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!“

“Not only is this the BEST SUSHI in Pacifica, but it is SO FRESH and even more than that, the employees are the KINDEST. They are so thoughtful and considerate and caring. This is our favorite date night restaurant in Pacifica! We love you Ocean Fish! 🐟❤“

“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“

“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.“

“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.“

“A neighborhood jam truly one of a kind hole in the wall place. If you want authentic Japanese kaiseki this is the go to spot. We came here to celebrate a graduation for a party of two. Everything was great!

The restaurant is cozy, and the owners are true Japanese chefs and very hospitable. You can choose the main course, but these are mostly set menus. Everything was properly planned with the quality ingredients that were refresh and tasty. Nothing overly powerful that would mask the true freshness of their ingredients which I absolutely loved.

The standouts were definitely the duck salad starter and the main sashimi plate for me.

Reservation recommended. Easy to park around the neighborhood.

**second visit, oct 2026**
Solid food - quality ingredients, mellow ambience, friendly service. Elegant plating and love the variety of their chefs menu. This time the highlight was the dessert: housemade red bean jelly and matcha mochi.

Can’t recommend this spot enough!“

“Ordered the spicy tuna roll, oh my god roll, Hawaiian roll, fried calamari, sunomono, and the dragon roll. The food seemed to be relatively fresh but nothing fancy. The Hawaiian roll was the best and the dragon roll was the worst. The fried calamari was well prepared but it was big rings instead of small ones so the texture was a bit different. Would have been nice to have some spicy mayo on the side to dip it in. Prices were okay for the quality. It was busy on the Thursday night we picked up food. Waited a long time without being helped by any staff, eventually saw our order on the counter, grabbed it and walked out.“

“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!“

“First time eating here and we were delighted to find this ramen shop to add to our rotation. They offer unique fusions, like the ramen with kimchi and galbi. The portions are generous and with a lot more toppings than your classic ramen (where you have to pay extra for this or that). I could only eat half and had to bring the rest to-go!“

“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!“

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

“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!“

“I had a great time over there. Delicious food 🥘“

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

“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“

“We do mostly takeout here and keep returning because the food is great. My family’s general assessment is that their sushi is better than most in the area. But I wanted to highlight their excellent customer service. We had ordered a 3 item bento box in one of orders and one item was forgotten. When it was brought to their attention by phone, they reimbursed the entire bento box, no questions asked. Good customer service is hard to find these days and just wanted to make sure they were recognized for that on top of the great food!“

“🍣 The best sushi in SF! 🇯🇵✨ Authentic Japanese quality, with ingredients imported straight from Japan. Incredibly fresh, beautifully prepared, and absolutely next-level. A true sushi lover’s dream! 🤍🍣“

“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.“

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

“The food here is awesome! The salmon bento got me hooked on this place. The salmon was so incredibly tender, nothing like I've ever tasted. You can taste the quality of the ingredients & the care that went into making the meal.

I also got the fantuan which normally don't order because most places tend to be dry but this one is exceptional. I love how there is a thin layer of rice and stuffed with ingredients. It really changes the experience. Highly recommended.“

“First time here and it was a total hit! The fish was some of the freshest I’ve had in San Francisco. Service was solid, and the food came out quickly after ordering. Their happy hour deals are fantastic—definitely check them out. The space is small and quaint. Will definitely be back!“

“I come here because I know Jeff Poon the sushi chef at Sakesan on 1500 Ocean Ave. He’s been selecting, slicing, creating the best sushi and making me crave coming back to San Francisco for the last 15 years or so. Sit at the sushi bar and have Jeff create your meal. Well worth it!“

“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.“

“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! 🍣✨“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!!“

“We decided to try Bon Nene a few weekends ago. Got there around 6 and ended up waiting for two hours for an indoor table. The atmosphere inside was top notch: warm, elegant, cool. Our servers were friendly and fast. Some menu items were a bit of a let down after two hours though. Highlights: the fried chicken and sauce were bomb, sake selection was nice, the wasabi was some of the best I've had, tuna was very fresh and nice thick cut. The cheesecake was the winner.

The mushroom pasta was disappointing - felt like butter noodles. The tuna avocado dish was 80% rice. Miso soup was not as traditional as I would like (chunks of carrot in the bottom).“

“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.“

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

“Love that they have actual fish from Japan!! So good and fresh. Their uni is the best I’ve had in SF. I got 4 uni nigiris that day and I would 100% do it again. I prefer their nigiris to their rolls, would stick to that next time.

Love that they take reservations, can’t wait to be back.

They were welcoming to us and our dog.“

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

“I was looking for a sushi place in the area. I was surprised to see it was in Bayhill Plaza. Upon walking in, this place was packed. It seemed there was only one person who was the hostess, taking orders, and delivering the food. I give her mad props. With the dinner rush she was all over it. I placed my order for to go, she was super helpful, gave me her recommendations, and she had a smile on her face with everyone she encountered. This place has seemed to have gotten an elevated, more modern face lift/ renovation compared to the restaurant that used to be here. I was surprised that they didn't have standard sushi rolls that I'm usually accustomed to, but from the rolls that I've tried here... change is good.

I ordered:

1. Corn tempura: First time seeing this, I love both corn and tempura. Had to see what it was about. It was perfection. Now it makes me wonder why this has never been done.

2. California roll: Standard staple and was good.

3. Warriors roll: It's an interesting combo, all items that I like.. first bite you're hit with a flavor explosion. At times I felt I couldn't taste the shrimp tempura, but the crunch from the crunchy onion ties it all together.

4. Beef steak: She recommended me to try this first before trying the daily special or short rib. She did not disappoint with this recommendation. The beef was so tender and flavorful.

Overall, a great experience. I will definitely be back for more. I forgot to take pictures, because we inhaled the food so fast.“

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

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

“The menu has great options. I got the bento with baked salmon, spicy shrimp, and spicy tuna poke onigiri. The poke was super fresh and delicious, and the shrimp, chicken karaage, and tamago were all cooked just right. Ordering was easy and the food came out fast, and the preparation area was clean and orderly. It was my first time eating here and I was very impressed. The price was very reasonable too.“

“I love Third Cousin. This is perhaps my 4th time there over the years (taking into account that I moved to England 6 years ago.) It was a high point of our trip from there to SF to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Yes, it is an expensive experience and it was worth every penny, again. I love the simple yet elegant atmosphere. It was a treat to speak with the owner/chef Greg Lutes and trade favorite London haunts. Our server was impeccable and friendly. The food divine. Wish I could visit more often.“

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

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

“This is our choice local sushi place when we are in and around San Mateo Ave in San Bruno, CA. It's quite affordable and for under $20, you can the 3 item bento box. They also have several special dishes. The only caveat is the paid street or rear lot parking of $1.50/hr.“

“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!“

“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 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!“

“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.“

“Quality food everyone should give them a try ���“

“I can’t even describe this place! The food is so good and delicious. It was so fresh and clean at the restaurant and I was very pleased with our food!“

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