46 Best Japanese Restaurants near Menlo Park

“Robin in Menlo Park has quickly become one of my absolute favorite sushi restaurants in the Bay Area.

I’ve been here at least ten times now, and each visit feels just as exciting as the first. The consistency, creativity, and attention to detail are what make this place stand out in the Bay Area dining scene.

One of the best things about Robin is the flexibility of the menu. You can choose à la carte if you have favorites in mind, or you can go for the omakase and let the chefs guide your evening. I’ve experienced both, and I can honestly say you can’t go wrong either way. The omakase is particularly special — every dish arrives beautifully plated, with flavors that are fresh, innovative, and balanced. The fish quality is always top-notch, from the buttery otoro to the delicate hamachi, and the chefs often surprise you with unique touches that make each course memorable.

The à la carte options are equally impressive, especially if you want to revisit your favorites. The nigiri and small plates showcase the freshness of the ingredients, and the variety keeps the dining experience exciting. Even the desserts are worth saving room for — light, creative, and the perfect way to finish the meal.

The atmosphere inside Robin is modern yet welcoming, with a stylish design that still feels comfortable. Service is another highlight: the staff are knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely make you feel taken care of.

Robin has become one of my favorite restaurants in Silicon Valley, and I can’t recommend it enough. Whether it’s your first visit or your tenth, it always feels unforgettable.“

“Good sushi for good price“

“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“

“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“

“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!“

“Definitely a hidden gem! Got salmon nigiri and Curry Katsu. The salmon slice was thick, we were pleasantly surprised by the amount and quality. Katsu had a nice subtle crisp to it even covered in curry. Beef yaki udon was really really good, Highly recommend and worth it. We will be back :)“

“Sherash offered impeccable service at our power hour lunchtime, Friday afternoon. The photo you see was a completed service after only 27 minutes from him taking our order. Our chef Brian came from the other Benihana locations (we recognized him from our past trips) and cooked up our food to perfection.

I would highly recommend for a lunch break!“

“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!“

“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!“

“Attentive and lovely service, wonderful food that’s well worth the price, and a simple spartan jnterior. The whole staff was amazing and patient and took the time to explain things. The food was excellent and a wonderful mix of flavors. The presentation was simple but elegant.“

“So many veggie options! They have a large section of vegetarian sushi, some of the best I’ve had. Very creative! Nice fusion dishes too like sushi tacos!! We ordered several veggie dishes and all of them were excellent. Casual atmosphere, friendly staff, and easy parking too.“

“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.“

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

“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“

“friendly staff, monstrous upon great broth“

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

“So give this place five stars. I also read all of the reviews. Some reviews were negative one stated food took too long but they must have been slammed, the other reviews seemed to be mired with personal issues. One guy had a seemingly decent review about the chirashi, however I found this to be amiss. One photo showed food but it must have been chewed. It was not an accurate or good review. The rice was firm but not mushy. They had a decent amount of portions on par with pricing. So in all they had great service and great food. Some of the other reviews may have been biased by competition or lack of education.

They earned my review for an order on takeout. Well put together everything was there not any headaches or bs.

They got their five stars today. 🙏“

“We came early evening and enjoyed our food. I went with tofu and veggies, and my friend got steak and chicken. We also got a radish roll and a Philly roll. The food was very enjoyable, though the bite of steak I took from my friend's plate felt a little dry. As we kept eating, they turned away a few people, and we leaned they had run out of sushi rice when we asked to order a couple of rolls to take home. This was surprising because they would still be open for several hours. We ran out of tea and had to wait longer than expected to get someone's attention to pay our bill. They were quite friendly, and I would consider going back if I was craving a hearty dose of dietary fiber again as I really did enjoy my own plate.“

“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.“

“I had the 3 choices bento box. It comes with salad, rice, 1 piece of pork katsu, 1 teriyaki beef steak (with broccoli & carrot) and 2 large shrimp tempura (with potato salad). $20 total. Good value and fresh food. Feeds 2 people. It was not very busy on a Sunday afternoon. I waited for 10 min for the food. It's for takeout only.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Biked over from our hotel and grabbed a table without waiting on a Saturday evening. Plenty of tables inside, good lighting, and nice staff. Large sushi roll menu. We started with the spicy edamame and it was great, to an addicting point. I got the monster roll and the spicy hamachi. Good quality fish, rice was solid, and the ingredients tasted fresh. Solid spot for sushi.“

“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.“

“Came here during the week for their popular lunch special and it did not disappoint! For less than $20 I got chicken teriyaki (get it with crispy skin), salad and California rolls. The lady who workers here (I believe is the owner) is one of the nicest people I have ever met. I will definitely be back and encourage others to give this place a try!“

“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!“

“I had a life changing dessert here. If you enjoy sweet potato, you must get the beniimo ice cream. The crust of the sweet potato is indescribably light and crispy, and the inside is hot and pillowy with the familiar taste of sweet potato. The vanilla ice cream compliments the hot sweet potato so well. It wasn’t oily at all even though the description says it was fried.

The skewers are also good, notably the chicken thigh and enoki mushroom wrapped in bacon. So juicy and tender and hot. Daikon salad was pretty refreshing as a palate cleanser.

We came on a Friday evening with no reservation and surprisingly got seated very quickly although there was a long waitlist. The skewers smell so good from a block away.“

“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.“

“The service was great and the food was fresh. I loved the shrimp tempura and the different sushi options - of which there were many.“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“good food great service and accomending.“

“I took my son to Sushi Jin for his 14th birthday as a birthday gift while my wife was out of town. We both got the Omikase, along with the uni flight and a dessert. The food was outstanding in every regard and the best sushi I have had (including Japan). My son loved it and enjoyed the experience (yes, he appreciates fancy food, as we cook with clean ingredients every night at home except on special occasions when we eat out). The service was excellent and each course was well presented and explained by the chef. Most importantly, the fish was super fresh with a variety of flavors. I will take my wife there next time we have a special occasion. Highly recommended.“

“good place to dine and very clean“

“Yoshi Sushi has several locations in the Bay Area which all of them are so consistent with quality and customer service! I have been to the San Jose one and now I have decided to try the one in Los Altos. Parking was very easy as they have a spacious parking lot in front of the restaurant!

Upon walking in, we were warmly greeted by the host and directed the QR code for ordering. I love the QR code ordering system because it includes all the pictures of the items! There was so many options on the menu and it was hard to choose since everything looked so good! We ended up ordering 3 rolls, 1 dream box, and a smoking salmon sashimi which was perfect for 3 friends to share! My favorite was the giants roll and dream box! The slices of fish in the dream box were huge and it also came with some uni too! After eating the huge buttery slices in the dream box, I will be surely having dreams about sushi in my sleep!

We Ordered:
1x Kamikaze Roll - so yummy, a little spicy
1x Smoking Salmon Sashimi- loved the smoke show, sashimi tasted smoky yummy
1x Giants Roll- as a salmon lover, i enjoyed this so much
1x Dinosaur Roll- reminds me of a dragon roll, but better
1x Dream Box- my most favorite, the slices of fish were huge and so buttery“

“Kemuri is definitely not a typical American Japanese restaurant; if you’re not raw fish eater you can enjoy much broader range of different cooked and uncooked Japanese food beyond sushi rolls and sashimi at this restaurant. However it is far from providing an authentic Japanese food experience. Which authentic Japanese restaurant does not provide tempura sauce but soy sauce for a vegetable tempura dish? And their smoked soy sauce, the staple of Japanese cuisine basic sauce is very salty and dark, another mistake. Other disappointment included real tough overcooked beef tongue and thick fried pork chop not juicy due to problems with the flours. The only dish we truly enjoyed is sardine with cheese, a fusion of east and west. That is probably the strength of this restaurant’s cooking but when I ordered simply traditional Japanese food, it is far from perfect. All that being said if someone wants atypical American Japanese food, this is the place to go.“

“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.“

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

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

“Incredibly delicious. Friendly atmosphere. Awesome.“

“ラーメンと言っているが、そばや焼き鳥など日本のメニューが複数ある。 日本で食べるような美味しさは無いが困った時やどうしても日本の味が恋しい時などは行ける。 まあ、悪くはないとおもいます。“

“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.“

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

“Hanamaru is a fantastic sushi spot. Probably the best sushi in Sunnyvale. Been going for years and years and never disappointed. I love the specialty rolls here like, Black tiger roll, Cherry blossom roll and U.F.O. roll. Chef's nigiri and sashimi are well portioned cuts of fresh fish. Usual fair like edamame and miso great too. Highly recommend!“