50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Pleasant Hill

“The food was fresh, well-prepared, and nicely presented. The sushi had great flavor, and the variety on the menu offered plenty of appealing choices. Service was also attentive and reasonably quick, which made the dining experience enjoyable.

However, one issue stood out and affected my rating. The table menu was noticeably dirty, with visible smudges and stains. This detail took away from the otherwise pleasant atmosphere and raised some concerns about cleanliness standards.

Overall, it’s a solid place for sushi with tasty dishes and good service, but improving cleanliness—especially of items like menus—would make a big difference.“

“We had a great dinner here! Everything felt very authentic, and you can tell they put a lot of care into preparing their seafood. The proportions were spot on.
A huge surprise was the miso soup—it was so good that even my kids, who usually don't touch it, finished the whole bowl. The salad was simple and refreshing, and the fried chicken (karaage) was perfectly crispy and tender. The beef was a little on the salty side for my taste, but overall, it didn't take away from a really enjoyable meal.
We liked it so much that we even grabbed some nigiri to go, and the kids absolutely loved it. Definitely a spot we’ll be coming back to.“

“The freshest sushi I’ve ever had in this area. Hands down. Will definitely be back!“

“it's always pretty good here. The prices are fair and I'm always up for a repeat“

“Anytime we are in Pleasanthill area we try to eat at Jo’s Honda Sushi. We used to live in Pleasanthill and we would go there at least once a week. We love Honda and all his family ❤️“

“Very fresh and would definitely recommend the Big Combo Appetizer (Shumai, Gyoza, Tempura & Yakitori) to go with your Meal. Very friendly people, satisfied with the Food and Service😋“

“Tatsu is a solid spot here that really delivers on atmosphere and flavor. The authentic Japanese design stands out right away - warm wood tones, pink Sakuras, clean lines, and a cozy layout that makes the space feel both traditional and welcoming.

On a packed Saturday night, the team was clearly working at full speed. The chef in particular was impressive - focused, efficient, and handling a nonstop flow of orders without missing a beat. You could feel the effort and care behind the counter.

The sashimi was fresh, clean, and genuinely delicious - exactly what you hope for when you sit down at a sushi bar. The specialty rolls like Flaming Dragon were beautifully plated with a bit of flair, and the uni shooters were the highlight of the night - rich, briny, and absolutely outstanding.

Overall, a lively, high-quality sushi experience. When a restaurant is that busy and still maintains this level of freshness and service, that says a lot. Definitely worth coming back.“

“Hands down the best restaurant in Martinez. I travel from Vallejo to enjoy the Salmon and steak hibachi. The staff are so kind and friendly. The dining area is always spotless. I highly recommend you come here if you’re looking for a good quality meal!!!!“

“Amazing as always! This place delivers consistently excellent sushi—super fresh, and just look at the picture to see how thick their sashimi cuts are. It’s not only fresh, it’s truly a great value.

I ordered four pieces of sashimi, the katsu curry with an add-on of California roll for an additional of $5, and it all even came with a salad. The pork in the katsu curry was juicy with two thick, satisfying slices.

Not to mention they gave me free tea. So generous.

Service was outstanding—the true definition of great customer care. The ambiance is cozy, welcoming, and very clean. Highly recommend!

I love this place and the owners!!!“

“Excellent sushi again and again. Highly recommend this restaurant. Great service and fresh fish every time.“

“Fantastic! Can’t wait to go back!“

“Nothing but a 5-star experience at Tanoshi. Great value for their combo - at $14? Am I even living in 2026?! I doubt this will last long... And the food was amazing! Katsu and tempura were very well executed - even stayed crunchy after the whole meal. Raw fish taste fresh. Miso soup was well balanced. The salad was well dressed... What else can I say? Hmmm with such good quality of food and great pricing, their decoration was also very pleasant - their bathrooms were also well decorated!

Ok, nothing is perfect. Two things here. 1 - Low on staff. This place can get very busy and you might have to wait in line for a while. 2 - Shrimp tempura was the biggest disappointment. Microscopic shrimp with a thick blanket of flour. Still, couldn't recommend this place more.“

“Very beautiful!!!! Vale a pena conhecer“

“Excellent sushi. Very fresh and flavorful. The salmon had a delicious buttery texture, as it should. Hard to find high quality these days and it is authentic. It is pricey, so depending on your budget it might be a once every so often place. As someone who only eats raw fish, it was perfect. Will be going back.“

“Hakashi is truly one of the best sushi restaurants in the East Bay. The sushi is always fresh and delicious, and they add their own creative twist with unique flavors and presentation. Their drinks also have a personalized touch, definitely try the tamarind and hibiscus mocktail. For sushi rolls, the 49er and the Hakashi roll are must-tries, with the Hakashi roll being my personal favorite.“

“The place offers a pleasant and easy ordering experience with a standard, simple design that keeps the focus on the food.
The dishes are fresh and flavorful, especially the large poke bowl made to order with the option to add plenty of extras, which makes it both satisfying and customizable.
Everything tastes clean and well-prepped. One thing to note: they don’t serve alcohol, so plan accordingly.
Overall, a solid spot for a fresh sushi or poke fix.“

“The best omakase around!!“

“Low key, family-run sushi spot out in the burbs. I usually get sashimi or one of the rolls. Now if you want to throw caution to the wind, get the roll called "I don't know". It's chef's choice, and it depends on the ingredients on hand that day. Sometimes it's great, sometimes less so. Regardless, the portion is always generous, and it's always a surprise.“

“Been here a few times, I see Japanese people eating here so the food must be good. Sushi rolls, hand rolls, miso soup, eel are good choices. It's hard to miss the plaza entrance to the parking lot as it's hard to see from the road.“

“This is one of the best izakaya spots around here. The owners and staff are very friendly, and it looks like they have a lot of regular customers.

I ordered a few dishes to enjoy with some good sake. The yakitori was a bit disappointing since it lacked that smoky, grilled flavor. I wouldn’t recommend it.

However, the steamed clams were excellent—perfect as a drinking snack. The fried herring was so delicious that we finished it in no time. Lastly, I had ochazuke, which was absolutely satisfying and something I’d definitely order again.

Overall, it was a perfect dinner experience.“

“Love the buffet around the sushi bar! Best place to sit!“

“Loved this place, but removing a star because they took the teriyaki salmon option off the menu. Strange, because everyone loved it and it was often sold out! The raw fish is hit or miss. Bring back the teriyaki!

My roommates and I check doordash every week or so, just to see if they have Salmon Samba.“

“Great atmosphere, great food, great service. Highly recommend Yokohama Sushi! 👍“

“Delicious and everything was so fresh 😋“

“best sushi and cheap!!! will come again!!!“

“Island Special Rolls are amazing!!! Phoenix, Pearl, Orinda and Super Star are a few of our favorites!!! #sushigood“

“We come here frequently. Service tonight was excellent, our server Josh (whose section we are often in) was attentive and friendly. The food was great: yellowtail nigiri, john roll, Telegraph roll, and S.P. rainbow roll; we were hungry but still didn't finish it all“

“Love this little mom and pop sushi spot! The food comes out quick and they make me custom rolls due to dietary restrictions and preferences. The service is great, it is kind of place that makes you feel like family. I usually stop in for a quick bite and a chat on my lunch breaks!“

“It was the best sushi! We will be back!“

“My daughter and I love Yo Sushi 🍣“

“My family and I come here about once a month, and it never disappoints. We love ordering the salmon belly, lomi lomi, Philadelphia roll, and trying other rolls depending on what we’re craving. Everything is always fresh and delicious, and the staff is consistently warm and friendly. I absolutely love this place. Having come from LA, where there are so many great sushi restaurants, I can honestly say this spot measures up. I’m so glad to have such an amazing local establishment nearby.“

“It’s so nice that there’s an actual Japanese-owned ramen shop in this part of inland Contra Costa County. Usually, your average suburban ramen shop (like the Ramen 101 chains) is owned by Chinese or Koreans. They’re not bad per se but the ramen they serve is not Japanese.

I knew this place was authentic because of their noodles: their tonkotsu ramen has the thin, firm white noodle normally seen in Hakata-style bowls, whereas the Yuzu Shoyu comes with the classic, wavy egg noodles. It’s a nice touch that shows they are serious about serving good ramen.

Chashu is delicious….its slightly smokey from being torched but it also falls apart in your mouth. It’s also thicker than your average chashu slice.

Tonkotsu broth is creamy and rich, without being too salty. It’s also balanced with the addition of pickled ginger.

The Yuzu-shoyu on the other hand, is more savory and tart, with a good amount of spice from sansho (Japanese Sichuan pepper).

Service was good and straightforward. I’d come back again when I’m craving real ramen but don’t want to cross the tunnel.“

“We love this place! The best of Thai and the best of Japanese! I have the salmon skin ham roll today and a Poké bowl. Both yummy. Services is friendly. Food is great.“

“I think my wife and I found our new favorite sushi spot, certainly much closer than our other one!
We came to check this place out. Standard menu, lots of options without having too many to look though either. My wife got a pork Katsu Bento box, I got a couple rolls, and we shared an appetizer or two.
Food was satisfying and the server was attentive on refills and checking on us. Best of all the prices are still reasonable here, which is nice with how much they seem to be going up everywhere else.
I think we will be going here regularly to get our sushi fix!“

“Good food, good service and value for money!“

“Great food, great service!“

“Absolutely love Hanabi! It's our favorite sushi spot, and it never disappoints. The quality of the fish is consistently fresh and delicious, and the presentation is always beautiful. The staff is friendly and attentive, making every visit feel special. Whether we're craving classic rolls or trying something new from their menu, Hanabi always hits the mark. Highly recommend for anyone looking for reliable, top-notch sushi. We'll definitely be back!“

“First time here. Super cute & chill vibe. Pic of food was after I ate one shrimp tempura then remembered I wanted a pic of our dinner. The presentation was much better when it arrived. One teriyaki chicken bento with shrimp tempura and a lion king roll was more than enough for two. Overall, super happy with quality and quantity of food. Definitely recommend trying out this place.“

“Fresh and delicious! So nice to grab a quick, easy dinner here on a hot night.

Dietary restrictions: Very accommodating regarding my need to avoid sugar. They even let me taste 1 drop to be sure I wouldn't get myself in trouble with a blood sugar spike.“

“Beautiful products. My order was very carefully packed and arrived quickly. Excellent service.“

“Everything was absolutely amazing!! We’ve passed by this place so many times, I’m sad we didn’t try this place sooner! We have eaten plenty of sushi, and I’m happy to say that everything we ordered at Toyosu was SO delicious. Not pictured was the o toro hamachi, which was definitely my favorite. Now we’ve tried and enjoyed 4/4 of our ordered dishes, we will 100% return.“

“One of my favorite places for sushi. I love the twist on the Lion King Roll with cheese. I also ordered the Golden Scallop Roll which may now be my absolute favorite.
Service is friendly, ample & easy parking, and usually when I go there it is not crowded.“

“The sushi was really good“

“We were visiting a friend in Moraga and stopped by for dinner. Based on the recommendations, we ordered seafood soup, salt and pepper fish, and asparagus chicken. We were very pleased and all the dishes were excellent. Service was wonderful and attentive. Highly recommended.“

“The sushi was great, but like others have posted, the rolls are really large and make it difficult to eat.

The service was awesome very speedy and on brand.

The atmosphere is a normal bistro, and designed to be super fast.“

“New Peking is a delicious new addition to the city of Martinez. Conveniently located right off the Morello Avenue exit, it has quickly become our go-to Chinese restaurant in the area. On our first visit, we tried the crab rangoon, beef chow fun, and steamed dumplings, and were pleasantly surprised by the quality and flavor of each dish.

Tonight, we ordered the beef with scallion, shrimp fried rice, chicken chow fun, and the beef scallion wrap. The portions were generous, everything was delicious, and nothing disappointed. The new owners are also very kind and welcoming.

We will definitely be back!“

“I have been going to this place since I was probably 14 or 15 yrs old. The owners are great and their food is Amazing 😍🤩😍🤩😍🤩......So I thank you for remembering me from working ant the movie theater, and then when I got home after being away for almost 5 or 6 yrs. A+“

“Freshest fish....my favorite local sushi place!! They have great specials and the staff“

“I always have a great time when I come. The quality of the food is great with good portion sizes, especially for the price. The menu is huge so everyone can find something to get.My favorites are the hamachi kama, green beans, house salad (they put a lot of dressing, you can always ask for less), fried rice, and honestly any of the rolls (I've had several of them and I liked all of them)!Staff is always super friendly, attentive, and treat you like family.“

“Sasa is a staple for us anytime we want great food, great atmosphere and great service. My husband and I have been going regularly for years and we have never had a disappointing meal, or service. Best sushi around! Staff is fantastic!“