Sushi Maruyama is tucked on the outskirts of downtown san mateo with plenty of street parking around. My partner made reservations the day before and we got to be seated at the counter. What we ordered; 8pc omakase $63 each Hamachi jalapeño roll $13 Crunchy roll $16 King salmon truffle hand roll $15 We loved every single piece of the omakase! I felt every fresh cut was hand picked very well. We ordered other rolls thinking we needed more full but omakase was enough as the rolls didn't satisfy us as much. Will definitely come back for the omakase again! read more

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What a fantastic sushi spot in downtown San Mateo! We were blown away by all the nigiri we ordered. Everything was super fresh with great flavor and texture. We wouldn't order the Octopus Karaage or the Miso Black Cos again. The octopus was chewy and the cod was good, but not as flavorful as other places. The service and ambiance is fantastic. Get a reservation well in advance as they're usually booked up at least a week out. We'll be back to try more of their menu. read more

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Miss the service and quality of food in Asia after your recent trip? This is the place to go. We've been here several times and the sushi is delicious every time. Service is also superb with attention to details like offering a bucket to put your bag in underneath your chair. I heard tables next to us commenting on the amazing service as well. The restaurant is small and super popular so make sure you call to make a reservation if you're planning to come at a peak time. read more

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Thanks to TikTok this restaurant was high on my list to check out and it did not disappoint! We originally came for their affordable omakase pricing and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of fish and quick service. The restaurant itself is a bit on the smaller side but still is able to accommodate tables/bar seating so a reservation is highly recommended! There is no online booking system so you must call to make a reservation during their operating hours. I will definitely be returning - great spot. read more

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A local sushi restaurant in downtown San Mateo . We went on a weekday ( Tuesday night ) by 7:30 pm . It was very hard to find parking . My friend dropped us off and he drove around to soar for an empty spot . This restaurant is so popular and it is fully booked from opening to closing ! San Mateo is a safe and friendly city . The inside is cozy and neat . Waiters are attentive and polite. One of us ordered the premium nigiri omakase with 8 pieces of fish sushi and one egg dessert . The other two friends ordered different items from the paper menu. King salmon sushi's were absolutely delicious. The fishes were thick and big pieces and the chef put a brush of sauce on it to enhance the taste . It has no fishy taste and the texture was smooth and melted in your mouth . Scallop and Hamachi sushi were great too . I did not appreciate my jumbo giant shrimp tempura $18 for two . The shrimp was not even jumbo size ( like what I had in Honolulu) and the batter for the tempura was just so so , not great as I expected . Live Manila clams miso soup $6.59 was also a disappointment. The miso base was too thin , inside had no seaweed , tofu or other ingredients like the one I had in Honolulu restaurant. I would skip it next time . I gave this restaurant a five stars because of the freshness of the sushi and service . read more

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Delicious sushi and omakase set. I have been to this place once and needed a reservation. This place blew my mind the first time I tried it. The omakase set is quite worth it in my opinion. The fish is fresh and the scallops are one of the sweetest scallops that I've had. I would definitely go back again for the omakase. The waiters are super nice and attentive. The vibes are great inside. I truly enjoyed my time at Sushi Maruyama! read more

Sushi Maruyama - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This place had been on my list for YEARS before I finally had a chance to come by a few weeks ago. You typically need to call same day for a reservation when, but we managed to get a walk in. At first, we were turned away as the restaurant was fully booked, but as we were walking away the manager(?) called out to us and said if we thought we could eat in less than 45 minutes (before the next reservation came in) she would be happy to let us in. We were surprised and already so grateful for her kindness in squeezing us in, but before we left she kept apologizing at the end and invited us to come back next time with a reservation so she could make up for the rush. There was nothing to apologize for--we were elated we could try it out! Onto the FOOD! We ordered their omakase nigiri set, along with a couple appetizers (spicy tuna crispy rice cake, A5 wagyu carpaccio), a crunchy roll, and a grilled black cod dish. To be honest, I wasn't the biggest fan of the omakase--but it hit about right for its price point, and was fresh though a tad heavy on the wasabi. The wagyu carpaccio was also solid but not particularly standout. However, the other items were absolutely delicious! We absolutely loved the crunchy roll, and the spicy tuna crispy rice cake was unique and delicious with a fantastic combination of contrasting textures! The black cod also started my husband on a black cod ordering streak where he started ordering black cod everywhere we went after this (to his constant disappointment) because the black cod here was so good We will definitely be back with a reservation so we can try more dishes with more time alotted! Highly recommend! read more

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I don't want to be that person but I feel inclined to write this due to the unprofessionalism. I tried to call to inquire about what they offer, if do any birthday specials, or if they have a table for 2/13 or 2/14. My partner's birthday is on Valentine's Day so I'm trying to be flexible and proactive as best as I can. And even if they aren't taking reservations for vday, I would've appreciated info for another day. So they didn't pick up the first time, but I received a call back shortly. As I was explaining and barely mentioned my partner's bday is on vday, the lady interjected and said "oh no sorry we don't do Valentine's Day" and hung up. I didn't even get to finish what I was inquiring about/ask if they take walk ins on the day of. It is unfortunate because I really wanted to give this place a chance but not sure anymore. Someone will have to convince me another time. I've worked full houses at a sushi restaurant before and I don't even do that no matter how busy. read more

Best fish around. Go here. We love the big fatty tuna. It's unreal and melts in your mouth. Everything has been delicious, I can confirm it doesn't matter what you order, you'll love it. Tight space so you have to CALL and RESERVE!! They always respond to voicemails to confirm reservation. read more

Sushi Maruyama - Our favorite--big fatty tuna. Melts in your mouth. And a5 wagyu truffle carpaccio - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

One of our favorite sushi restaurants in the area! We come every once in a while when we crave a really good omakase that doesn't break the bank (although the price has unfortunately crept up slowly over the last few years, but with the quality or what you get it's worth it!) Came for a small birthday dinner on a Wednesday night, we called a few days ahead to make a reservation. They were decently busy and had a reservation right after us but we had a full 90min. It's a small space with no outdoor seating, but the tables fit well and it doesn't feel loud. We ordered a few things to share. The shishito peppers were great, just the right amount of salt. The unagi omlette was also very soft and a good portion size to share. The omakase was delicious as always, with the young yellowtail, striped jack, and unagi nigiri being the standouts. The service is quick and nice and classic Japanese. They even give you a basket for your bags, just like in Japan! read more

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We came here today to celebrate my daughter's birthday -- she loves Japanese food, especially omakase, and this spot came highly recommended by my cousin. The restaurant is small, lively, and was packed when we arrived, but the atmosphere felt warm and welcoming. Every staff member we interacted with was extremely friendly, helpful, and genuinely sweet. As a bonus, we were able to snag one of the parking spots right in front -- which is definitely a plus, since parking can be a bit tricky in parts of San Mateo. We ordered four omakase sets (8-piece Nigiri Sushi & Egg Castella), and each bite was delicious: * Japanese Tai Snapper * Bluefin Tuna * Japanese Striped Jack * Hokkaido Scallop with melt-in-your-mouth uni -- the best piece, hands down! * Japanese Butterfish * Fatty Bluefin Tuna (Toro) * Kelp-Cured King Mackerel * Japanese Sea Eel * Egg Castella -- more like a dessert, light and fluffy Everything was beautifully seasoned, so you really don't need soy sauce or wasabi, though some pieces do shine even more with a quick dip. We also ordered the fresh oyster with ponzu and yuzu sauce -- absolutely amazing, so fresh and flavorful. The staff was so thoughtful and brought out a surprise Japanese cheesecake for my daughter, drizzled with a yellow sauce (not sure what it was, but it was so good!) and even sang her happy birthday. Such a sweet touch that really made the night special. The hot tea they offer is excellent, a rich green tea with a clear matcha taste, and of course they have water as well. Overall, the service was top notch, the food was outstanding, and the price is fantastic for omakase, especially in the Bay Area. We will definitely be back! Highly recommend. read more

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Sushi was very good! It's a small place so reservations are a must! Because of the size of the place, it's a bit rushed for dinner so if I wouldn't go here if you were planning to spend hours socializing. I would def come back here to eat or grab take out! read more

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Nice place to eat. The omakase was a very fair price and the restaurant was warm and lively. The wait staff is very friendly and attentive and the food came out quickly. I recommend the otoro uni hand roll- that was my fav! Def make a reservation to get seated faster. Would recommend read more

Sushi Maruyama - Omakaze and sake - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Would give this more than five stars if I could. Absolutely worth it. The omakase is so worth, I usually add a few more pieces. The service is immaculate -- everyone from the chefs to the servers is genuinely friendly and welcoming. If you're with someone who doesn't eat sushi, the hot food options are also phenomenal (miso eggplant is so good). And don't skip dessert, the white chocolate panna cotta is a must-try. Highly recommend making a reservation, they don't usually have walk ins available. read more

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Wow happened upon this place as a walk-in and didnt know u typically need a reservation. They dont use a booking app so reading reviews i think u need to call in - they said a week in advance was best. We got lucky as a reservation cancelled so as we were out the door going to the next restaurant the nice lady actually hollered at us that there was an availability so we hurried back! The interior is not big, simple, wooden Japanese style. There r 2 chefs and looks like most everyone ordered the omakase. I'm different so i ordered a la carte trying to add up to the cost of the omakase and i was pleased with my experience and the things i ordered. I was surprised how good it was. The fish was soo soft, well prepared, (marinated?) my nigiri pieces came pre sauced and u can opt in or out of the wasabi. I opted out and added my own. Wow the fish was phenomenal and maybe better than some $$$ omakase experiences i had. The tuna, salmon, a5 and uni piece were my fav. The sweet shrimp was so good too. Not only the fish but also the creamy tofu cold and the shishito peppers were very tasty. There were 2 very spicy peppers out of all of them so watch out. The creamy tofu was soo fluffy creamy yumm! Service was great , loved their refillable tea service and i felt like i was eating at a $$$ omakase place for $$ the price. Def want to come here again. read more

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Love their omakase and nigiri!! I've been here twice already and all their fish is so fresh and high quality. Service is attentive and I recommend to call ahead to make a reservation as they get pretty busy. My favorites include the king salmon, Toro, and scallop and uni nigiri. Highly recommend this spot :) read more

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The Omakase is always great there, my favorite from the 8 course was the anago. They always update the menu based on seasonal availability of the fish, so its very good. It's more of an eclectic style of sushi but still enjoyable if that is your style. We also had these fried greeneyed fishes that were stellar. They were incredibly well seasoned and perfectly crispy. The wagyu-tacos are also a must get everytime I go. I got a snow crab handroll that wasn't quite what I expected but the salmon truffle handroll is amazing. We got the green tea ice cream for dessert and they also gave us a yuzu cheesecake that was delicious. It somehow tasted like passionfruit and yuzu. I'd go back again for that cheesecake! read more

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Still one of the best sushi spots I've ever had! Never a disappointment. Ordered the omakase and every dish was such a delight, melts in your mouth, would order a second time type of sushi! I will say my favorite was the bluefin tuna. Literally melted in my mouth and was so simple and pure. If you do order appetizer, order the wagyu tacos! Love love love this!! Ordered it before and had to order it again! And got a second round! Crispy crunchy and just a lot of good flavors as you keep chewing. So good! My experience again was overall satisfying! The service was again impeccable and everyone is so nice and friendly! It is a small place and fills up quick. Reservations are a must! read more

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Phenomenal sushi! Came here for my birthday dinner, and was blown away by the quality of the fish. Presentation was top notch, staff was friendly, and most of all, food was delicious. Ordered the omakase and had the staff explain the types of fish and suggested order to eat. A true Japanese experience! read more

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I've walked by this place so many times, and they're always crowded! Went here for my birthday dinner, and it was so so so good! The sushi was top notch, and so fresh! The rolls were delicious - the crunchy roll and jalapeño one were my favourite! Previous reviews said they liked the wagyu beef tacos but I did not think it was worth the price. The green matcha tea with free refills was so good, and I'd highly recommend stopping by! read more

I was very excited to bring my boyfriend here for his birthday! The omakases were super fresh. We weren't super full, but the meal was still great. We were amazed at how quick the service was. We were pretty much in and out within 30 minutes. Definitely book a reservation ahead of time! read more

Sushi Maruyama - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I'm from Delaware, and we have sushi and sashimi bit the quite of the fish are not as good. The food were good. I tried the extra fatty tuna and that was great, melt in your mouth. Unfort6they don't have fatty salmon. I was only able to try mostly a piece of each of the sashimi because I would have ordered $200 worth of fish myself if I ordered enough for myself. Overall, I would recommend this place if you're not that hungry. read more

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I made reservations for dinner with a couple of friends since we wanted to try their $63 omakase. It came with 8 pieces, and everything was incredibly fresh! We weren't full from the omakase, so we decided to order a few hand rolls each on the side as well. The service was amazing, and the lady was so kind and sweet, she offered us a slice of cheesecake at the end, which was delicious too. The restaurant is quite small and very popular, so I'd recommend calling ahead for reservations. Next time, we want to sit at the chef's counter! read more

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Been looking forward to trying this place for awhile! Highly recommend making a reservation because I was turned away last time doing a walk-in at opening. The overall experience was a mixed bag. They took about 20 minutes to take our orders after we were seated. The staff was very apologetic, but this had already soured our experience. On the bright side, the nigiris here are great! Everything was amazingly fresh. I opted for the sweet shrimp add-on too. The appetizers was a miss for us. We didn't expect the fried oysters to be soaking in the vinegar - no crisp texture or hot oysters. The scallop tacos was also a miss. The tacos are small and the scallop... even smaller. I do see the charm of this restaurant though. The staff are Japanese and the menus are handwritten daily. Our experience seems like a little one-off. I hope everyone have a good experience here. read more

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This place is a bit small but gets packed. Highly recommend making a reservation! We had a reservation for 4 at 7:30pm on a Wednesday night but for some reason they didn't have space for us. We ended up waiting 5-10 min. Not a great first impression, but they more than made up for it with their excellent service, starting with a complementary plate of edamame. Throughout the whole dinner, they were really attentive and regularly refilled our tea. The fish dishes were the best. I tried the omakase sushi ($54), mini sashimi fish tacos ($16), and king salmon hand roll ($13). We also had some questions about the items, and the waiter was able to answer them. I would not get the chicken karaage ($14) again. It was juicy but also rubbery. Just stick with the sushi when you go here. read more

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Great sushi spot with many different fish options and friendly service. From what I can tell, fresh fish, authentic flavors, and different options (omakase, cold and hot plates, rolls, hand rolls, and such) This place is almost always packed and reservations are needed so make sure to call ahead! read more

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Best quality and tastiest cuts in the peninsula, hands down. Omakase is on point. So is their nigiri and hand rolls. Toro handroll with Hokkaido uni, baked crab hand roll, king salmon hand roll with truffle are all exceptional. Love the negi toro roll and hot plates as well! Staff is super friendly and have made really good sake recommendations. Both the table and the bar experience are great options. Place is very cozy, make sure to make a reservation as it books out days in advance. read more

Always a hit - they have such fresh fish and great omakase selection that it's a must order. They have a fantastic miso eggplant and the crispy rice with tuna are also musts for me. The place is small and lively but feels very cozy and not too loud. The staff are incredibly friendly and they are so responsive for reservations and accommodations! Highly recommend - the prices are decent for sushi at this quality in the area. read more

Came here for my birthday after my partner made a reservation for us. We were part of the first seating and within the first 10-20 mins, it was a full house! So be prepared and reserve a spot if you wanna stop by (at least on a weekend). It was a little intimidating for me because I only recently began eating raw fish. However, Sushi Maruyama was soooo delicious!! We ordered the Omakase set, 2 A5 Wagyu Nigiri, 1 Ora King Salmon w/ Truffle Hand Rolls (not pictured), 2 buri nigiri and Agedashi Tofu. For all the nigiri and hand rolls, the rice was very nicely seasoned and had a good amount of wasabi. The fish and seafood were all so tender. I loved the different ways the fish was prepared and seasoned. The Wagyu nigiri was so buttery and soft. And the agedashi tofu was a nice warm dish to add to our table. The omakase set was for sure the star of the show. It displayed an amazing variety of flavors and all for $54. It's a great deal! The service was great! The servers all paid great attention to everyone. I can't wait to go back! read more

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I've been wanting to try Sushi Maruyama forever, and it did not disappoint. The A5 wagyu carpaccio was easily the star of the night...melty, rich, and perfectly balanced with a pop of yuzu and a delicious added crunch. I could've ordered a second if I hadn't already over ordered. From there, we dipped a little with the scallop carpaccio. The "sizzling oil" ended up just feeling greasy, and it lacked flavor overall. But the hand rolls and nigiri turned things right around. Standouts were the chu toro, kelp-cured king mackerel, and wild young yellowtail. All incredibly fresh and packed with flavor. Gobo fries were fine, but I preferred the truffle edamame to start. And who needs dessert when you finish with grilled Japanese eggplant with house-made sweet miso? It was beautifully done! Perfect texture and umami-rich flavor. The service was quick & friendly. Important to note that the table limit is 1 hour. Maybe because they are a tiny spot. Though it's small, I didn't feel cramped. Can't wait to go back. read more

Sushi Maruyama - Scallop carpaccio...bland & greasy - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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My boyfriend made reservations for dinner for my birthday and this was my first time here. The ladies there were so friendly. We were seated pretty quickly. It's a cute but small place. The menu looked amazing. Many choices of fresh fish. I had the omakase and my boyfriend had shrimp tempura, the black cod, chicken Karaage. We also ordered a few rolls. Everything was so good. I don't really like uni. But they had the Hokkaido uni. It's pricey, BUT SOOOO GOOD!!! I had 2 pieces. This was the best Japanese food I ever had. The best birthday dinner ever! read more

Sushi Maruyama - Omakase - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

This is without a doubt the BEST sushi experience I've had and it's not close. I've had omakase quality sushi a few times in Japan and this was just right there in that level. For just $54 that was AMAZING! Most omakase experiences start at $220+ per person. We had the $54 omakase Ordered 2 pieces of A5 Wagyu nigiri Additional 2 pieces of the wild yellow tail And the agedashi tofu with mushrooms It may not completely fill you up but you can always order more pieces afterwards. My favorite piece at the time was surprisingly the Jumbo Wild Yellowtail I loved it more than the fatty tuna (Otoro), which is normally my favorite piece of fish. Impeccable service there was always someone around to clean up our empty plates and refill our hot tea. All servers super friendly too and very quick. I can't wait to come back here with my gf and try out more of the menu! read more

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What a wonderful experience! The restaurant is extremely small & has only 7 or 8 tables total and 7 seats at the sushi bar. When I called to make a reservation, the lady was friendly and mentioned they are booked weeks in advance. Thankfully I was able to get a same day reservation with a last minute cancellation! Whooo! We arrived at 6pm with the initial dinner rush & sat at the sushi bar. We ordered the omakase & although service was a bit slow, it was still a wonderful experience watching the sushi chefs create beautifully curated dishes. Everything was tasty, fresh and delicious. Definitely a treat and prefect date night spot, nonetheless a great experience! read more

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A gem in San Mateo! Came here for my birthday with my girlfriends and we each got the omakase! We ate each piece at the same time together and all agreed their toro was melt-in-your-mouth amazing. I personally really liked their scallops as well. Highly recommend their omakase! They do take reservations and the place is relatively small with a few tables and counter seats. Parking wasn't too bad and there's plenty of meters around the area. read more

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1st. Call for a reservation because they get packed!! They had to turn walk-in's away! The staff is so so so nice and their spirit is so uplifting. We got sat at our reservation time. And ordered a bunch of stuff to try. Our favorite was the A5 waygu carpaccio with truffle!!! So so so good. Truffle was not overpowering. All the nigiri's were soooo fresh! Loved every single one. The waygu tacos were ok... it's not worth it in my opinion. The crunch roll was so good too! The miso cod was good!!! Perfectly cooked. I had the uni tasting and it was delicious. You can tell everything was fresh. Can't wait to come back. It's a small restaurant and a bit noisy read more

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Small place but was pretty busy! I have had my eye on this place for a while and was finally able to come and try it while visiting home. We made a reservation for 7pm on 12/27 and we were quickly seated when we got there. The service was amazing and the waitresses were very attentive and also didn't mind at all explaining anything. We ordered a ton of things so I will list some of my favorites! Omakase - This was just amazing, I loved every piece of fish and it all tasted so fresh. We got an explanation on what each piece was and for the price it was worth! Fried scallop - I had fried scallops before but not in this style. It was half raw on the inside but it was so goood. It came out piping hot and was super crunchy! Blue Crab Rice Cake - I thought these were just basic rice bites at first but after eating one the flavors were exploding in my mouth. The blue crab was packed with flavor and the rice cake at the bottom added a nice crunch Organic Green Salad with Salmon Skin & Jalapeno Dressing - This was actually something that we were all surprised by how good it was! The dressing was so good and the salmon skin had a nice crunch and flavor. We were pretty close to ordering another one haha If it's your birthday they also provide a free japanese cheesecake which was so soft and creamy! Overall everything was just amazing here and I will definitely be back :) read more

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What a great sushi experience!! I'm so happy I waited to finally try sushi maruyama. I always saw a line each night (while I lived across the street) and finally understand why. Menu seems to be curated per day, specifically the omakase which is 8 pieces (not much rice either!) for $54. ALL the sushi were so good. I especially liked the yellowtail and fatty tuna but each piece was delicious. We also added an order of the fatty bluefin tuna sushi (5/5), miso cod (4.5/5), oysters (3.5/5), blue fin tuna carpaccio (4.5/5), and wagyu tacos (5/5, we accidentally got an extra one, usually comes with 3 tacos). Since it was our anniversary I wanted to order the panna cotta dessert. It was my first time trying panna cotta at all and omg was it sooo good! If you like eating a little dessert here and there this is the one to try. Not overly sweet, and perfectly balanced with the creamy base and tart strawberry top. They were really nice and gave us the matcha ice cream for our anni~ and that was delicious as well. Didn't taste too matcha but I enjoyed it. I wouldn't get it if you want the bitter matcha taste. We didn't feel rushed at all throughout our dinner but I knew the staff were so busy. We added dessert towards the last 10 minutes and they let us enjoy it without ushering us out...but I'm sure they had reservations waiting for their tables. I appreciate the hard work the staff put out during our dinner time. They were so nice and incredible! read more

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Love love love. My new favorite sushi spot in the Bay Area. For an incredibly fair price you get a variety of delicious, fresh fish prepared wonderfully. Everything was balanced, yet rich. The service was lovely, and it was fun chatting with the chef throughout the omakase service. Not a posh quiet restaurant for a fancy dinner, but a great one to eat some fantastic sushi. Already planning my next trip back! read more

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This place was absolutely amazing! Every single dish was super flavorful, and everything was made delicately! The staff were very friendly, and the food came super fast, the environment was also very vibrant, although it is a smaller shop, you can tell that they definitely put a lot of thought into the sushi and the quality of the fish is very high-quality! read more

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AMAZING. cannot recommend this place enough. you can tell it's extremely authentic because everyone speaks Japanese. you need to call for a reservation & the lady will slot you in for a 90min slot. service was great, everyone was so nice. we sat at the bar, got omakase & the uni ikura box. they found out it was my birthday & they even brought us a free cheesecake! the 8pc omakase is 54$ and comes with a castella egg thing at the end. the fish was so so fresh and buttery and delicious. i wasn't super full at the end but it was enough. the fish was so good though i could eat 2 omakases lol. my new, go-to place for sushi!!!!! read more

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