50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Los Altos

“I wish I could give more stars for the service! Everyone was genuinely so kind, helpful, happy and attentive. I was about to ask for a fork and separate bowl for my husband and I to split the soup I ordered and one of the waiters brought two bowls out, forks, chopsticks and spoons before I could even ask. It was like he read my mind! We also had our niece with us and my sister & birthed in law. They were so kind and helpful with her! The food was really good. If you go on Tuesdays, it’s 20% off, or at least, they’re running that deal now.“

“I love ❤️ to meet my friends here for private gatherings to plot steps fit really big and bold new ideas. My preference is for the 7:17 (give or take) omakase at the bar followed by a night meeting around a square or round table. Each person has two people to talk to at the bar (Me - Jeff- Elon - Mark - Lauren - Priscilla - Sergey- - Larry - Larry - plus 4 additional guests if others can attend - Camelia Me 12 Camelia Typically my wife returns home early by Lyft or Uber but I stay out later and sometimes overnight in Woodside at a suitable location.“

“I have been to Sumika several times, for lunch and dinner. I love going for dinner because the vibe is just like an izakaya in Japan -- everyone minds their own business and enjoys drinks and good food. They were awarded a Michelin bib gourmand previously and it's one of my favorite places in the Bay Area. They have been around nearly 20 years and quite popular, so it's best to reserve. I have tried doing walk-ins on a Friday night, and it was quite packed.

Recently, I celebrated my bday dinner at Sumika. Sumika is family owned and one of the first authentic yakitori places with a izakaya vibe to open in the Bay Area. They have a large menu that has so many of the classic, delicious flavors and well as inventive dishes. This is one of my favorite places I go to in the Bay Area, as it's perfect for celebrations and hanging out. They use charcoal grill for their skewers and the kitchen is open so you can watch everything being prepared.

I recommend any of the skewers, especially the yakitori (chicken). The flavors are authentic and the charcoal grill flavors bring out the best flavors. The team is incredible here, from service to the chefs. I like seeing the grill smoke, which makes this a lively experience.“

“Absolutely love Mikado! It's hands down my favorite sushi spot in the Bay Area. The sushi rolls are consistently delicious, with the New Mexican and Mango Alaskan being my personal favorites—perfectly fresh and full of flavor. The service is incredibly quick, and the restaurant is always spotless. The servers are friendly and welcoming every single time. Never a miss here, highly recommend!“

“I think it's good to be able to eat a lunch box for this price considering the location.
They also serve brown rice tea for free. I had the lunch bento box with a choice of 2 sides, $17.50. You can choose sushi rolls or nigiri sushi on the side, but there's plenty of white rice, so I personally recommend choosing a side dish. Personally, I'm concerned about the quality of the white rice. There's nothing wrong with vinegared rice, but that white rice is a no-no in Japanese food. The female staff member was very kind and managed the whole thing by herself. I think there was one craftsman who seemed to be Japanese.“

“It was Ok. Thin slices of fish on th sushi. Not a big selection on th boats, but u can order off th menu. I ordered th eel don, which didn't hv too much teriyaki sauce (a good thing) n a good size piece of eel but not enough rice (for me, at least).

Vegetarian options: Sushi is vegetarian...... no?

Kid-friendliness: Kids love u th sushi on a boat“

“Fantastic evening at Robin. The omakase restaurant had a hip, night clubby feel to it as the interior was dark with dance club music, but the sushi was definitely worthwhile. Erin and Abby provided friendly and efficient service, which contributed to the overall positive experience. Free parking lot next door makes it easy to find a parking space.“

“This is the best chicken karage curry that I've every had. You get a ton of food for the money. Chicken is super crispy and served over sticky rice. Curry in a separate container and some pickled veg on the side. Really balanced curry flavor (not too sweet, not too spicy). This makes for a really nice take-out dinner!“

“Server is very friendly and considerate! We really enjoyed our time here!

Vegetarian options: Plenty of non meat options! Great for those who are vegetarian.

Dietary restrictions: Lots of snacking options, so there’s something for everyone!“

“From the warm greeting everyone receives when walking through the door to the attentive and super friendly service, this place is amazing! The sushi was outstanding… hands down the best sushi I’ve ever had! The texture, taste and presentation was top notch. Wish there was a location on the east coast!“

“Great service, food was delish. Chef made special sushi dish ( not on the menu) that was FIRE! My new to go place.❤️❤️❤️“

“Absolutely amazing❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ best sushi!“

“YES THIS SUSHI IC SO CLOSE TO OUR HOUSE AND CHEAP!!!! YOU GET A FREE DRINK WITH ORDER! ( not including water, that’s always free)

Kid-friendliness: Not many kids go there, but they are still kind to kids who do go there.“

“friendly staff, monstrous upon great broth“

“We dined at their SM North Edsa branch. Good food. 👌 Crews were accommodating. 💯“

“My take out dinner was humongous from Diner Japonica. It could’ve fed 2 patrons easily. It was a combination dinner with tempura, salmon lots of rice and a side of greens w an umami dressing. The place is not a sit down diner with the booths cordoned off. The old looking restaurant is in a small strip mall right on Woodside with a small parking lot. If you like big portions of oishi foods, get on over there. If you’re looking for ambience, it’s not this place but when I’m hungry for oishi foods, I’m definitely going back. The obasan who works there is very sweet. I recommend this little take out place.“

“Food is always fresh and delicious. There’s always a variety of specials every week besides their main menu items. It’s easy to place an order and pickup. Try it; it will become your main takeout restaurant like it has become ours!“

“Our first time here and everything was delicious! We had the garlic edamame, salmon express and the spicy tails rolls and the salmon with lemon dill nigiri. So good!“

“Delicious and Creative dishes including the poke bowls we enjoyed for lunch. The spicy marinade on the chicken was excellent. Lunch crowd is steady for them and service was good considering there was just one waitress/server who was hustling to take care of everyone. Definitely will be back.“

“The service is outstanding, the broth is.. understated (don't drown the meat in a separate flavor), and the sauces/accessory items are god-tier. I've never even had soft serve ice cream this good. Not a single ice crystal in the ice cream!

Get the Sukiyaki broth. Spicy miso would seem like the most flavorful, but our group agreed Sukiyaki is better. Want spicy? Grab the infinite Thai chilis at the bar and add to the soup.

Also ponzu-garlic-onion is the best sauce. Fight me! Raw egg (pasteurized) is crazy good too if the flavors get too overwhelming.

I didn't even talk about the meats! Yeah wagyu is great, oyster is great, crab is meh, shrimp (sashimi and platter) is whoah, abalone isn't my thing (it's just all natural fish cake?). Bone marrow was surprisingly not my favorite for a first time experience.

Membership pays for itself after two visits. Get it!“

“Great place For the best sushi in the Bay Area.“

“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.“

“Went to Udon Mugizo with my family tonight on New Year’s Eve. Our food arrived within 5-15 minutes, which was must faster than expected, especially on a holiday. The beef combo and Niku Udon didn’t have a lot of meat or vegetables. The service was incredibly good, and we even chatted with our server!“

“This place is the real deal - they've got servers rocking kimonos that'll transport you straight to Edo-era Japan. Book on OpenTable to snag a spot.
?14417 Big Basin Way, Saratoga
This was actually my second time here - first time was back when they were in Burlingame. Gotta say, I preferred the OG spot. More food, longer experience, you know how it is.
?Every time I do omakase or kaiseki, I swear it's like a spa day for my taste buds. Perfect recharge after traveling!
Highlights:
Jw5 aperitif sake to kick things off
ODash appetizer soup served in a wine glass - looks like white wine but packs a punch with that 5-year aged broth
Sakizuke tofu with fish roe - silky smooth tofu + salty roe = happy mouth
Otsukuri sashimi - fresh but nothing mind-blowing
YakiMono grilled eel - salt-cured eel with morels was ?
SunoMono seafood jelly salad - my fave! Creamy yam, shrimp, uni, edible flowers. Texture for days.
Seasonal Gohan - Hokkaido A5 wagyu over rice. Tiny portion but that certificate-worthy beef tho!
Desserts were on point - loved the caramel mochi cake with soy milk powder
Overall, presentation was fire and the vibe was transporting. Wish there was a bit more food and some bolder flavors, but still a solid kaiseki experience. Who's ready for their omakase fix?“

“good place to dine and very clean“

“Have been back for a few times to try different things on the menu, I will let the pictures speak for themselves! They serves fresh, high-quality sushi and delicious skewers in a relaxing atmosphere. Attentive service and variety of sake selection. Highly recommend for a special night out!“

“Gaku Restaurant offers a delightful dining experience with its fresh, high-quality food and excellent service. Each dish is carefully prepared, allowing you to truly savor the flavors. The portions are on the smaller side, which is a positive as it allows you to taste and enjoy a variety of dishes. The atmosphere is cozy, making it a great spot for a relaxed meal. If you're looking for a place with consistently good food and attentive service, Gaku is definitely worth a visit. Just be prepared to order a few more dishes to satisfy your appetite!“

“Great food and experience!“

“Great food, fast service!“

“Ended up going here by chance and very happy we did! All the ingredients were prepared to perfection, good quality and fresh. We ended up sharing one box between the two of us for lunch as it is a fairly sized portion for one box. The staff was patient, well spoken and helpful. Definitely going here again and I hope they open more branches in south bay!“

“10/24/2024

Hanabi Sushi
1040 N Rengstorff Ave Ste A1
Mountain View, CA 94043

We went there for lunch after shopping at Costco in the same plaza. The dining area is split between a cozy interior table and chair setup and a larger patio area. We were seated promptly with fast and attentive service.

We both chose the lunch combo bentos. Wifey had the beef teriyaki and avocado roll and I had the Saba Shioyaki and Combo Tempura. The miso soup had good flavor and a few small cubes of tofu with kombu. My dainty mackerel filet was moist, tasty and boneless. My one shrimp tempura was hot and juicy with a crispy panko breading. The veggies were yam, carrot, zucchini and cauliflower. The dipping sauce was a little sweet. The beef was medium rare and lean of high quality with good teriyaki flavor.

A good place for lunch and conveniently located. May repeat.

Parking: It's in the Costco plaza.“

“This place was fairly close by for lunch when I had to report for Jury duty. Owner was super positive and nice personality was pretty contagious, despite how terrible the weather was that day. Had their "Power Chicken" at a mild spicy level. The food came out quick, and I can tell that there was some "wok hay" in the cooking. The chicken was tender, onions were fresh, crisp, and lightly charred which takes skill. Sauce was actually mildly spicy, unlike some places where there is barely any spice when you order "mild". Generous helping of rice.

Went back after service to order a small party tray for dinner, and to get some boba next door from Teaspoon. Would go again if I was in the area and looking for food.“

“The service and environment are very good, and there are relatively few carbohydrates and vegetables on the menu. The beef tongue is delicious and the price/performance ratio is good. The grilled rice balls were surprisingly good, a bit like glutinous rice cakes. The squid rice has a very rich and creamy flavor.“

“Came here with my husband on my birthday. Overall the food was excellent. Very good personalized service... At 7:30 p.m. we were the only people there and remained the only people there the entire time. I thought that a bit odd. The food was delicious. Carefully created. Great play presentation... Except for the worm ?/ or parasite that I found on top of the one dish. They promptly took it away and informed me they remade it. I think they just removed the flowers/leaves. Recommended sake was delicious. The menu is seasonal so things will probably adjust if others go there. I'm still thinking about that delicious chestnut inside of a fried fishball. The rice made tableside was underwhelming to be honest.“

“We had a great lunch, so yummy and fresh foods. We love the taste so much especially their garlic rice very recommendable to all of you guys who wants to try a japanese food that’s really satisfied your cravings, so come and dine in.“

“Among the best Japanese food in Mountain View/Los Altos/Palo Alto area.“

“YUM! We love Rokko! Lovely restaurant, great food and a wonderful staff. Happy we have this restaurant in DT Sunnyvale. 😀“

“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“

“First time I ate in this restaurant was in 1997. This restaurant has been here for real long time 😁😁
I liked their varieties, quite nice taste. Service is friendly, just the restaurant light is kind of dark 🕶️🕶️.
Overall, enjoyed for the past many many years. 😊 😊“

“Everything great except for the pork 😔“

“Good food in fun environment. Nice choices. A little more education about the process would have helped. I am older so the all automated menu was a bit off putting. However thevteam helped. A little bland in flavor. I would return. Check it out.“

“Best Tempura donburi in the Bay Area!! You can always request to have Tempura lunch/dinner instead of donburi too!“

“Great food and very tasty!! Staff are very friendly!! Highly recommended!!!“

“Came here for my daughter’s birthday and her friends. Wonderful atmosphere and delicious food! Serving size was very large! Come hungry.

Kid-friendliness: Saw lots of kids. I would bring my own.

Wheelchair accessibility: I had to get around on a knee scooter. Ramps were present. Staff helped with accommodations.“

“This sushi experience is worth every penny, especially for those who appreciate the highest quality fish. Sitting at the bar, you’re able to watch the chef carefully select and prepare each piece, showcasing the exceptional freshness of the ingredients. The fish is melt-in-your-mouth tender, with each bite bursting with natural flavors that highlight its top-tier quality. Whether it’s the buttery richness of the toro, the clean, sweet taste of the uni, or the delicate, perfectly cut slices of white fish, every piece feels like a celebration of freshness.

The chef’s expertise shines through not only in the preparation but in the way each piece is crafted to enhance the natural taste of the fish. The quality is on a whole other level, and it’s evident in every bite. While the meal is undoubtedly an investment, the unparalleled freshness and skillful presentation make it an unforgettable and worthwhile experience for any sushi enthusiast.“

“It was a delight and joy to have chef Steve to prepare our meal. My wife and I ate everything that was prepared for us and the food was absolutely amazing. Great flavors and fresh ingredients. The scallop was to die for. Uni was heavenly, that it melts in your mouth. Uni is not something my wife like or enjoy but she loved it the way chef Steve pair with other ingredients. Once again thanks chef Steve for the fabulous dining experiences.“

“We frequent Shiki at least monthly. The variety on the menu is very good, no complaints about the quality of the food or raw fish, they typically have seating, and I have no complaints about the service. Overall it's a great last minute choice in a packed San Carlos/Redwood City area.“

“I mean, if you haven't eaten their sushi, you are missing out. Best tuna sashimi in the bay. The atmosphere is cozy, service is fast, we are making this our to go sushi place. My wife is vegetarian and there are a lot of yummy vegetarian rolls

Vegetarian options: The veggie tempura roll is amazing. I am not vegetarian but my wife is and I pray she doesn't finish hers so I can eat what's left“

“adoro la variedad de Mocho que tienen además la excelente atención“