Our daughter suggested this place, hadn't been before. We just loved the location, ambience, and…read morethe food! The staff was incredibly attentive, and everything coming out of the kitchen looked amazing. I had miso soup, mixed tempura, and pickles. Very eclectic but everything was delicious, maybe the best miso soup I ever had and that's saying somthing. I'll be back and soon to check out more of the menu.

Okay... I have to say, the Japanese food situation in Marin can be a little rough....BUT Kuro Nami…read morewas such a pleasant surprise. Everything felt fresh, thoughtful, and elevated. They have a really interesting spin on their dishes, especially the rolls. The house roll was my favorite and honestly stood out compared to most places around here. Service was superb! super attentive, warm, and welcoming without being overbearing. You can tell they really care about the experience. They just opened recently, so everything is brand new and the decor is clean, modern, and beautifully done. There's also plenty of parking (huge plus in Marin), and it's located in such a cute part of San Anselmo, which makes it perfect for a little walk before or after your meal. Overall, such a great addition to the area. Definitely coming back.

Recently re-visited this established and well regarded spot in Fairfax. For those not "in the…read moreknow" -- this a true go-to spot for a fantastic sushi experience. It is very true that it is difficult to get in this spot during peak hours. A waitlist will have you on point, but you will still have to wait a little bit to get in. Trust me - it's all worth it. The team of hosts and wait staff treats you kindly, even though there's the "stress" of a wait. Once seated in the dimly lit space, everything happens more quickly. Your order is taken and it's not long before you get some plates coming your way. The food. Amazing. Simply delicious. Well thought out, fresh and well presented. I had the black sesame asparagus - the sauce so incredible. Then the sake sashimi was melt in your mouth quality. And a couple well equipped rolls satisfied every desire. Wine by the glass on the list, besides beers and sake. A must-go sushi place for the Bay Area. Along with Sake 107 in Petaluma, Kirala in Berkeley and Ebisu in SF -- this is a place you need to visit.

This place is beginning to give 1988 NYC "it's so popular, no one goes there anymore," vibes. We…read moreordered takeout and arrived on time to pick up our food. First, the takeout menu is a shadow of its former self. It's so simple that deciding what to order is a challenge, but not in a good way. The restaurant was mostly empty except for throngs of people at the bar. Also, lines were waiting for pickup orders. I wanted a bottle of sake. Had I known how long outer wait would be and the price for the sake, I would have walked to the liquor store in Fairfax and back. Finally, 39 minutes later our order was ready. We didn't get chop sticks, but the food was there. The sushi was okay, the sashimi was fine but not special. The rice, which I had raved about before, was not around. We got plain rice that I could have made at home. I get that every place has an off day, but this was extremely expensive and frustrating for us. Judging by the frantic rush of servers and disgruntled customers, no one was enjoying the experience.

I had the pleasure of dining at Madcap last year for my birthday. I'd been eyeing the restaurant…read morefor a while, intrigued by their fusion of French and Japanese cuisines--because honestly, who doesn't love that combination? What I didn't realize at the time was the sheer pedigree behind it. It turns out Madcap is Michelin-rated, and Chef Ron Siegel is a celebrity chef. A Top Chef alum who headlined at legendary spots like The French Laundry and Michael Mina. Ironically, I didn't learn any of this from a food blog or Yelp. I heard it from my dentist in Vallejo. Talk about a random convo! As for the food, Chef Siegel's creations are pure joy--a celebration of culinary genius that feels genuinely divine. It's the kind of meal that evokes deep emotion; it really is magical. I can honestly say it's the best restaurant in Marin, Point Reyes included. We paired our meal with a beautiful bottle of sake by Pharrell Williams (yes, you read that right), and to top off an already incredible evening, we got to meet Chef Siegel and take a group photo with him. What a cool dude! Inside the restaurant, the decor was refined and classy, featuring rich dark wood accents and curated artwork. My only minor complaint was the seating - the wooden chair, while stylish, could have been a bit more comfortable. Overall, it was a truly lovely experience.

What a delightful fusion experience--not only of French and Japanese ethnic cuisines, but also of…read moreartistry. Unlike the dictionary definition of "madcap" -- wildly impulsive or chaotic -- the exquisite dining experience at this Michelin-starred restaurant is anything but. My experience was calm, intentional, playful, and deeply refined. After living in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2005, I had just learned about Madcap and was thrilled to celebrate a friend's birthday there. From the moment we were greeted by Kim at the host stand -- warm, poised, and genuinely welcoming -- we felt special. Anticipation built immediately. Our four-course prix fixe menu was printed on artisanal, handmade-feeling paper -- textured, elegant, and thoughtful. With a minimalist design aesthetic, every detail serves a purpose and is beautiful in its restraint. The luxury here is subtle but palpable. Large, colorful, whimsical paintings line the walls -- one even reminded me of Jane Fonda as Barbarella. The chopsticks and flatware are distinctive and sculptural. Nothing feels accidental or unintentional. From a 15-page beverage menu, I selected a 2023 Raventós i Blanc Blanc de Blancs Cava from Conca del Riu Anoia, Catalunya. Crisp, celebratory, and the perfect opening note. If you might assume "small courses" won't satisfy, think again. I left completely full. Welcome Snacks Before the first official course, we were surprised with a small welcoming assortment. I couldn't name each component, but they were colorful, beautifully balanced, and layered in flavor and texture -- playful yet precise. A lovely crescendo into what followed. First Course Nicasio Valley egg, lemongrass spuma, pine nuts. We chose to add the optional Black Périgord truffle. When pierced with my spoon, the bright yellow yolk blended like a brushstroke into the white of the egg. The spuma (an airy, savory foam created by aerating a sauce) added a delicate citrus-herbal lift to the richness of the egg. The pine nuts brought delightful contrast texture. Oh, and that exquisite toast! Elegant and harmonious. The delicately-shaved truffle provided a heavenly mouth-feel. Second Course Winter salad, shima aji, orange olive oil or Sunchoke tortelloni, spinach, shiitake, thyme jus One companion chose the vibrant winter salad -- stunning in color and textures including shima aji, a premium Japanese fish. I chose the sunchoke tortelloni. Although I'm usually not a fan of al dente pasta, here it worked beautifully to contrast the creamy filling. The green-tinged spinach tortelloni were visually striking and balanced by the earthy shiitake and fragrant thyme jus. Third Course Mount Lassen trout, abalone & carrot risotto, lobster cream or Flannery beef ribeye, artichoke, Banyuls, black garlic We all chose the trout. The fish was executed perfectly -- caramelized, crisp exterior, yet it flaked effortlessly into large, tender pieces with the fork. The carrot risotto leaned slightly sweet for my palate, though beautifully textured. The tiny slivers of abalone, however, were surprisingly overcooked and chewy. The lobster cream had a thinner, almost broth-like consistency and didn't meaningfully elevate the dish. For reference, Banyuls (used in the ribeye preparation) is a French fortified wine like port from the Roussillon region that creates deep, slightly sweet reductions that complement richer meats. Fourth Course Shiso panna cotta, pineapple vanilla gelée. The panna cotta was softly set, cool, and subtly sweet -- a lovely, light finish. The Japanese mint herb of shiso was subtle. The crumble beneath added wonderful contrast and texture. A small piece of pineapple was firmer than expected, though the overall composition remained balanced and refreshing. With it, I had a decaf Americano. It was so smooth and flavorful I drank it black -- and enjoyed every sip. Post-dessert course We were pleasantly surprised with a pearlized white box of what appeared to be handmade confections: caramel, a sugar-dusted berry gelée, and a ganache-filled chocolate truffle. The unexpected welcome bites and post-dessert confections made the four-course prix fixe feel even more generous and thoughtfully orchestrated. Madcap is an experience of delightful visual artistry and intentional composition. The overall execution, ambiance, and hospitality created a memorable evening. P.S. While I typically eat gluten- and dairy-free, making those substitutions would have fundamentally changed the menu. For this celebratory evening, I chose not to alter the chef's composition. We visited on 2/26/26.

Marujun is tucked into a small strip mall. I would drive by it every afternoon. I finally…read moredecided to give it a try. What a good idea. It is tastefully decorated and is a small space that is arranged very comfortably. One thing I particularly liked was that it was quite. We asked the hostess for recommendation since it was our fist time. The sushi was very fresh and tasted wonderful. We also decided to try the sake and our hostess gave us a sip of three brands so we could decide which one we liked.We plan to return with our friends. Make sure to make a reservation.

Easily the best fish (nigiri/sashimi/rolls) in Marin. The quality just stands out even against…read morestalwarts like VS and Masa. Price reflects this of course. I particularly enjoy the shari - feels like a mix of sweetness from red vinegar and zing of white vinegar. They also had local California King Salmon - I never see this at a sushi spots even in SF (even when it's in season). The rest of the menu is quite diverse with dishes you'll never see in Marin. Some were hits, some were okay. I'm looking forward to trying more. Pretty easy to get a walk-in at the bar. If reservations are full, just call ahead and walk-in.

Great place, friendly staff and tasty food. I recommend this Thai restaurant for a weekend family…read moremeal.

I came here for lunch with my mom and was immediately drawn in by how nice the ambiance was…read moreinside--it's a really inviting space and felt like a great spot to sit and relax. At the start, there was a bit of a communication barrier with our waiter. I had just wanted to order an iced tea, but she kept saying I couldn't unless I ordered from the lunch menu. I explained that I was totally fine paying full price since I wasn't planning to stick to the lunch menu options, but it took a little back and forth to get that sorted. For food, I ordered the tamarind chicken, which was good, and the portion was massive. The coconut rice was delicious, and the tom kha soup was also good. Overall, the food was solid, but nothing that really stood out as amazing. One thing that did concern me was the water jug they brought to the table--it looked like it had black mold underneath. Unfortunately, noticing that while we were eating made the experience feel a bit off-putting. Because of that, I didn't end up eating the leftovers either. For the price, it was just okay overall.

We love this place!!!! Great food, excellent customer…read moreservice, so far one of our favorite places.

A great place if you're looking for a more authentic sushi experience. I noticed on the website…read morethat the owner/chef is Japanese and that sold me. The photos pretty much say it all...let the ingredients to the talking and just accent the flavors.

I can't believe I didn't know about this place until last night. We ordered online and walked down…read moreto pick up. There was a little wait but here's why that really wasn't a problem at all. Arigatou had a man and woman behind the counter who were both lovely and smiled to welcome us in. The place smelled AMAZING and has lots of nice Japanese decor from traditional-looking arrows, beautiful prints on the walls, cute cat and goose illustrations, books about japan to cute hand drawn cats on the whiteboard. Their rice maker looked like it was worth my mortgage and has a plague on it that reads "R. Icemaker". They were listening to some kind of amazing easy listening music that made me think I was in a Murakami novel. Because we had to wait a little longer than the DoorDash estimate, they happily and kindly threw in some mini ice creams for us, with a nice note on the paper bag, too! The food was really, REALLY good. We got the teriyaki salmon bento, katsu bento and a box of assorted sushi. All of the food was GREAT and we could have easily stopped with the bento boxes because they are extremely good value. Rice, your topping choice (salmon, katsu as mentioned for us) 2-3 gyoza that were delicious, and a little salad for $16. The sushi box was also packed full. I can't recommend this place more, I'll be going back a LOT!

The service is very friendly and nice. I had a great experience when I first walked in and asked…read moreabout the menu and options. We wanted sashimi and that is not an option. Rolls aren't either. Seems that sushi is not available. The few things that were available were not on my husband's diet. I thanked the very kind man and left. Parking is fairly easy. It's take out only. To me, nothing looked too appealing, but I am a picky eater.

We're local and love Ikoi. Always fresh. Always good service. Consistent with the quality one…read moreexpects. Hidden gem in San Rafael tucked away. Sushi is grey too!

Pretty decent casual Japanese spot…read more Lunch bento and the lunch sets with miso soup and rice are really good value, but don't expect Michelin sashimi If you're deciding between the Chirashi lunch (L) vs the Chirashi and Udon lunch, I recommend getting the chirashi and udon lunch, fish is basically the same just less rice and you get a soup udon noodle! Decor and furniture could use an upgrade.

Food is authentic and amazing. The ambience is welcoming, cozy, & clean. The service is top tier…read morewith friendly servers left and right. Overall, best ramen place i've ever visited!

incredible food at a very reasonable price, the service was excellent and and the playlist was fireread more

Oh my good glorious ramen joy god, thank you for making Menya Shoho. The vegan miso ramen (spicy)…read moreis a perfect dish. My favorite pairing is a sharp IPA beer. I have no clue how they do it but, oh the gods, it's the best ramen I've had in California. A nuanced blend of broth, oil, spice and divine slurpy noodles that slap the face of catastrophe and say "bring it bitches, I am golden." Just shut up and eat it. Consider it a prayer to the gods of warm wonder nature luck joy happiness.

This experience was unacceptable. The restaurant was nearly empty, yet when we arrived, the server…read morebluntly told us, "you have to wait." Meanwhile, a white couple who came after us was seated immediately. There's no reasonable explanation for that kind of treatment. On top of that, the server was openly disrespectful--dismissive, unwelcoming, and even rolling her eyes while serving us. The contrast in how we were treated was obvious and disturbing. This didn't feel like bad service--it felt like racism, plain and simple. I would strongly caution others, especially Asian customers, before choosing to dine here.