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Arigatou Japanese Food To Go
Categories: Restaurants Sushi Bars Restaurants Japanese Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
2046 4th StSan Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 453-8990
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 9 pm
Sat 12 pm - 8 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
29 reviews for Arigatou Japanese Food To Go
Review Highlights
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"But the small bento boxes are the perfect lunches." In 4 reviews -
"This is hands down the best takeout Japanese food in Marin." In 3 reviews -
"Also their miso soup is the best I have ever had." In 6 reviews
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29 reviews in English
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Review from JP H.
Wilmington, DE
7/16/2011
This restaurant deserves your support! I knew it on a casual basis before moving into their neighborhood about six months ago, and have enjoyed coming there with greater frequency since then.
My favorite is the bento boxes, which are extremely affordable, especially for my graduate student budget, and ALWAYS made to be fresh. -
Review from Ryan K.
San Rafael, CA
5/20/2012
I had high hopes based on a friends recommendation but was sadly disappointed with my take-out dinner
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Review from Victor G.
6/4/2011
Arigatou i've driven past for many decades until today. turns out it's a small kitchen designed to take out only.
the lady does the teriyaki and grill stuff in the rear and the guy does the sushi at the front table.
sampling: lunch special chicken teriyaki(6.99+)
-chicken kind of thin with tonkatsu sauce on top,
-rice , nice, warm short grain rice.
-salad, generic, ok
-miso soup, no msg, miso, additives tasted, just the taste of tofu. interesting.
-california roll, remarkably tasty, with imitation crab meat and fresh avocado
temaki:
-pretty good deal for such a variety
-tummy had no complaints.
-everything made to order, except soup.
-no problems repeating. -
Review from Craig W.
San Rafael, CA
12/12/2011
Ugh. I had one of their big family dinner combos before and i thought it was okay. Went there tonight and ordered Chicken-Don. Bleh! Definitely sub-1star.
First of all, the rice was inedible (and I love rice). It was either undercooked or had been sitting way too long. Either way...c'mon, how can you mess up rice in a rice cooker if you're an Asian restaurant? There is absolutely no excuse for bad rice.
The rest of it was only barely mediocre. The chicken seemed a little low grade to me...at least five gristle-ly pieces that had to be spit out and it was overly salty.
On the plus side, portion size was decent and service was friendly. -
Review from John B.
Novato, CA
Okay, so I still feel the same about their rolls. Which is why I decided to go with their chicken katsu (comes with rice and a salad). It was burnt...but enjoyable. Moreover, it was affordable and didn't damage my wallet.
They even have specials that come with rolls, pot stickers, miso and green tea ice cream. All at an affordable price.
I could see myself coming here more often...just not really for the sushi.Listed in: Sushi
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/14/2010
Meh...Cheap sushi that is somewhat good. It seems better than the safeway sushi and Arigatou… Read more »
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Review from Tiffany T.
Kirkland, WA
5/21/2006
Authentic Japanese food to-go.
Don't be fooled by the dingy (pink) exterior and neighboring restaurants.
I ordered 2 Bento Box dinner specials (beef teriyaki and noodles) and it was more than enough for 2 people, if I had known beforehand I would have shared 1 bento box.
Our wait for the food was about 15-20 minutes, very reasonable considering only 2 people are working there. The waiting area fits about 7 people max (not including the others who are ordering), there are some newspapers to read while you wait.
The owners are extremely nice. My dinner order was $20.03, but I didn't have .03 cents and he didn't bother asking me to pay for the extra .03 cents. -
Review from Jared L.
San Francisco, CA
8/7/2008
Yelp fails! I haven't had chicken this burned since my old man's, when he used to toss back a few after a hard day of work and forget all about the food on the grill for an hour. Arigatou burned it that bad. Fancy an Unagi roll? Chew it well or the many bones will scour your esophagus raw.
Extra star for the experience; the old woman turning the register completely around to read it (the display on her side being broken), the mad chef dashing to and fro, the inscrutability of any kitchen layout requiring such dashing, the tiny bamboo bench of buttpain, all charming.
The 20 minute wait would have been no big deal for decent food. But this sucked. My meal looked as rushed as the chef, salad dressing everywhere but the salad, flavorless sticky sauce all over the place, scorched bird chopped up in a strange pattern. It added up to exactly $6 worth of food in Marin, which is to say, dick.
I'm beginning to understand that any place on the Miracle Mile has an extra star or three tacked on for convenience by the locals. Having made the two-mile round trip walk from downtown twice now for highly rated places on the Mile, I'm getting it; don't bother with these places unless they're downstairs from your hair/vet/yoga clinic.Listed in: San Rafael has food
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Review from christine e.
Oceanside, CA
7/14/2009
My Sis Robyne's review led me here. She rocks! This take away place is simple, delicious, no frills. Everything is made to order, and the men behind the counter are hard workers and take pride in their food.
Nothing fancy, just delicious, inexpensive fare. I am a fan! :D
I call and it is ready in 15 minutes. Can't beat it. -
Review from Robin G.
Sausalito, CA
6/14/2009
I can't believe that I have forgotten about this little gem. Thanks to Paul who reminded me accidentally when I read his review. I stopped by yesterday after reading Paul's review and reintroduced myself.
It is a very tiny place that is only suitable for takeout. They are very nice to their customers. Greet you with a smile and a nice hello. The food is prepared per order. Nothing is sitting around waiting for a home to go to. The food is very tasty and I think this is a great place to grab a huge meal on the run for a very good price.
I had their lunch special. It was $6.99 and consisted of teriyaki chicken, rice, salad, miso soup, and California roll. Lot of food huh..... I am giving them a 4 star based on who they are and what they do. Its not like Sushi Ran or any other really top notch Sushi place... but again they aren't trying to be that. Think high end fast food and you won't be disappointed, you just might be pleasantly surprised. -
Review from allison s.
Greenwood, IN
3/17/2007
I had to go twice before I actually got food but the value for the money can't be beat!
I went one night around 7 or so.. and there was one man working the very very full grill and no one else seemed to be around. The phone was ringing off the hook and he just kept cooking away. It was probaly 10 minutes or so before he acknowledged me. Normally I would have bounced but the previous reviews were all so good and I have yet to find a really good japanese restaurant to get my fix. So I stuck it out for another 15 or so until my 14mo. old decided he would not hold still a moment more and there was a line of 3 people behind me... unfortunately I had to settle for McDonalds. yuck.
Unwavering I returned on a Thursday afternoon. Seeing there where 2 people working I ventured in. My order was promptly taken and we only waited 10 minutes or so. I ordered the lunch special, a chicken teriyaki bento box (rice, salad, potstickers and your choice of meat) w/ california roll and miso soup for $5.99. My companion ordered the salmon bento box. When we arrived home to dine on our very inexpensive feast we found out that she had received a cali roll and neither of us had potstickers. No big deal. The chicken was very tasty and I think she really like her salmon. The cali rolls were very fresh as was the salad.
I will be going back very soon but am going to call ahead and avoid the wait, and if they don't answer the phone I will just have something else for dinner that night! Happy dining! -
Review from Elizabeth S.
Oakland, CA
2/28/2007
Just had their Katsu Don for lunch today, and it's so massive that I had to share the leftovers with my husband.
Arigatou has been my frequent lunch staple for the last two years working in San Rafael. The little joint serves fast, affordable, generous, and delectable bento boxes and sushi offerings.
Watching the Japanese chef and his cronies cook up a storm in their open kitchen was pretty hilarious. When the crowds were unmerciful, they scurried around, zealous in their food preparation. Once in a while when the crowd dies down, someone would be crooning to familiar Japanese folk songs I use to hear from my mother's 80's karaoke lessons.
The working folks are a friendly bunch, attempted to strike up a conversation with me in Japanese but I fell flat. Nevertheless I think I would make my next trip a decent language lesson from these guys. -
Review from John D.
San Rafael, CA
4/5/2010
It's a pretty groady place, but the rolls are decent and it's much cheaper than the vast majority of Japanese places in Marin. Just don't be expecting top quality fish or anything - it's all a bit borderline smelly, and a lot of the stuff falls apart. It's not what I'd call "elegant" or anything. It seems to be better if you go earlier in the evening, as the quality really deteriorates as the lone cook runs out of steam.
The guy that runs the place is super-friendly and is always all smiles and very bouncy and friendly, something that's actually pretty surprising given the dour demeanor of some of the sushi places. -
Review from JK C.
Albany, CA
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
too salty..
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Review from L B.
San Diego, CA
8/9/2008
I have been going to this place for at least 10 years now maybe more and it is so consistent and delicious. This is real Japanese food at it's best.
It is take out only which is fine with me because I live less than 5 mins away. I also recommend calling ahead around busy lunch and dinner hours.
They have this one item called Chicken Karage that is absolutely amazing and I have never seen anywhere else. The terryaki tofu is my other favorite. Also their miso soup is the best I have ever had.
Also fun to watch the sushi being rolled right in front of you. -
Review from Paul M.
San Anselmo, CA
6/11/2009
I've ordered from them at least 20 times over the years and still get the same thing. Sushi Combo Dinner for $8.25. It's got Unagi on rice, one shrimp on rice, and two rolls. The only part I don't like is the wait. Can't beat the price!
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Review from Candy H.
San Francisco, CA
8/27/2007
i love the small chicken teriyaki bento box! Those gyoza straight up yummy stuff - i actually find the place worth losing half my lunch hour to get there and back.... straight up YUMMY! I am not super fond of the sushi though, i have had better. But the small bento boxes are the perfect lunches. Call ahead - don't plan to eat there they have i think two (yes thats right!) two tables... its not an eatery just a pick up good food kinda joint.
Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Mark B.
San Francisco, CA
11/26/2009
s- "Hey Mark!! GRUMBLE GRUMBLE mother-f'er !!"
m- Oh, hi stomach, what's up?
s- I'm hungry Beotche! That's what's up! Post Yoga work-out dying here poophead!"
m- Gee, thanks for being so polite about it. If I throw something down your esophagus hole will you shut the hell up?!
s- BRING IT .... ASSface. And if I don't like it, I'm telling my buddy lower intestine to build up some gas for your next yoga class.... real loud too!
m- Oh geez.... fine fine, hey how about Japanese food? There's a place right here.
s- It better be good or your yoga classmates are gonna be running for the hills!
(chomp chomp, yum, yum, gulp, gulp)
s- Wow, pretty good shit-for-brains. The unagi was tasty, the miso not too salty, and the sashimi was fresh. Congratulations, You get to live embarrassment free during your next yoga class.
m- you're welcome........... Oh and if you ever talk to me like that again, I'm gonna drink 2 glasses of milk, eat 3 slices of extra cheese pizza, and chase it with a pint of ice cream. YOU"RE GOING TO BE SOO FREAKIN' TWISTED AND NEAR DEATH THAT YOU"RE GOING TO WISH I SWALLOWED GLASS AND DRANK DRANO!!! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME ..... STOMACH!!! DO YOU !!!
s- (sheepishly) ... yes sir.
m- I CAN'T HEAR YOU YOU BLOATED BAG OF UNDULATION !!!
s- umm, yes sir.
m- That's better, Oh and the taste buds want me to tell you to suck it up and stop being a little twat. Upset over spicy Kim-Chee... sheesh!.. Organ... pleeeaze! -
Review from Bethany D.
San Francisco, CA
6/3/2006
I have been eating here since I could chew solid food. This is hands down the best takeout Japanese food in Marin. They are fast and delicious. The bento boxes are huge and plenty for dinner, but if you have room their miso soup and sushi is great too. The people who work here are friendly, too. My only gripe is that they used to deliver, but no more. Still the best!
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Review from Dana G.
5/24/2009
This place is strictly to-go. There are two plastic lawn tables and chairs inside that you can chill at while you wait for the two men to make your meal, but it's going to take a while, so bring a book or order in advance, because it's not particularly a wonderful place to wait at... especially if you are really hungry and craving their YUMMY rice and other inexpensive and hearty and gigantic portioned food. I wish they delivered. I would order from them once a week. I swear.
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Review from Bob G.
San Rafael, CA
5/4/2008
For Japanese food on the run this is pretty good. I've been there a dozen times and the food is good, sometimes it is not the freshest of ingredients. But the price is low for what you get. No raw fish available. It is only a two-man show, so give it 30 minutes from order to pick-up.
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Review from Jackie M.
San Francisco, CA
3/25/2007
This place is the shit. Best Japanese takeout in Marin. Call in your order before you go...wait 20 min then go pick it up. otherwise you will wait forever. the sushi is pretty good too. chicken katsu is the best. I cant say enough about this place...it's so good and so addicting.
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Review from Eric W.
San Francisco, CA
6/8/2011
Tasty low-priced japanese food to go. Great for semi-fast food. Don't expect fancy sushi rolls. Perfect for grabbing on your way home after work when you don't want to spend lots on eating out. It's almost a five star based on the food/price ratio!
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Review from Sean P.
San Rafael, CA
10/16/2007
Chicken Rice, veggies, all you need to be healthy and live a long life....This place is bomb and cheap!
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Review from lo G.
Fairfax, CA
6/5/2009
If your in San Rafael or just wanting the best Japanese takeout with great service, I recommend this place. I eat there about once a week.
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Review from Donovan H.
Sacramento, CA
4/13/2009
Ever since moving out of San Rafael several years ago, I only get a chance to go to Arigatou a couple of times a year. Just to let everyone know, this is a no-frills restaurant and it truly is "to-go". Come to think of it, the 2 other eating establishments (High Tech Burrito & Red Boy Pizza) in this little strip mall have small space. As for as the layout of Arigatou, there is literally one table to dine at located next to a vending machine and a from what I remember, a bamboo-styled bench is placed for people waiting for their order. Now with the service... The owner is very friendly and takes everyone's orders in a quick and timely manner. Since this is a "to-go" restaurant, there are lots of phone-in orders while they are cooking and preparing the food while ringing up the customers. What I do like about this place is that everything is cooked right in front of you which makes the whole experience much more enjoyable. Now on with the food... I usually order a Bento Box that has teriyaki chicken on rice as well as a side of California rolls. The food tastes extremely fresh and the California rolls has just the right amount of flavor. And best of all, their prices are VERY reasonable; the Bento Box was $6.95 and the the California roll was $3.50. I would recommend this place to everyone who wants sushi and teriyaki made fast and reasonably priced.
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Review from Double-Dash C.
Albany, NY
1/29/2008
cheap fast and high quality bento for 6 bucks.
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Review from n k.
San Rafael, CA
3/4/2010
Nothing fancy here..the sushi was literally falling apart and totally sloppy however very reasonable prices. The woman who answered the phone didn't seem to be adept at taking phone orders, she almost hung up after I placed my first roll and then suddenly I was on the phone with another person.
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Review from nick m.
San Rafael, CA
6/24/2008
the chicken yakatori dinner special is the way to go. you get rice, 3 chicken scewers, salad, 3 pot stickers, miso soup, and 6 piece california roll. for only 10 bucks
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Review from PG H.
Novato, CA
5/10/2010
Great Japenese take out place. I have been a customer since 1989 and I would highly recommend this place.
