Fuji Chef

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Location
213 G Street
Hours
Lunch Daily 11:00am-2pm
Dinner Daily 5pm-9pm
Phone
(530)753-3888

Fuji Chef offers a lunch-time sushi buffet for $12.99 Monday-Wednesday, $12.99 Thursday-Sunday and on holidays. It's worth it to go occasionally if you like sushi and buffets. But remember to get there at least half an hour or so before lunch, otherwise you'll have to wait in a heinously long line. Sometimes the line starts forming as early as 10am and by 11:30 there will be upwards of 50 people waiting.

Since March 8, 2008, Fuji Chef also offers a dinner buffet. It's $16.95 and includes either tea or a soda. Also, for dinner you can get grilled salmon, fried oysters, fried squid, and other items.

Sushi, pickled cucumbers, occasional fried items, and edamame are pre-made and placed on boats, which float in a "circular" horseshoe fashion around the bar. They won't tell you this at the door, but you can also request any other (sushi) menu item by directly asking the chefs. This includes all of their specialty rolls (such as Davis roll), fried soft shell crab, sashimi, fried oysters, and fried bananas. Remember to tip. They're extra nice to regulars, too.

Unfortunately Fuji Chef was featured on channel 3's [WWW]expose on sushi restaurants who do not serve the species of fish they advertise. Fuji's snapper nigiri was genetically analyzed to be tiliapia, a fish that is at a minimum one sixth the price of red snapper. If you want to avoid this trickery at a buffet you are out of luck, Nobu Hiro was also caught doing the same.

Also remember to use the bathroom before going there. The single women's bathroom toilet isn't exactly stable.

Visa and Mastercard accepted.

Comments:

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Definitely not the best sushi in town during the buffet. Everything tastes like its been sitting out for a while, because it has been. If you are going for sheer quantity over quality this is place to go, even though Nobu Hiro has a better quality sushi and no wait for about the same price. —AshleyOrsaba

2005-05-18 17:10:10   It always amazes me that this place has such a long line! It's not even close to being the best sushi available in Davis, though at least they must turn over their sushi pretty quickly. Having grown up eating sushi and being something of a purist, I have to admit that I'm always wary of all-you-can-eat sushi... sushi is about freshness and quality, not quantity. Anyway, before you sell your soul to Fuji, try almost any other sushi place in town for about the same price and better quality food. —AlphaDog

2005-06-25 17:21:20   Although I can understand that it's not for the sushi gourmet, it's definitely tasty. I highly recommend the Davis Roll (think everything in one sushi roll...mmm), along with the Fried Ebi. Honestly, if you're willing to come earlier in the morning (rather than closer to when they close), there is an excellent variety and everything has just been made. —JulieEickhof

2005-07-27 23:07:41   This place is not nearly as good as Nobu. Nobu has very fresh meat, and the staff there are very friendly. Fuji's meat is just a tiny bit tougher, and their prices are more expensive than Nobu's. I like how Fuji's offers sashimi, while Nobu does not (they actually charge more for that I think). —MindyYang

2005-07-28 11:00:17   Well, I always get a red rash when I eat here. Maybe I have a sensativity to something they use? Don't get this at Moshi Moshi, my favorite place in town. —JaimeRaba

2005-08-16 20:25:33   Can't say the cheap toaster oven they apparently use to reheat stuff on the sushi island makes the place very high class. Expect a thin film of yuck on the boat fish after normal lunch and dinner hours. —ApolloStumpy

2005-12-14 10:16:53   Way to crowded at lunch as much as I want to eat there Ihaven't had the chance to stand in that fun huge line! —LorenFinazzo

hehe, got there at 10 in the morning and there was a boy there saying his dad left him in line at 8, said he would be back for lunch, those lines are crazy

2006-02-07 14:42:27   This sushi place ties for last on my list of favorite sushi restaurants in Davis. I never take advantage of the sushi buffet because I could never eat enough sushi to make it worth it, and when I order the rolls, they are nothing special. The rice and the fish doesn't taste very fresh, and I'm not a fan of the sauces they put over the rolls. Once again, this place ties with Jusco's across the street, and I would only eat here if I were starving and didn't care about the quality of the sushi. —LauraChan

2006-02-20 02:29:28   This place opened up back when I was a freshman. After four years, the quality of the sushi has noticeably declined (tuna, salmon, hamachi, snapper) or I've become pickier. There's a very noticeable 'fishy' taste, a sign that they might be using leftover fish from the previous dinner. Still, the gyoza (potstickers), honey-glazed skewered chicken, shrimp tempura, and soft-shelled crab are good cooked items. Especially the soft-shelled crab, it's almost a unique Fuji specialty. Even if they've increased their prices a bit, it's still a great deal. —CurtisLim

2006-04-02 21:29:18   Wait an hour (or more) for bad sushi in a crowded restaurant - I don't get it ... —HarrySpanglet

2006-04-09 02:27:15   I enjoyed their sweet potato sushi, however, they behaved shadily when it came to charging me. They gave me one of my 1.95~ pieces of sushi on a 2.45~ plate, and proceded to bill me at the higher amount. Having gone there with a very tight budget, I didn't let them slip that by me, but I worry about how many other people they might do that to. I don't see any other comments about that here, so it might have been a random error. Still, keep your eyes open. —JosephBleckman

2006-07-21 13:00:19   i really enjoy the selection at fujis. when i go to nobu the sushi makers have attitude and their water always tastes bad. fujis is a good place and i have been eating sushi ever since i could eat solid food. nobu's quality hasn't always been consistent and the other "good" places just dunk their sushi in a tub full of sauce. —RiyoKwong

2006-08-14 12:46:55   Okay, the funny thing is, to all you "sushi conniseurs" who act like you're above the sushi buffet that's provided at Fuji's, I'm willing to bet 80% of you got your first taste of sushi at Fuji's. Most of you would probably have never touched sushi unless you were in a buffet enviornment. The sushi here is not as fresh as Nobu Hiro or Mikuni's, but what do you expect, it's a sushi buffet for like $11. The variety is excellent, and as far as I am concerned, the sushi tastes great. P.S.: I don't work at Fuji's or anything, I'm just sick of people acting cool and saying this or that is better than Fuji's, when fuji's is clearly the most popular sushi joint in town. —ArlenKwong

2006-09-14 16:07:25   Fuji's has made me very sick the two times I have been there. Their food is not fresh and the rice in the rolls I had was undercooked. I'm not allergic to MSG or anything— it was food poisoning, plain and simple. —RathyMarie

2006-09-15 11:02:59   I've been to Fujis _several_ times in the last 4 years or so, and I've been there with _lots_ of friends. Not one of us has ever gotten sick. Ever. Its a fun place to eat and maybe the best sushi buffet you'll ever encounter, especially for the price! If you hit them up during buffet hours their stuff is fairly fresh (not sure how anything can get that old considering how high the turnover is) With this said and done, you'd be kidding yourself if you said their sushi was comparable with nicer sushi places. This should be obvious, does your $7 steak from Denny's taste as good as something from a place like Black Angus? Try ordering some nigiri from MoshiMoshi or Zen Toro and see the difference yourself. —TheodoreSuryapurnama

2006-09-15 12:56:31   I'm in Wisconsin and I miss this place! There are tons of drunks in Milwaukee but no cheap sushi! The only times I've ever gotten sick after eating here were times when I was already sick before. —MarieHuynh

2006-09-24 21:30:21   I love this place, but I think I would get sick of it if I went everyday. I suppose being far from Davis has it's advantages because it just makes me crave the sushi buffet even more. Boy I wish it were Christmas Break or something so I could go up there for this place. —SteveNgo

2006-10-17 15:16:07   Granted Fuji is popular because it is a great Japanese "value" but if you want great Japanese FOOD go to Mirai. —KevinRobinson

2006-11-26 22:14:59   Went to their lunch buffet for the first time a few weeks ago. Have to say that it's a lot better than the one at Nobu Hiro. I wouldn't eat any sashimi though. who knows how long its been sitting out. —PorkFoo

2006-12-13 21:11:35   I love the roatating boats. It reminds me of the sushi buffets in Japan (if you can call them buffets, you have to pay for each dish). The food here is not great quality, but the quantity of course is outstanding. They are very apt to please here and will make you basically any roll or nigiri your heart desires. The line is daunting, but once you get in its really a great place to eat. —JohnHumperdinkle

2007-01-07 19:45:09   Just an fyi, I went today and saw this fat white dude standing outside basically trying to sneak in the line while everyone moved in. I told him to go to the back of the line, he just smiled like an idiot but somehow he still got in later on. Be wary of people like him... And I wonder why no one in line bothered to tell him to get the fuck out. —ArlenKwong

2007-01-21 12:59:24   This place is always super cracking, it's amazing how long the line is 45 minutes before they open —StevenDaubert

2007-02-02 03:24:04   Food is decent, if not outstanding. The long lines are bearable but if you are seated near or facing the entrance prepare to recieve piercing glares from impatient patrons-in-line. You would do well to avoid the sashimi or just the fish itself, but in combo's like the Dragon or Davis rolls it could be quite tastey. I live within walking distance of Moshi Moshi (fabulous place) in south Davis but rarely dine there because budgetary concerns. At Fujis, it is really a matter of quantity over quality but, a budget conscious student like me would do well to appreciate the value at Fuji Chef's. —JasonVien

2007-02-02 09:34:55   Does anyone have any insight about which days of the week are better than others, or their delivery schedule? I've found the fish to be good on Mondays and Fridays, but especially bad on Thursdays. —CraigBrozinsky

2007-02-06 13:40:25   Can not believe people wait in such long lines to eat here. Blah. I guess it's the quantity of sushi you get for your money. Save up your money and eat some GOOD sushi at Moshi Moshi. —SueJones

2007-03-15 14:15:32   Only thing i hate about Fuji's is the line. I'd rate Nobu's higher then Fujis though. —DonaldJaye

2007-03-16 16:01:49   fuji is NOT sushi! it's an american crappy version of sushi. the rolls are full of mayonaise, and nothing is fresh. the line is long, and you're eating food that has been floating around in front of a bunch of college student's bacteria ridden hands. this is seriously the worst sushi option in town! —JossieDiel

2007-03-30 16:00:02   I haven't tried the buffet yet but the sushi is excellent. I have heard rave reviews about the buffet, although there is a bit of a wait. —GreenThing

2007-04-11 21:34:02   It's pretty good for a buffet restaurant, even though you just end up eating the same stuff over and over. The services isnt so good. But what do you expect from a buffet. —jes

2007-04-15 12:15:26   Totally at a loss regarding the popularity of the place. I've lived in Davis 6 years, and my analysis of the situation is: #1) These students must have FAT bank accounts. $11-12? Nice. FYI - check out one of the taquerias for a $5 burrito that will get you farther, or if you're hell bent on sushi, there's better quality sushi in town. Not sure if I EVER spent that much on lunch when I was a student, and I would certainly not deal with annoying crowds to pay that amount. How much sushi can you really eat? NICE. #2) OK, I get it. It's cool. Yeah, meaning, it's cool to hang in the line, be seen there, etc. After all, your friends are going there, you better go too. #3) Thanks for the entertainment. —KeithJose

2007-04-15 18:16:57   The buffets are great if you want to eat lots of sushi. You definitely get more for your money here than other sushi places. I agree that sometimes the quality of the fish is questionable. Good service though! —GoAggies!

2007-05-02 12:51:06   not the best in town, but you pay for what you get, therefore the only good time for Fuji's is their lunchtime buffet. Otherwise there are better locations for dinner such as Osaka, Moshi Moshi, or Nobu Hiro =) —trambajuice

2007-05-02 20:36:08   Apparently, everyone goes here for the "all you can eat" sushi? My partner and I went here for an ordinary meal, but was not impressed by the service (which was terrible; dishes were forgotten, and then forgotten again) or the food. One sushi ordered was clearly premade some time ago. The teriyaki sauce was flavorless; meat was low quality. We are unlikely to return. —CovertProfessor

2007-05-19 12:01:48   I hadn't been here in about 3 years and finally tried the Lunch buffet again. After eating here I remember why I haven't been in 3 years. The fish is really low quality and nothing tastes fresh. While other sushi places in Davis are not stellar, I'd go to Nobu's buffet or Moshi Moshi any day over Fuji's. One plus is that the staff at the bar was very nice and took orders quickly and checked up on my table. Regardless of that factor, I cannot eat here again. —MissBelomy

2007-05-28 10:29:26   Look everyone, sushi is not cheap. Everytime I go to eat sushi either lunch or dinner I pay like from 45-50 dollars for two people. To have so much sushi for only 10 dollars a pop is so much better. Quit complaining. Im gonna be sad when i graduate and move away from davis and not have fuji buffet anymore. —PorkFoo

2007-07-11 17:12:08   I think their sushi is delicious and for 11.95 all you can eat, I dont know what else u could ask for. If you go before they open its usually a pretty long line but I usually go at about 1:00 where the 2nd wave of sushi goers have finished and there isnt any wait. —JoeLow

2007-08-05 12:14:43   I've gone here dozens of times for the sushi buffet and I have never been disappointed. It is true that the line is insane, and it is no one's cup of tea to go stand out there at 10 and wait an hour and a half to eat first, but I've always been satisfied. The chefs are super quick and responsive to your orders and water is always kept filled. The rolls are delicious and beautiful looking. Although the sashimi is not the finest quality, it is plentiful and enjoyable. I recommend the Spider Roll and the Davis Roll. The shrimp tempura is also delicious and amazing. There is a roll they make with tuna, mayo, spicy sauce, and green onions that I do not know the name off, but it is also wonderful. There is a reason why the line stretches the entire block, because Fuji Chef is the Davis restaurant to eat at. —CoreyPham

2007-08-19 00:03:34   the place rox! —davisrox

2007-08-19 21:04:02   pretty good sushi for the price, but line waiting is lame. Don't want to be seen there but I still go —KaiWan

2007-09-18 22:52:53   O_o my god I went to Fuji for the first time and nearly died from eating so much. if you are bothered by the food being 'old' then ask for something to be made up for you. Or wait until they put it out and get it then.
...I wasn't sure HOW to tip tho...i wanted to tip to the lady that was getting my special orders...but she was handling food...would it have been ok to give her cash??... —ArianeMetz

2007-09-20 22:39:39   The workers can be very rude. I will not eat there again. —customer

2007-10-09 16:47:13   I went to Fuji's buffet for the first time over the past week and it was incredible. The sushi wasn't better than the sushi you can get elsewhere (eg. Moshi Moshi, or Sushi Nobu for buffet), but it was good, the variety was simply incredible. The line was ridiculously long — we got there at 11 and we didn't get in to eat until 12:15 or 12:30. But I now understand why this place is so popular. I can't wait to go back and try more new stuff. —AlexPomeranz

2007-10-10 21:20:56   Well, if you are an Asian and I mean those grew up in Asia, you are definitely not gonna appreciate it.. it's just Another Americanized Sushi House... Yea, it's cheap, but doesn't worth to line up and wait for it...I would rather drive 45mins-1hr to some Sushi restaurants out of Davis —JanetAu

2007-10-11 18:33:42   Janet, judging by your name, you're probably Chinese. Unless you've eaten a substantial amount of sushi in Japan, any kind of Sushi you ate in China or whatever is not authentic sushi, either. —BlackHamster

2007-10-26 18:19:05   I went to Fuji's for the first time about a month ago. It was pretty tasty for being a little over $10; the only exceptions were the sashimi and nigiri, which were still half frozen. I felt optimistic though, and passed it off with an "I guess it's good to know the fish hasn't been sitting out for that long? Sort of?" In any event, I spent that night puking. :[ Despite negative reviews, for cheapo buffet sushi I actually prefer Jusco over Fuji Chef. —ScarlettYing

2007-11-03 20:27:17   Ate here for the first time this morning. My friends and I signed in on about 11:15, and were not able to actually get seated until 1:55...minutes before the buffet price ended. The wait is INSANE, and the sushi was not exactly worth it to be honest although it wasn't bad. For a 2+ hour wait, I expected it to be treated to some damn magical sushi, but it was just okay. I'd come here again, I guess, but not if I find something better. —kthrnngo

2007-12-04 15:35:46   The Sushi here isn't exactly the BEST in the world but for the price it's pretty good. Once you get a hang on how long the waits are its not really a problem, just go somewhere else while you wait and chill with some friends. —NCSaephanh

2008-02-10 16:42:04   went to fujis yesterday. had a good experience and i think we will come back here again. their dragon and especially their y2k rolls were awesome. we had their udon soup and that was delicious too, a bit too salty though.
the service was great.
its a bit pricey, but then so is everything else in davis.
might as well pay a bit more for good sushi. —jentruong

2008-02-23 00:15:31   That added comment in the description that Fuji doesn't serve red snapper is kind of minor. Should we be upset that we are being "fooled"? Maybe. But I don't know many people who wake up and go "Today I am going to a sushi buffet (doesn't matter which restaurant) and I want to eat red snapper!" I order it sometimes, and maybe the reason why it is so flavorless is because it wasn't red snapper all along. That doesn't detract Fuji from being a great place to get all you can eat buffet. They have many other great things to eat there, well worth what you pay. Fuji also recently won Best Sushi in Davis for the second consecutive year I think. So go check it out, and try their tilapia! —CoreyPham

2008-03-16 19:03:08   They now serve dinner buffet which is great because it means less crowds. The sushi is good but it can get tiredsome sometimes. The eel sauce they put on a lot of their dragon rolls becomes very tiring, overpowering, and strong. Also, I wish they have more different kinds of rolls! Overall, its good place to eat sushi once in a while and moneys worth. —AlexN

2008-03-24 13:36:16   given my moniker, i should not admit that i've been to fuji's buffet at least 4 times, twice for lunch and twice for dinner. they serve pretty much the same food at both, with dinner also offering crab legs (not bad, but a grade below top quality), fried salmon (regrettably dry), and clam salad (not very well executed). The sake and maguro sashimi are usually pretty decent, not #1 grade but still eatable as sashimi. However, sometimes the maguro is just old tuna. In any event, it is usually better than the tuna served at Nobu Hiro — which seems to use the pinkish frozen tuna from vietnam available at $5.99 at groceries. However, Fuji's Hamachi (or yellowtail) is absolutely gross. Consistently bad—they may have bought a bad batch a while ago and are still trying to pawn it off. Shelled oysters are a treat but come seasoned only with a lemon wedge. They will also fry you up some soft shelled crabs and salmon skins. They offered hamachi collars at the dinner buffet, but looking at the hamachi, i shuddered and passed. The rolls, like a lot of rolls made in northern California come ladened with a sort of teriyaki/unagi sauce that gets very, very tiresome. By themselves, the rolls too become tiresome. The shrimp tempura by itself was bland and too doughy. Not too greasy though. The sushi is, for the most part, better here than at Nobu Hiro in my opinon. At nobu, they give you about a 1/2 slice of fish atop a mountain of rice, with the sushi warden watching to ensure that the rice is eaten. At Fuji, average amount of rice and a large slice of fish. I would go back, because the price is not beatable if I like raw oysters, soft shell crab, and lots of sake and maguro sashimi. Service was very spotty; very friendly one day and not so friendly another. For food quality, I would have to say C+/B-. For value, i would have to say an "A." —1pickyeater

2008-04-02 20:19:32   The salmon sushi ranges from not so fresh to quite fresh (and chilly - apparently recently out of a freezer). The salmon is not particularly flavorful. The unagi seems reasonably fresh, but again rather bland. This place is definitely much better for quantity rather than quality. —IDoNotExist

2008-04-08 14:49:46   Does anyone know anything about the recent change in management/ownership? —CoreyPham

2008-04-14 16:57:54   We just went to Fuji's last night for the dinner buffet. It was just like the lunch buffet but without the long line. They even had grilled salmon which I've never seen at the lunch buffet. As for the change in ownership, they said that the new owners (a Taiwanese family/firm) will be taking over next month. Most of the crew will stay on for a couple of months to transition, but most likely will not stay to work for the new owners. I'm sad to see them go (the family, not the business), as I've been going to them as long as I've lived in Davis ('97). Hopefully the new owners can make Fuji's better rather than worse. —Aaron.Curtin

2008-04-17 00:10:00   There's a billion reviews already written for this so I'll be brief. Nigiri is of lower quality than Nobu, but still much better than Jusco. I don't like the rolls, because they add too much sauce, cut them too thick, and their temperature makes them not feel very fresh. The selection is easily the largest out of the three buffets. One big plus it has over Nobu is that you can order sashimi - you can potentially walk out of the restaurant without eating a single grain of rice! Some people don't like that the sashimi is sometimes still a little frozen - a problem, yes, but at least you know it hasn't been sitting out for a while.

[EDIT]: I wrote that the nigiri is higher quality than Nobu, when I meant lower. —BrandonWong

2008-04-17 00:33:37   a lot people told me the fuji's buffet has very good food, peoples waiting for hours to have lunch, so i went there give a try ,they had more different food to choose, even sashimi you ask for, but fish are sucks , the sushi nobu has the best fish in town and better price. it is waste money for this kind sushi. the ownership of fuji's will be changed pretty soon, the new owner(from Chinese restaurant) never had experience how to make sushi, still need old employee for training new guys, do you trust this place can make better sushi, i don't think so. —bob25

2008-04-20 18:51:19   Definitely not all its cracked up to be. The quality was pretty good, but they didn't have much variety and the overall means of getting food is awkward. I prefer juscos (across the street) mainly because you get to order and they serve so its more organized (but the quality is not as good). Having to crowd over people or stand at a corner while waiting is quite tiresome, and makes the food much less enjoyable. Its harder to talk to a group of friends when every five minutes someone has to get up to get more food. Then again their food is pretty good...but definitely not worth more than a ten minute wait. —ASQWIK

2008-05-02 16:30:10   I have been here three times now, twice for lunch and once for dinner, and all three times I have been blown away by the sushi. I'm a bit spoiled by the sushi I get at home, but this is the best sushi for your money here in Davis. —CGall

2008-05-14 23:08:25   it's scary that so many people are willing to risk food poisoning or an upset stomach for a cheap buffet..it's quality is no better than any other type of buffet...they will even gove u a plate of sashimi still frozen when it's busy...pretty gross. better off trying nobu's buffet, much better quality, and better cuts of fish —foodexpert

2008-06-02 23:22:49   I wrote a review not too long ago, but I must note now that Fuji's has been on a decline for the past few months. The nigiri has way too much rice added, and the fish aren't cut very well. You can particularly tell the poor cutting if you order the sashimi during lunch hours. —BrandonWong

2008-06-07 16:17:57   It's alright. Way overpriced for dinner and the wait for lunch is ridiculous and not worth it. Decent sushi though. —Kicker

2008-06-21 17:52:27   For $17 I think their dinner sushi all you can eat buffett is totally worth it. We don't normally get anything from the boats but rather order off the menu. Its good sushi that you can stuff yourself with but if you are looking for a high-end experience I wouldn't reccomend here. —Zeeba

2008-08-04 23:11:04   hate this palce...the worst sushi ever and not sanitary in the establishment. check the article about fuji chef substituting hamachi with tilapia....
do not recommend —islandboy12

2008-08-06 22:11:55   Soooo good. they even have several choices for vegetarians. it's great! my personal fav: veggie tempura drangon roll =) —PalakKapasi

2008-09-05 12:31:41   I used to come here once a week for a bowl of miso soup, a side of age gyoza, an order of hamachi kama, and then 2 random items. Best stuff ever...those were the days... —SunjeetBaadkar

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