50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Pacifica

“This was a great meal! The side salad/soup/apps/entrees came out of the kitchen fairly spaced out so it felt almost like a fine dining experience. Did take a while so know that it is a whole dining experience - not just a quick meal out to eat. I got the Saba no Shioyaki grilled and liked that better than the sushi my partner got. The tempura was amazing and so was the Age Dashi Tofu appetizer!“

“We have only done take out orders. We were new to Pacifica during the covid pandemic and discovered this restaurant. Having tried anotherJapanese restaurant which was awful, we were happy with Ocean fish. We order maybe 1-2 month. There was only one time when we were doing a pick up and it was almost closing, that the staff just dropped the food on the table and walked away. Since that time, I haven't noticed any rudeness. Dining space is limited.
I want to note that the chicken teriyaki is not marinated and tastes like regular grilled chicken, but over all the food is good.“

“From the moment we walked in, everything about our experience was wonderful.

The ambiance was warm, inviting, and comfortable, making it the perfect place to relax and enjoy dinner. It had a welcoming atmosphere that made us want to stay and take our time.

The food was excellent. My favorites were the Truffle Scallop, the Shinjuku Roll, and the Bluefin Lovers Roll. Everything was fresh, beautifully presented, and packed with flavor. Each roll had its own unique taste, and I would gladly order all of them again.

The service truly made the night unforgettable. Eric was our server, and he was absolutely amazing. He has such a positive energy, and you can genuinely tell he enjoys being around people. He made us feel welcomed from the start, checked on us throughout the meal without ever being overbearing, and made the whole dining experience feel personal and like we were guests in someone's home rather than just customers in a restaurant.

We'll definitely be coming back--not only for the food but also for the incredible hospitality. Thank you, Eric, for making our dinner such a memorable experience!“

“Looking for something festive to share for a quiet Christmas Eve and suddenly thought can we get sushi delivered? Why, yes: yes we can!

So we ordered online, it came, and it was awesome. We now have a new delivery tradition for next year. Thank you, thank you, thank you and happy holiday“

“5-Star Review

Tiny Sushi - Oh Baby is such a fantastic spot! The sushi was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared, and the whole experience was wonderful. The atmosphere was welcoming, and the service was friendly and attentive. Everything came together perfectly for a great meal. Definitely a 5-star experience—I’d happily come back again!“

“Best Omakase in town.“

“The best omakase and multi-course dinner I’ve ever had. We came to celebrate our anniversary here and a great time. The atmosphere was perfect and the food/fish were literally hands down the best I’ve ever had. If you want high quality omakase where every bite is the perfect blend and diversity of textures and flavors you must go here.“

“Watermelon 🍉 Roll; no rice, refreshingly good Fried seafood chips appetizer; I wanted it as a meal it’s a different yum 😋 Ice cream sandwich wow!“

“The appetizer course alone was worth the visit — miso-marinated grilled fish, crispy fried river shrimp, and inari sushi filled with hijiki rice. We also added sashimi and it was excellent too. Delicate, but with real depth of flavor. After that you choose from three mains; I went with the duck served over a soba-based salad, which was perfectly summery — cool, light, and refreshing. I am originally from Japan, and this genuinely felt like sitting in a ryotei back home. This was lunch, so I’m curious to come back for dinner next time!“

“First time.
Friendly staff in a casual spot. Table and booth seating.
Lots of options and we chose 2 rolls (Toro & Scallop) and a bento 3 item option (Salmon, Shaba, and Kaki).
For the rolls, the tuna and scallop was fresh and melts in your mouth. The bento fishes were moist and good portioned. The kaki (oyster) was plump and nicely fried.
Overall, a wonderful meal and a place that we will visit again. A solid option for all.“

“Blown away! Sitting at the chef’s bar was an outstanding experience. The chef made recommendations; he is a true artist of his craft - what a delight to watch. The nigiri/sushi is classic with no frills, relying completely on the quality of the fish and the expertise of the chef. What a local gem!“

“We love Hangetsu for our family sushi dinners! The sushi is excellent, and my kids adore Chef Charles who always whips up something special for them. The ambience is lovely for date nights as well!“

“Great place. Friendly staff. Beautiful fish selections and daily specials. Limited open time, but absolutely worth going to.

I had the chirashi, rice beer, and panacotta - good relaxing night.

Reccomended!“

“We were looking for a new, decent sushi place between SFO and home and this one popped up. Checked the menu and decided to give them a try. We were happy with everything we tried, especially enjoyed the oysters on the half shell and the Bachamichi roll. We'll be back. Prices were reasonable and sushi was fresh 😋“

“Exceptional service. Delicious, artfully presented omakase at a reasonable price point.“

“It has a very interesting menu, I really enjoy the food.“

“Family operated business establishments are always the best!! Food is superb!! Price is competitive!“

“BEST RAMEN EVER! I've eaten ramen all over the U.S. & this is absolutely the best I've ever had! You can't beat the rich savory creamy broth, tender noodle, moist chashu, all fresh toppings & generous portions. The beef short rib was fabulous flavor & succulent.
I had miso ramen & my son had TanTan ramen. This is my new favorite ramen eatery!
Staff is super kind & accommodating. I'm in electric wheelchair and they made space for me at their cozy restaurant. Food came out very quickly.“

“👍👍🍜🍜 good Udon place in SFO 👍👍“

“The food here was definitely the highlight. Everything tasted pretty fresh and flavorful, and overall I would rate the food about 4/5. The ingredients seemed good quality and the dishes were enjoyable.

However, the service was a bit disappointing. The staff did their job, but they didn’t feel very welcoming or friendly. There wasn’t much interaction beyond the basics, and with the price point here, I expected a more warm and attentive experience.

The atmosphere was also just okay. It wasn’t fancy or fine dining, but it also didn’t really give a strong Japanese vibe either. The environment felt a bit mixed and not very memorable.

Overall, I’m giving 4 stars mainly because the food was good. If I rated the experience as a whole (food + service + atmosphere), it would probably be closer to 3/5. Still worth trying if you care mostly about the food.“

“Just went here our first time on valintines day and although I did not have any noodles we had spicy spring rolls the Katsu chicken and chicken teriyaki skewers and everything tasted so good thin cuts of chicken lots of flavor all under thirty bucks we will definitely be back“

“I was actually jonesing for some good Japanese curry when we were searching for a place to eat.. I decided on Fumi because the Japanese curry before the ramen lol must be good if it’s first right? It was perfect and the ramen was really good too. I definitely recommend this place for doing “simply” delicious.“

“What amazing find for being stuck at a hotel near SFO airport for a night. Mostly hidden in an old office park area is a kind, older, I presume Japanese couple who run this place. Everything is made to order. The sign on the door said closed Saturday but they were open and the steady steam of customers mean people know how to find it… and for good reason.“

“Really cute little shop with a welcoming vibe and friendly staff. I loved the spam musubi and the whole fantuan concept. I only tried the fantuan—great flavor, just a bit too salty for me. The only downside was the packaging; $15 for a fantuan in a big plastic bag doesn’t quite match the experience. Still, the place itself is charming and definitely worth a visit.“

“My favorite Japanese restaurant in San Francisco! A couple doors down from a killer Chinese bakery as well!!“

“very fresh sushi, good service ☺️“

“HIGHLY recommend Tekka House! The quality of the fish they serve is top notch - great flavor, texture and presentation. Also the truffle wagyu nigiri was the best wagyu we’ve ever had! A very delicious meal!!“

“What a great discovery! Amazing food and super kind service. We tried the Chu Toro and the double toro sushi roll. The tuna was so soft and tasty, it was literally melting in our mouth. Very high quality and very good price for SF. We will definitely come back!“

“The mentaiko spaghetti is quite possibly the single BEST thing I’ve ever put in my mouth. And I do consider myself a foodie. It’s the indescribable harmony of savory, buttery, salty, eggy, rich flavors from the cod roe and the sauce.

Overall this restaurant is wonderful, with great service, excellent cooking, and very atmospheric. The vegetarian bites and their house made pickles are also wonderful, though the signature pasta is the standout.

Walk-ins only, so be prepared for a 10-30 min wait.“

“Very friendly staff and delicious food. The variety is great! Definitely a go to place if you like Sushi 🍣 🤙🥇“

“It’s cozy, good and fast service and the food is high quality. We got the top secret and hamachi carpaccio which I would definitely get again, then for main dish we ordered curry rice (little bit of spice, nice crispy pork) and mentaiko yaki udon (flavorful, not too heavy noodles were perfectly cooked) which were good but would want to try other items that also looked good on the menu. Definitely recommend!“

“Absolutely love Tomokazu! Every dish is fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The sashimi is top quality, and the rolls are always creative and delicious. The beef short rib and shioyaki saba were also amazing, even though I didn’t get a photo! The staff are friendly, the atmosphere is cozy, and this place never disappoints. One of the best Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area! 🍣✨“

“What made this place great besides the food was the service. We enjoyed salmon nigiri, California bomb, and the Alaska roll. Also had the plum sparking wine, which I’d absolutely recommend. I think what was notable was being cared about as if we were family. I’d 100% recommend and return to if ever back in the area.“

“What a discovery! The service is beyond impeccable. Very attentive, making sure the diners' needs are met without being intrusive. The servers are engaging and explain all dishes. Every bite of each dish was delicious! Well prepared and presentation is beautiful. I highly recommend all the dishes we enjoyed. However, the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice is an ABSOLUTE MUST! I was hesitant about the Corn Tempura, but it was an unexpected treat. The restaurant is quite small so I highly recommend making a reservation.“

“Great food, great service. The Calamari is top notch!“

“The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars for the service is because they play games with gift certificates. Even though I specified the gift certificate at reservation time, they would not honor it. It's only because we got additional items that we were able to redeem part of the certificate. I was very disappointed with the explanations and the handling. I don't understand why they wish to annoy me over a few bucks of interest or card fees.“

“I’ve been going there for over 30 years. It’s the best tasting most reasonably priced Japanese food I have ever found.“

“Really good and large portions . Friendly staff and great value! Highly recommended 🥗🍲🍛🍱“

“We wanted to have a special meal to end our arduous few weeks of surgery recovery and I found Chacho when we landed on sushi because of their menu and location. They also seemed to be a little newer and worth a shot.

When picking up I was very warmly greeted by the ladies working there in a cozy and lovely shop and was offered even more soy sauce when I asked if it was in the bag (which there was).

We had a big takeout order of takoyaki, yellowtail Nigiri, a monster roll and some hamachi maki and California rolls. Because of how much we ordered there site offered us a free dish to select and I chose the yellowtail collar as I'd never had it before. A true feast. The takoyaki where still warm after a 15 minute drive and where perfectly savory and sweet with just the right amount of meat to batter. The yellowtail Nigiri was of great quality with a firm texture that wasn't chewy at all. The monster roll was an explosion of flavors and textures and so rich and filling. The maki and cut roll where dead simple and lovely as well with great rice/filling ratios. The yellowtail collar, while a little tricky to pick over offered delicious fatty morsels of meat with the occasional bone to dodge. It was tasty, but I wouldn't order it as a non freebie.

All in all it was such a hearty and rich meal and if we're in the area again we'll be back to come in next time!“

“It's hard to beat $2 nigiri!

Super cute sushi spot that serves up a too good to be true happy hour and vegan sushi! They do have actual fish and alternative fish :)

Their happy hour is daily from 5-9pm which is amazing and they have an ayce vegan sushi deal as well. They have more than just the $2 nigiri in their happy hour menu, you can also get rolls and hand rolls!

I thought their fish quality was fresh and the nigiri was delicious! The rice was a little heavy but overall super enjoyable! My favorite was definitely the toro and saba. I also really enjoyed their blue crab handroll. I was too full to try their rolls but I could smell the lion king roll and it smelled delicious.

Parking can be tough but it's in a charming neighborhood. Staff and service were awesome! I would definitely come back!“

“My “Go-To” sushi spot in SF!! Sushi is great and the people are awesome in here. Family owned and operated. I love supporting them. Will bring my family in here soon for LOTS of rolls again.

My wife’s favorite is sunset strip and mine is the winter wonderland.

Thank u Stephanie for your great service! Miso soups great too, not too salty like the others.“

“Amazing poke’ ! Incredible service! Awesome owners! Cool Asian sparkling water flavors! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Spiral has amazing food. The sushi is delicious. The employees are also wonderful, warm and friendly.“

“Sushi House is a perfect choice for any occasion! The atmosphere is loving, positive, and full of fun energy, making it a great place to enjoy a meal with friends, family, or someone special. The welcoming environment makes you feel comfortable from the moment you walk in.“

“Open late on Sundays when most other places are closed in the area. Sushi was very reasonably priced and satisfying. The tea was loose leaf and not from a bag which we prefer.

Service was everything I expected and it has a cozy homey vibe. No frills, no pomp, but what I was looking for.“

“My friend brought me to this restaurant. I was amazed at the amount of food you get in their lunch specials. A good portioned ball of rice that is a good portion. It is serviced with salad and terriyaki beef, chicken, or salmon. Along with that in a bento box you get 6 sushi rolls. I had the CA roll, fresh salmon, and smallish gyoza. All that for $17.95. What a deal!!

The service is excellent. Daniel is a very nice man who works the register and takes orders. He was so kind and understanding because we couldn't go inside because of my friend's condition she cannot walk. He offered to bring the food out to us. Who does that anymore.

The atmosphere felt comforting. The customers all looked pleased and happy.

I WILL make this restaurant one of my go to's now. Come see for yourself. You won't be disappointed. They ROCK!!“

“We ordered a large sushi and Japanese food spread for our office lunch, and it was amazing! The sushi rolls and sashimi were fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The rice was perfectly cooked, which is so important to me. The fried dishes were crispy and perfectly done, and the beef teriyaki was tender and delicious. The staff were friendly and attentive. We’ll definitely order again!“

“Excellent service Team thanks 🙏. Very fresh sushi at generous portions that’s satisfying. Neighborhood shop that’s busy with high turnover. Pricing was great 🤩 Excellent for me for takeout on business trip and very close to hotel 👍“

“This is by far the best sushi restaurant I’ve ever been to, there was this one waitress that was super kind to me and brought our food super quickly sushi was amazing and the curry was good aswell, she was super nice and pretty 👀“

“We love going here - it's sort of tucked away giving it a hidden gem feeling. The staff is warm, friendly and attentive. Sashimi is delicious and wonderfully presented. It was pricier than we expected but one wonderful thing they did for us was deep fry some of the decorations on the premium sashimi plate (the shrimp heads and the mackerel bones) - it was delicious and a nice, fun finish to the meal.“