Bad food all around. Not authentic. Miso soup was tasteless, seafood was not fresh, chicken was blend.

Amazing food, lovely environment, great customer service. Absolutely love this place I come with my family all the time and have hosted get together with my friends. read more

Mikado's my friend's favorite sushi spot, but I suppose that is a product of it being her local spot. After coming here a few times now, I would say it's good enough but definitely not top tier. If you get past all the crazy sushi roll names, it's pretty much the standard mix and match combination of different fish or tempura on a roll and whether the roll itself is fresh, baked, or fried. The food is definitely tasty and the rolls are fairly large, but I do expect better quality when the prices are definitely on the higher end. Also, it can sometimes be a struggle to get service, but as an Asian guy I've learned to just deal with it. Overall, I would come here without any issue if my friend wanted to, but it's not my preferred sushi spot. read more

Mikado - Japanese Near Me - Los Altos, California

Freshest Nigiri I've ever had - small portions but incredibly fresh and prompt service! Really enjoy it here, the atmosphere is romantic and peaceful. Little pricy but worth it for the quality. read more

We had a dinner at Mikado. Ordered Bento Box, Agedashi Tofu and some side dishes. Agedashi tofu supposed to have slightly crispy fried outer layer. The one we received was gooey and slimy. The grilled salmon tasted okay but chicken was very dry. Overall the food was the worse Japanese food we've tried in a restaurant. The bill was brought to our table without us asking for it; halfway through our meals, and hrs before the closing time. We observed the same thing happening with the only customers' table. Unfortunately we're not going back to Mikado. read more

If you're looking for amazingly fresh sushi in the Peninsula, this is your place. This little restaurant has several types of bento boxes with chicken teriyaki and different rolls to choose from. Or if sashimi is your thing -- try their three choices of combination platters. I went for the sashimi combo platter and they gave me a hefty portion of the freshest salmon, hamachi, fatty tuna, and mackerel. I didn't think it was possible getting full off of sashimi (or leaving pieces on my plate), but it happened and I was more than satisfied! read more

Mikado - The freshest sushi in the Peninsula! - Japanese Near Me - Los Altos, California

Great service, food is a little below average. Tempura appetizer was pretty good. Chirashi, a little pricy at $19, was fresh, but fish selections were just OK Lunch special, sushi roll combo was nothing special. read more

Mikado - $6.95 Tempura (appetizer), not bad. $18.96 Chirashi (sashimi over rice). Lunch special, roll combo - Japanese Near Me - Los Altos, California

Very good sushi and miso. I really like the Bento box lunches to. Outdoor seating is available.

Just ordered dinner through Post Mates and I've found my new favorite sushi place! I chose Mikado because they get a health score of 97 and because I'm immunocompromised it's recommended I only eat at restaurants with a health score of 90 or above. I ordered the California roll and shrimp tempura roll and it was SO GOOD and super fresh. The only bummer part was they only included one packet of soy sauce and no chopsticks. Otherwise it was delicious and I can't wait to order again. read more

Service: 0 stars Be careful with this location if you plan to use an expired Groupon. They are very incompetent and do not train their staff properly, if you just want to use the amount paid for their Groupon (not the promotional value), they claim they cannot do it. It's very unprofessional of them to participate in Groupon and not understand the fine print and rules: "The amount paid WILL NEVER EXPIRE and must continue to be honored by the merchant after the promotional value expires." And to give you so much trouble to redeem and make you feel like they're doing you a favor and that it's a one time exception. Very unpleasant experience, and to avoid dealing with dishonesty, I will avoid this place. Food: 2 stars We ordered the chicken yakisoba and the vegetarian yakisoba. I would not recommend either, or buy them again. The vegetarian yakisoba was too salty, and the chicken yakisoba was too bland. There was no in between or consistency in flavor. What we had to do was combine both to spare the meal. What I did like was that even though ours was a to go order, they included a salad with a really good dressing and miso soup. read more

Mikado - They don't read the fine print of the Groupon deals they participate in, so you must do it for them to avoid being swindled - Japanese Near Me - Los Altos, California

My favorite part is the salad dressing, I don't know why it's so good. All around good food, I usually get a bento box, my husband likes the sushi. Friendly staff. read more

I can't believe these guys served me frozen toro tuna! I paid $13 for two peaces!!! Would definitely returned but I took them to go and was on the was to SF when I tried my biggest disappointment. read more

Decided to come here with some coworkers last night. Cute little restaurant in downtown Los Altos. (I've never been to Los Altos and it was quite nice, though oddly deserted). The wait staff at Mikado was friendly and very patient. They served us water w/lemon and took our order as soon as our last member arrived. Our waitress was super awesome with my co-worker's son. I ordered the following: Spicy Tuna Roll, Phillie Roll, and the Sunset Roll (based on fellow Yelpers recommendations). Spicy Tuna Roll: Decent. I like that they don't use too much rice. The spicy tuna was not as spicy as I was hoping. :( 3/5 Phillie Roll: This was actually a good surprise. They didn't use near as much cream cheese as some places and added avocado. Really good! 5/5 Sunset Roll: Unagi w/avocado and lemon slices w/sweet sauce. Really really good. Who knew lemon and Unagi would compliment each other so well!? 5/5 My total was around $30. Not too bad for pretty darn decent sushi. I would return for sure. They have quite an extensive menu of special rolls. In fact, I changed my mind three times before I placed my order. :) read more

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I first went to Mikado in the late 1990s. Back then the itamae (sushi chef) was an older Japanese guy. Apparently Joe Montana and Steve Young also ate here before. The sushi was ok, but it was not cheap. Fast forward some 6 to 7 years later, which is what this yelp review is about, I went here again, curious to see how the old man is doing and if his sushi had improved. Turns out that although the restaurant kept its original name, everything else on the inside changed. Now it is under Korean ownership. Decor is more bland, and no more sports memorabilia. Don't get me wrong, there are some half decent Korean run Japanese restaurants, but this is not one of them. Nobu K is right, see his review of "Doubtful Sushi Bars in SF". Mikado means "Emperor of Japan" and to couple that with sushi is indeed pretty darn funny and politically wrong. So is Mikado's sushi fit of that for an Emperor? Certainly an emperor did not prepare the food I had, and even if you walk in as an emperor, you will walk out a pauper (and poorer). Nigiri was just plain aweful and I should have kicked up a fuss and returned the uni I ordered. It was definitely not fresh and also bottom grade/tier...no wonder they were a bit generous on the portion (get rid of that shizz!). Do yourselves a favor; walk quickly past this so called Emperor's place, walk up the block, make a left. Keep going and you'll see Akane Japanese restaurant on your right (behind Comerica Bank). Shin Kaneoya (chef owner) has opened this spot for 20 years, classically trained/apprenticed/indentured in Japan (and has experience), and know how to make proper nigiri, sumeshi, and keep costs down. After that treat youself to a Satura Cake or two and live happily ever after WITHOUT trying to be an emperor-wannabe. read more

omakase is the true test of any sushi bar. basically it's leaving your sushi fate up to the chef. in other words, impress me; i trust you chef! some places take great pride and charge big bucks ($80+ per person) for this dining experience (e.g. Sushi Sasabune in LA and Honolulu) . I had a very good sushi, sashimi meal here at Mikado for lunch for only $35 per person. all nigiri and sashimi were very fresh. some of the items i devoured today, uni, shiro maguro with a pinch of fresh garlic, hamachi belly, unagi, maguro, and amaebi. all winners. the meal started with a gyoza soup and cucumber salad. it finished with a big scoop of green tea ice cream. paired with half price sake (Thursday special). cannot imagine a better recent lunch experience. JYW says two thumbs up! read more

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I was actually surprisingly impressed with this place, not because of the reviews, but because of the flavor of the food. I ordered a bento box with chicken teriyaki and salmon teriyaki, my dad ordered a tekka maki and my mom ordered a bento box with tempura and salmon teriyaki, and we all thoroughly enjoyed our food. The main reason I personally enjoyed it was because the chicken teriyaki and salmon teriyaki tasted less like traditional Japanese food and more like something you'd find at a health- focused restaurant. Everything was very light and well seasoned which made it a really enjoyable experience and one that I don't normally get at Japanese restaurants. My dad said that they sushi was pretty standard, so I think the only real differentiating factor here is the flavor of the teriyaki dishes. Anyways, I was not expecting such a surprise in flavor, but I'm glad that it happened because I will definitely be coming back here soon. It may now be my go-to Japanese restaurant. read more

Mikado - Japanese Near Me - Los Altos, California

I wanted to like this place... Really, I did... But I have had much better food, at the same price, elsewhere. We decided to bring the kids and try lunch. I had the bento box with Bulgogi. Their version of Bulgogi is flavorless, thin strips of beef that are then over-seasoned with pepper. A lot of pepper, I can't even exaggerate it. After I paid, I hustled over to the nearest coffee place to try and regain control over my sad taste buds. Even the kids noticed how much pepper was in their chicken teriyaki. What is the deal with all the pepper? So: Meh. Won't be back. read more

I really love getting bento boxes here. I think it's pretty standard Japanese, but it's definitely good regardless

FRESH FRESH FRESH SASHIMI! Great cuts that melted in my mouth. Man, have I missed good quality fish being a broke college student that relies on sushi buffets for a sushi fix. Good thing coming home means it's dad's treat! :P Both my mom and I got the Sashimi Combo A for $15.95 and we enjoyed it thoroughly! We didn't get any weird looks asking for no rice, and extra salad instead. My father for a bento box and he was pretty satisfied as well. We will be returning next time I get a craving for some raw fish :) read more

Mikado - Sashimi Combo A (12 piece Chet's choice) $15.95 THE freshest sashimi I have had in a long time. - Japanese Near Me - Los Altos, California

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Whoa, where has Mikado been during all my sushi-searching in the Mtn View, PA/LA area!?! Korean operated, clean modern facilities, and big portions. Not your standard wooden booths, they provide nice padding and have simple Asian artwork cleverly placed throughout the restaurant. The first part of the meal started off a little shaky, but I must mention it was the end of the night. The tea was watered down and lukewarm, ugh, terrible. You know how I feel about tepid tea. The server quickly replaced the tea with a piping hot one. For their salad they used mixed greens, rather than the standard Dole mix, score! We ordered the filet mignon entree, flavorful, large 8 oz size, and good for the price $16.95. A rainbow salad, with a wonderful wasabi mayo and citrus dressing, there were 6 small pieces of maguro, 3 pieces of albacore, 6 hunks of hamachi, 4 generously cut slices of salmon and a huge sprinkling of tobiko-all this for a mere $15.95 price tag. Basically it's like a large portion of sashimi grade fish with some FIBER! Ordered two rolls, the double roll, and the bubble bubble roll. For the double roll they allow you a choice of fish to double, we chose salmon, great choice, massive amounts of fish on the interior and thick slices of sashimi grade salmon on top. The bubble was probably one of the best baked scallop rolls I have had to date, from the generous amounts of real crab to the rich creamy sauce the roll was slathered in, simply delicious! I think the prices are comparable to other sushi places in area, but add padded seating and large portions to that! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update 2/14/07: Planned a trip to Mikado tonight, so I Yelped to see the recent posts. Sigh. Checked out the newest pics and review from Charles B. and I have now decided to stay away and dock 1 star till my next visit. Called and found out the chef is the same, but the Sushi Roller is different, so the Bubble Bubble roll is not like the picture I posted. Um, that should not change the recipe and rolling protocol right?!?! I kid you not, this roll was flavorful and delicious, unlike all other baked scallop rolls. Now it has been replaced by the boring scallop standby. The rainbow salad's fish quantity has gone down significantly and the lady on the phone justified this by raised fish prices. Bad food and bad business etiquette... read more

Mikado - Rainbow Salad in 5/06, not anymore!!! - Japanese Near Me - Los Altos, California

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Lovely assemblage of vegetarian dishes, such as a healthy tofu spring leaf salad with spices lemon wedges, small flavorful gyoza, fresh-snapped edamame, and a nice asparagus tempura cucumber avocado roll. The miso soup was vegetarian too, not encumbered with bonito flakes like at so many places these days. PS Thinking of you and your love of sushi, ML read more

This sushi place is a hidden hot spot for me. I never usually go to Los Altos, but went here because of a groupon. You can enter this restaurant through the front or the back depending on where you park! I had a groupon that must be used only if you had a party of 4, but since I was a party of 3.... I as unsure if the groupon was still eligible or not. The waiter was really nice and accepted it anyway. Their sushi rolls are pretty unique in what ingredients they use to make their sushis, but don't expect to feel full after one roll. Their rolls are pretty small. I had the BBQ Roll. I never really had actual bbq meat topped on a sushi roll before, but it tasted really delish! The meat was steak-like and had a bit of a crisp taste because it was grilled. The Gentleman's roll was a really good combination of raw fish and cooked sushi rolls. There were 3 types of rolls on there (not sure which ones). Just take a look at my pic: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mikado-japanese-restaurant-los-altos#TxNxJT0WvTJ9NUnFkXVobQ The Bento box was average, but their tempura was so good! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mikado-japanese-restaurant-los-altos#OIO6rcH59cFpUNpwVtEADw They had big calamari pieces as their tempura to serve. YUM! The food here might seem average, but they add little kinks here and there that give their food a special twist to it! read more

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I REALLY wanted to like this place but unfortunately the food was mediocre and service slow. The only thing that is unique and different was their calamari tempura which was very good but their gyoza was just so so and the rest of the meal like their salmon teriyaki wasn't anything special. And we were extremely disappointed with their dragon roll... small and hardly any flavor... Even with the Groupon we paid a lot and if it weren't for the Groupon we would have never come to try it... so at least we tried... Just not our type of Japanese restaurant - there's a lot more better ones out there read more

Came here with a coworker because we wanted to try a different Japanese spot than the usual one we go to. We found close parking and to my amazement, it wasn't metered. I was pleasantly surprised because in SF there's metered parking everywhere, especially downtown. The decor was really nice with lots of bamboo plants. We were seated promptly since we were the first ones there for lunch. The waitress handed us the menus and asked if we wanted tea. We declined and asked for water instead. I opted for the 1-item bento box ($8.95), which includes miso soup, salad, rice, 2 pieces of gyoza, and 3 pieces of Cali rolls. I chose chicken teriyaki, but of course you can choose tempura, bulgogi, etc. My coworker got us baked mussels ($5.95) for an appetizer, and ordered a salad ($3.95), and a lion king roll ($10.95) for herself. Her salad came out first and then my bento box and I thought they forgot our baked mussels, but they ended up bringing them with the lion king roll. The baked mussels were delicious and my coworker enjoyed her lion king roll. My chicken teriyaki wasn't what I was normally used to. It didn't have much teriyaki sauce on it and was dry, but tasted sorta lemony. The Cali rolls were good as well as the salad. My coworker liked the salad dressing because it had a peanuty texture. The gyoza could have been better. For the price, the bento box was extremely filling. When it came time to pay, we wanted to split the check because I had cash and she had a card. I handed the waitress $20 and expected my change, but she completely misunderstood and used my $20 and put the rest on my coworker's card. I was kind of annoyed, but people make mistakes and the service wasn't that bad. So, I wouldn't mind coming here again. read more

Mikado - 1 item bento box with chicken teriyaki. - Japanese Near Me - Los Altos, California

I came here for lunch today after browsing all the wonderful shops in beautiful downtown Los Altos.I got here when the restaurant opened at 11:30 am and was seated right away.I ordered a diet coke and browsed their menu.I ended up ordering their lunch special Bento box which came with miso soup,salad,2 pcs Gyoza,3 pcs California roll and Teriyaki salmon all for 11.95.The food was fresh and tasty.The presentation perfect The server was very friendly, fast and efficient along with the rest of the staff. The restaurant was very clean. read more

The food is super good and service is great. Hadn't been there for a couple years as I tried others in town. Like this the best!

Come here for the crazy delicious ROLLS!! Not for bulgogi or traditional sashimi/nigiri or anything else. Their rolls are unique and delicious! They get extra points for outdoor seating and being open until 3p for lunch and ONLINE ordering and delivery!! Yay Good prices good food read more

Mikado - BBQ roll and White Tuna tataki Roll are bomb.COM - Japanese Near Me - Los Altos, California

I had a wonderful time at Mikado yesterday for lunch. The sushi was on point and the staff attentive, polite, and patient. The two rolls paired together nicely and gave a great balance between raw fish, eel, and tempura. I got the Under the Sea Roll and Dragon Roll. This was the first time I have tried the Under the Sea Roll and I was blown away. It was very tasty! Every moment of my experience was just as it should be. Thank you. read more

Mikado - Under the Sea Roll and Dragon Roll. Nailed it! - Japanese Near Me - Los Altos, California

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Okay came back for round 2!!! The place was busy when we walked in.. They were out of tables so they asked we cared to it at the sushi table.. We didn't mind at all! The sushi mAn was really nice and an excellent sushi chef!!! All the fishes in from of us were fresh and clean. The wait staff was great and knew everything in the menu! My favorite for dinner was the bbq roll! Very tasty! Their servings here are very big!! So there's plenty of rolls to share! On the plus side, my fiancé and I used a groupon deal which was a steal!! The ambiance is nice and there are bamboo trees around the wall for the feel of Japan. I think it's cute! Good place for a nice casual sushi dinner :) read more

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This is a lovely comfortable Los Altos restaurant. Everyone is so kind and gracious. It's also nice that they stay open late and never rush. This is starting to be very important and I wish more places didn't rush everyone. With comfortable booths, it a an easy place to relax. I enjoyed the Bento Box lunch but some parts are better then others. First, the miso soup and refreshing salad. These are as well prepared as any Japanese restaurant I have ever visited. There is a fun assortment of items in the Bento Box. There was a ton of food but I would probably been happier with a smaller portion but more carefully prepared. There is a ton of beef but it was a little on the dry side. The California rolls are also a little heavy. I have tried the noodle soup (rich and warming) and very fresh sushi. I think they are more carefully prepared. Also, I love their assorted crispy tempura. My recommendation is to pick a few small plates rather then the Bento Box. Enjoyable Japanese restaurant and I wouldn't hesitate to return and recommend. read more

I love this place!!! Fresh food all the time great service great location and I just love there calamari tempura you most try the wasabi sauce with it. Yum!!! read more

We ordered take out during January 2021 and it was absolutely fresh, delicious and the BEST Japanese we've had in the area. Everything from the Mikado sampler, udon, lady's choice, chefs choice sashimi combo was outstanding. Unbelievably good. Yum! Highly recommend. read more

I was more impressed by the interior / decor than the food. We ordered a sashimi combo, which includes tuna, white tuna, salmon and a type of fish that I don't recall. The tuna was soft and delicious but the white tuna was gross... They brought it back to the kitchen and it turned out that the table next to us had the same issue too. read more

Mikado - Japanese Near Me - Los Altos, California

Really friendly service. A great selection of food (rolls, udon, tempura, teriyaki, etc). There was something for everyone, even those who don't like Sushi. Family of 4 and we all had completely different things. Plus, they made a table for us outside so our dog could be close! read more

We've gotten take out sushi a few times and had lunch in person several times (back in the before times) and have been happy with Mikado! They make great sushi, bento boxes, and my kid loves the tonkatsu fried pork. Everything is tasty, the right temperature and fast. Take out is not a problem. They have parking right outside their front door, even when downtown is closed for street eating and farmers market making it easy to get your sushi home! Thanks Mikado! read more

This place has the THICCCEST salmon sashimi I have ever seen. My family and I always say that we order too much and end up eating it all. My favorite dish is the California crunch roll (basically a twist on the original California roll) It has crispy tempura flakes with a sweet soy sauce drizzled over a basic California roll. We also enjoy ordering the shiitake mushroom salad because the chef has the amazing ability of making the mushrooms crispy yet also juicy with flavor. The environment was cozy and quiet. Overall, a delicious, genuine Japanese restaurant. read more

Mikado - Japanese Near Me - Los Altos, California

Poor quality food, even for cheap (not really) sushi. Had low expectations, they didn't hit the low mark. Tossed the California roll and maguro in the trash. Wont order again. For a few bucks more, there are plenty of better places in the area. read more

This place was absolutely awesome! The food was great and affordable and the staff was super nice too! This place has these little rooms with the sliding doors and the paper walls on the doors where you take off your shoes, sit on the floor, and eat. This is exactly how I used to eat when I was living in Japan. Would definitely recommend this place to others! read more

Mikado is next to LuLu's on Main Street (Mexican fast casual), both have outside seating, which most restaurants in the downtown area have - a big plus. It's important for us because we're accompanied by our dog and don't leave him waiting in the car. Ordinarily sushi restaurants that we like in the surrounding area, off the top of my head, don't offer patio or outside seating (Sumo on State St. doesn't), so Mikado fits this requirement. On a quaint Saturday afternoon, we had several sushi rolls, miso, the usual. Everything was fine, service attentive, no complaints. I haven't even poked my nose inside for anything, we just relaxed at our table on the sidewalk and had a good time. I usually reserve five star ratings for truly exceptional experiences, so this afternoon gets four. Cheers! read more

Very nice sushi, though a bit pricey. I had the Sushi Lover's Box Lunch Special and it was really tasty. The sashimi was all great and the poki salad was tangy and tasty with a kick. The unagi was excellent as well. I also had the tuna and avocado roll but the avocado tasted a bit off and made the whole roll not great. It was kind of expensive for lunch, but it was very good quality fish and quite a bit of it, so I guess you get what you pay for! read more