50 Best Japanese Restaurants near San Carlos

“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.“

“Always great food & service! Clean, friendly & fresh food! Thank you again!🤗♥“

“Had the chirashi bowl it was delicious one of the nicest I’ve ever had. Fish was very fresh and there were many varieties. Rice was cooked perfectly and the egg omelette and cucumber complemented the flavors excellently. Compliments to the chef.“

“Robin in Menlo Park has quickly become one of my absolute favorite sushi restaurants in the Bay Area.

I’ve been here at least ten times now, and each visit feels just as exciting as the first. The consistency, creativity, and attention to detail are what make this place stand out in the Bay Area dining scene.

One of the best things about Robin is the flexibility of the menu. You can choose à la carte if you have favorites in mind, or you can go for the omakase and let the chefs guide your evening. I’ve experienced both, and I can honestly say you can’t go wrong either way. The omakase is particularly special — every dish arrives beautifully plated, with flavors that are fresh, innovative, and balanced. The fish quality is always top-notch, from the buttery otoro to the delicate hamachi, and the chefs often surprise you with unique touches that make each course memorable.

The à la carte options are equally impressive, especially if you want to revisit your favorites. The nigiri and small plates showcase the freshness of the ingredients, and the variety keeps the dining experience exciting. Even the desserts are worth saving room for — light, creative, and the perfect way to finish the meal.

The atmosphere inside Robin is modern yet welcoming, with a stylish design that still feels comfortable. Service is another highlight: the staff are knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely make you feel taken care of.

Robin has become one of my favorite restaurants in Silicon Valley, and I can’t recommend it enough. Whether it’s your first visit or your tenth, it always feels unforgettable.“

“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!“

“Waited approximately one hour to be seated. Spoiker: it was well worth that wait. I ordered the tonkatsu ramen and pork buns. I can't decide which part was better, the noodles or the broth! The pork buns were priced just right at $8 for 2. Some of the best I've had. You are all so lucky to have such a wonderful ramen bar in your community. I am from Maine and will be sure to stop by this establishment every chance I get once I am in town.“

“One of the best ramen shops in the bay area! Trust the reviews, this place is phenomenal. Delicious broth with such a complexity of flavors in a rich/hearty ramen. It rivaled both marafuku and hinodeya. I loved the clam ramen (it was PACKED with clams), and our other guests truly enjoyed the short rib ramen and the tonkotsu. Fast service, intimate space, and hot food. Worth the drive from SF“

“We had an amazing dinner yesterday at Hana Izumi! We made same day reservations and the staff was so friendly and quick to accommodate us and our child. Honestly, each dish was unique and delicious. It reminded us of our trip in Japan. We hope to come back soon for a special occasion.“

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

“This place is pretty small but cute. There are not that many seats inside, and most people seem to be taking food to go. I got the tonkatsu quesadilla for $12 and it was essentially cabbage, corn, and tonkatsu, and cheese inside a tortilla(?) shell. It was an interesting item, but tasted pretty good.“

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

“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.“

“I had pretty low expectations for a sushi place attached to a La Quinta, but this place was spectacular. The fish was fresh and prepared well, the presentation was very nice, and sitting at the sushi bar was a cool experience. Service was a little slow, but they were absolutely packed with customers. It's not hard to see why. I've paid twice as much for sushi half as good. This place was excellent.“

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

“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. 😆“

“I had a life changing dessert here. If you enjoy sweet potato, you must get the beniimo ice cream. The crust of the sweet potato is indescribably light and crispy, and the inside is hot and pillowy with the familiar taste of sweet potato. The vanilla ice cream compliments the hot sweet potato so well. It wasn’t oily at all even though the description says it was fried.

The skewers are also good, notably the chicken thigh and enoki mushroom wrapped in bacon. So juicy and tender and hot. Daikon salad was pretty refreshing as a palate cleanser.

We came on a Friday evening with no reservation and surprisingly got seated very quickly although there was a long waitlist. The skewers smell so good from a block away.“

“I have been to Ranzan many times for both lunch and dinner. This restaurant is elegant and refined, with meticulous attention to every detail. The service was warm and attentive, making the experience even more enjoyable. Every dish was absolutely delicious—beautifully prepared, well-balanced, and bursting with flavor. A truly memorable dining experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for both special occasions celebration and amazing food.“

“good food great service and accomending.“

“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.“

“Found this location while staying nearby at the Westin. Unsuspecting and a bit hidden. However, the food was excellent, owners were kind / helpful, and the atmosphere was pleasant. For a quick dinner, I would certainly come back if in the area.“

“I found authentic sushiya in Bay area!
I went here for the first time and I enjoyed my dinner. They have great selections day by day with special fishes that I’ve never tried before.
Everything were very fresh and price were reasonable. I will definitely come back later to try different seasonal fishes.“

“Came here with a buddy and made out for about $50 or less. We ordered 3 rolls and split them, which was enough food for the two of us. The portions were fairly well sized and reasonably priced(for current bay area sushi prices). The fish tasted fresh, and they had plenty of options. They were not very busy and the waitress was friendly. I enjoyed the mostly wooden decor, reminded me of the more old school sushi places i grew up with. Mini bonus for me is that they are in the same spot my childhood chinese restaurant was at!“

“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.“

“Super happy to have found Minako and Yoko-san again! Yoko-san's cooking is still homie, comforting, and delicious as ever. Be sure to come visit, relax, be delighted by the carefully made dishes from Yoko-san, be awed by the handwritten menus, and enjoy the chats with Minako!“

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

“Awesome place for a quick snack. Super easy to order on the app and have ready in minutes. Never disappoints. Its a little dreary when you walk inside but other than that the place is great. I'm sure it's more bustling during a weekday lunch time, just never been there around that time“

“This location is in a small neighborhood strip mall. There are a few outdoor tables, good for those with pups, but yellow jackets might be present. Food is good for the price. They have beer on tap, plus bottles. I do a couple of the tacos & an IPA for a quick lunch.“

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

“Amazing service, food and drinks are fantastic! We were helped by a server Logan, she’s been the best part of the experience at Tokie’s. Fish is super fresh, I highly recommend getting Tokie’s roll and seared scallops (aburi sushi). Yum! Can’t wait to come back.“

“Very cute to-go place. Perfect for a quick lunch pick up especially if you work in South City. I got the unagi with egg (savory with a hint of sweetness) and takoyaki which were both hot and fresh! I want to try the fruit sando and pork sando next time.I purchased it at the Kei Sushi location.“

“There's always a line for this restaurant so be prepared to wait. Once seated service is relatively quick. Love the flavor of the noodle dishes. They're ramen noodles (not gluten-free) without the broth and you can mix different spices into your dish. I ordered the vegan and added a poached egg. However once the fried tofu gets cold, it becomes rubbery. Next time I'd like to try their rice dishes.“

“Came here during the week for their popular lunch special and it did not disappoint! For less than $20 I got chicken teriyaki (get it with crispy skin), salad and California rolls. The lady who workers here (I believe is the owner) is one of the nicest people I have ever met. I will definitely be back and encourage others to give this place a try!“

“My brother and I were in from out of town trying to decide between a few restaurants, and were both SUPER glad we chose Sushi Kuu. We each got Curry Ramen (pork and chicken katsu) and split a NewNew Roll. The roll was awesome, perfect balance of flavors. But the ramen absolutely stole the show. The curry broth was insanely delicious. I would consider flying across the country again to get a quart container of it. HIGHLY recommend this spot.“

“I moved to Burlingame in 2020 and found Fuumi as I was walking down Broadway. It quickly became a favorite with great quality sushi from a very friendly and efficient team.

Over the past 4 years I've probably had more than 50 meals from Fuumi and they've never put a foot wrong with my order and it's always been delicious.

Sadly I've now moved out of state so my Fuumi habit has ended... But to quote Douglas Adams, "so long and thanks for all the fish!"“

“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!“

“Great ramen!!! Fast and friendly service!“

“Kemuri is definitely not a typical American Japanese restaurant; if you’re not raw fish eater you can enjoy much broader range of different cooked and uncooked Japanese food beyond sushi rolls and sashimi at this restaurant. However it is far from providing an authentic Japanese food experience. Which authentic Japanese restaurant does not provide tempura sauce but soy sauce for a vegetable tempura dish? And their smoked soy sauce, the staple of Japanese cuisine basic sauce is very salty and dark, another mistake. Other disappointment included real tough overcooked beef tongue and thick fried pork chop not juicy due to problems with the flours. The only dish we truly enjoyed is sardine with cheese, a fusion of east and west. That is probably the strength of this restaurant’s cooking but when I ordered simply traditional Japanese food, it is far from perfect. All that being said if someone wants atypical American Japanese food, this is the place to go.“

“good place to dine and very clean“

“Incredibly delicious. Friendly atmosphere. Awesome.“

“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“

“This place is a HIDDEN GEM and my go to Japanese restaurant in the Bay Area.
Tonkatsu is my favorite, but their sushi and sashimi are very good too - always very fresh and tasty.
The vibe is cozy and it’s also a great place for a group lunch or dinner because they have several private dining rooms available.
Highly recommend!“

“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.“

“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。“

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

“On the cheaper side for food, and it's amazing. Haven't tried their ramen but tonkatsu curry is great.Takoyaki is more on the soft side, and karaage isn't crispy— but good. It's a different style— liking it would be preference.“

“The American wagyu cut of meat was great and the fact that it's included in the ayce was a great deal. $48 pretip for 1 person, I paid 60 because the guy waiting the bar and on the deli slicer was so nice. Goma and ponzu dipping sauces were great too.“

“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!“

“Wanted Pho kinda late, 9pm, and when looking around this place was open late. Stopped by, as expected seated right away as only a few people in the restaurant at that time. Waitress was great, right away brought a cup of water with extra bottle table side for refills. Already knew I wanted pho, but still looked at the menu, everything looked good, if i didn't have my heart set on Pho already would of been a hard decision to make. Ordered the Beef Pho, braised oxtail broth was delicious with shredded oxtail throughout the broth. Came with the typical, bean sprouts, lime wedge, jalapeno slices and fresh basil. Added some of everything. Didn't get a picture when my food first came out as I forgot and was hungry, but remembered when 2/3 through. Can't wait to be back in the area to try some of the other menu items. Would recommend if your looking for some food Asian fusion food.“