Flying Fish Grill Menu

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  • Nadia B.

    This is our regular dinner place whenever we go to Carmel. Ambiance is romantic, service is superb. Love their wonton & salsa on the table. Apps: California tower is always good. Tried their almond sea bass, black bean halibut. All are good. But I like their halibut better.

    (5)
  • Soyoung P.

    At Saturday evening, we were so hungry and exited after having such a wonderful sunny day on the coast! We asked a table for 2 as soon as they hung the fish shaped open sign on the window. Even though I didn't have any reservation, the hostess gave us a small table right away. We had California Tower, Nikumaki, black Bean Halibut with a glass of Pinot Grigio, and a creme bulee for dessert. It was enough food for two hungry adults and every dish were outstanding! The ambiance was very relaxing and intimate. The partition between tables reminds me the pubs in Korea. I loved their ginger salsa so much, so a kind wait staff gave me one more bawl of it. I'm thinking to bring my friends from Japan when they visit CA. I think they will like it!

    (4)
  • Dolly Y.

    1.The appetizers are much better than the main courses. 2.Recommend onion beef roll,panfried oyster. 3.Dont recommend halibut which taste like Chinese fish and overpriced abalone. 4.Service is excellent!

    (3)
  • Marshall T.

    Servers excellent, very knowledgable--Gabriela was great! Basement setting quiet and romantic.Best seafood I've had. Ahi excellent, crab appetizer savory, sea bass delicious. We will definitely dine here again

    (4)
  • Rhoda S.

    Had a wonderful experience! I had the California Crab Tower as an appetizer, which I loved! The main course of Almond Sea Bass was also great. Ate every bite! Didn't have room for dessert, but I u deer stand the Carmel flavored tempura bananas are to die for! Just couldn't eat another bite! Flying Fish is definitely a place I would recommend and would go back to again and again!

    (5)
  • Meredith M.

    Really great little gem, classic Carmel. I still can't believe I haven't been here before! Service was OUTSTANDING, some of the best I've had in a long time. Special shout out to Tony for making our dinner feel extra special. Very standard wine list, but it's everything you need. Some great whites that pair lovely with the fish offered. We split a bottle of Talbot and dove straight into the tuna tartar. It was good, but not the best I had. I wish they had served it with the rice crackers vs croutons. For dinner, I had the Almond Seabass....excellent flavor, the sweetness of the almonds made it for me! My boyfriend had the Halibut, which was presented in a paper pouch. It was SO good, I helped him finish it. We were too full for dessert, but the menu looked yummy. Will be back again!

    (5)
  • Danielle K.

    Our food was great, and we loved the traditional Japanese ambiance of having our own little separated booth, allowed for a (less noisy) and intimate meal. The bass and the curry pasta with seafood were both great!

    (5)
  • Chantal T.

    SERVICE - We had a reservation and only waited 5 minutes after arrival to be seated. - They were always prompt in refilling our waters. - At the end of the meal, I think it was the owner that came by for some small talk. Thought that was really nice. AMBIENCE - A little difficult to find (remember that Carmel doesn't really have street addresses. Hint: the entrance is down the stairs) - Small and cozy place - Unique decor of flying fish made of different materials in the entrance - Small but clean bathroom FOOD - OMG the won ton chips and ginger salsa are addicting! I had to stop myself from continuously stuffing my face so I could enjoy the rest of the meal. I think they knew this because they were a little slow to refill this. - Almond-crusted sea bass was my favorite dish here. Perfectly cooked fresh fish. - Rare Peppered ahi was good, but just not as tasty as the sea bass. This was the least impressive of the dishes that I had. PRICE - A little on the pricier side, but worth it for the fresh seafood. Nice date spot and I would definitely come back here. We still have to try the black bean halibut!

    (4)
  • Matthew J.

    One of the best dinners I had in my life! Strongly recommend the Sea Bass, Black Cod and the Seafood Pasta. Absolutely divine. Looking forward to come back. Great service as well.

    (5)
  • Stephanie W.

    Great place! Very romantic! We went here for our anniversary and got the Wok pot with thinly sliced steak that you got to cook yourself. The dessert was amazing too! Can't remember exactly what I got, but I think it had banana.

    (5)
  • John T.

    Had dinner for the first time here. My girlfriend and I were seated at a perfect table next to the fireplace. We loved everything about the restaurant - the people, the food, the ambience, the decor. It was a very pleasurable and intimate dining experience. A member of the staff heard that my girl friend loved the homemade caramel sauce and brought her some to take home. So thoughtful; they definitely went above and beyond to make us happy.

    (5)
  • s b.

    This is one of the best seafood restaurants I have been to in my life. Let me put some context: I am a foodie, I only eat seafood and eggs, I have lived in 4 countries across the globe and travelled extensively in the US and to other countries, I eat lunch out 6 times a week, and I eat dinner out 5 times a week. Basically I only make breakfast. I have tried many restaurants, and this just made my #1 spot on my list. Everything was magnificent: from the warm gentle friendliness of the owners and hosts, to the well thought out, cozy, warm, immersing decor, to the attentive, humble service, to the best salsa and chips in the world, to the selection of sake and drinks, to the incredible calamari, the swooning ahi tuna - the best ahi tuna I have ever had, to the exquisite yin yan salmon. I just wish I lived close enough to this place to come on a weekly basis. I think I fell in love with life in that place. If you are in Carmel, and you don't visit this place..... Shame on you, or more like poor you. Trust the reviews, don't have expectations, allow yourself to just experience this at least once and see for yourself.

    (5)
  • Ellin C.

    This is a cute restaurant that looks like you walked into a small izakaya in Japan. The owner is very friendly, came by to ask us how we were doing with the food. Similar to what others have mentioned, genius idea about the crispy fried wonton chips and ginger salsa. Hubby had some and he kept eating more because it was quite addictive. We ordered the California Tower to start and it was basically a deconstructed California roll. It looked like a round tower with sushi rice on the bottom, with fresh dungeness crab above it topped with slices of avocado and sprigs of seaweed. A+ for presentation, taste was pretty good. For our entrees, I got the Alaska Black cod on a bed of quinoa, arugula in miso sauce. It was topped by some avocado salsa. My first bite was heavenly and it literally did melt in my mouth. It is literally one of the best fish dishes I have ever tasted. Hubby got the Almond crusted sea bass on top of whipped potatoes and a seafood stir fry. The sea bass was tender inside with a crispy shell. He thought his entree was delicious as well. We finished off our meal with the trio of sorbets which was really refreshing. Definitely give this place a try, good place to go for a special occasion. Service was friendly and fast. They even seated us 30 minutes earlier than our scheduled reservation.

    (5)
  • Hanna G.

    Everything is wonderful, perfectly prepared, using the highest quality ingredients. Creative dishes mixing Japanese and Western flavours yet still maintaining an authentic touch. Get everything, and enjoy the 5 - star service. Make reservations. Absolutely brilliant.

    (5)
  • Armelle R.

    Excelllent! We loved everything we had! Great service, great place.. We will be back !

    (5)
  • Eric T.

    Shrimp curry, California tower, halibut, ahi, artichoke appetizer...all delicious! The owner has a lovely voice (he sings for birthdays).

    (5)
  • Emily T.

    Great little place in Carmel that we liked enough last trip to make it a point to come there any time we're in The area. The people are very friendly and the food is great. The Nikumaki appetizer was so good we were a little sad we'd only ordered one. Be sure to make reservations if possible as it is in reasonably high demand.

    (4)
  • Kevin E.

    Words almost cannot describe how good this place is. My wife and I have been in Carmel for the last 2 days, on a short getaway. Stopped by Flying Fish last night without a reservation and were told it would be 2 hours before we could get a table. No worries, our fault for not making a reservation (tip #1 - make a reservation). So we made a reservation for the next night. Arrived at 6:30 and were greeted (and remembered) by the man we talked to last night (owner perhaps?). Super friendly, down-to-earth guy. He seated us and immediately opened and poured our bottle of wine for us. We started with the oyster appetizer. 6 oysters, lightly pan fried. Delicious! After we ordered our entrees, wonton chips and salsa were brought to our table. Amazing! My wife had the almond crusted sea bass. I had the black bean halibut. Both were incredible, melt-in-your-mouth dishes. I've lived on the west coast my entire life and eaten A LOT of fish. This was the best fish dish I've ever had. Dessert was the warm banana sundae. It too was fantastic! We had eaten at Flaherty's last night (after being unable to get a table at Flying Fish). No comparison. If you're in Carmel for one night, eat at Flying Fish. If you're in Carmel for two nights, eat at Flying Fish twice. It's that good. Superb service. Great ambiance. Incredible food.

    (5)
  • Clif M.

    Food is amazing!!! Can't go wrong with anything on menu, and if you need guidance the staff is wonderful and very friendly :)

    (5)
  • K S.

    Fantastic food, excellent service. My hubby I went for the first time on April 15, 2015. Our food server was Gabriella who was friendly and very knowledge about the menus. I ordered the Lobster that was a special that night. I flat out told her that I am a Lobster lover and most of the time I am disappointed when I order at a restaurant. So I asked her if I would be disappointed and she did not hesitate to tell me "absolutely not" and she was right. It was the best I have ever eaten. It was cooked to perfection. I was born and raised in SF Bay Area and I know good fresh fish and shellfish. My Hubby had the Seared Ahi which was equally fantastic. Cant say enough good things about the place, and Gabriella knows her stuff. We will see you again!!

    (5)
  • Kimi I.

    Wonderful service: the host was very friendly and sat us early. Plus he was kind enough to let take our creme brûlée (including ceramic dish) back to the hotel with us and asked us to bring it back the next day). Beautiful ambience: very romantic and intimate. Delicious food: we especially loved the California Tower and the Seafood Claypot. Yum!!! We will be back! :)

    (5)
  • Kerri A.

    The best service in a restaurant ever!! We had a 7:45 reservation and were sat at our table right on time. Our server's name was Tony and he was so incredibly attentive we did not have to ask for anything all of our needs were anticipated. And the food was delicious. The starter was fried wontons and a delicious ginger salsa, very good and the salsa was such a different flavor! We also had the pan-fried oysters and artichoke, both were also delicious! The entree's we had were the Grilled Salmon and the Grilled Chicken, both were very good. The biggest highlight though was the customer service, we both work in customer service and never been so impressed at another establishment as we were with Tony and The Flying Fish Grill!

    (5)
  • Angela W.

    Flying Fish Grill made my first experience at Carmel by the sea even better. This cute little Japanese place (food is more fusion, but the decor made me feel like I was in Japan) had everything right. Great service, delicious food, nice ambiance, and price that seemed reasonable for the food you get. Rare Peppered Ahi - Ahi was so fresh and perfectly seared and went so well with mustard sesame soy vinaigrette. Almond Seabass - perfectly crusted! And left the fish so full of flavor. This whole dish was put together so perfectly that we were just in awe with every bite. Accompanied with a small hot sake on a cold winter night to warm us up, this dinner turned out even better than expected.

    (5)
  • Thu T.

    The wonton chip and salsa was tasty. The sea bass was alright. The scallop and shrimp dish was okay except for the scallop wasn't quite cook, and my mom couldn't eat them. The pasta was the worst. I didn't expect such thin pasta in very soupy sauce. Same thing the scallop and some of other sea food stuff in there weren't quite cooked. I know it's not good to over cook it either but it was too raw up to the point that It was hard to eat. I think maybe they should ask us how well we want our dishes to be cooked just like people would do for the steak. The fried banana and ice cream wasn't that great either.

    (3)
  • Yue L.

    Not the best service checking in. Basically took a bunch of calls in front of us and ignored us for 5 minutes. I was SO SO looking forward to coming here, what a disappointment. Service was pretty much non existent. I ordered the black cod and the dish was above average, but I've definitely had better black cod elsewhere. I didn't get the buttery, melt in your mouth feel. Honey got the ahi tuna dish and his noodles were swimming in a sea of soy sauce. Sodium overload? Yes. The best part of the meal was actually their ginger salsa and fried wonton chips which are complimentary. The ginger salsa was so addicting, I think I asked for 2 refills, haha. I'm sad because my last experience here was so excellent a few years ago, but our waitress barely smiled or checked on us. Would probably not come back again with so many delicious restaurants in the area.

    (3)
  • Paul J.

    A unique setting coupled with a very good menu make this a must see in Carmel. The service was outstanding. Tuna Tartare was a fantastic appetizer. The Yin Yin Salmon was outstanding - paiied with a very nice Argentinian white wine - Zolo Kenny is the owner and he has done a fabulous job. You need reservations

    (5)
  • John A.

    Superb food in a casually nice atmosphere. We shared the seafood clay pot which was outstanding. Side sauces and aiolis are fantastic. We especially liked the wasabi-soy sauce served with the steamed artichoke - fabulous!

    (5)
  • Janelle H.

    I'm not from around here but the best part of my experience was making reservations with Tina. She was very accommodating and so friendly. 5 stars for Tina !

    (5)
  • Kitty K.

    I came here Sat night during Columbus Day weekend due to a recommendation from a co-worker. HOLY COW was this place hard to find! It's in a little plaza where you have to walk down a flight of stairs to get to the entrance. We wandered quite awhile to find the place (about 5-10min). We were greeted immediately upon entering by an older gentleman. My fault that I really didn't look into this place though, otherwise I would've known to book a reservation. We arrived at 7PM, however, they didn't have any availability until 9:30PM (which is supposed to be the time they closed). Since we drove to Carmel from Monterey (after a day at the aquarium) specifically to try this place, we opted to wait. They have a wide variety of wine & sake to choose from (my friend had difficulties trying to pick one) but finally ended up ordering the ginjo: hakushika kuromatsu (which is described as full bodied, mellow, sweet with a smooth finish). It kind of tasted fruity, like a wine cooler. I ordered Jasmine tea (options were Jasmine or Green Tea) and they brought it out in small cast iron pot with loose tea leaves. Great how it wasn't those tea bags! It was very fragrant and was fantastic on a chilly night. While you're waiting, they provide these amazing Wonton Chips w/ Salsa. The chips are large sheets of wonton skin fried but aren't very oily. It's fun breaking the chips into smaller pieces to scoop out the fresh salsa. The salsa has very bright flavors that cleans your palate for your upcoming meal and are super addicting! For an appetizer, we ordered the Shrimp Curry Soup. The waiter was nice enough to split the soup for us when he brought it out so we didn't have to ask. The soup tasted like mi bo kho (Vietnamese beef noodle soup) without the noodles. It had shrimp and tiny pieces of carrots and potatoes. It was a cold night, so the soup warmed me right up and was so full of flavor. Very much like Vietnamese comfort food to me. For entrees, we ordered the Black Bean Halibut which was an Alaskan halibut cooked with fermented Chinese black beans, ginger & scallions all steamed in a paper pouch with a side of steamed vegetables & bbq rice ball and the Almond Sea Bass which was an almond crusted sea bass, pan-fried on top of a bed of whipped potatoes, surrounded by Chinese cabbage and rock shrimp lightly stir-fried. The halibut's flavor really reminded me of steamed fish in ginger soy sauce you can get at many Chinese restaurants. My favorite was the Sea Bass. Slightly crunchy top with almost whipped mashed potatoes. Everything just warmed me to the center and was so delicious! Both fish dishes were very fresh and cooked to perfection! For dessert, I had difficulties deciding on a dish. We were debating between the Green Tea Sundae which was green tea ice cream topped with house-made hot fudge, fresh whipped cream and almonds and the Warm Banana Sundae which had a tempura banana, Vanilla ice cream, macadamia nuts, and topped with house-made caramel. We ended up ordering the Warm Banana Sundae with Green Tea ice cream instead but the waiter was so nice and had the chef split the banana into two dishes so one dish had a sundae w/the caramel sauce and the other with the hot fudge. They were both so yummy! The hot fudge tasted as if they used a bit of dark chocolate and the caramel nearly tasted like salted caramel. Great way to end the night! I absolutely LOVED the service here and the food was great. Definitely recommend!

    (4)
  • J. W.

    This place was cute and the staff was super nice. However, the food was just ok. Would have liked more seasoning on the grilled salmon. That alone would have given this place 4 stars! But the food was a bit bland for our taste. The banana sundae was pretty tasty.

    (3)
  • Nicole D.

    Experience a homerun of a meal at Flying Fish Grill. You have all the bases covered here with top-notch service (where the genial proprietors greet you upon arrival), creative Asian-inspired dishes prepared with precision, a beautiful tranquil Japanese interior and very reasonably-priced fare (average dish is around $25). I'd been wanting to bring my mom here for months and I finally had my chance. Once again, we were given a warm and friendly reception by the husband and wife duo. I gleaned from our conversation that this team of restauranteurs have launched many successful restaurants in the Carmel area, including Robata's and Shabu Shabu since the 70's. With an invaluable weath of experience and very infectious personalities, I must say this couple has perfected every aspect of their trade. I really loved the Almond Crusted Seabass, which I ordered my last time in. This time I decided to try out a new entree. The parchment-baked Black Bean Halibut was perfect in every way - supremely fresh fish cooked in an impeccable miso black bean glaze, served with a BBQ rice ball. My mom had the Grilled Salmon Fillet and she really enjoyed it. The ginger-soy glaze was one of the best we've had. The steamed matchstick vegetables and BBQ rice ball were the perfect complement to the juicy salmon. Highlights include Dungeness California Crab Tower, Spicy Tuna Tartare, Monterey Bay Abalone, Black Bean Halibut, Almond Crusted Seabass, Grilled Salmon Fillet, Yin Yan Salmon, Grilled New York Steak and Lobster Tail. All you gastronauts -- or those looking for quality innovative Asian-inspired dishes with a warm hospitality -- have to make your way over to this wonderful restaurant in cozy Carmel by the Sea.

    (5)
  • Boobs A.

    Honestly this place deserves 5 Stars. Yelp! has a tendency to remove 1 and 5 star reviews though. My wife and I ate here on our baby moon. We were greeted by either a server or buss boy. Not sure which. The dude was super friendly though. He told us the host would be right with us. Sure enough, he was. He escorted us to a nice booth table, one that my pregnant wife was able to slide into easily. I was wearing my Florida Gators sweatshirt and he made some small talk about them which made me feel welcomed. They brought out some chips with a salsa type dip. While we browsed the menu they took our drink orders. BTW, the carmel beer...not sure of the name. It's awesome. Get a couple and enjoy. My wife was concerned about a dish being to spicey, after having the buss boy from our arrival confirm that it should be fine, we were delighted when they brought out the sauce and some bread for my wife to test before they made the dish. I ordered the seafood pasta. It was awesome. More seafood than pasta IMO. Which was awesome, however the pasta was excellently cooked so it would've been fine if there was more of that than the seafood. For desert we had the tempura fried banana sundae. Everything was superb. The Host stopped by several times to check on us. The buss boy did as well,. Though it's not like they were intruding, just genuine great customer service.

    (4)
  • Jennifer Y.

    This is our favorite restaurant in Carmel, the food is amazing, the staff is awesome.. I think what makes it so special for us is Tony, he is thee best waiter I've ever come across. If you visit, which I hope you do, ask for Tony... You will not be disappointed.. Kudos!!!

    (5)
  • ShuLei T F.

    This was the most enjoyable birthday dinner my husband has taken me to. The service was very attentive and professional, the food was delicious and the ambiance was so intimate with soft lighting and artwork. Definitely make a reservation even on a weekday! This place was packed on a Wednesday evening. Very worth the drive ;)

    (5)
  • Kurt T.

    We travel from Colorado twice a year to eat here. This is a true hidden gem in the United States. Asian fusion meets Carmel-by-the-Sea. Soft lighting, great service and extremely tasty dishes.

    (5)
  • Matthias J.

    One of my favorite restaurants at the west coast, definitely the best one in Carmel. Delicious food, great atmosphere, very nice servers and owners.

    (5)
  • Laura J.

    Definitely one of our favorite restaurants in Carmel. The ambience and food get thumbs up. It is in the Mission Plaza, between Ocean and 7the, but when you walk down into the restaurant you have left the outside world. Each table offers privacy and the dim lights are inviting, not annoying so that you can't see the menu. Service is excellent. From the moment you walk in until you leave, you are made to feel coddled. Food: We went with another couple who were equally enamored. A big bowl of enormous fried wontons arrive and are crisp without a hit of greasy oil. We started with the spring rolls, which are light and delicious, you get two and we split them among us, a good idea as the entrees are very generous.($12). All the sauces served with appetizers and entrees are beyond yummy. I have trouble not ordering my favorite dish every time, which is the prawn and scallop curry, it comes over fettuccine but I have it over rice. ($26). Both the prawns and scallops are large and perfectly cooked and the curry sauce one of the best. My husband gets the black bean halibut in parchment - always.($28) Another at our table had the shrimp tempura, which was an enormous plate of large prawns and a variety of vegetables in a light crispy batter. ($22). Her husband had the Grilled Salmon, which he loved. ($30) Wine list is decent with standard markup. My goal is to order the clay pot entrees, but they are for two so you have to have a willing dinner mate. Prices: Reasonable for a high end seafood restaurant. Definitely worth a visit and is best to make reservations during peak season.

    (5)
  • Frugalista C.

    I wasn't sure whether to give this place three or four stars. The ambiance is cozy, the staff is friendly and professional and almost everything we had was really good. The steak and onion roll was amazingly tender and flavorful, and the curry rice had just enough curry flavor and spice. However, the California Stack with avocado, Sushi rice and crab was meh - it tasted like canned crab (small bits, super salty). Big difference. Would have earned 5 stars had it been fresh crab - really important.

    (3)
  • Claudia S.

    Wow. All four of us had five star dinners here this week. Salmon, ahi, bass and halibut - all were delicious and plated artistically. We started with calamari and their complementary wonton chips. Service was excellent. The place was really busy on a weeknight, so this must be one of the hot places to eat in Carmel. Like so many restaurants, they serve way too much food for the "over 55" set. Half the amount would have been right for me. And being visitors in the area, taking a doggie bag was out of the question. We would definitely come back to the Flying Fish Grill.

    (5)
  • Christine B.

    The food is delicious and the service is impeccable! We had the artichoke and calamari appetizer but Rich brought us out a cup of the shrimp curry soup since my husband mentioned wanting to try that too. For our entrée we ate the seafood clay pot! It was the perfect mixture of everything you need. For our dessert we ordered the banana tempura. So tasty! Since it was our anniversary the owner sang to us with the ukulele. We had such a wonderful meal and the ambience was perfect!

    (5)
  • Catherine N.

    My very favorite restaurant! We go for every special occasion. Amazing food, wonderful atmosphere, friendly, knowledgable staff. Yosenabe (fish clay pot) is my favorite, seafood pasta and almond encrusted sea bass are to die for too! Don't leave without trying the warm banana caramel sundae, you'll be in heaven!

    (5)
  • Leanne T.

    Great little gem. Food and service are excellent. Try the Alaska cod absolutely delicious!

    (5)
  • Jessie S.

    My boyfriend and I ate here on our Carmel trip, definitely make reservations and arrive like 10 min early. It is a cute little restaurant that is in a basement type of building, very interesting. Inside it is romantically dim but cozy. We ordered drink and they were delicious, they also brought out chips and a salsa type of dip. We ordered a tower kind of appetizer and it was very tasty. I order the halibut which was cooked perfectly. My boyfriend had a seafood pasta dish which he enjoyed. We were stuffed from our meal but they still brought us tiny bite sized complimentary desserts.

    (5)
  • Josh L.

    Very cute and quiet restaurant. Ordered the seafood pasta and it was delicious. More of a soupy pasta. Fish was perfect. And the broth was delicious. The almond crusted sea bass was also very good. Grilled salmon and yin yang salmon also winners. Great experience.

    (4)
  • David D.

    My fiancé surprised me last night with bringing me to the Flying Fish for my birthday dinner. I have to say I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the service was fantastic. We started off with the spicy tuna tar tar, the main course was Black Bean Halibut, and Almond Crusted Seabass all the dishes were terrific. We topped off our dinner with a tempura battered fried banana Sunday, OMG. I have to say this is now one of my favorite restaurants in the area we will be back. Make sure if you want to try Flying Fish to make a reservation this cozy little place is packed no surprise there the food is outstanding.

    (5)
  • Mandy C.

    This place is very dim and Japanese-inspired. The food here is very Japanese fusion. Instead of bread, the staff gave us giant wonton strips with tomato salsa. The salsa is very sweet and refreshing. The wonton strip was delicious of course since it was deep fried. I had the Artichoke with Wasabi Mayo & Miso Vinegrette, and California Tower as appetizers. The artichoke was just steamed but the wasabi mayo gave it a little kick. The California Tower is like a giant sushi made with fresh dungeness crabs, served cold and very fresh and refreshing. I had the Rare Pepper Ahi and Almond Seabass. The ahi tuna was very bland and kinda of tasteless. The angel hair that came on the sesame soy vinegrette on the other hand, was super salty. I tried eating them together to balance each other but it didn't really work. It was just okay. The Almond Seabass though, was really good!!! It was so creamy and buttery that I thought it was like mashed potato, but it wasn't. The whipped potato under it was also one of the best I ever had. Ah, it was so good, it made me dance in my seat--highly recommend it! The wine list was pretty good, and the staffs were super friendly. It was definitely a nice place to include in a relaxing trip.

    (4)
  • D. H.

    We came back for Flying Fish Grill after 5 years and if we ever go back to Carmel, we will definitely eat at Flying Fish Grill. Their deep fried wanton skin and tomatoes ginger salsa is something you die for! With 2 of us, we just finished 1 basket within 5 mins. It's that good! Service was excellent, they even let us packed the 2nd basket wonton skin and salsa home. Don't get me wrong, their entree are very good as well.

    (5)
  • Blair K.

    This is probably one of the best asian fusion restaurants that specializes in fish dishes. To start off the night, they give you complimentary wonton chips with a salsa that had a hint of ginger. This was amazing and could have just had this the whole night. After having this delectable amuse bouche I knew I was in for a treat. We started with the special of the night, Calamari and artichokes. The Calamari was one of the best tasting Calamaris I have ever tasted, it was so fresh and full of flavor. The artichokes were also great and came with a miso vinaigrette and wasabi mayonnaise. We had 9 people in our party but strangely enough, we all seemed to order the same thing. I had their signature dish which was the almond seabass which was perfectly cooked and melted in your mouth. I also got to try the black cod which was full of flavor. But my all time favorite was the Ahi on top of angel hair pasta. The mustard sesame soy vinaigrette added so much flavor to the dish and left me with a craving to have more. It seemed so simple but had so much flavor. If I lived closer I would be stopping by more often. Since I did not pay, I am not too sure what the corkage is and I did not look at their wine list. Pros: The food exceeded my expectations, and have never tasted or had something so wonderful. I could easily say that this place is better than Roys. The service and staff are attentive and friendly. You know its a good sign when everyone cleaned their dishes clean, and there are no left overs. Cons: The restaurant is very small, it is highly recommended that you make reservations. Not the best place for huge parties. Overall: If you think Roys is good, you will absolutely love this place. I wish there was a Flying Fish closer to the Orange County area. If your in the Carmel area, this is an absolute must try!!!

    (5)
  • Cassie C.

    Hands down, the best meal my husband and I have had so far in our lives. They had calamari in season which was perfectly cooked. I had the halibut, which was so delicious I could've gone for seconds. My husband had the seabass. It was a perfect combination of crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. We look forward to coming here again.

    (5)
  • Judy L.

    We were horribly disappointed in this restaurant. We had read all the reviews and thought there was one outlier that disliked it and we shrugged it off! Well, we full heartedly agree with the one star rating! The atmosphere is odd but that aside the food was more sauce than fish and the sauces too heavy handed. If you appreciate the subtle flavors of seafood, I suggest skipping this place!

    (1)
  • Dave L.

    Cozy atmosphere (low ceiling, exposed wood, most tables have a private feel). Creative seafood dishes expertly prepared. Decent service. Good wine list. Pathetic beer selection - Bud, Amstel Light, etc - so go someplace else if good craft beer is important to you. Yin Yan salmon was incredible.

    (4)
  • Jerry M.

    This is a really special restaurant and well worth a visit. We had the seafood clay pot and it was wonderful. The food here is super fresh and is skillfully prepared. The staff is superb, waiters provide impeccable service, they are knowledgable about the menu and happy to handle special orders. Finished off with the house sorbet sampler, the blood orange was my favorite. Double extra highly recommend for those who love great cuisine. (And the owner rocks the house on the yukilele!)

    (5)
  • Liz G.

    I did not know what to expect when my husband made reservations here, but I like trying new places so I was also excited. A colleague recommended it, so we went. The place is small-- it seats only 45. It is Fusion with a capital F. I had the ahi, my husband had the black bean halibut. The halibut was AMAZING!!! It was baked in a paper pack. My ahi topped angel hair pasta and a cabbage salad. The staff was amazingly attentive. I knocked off one star because there is no street address to this place! You can't put it into the GPS, so we struggled to find it. It's seriously in a nook! Around the corner, downstairs.

    (4)
  • Bill H.

    Where to begin. ..Spring Roll appetizer was perfect for a beginning. Light, crispy and flavorful. I had the Ahi tuna which is lightly seared and served in a soy mustard sauce over angel hair and I was prepared to lick the bowl. My wife got the Yin Yan salmon which was awesome. Creme brulee to finish with excellent coffee. Superb service. The owner is a delightful man. You will not be disappointed. I guarantee it.

    (5)
  • Marc Z.

    We stopped in with no reservation and had a reasonable wait. The manager was really friendly and accommodating. Asian fusion. The flavors here are fantastic. My wife had the halibut in blackbean sauce. The presentation was beautiful only to be outdone by the flavor. I had sashimi which was really fresh and beautifully presented. The kids had salmon and chicken. The taste and quality of the ingredients were outstanding. 4 of us split 3 deserts. The manager brought out a 4th saying we should not miss out on the caramel. Wonderful food. Wonderful experience.

    (5)
  • T L.

    We were disappointed with this restaurant. The seafood and fish were not fresh at all and they tasted fishy. The service was good. The owner needs to clean the place please. We are sorry to say that we will not return.

    (1)
  • Yasmin C.

    I called up Flying Fish a week in advance of my and my husband's trip to Carmel and was able to score an 8:30 reservation. Slots are certainly in demand here, that's for sure! All of the yelp gushing and oohing and aahing left us pretty excited for a good seafood meal, and we showed up hungry. The place is tucked down a stairway and set underneath street level. We had no trouble finding it though, since diners were coming in and out. Those coming out were raving about the food and giving the host/owner/chef/anyone they came across giant hugs and words of praise. If I weren't such a fat kid at heart, I might have been overwhelmed. Instead, I waited patiently for our table to be set up and tried not to eat my purse as diners continued to walk out, telling us what a treat we had in store. After what felt like years, we were seated. I was starting to feel like we were the only people there who weren't regulars, but we were treated as if we could have been. GREAT service and very knowledgeable servers that truly appear to take pride in what they serve. We started out with two bowls of shrimp curry soup and a California tower. Instant gratification with that first bite of soup...savory and hot, just the way I like it. The California tower was probably the best idea we'd had all day. Though the amount of rice was somewhat excessive relative to the rest of the ingredients, the combination was to die for. The dungeness crab-avocado mix was just so good I really couldn't stop eating. I could have ordered two! We ate it all up happily. We decided to get a nice old-fashioned clay pot to share for our meal so that we could try a variety of seafood. Our pot was brought out quickly and heated up and our server gave us detailed instructions on what was about to go down. The veggies and noodles went into the broth first, and we were given our plates of halibut, salmon, shrimp, scallop, mussels, and squid to cook for ourselves. Sooooooo good, everything. Completely fresh and satisfying and wonderful. We LOVED it all! The sauces that came alongside the meal (lemon shoyu and sesame aioli) were also great. I think my only complaint was that the broth lacked flavor; I might have appreciated some seasoning in there. Otherwise, the meal felt wholesome and healthy and exactly what we had wanted. We were huge fans. We ordered a couple of sundaes for dessert...hot fudge for me and strawberry for my hubby. Perfect end to the meal...and it also officially marked my transition from fat kid at heart to full on fat kid. We were super SUPER duper happy!! I'm so looking forward to returning here - and I will - the next time we are in town. Make your rezzies early tourists...this is a Carmel must-try!

    (4)
  • Tony L.

    Lovely restaurant tucked into a side street. Squeezed me in without a reservation. Recommend the Yin Yan salmon with angel hair pasta. Perfect.

    (5)
  • Sarah C.

    Wontons?! More like wonton wrappers! My only gripe with this place. Wontons are wrappers stuff with meat &/or veggies. Besides that it was an enjoyable experience. The tomato ginger sauce was pretty amazing. I can eat that all by itself and be very happy. We made reservations for Friday night but when we arrived we realized we didn't need to. There was plenty of empty tables even when we left. It is recommended by the staff to make reservations though. The place has a very nice ambiance. It is dim in there with nice little individual booths. Very cozy. We ordered the SHRIMP CURRY SOUP - $8.00: This split it for us and each of us got two pieces of bread. The soup was good. It reminded me of soup my mom makes but with a curry twist. It is a sweet soup. ALMOND SEABASS - $27.00 (Almond crusted sea bass, pan-fried, whipped potatoes, chinese cabbage & rock shrimp stir-fry) - They are known for this and yup it was amazing! We loved it! SEAFOOD PASTA - $24.00 (Prawns, scallops, fresh fish filets, mussels, squid, angel hair pasta, sake-butter sauce with shiso herb) - I didn't think this was anything amazing but everything was cooked perfectly. If I ever come here again I would not order this. They give you a lot of food so don't worry its not one of those fancy places where you pay a lot to eat very little. The staff were all very friendly. I wouldn't mind coming back but we'll have to see. There are a lot of great restaurants in the area that I still need to try.

    (4)
  • Bert J.

    Great fish, reasonably priced, nice sides. Service was a bit tardy but must recommend for seafood lovers.

    (5)
  • Dee A.

    Not what I expected, (I was thinking more seafood and less Asian), but I was so pleasantly surprised! The appetizers were absolutely amazing and my brother and sister-in-law really seemed to love trying all the different Saki! Great house Chardonnay, and the ginger sauce and chips are addictive-good for the starters! I loved all the food ordered, (seeing that I sampled everyone's dish)!

    (5)
  • Andy R.

    Wow. Intimate. Delicate flavors and beautiful presentations. Fabulous service. Dinner for two--appetizer and wine and dessert included (with 20% tip) was $120. Well worth it.

    (5)
  • M P.

    The food was amazing and the service phenomenal. Honestly, our waiter Tony, was one of the best we have EVER had. And we have eaten out A LOT! I was with 3 others and I honestly can't say whose meal was best bc they were all sooo good! Spring rolls, Calamari, Blackened Ahi, Roasted Salmon, Seafood Pasta, Scallops and Prawns.

    (5)
  • Ron B.

    Was just pretty good. I had the almond crusted bass...almost cloyingly sweet, rock shrimp superfluous , the cabbage just crunchy water. My wife had the halibut, same story...ok, but just ok. Dining room a bit too dark, the seating hard on the butt. Calamari app pretty good but not the best I've had. Service was very good. So, $160 later, meh...sorry,but that's my take on it. Probably priced ok for location, but waaaay o.p. for food.

    (3)
  • J. M.

    I've eaton at the Flying Fish several times. They make seasonal dishes that sometimes hit the spot with me. The Brussel Sprout salad is great. The staff is also. This place is somewhat inconsistent so that's why I cannot give it 5 stars. Sorry!!!

    (4)
  • Heath R.

    Had an amazing experience last night! Rarely take the time to write a review for anything, but this was such a memorable night. Greeted at the door by the owner and was seated immediately per our reservation. While our table was fine, it was in between two large parties who were having a great time (not excessively loud or inappropriate, but not the quiet evening we envisioned). We kindly asked the owner/waiter (initially assisted us) and while the establishment was at 100% occupancy, he stated he would circle to identify a table finishing soon. Sure enough, he returned five minutes later (3 min after recommending and bringing us an amazing cold sake) and personally took us to a quiet, dark and romantic table in the corner. All of this attention and we hadn't even ordered food yet. The complimentary wonton chips (light, airy and not oily) and sweet salsa is delectable. We ordered the much hyped California Crab Tower and were not disappointed. The crab was fresh and plentiful. For the entree, we ordered the black bean halibut and ahi tuna. Different but very complimentary main dishes to share.... Although the sauces in both dishes were so amazing we almost were moved to slurp the remains as if it were soup. The halibut cooked in the parchment paper left the white fish flakey, hot and melted in our mouths like warm butter. The ahi was cooked perfectly and had a great pairing with thinly cut veggies over angel hair pasta. Dessert... Oh my... Dessert was orgasmic! Tempura fried bananas on a bed of freshly sliced strawberries and covered with generous scoops of ice cream, all topped with crushed macadamia nuts. Words do not do this dessert justice... Nor do pictures... You will need to visit and order to experience sheer perfection!

    (5)
  • P C.

    What we ordered: Black bean halibut - just soft/tender fish. Sauce was good. Almond seabass - my favorite kind of fish. It was buttery and delicious. The bed of mashed potatoes that the fish sits on was very good as well. Dungeness crab tower - refreshing. Tastes like a sushi roll. I would definitely recommend the food here. I am taking off 1 star because they seriously need to clean or replace the seat cushion and rugs(another user did mention this as well). The rugs & cushions are filthy.

    (4)
  • Brittany A.

    This place is outstanding! We had a 9 o'clock reservation with our 13 month old. The wait service was attentive and kind. This place can do sauces! Instead of bread while you are waiting they serve fried won tons and this amazing salsa. It's kinda like salsa with sweet and sour? Whatever it is, it's great. I had the Yin Yan Salmon, again, the sauce was just amazing and my salmon was cooked well. My husband had the sea food pasta and he said it was the best he's ever had. Most places serve a pasta with a bit of seafood, this one had the same amount of seafood as pasta. Portion sizes were great and the prices were reasonable too. We will definitely be returning here!

    (5)
  • Steve L.

    For many years, we've walked by this place while strolling through Carmel Plaza. Each time, we've been telling ourselves, we have to give the place a try. On a recent stay in the Monterey Peninsula, I finally made reservations to give this place a try. This casual restaurant is located on the Mission Street side of Carmel Plaza. The stairs to the restaurant go under Carmel Plaza. It's dark and cozy inside, with lots of private, intimate booths. After we were greeted, we were lead to one of these booths. After we were handed our menus, our waiter shortly greeted us to take our drink orders. After he came back with our drinks, we placed our orders. While waiting for our orders, a basket of fried won ton skins and ginger salsa arrived to our table ( yelp.com/biz_photos/UiqF… ). The sweet tomatoes went well with slight ginger taste. The wonton skins didn't overwhelm the salsa. Soon, our orders arrived: -California Dungeness Crab Tower ( yelp.com/biz_photos/UiqF… ): Think of this as a deconstructed California Roll. Rice on the bottom, topped with fresh Dungeness crab, then topped with sliced avocado, finished with a nori grass. Loved the fresh crab. There was wasabi and soy sauce to accompany this dish, but a little difficult to dip portions of this dish. Very good tasting, though. -Spicy Tuna Tartare ( yelp.com/biz_photos/UiqF… ): Served with toast points and slices of cucumber. Nice, tasty kick to the tuna, but not overly spicy. We liked the wonton skins over the toast points when enjoying this dish. -Steamed Halibut in Black Bean Sauce ( yelp.com/biz_photos/UiqF… ): Steamed in parchment with ginger, scallions, and black beans. The waiter cut away the top after it arrived to the table. Tasty and very moist. -Ginger-Soy Glazed Grilled Wild Alaskan Salmon ( yelp.com/biz_photos/UiqF… ): The salmon had a very nice red color. A very thick piece of salmon, firm, yet very moist all the way through. -Trio of Sorbet ( yelp.com/biz_photos/UiqF… ): Raspberry, pear, and mango. Fruity, perfect ending to dinner. The staff was very efficient and friendly, checking in on us every so often. Overall, we were quite pleased with what we ordered, and will be back again.

    (4)
  • Rosanne P.

    Lived in Carmel for two years but first time at Flying Fish. I highly recommend the restaurant for any lover of impeccable service and great fresh fish. Kenny, the owner, greeted us warmly and opened our wine. Our waiter was attentive and knowledgeable. A consummate pro. If possible, the food was even better than the service. The Yin Yan salmon and the sea bass were excellent and cooked to perfection. The sauce on the sea bass was a revelation. We had the banana caramel sundae for dessert. It was the perfect end to a wonderful evening. We will be returning soon.

    (5)
  • John S.

    Nice decor and ambiance. Made a reservation and arrived a few minutes early. Small waiting area and hovered around the door while our table was prepared for us. Ending up waiting about 20 minutes and were seated about 10 minutes after our reservation time. Appetizeres were mediocre and entrees were satisfactory but pretty small considering the price(i realize inflated for the location). Service was not good, had to ask for water several times. I feel it was just our absent minded waitress, other tables appeared to be served much more timely. Overall the food was just ok and the service was poor but the ambiance was nice so they barely made the three star range.

    (3)
  • Michelle S.

    After our first attempt to get into Flying Fish Grill several months earlier, we decided to make a reservation to ensure we'd be able to dine there while in the area. The place is small and after being outside in the cool evening air, it seemed a bit warm. There are cook top tables for clay pot dinners and simple cushions on the wooden bench seats. We started with the California Tower which is a deconstructed California Roll of dungeness crab, rice, julienned seaweed and avocado slices. It was light and a great appetizer with the aioli, wasabi and ginger accompaniments. We didn't realize that we'd be getting chips and salsa which were wonton sheets fried and served with a sweet salsa. We devoured all of them too. My partner got the much recommended Almond coated sea bass and it was excellent. There was a huge chunk of sea bass covered in almonds and resting in a savory sauce with vegetables. I got the Black Bean Haddock. It was good, moist and juicy and with a nice broth and vegetables but I have to admit that I liked the sea bass better. I wondered if I should've gotten the abalone or even the scallops and prawns pasta but maybe we'll go for one of those next time. For dessert, we got the Chocolate Decadence cake and the Banana sundae of tempura fried bananas in a sea of caramel and vanilla ice cream. I thought I was going to pop. Our server Rich was awesome. We'll be back for sure.

    (4)
  • Betsy H.

    Outstanding service and food in a cozy downstairs spot off the plaza. Shared the Shabu Shabu, a house specialty, and was not disappointed. Dungeoness crab tower was devoured within minutes as were the yummy wonton chips. We'll be back!

    (4)
  • Jess V.

    Service was nice. Food was good. Not a disappointment, but we were not blown away. I'd still recommend this restaurant. However, there may be better options out there. We ordered calamari for appetizer. Flavor was good...very chewy however. Main dishes were better. The almond crusted sea bass was very good. We did not Have dessert. All in all, good...just not great!

    (4)
  • Ryan M.

    Excellent food, better service if you can believe it! The owner Kenny even came to our table to say hello for our special occasion. The price was on the higher side, but well worth it. I had the sea bass and my wife had the salmon, both were phenomenal. Great location and cool atmosphere. Don't forget to make reservations!

    (5)
  • Jim B.

    Really nice little place tucked away off Mission. Service was excellent! Food was better! A must try!

    (5)
  • Holly Z.

    Nice place to have a quiet dinner. 3 of us all had the New York steaks and were very pleased. Wish they had a full bar tho, but still a nice choice.

    (4)
  • Rachel O.

    Great atmosphere. We got the ahi and almond sea bass. Both fish cooked to perfection. Love this place!

    (4)
  • mark i.

    I have no idea why so many people gave this restaurant 4 and 5 stars, one of those Yelp mysteries. It was a mixed bag experience for me and my wife. My wine (chardonnay) was just what I expected and the service was up to par/ The wonton chips were ok-but the "homemade salsa" was watery (why not some kind of Asian sauce instead?). We ordered the signature dishes- the black bean halibut and almond crusted sea bass, the entrees eveyryone raves about. In both cases the fish was very fresh and tender. But somehow the black bean sauce didn't quite work, and there wasn't enough...We've had excellent black bean dishes several times, including in the Bay area and when we visited Hong Kong so I know what it's supposed to taste like; this was close, but somehow missed the mark a bit, not quite a robust as I expected. My veggies were undercooked a bit and hard. My wife's sea bass was a slightly better dish and mixed well with the mashed potatoes it sat upon, but the broth tasted a little weak; neither dish was close the "wow" level we expected at these prices. Strangely the rice, set in a square shape, was even hard(what, no fluffy soft rice?) But the kicker was the dessert- the fried banana ice cream. The banana was hard, not even close to being ripe-I could barely cut it. The tempura didn't taste right either -sort of a soggy like batter. This is a dish I've eaten a dozen times, and never had this happen. Small details make the difference between a good and great/world class restaurant. Flying Fish Grill is a good restaurant-3 star at best- but the jury is still out as to whether it can make the leap to a really great restaurant.

    (3)
  • Josh D.

    What a great place. A small establishment, great service, amazing food. This place is kind of in a basement and makes you feel like youre at a small little place in asia. Surpringly, the owner is from Hawaii. The wonton appetizer / sweet salsa they bring at the beginning were pretty awesome and that's when I knew everything was going to be great, and it was. Everyone had a fish dish and not one person left anything on their plate, not one piece. My recommendation for this place is: EVERYTHING! You won't go wrong

    (5)
  • Krista M.

    Once we arrived we were seated promptly right by the fireplace The ambiance was lovely. Tables offer a bit of privacy with bamboo like partitions between each table. They start you off with their version of chips and salsa. Fried won ton wrappers served along side a ginger salsa. It was fantastic and the more you ate it the more you wanted to eat more. It was totally addictive. For apps, the crab tower was A-mazing! Chunks of crab on top of creamy avocado slices served over rice It sounds simple, but it was unbelievable. The Nikumaki, beef rolled over green onion in a teriyaki type sauce was tender and succulent. The good didn't stop there...on to the entrees! The black bean halibut was cooked in parchment and opened at the table. It was very good and served along side a mound of Julienne veggies. The star entree was the almond crusted bass which was outstanding. I don't know what they put into the sauce, but I could have easily drank it on its own. Served with Chinese cabbage & rock shrimp stir fry and whipped potatoes. Excellent dish. Great friendly staff including the owners who we got to chat with on our way out. Definitely go check out FFG!

    (4)
  • c b.

    Read all the good reviews. BUT, we were in and out in 59 minutes, rushed, food came within minutes apart. Was not relaxing. Husband had soup and I had the crab tower for a starter, they also had their chips and salsa on the table, we ordered two glasses of wine. Two main courses. food was good. I would not go back because of the rushed fast service, they were always coming by to take our plates, I felt we were on a merry go round...price for dinner $139.00 with tip. Just know this is Carmel and they try to get as many people in as they can, if you want a relaxing meal, don't go here.

    (3)
  • Rosers M.

    Went to Flying Fish on the last night of our honeymoon in Carmel - it looks upscale and cozy, the perfect end to a great visit to Carmel. Not so much - the food is decent but overpriced and the restaurant is distractingly loud and not very romantic. First-off, the food. As other reviews have mentioned, the wonton chips/ginger salsa are very tasty - for the sake of our upcoming dishes (and arteries), we had to restrain ourselves from downing yet another basket of the chips. I would not recommend our first dish, Spicy Tuna Tartare - the chopped tuna was not very fresh and bland (could have used some sort of spicy or sweet/sour sauce) and accompanying toast tips were clearly stale with that not-crunchy-but-not-soft texture...ack! Our mains were both pretty good - the baked halibut was tender and served with a soy/mirin sauce whereas the abalone was nicely pan-fried and served with some sort of tangy cream sauce Considering the food alone, this is a decent restaurant - the food is good but definitely over-priced (1 app, 2 mains, and a beer cost $104) and warrants about 3 stars. Unfortunately, we ended up having a pretty terrible experience because of the ambiance and service. Halfway through dinner, our waitress seated a family of four next to us (who were apparently her friends). As soon as they were seated, the table began loudly debating what they were going to have for dessert...which eventually somehow turned into watching videos on Youtube on full volume and hooting and hollering. As we looked around startled for our waitress, THE WAITRESS SAT AT THE TABLE AND STARTED SUGGESTING MORE VIDEOS! How dysfunctional is that? Honestly I don't usually care about atmosphere at restaurants but when you're dropping ~$30/plate at a restaurant clearly aimed towards intimate dinners, listening to two iPhones blaring commercials at full volume is a bit too much. The high (low) point of the night is when the mom asked the kid to pull up a video called "7 Ways to Discipline Your Child". Crushed by the irony of the moment, we paid our bill and left. Never again...

    (2)
  • Cindy K.

    We ordered the calamari which was perfectly crispy and lightly battered with Pablo. Excellent! Salsa and chips were so delicious! A hint of mango and garlic and yummy wonton skins deep fried crispy! So good! We had both sake Kuromatsu and Hakutsuru. Then, had a glass of Pinot Noir. Dinner was superb! My boyfriend had the Abalone special-farm raised with panko crusted and some sauce was sooo good! Then I had almond crusted Sea bass with Chinese cabbage and mashed potatoes with baby shrimp in a light soy based broth! This was their signature dish and excellent!

    (5)
  • Japna S.

    This place is reasonably priced ($90 for 2 people) for a fancy dinner and has very nice "underground" Japanese decor. Service was great; ambiance was romantic, cozy, comfortable. They also give complimentary wonton chips with ginger/glaze sauce that tasted great! The reason I give a low rating is because I ordered a salmon, which was very dry and overcooked - I had to take off part of the outside because it was crispy black. I didn't complain because I like salmon so I'd still eat it. My boyfriend ordered the sea bass, which tasted great (much better than mine), but unfortunately got food poisoning and spent the whole night vomiting. ;/

    (2)
  • Chloe Y.

    This place is absolutely amazing! Coming down to Carmel for a celebration of my boyfriend and my 2 year aniversary, this was the perfect place to end our night. The room was darkly lit, giving it a very romantic feel, though it is a tad darker than I would find comfortable. For starters, we had the California Tower, which was my boyfriend's favorite and the spicy tuna tartare, my favorite. The california tower's dungeness crab was so fresh and added just enough taste that was light but had just the right amount of flavoring. The tuna tartare goes perfect on the wonton chips that actually get served before hand, as the flakiness of the wonton chip goes extremely well to really let you focus on the taste of the tuna rather than on the wonton chip (or the toast that was served with it). I had the black bean halibut. It's similar to the chinese black bean but at the same time, completely different. It's much lighter and less oily than the chinese black been and it really adds flavor to the halibut. The halibut was very soft and moist and I loved finding the pieces of cabbage and mushroom hidden underneath the fish. My boyfriend had the famous almond sea bass. Again, also an amazing dish. I am already a fan of sea bass, as is he, but the almond crust really adds a new texture of crunchiness to the sea bass. Absolutely well done. I would definitely suggest this place, it's a great place to bring your significant other :]

    (5)
  • Guillermo N.

    Good staff not the best could be cleaner but it is what it is as you see the kitchen floor coming back from bathroom - stars people dropping stuff and not picking it up floor looks like garbage can even on a slow day. But if you have to see it for yourself ordered the ahi tuna best thing on the menu next to California rolls the ahi tuna never get frozen like all other fish there to keep fresh ahi and all other fish should not be frozen when it comes fresh but i guess that everywhere doubt it. But a Cozi little place if you don't mind the rest. I go where the fish dont get frozen that's fresh i guess this place is for older people that dont care enough to notice and cant see. I hope kenny see my review and takes care of the problem and gets younger waitresses like i said for the older that can't see or taste real freshness. I love seafood and there ahi the best thing there fresh never frozen but cant say that for all. kenny will sing for you on your birthday that my two stars for and the ahi

    (2)
  • KElly E.

    Amazing dinner! We got the black bean halibut which was by far the champion of the evening. Flavorful and delicate, a perfect meal. And 2nd in line to that was the almond crusted sea bass. Also very delicious, but the halibut still scored higher. For an appetizer we had the evening special, fried calamari. It was lightly fried with an amazing dipping sauce. It was higher priced, average of $30 a plate, but end the end it delivered. Great ambience, tucked downstairs below the shopping center. We ended with a flavorful sorbet trio, mango, passionfruit, & coconut! A+ evening.

    (5)
  • Joe H.

    Start to finish, one if the best dining experiences out there. Interior is peaceful, intimate and charming. Fried wonton and watermelon salsa starter was addictive. Nice selection of cold sake. We had the seafood tower, basically a deconstructed California roll, and artichoke w 2 dipping sauces for appetizers. Both did their job. Ahi tuna and halibut in parchment paper for mains. Fish was turbo fresh and perfectly cooked. Creme brûlée w fruit and Spanish brandy for dessert. Total w tip $150. Can't beat that w a stick.

    (5)
  • Gavin A.

    Such an amazing place. The halibut was spectacular, the sea bass too, and they sang happy birthday with a ukelele! Try the green tea ice cream before you leave.

    (5)
  • Ryan K.

    What an incredible dining experience! I went to Flying Fish with my fiancée, and we had a wonderful time. The ambiance was delightful: intimate, cozy and perfect for a couple. The service was excellent! Our waiter, Rich, was a true master. He was polite, funny, kind, and knew exactly what we wanted. From food recommendations to explaining sake to 2 people unfamiliar with cold sakes, I can't recommend him (and the other incredible staff) high enough. And then there is the food. The tuna tartare and artichoke starters were fantastic. I highly recommend the wasabi mayo...just put it on everything! For our main course, we had the black bean halibut and almond sea bass, and both were delicious. I can easily recommend both. All in all, we LOVED Flying Fish. Such a gem in Carmel, and we hope to be back soon!

    (5)
  • Leanna J.

    My boyfriend and I went to Carmel for a weekend getaway and found this place from the good reviews on yelp. And I am SO glad we ate here! The service was friendly and very attentive to us. The wonton chips and salsa, complimentary, were delicious. We ordered the almond crusted seabass and seared ahi tuna. Both were delicious, but the seabass was especially tasty! On top of the delicious food, our waiter was awesome. He stopped by to chat and check up on us, which I found very delightful. His name was Rich, and I would definitely come back next time I visit Carmel. Highly recommend this restaurant! :)

    (5)
  • Yang Q.

    Intimate atmosphere, friendly service, and delicious food. They must make it so hard to find so that only the very determined can enjoy such a great dining experience. :) Flying Fish Grill is located on the first floor of the Carmel Plaza, down a set of stairs. That's all the hints you'll get from me (our search for it left me so disoriented I couldn't really help you more even if I wanted to). The interior is pretty small and cozy, with dim lighting and lots of wood. The service was great--both the waiter and busboy attentively refilled our waters, even after the millionth time the boy polished off both mine and his. And to top it off, the food was amazing: -Crispy, light wonton chips served to every table with a refreshing ginger salsa: The taste of ginger wasn't too strong, but with just enough of a kick to give a nice twist to the traditional chips and salsa appetizer. -California Tower: Literally a small tower of sushi rice topped with flakes of dungeness crab, slivers of seaweed, and delicate slices of avocado. So yummy and (as our waiter warned us) so difficult to eat. Dig in and see who has the best chopsticks skills! And if you're not a fan of wasabi, avoid the sauce drizzled on the plate because it has a bite of wasabi to it. -Almond-crusted seabass: Crunchy, nutty outside and so tender inside, sitting atop a bed of creamy whipped potatoes and served with pieces of shrimp and napa cabbage. The sauce it's served with is slightly sweet and lends the dish a Chinese influence. -Black bean halibut: The parchment paper pouch it comes wrapped in allows the flavors to soak in really well--the pieces of mushrooms at the bottom of the pouch are oh so juicy and flavorful. -Tempura banana: Deep fried battered slices of banana served with vanilla ice cream, fresh strawberries, nuts, and caramel topping, this dessert is something you have to make room for at the very end! Overall a great Valentines dinner experience :)

    (5)
  • V B.

    Do not even tell me that you make a dime on your wine, because if anyone knows mark ups it's me. I have no clue how they do it, but this place sells their wine for less than I have seen in wine shops. And I am not talking Two Buck Chuck, they roll out the red carpet for some serious juice here. Yes, the food is excellent but did I mention the cheap wine prices?

    (4)
  • Katie S.

    Definitely a cozy little basement. The fishy, musty smell is a little off-putting, but if you can get past that, the food is good. The bus boy is very attentive & friendly...probably the most valuable employee in the place. We ordered calamari (the aioli was too salty), black bean halibut (decent, but nothing I would crave), and almond crusted sea bass (really deserves a better sauce, but super tasty). Not sure we would return, but we definitely weren't disappointed...very fresh seafood.

    (4)
  • Kenji Y.

    Their restaurant is hidden. From the intersection of Mission St and 7th, go up the hill and it's on the right side. It's sort of hidden in an alley way and down the stairs. The environment is very intimate and it feels like you found a jewel when you sit down. Extremely friendly service. The food was good, but I expected a little more for the price. I tried 2-3 appetizers and 2 main plates. All left a little more to be desired. The best part was their free salsa and chips that came out at the beginning. Adding ginger in the salsa was a nice touch.

    (4)
  • Greg L.

    An absolutely awesome dining experience! Couldn't have been happier with the food and service. This place was designed for a romantic date. The interior has a real Japanese feel to it, featuring dark wood, dim lighting, and a very calming ambiance that allows for easy conversation. Most tables are meant for 2-4 people, but they can do some clever maneuvering of boards to allow for groups of 8 people to eat together. Right off the bat, one thing unique about this place was the complimentary wonton chips and salsa. I am a fiend for fried wonton strips, so getting an unlimited supply of these was a big plus. The salsa has a kick of ginger and wasabi, showing off this place's flare for fusion nicely. The gf and I both got the Almond-Crusted Seabass ($27), and were not disappointed. The dish came with a generous portion of bass, melt-in-your-mouth tender on the inside with a nice nutty crunch on the outside. The broth was extremely savory, with a very similar taste as the gravy you would get with a good Hong Kong style pan fried noodle (I mean this in the best way possible). We got the Warm Banana Sundae ($7.50) for dessert. Slices of tempura fried banana surrounded a mound of vanilla bean ice cream with caramel sauce and macadamia nuts on top. A sweet and satisfying ending that I would definitely recommend. The service is what really puts this place above the rest. Our waiter (Tony I think...) was fantastic, explaining dishes in a calm and thorough manner, and always asking how things were. Water as well as salsa for our wonton chips were replaced frequently. As it was my birthday, one of the owners came out and sang Happy Birthday with a ukulele, even using my real name in the song (how awesome is that!). The other owner chatted with us after returning the check, and we realized that she was a Cal Alum just like we were (Go Bears!). Overall, The Flying Fish Grill did everything to make this a perfect birthday dinner. I would recommend this place to anyone stopping by Carmel or Monterey.

    (5)
  • Shirley T.

    Wonton chips and Salsa.... AMAZING. We couldn't stop asking for more and it was complimentary. I think we filled ourselves up with the chips and salsa before the actual dinner. It was so good that we sat there for 30 minutes trying to figure out what was in the salsa. For our main dish, we got the seafood Claypot for two. It's basically like shabu shabu but with seafood. We got two different sauces and they were both very tasty. The place was packed when we got there for our reservations at 9:15pm and we still had to wait 10 minutes. Be sure to make reservations or else you'll never make it in.

    (4)
  • Teddi H.

    What an amazing experience, from the food to the ambiance to the service. Tony, our server was so kind and knowledgeable. The California Tower appetizer was fantastic and huge. I could have had that along with the wontons and ginger tomato spread and dessert and been happy. But I also ordered the almond crusted seabass. It was well worth it. My husband had the black cod which was also wonderful. And, being on vacation, we splurged on the tempura banana sundae. Every morsel of the entire meal was memorable. Thank you!

    (5)
  • Brian L.

    First of all this place is a Japanese Seafood fusion restaurant. It is very good, but they do not serve any sort of raw fish. I really like this place though, they make great seafood dishes. I had the hot pot which was amazing and their crusted sea bass is amazing. It is located downstairs of the plaza which is little hard to find, but it is truly a gem and a hidden treasure if you find it.

    (5)
  • Jay H.

    I'm in Carmel for the weekend to celebrate an anniversary and decided to make reservations at Flying Fish Grill based on the good Yelp reviews. This restaurant did not disappoint!! The atmosphere was cozy, warm and intimate which made it a perfect spot for our 1 year anniversary dinner. The food was amazing. We got complimentary crispy wonton chips with a ginger salsa that I hope I can figure out how to make at home. We also ordered the spring rolls which had nice crunchy bell peppers inside and were served with a tasty, peanut dipping sauce. My favorite starter was the shrimp curry soup. We shared this and I wish I had ordered my own! For the main course we tried the beef clay pot. This was a fun way to eat dinner. You get to play with your food in a sense. In the middle of the table you have an electric burner that the clay pot sits on. The clay pot is filled with broth, noodles and veggies. On the side you get your meat, rice, two different types of sauces and they also gave us a chili oil. Then you just build your soup and play with the flavors. It was delicious. Our waitress was super friendly and nice. She asked us if we needed any additional ingredients for our clay pot (no additional charge). She brought us extra noodles and carrots. The wine was good and reasonably priced. I am not a picky wine drinker though! Unfortunately we did not have room for dessert, but we will be back and try to make it to dessert next time.

    (5)
  • Lily A.

    I don't get it. Seriously. The food is neither japanese, fusion, fresh, well-served nor well-prepared. I've not had a drier piece of salmon. The plating was reminiscent of a 1987 retirement home cafeteria. The ambiance is stale and the decor befitting of a ski chalet. The bathroom being pretty much IN the kitchen is just friggin' weird. Thank god for good company!

    (1)
  • Jonathan B.

    Just had an amazing anniversary meal here. Great food, great service (Annie). will definitely be returning.

    (5)
  • Lauren B.

    So good. Husband ordered the AhiTuna Pepper Seared, which honestly was average... He wouldn't order it again. I ordered the almond crusted sea bass which was so amazing and the broth it was served with was yummy! I ate every bite. Fish was cooked perfectly. Service was awesome. We didn't have reservations but the owner had us wait to see if someone didn't show up for there time, and sure enough they didn't show up so we were seated (Next time make reservations!) Would eat here again while in Carmel.

    (5)
  • Megan T.

    Wonderful find in Carmel! Black bean halibut- a must!

    (5)
  • Vaughn T.

    The second you walk In to this place, you find someone to take you to your seat. Then you get the wonton chips and salsa, which is weirdly a great combination. What I ordered for my appetizer was the spring rolls which tasted good as they were dipped in sweet and sour sauce. Then I ordered for my main entree the breaded shrimp which were fantastic, they Also came with zuchinni and sweet potatoes which were also breaded. In short, this place I recommend for anyone visiting Carmel.

    (5)
  • John R.

    Awesome hole in the basement restaurant. Dowsing skills are required to find and understand when the portal is open. Wontons, Tuna, Sunday. All excellent.

    (4)
  • Hanh D.

    Creative and inspired. I am impressed with the fantastic food and unassuming atmosphere. We has the almond seabass and Alaskan cod. Both were cooked perfectly with a great balance of texture and flavors. Tempura bananas were made from scratch, caramel were delicious! A must do if you're in the neighborhood.

    (5)
  • Tim C.

    We came here for the last night of an absolutely amazing two-day getaway and were incredibly disappointed with the entire experience. The tuna tartar was really nothing special, which would have been fine, if the bread crostini was not hard and stale. Moreover, the slices of cucumber on the same dish were totally dry as well. The dish was a complete dude. We've had effectively the same dish in a number of restaurants and never had it be so disappointing. We also had the crab appetizer and that was not bad but again nothing to write home about. The wonton and salsa were very nice and a bit of a unique touch. We enjoyed that. The service was ok. We ordered some tea and one of the servers just dropped the kettle on the table and didn't even pour it out for my wife while I was using the restroom. It would have been nice if he had poured out a cup given the heavy weight of the kettle. Again, not a big deal if one is going to a chain restaurant and not hoping for good service. We ordered the bean halibut in parchment paper. We've had fish and really love fish and cook it all the time, but were totally surprised to see a good part of it completely uncooked. Sometimes it is supposed to be that way such as for salmon or tuna but the server acknowledged what we felt along - the dish was NOT supposed to be that way and completely apologized. This is a dish that they make every night and they advertise themselves as a fish restaurant and so I am not sure how that can happen. If this was a steak place and they messed up on the fish, it would have been different. Now the server was nice enough to have his manager take the plate off the bill, but then the server proceeded to tell us what will be on the charge as if we were not there and unaware of what we ordered. The gentleman was clearly trying to do the good thing and I cannot fault him for the food. However, if the manager was made aware of the messed up food, I would have thought he would have come by to apologize (which he did come by to multiple tables that ordered bottles of wine). Clearly, they care more about you ringing up your bill then properly made food. I will admit that maybe our experience was not par for course for the restaurant but to have so many sub-par things happen in my mind made me realize that it was sad that we wasted our limited time and had such an unpleasant experience. I am sorry to say that I would not encourage my friends to come here.

    (1)
  • Yim L.

    Came here based on rave reviews on Yelp. Not disappointed at all. Food was wonderful--we tried Rare Peppered Ahi and Alaskan Black Cod, fish was prepared perfectly. The staff was attentive and friendly. I would advise making a reservation since this place fills up fast!

    (5)
  • Hazel J.

    Not a sushi house.. Wonton "chips" and salsa were very out of place at a Japanese restaurant, but very good. California roll tower appetizer was very good, but could have used more avocado Shabu shabu hot pot: very good Expensive!!! But will come back when we want hot pot and are in Carmel

    (4)
  • Ellen S.

    We had an amazing dinner here tonight. The food was great. We started with a delicious artichoke followed by unbelievable king salmon and an almond crusted sea bass. Everything was perfectly cooked with perfect flavors. The issue was that we felt as if we were in a fast food diner with the food being brought to us before we even put our fork down from the previous course. There is a limited desert menu with only two pastry type items and the rest ice cream sundaes. No sooner did we order a sundae then it was brought to our table with the ice cream half melted. I actually think it was pre made. As the sundae was set down on our table the server brought over our check. My husband and I were astounded and felt that we were being thrown out of the restaurant before we were finished. The entire dinner from the time we were seated to walking out the door was 45 minutes...not the relaxing romantic dinner we were hoping for. I still give the restaurant 4 stars because the appetizers and main courses were cooked to perfection.

    (4)
  • Amro Y.

    I had a fantastic culinary experience and great service from our waiter, Tony. For an appetizer I had the California Tower, which essentially is a deconstructed crab role. Delish! I hear the artichoke appy is quite tasty too. Their ginger salsa with wontons was a fresh approach to bread and butter or chips and salsa for a table starter. I honed in on the Seared Ahi Tuna but wanted an alternative to angel hair pasta since I am 80% paleo. They substituted that with string vegetables to work with the sauce. A winner all around. Reminiscing about the meal, the sauce used and the variety of mushrooms is making me salivate as I write this review. I also had a bite of the almond crusted Sea Bass. Wow! You just can't seem to go wrong. For dessert, while I am a big chocolate fan, I tried the Tempura Fried Banana Sundae with homemade caramel sauce. Great flavours all around. Tony, our waiter knew I loved chocolate, so he brought us some homemade chocolate fudge that is used with the other sundae. Thank you for going above and beyond and for reading my mind and letting me try the fudge. I highly recommended this restaurant and I hope you have an enjoyable experience like mine. On a side note, I ended up having meal in a booth next to Clint Eastwood. However, he was not eating next to an empty chair.

    (5)
  • ash w.

    Best fish I've ever had. All of it was amazing, flavorful, delicious. Service was great. We had the almond crusted sea bass, Cali roll, and the black bean halibut. All of it was bomb! Can't wait to go back!!!!

    (5)
  • Katie Anne N.

    On a whim, BF and I decided to come here for dinner on a Saturday night with no reservations. We arrived around 8pm and were told there would be a 30-45 min wait. No problem. We went to grab a drink and some oysters for an appetizer. They were nice enough to call us when our table was ready. We were seated in a nice corner booth and were offered some fried wontons for a snack. They were so light and crispy. A great snack that won't fill you up. We ordered some wine (nice pours) and the following: tuna sashimi appetizer, crispy spring rolls, shared the lobster special and tempura banana sundae for dessert. Everything was amazing. One of the best seafood meals I have in a long time. The sashimi was fresh and thick. The broiled lobster was amazing. They were kind enough to split it for us and each portion was plenty. From start to finish I was impressed by this restaurant. The waitstaff is accommodating and friendly. The food is delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant.

    (4)
  • Dan L.

    Great service and better food! We went here for our 10th anniversary and couldn't be happier. Ginger salsa to start, artichoke with miso and wasabi sauces, Australian lobster and black bean halibut. Aside from the artichoke being a hair undercooked, everything was great. Full flavors which most restaurants are afraid to do are what make me love this place.

    (5)
  • Kris K.

    +Ambiance: Cozy seating and Authentic Asian feel +Service: Efficient, friendly and attentive +Food: Loved the innovative alternative to the bread basket; it was square wonton chips with a delightfully yummy fresh ginger salsa. I had the black bean/mushroo

    (4)
  • Aisha H.

    what rude service! stopped by here on way back to San Francisco and were told the wait would be an hour. we asked why since half the tables were empty and the rude guy at the front obviously got pissed and turned his list around and said very dramatically, "you see this list right here?!?" "we have to serve all these people first." except none of those people were there and the tables were still empty. he was not nice about it at all and then walked away. very very rude guy. totally disappointing stop.

    (1)
  • Charmaine L.

    4.5 we were delightfully surprised with a basket of fried wonton chips served with ginger salsa instead of bread and butter. the chips were addicting, light, and crispy. the ginger salsa was fresh, zesty, and refreshing. the california tower was like a deconstructed california roll. the crab was extraordinarily fresh and there were many lumps of salty flesh. the rice was perfectly sticky and soft. we came here highly recommended and were advised to order the almond crusted seabass. we also ordered a lobster tail which was served with clarified ginger butter. the seabass was absolutely amazing. cooked perfectly with a beautiful crispy almond crust, the flavors just bursted in your mouth. the lobster tail was quite large. broiled and served on a bed of curried rice and julienned zuchinni, every bite dipped in the butter was succulent. for desserts, we had the trio of sorbet and the warm banana sundae. the sorbet flavors were delicious and rich. the tempura'd bananas were topped with a hefty serving of vanilla ice cream and ladels of caramel and fudge (upon request). everything was sprinkled with chopped macadamia nuts. altogether, it was quite an amazing, "roll your eyes to the back of your head" dessert. the owners and staff are very nice and friendly. they really make you feel at home when they know that almost 90% of their patrons are tourists. we will definitely revisit when we're back in the area.

    (5)
  • Andrew K.

    Great intimate dark space, though the door slammed open and closed every few minutes and it was jarring. They sat us in a room with a birthday group and they were singing and carrying on and it was awkwar. Great menu. 5-star food: delicious - delicate - great ingredients. CA roll salad was amazing! I loved the curry shrimp soup. 2-star service. The waiter was rude - older blonde woman. Didn't check on us. Forgot something we ordered. Just a sarcastic undertone to her. I really really didn't like working with her. The food was so good though that we would go back.

    (4)
  • Cath M.

    Wow... so this is what it means to be pampered and taken cared for in a relationship... thanks hun aka S.O. =) Another surprise dinner... researched all by the S.O. = another home run! I'm not going to lie ... it was very difficult to find... I was getting annoyed but thankfully, the food and ambiance took care of all of that! We were a few minutes off our reservation time but it was no problem at all... we got seated next to the fire place... wow! Sat down and our server Annie came by to introduce herself and that was the start of a beautiful evening. We asked Annie to decant the wine that we brought... no problem she said. She told us the specials... and we did ask for her opinion regarding the menu and she was very helpful. We ordered the following: - Fried wonton + salsa = I liked the wonton but didn't taste the salsa since I don't like salsa... but the S.O. was uber excited about this dish... so he went to town with it... to the best of his abilities without filling himself up. - California Roll: sushi roll with crabcake and avocado = I think is what we ordered... it seemed like it was a bigger version of a regular Cal Roll but it was delicious! Presentation was pretty and not intimidating and definitely the portion was just perfect for the two of us! - My dinner: Grilled Wild Salmon Filet (salmon filet, ginger-soy glaze, steamed vegetables, steamed rice) = I asked Annie the difference between Farm and Wild... she said Wild was flakier and buttery... sold! It arrived... it smelled so good! By far, the BEST salmon I've had! It might not say much since I rarely eat salmon but really, this was delicious! Far better than any dish I've consumed in Hawaii! The salmon was just perfect! Flakey... cooked to perfection! The sauce just added another level to the dish. - S.O.'s dinner: Tempura Prawns (deep-fried prawns (4) and vegetables in lacy batter, steamed rice) = he didn't finish all of it but he did say that the prawns were juicy. The S.O. just got tempura since he isn't a fan of seafood so for him to take me to this spot... thank you! - Warm Banana Sundae: tempura fried bananas, vanilla ice cream, homemade caramel sauce, macadamia nuts. = OMG... delicious! Annie said this was their signature dessert ... so thankful she said that... S.O. and I both said: SOLD! She also brought us a side of fudge... she was so awesome! The tempura fried bananas were delish... cooked just right, not soggy and not ozzing of oil! The caramel was just right... not to sweet and the fudge... it was just the perfect combo! Overall... folks... can't miss this tiny / hidden gem! It is very difficult to find but it's all worth it! The price was decent... portion just right... friendly folks all around... amazing! Annie: thank you for helping us all throughout the night... your warmth and friendly service was the cherry on top for my boyfriend and I!

    (5)
  • Andrew P.

    Make a reservation first or else you probably won't get a table. They snuck us in between tables and the food itself was pretty tasty. I had the black cod, which was cooked beautifully with good flavors. My wife had the fettucine with prawns and scallops, which was decent, but the cream sauce fell a little short. Service was ok, felt a little rushed and a little smooty. $70 later we were still a little hungry.

    (3)
  • Jason A.

    My girlfriend and I visited Carmel for a night, and wanted to be sure that we chose wisely for our only dinner. Based on the Yelp reviews, we decided to check out the Flying Fish Grill. Flying Fish Grill is set in Carmel's charming and surprisingly bustling downtown. Downstairs from street level, it's a very cozy, Asian-style setting, and warm, low lighting. We started with the wonton chips and ginger salsa - delicious. Then moved on to the wonderful Tuna Sashimi appetizer. We then ordered a bottle of the Talbott 2010 Chardonnay (Tony, our waiter, accurately described it as "buttery") to accompany her Almond Seabass, and my Alaskan Black Cod. Both were lovingly presented, delicately seasoned, and completely delicious. For dessert, she had the Creme Brulee (delicately balanced, warm with seasonal berries), and I had the tempura banana sundae - decadent. I don't give 5 stars easily, but Flying Fish Grill definitely earned it.

    (5)
  • Pina A.

    A great place! The food was excellent the halibut dish was the best dish I ever had. Staff was very friendly. We will be back on our next visit to Carmel.

    (5)
  • Kamala C.

    Was here for the Concours and got to enjoy this amazing restaurant. From start to finish, it was an amazing dining experience. The wontons and ginger salsa to start was SO good. We had eight people in our party and everyone kept raving about how good their dish was. When I visit Carmel again, Flying Fish will be top of my list.

    (5)
  • Grace C.

    WOW. Okay I don't know what they do to their ginger salsa for the wonton chips, but it's like they added crack or something because that stuff is addicting. Seriously, if I had just eaten that for the night with some sake or beer I would've been perfectly satisfied. Although, it's a good thing we didn't do that because the food we ordered was even more spectacular and amazing and perfectly prepared! Almond Crusted Sea Bass. Order it and your taste buds will be doing the happy dance all night. I mean, I've had a fare share of really tasty dishes, but I have never licked a plate clean to the last drop. That's when you know a dish is amazing, is when you can drink the sauce by itself and still be in heaven. However they made this dish, I want to steal the recipe. Black Bean Salmon. This dish was originally made with halibut, but we specially requested it to be made with salmon and it was absolutely wonderful. The fish is baked in parchment paper which keeps all that nice moist juiciness inside and keeps the fish nice and tender. The flavors were phenomenal...it was like a parchment pocket of happiness. The bbq rice ball was a fine accompaniment as it gave something to soak up all the juicy goodness. Jumping back to our appetizer, we ordered the nikumaki. It's one of those dishes that's just so simple but so satisfying. I can't wait to come back here for my next meal, although no guarantees that I'll get anything different because that sea bass may be one of the best things i've ever eaten!

    (5)
  • Max F.

    We really wanted to like this place! it was a HUGE disappointment! The good: The only good thing about our experience was the service and wine. The dining area was nice, reminded us of a restaurant in Japan.... The bad: food! We ordered their signature almond crusted sea-bass which was served with whipped potatoes and shrimp stir fry. Fish was dry, sauce on stir fry was not very good, but all the rest of the dish sits in the sauce so it's hard to avoid. We also ordered the shrimp and scallop pasta... Yuck! OMG! Yuck! The scallops tasted like poison. We tasted all four that came in the dish and they were all gross. I have eaten a lot of scallops, which I love and these were by far the worst I've ever tasted. We told the waitress about the taste as we were concerned that people would get sick by eating this batch. Our waitress went and talked to the chef and then came back to tell us "the chef says this is how the scallops are suppose to taste". She the offered us a free dessert which we denied. No need to continue eating at a place that has grossed us out. We immediate left and went to a spot up the street for dessert and a drink to wash the taste of Flying Fish Grill out of our mouths! We will NEVER return!

    (1)
  • Mark H.

    Way cool. Located beneath a little mall on Mission St. Interior features wood dining compartments--very reminiscent of Tokyo. Go for one of the nabes--fun to cook your own meal right at your table!

    (5)
  • Ryan L.

    Great place for dinner. The dinner began with complimentery wonton chips and ginger salsa. The salsa was amazing and very refreshing. My wife and I chose the black bean halibut and sliced new york steak. The halibut was not to our taste, but the steak was awesome. It had a really good flavor with mushrooms and madeira sauce drizzled over it. One of the best steaks I have ever had. The wine selection was very good. Wish they had a full bar. The service was outstanding. Very friendly and helpful at choosing menu items. Will Definitely return.

    (4)
  • kim m.

    Wonderful food..... Every bite of it.. Had the grilled Salmon.....husband had sea bass....also excellent.... A bit of an experience finding the place, but worth it...... I can see why this place has a great rating. Very friendly...... Clean,.... It is a must do when in Carmel.

    (5)
  • Lindsay R.

    Had a damned fine meal here last week. I got the yin-yan salmon and husb got the lobster tail special with curry rice and lemony vegetables. Mine was so rich that it really could have been an appetizer (that, or they could have drizzled the cream sauce over the fish rather than putting the fish in a cream sauce pool). "Asian fusion" is usually gross - fry any food and drown it in soy sauce et voila! - but I was happy with how fresh everything was and the flavors all worked really well together. Really cozy dining room, really nice employees. Our waitress seemed to forget about us twice throughout our experience (once for about 15 minutes while we were waiting to order), but that's forgivable. It's a splurge, but if you're looking for a solid meal in Carmel, check this place out.

    (4)
  • Allen W.

    The service is excellent, the food is amazing, and the atmosphere is delightful. Five stars every time I go. The Yin Yang Salmon, Black Bean Halibut, and Almond Crusted Seabass are all amazing. The artichoke was delicious, as was the wontons that they serve you. You can't go wrong with dessert either. The food is always amazing. My favorite thing, and the thing that I think needs mentioning, is that they will help you make sure that you are ordering conscientiously, if that is important to you. While some things on their menu may not be sustainably farmed or fished ( I wont say what because it is my favorite), they can help you order in the right direction. The Flying Fish Grill always delivers.

    (5)
  • Mark H.

    Love everything about this place - a great Asian-influenced restaurant with an interesting menu, good wine list, and stellar service. My work colleague asked "why don't we have something like this in our town?" Good question. The Flying Fish Grill is a subterranean beauty of a place - all warm woods, fireplace, and subdued music in the middle of Carmel. It's antithetical to the "Cheesecake" type places that are everywhere now. The wonton chips with ginger salsa are genius; the tuna tartare is delish. I have had the shabu-shabu (on the menu as beef clay pot) and it is worth the $$ charged. Our waitperson was knowledgeable and provided near perfect service. Will definitely be back to the Flying Fish Grill when in Carmel (guess this is my 4th or 5th visit). Great yin/yang balance. Good food. Highly recommended.

    (5)
  • Mike J.

    Yes! Wicked good food.... and the best fish around

    (5)
  • Corley P.

    The yin-yan salmon is a very interesting preparation that you won't find anywhere else. The flavors are fabulous . The halibut in black bean sauce is a very delicate preparation in parchment with just a hint of black beans - really nice. My only complaint is the BBQ rice cake - flavorless rice seared into an unappetizing cake. Great wine list with lots of local wines. Friendly and attentive (but not intrusive) wait staff.

    (5)
  • Dave D.

    The Flying Fish Grill is a great place for fresh local seafood. The atmosphere is very unique with a great Japanese flair. The service is also first class. If you like Merlot, have a glass of Flying Fish Merlot. This wine is from Washington State and just happens to have the same name as the resteraunt but they are unrelated. The wontons and salsa are highly addictive so be ready. Be sure to leave some salsa to put on your entree or just ask for more. It works especially well on the halibut. I have dined here four times trying something different each time. I can say that the black bean halibut was my favorite dish. The portion was very generous and had great flavor. I have also tried the salmon and tuna and both are very well done. Bottom line....this place is excellent. Next time I may leave room for desert.

    (5)
  • Diane K.

    Thank you yelpers. On a trip to Carmel I wanted to try some place new. Yelp helped me find this place. Small, sorta hard to find gem. The interior was surfaced in wood paneling, very cool. It was a bit warm in there though. We had the calamari which was perfectly crispy and fresh. I had the almond sea bass minus the mashed potatoes. Good, not fantastic. I recommend it for setting, service, and fresh seafood. Need to try other entrees.

    (4)
  • James B.

    To begin, this particular night I was not really in the mood for fish. Boy am I glad that I listened to my girl! I am sorry, but I have to jump into this magic- The Almond Crusted Sea Bass - Hands down, one of the top five fish dishes I have ever eaten (outside of what fish I have caught myself). That may be all you need to know. If you need more persuasion, here is a proper review. We called the place at 8:55 and asked what time they close. The man answering said, "usually at 9, but if you get here in 10, we can seat you." :-) We couldn't find the place at first (Carmel has no addresses..... weird). We called again lost, but as we found it, the same man (Rich) was walking out of the restaurant, looking for us. A host. Were we surprised when he was also out very generous waiter. We ordered a plum wine and a sake for drinks, and two amazing fish dishes- Black bean halibut in paper and almond crusted sea bass. The black bean halibut came in a paper case, which another server opened beautifully for my girlfriend. Inside, the nice halibut cut had a classic black bean sauce. The halibut was hot and melty, the black bean sauce, gave it a nice salty depth without being too salty (which black bean sauce can be). Aside of the fish was matchstick veggies and BBQ rice ball. They were nice compliments to the subtle, yet spot on black bean halibut. The Almond Crusted Sea Bass however, towered above the halibut (and I love halibut). Out came this beautiful piece of sea bass, almonds crusting the browned top, sitting atop a small pile of mashed potatoes. Around this, rock shrimp and cabbage sat in an incredible light jus. The sea bass was hot (almost scalding), but the crust was AMAZING. I had to slowly enjoy each rich, crispy bite. By the last bite though, the fish was still HOT. It was wonderful. A dish you should drive hundreds of miles to try. For dessert, we ordered the hot fudge sundae and it was better than many ice cream parlors of quality that I have visited. Rich (out waiter) was accommodating, generous, and a delight. I left feeling like I will miss him and need to come back, just to say hi. But I think I might have to eat some sea bass when I do :)

    (5)
  • Nancy R.

    This excellent restaurant is a "must" for seafood lovers. Begin your meal with the delightful lightly gingered tomato salsa served with fried won tons and move on to an amazing appetizer, such as their deconstructed California roll. The main courses are creative and perfectly prepared. For example, the Alaskan Black Cod, a fish that's easy for restaurants to overcook, was moist, delicate, and served with a light and flavorful papaya/avocado/leeks salsa, which enhanced the flavor of this fresh fish. The wait staff was spot on. The wine list was excellent. We are looking forward to our next trip to Carmel and the Flying Fish will be on our "must do" list.

    (5)
  • Damon W.

    We went to this restaurant based on the yelp reviews. It was a Wednesday night, early. The restaurant was mostly empty when we arrived but got busier later. In any event, the service was extraordinarily slow. The food was good, not great (we did enjoy the wantons). If you are looking for ambiance, this is not really the place unless you are over 60. Overall, a disappointing experience.

    (3)
  • Micaela P.

    We went to Carmel to celebrate my husbands birthday but didn't have any dinner plans. Once we checked into our hotel we did some research on yelp and decided on The Flying Fish. The name does not do it justice! We walked in about 7:15pm but the man at the front desk said he would not have anything available until 8:45pm. It was one of the only places that had lobster on their menu so we put our name in and went to walk around. Lesson here - make reservations! We were so glad we waited because from the moment they seated us it was fantastic! The Won Ton chips with ginger salsa are amazing...and I am so not a salsa person! For an appetizer we ordered the California crab avocado tower. It was pretty good but not quite as big as we had thought...which was ok because we wanted to leave room for our dinner anyways. For dinner we both ordered the steak with a side of lobster which was 9oz and to die for! Juicy, flavorful, moist, and seasoned to perfection on both! Since it was my husbands birthday they gave him the sundae with tempura bananas which was Delish and I ordered the sorbet. That night the sorbet was mango, passion fruit and coconut. It was full of flavor, super refreshing and appeared to made in house. The place is extremely small (again, make reservations) but everyone was very nice and service was excellent. This will definitely be on the agenda the next time we are in the area!

    (5)
  • jim b.

    A quintessential Carmel dining establishment. Quiet and understated. Wabi-sabi unpretentious with hues of old money. Small. Intimate. Unobtrusively attentive service. Lots of regulars and locals by the look of things. You won't like it if you want something slick, I don't think their online presence is strong -- I phoned and made reservations and everything was easy. To be fair, it was a slow week last week. The prices are not cheap -- $25 - 27 for an entree, with pasta dishes coming in around $20 -- but the quality is high. A grown-up place for grown-up people. Four stars, wouldn't argue with five. I was looking for a little more Japanese influence but it's more of a fusion approach now.

    (4)
  • Anne B.

    Wonderful food, wonderful service, wonderful place. We had dinner here the day after New Year, and while it was a bit tricky to find (the lack of street numbers for all businesses is a Carmel eccentricity), all went well once we got there. The place is cozy and intimate, and we were shown immediately to our table. The wine list isn't extensive but it's very good, and affordable. Both our waiter and our busboy were friendly and attentive. Our appetizers (the California Tower and the sashimi ... oooohhhh, the sashimi!) were delicious, and we ordered the black cod and the halibut as main courses. I could not believe how perfectly the cod was prepared: flaky and tender, an almost buttery filet. I didn't have a bite of my husband's halibut, but he really enjoyed it. Our dessert (the banana sundae; we had hot fudge instead of caramel sauce) was the best I've had in years. Seriously, we went through that thing in about five minutes. In retrospect, I'd have ordered two. Our dinner at Flying Fish was a lovely start to 2012. Happy new eats, everyone!

    (5)
  • Daniel A.

    Nice place to eat, if you can find it. Let me start by saying, I enjoyed my $50 Abalone special. It was delicate and delicious. Finding the restaurant was the hardest part...Yelp says it is on the corner of Mission and 7th. It is not. You will need to walk to the middle of Mission Street, the restaurant is located on the edge of the mall. Once you arrive, you will most likely be greated by Ken, the owner. Ken started this location in 1976 (formerly known as Shabu Shabu), then sold it. Years later, Ken purchased the restaurant back in 1993 and renamed it - Flying Fish Grill. Ratings: Atmosphere: 4 Food (Abalone): 4.5 Staff: 4.5 Owner Ken: 5

    (4)
  • Ralph T.

    Wow the food was good-BUT IT GOT CRAZY NOISY Dined here with some friends they picked. The restaurant is below grown level and covered in wood with individual booths. It has a private feel but as the night wore on and the restaurant filled the din became unbearable. Everyone commented on the noise level. Service was very good. We had a calamari appetizer. Deep fried squid but very light and flavorful with a creamy sauce. I had the ALMOND SEABASS - $27.00 Almond crusted sea bass, pan-fried, whipped potatoes, Chinese cabbage & rock shrimp stir-fry. This was very good. They say this is their signature dish. The fish was fresh, flakey and very flavorful. Crisp vegetables My friend had BLACK BEAN HALIBUT - $26.00 Alaskan halibut, fermented Chinese black beans, ginger & scallions steamed in paper pouches, steamed vegetables & bbq rice ball Interesting presentation. I tried the halibut and it was meaty, fresh and good. I liked it being presented in a paper pouch and the server opening it for dinner. and my wonderful wife had GRILLED SALMON FILLET (farm) - $25.00 (wild) market Salmon filet, ginger-soy glaze, steamed vegetables, bbq rice ball My wife said that the salmon was slightly overcooked. But it tasted great and she liked the vegetables and ginger soy glaze. We had a chocolate Sunday for dessert. Very good. How could chocolate and ice cream not be good. The wine selection was good at reasonable prices. Overall the food and service were excellent. But the noise level will keep me away

    (4)
  • Melissa P.

    The food was GREAT . Four stars just because the place needs a SERIOUS deep clean. The upholstery on the seats where filthy. The clay pot experience is a little messy so I am guessing that is why. However the clay pot dish was excellent. My kids enjoyed their food too. The service was excellent. . They just need someone to come in and give it a good cleaning.

    (4)
  • Michael G.

    A real treat!!!! Try the seafood pot for two. Shrimp ,mussels white fish salmon book Choy and plenty more. Cooked at the table we justed loved it. Ahi tuna was beautiful as was the sea bass. Cozy ambiance with special attention for us from the owner and our waiter. Will return!!!!

    (5)
  • Alan J.

    Very very good food, but very hard to find (we actually walked by it and never saw it). The food is scrumptious! The decor not so much.I don't know about you but i like to see my food when i eat if that's the case bring a flashlight you'll need it. The seating is intimate and cosy, the service superb (almost as though you have your own personal servant) overall very very good. Just wish I would have brought my miners helmet to see and eat with!!

    (4)
  • Steve C.

    I took my girlfriend to Monterey / Carmel Penninsula for Memorial Day weekend. Found this place after reading yelp reviews. The Flying Fish met my expectations; my girlfriend and I were extremely pleased! Intimate atmosphere - perfect romanctic evening; friendly and attentive service, food & wine was incredible! Delicious! Highly recommended. We'll be back ; )

    (5)
  • Gilda M.

    I hate to write such a great review, since it's already hard to get a table here. But I've dined here a few times and it's consistently amazing - service, food, japanese-y atmosphere. Definitely a place I'll come back to again and again.

    (5)
  • Sarah K.

    I came here with the family and had a great time. Its so quaint and charming. We sat next to the warm and welcoming fire place and enjoyed an amazing meal. The wonton chips and ginger salsa are a match made in heaven. The Piont Nior that our waiter recommended was perfectly paired with our selections at the table. The lobster was fresh and delectable. Everyone in our party thoroughly enjoyed the meal. I promise if you go here you will not be disappointed.

    (5)
  • Denise B.

    Had dinner at the Flying Fish Grill tonite. The service was excellent and the food was amazing! We started out with the wheat wontons and ginger salsa. Then we had tuna sashimi for appetizers and ahi tuna on a bed of angel hair pasta with mushrooms for the main meal. Loved every bite!

    (5)
  • Michael M.

    We went to the Flying Fish Grill for our anniversary and it was fantastic. One of the best meals we've had in a long long time. The atmosphere is very intimate and the wood they use in the construction gives the place a very unique feel. The calamari appetizer was very very nice; mostly rings with few tentacles, which is how I like my calamari... in fact I think it's how everyone likes their calamari. My wife had sea bass crusted with almonds and she said it was the best fish she'd had in years. I can't eat nuts, but this thing looked so good I was thinking about risking anaphylactic shock just for a taste. My main was a NY steak that was so tender you could cut it with a fork. Cooked to perfection and it practically melted in my mouth. Dessert wasn't the most amazing we'd ever tasted. My wife's creme brulee could have been sweeter, but it was still good. Overall a superb meal with a quality atmosphere. Perfect for an intimate special occasion.

    (5)
  • Bob B.

    The restaurant is outstanding. Service is attentive and knowledgeable. The ambience is subdued and comfortable with the interior divided into small spaces without feeling cramped. The restaurant is owned by a Japanese couple, and the menu has a strong Japanese influence. All the food is good, and much of it is exceptional. Most of the menu is fish and seafood, but there are a few meat and poultry dishes. The listing shows $$$, but several entrées are $20-$27.

    (5)
  • Richard Y.

    Wow, we could not get reservations the same day! In fact for the next day we could only get 5 pm. This place must be doing well we thought. So we took the 5pm, a bit early but it must be good right? Well it was better than good, I wasn't really that hungry being a bit early but the delicate fried wontons with ginger salsa was a excellent start, then onto the tempura prawns with veggies, nice, not from a frozen box. For the main course my wife had the halibut with black bean sauce meal. She loved it, I tried a bite and I thought it was really good. The small problem was I ordered the rare peppered ahi and it did not disappoint as I could not get enough. The wife loved it as well as she confirmed the flavors were just point on, I can eat this dish on a weekly routine, a real bummer we have to go back home. We will be back ! Making reservations a week ahead of time of course.

    (5)
  • Dianna K.

    Went here on the recommendation of a local and so impressed. The wonton chips and salsa was amazing. The server provided veggies to accommodate a gluten free diner. The California stack and tuna tar tar were perfect. Again the server anticipated a gluten free need and brought tamari sauce. We shared the halibut and the chef sent separate plates which were perfect portions. The service and ambiance was warm and friendly.

    (5)
  • Ron D.

    By far the best meal we had in Carmel. The service (Tony) was one of the best waiters we've ever had. Decor very charming (we had a table right in front of the fireplace!), and similar to a fine restaurant in Japan. The house "salsa" was out of this world! It was virtually a perfect meal.

    (5)
  • Scott A.

    We have dined here twice and it's now a favorite. Outstanding service, food, and ambience. My wife loves the black bean halibut cooked in parchment paper. Great place, enjoy the plaza before or after dining. Go and dine here!

    (5)
  • Denis S.

    This is an awesome restaurant! Great for dates or intimate meals. Small booths, very friendly service, just nothing to complain about. They start you off with these huge chips of fried wantons with a tomato-based salsa. This was easily the best salsa I have ever had. We had two bowls of it and I'd have taken some home if I could. First, they dice everything up super small, so there's no large chunks of tomatoes or onions. Then, they go light on the peppers, and instead throw in a bunch of fresh ginger and some sort of rice vinegar. The result was absolutely great. We started with the tuna tar tar appetizer. Which came with bread and cucumber. The tuna was very fresh and delicious. Cucumbers are a great touch! The bread was ok, but I preferred putting it on the complimentary wantons. I then got the lightly seared ahi which came in this broth-like sauce with some squid and noodles. Really good ahi, and actually lightly seared to perfection. The girl got the almond sea-bass which had a golden crust on top of it with some shrimp on the side. She only let me share a bit and when I asked for more she growled at me and devoured the rest. I think that means she liked it. We would have gotten the dessert but were way too full. Oh well, maybe next time!

    (5)
  • Lisa H.

    We celebrated our 10th anniversary weekend in Carmel and the menu of this restaurant really appealed to our platter. So we had a lovely evening at this wonderful place. For appetizers, we went for the tempura, which were crisply well done. Had some wine and together they were a good combination. They also served fried wonton with a fresh made salsa, which was irresistible. We had the almond crusted sea bass and grilled cod for entree. Loved, loved the yummy flavors. The fish melted in my mouth and it was so well put together. Ended with a cream brulee.It was a perfect evening and the ambiance, the staff and their courteousness made it extra special.

    (5)
  • Marilyn T.

    Flying Fish is a little tricky to find - it's closer to the Ocean end of Mission Street on the 7th Avenue side, and it's located downstairs in the courtyard. When you enter, it's dark inside, with wood seating and a kind of Japanese feel. It's a small and intimate space, with each table kind of walled off to make it more private. We were greeted by the very courteous owners, who appears Japanese. The crowd was a mix of ages - with big groups in private rooms and also couples in the smaller booths. We started with the house fried wontons and sweet salsa, which held us over until the food came. The special of the night was market price lobster, which was charbroiled and about 10 oz, Canadian tail alone. It was served over thinly sliced steamed vegetables and a curry scented rice. For $46, it wasn't a bad price. They also had a market abalone, which was priced at $52 for the day. I appreciated that the server told us the prices and preparations of the market selections when she came to take our orders. We also had the seafood pasta, which was angel hair in a butter-miso broth, with lots of mussels, clams, shrimp, scallops, and fish. It was lighter than expected since the noodles were thinner. Other things that stood out on the menu included a black bean steamed halibut, almond sea bass, and and curry-shrimp soup. They had a reasonably priced selection of wines, with many local choices like the Mogran Monterey Sauvignon Blanc at only $30/bottle. Corkage is $18, but I feel like their wine list adequately matches up with their menu. Desserts included a lot of sorbets/ice creams and fried bananas, but we were actually pretty full. It's a cute and romantic place, slightly Japanese but not really. The staff is very friendly and genuine, even from the moment I called to make my reservation., It's not your typical Monterey/Carmel area seafood restaurant, so if you want something fresh and a little more unique, it's worth checking out.

    (3)
  • Joe B.

    Excellent Black Cod Fish and cooked perfectly. Good price for the quality of the food. Its rare to have restaurants cook high quality fish at the right temperature and these folks do. Neat that the owner walks around to say hi and ask how everything is. Waiter was very profesional and met us outside to thank us, like they do in Japan after the meal.

    (5)
  • Darrin K.

    Exceptional service. A soon as we got in, they noticed our toddler wasn't interested in the fried wontons (more for the rest of us!) and they sought out some bread for him. As for those wontons - they were exquisitely light, firm enough to hold a decent portion of sweet, tangy salsa but also delicate enough to instantly melt in your mouth. The entrees are standard japanese fusion fare and wouldn't be out of place in a higher-end izakaya. The calamari starter was tender, lightly breaded in panko crumbs and served with a nice spicy mayo. The tempura entree was equally delicate. In terms of main fish courses, the black bean halibut in parchment was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The same could not be said of the yin-yan salmon. It had a subtle cream sauce that was overshadowed by the white-black sesame seed crust and strong flavor of the wild salmon itself. While the salmon itself was excellent, we were wondering what the sauce's function was in this dish. One serving of the banana tempura dessert was enough for four adults, featuring a decadent caramel sauce and beautifully prepared deep-fried banana. This is one of the better dining experiences I've had in the Monterey/Carmel area, and worth the 'Carmel premium' you pay for dining in this community. The food isn't as earth-shattering as some of the more glowing reviews here would suggest, but like Chez Panisse in Berkeley, the emphasis on quality ingredients and service makes this place memorable.

    (4)
  • Dani S.

    I was standing outside in the cold for 30min waiting for our taxi in a skimpy little dress and was not in the happiest of mood when we arrived. It was a super packed weekend due to the car show, there was a line of ppl waiting and I was sure that they had given our table away. The host - this old Asian dude w/ pepper gray hair, greeted us w/ a huge smile on his face and told us that even tho he gave our table away he will accomodate us w/ another table b/c I looked cold and hungry. awwww, so sweet. I just wanted a big piece of raw meat, so I ordered the peppered rare ahi w/ sateed noodles. The sauce that the noodles came in had just the right amount of wasabi and peanut paste. All throughout dinner, the sweet old host came over to check on us and make sure that we were being taken good care of. That's some good service right there. A bit pricey tho, $40/person for dinner.

    (5)
  • Tricia D.

    My daughter made reservations and treated me :) to Flying Fish Grill on a recent Friday night! Although I've walked by this location at Carmel Plaza countless times, I hadn't dined here since it was Shabu Shabu, some 30-something (!) years ago. The owners/hosts were welcoming and friendly; the atmosphere- cozy and comfortable little private rustic booths; the fish entrees we ordered (grilled salmon and steamed halibut)- excellent; the fried wonton/dipping sauce appetizers- an irresistable prelude to dinner. Will be adding Flying Fish Grill to the dining out rotation for sure.

    (5)
  • Olga S.

    One of my very favorite local places. If you like to try new delicious foods this place is definitely for you. Eery dish I tried there had such unique flavors. I recommend ahi tuna with angel hair pasta! :-) It's my favorite.

    (5)
  • jane l.

    Overpriced, not sure why so many good reviews, maybe Carmel lacks places that makes you feel worth spending time and money. We had the abalone, sea bass, and cod. The abalone is farm raised, about 6 pieces battered deep fried, $50, tasted like squid, the sea bass and cod dishes were $29 each. The salad dressing on the arugula salad was very salty. The ambience is rustic, exposed pine woods, and booth. for the price charged I was expecting more ambiance or more quality food.

    (3)
  • Lu B.

    This was fabulous for the last night of our 50th anniversary celebration which has lasted all month! We had the almond crusted bass and it lived up to it's #1 rating in popularity.

    (5)
  • Michael J.

    What a treat it is to go to this restaurant!! The same couple, the owners, greet you at the door and always check on you at the table to see how the meal was. Wonderful food, great staff, have never had anything substandard there. Fairly simple menu with many good options for gluten free eaters. Anxious to go back.

    (5)
  • Alison E.

    The Owner's Tina and Kenny are such wonderful hosts. And the servers are great fun. It's a family feel. It is a very cozy place and the food is always great! They have a large wine list and fresh local fish. I love all of their different sauses that is prepared daily. Yummy!

    (5)
  • Todd S.

    Awesome place... service - 6 stars. Food - 5 stars. We went on Valentines for dinner with our 4 month old son. He was teething and having a bit of a hard time. The owners and our waiter were super friendly, personable, and very accommodating. And the food... lived up to the reputation. The sauces were very good. My wife is rarely impressed by the dishes she orders. She was very impressed with the scallop and shrimp fettucini. I enjoyed the seafood pasta.

    (5)
  • Bill M.

    Four of us had dinner here and we loved it. We each had a different entree and were very satisfied. I had the black bean halibut and it was fantastic. My wife had the seafood pasta. One of our friends had the scallops & gulf prawns and the other had the almond seabass. We talked about this dinner for two days after we ate it. That's how good it was. The Flying Fish Grill is a small restaurant; so, make reservations. The seating is booth style with straight back bench seating which makes back support difficult for some. Of course, I'd eat here even if I had to stand up.

    (5)
  • Gina B.

    One of the best dinners of our trip to the US of A. We arrived late to town, but still managed to get a table (although we had to wait about 30 minutes). Very friendly service and incredibly tasty, well-constructed dishes. We loved the calamari - which was very tender with a fabulously crispy crust. Like many other reviewers, we also had the cod and weren't disappointed.

    (4)
  • Kris S.

    Unbelievably good. Shrimp curry soup was incredible. Ginger salsa with wonton chips was addicting. Almond sea bass was very good. Loved the prawns and scallops in curry sauce. Dessert was worth the extra calories for the homemade caramel and hot fudge!! This was the standout restaurant of the trip. Amazing!!!! Service was perfect too.

    (5)
  • Nevin M.

    Really looked forward to eating here after the reviews...including two that said words to the effect of "this is the best restaurant in the world." Those glowing reviews aside, there seemed to be plenty of other fans, and the usual one-star moronic reviews in the face of so much praise. Anyway - the place is great. From the moment we walked in last night (with my wife's dad and wife on his 80th b-day) to the moment we left - not only was the food great - but we had a really good time. How often do we all go somewhere that the food is good - or great - but where you just didn't give a crap about ever going back? You've read about the food - my comments would include that the almond sea bass was one of the best fish dishes I have ever had. I didn't care quite so much for some of the other entree's - but I think I was so caught up in how good my dinner was that I didn't pay proper attention. The waiter and host were both super - they waived their one corkage per table wine rule - and brought us desert wines as well. We're fans - and my review would be 4.5 stars if possible. Simply amazing for a place that's been around for more than a short time. Clearly, there is a dedication to customer service that rivals the finest there is.....but all that said..a word of caution in view of all of the well deserved praise. This place is not pretentious, just a simple and humble restaurant with world class food and exceptional service. Cheers.

    (4)
  • Shalini S.

    We love this place, went because a dear friend recommended it. Have been a few times, the food is always delicious. The owner will also bring out his ukulele and play "Happy Birthday", if you make a request.

    (5)
  • Michelle R.

    Very nice and accommodating staff...great calamari, and great abalone! Fantastic wontons and dipping sauce...the asian versions of chips and salsa. Spectacular. I will go again!

    (5)
  • JS H.

    Awesome experience. This place is located in an underground area you reach by going down some stairs. Japanese-like decor, very cosy. We had a few different fish dishes, all delicious - clearly 4-5 star. Leaving the place, we all commented independently that our waiter was great, the kind you dream of- very helpful, not pushy, honest about what he knows and doesn't, authentic, just delightful. Other waiters made equally good impressions, you just get a sense that people working there are happy, which should be a good starting point for being great hosts. We'll definitely go back on our weekend trips from our home in the sf South Bay.

    (5)
  • Kelly O.

    My boyfriend and I came here for dinner and were very pleased with our experience. My boyfriend had the almond crusted seabass, and I had the black bean halibut. Our fish was flavorful and perfectly cooked, the wine list was affordable, and our waiter and the rest of the staff were very attentive. The restaurant was small and intimate and I enjoyed the cozy atmosphere. The ginger salsa with wonton chips were delicious and started the meal out perfectly. Everything was good, but the fish was definitely the star of the night. I can't wait go go back.

    (5)
  • Brian V.

    Eating here was almost two years in the works. Last time the muchacha and I were in Carmel, we stumbled upon Flying Fish Grill by accident. We had already eaten and were just meandering around when we came upon the stairwell leading to Flying Fish by accident. After reviewing the menu, the muchacha decided that the next time we came to Carmel, we had to try this place. Fast forward two years to last week's Memorial weekend. Upon entering the abode, we immediately understood why this was one of Carmel's premier restaurants. The design is very intimate and many of the wall planks can be removed to create more space/privacy. It is pretty rad. The managers, who I also recognized to be the owners were very friendly, depsite such a busy weekend. Our waiter, whose name I believe to be Rich, was really friendly and engaging. I always enjoy making new friends over dinner and Rich really made our dining experience very enjoyable. We ordered: complimentary wonton chips/salsa-5/5 This was an ingenious combo. Flying Fish is a fusion restaurant so the salsa was a type of red ginger salsa with maybe a hint of wasabi? The wontons were delightfully crispy and it was too damn addictive. beef roll-5/5 The beef roll was delicious. it was basically sushi inspired. It was vegetables with a wrap around beef slice instead of traditional japanese seaweed. It was a simple dish but delicious. It was doused in a sauce that tasted very similar to the Korean marinade for their galbi ribs. I HAD A MOMENT WHERE MY MIND WAS JUST FULL OF UCK. KJeh and I were saying to each other, after the rolls were eaten, that we wish we had a bowl of rice to eat with the left over marinade sauce. Next thing I know, Rich is hovering over us and this is what he said verbatum, "good right? you know what would good with that sauce? then BOOM, out of his wizard sleeve, he takes out a bowl of rice. hnnnnnnnng almond crusted seabass: 3.5/5 This was the flagship dish of Flying Fish Grill and don't get me wrong, it was good. It is hard to uck up seabass...when cooked properly, it is like butter in your mouth. However, the portions were a little small. The seabass was served on some mashed potatoe with chinese cabbage surrounding it. In addition, there was shrimp along the border also. I am not a big fan of shrimp but sac'd it up and just ate it. Again, the dish was good, however, I wasn't so high on the sauce. If you want heavenly seabass tho, get on the interweb and peep the House in San Francisco. yin-yang salmon: 4.5/5 I tend to stay away from salmon when eating out because I eat salmon so much. However, muchacha did and I was glad. It was oven cooked and to coincide with the asian theme, was made to look like yinyang. One half was sprinkled in sesame and the other half was black sesame. The fish was very tender and I found the black sesame portion to be better. The angel hair pasta was a good side, but the sauce it was bathed in was so savory. It was a cream sauce and just delicious. I was dipping my wonton chips in it. I could drink that sauce. 4 stars bra. The service was great and the owner stopped by our table to make sure everythign was okay. This is definitely an intimate date place with a great ambiance. 4 wadDUUPs bra.

    (4)
  • L W.

    Been in Carmel all week and so happy we ended the week eating here. What a fantastic place. The service and food were EXCELLENT! I ordered the black bean halibut and my hubby ordered the alaskan cod. Ok, the salsa and wonton chips starter is sick (meaning that in a good way)! Ended the meal with their creme brulee and hot fudge sundae. Both are delish. Have to try this place if you are here. Real rating = 4.5 stars

    (4)
  • Andi H.

    A place with great character ... just don't order the bland hotpot. Atmosphere- Dark, intimate, great wooden decor that is very inviting. Service- Excellent. Waiter was very attentive albeit a little stiff. The busboy was on the other hand very funny (and also attentive). Price- A little on the pricey side but it is expected and you are definitely getting your money's worth as the seafood here is very, very fresh. The total bill for 2 including taxes, tips was $120 This included two large glasses of sake. Food- Our salad was great. The leaves were crisp and fresh. The appetizer 'California tower' was just beyond words. Think of an oversized California roll. but instead of surimi (fake crab meat) they use fresh creamy crab meat. When you sit down they give you wonton chips and salsa. We were a bit bummed about our entree. We went for the seafood hotpot. The seafood items were fantastic, but I'm used to very flavorful broth for my hotpot. The one we got was bland ... almost flavorless. I am however, quite hopeful about the other entrees and planning for a revisit sometime in the future. Overall, this is a good restaurant that is worth trying out.

    (4)
  • Selena M.

    This place is great from the top to the bottom. The serice is great, the owners are nice and the atmosphere is unique. I did dock 1 star becuase I thought the food was really salty. I could be extra sensitive so this is subjective. The food was really great and pretty.

    (4)
  • Nick S.

    A very good meal although almost spoliled by the refills of wontons which are addictive and may diminsh your appetite. One of the entrees, the halibut was slightly overcooked, but on the whole all dishes tasted exceptionally fresh and and the mix and balance of different flavors was perfect - friendly staff including the waitor and also the owner made this a very pleasant evening and somewhere I certainly recommend.

    (4)
  • Kay C.

    Food: We ordered sea bass and black cod. The fish was fresh, especially after we had crappy fish from Fisherman's Grotto. The almond crusted sea bass was good, but I liked the avocado black cod more. Their portion was generous enough that we were too full to try desserts. We tried the shrimp tempura, and i wouldn't recommend it. The shrimp texture wasn't good and the batter was ok. I would recommend trying some other appetizer instead. I love their ginger salsa! Service: They are super busy. Make sure you make reservation ahead of time. The waitress seemed nice, but the male owner acted a bit snobby to us. He gave us a stare like we were some low income people trying to eat good food. There were 2 parties waiting for a table as well, he greeted them, except us, not even a smile or hi/welcome. We didn't dress like a hobo at all. We both wore Armani clothes, my sis was carrying a shopping bag from a boutique at Carmel Plaza, I was holding a canon 60D camera with a like new condition camera bag. I don't think we smelled bad or anything. We deserve some type of good attitude since we were customers. Parking: Good luck finding parking on the streets. Recommend? Of course. I don't think the owner was mean to everyone. probably just toward us. Revisit? Oh yah, despite the mean owner, the food was good. Overall: it's a very unique seafood restaurant. I'd go back to try other dishes whenever we're in carmel again.

    (4)
  • Fred B.

    Absolutely two of the best dining experiences I've had in years! Visited on consecutive nights, had the chips and mango salsa (SOP for all guests), the fried calamari, almond crusted sea bass, black bean halibut and yin yan salmon. Every one of these prepared perfectly, would not change a thing. Now to the service...have you ever had the overbearing waiter leaning over your shoulder, listening to your conversation? Me too, but not here. Service was very prompt and delightfully attentive, I felt like they cared about our experience. In fact, the second night we were recognized and treated like we were 5 day-a-week regulars. I wish! Prices are very reasonable given the extraordinarily high level of quality. Bottom line, there are dozens of excellent dining options between Big Sur and Monteray, but I may never get to experience them. Why gamble on something new when you know where you can go and be 100% satisfied?

    (5)
  • Hannah L.

    Hmm, how to describe this place? A small, dark, yet cute and romantic restaurant located slightly below/underground from all the other places. The place has a very welcoming feel to it and the ambiance is very classy as well. Upon entering, my boyfriend and I were seated promptly. I'd say this has got to be the best service we had in a long time! Our waitress was super sweet and attentive and very informative when it came to describing any of the dishes on the menu. Everything sounded so appetizing, but we narrowed our selection down to the California Tower as our appetizer, the Rare Peppered Ahi Tuna, and the Scallop Shrimp Curry. As everyone had already mentioned, the crispy wontons and salsa is off the hook! I swear I can eat that all day! It was quite appetizing and made us anticipate what we ordered even more. The California Tower is basically like a California roll, but presented in a more "artsy" fashion, and it wasn't too bad. Avocado on top, crab in-between, and the bulk of the rice on the bottom, along with ginger. The highlight of my evening was the main dish. The Scallop Shrimp Curry was delicious! The dish consisted of fresh grilled scallops, along with grilled shrimp, fettuccine noodles, ginger, nuts, edamame, and the glorious coconut flavored spicy curry. Don't be fooled, the menu describes the curry to be spicy, but it's more of a kick of spice flavor nothing beyond that. Just pure goodness. An odd pairing, but it worked and the dish was beyond amazing in taste! My boyfriend also enjoyed the Peppered Ahi Tuna which looked appetizing as well. Also, we ordered the green tea sundae and boy you can't go wrong with a fudge sundae, but to top it off with green tea ice cream? Now that's a total mouth-gasm! As I mentioned before, service was totally top notch! Our server came by every time to check up on us and refilled my tea every time it was empty. The owners of the restaurant came by and checked up on us as well. Excellent service, delicious food, romantic feel, what else could you possibly ask for? Overall, I really enjoyed the restaurant and will definitely be back in the future.

    (5)
  • Jay R.

    Wow this place was great! We stumbled in not realizing you need reservations for everything in Carmel. They squeezed us in and cooked us the best meal we've had in a while. The service was outstanding and the food was really good. Black bean halibut all the way!

    (5)
  • Karlo A.

    Excellent -- Seared Ahi, Grilled Black Cod, Tempura. We and out toddler were treated to great service at dinner. I normally avoid Asian Fusion but this is great food and we would come back again.

    (5)
  • Gina W.

    Fiancee gets major points for finding this place for our weekend getaway dinner. There is definitely great care put into the interior decoration when you see all the great wood work and Japanese details. We were given some fried won ton skins with a side of ginger salsa as we decided what to order which is always a nice surprise. I got the black bean halibut and my fiancee got the almond crusted cod. We also started with the California tower and calamari appetizers. Everything was delicious. The black bean halibut was very similar to Chinese style fish but done so well that the fish was moist and flavorful. Our server was really nice and made the whole experience great. Will love to come back to try more dishes.

    (5)
  • Shin John C.

    Quite simply one of the best food experiences I've ever had. I've been here 3 times and every time I've left totally and utterly satisfied. The cuisine (Asian fusion) suits my palate to the T and the non-pretentious ambience and friendly staff make the experience just amazingly enjoyable. (Tony, our server this last time was awesome) The food is a little pricey, but worth every penny. The seafood is fresh and exquisitely prepared with an amazing attention to detail; the flavors, textures, and scents just work together. Ask your server about specials and/or don't miss the sea bass, you can't go wrong here. This restaurant serves 5 star quality food in a casual and quiet environment; if you want a super snooty place this isn't it. If you just want amazing food that will keep you coming back, don't miss The Flying Fish Grill in Carmel!

    (5)
  • Mary J C.

    Our concierge told us: "This place is the best bang for your buck" and you know what? I think Flying Fish is more than that. Simple design makes it very inviting and comfortable. No need to wear a tie here. Service was fantastic. Food - fresh, perfectly cooked, with great combination of ingredients... They had my favorite wine on the menu: Navarro Gewürztraminer. That's more than I expected. We started off with tuna sashimi - it was fresh and tasty. We then had wild salmon from Washington, cooked Asian style with vegetables and rice. We also ordered one of their specials: the Abalone, which is a unique shell fish. The shell is placed on your plate for decoration (it was very pretty I had to take it home). The taste of Abalone was unforgettable; it was cooked in light creamy white sauce with rice, topped with pine nuts and spinach on the side - I enjoyed every bite, I think all of the ingredients blended very well together. The Abalone was pricey but worth it. I will for sure be back here when visiting Carmel again.

    (5)
  • Karl W.

    I'm glad we found this restaurant on yelp before heading out to Carmel. This is not a typical Japanese restaurant. First, the atmosphere and decor is just my taste and the perfect way to enjoy some fine cuisine. It's cozy and friendly service makes this place so comfortable. Second, the food is just delicious. We had the Black Cod and Scallops with Prawns. The simplicity of the dish makes the complex sauce stand out and leaves you wanting more. The portions are perfect, not like most expensive places where you only get 3 bites. Immediately, this became our favorite restaurant in Carmel. We will be back just for Flying Fish Grill.

    (5)
  • Michael H.

    Fantastic meal. The food was so good, I later sopped my anus with bread.

    (5)
  • Ann N.

    My husband and I wanted to try something different on our last trip to Carmel and based on all the 5 star reviews of this restaurant on Yelp decided to give it a try instead of our usual favorite, Casanova's. Unfortunately, I have to say it did not meet our expectations. On the positive side the atmosphere was unique and the service excellent. The Asian style wonton chips and salsa were surprisingly delicious. We had the calamari appetizer which was amazingly fresh and tender but served barely warm. I almost ordered the almond sea bass that everyone raved about but decided to go with the Alaskan Black Cod instead. The fish was fresh but the portion and flavor of the overall dish disappointing. The avocado/papaya/leek salsa was marginal at best and the fish & salsa were served on top of a bed of soggy arugula with very plain coucous dumped on top. My husband ordered the lobster tail with curry rice and lemon vegetables. The lobster was slightly overcooked so a bit mushy, the rice was very tasty but again served luke warm at best. Overall I would say this restaurant has a nice ambiance and some unique flavors, however for the price we felt it was overrated.

    (3)
  • Nancy H.

    As part of a surprise romantic getaway to Carmel, my Hubs took me to this wonderful place for dinner. We didn't have much to go on, other than it was on Rachel Ray's Travel's show on Food Network and that it was rated quite high on Yelp. The restaurant is located on the 'lower level' of the Carmel Plaza, "underneath" the french patisserie/boisserie restaurant. Upon entering the restaurant, we realized it was japanese.. but not traditional. More like fusion it seemed. The host was gracious and recognized us from when the Hubs called for directions. At night, Carmel does *not* have streetlights.. so we were wandering quite a bit. When we were seated, the first surprise came in the form of crisp fried wonton chips (wrappers) with a ginger chutney/salsa of sorts.. we went to town on them chips. So much nicer than the usual bread basket that ends up ruining your meal. For first course, we had the California Tower - which is sort of a california roll remade with dungeoness crab and built like a tower with lovely presentation. The husband loved it. For me, I had the crispy spring roll which was filled with rice noodles, chicken and fresh vegetables. It was done nicely, not greasy and very light with a ginger soy vinaigrette on the side. For seconds, he had the Rare Peppered Ahi which was divine. Seared peppered ahi with a mustard sesame-soy vinaigrette with angel hair pasta. I had the Yin Yan Salmon.. done very well, crusted on side with black sesame seed and white on the other laid over a soy-lime cream sauce, also with angel hair. For desserts.. we had the Warm Banana sundae, which was a refreshing retake on banana foster (usually a disgusting melted mess). The had lightly battered the banana and fried it.. sliced and laid around with fresh strawberries.. in a caramel sauce and macadamia nut crusted vanilly bean ice cream.. I think we should ALL scream for some ice cream :D YAY! All and all, we LOVED our experience here and would come back one day. Our table host was so attentive, but not intrusive. He came by to check on us with each dish and explained how each was made... he was genuinely flattered when we told him how much we like the food and had questions on how it was made. I recommend that place... it's romantic.. yummy.. and a great place to have some great food and convo with great company.

    (5)
  • Peter L.

    Although a bit difficult to find, the Flying Fish Grill is worth the hunt. From the moment we walked in, the service was A+ Great appetizers and a nice variety of fish prepared in an Asian fusion style. Excellent selection of wines including Rombauer by the bottle. Try the seafood hot pot, prepared tableside with a mix of local fish, fresh veggies, tofu and noodles. Never made it to dessert - too full!

    (4)
  • Tommy L.

    I wish there was a 10 star rating because the Flying Fish certainly deserves it. The rare peppered ahi is my favorite, cooked to perfection with a sesame based sauce. My wife tried the Alaskan black cod and loved it. Been coming here for over 15 years and have never been disappointed. If there is such a thing as a restaurant that is a sure thing, this is it. Delicious food, warm and friendly service and a great management team. They even sang to his, it was our 37th wedding anniversary. Give it a try, you won't be sorry.

    (5)
  • Richard L.

    The only reason I would ask that you not patronize this establishment is because it will make it that much harder for me to obtain a reservation! Our dining experience was excellent. The host, Richard, made us feel truly welcome, and recommended the sea bass, which was extraordinary, and the Yin-Yan salmon (I may have its name wrong), was equally delicious. My wife and I shared the dishes, along with a side of pineapple curry rice. The portion sizes were large. We were too full for dessert, so I can't comment on that or the wine list, as we had a glass at our hotel. It was a Monday evening, so that it was quiet, which I appreciated. Nobody was on his or her cell phone, for a blessed change. It seemed that attention was paid to sound-deadening, though, again, it wasn't a weekend night, which no doubt would have been a better test of that aspect of the restaurant's design. While not gourmands, we believe that you will be pleased with your dining experience at this establishment. In closing, nobody paid for this non-political announcement! Enjoy! Richard and Barbara Luros

    (5)
  • Scott T.

    There was not much open when we got into town, the hotel recommended this place and we were not disappointed. It is hard to find, but worth the search. Run by a husband and wife, it is a vercomfortable place. The tuna tower is out of this world. The wonton ships were addicting and a nice start. We split a few different dishes and worth a visit.

    (4)
  • Shirley T.

    So goooood! Love that fried wonton chips, that sea bass was out of this world, halibut just melts in your mouth. Place is very cozy, service was great, Prices are very reasonable $25-$30 per entree. Make sure make RSVP, it's a small place. Too bad it's so far from home!

    (4)
  • James O.

    It was good! Not fantastic, but good! FOOD: My wife had the salmon, and I had the halibut. The halibut was on a pastry thing of some sort that didn't do much for the dish. My wife seemed to like the salmon though. A nice wine selection. We didn't get appetizers or dessert, so i can't shed any light on these items. Service: They kind of left us alone the whole night. I think we might have been in-between someone's shift, because the waiter changed at one point and never changed back. They were out of touch for most of the meal. This is why I didn't give them 4 stars. Location: Really nice location. It's right in one of my favorite parts of Carmel. Overall, if you're in Carmel and love seafood, this is definitely worth a shot but not a must-go.

    (3)
  • Lia E.

    We went there after reading good reviews this place gets. I'm not sure why does people rave about the chip and ginger salsa because we passed it after a few bites. We ordered halibut black bean, yin yan salmon, and steak. All of them tasted bland. The halibut tasted like it was made weeks ahead and stored in the freezer. Neighbor table was loud. The worst dining experience.

    (1)
  • Alissa A.

    To love: `Ginger salsa. Salsa + wontons = FFG's "bread + butter", just eat it with a spoon. Ah-may-zing. `Black Bean Halibut: tender, flaky, ka-pow flavor in your mouth. `Tuna tartar app. Mmmm. Dig it: `Almond crusted sea bass. Nice contrast of textures but very mild flavors throughout the dish. `Fish portions were huge. `Ambiance. Think Japanese grill, if that means anything to you. It's classy and could be romantic but at the same time, simple and un-stuffy. Still thinking it over: `Halibut in parchment paper. A bit odd to stab into my dinner inside a massive piece of origami. (and the waitress pointing the knife at me before she cut it open) `How to find it/Location. - in Carmel Plaza - shopping area on the north side of Mission Street, located behind Patisserie Boissiere yelp.com/biz_photos/SH60… (and down a few steps) 'Hot fudge sundae. First few bites were tasty. Housemade fudge didn't seem any better than other hot fudges and the tall glass it was served in ended up as just a glass full of fudgey-sludgy at the bottom. Either the ice cream melted too fast or the ratio of fudge to ice cream was too high. `Beer/wine/sake only. No cocktails. Oh poo. `Service needs some refinement. No complaints, they're just not all the way there yet. `Website/menu etc: restauranteur.com/flying… I would definitely return. Mmmm Mmmm good.

    (4)
  • Sasha R.

    well I wish I could remember all that we ate for dinner but all that stands out in my memory is the black bean halibut in papillote. SO STINKIN GOOD. I was fighting off others' chopsticks in between every bite. wine list is solid -- lots of local juice, and well-priced. service was super friendly but non-obtrusive. so friendly, in fact, that we essentially got personally escorted from our car to the restaurant by the maitre'd because we were so lost (damn you carmel, and your refusal to use street #s!).

    (4)
  • Tim H.

    I waited way to long to write this review. Back in August a couple of old friends were in town and were looking for a great place for Seafood, so I went to yours Truly, "Yelp.com" and looked up "Seafood In Carmel" and up popped the "Flying Fish"! I took the advice of several people and had the crusted Halibut and was not disappointed. I was loving every bite and thank all those yelpers for such great compliments on this dish! I would recommend it to anyone, but beware of the $$$.

    (5)
  • Colin P.

    This place is awesome! Service is awesome! Food is awesome! The lobster is very delicate and delicious! I enjoyed coming to dinner here with my girlfriend and my family.

    (5)
  • Daisy L.

    Excellent food and ambiance. The service was not so good.

    (4)
  • Jim R.

    I had the lobster tail which was cooked perfectly. The rice and vegetables were so so. We also had fried calamari which wasn't on the menu and was pretty good. The curry shrimp soup for me tasted like it was missing something. The banana sundae needed a larger scoop of ice cream but tasted great. The service was quick and fast. The odd thing was the table was uneven and had to be cautious how the drinks were placed to prevent spillage. Also, a previous review stated inexpensive wine but we got what we paid for. Still a fan of Rombauer instead.

    (4)
  • Sarah S.

    Love this place! Love the staff and owners! WONDERFUL food and service, always! The wonton "chips" and ginger salsa as TO DIE FOR. I could drink the salsa with a straw. For appetizers, their panfried oysters are THE BEST oysters you will ever eat in your life. They are so so delicious! I love their CV greens salad with the miso dressing as well. Solid choice. I always get the same entree...the Black Bean Halibut ...it comes in a parchment paper bundle with fermented black beans, scallions, ginger, and mushrooms. Amazing flavor...all steamed so there is no grease, just clean, well developed texture and taste. For desserts, the warm banana sundae is ridiculous with tempura fried bananas, fresh strawberries, macadamia nuts, and ice cream. Perfect ending to an always perfect meal. Make sure you make a reservation because it is tiny inside!!

    (5)
  • Bob P.

    All I can say is... WOW! Truly I never thought I would ever say this, but it was the best meal I think I have had in recent memory (not including mamma's cooking). I had the signature almond sea bass and it was heaven on earth. Veggies were perfection and sauce was excellent. Staff including management were observantly attentive but not intrusive. The price was expected yet worth every penny! To date, if I had to choose a last meal to savor for eternity, this might very well be it!

    (5)
  • Bill S.

    Appetizers not to miss are the fried oysters and California tower. Delicious. We also had fried calamari. The chili aioli was the bomb. I went with the peppered ahi. The combination of angel hair pasta, medley of mushrooms and shredded cabbage was perfect. I tastes the Seabass and it was also amazing. Great service. Great food.

    (5)
  • Jackie G.

    I came here for dinner and the food did not disappoint. I wouldn't say it's the best seafood in Monterey, but probably the best in Carmel-by-the-sea. I had the almond crusted sea bass and it was excellent! One thing I felt weird about was that when I asked my server about the clay pot entrees (which sound so interesting!) she told me she didn't like them. I asked another worker there and he said the same thing. It put me off a bit that two employees were less than thrilled with certain items on the menu, enough so to steer patrons away. I'm grateful for their honesty though! Tip: the restaurant is a bit difficult to find, it's on the lower level between other buildings.

    (4)
  • Erin Y.

    Little did I know flying fish are an actual species of fish. They're a real thing. Mind blown. Other than the science tutorial, this is a nice dinner spot in Carmel. Cozy booths inside, dim with mood lighting, always packed. Service is golden. The owners are very accommodating and treat you like family. The tuna sashimi appetizer was delicious..probably among freshest sashimi I've had. Now if only it weren't $15...did I just pay $3 for a piece of sashimi?? The complimentary chips were a nifty departure from ordinary bread offered elsewhere. Wonderful salsa. *The mains: Almond seabass and black bean halibut are must tries. Both fish were delicate, tender, succulent (no such thing as dry, overcooked fish here!) They absolutely know what they're doing. The almond is more American imo, while the black bean seasoning is more tailored to Asian tastebuds, like jjajangmyun. If each dish weren't in the range of $30, I'd be here every single time I went to Carmel. Since the prices are what they are and beyond my control, I'll have to settle for every other.

    (4)
  • Nga M.

    The host and waiter were both very attentive. I got seated right away without a reservation (party of one, I would recommend making a reservation if I were you tho. They got busy pretty quickly). Based on the reviews here and the recommendation of my waiter. I ordered the pan seared oysters to start and the almond sea bass for my entree. I was not disappointed. Both dishes were delicious! I plan to revisit next time I'm in town.

    (5)
  • Yanni L.

    I came here at the suggestion of my roommate who had visited with her boyfriend a few months back. She had nothing but praise for the restaurant, going as far as saying it was one of her favorite meals. Naturally, I had to visit when I found myself in Monterey/Carmel for a three day weekend. The place is relatively small and hidden (you have to go down a flight of stairs to reach it...making it below street level). The lighting is pretty dim and the decor is mostly Japanese art and wooden paneling. Really pretty! We ordered the California Crab Tower, the Glazed Salmon, and the Rare Peppered Ahi. Everything was soooo good, including the complimentary chips and salsa! **These are no ordinary chips and the salsa is no ordinary salsa. It was like a delicious Asian-fusion twist on the staple! Great service from the waiters and the owner(?)/hostess. An example of this is the couple next to us was local and all the waiters made an effort to stop by and say hi :)

    (5)
  • Criselda R.

    My family of 4 had our favorite meal of our vacation at this restaurant. The food was extraordinarily good; and the service was kind and personable. The host went so far as to write out his favorite places to visit along Rt 1, when we told him about our trip. Everything we ate was out of this world. It was expensive but totally worth it.

    (4)
  • Jen H.

    2.5/5 solid stars I would've given it 3 stars, but I felt this place was a bit overpriced. I get it...it is a touristy, beach city, so rent is high. The decor is unique and it reminded me of Japan I was a bit disappointed with this place to be completely honest. Ordered: 1) CALIFORNIA TOWER: 2.5/5 2) BLACK BEAN HALIBUT: 2.5/5 tastes like one of those fish you have at Chinese wedding. 3) ALMOND SEABASS: 2.5/5 eh, nothing special

    (2)
  • Anna F.

    We had a reservation, but, when the stop we had planned before dinner didn't work out, we went about an hour early. We were fully prepared to wait, but they seated us quickly despite being pretty busy. Service continued to be very friendly and attentive throughout the meal. We had the California tower (very good), almond crusted sea bass (my favorite dish of our whole trip to Carmel & Monterey...sooo good!), and the rare peppered ahi (husband loved it, but the mustard vinagrette was a little too strong for me). The complementary fried wontons and salsa were also unique and delicious. It was a lovely meal.

    (5)
  • Karoline A.

    This restaurant was recomended by our hotel. The clue is in the name. It has a good selection of fish dishes and some non fish offerings. We booked in advance and ate late as it was very busy - so book a couple ofdays in advance at least. The restaurant itself was difficult to find as Carmel does not have street lighting and the entrance is tucked downstairs near a shopping mall. Despite booking we still needed to wait. It was very busy and is quite crowded with booths and wood partitions. Tables are quite close together and the vibe is 'busy'. However, the staff were excellent, both recomending dishes and wines. Portions were a good size without being too big (which can be an issue with americal restaurants). This is not a cheap restaurant, but is average for Carmel. We had a very pleasant evening and a good meal.

    (4)
  • Jin L.

    great restaurant tucked away. black bean halibut was great and the pan fried oysters as well. Dark and cozy.

    (4)
  • taffytc c.

    Recently took a trip to Big Sur for a Bachelorette Party and went here our main dinner. We couldn't have been happier with our pick! (For those of you who don't like long reviews): FOOD: AMAZING. Good variety of seafood and everything was so tasty. There were 9 of us girls and each one said a different dish as our favorite (we all shared everything). (Also great dessert choices!) SERVICE: Everyone was so polite, and never had to flag servers down. It's a small, cozy place with plentiful staff and they were all very professional and very pleasant. VENUE: SUCH a cute place, starting with the stairwell down into the entrance to the tables. Very tasteful and great vibe. Usually I like music playing, but it was perfect without. (For those of you who like the details): We arrived and they had our table (accommodated for 9 even though it was a small place) set and ready for us. We were so busy all day with crazy shenanigans that we skipped lunch so we were STARVING, but thankfully they had complimentary wonton-influenced chips and this sweet, unique salsa. We demolished. They refilled. Our server detailed the specials to us and answered any questions we had. Food time was great. We didn't wait too long and had enough time to settle in and enjoy the chips and salsa. As I went to the bathroom, I asked our server if they do anything for special occasions and she told us usually they do a bday song, but since it was a bachelorette, she'd have "Kenny" do something special (at this point: who's Kenny? idk..). Food came out and they're individual courses but we, being the Koreans we are, insisted in all sharing and it was very easy to share. (I LOVED the salmon on angel hair pasta. The tuna sashimi was also so fresh and rich). We ordered the chocolate cake and a few scoops of ice cream as dessert, and to our bachelorette's surprise, it came out with a candle and accompanied by "Kenny", who turned out to the be the owner, who so pleasantly greeted us at the door when we arrived (at how many restaurants does the OWNER greet at the door and host nowadays??) NICEST Japanese gentleman ever who I believe started the restaurant 40ish years ago?? Not only did he come out with the desert, he played the ukulele and sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and serenated our dear bride-to-be. It was PERFECT. He was so fun and nice the entire dinner, not overbearing, but definitely had some great owner-to-client time with us before, throughout, and after dinner and we thoroughly enjoyed his company. We thought we were so special because we were this big group of girls, which is why we thought he was being so nice to us (LOLL) but I noticed that he spent time with all the tables. He's definitely an owner who really cares and enjoys his customers, which really makes a difference. If I lived in the area I'd be a regular FOR SURE! We had such a lovely time there and after we finished, our bachelorette asked for a kiss on the cheek, and surely enough Kenny delivered! As well as gave us each a kiss on the cheek and hug goodbye. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE FLYING FISH GRILL! Thanks for the great time Kenny! Hope to be back soon!

    (5)
  • Bobby P.

    Recommended by our hotel. Cute Japanese/N. Cal atmosphere. We had really great appetizers, recommend the calamari and tempura! My main-course salmon was overlooked but they were understanding and sent a new one through. It was still overlooked to my taste but I was not going to send it back again and just enjoyed the evening. My friend had the abalone and it was very nice. Wine very good and they gave us a complimentary dessert for the salmon issue. Thank you!If you like fish and good, helpful service this is the place in Carmel.

    (4)
  • Wanugee N.

    The Flying Fish Grill is a great choice on the Monterey Peninsula if you want seafood accented with Asian influences, in a cozy, unpretentious environment, with good service. The restaurant at this location, which is below the Carmel Shopping Plaza on Ocean, has a long history, going back to 1975, when it was opened as Shabu Shabu, a Japanese restaurant with the Hot Pot dish of Shabu Shabu as its main feature. The natural wood booths and walls, offer a semi-private, cozy feel, and a comfortable ambiance. Back then, you sat on the floor Japanese style, and cooked communal food to share, family style. It was before its time, since now Shabu Shabu and other Hot Pot Asian places are all the rage right now. It's customers also got older, making the sitting on the floor requirement challenging. So after about 2 decades of Shabu, including raising the tables to Western seating standards, the husband (Ken) and wife owners shifted from purely traditional Japanese, to a Seafood Fused with Asian influences menu. The decor didn't change much, and that is probably a good thing. But the menu did, and there are some great selections created for your enjoyment, coupled with attentive, friendly service. This iteration of this cozy space is going on 20+ years, too. So it is a local and tourist favorite. Now there are several popular dishes mentioned by other reviews, including the Yin Yan Salmon (regular and black sesame seed encrusted salmon), Almond Crusted Sea Bass, Halibut with black beans baked in parchment, the California Tower appetizer, and others. I brought my Mom, and sister here (They live on the Monterey Peninsula) and they thoroughly enjoyed their meal. My Mom loves oysters, so she had them and was happy, and she is often grouchy! I recommend you try this place when you are down in Carmel, you'll enjoy the food, service, and intimate setting; just make sure you make rezzies.

    (4)
  • Santos L.

    The food is very good. If you like good fish served in a tasty non classic way. You should go here. I would recomend this to everyone I know.

    (4)
  • Bill H.

    Dinner for four at 7:30 on a Monday nite. Another amazing meal at Flying Fish - promptly seated, intimate and tranquil seating, low noise levels and great 'flying fish' ambiance. The fried wanton is light, super crispy and served with a spicy sauce. We moved on to panfried oysters that had the most amazing Asian-inspired sauce and a fun beef-wrapped scallion roll. Yin-yan salmon was a delightful as a presentation as well a yummy meal. The Rare Tuna had a rich color, simple Asian sauce and very fine angel hair noodles. The abalone special (while pricey) was heavenly (anyone ever had abalone that wasn't awesome?). Sea Bass rounded out the dinner choices. Everyone was very pleased with their plates and there was sharing of bites as everyone wanted to show-off their order. Wait staff knew their stuff and recommended a nice sauv blanc pairing (Frog's Leap) that wasn't too pricey. We went for the green-tea sundae with four spoons (and we still didn't finish it) - lots to share with the ice-cream, sliced almonds, tangerine slices and whipped cream. Next time we will revisit the claypots (we haven't tried them in quite some time). A must visit restaurant in Carmel - make your reservations early!

    (5)
  • Ka S.

    Flying Fish Grill is probably our #1 place to go in Carmel, for us. We came here with our best friend at the time, who recently passed away, so this restaurant carries a lot of meaning and memories for us. All I can say, is that the time we had dinner here, my friend ordered the steak and it literally was like the sun rising on the plate and YES, it was that beautiful.GRILLED SLICED NEW YORK STEAK - Prime steak, shimeji mushrooms in madeira sauce, tempura onion ring, grilled rice ball. He LOVED it! YES, its pricey, but it's the whole experience with friends and atmosphere.. and don't go here if you have no palate or if you are a total cheapskate! We ordered the vegetable Clay Pots and it was clean, fresh and pure goodness. We also ordered a few mixed green salads and the steamed artichoke. YES, we spent money here,but you know what..IT'S TOTALLY AWESOME!

    (5)
  • nn X.

    I like the California crab tower, almond seabass and black bean halibut in my last visit. The yin yan salmon however is overcooked.

    (4)
  • Leah W.

    What a find! A tiny restaurant in the Carmel Plaza Shopping Center where we immensely enjoyed our meal. We both had the Halibut which was amazing and enjoyed every morsel on our plates. The service was excellent. I am glad that we found this hidden gem.

    (5)
  • Tran N.

    This place is delish! The seafood was super fresh. I was so surprised at how great the oysters were! It was as if they just got it from the sea. There was just too many great things about this place. From the service to the food to the ambience and decor - this place has it all. Their ginger salsa was so amazing! I wish I had the secret recipe for it.

    (5)
  • Vincent W.

    Absolutely wonderful! The atmosphere, service and especially the food are all exceptional. We had a booth in the back that was a little secluded - cozy for sitting with friends or a significant other. The wine list had a great selection of bottles and half bottles and the food was awesome. We had the spring rolls to start, which had a great flavor and delicious sauce. I had the ahi, which I liked but my friend had the almond crusted seabass which was incredible! The staff was super nice and even shared some suggestions for our drive up the coast to San Francisco. Can't recommend this place highly enough. Will definitely come back when next in Carmel.

    (4)
  • Thomas C.

    Excellent, was a bit skeptical that the location was adjacent to the outdoor malls . They only serve beer and wine which is okay because the selections were great. We had appetizers fried calamari with nice dipping sauce. I had the almond glazed sea bass over smashed potatoes and green beans. Price points for most entrées were high 20's to 30 & Service was great and timely between drinks water replacement and food to table Seating looked to be maximum 4 / table so not easy for a big group. I will come back

    (5)
  • Daniel C.

    Flying Fish Grill is still one of Carmel's best seafood restaurants. The menu doesn't seem to change much, but they do consistently execute their signature dishes well and service is always top notch. My wife's nephew and niece were visiting from China so we decided to take them here. Appetizers: highly recommend the green onion beef roll. They're cut into bite-sized pieces of thin, tender steak wrapped around green onions with savory sauce (ponzu or some sweet soy sauce). The free fried wonton chips are still good - it's their special home made salsa that makes it special. It's basically Mexican salsa with rice vinegar and lots of minced ginger. Not sure they can bottle this for resale - it could make a fortune! Entrees: I got their black bean halibut, steamed in parchment paper. Fish was cooked perfectly and the mushrooms, cabbage, and black beans adds lots of umami. Rice patty was smaller than I remembered though - should have gotten an extra side of it. Wife opted for the Monterey Abalone. Thin slices of abalone were sliced thin, egg washed, and then pan fried. Comes with spinach and pine-nut rice. They were cooked tender and I though the dish was good. The breading was almost tempura and made the dish a bit too starchy though. Also at $55 it's pretty pricey! Next time we probably would stick to the halibut! Desserts: We had their chocolate fudge sundae and their tempura banana ice cream. The latter is sweeter and better of the two - vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce and Mac nuts and lots of perfectly fried banana pieces to share. As with other Carmel restaurants, their black coffee is bold and smooth, and does a good job of washing it all down!

    (4)
  • Ginger G.

    Holy Cow!!!!! So so good! We both had the halibut - excellent We also had the artichoke for an appetizer, that was excellent too! Annie was our server and she was "on it"

    (5)
  • Prianka K.

    Came for the boys birthday dinner since he has been raving about it since we met. It definitely lived up to my expectations. I got the ahi tuna and it was perfectly cooked. The pepper wasn't overwhelming and the fish literally melts in your mouth. He had the salmon which also was amazing. He always says that's he licks the plate clean because the sauce is that good- this time was no different. The service was prompt and the staff was very friendly. The place is small and quaint and we even heard the owners singing and playing a ukulele towards the end of the night.

    (5)
  • Nick H.

    Great food, wonderful wait staff, cozy romantic dining experience. This is a long time establishment in Carmel. Lots of Asian fusion seafood. The meals are reasonably priced, and very good. Lots of local ingredients. Delicious wine. I had the salmon which was very good (although a tad overcooked). My parents had the seafood clay pots which seem to be the signature dish for the restaurant. You get a clay pot that is boiled at your table. There is a burner in the middle of the table. You then get a platter of fresh raw seafood to cook in the broth. They loved it. My parents are picky eaters and the restaurant accommodated their every request. We had a bottle of wine which was delicious and not terribly expensive. The complimentary won ton chips were delicious, as was the crab tower and calamari appetizers. HIghly recommend.

    (5)
  • Christine Z.

    This was a surprise, and a memorable place. This not huge but always reservation fully booked place first caught our glance when we were shopping around, and suddenly smelled something really great and we started hunting after it. It led us to a downstairs restaurant, with wooden deco and a very Japanese touch inside, which is Flying Fish. Thou it's a $$$ place, we decided to give it a try. We were lucky that we were welcome and seated very soon because of a cancelled reservation, the courtesy here made us very relaxed and pleased. When it came to the menu, we got some recommendations from Yelp, of course, and the waiter. Before the appetizer, we got some free appetizer - wonton chips - also, which is already very delicious, which we thought that it was a popular appetizer since we saw it on every table, the salsa was really really good. Appetizer CALIFORNIA TOWER I have to say, it's a really nicely decorated dish, and the wasabi was authentic, I almost had tears down my face, thou I know the technics to hold it. Entree BLACK BEAN HALIBUT A mysterious hit. The technic for cooking this was unique and fabulous. The halibut was wrapped in some kind of a pastry paper sheet, and it arrived really hot, so the waiter used know to cut through the paper, then we were able to see what was inside. Smells really great. My friend's comment, it like a 西餐版香菇豆豉(a type of fermented and salted black soybean sauce, cooked with sauté mushroom and fish) ALMOND SEABASS Seabass is all about the fish itself, and cooking technic. The pan-seared seabass was really well cooked, crusty outside and tenderness inside, and the freshness of meat really made a good balance. Dessert FUDGE SUNDAE, GREEN TEA SUNDAE, WARM BANANA SUNDAE, SORBETS A must try, we actually did DIY, you can choose any flavor combo which you can find on their menu. Finally, let's talk about the SERVICE I think we were too high after the dinner, that we left the scarf at the bench, didn't realize until drove 30 mins on the high way. We called back, and asked if they can mail the scarf, they replied with definite yes, we told them it's not urgent, regular mail is ok, you know what, I got the scarf 4days later in NY. They really took care of their customers, even after the service was done. A great find, must go and experience yourself:)

    (5)
  • Robert B.

    It was our first time eating here, The food was excellent especially their Seabass. My family and I enjoyed eating there and plan to make a second visit

    (5)
  • Jane H.

    Excellent decor and cozy seating. Fresh Monterey calamari was just that-fresh! Also split the black bean halibut and loved the presentation and light fresh taste! Would definitely come back again! Wait staff - perfect amount of checking on our progress and needs. Green tea sundae a must.

    (4)
  • Kim T.

    Good food, great service! The staff was very friendly and helpful, especially Rich. When we told Rich we were driving down the coast he gave us a photocopy of a handwritten printout of detailed info on stops along the way, tips, mileage, etc. He even personalized it for us based on what we said we were interested in. The food was fresh & delicious. Awesome ambiance too!

    (5)
  • David J.

    We have been coming here for years. Even when it was called Shabu Shabu. On Fri Aug 7 We arrived for 6PM reservation at 5:35 because of heavy traffic. The place was empty save For 2 tables. The hostess said they were too busy and to come back at 6PM. Bummer! We went across the street to Bouchée and were accepted graciously and had a wonderful Meal. Will be a while before we come back there to be treated that badly. Buyer beware.

    (1)
  • Josie S.

    We came here for an early birthday dinner by recommendation and encouragement from the stellar Yelp reviews and were pretty disappointed (though this may have been in part because we had such an amazing dining experience at Mundaka the night before). The appetizers were probably the stars. We had the steamed artichoke, which came with a wasabi mayo and miso vinaigrette, and the chicken and veggie spring rolls. The complimentary wontons with ginger salsa were also nice. Unfortunately, the mains left something to be desired. While my Yin-Yan Salmon was nicely balanced with a delicious cream sauce, it was slightly overcooked. Forgivable, but Flying Fish, you are a seafood restaurant. My boyfriend took his first bite of it and decided that I could make it better. Enough said. His Peppered Ahi had high notes, but was overall unsatisfying. While the mushroom broth was a highlight, the tuna itself though perfectly seared severely lacked flavor. Both dishes came with a small serving of angel hair, but the latter could have been seriously improved with a seafood risotto with the broth surrounding it. The service was lovely, and I liked the dark woody almost boat like ambiance in this underground spot. Still, if you're going to have one nice meal in Carmel make reservations at Mundaka instead.

    (3)
  • Ramon L.

    Wow. Really fricken wow!! We had 3 dishes and they were all something to remember. Almond Crusted Chilean Sea Bass, Lobster Tail and Nikumaki. Carmel is pretty small and chill but the concentration of good restaurants in such a touristy spot is just weird. We ate here 7 years ago and it's still amazing...and it seems like the same menu. I love this place. Worth every penny

    (5)
  • Becky D.

    Spent one night in Carmel on a Cali road trip. Wanted seafood so decided to try this place. So glad we did. The four of us had an excellent dinner. We shared the California tower and tuna sashimi for appetizers. Black cod and the Yin Salmon were both excellent entrees. The other two of us shared the seafood Yosenabe. The food is cooked at your table in a clay pot full of yummy broth. It was delicious. A hearty meal of shrimp, mussels, clams, tofu, calamari, octopus, salmon, scallops, halibut, rice noodles, carrots, bok choy and mushrooms. Excellent service with friendly, knowledgable wait staff. Great wine list. Cozy wood booths were comfortable and the place had a lively, fun atmosphere without feeling too noisy. When we come back to Carmel we will definitely eat there again.

    (5)
  • Michael W.

    Get the 2 person seafood hotpot - you wont regret it

    (5)
  • Toni F.

    Excellent dining spot in Carmel - Flying Fish Grill came highly recommended by several people we met during a recent vacation. We decided to bring my Aunt here for her birthday and it was a great choice. We started munching on their homemade salsa and wonton chips and couldn't stop - they were addictive. We also tried the California Tower which was like a piled high sushi roll loaded with crab meat and other great flavors. I had the Black Cod and it was excellent, tender, juciy and full of flavor. Others in our group had another fish entree (I think it was the Bass) and the Vegetable Clay pot and they thoroughly enjoyed them all. We were reminiscing and catching up after dinner and taking up table space way too long but were oblivious to the others waiting for tables - but the staff and host were so gracious that we never felt pressured to leave. My aunt had asked about buying some of the salsa to take home at the beginning of our dinner and voila - the host came by our table with a bag containing a small container of it and the chips and thanked us for dining with them. Subtle but effective - we realized we had overstayed our welcome and quickly exited to leave our table for other patrons who were waiting. Can't wait to go back next time we're in Carmel.

    (4)
  • Scott L.

    Had dinner on busy July 4th. This is the place to go if you want fish prepared with an Asian influence. Started with complimentary fried Won Ton Skins with Pineapple Salsa, ordered Tuna Tartar Appetizer, Mixed Greens with Miso Dressing, Black Bean Halibut in Parchment, and Avocado Mango Sauce Black Alaskan Cod. All were very good although a bit pricey...but it is Carmel. This place has been around for many years..due to well prepared seafood, very good service, and nice atmosphere.

    (4)
  • Connie L.

    I would rate this place 10 stars if I could. Asian fusion FTW! The food, ambience, presentation, and service were all superb - MOST amazing meal experience, ever (and no, I don't write this for every review). My bf and I meant to book a reservation here, but accidentally called another "Flying Fish Bar & Grill" (Half Moon Bay) instead. The owners were super understanding and gave us a seat anyway :). We ordered crispy spring rolls, rare peppered ahi, and almond sea bass (THE BEST!). I was thoroughly impressed by the presentation and also how soft + juicy the meat was. All the Asian-inspired ingredients just melded together to make the perfect dishes! Make sure to also complement the main course with their specialty wines. This place was worth every dollar.

    (5)
  • Dianah M.

    Good twist on fusion cuisine. Intimate setting, good friendly service, good selection of entrées, creative dishes with good flavor and presentation.

    (5)
  • Mike S.

    Incredible experience and amazing food. We got the rare ahi and the almond seabass. Both were exquisite. The wait staff was so friendly, and seemed to really care about our experience. Banana sundae for dessert, yummy. We had to request the wonton chips with ginger salsa, but it was definitely worth it! We'll be back here for sure! !

    (5)
  • Dawn P.

    Excellent excellent food. Love everything. The delicious won ton chips and salsa, artichoke, calamari, fish, everything. Best most fabulous restaurant in Carmel.

    (5)
  • Amanda K.

    WARNING: apple maps took us to the wrong address!! look at the map carefully when navigating yourself Called to make a reservation on a Sunday a few days before and it was super easy. After reading some yelp reviews it seemed like i had to make one weeks in advance but I didn't find that to be true. I took my parents here and they aren't very easy to please. However, they really were impressed and loved Flying Fish Grill. The place is pretty small and doesn't have very many large tables so it is better for groups of 5 or less. They started us with complimentary crispy wonton chips and a ginger salsa. It was a very interesting blend, one I would never had thought to combine. The crispy wonton chips were light and delicious without being oily. We ate the whole basket! We also ordered an artichoke appetizer. It is one whole artichoke that has been steamed served with two dips. For the entree i got the almond crusted sea bass. It was amazinggggggg!!! with a slight crunch on the outside on a bed of mashed potatoes and bits of shrimp swimming around it, amazing! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! there was also an amazing sauce on the bottom that went perfectly with all the fish dishes that we had. My partner ordered the cod. Perfectly cooked to really enhance the fatty fish. I only wished the slice was bigger because I wanted more!!! it was accompanied by arugula and couscous to balance the plate. My dad ordered the black bean halibut. It came in a steamed pouch that the waiter cuts open at the table. This dish was very bland and my dad actually took the sauce from the sea bass and poured it all over his halibut to give it more flavor. If you're looking for a light clean eating type dish, this is the one for you! So happy to have found this place and the great fish dishes we enjoyed. Can't wait to come back for more!

    (5)
  • Jeana H.

    Wonton chips with ginger salsa was the best. I enjoyed it very much. Tuna tartare was mediocre. Ahi tuna with angel hair pasta was a little too sweet for my taste. The almond crusted Seabass was very fresh and tasty. Service was great. Ambience felt like I transported to Japan, which I love. Overall good.

    (4)
  • Phil S.

    After reading all the reviews we decided to have dinner Monday (tonight) at the Flying Fish Grill. Unfortunately our meals and service was good at best. We had appetizers of Squid was good and pan fried oysters, which were over cooked, not succulent. For Dinner we had Black Bean Halibut, 2 orders of Almond Sea bass all fish orders were over cooked and dry. The Tempura Prawns were as good as you get at a good Japanese Restaurant. For dessert had Sorbet- VG, Chocolate Cake- VG and crème Brule - good. Over food and service was ok, but not memorable.

    (2)
  • McKenzie L.

    Amazing food and service. I was here last year and yes, the won ton chips really won me over! Sorry, I couldn't help it! Lol The food was super fresh, and the service was also stellar, so I will be back with friends so we can try more! :)

    (5)
  • gswfan ..

    this place deserves the high rating it gets. My wife and I came for our anniversary dinner... I tried to book the place at 7pm but they only had 5:30pm available which was ok. the lady was very nice and polite over the phone. street parking wasn't overly hard to find. we arrived 5:30pm and they immediately took me to a nice reserved seat. the ambiance was TOTALLY FANTASTIC. usually when you think of Asian Fusion, you think of bar style place with some American made sushi dishes... well, this place is UNIQUE and DIFFERENT... it has a definite Japanese feel with a lot of wood work... a lot of small separated rooms (two tables per room) so it's perfect to bring your loved one here... nice and dim and quiet... our server is VERY polite and helpful and friendly... he doesn't just give you the generic greeting words, but seems to always say the right things. Then I realized he isn't alone, other tables also have similar servers who even stand next to your table, pour you drinks and chat with you... our server probably knew my wife and I wanted to some time alone that's why he didn't stay next to us all the time... there was the complimentary starter -- big squarish wonton chips with salsa(with basil). now that's Asian Fusion... and it was GOOD. we end up eating the whole thing (10 chips i think) for starter we ordered California tower... which is like a rearranged California Roll... rice at bottom, layer of crab, sesame, and sticks of seaweeds stick on top. Interesting presentation, tho not the star of the night. for main dish we ordered the seafood clay pot for two. ($66 for two). it's basically shabu shabu/hot pot but with some veggies and seafood. our server was very helpful, get us started by getting some nice cooked food into our plates first... As I said, I think if he didn't think we like to be alone he'd probably stand next to us and serve us the whole meal... (cook for us, get us cooked food, put more food into the pot)... food include big prawns, scallops, salmon, calamaries, steamed rice, and much more. with some very unique sauces to dip in. we enjoyed this a lot more than the typical fancy-looking meager portion main entrees we typically get in other fancy restaurants... I drank some of the broth at the end and it was delicious too for dessert we ordered creme brulee. to me, this is probably the best creme brulee I've ever had... not too sweet, the top crispy part doesn't get stuck in your teeth, with plenty of fruit on top... my wife thought the bottom portion not "solid" enough though, I thought it's fine... the final bill was over $100 plus tip... I end up paying more than my usual tips because we enjoyed this place, the server deserved it, and the uniqueness of the whole experience... I can't stand paying high price for food that you know you could get cheaper at some other place, but here I felt it's worth it... yes it's pricey, but it's a unique must try experience.... after dinner, we walked inside the Carmel plaza... and it was a great evening stroll but that's a different story :)

    (5)
  • Christina M.

    AMAZING. We went at around 5:30pm on a Saturday, and there was already a wait. The hostess was very accommodating and seated us quickly. The wonton chips with salsa are really amazing, and we couldn't stop eating them. For a starter, we tried the California Tower, which was excellent. The crab was juicy, and the sushi rice was well-seasoned. I got the Seafood Pasta, and my dining mate got the Rare Peppered Ahi. The pasta had ample seafood, and the sake-butter sauce was spiced well and just delicious. The tuna was succulent and tender. I also had an excellent local beer, but I cannot remember the name. The service was also quite wonderful.

    (5)
  • Amanda H.

    Ambience was great. Service was great. Food was not. We got there around 8:30 on a Tuesday night. We were told it would be a 30 minute wait, which was fine. We got back and waited another 15 minutes, and after ordering we waited a full hour for our food. We were starving. We ordered the Black Pepper Ahi and the Sea Bass. Both had very oily sauces. The Ahi was soaked in sauce that was way too sweet. The sea bass was drowned in sauce that was too salty. Neither fish we had tasted fresh, and if this dish were in LA, I'd be angry if I paid more than $13 a plate. The ginger salsa (which is what most reviewers seemed excited about) was watery and unflavorful. Not to mention, offering chips and salsa kind of ruins the upscale atmosphere. A different fruit salsa (like mango salsa) would've jazzed things up. Basically, this place looks way cooler than it actually tastes. Grab some drinks, and eat elsewhere.

    (2)
  • P M.

    Came here because of all the rave yelp reviews but it turned out to be a very boring and uninspired meal. We ordered the California Tower which was essentially a California Roll. Would not recommend. For the main course we had the grilled salmon and the black bean halibut. Both were really underwhelming and overcooked. I'd say the best thing was the dessert which was a tempura banana sundae. Definitely go somewhere else for dinner.

    (2)
  • Stephanie Ann A.

    My family and I were in Carmel for the day. We read the reviews on yelp and decided to eat dinner here. Yelp info said the restaurant was not wheelchair accessible. My husband called ahead since we had a stroller for our son. The host said it would be ok with a stroller. When we got there, we saw that the only entrance is down some stairs. I asked the host if there was an elevator. He said- no just the stairs. I went back to my husband and turned around and the host had followed me to help us take the stroller down the stairs. He then brought us to our table and gave us some pillows to put the baby on. The hosts extra effort was very nice and was a great start to a yummy meal. We ordered the halibut (delicious!!!)- and the scallop/prawns (light curry broth- yum!). For dessert had the green tea sundae and banana tempura sundae. Desserts were great! Definitely a great place with an A+ on service.

    (5)
  • Ashley C.

    Awesome experience here! We were recommended this restaurant by our hotel and it was so good! The food is amazing. Better than I even anticipated. We were greeted by the owner I believe, if not- then the manager. Walked in without a reservation, but we were seated immediately by him. The restaurant was extremely busy for a Tuesday night but we received some of the best and quickest service we have ever had! When he had come back to ask us how our meal was, we told him about the great service we received and that we were here for a few days after our wedding. He came back with desserts on the house. Such a great experience, thank you!

    (5)
  • Yonnie Z.

    Our first meal in Carmel was at the Flying Fish Grill restaurant...where we did a walk-in for dinner. We happened to walk by the restaurant, saw positive yelp reviews, looked at the menu out front on the wall, and stepped inside to ask for a table for 2. LUCKY US - they were able to seat us within 2-5 minutes, as long as we finished up within 1 hour of our seating time. So, we said sure - why not? The restaurant is dimly lit, all seats were occupied and busy on a Friday night (it happened to be July 4th too). Our waitress was friendly and we were served some chips + salsa to start. We ordered the following: (1) Seafood pasta - my husband had this dish and thought it was just OK; maybe he was unimpressed by the angel hair pasta and the quality/quantity of seafood? I'm not sure, but when I tasted his dish, I thought it was quite flavorful and delicious. He and I should have traded dishes! (2) Calamari appetizer - my husband ordered the calamari and thought it was just OK. it's typical of any other calamari you find in other restaurants. (3) Black bean halibut - I ordered this entree and it was tasty! the halibut was served inside a parchment paper wrap, which the waitress had to open in front of me. you can see the halibut was steamed in some some soy based sauce, marinated with mushrooms and napa cabbage. yum! :) it was moist and went well w/ the dollop of rice too. I enjoyed the fish very much and my husband agrees that it was a good choice. Overall, the food was good, but not completely out of this world fabulous. We had a good time, thankful that we were able to get a seat (a party of 3 who walked in after us were turned away because they said the restaurant was at max capacity) and enjoyed the food for what it was. :)

    (4)
  • Susan C.

    Amazing!!!!! The service was great. There was a mistake with our reservation fault on their end but the owner made up for it by offering a comped appetizer and his singing and playing the yukaleili. Everything on the menu is delicious. We loved everything. You better MAKE A RESERVATION because space is limited and fills out fast especially in this beautiful city of Carmel.

    (5)
  • Janelle F.

    Pricey (which is average compared to many of the restaurants in Carmel) and absolutely worth it. Grilled salmon and black bean halibut were delicious. The wine list is very reasonably priced. I will definitely be back.

    (5)
  • Jennifer W.

    I think this is probably the best seafood restaurant I've been to. At least, it's the best sea bass dish I've ever tasted. Their portions are not too small either. The service is great too. Make a reservation, walk-ins are usually turned away as they are quite busy. And definitely order the sea bass. The black cod dish isn't bad, but it isn't as impressive.

    (5)
  • R. B.

    If you come to this restaurant make sure you get the California roll, its deconstructed. For that appetizer alone I would come back here again and again. The services outstanding the food is presented extremely well and the atmosphere is nice. We had a fantastic dinner. The owner graciously welcomed us even though was near closing time. I definitely would come back to this restaurant again and again

    (5)
  • Angelic L.

    I came here upon a recommendation from a friend, who raved about how amazing it was. My boyfriend and I managed to get one of the very last tables for the night at 5:15 PM, so I highly recommend reservations if you're interested in checking it out. It's safe to say, I thoroughly enjoyed everything I got to try here. The famous Wonton Chips and Ginger Tomato Salsa was delicious! So light and refreshing. I wish I had more room in my stomach to stuff my face with more. The Almond Sea Bass was delicious as well. The liquid broth that it came with was really salty, but it went well with the whipped potato and cabbage. The Seafood Pasta was different, but it was a nice light pasta with so many types of seafood included. It was great getting a little bit of everything with the pasta. The Creme Brulee was delicious, but then again, when is it not? The service was exceptional, and I loved the entire environment at this quaint little restaurant. Be aware, it might be a little difficult to find though!

    (4)
  • Sean M.

    My parents were visiting Carmel for a couple days and this resturant was recommended by their hotel, Quail Lodge Golf Club. They came here on a Tuesday night. They were immediately greeted by Rich at the front- the restaurant is hard to find as it is hidden in Carmel Plaza. Rich seated them as soon as they got there. The ambiance was very warm and inviting. Their waitress came over and brought them a bowl of the most delicious salsa with fried wontons that was the best thing they have tasted. The menu was amazing and hard to choose from so many fish choices. They settled on the halibut and raw ahi tuna. They reported it was probably the best meal they had ever eaten! Rich joined them to point out the highlights of what they were eating. Their final report....do not miss this dining experience, absolutely 5 star! Thanks Rich for sharing the salsa recipe with us to take home!

    (5)
  • Kelly W.

    Their wonton chips and salsa is incredible! Also, highly recommend the Nukimaki appetizer! We got Seabass and Ahi, Seabass was better!

    (5)
  • Jessica K.

    Finally got a reservation at Flying Fish after living here for over a year. The wait was definitely worth it though! tucked into a little side street in Carmel, and having to go downstairs to get to the restaurant, definitely gives this Asian Fusion restaurant a homey feel..very romantic and calm atmosphere. Which actually went amazingly well with the food and service. Service was AMAZING. the server was knowledgable to answer all our questions about the menu, but gave you your space without being around too much, just enough. The food was delicious! of course, as the name of the restaurant suggests, seafood is their forte. So anything is good! the almond crusted fish was one of our favorites as well as the crab tower appetizer! There are many, many more places in Carmel I want to try and review, but I will definitely be coming back to this one :)

    (4)
  • Jenny C.

    We had a wonderful dinner at the Flying Fish. The appetizers were delish. The egg rolls were the best! It was my friends birthday and the owner came out and serenaded her. Such a neat place.

    (5)
  • Fancypants X.

    I love that he's spontaneous & down for whatever. I love roaming around Carmel & stopping into whatever restaurant looks lovely & just wingin' it. Sometimes you come across a winner, sometimes you don't, but it's fun to try something new without too much fuss/planning/obsessing/yelp checking. Good-humored host, available-when-we-needed-him waiter, overall service was tops. Stairs lead downstairs to a dark, romantic space. I couldn't stop eating the complimentary fried wonton chips & ginger salsa, but food-wise, that's where the amazingness ended for me. The dungeness crab tower was interesting, & I always appreciate a bit of avocado, but the crab was fishy & salty. I ordered seafood pasta, & expected a thickish sauce...my angel hair, fish, shrimp, & other shellfish was drowning in a watery broth, similar to how cioppino is served. I was taken aback by my dish's execution, but luckily, the individual components were fresh & tasty. Made some lovely memories here, but we're on to the next (food) adventure.

    (3)
  • Lauri R.

    The food was absolutely amazing at the Flying Fish. Please make sure you stop in and ask for Rich as he was hands down the best waiter ever. Thanks Rich for the Black Bean Sea Bass recommendation and the Zin!! I will be back!

    (5)
  • Surreal E.

    Full disclosure---I always get the same thing. The almond seabass, followed by the hot fudge sundae. But why try to improve on perfection? true, I get a variety of different wines each time, but that is just my rebel side. Really, folks, the seabass is exquisite, never overdone, served with a crisp shell of almonds and nice, but not killer whipped potatoes. Not that that whipped potatoes really has that much variety anyway.... So service is impeccable. Always polite, helpful and friendly. The wine list is good but maybe lacks a little in variety of single glasses. I highly highly recommend!

    (5)
  • Shelly C.

    I wish there's a 4.5 star. We enjoyed this place very much - my almond sea bass was truly lovely. The only mark down is for the clay pot. My husband was a little disappointed, because he expected it to be the dry kind with rice on the bottom, but it turned out to be a soup based "pot". It's good, just not quite what we expected.

    (4)
  • BY S.

    Rude and COCKY front desk attendants!!! We were out of towners and has yelped this place so we stopped by. But the rude/arrogant attitude we received from the male attendant in black attire and a Japanese lady attendant was more than enough to turn us off. Not worth a visit nor any rating at all!!

    (1)
  • TeaBoy A.

    Customer service was awesome!! Choose the Abalone for $50 was good but not great wish the abalone was a bit bigger. the rice came with it was really good tho. with a spicy tuna tartare for appatizer good also. Place wasn't really big. Good for romantic couples. could have sat next to the fire place but table seem a bit too small. They seem to have a good knowledge of their wine. and a wide selection of wine collection. The only part i dislike was trying to find the resturant on the way there during night time.thought i was going to drive off a cliff or something. i don't know why but it seem like there is no street light which makes everything harder to look for.next time i needa bring a flash light.

    (4)
  • Jazz G.

    Seafood clay pot is not so good, very plain and don't recommend this dish.. But other dishes are great, love the california tower, seabass and halibut!!!

    (3)
  • Andrew M.

    Not bad but a bit overpriced for what you get. The prices reflect fine dining but the atmosphere is a bit lacking. Food was good but expected more from all these positive reviews. Staff was very friendly too.

    (3)
  • Nate B.

    While hard to find, this place is totally worth it. Very friendly staff attend to a small, cozy dining room and served us 2 wonderfully cooked pieces of fish. End your meal with the tempura banana dessert. Just do it. So, so good.

    (5)
  • Robert R.

    i have eaten at flying fish grill three times and each time have thought it was the best meal of my life. the cozy wood grained restaurant is located only a few blocks from the pacific ocean. flying fish grill is an asian fusion seafood restaurant and the fish absolutely shines. the owners serve as the host and hostess and make sure each guest is enjoying the food. even though i was just there in july 2011, i cannot wait to go back to carmel just for this restaurant. favorites: nikumaki (green onion wrapped in thinly slice ribeye grilled with an asian glaze), black bean halibut, almond sea bass and creme brulee

    (5)
  • Wakako U.

    5 stars for the invention of the japanified salsa. Go try for yourself.

    (5)
  • Emily A.

    loved the ginger salsa! so refreshing i got the almond encrusted seabass and it was pretty good. the california thing is like a deconstructed california roll. i highly recommend it

    (5)
  • Renee F.

    This is my favorite restaurant anywhere, any time. I've been coming here for years whenever I'm in town, I look forward to those visits, and it has never disappointed me. I suppose it starts with the fact that, since I don't know anyone in Carmel, I always dine alone when I'm here, and Flying Fish treats me with absolute respect, neither taking pity upon me for being alone or ignoring me because they assume their tip will be small. I was greeted at the door by name and with smiles on my most recent visit, and seated immediately (although I was early) by the fireplace - I was asked if that was okay with me, which it most definitely was on a cold evening! The service was very professional and friendly without being too familiar. Both the server and bus person had a great sense of timing and appeared magically whenever I hoped they would be there, but never intruded on my evening. Just about everyone else has mentioned the ginger salsa with wontons, which are terrific and tremendously addictive. I'm usually thinking about them for weeks after eating here. The food was, as always, perfectly flavored and cooked. I don't normally do three courses, but since this was my one day of vacation, I treated myself. I started with the curried shrimp soup, which was warming without being too spicy or too heavy. Then, forgoing my usual Yin Yang salmon (which has always been wonderful) for a change, I tried the almond-crusted sea bass. I was seeking every last piece of cabbage soaked in that sauce (more like a broth) from the plate! I had a really good (but relatively inexpensive) North Coast chardonnay with it all, which enhanced the experience. For dessert, I had the green tea ice cream sundae, which was subtly flavored and the perfect ending. I do recommend reservations, as they can get very crowded (I was there on a Tuesday and I didn't see an empty seat in the house). I will be back.

    (5)
  • Sierra M.

    I'm a fan of Japanese food and am obsessive about getting value, so take the 3 star rating with that understanding. had an outstanding waiter who was pleasant to talk to, checked in on us with just the right frequency, and even brought us a complimentary dessert. the ambiance was also great. the food was fine but nothing impressive. and that's where the 3 stars comes from. for the price of their meals, the food has to be good. and it wasn't. there were mediocre, uninteresting dishes that had great presentation but inadequate flavors. slight annoyance was that we had a reservation at 7:45 and arrived by that time. however, we had to wait for 5 to 10 minutes. while the experience of dining here was overall very pleasant, the unimpressive food and unwarranted prices bring down the rating.

    (3)
  • Genevieve R.

    Superduperoustandingridiculousness. Fried won tons served at the table with homemade salsa: Yum. California Tower: boom. Stupid good. Sea Bass: Delish. Black Cod: Solid. A Yelp reviewer said to avoid. Really? Don't listen. Go. Go NOW.

    (5)
  • Becky S.

    Great, friendly host and service! The food is a nice balance of seafood with an Asian touch. The Rare Seared Ahi was fabulous and we highly recommend the tempura banana sundae! The complimentary wonton chip and salsa were so good but pace yourself because the best is to follow!

    (5)
  • Allison P.

    After perusing yelp reviews and websites of Carmel Restaurants, I decided Flying Fish Grill seemed to fit exactly what I was craving -- Fresh seafood, a comfortable and intimate atmosphere, and unique, mouthwatering fare. Although we did not have a reservation (MAKE ONE!!), and the place was packed, the owners graciously were able to get us a table quickly. This is such a delicious spot, and I visited during the 'slower' season, and I was lucky to get a spot for two on a whim. I loved the inviting booths and flying fish decor. Service was exceptional from start to finish from everyone. Wonton Strips and Ginger Salsa are so good you could stuff yourself on just them. Be forewarned they are addicting!! Luckily I held myself back and enjoyed my next course of pan fried almond crusted sea bass, whipped potatoes, chinese cabbage & rock shrimp stir-fry. The flavors were harmonious and the fish coooked perfectly. YUM!! My husband ordered the grilled scallop and gulf prawns which came with fettuccini, water chestnuts and snow peas in a spicy curry cream sauce. 4 large shrimp and 4 large scallops accompanied a generous portion of fettuccini. He pretty much licked the plate clean. We wished we had saved room for dessert because the couple next to us got a scrumptious, decadent looking chocolate cake with raspberry drizzle and whipped cream. Next time we are back in the area, we will definitley need our Flying Fish fix. Everything on the menu sounded fabulous and we had such a pleasant dining experience. Highly Recommended from one foodie to another.

    (5)
  • Marilyn E.

    Had a wonderful dinner at Flying Fish over the Fourth. The wontons and salsa starter is a great surprise and addicting. The calamari appetizer was sweet and tender with a killer sauce. I had the almond crusted seabass and it was the most wonderful fish I've ever had. The sauce in the bowl was way too salty and mixed with the mashed potatoes into a messy mush however. The service was attentive and gracious. My dining companion had the sesame seed crusted salmon and loved it. Creme brulee wasn't the best I've had, but what am I doing ordering creme brulee in an Asian restaurant in the first place. Would definitely go back!!!

    (4)
  • tom r.

    Terrific food. LOL i was eating next to the teathing baby and was pleased that the restaurant and Todd along with mom were so attentive to that baby. Brings back fond memories. We have actually had restaurants in Carmel have rhe audacity to put butcher paper under our table when we came with our young kids. Those restaurants R now out of bus. By the way our food was superb. Parchment halibut was scrumptious. This restaurant gets an extra 5 for being so accomidating Folks U can't pass this one by.

    (5)
  • Barry S.

    Had a wonderful meal here and great service. Almond encrusted seabass was awesome! And the artichoke appetizer - we inhaled. I can't wait to come back to this place!

    (5)
  • Shauna B.

    What a great place. It's oh so cozy. I loved the fried won ton and salsa freebie they first give you. We also ordered the calamari special. It was quite good! I had the Crusted Sea Bass. It was really good. My mother ordered the Grilled Salmon. She also said it was great. Service was spot on. My only complaint was that my Sea Bass was luke warm. I like my food to be piping hot and that's the way it should be served. We topped our meal off with a little sake. Very very nice meal and we had a great time. Our very tall waiter was great!

    (4)
  • John K.

    Simply our favorite in Carmel. We eat here on every trip to this dreamy little town so this past weekend meant another visit. From it's sunken and therefore hidden away entrance, to it's unassuming and modest decor and atmosphere, and it's ideal size and lighting, this place is a charm. Very little changes about the Flying Fish over time, which is what I like in a place that seems perfect to me. Kenny (the owner) is always there with a warm greeting, and we instantly recognize almost all of the staff who have been there forever (that says something, by the way). Terrific wine list (e.g., Rombauer and Kistler chards). I mostly order the steak medallions entree when I come but this time, I tried abalone for my first time (somewhat ashamed to admit) and it was delicious. My wife had the halibut which is served sealed in a parchment paper, so diners peel back themselves knowing the most freshness is there. Spicey ahi tuna appetizer was killer. Other reviewers have aptly covered the won tons and ginger salsa (which come gratis). They also serve a great claypot which is fun for groups of 4, but also fine for 2. In a place like Carmel, I'm sure many people have their favorite eating spot. And it's good that these get spread out so everybody isn't trying to get into one! Flying Fish is ours.

    (5)
  • Karen M.

    We recently took a week to travel down Highway 1 to Big Sur. We stopped along the way, and enjoyed wonderful dinners in Santa Cruz, Pacific Grove, Big Sur and Cambria. By far the best was The Flying Fish Grill in Carmel. It's been 2 weeks since we returned and we are still talking about it. We highly recommend the rare peppered ahi, the grilled halibut, the tempura chicken and, you must indulge in the banana sundae! We were welcomed immediately by Rich and taken to our table. Service was excellent, and Rich continued to check on us and other diners throughout the evening. If you are looking for fine food in Carmel, you must visit The Flying Fish Grill!

    (5)
  • Laura F.

    This is my favorite restaurant in Carmel. The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and intimate. The interior is all wood, and if you're lucky in the winter, you can sit near the fireplace. They've had the same staff working there for years and the service is great. Each table starts with complimentary fried won ton wrappers with a ginger tomato "salsa". Delicious. I always end up with a second bowl of the salsa. Every time I go I order the seafood clay pot as an shared entree (serves two). The clay pot is put in the middle of the table, filled with a light broth, bok choy, carrots, green onions, mushrooms and mussels. Then you get to cook your own salmon, a type of white fish, calamari, prawns, and scallops as you eat. And they serve this with the most delicious roasted garlic and sesame oil aioli. I'm know to just lick this sauce off my chopsticks while I wait for the food to arrive. So because I order the same thing every time, I can't really comment on the rest of their menu except to say what other people order looks great and I've heard many others comment that this is their favorite spot. Enjoy!

    (5)
  • Hillary N.

    Anyone who knows me knows that a hungry Me is a cranky Me. This place is hard to find and I was wandering around in the cold mist, feeling a little like I was in the Twlight Zone, as my two GPS programs were giving me two different sets of directions, and there was no Flying Fish to be seen. I used antiquated technology and actually CALLED the restaurant for directions, and received no less than the host actually walking outside in the street to flag me down and escort me in. Plus one. The atmosphere is dark, sexy and a perfect combination of exotic and comfortable. The booths are all fairly private, which was nice since I was eating alone. No awkward stares, yay. I was seated right next to the fireplace, which was very romantic for Myself and I. I ordered a glass of a locally made Zinfandel and the black cod with couscous and a medley of wild mushrooms. The fish was silken, like buttah. The fried wonton basket provided before my meal was obnoxiously addicting as well. I LOVED this place. The service was top notch, the food was great, the atmosphere was dreamy. Hopefully next time I'll have a date. ;)

    (4)
  • Bradley H.

    Excellent fish very friendly service at this small restaurant. In a mall so not a ton of atmosphere, but japanese theme inside with private tables which was nice. Mostly fish on the menu. Didn't pay so don't fully recall prices but seemed somewhat moderate maybe on pricey side of moderate. Decent wine selection with glasses, splits and bottles also moderate to pricey. Very good fish.

    (5)
  • Jill W.

    My husband and I had the best date night here. Tony may be the most seasoned and professional waiter I have ever met. He really added to the evening by anticipating our every need. I has the grilled salmon and my husband had the steak. Both meals were flawless and almost magical in their perfection. We also bought a great bottle of local wine that Tony recommended. I thought the prices were very reasonable for a romantic dinner in Carmel. I would give this place another star if I could!

    (5)
  • Darren L.

    We looked up their address on google maps but still couldn't find it. We walked around that block and actually had to ask someone where it's at... I remembered my friend told me it was hard to find but I thought that he was just blind... apparently I am too! I think we had a group of 13.... They were able to fit us into these two booths which worked out perfect! It felt like a private room but not quite. We met the owner and our waiter\bartender was really friendly... I named him our bartender because every 5 mins we would ask him for a bottle of sake!!! =) We ordered an army of appetizers and they were all good... especially the tuna tartare..... I ordered the shrimp n scallops.... very mild curry sauce that was spicy....very wonderful flavor that just lingers on the back of your tongue. My girl ordered the Seabass with potato.... even better than my dish, it was actually the dish I heard about.... regret not getting it but I'll be back soon!

    (5)
  • Susan H.

    Great meal! Loved the almond crusted sea bass and the hot fudge sundae. Service was attentive but not overbearing.

    (5)
  • Amy G.

    SOOOOOOO GOOD!!! I got the almond sea bass...and it was AMAZING!!!! My cousin got the halibut...and also loved it! Aside from the good food...they have a lot going for them. The owner greeted us and also was there to tell ask us if we had a good meal upon our departure. The waitress was great. The bus boy....was SO friendly. I've actually never seen a more friendly bus boy. The prices were fair. and the atmosphere was very cool. I actually already recommended it to a friend....and would keep on recommending it!

    (5)
  • Matt D.

    We have loved this place for years. Wonderful food...exceptional service.

    (4)
  • Steve H.

    The food here is top notch along with the service. We were here on a Monday night early and the place filled up fast. The only knock I have is with the decor. The wooden booths with pillows on them are very uncomfortable. I wonder what this was before the Flying Fish? something out of the 70's no doubt.

    (3)
  • Alizze A.

    So glad my fiance chose this place for dinner. This is a reservation only place... Our reservation was at 845pm, but they called and moved us up to 815pm. Got there and was seated within few mins. The wonton chips with ginger salsa was so addicting! We ordered the calamari appetizer and it was delish! We ordered the black bean halibut and almond crusted seabass. Both were so yummy... fish melted in ur mouth and moist. We also ordered the hot sake and it was nice, sweet, and smooth... the waitress Gabriella was nice and attentive. Since we told her we were from out of town, she ended up giving us a small sundae on the house. The night couldn't end any better! Definitely on my list to check out this place again when we go up north. ;) happy ending indeed. Lol.

    (5)
  • Christine S.

    Intimate. Delightful to the palette. Excellent service. We got the best seats in the house, right by the fireplace and started off with some J.Lohr cab and the negimayaki. Since I like my meat cooked medium rare and he likes his medium well, the waiter accommodated both of us and let us get half and half! It was a delicious starter! We then shared the almond sea bass and gulf shrimp and scallop curry noodles! AMAZING! Scallops are my favorite seafood dish and they were cooked perfectly! The waiter, I think his name was John, was awesome! He answered all of our questions and commented on our orders, he was super friendly and accommodated my BF's request to get the mango sorbet on the tempura banana dessert rather than vanilla. It was a great, romantic evening and the food was delightful.

    (5)
  • Maryrose S.

    One of my favorite spots in Carmel. The host was friendly and very engaging. We saw him sit down with guests throughout the night, which gave the place a nice homey feel. I went with his recommendation and got the sea bass. FABULOUS! A great mix of flavors and perfectly cooked. I nearly licked my plate clean. The husband went for the steak, which was also cooked to perfection. Tender, cooked just right and not overdone with the marinade/seasoning. After I finished off my plate, I happily helped him eat through his. Ahhhhh! Decor was charming and staff was friendly. It was a little bit on the pricey side for the dishes, but dining out in Carmel is a rare occurrence so I can forgive that.

    (4)
  • Dave C.

    I was first introduced to The Flying Fish Grill many years ago and have been coming back a couple times a year ever since (I would come more often, but it's a bit of a drive). As many reviewers have already noted, the ginger salsa and wonton strips are AWESOME - and free! I always order the same entree - grilled salmon. While the name is bland, the salmon is anything but. The ginger-soy glaze is so good that I even eat the vegetables - no small feat. My wife typically orders the yin-yan salmon or almond seabass which are also very good. For dessert, the creme brulee with fresh fruit topping is excellent as is the warm banana sundae. The ambiance is intimate and serene while the staff is respectful and knowledgeable. The bottom line is that you can't go wrong eating here provided you can find it. There is a single staircase the leads to the entrance underneath Patisserie Boissiere in Carmel Plaza.

    (5)
  • Debby F.

    I ate here for the first time, though I've lived on the Peninsula for most of my life. First, I will say that we were warmly greeted by the owner (woman). We got there at 5pm, just as it opened. The seating appears to be all booths. My only complaint about that is that the table cannot be moved. There was a large amount of space between the chair and the table, which meant I had to lean forward the whole time-- not my favorite way to sit. We were presented with fried won ton and a ginger salsa, which was quite good. I ordered the wild caught salmon, that was served with a BBQ rice ball and julienned zucchini, carrots and snow peas. Hubs ordered the almond encrusted sea bass, that was served atop creamy mashed potatoes and with bok choy, rock shrimp in a nicely flavored broth. I had food envy, as my salmon was 'meh'. It was properly cooked, but I felt it could have used more of the asian glaze. The veggies were properly cooked-- al dente, but the seasoning wasn't anything special. The BBQ rice ball left me disappointed. This doesn't compare to Robata's Japanese restaurant, where the rice ball has a mouth-watering BBQ sauce. Here, there was really no trace of any sauce, so it was a crunchy, dried piece of rice ball. As for my husband's sea bass, that was very good. The fish was perfectly cooked, and I liked the crunchiness of the almonds. The potatoes were very creamy and delightful. I loved the whole dish-- and my husband graciously ate half his meal, and we switched. He agreed that the salmon dinner ($30) was three stars, while the sea bass ($27) was five stars. The dessert menu was lackluster, so we passed. Creme brulee' in a Japanese restaurant didn't intrigue me, nor did the different ice cream sundaes. There was a chocolate cake with raspberry sauce, but I'm not a huge fan of chocolate. The place was completely full when we left (less than an hour later). Total tab for two entrees, and one large Sapporo beer came to $72.00. With a 20% tip, total tab was $86.00. Would I come here again? Probably, but not right away. I think there are far better restaurants on the Monterey Peninsula for the same price. But, we're glad we tried the place.

    (4)
  • Andrew Y.

    uh oh, this place was a slight disappointment for me. entrees were not cheap, and nothing was outstanding. the seabass tasted just ok to me, and was a bit too drenched. the seafood pasta was very drenched also, and although it came with a lot of seafood, most of it just didn't taste that good to me. 2.5 would be more appropriate here, but given the 4.5 stars FFG is currently sitting at, 2 is really the best I can give.

    (2)
  • Henri W.

    We have been to this restaurant many times and it never fails to please us immensely. The almond seabass is to-die-for! I never get tired of it. Perfectly prepared, everytime. The service is always friendly and accomodating. The owners are great! Love this place.

    (5)
  • Lonnie S.

    Had the best Seabass ever here!!! Served over couscous and an amazing sauce I could lick the plate clean!!! Waiters were friendly and quick with service. We were sat right away and they did not give me and my girlfriend any weird or dirty looks as this place usually caters to the older yet wealthier crowd (how I assume, but assuming can be dangerous). I will definitely go back no questions asked.

    (5)
  • Michaela L.

    I'll admit it, Flying Fish Grill made it onto my list of "gotta try" based on the notion of free wonton chips. I can't resist fried anything. I dithered about just getting a couple of appetizers and skipping the mains. I was dining by myself and I would have really liked to try the tuna tartare but it was $10 and I wasn't sure if the portion would be dinner-worthy, so I caved and got an entree instead. One real misstep here was I assumed when the menu said "California Rolls: Avocado and crab cake" that they meant they had dreamed up some Californicated version of CA rolls using a, you know, crab cake. The fried kind. Sounds good, right? Sounds like the kind of thing you'd find in a trendy Asian seafood restaurant, right? I'd totally order those. So I ordered them. Alas, I was much disappointed to receive a regular ol' order of standard California rolls instead, and they weren't even that impressive because the "crab cake" was just the standard fish paste krab stick sans mayo, and you know you get CA rolls for the mayo. Oh well. My entree was good, though. "Yin Yan Salmon" was a filet of salmon crusted on one half with white sesame and on the other half with black sesame (would've been more impressed if they really had done the yin-yang symbol but that would have been showing off). This was served with four perfect snow peas, several slices of avocado, a decorative little pile of flying fish roe (duh) and some angel hair pasta in a soy-lime-cream sauce. It was tasty and inventive. At the end of the meal I pulled out the "I don't think I can finish a dessert by myself" line and the hostess got the kitchen to make up a half ice cream sundae for me. Heh. I didn't actually expect that to work. Anyway, I had a good time and a good meal. I wouldn't say it was the kind of meal that would make me cry with joy but it was pretty tasty. ...and now I want to start a restaurant where I will offer fusion California rolls made with deep-fried East Coast-style crab cake. Yum.

    (4)
  • Donna R.

    I've been eating here for years with my wonderful in-laws. We travel quite a bit and this is my favorite restaurant anywhere! Ask for Rich to be your waiter, Kenny the owner is fantastic! WONDERFUL and UNIQUE!

    (5)
  • Miss P.

    such a cute place. it's in a Japanese style, with private booths for the diners. i like privacy...it's much less embarrassing for my dining companion, especially when i start in on talking about inappropriate subject matters at the table. the fried won ton wrappers they give you at the start are really good. i could probably just eat a few baskets of those. i got the almond-encrusted sea bass, which was really tender and tasty. it laid upon a mound of mash potatoes, and came with rock shrimp and cabbage, in this light sauce. the portion was big as well. the salmon dish was good as well. i finished off with the green tea ice cream sundae...yeah, sorta random, but really good. i read that they make their chocolate fudge sauce there. i've been slightly obsessed with chocolate sauce lately...go figure. the best part of the meal was when my dining companion insisted that one of the sorbet flavors was peach, when, in reality, it was passionfruit. there's nothing like being proven correct to finish off a great meal...awwww yeah!

    (5)
  • Steven P.

    Service was very attentive but not intrusive. Seared ahi was great. They still have Chilean sea bass on the menu.

    (4)
  • Phoebe J.

    I wish I would have sent my seabass back. I have never had something so fishy at such an upscale restaurant. I wasn't the one paying, so it didn't hurt so bad. I think it had the potential of being good, but it was too fishy! I would expect they would serve only the freshest fish here! We ordered a bottle of wine which I knew had the wrong year on the menu. 2006 was a great year for this particular wine, but the following year was not so good. It was definitely the 2007, but they had it marked as a 2006. I told the waiter, but he didn't say much, only, "Sorry, we need to change that. It's a new wine." Oh, I so regret not sending my entree back. It's the only thing I remember, and will most likely not return because of it. The decor was the only pleasurable thing I remember.

    (1)
  • Leo D.

    5 stars all around. The food melts in your mouth. The service is top notch. The atmosphere is wonderful. If you are in Carmel you must eat here.

    (5)
  • Irene W.

    Delicious food. Period. I had the abalone and it exceeded my expectations. The waiter was knowledgeable and very good. My only tip is to make a reservation - we went on a Thursday night and it was packed. I'm definitely coming back here the next time I'm in Carmel.

    (5)
  • Andy M.

    Simply the best seafood place in Carmel. Best service, friendly, always fresh fish and seafood. A stunning, attractively priced local winelist will blow you away. Best part is it tends to get less tourists and more locals for the atmosphere that is just right. My favorites are almond crusted seabass and black bean halibut, but everything is great here!

    (5)
  • Michelle B.

    I love this place. I would definitely recommend the seafood hot pot and the hot fudge sundae. They make their hot fudge homemade, and it is awesome. The staff is always so friendly, and the restaurant even though it is small is the perfect size and very cozy. I have been back twice, and planning to go again.

    (5)
  • David L.

    The service was beyond excellent, our server went out of his way to be extra helpful, and the food was delicious. Highly recommended!

    (5)
  • Sarah S.

    I would say this is a nice date place, very cozy and wooden. (The coziness lends more to the "nice date place" than the wooden part) We sat right by the fire and had my favorite ginger salsa with wonton chips and tuna tartar. The salsa & chips come before your meal but save some for the tuna, trust me. It's good together. I had the Yin Yan Salmon with soy lime cream sauce. Perfect blend of flavors. Creme Brulee for dessert was okay, have had better but the fresh fruit topping was nice and so was the Orange Muscat that I had along with it. This was my first time back in years and I'm glad to see they've still got it.

    (5)
  • Kevvy K.

    One star for affordability (relative to Carmel's CPI). One star for portion size (you won't leave hungry). One star for quality (the food is good, generally well-executed if not brilliant). One star for atmosphere (wooden booths, suspended wooden painted flying fish, a mirror that actually tricked me into thinking the room was twice as large--that hasn't happened since the 7th grade). Where's the missing star? The wow factor in the culinary content, the amazing waiter who can Shakespearize the specials of the day--well, mostly the missing wow factor in the food. The tuna tartare was flat. The almond encrusted sea bass and black bean halibut very good, ditto the green tea sundae, but, they were all just that: very good. The place is a must-try, though, in Carmel, for the reasons everyone has laid out. It would not really stand out in any other larger city, though, but, that's what keeps the air clean and crisp in Carmel, n'est-ce pas? So enjoy...

    (4)
  • Anita L.

    Carmel-by-the-Sea has been our romantic getaway choice for years. As soon as we check in to our b&b, our reservation is made. A warm welcome, and you'll settle into your booth, or secluded table. Our basket of fried won ton crisps dissappear in minutes and are cheerfully replaced. We order our favorite dishes-though the specials always sound delectable. Wine choices abound. Save room for desserts-we can honestly say we've tried them ALL. Service has always been above and beyond-I am thrilled to see a restaurant busy and bustling in these hard times. Well done, we will return again and again, to linger, relax and endulge.

    (5)
  • Bruce K.

    This was an excellent experience. The California tower was a delightful appetizer, and our fish entrees were delicious, and accompanied by very fresh, local,and firmly cooked veggies. I had the Alaska black cod and my wife had local salmon. Service was also excellent.

    (4)
  • Emmett M.

    Very very yummy. Ask for the mount fuji dessert.....trust me, its excellent.

    (5)
  • Sammich C.

    Okay, this place is good. Tried the black pepper ahi tuna with angel hair pasta. It had this amazing sesame sweet and sour sauce that was wonderful. The person who went with me had the halibut and that was wonderfully prepared as well. Really fresh fish, really awesome inventive sauces. Good asian fusion seafood.

    (5)
  • Jay V.

    Fantastic server, food was nice. We enjoyed it and made our reservation and showed up promptly. The people that showed up late on a Saturday night were forced to wait. Ha ha ha!

    (4)
  • Maria B.

    Like my fellow Yelpers, I would best describe this cuisine as "Asian fusion", heavy on the fish. And I can honestly say that in my 6+ years going here (probably 20 or so times total) I've never had a bad (or unoriginal!) meal here. I don't get down to Carmel as much as I used to, but when I do I always make sure to visit The Flying Fish. UPDATE: the last time I went here (in Sept) I DID have a bad meal here. Boo! Both the food and the service seems to have gone downhill. Oh well...

    (3)
  • L L.

    Was expecting a great meal after reading all the reviews.....did not turn out that way unfortunately. Our food arrived 'cold', my black cod was so thin and the piece so small I ate it in 2 bites ( I think I got the tail not the center cut) the dish was not flavorful and the for the price........ not justified $25 for the dish. It seemed more like a strip mall type lunch place and for the prices they were charging absolutely not fine dining. If you are going to spend this type of money go to a 'proper' restaurant. I ate at The Stillwater Grill last week at Spanish Bay Inn (I had the black cod) it was superb...the place was packed out but our food came on time and perfectly cooked.

    (1)
  • Pamela W.

    There is not much I can add after reading all the reviews. It's a wonderful place. The owners and staff make you feel like family or special customers over and over. We've been dining there for over ten years and have never had a bad meal. Everything on the menu is good, or even great. I'm not even a big fish eater and I love the fish there! You cannot go wrong. Make a reservation. You'll be very happy with your meal.

    (4)
  • arthur s.

    Try the halibut and the beef roll appetizer :) Kenny the owner knows how to run a good spot and make you feel welcome. Recommended :)

    (5)
  • Tanya R.

    I grew up in Carmel and this is my favorite place to dine when in town. The food is consistently delicious and interesting, I can't stop myself from eating too much ginger salsa, and we love the intimate ambiance. The salmon, seabass and curry pasta dishes are family favorites, and the desserts are also not to be missed. There is no view so this is why it's favored by locals who are already spoiled by views. Or come well after sunset.

    (5)
  • sarah h.

    Overpriced, overrated. The food was bland. We came here on a recommendation and left wishing we'd gone elsewhere. The service was fine. The ambiance was fine. But truly, the food was the opposite of savory = bland. I expected a lot more from an Asian restaurant, especially one this pricey. We ordered just what my friend recommended. Can't remember the name of the dish but it was meat boiled in water at your table and then you dip it in sauces. I didn't like the sauces. And even with the sauce, the meat was bland. I liked the fried chips with salsa that they serve to start. But that was it. We paid close to a hundred bucks. I won't go back.

    (2)
  • Ankur P.

    Expensive but worth it. Appetizers were delicious. I could have drank the salsa by itself. The fudgy dessert was rich and satisfying.

    (4)
  • Sean C.

    Went there with my mom not too long ago. Like a bunch of things in Carmel, the crowd is a little older, and therefore I was expecting the food to be a little more conservative. Suprsingly, the atmosphere was relativley hip without being trendy - correct noise level too. There were some neat combos on the menu for sure - we started with an appetizer of spring rolls, I had the seared ahi tuna dish as a meal, and we split a green tea sundae for dessert. In general, the food was solid. The appetizer was good - not anything out of the ordinary though. My main dish was good as well - the noodles and mushrooms and sauce all blended well with the pepper on the tuna, but there was so much going on with the rest of the dish, I couldn't taste the tuna at all! Bummer. The sundae was good too - the embedded oranges were a neat touch, but sort of messed with the texture of the whole thing in a not so hot way. I'd go back for the food though. I had sake - it was tasty, but I do wish they would have had a bar, that would be cooler. Prices were reasonable for pretty much everything. On a side note, our waitress was a *total*hottie*. I wanted to ask her out, but was with my mom (damn). So, Ms. Flying Fish waitress with the hot accent and the short-ish blonde hair - do you remember a dashing, handsome, chivalrous, and polite (but not too overly polite to not be a bad boy), non-egomaniac guy from one of your tables last night? Aww yee - call me up darlin'!

    (4)
  • Shirin M.

    I ordered the sesame covered salmon with angel hair pasta in a wasabi cream sauce and not only was it delicious, but the presentation of the food was beautiful. Ambiance is dark, but cozy and elegant, and the staff are very nice. If I was in the area I would definitely go back again!

    (4)
  • Will A.

    This is a really nice place. The food was really good (I had the Australian lobster tail special). They had these fried wonton as sort of their "bread" and interesting salsa dip. I thought the wait staff was really nice, and I didn't think it was too noisy.

    (4)
  • Mochi B.

    This was a great find! Food was delicious and service was really good. We all loved the fried wonton chips and salsa. I think the waiter had to refill our bowl three times. The tuna tartar was a little bit under seasoned but had good flavor. I like the extra crunch with the cucumber and the toasted bread. For entree and dessert we had the lobster, shabu shabu, seafood pasta and banana tempura. Everything tasted fresh and great. Definitely will go back.

    (5)
  • Amy P.

    I live in Carmel and this is one of my favorite restaurants. It's Japanese/Pacific Rim, but for those who don't like Japanese you most likely will be able to find sometihng you like (I encourage you to check out their menu). If you love abalone... this is the place to go! It is AMAZING!!! In most restaurants you get small portions, but here you get 6... yes, 6 large pieces of abalone! The price is a bit high ($50), but well worth it... you won't be disappointed!

    (5)
  • Angela N.

    Good restaurant. To call this Japanese is a stretch. They have angel hair pasta on the menu and other "fusion foods." We ordered the Tower. Very good. Ordered the artichoke and thought it was a bit too saturated with water (like it had been re-heated). It was good, just not great. It could have been better. For dinner we ordered sea bass and the black cod. Sea bass was almond crusted and amazing! Cod was bland. Didn't seem seasoned. Would expect a sweet sauce and it came with greens and pearl pasta (definitely not Japanese flavors). Bland. It is crazy because black cod is such a signature Japanese dish and yet it was a flop. The restaurant staff is nice but not trained in 5-star style service. Nice nonetheless just not versed in how to make you feel like you are a priority to them as a customer. I think we went for about 15-20 minutes without a single person checking on us to ensure we has everything we needed. Would definitely come back for the sea bass. The service really needs to improve. Ambience is quaint and warm.

    (3)
  • A L.

    My boyfriend and I found this place on a whim while on a recent trip to Carmel, and this was definitely the dining capstone of our trip! Great food, intimate booth, kind and skilled waiter, amazing pre-dinner salsa, reasonably priced wine.... I still am having dreams about the almond-encrusted seabass. Excited to go back someday!

    (5)
  • ANN S.

    I do not know where to begin...except this dining experience is OFF THE CHARTS, for sure. A bit difficult to find ...but think of it as a treasure hunt and persistance will pay off. Our waiter was Tony and I cannot tell you how well he does his job...amazing service. Oh, the food was a oral orgasm with every new taste entering our mouth. Thank you to the owners and Tony for making our experience a memory. We will be back for sure!!!

    (5)
  • Melody K.

    I love the Flying Fish!! Kenny and Tina are great owners and the staff has been with them for years. Locals make this a regular stop. The shrimp curry soup is to die for!! When I am sick, I have my hubby get a take out order of this soup to make me feel better and I don't even like Indian curry. The fish in parchment is so moist and flavorful, what can I say. I love the beef clay pot and dipping sauces. Now, I don't like oysters (an acquired taste) but Kenny's breaded oysters and sauce are SOOO good, that I lick the shells!!! No kidding!!! It isn't an inexpensive meal, but it is a delightful one and worth the money.

    (5)
  • Rob P.

    I'll start this off by saying the won ton chips with garlic salsa was very tasty. Great taste to start with and it's FREE!! We ordered the California tower and it's basically an unwrapped California roll with dungeness crab. Taste is good, but not unique. Don't get me wrong, we really liked it, but the taste was not new. It's not as easy to eat since it's not wrapped up, but manageable. I had the New York steak and it was good, but basic fare. My wife had the chicken and she really liked it and from what I tasted, it was flavorful. We ordered the tempura banana sunday even though we barely had any room in our stomachs,but boy am I glad we did. That was unique and quite tasty. Leave room for this dessert. The only reason for 4 stars is the price and though the food was good, it just wasn't 5 star.A

    (4)
  • Conifers J.

    So we glanced at the FFG when passing the patisserie next door, but came back later in the evening, having abandoned Anton & Michel across the street AND Roy's at Pebble Beach, for something more casual and something new and different. FFG is hidden down a set of stairs in a cozy basement with hewn booths that give you couples lots and lots of privacy. The straight talkin' mild mannered host delivered us to our table which was way back in a warren of booths (somewhat claustophobic, but charming). So yes, think great place for dates, private conversations in little nooks, and secret winks. The BF and I agreed that FFG was a solid 3 stars bec/ the place is quite adorable, and the food surprisingly decent; it's essentially a place for "fun food." To be truthful, I detest Asian fusion but the BF has an affinity for the stuff. The details? FFG tends to serve easy food, what does that mean? Take a look: those deep fried wonton wrappers with light ginger salsa = Cholesterol heaven. And the STEAMED artichoke with wasabi mayo? at $9 try not to plan your evening out around THAT one since surely you can steam your own artichokes? The last of the three appetizers - the cold spicy tuna tartare - was excellent. It is served mixed with sesame and chili oil, topped with flying fish roe, and to be consumed on sliced cucumber and toasted bread. Crunchy, spicy, salty, cold. Entrees were OK. Lobster was a treat and HUGE, straight up with butter. Pass on the curry rice, pass on the steamed julienned veggie side. I had the peppercorn seared tuna salad on angel hair pasta with shitake mushrooms. The chef was too lavish with the soy/lime sauce but the piece sorta worked. We were SO FULL but the BF requested the fried banana sunday with vanilla ice cream topped with macadamia nuts and caramel. It was horribly addictive. Again overall, tasty, light fun, but no place I would ever need to experience again. Enjoy!

    (3)
  • Paul D.

    A little disappointing for us. The restaurant was very noisy but mostly from one table with a big annoying family. Appetizers were very good and so was the Sake. The problem was the main courses. The tuna was fresh but a little too sweet and the clay pot fish stew was bland.

    (3)
  • Tracy W.

    Just went back again last week, and I have to say, I was even MORE impressed this time. We got the salmon and almond sea bass. I'm a fan of sea bass so I order it everywhere and I'm usually pleased with it. But the sea bass at flying fish grill was PHENOMENAL. It's got everything, interesting texture, right amount of juice, and delicious sauce. We were so happy with it that we wanted to come back the next night and order just that dish. This is definitely my favorite restaurant of all time.

    (5)
  • Nina S.

    Consistently good and I've been coming here since he early/mid-90's. The inside space is looking a bit tired, but it's cozy and Japanese-charming still (it's downstairs/in a basement so there are no "views" of street-scene). The ginger salsa is really terrific - I was inspired to make it at home. The almond-crusted snapper is my husband's go-to dish every time. No kids menu, but I really appreciated how quickly they accommodated us by halving the portion of an adult dish, and serving my hungry kids pasta with butter and lots of cheese. They now ask me for that "angel hair" pasta all the time. By the way - this is a restaurant favored by locals, as well as tourists - My hubby and I used to live in the area for 2 years and it's not one of those overpriced "concept" restaurants - they really are known by locals for yummiest seafood. :)

    (4)
  • Donna D.

    This place came highly recommended to us by the innkeeper at our B and B. The food was divine and the service was outstanding. The chef/owner greeted us upon our arrival and checked with us during our meal to make sure we were happy with the food and service. The fried wonton chips and salsa were a great start to a great meal! Visting Carmel is going to become an annual trip for us and we'll definitely be back to the Flying Fish! Thanks for a wonderful meal from your biggest fans in Texas!

    (5)
  • D K.

    An excellent combination of great food (fresh fish prepared in a variety of interesting ways), nice atmosphere, and good location (the location listed on Yelp is not accurate - it is now located on Ocean and Lincoln, I think. The price is reasonable - most entries are around $25 and are quite large. I am from Toronto, where the dining scene is great. But this place would be well-rated there as well.

    (5)
  • DJ G.

    YUM! The chips and ginger dip is addictive. Cute place and great service.

    (5)
  • Stacey J.

    We came across this restaurant on Yelp! I am so glad that we found it. The food and staff were excellent. We especially enjoyed the ginger salsa. The cozy feel was great for a date night. I recommend making reservations.

    (5)
  • Norm P.

    Place was great. A blend of flavors rarely found. Everything was excellent, just some items better excellent than others. What a great find.

    (5)
  • James M.

    Definitely a gem. We had the halibut and cod. Both dishes well prepared and flavorful. Will definitely be back!

    (4)
  • Elaine Y.

    One of mine and my husband's favorite places ever! We stumbled upon it back in 2004 on our honeymoon. The won ton appetizer with their ginger salsa is to die for. I can make a meal out of it alone,BUT have to force myself to stop because the main dishes are out of this world! We even tried the Hot Pot. YUM! But we try to go back once a year on our anniversary to have my Halibut in Parchment Paper and his Yin & Yang Salmon! Small, Cozy, and Busy! Reservations suggested.

    (5)
  • Greg V.

    I came here with a group of about 20. First of all, this is not a very big restaurant, but they impressively were able to bring up all of our dinners together. I was going to try the salmon, but our awesome waitress Nicole, hinted that we should try the Almond Crusted Sea Bass. Let me tell you, this was absolutely melt in your mouth excellent. It was served over a bed of mashed potatoes, that might as well have been a bowl of whipped creme. I mean this was the best fish dish I have ever had. It was like dessert was served first. Speaking of which, you must try the Tempura Banana with caramel and crusted macadamia nuts. I only had this based on the suggestion of fellow Yelpers. It was out of this world and easily a nice treat for 4 of us to share. I had 2 bottles of Sapporo to accompany the Japanese influence. My only regret was that I didn't have any extra stomach in tow. I only have 2 negative issues with Flying Fish: the 1-man bathroom was about 2' by 3', and the bench seats were a little harder than they look. I think new, updated cushions might be in order. Other than that, I will definitely try to find an excuse to return.

    (5)
  • Andrew Z.

    My girlfriend and I enjoyed our meals. The salsa is extraordinary, and the dishes are creative without sacrificing taste with sauces or otherwise. I enjoyed the staff, and most of the dishes. It was not fantastic, but a very good experience, and I would not expect less for the price paid.

    (4)
  • Amy O.

    A favorite! Love it. Fresh fish. Great atmosphere. Excellent service.

    (5)
  • Rosalind C.

    I love this place. My bf and I came here almost two years ago on our last trip to Carmel, and we just couldn't help ourselves and came back again on this trip. The fried wonton skins are so tasty, and the salsa that comes with it is perfect, especially for those of us who are spicy shy. Last time, I think we had the steak and the seabass. Both were excellent. We also had the artichoke appetizer, and had an encore of that again this time too. The wasabi mayo is SO good. This time around, I got the seabass and my bf got the lobster (it was a special). The seabass was wonderful. Perfectly cooked, with subtle flavors all around. The lobster was also really good - perfectly cooked, and so delicious that you actually didn't need the butter dipping sauce. I was less of a fan of the curry rice that comes with the lobster, since it seems to overwhelm the lobster, but my bf seemed to be happy with it. For dessert, I had creme brulee and the bf had the green tea sundae. both were excellent. I was, I think, happier the last time we came here because it was a slow night, and the bf had a lot of time to chat in Japanese with our friendly Japanese waitress. I think she might have been the owner's wife. This time around, we got an alooof Caucasian waitress, which is fine, but I was kind of looking forward to seeing the Japanese lady again. It was also funny because we had just listened to this American Life where they had waitresses act either cold or friendly to their tables, and found that not being friendly actually increased their tips. Let's just say that I tipped 20% even though she was not super nice. On our way out, though, the bf spoke to the owner in Japanese, and he seemed super excited about that. Too bad he wasn't our server.

    (5)
  • Jimmy S.

    What a place! I am not a person the ever orders fish as an entree without prompting. I was traveling with a friend who loves fish so I agreed to go. We had a great time, great ambiance and the food was fantastic! The entire town of Carmel is one of my favorite places now.

    (5)
  • Carolyn B.

    We picked this place because of the high ratings on Yelp and it was even better than expected! The place is lovely and very nice for a romantic anniversary dinner. Waiter was attentive but what made the night distintive was the owner singing. Wow, and he CAN sing. We were lucky enought to get a song and several other tables did too. Quite charming. Food was so delicious. We splurged on the lobster and Monteray albalone. The sides on all the dishes were perfect too, very fresh spinach. Dessert was very good and althought we thought we were full, we ate it all.

    (5)
  • C. F.

    Have gone to this place once every few years since the early 90's. Gotta say it was either a lot better the first few times I went, or perhaps I've become more discerning... Biggest complaint is that it's gone too far away from it's Japanese restaurant roots, while at the same time not being a true "fusion" offering. What's featured on the menu isn't even really fusion, but rather just some so-so fish dishes with a few token Japanese items such as a sub-par CA roll and an undercooked Niku/green onion "maki". Fusion should be more about combining two cuisines, not compromising on both... Used to go for the Shabu-Shabu, which although still on the menu, has been relegated to a parenthetical offering (e.g. each table used to have a built in burner, but now they plop a propane contraption on top). Definitely not going to go back anymore since my last two times were more for nostalgia than anything else. My trips to Carmel are few and far between, and I'd rather branch out and find some better options in the Japanese/fusion arena.

    (3)
  • L P.

    Went here again for dinner last night. Six months since we last visited and still amazing! The tuna tar-tare is so yummy, the ginger salsa still a gastric phenomena. Service outstanding as usual...... we continue to love this place.

    (5)
  • Jimmy D.

    It was a living iPhone ad. We were looking for a seafood place in Carmel so I used the Yelp ap to find places based on GPS location. Looked at a few of the results. Called Flying Fish... and five minutes later we were there and seated. The staff are wonderful. Attentive without being overbearing. Very polite and friendly. The food is outstanding. I had the Seabass. Fantastic. Everyone in our party loved their food. I can't wait to go back. Thank you Lisa, and everyone at Flying Fish. It was a top rate meal with top rate service!!

    (5)
  • Dongbo W.

    I can't believe how good this place is. I'm a grad student on the East Coast, and one of my profs (who's a real foodie, perhaps loves wine more than food) recommended this place for when I went home to visit my parents. I remember when we first walked in, it was like coming home. The booths are private and intimate, unlike fine dining in the city, where you feel like you are a part of your neighbor's conversation. The owners were super welcoming, the staff informative and unassuming. The wine list was good, we've gotten a delicious Anderson Valley Gertwurz and also a nice Sauv Blanc from them. I am always skeptical of asian-fusion, but they execute it wonderfully. This restaurant is definitely worth seeking out.

    (5)
  • Dylan N.

    The food here is excellent. As someone who has never had abalone I decided to try it. Fantastic. The owner is very involved even standing outside the restaurant on his cel guiding me in. Places are a bit tough to find in Carmel. My wife tried the sea bass and it was delicious. Small cozy place with an all around inviting atmosphere. When in Carmel definitely seek this place out.

    (5)
  • Fred W.

    quite simply we loved this place. great presentation, portions, flavour and service. 5 stars!

    (5)
  • Laura B.

    Flying Fish Grill has good food, a cozy interior, and delicious Asian fusion / sushi. I've had dinner here a handful of times and have always been pleased.

    (5)
  • Kelly T.

    My boyfriend and I went to the Flying Fish Grill and had a delicious dinner. The service was fantastic--Annie was great! I had the abalone special and loved it! It was served with an onion flavored sticky rice that was soooo good! We also really enjoyed the sea bass; all the rave reviews about this dish are warranted. We will definitely go back.

    (4)
  • Andrew W.

    Small, laid back, rustic wood panelled, ultra cozy, small wooden booths, underground kinda place (like eating on a small old wooden ship kinda feeling, in a good way). Love the Asian take on Chips and Salsa (fried wontons and wonderful ginger flavored salsa are served free when you sit down, and that was my favorite part of the meal. Sea Bass was tasty, very flaky, and falling apart. For a special occassion (such as if you have only one night for a dinner date in Carmel), you might want some place a bit more hip/cool/fun, but for a casual/calm/relaxed dinner on a following night in Carmel, this cozy, laid back, hard to find little place is a good fit.

    (3)
  • Dave B.

    The wife and I had spent the day traveling cross country and arrived in Carmel late on a Thursday afternoon. We had researched a number of restaurants that we would like to try during the coming week and The Flying Fish was at the top of our list. We decided to have an early dinner so walked in around 5:30. We were greeted by an extremely tall gentleman who asked if we had a reservation. We said no and he asked if we were hungry. Naturally we said yes and he replied with "you have a reservation". Even though it was early, over half of the tables were already filled. The wait staff was extremely efficient and we never seemed to wait more than a few minutes before someone checked in with us. While the majority of the dishes on the menu are seafood, most have an Asian preparation. We started with the Ahi Tuna for a shared appetizer. The tuna was fresh and had great flavor. We were already glad that we had chosen this restaurant to start the vacation off, but the best was yet to come. I selected the black bean halibut prepared in parchment and the wife had the almond-crusted SeaBass. Both were excellent and the portions were neither too little nor too much. We finished the dinner by sharing the warm banana sundea. The flavor was fantastic and it was almost too big for the two of us to finish, but we found a way. This is an amazing restaurant and one that should be on the top of your list when visiting Carmel, unless you don't like fish.

    (5)
  • J M.

    Overall: Excellent service, well prepared seafood dishes in a cute wood panelled Japanese restaurant. Air conditioning was rather wimpy on a recent visit though. The Sea Bass is delicious but it's Chilean Sea Bass which is rated AVOID on the Monterey Seafood Watch list. Restaurant owners, please replace your fish choice because I want to eat every single one of your yummy dishes! Please see: montereybayaquarium.org/…

    (4)
  • MC S.

    very good food

    (5)
  • Tina H.

    For full disclosure: after years and years of eating at Flying Fish, we've become good family friends with the owners. But given that, our entire family simply LOVES Flying Fish. It's located in a tiny basement location in the Carmel Plaza (corner of Ocean and Mission). The gorgeous woodwork was done by the owner, and like everything else in this restaurant, it was a labor of love. Their menu is outstanding - my favorite is the Yin Yan Salmon. But seriously, everything is delicious. The only warning is that it is difficult for them to accomodate parties over 4 people - there's only one table that seats 4+, and I believe it seats 6. Either way, make sure to call ahead for reservations.

    (5)
  • Katy M.

    We visit Monterey about once a year around Thanksgiving. We usually take a date night and eat here. The hotpot is delicious. I love the mt fugi. I highly recommend this little perfect restaurant.

    (5)
  • Marjie T.

    i love this place! it gets a visit from us once a year, for our anniversary. we discovered this place from a friend's recommendation and go once a year, only because we live in san fran. although worth the drive, it more of a special occasion place for us. anyway, the setting is really nice and has a cabin feel. wood booths and printed canvas padding...and there's a fire place somewhere in the center. while you wait for food, they provide deep-fried wontons and salsa...which is the tastiest thing! i usually get the same thing every time, pepper-crusted, seared ahi tuna with white rice in lieu of angel hair pasta...it is delicious! i think i may be bias because this place hold a special place in my heart, but i really do think they offer a good variety of asian fusion dishes.

    (5)
  • Steve L.

    This place is one terrific seafood place! We each had the sea bass and it was if not the very best seafood dishes I've ever had it was close. Reasonable prices for what you get.

    (5)
  • Amy C.

    Abalone was expensive, and not fresh. Food was so-so.

    (3)
  • Randy K.

    This is the place my wife and I go for "special" dinners in town. From the fried wontons with ginger salsa at the beginning to the spectacular entrees, Kenny's unique blend of French and Asian cuisine never fails to wow.

    (5)
  • Jordan T.

    My favorite place to eat in Carmel. The staff is amazing the food is beautiful and delicous with great prices. I either get the ahi or the halibut. It's a tough choice. I've sampled other dishes which all tasted great. The deserts here are great too. I love the green tea ice cream sunday with the homemade hot fudge and mandarin oranges! Richard is the best waiter around.

    (5)
  • Dave H.

    Excellent service by Tom, with food to match. Owner strolled through a couple of times to check on things. Cozy, but classy. Decided to try The Flyng Fish based on Yelp reviews and we weren't sorry!

    (5)
  • Emily C.

    FABULOUS service! Food was very good, but our expectations were probably too high. We ordered the "clay pot" meal, and were told that we should have ordered one of the traditional entrees. Appetizer and dessert were great, ambience very nice, and as I said, service was excellent. Overall very enjoyable.

    (4)
  • Sarah R.

    We had a great time here on Saturday night for my husband's birthday. We enjoyed the fried wontons with ginger salsa, tartar, sashimi, spring rolls, halibut, ahi, and ice cream sundaes. I was very impressed with the pricing for this area - most wines were under $30, sakes were under $10, and entrees were around $20. It seems like a big locals spot, a lot of people coming in seemed to know the owners. Probably seats 40 at most I would think so nice and cozy with a very Japanese feel to the decor. What really makes this place special is the service though. The owner and our waiter both spent a lot of time with us and you could tell that they really love what they do. Definitely recommended if you're looking for seafood with an Asian spin, in the Carmel area, and don't want to pay $40 for a main. :-)

    (4)
  • liz s.

    This restaurant was recommended to us. The night we went they were pretty booked up but squeezed us in which was nice. The restaurant is smaller than I expected and dark inside but inviting. Service was extremely good. They brought fried won ton chips and salsa to the table. I didn't try these but my husband ate several so it must have been pretty good It was recommended that we ask for the black bean salmon which isn't on the menu. Our entrees came quickly and I have to say that the salmon was quite possibly the most heavenly thing I've ever eaten. It came wrapped in parchment paper, served with slivered veggies and some kind of cold thing that may have been rice. I didn't care for that thing whatever it was. The veggies were outstanding and, like I said, the salmon was quite simply a little taste of heaven. Aside from it being a bit pricey, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this restaurant to any one.

    (5)
  • Andrenaline R.

    Over labor day weekend we had dinner here. I didn't expect much from a restaurant with a name like "Flying Fish Grill" located in a shopping plaza. I was glad I was wrong. This place was very charming with a japanese twist added to the decor and menu. The house started us with fried wonton with salsa dip, which turned out to be a pleasantly complimentary combination. I ordered the almond crusted sea bass, that just melted in my mouth with a bit of a sweet crunch from the almond. From my observation, it didn't seem like this place was touristy at all. The staff not only recommended a dish but also recommended activities after dinner. I was impressed that the owners went to each table and that they knew a lot of their guests. Make sure to make reservations to dine here.

    (5)
  • Junglist S.

    lots of recs for this place. as far as carmel goes, usually its crappy tourist food at high prices or high end places, with not much in between. luckily, flying fish is a great compromise - good food at reasonable prices. had the artichoke appy, sea bass and scallop/shrimp curry? pasta. the almond crust is not all that, but overall the sea bass was tasty.

    (4)
  • Yojoto T.

    Three stars for the cute decor and pleasant staff. The food however, was a disappointment. I remember someone mentioning or reading somewhere that when the owner/chef was in, you'd know it with the quality of the food. Well, I guess the owner/chef was not in. We had big time food regret when we left.

    (3)
  • Ariana B.

    This place is fantastic! There are so many restaurants in the area, but so few that are consistently fabulous. I'm not a big fish eater, and the halibut dish there is certainly one of the few that I will eat in the area. It is FANTASTIC! The service is always impeccable too, from the second you walk in the door to the moment you walk out. Anytime I have family visiting from out of town they always want to go there, which is great for my husband and I!

    (5)
  • stacy c.

    This place was recommended to us by a local bartender, when we were visiting Carmel this time last year. We didn't have a reservation but they slipped us in. Loved the intimate little booths and the food was good - a few sauces were quite memorable!

    (4)
  • Peter M.

    macadamia nut encrusted seabass!!! Yeeeeee!

    (4)
  • Christina S.

    My BF took me here for our anniversary a couple of months ago and I was pleasantly surprised. I wasn't too sure of the idea of going to a resteraunt for a nice dinner that was at a shopping center but I was dead wrong. We started out by walking downstairs to a the basement of the shopping center which was quite cozy. The decor seemed like it could have used a little updating but wherever you sit, is very private. If you call ahead of time, you can request to sit right next to the fireplace, like by BF did. The wonton chips with ginger salsa at the beginning in lue of bread was very addicting. I had the sea bass for my entree and it was the best sea bass I have ever had...and I love sea bass. The dinner overall was very light and fresh and it didn't give you that stuffed fealing. We actually had room for dessert which we passed up for stopping to get desert at Cold Stone. The service is excellent too! The owner made it a point to walk over to us and greet us.

    (4)
  • Jenny K.

    Rachel Ray recommended this place on one of her shows and so I was really excited to go check it out when I went to Carmel for President's Day weekend. I love Rachel Ray so I knew this place was going to be awesome. My friends and I loved our meal! I got the almond encrusted sea bass and it was soooooo wonderfully tasty and fresh. Two of my friends shared one of the clay pot concoctions where you cook your own seafood - like shrimp, scallops, and salmon. The seafood that came out for the clay pot was so beautiful and fresh. In fact you really didn't need to be cook the seafood in my opinion because it was obviously sushi grade. My boyfriend got the rare peppered ahi tuna which he said was great but he found the sauce slightly overpowering. At the end of the meal he said he wished he had gotten my meal or a clay pot meal. Overall this place serves wonderfully fresh and beautiful fish. The price isn't too steep either and just what you'd hope to pay for really good seafood. P.S. The fried wontons and special salsa they bring out for free at the beginning of the meal were awesome!

    (5)
  • Erin J.

    My boyfriend and I visited Carmel for a Romantic weekend. We decided on the Flying Fish Grill because of the prices and selections. I loved the basement-y small feel and the fried wontons with ginger salsa was soooo good!!! I had the Peppered Ahi and my boyfriend had the Seafood Pasta. Honestly, it was some of the most scrumptious fish I have ever eaten. The whole dish was perfect. I tasted the Seafood pasta and the sauce was absolutely mouth watering. So good!!!!!!!!! And $85 for two glasses of wine, tuna tartare, 2 entrees and a dessert, especially of that quality is truly spectacular.

    (5)
  • Kameron M.

    We went to Flying Fish for dinner. We have been to Carmel many times but never had made it here, despite hearing from almost everyone to go and try it. The service is excellent. Everyone is so welcoming. The wonton breads and salsa are great. We never had anything like it. We ordered the Ahi dish, the halibut dish, and the prawns and everyone tasted all three. The fish is just superbly prepared and very fresh. Our server was extremely knowledgable and very helpful with suggestions based on our tastes. We had simple green tea ice cream for dessert and savored our great family time together. Flying Fish does not advertise a lot in all the maps and brochures you find in the village, but we are now convinced if you go to Carmel for a special ocassion, you got to go here for dinner. Make sure you make your reservations a few days in advance and don't eat too much lunch, so you have plenty of room to enjoy a very special dinner.

    (5)
  • Diana T.

    This place was amazing! The California tower was beautifully prepared and tasted like heaven. The steamed halibut was to die for. The fish was tender. The sauce was light and lovely. The vegetables were perfect. And, the seared ahi was fantastic. The sesame mustard sauce that accompanied the tuna was simply delicious. We tried to dip everything remaining on our plates in that sauce. And lastly, the service was great.

    (5)
  • Maggie L.

    Great Japanese restaurant recommended by my friend. And now, it is a must go every time I am in the area. The service is great and the food is delicious. Once we are sited, instead of bread, we are served fried wonton skin with salsa and it is yummy! But I have to control my intake as I have to save room for the other food. My favorite is the shrimp curry soup. Of all the dishes I have tried, the only one I am not too crazy about is the abalone. Other than that, the seafood, pasta, steak are all excellent!

    (5)
  • Miwa Y.

    What I loved about this restaurant was the flavor of the dish- Asian fusion. The fish was fresh and prepared very nicely with vegetables. So, we enjoyed our meals very much. The restaurant was like a secret meet-up place so it may be good for romantic dinner, too! My favorite in Carmel!!

    (5)
  • Qi Y.

    great cod and seabass. tasty dessert. delicate green tea pot

    (5)
  • D B.

    This place is a little tricky to find. Just know you access Flying Fish Grill from Mission St at the Carmel Plaza. The owner Kenny is quite personable, very friendly with the locals and new visitors such as our ourselves. Our waiter Rich has been with Flying Fish for 16 years and it showed, he rocked. We enjoyed the won tons and started with the tuna tartare. We had a nice bottle of cold sake with the tartare. My husband had the sea bass which was solid. I had the scallop and prawn fettuccine with curry sauce - more coconut tasting, not at all spicy and well enjoyed. Dessert was fried bananas a la mode with a complimentary after-dinner drink. Flying Fish Grill was a great experience with exceptional staff and something for everyone on the menu. The ambiance is that of a Japanese sushi spot in my opinion and each table provided its own privacy in a bustling environment. The restaurant was packed on a Friday night so they're definitely doing a lot of things right here. We will be back!

    (4)
  • zoe w.

    this place is definetly wonderful. It's kind of pacific-rim, fusion type like thing. It's not a japanese place that you have a lot of sushi selection or whatever. but the creativity and the taste of the food was wonderful. Definetly get some seafood. I had tuna sashimi as appitizer, it was ok and a bit pricy. But the main course of almond encrust seabass was awesome. And the portion was so big that my mom and me couldn't finish one dish! I've been to Carmel twice and finally found some place that I'm willing to pay for the food!

    (4)
  • Erica G.

    This place is a hidden gem! One of my favorite restaurants in Carmel. Don't miss the rock shrimp soup or the lobster.

    (5)
  • Lindsay B.

    Great fish. I had the almond crusted sea bass and my husband had the ahi. We were impressed. They give you won tons and salsa as a freebie started. Had an extensive wine list and lots of half bottles which was nice. We had the creme brulee for dessert and it was delicious.

    (4)
  • Richard P.

    A solid choice for Asian fusion cuisine. I've dined here recently and once eight or ten years ago. I was happy both times. However, the use of pasta as a pairing for nearly all the entrees seemed a bit one-dimensional. Also, I noted an obvious look of dissapointment (frustration?) on the server's face that we didn't order a bottle of wine. Not happy about that.

    (3)
  • Wendy V.

    Fabulous food, incredible flavors, cozy atmosphere, great wine selections, very fresh food and superb service!

    (5)
  • Heisenberg P.

    The courses were visually appealing and had lots of aromas. Each dish was creatively and uniquely plated. I am a fan of this exquisite restaurant since it has Seafood, steak, and clay pot dishes all in one stop. I am glad I came here for my anniversary dinner! Food were awesome and staff was superb!

    (4)
  • Gretchen S.

    I don't give many restaurants 5 stars but this one deserves 6! From the moment my boyfriend and I sat down until we left we were served by very attentive staff. The owners walk around and help to bring food, check on tables, and even clear dirty dishes. We started with the California tower. Think of it as one giant California roll that is delicious with fresh crab on top. My boyfriend ate the black bean halibut and is still talking about it the next day. It was delicious. The portions are just right. I ate the almond crusted sea bass. I have never has Sea Bass so fresh as it melted in my mouth. We both have very particular pallets and the fish was fresh and not over cooked. We ordered an appetizer, 2 entrees, a glass of wine and desert and our bill was under $100. Not bad for a great date night!!! We were bummed this amazing place has some terrible reviews and wanted to make sure people didn't miss this great place due to one or two people. Our server was the best we have had in a long time. He even brought us hot fudge to drizzle on our banana split and didn't charge us extra! We will be back next time we are in town.

    (5)
  • Shawn S.

    Came to the Flying Fish Grill while visiting the Monterey Coast on vacation. Searched the area for some good restaurants on Yelp and found that this one got a lot of good reviews. As always, I trust my fellow Yelpers and decided to give it a try. We liked it so much we came back the following night. The California Tower which consisted of lump crab meat, sushi rice and seaweed was amazing. My kids wound up each ordering it the next night for their entrees. Main courses were the black bean halibut and almond seabass. Both were great but the halibut was the clear cut winner. Such unique flavors and fresh halibut. I wish so much that they would open another restaurant in my neck of the woods but I don't see it happening anytime soon :-(

    (5)
  • Michael M.

    Once again a fabulous meal. Come here every time my wife and I are in Carmel. Black Bean Halibut is the best. My wife ordered the Abalone. Said it was the best she ever had. A must go!!! Great service with great food.

    (4)
  • Erica P.

    Awesome. It's a small, elegant, warm and cozy place. I've been there so many times I can't even tell you. I love the spring rolls and the fried oysters for appetizers. The sauce that is topped over the oysters is to die for!! I think I could drink it! For an entree, the seafood pasta is delicious. Has been my favorite for the past... 11 years. Almond seabass is always consistent. Not too fishy, or fried. It's delicious. Oh and yummy mashed potatoes is always a plus. Tempura banana sundae. Delicious. The caramel sauce is ridiculously good! You will not be disappointed! I know I haven't been in... 11-12 years!

    (5)
  • Dean L.

    Last time I visited this place was 10 years ago with my parents. 10 years later, I still remember Flying Fish fondly and decided to take my date here. Still lives up to my memory - Excellent food, excellent service and excellent atmosphere! We had artichoke (super fresh and delicious with wasabi sauce), salmon, and my date with almond crusted sea bass. All were yum. Topped it off with banana ice cream dessert and some coffee. Server was very attentive and very polite. My stomach is growling just writing this review. We will be back!

    (5)
  • Vivian K.

    Food here is AMAZING and service is SPECTACULAR! And be sure to make reservations. My fiance and I came here to celebrate two events, my birthday and our engagement. We came to Carmel for our getaway and I wanted Japanese because my fiance and I are huge fans of Japanese food. Granted, this place isn't authentic Japanese food, but a fusion of several cultures with Japanese aesthetics and taste. When we arrived, they were expecting that we made a reservation, but we didn't and they asked us to wait a bit and seated the couple behind us because they made a reservation. We waited perhaps a few short minutes and they seated us right away afterwards. Luckily we came a bit before the dinner rush so there were plenty of seats available. This place is fairly small. It is the size of your typical traditional Japanese restaurant so making a reservation is your safe bet for a table. The atmosphere is very intimate. Each table is sectioned off giving each party some privacy. The decore is very rustic which I love. The waitress started us off with complementary fried Wonton and Salsa, which were very addictive. The wontons were so flaky and crispy. We really had to restrain ourselves from over indulging on the wonton and salsa in order to make room for our main course. For appetizer we had the Spring Rolls which were yummy, but to be honest, it wasn't anything I haven't had before. For my main dish, I ordered the Scallop and Gulf Prawns and my fiance ordered the Rare Pepper Ahi. OMG, both dishes were YUM! Savory, delectable, mouth watering goodness! So much flavor and the right consistency and balance to both dishes. My fiance and I wanted to inhale our food because it was so good, but this is a fancy restaurant and it would be rude to finish too soon lol. After we were done, the waitress offered me rice or bread to finish off the gravy in my dish, but I just could not finish.... Plus there was dessert. We ordered dessert and we got their Tempora Banana Sundae which is a favorite from the guy who took our order. He was thrilled we ordered it haha. By this time, I totally regret eating the extra Wonton Chips and Dip because I could hardly eat half the dessert and my fiance was lucky enough to have room in his stomach to finish it. As for service, the wait staff here are all very friendly and attentive. One of the guys kept coming back and forth checking on our water glasses. Even if it was slightly not full, he will refill it. It's always a bit of a concern of mine with the wait staff not refilling my water in a timely manner, but here, they're on it and do it with a smile. They also seem to remember regulars by name too. First impression of this place has been wonderful and I hope to come back here in the future for more anniversaries to celebrate.

    (5)
  • Flavia C.

    Every single dish is spectacular. The yin yan salmon, the Seabass and the peppered tuna are consistently excellent. The service is wonderful. Super nice staff.

    (5)
  • Tommy B.

    THE FLYING FISH ASCENDS TO EXTRAORDINARY HEIGHTS IN CARMEL... We had heard about the great seafood on hand at the Flying Fish Restaurant in Carmel. So, we invited some friends and decided to give it a try. First of all, the restaurant has a real 'cozy' feel about it, small booths, plenty of privacy and a restaurant where everyone can actually talk to one another without shouting across the table. We were welcomed (we had made a reservation unlike the couple in front of us - they were told the earliest table would be in about two hours). Our table got to the point of enjoying some of their high quality seafood. Appetizers consisted of lightly fried calamari (served with either lemon or a spicy sauce) another guest had the Steamed Artichoke with wasabi mayonnaise and miso vinaigrette. Our main course - Black peppered grilled crusted Ahi, with shimeji mushrooms, mustard sesame-soy vinaigrette and angel hair pasta. "Mighty tasty" was the verdict. Other courses consisted of Pan-fried Almond crusted sea bass with whipped potatoes, Chinese cabbage and rock shrimp stir-fry. The dish was a slightly heavy, but the taste was divine. Others had the Grilled Alaskan Black Cod with papaya-avocado-grilled leeks salsa; sesame dressed arugula and toasted couscous. The Cod was the winner - it had just the right texture, flavor and essence. We split two desserts - the restaurants Crème brûlée and the very yummy Green Tea Sundae. We had to flag down the waiter a few times - but once he served us it was 'first-class.' Overall, we did feel the price was a bit high for the dinner and the menu offering were quite limited. On the "Tommy B Restaurant Rating Scale" from "A" to "F" the Flying Fish gets a very solid "B+"

    (4)
  • Bman W.

    Made our trip to Carmel special. Great atmosphere, high quality food and great staff. Very comfortable place and my Halibut was awesome. I will go back.

    (5)
  • Clint E.

    Has to be one of the best restaurants in Carmel.The staff are friendly,service is excellent and the food is to die for.good idea to get reservations do to its popularity.Bon appetit!

    (5)
  • Brent V.

    I eat here a few times a year and it never disappoints. For sure one of the better restaurants in Carmel...

    (4)
  • Diana A.

    Fish Fish Fish Fish!!!! SO GOOD! We ordered almond seabass(YUMMY!), black bean halibut(very asian like), and something ahi tuna. I dont really remember the ahi tuna name although they were mine haha.. THey are the least food I am raving about. the ahi tuna came with angel hair pasta with wine sauce(i think). The star of the night is Almond seabass! They almond coating is really good and gives a little bit crispy coating but the fish itself was still really moist. LOVE it! Black bean halibut is also pretty good. This is the most asian influence fish out of 3 fish dishes we ordered. It is pretty good :) I also ordered plum wine, which is sweet but well if you have never tried it before, you need to try it :). I also ordered their green tea sundae.. YUMMY!!!! :)... Don't forget to make reservation before hand! if not, you can't get in at all hahaha.. Definitely a must eat if you are visiting Carmel.

    (5)
  • Cristina M.

    Mmmm. Very tasty. What was phenomenal, though, was the service. I wish I had gotten his name--the host was amazing and more than once he stopped by my table and referred to me by my name! How often does that happen? Never. I was initially served fried wantons with a tomato ginger salsa. It was good, but I didn't want to fill up on them (I still ate more than I intended). I ordered the Ginjo Hakushika Kuromatsu sake. Really good. I love deeply inhaling while taking a sip. As an appetizer, I had the steamed artichoke with the miso vinaigrette only. Superb. My main course was the ever-popular almond crusted sea bass served on mashed potatoes (there was probably milk in them but they also tasted like they were made with chicken broth--not heavy. The *best* part, though, was actually the cabbage with rock shrimp. Those little shrimp were so tasty. I could have eaten just a plate of those. The sea bass was good, but it could have been served a bit rarer. I did not order dessert, but the host brought me a miniature chocolate sundae anyway. Very thoughtful. My bill came to $60 even, with tip, and I had almost half a bottle of sake to take home. If I'm in Carmel again, I'd come back.

    (4)
  • Phi B.

    My boyfriend made a reservation for us here on Saturday of Vday weekend. The place is really busy so it's a good thing we had reservations. The host was very nice and friendly. The only reason I gave this place 4 instead of 5 stars is because we were going to order the clay pot but it the kind you have to cook yourself.. didn't expect that and didn't feel like cooking our own food so we decided not to go with that. The food we did order, however, was absolutely delectable! The almond crusted seabass sitting on a bed of mashed potatoes was so exquisite. It was definitely the best part of our meal. We also ordered the lobster, which was really good as well. For dessert, we ordered the green tea hot fudge sundae.. really delicious.. never tried green tea with hot fudge before and it was really good.

    (4)
  • Tom S.

    The won tons and sauce were incredible. The lobster tail, huge. Great service. Best of all - we were lost and the manager called us three times to guide us in. He even came out and waved to us to get us here.

    (5)
  • James S.

    I really wanted to love this place. Yelp does not usually lead me astray especially if the restaurant is in a great food town like Carmel and gets a 4.5 star average with 258 reviews. Unfortunately Yelpers were off this time. I am a huge fan of Japanese food and after looking at their menu online I thought there were some really creative dishes. Unfortunately none of the dishes I sampled were nearly as good as I thought they'd be. The 3 other people I was with agreed wholeheartedly. Now do not get me wrong I did not think the food was bad in any way it was just nothing spectacular. The best part of the experience was that the service was some of the best I've ever had which is a very important part of any meal. I might even go back to Flying Fish someday but I would not recommend it as there are so many other incredible restaurants in Carmel with comparable prices. If you do go though, get the Tower!

    (3)
  • Toni A.

    The food was delicious! We had the parchment wrapped halibut & the yin yang salmon. We will definitely be going back! Loved this place!

    (5)
  • Shiho F.

    Said hi to the neighborhood cat with the strange eyes (I don't care for cats but my gentleman friend stooped down to pet it and talk to it). He looks like a well fed stray and he is a smart one, getting hooked up around closing time at FFG. So out of all the places on the Monterey Bay I chose to go to Flying Fish for my 31st because I hadn't been there since I was a pre-pubescent child. We enjoyed some chilled sake, I think it was the Hakutsuru and waited a few minutes to be seated. It made me happy to see such a hidden gem happening on a Monday night in Carmel and as I looked around I could tell most of them were locals (because I see them around) with a few younger couples visiting from out of town. Wonton chips and Japanese-poi salsa was served as we sat down.... DUH why didn't I think of this? Salsa with an Asian twist... Mr. Kenny Fukumoto should trademark this shit... seriously. I know my significant other and I will have a throw down to see who can mimic this lovely refreshingly different salsa in the near future. Ok so we tried not to eat all of it since we didn't want to get full too quick. The deconstructed California Roll was killer and it was nostalgic to see pink sushi ginger or gari, I hadn't seen that one in a while. Cho natsukashi. I wanted both the Seafood Pasta and the Halibut cooked in parchment paper with a Black Bean & Fresh Ginger Sauce served with a Yaki Onigiri etc... Thank goodness it was "my" birthday (my gentleman friend's was 3 days before) and I got my way without asking twice... that was a first. Our entrees came and we were excited. The Seafood Pasta was heavenly with nice balance of an assortment of perfectly cooked (as in not overcooked) scallops, squid, shrimp, salmon, white fish over a small bed of angel hair pasta (that tasted almost like rice noodles so light) in a sake butter sauce. I would have kicked it up a notch by adding a couple hits of soy sauce to the sauce but that's to please my personal taste profile. As my gentleman friend was chomping away on the halibut I couldn't resist and stabbed a little piece of the perfectly cooked fish... it was so tasty with the black bean and hint of ginger sauce and all of a sudden it hit me... it was the taste of ammonia... my gut instinct said don't swallow and I did because he had already had a couple bites. I did it once more and my body gave off a quiet alarm and when I mentioned it, it took him a couple more to see what I was talking about. Unfortunately we didn't finish the halibut nor did we touch the Yaki Onigiri (looked so adorable and crunchy on the outside) but we had to send it back. Not a fan of doing that but it was the right thing to do but bummed since the flavors minus the ammonia were so pleasant. They served the pasta topped with tuna no tataki immediately and we were pleased. The new dish was bit too sweet in our minds but nonetheless pretty tasty. Service was solid, fare was fine and I love the ambiance even though some cushions for your back would be nice for short legged creatures like myself (gentleman friend doesn't have the longest legs either unfortunately) since I had a huge gap between the wall and my back just so my legs could dangle more comfortably. Although our experience could have been slightly better we still had a very pleasant evening at FFG and I look forward to going back very soon.

    (4)
  • Lori K.

    4.5 stars YUM! I've been here a couple times, most recently for my work's Christmas party. Both times were very pleasant experiences with amazing food. First of all, this restaurant is nestled downstairs in the Carmel Plaza. The atmosphere is very warm and inviting. The staff here is very inviting and efficient, making the service top notch. The menu has lots of delicious seafood dishes with a unique twist. Everything I've had is excellent! -Wonton chips and ginger salsa - DELISH!!! They bring this out to every table. It's seriously the most addicting salsa I've ever had. First of all, this is the most unique and delicious way of serving "chips and salsa". The fried wonton chips are perfectly crispy and the salsa is super fresh and refreshing with the unique flavor of ginger. -California tower (dungeness crab avocado, sushi rice, seaweed) - Unfortunately I'm allergic to crab, but I did manage to try everything else that created this dish. I can only imagine how good it was with the crab. Everyone at my table loved this one. -Fried calamari with garlic aoli - The calamari was what I would expect for great fried calamari, crispy and tender, but the aioli was what really packed the punch. That aioli was so good, I was practically eating it alone. Had a nice touch of garlic and a little kick from the hint of chili oil. -Black bean halibut - Steamed perfectly in the paper pouch and flavored nicely with the black bean sauce. Love the bbq rice ball! -Almond crusted seabass - The almond crust gives it great texture and nutty flavor. Tasted great with the whipped potatoes and cabbage.... I normally cannot finish an entire entree alone, but I can easily clear the plate with this one. -Creme brulee - Very good; but, not the best I've ever had. -Chocolate decadence cake - Heavenly! Light, moist cake with a rich chocolatey flavor and the perfect amount of sweetness. Pricing is what you would expect for a nice meal in Carmel. Not cheap, but not too expensive. Both the food and service are fantastic! The owners are extremely friendly and often make numerous rounds to check on their guests. Overall, the Flying Fish Grill is a perfect choice for a fantastic meal in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

    (4)
  • Jennifer B.

    I am blown away every time I eat here. Food, service, wine, ambiance...always an insanely good overall experience. The food is so good it's absurd. Love Flying Fish!!

    (5)
  • Milt W.

    My wife and I had the opportunity to go to dinner at the Flying Fsh a week ago. We both had fish which was wonderful. The artichoke was out of this world. The owners Randy and Tina are incredible. The staff loves to work there. One can tell by the quality of service which was also outstanding. Randy even came to our table and sang happy anniversary to us while playing a ukelele. We were so impressed that we came back again the second night and ordered the Lobster. The best I have had in a long time. If you are visiting Carmel or live there please go experience this wonderful restaurant. By the way our waitress Gabriella was surpurb.

    (5)
  • Derek S.

    We came here because of the great reviews ..and it delivered. We started with the ahi tartar which was presented in a unique way with bread and cucumber...not my favorite but it was good. The wontons chips that come instead of bread is actually really good with the tartar...anyway, we also both had the Almond seabass and it was excellent. The fish was perfectly cooked and the almond crust, mashed potatoes and shrimp were a great compliment.

    (4)
  • J T.

    My husband and I came to Carmel for a short getaway to relax and to EAT! I researched restaurants for several days before our trip, and thanks to Yelp!, ended up at the Flying Fish Grill. FIrst of all, I have to say that, of all of the restaurants we tried, Flying Fish Grill was, by far the most hospitable. The service was outstanding. Even though it was our first time there, and we were surrounded by regulars, we felt like we were honored guests in someone's home. After devouring the wonton chips, we had the California Tower. I am a big fan of California roll, but this deconstructed version was beyond belief. Perfectly seasoned sushi rice (not too much vinegar) with a mound of Dungeness crab, topped with slices of avocado. My husband and split one order, but could have each eaten our own. My husband ordered the halibut, which he pronounced delicious and perfectly cooked. Next time he wants to try the seabass, and said if he had the halibut again he might ask them to put in a little fewer of the black beans. (probably because he is used to a lower-salt diet) I decided to splurge and ordered the Australian lobster tail ($46), which was served with a delicious curried rice. When the server brought the lobster tail, I couldn't believe how huge it was. It looked incredible. When I put the first bite in my mouth, I almost ...cried. It was mushy and tasted undercooked. I tried a couple more small bites from different parts of the lobster but it wasn't much better. I reluctantly called the waiter over and asked if he could maybe have the chef put it back under the broiler. What followed is a model of how all restaurants should handle a guest complaint. The server immediately whisked my plate away, and said he would have the chef prepare me a brand new lobster tail. He returned almost immediately with a beautiful green salad for me to enjoy so that my husband wouldn't feel like he was eating in front of me. Shortly thereafter, the manager (Rich?) came over to apologize and to assure me that the chef would make it right. When the new lobster came out, it was cooked to perfection, succulent and buttery. It was so large that I even let my husband share it with me (since I wanted to save room for dessert!) Although I was beyond full, I was determined to order the tempura banana fritter, hot caramel sundae, and I was not disappointed. Both of the tables near us had also ordered the same dessert (in fact the couple next to us seemed to be in a little scuffle about who had eaten more than his share!) so it must be one of their more popular desserts. If you like bananas, strawberries and home-made caramel sauce, this is a must-have dessert, and goes down surprisingly easily even after large meal. Rich, the manager, spent some time talking with us, and mentioned he has been with the restaurant for 20 years. He is the perfect host - warm, welcoming, and friendly in a genuine way - the kind of person you'd like to sit down and have dinner with! We will definitely come back to FFG on our next trip to Carmel.

    (5)
  • Tiger Lily ..

    the tower is tasty and the fish entrees were a bit sloppy and not a huge love. i wanted to love love it but it was so so. for the price, i have just had better before. service and people are great and kind.

    (3)
  • Wendy T.

    Really loved their crab avocado appetizer! Their signature dish of almond flakes sea bass did not dissapoint-crusty and crispy on the outside and ridiculously tender on the outside, rested on a bed of mashed potato, cabbage and swimming shrimp. Im not too crazy about the seafood pasta with shiso leaf tho. The fried wonton skin and ginger fine salsa is also to die for!

    (5)
  • Erin Y.

    Oh so heavenly. On my birthday trip to Monterey, this was our only MUST EAT. We were definitely not disappointed. Instead of bread being served before dinner, crispy won ton chips with ginger salsa. This was so good, the table next to us had three servings. I would have eaten the whole thing myself, but I wanted to save room for dinner and dessert. Our server was excellent, and everyone there was friendly. Water was always full, and drinks refilled in perfect timing. I had the rare pepper ahi and it was excellent. It came on a bed of pasta with a delicious sauce. The fish was cooked (or not cooked depending on how you look at it) perfectly and so fresh and tasty. For dessert, I had the creme brulee, which was outstanding. It was perfect. I eat creme brulee everywhere, and I'm ranking this particular one as one of the top three. It was perfect, and I repeat that twice because I want to make sure I hit it home. We also tried the sorbet sampler. On this particular night, they were out of raspberry and something else, so we got coconut, passionfruit, and mango. OUTSTANDING. I can't stress how good this was. I've never had a mango dessert that was so true to the mango taste (and I live in Hawaii so we have mango everything). Flying Fish was such a pleasant dining experience, and definitely worth looking for. I can't thank them enough for a wonderful meal and great service!

    (5)
  • Grace R.

    The bf and I went here for one of our dinners during our anniversary weekend. We were excited to see how great this place was going to be since tickle pink recommended this place as well as a bunch of yelpers. This place was a let down. This place seems like an upscale, Asian fusion restaurant, but it is more like a sushi restaurant. We ordered halibut and seabass and wine pairings to accompany. Both fish plates were flavorless and had a mushy texture... Maybe they over marinated in an acidic ingredients causing the proteins in fish to denature and make it mushy and not so great to eat. Wines were gross... Tasted like vinegar. Probably improper wine storage. Don't waste your time and money here if you want well prepared and cooked fish!!!!!!!!

    (1)
  • Ryan C.

    Delicous food. The sauce that comes with the Yin Yan Salmon was ridiculous good! Love the atmosphere of the restaurant.

    (5)
  • Rene C.

    Wait a minute here. Me awarding 5 stars for a seafood heavy restaurant? Hells to the YES! First things first. I had steak, a perfectly grilled juicy medium rare NY steak. I have not gone bonkers and started eating creepy under the water sea creatures. I promise you that I still only eat normal food. We stopped in on a Sunday night and my wife commented how it felt like we were stepping into traditional Kyoto eatery. We were greeted and sat immediately at a nice table towards the back of the main dining room. The feel of the place is warm and inviting. The place is perfect for a casual night with friends or for an intimate date night with your significant other. The wine list carries what seems 100's of selections, and it did not appear that there was much of a markup. After we sat down, a plate full of light crackers served a mild salsa was placed at our table. I wanted to save room for my main meal and did not take a taste, but it seemed as if the table throughly enjoyed it. After a few minutes our appetizers came out. My wife and I shared the vegetable spring roll which truth be told, did not really excite us but it wasn't the worst thing ever. Our dining companions shared a beef starter which they raved about. They also have an artichoke served with two dipping sauces that I would probably get next time. Our main dishes included my NY steak which was excellent. My wife had the halibut served in a puff pastry. My steak was served over a bed of shitake mushrooms, pearl onions and asparagus. There were also two tasty tempura battered onion rings resting on top. All this came with a side of perfectly whipped mashed potatoes. As for the halibut, my wife said it was one of the most creative and tasty seafood dishes she has ever tasted. Yes, we saved room for dessert. And I am glad we did! How about a fried banana sundae topped with caramel Given the fact that there was not a scrap left of it, this should speak volumes of just how great it was. Flying Fish Grill is one kick butt Japanese/Fusion restaurant. The menu is varied and has enough choices for even the pickiest of eaters like myself. Vegetarians will also find plenty of tasty options here as well.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :5:00 pm - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : No
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Intimate
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Flying Fish Grill

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