50 Best Japanese Restaurants near San Lorenzo

“I had the chicken beef and ribs bento box. The ribs were so good I went back and ordered another set of ribs for later. The customer service was awesome I had never been there before and they were quick to point out their favorite recommendations so thumbs up. Sorry I didn't take any pictures cuz I ate it too fast.“

“one of my favorite places in the country to eat. whenever I'm in the Bay area, in here“

“The small unassuming entry way will make you think you’re breaking into someone’s house but it’s perfect for that intimate feeling as well. Once you find the right door it’s a super chill vibe in a small space. The chef was preparing everything as we walked in and the server sat us down. The food was super fresh and the chef was very kind. There were 13 different sashimis served along with 6 additional courses of non sashimi items. Very nice service and amazing meal, left full and happy!“

“Love this place. The food is good. The complimentary edamame and ice cream are such a nice treat. Good for large parties. We had 12 people with lots of kids and there was plenty of space. The best part was they knew how to split the bill since we had 4 families without us asking.“

“Wow! Boyfriend and I just left and what a hidden gem. I am not exaggerating when I say we ate the best Dragon Roll I've ever had. Perfectly crispy tempura, fresh, and everything made by just one employee. From taking our order to providing us with amazing food he seriously went above and beyond. We will definitely be back!“

“Rico pero lo malo es que nunca tienen basil para la sopa pho“

“The imitation crab tastes incredible!!

The chicken katsu was sadly overcooked.

But the simplicity of the bento boxes is quite striking.

The atmosphere though, the music was a bit too loud and only coming from one corner rather than the whole place.“

“Came for a late lunch. Greeted and sat down right away. Service was very good. Food was very good. Love this little spot, i will be back. Our table ordered, agedashi tofu, spicy miso ramen, tongkatsu ramen and hamachi Don. Everything was very tasty and fresh. Only small thing is the wasabi paste could have been stronger.“

“Very good meal, service was great, I'll definitely be back.“

“First time here and probably last time too. I hella liked how the inside was decorated reminded me of a restaurant in Japan. Kinda disappointed though. I hella love sushi. But the sushi selection was small. Nothing caught my eye. The only thing I did enjoy with my meal was the ikura. The waitress’s don’t even check up on you to see how your doing. We we’re seated all the way in the back. I asked for more water and it never came. And for those 2 reasons I won’t come back.“

“Every roll was fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. The staff were welcoming and attentive.
In the end they offered me plum wine but I asked for ice cream and they accommodated.
I’ll definitely be coming back!“

“Best and most underrated ramen in the Bay! The broth is so flavorful, the texture of the noodles is perfect, and the pork belly is so crispy. Good portions for the price and the owners/service are great. My personal fav is the TanTan! Can be a little salty so request less salt :)“

“We had such a great meal here. Pa’ Papas serves some of the most authentic Japanese food we’ve had in a while. We ordered the tempura, miso soup, and a few rolls, and honestly everything was amazing. The tempura was light and crispy, the miso soup hit the spot, and the rolls were super fresh.

The portions are generous too, so you really get your money’s worth. If you want Japanese food that actually tastes authentic, this is the place. We’ll definitely be back“

“We got there in time for Happy Hour. The service was outstanding. Our server named Lumbi was attentive, super nice and took care of my family (plus our dog) so well. She brought out our food quickly, drinks refills quickly and our food came out flawlessly.

The prices compared to Irvine (where we are from) is very affordable!! The fish was fresh and the avocado roll was to die for. Not traditional sushi, it’s quite westernized so if that’s your style you’ll be happy. Solid locals spot!“

“Super friendly owner. The food is tasty every time I visit with friends and family. Fantastic portions, you definitely get what you pay for here. The place is always neat and tidy and has a chill vibe.
Takeout also always comes fresh and has no difference to the sit down food quality. In my local top 10 easily!“

“Went here with my wife and daughter and we got a table right away. It seemed like they had just opened and were still getting everything ready. The servers were young, and they were upfront with us that the food was going to take a little while.

It also seemed like they didn’t have a huge kitchen staff, but somehow they still managed to pull everything together and get the food out. Honestly, it was 100% worth the wait. The food was so good, it felt like Jesus himself came down and cooked for us 😂.

Prices were friendly, the food was tasty, and the overall experience was awesome. You could tell they were working hard, and they still delivered a great meal despite being a little short-staffed.

Definitely a place I’d come back to. And if you don’t like the food… just go home and boil some instant noodles 😂.

Also, I found them while scrolling thru IG shorts.“

“Genuinely can't express how grateful I am to the staff for such a great experience. Emily is a rockstar and everyone in my group left the restaurant a little bit in love with her. The salmon kama was absolutely scrumptious, and everyone was so grateful for the generous portions. Such a great place to discover after a lovely beach day.“

“Mijori – A Classic at Lake Merritt!

This little gem has been a mom-and-pop staple in Oakland for over 30 years, and they’re still going strong. The service is consistently friendly, and the food never misses. It’s a must-stop if you’re in the Lake Merritt area.

They offer a variety of weekly specials depending on the fresh fish they receive, so there’s always something new to try. Don’t skip the tuna salad—it’s topped with their house-made spicy Korean sauce, and it’s absolutely delicious.

The sushi we ordered tonight was fresh, sweet, well-seasoned, and simply satisfying. Pair it with a cold beer or a glass of sake, and you’re in for a great evening. Come check them out—you won’t be disappointed!

Don’t forget to follow for more Great foodie stops @Only1christinelu“

“Think of the part last time you ate teriyaki...dried chicken with a bunch of gross sauce. This place perplexed me... the chicken and shrimp are perfectly cooked, with just enough sauce. The care in the prep is beyond anything you'd expect for what you'd think is a simple dish. I honestly can't think of another place that makes food this juicy, and with care. It's been on my weekly lunch rotation for a reason. Shame it's in a dead city bc you can tell they care when restaurants around them only care to make a buck.“

“Kaisen Don is a true joy. Owned and led by a trained chef from Japan and served by friendly and knowledgeable staff. They have a wide selection of food, not just sushi. They have a very good selection of Sake and beer and offer three sample flights of Sake to let you learn more about the drink. You can always ask for recommendations to go with your meal. We've eaten in and taken out and have never had a bad meal from Kaisen Don. They are a regular stop for my family, and we take friends and family there from time to time as well.“

“Marugame is our absolute go-to for the kids! The menu options make it so easy to find something everyone loves, and the cafeteria-style layout makes ordering a breeze. Everything tastes fantastic, and the dishes are so easy to share across the table. Always a reliable, delicious meal for the whole family.“

“Excellent neighborhood sushi spot! Got a salmon nigiri and the Fat Boy roll and it was everything I want in a roll - crunchy, loaded with savory toppings and just a complete flavor bomb. I walk past this every day as I live nearby and am glad I finally checked it out.“

“best egg rolls and gyoza! I wish we could find teriyaki this good in WA“

“It's small, so the wait for a dine in table can take a bit, but the food quality is worth the wait. Our family has loved everything we have tried. this is one of a handful of local restaurants my 10 year old some will never complain about!“

“The fish was very fresh and absolutely delicious. I will definitely be coming back.

The only suggestion I have is regarding the tableware. I think using ceramic dishes for the soy sauce, plates, and tea cups would enhance the overall dining experience.

The quality of the food is excellent, but using plastic tableware makes it feel less consistent with the price point and takes away from the overall experience. Of course, this is just my personal opinion.“

“I have been going here for years. They have some of the best rolls in town. I always get the dragon roll, E14th roll, and the crunchy roll. So very yummy 😋“

“First time and it was very good light on the stomach n refreshing. I will be back and recommend it . Yum I'll be back“

“If you're craving for Japanese in San Leandro or anywhere in the East Bay, this is the spot. Open late night is a fantastic bonus! The quality of food for a place open past 10pm was a great surprise.
The huge menu has something for everyone. Sashimi, specialty sushi rolls, nigiri, ramen, tempura, bento combos, and yakatori! And plenty of beer and sake to wash it all down.“

“Really nice hole in the wall, the california rolls actually had real flavor in them, which is rare. My server was david, he was very nice and fast, i witnessed a doordasher be unkind and he still didnt skip a beat and kept his attitude kind. If youre in the area give it a try“

“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。“

“Sushi was very fresh and very tasty. I was there late at night right before they closed and the staff was incredibly friendly and polite even though I was the last customer before they closed. It was a wonderful experience. I wish I lived closer because I would definitely go back.“

“I have been coming here for almost 14 years. And I would not change this japanese restaurant for another. Ambiance, food price, friendliness the taste of the food is wonderful. Like my mom always says : bueno, bonito y barata. Good, wonderful, comfortable prices. You won’t be disappointed!!“

“Friendly people, good food, generous portions, great service! Nothing better than to return to a favorite dining spot and have them not only remember you but also remember your "usual"! Beyond Pleased!“

“when you did a free giveaway from harvest. my stepson gave it to me and this food is delicious... you have me sold!“

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

“My friend and I got the Mentaiko soupless ramen, shishito peppers, takowasa, squid legs tempura and the hokkaido crepe. Everything was delicious. Ramen was rich and creamy with a hint of spiciness. Our appetizers were all delicious, flavorful and the squid legs were so crispy. I love the texture from the takowasa, crunchy and had a chew to it. Our servers were very sweet and helpful. I will definitely come back here if I visit again.“

“Price is good and food is good.“

“Definitely going to go back here again sushi’s are fresh and taste so good! My wife and my daughter enjoyed it the last time we went there for lunch. They have variety of sushi on their menu and the staff are really friendly. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ -donpinoytv“

“Delicious food for a great price

Vegetarian options: Seaweed salad, rolls can be made as vegetarian, and soup is vegan

Parking: Lots of parking, always.

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes there are wheelchair ramps and parking for those with disability“

“First time having omakase, it was definitely a very good experience despite not knowing what to expect. The chef was very friendly, told us all about the fishes we tried and answered all our questions.

Service was top-notch, never needed to ask for more drinks or anything else. It was all done very well. Overall, very satisfying experience at this location.

Don’t get fooled by its location in a strip mall, this is definitely something I’d want to experience again.“

“Angry Fish has become our go to sushi spot. The value to food ratio is immense and the fish quality is a step above most other sushi places at a similar price point. Also their happy hour and rolls are quite a bit more creative than your standard fare. Highly recommend. Staff is also great“

“Great food. Good portions. Our server is very nice, friendly, polite and professional.“

“The restaurant only for the reason of speaking another language within it the employees take Gonchi out of you is Can by the hair also they steal your belongings we made a case for the police“

“the.staff.is friendly. Food is fresh and tasty!!“

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

“Great people, fresh ingridients, authentic taste. Love it!!“

“first time here. loved it most definitely coming back. 🥰“

“Went on a date and got some absolutely delicious sushi 🍣 the prices are much better than almost all the sushi restaurants in the area while still maintaining quality. It does depend on what you get, but if you find the good rolls then this will become your favorite spot in downtown Hayward for sushi!!“

“The food was great and the staff was really nice“

“The food is awesome, the service is nice. The fish is very fresh and the rice blends in perfectly, very high quality. One thing they need to improve on is to be more careful with allergies. They need to ask to put rolls from the same order in the same container, especially those containing mayo. This is mainly because people are allergic to egg and mayo has egg so the mayo from one roll can easily contaminate another roll if put in the same box. Otherwise the food is awesome. From: Zee age 11“