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Hana Japanese Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
101 Golf Course DrRohnert Park, CA 94928
(707) 586-0270
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Fri 5 pm - 9 pm
Sat-Sun 5 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
141 reviews for Hana Japanese Restaurant
Review Highlights
"...had miso soup, some incredible nigiri, and the fat boy roll."
(in 3 reviews)
"We then got the seared foie gras tempura appetizer."
(in 8 reviews)
"they fly the fish fresh from Japan everyday."
(in 3 reviews)
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141 reviews in English
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Review from David M.
12/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
My favorite sushi spot in the north bay. Chef Ken is very friendly, his fish selection is excellent, and his prices are really reasonable considering the quality. When we lived in Novato, we'd come here a few times a month and anytime we're in the area we make sure to swing by!
This past weekend we had a group lunch that was prompt and excellent. The staff really are great here, and I consider myself a loyal-customer-for-life.Listed in: All-around Solid
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Review from Jessica R.
Cotati, CA
1/27/2012
I know you're probably wondering why I'm giving them only 4 stars (EDIT: I changed it to 3 after a message I received, see below) instead of 5. This is definitely a 5 star establishment, but a few things they didn't do that I feel they should have put it at only 4 stars for me. The FOOD and the atmosphere are five star, for sure. I'm going to tell you why they are down a star first, and then explain the other 4 after.
Let me start off by saying that when I visited it was Jan 14, 2012, the night before my birthday. Now, I told them this when we arrived. As we were being seated our Server/Waiter (who happened to be the Sake Sommelier that you hear about in other reviews...more on that later) mentioned that they weren't used to hosting such large parties (more on THAT later too), and I said, "Oh yeah well it's my birthday tomorrow so my friends wanted to come too." and he was like "Oh, well happy birthday!" So, they know it's my birthday, right? You would think that at the end of the night I might get a special desert, or SOMETHING, but I got absolutely no recognition of that. I mean, I don't want them to bust out with a song or anything (in fact, I'm glad they didn't), but as we were spending about $300 at their establishment...SOMETHING would have been nice.
The other reasons they only get 4 stars are 1) they refused to split the bill, so my husband had to pay for the whole thing and collect money from everyone else later. So just remember if you are going there with a big party...they don't split the bill. Also 2) they brought our food out in a really weird order, but I guess that's up to the chef not the wait staff.
NOW for the good stuff. When we arrived I told the hostess that our party would be 7. She was like "Ooo...7? Really?" and got this look that said to me "Oh great, I'm going to have to wait an hour for a table. I knew I should have called ahead..." but instead she walked to the back of the restaurant, came back a few seconds later and led us to our table. Sweet!
The first thing I ordered was some Sake. I asked the Sommelier to pick something, and whatever he picked it was freaking DELICIOUS. I am not a Sake connoisseur by any means, but I know what I like, and I liked this. I have no idea what it was called either...I know he told me but I immediately forgot...I know that the bottle had cherry blossom branches on it, if that helps. I told him that he was the reason I came to this restaurant, and he seemed quite pleased with that news!
Once the rest of our party got there they told us about the specials for the night. One of the things on the specials board was Kobe Beef Nigiri. No I'm not kidding. I ordered some and so did one of my friends and I am telling you...WORTH IT. It was $8 for two little pieces of rice, each with a bite of Kobe Beef on top and it was HEAVEN. If they have Kobe Beef when you go there...EAT IT. DON'T THINK, JUST EAT IT. It had some kind of sauce on it...it was spicy and tender and juicy and...I am drooling just thinking about it again and it's nearly two weeks later!
I was under the impression based on another review I read that they use real Wasabi root...they don't. They use the powdered stuff, and they only give you a tiny bit to start out. Make sure to ask for more if you like your Sushi "American" (Wasabi and soy sauce mixed for a dip for the nigiri and rolls). My husband especially likes it that way because he's vegetarian, so his rolls end up being a little bland as they only contain vegetables.
The fish they served us was as fresh as fish I have gotten at other restaurants in the North Bay. It tasted like it was just caught that morning. I read another review that said it wasn't as fresh as they were expecting, but I am not sure how you could get much fresher being as far inland as we are. There was a huge variety, and they even gave me some of the special items in the plate I ordered (chef's choice).
They mentioned a couple of times that they weren't used to having such large parties, but except for the little face the hostess made at the beginning (and them telling me), I never would have guessed. Seriously they are on the ball there, and they care that you like your food.
I'm sure if I go there again it will be a 5 star experience. The stuff that bothered me might not bother other people, especially the birthday thing. I guess I am just spoiled from going to Jo Jo's in Santa Rosa previously, where they always gave me free green-tea ice cream on my birthday.
EDIT: I received a message from someone telling me that "they have fresh Wasabi, you have to ask for it". Well personally I think that is pretty stupid. For such a high priced establishment (anyone on here saying their prices are reasonable has obviously never been to Japantown in San Francisco and had FRESH fish caught mere hours previously for 1/3 the price) you would think they would offer, or suggest the fresh Wasabi. -
Review from Lady c.
San Francisco, CA
1/2/2012
I was in the neighborhood for a weekend trip and wanted to find a highly rated Japanese place in the North Bay, up came Hana Sushi on yelp.
This restaurant is located within a strip mall area by a freeway (expected of course it's the North Bay). Seating was immediate upon entry as a reservation was in place. Service was good, our servers checked up on us when needed without being intrusive.
location: 2/5
Food: 3/5 The sashimi wasn't as fresh as I thought it would be. However the rolls had lots of different flavors and textures but it wasn't amazing. The soup was hearty and wholesome though
Service: 4/5 Servers very knowledgeable about the menu and friendly, offered suggestions on items
Price: For 2 people it was ~$100 for appetizers, 2 rolls, sashimi, udon, and dessert
Overall rating: 3.5 -
Review from Shannon D.
Rohnert Park, CA
2/5/2012
I love this restaurant! The food is amazing! I always bring out of town relatives here and have had many family birthdays and occasions here. I normally don't like Alaska rolls but I love them here. Their Sukyiaki(sp?) is the best I've ever had. Their tuna dishes are to die for. The udon noodle soups are lovely. The waitresses of past experiences make a point to say hello to us even when they're not serving us that night. The saki list offers many choices. Go for the tenka rice with toasted panko crumbs. It's part of why this place is a 5 star not 4.
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Review from Oleoleo T.
Rohnert Park, CA
11/7/2011
Been coming here for years, longer than Yelp's been around, and have enjoyed it as one of the best places to eat in the North Bay. I have to echo what a previous poster said-- to appreciate Hana is to understand the experience.
The first time I visited here, it was the quality of the fish that made me a fan. But over the years, I have realized that what this place brings is the ability to try new things. New kinds of fish, new kinds of flavors, in ways prepared by a master chef who seems to enjoy variety, if not an uncanny understanding of how to prepare different things. There are not too many places like this in North Bay, Japanese or otherwise.
It's funny, but if you pay enough attention, you'd be surprised in who comes in and shoots the bull, like other chefs from famous Sonoma County restaurants. Apparently they like the food here, but maybe they don't feel the need to Yelp about it.
If you're lucky enough to come in on a Friday night, and Ken Tominaga is working, put aside your assumptions about Japanese food and ask to try the tasting menu. It will be five or six courses of something extraordinary. Those of you who are sake connoisseurs are lucky enough to know what to order, but those like me from the unwashed masses, I take the chef's recommendations on sake paired with the meal (yes, recommendations as in plural)-- now THAT is an experience. This is something I will do for my birthday as long as I can go to a Ken Tominaga establishment.
Indeed I am a fan of this place. Best Japanese restaurant in the North Bay. One of the best restaurants in Sonoma County period. -
Review from Mimi L.
Santa Rosa, CA
1/11/2012
This place is sooo good, had my 18th birthday dinner here and I had such a good meal. & They gave me free ice cream on the house that I guess they make there themselves which is a double plus :D I was very pleased with my birthday dinner. Completely beats the horrible birthday dinner I had the previous year. Just one tip, if you're planning on bring 10+ people for reservation they're going to ask for a credit card number because they will charge you if you don't show up. Because they really do reserve the seats for you. Unlike the other restaurants where they still do the "first come first serve" crap.
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Review from Leanne A.
Rohnert Park, CA
1/7/2012
Right off the freeway. Clean, great food. Lots of parking, reasonably priced (for sushi). No complaints!
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Review from Venetia Y.
San Carlos, CA
12/28/2011 1 photo
Incredible special holiday menu. Seven course price fixe menu with Sake prating. The lobster with uni was to die for. The filet mignonette melted in your mouth.
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Review from K G.
Marin, CA
12/14/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I have eaten here twice, and I sat at the bar. If you want a good experience at a sushi place, sit at the bar and talk to the chefs. That's it. They will make your order more quickly than the servers' because you are sitting in front of them watching. That is benefit number one. Benefit number two, they know everything about all of the fish, sushi, and what is "freshest." I wouldn't ask for what's freshest until you really get to know the guys, but its something that you can politely say by stating "I will have one of whatever is best today." The first time I went the sushi chef showed me pictures of his daughter, and the second time I spoke to the chef/owner about his family history. Be friendly and nice, and you would be amazed at the things you will learn and gain from a simple restaurant experience.
It is expensive because the cost of fish is expensive. Preparation of sushi also includes labor and skills that takes years to learn. I will gladly pay for sushi here and plan to come back whenever I can. -
Review from Emily C.
Santa Rosa, CA
10/14/2011
The first time I went to get sushi from here, they told us they were closed. I was disappointed because their clock showed us that we had 5 minutes until closing (this was during lunch time). When I tried the sushi, it was delicious. My father likes the noodles, but one sip of the noodle gave me an allergic reaction. I don't know if was because they put msg in their seasoning.
The one thing that disappointed me was the lemon they stuck on my salmon sashimi. The only reason you put lemon on sashimi is to mask the freshness. Had they placed the lemon on the side, I would have been happier.
The food was good, but I still prefer going to Yao-Kiku. They're more authentic, friendlier and they never disappoint me. -
Review from Angela s.
Concord, CA
12/10/2011
I took my mom here because of the yelp reviews on our way to an event. It was easy to get to, easy to park, easy to get a seat, however, i was not impressed with the food. We only orderd sushi, but they were uneven and heavy on the rice. Overly priced for the quality you get!
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Review from Secret Asian M.
Montrose, CA
8/30/2011
San Franciscans need to face the fact that the best Japanese restaurant in San Francisco is in Rohnert Park, Sonoma County.
There isn't anything on this menu that you wouldn't claw through a foot of concrete with your bare hands to get at.
However, the ramen is a particular standout and can be had daily for lunch or by special pre-arrangement for dinner. The broth is so fantastically complex you'll want to fill your bath tub with it and soak yourself in this wondrous umami elixir.
A special box of fish arrives from on Thursday. You might consider going that day.
The service here is a cut above the norm, with warm, friendly and knowledgeable people doing a dedicated job. The sake sommelier is one of the few non-Japanese to be awarded his designation.
The crew and food here is top notch and you'll want to go back.
I promise! -
Review from Kelli H.
Santa Rosa, CA
10/3/2011
Came in last Saturday and had about a 5 minute wait. Once we were seated the service was right on par. We did have a few mishaps like our sushi taking about 1 hour to come out! What the heck?! We would have been pissed BUT the server made up for it by bringing out 2 free appetizers and apologizing profusely.
The food was excellent! Loved the 1/2 house salad! Super tasty as well as the miso soup! Some of the best I've had. I do prefer my edamame warm but it was still good. All the rolls were delicious but next time I'd skip the Jewish Roll. Also tried the Crispy Roll, Kens Roll, and the Crispy Spicy Roll - all delicious!
I will definitely be coming back again. -
Review from N B.
North Bay, CA
8/31/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I am not a sushi expert. I love trying new things, but I also love my basic tried and true maki rolls. Don't judge me. I am dangerously close to going back to Hana repeatedly and only ordering multiples of their spicy California roll. I don't know what goes into that spicy mayo, but it makes my heart sing. That, and the fact that the California rolls are made with actual crab meat, and not imitation crab stick (which I encountered far too often on the East Coast). Nom nom nom.
The Hawaiian Ahi Poke is outstanding. (Personally, I would prefer a few more wontons than they serve with it, and will ask for more next time.)
The Shumai is deelish.
The scallop app we had was fresh and light -- I am blanking on what it was called.
I love me some edamame, but wish it was served warm. Personal preference.
Each maki roll and sushi roll we had was delightful, but I can't get the siren song of that spicy Cal roll out of my head.
Service is quick and friendly. The place fills up--even on a random Sunday and Tuesday, when I have been--so consider calling for a reservation, just in case. -
Review from Nick J.
Santa Rosa, CA
10/25/2011
Ok, I can't keep my mouth shut any longer, nor am I satisfied with the minute review that I put up after Yelp took down my previous review. (Which I am STILL furious about since I thought the entire POINT of Yelp was to be able to express one's own personal opinion. If said opinions can just be stifled if someone doesn't agree, doesn't that make this whole thing pointless???)
However, I digress...
More needs to be said about Hana, and my entirely-too-short summation just won't hold. I still have gripes about the lack of respect and reverence that exists in regards to the world of sushi, and I refuse to bite my tongue just because there are the clueless masses out there who are probably INFURIATED that I made blatant digs to subpar and heinous "sushi" establishments like "T. Wasabi's". You'll notice I'm not going to say the name so others don't pee in their pants again and cry to Yelp like 3 year olds. But maybe that was too obvious...we'll call it "Tex W.", instead. There, that was nice and subtle.
On to Hana...
Again...
I have been lucky enough to be a patron of Hana for the past 16 years now, and I can STILL say with absolute sincerity that it's owner and master sushi chef, Ken Tominaga , is a genius at his craft. After all the years and years that I have been going there he still never ceases to amaze me in terms of the new creative things he comes up with, the quality of his product, and most importantly that he ABSOLUTELY DECIMATES his competition. No wait, let me rephrase that...HE HAS NO COMPETITION!
As I said before, Hana is in a league all its own. It is about as close to eating fish straight off the docks of Tsukiji as you are going to get without leaving the United States. Nobody has the selection that Ken has. Nobody has the quality that Ken has. Period.
Hana is the ultimate restaurant for a very select group of people. People who still have a reverence for the art form sushi truly is, and have not been caught up in the wave of mass bastardization and homogenization that sushi has suffered in the last few decades. What am I referring to when I say this? I'm referring to the "roll" people. I'm referring to the thousands of reviews that exist on yelp, specifically about sushi, where people who have NO CLUE what they are talking about try to wax intellectual and spew comments like "This place has the BEST sushi ever!! I had the 'Superman' roll and the 'Hot Chili Dog' roll, and the 'Speaker of the House' roll, and the 'Dirty Sanchez' roll, and the 'Guy Walking Across the Street to Fetch His Hat That Had Been Blown Off His Head by a Gust of Wind' roll" etc. These people infuriate me to no end because they are making their decisions and reviews about something, that could very well drive people to try the establishment they are talking about, when they are missing the one most CRUCIAL and FUNDAMENTAL thing...(wait for it)...(wait for it)... SUSHI IS NOT ABOUT ROLLS!!!!!!
(Thousands of Yelpers just passed out.)
And this is why Hana is such a wonderful place...because the FISH is the front runner, the FISH is what makes it special, and the FISH is what Ken puts his heart and soul into.
Now, to make sure that I talk about my experiences at Hana SPECIFICALLY (and to ensure that my review doesn't get yanked by those who can't handle the truth), allow me to mention some of the things you can expect to find at Hana.
If you are reading this, are agreeing and are of the same mindset as myself, some of the wonderful things you will encounter at Hana are Buri, Engawa, Kinmedai, Aji, Shima Aji, Kanpachi, Tachuo, Iwashi, Oyagi, Otoro, Medai, Kohada, just to name a few. I had a sampling of many of these fish on a few recent encounters to Hana and believe me when I say that it DOES NOT get any better. Ken's fish can bring tears to one's eyes.
For the informed, Hana is a place you will absolutely love and will concur with everything that I have said. However for many, the words will fall on deaf ears simply because they don't know any better. If it hasn't been deep fried, drowned in some mayo based sauce, and given some ludicrous name, they won't be happy. These people would do better by not infecting others with their ridiculous statements about "how amazing the sushi" is, when what they're talking about ISN'T sushi! I'm positive Ken and others like him didn't spend a lifetime honing their craft at the hands of deep-fryers, and a book of silly names. This lack of reverance insults the skill and years of dedication of true sushi chefs.
Hana is a truly unique place, has so much to offer, and anything you have there will have Ken's touch to it and will surely please your palette.
To those who consider my review pompous, arrogant, or snobbish, I don't really care. You don't have the capacity to appreciate a place like Hana. With any luck it will keep the place a haven for purists and save our ears from those ordering the "I Haven't the Slightest Idea What Sushi Is But I Love To Think I Do" roll. -
Review from Brian V.
10/30/2011 4 photos
Taking a day trip out to Bodega Bay, my paramour and I were strolling around downtown Sonoma when the countdown to chow started ticking. We were about 80% decided on LaSalette however, I just felt in a sashimi type of mood. Doing a quick yelp search on the surrounding perimeter, nothing about 3 stars stood out. Luckily, that morning, I did a scout on nearby sushi places and landed on Hana, a nearly 5 star restaurant in Rohnert Park. Because this was a day to woo, i made a quick reservation on the spot, drove Pip in a 180 and headed out. Hana is located in a little strip mall and doesn't have the nicest of exteriors. The "H" in the lit "HANA" sign was dimmer than the rest of the letters and just seemed rather drabby. However, there was a line of customers crowding the door.
The moment I walked in, I had my reservations. I was dubious of its authenticity the moment I walked in as a) there was a caucasian sushi chef behind the counter (jk...he could have been Bill for all that I have known, trained by Hanzo himself)and b) none of the wait-staff was japanese. c)this place has bento box combo meals and california rolls on the menu. I do not mean to be offensive in any way but I have found that with true gems, english is hardly spoken. In addition, the best fish are from places that scoff at combo boxes and california rolls. Because I sat in the back where I did not have a proper view of the bar, I could be be totally off-base. There was also an asian chef behind the sushi bar and perhaps he was in charge of the fish cuts while the other was in charge of the fusion food. We ordered the:
creamy salmon handroll: 2/5 This was cooked salmon in a handroll with creme fraiche. KJeh ordered this because she saw the words "creamy" but neglected to see the words "cooked". It was very generic and just tasted like salmon and a bit of cream spooned into a cone.
toro: 3/5 The waitress marveled at how marbled the toro was. We were given 5 slices, however, each cut was very small, so essentially, they were two normal sized cuts. Delicately eating it, the toro was soft like butter, however, there was a faint fishy taste. It was good toro, however, I have had better.
sake: 3/5 Salmon is my favorite fish for sashimi. To be quite honest, the best I've had was at Kappou Gomi. I have never had sake sashimi that melted the way it did. This did not do that. Again, it was a quality fish, however, average by my standards.
special hamachi: 4/5 the hamachi was on the special menu and it was advertised to be softer than regular hamachi. I could definitely taste that it was more tender than the usual hamachi sashimi, however, I was not wow'd.
special maguro: 4/5 the maguro was by far the best sashimi, YES, sadly, even over the toro. It was so soft and literally, blunt teeth could slice through it like hot butter.
agadashi tofu: 5/5 the agadashi tofu here was most savory. The tofu was so soft and had a slight crisp and the skin never broke from the tofu, despite tugging it with chopsticks. It was like a delicate ball sac. The accompanying sauce was delicious dashi sauce. It literally drank it after.
pork belly: 4/5 the pork belly was sake infused and had a boiled egg of ramen like properties. The presentation was beautiful and the dish was a fusion type. The pork belly, like all pork bellies, was full of flavour, tender and hardly needed chewing. The egg was also good and when you finished the dish, was left saying, god lam, I wish I had 9 more.
Our waitress was extremely friendly and brought the dishes in that exact order, from light to heavy so that we could fully enjoy the dining experience. However, I was disappointed in the food. The service was excellent, however, no matter how good the service is, can't change how the food tastes. First off, when you see 5 pieces of sashimi per order for $10 bucks (besides toro, 5 for $30), your eyes light up saying its a good deal. However, it is cut so that essentially, when you reconnect them, they amount to two pieces anywhere else. In addition, for a restaurant that has $20-$30 entrees, you just expect the taste to go hand in hand with the pricetag. I was simply not amazed, which I felt I should have been. The bill ended up being similar to Akaoni and Sushi Ran and cannot even be said in the same sentence as them. In addition, the portions are very small so you can drop $100-$150 and still need to eat a rice cup or a super burrito after as dessert. I believe that Hana caters more to the tastebuds of more americanized sushi lovers, along the lines of Sushi Bistro aficionados. The quality of the fish was good, however, as an avid eater of sashimi, does not warrant a repeat meal. I am sad to announced that I was very "dessy" and from now on, will leave the Japanese restaurant pickings to KJeh. I wave the white flag of surrender -
Review from Alysha M.
A good sushi place in Sonoma County??! Finally! And yessss!
Everything was so fresh! The staff was nice, quick, and attentive. Two of us walked in around 6pm & we were able to sit at the sushi bar. Even though we came here on a whim & felt underdressed (since it is pretty nice inside), the owner/chef made conversation with us and made us feel comfortable and welcomed. We heard about this place through others and decided to grab a 'snack' since we were in the area.
Even though it is quite pricey, they have a lot of specials and all kinds of different fish. The uni, ankimo, and flounder were amazing.
Will definitely be back!Listed in: Sushi Love
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Review from Taylor F.
Cotati, CA
Updated - 12/3/2011
It's all about the yummy roll!!! Just had the most amazing dinner at Hana tonight. Great fish!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/30/2009
Best Sushi in Sonoma County!! I work at the Doubletree right there and it takes everything in me not… Read more »
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Review from Dennis V.
Santa Rosa, CA
8/19/2011 3 Check-ins Here
We are excited, and relieved, to find a good sushi restaurant in the North Bay. After being disappointed by some other highly-rated local places, and discovering Hana is in the DoubleTree Hotel plaza, we were skeptical. Thankfully, it did not let us down!
We like sitting at the bar, and found the owner and sushi chef to be friendly and attentive. He was willing to serve half orders (a whole order of sashimi is 5 slices at Hana), which not everyone will do. Wait staff was very pleasant.
They have a very good variety of fish, that goes beyond the mainstream tuna, salmon, and roll offerings. The board appears to contain daily specials, presumably of what's fresh from the market that day. Anago, Mirugai, Tai, etc. were nice to see on the menu. Some coming from Tsukiji by way of the East Bay fish market.
They have a pretty good selection of sake, and even Yebisu beer which is not very common, but I prefer over Sapporo.
Lots of appetizers and hot dishes are available as well. We look forward to returning to try more. -
Review from Laura B.
Rohnert Park, CA
8/4/2011 4 photos
The sushi was amazingly fresh and tasted amazing!
I got... the california roll, the spicy tuna hand roll, and another roll... I can't remember the name.
I would definitely go here again! -
Review from Kathy H.
La Quinta, CA
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very good restaurant. We walked in about 15 minutes before the kitchen closed and they still took our party of 9!!!! The staff were all very friendly and helpful. We never felt rushed. The food was great. We had sushi, rib eye steak chili soy sauce, black angus new York steak with red wine teriyaki sauce & shrimp tempura all fabulous. Thank you so much for taking us so late and serving us great food :)
Kathy Hoy -
Review from Lindsey J.
Venice, CA
7/12/2011
As sushi snobs, my boyfriend and I really enjoyed our meal here. Kens roll was original and swell, so were the strawberry scallops. Good selection of local, sustainable fish options, although they served bluefin tuna (gasp)!
Ambiance was just ok, service the same. -
Review from andrew s.
Marysville, CA
12/20/2011
Had one night in town and picked this place based on the reviews here. We sat at the bar and even after looking at the menu online it was bit overwhelming at first. I think they have 3 separate menus and it was hard to find out what to order. But once we settled in all I can say is WOW. we had sushi and hot appetizers and my 16yr old had the teriyaki dinner. The sushi was very good with the soft shell crab roll being like non other I have tasted. The best appetizer was the pork katsu. For $9 it was a full plate of meat with salad on top and very tasty.
Now on to the sake and beer. We just had the house hot sake and my wife said, this does not taste like terpintine. what a difference in just the house sake. Noticeable right away. In fact I mentioned this to the sake sommelier and he gave us a free taste of sake that tasted like a truly fine fruity wine. Wish I could have tasted more but we had an early morning event. Japanese beer on tap what more can you say.
Now why not five stars, my sons teriyaki chicken was non traditional with a red wine sauce and mashed potatoes, maybe he just ordered the wrong item.
Will try again if we are ever in the area. -
Review from kris s.
San Anselmo, CA
2/15/2011
Too good for four stars, so we'll go with 4 1/2. Have to knock it down a tad for a few reasons: we didn't receive one of the rolls we had ordered; the hamachi kama was undercooked and had to be sent back; the menu didn't mention that tobiko was on everything, and I'm not a fan (had I known I would've asked it to be taken off).
BUT, this is the BEST Japanese restaurant I've been to in the Bay Area! Unlike Morimoto's, Hana was able to not only meet but pass our expectations.
From the sushi omakase (10 pieces for $40 for the freshest sushi you can imagine) to the best-tasting crab I've ever eaten to the homemade ice cream the meal was spectacular. The menu is creative, the food is unbelievably fresh, and the prices are reasonable for the quality.
Stuart, our waiter, was a walking/talking sake encyclopedia. If you have a question about sake, he could answer it.
We're so happy to finally have eaten at Hana and we WILL BE BACK! -
Review from Liz M.
Sacramento, CA
2/17/2011
Besides the actual restaurant being upscale with fantastic prices, the great service, and the friendly chefs, the thing that impressed me the most about Hana was how FRESH the ingredients are.
Sitting behind the sushi bar is a chalkboard list of the fresh fish they they got in for the day and how much is left. A fish is ordered and it gets crossed off the list. simple as that. i was blown away by this concept and then questioned why i had never seen it before at other places because it makes perfect sense. Hana makes amazing sushi and you will not be dissapointed with anything! -
Review from Hao L.
Mountain View, CA
"Hana wa sakuragi hito wa bushi" is an expression in Japanese, meaning "As the cherry blossom is first among flowers, so is the warrior first among men". Similarly, Hana Japanese is first among Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area with me! Located in a Rohnert Park strip mall, the Doubletree Hotel, Hana is better than Kaygetsu in Menlo Park, and Kiss Seafood in SF. It's as good as Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills, and much less expensive! Decor is good, but the service even better. And best of all, chef Kenichi Tominaga's food.
You can make a nice 3 course meal of the Kaisen shabu shabu (white fish, hamachi, and scallops cooked with konbu seaweed broth) 18.00, Ken's sushi omakase (seasonal fish from Tsukiji, Japan (the world-famous renowned fish market in Tokyo), 6 pieces for 25.00), and mango pudding, 6.00.
But having driven 2.5 hours on Dec 30, 2010, I ordered the 11-course $80 omakase along with the $11.00 sake sampler (Ken's choice of 1 Daiginjo (best of the best. Made with rice milled so that 50% or less of the original size of the grains remain. Intensely crafted and complex sake), 1 Ginjo (a complex sake made with rice milled so that 60% of the original grain remains. Fermented at lower temperatures with special yeast) & 1 Junmai (pure sake, made simply of rice, water, and koji without adding sugar or alcohol. No more than 70% of the rice remains after milling)).
A tray bearing 3 cups of sake arrived, with a card describing the 3 sakes, asking that they be drank left to right. First on the left was the Daiginjo, the "Kura no Hana" [Flower of the Brewery, sometimes translated as "Fair Maiden"] from Hoyo of Miyagi Prefecture, with 0 dryness. Next was the Ginjo, the "Dewasansan" Green Ridge from Dewazakura of Yamagata Prefecture, with a 4 dryness. Finally, on the right, was the Junmai, the "Okuden Kantsukuri" Mirror of Truth from Masumi of Nagano Prefecture with a 4 dryness. So much better than wine!
First course: Kumamoto oysters on the half shell with Hana's ponzu sauce, normally 15.00 [Kyou no namagaki kumamoto]. Three oysters topped with green onions and ikura, served with a lemon wedge, on crushed ice. Perfect start.
Second course: Seafood sunomono: octopus, kani crab, ikura, Japanese cucumber, wakame seaweed, and sesame seeds in Sanbaizu dressing (sake, soy, vinegar, literally 3 cup vinegar), normally 10.00 [Kaisen sunomono]. Beautiful and tasty, I could eat this all day.
Third course: Hamachi tartare with local quail egg, truffle oil, and wasabi sauce. One of the best versions of this dish anywhere. The wasabi sauce is very light and subtle.
Fourth course: Maitake tempura with ginger, grated daikon, and tempura sauce, normally 7.50. Maitake is also known as Hen-of-the-Woods, Ram's Head and Sheep's Head. Perfect batter and taste.
Fifth course: Baigai conch, sauteed with green onions, normally 6.00 for the sushi. Baigai is also known as Japanese ivory shell or Japanese babylon shell, literally in Japanese plum shell. Unique and delicious.
Sixth course: Kinmedai goldeneye snapper collar with grated daikon, ponzu sauce, and lemon wedges [kinmedai kama]. This is a challenge to eat with chopsticks but well worth the effort.
Seventh course: nigiri sushi: honmaguro (bluefin tuna), medai (butterfish), shimaaji (striped jack), and kanburi (wild hamachi aka adult yellowtail caught in midwinter; hamachi only refers to immature yellowtail). Stellar and fresh, straight from Tsukiji. Exceptional.
Eighth course: maki sushi: negihama (yellowtail and green onion), normally 6.00, and uni (sea urchin), normally 9.00. Best uni I've ever had, buttery and exquisite. The three negihama were amazing.
Ninth course: Unagi foie gras, normally 12.00. A Sonoma-inspired specialty, so superb.
Tenth course: Negitoro maki (tuna belly and green onion), normally 12.00. Four of my favorite, rich and buttery.
Eleventh course: Housemade satsuma orange sorbet, normally 6.00. Crisp and obvious in its tanginess.
Michelin's not the only one recommending Hana, as it is obvious Chef Kenichi Tominaga is first amongst itamae! Now, about that $100 omakase...
Happythankyoumoreplease :) -
Review from A I.
San Francisco, CA
4/30/2011
We had lunch, but we need to try some of the specials as we only tried the sushi and sashimi lunch.
Service was slow, but the place was very busy, and the waiter acknowledge that we had to wait, and was pretty attentive, after the rush.
Miso soup was rich and savory, and not too salty, like some miso soups. The pickles and ginger were delicious. The presentation of the sushi was fresh and inviting as were the flavors. The fish was firm and fresh. This was some of the best I have had, and in Rohnert Park, no less.
I definitely will go back.
Post Script: The irritant was a large family with a woman, with a piercing voice instructing, what I thought, were pretty well behaved kids. I mean, STFU, and not in the disbelief meaning of STFU, but rather, just STFU or lower your voice. "Cover your mouth when you sneeze and use your arm and not your hands. I am glad you are trying that. Good girl." -
Review from Michael V.
Rohnert Park, CA
2/18/2011
Great fish, but just ok otherwise.
Kind of pricey overall for what you get. Not everyone I go out to japanese with (nor I, 100% of the time) are in it for the raw fish. A few of the apps and salads aren't the best either. My wife is into veggie rolls and chicken teriyaki and such and doesn't care for this place which basically means I probably won't wind up going here ever again. I did recently get yelled at for saying this place wasn't the best, which surprised me since I feel that we don't live in a very good area for japanese in general and I don't feel there is an obvious best place. Maybe that's why a new one opens up every couple months?
And they frown upon ordering sake bombs?! Crazy-talk. I'm past the age that I care, but that did sting a little when they told us no and walked away laughing after the first request. But I get it... they consider themselves a very fancy place. The trouble with that is they aren't real romantic, located anywhere special, don't have comfortable seating, aren't super nicely decorated, and it's always FREEZING in there. If I'm going to pay the extra money, I want to get more than just slightly fresher fish and smiling faces. Some of the entrees and rolls don't even have fresh fish and are still very overpriced. That said, I've only been for dinner so they may have reasonable lunch prices.
I have been told that sitting at the sushi bar is a different experience, but I have never had overly fantastic service at this place and the memory of being treated like hooligans for ordering a sake bomb at a japanese restaurant still haunts me. It was my birthday. But also goes to show you, I did think their sushi was good enough that I once wanted to have my birthday dinner there. -
Review from jen k.
San Jose, CA
3/14/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
With all the hype...I wanted to check out this place. We sat at the bar and order the pork shumai, a couple of the rolls, and a boton at the end. I saw a waitress next to me having one & recommend trying the boton. But when the chef made my order it was like the thinnest sashimi cut and looked nothing like hers.
The rolls were a good size and was not saturate it with hot & spicy , or sweet sauces like other typical sushi restaurants. You were able to taste the fish rather than tasting sauce.
Service was great and staff were friendly. It was nice to try since i was staying in the area but I definitely had better if not equal comparison sushi at other places. -
Review from Michael B.
Santa Rosa, CA
3/6/2011
Hands down the best overall Japanese restaurant in Sonoma county that I have been to. I've been putting off going for awhile and that was truly silly. This place is great. I started with some sushi off the special board, cuttlefish, bluefin, and striped jack. all were super fresh and delicious, the cuttlefish was downright amazing, so silky and buttery.
I was with a huge party and we tried practically everything we desired. Highlights were the, tuna tartar, the pork cheeks and the kakuni. All my sashimi was great as well and I liked the tempura too.
My only complaint was the service was pretty weak it lacked any sort of effort, enthusiasm, or character and was truly disappointing. But thats corrected with a tip and you can always reward the men at the sushi bar directly which I appreciate doing when service is great from the chefs and poor from the waitstaff. -
Review from Susie R.
Sebastopol, CA
10/12/2010 2 photos
Let me start out by saying I've been eating sushi consistently since I was three years old. My first order of nigiri was maguro. Once, when I was a little girl, my mother was going to be making salmon for dinner, and I was very excited about it because I had had salmon in sushi restaurants before. I ran downstairs, saw the salmon in the skillet and exclaimed in a disgusted voice, "You cooked it!" I mention this so you understand what kind of sushi eater I am... I like the hardcore stuff... (at least as hardcore as you can get in America).
When I came to Rohnert Park for college in 2004, I was sad about leaving my favorite sushi restaurant in Westlake Village, CA, namely Tomodachi. The sushi there was large in portions, and amazingly high quality. No gross fishiness or fake tai like in your typical roll-focused sushi restaurant.
I was very excited that a place like Hana existed in Rohnert Park. I love this place even more than Tomodachi. The fish options are incredible; nowhere have I ever found such a REGULAR large selection of fish (in other words, Shima Aji isn't just a special; it's a regular... that's not very common). Each bite of nigiri is divine; like butter melting in your mouth. The nigiri portions are perfect: not overwhelmingly large toppings and a perfect amount of rice.
Not a sushi eater? There is plenty of kitchen food at Hana. I've only had the katsudon, ramen, and udon myself, but they were quite amazing.
Love sake? Then you'll love Hana's extensive sake selection. Not only will you have a large number of options to choose from, but you will be guided by Hana's very own sake expert , Steuart (sp?), who will ask you what you look for in sake (dryness/sweetness) and can recommend a good rice wine based on your preferences.
The service? Many people comment on the service here. Being a regular who only sits at the bar, I am a bit biased, but I love the service. Being at Hana is like being with family. I love them all there. If you're sitting at a table and the service is a little slow, understand that Ken wants you to enjoy yourself; that's his main goal: he really wants his customers to be happy. He does so with amazing food and by hiring people who provide warm, friendly service (which they do). Sometimes the kitchen can be a bit slow, but in the end it's worth it. The food here is simply amazing.
A word of caution: If you're the type of person who can just settle for sushi's bastard child, the California roll (meaning you just like sushi, not love it), when you go out for sushi, you may find yourself complaining about the prices at Hana. Well, you really do get what you pay for.
If you're looking for the McDonald's of sushi restaurants check out Wayne's in Rohnert Park or Sushi Hana in Sebastopol (which has no affiliation with the Hana currently being reviewed, btw). But if you're looking for a sushi experience you'll never forget, do not pass up the chance to visit Hana in Rohnert Park. You really are in for a treat.
This is by far THE best sushi restaurant in the north bay. Disagree if you wish, but I guarantee you if you ask the finest chefs in the area where they eat their sushi, they will tell you Hana. C'mon down to Hana. There's a reason it's rated 28 in Zagat. -
Review from J B.
Santa Rosa, CA
11/7/2011
The food here is mediocre and the service is terrible. Waited 20 minutes just to get water, then was waited on by a rude waiter, only to wait over 30 minutes just to get a sunomono salad. I will not be going back here. This is not the first time this has happened but it will be the last.
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Review from ABBY D.
Petaluma, CA
11/6/2011
I recently had a terrible experience at Hana. I went there with one other person at 6PM, and our order wasn't taken until 6:15PM. Our food didn't arrive until 7:00PM. The restaurant wasn't super busy, and with sushi (which is relatively quick to prepare), I have little patience for this kind of wait. The gentlemen at the table next to us had their order in at the same time as ours, yet when our food arrived, they had already paid their bill. The waiter was not particularly friendly, and forgot two of the four items we ordered. Overall, I would definitely not recommend Hana given their consistently slow, poor service. This was my 3rd and last time there.
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Review from Dan F.
Rohnert Park, CA
7/3/2011
I hadn't been to Hana in a year or so and I have no idea why. I went for lunch and was so impressed with the manager, Danny. He waited on us and recommend amazing sake as well as recommend my first bite of tuna belly. The food was plentiful and perfect as well. Anyone who loves Japanese food knows this is the best one around!
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Review from Sharon F.
Santa Rosa, CA
2/21/2011
We've been dining at Hana since 2001 and while it has always been top notch, it has never been as fabulous as it is today. Any past service issues have disappeared, the vibe is warm and uplifting, and the food continues to blow minds.
We started by ordering drinks and edamame. The wine list is always exemplary and offers great choices by the glass. Beer choices are also ample (but this wino cares not)!
Last night we treated ourselves to the pork shumai (described as Japanese potstickers, which I don't think does them justice). These puppies are wonton "cups" filled with a heaping tablespoon full of juicy, succulent, umami laden ground pork and steamed. With a little hot mustard/soy mixture, the flavors are a match made in heaven. Next my husband had the Jidori chicken teriyaki, which was served with steamed rice and sautéed bell peppers and tomatoes. The chicken was perfectly cooked and top quality, but the sauce was just slightly too sweet for him (but not for me). I had Ken's Tsukiji sushi sampler -- 6 pieces of the freshest fish on earth and a spicy scallop roll that had me begging for more (but was too full to act on the impulse)!
Speaking of Ken Tominaga, the owner: he always, always welcomes visitors with a warm smile and greeting. The rest of the staff follows suit. A visit to Hana always feels like a special occasion. Can't wait till next time! -
Review from Adil L.
9/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great sashimi and excellent sake. Will definitely be back.
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Review from Jaime O.
Milpitas, CA
8/13/2010
Wow, this place is good!
The quality is great. The price is high, but you will be satisfied with the quality and experience. The service was great and the menu is fresh and diverse featuring uncommon and maybe unfamiliar japanese specialities as well as the chefs own recipes.
There is a huge sake selection and pairing menu available.
I am a fan. -
Review from Tom W.
Walnut, CA
11/4/2010
The Authentic & Best (IMO) Japanese Sushi Restaurant in the area
Pros:
Authentic
Fresh
Friendly
Daily Selections
Cons:
None -
Review from Rick C.
Lafayette, CA
1/27/2011
Had a great meal here last night. Kanburi was available since it fell in the fourth month availability window. It was awesome and just slightly more muscular than the 10 out of 10 toro. Medai (or madai) from Japan was also delicious. It was the base for the uzuzukuri surrounding a tiny serving of hirame in the middle, with ankimo to be used as a filler before dipping into the ponzu. I told my son that the last time I had tai from Japan was several years ago.
The amaebi was so so, but the heads were done to a turn! Not that I ever "expect" the fried heads as well, but they sure were good. I also had the saba battera (aka oshizushi) which was excellent! The reason I say saba battera is because Hana also makes it with sake (which I've never heard of in any other restaurant).
My son had the smoked sake and agreed it was the best he's ever had. If there's a better sushi restaurant in the North Bay, I sure don't know about it. -
Review from Rain b.
Seattle, WA
11/7/2011
Good Sushi, have the toro.
