My family, coworkers and their families have been eating at this place since conception, thats gotta be 20+ years or more. Theres no other bento place like it. The grill flavor of the short ribs especially hits just the right notes for my taste buds. Teriyaki chicken and salmon are on point too. Their prices for their famous three item bento have fluctuated through out the years, but always worth it compared to anywhere else in the bay. Good size portions and just tasty in a way, you want to come back next week and the week after. I've tried other bento's from SF down to SJ, forget bout it. They are either too $$$ or not enough food, or the food is just meh. Akagi on my mind and my mind on Akagi! We just here for the food! Long live Akagi!!!! Only place worth tipping its weight/taste in food. read more

Casual Japanese spot. We ordered the Combination Beef and Chicken Teriyaki Bento Box. The beef was overcooked, dry, and tough, but the chicken and sashimi were alright. The Lion King Roll was okay. We also tried the tempura appetizer, which came with a mix of imitation crab, shrimp, and vegetables. Service was pretty slow for a not busy day. It could definitely be improved. read more

See all

Rich H.'s review yesterday lured me here. He is an epic Yelp Elite. Akagi's deep fried pork curry cutlet $16.75 is good. There were meat pieces in the curry. This is a traditional thick Japanese curry that goes well with soft white rice. The flavor profile is less spicier than Indian or Thai curry. The overcooked sweet carrots felt comforting. As for the pork cutlet, it had the right breading and a splash of what I thought was soy and Worcestershire sauce. Other notes, service was fine. My water was refilled without me asking. From the decorations, I can tell this is a Japanese owned restaurant. At 7:30pm, the restaurant was like a sauna. I broke a sweat eating curry. Some air conditioning would have been nice. Previously in the early 1990's, I used to eat and drink a lot at Spiral next door. That used to be an authentic Japanese restaurant/bar. I went on a few dates with the bartender Yuki. Somewhere along the way, Chinese people took over and I stopped going. This was my first time at Akagi. They left me with a good impression. read more

See all

So glad this place is still there. It was my mom & stepdad's favorite restaurant. They knew everyone there and everyone knew them. I recently started ordering takeout from them after remembering they were excellent and most affordable Japanese in Bruno. My go-to is their Akagi Dinner with salmon teriyaki. It is so good and still very inexpensive. For a guy on a budget, it has been added to my takeout lineup. Service is as good as always and so if the good. WOOOH!!!! And now for some pics. read more

See all

Can't believe this place is still around! I was surprised and happy to hear that Akagi is still in business after all these years. A friend recommended this for a Friday night dinner. For $16.75, a few of us got the two-item combo which included a soup, salad and rice. I got the shrimp/veggie tempura and broiled mackerel. The batter on the tempura was a but thick but overall, this was a solid, hearty meal. Hubby enjoyed his steak and chicken teriyaki. Service was average and the place is a bit dated, but for the price and speedy service, Akagi is worth the visit for a budget-friendly night out that won't break the bank. read more

See all

Lunch plates are always a go-to here. Great portion size and good prices! Service is good, they pay attention. Place hasn't changed much, still the same as it's always been but they are always very welcoming. read more

See all

I always get my food to go & the wait staff are very kind and efficient. They make sure all of my food is there. My family and I love the food. Akagi is my favorite "hole in the wall " restaurant. I have been eating here for at least 20 years. The portion sizes are plentiful. read more

Had lunch at Akagi and it was pretty good. I ordered a combination with sashimi and beef teriyaki and my dining companion ordered a combination with sashimi and tempura. The portions were ample and flavor was good. The only thing was that the beef was a bit on the tough side and I prefer my sashimi in thinner slices. The sashimi did taste really fresh, though, so that's a huge pro! The meals came with miso soup and salad, too, and we ordered edamame to round out our meal. Food was definitely good enough to return again! read more

See all

Omygoodness! We were just walking around and found this delicious Japanese restaurant! Place was busy good with dining & take out. We were seated in minutes before the line started forming. The staff was quick. Our food came out fresh, hot & delicious. The dishes are affordable. If I recall, this deluxe bento box I ordered was under $25. They have a fresh sushi bar in the corner. Everyone seems to enjoy their food. It can get loud in there but at a good moderate. read more

Akagi Restaurant - Deluxe bento box - Japanese Near Me - San Bruno, California

Came here for dinner, but probably wouldn't order the beef teriyaki again since it's on the tough side. Strayed away from my usual chicken teriyaki. The service is friendly and local business. The ambiance is very casual. They've raised their prices but still would come again. read more

See all

The place is small and dated but you can't beat the food quality and price. We've been going to Akagi for years and it hasn't changed much over the years but it's a good thing because their food has always been great. Their combination dinners are a bargain and more than enough to get your full. Their sushi is good but I admit not the best but not terrible either. If you are looking for good, inexpensive Japanese food, this is the place to go. read more

See all

Best bento boxes in the area! Large selection of items to choose from and unlike other restaurants they don't increase the prices depending on the item. Good service, good food. Vibes kind of remind me of Tani's kitchen. read more

A closeby place in san bruno- right next to San Bruno Ave. wanted something closeby to eat and saw this place. The restaurant itself is pretty spacious and considering it was odd hours, there was a good amount of people. They close from 2-430 but staff was still welcoming and sat us down. The food came out pretty quickly and it was fresh. Everything was tasty. Their lunch specials are a pretty good deal, my dad got the beef teriyaki lunch and there was a good amount of sauce and the portion size was great. Parking is on the street so might get crowded but overall it's a good easy place to go to if you want sushi in San bruno read more

See all

My brother told me about how good Akagi was and I had to try. We both got combination platter which comes with miso soup, rice and salad. My brother got the teriyaki short ribs and chicken katsu. He really enjoyed it. I chose a three item platter with teriyaki short ribs, mackerel and beef with vinegar sauce. The first two were good but the beef with vinegar was kind of tough. We both agreed the teriyaki short ribs were awesome. The only thing is when a combination platter is ordered, you can not do 2x the short ribs. I also tried the Hamachi Nigiri. It was fresh and the $11 price was the most I spent for regular Hamachi We look forward to returning:) read more

I just gave a bad review to a different restaurant, and I thought I should also give a good review to help balance out the good and the bad. Isn't that fair? Akagi (Japanese) Restaurant is a Japanese restaurant actually operated by Japanese owners. If you don't know, many Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area are operated by Chinese or other non-Japanese owners, so this one is unique. The food is great (not perfect), the prices are reasonable (not expensive), and the service is fair--solid 4 stars. I don't expect more because I understand their overhead costs are high. If they hired another waiter, every menu item would probably need to increase by $2. So to me, it's a fair deal. read more

Akagi Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - San Bruno, California

I've been to a lot of Japanese Restaurants in the bay area, and Akagi is one of the best I've been to. This was my first to dine in here but had ordered to-go here multiple times. They are very consistent on the quality and quantity of the food. The price went up a little bit but it's very reasonable and understandable. Staff were all very nice as always. Love the ambiance too, clean, quiet and authentic. I'll never get tired getting Japanese food from this restaurant. Highly recommended! read more

See all

Absolutely terrible I ordered the three combinations and I got beef teriyaki and tempura and it was disgusting will never come back aga read more

Akagi Restaurant - Two very full plates of uneaten food it was terrible I miss the old akagis to bad now I need to find a new Japanese restaurant - Japanese Near Me - San Bruno, California

I absolutely love akagi. I have been going here for nearly all my life. I had a few years away when I tried other places and thought they were way better than akagi but coming back, I was so wrong. Akagi is the BEST. The food is absolutely delicious and the combination dinners are a fairly large portion. The service is quick! I tend to get takeout but I love coming in to dine when i can. The restaurant is cozy and casual, with no added pressure! The business is family run and deserves all the possible hype! read more

Came here on a Wednesday night for dinner at about 7:30pm. Had about ten other people there already. The place never got more than one third full (or about 12 people). Haven't been here for years and even though you could tell they have repainted, the place looks tired and cheap with enlarged pictures of their menu as decor. Servers were nice enough but nothing special. I don't thing any of the patrons were Japanese so that tells you about the quality of the food. I'd put it at about 2.5 stars. I ordered the two option bento box which came with a scoop of rice. The scoop was flattened out to fill the rectangular slot in the bento. The rice was cold and hard, so old. The tuna sashimi was fresh but the bed of chopped lettuce underneath was old. Too much dressing on the wet lettuce. The second meat I selected was the teriyaki beef. Unfortunately, it was dry and tough, kind of like a soft beef jerky. The rolls we ordered were decent but nothing really special or memorable. Sorry, took two pieces before I remembered to take a picture. Old only recommend this place if you are looking for a quick Japanese bite and quality is not too important. You get full and you won't get sick. It will probably be a long while before I am back. read more

Akagi Restaurant - Two option combination- tuna sashimi and beef teriyaki. Looks better than it tastes - Japanese Near Me - San Bruno, California

See all

Akagi's is our go-to lunch spot after buying groceries on the weekend. I usually get the salmon teriyaki and chicken teriyaki combination lunch. My husband usually gets the lunch bento box special, which is always good. Don't forget to bring tupperware from home because there are always leftovers. Akagi's is a great lunch place at affordable prices. read more

Came here with my sister for dinner. This is one of our favorite Japanese restaurants for my entire family. We love coming here because the entire staff is so nice. The cook/owner will come out and check on the guests. It's awesome to watch. We love their miso dressing. And to know that is home made makes it even better. We always ask for extra. Their beef teriyaki is amazing. Perfectly cooked to medium with enough pink in the middle. Their tempura is so crunchy and good! It's not over battered so when you dip it, it keeps the crunchiness when you bite into it. The place is a little hole in the wall. They don't have many seats but if you know what time to come, you'll always get seated. If you come during prime time, be prepared to wait outside to be seated. read more

See all

I was wondering why everybody was going here instead of the place next door.  I went to place my order, and it was packed.  There were people even waiting to be seated.   They had to servers/waitress, and they were just busy tending to everyone.  It took a few minutes until someone took my order.      As I waited for my order,  I couldn't help but look around. They had the menu everywhere around the walls.   They had a small section in the back where you can sit and order sushi. While you're there, you can watch them make sushi. They were even conversating with the customers.   Usually, some places just ignore you and make sushi.  Not here.     I was handed the bill, and I was shocked at how affordable it was.   I figured we'll see with the taste test.     We ordered: Amaebi roll - so fresh and sweet Crunchy roll - my oh my, this is definitely crunchy.  You gotta make sure to open wide for this one. The cream cheese gives it a perfect creamy balance with all the crunchiness Dragon roll - Deeeeelicious, this one is made with the seaweed on the outside, which is different from what I've had at other places California roll -  I was surprised how something so simple tasted so good Seaweed salad - I recommend this.  It goes with every item I ordered Gyoza - Tasted flavorful and fresh. Like it was homemade. You didn't even need the ponzu sauce they provided 2 item dinner - double beef teriyaki.  The beef was so tender.  My husband couldn't stop eating it. 3 item dinner -  tonkatsu, momiji, short rib teriyaki.  Short rib, you can taste the char. Nothing I expected from a Japanese restaurant. Tonkatsu was crunchy, not overly battered. Momiji was something different for me.  It was super tender.     Honestly,  I highly recommend this place.   It is reasonably priced, and the food was AMAZING!! read more

See all

Ordered for take out. We haven't been back to Akagi since before pandemic. Their Bento Box is very good value. The food and portions are reasonable. We ordered the three item bento box for about $17-$18 and you have lots of choices. The child's bento box is very good for the kids. Cannot opinion eating inside since we took it to go. read more

Akagi Restaurant - Three item Bento Box. - Japanese Near Me - San Bruno, California

See all

Always a good meal here. They have amazing lunch deals combo deals for bento boxes and sushi. Service is great too. Always checking in to see if we needed anything. read more

Disappointed. Salmon was dry. Sushi did NOT look fresh. I only went there because Spiral no longer does Bento.

Very tasty and affordable menu and extremely reliable as we've been coming here for about 3 decades now and never disappointed! Service can be a bit erratic at times but don't let that deter you...just enjoy. Great neighborhood restaurant where you can see all the resident locals enjoying their food as well, a great sign read more

You don't go to Akagi expecting high end Japanese Omakase or Kaiseki, you go there to eat and to bring leftovers home for another meal. We had not been to Akagi for over 30 years and the place still looks the same and the food has not changed much. Bento boxes with many options, Rolls, sashimi, etc.... Quiet on a Monday where we did not feel rushed to leave, only five tables the whole time we were there....the food was good and the service was polite and professional. Good place to go for comfort food on a quiet Monday evening. read more

See all

My bento box addiction continues. I decided to re-visit Akagi Restaurant. A place that I frequented often during my high school days because of how affordable everything on their menu was. Even by today's standards the value is still better than most places. Unfortunately there is a reason why I stopped coming frequently and fast forward till today the restaurant is basically the same Japanese restaurant that I remember. It hasn't been updated at all and it definitely isn't the cleanest now. Service wise they were severely understaffed for dinner time with a huge rush of customers coming in. There was only one person taking care of the entire restaurant. At some points the chef even had to come into help serve customers. I definitely had to flag down the waitress a lot, but I also felt bad because she had to manage every table. The food took 40 minutes to come out which was a pretty long wait time. I ordered the Deluxe Combination Dinner with Beef Teriyaki, Salmon Shioyaki, and California Roll ($17). $17 for a bento box is great, but quality matters more. 3 California rolls is really skimping out not gonna lie when most Japanese restaurants give more than that in bento boxes. The Beef Teriyaki had good flavor, but was way overcooked. The Shioyaki is supposed to be salted salmon, but they might not have gotten the memo with the salted part because the salmon was not seasoned at all. It had zero flavor and I had to dip it with the teriyaki sauce that came with my beef teriyaki to get any taste. The salad had very sus looking dressing and there was more stressing than salad. There was way too much. I hate to say it, but this was one of the more disappointing bentos I have had in a while. Honestly this restaurant just needs more staff which can be easier said than done, but it's needed especially when this place actually still has good business. It's definitely not the cleanest which is a big gripe of mine. The speed of the service and how long it takes to get your food also is frustrating. I feel bad writing a review for a small business like this, but every aspect of my dinner here left me not too thrilled with my experience. read more

Akagi Restaurant - Deluxe Combination Dinner with Beef Teriyaki, Salmon Shioyaki, and California Roll ($17) - Japanese Near Me - San Bruno, California

See all

I was craving Japanese bento and was glad to find this place. The interior has a very homey feel. I got the 2 item combo bento for dinner with shio salmon and a sukiyaki like beef dish. Everything tasted great. The owner and waitress were both great and answered questions and checked in with me in a way that made me feel really welcomed. read more

Beautiful restaurant with great food. Service was amazing and very attentive. Would 100% recommend read more

Akagi Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - San Bruno, California

Akagi was much better than I anticipated. There food and portions are reasonably priced for this intimate/hole hole in the wall restaurant. I was impressed by the number of options that their had for their combination dinners. I had the teriyaki saba (mackerel) and tempura. I enjoyed my meal, but my only complaint is that the temperature of the food wasn't very hot. (Like it had been sitting around for too long.) The miso soup had good flavor, but it was kind of sad with one small piece of wakame (seaweed), a few green onions, and no tofu. Service wasn't that great, but I wasn't expecting it to be either. read more

See all

Price and quality was great with good service for a local Japanese dinning. Great for friends and family.

Always hits the spot....easy, casual no-frills Japanese restaurant. I always get the two item bento box with teriyaki beef and katsu chicken. Staff is always friendly...not expensive, and fast. read more

Akagi Restaurant is such a classic place to go to in the area. My family and I used to ALWAYS come here for Japanese cuisine. The inside is small, and seating is limited. Service is always good, and the staff are friendly. The bento boxes here are delicious, and I especially love the tempuras! This place gives me a lot of nostalgia, and I'm always happy to eat here. read more

La alimentación es deliciosa. Un excelente servicio de desde su propietario hasta cada uno de sus empleados. Un ambiente agradable y acogedor read more

Thank you for everything Rolando !!!! A die hard giants fan and thank you for the great conversations RIP Bro read more

See all

Always good. Great Bento boxes. I always go for the California Bento. Miso soup and salad. Delicious tempura, Chicken Katsu or Chicken teriyaki is usually my go to order. Service is always fast. This place doesn't need to look fancy on the inside. To be honest it's looked the same for the past 30 years that I have been going there. The food is what keeps the people coming back. read more

Been here so many times. It was crowded during lunch. Always love this restaurant. Bento box was their specialty. Never get tired eating here. Prices were still reasonable compared to other Japanese restaurants. Totally recommended read more

Akagi Restaurant - Deluxe combination - Japanese Near Me - San Bruno, California

See all

I've been eating here for a long time. The food is great and the potion is generous. The servers are nice and attentive to your needs. I highly recommend. read more

Let me tell you this... This is by far the most authentic Japanese with a reasonable price on the menu ever. And that's been like that for a long time. I used to come from 2003 until 2006 was my last time because I moved to a different . And recently I came back hoping the price is still reasonable and shoot.... The price is still reasonable all this time. I order a deluxe bento which includes "6 items with miso soup and salad including sushi 3 and 4 tuna sashimi" and the price $20... I can eat alot and this bento but this bent is has defeated me and is still delicious. This is the most underrated little hidden jems Japanese restaurant in the Bay Area. I'm here for the food and not the decor of the restaurant. And the service is simply good because the staff are very attentive checking what you need. There plenty of food in the menu that's reasonable! Please check this restaurant out when you are in the budget because the prices are typically between $15 - $20 for the meals. Enjoy! read more

Akagi Restaurant - The deluxe bento with 6 items with rice and miso soup including tuna sashimi and regular sushi for $20 - Japanese Near Me - San Bruno, California