50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Menlo Park

“Fantastic evening at Robin. The omakase restaurant had a hip, night clubby feel to it as the interior was dark with dance club music, but the sushi was definitely worthwhile. Erin and Abby provided friendly and efficient service, which contributed to the overall positive experience. Free parking lot next door makes it easy to find a parking space.“

“YES THIS SUSHI IC SO CLOSE TO OUR HOUSE AND CHEAP!!!! YOU GET A FREE DRINK WITH ORDER! ( not including water, that’s always free)

Kid-friendliness: Not many kids go there, but they are still kind to kids who do go there.“

“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“

“Have been back for a few times to try different things on the menu, I will let the pictures speak for themselves! They serves fresh, high-quality sushi and delicious skewers in a relaxing atmosphere. Attentive service and variety of sake selection. Highly recommend for a special night out!“

“The owner John is absolutely wonderful! Not only do you get high quality food and drinks here but you get to be entertained by John the whole time. He takes time to come and talk with each table and make sure that you are enjoying the food. This is such a local gem of a restaurant and a must go when in Menlo park for sushi! The quality of the food speaks for itself!“

“Good sushi for good price“

“The service was fabulous, and the food was delicious. The servings are pretty generous and you're not breaking the bank.
We went in at about 5pm for an early dinner. We were able to get a seat quickly, and the food came out pretty fast too.

Dietary restrictions: They will work with you on whatever restrictions you have“

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

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

“friendly staff, monstrous upon great broth“

“This is my favorite hole in the wall sushi anywhere in the US. As far as I'm concerned, there isn't a better place in Bay Area. Flavors are on point, creativity is just right, with a nice mix of tradition. I moved to the East Coast, and this is what I crave and where I go every time I'm back.“

“Second time eating here; will not be my last.

Great selection of sushi rolls; hard to downselect which one to order. Heart Attack was very yummy. So were the Ya Ya roll and 49ers. The previous time, we ordered some of the starter plates like hamachi crudo, which was also very good.

Place is bustling and crowded so join the waitlist online or be prepared for a wait.

Atmosphere is more for families than a romantic date. Come for the food and not the ambience.

Will definitely be back“

“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.“

“Sushi Roku offers a chic and sophisticated dining atmosphere that blends modern elegance with traditional Japanese aesthetics. Located in the Stanford Shopping Center, the restaurant features stylish decor with sleek wooden accents, contemporary furnishings, and soft lighting that creates an upscale yet inviting environment. The outdoor seating area is especially charming, providing a serene setting for an enjoyable dining experience. The ambiance is perfect for both intimate dinners and larger gatherings.

Food:
The food at Sushi Roku is exceptional, showcasing a blend of traditional Japanese flavors with innovative twists. The menu offers a wide variety of sushi, sashimi, and creative rolls, all made with the freshest ingredients. The yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño is a standout, offering a perfect balance of flavors and textures. The signature rolls, such as the Katana and the Baked Crab Hand Roll, are beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. The robata grill items are cooked to perfection and add a delightful dimension to the menu. Additionally, the omakase experience is highly recommended for those looking to indulge in a curated selection of the chef's best offerings.

We ordered the Gensai Roll, Tuna Japaeno Roll (Can't go wrong at all with this) , Tokubetsu Roll, Full Hanabi (Tuna), Fluke Kumquat (FTW), Hamachi Serrano (can't get over that) and Yellowtail Diced Chillies. There was a bit of a delay in the first round getting to our table though after that the subsequent orders were stacked right one after the other. Loved every bit of all of these and Fluke Kumquat somehow turned out to be my favorite.

Service:
The service at Sushi Roku is generally excellent, with attentive and knowledgeable staff who are dedicated to providing a memorable dining experience. The servers are well-versed in the menu and are happy to offer recommendations and accommodate special requests. While the service is usually prompt and efficient, there can be occasional delays during peak times. Nonetheless, the professionalism and friendliness of the staff make up for any minor inconveniences. Josh gave us a phenomenal welcome while taking us to our seat. Emily started with taking our orders and helped us with the options and our never ending questions around the menu. Finally, Terrence was kind enough (he stopped on his way out , and it got late) and helped us with a picture at the end and all this while he was a fantastic manager running the show to near perfection. Thank you folks!!!

Value:
While Sushi Roku is on the pricier side, the quality of the food, the elegant ambiance, and the level of service make it worth the expense. The portions are generous, and the attention to detail in each dish justifies the higher price point. It's an ideal spot for special occasions, date nights, or when you're in the mood to splurge on an exceptional dining experience.

Sushi Roku in Palo Alto's Stanford Mall is a premier destination for sushi lovers and anyone seeking a refined dining experience. The combination of innovative cuisine, stylish ambiance, and attentive service makes it a standout choice in the area. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply indulging in a night out, Sushi Roku delivers a memorable, delightful, top-tier dining experience that merges traditional Japanese flavors with modern culinary innovation. With its outstanding food, elegant setting, and high-quality service, it's a must-visit for anyone in Palo Alto looking to enjoy a luxurious sushi meal.“

“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.“

“My take out dinner was humongous from Diner Japonica. It could’ve fed 2 patrons easily. It was a combination dinner with tempura, salmon lots of rice and a side of greens w an umami dressing. The place is not a sit down diner with the booths cordoned off. The old looking restaurant is in a small strip mall right on Woodside with a small parking lot. If you like big portions of oishi foods, get on over there. If you’re looking for ambience, it’s not this place but when I’m hungry for oishi foods, I’m definitely going back. The obasan who works there is very sweet. I recommend this little take out place.“

“Tucked away in an unassuming corner, this hole-in-the-wall gem impresses with its spotless interior and beautiful wood decor. The service is excellent, and the sake menu is diverse. The easy-to-understand menu itself featured standout dishes like tender, juicy short ribs, fresh sashimi, and spicy, thick sushi with a perfect kick. The tataki was also tender and juicy. The cool, comfortable ambiance made for a great dining experience. Definitely left feeling full and satisfied. Highly recommend!“

“So glad to see a vegan izakaya in the peninsula! They’re Shizen’s sister restaurant, and the food did not disappoint. We got a few of the speciality rolls and they were all delicious. The bao was probably our least favorite since the patty tasted a lot like impossible / beyond patties that we aren’t a fan of. The ambience and service were also great - we will definitely be back!“

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

“Fabulous food and great service“

“Delicious and Creative dishes including the poke bowls we enjoyed for lunch. The spicy marinade on the chicken was excellent. Lunch crowd is steady for them and service was good considering there was just one waitress/server who was hustling to take care of everyone. Definitely will be back.“

“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.“

“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.“

“This place was fairly close by for lunch when I had to report for Jury duty. Owner was super positive and nice personality was pretty contagious, despite how terrible the weather was that day. Had their "Power Chicken" at a mild spicy level. The food came out quick, and I can tell that there was some "wok hay" in the cooking. The chicken was tender, onions were fresh, crisp, and lightly charred which takes skill. Sauce was actually mildly spicy, unlike some places where there is barely any spice when you order "mild". Generous helping of rice.

Went back after service to order a small party tray for dinner, and to get some boba next door from Teaspoon. Would go again if I was in the area and looking for food.“

“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.“

“10/24/2024

Hanabi Sushi
1040 N Rengstorff Ave Ste A1
Mountain View, CA 94043

We went there for lunch after shopping at Costco in the same plaza. The dining area is split between a cozy interior table and chair setup and a larger patio area. We were seated promptly with fast and attentive service.

We both chose the lunch combo bentos. Wifey had the beef teriyaki and avocado roll and I had the Saba Shioyaki and Combo Tempura. The miso soup had good flavor and a few small cubes of tofu with kombu. My dainty mackerel filet was moist, tasty and boneless. My one shrimp tempura was hot and juicy with a crispy panko breading. The veggies were yam, carrot, zucchini and cauliflower. The dipping sauce was a little sweet. The beef was medium rare and lean of high quality with good teriyaki flavor.

A good place for lunch and conveniently located. May repeat.

Parking: It's in the Costco plaza.“

“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.“

“Came here with my husband on my birthday. Overall the food was excellent. Very good personalized service... At 7:30 p.m. we were the only people there and remained the only people there the entire time. I thought that a bit odd. The food was delicious. Carefully created. Great play presentation... Except for the worm ?/ or parasite that I found on top of the one dish. They promptly took it away and informed me they remade it. I think they just removed the flowers/leaves. Recommended sake was delicious. The menu is seasonal so things will probably adjust if others go there. I'm still thinking about that delicious chestnut inside of a fried fishball. The rice made tableside was underwhelming to be honest.“

“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“

“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.“

“We were looking for a halal sushi place during our visit to the Bay Area and we discovered this amazing place. The atmosphere was nice even though we didn’t dine in.

The service and hospitality was great; the folks taking the order were very polite and patient. Gave us all the time we needed to think and decide on our order without showing any sign of irritation (which is very common in many restaurants). They also have a one time offer of 10% off if you order via the Chownow app which was great.

Finally, the food was amazing and delicious ??. We were very happy to have this halal sushi option and would definitely visit them the next time we are in the Bay Area.

Dietary restrictions: They explicitly advertise as halal and serve everything halal which is great!!!“

“My new personal favorite for Sushi. The service is excellent and the food is fresh. I enjoy the shrimp tempura and the different options for sushi - of which there are many. My go-to choices are either “G-Spot” or “Washington Roll” for the sushi. I also liked the rainbow roll and the Mackerel.“

“good place to dine and very clean“

“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.“

“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.“

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

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

“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.“

“We frequent Shiki at least monthly. The variety on the menu is very good, no complaints about the quality of the food or raw fish, they typically have seating, and I have no complaints about the service. Overall it's a great last minute choice in a packed San Carlos/Redwood City area.“

“Went there craving for sushi and omakase experience, and this place did not disappoint!

Each dish was creative, thoughtful, well-presented, and very delicious. The chefs explained each dish in details and made the experience interactive, which I really liked. We learned a lot about the different ingredients, why they were selected, and how they prepared them. Not typical in omakase places where they would just mention the fish and moved on.

The service was also top-notched, well-prepared, and friendly, which makes the atmosphere is cozy and relaxing. I just wish they play some musics in the background.

Note that their sake flights come with free one refill. So you would get 6 instead of 3 for the price. I thought this was a bit strange. Not sure why they didn’t just price for one portion, but we finished the double portions anyways haha. They have good sake selection!

I would highly recommend for special occasions or if you are simply into creative dishes. They rotate their menus every month or so. I would love to see lunch menus so I can enjoy it more regularly.“

“I have been wanting to try this place for years and keep forgetting about it as it is located in a small strip mall on the other side of the tracks (literally) so I tend not to think of that side of town for dining.I was greeted immediately and sat at the bar. I have favorites I like to order in order to gauge the quality of the place and chef.First, the disappointment: the futomaki was plain, uninspiring, and plain dull. Not worth the $14. And a futomaki is a traditional roll that allows for a lot of creativity. I have had some stellar futomakis. Not so here.I had a bottle of junmai ginjo at $24 dollars. It was smooth... almost too smooth. The rice polish is 55%, same as one of my favorites, Kikusui junmai ginjo that has more distinct characteristics. While I have no complaints per se, I would look for something else next time.The nigiri was very good. Good taste, generous cuts/portion size, and the uni was great. Very fresh. Thank you Santa Barbara!I'd give the place a 4.5 to be more fair. I'll be happy to go back, but with more realistic expectations.“

“Incredibly delicious. Friendly atmosphere. Awesome.“

“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.“

“I came here with a colleague for a meeting over lunch last week and was not disappointed. I was impressed by the peaceful atmosphere of the restaurant even when full of patrons. While the portions were on the more conservative side (at least for basic rolls), the sushi was very fresh and delicious. The QR code menu confused me (which was my own fault, not theirs) because I didn't realize that the code was shared for the whole table, not for each diner on their individual phone. So my colleague and I ended up deleting part of each other's orders. Our server was swift to correct our order, and was very gracious in doing so. The wait was very brief for our amended order to come out from the kitchen. I would recommend this restaurant for those who enjoy a quiet dining environment with low ambient lighting.“

“Loved their soufflé pancakes! Chocolate was the favorite. Tasted like chocolate mousse. Matcha was very good n I’m not a matcha fan. Go early n make reservations. Staff very nice n efficient. Can’t wait to go back.“

“Sushi Jin in Mountain View is an absolute gem! We recently visited for my wife's birthday, and we opted for the omakase tasting menu. From start to finish, every dish was crafted with such precision and care. The freshness and quality of the fish were outstanding, and each course was a delightful surprise. The balance of flavors and textures was impeccable, showcasing the chef's incredible skill. The ambiance of the restaurant made the evening feel intimate and special. The staff was warm and attentive, ensuring we had everything we needed to make the night memorable. My wife was thrilled, and so was I. If you're looking for an unforgettable dining experience, Sushi Jin is definitely the place to go. Highly recommend!“

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