Nice, hidden Gem!! if you go to Carmel-by-the-Sea and you are craving for good quality, awesome flavor sushi, you have to stop by Hanagasa!! fresh ingredients, fast service and nice service to top it off. we are definitely coming back!!
Lovely place, approach it with kindness and it will shine back. Get some spicy sushi rolls!
We arrived around 5:30 on Friday evening for dinner. We asked if we could sit down, and the waitress didn’t appear to be too happy that we were there. After being seated, we waited while 3 or 4 take-out orders were filled over the next 20-25 minutes. We were never asked if we wanted something to drink, and we found our own menus. We asked if we could order something, and she said she was busy and proceeded to serve one or two more take-out customers. Finally, after waiting about 25 minutes and never being waited on, we left. Seems like there are only two people working there, but they had managed somehow to serve three other tables of customers. I’ve heard the food is good, but it looks like take-out might be the only option to get served. Very unfortunate. It might be nice if they could communicate that to you when you arrive, but the server wasn’t very interested in talking (or taking an order for drinks or food).
Terrible customer service. I ordered take out because I was going to go to a show at the neighboring Sunset Theatre, but then had a little bit of extra time so I asked if I could eat in te restaurant. Now mind you, the restaurant was EMPTY with only one table taken, and when I said if I could just eat there, the waitress and the owner (who may be a couple) got upset! The owner even came out to clarify: “When you order take out you must leave. Not eat here.” He said that in such a rude manner! The sushi rolls weren’t even good! I got two California rolls and they were flavorless. Overall, I felt ridiculed and the quality of the sushi sucked. I don’t know how I’m the world this place got so many stars. Do the tourists in Carmel not know about the sushi restaurants available in Pacific Grove or Monterey? Or maybe they used to be good or are going downhill! Whatever the case may be, I am never coming back to this place. Try at your own risk. This place appears to be going hill~
Great Sushi! Very fresh! Made to order. Best in downtown Carmel on 7th St close to Sunset Center large parking lot. Small indoor restaurant with some outdoor seating.
Nothing special restaurant was dry and echoed with every persons voice. Service was good, sushi was 1.5 out of 5.
We were frustrated that all well rated sushi places were closed for lunch so we picked Hanagasa as a last chance …. A simple outfit already in business for 57 years. The interior confirms once first perception to not expect anything special !!! But were we WRONG! From the complimentary delicious Miso Soup, to Maguro Sashimi to fried shrimps and spicy Tuna Roll … we were in heaven! And to top it, the ginger served was literally the best ginger I ever had, and I had at least 450-500 times Sushi in my life. Please try it out. The chef needs a bit of time to warm up, but its worth it.
Service was polite and quick. We were happy to get a steaming bowl of miso soup upon ordering. However, the food was just so-so. We were surprised that the agadeshi tofu came fried tempura style - dry and with dipping sauce on the side, with no grated radish nor green onions. The chicken donburi was alright, not particularly flavorful. Salmon nigiri was decent. The baked roll I ordered was surprisingly oily - I didn't not expect to see rice soaked in oil at the bottom of the roll, though the roll itself was tasty enough.
My friends and I called ahead twice to see if we needed to reserve a table for a party of 8. We were told by a lady on the phone to just walk-in. When we arrived there, there was a very rude man that scolded us asking why we didn’t call ahead. I explained that we actually did and someone told us to walk-in. Then he started reluctantly cleaning one table for us in a rude way and started acting upset towards us as if we offended him by our presence. We chose this place because it was the closest open restaurant near carmel by the sea at that time. BUT don’t bother if you want good service. Just take the extra 10 minute drive to monterey and go to Toribashi. They have the most polite and helpful staff. They took care of us every minute we were in their restaurant. Unlike this restaurant who treated us as if we were unwelcomed strangers.
I recommend the Hamachi Collar. Takes 20 minutes to grill yet the fish was so meaty and delicious. One serving can feed 2 people just about.Their tako sunomono was equally tasty too. Generous portion could feed 2. I was by myself.First visit here. Great service; delicious food; generous portions and well worth the price.