a table quickly, even on a busy Friday/Saturday night. Only downside is the service can be a little on the slow side, but it takes time to make great Sushi, and makes us slow down to enjoy our dinner :-) Sumo Sushi is our new "go-to" Sushi restaurant.
(5)
Aaron W.
Just tried them thanks to a LocalGruv discount $20 worth of sushi for $10. We order the Dragon Roll, Alligator Roll, and Incredible Tuna Roll. The worst sushi I have had in years. I ordered the sushi to go. They said it would be 15 minutes so we arrived about 20 minutes later. It took at least another 15 minutes before our food was ready. No big deal if the food was good. It wasn't. The rice: undercooked and not sticky Dragon Roll: Didn't even taste like Unagi. Incredible Tuna: "Seared Tuna" was medium well. We pulled it off the roll and pretty much made it into a spicy tuna roll. Very little spice and average flavor. Alligator: Messy, mayo sauce was runny, simply not good. In Livermore we'll stick with Kawa or try the new place downtown.
(1)
Meagan R.
Alright! Yelp iPhone app strikes again! I don't live in Livermore so I'm not sure what was here before, but from reading other reviews I've gathered it sucked? Good news: Sumo Sushi House does NOT suck! Woo hoo! We ordered a Himachi Jalapeno appetizer. Not good, just tasted off. We told them so and they kindly offered to try again. Success! Much better this time. I was very pleased that they offered to remake it. Next up was the Alligator Roll. Good, very good. It was a roll with spicy mayonnaise on it, and they pulled it off well. I hate saucy sushi in general but my dining partner loves it so I compromised. It was not overly saucy like it often can be, just the right amount. And finally the Rainbow Naruto Roll. Seriously, how have I never had a roll like this? Tuna, salmon, yellowtail, avocado, wrapper in cucumber. No rice, no seaweed. Freaking awesome. Just so good. Light, fresh, summery, nearly perfect. It came with a sweet and sour mango dipping sauce which I liked but my friend didn't care much for. He used the standard soy sauce and wasabi and liked it that way just as much as I did with the mango sauce. So happy to find fresh tasting and creative sushi in Livermore. It was excellent.
(4)
Norell F.
I really wanted to like this place my friend and I went here for dinner and to start when we walked in the host didn't say hi or anything they took about 10 minutes to even put our name down to wait for a table. When we finally did we decided to go to the bar and get a drink not one person that went behind the bar said anything and we never got our drink 15-20 minutes later finally got seated at no point did anyone say sorry for the wait. My friend and I ordered two salads, a few rolls, and drinks. Her salad came out we asked our server where mine was (seeing as how is was just a sea weed salad) he said it would be right out we got all of our food before I ever got my salad got it and our server said there was a lot of orders that went to the kitchen at once. OK no big deal other then the fact that two other tables came in after us ordered after us and got their food and check way before us. Then the table that was right next to us started yelling about everything we had just gone through and the manager took two of their items off the bill. What??? So because we didn't yell and scream you didn't apologize for the long wait and gave free stuff to a jerk ok. So I doubt I will try this place again
(2)
Narek G.
We go here pretty often with family. They have really good appetizers, we are a big fan of the tuna tartar and seared yellow-tail. We have also tried the tuna pizza which is not too bad. Our favorite rolls are the alligator roll and the tuna amazing roll. Most importantly, they will make anything with soy paper instead of sea weed if you are not a big fan of sea weed. Try it, it might not look like a place you want to go from the outside but they have pretty decent sushi. Best in the tri-valley area that I have found!
(5)
T B.
I'm always skeptical of restaurants that need photo's on their menu's, but this place is fresh and delicious. The services is fantastic. We ordered all Sushi rolls this time and the plating was beautiful. The fish was truly the freshest I've eaten without having to go out and catch it myself. Definitely the place to be if you are craving sushi. Oh and they just opened a Benihana style experience on one side of this huge restaurant.
(5)
Alley S.
Came here after boyfriend got a coupon in the mail for 15% off here. Boy were we happy! Came in for lunch, both opted for the Bento box lunches with Chicken katsu. Very filling meal for under $20! We will definately be coming back! Hopefully for some sake.
(5)
Callie L.
We just went here for dinner for the first time, and overall we had a very nice evening. Food was decent, the staff were *VERY* nice to our toddlers, and although not super cheap the fish was fresh and the meats high quality. The sushi rice was well-seasoned, the fish was fresh, and some of the crazier sushi coming out to other tables looked really neat! I even saw one that had LED lights on the plate--crazy. My husband had beef teriyaki, which was also pretty tasty. The cut of beef was high quality and the sauce tasted fresh. It came out VERY VERY rare, so we did send it back, but they happily cooked it more for him, and that is more of a personal preference thing than anything else. Just be aware that they may lean towards rare meats here. My toddlers shared a kids chicken katsu bento (these are pretty big bento boxes so smaller kids can share) and the coating on the chicken was crispy and freshly fried. We also had japanese fried rice--very tasty. The decor is nothing to write home about, but it was very clean and newly renovated. The ambiance wasn't great as they had the regular radio on (commercials and all!) but I assume as they get more established they'll realize this mistake and put on something else. The biggest plus for us, is as a family with not one but two toddlers, the restaurant was spacious, with booths, and best of all the staff members were INCREDIBLY NICE to my kids. That as any parent will know is worth its weight in gold as all too often even restaurants that claim to be family friendly glare at families with kids so kudos to the staff for being so welcoming and kind to families. We'll probably put this on our regular rotation for family dinners.
(4)
Christina T.
Checked them out the other day, because I'd love to see a restaurant really succeed in this location and I hope they are it. We went for lunch, and were originally the only costumers but soon others arrived. Although lonely, the staff was excellent and attentive and made us feel at home instead of awkward. Presentation was phenomenal. You really get your money's worth and more for lunch specials. I ordered a combination sashimi and tuna roll that also came with soup and salad. My husband ordered sashimi lunch that came with soup and salad, and his sashimi came on ice that had a glowing light underneath! I would certainly go back, but think the decor needs a little bit of work. Fish was delicious. Hoping to see them last.
(4)
Matt K.
We've been here 5 times for the Hibachi grill and we have loved it every time. It's a very reasonable price and always entertaining. Would recommend it to anyone.
(5)
Andrew E.
Ate here a few weeks ago after I hadn't had Japanese food in awhile and was craving some good Sushi. With all the positive yelp reviews, this place has to be good right? Nope. This is whitewashed Japanese food to the Max. Miso comes with a spoon. Virtually every Japanese restaurant in the Bay Area give you soup AND salad with your entree. Here it's one or the other. Pork Katsu was overcooked and tough and the tempura dipping sauce was bland. This place was LOUD. Screaming babies in stereo. I know that's not the restaurant's fault, but it didn't make my experience any more pleasant. Sushi was ok, but because of everything else I mentioned above I don't think I would ever go back.
(2)
Andrea V.
I was beyond disappointed with this place. Went here for lunch with a small group. Between the 5 of us, we ordered around 8 rolls. All were pretty big in size, but the quality was horrible. Not fresh. Not tasty. I actually gagged after putting a tuna roll in my mouth. After 3 pieces I couldn't do it anymore. I was SO hungry, but not hungry enough to eat what they served. Never again! Up side - nice decor & friendly staff. :-P
(1)
Jessica G.
Hands down the best sushi I have ever had. Its like vegas style, over the top, fresh sushi and wow...hella good! We come here a lot!
(5)
Joe P.
Good sushi....expensive sushi! Nice place
(3)
Karen J.
My favorite sushi restaurant by far. You can't beat the service here.
(5)
Adina R.
I've been here twice hoping it would be better the second time but I probably won't go back. The first time was at the hibachi room and the chef was fun, the rice, meat and seafood were fantastic but the veggies tasted aweful. I couldn't eat them at all. We made a reservation for my son's birthday thinking they would give him a special desert like other hibachi places I have been to and they acted as if nothing was special about the day. I'm pretty sure someone stole our reservation because there was a check next to my name when I walked in so I purposely mentioned many times throughout the meal that it was his birthday and nothing happened. Service was very slow so I had to take my younger kids outside while the birthday boy waited for some ice cream and my husband said they apologized and realized it was his birthday and they sang and gave him a special dessert but I and the siblings missed the enitre thing. Second visit...this time lunch in the sushi room. Staff was so friendly! Soup is delicious. I find the salad dressing odd but my kids all love it. One kid got a bento box which was nice with a spring roll and california rolls but the chicken teriyaki was nasty. The chicken itself was dry, stringy and had hard pieces in it. I do like that they offer chicken yaki udon (fried noodles with chicken). The sushi fish was nice and the presentation gorgeous but I think some of the textures didn't work in the sushi, such as the dragon roll. The cucumbers were very hard cut in sticks and it didn't work. I prefer another place in town so I probably won't come back here but I do like the staff a lot. Maybe with a great deal I would do it. Tip...the website and take out menu have great coupons and I wasted my money with the Groupon. Which is the reason I went twice (so I didn't have the Groupon expire)
(3)
Mike C.
This had to the most interesting dining experience ever, coming here to celebrate my birthday with a group of my friends thinking that we could take advantage of their 10% off coupon on the website. Along with reservation at the tepanyaki area, we had confirmed with the front reception area that they could honor the coupon for a large group of us. The dining experience was decent, the tepan show was entertaining and the food ingredient was decent. This place is by no means a Japanese restaurant (Chinese owned), but what else can you expect in Livermore? Upon receiving our split-bills, the real shock came with a series of falsified claims which made absolutely no sense. * They first did not want to take their own 10% coupon (even though we confirmed in the front desk) * Claimed the coupon must be printed (does not say on the website, or the coupon, or front desk) * Can only apply the coupon to one check only, "because the machine will not accept more than one coupon at a time". (We all have SEPARATE BILLS, machine does not know the difference if we are one big party or not. ONLY THE PERSON PROCESSING KNOWS) * When we confront about the guy made the promise, we were told that "he is a partial owner who doesn't know how the coupon works." Doesn't the owner have the final say?? especially after promising us something? * Upon further questioning, this "guy" became a new "manager" that isn't familiar with the policies, thus making a lot of mistakes. Why can't he own up to his mistakes?? * Later offered to use the coupon IF we all combine back to one check, but can only use ONE credit card to process. Are you friggin kidding me? It's not my first time eating at a restaurant, card machines allow you to punch in an amount for each credit card After experiencing all this on my birthday, here are my observations: 1) if you are going to make your customers jump through hoops to claim your own coupon, then don't offer it 2) if you have ridiculous rules on your coupon, list it 3) if you own employees don't know your own policies, better off not say anything than making falsifying claims 4) if an employee makes a mistake, own up to it. My suggestion to you if you share similar experience as me? 1) mark your own discount from the tip, you have far more flexibilities than the 10% 2) write your blog post here + share it with all your friends 3) go somewhere else where they actually want your business and save a headache 4) want real Japanese food? Yelp Pleasanton and you will find 10 other restaurants with a better dining experience. Result? They have lost my business, 13 of my friends, plus everybody in the restaurant. We will all write reviews and share our experiences through words of mouth and encourage you to do the same.
(1)
Chrissy R.
This has turned into our go-to place for sushi in Livermore. Decently priced, fresh fish always. Their presentation is always great, and although the service can be a bit slow from time to time (mainly when they have a packed house), they are always very friendly. Your bill will get expensive if you start to drink, so find a DD, drink before hand, and enjoy your dinner to keep the costs down!
(4)
Alexander W.
I Placed an order at 3:25, lunch ends at 3:30 and they tried to charge me the $17 dinner price not the $10 lunch price. I really felt this was dishonest. When I opted to leave, my waitress was trying to hold back her laughter. I was just outraged at their disregard for customer satisfaction. No wonder this restaurant is empty. This place was better back when it was Crazy Buffet. I had never been to Sumo so I decided to give them a chance... I WILL NEVER VISIT THIS RESTAURANT AGAIN.
(1)
Lisa T.
Best sushi restaurant in Livermore! The valentine roll was amazing! The fried rice was super yummy too! They've done a great job remodeling the space and the staff is really friendly! I've already been back! YUM!
(5)
Giselle M.
I love SUSHI.. no joke. This place has had many different owners and many similar types of cuisine, but this time it felt different. After a high school graduation on a Friday night and having friends and family attend the atmosphere felt very nice. Although we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table which they had plenty of, the food made up for it in the end. I had a salmon benko box and it was delicious along side the "american dream" and extra tempura shrimp and calamari this place not only offers delicious food, service, but great customer service... VERY PLEASED!! (^^)
(4)
Gregory L.
It was that time again, to have lunch with a business associate and all that goes along with that. She suggested Sumo Sushi at the corner of Mines and 1st Streets and I recoiled and said, "I don't want to eat at a buffet" It's not a buffet! It's great sushi! We went, we ate, it was fantastic! Moderately priced and beautifully presented. Thoroughly enjoyed and took my wife back there two days later. I recommend Sumo Sushi. It's not a buffet!!
(4)
Will I A m.
the presentation of food is very nice but i don't see how the sushi is rated so high. yes, it's good food and their originality is great but i would not rate it as high as "i'm a fan" or "woohoo". sorry! the prices are very high and there are other options in the tri valley. food alone, i would definitely come back. but with rolls that average $13-$15, it's not worth it for me.
(3)
K M.
There are only a couple of Sushi places in Livermore that you can count on for having fresh fish and this is one of them. The alligator roll and moonlight roll are excellent. The only reason I am giving 4 stars is because my take out orders are always being screwed up. One certain hostess always has difficulty understanding my order and on more than one occasion I go to pick it up and it is wrong and I have to wait another 15 minutes for them to make my roll. Probably wont be doing takeout anymore.
(4)
Ria P.
I was so excited to see all these lovely reviews for a local sushi restaurant, so we headed down to try it out. We ordered the regular sashimi set and were extremely disappointed. The tuna had obviously be frozen and defrosted several times and the salmon had almost no flavor. I'm not entirely sure what the other 3 pieces were as they were indistinguishable from one another by anything but color. Maybe our failure was in not ordering rolls, but I prefer sushi without piles of sauce and deep fried crusts. I suppose if that's what you're after, Sumo is fine, but definitely go elsewhere for simple sashimi.
(1)
Derick L.
Tasty fresh sushi. The plates have catchy presentation with lots of flair. Service is friendly although was a bit difficult to communicate with. Decor with TVs is a plus.
(5)
chris w.
Don't be put off by the exterior of Sumo Sushi and Steak House. It's located way out 1st St. near Lowe's. For the first time since the 70's this restaurant has been transformed from the original Smorga Bob's into a lovely dining venue. The service is impeccable and the food...well, my valentine roll was not only delicious but the prettiest thing I've ever seen on a plate. The chef took time to arrange the roll and then make it look like it was surrounded by a cherry blossom tree in bloom! We'll be back. Thanks LocalGruv for getting us there! They also have teppanyaki and a nice bar. Yes, the curse is gone for this homely building!
(4)
Miss K.
Great, fresh sushi. We were very pleased!!
(4)
F. L. C.
My family and I have celebrated two birthdays here in the last few months and have to say that the experiences were fantastic! I just had my birthday here and was very impressed with the wonderful and attentive service. Of course, the food was flavorful, well-cooked, and the best teppanyaki place I have ever visited. Our teppanyaki cook, Eason, is consistent and masterful as well as friendly and entertaining. The kids and adults alike really enjoyed the showmanship of Eason's teppanyaki skills and the food from the fried rice down to the meats and seafood were cooked to perfection with just the right flavors. Eason even took time to make balloon animals for the kids which was nice and unexpected. Furthermore, the staff came and sang Happy Birthday to me and gave me a complimentary fried banana dessert. As we were leaving, everyone said good bye and wished me a wonderful birthday again. It was such a warm and inviting experience. I highly recommend Sumo if you are looking for great food and wonderful service. The portions are very generous and as I mentioned before, everything was flavorful and succulent. Thank you to the staff and our cook Eason for making my birthday memorable!
(5)
Angela L.
The sushi is just ok, most times we've been, the fish just doesn't seem very fresh. The last time we were there, everything seemed to be just quickly thrown together and our gyoza was under cooked yet burnt. Even though we complained about it and they took it back, they did not take it off our bill. The place itself is nice but we probably won't be going back.
(2)
Cindy D.
This is an update on my previous review of their new Teppanyaki dinner service. We had an absolutely fantastic experience last month. It seems like they have really turned things around and upped the notch on their customer service. We were here for my son's birthday and they were so sweet to him. We did not mention the special occasion but I'm sure they figured out since he was wearing a birthday crown. Even though we didn't request it, they still brought out a special desert and sang for him. It was such a kind gesture and very much appreciated. Thank you, Sumo Sushi!
(5)
Michelle W.
This resturant is awesome! The staff are really friendly and on top of their game! The food and cheft were both great!! I would most definitely recommend eating here. This is now my favorite Japanese Steakhouse!
(5)
Dion J.
Awesome presentation of sushi. Pretty high quality, although a little on the high priced side for what you get.
(4)
F T.
Came here with a friend for dinner tonight and the sushi looks exactly like the wonderful photos online. Even the menu photos will get you hooked if you don't know what to order. It sure helps when you're indecisive and love all types of rolls. We ordered the Moonlight Roll and the Tuna Amazing Roll. Both scrumptious! Took awhile to be made because they seem to take a lot of time perfecting the display with sauces, etc. We ate it all so quickly!! We then had dessert-Tiramisu (my fav) and my friend ordered the Tempura Ice Cream. We both enjoyed dessert as well. All in all a good meal. On another note, the restaurant is pretty large. When we first walked in we were asked if we wanted to do sushi or Hibachi, where you cook your own food. It's nice to have options. I guess what you want to eat determines what area you will be sitting at. My friend and I were sat at the bar even though there were plenty of tables but we didn't mind because we got to see the sushi being made. I would definitely come here again. They even gave us a little stamp card for every entree you purchase. So when you reach a certain number of stamps. you get a treat!
(4)
Welldone F.
This is way above your normal sushi place! The sushi is fresh, the menu is mouth-watering with all of the amazing selections, and the dishes are presented with flare. If you love sushi, the menu will knock your socks off! The great food and attentive service, all at a very reasonable price, will bring us back again and again. Lets not let this place go, folks!
(5)
Paul S.
Best sushi in Livermore by far! You have to try the Sumo Roll and the Spicy Kani Roll. So awesome! Prices are reasonable and they have very friendly service. You get what you pay for here and you'll be back for more. AWESOME!!!!
(5)
Mr R.
I still can't believe Livermore now has one of the best Sushi restaurants in the east bay! Now, its a tad on the pricey side (average $12-14 for a roll), but like they say, you get what you pay for -- and this food is quality -- not to mention their presentation is impressive. I have been -- and will continue to be -- back several times.
(5)
Patty W.
Like any good Yelper, I scoped out the reviews written by my fellow Yelpers before deciding to take the plunge at Sumo Sushi House. My hesitation was not without good reason. Like many others, I've witnessed the downfalls of the many eateries stationed in this location, and was more than a bit skeptical. Here's what I noticed about the reviews: - many of the negative comments had to do with use of the 10% coupon from the restaurant's website - many of the poor reviews came from Asians .. Could this be because mostly Asians are the only ones using the coupon? Or does it have to do with the generally non-Asian population of Livermore? Hmmm ... First off, this place is huge. Given that it used to be a buffet, there is plenty of open space, and the teppanyaki room was at capacity. It was a bit disappointing that we had to wait, even though there were clearly open tables, but our waitress and hostess both explained they were short staffed because one of the servers had called in sick. That said, we still got very quick and attentive service. We ordered the tuna pizza for an appetizer.. I know, I know, sounds like a bad idea, but really, it was quite tasty! But much smaller than pictured in the menu. Next, we ordered an American Dream Roll ($14) and a Crispy Dragon Roll ($13). Probably $1 - $2 more than other restaurants would charge for the same thing, but I'm guessing the increased price is for presentation and uniqueness. Each plate had a fancy butterfly drawn with different colored sauces and both rolls were acceptably tasty. The American Dream tasted distinctly Chinese though, and we couldn't put a finger on why; I think we settled that it was the rock shrimp that gave it that flavor. It wasn't unappetizing, just unexpected. The Crispy Dragon was good, but we're still unsure about how the cream cheese goes with the unagi flavor. I'm a huge fan of melty cream cheese, so I loved it, but hubby was not so keen. Still, we cleaned the plates. Our servers were very friendly, and the tall round-faced guy with the spiky hair (kinda like Monchichi) was very helpful in recommending future dishes to try. It did seem the hostess and waitstaff were still new and not yet sure of how things worked. I hope they figure this out soon, so they look more polished and professional. Also, at most sushi places, the chefs will greet you when you enter and leave; we got nothing here. Perhaps because the chefs are so far away from the doorway entrance, it would be distracting to other diners. We don't like people anyway, so it was fine with us, but you friendlier types might be put off about it. Overall, I would and have recommended this place to others, especially those who are still reeling from the bad taste previous tenants have left in the revolving door that is 4193 First Street. Note: We did not use a coupon. I am Chinese, husband is Caucasian ... service was fast and friendly. The lesson of the day is: don't use a coupon and do represent diversity. It's a win.
(4)
K L.
I love taking my kids here! The teppan cooks are amazing and the servers are so polite and tentative. We usually order the chicken/steak teriyaki. I haven't tried their sushi yet but I will do so on my next visit.
(5)
Laura S.
Don't judge a book by its cover, this place is gorgeous on the inside and the food is amazing!!
(5)
Tammy K.
This place has become our new "sushi spot." Ive been about a dozen times and have nothing bad to say. Food is always good and fresh. Service is always good to at least decent.
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 : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Billy G.
I went here for dinner last night with family and friends. The staff and food were both fantastic. First of all the sushi was fresh and subtle and seemed to rely on the quality of ingredients (although I am not super in to this the aesthetics were amazing, they made butterflies out of carrots, designs on plates, apple fans, everything looked very cool). We had sashimi, rolls, salmon tartar, cooked tuna neck (hamachi khan I think) - all were fantastic. The inside and ambiance were enjoyable as well. We had a one year old with us and they were very nice to him - the staff is so friendly!!
(5)David C.
The presentation of the food very nice. Great staff with a unique sushi menu.
(5)Ria H.
I just move to the area not too long ago and Im always cautious when eating sushi somewhere new, but this place has past the test. On top of that the hibachi show keeps the hubby happy (hes a big kid). Customer service always friendly each time Ive eaten in AND when doing pick up.
(5)T A.
Came here for the first time on my birthday...LOVED it! Yummy food and close to home-doesn't get better than that!
(4)Jen C.
So many employees smiled at me as I walked in that I felt like a celebrity. The food is delicious, fresh, and reasonably priced. Also, I don't know why it's so hard to find a sweet potato roll in the bay, but Sumo's is delicious! You should take a date here. I guarantee they will go out with you again.
(5)Amy R.
Hands down, best sushi I've had in a really long time. My husband & I stopped in on the way home from a weekend trip...we were seriously craving sushi. From the beautiful presentation to the freshness of the fish to the excellent service and very creative rolls, everything we had was so delicious! We will definitley be making the trek down here again...its that good!
(5)Terry S.
Gorgeous inside. Excellent service. Awesome food! Try the Volcano salad and Dragon Roll! You won't be sorry!
(5)Chris P.
This is a great place. They have great sushi, with decent prices. The spicy tuna roll is a must try!
(5)Linda K.
So happily surprised, food was fresh, beautifully plated, and great service. Wish it was not so noisy, but everything else was perfect. If you like sushi, this is somewhere you need to try.
(4)Melissa S.
This was my first time at Sumo -- the outside of the place isn't much to look at -- but inside is BEAUTIFUL! The food and service was outstanding! If you are looking for a great dinner out -- or maybe just drinks -- this place is wonderful. I would encourage you to give it a try!
(5)Rebecca M.
Went to Sumo Sushi House for teppanyaki last night with my family (party of 6) to celebrate a birthday and belated Father's day. We had a reservation for 5:00pm and we were seated immediately. Most of us ordered the steak/filet mignon and shrimp combo and it was delicious. The beef was cooked to perfection, full of flavor, and very tender. My mother in law ordered the Hibachi Salmon and said that it was the best she has ever had. Each dinner order includes soup, salad, and hibachi fried rice. There was not an extra charge for the fried rice like a most teppanyaki style restaurants. The food portions were generous. Prices for our menu items were about $2.00 cheaper than what we have paid at other teppanyaki places in the area. Our chef was friendly and really knew what he was doing. The support staff was attentive and made sure our beverages were full and empty plates cleared from the table right away. Last but not least.... when I have eaten at other restaurants like this I have found that I leave the place smelling like I rolled on the table with the food while it cooked, sometimes right down to my undergarments. That was not the case with Sumo Sushi House. After enjoying my delicious dinner I would have felt confident in going to the movies, concert, etc. without worrying that everyone around me could smell what I had just eaten. This will definitely be my go to place for future family celebrations.
(4)a j.
We've eaten here about five times now, and each time the food is delicious and beautifully presented. This is the place Livermore has been missing...good sushi for a fair price. We will continue to be regulars here. The owner Cindy is very sweet and genuinely cares about making her customers happy. All of the servers are friendly and courteous. Definitely eat here...just save us space at the sushi bar...!
(5)R H.
The beef fried rice was amazing, best I've ever tasted. The moonlight and angry roll was delicious. The staff was also super friendly. It was our first time and definitely coming back!
(5)Jeff G.
We have eaten at quite a few sushi restaurants and Sumo Sushi House ranks among the top. The fish is fresh and sliced perfectly. They have innovative rolls that bring out the flavor of the fish. The yellowtail jalapeno appetizer is not to be missed. The price is very reasonable. The service was excellent and always with a smile. We look forward to many future visits!
(5)Smarty P.
We headed out on a cold rainy night to try Sumo based on the reviewrs comments on YELP. We are glad that we did! The wait staff was attentive and quick and the kitchen prepared food quickly- so it was perfect for our hungry group. The quality and preparation of the fish was excellent and the restaurant is contemporary yet cozy. The fried banana dessert was OK but the tempura ice cream very good.
(3)Dani C.
Was hesitant to go here. Looks shady on the outside. Inside was beautiful and very clean! Went with another couple and three kids for dinner. Ordered 5 different rolls, some appetizers and terriaki boxes for the kids. Food was excellent! Everything was very, very good and beautifully presented. Service was great too. Will be going here. Instead of another popular sushi place in Livermore. Very satisfied customers!!!!
(5)Jim S.
Livermore Sushi Lovers, you need to go check out Sumo Sushi House. You will be plenty surprised that this location now supports one of the best Sushi places in the Tri-Valley.
(5)Renee P.
Giving them a downgrade because, while I still love some of their sushi, experience has taught us two new things. First, they don't seem to actually marinade their cooked dishes. Chicken teriyaki tasted like they just poured a canned teriyaki sauce over chicken. I was also unimpressed with the beef appetizer we tried, for likewise low flavor. The second thing is kind of a biggie: they cannot seem to master the art of timing the food - bringing it out in dribs and drabs as they have it ready. You might get an appetizer and one persons entree, and someone else in your group may wait an extra 10 minutes for their food. Or the entree may come after the first roll, etc. I've gone there several times, and they really are one of my go-to places, but I think service quality and the need to be in the mood for the items they make well makes this a second-rate option, rather than my go-to for sushi in Livermore. For better overall quality and service, we visit hanabishi. The decor there isn't fancy, but they are consistently high quality and good service.
(3)John P.
I've been to this place a couple times already, and I love it. the interior is remolded and looks quite nice from what used to be there. I sat at the sushi bar both times I've been there. I was treated to a complimentary appetizer and was treated great by the whole staff, excellent, friendly service. The sushi chefs, if that's what you call them, are amazing at what they do. Very attentive to details, and have great designs on the plates. However, the most important par is the sushi itself. The quality of the ingredients they use is up there. Everything I've had so far has tasted amazing. As far as prices go, I tink they are pretty fair. To be honest, the number of different restaurants that have occupied the building it is in has changed so many times that I really was not expecting this place to be great. I was absolutely one hundred percent wrong. I want this place to stay for the long haul
(5)john c.
We were skeptical since this place has gone through so many changes. We tried it and we are pleasantly surprised. They have some very unique dishes like sashimi pizza and each plate is decorated with Stencil artwork made from Sauces. They are giving Kawa sushi some serious competition.
(4)TARA B.
Place is amazing. Service was great, food was delicious, and the deep fried green tea ice cream capped off the night. Although decently populated with our diners, the noise level was very comfortable. Although we were a party of three, it would be a nice place for a large group or intimate night for two! Will definitely be back :)
(5)Bunnee S.
Awesome! Have eaten here twice and loved it both times. I am already addicted to the volcano salad and everything we tried was great. Beautiful presentation, fresh, flavorful ingredients and friendly staff. Keeping my fingers crossed that Sumo stays around for a long time!
(5)Karen M.
First let me say my family and I love good sushi. Sometimes hard to find, having said that, Sumo's is great. The food was fresh, tasted great and was presented beautifully. The staff was very friendly and attentive. We will definetly go back.
(5)Livermore L.
The service was extremely attentive. The food was fresh and served very attractively. Portions were adequate. Our over all experience was good enough to come back again and again. The atmosphere is actually one of the very finest in Livermore. We hope more people will patronize and keep this fine restaurant in business !!!
(4)S. S.
Was just passing by Livermore on our way home, so we picked the closest Japanese restaurant available. Looked nice enough from the outside & interior was nice as well. The food ended up being about average so I have no complaints about the food. However, it took a long time to place our order (& only after we flagged them). Also our soup/salad didn't come out until we asked for it. Then to top it off, there was a piece of hair in our rice. So overall, the service was pitifully slow yet they made no offers to compensate us. The people seemed nice enough, but we will not go back here again.
(1)Dna B.
What a great place to come and enjoy great sushi, awesome environment, excellent staff and A***** menu. We are hooked. DnA
(5)Johnny N.
Don't need to say much but if you LOVE sushi then you MUST eat here. They have great presentation, the food is excellent, clean environment, friendly service staff, and the sushi chef even has items that's not even on the menu that will WOW you.
(5)Susanne R.
Came in for lunch today with hubby and friends. We were immediatly greeted and taken to the dining room. Our hostess asked if we wanted a table or booth and we took a booth near the window. The area where we were seated was nicely decorated and I really liked that if you were at a table, your neighbor was not right next to you. We were waiting for 1 more person to show up and that kind of threw their rhythm out of whack.. We kept getting asked if we were ready to order by several of the staff. We did ordered Edamame while we waited for our friend. Tea came quickly as did the nice warm Edamame. My husband wanted more salt on them, but I thought they were just fine. The last person in our party arrived and they came over after giving her enough time to look at the menu. We ordered a couple of seaweed salads, Sashimi lunch, sashimi & sushi combo, Chirashi and more. The menu is a lot of pictures with minimal descriptions which had us wondering about the content of some items.. The soup and salad came out quickly with the exception of mine as I asked for the dressing on the side for my salad. She commented that she would bring my salad in a bit. It came without too much delay. The tea was non-stop. Each of the servers for the area would come by and fill the cups. I was a bit disappointed that we got our tea in coffee mugs instead of more traditional japanese stoneware. Our main courses came out and they looked just like the pictures.. WOW they were beautiful. The GREAT thing was they tasted as good as they looked. For the Shashimi lunch and the combo lunch - they came with a flashing LED light under the ice or under the grated daikon for a nice effect. FUN !! They seemed to be a bit higher in price than Kawa but the serving size was good. We'll definitely be coming back and I understand too they are going to put in Hibachi grills in soon ....
(4)Luke B.
Honestly, the food wasn't that bad to deserve two stars. But the service was the worst I've experienced in the area. We made a reservation and waited 45 minutes past our time. The food came out in bits, some people in our group finished before others got their food. We were only a party of 6!
(2)Con N.
I don't get the 4.5 stars this place has. I've dine at many sushi restaurants, and this place is one of the more average ones when considering the quality and taste of sushi. It's definitely not run and operated by Japanese. That in itself is already a no-no to me. However, the service is pretty good. The servers were nice.
(3)Daphne M.
Great food, but the service often leaves something to be desired. Not a great place to go unless you have time and don't need a lot of attention. Great with a coupon though!
(4)Lauren P.
Pleasantly surprised! If you live in Livermore, or drive by this location, you know that there have been about 17 different "restaurants" that have gone in this building over the past few years. I have never been inclined to go to any of these due to the fact that none of them stay around long enough to even think about. My husbands family wanted to go out to dinner and chose this spot. I was a little apprehensive at first because of the history, but off I went! The interior is VERY nice. I was so surprised at how it looks inside. They have a big dining area, a teppanyaki area coming soon (which I am so excited about) and a BIG sushi bar. I don't eat sushi, or seafood for that matter. I ordered Chicken Teriyaki and it was so delicious! It comes with veggies, rice and soup or salad. I didn't care for the salad dressing so much, and the salad had about 1/2 cup of water at the bottom of the bowl, so it was very.... wet. The service was good but a little strange. We had few different servers throughout the night, but everyone was very helpful and the drink refills kept coming. My husband ordered a sushi plate... Some tuna roll... But my favorite part is the awesome decoration they did on the plate... It looked like some type of syrup or sauce that was used to "draw" on the plate. Very pretty. They also have a frequent customer type card. Every $35 you spend, you get a punch, and once you fill up your card, you get $40 off your meal. Not too bad if you eat here a lot Wil I come back here? You bet. The food and service was awesome.
(4)R L.
This place is great!! Food is great. Price is great. What else can u ask for?
(4)Jerry W.
I have been to Sumo several times and enjoy the presentation of food and service. Usually have a good time. Last Saturday there was a wait, so asked if we could be added to list for the next table. Said they didn't have a list. They would remember us. OK? Heard another group there before us say they had been passed over already, so wasn't so sure about not having a list. Service was great, though and food didn't disappoint.
(4)Sonalika P.
Didn't love it......something was missing.....my sophisticated sushi pallet was missing the familiar flavors.
(3)lisa b.
We've been to Sumo a few times in the past couple of weeks. Their sashimi is as fresh as fresh can be and is divine. On our last visit hubby decided to order sushi instead. The rice was under cooked and ruined the rolls. He was pretty disappointed and will probably stick to the sashimi from here on out. That''s our only complaint out of all the visits.
(4)Arian R.
Best sushi In Livermore or even the east bay....Very Artistic when it comes down to the food!
(5)Randy C.
Wow! In the wake of at least half-a-dozen failed chinese buffets, this place has so far bucked the trend! A refreshing take on your typical Japanese restaurant, Sumo Sushi offers sushi and sushi rolls presented in beautiful and imaginative presentations! Some things we tried included the salmon pizza, rock shrimp tempura, naruto rainbow roll, golden gate roll, and ankimo (monkfish liver)!! Everything was delicious and plated exquisitely! Service was also great, although we were the first ones there for lunch, so I'm not sure how service fares during the dinner rush, especially with how intricate some of the dishes looked. But... I'll be happy to find out the answer myself!
(5)Wayne R.
Food was good, but service was terrible. We arrived just before 8pm to a sign that said "please wait to be seated" but no host/hostess. There were plenty of empty tables and extra staff behind the sushi bar, but we were ignored. I finally asked a passing employees if there was a hostess and he left to get the woman. Our waiter seemed like he preferred we weren't there. No personality whatsoever. But the food was very good and came out pretty quickly. I hope they train their staff better so that they have a longer run than other restaurants in that location.
(3)Nancy F.
We stopped in with intentions to eat dinner but once we ordered our rolls we decided we didn't want to order anything else. The california roll and spicy tuna roll were the size of a quarter with the thinest layer of rice on the outside. I have never seen anything so small! We also ordered a roll with lobster on top (i forgot the name) but it was also a disappointment. Yes the plating and decor was nice but not enough to impress us.
(2)Katie B.
i felt compelled to write a review because of some of the low ratings I saw. Sushi: I'm no expert, but yes, more than likely this is Americanized sushi. Are you truly expecting authentic Japanese sushi with the highest grade sashimi in suburban Livermore? How about if you just enjoy it for what it is: tasty food with great presentation. I like the Lady Gaga roll the best. My one complaint is that some of the rolls aren't tight enough which makes for difficult eating. Teppanyaki: the food was very good, even the filet, which is saying something since I'm not a huge red meat person. The chef was late, but did a great job once he got there. Service: A little spotty, but usually not bad. I've had several visits where I had reasonable service, a few where I had good service and one where they were pretty slow. Of note, the restaurant is newer and more spacious than any of the other sushi places I've been to in town.
(4)Tracy S.
LOVE THIS PLACE! We have been here almost a dozen times so far. The habachi grill is super, with large portions and they don't charge extra for the fried rice. Service has always been super. We have also done the sushi side, beautiful presentation and very tasty and again super, friendly service. Also the lunch habachi menu is a great deal.
(5)Goldilocks J.
Went for dinner the other night with friends. They are Livermore residents, so they were very skeptical about the place, since they said this location was cursed. Well, I think the curse has been broken. We ordered so much stuff, that I forgot all of what we ate, and I forgot the grab the receipt so I could be accurate with the names of the rolls. Suffice it to say, it was all great! I was really impressed by the quality and flavor of the food. Most of all, I was impressed by how beautifully everything was plated and served. The sushi chefs truly take pride in their work, and everything was a work of art! Beautiful and tasty. I would definitely go back again. Great place!!
(4)Lisa L.
This place has only been open four months, but this was amazing sushi!! We had the seafood martini appetizer, maki combo and the Alligator roll. Fish was very fresh and presentation was awesome. Staff was friendly and attentive, we will definitely be going back!
(5)Kaila D.
I was always skeptical about this place since the previous restaurants never lasted. When I finally gave Sumo Sushi a try, I was impressed. The fish was so fresh! The freshest fish in Livermore. I don't care if I have to pay a few more extra dollars, it's definitely worth the price to pay for fresh fish. Favorite new sushi restaurant.
(5)Kim A.
Love this place!! My kids have always enjoyed Benihana's but when we moved to Livermore, there wasn't one around. This place is every bit as good but much better prices. I don;t eat sushi but my husband and daughter do and have really enjoyed everything they have ordered.
(5)Sarah B.
I'd moved to the area recently and wanted some take out that wasn't pizza or burgers. I love sushi, so we decided to give this place a try. The food was fantastic, and even in takeout containers it was beautiful. This was some of the best sushi I'd had in a long time. We walked up to the front desk, and placed our order. While we were waiting the hostess chatted with us about the renovations they are going through (putting in a teppanyaki room). She was very friendly and pleasant. We didn't have to wait very long, and I would not have minded waiting longer. The lobby was well decorated and comfortable. I'm looking forward to coming here again and staying for dinner instead of take out.
(5)Peter S.
I went here this saturday for lunch and they were charging dinner prices for the bentos. I feel I got ripped off because it was $20 just for the bento box and it was just ok. I'd go back for the tempenyaki but wouldn't go for the sitdown dinners.
(3)Lola H.
I came here with our family one night, and the first obstacle we came across was the fact that we didn't have a reservation. I would think for most restaurants you could just walk on in and be seated without a reservation-especially for a Friday night. Peeking inside while we were waiting, there were plenty of tables, so I was very perplexed about that. If you're from Livermore, you know about the countless ownerships at this location beforehand. If you're apprehensive about its stability, I believe that it's safe (for now) to say that it's in pretty stable condition. One interesting detail I noticed though was that they wrote down seating in a notebook...with the computer right there? Hey, whatever keeps you guys organized, just get me and my family a table. Then, we waited about 25 min. to be seated. Smaller groups just walked right on in, was it our larger group? Even so, they could just put two tables together. There are a lot of young waiters/waitresses who appear to be "decent" in serving, though not completely clueless. We were seated, but we ended up having to split our family into two, one was in the booth, and our half was at a table. It was around almost 8, and there were other parties finishing up, some people were at the, um, how would you say, the bar where they cook right in front of you (for that you have to order from a special menu or else you can't eat there, and that menu is pretty pricey). Our waiter was okay, but in my opinion, ingenuine. It was as if we were just more tips for her, and I would have appreciated a bit more of a personal connection. Alright, I'm not asking you to be our friend, but let's just act more human, kay? The menu looked, okay, and I ordered the dinner box. The sushi just really didn't stand out to me, and the food is not actually authentic Japanese. There isn't too much technique. The time to get the food out took a while, especially longer for sushi rolls. My dinner box was pretty good, consisted of steamed rice, teriyaki salmon, tempera-battered and fried veggies and sweet potatoes, two spring rolls, and two fried shrimp. It will fill you up, but I believe it's around $17. You should definitely split this with someone. The soup, well, was just soup, it prepared me for the box. Our waitress never rushed us, and the atmosphere was pretty good. I liked it. It was calming, and had you loosen up. I would definitely come here again, but be prepared to spill out a little more money than you normally would. It gets pricy-er than other restaurants. Learning my lesson, if you plan to come in a larger group, make reservations, if you're in a hurry.
(3)Catherine C.
My husband and I were nervous to try this place out since it changed names so many times but I'm so glad we did. This place blows all of the other sushi houses in Livermore out of the water. Their menu has a lot of variety, the food is delicious (we had the Alligator roll, Out of Control roll and the Mango Cucumber (?) roll), presentation is awesome, prices are reasonable, decor is updated and nice, and best of all, their service is great. I loved it so much that I returned for lunch two days later with my cousin (who is also a sushi lover) and I can't wait to take a couple of my co-workers back next week.
(5)Olivia C.
For Lunch, it is very very good. I got 9 big Salmon lunch deal for $10. Cool presentation, fresh fish and nice good looking big cut! Maybe some potential for the soup to improve.. but overall for Salmon lover, it is a very good place to go. Will go back again and again...
(4)Melika A.
So, I met my ex-boyfriend here tonight. Yes, a date with the EX! The interior of the dining area of the resturaunt has been nicely remodeled in an overall modern design. Food: alligator roll- Yummy, the flavor of the grilled salmon & the miso sauce along with the melding of the other ingredients .. it was really good! The new style spicy tuna was served in individual spooned servings. We both were quite surprised at the thoughtful pairing of the texture, to the delicate flavor combination. Each bite of both dishes were really delicious... Because the flavors and textures were so good , we were overall pleasantly satisfied . The Food Presentation - very visually appealing . Also note- M-Th $1 sake!! I would definitely recommend this place ! C'mon people - support a new local business!! Try it out. Keep an open mind ..it maybe different than your other Sushi places. Notice the textures & the flavor combinations. LOL, end note- the EX & I have decided to meet hEr e again one day soon.
(4)Katrina G.
Great sashimi! I didn't care for the rolls however I am not a roll consumer so do not take my word. Helen is the best server! Some of the others not so great. But standing next to Helen everyone else will seem blah! The side salads dressing is nasty though I wish they had that peanuty dressing. Oh well. The presentation is great. Very creative!
(5)David L.
I love sushi and this place is one of the best around. Very elegant but casual. The staff is great especially sitting at the bar area. Fresh fish and very nice plating. Nice job guys. See you soon.
(4)joanne r.
has to be the worst meal i have ever had ... to start it off seemed very chaotic wasnt sure where i could sit for what i wanted to order. the manager helped me out. At that point i had to keep going to him for questions as there was no server managing the sushi area that i could see once in a while they would come by. I was craving lobster and i have to tell you I have never ever left lobster behind but i did tonight. it was so high in sodium and really was over powered by whatever sauce they use, the best part of my meal were the veggies. this is the second time i have been there , the first time when i went i got food poisoning and thought a couple years later should all be good. I spent 45.00 on a glass of wine and a horrible lobster dinner and the service was the worse. I guess if you are sushi fan this may be the place to go all i wanted tonight was lobster and couldnt even finish it. Their menu is very pleasing to the eye but the food and the presentation i got tonight of my 35.00 lobster looked like a mesh of who knows what nothing about it was pleasing.. :-( I would give them no stars but i guess 1 will suffice
(1)CAM C.
Finally a restaurant that will stay! Awesome service and great sushi... I have to admit I was a bit hesitant to come in based on prior restaurants that have been here in the same location, but on the inside it looks nice! I look forward to coming back again and again. Cindy and Eric are a couple of the owners and take great pride in their product! Cheers to Sumo!
(5)Diane W.
chicken yaki noodle soup was average
(3)Richard A.
Our first trip here. Although this location has been a jonah for all previous attempts at buffet type fare, these people have hit it right, wth full service and excellent presentation and food.. Service was excellent, and the presentations were as good as it can get, & included a picture in sauces on my wifes plate. Extraordinary! The ambiance was wonderful, The prices were very good. The only down side is that they do not yet have steaks yet, and I was in the mood for that. However the Chicken Katsu was very good. My wife had several sushi dishes and liked them all. I may be generous with the 5 stars given the absence of the steaks, but when they get there I am sure it will be excellent too. We plan on eating there regularly, steaks or not.
(5)Matt T.
Great food and great staff! We've eaten there on several occasions and have never been disappointed. The food is great. As a matter of fact, prior to coming to this restaurant, I was not a big fan of Japanese food. This place definitely changed my mind. The staff is courteous and attentive. After a few visits they knew what we liked to order and drink. They were also great at making suggestions off their menu and have never been wrong. As for the food, simply put, it's delicious. The artistry that goes into the presentation of their Sushi is second-to-none. I've had Sushi is Hawaii, Las Vegas, San Francisco and at other places all over the bay area. I've never seen it prepared with the style, attention to detail, and taste like they do it here. Suffice it to say, if you like Sushi and Japanese food, and live in the Tri-Valley area, this restaurant should be at the top of your list.
(4)Nick C.
This location has always proved troubling for all proprietors, but the new owners/management has done an outstanding job of providing an upbeat atmosphere and dining experience with great food. We thoroughly enjoyed sitting at the bar and watching the sushi chefs do their thing. We also enjoyed the plate decorator who makes wonderful designs on your plate for beautiful visual impact. Finally, the sushi was excellent and well prepared. We will be back.
(5)Marvet B.
I have mixed feelings. The food and service were wonderful. The problem was the over charge and they still shorted us by .35. I would go back again definitely but make sure you look at your bill.
(4)Allen A.
WOW! I ate at this place for a snack before dinner, and but I ended up eating my entire dinner here! The suss is plated very nicely, it's fresh fish, made fresh, good service, very creative food! The best part is that it's cheep and we got five coupons when we left! Eat here! This is the best sushi place for miles!
(5)Chaya R.
This place was a fantastic surprise! Food was amazing delicious and creative. The service out standing! I'd highly recommend this gem of a restaurant!
(5)Barbara L.
My new favorite sushi restaurant !!!! The sushi is delicious. The plating is beautiful and very photo worthy. The teppan yaki part of the restaurant is well done, with the chef being engaging and entertaining while the food tastes great. Not a cheap date but not outrageously expensive, totally worth it.
(5)Tiffany K.
The sushi here is terrible. We ordered three rolls all of which were lukewarm and barely palatable. The sushi rice was not the right flavor or the right texture. The sashimi had a weird texture in addition to being too warm. Out of all the Japanese restaurants I've been to this is by far the worst. One of the few times such a well reviewed restaurants on Yelp has disappointed. Will never visit again.
(1)Brittany N.
I love this place. It makes for a great date night and there never seems to be a very long wait. You can do the hibachi-style tables, or sit on the sushi side, but you can order either (or both) from each side of the restaurant. I like doing the tepenyaki meals, usually shrimp, or my boyfriend and I get the larger meal and split it (adding a side or appetizer) - that's when I don't sit at the hibachi grills, although, I have a feeling that they would still allow this at the hibachi tables. The mochi dessert is delicious, and keep an eye out for coupons in the ValPack you get in the mail. :)
(4)Kay K.
So disappointed! Sumo Sushi had been one of our favorite sushi spots due to its convenience (location) and creative rolls. However, we had recently also started going to another place in town that had much higher quality fish. Today though, my son wanted to go specifically to Sumo because he has a couple favorite rolls. It will be the last visit. I ordered the sashimi bowl and it was horrible! I actually had to spit out a piece of the red snapper, as it tasted like cleaning product. The salmon was slimey, and there was one other type of fish (not sure what it was) that was super-fishy smelling. I couldn't get past the first bite. My son's roll had tuna on top, and they had not trimmed off the skin so it had a layer of skin along the edge of each piece. Inedible and unappetizing. If the restaurant doesn't care about the quality of the fish or the preparation, there is no reason for me to go there.
(1)Ivy M.
Sumo Sushi "was" one of my favorite Sushi Spots this side of the Bay. They've recently changed ownership and management aaaaand the Sashimi isn't as fresh as it was and their prices also changed. Oh well! Not goi g to be recommending them anymore either.
(2)Molly M.
I'm not sure how they did it, but somehow Sumo Sushi has stepped up it's game and wormed it's way into my heart. I was taken here on a lovely evening by someone who recommended we try it out. At first I had an "ehhhh..." attitude about it, but the last time I had come here was just to order take out, so I figured it was worth another shot. And it was! The rolls are amazing and reasonably priced. I would have never known if I hadn't gone a few days ago. I'm so glad we tried it. :-) Plus, a few of my friends and family said it was no good, but I will have to update them on the most recent experience. Sumo has improved a lot since the last time any of us have gone here. Crunchy Dragon Roll was delicious! But my favorite was probably the Rainbow Roll (since I'm a raw fish fiend). They came out pretty fast too. Along with good company, good food, and a good night, I would say Sumo could become one of those places I would gladly visit on a regular basis. I had such a great time. :)
(4)Hayley H.
Very mediocre sushi and the restaurant was hot!! When its 90F outside, you look to escape to the AC during lunch, but this place had their front doors wide open so all the heat was coming in! Also...the fish in my sushi was room temperature. That's a recipe for food poisoning if I've ever seen one.
(2)Christina L.
Back from my road to from LA to SF. We stopped by here for dinner because there was traffic. There was a 10 minute wait even though the restaurant seemed to be fairly empty. SERVICE: The host was okay. She wasn't too friendly, but wasn't rude either. The waitress was super friendly, attentive, and professional. FOOD: Volcano Salad - I didn't really like the fake crab that came with this salad. It tasted funny. But overall, I did like the dish. The only thing is that i felt there was way too much dressing on the salad, which gave me a really heavy feeling afterwards. Naruto Rainbow Roll - This roll was a carb free roll. I actually didn't like it too much because I felt there was too much going on. They had a few different raw fish along with some avocado slices wrapped in cucumber. The sauce that came with it was pretty good though. Overall: I liked this place and definitely would like to come back again. But I think I would stick with their regular rolls.
(4)Kristen W.
My family and I used to love this place. It was our go-to sushi restaurant since we lived nearby. That was until an unfortunate incident last year. I ordered a glass of water with lemon. Midway through our meal, I took a sip and what I thought was a lemon seed came up my straw. I spit it out only to find that it was NOT a lemon seed, but rather a PINCHER BUG. It was in my glass and, consequently, in my mouth. Disgusting! I spit it out onto my side plate and we notified the waiter. They all had no idea how to respond. One took my water glass and replaced it... Leaving the plate with the pincher bug (which was still squirming... Yes, totally disgusting). In the end they gave us 10% off of the meal. Seriously? I lost my entire appetite and didn't even get my meal for free? Sad to say this experience ruined it for us...
(1)Stacie H.
We are regulars because its fast and never too crowded. So, for the first time finally reviewing. If busy, the staff always make us feel rushed. Asking to clear plates when we arent finished. When we first starting going here I would have rated 5 stars. But I feel over the years the restaraunt has heen declining in quality. The hibachi room is a totally different review and have done a couple times and gad been an ok experience. Just lacked chefs/cooks. But it was graduation night and busy. I don't like the soup that comes with the bento box dinners. Should stick with standard Miso. Also the dressing on the salad has a gross texture. Lumpy and nit good flavor. I havent eaten either times thinking the 2nd time I'd give it another try...unfortunately not good and same quality. Overall just an ok sushi restaurant. Bonus has room for large groups!
(3)Taylor K.
We came to this restaurant for a friend's birthday dinner and it was great! We were surprised to find out that the owner of our all time favorite Japanese Restaurant (Kobe Japan in Pleasant Hill) just took this place over. We sat at the hibachi table- and our experience was great. Everyone loved their meal & the experience. We were the last ones in the restaurant and we never felt rushed at all. Loved this place!! Next time we are in Livermore this is on our list.
(5)John C.
We tried ordering a lunch bento box from the menu but we were told that lunch was not available on weekends. The lunch menu had no day or time restrictions, so we were very frustrated. The unfresh food we did get was very mediocre in taste with an overload of salt and pepper. Without the salt and pepper, I'm sure the food would be very bland. The place was very empty on a Sunday afternoon. There were more flies than customers. There were so many employees, but the service was lacking. The staff seems like they are a whole bunch of lost foreign children not knowing what to do or how to speak English. With so many other better quality Japanese restaurants in the area serving fresher and more delicious foods, we definitely will not be returning to this restaurant.
(1)Joyce D.
I'll start off by saying that I am really surprised about the bad reviews for this place because every time I ate here I left happy. I have gone to Sumo about 4 times since I learned about it through Yelp. I even had my birthday dinner here a couple of weeks ago. My family decided to do tepanyaki while I ordered sushi. Everything turned out great! The chef, food and service=5 stars. Also, their food comes out beautifully plated that it almost makes you not want to touch it! Overall, I recommend this place, especially for a big party. This restaurant is huge and is well staffed. My mom loved that the servers were very nice and attentive.
(5)Sandi L.
I have been a regular for the last two years. I am half Japanese and was raised on oriental food. I was delighted to find Sumo Sushi and enjoyed many of the dishes on their menu. It was enjoyable to watch the Sushi chefs who prepared great sushi presented in a beautifully artistic way. Those previous young men were obviously well trained and the sushi they made was equal to Sushi I've enjoyed in Japan. So it is with sadness I write this review. During my last visit it was obvious that the standard was somewhat lower. My Tekka/cucumber roll was poorly made. The seaweed did not even meet to cover the roll and the rice was falling out. The deep fried tofu usually has a ponzu sauce. It was cold inside and the sauce was flavorless. I asked about the other chefs, and was informed they were no longer employed by the new owner. 2 stars for the excellent service, but none for the quality.
(2)Spencer G.
Great variety on the menu and delicious food! I tried the Alligator Roll and while it wasn't my favorite, it was prepared well and I certainly finished it! I also had another roll that was very very good. Nice service and very reasonable prices.
(4)Erik A.
I will start by saying that I've watched this restaurant evolve from Crazy Buffet, 4 ownerships, and now Sumo. The owners are definitely doing something right to stay in business. Food is great, especially teppanyaki. Service is great and the wait is not long. If I have to knit pick, I will say that their street sign needs a huge face lift. It is an eyesore. Otherwise I recommend this restaurant to all.
(4)Anthony S.
For such a sizable establishment, I'm highly disappointed at the service. Our server was reasonably pleasant upon arrival but was nonexistent once we ordered. Daughters raspberry tea was brought after reminder and also after we got all food. When food began to come, sushi and tempura came before appetizers and salads. Part of the food was completely missed. Not a great experience but the food was decent.
(2)Miran C.
You will find ample parking and ample seating at Sumo Sushi House. But sometimes, waiting for a table at Wasabi Grill will give you much better experience because the sushi is much fresher. Presentation is very festive and exciting, but the freshness isn't always there. But the good news is that there are a lot of non-sushi items such as udon/soba noodles, fried rice, teriyaki dishes, bento boxes, etc. Even their dessert menu is extensive. Next time I go, we will probably just get non-sushi items.
(3)The cool guy B.
Worst service ever, I usually come here once a month but never again. 15 min to place a drink order, 20 min to get a drink. Wtf come on. This place needs help!!
(1)David H.
They put lights on your sushi plates! That alone pushes this place over the top! Well priced, fresh and delicious sushi. Service is excellent, and the sashimi and sushi boats come with a bright little cube of light to spruce it up. All seriousness though, the sushi boat for two is really good here; good value and delicious sushi and rolls. Also try the BBQ squid if you can!
(5)Kelly L.
WARNING! Oh my, worst and most dangerous dining experience of my life. First time there last night and we decided to do the Hibachi room where they cook in front of you. I'll get right to the point. The cook used the metal spatula on all the raw meat, including the chicken, then he took a knife out of a holster on his belt, cut up the 1/2 cooked chicken with it and all the other meats, put the dirty knife back in the holster (OMG I don't even want to think of the bacteria in that holster) and then proceeded to use the same metal spatula that had the raw chicken on it to serve the food on the plates. When we saw this we got up and walked away from the table and informed the manager. The manager just seemed lost. We should have known when we tasted the salad dressing to leave, it was sour and chunky. We will never go back. They also appear to have quite the inspection report with lots of food safety violations: acgov.org/aceh/food/rest…
(1)Jose L.
Disgusting under the new management for a month. I'm literally sick on my way home. The portions are smaller and the presentation really worse. I used to love this place and it is so disappointing to see what they have done to it. I always sit at the bar and the quality of the fish they use on the rolls is disturbing. Never will go back
(1)Miss V.
Worst food. Overpriced. Seed weed salad tasted like nail polish. Sent it back with no compensation. Waitress gave me dirty look on the way out. Don't eat here.
(1)Janneane J.
Came here for dinner and it was alright. The restaurant itself is pretty big and presented nicely. There's a bar and plenty of tables and large TVs. It was not busy at all when we came. The menu didn't have many sushi selections (in my opinion) and my menu looked like it was about to fall apart. My bf also specifically requested our daughters food to come first but his came first and hers took a while to come. They seem to have A lot of employees but I only saw about 2 really taking orders and our food also took a while to come. The little salads dressing was not very good and the soup was like room temp (I like it hot). the sushi just didn't taste very fresh. Kinda sad since I have been craving sushi lately and that wasn't how I wanted to fulfill my craving. Our server was nice and seemed to be working hard to do his job right. We ordered two rolls, shrimp udon (which my daughter and I liked), sashimi, and kids menu chicken hibachi. We got a lot of food, all for $60. However the food quality didn't taste like it was worth $60, sorry.
(3)B B.
Went here for my friend's birthday dinner and it was really good. We had the hibachi style dinner and they most adequately served our large party of 15 people. They served everything very quickly. The salad and clear soup we started with were very good! The fried rice was next and that was delicious. I personally had the half steak and chicken and it was all very good! Our chef was super fun and entertaining as well. I will be back! Highly recommend
(5)Minerva L.
Super disappointed. This is no longer my favorite place. I went for habachi for lunch, and the server was super sloppy and food was everywhere. Maybe because it was lunch and only two people ordered habachi, but still, I would expect better service. The meat on the other hand were big and juicy. The veggies were poorly cut, and the rice was too bland. I prefer Bennihana even though they put hecka butter in their rice and their meat is smaller in portion. I ordered the tuna dumplings and those were still good. The tuna tartar was not how it was, it lost a slight touch to it. The rainbow naruto roll was not good at all. The cucumber was white and not green, so it had a super bland taste. It didn't have that fresh crisp taste to it. Very disappointing. The soft shell crab was really good! I wish I had more, it was super crispy and light. The out of control roll needed to be in more control because it was super boring and the rice was super hard. Not delightful at all. All that food was 140 and that is super expensive as I could of gone else where. Not a great father's day weekend.
(3)Rachel S.
I've driven by this place 200 times, but I have never stopped in to eat here. I wanted to eat at a teppenyaki restaurant, but didn't want to go to the same place that we always do. This was on the way home, so I thought "Lets try it out". When we arrived at the restaurant, there was actually a lot of people sitting in the sushi side, a few at the sushi bar, no one at the actual bar and two tables (three including the one that we sat at) at the teppenyaki tables. The waiter came over right away and took our drink orders. They have free refills on sodas, which is nice. A lot of these places do not offer that. The family that was sitting at the table with us ordered sushi rolls. We weren't feeling that adventerous, as usually these meals can fill you up pretty quickly. My three daughters all went with the hibachi chicken kids meals and I went with the chicken and shrimp combo meal. All of the meals came with soup and salads. I enjoyed both, although their soup was a "clear soup", which differs from miso soup (I'm not exactly sure how) because they had both soups on the menu. It did taste different (from miso, seasoning missing, I'm guessing), but it was still good. Our chef came over to the table, maybe 10 minutes after we received our soup. I had realized that when he brought out the rice that I didn't order fried rice. I told him that and he said that all meals come with fried rice, awesome! The show was standard, but our chef was a better one than I've seen at most places. He was also talkative, which is always a plus...you are selling your personality when cooking in front of people. The food was good, he cooked everything good and it was seasoned nicely. We were all very satisfied with what we received. Our total for our meals came to $65, which actually, in my opinion is on the lower side for this type of meal. I liked this restaurant too because the teppenyaki room seemed more open than most places...I didn't feel clastorphobic in anyway. Hopefully this place stays around for awhile, my girls and I very much enjoyed our dinner here. Our friends live down the street, hopefully we'll be back soon with them!
(4)David B.
Great value, sashimi was good and the rolls were not oversized. I'd give this place a 3.5 rating if it was an option.
(3)Allie M.
Nice people, big space. Food is not horrible, but is also not amazing. It really depends on what type of person you are. Are you a young couple that has knowledge of the bay area and what it has to offer? Well then this place u would probably laugh at, unless, like me, you have taken the plunge and decided to sacrifice your old life in SF for a new one with space and a paid for house in the far bay area/wine country!!. (i mean u know what you are signing up for,kind of, right?) Anyways, yes if you are already established here, have kids, and it is not really about the food itself anymore, this place is great! I just wanted to warn any young couples in the area that think 4 and a half stars on yelp in livermore, equal 4 and a half stars in san francisco, or oakland, because they do not!!!
(3)RJ D.
Well, we tried to get a table but didn't get past the waiting area. Not that there were any people waiting, but the punk at the front desk told us that he was busy with something and that we'd have to wait. WTF!? He was doing something on the computer and totally ignored us. Then one of his friends walked in and they had a joyous time BS ing. You've got to be kidding me! We waited 20 mins. And then a waiter came up front and told the few people in the waiting area to sign a list. Then he ran off. Another 10 mins and still no table. And the joint was empty. We left in disgust and went to Sushi Zone on East Ave. got seated right away and had a wonderful meal. If you're hungry and don't want to be ignored by the little ass at the front desk go somewhere else in Livermore. I've included a pic of the guy at the front desk so everybody will know WHAT he is. They don't deserve the 1 star I gave them.
(1)Hilton C.
Food is not fresh. They even serve my son and brownish avocado in his California Handroll. To much sugar in their sauces. Shrimp tempura and Eel is also overcooked. I'll go somewhere else
(2)Esther H.
Eat here only if you enjoy smelly old fishy sushi for dinner! It's overpriced & disgusting. Try Roppongi downtown or Amakara in Dublin.
(1)Sean N.
As I see in a recent review, I too used to LOVE this place! We would go there 2 - 3 times a month! It was always outstanding. Then it went under new management a few months ago. The first two times we went there under the new management the sushi and sashimi was not as good; not as fresh. One of these times my tuna sashimi was tough and chewy. The last time we went there (and it will be the LAST time) my daughter got food poisoning. She was sick about four hours after eating there and had not eaten anything else all day. So disappointing. Time for us to find a new favorite sushi place! Be warned!!
(1)Ali P.
The food is amazing here! I've had both the sushi rolls and the teppanyaki, which is where they cook in front of you. Each sushi plate looks like a work of art. They are beautifully decorated, and always taste very fresh. For the teppanyaki, it's a lot of fun a great with groups. The chefs are all very entertaining and interact with the table pretty much the whole time! Very fun experience, and delicious, fresh cooked food! My only complaint is that when I came a couple weeks ago, our server just seemed like either he was having a really bad day, or reeeally didn't want to be there. I understand as humans we all have our days, but I felt that he was practically avoiding our table by taking smoke break after smoke break. It took forever just to get the check. Finally another waitress ended up taking care of us til the end, while still having her other tables to tend to. So we really appreciated that and gave her a nice tip just for the extra effort. She didn't have to take care of us, but she took the initiative and we left happy. On top of that, she was very friendly and apologized for the delay on her co-worker's part. Will definitely be coming back. Maybe better staffing is a good idea, or we just look out for this guy to wait our table... °~°
(4)T R.
Best hibachi we've had since moving to the area. We will be back for hibachi again and then to try the sushi bar. The food was good and included fried rice. The scallops were great as was the shrimp, steak and filet.
(4)emily h.
We love sumo!! Have been coming here for a couple years since we moved here. Service is always awesome and never had a disappointing meal. Favorites are moonlight roll, volcano salad and lion king roll.
(5)Lorrie M.
I am a little surprised that I am giving this spot 4 stars. I mean, I usually don't like places like this. After all, it's extremely trendy, extremely fusion and everything comes out that looks more visually appealing than perhaps it tastes. When I saw some of the things on the menu, I was dreading it ... but hey, the prices were actually reasonable so I figured why not. I was definitely surprised because I liked some of the fusion items we ordered, and our orders of Chrashi (not recommended) and Sashimi Deluxe (recommended!) were so fresh! The fish actually tasted great, wasn't too cold, too warm, too strange, or fishy. I enjoyed the meal overall and they actually did use sushi rice for chirashi which even some Japanese restaurants that are more authentic don't use. This place is definitely off-putting but the ingredients are good and their appetizers are creative. Recommended for lunch, dinner, and perhaps for a date as well!
(4)Angie W.
I Absolutely love the rolls here. They are not only displayed nicely on the trays, they are delicious..
(4)katie r.
Came here for my best friends bday and had the best time! Food was delicious and service was so good! We all had a really fun time! Cindy went out of her way to make our experience the best!! I would recommend this sushi and habachi steak house to all of our friends and anyone that wants to have a great night eating out!
(5)Gary F.
Afterwhile the food in this restaurant went downhill I'm sorry to say. The sushi started tasting old and the presentations got weaker and weaker. Hard to stay consistent and make a profit I'm sure. We don't go there anymore.
(3)Kerry M.
I've had sushi at a minimum of 60 restaurants and this by far is the best! They have come up with some very unique dishes that I haven't seen elsewhere. Yellow tail, cappuccino, jalapeno, Sriracha, topped with a caper, who thinks of combinations like this? Well it is excellent! Now while I gave the food 5 stars, the staff is a little slow, but that's something they can improve easily. If you want the most unique sushi experience ever, give it a try!
(5)Anna P.
Sumo is fantastic! We love the hibachi grill and take everyone we can when they are in town. it's a little pricey but the quality is excellent. I have a gluten allergy and they actually know what that is and use gluten free soy sauce for cooking my meal. The chefs are so talented and fun. You get dinner and a show
(5)Sidney H.
I am disappointed that I frequent Sumo Sushi at least 2-3 times a month and I have a frequent card that I present. My average spend is $50-$60 a visit and I presented my customer loyalty card along with a 10% coupon from Valu-Pak. Cashier tells me that I can not use both one or the other....My bill was $65 and they would not give me one punch on my loyalty card for my bill. You get one punch for every $50. For this I give you a 3 star rating.
(3)S G.
Great service. Yummy food. Excellent presentation. . Great happy hour prices on drinks. Awesome find! We will definitely be back.
(5)Riki N.
Volcano salad: bomb. Alligator roll: bomb. Moonlight roll: bomb. Service: not that bomb. Prices: not that bomb. This place changes hands often as I understand, so I hope Sumo can weather the storm and make it work. A good place for groups.
(4)Khris H.
Service sucked....they don't even have enough people to service you. Asked if we could sit at the bar and was told that they didn't have enough staff to take orders tonight. Very disappointed!!!
(1)Sarah D.
Another great Christmas at the sumo house! We tried the rock shrimp for the first time this year. OMG. There is some crazy sauce on it that reminds me of the honey mustard at Wiener schnitzel! I know that's sounds crazy (maybe weird and awful?) but holy crap it's AMAZING.
(5)Jessica S.
Always enjoy this place! Quiet dimmed lit environment with great food. A little on the pricey side but you definitely get what you pay for! Servers are Always great and answer all my dumb questions. Always a come-to spot in Livermore. Happy customer :)
(4)Christina L.
This place is surprisingly good for a japanese restaurant in the middle of livermore. I'm big on appearance and the design for each roll is different and unique! We had one where they put a color changing light in the middle of the plate. Also, all the seafood was really fresh and they don't drench the sushi with sauce like some other sushi places do. The tofu appetizer was pretty good, too. The only con is that the wait time can get pretty long so I suggest that you make a reservation beforehand.
(5)Jazmin P.
The food was really good. However, the service is a different story. When we arrived we ordered two appetizers and beverages. The waiter came back with one appetizer and two waters (not what we ordered). I then placed an order for my beverage again and he apologized and said he did not remember me ordering a beverage. He then took our food order. Brought back all food and still no appetizer. He then began to tell us that our food was not displayed with flowers because the chef didn't like him and that they were going to fist fight each other. TMI! At the end of our meal came the appetizer! Too little, too late. We asked for our bill and had to wait 10 minutes for him to bring it so we gave him a form of payment right away to speed up the process. He took my card and disappeared again. We asked his coworkers where our waiter was and THEY DIDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH! They just looked at us as we attempted to explain that the waiter was missing with my card. We then got up and walked to the front of the restaurant to asked to speak to a manager. The host explained her manager was in New York. We asked who is on duty? She said the manager on duty ALSO did not speak English and would be unable to help us. The food was good but for $90 I spend on a meal for two and the time I spend listening to our waiter talk about his problems with the chef..NOT WORTH IT! Never again.
(1)Cristina L.
Service was super slow, we waited for our food for half hour, the restaurant was almost empty as we went there at 3pm. We did noticed that the world cup soccer game was going on the tv and whenever the goal was made all the staffs including the sushi chefs stopped what they were doing to watch the tv screen... The presentation of the sushi rolls were nice but the taste was just ok. We had better fresher fish. My fiancé and I are allergic to avocado and cucumber and we asked the server not to put them in any of our rolls, our food still had tons of sliced thin cucumbers. He didnt pay attention to the no cucumber request, he only heard the no avocado request. We didnt emphasized much on the no cucumber request as well because in the menu didnt state that the particular rolls we ordered had that in the ingredients, but they still add that item in every roll... So why are they not following the menu food description? Also we ordered simple phily cheese tuna roll, and we made sure its only tuna and cream cheese in the roll, the server said yes yes, thats all that comes in the roll. When it came, it had tons of cucumbers in it, see the pictures.. And in the menu it does not state cucumbers at all in the roll description, but they added it on... Service was very unprofessional, while we are eating the server kept reaching her arm out over the middle of our table to refill the soy sayce bottle when it was still pretty full. We are not planning to come back again as its not an authentic japanese restaurant, every staff were speaking chinese including the sushi chefs, poor service quality. And they seemed annoyed when we requested to remake our rolls without cucumbers, they asked if they can just remove the cucumbers for us, we saw the sushi chef picking the cucumbers out with fingers... Argh... Totally lost appetite... They earned my stars for the restaurant nice decor and size.
(2)Olga M.
I left this place feeling happy but not necessarily satisfied with the sushi choice. Not sure if i'll be back again. let's get to the +/- (starting w/ three stars) (+1) Colorful menu full of pictures! I know i sound like a little kid - but honestly I eat with my eyes first so please show me a picture of what i'm ordering (+1) Fun plating of the Sushi rolls (+1) VOLCANO SALAD - soooo goood! (-1) The rolls have very minimal amount of fish - especially the Rainbow Naruto, i really was expecting "get in my belly" fish but rather got a mouthful of cucumber (-1) The spicy tuna on top of our volcano roll had the weirdest dry texture. Not pleasant (-1) Overall somehow felt like we missed out on either the good rolls or something. Not sure if it's because the waitress didn't have any suggestions but it was very mediocre. If i'm in Livermore again I might give this place another shot but wouldn't come here normally.
(3)Kymberly F.
Really really good sushi, staff and waitress horrible. I was walked by 3 times and not asked for help, then after 10 minutes served.
(3)sallie n.
Found them on GrubHub. They got a couple of items wrong in my order. Luckily we had enough food for everyone. But being a Japanese food place, they gave us NO soy sauce and NO tempura sauce. The order was not ready at the time specified. 20 mins late. The food was pretty ok though.
(2)Thomas H.
It is OK the fishes to be a little low grade, but it's a little less quality for the price. But, fishes are fresh and properly prepared, friendly and prompt services, and well presented. What else can you ask more? I am a regular here.
(4)Cori S.
The place had some picture of the sushi on the window that looked amazing, we had to try this place out. We sat at the sushi bar and saw the fish, looked really fresh. The yellowtail jalapeño appetizer was amazing. Tried the gyoza which was booked perfectly and came with a sauce on the side that was really tasty, not sure what is was, quite different from other places. For rolls we had Rainbow Naturo roll, wrapped with thin cucumber instead of rice and seaweed. So fresh! Avocado salad, presentation flawless, taste maybe not for everyone. Tuna Amazing roll was ... Simply said .. Amazing. Everything was presented so nicely, and service was fantastic. We will definitely be back next time we come to Livermore to go wine tasting
(5)Karen G.
I've only been here once for a birthday, and I keep saying I'll go back but haven't had the chance. I'm all about the visual and presentation of food, so the first thing I loved was that their menu was packed with images of their food/rolls. This made deciding on what I wanted easier. They did not disappoint when the food came out either - all the dishes looked so pretty! The one thing that stood out the most to me were the spicy tuna wontons. These had cream cheese inside with some sauce, and were delightfully crispy! I ordered several things, because thanks to their visually appealing menu, I wanted everything I saw. I know the rolls were very good, both in taste and size, and there was one that I ordered that had this yummy mango sauce on top. From what I remember, the service was good. But since we were a pretty large group, I couldn't get a fair assessment of that. But seriously, try this place out. I just looked up the menu again to see if I could remember what I had ordered, and my mouth is watering. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Alex L.
We enjoy coming here for the teppanyaki. It is typically pretty empty but the food is yummy for the price. It's about half the price of bennihana. That makes it more reasonable for a regular evening. I'd recommend the food but not the atmosphere.
(4)Claire M.
Updated (again). I used to love this place, but it seems like the rolls have recently changed from how I remember them. I used to like the Sumo roll, but the last couple of times it's tasted different and almost smelled sour. My family thought it was just the sauce, but if you are eating raw fish, it's not a smell you want to be aware of. Seemed to be smaller portions of fish on the roll, too. Giving it 3 stars as my family enjoyed their courses. Based on my last two experiences, I'd have given it 2. Hope they get their act together again.
(3)Toby H.
Live near by here and love this place, sushi is amazing and fresh and the service is fast and friendly. .. you can't go wrong and I would decently recommend you pay a visit. Love it: )
(5)Cammie W.
The menu had lots of good quality pictures, which is helpful when it comes to the different sushi rolls. The food presentation was extremely nice. We got the regular sashimi, which can in a big bowl of ice and a color changing light at the bottom. The salmon tasted amazing. The two rolls that we got were pretty good too but I would say presentation ranks higher than the actual taste. The service was really good. Everyone that helped us at some point of the meal was very nice and attentive. Even though we went close to closing time, they did not make us feel rushed at all. It is a lot bigger than most sushi restaurants around the area. There were two medium sized tv's that was on a sports channel. There's a bar area, regular tables, and booths for you to choose from. Their parking lot is kind of creepy at night. I definitely would not feel safe if I had to walk back by myself.
(4)Dottia B.
Great sushi not to expensive went there on the weekend at an odd time. Service was good. Delicious tuna roll and my husband had the lady gaga roll which he really enjoyed.
(4)Christopher M.
I have been here a few times in the past couple of weeks. New neighborhood... New sushi spot. The service is casual. The food is good... Not spectacular, but good. The menu is diverse and multi-ethnic-Asian. I like their food don't get me wrong. Honestly, I have been enjoying sushi for two decades minimum. I would like to think that I have eaten some of the finest sushi in the most expensive dining environments in the Western Hemisphere. I have certainly paid tabs in the 4 digits price point, for sure. Not to discount some amazing experiences In the 2 and 3 digit price range, by any means. My point is this... There is nothing more off putting than when a "sushi Chef" tries to tell you Escarole is Shiro-Maguro? C'mon? Seriously?
(3)Seliya G.
Sushi was not that fresh and all the chefs and workers are Chinese not Japanese. I guess I shouldn't have expected that much for Livermore. The workers were very nice though. We chatted with them about recognizing the different kinds of fish and what were our favorites and such.
(3)Courtney K.
I'm definitely a fan, let's just hope I can afford to go back! Pros: - Beautifully plated food (I eat partially with my eyes I think) - Sashimi was actually good! - Service was friendly and attentive - The drinks sounded fun and different! Cons: - I didn't love the beef appetizer, maybe just not my thing! - There definitely are a lot of sauces on some of the rolls, but they're the type of rolls people order when they don't care about fish anyways! - A little pricey but we ordered by picture off the fun menu, we weren't really paying attention to cost at the time
(4)Emily G.
Great sushi... Delicious, colorful and artful presentation.. Great service... Must try and you will not be disappointed.
(4)Adam S.
Great food, great service! My only gripe is with the "chefs choice" on the assorted sushi and sashimi boats. Unless you want to pay a surcharge, you're at the mercy of their selection...which is fairly standard. However, on this occasion I received ALOT of "super white tuna" and "white tuna," which is actually Escolar or Snake Mackerel. I refuse to eat any sushi labeled as such due to health concerns, which are unknown to most. See link: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/…
(3)Angela C.
I'm very sad to have to write this review because I had come here so many times with my boyfriend and his kids to enjoy the habachi. Took my girlfriend here last week for lunch (it was her first time and I had been telling her how much I enjoyed it the many times I had come). We ordered some salads and a few sushi rolls that were very tasty and my friend was impressed. The trouble came when we tried to pay the bill... I only ever eat at Sumo when I receive coupons in the mail because I feel better about spending my money when I know I'll be happy with my food choice as well as my 10-15% off. The waiter said that my coupon was expired. The date was ripped so I actually couldn't tell what date had been there and I explained that I come there very often with friends and family and I am a loyal customer- I also explained that I had used expired coupons before and it was never an issue. I asked the waiter if I could please speak with the manager to see if he would allow me to use the expired coupon. The young man left and returned a moment later and said to me "Will you come talk to the manager?" I was confused because usually the manager politely comes to the table. My friend (who is the manager of a well-known store) politely told him that as a manager he should be the one to come to us. When the manager came out he refused to accept the coupon because it was 5 days expired. FIVE DAYS. My friend asked the manager point blank, "So its more important for you to save your 10% than to keep a loyal customer and a potential new customer?" To my amazement he said, "Yes. Sorry I will not accept it" and walked off. We paid our full ticket and we still tipped our waiter well (after all... wasn't his fault)... But I left feeling slightly embarrassed and humiliated. Not how I want to feel at the end of a nice lunch. I don't think I will be going back after the way the manager spoke to my friend and me. I'm not sure if he's a new manager because I have never had trouble like this before, but as long as he's there I won't be. Hope the $7 bucks he got to keep was worth it!
(1)Carol P.
OMGoodess, Soooo many choices of sushi dishes that don't have rice!! I love it!!!!!!!!! Had the Rainbow Naruto Roll smothered in Sarancha! Many other great dishes I don't have to change! It was delicious and fresh! Feels like San Fran in Livermore! YEY!
(4)Monica F.
SCORE: 2.5 STARS. I never go up to Livermore since the last time i modeled for a Bridal Fashion show downtown. How funny too....because after that bridal show, my ex and i ended up at this very place for some asian buffet.... AND guess what... Yelping for sushi around the area with 4 stars; i ended up at this same establishment. It is very Non-Japanese as you enter. The same seating booths was not even upholstered. The place was dead. *bad vibes...but we went anyway* The prices were pretty much the same as the ones you can buy from SJ or SF... BUT... in this place, you don't get your money's worth. The Specialty rolls are only special because they are lit. yes. some glow in the dark sh*t they put to make it all fancy. oh! and because the plates are heavy as hell and fancy. The taste is EH. The raw fish slices are small and thin. The rolls are TINY. This is not a legit SUSHI place. I ask the people who gave this place 5 stars to drive to San Jose or San Francisco...or look at my "I LIKE IT RAW" list for REAL sushi. If you're Japanese and come here, you'll probably burn the place down.
(2)Desmond T.
3.5 stars really. This is probably one of the better sushi places in the Tri-Valley area. Livermore isn't known for having good Asian cuisine, especially sushi. This place is very very spacious. One side of the building has the Hibachi grill and the other filled with tables and a big sushi bar. Service was good. Refilled water as soon as the cups went half empty. Here's what was ordered: Saba nigiri [$4.5]: Good, not too fishy or dense Tuna Pizza [$11]: Good, very flavorful with lots of sauce and avocado. They could change the cracker. Pretty pricey for what it's worth. Lady GaGa Roll [$13]: Pretty good. The spicy mango sauce adds a nice touch. Alligator Roll [$14]: Pretty good. Somewhat reminds me of a Lion King roll, but not as overly saucy. Out of Control Roll [$13]: Mediocre. Little to no flavor. It doesn't taste as good as it the menu describes it. --------------------------------------------------Â-- Presentation is truly amazing here. They make little designs with sauce which makes the dish look more appealing. This place isn't bad. If I'm in the area and feeling like getting sushi, I wouldn't mind coming here.
(4)Steven S.
This sushi bar was highly recommended and #2 yelp find, big mistake. The place is clean with very nice staff but this is not a "real" sushi bar restaurant. I should have just paid for my bill for my beverage but I gave it try. The hamachi Kama was nice but then came the salmon....was told it was wild and it was obviously not, and it went down hill from there. They even have a sample of something on a Pringles chip-yuck! If you want a roll you might like it but if you want sashimi keep looking
(2)Kyle L.
Pleasantly surprised on the quality of food and above average service. Would definitely eat here again!!
(4)Fish Y.
this is one of those examples of look better than its tasted. The sushi roll plating is pretty but overpowered by heavy load of sauces. When there too many sauces, you can't taste the fish. We ordered 3 rolls, all of them tasted like same. And a red flag raise when you use Masago instead of Tobiko on rolls. The sushi rice is not prepared right, tasted not right. I don't blame them, the chefs are all young fellas with their New Era hats, very talented in terms of plating/painting skills. I assume they have art background, but the taste is off the mark by a lot. Sashimi plate's plating was beautiful, with heavy load ice underneath in a flower bouquet plate, with some fancy led light, but the fish was slice very small, more like a 2:1 ratio, 3 slices you actually getting 1.5 slice, like a appetizer size. Tasted ordinary. I think the overall experience is not bad, the young chef has heart but imo lack of understanding of Japanese cuisine. like have to realize adding a LED light doesn't make the fish taste better. If put more effort in elevating the taste, this place can be good. Art skills are not culinary skills after all.
(3)tiffany b.
Second time eating Sumo Sushi. First time was to-go.. husband and I got mostly rolls which we're decent. Just left this restaurant and never coming back--I knew we should have gone to our regular... Kawa Sushi! Considering I'm pregnant and cannot eat raw food, I ordered the seafood teriyaki... the photo looked so good it convinced me to order it. When it came out, it looked nothing like the picture on the menu. The only veggies were a few baby sized zucchinis (barely enough for my 1 year old). Yes it came with scallops, shrimp, salmon, and lobster, but everything except the scallops was overcooked! And everything including scallops was underseasoned, I ended up putting soy sauce on my food-fun. And the salmon I served my 1 year old was so dry she gagged on it, lol. Wow. On top of that, the rice was hard. Really? How do you mess up sticky rice? Even my daughter hardly ate it (and she loves rice). My husband and dad got rolls/sashimi, which they said were o-k. Then came the best part of the dinner... telling the waiter I had a 10% coupon - straight from their restaurant's website. He said he had to check with the manager because it was on my phone. Not only did he check with the manager, he brought my phone with him. Weird but okay. He comes back and says it had to be printed and proceeds to ask me if I CAN PRINT IT?!!! LOL Are you kidding me?! Hahaha oh yeah I forgot there's one in my purse. Give me a sec. Any by the way Sumo, your stupid coupon says "present coupon only." Doesn't that mean I just have to show (or "present") it? Hmm, whatever, your loss... I'm headed back to Kawa Sushi. Oh yeah, I'm pregnant therefore you're only getting 1 star instead of 2.
(1)Morgan Richelle M.
One of my ultimate favorite types of restaurants to eat at is Hibachi Grills. I just love 'em. This place is new, and had great reviews on good old Yelp, so we headed over here after starving half the day since we knew we were about to be stuffed. Two sushi rolls and two entrees later- we were almost crippled from over-eating, but it aint no thang. Hibachi shrimp = A+. Hibachi chicken = A+. Hibachi Steak (filet mignon) = A+. California Sushi Roll = A+ (according to the BF... cause I don't like sushi). We will be going back here for sure. Be sure to use your Yelp deals when you check in here!
(5)Alena W.
I have shunned this ever-changing and always-failing house of culinary confusion for the last decade. But, at last, something delicious and seemingly successful has arrived! I ate at Sumo last night with my mom and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. They did a good job with the interior and I liked the long sushi bar. Our waitress was very friendly and was excellent at helping us make our selections. We shared the Volcano Salad, the Moonlight Roll and the Rainbow Naruto roll. I enjoyed every bite. I had a small sake ($1!) and a large Asahi and my mom had a glass of red wine. We used a 15% off coupon and, with a very generous tip, we each paid $30. A bit pricey but worth it. I'm looking forward to my next sushi fix!
(4)Setareh A.
We didn't have the most positive experience last time, which I shared in my review. Within a week of that review, the manager, Cindy, contacted me. She was very concerned and eager to remedy my experience. She offered me a certificate if I wanted to come back. Last week, I had a friend in from out of town and we wanted Sushi. We just wanted to get take out so we could watch Law and Order and eat sushi. I called to place the order and spoke with Cindy. She was very accommodating and accepted my certificate even though it's been a while. My order was ready when she said it would be. The sushi was delish. The miso soup and salad were also delish. And there was no issue of regular roll vs hand roll like last time. Sumo Sushi has redeemed itself and we will return to our favorite sushi spot once again.
(5)Andrew K.
Place is huge - a little bit of deferred maintenance, i.e. broken toilets. The hibachi was good. Generous portions. Great salad dressing. Sushi was truly sub bar. IMITATION CRAB STICK FOR CALIFORNIA ROLL? Oh for shame! This place has potential -- needs one of those Takeover shows.
(3)Mrs. G.
Spicy tuna roll a were very good, could have used some avacado or something extra. Prices weren't too steep either.
(4)Micaella M.
Consistent and delicious. It's pricey but worth it. I am really happy they have made that location work, every other business seems to go there to die. Keep up the good work Sumo Sushi! And for special occassions it's great doing the Tepanyaki!! They do a really good job!
(5)Debbie C.
Great atmosphere, great service, exquisite presentation, fresh fish, couldn't ask for better sushi in Livermore. We go at least once a week.
(5)Grace M.
Service and quality have gone down. We were taken to our table and no one came and got our drink order for at least 10 minutes. Finally we ordered and our appetizer came out cold (gyoza). I notified the wait staff and she took it back and it was cold again! On to our entree, my sister's order came about 10 minutes before mine, and by the time I was done, she was almost done with her meal! Quality of fish was ok, I've had better at other sushi restaurants in the area. Will not be returning, better options elsewhere.
(2)Michelle A.
I ordered take out from here a few months back and was totally unimpressed. I felt I was getting Kawa sushi prices for grocery store sushi. I didn't plan on coming back, but went last night for a friends birthday. It was off the hook! We had a large party so we ordered a lot of food. We started off with the calamari rings, edamame and volcano salad. The salad was amazing. For dinner I ordered a spicy tuna roll and the Tuna Amazing Roll. Amazing was right! It was delicious! I didn't give five stars because our server wasn't very professional. He made it clear to us that he was just too lazy, tired and busy to give orders to the right person....he handed them to us over a divider and had us pass them down. He said he was too busy to change the TV channel. What? Despite the poor service, the food was good enough that I will be back. I'm definitely a Sumo convert and can see what all the great reviews are about! I can't wait to go again! So happy that a great restaurant has finally settled into this location!
(4)Jen M.
3rd time here if I could give ZERO stars I would! Horrible service!!! 1st visit good teppanyaki but long wait and not busy (we were only ones there).2nd visit regular table dry bland food 3rd visit walked in and the man behind counter was on his phone and asked us to take a seat and wait to be seated WHILE he was on his phone!! As we waited saw a man in teppanyaki looking around like he was waiting for service,bad sign! We walked out!!
(1)David M.
OK. Food. OK service. Overpriced Nothing special
(2)Rachelle W.
This review is LONGGGGGG overdue. I've since moved out of Livermore, and miss Sumo Sushi so much. Every time we went, we were greeted by friendly and attentive staff, seated quickly and the food was amazing. We literally never left disappointed in anything that we had there. The servers were always so polite, even when asked a ton of questions or special requests. With the regular coupons they offered and the frequent visitor program, you always knew you were getting a deal. I loved date nights at Sumo! You will definitely not be disappointed. Go get your sushi on at Sumo. LOVE!
(5)Rick L.
The last time I visited this location, it was an all you can eat Asian buffet. Yuck. I didn't get sick, but the food was... well... bland to the extreme. The decor was period Denny's. So I was surprised when I walked into Sumo for lunch today, with its very tasty decor and modern touches (a good start when ordering raw fish). Being the tightwad that I am, I ordered the $10 chicken teriyaki box lunch. I was very pleasantly surprised by tasty miso soup and a crisp salad, followed by a perfectly grilled chicken breast on a bed of onion strings in a zingy (not too sweet) sauce, a scoop of rice, a nice spring roll, and a better than average California roll. Hot green tea added another $1.50. OK, the lunch items weren't the best I've ever had. The chicken was slightly on the dry side, but the presentation was perfect. The exterior had a slight crunch to it, and the teriyaki sauce was really nice with the onion accent. The rice was a tiny bit watery, not the typical sticky Japanese rice found in most sushi establishments. But it was perfectly edible, and tasted good. The spring roll was also delicious, a nice crunch to the exterior, while remaining moist inside. The three pieces of California roll were very well executed, and it looked like real crab to me. I ate everything, and am still pleasantly full five hours later. Happy tummy. You could do a lot worse, especially at Sumo's very reasonable prices. Or you could hit a fast food burger chain and save two or three clams, but why? Sumo had fresh offerings, well prepared, and attractively served. I'm surprised at some of the negative comments, which don't seem to consider the very real meal bargains available here. I didn't patronize the full bar (lunch, remember?), but it looked inviting. I'll be back.
(4)Naomi A.
Good spot for funky rolls and appetizers. Was a little worried at first since its a bit off downtown, but was definitely worth the stop. Food - Rock shrimp tempura and crispy calamari - both nice and crispy with a tasty sweet and spicy sauce - Alligator roll, American Dream roll, and Moonlight roll - all nice and fresh, but many of the rolls have similar ingredients so they start tasting a bit similar - Nigiri - all nice and fresh, good fish cuts and appropriate amount of rice
(4)Tom M.
Really enjoyed the food and atmosphere. Hibachi prices are reasonable, sushi rolls are on the higher priced side but the quality and freshness of the fish is superior. I also enjoyed how the sushi rolls were not super heavy on the rice. Good sushi rolls just need enough rice to hold them together. This place doesn't use rice as a filler but as structural component. The only reason this place doesn't get 5 stars is that I sat at the bar waiting for our table and there was no bartender to be found. The, what I image was the owner had to pour our drinks. Highly recommended.
(4)Scott B.
I was here on 2/6/15 and experienced absolutely terrible service. We sat at the sushi bar and as I learned you order from the waitress not the chefs behind the bar. Every time I needed something I literally had to get out of my seat and flag down someone. I gave them a chance to come over.. about 20 minutes between getting up and flagging a waitress down each time. At least the sushi was not too expensive and tasted pretty good.
(2)Susana G.
Beautiful plating but the taste did not match their food artwork. No hurry to come back here, there are too many sushi places to choose. The 3 star rating is for our server who was a great server. I do have to say this place is a big improvement from that buffet style restaurant that used to be there.
(3)Reg T.
When you first glance at the menu, it's all in English, made me wonder how "authentic" is this Japanese restaurant. The English menu had me wondering whether their "Tuna Roll" item, would be a Tekka Maki. So I ordered the Tuna Roll, and noticed one thing immediately, the sushi rice wasn't made properly, it seemed like it was just plain rice, and didn't have rice vinegar, sugar or salt for seasoning, as I usually don't dip my sushi in soy sauce so again it's very noticeable. I also ordered a spider roll, keep in mind, I've always tried spider rolls at different sushi restaurants and they are all nearly the same; however, the one at Sumo Sushi House was different in a bad way, if there were canned soft shell crab I think they used it....blah. Likewise, similar items I've ordered before were different in a bad way, such as their Titanic Roll...blah. There are a few positives, like free private parking, free water, the staff was friendly enough, and drinks good enough, so 2 stars for that... Bottom line, this is a type of Sushi / Japanese restaurant that has gone Apple Bee's style...once you see several flat screen TV's you'll realize this isn't authentic so adjust your expectations or drink up like you're at Apple Bees.
(2)C T.
When you eat sushi, it's the quality of the fish that matters most. Duh, as my 11-year-old would say. Sumo has high quality, fresh fish, and serves it in traditional rolls as well As some of newfangled fancy ones. I recommend the Spicy green roll (spicy tuna topped with seaweed salad), though the Philly roll was good, too. They all were. My son is also a big fan of the udon. The downside is the service, which can be uneven. Each of the two times we came in, service was slow: very slow the first time but only slightly the second. And since they gave us a free CA roll, that made up for it. So, come here for good sushi, but be prepared to be patient.
(4)Misty C.
The uni wasn't fresh and its rice was warm . . . fresh out of the rice cooker warm. I also ordered udon which took an hour to arrive and tasted like Top Ramen. Like another said, come here if you like old stinky fish.
(1)Melissa R.
The sushi here is the TRUTH! The rolls here are very creative and oh so good! The service here is great too. If I eat shellfish I break out it to a ball of hives....it's a mess. I mentioned that to our server and she was extra cautious in her recommendations and made substitutions for us. Rolls I would get again - Alligator: lots of saucy goodness on this bad boy - Lady Gaga: the jalapeño on top of each piece is devine!
(5)Kelsey J.
Awesome lunch! Only downside is we went on a Saturday and they don't have any lunch specials on weekends so the bill was a little high but high quality sushi I will take a high bill or food poisoning any day of the week. The staff was great, really knowledgeable and patient (poor grandma didn't know what she wanted). I have a severe avocado allergy so it was great to go somewhere and express that and have the staff actually listen. Made it through lunch without my throat closing-4 stars just for that. We got miso soup for the table which was hot and full of flavor. Grandma ordered a side of rice and shrimp tempura, which was perfect, the batter was delicious, everything was perfectly cooked and the order was huge-4 or 5 shrimp, broccoli, zucchini, potato, sweet potato, and one more vegetable that I can't remember. I ordered some salmon sashimi which was really fresh, mom ordered california rolls which was good as well. I ordered a spicy tuna roll which wasn't spicy but still good and mom ordered an avocado roll (whatever.) and she really enjoyed that and again even though there was avocado on hers, none was on mine. Much appreciated. I live in Sacramento but I would definitely swing by next time I'm in town.
(5)Adriana B.
For the love of God, why does this place have high ratings. I did not like any of my hibachi food. I love hibachi and eat it all the time in NY and this was NOT up to par! The meat and steak did not have a lot of seasoning. The shrimp tasted weird. The best part of dinner was the lobster. The rolls were decent, even though it took them 30 minutes to bring them!
(3)Stacie K.
First off, I should start by saying this is the first review I've ever written. I'm not much of a review-writer, but found this dining experience review-worthy, and I would have loved to read a review like this before having to experience it first-hand. I've had many hibachi experiences, and I might have to say this was the worst hibachi to-date. Maybe we should have took heed to the fact that we were the ONLY ones there in a larger place at 7pm. The other thing that was quickly brought to my intention was the sink on the hibachi side that just seemed out of place and unsanitary. The food itself was okay, but kind of sparing with the quantity versus how pricey it was. I pray it was the waitress's first day ever serving, (I sadly don't think that was the case). The hibachi dude dropped his spatula (twice), and an egg, when it wasn't intended. It was so bad it was awkward, especially when he tried to light the fire a few times. THEN we realized we still had not gotten our sushi, and noticed the waitress chatting away at the bar that had STILL not checked on us. We had to address the sushi that was MIA to the hibachi cook, since the waitress still had not come back. She finally brought it without the ginger and wasabi, so I had to get up and go ask at the sushi bar since the waitress had not come back to ask how we were doing. After I got the ginger and wasabi, she finally came back over and we had needed more drinks and chopsticks. There were three of us; two rolls, and she asked, "how many chopsticks do you need?" I think I need not write anymore and can end on that.
(1)Alex C.
I am not going to lie, I have been going to Sumo for a three years now and I still really enjoy this place. For me, I think it is the best Sushi place in Livermore. (I know I know, It's Livermore!) The decor is very nice and clean. The food presentation is always very impressive and it helps that the food is always very good! For App's I love the Rock Shrimp Tempura the Crispy Spicy Tuna Wonton & you have to try the Fresh Oyster Shot YUMMM! I love some of the rolls they make here and my favorite rolls are the American Dream, Tuna Amazing Roll, Volcano Roll, Black Angel Roll and the Crazy Roll. If you like Habachi or tempanyaki style then try it at Sumo. The Hibachi is always really good. This is not a Sushi place to party at the sushi bar and do sake bombs with the chefs place. The chefs are colder here than other sushi places, but it does not bother me. I have fun with my friends at the sushi bar regardless. I highly recommend sitting at the sushi bar for faster service. The service sitting at a table top or booth is sometimes a little slow. I have never had lunch here so I can not comment on that.
(4)Steve A.
Im going to bump this another star. Went in yesterday to pick up take out since I was in the area and it was near closing time. The lady in the front desk was very helpful and very courteous! The sushi actually tasted a lot better than what I remembered it. Still a little too high on pricing in my opinion.
(3)John B.
My girlfriend said it was the best sushi she's had and I agree! We ate so much at lunch ... 3 different rolls, miso soup, edamame, 5 different sushi pieces and it was all fantastic! I could have kept eating. Lunch time is great because it's quiet, not crowded and the service is fast. The Tuna Amazing Roll was amazing! California Roll was delicious Titanic Roll was fabulous My new favorite sushi place ... Love!!
(5)Carole S.
Gotta bump Sumo up to five stars after another delicious dinner. Service has been consistently good, too. Not the greatest ambiance- big, bright restaurant- but everything else is so good. Presentation is exceptional, and your dish will typically have a beautiful little picture or design on it, created with different sauces. The BLACK ANGEL- a specialty roll that is not always on the menu- is OUT OF THIS WORLD! I am shocked by some of the one and two star reviews. After eating at Sumo approx ten times, I can honestly say that we've never had a bad meal at this restaurant, nor have we ever gotten less than "decent" service.
(5)Heather S.
I was SO impressed with this place. First, the restaurant is HUGE and has really nice décor. Second, the sushi bar is also really big, and there were at least five chefs behind the counter making sushi. The wait staff was friendly, the prices were reasonable (remember, you get what you pay for, especially with sushi), and the food was excellent.
(5)Cece E.
Awesome place for large groups to party but serious foodies need not apply. Menu was visually appealing with plenty of color photos to help patrons make their dining decisions. Food was fun but definitely not authentic. Portions were generous. We sat in the hibachi/teppanyaki section because we wanted the theatrics of the teppanyaki chef. Great choice. We had 16 people in our party so we had 2 chefs on 2 grills. Chef Ethan tried really hard to engage both the kids and adults in our group. He went all out with his culinary gymnastics when he found out we were celebrating a birthday. I didn't catch the name of the second chef. I got the filet mignon and scallops. The beef was tender and cooked a perfect medium rare. My scallops were huge and were nicely seared, if a bit salty. My vegetables were on the right side of al dente, tender with a slight crunch. Our group had several complaints about the food and service. First, the birthday girl is allergic to shellfish. Our server was informed but somehow, our nameless second chef didn't get the memo. He cooked the shrimp correctly by cooking it last to avoid cross contamination. However, he then proceeded to serve our birthday celebrant and ended up contaminating her beef. Personally, I had an issue with the rice. It comes out in one cold slab of precooked white rice. The chef must then fry the rice on the grill, thoroughly breaking down the carb mountain while mixing it with a plethora of condiments including soy sauce and margarine. I had a huge portion of rice but it needed more mixing and stirring because I still had meatball sized chunks of cold rice. Third, the salad was drowning in dressing. I think the dressing came with the lettuce and not the other way around. I also had some issues about the service. We were a large party of 15 with 3 generations of family and friends. Our server was overwhelmed. She eventually got help but the extra servers just seemed to confuse rather than help the situation. It was partly our fault since it took us forever to get settled and all we wanted to do was chat instead of review the menu. However, once she had taken our drink and appetizer orders, it took 30 minutes just for our drinks to arrive. We are not newbies to teppanyaki so we ordered some apps from the kitchen to tide us over until chef arrived to prepare our main course. However, I think our server forgot to fire our appetizers. The first of our appetizers didn't arrive until another 30 minutes later, as we were eating our main course. Some of our apps were completely forgotten. We had to remind the server that some of our food was missing. Also, 2 people in our party ordered sushi that didn't come out until halfway through our meal. It was a good thing the teppanyaki chef gave us plenty of food so we could share our meal. Lastly, our waters were refilled but I never got my iced tea refills despite several requests. The meal ran for over 2 hours. We had to skip dessert since it was way over the kids' bedtime and they were getting cranky. If we didn't all have so much fun just hanging out, catching up and befriending the 3 strangers at the table that were not in our party, I would have downgraded the restaurant even further. As it is, I think 2.5 stars is a fair rating.
(2)Ann G.
Horrible experience. We always looks for new sushi places to add some variation to our sushi restaurants list, so we stopped here after a costco run for lunch. The place is huge but it was totally empty at 1pm. Now we know why. At least 3 sushi chefs spotted behind the sushi bar but sushi was very sub par. Fish WASNT FRESH AT ALL, tasted 5 days old and ewww. We ordered a $15 roll with seared tuna. The tuna was clearly stale when the roll arrived. We pointed this out to the waitress and she had the main sushi chef come "straighten" us out. he said it tastes funky because the fish is seared and it is our fault we chose that item. We had eaten one out of 8 pieces of sushi and he did not have the courtesy to offer us an alternative. Instead argued about how rightly the dish was made. What a pompous idiot. We sent the roll back and STILL PAID FOR IT. The yellowtail sashimi we ordered was delicious and the only thing worth consuming. We ordered another round of it. Their menu needs to offer 3 piece and 6 piece options instead of 2 piece and 3 piece options for sashimi. 3 pieces is like barely a taste of the product. Another sushi roll we ordered was also okayish - pretty sub par proteins. Teaches us to stay away from desolate sushi restaurants built in the same lot as a storage facility. When the turnover isnt much, they cant keep the quality and freshness of the food up to mark. Even costco or safeway sushi woulf taste better and cost wayyyyyy lesser. Wont be back. Ever. Even if they offer free sushi.
(1)Leticia R.
I don't think I will ever return to this restaurant. Overpriced and mediocre. Upon arrival the place is not very appealing. We only went there because I had bought a local guru coupon. The inside is actually not bad. Pretty modern and clean. I ordered a water once we sat down and it tasted like gross tap water. I thought maybe a hot tea would help clear the nasty taste but that tasted burnt. Since I am expecting I can't have sushi so instead I ordered an appetizer and udon soup. The appetizer was some cream cheese salmon wontons. Very bland and not very good at all. The soup was a mixture of veggies and chicken, but the broth was lacking something and the flavor was just not there. My boyfriend ordered two rolls. The one that the bartender suggested as his favorite was terrible and the other roll was pretty good. I am just speaking for my bf as I could not try these myself. Even with our $20 coupon our bill was still $40 and I didn't even have any sushi. I was a little upset we spent a date night and that amount of money on bad food. I will say the service was very good, but they only had a few people there around 5:30pm for dinner.
(2)Teresa K.
What a disappointment!!! Wish I could give them a negative star! Made reservations and still couldn't get in until almost 7:55. Took us the first time to a Hibachi table that people were still eating.. Made us wait in the hallway for 10-15.., finally sat us with no menus! Waited another 10 minutes for a waiter!! Finally decided to stay and ordered everything at one time... Soup came out cold! Ruined a birthday for my daughter! Walked out!! I look at Yelp reviews all the time.. This is seriously bad service for a Restuarant! There are many choices DO NOT choose this one!!!!
(1)Mark M.
Great Place! Entire menu is really good and also the hibachi. I am not sure why this place is not packed at all times. The prices are reasonable and service is great.
(4)Hannah S.
We read reviews and went for lunch as Salmon lunch sounded fabulous. The menu didn't say the lunch special is not available on weekends so we were looking at the menu. The server came to our table and said the lunch specials are not available on weekends. So I said it should mention that on the menu. Her response was "we dont need to!" You are right but a more tactful answer would be appreciated. Well we didn't feel like sushi so we all ordered from items from the kitchen I had Tempura; the batter was twice as big as the shrimp and veggies. And the oil was not fresh. My hubby and the kids all ordered noodles and they said they were ok at best. Sushi reviews are very good so we should have had sushi but I would not eat the dishes from the kitchen here again.
(1)Joti S.
I must say that each time I come here I am never disappointed. The best sushi in town, and service is perfect! I love the variety of sushi, there is something for everyone and the food is fresh and absolutely the best!
(5)Stephanie C.
I went here yesterday with my boyfriend. Meeting a group of people for a birthday dinner. We walked in and there was barely any customers there. We said we're here with a group that is already here. They were so confused and didn't understand what we were saying. Huge language barrier. Lol they kept asking us what area we wanted to go for the two of us and we said a group of 4 with a table where the chef cooks in front of us. Had to explain in detail so I thought. But they still didn't understand. They have menus in their hands like we are going to be eating alone...ugh. Lol so we just walked back a few feet and there they were. No one else in the room. Literally the only customers in the building. Food was pretty good. Rice was a little overcooked. And the cook was cool. But I'm giving three stars because a lot of the hosts/waiters don't know English very well. I'd like to be at a place that doesn't get confused as well as confused me. I literally thought we were at the wrong restaurant after a little while trying to communicate back and forth.
(3)Pamela B.
We have been here several more times and the servers have been much more personable. 5 stars for sure! The food continues to be consistently excellent and we are enjoying sampling the creative sushi dishes. This place is very kid friendly which kind of sucks for people like us. I am continually amazed at how many lazy parents do not teach proper restaurant manners. It may make it easier for them to be lazy but it is really annoying and distracting for other diners. I notice it more here than anywhere else. It's not necessarily the fault of the restaurant but it would be nice if they suggested to these people that their children not use the restaurant floor for a track meet. Looks like this location might have found a business that sticks! We certainly hope so.
(5)Mrs S.
Ive frequent this place many times with no complaints , the service is awesome & the food is amazing , Up until last week . My friend wanted to sit at the sushi bar great experience ! I was watching all the guys make the rolls , One guy was walking from the back kitchen with a plate of tempura shrimp & He dropped one !! looked around and placed it back on the plate ! Im discusted I will never eat there again !!!!!!!
(1)Leah D.
UPDATE 10/12/12 So after writing this initial review 8 months ago, Sumo has officially become our go to sushi place & now tepannyaki dinner spot! We have been there now for 2 large group parties (after our suggestion) that have been great & everyone loved it. We have taken family & friends of all ages & they have all loved it. I have had girls night & date night here too! Guess you can see why I am the current Yelp dutchess of Sumo haha! There are coupons in the mail, Local Gruv deals, a frequency card & $1 sake m-th to cater to the frugal foodie too! The new tepennyaki was so great, the room is very nice & you can tell they put a big investment into it! The service, presentation & value are all still great all around! Feb 2012 - initial review The reviews on Yelp were right! We couldn't believe that one of the restaurants that opened in this same spot was actually great! We loved everything we ordered & loved the details of our whole dining experience: *Clean lines with furniture & style *Seating is spaced out so well....they have large tables for 8 all set up already for large groups making it a great place to have a celebration dinner there & the booths and tables are large so it feels intimate when you are eating...the restaurant it HUGE *The menus were beautiful! *The food presentation was impecable They have a lot of options for how you can order. They have the regular rolls, specialty rolls, bento boxes,etc. They also have a combo meals with 2 or 3 rolls with just soup and salad which I think it SO perfect & hadn't see that small of a combo before. Great service from start to finish & they had 4 sushi chefs working so food was brought out timely as well. We will be back VERY soon! Thanks Sumo & we hope you keep your quality food, service & style up as time goes on. We will be sure to pass the word on & send customers to you.
(5)Jon Z.
Will give it a few stars for the presentation but as far as the sushi went, I don't believe any stars should be given. The seaweed was rubber, wayyyyy too chewy and the tuna just didn't taste right.. Along with the mango sauce being really sweet. Reminded me of eating cereal. I got the AMAZING roll.
(2)Jenn Q.
Food reviews to follow ...
(4)R Z.
I was a regular customer at Sumo Sushi. My wife and I enjoyed the friendly staff and quality sushi. However, there has been a change in staff and management recently which has led to some negative experiences. None of the sushi chefs smiled or even greeted us when we sat down. The wait staff seemed incredibly disorganized. On top of everything, the sushi was not fresh and did not taste the same. I really hate to say it, but the service and food quality has went completely downhill. We will not be coming back here
(2)Marcella J.
$45 for the sumo deluxe dinner plate, but good god it was a lot of food. They had tons of normal priced things too. We just decided to go big for a birthday dinner and we were not disappointed.. Our chef Eason was awesome..! Our filet was amazing, scallops were probably the best I've ever had in my life. (And I'm a scallop snob.) It's definitely a lot of food for your money. Job well done guys.. :-)
(4)Free P.
Unbelievable! I really wanted to like this place but after experiencing the terrible customer service there isn't anything that could get me to come back. We decided to try this place for dinner since we received a coupon in the mail. The food was mediocre and pretty expensive ($75 for 2). We were the last party to be seated and the server took a long time to come take our order and even had the nerve to tell us we needed to hurry with our order since they had already began serving the others at our table. We promptly ordered and never received one of our drinks. When we had to ask for it towards the end of the meal our server looked annoyed and reluctantly brought it to us. After the meal the party of 3 next to us received their credit card back way before the rest of the table. They signed and left. Then our credit card made it back to the table only it wasn't ours. It was the card belonging to the party that was long gone and as it turns out they left with our card. When we went to the front to try to get things figured out they called the manager. The manager and employees spoke amongst themselves never once even looking at us or speaking in English. The only thing the manager bothered to say was that he was sorry and he said it with very aloof expression. From start to finish this place was a train wreck. Don't waste your time!
(1)Louie F.
I have no clue why this place has 4.5 stars... It's your standard, mass-produced, over-sauced and fried rolls joint. Whoever says this is "quality sushi" hasn't enjoyed the real deal before. How can you even tell once the roll is deep battered, fried and topped with a gallon of spicy mayo and eel sauce? When you walk in, the first thing you notice is that that restaurant is huge and empty. There are what seems like 20 sushi chefs who greet you as you're guided to your table, yet it takes 20-minutes for your food to arrive every time you order. The prices are also fairly exorbitant for rolls that contain California krab filling as their main ingredient. Most rolls average between $14.00-17.00, which can get expensive. I feel that there are a ton of half-off sushi places these days serving way better quality. The service was ridiculously slow. It takes forever for the food to arrive and the servers visit your table maybe once every 30-minutes. Being from Southern California, I was out of my element and relied on Yelp to find this place. Perhaps the NorCal tastes are just different than what I'm used to, but I see absolutely no reason why this place deserves almost 5 stars for mediocre food. 2 stars: "Meh, I've experienced better."
(2)John B.
The curse has been lifted! I think making this place NOT a buffet place has done wonders. Wifey and I were skeptical about coming here because of the previous buffet incarnations however this was shattered after the first bite of the salmon sushi pizza. Further rolls we ordered were elegantly and artistically placed with the food arriving quickly. Wifey ordered 2 roll deal ($8.50) and I ordered the 3 roll deal ($12). Both came with miso soup and salad. Rolls were very good (check pics). Highly recommend this place.
(5)Chester H.
Really enjoyed the alligator roll, paradise roll and the tuna amazing roll. Don't forget to order the volcano salad!
(5)Cindy Y.
Alright, needless to say, the quality of the sushi is really good. I could tell that each roll is made with a lot of care and finely decorated. However, I feel like the prices are way too high. Most of the plate comes with a fancy design, and there aren't many pieces that come with each roll. My family came here, and we were barely full afterward. Sadly, they don't have the lunch bento box specials on weekdays (which is what we came for...), but I think that deal is pretty good. It comes with california roll, spring roll, white rice or brown rice (yay for healthy options!), miso soup, and salad. Although I can't say much about it, since I didn't have it, I feel like that deal is pretty good. You can choose from teriyaki to tempura to katsu to saba/sushi/sashimi. What we did get were the Out of Control Roll and Volcano Roll. I would recommend the Volcano Roll. This comes with shrimp tempura, avocado, spicy tuna, and crunchy bits on top with eel sauce. It was pretty good. I love how soft the spicy tuna on top was in contrast to the crunchy bits. The seaweed used was really fresh and the rice was high quality as well. There was also this deal--2 rolls for $8.50 and 3 rolls for $12. We got 2 rolls for $8.50 originally, but my mom was still hungry, so we ordered another roll for $12. For these rolls, they're pretty much just ordinary (none of the fancy fusion-esque type of rolls). We got the Philadelphia Roll and two Spicy Tunas. The spicy tuna was pretty good, so if you like that, I highly recommend it. We also got the Katsu Don, which was just okay. Nothing too special. The breading wasn't super amazing (crunchy and freshly fried)--kind of soggy and soft. There was also egg that covered the rice, which I liked. I'd say if you're looking for quality, go for something else. But this was decently priced and kind of helped us fill us up. This came with breaded pork w/ vegetable & egg over rice and was about $8.50. Definitely a lot better priced than the rolls. Overall, the place is pretty nice if you want to go for a nice lunch/dinner. It's not crowded and you can have a nice meal there. But it's definitely a bit pricey, so watch out for that. The quality is pretty good, although I can't say that it's worth the money. You can probably find something better for a better price elsewhere.
(4)Dean D.
Seriously avoid this place. Kinda expensive, derived sushi, poor service, and cheap ingredients. If this is the best that Livermore has to offer then just avoid all sushi in the area. I think we can do better.
(1)Debra E.
Awesome children selections!! I loved the jalapeno yellowtail appetizer. The spicy salmon tartar was sooooo yummy. Great sushi and great service! Will definitely be back!
(5)Will L.
A very nice interior for a sushi place. The specialty rolls lacked crunch and the rice was soggy. I was very disappointed with the sushi overall. I will not go back
(2)Jiries S.
Very good, I was pleasantly surprised. Food was excellent. Little pricey, this place would be packed if the prices were normal. Staff was friendly, place was clean.
(4)Michael L.
Dont go there. It's a bust.
(2)Dominique O.
GOOD FOOD BAD SERVICE. Not enough to bring me back. Mcdonalds offers better service! What a disappointment. We chose this location over Hana because it was wayyyyy closer. It was my first Hibachi experience. Showed up on a Saturday around 6 not so busy but the wait was 20 min which was fine, we had to wait for the rest of our party. 45 min later hungry and irritated we get our table. Then they serve us soup and salad and take our order and we had to watch two other tables get a fun show and another 30-35 min later we finally got service after a 20 minute wait turned into almost a hour n a half. Why would you only have two chefs on a SATURDAY? The 1 star is for the fun show, it was good and the food was bomb! The second star is for the BUSSER BOY who was extremely nice and went out of his was to check on us and was very apologetic. To top it all off with more waiting, we used a coupon the busser gave us since they didn't offer any type of condolences and they can't even figure out the math. They were scrambling up front and it took 3 employees to figure it out. Needless to say I won't be returning I'll try the drive to Hana or one of these other places in dublin.
(2)Liz S.
Things here were a hit or miss: Very americanized sushi (and obviously not japanese owned); everything has a sauce that is loaded with either sugar or mayo. Some things were pretty likeable, such as the sushi martini. Other things like the tuna cappuccino (what? What even is that) were just downright weird. The presentation was pretty, the sashimi didn't taste bad, and the servers were nice. The quality was lacking for sure.
(3)Lauren R.
Nothing amazing, but mediocre sushi. I would give it 2.5 stars for the sushi and 3 stars for the service. The inside of the place is pretty nice. There is a huge sushi bar and also the tepanyaki room. The bathrooms were not the cleanest, but the rest of the restaurant was clean. My husband ordered a spicy tuna roll, some sort of rolled beef appetizer, and rock shrimp tempura. His review was that the tuna was ok, but not spicy enough. He felt that the beef in the appetizer was not very good quality. The shrimp tempura was mushy and the shrimp were not deveined very well. I had an avocado roll and sweet potato roll which were both tasty. The price is pretty standard for a sushi restaurant, maybe a little on the cheaper end. Service was good. They were attentive and refilled tea and water as needed. I don't think we will be back. It does not compare to the sushi places we have been to in Santa Barbara and Hawaii, but for Livermore it does its job.
(3)Dawn D.
Worst meal in a very long time. Food was awful and service was WAY worse! Never been treated so rudely in my life! Food was cold with small portions and of low quality. Sushi was loosely wrapped and chicken was cooked so hard I needed a knife. Watched a waitress actually push a pregnant lady into a woman with a walker! Could not get out of there fast enough. Bathrooms were low-grade for a "fancy" steakhouse. Parking is almost non-existent. Only thing going for it- it's a new restaurant so the atmosphere feels clean. Wouldn't return for a free meal!!!!
(1)Eugene S.
Food is mediocre at best, I believe it is not Japanese owned. While the hibachi was filling it was mild, with actual tiny portions of seafood (my group nearly all ordered the sumo deluxe: lobster, shrimp, filet mignon, and scallops). Rolls were decent but more from decoration than actual taste but all of this would be forgiveable. If the server didn't start to fight me with the most sarcastic of all voices about their coupon and how it works. I won't get into the details of it, but when a server refuses to bring out a manager and argues with you for the best of 10 minutes while refusing to give in to common sense... Suffice to say I tipped them about 3% just to round out my bill to a 'zero'. It can be a decent experience that is cheaper than Benihana's for an experience + mild Americanized Japanese fare. But the service is horrible. Beyond horrible. I hope the owner sees this review and actually does something about it because were I in a worse mood I may have threatened litigation or called the police. Word of advice. Stick to Cattlemen's if you're in Livermore, you can get better and cheaper Japanese food in a plethora of places in the Bay Area, why waste your time here for high prices and shitty service?
(1)Rio Christian S.
I've been here couple times. And i love this place ! I love the teppanyaki, most of the food pretty tasty, and the performance of the sushi are outstanding ! And my favourite always goes to 3 item choices, i love their salmon skin hand roll, philadelphia roll, but they put too cucumber, i hope they gonna reduce it. So the food and the service were awesome !
(5)Jeff P.
Quality Sushi and large portions are what best describe Sumo Sushi. The service and great, but the price is a little high. After shopping at the Paragon Outlets, my wife and I were famished. We jumped on Yelp to find high rated restaurants near by. Sumo Sushi popped up and we proceeded to the restaurant. Upon our arrival I was surprised to see a Sushi Bar restaurant and on the other side Hibachi. They have both at Sumo Sushi. We decided on the Sushi restaurant half. I ordered a chicken bento box and a dragon roll, my wife ordered two sushi rolls. There was so much food that my wife had to take some sushi home. The bento box was great and gave large portions. The chicken was light and the teriyaki sauce was just right. The sushi was above average, the ingredients did not taste fake or artificial. It all tasted fresh. I will definitely return to Sumo Sushi when I'm in the area.
(4)Kristi W.
We chose this sushi bar based on Yelp reviews and we were extremely disappointed. We enjoy sushi restaurants with a Japanese ambiance and this restaurant was lacking. This review is for the Sushi side, we haven't eaten on the Hibachi side. The sushi side was very large and filled with uncomfortable booths. It gave off more of a waffle house vibe than a Japanese vibe. Once we saw the place we thought about leaving, but figured the food must be why the yelp rating was so high. We were wrong. Chicken tempura and Gyoza's were average. My husband ordered the Aligator roll and thought it was good not great. I ordered the chicken teriyaki entree. The chicken was rubbery and the teriyaki sauce was thin. My husband loves sushi and I love Japanese food, so we have tried alot of Sushi restaurants in the East Bay and the Central Valley. This restaurant was one of the worst we have ever been to.
(2)Jimmy T.
Managament said it was ok to use coupon before meal. When we were done with meal, we were told that coupon is not valid for big group with multiple credit cards. Coupon in question is a coupon on their site (coupon does not say anything about muliple cards) : sumo4193.com/imgae/sumo%…
(1)Charmaine L.
Love this place. It's very clean. The service is great. Food is fantastic!
(5)tammy H.
I came here quite frequently before, it was fine. Food was good. However, we came again last month, they told us the wait time is 30 min, and I looked inside the restaurant, they are not even half full! I asked them why we need to wait so long, they said they only have two servers. Then we took off to another restaurant. Now it's more than one month later, we thought give it another try. We came on Wednesday night, same thing! And when I looked inside, I saw 3 sushi chefs just standing inside the bar! So we took off! We are not coming back! Also my friend said they recently eat there, they had reduce their portion as well.
(1)Nicole S.
Ok, my new favorite sushi house in town. Staff friendly, prices are a bit high but by not too much. Clean open atmosphere. Food was excellent. I think if there prices were a bit lower, the place would be packed.
(5)Patricia S.
Went there last night with 2 of my friends. I started with the Volcano salad. It looked like a piece of art. It was so delicious, it was fresh, light and the crab and avocado taste was wonderful. It was pretty big and was only $8. I then had the alligator roll and so did one of my friends. It was very good, fresh, tasty. My mouth is watering thinking about it again. I couldn't finish the last 2 pieces last night, I was so full. That roll is $14 which is not bad at all considering how big that roll is. My other friend opted for the scallop dinner which came with rice and veggies, this was huge and she ate it all. Our bill needed up being $102 after 3 glasses of wine $5 each and a big sake $2 so I was able to use my $20 coupon!!! I am going back on Fri with my boyfriend to use my remaining $10 coupon. Cannot wait. And I will keep going there, the coupon was just the added bonus....came right in the mail :-) Love this place, hope they do better then the other ones before and hope they are to stay :-)
(5)Teri S.
I would also say that I hope the curse is gone for this establishment! Sumo sushi has hopefully found it's home! I'm REALLY glad we checked this place out. The interior is so wonderful and gorgeous. The service was so friendly and great!! (way better then Kawa). And the food was fantastic. I will definitely be returning - to me it's the new best Sushi place in Livermore. And the reason they go some bonus stars....they gave my 2 year old niece a strawberry mochi for being so adorable. It was mine & my husbands bday and we got a tempura banana and tempura cheesecake (OMG) with a candle and Happy Bday sung to us! LOVED it!!
(5)Brooke K.
I'm torn because it's almost two different restaurants, and they are NOT the same rating. So I'll go in the middle with 3 stars! We've done the "Hana Japan" style (sorry, don't know the term!) once, and it was not the best experience. Because they only have one chef doing it, you have to wait a while for a table to fill. Or in our case, shove everyone at one table. Very uncomfortable. They didn't refill the drinks, they forgot half my mom's meal, and it took over 20 minutes to get the check, and then another 10 at least after they took the credit card to come back. Very frustrating. The sushi part of the restaurant we've done about 5 times and all in all has been an enjoyable experience. They are a little cucumber crazy with their rolls, but I just request a substitution. And then we've always had issues with the front desk - no one is ever there!! Just the other night we waited 5 minutes before finally my husband went and talked to a bartender (who clearly saw us waiting) and asked to get a hostess. We'll go back since it's one of the only places my husband will eat sushi (NOT for the other part), I just wish they would improve on a few things!
(3)james s.
saw some mixed reviews prior to going tonight. I thought the place was excellent. I took my family of six for hibachi. my 3 yr old twins loved it. food was great and service was superb. we will go again for sure.
(5)Jonathan G.
Sumo Sushi never disappoints. Missed out on the all you can eat sushi during grand opening month, but have been a regular since. From dates to large family gatherings, this is my go to place. I've enjoyed the dining area, and teppanyaki area, but absolutely love the sushi bar. My favorites are the sushi and sashimi for two, the lady gaga roll, and the banana boat desert. Also, if you have the pleasure of running into the manager Cindy, she always asks about the family, as well as recommendations on new dishes. They also have a punch card if you go often.
(5)K S.
Been here a half dozen times. Sushi is acceptable. DO NOT bother with trying to get teppanyaki. Have tried a few times, had horrible results. Had a reservations again and again they made us wait over 30 minutes at a table without even water. Got up and left. Will not be back anytime soon, if ever.
(2)Michael S.
Quite bad. We tried this place after seeing the 4 star rating on Yelp. Most of the reviews must have been for the sushi. We ordered 4 meals from the kitchen, and 3 out of 4 were not good at all, 4th was just marginal. This place is not authentic Japanese. The owner and chefs would benefit by visiting a true Japanese restaurant to learn how the food should taste. This is not it. Udon was awful.
(1)Chia L.
Wow. I was uber scared to come here after having watched the parade of failures come and go. But I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by Sumo Sushi. Inside the spacious restaurant is a wide open bar where the sushi chefs make your food to-order. The atmosphere is chic, almost unfitting for the Livermore area... The pricing is high for this area, but the fish is fresh and plating is nice. They drew little sakuras on my plate hehe. What I ordered: nabeyaki udon, unagi don, sashimi regular,Ikura nigiri, and Alligator roll. I really liked the alligator roll because the sauces were interesting: one was sweet and tangy and the other spicy. The sashimi had 5 different types of dish, served on a bed of ice and garnished with orchids and some vegetable carvings. The nakeyaki udon was hm.. good, but kind of just normal. Udon was nice and chewy though and the soup base was flavorful but a tad salty. The unagi don... was disappointing. The rice wasn't well-cooked, a bit hard and not at all chewy. The unagi's bones were not treated properly, and thus not tender enough. The Ikura was all good. However, I really disliked the service! Our waiter gave me this attitude when I tried to order Ikura nigiri as if he were the all-knowing sushi chef and I was some frog that just climbed out of a well and had no idea what the hell sushi was. He asked me, "do you want your ikura sushi or sashimi?" "Sigh, rice or no rice?" he added impatiently. I was left confused since I had no idea how anyone would eat ikura sushi... so I looked at him and said, "You mean.. just spoonfuls of salmon roe? What?" I gave up trying to listen to his non-explanations and just went with ikura nigiri, but not before he gave me a judgmental look. Even before that, I had asked if they had unagi don, and mistake on my part, I tried to explained it via "eel on rice" since I didn't know how serious this place was about their Japanese terminology... yet. He promptly gave me a "OH, you mean unagi don." Next time, when I ordered nabeyaki udon he even said, "Ok, it's noodles, noodles in soup, ok?" THE HELL MAN. UGH. I'm pretty sure, growing up in Taiwan meant that I've eaten plenty of authentic Japanese food so that I know what udon noodles, unagi, nigiri, sushi, sashimi are... And even if I didn't, it doesn't warrant that kind of attitude! That would totally turn people away from trying new foods. That's a no-no.
(3)Corina V.
I went here with my best friend. We felt like trying out a new place & left very happy to have had a great meal. The food is really good. The chefs were on point & overall the service was great. I recommend this place for sure. I now go there very often!!
(5)Philbert W.
Today was the 3rd or 4th time I've been to Sumo. I still haven't been disappointed. Had a group of 10 for a birthday lunch. Service was fast and friendly. Food came out quickly and was delicious. Group got a variety of sushi rolls and bento boxes for lunch. As others say, the food presentation is fantastic for the sushi rolls. When we sang happy birthday, our server said we should have told them earlier. She then told us that she would give the birthday girl a free dessert. She came out with two plates of fried bananas that the entire group got to share. A+++. Don't let this graveyard of previous buffets deter you from coming here. This place is nothing like the places that went out of business. Oh, and signs say that teppanyaki grill is coming soon. Definitely looking forward to that.
(5)Joseph G.
I've been there twice. The first time was great - it was dinner with a packed restaurant, not long after opening. The sushi was a little overpriced and took a long time to get out, but the quality was killer. The alligator roll was worth going back for alone. The second time was probably a few weeks later, for an employee lunch, when the place only had a dozen or so tables going. It took at least 45 minutes to get the first roll, and over an hour to get all of it. I can understand that at Paxti's, where everyone is fighting to use the oven, but it's pretty hard to justify when you've got a couple sushi chefs serving less than ten tables. Maybe I'll go back and give them a third try, at some point, but not any time soon.
(2)Ken Z.
I ate here last night for dinner and I have to say that I am personally impressed with everything that's been presented. I cannot tell you how many 'sushi' type places that I've eaten at where the ordered item appears nothing like they way it's been described, fortunately this place is not like one of those places. Whatever you order be sure that it will arrive the way you've expected it; possibly even over meeting your expectations. Yesterday my order went straight to the meat and bones of the menu, if they can prepare good quality Ikura, Uni, and salmon skin everything and anything else can remain uncivilized! -Not to mention their tempura is clean and clutter free.
(5)Makenna S.
This place gets 5 stars for consideration of my food allergies ALONE. The food was also beyond awesome and the ambiance and service were really great. I normally stick to sashimi when I get sushi because I know what's in it, but their rolls looked too good to pass up. We got the Lady Gaga roll and the Alligator roll (sauces on the side to be safe, which they were nice about) and the Philadelphia roll and either the Spicy Tuna or Spicy Salmon roll (I don't remember which; it was really good but I was freaking out over how good the LG and Alligator rolls were and got distracted). I'm really glad we went with the rolls, because they were SO good! The fish was fresh, and there was a good portion of it in every roll. The rice was a decent quality, and the other ingredients were good too. I also had my first uni shot... weird, but delicious! Glad my date suggested it. I'm allergic to soy, which makes going out to restaurants a real bitch. Sushi is even more difficult. Our waitress was AMAZING. She went above and beyond, more than any server I have ever had. She asked the kitchen about soy content in things I didn't think of (thank goodness, because it turned out there was sneaky soy in those dishes), and all of the servers were perfectly attentive. Trust, there is nothing worse than being violently ill with a food allergy reaction. I'm eternally grateful for servers that show that level of concern. I never expected to find good sushi in Livermore, and I'm spoiled from living in the City... but I was impressed. I'll definitely be back.
(5)Angie E.
I always worried every time a new restaurant or name would pop up in this space cause they never seem to last long but somehow I heard it got better. Tonight was horrible. We had the worst servers ever, paid no attention, and we had a party of 7 and one of them didn't speak English very well so it was extremely hard to communicate. We had a couple people at our table who were regulars and they were so upset by tonight's service that they said they'll never be back. Two gals got the wrong food, not what they ordered at all, and none of it came out together so we have everyone eating at different times, half of us got salad/soup first, others got entrees first then salad/soup. It was just a really odd experience. And my teriyaki chicken was AWFUL!!! That's all I order, cause it's what I get and hard to screw up but this was just horrible, looked horrible, tasted horrible. And one of the gals ordered something to go for her hubby well in advance and that barely made it at the end when we were ready to leave. It was just hands down horrible and the manager who was there tonight wasn't very good at making it right with all the problems. It's just sad that I was hoping to like it and yet just a fail in my book, both in service and food. Won't be going back, but never been before so I'm not missing it.
(1)James F.
Short and simple.. Outstanding! Friendly, fun, tasty and good value. Glad they are here, The people that work here really seem to care and the place is spacious and comfortable. We talked to the owner and she was very kind. I wont say what the other positive reviewers already said. I will add that they have a good local wine list too. I feel for those that had a bad experience. It happens,, but in MY experience, this place truly is a very good restaurant all around.
(5)Mazie H.
Food is not that great. Sashimi is definitely not fresh here. I've had my share of fresh sashimi, and this place taste like its been frozen. Never had sashimi with so much water inside. Gross!
(1)Angela B.
We wanted sushi tonight and I have been wanting to try this place for awhile. Service here is very pleasant and fast. We ordered the volcano roll, the lady gaga, the mango avocado and the spicy salmon roll, all of them were great!!!! I will definitely be back to try the other rolls, and they are going to be doing teppanyaki soon! I really want to try that here.
(5)Jenny C.
Fantastic food, service, atmosphere, and customer service! The prices are very reasonable and I highly recommend! I just moved out of the area, and will miss this restaurant the most! When I come back to visit, this is where I will be!
(5)Brave E.
I'm disappointed with the Futomaki. Typically, this is a vegetarian sushi and I was also told by the waitress that it's just vegetables. However, it turns out that they make it with imitation crab meat. Good Futomaki has shitake mushrooms. Other sushi rolls are decent but not great.
(2)Marissa P.
I've been here twice and I absolutely LOVE ordering steak with a side order of noodles at the hibachi section! The cook does crazy techniques and its very entertaining! I will be coming here almost every weekend! Everyone who loves steak or sushi should try this place out! :)
(5)Michele M.
The quality of the food is quite good, but the atmosphere and service is always outstanding. The variety and creativity of the rolls have swayed me to order more rolls here than I typically enjoy at a sushi establishment. The Rainbow Naruto, which is made without rice, has a refreshing casing of cucumber, surrounding a kaleidoscope of fresh fish. Have I had superior quality fish elsewhere? Sure, but the complete experience at Sumo is one that is a welcome, cosmopolitan addition to Livermore.
(5)Tony R.
I wanted to celebrate my Mother's 70th birthday at a nice sushi restaurant. I checked out a number of sushi places on Yelp and this place seemed to have some pretty good reviews. This place PROVED TO BE A REALLY NICE RESTAURANT! The place is clean, well decorated and the servers (Cindy and Helen) were very friendly and attentive. My family enjoyed Sumo Sushi and my Mom suggested we come again -- I agree! :-)
(5)Fandk D.
-Ordered the spider roll, but got a lettuce roll with very little soft shell crab. -sushi rice was too dry - other rolls were over priced - saw them pre slicing fish for rolls like you see at buffets. - Wasabi Bistro beats this joint by a mile!
(2)wanda f.
Great service and great food. Party of 6. 5 of us don't eat raw fish and that's ok. We all ordered the Salmon dinner box. Very good. 1 person is GFand carries her own soy sauce. There were a few sushi items she could eat and she loved it. I would go there again.
(4)Riza F.
We came here for my mother in laws birthday dinner and we all loved it! The food was divine, service was quick and efficient, beautiful entree presentation and the atmosphere is most cozy. Now I don't have to go too far from home for delicious Japanese food. Glad we tried this place and we'll definitely keep coming back. Two-thumbs up Sumo!!!
(5)Ted G.
My boyfriend and I were driving back to LA from SF and we decided to stop for lunch. I yelped and y'all sent me to Sumo, which is gem of a restaurant in suburban Livermore. The sushi rolls are outrageously gorgeous; someone at Sumo knows more than a little about artful presentation. I had the Iso Fantastic, which was a fantastic soy-wrapped spicy tuna and tempura roll. My boyfriend's tempura udon soup was delicious, too. And we had a combo platter, too. Yeah, we ordered too much. But we managed only to pay $57 for sushi than in SF or LA wouldn't have been as good and would have cost $100. Awesome.
(4)Alysia W.
I came here for dinner tonight with high expectations due to all the 5-star reviews on here but sadly I didn't receive that same experience that everyone is raving about.. This place is usually packed when I drive by so I was suprised to see that the lot was only 1/3 full on a weekend night.. As soon as we walked in we were greeted by the hostess and seated right away.. The first thing I noticed about this place is the nice decor and how fancy the menus are compared to traditional sushi houses.. The prices are $1-2 higher than normal and everything on their menu has a twist on it that implies a white-washed asian restaurant.. But what do you expect in Livermore? I asked our waiter for the sushi menu because I didn't believe that there weren't more rolls than what was listed on their full menu and encountered some confusion.. The first time I asked the waiter he tried to point out that there were more items in the back of the menu but it wasn't sushi, so I asked him again if they had a sushi menu and he said "yes".. So I said "so you DO have a sushi menu?" and he said "no" so I asked one more time "you DO or you DON'T have a sushi menu?" and he said "no".. Of course I was confused because I had been given different answers each time so this led me to realize that our waiter was incompetent.. Not to mention that we didn't understand what the hell he was saying 75% of the time because he had a heavy accent and spoke so fast.. The next big problem with Sumo is the amount of time it takes for your food to get to you.. The restaurant was barely filled so I don't understand why it took 5 sushi chefs 20+ minutes to get our 3 rolls out to us.. They had a fancy design on each plate that they had crafted out of sauce which was nice but it made me think "is this the reason why it took them so long to get my food out?".. When we went for our second round of sushi we didn't want to have to wait so long again so we told them to please not design our plate this time.. The sushi came a bit faster this time but it still had a design on it.. Our waiter asked us "was that fast enough?".. I'm not sure what my options were there because if I had said "no" (which was the truth by the way) then what could he possibly do about that? Nothing.. So I was forced to lie and say yes just so he would go away.. Even then it took a ridiculous amount of time to make a basic Philly roll and 1 Alligator roll.. I probably could have made it faster myself.. For some reason the two end pieces of the Philly roll had wasabi on it too.. Idk if the sushi chef accidentally touched it with his wasabi hand or what but that was disgusting.. And lastly, our waiter gave us the bill but the person who returned it to us was someone entirely different, and they didn't even bother to walk around the partition to hand it to us.. The anonymous guy snuck up behind my friend (we were sitting in a corner booth) and tried to give it to her over the partition.. Creepy, and he scared my friend half to death! I would much rather take my money over to Kawa Sushi on 3rd Street.. Cheaper, great tastes, and no frills! Just the way I like it.. The highlight should be the food not the fancy sauce design that I won't even be eating.. For a sushi place I think they're a little too upscale and need to tone it down to a more relaxing and family friendly environment.. My 1 positive comment about this place? Fresh fish.. You've got that going for you but it's not enough to get me to drive back here again.. I would've gave them 3 stars but the service alone doesn't deserve that so they're getting 2 only because of the quality sushi..
(2)Anshul N Eypsa T.
Great Sushi! Hot Sake for $1 is awesome!! Loved their Moonlight Sushi. It is one of the best Sushi places in Livermore!!
(4)Kristen K.
So after the Crazy Buffet, the Yummy Buffet, The First Buffet, and Sanmola (and a few others) there is finally a great restaurant in this location! I was really impressed with the Sanmola remodel but the food was only so-so and with 'All you can Eat Sushi' signs outside, it was obvious that people would assume it was the same type of restaurant it has been for the past few years and I knew it was doomed. Now that it is under new ownership as Sumo, it really is a great restaurant! The first time we came in, we sat at the bar and right away they gave us complimentary taco-sushi appetizers...small but tasty, and free is always appreciated :-) The staff is extremely polite and attentive and the sushi chefs are seriously artists! Each plate they prepare looks UH-mazing, complete with illustrations and flashing lights! Overall the fish is very fresh and they have some really great combo rolls. So far I've tried the Valentine(heart shaped!), Lady Gaga(party sushi!), Sex on the Beach, quite a few other rolls, and the Sushi-Sashimi combo. Everything has been really great! The prices are on par with other japanese restaurants and it's definitely the nicest sushi place in town, so it's definitely worth it. Also, because it's so spacious, it's great for large groups. I will definitely be coming back regularly and I hope the good word gets out about Sumo so that this poor restaurant can stop running through different owners every other month! If you're looking for Japanese in Livermore, try this place out! PS Monday-Thursday they have a $1 Sake special!...sooo, see you there?
(5)Mary N.
Can never go wrong with eating the sashimi. Waiter was extremely nice
(4)Dee T.
Not bad for a sushi place. Love their taste. Wouldn't mind going back with friends or family.
(4)Kathleen R.
Definitely our new favorite Sushi Place! The fish is fresh, and the rolls are outstanding. They are also reasonably priced and you can always get a table quickly, even on a busy Friday/Saturday night. Only downside is the service can be a little on the slow side, but it takes time to make great Sushi, and makes us slow down to enjoy our dinner :-) Sumo Sushi is our new "go-to" Sushi restaurant.
(5)Aaron W.
Just tried them thanks to a LocalGruv discount $20 worth of sushi for $10. We order the Dragon Roll, Alligator Roll, and Incredible Tuna Roll. The worst sushi I have had in years. I ordered the sushi to go. They said it would be 15 minutes so we arrived about 20 minutes later. It took at least another 15 minutes before our food was ready. No big deal if the food was good. It wasn't. The rice: undercooked and not sticky Dragon Roll: Didn't even taste like Unagi. Incredible Tuna: "Seared Tuna" was medium well. We pulled it off the roll and pretty much made it into a spicy tuna roll. Very little spice and average flavor. Alligator: Messy, mayo sauce was runny, simply not good. In Livermore we'll stick with Kawa or try the new place downtown.
(1)Meagan R.
Alright! Yelp iPhone app strikes again! I don't live in Livermore so I'm not sure what was here before, but from reading other reviews I've gathered it sucked? Good news: Sumo Sushi House does NOT suck! Woo hoo! We ordered a Himachi Jalapeno appetizer. Not good, just tasted off. We told them so and they kindly offered to try again. Success! Much better this time. I was very pleased that they offered to remake it. Next up was the Alligator Roll. Good, very good. It was a roll with spicy mayonnaise on it, and they pulled it off well. I hate saucy sushi in general but my dining partner loves it so I compromised. It was not overly saucy like it often can be, just the right amount. And finally the Rainbow Naruto Roll. Seriously, how have I never had a roll like this? Tuna, salmon, yellowtail, avocado, wrapper in cucumber. No rice, no seaweed. Freaking awesome. Just so good. Light, fresh, summery, nearly perfect. It came with a sweet and sour mango dipping sauce which I liked but my friend didn't care much for. He used the standard soy sauce and wasabi and liked it that way just as much as I did with the mango sauce. So happy to find fresh tasting and creative sushi in Livermore. It was excellent.
(4)Norell F.
I really wanted to like this place my friend and I went here for dinner and to start when we walked in the host didn't say hi or anything they took about 10 minutes to even put our name down to wait for a table. When we finally did we decided to go to the bar and get a drink not one person that went behind the bar said anything and we never got our drink 15-20 minutes later finally got seated at no point did anyone say sorry for the wait. My friend and I ordered two salads, a few rolls, and drinks. Her salad came out we asked our server where mine was (seeing as how is was just a sea weed salad) he said it would be right out we got all of our food before I ever got my salad got it and our server said there was a lot of orders that went to the kitchen at once. OK no big deal other then the fact that two other tables came in after us ordered after us and got their food and check way before us. Then the table that was right next to us started yelling about everything we had just gone through and the manager took two of their items off the bill. What??? So because we didn't yell and scream you didn't apologize for the long wait and gave free stuff to a jerk ok. So I doubt I will try this place again
(2)Narek G.
We go here pretty often with family. They have really good appetizers, we are a big fan of the tuna tartar and seared yellow-tail. We have also tried the tuna pizza which is not too bad. Our favorite rolls are the alligator roll and the tuna amazing roll. Most importantly, they will make anything with soy paper instead of sea weed if you are not a big fan of sea weed. Try it, it might not look like a place you want to go from the outside but they have pretty decent sushi. Best in the tri-valley area that I have found!
(5)T B.
I'm always skeptical of restaurants that need photo's on their menu's, but this place is fresh and delicious. The services is fantastic. We ordered all Sushi rolls this time and the plating was beautiful. The fish was truly the freshest I've eaten without having to go out and catch it myself. Definitely the place to be if you are craving sushi. Oh and they just opened a Benihana style experience on one side of this huge restaurant.
(5)Alley S.
Came here after boyfriend got a coupon in the mail for 15% off here. Boy were we happy! Came in for lunch, both opted for the Bento box lunches with Chicken katsu. Very filling meal for under $20! We will definately be coming back! Hopefully for some sake.
(5)Callie L.
We just went here for dinner for the first time, and overall we had a very nice evening. Food was decent, the staff were *VERY* nice to our toddlers, and although not super cheap the fish was fresh and the meats high quality. The sushi rice was well-seasoned, the fish was fresh, and some of the crazier sushi coming out to other tables looked really neat! I even saw one that had LED lights on the plate--crazy. My husband had beef teriyaki, which was also pretty tasty. The cut of beef was high quality and the sauce tasted fresh. It came out VERY VERY rare, so we did send it back, but they happily cooked it more for him, and that is more of a personal preference thing than anything else. Just be aware that they may lean towards rare meats here. My toddlers shared a kids chicken katsu bento (these are pretty big bento boxes so smaller kids can share) and the coating on the chicken was crispy and freshly fried. We also had japanese fried rice--very tasty. The decor is nothing to write home about, but it was very clean and newly renovated. The ambiance wasn't great as they had the regular radio on (commercials and all!) but I assume as they get more established they'll realize this mistake and put on something else. The biggest plus for us, is as a family with not one but two toddlers, the restaurant was spacious, with booths, and best of all the staff members were INCREDIBLY NICE to my kids. That as any parent will know is worth its weight in gold as all too often even restaurants that claim to be family friendly glare at families with kids so kudos to the staff for being so welcoming and kind to families. We'll probably put this on our regular rotation for family dinners.
(4)Christina T.
Checked them out the other day, because I'd love to see a restaurant really succeed in this location and I hope they are it. We went for lunch, and were originally the only costumers but soon others arrived. Although lonely, the staff was excellent and attentive and made us feel at home instead of awkward. Presentation was phenomenal. You really get your money's worth and more for lunch specials. I ordered a combination sashimi and tuna roll that also came with soup and salad. My husband ordered sashimi lunch that came with soup and salad, and his sashimi came on ice that had a glowing light underneath! I would certainly go back, but think the decor needs a little bit of work. Fish was delicious. Hoping to see them last.
(4)Matt K.
We've been here 5 times for the Hibachi grill and we have loved it every time. It's a very reasonable price and always entertaining. Would recommend it to anyone.
(5)Andrew E.
Ate here a few weeks ago after I hadn't had Japanese food in awhile and was craving some good Sushi. With all the positive yelp reviews, this place has to be good right? Nope. This is whitewashed Japanese food to the Max. Miso comes with a spoon. Virtually every Japanese restaurant in the Bay Area give you soup AND salad with your entree. Here it's one or the other. Pork Katsu was overcooked and tough and the tempura dipping sauce was bland. This place was LOUD. Screaming babies in stereo. I know that's not the restaurant's fault, but it didn't make my experience any more pleasant. Sushi was ok, but because of everything else I mentioned above I don't think I would ever go back.
(2)Andrea V.
I was beyond disappointed with this place. Went here for lunch with a small group. Between the 5 of us, we ordered around 8 rolls. All were pretty big in size, but the quality was horrible. Not fresh. Not tasty. I actually gagged after putting a tuna roll in my mouth. After 3 pieces I couldn't do it anymore. I was SO hungry, but not hungry enough to eat what they served. Never again! Up side - nice decor & friendly staff. :-P
(1)Jessica G.
Hands down the best sushi I have ever had. Its like vegas style, over the top, fresh sushi and wow...hella good! We come here a lot!
(5)Joe P.
Good sushi....expensive sushi! Nice place
(3)Karen J.
My favorite sushi restaurant by far. You can't beat the service here.
(5)Adina R.
I've been here twice hoping it would be better the second time but I probably won't go back. The first time was at the hibachi room and the chef was fun, the rice, meat and seafood were fantastic but the veggies tasted aweful. I couldn't eat them at all. We made a reservation for my son's birthday thinking they would give him a special desert like other hibachi places I have been to and they acted as if nothing was special about the day. I'm pretty sure someone stole our reservation because there was a check next to my name when I walked in so I purposely mentioned many times throughout the meal that it was his birthday and nothing happened. Service was very slow so I had to take my younger kids outside while the birthday boy waited for some ice cream and my husband said they apologized and realized it was his birthday and they sang and gave him a special dessert but I and the siblings missed the enitre thing. Second visit...this time lunch in the sushi room. Staff was so friendly! Soup is delicious. I find the salad dressing odd but my kids all love it. One kid got a bento box which was nice with a spring roll and california rolls but the chicken teriyaki was nasty. The chicken itself was dry, stringy and had hard pieces in it. I do like that they offer chicken yaki udon (fried noodles with chicken). The sushi fish was nice and the presentation gorgeous but I think some of the textures didn't work in the sushi, such as the dragon roll. The cucumbers were very hard cut in sticks and it didn't work. I prefer another place in town so I probably won't come back here but I do like the staff a lot. Maybe with a great deal I would do it. Tip...the website and take out menu have great coupons and I wasted my money with the Groupon. Which is the reason I went twice (so I didn't have the Groupon expire)
(3)Mike C.
This had to the most interesting dining experience ever, coming here to celebrate my birthday with a group of my friends thinking that we could take advantage of their 10% off coupon on the website. Along with reservation at the tepanyaki area, we had confirmed with the front reception area that they could honor the coupon for a large group of us. The dining experience was decent, the tepan show was entertaining and the food ingredient was decent. This place is by no means a Japanese restaurant (Chinese owned), but what else can you expect in Livermore? Upon receiving our split-bills, the real shock came with a series of falsified claims which made absolutely no sense. * They first did not want to take their own 10% coupon (even though we confirmed in the front desk) * Claimed the coupon must be printed (does not say on the website, or the coupon, or front desk) * Can only apply the coupon to one check only, "because the machine will not accept more than one coupon at a time". (We all have SEPARATE BILLS, machine does not know the difference if we are one big party or not. ONLY THE PERSON PROCESSING KNOWS) * When we confront about the guy made the promise, we were told that "he is a partial owner who doesn't know how the coupon works." Doesn't the owner have the final say?? especially after promising us something? * Upon further questioning, this "guy" became a new "manager" that isn't familiar with the policies, thus making a lot of mistakes. Why can't he own up to his mistakes?? * Later offered to use the coupon IF we all combine back to one check, but can only use ONE credit card to process. Are you friggin kidding me? It's not my first time eating at a restaurant, card machines allow you to punch in an amount for each credit card After experiencing all this on my birthday, here are my observations: 1) if you are going to make your customers jump through hoops to claim your own coupon, then don't offer it 2) if you have ridiculous rules on your coupon, list it 3) if you own employees don't know your own policies, better off not say anything than making falsifying claims 4) if an employee makes a mistake, own up to it. My suggestion to you if you share similar experience as me? 1) mark your own discount from the tip, you have far more flexibilities than the 10% 2) write your blog post here + share it with all your friends 3) go somewhere else where they actually want your business and save a headache 4) want real Japanese food? Yelp Pleasanton and you will find 10 other restaurants with a better dining experience. Result? They have lost my business, 13 of my friends, plus everybody in the restaurant. We will all write reviews and share our experiences through words of mouth and encourage you to do the same.
(1)Chrissy R.
This has turned into our go-to place for sushi in Livermore. Decently priced, fresh fish always. Their presentation is always great, and although the service can be a bit slow from time to time (mainly when they have a packed house), they are always very friendly. Your bill will get expensive if you start to drink, so find a DD, drink before hand, and enjoy your dinner to keep the costs down!
(4)Alexander W.
I Placed an order at 3:25, lunch ends at 3:30 and they tried to charge me the $17 dinner price not the $10 lunch price. I really felt this was dishonest. When I opted to leave, my waitress was trying to hold back her laughter. I was just outraged at their disregard for customer satisfaction. No wonder this restaurant is empty. This place was better back when it was Crazy Buffet. I had never been to Sumo so I decided to give them a chance... I WILL NEVER VISIT THIS RESTAURANT AGAIN.
(1)Lisa T.
Best sushi restaurant in Livermore! The valentine roll was amazing! The fried rice was super yummy too! They've done a great job remodeling the space and the staff is really friendly! I've already been back! YUM!
(5)Giselle M.
I love SUSHI.. no joke. This place has had many different owners and many similar types of cuisine, but this time it felt different. After a high school graduation on a Friday night and having friends and family attend the atmosphere felt very nice. Although we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table which they had plenty of, the food made up for it in the end. I had a salmon benko box and it was delicious along side the "american dream" and extra tempura shrimp and calamari this place not only offers delicious food, service, but great customer service... VERY PLEASED!! (^^)
(4)Gregory L.
It was that time again, to have lunch with a business associate and all that goes along with that. She suggested Sumo Sushi at the corner of Mines and 1st Streets and I recoiled and said, "I don't want to eat at a buffet" It's not a buffet! It's great sushi! We went, we ate, it was fantastic! Moderately priced and beautifully presented. Thoroughly enjoyed and took my wife back there two days later. I recommend Sumo Sushi. It's not a buffet!!
(4)Will I A m.
the presentation of food is very nice but i don't see how the sushi is rated so high. yes, it's good food and their originality is great but i would not rate it as high as "i'm a fan" or "woohoo". sorry! the prices are very high and there are other options in the tri valley. food alone, i would definitely come back. but with rolls that average $13-$15, it's not worth it for me.
(3)K M.
There are only a couple of Sushi places in Livermore that you can count on for having fresh fish and this is one of them. The alligator roll and moonlight roll are excellent. The only reason I am giving 4 stars is because my take out orders are always being screwed up. One certain hostess always has difficulty understanding my order and on more than one occasion I go to pick it up and it is wrong and I have to wait another 15 minutes for them to make my roll. Probably wont be doing takeout anymore.
(4)Ria P.
I was so excited to see all these lovely reviews for a local sushi restaurant, so we headed down to try it out. We ordered the regular sashimi set and were extremely disappointed. The tuna had obviously be frozen and defrosted several times and the salmon had almost no flavor. I'm not entirely sure what the other 3 pieces were as they were indistinguishable from one another by anything but color. Maybe our failure was in not ordering rolls, but I prefer sushi without piles of sauce and deep fried crusts. I suppose if that's what you're after, Sumo is fine, but definitely go elsewhere for simple sashimi.
(1)Derick L.
Tasty fresh sushi. The plates have catchy presentation with lots of flair. Service is friendly although was a bit difficult to communicate with. Decor with TVs is a plus.
(5)chris w.
Don't be put off by the exterior of Sumo Sushi and Steak House. It's located way out 1st St. near Lowe's. For the first time since the 70's this restaurant has been transformed from the original Smorga Bob's into a lovely dining venue. The service is impeccable and the food...well, my valentine roll was not only delicious but the prettiest thing I've ever seen on a plate. The chef took time to arrange the roll and then make it look like it was surrounded by a cherry blossom tree in bloom! We'll be back. Thanks LocalGruv for getting us there! They also have teppanyaki and a nice bar. Yes, the curse is gone for this homely building!
(4)Miss K.
Great, fresh sushi. We were very pleased!!
(4)F. L. C.
My family and I have celebrated two birthdays here in the last few months and have to say that the experiences were fantastic! I just had my birthday here and was very impressed with the wonderful and attentive service. Of course, the food was flavorful, well-cooked, and the best teppanyaki place I have ever visited. Our teppanyaki cook, Eason, is consistent and masterful as well as friendly and entertaining. The kids and adults alike really enjoyed the showmanship of Eason's teppanyaki skills and the food from the fried rice down to the meats and seafood were cooked to perfection with just the right flavors. Eason even took time to make balloon animals for the kids which was nice and unexpected. Furthermore, the staff came and sang Happy Birthday to me and gave me a complimentary fried banana dessert. As we were leaving, everyone said good bye and wished me a wonderful birthday again. It was such a warm and inviting experience. I highly recommend Sumo if you are looking for great food and wonderful service. The portions are very generous and as I mentioned before, everything was flavorful and succulent. Thank you to the staff and our cook Eason for making my birthday memorable!
(5)Angela L.
The sushi is just ok, most times we've been, the fish just doesn't seem very fresh. The last time we were there, everything seemed to be just quickly thrown together and our gyoza was under cooked yet burnt. Even though we complained about it and they took it back, they did not take it off our bill. The place itself is nice but we probably won't be going back.
(2)Cindy D.
This is an update on my previous review of their new Teppanyaki dinner service. We had an absolutely fantastic experience last month. It seems like they have really turned things around and upped the notch on their customer service. We were here for my son's birthday and they were so sweet to him. We did not mention the special occasion but I'm sure they figured out since he was wearing a birthday crown. Even though we didn't request it, they still brought out a special desert and sang for him. It was such a kind gesture and very much appreciated. Thank you, Sumo Sushi!
(5)Michelle W.
This resturant is awesome! The staff are really friendly and on top of their game! The food and cheft were both great!! I would most definitely recommend eating here. This is now my favorite Japanese Steakhouse!
(5)Dion J.
Awesome presentation of sushi. Pretty high quality, although a little on the high priced side for what you get.
(4)F T.
Came here with a friend for dinner tonight and the sushi looks exactly like the wonderful photos online. Even the menu photos will get you hooked if you don't know what to order. It sure helps when you're indecisive and love all types of rolls. We ordered the Moonlight Roll and the Tuna Amazing Roll. Both scrumptious! Took awhile to be made because they seem to take a lot of time perfecting the display with sauces, etc. We ate it all so quickly!! We then had dessert-Tiramisu (my fav) and my friend ordered the Tempura Ice Cream. We both enjoyed dessert as well. All in all a good meal. On another note, the restaurant is pretty large. When we first walked in we were asked if we wanted to do sushi or Hibachi, where you cook your own food. It's nice to have options. I guess what you want to eat determines what area you will be sitting at. My friend and I were sat at the bar even though there were plenty of tables but we didn't mind because we got to see the sushi being made. I would definitely come here again. They even gave us a little stamp card for every entree you purchase. So when you reach a certain number of stamps. you get a treat!
(4)Welldone F.
This is way above your normal sushi place! The sushi is fresh, the menu is mouth-watering with all of the amazing selections, and the dishes are presented with flare. If you love sushi, the menu will knock your socks off! The great food and attentive service, all at a very reasonable price, will bring us back again and again. Lets not let this place go, folks!
(5)Paul S.
Best sushi in Livermore by far! You have to try the Sumo Roll and the Spicy Kani Roll. So awesome! Prices are reasonable and they have very friendly service. You get what you pay for here and you'll be back for more. AWESOME!!!!
(5)Mr R.
I still can't believe Livermore now has one of the best Sushi restaurants in the east bay! Now, its a tad on the pricey side (average $12-14 for a roll), but like they say, you get what you pay for -- and this food is quality -- not to mention their presentation is impressive. I have been -- and will continue to be -- back several times.
(5)Patty W.
Like any good Yelper, I scoped out the reviews written by my fellow Yelpers before deciding to take the plunge at Sumo Sushi House. My hesitation was not without good reason. Like many others, I've witnessed the downfalls of the many eateries stationed in this location, and was more than a bit skeptical. Here's what I noticed about the reviews: - many of the negative comments had to do with use of the 10% coupon from the restaurant's website - many of the poor reviews came from Asians .. Could this be because mostly Asians are the only ones using the coupon? Or does it have to do with the generally non-Asian population of Livermore? Hmmm ... First off, this place is huge. Given that it used to be a buffet, there is plenty of open space, and the teppanyaki room was at capacity. It was a bit disappointing that we had to wait, even though there were clearly open tables, but our waitress and hostess both explained they were short staffed because one of the servers had called in sick. That said, we still got very quick and attentive service. We ordered the tuna pizza for an appetizer.. I know, I know, sounds like a bad idea, but really, it was quite tasty! But much smaller than pictured in the menu. Next, we ordered an American Dream Roll ($14) and a Crispy Dragon Roll ($13). Probably $1 - $2 more than other restaurants would charge for the same thing, but I'm guessing the increased price is for presentation and uniqueness. Each plate had a fancy butterfly drawn with different colored sauces and both rolls were acceptably tasty. The American Dream tasted distinctly Chinese though, and we couldn't put a finger on why; I think we settled that it was the rock shrimp that gave it that flavor. It wasn't unappetizing, just unexpected. The Crispy Dragon was good, but we're still unsure about how the cream cheese goes with the unagi flavor. I'm a huge fan of melty cream cheese, so I loved it, but hubby was not so keen. Still, we cleaned the plates. Our servers were very friendly, and the tall round-faced guy with the spiky hair (kinda like Monchichi) was very helpful in recommending future dishes to try. It did seem the hostess and waitstaff were still new and not yet sure of how things worked. I hope they figure this out soon, so they look more polished and professional. Also, at most sushi places, the chefs will greet you when you enter and leave; we got nothing here. Perhaps because the chefs are so far away from the doorway entrance, it would be distracting to other diners. We don't like people anyway, so it was fine with us, but you friendlier types might be put off about it. Overall, I would and have recommended this place to others, especially those who are still reeling from the bad taste previous tenants have left in the revolving door that is 4193 First Street. Note: We did not use a coupon. I am Chinese, husband is Caucasian ... service was fast and friendly. The lesson of the day is: don't use a coupon and do represent diversity. It's a win.
(4)K L.
I love taking my kids here! The teppan cooks are amazing and the servers are so polite and tentative. We usually order the chicken/steak teriyaki. I haven't tried their sushi yet but I will do so on my next visit.
(5)Laura S.
Don't judge a book by its cover, this place is gorgeous on the inside and the food is amazing!!
(5)Tammy K.
This place has become our new "sushi spot." Ive been about a dozen times and have nothing bad to say. Food is always good and fresh. Service is always good to at least decent.
(4)