Sushi Marina
120 S California St, Ventura, CA, 93001
Sushi Marina Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Ventura for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
120 S California St
Ventura, CA, 93001 - Phone (805) 643-5200
- Website https://www.sushimarinarestaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Kat M.
STAY AWAY! This place has the trifecta of a bad business: poor service, high prices and bad food. I ordered a dynamite appetizer that was really salty. The owner's wife just said, "next time we will not make it salty". She even had the audacity to argue with us. Bottom line: the price for the service, food and ambiance of the place just doesn't line up. Bravo sushi marina.
(1)Hannah C.
Sushi Marina has become our go to sushi spot in Ventura! All of the fish is so fresh, the owners are incredibly nice, and everything we eat is absolutely delicious. We've never had a bad meal here. Amazing.
(5)Kristi N.
The food is not bad and the location is good but they are rude plain and simple.From the hostess to the sushi chefs, at least they are consistent. On the plus side, if you are eating with a non sushi fan the menu is good for cooked food and there is a lot of what I call kid sushi, cooked cruncny fried stuff. The last time we sat at the sushi bar they piled our entire order all over the bar and eventually spilled something. It is not relaxing or friendly. They don't need your business and they let you know it.
(2)Kevin M.
I'm an Albacore sashimi fan, and theirs is legit!! Melts in your mouth. They put Jalapenos on it but I get it without since I'm not a fan. I haven't tried their full menu, but I can understand some of the negative reviews. A lot of their rolls and sashimi are expensive. However, they have lunch specials that are $9.99 and are a lot of food, good stuff (couple rolls, salad, miso soup (which is good!), etc). Overall, a little pricey unless you know what you're doing, but if you like albacore sashimi, come on in!
(4)C h.
First time to try this place tonight. My wife needs to eat gluten free and that can be challenging not matter where we eat. For the first time ever at a sushi restaurant the staff was knowledgeable and went the extra mile to make sure the food came out right. Try the jalepeno black pepper tuna and the oaji roll. Fast service, good food. Will be back.
(4)Kole M.
I have never in my entire life experienced raw fish that was HARD. However, I ate here in mid-July and ordered two Philly rolls. The salmon was hard and crusty on the ends. The roll was poorly made and the sticky rice was like mush. Pass.
(1)Dennis C.
This place is great. Friendly service, excellent food and warm atmosphere. This is definitely my first choice when im craving some sushi.
(5)Mo T.
My favorite sushi place in town! (I admit my perception might be colored by my extremely attractive sushi/life partner, but I will do my best to censor my bias). They offer a hot towel upon sitting down, which feels fancy. They have good, hot green tea and, of course, Sapporo. The baked green mussels are amazing and we always make a point to order the lobster dynamite roll. We try at least one new roll each visit and we're never disappointed. Just add good conversation with a good looking date and you've got yourself a perfect night.
(5)Stephanie R.
I love this spot!! They give you a warm towel to wipe your hands when you sit down which was weird to me at first but pretty cool. I dig the sushi, my two favorites are the crunchy roll and red dragon roll but I really would recommend any of the rolls.
(5)Michael B.
It is alittle more expensive, but worth it. Staff are really attentive and friendly. The sushi itself, it very good and has a unique presentation. Had the carrot/ginger soup and seaweed salad all delicious. The place is busy but... they are fast and keep it moving. We had yam roll, malibu and marina...yam was so good we had another :P The shape and decor of the restaurant is fun, good vibe, but hate the giant mirror? Hate the plastic dishes :(
(4)C. G.
Just came from Japan, where I ate at the fish market, and all I could think of was how much I was looking forward to coming back to the states for some sushi marina. Sit at the bar, get straight-up sushi, halibut is the best, followed by salmon, amazingly buttery yellowtail, black pepper jalepeno tuna for a kick, and sweet shrimp for dessert. The best sushi I've ever had, hands down.
(5)J W.
Love Sushi Marina ... my all time fave sushi restaurant with the Ojai roll ... the BEST! Good service and fair prices. Nice location ... take a stroll through downtown Ventura and enjoy.
(5)Amy H.
Came in for dinner on NYE. We're unfamiliar with the area, but sushi was a must and this was the first place we stumbled upon. The appetizers were a bit pricey, but good, and the rolls we ordered were all fresh and tasty. Would go back. Fairly priced drinks, too!
(3)Becky C.
Great sushi ; loved the Yuji roll and the Philly Old Style. Fantastic find in Ventura!
(4)Gary E.
Sooo, we were down visiting a good friend who'd just moved to Ventura, and we wanted sushi. He'd said that a lot of folks recommended Sushi Marina as "the place" for sushi in Ventura, so off we went. The service blew, the food was so-so - and that's being generous. I suppose it's pretty telling when another review says "this isn't the BEST sushi place, however it's better than 7-11 or VONS sushi" Yes folks, it's better than stuff that's been sitting around on a grocery store shelf. And holy Jebus on a bike, what daring soul would even CONTEMPLATE sushi from a 7-11?! Add to that, horribly overpriced. I'd avoid it.
(2)George K.
Wow what a hidden gem in downtown Ventura! Rolls, nigiri, sashimi, and hand rolls were all fresh and delicious. On par with little Tokyo spots down in LA. The Cajun salmon is a unique must-try.
(5)Alejandro R.
Yes Is good, but The prices are a little to much for the portion they give on the sushi. I went yesterday and I paid $12.00 for 5 pieces of sushi roll it was good, but when I was rating them they come apart not good. That is my point of view.
(3)Nici B.
I like it! We went to Sushi Marina tonight and had a really good dinner. I really like the portion sizes! A lot of other Sushi places serve monster Sushis. These were just how i liked them. We didn't have any fish, only Avocado and Cucumber Rolls. Veggie Tempura and a Miso Soup. Beer and Sake of course and I really can't complain. Felt comfortable the whole time. It's not the fanciest place but the food was tasty! Go check it out!
(5)Haylie P.
So the sushi here is prob my fav anywhere. Love the garlic roll. But my issues with it are mainly the staff. I don't think they are very friendly at all and they charge you for everything! Extra refills on your drink? Charge! WTF is that? And when I asked for a certain kind of seaweed (every other sushi place is fine with it), they said they would have to charge me extra for that too!
(3)Jill H.
The service was VERY slow. Good was pretty good. I had an ahi salad and tuna roll. My so enjoyed his CA roll said it was one of the best he has had:)
(3)Therese H.
Probably some of the best sushi anywhere in part only because of their proprietary dynamite sauce. Try the green mussels...they are unbelievable and the lunch specials are off the hook great!
(5)Rachel H.
Stopped in for dinner about a month ago - very good. We sat at the sushi bar and ate ourselves silly, we were so hungry. We left there full and happy. The rolls were delish, the ambiance is fun and the prices are fair for nice sized portions. I know we will be back and soon!
(4)Elyse B.
This has got to be by far the best sushi and sashimi I have ever had. Its the local sushi place, and my boyfriend and I make regular appearances there. The sushi/sashimi is incredibly fresh, and the restaurant always looks clean, and the service is always great. I would highly recommend this place to any sushi lover!
(5)Melissa C.
This is the best sushi place in Ventura. Everything I've ever ordered here was delicious. I usually get the Manhattan Roll, it's truly amazing! The Carrot Ginger soup is to die for. Staff is so friendly. The only thing that bothers me is when I sit at the bar and the employees who wash dishes in the back of the kitchen, just stare and they make me feel uncomfortable. All the Yelpers who say they are expensive: Yes, you may be right, it's a little more expensive but you get what you pay for and it's totally worth it. Each friend I ever took here was very pleased and thanked me :)
(5)Jeff H.
A lot of complaints seem to be about the fish. We ordered the garlic tofu and veggie roll and they were excellent. They have great vegetarian options. At the beginning of the meal, they gave us a warm towel for our hands- talk about fancy!
(5)Brandi D.
Worst sushi EVER. I wasted my money and my appetite here. The sushi was not fresh and was so chewy. The wasabi isn't even spicy! You could probably find better sushi at a 7-11.
(1)Lindsey N.
Cons: * Utterly cramped layout. * Only 2 restrooms, located by the larger group setting tables; good luck navigating your way into one of those restrooms. * Nothing fancy as far as Sushi goes; no amazing house specials. * Parking is only available on the street or in the parking garage. You'll have to cross the street to get to the restaurant. Pros: * Conveniently located in downtown Ventura. * Friendly staff. * Fun bar atmosphere - getting to watch the chefs is the best part of this dining experience. If you're looking for Sushi on a budget try Sumo off of Victoria. There is no compromise in quality just because it has better pricing.
(3)owen brenna i.
We stopped here on our way to Santa Barbara and it was good for what we wanted. we walked around a bit and decided it looked authentic, but it wasn't really. They had a lot fo rolls to choose from but most were cooked or drenched in some sort of sauce. So we ordered some sushi, just the usual: salmon, mackaral, yellowtail, tuna..and stuck to that because there was nothing really inventive on the roll list, everything was pretty much everything that i have had before and was too heavy, i eat sushi when i want something light and fresh..oh well it was good. it did the trick, nice and casual and the waitresses were nice..
(3)frank w.
I like the place. The fish was fresh and the service was good, plus I can walk here from my house.
(4)Lowell H.
Friendly little sushi bar and restaurant. During fireworks the proprietor actually encouraged people to leave their plates and go outside to view it all. Good sushi.
(4)Katy W.
Horrible HORRIBLE service. We had reservations, but were told that we had to wait until our whole party was present until we could be seated. Ok, fine. We wanted to have a drink at the bar while we waited, but when we sat down, this lady came running and yelling at us that this was a sushi bar, not a drinking bar! She would let us order drinks, but we had to drink them on benches outside! There were at least 10 empty tables in this place and the woman wanted us to wait outside with our drinks?! Not exactly legal. What a B. We left and spent our money elsewhere.
(1)Erin K.
I came here with a girlfriend last night for dinner and we both enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. The prices are high, but the food was also tasty and they have a wide variety of options including gluten free. My girlfriend likes to come here because they don't use GMOs in their food. I got their crunchy tempura roll and their tempura yam roll. I was very happy with both rolls and they were prepared exactly how I requested. Girlfriend got a sashimi roll and it was amazingly beautiful but difficult to eat with chopsticks. I reminded her that in Japan sushi is a finger food and she found it much easier to eat that way! ;) Service was a little slow - we were ready to place our order way before they bothered to come take it (passing by our table many times in between), but other than that I was very happy with our meal and would not mind coming here again for sure.
(4)Victoria O.
We really like Sushi Marina but last night I thought the quality of the fish was not up to the level it had been other times my boyfriend and I went after shooting in Oxnard. The service was the best ever. They don't do substitutions on the sushi dinner (18.95) but I despise albacore and they did substitute one piece of nigiri for that both for me and J. The salad dressing is particularly good and it's a large salad, not the usual fare with a combination. Good miso as well and the hot sake was fine. The California roll is not good: it's like a Trader Joe's roll. I didn't try the specialty rolls and they did look good. I just didn't think it was nearly as good. Passable but the least good sushi I've had in awhile (I eat a lot of sushi).
(3)Scott M.
Simple yet sophisticated. If quality is what you are looking for, than Sushi Marina is the place to be. Each dish is elegantly presented and rolled with flavor in mind. For this sushi enthusiast, sashimi is the way to go. From octopus to toro to kampachi, each plate is simply designed allowing the natural flavors of the fish to be highlighted yet complimented with citrus, yuzu kosho and truffle salt. With each clasp of the chopsticks comes a complex combination of land and sea to your taste buds. I suggest you belly up to the sushi bar and let Yuji, the new proprietor, or Shin, take you on a sushi journey. Under new ownership, the atmosphere has become friendlier and more inviting than ever before. Stop in for your favorite roll or get introduced to something you never thought of trying, either way you will leave with the upmost satisfying experience.
(5)Stephanie B.
The sushi was great! We had the yam tempura roll, Malibu and marina roll. We loved the yam roll so much that we ordered another one! The rolls were beautifully displayed with dipping sauces -a nice change from soy and wasabi. We also has the seaweed salad and ginger carrot soup -both excellent. The service was great and I loved the decor. It was expensive tho -hence the 4stars.
(4)Lexie G.
I have gotten takeout half a dozen times from Sushi Marina and I absolutely love the food. The Seaweed Salad was really fresh and delicious! My favorite roll that I've tried so far is the Salmon Lover's Roll. It doesn't say it on the menu, but it comes with a wasabi mayo that is absolutely delicious. I also recommend that Sushi Lunch Special, because it comes with miso, salad, a California or Spicy Tuna roll, 1-piece of yellowtail, salmon, and tuna sushi. Absolutely perfect!
(5)Marina S.
We were loyal patrons of Banzai Sushi in Calabasas for many, many years, but became disappointed when the ownership changed. We finally tracked down Yuji, the kind and talented former Banzai chef/co-owner who opened Banzai Marina in Ventura. And boy, are we grateful! We have tried many places to replace Banzai and were totally unsuccessful, until now. Banzai Marina has the freshest sushi, and the most delicious rolls. They don't douse their rolls in teriyaki sauce like most places. Their menu is refined, delicious, and of very high quality. It is definitely worth the drive. We have ceased to search for local Sushi restaurants because it's just not worth it!
(5)Clementine L.
I love marina sushi, but it is so expensive so one star off.
(4)Natalie G.
I love the sushi at this place but their prices did go up with the new owners and the consistency sometimes gets to me... Sometimes plates arrive ungarnished which is annoying at their prices. Plus the garnishes are so good and I love eating the garnishes with the sushi as a palate cleanser that I really notice that stuff. All of this doesn't bother me too much til today when I tried to go in for dinner at 7. We had to leave by 7:35 which normally isn't a problem but the girl stopped us from sitting and said they were too busy. They weren't more busy then they normally are. Truly. I asked her if we would be able to order and get two sushi orders by 7:30 and she said no. I ended up leaving but I'm really irked by the whole interaction. They didn't have any more people then usual and the normal sushi chefs were there with just a new girl serving... As a New Yorker I know my expectations on good quality and service are high but I felt like she practically threw us out of there. Weird and rude. Not sure I'll be back.
(2)Leah H.
So disappointing, this restaurant used to be my favorite sushi place in Ventura. Very fresh fish and atypical sushi, yet it changed owners recently and has gone the way of every other "fusion" sushi bar around with low quality fish and dishes covered in crazy sauces made to look interesting but taste sub par.
(2)Mike K.
definitely not my favorite... the selection runs the gambit, i.e., you can get the craziest americanized sushi roll with all the extra sauce your heart desires or just go for the most basic traditional nigiri... first time i came here it actually wasnt too bad but the second time i got a gnarly visit of montezuma's revenge and, well, i havent been back... what can i say. ciabatta Sushi Marina...
(2)Gina P.
The jalapeno shrimp tempura is awesome not too hot. the sushi was good order the combination and a side of yellowtail.
(4)Denni T.
Is this place called Sushi Marina or Marina Sushi? Their are signs on the restaurant stating both names. Been here a handful of times and always post up at the sushi bar. The crew at the bar are really friendly, fish has always been fresh and the place has a good atmosphere. Only qualms .... place gets REALLY crowded and stuffy on Friday & Saturday nights and its a bit on the expense side. Sunday's are good nights here.
(4)Ann L.
I wasn't much of a sushi fan until I came to this place. They give you a warm wash cloth to wash your hands when your seated, which is always nice. My favorite rolls are the crunchy roll and the Manhattan. The service is always superb.
(4)Justin R.
Poor service. Decent food. Menu unclear. No descriptions of rolls on the menu. We ordered a roll with scallops and expected cooked but they were raw. This was not clear on menu. Prices kinda high. Bathrooms unclean. Many better places to go but not a complete loss. No wait for table, probably because aforementioned factors have affected reputation. Long wait for food. Good steak kebabs and lobster topped roll.
(2)Rocky M.
This is a pretty small place across the street from Bombay's. It can get pretty cramped and the service can suffer when the place starts to fill up. If you are willing to accept that, then you will be ok. We went there relatively early for dinner on a Friday so we were seated right away and received attentive service. The waitress came back to check on us a few times and always asked if there was anything we needed. We all had good meals and left full of fish and sake. Afterthoughts... 1. Sushi is decent. Rolls are ok but not great, and that's sad because a large portion of their menu is rolls. One thing i did notice is that the majority of their rolls feature cooked meat or are tempura style. 2. I thought it was weird that all the food came out at once. I'm used to a place bringing out the fish in 'continuous waves'. This was a first for me. 3. There was a fly that was buzzing around our table. It kept trying to land on our Sake. It was a turn off during the meal, but not something bad enough to keep me from coming back, unless I go back only to have it happen again.
(3)Samantha T.
Yuck!!!!! This is quite possibly the worst sushi I have ever had. All of their rolls are made for some reason with cooked fish, which ruins them. The soy sauce was terrible and the sushi didn't come with Ginger...what the f??? How can you have sushi without Ginger? Not to mention the service was less than desirable. The iced tea was glorified water and when we asked for new drinks the waitress was rude about it. I guess I figure if you are a beach city such as Ventura you should have some idea of good sushi.....not the case here. Lastly the simple fact that both my boyfriend and I got super sick from it doesn't help. Stay away!!!!!!
(1)C R.
I used to love love LOVE this place, but the past few visits have really put me off. I used to frequent this restaurant weekly, but I can no longer deny my 4 favorite rolls have lost their lustre - completely. And despite the relatively low staff turnover rate, their absence of customer service can't be ignored either. My best friend visited from LA last month, and I made a HUGE mistake bringing him here. His dish -- one I usually enjoy here -- was served differently (and in a BAD way). When we brought this to our server's attention (who asked management to help us out), they did NOTHING AT ALL. I was really embarrased by this restaurant (WOW - I can't even say their name anymore!) I actually had dinner picked-up the other evening -- I would think customer service couldn't possibly be poor with minimal staff interaction, right?!? I had another thing comin! Not only do I find the quality of their food has regressed, but their customer service has, as well. It's a good thing I've got YELP to refer me to a good sushi place in Ventura! Moral of this story: When it comes to a "5-STAR" award on YELP... CONSISTENCY is everything...
(1)Jim S.
Good food, I'd definitely go back. Our server had a great personality and really took good care of us.
(5)Craig A.
I've been coming here for over 20 years but recently there was an ownership change and the place is different - new menu, new staff - more expensive and many of the regular rolls have been replaced with newer (and not necessarily better) items. They should've at least kept the old menu and added to it Sadly, I will never be going back - Sumo and Ozeki offer a better experience in Ventura for quality sushi at a decent price
(2)L. C.
I think the new owners took to heart the previous reviews and really stepped it up. We have eaten here recently and gotten food to go and the Sashimi has consistently been fresh and delicious. The rolls are creative, tasty, and filling. The service has been prompt and friendly...perhaps give them another try.
(5)Jack F.
In August 2007, I visited this restaurant for lunch with great hope & excitement. I had heard that this was a great place to go via word of mouth & non-Yelp reviews. First of all, it is a great location. It's nicely located within walking distance of the coast, near other restaurants, wine bars, & parking. But the food... As usual, when visiting a sushi bar for the first time, I order several types of sushi, typically yellowtail, tuna, salmon, & albacore, to get a feel for the freshness of the fish & to serve as an appetizer for much more to come. Only this time, there wasn't more to come. I just couldn't convince myself to order more. I'd like to go back and give them another try, but I just can't justify the expense based upon my first experience.
(2)S S.
The best sushi in downtown Ventura.
(5)Kevin M.
I have been here twice with friends. The sushi chefs are great, friendly and funny. Some cold sake, a Kirin beer, and some sushi rolls with dynamite sauce - fantastic! Moshi, Moshi!
(5)Syd ..
My wife took me here when I first met her 9 or 10 years ago, we brought our friends when we visited, we eat family meals here sometimes with my in-laws, we went here after we got engaged. To us, Sushi Marina and Momma San are family. She always remembers my wife. Not me. But that's ok. I'm ok with that. It's the type of place you'll see neighbors, friends, and old schoolmates. It's the type of place you can stroll in from the beach and dine, or dress up and have a date. Really, anything goes. D loves the red Dragon, I love the Ojai Deluxe. They are always adding more and more rolls and specials to the walls, so keep an eye out. Is it the world's best sushi? Probably not. But it feels like home and that goes a long way for us. Since we've been more vegetarian/vegan lately, we don't go as often. They don't have nearly the veg options that a place like Arigato in Santa Barbara has. However, I'm sure with suggestions from patrons, they'd be open to adding more veg options to the menu!
(4)Harvey K.
Very popular Cooked Sushi Paradise! If you're a sushi-rookie then you'll love the cooked sushi choices! Great service but because of all the cooking & their policy to bring out all your sushi rolls together it can take awhile to get your food. Rolls are a bit on the small size. No refills on soda so drink beer!
(4)Dev M.
I'm a huge fan of sushi and for the price I paid, this was one rip off. I ordered the Assorted Sushi dinner and it was horrible. It doesn't taste fresh at all.
(1)B W.
I had to spit out bones from my Philly roll. Granted, the menu warned me of this since the salmon was cooked. Regardless, it was not an experience for which I would like to return. My boyfriend said the food tasted like he ate a ball of coke and it exploded in his stomach-- not what you want to hear from your date across the table. The water tastes like tap, so steer clear and drink something else they offer on the menu. I will admit that their plates and dinnerware were very cute. The single star is for that. I honestly thought this place was going to be alot cooler than it was.
(1)Susan P.
More disappointed than pleased last visit, my 4th midweek dinner here over the past few months. Freshness and quality has not been consistent. Tuna was tasteless, the yellowtail belly had no buttery sweetness, was more like firm fish jello. Even the edamamae (how difficult is it to prepare edamame!!?) was horribly overcooked - starchy, waterlogged, mushy; nearly inedible!! The sushi special - a favorite of mine - monkfish liver, was not delicately steamed as I expected, but instead was long- marinated in soy, cooked until dark and rubbery hard, and then topped with sweet sticky eel sauce. I can only guess what drove them to ruin monk fish liver in this way. Not sure I will come back again.
(2)Greg K.
I've dined at Sushi Marina a gazillion times. Always predictably good but unspectacular fair. This is what you pay for and this is what you get. The sushi bar is the best bet as the chefs are skilled and can both entertain and delight when engaged. The dining room is a slight step down in service. My recommendation to the owners, please do something about the myriad of off menu options handwritten on cheap notebook paper that visually pollute every square foot of the dining area walls.
(3)Tracee E.
Maybe we came on an off night, or maybe we were just swayed by the glowing reviews, but either way we left highly disappointed. We started with the tempura calamari starter ($9) was good, but not great- and when we asked for a dipping sauce, the lady looked at us like we had antennas coming out of our head. We were impressed with the shrimp stuffed jalapeno roll, but the spicy tuna and dragon roll left us underwhelmed. If this is the best sushi that Ventura has to offer, I feel for its residents!
(2)Heather D.
This place is amazing! I'm a huge fan of their Green Mussels, they are delicious! The yellowtail sushi was killer. Not an ounce of fat in the fish and such a great flavor. The staff is always friendly and the prices are reasonable.
(5)Jaime O.
Expensive. One roll was $14.95. The meals were the same price or less. Its hard to justify a single roll that costs more than a meal. I had the yosenabe - can't reccomend it. A carrot, an onion, a side fo napa cabbage in a tasteless broth for $16.50. Too much and failed to deliver. Chicken teriyaki was huge and at $13 was a great deal. The darn roll put us over the top in cost but not satifaction. The girlfriends dining at the next table provided endless amusement -- one who couldn't hold a job stated, "they knew i was destined for better things." and said of her recently married friends that their child would look like a "toad, because they are both so big and block-ish". With friends like these..... Definately try marina sushi, its better than some of the alternatives.
(2)danica p.
This place is just "OK"... We usually come here when we visit Ventura. Their sushi is not that great.... L.A. still has better. Their rolls are way on the small side but their staff is very friendly and welcoming. I had their garlic chicken and that was pretty good. Friendly staff, pretty good dishes, OK sushi = 3 stars. :)
(3)deb b.
I am jumping in here because this place is really by far the worst place I have eaten at in Ventura. I feel i do a service by bringing home the message of "don't waste your time here" I too had read and heard some decent things about this place. But other than location there is nothing I can stand behind here. I guess I didn't get sick, but boy I was afraid it was just a matter of time. Like JackF I too grab my standards of sushi for comparison sake and this place failed on all fronts. I literally spit stuff out. If you have to have sushi "Downtown" Fuji sushi is better. Their rolls are at least creative and edible.. Still Not close to my favorite in Ventura. That honor goes to Koba Sushi on main street in Midtown.
(1)Jorge P.
This is our favorite place every time we come to Ventura, CA. The black pepper tuna nigiri and the Ojai Deluxe Roll is our preference! No one does this anywhere else. The chefs recognize us every time we go and we have been going there for over 5 years now. The quality of the rolls are high and the fish is expertly prepared. The price is also just right! Especially when compared to sushi joints in LA or other places. This is a can't miss place!
(5)Natalie R.
The sushi here was not that great. Me and my two friends went here today for lunch and we were told to hurry up and finish at 1:45 because they were closing. Couldn't they have just waited? It was rude. Also we asked for eel sauce on the side and they said they only put that sauce on the rolls and could not possibly do that. But here's the catch, they forgot it on one of our rolls in the first place...they also forgot to put the dynamite sauce on one of the rolls as well-which they did bring us later on the side. Over all I was not impressed. There are much better sushi places in Ventura...sorry
(2)Amy K.
Great food! They have some of the best authentic Japanese food in the area. Loved the Yakisaba plate. I went there recently to say goodbye to the owners. They sold the place and I'm not sure what it will be like under new management. I'll miss this place!
(5)jonathan j.
Try the super cha cha roll !!!!!
(5)Shirley H.
This isn't the BEST sushi place, however it's better than 7-11 or VONS sushi...and cheap. I absolutely love their spicy chicken appetizer which could be a whole mean. Their rolls aren't too impressive nor taste amazing, but you definitely get what you pay for.
(4)Daniel C.
great place if u like sushi,a must stop in ventura. make sure u try the "red dragon roll" probably the best single roll ive ever eaten!
(5)patrick b.
I am here on business I have to admit. I was at first skeptical ofthe place. Don't know why. Maybe because it was empty. But wow! The food was awesome. Great spider roll, scallops, and Anago (sea eel). I love this place.
(3)Benny E.
After an unfortunate incident with a UNI Shooter- the less said the best. I was kind of bent on sushi for a while. But looking for a quick bite before a movie, Sushi Marina seemed uncrowded. This is a typical Cal/Japanese fusion with descriptions of rolls plastered all about the walls. You know- the torpedo roll/ the Come to Jesus roll, with everything in it including the holy water. I stuck with a chicken dish, and some tempura, and a jalapeno shrimp tempura roll. All was serviceable. But rather plain. The Spicy Sesame chicken was a little gooey, and not very spicy. I asked our server for some Chili sauce, and she never showed up with it. The Tempura was the best part, Along with the ice cold Ashai. Since I didn't really have any Sushi, I cant speak to that, but like I said I am kind of Bent on Sushi after the unfortunate incident with the Uni Shooter- don't ask.
(2)Marie S.
The service could have been better - the lady seating patrons wouldn't seat us until our whole party was there, which I understand, but then she gave the last available four-person table to a couple when there was a double available. Thus, my party had to wait a significant amount of time for something else to open up. The sushi menu is a bit disordered and slanted toward things with shrimp tempura, which normally wouldn't be much of a problem save that said tempura wasn't actually very good. The eel salvaged the meal for me, by being rather delicious and large in size. Prices were high, as sushi places always are, but the quality was generally high and sometimes awesome. I'd go back again when in town, but it's not destination grade by a long shot.
(3)nick r.
I can't believe there are so many bad reviews. My wife and I moved here from Los Angeles and we used to live 2 miles away from Little Tokyo, we frequented many awesome sushi establishments and I thought that there wouldn't be any good sushi places here. I'm glad to say I was wrong. Sushi Marina is fantastic. We often go there and eat til we can't eat anymore and though, yes, it's not "cheap", it's pretty inexpensive for good sushi... we really pigged out one night, got drunk on sake and spent a hundred dollars total for the both of us and that was roll after roll, and sushi, and sashimi and probably half a gallon of sake. At some sushi places in LA, you can get the same quality as Marina, but end up spending 200 dollars easily without going crazy on ordering everything and drinking sake. And as far as good sushi goes, we've always had fresh tasting, awesome cuts of tuna, salmon, albacore, eel, oysters, etc. And the specialty stuff can be amazing. The Italian something or other, whatever it's name, is awesome as well as the Ventura Deluxe and about 20 other things. I have yet to be disappointed after approximately 15 visits. If you love sushi and know that it costs a little more than going to some crappy place like Denny's, then I think you'll love Sushi Marina. And if you don't... well, it's America, and there are no penalties here for being an idiot. Oh yeah, also, the service has always been nothing but outstanding. They are always friendly and quick. I love this place!!
(5)Carolyn S.
We went here as a large group and were seated immediately. Service was also quite good until the restaurant started to fill up. The albacore was excellent (served with a little chili and green onion), as was the mackerel and eel. We had a few other delicious items - all fresh and all quite generously portioned. The sake went well with the food.
(3)Brett L.
If you don't like this place than you probably just don't like sushi or sushi bars. Instead you probably like the sushi "restaurants" that have popped up in every shopping center in California. Go there. This is a sushi bar. It is crowded and cramped. The sushi "specials" are handwrtten in crayola markers and posted everywhere. The waitresses are rude if you don't follow proper sushi protocol. The sushi chefs are friendly and make a great show chatting in Japanese. I have fun trying to figure out what they are talking about, (usually I think it is the girls). The whole place is run by mama san and the head sushi chef, though everyone know mama san is the real boss. I hate to think of the day in which sushi bars like this will no longer exist, but it doesn't seem to be in the near future as every time I show up here there is a line out the door. Eat here, soak it in. Accept it for what it is, a great sushi experience.
(5)Junk C.
Pretty casual sushi spot in a great downtown location. Received excellent, attentive service. The sushi menu was phenomenal, with many non-traditional, unique flavors that you don't get many other places. I went on a nigiri binge... the pepper-encrusted tuna made love to my mouth, and the Italian Albacore or something like that with jalapenos and toasted garlic was pure delight. Just a great deal of variety that tastes fantastic. Then we got the bill and found the prices to be quite reasonable as well. They were really wary about serving me as much alcohol as I wanted but that's my only beef. I loved this place.
(5)Gregory S.
I'm surprised at the reviews with low stars. This place is great! If you are looking for a fancy, chain-style Japanese restaurant then this is not the place for you. Sushi Marina is a local mom-and-pop type place. The service may be so-so at the tables, but you're supposed to sit at the sushi bar anyway, which is always a treat. The fish is superb quality, and the cuts are generous. They have an extensive list of rolls too, and they are quite creative with what gets put together (the White Dragon roll is amazing!). Hands-down my favorite sushi bar in Ventura. And if you're there around closing time, you'll even get to see them setting up a table for their own family-style dinner....
(4)Maggie D.
tasty, fresh, expensive, crowded. convenient location, though- the best sushi downtown.
(3)Ali G.
Anytime my family takes a day trip to Ventura, since I was little, we have had dinner at Sushi Marina. I don't know too much about sushi, but I have liked everything I have tried there. The tempura is what is really excellent, as is the chicken which is what my sister gets everytime since she doesn't like fish. The atmosphere is really nice and the restaraunt is small but cool looking. Give it a shot!
(4)Matt C.
Always packed = lots of sushi sailing over the counter = darn fresh raw fish. Creative and tasty specialty rolls if that's your thing, if you're a "more fish, less stuff " kinda sushi eater then you'll love how fresh and tasty everything is. I hear the tempura is good but I'm not sure why you'd fill up on anything besides sushi.
(4)Stacy P.
i like the laid back/beachy feel of this place. we (2 couples) went on a fri evening. place was busy, but not full. they start you out with a complementary bowl of miso (additional bowls cost $1.75). great miso. we then ordered the kimchi ($3.50), serving was substantial for the price and flavor was great. we also had the shrimp/veggie temura ($7.75), this included 4 shrimp, 2 pieces of onion, and 2 pieces of sweet potato. tempura was good too. and our final appetizer was the ocean salad, the closest they had to a poki salad. it was mostly cucumber and lacked with the seaweed, flavor was still pretty good though. i think it ran around $7.75 too. we then ordered around 8 rolls and about 12 pieces of sushi. rolls run anywhere from $6 for simple rolls like spicy tuna, to $12 for the specialty rolls. my favs were the Ojai roll and the orange dragon roll. the real crab roll i would not recommend, it sounded way better then it tasted. the river eel sushi also tasted fishy, i would also not recommend those. yellowtail was great! along with 2 bottles of sake, we walked away full and paid about $75 pr couple. my only complaint is that they have WAY TOO MANY COOKED ROLLS! about 50-60% of their rolls are cooked. many of them sounded great, but i dont want my fish cooked or even seared. i should have asked if we could order some of the cooked rolls, but leave the fish raw. maybe next time. we will probably go back, but im still on the search for my favorite ventura sushi joint.
(3)