Kuma on Valencia

"The best thing about Valencia is my girlfriend lives around there. Second best thing is probably watching people yell at skateboarders. Kuma on Valencia is probably somewhere a bit down from there, maybe seventh or something. Their local tofu is a must-have highlight on the menu, with the citrusy soy sauce with the fried garlic bits tasting like heaven on a bed of silky bean curds (anyone who calls tofu "bean curds" deserve multiple life sentences with no possibility of parole). The sashimi sampler wasn't anything to write home about, but was servicable and the fresh wasabi was a nice touch. Finally, the Ube ice cream was a nice touch to finish off a quaint Wednesday night."

"Kuma is the best new sushi spot in town! When we checked in for our reservation, they confirmed the dietary restrictions we'd listed on Resy and already had gluten free tamari at our table! The server brought a menu that was annotated for gluten free and was extremely cautious and mindful of allergies and dietary preferences. As a person with Celiac disease, I felt very confident eating here. They have a wonderful sake list featuring local Sakes from Sequoia in SF. We had miso soup, seaweed salad, nigiri tastings and toro handrolls. Everything was absolutely fantastic. The fish was fresh and rich in flavor, the presentation was beautiful and the courses were well timed. The server, chef and other staff who we interacted with were all so friendly and kind! The restaurant has lovely decor with a modern cozy vibe. We left happy, satisfied and excited to return. The prices were comparable to similar spots in the area but we felt that the fish was fresher and higher quality here. 10/10 highly recommend!!"

"Came to Kuma on Valencia for dinner because I saw a long line when I walked passed the week before. Sushi was amazing. In particular I really like the monkfish liver, scallop and jackalarop (?) roll. I don’t not recommend getting the chef 8 piece because they only give you the cheap piece (doesn’t mean it’s not good)"

"Unfortunately, this visit wasn't a great one. What started off amazing by beating the dinner crowd and being seated in a booth was followed up by really slow food prep. Our waiter was great along with the host constantly bussing, refilling water and passing by. But for what we ordered there were lulls in the dinner service with too much time in between next plates. My nigiri tasting was split in half probably intentionally to give them more time to prepare other patrons meals, fair but we came at a time where I had to look around to see how busy it was and it wasn't full. Additionally we ordered nigiri and sashimi which should come out relatively quickly. The food was tasty but I couldn't tell any difference in quality. I felt there was too much effort on detail like presentation and even scoring the fish which helps with mouth feel but kinda was canceled given how thinly cut our pieces were. At first it seemed like good value but none of the nigiri merited their price to me as I didn't see taste to size value. The rolls are unique and we got one that had ocean trout, mango and tuna. Good but not memorable. Seared octopus nigiri was great but everything else should be noted comes with Wasabi in between rice and fish plus fresh on top. Chawanmushi was a good change up but very little crab and the seaweed salad I regret ordering. Unfortunately no premium things to order like uni or ankimo was available my visit Again it's not horrible but for $200 with tip, food and 1 beer ill go elsewhere. Props again for the service because they acted without asking which felt like luxury service."

"We had a fantastic experience at Kuma on Valencia! The staff is friendly, attentive and extremely knowledgeable on the menu items. Additionally, they accommodated for dietary restrictions without hesitation. The food was delicious and beautiful looking. The ambience and decor makes it perfect for a formal dinner or a casual meal. Look forward to coming back soon!"