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    Tanto Japanese Restaurant

    3.9 (1.7k reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Tanto Japanese Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    TANTO JAPANESE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Tanto Japanese Restaurant

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    Sashimi (Yellowtail, Salmon, Tuna)
    Priscilla C.

    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.

    Tempura lunch set
    Claire H.

    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!

    Debbie D.

    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.

    Beef tongue
    Sin-Yaw W.

    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.

    Uni, ikura, unagi don

    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.

    Chirashi
    Uland L.

    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.

    yuzu highball
    April Y.

    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!

    Justin M.

    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

    Janet H.

    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.

    Asari ramen - clam ramen
    Joyce T.

    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.

    Steamed Clams with butter
    Da Kat A.

    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.

    Salmon sashimi and Gyu Tan
    Crystal Y.

    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.

    Bara chirashi set meal (new)
    Jaime F.

    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.

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    Page 1 of 42

    Tanto Japanese Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Tanto Japanese Restaurant

    How long is wait for walk in?

    Do they still serve the uni fried rice?

    Sometimes. They didn't last time I was there. Call ahead to make sure!

    Hi. Do you sell gift cards?

    Does this place take reservation?

    They do not take same night reservations. However, call and make reservations for future dates.

    Do you have Motsu Nabe?

    Not anymore

    Does the business have indoor seating option yet?

    Yes

    Is the lunch menu about the same as dinner? I ask because in some Izakaya restaurants, the lunch menu is completely different and can be very plain.

    Lunch menu is not the same as dinner. The lunch menu is of varieties of choices.

    I try to call their numbers (listed in Yelp) but doesn't get through. Do they still there or know new number to reach?

    Their phone line has been down since Tuesday (12/10), so credit card machines are down too. They are open regular hours, but cash only for the time being.

    Do they have lunch specials?

    Yes they absolutely do. Usual four great specials that are all very satisfying and healthy!

    Is there a lunch menu?

    Yes they do have lunch menus on days that they are open for lunch

    How do you make reservations if they don't open all day until 6pm? Is there online reservations?

    You'll unlikely to get a reservation if attempted the day before or day of. It's recommended that you make your reservation days or even weeks ahead.

    The menu keeps referring to maguro as white tuna. White tuna can be several things, but not maguro. Maguro is red tuna. Which is it, white tuna or actual maguro? And if white tuna, what is it actually, albacore, ono, etc.?

    on the menu there are italicized text in english that tells you exactly what you're gonna get regardless of the japanese text

    Does this place have a sushi bar to sit at?

    No its a restaurant. no sushi bar. Delish food

    View All 22 Questions

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    Izakaya

    3.9
    (866 reviews)
    5.2 mi
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    The small plates are great for sharing, especially the yakitori and appetizers, which are flavorful…read moreand well-prepared. Food comes out fresh and pairs well with their drink selection. Service is generally friendly, though it can slow down a bit when it's busy. Overall, a nice spot for a laid-back meal with good comfort-style Japanese food.

    My friend and I decided to venture out of favorite sushi places and decided to try something new…read more We decided on Izakaya and while it was hard to get a reservation beforehand you literally call a few minutes when they open (which is pointless), but, I still got it because this place gets packed for dinner. The restaurant is small and somehow they are able to pack a few tables in for guests. Luckily, I did make that reservation and we both got there before opening (5:30pm) so we beat the rush hour dinner time. We were promptly seated and they took our drink and asked if we were ready. We were busy catching up and weren't ready and they came twice and so we just decided the bento box because we were both hungry. While the bento looked smaller than others I've been to. The quality was there and the food was just perfect. I really enjoyed the food at Izakaya. The sashimi cuts of ahi tuna is amazing, while not as big as others that are non-traditional Japanese restaurants. I love the quality and the food they offer. My friend and I both got a bento box and everything was delicious. The servers do come in and check on you regularly which I appreciated and they are really quick to get the food to you. Overall, I enjoyed the food and service and I would definitely come here and make sure I'm first in line!

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    Fugetsu - Sunnyvale

    Fugetsu - Sunnyvale

    3.9
    (759 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    Have been wanting to come here for a while, I love okonomiyaki and don't see it at too many…read morerestaurants. I had the seafood okonomiyaki which was delicious. Wish there was a tiny bit more seafood but it was fresh and served on the hot plate which kept the food warm throughout the meal. Also tried the chicken karaage and veggie tempura. Flavor of the chicken was great but it was a bit chewy. It said it would take 20-30 min for the okonomiyaki but it felt like the food came out much quicker than that. Nice cozy restaurant interior, plenty of tables when I arrived around 11:45am on a Saturday but the restaurant was full by the time we left.

    If you're going to come here during dinner time on a weekend I suggest making a reservation because…read moreit does get busy. Parking can suck too. The workers were really nice and they accommodated our large group. The had interesting drink which I forgot to take a picture of. They also have beers by the pitcher. As for the food, I got all seafood, and the fish was actually pretty fresh. I got the salad and I thought it was going to be a small plate but it was actually a huge bowl made to share, so keep that in mind. I will coming back to try all the other stuff on their menu. If you are looking for some good eats in the downtown Sunnyvale area I recommend checking out this place.

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    Inside - Rokko/Fugetsu shared same premise
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    Gyusuki yakisoba
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    Sumiya

    Sumiya

    3.9
    (1.5k reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$$

    Sumiya Yakitori specializes in yakitori and they do a nice combo yakitori bento with chicken thigh,…read morepork belly, and beef short rib. There's a poached egg on the rice and you can order your choice of appetizer - I got the agedashi tofu. The dressing on the salad (Ume miso) was very good and tasty, and the agedashi tofu seemed authentic and delicately prepared and subtly flavored. The yakitori itself was pretty good. The chicken was pretty standard and the beef and pork good without being exceptional. Flavor was good, just a little bit more chew on the beef and pork than ideal. Overall, satisfying meal, though not as filling as I would have liked. Service was fine and I'd come here again to try other options.

    Came here for lunch with my husband on Friday. We arrived a little after 11:30am, and there're no…read morelines. Interior decor was that of a typical yakitori, and you could see the chefs grilling skewers behind glasses. Service was friendly and very efficient. Hot tea was complimentary. We scanned a QR code at the table, made our selections, and placed our order after confirming our payment method. We closed the tab and paid online before we left. It's very convenient, and they provided quite a number of customizations/options for the various bentos and other dishes. I had an Oyako Don Set with grilled saba and shiitake dressing for the salad. My husband had a B Skewers Bento with agedashi tofu and ume miso dressing for the salad. The food came out pretty fast, and was hot and freshly cooked. My oyako don was cooked to perfection, the seasoning was on point. Portion was very generous with good chicken to rice ratio. There're a few pieces of shiitake mushroom in the bowl as well. My saba was grilled very nicely, and the best part was that there were barely any bones (just a tiny bone in the entire piece of saba!) The shiitake dressing was delicious with a little crunch. Hadn't had such an authentic and yummy Japanese lunch for a long time. My husband enjoyed his bento as well. Can't wait to come back to try other items on their menu.

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    Sumiya
    Potato mochi
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    Gochi - Cupertino

    Gochi - Cupertino

    4.0
    (2.4k reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    We had a wonderful experience at Gochi in Cupertino! The food is creative, interesting, and a fun…read morechange of pace from the traditional sushi experience. We usually go to Tanto, which is owned by the same group, so it was exciting to try Gochi's fusion-style dishes and explore a different side of their cooking. A big highlight of our visit was our server, Samira. She was incredibly competent, friendly, and attentive. She knew the menu inside and out and could explain exactly what was in each dish, including how many pieces came with each order. Her recommendations were thoughtful -- instead of encouraging us to over-order, she suggested ordering a few dishes first and then adding more depending on how we felt. We really appreciated that advice because fresh sushi and many Japanese dishes are best enjoyed right away and don't reheat or travel well. Great food, excellent service, and a team that genuinely cares about the dining experience. We'll definitely be back!

    Though the plaza it sits in isn't particularly eye-catching, Gochi is an aesthetically lovely…read morerestaurant with a Japanese-style interior. The parking lot isn't massive, but finding a spot isn't difficult, if my experience is anything to go by. Solo and duo diners are usually seated at normal tables, but large parties have the option of sitting in shoes-off washitsu rooms with tatami mats. The menu is very large, with specific sections condensing their vegetarian & gluten-free offerings. You get a paper menu detailing their specials, and the rest of the menu is accessed through a QR code (which I am personally not a fan of). True to its self-identification as a Japanese fusion tapas spot, the menu ranges from sashimi to soba to risotto korokke to pizza and so on. I recommend eating family-style with a group, as portion sizes are definitely tapas-sized, and trying a little bit of a lot is the best way to experience what Gochi has to offer. Though the atmosphere is great for a date night, the two-seater tables are set up very close to each other, so there won't be much privacy. Most of the dishes I found to be good, but perhaps not exceedingly impressive. The yuzu ceviche was stellar, with fresh fish and a strong citrus flavor, but the accompanying potato chips were a little thick and lacking salt. The sashimi was beautifully presented and fresh, but the pieces were a little smaller than I had expected. The risotto korokke was alright as well; the sauce was great, but the risotto inside was a little bland. Overall, I thought this to be a decently enjoyable experience. The atmosphere is great, the service is good, and the food is varied and interesting. The dishes range from being pretty affordable small dishes to a little too pricey to be worth what you get, so I'd definitely spend a little extra time perusing the menu. I will likely return to try some of the other items in the future.

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    Unagi meshi
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    Uzumakiya

    Uzumakiya

    4.5
    (1.4k reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    I wish this place had better hours because I swear it's always closing or closed when I want to go…read more But alas I finally was able to go once, and it lived up to the hype. The uzumakiya udon was sooo flavorful and yummy. A tiny bit oily, but I liked how the broth stayed light yet the meal was very filling. I rarely see crispy lotus root, so I really cherished it. Udon noodles were very qq. Wanna try the spicy one next time!

    I've been coming here since they opened and honestly the spicy udon is one of my favorite noodle…read moredishes in the entire Bay Area. The broth is so flavorful and unique, and the texture of the udon is perfect. Spicy udon 10/10 So when they announced they were moving toward ramen, I totally understood why people were upset. I was heartbroken too. But I also felt bad seeing so many people leave negative reviews without even trying the ramen first. I've been a customer for years but review bombing a small business over a menu change just didn't sit right with me. I decided to give the ramen a try. Is it as unique as the udon? No. The udon is definitely what made this place stand out. But the ramen was still very good. The broth was porky, fatty, and creamy! The Chasiu could use some work. Classic Tonkatsu ramen 8.5/10 I'm really glad they listened to customer feedback and brought the udon back. I hope anyone looking at this Yelp page for the first time disregards the bad reviews and understands that is just how passionate people are about their udon! At the end of the day, I'm happy we get to have both. The spicy udon is still one of the best things I've eaten in the Bay and the ramen is absolutely worth trying too.

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    Interior
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    Karaage - @rayz
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    Tanto Japanese Restaurant - tapasmallplates - Updated July 2026

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