Makara Japanese Bistro

145

153

71

4 months ago

The food was just alright but the customer service was not very good at all. I really felt like they were waiting for me to leave the moment I arrived. When they asked me which sauce I preferred, both the counter workers noticeably sighed when I went to place a phone call to my wife for clarification. Additionally, they gave me a very little serving of sauce. The other sauces they gave me before I arrived were larger. Won't be returning. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Nichole S.

414

864

3500

7 months ago

Food was good when I went. I ordered potstickers n egg rolls for appetizer, those were really good. The rice was pretty good too. And the employees were nice n business was clean! read more

Makara Japanese Bistro - Menu 2021 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

Makara Japanese Bistro - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

Makara Japanese Bistro - Chicken fried rice - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

Makara Japanese Bistro - Mongolian beef - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

Makara Japanese Bistro - Potstickers - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

Makara Japanese Bistro - Egg rolls - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

Makara Japanese Bistro - a variety of menus on a wall - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

See all

Helpful 3

Thanks 1

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Brian ..

0

3

1

1 month ago

OVERVIEW: We love living in escalon but sometimes it's a pain to go to riverbank, Modesto, or oakdale to get a variety of take out. We chose Makara Japanese Bistro because of the convenience of being closer to home. Those with toddlers can appreciate this. To our surprise, it was excellent. FOOD: We ordered Crab Ragoon, the Makara roll, and the Katsu bento. All 3 items had excellent flavor, texture, temperature, and portion. The Katsu was SO crunchy and juicy! SERVICE: Family owned. Very friendly. They appreciate your business, don't rush you and are open to socializing. We noticed a handful of tables that consisted of regulars. PRICE and Portion: very reasonable. You get nice portion for what you pay. We forgot to take pictures because it was so good, but we plan on coming back soon! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Larry G.

48

224

428

2 years ago

Another first! I don't just give out 5 ! But I have to here. You know "Don't judge the book by its cover "! This is one of those places. The waitress was very sweet and took our order pretty quick. Then everything came out! OMG. The Hot Lips were Delicious! Then the rolls came out! Off the hook delicious! Special Giant, wow! Yummy. Then the salmon dynamite roll, you have to try it yourself! Delicious! Thank you for everything! Yes! I highly recommend this place to anyone who is looking for some great sushi! read more

Makara Japanese Bistro - Both special giant and Salmon dynamite roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

Makara Japanese Bistro - Hot Lips! Delicious! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

Makara Japanese Bistro - Special Giant! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

See all

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Yasmeen A.

0

7

5

6 months ago

Best sushi in the 209! They don't hold back on the sauce. Everyone is so sweet and it's so clean!

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Daniel V.

0

3

2

6 months ago

Great sushi. They are very nice and do an amazing job. Large menu and I haven't had a meal I wasn't happy with.

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Joe S.

0

30

9

1 year ago

The food was excellent! You might drive right past it on highway 120 but it is worth a stop.

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Connie S.

126

162

187

3 years ago

We decided to come here because we used to go to their Salida location and we loved it! We were sad they closed down their Salida location but happy that they have a location in Oakdale. We were in town and decided to check it out. They have lots of booths and tables. We sat in a booth and the server was very friendly and quick. The rolls were as we remember fresh, delicious and a great size. They have a variety and their own twist to traditional rolls. We can't wait to come back when we are in town! read more

Makara Japanese Bistro - Salmon baked roll, OMG roll and the lobster roll. So delicious! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

crystal m.

0

2

2 years ago

Amazing service and delicious food!!! We had the Cowboy roll, the Super Spicy roll and the Golden gate. All so good. We were served with lots of care, the place is on the smaller side but with all the great hospitality you wouldn't know. Try it out !!!! read more

Makara Japanese Bistro - Beautiful service ... All our rolls were amazing .... Golden Gate, Cowboy, and Super Spicy Roll. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Steve K.

4

119

4

2 years ago

What a great addition to our Town. We have been here 15-20 times, food and service are great! The owners are onsite and truly care. We really enjoy going in. Oakdale's loss is Escalon's gain!! Go Cougars!!!! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Crystal M.

0

3

0

1 year ago

Worst service ever, we were told 35 minute wait & ended up being over 2 hours. They are very rude & don't care about customer service.

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Kathy V.

0

13

0

2 years ago

Just discovered this little spot in Escalon! What a treat to have a sushi place In our little town. Small inside. A few tables to dine in. Seem to focus more on take out. Food was good, maybe a little on greasy side. Friendly service. Will definitely go back! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Elaine E.

0

4

6

3 years ago

They are back in business in Escalon...Very small location the food is great as always... Go early if you want to dine in. The owners are wonderful as always read more

Makara Japanese Bistro - Spider Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

Makara Japanese Bistro - Mother and Son Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

See all

Helpful 2

Thanks 1

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Debbie T.

0

3

6

3 years ago

Great food and service. We are excited they have moved to Escalon. The calamari and katsu are delicious read more

Makara Japanese Bistro - Makara is now in Escalon. I just noticed online that they are open We are so excited - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Lyss R.

86

18

20

4 years ago

Craving satisfied and I didn't even have to leave town!! I for the most part do NOT like fish... But I tried it at Osaka in modesto 10+ years ago and I really liked the Las Vegas(salmon) and Cali (crab) roll.. but I HATE modesto and have been craving sushi for the last year LOL so I caved and decided to try this place. Knowing if it's bad I'll never eat sushi again...thank God I was satisfied I ordered the Philadelphia roll to mock the Las Vegas roll from Osaka and they did good! Not as much flavor but it was deff. Close enough Everything was yummy I even saved some for lunch the day after and it was still good. I shocked myself eating it day 2 but it was good and I couldn't just throw away my left overs. So if your debating this place try it!! read more

Makara Japanese Bistro - Broccoli ans carrot tempura and Crunchy Philadelphia roll with unagi sauce. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Aarita R.

0

4

0

2 years ago

The Ricky role is the best. The spicy edamame is really good too Really good waiters and the best sushi chefs read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Darci D.

23

46

28

3 years ago

We usually order take-out here and it is always just as fresh and amazing as it would be dine in. Prices are reasonable and you don't have to leave town for great sushi. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Bailee H.

0

4

1

1 year ago

Always great people, wonderful rolls. Special Giant roll and Makara roll are my husband's and I's favorites. We get it at least once a month. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Shari C.

0

4

0

2 years ago

Amazing all around Great food Great prices and a business that has thrived to maintain theyre awesomeness read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Sherry W.

0

161

15

2 years ago

1st time here. I was surprised that there was a good sushi restaurant in Escalon. The prices are pretty standard for a roll around $17. The rolls were big and different. 1 with cream cheese and pieces of Mango. Very good. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Angela A.

1215

14

3 years ago

Food was AMAZING (I recommend the spicy eel roll) but the service was a bit on the long side. read more

Makara Japanese Bistro - Spicy eel rolll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Jonyce O.

156

40

14

2 years ago

So amazingly good! Just had the most relaxing and tasty meal. The sushi was fresh, the beer-ice cold, and the service quick and friendly. Love going to Makara's! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Alex G.

0

38

6

4 years ago

Ive been coming here since they had a location in salida. Theyve always had great service and great food. I prefer this restaurant over all locations in modesto. All other places are hit n miss at times of the day and its been very consistent here. This is the place worth every penny. Family owned is what i like about it as well read more

Makara Japanese Bistro - Jalapeno roll and catapillar roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

Makara Japanese Bistro - Hot lips are my favorite! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

See all

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Linda S.

170

541

2400

8 years ago

This is NOT the place for you if you are impatient, starving, or hangry. The service is really slow. Placing an order is pretty fast, but waiting for your food feels like forever. Expect at least 35-45 minutes of wait time eventhough the restaurant isn't busy. The rolls: we got the special spicy roll and the jalapeno roll. These rolls were pretty big! I thought the special spicy roll had too much going on that it wasn't special. The jalapeno roll tasted way better. Honestly, these 2 rolls could've fed 3 people. One of my party ordered Chirashi (raw slices of fish) and her order came out last. It didn't make sense because nothing really had to be cooked. I think improvements could be made in regards to getting the food out quicker and all at once. Out of kindness, my party waited for each other's meals to be brought out before we started digging in. There was 5-7 minute gaps in between and no communication from our server as to when the rest of the food were coming out. I would give this place 3.5 stars, but not quite a 4. read more

Makara Japanese Bistro - Special spicy roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

Makara Japanese Bistro - Jalapeno roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Escalon, California

See all

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Marie P.

0

4

0

2 years ago

Makara used to be in Oakdale and we loved it then. They lost their lease and opened in Escalon. I'm so glad they are still close by and although the place in Escalon is tiny it does not matter to us as we love picking up for takeout. I have known the family since the boys were small and work their way up and now in college. Food is freaking amazing! Best Japanese food for miles!! Their Chicken Teriyaki Bento box is so big and you are full when you are done. Amazing food! The downside is they do not DoorDash or Uber Eats. This would make things much easier but it's ok. As long as i can still get their food I'm happy!!! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Gabrial M.

48

78

9

2 years ago

We live in Jamestown and we have no good Chinese or Sushi anywhere around here. We used to go to Doke sushi in Murphy's but the quality has gone down. We didn't want to travel too far we gave Makara a try. The food was 4 stars. Service 3 stars. That annoying phone -5 stars. It seams this is a popular take out sushi spot. It's an okay place to sit and eat. If they did something about the ambience and had real servers this place would be great. It was one lady that got phone call after phone call after phone! It ruined the experience. Other than that the sushi was good, not amazing but good read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Kathy B.

34

27

2

3 years ago

Great food, great service. Excited to have them in our town. Standard pricing Will definitely be making it back read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Savanna S.

0

1

0

3 years ago

Delicious! We got the mother & son, Shrimp roll, & the OMG roll. Highly recommend all of them. Tastes very fresh.

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Jasper D.

1

16

6

3 years ago

This place was amazing unfortunately they closed down, still the food was good, the service was amazing, the ambiance was amazing.

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Linda V.

96

46

93

4 years ago

Good food. Nice small and cozy place. They have a very friendly and attentive staff. We got the California roll and the crunchy California roll. Both were delicious. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Reba S.

27

10

1

3 years ago

They took over from another restaurant. Then they cut the portions and of course doubled the prices woohoo excellent!!! it's still just a dive and the watered down deep fried green beans were awful read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 1

Byron F.

40

32

7

3 years ago

Very small seating area, not really a restaurant setting per se, more like a taqueria quality place to sit and eat. Definitely not a "date night" setting. Only one bathroom which is way in the back of the kitchen. (Kitchen was reasonably clean). Interesting they have people walk thru the kitchen and food prep to use the restroom and back again. Food had good flavor. If you're thinking "Friday night dining experience" you'll be disappointed, if you're thinking take-out of just stop and grab a "quick bite to eat" then its ok. No bar, so non-alcoholic beverages only. Staff is nice, and did a decent job of attending to tables. They were highly focused on take-out orders which seems to be their priority. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

David P.

59

41

4

4 years ago

Well if you're looking for sushi, they have some. I really appreciate they replaced the seaweed with an alternative. Otherwise the flavors seemed one dimensional. I'm sure if you read what's in the rolls, you'll the the reason. Change up the flavor please. Good portions for the price. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Kim V.

Elite 19

97

44

172

4 years ago

It's good if you want sushi and don't feel like driving out of Oakdale. We like the In and Out roll and the Sunset roll.

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Dannie D.

52

99

32

3 years ago

Restaurant is closed permanently. Showed up for lunch last weekend and there was a sign hung on the door that they are closed for good.

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 1

Sabrina S.

1495

443

1963

7 years ago

I love this little sushi place here in Oakdale. The people are always nice & the sushi is made fresh to order. The price is a little high but in my opinion worth it. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Romelani C.

0

2

0

2 years ago

I work in Ripon and my co worker and I decided to give this place a try because they were so close... welp fast forward here I am with food poisoning. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Deni S.

0

4

0

2 years ago

Excellent food and great service....we're so lucky to have them in Escalon!!!! Can't wait to go back!

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Savannah S.

306

41

9

2 years ago

Makara is our favorite sushi! Our top 3 rolls are the 49er roll - very refreshing. Golden gate roll - has onion, cilantro and fried shrimp, so yummy! The Red Dragon roll, a little spicy with avocado on top. Sometimes there is a wait, but so worth it! read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 1

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Virginia P.

37

5

1

3 years ago

Great Sushi love it. My friend an two young grandchildren will be sad to hear they are closed for now. Little girls 7 an11 years began loving sushi at Makaras read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Page 1 of 5

See more reviews

More info about Makara Japanese Bistro

2243 Jackson Ave
Escalon, CA 95320
Directions
(209) 848-3888
Call Now

Hours

What time does Makara Japanese Bistro open?

Makara Japanese Bistro opens at 11:30 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

What time does Makara Japanese Bistro close?

Makara Japanese Bistro closes at 8:30 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.Makara Japanese Bistro is closed on Sunday.

Mon-Sat 11:30 AM - 8:30 PMSun Closed

Payment methods

Does Makara Japanese Bistro take credit cards?

Yes, Makara Japanese Bistro takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does Makara Japanese Bistro have catering options?

Yes, Makara Japanese Bistro does have catering options.

Does Makara Japanese Bistro serve alcohol?

Yes, Makara Japanese Bistro serves alcohol. Beer & Wine Only

Indoor Amenities

Does Makara Japanese Bistro have TVs?

Yes, Makara Japanese Bistro has TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Makara Japanese Bistro have bike parking?

Yes, Makara Japanese Bistro has bike parking.

Does Makara Japanese Bistro have outdoor seating?

No, Makara Japanese Bistro does not have outdoor seating options.

Does Makara Japanese Bistro have parking?

Yes, Makara Japanese Bistro has parking options. Private Lot Parking

Other Amenities

Does Makara Japanese Bistro have free WiFi?

No, Makara Japanese Bistro does not have free WiFi.

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Sushi Bars 4,313 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Explore benefits

Happy Garden

The pricing is surprisingly inexpensive for what you get. The service was relatively quick and…read moreefficient. When we placed our order, we were told 20 minutes. Because we had our dog with us, we waited outside and when the order was ready, the gentleman brought it out to us. We didn't order a whole lot. we had seen Happy Garden on Yelp, and it sounded intriguing. We felt that we needed to stop by for a sample even though we had already had a great lunch in Oakdale. We ordered: California Roll - 5 - I would appreciate some julienned cucumbers but many sushi-ya's no longer put those in. They add a bit of texture and flavor. Spicy Tuna Roll - 5 - Just the right amount of heat. The rice was good. I'm not sure that it was seasoned but there was enough flavor in the Tuna. Inari - 5 - A very simple dish. Sushi rice stuffed into tofu skins that have been cooked in a seasoning liquid. I wish places would offer Inari stuffed with rice, green peas, slivered egg and bamboo shoots. Of course they would charge more but that's okay. Egg Rolls - 5 - Mostly stuffed with Cabbage and Carrots. These are delicious after they've cooled down from the fryer. I could eat these everyday. The inside of the restaurant was spacious and clean. If we didn't have the Princess with us, we would have eaten in.

We stopped here on the way to Yosemite from SF- lunch for some hungry kids. Lovely mom and pop…read moreshop, very reasonable prices for large portions! We had California roll with tobiko, udon, fried oysters (very good). Service was great. Thank you!

Nigiri sake, Maguro, Volcano roll,, Scallop roll in the front.

Cream cheese wontons

See all

Rice Bowl Express

The coffee boba drink was so delicious and the service was quick. And I love the place and its…read moreAmbiance.

My wife and I ordered the Sizzling Rice Soup, Kung Pao Chicken combination plate and a Coffee Boba…read moreTea to go and it was delicious. When I got home and we sat down to eat the food was still hot. The gentleman who took my order at the counter was very kind. I'd definitely recommend anyone to try this place. It's quiet inside, so if you're looking for a calm place with good food Rice Bowl Express is definitely a winner.

Door to the kitchen

Sweet and sour chicken

See all

Menu

Black Sheep Kitchen & Cocktails

First time going here, place was chill. Definitely too loud for me inside, but the outside patio…read morewas super nice so that was a plus! Haven't tried the food yet but the Dark Horse was amazing! Service took a minute but the staff was nice which is always appreciated, will be back.

Went on st pattys weekend and there was a band playing on the back patio. It's what brought us…read moreinto the restaurant. Walked in just after 8pm. There was an older gal (floor manager or bar back?) that did the absolute most to not make eye contact or interact with us while we were waiting to get seated/order drinks/order food. It was comical. After being ignored I kind of hollered at her and asked when their kitchen closed and she looked confused for a bit and said, "I'm trying to remember what day it is". The bartender was the most helpful person. But we think they were all doing shots/kind of lit while working behind the bar. Would explain why the service was a little lacking. Will not be going back. We split a French dip, I don't think the bread was cooked. It was super soft but almost TOO soft, like it was the par baked stuff that you're supposed to throw into the oven for five minutes to finish. Two stars, because the bartender tried. She was sweet, but it was not a great experience.

Burnt Ends or Chicken Quesadilla

Interior

Adult Grilled Cheese

See all

Ramen 101 riverbank

Delicious ramen for a great price. Very kind workers and very proactive. The restaurant is cute and…read morefeels comfortable and clean.

Place is chill and service is nice, but I love ramen and compared to ramen i've had in Santa…read moreBarbara and San Fran, this was simply great nothing special.

Pork Tonkotsu Ramen

See all

Lucky House Restaurant

This is the Best Chinese food restaurant in Riverbank IMO. I used to order from them every once in…read morea while but now, a bit more. Not only is their food great, but their service is outstanding and very fast. Kind of a small place but clean. I only order takeout from them per my preference. They give plenty of food and are courteous enough to ask you how many people you are feeding. Great place!

Tonight was my second visit to Lucky House in Riverbank, having been introduced to the place by a…read morecolleague during a professional development day for teachers years ago (which often means, "find a restaurant you like nearby the training site.") Since they have had the same owners for over four decades, I was confident it hadn't changed too much. First, a disclaimer, I am no stranger to Chinese food as I have traveled extensively in the Orient a number of times, and having married into a Chinese family who emigrated from the Middle Kingdom back during the Cultural Revolution. My wife is half Chinese and knows her dishes. We ordered a variety of plates, as you will see in the attached pictures. Every one was spot on from soup to fortune cookies (which are not Chinese by he way but that's OK). Total spent was about $125 with tip. The service was solid, we were greeted as soon as we opened the door, as were all diners. The selections came out promptly, were attractively prepared. Assistance was offered to pack up leftovers (which we planned on, budgeting in take home for tomorrow and Thursday's meals). As for score, I give the place it a solid 5 out of 5. We WILL be coming back. My wife was still raving on the place when we got home. My only comment not glowing is that the floor could have used a touch near the entryway. And if you plan on a large group, seating is limited, and the locals know how good this place is. It was busy with both dine in and take out. Give it a try!

The inside of the restaurant

Combination plate

See all

Parking lot sign.

Bamboo House

Probably on my list of Chinese restaurants in Modesto. I got the Garlic Chicken combination plate…read moreand boy was it hot when I first tried tasting it. I had to wait 10-15 mins until it cooled down. That's how you know the food here is fresh when it's steaming. The garlic chicken itself was EXTREMELY CRUNCHY (which I loved) and the chow mein complimented it nicely.

One of the best places to have wonton soup and sizzling rice soup. We usually get both but today we…read morewanted to try something new so we added an order of the chicken and corn soup and it was pretty good. We like adding the sizzling rice to our wonton soup it adds a nice texture to the soup. So if you like adding crunchy toppings to your soups add an order of their sizzling rice. Their honey walnut prawns are also delightful. Overall this place is great place to pick up some food and have a relaxing meal at home.

Getting some Chinese food.

Garlic chicken combo is phenomenal. Noodles were perfect and full of chicken and veggies.

See all

Chow Mein (4.5/5)

Golden Chopstix

One of my go to places to Asian food. Love how quaint the place is. And they always pay extra…read moreattention to their regulars

This is the BEST Chinese food in Riverbank! They have excellent customer service and the food is…read moreamazing every time. The restaurant is always clean and it's just overall a good experience here. They have the best pork chow mein and pork fried rice. I recommend to everyone. Also I have to add they give really big portions of their food so that's always good. Food is always fresh even when I call in an order for pick up.

Pork chow mein, pork fried rice and beef and broccoli

Beverages

Boy & girl restroom

See all

L’Gusto Cucina Italiana

4.4

(250 reviews)

4.8 mi

I always forget about this place! My mom and I went here for the first time the other day, and I am…read moreglad I finally stopped in! My mom said her chicken panini with the bacon jam was amazing beyond words! I got the shrimp salad which was tasty, as well. We were seated promptly and our server was friendly and attentive.

I recently met two more groups of friends here and they were all impressed! The service and food…read morewere excellent. My husband and I plan to visit this week! Charming place and easy parking too.

Chicken Pomodoro Dinner

See all

Seafood Pasta

The Pho - Modesto

Amazing food and amazing service from Joe thanks so much! I…read morehighly recommend the chefs special

Authentic pho, generous portions, and amazing taste. Will definitely return! Attentive servers.read more

Seating area

See all

Jasmine green milk tea

The Waffle Factory

This place is small, but somehow they have enough seating area. The food is so good! Very homestyle…read morecooking. The service is phenomenal and I will definitely be returning to eat here to try other things on the menu.

The food was delicious. The waitress Brenda was very attentive to serving us. The cooks need to…read morework together. My plate came out 1st and my spouse plate took 5 minutes longer.

Front decor

Escalon omelette

See all

Taqueria Carnitas Campestre

4.9

(10 reviews)

0.8 mi

It was pretty average I thought. I would give 3.5 stars if I could but the lady helping me was…read moresuper nice and friendly. Had two tacos. A Quessabirria and a carnitas taco both were decent but pretty small portions. Carnitas were a bit under seasoned.. Will try other places next time in town.

Delicious, fresh, and healthy menu choices for every appetite. Friendly, family owned. Affordable…read more The restaurant is decorated cute, seating is comfortable and clean. What more could we ask for? We will definite be back. An extra sweet feature is when we were dining it was during the high school lunch rush and they offer a student special for the high school kids. What a great community resource to welcome the local kids and to create viable menu options and offer them a nice cool place to enjoy their lunch break on a hot day.

Carnitas Burrito Supreme! The salsa verde is perfect for those of us who can't handle too spicy. Mexican coke.

Asada & Carnitas tacos

See all

Happy Garden

The pricing is surprisingly inexpensive for what you get. The service was relatively quick and…read moreefficient. When we placed our order, we were told 20 minutes. Because we had our dog with us, we waited outside and when the order was ready, the gentleman brought it out to us. We didn't order a whole lot. we had seen Happy Garden on Yelp, and it sounded intriguing. We felt that we needed to stop by for a sample even though we had already had a great lunch in Oakdale. We ordered: California Roll - 5 - I would appreciate some julienned cucumbers but many sushi-ya's no longer put those in. They add a bit of texture and flavor. Spicy Tuna Roll - 5 - Just the right amount of heat. The rice was good. I'm not sure that it was seasoned but there was enough flavor in the Tuna. Inari - 5 - A very simple dish. Sushi rice stuffed into tofu skins that have been cooked in a seasoning liquid. I wish places would offer Inari stuffed with rice, green peas, slivered egg and bamboo shoots. Of course they would charge more but that's okay. Egg Rolls - 5 - Mostly stuffed with Cabbage and Carrots. These are delicious after they've cooled down from the fryer. I could eat these everyday. The inside of the restaurant was spacious and clean. If we didn't have the Princess with us, we would have eaten in.

We stopped here on the way to Yosemite from SF- lunch for some hungry kids. Lovely mom and pop…read moreshop, very reasonable prices for large portions! We had California roll with tobiko, udon, fried oysters (very good). Service was great. Thank you!

Nigiri sake, Maguro, Volcano roll,, Scallop roll in the front.

Cream cheese wontons

See all

Rice Bowl Express

The coffee boba drink was so delicious and the service was quick. And I love the place and its…read moreAmbiance.

My wife and I ordered the Sizzling Rice Soup, Kung Pao Chicken combination plate and a Coffee Boba…read moreTea to go and it was delicious. When I got home and we sat down to eat the food was still hot. The gentleman who took my order at the counter was very kind. I'd definitely recommend anyone to try this place. It's quiet inside, so if you're looking for a calm place with good food Rice Bowl Express is definitely a winner.

See more unrecommended reviews

Door to the kitchen

Sweet and sour chicken

See all

Menu

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

24 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Oakdale-Merced M.

38

8

12

11 years ago

Went in with my daughter. She found a bug crawling in her food. Keep in mind she had barely starting eating yet. Called the waitress over to show her. She took the plate away, my daughter did not want to order anything else, but when the bill came, the waitress did not take the meal off our check. Not very good customer service. Since then, two of my friends went and got food poisoning, both off the teriyaki chicken. I really liked this place when it first opened, and I wish it was better, because it was exciting to have a sushi place in our little town. Would not recommend them to anyone. Sorry Makara. I had great hopes for you. read more

Jenna D.

0

6

0

9 months ago

This little sushi spot is a solid find for a small town! The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed -- nothing fancy, but welcoming. The staff is friendly and attentive, and our food came out in good time. The sushi itself was fresh and nicely presented, especially the rolls -- the jalapeño roll and Makara roll were the standouts. A few items could use a little more flavor or creativity, but overall the quality was better than expected for the area. Prices are reasonable, portions are fair, and it's a nice option when you're craving sushi without having to drive a bigger city. It's not high-end, but it's dependable and satisfying. read more

Bob M.

0

3

0

11 years ago

If you want child labor, something's that dressed up to look like tuna, the worst service in the county, cold food, spicy rolls that have no zest then this place is for you. After trying to help them stay in business by eating there many times since they opened it is clearly wrong to go try to help them in any way. Makara you are fired. The really sad thing is that many people haven't had good Japanese like Makuni 's or Miki's or Modesto Sukiyaki's serve You get one star for the six times we ate there. read more

Kayla S.

11

14

0

14 years ago

Seated immediately, was helped right away. Menu had lots of choices. Service was really good and fast. We even received free miso soup because the server felt our sushi was taking awhile (even though we assured her it wasn't). The sushi was very good. Very fresh tasting and filling. We will defiantly be returning on a regular basis. Glad Oakdale now has a good Japanese restaurant. read more

Darrin D.

0

14

0

13 years ago

Tried this place for lunch yesterday while out and about shopping. I was pleasantly surprised it was good. Not the freshest but out here in the valley your really can not find fresh fish. I had the tiger roll and the crunchy California roll. They were good. I will say it is a little pricey for what I order, but definitely worth trying. read more

Robert G.

0

28

11

7 years ago

Had better sushi else where. Ordered a dragon roll and they did not put the unagi on, which is what makes the dragon roll different from a California roll. Very disappointed for the $50 I spent to get cheated of the main ingredient that makes a dragon roll a dragon roll. read more

Amanda H.

0

1

0

11 years ago

Great sushi, lots of options. The staff was very helpful and nice. Service was a little slow, but overall it is a great place in Oakdale for sushi. Will definitely be back! read more

Sharon B.

220

15

1

2 years ago

Amazing sushi and wonderful staff. The restaurant is a little small and kinda well... ugly. But don't let that bother you the sushi is bomb and the staff is really good. read more

Kevin B.

0

4

0

7 years ago

Great sushi and great service in Oakdale. We go here all of the time and the sushi rolls are always great. Take out is also good and always ready in just a few minutes. read more

Dante M.

0

8

1

4 years ago

Never had an issue, food is always amazing, and they're FAST. Love these guys and have no problem with their prices being as high as they are because they back it up! read more

Jeannette V.

0

13

0

7 years ago

Great local place for sushi. Staff is friendly and sushi is reasonably priced. Super easy to call in orders and take out is prepared correctly and in a quick manner. read more

Amanda M.

0

2

0

5 years ago

These guys are friendly and delicious every time! We have been here several times and ordered different things every time. Everything is always fresh and on point. read more

Michelle S.

0

3

0

3 years ago

Can't wait for them to reopen!!!!!' Used to go there for years n guess the landlord decided rather than hv a great tenant let's raise rent so sad!!!! read more

Suzy R.

55

118

29

12 years ago

The food was good and so was the service. They were out of plum wine which was. Disappointment but all In all we would come back again.

Samm M.

182

5

0

10 years ago

Food is amazing I've never met a roll I didn't like. It's not the best sushi I've ever had but it'd still good. Service is slow usually

Thurm C.

0

16

8

4 years ago

Fire so good. I'm not from Oakdale so I wanted a place that was good, so I wandered in and it was really good.

Berta B.

19

40

5

1 year ago

They are now in Escalon, hope their service in astronomical charges have been changed for the good.

Jesse S.

1

8

2

11 years ago

Good food but every time I go there the service is always slow. Other then that. It's great!

Gemma C.

84

2

0

4 years ago

Great food! We always pick up and it's always fast and the food is really good every time.

Shannon F.

Elite 19

428

164

896

12 years ago

Do not order to go. It's okay. Go to Modesto and go to Sushi Garden

Makara Japanese Bistro - sushi - Updated July 2026

People who viewed Makara Japanese Bistro also viewed

Happy Garden

4.3

(67 reviews)

•$

The pricing is surprisingly inexpensive for what you get. The service was relatively quick and…read moreefficient. When we placed our order, we were told 20 minutes. Because we had our dog with us, we waited outside and when the order was ready, the gentleman brought it out to us. We didn't order a whole lot. we had seen Happy Garden on Yelp, and it sounded intriguing. We felt that we needed to stop by for a sample even though we had already had a great lunch in Oakdale. We ordered: California Roll - 5 - I would appreciate some julienned cucumbers but many sushi-ya's no longer put those in. They add a bit of texture and flavor. Spicy Tuna Roll - 5 - Just the right amount of heat. The rice was good. I'm not sure that it was seasoned but there was enough flavor in the Tuna. Inari - 5 - A very simple dish. Sushi rice stuffed into tofu skins that have been cooked in a seasoning liquid. I wish places would offer Inari stuffed with rice, green peas, slivered egg and bamboo shoots. Of course they would charge more but that's okay. Egg Rolls - 5 - Mostly stuffed with Cabbage and Carrots. These are delicious after they've cooled down from the fryer. I could eat these everyday. The inside of the restaurant was spacious and clean. If we didn't have the Princess with us, we would have eaten in.

We stopped here on the way to Yosemite from SF- lunch for some hungry kids. Lovely mom and pop…read moreshop, very reasonable prices for large portions! We had California roll with tobiko, udon, fried oysters (very good). Service was great. Thank you!

Okawa Sushi & Grill

4.3

(180 reviews)

Visited Okawa April 29th and upon entering the place was very clean and I was greeted immediately…read moreby the nice hostess. I ordered a California Roll and another Specialty roll which I have forgotten the name of but it was very delicious. The sushi tasted fresh. Although a bit on the high end of pricing I will definitely return.

Came here on a Tuesday night right before 5 pm. A few tables had patrons already and got even…read morebusier by 530 pm. Decided to mix things up and try their ramen. Chose tonkatsu ramen with black garlic with cha su. The broth was pretty good. Had simple ingredients of bamboo shoots , shitaki mushrooms, one soft boiled egg and garlic of course besides the noodles. Bowl size was pretty large and had lots of noodles. So much that I couldn't even eat the dragon roll we ordered. I give the ramen a solid 4.5 score and would get again when I'm craving something other than sushi. My wife had the salmon teriyaki. Simple presentation with rice and gyoza. Overall. It was a nice meal. It's not my top Japanese restaurant but solid place to eat.

Osaka Sushi

3.9

(728 reviews)

Osaka literally never misses…read more My friends and I ordered literally SO much food from Osaka for pickup and every single item was delicious. We got the Crab Puffs, 49er Roll, a few Ichi Ban Maki Rolls, a few Crunchy Munchy Rolls, a Lion King Roll, a Philadelphia Roll, Miso Soup, and some more but you get the point. The food was ready quite promptly for pickup despite the extremely large order and it being a packed Saturday afternoon. Everything was perfect. The food that was hot stayed hot, the chilled dishes stayed cold. Every single thing tasted great. I was especially impressed with the Crab Puffs. They were completely stuffed with the filling (which I definitely can't say the same about from other restaurants)! They provided a ton of chop sticks and soy sauce packets which is much appreciated. This is my favorite casual sushi place in the valley!

Fast service, friendly staff and sushi was pretty decent quality. Good spot to check out for your…read moresushi cravings in Modesto !

Orient House

3.7

(168 reviews)

Disappointed. I have to quit giving second chances. I called in a phone order, I should take it…read moreback and ask why he gave me this. The noodles are hard, brown, looks like it sat out and the pork, well the pork looks like chicken and not fully cooked. (I did call and let him know I couldn't eat this). My dog will eat anything, I'll see what she thinks. No more second chances!

nasty nasty small portion and way too expensive china garden i recommend. threw up a lotread more

Oishi Teri Sushi Bar

4.3

(686 reviews)

Took some family members for the first time here at lunch. A…read morefew items we tried and shared were Spicy garlic edamame BBQ Beef bowl Diablo roll (my fav) Red dragon roll I usually order sushi but when I tried my uncles order of the BBQ beef bowl, I know that's something I will order next time. It has that Korean kalbi taste over rice and with vegetables. 5 stars. Great for lunch Red Dragon roll- has tempura shrimp/crab meat in the center, topped with unagi, sriracha and a jalapeño on top. Nice kick with the pepper. 5 stars Overall, love their sushi here and gotta explore other items on the menu. Staff is also very attentive. 5 stars

Our experience started out when we ordered $80 worth of take out sushi. Got home and found 2…read moremeasley small packets of wasabi and soy sauce. Furious, I called the restaurant. The owners wife Jeanette answered and talked to her husband (Francisco) the owner. They offered a ANY appetizer comped on the next order. I requested it to be a sushi dish instead but she specified that since they were offering any appetizer of our choosing it was fair. I agreed and gave them my info. A month later we placed a to go order and mentioned the appetizer and she confirmed that was correct. I go to pick it up and the owner comes out and says he will not honor that because the price of the appetizer was too high and pick something else. #1. That wasnt what they offered and we agreed to. #2. If you're not going to honor it why not call me and let me know so I don't drive there and waste my time again? He has my number. Edit: regarding the response below. If the intentions were to offer items up to a certain price then that should've been made clear. The problem was they clearly specified ANY APPETIZER of your choosing numerous times. And obviously they have a responsibility to address this when I placed the order/after instead of waiting for me to drive there.

Teriyaki King

3.3

(75 reviews)

•$

Very friendly and efficient counter lady. Restaurant did a big carry out business. My chicken bowl…read morewas good and plenty of chicken. Prices reasonable

This is one of my go to places for teriyaki chicken. I usually get the special, its a good deal…read more You get teriyaki chicken, rice, veggies, egg roll and a small drink. I think it's $13.99. Food is always good and consistent. Pro tip: if you want to load up on protein, get the double meat option.

Hunan Villa Restaurant

4.2

(101 reviews)

•$

The fried rice was ok, but the chow mein was EXCELLENT, the sesame chicken was so tender with an…read moreamazing sauce. The crab rangoon was wonderful and tasty and the hot n sour soup was perfect! The customer service was great and the prices are so reasonable for the amount of food they give (it was super hot and very fresh)

Heading back from the Reservoir and it was after 8 PM in Oakdale. Nearly all restaurants, including…read moreGolddust next-door were closed. Felt like my grandmother's old saying that they roll up the sidewalks after 8 PM on a Sunday night. Beyond Taquerias, a couple of hamburger drive-ins that were still open, we found this Chinese restaurant. We arrived 30 minutes before closing, and they were definitely not happy to see us, but they were willing to serve us. We got the Hunan Villa's dinner which came with a Pupu plate and your choice of soup and your choice of entrée. We ordered the dinner for two as the Babes only grazes. They gave us settings for three, including for the soup without having to be asked. Both the Hubbs and the babes had fun with the Pupu platter. I was more tired than hungry, but ended up enjoying the food. It had that old school greasy spoon American Chinese flavor that I've been missing. The food isn't fancy, but it's plentiful and tasty and reminded me of the Chinese restaurants when I was a kid. The Hubbs chose Mongolian beef and we got tons of beef and I chose the honey walnut prawns and they gave us at least 20 prawns. The portion sizes were huge. I was expecting that they had provided food for three but when we got our check, they charged us the dinner for two. We took home the leftovers and there was enough food for two additional meals. Forgot to take additional pictures and the total came out to about $42. I had $60 on me in cash and left that to cover the tab and tip, since they stayed open late for us. Definition of cheap eats and we will definitely be back the next time we go to the reservoir.

Raw Sushi Bistro

4.0

(804 reviews)

•$$$

Very good! Loved the beef asparagus and Dante Inferno roll! Great overall experience!read more

Sushi restaurant or a nightclub?…read more My friend and I decided to go for a night out Downtown. When we arrived at about 7:00pm, we were told there would be about an hour wait. Despite this long wait, there were actually quite a few empty tables, but was overall still very busy. When you put yourself on the waitlist, they notify you through text when your table is ready. This gave us ample time to walk around Downtown while we waited. When we received the table-ready text (just short of an hour later), we were sat quickly in a nice U-shaped booth. This seating arrangement felt a bit awkward for a party of two, especially if you are sharing food. The booth is too big to be sitting close enough to reach but too small to not feel awkward. It is perfect for people watching though since the booths face the entire restaurant. By this time, the restaurant was completely packed, with just about every booth, table, and barstool occupied. Our waiter came quickly to take our drink orders. We got a Cucumber Martini and an Espresso Martini. The Cucumber Martini was incredibly light and refreshing. The Espresso Martini was not impressive. It didn't have a strong espresso flavor and was rather watery, but still alright. This is the type of restaurant, that especially on busy nights like this where they don't accept reservations, you should allocate a lot of time for the dinner service for. There is a significant time gap between each time the waiter comes around to take your order. There was probably 15-20 minutes between placing our drink, appetizer, and meal orders. This was not a problem for us, but if you are eating here before making a show at the Gallo Center, this may be something to consider. For our appetizer, we ordered the Salmon Ceviche. It was insanely good. It was subtly spicy and citrusy. The chips that came with it were light and not oily at all. I wish the portion was larger because the two of us swallowed it up in just a few bites. For our entree, we got the Salmon Tataki and Goodi Rolls to split. They were both very good and came out on a lovely platter. They tasted very fresh and high quality. The prices here are on the higher side but is nice for a special occasion or splurge. Our server was very attentive and checked on us often. He was super friendly too. The restaurant was super lively. They were playing club music which was totally a vibe. It looked like this was the spot people hit before going out for the night. I noticed they were accommodating for both small and large parties, serving both rather quickly. I'll be back!

Modesto Sukiyaki

4.4

(506 reviews)

Great service…read more Really enjoyed this place. The ramen was solid, and the sushi was delicious will definitely come back

Small sushi spot tucked in a large plaza between a nail shop and hobby shop…read more Inside is small and quaint. Not sure if they can accommodate big groups since it has tight spaces. Service was a bit slow with one girl running the whole restaurant, getting orders and serving. Food was good. Baked mussels is yummy but it's not a whole mussel, it's more like imitation crab mixed with minced mussels. The ratio is less on the mussel portion. Th rolls are decent. I don't eat raw but my hubby does and states it's really good quality fish! So give it a try if you like quality fish!

China House Restaurant

3.8

(168 reviews)