50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Half Moon Bay

“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!“

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

“We chose sushi takeout and it was awesome. Two rolls, nigiri chef choice plate, yaki tori, and simple noodles. Lots of fish; these are good portions. Had the nigiri for lunch the next day. Not sure why some low reviews. My experience was great!“

“We passed by the restaurant quite a few times that we would come here for a special occasion. We finally did and were delighted with its set menu offering. Every dish looks beautiful, tastes delicious. I particularly like its use of radish and savory herb and the special decor , a few herb taste like mild wasabi which really enhance the flavor. Price wise, maybe at the high end of a regular lunch but certainly an affordable meal for special occasion. Reservation recommended.“

“One of the best ramen shops in the bay area! Trust the reviews, this place is phenomenal. Delicious broth with such a complexity of flavors in a rich/hearty ramen. It rivaled both marafuku and hinodeya. I loved the clam ramen (it was PACKED with clams), and our other guests truly enjoyed the short rib ramen and the tonkotsu. Fast service, intimate space, and hot food. Worth the drive from SF“

“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.“

“super yum! i had the garlic chili tonkatsu ramen and unagi chazuke and they were great! the chazuke was very satisfying and addicting to eat - the unagi was perfectly cooked and seasoned with a sweet sauce! i felt like the garlic chili tokatsu ramen was a bit overcooked but still very fragrant. a sleeper hit was the shishito pepper tempura - crispy and flavorful!“

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

“This place is pretty small but cute. There are not that many seats inside, and most people seem to be taking food to go. I got the tonkatsu quesadilla for $12 and it was essentially cabbage, corn, and tonkatsu, and cheese inside a tortilla(?) shell. It was an interesting item, but tasted pretty good.“

“Maybe it was just because I hadn't eaten all day, but the food here was something else. Transcendental experience. Ate some of the best donburi of my life and I felt full after only finishing half because the portion sizes are huge. Great experience for sure 🙂‍↕️“

“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!!“

“Family owned sushi spot worth visiting! The food took a bit but that's because the food is prepared by the grandfather. He puts alot into his food and it shows. It's small place that could be easily missed. Great sushi and we would love to come again when in the area.“

“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“

“We love Tokie’s and have been regular users since the mid-80s, when it occupied a tiny space in Charter Square in Foster City. They expanded their space significantly but were the casualty of redevelopment. Their old location was displaced by a primary school. The newer location (on 4th Ave in downtown San Mateo) has very nice ambience but the parking can be a challenge during peak demand times like Friday and Saturday dinners. We bring many of our friends to Tokie’s and the response is always very favorable.“

“My brother and I were in from out of town trying to decide between a few restaurants, and were both SUPER glad we chose Sushi Kuu. We each got Curry Ramen (pork and chicken katsu) and split a NewNew Roll. The roll was awesome, perfect balance of flavors. But the ramen absolutely stole the show. The curry broth was insanely delicious. I would consider flying across the country again to get a quart container of it. HIGHLY recommend this spot.“

“We love it! This is party tray. Fresh, tasty, thick fish.
Love it every time we order to go, or eat in the restaurant.
There's plenty of parking next street, so that's not a problem at all.
Love their friendly and fast service!“

“This location is in a small neighborhood strip mall. There are a few outdoor tables, good for those with pups, but yellow jackets might be present. Food is good for the price. They have beer on tap, plus bottles. I do a couple of the tacos & an IPA for a quick lunch.“

“This place is busy for a reason. Which could also be seen as a con. But the yakitori is good and most of the other food is above the bar for great. We had a very friendly server but could tell some of the other servers were not as friendly. The only major con would be the price. If you’re hungry you’ll be spending a pretty penny to eat here“

“I came here to take a couple of onigiris to-go on to my plane ride the next day. I got the salmon ume and the tarako. You order from the screen as soon as you get in, and the options they have is quite impressive. I stuck to some typical flavors and was really happy with the salmon ume one. I usually get mentaiko, which is a spicy tarako, and the tarako seemed like it was cooked and not raw? I wouldn't recommend the tarako if you're expecting it to be like mentaiko. However, it was really good and even though I ate it the next morning, it was still really delicious. I'd come back for sure and would recommend this place.“

“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.“

“I got the tonkatsu curry rice plate. Very well priced for what you get. The place is nice, clean and simple.

The katsu is freshly fried.
You can definitely tell that the curry is made from scratch. It's light but not watered down. It's flavorful but not overwhelming. I think this is the first time I finished all the curry before the rice or the katsu. Is this is the best curry I've ever had? Not sure, my memory does not go that far back. I can say that this is the best curry I've had in the Bay so far. Give it a try, I highly recommend it.

Don't come in expecting something super rich and strong. This dish is beautifully simple, just perfectly ordinary in a comforting way.“

“good food great service and accomending.“

“Very cute to-go place. Perfect for a quick lunch pick up especially if you work in South City. I got the unagi with egg (savory with a hint of sweetness) and takoyaki which were both hot and fresh! I want to try the fruit sando and pork sando next time.I purchased it at the Kei Sushi location.“

“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.“

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

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

“This place is a HIDDEN GEM and my go to Japanese restaurant in the Bay Area.
Tonkatsu is my favorite, but their sushi and sashimi are very good too - always very fresh and tasty.
The vibe is cozy and it’s also a great place for a group lunch or dinner because they have several private dining rooms available.
Highly recommend!“

“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!“

“TASTY MEAL & COZY PLACE It was lunch time in San Mateo downtown and I wanted some different for lunch. The ambience was friendly, comfortable, and inviting. At lunch time, there were both the Lunch Menu with many Lunch Plates, multiple Lunch Combos, several Beef Curry bowls, various Donburi bowls, numerous Noodles dishes, and quite a few Nabe pots; and the Lunch Special with 8 different sets which includes soup, salad, and entree. My Curry Soba was delicious and the soba noodles were swimming in the curry sauce. Wow! Lots of sauce. It was heavenly delightful. Lunch Special #2 Bento Box - chicken teriyaki was tender, the tempera had a light batter, and the California roll added a nice touch along with soup, salad, and rice. There was so much food my wife couldn’t finish her meal The service was excellent. We were served with green tea within minutes of seating. The wait staff explained the daily special. The wait staff made the entire experience enjoyable. We had a TASTY MEAL at a COZY PLACE … at Hotaru Japanese Restaurant, San Mateo downtown.“

“Great ramen!!! Fast and friendly service!“

“Great sushi 😋😋🤤🤤. Feel like mom and pa places in Japan. Cozy feel!! Really like and enjoy.“

“Shiki in San Mateo has become my secret midday haven—my dependable, no-fuss escape from the grind of workdays. Whether it's a comforting bowl of udon or a beautifully simple sushi combo, there's a quiet satisfaction in knowing exactly what I’m walking into: clean flavors, fast service, and a calm atmosphere that gives me just enough of a breather to reset.“

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

“The American wagyu cut of meat was great and the fact that it's included in the ayce was a great deal. $48 pretip for 1 person, I paid 60 because the guy waiting the bar and on the deli slicer was so nice. Goma and ponzu dipping sauces were great too.“

“The Omakase is always great there, my favorite from the 8 course was the anago. They always update the menu based on seasonal availability of the fish, so its very good. It’s more of an eclectic style of sushi but still enjoyable if that is your style. We also had these fried greeneyed fishes that were stellar. They were incredibly well seasoned and perfectly crispy. The wagyu-tacos are also a must get everytime I go. I got a snow crab handroll that wasn’t quite what I expected but the salmon truffle handroll is amazing. We got the green tea ice cream for dessert and they also gave us a yuzu cheesecake that was delicious. It somehow tasted like passionfruit and yuzu. I’d go back again for that cheesecake!“

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

“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!!“

“I totally recommend YAYOI Restaurant SM Cebu City branch! For their great & delicious food and great staff, especially to our server Ms. Ygerne 🫶“

“Our family enjoys eating at Naked Fish in Millbrae. Their sushi rolls and bento boxes are always delicious. There are many options to choose from between the menu and their daily specials. Their food is presented well and amply portioned. Their service is consistently good and the servers are attentive. Whether we eat a late lunch or dinner with family and friends, we always leave this place full and content.My only criticism of this place is the location. Because the gym is directly above it, more specifically, the weight room, you can hear the weights dropping on the floor on certain occasions and it’s distracting. However, because we enjoy eating here more than anything else, we tolerate the noise on the few instances it’s happened.There is ample parking around, both on the street and in the parking lot next to it.Overall, I recommend you try this restaurant if you’re in the neighborhood.“

“Calm, quiet, peaceful atmosphere, perfect service, reasonably priced high quality sushi, and short wait times. The food was amazing, pretty much the best quality sushi you can possibly find in this entire area. Absolutely no complaints, and no reasons to complain. Five stars across the board.“

“One of the only places in the Bay Area that you can get traditional Chicken Katzu Don made with dashi, egg and onion. I have dreamt about this dish and living in the East Bay it’s hard for me to get it. Apparently they are still open over 25 years later…I might have to make a pilgrimage.“

“Cozy little Japanese restaurant with super friendly servers. The owner works at the counter. I come for Ishiyaki Hitsumamushi (Stone Bowl Seafood Rice) which I don’t think is served anywhere else. I also had tuna bone marrow for appetitzer and black sesame cheesecake for dessert. So many other dishes I want to try so will be back.“

“Authentic Hong Kong style Chinese food with high quality food.
The quality of the food here is a highlight. All that is familiar with Hong Kong style Chinese will agree.
Everything we have ever ordered had always been up to our standard and we have had Chinese food all our lives.
The food is not too oily, not too sweet, not too salty. All the flavors are very balanced.
The HK milk tea is was made in a traditional and authentic way. The bitterness and sweetness is well balanced.
I highly recommend this place!“

“Thank you for the fresh Uni, and very awesome customer service. Highly recommend!!!“

“Wanted Pho kinda late, 9pm, and when looking around this place was open late. Stopped by, as expected seated right away as only a few people in the restaurant at that time. Waitress was great, right away brought a cup of water with extra bottle table side for refills. Already knew I wanted pho, but still looked at the menu, everything looked good, if i didn't have my heart set on Pho already would of been a hard decision to make. Ordered the Beef Pho, braised oxtail broth was delicious with shredded oxtail throughout the broth. Came with the typical, bean sprouts, lime wedge, jalapeno slices and fresh basil. Added some of everything. Didn't get a picture when my food first came out as I forgot and was hungry, but remembered when 2/3 through. Can't wait to be back in the area to try some of the other menu items. Would recommend if your looking for some food Asian fusion food.“

“Great food and great people. I always have excellent service and great food when I eat there.“

“Mmmmmm soft fluffly cheesecake. If you want more egg heavy cheesecake, Uncle Tetsu might not be a good option for you. The ube cheesecake is always tasty, but I was not a fan of the Oreo cheesecake. The Oreo cheesecake was just the classic with bits and pieces of Oreo, doesn't taste at all like Oreos unfortunately. Recommend the classic, ube, and pandan coconut flavors!“

“I’m happy to support The Backhouse. I’ve ordered from them twice now, the $450 deluxe platter, and both times were excellent. You can tell the owner takes pride in her preparation, selects high quality fish, and the rice is cooked and proportioned perfectly. Most importantly, you get to enjoy delicious meal in the comforts of your own home.

Ordering through their website may seem daunting, but it’s actually pretty straight forward. They are also accommodating as I selected the wrong date and corrected with a link they provided. I didn’t have to call or speak to anyone. Their ordering website is intuitive and well designed.“

“Great walkable neighborhood“

“No parking. No place to eat. Sushi isn't meant to be delivered in my opinion. You have to order online. Their QRcode on the door is outdated and doesn't actually take your order. Price doesn't really make sense when there is no dine in option...“