Sushi Raku Japanese Restaurant

"Sushi Raku has been my “go-to”sushi restaurant for the last 16 years. I’ve seen the ownership change hands a few times, but the food and service never suffered. I have been a loyal, “regular” customer, who has truly enjoyed hundreds of meals here, recommending this restaurant to many friends and neighbors over the years. I would say that in the last year or two the food and service had become even better. We were probably eating there or getting takeout once a week. My partner and l loved to sit at the sushi bar, we would engage with the chefs for their recommendations and really make an event out of our meals. We regularly spent $$$$ and always left feeling beyond satisfied. So good, I would spend the next few days obsessing about my meal, and could not wait to go back. Sadly something has changed there. I first noticed this in late August 2023. Our takeout orders were increasingly incorrect, and did not taste as though they were prepared with care. The rice taste strange, and the rolls we loved to order were not being prepared the same, or as described on the menu. The Spider Man roll, for instance, one of the pricier rolls on the menu, but so worth it, was once a favorite with it’s delicious tempura soft shell crab on the inside, and a few delectable morsels to garnish the plate. It seems they forgot how to make this roll as the last few times it came with an inedible California roll center, not in the description on the menu. Side note; The California roll preparation needs a complete overhaul, which is serious since this has become the staple ingredient at the center of almost every specialty roll in the menu, and it is not good at all. The last time we went Sushi Raku,, we specified to our very loud waitress, that we wanted it prepared with tempura soft shell crab like in the menu, not California roll filling. She seemed confused so we clarified with her more than once. Unfortunately the roll arrived with an odd tasting cornmeal-like texture of a warm breading around what may have been crab. What is the real deal breaker here is the rice! What is going on with the rice? It looks to be brown rice, it is heavily seasoned at that. Prior to the final Spider Man Roll incident We ordered takeout. The order was upwards of $200, and it was inedible! The rice looked brown, and tasted heavily seasoned. The entire meal was disgusting! We peeled the fish off the sushi, while saying we should have just ordered sashimi. Such a waste! I regret not calling the restaurant at that time, but it was late, we were exhausted, and honestly we didn’t know where to begin, as this issue had become a pattern. The final time we went there, the night with the loud waitress, we could overhear other tables ask the waitress the same question about the rice. “Is this brown rice?” She assured them it was not, and explained that it was seasoned with rice vinegar. When our order arrived, we experienced the same. The quality of the fish has gone way down, tasting like chemicals, and with a rubbery texture. Also, the wasabi they are using is odd tasting , almost as if prepackaged like at the grocery store, or not real, and sadly tainted every piece we put in our mouths until we realized it wasn’t just the fish or the rice, it was also the wasabi that was creating a harsh tasting cluster that no ginger could cleanse. No more “Heaven in Mouth” at Sushi Raku. This is heartbreaking and such a loss! As for my family, this is the end of an error. My daughter ate her first rice at Sushi Raku as a baby, and this became our number one favorite family restaurant. We’ve spent a lot of money there over the years, but we just have not been able to gear ourselves to go back for one more try. It has been about four months for us. We are now trying the many other local sushi restaurants in the area. None compare to Sushi Raku when this place was in its prime. Such a shame and a tremendous loss to the area."

"Reminds me of the 100 food shops in Japan from my time there with the atmosphere. Clean flavors overall, and the sauce on the roll we had was crazy delicious!"

"Very friendly server, and the sushi was delicious and fresh."

"I may have ruined myself for sushi back in my home state of Wisconsin. Yeah, I know how that sounds. Literally, the sushi was amazing. Lightly seared fatty tuna, monk fish liver, sea urchin, mackerel... Freaking amazing?"

"I was given a recommendation to this place on a business trip, and it was a great find! Their daily specials menu had some great choices that are flown in daily. Quality of the sashimi was amazing, great choice of interesting rolls and saki options. I came for dinner twice in two nights...that's how good it was. In a small strip mall, but don't let that fool you. If I'm in the Agoura Hills area again, you will find me at Sushi Raku."