We arrived during peak summer dinner hours but somehow scored prime parking and were seated in a comfortable booth shortly after adding our name to the list. The restaurant looks great inside. It's lively, everyone seems to be having a good time, and the energy immediately sets the tone for the meal. The menu is impressively extensive, and the service is remarkably efficient. Like Leichi and Gochi, Tanto rewards adventurous ordering with its focus on traditional izakaya fare. Step away from the usual sushi and have some fun with the menu. We ordered the ankimo, mentaiko pasta, kaki fry, buta kakuni, ika meshi, and Shingen ice cream. It was plenty for two and could work for three lighter eaters. Everything was tasty, and choosing a favorite was difficult. Gun to my head, I'm ordering the mentaiko pasta every time. It strikes the perfect balance between creamy and briny, which is surprisingly hard to get right. Overall, Tanto is a great choice for adventurous eaters who enjoy trying a little bit of everything. I'm already looking forward to exploring the rest of the menu. read more

See all

We have been coming to this restaurant for almost 10 years because the food has always been amazing. We have brought our family back again and again because this used to be a place we truly enjoyed. We came here for a birthday celebration. We ordered an ice cream dessert and also brought our own birthday cake. I asked one of the staff for a few more spoons. His response was immediately rude and impatient: "I already gave you guys 10 spoons." I calmly explained that the kids had used the spoons for their ice cream and that we needed additional spoons for the birthday cake. Instead of simply bringing a few spoons--which is literally basic customer service--he suddenly raised his voice at me and rudely said, "Reuse it then!" Then he turned his back and walked away. Excuse me?! What kind of service is this supposed to be? We were paying customers celebrating a special occasion, not asking for something unreasonable. Asking for a few extra spoons should not result in being yelled at and treated like we were a problem. His attitude was unbelievably rude, disrespectful, and completely unacceptable. If you hate serving customers so much, then you should not be standing there acting like a boss behind the cashier and taking your frustration out on paying customers. The most ridiculous part is that we still left over $100 in tips because the food is still good. But good food is not enough to make up for disgusting customer service and being treated with such disrespect. After supporting this restaurant for nearly 10 years, this is how we were treated. read more

Went here for my dad's birthday and was able to call and make a reservation for 6 people for 7pm on a weekday without issue about 2 days in advance. The service was great. The menu is pretty expansive so it can be hard to decide what to get but the server was able to offer suggestions and was knowledgeable about all their options. We got: - mentai pasta: one of their more popular dishes, we really liked it, very creamy and flavorful and I'm a sucker for thicker noodles - yaki onigiri: crispy and flavorful. Could do with a little more filling but still very tasty - agadashi tofu: one of my lesser favorite items, just wasn't as crispy as I like but the flavor was good - salmon sashimi: melt in your mouth so good - hamachi: also very tasty - sashimi salad: loaded up with fresh fish, felt worth it - deep fried chicken cartilage? Good if you like this - unagi bowl: lots of unagi, pricey but good size Overall had a great experience. Yes its a little pricey but we felt it was worth it read more

See all

Under 5 minute wait for my party of 5 on a Monday evening. Very cozy homey ambiance. Service was very friendly and food came fast. We shared the nori shio fries, salmon sashimi, umaki tamago, tori karaage, mentaiko pasta, yaki onigiri (salmon), and ishiyaki salmon. Everything was delicious, but I especially loved the mentaiko pasta and the yaki onigiri (salmon). Mentaiko pasta was creamy and flavorful, yaki onigiri was very crispy and buttery. Nori shio fries were standard fries and nothing too special about seasoning, salmon sashimi was fresh and delicious, umaki tamago was unique and yummy, tori karaage was solid. Ishiyaki salmon stone pot was also great, they give you a tea kettle to add tea to the stone pot at the end for a soupy rice. It was delicious before and after the tea and overall a very hearty cozy dish, while also not being too heavy. Would come again if I want the izakaya vibes. read more

See all

It was my birthday so I wanted to go somewhere different for dinner with my best friend. I hadn't been to Tanto in YEARS, so I suggested we go here! I lined up a few minutes before opening and there was already a line of a couple people on a Tuesday evening. I'd also made a reservation, but since I got there early it wasn't necessary. The food here is good! We ordered sashimi, beef tongue, fried squid, and braised pork. The only issue we had was that the pork was a bit dry. The fish and everything else was delicious though! Overall, I'd be happy to come back again. read more

See all

Stopped by for a quick lunch on a weekday knowing they have a pretty generous lunch special menu. Ordered the hamachi kama and tempura lunch sets (about $54 before tax and tip). Loved how each lunch set comes with Japanese potato salad and seaweed salad, raw fish mix, soup, and rice. Both the tempura (shrimp, fish, pumpkin, carrot, broccoli) and the hamachi kama was satisfying and tasty. Quality was great and portion sizes were more than enough. Will definitely be back! read more

Tanto Japanese Restaurant - Tempura lunch set - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

See all

I actually forgot that I've been here before. Last review was in 2011! It's a cozy Izakaya with limited seating and high noise level. Foods were excellent, sake very reasonable. Grill smelts were decadent, beef tongue was a bit chewy. Meshi was excellent. I really liked their sashimi salad. Not quite poke, lots of fresh crispy veggies, and flavored fish. read more

See all

The food is delicious and truly doesn't get the hype it deserves! Every dish was cooked and prepared to perfection. I liked that every dish had its own unique taste and character rather than blending together. The restaurant itself is a bit small with not that many tables. The server was friendly, attentive, and polite. Highly recommend. read more

See all

Yay I live 5 mins from here! So many good choices, portion is also not super tiny like most izakaya places. Food comes out fast and yummy. read more

Tanto Japanese Restaurant - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

See all

Amazing Japanese food and quick service! I recommend calling ahead to reserve a spot for dinner. We ordered the Seaweed salad, tako wasabi appetizer, mentaiko pasta, grilled octopus, grilled yellowtail collar (hamachi kama), and a beef tendon stew (gyu suji nikomi). Every single thing we ordered was so worth it. The grilled seafood and beef tendon stew were AMAZING!!! I wish I could have them every day. Staff was so nice and patient with our party! It can get noisy due to the space. read more

See all

Amazing food and staff with a great vibe wait was a little long, but it moved really quick Little price but the taste and freshness made it way worth it Highly recommend read more

See all

We ate here on a Wednesday night for dinner. When I placed my name down, I think there were about 4 small parties in front of us. We didn't wait too long - maybe a 15-20 minute wait. My favorites were the gyutan, mentai pasta, and ishiyaki salmon. We ordered 5 items, and a different person dropped off the food every time. Some workers were nice when dropping off the food, otherwise it was a quick drop off and they rushed off without saying anything. No one refilled our waters or checked up on us the whole time. We had to wave our arms to get water refills, takeout boxes, and also ask for the check. I get it was busy, so it may have been a one off and I'll give them another chance. We also had an awkward booth table where we were against the wall on one side, and the other side had a pole blocking part of us, so maybe it was harder to see our table and that maybeeee could explain the lack of service. read more

An izakaya that I will definitely return to. No reservations, so we arrived 5-10mins before the restaurant opened, where there was already a solid line forming. Luckily, we made it to the first round of seating, so there was no wait. Food overall was really solid, my favorite was definitely the Toro Taku. It's rare in the bay that I genuinely enjoyed every dish. Food I would reorder: - Toro Taku: DIY handrolls with tuna and yellow radish. Comes with a huge side of fries (not as good, but great as a snack togo) - Amaeba Sashimi: loved the presentation, and shrimp was super sweet and fresh. Comes with fried heads as well, just wish there were more pieces. - Renkon Kinpara: lotus root appetizer, first taste was unassuming but somehow became so addicting to eat - Negitoro: huge tuna/scallion rolls. Some of the rolls had too much rice to fish ratio, but maybe something we can mention to staff next time. Taste otherwise was 10/10. - hot sake Food that was still really nice to eat, but would skip next time: - Uni + Unagi Meshi (seasonal): Uni was slightly bitter, too much rice - Mentai Pasta: really creamy and large portions - Gyu Tan: solid, but wish it was slightly thicker cut/more fatty - Yuzu highball: very refreshing, but tasted a bit watered down Paired with hot sake, this was probably one of my favorite meals in the bay in a while. Will definitely be back to try the other dishes on the extensive menu! read more

See all

Easy 5/5. Amazing food, fast service, friendly staff, and delicious food and drinks at good prices for the Bay Area. Would come back here as often as I can! It gets busy, so if you want guaranteed seating (especially on the weekends), make sure you come 10-15 minutes before opening. FOOD: Renkon Kinpara (9/10) - Super simple lotus root dish that was extremely addictive. Great flavor, amazing side dish, crunchy texture. Must get! Toro Taku (9/10) - Make your own handrolls with tuna + radish. Comes with fries (not as good) but the fish was a standout dish! Amaeba Sashimi (9/10) - Super fresh. Comes with 4 pieces and 4 fried heads. Really good! Mentai Pasta (9/10) - Again, really really good. Very creamy with good saltiness from the mentaiko. Must get! Gyu Tan (7/10) - Simple grilled beef tongue. Solid! Negitoro (6/10) - Fish is extremely fresh, but one of the rolls was almost 80% rice. Maybe unlucky here! Uni + Unagi Meshi (6/10) - Uni was a little bit bitter, but the unagi was really good. Wish there was a bit more seasoning in the rice and rice doesn't get too crispy read more

See all

Chicken karaage was juicy and crispy. Sashimi was fresh. Eel hand rolls were tasty. Yaki onigiri (grilled rice ball) which I forgot to take a photo was crispy and great This is a busy restaurant. Reservation in advance is recommended. The staff were friendly and helpful. Service was quick. The noise level was a bit high but still fine if sitting in cubicles. read more

Tanto Japanese Restaurant - Sashimi - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

See all

Just an average japanese restaurant. Tiny dining area and kind of dark inside the restaurant. We had: Yaki Onigiri - not a big fan of roe and thick rice roll. Sashimi Salad - quite refreshing. Umaki tamago - rolled omelet with eel. my favorite so far. Asari ramen - clam ramen. The noodle was not springy. Lot of noodle and less soup. sashimi - very thin slices. agedashi tofu and tempura - just okay Shingen ice cream - come with mochi which was so hard to chew. Service was okay. read more

See all

The tako wasabi was heavier on the wasabi and had a noticeable kick. The Mensho pasta sauce was a bit bland for my taste. The chawanmushi (steamed egg) came with cheese, which was a little different from what I had in other Japanese restaurants. The standout dish was definitely the unagi chazuke--super flavorful and really comforting on a cold night. Service was lacking. I had to go up to the counter several times just to get iced water, the check, and to-go boxes. read more

See all

This place is small and crowded. Came during the week and had to wait almost an hour. The waiting area is very tight. They are known for their Japanese fusion tapas. We ordered: - Sashimi 3 kinds (White Tuna, Yellow Tail and Salmon): Good and fresh - Steamed Calms with butter: Served very hot and delicious. The broth is light and slightly too salty for my taste. Still very delicious. - Deep fried Oyster: Excellent and very flavorful. The sauce came with it is delicious - Chicken Karaage: Ok, nothing special. I've had better ones. - Yaki Onigiri: Excellent and very tasty. Must get this. - Broiled Black Cod: Delicious. - Simmered Beef Tendons: Tendons and meat are soft and melt in your mouth. The sauce is on the salty side. Better to eat with rice. - Grilled Beef Tongue: Ok, not bad. - Egg Omelette with crab: Too much sauce and it's overpowering the egg and crab flavor. Better to eat with rice. - Crab and Potato Gratin: very cheesy with mash potatoes. Don't taste that much crab flavor although I could see them in the dish. - Burdock Root Salad: ok with a hint of spicy in it. This place is usually crowded, expect to wait a bit. Food came out very fast after ordering. Service is ok. read more

See all

A popular and busy Japanese izakaya serving small tapas and dishes. The wait on a Monday night was quite busy, with a 40 minute wait for a table of 4. There is a paper waitlist so no joining online. We enjoyed most of our dishes, with the highlights being salmon sashimi (fresh cuts), beef tongue, mentaiko pasta, agedashi tofu, chicken karaage, and yaki onigiri. I would skip the potato salad and kani-potato gratin which were under-seasoned, and the gratin cream sauce was quite gummy.. The seating is comfortable and the service is friendly and kind. read more

Tanto Japanese Restaurant - Salmon sashimi and Gyu Tan - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

See all

I went to try the new lunch menu at Tanto Izakaya in Sunnyvale that started last week. I'm a huge fan of Tanto and their authentic Japanese menu, so when I saw they had new lunch set meals, I just had to go right away. I tried the Bara chirashi set meal for $33 and while it seems pricy, it is worth the price due to the huge portions and I left feeling very full. Times have changed, this is the economy we are in for prices. Portion wise, I think it's even enough to share. Come hungry! The presentation is like a chirashi bowl I had in Hokkaido earlier this year. If you love Japanese food, I highly recommend a try. Service is quite fast. I was the first customer at opening. They have been around 25 years, so the vibe is always good. read more

See all

This place is amazing for izakaya, by this is the first time I've come here for Iunch. Lunch was amazing ... I got the kakuni for an appetizer, and it was a lot of food, and very delicious. There was a special donburi with ikura, uni and unagi which was also great. Device was fast, friendly and efficient. Atmosphere was a little dark and dated, but the food really more than made up for it. read more

Tanto Japanese Restaurant - Uni, ikura, unagi don - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

See all

I came here with a friend on a weekday evening after the gym. She recommended it and had been here before. We got an array of dishes to try and share. My favorites were the gindara- miso cod, sashimi, and mentai pasta. We also tried a spicy cold potato salad dish and some grilled rice balls with salmon. They were fun to try, but I wouldn't order them again. The grilled rice triangles had a nice texture on the outside, but would have appreciated more flavor on the inside was mostly plain rice with very little salmon. The spicy cold potato salad was nice with a beer, but not the most delicious dish. When we were there there was a very large party of about 12 that was very, very loud. The space inside is small, and the noise carries, so it made it a bit difficult to talk. Overall enjoyed my visit and I will be back! read more

See all

5 stars for the yaki onigiri!! My absolute favorite dish from Tanto! It's such a simple dish, but they do it so so so well. Tanto is a local gem that always has a line out the door, so expect to wait a considerable amount of time unless you arrive before they open. Our party of 5 waited about an hour or so to get seated, and I love that they have tatami seating. We ordered (obviously) the yaki onigiri, dashimaki tamago, grilled saba, chicken karaage, mentaiko pasta, and the ika meshi. Everything tasted so homey and comforting - almost as if I had been transported to a house in the countryside of Japan. The service was extremely attentive and friendly, and I'll definitely be back! read more

See all

Tanto was just OK. I had heard a lot about their beef tongue since it's one of their popular dishes, and while it wasn't bad, it didn't really blow me away either. We also tried the Yaki Onigiri and the Sashimi Salad, and both were pretty average. It feels like this place used to be better--I remember hearing rave reviews before. The fact that it was easy to get a reservation on a weekend kind of says a lot. Service was fine, but overall, it just didn't have that "wow" factor I was hoping for. read more

See all

Presentation, portion, and quality of food was awesome. Ordered the chirashi bowl and it was excellent. Friendly staff and great seating areas. Highly recommend a visit. read more

Tanto Japanese Restaurant - Chirashi - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

I love this place! All the dishes are delicious and tasty. My favorite ones are the sushi, grilled fish and the appetizers. It's always packed with people so make sure call and make a reservation ahead! read more

Foods are always good here. We love Yaki Onigiri with salmon and the fresh Sashimi 6 kinds -- so good. The Buta Shabu Salad was good as well -- kind of different to have cooked meat with salad. We definitely come back for more. The service was good and attentive. read more

See all

We went to Tanto on a Friday night, and this cozy little izakaya was packed! The low ceilings, tightly arranged tables, and lively conversations instantly transported me back to Japan. It's loud, bustling, and full of energy -- exactly what you'd expect from a traditional izakaya. We ordered a bunch of small plates, and the portions were actually generous enough to share. Here's the rundown: Favorites: * Fried oysters -- crispy and juicy * Crab creamy gratin -- rich and comforting * Daikon salad -- refreshing with a nice crunch * Yaki onigiri (grilled rice ball) -- simple but satisfying Also good: * Miso cod * Grilled smelt * Chicken karaage * Satoimo kimchi * Ebimayo Skip next time: * Mentaiko egg omelet -- a bit too mushy and underwhelming The biggest difference compared to izakayas in Japan? Last call is at 8:30 PM -- way too early! Most izakayas in Japan stay open until midnight or later, so this felt a bit rushed. That said, overall it was a solid experience, and the bill was lower than I expected for the amount and quality of food. I'll definitely be back -- just a bit earlier next time! read more

See all

Tanto is a cozy izakaya with an extensive menu of Japanese dishes less common in the Bay Area - perfect for groups who want to share and explore. Beyond the food, our waiter provided excellent service, carefully verifying which dishes could accommodate a fish and crustacean allergy despite the menu's complexity. This was the gentlest introduction to organ meat I've experienced. Served with lemon, spring onions, shiso leaf, ponzu, and grated daikon, it's clear the intention was to offset any metallic or earthy notes from the liver, even though it was actually quite delicate. While nicely balanced for newcomers, those seeking a more assertive liver flavor might find it too mild. Ankimo was closely followed by hotaruika, marinated firefly squid. This time there was no doubt about the flavors and briny taste of the squid came through even the strong dashi marinade. The squid was soft in the spoon but had a satisfying bounce when biting through the skin, with the tentacles, body, and head of the squid having their own unique crunch. It's a little too briny on its own for me but worked well with the mild, sweet kyabetsu cabbage salad. The buta kakuni braised pork belly (ordered as a rice bowl) was a comforting dish with seasoning on the milder side. It reminded me of a wholesome weeknight meal. The tori karaage fried chicken came out hot and crispy and the larger pieces of chicken kept the flesh juicy. This one is best enjoyed right away as unfortunately the skin became less crispy towards the end of the night, and became a little too oily. The renkon kinpira, with its unassuming description "thin sliced lotus root" was one of the highlights of the evening for me. Much more than that, it consists of two slices of lotus root with a mayo crab filling, all deep-fried. In contrast to the tori karaage the batter was lighter and less oily. I did think that if the lotus root was sliced to half as thin, ie ~3mm instead of ~6mm, that would balance out the flavors a little more. I would order the renkon kinpira again. With all the fried and salty dishes we had on the table the kyabetsu cabbage salad with mayo miso dressing on the side was a refreshing palate cleanser. I did think more sliced tomatoes and less cabbage would have made the dish a little more refreshing and varied. I also thought the cabbage leaves could have been cleanly separated instead of remaining in wedges. Next to arrive was the preserved plum yaki onigiri fried rice cake, with ikura salmon roe and green onions on the side. I found the crust to be really crispy but it had a little too much salt, with the plum and the ikura already providing lots of flavor. The garlic beef was the saltiest dish of all. This needed to be paired with a rice dish like the chazuke or the buta kakuni. We all agreed the kamo tataki seared rare duck was the best dish of the night. All five basic tastes were represented along with multiple textures. There was slight smoky char leaving a touch of bitterness, soft and tender duck with the perfect amount of chew and give, crunchy sweet red onion, and lightly acidic dressing. All the flavors - sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami - were in balance, there were both crunchy and soft textures, and the plating was attractive. Definitely order this one. The unagi chazuke was a no-frills dish. Rice, light dashi broth, and eel - it tasted like a light home-cooked meal with simple and clean flavors. Unagi is usually served with a thick, sweet soy sauce glaze but this one had only a thin layer of it, which works well to not overpower the broth. Last up was the shingen vanilla ice cream with rice cakes and kinako soy bean powder. The serving size was generous! However I think the presentation has room for improvement. I think a layer of whipped cream at the bottom would have elevated the dessert literally and figuratively. It would also have helped insulate the ice cream a little so that it doesn't melt as quickly especially since a large portion like this may take longer to finish. Next I would add the brown sugar syrup on the whipped cream instead of the ice cream, again to prevent premature melting. The ice cream should get scooped on top of the syrup next. Kinako can then be dusted on top next through a sieve so that there aren't any clumps. Finally I would arrange the rice cakes in a row along the side so that attention is drawn to them. Tanto stands out for it's wide variety of unique dishes but some of the ones we ordered were on the salty side. It's a fun place for a group and I recommend the renkon kinpara deep-fried lotus root and kamo tataki seared rare duck in particular. read more

Tanto Japanese Restaurant - Ankimo Monkfish liver - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

See all

Tanto has been a super popular place in the area and we finally get a chance to stop by. On a week day 6pm open time, the place is already packed and need wait-list. Highly recommend a reservation ahead of time . We ordered hot sake, beer, hamachi Kama, chicken KaraAge, squid rice, mintaiki pasta. The taste of food are awesome and the sashimi fishes are fresh too. Ambience wise, it is average as the place is not big. But hey the food is awesome! read more

See all

Food was okay but service was rushed and borderline rude. Server (girl with arm tats) seemed annoyed that we came in at 8:00pm. Kept pushing to take the order and got a frowny face on her. Guy servers were nice though. 8pm is n't even late for dinner. If you don't want to work late hours then maybe restaurant job isn't for you. Actually service industry isn't for you. read more

Tanto is a well known and popular Japanese restaurant in the South Bay. It's only open for dinner & weekends can get pretty hard to get in, if you don't have a reservation. Unless you don't mind waiting. The menu is very authentic not just sushi, but good variety of small Japanese dishes you can share and sample. It's the kind of place that's perfect for hanging out with friends after work. You don't see many kids here, and it's usually lively and bustling. The servers are decent, and the food is fresh and flavorful. Parking can be a bit of a hassle, especially on weekends. The interior could use some updating, and the ventilation isn't great you can sometimes see light smoke hanging in the air and catch strong food smells. Overall, Tanto is loved by many, especially among the tech crowd. It's easy to see why authentic flavors, great atmosphere, and a fun dining experience. read more

First time visiting TANTO Japanese Restaurant on a Saturday evening, and there was already a line forming 15 minutes before the 5:30pm opening. We ordered the Sashimi 3 Kind, Bara Chirashi, Negitoro Maki, and Kaki Fry. The sashimi, tuna roll, and bara chirashi were a little above average in both freshness and taste, but the portions were definitely generous with thick cuts of fish. The standout dish for me was the fried oyster -- crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and easily the best item we ordered that night. Overall it's a nice restaurant if you're craving hearty portions of Japanese comfort food. read more

See all

Ordered online and picked up their sake (salmon) Yoshi sushi. Parking was easy and pickup too. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I saw online that oshi sushi is typically a pressed mold sushi with layers of sushi rice and salmon. Often comes with toppings like sauces, jalapeños, or peppers. If it's mentioned that it's aburi-style, then the salmon would be flame-seared. I was a little disappointed - it came with pressed rice and salmon on top, with some kind of herb/lettuce in between the rice and salmon. I would not recommend it though and would try something else if I were to return. read more

My go-to spot for Japanese food in the South Bay Area. I especially love their lunch specials and usually get the sashimi set with their thick cuts of fish. The eel rice is pretty good too and comes with ochazuke read more

had a great experience at this izakaya spot - food felt authentic and delicious & service was good too read more

Tanto Japanese Restaurant - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

See all

WOW this place was beyond amazing! Came here for my birthday on a Tuesday night at 6pm and got seated right away without a reservation. Seats definitely filled shortly after thought so I would recommend coming right at opening to avoid a wait. Yaki onigiri- 5/5 so crispy and nicely flavored! Super satisfying appetizer, would definitely order again! Agedashi tofu- 3.5/5 exactly what you would expect. Nothing crazy special though so probably would pass the next time, but definitely still a solid dish. I just felt there might've been other dishes that would be more exciting to try :)) Daikon salad- 4.5/5 super light and refreshing and I was blown away by the portion size! Definitely a good amount of food and very well flavored Butashabu salad- 5/5 SO impressed by this one! They were super generous with the amount of pork and portion size in general! I thought it was super worth. Sauce was very well balanced and light! Possibly one of my favorite restaurant salads I've had!! Grilled squid - 4.5/5 I usually don't really care for squid but the texture of this was really on point. Not super rubbery Grilled beef tongue - 4/5 also super yummy grilled dish! Not too tough and a good bite! I personally do not think this is a must order but happy with it either way! Clam ramen - 4.5/5 broth was super flavorful and light at the same time. Very well balanced! Noodles were nice and bouncy too :)) one of the favorite of the night! Unagi hitumabushi - 4/5 very yummy and satisfying dish. Unagi was melt in your mouth and the pairing of the tea with the rice and fish and wasabi was great! Personally feel like I don't need to order it again especially bc it is a bit pricey but it was very yummy regardless especially if you enjoy unagi ! Overall super great restaurant with good service. I was impressed by the quality of each of the dishes and felt it was well worth the price. I would say it is pretty affordable given the quality! Can't wait to come back again!! New favorite local Japanese restaurant :)) read more

See all

A lovely old school Japanese spotI I enjoyed everything we got, sushi, tamagoyaki, pasta... the only thing keep in mind is that they don't take reservations. I planned ahead a bit and my wait was not that bad. read more

Dear Owner and Manager, I am a regular customer who visited your establishment about a year ago. Today, I had a meeting planned with a friend at my favorite Tanto restaurant in Sunnyvale. However, the experience was unusual, which made me decide not to return and give you another chance to invite and respect customers. To ensure table availability, I made a reservation and informed the lady on the phone that I was a regular customer and requested a quieter or corner table. I arrived on time, but my friend was 20 minutes late. When I arrived, I mentioned my reservation, and they showed me to my table immediately since the restaurant wasn't full at the time. There were empty tables, and while waiting for my friend, I mentioned I could wait at the waiting area. I was holding a paper box that looked like a take-out box, and the staff member loudly mentioned that outside food wasn't allowed. After explaining that it contained small fragrance flowers, he seemed skeptical, but I opened the box to confirm. At that time, my friend informed me she would be 20 minutes late, which meant she would arrive at 12:50. The staff member then stated that we would have to leave since the restaurant would be closing soon, reacting as if he didn't want us to occupy the table. When my friend arrived at 12:50, if we had made the reservation for 12:30, it would have meant we had only 30 minutes. I apologize, but I had to leave immediately and won't give your restaurant another chance due to the unwelcoming experience and lack of respect. Unfortunately, I didn't ask for the staff member's name, but I believe the ownership and management should be aware of the incident. Good luck with your business; it seems you've lost a loyal customer who genuinely enjoyed your food. read more

Tanto is one of the best izakaya spots in the Bay! The vibe is cozy and intimate--great for a date night or a relaxed dinner with friends over sake. Here's what I ordered: Ika Meshi (Stuffed Squid) - rich and creamy, such a unique surprise! Kani Tamago (Crab Omelette) - fluffy, light, and full of crab flavor Mentaiko Pasta - creamy, savory, and perfectly umami Meat Potato Croquettes - crispy outside, warm and comforting inside Sashimi Salad - super fresh and balanced out the meal nicely Service was friendly and attentive, and the food came out at a nice pace for sharing. If you want authentic izakaya-style dishes in the Bay, Tanto is a must-try! read more

See all