50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Castro Valley

“We have gone here once or twice each year since they opened and while the quality of the omakase is still high, the overall experience and service has reached a baseline 4 stars. Not sure if this is because the owners are prioritizing other restaurants in the Peninsula or this is just what happens over time.

The last time we went felt like an off day. The previous seating was running over, so many parties weren't seated until 15-30 minutes later. Didn't receive any sort of acknowlement or apology about that. It also seemed like it was only one server managing both the counter seating and tables, but she was doing her best.

Overall still the nicest omakase in this area and would recommend for a special occasion.“

“I couldn't find it inside marketplace, so I called them and got precise direction.
It is winter time, no tables outside, so I took a table between them and a butchery.
Chef's truffle tuna rolls are to die for.
They also have good selection of japanese sake in bottles.“

“Great service. The Staff is always friendly and polite. Best sushi in Town.“

“One of our go-to places with super friendly staff which always goes the extra mile to make us feel welcomed, seen and appreciated.

The Food - especially their Dinner Special - is great, portion sizes just right, different options and still assembled and delivered to the table within minutes of ordering. And both Nigiri and Sashimi have sizable chunks of Fish and well prepared!

Kid-friendliness: Servers interact wonderfully with the kids, recommending suitable food and engaging with them in conversations. There are often families with Kids here, a testament to their appeal.“

“SOOO good for sushi / sashimi takeout anytime. They have end of day specials as well. Sushi rice, imo, is perfect consistency for take-out, and the raw fish is always fresh. Parking is easy - in the lot out back, or in green zone in front.“

“Stopped by Sushi Ken and was welcomed with complimentary edamame, a nice touch to start things off. Ordered the Spicy Lover sushi and it was great, exactly the right level of heat and I enjoyed it so much I ordered a second set to take home.

That's where the consistency issue comes in. The to-go order didn't have nearly as much heat as the one I had at the restaurant, which was disappointing. When something is that good you want it to be the same every time. I'd urge the restaurant to stay consistent across dine-in and to-go orders because the gap was noticeable.

Service was quick and my server was friendly throughout. The dine-in experience was solid overall and I'll definitely be back. Just hope they sort out the consistency issue because the Spicy Lover when done right is absolutely worth ordering again and again.“

“I’ve been coming here for years now and just now decided to write a review. The sushi is amazing, I’ve made my way down the list and tried all the rolls but my favorite ones are the Shiki, Samurai and the Double Sake. They are super fresh and so delicious. They’re always as delicious as the last time. Also, service is super nice, they recognize me at this point and are always happy to see me come in again. My favorite sushi spot in Oakland hands down. Also for a great price!! Don’t sleep on Sushi Park!!“

“We really enjoyed our first meal at Hanami. we were greeted by a friendly server and she brought us menus and chopsticks. We ordered seafood ramen, katsu ramen and a veggie roll.

my fiance enjoyed his first time having abalone! We really liked how they prepared the squid as well. My katsu was lightly fried and perfectly crunchy. The veggie roll was fresh and delicious.

The ambiance was our favorite part! So many pretty things to look at! And we really enjoyed the music as well.

thank you for the yummy meal!“

“Came for a late lunch. Greeted and sat down right away. Service was very good. Food was very good. Love this little spot, i will be back. Our table ordered, agedashi tofu, spicy miso ramen, tongkatsu ramen and hamachi Don. Everything was very tasty and fresh. Only small thing is the wasabi paste could have been stronger.“

“BEST TERIYAKI CHICKEN!! Great food! Great service!“

“Been hot so was craving soba. That and the tempura really hit the spot. But what I really want to highlight is the service. My daughter was craving tonkatsu ramen and she’s really shy when speaking to people. So she didn’t clarify that she wanted ramen and not the plate. She was a bit disappointed but she loves katsu everything so she was ok with it. Our waitress overheard and came by and gave us a bowl of ramen noodles and broth on the house. For something that we were at fault for.
Just can’t rave about it enough. We will be back for sure. Also for those amuse bouche of tuna and avocados too.“

“Massive portions and incredibly fresh fish!
If you are looking for a heavy-hitting, delicious meal in the Laurel District, the Tuna and Salmon Poke Bowl from Pa's Papa Japanese Restaurant on MacArthur Boulevard is an incredible choice. They absolutely do not skimp on the ingredients, making it easily one of the best value-for-money bowls in Oakland. The cubed Ahi tuna and salmon are incredibly fresh, bright, and have a beautiful, buttery texture. This vibrant bowl is packed with an array of fantastic flavors and textures, featuring a savory scoop of spicy tuna paste, rich crab salad, creamy sliced avocado, crunchy sea cucumber pickles, edamame, and vibrant seaweed salad. Everything sits on a perfectly seasoned bed of sushi rice that holds up nicely without getting soggy. They pack everything beautifully, making it the perfect healthy, fast-casual comfort food to grab for lunch or dinner“

“Had the Chicken Teriyaki Dinner. The Service was fast and Inviting. Started with the Miso Soup that was really good. The Chicken Teriyaki Came with White Rice and a Salad. The Portions were A Decent Size and Boy was it good. All of It..Every Single Bit..I asked for extra salad dressing and I got it.Very good Miso Dressing...The Service remained great throughout my meal. What a great hidden Spot in the Pelton Center. Can't wait to return. Can't wait to Try something new. Finished off the Night with a Great Iced Coffee Next Door...“

“Lovely little sushi place with very friendly staff, delicious sushi with generous portions and reasonable prices. Everything we ordered was fresh and really hit the spot. Lots of standard options plus some interesting, innovative rolls as well. Kid-friendly place, which is helpful for families. The only tricky part is parking but that’s a Montclair issue, not the restaurants fault.“

“First time here. For being in Hayward, this Edomae-style restaurant is a treasure. The word to describe this place is: efficient. From the get-go you're informed to scan their QR code to access their menu/order. Maybe it gets better as you become a regualr; however, I felt detached from the sushi chefs even though I'm sitting at the bar. I like to order what's new/fresh...didnt even know they had engawa till I overheard the chefs discuss their current stock. Plus, the three chefs looked like they were trying to diffuse a nuke with time running out and so you're not inclined to disturb them. Not sure if they enforce their one-hour time limit as I didn't test it. The char, trout, belt fish, and black snapper were a nice add to the menu. Always appreciate room temperature fish; the texture just pops when presented in this manner. Hope to try again.“

“The service was very good, but the restaurant is a little bit understaffed. The restaurant was very clean. Restaurant was mostly quiet.

I recommend the katsu curry, it was very savory and comforting! The sushi was good (forgot to take a picture of the sushi). Also had tempera and fried squid.
The price was reasonable.

Would come back here again for sure! 🥰“

“I have been coming here for almost 14 years. And I would not change this japanese restaurant for another. Ambiance, food price, friendliness the taste of the food is wonderful. Like my mom always says : bueno, bonito y barata. Good, wonderful, comfortable prices. You won’t be disappointed!!“

“Best and most underrated ramen in the Bay! The broth is so flavorful, the texture of the noodles is perfect, and the pork belly is so crispy. Good portions for the price and the owners/service are great. My personal fav is the TanTan! Can be a little salty so request less salt :)“

“It's small, so the wait for a dine in table can take a bit, but the food quality is worth the wait. Our family has loved everything we have tried. this is one of a handful of local restaurants my 10 year old some will never complain about!“

“We got there in time for Happy Hour. The service was outstanding. Our server named Lumbi was attentive, super nice and took care of my family (plus our dog) so well. She brought out our food quickly, drinks refills quickly and our food came out flawlessly.

The prices compared to Irvine (where we are from) is very affordable!! The fish was fresh and the avocado roll was to die for. Not traditional sushi, it’s quite westernized so if that’s your style you’ll be happy. Solid locals spot!“

“I’ve had many different Korean food spots and I will admit I use to love some Korean dishes and this place just made me love it more, the food is just so saucy and flavorful and they are definitely not stingy, definitely recommend“

“If you're craving for Japanese in San Leandro or anywhere in the East Bay, this is the spot. Open late night is a fantastic bonus! The quality of food for a place open past 10pm was a great surprise.
The huge menu has something for everyone. Sashimi, specialty sushi rolls, nigiri, ramen, tempura, bento combos, and yakatori! And plenty of beer and sake to wash it all down.“

“We had a great experience the food is fresh and the steak is tender the salmon was just right. Your recommendation is forwarded to Facebook“

“Price is good and food is good.“

“Incredible restaurant. Some of the best sushi in the Bay Area! A hidden gem. The restaurant is small, good amount of parking in the back. We really enjoyed:

- Bento boxes, can’t go wrong. Miso is large along with huge serving of tempura

- Sex on the beach sushi roll was our favorite

- Service was fast and attentive, affordable pricing

We look forward to coming back and supporting this family owned business! 10/10 recommend.“

“This place is a hidden gem seemingly in the middle of nowhere. The fish is super fresh. The staff are very friendly and attentive. The owner is also the head sushi chef, he's usually there. The Japanese decor creates nice vibes, the entry way looks like a historic Japanese house entry way.“

“I have been going here for years. They have some of the best rolls in town. I always get the dragon roll, E14th roll, and the crunchy roll. So very yummy 😋“

“Great atmosphere, great food, great service. Highly recommend Yokohama Sushi! 👍“

“Wadaya hasn't left my mind yet. I love that the noodles are thicker than Kajiken. It makes for a chewier bite which I prefer. I'd say the taste is similar to Kajiken but maybe the flavor at Kajiken is a bit better. I definitely like the noodles here more. The absolute star of the show is the tiny scoop of rice they give you at the end to mix in with your extra sauce. I wasn't a believer at first until I actually tried it. Best bite ever. Holy.“

“Before you come here, make sure to call in first to get a reservation a few hours in advance. Despite that requirement, reservations are usually not hard to snag, and the place is not packed. Calm and clean atmosphere.

Food is plenty good, and doesn't take forever to come out: the portions are not massive and the food is fresh and well-made. Most of the drinks are alcahol, but they do have good sparkling water.

Hostess (Or more like manager?) was very kind over the phone as I called like 3X to reschedule.“

“Simply the best in Fremont“

“Definitely going to go back here again sushi’s are fresh and taste so good! My wife and my daughter enjoyed it the last time we went there for lunch. They have variety of sushi on their menu and the staff are really friendly. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ -donpinoytv“

“Another last minute dinner at one of the local restaurant in San Ramon. Senri Sushi has that cozy, neighborhood spot vibe that makes you feel like a regular even on your first visit. It’s not flashy, but that’s part of the charm, simple, welcoming, and focused on good food.

We ordered the crispy assorted tempura, which came out light, golden, and not greasy at all. Each piece had a nice crunch without overpowering the ingredients. The highlight, though, was the large sushi boat loaded with a variety of fresh fish. Everything looked beautifully presented and tasted just as good, clean flavors, soft texture, and high-quality cuts.

The soft shell crab was another standout—crispy on the outside, tender inside, and full of flavor. It’s the kind of dish you keep reaching for until it’s gone.

We also tried the crispy salmon. The flavor was there, but it could’ve used a bit more crispiness, as the texture leaned slightly chewy instead of having that satisfying crunch you’d expect.

Overall, Senro Sushi delivers a satisfying experience with fresh seafood, generous portions, and a relaxed, homey atmosphere. A solid go-to spot if you’re in the area and craving dependable, well-made sushi.“

“Delicious food for a great price

Vegetarian options: Seaweed salad, rolls can be made as vegetarian, and soup is vegan

Parking: Lots of parking, always.

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes there are wheelchair ramps and parking for those with disability“

“I had a great time over there. Delicious food 🥘“

“It was the best sushi! We will be back!“

“Friendly staff, pleasant ambiance, fresh seafood“

“First time and it was very good light on the stomach n refreshing. I will be back and recommend it . Yum I'll be back“

“The food was great and the staff was really nice“

“Went on a date and got some absolutely delicious sushi 🍣 the prices are much better than almost all the sushi restaurants in the area while still maintaining quality. It does depend on what you get, but if you find the good rolls then this will become your favorite spot in downtown Hayward for sushi!!“

“Apparently I've been driving right by this place for a while, but it happened to catch my eye today. I stopped in and ended up getting the sashimi donburi. It was excellent! The fish was fresh and very good quality, the rice was well seasoned as well. Though slightly more expensive than some other to-go sushi options, the quality of ingredients made the donburi well worth it for the price paid and is overall a very good value.“

“Bllown away by impresive draft beer lineup. They also have selection of cans. Didn't try the food but definitely recommend for craft brew enthusiasts and they're listed on Untapped. Was great chatting with owner Jade. Fremont really needs more places like this. Please support this family owned biz.“

“Wonderful assortment of yum yo choice from! Clean place and Courteous Assistance 🤙🏼“

“the.staff.is friendly. Food is fresh and tasty!!“

“Very clean, excellent menu with very creative rolls. The nigiri 🍣 sushi is fresh and the best I’ve had to date. Personable, knowledgeable and friendly staff. Japanese beers are on point, cold and priced right. This a “locals favorite” which feels very welcoming and the freshness will be bringing me back. Cheers!“

“We come here about once a month. We enjoy mostly the combination dinners with entree (we get Salmon Teriyaki or mackerel), mixed tempura, California rolls, salad, and miso soup. I tried the deluxe combo with entree, sashimi, mixed tempura, and nigiri sushi selection. Everything was very good. Quite a lot of food as a good value for Japanese food.“

“Really tasty and affordable food! I've ordered the lunch and dinner bento special a few times. Their website and hours are a little confusing though. I wanted to order food on a Monday afternoon and all the delivery apps say they're closed.“

“I had the chicken beef and ribs bento box. The ribs were so good I went back and ordered another set of ribs for later. The customer service was awesome I had never been there before and they were quick to point out their favorite recommendations so thumbs up. Sorry I didn't take any pictures cuz I ate it too fast.“

“This place doesn't look like much from the outside but, the food is great. The portions are plentiful and the price unlike most Japanese restaurants are very reasonable. I have been coming here for years and the quality has remained consistent. I love this place!“

“Excellent service and good fresh food clean environment!“