I and my girlfriend celebrated our 1st anniversary in this restaurant. We want a simple celebration with very delicious sushi and best restaurant in town. read more

This place is a total gem nestled in the more quaint section of downtown Orinda, and the couple who run it are clearly passionate, knowledgeable AND friendly. I've read through reviews for Yume, another omakase spot in Alameda, and was a little perplexed at the bordering-on-aggressive behavior of the head chef toward some diners. While a little slip of paper on each table goes over the proper way to handle sushi, and Coco provides tips regarding which pieces of sushi should go with/without soy or ponzu sauce, the information available at Hanazen is not given in an imperious manner. Coco is also very conscientious of the kind of dining experience each guest receives, and is totally committed to maximizing the attention she's able to give everyone. How do I know this? Well, my friends and I had a reservation at 6 PM on a Saturday and got there just as one couple was wrapping up. At around 6:15 PM, we were still waiting for a member of our party when Coco came up to the table to ask if we would prefer to start or wait. She told us she was fine with whatever our preference was, but that at that moment, she'd be able to give us her undivided attention; however, they were expecting another group at 6:30 PM. This place is popular enough to probably have all three tables and the bar area filled on rotating one-hour slots, but instead of trying to crank people through, Coco and Kenji do their best to preserve a serene atmosphere filled with good food and conversation. The sushi is also pretty amazing. I've had bad experiences with uni in the past, but have zero reservations eating it here. I also appreciate that Coco shares what each piece is and where they source it from, too. At the end of the meal, I'd say you leave satiated. There's maybe enough room for a slice of pie and maybe some fries at Nation's (yes, I've done this...), but that'll push you over the edge of fullness and into food coma territory. Hanazen provides you the option to add additional items on at the end and maybe one of these days I'll take them up on it. Price-wise, I'd say it's pretty reasonable, too. For a party of 3, with hot tea and before tip ended up being around $200. As others have said, do make sure to call ahead to make a reservation. If, for some reason, you don't receive a call back, there's no reason to follow-up if you've left a voicemail message. I called the weekend before Thanksgiving and they were out, but as soon as they returned the week after I got a call back from Coco. I've been here twice and would not hesitate to bring friends and family around for subsequent visits. read more

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I went to Hanazen about 10 minutes before they closed and they were very gracious and let me and my boyfriend have dinner. We ate at the nicely decorated sushi bar where the sushi chef chatted with us and made us fresh rolls. I wasn't very hungry but I had a Spider roll, which is comprised of fried soft shell crab and avocado. It was one of the best Spider rolls I ever had. I also had the spicy tuna roll. They made the spicy tuna for me at the table with freshly cut tuna and spicy red sauce. The two rolls were delicious and the owners were very nice. I like that they both speak Japanesse and care alot about their business. I can't tell you if all the food is good but the two items I ate were great. Tip: They are only open for dinner and they suggested in the future to make reservations because they are usually very busy. They said their busiest time are the weekends for dinner so you might want to check them out on a weekday. read more

Hanazen - View from the sushi bar. Nice place settings. - Japanese Near Me - Orinda, California

Most of the Nigiri was great, Sake was great. Very traditional Omakase. Neither the chef nor his wife were very talkative. We sat at the sushi bar and asked a lot of questions and got mostly one word responses. I was actually really looking forward to being instructed on the best way to enjoy each piece of sushi. I even asked if a certain piece was better eaten in one bite or two and got a shrug with "doesn't matter". 16 pieces per person with sake $320 pre tip. I can understand not having a menu, but not knowing what the price is before the check comes is pretty unnerving. Didn't feel comfortable asking either. I guess that one is on me. Bucket list read more

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Hanazen provided a very unique experience and is now currently at the top of my sushi list! Only the highest quality fish was served and the husband/wife duo are clearly very passionate about what they do. Of course, quality comes with a price, but I definitely would recommend Hanazen for celebrating a special occasion or for those who want to splurge on some seriously good food. The husband is the sushi chef, while the wife is the hostess/waitress. It's a small space (about 4 tables and a handful of bar seats) and they take reservations very seriously. YOU NEED TO MAKE A RESERVATION. During the course of our dinner we saw 3 couples get turned away because they didn't have reservations. I called 10 days in advance and was able to make a reservation for 4 people on a Friday night. My group decided to do omakase, or chef's choice, rather than order from the menu. Only nigiri was served and it was brought to us in waves. With each wave, the wife would identify each of the fish, which we should dip in soy or ponzu sauce, and where the fish was sourced. The fish was so fresh, some so buttery and melt-in-your-mouth, that I ate without using any sauce! Even certain types that I typically wouldn't order, like the sea urchin and the monkfish liver, I still enjoyed. After the set amount of nigiri is served (I believe we had 18 types of fish), you have the option of ordering additional items. The only small complaints I have were that the chef can be a little heavy-handed with the wasabi, so be sure to say something if it's too much for your tastes! Also, once other groups arrived, the time it took for our sushi to be served increased drastically. It's understandable since there's only one sushi chef, but I guess the only thing to do is really savor each piece (which is hard to do when everything tastes so amazing). In the end the cost for omakase, 3 large Asahis, and an extra 4 pieces of toro came out to about $105/person without tip. Totally worth it! read more

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Have lived in Orinda almost my entire life and ate here for the first time tonight. It won't be the last. Best Omakase experience I've ever had (including compared to some Michelin starred restaurants). read more

For those of you looking for a baked scallop roll, California roll, shrimp tempura roll...this is probably not going to be your cup of matcha tea. However, if you are interested in having an authentic and traditional Edo-mae style sushi, where the chef has spent the entire day thoughtfully preparing every detail and component of your omakase dining experience, call now for your reservation. There is no menu, once you walk in to the restaurant, let the chef take the wheel as he surprises and delights you with each piece of sushi. We had an awesome dining experience!! My husband and I had reservations for a weeknight. We had called to make the reservation two days earlier (but that was perhaps pushing it) as the Chef needs time to order fresh ingredients. At the beginning of our meal, it was explained that Chef received the fish we were about to experience that very morning and spent the day preparing the various sauces, toppings, and of course...the fish. We were presented with 12 different types of fish as our first round (24pcs). The preparation and type of fish was explained. After our first bite, we were transported back to Japan, back to when we had some of the best sushi dining experiences. Yes folks, it was THAT good. The yuzu jelly, the cherry blossom salt, the uni, the trout, the tuna, the roe...I mean I can go on and on but ultimately chef managed to make something that looked and sounded so simplistic...taste like it was beautifully packed with levels and layers of flavor. We knew we could not stop at one round! After completing your first round, you are asked if you are interested in having a quarter, half or full round. The pictures do not do the two rounds of sushi justice, but alas, I've included them in this review... Folks, I really encourage you to give Hanazen a try...you get the satisfaction of delicious sushi sans the 11 hour plane ride! Who can beat that?? read more

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Exceptional restaurant. Husband and wife are amazing. Phenomenal sushi, sake, soju. Highly recommend!

I'm sorry but I gotta say they are overpriced. Total order of 36 pieces of sushi. 2 bottle of sparkling water. Tax and tip. $500. Do I wanna come back? No. Their food is absolutely great. But if I'm going to spend $500, I DEFINITELY go to other sushi or Japanese restaurant. read more

Hanazen - Japanese Near Me - Orinda, California

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Amazing sushi! I've lived in Japan for 5 years and I haven't found a legit sushi spot....until now!! He gets his fish from Japan and you can really taste the difference! He makes his own ponzu sauce....I even licked the little dish clean (when no one was looking). His soy sauce is a mixture of different types since soy sauce is too salty and strong in the states. His soy sauce concoction is very light and doesn't overpower the sushi. 4 instead is 5 stars since it was SO expensive. I've visited similar legit sushi places in CA (SoCal) and they aren't this pricey. Plus, the hostess isn't very warm and welcoming. Yes, they are very strict with their rules about how they run their place since it's small, but her demeanor could be a bit more friendlier. Nonetheless, it's very good and fresh sushi! We will be back!! read more

Hanazen - Japanese Near Me - Orinda, California

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This was my first sushi omakase experience and I absolutely loved it! I've been a long time sushi/sashimi fan and I'm so glad I came, it was worth every penny. FOOD: We each ordered a sushi omakase. I've read about a lot of sushi omakase places before deciding on this one. One thing that scared me was the fact that each piece already has wasabi on it. Even though I love sushi, I unfortunately just can't handle wasabi. Although some chefs don't allow any modifications, they allowed me to get no wasabi on mine no questions asked, which was a big relief! The rounds came in pieces of 6. Each time they came she would describe the type of fish and if it had a significant amount of preparation. The fish they served was unique and high quality. You wouldn't get this level of sushi at any japanese restaurant. It was very interesting hearing about all the work they put into their sushi! For example, they rinse and marinate their ikura instead of serving to you straight from saltwater. This allows them to control the flavor instead of it just being too salty. They also slow cooked their octopus until it was very tender, not rubbery and really chewy like other restaurants. The list goes on, but each piece was beautifully crafted. My favorites were the uni, sweet shrimp, and large scallops. After two rounds they will ask you how you feel, and they will keep serving you until your full or ask them to stop! AMBIANCE: We had a reservation for 5 at 6:00. Upon arriving we saw that there was no one else in the restaurant. At first we thought this was weird, but Coco, the hostess, informed us that they set aside a time slot for each table. If a table of three books at 5:30, they won't take reservations for half an hour. For our table of 5, the next reservation wasn't allowed until 7:30. This created a really nice atmosphere giving us the full attention of both the sushi chef and hostess. It goes to show they strive to create the perfect environment for their guests. SERVICE: The hostess was so friendly and nice. Every time she came around our table she would just start up small talk and entertain us with stories. She really knows how to talk! She constantly refilled our water and asked us if we needed more tea which was nice. Furthermore she is extensive in her knowledge of both sake and sashimi, don't be afraid to ask questions or for clarification. read more

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Due to the unpredictable fish market, Kenji gets a much smaller variety than the old days. But it is much more than your typical American style sushi . I say due to inconsistent market, prices may slightly vary. Cost is based on 16-17 different sushi's on one platter. 14-15 was during the beginning of COVID. 20-24 pre-COVID. Kenji has difficulties with finding variety of shellfish at the market. To maintain the quality of fish before COVID, he refuses to buy the American style frozen sushi grade seafood that is common now at the market and restaurants. Market price dictates his prices, but he is trying to avoid the high priced fish that jacks it up. There is no point if people can't afford it. HANAZEN is not an American-Japanese sushi restaurant, it is an original Japanese style restaurant. So you do leave it to Kenji to assemble the platter based on what is available unless there are allergy issues. Call Coco and find out what the current platter price is before reserving! It's a crazy world out there! At the moment, the menu is : Chirashi bowl sushi, battera ( boxed pressed sushi made of marinated mackerel), tekkadon ( marinated tuna over sushi rice) and the assorted Chef's choice Nigri sushi platter. Coco and Kenji need two days notice to prepare for purchases at the fish market for each order, so keep that in mind. Coco is a sake sommelier. Her access to sake which is unavailable to the general public, makes the combination with high quality sushi above everyone. They are allowed to do Sake To Go along with the sushi order. Her sake prices is exactly like as if you went to the Japanese grocery market in San Jose, but unavailable to us. read more

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amazing food and service. always the freshest available ingredients. we love coming here for special occasions

This is by far the best sushi and overall service I have ever received in my life. Just so you know that I have been to top Zagat rated SF restaurants and nothing compares to Hanazen. The owners Kenji and Coco made us feel that we were top rated restaurant critics and provided us not with just the best sushi anywhere but impeccable service. This is a must place to visit for any sushi aficionado. read more

Best sushi place in the east bay. Highest quality ingredients and incredibly fresh fish. The sake flights are wonderful. Won't repeat what everyone else said but you NEED a reservation. Small place run by husband and wife so call if you're going to cancel. If you appreciate the art of sushi, you will love this place. read more

Hanazen - Deluxe combo - Japanese Near Me - Orinda, California

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Can't say enough good things about this place! The Japanese couple that runs this intimate sushi joint is very sweet and really tries to perfect their craft. The wife provides great service and front of the house. The husband is a sushi chef who learned his skills back in Japan. I believe the wife explained that his style is from Okinawa. I highly respect people like them who pour their hearts out in perfecting their craft and takes pride in what they do! You can see and feel the love that went into every bite served. This is not your saucy Americanized place. (I like that as well but it's a different dining experience.) This place serves very delicately flavored sushi. So bring your cleansed palate here and you will taste the fish you are eating (freshly flown in from Japan)! read more

Best Sushi Resturant near me! Just a important note is that this place is RESERVATION ONLY. I always try to go on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday for their Omakase. Their sushi is always the freshest and they are very informative of the types of sushi they serve. REMEMBER THIS IS PLACE IS RESERVATION ONLY! YOU MUST CALL! I've seen countless groups get turned away! read more

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Hanazen is fantastic! The nigiri is always flavorful, the rice always has a superb texture, and they have a very good variety with daily specials. Kenji and Coco are passionate about sushi and it shows in every bite. The first time I visited was a Tuesday and we were the only couple in the restaurant, so we got coco's full attention; she loves to find out the perfect sushi for you, what you look for in flavor and texture and she gives very good recommendations. The ambiance is great,the service is great, and most importantly the sushi is made with respect and skill and it really shows in the taste. read more

Hanazen - Japanese Near Me - Orinda, California

Delicious! The owners were great and the food was amazing. It's honestly a gem in Orinda, I'm surprised more people don't know about it.

I am so shocked how we have lived in the area for 5 years and only JUST recently found this restaurant! How is that possible?? We are always looking for the sushi restaurant that suits our taste bud needs, and what I mean is high quality fish, not fancy rolls, no crazy sauce and things that are not deep fried. It is also so hard to find a japanese restaurant that where the chef is japanese and not korean/chinese. So let's talk about it: - Make reservations. - It is a husband/wife duo, no one else. Be patient. - On the night we went, dinner was omakase only. We were quoted $60 per person, which is super reasonable, if you've ever had omakase. We ate 3 more pieces per person, and was charged accordingly - it is expected. - We had only nigiri sushi, which was probably one of the best we've had outside of Japan. Chef does everything himself. - Chef is trained in Osaka. - Eat the sushi with your hands, as it is intended to. - Listen to the chef's recommendation on whether to use soy sauce, ponzu or nothing. - The wasabi is frehsly grated - none of that power stuff. And so much more! For our meal (based on my recollection) we had, kanpachi, smoked salmon, negi-toro, geoduck, white tuna, ika, tako, ankimo (the best we've ever had), bonito, mackerel, and so much more. The omakase comes with 14 pieces. Can't wait to go back! read more

Best quiet atmosphere for a date night with wonderful fresh fish nigiri selected by the chef. Sake selection was excellent as well. The owners are delightful and dedicated to the art and delicacies of all things sushi ! We had a wonderful time. read more

Oh my gosh! This restaurant brings me back to my days in Kyoto and Tokyo having true authentic thought out artistic delicious sushi. You must take the time and for any money to experience this wonderful place it is priceless. read more

Fabulous restaurant! I heard about Hanazen from a friend of mine, who always seems to know the coolest and best restaurants to go to in the East Bay. We were intrigued by Hanazen - the restaurant is run by a husband and wife team and they only accept reservations, since they can only serve a small number of patrons at a time. They do not accept walk ins. We finally had the opportunity to try out Hanazen when we actually were able to plan ahead and make a reservation. The sushi is absolutely delicious - the fish is fresh and the sushi is made with such detail. The service is great. Will definitely try again! read more

I was stunned to pay $300 for two and be treated like an idiot the whole time. The process of getting a reservation was tedious, and the threat of a $70 no show fee was off putting. she acted like she was doing me a favor allowing me to make a reservation a day in advance. There was only one other person there during our dinner! Every question I asked was met with rolling eyes and it felt like I was the most annoying and stupid person in the world. The food was good but that all evaporated when the bill arrived. Ridiculous. read more

There is a saying in Japan that, "He who climbs Mount Fuji is a wise man, he who climbs twice is a fool." That pretty much sums up how I feel about Hanazen. The chef's choice (omakase) seletion was amazing. The scallops and the sea urchin were the highlights. At many restaurants the sea urchin is expensive and so it sits for too long; here it was super fresh and like a creamy butter. There were unique options such as mini-squid that are only available from Japan one month each year (not my favorite, but super-exotic). Having travelled in Japan and recalling the sky-high prices and my sticker shock there, even the price of dining at Hanazen seems fair in comparison. Just be prepared to drop $200 on dinner for two with sake. So why would I not be in a hurry to climb this mountain again? In short, this is a very strict, education-oriented restaurant. I did learn a lot about the proper way to eat sushi: 1) Read the sushi-eating instruction sheet 2) Use your fingers, not chopsticks 3) Do not add wasabi to the soy sauce -- the chef has that covered (a bit much, actually) 4) Turn the piece over to the fish side before dipping in sauce (the rice would fall apart if dipped) 5) Use the soy sauce for the items that require soy sauce 6) Use the other special sauce for the items that require the other special sauce 7) Use no sauce for the items that require no sauce 8) Turn the piece fish side-down when you put it in your mouth so the fish touches your tounge I am very grateful for some of the best sushi I have ever had and for the educational expeience (for real, no joke). At the same time, I would want to have a certificate to show next time to prove I don't need instructions anymore. It's like the difference between going to a wine tasting to learn about wine (Hanazen) and just enjoying it. Please go there once and let me know if you agree! read more

This is a very special treat! This place is celebration night out kind of fine dining. Show respect when you come here, follow instructions given on how to eat sushi properly, it's quiet and small, dress appropriately. Call ahead, it's reservation only. The Best sushi I've ever had anywhere in any state or country. The best of Japan right here in the bay. The owner takes pride in bringing you the very best cuts of fish! It will not disappoint. They accommodated gluten free. A truly special experience! read more

Such good sushi! I feel like a lot of people forget about this place but I would totally recommend.

Hanazen and it's owners, Kenji and Coco served us with one of the best meals we've had in months! A week ago while trying to decide on a pizza place to check out in Orinda, the BF and I turned our attention to sushi restaurants and stumbled on Hanazen. We skimmed over some of the reviews and quickly decided we were craving sushi :) Not being familiar with the reservation system, I called to see if we could get in that same evening. Coco answered the phone and politely let me know they did not have reservations available that night but to try for another time. My interest was piqued even more so we decided to go tonight, a week later. We could not have been happier with our choice! We arrived early to our 7:30pm reservation and there was another party sat in the restaurant. Kenji and Coco greeted us and let us know that we could begin our reservation early. Originally we had planned on ordering from the menu but we were drawn toward the Chef's special and sat at the sushi bar to enjoy Kenji's mastery. We ordered the sake sampler and the pairings went so well with the insanely fresh sushi which we got to savor piece by piece. Midway through the meal, we were the only patrons in the restaurant and had Kenji and Coco's undivided attention. it was such a nice, personal touch and added to the experience. Not only will we be back for the melt-in-your-mouth sushi and delicious sake, but to see the smiling faces of the owners. read more

My wife and I are so proud to have this little gem in our little town of Orinda. The seafood is amazingly fresh and most importantly the rice is perfectly flavored, cooked, and just plain spectacular. Everything here is made with patient hands. Whether it's the nigiri, oxtail soup, or house-smoked salmon. Everything is delicious. The atmosphere is warm and intimate and the wife (hostess) and husband (chef) that run the operation are like two perfectly choreographed dancers, working hard to make every meal an experience! As a note, reservations required! read more

I don't often give 5 stars but Hanazen earned it. One of a kind, artisanal preparation of lovely fresh ingredients, creating complex, nuanced flavours. Eating there for the first time requires a certain dose of humility and appreciation for art. I've been in many nice, pleasant sushi places but it had been a long time since I had been in a top-notch place where everything is about creating art not delivering a product. I say "art" as a compliment, not sarcasm: the art of a perfect balance of flavours, aromas, colours, shapes, and textures. I'd read the Yelp reviews, especially the negative ones (I always do) before trying this place. I "get" what the negative reviewers were unhappy with, but I think they missed the spirit and quality of this place. For context, understand that this place is owned by a husband and wife who are chef and host--Kenji and Coco Horikawa--with no other personnel, and could seat 17 people at a time if it was jammed packed with no room to move. You go there for an evening of slowly savouring little bites of heaven and good conversation, not to have a well-timed meal before going to the Shakespeare play or the movies. Most of the condiments, pickles, sauces, infused salts, and garnishes used in preparing the dishes are made by the chef himself rather than store-bought. This means that every element is so good it can be savoured on its own, but together they build these lovely complex flavours that unfold like slowly as you eat. The sake menu is also diverse and offers a range of flavours as wide as any sommelier's choice of wines in a fine French restaurant. Service: The service started out formal and I understand why it seemed distant to some Yelp commenters. But as soon as we showed that we were interested, not too vain to receive pointers on how to appreciate the food and drinks, and happy to learn about the preparation details, we felt our host and server, Coco Horikawa, warm up to us. The service was attentive and helpful throughout the meal. Freshness and Choice: This is the very opposite experience of chain restaurants where you can find everything everywhere, but of mediocre quality and always the same; it's the one-of-a-kind experience that will be a little different every time. So no long menu with dozens of wacky Americanized rolls, just a solid core list and a board with a generous list of the current delicacies. Coco Horikawa is a sake expert, and Chef Kenji Horikawa's speciality is kaiseki, a method of cooking that marks the seasons in Japan. Let them guide you to what's good and fresh today, and works well together. Price: Just think why your run-of-the-mill sushi bar is cheaper: made faster, with cheaper, store-bought ingredients and using shortcuts like big piggish rolls instead of nigiri pieces. Let's not mince words, Hanazen is expensive for regular people on regular salaries--the kind of place we can only eat at for a special celebration. But it's priced correctly for the value, quality, care, and work involved. Reservations: It's clear that every spot is marked "reserved" all the time. I believe the owners prefer to work by reservation only so they can pace the work and plan the ingredients accordingly. If you want to sit at the counter, mention that when you make your reservation. Wheelchair access: Although Yelp says there is no wheelchair access, they actually put down a ramp in advance if you mention this in your reservation. However, don't expect that anyone will have time to stop preparing or serving food to take care of this if you don't mention it ahead of time. read more

I think I'm always going to hold a special place in my heart for Hanazen. I discovered this hidden gem with the ex-boyfriend, and my mind has forever changed about fish. We went here as our Christmas dinner and it was one of the last great meals we had together. (I'm talking about him like he died, jeez I'm dramatic.) I came back a couple months later with my brother and he was equally as blown away as I was. It's been a while so I can't remember much of the types of fish we had but I know we had some sweet shrimp, kanpachi, ocean trout, the most delicious and buttery uni anyone could ever have, monkfish liver, the most TENDER octopus I have ever put in my mouth... and a whole bunch of other fish that I can't remember at the moment. My brother and I also had the pork belly and it inspired me to make my own version of buta no kakuni (I like to put a perfect 6 minute boiled egg in the dish when I make it at home). We ate really well and got out of there for 70 dollars. But again, if you want to have a full fish experience be ready to throw down 100 dollars. Maybe I'm disillusioned. Maybe I think it's worth paying that much for quality food... maybe I'm crazy. But it is seriously the best sushi I have ever had in my life, thus far. See you for my birthday. :D read more

A small and intimate sushi restaurant, serving a selection of very fresh fish, skilfully made. We had Omakase, and it was delightful - the fish were fresh, and had just enough of the chef's touch to help release their flavor, without obscuring it with bold ingredients - and being a small place, you get the undivided attention of the chef. We'd be sure to visit again often. read more

Hanazen - Omakase - Japanese Near Me - Orinda, California

We usually go to Niwa around the corner for Sushi. We thought we would try Hanazen for a change We went early ....5:15 thinking we could sit at the Sushi Bar but we couldn't . It was reserved. We had to sit at a table. We ordered Tempura appetizer and a selection of Sushi. The Tempura was good and the sushi presentation was nice but the taste and freshness was very dissapointing.......and it was much more expensive than Niwa. When we left 45 minutes later the place was still empty...... including the Sushi Bar. Niwa is still the best and most afforadable sushi in CC County. read more

I LOVED THIS PLACE! So getting in the front door is kinda tricky but I swear it's on the side facing the street next to the patio, you just can't see the door since its perpendicular to the street. Anyways, first thing to know other than the front door is please make reservations. The chef and his wife make the most awesome duo. He does a lot of traditional Japanese style sushi (not to be confused with Americanized or the Californian version) and his wife is very knowledgeable about the types of fish used and how it's prepared. The service was superb. Pricing isn't too bad for omakase but it is more expensive than just regular Americanized sushi. Parking isn't too difficult. It's not a good venue for a huge party but a small gathering would do nicely. I would definitely return again! read more

One of my favorite restaurants of all time! My husband and I dined here for our anniversary for the 2nd year in a row the other day, and we have dinner here occasionally when we want to treat ourselves to a special evening. THE FOOD IS FABULOUS. The fish is super fresh, and the miso marinated cod (not always on the daily specials) is amazing. I ordered the sake-steamed clams and they were perfect. In addition, the atmosphere is lovely. Intimate, cozy, quiet...Just be sure you make a reservation as they are booked solid many nights at dinner time and you can't walk in and expect a table, as the place is tiny. Coco and Kenji must take great pride in their work, as everything we've ever had here has been terrific. It is a little expensive, but that's because they take the time to make everything with great care and the ingredients are top notch. I think it is hands down the best Japanese food in the Bay Area. read more

How have I not been here before today? I took a friend here for her birthday last night (actually) and it was all that it's cracked up to be! The fish was fresh (and really high quality), the rice was near perfection, and the pork belly was dreamt about. They are real sticklers about their reservation times. We were a little late, and were consequently told that we would still be seated but that we would no longer have the priority of the Sushi chef (which I thought was kinda' cute). There are only a few tables, and we saw several people being turned away at the door (so call ahead). I'll be back... and I'll be on time next time too ;) read more

Japanese cuisine, particularly sushi, is my favorite. When I moved to this area, I knew there would be a great deal of very good Japanese/sushi restaurants from which to choose. I tried Hanazen based on a great review I read in Diable Magazine. Hanazen is small - not many tables or seats at the sushi bar, so I'd recommend calling for reservations. Overall, the food was excellent. I had a number of pieces of sushi and a couple of appetizers from their specials menu - items not typically seen at most Japanese restaurants I've been to. The service at Hanazen is also excellent. Owner Coco acted as my server. If you enjoy drinking sake, be sure to take advantage of the deep knowledge that she has of sake. read more

I was the first time to visit this sushi place last night. honestly, the place run by family only husband and wife. Food over there definitely great.It is not the best one I ever had but it is the best at this pricing and chief is processing by heart. there is not a American style sushi bar and only one chief so dont expect that how quick you can have your food. I enjoyed every piece nigiri I ate. read more

Hanazen has been in business for eight years. I don't know why I never ventured out to this small intimate Japanese restaurant in Orinda so close to home after all these years. I've been to Serika at Theatre Square in Orinda plus many others and to Jo's Sushi Bar in PH for the past 10+ years. Maybe it was due to the fact that Hanazen only serves dinner. I like their concept of making reservations. We usually dine on a Friday which is usually a busy night with most restaurants. However, Hanazen is great for us to enjoy a quiet and unrushed meal without feeling that they need to turn tables. I've been wanting to try Yume in Alameda, but they do not take reservations. You have a chance of waiting in excess of 4 hours if you happen to get their 3rd seating after waiting in line at 4:00 p.m. We tried Kappa in SF and we also liked it, but parking and the drive into the city on a weekend can be an issue. I've only done the omakase plus a few appetizers at Hanazen and it has been one of the most enjoyable experiences for someone like me who loves nigiri sushi. Many thanks to the couple who run this place and we intend to visit as often as we can when we have that sushi craving!I read more

Best sushi in town. We are so lucky to live close by. Coco and kenji give great service and fresh yummy sushi. Just call and get reservation. They actually deserve More than 5 stars. read more