I’ve been here four times and will definitely revisit in the future. The booking system is uneasy. However it’s worth every penny and worth the one hour drive.
Hana Kim
Really enjoyed our dinner here. I feel like it's not often you can come across really delicious Japanese food and I loved hoe intimate. The setting was . food was unique and yummy.
Would recommend to try -reservations are difficult to get but possible if you call 30 days in advance and leave a voice message right at midnight. Their phone lines are usually busy at 12am. We finally got through on the third day. Dinner service starts at 6:30pm. 8 courses and our dinner lasted 2.5 hours.
+ Clean, fresh ingredients + Intimate setting + Efficient, courses come out fast
- Few dishes might be bland(?) depending on your saltiness preference
Fangjia Li (Lee)
So hard to make the reservation, probably made 100 calls to get into the line.
The food quality is pretty high and very tasty.
Olivia Tam
Absolutely enjoyable dinner with set courses. Every dish is pleasing to both the eyes and the palates. I enjoy every dish , can highlight the urchin and crab rice , the oven baked cheese red trout and sea bass, the dessert ?. The atmosphere is relaxing and comfortable. The crew is a nice couple. We came here to celebrate a birthday and would highly recommend it on special occasions.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jose Trinidad
They definitely deserve their Michelin star. The food was refreshingly unique and unsurprisingly amazing. Presentation was on point and service was outstanding. I will definitely recommend them.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sake Flight
XY S
Top overall Japanese restaurant experience so far. Love the traditional Kaiseki style and food quality. Overall it took about 3 hrs to finish. Ordered hot tea. I personally like mild flavors. Especially recommend the sesame ball, toro chirashi, lobster soup, truffle USD wagyu beef, the gohan and the white peach mochi ice cream(with the mint sprout). Definitely will come again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christine H.
Feels at home.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sergey Prigogin
This was our fourth visit to Wakuriya. Previous time was so good, that we were preparing for some disappointment. To our surprise, the chef overdid himself. All dishes without any exceptions were outstanding. Never before, not in two or three Michelin star restaurants did we have meal so perfect. Bravo!
T Z
This place is top quality even in Japan.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
D. Yaley
You call and leave a message to obtain a reservation. It’s literally a mom and pop shop (the hired dishwasher comes in at 8pm). Otherwise it’s just the couple who run the restaurant. They’ve taken the time and care to curate a meal for you, from the glasses to the food.
Great dining experience. The food is very delicious. Each dish is presented in beautiful plate. The service is nice and overall the tasting experience took more than 2.5h. They provided extra dessert at the end to celebrate our anniversary.The reservation process is very hard. You need to call in one month ahead at midnight and leave a message for researvation. But it's super hard to get your call in.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hokkaido Hotate Scallop with Momo-Oroshi, Chawanmushi
Yi-Hsiang Lai
Thanks to my friend who reserved the restaurant a month ago. The restaurant itself is like a hidden gem in an ordinary shopping plaza. There are four tables that can be seated with 4 people and some bar seats also. The tables were fully reserved the day I visited. Each table is separated with a screen so it's actually very private for each party. We ordered two sake flights to begin with: chef selected and primary. All of the sake in the flights are daiginjo. I bought one bottle from the chef's selected flight in the end. That one is Nabeshima from Kyushu. It is less sweet and has a stronger acid flavor, which matches more with my whiskey soul. Since it is kaiseki omakase, all we need to do is to wait for each dish to be presented. The first dish was Sakura salad. The Sakura was imported from Japan. The Sakura was presented along with tai sashimi. As an appetizer, it had just the right flavor: fresh and easygoing. The next dish was composed of four smaller dishes: uni with hotate, lobster, ikura, and fried small squid. There wasn't a specific order to take in. I like the fried squid the most because you can taste different textures in one bite: the crispy skin and the chewy inside. The hotate and the uni were also very fresh and full of umami. The only thing that I'm slightly unsatisfied with was that the uni was shredded. Next one is the blue shrimp soup with somen noodles. The shrimp was sweet but the soup was seasoned in a right way such that the sweetness from the shrimp wouldn't be taken over. The next dish was the chef's sashimi. I liked the way the sauce was presented. Unlike traditional sashimi plates, where wasabi is placed next to the sashimi, the chef made the wasabi a part of the sauce that was also used as a decoration. Next one was my favorite dish that day: chawanmushi with duck. I need to say this is really a bold but clever combination. If I remember correctly they also put soybean milk inside the chawanmushi, which made the eggs more fluid. The duck meat was really wonderful with the steamed egg and asparagus. The next dish, usually a vinegar dish, was replaced with yuzu sake sorbet. The acidity was provided by the crispy ginger candy instead, which was amazing. The next one was pure protein: usa wagyu and poached eggs. The dish was really warm, a distinct contrast to the previous dish. You can feel that your body was also warmed up. After the proteins were the starch dish. This time, it was rice mixed with mentaiko along with cod. The rice was a bit sticky to me but I still liked the flavor. Finally, the dessert was panna cotta with mochi. A very nice ending for the course.To sum up, although the full course did not use too many high-class ingredients such as A5 wagyu or premium ootoro, it still granted you an amazing taste journey. You can still taste the umami of each ingredient in the dish. Especially considering the price, I would say it is totally worth it. There are many omakase restaurants around the Bay area that are more expensive but with a worse dining experience. It definitely matches the one-star Michelin.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wren Do
It's difficult to book an appointment but it's understandable because they are a Michelin star restaurant. I had a great experience here. Their dishes have quite creative decorations and equally unique flavors.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Ariel Garza
Fantastic food in an intimate setting. Definitely a place I want to go back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alex Lazovsky
Last night, I had the pleasure of dining at Wakuriya in San Mateo, and I must say, the experience was quite remarkable. From the moment I stepped in, the serene and welcoming ambiance set the stage for what was an exquisite culinary journey.The service at Wakuriya was impeccable. The staff were attentive and knowledgeable, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable dining experience. Each course of the kaiseki menu was presented beautifully, showcasing a blend of traditional Japanese culinary artistry with subtle Californian influences. The highlights for me were the braised sea bass with its delicate yuzu gelee and the perfectly cooked Wagyu beef, which was both tender and flavorful.However, while the food and service were exceptional, I have some reservations about its Michelin star status. The quality and presentation were top-notch, but I felt that the overall experience, while delightful, did not fully align with other Michelin-starred restaurants I’ve visited in terms of creativity and culinary innovation.Additionally, considering the price point, I found Wakuriya to be slightly overpriced. While I understand and appreciate the quality of ingredients and the skill involved in preparing such dishes, the cost seemed a bit steep when weighed against the overall dining experience.In conclusion, Wakuriya is undoubtedly a great restaurant that I would recommend for those seeking high-quality Japanese cuisine in San Mateo. The serene atmosphere and meticulously prepared dishes make for a memorable dining experience. However, if you’re looking for a Michelin star-level experience, you might want to temper your expectations slightly, especially considering the price. Nonetheless, Wakuriya remains a gem in San Mateo’s culinary scene, and I am glad to have experienced its offerings.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wagyu Beef Donburi, Sake Flight, Hokkaido Hotate Scallop with Momo-Oroshi, Snake River Farms American Wagyu Beef
I’ve been here four times and will definitely revisit in the future. The booking system is uneasy. However it’s worth every penny and worth the one hour drive.
Really enjoyed our dinner here. I feel like it's not often you can come across really delicious Japanese food and I loved hoe intimate. The setting was . food was unique and yummy.
Would recommend to try -reservations are difficult to get but possible if you call 30 days in advance and leave a voice message right at midnight. Their phone lines are usually busy at 12am. We finally got through on the third day. Dinner service starts at 6:30pm. 8 courses and our dinner lasted 2.5 hours.
+ Clean, fresh ingredients
+ Intimate setting
+ Efficient, courses come out fast
- Few dishes might be bland(?)
depending on your saltiness preference
So hard to make the reservation, probably made 100 calls to get into the line.
The food quality is pretty high and very tasty.
Absolutely enjoyable dinner with set courses. Every dish is pleasing to both the eyes and the palates. I enjoy every dish , can highlight the urchin and crab rice , the oven baked cheese red trout and sea bass, the dessert ?. The atmosphere is relaxing and comfortable. The crew is a nice couple. We came here to celebrate a birthday and would highly recommend it on special occasions.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
They definitely deserve their Michelin star. The food was refreshingly unique and unsurprisingly amazing. Presentation was on point and service was outstanding. I will definitely recommend them.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sake Flight
Top overall Japanese restaurant experience so far. Love the traditional Kaiseki style and food quality. Overall it took about 3 hrs to finish. Ordered hot tea. I personally like mild flavors. Especially recommend the sesame ball, toro chirashi, lobster soup, truffle USD wagyu beef, the gohan and the white peach mochi ice cream(with the mint sprout). Definitely will come again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Feels at home.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was our fourth visit to Wakuriya. Previous time was so good, that we were preparing for some disappointment. To our surprise, the chef overdid himself. All dishes without any exceptions were outstanding. Never before, not in two or three Michelin star restaurants did we have meal so perfect. Bravo!
This place is top quality even in Japan.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
You call and leave a message to obtain a reservation. It’s literally a mom and pop shop (the hired dishwasher comes in at 8pm). Otherwise it’s just the couple who run the restaurant. They’ve taken the time and care to curate a meal for you, from the glasses to the food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
Great dining experience. The food is very delicious. Each dish is presented in beautiful plate. The service is nice and overall the tasting experience took more than 2.5h. They provided extra dessert at the end to celebrate our anniversary.The reservation process is very hard. You need to call in one month ahead at midnight and leave a message for researvation. But it's super hard to get your call in.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hokkaido Hotate Scallop with Momo-Oroshi, Chawanmushi
Thanks to my friend who reserved the restaurant a month ago. The restaurant itself is like a hidden gem in an ordinary shopping plaza. There are four tables that can be seated with 4 people and some bar seats also. The tables were fully reserved the day I visited. Each table is separated with a screen so it's actually very private for each party. We ordered two sake flights to begin with: chef selected and primary. All of the sake in the flights are daiginjo. I bought one bottle from the chef's selected flight in the end. That one is Nabeshima from Kyushu. It is less sweet and has a stronger acid flavor, which matches more with my whiskey soul. Since it is kaiseki omakase, all we need to do is to wait for each dish to be presented. The first dish was Sakura salad. The Sakura was imported from Japan. The Sakura was presented along with tai sashimi. As an appetizer, it had just the right flavor: fresh and easygoing. The next dish was composed of four smaller dishes: uni with hotate, lobster, ikura, and fried small squid. There wasn't a specific order to take in. I like the fried squid the most because you can taste different textures in one bite: the crispy skin and the chewy inside. The hotate and the uni were also very fresh and full of umami. The only thing that I'm slightly unsatisfied with was that the uni was shredded. Next one is the blue shrimp soup with somen noodles. The shrimp was sweet but the soup was seasoned in a right way such that the sweetness from the shrimp wouldn't be taken over. The next dish was the chef's sashimi. I liked the way the sauce was presented. Unlike traditional sashimi plates, where wasabi is placed next to the sashimi, the chef made the wasabi a part of the sauce that was also used as a decoration. Next one was my favorite dish that day: chawanmushi with duck. I need to say this is really a bold but clever combination. If I remember correctly they also put soybean milk inside the chawanmushi, which made the eggs more fluid. The duck meat was really wonderful with the steamed egg and asparagus. The next dish, usually a vinegar dish, was replaced with yuzu sake sorbet. The acidity was provided by the crispy ginger candy instead, which was amazing. The next one was pure protein: usa wagyu and poached eggs. The dish was really warm, a distinct contrast to the previous dish. You can feel that your body was also warmed up. After the proteins were the starch dish. This time, it was rice mixed with mentaiko along with cod. The rice was a bit sticky to me but I still liked the flavor. Finally, the dessert was panna cotta with mochi. A very nice ending for the course.To sum up, although the full course did not use too many high-class ingredients such as A5 wagyu or premium ootoro, it still granted you an amazing taste journey. You can still taste the umami of each ingredient in the dish. Especially considering the price, I would say it is totally worth it. There are many omakase restaurants around the Bay area that are more expensive but with a worse dining experience. It definitely matches the one-star Michelin.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It's difficult to book an appointment but it's understandable because they are a Michelin star restaurant. I had a great experience here. Their dishes have quite creative decorations and equally unique flavors.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Fantastic food in an intimate setting. Definitely a place I want to go back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Last night, I had the pleasure of dining at Wakuriya in San Mateo, and I must say, the experience was quite remarkable. From the moment I stepped in, the serene and welcoming ambiance set the stage for what was an exquisite culinary journey.The service at Wakuriya was impeccable. The staff were attentive and knowledgeable, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable dining experience. Each course of the kaiseki menu was presented beautifully, showcasing a blend of traditional Japanese culinary artistry with subtle Californian influences. The highlights for me were the braised sea bass with its delicate yuzu gelee and the perfectly cooked Wagyu beef, which was both tender and flavorful.However, while the food and service were exceptional, I have some reservations about its Michelin star status. The quality and presentation were top-notch, but I felt that the overall experience, while delightful, did not fully align with other Michelin-starred restaurants I’ve visited in terms of creativity and culinary innovation.Additionally, considering the price point, I found Wakuriya to be slightly overpriced. While I understand and appreciate the quality of ingredients and the skill involved in preparing such dishes, the cost seemed a bit steep when weighed against the overall dining experience.In conclusion, Wakuriya is undoubtedly a great restaurant that I would recommend for those seeking high-quality Japanese cuisine in San Mateo. The serene atmosphere and meticulously prepared dishes make for a memorable dining experience. However, if you’re looking for a Michelin star-level experience, you might want to temper your expectations slightly, especially considering the price. Nonetheless, Wakuriya remains a gem in San Mateo’s culinary scene, and I am glad to have experienced its offerings.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wagyu Beef Donburi, Sake Flight, Hokkaido Hotate Scallop with Momo-Oroshi, Snake River Farms American Wagyu Beef
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