50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Half Moon Bay

“My wife and I made a trip from the east bay here for our date night. The sushi was good; my wife really loved the soft shell crab appetizer! My spicy tuna hand roll was good but disappointingly on the small side.

We got a couple of rolls and an udon bowl and enjoyed all of it.

The service was good but I had to remind the waitress to bring our udon after waiting quite a while… not a huge deal but accounts for the 4 star service.

The atmosphere wasn’t intimate at all but the place was filled with locals which we enjoyed.

Overall, a good experience with good food. We’d definitely got again.“

“The food . Hot Sake and service“

“This place was a great place to stop and get a bite but we got our order to go to enjoy when we got to our hotel but for me the portions were small for the prices but well worth the flavors tiny place with bar style sitting as well as tables and chairs also a adorable option to wear u can sit Chinese style on the floor with a table absolutely gorgeous place.

Parking: We had to do a few loops but we found a spot down the street.

Kid-friendliness: Kid friendly if your kid likes sushi or rice and meat options

Wheelchair accessibility: It was not accessible it had a couple of stairs“

“Solid tonkatsu with spinach added. The soft-boiled egg was a bit disappointing as it was a bit cold, but the rest was good. Interestingly, this was the first time I've had chasu that was grilled. Gotta say, it's an excellent innovation.

The service was friendly and fast, while the atmosphere was a bit sterile.“

“Absolutely delicious and the presentation is off the charts! Even my French wife was impressed : ) Wonderful service, freshest sushi that I've had in years, incredibly tasty, perfect blends of flavors and textures. Loved the Sake selection presentation by one of the knowledgeable owners (see video). My highest recommendation for this excellent Japanese restaurant in Millbrae to experience the Art of Kaiseki in its truest essence!“

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

“It was not our first time here , it’s one of those places where u wanna go on the weekends cuz easy working n most importantly, not too pricey and food is good for the prices.
I got two lunch ramen , and was able to ask to swap out the rice for more salads
Def will go back with my children.
It’s a cozy little restaurant, it’s a place for u to eat finish n go place.

Parking: Street parking was easy on a Sunday lunch time

Kid-friendliness: They were able to provide forks , kids tableware , but no stroller“

“Not a lot of japanese bakery selection here in the Bay Area, but this spot is a must-try.

Decided to try a large variety of the menu, and everything was a hit. Would def recommend getting the chocolate and matcha lattes; they are so rich and authentic which is rare to find even amongst drink specialized stores. Also would recommend the cream cornets and the tonkatsu sandwich; portion is huge!

Staff were all very friendly and professional; I you like your bread not too sweet, would def recommend.“

“Care and attention are paid at this tiny family-run establishment that flies under the radar. My favorite item is the tofu katsu curry with a very complex set of flavors and the perfect texture (not too thick, not too thin). Really nice vegan/vegetarian sushi with pickled cucumber, umeboshi, and other options. The only drawback is not much ambiance in terms of seating. There is no indoor seating. There are two tables along the sidewalk (no shade, bring a hat). The host is super friendly and goes out of her way to make you feel welcome and valued. This feels like authentic cooking your own grandma might prepare with love.“

“Seated right away without reservation. Outside and inside options. Sat outside. It's covered. Heat lamps if necessary, which is great. Ordered a bunch of yakitori options. All were delicious. I'm definitely gonna try more!

Parking: I parking at the main garage and walking over. It's free after 6pm.“

“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.“

“Came here with a buddy and made out for about $50 or less. We ordered 3 rolls and split them, which was enough food for the two of us. The portions were fairly well sized and reasonably priced(for current bay area sushi prices). The fish tasted fresh, and they had plenty of options. They were not very busy and the waitress was friendly. I enjoyed the mostly wooden decor, reminded me of the more old school sushi places i grew up with. Mini bonus for me is that they are in the same spot my childhood chinese restaurant was at!“

“Fabulous food and great service“

“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.“

“Found this location while staying nearby at the Westin. Unsuspecting and a bit hidden. However, the food was excellent, owners were kind / helpful, and the atmosphere was pleasant. For a quick dinner, I would certainly come back if in the area.“

“Great little place. Been here twice. The chefs greet you as you are walking in. I didnt notice it because of a loud diesel passing by out of place but the chefs greet everyone as the come in, even the obvious deliveryman that was lost. I should know by now, this is just a standard in japanese culture and i should keep this knowledge with me when walking into Japanese establishments. The environment is nice. Feels a little cluttered but i definitely dont sense it when having a seat. I love looking at the booth side. I believe it is called "Izakaya" decor. It is a cozy feel, especially in booth. The Bathroom is western style, modern, and clean.The hostess is very sweet and endeering, always smiling. I ordered a sushi lunch combo and very well worth the price. Along with miso and salad you get to choose two fish items, which i went with salmon nigiri and spicy tuna roll. The rice portion was standard, the salmon was doubled and doubled again. Ill attach a photo but you know how other sushi places charge six bucks for two pieces? This place basically gives you 8 pieces of fish as it basically covers the rice entirely. Again, the rice was a normal portion. The spicy tuna looks like it was handled a little too heavily but the taste was there.Is this something I can always expect? Probably not, just extra salmon maybe paired with an aggressive sushi chef for the day, but I am coming back for sure!

Parking: Parking get a little cramped on school days lunch and dinner hours.“

“Very clean, fresh and delicious, excellent service, if there are a lot of people it takes a while to serve because there are few people who work.

Vegetarian options: Plants and vegetables

Parking: There is a lot of room“

“Fabulous food: taste textures and appearance. When you want to sample a large variety of flavors but don't want to consume too much, Dash is a great choice of restaurant.

Parking: It's first come, first serve for street parking, which is Okay during the week but tricky on Fridays and Saturdays. There is also paid parking available.“

“Best sushi spot on the peninsula. The food, the drinks, the ambiance, the service...it all makes for an incredibly fun evening. Can't think of a restaurant with a happier vibe than Tokie's. Family run, family friendly, a cherished staple of the San Mateo community. The owners, Diane and Vic, are wonderfully kind, welcoming, and hardworking folks. It's not uncommon for them to stop by your table, say hi, and sometimes drop off an extra little treat if you're a frequent diner. Dine at a table, at the sushi bar, or at the drinks bar, which has a TV, making it a great spot to watch a Warriors game.“

“Oh my god! Absolutely love this place!! The food was amazing, the miso soup hit, and the service was just the cherry on top. We had the lovely old woman who served us with amazing humor and sass, it was just lovely interacting with her. The food was so good, we had the vegetable tempura dinner (amazing), the Charlie Brown roll (real crab!!!), the Kani Kosen (bomb), and the spicy tuna roll (I’m not a huge raw fish fan but the flavor was great)!“

“Gonna give it 4 stars because while the aburasoba is good I'd like them to make mazesoba too, which has more complex ingredients, preparation, and flavor. Mogomogu in Sawtelle, LA sets the benchmark for great mazesoba on the west coast.“

“Got the 3 Onigiri Combo (Spicy Beef, Salmon, & Unagi) w/ Chicken Karaage & a Kabocha Croquette.
All 3 onigiri were great! The karaage & croquette was nice and crispy.
Also included some edamame & tamago.
Overall a great spot for a quick lunch or dinner.“

“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.“

“On the cheaper side for food, and it's amazing. Haven't tried their ramen but tonkatsu curry is great.Takoyaki is more on the soft side, and karaage isn't crispy— but good. It's a different style— liking it would be preference.“

“Nice outdoor eating with heaters. Food was good, service too!!“

“Mainly for takeouts. They offer no tables or seats as the store is very small. Once you order, wait outside nearby to hear to server call your name. You can choose to stay inside the store but it’s very crammed.

Quick service for to-go. The food was decent. Not outstanding but not so bad. It’s good for a quick dinner on the days you’re busy or not feeling like cooking.“

“The sushi is fresh and tantalizing.
Three sushi chefs work non-stop ever since I sit down.
Inside is big with sushi bar and teppan seatings.
They have 2 more places at SFO Airport.
You'll find out. And do enjoy!“

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

“I moved to Burlingame in 2020 and found Fuumi as I was walking down Broadway. It quickly became a favorite with great quality sushi from a very friendly and efficient team.

Over the past 4 years I've probably had more than 50 meals from Fuumi and they've never put a foot wrong with my order and it's always been delicious.

Sadly I've now moved out of state so my Fuumi habit has ended... But to quote Douglas Adams, "so long and thanks for all the fish!"“

“Check the menu on the website before you go to see what to expect. We walked in expecting Japanese and looked at the menu and it reminded me of restaurants I've been to in Hong Kong where you can get all kinds of different things that are different from traditional Chinese food, which is fine.I like Chinese food as well however it's weird that the sign on the restaurant still says Japanese. I didn't see Japanese food on the menu. Maybe they have two menus?I rated this as four stars so as to not change the existing rating.“

“Tucked slightly away from downtown San Mateo in a little strip mall is the most delightful Japanese-Thai-Vietnamese fusion place. When I walked in, I really felt like I was transported to Tokyo. The decor is modern minimalist and the service is warm Japanese hospitality.

There aren't many tables but at lunch on a random weekday, it was almost full. There is only one server and two chefs so it does take a little long to get your food. I had the soy milk mentaiko noodles. It was so delicious. I love milky broths.

Definitely want to come back and try the other dishes.“

“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!!“

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

“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.“

“Great food, daily menu curated based on their fish for the day - like it should be. Authentic Japanese vibes, good drinks and small plates besides sushi. I usually go for their omakase - changes regularly. Probably the best bang for your buck omakase in the bay. The first white fish was a bit too warm? but others were on point. Loved the tamago that closed the 8 piece platter. The homemade tofu starter was silky smooth. Sake was hot and had a smokey note - very nice for a breezy/chilly day. There are wine and beer options.“

“Speaking directly about the service - I placed an incorrect order at this location by mistake, and this wonderful woman on the phone called the correct location to place the order for me, no extra charge. Incredibly lovely service. Food is outstanding too, one of my favorite places for sushi. Definitely would recommend, and they have a very helpful staff.“

“This is my and my husband’s favorite sushi restaurant! This is a must-visit restaurant when friends or family visit. This is a restaurant recognized by everyone! It's a little pricey (but not terribly expensive), but it's really worth it⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really recommend this place! In particular, salmon belly and eel sushi melt as soon as you put them in your mouth. Be sure to order it haha. The place itself is small, but the sushi quality is so good that we go often haha.

This is my go-to sushi place in the bay area! I really recommend this place because once you put the sushi into your mouth.. it melts. Especially I recommend unagi(eel) sushi and salmon belly sushi! The price is a little bit high, but reasonable price - because it is definitely worth it. Also all the employees are so kind and nice here :)“

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

“Very excellent service with Zara I will come tayo I mega mall“

“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.“

“This is located in the food court area of hillsdale mall. The basque cheesecake is easily one of the best I have had. Even the Japanese cheesecake is super light fluffy and delicious. The tarts are great as well. I have tried almost every single flavor they sell. They also sell tea and some other beverages but I have not had the chance to try any of these. Their cakes and tarts are top notch though“

“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.“

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

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

“The sushi presentation was excellent and made me excited to dig in! Very unique and delicious assortment of sushi and flavors. I felt that the takeout sushi was more economical than if you were do a sit-down omakase at another location in the bay. Pick-up was quick and smooth.

It would have been great if I had recieved confirmation email within a week, instead of following up with the business. However, I understand that this a small business and it can be hectic for the owner to manage communications, logistics and sushi prep for several customers.“

“Respectful, Great service! the food was amazing!! definitely will be back!! ❤“

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

“Not my usual sushi diner, but we wanted to try out a new place. This restaurant has 2 stories with a staircase.

The service was average. The serving staff couldn’t speak English. We didn’t know Spanish so we had to communicate with body language to ask for some water. The staff that actually took our orders knew English, but he was missing the first 10 minutes, counting from when we finished scanning the menu.

The food was very good. Fresh sashimi and sushi rolls. The only thing that could be improved was the plain udon. As far as I know, even Japanese plain udon contains seaweed, fish cakes and tempura crumbs. This one had none. Literally, just udon and broth, not even chopped green onions.

Vegetarian options: They have veggie dishes, look for the descriptions.

Parking: Free parking after 6pm

Kid-friendliness: Kid’s high chairs and plastic utensils

Wheelchair accessibility: I think first floor dining area is for disabilities and elders.“

“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...“

“Fresh and tasty sushi and udon dishes. Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is wonderful. If you're in downtown San Mateo come and eat. You can sit outside and people watch.

I do enjoy their Love Boat and Happy Boat meals. Lots of flavors to savor. Their fish is always fresh. This is my local favorite in San Mateo.“