50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Union City

“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 :)“

“Had a great experience! As a vegetarian, I’m always a bit cautious when trying Korean restaurants, but this place pleasantly surprised me with several delicious options.

The vegetarian-friendly Bibimbap was flavorful and satisfying, packed with fresh vegetables and perfectly seasoned. I also tried the Japchae, and the sweet potato glass noodles were cooked just right — slightly chewy, lightly sweet, and full of vegetable flavor. I also enjoyed the crispy fried seaweed rolls, which made for a perfect appetizer.

What I really appreciated was how accommodating the staff was when I asked about the ingredients and vegetarian modifications.

Overall, it’s a wonderful spot for vegetarians who want to enjoy authentic Korean flavors without feeling limited in choices. I’ll definitely be coming back!“

“We come here about once a month. We enjoy mostly the combination dinners with entree (we get Salmon Teriyaki or mackerel), mixed tempura, California rolls, salad, and miso soup. I tried the deluxe combo with entree, sashimi, mixed tempura, and nigiri sushi selection. Everything was very good. Quite a lot of food as a good value for Japanese food.“

“The sushi portions are generous and satisfying, and the atmosphere is great—comfortable and inviting. However, the service is lacking and could be more attentive. Overall, good food and ambiance, but the service could be better. Only reason not giving a 5 ⭐“

“One of my top 10 restaurants. Love the interior decorating, and of course the food is incredible and creative. It's created and delivered with the upmost of care.

I like the concept of pay-what-you-want, we got the middle tier-ish and had a lot of really unique and fresh food. Dishes include uni from Hokkaido and Santa Barbara, triggerfish, scallops,band many others.

Almost everything about this restaurant was perfect. My only change would be the music, it was fun but didn't seem to match the mood. Not a deal breaker though.“

“My friend and I came for lunch, and we had a lovely afternoon. I got a poke bowl that was fresh, filling, and flavorful. My friend had a gorgeous sushi roll and miso soup. I ordered the house sale hot, and she got hot tea. The service was prompt and friendly without being overbearing. The overall vibe was popping over to a friend’s house and they just happen to have banging Japanese food. It was also a great value. I plan to come here again for sure.“

“This sushi restaurant its so good! The deluxe uni handball is SUPER tasty. I could have eaten 50 of them.

We ordered soft shell crab, which was a smaller crab than I am typically used to at ither places, but it still tasted good and had a nice crunchy texture.

The mix tempura was probably the best tempura I've had ever. The texture was light and crispy and not soggy at all (which is very easy for it to get).

Then we ordered chicken udon for our 3 year old, who lodged the noodles and broth.

We ordered the Deluxe sashimi as our main dish and it was absolutely delicious! I loved the ice underneath the radish to keep the sashimi cold (my daughter loved it too and kept eating it).

They gave us edaname beans and green tea ice cream complementary which was nice before abd after the meal.

I highly recommend!“

“Always Been Our Go-To For Any Occassion. Everything Is Great But Their Oyster Shot Is The Best“

“Ramen Arashi is easily one of my new favorite spots in Fremont. The food is legit. I ordered the Arashi ramen and it was super flavorful — rich broth without being too heavy, and the chashu was soft and tender. The noodles had the perfect chew, and the bowl came out piping hot, which I loved.

I also tried the karaage and it surprised me. Super crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and not greasy at all. Portion size was really generous too. Even the side toppings were fresh and well-seasoned.

Service was fast and friendly, and the prices are reasonable for the quality. I already want to go back and try more from the menu. If you’re anywhere near Fremont and craving ramen, this spot is a must-try.“

“Best sushi I’ve had in the east bay!!! The fish is extremely fresh & sashimi pieces are generous. Happy hour prices can’t be beat! My favorite sushi restaurant by far!“

“One of the best Ramen Place in Fremont or even Bay Area. I've been to different ramen places and so far, their Ramen is still my best ramen I've ever had. Not many ramen places makes the soup base tasty and made fresh. Bodo is made fresh and that's why it might take a bit longer. It's worth the wait. Their service is pretty good and the place is very neat. They serves different Japanese dishes as well. Plenty of choices. Try it and you won't be disappointed. I strongly recommend to my family and friends. Weekdays, they always have line outside, especially during lunch time. Give them a try. Bon appetit.“

“A great Japanese restuarant offering halal hibachi and sushi rolls. Small but cosy ambiance.
Personally love their dinner hibachi (Steak & chicken , steak & beef both). They serve hibachi with a soup and some salad which is great stuff. The spicy tuna rolls and the Californian rolls are worth the treat. I personally feel the hibachi serving should be slightly more but I don’t mind the current serving as well.
What I did not like was yakisoba, it had very less veges. Service overall is great. Must try if you’re looking for halal Japanese good food. However, it’s a bit pricy comparatively.“

“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!!“

“The beef broth ramen is absolutely delicious and highly recommended! We also enjoyed the sushi, especially the yellowtail roll. While they don't have a specific kids' menu, we easily created a great meal for our child by ordering a mix-and-match of side noodles and grilled shrimp.
Lastly, the green tea ice cream was so good!“

“We had a Lion King Roll (this was baked so was a bit surprised but it was good), tonkatsu donburi, and a 2-item bento (beef teriyaki and tempura). Good value bento box…good sized portions and tasty (really enjoyed the salad which had a delicious creamy sesame dressing). My wife enjoyed the donburi which I had a bite of and thought it was delicious. We will be back to try other things on the menu.“

“I am tourist here and this was the nearest sushi place near my Airbnb.
Food as good, the girl who served me was not warm at all. The moment I walked in she looked confused if she should serve me or not maybe because I was alone.
I loved the food. Green tea ice cream not so much. I wanted a bottle of water to take back to my Airbnb but they didn’t have any which is fine. I asked the girl where can I find a bottle of water near by “she said I don’t know” I paid my tab and walked out and saw hundreds of stores who sell bottle of water . Being a tourist I would have appreciated a little courtesy of just saying “ hey you can get water down the street” I wasn’t asking for much. But anyways I am glad I tipped her only $3.“

“Price is good and food is good.“

“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!“

“Excelente calidad, me encanta toda la variedad... Super recomendable“

“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“

“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 😋“

“Very refined modern takes on Japanese food. The food is first class, service is great, and love the sake! Considering the incredible quality of the food, the price is very reasonable. If all you want is your typical California Rolls ect, this is not the place. You get a wonderful Omakase menu here. Definitely recommend Soho for those looking for great, and non-typical Japanese food.“

“Wadaya hasn't left my mind yet. I love that the noodles are thicker than Kajiken. It makes for a chewier bite which I prefer. I'd say the taste is similar to Kajiken but maybe the flavor at Kajiken is a bit better. I definitely like the noodles here more. The absolute star of the show is the tiny scoop of rice they give you at the end to mix in with your extra sauce. I wasn't a believer at first until I actually tried it. Best bite ever. Holy.“

“Simply the best in Fremont“

“Great find and will be back often … loved everything about this place“

“Chef Anas and Manager Joe did it again. They prepared an off menu custom role for my daughter, then proceeded to lavish upon us one of Chef's creations. It was crispy shrimp, avocado, cream cheese and here's the best part...torched yes torched until that delicious smokiness permeates the custom roll. Absolutely top tier! I highly recommend this humble place because the commitment to hospitality comes through in everything they do!“

“We love coming here as a family. The staff are very kid-friendly. The food is good, although the traditional sushi are better than that modern ones. Their traditional sushi and sashimi are very good.Our kids ask to go to Satomi all the time!“

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“first time Icame with my family this evening and had a wonderful experience. We ordered deep fried sushi, dragon sushi and spicy garlic edamame, and everything was absolutely delicious. The flavors were great and the food was prepared perfectly. I wish I would take a picture of the plates cause we started to eat as soon as plates came :)

The restaurant owners were very friendly, welcoming, and professional, which made the whole experience even better. It’s always nice to feel such warm hospitality. We really enjoyed our dinner and will definitely come back again. It’s a hidden gem. Highly recommended!“

“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“

“We come here almost every week. Most of the time I just pick one of the grill fish from the daily specials on the wall - I like all of them !
The sushi and especially the hand-roll from the wall list are also good. Highly recommend this place.“

“Loved the sushi here - the fish is high quality, price is good for the quality of the fish, and the ambiance is nice: clean, spacious and brightly lit.

Highly recommend the omakase: 10 pieces for $46. The presentation of the nigiri was excellent and it was all delicious.“

“Great people and good food.“

“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“

“This is a great Japanese restaurant. We had a great time. The food was excellent. The atmosphere is quaint and romantic. You can sit at wooden tables with chairs or sit on a mat at authentic Japanese style tables. I highly recommend this restaurant for fun casual dining or for a romantic date night.“

“An surprisingly great underrated Ramen spot. A short walk from my parent’s was this tiny no frills Ramen and Tea restaurant. Dude was playing smooth Jazz. Cool artwork on the walls, plus the low key mess from working made it amazing. I felt like was some unassuming Tokyo suburb that simply serves great food.“

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

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – A Hidden Gem Worth Every Bite!

We had an incredible Omakase experience at this unassuming gem in Castro Valley, and it truly exceeded all expectations. The service was a perfect 10/10 — the host was extremely attentive, warm, and made us feel genuinely taken care of throughout the evening.

The food was exceptional — fresh, beautifully composed, and full of thoughtful flavors that worked harmoniously together. Each course felt intentional and elevated, showcasing top-notch quality without the pretentiousness.

And the dessert? Unforgettable. The Hojicha panna cotta was an absolute standout — silky, flavorful, and the perfect ending to a phenomenal meal.

Overall, this place easily gets 100 out of 100 from us. If you’re looking for amazing food, impeccable service, and a truly memorable dining experience, this is the spot. A must-visit in Castro Valley! 🍣✨“

“Ramen was tasty but we got level 2 spicy (out of 4 levels 0 1 2 3) which was too spicy for us so I’d go with no spicy or level 1 spicy in the future. I got extra chashu on mine.

The vibe/atmosphere is nice too with the paintings on the wall and nice background jazz music playing it gives cozy Japanese hole in the wall vibes.“

“I would give this place more than five stars if I could. The service here was amazing from the moment that we sat down. The servers were so nice to us and very attentive- they always checked up on our table and all of the food came out fast. The fish was also so fresh and everything that we ordered was flavorful and well made. I will definitely be coming back again!“

“Definitely a hidden gem! Got salmon nigiri and Curry Katsu. The salmon slice was thick, we were pleasantly surprised by the amount and quality. Katsu had a nice subtle crisp to it even covered in curry. Beef yaki udon was really really good, Highly recommend and worth it. We will be back :)“

“The food, music, customer service, and ambiance is TOP TIER!! My go to is the sunshine and poki me roll! Tried the mystery box and it was a pleasant surprise! Whoever was on aux 9/20/25 plz send me your playlist lol. As always, Angryfish is *chef's kiss*“

“Ushiya was honestly such a great experience from start to finish. The meat quality was amazing. The staff was super attentive, always helping with the grill and making sure everything was running smoothly without being overwhelming. The whole vibe of the place was fun and welcoming, perfect for hanging out and enjoying good food. Definitely one of the best spots I’ve been to and I’ll for sure be coming back!“

“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.“

“The only legitimate and actually JAPANESE sushi restaurant in Hayward.

How do I know?

The sushi chefs are actually Japanese.

Which of course makes a difference to us who are Japanese, married to a Japanese person for 30+ years, have traveled to Japan, actually prepare Japanese food in our homes...

IYKYK“

“Delicious and definitely fulfilled our sushi craving. I highly recommend Pocket Sushi no chopsticks required easy to eat, full of flavor, and so pretty to look at. I stopped by after work to pick up a few different types of pockets, the service was great and the food was fresh and made quickly. I waited no more then ten minutes for them to make my six item order and they brought it out to my car which was also very nice. We will for sure be back for more!“

“Amazing place for yakitori food, chef Sherman really knows quality and simplicity for yakitori food. I highly recommend this place especially when you get togethers with great friends. 5 stars out of 5“

“Top notch beef sliced and ready for grill. Authentic Japnese groceries and dishes to purchase. Can't wait for the new Foster City store so I won't have to drive to Fremont. Price of meat is slightly on the higher side, but the quality is hands down worth it. Drove 45 minutes to the store because the quality is so good.“

“I couldn't find it inside marketplace, so I called them and got precise direction.
It is winter time, no tables outside, so I took a table between them and a butchery.
Chef's truffle tuna rolls are to die for.
They also have good selection of japanese sake in bottles.“

“absolutely the best sushi I've had in a long time! the staff is super friendly, I will definitely be going back!“