Oku

Cool place to hang out for some yummy sushi. We sat up top to feel the warm sun and check out the sites along the beachfront. Worth visiting when in the neighborhood. Indoor and outdoor seating both available. Free 90 min parking nearby, but plenty of paid parking lots if needed.

We made reservations and came in for a birthday this weekend. I am not saying the food is bad at all but it was not at what we were expecting for a nice place on the beach. There were a bit of fried and mayo filled items rather than fresh fish and some of the cocktails did not really go with delicate dishes. It was still a pleasant experience because our waitress was amazing and you cannot beat that view. Still, I would likely not return unless there were more dishes focused on showcasing fresh seafood. Our best bites were the fatty tuna roll and the sushi "lollipops." Lychee martini was also very good but I didn't enjoy the mezcal old fashion unfortunately. Something to note... They will not guarantee a seat on the rooftop even with a reservation, we ate early so we were able to get a seat luckily. Prices were really reasonable for this area. 3 rolls, 2 drinks, and an appetizer was just over 100!

Pretty cut and dry review: Fish rolls were good but nothing to write home about. The wagyu roll (Crazy Rich Asians) was a different story. This roll is super savory and maybe even a little bit too much so for one person. Would 100% come again just for the wagyu roll alone. Outside seating was nice too. Good view + heaters

My wife and I went to Oku on a Friday with a family member that was in town and we had an exceptional experience. This was our second time there and experience was just as great as the first. The staff were very friendly, especially our server Sarah, who gave awesome service. They have many great drink selections. The food is fantastic. As an appetizer, we tried the shrimp gyoza, which was very tasty. All the sushi we ate was delicious. The fresh ingredients, combined with excellent preparation created for superb sushi. Our favorite rolls were the "Everybody Loves Ramon" and the "Crouching Tiger." The restaurant has a prime location. I recommend to make a reservation, so you can sit upstairs overlooking beachside Santa Barbara. Oku is a great place to go for a date night. We definitely will be back again to explore the other dishes on the menu.

I had an early dinner here in July 2025 with my husband and we haven’t stopped thinking about it ever since. The sushi was FRESH, the hot food items were DELICIOUS, and the service was PHENOMENAL. Our server was Jaime and he gave us the most unforgettable experience. His recommendations were so spot on it’s like he knew exactly what we wanted. If Jaime is still there, please pass along our thanks to him. He’s the best server I have ever had in any restaurant ever. The atmosphere was great. We sat on the balcony in the corner and were able to see the ocean and get the beautiful sea breeze.

As a vegan person, I LOVE their wide sushi vegan menu. Most of the Japanese restaurants I've been before, only have the basic roll of avocado and cucumber for vegans. Therefore, Oku offering all these different types of sushi rolls makes me want to come back quite often!!! Mushroom, peppers, asparagus, tofu, etc. Big vegan sushi menu!!! I highly recommend it

First time trying thus restaurant and the decore is very modern and up-to-date! Every dishes were delicious except the fry rice were little too salty. Waitress and service went great. There are street parking for free, although we walked from our hotel.