50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Menlo Park

“If you come here expecting fancy cuts of super exotic fish, you’ll probably be disappointed. However, if you come with an open mind to try different types of fish each seasoned and dressed slightly differently to complement the flavors and also to cater to a less ‘traditional’ palette, then Robin can be a fun experience. We set our price point at around $140 and was served a good amount of food we felt full after. Our server confirmed our dietary restrictions and preferences, and was able to customize each piece to cater to everyone. My favorite piece was probably the uni wagyu seaweed crunch. We came for a work dinner and ended up finishing 3 bottles of sake and had a great time. We were probably responsible for destroying the ambiance as we probably got abnoxiously loud towards the end. Good option for date night or for an expensive company dinner :P“

“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 was nothing short of incredible. The takoyaki was better than any I've had in Japan. The rolls have real crab. The chirashi bowl was packed full of the most delicious cuts of fish. I will definitely be back to try more of the special rolls!“

“Well run japanese izakaya with great food. Sushi was fresh and delicious, great charcoal grill. They use binchotan- the restaurant is neat and clean without strong smell. My only complaint: the source is a little too sweet in the don and on grill peppers.“

“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 :)“

“Good sushi for good price“

“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!“

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

“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“

“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!“

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

“We’ve been here twice, but only downstairs, which can get very noisy. Their yakitori is very good. We also tried the mentaiko udon and grilled corn and both were good, too.

There’s a public parking garage behind the restaurant. Parking is free after 6 pm. You can enter the restaurant through the back door.“

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

“Woah, the greatness of the sushi was unexpected as I was caught off-guard!! My hubby took me here for a regular Frid eat out night. Omg, every bite of my sushi tasted heavenly!! I felt so special like it was my bday as I slowly savored each morsel of divine deliciousness!! Phew! So amazing!! Love the intimate, cute atmosphere, &the service was warm & attentive. Id surely be back here soon with the rest of the fam, & later with friends! Stay great Ryoshin!!“

“I have been to Kiroro a few times. Each time either during peak or off peak hours I have received wonderful service. The staff is attentive and the chefs are masters in the art of sushi. The sushi and rolls are just absolutely delicious. I usually go for sushi tuna, eel, and salmon. It's all very fresh and cut to perfection. I would highly suggest this establishment to anyone looking for delicious food for a reasonable price (quality sushi isn't cheap).

Thank you for bringing joy to my palate Kiroro. I will definitely be back for more.“

“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!“

“The chicken katsu curry was unbelievably good. So much food for so cheap! The older lady who helped me with my order was so sweet. I’ve lived in the area for a couple of years now, and I’m kicking myself for not trying this place sooner!“

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

“Very Japanese, very authentic, has Cafe in the name and they actually serve coffee unlike the Mexican joint across the street. I had a cold brew and Ton Katsu Bento, wish I took a picture before I itadakimasu'd that food right into my tummy. Very tasty, very sweet staff, oishi desu. Please check it out.“

“I am writing this review with great happiness because the service I received was beyond my expectations. I have known about this restaurant for a long time, but yesterday was my first time visiting, and I had a wonderful experience.

The food was very good, and the taste was excellent. We asked them to prepare the meat in a specific way, and they made it exactly as we requested. Their service was outstanding, especially Mr. Joe. He was very kind, respectful, and professional. He listened carefully to our instructions and made sure everything was served just the way we wanted.

I truly appreciate the great service and hospitality. Overall, the restaurant, the staff, and the food were all excellent. I would definitely recommend this place to others.“

“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!“

“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.“

“good food great service and accomending.“

“San Mateos best kept secret. Best sushi I've had in years. Wonderful atmosphere, great service and at a reasonable price. My comment after dinner was , I guess I have had so much grocery store sushi, I forgot what real sushi should taste like.. Best Japanese food like this is rare these days until you try Tokies“

“I love Onigilly!!! This location was wonderful. I came from a 30min drive away with my husband and baby and had a nice time. My Zosui soup was a bit delayed but a staff member gave us little ice cream puffs as an apology and it was very sweet. They were also kind and laughed when my husband and baby were playing games. Food was top tier and delicious, as usual. Above and Beyond.“

“It’s always cozy and the food is good. Everyone is friendly.“

“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“

“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.“

“Great little Japanese restaurant in the Carlmont shopping center. The inside has 7 tables plus two counters for dining. The table staff is friendly and helpful. The restaurant is open later than other restaurants in the area. The go tos here are the chicken teriyaki, the gal bi ribs, Japanese fried rice and the four seasons roll“

“Cozy and casual Japanese spot. Great vibes with the Japanese posters and anime theme music playing.

The food is outstanding for such an unassuming spot. Everything is super fresh. We ordered the edamame, a spider roll, chicken karaage, and a tempura bento box.

The Tempura in particular has the perfect light batter and I appreciated all the small side dishes that came with the bento.

We'll definitely be back to try the Japanese curry and ramen.“

“Udon Mugizo is still a trustworthy place for udon. The tonkotsu one is still the best with perfectly cooked eggs and all the assortments on top. Somehow the appetizers like chicken karaage is not as good as before/ other branches. What I like about this branch compared to others is more relaxing vibe around the bar area. It would be really cool to serve the food across the bar rather than on the side though lol. Despite comments here and there, it is still a good place that I would come for udon over other chains.“

“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!“

“If you want good authentic Japanese food, this is the place to go. It's no frills so don't go if you are looking for a fine dining experience. Food is plentiful, service is good and they have an outside / tent seating area that is good for larger groups and kids.“

“We love it! This is party tray. Fresh, tasty, thick fish.
Love it every time we order to go, or eat in the restaurant.
There's plenty of parking next street, so that's not a problem at all.
Love their friendly and fast service!“

“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。“

“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.“

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

“Enjoyed omakase 8pcs with some age dashi tofu, nigori sake and the white peach panna cotta!“

“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.“

“The wagyu garlic rice was so so flavorful, and the wagyu was super juicy. The tonkatsu was good but I wished it came with a sauce for the katsu. Overall this place has nice atmosphere and I liked the jazz music that they were playing in the back.“

“Wadaya hasn't left my mind yet. I love that the noodles are thicker than Kajiken. It makes for a chewier bite which I prefer. I'd say the taste is similar to Kajiken but maybe the flavor at Kajiken is a bit better. I definitely like the noodles here more. The absolute star of the show is the tiny scoop of rice they give you at the end to mix in with your extra sauce. I wasn't a believer at first until I actually tried it. Best bite ever. Holy.“

“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.“

“Ah, we are unfortunately disapponted. Came here early enough that we didn't need to wait in line. We ordered all the expensive items to try it out. We really wanted to like it but was left disappointed. The Otsumami bix is essentially presented in a way that makes it look unique but it's essentially sashimi in decorative cups. Too many white fish options like snapper, sea bass and amberjack which were all mediocre. One of the slots were used on picked wasabi. The tamago was way too sweet (too much sugar on top). At thes prices they should at least explained what each item was. Overpriced for what it's worth and in retrospect, the Otsumami box looked more beautiful than it tasted. The premium beef katsu was really tough. This will definitely not melt in your mouth. The cuts are too thick and tough, 1 out of 5. Your really need to gnarl it with your teeth. Kasien Don was probably the best item we ordered. Huge bed of rice but the uni, toro, crab, scallops, etc in top were good. It's best to share this. Lastly both the Salmon crunchy and Ginza roll were both okay. I liked the salmon crunchy more. Service was good; water and tea cups were always filled. Parking is ample. Overall, we had high hopes but spending $360+ for 4 people was an honest try. They made our money but not our hearts. Try for yourself, I hope it works out but for us, we were left disappointed.“

“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!“

“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!!“

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

“Incredibly delicious. Friendly atmosphere. Awesome.“

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