46 Best Japanese Restaurants near Lafayette

“I know my carnivore friends don't hate me but when you have a partner as awesome as I do and she says she wants to try this sushi place that also serves vegan sushi what do you do, you take her there. Mind you they also have fish based dishes. But I went with it and it was very good. The green dragon roll consisting of tempora sweet potato, avocado and egg plant was great. The sunshine roll with mango, tempura jalapeño, sun dried tomato and avocado was also great. The vegan baked spicey scallop with baked king mushrooms and avocado was also great. Winner of the night.....Green Dragon. The rest come 2nds. Ambiance is nice and the staff is on top of it. All around very nice and will be coming back.“

“tasty sushi burrito, interesting concept, no high end ingredients but still pretty good! ran in with my buddy to the commissary kitchen that has a lot of different restaurants as part of the group. Nice guys running the place, fun to talk to, decent semi-healthy lunch to grab and go!“

“Some of the best sushi in the East Bay, and one of the best sushi chefs, Jack san,“

“I can't believe I have lived in Lafayette for over three years and just discovered this place. In summary one of the very best Japanese restaurants I have eaten in, as good as anything I have had in Japan.Went for lunch. Started the meal with hot saki and toro sushi; outstanding, even the ginger and wasabi served with the sushi was outstanding. My wife had the sushi sampler with salad, I had the grilled miso sea bass with miso soup and rice. Everything was beautifully cooked, presented and tasted fantastic. As an added bonus, the food was served on what looked like a Japanese version of Heath pottery, nice touch.The restaurant decor is bright and tasteful. Staff were very pleasant and helpful. Total cost for this amazing lunch was only $70, plus tip. Like Arnold said; "I will be back"!You may have noticed all my reviews to date on Google have been 5 star, this is deliberate. Life is too short to focus on that which does not make us happy. This is why I restrict my reviews to those things/places/services that make me happy and appreciate life. Sure, I have been to some really dreadful shops, hotels and restaurants etc., but, like I said, life is too short to spend time thinking and writing about them.“

“Best hidden secret. I have a hard time not visiting this place daily. There are so many options of rolls, rice bowls, and side dishes to-go. I believe most items are raw. Small amount of bon fish options rolls. Kids favorites are the avocado roll and California rolls There are a ton of Japanese snacks like pocky, shrimp chips, chocolate covered almonds, hi chews, wasabi peas a number of drinks. The staff are great, always friendly and have good recommendations . I've been visiting this place since they opened and every time I go they've got something new. Prices are right.“

“best sushi and cheap!!! will come again!!!“

“Tried Utzhutzu for the first time this past weekend for significant birthday, with a party of 2. There were a total of 7 of us seated at once for the 5:30pm seating. See pics for specific menu for that night. Price: $145 per person (includes tea, but does not include other drinks, other add on nigiris, does not include tax/tip). Whole experience is about 2 hours. Pros: - Really good sushi chef, a lot of variety of fish, and really good quality of fish of every piece. I believe it was 20 courses total, with 14 different nigiris. One of them was a choice between an uni nigiri or a chu toro handroll. - Really upstanding service, the 2 waiters were really on top of cleaning our plates, keeping waters and teas filled (our cups were never empty), and checking in with how we were feeling. - My favorite fish was the brown sugar-cured saba (mackerel?) and the wagyu beef nigiri with garlic chip, and the chu toro handroll. Delicious. - The green tea they served was REALLY good, and I like that you don't have to pay extra for it. -I like the intimate setting, that it only seats 7-8 at a time at the counter. I'm VERY glad our seating time only had 7 people, because I imagine it would be very cramped with 8. (I also felt bad that the chef had to keep reaching around the barriers to serve the fish). - I liked the variety of nigiri! Had the classics like amaebi, otoro, wagyu, red snapper, etc. All the flavors were pretty solid. - Decent bang for your buck - I would say the price is pretty typical of East Bay/Bay Area, and there were a lot of courses and we didn't leave hungry. - I like that 20% tip isn't automatically mandated/included so you can tip what you feel is adequate. Cons: - everything was a little more soy sauce heavy/forward than I prefer. I tend to not like when a the soy sauce is dripping off the nigiri, because then it makes it hard to eat it the "classic" way with your hands (ended up having to resort to chopsticks). I also feel like there's too much soy sauce if there's a lot of sauce left on the presentation plate after you grab it. - While the fish was very solid and the flavors were good, there I didn't consider it super unique or phenomenal. - While the space is intimate, it was not very ergonomic or very easy to find. There's no signage (which may be intentional maybe? speakeasy style?) so you really have to look for the address number. 2 steep staircases, a small waiting area, and bathrooms that are far down a narrow hallway if you have to go mid-meal. The counter stools were also kind of hard to get out of since the sitting space was quite cramped (depending who you're seated next to). Not a huge "con" but just a thought/feedback. - I felt like the chef didn't explain as much about the fish, where it came from, or introduce himself / his training very much (which was totally fine - but it made it more of a regular fine dining course meal than an omakase experience). - Nigiri portions felt a little small - but I guess it was made up for with the number of courses It overall was a lovely experience and the service really was impeccable - but the taste and experience didn't have me clamoring and eagerly awaiting my next time to come. However it was a really lovely way to celebrate my birthday, and the birthday candle in the dessert was a nice touch.“

“Ordered the katsu & garlic rice. Great customer service on the phone. They were very kind and patient with order taking and giving good directions. Katsu was some of the highest quality I've had in a while. Super thin crispy breading with white meat chicken. Very delicious and the garlic rice paired well. Good flavor and cooked to perfection. Fire“

“I cannot say enough about this restaurant. We went after probably 1.5 years and we were not disappointed. Above par food! They aim to please! And you will not come out of this experience disappointed. Had a lovely birthday dinner here.“

“BEST TERIYAKI CHICKEN!! Great food! Great service!“

“Great spot!They don't have the variety a fancy place might, but they put out good food and are always very friendly.Shima Aji is my absolute favorite and I almost never see it anywhere, but it was on their special board recently! Ordered 3, no regrets =P“

“I absolutely love this place! I have celiac and am very appreciative that I can eat here because they have a gluten free menu and tamari.Their sushi is delicious and their service is great! Special shoutout to Linda for amazing customer service each time. I'll continue to recommend this restaurant to my friends!Dietary restrictions: Gluten free options!“

“The best omakase around!!“

“This is the finest sushi restaurant I have ever been to. Their food is fresh and delicious. I’ve been coming here since 2008 and since my 1st visit have never been anywhere else. They are friendly and make you feel like family. I live in Vallejo CA and still travel to Pleasant Hill, CA for their food. Each time I have dined there I come out totally satisfied.“

“The sushi was great! It was very fresh, and the servers were very friendly. You could feel the love and care in the food they served. The ambiance was relaxing and peaceful. The decor may be outdated, but I'm giving them 5 stars because the quality of food and service is important to me. We ordered hot tea, 2 assorted chirashi bowls, 1 flamingo roll, and 1 dragon roll. This place serves quality fresh fish. Everything was delicious. I'll be back!“

“We have been going to Kotobuki for the last eight years. This place is not only delicious, but all staff goes above and beyond to take care of everyone. Outstanding service! Delicious food! We are always looking forward to going. Recommending it to all our friends! Please stop by and support this wonderful business!“

“Nice decor and vibes inside. Great service and food. Adventuresome dishes wish Asian flare.“

“Hands down the best sushi in the East bay (tri valley.).It was the freshest and most flavorful sushi I have had in years around home. Brought my mom and my uncle here and they were blown away by how good their rolls were. Staff was friendly and service was good. The ambience is nice and quaint. It's tucked away in the back of other businesses so it could be easy to miss if you don't see the floor sign, but it's cute.This is an absolute MUST TRY if you're close by.“

“Teriyaki Plus has never let me down!! The food is fresh, tasty and you can tell it's quality. If you want bang for your buck come here!! You get so much food for the price you pay. One of the best reasons I love coming here is a customer service. They truly love what they are doing, and it reflects in their food. From the moment you walk in the door they great you and ordering is so simple. Your food is made to order in the quality is really good. See pics of the updated menu!“

“It’s a contemporary Japanese restaurant with an extensive menu. Decor is bright and cheery. Bonus points for big screens showing a winning Warriors game on the night we dined there! ? Personally I had the cheesy katsu on a sizzling hot plate which was quite a sight and tastes pretty good. My party had sushi and ramen which are ok but the broth is not complex flavor-wise. The draft beer in frosted mugs is refreshing and goes very well with the katsu. Service is friendly and lots of drink options from sake to soju to ramunes. Definitely something for everyone.Vegetarian options: There are options even for plant-based diets.Parking: Saw a couple of pay-per-use EV charging spots in the parking lot too. Probably J1772s.Kid-friendliness: Good menu options for kids and they provide little chopstick training widgets for a fun experience“

“My friend and I wanted ramen and this place has excellent vegetarian ramen. It's as good as Marufuku, without the lines and the noise. One portion is big enough to share, but since a serving has one egg, it's easier to get two portions and take home what you can't eat.“

“I walked in with low expectations only because not that many people were in the restaurant. I was proven wrong quickly. The food was amazing and the service was great. I can't stand it when you get giant sushi rolls. These were small and very fresh. The dudes rolling the sushi were bout the business. Tashiko was a great waitress and she made our 10 year old picky eater feel special and went out of her way to make sure she had a good experience. The salad dressing is amazing , the nigiri and rolls were awesome as was everything else. Great little date spot. Highly recommend.“

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

“Life without sushi is no fun. That's why Manpuku is so needed. Whether pieced or in bowls, Manpuku brings both traditional and fusion in a delightful and pleasant way.“

“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.“

“Since my first visit in 2019, RnR Sushi & Bowls has become my go-to spot for all occasions, from family dinners to friends' birthdays and casual meetups. The special rolls are a must-try — always fresh, flavorful, and wonderfully prepared. The service is just as impressive, consistently friendly and attentive. The location tops it all off, making it easily accessible and a pleasure to dine at. If you’re looking for top-notch sushi and a delightful dining experience, look no further than RnR Sushi & Bowls. They’ve never let me down.“

“Ordered the sashimi appetizer over the phone for takeout on a late Saturday afternoon.Very efficient and friendly service.Given the location in a upscale area, I was surprised at the reasonableness of the price and the quality. Also, even though I didn't eat at site, it is a very pleasant intimate environment. If I'm ever in the area I would definitely come here again.“

“Generous serving sizes for a very reasonable price. My curry katsu don was mouthwatering and 100% authentic. Limited inside/outside seating and can get very busy in the early afternoon. Great service, but wait times could have been better--they might have been understaffed in the kitchen. Miso soup is included with each meal. Also, their pink hello kitty soy sauce bottles are adorable.“

“Actually delicious. We’ve had a lot of sushi in the east bay and this was easily the best takeout - fish was fresh, cuts were generous, and seasoning was interesting and delicious. A little expensive for normal sushi takeout in my opinion but a nice monthly treat! We’ll be back to dine in!Dietary restrictions: Gluten, dairy, egg free“

“This is probably my favorite restaurant. I go here almost every week for past 7-8 years. They give you complementary cucumber salad at the beginning and pineapple juice at the end of your dinner . Everyone is super friendly and helpful . Parking is always available . Restaurant is located at the very small plaza right next to 7/11. They also do very good job with to go orders . Try it , you won't regret !“

“Food was fresh! Service was great. The tables were clean!“

“The folks who run the place are absolute gems, and the food is bomb! The auntie is so kind and often gives food to houseless people. The boats are fun of course! Best time to go for boats is 5-630. There are vegan options too. It is my go-to sushi spot in oakland.“

“It's our first time here and we love itMy fiancé and I ordered a 10 pc omakase and it was very good. I like that their rice is different from anywhere else. Also the roll with mango and salad was really nice. The food came fast and staff are friendlyThis dinner was absolutely delicious. This is now our new favorite sushi place in Alameda ?“

“I had the tempura and it was amazing. It was well-prepared and incredibly light with a crispy texture. I'd have to say that the freshness of the ingredients played a crucial role in the overall flavor and enjoyment of the dish. The natural flavors of the ingredients along with the light tempura covering just had the right balance of texture and flavor. I will be a regular and am looking forward to trying new dishes.“

“Stopped by on a Friday evening around 7:00 p.m. and the place was pretty empty. My party of five ordered three specialty rolls, two California rolls, some nigiri, along with a few appetizers to share, including mixed tempura, karaage, and hamachi kama. The food came out quickly. I enjoyed the freshness of the rolls and this ended up being the perfect amount of food. The karaage was a bit dry and the hamachi kama was slightly overcooked but otherwise, everything else was not bad. My friends and I noticed our waiter did a bit too much upselling for our liking, but I can't fault him to much for his hussle. If you're looking for a casual sushi spot, Tomsa delivers. Last things to note: there's plenty of off street parking in the shopping center and 20% auto gratuity was applied to our party of five.“

“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“

“Wow! I've been coming to Coach once in a while for many years now. On this recent visit, the sushi was the best I've had not just at Coach, but anywhere, in a long time! Excellent fresh fish expertly prepared. Garlic edamame were delicious, and the rolls were creative and well balanced.“

“Food was delicious. The service was excellent. The ambiance is perfect. The owner and sushi chef, Ricky, and his staff are my favorite part. We had the VIP treatment. Guess it didn't hurt that RJ's favorite customer was in our group. I highly recommend RJ's.“

“Pretty good sushi spot in Moraga! My friend and I were craving sushi and decided to come here, was not disappointed! Service was great, everyone was so attentive and kind the entire dinner. Also the vibe of the place is nice and simple, good place to eat dinner. We got crab cheese puffs, miso soup, and a roll each for dinner. Crab cheese puffs: 5/5 - very tasty! A go-to appetizer because they're simple and tasty. These were great, fried well and had a delicious flavor. Totally get these if you don't know what appetizer to start with! Miso soup: 4/5 - this soup was good but a little bit too salty. I like that they had real shaved bonito in the soup, added a lot of flavor but it may have made it slightly too salty. Wish there was a little more tofu but overall really good too! Spicy Tuna Roll: 4/5 - really good! Quality was great and the tuna was very flavorful. Rice was not dry and the roll was balanced. I do wish it was a little bit bigger but it's ok since we ordered other food too! Tempura Roll: 5/5 - this is the roll my friend god, she really liked it! Shrimp was tasty and fried well and she said it was very satisfying and that she would order it again. Overall our experience at golden palace was great! We definitely want to return when I visit her again. The menu had a lot of Chinese dishes so that will be what we tackle next! If you're looking for some tasty food in Moraga please check this place out :)“

“We came for a special dinner. The food was delicious, as always! We had the Angel Mama, Lion King and Godzilla rolls, and the shrimp wrapped in bacon appetizers were wonderful too. I really liked the creamy wasabi sauce that came with it. The music was a bit loud for conversation. Our waiter was very cheerful but seemed very busy, some things were forgotten (we never got out pot of tea). We'll come again but maybe not on a Saturday night.“

“I usually don't leave a review unless I truly believe there was something exceptional (good or bad) about the place. This little, unassuming, sushiya is simply amazing. The service was so attentive and went above and beyond what you'd usually expect (thank you for the plum wine for us and ice cream for the kids!) and the sushi itself was really good and very well prepared. I honestly didn't expect much when we walked in (I was hungry, that I can readily admit) but the place was such a gem and I'm so happy we stopped by. Looking forward to doing it again soon!“

“Here you can find polite service and savory food.The waiting time from order to bring food is 20 minutes on Tuesday at 6 pm.I ordered 3 sets of sushi:1. PHILLY - $17 - I like soft cream cheese, salmon was fresh, and all ingredients were combined perfectly.2. BABY YODA ROLL - $19.5 - my favorite set, so delicious, tempura shrimp was cooked ideally.3. KEWPIE IMANO ROLL - $19.5 - it was OK, it was a little bit spicy, but it wasn't problem at all.Ii was my second time here and every time it was stable quality of food and service.Thanks!“

“This place was very different and tasty. The rice triangles are wrapped in seaweed with your filling of choice, like a little sandwich. I got the 2 triangle order and it came with edamame. I got chicken teriyaki, which was tasty and fresh, although a bit sweet for my taste. It was my son’s favorite. I also got the spicy Ahi Tuna. Tuna was delicious. I would return.“

“Came here with no expectations and was blown away. Sophia was amazing, she knew what to recommend out of their large menu. Had a Ninety-Nine Roll, Sweet Dream dessert and some Sake Nigiri. Everything is delicious, and you can tell the fish is absolutely fresh. Thank you Sophia and Mikuni! We'll be back“

“Love the buffet around the sushi bar! Best place to sit!“

“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!“