Sakae has the best simple salmon sake sashimi I've ever had. It's so savory with natural umami salmon taste without tasting fishy. Buttery melty texture. Thick satisfying sashimi cuts. So good!!! We've also had the sashimi sets for lunch and dinner. Lunch is definitely a better value bc it includes rice, miso soup, and salad while dinner is just sashimi! But the sashimi is quite good in that they all have the natural umami fish taste. Salmon Fire roll was also good with thick seared cuts of salmon! And the tempura inside tasted fresh. There's no sauce either so it's not spicy at all. What also stood out was the glaze for the eel unagi tasted homemade and special with a strong sake taste, than just a typical sweet sauce. Everything is great and we'll def return for fresh salmon!!! Quiet, calming atmosphere with friendly staff. read more

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I go here ALL the time! GREAT fresh sashimi, sushi, and calm vibes. Highly recommend as one of the best sushi places in the Bay Area. Go during lunch time, for their lunch sets and cheaper pricing. It's a little on the pricier side, but it's understandable since Bay+Sushi= expensive. Recommendations: - Sashimi Lunch - Tempura Udon - Clams - Salmon Collar - Salmon Skin Hand-roll read more

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Definitely missing Japanese cleanliness and hospitality! Asked for a fork from our waiter and he handed it to me with the fork part in his bare hand. I asked another waiter for a fork, he came out of the kitchen with the fork part in his bare hand as well and as soon as he got close to our table, he wrapped it in a napkin!!!!!!! This place must have a new owner, not as refined as it was before. read more

The sushi here is consistently good and fresh, and the service is always prompt. I enjoyed their green tea. It's good quality green tea, not those cheap tea bags or cheap loose leaf tea. This time I tried their artichoke tempura. It was definitely exactly how you would think it would taste wuth the fried artichoke hearts. Interestingly filling. Their spider roll is always my favorite here. They have an assortment of fresh fish, and they'll list their specials. Skip the sunomono. Very plain and needs more time to marinate. Other than that the dishes I've tried have all been solid. read more

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Lot of hit or miss dishes. The sashimi is best to stick to. Small portions as many others have mentions with higher pricing. Saki by the glass is a very generous pour. Whole grilled squid was a totally dry and lacked flavor. Rolls were meh. Servers and service was spot on! For me, I'd probably try another place. read more

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We made reservations for 3 and sat at the bar and we had so much fun. Staff was very attentive and the draft beer was served in a chill glass very refreshing. The place is small reservations recommended. read more

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Sakae is my go-to neighborhood spot when I'm craving Toyosu-sourced fish but don't want to commit to a full prepaid omakase. Their kitchen food is great too, but for me, it's where I go for sushi with unique fish that most other Burlingame/San Mateo restaurants don't have. Reservations are easy to make and easy to get, but walking in right when they open for lunch or dinner almost always guarantees a seat. They're open seven days a week--closed only on Christmas and New Year's Day. The vibe is respectful and traditional. Service is friendly and calm; the chefs are Japanese. This isn't the place to order tons of sake and get rowdy. Sitting at the sushi bar requires a $40 minimum spend, but that's easy if you order from the specials board, which is usually $9+ per piece. Highlights from my most recent visit (a few days ago, for a weekday lunch), almost exclusively from the daily specials board: - Tai (Red Snapper): Clean and subtly sweet with nice firmness. - Kanpachi (Amberjack): Supple and buttery with a sheen and crisp edges that spoke to how expertly it was handled. - Shima Aji (Wild Striped Jack): Somewhat oily with balanced richness. - Wild King Salmon: Silky; cross-hatched so the soy could soak in evenly. - Ocean Trout: Perfectly smooth all the way through. - Aji (Horse Mackerel): Briny, lifted by ginger and scallion. - Iwashi (Wild Sardine): Soft, full of umami; bold but never heavy. - Sanma (Wild Pike Fish): Lean and savory. - Kohada (Gizzard Shad): Bright and tangy. - Zuke (Marinated Bluefin Akami): Deeper red from its soy cure, with a velvety finish. - Salmon Belly (Aburi Style): Lightly torched so the fat just began to caramelize: smoky and melt-in-the-mouth indulgent. Every piece came out glistening and precisely cut; no over-handling, no gimmicks. You can see and taste the difference in how carefully the chefs work each piece. Why I keep coming back: - True Toyosu sourcing with consistent quality. - Authentic Edomae technique from Japanese chefs. - Relaxed, drop-in-friendly neighborhood feel. - Fair pricing for the level of fish you're getting. read more

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We've enjoyed coming to this restaurant for over a decade for the consistently incredible food, comfortable traditional decor, and friendly faces. Even though we've now moved out of the area, whenever we come back to Burlingame, Sakae is at the top of our must-do list. As many restaurants as we try, no matter where we go, the taste of Sakae's fish has been unbeatable. Thank you for so many wonderful dinners and memories.j read more

Sakae Sushi - Incredible sashimi from Japan's best fish market. - Japanese Near Me - Burlingame, California

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I ordered the spider roll. It tasted good however I was shocked when I realized it was only 4 pieces of sushi for $19. I should have listen to the reviews of this place being over priced. If you are hungry I don't recommend coming here unless you have a lot of $$ to spend. Only come here if you already ate a meal elsewhere and you are just looking to sample sushi for high price . read more

Sakae Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Burlingame, California

Came here for lunch. The sashimi was fresh and done with passion. A very authentic Japanese restaurant if you like the traditional quality dishes. Service however is undesirable. I asked for my tea refill several times. When I asked again when the server handed me the bill she told me they were shorthanded and just walked away. I never got my tea even after complaining. I will not return to this restaurant if they have the same server working there. The food quality and the service is totally unmatched. It made an otherwise pleasant meal into an upsetting experience. read more

The sushi was amazing and very fresh. The service was very good and she was really top-notch! Everything came fast and the people were friendly. I really enjoyed it and will definitely come back again. read more

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Quite a surprise to find this gem right under our nose for all these years! Very authentic Japanese food, beautiful atmosphere, and great service. Make sure to try their nightly specials, and splurge on some sushi flown in from Japan. read more

Small independently owned business. Inside has a traditional style of Japanese design. They ship in some of their fish from Japan. Top notch quality! Everything was fresh and delicious. We tried the artichoke tempura this was amazing! Tried some sushi, a rainbow roll and hamachi collar. You have to call to make reservations. Definitely going back! read more

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One of the best sushi restaurants in the BA. Various price points with the highest quality fish ever experienced. Sushi Restaurants need high volume to keep the prices down. The distinguishing factor is the quality of the fish and the lower price points because of the volume. Can compose a menu from $50-$100/person to higher depending on what you order. Split a $165 sushi combo for 2 people. They can convert this into a chirashi for 2. Jidori TATSUTA AGE, batter not thick like a kaarage. Not panko. maybe potato starch like popcorn chicken. Maybe the finely ground PS not the chunky type they use for popcorn chicken. Better exceptionally thin. Excellent technique. Maybe fried at too low a temp. Little oily. Sushi combo $165.00 a regular menu item. Not online. Chef picks what is fresh. That was the best blue mackerel I have ever had. Usually oily and hard to do right. No oily sensation at all. Deeper fresh flavor lingering in the mouth for longer because of the oil. Best I have had in US. 2 types of toro, can see the different fat content, pinkish vs more white than pink. Melt in mouth, no chewing necessary. When the high content fatty tuna hits mouth, the heat melts the fish. None of the standard hamachi, sake, unagi, cuts. Hiramasa may have been farmed, asking for more sustainable cuts the next time; maybe those contain less heavy metal toxins than the wild versions from the longer lived species. 2 types of tea, a green tea before and during sushi and the brown tea for after. Very subtle. Added hot sake and asahi draft. The hot sake is served in a bigger carafe than the standard narrow 16oz or smaller container. Better value. Don't need to order hot sake multiple times during a meal. The $10 add on crab chawan mushi was the best I have ever had. Very tasty complex broth with deep flavors. Impossible to replicate at home. Not just dashi with seaweed, dried shiitake broth, bonito flakes. Very savory. Texture of cold crab vs warm egg and broth was stunning on first couple bites. Steamed egg very different than chinese version of steamed egg. Small pieces of shrimp/crab/mushroom for texture contrast vs. soft melt in mouth egg custard texture. The rolls other restaurants use with lower quality fish and less technical technique aren't popular here. Can order them as some do. Is possible to find lower cost sushi and with their technique don't need to fill up on cheaper rolls. The low star reviews talking about beef asparagus rolls or iced tea aren't accurate. Not a popular item. The whiteboard specials and menu items have remained unchanged for decades. The long lasting items have specific techniques to perfect the texture and presentation which aren't replicated at other restaurants, regardless of price. The sushi roll restaurants are the same price. They aren't any cheaper. read more

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Food was great the service was awesome. I felt the sushi was a bit too big but overall perfect. Nice ambience to go for fresh sashimi. read more

Sakae Sushi - tuna kama - Japanese Near Me - Burlingame, California

This little restaurant was in this random complex in Burlingame and was very hard to find. But sitting down I was greeted by this wonderful Chirashi bowl. I had a multitude of different fish. The crab head was VERY tough and hurt to eat due to the prickliness of the skin. You can't fault Sakae for that but has to be included. The rest of the sashimi tasted very fresh, and I especially liked the assortment of each fish. I loved how all of the fish melted in my mouth. Its a bit over my price range, but I would consider coming back if it was a bit easier to find! read more

Sakae Sushi - Chirashi - Japanese Near Me - Burlingame, California

Came here on New Year's Eve to try something different and get out of my comfort zone (not usually a big fan of raw fish, but I was open to it). Drove quite a bit to get here and was excited to spend the evening with friends. We were seated right away, which was great--but then... nothing. No water, no server, no one even came by for at least 15 minutes. After sitting there and watching other tables get served, we eventually just left. Can't speak on the food since we didn't get that far, but if you don't have time to attend to a table, maybe don't seat people yet? Disappointed, especially for a special night. Hopefully just a one-off, but that was our experience. read more

Sakae is my one of my favorite restaurant in burlingame. Whenever I want some authentic Japanese food in this area, I will go there. The food is always tasty and fresh. My favorite dish is always the sashimi deluxe. The restaurant is conveniently located in downtown burlingame. The decor is in a very casual setting. The service was also good. Whenever I go, it's never too busy. I give it 4 stars only because of the price. I went there this time for lunch, and the sashimi lunch plate alone with over $42 alone with tax and tip. I would go back again though in the near future. read more

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The service was very fast and efficient. The food was very good, very fresh. The restaurant decor was very cozy creating a very nice Japanese ambiance. My dining companion has some motor skill issues and the staff was very kind. read more

Loved the ambience, we ordered dragon roll and salmon fire. Both were really good. Took some time to get it which means its fresh. Service was excellent read more

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we ordered quite some time. The food comes out quite slow but the fish was fresh. The flavor was decent, nothing too special but it was good. It is basically in downtown Burlingame so it is very convenient. Prices are okay-expensive. Ambience was nice, very big place read more

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Simply wonderful fresh fish in an intimate, but comfortable space. This is not a creative roll or fake krab and mayo kind of place. There are two ways to do Sakae the right way. For dinner, sit at the bar and let the chef dazzle and surprise you with whatever is fresh on the whiteboard. It is unique and special, but not inexpensive. However, the weekday lunch specials ( which I rarely get to indulge in due to my work schedule) featuring sushi, sashimi and chiarasi are a great way to get more bang for your buck. Today my son and I were able to walk in. I got the Sushi and sashimi ( Tokyo combo) and my son got the Sashimi combination. These were similar, except his came with a bowl of rice. We were both so pleased with our meal- healthy and lots of high quality, delicious protein. Both meals were approximately $32 which for the quality and quantity of fish was so reasonable. If you are hungry and like more variety, I think the Sushi and Sashimi lunch is the way to go Service was attentive enougb and we were in and out pretty quickly. Sitting at the bar and slowly ordering piece by piece is still my favorite way to go, but the price tag is more precious. Regardless, if you love fresh, raw unadorned fish, this is THE only sushi restaurant in Burlingame. read more

Sakae Sushi - Sushi and Sashimi lunch and the Sashimi lunch - Japanese Near Me - Burlingame, California

My dad wanted Japanese food to celebrate his birthday. We typically go to restaurants in San Mateo but decided to try this place out. Most of us in our party had the Kyoto which is their Tempura and Sashimi combination lunch. The tempura was delicately fried, not greasy at all. The sashimi was fresh and tasty. It came with a small salad and miso soup. I generally don't drink miso soup because they tend to just have broth. This one had tons of wakame (seaweed) and small chunks of tofu so I was pleasantly surprised. We also shared half dozen oysters which we shared and thoroughly enjoyed. Service was fast and efficient. My dad really enjoyed his birthday lunch. It was a great meal and we will be back to try their other menu options. read more

Sakae Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Burlingame, California

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This place is the real deal when it comes to authentic sushi. Great service and attentive staff. The place is smallish and a little to the side from the Burlingame Ave crowd. The variety in Toro and Uni was what brought me there and they did not disappoint. Good for a quiet night or with a small group. read more

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Went to Sakae Sushi for the wifey's birthday lunch. It's not high end fancy, but I would say on the expensive side. That said, the experience was good overall. I had the Chirashi Delux and the wifey had the Kyoto combo, which is sashimi and tempura. She also saw some oysters in Yelp reviews so we asked about those. The server said they didn't have those larger oysters but did have some smaller - Shigoku oysters. $26 for 6. We were in a splurging mood so we went for it. Oysters were good. We actually rarely eat oysters so I should caveat with that. It came with some chopped scallions and radish to top. The sashimi and tempura combo looked really good. Certainly fancier than a typical bento box , especially the sashimi part. The wifey enjoyed it but did comment the portion is on the smaller end. The Chirashi also was really tasty. The fish slices were large and high quality. If anything, I wanted a bit more rice. I actually ran out of rice before fish, which is rare. I wouldn't recommend for a casual lunch due to the price. But for a splurge-worthy lunch date I give a . read more

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Feels like a neighborjppd restaurant that you'd find in SF's Nob Hill. No weird mayonnaise-y rolls, just refined sashimi - thank goodness. No weird rock-n-roll fusion, caterpillar, warrior, 49ers rolls. Just very fresh sushi with great little adds (mint, yuzu, etc) If you eat at the sushi bar (highly recommend) it almost feels like an omakase experience - there is so much care and creativity to each piece of fish. It's not loud or racuous - its a neighborhood gem with kind, dedicated staff and very good sushi. .... The one knock is that the cooked food is not as good as the sashimi - I'd stick with the sushi. read more

Sakae Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Burlingame, California

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Came here for a quick dinner while in the area. I picked this place based on great reviews but my dinner was just average. I came in alone and they had a plenty of tables available. Price was reasonable for what it was. Not cheap but not expensive either. Quality of sushi served was good but not great. Perhaps I expected more. Service was prompt. I got what I came in for. Quick dinner. Street parking only. It took me a while to find a spot. read more

Sakae Sushi - Sushi combination - Japanese Near Me - Burlingame, California

2 mixer plates. An appetizer. 2 x beer with tip 153USD. Good but way overpriced. NEVER AGAIN read more

I love the vibe; my go to chirashi bowl in the bay area. Lunch and Dinner. Service was excellent. Authentic Japanese. Traditional. Independently owned. read more

To start, I do think the food was pretty good! Overpriced, but good quality fish. The service on the other hand, not so good. My husband and I felt that the servers were quite suffocating. Every 2-3 minutes someone was at our table, usually attentiveness is nothing to complain about, but they took it to a whole new level. We felt like we couldn't have a conversation without being interrupted or having a member of staff come look at us, then walk away. It was very uncomfortable and awkward and we left as soon as we could. read more

They offer great in dining and to go options. I always enjoy coming in for lunch and having the chef pick out a few pieces for me. The fish is great quality and fresh. I think the office gets sushi from here at least once a week. I understand they have a new owner but everything has remained the same in regards to the quality and taste. read more

Sakae Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Burlingame, California

Been frequenting this place for a month now and can confidently say that I'm disappointed. I have so much to say, but I'll do my best to keep this short. For starters, the chef here is incredibly apathetic. I would even say there's a tinge of discrimination in his apathy. Every time I've dined here, I've tipped well, been respectful and attempted to thank the chef on the way out. Rather than acknowledge me, he keeps his head down and goes about his business. The first time it happened, I didn't make much of it. (Could've been hard of hearing.) But when I said it straight to his face at the bar and still got the same reaction, I couldn't help but take it personally. (Especially when I see him gleefully interact with other customers.) I'm a heavily tattooed brown guy so considering the usual clientele here, it wouldn't surprise me if they see me as an "outsider". Secondly, and even more importantly, the sushi is mid and overpriced. I've ordered everything from hamachi to unagi to saba here and it's all been either passable or offensive. For example, one time when I ordered hamachi it still had some scales on it (yikes). Another time I ordered anago and it most certainly had bones left in it. Even the saba lacked flavor, which is hard to do with said fish. Given the price point and supposed expertise, you'd assume they'd be more locked in. read more

What a lovely spot right on the corner of downtown Burlingame. My boyfriend and I decided to take his grandma to this restaurant as she is visiting from out of town. We went in with little appetite as we had just eaten a few hours before but now we know to come back with empty stomachs so that we can order everything we want! We ordered the garlic edamame (the garlic on this was so crispy and amazing, I would get it EVERY time I plan to come back), gyu tataki (very good! My boyfriend enjoyed it and he is very picky about beef), tamago and anago, salmon kama (my favorite! So much flavor in the seasoning - we were very pleased), spicy scallop roll (amazing), and avocado/cucumber roll. We didn't go all out as we should have in terms of ordering off the menu, but for sure we will be back! Service was very nice and attentive. There are a lot of tables open and the restaurant is fairly quiet. A very nice, not-loud ambiance. We didn't have to wait when we walked in at 6pm on a Monday evening, but there were several tables marked as reserved, so maybe making a reservation would be safe. I would love to have a seat at the sushi bar so that I can watch the chefs at their craft! read more

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Everything seemed very fresh here. The service was great. Get the tea to start! We tried the miso soup and shared a few bites to start. We got chicken karaage, yellowtail and spicy tuna rolls and a chicken teriyaki. The fish felt fresh and the chicken was very tender. This has a nice ambiance to eat on a fun date or with friends. read more

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As soon as you walk in, you know you are in for a memorable experience. The food here was wonderful. The menu was clear and gave many options. you could have small bites or more extensive experience. The sashimi was fresh and displayed artfully. Though the prices may seem high, consider the freshness, skill, and what you are having. If you're not sure what to order, the Chirashi Deluxe is a good way to experience many tastes, textures, and flavors. read more

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This is, to me, the single best sushi restaurant outside Japan ... and I'm talking the rest of the world! The last time I ate here, besides this recent time, was somewhere around 20 years ago and I *still* had the same opinion then. Gawd knows why I waited that long to eat here again, but I'm SO glad I did! In the several-year interim, I've eaten sushi from some pretty high-end places including a couple Nobu Restaurants (San Diego & Las Vegas). And even these places didn't match the quality at Sakae. Now I'm going to go out on a limb here for some and say (write!) that, while the sushi here would otherwise be deemed pricey, it's still more notably affordable than some of the sushi restaurants I've visited in Japan. What makes Sakae Sushi really stand out is that the majority of their seafood is flown in fresh from the Toyosu Fish Market in Tokyo (not to be confused with the Tsukiji Fish Market which is Tokyo's tourist trap version of San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf). At a restaurant such as this, the only way to go is to order the Omakase (oh-mah-KAH-say) or "Chef's Choice". Follow the chef's rules; he'll tell you if something needs soy sauce or not. And finally: Be sure to budget like you would if you were going to a higher-end steakhouse (think Alexander's or Ruth's Chris), and maybe more if you decide to enjoy one of the high-end sakes they have. I can't wait to eat here again, and certainly won't wait another 20 years to do so! read more

My friend have this place saved as one of the restaurants she wanted to go and since it was almost her birthday we decided to come here. Service was good. The waiter was nice and attentive. The food was alright. Most of the fish was fresh and yummy but there were a few pieces that tasted quite fishy and stale. read more

Sakae Sushi - a variety of sushi - Japanese Near Me - Burlingame, California

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Great sushi, service, wonderful variety of high quality fish. Nice sake selection too!

First time visiting this place. I am familiar with boring sushi. And this place has it. I thought being close to Broadway that they would have a standard of good to very good sushi. It was was not to be. I ordered a dragon roll, spicy roll, and unagi nigiri. Gosh darn it! It was lame and underwhelming. My friend ordered a sashimi dish. And he also rated it subpar. The service was fair, but not worth a big tip. Then what really irked me was the bill. Their tip breakout included the tax. I hate it when restaurants do this kind of crap. You do NOT tip on top of the tax. You only tip on the subtotal. To me, it's a deceptive way to pull extra money from the customer. Adding insult to injury, the bill was over $125! And all that for a shitty meal for two people?? read more

Legit. It can get very expensive if you order from the Tokyo Fish Market board but the nigiri was seasoned well, very fresh and they had a nice sake list. Certainly one of the better sushi places on the Peninsula if you are serious about it. People who only eat rolls, I can't attest to how they are as I don't typically eat rolls. Environment is very nice, warm feeling and suitable for dates and special occasions but comfortable to come for a lunch special alone as well. read more

Sakae Sushi - Tokyo Fish Board - Japanese Near Me - Burlingame, California