50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Los Altos

“I love ❤️ to meet my friends here for private gatherings to plot steps fit really big and bold new ideas. My preference is for the 7:17 (give or take) omakase at the bar followed by a night meeting around a square or round table. Each person has two people to talk to at the bar (Me - Jeff- Elon - Mark - Lauren - Priscilla - Sergey- - Larry - Larry - plus 4 additional guests if others can attend - Camelia Me 12 Camelia Typically my wife returns home early by Lyft or Uber but I stay out later and sometimes overnight in Woodside at a suitable location.“

“Picked up gyozas and a couple of rolls including a fried one. Everyone at home loved it. It was ordered on Uber Eats and was done fast on a Sunday afternoon. The staff was also friendly and helpful when we got to the restaurant for pick up. Would recommend“

“Quiet Japanese restaurant in downtown Los Altos I have walked past several times and never been in.

Food: 4. Service: 4 Atmosphere: 4
Cost to worth it rating: 3
Opentableable: no, looks like need to call
Return worthiness: sure

Highlights:
- Albacore ginger roll: simple but never seen it before and loved it. Good quality white tuna with ginger along the sides. 5 stars
- Tempura: crispy crunchy batter than typical airy style but was good Order came with 2 shrimp, 2 onion, sweet potato, carrot. Bonus for daikon coming with the tempura sauce. 4 stars
- Scallop nigiri: nice size, flavor, and texture. 4 stars
- Dragon roll: solid version but unagi could've been bit better. They were able to do it without the crab for me. I'm not a fan of that mayo mix 3.5 stars
- Miso soup: came with lots of tofu and a pretty decent sized bow: 3.5 stars
- 3 different menus: sushi, specials, dinner menu
- Japanese waitress was nice.
- Seating inside with booth tables, a tatami room, and tables on the patio even
- Classical music made me feel calm and cultured

Lowlights:
- Solid option I should have tried sooner.“

“I wanted to try something new, and since this place served traditional Japanese, I decided to give it a shot and it was truly amazing! You definitely have to try the grilled rice ball, the beef with apple onion steak sauce, and the maguro-don (tuna) tray. The flavors were so unique and unlike anything I've had before. I absolutely loved exploring new dishes, and the flavor profiles were incredible!“

“Not only is the sushi fresh with generous amounts of fresh seafood, but the to-go containers are actually biodegradable! No massive amounts of single-use plastic containers that break your heart!!
I highly recommend Sushiko for their creative rolls, fresh ingredients, and eco-friendly to-go packaging! So grateful“

“Absolutely amazing! The presentation is lovely. The sashimi is so fresh. The soup had so much umami. Even the salad had a light refreshing sesame dressing. They have a sushi train going around the bar area in the center! The jewel is the service. The chef, the server, and the owner John all came to check on us and chat with us! If you are in Los Altos please go to this Japanese restaurant!“

“Some of the best California-omakaze style I’ve had. The fish quality is absolutely top notch. Some of the more creative “California” dishes are fantastic and some are a bit of a miss.

On one of my visits here there was a strong soapy detergent smell throughout the restaurant. This put a real damper on the experience.“

“Had a great experience at Mikiya! The food was delicious, especially the Wagyu and shabu-shabu. Everything was fresh and flavorful, and the atmosphere was really nice.

Special thanks to Thura, our server! He was super friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed. Great service overall, and I’d definitely come back again!“

“From the warm greeting everyone receives when walking through the door to the attentive and super friendly service, this place is amazing! The sushi was outstanding… hands down the best sushi I’ve ever had! The texture, taste and presentation was top notch. Wish there was a location on the east coast!“

“friendly staff, monstrous upon great broth“

“Many promotions going on, they have eat for under $10 and I was more than full. Also they have a gift card deal and more discounts when leaving a review that I am taking advantage of! This place is very well priced and you can tell everything is fresh. I saw the girl cutting up all the vegetables from scratch. Very honorable place, really liked the kake, similar to miso soup in my opinion“

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

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

“Absolutely amazing❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ best sushi!“

“Los invito a todos a disfrutar de un buenísimo sushi!! 100% recomendable!! sabrosos y accesibles ;)“

“The restaurant has an unobtrusive storefront, and opens at the start of the single seating dinner service. The evening’s guests are comfortably seated in a single row at the counter, where we can see the finishing touches applied to each dish, and the team gives helpful descriptions and background context for the dishes.

This was an exceptional dining experience, each course was prepared thoughtfully with vibrant flavorful ingredients, artfully arranged and appealing to all the senses. Portioning was just right, to where you leave satisfied but not over-full. We tried a couple of the drinks, and the fizzy peach sake cocktail with a hint of shiso was superb. The sake offerings were also very smooth.

I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone with a hearty appreciation for good food. Conversely, picky or demanding children would be best left at home. I saw the team try to handle such a situation with patience and kindness, but I don’t think either side of that interaction enjoyed it. It should go without saying that an exquisite set menu prepared by a two person team might have room for adjustments if informed in advance, but doesn’t have room to make many changes on the spot for the whims of a demanding child.

This was one of the most delicious and memorable meals I’ve had all year! Also the bathroom was really nice, the toilet has some clearly-labeled bidet and flush controls on the wall by the toilet paper that some guests seemed to have missed entirely.“

“At Iki omakase, the chef created a menu which included seasonal ingredients that translated to a delicious and refined dining experience. This dinner was extra special because we were there to celebrate an intimate send off for the bride and groom (Nic & Joseph 🥳) before their scheduled wedding ceremony in Santa Barbara CA. Chef Li and the entire staff at Iki omakase did not disappoint. The entire dining experience…priceless“

“My wife and I love ramen. And we love coming to this place when we visit from out of town. One of the best ramen we've had. Great flavor and quick service. The service overall is wonderful as well, always nice to hear a couple of Japanese words. The atmosphere is wonderful, works with kids as well. And my server this round was Yoshie, she was great as well as everyone else that proactively helped keep things in tip top shape.“

“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!“

“We went here with our 1 year old and it was a great experience! Staff was very friendly and the ambience was good too :)
We tried the heart attack sushi and the mango crunch sushi and both of them were very tasty.
Would definately recommend this place!“

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

“Pretty solid. Quick service. Really attentive. We went when it was a bit slower so it was a little awkward with them hovering by, but I get it. Lots of options the ayce is kind of pricey but if you're coming hungry I think it's worth it. Really appreciate the condiments already being at the table for sauces. Would definitely come back, but maybe for happy hour, for the price discount.“

“Very refined modern takes on Japanese food. The food is first class, service is great, and love the sake! Considering the incredible quality of the food, the price is very reasonable. If all you want is your typical California Rolls ect, this is not the place. You get a wonderful Omakase menu here. Definitely recommend Soho for those looking for great, and non-typical Japanese food.“

“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.“

“We were a group of 6 all visiting for the first time and we loved it! 5 out of 6 of us did the Omakase tasting. All the courses were delicious and all of the folks there are amazing and welcoming! I highly recommend Sushi Jin. It is great spot and we will go back again.“

“Been here several times over the years, not nearly as much as I would like as I don’t live close enough. The food is always excellent, whether it’s the traditional skewers or their rotating more creative bites. And, I’m a sucker for Yaki Onigiri and theirs is excellent. As is the rice bowl side that comes with the perfectly cooked runny egg yolk. These space is a small so definitely recommend reservations during peak hours.

Service is very prompt and friendly.“

“Everything great except for the pork 😔“

“Our first time here and everything was delicious! We had the garlic edamame, salmon express and the spicy tails rolls and the salmon with lemon dill nigiri. So good!“

“TANTO Japanese Restaurant was a wonderful dining experience! The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared, with each dish feeling thoughtfully made. The service was friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. I really enjoyed the meal and would definitely come back again!“

“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.“

“Friendly, fast service. Comfortable seating and clean, lovely decor. Pleasant music and atmosphere. The food was delicious and freshly made. The tempura coating was crisp without being oily. Good amount of food for the price. Planning to return for sure!“

“Sushi O Sushi is amazing!! We usually drop in for lunch and a couple times for dinner. We get the bento boxes with teryaki chicken, California rolls, and sashimi (tuna or salmon) the miso soup is great and the salad with that delicious dressing is perfect. We always stop here and you shoukd definitely give it a try.“

“Pretty great rolls here at KAI Japanese Restaurant. Had their chicken bento as well which was fine, a bit better then some places honestly but their scallop roll was fantastic.

Pricing wise their about what you expect for a Japanese restaurant in the area so worth a try for sure.“

“Food is always fresh and delicious. There’s always a variety of specials every week besides their main menu items. It’s easy to place an order and pickup. Try it; it will become your main takeout restaurant like it has become ours!“

“YUM! We love Rokko! Lovely restaurant, great food and a wonderful staff. Happy we have this restaurant in DT Sunnyvale. 😀“

“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!“

“At poke places, it is so important for the food to be fresh. You don't have to worry about this here. The staff is willing to help you arrange your bowl if you want any suggestions about pairings. Highly recommend!“

“Great food and very tasty!! Staff are very friendly!! Highly recommended!!!“

“Amazing service. We had lunch there today. I ordered for the table and for one roll to go. When they brought the food the server realized they put two of the rolls in the to go box. And instantly said she’d have them make another for me to eat here and the second one was on the house. They also give free drinks when you dine in. They are wonderfully run!!!!“

“edamame is bomb and so delicious. and service is the best“

“We were looking for a new place to try and Octopus had some great reviews/ pictures of their sushi rolls. After looking over the menu we decided to head on down. Friendly staff got us seated right away and we started with a round of appetizers. Gyoza, chicken karaage and a Toro Nigiri special started off the night and everything was delicious. Ordered 4 rolls and a bento box combo and everyone was extremely satisfied with the food. Can't wait to return and explore more of the menu“

“Was the best ramen in San Francisco. Also the best gyoza. The black pepper karaage was fantastic. Sorry to see it close the San Francisco location. I hope they are looking for a new location in SF. There are some empty store fronts on Post Street in Japantown. I hope you come back!“

“Drunken Monk is one of my favorite Japanese spots, especially for their oyako don. It’s the dish I keep going back for, but I’ve also tried quite a few other items on the menu and have enjoyed the variety.

The space has a cozy, casual izakaya feel, making it a nice place for a relaxed dinner or date night. It’s not exactly a cheap eat, but the food feels fresh and thoughtfully prepared, so it’s a good spot when you want something a little nicer without being too formal.

The corn karaage is also amazing and definitely worth ordering. Crispy, sweet, and so easy to snack on. I’ve also tried dishes like their sashimi, mini uni don with ikura, grilled skewers, and clam dish, and everything has been comforting and well done.“

“Beautiful tasty sushi! But it's also a bit expensive. I don't recommend the avacado maki but the calafornia roll with real crab meat is very nice. Come on Tuesday dinner and it's been a bit slow. But the waitresses handled it well by offering us some edamame for free.“

“good place to dine and very clean“

“Among the best Japanese food in Mountain View/Los Altos/Palo Alto area.“

“Absolutely loved this place! All the skewers we tried were delicious, especially the grilled shrimp and quail eggs — definitely my favorites. The izakaya atmosphere is super cozy and relaxing, which made the whole experience even better. The staff were also incredibly warm, friendly, and welcoming. I really enjoyed our time here and would definitely come back again!“

“Great sushi! Must get the omakase nigiri or Toyosu special!“

“We tried the Kimchi Beef with Rice and the Garlic Beef with Rice. Between these two, the Kimchi Beef has a lot more flavor. The kimchi is, however, far too salty. Add the Garlic Shoyu sauce at the table to bring out the Garlic Beef dish. Otherwise, it's relatively plain. The pork katsu with curry sauce was fine, though not remarkable.“

“Great food, fast service!“