Like a lot of other reviewers have said, this isn't the best sushi I've ever had, but it is still pretty tasty. They have several non-traditional rolls that appeal to non-sushi eaters (using things like cilantro and non-fish proteins), so you can still go here even when you have non-sushi eaters in tow and everyone can find something they like. A great option when considering restaurants in downtown Los Altos (since outside of Los Altos Grill and Opa!, most of the restaurants are pretty mediocre). read more

Would actually give it a 3.5 stars if I could. I love good sushi, so I am on the pickier side when it comes to fresh fish. Mikado was pretty good. Not the high melt in your mouth sushi, but pretty close. There is a wide selection, service was average. It was hard to understand the server sometimes but overall for the price you are paying, it's a good sushi place. Would not be the top place to recommend but would come back. Worth the groupon. read more

I always get a fresh food and food is great. Music is soothing to my ears. My favorite is water fresh unagi. read more

Mikado - Japanese Near Me - Los Altos, California

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Friend saw a Groupon coupon for dinner here but misread it so we ended up here for lunch. Not a bad experience! But given the selection of Japanese food that you can get in the Bay Area, I don't think Mikado stands out very much. Friend ordered a bento box with chicken terriyaki and I had a regular udon. Obviously not fair to judge a Japanese place based off of non-sushi items... and if I ever go back, I'll definitely consider trying to get a sushi item. As for the bento and the udon, both were solid portions but again, nothing spectacular. Udon was better than it can be at other stores. Tried a piece of my friend's California Roll and it wasn't bad. tldr; aight, nothing special read more

Good quality food and only $9.95 for the Bento lunch box. A sweeter and thicker teriyaki glaze on the chicken would have earned that 5th star. read more

Mikado - Teriyaki Chicken Bento Box - Japanese Near Me - Los Altos, California

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I came here for lunch today with a friend, and ordered two rolls. I forgot the names of them, but one was a california roll with soft shell crab on top in a spicy sauce ($12.95), and the other was a salmon with avocado roll topped with more salmon ($12.95). The rolls were okay, but not particularly good, making them overpriced for what they were. I would question the freshness of the fish too. My favorite part was probably the free matcha ice cream that came at the end of the meal. I don't plan on coming back. read more

I do not know how Mikado has stayed in business for as long as they have. There are never many customers there and the food is awful. I ordered the bento box and sent it back as soon as I looked at it. I have been to many Japanese restaurants on the Peninsula and this was horrific. It was a big slap of frozen chicken cut in pieces and the "bulgoki" was this unrecognizable grey meat. The only reason we went there is because Akane was closed. Never again. I ordered the sushi salad as a replacement and the waitress brought me the wrong salad. I didn't have the heart to send it back again but should have. I do not understand how anyone could have given them a good review. They must now know their Japanese food! read more

Better than Miyake's and better service. Miyake's was good for sake bombs but they always seem to have an attitude. Their bento boxes are the shhhhhh and really good price $9.95 for steak $8.95 for others. It comes with salad, miso soup, gyoza, and rice. LOVE IT!!! Can't wait to eat here again. Next time I'm eating there. I had to give them 4 stars instead of 5 because I asked for the steak to be well done 3 times and it wasn't. :( read more

We thought this restaurant was ok, but with so much good food in the area, ok isn't enough. The two other restaurants we wanted to go to were closed for lunch on Saturday, and we love sushi, so we walked into Mikado and got a table -- we were the only ones in the place til the end of our meal. The edamame was fine, but it came straight from the microwave (my husband heard the *ding!* before it was served), and desperately needed salt, which we added. We shared 2 rolls -- the double salmon & the hawaiian. Both were good but not great. The spicy tuna in the hawaiian roll had a little kick & the salmon was pretty good. The service was good & attentive, but, like I said, we were the only ones there. Wouldn't tell someone not to go there, but I wouldn't rave about it either. read more

This place is ok in every way. Food is ok - not bad but nothing especially exciting. Service is ok - only two ladies serving the whole room and even when the place isn't packed you can tell they feel really busy. Atmosphere is ok - pretty standard Japanese restaurant. Only thing I did not like is that both times I've been here with a groupon, we've run into some sort of logistical issue that wasn't in the fine print. read more

My colleague and I ordered a Teriyaki Chicken Bento Box from Yelp-Take Away option. I received an email with 50-70 mins wait time - THATS BAD! After about an hour 15 mins of waiting, we walked to this place (it's closer to my office); the take away was ready and no one notified us unless we go check-the status ourself AT THE RESTAURANT. Like YELP?? What's wrong..? The food was ample - TUMMY FULL! But the chicken was dry and dint have teriyaki sauce over it, they gave a separate box for the teriyaki sauce and peanut sauce. Miso soup was great! Sushi's were okay, mini dumplings were hard. Food overall was average. Negative Points - 1. Wait time. 2. Average food. read more

Ate here on Christmas Eve. Had their grilled mackerel and their salmon collars. My wife had the green dragon roll. My son had tempura udon. All were perfectly serviceable, with the salmon collar being genuinely good--tender and moist, clearly grilled over a charcoal fire. Service was attentive and thoughtful, including a set of trainer chopsticks for my son, which he enjoyed immensely. read more

Average Japanese restaurant. Food was good but nothing much stands out about the food or place, which is why the 3 star rating. In fact, I went there last week, and maybe also a function of my bad memory, but as I was trying to write this review, I couldn't remember for the longest time exactly what I ate for the life of me. But I remember now ... it was one of the udons. It was a decent udon, but unfortunately, mine tasted a little perfumey ... I wondered if it was because of the dishwashing detergent? Place was cozy and clean though. Average price, average food. read more

Average. Visited during weekend for lunch. No other patrons, so service was fast and attentive. Had tempura and bulgogi lunch special. Tempura was good; cannot go wrong with tempura. Bulgogi however was bland. As for sides, the California roll was small and taste was average. Gyoza (fried dumpling) was not good; they just taste different than typical Chinese or Japanese gyoza. read more

Not good not bad - kind of in between. Service - I had nice service but you could see they were understaffed at lunch time for the number they were serving. People were approaching the cash register with their credit cards Food - fine. Maybe ordering bulgogi in a Japanese restaurant wasn't a good idea. Meat was tough and seasoning a bit bland. Tasty California roll and salad Price - for a lunch special bento box, $9.95 was a good price. Ambiance - typical Japanese wood feel with a little more warmth (red walls and decorations) Would I come back? Probably not. read more

This Japanese restaurant along Main Street in Los Altos is great. Prices are good for such great food, where I plan to return when I'm in the area. When our group came in for a group dinner, we sat in the room with the low table where there was a hidden space below the table to sit normally, rather than sit with our legs crossed. We had to take off our shoes though. We ordered plenty of sashimi, rolls, and bottled beer. They have a great hamachi along with a caterpillar roll, which was amongst the food we ordered. The service was prompt with all orders, where our raw fish was sliced to perfection on a little boat, and everyone had a great time eating and drinking. Overall, this place is great for dinner for anyone. If you're this area and in the mood for sushi or sashimi, give Mikado an evening of your time! read more

In the middle of quaint Los Altos, the whole block is sure quiet on a Sunday night. Nice place and comfortable. Got seated right away. Started with california and unagi rolls. Nice americanized rolls. They have a good selection of rolls, raw and cooked. Dinner started with miso soup and salad, which came with our entrees. We had the tempura combination and calimari katsu. Deep fried, but a little heavy on the breading. Food came very quick. The food is is fresh The staff is attentive and nice. This place is mainstream japanese, good food, and prices are moderate. ***food ****service ****decor All round nice place. Came hungry and left full, with food left. read more

The service here is fast. We come in for lunch and the wait is short. There is a huge selection from which to order. Our favorite is the salmon dish. They nail it every time. We like the friendly service and free tea. Weekend dining is busier, but that is expected. We'll come back soon. read more

I love this place whenever I'm around the area. Their rolls are typical rolls, but there are certain ones that are DELICIOUS! The Pizza Roll.. is very yummy!! The salad here is also good too. They are very prompted with their service which is always appreciated. I havent tried their sashimi but I can say their "fun" rolls are always a good experience to try. read more

This is one of the few restaurants that has incredibly stood it's ground and pays probably an incredible leasing fee in Downtown Los Altos. I come here to support the OG Los Altans, but also, it's close to my house and it's decent Japanese food. It''s good for a quick, casual meal. The Chicken Katsu Bento box special gives you an insane amount of Katsu. The Udon is more soy based. And they have some very interesting/creative rolls here. Definitely worth a try if you're debating. read more

Have to say I'm surprised to see several of the more negative reviews- I've been here twice (seriously, about a year apart)- remembered it as good the first time but chalked it partially up to dining following several wine samples at Vino 100 next door...... really good servings for the price- I'm picky about texture overall, and especially with sushi, and I really enjoyed what we had- we had a larger combo for two and the chef was very accommodating about shying away from the things we knew we didn't like- and the fish was really fresh. We've been scouting sushi places for my family to come visit next week - and booked the little room in the back before we left last night. Excellent tuna- all types! Doesn't hurt that Vino 100 is next door and Satura Cakes (although I think there are better places, I still like their desserts) are within the same block - Vino for drinks, Mikado for dinner, satura for dessert ! read more

Last Saturday night, went with 7 friends and 3 kids. We sat in the semi-private room and had a ton of food. The sushi was extremely fresh and nearly melted in your mouth. The vegetarian dishes had tons of flavor - the meat-eaters didn't even notice. the miso was a tad salty but still enjoyed it. Selection of Sake was good enough to keep all of laughing and having a good time. Atmosphere was excellent. Food was awesome. Didn't break the bank! And had a wonderful time. Will be back again soon! read more

I ordered the pork katsu, took one bite and had to spit it right out. The pork went bad and it was sour. I had to rinse my mouth with salty water to get the foul taste out. I asked the waitress to switch out the food for another dish-- I was charged extra. Department of public health or management of the restaurant should be notified. read more

Overall this place is a C-. The tuna (maguro) tasted bad, and the ginger had a strange taste too, kind of similar to aspartame. Last straw was my wife's seaweed salad that tasted like the inside of a tin can. I'm no food snob, and I'll eat just about anything, but this sushi was just plain bad. Also it's quite expensive! I will not return. read more

I've been coming to Mikado for lunch about once a month for the past 2 years. They have had a consistent level service ever since I started going there. I believe the management changed during this time but the service and food stayed the same. The best values for lunch are the Combo I or Combo II. Combo I ($10) is a bento box with your choice of meat. Combo II ($11) is your choice of Udon + a choice of a basic sushi (nigiri, sashimi, roll) OR tempura OR (get this) unagi donburi! Udon + unagi donburi? Now THAT is a daring combination. Certainly kicks ass. http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Mikado.650-917-8388 read more

I had the spicy sashimi donburi from the lunch menu - the fish was fresh and comes with a nice pile of greens. I was disappointed that the "house spicy sauce" was really just hot sauce. But overall it was tasty. The meal comes with salad and soup. The salad was just lettuce, but the dressing was nice. The miso soup was too thin. The waitress was attentive. There is nothing exceptional, but overall it was a very pleasant outdoor lunch on a sunny afternoon. read more

Was craving Japanese food and bumming around downtown so came here and got the lunch special (teriyaki salmon bento box). The food didn't taste bad -- it was just average tasting and the box looked hastily put together, especially for Japanese cuisine. It was a 10 minute wait, which is surprising given that the only thing that might've taken a while was the salmon (don't think that should've taken 10 minutes either). Inside the bento box: Miso wasn't super great or bad. The hot soup was placed in a plastic container... California rolls had a lot of imitation crab, and they didn't include wasabi. But they tasted decent. Potstickers were pretty tasty, coming from someone who doesn't love potstickers. Salad was a bunch of iceberg lettuce and a pinch of purple cabbage. I wish they added carrots etc because iceberg lettuce doesn't have much nutritional value. They put salad dressing on the side (that's always nice), but they gave a lot, which speaks about the quality of food. Cheapens the feel a bit in my opinion. Salmon was decent. Left a ton of teriyaki sauce on the side. It didn't taste super homemade. It felt like something I could cook at home, not something restaurant caliber. Overall, come here and spend 10-15 dollars for something that will fill you up but isn't extraordinary in taste. read more

Mikado knows how to do Bento box. Bento should mean convenient because I don't have to think before I order it and it's always yummy here. Whether it's chicken or salmon teriyaki, you won't be disappointed. Really well executed teriyaki, a little better than I expected. They must have a special spice or two, which made the flavor surprisingly good. The sushi was also good, if not the best that I've had but quite good. And for that I don't give it a perfect rating. But the salad dressing is terrific and the ambiance is very pleasant read more

It's my first time giving out 1 star. Took my family to Mikado for Chirashi on Sunday for brunch. Just by looking at the Chirashi bowl, we knew the fish wasn't fresh. In the Chirashi bowl, they had 2 tuna (the worst I tasted in many years), 3 salmon (was descent), 2 hamachi (was descent), 2 white fish (cheap version of white tuna which is oily and most Japanese resturant do not carry this type of fish), and 2 white tune (so so). I felt nauseated all day, and my son had major tummy aches. I would avoid this place if all possible unless you stick with fried or fully cooked dishes. read more

We ate there for the first time last Friday dinner when every other place in Los Altos village had crazy lines. I was not expecting much and was pleasantly surprised. The variety pf pre-defined rolls was excellent, gave me some new ideas for special orders in the future. The food quality and service were very good. No complaints. Ambience was lacking - has a very slow and sleepy feel, which is probably why no trendy lines. It has a pretty good non-raw-fish options, making it a good place to take a group with someone who does not do sushi. read more

Their service is excellent and I love the actual inside of the restaurant it has a really cool feel to it. Its also very clean. Unfortunately their food leaves something to be desired. Their bento boxes are excellent but their other entrees are bland to say the least (do not even bother with their donburi it is completely devoid of taste). Also their sushi is well priced but doesn't seem fresh to me... I can't really describe it better than you can tell that the ingredients have been sitting out all day (if not multiple days). Whether that's true or if its just the quality of the ingredients I don't know. read more

We went there with a big group of people and the service was a bit uneven. No menus upon sitting down, and forgot about a dish I ordered and dropped it off 15 mins after everyone had completed their meals. It was not the best japanese place I have been to certainly not the worst. Would I come back here? Probably not as there are better options in Los Altos read more

Amazing sushi. Best in Los Altos. Even if ur not a crab fan, the crazy crab roll is amazing

This an absolutely amazing and brilliant Japanese place and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves sushi, bento boxes and other authentic foods. It has a sushi bar with fresh sushi made just for you. read more

Stopped by on a stroll and was pleasantly surprised with this restaurant. The decor was colorful and eye catching- lots of beautiful bamboo. The salad dressing was fabulous! They also serve my favorite appetizer: agedashi tofu! The fried tofu and sauce were perfect! The staff were attentive and checked in several times. The food came out within minutes of ordering! We'll definitely be back for another round! read more

I have no idea how this restaurant got these reviews, if I could award them negative numbers I would. Today I stopped there for dinner, my first visit. I stood for a full 15 minutes, and no one greeted me or made any move to get me a seat (there were empty tables). Finally, someone arrived, and told me my table was being set up. I asked for the menu to look over while I waited. While I was standing there, a younger couple came up, and the server immediately approached them, and then gave them my table!!! When I protested, the woman said, sorry, sorry, but made no move to get me a table. As a single female diner, I was outraged. Why is it that these people feel that a single WOMAN diner is not worth a young couple? The laugh is on them - I went on to a Korean restaurant in Los Altos, and ordered a double dinner (it was my intention to eat sushi at the Mikado, and order tempura for work tomorrow. These stupid people obviously were going for the "big spenders" represented in the couple. One look could have told them that as a professional older woman, I actually make (and spend) more than a young couple, as I order good (chilled} sake to drink, and usually order two meals. I will never go to this place again, and recommend that unless you are a man, or a couple, you stay away. read more

Seriously, this sushi restaurant has one of the rudest employee I've ever encountered. Prior to buying a deal on groupon for $43 worth of food for four people, I called the restaurant to confirm if I can just have two people eat instead of four, the waitress was not very fluent in English but she confirmed with me SEVERAL times that I can indeed bring two people. With that confirmation, I bought the groupon deal. On the groupon, it says I have to call to make a reservation, which I did. The employee tells me I can't make a reservation since I bought a groupon deal and that I have to go to the restaurant, sign in my name and wait for a table. We ended up driving to Los Gatos and were seated immediately since it wasn't packed. We ordered all our food and gave the waitress my groupon. She came back and told me this groupon deal is only for 4 people. I told her I called the restaurant and a waitress told me its okay just to have two. She rudely questions me "Waiter??!!! WE ONLY HAVE TWO WAITERS HERE." I told her i did not say waiter and even my bf heard me say waitress. She continues to ask me what time/day I called. I told her I wasn't sure since it had been a few days ago. Finally, a male waiter stepped in nicely and told us they would honor this deal this time only. I left feeling resentful and angry since I felt like my integrity was compromised and it was not my fault that whoever they hired was not informed of the correct information. The food was okay, the salmon did not taste very "fresh" and overall, it was extremely expensive for the quality served. I definitely will never be coming back . read more

This place is alright. The food quality or the service quality is lower than that of Akane or Sumika nearby. We ordered 49er's Roll and it had hard fish bones, which hint me that their kitchen staff is not skillful, or doesn't have proper Japanese restaurant training. This restaurant still gets 3 stars as you don't have to wait, while its competitors usually involve a 30 minute wait or longer. read more

We had a Groupon so thought to give it a try. The food was mediocre, but the service was bad. We got seated around 8:15pm, had a little time to look through the menu before the server came by twice to take our orders. Half way through our meal, we were asked to pay right away because they had to close out like right then, at 8:50pm; all the other 3 tables were asked for the same thing in the middle of their meals. Our Stanford Roll never came. I asked the server about it, then magically it was canceled. I told them about my Groupon when we sat down, but the bill was still without the Groupon price, then they ran my credit card with the Stanford Roll on it, voided, then ran it again with the roll taken off. Omg! Were they really in that much of a hurry to get off work?!?! If you care about service, this is not a place for you. read more

The worst Japanese food I have ever had. The rice was mushy and wet, the salad was swimming in cheap dressing, and the chicken was so bland that I couldn't eat more than a couple of bites. This is a poor imitation of a Japanese restaurant run by non-Japanese people who don't know what real Japanese food tastes like. When we were there, we didn't see a single Japanese staff or patron ... not a good sign. read more