Tiny restaurant with a smattering of tables and a chefs counter. Definitely try for the counter if you’re alone or a party of 2 (or 6)Do not attempt to walk in at least on a weekend; saw 2 or 3 couples make an attempt only to be sent away
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Adamo Stivala
Very delicious sushi with imports from Japan daily. Expensive but varied offering. Lots of vegetarian options.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
JL 408
There are the general basic sushi places you can find anywhere, and there are the special but pricey omakase restaurants. Maruyama is somewhere in between. The dining area is cozy and casual. Only a handful of bar seats and tables. They do have better nigiri than the neighborhood sushi places, but the hand rolls are just plain awful.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Kelly C.
Small, intimate Japanese spot! Great for all occasions. I celebrated two birthdays here with my friend. The staff and the chef are great!The omakase here is a great experience! The chawanmushi, the miso black cod, and the panna cotta were all delicious! If there were ever a place to gatekeep it would be this! Definitely call ahead for a reservation!
Lisa L.
We made reservations for 2 people for Friday night. This place is always packed. Reservations are a must! We've heard lots of great things and finally tried it. The service was friendly, attentive, and quick.The food was okay, hence the lower rating. The omakase, each bite wasn't memorable. My favorite out of the 8 nigiri was the Hokkaido scallop. The rest was so-so. This wouldn't be my top must-try for Omkase. The cuts for the sashimi were thin for the price.
Andrew P
Wow...if you want to try some of the most authentic sushi Japanese good this place is your new hangout. Fabulous sushi, great saki list, and excellent service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Salmon and Avocado Roll Spicy Scallop Roll, Miso Soup
DYJ1948
The sushi is outstanding and really fresh and perfect consistency. The rolls are average so stick to the sushi and your meal will be great! Service was problematic in that the forgot the three rolls from our order and we waited 20 minutes more once the figured their error. They then ran out of one of our items so stated that they would give us another roll complementary! But when the check, there it was!! They were embarrassed and changed it and then comped us a dessert and edamame. They were very nice just a bit disorganized. We’d go again but just for the nikiri sushi. Not cheap but the quality is great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Edamame, Yellowtail Scallion Roll, Salmon and Avocado Roll Spicy Scallop Roll, Special Sushi, Albacore, Miso Soup
Grace
Small but neat place for authentic sushi. Welcoming and attentive staff. Their omakase is very reasonably priced and tastes amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Seongbae Park
Friendly service, high quality food, and a cozy atmosphere, without crazy high prices at other "high end" sushi places.Omakase is an excellent value for the quality you get. The portion size is just right - not too much, not wanting - perfect for my normal meal, and when I am in the mood for some extra gluttony, it leaves just enough room so I can order a few more nigiri to enjoy, or order some other hot appetizer to start with.The rice in their sushi is excellent, which is a basic table-stake for a sushi restaurant, yet many other places miss that mark.This is not a typical cheap, and sometimes not so cheap, "neighborhood" sushi restaurant you find in California that serves just bland and cheap untreated raw fishes cut in pieces on top of some unseasoned rice, where sometimes you can even tell the fish was not even thawed fully. Here, each fish is treated as appropriate - seasoned or marinated or torched, with the right pairing of soy sauce or other small extra toppings to complement the fish, whenever appropriate.They have the usual standard variety of fishes that are all great. One notable item for me was hotate & ikura gunkan maki - an excellent pairing that I don't find in many other places, and definitely better together. Besides fishes and other seafoods, wagyu nigiri is fantastic.Their kama is excellent - cooked just right, soft, tender and juicy fatty goodness, and served very hot as it should be.They don't serve oshizuhi, nor any zirashi dishes - not a big deal, but if you like e.g. saba oshizuhi, you will have to look elsewhere.The sushi bar is tiny - for the US standard - with one sushi chef and one sous chef working shoulders to shoulders, reminding me of sushi places in Tokyo. I highly recommend sitting at the bar - as is usually the case for any good sushi restaurant - as you can see the chefs working and also talk to them. Shige-san has been always quick and friendly with big smiles, and it's a joy to watch him working, and even more to eat what he serves.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Special Sushi, Omakase Sushi, Mackerel
Sharon H.
Food: 5/5 Price: $$ Customer service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Parking: Street parkingTIP: Most likely reservations only so try to call a few days ahead of time and not good for big parties! Tables of 4-6 might work better. $54 for a 8 piece Omakase isnt bad considering the freshness and unique flavor profiles of the fish that they serve! Every dish was a hit starting from the carpaccios. Both the A5 wagyu carpaccio and seared salmon carpaccio was packed with flavor and just melted in my mouth. I could literally have infinite dishes of these. The hamachi kama was crisp on the outside and hot on the inside! Omg, also to end the night with their creamy panna cotta was just simply simply perfect! Chef's kiss*The ambiance was hip and bustling. Waitresses were very cordial and attentive. The chef sang happy birthday to one of their customers at the sushi bar when things slowed down at the end of the night and I thought that it was very sweet. You can tell he enjoys what he does. I get really great vibes from this place and would recommend for anyone to give it a try!
Imagine a family run sushi restaurant in a Tokyo neighborhood. Quality home made sushi, lots of diners in a small space. The food is excellent with a good selection of sake too.Parking: Depending on the time and day street parking may be easy or hard to find. We parked 5 minutes walk away on a Sunday evening.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Special Sushi, Omakase Sushi, Mackerel
Rachel C.
Had to check out this spot given all the rave reviews they were getting! First of all, the service was amazing and authentic, we called last minute for a dinner reservation and they were kind to fit us in. Our teacups were always full, and it's overall a friendly, bright atmosphere.The $54 omakase was also amazing. Each piece was delicately crafted. Compared to other omakase's the pieces could have been zestier/brighter and I felt they stayed on the safe side. Still, amazing quality and would go back again. Other dishes to try are the negi-toro roll, grilled squid, chicken karaage.
Lauren Drooger
I wish I could give them a billion starts!! This right here is a place to support time and time again. We were visiting from out of state and came in to celebrate our engagement. What an incredible night. The food is stellar, and Michi, you are an amazing human! From calling for a reservation to walking out the door, she knew my name. Even after we walked out of the building, she came outside to thank us and wave us off. Just the sweetest person!Omakase was $54 for 8 chef selected pieces which as others have said, was an awesome price. The fish is fantastic and fresh, and the atmosphere is so traditional - the miso soup you drink directly from the bowl. I wish I could come here every single night!Parking: Street parking
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omakase Sushi, Mackerel
Jennifer Y.
Love this spot!! Probably my favorite omakase I've had yet and it's for a great price!We made reservations a couple weeks in advance and asked to be seated at the counter! Ordered Negi Hama and omakase for each of us. I like setting at the counter because each nigiri was able to be brought out on its own. If you sit at a table, they come out in groups.All the cuts were delicious!! Amberjack is probably my fave and the tuna was the best I've had here.Highly recommend!!
Gabriel Judson Hughes
Very cute little sushi spot in San Mateo. Quite reasonably priced omakase for how good it was. Service was amazing—waitstaff and sushi chefs were very friendly! We did not even tell them that we were celebrating anything, but our waitress asked, and we told her we were celebrating our engagement. She was very bubbly and brought us a complementary dessert unprompted. We would certainly come back next time we are in the area.
Tiny restaurant with a smattering of tables and a chefs counter. Definitely try for the counter if you’re alone or a party of 2 (or 6)Do not attempt to walk in at least on a weekend; saw 2 or 3 couples make an attempt only to be sent away
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very delicious sushi with imports from Japan daily. Expensive but varied offering. Lots of vegetarian options.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
There are the general basic sushi places you can find anywhere, and there are the special but pricey omakase restaurants. Maruyama is somewhere in between. The dining area is cozy and casual. Only a handful of bar seats and tables. They do have better nigiri than the neighborhood sushi places, but the hand rolls are just plain awful.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Small, intimate Japanese spot! Great for all occasions. I celebrated two birthdays here with my friend. The staff and the chef are great!The omakase here is a great experience! The chawanmushi, the miso black cod, and the panna cotta were all delicious! If there were ever a place to gatekeep it would be this! Definitely call ahead for a reservation!
We made reservations for 2 people for Friday night. This place is always packed. Reservations are a must! We've heard lots of great things and finally tried it. The service was friendly, attentive, and quick.The food was okay, hence the lower rating. The omakase, each bite wasn't memorable. My favorite out of the 8 nigiri was the Hokkaido scallop. The rest was so-so. This wouldn't be my top must-try for Omkase. The cuts for the sashimi were thin for the price.
Wow...if you want to try some of the most authentic sushi Japanese good this place is your new hangout. Fabulous sushi, great saki list, and excellent service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Salmon and Avocado Roll Spicy Scallop Roll, Miso Soup
The sushi is outstanding and really fresh and perfect consistency. The rolls are average so stick to the sushi and your meal will be great! Service was problematic in that the forgot the three rolls from our order and we waited 20 minutes more once the figured their error. They then ran out of one of our items so stated that they would give us another roll complementary! But when the check, there it was!! They were embarrassed and changed it and then comped us a dessert and edamame. They were very nice just a bit disorganized. We’d go again but just for the nikiri sushi. Not cheap but the quality is great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Edamame, Yellowtail Scallion Roll, Salmon and Avocado Roll Spicy Scallop Roll, Special Sushi, Albacore, Miso Soup
Small but neat place for authentic sushi. Welcoming and attentive staff. Their omakase is very reasonably priced and tastes amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Friendly service, high quality food, and a cozy atmosphere, without crazy high prices at other "high end" sushi places.Omakase is an excellent value for the quality you get. The portion size is just right - not too much, not wanting - perfect for my normal meal, and when I am in the mood for some extra gluttony, it leaves just enough room so I can order a few more nigiri to enjoy, or order some other hot appetizer to start with.The rice in their sushi is excellent, which is a basic table-stake for a sushi restaurant, yet many other places miss that mark.This is not a typical cheap, and sometimes not so cheap, "neighborhood" sushi restaurant you find in California that serves just bland and cheap untreated raw fishes cut in pieces on top of some unseasoned rice, where sometimes you can even tell the fish was not even thawed fully. Here, each fish is treated as appropriate - seasoned or marinated or torched, with the right pairing of soy sauce or other small extra toppings to complement the fish, whenever appropriate.They have the usual standard variety of fishes that are all great. One notable item for me was hotate & ikura gunkan maki - an excellent pairing that I don't find in many other places, and definitely better together. Besides fishes and other seafoods, wagyu nigiri is fantastic.Their kama is excellent - cooked just right, soft, tender and juicy fatty goodness, and served very hot as it should be.They don't serve oshizuhi, nor any zirashi dishes - not a big deal, but if you like e.g. saba oshizuhi, you will have to look elsewhere.The sushi bar is tiny - for the US standard - with one sushi chef and one sous chef working shoulders to shoulders, reminding me of sushi places in Tokyo. I highly recommend sitting at the bar - as is usually the case for any good sushi restaurant - as you can see the chefs working and also talk to them. Shige-san has been always quick and friendly with big smiles, and it's a joy to watch him working, and even more to eat what he serves.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Special Sushi, Omakase Sushi, Mackerel
Food: 5/5 Price: $$ Customer service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Parking: Street parkingTIP: Most likely reservations only so try to call a few days ahead of time and not good for big parties! Tables of 4-6 might work better. $54 for a 8 piece Omakase isnt bad considering the freshness and unique flavor profiles of the fish that they serve! Every dish was a hit starting from the carpaccios. Both the A5 wagyu carpaccio and seared salmon carpaccio was packed with flavor and just melted in my mouth. I could literally have infinite dishes of these. The hamachi kama was crisp on the outside and hot on the inside! Omg, also to end the night with their creamy panna cotta was just simply simply perfect! Chef's kiss*The ambiance was hip and bustling. Waitresses were very cordial and attentive. The chef sang happy birthday to one of their customers at the sushi bar when things slowed down at the end of the night and I thought that it was very sweet. You can tell he enjoys what he does. I get really great vibes from this place and would recommend for anyone to give it a try!
Restaurantji Recommends
Imagine a family run sushi restaurant in a Tokyo neighborhood. Quality home made sushi, lots of diners in a small space. The food is excellent with a good selection of sake too.Parking: Depending on the time and day street parking may be easy or hard to find. We parked 5 minutes walk away on a Sunday evening.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Special Sushi, Omakase Sushi, Mackerel
Had to check out this spot given all the rave reviews they were getting! First of all, the service was amazing and authentic, we called last minute for a dinner reservation and they were kind to fit us in. Our teacups were always full, and it's overall a friendly, bright atmosphere.The $54 omakase was also amazing. Each piece was delicately crafted. Compared to other omakase's the pieces could have been zestier/brighter and I felt they stayed on the safe side. Still, amazing quality and would go back again. Other dishes to try are the negi-toro roll, grilled squid, chicken karaage.
I wish I could give them a billion starts!! This right here is a place to support time and time again. We were visiting from out of state and came in to celebrate our engagement. What an incredible night. The food is stellar, and Michi, you are an amazing human! From calling for a reservation to walking out the door, she knew my name. Even after we walked out of the building, she came outside to thank us and wave us off. Just the sweetest person!Omakase was $54 for 8 chef selected pieces which as others have said, was an awesome price. The fish is fantastic and fresh, and the atmosphere is so traditional - the miso soup you drink directly from the bowl. I wish I could come here every single night!Parking: Street parking
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Omakase Sushi, Mackerel
Love this spot!! Probably my favorite omakase I've had yet and it's for a great price!We made reservations a couple weeks in advance and asked to be seated at the counter! Ordered Negi Hama and omakase for each of us. I like setting at the counter because each nigiri was able to be brought out on its own. If you sit at a table, they come out in groups.All the cuts were delicious!! Amberjack is probably my fave and the tuna was the best I've had here.Highly recommend!!
Very cute little sushi spot in San Mateo. Quite reasonably priced omakase for how good it was. Service was amazing—waitstaff and sushi chefs were very friendly! We did not even tell them that we were celebrating anything, but our waitress asked, and we told her we were celebrating our engagement. She was very bubbly and brought us a complementary dessert unprompted. We would certainly come back next time we are in the area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Premium Nigiri Sushi, Omakase Sushi, Mackerel, Tuna