A long time customer with new owner and previous one also. Best in Santa Cruz. Like the informal atmosphere. Usually good service.

The best hamachi I've had the portions are huge and the service and everything is superior

I absolutely love Shogun! Tucked away in downtown Santa Cruz, this place is a gem for anyone craving authentic Japanese cuisine. The ambiance is cozy, blending traditional and modern vibes that make you feel right at home. The sushi here is a real treat--fresh, beautifully presented, and melts in your mouth. I highly recommend trying the chef's special rolls; they're creative and always a pleasant surprise. Also, don't skip the ramen! The broth is rich and flavorful, a perfect comfort food. Service is top-notch too. The staff is friendly and attentive, always making sure you have a great experience. Definitely check out Shogun if you're in the area--it's a culinary journey you won't forget!

I only ordered the chicken katsu, but it was S tier. It was perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The curry that the katsu chicken sat on was salty, savory, and a tiny bit spicy which was just right. Paired with the rice, the meal was great. Really really good chicken katsu and the portion size was very generous. The waiters were nice, so service was good. The place was pretty calm like a generic restaurant, nothing special, but it did have a nice Japanese feel to it with the decorations and setup around the sushi bar.

We googled and yelped to find a Japanese restaurant as we were visiting from the Bay Area. We had the most energetic and attentive person taking our order and checking on us from beginning to end. She makes every customer feel special. Great service and enjoyed the Sunkissed and Super Star rolls and along with the bento box. The restaurant is located in downtown Santa Cruz which is a very nice area. Restaurant was clean and lit bright enough which is a big plus to be able to see what you eating ;)

Beautiful staff & cozy Japanese restaurant! I loved every dish we ordered. We had amazing sashimi, two rolls, some standards salmon and tuna rolls, and yummy miso soup/salad. Everything was so fresh and delicious! Our waitress Jess was so kind and friendly. She made me feel like a million bucks as a customer! The chef & owners were so kind & generous as well. Can't wait to visit this place again!

It was an amazing experience at a Shogun Japanese restaurant in Santa Cruz area earlier today. My wife and I were in the area for walking in front of the ocean and watching surfers, enjoying the big waves. After relaxation of fantastic views and wind from the ocean, my wife wanted to eat Sushi. My immediate thought was "It's bad choice to have a Japanese food in Santa Cruz!" But, I decided to eat what my wife wanted and there we found Shogun Japanese Restaurant in downtown Santa Cruz. We order some traditional Japanese style appetizers and basic Nigiri. The food looks pretty good when it was put on the table, then once I put it in my mouth and chewed, my wife and I were totally surprised because the food taste even better than it looks, then I said "Here I found one such a good Japanese restaurant in Santa Cruz." It was definitely a good thing to follow what my wife wanted to eat.

It's been three years since I last frequented Shogun during the pandemic. Now that they've happily reopened and my tastebuds have significantly changed, I think it's time to review their vegan friendly options and see how they stack with the rest of the limited competition. Good news - Shogun is still one of the best and I'm so happy that my old roommate and I came here for dinner. They have a list of ten veggie friendly rolls that are very decently priced. I ordered their Signature Vegetable Roll ($10) which came in four pieces filled with nori, sweet tofu, cucumber, carrots, avocado, and other delectable healthy fats. The ingredients were fresh and really held its own compared to other veggie rolls at other restaurants (i.e. the basic cucumber roll). Their vegetable tempura was also happily vegan friendly as they do not use egg in their batter. If you are okay with fried, crispy goodness, the tempura is something that also gets my seal of approval. Service dining inside was great even during their busy evening hours. Sitting at the bar also meant we got our sushi rolls quicker so I'm convinced Shogun will continue to rein as one of the best sushi spots in Santa Cruz.