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.“

“I almost never give five stars because there will be someplace better. This place will be tough to beat. Friendly staff, great atmosphere, but above all, great food. Extremely fast service. Generous menu with lots to choose from including numerous sakes. Highly recommended for a sushi lover.“

“Food is great. Lots people on a Thursday night. Service is fast once you sit down. I think yelp should update the pricing point. We ate half full and spent $100 for 2 people. No wine. Google reviews showed $20-$30. That is very misleading. Please update all your $20-$30 to $40-$80 with all the inflation going on“

“I had the bento box at Mikado in downtown Los Altos and it was excellent. Everything was fresh, beautifully presented, and very flavorful. The portions were generous and well balanced, making it a perfect lunch.

Friendly service and a cozy atmosphere — I’ll definitely be back!“

“Wonderful Uni. Very fresh!!! The rolls were very well done: tasty with a great presentation. Recently remodeled, keeping the best of the old with a crisp new look. Warm and friendly service that you don't experience in most restaurant.“

“I don’t think the chef was Japanese but I have to say this was some of the best Nigiri sushi I’ve ever had. Generous portions of extremely fresh fish on well-sized, perfectly cooked slabs of sushi rice. And beautifully presented. A bit pricey ($45) but well worth it. Can highly recommend.“

“One of my top 10 restaurants. Love the interior decorating, and of course the food is incredible and creative. It's created and delivered with the upmost of care.

I like the concept of pay-what-you-want, we got the middle tier-ish and had a lot of really unique and fresh food. Dishes include uni from Hokkaido and Santa Barbara, triggerfish, scallops,band many others.

Almost everything about this restaurant was perfect. My only change would be the music, it was fun but didn't seem to match the mood. Not a deal breaker though.“

“friendly staff, monstrous upon great broth“

“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!“

“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“

“My first visit to Mikiya was shortly after they opened. The food and service were decent, but a 45-minute wait past our reservation time left a bad taste, figuratively speaking. I wasn't sure I'd be back.

I'm glad I gave it another shot. This time we came to celebrate a visiting friend, and Mikiya more than delivered. The menu has noticeably improved, we were seated promptly, and our server Zac was the kind of hospitality professional who makes a meal memorable. Friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive without being overbearing, his recommendations were spot on and genuinely elevated the whole experience.

It's clear the team has put in real work since opening. I'm signing up for the membership and already looking forward to the next visit.“

“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.❤️❤️❤️“

“Iki Omakase was an amazing experience, and one of the best we’ve had in the Bay Area. Chef Lee puts a lot of care and attention to detail in the 20 course menu. He ships his fish weekly, serves wet and dry age fish to perfection, and compliments with unique appetizers. One of the few omakase spots we would return to. Very highly recommend!“

“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.“

“Ranzan Redwood City is one of the best omakase experiences I’ve had in a while. I went with the Hana Kaiseki set ($98) and it felt very worth it for the quality and variety. The pacing was just right, nothing felt rushed, and each course was thoughtfully decorated! I enjoyed every moment during the experience.

We started with warm house sake to warm up, and luckily it paired really nicely with the meal and made everything feel extra cozy.

Then for the courses, I had:
- Starter: Kumiage Yuba with light house sauce and wasabi, I'm so impressed!!! At first I thought I was eating some fish liver because the texture was similar, but turn out it's tofu and they makes it excellent! A very nice starter
- Appetizer: Squid tempura, pickled radish, mushroom & veggies, and tamago. I really like the tempura, crispy but not greasy, nice mix of textures
- Sashimi plate: 3 pieces of bluefin tuna otoro, very fresh and buttery, just melts in my mouth! Love it
- Oden bowl: I'm so in love with the broth, sweet, umami and comforting. It had braised pork belly, radish and konjac jelly, and all taste amazing, could not find any words to complain
- Grilled fish: a very simple dish with not much seasoning. Fish was paired with some salty pickled plum and sweet potato.
- Steamed tofu with abalone: I really like abalone texture, they made it very tender and easy to chew. Also not much seasoning so that you can feel the natural taste of the seafood, love that!
- Hotate scallop with persimmon sauce: I don't like persimmon that much, but the scallops taste fresh and sweet
- Rice bowl with pickles and miso soup: this is the 2nd final course, they have 2 options to upgrade from the white rice, uni ikura (+$16) & A5 wagyu (+$26) - we have 2 people so we order both to try a little bit of everything. Both worth the upgrade, but I prefer a5 wagyu
- Matcha yokan with red beans and hot tea: the dessert was a bit too sweet for me, even though they served with hot tea to balance. But still, a great dish!

Overall, really solid omakase spot on the Peninsula. I’d definitely come back if I had the chance!“

“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!“

“This restaurant is truly an experience. You come here not just to eat, but to learn about the culture, the thoughtful preparation of each ingredient, and to enjoy the very best ingredients of the season. The meal is meant to be savored slowly.

Dinner runs from 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM with one seating only, and the door opens promptly at 6:30 PM. There is ample parking in the back, even on a Saturday night.

The environment is intimate and very homey. The only small note is that the music was a bit loud at times, especially since the hostess, Yoko, is very soft-spoken. Turning the music down slightly would make it easier to hear her explanations.

The evening began with a celebratory yuzu sparkling sake in honor of the New Year. The seasonal *Hassun* was my favorite course of the night. Served in an adorable ceramic fish, it was filled with auspicious New Year foods such as herring roe, chestnut, octopus, plum, abalone, konjac, kombu, and more—each cooked to its ideal texture.

The *ozoni* was Kansai-style, featuring mochi, yuba, and black cod, and was wonderfully warming and comforting. The sashimi course was exceptionally fresh, highlighting Aomori bluefin tuna, 明石鯛 (widely regarded as the best *madai* in Japan), and Santa Barbara uni. For winter, Hokkaido uni is not considered at its peak, making this selection especially thoughtful.

The wagyu course was simply divine—truly melt-in-your-mouth. The rice course followed with a generous bowl of Dungeness crab meat and ikura, paired with refreshing *tsukemono* and a clear seafood broth.

I absolutely loved the monaka dessert, and the meal concluded beautifully with a bowl of lightly whipped matcha.

Once again, this is an experience, not a simple meal. Come with an open mind, an appreciation for nuance, and the willingness to explore different flavors while immersing yourself in a meaningful cultural journey.“

“I'm SO glad someone mentioned 'mom & pop' - this place reminded me of the local places I grew up going to in Hawaii... (& hard to find here)

The Bento boxes are so oishi!!! The salmon teriyaki serving was huge and cooked perfectly (both pieces)... We also got chicken katsu & chicken teriyaki - both were great. Veggies - cooked & a side salad... Great value for the portions.

Now someone mentioned the curry was 'watery' - that IS Japanese curry. I didn't order it this time, but that's on my list to try on our next visit.

This is the perfect comfort food place - simple, tasty, good value - all prepared and served by a very nice couple.“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“Everything great except for the pork 😔“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“This place is ASTRONOMICAL. Sushi is cheap for the area, is extremely flavorful, and the attention to detail on some of these rolls are just chefs kiss. I come here very often to get food and it is highly enjoyed by me and friends. If your in the area and are craving sushi this is the place to go. One (extremely) small downside is for the tuna. Sometimes it's color is very light and is sometimes chopped in smaller rolls like the smaller tuna roll. Other than that everything is PERFECT“

“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.“

“the sushi was so delicious and very reasonably priced for the quality :) I loved all of their unagi rolls, especially the black dragon roll that has an entire eel on top! I also really liked the salmon sashimi, the 49ers roll, and the caterpillar roll.

the waiter was also so kind, we will definitely be back :)

I forgot to take a picture until we’d eaten almost the entire roll lol but the rolls and fish were so plump and so fresh!“

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

“Our favorite sushi spot in the Bay Area! The sushi is authentic Japanese style and the taste is always on point. The owner is very kind, checks in with your table during your dinner, and served us miso soup on the house for the busy wait time. We always come once a month :) thank you for the positive experience and delicious food always!“

“We just moved back to the area and glad to see that Tanto’s still doing good and now serving LUNCH even! Went for lunch today and the food and service was excellent. The food was fresh and you can tell everything was made with intention. I like that Tanto gives classic Japanese food vibes and it feels like you’re transported to Japan for a nice comfort meal. Can’t wait to try more items on their menu.“

“Cauliflower 3 not flavorful, grilled
Ikura Salmon Yaki-oni Benedict 3 egg & salmon on deep fried rice ball, not flavorful
Dry aged Salmon Kama 3 a little dry, salty
Thick cut beef tongue 4 crewy, flavorful
Ox-tail udon 2 only one pc
Uni Flan 5 pudding, salmon roe, spread on bread, flavorful, refreshing
Seafood Skewers 4 black cod, salmon, yellowtail, scallop, oyster, not flavorful, some juicy, some not
Aburi Oxtail 5 grilled braised, super tender, fall off the bone, miso ponzu sauce, flavorful
Wagyu Steak & Garlic Rice 3 not enough steak, medium rare, medium crispy rice“

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

“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“

“We ordered 2 of the garlic beef sizzling plate (3.5 stars )and one sizzling veggie side(3.5stars)

I had this sizzling hot plate experience previously in a different chain Singapore and loved it rated 4-5 stars (depending on different locations)

I felt this one was only ok
There wasn't a lot of meat and the rice on the hot plate became a bit too crispy/dry and overall it was not well seasoned so I needed to add a lot of garlic soy sauce (which was delicious). The beef plate here was bland (and unfortunately I must compare. The other restaurant in Singapore had meat and veggies on hot plate and rice on side. It was just more food, better quality and much more flavorful) so I had to give this a lower score bc I've had better.

The service was excellent and restaurant clean and modern.

I probably won't come back.“

“Great food, fast service!“

“Fugetsu is a world wide chain of okonomiyaki. In fact, Rokko/Fugetsu has the first location of Fugetsu in the whole US.

Always a good vibe here and possibly the only place to get okonomiyaki in the Bay Area like they do it in Japan. Huge menu and drink selection with the shared Rokko and Fugetsu menu. I like the okonomiyaki sampler a ton as well. Portions are huge for this dish and everything else on the menu.“

“This was my 4th time here at sushi jin- it's truly our favorite omakase in the area, we can't stay away! we always receive great service here, and the fish is so fresh. we especially love getting the ankimo, it's always delicious. highly recommend!!“

“We had a great lunch, so yummy and fresh foods. We love the taste so much especially their garlic rice very recommendable to all of you guys who wants to try a japanese food that’s really satisfied your cravings, so come and dine in.“

“Not sure if they're part of Fugetsu or if they're just the ones who make the food but regardless they are fantastic.

Not a lot of places that make onigiris around here surprisingly but this place is the best I've been to.

Pricing isn't too high but is a bit more then other spots but the quality is worth it. Would get their salmon onigiris for sure.“

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

“good place to dine and very clean“

“This place is a hidden gem! Almost every dish’s we ordered was absolutely delicious. My favorite was the beef tongue — it’s not even on the menu, but if you get the chance to try it, don’t miss out. It was tender with just the right amount of chewiness, and it paired perfectly with rice.
The staff here are excellent — very attentive and genuinely make sure you're well taken care of. Their service really adds to the overall dining experience.
The only downside is the parking. The lot is pretty small, so it can be a bit of a hassle during busy times. But honestly, the food and service more than make up for it. Highly recommend!“

“Best Tempura donburi in the Bay Area!! You can always request to have Tempura lunch/dinner instead of donburi too!“

“This place has delicious food, amazing service and really hit the spot on a Saturday afternoon. Their lunch menus are still available on the weekends. We ordered the sashimi, soba and assorted yakitori. Not sure how it’s possible but it was like every dish was better than the last.“

“Chef Anas and Manager Joe did it again. They prepared an off menu custom role for my daughter, then proceeded to lavish upon us one of Chef's creations. It was crispy shrimp, avocado, cream cheese and here's the best part...torched yes torched until that delicious smokiness permeates the custom roll. Absolutely top tier! I highly recommend this humble place because the commitment to hospitality comes through in everything they do!“

“Incredibly delicious. Friendly atmosphere. Awesome.“

“adoro la variedad de Mocho que tienen además la excelente atención“