Probably the worst Japanese restaurant I've ever been to. First off, we came in at 5:45 and no one was inside. Bad sign. We should've walked away but we decided to give it a try. My girlfriend ordered salmon sashimi and the fish was not fresh at all. We complained and the chef came to us and told us that he bought the fish fresh but soaked it in vinegar and then froze it for 3 days. Take a look at the pic. Do yourself a favor and never come here. read more

Rolla Cabin - Japanese Near Me - Hayward, California

Awesome little location. Hayward has lots of sushi options but this one is the closest and feels nice and cozy. They do seem to do lunch and dinner service and close for a break in the afternoon. Mom and Pop type of place with fresh ingredients. read more

Home cooking to the authentic level. Cooked Himachi neck was delicious and my favorite dish.

i never write reviews & typically only use yelp to find places to eat but this was too good to not talk about. wakamatsu is a wonderful little restaurant run by the nicest japanese couple. it has a really nice and cozy atmosphere! went with my girlfriend and we ordered quite a bit of food and it was all wonderful. the saba shioyaki was perfectly seasoned and grilled. we've been to multiple restaurants looking for a good one and i think we've finally found it. the chirashizushi and hamachi mango was delicious, the fish incredibly fresh and flavorful, melted right in my mouth. both the iitako and the dragon roll had a satisfying crunch and weren't overly oily. this meal left us incredibly satisfied and we'll definitely be back! read more

My husband & I first discovered Wakamatsu and its owner/sushi chef Joey back in the mid-1980s when we lived in Hayward's Oak Creek development. We quickly became regulars, drawn not only to the welcoming ambiance but also to Showman Joey himself who conducts his sushi bar very much like a Cheers bartender... gracious, attentive, and a master of his craft! When we moved to Union City in 1991, we visited much less frequently; however, just last week in 2022 we were in the area & decided to drop in for dinner right when doors opened, and found ourselves once again on stools at the bar, Joey wielding his sharp knives and creating eye-catching AND delicious rolls, bowls, etc. Felt just like slipping back into a pair of comfy old shoes! Joey's shy wife, the young waitress, and the male in back commanding the stove & grill work like a well-oiled machine. Don't be in a rush... Joey & team are very Old School, writing orders by hand, clipping the orders with magnets to chilled glass/metal fish display case for Joey to review. Others have mentioned that the tiny restaurant feels like eating in a relative's dining room where customers comment on dishes coming out of the postage stamp-sized kitchen and making recommendations to fellow diners. The prices are very reasonable and the seafood is fresh.Wakamatsu is an experience to savor -- a true hidden gem. Highly recommended! read more

Rolla Cabin - Owner Joey busy creating sushi rolls and house specialties - Japanese Near Me - Hayward, California

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I've lived in Hayward for about 5 years and before that would pass this place on my way from Dublin to the peninsula back in the early 2000s. I finally went last week with a couple coworkers. Cute little place with just a few table's so I wouldn't recommend a large group. It's a small staff, looks like husband and wife with a cook in back so plan to spend a little more time in there. They are attentive and if you're regulars (like my coworkers seem to be) they will know your order to the tee. The food was good for the price (for $13 I was full). Nice to finally have tried this place and have a new go to spot in Hayward. read more

This place is adorable! The presentation is humble but the quality of the ingredients is great. So, it ends up being good stuff for not crazy prices. On the walls there are pictures of the chef from...maybe the 80's. Good fun! read more

The food is Absolutely delicious! Authentic Japanese homemade cuisine. with very warm and welcoming from the chef and his wife. With only 2 staff and limited tables, to call and make a reservation are highly recommended! Just learn that they will close from April 20 2023 until May 8 2023. read more

Really good food! Warm and friendly customer service. Prices are so reasonable. I'm definitely going back for the food and at home vibes.

Small restaurant that has affordable authentic Japanese dishes! Make reservations in advance.

Authentic Japanese food! It is an old and small restaurant but adds to the charm. Feels like you are in Japan. Food is also really good and priced well. I especially liked the Chirashi Bowl. Friendly owners that want you to enjoy your stay. read more

I didn't want to write this review for a long time (5 years), because I was never sure if I could do justice to my love for Wakamatsu. I feel so fortunate that this restaurant is close to me. Wakamatsu is my most adored sushi restaurant... probably my most adored restaurant in the Bay Area, probably in the world. If someone asks me where to eat in Hayward, Wakamatsu is always my #1 recommendation. And this is the first place I take people from out of town. Let's get this out of the way first: Japanese food is my favorite kind of food. I've lived in Japan and have visited a few times. You may or may not find this relevant, but what I'm trying to say is... I have eaten a LOT of Japanese food in my life. (Here's a tip: if someone talks about how they ordered a california roll in their review, you can just stop reading right there...) The first time I walked in here, I was instantly transported. There's not many places like this in the US, but many like it in Japan. A mom and pop sushi shop, with Joey, the sushi master, behind the counter, and service like you only find in Japan too. The waitress here with the short hair is an incredibly wonderful lady. Is it fancy inside? Is it Jiro Dreams of Sushi levels of ridiculousness? No, but it's authentic. It's your dad making you sushi, and your mom in the kitchen making you sukiyaki. The food is not elaborate or fancy, you won't find insane super-sized and strangely-named rolls like at other places. But it's fantastic and authentic, with great flavor. Joey's sushi is the best. Just hands down, the best. The fish is of great quality, nigiri is always delicious. Many reviews talk about Joey's Special Roll, and for good reason. This amazing roll has hamachi, mango, macadamia nut and a little salad with mayo inside. You can taste every single layer of flavor in this roll, it's tangy and savory at the same time. There's nothing quite like it anywhere. Other rolls are of course great too. But I could probably write a book about Joey's Special Roll. In fact, maybe that's what I'll call my autobiography someday. Something important to note is that the rice is said to be the most important part of sushi. Joey's rice is seasoned well and the rolls fall apart in your mouth. I saw some reviews complaining about that aspect on here, but that's how sushi is supposed to be - not tightly packed. The dishes from the kitchen are great here too. I love the udon, tempura is great, and my favorite is sukiyaki, which you can't find in a lot of places. Always consistent, always delicious. Maybe it's cheesy, but that whole "food cooked with love" thing? You can taste that here. Every time. I'll say this too... in my most recent visit to Japan, every time I went to sushi, at the end of each meal I found myself thinking that Wakamatsu is just as good. Seriously. I'm very very passionate about Wakamatsu, and I'm truly going to miss it if I ever leave Hayward. If I do leave, I know that I will come back just to visit Wakamatsu. It's probably one of the few restaurants I can say I am truly grateful to have found. If you're a sushi fan, come here for the real deal. Thank you for all of the wonderful experiences here, Joey & staff! read more

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Tastes like in Japan! Authentic Sushi. I was in Japan a few months ago and this is as authentic of sushi as you can get. The restaurant is owned and run by a very nice, adorable, elderly couple. The hospitality is top-notch. The price is very affordable/reasonable. $12 for lunch. I ordered other rolls on top as I'm a big eater and she was nice enough asked if I could finished them out of pure kind hearted sincerity and not out of greed. During my meal I encountered two gentleman who has been loyal customers to this place for years. My experience here has been nothing but a pleasant pleasure. The tasty authentic meal is legit. Will definitely come back. Thank you Wakamatsu!! read more

Great little hole in the wall. The owners, Joey and his wife, Amiko, make perfect hosts. The food is perfection with Joey making sushi and his wife running the kitchen. I love the Tuna Carpaccio, the Joey Special, and various nigiri. My wife Maureen loves the Gyoza, Shrimp Tempura Roll with Avocado, and Stir fried veg. We go every couple of months. Of course right now we are doing take-out (COVID19). We want to support them. read more

I was so very disappointed with the sashimi here. I ordered the sashimi plate. The plate delivered was not appetizing. It looks like something I could throw together and serve on a paper plate. This plate was not paper, but the haphazardly strewn fish on a plain plate didn't whet my appetite. Still, it isn't presentation that is most important, it is taste and here Wakamatsu fell short. None of it had that tender, delicate mouthfeel I expect from good sashimi. None of it really tasted good. None of it tasted bad, like, "There's something fishy about this sashimi", but it was not good. I also ordered the salmon skin roll. It was actually quite tasty. I tried a bit of the Lion King roll. I know this makes no sense, but to me it reminded me of a laundromat. I didn't like it. The Caterpillar roll was also unexciting. The miso soup was delicious, with a nice flavor of green onion. I enjoyed the seaweed salad, too... very nice and sesame-ee. The staff/owners were very nice indeed, but nice as they were I'm certain we won't be back. read more

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Very small lunch portions. I selected the mackerel and the salmon sashimi as my two items. It was an additional $1 for the salmon selection. Tried to order hamachi kama, but they stated it sold out this weekend. Today is Tuesday, a testament to how often they receive shipments and the duration the fish sits before they serve. I surmise they receive 1 shipment each week - closer to the weekend. The bento came with salad, a wedge of seedless watermelon, rice, miso and my two items. The fish was at most 4 ounces. Juicy and not overly salty. The sashimi, the size of half a domino. Odd cut, definitely the belly, it was good because I like fat. Also ordered the salmon skin roll, it was all rice and skin! Maybe I am just spoiled by other places but seriously?!? That's it?!? No scallions, nothing? Also, rice overload, see photo. $17.80 including tip and tax Definitely a family run joint and a local favorite. Not mine. read more

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Small restaurant with great Japanese food. I had a bento box. Tonkatsu and chicken teriyaki was very flavorful and satisfying. Friendly service, too! read more

3.78 Stars The couple running the show are so cute and friendly. I came in during lunch time by myself to enjoy California roll and fresh sashimi. I asked the nice waitress if they have butter fish sashimi. She looked at me with fright and said no no no, they don't serve that here. About a minute later, the sushi chef came charging out and asked why I wanted butter fish, I said, I like it. Then both waitress and sushi chef came out to hover over my table with concerned eyes. They lightly scolded me that eating too much butter fish is not good for me and even Japan hardly serves it. I was absolutely confused because butter fish is hecka good. The sushi chef whispers into my ear... it makes you wanna go poopy more. That's news to me!!! I just got schooled! I ended up ordering the Cali roll and whatever sashimi fresh fish offered. I didn't ask for butter fish anymore because I felt a bit embarrassed over our bit of conversation. I still enjoyed my meal, the cali roll was very good and the sashimi are fresh, however, I think they need to sharpen up their knives because the sashimi looked a bit butched up. Plus, it seemed a bit skimpy and thin but still good though. It's a no frills hole in the wall restaurant. The wall in the back is decorated with photos of their family member and their proud achievements such as graduation, etc. Very homey feeling and felt family oriented. HOWEVER, if you dine here, do not ask about the butter fish, it's taboo! And it also made me feel differently about butter fish because I did go home and google it and it's all true!!!! Eat it with caution... read more

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12 years of coming here and it really is the gem of the town. Simple, fresh, delicious and always served with a smile. Have been enjoying dining here forever and now for carry out during shelter in place. Thank you for being so wonderful. read more

Rolla Cabin - Seaweed salad, large chirashi and rolls: salmon, California, beef teriyaki, Joe's special (THE best), unagi/avocado and shrimp tempura. - Japanese Near Me - Hayward, California

After passing this place for the past 30+ years, I decided now's the right time to try them out. The East Bay is hard pressed for any decent Japanese food. Family run (Mom, Dad, and two daughters.....just guessing) the friendly family vibe permeates the food, service, and décor. Their entire menu is very reasonable for the food being served here. Shared several nigari (Yellowtail, Salmon Eggs, Freshwater Eel). I had the combination of Chicken Teriyaki and Tempura. The S.O. enjoyed Sukiyaki and Karaage. Large portions all around and all the main course dishes were well seasoned and tasty. I especially liked the tempura. Crunchy and flavorful. The chicken courses were also outstanding! Very good. Japanese food generally isn't cheap. I feel that the food here at Wakamatsu is a very good value. To top it off, their large bottles of imported Japanese beer (22oz) were only $7.00.....WooHoo! I wouldn't hesitate to return make a return visit the next time I am in the area and the urge to enjoy some quality Nihon-Shoku (Japanese food) hits me. read more

This place is a hidden gem! Was in the area for work and googled places and this had good reviews. Honestly the reviews were a disservice, since the food and staff were phenomenal!! Literally felt like I was in Japan, and having a master make my sushi. Loved the yellow tail and mango, but all the fish was really good, and it was nice to chat with the person making your food! This is the type of place that we all yearn for, and I'm jealous that I can't eat here weekly. Great place! read more

This is one of my favorite sushi places. I love the fact I'm supporting a small business and that the food is amazing. It's an elder couple running this place and they do such an amazing job! Go support and enjoy some amazing sushi! read more

I love sushi, but always get nervous trying new places, but I gave this place a try. I am very pleased that we did. Delicious sushi and incredible service! We had a gift card, and they were very patient to help us. Got the lion king roll and dragon roll and I definitely recommend coming here!!! read more

I hate to do this to a business that's been a part of my community for 33 years but I feel like this will only help their business with correcting whatever needs to be corrected. I placed a pick up order over the phone bc this during my work lunch. I ordered the lion king roll & tempura veggies. Picked up my food around 4pm. First of all the lion king roll tasted a bit odd... from what I'm use to. It didn't taste spoiled it was just weird. Maybe it was spoiled. Idk I don't just eat spoiled things you know.. I still ate it bc I was hella hungry & I only had 30mins to pick up my food & finish eating. The tempura was very good! Crunchy even though it was placed in a to go box for my pick up. I've never had onions in tempura but it was good! It was too much for me to eat all by myself so I ended up tossing half of the order, it was enough to serve 2 people. The women who helped me was very sweet & very attentive to me so there are some positives to this place! Her & I spoke a bit, that's how I know they've been there for 33 years. About 8 PM my stomach started to ache, like there was a huge knot or something. I get off of work around 9... I worked my last couple of hours in agony... Now when I order sushi from a new place I always order the lion king roll bc it's my favorite roll of all time, so I always go based off of that roll if I will return or not to try anything else on their menu. I specifically order this roll bc it isn't raw too. I got home that night around 9:30 & it was just down hill from there... I mean both end of me were like faucets on full blast! Something wasn't done right here... maybe hands weren't washed.. maybe the salmon was spoiled before being COOKED.. I really have no answer.. but I know for a fact that their food screwed me up... I really would like to give this place a try against seeing that they've been in Hayward for 33 years. I had driven by this place all of my life! I finally gave it a chance & was I very disappointed...maybe in a couple of years I'll try them out again. read more

I drove by many times, but I have not tried for 20 years. I should have tried earlier. This is a real Japanese restaurant and one of the best in Hayward. Today we ordered lunch combination (Sashimi and Karaage) and Wakamatsu Special which has Sashimi, Tempura and Beef Teriyaki. Price is extremely reasonable ($10.5 and $12.50) and very good quality for everything. We will go back again and try other items. read more

It's 2021 and it's very rare that, at 35 years old, I find any type of business that makes me feel good about the world we live in. I had never been here before but I have passed by the tiny spot many of times especially during the last year with COVID going on and they were closed. But today I was walking by and noticed people inside so I figured I should check it out. I was on a budget and luckily their menu is very budget friendly. This is a no frills authentic Japanese sushi spot. The husband and wife that own it are very kind and sweet and made me feel at home sitting at the bar by myself. At the bar there is a photo of the owner/chef with about 30 other men and based on their wardrobe and the photo quality I assumed it was from the 80s or early 90s. I inquired within with the chef and he said it was from around 1988 and it was a bachelor party. He had this grin on his face and was chuckling and I knew that he could probably remember that day like it was yesterday. I got the lunch special with the sashimi and gyoza. The gyoza lacked a bit in flavor but the way it was cooked was great. The white tuna sashimi was very good so with a soup salad and rice for $10.50 how could I complain? Also the large nigori sake bottle was great for $8. I tipped as much as I could as I'm on a budget but this was a great little experience to start my summer here in Hayward. It's times like these that make me feel optimistic for the world and that customer service isn't dead. Highly recommended. Support this long time family owned Hayward small business! read more

Rolla Cabin - Photo at the sushi bar of a bachelor party circa 1988 with the owner/Chef in the middle - Japanese Near Me - Hayward, California

Only place with Ebi Fry. 1000% amazing food. Plentiful portions cooked to perfection.

The udon serving is a bit on the small side, but the California rolls are good. The chicken katsu combination dinner was great. Service was nice, very friendly. read more

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A hole in the wall Sushi spot in a bad location. The location is right off of Mission and Foothill Blvd it looks like a small building or shack right off the main street. IT's a local neighborhood restaurant for sure. The outside of the place isn't that nice it doesn't look fancy or classy from the outside. There is limited amount of parking lot parking. But this is a good place to bring a date. The food here is always been really fresh and very tasty. I would stay it's one of the top 1 to top 2 places in Hayward to get Sushi. It's not over priced; it's not cheap but they give a good amount of food for the money. It's a hole in the wall gem in Hayward for sure. They have really good teas as well and it's made fresh daily. The sushi is always very fresh and the chicken is always cooked to perfection if you are a bento box guy like myself. I really like there shrimp and veggies as well as it always tends to be very fresh and the veggies are always cooked well. I have never had bad here ever. It's always a go to for myself. I just wish they would update the outside and the inside a bit. It just feels a bit dated. It's a good spot in Hayward if you are looking to get some Sushi and don't want to brake the bank. I would recommend everyone to at least check it out one time. Due to the good tasting food not so much the environment. read more

Best Japanese sushi and sashimi in the area! Very authentic Japanese cuisine. There are only 4 tables to dine in so you have to call to make reservations. The owner are old couples. I hope they don't retire very soon. I would definitely vist this precious Japanese restaurant very often before they retire. read more

Cannot believe I have never been to this spot. It's by the street with limited seating. But the Chirashi is simply phenomenal! And the price for large bowl? $20 It's a steal really. read more

I've tried ordering for this place twice now. The first time I called, the lady was very rushed. I was asking questions, and she was clearly in a hurry to get off the phone. Just called right now, same thing. She said it was going to be 1 hour and 10 minutes before my order would be ready... are you kidding me??? Clearly they don't need the business. read more

Came here to celebrate my Husband's promotion because it was on the way to Dick's, since we had to buy some baseball gear for our boys. We found this place via Yelp, and we saw 4 stars with $$, so we thought heyyyy why not? There is a small parking lot, but when we arrived exactly at 5:30 the closed sign was still up and door was locked. It took the owners 5 minutes trying to open their own door. That should've been a flag right there. We ordered hamachi appetizer, lion king roll, spicy tuna roll, salmon nigiri, and a hand roll. And boy were we disappointed when our hamachi came out. This was the ultimate sign that we will not be coming back. The hamachi was not cut properly and were in small chunks. The spicy tuna was not chopped, but just chunks of tuna. The service was really good though, but unfortunately due to the quality of the food, we will not be coming back. read more

My favorite Japanese restaurant of all times! It's authentically Japanese, small and quaint. Amazing sushi and love their tempura, karage, beef teriyaki.... The list goes on. read more

Their food is amazingly good and is inexpensive. I ordered a bento with tempura and california roll and I really liked it. The tempuras are not soaking with oil and are tasty. The portion is just right for one person. The inside of the restaurant is small but inviting. I felt like I was in Japan when I went inside. The outside might not look as good but don't be deceived because they are serving really good food. I will be back for sure. This will be my go to Japanese restaurant from now on. Highly recommended. read more

Excellent customer service. Great and tasty food. Make sure to call and reserve because it's a small restaurant and they can only accommodate few people at a time. Will come back for sure and highly recommended. read more

Rolla Cabin - Joey's sushi and tempura - Japanese Near Me - Hayward, California

True mom and pop local institution. Their hours are not always regular. During COVID they are only doing take out and sometimes do not serve sushi. I look forward to post COVID inside seating again. read more

This place is a gem...I love to support local business. If you want some fresh air, and fresh, delicious sushi, get off your phone app, just stop by and meet the family, and order in person. My husband and I were humbled. I cried after meeting them and picking up our order. Such a sweet family. They are all seniors working there trying to survive through covid. They shouldn't be working at their age. Please support them. read more

The food here is amazing and I would say it's a bit slow but come on lunch hour and they have good ambience . I really love it and I feel like the food and tea resembles Japan the most out of the Hayward restaurants around read more

Moved to Hayward recently, and I've slowly been exploring nearby Japanese restaurants in the area. So far, none have impressed me until I came across this place. Food was quite authentic, definitely reminded me of my last trip to Japan, and the price was very reasonable. Definitely will be visiting this place often. read more