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Aji Ichi Japanese Restaurant
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
At Joy Sushi, we find it a joy to serve you fresh delectable sushi and traditional Japanese food. We have it all, from sushi, to nigiri, yakitori, nabe,… read more »
60 reviews for Aji Ichi Japanese Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"The sashimi was amazing, and came with 5 (maybe 6." In 12 reviews -
"I've been coming to this place for years." In 4 reviews -
"The steak from their bento box is juicy and flavorful." In 5 reviews
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60 reviews in English
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Review from J-nine D.
Daly City, CA
4/18/2012
I eat here ALL THE TIME. with my TKD folks.
It's so conveniently close to the studio that we go here after class.
Jae is the owner / hostess and she always takes care of us. We close sorta late so we call our order in and the food comes out nice and hot as we arrive.
Sushi, Kitchen Food, drinks, EVERYTHING IS GOOD.
Great food, great service. -
Review from Buck D.
San Francisco, CA
5/24/2012
The food is very good and the prices are very very reasonable. We had rice rolls with fresh, raw fish. Yes, the fish is very fresh and the portion sizes for the combo dinners are very generous. Come here when you're craving rice rolls and sashimi on a budget. This is a really good place for Japanese food in the Peninsula. The interior reminds me of a Japanese restaurant in Fresno that I'm not a fan of. Also reminds me of dive cafes in Honolulu...secret out of the way gems.
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Review from Patricia W.
South San Francisco, CA
3/23/2012
The NICEST people own/work there and the food is absolutely fantastic! The skimono and pickled cucumber are so tasty. Best chicken katsu that I've ever had and super tender, juicy beef teriyaki. We'll definitely be coming here every time we want Japanese food now.
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Review from Rubi G.
San Bruno, CA
3/16/2012
Come during their lunch hour for some great deals!! I've been coming here since I was a kid. Owners are always there (husband and wife) super friendly!! They always have th same people working there so the food is consistant. I must come here atleast once a week. I have their chicken & beef terriyaki and the shrimp tempura. Delish!!
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Review from Shari B.
San Francisco, CA
9/28/2011
SUCH an awesome sushi place. Why?
Reason #1: The owners are sooooooo friendly! You walk in and you can tell from the second they seat you that they really care about your experience in their restaurant, and they want you to feel as relaxed and comfortable and welcomed as possible.
Reason #2: The food is DELICIOUS! The sushi is always super fresh, and if you order beef terriyaki, they even ask you how you want it cooked. Daaaang! That's service! Not something you expect from a little sushi place on San Mateo Avenue, yeah? But they do it! And they do it well. :) Great salad too! And they even have spam musubi on the menu. Right on! (Cuz if y'all didn't know, spam musubi is pretty much heaven in food form. lol!)
Reason #3: Heeeeeerrrrrrrrra TVs posted up around the restaurant. So I can actually eat slowly and don't have to be rushed out so that my bf can get home to watch the night's football or baseball game-- it's already playing for him while we eat. :)
Reason #4: Super reasonable prices for both the quality and the portion sizes that you get.
Reason #5: Close to home! Score, score, and score. :)
Overall, this place is just plain awesome and I think their location is the only thing that's holding them back from getting the props they deserve. (It's right across from the casino... Not the most desirable of locations, but whatev. They can't help it!) I'd totally recommend this place to anyone that I know, and my boyfriend and I eat here all the time and have never once had a bad experience. Yay Aji Ichi! Your restaurant is a total winner in my book. :D -
Review from Annie W.
San Francisco, CA
7/17/2011
I came here after a friend told me it was a place well worth the price for their bento boxes. I guess bento boxes are their specialty as their sushi was horrible.
My friend and I ordered some spicy roll, something norcal spicy. Basically it was fish tossed in siracha then wrapped in rice topped with more fish that had been tossed in siracha. Then there was this other roll, I think it was hamachi, it wasn't anything special. And there was one more roll we tried that was like a california roll topped with cooked salmon topped with the sweet chili egg roll sauce. It was alright but the chili sauce threw me off. Their bento is I guess pretty big and it was pretty good.
So with that said, why only 1 star? Because as we were finishing our meal, a worker or the owner comes out saying the toilet was clogged. Here's the fun part, guess where they store the plunger? In the same cabinet as the take out boxes. If that's where they store the plunger, I'd hate to see where they store the toilet scrub.
After that experience and seeing other reviews here on yelp, I will definitely NOT be returning. -
Review from tammy h.
San Francisco, CA
3/24/2011
Where to start, hm...
Japanese is one of my favorite cuisines, I've tried the food of a variety of spots and I can tell whether or not certain foods are fresh by look, smell, and taste.
It was lunchtime, I sat at the bar because I've never been here before (I wanted to see the fish). Few slabs were fresh and few were less than mediocre. Red Flag for inconsistent quality!
I ordered the lunch special, chicken teriyaki because I was skeptical of their raw stuff. But I love raw so I had a few pieces of sashimi on the side with my lunch combo-- I can always not eat it if it looked questionable.
Miso soup, okay. Edamame... why does it look old? The lunch special bento, not bad... Edible. The price was right for the food I received-- you get what you pay for and this is, for Japanese cuisine, a lower end spot.
After paying for the bill, I lingered to watch the news on TV (yay, love TV's at casual places to dine). It was the hours after the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan [Prayers and best to all whom are affected by this disaster].
Now... what FREAKED ME OUT:
I saw them RECYCLE EDAMAME that was not (entirely eaten) by a previous guest!!!!!!!!! Grody!!!!!! ::VOMIT::
The lady either picked up some by her hand or poured the uneaten portions of the bowl of edamame and combined it with another plate that appeared to be getting ready to go out with another order (because it was a "fresh" plate). I cannot remember how she combined it because it has been a while, I ate there the other week and I was in shock. Their edamame really was not fresh but I ate some anyway because I figured it had the skin to protect it.
That was soo gross. If they'll recycle edamame, what else would they recycle??? It's not even the most expensive item on the menu. ::VOMIT::VOMIT::VOMIT::!!! Had it not been for the fact that you have to peel the skin to get to the soy beans, I probably really would have puked upon witnessing that.
I wish I could give them two stars. But for that lack of hygiene, I cannot. You get what you pay for, it is an affordable spot, the sushi chef (owner?) was nice, they had a TV... But for quality being questionable, inconsistent, and...unethical for a lack of better word, 1 star. -
Review from Lady J.
Walnut Creek, CA
3/26/2012
I come here at least once a week to get my sushi fix! They have never disappointed me in either the service or the food and believe me when I say I am not easy to please when it comes to food. Their sushi is always fresh.
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Review from Yvette H.
Daly City, CA
12/21/2011
Hubby and I like this place. Staff is friendly and attentive. Food is always fresh. Never a miss! You can't go wrong with poke, croquettes, curry and hamachi kama. Chicken yakitori and spicy tuna rolls...another fan favorite of ours. Give it a try. I don't think you will be disappointed.
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Review from bruce b.
Walnut Grove, CA
Again a great time with friends here for sushi. The owners of this sushi bar treat you like family. The food is fresh and the style is traditional Japanese. Tonight a treat Ankimo a monk fish liver. Yum yum!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/2/2011
Great family run Japanese Restaurant. Very personable and friendly. Sushi very fresh and well… Read more »
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Review from Ellaine P.
Daly City, CA
5/31/2011 3 Check-ins Here
My bf's family has been going to this place for quite some time now. Since it is located in a small neighborhood of San Bruno, most of the customers are "regulars". The staff knows most of the customers and their orders but still offer what they have on the menu. The service is very good and they are open late. Jay and her husband are very accommodating and they make sure that you are served well.
The steak from their bento box is juicy and flavorful. The sashimi always seems to be fresh and does not have a smell. The sushi rolls are very well presented and delicious.
We go here everytime we crave for Japanese food and in the area. 2 thumbs up! :) -
Review from Manda W.
Daly City, CA
1/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
A cute neighborhood Japanese joint, the owners know your name and what you order. Except for my boyfriend and I. It was our first time there.
I got the bento box for dinner. Beef teriyaki and tempura. My boyfriend got chicken teriyaki, with skin on, which is very rare to find! I wanted to eat his food instead of mine.
Overall, the meal was average for the prices. I'd come back just for the chicken teriyaki, with skin on. -
Review from Katrina J.
San Mateo, CA
I'm not Japanese so I don't know REAL Japanese food but I do know that the food that is served at Aji Ichi is good.
Every time we've gone to Aji Ichi we have both gotten either the teriyaki chicken or steak and the meat is never fatty which is something I really appreciate.
And the service is great. The owners and staff are really friendly and your food comes out quick.
Haven't tried any sushi yet but next time I will make it a point to order some. -
Review from Art D.
San Francisco, CA
8/22/2006
This is by far the best Japanese restaurant I've been to near my work, and they haven't disappointed on any of my visits.
I've tried their sushi, sashimi and most recently their curry katsu (with chicken) and each meal has been tasty. Their curry meals are pretty heavy, so only tackle one if you're ready to eat!
The sashimi I had was half salmon and half tuna, and the salmon was advertised as 'fresh', which led me to believe that the tuna was frozen...the salmon was much better than the tuna, so I'm sticking to this assumption.
Try this place out the next time you find yourself stumbling out of Artichoke Joe's after blowing your paycheck during your lunch break...it's right across the street from it and you'll most likely have enough cash left to eat, because their meals are very affordable. -
Review from Ramon E.
Berkeley, CA
5/14/2009
As Sachi T. says, this is white people's Japanese food. You have been warned. That being said, the unagi bowl was actually really good. The service was very good, and the bathroom was very clean.
Now, the bad: the miso soup, salad, pickles and edamame were totally flavorless. The tea was DISGUSTING.
Overall, 2.5 stars? -
Review from Sachi T.
San Francisco, CA
3/22/2009
First off, I admit it: Being half-Japanese and living in San Francisco, I am very spoiled and can be a bit snobbish when it comes to Japanese restaurants.
That being said, this place is Japanese food for hakujins. I went with my BF and his sister (who are yes, hakujin) on a Saturday night, and I was the ONLY Asian there (apart from the help, of course).
He got a few rolls, I got the tonkatsu dinner, and she got tempura, all of which I will spare you the gory details and just sum up as: DON'T COME HERE if you know what Japanese food is supposed to taste like. -
Review from Beth M.
Milpitas, CA
9/14/2010
My boyfriend has been coming here for years and he's taken me here many, many times. It's always nice that the lady owner always greets him and asks about his family. She also remembers his order, and I think that shows how much they care to remember their customers!
Food is good. Grilled Salmon roll is yummy. -
Review from Son E.
Emeryville, CA
1/17/2010
Love it and i've been missing it since I moved away from the South Bay.
I used to go there once a week or once every other week..after 2 or 3 times the owner remembered us and was always very nice. So in terms of service, it's definitely a plus!
Food, love the rolls and love the dinner boxe. My friend and I would usually get the beef teriyaki with sashimi and then one or two rolls (i love all their rolls with Unagi in it but that's a personal preference).
Service was fast, but we always went on a monday, i've never been there during the weekend.
I recommend this restaurant, being a very picky eater it means a lot. -
Review from Jason T.
Millbrae, CA
8/17/2008
This placed used to be our favorite sushi restaurant, but we stopped going after had been ignored during our last two visits. Yes, there was a larger party going on in the place and sense it's a small place, they where busy, but still not an excuse to ignore other people in your restaurant.
The food is good and it's nice because it's small, but I'm not a happy camper anymore. I doubt I will go back again. -
Review from Emily M.
11/1/2007
Ehhhhhh... I wasn't that impressed. The fish didn't seem that fresh to me, and I'm not overly picky about getting the highest quality sushi. The only thing I thought was really good was the futomaki, which I rarely order, but someone else did and I'm glad because I enjoyed it.
Also, they served the edamame cold, which I didn't like... they should be piping hot! -
Review from Leigh S.
5/4/2008
This place was OK... nothing wowed me in either the fish or grilled items.
The weird thing is that they have three big tvs in one little restaurant. This ensures that all guests have a great view of the soccer match or basketball game that they don't care about. Nothing kills good conversation faster than some pretty, flashing pictures.
The people were nice enough. We went in because it was packed - so it must be good. Service was really slow, to the point that it took so long to place our orders that I was considering gnawing on my chopsticks. I think this was quite unusual for a Saturday night and the staff was very apologetic and polite. -
Review from Jon D.
Hayward, CA
7/23/2008
Setting: Nice, small and homely. 3 TVs for your entertainment. Nice little bar for hang out and drinks. Parking could possibly be perdy bad since they don't have their own lot...gotta find street parking.
Food: Very good. I've to-go'd this place, and eaten here too...very good indeed. The ahi appetizer is very yummy. Very decent prices. They're lunch/dinner combo's are a big helping. You'll definitely be very full very quickly.
Service: Awesome folks. They're very helpful and very friendly. Funny too! And they want you to finish every single piece of food and drop of drink before you go. :) Very nice people. -
Review from Scott W.
San Francisco, CA
10/3/2007
Very nice mom 'n pop Japanese joint. If you want something that's not on the menu, they'll try to make it for you.
The udon's delicious. They put a raw egg in it that eventually cooks in the hot broth. If you don't like egg yolk in your udon, better tell them to lay off the egg. -
Review from Jane A.
Cupertino, CA
9/24/2008
After reading some good reviews on Yelp, I decided to take my guests from NY here. Big mistake!!!!! I was so embarrassed that night for taking them there (no one enjoyed it), I paid for all their food that no one barely touched. Save yourself some gas and do not bother going here (unless you enjoy low-quality sushi). If Yelp would allow me to give negative stars, this restaurant would have -5000.
Ohyea, for all the people who gave good ratings for this place - I think they're cousins of the owner or got paid or something... -
Review from Gary S.
Daly City, CA
3/1/2009
This place is eh. Japanese food is always a first choice for me, so I have high expectations. So should the restaurant. Some kid at my work had been bugging me to give this place a shot.
Food:
My lunch special consisted of sashimi (tuna), mixed tempura, salad, rice, and miso soup. The sashimi was amazing, and came with 5 (maybe 6?), reasonably sliced pieces. Tempura was awful. It was undercooked or something. How could you mess up miso soup? Ask Aji Ichi.
Price:
Considering the food, it was mediocre. If the food was a bit better, the price would have been exceptional. I think my lunch special was 8 bucks. Not too bad, and I was stuffed after.
Service:
Blah. The service wasn't terrible, nor was it good. Food came promptly, and orders were taken quickly. The staff was a bit colder than I would have liked, but this place is kind of a hole in the wall, so you can't expect much.
Overall:
I wouldn't go back, but I also wouldn't tell people not to go here. Try at your own risk. Seems like it's a hit or miss type place. At least I left full, without breaking the bank. -
Review from Brad B.
San Bruno, CA
2/16/2007
We've come here for years. My son loves the dragon roll sushi, so when they see us walk in the door, Francis starts making him a dragon roll. Everything I've eaten here is good, with the spicy California roll being my lovely wife's favorite. If you order the beef teriyaki, they'll ask if you want New York steak. It really is more tender and flavorful.
I love the slab of salmon served with shredded cabbage and rice, but I've never had a bad meal here.
We took some Japanese exchange students here one time and they said it was cooking "just like grandmother's". -
Review from Liza S.
Daly City, CA
6/8/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Their new Alaskan Sushi is great! The owner is super friendly too :)
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Review from Dennis M.
Santa Rosa, CA
After a hard practice at Cahill's Academy Judo club many of the practitioners and I all go to this restaurant. The owners will keep the restaurant open passed the business hours just serve us sometimes. The owners at Aji Ichi have been running the tradition of hosting late dinners with Judoka at cahills judo academy for 20 years. The food here is great from the sushi to the sashimi to the cooked entrees. The environment is always extremely warm and welcoming a great way to finish off a tough practice.
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Review from Andrew F.
San Mateo, CA
9/13/2008
I work at SFO too and this is one of the places that we go to lunch during the week. I love curry and this place has an excellent chicken katsu curry. The rics is well cooked and the curry is very tasteful and delicious. My coworkers usually get the combo plates and though I haven't branched out yet, it looks good as well.
Overall it's cheap, fast, and tasty. -
Review from Dave O.
Salem, OR
12/3/2011
Best restaurant ever
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Review from Mosey S.
San Francisco, CA
3/4/2011
Nice deals on the cooked seafood items. I like this place because it is convenient, but I do not order the raw sushi.
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Review from Tony Q.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2008
I visited for lunchtime, and everything about the service seemed like the owners were bracing for the big lunchtime rush, which never came. Still, I felt like I was being encouraged to eat as quickly as possible.
As for the food, well... even the boiled cabbage roll seemed unhappy with its station in life. I don't intend to go back. -
Review from Eileen M.
Pacifica, CA
1/13/2009
The food is good -- the staff is great!! Aji Ichi is a nice family-owned and run place. I think the prices are on the less expensive side as compared to comparable Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area.
The only thing that does not fit my style are the TVs showing sports or the news, but that's just me. It is easy enough to ignore them. -
Review from L C.
San Francisco, CA
12/22/2010
My family and I have been coming to this restaurant for years. Probably ever since I had teeth and could chew! It's family owned and run and the same lady greets us and asks us how we've been and the like. She is also the one who takes the orders for all tables. The quality of food is always consistent which makes this place a great go-to when you know what you want and you know you'll get it the way you expect, every time. Sushi is always good and made to order by her husband. The new york beef is super tender and tasty medium rare. The pickled cabbage roll in the bento box is always my favorite to devour first and tempura is always perfectly deep fried.
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Review from Marian G.
San Francisco, CA
8/23/2008
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Review No. 23
Coming in for a landing, this is my bro (who works at the SFO Airport across the road) and his office buddies favorite Japanese restaurant for lunch for the last 9 years!. Today, before going to Chefs (also in San Mateo, a kitchen warehouse for restaurants) he invited his wife, daughter and me to have their lunch combo $7.95. Their menu is the standard Japanese menu when you view the list. However, I have to admit that he was right I haven't had tasted teriyaki sauce that has been prepared to perfection! I ordered the combo beef and chicken teriyaki. You do have a choice to remove the skin of the chicken before they bbq the chicken on their grill. Jae (the owner,born in Japan, waitress, hostess, cook, salad maker) and her husband(sushi chef) has owned this wonderful family eatery for 19 years. My chicken teriyaki with the skin was crispy and the sauce was not thick and not too thin. And, my teriyaki beef was medium rare and so tender Jaye told me that she personally prepares all the pickled vegetables, the cabbage salad and dressing as well as the pickled cucumbers from "scratch". The Japanese rice were bountiful as well as cooked properly, it wasn't cracked or undercooked. I asked Jaye what does her restaurant name Aji-Ichi mean? Agi (Taste) Ichi (Number One). I do plan to return to taste their agedashi tofu, chicken kaarage,and sushi dishes.
+Forget the chicken kaarage.
*Note to Nobu k: I am surprised that you haven't review this place yet! -
Review from Trisha C.
South San Francisco, CA
3/5/2009
What really keeps me coming back to this place is how Ms J always remembers a face and knows what I want almost every time I come in to eat. Beef Ter and tempura is my usual norm but the Unagi dinner is pretty damn good too. Friday dinner nights are way busy. If you want attention and dont like to wait, dont come on a Friday night. However, the 3 tv's they have keep your attention while you are waiting.
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Review from Johnny J.
San Jose, CA
5/23/2007
Gotta give it 5. I only make it here once every couple years now but there was a time when I commuted to San Bruno quite often and I would always have dinner here. The Owner/Wife/Waitress always remembers me and is so nice. I love the food too. The Nabeyaki Udon is a favorite of mine and of the group I usually go with. The Tempura is crispy and delicious. I love that they give you the option of skin on or off of the chicken teri. I have only had good meals here so the 5 star choice is a no brainer. Now I need an excuse to go to San Bruno so I can go grub. Prices are far more reasonable than most Japanese restaurants too.
Listed in: Eat Bait
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Review from Dawn D.
5/11/2007
revised to 3.5 stars.
::update 4/18/08: Went back with a gf of mine and I finally tried the Spider roll which was a whopping $7.50. I've been meaning to try it forever. Let's just say, I won't order it again. It's way too skimpy and soso to command such a price. Stick with the Bento Box combos and you won't be sorry:
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I was introduced to this restaurant in the early 90s and then I haven't been back since last year. I've eaten there several times since..
I work off of Oyster Point blvd. in SSF, and if you are familiar with the area, there really isn't much to eat around here. There's Wendys, Specialty's, a few delis and some burrito joints, but thats it. I don't feel like looking for parking on Grand Avenue so I hardly frequent downtown SSF for a quick lunch bite..
So, when I'm craving Japanese for lunch, I always go to Aji Ichi. It's pretty easy to get to from work and we're always promptly seated. Prices are great during lunch. Around 6 bucks for a bento box from what I can remember. Gosh, I'm due for a trip back so I'll update with the correct pricing.
I always order the chicken terriyaki and veggie tempura, and they always ask "With or Without Skin?" Wow, never been asked that before at a japanese restaurant, er never been asked that period. I actually always order with the skin on anyways, but nice to have that option. Chicken is always juicy, never dry. YUM. YUM. Not to mention, I always brown bag it home so their portions are generous. One of these days I'll have to go back during dinner and try their sushi.
Service is always attentive and friendly. Try them out! :) -
Review from Dee L.
San Francisco, CA
5/17/2007
Tried this place out on a whim for lunch.
My boss ordered chicken teriyaki with skin and it was good. Pretty big portion, enough for 2 people unless you are truly very very hungry. I made the mistake of ordering sashimi, raw salmon & tuna. Tuna had no flavor whatsoever. Salmon was ok, kinda fishy. Both of our dishes came with miso soup. We all got slightly cured cabbage as a side dish. Didn't taste vinegary.
My boyfriend ordered udon. The soup was put in a metal bowl but it was not hot enough. His egg was still a bit raw. Not piping hot.
Dragon roll (unagi, octupus, fish eggs, avocado) was pretty good. The tempura roll had shrimp tempura and I dunno what else.
Next time I come here, I'll try the chicken curry. That was a huge dish I saw them bring out to someone. My boyfriend says Spirals is a teeny bit better for noodles, but if you want udon you should come here.
Prices were very reasonable. Mine was $8.95 for sashimi lunch. So you get what you pay for. I should know better & order that at more upscale places. ya live & learn. -
Review from Marie G.
South San Francisco, CA
9/28/2011
Katsu Curry! It's so good here! oh, and they have tsukiyaki!
