11 Best Japanese Restaurants near Boulder Creek

“This place is fantastic. Great food. Staff. It is located in boulder creek. I order the dragon roll. So yummm“

“This restaurant is truly an experience. You come here not just to eat, but to learn about the culture, the thoughtful preparation of each ingredient, and to enjoy the very best ingredients of the season. The meal is meant to be savored slowly.

Dinner runs from 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM with one seating only, and the door opens promptly at 6:30 PM. There is ample parking in the back, even on a Saturday night.

The environment is intimate and very homey. The only small note is that the music was a bit loud at times, especially since the hostess, Yoko, is very soft-spoken. Turning the music down slightly would make it easier to hear her explanations.

The evening began with a celebratory yuzu sparkling sake in honor of the New Year. The seasonal *Hassun* was my favorite course of the night. Served in an adorable ceramic fish, it was filled with auspicious New Year foods such as herring roe, chestnut, octopus, plum, abalone, konjac, kombu, and more—each cooked to its ideal texture.

The *ozoni* was Kansai-style, featuring mochi, yuba, and black cod, and was wonderfully warming and comforting. The sashimi course was exceptionally fresh, highlighting Aomori bluefin tuna, 明石鯛 (widely regarded as the best *madai* in Japan), and Santa Barbara uni. For winter, Hokkaido uni is not considered at its peak, making this selection especially thoughtful.

The wagyu course was simply divine—truly melt-in-your-mouth. The rice course followed with a generous bowl of Dungeness crab meat and ikura, paired with refreshing *tsukemono* and a clear seafood broth.

I absolutely loved the monaka dessert, and the meal concluded beautifully with a bowl of lightly whipped matcha.

Once again, this is an experience, not a simple meal. Come with an open mind, an appreciation for nuance, and the willingness to explore different flavors while immersing yourself in a meaningful cultural journey.“

“This was a lovely experience!! Celebrated our 8yr olds birthday here. The place is so welcoming and food was delicious! The sexy roll/ hamachi carpaccio , big bang were some of our favs. The staff from the chefs to servers made this a wonderful experience !!“

“You have to come here! My husband and I loved everything we ate. Our 5 year old got the kids chicken teriyaki w. the california roll. It's a big portion, you might even be able to split this between two younger kids if you wanted. We all ended up trying the Cali Roll and loved it. Our 10 year old ordered the Nabe Udon. It's definitely big enough to share as well. The waitress was kind enough to bring us two extra bowls and spoons. The broth was AMAZING. We also had the gyoza, and the dragon eye roll. The dragon eye roll was absolutely delicious. The service was also great. All of the waitresses that worked there were very nice and did a great job of checking on us.“

“We had the Kaiseki experience at Hachi Ju Hachi, and it was exceptional. Our table was in a small room next to the kitchen, connected by an open pass-through where Chef Suzuki prepared parts of our meal and engaged with us throughout the evening.

Every course was beautifully presented and delicious. The smoked cod was a standout, even for someone who doesn’t usually enjoy cod. The aged gari, miso soup, and a snapper soup with matsutake mushrooms were all excellent.

Service pacing was perfect, and the whole evening felt calm, thoughtful, and memorable. Highly recommended.“

“I LOVE this place. The BEST ever!!!!“

“Love Sushi San! Always great food and great atmosphere 🙏❤️🙏❤️“

“I have known the Korean waitress since the E 3rd Avenue, San Mateo location days. Extremely friendly waitress. Food portion is always generous and decent quality. I have been to both locations but sadly, the San Mateo location doesn't exist anymore.“

“All the offerings are tasty. Sashimi is my favorite but I have enjoyed all the rolls as well. Friendly family service.“

“The hamachi I had to night was incredible!!!!! Thank you!!!“

“Best experience and I highly recommend“