Hanabi Japanese Restaurant

Reviews

• Cassandra M.

  star star star star star 20 September 2026

  The customer service is amazing, everyone was so sweet.
  The sushi was spectacular, the rolls were so good and there was Japanese sodas.
  I was super happy that I found it
  10/10 would recommend

• Kim C.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 13 September 2026

  Haven't been here for a while and found out they've changed hands. No longer Asian owned. Hispanic owned and operated.
  
  Took forever to get our entrées.
  
  The new owner told me he had Hamachi on special tonight, several times, kept saying how good it was.
  I love Hamachi - raw. So I ordered it without question and it came out grilled. It was horrible. Like eating a piece of fat off a steak. Being a Japanese restaurant I assumed it would be served raw.
  
  We both got bento dinners and the California rolls were tiny. The mixed tempura wasn't really a good mix. I got 3 pieces of broccoli, 2 shrimp, 1 bell pepper, 1 carrot and 1 pumpkin. My friend got no broccoli, 2 shrimps, 1 carrot, 1 sweet potato, 1 pumpkin and 4 green beans.
  The steamed broccoli and carrots were cold on both dinners. As was the miso soup.
  
  When our waitress brought my dish I expressed a little shock on the grilled fish. She was apologetic about any confusion. She talker with the owner and offered me a 10% discount on my next visit. I said I might not come back. After waiting forever to get our check another chef came out and offered me a different protein, my choice. Chicken, beef or salmon. I chose the beef because my friend had the Salmon and it was over cooked and dry. While waiting for the beef I had to ask for a to go box. He brought out a complete bento dinner to go which was a nice gesture. When I got home I tried the beef and it was over done dry and tuff.
  
  Service was lacking. Other people that got here after us were served first. She got our drink order wrong. We had to wait a half hour to get our food and we were the 2nd party there.
  
  This place really lacks the Japanese authenticity it once had. Doubt we'll be back.

• Rooster W.

  star star star star star 8 September 2026

  What a Wonderful Sushi Restaurant! Fresh, lots of variety of rolls, and vegetarian dishes. VERY Friendly and Helpful staff.  
  I have been coming here a long time, it has never been better than it is now.

• Cynthia V.

  star star star star star_border 7 September 2026

  Who knew this gem was in castroville, I been living in castroville my whole life and wasn't too big on sushi till a couple years ago, there are other sushi places but I don't want to drive far from home. So me and my wife have been coming to this spot at least once a week. The chef is so nice and plates and well prepared, as well as the host/server christina she is so nice. They have chavelas on the menu and the are so good.

• Michael B.

  star star star star star 27 August 2026

  Great news!  Sunny-san, the chef from the original Shogun in Oldtown Salinas, is now at Hanabi.  Can't tell you how good the food from the kitchen has become.  My wife and I had lunch today and it is the best the Hanabi kitchen has been in the last five years.
  If you knew the old Shogun then definitely try out Hanabi. Guaranteed you will not be disappointed.