Everything we ordered was 10/10!! If you come here to eat, you HAVE to order the assorted tempura…read moreas an appetizer. The server, Aya, recommended the Housemade Ginger Ale and it was life changing! It tasted not too sweet and had the perfect balance of ginger. The food tastes like traditional Japanese cuisine. I came here to eat on a Wednesday night and the wait was about 15-20 minutes. The restaurant is a little small but they had a decent amount of tables.

You pull into an utterly unremarkable Santa Clara strip mall and, for a moment, wonder if you have…read morethe right place. Then you open the door. Suddenly, you are somewhere else. Leichi is tiny, roughly 20 seats with booths tucked against the walls, sake bottles lining the room, and that wonderfully restrained quiet you find in small restaurants in Japan. It reminds me far more of the little restaurants I've loved in Tokyo, Kyoto and Kyushu cities than of the endless parade of sushi restaurants scattered around the Bay Area. And that distinction matters, because Leichi isn't really about sushi rolls. It is about something much more Japanese: craftsmanship. There is a Japanese idea, "kodawari" an almost uncompromising devotion to the details of one's craft, including the details most people may never consciously notice. That is what Leichi feels like to me. House-Made Tofu. Start here. It arrives looking almost too simple: impossibly soft tofu with ginger, green onion, salt and house-made soy sauce. That's basically it. But take a bite and you understand the restaurant FULLY. The tofu is delicate and almost custard-like, cool and silken against the sharp little spark of ginger and scallion, while the soy adds depth without drowning it. It is a dish with nowhere to hide,and Leichi doesn't need to hide anything. They make a sesame tofu version as well, equally worth ordering. Chawanmushi. Another deceptively quiet dish. The Japanese steamed egg custard is silky, savory and deeply comforting. Grilled Edamame. Rather than simply being steamed and dumped into a bowl, the pods arrive grilled and lightly blistered, their edges carrying a faint smokiness, with just enough salt clinging to your fingertips. A completely ordinary dish becomes something you keep reaching for. Nasu Dengaku. This may be one of the prettiest versions I've had. Two pieces of eggplant arrive lacquered in miso, one white, one red, the glossy surfaces caramelized until sweet, savory and slightly charred. Underneath, the eggplant practically collapses into creaminess. It looks almost like edible artwork, but more importantly, it tastes fantastic. Fresh Soba. The kitchen makes its own soba, served either cold or in broth, and that alone tells you something about the seriousness of the place. Good soba is a food of texture, aroma and restraint; there isn't a pile of sauce available to disguise mediocre noodles. Udon with Tempura. The udon has that wonderful chew and elasticity good udon should have, especially satisfying submerged in hot broth. The accompanying tempura is crisp and lightly battered. This is one place where I'll still give Japan the edge: some of the best tempura I've eaten in Kyoto had an almost impossibly thin, delicate shell that shattered on contact. Leichi's is very good; Kyoto ruined the curve. Then there is the seafood. I've never had a piece of sushi or sashimi here that didn't taste meticulously handled and exceptionally fresh. But one dish is the one I keep thinking about. Chirashi. It arrives like a little jewelry box. Carefully arranged slices of fish sit over warm rice, with ikura scattered across the top like translucent orange pearls. There is something particularly lovely about the temperature contrast, the cool, clean seafood against the gently warm rice underneath. It makes the bowl feel comforting rather than austere. Add a bowl of miso soup alongside it and, frankly, I don't need much else. Miso Black Cod. Another standout. The fish is so tender it separates at the slightest pressure from your chopsticks, while the miso has caramelized around the edges into something sweet, salty and deeply savory. The richness of the cod and the fermented sweetness of the glaze are exactly why this dish became a Japanese restaurant classic when it's done properly. And Leichi is not only for seafood. Japanese Curry. Their curry is wonderful the deeply comforting Japanese style, with slowly cooked vegetables creating that characteristic savory sweetness and richness. Ochazuke. This is another dish that captures what Leichi does so well. Rice and its accompaniments arrive first, followed by hot broth that you pour over everything yourself. Sake. The list is thoughtful, and when you order a bottle, they bring the bottle itself to the table. On my trips through Japan, I became fascinated by the seriousness with which people sometimes approach seemingly ordinary work. And there is something almost spiritual about it. Leichi feels like a tiny manifestation of that philosophy hidden in a Santa Clara strip mall. And behind all of it, the feeling that the chef that cares very deeply about getting these seemingly simple things right, day after day. Quiet. Precise. Unpretentious. And full of soul. I'm incredibly glad this little restaurant exists.

Found out today that Kelly still doesn't know my name and thought I was a "Thuy"... At least "Tina"…read morewas closer when she thought that was my name. Food, vibes, staff still great except my heart just broke a little :') Instagram: TianTianEats

The vibe of this place is awesome! Flowers and great music - well lit up…read more It's Korean fusion, so they did have the ordering pad at every table. But you could not pay on it. The pasta's are creamy and out of this world! The 16 hr sous vide pork was also amazing. The only thing I didn't appreciate was a fruit fly at the restaurant- I guess when you have flower all around, that's a known hazard. I will definitely come back for brunch/lunch to try out menu items.

I totally enjoyed the food! Wish we tried this place sooner! Went here for a chill light meal when…read moreour reservation next door was too late for us. I'm glad we went here instead. First, I love the Wild Mushroom Empanadas! Love the tasty mushroom filling and the warm bite on the empanada. We also tried the Corn Poblano Saute, which is a load of mixed ins but still tastes light and healthy. Next we got the Peruvian ceviche. I like the citrusy taste and a nice palate cleanser from the Lamb Meatball dish that we also got. I really enjoyed all the dishes. We are yet to try the main heavy ones. Will definitely need to go back. Service was fast and everyone was nice. I also like the restaurant's high ceiling and lots of space. It can be a bit dim inside, but they also have outdoor seating.

We came on a late Saturday afternoon with a reservation and were seated right away. We shared a few…read moreplates and everything was really good. My favorites were the Grilled Dates and Churrasco. They have a good number of gluten-free options (sadly not the bread). Service was quick, the drinks were just okay but the food definitely made up for it. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and there's public parking nearby.

Food/drink 5/5 The earl grey matcha is so good!!! There was…read moreenough earl grey foam that it was incorporated with matcha in every sip, i was not offered the option to adjust ice and sweetness but thought the default was good and no adjustment needed. The black sesame scone is also a must try. The black sesame was so fragrant in every bite and is the perfect dessert to pair with a cup of tea. I also got the ebi sando and it was absolutely delicious! You can see the plump shrimp in every bite and is made fresh in order. The downside of the sando is the portion size. For $20, I was hoping for a bigger sando with more sauce and lettuce. Service 4/5 Came on a weekday around lunch time and it was still more packed than I was expecting. Be warned that lines and wait times could vary even on weekdays. The cashier that took my order at the cafe side wasn't very friendly. She looked like a high schooler being forced at a part-time job. On the other hand, the girl at the hot food side was super friendly and was helpful in answering my questions. Ambiance 5/5 There's seating outside and inside and I love the vibe. The decors and the vibe reminds me of a fusion between Korean and Japanese cafes. I don't think it's a place that suitable for children, but more for adults looking for a place to study and hang out with friends.

Yutori is still in their "soft opening" phase- but this place and our experience was a huge…read moresurprise. We came on a Saturday night for dinner and the place was packed. Yutori is a beautifully remodeled modern space. Half the place Is dedicated for coffee and bakery which was closed at night. The other half was filled for dinner service. Front of the house was welcoming and got us seated relatively fast. The servers were all very friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely seemed excited to be there. Great start. We ordered a lot of items from the menu. Everything came out hot and delicious. A lot of really good flavor, texture, and temperature combinations. The tonkatsu was hot and crispy, meat tender and juicy and served with cold cabbage just like in Japan. The salad has crispy nut clusters in lieu of croutons. Perfectly cooked mushroom pasta was also a star. Everything was so good. Overall we had a great experience. Will def come back for dinner. Planning on trying lunch as well. If this is their soft opening very excited for what's to come.

I've been coming to this Korean BBQ restaurant for five years now, and the food tastes just as…read moreamazing as I remember! The quality and flavors have stayed consistently good throughout the years, which is something I really appreciate. The beef is always fresh and flavorful, and their kimchi is absolutely amazing, especially with the free refills! I also highly recommend their rice cake soup and seafood pancake, which are both incredibly delicious. The yogurt soft serve at the end is such a nice way to finish the meal! However, one thing that unfortunately hasn't changed is the service at the front desk. No matter how many times we've visited, the staff at the front always seem quite rude and dismissive. Even when our entire party arrives on time for a reservation, they still make us wait an additional ten to fifteen minutes without much acknowledgment. Despite the disappointing front desk service, I continue coming back because the food is genuinely delicious and consistently good. I just wish the hospitality matched the quality of the food!

The quality of meat is five star But considering the price I…read morewould give 4/5 Also the servers are super friendly and refill the side dishes very fast.

Came here to celebrate my dad's birthday. First of all, aesthetic of this restaurant is gorgeous…read more Chungdam in Santa Clara exceeded all of our expectations! The service was truly above and beyond -- attentive, thoughtful, and genuinely welcoming. The team made us feel taken care of from the moment we arrived, and that level of hospitality really made the experience stand out. The manager John (spelling?) gifted my dad an extra bottle of wine and even took a shot of it with us. My dad felt so special! The food was absolutely amazing, with every dish leaving a great impression. You can tell there is care put into both the quality of the food and the overall dining experience. It's not often you find a restaurant that delivers both exceptional food and outstanding service, but Chungdam does exactly that. We got the Chungdam galbi, Yangyeom galbi, Japchae, and the braised short rib with cheese. We had a wonderful experience and will definitely be coming back. Highly recommend Chungdam to anyone looking for delicious food and hospitality that goes the extra mile!

I came here with a party of 3 on a Tuesday night around 7pm and the wait was 45-60 minutes. We…read moreordered the brisket, the yangnyeom galbi, seng galbi, chungdam galbi (my fave), beef tartare, and sea bass. Since we ordered 4 bbq entrees, we got 2 complimentary soybean paste soups. We ordered 3 servings of purple rice but they were out of it, but still charged me for it on my bill (which I didn't realize until after I left the restaurant). As for the bbq entrees, the chungdam galbi is consistently my favorite galbi out of the 3. If you like savory more than sweet, then you would probably like the best seller yangnyeom galbi more. the brisket was not notable at all, which is consistent with my previous experience of ordering it in the past. the beef tartare comes with nori that you scoop the beef tartare on top of and eat in one bite. It was good and I did enjoy it, but I don't know if I liked it enough to order it again in the future. The seabass was also good and flavorful. Other ingredients in the dish included rice cake, tofu, and radish. I would be down to re-order the sea bass again in the future just so that there's an entree on the table that isn't meat. As for complimentary banchan, there was raw marinated crab, fish cake, potato salad, kim chi, marinated/fermented spinach (?), and another pickled vegetable side dish that I didn't know the name of but it was yummy.

Atmosphere was nice inside and staff was very friendly and on top of it. Great place for…read morevegetarians. We had the miso soup - 4/5 flavorful! But first bowl came out lukewarm. Second bowl was nice and hot freshly made but missing tofu and seaweed veggie taco - 5/5 Spicy edamame (mild) - 3/5 flavorful, but edamame was overcooked and it was too spicy for mild spice cucumber avocado crunch- 5/5 the best! veggie tiger bomb- 5/5 also amazing roll! All amazing. Highly recommend! Shout out to Eddie who was our waiter and made the overall experience great! Will be coming back :)

We ordered the assorted chirashi bowl, Oh Baby Box, and the salmon & avocado tacos, and everything…read morewas good. The chirashi bowl was fresh and delicious, and I really enjoyed having a nice variety of fish in one bowl. The Oh Baby Box was also really fun to try -- every bite had something different going on. The salmon and avocado tacos were probably my favorite. I wasn't sure what to expect, but they were absolutely delicious and such a tasty twist. Everything came out beautifully presented, the food tasted fresh, and the service was friendly.

Very popular place! We came for lunch on Sunday and there was a wait. They don't seat you until…read moreyour whole party is there, even if it's just one person finding parking. The main room has a lot of 4- and 2- person tables, but we somehow lucked out and got a tatami room to ourselves. Unluckily, the AC was broken and it was a 90 degree day, but they did their best with box fans. We had the pork and salmon donburis and they arrived quickly and were amazing! No complaints.

I came here one weekend afternoon for lunch right when they opened. It definitely gets busy and…read morethere's a wait if you come later. This restaurant has lots of variety and items to try. Anywho, we ordered a variety of items to try: new stamina don, clam chowder croquette, kani chirashi bento, and a salmon kama bento. Regarding the food: New stamina don came with slice beef, sliced beef tongue, braised pork, poached egg, and kimchi over rice. The sliced beef was cooked to rare, and the braised pork was very tender. The rice also came with the poached egg, kewpie mayo and a lemon, mixing it all together with the rice made it have a nice creamy flavor. Clam chowder croquette was something I have never heard of before, so I definitely wanted to try it. This was delicious, would definitely get it again. A fried crispy croquette with clam chowder in it but also some mashed potatoes and tonkotsu sauce on top. Kani chirashi bento had snow crab, fish roe over rice, rolled egg omelette, sashimi, fried boneless chicken, and edamame, blistered tomatoes and shisito peppers with pickles. The sashimi came with 4 pieces, 2 tuna and 2 salmon. the tuna was a little fishy but the soy sauce helped. The salmon was actually pretty good - good fattiness. The fried chicken was fine, a few pieces were dry. Overall this bento was good. Salmon Kama bento is salmon collar over rice, fried boneless chicken, takoyaki and edamame, blistered tomatoes and shisito peppers with pickles. The salmon collar needed some salt in my opinion. For the food overall, it was a little bit under seasoned for me but for portion, price and quality are good.