Of all the Japanese restaurants I've been to in the Bay Area that specialize in kaiseki, this one is my favorite. It's not easy to book a reservation here. The restaurant is small and it's always fully booked a month in advance. I don't particularly enjoy calling at midnight one month ahead, but this place is so good and so popular, I don't really have a choice. Obviously being a fine dining restaurant, service will be top notch but what about the food? Every dish is so well-thought out, so delicate, so delicious. Presentation is beautiful. Much time and attention is put into each course. The best tasting kaiseki dinner I've had. I wish the restaurant was closer and offered more reservation availability. I would eat here everyday if I win the lottery. read more

I wish I could give this place 10 stars. This place went above and beyond what me and my husband were expecting. I made reservations for this place one month in advance with the hostess (chef's wife). We were the only ones seated at the bar, but I thought it was a hidden blessing because we got the best seats in the house to watch the chef, Katsuhiro Yamasaki at work. For the price of $95, we felt like the quality and caliber of the meal matched up to the best japanese food we've ever had. We were served a honey sake which was so delicious. Highlights of our March menu were the Maple leaf farms duck nigiri sushi with foie gras sauce (could have eaten 10 more of these!) as well as the snake river farms American wagyu on a hot stone plate. The meat was so tender and melt-in-your mouth good. I could go on and on about the food, but suffice to say, that short of Joel Robuchon, this was probably one of the best meals I've had in my life. But what made this experience REALLY stand out was the attention to service from our hostess, who would refill our hot tea at any moment's notice, but also that the chef personally served us his dessert at the end, and unbeknowst to me, they had prepared a special Happy birthday dessert with my husband's age and name on it. That was such a special touch, and unexpected. REALLY love this kaiseki place. And would definitely recommend it for anyone that wants a quality meal for such a great price. read more

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Michelin star(!) 14-seat hella-hard-to-get-into jap resto was overrated IMO, unfortunately... i know lots of fellow foodies have been tryna get reso here...hate to say it, but u r better off elsewhere...ex. Roka Akor's 5-course/20-dish omakase ($138pp) is wwway better!... NUTSHELL Wakuriya translates to gentle/harmony kitchen...its mission is to maintain "deep roots in authentic Japanese culture & tradition, yet breathe new life into deliciously innovative cuisine"... plating was pleasant & diverse in various vessels...but food was too bland for the average american palate while keeping "clean" in trad'l form...my companion suggested we not ask for soy, s&p cuz it might've prob insulted chef...tho sodium was desperately needed!... FEEL unassumingly located in Crystal Springs Shopping Village strip mall by CA-92...enter into very dimly lighting (too dim)...long, open kitchen on left...display of sake btls on top shelf...4 bar seats, but not utilized the 1st few days when they try out their monthly menu...which comes out 1st wed of ea mo...the day we went... SERVICE: mom & pop shop... husband - chef owner...busy composing artfully in the open kitch...care put into his food... wife - floor mgr/server... thick accent & fast speech made it near impossible to make out what she was tryna describe w/ ea dish...not her fault... it was good that descriptions were on the menus, but bad that she took them away SO quickly as if we'd steal them!...not enuf time to review...even when we asked to look a while longer, she kept coming bk for them...this annoying behavior rarely occurs when we dine out - anywhere...esp since the 2 of us ordered 4 rounds of drinks...y couldnt she leave the drink menu?...if she did, we would've kept ordering... mid-meal, she asked "are u taking pictures of ea course?" me: "yes...for yelp" her: "OH...yelp? eh"...then said few times [jokingly] to mention she's young & beautiful...yea, she is 3rd guy - dishwisher & prep, i assumed be warned...courses come out too fast...sometimes even b4 u r done w/previous..WTH?...it was later right paced when the 2 seatings overlapped (seatings: 6:30 & 7:30p) FOOD: 9-course/12-dish kaiseki @$98pp...trad'l, formal multi-course dining completely set by chef...see my pix of: welcome kicker | shot of peach sake w/ice kaiseki #1 | sakizuke (starter)... cold "somen" (jap angel hair pasta) noodles w/lobster & summer veg...lobster served semi-raw...better to go one way or another kaiseki #2 | zensai (apps)... - king salmon & cucumber "mizore-zu" (grated daikon vinaigrette)...plain/natural... - foie gras & "nama-yuba" (fresh tofu skin) w/ wasabi sauce...i heart foie, but deveined pls! - "ichijiku" (fig) tempra w/"gome-dare" (sesame sauce) kaiseki #3 | mushi mono (steamed dish)... "kamo to truffle no chawan-mushi" duck & summer truffle in steamed egg custard ...duck: fat not rendered =chewy...truffle: plentiful...custard: standard kaiseki #4 | tsukuri (sashimi)... "today's chef's choice"...which was a fish in the yellowtail fam...frm our understanding kaiseki #5 | age mono (deep-fried dish)... "ebi-shinjo no nasu hasami-age" shrimp cake sandwiched between sliced jap eggplant & sweet pepper tempra served w/shiso (jap basil) & salt stamp kaiseki #6 | hashi-yasume (palate cleanser)... "suika" (watermelon) & preserved lemon sorbet sprinkled w/black sesame...tiny, but refreshing kaiseki #7 | yaki mono (broiled dish)... "snake river farms wagyu no miso suki-ni" american kobe beef, sun smiling valley farms buna-shimeji mushroom & tomato simmered w/ miso-soy sauce...sukiyaki-style...finally sumthin' tasty kaiseki #8 | gohan mono (rice dish)... "toumorokoshi gohan no hokkaido hotate wo nosete" pan-sautéed scallop over rice w/ corn...not bad kaiseki #9 | dessert...served w/ hot fragrant tea... organic white peach mousse & "mochi" (rice cake) sandwich cookies...mousse had 0 peach flavor...presented in kute glass jar tho...mochi cookie was nom special celebration comp w/note, nice touch..strawberry Häagen-Dazs cuz she used to work for them in japan... DRINKS unique beers frm japan: - Orion, Okinawa | 6 ..pilsner-like - Ryujin, Gunma | 10 .."malt beverage, white weizen"...wheat-like we wanted to keep the btls...she rinsed them out & put into sake bags Fruity flight | 18 - Yuzu Omoi: aromatic citrus sake - Kome Kome Shu: riesling style rice sake - Ume Shu: sweet plum wine Juicy flight | 20 - Kaori Mikan: mandarin orange sake - Ichigo Sake: w/strawberry yeast - Ginjo Nigori: unfiltered milky sake "proudly serve carefully selected sake w/ thin & elegant 'USUHARI'SHIWA glasses" CONCLUSION | expected a lot more frm a rare Michelin star resto...but lacked flavor & good accompaniments...we also know the wife is trying, but service is not up to par... overall, too many missteps to be considered of fine dining caliber with all that said, u may still wanna try for yourself...havent left a place hungry in a long time out the door for 2: $320 read more

Wakuriya - jul '15 kaiseki ($98pp, 9-course/12-dish)...new menu comes out every 1st wed of the month... go to Roka Akor ($138) instead!... - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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An overall lovely experience with a few quibbles. First, reservations are indeed as painful as advertised. You do have to be up at midnight, and be prepared to hammer redial as you will inevitably get a busy signal. After 15 minutes of constant redialing, I was finally able to leave a message. The process does work though: I did indeed get a call back, and since I had the luck of calling the end of February, I had my pick of three days at the end of March (March 29, 30, or 31, since those days don't exist in February!). So it looks like their call one month ahead rule is likely a call one calendar month ahead rule, not necessarily a 30 or 31 day rule. The experience itself is lovely. The ambience is soothing, service is pleasant, and food delicious especially given the Michelin price. I believe the menu changes frequently (possibly daily), and is about ~$100 (ours was $105). Our nine courses were: oven-baked sesame tofu with lobster, appetizers (fire-fly squid and asparagus, flounder sashimi with seaweed, and deep fried pork), somen with blue shrimp and mushroom, sashimi of the day (amberjack for us), snow crab and scallop au gratin, yuzu and beets sorbet, wagyu Kobe beef with foie gras tofu sauce, egg, brussel sprouts, and mushroom, big-eye chirashi, and citrus jelly panna cotta. I think the biggest strength of this place is innovation and creativity with dishes, but an issue is definitely how they served the hot dishes: the tofu with lobster, au gratin, and wagyu came in sizzling platters or mini crock pots, and all were still scalding hot when presented. Not only did this mean you couldn't eat it right away, it unfortunately also made the last few bites overcooked (to the point where, for example, the lobster was stuck to the skillet). This is an unfortunate oversight given the Michelin star rating, and was a little disappointing. The cold dishes, somen, and dessert, however, were all phenomenal: delicious, clearly high quality, and with interesting combinations of flavors. If the only issue were the hot foods I'd consider coming back, but given how painful it is to make reservations I think I'm happy to call this one checked off the list. Lovers of Japanese food should definitely check this place out, but be prepared to work to get your reservation. read more

I have been to Wakuriya multiple times (as in multiples of 10) over the past ~10 years. It is, hands down, the best Japanese restaurant in the Bay Area. It is in fact one of the best restaurant in any gastronomic style. Both Katsuhiro and Mayumi (owners and restaurateurs) are very focused, attentive and creative. They source top sake to match their absolutely succulent Kaiseki-style dishes. The restaurant is small, thus not noisy, and the music is well chosen (think low volume jazz). This is a great place for enjoying a long dinner and long conversations. You are transported to Kyotō without leaving the Bay Area. read more

Amazing experience CONCEPT - The restaurant was refined, quiet, and intimate. The ambiance was very tasteful but not snobby. Making a reservation here was quite the process. I called at midnight (exactly) 30 days before and left a voicemail. I think I called twice just to be extra careful. I received a call maybe a couple days later confirming our reservation. SERVICE - There was only one server (I believe the wife of the chef) but she was incredibly attentive, knowledgeable, accommodating, and efficient! She explained every dish with great detail and answered all the questions we had. FOOD (set menu, 9 courses, 3 highlights mentioned below) -jikasei yaki goma-tofu (oven-baked sesame tofu with lobster): the tofu was soft, warm, and slightly firmer than custardl. The richness of the lobster combined with the more simple flavor of the tofu worked well together. Really well balanced. -amber jack sashimi with peanut sauce (sashimi special of the day). This was probably my favorite dish. So simple but the combination of flavors was amazing. I think my eyes rolled back into my head for a brief moment. The peanut sauce (can pour or dip) was fantastic - tangy and savory. The sashimi just melted in my mouth. -"Wagyu" Kobe beef: served with foie gras-tofu sauce, steamed jidori egg, Brussel sprouts, and maitake mushroom. An incredibly rich dish but the serving size and combination of ingredients made it work. OPINION - I had an amazing time. We were there for almost 2.5 hours but it went by so quickly! The food was thoughtful and well-balanced and the service was great. It really was an experience. read more

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As a huge fan of kaiseki cuisine, I couldn't wait to give Wakuriya a try. Our dinner reservation was a 7 p.m., but we had to push it to 8 p.m. and we were happy they were able to accommodate. While we were there, we saw them turn away a few customers, so we were glad we had the reservation. We had the Wakuriya course (the whole shebang) and loved every dish. The first course was to-die-for: pan sauteed Sonoma foie gras with yamakake, fava beans and mountain berry on the side. My mouth is watering as I'm writing this review, thinking about that dish. I also enjoyed the tomato sorbet as a course in the middle, transitioning between appetizers and entrees; reminds me of French cuisine. The amount of food was just right. Everything was fresh and delicious. The cut for sashimi was excellent. I was really impressed with Wakuriya's service. After we sat down, our waitress served us a small glass of plum wine on the house. It was very yummy, and a nice touch. The different courses were served at a good pace. After dinner, we sat around and chatted for a bit. Even though we were the last customers left at the restaurant, our waitress and other restaurant staff around made us felt quite comfortable, not at all like other restaurants where you feel like you're being rushed out. In fact, the remaining three restaurant staff walked us out the door and thanked us as we left. They even waved and bowed to us as we drove off. For a moment there (if it weren't for the shopping plaza setting), I thought I was vacationing back in Japan! I could tell that the chef put a lot of thoughts in planning the menu and heart in preparing the meal. The flavor from each dish was so delicately balanced. I can't wait to return. If you were to go, be sure to make a reservation; it's a placed best enjoyed between parties of 2-4. I definitely recommend the Wakuriya course - well worth the $85! read more

Wakuriya - October 2008 dishes - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Japanese Kitchen! Meaning of Wakuriya: WA - Japanese + KURIYA - Kitchen This was used in ancient Japan according to their website! Price: $98 per person for chef's tasting menu x 2 = $196 + Tax Tina's Travel and Tourism: - Got lucky, but normally you need to call at 12am for reservations exactly 30 days out from the day you desire. I got the reservation the next day at 8AM. I didn't have to wait up like most people do.... - I had been wanting to try this out for a while on my Michelin list! - Chef Katsuhiro Yamasaki and his wife, Mayumi, are on fire! The two work together to get the food executed properly and presentation on point! Great duo. - Our dinner consists of pre-fixed course with nine dishes! I think it was the freshest off the market! - We were able to try: + "tourmorokoshi no yaki-kuzu tofu" - oven-grilled homemade corn tofu with hatcho-miso sauce and sansho, Japanese pepper, butter + "moriawase (assorted) appetizers" - tasmanian ocean trout and summer vegetables, pan sautéed duck foie gras on dashi-maki (rolled omelet), Japanese eggplant and sweet pepper with soboro (minced) pork sauce + "hiyashi somen to tempra" - cold Japanese somen noodles and New Caledonian blue shrimp with okra + "sashimi - Chef's choice" + "lobster no yamaimo gratin" - summer squash and Japanese mountain potato sauce + "shiso" (Japanese basil) and pineapple sorbet + "Snake River farms USA "wagyu" Kobe beef" - soft-steamed egg, Sun Smiling Valley famrs mushroom, "karashi shoyu" (mustard soy sauce) + "unagi no goma-chazuke" - grilled fresh water eel and rice in sesame-dashi soup with pickled vegetable + "hakuto (white peack) crème brulee" - edamame on "kinako" (soy flour) mochi - With that said, we were able to watch while we eat in the open kitchen counter! - All I have to say is this has been checked off my to eat places! Amazing experience and unforgettable meal! read more

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High quality food and excellent service. Worth the high price. But still have to wait for half an hour even though we had a reservation.

They are offering a take out bento box for dinner while the shelter-in-place order is in effect. Same amazing meal, at home! read more

Wakuriya - They are offering takeout while the Bay Area is under shelter-in-place - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Greatly appreciate Yamasaki-sama's ability to pack in a delicious meal for us to-go while the restaurant is closed. While obviously not a substitute for the full experience in person, this serves to tide us over until we can all meet again together. I've provided more of a close-up for those thinking about partaking. This is a full meal, and the portion sizes for each course are larger than you would otherwise get in person. Thanks again! read more

Wakuriya - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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All I can say is. Go and you'll be happy you did. I'm so happy my wife can get the reservation for our family meal of 5. I wish I can get the reservations there every month even though it's a hour trip from East Bay. Worth every penny. read more

We love supporting our favorite local restaurant. They do everything to perfection and we continue to be blown away every month. From their pink peppercorn, Yuzu jelly on top of the blue shrimp sashimi, multi-layer flavored sauces, to their sweet surprises, you never know what to expect with every bite. Their menu changes every month and we continue coming back for more! read more

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WOW! Excellent place to try out for take out during this ongoing Shelter in Place. Chef Katsuhiro Yamasaki prepared multiple dishes served in their own mini trays. Ours included "Moriwase" ocean trout and big eye tuna sashimi. Another dish was the wagyu beef with blue shrimp. Last, was the "unagi govan" (eel) over rice. This dish also had a steamed egg that we thought would bust on the way home but never did. Every plate was ready to eat when we got it home and each bite was amazing. Lots of flavors and textures with each bit. Got a bottle of Shimeharitsuru (Junmai Ginjo) Sake that was incredibly smooth to go with it. Definitely recommend trying them out!!!! read more

This is one of those moments in life when you say this is what it's all about... Upon entering the venue it has a modern clean look, nothing spectacular but wait til you try the menu....spectacular! Very few times have I used this word. It is a kaiseki menu referring to the set menu served traditionally on trays to each patron prepared in a particular manner. To begin, a muse of house infused sake First app a tofu made of sesame instead of soybeans topped with uni and housemade wasabi served in a mini skillet with dashi broth added from a teapot which sizzles, nice presentation! Next up a dish with a trio of assorted items including sashimi of snapper, grilled blue shrimp and panko pork tenderloin. Next, a hot dish of chawan-mushi consisting of duck meatballs, truffle, shiitake and leek in a silky smooth egg custard floated with dashi. Chef's choice sushi today is a yellowtail not of the hamachi norm and trout from Washington I believe which was fantastic and the house wasabi is sensational with that sharp essence only fresh wasabi can get. Soups on! Tempura black cod and tiny king-oh shrooms in a sake leek broth. Mmmmm To clean the palate, a mandarin sake sorbet. And to follow the seafood trail, a baked lobstah tail with a yuzu miso sauce served in a cute lil Le cruecet pot. Cooked perfectly! And then the Kobe beef with jidori egg donburi .... Dessert consisted of a trio of sweet potato, Fuji Apple in crystal jelly mochi A sake trio tasting was dee-licious and the daily beer selection from Japan was a great venture from the usual suspects... Overall an excellent execution of Japanese cuisine, I was watching the chef the whole time in the open kitchen and he uses the utmost care and patience in preparing and plating. And the results represent that, the flavors and delicateness of each dish was truely something to be appreciated. I do have to say the donburi was a bit lacking in pizazzzzz, but maybe just a bit of salt or soy? Nonetheless was still good. I would highly recommend this venue to anyone that enjoys and appreciates the flavors and art of food prep and presentation. This is not your typical sushi joint, so if you're the California roll type, this may not be your thing, the price point reflects that but then again it has a Michelin star so you already know it ain't gonna be cheap... At $98 pp you will be getting a unique dining experience like no other... 次の時間まで Tsugi no jikan made "Until next time" Cal read more

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It's probably the best food I ever had. And sake too! Thank you for the wonderful tastebud experience while. Another amazing take out dinner from Wakuriya t read more

Wakuriya - It's probably the best food I ever had. And sake too! Thank you for the wonderful tastebud experience! - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Not everything is a smash hit here but it's so cool to have a Michelin-starred kaiseki restaurant in a strip mall next to a CVS and a pediatric dentist. read more

Wakuriya is composed of two words: "wa" means Japanese, gentle, and harmony and "kuriya" means kitchen in ancient Japan. Excellent experience!! Thank you Mayumi (manager) for the authentic Japanese serving experience. As a first timer at Wakuriya, I have to say that I'm impressed and would love to come check out the menu next month again. I am always up to new food adventures and I'm so glad I came here. Dinning at Wakuriya with their pre-set menu was amazing- every course of the meal was well prepared and left me wanting more. My favorite of the meal was actually the soymilk based miso soup with truffle and lobster. The texture of the soup was creamy and the portion of truffle was generous. Every dish has its own taste of uniqueness and I can tell Chef Katsuhiro put his heart to work when he's making each course. Each course is of course instagram worthy for its delicate presentation. Note that Wakuriya does require reservations, please be sure to call exactly a month ahead at 12 am for desired date. read more

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I was lucky to snag a reservation to Wakuriya for my mom's birthday. Reservations are so hard to come by since they only take one staggering seating of 15 per night. It was such an special treat to dine here because it feel so intimate and unique! When you pull up into the strip mall where the tiny restaurant is located, it can be a bit confusing since you can't peek inside at all. I won't go into the details of the menu since it changes daily, but I will say that everything was delicious. This was my first experience with traditional Japanese Kaiseki and I was impressed! Here are my favorite things about Wakiruya: (+) Our server was absolutely adorable. She was excited about each course and gave us so much information about why they chose it. (+) Meticulous attention to details- from the baskets under the seats for my purse to the tiny little cast iron pot for my kobe beef- it is the type of hospitality that is hard to come by. (+) The complimentary soda wine that was served at the beginning of the meal. (+) They brought out a special dessert for my mom since we were celebrating her birthday. My only gripe is that the entire dinner took close to 3 hours. With the dim lighting, I was definitely starting to get sleepy. With that said, I would definitely come back again. I just have to make sure the whoever I come back with is not a picky eater at all! Tip: If you are so lucky to find yourself with reservations, I highly recommend not coming on an empty stomach since the courses come out very slowly. Each course is pretty small, but I did leave satisfied since there were so many. read more

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We really enjoyed the take out menu!! Everything was very very fresh! And most important of all, thank you for the reminder: It is a difficult time but its not unhappy time . read more

Wakuriya - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

What a nice little hidden gem on the Peninsula. It is always exciting for my husband and I to find new Michelin rated restaurants outside of the city, as our babysitting options are in Redwood City.... so it's really nice to have a great option close to home. My husband surprised me with dinner here, for our anniversary - we had been meaning to try to get in, but never got around to it. You have to call at midnight 30 days before the day you want to go, and leave a VM, if you get a call back to schedule the reservation, you're in! When we got there, the experience was wonderful from the start, the lighting is warm and somewhat dim, very comforting. Each meal thoughtful in execution and beautifully displayed. They also have an excellent sake selection!! read more

Service was amazing, and the attention to detail and amount of care put into the making of the food & presentation made the dinner an experience. That being said, I do think that this restaurant has a lot of buzz from the Michelin star rating, the limited seating & competitive reservation process. We enjoyed our food; however, the dishes tasted familiar, rather than inventive and did not introduce new combinations of flavors to our palate. The most innovative item served in my opinion was the Inari Foie Gras (was very delicious). If you are looking for good service, thoughtfully curated tableware, and a traditional food experience, this is the place. If you are looking for an innovative food experience, this is not the place. read more

Getting a reservation here is a pain but definitely worth it. Best Japanese restaurant I've been to, located in a place you wouldn't expect.

Reservations for this place is like an amazing race. You call right at midnight and try to get through their line. You leave your name and number and your party and they'll get back to you to see if you got in. I was expecting a more sushi type of omakase course, but i got something than what i expected. The menu is catered to the season, so it changes pretty often. The food were all presented very beautifully and the service was great. The sake flight options were good, but the food itself was ok to me. Maybe it wasn't my type of Japanese style food. read more

Wakuriya - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

We ate here 3 times in the past year, and we absolutely want to come back often! I was hesitating to write this review, but I am afraid if I say too many good things about this place, it will get even harder to get a reservation in the future, lol The food was perfect. The material was super fresh and carefully processed. My wife usually didn't like to eat sashimi because of the fishy smell, but she liked every single sashimi piece from the chef here. The cooking styles perfectly matched our taste, it was sort of a combination of Japanese style and western style, with more Japanese style. The presenting was also great, we really liked their plates and glasses. While the chef was quiet and 100% focusing on perfecting the food, the chef's wife was really friendly and good at serving the tables. The price is not high at all, given that you got to eat a lot of expensive seafood (like lobster, premium fish/shrimp, etc.), wagyu beef, etc. I would highly recommend this restaurant to everyone. The only issue with this place is that it is SO HARD to get a reservation! read more

Update to 4 stars and problem solved. :D Previously: 1 star is for the dishonesty of the business, that they overcharged me. It was a 2.5 hr long dinner, way longer than I expected, so when Mayumi (the owner) brought us the check, I thought she already charged us, since it says receipt on that paper(left), and she collected my complete credit card info when she confirmed my reservation thru the phone; We left the tips on the table and rushed out. She then chased us down in the parking lot saying that she had to run the credit card and get my signature, just in case we don't dispute the charge, which makes sense but left us feeling awkward. Today when I checked my credit card statement, she overcharged me. I wanted it to reason that extra amount, but that makes it a over 25% tips on the service I got? I don't think so, btw 3-michelin-star restaurants only charge 20% service fee. Foodwise, I liked it except that in one appetizer the grapes and sauce were over-powering the taste of the scallop, they could have separated the scallops and the sauce on a plate instead of in a tiny bowl; the "wagyu" kobe beef was very stringy, I had a hard time swallow every bite... I would give 4 stars probably. read more

Decent food. Try the sake flight if you could. The restaurant looks seemingly average but many of the diningwares are nicely curated. One chef show. The only thing I wish they could do better is to have more attentive service, there's time where we waited a little too long for next dish to be served. For $105 before tax per person, I think it is worth the value. read more

Wow, a refreshing meal for a hot summer evening. Can't wait to try the fall menu. $60 for a 3 course meal that takes a month out to order. Sake is 30% off regular price. So good! read more

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It was our anniversary and we decided to plan our dinner celebration ahead of time. My partner made the reservation one month ahead. I am so glad he did that. This experience was priceless. The food, service and the artistry way of serving the food was awesome. It seems like they are moving around base of a written choreography. The chiefs so great and the way he cooks and prepare the food is beautiful. We will go back for sure. read more

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After waiting years lusting to eat at this place but unable to stay awake till midnight to make the reservation, my fiancée surprised me with dinner here last night! It's on my list of top five best meals I've had in my entire life, it's that good. Meals came out beautifully prepared and even more beautifully explained by the elegant woman running the floor. The pacing was just right to savor all the little details and thought put into each dish. read more

Wakuriya - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I had made a reservation for my birthday a month ago! My fiancé and I called exactly at midnight as instructed on the website and phone tag for about a good 15 minutes before we got through the waiting line to finally get a spot for Sunday, Aug 20th. We promptly got a call back the next day to confirm our reservation. We started our evening with a refreshing sake and was shown the tasting menu of the night. It was a small cozy restaurant that probably seated no more than 20 people. We had a series of dishes, my favorite being the corn tofu, which I describe to my fiancé as hot corn ice cream that was creamy and sweet and melted in your mouth, but it was warm and hot as well. My other favorite was the unagi goma-chazuke which was a eel rice in dashi soup to end the meal. It was warm and comforting to end the meal. The desert was a peach creme brûlée which I also enjoyed. With that said, the meal as a whole was very light, close to being on the bland side. A couple of dishes shine, but a lot of them needed more contrast of flavor. However, the service was impeccable. The wife of the chef, who was the store manager, ran the service for 20+ customer and you can see real harmony between the chef and wife. They didn't even need to exchange words to finish the action of the other person. She was warm and very friendly and was able to accommodate everybody without being frazzled. It was hospitality that I haven't experience before and I was pleasantly surprise. All in all, I would say 4 for the food, while a solid 5 for the service! It was definitely a memorable evening to celebrate a special day! read more

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One of the best sushi places in the Bay Area! Exterior: zen and well maintained. Interior: very zen, clean, great date night spot! Service 6 stars! Beyond excellent but not overbearing. Very nice staff and attentiveness. Price: excellent! Cons: really wished they have an online system for booking reservations, heck, prepay even! And wished they opened longer hours!!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! read more

This place is a gem in San Mateo. I was lucky enough to get the reservation on the desired date even I called in after lunch time. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by a 2oz complimentary sparkling yuzu drink. We ordered juicy flight and glass of sweet plum wine. Both of them were good. They severed us with several appetizers including lobsters, blue shrimp, trout etc.,and a cleanser sorbet before the main course. Main entree had kobe beef and snapper sashimi. Homemade mochi and greentea mousse were served at the end. We also got an complimentary birthday ice cream. My boyfriend and I were amazed by food presentation and flavor. We already think about come back here again. Entire dining took about 2.5hrs. Be prepared to spend time here. read more

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Came here to treat our good friends for a good night out (couples date). Reservation at 730 which was booked 30 days in advance. The experience was different and definitely fun! Service was definitely impeccable and the food were fresh and authentic! Servings were small but We were full after all the courses! Don't skip on their sake flights! Damage: $600 for 4pax Located in the same lot as Safeway. We all had a great night!!! MUST try!!!! read more

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One of the best fine dining experience I've ever had-from the atmosphere to the quality of every single dish, it was just perfection. As previous reviews stated, reservations usually need to be make one month prior. This place offers traditional Japanese omakase, so every ingredient is seasonal and lots of them are ordered directly from Japan. Thus the reservation process. The whole meal took about 3 hours. This place was quiet, intimate, but also friendly. Service was great, the owner made us felt like we are visiting an old friend's house. I gotta say that ever since I went here, I couldn't stop thinking about coming back every time I want Japanese food! Genuinely believe that everyone that comes here will have the best experience they've had with sushi. read more

I have been there several times! The food is great! The only reason I won't go back is their reservation system. It turns me off just by thinking about it! While their food is good, there are plenty of good restaurants. Also, I travel to Japan, Singapore, all the South East countries plus Europe yearly that I can access to much fresher and better seafoods. So, I do not want to lose sleep over one restaurant! read more

Katsuhiro is a masterful chef. Mayumi complements his prowess with her delicateness as server extraordinaire. My family tries to enjoy the dinner once a month if we're in town. Not inexpensive, but the fare is worth the scrumptious experience. The creativity is amazing. read more

Want a reservation? Call the restaurant exactly 30 days ahead of your target date, exactly at 12 midnight, leave a message, then sit and wait hoping them to call you back with good news. I've tried once but failed so I gave up. A friend once got a reservation but got cancelled because she didn't reply the confirmation call. This time I had to let my AMEX concierge service work the wonder and got us a table of six. The restaurant is in a strip mall, parking was easy. Looked like it was closed from outside. We pushed the door open and walked in, immediately got greeted by the owner's wife. The restaurant is small, probably could fit 20 customers max. love the lightings here! It's obviously a mama-papa store, the owner (the chef) and his wife (the hostess/waitress) take care of everything here. Though everything appears extremely organized which is quite amazing! I guess that's why they set such a stringent reservation rule to control the number of customers. My favorite dish of the entire night was the Kobe, it was served with foie gras-tofu and steamed jidori egg. Savory scrumptiousness! Foie gras-tofu has a soothing aroma, jidori egg is incredibly tender, the yolk has a beautiful golden glow to it! Love the dessert, seasonal citrus jelly panna cotta. The grape fruit and blood orange are sweet and sour with a subtle hint of tanginess, the panna cotta is rich and creamy, perfect combination! Overall we all enjoyed the meal! This is not the very formal & traditional kaisaki if that's what you are looking for. It's rather more innovative, and has a very cozy and homey style. The price is much lower comparing to other Michelin Kaisake restaurants in the area. Service was on point. Quite a few rules you got to follow but I'd say they are reasonable. This is a small intimate space so got to keep other people in mind while taking photos or making noises. read more

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Best Kaiseiki Wakuriya Kaiseiki surpassed Kaiseiki meals I have had in Tokyo and Kyoto. Although we have had some of the best traditional Kaiseki meals in Japan in peaceful classical Japanese settings, my taste buds came alive at Wakuriya. Food in Japan was of high quality in the traditional sense. At Wakuriya, it was the creativity and the blending of different flavors that left me speechless after every bite. What joy! read more

I took my sister to Wakuriya for her birthday. The food exceeded my expectations and was much better than Mitsonobu. $98 dollars gets you 13 courses that include fois gras, lobster, and Kobe beef. The flavors were spot on and it was a great deal. We also had various tofu and porridge courses that made me think of them months later. I am usually not a huge fan of tofu, but they made it taste amazing. The ambience is a bit more casual than Kaiseki, but still more formal and quiet than non-Japanese Michelin star places like Saison, or Gary Danko. I would be back again. read more