No wait, got in immediately on a Saturday 1PM. Waited about…read more10 min until our food came. We sat outside which was nice on a hot day. Good portion, good level of spice, added some vinegar. Tasted deliciousssss and hit the spot.

Kajiken hits the spot between comfort and pure gluttony! I typically do not love noodle places, but…read morethis is on another level. I have been to Kajiken twice now, and it has been absolutely delicious each time. It is located in downtown San Mateo, so it does not have its own dedicated parking lot. If you come on the weekend, it can be harder to find parking, and the likelihood of a wait is high. When it gets busy, there is a section outside for you to line up. The servers typically come out to the folks closest to the front of the line and hand them menus so they can decide what they want before being seated. When it is not as busy, you can walk in directly and request a table. The shop itself actually has a lot of seating, but there is always an influx of people, so it fills up quickly. The interior gives off a nice modern Japanese chic vibe. :) They also offer outdoor patio seating, which is great if you are trying to enjoy a nice day outside. I have tried both their Wagyu Roast Beef Aburasoba and their Soboro Aburasoba. The roast beef is tender and adds a nice chew against the silky noodles, while the soboro chicken is juicy and coats your mouth with a savory soy flavor. Additionally, I've had their karaage on both occasions I visited, and it was succulent! I love how the juice from the chicken balances with the generous amount of grated ginger and green onion. This place is definitely worth a try! If you can go on a weekday before the dinner rush from people getting off their 9-5 jobs, that would probably be the optimal time frame. I came here on a Wednesday around 6:15 PM, and it was not too bad until around 7 PM when it started getting busy.

The restaurant ambiance is very good and the service is incredible. We were incredibly impressed by…read morethe quality and the presentation. The staff were nice and really accommodating. Everything was unique and everything came in sets and combos. The salmon belly is fresh, the wagyu is tender and it doesn't need much cooking. I was shocked by the taste of the roe and it was super juicy like popping boba balls. Highly recommend making resy before coming.

Came here on a weekday around 5:30PM, and there was about a 15 minute wait - luckily, we were…read moreseated in the private room! Come early, as they only take reservations for parties of 6+! Monkfish liver 8/10 - I love a good monkfish liver and the liver itself was sooooo creamy and decadent! I personally felt that the marinade used was slightly on the sweeter side, not as packed full of umami as I would have liked! Beef tongue 9/10 - a standard, well cooked, well seasoned beef tongue, but the sauce they they served with it made it exceptional!! Deluxe Chirashi 8.5/10 - this is a HUGE amount of food, definitely worth the price tag! The cuts of fish are incredibly thick and you can tell that their fish is fresh! However, some of the cuts of fish weren't prepared very well, and were falling apart, becoming stringy. The seasoned rice under the fish might have been my favorite part - perfectly seasoned and topped with a small amount of garlic furikake!! I did have an issue with the ikura & tamago - they were slightly too sweet for my tastes. They also advertise this as coming with fresh wasabi - the amount of wasabi they actually provide is tiny, definitely not enough for the amount of fish served. Overall, I will say that I think this place has great quality of fish and beautiful presentation, but is better for people who have a sweeter palate! Their tamago, ikura, and even their soy sauce is on the sweeter side, so if you have a salty, savory palate like me you might be a little thrown off!

Ordered the tonkatsu and it was amazing--crispy and juicy. Kit provided great service, super…read morefriendly and attentive. Definitely coming back!

A hit every time! So happy that an udon spot has opened in downtown San Mateo. Cute indoor and…read moresmall outdoor seating area, recommend going early on the weekend as sometimes theres a wait (you can also join the yelp waitlist!). All the udon are delicious, but my all-time favorite is the mental cream. Savory and umami, perfectly creamy! The nabeyaki udon are great in the winter when you want something warm and soup-y. Recommend!

My go-to spot when I'm craving ramen. I like the niku spicy when I want soup and the Tokyo classic…read moreaburasoba when I want soupless. (I want no soup 95% of the time.) I've tried the tsukemen, and it's not for me. The broth has a fishy flavor that I do not enjoy. For apps, we have consistently ordered the karaage and calamari. On occasion, the calamari can be a bit tough, but it comes with a lot of seasonings/toppings that take it over the top. Really kid friendly - they have boosters for booth seats AND high chairs, plus special utensils for kids and just started serving water also in special plastic cups.

This used to be my go-to spot, but unfortunately it's become a no-go spot for me…read more I was really surprised by how much both the service and food quality have changed. When I got my noodles and broth, I immediately noticed a huge difference from what I remembered. At first, I thought maybe they had changed the recipe, but after trying my boyfriend's broth, it was clear there was a major inconsistency. Mine was so watery that I could barely taste any flavor--it honestly felt like they were running low on broth and tried to stretch it. I asked the server if I could get a new bowl, and he seemed confused by the request, so I had to further explain what I meant and mention that I've eaten here many times before. I hate sending food back or asking for replacements, but at that point it just wasn't enjoyable. When i got the food, it was the same thing but a little flavor and SO MUCH ONION. This is what i mean by inconsistency?! why are there hella onions in this broth but not the previous ones??? What disappointed me even more was the service. After my replacement arrived, none of the servers checked in on me. It felt very much like a quick "here you go" and then they disappeared. I didn't feel welcomed as a customer. I'm not sure what happened because this used to be one of my favorite places, but I left feeling really disappointed.

I ordered a custom tray for a large group celebration and we were pleased with the quality and…read morenovelty. The fish were fresh, the rice was seasoned, and the garnishes were interesting. The owner was communicative via text and E-mail. Pick up was from a ghost kitchen. Menu was difficult to find online, but here is the link: https://twodotsco.typeform.com/to/eUm9sISf?typeform-source=linktr.ee The tray was beautifully decorated. At $6.25 per piece of sushi, the price was similar to nice sushi restaurants. I probably would not order from here frequently, but only as a special treat.

The Backhouse was first on my radar two years ago on Valentine's Day when my husband surprised me…read morewith one of their beautifully curated omakase boxes for a cozy night in with sake. Everything was really good and thoughtfully prepared, and it made for such a fun and elevated at-home date night. This past week for my mom's 60th birthday, I decided their party platter would be perfect for celebrating. They were very responsive and easy to coordinate with, which made planning simple. You do have to pick up from a ghost kitchen in San Mateo, but the process was efficient and smooth. The platter itself was beautiful and the quality was just as good as we remembered. Fresh, flavorful, and nicely presented. Definitely a great option for special occasions or when you want something a little elevated at home.

We visited Noma Sushi on a Thursday evening and got seated right away with no reservation. This…read morespot was tricky to find, since it was tucked away and quite small. The vibe was very casual with no frills. I started with a Miso Soup, which was expectedly good. We also got the Spicy Tuna Tartare Tacos to share between the 3 of us, which was perfect because it came in 3 pieces. My friend and I then ordered the Bluefin Lover's roll and Double Hamachi roll to share. Both of these were awesome! The fish was so tasty and fresh and the flavors went together really well. It was hard to pick a favorite between the two! I also tried a bit of my other friend's Geisha roll, which was nice but less memorable. Service was friendly and quick, and pricing was pretty standard.

This little hole in the wall ish sushi spot was pretty spot on for some quick and fresh sushi. Bit…read morehidden and tucked away in this parking area but not too hard to spot. Plenty of parking around also. There was no wait when I came on a Thursday night. Service here is really friendly. Got the 10 piece omakase set and quality to price was solid. Each piece was fresh, buttery, and love how they include real wasabi on it.

Loved it. We ordered a whole bunch of items and almost most of them were really good. Highly…read morerecommend the duck breast, and beef tongue (both styles). Oyster is also pretty good. The clam with vermicelli is not recommended (tiny clam). Service was awesome. We got water refills and napkin refills very often. Waiters and waitresses are nice and friendly, especially with our little one.

Ordered a bunch of different skewers for takeout yesterday (spicy lamb, spicy prime rib(?), spicy…read morechicken, negihama, lobster tail, bacon lychee, and some veggies). My dad was a huge fan, and I was pretty happy with all of the chicken skewers. Unfortunately, as expected, skewers aren't great for takeout since by the time I got home the red meat skewers were already a bit cold/stiff. I'll probably come back another time to try them fresh in house, especially since my dad was really happy with them! We decided to try the bacon lychee one specifically because it's a really weird combo. I wasn't the biggest fan (it tastes exactly what it sounds like though, lol), but my dad thought it was pretty cool so I'd recommend trying it. I also ordered the fried salt/pepper green beans on the side, but wasn't a big fan. I think these were also impacted by doing takeout since by the time we got them the fry was not that crispy. Overall, I'm sure it's a great pick for dine-in, but not so much for takeout.

First time here, for a party of two on a Tuesday night. We got seated really quickly since there…read morewere a lot of open table around 5ish? But it did fill up later on for sure. No cons at all. This place have such great service even my friend said how attentive they were always refilling our water and asking how's everything? They also gave us a dish on the house by the chef. Little things like that makes our dining experience even better. We ordered seaweed salad, monk fish liver? Or something similar to it, double toro roll, rainbow roll, lion king roll(best lion king roll because they did NOT over due it with the sauce) and last min we added on the uni which was served on a fried leaf? Forgot the name lol) everything was great.

As someone who is allergic to fish, but not shellfish, this place had so many options to choose…read morefrom especially since they offer real crab meat! Our favorite was the Baked Baby Scallop Roll with real crab meat, it was so good we ordered another!! I think it's the best roll I've ever tasted. Not only was the food amazing, but the service was top tier thanks to our server, Edmond. He made sure our party was having a great experience. 12/10 recommend! Definitely coming back here.

Tokie's Japanese Cuisine has been one of my go-to spots for years, even back when they were in…read moreFoster City. No matter what you order, you really can't go wrong--everything on the menu is consistently amazing. The atmosphere is always warm and welcoming, which makes every visit feel like you're coming back home. Diane and Victor are incredible hosts and truly make the experience special. I've known them for a long time, and Victor never fails to greet me with a shot of sake--something I always look forward to every time I walk in. Their rolls are absolutely to die for, but as someone who appreciates traditional Japanese flavors, I always find myself going back to the sashimi. It's fresh, clean, and really lets the natural flavors shine. If you're looking for great food, great vibes, and even better people, this place is it.

Tokie, what happened?? Thursday night, around 6 pm. No line got a table quick. In front of…read morerestaurant, only thing is when new people came in the rush of cold air , forcing us to keep the jackets on. They did move us to a table closer in , without asking to be changed. Ordered the deep fried oysters, $11. Got three small oysters and tartare sauce. Not worth getting, my kids food came out because they ordered cooked food, katsu and grilled salmon. The problem was the restaurant was not that busy . Two sushi people. My kids had finished eating and my food or my wife's dinner had not come out . Not that it was complicated. A tokie special roll and another basic roll off the menu. They didn't even have to cook it! I am so disappointed. Overall probably stick to cooked food if you Don't want to eat after everyone is done eating. ‍. Bang for the buck not so much anymore.

What a fantastic sushi spot in downtown San Mateo!…read more We were blown away by all the nigiri we ordered. Everything was super fresh with great flavor and texture. We wouldn't order the Octopus Karaage or the Miso Black Cos again. The octopus was chewy and the cod was good, but not as flavorful as other places. The service and ambiance is fantastic. Get a reservation well in advance as they're usually booked up at least a week out. We'll be back to try more of their menu.

Sushi Maruyama is tucked on the outskirts of downtown san mateo with plenty of street parking…read morearound. My partner made reservations the day before and we got to be seated at the counter. What we ordered; 8pc omakase $63 each Hamachi jalapeño roll $13 Crunchy roll $16 King salmon truffle hand roll $15 We loved every single piece of the omakase! I felt every fresh cut was hand picked very well. We ordered other rolls thinking we needed more full but omakase was enough as the rolls didn't satisfy us as much. Will definitely come back for the omakase again!