I was looking for something different to eat, stopped into Kaiden Don. Back in the day this location was Shogun where I would eat there often. When they closed I missed them. The authentic Japanese style food prepared in the Japanese tradition. The flavors of the orient were unparalleled. I was not sure if I was going to find any other restaurant that would compare. Then today, I can proudly say Kaisen don did it. I ordered unagi don, fried salmon head, my husband order chicken teriyaki with miso soup. It was served hot and well prepared. The presentation was excellent and visually inviting. The server was polite and attentive in the traditional Japanese style making us feel very welcomed. The soft Japanese rendition of American jazz playing softly in the background was perfect to set an ambiance of perfection in our dining experience. I most assuredly will dine there again and recommend it to anyone who enjoys great Japanese food and at affordable prices. If you are entertaining guests or are on a date night, choose kaisen don. read more

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I didn't love this place! The service was great and parking was super easy. It's decorated in an old school Japanese style, cheesy in the best way! The food, however, was interesting! First of all- the miso soup had NOODLES ? I've never experienced that before. It was filled with thin wheat noodles, mushrooms and carrots. I didn't care for it. The spicy tuna roll was just okay, just a very small portion. The salted mackerel dish was pretty good, but the rice was super bland, not the traditional sushi rice I love. This place wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. I wouldn't visit again, nor would I order it for delivery. read more

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They have sushi Wednesdays, which is 20% off all rolls and they have happy hour daily from 8:30 to 10:30 PM! This place has been open for a while but prior to this place that used to be another sushi place that we always go to. The place is nice and spacious plenty of tables sweet staff. Great customer service. The parking lot is a little bit small. I love that you could just order online and pick up. We also do love dining in when we have some time. The fish here is so fresh!! Love this place read more

Was pleasantly surprised with my visit to Kaisen Don! I wasn't expecting such a gem to find me in San Leandro, but I am an ultimate believer now. Arrived on a weeknight and the place was quiet. Loved the decor on the inside. After a few beats at a table, I knew I had to switch to bar sitting. That's always the place to be at a sushi bar. Totally made the right choice! THE SERVICE AT THIS PLACE WAS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! From the hostess, to the waitresses, and of course, the chef, these folks really treated me super well! I would come back simply for that. I'm such a sucker for great hospitality and its the secret sauce that keeps folks coming back! Had a few rounds of the most beautiful nigiri! Some of the best fish I've had in a while! So good! I also had a great sake flight. I may have been a cat in my past life because my absolute favorite was the hamachi carpaccio. Beautifully plated and served with a lovely salad on the side. So good! I could totally just have had a few rounds of that and would have been in complete heaven. Lovely Lovely Lovely sushi night at Kaisen Don! I know ill be back to do it all over again. read more

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I came here for dinner with my group after pickleball around 9pm. I was craving some sushi and they gave us a night owl menu. I ordered a lion king roll for $14.99 and it was tasty. It hit the spot and had a good amount of salmon on top. The waitress was friendly and patient with my big group. There was 12 of us and they knew how to handle our group very well. Their menu has a big variety but I thought some prices were a little high for certain items. They do give a good portion size and the food came out fairly quick. read more

Kaisen don - Lion king roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Leandro, California

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It was such a treat to visit this lovely gem in San Leandro following our visit to a favorite Korean spa nearby. My friend Holly drove all the way from Sacramento so I was keen to make the trip special in every way. Conveniently located, the restaurant accepts reservations, and there is an option to be seated at regular tables or in a lovely traditional Japanese styled seating area, where you dine seated cross legged! The only hitch is if you do plan to enjoy this seating you must come with socks. Lucky for us, we were able to buy a couple pair of nylons to enjoy the traditional set up! For dinner, we chose the omakase option, which is the chef's choice of some of the most fresh delicate and buttery sushi I've had in a long time. The size of the nigiri was just right, proportioned well with not too much rice and garnishes where it actually made sense as an enhancement, versus a detractor from the freshness of the fish. I also took a chance to order an appetizer of fried chicken knees! They were tasty and exactly how you might imagine them as gristly chewy and very satisfying for an adventurous eater like myself! We finished our meal with a lovely mound of mochi! The staff was so kind and very accommodating, especially after learning my friend had traveled so far to dine with them. I will definitely come back and wish them great success as an exceptional sushi experience in their local area. read more

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Super friendly service. Easy to make a same day reservation on the 3rd of July. Can call or make a reservation online~ Small parking lot but abundant street parking around~ It's cute on the inside- it's like a building inside of this place hehe. It's a pretty big space~ We got a variety of things to try as we got there right before happy hour was over. We got 4 pieces of oysters- pretty tasty! Everything was great- from the smoked duck breast, lemon pepper Kama and the nankotsu. I wish there were some dipping sauce of some type for the nankotsu though! read more

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AMAZING date spot! Bring all your dates here to impress them. Only if they're a fan of sushi. But actually, the menu is so big that I bet there's something for all the non raw fish eaters as well. So many options. A little overwhelming. BUT all the things we got were soooo good, I'd drop my panties for my date in a heartbeat (jk). We ordered: spider roll, deluxe nigiri set, and the toro don. To pair with the delicious food, we got some draft beer that were comp'd bc I there was only enough for 3/4 of a glass, the dassai sake flight, and ended up getting more dassai 39. Our waitress was so kind and patient. Thank you for the great service! We finally found our special sushi spot. We will definitely be back! read more

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Authentic, fresh, and different. Came by lunch hour on a Monday with my cousin, niece, and newborn nephew. We were able to sit at the traditional Japanese tables and I'll say, make sure you wear the right bottoms cause denim was not the best idea. The interior was amazing! You walk into a different world with the hardwood and aesthetics of a Japanese establishment. For drinks, we had some Asashi, a strawberry sake, and another sake. For food, we had a sashimi plate, salmon nigiri, and a beef bowl. Food items tasted fantastic! Drinks were refreshing! Our server was amazing! Having a little one being fussy near the end of our meal, our server was kind enough to warm up some water to dip a baby bottle to feed the nephew. The menu has a variety of items so that everyone in the group can try something to eat. Definitely can't wait to come back and try other delicious items. read more

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I finally had the chance to dine here, late on a Sunday evening after months of saying I would. It was definitely worth the wait! I really do love that Kaisen Don is open super late. It makes our late night sushi cravings satiable, with great quality fish too! We ordered the rice bowl with scallop, crab, ikura, and tamago. The scallop was incredibly fresh and very sweet. The ikura tasted like it was marinated in a yuzu ponzu- an umami bomb of savory citrus! The miso soup was very intriguing, it was packed full of noodles, tofu, mushroom, radish, and carrot! Delicious and filling. I really enjoyed how simple and refreshing the zaru soba was as well. Kaisen Don is a great restaurant for a late night date night. I will definitely be back! read more

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Had a great experience here for dinner earlier tonight. The oysters were sweet and delicious, and the deluxe sushi combo nigiris were chefs kiss. No crowd on a weeknight early dinner, and I love that they open early for dinner and stay open late. Casual upscale vibes and very Japanese aesthetic decor. Will be back! read more

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Great spot in San Leandro to grab some sushi :) Lunch quality today was good and service was fast and friendly. I enjoyed my salmon avocado roll. Limited parking with optional street parking. Beautiful decor. Thank you! read more

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This review is for their mushroom soup, which is rich in flavor. I must say it's the best I ever had!!! The service here is top notch and you will not find a more authentic Japanese Sushi Restaurant in the Bay!!! read more

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Pro Tip: You come here for the nigiri not the rolls. The difference in quality of the fish is noticeable. I would ask what fish is in season and order those as they are the freshest. With that said Kaisen don is located in a very unassuming area. The surrounding is filled with car dealerships and it can be easily missed driving by. I recommend driving a bit slow when coming closer to the restaurant. As for parking they have a small lot within the premises of the restaurant itself and have a decent amount of spaces. In terms of the interior it's very charming. You wouldn't imagine this interior with the very lowkey exterior. Depending on your group size you maybe seated tatami style seating with your shoes off. Its a very nice experience if you wanted a nice place to celebrate a special occasion. As for the food this was our first time with friends. They have a very massive menu and we ordered both rolls and nigiri. Based on my tip you can already tell where this is going. Their rolls were strangely not up to par and the amount of rice on the sushi was a bit sparse. The nigiri however was surprisingly really fresh. We ordered all the seasonal fishes and man they were good. It's comparable to a lot of nicer places we've dined at and more accessible. The price point however leans on the more expensive side, so if you are willing to splurge then you will have a great experience but if you're here for the vibes and rolls, its going to be a bit disappointing. Overall, I am definitely coming back despite the price just for the freshness of the fish alone. Looking forward to their live music nights as well and enjoying a nice date here once again. read more

Kaisen don - Kurodai Nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Leandro, California

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I already can't wait to come back!! We needed a place that was open late for dinner. Kaisen closes around midnight (really big selling point) and I'm glad we came! The space is super warm and inviting. It's big but cozy and they have traditional tatami seating if you wanted to try that, it was raining the day we came so that part of the area was closed. They have a pretty extensive menu and we tried a lot of it! Honestly I don't think you can go wrong with anything you order, everything was so fresh and made really well. My favorites were the spicy garlic edamame, fried oysters, lion king roll, bay scallop roll and sashimi platter. My friend had the beef udon soup which was tasty but the noodles were just slightly too chewy and the beef just slightly tough but still delicious! Service is spectacular. Very friendly and checked on us often. We finished dinner at around 1030 and we asked if they were closing soon but they said they close at midnight and to just enjoy our time. I loved that! read more

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We've been coming here regularly for years and have always really enjoyed our food and experience. However tonight was truly disappointing. Not only was the sushi not as fresh as usual, but they wouldn't even honor a loyal customer discount they sent me. I got a text earlier in the day saying $20 off if I spend $100+. Great, we went that same night. When trying t pay they argued that the coupon was only for take out. However, the coupon did not say that. In the past I have receive other coupons that would say if it was for take out only or dine in only. This one didn't say anything. So I assumed it was fine. Maybe it's my fault I should have asked before sitting down. But they need to ensure their coupons are clear as well. Additionally, we are a family of 5, we have 3 well behaved kids. And we always get placed at the table in the far back by the bathrooms. Today we walked in and there was only 1 other couple inside so almost all the tables open. And they still insisted on sitting us at the far table. This table doesn't even have chairs, just a hard wooden bench that I had to ask to have actual chairs. Disappointing to say the least. It's safe to say that after many years of coming we will not return. Maybe if they had honored their "loyal customer" coupon this would have ended differently. But we definitely did not feel appreciative or valued customer today. read more

Kaisen don - The first coupon from earlier this month clearly states take out. The one T oday does not - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Leandro, California

We finally got around to trying Kaisen don for Valentines this year and we were sooo glad we did. The interior is so unique that I'd recommend having a meal here just to experience it. I'm not sure if they did this just for Valentines, but there was loud romantic music playing throughout the meal which was the most amazing ambiance. If this isn't the norm- please do this regularly! Parties of 6+ can sit at the tatami mats, so we were given a table by the window in the main dining area. It would be nice if they allowed smaller parties to book the tatami mats. I was super impressed by the menu. Don't be fooled by the normal menu listed on the website. When you arrive, they'll give you a lengthy specials menu filled with unique items. Overall, the food was good, the fish was fresh, and we would definitely go back. There were a few standout pieces of nigiri that would be must orders. But for San Leandro? The price was a bit higher than I'd value the food and location. Deluxe sushi combo (7 pc nigiri, negitoro roll) - Madai (Red Sea bream): one of the best pieces and the first time I've really loved madai - Kurodai (Blackhead sea bream): ok - Halibut: disappointed by how thin it was - Chu toro: one of the best chu toro I've had in this area. Really, really impressed - Shimi Aji: so good! - Ocean Trout Belly: good - Blue fin tuna: one of the best pieces! - Negitoro roll: this was just okay. The seaweed was a bit tough. - Miso soup: more like a vegetable noodle soup which was interesting. - Scallop nigiri: really good - Hamachi belly nigiri: not my favorite. Light and crispy. - Smoked duck breast salad: not worth $24. The smoked duck was dry and tough read more

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Came here on a date! The parking lot has a few spots, but it's on Marina across from the nike store. So kinda busy. The building is nice and when you enter it feels hella Japanese. The woman serving us was hella sweet and she recommended stuff on the menu. I ended up getting the ahi salad, which was hella good and she got the combo plate. Overall it was pretty good, price was a bit steep, but the quality is there. read more

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All the Sushi was very bland. The fish soup was hearty and pungent but needed salt. Even the wasabi didn't have a bite to it. Something seems off tonight. read more

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Came here to lunch with friends. Service and food still as great as before. The restaurant is always nice and clean. We tried a little of this and that. Everything was yummy and flavorful. My favorite was the fresh oysters. We also had to have hot sake. We had several orders of that. Still a place to return when in the area for sushi. read more

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We came here on a weekend day in the early afternoon and ordered a good amount of food including the eel bowl, veggie tempura roll, agedashi tofu, California roll, and the spicy garlic edamame. Everything we had was decent overall. The agedashi tofu was a little firm and more bland, though it was served in fish soup and so the outside was not crispy by the time it got to us. The eel in the bowl was tender and had good flavors, but the miso that came out with it was just lukewarm. The spicy garlic edamame had a charred taste to it that was a little overpowering. The sushi rolls were pretty good, especially the veggie tempura roll, which had a variety of vegetables in it including sweet potatoes and asparagus, and it had a nice crisp to it, even though it took a little long to get the dishes. Overall, the food was solid. The ambiance was also nice, with a mixture of regular tables and the tables without chairs. However, the place is very dimly lit with little music, so you can feel a little sleepy in there. The service was also pretty nice, though they have online menus and so you scan the QR code upon sitting down. I heard someone ask for a paper menu, but the text on that menu is smaller than the online version, according to the server. read more

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I used to like this place so much that I bragged about it to all my friends. But I will not return after our last visit. Service was slow due to short staff. But It was the food that was disappointed. Soft shell crab - Came out with no sauce and mushy, not crunchy. Agedashi Tofu - almost like getting a bowl of tofu soup. Diluted dashi broth on top of the lightly fried tofu. Chicken Karaage: was alright. Blue Fin Tuna Don - I order this dish every time I visited Kaisen Don so I am pretty sure they gave me regular tuna. Although they charged me for Blue fin tuna. Disappointed. Sushi rice was yummy tho. Hamachi Kama - rotten fish. This is a big NO, imo. We never, seriously never, had spoiled Hamachi Kama at any of the Japanese restaurants, in and outside of the US, never, ever. We told our server to let the kitchen staff know. Our server came back and said he will remove the item from our bill. We also told him to make sure they don't sell this dish to anyone. We repeated three times to make sure he heard us too. Definitely not a $$$ quality type of food. read more

We celebrated my mom's birthday at Kaison Don, and it was such a wonderful experience! The atmosphere was welcoming, the waitress was informative and kind, and the food was fantastic. We ordered the fruity sake flight, which was fun to try and had a great variety of refreshing flavors. We also shared the sushi tray that's meant for 3-4 people, and it was the perfect amount for the three of us. We all left satisfied, and there were even a few extra pieces to take home! Everything was fresh, beautifully presented, and tasted amazing. It was the perfect meal to share while celebrating a special occasion with my mom and brother. We'll definitely be back for another family dinner! read more

Kaisen don - Sushi Tray B (3-4 people)* - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Leandro, California

We finally found our sushi spot! If only it wasn't on the other side of the Bay... We came in on an early Saturday evening, around 6pm. Even though we had a reservation, there were still plenty of open seats. They also have a modified tatami seating for the "authentic" experience - modified being you can still sit with legs at 90 degrees vs. cross legged in a traditional tatami seating. The interior ambience was warm and inviting, with traditional Japanese aesthetics. The menu can be viewed via a QR code at your table, although I'd much prefer having a physical menu. They DO provide a paper menu, but it is not comprehensive. The food is AMAZING! We ordered the omakase chirashi and the deluxe combo nigiri. Rice and fish ratio is appropriate, and ingredients and garnished were considerately placed to accentuate the right flavors. Service was great. Staff was polite and attentive, and the food came out really quick. What really caught our attention was that the staff explained what each piece of fish was, and a recommendation on what order to eat them. This in and of itself is what separates a real sushi shop from the others, in my opinion. The only downside was the price. It was a priced like an upscale restaurant but felt more casual. Nonetheless, highly recommend and will be back again! This establishment gets to stay on our recommended dining options! read more

Kaisen don - Omakase Don(Daily item) - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Leandro, California

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Came here with a friend for dinner. I ordered the Sushi combo A, and my friend ordered the Sushi combo B. It came with a nice miso soup that had noodles in it. We also ordered the zucchini tempura which I really liked! My sushi combo was good. The sashimi tasted fresh and the quantity was good. read more

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If I could leave negative stars I would. We had a reservation for 6:30pm for a week for a birthday . We got there on time and were sat right away. At 7:05pm we were still sitting there. No one came over to us. Then I saw a table that came in after us have their order taken. I'm not even joking no one came to our table. We walked out and I kid you not the lady thanked us. She really assumed we actually dined there. Terrible. We ended up going to Koyomi in Castro Valley. read more

Fun tatami seating, lots sushi combos, don, entrees. + Deluxe sushi combo ($46.99) 6 piece negitoro maki fatty and soft, 7 piece chef choice nigiri, all soft and yum. Pretty similar flavors and small but some with shiso leaf and other textures were nice. (7.8/10) Birthday celebration gave us cute mochi ice cream w birthday candles! Great service read more

Kaisen don - Deluxe sushi combo ($46.99) - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Leandro, California

Yelp find! Wanted to try a new sushi spot so we ended up here. They have a parking lot, but it's not that big. I live for the interior, very traditional with the sitting rooms and the decor. I can't lie I'm a sucker for a place with a full body mirror. I almost forgot. The AMBIANCE!! They only played hits. 80s hits, I had to pull out my Shazam. The restaurant is on the bigger side so you can prolly bring a good size party here. Terrific service, our server was wonderful aside from the fact that halfway through our visit she stopped showing up and I had to wave someone down multiple times to get assisted. All of our dishes were delish! I was hypnotized by the $1.69 oysters which were a delight! Quite creamy with a refreshing sauce. My sakedon was just as refreshing. The quality of the fish was amazing. My friend got the mushroom soup and she said it hit the spot. I'll definitely be visiting again in the foreseeable future. read more

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Good quality, lovely environment, and delicious sushi! It was a little on the pricey side, but totally understandable given the quality. I like that they had a tatami seating experience but you need to meet the party minimum- which is 4 or 6! read more

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Kaisen Don is a true joy. Owned and led by a trained chef from Japan and served by friendly and knowledgeable staff. They have a wide selection of food, not just sushi. They have a very good selection of Sake and beer and offer three sample flights of Sake to let you learn more about the drink. You can always ask for recommendations to go with your meal. We've eaten in and taken out and have never had a bad meal from Kaisen Don. They are a regular stop for my family, and we take friends and family there from time to time as well. read more

This is my updated review 3 years later. This high quality highly skilled restaurant is still blowing my mind every time. The interior is beautiful and traditional. It doesn't get too packed so it's a quick bite. The garlic edamame something me and my family recommend, as well as the nigiri plate. They update their menu frequently which is exciting. read more

Kaisen don - nigiri California roll Real crab* - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Leandro, California

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Excellent food and good wait time for a table. Staff was friendly also. Ambiance was excellent. Gorgeous interior and cozy lighting. I highly recommend the manor roll. read more

The service was very friendly. Initially there was an issue because I felt as if the tuna was fishier. They said they get fresh tuna everyday. She brought me another pierce and it was delightful. Additionally will be coming back to try out their ramen table. Never seen something like it before. read more

Kaisen don - Tuna avo roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Leandro, California

Amazing food, atmospheric decor, and the staff are excellent. This place is a hidden gem. The staff are so attentive and pleasant. The owner, who is also the head sushi chef, is often there and is very serious about the hospitality. Sometimes he makes the sushi. He's so nice, he always makes me feel very welcome. I love the Japanese decor, the entry way is decorated like the entrance to a traditional Japanese house. The fish is so fresh. The sushi here is delicious read more

A solid 3-star Japanese restaurant in San Leandro. My husband and I came on a weekend Saturday for an early dinner and the restaurant was pretty empty. It feels like it will be more packed at night because they open late. Parking: private lot but not many parking spots. Ambiance: traditional spacious Japanese restaurant vibe. They have table seating and tatami seating for bigger groups. We saw a lot of family dinners when we were dining in so I think it's a popular spot for family gatherings in the San Leandro area. Service: 4/5. Service was above average. We were seated immediately and the wait staff gave us time to look through the menu prior to ordering. After ordering, the food arrived shortly. The wait staff checked up on us multiple times during dinner and we appreciate that the staff gave us the privacy to pay the bill by leaving us with the credit card machine. Food: 3.5/5. The Kaisen don was delicious. Portion size was adequate and the fish was fresh. We found the marinated ikura very unique. In addition we ordered 3 rolls which we find just mediocre. The sunset roll, the baked scallop roll and the marina roll. One roll was way too spicy, the other one was bland and the last one was a bit burnt for our liking. Price was expensive for the rolls but reasonable for the kaisen don. We will return for the kaisen don since the marinated salmon eggs are super unique but will probably opt out of their rolls in the future. read more

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Great sushi! Even after getting it from Uber Eats, it still had a great presentation and Fresh, 10/10 would get more sushi and bento boxes here. read more

For quite a while I had Kaisen Don saved as my go-to safe and tasty sushi spot. However, this last time I doordashed it and it was terrible. The real crab roll had crab that was going foul. We could not eat it. I had to request a refund from doordash. And the $35 Salmon Ikura Don had the thinnest pieces of salmon I have ever seen in a chirashi bowl. It was so deceptive because the pieces visually filled the top of the rice bowl, but when picking one up, was extremely thin. Big disappointment for one of my favorite spots seeming to go downhill. read more

Kaisen don - Salmon Ikura Don, 49er roll- not good :( Foul tasting crab and very stingy on the meat for the Salmon Don - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Leandro, California

We had a couple of sushi combos and ordered a handful of dishes. Each dish was quite small and the food was allright, not as fresh as I was expecting. The service was also quite slow. I don't think we will be back. read more

Came on a Sunday for lunch. Not sure if we came on an off day or something but Kaisen don was entirely empty when we walked in. Throughout our entire meal, there was only 1 other table. We ordered a few nigiris, a roll combo, the 49ers roll, hamachi kama, miso soup, and some appetizers like fried chicken knee cartilage, geso karaage, and agedashi tofu. The nigiris were fine but rice-heavy. The roll combo was probably the best deal for the price. We didn't really enjoy the 49ers roll, especially considering it was almost the same price as the roll combo and a lot less food. The fried appetizers were fine but oily. We didn't love the agedashi tofu - it comes in a broth which means it gets soggy quickly, but the broth was pretty flavorless and didn't add much. Service was friendly, attentive, and prompt read more

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Have been going to kaisen don for quite a while and it never misses! Sushi quality is always good! Kaisen Don crew always welcomes my boyfriend and I with open arms and has the best service. read more

Kaisen don - Spread - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Leandro, California

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