It was our first visit and we were not disappointed. Each item was fresh and beautifully prepared.read more

Great Value and Excellent Variety for the Family!…read more We recently tried this spot for dinner and enjoyed the experience as a family friendly option. It offers a good variety of fresh options at very reasonable prices. Their sushi roll selection is extensive, and the menu easily accommodates both kids and adults with a mix of sashimi / nigiri (a la carte and omakase), bento boxes, and delicious stir-fried udon noodles. The staff was incredibly friendly and provided attentive service throughout our meal. A quick tip on seating: if you have the option, try to request a table in the front of the restaurant rather than the back. We had a larger group and were seated in the back, which felt a bit too close to the restrooms. For parking, there are a few designated spots directly behind the building, but you can also conveniently park in the Springline lot right next door. Overall, it's a wonderful, casual and affordable dining option that we will come back to.

Visited with friends from Hong Kong X3 times last year, who loved the special menu items and casual…read moreatmosphere. They're back and want to dine here again!

Drunken Monk is one of my favorite Japanese spots, especially for their oyako don. It's the dish I…read morekeep going back for, but I've also tried quite a few other items on the menu and have enjoyed the variety. The space has a cozy, casual izakaya feel, making it a nice place for a relaxed dinner or date night. It's not exactly a cheap eat, but the food feels fresh and thoughtfully prepared, so it's a good spot when you want something a little nicer without being too formal. The corn karaage is also amazing and definitely worth ordering. Crispy, sweet, and so easy to snack on. I've also tried dishes like their sashimi, mini uni don with ikura, grilled skewers, and clam dish, and everything has been comforting and well done.

This spot has easily become our go-to sushi spot whenever we are craving high quality sushi. The…read moresushi is great across teh board, fresh fish and good rice. Every bite is flavorful. The dining area itself is a small cozy space, which creates an intimate and welcoming atmosphere that instantly puts you at ease. The staff are super friendly and helpful with selection options and making suggestions.

Kyosho changed hands with different owners -- I experienced the quality of food and service both…read moreincreased. The ambiance is still high-end! New promotion "Wednesday lunch kids eat free" offers little kids (under 6 y/o) kids combo, very fulfilling and worthwhile. Highly recommended.

I had the best first experience at Sushi Roku Palo Alto this past Labor Day for my birthday dinner!…read moreThe food was delicious - the uni was one of the best I've ever tried, the meat was so soft and nicely cooked, and the raw fish was prepared very nicely. In addition to the food, the service was amazing. Monica and Steve gave great recommendations throughout the night and were very attentive to ensure that we had everything we needed for a great night. Alex was very welcoming and kind which started off our first time at the establishment on a great note. I would definitely recommend dining with family, celebrating a special night, or having a date night here because the ambiance with the low lights and soft music really set a nice mood to enjoy dinner.

Sushi Roku was a lively restaurant with plenty of outdoor seating and a "lounge" feel with a full…read morebar. The restaurant was dark and is a bit crowded. Service was on point and all the wait staff were helpful and proactive in their roles. Restrooms were a little hard to find since they were hidden behind a set of curtains. Food was pricey but very good. All the sushi they had in the deluxe sushi plate were very good and tasted fresh and matched well with their respective wasabi, yuzu, jalapeno, etc. toppings. The wagyu hanabi was solid, though smaller. The California Roll, seaweed salad, baked crab hand roll, and the baked cod, Chilean sea bass was very good. The shrimp fried rice was saltier than desired, but it had plenty of shrimp. The chocolate lava cake was good and shareable. I would like to come back another time and try some different sushi rolls!

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

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

This is the 2nd time we're coming back here and the food is always so good and fresh. The service…read moreis very fast and the servers are all friendly (Thanks Janet!). We're very specific with our sushi and they're always so accommodating. The place is clean and well-decorated. The bathroom was very clean and cute too lol Stephanie the owner checked in with us personally to make sure the food was good. Highly recommended.

Soko Soko is definitely one of the best Japanese restaurants in San Carlos…read more The Ambience is bright, clean, cozy, and service was attentive. Food was excellent! Everything was fresh and delicious. We had the Omakase Sashimi as our main and it did not disappoint. The fish were fresh and tasty. The roe was not fishy and loved the crispy shrimp head. The surprise of the day was the Mentaiko Udon; noodles were al dente and sauce was creamy and savory. Also loved the Nasu with its garlicky topping. We will be back!

In my opinion MJ Sushi is wonderful because it has great food and drinks. My first reason is…read more.. the sushi is delicious because of the California rolls and you can see how they make them. My second reason is...the drinks are so good because the Japanese bottles are like a puzzle to open . my last reason is...because the pictures are nice and there's air conditioning and you could also sit outside. What are you waiting for? Go there!!!!!!!!!!!!! Alisa, (8y.o.)

Bummer, I was hoping this place would be a great sushi spot, unfortunately mediocre. Strike 1, One…read moreof the other reviews I read mentioned that the waiter is also bussing tables, not sanitary or professional in my opinion. Strike 2, I ordered a house salad as a starter, they gave me a to go container with greens and a separate container for the dressing and bowl for me to put my own salad in, red flag... Strike 3, Sushi rolls were okay and the prices were more reasonable than others but I don't go to sushi for reasonable pricing. I go to sushi to be wowed! No wow here. Oh yes, and for all you yelpers who leave reviews, stop being cheap asses by concerning yourselves mostly about the price, it's about the quality and savoriness of the food, that's it!!! Otherwise stay home and cook...

One of my favorite spots for Japanese food - this isn't your typical Japanese restaurant you find…read moreacross the States with donburis, meal sets, California rolls, etc. Ranzan specializes in Kaiseki-style dining, leaning heavily on seasonal ingredients so their menu changes every so often, and you can tell all their ingredients are really high quality. Top-notch service with lots of attention to detail, and gorgeous dishware to go along with each item. If only it weren't so expensive I'd love to go back more often. If you're looking for a spot for date night or celebrating a special occasion, I highly recommend Ranzan.

Came here for a Mother's Day lunch with my family. It was very quiet, which my parents appreciated,…read moreand the overall atmosphere was minimalist, grounded, peaceful, and distinctly Japanese. The decor felt understated and calming, and both the host and server were very kind and welcoming. Service was definitely on the slower side -- we started the first course around 1pm and dessert wasn't served until about 2:40pm -- but I suppose that's part of the intentional, course-by-course dining experience. We ordered one of the lunch set menus. A few thoughts on the dishes: * House made tofu - Delicious. Light, delicate, and creamy, topped with wasabi and soy sauce. 9/10 * Appetizer assortment - A box with four small dishes (Nanohana steeped in dashi, simmered daikon radish, Tai marinated in vinaigrette, tamago). The tamago was less sweet than what you'd usually get at sushi restaurants (just okay for me, 6/10). The daikon was tasty (7.5/10), the fish had good flavor but a firmer texture than I prefer (7/10), and the vegetables were well-prepared (7.5/10). Everything was served room temperature. Overall, the flavors and sauces were very mild and subtle, in line with more traditional Japanese cooking. * The sashimi dish was fresh and delicious. 9/10 * Pork belly with vegetables - The pork belly was extremely tender and flavorful, and the vegetables were cooked nicely. The sauce was delicious. I almost wished it came with rice, but it was lightly seasoned and balanced as-is. 8/10 * Gindara marinated in miso - Lovely buttery, flaky texture. I've had similar miso black cod dishes elsewhere that were a bit more flavorful, but still very enjoyable. 8/10 * Chawanmushi - Very smooth, custardy texture with hints of citrus/yuzu, crab, and shiso. The crab texture was nice, though I didn't get a ton of crab flavor. * Octopus - A bit too chewy for my taste, though it paired nicely with the sweetness of the plum. I especially liked the nagaimo (yam) for both flavor and texture. 7.5/10 * Rice with kelp, wasabi cucumber, and simmered baby sardines - The kelp had a great texture and slightly tangy flavor. The wasabi cucumber was a bit too salty for me, even with the rice, but the baby sardines were delicious with just a hint of salt. 8/10 * Miso soup - Nice and light. 8/10 * Dessert (matcha yo-kan) - Green tea jelly with raspberries. Nice texture, though I personally prefer more pudding-like desserts. Not overly sweet, but I'm generally not a fan of beans in desserts. 7.5/10 One especially thoughtful touch: they served dessert to my mom on a special plate with additional Japanese candies and little origami pieces made by the staff. It felt very warm and personal. Overall, a good experience. They also offer à la carte options in addition to the set menus. The space feels intimate and would probably be best for smaller groups or quieter meals.

The beef tongue was absolutely delicious! We ordered two servings, but the second one wasn't as…read moregood as the first--it was a bit tougher. The ramen and the beef rice bowl were both very tasty as well. However, the beef was a little too rare and had a strong bloody taste. We hope it can be cooked a bit more next time. Overall, we had a great dining experience and would definitely come back!

Came here last night in search of Japanese food to eat before the movies, and we had a good…read moreexperience here, will be back to try other new dishes & drinks! Located in the heart of downtown Redwood City, Kemuri is a pretty big, simple, minimal, and industrial space. It has tall ceiling with skylights for natural lighting, and a nice airy feeling. On weekends, it fills up very quickly with reservations, mostly for smaller families, and singles mingling. We opted to sit at the bar & forgo the queue, and had a pleasant short time here, drinking & snacking. It has a lot of outdoor seating, and inside is spacious with lots of smaller tables & some larger ones for bigger parties. The atmosphere is upbeat, and the service is excellent. Our hostess did double/triple duty not only for seating, but taking orders, running out food, and attending to pickups & phone orders. It was amazing to watch her operate professionally, courteously, efficiently, and politely with everyone coming in. Our bartender(s) were nice, but not chatty. We ordered the Tokyo mule & Kemuri sour cocktails and I really liked the mule. It was served in a pretty large glass, and had great flavor and just enough Ketel One vodka for me to catch a buzz. The Kemuri sour was just ok, a bit too fruity and not strong enough for me as a high end cocktail. The drinks were served quickly, well-presented, and priced reasonably for cocktails. They even have Asahi & Sapporo beer on tap, which I will try next time! For food, we ordered the Ikuri smoked salmon Yaki-ono benedict with a side of pickled vegetables. Both dishes were very small, and the Ikuri salmon benedict didn't have a lot of flavor or pop, but it was served well-presented & fresh. I liked the crispy fried rice ball, but I wasn't a fan of hollandaise sauce & tiny poached egg. It all became a watery, soupy mess once the egg yolk was broken, and the salmon roe lacked any real saltiness and it did not have enough smoked salmon or seasoning. The pickled vegetables were great and served in a tiny mason jar, but I only wish that it was a bit bigger, with more veggies to snack on, but what was in it tasted very good, fresh, and tart. If I came back here again, I would order some larger rice dishes or chef's specials, plus appetizers, to fill up a little bit more. The restaurant seems very popular with families & friends coming in for casual dining. It's a very large space that can hold a lot of people, but I think the dishes are a bit too small, unless you order a lot of them. The drinks are very good, and I'd come back more to drink here, while dining on appetizers, tapas, and a few entrees. Service is excellent, and the space is very minimal, clean, cavernous & dark, and a fun place to hangout for an hour. Tip: make reservations or sit at the bar, this place is busy, fairly loud, and crowded. I'd come back during the week or later than dinnertime, to have a quieter & less rushed experience. But, I enjoyed the space & service. Food is a 3.5/5, drinks are a 4.5/5, and service is a 5/5.

The entrance is pretty discreet, and once you step inside, the restaurant is small, intimate, and…read morecozy, which makes the whole experience feel really special. The $125 lunch omakase is an incredible value for the quality you get. For the price, both the food and service were excellent. The fish tasted super fresh, and you could tell each piece was handled with a lot of care. Everything was flavorful, and even the little details stood out... the wasabi was really good, and the complimentary pickled ginger they served was fresh and delicious. The service was also top notch. It happened to be my birthday, and they gave me a cute little pop-up birthday card, which was such a thoughtful touch and made the experience feel extra special. Overall, I was really impressed with this place. Excellent quality, fresh fish, attentive service, and a $125 lunch price point that's hard to beat. Definitely adding this to my list of favorite omakase spots in the Bay Area!

I had the opportunity to dine here to celebrate an anniversary and Iki was an enjoyable time…read more I really enjoyed the execution of the courses and the one of the things that really stuck out to me reflecting back was the tempura course believe it or not. It was fried exceptionally well and the batter was light and went well before the nigiri portion of the menu. My only criticism was the amount of up charging on additions when an omakase should already encompass the items. I would definitely recommend at least trying once! Service was exceptional as expected and the chef was a pleasure to watch. I really liked the ambiance here that set the mood for the meal!