Kazoku

After reading the reviews here, I decided to try this place out on a date night. The service was terrible. We were in the never ending waiting game, waiting for our server, waiting for drinks, and what was the most frustrating, was we waited almost an hour for our sushi once we placed our order! The food was definitely really good and cheap, but I wouldn’t go back again. It was not worth all that waiting.

I’ve been going on a sushi craze lately and decided to try a new place this time – and I don’t regret it one bit!
Checked Unilocal and saw this sushi place having ~280 reviews with 4.5 stars. Curiously, I wonder what makes this restaurant one of the top (& possibly best?!) reviewed and higher starred sushi places in Tucson – and I found out why by the end of my meal.
I came with my boyfriend around the evening opening time (4:30pm), and the parking lot in front was limited and cramped. I saw some people parked at the neighboring building (a car shop I think?) and just walked over. Once we walked in, we were greeted happily by the waitress and sushi chef at the sushi bar that you immediately see once entered.
The interior of the restaurant is quite nice, nothing extraordinary but it is clean and simple.
The waitress gave us enough time to decide our order, and answered our questions politely when we were curious about some dishes – such as the Cham Pong (spicy seafood udon noodle soup). As we were finalizing our order, she brought out complementary miso soup and edamame (yay!). The soup was mediocre, but it’s free sooooo nothing to complain about!
Now, back to my cravings – the sushi and food were made in time before my boyfriend saw a very hangry (hungry+angry) girlfriend. We ordered just enough to indulge on: nigiri salmon, futomaki roll, rainbow roll, and the cham pong soup to share.
The salmon was indeed fresh like others reviewed. It basically melted in my mouth as my tastebuds had a foodgasm. The futomaki roll (eel roll) had 5 pieces, and tasted decent, but wasn’t a *wow must get*. The rainbow roll was to die for though. All the sliver of fish are very fresh and you can taste the difference compared to other sushi places in Tucson. The rice is just right too! The cham pong soup was pretty large and was slightly spicy, but not too spicy. It had a variety of seafood in it such as clams, squid, and shrimp. The flavor wasn’t too salty, and overall, the dish was alright. I probably wouldn’t get it again though, just because it was close to $ 12 and I could’ve tried something much better I feel. Everything was delicious, but I do wish that the size of the rolls are a tad bit bigger.
The service was wonderful. The waitress was very sweet, kind, and prompt.
Overall, the experience was fantastic and I’m glad I saw this place on Unilocal!The only thing that saddened me was not getting the complementary red bean ice cream at the end like others mentioned in the reviews :‘c…That would’ve been the cherry on top to my first time here, but it’s okay – I will be back to eat more salmon nigiri and try the dragon roll next… so hopefully I get some ice cream next time!

Our first visit was very positive. Rolls were excellent and service was great. Location isn’t anything special but the food made up for it. We will be back.

Friendly and fast service. I am visiting Tucson and I have been here 4 times already. Sushi is great tried several different ones. Also free Miso soup love it.

Came here on a Friday after work with some friends. It was a packed house, which is always a good sign. The only issue with that is the tiny parking lot with only 4 – 5 spots outside, so we ended up parking in the lot next door.
The rumors are true regarding complimentary miso soup, edamame, and red bean (?) ice cream! A very nice touch. I ordered a futomaki roll and salmon nigiri. I was hoping the eel would stand out in the roll, but it’s kind of hidden within the other fillings. I was very impressed with the large slices of very fresh salmon, though. The rice was just sticky enough to hold everything together.
The service was very friendly and prompt despite the large crowd. My only issue (besides parking) is the lack of happy hour. Sushi and beer/​sake go hand-​in-​hand, in my book. I’ll be back, for sure. But give me, say, a buck or two off a beer and some deals on sushi/​apps and I’ll likely order more food/​walk away extra happy.

When I arrived, there was only one parking spot left, which, I feel, is always a good sign.
Really friendly and hospitable service. The prices on the menu range from $ 6 ramen to $ 18 Korean short ribs. The rumors about Miso soup and red bean ice cream are true! Except no one mentioned the freshness and flavor of this normally mild soup. The menu was large and had a variety of hot dishes and specialty rolls. Recommend!

Good food!!:) stopped by from Texas on the way to California! service was also great! They give complementary miso soup and edamames, followed by ice cream~~ In addition I ordered a las vegas roll which was really good!

It’s okay, but nothing to rave about. The tempura vegetables were quite bland, tables a bit sticky, and there’s a fishy smell just walking in. That said, it’s perfectly fine for a quick bite but I won’t be back.

Not sure why this place has good reviews but coming from a sushi fanatic– it was awful. There are places down the street from this place that were AMAZING! The sushi was gross and didn’t even seem to be edible– my husband and I took a bite and we didn’t finish it. The fish was not fresh and didn’t taste right, as well as the dishes were not cleaned. The service was so awful too! The waitress was not nice and wouldn’t help us at all, and would go to someone else. Never going back– not worth the sickness we had the next day from eating at this place.

Awesome place! Good prices on lunch specials, which have really good portion. Cheap imported beer. Got the beef teriyaki lunch special for $ 10 and it comes with 5pc sashimi, rice, salad, and Miso soup! Definitely coming here again!

Outstanding value! Ordered the combination teriyaki dinner: edamame, miso soup, salad, rice, sautéed veg, teriyaki, 4 pieces nigiri (maguro, sake, hamachi, ebi), and 5 pieces sashimi (2 hamachi, 3 sake @ approx 4 oz. total), finished with strawberry ice cream = $ 18. Fast, fresh/​firm fish, and decent quality (dined last week at high-​end restaurant in LA’s Little Tokyo @ 3x price). Based on single visit, very impressed. That said, don’t expect much ambiance beyond an inexpensive family-​run (it would seem) restaurant on Speedway. I’ll be back.

The rice was amazing not going to lie, and then you get that fresh fish which really gets your tastebuds going. We came in at a very slow time which was around 4:30 PM on a weekday. The service was very quick and friendly, and the ordering process was very smooth. We were a little surprised that the dishes came with a miso soup and edamame beans.
I have never had fish roe before, and it was very delicious. There are no complaints here at all about the freshness of the fish or the preparation of the rice. The hot green tea was very potent. The meal came with a Plum ice cream at the end which was a very nice finish to a delicious meal. The service was great and the chef thanked us for our service on our way out.

Favorite sushi in Tucson. Fresh sushi, great service, free ice cream at the end of the meal! Need I say more. Really enjoy the sushi though, and that’s what keeps me coming back.

OMG if you’re going to get sushi in Tucson, come here, the reviews don’t lie! Thanks to Unilocal we found this gem and it was pure perfection. They still offer free miso soup and edamame so that’s always a nice gesture. Their sashimi and nigiri pieces are huge, meaty and flavorful. Their rolls see equally delicious and the men working the sushi bar were cranking pieces out left and right. Their prices are ridiculously reasonable too, I wish I could lift this place up and plop it down in Denver!
Wear your fat pants and come on in, you won’t be disappointed!

Wow! Amazing Sushi… and I am from California. Freshest I have tasted since moving to Tucson. They even allowed me to customize a roll since I am pregnant and cannot eat raw tuna, I subbed spicy crab, and it was the best roll I have ever had. My brother said it was the best Vegas roll ever and the husband fell in love with the yellow tail collarbone appetizer and the spicy ramen bowl. The ramen bowl is to die for! Not super spicy but just right, tons of noodles and crab inside. We loved it so much we went two nights in a row! We also loved the red bean and plum ice cream and the Miso soup is super tasty and fresh.

I get the hype, this place is run by some friendly koreans which kinda threw me off, but oh well. Free miso soup before your food gets there and free icecream after your meal. Food prices are also super reasonable, and I can definitely recommend the salmon lovers sushi special. Be prepared to wait though or try to call in for a table, sometimes this place can get packed

Kazoku will take care of you, for the right price, of course. While the food and service is excellent, I felt like I paid too much for sashimi and nigiri (a bit too much wasabi) given the quite average atmosphere. Still, this place deserves attention and is better than sushi garden or similar «corporate» feeling restaurants.

I love the specialty sushi rolls here. There’s a large variety to choose from and are all fresh and tasty. I’ve gotten their sushis both for take-​out and dine-​in. I would say it’s the best sushi in the immediate area.
It’s a clean simple place. Aside from sushi their menu is extensive with terriyaki bowls, katsus, udon noodles, fried rice, etc. We came here with a large group once and everyone loved what they ordered. Free miso soup comes with some of the meals. They carry beers & sake.
The free green tea ice cream at the end of the meal was the perfect way to end the evening!
One star off is mainly for slowness — we came on a busy night and with one waitress the food took a while.

A family member of mine had been raving about this place for quite some time, so I finally took her up on her offer and we met here for dinner one night. Kazoku’s food was decent, that’s all I can really say about it. It was a step above most sushi places around town, but not enough to justify the higher prices, the lack of deals (no happy hour?), and the seemingly complete lack of service. It took us 15 minutes just to be seen by a waitress, and this was with only two other groups in the entire restaurant. It would be one thing if there was something going on but I eventually had to flag down one of the people standing behind the counter talking.
We finally had our orders taken, and waited until we realized that everyone in the restaurant had been served edamame and miso soup except for us. I thought maybe they just weren’t included but they indeed forgot until I mentioned it when they brought out our main courses. The fish in the sushi was decently fresh, but I found my hot dish to be really greasy. I got a seafood noodle stirfry that was cooked well but with just a bit too much oil.
I think perhaps we caught them on an off day, or maybe they didn’t like us for some particular reason. Whatever the cause, I was really disappointed in the service we received. The food was decent but not anything I’d go out of my way for, especially after my experience. Maybe in the future I’ll give it another shot.

Great spot! Highly Recommended. The service, atmosphere and sushi were great.
Very fresh and tasty. I will be back next time I’m in Tucson!

After searching all over the desert, we found our favorite sushi spot. Consistently good service. Fresh fish. Complimentary miso soup; edename, and ice cream to boot. We always start with the seaweed salad, classic and refreshing. The spicy scallops are my favorite. Eel sashimi is super flavorful. The Maui and dragon rolls have a depth of flavor. Today we also had salmon, albacore tuna, toro and yellow tail sashimi which melts in your mouth. While its a classic feeling Sushi restaurant, they deliver great quality and service and that’s what matters!

Amazing sushi and great service. The prices are great and you get quality fish. The sushi isn’t drenched in sauce and you don’t need to add soy sauce. If you are looking for non Americanized sushi, this is one of the places to go. Sushi in its rawest form.
Service here has always been amazing, and the food comes out fast.

Kazoku sat in my bookmarks for a year. An entire year. Goodness. I wish I had visited much earlier because while it was worth the wait, there was no need to wait this long.
First order of business: The restaurant has a tiny parking lot out front (though there is more parking around the shop) and a relatively small dining room. It doesn’t feel crammed inside, though, but I imagine it must get insane during rish hour.
I appreciate that range of offerings.
In addition to Japanese dishes, Kazoku offers Korean noodle dishes, rice plates and an assortment of soups and salads. Yes, you can get teriyaki, bulgogi, tekka don, udon noodles, yakisoba or tempura. Lots of options here, and plenty of lunch specials.
I enjoy the ambiance. No top 40 music blaring through the speakers — thank you! You won’t find AYCE on the menu, and it seems that disgustingly massive rolls slathered in mayonnaise and cream cheese do not appear to fare well here. Also, the décor is calming and non descript, though I do love the enormous painting on the west wall.
I went straight for the sushi.
The lunch offering — I chose the chirashi — comes with a lovely miso soup, which is so smooth and fresh. No disgusting, chalky residue, which you too often find at sushi joints in Tucson. The miso soup was soothing, warm, delicious; it had hearty and delicious chunks of seaweed, too. The edamame was extremely fresh, and not at all salty. In fact, it had a slightly sweet taste — not sugary sweet. Just naturally so.
Everything was delicious. The freshness was the best I’ve experienced in Tucson. The mackerel held a gentle flavor. The eel was a bit sweet, but carried a fine texture. The flying fish roe was slightly crunchy — ideal. The flavor notes on the cucumber salad were ideal — perfect balance of salty sweetness; a welcome light and bright flavor.
Also, the rice had been clearly prepared with the right amount of vinegar. This is hard to come by in Tucson! I was so pleased!
Interestingly, while the wasabi was fresh and strong, it was not grated, which is something one might expect of Kazoku.
I’ll be back, though. And I cannot wait.