After dining here a few times since my last review, Izakaya Mai has redeemed itself. The food has returned to being consistently solid and delicious. My favorites are still the geso age, eggplant with miso, yaki onigiri, crazy monkey roll and aji fry. All these dishes go so well with some draft Sapporo. Service is attentive and friendly. The vibe is always upbeat, especially on the weekends. Expect a wait if dining here on a late weekend night. We waited about 20 minutes for a table at 9:30 p.m. on a Friday night. read more

The nigiri was really fresh and the tempura was really light and crispy. The highlight was definitely the okonomiyako which had noodles on top! Game changer and especially after a night out, satisfied a craving! read more

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Trying to find restaurants opened late is tough these days. We came to San Mateo looking for options and we came across Izakaya Mai. Wasn't sure if it would be a good place but the place was packed. Was seated shortly and we ordered various dishes and note there is a lot to choose from. The sushi was very fresh and did not disappoint. Everything we ordered was great. The clams was good, miso soup wasn't salty like other places the onigiri was spot on as well as the fried calamari. If you are looking for a Izakaya place that has great food and is open late I highly suggest trying Izakaya Mai. read more

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This place was def quite the ambience! We were starving so we just found the nearest sushi place since that was the first thing that came up in mind. We went during a busy hour so service was dragging a bit, but the food was worth it! I enjoyed the salmon sashimi quite a lot. You can also never go wrong with a rainbow roll as a way to try a glimpse of the other sashimi they had in their menu! read more

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Came here around 10 pm on a Monday after flying back to SFO. We ordered a tenzaru soba, rainbow roll and a lion king. The one thing that really bothered me was when the server ( a guy ) threw down my plate instead of placing it down gently onto the table. The soba sauce spilled all over my pants. He didn't even notice he spilled it all over my pants because he was in such a hurry. I was pretty much annoyed after that incident but the food was good for a late night dinner. It was one of the only restaurants open until midnight. read more

Izakaya Mai - Rainbow Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Always a great experience at Izakaya Mai. Friendly and fast service. Seated quickly and as always a delicious and fresh meal. read more

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The food was good, there are so many selections/. This place reminded me so much of Japan. The staff was nice and very fast service. Young girls are running the show . I don't know if they are a family run business I will be back. I had questions on the bill and it was explained and I understood after - it wasn't itemized about the fees for credit card and tax. I got it after talking with our waitress. Sushi was fabulous . read more

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One of our fav places to visit late night- They have a huge menu including tapas, full meals, a lot of sake to choose from, fresh sashimi, and delicious rolls Service is super quick and friendly The perfect place to eat solo, with a date or a whole party Love love love this place I highly recommend their Crazy Monkey roll- eel and fish on the outside Super flavorful Their poke salad is soo fresh and i love the sauce that comes with it The baked lion king roll is phenomenal Highly recommend for late night foods in downtown San Mateo! We love SETH read more

Izakaya Mai - Takoyaki Lion King Roll Miso Soup Poki Salad Spicy Seafood Salad Crazy Monkey Roll Chicken TeriyakI a la Carte - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

This place is pretty good! It's been a while since my last visit. Fish is very fresh and delicious. The spicy tuna hand roll was great, I know that's basic but that's what you go to places like this for. Wish I got more of them. Pork and kimchi stir fry was chewy and I didn't love it, could be preference. Beef tataki was too well done - this should be kissed with a sear not medium, but good flavor in the sauce. Will be back! Great spot to drink w/friends read more

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The restaurant is dimly lit and has a nice izakaya vibe to it. The restaurant is very well decorated where it actually feels like a comfy cozy restaurant in Asia. They offer a large variety of food selection on their menu as well. Since this is my first time at the place, I didn't have a chance to try a good amount of their items so I didn't want to rashly give out a low rating. However, the grilled squid and nigiris I had were indeed deserving of a 3/5. The grilled squid was a little burnt on the outside to the point that you can taste the bitterness but for some reason, the squid was still cold. The nigiris didn't taste the most fresh and I would say slightly better than Safeway quality. However, the food was very cheap and it does match the quality. I will try other food items from here at a later time and hopefully increase my rating. read more

Izakaya Mai - Ika Sugata Yaki - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I went there for a special occasion with my fiancé they are friendly and amazing vibe .. good food and good moments .. I would like to go back read more

Izakaya Mai - yum - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Lots of options and we will go back to try others. We especially liked the ika and nationwide, and the Chula garage. It's hard to find jelly fish. The service is fantastic, they work as a team. And the interior decor is a fun attempt to bring the high walls and ceilings down to an intimate Japanese eatery. The only downside was the aroma of fryer oil that had been left too long in between replacing as we walked past the open kitchen. Fortunately we couldn't smell it at or table. And we didn't order anything fried. read more

"Food is the bomb--always consistent and they've been around for over 20 years! Service is great, the place is clean, and the staff is super attentive. If you want good food at a good price, this is the spot " read more

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Amazing spots the food is so good and taste delicious. They are fast service and taste like Japan. read more

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Came on Tuesday for a celebration. Had a few sushi restaurants in mind, but a lot of them were closed on Tuesday... nonetheless, in the spirit of celebrating the day, I still made the trek to San Mateo. Was very disappointed in the quality and freshness of the food as well as poor service. - Sashimi was fresh - special rolls were very avg - crown roll was problematic and tasted fishy - 2x deluxe 9piece sashimi was the only good thing worth it! - charashi don was also fine - cold tempura soba was horrible. They cheaped out on the actual soba noodles and soba flour, it wasn't chewy and poorly seasoned I don't recommend coming here for sushi rolls/special rolls. Their tuna was a little fishy and when mentioned to the server, I was told that I was wrong. That was fine, I'm happy to pay for the food, but I wanted to order more and it took ages to flag them down. Even after asking for the check, I had to wait 15 min. Overall, a bit of an unfortunate experience especially for a day of celebration... definitely soured my night. read more

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Definitely a hole in the wall restaurant. The food was amazing, my friends are regular here, so they already know what to order. We got some chicken karaage, fried oysters, grilled mackerel, chirashi Don, the grilled eggplant, uni, monk fish liver, dry sake, beer and the strawberry nigori. Everything was so amazing. The batter that they used to fried the oysters and chicken, light and crispy. Fresh sashimi for the chirashi don. Flavors of the food were on point. I don't like eggplant, but the sweet sauce and how they prepared it was truly spectacular. My friend taught me that if you drink dry sake, pair it with some stronger flavor such as uni and monk liver. The dry sake cuts through the richness of the liver and complements its subtle oceanic flavor. The strawberry nigori sake is so good, very sweet and it tastes like strawberry yogurt. Perfect for a lightweight like me. The staff were so friendly, kind and helpful. Service was fast and efficient. The environment is cozy and warm with cushion on the seats. Perfect place to eat, drink and have a great time. Definitely coming back again! read more

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Had dinner at Izakaya Mai and really enjoyed it! It's a cozy, casual spot with a huge menu and a casual vibe. Service was friendly and efficient. read more

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I'd absolutely come here again; all chairs have comfy pillows to sit on, and the staff are friendly and fairly expedient with orders. Though I usually make reservations (via Yelp), they're not needed. They've got incredible menu diversity, from udon, soba, ramen and other soup noodles to fried appetizers, sushi, rice bowls, and rice plates. In addition, they have lunch specials and meal packages if you'd like a full set. Lastly, they boast a respectable selection of sake and alcohols. I'm not a huge fan of their sushi selection, but it's definitely palatable. My favorite is their curry rice (with katsu). It's amazing value at a full plate for only $13.50! You won't go hungry (or poor) at this place. It's also pretty flavorful and the meat was crispy and tender. If I ever go back, I'd like to try the unagi-don (eel rice bowl) or champon (stew). Overall, I'd highly recommend Izakaya Mai. read more

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Out here on a trip and needed a place to eat that closed after 9pm on a weekday and Izakaya Mai fit that bill. Not many places are open after 9pm but these guys were. The only real unfortunate thing was they didn't have any uni. It was one of the main reasons why I went but it was okay since everything else was pretty good. I ordered the salmon and hamachi belly nigiris. Both were considered specials and $8 or less for each pair. I thought this was a good deal and wish I ordered more of it cause it was fresh and they have large pieces. Also ordered the full grilled squid. Flavorful and cooked well with maybe just a little too much char but very good. Needed some veggies so ordered the vegetable tempura. I wish it had more green veggies but basically it was mainly yam and a couple pieces of broccoli. Last thing I ordered was a masu of sake. Don't remember which one specifically I ordered but it was sweet and the presentation of the masu is pretty unique that I never had before. Service was pretty good considering how busy it was after 9pm and only a couple of servers. Would definitely come back. read more

Izakaya Mai - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Love that this place is open late for late night sushi cravings. Fish is fresh and everything tasted great. Service was quick and servers were attentive. Will come again! read more

Good spot that's open late, good vibe inside with beer tower on the menu lol. The food was good, with lots of variety to choose from on the menu. Quite an expansive menu! For the indecisive, it can be difficult to make a decision. Roll combo A was great. California roll was good, Oregon (salmon) and Miami (tuna) were both good as well. No complaints. The combo comes with miso soup and salad. The beer tower was an excellent choice for a big party, pours for many. Cheers! Service was warm. read more

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Food was tasty. Some of the better sushi in downtown! Service was good. The music was a bit loud but I would come here again for a party vibe. read more

Izakaya Mai - Lion King Roll & spicy baked roll very good! - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Really reasonable bento for dinner. The Sashimi was very fresh and the teriyaki salmon was really good. The service is very fast and efficient and they just pop out of no where sometimes and fill up your water lol. The seating is a little cramped bc the tables and some seats are fixed but they also have chairs that move so it is fine. Your skinny friend will have to sit in the fixed chair. read more

Good not great Japanese food. We liked the Crazy Monkey roll, which was pretty big and came cut in 8 pieces. The chicken katsu curry was solid too, as was the buta nasu, though that had a lot more onion in it than I was expecting. It was packed on a Thursday night with beer towers flowing. Servers were really busy. read more

Izakaya Mai - Buta nasu and Chicken Katsu - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Not first timers here but this time was a bit different. I ordered the 2 item combo with teriyaki beef and fried oysters. Fried oysters were great but the beef was wayyyy overcooked! It was more like teriyaki beef jerky!! We also ordered the 3 item combo with teriyaki chicken, saba, and fried oysters. Everything on that plate was terrific! The other items we ordered were delicious and beautifully presented. Would we come back? Of course! Would I order beef teriyaki again? Probably not! read more

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visited Izakaya Mai on my way home from SF... Overall, I was pleasantly surprised! I wasn't expecting much for their sushi, but the San Mateo Roll I ordered was actually pretty decent - fresh rice, big portion and well-made. Their sushi is more saucy rolls than select cuts of fish but it was still a nice appetizer. I also tried the chicken udon and kimchi udon, and both were fantastic. The broth in particular was amazing, packed with flavor and warmth. What really made the experience memorable, was the service. I accidentally left my leftovers behind, but when I returned, the owner had thoughtfully saved them for me. That kind of care and attention really stood out. The ambiance was homey with lots of posters everywhere. Fit right in with the warm udon. I'll definitely be back - the best part is they're open pretty late too! read more

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The sushi is great here! I only come here for the sushi and karage chicken. It gets really busy in the evenings but the wait usually isn't long. The ambiance is dim lighting and the service is quick. I do wish they had more variety in their sushi rolls though. read more

Was around the San Mateo area and decided to try this new place. They have a variety of Japanese food options but doesn't specialize in anything. They have fried/grilled tapas, sushi, ramen, donburi, bento boxes, and more. They open until midnight which will be great for late night eats with a couple of drinks. Service was decent and space was large. Ankimo - great deal (10$) for a decent size and taste fresh. Curry with pork Katsu - not much meat and it was a lil tough to chew. It seems like the cutlet was uneven fried. Curry was not anything special. Crazy monkey roll - eel inside and hamachi/sake on top. Classic roll, I would recommend ordering a side of spicy Mayo for extra flavor! read more

Izakaya Mai - Crazy Monkey Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Delicious!!! So happy we found this place . Their sushi is soooo good , fresh !! Loved the real crab for the sushi ! super accommodating we customized our sushi! It was so good we order more ! They're open until 12am so nice to know! It is Family friendly, and very nice environment. Also my daughter forgot her phone here and called 15 mins later after we left when she remembered and they were so nice to go ask the table find it and hold it until the next day. ! read more

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On a late night search for late dinner and found this place through yelp! We wanted japanese food but nothing came up unless we drive 30+ mins more to san mateo and tell you what, i will do it again. The staffs were quick and great service! I love the variety of the menu and how fresh the fish was, even at late night. The restaurant gives off the vibe exactly how an izakaya is....perfect for drinks and chatters. Everything was delicious and exactly how we expected it to be. I will definitely make a trip to dine again in the future! read more

Izakaya Mai - eggplant - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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The food was fantastic, and the service was excellent! The sushi set and everything else we ordered tasted great at a reasonable price for good Japanese food! read more

We were disappointed to find out that this place wasn't as good as it was in the past. On this particular night it was empty and we thought we would give it a try remembering how it used to be to be. We ordered the 3 item bento box with Shrimp tempera, Beef Teriyaki and Salmon Teriyaki. The Shrimps were soggy. The Beef was cooked well done and very Salty. The Salmon was fine. We complained about the Miso soup being very salty but then the Beef came out and it too was salty. The sushi rolls had too much sauce and overwhelming. The Soft shell crab and gyoza were decent. The place was dark and had no business for a Sunday evening at 7:00 pm. The service was ok but not very attentive. We thought for their prices and smaller portions along with food preparation being too salty that you should do a hard Pass. read more

Food first! We were 4 people that ate enough for 8 and we are not mad at it. The fish was so fresh, the rice to fish ratio was on point, and the cooked food was cooked to perfection. We stumbled on this place a year ago because they were the only place open late and we loved it so much we were so excited to come back. Our expectations were high because it was so good the first time, but the second time around was just as good, if not better! The staff are friendly, clean, and attentive. And the ambiance is really fun and feels like you have stepped into an Izakaya in Japan. Can't wait to come back a 3rd time! read more

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I've been coming here occasionally for the past few years, and food has always been consistent (not too pricey and flavorful), but seeing a cockroach crawling on the wall next to my head has permanently turned me away. read more

Late night visit. Yummy food. Such nice people. Friendly and down to earth ambiance. Will be back again.

One of the original izakaya spots on the Peninsula! The spot used to be half the size, making it cute but a tight squeeze. I think they've expanded because there seems to be another room. It's a great spot when you want options and variety. Some of my favorites: miso eggplant and agedashi mochi. I also usually get noodle soup for the table to share. They don't specialize in sushi rolls, but I've found their rolls to be pretty decent. The service is usually pretty good, which is nice because I always end up ordering additional dishes mid-meal. They also offer various sizes of sake bottles! read more

This restaurant is on our rotation. The food is authentic, the service is good. Love that they stay open late. Most places close at 9pm.

This place is a good late-night option but I wouldn't come here over other restaurants in the area. The katsu don was solid. The Lion King roll was over-the-top but tasted good. They brought the wrong dish for one of our meals and the server was nice about it but they did not bring a replacement or comp the incorrect meal. read more

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My friends and I came in on a Wednesday to grab a quick bite and this place was amazing! The staff were sooo friendly and made the experience amazing! The food was also quite delicious! The okonomiyaki is a must!! I think that was the highlight of the meal. The flavors were super savory and just what we were all craving. Highly recommend to grab a couple beers and munch on some yummy food. read more

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I frequently visit Izakaya Mai with my badminton group since it is one of the few places in the area that's open relatively late. Food is solid but my review is on the increasingly slow service. On our most recent visit, we put down our name on the clipboard as usual and no one came to check on the clipboard even though we were clearly waiting outside as a group of 7. After 15-20 mins, we went in to ask a server to see what the wait time would be. She quoted 10 mins max but we ended up waiting another 15-20mins. I went in to ask again and she apologized saying it would be another 5 mins but it was unclear which table they were clearing up for us. Frustrated and very hungry, we ended up leaving and going elsewhere. We've noticed the wait time has been getting a little longer on Friday evenings but it's never been so bad. read more

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