The food was absolutely spectacular. The food came out very quickly and the staff were so friendly. It is a very quiet and soft environment and it is perfect for groups and solo. No pointers from me, 5 stars. read more

Daigo - Pana Cotta - Sushi Bars Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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The food was great overall, but the plating was pretty slow since they only had one sushi chef. The karaage was light and crispy, and I really liked the soft-shell crab, but I wish it wasn't soaking in vinegar. The dragon roll was cut nicely into small bites but was skimping on the unagi. The wagyu sushi was very filling with just one piece. I could do without the truffle on it. The miso cod was just meh. read more

Last minute decision to head here on my birthday, it was getting late and I was craving sushi but only a handful of places were going to be open after 9PM and Daigo was one of them and it had good reviews ! I loved the cozy atmosphere, very small and hidden spot (can we gatekeep?!). We obviously didn't have a reservation so we sat outside under the tarp, (which was fine), the inside is very small. Very much on the pricier side, esp the sushi as everything is priced at one piece each for nigiri (not the typical 2 piece). Sushi was phenomenal though! They had a variety of dishes you wouldn't typically find, so I really enjoyed the menu. If you're looking for non-typical Japanese fare and don't mind spending a bit, I highly recommend. Since it was my birthday, they did have a complimentary cake! read more

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My friend and I decided to come here for a late birthday celebration and tried their omakase which was ~$135 a person We were seated at the bar and although it's a quaint restaurant, we noticed they also had some additional outdoor seating as well This was my third time having omakase and out of all 3 experiences I've had so far, Daigo definitely had the highest quality fish (but also the most expensive). I enjoyed a majority of the pieces and I was appreciative that the sushi chefs were very quick about getting all of the pieces out one after another The servers were also very attentive so I definitely hope to come back and try some of their other rolls as well:) read more

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Yummy omakase! Service was great, food was great, and the sashimi was fresh. The omakase is about 17-18 courses and does not include dessert. No worries - I think dessert was the weakest dish here so just come for the omakase or sashimi! Some highlights - toro, salmon belly, black cod/sea bass? And the best chuwanmushi. Uni was a tad too briny. Hojicha ice cream is homemade but not very creamy. Good amount of sweetness, though. All in all, totally worth it! And not tough to get reservations for. I'd come back. read more

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Daigo has been on my list for a while and I was happy to stop by on a Sunday morning for lunch. We arrived right when they opened and was seated in the outside tent area since the shop is pretty tiny and filled up quickly. Prices were definitely higher compared to other sushi places as this restaurant leaned closer to finer, delicate Japanese dining. We ordered 3 different sushi rolls, 3 chawanmushis, miso cod, shishamo kaarage, and the softshell crab (total including tax but before tip was a little over $160). Overall, the food was good. I liked that the rolls had less rice and good quality fish and ingredients. The chawanmushi had a good variety of seafood (scallop and 2 types of shrimp). I would just keep in mind that portions were very small for the price you are paying. There was also only one server so it was a bit slow, but she was attentive. read more

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This place definitely deserves a higher rating! We had the 16 course omakase and every dish was phenomenal! My personal favorites were Sakuramasu, Chu Toro, and King Salmon! I'd highly recommend visiting and make sure to make a reservation because there isn't a ton of seating. Can't wait to go back! read more

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I was visiting my nephew and he asked for sushi. I looked around to find a reasonable Omakase, but still had great flavors. This place was recommended. It's hidden off the side of the road, so people must know about it because it was busy. I was able to make a reservation by texting them. We got the Omakase and everything we had was delicious. It was fresh and the flavors for very good. It was a lot of food as well. It was the 18 items I believe. I opted in for the extra dessert which was Yuzu lemon cheesecake. $13 for the dessert for the size you get I thought it was a little pricey. Everything else was delicious. Service was great as well. We always had water in our glass. Glad I got to check out this little gem. SYOY! read more

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This place is an easy 5/5 sushi spot. It is kind of tucked away and unassuming but it's worth the search for street parking. There is interior seating and a covered outdoor patio, which is where my boyfriend and I ended up for our reservation. We had to actually push our reservation back by 30 minutes so we were too late for omakase but honestly we had a great time just continuously ordering from the main menu. We ordered a variety of maki rolls, nigiri, and sashimi, and enjoyed the gindara and agedashi tofu as well. All of the fish tasted incredibly fresh and super high quality. I definitely need to make the effort to arrive hungry next time because I wish I had eaten more. The items were so simple yet so delicious and flavorful. I can't wait to come back! read more

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First thing to know is reservations are recommended. That being said, when I went, they got my party a table in about 15 minutes. The place is small and kind of in an alleyway. It's right next to the parking garage though, so that's nice. Food tasted good. Not the best sushi I've ever had, but definitely good. Rolls were small and it was also a bit more expensive than a typical mid-level place. Not a top choice, but would go again. read more

Daigo is always outstanding. Their variety of fish is exceptional. Along with the quality. They always recommend not using soy sauce and wasabi (although they provide)... and they're right. Don't be tempted. Definitely try first as served. Haven't had the Omakase, but definitely on the list. Had the Golden Eye Snaper, which was just phenomenal. The Hamachi crudo was fantastic as an appetizer. And I really liked the mushroom salad as well. read more

What a great find! Cozy little spot that is tucked away behind a bistro in old downtown Palo Alto. I like how small and intimate this place is. Very Japanese in style! The indoor was very inviting and I love the bar decor! They do have outdoor seating with heaters which is great as lines fill up so quick! Ordered the omakase as well as starting off with their popular hamachi spots and the tofu. Both starters are delicious! The hamachi shot was a punch in your mouth, it was amazing! You can either take it as it is or mix and then drink it. The tofu was delicate, soft, and flavorful! Be careful once you bite in because it was very hot! Almost burnt my tongue but totally worth it! Love the broth in it as well. The omakase from start to end was amazing. Each dish stood on its own with their own flavors and it was just delicious. I will say out of them , my favorite was chawanmushi which had snow crab, truffles, and all the other good stuff! Truly remarkable! The eight piece nigiri were very good! The favorite is the toro. You just can't go wrong with toro. Also the Suzuki nigiri which has this sea bass and wow that was very good! Did not expect that! Wonderful service who gave us good recommendations! read more

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Daigo is just like one of those exclusive tiny Japanese restaurants you would walk into in Japan where you would need an invitation to get into. I've eaten both inside and outside and like the ambiance of both for my date nights. They have a wide variety of fish flown in from Japan and from all over the world and it reflects in both quality and taste. Try everything if you're up for it. I haven't had a miss from them yet and it brings me memories from when I lived in Japan. Slightly pricy as they price per nigiri instead of by pairs but worth it. Make reservations as they do fill up and turn away customers. It's right off of University Avenue so it's conveniently located read more

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My husband and I came here for our anniversary dinner. Of course I booked the sushi counter in advance so we can watch the sushi chef while they prepared the omakase menu: Ishidai (spotted knifejaw) Hirame (halibut) Kanpachi (amberjack) Masaba (chub mackerel) Nama hotate (fresh scallop) Akami (lean tuna) Chutoro (medium fatty tuna) Zuke sake toro (soy marinated Scottish salmon belly) Uni / wagyu It's been quite a long time since we found a decent omakase restaurant we can stand behind ever since our OG place in Alameda closed down many years ago. It literally felt like we were eating authentic food in Japan! My husband loved this place so much that we might actually make this an anniversary "tradition"! read more

As part of this year's pledge to go to restaurants that I have not been to, we chose Daigo as it was on the way back home. Arriving around 8:15 this minimalist restaurant tucked away in an alley has patio seating along with inside seating consisting of 6 seats at the sushi counter along directly behind 3 deuce tables and one 4 top where we sat. The sashimi platter that we ordered was extremely fresh and every piece was at the perfect temperature. The Negitoro and Negihama maki rolls which did not make the picture were nicely done along with Dragon roll pictured. Because they close at 9:30 the Omakase menu was not available.We knew before we arrived that they did not have a wide variety of hot entrees as they are known for their sashimi and rolls. Overall prices are higher than other sushi restaurants but are similar to Ebisu in San Francisco which also has high quality raw fish items. Would come back here again if wanting similar items that we had along with trying some of the appetizers such as agadashi tofu. Food and service was 5 stars. read more

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Cozy space with indoor and outdoor seating with heaters. A bit tucked away from the main road so can be tricky to locate. Found street parking nearby. Services was professional, efficient and friendly. Food is expensive for very small portions. Maybe their rent is too expensive but I probably wouldn't eat here much because of the cost. Excellent quality and taste though if you are looking to splurge on a fancy dining experience. I love the special dish and plating for each food item. Would be a cute date spot or if you don't mind splurging on an evening out. I left hungry and a hole in my wallet though. read more

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Excellent food and service. Came too late to try the omakase, but was able to get some of the food off the à la carte menu, which were all phenomenal. Highly recommend! You will not be disappointed. read more

We went here on a Saturday night as we were able to get last minute reservations at 8 pm. The table was available a little bit before 8 pm, and we were seated inside (very thankful for that as it was a cold night). We ordered the omakase for $110 a person - I thought it was a good value. If you are a nigiri person that emphasizes the sushi rice, I don't think this will be your place, but you are able to focus more on the fish, which is good. To be honest, the nigiri is not very memorable, but man, this is pretty Texas priced in Palo Alto! The best of the menu in my opinion was the chawanmushi (egg custard) and yuzu cheesecake dessert. I enjoyed it so much, I asked for the source. Unfortunately, straight from Japan :( Had a good night here - thank you! read more

Daigo - Nigiri Dinner - Sushi Bars Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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The food is spectacular This was a super light dinner since we did pay a lot and was still hungry after, so just mind your wallet. The soft shell crab was really good, love the dashi vinegar and the veggies with it was a great balance. Shishamo was also really delightful with the numbing sansho salt. How do I get this salt ? It's so interesting and a fun surprise. Aburi saba was also really delish, and their ginger taste super fresh. The hand rolls themselves was ok, not as exciting as the rest of the meal. The service was quick and attentive. There's indoor and outdoor sitting that give a nice cozy environment. read more

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Bad service. Server order us to order quick 2-3 times, when we are just looking at the menu. We arrived on time and not wasted any time. Next table did not get any pressure and the order less than us and stay longer. We order omakase. Sushi quality, presentation and selection are underwhelming. We are seated outside and there is no table inside. Seating area are not nice and it was super hot with no wind. Just look the picture with raw shrimp, it is not red like amaebi. It is grey. Look and tasted disgusting. I hope it is not from ranch 99 fridge. Big mistake to celebrate birthday there! read more

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This is a favorite of many of my friends who are sushi snobs. Their fish is extremely delicious! I enjoy eating at the bar when with girlfriends. The outdoor seating is nice and has heat lamps so great year round. I guess I don't come here often enough. read more

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Came on a Tuesday afternoon. Omakase for 2 was $300, which was overpriced for reasons I will explain: Service was slow. We were there for 1 hr and 45 mins for 8 courses because the food took so long in between. Food was nothing special. They did not have any garnishes for the nigiri. Desert was not included. For $300, we expected more. Would not come back. read more

Since working in the Peninsula I've been looking for good food to try. It's been tough to find a solid sushi spot but I think the search can end because Daigo was delish! Service was great and well informed us about the menu. Pretty sure you need a reservation but my friend and I walked in for early dinner and they let us have a table that we had to give up in 1.5 hours for a reservation which was fine! The fish is super fresh and they even ask if you prefer wasabi for the nigiri or not, most places don't ask this which I love because I am not a fan of wasabi. The nigiri is by the single piece and not for 2 pieces each order-which I also liked because then you can create your own omakase plate. Restaurant is nice and quaint with some outdoor seating but cute little spot to NOT bring a large party. Must try in Palo Alto! read more

Daigo - Nigiri Dinner - Sushi Bars Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I had high hope coming in but left disappointed. I personally don't think their quality of food aligned with their price point. I had better sushi locally with similar $$$. While I appreciated their "authenticity" to mimic sushi in Japan, but it lacked flavors and depth. Let me explain what I mean. Most of their nigiri already included wasabi and homemade sauce and no additional soy sauce or wasabi was needed. However, I couldn't taste the wasabi and the sauce was too mild to complement the sashimi. Also, they used the lower price point nigri on their omasake set (except chutoro and toro). read more

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Fish quality is excellent and you can tell it's very fresh. It's pricey sushi; in this case I wouldn't call it a great value. The sake selection is fairly limited in my opinion and our server wasn't very knowledgeable. I wanted to try something new per a recommendation, but as she didn't have any, I just chose something tried and true. Opted to sit at the counter, but it didn't add to the experience. I wouldn't say you're missing out by sitting at a table here. While the nigiri is very good, it was not a very special meal and I was still quite hungry afterwards. Not for me, but I imagine it is for others! read more

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Amazing sushi and sake, my go to spot whenever I'm craving Japanese food! High quality fish and great selection of sake. Staff are friendly, service is fast, nothing to complain read more

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A bit pricey but the service is good and the fish variety is not bad. Came for Father's Day dinner and got seated in the outdoor courtyard area of 7 tables. The inside is even smaller but the fish looks fresh on the chef station. The restroom is clean and in good size for a restaurant this small. We tried a whole bunch of items including the 4 specials from the kitchen. The omakase for 8 pieces are ok, the sushi is already flavored with soy sauce and wasabi, no need to do anything. The fish includes akami tuna, torotaku, and blue shrimp, and ocean trout, butter fish among others. I didn't find the fish cut particularly generous but sushi overall were ok. The rice felt loose on the shrimp nigiri. The monkfish liver with ponzu is fresh and buttery as usual, just too small in size for $6. The fried smelt fish is good and crispy, the aburi saba is nice with arugula at the bottom. The chawamushi came really really late and for $16, it's a small cup. I think it's debatable of the value. Ikura and tamago are ok, the negitoro maki is fresh. The Japanese fried chicken is surprisingly good that I could taste the chicken inside. We also added 2 sashimi, the golden eye snapper and nodoguro seaperch. The seaperch was fattening with a slight sear. It's our favorite of the night. Service was great and they don't assign waitress to the table so that we can flag down either of them. The bus boy was quick to take away dishes and refill water. It was a nice dinner out. read more

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Daigo is a quaint restaurant tucked away in an alley of Palo Alto. I came here for a birthday dinner and holistically, the restaurant was great. Staff were accommodating, the space was minimal and cozy, and the food was top notch. We did the 8 piece omakase and got a few pieces of kanpachi and the tori karaage on the side. Omakase was delicious and the chef explained each dish to us before we ate them. Karaage was lightly battered and a good amount of crisp. We also shared the black sesame cheesecake as a birthday dessert, although I was a bit disappointed that they charged us when they told us on the phone there was a special included for birthday celebrations. There are a few parking lots nearby but they can fill up quickly. Definitely call to make a reservation before you go as the place doesn't have ample seating. read more

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We came in on a Tuesday night with a reservation for two, and we got seated at the bar in front of the chef. The place is pretty small and cozy inside, and they also have outside seating. They offer a wide variety of fish from Japan and all over the world. The chawanmushi topped with truffle was sooo good, would definitely order that again. We also got the 12 piece nigiri, 1 hand roll, 1 wagyu omakase. The quality and taste of everything were on point. read more

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One of my favorite sushi restaurants. Great options and such great service! The only downside I have for this restaurant is needing a reservation or having to come early to request a walk in because the restaurant is small and popular. Can't go wrong with any of the orders. read more

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We came right at opening and were able to get a seat. They had a last minute cancelation so they moved us to the bar/counter! We got the omakase! Surprisingly the price was $110, not bad especially for the area. Everything was sooooo good! Loved all the choices of fish and the side dishes! And things came out at a good pace. Service was great, tea was refilled often and our finished plates were whisked away quickly. Added on the matcha tiramisu and it was amazing! Will have to try to recreate it at home! Can't believe it took us so long to finally try it! But we will be back again soon! read more

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Came here without a reservation for 2 on a Tuesday night and was seated immediately. Here's the TLDR; the fish was good and fresh and tasty, but for the price point I wish we got a little more food cause it's definitely a little pricy for the amount of food you get. The sashimi platter was $48 for 8 pieces of (not super big) pieces of fish. And the fish were pretty standard ones, nothing fancy. If they portions were a little bigger I would have left a 5 star review read more

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I thought everything was excellent here. We were seated promptly after arrival in their outdoor patio which is quite nice even on a cold evening (the torches help quite a bit). I loved all of the sashimi. Of course their Oto Toto was amazing. I liked both the fatty salmon and the regular salmon. The Korean halibut was my least favorite here but still very good. The roll was excellent as was the soft shelled crab. Oh, and the clams were pretty good as well. I just loved the soup broth that came with the clams -- they gave you a small soup cup to drink in --and it had a wine flavor to it -- just yum. read more

Daigo - Naruto rol - Sushi Bars Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Hamachi shots were insane. The tofu was some of the best I've ever had, super soft and fried just a bit for the perfect thin, crispy texture. The sauce for the tofu was also so yum!!! Crab was pretty good, though both the crab and tofu got soggy quickly due to the sauce. The o toro nigiri was honestly the best thing from this dinner. SO. TENDER. Salmon toro and Ebodai (butter fish) were also tender, but the o toro was unmatched. Honestly could've passed on the yellowtail maki, it was very rice-y but still good. Yuzu cheesecake was a great way to end this magical meal. We are moved. read more

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Daigo is the best Japanese (specializing in sushi) restaurant that I've found in the Bay Area so far. Every dish I had was absolutely perfect- fresh, flavorful, melt in your mouth when it should be, and I did not miss the soy sauce or fresh wasabi at all. They offer caffeinated as well as decaf tea, and the enclosed outdoor seating kept me perfectly comfortable :) I never once felt cold. The service was wonderful, attentive but never intrusive, making the entire meal feel seamless. Excited to return. Thank you Daigo! Another huge bonus? The location! Tian loved the walk from our home, and it's so convenient that I know I'll be coming here much more often. If you're looking for incredible sushi, a welcoming atmosphere, and top-notch service, Daigo is a must-visit! read more

Thanks to all the awesome Yelp tips, we called and made a reservation on a Saturday evening. I asked for 6:45 pm but the person I spoke with asked us to come at 6:30. We found some street parking pretty close by and arrived promptly at 6:30. We were told we would have to wait 10 mins for a table. This was a little frustrating given that we saw them putting reserved signs on other tables and seating people who arrived after us, so it seems like the reservations of other parties were planned for, just not our reservation. Service was efficient and to the point, no asking how your food is, they just know it's good...and it is! We got some salmon nigiri, barbecue eel roll, spicy tuna hand roll, salmon avocado roll, cucumber avocado roll, and yellowtail. We finished it off with the black sesame and green tea cheesecake. We were definitely rushed through our meal while we noticed some of the tables around us were not. We weren't offered water while other tables were and when we'd ask for a tea refill, it wouldn't come. It seemed like for whatever reason, from the moment we arrived, they just didn't want to provide decent service. Overall, I think the sushi is delicious, but not the best value compared to other great spots in the South Bay, especially if you're going to be treated poorly. read more

Hamachi shot: Looks and smells intimidating but tastes so fresh and unique. You go on a flavor ride w this. We got the 10 pc omakase w uni handroll. Omakase First 5: all very subtle in flavor but clearly very fresh. The blue shrimp stood out the most flavor wise. They recommend you enjoy these as is. If I had these with soy sauce, I probably only would have tasted the soy sauce. Last 5: I enjoyed the last five more. Salmon was both of our favorites. I wish it didn't end. We ordered another salmon nigiri at the end. Handroll: they brought it out immediately so the nori was still crunchy which was nice. The filling was yummy. Uni: less stinky and more watery than any uni I've had before Shrimp head: nice little surprise. Extremely tasty. I could eat a bag of these. Salmon citrus roll: nice combination! Wasn't too excited for it but it was nice, bright, and flavorful. However, i wasn't excited to finish it. Nice experience and staff was very attentive and shared with us what each part of the omakase was. First round came out fast and the pacing was good. Came here for anniversary but didn't have a romantic, intimate, or high end experience as another restaurant might have had. Omakase was fun to experience. If I came again, the only parts of the omakase that I would bother ordering again are the salmon and the hand roll. Favorites: fried shrimp head, hand roll, salmon nigiri Bonus: 98 health inspection score. The highest I've seen! read more

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I came here for a celebratory dinner with two of my friends on a Thursday night. It's a bit of a mixed bag, but overall I am glad that I came here once. Pros: The food! All the sushi was so fresh and the rice sometimes had surprise seasonings. The agedashi tofu appetizer here is also the best agedashi tofu I've ever had. The deep fried oysters were also fire. Chawanmushi is pretty much always good no matter where you get it, Daigo was no exception. Cheesecakes at the end were also very yummy as well! Service was friendly and attentive. Cons: Getting a reservation here is such a pain. The only way to get one is to call, but they don't always pick up all the time. I think I had to call five separate times before someone actually picked up the phone. It is also quite pricey here, but to be fair everything is top notch so you get what you pay for. And this isn't even the most expensive omakase that exists. Still, this restaurant is probably a once in a while type of restaurant. Also three appetizers that we ordered along with the food that came with the omakase set (I think it's 10 piece nigiri with 2-3 additional items) did not make myself and my other two friends full, so we ordered more sushi at the end, but this was kind of a mistake because we were sooooo full at the end. It was roughly $200 per person after tax and tip. Overall, I would recommend that Bay Area sushi lovers try Daigo, it's definitely worth a visit. I will come back here to eat, maybe super soon, but eventually! :) read more

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Note: Need to call for reservations. I searched high and low for booking options online and they don't exist. Call early. They open at 5:00pm but pick up the phone much earlier. You maaayyy be able to walk in, but it's very unlikely as there is limited seating. I love Daigo. Such a clean, minimalistic and well thought out establishment. The highest quality of fish and every bite has such perfect, complementing flavors. Anything on the menu is a good choice. Great sake options as well. read more

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Ordered an arrange of dishes from 10 piece omakase to monkfish liver and all the dishes were presented well and had a complex set of flavors. The food was very fresh and left me feeling like I cleansed my body from all the other junk food prior to this meal. My favorite was the uni that was served alongside the omakase. Super fresh, super savory, the umami flavors melted in my mouth. All the pieces of nigiri were delicious as well, it's hard to go wrong with sushi if the fish is fresh. I will say the portions are quite small compared to other omakase options in the bay, so you will be left feeling a little hungry if you don't order a few more dishes to accompany the main dish. You really come here for both the food and the service/ ambiance. The staff here is super polite, attentive, and have calm energy. It's just a pleasant eating experience and you know what you are going to get when entering Daigo. The place is small and quaint in the heart of Palo Alto. This is a place I've come to a handful of times and I will be back again. read more

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