50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Millbrae

“A neighborhood jam truly one of a kind hole in the wall place. If you want authentic Japanese kaiseki this is the go to spot. We came here to celebrate a graduation for a party of two. Everything was great!

The restaurant is cozy, and the owners are true Japanese chefs and very hospitable. You can choose the main course, but these are mostly set menus. Everything was properly planned with the quality ingredients that were refresh and tasty. Nothing overly powerful that would mask the true freshness of their ingredients which I absolutely loved.

The standouts were definitely the duck salad starter and the main sashimi plate for me.

Reservation recommended. Easy to park around the neighborhood.

**second visit, oct 2026**
Solid food - quality ingredients, mellow ambience, friendly service. Elegant plating and love the variety of their chefs menu. This time the highlight was the dessert: housemade red bean jelly and matcha mochi.

Can’t recommend this spot enough!“

“We do mostly takeout here and keep returning because the food is great. My family’s general assessment is that their sushi is better than most in the area. But I wanted to highlight their excellent customer service. We had ordered a 3 item bento box in one of orders and one item was forgotten. When it was brought to their attention by phone, they reimbursed the entire bento box, no questions asked. Good customer service is hard to find these days and just wanted to make sure they were recognized for that on top of the great food!“

“Great sushi 😋😋🤤🤤. Feel like mom and pa places in Japan. Cozy feel!! Really like and enjoy.“

“Amazing sushi! Easily one of the best we’ve had in a while — everything was so fresh and flavorful. I love the idea of half rolls; it’s such a great way to try more kinds of sushi. The staff were super attentive and efficient. We’ll definitely be coming back!“

“Really good Chinese BBQ place. All of the bread items we tried were flaky and tasty, highly recommend the brown sugar one. The skewers were all solid, and I appreciated that the beef had a more teriyaki-style flavor, because too much cumin starts to get a bit sameish. In that regard, you should consider getting an order of the lettuce leaves to use as a wrap for the skewers, it's a great palette cleanser and adds some nice texture.

Would love to go again, but it's a bit far from my house and Chinese BBQ isn't something you can do too frequently.“

“Absolutely loved our experience at Tomokazu! Everything we ordered was incredibly fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. You can really taste the quality of the ingredients, especially in the sushi and sashimi. The fish was so fresh and buttery, and every piece tasted clean and high quality.

Some of the standouts for us were the sashimi, 49er roll, and beef short ribs. The sashimi was easily one of the highlights — beautifully cut and so fresh. The beef short ribs were tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Honestly, everything that came to the table was delicious.

What I also really appreciate about Tomokazu is how inviting the menu is. There are so many great options whether you want sushi, sashimi, grilled dishes, noodles, tempura, or something warm and comforting. It’s perfect for a group because there’s genuinely something for everyone.

The service was warm and attentive, and the restaurant has such a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. You can tell there is a lot of care behind the food and the overall experience.

Definitely a Burlingame gem and a place we’ll happily come back to. Highly recommend if you’re looking for fresh, high-quality Japanese food in the area!“

“Came here for a late lunch today and the food was fantastic. I ordered the beef stew with tendon at a “very mild” and it was amazing. The tendons were very soft, not overcooked or undercooked. The beef chunks were tender and juicy. The waiter was friendly and continuously refilled our water.

We also ordered the dim sum sampler and it comes with two xiaolongbao, two har gow, and two shu mai with shrimp. Perfect to share with two or three people. Each piece was cooked perfectly, skin was soft and not too sticky.

Will definitely be stopping by again if I’m in Millbrae“

“5-Star Review

Tiny Sushi - Oh Baby is such a fantastic spot! The sushi was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared, and the whole experience was wonderful. The atmosphere was welcoming, and the service was friendly and attentive. Everything came together perfectly for a great meal. Definitely a 5-star experience—I’d happily come back again!“

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

“First of all the owners are absolutely delightful. We got take out and it blew our socks off! Hands down the best egg I have ever had in my life....Seriously, I had waited a long while to come here and when I got a reservation for my husband's birthday it was a magical, moment. We were delighted. We traveled through taste and it suspended time. Satiated and joyous. Wakuriya is the best Japanese I have had in my life. I cannot wait to dine inside, but until then I will treat myself to their fare every month. Truly, a delight of sight, smell, texture and taste. I feel lucky to live in the neighborhood, to be so close to this 魔法の場所. Much Love Everyone, may you eat well, be well and visit Wakyuriya.“

“First time.
Friendly staff in a casual spot. Table and booth seating.
Lots of options and we chose 2 rolls (Toro & Scallop) and a bento 3 item option (Salmon, Shaba, and Kaki).
For the rolls, the tuna and scallop was fresh and melts in your mouth. The bento fishes were moist and good portioned. The kaki (oyster) was plump and nicely fried.
Overall, a wonderful meal and a place that we will visit again. A solid option for all.“

“First time eating here and we were delighted to find this ramen shop to add to our rotation. They offer unique fusions, like the ramen with kimchi and galbi. The portions are generous and with a lot more toppings than your classic ramen (where you have to pay extra for this or that). I could only eat half and had to bring the rest to-go!“

“We love Hangetsu for our family sushi dinners! The sushi is excellent, and my kids adore Chef Charles who always whips up something special for them. The ambience is lovely for date nights as well!“

“I had a great time over there. Delicious food 🥘“

“Family operated business establishments are always the best!! Food is superb!! Price is competitive!“

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

“What amazing find for being stuck at a hotel near SFO airport for a night. Mostly hidden in an old office park area is a kind, older, I presume Japanese couple who run this place. Everything is made to order. The sign on the door said closed Saturday but they were open and the steady steam of customers mean people know how to find it… and for good reason.“

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

“Wonderful vegan sushi & friendly owner. I tried the shiitake avocado & spicy vegan rolls, both were delicious. Looking forward to visiting and trying other menu items soon!!“

“I come here because I know Jeff Poon the sushi chef at Sakesan on 1500 Ocean Ave. He’s been selecting, slicing, creating the best sushi and making me crave coming back to San Francisco for the last 15 years or so. Sit at the sushi bar and have Jeff create your meal. Well worth it!“

“This was a great meal! The side salad/soup/apps/entrees came out of the kitchen fairly spaced out so it felt almost like a fine dining experience. Did take a while so know that it is a whole dining experience - not just a quick meal out to eat. I got the Saba no Shioyaki grilled and liked that better than the sushi my partner got. The tempura was amazing and so was the Age Dashi Tofu appetizer!“

“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“

“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!!“

“Absolutely love Tomokazu! Every dish is fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The sashimi is top quality, and the rolls are always creative and delicious. The beef short rib and shioyaki saba were also amazing, even though I didn’t get a photo! The staff are friendly, the atmosphere is cozy, and this place never disappoints. One of the best Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area! 🍣✨“

“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“

“This was a very pleasant surprise. We made a last minute reservation for 8 and ended up being 9. They did not reject us after the change at pick hour. Food was great and because we were ordering so much, we even got some freebies from our waiter.“

“For starters, being a new resident within their second year in San Mateo & now attending CSM for some courses I must say how pleased I am to find a gem of a restaurant such as Shiki. For it's convenience and location being an approximate 12 minute walk from campus I intend on visiting again on special occasion.

The service from staff was direct and accomadating as they allowed my cousin and I to enjoy our dinner over the course of our visit which spanned for almost more than an hour. This alone sets the tone of the atmosphere as the restaurant is moderately quaint with enough space to host a party of 4-6 comfortably according to the layout and tableing I could vaguely go over again in my mind.

Now, for the food commentary. The chirashi was a great choice for the night!A well displayed array of fresh fish placed on top of a balance of light seasoning topped sushi rice & garnish of thin clear noodles that could've been substituted from tamago kinshi. The hamachi was the highlight due to the robust sweetness that was propelled through the natural texture of the fish. The maguro being a typical favorite of mine did not disappoint at all!

Overall, the service was great as well as the atmosphere being perfect for intimate and relaxed occasions with loved ones. Not only was the chirasu fresh but the pork tonkatsu paired with a beautifully chopped sweet citrus fruit on the side among a fresh romaine leaflet embedded underneath was simple and clean. Thinly sliced and fried to a crunch with ease.

Thank you to the wonderful staff employed at Shiki! I most definitely want to thank the chef & kitchen crew for the delicious meals made tonight. Blessings!“

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House was an amazing dining experience! The wagyu was tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly in the delicious shabu-shabu broth. The ingredients tasted fresh, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the service was friendly and attentive. A fantastic spot for a special meal—I’d definitely come back again!“

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

“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.“

“The food here was definitely the highlight. Everything tasted pretty fresh and flavorful, and overall I would rate the food about 4/5. The ingredients seemed good quality and the dishes were enjoyable.

However, the service was a bit disappointing. The staff did their job, but they didn’t feel very welcoming or friendly. There wasn’t much interaction beyond the basics, and with the price point here, I expected a more warm and attentive experience.

The atmosphere was also just okay. It wasn’t fancy or fine dining, but it also didn’t really give a strong Japanese vibe either. The environment felt a bit mixed and not very memorable.

Overall, I’m giving 4 stars mainly because the food was good. If I rated the experience as a whole (food + service + atmosphere), it would probably be closer to 3/5. Still worth trying if you care mostly about the food.“

“Not only is this the BEST SUSHI in Pacifica, but it is SO FRESH and even more than that, the employees are the KINDEST. They are so thoughtful and considerate and caring. This is our favorite date night restaurant in Pacifica! We love you Ocean Fish! 🐟❤“

“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.“

“This is one of my favorite spots for a quick bite. The onigiri are always perfectly seasoned, fresh, and filling. The staff is incredibly friendly, and Erick was especially kind and welcoming. Everything tasted authentic and comforting. I’ll definitely be coming back!“

“HIGHLY recommend Tekka House! The quality of the fish they serve is top notch - great flavor, texture and presentation. Also the truffle wagyu nigiri was the best wagyu we’ve ever had! A very delicious meal!!“

“Amazing poke’ ! Incredible service! Awesome owners! Cool Asian sparkling water flavors! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“What made this place great besides the food was the service. We enjoyed salmon nigiri, California bomb, and the Alaska roll. Also had the plum sparking wine, which I’d absolutely recommend. I think what was notable was being cared about as if we were family. I’d 100% recommend and return to if ever back in the area.“

“I cannot stress enough how good the food is here. New favorite spot! The city roll is their favorite item on their menu and was so good I went two days in a row just to eat this roll. Absolutely going to be first on my list next time I am in town. Also very friendly staff and great atmosphere but the food is the superstar here. Wish there was a six star ranking for this place.“

“good food great service and accomending.“

“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“

“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!“

“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.“

“I had quite a nice time. Their hi's were very good.

Standout yakitori for me were the scallops and chicken thighs. Sapporo on tap. Takowas was very crisp. No complaints all around and service was attentive and the kitchen was quick.

Looking forward to my next visit when I am in the area again.“

“I was looking for a sushi place in the area. I was surprised to see it was in Bayhill Plaza. Upon walking in, this place was packed. It seemed there was only one person who was the hostess, taking orders, and delivering the food. I give her mad props. With the dinner rush she was all over it. I placed my order for to go, she was super helpful, gave me her recommendations, and she had a smile on her face with everyone she encountered. This place has seemed to have gotten an elevated, more modern face lift/ renovation compared to the restaurant that used to be here. I was surprised that they didn't have standard sushi rolls that I'm usually accustomed to, but from the rolls that I've tried here... change is good.

I ordered:

1. Corn tempura: First time seeing this, I love both corn and tempura. Had to see what it was about. It was perfection. Now it makes me wonder why this has never been done.

2. California roll: Standard staple and was good.

3. Warriors roll: It's an interesting combo, all items that I like.. first bite you're hit with a flavor explosion. At times I felt I couldn't taste the shrimp tempura, but the crunch from the crunchy onion ties it all together.

4. Beef steak: She recommended me to try this first before trying the daily special or short rib. She did not disappoint with this recommendation. The beef was so tender and flavorful.

Overall, a great experience. I will definitely be back for more. I forgot to take pictures, because we inhaled the food so fast.“

“Very friendly staff and delicious food. The variety is great! Definitely a go to place if you like Sushi 🍣 🤙🥇“

“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。“

“Excellent meal here. The miso sea bass was delicious, and the nigiri in the seasonal omakase was great. Wagyu nigiri was a standout. Our waitress/server was fantastic also! one of the best sushi/omakases in san mateo in my opinion! pricing is absolutely reasonable too.“

“Really good and large portions . Friendly staff and great value! Highly recommended 🥗🍲🍛🍱“

“I’ve been going there for over 30 years. It’s the best tasting most reasonably priced Japanese food I have ever found.“

“We ordered the nigiri omakase and the omakase box and it was amazing! The fish was so fresh and delicately prepared. We struck a conversation with the chef/owner Jason, who was so kind, informative and fun to talk to. My favorite was the monk liver and my husband’s was the salmon chutoro. Will definetely be coming back.“