50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Albany

“lovely place to sushi. The food is very delicious. The fish is very fresh and they have a great variety. Have many species sushi rolls, nigiri and appetizers you must to try. We sat at the bar. Chef Jackie made all our food and explained each fish to us. The potato toro tartar special recommended by the waiter, very delicious. The service and atmosphere were amazing. serves were fast and waiter was nice too.I had a wonderful experience and will definitely coming back. I recommend this place to everyone!“

“Had a great lunch. Bento 🍱 boxes and sushi 🍣“

“Great food and quick service! A must try place if you’re in the area!“

“I really like the sushi rolls and the calm atmosphere at Sumo. Hot tea and miso soup to start on a rainy evening. It was my first time having the GoGo roll, with shrimp, avocado, cucumber and DF asparagus... give it a try! The baked scallop roll is a warm savory treat as well.“

“I always get the vegetable tempura it comes with rice and we also get the California sushi rolls it’s always fresh and delicious best sushi and Japanese food I think it’s family run everyone there is very nice high quality ingredients and food you won’t be disappointed

Kid-friendliness: My son n had fun he’s 6 years old they have television and music very nice atmosphere“

“What a treat! Highly recommend“

“I went to KEN for my birthday and it was absolutely phenomenal. The fish was delicious; so many new flavors and combinations; the chef was superb - talented and entertaining, with great attention to detail. The service was impeccable. I cannot say enough good things!“

“Excellent Japanese cuisine, service and staff are wonderful and helpful“

“The exclusivity and attention to detail in this culinary haven were unparalleled. From the moment we walked in, it felt like an intimate gathering of food enthusiasts. The chef's omakase menu was a mesmerizing journey through sushi perfection, with rare ingredients and artistic presentations that left us in awe. The personalized service and wine pairings elevated the experience to new heights. The ambiance exuded sophistication and exclusivity. While it may be "Friends Only" in name, this is a destination worth befriending for an unforgettable dining experience.

Parking: Hard to find a street parking in the evening“

“Quasi-private dining experience with exquisite omakase curated with top shelf fresh seafood run by a single chef and a single waitress/hostess. Impressive culinary arts in whimsical and small dining room. Wagyu beef topped with caviar and gold flakes nigiri for the win. Improvements could include more familiar Japanese beers and sake along with allowing customer to choose tip percentage based on quality of service. (I’m not a fan of flat 20% no matter what for service fee). All in all, great dining experience and worth revisiting!“

“Eating is a kind of happiness, taste is a kind of interest“

“3.5-ish. Came here with a reservation on a weeknight and the first thing we noticed was the very strong meat grilling smell and bright fluorescent lighting. Naturally the smell would be a given with this type of restaurant but it took away from the upscale ambience a bit. Our bill came out to over $500 for two people. The meat was good and our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable, but we left wondering if we could have had a similar meal down the street at Gyu-Kaku for less than half the price.“

“We tried both Happy Hour and dinner in one visit—two very different experiences. Overall, the food was solid. The beer was nothing special, but the cocktails were great. Happy Hour is a better deal, while dinner prices are on the higher side.“

“ok this is one of the best izakayas i’ve ever been to… the hamachi was buttery soft and melted in your mouth & the sauces were sooo perfectly paired with the proteins! the chicken skewers were moist and juicy. it was pretty pricey with 4 appetizers coming out to ~$65 with tip. pretty small place with only seating for max like a party of 4.“

“If you want the freshest fish downtown has to offer.... go to Sanraku“

“Probably the best meal I’ve ever had, super fun, exciting, every bite was perfect. Intimate and fast process“

“Exceptional service. Delicious, artfully presented omakase at a reasonable price point.“

“awesome a must try, this is a hidden gem“

“My partner and I went here for dinner tonight for a belated celebration of our anniversary - I’ve been eyeing this place for a while, and it was easily worth the wait!

The service and ambiance was among the warmest & friendliest I’ve experience in SF (and I eat out a LOT). Lots of small details in the decor and presentation that really elevated the experience and transported us back to Japan - even to the presentation of the check.

Our favorite courses were the caprese-like tofu, uni toro ikura handroll, and tonkatau pork loin. The ume sour and dessert were also delicious!!

Highly recommend and I’m excited to be back soon :)“

“The atmosphere and presentation of the food was extremely chic! The meal was delicious!!“

“Fenikkusu serves some interesting dishes that you wouldn’t find at your typical Japanese restaurant. As the name says they serve tapas (ie small portion) dishes and specialize in sushi.

The mini kaisen don is the real star of the menu and is a well thought out balance of sashimi rice, aromatics and salmon roe for some brininess. The mentaiko pasta is also a really awesome dish. I would come back here for these two dishes. I also enjoyed the corn fritters and the mackerel.

I would stay away from the oxtail pot and is the main reason why I didn’t give a five star rating.“

“Quality is key with any meal. Roger-San is all about quality. Sit at the bar if you can!“

“Best chicken katsu sando in SF, maybe even in the US! Soft bread, and the patty is made of chicken thigh chunks neatly organized into a perfectly shaped patty that is crispy and juicy. I must’ve eaten it 20+ times by now.

How this little gem ended up in this random location is beyond me, but no use asking questions. Just have to embrace it!“

“Be it the service, ambience or the quality and taste of the food, this restaurant is truly amazing. We went there for our last evening in San Francisco and were extremely impressed.
Besides that, our server was extremely nice and accommodating and made our stay there even better.“

“Itadakimasu! Boy oh boy was this place amazing. Cozy vibe with Japanese comfort food to set the mood. The lunch set had everything I could’ve asked for in a meal. Greens, proteins, and some carbs to round out the meal. Spoiled myself with the royal milk tea iced and it did not disappoint. After a night out like yesterday, this was a much needed part of the recovery. Light 9.“

“This place is amazing. The ramen quality is very consistent here. But the curry rice plate is okay. This is a true gem amongst the many mediocre ramen shops in the bay area. This is a place I'm willing to drive to just for ramen even if it is in the city.“

“We have had a few amazing dining experiences here! The sushi is so fresh, the sake sommelier Stewart is really knowledgeable and has some great recommendations!!“

“The sever handled a busy store opening by themselves serving very well. At least 10 tables. He would constantly check in on us. Give us descriptions of each item he served. The skewers were amazing like always and loved the ginger hot sake! Definitely will be back“

“Jo's awesome. We had a great experience. Highly recommended for birthdays or just being together 👯‍♀️💯👍“

“Super delicious 👍 I never eat Japan food super good like this before.“

“Delicious food and friendly staff“

“Best authentic Japanese restaurant in town.“

“Always great service and family has gone back here for years. High quality sushi, ramen, and other Japanese entrees. Chiraishi is great and they put great care into the quality of their menu. Highly recommend. Quaint quiet little spot and good for dates too.“

“It has a very interesting menu, I really enjoy the food.“

“Best non-traditional sushi that I've ever eaten“

“Nigiri combo is excellent! I can’t wait to try the sashimi combo next. I came just before they were closing for lunch and people were steadily coming either to pick up or eat-in up until their closing time. It seemed they were regular customers who are keeping this place a secret and happy to say, I am on it already. Can’t wait to go back.“

“Incredibly fresh fish and superb attention to detail. Great experience overall.

Dietary restrictions: Waitress asked if we had any allergies or food restrictions when we placed the order.

Kid-friendliness: Our 5 and 6 year old kids were welcomed. They dropped a ton of stuff on floor but waitress was kind and gave us new utensils.“

“I KNOW you're sleeping on this place. It's absolutely delicious, you can truly taste the difference between other sushi spots. Everything about this place is incredible, try it out for yourself seriously.

Ladies, the bathrooms are even stocked with necessities. I felt seen.“

“This is a different sort of sushi spot in the very best way, starting with a warm greeting from the staff when you walk into the joint. A lovely array of options and also flights of sashimi are available. Definitely have not been disappointed in the two times I have visited.“

“Wanted to grab some grub after work and this bento spot has been on my bucket list for a minute. It was also on the way home and I was hungry so here I am.

I ordered the chicken katsu bento and the salmon in truffle soy bento. I also ordered an iced matcha latte. The bentos were soo good! I also really liked how well they were plated. I took my bentos and ate it at home. There is very little seating inside however there is a park nearby where you can sit and enjoy your bentos. As for the matcha drink, it was solid

The service here was good too. The staff is really nice and very open to answering any questions about the menu. You can call in and order or you can order inside on their iPad.

This is definitely a spot I recommend checking out if you're looking for high quality bentos. Try it out if you like. :)“

“I have experienced many different types of sushi hand roll bars and this is one of my new favorites. The location is perfect , right in the heart of Jack London Square and the food was amazing. They have some really cool drinks if you’re into content creation and overall it’s just a cool place to catch up or go for date night !!!“

“This place is amazing. Some of the best Japanese food around. Favorite dishes: karage, blue Hawaii, and the caterpillar rolll. I'm definitely interested in trying their vegetable tempura. I kept seeing people order it, and it looks special.“

“We’ve been eating here for years, and the fish is always fresh and expertly prepared. We especially love the Fire Cracker Ball, Joy Roll, and Spicy Geisha Roll. Additionally, the staff is exceedingly kind. A great place to dine in or take out.“

“Sushi was great and Ti the owner was very generous.“

“I cannot say I had a bad experience. Everything was my favorite“

“We shared a saki roll and an Orinda roll. Both were excellent. The tuna on the saki roll was fresh and flavorful. The Orinda roll had a big serving of crab and shrimp on top. So good. Staff were friendly and service was prompt. We'll be back.“

“After lunch, I was surprised that they didn't have more people eating in this establishment. This is a great place for a date or to come alone. The food is amazing 10/10. We had the omakase nigiri. 10 pieces of pure magic. The ramen just was amazing the best i had in san Francisco. The staff was amazing too. Definitely give them a visit. 10/10“

“Best Katsu in San Francisco!! I had Ganji Katsu. Very generous portion. Very tender meat inside with Crispy coating outside. Will be back to try other stuff on the menu soon!!

Parking: Japan Center parking garage available on Post street“

“9 items 🍱 bento & udon are awesome 👏“

“Tempura, so crispy. Miso cod, sake toro. I also would like to to recommend the different tastings like the nigiri tasting, the sashimi tasting and also the salmon tasting. They also have raw oysters presented in Japanese style, so good.“