Upscale diners enjoy the freshest fish and traditional Japanese decor at this sushi hot spot.

(310) 458-4771

1401 Ocean Ave (Ocean & Santa Monica)
Santa Monica, CA 90401 34.01406 -118.49801

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Neighborhoods: Downtown, West LA

sushiroku.com

Hours:

Lunch:

Mon - Fri 11:30am - 2:30pm

Sat 12pm - 5pm

Happy Hour:

Mon - Fri 5pm - 6:30pm

Sat 4pm - 6:30pm

Sun 4:30pm - 6:30pm

Dinner:

Mon - Fri 5:30pm - 11:30pm

Sat 5pm - 11:30pm

Sun 4:30pm - 10:30pm

Price:

$$$

Last updated 8.15.11

What People Are Saying About Sushi Roku

The Owner

Sushi Roku

Owner

Sushi Roku is located steps away from the Santa Monica Pier, 3rd Street Promenade and walking distance to the beach.Our chefs prepare innovative small dishes out of succulent, sliced hunks of raw fish. The scallop dynamite is tender and sweet--one of the best in town--and the rich black cod is a perfect counterbalance to the more delicate sashimi dishes. Try any sashimi appetizer, such as salmon or bonito, with tangy garlic ponzu sauce and jalapeno tempura. We have daily sushi specials that usually include rarer and more expensive Japanese imports such as ishi-tai (black tail snapper), sayori…

Provided by CityGrid

Read more from the owner

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – The Santa Monica branch of this ultra-hip sushi chain offers the same urban-meets-Zen design, but surpasses other outposts with an ocean view from the enclosed patio. Most nights, the bar area buzzes with singles, while the dining area is left to sushi-sharing dates. But raw fish is only half the story here. Appetizers--hot and cold from the garden, sea and farm--demonstrate what this kitchen can do. The list includes tuna spring roll cigars with Asian beurre blanc, soft-shell crab in champagne butter, fresh salmon rolled with daikon, ponzu and caviar, and filet-wrapped…

Editor's Tips

Where to Sit:
Request a spot on the patio. Time it right and treat yourself (and your date) to a stunning sunset along with the sumptuous sushi.
Parking:
Beach parking is fierce any time of day or night. Don't take chances, head for the valet. Validation will save you about $3.50 at the lot on Ocean.
Where to Sit:
Request a spot on the patio. Time it right and treat yourself (and your date) to a stunning sunset along with the yummy sushi.
Parking:
Opt for the valet, found on Ocean Avenue or park in one of the public pay garages on 2nd Street.
ambiance
98.47999572753906% positive
  1. The view is wonderful and the location is one that will keep you staying around a bit longer than you might otherwise.
  2. Valet parking is on Ocean, (not Santa Monica Blvd.) Highly recommend reservations.
  3. The location is great, right on Ocean Ave in Santa Monica, however the food was extremely disa.
  4. The decor is beautiful (though in a trendy way).
  5. The atmosphere is fun, hip and up beat and the prices weren't all that bad for good quality sushi!
  6. The Santa Monica location is fantastic as it is always nice to take a romantic stroll down the beach or to the pier afterwards.
  7. The restaurant is pretty and the decor is warm.
  8. Although crowded, we were seatede right away, it was still romantic, and the food was awesome.
  9. the service is much less attentive at night and the atmosphere is not as relaxing.
  10. The interior of the restaurant is presentable and the dim lights make the place seem a bit romantic.
  11. It's in a good location, right on Ocean Blvd and near the Santa Monica theaters and it's a nice classy looking place.
  12. would never reccomend this place -- go to Koi or Blowfish if you're looking for fresh fish and a nice ambience
  13. the decor is elegant and the candle light makes it chic and romantic.
  14. good atmosphere.
  15. Delicious, good variety to choose from, and a fun, cool vibe.
  16. it is more fun that ocean ave seafood (also of excellent quality, but a very predictable American experience).
  17. Great decor, very friendly environment and service, and best of all, a great menu.
  18. The location is great, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting.
  19. As a businessman entertaining clients, the place is a homerun (great drinks, great view, cool atmoshpere), but as a sushi fan its a foul ball.
  20. Great ambience and bar scene
  21. Great food, Great service, fun place to be
  22. like the atmosphere - you feel like its an experience.
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. The servers were very friendly and comp'ed our dessert and brought out a flaming light thing with it for our anniversary.
  2. However, at the end, the management made amends by bringing us two tasty desserts--GRATIS.
drinks
90.74000358581543% positive
  1. My boyfriend and I have sat at the bar, but I would truly recommend the tables more than sitting at the bar at this restaurant in particular.
  2. said that we are five for drinks and the bar was full but there are plenty of tables empty so can we sit at a table?
  3. The food was the best, the waiters,most helpful and so accomodating, and as an added surprise , dined with Cindy Crawford and family for son Presleys birthday at the bar, but the restaurant was the BEST!
  4. Great ambience and bar scene
  5. Though the very early weekend reservation of 6:30PM, we expected (per other reviews by prior patrons) to be put off and stalled to get us to order drinks at the bar, but happily this did not happen (the place was virtually empty) and were seated right awa
  6. This place has a great bar and happy hour sitting right on Ocean Ave. But that is it.
  7. have sat at the sushi bar, and it's very interesting looking at all the beautiful art that these chefs create on a daily basis.
  8. They have a full bar with great mixed drinks and the sushi was really wonderful.
  9. While on vacation, we had dinner at this sushi bar, what a wonderful experience!
  10. The food was good, but not so good that I felt validated in paying much higher prices than at your standard, high quality sushi bar.
  11. The sushi chefs are nice and will likely strike up a conversation with customers at the bar.
  12. When we try a new sushi place, we go to the sushi bar and ask for "omakase" -- where the sushi chief is suppose to use his good judgement in terms of the fresh fish for the day and his expertise.
  13. Make reservations and if you are not promptly seated seat at the bar and order a glass of wine which will prepare you for the sake later on.
  14. The waiters and the chef at the sushi bar were the BEST.
  15. Overall, the menu is a bit overpriced, the drinks are great, but the sushi is absolutely delicious.
  16. As a businessman entertaining clients, the place is a homerun (great drinks, great view, cool atmoshpere), but as a sushi fan its a foul ball.
  17. While the bar is a bit of a "scene", the service was good and the food was even better!
  18. It is a small bar very noisy with very polite managers greeting you at the door and anytime anyone enters they scream in Japanese although none of them is Japanese.
food quality
84.84999656677246% positive
  1. liked the ponzu ahi tuna salad and we loved the eggplant - but the sushi and the lobster roll were lacking in taste and quality.
  2. While the bar is a bit of a "scene", the service was good and the food was even better!
  3. The service was slightly rushed, but our server was funny and helpful and the food was outstanding (Premium toro tasted like candy).
  4. If money is no object, and you don't mind fighting the crowds for this slickly decorated sushi place, you might have a great, memorable meal here.
  5. My fiance and I are on a quest to find our "favorite" sushi restaurant.
  6. Really great sushi, really expensive, and chart-topping Hollywood venality add up to a net neutral.
  7. was shocked at the terrible sushi and the not-so- bright waitstaff.
  8. Excellent sushi - always fresh and innovative
  9. Our server Jay was amazing and really helpful with certain items on the menu to order such as the soy wrap crab hand roll, to die for!
  10. When we asked for suggestions from the cold sake selection, the sushi chief recommended one that was one of the lower priced items.
  11. One of those awkward dining experiences where she totally pushed the most expensive dishes on the menu and made me feel cheap for ordering what I wanted.
  12. The dinner was fantastic, the Tuna Carpaccio was amazing and the waiter was great at suggesting some dishes that we loved and never would have ordered normally.
  13. The atmosphere is fun, hip and up beat and the prices weren't all that bad for good quality sushi!
  14. I've been to a lot of different Japanese restaurants and honestly I was shocked when I saw how expensive the food was.
  15. they brought the sushi roll we ordered (simple shirmp tempura roll) when we were about leaving because we were upset about the slow bad service.
  16. Although crowded, we were seatede right away, it was still romantic, and the food was awesome.
  17. The food was the best, the waiters,most helpful and so accomodating, and as an added surprise , dined with Cindy Crawford and family for son Presleys birthday at the bar, but the restaurant was the BEST!
  18. It's their Sashimi dishes that are just amazing.
  19. Sushi Roku has some amazing dishes to offer - their black cod is excellent, and so is their eggplant appetizer.
  20. The location is great, right on Ocean Ave in Santa Monica, however the food was extremely disa.
  21. If you like trendy sushi restaurant then this place might be for you.
  22. The fish wasn't fresh and the mashed potato was too salty.
  23. They also have great sushi and this rock shrimp dish.
  24. Consistently fresh sushi and they always have really good "fancy" rolls that are different than anywhere else.
  25. The sushi is good, and the prices are decent.
  26. While on vacation, we had dinner at this sushi bar, what a wonderful experience!
  27. The fish was good, but the sushi chefs seemed more interested in doing shots with the drunk wanna-be girls than providing good cuts of very good fish.
  28. Overall, the menu is excellent, although pricy compared to other fine sushi restaurants.
  29. Trendy place, good food, slow service
  30. The sushi/sashimi is good but not worth the extra cash compared to lesser-known local sushi spots.
  31. Loud acoustics and just awful sushi makes it better to just say no.
  32. would definitely recommend this place, the food and the service were great.
  33. Sushi Roku continues to have best fish and service.
  34. it is more fun that ocean ave seafood (also of excellent quality, but a very predictable American experience).
  35. When we try a new sushi place, we go to the sushi bar and ask for "omakase" -- where the sushi chief is suppose to use his good judgement in terms of the fresh fish for the day and his expertise.
  36. The sushi chefs are nice and will likely strike up a conversation with customers at the bar.
  37. It's not Nobu, and it's not trying to be, but its still really nice, trendy sushi.
  38. This restaurant has great signature dishes, and one of them is the tuna carpaccio.
  39. The spicy tuna and california rolls are very good quality.
  40. They have a full bar with great mixed drinks and the sushi was really wonderful.
  41. They have delicious, fresh fish.
  42. Unbelievably good spicy tuna sushi and another special garlic soaked something.
  43. Always great service with even better food.
  44. Overall, the menu is a bit overpriced, the drinks are great, but the sushi is absolutely delicious.
  45. would never reccomend this place -- go to Koi or Blowfish if you're looking for fresh fish and a nice ambience
  46. the sushi was decent- the spicy tuna roll was almost excellent- but the prices were way too high.
  47. The sushi was one of the best I ever tried and the best was the eggplant appetizer (try it!)
  48. don't understand why Sushi Roku has such a great name when the sushi they serve is mediocre at best, and the food is overpriced and uninspired.
  49. However, at the end, the management made amends by bringing us two tasty desserts--GRATIS.
  50. The service is much better, the food is just as good and it is not noisy and crowded - you can actually hear your own conversations.
  51. If you want good sushi regardless of price this place is not the place to go.
  52. good food
  53. The food though was pretty good, but definitely not enough to justify the price.
  54. The waiters and the chef at the sushi bar were the BEST.
  55. This is the best sushi resturant in the area, but it is a little expensive so be aware.
  56. Some of the best sushi in town!
  57. If you are looking for basic sushi, I can recommend better places, but if you are looking for something a liitle out of the ordinary (both atnosphere and menu), then Sushi Roku is the place to go.
  58. If you like sushi, don't go here.
  59. The eel is recommended and the ginger salad is tremendously huge and tasty!
  60. wouldn't have minded the $200+ bill if the food was good.
  61. FOOD & SERVICE: Their premium yellowtail sushi and albacore belly sushi was FANTASTIC!
  62. The food was good, but not so good that I felt validated in paying much higher prices than at your standard, high quality sushi bar.
  63. This place has the best sushi hands down on the Westside, great for dates too.
  64. The sushi is good, the cooked selection is very good.
  65. have sat at the sushi bar, and it's very interesting looking at all the beautiful art that these chefs create on a daily basis.
  66. Still, the food was really good so I will have to recommend this place.
  67. Would rather spend my money at one of the many fabulous sushi restaurants in LA, that although may not have many frills, are still providing an excellent product.
  68. Excellent fresh fish in high energy environment
  69. You will end up spending a lot for mediocre food.
  70. Great food, Great service, fun place to be
  71. All flash, not good sushi
  72. As a businessman entertaining clients, the place is a homerun (great drinks, great view, cool atmoshpere), but as a sushi fan its a foul ball.
  73. love the sashimi but the asparagus and the sushi was average.
  74. I'm not even kidding-- the sushi I was served here was really bad.
  75. If you haven't tried them and you love sushi - go there instead in a second.
  76. We're okay with paying for sushi when it's worth it as we like good food, but it's got to be worth the price.
  77. The sushi is outstanding!
menu variety
85.19000053405762% positive
  1. If you are looking for basic sushi, I can recommend better places, but if you are looking for something a liitle out of the ordinary (both atnosphere and menu), then Sushi Roku is the place to go.
  2. Overall, the menu is a bit overpriced, the drinks are great, but the sushi is absolutely delicious.
  3. Overall, the menu is excellent, although pricy compared to other fine sushi restaurants.
  4. The sushi is good, the cooked selection is very good.
  5. One of those awkward dining experiences where she totally pushed the most expensive dishes on the menu and made me feel cheap for ordering what I wanted.
  6. Delicious, good variety to choose from, and a fun, cool vibe.
  7. Great decor, very friendly environment and service, and best of all, a great menu.
  8. When we asked for suggestions from the cold sake selection, the sushi chief recommended one that was one of the lower priced items.
  9. Our server Jay was amazing and really helpful with certain items on the menu to order such as the soy wrap crab hand roll, to die for!
overall
100.0% positive
  1. It's in a good location, right on Ocean Blvd and near the Santa Monica theaters and it's a nice classy looking place.
  2. ok so we have already established that i eat here way too much however, last week my favorite restaurant gave birth to a new mini place right next door.
  3. My favorite restaurant has a bab named ROBATABAR!
  4. If you want good sushi regardless of price this place is not the place to go.
  5. great place to people watch and if you are an "out of towner", this is hip place to eat on the Westside.
  6. This is a great place to kick off an evening on the town.
  7. Still, the food was really good so I will have to recommend this place.
service
87.10000038146973% positive
  1. Service was terrible even though there seemed to be a lot of staff.
  2. the service is much less attentive at night and the atmosphere is not as relaxing.
  3. The servers were very friendly and comp'ed our dessert and brought out a flaming light thing with it for our anniversary.
  4. Trendy place, good food, slow service
  5. The service was ardously slow, uniformed, devastatingly attractive, and simply horrendous.
  6. Great service.
  7. They also have a friendly service but a VERY SLOOOW one.
  8. The dinner was fantastic, the Tuna Carpaccio was amazing and the waiter was great at suggesting some dishes that we loved and never would have ordered normally.
  9. Sushi Roku continues to have best fish and service.
  10. The food was the best, the waiters,most helpful and so accomodating, and as an added surprise , dined with Cindy Crawford and family for son Presleys birthday at the bar, but the restaurant was the BEST!
  11. While the bar is a bit of a "scene", the service was good and the food was even better!
  12. Always great service with even better food.
  13. know where people get that, we had friendly service from the minute we walked in the door and no one cared that we weren?
  14. In general, I would give the thumbs up for taking a date or a small number of guests -- nice interior, very clean, professional service environment without the uptightness of nobu.
  15. Great food, Great service, fun place to be
  16. The waiters and the chef at the sushi bar were the BEST.
  17. Our server Jay was amazing and really helpful with certain items on the menu to order such as the soy wrap crab hand roll, to die for!
  18. they brought the sushi roll we ordered (simple shirmp tempura roll) when we were about leaving because we were upset about the slow bad service.
  19. The service was decent but extremely slow!
  20. The restaurant itself was overcrowded and noisy by 7.30p. We had a great server who was informative and prompt.
  21. great place to people watch and if you are an "out of towner", this is hip place to eat on the Westside.
  22. The service is much better, the food is just as good and it is not noisy and crowded - you can actually hear your own conversations.
  23. We were seated within 15 minutes of our 9pm reservation and had a very upbeat, attentive waiter.
  24. The chefs are awesome & the service is attentive, amidst a tranquil & classy environment.
  25. When our wait exceeded out time, a friendly manager bought us a round.
  26. Although our waitress was pretty slow coming around to our table the busboys were extremely attentive.
  27. The service was slightly rushed, but our server was funny and helpful and the food was outstanding (Premium toro tasted like candy).
  28. would definitely recommend this place, the food and the service were great.
  29. Great decor, very friendly environment and service, and best of all, a great menu.
  30. The waitress was friendly and professional.
  31. He was one of the best servers I have ever encountered.
value
71.92999839782715% positive
  1. The eel is recommended and the ginger salad is tremendously huge and tasty!
  2. If money is no object, and you don't mind fighting the crowds for this slickly decorated sushi place, you might have a great, memorable meal here.
  3. One of those awkward dining experiences where she totally pushed the most expensive dishes on the menu and made me feel cheap for ordering what I wanted.
  4. Overall, the menu is a bit overpriced, the drinks are great, but the sushi is absolutely delicious.
  5. We're okay with paying for sushi when it's worth it as we like good food, but it's got to be worth the price.
  6. The sushi/sashimi is good but not worth the extra cash compared to lesser-known local sushi spots.
  7. the sushi was decent- the spicy tuna roll was almost excellent- but the prices were way too high.
  8. don't understand why Sushi Roku has such a great name when the sushi they serve is mediocre at best, and the food is overpriced and uninspired.
  9. The sushi is good, and the prices are decent.
  10. It's a little pricey but most great restaurants are.
  11. This is the best sushi resturant in the area, but it is a little expensive so be aware.
  12. The atmosphere is fun, hip and up beat and the prices weren't all that bad for good quality sushi!
  13. Really great sushi, really expensive, and chart-topping Hollywood venality add up to a net neutral.
  14. The food was good, but not so good that I felt validated in paying much higher prices than at your standard, high quality sushi bar.
  15. I've been to a lot of different Japanese restaurants and honestly I was shocked when I saw how expensive the food was.
  16. If you want good sushi regardless of price this place is not the place to go.
  17. The maitre de however recommended the most expensive item.
  18. Would rather spend my money at one of the many fabulous sushi restaurants in LA, that although may not have many frills, are still providing an excellent product.
  19. The food though was pretty good, but definitely not enough to justify the price.
wait time
57.14000225067139% positive
  1. We were seated within 15 minutes of our 9pm reservation and had a very upbeat, attentive waiter.
  2. The service was decent but extremely slow!
  3. The service was ardously slow, uniformed, devastatingly attractive, and simply horrendous.
  4. Trendy place, good food, slow service
  5. know where people get that, we had friendly service from the minute we walked in the door and no one cared that we weren?
  6. they brought the sushi roll we ordered (simple shirmp tempura roll) when we were about leaving because we were upset about the slow bad service.
  7. Although our waitress was pretty slow coming around to our table the busboys were extremely attentive.
4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/18/10

I am sushi lover

by LankyLad at Citysearch

And this place makes me wanna stuff my face more!! Really good in this area.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/14/09

Best Sushi on Westside

by NormalGuy at Citysearch

This place has the best sushi hands down on the Westside, great for dates too. Lots of action and a very cool vibe. Only problem is that it is always so crowded and sometimes have to wait for your table or service.

  • Pros: food, atmosphere
  • Cons: waiting
4 Star Rating: Recommended

09/20/09

Pricey Sushi that is sometimes worth it!

by sushipix at Citysearch

If money is no object, and you don't mind fighting the crowds for this slickly decorated sushi place, you might have a great, memorable meal here.

Its worth asking the waiters what their favorites are, then checking the price to see if they are not just pushing the most expensive items... there are quite a lot of great, unique choices, so keep asking about them.

I like the atmosphere - you feel like its an experience... it just may not be the experience you can splurge for every week!

  • Pros: Great Santa Monica location, some amazing choices
  • Cons: can bump up the bill very quickly
4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/24/09

good food

by marquesdayton at Citysearch

My girlfriend took me to sushi roku the other day and I was pretty happy with the sushi and sashimi. It's a little pricey but most great restaurants are. If you love this place you'll most likely enjoy Club Sushi and Sushi Gen.

  • Pros: good food
  • Cons: pricey
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/14/09

Excellent fresh fish in high energy environment

by joegrayson at Citysearch

The sushi and sashimi is fresh and attractively prepared. The server kept up with our ordering pattern, but seemed a little distracted (overworked?) and it took a few reminders to keep the drinks coming in concert with the food. In general, I would give the thumbs up for taking a date or a small number of guests -- nice interior, very clean, professional service environment without the uptightness of nobu. it is more fun that ocean ave seafood (also of excellent quality, but a very predictable American experience).

  • Pros: Great ambience, energy, and food
  • Cons: Somewhat pricey

The Details on Sushi Roku

Place Categories:

  • good quality sushi
  • good food
  • great place
  • favorite trendy sushi restaurant
  • slow bad service
  • fresh fish
  • great waiters
  • great experience
  • overpriced food
  • like atmosphere
  • beautiful decor
  • great santa monica location
  • great mixed drinks
  • overpriced menu
  • great servers
  • really great hollywood venality
  • professional waitress
  • cold unfiltered sake
  • full bar
  • amazing sashimi dishes
  • amazing sashimi
  • awesome chef
  • great slow service
  • mediocre sushi
  • nice ambience

Message from Sushi Roku

  • Voted Best Sushi in Los Angeles!
  • Three Locations in Los Angeles.
  • Spectacular ocean views.

Sushi Roku is located steps away from the Santa Monica Pier, 3rd Street Promenade and walking distance to the beach.

Our chefs prepare innovative small dishes out of succulent, sliced hunks of raw fish. The scallop dynamite is tender and sweet--one of the best in town--and the rich black cod is a perfect counterbalance to the more delicate sashimi dishes. Try any sashimi appetizer, such as salmon or bonito, with tangy garlic ponzu sauce and jalapeno tempura. We have daily sushi specials that usually include rarer and more expensive Japanese imports such as ishi-tai (black tail snapper), sayori (half beak) and kohada (gizzard shad).

Sushi Roku
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