Soko Soko was delicious! We got the Salad, Lobster roll, Escolar, Scallop Butter, Negima, Gyu Hire,…read moreand the special Clam Chower Croqutte which was such a delight! Every thing tasted great and the service was lovely. The interior feels very modern but familiar, with food feeling Japanese with a nice twist that keeps it refreshing. Highly recommend, will be back soon!

Service is rude. Fish is not fresh, even with items missing…read more The server was a bit cold at the beginning, then became rude when he accused my friend of recording with the assumption rooted in his head. No "excuse me" just a direct "are you recording?" And without giving my friend a chance to explain that he wasn't (he is just a heavy Pokémon Goer), the server went on "no recording is allowed. You can't do that" Blah blah. There are clearly better and more professional ways to handle this. And assuming customers at fault is not. We ordered two hot plates and two Kaisen don at $60 each. Hot plates are good. Kaisen don is very sad. That's the least fresh toro and uni I have ever had. My friend is not used to complaining, but I decided not to swallow it. After some back and forth, they offered to replace the toro and uni. Although it's an okay gesture, my friend was not offered the replacement-- not even asking, while we ordered the same set. The replacement didn't come with the average freshness I have experienced, but better than the original. Then we started to look at google reviews, only to find out that the ikura included in the don was completely missing. It was offered after we complained. But again, no apologies. For an expensive item with clear description of the content in the menu, I don't know if it's a mistake or not. Btw, our Kaisen don doesn't look like their official picture at all.

Good sushi and very kind proprietors. I was at Kaiser waiting for a family member's surgery to be…read moredone. I came here for a take-out. I was offered a mug of hot green tea while they put together my order. When it was ready, they offered me a cup of hot tea to go. I mean...that's a nice gesture. The food is always good and plenty. My soft shell crab was flavorful and crispy, and their Lion King rolls are always good.

We had a great lunch here on a Saturday afternoon. The place was pretty quiet so we could choose…read moreour own table. We ordered some drinks and the shrimp tempura and seaweed salad as appetizer. They have a selection of Japanese beers on draft so I ordered an asahi. The tempura and the salad were both good, nice and crispy outside and cooked perfectly inside. The rolls were a good portion size and definitely fill you up. Good combination of flavors and great ingredients, nice fresh avocado, unagi sauce and tobiko. I really enjoyed my caterpillar role. The cherry blossom one was also tasty. Staff were friendly and attentive and place feels cozy inside. Will definitely come back and try some more dishes.

Craving a Wagyu bowl since my trip to Osaka, and not wanting to deal with an hour of traffic coming…read morethough rush hour from redwood shores to San Jose I thought why not I'll check it out. The restaurant was packed on a Thursday night but I was able to walk in at the bar. I got the ankimo pate from the seasonal menu and the wagyu steak and garlic rice. While waiting for my food I observed a sign of authenticity: a table of 8 Japanese businessmen, so I was pretty excited to get my food. I usually looooove ankimo and I didn't really think too much about how the mascarpone would be. I think it's too heavy/creamy and lost the liver-ness of ankimo which I really like. I understand a lot of people don't though so, different strokes for different people. Not a big fan of the mixture, and there was also water or something on the bread that made it soggy. However, the pickled onions and grapes were really good especially with the wagyu steak and garlic rice. At first glance the image of the wagyu steak is not that impressive, as it was in real life as well...BUT as I took my first bite I was taken back to the underground Kobe beef bowl hole in the wall restaurant. The beef is cut into really big pieces so in this picture it doesn't look like a lot but it was a good ratio. The rice is soft and fluffy and flavorful. Worth getting the dashi. I will definitely be back!!

Lunch at Kemuri was a total win!…read more My mom and I came in for lunch because we were in the mood to try a new restaurant, and I was immediately sold when I saw oxtail udon on the menu. Say less. O R D E R E D - Oxtail Udon - Octopus Salad - Hamachi Carpaccio - Beef Tongue V E R D I C T The oxtail udon was everything I hoped for and more. The broth was incredibly flavorful -- rich and savory with just a hint of sweetness. You'd think a soup this deep would lean salty, but it was perfectly balanced. And the oxtail? Fall-off-the-bone goodness. As an oxtail lover, this absolutely hit the spot. We also ordered a few dishes to share and honestly... every single one delivered. The beef tongue was super tender and cooked perfectly. The octopus salad was fresh and well-balanced, and the hamachi carpaccio was clean, buttery, and full of flavor. Truly flavortown worthy across the board. If you're looking for a spot that does bold flavors right without being heavy, Kemuri is it. I'd 100% come back again -- and next time, I'm already eyeing that oxtail udon.

Diner Japonica on Woodside Rd is a takeout only, super budget friendly Japanese restaurant in…read moreRedwood City. I wasn't expecting much but the portion was actually huge... like really huge. Each dish can easily feed 2 people no joke. I got the bento combo with 3 items (teriyaki beef, teriyaki salmon, pork katsu) and a beef curry, both were $17.95 each. Everything tasted really good. The beef was super tender and well seasoned. I think I like beef teriyaki more since its thin sliced and easier to eat. Pork katsu is prob my most favorite, crispy outside but still juicy inside. They also keep some fat on the pork which I actually like lol, more flavor. Salmon and beef curry was just okay, like any other Japanese restaurant. They gave sooo much rice, I could only finish like 1/3 of mine before giving up (appreciate the generosity). There's also 2 free salads on the side but honestly I was too full to even touch it. Overall a really solid place, cheap and filling. Def recommend if you want affordable Japanese food around the Bay.

Great food! I like their Tonkatsu (Fried Pork Cutlet) set and 3-item sets the most. Take-out orders…read moreonly, but not a problem for me.

Such a cool location. Parking at end of street very close by. Not the biggest of places, but worth…read morethe wait. Quiet, clean, and cool vibes. Service was excellent. All the staff, not just our waitress kept checking in with our table. Gyoza was crispy on its seared side, tender in the other and very juicy. Broth was very flavorful. The pork belly was great, and the chicken was full of flavor. Oh, and Sapporo on draft. Nice!

Enjoyed the tonkatsu XD ramen, Wagyu skewer and their chicken karage. The appetizers came out…read moreperfect! I don't think I've been to a Marufuku either Wagyu skewers until dining at the RWC location. Their karage was similar to other locations - tasty! I was here for the ramen and while the broth was solid, I'm a bit disappointed in the firmness of the noodles. We asked for extra firm and it came out soft enough for me to think it was overcooked. This was a similar experience to the one at Japantown in SF. Overall I will come back but yeah I hope they get better about firmness customization.

We were hungry and wanted dinner but the place we went to was full, so we walked around and found…read moreSakura. We tried the hibachi and I thought it was fine. It's standard hibachi where this fun chef comes and prepares the food live for you. They do some silly tricks like the onion volcano on fire. I've been to a few hibachi places and they all kind of taste the same. This one was no exception. Very buttery fried rice (it's not bad! Just tastes unhealthy) with okay pieces of chicken and steak. They have some sauces and I'm always fond of the reddish mayonnaise looking sauce (probably sriracha mayo). Service was good. I got some water refills and my Togo box. Tip is not auto included (at least for a party of two).

Sakura has recently made its way onto our list of go-to spots for birthday celebrations…read more While many people love the hibachi experience for the show and spectacle of having dinner cooked right in front of you, we usually choose to sit at a regular table; which tends to be a bit quicker, too. If you're dining as a pair, the couple's special is a fantastic option. Each person gets their own serving of their chosen protein, along with vegetables and your choice of fried rice, making it a satisfying and well-portioned meal. The staff is always attentive, friendly, and happy to help, which makes the experience even more enjoyable.

We recently checked out Akami Sushi in Redwood City, and it was a solid place to dine in (place was…read moretoo local and hidden that we didn't expect it to be that good). We really recommend checking out their off menu items (they will hand you a hand-written note when you get there) because the chef is just clearly so talented. Here are the highlights: * Ankimo Nigiri (off menu): Have to be honest, I was actually pretty scared to try ankimo (Google said it's monkfish liver - like who even dare to eat liver ), but I'm so glad I did. It wasn't fishy or difficult to eat at all, but incredibly rich and creamy. I'm obsessed!!! * Otoro (off menu): This was the star. The tuna belly was pure umami, super fatty, buttery, and literally melted the second it hit my tongue - really recommend ordering this one * Lobster Roll (off menu): As a girl who's on calories deficit, my body screams for help when I found out it had shrimp tempura (I tried to avoid fried food), but this roll was so damnnnnn savory! It's made of lobster, shrimp tempura and a combo of eel sauce, spicy mayo, and tobiko - no need anymore dipping sauce cause they were just phenomenal * Kaisen: This was a refreshing roll - made of tuna, salmon, hamachi (yellowtail), and white tuna. Shiso (perilla) really enhanced the flavor of the fish and brought fresh taste that I think is the best pairing for any sushi/sashimi dish * Woodside Roll: This was the only miss for us. It uses minced spicy tuna, which honestly ruined the texture and flavor of the fish. We prefer tasting the real meat rather than a mash :( Overall, we like everything that we order, and our bill came out at around $100 for all that we had (budget friendlyyyyy) and we were really satisfied with the sushi quality. Will we go back? Definitely! Do we recommend it to our friends? Heck yeah!

I absolutely love this place and visit all the time! The rolls, miso soup, and handrolls are…read moreconsistently excellent -- fresh, flavorful, and always satisfying. The service is friendly and welcoming, which makes the experience even better. Make sure to call ahead and make a reservation, as it can get busy and there's often a wait if you don't. The space itself is very small and cozy, giving it a true hole-in-the-wall charm, but they also have a to-go option if you prefer. This is definitely a hidden gem and one of my favorite spots for sushi -- I can't recommend it enough!

Ranzan Redwood City is one of the best omakase experiences I've had in a while. I went with the…read moreHana Kaiseki set ($98) and it felt very worth it for the quality and variety. The pacing was just right, nothing felt rushed, and each course was thoughtfully decorated! I enjoyed every moment during the experience. We started with warm house sake to warm up, and luckily it paired really nicely with the meal and made everything feel extra cozy. Then for the courses, I had: - Starter: Kumiage Yuba with light house sauce and wasabi, I'm so impressed!!! At first I thought I was eating some fish liver because the texture was similar, but turn out it's tofu and they makes it excellent! A very nice starter - Appetizer: Squid tempura, pickled radish, mushroom & veggies, and tamago. I really like the tempura, crispy but not greasy, nice mix of textures - Sashimi plate: 3 pieces of bluefin tuna otoro, very fresh and buttery, just melts in my mouth! Love it - Oden bowl: I'm so in love with the broth, sweet, umami and comforting. It had braised pork belly, radish and konjac jelly, and all taste amazing, could not find any words to complain - Grilled fish: a very simple dish with not much seasoning. Fish was paired with some salty pickled plum and sweet potato. - Steamed tofu with abalone: I really like abalone texture, they made it very tender and easy to chew. Also not much seasoning so that you can feel the natural taste of the seafood, love that! - Hotate scallop with persimmon sauce: I don't like persimmon that much, but the scallops taste fresh and sweet - Rice bowl with pickles and miso soup: this is the 2nd final course, they have 2 options to upgrade from the white rice, uni ikura (+$16) & A5 wagyu (+$26) - we have 2 people so we order both to try a little bit of everything. Both worth the upgrade, but I prefer a5 wagyu - Matcha yokan with red beans and hot tea: the dessert was a bit too sweet for me, even though they served with hot tea to balance. But still, a great dish! Overall, really solid omakase spot on the Peninsula. I'd definitely come back if I had the chance!

Came here for a Mother's Day lunch with my family. It was very quiet, which my parents appreciated,…read moreand 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.

Sushinaloa in Redwood City really blew us away. I've never known Mexican style sushi was a thing,…read moreso when we learned that this Sinaloa-style sushi spot was right in our neighborhood, we definitely had to try! And we did not disappoint. Everything was phenomenal: the vibe, the flavors, and especially the portions. We were shocked by how much food came out. Their rolls are MASSIVE, double the size of rolls from other sushi places. Normally for 2 people, we'd order around 3 rolls and maybe 1-2 appetizers, but here, we ordered about the same amount, the same price and somehow ended up with enough food for like 4 people . Genuinely shocked until today (but in a good way) As for the flavors, it's pretty much exactly how you'd imagine Mexican-style sushi, smoky, bold flavors, spicy, super cheesy and super filling. And here's what we had: - Brucheta Sushi ($22.95): a must-try, signature. Everybody around us ordered this. It had steak, shrimp, cream cheese, avocado, and cucumber. A fried roll, big bites and super comforting. - Cachichurris ($19.45): the 2nd fried rolls we ordered with shrimp, octopus, cream cheese, cucumber, and avocado. Okay now it's becoming too much. I mean it's delicious, nothing's wrong, but we should just order 1 fried roll only - Salmon Roll ($22.45): the real life saver!!! Since the other rolls were fried and heavy, this fresh salmon roll really balanced thing out. - Tuna La Perrona ($22.50): basically a tuna sashimi-style dish, served with fried tortillas and pickled mango & cucumbers. The sauce was ridiculously good, I would have it again next time! - Oyster shots ($18.5): Bold!!!!! - La Gueva ($17.50): Refreshing cocktail, I love it!!!! Definitely will come back!!!! But next time I'll come hungry we ended up bringing a lot of leftovers home.

Food and service were okay. I was craving raw seafood and this was definitely the place for…read moreaguachile fare. Get ready for spice! I'm fairly accustomed to spice so it was pleasant for me. My dining partner's tolerance isn't quite as high so he was sweating quite a bit. Again, it was okay, not great. Went on a Friday for lunch so getting seated and served was fast and easy.

I tried to come here Friday night but there were people already waiting out the door so we didn't…read morewant to wait and went elsewhere. Today I was able to meet my friend here for lunch and since it was a weekday we got a table right away at noon. To our pleasant surprise there was a lunch special offered at the back of the menu. For $17 you can a item from column A then B. I went with teriyaki beef (+1) and gyoza. The lunch special came with rice, tea and miso soup. I order the yuzu drink too. Everything was so yummy! The decor is cute with many lucky cats near the entrance and around the sushi bar. Near the back there is a huge display kawaii, anime and robotech figures. I can see kids enjoying looking at them. Looks like they have a private room option that is narrow and long with many 2 seater table side by side, maybe they open it up when they get busy. They have a parking lot that can exit through the back is what my friend told me but I found street which has a 2 hour limit. I saw a car with a parking ticket so I'm guessing they do enforce it. I had got there early so I checked out the super cute Bird Garden store next door if you have time to kill

I am usually wary of Japanese restaurants run by Chinese staff, as they decrease the authenticity…read moreof the restaurant. I still would not consider this restaurant authentic, but I did enjoy the semi-Americanized Japanese food. My family shared: * Lion King roll: snow crab and avocado topped with baked salmon, spicy aioli, tobiko, scallion, and unagi sauce * Papillon roll: hamachi and avocado topped with seared hamachi, jalapeno, spicy aioli, and ponzu sauce * Salmon teriyaki * Tonkatsu cutlet * Chirashi bowl 1 star off: The only item I did not like was the Butterfly roll because the spicy tuna was way too spicy. The best deal is their lunch special bento boxes. A protein entree comes with a small maki sushi, salad, and miso soup for $17.