50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Lafayette

“One of my favorite lunch spots in downtown Lafayette! 🍣

I stopped by after a busy morning at work and it totally made my day. The sushi is always so fresh, the service is wonderful, and Sunny, the owner and her family, is the sweetest. You can really feel the love they put into the restaurant.

If you’re looking for a cozy neighborhood sushi place with consistently great food, definitely give Kiku a try. I’ll be back… probably very soon with more friends! ❤“

“Loved this place, but removing a star because they took the teriyaki salmon option off the menu. Strange, because everyone loved it and it was often sold out! The raw fish is hit or miss. Bring back the teriyaki!

My roommates and I check doordash every week or so, just to see if they have Salmon Samba.“

“Best freaking poke spot ever I sometimes drive out thirty minutes just for this place... I LOVE THEIR MARINATED MUSHROOMS SO MUCH. I dreamt about a bowl from here once too... The pricing is great compared to poke spots around my area and they are generous with their portions, not to mention the quality of the food is amazing! Staff is really kind as well :)“

“Delicious and everything was so fresh 😋“

“Some of the best sushi in the East Bay, and one of the best sushi chefs, Jack san,“

“The small unassuming entry way will make you think you’re breaking into someone’s house but it’s perfect for that intimate feeling as well. Once you find the right door it’s a super chill vibe in a small space. The chef was preparing everything as we walked in and the server sat us down. The food was super fresh and the chef was very kind. There were 13 different sashimis served along with 6 additional courses of non sashimi items. Very nice service and amazing meal, left full and happy!“

“Hands down the best restaurant in Martinez. I travel from Vallejo to enjoy the Salmon and steak hibachi. The staff are so kind and friendly. The dining area is always spotless. I highly recommend you come here if you’re looking for a good quality meal!!!!“

“Rico pero lo malo es que nunca tienen basil para la sopa pho“

“Super delicious 👍 I never eat Japan food super good like this before.“

“The best omakase around!!“

“I got the lunch nigri, salmon was buttery, tuna was fresh. Complementary miso soup. Definitely an amazing lunch. Even the katsu was delicious. A plentiful variety of authentic Japanese dishes. Would come here again and recommend to anyone in the area.“

“This place is very cute and casual, and the food is tasty and fresh. Excellent salmon nigiri today, very luscious. The freaky brussels (lol) were shockingly good, unusual on a sushi menu but so garlicky and good.

I’ve been here a few times over the years, but I’m leaving a review today because they go above and beyond in one particular way. They have an actual separate gluten-free menu and gluten-free soy sauce upon request. Note that we dined right when they opened so I didn’t ask about cross-contamination. However, the consideration made me feel really good about taking someone with celiac to dine here. So thoughtful. We will be back!“

“While pricese were a bit higher than I expected for the portion size, the quality was surprisingly good for take-out sushi. We spent over $60 on two omakase selections, 1 tiny uni don, 1 tiny toro don, and really small seaweed salad.

I wish they sold the scallop nigri a la carte because that was one of my favorite omakase items! Also liked one of the salmon in the omakase better than the other salmon (it looked like 2 different salmon were used). Husband raved about the toro pieces in the toro don and I enjoyed the uni don.“

“Consistently delicious! I’ve been here 4 times now and every visit has been amazing. We ordered the Chicken Kaarage, Honey Bunny roll, salmon carpaccio, and gyoza. All were phenomenal and the vibe of the space is very relaxing with nooks of privacy intentionally provided.
I am glad they put in such effort to provide quality meals, great customer service, and awesome atmosphere. Highly recommend!“

“Very good meal, service was great, I'll definitely be back.“

“Every roll was fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. The staff were welcoming and attentive.
In the end they offered me plum wine but I asked for ice cream and they accommodated.
I’ll definitely be coming back!“

“First time here and probably last time too. I hella liked how the inside was decorated reminded me of a restaurant in Japan. Kinda disappointed though. I hella love sushi. But the sushi selection was small. Nothing caught my eye. The only thing I did enjoy with my meal was the ikura. The waitress’s don’t even check up on you to see how your doing. We we’re seated all the way in the back. I asked for more water and it never came. And for those 2 reasons I won’t come back.“

“I grabbed take out from Sushi time and was super impressed. The packaging was great, miso soup was scalding hot, wakame fresh and crisp and perfectly seasoned. We tried Spicy Rainbow Roll, Mega Roll, Salmon Paradise, Flying Shrimp, Red Dragon and Cherry Blossom rolls. They were all incredible! They even provide training chopsticks for the kids!“

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

“This place has great service and amazing food. It’s great to get a sushi place that as such a great variety of rolls even for vegetarians. Can’t wait to go back.
9/5/2026 new addition to my past year old
Review
I have been going here ever since they opened and the service is always the best.
The food is alway great and so much to choose from on their menu. Definitely a must try if you haven’t yet.“

“Food was fresh! Service was great. The tables were clean!“

“Best sushi meal at this price point ive ever had. Got the Nigiri & roll combo, came with toro, salmon belly, amber jack, striper.. Premium Nigiri pieces in a combo at this price, as fresh and executed well as it was? Unreal.
Couple of the pieces had fresh Yuzu juice brushed on.

Incredible for 30$

Service was warm & friendly even when it got busy.“

“Excellent sushi again and again. Highly recommend this restaurant. Great service and fresh fish every time.“

“We had such a great meal here. Pa’ Papas serves some of the most authentic Japanese food we’ve had in a while. We ordered the tempura, miso soup, and a few rolls, and honestly everything was amazing. The tempura was light and crispy, the miso soup hit the spot, and the rolls were super fresh.

The portions are generous too, so you really get your money’s worth. If you want Japanese food that actually tastes authentic, this is the place. We’ll definitely be back“

“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 travel the world frequently and this place is a staple anytime I’m in Oakland / San Francisco.

Portions are huge, staff is very kind and attentive, this place should be packed with as fresh and flavorful everything is. 10/10 would recommend!“

“Life without sushi is no fun. That's why Manpuku is so needed. Whether pieced or in bowls, Manpuku brings both traditional and fusion in a delightful and pleasant way.“

“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!“

“best sushi and cheap!!! will come again!!!“

“My first time here. Looked like such a hole-in-the-wall from outside, but fantastic food quality.

The paper menu has mostly sushi rolls, apps, and lunch specials. On the walls are the sashimi and nigiri menus, in individual cute stickers. The sampler plates seem to have a huge variety of different fishes, and generous portions, for a reasonable price. Highly recommend dropping by.“

“Genuinely can't express how grateful I am to the staff for such a great experience. Emily is a rockstar and everyone in my group left the restaurant a little bit in love with her. The salmon kama was absolutely scrumptious, and everyone was so grateful for the generous portions. Such a great place to discover after a lovely beach day.“

“Excellent neighborhood sushi spot! Got a salmon nigiri and the Fat Boy roll and it was everything I want in a roll - crunchy, loaded with savory toppings and just a complete flavor bomb. I walk past this every day as I live nearby and am glad I finally checked it out.“

“Island Special Rolls are amazing!!! Phoenix, Pearl, Orinda and Super Star are a few of our favorites!!! #sushigood“

“Mijori – A Classic at Lake Merritt!

This little gem has been a mom-and-pop staple in Oakland for over 30 years, and they’re still going strong. The service is consistently friendly, and the food never misses. It’s a must-stop if you’re in the Lake Merritt area.

They offer a variety of weekly specials depending on the fresh fish they receive, so there’s always something new to try. Don’t skip the tuna salad—it’s topped with their house-made spicy Korean sauce, and it’s absolutely delicious.

The sushi we ordered tonight was fresh, sweet, well-seasoned, and simply satisfying. Pair it with a cold beer or a glass of sake, and you’re in for a great evening. Come check them out—you won’t be disappointed!

Don’t forget to follow for more Great foodie stops @Only1christinelu“

“Stopped by on a work trip. Ordered two sushi roles, a bowl of miso soup, and a large Sapporo beer. The food was excellent, service was very friendly, and I walked away happy. If you enjoy sushi in a relaxed atmosphere, this is the place to go.“

“We had a great dinner here! Everything felt very authentic, and you can tell they put a lot of care into preparing their seafood. The proportions were spot on.
A huge surprise was the miso soup—it was so good that even my kids, who usually don't touch it, finished the whole bowl. The salad was simple and refreshing, and the fried chicken (karaage) was perfectly crispy and tender. The beef was a little on the salty side for my taste, but overall, it didn't take away from a really enjoyable meal.
We liked it so much that we even grabbed some nigiri to go, and the kids absolutely loved it. Definitely a spot we’ll be coming back to.“

“Kotobuki is our go to sushi spot. We eat there regularly, eat in and take away. The sushi is always fresh and very good -- sashimi & rolls. My kids like the generous combo boxes. They have a great variety of rolls, Ramen, and plated meals. The staff is friendly and service is excellent! A plus, we can watch a sporting event there. ;)“

“Very beautiful!!!! Vale a pena conhecer“

“Anytime we are in Pleasanthill area we try to eat at Jo’s Honda Sushi. We used to live in Pleasanthill and we would go there at least once a week. We love Honda and all his family ❤️“

“Marugame is our absolute go-to for the kids! The menu options make it so easy to find something everyone loves, and the cafeteria-style layout makes ordering a breeze. Everything tastes fantastic, and the dishes are so easy to share across the table. Always a reliable, delicious meal for the whole family.“

“This is one of the best izakaya spots around here. The owners and staff are very friendly, and it looks like they have a lot of regular customers.

I ordered a few dishes to enjoy with some good sake. The yakitori was a bit disappointing since it lacked that smoky, grilled flavor. I wouldn’t recommend it.

However, the steamed clams were excellent—perfect as a drinking snack. The fried herring was so delicious that we finished it in no time. Lastly, I had ochazuke, which was absolutely satisfying and something I’d definitely order again.

Overall, it was a perfect dinner experience.“

“best egg rolls and gyoza! I wish we could find teriyaki this good in WA“

“Best Japanese Curry in town !“

“I had a rainbow roll to try it out and I was very pleasantly surprised how good it was. The fish was fresh and very good. This trip was amazing. Next visit I'll buy a free note rolls and report back but they are definitely worth trying out. I think I may have found my new favorite spot“

“Quick and affordable made to order onigiri with vegan/plant based options. I like the spicy tofu triangle, the teriyaki tofu and the kimchi tofu triangles are good as well. They usually throw in complimentary edamame if you get a few, and they have other options as well. More of a grab and go atmosphere but they are fast and friendly to me, and the condiment section is loaded with good stuff like free sesame seeds, teriyaki sauce, Japanese spice, Sriracha, shoyu etc. I like this for a nice light meal for some protein and energy after a work out or so.“

“Sushi was very fresh and very tasty. I was there late at night right before they closed and the staff was incredibly friendly and polite even though I was the last customer before they closed. It was a wonderful experience. I wish I lived closer because I would definitely go back.“

“I had such a wonderful dining experience here recently. The quality of the food was impressive and every plate was presented beautifully.

Everything tasted so fresh. I especially loved the bento box, which came with a perfect slice of orange and some really delicious, crispy dumplings. It is rare to find a spot that puts this much care into their presentation and flavor profiles.

I am definitely planning on coming back soon to try more of their menu. This place is a real local gem for anyone in Concord.“

“The freshest sushi I’ve ever had in this area. Hands down. Will definitely be back!“

“Great food, great service!“

“Friendly people, good food, generous portions, great service! Nothing better than to return to a favorite dining spot and have them not only remember you but also remember your "usual"! Beyond Pleased!“