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    Izakaya

    3.9 (867 reviews)
    Open 5:30 pm - 10:30 PM

    Order Izakaya Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    IZAKAYA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Izakaya

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    Interior
    Khiem N.

    Sashimi was great here. Very fresh. Not the best I've ever had though. The okonomiyaki is very satisfying. I would definitely get it again here. The place itself is kind of small but it's kept clean. They have a waiting area and I can guarantee if you go at usual eating hours, you'll have to wait.

    Beef tongue shio
    May G.

    We got grilled pork belly, beef tongue with salt and sesame oil, and katsu. The pork belly was crispy and flavorful. The beef tongue is the best I've had in the USA.

    Nigiri a la carte - bluefin tuna, hamachi, salmon, albacore, ikura, ume shiso roll, natto roll
    Kaho L.

    Upping my review to 5 stars, this place is a true San Jose gem! There's not many places in SJ where you can walk in almost every night (with just a small wait most times), even relatively late at night (they close at 10:30 PM), and get legit and fresh Japanese food from an extensive menu. They have such a huge variety to satisfy any appetite, whether it's something casual and hearty like a curry or combo box, to perfect drinking food like skewers and small plates, to freshly made sushi and sashimi of many varieties. All paired with a cold beer or sake. It's a small place to prepared to be cozy, but it just adds to the old school mom and pop charm. Always ask for kizami wasabi for your sushi!

    Alyssa S.

    Authentic Japanese food in Japantown. I always order their Sushi Boat B tray which has the best variety of sushi including toro, amaebi, ikura, and other assorted sushi at one of the best prices that I know of. In the pictures, we always have unagi, California roll, and ikura separate because we have someone with a gluten allergy. I love their takoyaki and okonomiyaki, so you have to try at least one! Udons are great and bentos also. Their restaurant is quite small so come before they open or you'll probably have to wait as there is a line on the weekends and even at opening time. So I usually order takeout and they usually put in a nice sushi tray as seen in the pics.

    Angela P.

    pros: -loved what we ordered, esp the chicken katsu curry -fast service -lots to choose from on the menu -medium sized restaurant, with tables for groups and individuals -cozy vibes cons: -parking is good

    Pam K.

    The menu is extensive so it may be a good idea to look ahead before you visit or know what you want. I say this because this place is a bit on the pricier side and everything sounds good so you might decide on some things and realize there may have been better options. At least that's what it was for me. I found the miso soup and salad to be bland and one dimensional. It may be perfect for you if you don't eat much salt. The inside of the restaurant is very small and pretty cramped if you're a larger person. The food is pretty decent and feels more authentic compared to your run of the mill Japanese restaurant. The service could use some improvement although it wasn't terrible. We were sat at the back corner of the sushi bar and the woman who took our order was curt. She also forgot to bring us water or do anything else besides constantly pushing another chair closer to me when she came by. Another server ended up taking care of us. Everyone could try and be more warm and friendly.

    Yummy
    Brian L.

    Yummy great food traditional Japanese food many dishes one cannot find here in Cali. Will be back.

    Chicken skin skewer
    Lin S.

    A small place which does get crowded. The food was ok, nothing I found impressive. Service was kinda slow. Probably won't be willing to wait in line for it.

    Menu
    Fiona T.

    It was a bit tricky to find. Enter the building that looks like it is for genji. There is a doorway on the left for the restaurant. The food came out very fast. My boyfriend loved everything we ordered. His favorite item was the takoyaki. We didn't try a bento this time but other customers sounded like they really enjoyed it. Will have to try it next time.

    Kat E.

    Late night cravings = order everything From appetizers, to entrees, to alcohol, and dessert Food and drinks will come out quickly and servers are very attentive. Decors literally made me feel like I was in Japan Best izakaya spot in sj

    Cole O.

    Tucked away on the left as you walk into Genji, this spot is small and hidden but absolutely worth it. It took me years to finally try it, and now it's one of my top sushi picks. The fish is super fresh, and the menu doesn't disappoint.

    Spicy tuna, spicy scallop and natto rolls
    Sueno S.

    Delicious and fresh. Their sushi is the best in the area and their cooked food is just as good. If you like rolls I highly recommend the spicy scallop roll. So good!

    Beef tongue shio
    Shilah A.

    One of the best and freshest sushi I've ever had in the bay! Ordered: - Tempura Appetizer (Not pictured) - Beef Tongue Shio - Rainbow Roll - Toro Nigiri Everything here is soo good. Tempura was crispy, hot and perfect amount of breading. Tempura sauce was also the perfect amount of flavor to it. Beef tongue was great too - tender and wasn't overly seasoned. Toro just melts in your mouth! Sooo sad it was gone in just one bite. Plus fish on the rainbow roll was so fresh and soft, quality reminded me of the ones you can find in Japan and Hawaii. Food is expensive but worth the price! The restaurant itself is very small so wait times can be high, but apparently they take reservations over the phone. Despite that, we waited around 30 minutes for a Friday night.

    Agedashi mochi

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    Page 1 of 22

    Izakaya Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Izakaya

    Do they do teppanyaki here?

    This is not a teppanyaki restaurant. It is a sushi restaurant with many other Japanese dishes. There is a teppanyaki restaurant next door.

    What is the corkage fee for sake? I only see corkage fee for wine, shochu and hard liquor

    Eh? Sake is not distilled (and not hard liquor) just a brewed rice wine. They certainly serve sake here (but I don't know what their corkage fee is).… 

    Do they take reservations?

    Yes they do

    Okonomiyaki good here?

    It's Osaka style and fairly thin. Lots of octopus in each bite. I enjoyed it

    What salad dressing is used on the bento box orders? I love the taste very much.

    They make their own. You can order it and take it home!

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    Yaichi Japanese Restaurant

    Yaichi Japanese Restaurant

    4.2
    (176 reviews)
    4.1 mi

    Food: Ume Bowl with Ochazuke Set Price: $26 + $4.5…read moreOverall: I came here with my boyfriend to celebrate our anniversary back in April! It is in the general area with Cere Tea and Koi Palace. We arrived around 6PM and were seated immediately. We came for the seafood don and both got the UME with an addition of the ochazuke set. For $26 + 4.5 for the set, I think it's really worth the price and you get a good amount of fresh fish. Each bite felt like I was transported to Japan and eating a Kaisendon. Although we had to wait for a bit for the dashi soup to arrive , it was a delicious end to our meal. So comforting and hearty.

    This place is such a hidden gem in Milpitas! From the cozy ambiance and charming decor to the…read morebeautifully presented food, it truly felt like getting a little taste of Japan. We visited on a Tuesday around 5:30 p.m., and it wasn't too busy yet. We were seated right away in a cozy corner and received friendly, attentive service throughout our meal. Here's what we ordered: Edamame: Perfectly cooked and lightly salted. Take Bowl: The fish was incredibly fresh, and the rice-to-fish ratio was spot on. It was a generous portion, too! My only wish is that it came with a little more seaweed so we could make more than one hand roll. Pumpkin & Japanese Sweet Potato Tempura: Light, crispy batter that didn't overpower the vegetables. Perfectly fried. Takoyaki: Only three pieces, but they were flavorful and satisfying. Overall, we had a wonderful experience. Between the fresh, high-quality food, welcoming atmosphere, and excellent service, this is definitely a spot I'll be coming back to.

    Photos
    Creamy Mentaiko Udon
 Spicy cod roe, shiso leaf, nori seaweed, Lemon, soft-boiled
 egg
    Creamy Mentaiko Udon Spicy cod roe, shiso leaf, nori seaweed, Lemon, soft-boiled egg
    Yaichi Japanese Restaurant
    Minced tuna, Hokkaido Scallop,
 Tobiko, Snow Crab, Marinated Salmon Roe, Hokkaido Sea Urchin, Cucumber,
 Pickled Lotus root

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    Minced tuna, Hokkaido Scallop, Tobiko, Snow Crab, Marinated Salmon Roe, Hokkaido Sea Urchin, Cucumber, Pickled Lotus root
    Gombei

    Gombei

    3.9
    (1.4k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    Good grief, I thought I did a review already, but clearly I did not! This is now a few months late,…read morebut I still remember a lot! We discovered Gombei while in San Jose for a conference and wanted legit Japanese, not things near the hotel. And very glad we found this small restaurant. And it's as authentic as you'd expect. Family owned, the staff was friendly and helpful, and clearly popular with local people...everyone in there were regulars that knew the owners! Food was delicious and fresh, simple and very much like comfort food. I got their special, with grilled mackerel & salmon. Very tasty, though the salmon was more well done than I liked. My husband had the katsu curry which was delicious. The gyoza was also great and nicely pan fried. We loved the family atmosphere, and how comfortable it felt. Restaurant is cheery and bright, but cozy. Will come again when I'm in the San Jose area! Thank you for the comfort food experience!

    As someone who's visited Tokyo not too long ago, Gombei definitely satisfied the Japanese comfort…read morefood craving. Paid street parking is fairly easy to find, and there was thankfully not a long wait on weekend afternoons. I stopped by for a teriyaki chicken and tempura plate, which also came with salad, rice, miso soup, and potato croquettes. I started the meal with the miso soup, which was indeed fairly salty. The teriyaki chicken and rice though - ooh this slapped! The potato croquettes were also fluffy and delicious, although it was a tad difficult to eat since it was fairly large. (Half thickness sized portions would be preferred if possible.) The shrimp and imitation crab tempura were a good break form the chicken, and they were both tasty. For a full Japanese experience, the dining room here is indeed a little on the tighter side, which really fits the theme. Service was efficient, though note that there's a small surcharge with credit card. 8/10, would come again!

    Photos
    Gombei
    Gombei Combo
    Gombei Combo
    Sapporo beer

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    Sapporo beer
    Kaita Restaurant

    Kaita Restaurant

    4.0
    (696 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    I love Japantown, and I love Kaita!…read more My group and I were wandering Japantown after a bit of shopping and stumbled upon Kaita. We got there around 6pm on a Friday and for a group of 3, we got seated within 5 minutes. Service was excellent! They were quick to take our orders and refill our waters. One of us accidentally spilled our water, but they kindly cleaned it up for us and reassured us it was okay. I ended up ordering the broiled salmon, which I thought was a perfect serving! They gave me the salad first separately, which I finished pretty quickly. Out came the rest of the meal in moritsuke style. The broiled salmon was cooked perfectly, with the nice charred taste while still maintaining its juiciness. They plated it with macaroni salad and sweet oranges. I was able to finish everything without feeling too overstuffed, and left the restaurant feeling satiated. I would love to come back again and try their kaisen don! Overall, I highly recommend if you want a cozy Japanense eatery in Japantown.

    Walking around Japantown in San Jose, we wanted to eat Japanese food. Surprisingly, there really…read morearen't that many options. And don't forget, most restaurants do close for the afternoon. Kaita Restaurant was one of the few that was still open and had a large menu selection to choose from. We walked in around 1:30 pm and was able to grab the last available table as it was packed on this weekday. They pride themselves as being a family-owned restaurant offering comfort food. There is a simple 2-page menu and a specials board. Do take note of it as you enter though. They also offer complimentary hot tea, which is unheard of these days. * Tempura Soba $14.95 Both of my kids ordered this, and it was quite generous. However, the tempura batter was a bit heavy and the Little Gal struggled to eat hers. (In retrospect, she would have been satisfied with just the soba on its own.) The Little Guy ate his and said it was alright. 3/5 * Small Negitoro Don & Small Tanuki Udon $18.95 This also came with a side salad. I enjoyed the negitoro don more so than the udon. The udon wasn't anything special, but I guess it's not supposed to be. 4/5 The price point really is something that can't be ignored because I'm sure it contributes to their cult following and the mere fact that they have been around for over twenty years. Service is quick and efficient. The staff work quietly and quickly throughout this tight restaurant.

    Photos
    The restaurant
    The restaurant
    Katsu Curry
    Katsu Curry
    Adorable wall decoration, showcasing chopsticks rests

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    Adorable wall decoration, showcasing chopsticks rests
    Blue Pagoda

    Blue Pagoda

    4.5
    (243 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$$$
    Kid friendly
    Large group friendly

    Here's a polished Yelp review with a warm, detailed, high-end feel:…read more Blue Pagoda has become one of our favorite sushi spots, and after several visits, it's definitely earned a well-deserved 5-star review! My husband and I have experienced both the 13-course Kamikaze omakase at the sushi bar and regular table dining, and every visit has been consistently excellent. If you're looking for an interactive dining experience, I highly recommend sitting at the sushi bar. Watching the chefs prepare each course makes the meal even more enjoyable. One thing we really appreciate is how easy it is to make a reservation. The staff is always welcoming, attentive, and happy to offer recommendations based on your preferences. They genuinely make you feel taken care of from the moment you arrive. The 13-course Kamikaze menu is an incredible value for the quality you're getting. Even better, they rotate the menu every month, which keeps every visit exciting. It's refreshing to return to a restaurant knowing you'll get to try new creations instead of the exact same meal each time. Every piece of fish we've had has been exceptionally fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. The restaurant itself is absolutely gorgeous. You can tell they put a lot of thought into the design and atmosphere. The modern aesthetic creates an inviting space that feels upscale while still being comfortable. They also offer a fantastic cocktail menu along with an impressive selection of sake. My husband and I enjoy trying different sakes, and while quality sake isn't inexpensive, the selection here is well worth it. Parking is generally easy, though it can get a little busier since it's located near a popular supermarket. Even so, we've never found it to be much of an issue. Blue Pagoda is truly a hidden gem in North San Jose. Between the consistently fresh sushi, rotating omakase menu, beautiful ambiance, excellent service, and great drink selection, it's a place we always look forward to returning to. We can't wait for our next visit!

    Came here with my fiance for his birthday and we opted to sit at the bar! We made reservations…read moreprior and I would definitely recommend doing this instead of a walk-in. The staff was very friendly and attentive to your needs. Parking was relatively easy since it has a lot but can get busy since there are other businesses around. The restaurant is modern and has a nice wine cellar in the front displaying some of their nicer bottles. Chefs were amazing and was able to tailor the amount of wasabi if you ask and didn't mind the change which is a plus ! Quality of the fish was great ! The sauces were made well- my favorite was the yuzu kosho! My fiance loved the speed of the omakase- for me it was a little too fast. We loved every piece that came, we even ordered extras off the a la carte menu (10/10 for this lol). We definitely will be coming back to this place! Chef tole us that they rotate their menu every 8th of the month so be on the look out on instagram !

    Photos
    Blue Pagoda
    Blue Pagoda
    Blue Pagoda

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    Izakaya - japanese - Updated August 2026

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