31 Best Japanese Restaurants near Portola Valley

“Wandered in after getting disgusted by the parking situation at another nearby restaurant. Very pleasantly surprised by the attentive service, taste and quality of the food, and the availability of gluten free options. Crab cakes were really good.“

“Fantastic evening at Robin. The omakase restaurant had a hip, night clubby feel to it as the interior was dark with dance club music, but the sushi was definitely worthwhile. Erin and Abby provided friendly and efficient service, which contributed to the overall positive experience. Free parking lot next door makes it easy to find a parking space.“

“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!“

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

“This is my go to spot when visiting from Texas. The sashimi is by far the best quality I've had anywhere.
They have started getting busy so I would recommend getting on the waiting list before you get there. Inside the service was perfect.“

“YES THIS SUSHI IC SO CLOSE TO OUR HOUSE AND CHEAP!!!! YOU GET A FREE DRINK WITH ORDER! ( not including water, that’s always free)

Kid-friendliness: Not many kids go there, but they are still kind to kids who do go there.“

“Not a lot of japanese bakery selection here in the Bay Area, but this spot is a must-try.

Decided to try a large variety of the menu, and everything was a hit. Would def recommend getting the chocolate and matcha lattes; they are so rich and authentic which is rare to find even amongst drink specialized stores. Also would recommend the cream cornets and the tonkatsu sandwich; portion is huge!

Staff were all very friendly and professional; I you like your bread not too sweet, would def recommend.“

“I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of food at this sushi place! The prices might be a little high for the amount you get, but the quality is absolutely there. As long as you keep in mind that you might need to order a little more than normal to fill up, this is an excellent place to get sushi from.

The only not-so-great thing is that the chopsticks they gave me had jagged pieces of wood coming off them, and I got a bit of a splinter, but that's okay I won't hold it against them. 😆“

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

“I had the 3 choices bento box. It comes with salad, rice, 1 piece of pork katsu, 1 teriyaki beef steak (with broccoli & carrot) and 2 large shrimp tempura (with potato salad). $20 total. Good value and fresh food. Feeds 2 people. It was not very busy on a Sunday afternoon. I waited for 10 min for the food. It's for takeout only.“

“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.“

“Hanabi Sushi is one of our all-time favorites!
The staff is always incredibly kind and welcoming — they truly make us feel at home every time we visit. We absolutely love the Tuna Taco, Vegas Roll, and Moon Night Roll — they’re packed with flavor and always fresh. And if you haven’t tried the Hawaiian Poke Bowl, you’re missing out — it’s seriously AMAZING. Highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for great sushi and even better service!“

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

“Came here with my husband on my birthday. Overall the food was excellent. Very good personalized service... At 7:30 p.m. we were the only people there and remained the only people there the entire time. I thought that a bit odd. The food was delicious. Carefully created. Great play presentation... Except for the worm ?/ or parasite that I found on top of the one dish. They promptly took it away and informed me they remade it. I think they just removed the flowers/leaves. Recommended sake was delicious. The menu is seasonal so things will probably adjust if others go there. I'm still thinking about that delicious chestnut inside of a fried fishball. The rice made tableside was underwhelming to be honest.“

“The overall experience was good, the food was tasty and the flow for Omakase was decent. We added the Uni which total per person was $200. I would love it if they add a few more nigiri to the Omakase menu alone is $150 per person. Is it worth it? Maybe for special occasions.“

“good place to dine and very clean“

“Very clean, fresh and delicious, excellent service, if there are a lot of people it takes a while to serve because there are few people who work.

Vegetarian options: Plants and vegetables

Parking: There is a lot of room“

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

“This is Japanese comfort food owned, hosted and cooked by friendliest store owner in Redwood City. Always smiling even visible through her mask, the owner is a culinary saint and a hospitality angel. The husband and wife team have worked hard all their lives to feed downtown Redwood City and their family and this work shows in their wholesome food and intimate friendliness. Share the love and visit this treasure!!“

“Have been back for a few times to try different things on the menu, I will let the pictures speak for themselves! They serves fresh, high-quality sushi and delicious skewers in a relaxing atmosphere. Attentive service and variety of sake selection. Highly recommend for a special night out!“

“First time here and had no expectations. I was blown away by the food - started with the anchovy garlic edamame which elevated humble edamame in a big way. Skewers were all delicious, minus is they’re small so savor each bite. Unagi paella was so flavorful with amazing textures - how did they do that!“

“I wish I could give more stars for the service! Everyone was genuinely so kind, helpful, happy and attentive. I was about to ask for a fork and separate bowl for my husband and I to split the soup I ordered and one of the waiters brought two bowls out, forks, chopsticks and spoons before I could even ask. It was like he read my mind! We also had our niece with us and my sister & birthed in law. They were so kind and helpful with her! The food was really good. If you go on Tuesdays, it’s 20% off, or at least, they’re running that deal now.“

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

“We frequent Shiki at least monthly. The variety on the menu is very good, no complaints about the quality of the food or raw fish, they typically have seating, and I have no complaints about the service. Overall it's a great last minute choice in a packed San Carlos/Redwood City area.“

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

“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“

“Incredibly delicious. Friendly atmosphere. Awesome.“

“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.“

“I’ve been coming to Little Mad Fish for a while now and realized I’ve never left a review—so here it is! This place is consistently amazing in both food and service. The staff is incredibly attentive, greeting you as soon as you walk in and checking for available seating. If there’s a wait, they let you know right away, and honestly, it’s worth it—this place is busy for a reason!

We ordered the Spicy Seafood Ramen, Fire Dragon Roll, Bay Bridge Roll, Deep Fried Philadelphia Roll, and a Bento Box, along with a couple of drinks. Everything was delicious, fresh, and beautifully presented. The balance of flavors and quality of ingredients really stand out.

On top of that, the restaurant is always clean and spotless, making the dining experience even better. If you’re looking for one of the best Japanese restaurants in Redwood City, I highly recommend Little Mad Fish. You won’t be disappointed!“

“I have been wanting to try this place for years and keep forgetting about it as it is located in a small strip mall on the other side of the tracks (literally) so I tend not to think of that side of town for dining.I was greeted immediately and sat at the bar. I have favorites I like to order in order to gauge the quality of the place and chef.First, the disappointment: the futomaki was plain, uninspiring, and plain dull. Not worth the $14. And a futomaki is a traditional roll that allows for a lot of creativity. I have had some stellar futomakis. Not so here.I had a bottle of junmai ginjo at $24 dollars. It was smooth... almost too smooth. The rice polish is 55%, same as one of my favorites, Kikusui junmai ginjo that has more distinct characteristics. While I have no complaints per se, I would look for something else next time.The nigiri was very good. Good taste, generous cuts/portion size, and the uni was great. Very fresh. Thank you Santa Barbara!I'd give the place a 4.5 to be more fair. I'll be happy to go back, but with more realistic expectations.“

“Delicious sushi and dessert!“