Ozuma Restaurant

I have been dining here for years and the sushi is amazingly fresh. The sushi chefs definitely know what they are doing. I highly recommend. Check it out.
Ignacio

if i had seen the 3 star average, we would have eaten elsewhere.
it is a 2 – 3 star place.
even the miso soup and salad were below average.
i had the chirashi bowl… again, below average.
so many good sushi places around, what a disappointment

I would have put no stars but this app won’t let me. We went to this place last Wednesday. Nothing tastes right. We both got violently ill within 30 minutes. I told the waitress about it and she brought over the owner. He asked me to talk to him out in the back. His attitude was horrible. I explained to him that he is serving bad food as I was dry heaving. Stomach was empty. He said after 27 years I was the first person to complain. Highly unlikely. I offered to pay and I even asked him to eat what he had served us. He said to at least pay for the small unfinished sake and the small Kirin beer that I had ordered. I agreed as he was being such a dick. The second time in my life I have paid for food poisoning.
Do not go to this place. I should have known when it was empty when we walked in.
There is a place half a block away called the Refuge. Try the Reuben. It will change your life.

Love this place. It’s my go to for Japanese take out. I typically get a specialty box or a bento box from here, but the rolls are all delicious as well.
They have been in San carlos for many many years now and it has always been a favorite. The service is so friendly and they always make me want to keep coming back :)

I came here for lunch with a friend. She chose the place since we were both in the mood for sushi and in the area. When we walked in, it wasn’t very packed, there was a lot of tables open, which was a little weird for a Friday during lunch. But, hey, whatever. They told us to sit anywhere, we did, they brought us some menus. My friend has frequented the place several times over the past few months, and the hostess and waitresses were friendly to her (and by default me). So, service was pretty good for us. I really couldn’t say how it would be had my friend not been BFF’s with the staff. I got a bento box with sashimi and my friend got one of the rolls. The food came without much of a wait. I was really hungry so I ate everything, but honestly, the food was mediocre, at best. There was just nothing to it. Nothing special. I feel like some of the really good Japanese restaurants, that I have been to, always have something unique or amazing about their food. The fish is very fresh, they have good tasting rolls, presentation is beautiful, everything is made to order, etc., etc. But this place, fell flat in all categories. It wasn’t bad. However, in comparison to other places, it paled in comparison. This is the problem. I think most people who would go here have been to other Japanese restaurants and have tasted great sushi and Japanese food. When they make the comparison, this place comes out very ordinary. Anywho, 3 stars.

Don’t go here if you’re Latino! They’re racist and they favor only white people who go to this restaurant! They get to you last of your Latino and they treat you like shit too!

Think twice before dining here. I used to frequent Ozuma many years ago and always enjoyed it. Not sure if it has changed ownership over the past several years, but our experience tonight earned one star, if that. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong. Here’s a partial list:
1) No one greeted us after walking in. After waiting for a few minutes, I had to walk to the back of the restaurant to find someone who would seat us at one of the empty tables. We missed that «welcome» feeling.
2) The cashier wasn’t particularly friendly — but proceeded to seat us at a table near the front door (only table available).
3) The floor was filthy by the table. Apart from leaves that blew in from the outside, there was food and a used napkin near and under the table, including food foot-​pressed into the carpeting from people walking in and out. I saw everything from edamame to what looked like pieces of shrimp or scallops on the floor. When I asked if they could clean up the food before sitting down, I got one of those «looks.» The hostess reached down and picked up a couple of pieces of food with a napkin, but it was still messy and unappetizing. Clearly no one really cared and it probably wasn’t «their job» to keep it tidy.
4) After ordering, another table freed up that they said was «cleaned» and not by the door (and cold breeze). So we moved there, only to find, yes, more food under and near the table, including, this time, three full edamame that didn’t seem to bother the servers (they simply would step on them while walking by).
5) The food itself was mediocre at best, and didn’t seem very fresh. I ordered the combo tempura. They were supposed to substitute extra salad for the rice, which didn’t happen. The shrimp tasted overcooked and just wasn’t appetizing. Even the oil tasted like it was time to change it out.
6) But, drum roll, upon biting into a piece of tempura-​broccoli, and after chewing, I felt a hair in my mouth. Yep, it was a looooooooong black hair (deep fried with tempura batter) that I pulled out… probably about 12″ long. That was pretty much the coup de grâce for me. After showing it to the server (with the tempera batter still stuck to it), I asked them to show the kitchen staff. She was apologetic and offered to remove the price of the entrée from the bill. At least I didn’t have to ask for that common-​sense gesture. I expressed my appreciation for that consideration.
All told, this was one of the worst dining experiences I can remember in the Bay Area. Maybe it was just an off night, but I think it’s more indicative of the lack of management oversight and attitude of the staff. I used to eat here often and always enjoyed it. Something changed. And now that I read through the recent Unilocal reviews, I see many similar complaints about the food quality and staff. That said, this place always seems pretty busy and it’s been around as long as I can remember. There are so many other excellent restaurants in the area, including Japanese, that I would recommend taking your business elsewhere. The hallmark of a good restaurant is consistency. Here you may or may not have a good experience… not to mention that the restrooms were untidy, which is another indicator of lack of attention to detail.
Sorry Ozuma, this wasn’t your best night, but we do appreciate you removing the cost of the tempura from the total bill. Hopefully the owners/​management will read this review and take it seriously. There is ample opportunity to improve the staff training and quality control.

Decent sushi. Service is spotty during lunch hour. Perk is that they have real high chairs

Marginal, tired service. First and last time this past Saturday night with a reservation. Nothing to write home about regarding the food either. Sorry Ozuma.

One of the worst sushi places I have gone to… the rolls we ordered looked like a teenagers messy room. Fish on the outside haphazardly placed. Rice patchy here and there. Insides tasted 2 days old. And what is the worst, they added a 3%surcharge in our tucket. Really? When asked, the manager said it was to help him cover the increased minimum wage and Obama-​care cost. That is crazy?! Is that even legal? We obviously did not pay it, and definitely won’t ever go back. For those who do pay it, those funds should be used to send the people making the sushi to training!

Had the 49ers roll and chicken karaage. The sushi was fresh and the chicken was steaming hot ! Both were good sized and they had open seating on a Saturday evening. They have great customer service and were very friendly. My parents have been going here for years. Nice spot !

Mediocre at best. I’d rather do a chain like Shiki Bistro across the street.

Three stars for overall service and food combined.
Visited a friend in that area but she doesn’t eat out much so we found a parking space so Ozuma was it.
For lunchtime, it was pretty quiet… maybe 3 or 4 tables occupied. First thing I walk into a Japanese restaurant is to listen to what type of language the staff speaks. I thought I heard Chinese. I was not surprised so I was hesitant on the food. (More on that later)
The waitress came with tea right away. The combinations lunch prices were lower than usual which I found odd for San Carlos.
I ordered the tempura and teriyaki salmon combo and Tobiko nigiri sushi.
Tempura shrimp had 2 pieces and some varies vegetables. Of course rice and small salad was in the bento box. The tempura batter was crispy and flaky. Good sign. Salmon was dry and small in size. But hey, menu said 10.50 so I couldn’t complain. Tobiko was your standard fish eggs and rice. But Tobiko was fresh and crunchy. sushi rice however was flavorless rice.
My friend had the teriyaki beef and raw fish. (The name escapes me) tuna maybe? I can’t comment on hers since she didn’t seem to complain. But I noticed her serving was also small. About 5slices of beef and 2slices of fish. Luckily, she was counting her waistline,
Overall, the service was fine, waitress came and asked how our meal was and left us alone. But I will not return not only due to the small service size but more that this isn’t a Japanese owned restaurant. Before anyone gets the wrong idea, let me explain. I know this because the owner overheard my friend and I speaking Cantonese so she told us she’s Taiwanese. I prefer Japanese owners because they have a certain technique in making the rice for the sushi. I know because my mother in law is Japanese and she told me the secret to making sushi rice. There is a difference for the rice you are served with your meal vs the sushi rice.
There are many restaurants on Laurel Ave. but this is the only Japanese place if I’m correct. However, if you drive a mile or two away in either do retain of El Camino, I bet you can find better Japanese restaurant.

If you’re like me and want to find your go to sushi spot by trying all the nearby places, go for it. Or you could just skip this place as it won’t be it.
Service: 1/​5, had to ask for chopsticks, twice before getting them. Literally the worst, splinter ridden chopsticks I’ve ever used. Slow. Not friendly.
Sushi: 2/​5, not fresh, not particularly tasty, but not so old that it was fishy
Value: 1/​5, should be $$$ but right on that line, more expensive than all but one sushi place in San Carlos but with the worst quality.
I’ll not be returning

Not great but not bad. Food was good but not special. Everyone was nice but not memorable
Doesn’t take Amex

This is a no frills thrills sushi place. Just your neighborhood Chinese sushi joint. The sushi rolls aren’t always rolled tight and the presentation is lacking. But the flavor is mostly there. The best «deal» is probably coming for a lunch bento. Otherwise the prices of everything are a bit high for what you’re getting. I did enjoy my unagi don though!

Local but this is really worth the trip.
Staff is really friendly and sushi is really fresh. I’m Irish and it’s really good (in my modest opinion on Dragon and Cali roll taste) but my wife is Japanese American and this passes her sashimi check.
Family sushi yet they’re sushi is so authentic. Have been going here for 5+ yrs.
Go here — you’ll not be sorry. And enjoy.

The Bento Box Lunch special is reasonable in price but overall the quality is just okay. And don’t get the Ramen. There are so many places in San Mateo that serve great Ramen. The Ramen here was flavorless and didn’t taste like Ramen, it’s more like a Chinese noodle soup with over cooked meat.
I didn’t try the sushi but the California roll in the Bento box was okay.

The Law of Averages.
Not all restaurants are going to be five stars, conversely not all restaurants will be one star either. Based on the law of averages the great majority will fall somewhere in the middle. (Hey guys, remember your stats class and the bell shaped curve?) Like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, «not too hot, not too cold» but not exactly just right –which brings us to Ozuma Japanese restaurant.
San Carlos is one of several small «cities» in the peninsula area of the South Bay. Most of these towns have their own versions of small town Main Street which is dotted with different types of mostly small businesses to cater to the community.
As we visited this area before eating at a Japanese restaurant recommended by a relative, it struck me that this Main Street area was similar to Kaimuki Town, an older established town that retains much of it’s classic character but a definite change in business make-​up, now catering to the hungry masses. There are lots of places to grind. (sound familiar Kaimukians?)
Although longer and older, Laurel street in San Carlos is much like Waialae ave. In Kaimuki. Lots of choices to dine, the whole-​in-​the-​wall to the more upscale– with varying types of cuisine.
We had a chance to try this established Japanese restaurant in San Carlos and I have to say the food wasn’t bad, not really good, but not bad– you know the feeling, it’s «ok», not great. The combination teishoku was generous in it’s quantity (pork katsu, sashimi, tempura) but the taste was lacking. Not much different from going to a take out/​counter operation at a lower price. The tempura also tasted like it had been deep fried in old oil.
On the plus side we had a 49er roll which was smallish but tasted fine.
The waitress seemed harried and was a bit abrupt. Had the feeling if you were a regular you were treated better. That’s ok, but don’t make it so obvious when a newcomer walks in. Like the food, the service overall was «ok», nothing to write home about.
All in all, for the price and the assumption that the use of old oil was not the standard,
I would give Ozuma a middle of the road 2.5 stars. OK, Japanese comfort food I wouldn’t go out of my way for.

First off, this place is way too overpriced for the quality of food they serve.
The location and setting is nice and relaxing, however the one waitress and staff are not that friendly. The one Asian waitress runs around like a chicken with its head cut off. She rushed us into ordering, «You ready yet?» After bringing our food she was gone. We had to flag her down for water, a sauce plate, and the check.
I ordered the bent box meal, and had California roll and sake (salmon) sashimi. My boyfriend ordered chicken and beef terryaki. My salmon was the only thing tolerable. The California rolls were mush and the crab meat was a tinge of brown. My salad even tasted like it was doused with pinesol. My boyfriend’s beef was grey. The service and food is not worth a $ 50 bill.
Don’t waste your time.