50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Burlingame

“Family operated business establishments are always the best!! Food is superb!! Price is competitive!“

“BEST RAMEN EVER! I've eaten ramen all over the U.S. & this is absolutely the best I've ever had! You can't beat the rich savory creamy broth, tender noodle, moist chashu, all fresh toppings & generous portions. The beef short rib was fabulous flavor & succulent.
I had miso ramen & my son had TanTan ramen. This is my new favorite ramen eatery!
Staff is super kind & accommodating. I'm in electric wheelchair and they made space for me at their cozy restaurant. Food came out very quickly.“

“What amazing find for being stuck at a hotel near SFO airport for a night. Mostly hidden in an old office park area is a kind, older, I presume Japanese couple who run this place. Everything is made to order. The sign on the door said closed Saturday but they were open and the steady steam of customers mean people know how to find it… and for good reason.“

“Absolutely love Tomokazu! Every dish is fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The sashimi is top quality, and the rolls are always creative and delicious. The beef short rib and shioyaki saba were also amazing, even though I didn’t get a photo! The staff are friendly, the atmosphere is cozy, and this place never disappoints. One of the best Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area! 🍣✨“

“Food and service was incredible. The sushi and ramen was delicious. We went for a birthday party and brought a cake. Without us asking, the waitress offered to store the cake in their own fridge and even gave us new clean plates to eat the cake with after we ate our food. Now I have 2 reasons to go back. The food and the service.“

“Quality food everyone should give them a try ���“

“Amazing poke’ ! Incredible service! Awesome owners! Cool Asian sparkling water flavors! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“We love going here - it's sort of tucked away giving it a hidden gem feeling. The staff is warm, friendly and attentive. Sashimi is delicious and wonderfully presented. It was pricier than we expected but one wonderful thing they did for us was deep fry some of the decorations on the premium sashimi plate (the shrimp heads and the mackerel bones) - it was delicious and a nice, fun finish to the meal.“

“La comida es buena solo que hoy que fuimos apesar que tenía la reservación a la 1:45 pm el chef empezó 3 pm a cocinar“

“Best tuna roll ever.. Large side salad enough for 2. Ededname excellent. Large servings of any of the rolls with attractive black slate to k eep the roll cold, smart. Excellent miso soup in good size bowl. Water containers at each table. Take out available and no reservations taken. We went on a weeknight.“

“The Sushi was delicious and fresh.
The presentation was beautiful.
The service was excellent.
A little pricey but worth the fish selection.
Sake was paired with each course.
This was a great option“

“We love Hangetsu for our family sushi dinners! The sushi is excellent, and my kids adore Chef Charles who always whips up something special for them. The ambience is lovely for date nights as well!“

“We were looking for a new, decent sushi place between SFO and home and this one popped up. Checked the menu and decided to give them a try. We were happy with everything we tried, especially enjoyed the oysters on the half shell and the Bachamichi roll. We'll be back. Prices were reasonable and sushi was fresh 😋“

“The service was great and the food was fresh. I loved the shrimp tempura and the different sushi options - of which there were many.“

“Enjoyed omakase 8pcs with some age dashi tofu, nigori sake and the white peach panna cotta!“

“First of all the owners are absolutely delightful. We got take out and it blew our socks off! Hands down the best egg I have ever had in my life....Seriously, I had waited a long while to come here and when I got a reservation for my husband's birthday it was a magical, moment. We were delighted. We traveled through taste and it suspended time. Satiated and joyous. Wakuriya is the best Japanese I have had in my life. I cannot wait to dine inside, but until then I will treat myself to their fare every month. Truly, a delight of sight, smell, texture and taste. I feel lucky to live in the neighborhood, to be so close to this 魔法の場所. Much Love Everyone, may you eat well, be well and visit Wakyuriya.“

“Great service, food was delish. Chef made special sushi dish ( not on the menu) that was FIRE! My new to go place.❤️❤️❤️“

“We’ve been here twice, but only downstairs, which can get very noisy. Their yakitori is very good. We also tried the mentaiko udon and grilled corn and both were good, too.

There’s a public parking garage behind the restaurant. Parking is free after 6 pm. You can enter the restaurant through the back door.“

“First time here. Long line to get in but it moved fairly quickly. Had the Roast beef Aburasoba. Mind-Boggling GOOD! The flavor was out of this world! The service was fantastic!! I can’t wait to go back again!“

“This was a very pleasant surprise. We made a last minute reservation for 8 and ended up being 9. They did not reject us after the change at pick hour. Food was great and because we were ordering so much, we even got some freebies from our waiter.“

“Woah, the greatness of the sushi was unexpected as I was caught off-guard!! My hubby took me here for a regular Frid eat out night. Omg, every bite of my sushi tasted heavenly!! I felt so special like it was my bday as I slowly savored each morsel of divine deliciousness!! Phew! So amazing!! Love the intimate, cute atmosphere, &the service was warm & attentive. Id surely be back here soon with the rest of the fam, & later with friends! Stay great Ryoshin!!“

“Wonderful vegan sushi & friendly owner. I tried the shiitake avocado & spicy vegan rolls, both were delicious. Looking forward to visiting and trying other menu items soon!!“

“This restaurant is run by an elderly couple who are genuinely the sweetest people ever! They make you feel so welcome, and the food is absolutely incredible.
Every time I come here, I get a plate with the shrimp tempura and a California roll, and the chicken teriyaki is so good too. But honestly, their salads are actually my favorite part—I can’t even explain it, but the dressing they use is just so insanely good! I end up eating so much of it. In fact, everything is so delicious that I always buy a ton of sides every single time I go. This place is amazing and deserves so much more love!“

“Very Japanese, very authentic, has Cafe in the name and they actually serve coffee unlike the Mexican joint across the street. I had a cold brew and Ton Katsu Bento, wish I took a picture before I itadakimasu'd that food right into my tummy. Very tasty, very sweet staff, oishi desu. Please check it out.“

“good food great service and accomending.“

“Great place For the best sushi in the Bay Area.“

“The best Shabu in San Jose and located in the perfect part of San Jose in Japantown, we love coming here to eat Shabu, it is so delicious. I highly recommend it *****five stars the owner Richard treat’s us great with so much hospitality, we just feel so welcomed and will continue to frequent his establishment.“

“Very friendly staff and delicious food. The variety is great! Definitely a go to place if you like Sushi 🍣 🤙🥇“

“This is one of my favorite spots for a quick bite. The onigiri are always perfectly seasoned, fresh, and filling. The staff is incredibly friendly, and Erick was especially kind and welcoming. Everything tasted authentic and comforting. I’ll definitely be coming back!“

“We went there for Mother’s Day lunch, and it was a genuine kaiseki experience in a shorter lunch format. The dining ware was beautiful, and every course reflected the chef’s technique and thoughtful intention.

I especially appreciated how the chef used refined cooking techniques to bring out the natural flavors of each ingredient rather than relying on heavy seasoning. Each dish felt balanced and carefully composed.

The pork belly was on the fattier side, and while it was well prepared, I thought the amount of fat was a bit excessive for the dish. The rice course at the end was somewhat underwhelming—it lacked fragrance and didn’t leave a lasting impression.

Overall, it was an elegant and enjoyable meal, and I’d love to come back to experience the full dinner menu sometime.“

“San Mateos best kept secret. Best sushi I've had in years. Wonderful atmosphere, great service and at a reasonable price. My comment after dinner was , I guess I have had so much grocery store sushi, I forgot what real sushi should taste like.. Best Japanese food like this is rare these days until you try Tokies“

“This spot has been a local favorite of mine for years. I come at least once a week. The food is great, they've got some super creative rolls. The service is fast unless they're swamped, but that's not their fault and I don't mind waiting. The prices are incredibly affordable by sushi standards and the owner works hard to keep them low. Best of all are the staff; they are SO kind and welcoming. I really recommend the place.“

“It’s always cozy and the food is good. Everyone is friendly.“

“Kurodai - Black Seabream Nigiri 3 very strong wasabi, bitter, fishy
Ao Ebi - Blue Shrimp Nigiri 5 very chewy texture, slightly seared, slightly sweet
Hon Maguro Chu-toro - Medium Fatty Blue Fin Tuna Nigiri 5 fat evenly distributed, not stringy at all, melt in your mouth
Negitoro Hosomaki - Supreme Fatty Bluefin Tuna w/ Green Onion (Maki) 4 fatty, rich, fresh, flavorful
Oyster Shooter 2 juicy raw oyster, raw quail egg, tobiko, sake, ponzu, tabasco, very strong alcohol, bitter
Baked Baby Scallop 5 two baked Peru baby scallop, juicy, presented on shell, uni, mayo, unagi sauce, green onion, creamy, rich, flavorful
Iku-Uni-Himo 4 soy sauce marinated ikura / large fish eggs, way too salty, uni, mashed monkfish liver, white truffle oil, flavorful
Mentaiko Yaki Udon 4 pan fried thick wheat flour noodles, crunchy seasoned cod roe, crispy bacon, stir fried thin udon, flavorful
Yuzu Cheesecake 5 glazed crust, strong citrus flavor, creamy“

“This is truly a hidden gem of a Japanese restaurant. ✨
Every time I come here, I just let the owner decide what to serve, and it never disappoints. The sashimi platter is always beautifully prepared, especially the six-section assortment — every piece is incredibly fresh and high quality.
One of my favorites is the uni hand roll, so rich and satisfying. And the small oyster topped with egg yolk and fish roe? Absolute perfection in one bite, especially paired with the fresh wasabi.
You can really tell the owner cares about both the food and the customers. Super genuine, friendly, and generous. Every meal here leaves me completely full, satisfied, and somehow still feeling healthy and refreshed.
Definitely one of those rare places you want to keep secret but also want everyone to experience. Highly recommend!“

“For starters, being a new resident within their second year in San Mateo & now attending CSM for some courses I must say how pleased I am to find a gem of a restaurant such as Shiki. For it's convenience and location being an approximate 12 minute walk from campus I intend on visiting again on special occasion.

The service from staff was direct and accomadating as they allowed my cousin and I to enjoy our dinner over the course of our visit which spanned for almost more than an hour. This alone sets the tone of the atmosphere as the restaurant is moderately quaint with enough space to host a party of 4-6 comfortably according to the layout and tableing I could vaguely go over again in my mind.

Now, for the food commentary. The chirashi was a great choice for the night!A well displayed array of fresh fish placed on top of a balance of light seasoning topped sushi rice & garnish of thin clear noodles that could've been substituted from tamago kinshi. The hamachi was the highlight due to the robust sweetness that was propelled through the natural texture of the fish. The maguro being a typical favorite of mine did not disappoint at all!

Overall, the service was great as well as the atmosphere being perfect for intimate and relaxed occasions with loved ones. Not only was the chirasu fresh but the pork tonkatsu paired with a beautifully chopped sweet citrus fruit on the side among a fresh romaine leaflet embedded underneath was simple and clean. Thinly sliced and fried to a crunch with ease.

Thank you to the wonderful staff employed at Shiki! I most definitely want to thank the chef & kitchen crew for the delicious meals made tonight. Blessings!“

“The hostess was so awesome and just a ball of happiness and great energy.
The food was delicious and presentation was good; as many have said the Chicken Teriyaki was fantastic.

Portions were pretty good.
I’m a big eater so we ordered a lot. Chicken teriyaki, 5 Maki Rolls and a pop. Total plus tip was $100+

Give it a shot! We will definitely be back.“

“Great little Japanese restaurant in the Carlmont shopping center. The inside has 7 tables plus two counters for dining. The table staff is friendly and helpful. The restaurant is open later than other restaurants in the area. The go tos here are the chicken teriyaki, the gal bi ribs, Japanese fried rice and the four seasons roll“

“Cozy and casual Japanese spot. Great vibes with the Japanese posters and anime theme music playing.

The food is outstanding for such an unassuming spot. Everything is super fresh. We ordered the edamame, a spider roll, chicken karaage, and a tempura bento box.

The Tempura in particular has the perfect light batter and I appreciated all the small side dishes that came with the bento.

We'll definitely be back to try the Japanese curry and ramen.“

“What a discovery! The service is beyond impeccable. Very attentive, making sure the diners' needs are met without being intrusive. The servers are engaging and explain all dishes. Every bite of each dish was delicious! Well prepared and presentation is beautiful. I highly recommend all the dishes we enjoyed. However, the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice is an ABSOLUTE MUST! I was hesitant about the Corn Tempura, but it was an unexpected treat. The restaurant is quite small so I highly recommend making a reservation.“

“I’ve been going there for over 30 years. It’s the best tasting most reasonably priced Japanese food I have ever found.“

“We wanted to have a special meal to end our arduous few weeks of surgery recovery and I found Chacho when we landed on sushi because of their menu and location. They also seemed to be a little newer and worth a shot.

When picking up I was very warmly greeted by the ladies working there in a cozy and lovely shop and was offered even more soy sauce when I asked if it was in the bag (which there was).

We had a big takeout order of takoyaki, yellowtail Nigiri, a monster roll and some hamachi maki and California rolls. Because of how much we ordered there site offered us a free dish to select and I chose the yellowtail collar as I'd never had it before. A true feast. The takoyaki where still warm after a 15 minute drive and where perfectly savory and sweet with just the right amount of meat to batter. The yellowtail Nigiri was of great quality with a firm texture that wasn't chewy at all. The monster roll was an explosion of flavors and textures and so rich and filling. The maki and cut roll where dead simple and lovely as well with great rice/filling ratios. The yellowtail collar, while a little tricky to pick over offered delicious fatty morsels of meat with the occasional bone to dodge. It was tasty, but I wouldn't order it as a non freebie.

All in all it was such a hearty and rich meal and if we're in the area again we'll be back to come in next time!“

“If you want good authentic Japanese food, this is the place to go. It's no frills so don't go if you are looking for a fine dining experience. Food is plentiful, service is good and they have an outside / tent seating area that is good for larger groups and kids.“

“Sushi was delicious and service was great! Not a romantic spot though because it’s loud but fun if your going with family and friends. Music is good!!“

“Excellent meal here. The miso sea bass was delicious, and the nigiri in the seasonal omakase was great. Wagyu nigiri was a standout. Our waitress/server was fantastic also! one of the best sushi/omakases in san mateo in my opinion! pricing is absolutely reasonable too.“

“I’m not usually in the San Mateo area, but I happened to be nearby with a friend for some tech-related work and decided to place an online order from Udon Mugizo for the first time. It was a Saturday and the restaurant was clearly very busy, so I expected the pickup to take a while, but everything was ready smoothly and the person who helped me, possibly the manager, was genuinely kind and attentive even with so much going on. I was honestly impressed by the quality of the food too. Everything tasted fresh, carefully prepared, and much better than I normally expect from an online order. The whole experience, from the pickup service to the food itself, was excellent. I don’t come to this area often, but I would definitely order from here again the next time I’m nearby“

“ラーメンと言っているが、そばや焼き鳥など日本のメニューが複数ある。 日本で食べるような美味しさは無いが困った時やどうしても日本の味が恋しい時などは行ける。 まあ、悪くはないとおもいます。“

“Waited approximately one hour to be seated. Spoiker: it was well worth that wait. I ordered the tonkatsu ramen and pork buns. I can't decide which part was better, the noodles or the broth! The pork buns were priced just right at $8 for 2. Some of the best I've had. You are all so lucky to have such a wonderful ramen bar in your community. I am from Maine and will be sure to stop by this establishment every chance I get once I am in town.“

“Great Japanese food and sushi💯🙋🏻‍♀️. The service is excellent. Very kind and friendly.“

“The beef tongue was absolutely delicious! We ordered two servings, but the second one wasn’t as good as the first—it was a bit tougher.

The ramen and the beef rice bowl were both very tasty as well. However, the beef was a little too rare and had a strong bloody taste. We hope it can be cooked a bit more next time.

Overall, we had a great dining experience and would definitely come back!“