The worst experience ever,tonight. Tried to help out a local business by ordering food. Called for 20 minutes, multiple times. Hung up on 5 times after waiting several minutes. Finally was able to speak to the owner. Fed me a bunch of excuses about being short- staffed and busy. Unacceptable to hangup on customers who are trying to order food. Will never order from this place again. read more

I have no word to say about service.the waiter is pretty good and food is fresh. When I was here every time,I felt very happy. read more

I have been to this restaurant for decades. The service is always great. Robert is always energetic and give customers a joyful dining experience. Food is excellent. Love their in-house shogun bento. Never disappointed. read more

beginning to be a favorable lunch option...akagi is average food for cheap...1 item is $7.58 (before $6 even in 2010) food is not perfect...tempura batter is a bit thick...crunchy outer, but doughy under...large cut teriyaki is literally drowning...request sauce on the side?...same with salad...generous pour of dressing..bit too much...tonkatsu nicely golden, but little dry and tad overcooked...beef and clear noodle stir-fry similar to korean jap-chae, but cheaper cuts of beef...regardless, a decent japanese bento for under $ten... read more

Is this the best sushi place in the area? No. But the food is good the service is quick and the prices are incredibly cheap. Very busy during lunch service. Always consistent-a neighborhood favorite read more

Akagi Restaurant - Short ribs and tempura - Japanese Near Me - San Bruno, California

I came here last week with my newly found bud Brian. Onto the food: Wow...well for 9 bucks it wasn't bad, I ordered a tuna sashimi and chicken teriyaki combination. There were actually a lot of people there. Good sign right? Misleading, I must say. Although the portions were generous, the chicken was burned, and the tuna sashimi was not cut correctly (it had tendons inside, all of them). It was cut a little high. Well, ya'll know I rate on the food quality, so for this time, definitely 2 stars when you mess up on chicken and tuna like that. read more

Uh oh akagi's...you're failing me... i used to love love LOVE this place, but i just went two nights ago..and i think it has sadly gone downhill.. =( 1. food is cheap however it isn't the best quality 2. i ordered the dragon roll and it was about $5. the dish only came with four pieces and my sushi was falling apart! 3. we ordered a side of edamme (sp?) and it was literally only about 15 pieces 4. food portions arent huge 5. when u ask for a fork..they give u a PLASTIC one..not good for a dine in restaurant. hmm duno if im comin back here any time soon! read more

Pretty decent sushi place. The size of the restaurant was not very big so it was very compact and people can brush by your table when they walk by. I got a special bento which was very filling and worth the price. Their bento had a lot of rice and tempura. The tempura was crispy and came in huge amounts! I couldn't finish it all. The sashimi pieces I got on my bento box was small and I was disappointed since I was a huge sashimi eater. Their miso soup was decent and good but I've had better. The best thing about this restaurant is the customer service. Very helpful and attentive to your calls. My waiter was extremely nice and caring and came out with the food very quickly. Great customer service! I came here twice and I would definitely come here again one day. read more

Not that bad of a place.. funny how it's right next door to another japanese place run by filipinos. Portions are big and sashimi quality is vaguely inconsistent but otherwise not that bad. I never go wrong with their tempura and their tonkatsu. Their bathrooms are cold though. Otherwise I wouldnt mind going back if I were in the area again. -_- read more

I was hoping this was a good place, praying even. But alas, it was not the San Bruno Japanese food gem that I was wishing for. I will say however, that the portions are huge... here's to obesity in America. Well yes, I did finish all my food both times I went *burp*. The sashimi doesn't look very good quality, the tonkatsu looks premade, but if you're looking for bang-for-your-buck, this is the place for you. The shogun special sounded interesting, hence my 2nd visit, but it was more of the same. +1 star for nice service. read more

Yelp is all about people reviewing a restaurant based on the place's ability to live up to expectations - expectations about food, service, decor, portions, pricing, etc. And I gotta say, Akagi always lives up to my expectations. I expect a filling, cheap, fast, tasty meal, and Akagi always delivers. I go elsewhere for sushi, but for bento lunch or dinner, Akagi can't be beat. I've been a patron for 20 years now (hello, 6-year old dama always wondering what was inside of the paper lanterns and scared to go into the hallway that leads to their bathroom) and well into adulthood, I'm still a fan. Always will be, I suspect. read more

BUYER BEWARE: yes, the food is cheap, but quality is lacking. I was excited to eat here since the place was full at 6pm, and a good handful of people were coming in to pick up their to-go orders. I quickly glanced over the menu on their window and was even more excited to see just how inexpensive everything was! I had to fight the urge to order all rolls (the prices were tempting) since I briefly read some Yelp reviews beforehand which advised to stick to the bento boxes, and I'm glad I did. I ordered a 2-item bento box with tempura and sashimi and the usual miso soup, rice and salad came with it. The bf also ordered a 2-item bento with a beef with noodles option (I can't remember the name) and sashimi. But we couldn't help ourselves and ordered spicy tuna and dragon rolls, too. Miso soup: what happened to the tofu?? Mostly broth with bits of green onions and seaweed. I didn't finish it. Salad: room temp with hardly any dressing. Nothing special here. The sashimi was "meh," and I think it was cut funny. The pieces were long and fat/tall(?) rather than rectangular and thinly sliced (if that makes sense to any of you). And the color was more of a unhealthy, pale pink color. You eat with your eyes first, and I almost lost my appetite just looking at it. And the tempura was your average tempura. Good amount for around 7 bucks. Then came the rolls. Spicy tuna: biggest disappointment! I love spicy tuna, and this was probably the worst one I've ever had. It had a spicy sauce on top that I am almost positive is some kind of Mexican hot sauce - Cholula? Tapatio? Crazy thought, I know! But seriously, once I figured out what that odd taste was after the second piece, I couldn't eat anymore of it. Dragon roll: Four large pieces, but stuffed with mostly rice. I actually picked out the middle because it was just too much rice. Speaking of rice, the sushi rice had a gummy texture, as if there was too much water. I actually looked back at the sushi counter to see who was making the sushi, because I was shocked that a sushi chef wouldn't notice this texture. I've had messy rolls, not-so-good-tasting rolls, but I've rarely experienced gummy rice in/on the rolls. This was another reason why I couldn't eat another spicy tuna roll and why I picked at the dragon roll. I can see the appeal of this place, but I don't think I'll be coming back for a while. Overall the food is 2 stars, but the prices bump it up to 2.5 stars. read more

Whenever I'm feeling some cheap, local Japanese food, I always think of Akagi. Since, it is rather small, whenever you visit there is almost guaranteed wait. Parking is accessible. Most of the time, I'll find myself getting a bento box as they are very tasty and definitely worth what you're paying for. My regular bento box includes salad, rice, Chicken Katsu, California Rolls, and tempura all for under 10 bucks. The dressing for the salad isn't too sweet. I'm not a big fan of fried foods, but the Chicken Katsu in particular comes with a sauce that is rather different in taste from other Japanese restaurant...or maybe it's just me. Although the rice that comes in their California Rolls are excessive, I can't really complain since I only eat basic sushi anyway. I like to think of Akagi as a fast food version of Japanese food. You're basically in and out. There is no decor. Simple table and chairs and they give you plastic forks to use when eating. Why? I don't know. Maybe they got tired of washing the dishes? I'm assuming they wash the bento boxes and plates so I don't get why they give you plastic forks because you would think that would be the easiest to wash out of the utensils. read more

Sushi is like a horror movie, exciting, mind boggling, and might even make you get up and run for the exit! However, just like any good horror movie, Sushi is only good when done right! Akagi Restaurant in San Bruno is nothing like "The Excorist" but rather "Scream 2" a respectable but somewhat disappointing movie. First off the parking here is nothing short of atrocious! The parking lot across the street is at maybe a 35 Degree slope, you better have strong arms for closing or opening the door. Akagi may be crowded, but the wait isn't usually bad. One drawback however is dealing with the eccentric waitress lady (you know who she is) who obviously has a problem understanding the concept of distance. You can be right in front of her, but she'll yell at you with everything she has, thinking you are 22 kilometers away! Now for the food! The bento box is awesome! Great price for 2 or 3 items and a great choice of items. I usually go with the Sashimi, Beef Teriyaki, and the California Roll. The bento box, in horror movie terms, is the "Sixth Sense" with the Sixth Sense being the sense of finding a great bargain! The Sushi is overpriced and pretty "Plane Jane"! It isn't up to par with High-End Sushi restaurants, but it isn't as bad as Pak N' Save Sushi. Akagi Sushi would be "White Noise" in horror movie terms. The Sushi is pretty Horrific, the bento box is frighteningly good, and the overall experience (Like any good horror film) leaves you wanting more. So check out Akagi for a hell of a time! Happy Halloween Yelpers! (This review was written March 23, 2009) read more

Quality sushi at low prices. Normally you'll end up paying $35-50 for a 2 person sushi dinner. Akagi, though definitely not a sexy venue, has quality, clean sushi for about half the price of other sushi restaurants. The tables, walls, menus & decor are all very blah, so don't expect a maître d' to serve you with a napkin and candle, but do expect to look at the menu and think "Nice! I can go twice for the price of normal meal." Order the spider roll, philadelphia roll, mixed roll, all their special rolls (all in the $4--6 range) The sashimi is a bit plain, i'd skip it. The chicken katsu and spare rib bento box is huge and delicious for $8.50, I recommend it. read more

Not the best, but not the worst. Still, it makes for super cheap faux Japanese food and it's great if you're on the go. Sushi is so dirt cheap here. It's not made the best, but it is decent. Sashimi is fresh enough so it's not something you should avoid. I've actually come here a few times with my family. Perfect because it has something for everyone. Both of my brothers don't eat anything raw, so there is a good amount of rolls with "cooked" items for them to choose from. My dad is happy with the sashimi, and even my grandmother enjoyed her very first sushi experience here (she was fond of the spider roll). My dad thinks I'm a sushi snob (yeah, he's right) but I can hang with the nitty gritty. Don't have high expectations, it's a decent cheap spot. The portion sizes definitely are bang for your buck. warning: they use chili powder to make their spicy tuna, not Sriracha and it is SPICY. It gave me heartburn read more

If it weren't for my recent obsession to go tanning with my friend, I doubt I would've stumbled upon this place. We literally got our GTL on but needed to grub afterwards since we're working so hard. My friend suggested this place because the prices were decent and she definitely hyped up that infamous ~$10 bento box. I shrugged my shoulders and said," Sure, why not!" We were seated, menus down, utensils on the table, orders were placed and all done swiftly. My friend ordered a bento box while I stuck with something simple: a spicy tuna roll. My friend' bento box arrived and the food seemed pretty decent and portioned well for a hungry inidividual. When my food came I was slightly perplexed as to what was placed in front of me.. I couldn't tell what type of sauce was on my sushi but one bite in and I knew. Tapatio. Please tell me why in the world would Tapatio hot sauce be on my sushi?? I didn't think it was possible to mess up a spicy tuna roll; needless to say, I ate it all because that was my dinner before hitting up the gym for practice. Short & to the point: one star for the friendly service. read more

Three stars for their sushi. Cheap and really good. The portions are not that bad. But def getting to-go next time. No stars for their customer service. Rude ass server when we asked if we can "split the check" she acted like it was hella complicated and we were her last customers, as if there was a line of people waiting to be served. Big fucking deal. We said "thank you" multiple times, and even offered to help her out since she made it look like it was so HARD to accommodate. So immature to roll your eyes at a customer, what are you 7? Didn't get her name but remember exactly how she looked like. Short old Asian lady with black and grey hair. We were there around 9pm. -- If you hate what you do, don't fucking work there. Really dislike people who gotta bring out their immaturity to work. Take that shit home. Because that act isn't someone who "works hard" read more

Maybe at this location for the last 30 yrs. Casually designed, no frills, basic chairs and tables from the sixties. We both ordered tempura udon. Definitely fresh and filling, made with a light beef broth soup, freshly battered shrimp, broccoli, carrot, and a sticky California roll. Stopping here for lunch was worth the visit. I suggest painting the interior to refresh it's long worn look:) read more

Decent lunch spot if you're working around the San Bruno/ Bayhill area. Food is reasonably priced, though that doesnt say much about the quality. Would probably come back again to try their cooked food (tempura/ teriyaki) since my experience was only with the sushi. read more

Akagi has been around my entire life! I remember when I was little my parents would bring home their bento boxes and even today we still get their bento boxes. Things haven't changed with them over the years. I don't usually come in to eat, I usually just order to go and I usually get the same thing, the bento box of the day. For the price you pay, you get a whole lot. Yes, like many restaurants they overload on rice. Their chicken terriyaki can taste a little burnt, and their miso soup is a little bland. But heck for much I pay (usually around $10-12 for a three item bento box) I don't mind! They are pretty fast about To Go orders. I guess the one thing that sucks is that getting To Go means getting no soup. ): I love soup. There is usually a wait for here so get there early. it's not so big inside. read more

Always stop in when I'm traveling to San Bruno. Staff is super friendly. Bento is always good. Today I ordered the Chirashi--it has spoiled me for other restaurants. Never get the combination of quality and value as I get here. Thanks Akagi for making my time away from home a bit better! read more

Akagi Restaurant - Chirashi - Japanese Near Me - San Bruno, California

I love me some Akagi! I tend to come here for my Japanese fix. Hole in the wall location I've been going to since I was a kid. Reasonable prices, large enough portions! I love their Saba (although one time I ordered it, it came out cold =( they offered to replace it to anything of my liking, so i got the terriyaki chicken). Bento boxes are the way to go. Even the Sushi Rolls are huuuge. Sashimi is nice & fresh [LOVE ME SOME HAMACHI!]! Only thing that sucks is it's a small place so sometimes the wait to get seated is long, but so worth the wait. They even do take-out too! get you some ;) read more

Well, it's been three days since i last ate at this place, and my ass is still planted on my toilet because my stomach is still as upset as a fat chick waiting in a long line for the buffet. yes, this place is dirt cheap, and I understand the concept of "you get what you pay for". Yes, i know you won't be licking ikura off Iron chef Morimoto's balls at this cheap ass place, but I also don't expect to get a bad tummy ache either. three item bento box for under 10 bucks...great news..but judging from all the people eating here, most won't know good japanese food tastes like even if you roll them into a fat california roll and dip them in a tub of soy sauce and wasabi. Mostly a young, NON japanese crowd, more interested in eating cheap than good. that's fine, but man, some of their stuff left a sour taste in my mouth....and my ass. the beef teriyaki was like jerky dipped in teri sauce. the sashimi looked tired and you wondered if the tuna committed seppuku. the fried tempura looked up at me and asked me "are you really going to eat me? good luck dude..." Place still gets two stars because they really have a great price point, and the staff works hard. read more

I have been going to this place for 15 years. Yes, thank you; I have been going there more years than I have actually aged! It is a little whole in the wall; but those are the best! Their sushi is always good; always fresh and at bargain prices. I love the little yellow pickles in the bento too! read more

So amazed this place is averaging under 3.5 stars while that piece of shit Amami sushi down the street gets 4 (see my post below this) The roles I got were like $4-$8 each and were definitely worth it. I got the soft shell crab roll, unagi roll, and some roll with salmon. The rolls were good except I think it was the salmon roll that had wayyy too much rice and not as much sea food in like 1/3 of the pieces. Aside from that though it was like a sushi orgasm in my mouth. My girlfriend got the bento box here and I sampled some of it and it was delicious enough for me to eat more than my share. They're open pretty late too. I think we came an hour before closing so they weren't too busy. They're not as fancy as amami, but definitely cheaper, better tasting, and better service. I'll make sure to return here. read more

We place a pickup order over the phone and the whoever answered the phone was extremely rude. The order was fairly large and simply asked to have the order read back and the person on the phone stated "I don't have time for that." Needless to say this one person is a poor reflection of this business and we will not be ordering from here. read more

For some odd reason, this is my parents' absolute favorite Japanese restaurant. Me: "Where do you want to eat for your birthday, Mom?" Mom: "Akagi!" I think they enjoy it because of A) affordability and B) they have generous portions, especially their bento boxes. It's been a good 7 years since I've been to this place, until yesterday when my co-workers decided to eat here. A bit hesitant, I agreed. Right when I walked in, I was overcome with nostalgia. Visions of that 12 year old girl bored out of her mind, sitting in between her Mom & her Dad on that tight wooden bench waiting for our name to be called filled my head and it was actually a good feeling! I ordered their California bento box which came with 3 shrimp tempura & veggie tempura, 3 pieces of California roll and chicken teriyaki. All bento boxes come with rice, a side salad and miso soup. It was way too much food for me, but the taste was actually quite decent, especially for $9! Now I feel kinda guilty for laughing at my parents' love for Akagi. To make up for it, I think I'll treat them out to dinner here for Father's Day. read more

Best Japanese food! Cheap and good. Everyone I take there always goes back. I love the Dragon roll, delish! Oh, and I love the oldies station they always have on. read more

Haven't been here in awhile and glad we ordered some sushi to go. Everything tasted good and fresh and we were all satisfied...the parking is pretty hard though. Try to be here by 5 for dinner or else the wait will be long. The waiters and service is pretty good too...maybe except for the one waitress. :/ read more

Cheap and delicious Japanese food! The decor leaves something to be desired, but the food makes you forget all that. I was introduced to this wonderful place a couple years ago and I keep coming back. I've had Japanese all over the Peninsula and this isn't the best I've ever had but it is reliable. Sometimes there's a wait on weekend nights, but it's a very small restaurant (maybe 12 tables?). The service is good, always polite and friendly. They offer different combos and bento boxes that come with tons of food and cost around $7-$12. I love Akagi! read more

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This review is from a visit a few years back. Ate at the tiny Sushi bar in the back, because the place is always packed with cheap ass people that will eat anything that is half decent and dirt cheap. Why the one star? Well how about a freakin cockroach that ran out of my wife's salad from her Bento Box. No joke. I tried to kill the roach with my chopsticks, but the bugger ran under the refrigeration unit on the sushi bar counter before I could kill it.. He turned around and was looking at me! I started to get chills and wanted to get the F out! I told the waitress about the cockroach and she told me I didn't have to pay for my wife's food, but I had to pay for mine "since there was no cockroach in my food". My bill was like $10.00. I wasn't in the mood to fight, so I just paid the $10.00 (no tip) and I never returned. Mr. Burglecutt P.S. Another thing is the Mexican waiters and bus boys always put a supply of chopsticks in their back pocket! That is so low class and disgusting! P.P.S. Yes, the chopsticks in the back pocket next to their ass! If you like the waiters ass? Have at it! No thanks! read more

The cheapest Japanese food around! For $6.95 you can stuff your face with their shogun bento box. I had to unbutton my jeans after having dinner there. Sushi is just okay. It's prepared by Japanese people but that doesn't guarantee good sushi, ya? Also, from what I can tell, this place is more authentic than most Japanese restaurants around the peninsula where most of them are either chinese or korean owned. I could be wrong though. Come here when you're hungry and on a tight budget. read more

Sure, they use imitation crab and all other substitutes but hey, as long as their sushi is wrapped in seaweed and decently priced under 3 dollars, I'm in! I got a bento box loaded with veggie and seafood tempura, smaller-than-usual tuna sashimi and imitation crab sushi and rice for less than 10 bucks. The place is usually cramped but we came in just before the close at 9:30, so iff you plan to come here in the afternoon or early evening, be prepared to wait for about 20-30 minutes.. The service was good; servers were very polite even though we walked in really late. Place looks cozy, and there is ample parking space, price per meal is usually 30% less than usual Japanese resto. Overall, I give it four stars! read more

This place has really gone down hill. Its sad, they used to be really good, but I wont be coming here again. The sushi I ordered was warm. And it didnt have anything cooked in it. It was warm, raw fish. Ew. Im pretty sure thats not sanitary. The taste of it was also blah... Edible, but not satisfactory. The teriyaki sauce is so effing salty. Soooooo salty. For the price, their food is okay, but I could spend a couple more dollars for a bento box and get much higher quality. I do, however, like their salad dressing. read more

I've been coming here for several years now. It's a real good place if you're one for bento boxes. They give good portions and the food tastes good. It's also about $9.00 even for dinner, where as other japanese restaurants would charge 15-20$ for the same thing. I really like the food here because i always leave with a full and satisfied stomach. Reason for 4-stars. Lately, many of the waiters have turned to latino people. The only japanese person i see there is this japanese lady. And as i've came here for years, this "new lineup" of waiters aren't as service friendly and attentive as the previous ones. Many times i try to get their attention while they chat with what seems like their friends for 5 minutes straight. It also took them 15 minutes to bring me a glass of water. This place also isn't as crowded as it used to be. read more

I SUPER love Akagi's. It's my favorite restaurant to go to when I come back home from college. They have delicious food at a reasonable price and friendly service. I would definitely recommend the Caterpillar Roll! :) read more

Came here on Friday after a day of fun in the sun beach hopping from Ocean Beach to Rockaway Beach!! It was packed, but we waited for about 5 minutes! We were seated and there was the rush of service! The waitstaff is nice, efficient, and have great sense of humors! Ordered Dinner Combo Bento Box with 3 options (yes 3!!). Chicken Katsu, Tempura and Tuna Sashimi. Yummy yummy in my belly! I also ordered 2 orders of Spicy Tuna Roll..I effin love this roll. Its just the right amount of kick with the tuna! Very satisfied!!!! Plenty of left overs,and it was still delicious later on! Akagi..you have yet to disappoint me (and I dont think you ever will)! read more

Been here plenty of times in the past (pre-Yelp days). One thing I remember was that they gave pretty good portions on their bentos, and the prices were pretty reasonable. Went this evening for a last minute dinner out with the fam. They still have plenty of bentos with lots of choices. Had the broiled mackerel (kinda' fishy), Beef with clear vermecelli noodles and onions (good), and maguro sashimi (not the best quality). The childs plate was the best deal for 10 and under (only $3.75 - chicken teriyaki, salad, fish cake, tamago and fake crab with rice). All-in-all the quality of the food is not the best, but I can see people coming here for the variety and value... read more

Akagi Restaurant - Deluxe Combination - Japanese Near Me - San Bruno, California

Such a great place for lunch or dinner! The food is great! The staff is very friendly! Always my go to place for sushi! Love sitting at the sushi bar!! read more