Honestly, SOHO was just so-so, I had them bookmarked on Yelp for at least the past 2 years and I passed by here multiple times whenever I went to eat at Sizzling Lunch next door. This is an awkward parking lot to navigate through, but there is plenty of spots in this shared lot though. From the exterior, they looked pretty dark, simple, and small, but the interior was decently sized compared to what I expected - it was pretty dimly lit, elegant, and modern inside. Service was eh, I felt like it could had been way better, especially because of the ambience / style of the restaurant. I came here with my friend to catch up for brunch and we both already pre-studied the menu prior to coming here to have an idea what we may want. We were seated shortly after we arrived, but not much service from that point forward. We were seated right by the door and the interior is dimly lit with without much outside light, so every time the door opened, it was like a blast of light and wind that comes at us, so that was a bit annoying / not the most enjoyable. My friend had an idea what she wanted, but ended up going with something different from her original choice, as she chose the Tamago Sando instead. I wanted to try multiple of their Morning Plates options, so I ended up ordering the Mochi Waffle (matcha) one with a side of a Croffle Toast and a Mochi Pancake (matcha). Both of our food was beautifully / nicely plated and definitely aesthetically pleasing / great for photos, so we were pretty stoked, until we tasted our food. My friend thought her Sando was alright / eh and not worth it and my food was pretty bland, dry, and underwhelming - the matcha did not even taste like matcha either. For my mochi waffle, the matcha ganache that came with it was the only part I really liked, as the fresh fruits were a bit sour / tart and the waffles itself were pretty bland / dry, even with the miso butter and syrup I took from my pancake to put on them as well - it did not have a strong matcha taste and not much mochi either. My mochi pancake was even more bland and dry compared to the waffle, even with the miso butter and syrup - not much of a matcha taste or mochi texture to it either. The croffle toast was probably the better of the 3 items I ordered, but even so, it tasted more like a croissant than croffle, it was pretty flaky and not as buttery / smooth - to be honest, I had better croffles at the mall food kiosks / stands. Overall, while the presentation for the food was very IG worthy and pretty, but the taste of the food was not that good, and there was a lack of service, especially for a restaurant that has 4 dollar signs on Yelp.
J. C.
Great food, great service and great ambience. SOHO punches above its weight for a Fremont Japanese restaurant. Make sure you try the truffle A5 wagyu nigiri. Will be coming again!
Christina W.
Food is so good, and very good price compared with the quality of the food! Love it, will definitely come back!
Danny M.
Food was good and the interior is really nice. I have to say that the service is abysmal. Not a single time did our server ever check in on us after our orders were brought to the table. Even when the tables next to us were being seated or having the check brought to them the server did not check in. The only time my water was refilled was when the busser (an older gentleman) came to ask if we needed any boxes and to remove our dishes. He filled our waters and was the only person to ever check on us, if I had cash I would've tipped him directly because he was the only employee that cared to provide service. Even after he had bussed our tables, and our food was packed, we had to wait 10+ minutes and signal to someone to bring the check. Wait staff needs some serious re-training
Kimberly G.
got here before they opened on a Sunday morning and there were already other people on the waitlist. If you want to eat here in the morning, I recommend getting here before 10:20, which is when people started filing in The interior was so nice and well decorated. The whole vibe felt a bit more upscale than your typical brunch spot We ordered a few dishes - Short Rib Poutine (6/10): honestly, this was pretty disappointing in my opinion, there was a lack of wasabi gravy (didn't even taste like wasabi), the cheese wasn't that melty and the flavor on the short ribs was really lacking. It felt like I was eating tater tots with ground meat and some cheese. I'd skip out on this one next time - Chicken Croffle (9/10): this one was delicious! The sweet and savory flavors went perfectly together and the portion size was huge! Totally enough for two meals - Ebikatsu Benedict (7/10): the flavor on the shrimp katsu patty was delicious and so crispy and light! it paired well with the poached egg and sauces, I just wish there was more hollandaise sauce with it. also, the toast at the bottom just got so lost with the two huge shrimp patties, wish it was a thicker piece of toast - Ebikatsu Sando (9/10): this was probably my favorite dish that we ordered! very similar to the ebikatsu benedict, but the bread to shrimp ratio was a lot better and also a lot easier to eat. it paired perfectly with the egg salad Personally, i did like the food here and the service was very attentive and kind. I would possibly come back here with friends, but not my first choice as I typically prefer a typical diner style brunch! (but that's just me haha)
AnhThu N.
The food is good although it's fusion. The service is nice. The restaurant is not spacious but cozy.
Mari C.
I've come here for the tasting menu at dinner, and for brunch. The food presentation, service, and clean, charming decor were excellent during both visits. Celebrate a special occasion for the tasting menu - it's an impressive show and pricey. Since it's a tasting menu, portions are small, so don't come hungry! Nothing stood out for me on the menu, though. It really is for the experience. The standout for me at the brunch was the chicken croffle. The chicken was so light, moist, crunchy, but not greasy! The side red sauce was perfect, not too spicy. No syrup needed for the croffle. I liked the matcha pancake better than the ube waffle. Looking forward to trying the other brunch items.
Nary P.
I was finally able to try out this restaurant during brunch last week and it was definitely a 5 stars. From the start, we were about 30 minutes late for our reservation (but we gave them a call & they were totally fine with it!) walked in & had a pleasant greeting from the host. He was very welcoming & guided us to our seats very quickly. The ambiance is absolutely stunning to me. In my opinion, the lighting and decor gave the restaurant a peaceful and lively atmosphere. My friend and I were comfortable the entire time. The waiter/waitress were very sweet and quick to service us. Constantly had water refills before the glasses were empty. We surely appreciated that as my friend and I are always in need of water lol. Food came out fairly quickly and presentation was gorgeous that we had to take photos. Reference below. We definitely enjoyed all of our food and the portions were plentiful for us. There were many items that we actually wanted to try but I just knew we would be too stuffed so I am definitely coming back. They also have a dinner menu & I would have to try that another time as well. I definitely feel the price is what you pay for and if you have a chance to visit, please do. It's a great place to catch up with friends while trying out delicious Japanese cuisines.
Allison C.
Tried their brunch menu this past weekend and really enjoyed it! Nice to find a high quality Japanese style brunch in the Fremont area. They don't take brunch reservations so we got there about 15 minutes early and were the first ones in line. Pleasantly surprised to find a room towards the back for a larger party (we were 9 total but could prob squeeze another body in there lol). Since my family is made up of a bunch of foodies, we ordered way too much wanting to try as much as possible. We shared many of the small plates, like the aburi chutoro, okonomiyaki tots, corn chowder, furikake bacon and our favorite, the short rib poutine (we ordered a 2nd!). Now on to the mains and several items stood out that we want to go back to have again...loved the chicken croffle, the ebi katsu Benedict, lobster Benedict, kalbi steak and egg, matcha waffle and the loco moco. Honestly, there were only a couple items that were meh and wouldn't order again...we didn't like the crab cake Benedict and the mochi pancakes. Server was nice and attentive, but got a little slow towards the end of our meal but could be expected bc all the tables were full by the time we finished our meal. Totally recommend trying SOHO!
Michelle S.
Was super excited to try the tasting menu but it was just mediocre. Great service, they were very attentive of when to bring you the next course. Presentation was amazing but they all taste mediocre, not bad but not memorable.
3.5 stars Food worth getting -chicken Croffle -truffle mushrooms Do not get -lobster Benedict. Small portion of lobster - short rib poutine ? Not sure if we got the wrong dish served to us but pretty sure there was no short rib in there Meh dish: Uni hotate carpaccio I like the concept of the Belgian siphon but not for $14 for 2 small cups. They use Peet's blend. Waiter is supposed to come in 8 min to get us cups to pour the coffee but came back at end of the meal after we were almost done eating after I had to ask if the coffee was done brewing or not
Tim H.
I can't believe this place exists in Fremont. It feels like you're in SF or some other city. Not in a restaurant in a strip mall. I came here for my bday dinner. My wife and I did the tasting menu. As the $$$$, this place is a bit pricy, but worth it IMO. We will definitely be coming back to celebrate special occasions.
E Z.
Do not go unless you want to spend $102+ tax + tip for ONE person for a lunch take out. Ordered two vegetable ($12 each), six pieces of oyster （$28, one not fresh), one fish appetizer ($21, tiny pieces good for two to three bites), one crab cake egg Benedict ($29).
RS G.
Come early because it gets busy for their brunch. We waited an hour and finally got seated. The ambience was nice. Wait staff were friendly. I got the impossible burger and it was ok. The portion was a bit small, for how much they were charging. My friends got the fried chicken item and they loved it. So maybe not the best place for vegans and vegetarians but my meat eating friends liked it.
Peace L.
We had a wonderful lunch here yesterday and everything we ate was delicious and the service was great too.
Honestly, SOHO was just so-so, I had them bookmarked on Yelp for at least the past 2 years and I passed by here multiple times whenever I went to eat at Sizzling Lunch next door. This is an awkward parking lot to navigate through, but there is plenty of spots in this shared lot though. From the exterior, they looked pretty dark, simple, and small, but the interior was decently sized compared to what I expected - it was pretty dimly lit, elegant, and modern inside. Service was eh, I felt like it could had been way better, especially because of the ambience / style of the restaurant. I came here with my friend to catch up for brunch and we both already pre-studied the menu prior to coming here to have an idea what we may want. We were seated shortly after we arrived, but not much service from that point forward. We were seated right by the door and the interior is dimly lit with without much outside light, so every time the door opened, it was like a blast of light and wind that comes at us, so that was a bit annoying / not the most enjoyable. My friend had an idea what she wanted, but ended up going with something different from her original choice, as she chose the Tamago Sando instead. I wanted to try multiple of their Morning Plates options, so I ended up ordering the Mochi Waffle (matcha) one with a side of a Croffle Toast and a Mochi Pancake (matcha). Both of our food was beautifully / nicely plated and definitely aesthetically pleasing / great for photos, so we were pretty stoked, until we tasted our food. My friend thought her Sando was alright / eh and not worth it and my food was pretty bland, dry, and underwhelming - the matcha did not even taste like matcha either. For my mochi waffle, the matcha ganache that came with it was the only part I really liked, as the fresh fruits were a bit sour / tart and the waffles itself were pretty bland / dry, even with the miso butter and syrup I took from my pancake to put on them as well - it did not have a strong matcha taste and not much mochi either. My mochi pancake was even more bland and dry compared to the waffle, even with the miso butter and syrup - not much of a matcha taste or mochi texture to it either. The croffle toast was probably the better of the 3 items I ordered, but even so, it tasted more like a croissant than croffle, it was pretty flaky and not as buttery / smooth - to be honest, I had better croffles at the mall food kiosks / stands. Overall, while the presentation for the food was very IG worthy and pretty, but the taste of the food was not that good, and there was a lack of service, especially for a restaurant that has 4 dollar signs on Yelp.
Great food, great service and great ambience. SOHO punches above its weight for a Fremont Japanese restaurant. Make sure you try the truffle A5 wagyu nigiri. Will be coming again!
Food is so good, and very good price compared with the quality of the food! Love it, will definitely come back!
Food was good and the interior is really nice. I have to say that the service is abysmal. Not a single time did our server ever check in on us after our orders were brought to the table. Even when the tables next to us were being seated or having the check brought to them the server did not check in. The only time my water was refilled was when the busser (an older gentleman) came to ask if we needed any boxes and to remove our dishes. He filled our waters and was the only person to ever check on us, if I had cash I would've tipped him directly because he was the only employee that cared to provide service. Even after he had bussed our tables, and our food was packed, we had to wait 10+ minutes and signal to someone to bring the check. Wait staff needs some serious re-training
got here before they opened on a Sunday morning and there were already other people on the waitlist. If you want to eat here in the morning, I recommend getting here before 10:20, which is when people started filing in The interior was so nice and well decorated. The whole vibe felt a bit more upscale than your typical brunch spot We ordered a few dishes - Short Rib Poutine (6/10): honestly, this was pretty disappointing in my opinion, there was a lack of wasabi gravy (didn't even taste like wasabi), the cheese wasn't that melty and the flavor on the short ribs was really lacking. It felt like I was eating tater tots with ground meat and some cheese. I'd skip out on this one next time - Chicken Croffle (9/10): this one was delicious! The sweet and savory flavors went perfectly together and the portion size was huge! Totally enough for two meals - Ebikatsu Benedict (7/10): the flavor on the shrimp katsu patty was delicious and so crispy and light! it paired well with the poached egg and sauces, I just wish there was more hollandaise sauce with it. also, the toast at the bottom just got so lost with the two huge shrimp patties, wish it was a thicker piece of toast - Ebikatsu Sando (9/10): this was probably my favorite dish that we ordered! very similar to the ebikatsu benedict, but the bread to shrimp ratio was a lot better and also a lot easier to eat. it paired perfectly with the egg salad Personally, i did like the food here and the service was very attentive and kind. I would possibly come back here with friends, but not my first choice as I typically prefer a typical diner style brunch! (but that's just me haha)
The food is good although it's fusion. The service is nice. The restaurant is not spacious but cozy.
I've come here for the tasting menu at dinner, and for brunch. The food presentation, service, and clean, charming decor were excellent during both visits. Celebrate a special occasion for the tasting menu - it's an impressive show and pricey. Since it's a tasting menu, portions are small, so don't come hungry! Nothing stood out for me on the menu, though. It really is for the experience. The standout for me at the brunch was the chicken croffle. The chicken was so light, moist, crunchy, but not greasy! The side red sauce was perfect, not too spicy. No syrup needed for the croffle. I liked the matcha pancake better than the ube waffle. Looking forward to trying the other brunch items.
I was finally able to try out this restaurant during brunch last week and it was definitely a 5 stars. From the start, we were about 30 minutes late for our reservation (but we gave them a call & they were totally fine with it!) walked in & had a pleasant greeting from the host. He was very welcoming & guided us to our seats very quickly. The ambiance is absolutely stunning to me. In my opinion, the lighting and decor gave the restaurant a peaceful and lively atmosphere. My friend and I were comfortable the entire time. The waiter/waitress were very sweet and quick to service us. Constantly had water refills before the glasses were empty. We surely appreciated that as my friend and I are always in need of water lol. Food came out fairly quickly and presentation was gorgeous that we had to take photos. Reference below. We definitely enjoyed all of our food and the portions were plentiful for us. There were many items that we actually wanted to try but I just knew we would be too stuffed so I am definitely coming back. They also have a dinner menu & I would have to try that another time as well. I definitely feel the price is what you pay for and if you have a chance to visit, please do. It's a great place to catch up with friends while trying out delicious Japanese cuisines.
Tried their brunch menu this past weekend and really enjoyed it! Nice to find a high quality Japanese style brunch in the Fremont area. They don't take brunch reservations so we got there about 15 minutes early and were the first ones in line. Pleasantly surprised to find a room towards the back for a larger party (we were 9 total but could prob squeeze another body in there lol). Since my family is made up of a bunch of foodies, we ordered way too much wanting to try as much as possible. We shared many of the small plates, like the aburi chutoro, okonomiyaki tots, corn chowder, furikake bacon and our favorite, the short rib poutine (we ordered a 2nd!). Now on to the mains and several items stood out that we want to go back to have again...loved the chicken croffle, the ebi katsu Benedict, lobster Benedict, kalbi steak and egg, matcha waffle and the loco moco. Honestly, there were only a couple items that were meh and wouldn't order again...we didn't like the crab cake Benedict and the mochi pancakes. Server was nice and attentive, but got a little slow towards the end of our meal but could be expected bc all the tables were full by the time we finished our meal. Totally recommend trying SOHO!
Was super excited to try the tasting menu but it was just mediocre. Great service, they were very attentive of when to bring you the next course. Presentation was amazing but they all taste mediocre, not bad but not memorable.
Restaurantji Recommends
3.5 stars Food worth getting -chicken Croffle -truffle mushrooms Do not get -lobster Benedict. Small portion of lobster - short rib poutine ? Not sure if we got the wrong dish served to us but pretty sure there was no short rib in there Meh dish: Uni hotate carpaccio I like the concept of the Belgian siphon but not for $14 for 2 small cups. They use Peet's blend. Waiter is supposed to come in 8 min to get us cups to pour the coffee but came back at end of the meal after we were almost done eating after I had to ask if the coffee was done brewing or not
I can't believe this place exists in Fremont. It feels like you're in SF or some other city. Not in a restaurant in a strip mall. I came here for my bday dinner. My wife and I did the tasting menu. As the $$$$, this place is a bit pricy, but worth it IMO. We will definitely be coming back to celebrate special occasions.
Do not go unless you want to spend $102+ tax + tip for ONE person for a lunch take out. Ordered two vegetable ($12 each), six pieces of oyster （$28, one not fresh), one fish appetizer ($21, tiny pieces good for two to three bites), one crab cake egg Benedict ($29).
Come early because it gets busy for their brunch. We waited an hour and finally got seated. The ambience was nice. Wait staff were friendly. I got the impossible burger and it was ok. The portion was a bit small, for how much they were charging. My friends got the fried chicken item and they loved it. So maybe not the best place for vegans and vegetarians but my meat eating friends liked it.
We had a wonderful lunch here yesterday and everything we ate was delicious and the service was great too.