50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Mill Valley

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

“I love Amberjack Sushi by their always tasty, fresh, and healthy reliable take-out / delivery Japanese food orders. They have an excellent wide selection of delicious sushi and sashimi along with their main set dinners to choose from. I have found the salmon teriyaki dinner has become a perfect simple always tasty dinner meal that I love every time I order it!“

“Whenever I go to San Francisco, I go to eat J apanese dishs!“

“Great dinner at Oni Kuma in Mill Valley next to Whole Foods. Food was excellent. A little of everything, from sushi to Yakitori and udon. Fresh and delicious. Service was great too. An easy place to go for Japanese food.

Kid-friendliness: We came with our school aged kids. They felt welcome here“

“Kids love it! Quality bubble tea, easy ordering experience allowing everyone to adjust their food & beverage to their exact liking. Clean dining room with seating both inside and outside. Located right next to Safeway in the corner space.

Dietary restrictions: You are able to select how sweet your drinks are from zero, regular, 25%, 50% etc

Parking: Lots of free parking

Kid-friendliness: Kid friendly location, kids also love the bubble tea/Boba which is of a higher quality then a lot of Boba spots. It's all mixed on the spot and real ingredients VS places that just scoop out some power or syrup mix.“

“What a treat! Highly recommend“

“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!“

“The exclusivity and attention to detail in this culinary haven were unparalleled. From the moment we walked in, it felt like an intimate gathering of food enthusiasts. The chef's omakase menu was a mesmerizing journey through sushi perfection, with rare ingredients and artistic presentations that left us in awe. The personalized service and wine pairings elevated the experience to new heights. The ambiance exuded sophistication and exclusivity. While it may be "Friends Only" in name, this is a destination worth befriending for an unforgettable dining experience.

Parking: Hard to find a street parking in the evening“

“The food is really good ☺️“

“Love this wonderful neighborhood Japanese restaurant! The food is always fresh and delicious. Chef Hiro San has passion of food!“

“This is my favorite omakase place in all of San Francisco and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a reasonably priced omakase (~$125/person) with amazing service every time you go.

I've been to Wako 5-6 times in the last 10 years, and I am never disappointed. They serve seasonal fish depending on the time of year that you visit. The chef's omakase comes with a starter, appetizer, 10 pieces of nigiri, a grilled dish, soup, and a house made dessert. You really can't find another omakase like this in the city. I think there are 2 options for either 9 or 11 piece chef omakase since the last time I visited.

My favorite nigiri from Wako are the striped jack, ink squid with uni, and of course, the blue fin tune belly. The chefs are so nice and explain every cut of fish to you as they serve it.

Be sure to make a reservation well in advance, as spots do fill up. Try to get a seat at the counter, so you can watch the chefs as they prepare the dishes.

Parking can be a little tricky in this part of town, given how many restaurants, bars, and surrounding shops there are, so be sure to arrive a little early!

Parking: Difficult to find parking during dinner time, so either take a rideshare or arrive early to find a spot!“

“It was a last-minute booking with a friend, and we didn't expect to find a hidden gem!
Arguably one of the best places to have meat in SF.
The wagyu was good, and the set menu was carefully curated.
Chris and Andy were knowledgeable and sincere about food; you can feel their passion for their business. Will definitely come back again.“

“We tried both Happy Hour and dinner in one visit—two very different experiences. Overall, the food was solid. The beer was nothing special, but the cocktails were great. Happy Hour is a better deal, while dinner prices are on the higher side.“

“ok this is one of the best izakayas i’ve ever been to… the hamachi was buttery soft and melted in your mouth & the sauces were sooo perfectly paired with the proteins! the chicken skewers were moist and juicy. it was pretty pricey with 4 appetizers coming out to ~$65 with tip. pretty small place with only seating for max like a party of 4.“

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

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

“Good food but not wow or particularly memorable. Very expensive for what it is ... shockingly expensive actually. Sausages were noting better than Little Smokies, skirt steak probably best skewer. Various chicken skewers average. Ramen pretty good. Tiny but charming interior. Fantastic service.“

“It was such a treat to dine here! Truly a hidden gem in San Francisco, Clint and his wife Yoko offer the most exceptional ramen and a myriad of other tasty bites, all made right in front of you and with the delicacy and precision of brilliant culinary artists. It's amazing to think they aren't trained chefs because it's one of the best meals I've had! We did the mini sake pairing menu and it was so much fun. As a sake lover, it was great to see such a unique and varied selection paired with the courses. I wanted to live in the moment so didn't take any pics. :) I wish Clint and Yoko an abundance of continued success. What they've created is really special and they should feel incredibly proud of how far they've come with this restaurant. Put the time slot to book reservations in your calendar and be sure to go! Highly recommended!“

“The first couple times I had the salmon, ikura and cured egg I enjoyed the meal, especially the cured raw egg was a nice touch and loved it. Then I ordered hamachi which I enjoyed less. It was chopped up in chunky pieces and it wasn't poke, it looked very unappetizing, tasted a bit sinewy, and would not order it again. I prefer properly sliced sashimi over a bed of nicely seasoned rice. I always takeout late and so the ambience did not stand out. The service is generally good, other times the staff appears to have little energy. I'm happy that they are relatively close to Inner Richmond District but the parking is impossible. I love the pics of the pup.

Parking: Impossible.“

“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......“

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

“Delicious food and friendly staff“

“My “Go to” Ramen spot when I’m in the Richmond District. Ive tried almost the entire menu..My favorite is the House Special Tonkatsu Ramen with an extra side of Ramen noodles. There’s usually little to no waiting as it seems that neighborhood customers are very considerate of one another. Service goes a long way for me. The Staff seems to remember what both my daughter and I like to order as the food comes out right away. I think this place is a great addition to the block and a good place to take a friend or a date..the atmosphere is very neutral and you are able to carry on a conversation (even when it’s crowded). If you’re in the Richmond and enjoy Ramen, this place is worth a visit.

Kid-friendliness: They have small bowls and plates for kids…window seating and long bench seating for them to enjoy.“

“We really liked this place! We were the only ones in here, with a window seat view to people watch. We got the cherry blossom roll, spicy rainbow roll, miso soup, chicken karaage, gyoza, endamame, and some nigiri (we were hungry lol). The cherry blossom was a bit plain in taste, but other than that everything was really good. The karaage was not to over fried, and the portions of fish were great.“

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

“A sushi lover's paradise!
The Nigiri ? was incredibly fresh and absolutely delicious—easily a 10/10.
The clean, inviting atmosphere made the experience even better.
Highly recommended!
We’ll definitely be coming back for more!“

“My partner and I went here for dinner tonight for a belated celebration of our anniversary - I’ve been eyeing this place for a while, and it was easily worth the wait!

The service and ambiance was among the warmest & friendliest I’ve experience in SF (and I eat out a LOT). Lots of small details in the decor and presentation that really elevated the experience and transported us back to Japan - even to the presentation of the check.

Our favorite courses were the caprese-like tofu, uni toro ikura handroll, and tonkatau pork loin. The ume sour and dessert were also delicious!!

Highly recommend and I’m excited to be back soon :)“

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

“Be it the service, ambience or the quality and taste of the food, this restaurant is truly amazing. We went there for our last evening in San Francisco and were extremely impressed.
Besides that, our server was extremely nice and accommodating and made our stay there even better.“

“The ingredients, the flavors, they're all top-notch.“

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

“My sister took me here for my first time because I'm from out of town. The head sushi chef was a great character! He knew my sister and was very engaging and treated us to some wonderful selections. I would highly recommend this place. We sat at the bar. They could have been a little quicker on the sake ? but we were pretty quickly consuming it.“

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

“The sever handled a busy store opening by themselves serving very well. At least 10 tables. He would constantly check in on us. Give us descriptions of each item he served. The skewers were amazing like always and loved the ginger hot sake! Definitely will be back“

“This place is amazing. The ramen quality is very consistent here. But the curry rice plate is okay. This is a true gem amongst the many mediocre ramen shops in the bay area. This is a place I'm willing to drive to just for ramen even if it is in the city.“

“Always delicious! Freshest fish for sashimi and sushi! Different specials. Oh so good! What are you waiting for…“

“After lunch, I was surprised that they didn't have more people eating in this establishment. This is a great place for a date or to come alone. The food is amazing 10/10. We had the omakase nigiri. 10 pieces of pure magic. The ramen just was amazing the best i had in san Francisco. The staff was amazing too. Definitely give them a visit. 10/10“

“This place offers delicious food coming out of an adorable (and clean) sushi spot, and has a positive, communicative staff.

I purchased the Half-Baked roll (to-go), which I suppose is their version of a Lion King roll, except that it doesn’t have the cucumber. It has avacado.

Notes: There was more than an adequate amount of wasabi and ginger with my order, which I appreciate. Their to-go presentation and takeout packaging overall is one the cleanest, and best, I’ve ever seen.

Thank you,

C Mars

10/30/24 update: i ordered a roughly $12 with tax salmon avocado roll after hitting the gym at 24hr van ness and it was delicious and refreshing, a bit lighter when I don’t want the spicy mayo sauce on the half-baked. ?“

“I cannot say I had a bad experience. Everything was my favorite“

“Makes me feel like I'm home it's so welcoming. Service was fast for us, but I could see how it would be slow as it's just a few people (and a robot?) working their butts off and still being extremely kind and warm.
There's someone in the comments complaining about the plastic drink containers... It made me laugh because the second me and my partner sat down I pointed them out and said "this is going to be good". They're the ones you see at any old-school Korean restaurant or many restaurants in Korean! Obviously this is japanese, but if you know, you know. It's not a fancy joint, but it's a clean hole in the wall with so much personality and the sweetest salt of the earth people working.

Meat was very very good. Broth is simple and tasty but you could load up on the dipping sauce if you want something richer. Excellent value for money and one of the warmest experiences I've had in SF.“

“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!“

“Best authentic Japanese restaurant in town.“

“Great sushi, friendly staff, fun environment.“

“Love coming here the past year. However recently noticed that their beef slices are thinner than before. Might be shrinkflation in effect and that dampened the experience a bit.

Their vegetarian option is quite bare, with only a plate of 3 veggies (pumpkin slices, zucchini and fried tofu. Not sure what type of vegetarian only eats 3 types of veggies in a meal option for shabu, they could’ve given more of the normal veggie bowl as a substitute and would provide more variety.

Overall, still the consistent efficient service and the ice cream at the end always is a highlight.“

“This is a different sort of sushi spot in the very best way, starting with a warm greeting from the staff when you walk into the joint. A lovely array of options and also flights of sashimi are available. Definitely have not been disappointed in the two times I have visited.“

“The food was amazing. The Mahi Mahi burger was fabulous.“

“The staff is really friendly. They work to please each customer. One of the sushi maker always ask us if it was ok to change the menu. I am coming back!!!“

“Ordered the Sunset roll which was a deliciously different roll wrapped in cucumber with fresh tuna, salmon, and yellowtail in ponzu sauce. Yellowtail hand roll was fresh and flavorful. Miso Grilled black cod (special of the day) was also delicious. Ended with green tea and mango mochi :) definitely recommend!!!“

“Best Katsu in San Francisco!! I had Ganji Katsu. Very generous portion. Very tender meat inside with Crispy coating outside. Will be back to try other stuff on the menu soon!!

Parking: Japan Center parking garage available on Post street“

“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.“