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    Noma Sushi

    4.3 (361 reviews)
    ModerateSushi Bars, Japanese
    Closed • 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
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    NOMA SUSHI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Noma Sushi

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    Chirashi Don
    Ellin C.

    Noma was a cute hole in the wall type of restaurant. They are generous with their cuts of fish. Got the chirashi don which came with a nice variety of fish. They did get the order mixed up and brought one extra chirashi instead but overall service was prompt and their menu has a good variety of entrees, rolls and sashimi.

    Noma Roll (back) and Scallop Inferno (front)
    Monica N.

    This is probably my 5th or 6th time at Noma. My experience is mixed but generally good! I've only gotten sushi here and can say the variety of specialty rolls are plenty and the fish is pretty fresh. If you want a bit of everything on your sushi plus tempura crunch, get the Noma roll. That's my go-to. Their scallop inferno is also nice when you want a clean and simple roll. When you have an earlier dinner (like I did this time around; 5:30pm), the service is great with the food coming out in a timely manner. I've come during prime dinner time (7pm) and the wait can be long given how small the restaurant is. And a few times we'd put our order in and it would take a good 20-30 minutes to get anything. Even when we ordered a beer and all they have to do was go to the refrigerator, open the bottle and serve it to us, it wouldn't be done until we ask about it again. A lot of folks call in to reserve tables too so if you know you want to go there, call for a reservation to avoid the wait. They have a small parking lot for like 5-6 cars otherwise there's street parking. Overall, solid sushi spot!

    Spicy Tuna Tartare Tacos (3 Pieces)
    Allie G.

    We visited Noma Sushi on a Thursday evening and got seated right away with no reservation. This spot was tricky to find, since it was tucked away and quite small. The vibe was very casual with no frills. I started with a Miso Soup, which was expectedly good. We also got the Spicy Tuna Tartare Tacos to share between the 3 of us, which was perfect because it came in 3 pieces. My friend and I then ordered the Bluefin Lover's roll and Double Hamachi roll to share. Both of these were awesome! The fish was so tasty and fresh and the flavors went together really well. It was hard to pick a favorite between the two! I also tried a bit of my other friend's Geisha roll, which was nice but less memorable. Service was friendly and quick, and pricing was pretty standard.

    Kevin N.

    This little hole in the wall ish sushi spot was pretty spot on for some quick and fresh sushi. Bit hidden and tucked away in this parking area but not too hard to spot. Plenty of parking around also. There was no wait when I came on a Thursday night. Service here is really friendly. Got the 10 piece omakase set and quality to price was solid. Each piece was fresh, buttery, and love how they include real wasabi on it.

    Menu May 2026
    Emily W.

    No wait for my party of 4 on a Sunday lunch. Pretty small restaurant but cozy. Service is good, food came out fairly quickly. We shared the salmon sampler appetizer and 4 rolls: spicy crunch, mango spider, noma roll, and bluefin lovers. Salmon sampler was pretty good. I wasn't a huge fan of the smoked salmon but I loved the regular salmon and salmon belly sashimi. My favorite roll was hands down the mango spider. I usually love rolls with mango, and this one was so fresh with a LOT of crab on top. I also liked the spicy crunch roll and noma roll as well. The bluefin lovers roll was surprisingly my least favorite - I had the highest expectations for this roll due to the seared bluefin tuna and the black truffle, but we felt like it ended up being too heavy and too much. I think it would've been better if it were just the bluefin tuna with truffle on top as sashimi, without the rice/roll part, but just my opinion. Portions were very generous with thick cuts of fish and prices were reasonable. Overall I'd recommend this restaurant for solid sushi!

    Dragon, rainbow, negihama, spider and eel fried rice
    MJ M.

    Another delicious meal at this cozy restaurant! We like to come here after going to the San Mateo Farmers market. Usually get the eel fried rice and a few rolls.

    Ran C.

    In San Mateo for the weekend, I was craving Sashimi. Looked for a few places that didn't look like reservations were required and found Noma. Had a good experience. First, if you can, do make a reservation. I got there early but as I dined, the restaurant filled up and people were waiting outside as I left. Me, party of one - usually never have a problem. If I got there ten to fifteen minutes after I did, I would have waited. This was for a seat at the counter. Guess I was lucky that night. Too bad I didn't buy a lottery ticket. The chefs behind the counter didn't really interact with the counter guests. Service was handled by the two different servers who seemed to tag team the entire restaurant. And they were busy. Overall, service was ok. There were a few instances where I had to wait but then again ... first world problems. As for the food, I really enjoyed the Sashimi and Shrimp Tempura. See pics. The tempura was done like I've had in Japan. Generous cuts of Sashimi - if you like it that way. I felt the Squid legs were ok. The batter was uneven and not golden brown all the way through - some pieces were crunchier while others were on the soggy side. Not that it was bad. I cleared the plate. Like I mentioned, the place got busy. Not a lot of seating - maybe just over a half dozen tables plus the bar. If it matters, there's a TV but the evening I was there, a Worship performance was on. No sports. It was a good experience. I'd go back. Other places I'd try before I do, but I'd definitely go back.

    Salmon Skin Salad
    Cheryl M.

    Noma Sushi is a hidden gem located 2 blocks from El Camino in a mixed residential/industrial area off Highway 92. Staff welcoming and friendly. While waiting, staff behind the sushi bar shared the names of the various rolls they were preparing as they knew it was my first time . Totally appreciated Ordered the following to go: SALMON SKIN SALAD. Basic mixed greens , 2 sliced grape tomatoes and nicely crisp salmon skins. Sounds odd but delicious!Salad came with 3 sauces: sesame dressing, ponzu and unagi sauce - good but wish the salad had more components 4/5 DRAGON ROLL - shrimp tempura with unagi. Nicely prepared shrimp tempura made fresh so it was crispy, (not rubbery) vs sitting around with a generous topping of eel and perfectly seasoned/cooked rice, fresh avocado and cucumber. 5/5 NOMA ROLL - server recommended as one of their popular ones with spicy tuna, salmon and tuna with crunchy panko flakes and their special sauce. It was good but will skip next time as the texture of the fish melded too much for me. Restaurant easily missed due to the small parking lot in front blocking the non-de script exterior. I'd return to try other items as Noma Sushi has a variety so you won't get bored. Inside about 10 - 4 seat tables along with 5 seats at the sushi bar. Free street parking. I wouldn't recommend dining with a large party on the weekend unless you make a reservation. Pricing on the higher side with like places but for the quality, worth it.

    Spicy tuna roll
    Melzie C.

    My new favorite sushi spot! We came here at the recommendation of a couple neighbor friends. Boy were they spot-on. It's a small spot, always has a good football/baseball/basketball game on (yay!) and the sushi is amazing. Seriously top quality. The sashimi is large fat cuts, not thinly trimmed. The sushi is expertly low rice - just the minimal amount to coat the fish and stuffings. I have been back twice in 10 days and I plan to waste/invest lots here LOL.

    Valerie T.

    This was a hole-in-the-wall find and I was not disappointed! Its parking lot is super small so I'd recommend parking a bit away and walking over. I typically get the Ninja Heart roll and if I'm feeling extra special, the seared bluefin toro with uni nigiri. Both are so good - fish was so fresh and melts in your mouth!

    Lion king roll
    Tina R.

    Omg, this sushi place is really good! All the rolls were delicious and included the following: California roll, lion king roll, and the volcano. I was amazed that they don't use too much rice. We also ordered the omakase 15 pc sashimi and the fish was super soft and fresh. We really enjoyed everything!! Service is great as well!

    lion king roll & unagi
    Rini C.

    I did a DoorDash takeout, so I don't have any insight to the service or dine-in for this place. The total for my order was around $28. I ordered the Lion King Roll and Unagi. The Unagi came with two pieces, and the Lion King Roll was eight pieces. The Unagi tasted really good and not overly saucy. I wished it came with more pieces. The Lion King Roll was saucy and flavorful, not really spicy at all. I would prefer a bit less sauce with the roll. Not sure why, but I didn't feel very well after finishing the sushi. I wonder if it might've been out too long since it went through DoorDash, but it's hard to say for certain. Another con I had from my sushi was that the Lion King Roll wasn't cut through all the way, so when I picked up a piece with my chopsticks, the bottom half was stuck to the whole roll and ended up falling apart. I think the sushi here was really good and flavorful, but I'm a bit disappointed by my experience. If I ever decide to try this place again, I probably wouldn't do food delivery and would try dine-in instead.

    Good sushi and ambiance. The last time I went through the server spilled hot sake on my lap and didnt offer to comp it or even refill our hot sake so -1. Other than that the sushi is good and decent price. I still come back, but that one experience still stays.

    Gyoza (6 Pieces)

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    Noma Sushi Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Noma Sushi

    Does it take reservations?

    Do they have a parking lot or is it only street parking?

    tiny parking lot- it's best to park on the street. the neighborhood is safe.

    Does anyone know where their fish comes from?

    Di they still have 15% off for Grand Opening Special?

    Dine-in only for 15% off. I believe there's a sign in the front before walking in about it.

    Can I bring my own sake and the corkage fee? Do they do anything special for birthday celebrations?

    View All 8 Questions

    Kajiken - Homura Aburasoba

    Kajiken

    4.4(1.5k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    •$$

    I've come here twice now and I didn't realize I never left a review the first time I came! So now I…read morefeel I have even more to say how you much gotta come to Kajiken! Both times I've come I hadn't had to wait very long and our second time was with a large group including kids. Our server was great in helping us preorder before we could get seated and we only waited 15 minutes. We all ordered the same things: half of us ordered the original aburasoba and the other half ordered the homura aburasoba and the food came out quickly. They kindly gave us little bowls for the kiddos and forks and all the kids loved the noodles and the adults shared a large pitcher of beer. All in all, best aburasoba and one of my favorite spots in San Mateo!

    Finally had a chance to try this San Mateo hotspot…read more My two friends ordered the best-seller homura aburasoba (spicy minced pork) and I had the unagi version. We also had the squid and gyoza appetizers. Food was well prepared and tasty, even if the service was harried and uneven. A few servers knocked into my friend and one even spilled on her while clearing dishes from the neighboring table. The staff also hovered as we were finishing our meal and asked several times if we were done/needed anything else and then less subtly if we could vacate the table. Also, we had placed ourselves on the Yelp waitlist instead of standing in the line outside and then were told when we went to check in that they don't use the Yelp waitlist, and that set us back a half hour. The food is great, but the logistics could use some work.

    Photos
    Kajiken - Inside

    Inside

    Kajiken - Oroshi Ponzu Karaage($10)

    Oroshi Ponzu Karaage($10)

    Kajiken - Complimentary Accoutrements ($0) Vinegar, Chili Oil, Dried Garlic, Sesame seeds, & Chili Powder

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    Complimentary Accoutrements ($0) Vinegar, Chili Oil, Dried Garlic, Sesame seeds, & Chili Powder

    Udon Mugizo - San Mateo - Udon Mugizo San Mateo

    Udon Mugizo - San Mateo

    4.4(390 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    •$$
    Kid friendly
    Locally owned & operated

    Love the San Mateo location. It feels so spacious and fancy! And the kids meal comes with a toy…read morefrom a ball machine. The katsu curry was the highlight. The nabeyaki udon broth is a little too sweet for my taste. We'll be back for the pork katsu and curry!!!!!

    I've been a few times to Udon Mugizo so I'm not going to let last night's experience affect the…read morewhole review. But it seemed they were either short staffed, had too many takeout orders, or both because even though there were empty tables, the employees were running back and forth between service and the kitchen and (maybe unintentionally) running away from anyone at the front door asking to be seated. Anyway, once we were seated, everything else was smooth and quick in terms of ordering and getting our food. I've tried their specialty udons before - the mentaiko cream and the spinach salmon one. They're very unique if you ever want to give it a go. The mentaiko is too heavy for me. The spinach salmon one is refreshing, but I don't like smoked salmon so that's the only thing deterring me from ordering again. I typically stick to my favorite tonkatsu udon. The broth had a lot of flavor and the medium spice level was perfect for me in having a little kick without it being overwhelming. I also like their tempura and corn fritter too, it's a great starter, but it fills you up before you get to your soup. The inside is clean and has simple/modern decor. But yeah, it was busy with the employees running around carrying trays and trays of bowls and utensils.

    Photos
    Udon Mugizo - San Mateo - Tempura Donburi

    Tempura Donburi

    Udon Mugizo - San Mateo
    Udon Mugizo - San Mateo

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    Taishoken - San Mateo - Tokusei Tsukemen, the house special

    Taishoken - San Mateo

    4.3(2.2k reviews)
    0.9 mi
    •$$
    Vegetarian friendly
    Wheelchair accessible

    Five star hands down. It's been a long time since I was impressed by a ramen/noodle place. We…read moreordered: Tokusei Tsukemen (Dipping Noodles), Karaage (Fried Chicken), Dashi Eggplant (6pcs), Kids Ramen, Kids Aburasoba. Karaage (Fried Chicken): 5/5. Crispy on the outside juicy and tender on the inside. Good portion for the price. Dashi Eggplant (6pcs): 2/5. I don't really get it... the menu says it's fried, and chef confirmed that it was fried for 40s, but I can't really taste any fried texture nor does it have the fried aroma. There's no batter. $5 is not a lot but we only got six tiny pieces of it so it wasn't good value either. This is the only item I didn't quite understand. Tokusei Tsukemen (Dipping Noodles): 5/5. Amazing. The dipping sauce is perfectly not too salty. Plenty of flavors. The touch of citrus exceeds expectations. Plenty of noodles. Good texture. The pork toppings are great too. Both are flavorful, tender, and well cooked (particularly impressive getting the chashu not dry). I took the dipping sauce to go afterwards. Kids Ramen: 5/5. Got a sneak peek of the ramen offering from this place. The soup base is very thick, very flavorful. Impressive. Kids Aburasoba: 5/5. Totally different experience. Loved it as well. Not too salty. Both kid's items were very generous. Service was great. We came in around 12pm on a Sunday and there's no line yet luckily. Would definitely revisit

    Came around 2pm on a Saturday and there was a wait. Joined a little before getting to the…read morerestaurant, so timed it well to avoid waiting around there for too long. Definitely join the Yelp waitlist! It was a good meal. Highly recommend the chicken karaage as an appetizer. Nice batter on the outside and juicy on the inside. I've been wanting to try their dipping ramen, so I got the spicy tsukemen. It really didn't taste spicy to me. Good quantity - the noodles felt endless! Decent sized space! I'd come back again if I was craving dipping noodles.

    Photos
    Taishoken - San Mateo - Shichida Daiginjo

    Shichida Daiginjo

    Taishoken - San Mateo - Niku spicy Ramen

    Niku spicy Ramen

    Taishoken - San Mateo - Tori Chintan

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    Tori Chintan

    The Backhouse

    The Backhouse

    4.3(69 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    I ordered a custom tray for a large group celebration and we were pleased with the quality and…read morenovelty. The fish were fresh, the rice was seasoned, and the garnishes were interesting. The owner was communicative via text and E-mail. Pick up was from a ghost kitchen. Menu was difficult to find online, but here is the link: https://twodotsco.typeform.com/to/eUm9sISf?typeform-source=linktr.ee The tray was beautifully decorated. At $6.25 per piece of sushi, the price was similar to nice sushi restaurants. I probably would not order from here frequently, but only as a special treat.

    I've had the backhouse on my list for a while and finally had an occasion to give it a try for a…read morecelebration. I preordered a deluxe platter ($450) which comes with 60 assorted nigiri for pickup on a holiday Monday around 1:30pm. Ordering via their form online was simple and easy and I received plenty of communication leading up to the pickup on where/when to pickup and who to contact for any changes or concerns. The pickup spot in San Mateo is a ghost kitchen setup, and parking was a little difficult (I got dropped off while my ride circled around). Once inside, there are a few tablets as well as doorbells labeled with different businesses. I pressed the one labeled for the backhouse and got our order at the door after waiting for a few minutes - there do also seem to be a lot of people picking up delivery service orders and generally seems to be confusing for the other businesses in the same space but I was able to get in and out pretty quickly. Onto the sushi - everything was delicious and they were kind enough to give us 3 of everything as I had requested to make it easier to split between our party of 3 which I really appreciate. The rice was nicely seasoned and not over or undercooked, and the standout has to be the uni. I really liked the asortment of fish/topping combinations and felt like there was a good mix of unique offerings and classics but the one thing I wished we had was some kind of guide or lost of what the fish we had were so I could better appreciate what I was eating. Overall, I'm glad I finally got to try the Backhouse and it was definitely tasty and a convenient way to enjoy some really high quality fish, but I think personally I prefer having the fish in a way where I can know more about what I'm eating to really enjoy the meal :)

    Photos
    The Backhouse
    The Backhouse - Omakase box @whaevaeats

    Omakase box @whaevaeats

    The Backhouse - Firefly Squid Box (seasonal)

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    Firefly Squid Box (seasonal)

    Prime BBQ - Yakitori

    Prime BBQ

    4.7(942 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Kitchen open late

    Overall, a really solid spot that the whole family enjoyed--the kids especially loved the beef…read moretongue curry. Most of the seafood and skewers hit the mark, with just one miss on the veggies. The Highlights: Abalone in Shell with vermicelli (5/5): Fresh, tender, and perfectly prepared. Scallops in Shell with Vermicelli (5/5): Fantastic flavor and texture Beef Tongue Curry: Rich, comforting, and a huge hit with the kids. The tongue was cooked just right. Skewers & Sides: Abalone Skewers (4/5): slightl larger pieces than the ones served in the shell, tasty and well-charred. Shrimp Skewers (4/5): Well-seasoned and cooked properly without drying out. Corn Skewers (3/5): A bit of a letdown. Heavily over-seasoned to the point where the natural sweetness of the corn was completely lost. Definitely worth a visit for the seafood and curry--we'll be back, but will likely skip the corn next time.

    Exactly what you're expecting when you want skewers. Everything was flavorful and well-cooked…read more Favorites were spicy beef skewers, mochi bacon, scallop in butter sauce, grilled oyster with garlic. The mentaiko udon stir fry was ok. I would skip the duck breast as it was kind of dry and not as flavorful as the other options they have. Price is borderline on still being somewhat reasonable but can add up quick if you have a big appetite. Decor made the ambiance nice. Service was fine. Food may be a little slow to come out depending on how busy they are. There is street parking but may be hard to get a spot during dinner time.

    Photos
    Prime BBQ
    Prime BBQ - Yakitori Combo

    Yakitori Combo

    Prime BBQ - Yakitori Combo (All Chicken)

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    Yakitori Combo (All Chicken)

    Tokie's - Spicy Hamachi Roll

    Tokie's

    3.9(782 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    •$$

    We had a great time eating here. We went towards the end of the night, but were still treated to…read moreexcellent food, wonderful & friendly service, and good drinks, we never felt rushed, neglected, or resented for being one of the final diners & drinkers. This restaurant/bar is among one of the best, fun, and hospitable family-owned Japanese restaurants in San Mateo (along with Sushi Edomata, Izakaya Mai, and Fuji Sukiyaki) serving tasty food, delicious cocktails, and attentive service in a spacious, clean, and dynamic atmosphere. Plus, staying until close & afterwards, meant that I could catch up with Victor (the owner) & his son Bryan (the bartender) who I haven't seen since Tokie's Foster City days, I can't believe they've been here going on 8 years! We came to drink & snack & socialize after a movie, Izakaya-style. No disappointments here as far as drinks go: we tried the Cloud 9, Shiso Beautiful, White Lotus, and the Paloma. Each cocktail was presented in its own unique glass and the complex tastes really came out with every sip. The alcohol was not overpowering, and the many ingredients in each cocktail really came out delightfully & subtly. Of course, the bartenders preparing & serving them were really on top of their drink game and were very friendly, engaging, personable, and like-able. Since we were sitting st the bar itself, it was quite easy to keep the drinks coming, though much to the damage of our overall final tab, yikes! Food-wise, we needed some snacks to soak up this boozy escapade, so we ordered mostly appetizers & small plates. The Chili-garlic edamame was terrific & delightfully spicy. The tofu steak was pretty meaty tasting & filling for just being tofu, with a wonderfully sweet glaze & firm texture. The grilled eggplant was a big portion, also very tasty and a good compliment to the tofu steak. We also tried some mushroom miso soup & sesame spinach to round out the healthy eating intended to balance out the booze session. All the food was served quickly, well-presented, generously-portioned, warm, fresh, and with great flavors, good seasoning, and perfectly prepared. Then came closing time, and once the doors were locked, money counted, bills settled, and counters cleaned, Victor & Bryan treated us like family as they unwinded & relaxed from a busy Saturday night dinner crowd. We shared shots of sake, whiskey, vodka, and beer, and had a wonderful friendly time catching up on things past. I had not seen Victor & Bryan wasn't even born yet when I used to hang out at Tokie's in the original Foster City location. I actually prefer the San Mateo one now, it's spacious, warm, inviting, it uses a lot of wood accents to make it calm, comfortable, and fun to hang out. Lighting is dim, music is low, so it encourages conversation, socializing, and intimate interactions. I'd consider this to be one of the better Japanese restaurants in San Mateo- good food, interesting drinks, amazing service & hospitality, all in a warm, comfortable, and appealing space. It gets super busy here, and parking around here is really difficult, so either come early or come late, and maybe take an Uber/Lyft or walk through Central Park to get here. But you'll be glad that you did, because Tokie's is a solid culinary, alcohol, and social experience. Will be back for more, and I don't want to wait a few years to do it again, maybe just a few days this time, I've been missing out on the party here!

    I had been wondering about this place for a while. It didn't disappoint. We tried chicken…read moreteriyaki and mixed tempura. Restaurant was busy on a Wednesday night, lots of families. Service was a little slow but everyone working there is very nice. I would go back.

    Photos
    Tokie's - Big dining room, many assorted tables & booths

    Big dining room, many assorted tables & booths

    Tokie's - Shishito peppers | @whaevaeats

    Shishito peppers | @whaevaeats

    Tokie's - Chawanmushi | @whaevaeats

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    Chawanmushi | @whaevaeats

    Noma Sushi - sushi - Updated October 2026

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