Dan Izakaya
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It's been years since we've been here, but my cousin and his wife were visiting from an area of SoCal where they have little authentic Japanese food, and we remembered that this wasn't your typical Japanese place that has simplified bento boxes. We're glad we picked here to show them what the Bay Area can do in terms of more authentic Japanese food. The decor is traditional and not fancy, but comfortable and clean. The shishito peppers were really tasty, not too hot, pleasantly hot. Edamame was typical, nothing really special, but it's a bit difficult to really elevate edamame. The braised pork was good and the lean parts were easy to selectively eat. Nothing here is aggressively seasoned, but also not at all bland, so it's a good balance of flavorful but not overbearing. The grilled chicken wings were okay, but nothing outstanding or memorable - but simple and fine. Our "main" dishes, the deluxe meshi, nike tofu, and okonomiyaki were all great! Really enjoyed all of them and they were again flavorful, authentic tasting, and generous portions to share. Wish this were a little closer to where we live, but we enjoy coming here whenever we do and I recommend this for trying more traditional dishes when you want something different than simple teriyaki and sushi rolls.
I loved my experience here! I was visiting the San Jose area, and this is one of my friend's favorite places. No wonder why!! Everything was so yummy and they did a great job of making the atmosphere very japanese izakaya vibe! The sashimi salad had such generous amounts of fish and they were cut pretty thick too! The sauce was the right balance of sweet and savory. I'm salivating just thinking about it. The salmon rice in the stone pot was perfect! I loved the crispy rice at the bottom. And just a little bit of soy sauce goes a long way. The shishito peppers were simple, the char added a good flavor. Some of the peppers were a bit spicy but i still loved it. Definitely a go-to whenever i visit the bay area again.
Haven't been to this place in years so wanted to give it another shot. My go to for izakaya before was Tanto but got sold last year so looking for a new spot. The menu was nice with photos and was excited at first but dishes were just OK. Chicken skewers were good. Ika somen eh. Kimchi clams wouldn't do again. Overall not a bad spot but will keep searching for a new izakaya
Dan Izakaya is a very popular option offering Japanese bar food and I'd highly recommend calling in for a reservation for a weekend dinner. Parking is easy with a large shared lot and I was generally impressed with the food. Definitely recommend going with a group so you can sample a bunch of items. Ankimo (4/5): I'd describe this as foie gras of the sea, so think insanely fatty, melt in your mouth tofu, but slightly saltier and a little more firm. Very solid and quite delicious as an appetizer. Beef Tongue (3.75/5): The cook on the tongue was pretty good as overcooked tongue can get really chewy, but also nothing special. I wanted a bit more char or some sort of sauce as its current form feels like something you could make at home. Agedashi Tofu (4.75/5): Surprisingly, this was the unanimous favorite item of the night. Just the most delicate fried crunch on the outside with a super savory yet light broth / sauce at the bottom. Easily the best agedashi tofu I've ever had. Deluxe Meshi (3.5/5): Unfortunately, the salmon was really overcooked for my preference. Rice did get a nice crunch in the stone pot for texture. Asari Ramen (4/5): Ramen noodles have a nice satisfying chew and the clam broth is super savory and salty without being heavy. Great option for a main dish here. Salmon Kama (3.75/5): Once again, found this a bit overcooked. Unfortunate because salmon collar is such a lovely fatty cut.
Our Japanese grandma's go to restaurant. The servers are so friendly and chats with her every time. Their menu is pretty extensive and the prices are pretty good. The salmon kama is a classic. I tried the niku tofu tonight because it's cold outside. It's sweet and warm with loads of beef. The bentos are also really good if you want variety, but their takoyaki in the bento is kinda mid. The restaurant is not too big, so might have a wait at night. They also have some Japanese style booths in the back that can accommodate more people.
Dan Izakaya is clearly popular - and for good reason. The moment they opened for dinner at 5:30 pm, the place filled up quickly and stays busy. If you are coming here, expect energy, noise, and very fast-paced dining experience on a weekday evening. Food - The food is the highlight. Everything we ordered was flavorful and well-executed. Tofu beef was savory and comfortable. Grilled hamachi kama was tasty but a little on the dry side though. Unagi don was perfect and satisfying. Seafood soup in clay pot was delicious! All dishes came out quickly within 15 minutes, which explains why this spot works so well for takeout or for a quick meal. Space & Ambiance - The front dining room seats a little over 30 people, with three tatami tables in the back. While functional, the ambiance is minimal and not particularly inviting. With how busy the restaurant is, it feels more transactional than relaxed. Service & Pacing - Service is efficient but clearly geared toward quick turnover. There is an unspoken expectation that you will finish within 60 minutes or less. Staff are focused on keeping things moving, which makes sense given the demand-but it is not ideal if you are looking to linger or enjoy a leisurely dinner. Bottom line- great food, fast execution, and consistently busy-but limited ambiance and rushed service. I'd recommend takeout or dining here with the expectation of a quick, efficient meal rather than a sit-down experience. So, I took off one star for lack of ambiance.
Finally crossed this place off my bookmarks! We came here for a friend's bday and had booked a reservation. We got seated in a tatami seating area. Love the privacy and intimacy of it. Us 4 girls ordered a handful of dishes to share. Our order came out one after the other. Jess was our server and really great at it too! Very attentive, personable, and helpful! Wha we ordered: Gyu tongue -- 8/10 yummy Seafood Okonomiyaki -- 9/10 pretty good! Asari sakamushi (clam soup) -- 8.5/10 very comforting Agedashi tofu -- 10/10 would recommend Spicy chicken karaage -- kinda dry, would skip Deluxe meshi w/ add-on uni -- 10/10 would recommend Garlic steak (medium rare) -- would order again I just love the menu and how cute it is. They have pictures for everything so you know what you're getting. Good portions for sharing. What a great experience. Thanks for the yuzu sorbet dessert!!
Food: 8.8/10 on Beli Will come again!! Their sashimi salad is SO GOOD they give u sm high quality sashimi (sake, toro, and hamachi) and a lot of salad for $23.99!!!! It was the favorite dish for all four of us at the table. The crispy rice onigiri was also delicious but imo there wasn't enough filling. Service 10/10 We came in around 8pm and the waitress let us know that the kitchen is closing soon right when we were seated, we had enough time to order and they asked one more time before truly closing. We requested to move to the tatami after another party left and they were super nice about it!!! Ambiance: 7/10 It's a bit dark and slightly cramped, but i dont think it can be helped. Tatami experience 10/10!!One more thing - my friend said their prices haven't changed since she was little, she used to come w her family.
Four of us came here for lunch today. We got seated at one of the regular tables right away around 11:30am. The restaurant got pretty busy later, but not completely full. I liked their traditional izakaya decor inside. They also had a tatami seating area towards the back. We decided to go family style so that we could try more items on their menu. We ordered the Niku Trio Set, which included braised pork, grilled chicken wings, niku tofu, edamame, and shishito. The food came out really quickly. Other than the edamame, which was very bland, everything was very flavorful. The pork was very soft, and the sliced thin beef paired really well with the tofu in the niku tofu. Both dishes came piping hot, and were very comforting, like home-cooked food. The shishito peppers came with a lot of bonito flakes; they're charred very well and not spicy at all. Wings well nicely grilled, too. The seafood okonomiyaki was not bad. It's a bit softer than I expected, but had quite a lot of seafood. The large Deluxe Meshi was pretty big. It came in a hot stone pot with a generous amount of salmon, eel, flying fish roe and a poached egg. I loved how crispy the rice around the pot was. No wonder it's their most popular dish. If you like authentic Japanese food, I would highly recommend this place.
I was wanting Japanese food that isn't my usual sushi, and a quick Yelp search brought me to Dan Izakaya. We noticed they didn't take same day reservations so we came in for an earlyish dinner to try to beat the crowd. It's a pretty small spot, so if you can make a reservation or come early, try to do so. Based on the pictures and reviews I knew the Deluxe meshi and Sashimi salad were a must, so we got those and also the Beef tongue and Seafood okonomiyaki. The sashimi salad blew us away, we couldn't believe how much sashimi was in it, I don't think I got a single bite that didn't have any fish. I would absolutely get this again. Portion of it was pretty large, so easy to share or have it as a full meal just for yourself. The beef tongue and deluxe meshi were also fantastic, with another huge serving for the deluxe meshi. The seafood okonomiyaki was fine, but we'd skip it next time for something else on the menu. Service was quick and friendly, but it didn't feel rushed at all. Can't wait to come back!
Decided to come here on a dinner date night. We got seated pretty quickly. We had to change from the initial table because it was close to the door and the wind was blowing in. The food came out pretty quick. Unagi Meshi (M) : The rice was very crispy on the bottom! It was a light sauced from the unagi and wasn't too salty. The unagi was crispy and the sauce wasn't too salty. The portion was bigger than anticipated, considering I got a medium. Yaki Onigiri (Salmon Filling) : The onigiri was HUGE. It was perfectly cooked with the outside being crispy and crunchy. The inside was packed with salmon. It wasn't my favorite as the rice was a bit salty for my preference and it could have used more filling. Kani Chirashi : There was a great amount of fish inside. My personal favorite was the hamachi inside the bowl. The tamago was probably my favorite one in the area. There was a lot of rice at the bottom too, which we didn't end up finishing. Following the hamachi, I liked the salmon and finally the tuna. All the food that we got was great! Great portion size and the service was fantastic. With the vast array of food they have, I will have to come back to try more of what they have to offer!
I went to Dan Izakaya with a friend for her early birthday dinner. There was not too many people present on a Saturday lunch time, so we were seated immediately. I ordered their Mini Bara Chirashi Bowl and Beef Tongue apppetizer. Even meant for one person, the Mini Bara Chirashi Bowl was a decent size, and it was great mix of fresh and flavorful fish on top of perfectly seasoned rice. The Beef Tongue appetizer was tender and nicely seasoned! It was savory and not too difficult to chew on. Service was great, and it was not crowded to the point where my friend and I were able to keep a normal talking level. Good choice for anyone wanting fresh/classic Japanese flavors in a cozy setting!
Dan Izakaya is one of the most best and oldest Izakaya in this South Bay. I have been eating here for the past decade. During these years they have change their menu and owners, but the quality of the food never disappoints! Whenever we are craving Japanese izakaya food, Dan is always on the top of our list!
I came here one weekend afternoon for lunch right when they opened. It definitely gets busy and there'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. read more
I was really excited to try this place, as I've been looking for a good Izakaya and the glowing reviews definitely enticed us to visit. Unfortunately, I was let down pretty quickly. I'll admit it might have just been the specific dishes we ordered, but the food overall missed the mark. On a positive note, the service was incredibly fast and the staff was very nice! However, the food left a lot to be desired. We got the wagyu beef plate, and the meat was unfortunately chewy and heavily over-salted. We also ordered the seared salmon ikura bowl, which wasn't anything special and really lacked flavor. The bowl was quite dry, and I kept wishing it came with some sort of sauce to tie everything together. Even the shishito peppers were surprisingly bland. While I appreciate the great service, the food just didn't live up to the hype for me. read more
It's been years since we've been here, but my cousin and his wife were visiting from an area of SoCal where they have little authentic Japanese food, and we remembered that this wasn't your typical Japanese place that has simplified bento boxes. We're glad we picked here to show them what the Bay Area can do in terms of more authentic Japanese food. The decor is traditional and not fancy, but comfortable and clean. The shishito peppers were really tasty, not too hot, pleasantly hot. Edamame was typical, nothing really special, but it's a bit difficult to really elevate edamame. The braised pork was good and the lean parts were easy to selectively eat. Nothing here is aggressively seasoned, but also not at all bland, so it's a good balance of flavorful but not overbearing. The grilled chicken wings were okay, but nothing outstanding or memorable - but simple and fine. Our "main" dishes, the deluxe meshi, nike tofu, and okonomiyaki were all great! Really enjoyed all of them and they were again flavorful, authentic tasting, and generous portions to share. Wish this were a little closer to where we live, but we enjoy coming here whenever we do and I recommend this for trying more traditional dishes when you want something different than simple teriyaki and sushi rolls. read more
I loved my experience here! I was visiting the San Jose area, and this is one of my friend's favorite places. No wonder why!! Everything was so yummy and they did a great job of making the atmosphere very japanese izakaya vibe! The sashimi salad had such generous amounts of fish and they were cut pretty thick too! The sauce was the right balance of sweet and savory. I'm salivating just thinking about it. The salmon rice in the stone pot was perfect! I loved the crispy rice at the bottom. And just a little bit of soy sauce goes a long way. The shishito peppers were simple, the char added a good flavor. Some of the peppers were a bit spicy but i still loved it. Definitely a go-to whenever i visit the bay area again. read more
Haven't been to this place in years so wanted to give it another shot. My go to for izakaya before was Tanto but got sold last year so looking for a new spot. The menu was nice with photos and was excited at first but dishes were just OK. Chicken skewers were good. Ika somen eh. Kimchi clams wouldn't do again. Overall not a bad spot but will keep searching for a new izakaya read more
Dan Izakaya is a very popular option offering Japanese bar food and I'd highly recommend calling in for a reservation for a weekend dinner. Parking is easy with a large shared lot and I was generally impressed with the food. Definitely recommend going with a group so you can sample a bunch of items. Ankimo (4/5): I'd describe this as foie gras of the sea, so think insanely fatty, melt in your mouth tofu, but slightly saltier and a little more firm. Very solid and quite delicious as an appetizer. Beef Tongue (3.75/5): The cook on the tongue was pretty good as overcooked tongue can get really chewy, but also nothing special. I wanted a bit more char or some sort of sauce as its current form feels like something you could make at home. Agedashi Tofu (4.75/5): Surprisingly, this was the unanimous favorite item of the night. Just the most delicate fried crunch on the outside with a super savory yet light broth / sauce at the bottom. Easily the best agedashi tofu I've ever had. Deluxe Meshi (3.5/5): Unfortunately, the salmon was really overcooked for my preference. Rice did get a nice crunch in the stone pot for texture. Asari Ramen (4/5): Ramen noodles have a nice satisfying chew and the clam broth is super savory and salty without being heavy. Great option for a main dish here. Salmon Kama (3.75/5): Once again, found this a bit overcooked. Unfortunate because salmon collar is such a lovely fatty cut. read more
Our Japanese grandma's go to restaurant. The servers are so friendly and chats with her every time. Their menu is pretty extensive and the prices are pretty good. The salmon kama is a classic. I tried the niku tofu tonight because it's cold outside. It's sweet and warm with loads of beef. The bentos are also really good if you want variety, but their takoyaki in the bento is kinda mid. The restaurant is not too big, so might have a wait at night. They also have some Japanese style booths in the back that can accommodate more people. read more
Dan Izakaya is clearly popular - and for good reason. The moment they opened for dinner at 5:30 pm, the place filled up quickly and stays busy. If you are coming here, expect energy, noise, and very fast-paced dining experience on a weekday evening. Food - The food is the highlight. Everything we ordered was flavorful and well-executed. Tofu beef was savory and comfortable. Grilled hamachi kama was tasty but a little on the dry side though. Unagi don was perfect and satisfying. Seafood soup in clay pot was delicious! All dishes came out quickly within 15 minutes, which explains why this spot works so well for takeout or for a quick meal. Space & Ambiance - The front dining room seats a little over 30 people, with three tatami tables in the back. While functional, the ambiance is minimal and not particularly inviting. With how busy the restaurant is, it feels more transactional than relaxed. Service & Pacing - Service is efficient but clearly geared toward quick turnover. There is an unspoken expectation that you will finish within 60 minutes or less. Staff are focused on keeping things moving, which makes sense given the demand-but it is not ideal if you are looking to linger or enjoy a leisurely dinner. Bottom line- great food, fast execution, and consistently busy-but limited ambiance and rushed service. I'd recommend takeout or dining here with the expectation of a quick, efficient meal rather than a sit-down experience. So, I took off one star for lack of ambiance. read more
Finally crossed this place off my bookmarks! We came here for a friend's bday and had booked a reservation. We got seated in a tatami seating area. Love the privacy and intimacy of it. Us 4 girls ordered a handful of dishes to share. Our order came out one after the other. Jess was our server and really great at it too! Very attentive, personable, and helpful! Wha we ordered: Gyu tongue -- 8/10 yummy Seafood Okonomiyaki -- 9/10 pretty good! Asari sakamushi (clam soup) -- 8.5/10 very comforting Agedashi tofu -- 10/10 would recommend Spicy chicken karaage -- kinda dry, would skip Deluxe meshi w/ add-on uni -- 10/10 would recommend Garlic steak (medium rare) -- would order again I just love the menu and how cute it is. They have pictures for everything so you know what you're getting. Good portions for sharing. What a great experience. Thanks for the yuzu sorbet dessert!! read more
3 months ago
Food: 8.8/10 on Beli Will come again!! Their sashimi salad is SO GOOD they give u sm high quality sashimi (sake, toro, and hamachi) and a lot of salad for $23.99!!!! It was the favorite dish for all four of us at the table. The crispy rice onigiri was also delicious but imo there wasn't enough filling. Service 10/10 We came in around 8pm and the waitress let us know that the kitchen is closing soon right when we were seated, we had enough time to order and they asked one more time before truly closing. We requested to move to the tatami after another party left and they were super nice about it!!! Ambiance: 7/10 It's a bit dark and slightly cramped, but i dont think it can be helped. Tatami experience 10/10!!One more thing - my friend said their prices haven't changed since she was little, she used to come w her family. read more
Four of us came here for lunch today. We got seated at one of the regular tables right away around 11:30am. The restaurant got pretty busy later, but not completely full. I liked their traditional izakaya decor inside. They also had a tatami seating area towards the back. We decided to go family style so that we could try more items on their menu. We ordered the Niku Trio Set, which included braised pork, grilled chicken wings, niku tofu, edamame, and shishito. The food came out really quickly. Other than the edamame, which was very bland, everything was very flavorful. The pork was very soft, and the sliced thin beef paired really well with the tofu in the niku tofu. Both dishes came piping hot, and were very comforting, like home-cooked food. The shishito peppers came with a lot of bonito flakes; they're charred very well and not spicy at all. Wings well nicely grilled, too. The seafood okonomiyaki was not bad. It's a bit softer than I expected, but had quite a lot of seafood. The large Deluxe Meshi was pretty big. It came in a hot stone pot with a generous amount of salmon, eel, flying fish roe and a poached egg. I loved how crispy the rice around the pot was. No wonder it's their most popular dish. If you like authentic Japanese food, I would highly recommend this place. read more
I was wanting Japanese food that isn't my usual sushi, and a quick Yelp search brought me to Dan Izakaya. We noticed they didn't take same day reservations so we came in for an earlyish dinner to try to beat the crowd. It's a pretty small spot, so if you can make a reservation or come early, try to do so. Based on the pictures and reviews I knew the Deluxe meshi and Sashimi salad were a must, so we got those and also the Beef tongue and Seafood okonomiyaki. The sashimi salad blew us away, we couldn't believe how much sashimi was in it, I don't think I got a single bite that didn't have any fish. I would absolutely get this again. Portion of it was pretty large, so easy to share or have it as a full meal just for yourself. The beef tongue and deluxe meshi were also fantastic, with another huge serving for the deluxe meshi. The seafood okonomiyaki was fine, but we'd skip it next time for something else on the menu. Service was quick and friendly, but it didn't feel rushed at all. Can't wait to come back! read more
Decided to come here on a dinner date night. We got seated pretty quickly. We had to change from the initial table because it was close to the door and the wind was blowing in. The food came out pretty quick. Unagi Meshi (M) : The rice was very crispy on the bottom! It was a light sauced from the unagi and wasn't too salty. The unagi was crispy and the sauce wasn't too salty. The portion was bigger than anticipated, considering I got a medium. Yaki Onigiri (Salmon Filling) : The onigiri was HUGE. It was perfectly cooked with the outside being crispy and crunchy. The inside was packed with salmon. It wasn't my favorite as the rice was a bit salty for my preference and it could have used more filling. Kani Chirashi : There was a great amount of fish inside. My personal favorite was the hamachi inside the bowl. The tamago was probably my favorite one in the area. There was a lot of rice at the bottom too, which we didn't end up finishing. Following the hamachi, I liked the salmon and finally the tuna. All the food that we got was great! Great portion size and the service was fantastic. With the vast array of food they have, I will have to come back to try more of what they have to offer! read more
I went to Dan Izakaya with a friend for her early birthday dinner. There was not too many people present on a Saturday lunch time, so we were seated immediately. I ordered their Mini Bara Chirashi Bowl and Beef Tongue apppetizer. Even meant for one person, the Mini Bara Chirashi Bowl was a decent size, and it was great mix of fresh and flavorful fish on top of perfectly seasoned rice. The Beef Tongue appetizer was tender and nicely seasoned! It was savory and not too difficult to chew on. Service was great, and it was not crowded to the point where my friend and I were able to keep a normal talking level. Good choice for anyone wanting fresh/classic Japanese flavors in a cozy setting! read more
Dan Izakaya is one of the most best and oldest Izakaya in this South Bay. I have been eating here for the past decade. During these years they have change their menu and owners, but the quality of the food never disappoints! Whenever we are craving Japanese izakaya food, Dan is always on the top of our list! read more
1 year ago
The first time we tried to come here the whole plaza had a blackout so that was unfortunate but the owner was very apologetic because he tried calling everyone but missed us. When we did get the chance to try it, we liked it but not enough for it to be a go-to. The food was good but didn't really wow me compared to a similar restaurant I had elsewhere. We got the carpaccio and felt like it wasn't as high quality as other places. Everything they added on top overpowered the fish. Wasn't the best value and not as good as the other place so I haven't been itching to come back. read more
26 days ago
7 months ago
One of our favorite Japanese restaurants! Feels very authentic in there. I got the karaage bento which was very delicious. My family typically shares the beef tongue and salmon kama which are very delicious. We also rotate between different soups, bentos, and dons- all have been tasty. Servers are very kind, and I love the authentic feel of the restaurant. It's very cozy and relaxed, especially the back tables for bigger parties where you must remove your shoes to sit. read more
Came for lunch and had a spectacular real Kani (crab) Chirashi with added uni for a great price! Went perfect with a cold draft Asahi (or two). This place has been around forever and for good reason. Really cozy authentic vibes. They also have a massive menu so it's good to come hungry and with a large group. read more
1 year ago
I love a good izakaya and I had Dan Izakaya bookmarked after a friend had recommended it! Our party of 3 visited this restaurant on a Sunday for lunch at around 12:15pm and had to wait ~20-25 mins. We were seated in one of the booths where we had to take off our shoes. Food wise, we tried the salmon meshi, unagi bento and grilled beef tongue. I thought the salmon meshi was delicious - loved the seasoning and the crispy rice! Unagi and tomago in the bento was good but the sashimi and takoyaki were kind of meh. Grilled beef tougue was solid. Service was also attentive - our server came over multiple times to fill our water. Overall, solid izakaya and I would come back if I am in the area to try out their other dishes! read more
This place is extremely popular and fills up fast. Get there early! Food is phenomenal, restaurant is small. Prepare to join the waitlist and wait outside for your table. The fish quality was great, everything was so flavorful and tasted delicious. Although they were super busy, service was good. Some of the best Japanese food, one of my favorite spots to go. But many of the tables are cramped together, and we barely had enough room on our table to fit all of our food. This would be five stars, but since the restaurant is so small, some tables can get very cramped. But I can see why they are so popular! Food is 5/5 though! read more
Tai Meshi with Dashi Broth- sea bream with fish eggs over nice crispy rice. Overall the flavor compared to their other meshi dishes is lighter. The seam bream is light as well and was a bit on the dry side. With the dashi broth, it was amazing a nice texture change on every bite. Overall I do like the dish but I feel I like it cause of the broth rather than the dish itself. Overall I love this place. Was looking to try something new and this was good but I still prefer their other meshi over this one. This dish is something to try especially with that dashi broth but otherwise I probably will stick with other go to here. read more
Tasted great overall but some texture issues for some of the meats. 1. Karaage paradise with ~20 pieces of karaage sprinkled with Parmesan, chili powder, and matcha powder, with mayo on the side - the chicken was a bit hard overall rather than crisp on the outside and juicy inside. Maybe overcooked. 2. New stamina don - came with sliced beef, sliced beef tongue, braised pork, and a soft boiled egg with kimchi over rice. The braised pork also had that same tough texture with no juiciness. The beef tongue was cooked perfectly though! There was also sliced beef, which seemed to be char-grilled to medium rare. The sweet and salty sauce all over the rice mixed with the egg (seemed to just be the yolk part mixed into the rice) also made it especially delicious. 3. Pulled pork on seafood okonomiyaki base - pulled pork was also incredibly tender. Service was excellent/attentive though - our waters were refilled several times since they checked in with us regularly. read more
Surprisingly busy for what seems to be a tucked away spot and once we had the food, it wasn't hard to figure out why. Everything came at a fast pace and each item we ordered was delicious. Flavor of the udon was fantastic, but the noodles were a little overdone and not as chewy as I like them to be. Obviously can't go wrong with handrolls and we were ordering extras at the end of our dinner! read more
10 months ago
i've been here twice now and loved it both times. This is a cute Izakaya in an unassuming spot, but all of the food I have tried has been delicious. The yaki onigiri was especially a stand out. I think they must grill it in butter because it has such a deep delicious and savory flavor. Who knew that rice could be so flavorful! The beef tongue is a must order as well, tender and piping hot even better with a squeeze of lemon. This place can get busy so prepare for a bit of a wait if you go on a Friday or Saturday night but it's well worth it. read more
1 year ago
Most of the people who eat here are native Japanese people, so that should tell you everything you need to know. They have a wide selection of authentic dishes, they speak Japanese, the service is snappy, and the drinks are authentic. I've been here on multiple times, and pretty much everything is on point. The yaki onigiri could be improved. But overall, the dishes are solid. read more
1 year ago
The food? TOP TIER. This place is so busy, I would come before opening to get in line as you can wait up to 1-2 hours in line. Their portion was amazing and every dish was perfectly executed. I recommend getting their unagi dish, salmon collar and chicken karaage. I have and would be coming back here read more
Really great restaurant tucked into a plaza off Saratoga Avenue. Reservations are highly recommended as it's a smaller restaurant and seems to be busy at all times. My friend and I ordered the yaki onigiri set, deluxe meshi, chicken karage, sashimi salad, and the seafood miso nabe. Everything came out really quickly. Fresh sashimi on the salad and lots of it! Shishito peppers were spicy but perfectly cooked. The seafood miso nabe had lots of seafood and veggies and the broth was comforting. The deluxe meshi had lots of salmon, unagi and had perfectly crispy rice on the bottom. The takoyaki was too mushy for my taste and didn't taste fresh as it was probably pre-cooked and reheated. The yaki onigiri was my absolute favorite part of this meal. I've never had onigiri where it was pan fried like this, where the rice had lots of sesame oil and you get the crispy rice texture. I would come back just for this! Service was excellent, very attentive by the wait staff. read more
1 year ago
LET ME START BY SAYING THE PRICES MIGHT BE EXPENSIVE BUT THE PORTIONS ARE SO WORTH IT. I couldnt even finish my bowl but it was so good. I was so excited to save it for later. The stamina don has pork belly, beef tongue and steak. The sauce was sweet and savory. The takowasa was strong in the wasabi but also it wasn't consistent because some pieces would be lighter than other too. So if you are not a fan of wasabi i would say good luck but the octopus was chewy and the after taste is so hard not to enjoy. read more
2 years ago
Ambiance is warm and cosy with lots of wood covering most of the walls and ceiling. It's like those restaurants in the Asian shows I binge watch, lol! Service is very welcoming as well. We got- Agedashi tofu-4/5- a small bowl with 4 large pieces of fried tofu in some umami rich broth. The tofu was incredibly soft and had a crisp outer layer which was not tough. Chicken karaage spicy- 3/5- I have eaten chicken karaage at every Japanese restaurant I have been to, and I have visited quite a lot. The karaage here is unlike all those other places and not in a great way. The outer layer felt tough and overcooked. The spicy powder was great though, so were the 2-3 fried shishito peppers that came with it. Squash croquettes-3/5- two large croquettes with a sauce drizzle and some shishito peppers. The inside of the croquette was incredibly soft, more like a soft potato rather than squash. Yasai Udon- 2/5- udon in a fish broth. The broth was way too fishy for my sensitive palate so I didn't enjoy it. My not so picky fellow diners didn't enjoy this as well. It tasted like smelly fish water. Mind you, I have eaten fish broth before and it was never this funky tasting. read more
2 years ago
Place gets crowded!! We went around opening time and it filled up quick. There is a lot of parking nearby. The food is pretty decent and comes in very good portions. You could ask to add unagi to your dish also! Highly recommend, it adds so much umami and depth to the flavor. It is priced reasonably too. Me and my friend both could not finish haha. read more
2 years ago
We came here as a group of seven. I tried calling for over 20 minutes to make a reservation, but no one picked up. When someone finally answered, they told me they only take walk-ins. We went anyway, only to wait over an hour in the cold. That alone knocks off two stars. Once we got in, the service was fast and efficient, and the staff did apologize for the long wait, which I appreciated. The food was good, and the portions were pretty generous, so I'll give back three stars for that. However, since the place closes early, we didn't get much time to relax after our meal before having to leave, so I'm taking off one star for that. read more
2 years ago
Visited here again on valentines day for dinner. It was super busy with a line out the door (both waiting to dine in and waiting for pickup orders). Definitely call to get a reservation ahead of time because we've been here twice and both times there was a k ine out the door for dinner. I personally like getting the sashimi and appetizer platter because it's 16 pieces of sashimi, takowasa, ankimo and sashito peppers for $55, which for the amount feels worth it. Bur if it's your first time going here Definitely get one of their Meshi bowls. The crispy rice that forms at the bottom of the bowl pairs so we'll with whatever topping you choose. We got salmon with uni (which is an additional charge). There's also Eel and I think beef but yea, super tasty and highly recommend :) read more
2 years ago
It's one of my favorites, yet I don't come frequently because it is so hard to get a table. On this Monday early evening, we just walked in. We noticed the menu has been upgraded with more pictures. Instead of the normal order of meshi, which are delicious, we tried Unagi done and seafood nabe. Both were excellent, as expected. I think their Yaki Origiri were not "roasted" (Yaki) but fried. The agedashi tofu were spot-on. The downing of the broth from seafood nabe was so satisfying -- a warmth flew down into the belly and a mouth full of unami. That's why I kept on coming back. Need to find a better way to secure tables. read more
Food: We ordered Hiya Yakko, Yaki Onigiri, Unagi Meshi (M), Premium Kani Chirashi, Deluxe Meshi (L). They were all good, but the Yaki Onigiri was especially delicious. Ambiance: Casual, busy for a Wednesday night. Service: We were served quickly. We were brusquely told to leave right after paying the $175 tab. I understand they needed the table, but sheesh. Isn't an Izakaya supposed to be a place for hanging out with friends? read more
4 months ago
Service was great. 2 people came to check if we were ready to order. One thing is my wife dropped her napkin didn't even know and then the waiter bright a new one and picked up the one on the floor. This is like Michelin star service. Observing, attentive. Impressive. The unagi Meshi was impressive as well. The rice was crispy but not oily. Very impressive. Portion is small but just perfect for me. read more
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Maki Y.
Thank you for the detailed review, Mark! The homemade dressing is a…
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More info about Dan Izakaya
1306 Saratoga Ave
San Jose, CA 95129
Hathaway, West San Jose
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(408) 249-6020
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https://www.danizakayasanjose.com
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Ask the Community - Dan Izakaya
Where can I find the takeout menu?
You can find the current take out menu in our photos, or instagram @danizakayarestaurant
Do you do to-go order?
Yes they do and they even do $3 delivery within 5 miles radius
Do they have cold soba for lunch? I saw tempura soba or udon in noodle section but not sure if it's only hot. Thanks
Yes
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