50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Mill Valley

“excelente comida, maravillosa atención. lo recomiendo al 100%“

“Honestly really great sushi very fresh and delicious, the salmon felt like it melted in your mouth and the umnekyo was the perfect kind of sour. Stopped by on a whim and delighted to have discovered it! Very reasonable pricing and extremely fast and friendly service too!“

“fresh always my go to .. wonderful“

“Been here many times. I prefer this place much more than the other Japanese spots in Mill Valley. I lived in Hawaii for 10 years and have a high standard for Japanese food. They offer more options and everything I've ordered here is delicious. Will continue to come here. Their wine and sake selection is much better as well.“

“𝑀𝑦 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑓𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑘𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑤𝑙 𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑡, 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠, 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑠ℎ, 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑑. 𝑌𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑦 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑠. 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑙𝑦 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑒. 5 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑠.“

“I went to KEN for my birthday and it was absolutely phenomenal. The fish was delicious; so many new flavors and combinations; the chef was superb - talented and entertaining, with great attention to detail. The service was impeccable. I cannot say enough good things!“

“What a treat! Highly recommend“

“Best Japanese Curry in town !“

“I love Yoma cafe, the food is amazing, great price, the owner is always so welcoming and nice to everyone.“

“Best authentic Japanese restaurant in town.“

“This place has officially ruined ramen for me. Because if I go somewhere else, I’ll compare it to this place, and just be like, “Damn, I should’ve just gone to Taniku Izakaya instead.”
Perfectly cooked noodles in a flavorful broth, both the crab and the pork that I have gotten have been amazing. They can adjust the spiciness on the broth if you can’t handle too much spice, which is nice. The portions are generous, but not so huge that there ends up being a huge bowl of broth even after you finish your noodles. Delicious gyoza, as well.
It’s a nice, cozy, hole in the wall spot.“

“awesome a must try, this is a hidden gem“

“If you want the freshest fish downtown has to offer.... go to Sanraku“

“Quality is key with any meal. Roger-San is all about quality. Sit at the bar if you can!“

“Excellent Japanese cuisine, service and staff are wonderful and helpful“

“Eating is a kind of happiness, taste is a kind of interest“

“We had such a wonderful time! The atmosphere was very friendly, and the chef was incredibly outgoing and engaging. He gave vivid, detailed explanations of each piece of sushi — including which part of the fish it came from and how it was prepared — which made the experience feel extra special and educational.

One unique touch was the in-house special drink designed to transition between the appetizer and the sushi course — such a thoughtful detail! Since it was our birthday, the restaurant even surprised us with a hand-drawn birthday card. Super cute and such a lovely gesture!

Constructive feedback:
1. It would be great if the reservation time could be extended to 2.5 hours. Things felt a little rushed toward the end.
2. It would also be nice to have a choice between water and hot tea as a default beverage option.

Overall, a fantastic experience — we’d definitely come back!“

“The reviews don't lie, this place is fantastic. The fish was sooo fresh and generous. The rolls were delicious and well-portioned, and priced comparably to the other high-end places. Even though we called at the last minute, they squeezed us in with a quick turn time. The service was friendly and we all agree this is the best sushi in Marin.“

“Amazing, amazing, amazing!!! Perfection. The attention to detail and the warm service was great from the jump. The entire 17 course meal and sake pairing was one of the best meals that we've ever had. I don't say this lightly, it was flawless.“

“There's no place like Moku. You can come here to celebrate and/or to lighten your mood, the vibe is so versatile. The food always comes out hot; I love that the specials reflect seasonality and freshness. The service is also superb, you'll feel right at home :) Highlyyyy recommend <3“

“My favorite sushi spot in the city, and the service is fast and friendly!“

“I don’t mean to exaggerate, but when it comes to both the food and the service, exaggeration almost feels necessary. Chris was phenomenal, and the food exceeded anything I could have imagined. This place is truly unexpected in the best way—just trust the experience. There really aren’t enough words to describe how amazing it is.“

“Fantastic neighborhood spot. Food is great. Service is a bit brisk and can be curt but it’s not a bad attitude, just trying to take care of everyone. I went last weekend and it hit the spot so perfectly I went back this weekend with a different friend. Sweet server tonight. High quality food and the space has a very good sf neighborhood spot vibe - takes me back to the 90s. I’ll be back for sure.“

“I have dined at a fair number of sushi restaurants in America as well as some of the finest in Tokyo. Kuma distinguishes itself by having served me the best Chirashi Bowl (I had the Chirashi Deluxe), that I have had in my life. What made the bowl better than some good ones I’ve had was not only the excellent fish on top… but the thoughtfully composed bottom of purple rice with tasty nuggets of egg, soybeans, pickled cucumber, braised tofu, sliced lemon, and tobiko. It was SO GOOD. So if you love Chirashi, or just love thoughtfully prepared sushi, this is THE PLACE!“

“This is the place, but it’s mine you can’t come🤯😤. The happy hour is an awesome deal, the fish is great, and a good deal on hot sake too. Sunny is a great waitress and everyone is so friendly. Could not think of a place I’d rather take my partner!“

“Good takeout sushi option with reasonable prices. The restaurant closes pretty early and have a small staff, which can lead to longer waiting times- so have that in mind when ordering. The food was great and the ingredients had great quality.“

“awesome service and amazingly fresh sushi! open from 4:30 to 9:30. on Geary near masonic“

“Omg! The Ribs are amazing!“

“I genuinely don’t know how they make this profitable at this price point.

The quality of the food and the level of service are honestly surprising for what you pay. Every course feels thoughtful and refined, yet the atmosphere remains relaxed and comfortable rather than overly formal.

One thing I especially appreciated was the pacing. Tasting menus often suffer from long gaps between dishes, which can make the experience drag, but here the flow was smooth and efficient. It never felt rushed, but it also never felt slow or boring.

The portions were perfectly designed. Instead of a few heavy plates, they serve multiple smaller dishes, which keeps you engaged and comfortably satisfied from start to finish.

If there’s a sushi add-on option, absolutely get it. It was one of the highlights.

Even the smallest details are clearly intentional. The restroom is stocked with Le Labo hand wash, the amenities are meticulously curated, and the all-black aesthetic throughout the space shows how much care has gone into every element of the experience.

Right before the dessert course, the chef personally came out to greet the guests, which added a warm and memorable touch.

The only downside? It’s incredibly hard to get a reservation😅“

“We’ve been hearing about teawood for a while and given our experiences in Taiwan, we’ve been really looking forward to eating there. It wasn’t crowded as we went early around 5:30 pm. I ordered the beef noodle soup and my wife ordered the minced pork over rice and added an egg. My soup was very large and had generous portions of beef and noodles.

The broth was dark and intense in a good way, I liked it very much but the minced pork with rice came out and the minced pork was cold!!! It had not been heated. We asked the waitress to fix it but she seeemed uncertain about what to do. Finally she went into the kitchen and brought out a new bowl of hot minced pork to put over the cold pork and the warm rice. That dish was surprisingly soupy in not a good way!

Later we ordered the durian tofu pudding from her and she went into the kitchen to make sure they had it. When she came out she indicated that it was available but that it’s COLD!!! Well of course it is!!! Generally we want our entrees hot and our desserts cold. I’m assuming after we asked for a hot entree, everything we ordered we’d wanted it hot? I can’t believe that level of incompetence and ignorance!!! So service is not a highlight of teawood. Now the durian tofu for $6.95 was sublime. Highly, highly recommended!!! We’ll be back to try more dishes and to make sure the staff gives us hot entrees and cold desserts!!!“

“I have been meaning to write this review for years. Apologies for Jimmy and Ron for not writing it sooner.

First, I have to write about the people because they are the reason I love and will always love Kibatsu. Then, I'll write about my favorite dishes and the food.

The People:
I have been going to Kibatsu since 2014 so 12 years now. Before Kibastu, they were Sugoi Sushi in the Mission. I discovered them because they did catering for University of San Francisco. My college roommate and I befriended the young sushi chefs that came to the university, hung out with them once the sushi bar had officially closed and they encouraged us to come visit their Sugoi Sushi location.

Eventually we did and it became our Friday or Saturday night routine. Sometimes, we would splurge and go during the week (which for us as college students was a lot). But we loved them. Calvin, Ronald, (so sorry, I am totally blanking on the third guy's name but I see his face in my mind!) and Jimmy. The first three were the sushi chefs and Jimmy was the waiter - he always made room for us and always saved us our favorite booth in the front of the restaurant, closest to the windows. He remembered our classes and asked us how school was going. He always treated us to on the house mochi ice cream after each dinner. We would spend hours and hours there, camping out and chatting or doing our homework in the mood-lit, rustic, tastefully interior-decorated intimate setting, amid the hubbub of conversations and people enjoying the sushi. I remember Sugoi and those times really fondly - it was our safe space, our home away from home (dorm). Other times, we'd bring our friends. I can't even count how many people I and my roommate recommended this place to or brought there.

Then after we graduated, in 2018, they moved to the Haight and invited me to their opening night omakase which was a gift to everyone they invited. How sweet, thoughtful and amazing is that? Between Sugoi and Kibatsu, my partner and I met and Jimmy always remembers my partner and his two boys and asks about them when they're not with me. The boys love it here because of the large portions and how nice everyone is.

On my birthday this year, I decided I wanted to spend it at Kibatsu and Jimmy (who is now a sushi chef!!) and company went out and got me a birthday cake and brought it out before the rest of the dessert as a surprise. I almost cried. This is why I love Kibatsu and those who work there.

The Food:
The starter we always go for is the tataki dish which is albacore with delicious fried onion. The gyoza is always also a great way to go. We always get the omakase which is a true omakase with the different small plates, sashimi and nigiri. I love the salmon and umimasu nigiri as well as the negi salmon. Something special that Kibatsu does is they always surprise you with little gifts from the sushi chefs. For this past new year's they surprised us with a whole tray of steak and jumbo shrimp - a gift on the house. Their kindness never ceases to surprise us!

So there are some of our top favorites food wise and why Kibatsu has a special place in my heart. I hope you go and I hope you love it as much as I do. They work really hard, are so extremely kind and deserve the best.“

“friendly service and tasty food“

“Great food and great ambience � � love it so much“

“woah. i dont really say real deal but real f***** deal. well balanced. superb quality. exceptional service and presentation. clean flavors. first time I have actually been left utterly speechless. 5 stars. 5 forks. whatever. this place is the jam......“

“What a great evening we had at this wonderful restaurant! The food is so fresh and tasty and the staff are kind and welcoming and really nice to chat with. Everything we had was great, but I loved my Gold Rush roll - soooooo delicious! Can’t wait to come back next time I’m in SF!“

“Akari’s fixed seafood and meat menu is incredible. The fish is fresh, featuring Hokkaido scallops and uni directly from Japan. Pacing and portions were perfect. While the decor could be warmer and more curated, the food quality is amazing. A must-visit—we will definitely be back soon!“

“Really interesting take on Ramen broth. The beef broth is rich yet not too thick. I prefer a richer Paitan but this is also good. Black garlic oil also adds more depth to the soup.

The noodle is bouncy and chewy with a strong smell of egg noodle.

Crispy mushroom is good but can be a little too salty to finish by a single person. A touch of something citrusy would help cut through the greasiness after half a dish.“

“Kitchen-made gyoza not from a box; fresh-grilled Unagi and just honest home-style Japanese food from a local family-owned restaurant. Doesn't get much better than this!“

“The server was so nice and the food came out after 10 mins of ordering and the food was good and good portions. Recommended to get a drink of you're ordering food and apps. Cozy place in Geary. Loved the flavor on the K.O. ramen and the Kobe Ramen. The Curry Lamb rice plate was also pretty delicious.“

“We went right at open and our group of 6 were almost seated immediately. We got the all you can eat package and was pleasantly surprised by the amount of meat that was offered. While the selection was basically lamb, beef and pork, all the meats were nice and tender.

However the staff seemed to have a problem with our table. They were not as friendly to us as they were to other tables. We don’t know if it was because of all the meat that we were eating but if we got the all you can eat, we will eat all that we can eat.

At the end of the meal we were given the option for ice cream which was a pleasant and tasty surprise.“

“Excellent Japanese cuisine, service and staff are wonderful and helpful“

“Excellent food, excellent service. We loved it. We had Shrimp Tempura Roll, Sexy Roll, Edamame, Miso Soup, Kirin Beer. Can’t wait to go back again.“

“Jo's awesome. We had a great experience. Highly recommended for birthdays or just being together 👯‍♀️💯👍“

“Great food & ambiance! Ron & Jennifer have done it again! ❤️“

“We just moved into the neighborhood and have been trying out new local restaurants — and wow, we’re so glad we found this place! This was our second time coming in, and it honestly reminded us why we couldn’t wait to come back.
The food is fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with quality ingredients. You can taste the difference — they even use real crab, which is one of the many reasons we love it here. Everything we’ve tried so far has been delicious and perfectly cooked.
The service makes the experience even better. Kyle and Jennifer were both so friendly, attentive, and full of great energy. They really made us feel welcome. In the kitchen, Chefs Gary and Jimmy bring not only amazing cooking skills but also great humor and personality — you can feel how much they care about what they do.
There’s something about this place that just feels like home — warm, relaxed, and full of good vibes. It’s definitely become one of our favorite restaurants in the neighborhood, and we can’t wait to come back again soon!“

“The atmosphere and presentation of the food was extremely chic! The meal was delicious!!“

“Delicious food and friendly staff“

“Great place food is super salty tho.“

“Ordered delivery on DoorDash and I don’t know if this is the regular serving size or it’s because I placed my order just 10 minutes before they closed but wow generous serving size and delicious fish - great high quality ahhh!!

Fish in the box (lite) for $38. Great value imo“

“Had an incredible omakase experience at this fantastic restaurant. Walked past then in on a whim and was immediately welcomed in and rewarded with an amazing variety of fresh, delicious fish, served with great skill and knowledge of what their customers need to try. Could not have been happier with our experience at Ariake. Excellent service to boot. Go here, you will not be disappointed!“