One of my favorite spots for Japanese food - this isn't your typical Japanese restaurant you find across the States with donburis, meal sets, California rolls, etc. Ranzan specializes in Kaiseki-style dining, leaning heavily on seasonal ingredients so their menu changes every so often, and you can tell all their ingredients are really high quality. Top-notch service with lots of attention to detail, and gorgeous dishware to go along with each item. If only it weren't so expensive I'd love to go back more often. If you're looking for a spot for date night or celebrating a special occasion, I highly recommend Ranzan. read more

Came here for a Mother's Day lunch with my family. It was very quiet, which my parents appreciated, and the overall atmosphere was minimalist, grounded, peaceful, and distinctly Japanese. The decor felt understated and calming, and both the host and server were very kind and welcoming. Service was definitely on the slower side -- we started the first course around 1pm and dessert wasn't served until about 2:40pm -- but I suppose that's part of the intentional, course-by-course dining experience. We ordered one of the lunch set menus. A few thoughts on the dishes: * House made tofu - Delicious. Light, delicate, and creamy, topped with wasabi and soy sauce. 9/10 * Appetizer assortment - A box with four small dishes (Nanohana steeped in dashi, simmered daikon radish, Tai marinated in vinaigrette, tamago). The tamago was less sweet than what you'd usually get at sushi restaurants (just okay for me, 6/10). The daikon was tasty (7.5/10), the fish had good flavor but a firmer texture than I prefer (7/10), and the vegetables were well-prepared (7.5/10). Everything was served room temperature. Overall, the flavors and sauces were very mild and subtle, in line with more traditional Japanese cooking. * The sashimi dish was fresh and delicious. 9/10 * Pork belly with vegetables - The pork belly was extremely tender and flavorful, and the vegetables were cooked nicely. The sauce was delicious. I almost wished it came with rice, but it was lightly seasoned and balanced as-is. 8/10 * Gindara marinated in miso - Lovely buttery, flaky texture. I've had similar miso black cod dishes elsewhere that were a bit more flavorful, but still very enjoyable. 8/10 * Chawanmushi - Very smooth, custardy texture with hints of citrus/yuzu, crab, and shiso. The crab texture was nice, though I didn't get a ton of crab flavor. * Octopus - A bit too chewy for my taste, though it paired nicely with the sweetness of the plum. I especially liked the nagaimo (yam) for both flavor and texture. 7.5/10 * Rice with kelp, wasabi cucumber, and simmered baby sardines - The kelp had a great texture and slightly tangy flavor. The wasabi cucumber was a bit too salty for me, even with the rice, but the baby sardines were delicious with just a hint of salt. 8/10 * Miso soup - Nice and light. 8/10 * Dessert (matcha yo-kan) - Green tea jelly with raspberries. Nice texture, though I personally prefer more pudding-like desserts. Not overly sweet, but I'm generally not a fan of beans in desserts. 7.5/10 One especially thoughtful touch: they served dessert to my mom on a special plate with additional Japanese candies and little origami pieces made by the staff. It felt very warm and personal. Overall, a good experience. They also offer à la carte options in addition to the set menus. The space feels intimate and would probably be best for smaller groups or quieter meals. read more

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We were excited to check out Ranzan, as this small restaurant offers kaiseki ryori. They offer both a lunch and dinner menu, in which for the lunch, you can message them a few days prior for a pickup. We had the Katsura, which were a total of 17 dishes with kobe beef - each dish was beautifully presented and was super fresh and delicious. Both the staff and the chef were very kind and took the time to explain each components of the dish. Note that you do need a couple of hours to enjoy the dining experience, and reservations are required in advance. A nice spot for a date night or to have a low-key dinner if you're in the area. +kaiseki ryori +friendly service & staff +reservations required read more

Our "kids" treated us to a night out at a really nice Kaiseki restaurant tonight. So much for my diet My son told them it was our anniversary and they made us these cute origami. Dinner was amazing, 13 courses. Loved this beautiful restaurant with lovely music and exceptional service. Thank you to our "children". read more

Ranzan - Pretty spoons - Japanese Near Me - Redwood City, California

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Tried the set kaiseki lunch for 98 dollars and it was surprisingly filling! The flavors were distinct and interesting and the food quality was very good. The food is pretty flavorful and some was a bit more salty than I prefer. The pace of the dishes was fairly quick and they really seem to time it for when you are done, there is the next course. Service was excellent. We had a lovely time. read more

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Came here with a friend for one of their Kaiseki meals. I was very delighted by not only the wonderful service but the fresh and healthy homemade quality of all the dishes that were represented. Each dish was wonderfully thought out with their flavors, and it was delightful to experience and taste. Great service as well. read more

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Totally under the radar and seriously underrated. This was one of the most authentic Japanese kaiseki experiences I've had, comparable to Kenzo or even some of the kaiseki meals I've had in Japan. The cold starter was a steamed tofu that had the texture of a savory pudding. It was super silky and delicate. The uni with onion was a combination I'd never tried before, but the flavors worked surprisingly well together and were packed with umami. If you're looking for California rolls or your typical sushi spot, this probably isn't for you. But if you want a true Japanese kaiseki experience, this place is absolutely worth trying. They also change their set menu every month, which gives us a good reason to go back. read more

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Should have written this one up sooner, because, unfortunately, the menu just describes the form of each course and not the specifics. Our sweet server described each dish, but in such a soft , accented voice, it was hard to follow. For most of our lunch, we were the only people in the restaurant, so that felt a little strange. They never responded to our phone messages seeking a lunch reservation. I guess that's why, but it seemed poor form not to respond. The two standout dishes were the first course,homemade, deliciously creamy and rich with briny caviar on top, and the fresh crab chawanmushi. Food:34/40 Service: 18/20 value: 16/20 Atm/intangibles: 16/20 Overall: 84/100 read more

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Excellent food! Very fresh and tasty! Especially their tofu! Tofu got a strong protein taste! Chef told me he made those tofu by himself. All servants are very very humble, charge me 20% tip is reasonable. If u want try some 懷石 or 便當, this is a good place and you should not miss! Also, feel free to talk with the chief after u finished everything~ read more

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I feel like Ranzan is a hidden gem. We have dined there for lunch a few times and we really enjoyed their lunch sets. We also got their takeout during Covid, and it was something we always looked forward to. It hasn't been super crowded when we went for lunch. It is so peaceful and the service is always great. Although the dishes are high quality and it is a fine dining restaurant, it doesn't feel stuffy. I would highly recommend trying Ranzan if you want to have an excellent Japanese meal. read more

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Simply amazing. Japanese Kaiseki style, which is like chef's selection in bento-box style, but they're called Juubako. Small bites of sushi, veggies, eggs, etc. They make their own tofu, which is creamy and rich and definitely the best I've ever tasted. Not cheap, but I promise it's worth it. I saw some reviews that the interior was too austere, but that makes it more authentic. And you're there for the food, so that should be what you're concentrating on. read more

*4.5 Stars For those that don't know, Kaiseki is a multi-course Japanese meal. More often than not, each course is prepared in a different manner to showcase the seasonal ingredients that are utilized in each dish. If you're looking to try a Kaiseki meal, then Ranzan is a great option. Located in downtown Redwood City, Ranzan is a pretty inconspicuous and unassuming restaurant from the outside. Focused on providing authentic Japanese food, Ranzan's menu changes each month to match the seasons in Japan. A great dining experience to try. ORDER - KIBUNE SET ($188/person): -Sakizuke (Starter) - deep fried sesame tofu -Chinmi (Delicacy) - ankimo monaka -Zensai (Appetizer) - grilled nagaimo with crab sauce, simmered maitake mushrooms, and green vegetables steeped in broth -Suimono (Soup Dish) - blue shrimp in a clay pot -Otsukuri (Sashimi Dish) - special of the day -Nimono (Simmered Dish)- slowly cooked octopus -Hashiyasume (Refreshing Dish) - plum wine sorbet -Yakimono (Grilled Dish) - wagyu sirloin steak with sweet shoyu sauce -Mushimono (Steamed Dish) - kuuyamushi -Agemono (Fried Dish) - lotus root dumpling -Sunomono (Vinaigrette Dish) - geoduck with agar jelly -Gohan (Rice) - hagama rice with snow crab meat -Misoshiru (Miso Soup) - enoki mushrooms and scallions -Mizumono (Dessert) - steamed castella read more

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Very high end traditional Japanese restaurant, authentic food, full of cultures and super services. A must try place without going to Japan

Was so fortunate to have found Ranzan when looking to celebrate a birthday dinner with someone awesome! Ranzan is a Kaiseki style dinner with a few different options for the amount of food / premium options. We ended up opting for Kibune option which was their 2nd tier out of 4. It was super delicious although we did struggle to get to the finish line because our stomachs weren't ready for the amount of food we were getting. XD Some of our favorite dishes from our particular menu included: *Wagyu sirloin steak with Japanese sansho pepper: So good. Perfectly cooked. Melted in our mouths. *Corn tofu: Just a personal preference but I really, really dug this clever play on classic tofu. Loved the texture and thought it tasted amazing. *Squash soup: This was their play on the traditional miso - loved it (and love all things squash in general). *Unagi donburi: Perfect portion (this was one of the later dishes, so my +1 and I were struggling a bit at this point) and super delicious. The unagi was so flavorful with a lovely slightly sweet sauce and breadcrumb like balls. *Yes, there were a couple dishes we weren't as fond of, but still loved the way they were presented and the ideas behind them! *The pacing of the food does come out at a pretty even cadence with service being so on point.. My +1 and I got deep into our talks and sometimes fell a little behind with some of the dishes overlapping as we were still chatting but we were usually able to catch up! *The presentation was amazing and super deliberate. Loved the little touches and appreciated too the small birthday surprises at the end. Super cute. *As some other have noted, at least as of August 2023, the restaurant returns your deposit directly to you. *The ambiance of Ranzan is so soothing and relaxing. Easy to have conversations. Super minimalist. Also, I took a rideshare getting to the restaurant so didn't notice parking as much, but my +1 did park a couple blocks away. Thank you so much to our two servers and the staff! Super memorable / glad I went / strongly recommended! read more

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Came here again and loved the kaiseki menu much more this time around. Some highlights were: - homemade tofu with soy sauce - appetizers (kansai?, pickled radish) - beef - cod - steamed eggs with crab - miso ground chicken over rice The halibut sashimi could have used some more flavor but it was definitely unique. Overall, glad we came back again. read more

Absolutely incredible set meal service with outstandingly prepared traditional Japanese meal sets. For those unfamiliar with traditional Japanese meals, they are NOT what you typically find as being common in western restaurants. They are however the common meal types that you have in Japan, and is largely the type of meal that I ate as a child at home. Seafood and vegetables are very common, many dishes are elaborately prepared here utilizing complex broths or cooking techniques, which makes the traditional meals absolutely outstanding. The meals change each month, as they are hevaily season-influenced, which is a very common thing in Japan. Certain meals are eaten only during certain times of the year--during the fall and winter for example, there are soup dishes with roots, and in the summer you would commonly eat cold somen at night. The take on the seasonality here is outstanding. The dishware is also exceptional--unbelievably well made dishes are handpainted in gold or lacquer--very exquisite dishes that have a unique purpose for each item served. This is also a very typical Japanese custom. There are some food items that were exceptional, and other that I can see putting off someone unfamiliar with traditional Japanese goods. The exceptional items were the fried ayu fish wrapped around delicate maitake mushrooms, in a tempura style batter. The seasonal fish was outstandingly delicate and light that went extremely well wrapped around the maitake mushrooms. This dish was unquestionably my favorite--very Japanese. The second favorite was the steak, which was similar to Wagyu style, very buttery soft and melt in your mouth texture. The items however that might be surprising to those unfamiliar with Japanese traditonal food was the abalone dish, and the ankimo dishes (monkfish liver akin to "seafood paté"). They also have very interesting sakes, and we tried the champagne-style sake, which was bubbly, fruity, sweet and tasted fairly close to many champagnes. read more

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First off, the service and the presentation was top notch. Excellent thru and thru. I came here last night to celebrate a friend's birthday. We got the $228 meal per person. The food was presented well but the food was just "basic*. There were a few dishes that stood out but some lacked flavor. I would have given this place 3 stars but dropped a star because they charge for distilled water - $8 per bottle and we drank 2 bottles ($16 total) ...what the hell. That is ridiculous. Not even a Michelin star charges for water and this place is not even Michelin rated. Also, fast food place don't even charge for water. I don't get it. I bit overpriced for what you get. I can not recommend this place..sorry. read more

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Really awesome kaiseki place in Redwood City. It's hard to find kaiseki around here but it's basically like an omakase except not sushi focused. I had the lunch and each course was delicious and delicate. The service and pacing was excellent as well for lunch. You can't tell from the outside but the restaurant interior has really nice ambiance - elegant and private. The design makes it feel like an exclusive experience even though it's in the middle of downtown. Overall would highly recommend! read more

Came back again for a new seasonal menu and it was still as delicious as my first meal. Someone mentioned in their review that they charge $8 dollars for a bottle of water. I think the guest and the restaurant staff may have had some miscommunication because water is free. I got free water and the tables all around me got free water. However, if you order the water from the menu then yes, that costs money because it's fancy water. If you just ask for water then you'll get the free house water. Which might I add is very crisp and delicious as water goes. They no longer remove the Tock reservation deposit from your bill, instead Tock will now refund your deposit after your dine in. If you don't notice a refund after a week, they said to contact them. They will pick up the phone during business hours. The service here is top notch and they're always trying to improve which is evident by the comment card they provide at the end of the meal. So if you're not pleased with anything, you can always let them know and they will always try their best to accommodate you. Can't wait to try another seasonal menu! read more

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A Zen experience. There are very few Japanese restaurants in the bay area that specialize in Kaiseki. Ranzan is one of the very few. And it is a gem of a place. I was one of the very first customers when this place opened, and ~7 years later the craftsmanship and attention to detail has not changed. Simply, WOW! read more

I've eaten at Ranzan periodically over the last 5-6 years. Each meal is its own experience and enjoyable but one thing is clear that makes this place great....the meals keep getting better. The chef has clearly been perfecting his methods over the years and what they serve now is better than ever. Personally I think Ranzan is deserving of a Michelin star. read more

Great food that's traditional and authentic. Totally worth the price. I really like it that the different food materials are combined in a very harmonic way. The taste of matsutake really reminds me of Japan and huge nostalgia hits me. The staff is very friendly and easy to talk with. They enjoyed their work! Overall a wonderful experience and will get back in the future. read more

Fall Flavors A wonderful return visit to Ranzan in Redwood City had me smiling throughout my exquisite meal Fall flavors were on full display with kabocha squash, maitake mushrooms, and peach incorporated into the dishes The care and beautiful plating of each dish is a joy visually but just as wonderful with respect to flavors Asked to name a favorite course, I struggled between the uni soy milk chawanmushi, simmered duck and always excellent Hokkaido wagyu steak, but my heart is always with their excellent saba which I've ordered many times during pandemic takeout I was fortunate enough to learn of saba on the menu and both chef and owner were gracious enough to allow me to order saba for takeout after the meal one last time Thank you chef, thank you Ranzan and staff for making a special night extra memorable! Takao September 2023 menu $228 per person ~ Sesame Tofu / Ankimo marinated in saikyo miso / Grated nagaimo / kabocha squash with poppy seed / Shimeji and Maitake mushroom with walnut sauce / Clear dashi soup with peach / Sashimi / Simmered duck / Yuzu sorbet / Wagyu sirloin steak / Saba sushi / soy milk chawanmushi / karasumi daikon / blue shrimp okina age / Hotate and lotus root with apple vinaigrette / Steamed Rice with Matsutake mushroom / Nameko mushrooms and scallions miso soup / Steamed chestnut yo-kan Ranzan (Redwood City, CA) Ranzan is indoor dining only and accepts reservations on Tock only at least one day in advance. read more

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I definitely enjoyed Ranzan more than many other kaiseki places in the Bay Area, but I think overall perhaps kaiseki isn't as much my thing because this is probably closer to a 3.5 star for me (whereas other places are more on the 3 side) because I just don't quite understand the value to meal ratio. Ranzan is better valued at lunch than many other places, so in that way its definitely worth trying. Each dish was intricate and plated beautifully. The presentation was exceptional. The service was also very nice, and it is nice to just walk away after the meal if you didn't order any extras during the meal as you pay for the meal during the reservation. Those who want the full blown experience can pay $500+ for two for a full kaiseki meal. For me, I think if a meal costs over $100 per person, I need to feel like I've gotten something substantial so this is probably one of my last kaiseki experiences! read more

Good food with great ambiance and service. Beautiful plating and service was quick. Dishes were good and flavorful but not exceptional. I found it bit expensive as compared to other places which have better food. I went with two other friends in addition to the Kaiseki menu we ordered three saki bottles so the bill came out around $160/person. But overall good experience, I would give it 3.5 stars. read more

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We came here for our anniversary last year and it was really good! There aren't many Japanese kaiseki restaurants in the Bay Area and we were glad we found this gem. They did have several set menus to choose from as some were more basic and some had premium add on like Kobe beef. They also had a all kobe beef menu that interested us but we want to try it for next time! This place is very reminiscent of japan I'm that they really take pride in presentation, they explain to you what's each dish is and the servers are super nice. I get why they have set times and they only let a certain amount per seating. The food all seems to come out around the same time as everyone else and it's freshly made. Our favorite courses were definitely the Kobe beef, the sashimi course, crab croquette, the tofu, the chawanmushi and desserts. Literally we loved everything , I don't think there was a dish that we hated. It made us feel like we were in japan while we couldn't visit during the pandemic. Love this place and will definitely be back in the future! Totals for 2:$ $600 read more

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Ranzan is extremely thoughtful in service, food preparation and presentation, and ambiance. Everything feels slower and more peaceful here, and service is attentive and considerate. We had the February seasonal 13-course dinner, which included crab dumpling, whitefish tempura, and wagyu steak. We particularly enjoyed the nigiri, which was simpler and cleaner in taste than what we expected. The star of the dinner was the uni appetizer -- the uni was sweeter and fresher than any comparable dish at Michelin star restaurants. Kaiseki cuisine is very different from other fine dining, and ranzan was a great place to try it out. read more

Ranzan - Japanese Near Me - Redwood City, California

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We did the mini Kaiseki menu for lunch and it was truly spectacular. There was not one dish that we did not like. All the preparations were done with the maximum care and all the ingredients were flavorful. Having travelled to Japan recently, I could not stop thinking I had this gem of a restaurant so close, and I had to go to Japan to get it together and find a proper Kaiser without breaking the bank or needing a passport. The service was outstanding. All the movements our server did were part of a magical choreography that left us speechless. It was the best service I can remember. The restaurant is light and airy, with no distractions in the decoration. I think this makes the experience even better given that you can truly focus on the food in front of you. I am planning to return for lunch to try the other 2 menus, once is rice bowl based and the other is a bento for lunch, and to either try again the mini kaiseki for lunch or go big with the dinner Kaiseki. Just thinking about it, it makes my heart get warm. 100% recommended. read more

Nice people here at this restaurant seems like they're attentive to clientele thanks for the service

Excited to try this kaiseiki place as it's been on my list for some time. Reservations are through Tock - the $100/pp deposit will be refunded separately when you finish dining and they charge the total bill at the restaurant. Came here for a 5:30pm early dinner for the 15 course Takao course. When we arrived, we were the only patrons and remained that way until the end of our meal at 7:300m, so we literally had a private dining experience! Service was attentive and courses well paced. Dishes were very authentic, as reviewed by my friend who grew up in Japan. My favorite bites of the night were the wagyu, yuba starter, and fried blue shrimp. Both my friend and I didn't care for the mackerel which didn't pair well with the dressing and the dessert, which was too dry. As for the $228 price point which is on par with many Michelin starred restaurants, I'd expect a bit more upscale decor. The tables and chairs (plastic woven seats looked like outdoor patio furniture) does not make you feel like it's a place serving meals in this price range. Also while it was great to have the place to ourselves, it also felt a bit odd the entire place was so empty. Glad I came to check it out. 15 course was definitely too much food and I'd consider the next tier down for the next visit. read more

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This review is so overdue but def one of my tops here in the Bay Area. Everything was perfect. I came in starving and didn't expect it to be much but holy cow, at the end of the night, I was stuffed. Prepare yourself. We did the 15-course meal and the ambience was nice. We went in June 2022 as a celebratory dinner and the staff were all so welcoming and polite. We were seated in the corner and each party was spread out evenly. I didn't think much of anything at first but soon afterwards, I really appreciated that aspect as it allows for each party/table their own privacy during dinner (this is something I value so much). We started our dinner at 5:30PM and didn't end up 8:30 or 9PM I think. It was long but didn't feel like that when we were inside. In between certain meals, they had cleansing palate, which is something I also like! Really did help us transition into the next meal. They also gave me a hand-written card w such a sweet message and a few origami as we ended our dinner. I would 110% be back. Anytime. Plus side, the menu changes so that's more of a reason to be back at this place! I'm surprised this isn't a Michelin star restaurant. I've been to quite a few Michelin star restaurants and believe me, some don't even deserve it. read more

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Y'all ever want to impress your Asian parents? I've had Ranzan bookmarked for a while and found the perfect opportunity to treat them to a Valentine's Day meal. I ordered a coupled days in advance for pick up and opted for 3 of their Iro Toridori Bento for pick up. Pick up process was smooth. You just call their number and tell them the name of your order and the server will bring it right out to you. Initial impression was impressive - individually packed bentos with different kinds of fish sitting on top of the rice. Wow, parents, say woooow. Unfortunately, parents weren't impressed. While the idea sounds incredible, the overall image of the fish was lackluster. Price was hefty and flavor was just okay. Parents thanked me for the thoughtful gesture, but felt this was more of a one and done deal. read more

The food was good, service was great, ambiance was weird, wait times between courses were atrocious. If you're on a timeline, this is not the place to go to. We had 5:30 reservations - right when they opened so we could still get home for our son's bedtime. We wrapped up dinner right after 8pm so it was a mad rush to get home in time. The ambiance of the space was really odd. Walls have these weird textured lines and it's this ugly pale green against a blue wall and wood panelling. Just wasn't thought out considering their dishes and presentation all the way down to the attire of the server were so thoughful. They have 4 levels of Kaiseki courses you can get: 1. Ohara $158. 12 courses 2. Kibune $188. 14 3. Tatao $228. 15 + 1 supplement option. 4. Katsura $288. 15 + 1 supplement option (grilled dish from #3 is replaced with Kobe beef) As for the food, we got the Ohara course. It was good, but definitely not Michelin quality considering they haven't figured out the cadence to bring the food out in a timely manner. This was the main reason dinner took 2.5hrs for the shortest meal. In order: 1. Starter: homemade tofu and homemade soy sauce. This will be the freshest tofu I've ever eaten. So smooth. 2. Appetizer: Spring veggies sukiyaki style. Pickled veggies, rice, pickled yams that look like noodles. This was just okay. 3. Soup dish: Asparagus soup with a block of tofu. It as okay. 4. Sashimi 1 type: White fish with daikon, green onions, and homemade soy sauce. This was good. 5. Simmered dish: Duck with crunchy veggies. Crunchy veggies were weird but the duck was really good. 6. Refreshing dish: Shiso sorbet. It was lovely. 7. Grilled dish: A5 Wagyu sirloin from Japan. It was overcooked but still had good flavor. 8. Steamed dish: Rice and fish. Rice had a congee texture which was unexpected and the fish was at the bottom of the mixture. It was nice and the most creative dish imo. 9. Vinaigrette dish: Seared octopus with veggies in a plum sauce. This was good. 10. Rice with clams. "Hagama". Comes with oolong tea. 11. Miso soup. Tastes like miso soup. This is on its own line because that's how they listed it, but it's delivered with #10. 12. Dessert. Mochi with red bean filling. Comes with green tea. This was yummy. 18% gratuity automatically added. 20% gratuity for parties larger than 6. read more

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Came here for the SO's birthday celebration and loved every minute of our kaiseki experience! Came here with another couple and everyone really enjoyed the food, service, presentation, and all the attention to detail! They also do temperature checks and have sanitizer bottles at every table, and parties are spaced well apart from each other. INTRO: The entrance isn't very flashy or conspicuous so it might be a little hard to find at first - however because they have limited spots each night it was nice to just relax in a quiet peaceful atmosphere. When we went there was only 2 other parties there besides us and despite being the last table to leave, we never felt rushed or pressured. SERVICE: Our two servers Aiko and Miho were super polite and friendly the entire time there. They constantly kept refilling our water cups and hot tea, and every time they brought out each course they also explained what it and how to best enjoy it. They even hand-drew a birthday card for my SO and came out with a special birthday dessert plate for him at the end of our meal. PRESENTATION: The plates and bowls were so pretty and there's so much attention to detail when plating each dish and creating a cohesive menu that flows from course to course. FOOD: Was more filling than I expected! It's a pretty balanced dinner of vegetables, protein, soups/sides and more. My favorite dishes were the shrimp appetizer, the wagyu (literally the softest meat I've ever had), and the vinaigrette mackerel. Nothing was overly sweet or too heavy/oily, and we liked being able to try variety of new Japanese dishes too. PRICE & VALUE: so this place ain't cheap. Everyone at the table has to pick the same set menu option and they start at $128 and go up to $248. I think their website also says prices will increase starting in March too. Price is comparable to higher end omakase experiences too, plus the restaurant is less noisy and crowded compared to other sushi places I've been to in the past. For what it's worth, the experience of being able to enjoy a kaiseki-style dinner here in the US is unique and kind of almost brought me back to my first kaiseki meal in Japan. So it's definitely a hidden gem and a super nice restaurant to visit if you're willing to splurge on a nice date night or celebration dinner! read more

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Super yummy! I ordered online for pickup; their website is a little bit wonky, so if the time for pickup is incorrect, you can just write in the comments what time you are ordering for! I love mackerel so I really enjoyed the large mackerel roll! I will definitely order again. The wagyu bento I though was ok - I'd probably skil that text time and get more mackerel! read more

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I've heard so many good things and read so many good reviews about this place but it turned out to be such a big disappointment. All 3 star goes to their service which is above and beyond. They make me feel like they really care about their customers. We've made a reservation for their $188 menu, to be honest, the food is just about average. The meal is light and the flavors are pretty bland. After the first few courses, I wasn't excited about the rest at all. It was served a cold dish with a hot dish after, then another cold dish which is not what I'm used to. I felt freezing sitting there after the first few courses. The only highlight for us is the Waygu. For the same price point, I would suggest trying something in the city. Overall it was a great experience to try a traditional kaiseki meal. It is just not the right fit for us. read more

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I had my eye on Ranzan for awhile but never made time to order togo since they're located in Redwood City. Since I finally took a week of from work, I decided to plan out my week with trying a new spot everyday that I'm off. All orders are pre-ordered at least one day in advance. I tried ordering on Monday for Tuesday pick-up but the earliest day they would let me select was Wednesday. I decided just to place my order for Thursday at 12:30pm. I paid for my order and got an email + text confirmation. We came around 11:45am on Thursday and found a metered parking spot right away off of Main Street, directly across the street from Ranzan. There's only street/meter parking available nearby. Since we were early, we decided to take a walk to browse the downtown area. As we started walking, I unexpectedly got a text at 11:49am, stating that my order was ready for pick up. (whoa we came right on time!) We turned around, walked back and gave them a call once we were right in front of the restaurant. Within minutes, a sweet lady came out with my order and we were on our way. I ordered.. SHIMANTO UNAGI ONIGIRI (2) $35 -grilled unagi from the pristine Shimanto river in Kochi prefecture. Rice is seasoned with unagi sauce. There wasn't much flavor and the eel was dry. I couldn't eat more than a few bites. CHIRASHI SUSHI BENTO $30 -variety of seafood and simmered vegetables. Attention to detail was amazing. Shiitake mushroom was deliciously seasoned, snap peas were light and crisp. Pretty much all their veggies were simmered and seasoned perfectly. I enjoyed the tamago, octopus, shrimp and ikura. All were very fresh but again, the eel pieces were dry.. Pretty wasteful but I picked out the eel pieces because I didn't like the dry texture. Rice was seasoned well but a little too pressed down into my bento box. I had to dig my chopsticks into the rice just to pick it up. Beautiful box with tasty vegetables but overall the variety of ingredients didn't meld well with the over-pressed sushi rice. I had higher expectations due to the beautiful presentations. I've had better chirashi boxes elsewhere and I couldn't get over how dry the eel was! Maybe I'm just not a fan of this specific eel and how it's cooked.. I'm willing to try other dishes if I'm in the area though. read more

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Delicious authentic kaiseki dinner, and one of the best meals I've had in the Bay Area! My husband and I did the 12-course meal which was more than enough food for the both of us. The service throughout the meal was exceptional and very detail-oriented (for example, our server providing written notes about the beverages we ordered). We really felt like we were in Japan during this meal. All of the ingredients were super high quality, the tableware was gorgeous, and the ambiance was quiet, clean, and spacious. As someone who frequently goes to Japan, this experience was comparable to kaiseki in Japan. My husband loved the wagyu and the fried shrimp tempura (it sounds basic, but trust me they were so good!). I loved the daily special slightly seared yellowtail. We were surprised that Ranzan is not as well known and does not have a star... because it really deserves it! We will be back for another special occasion :) read more

My wife took me to this restaurant for my belated birthday dinner and it was a unique experience. It does not serve standard sushi roll variety but rather is an authentic Kyoto-style Kaiseki. We decided to order the Takao in part to taste as many dishes and in part because prices are set to increase next month. The simmered sardine, sashimi dish, and especially the deep-fried icefish with Mitsuba stood out for me. I have a shellfish allergy so they switched out an Ebi dish for Salmon Roe but forgot to do that for abalone so I skipped it. We also ordered the Hakkaisan Sparkling Nigor, Niigata was is cloudy, sweet sake. The servers were professional and friendly. It's a different experience that's worth a try. read more

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Excellent services and food quality, authentic Japanese food and comfort Japanese atmosphere. We (3 persons: my friend, my wife and myself with a doll) had Katsura 桂 on Jan 2023 as fresh start of 2023. Evey disk though out the entire course just amazed us and tasted excellent. Ranzan become 1 of best restaurants in Bay Area that I will revisist again soon. read more

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